So Great Salvation
Notes
Transcript
What is “therefore” there for?
What is “therefore” there for?
Praising God for our salvation (v. 3-5)
Rejoicing for our salvation (v. 6-9)
Amazed by our salvation (v. 10-12)
Motivated by our salvation (v. 13-25)
When we stop to view our so great salvation in this light, praising God for it, rejoicing in it, amazed by it, and motivated in it what do we do? That is what the “therefore” is there for.
Be Hopeful
Be Hopeful
This is the second time Peter has brought up the issue of hope. First in v. 3 he informs us that we have a living hope.
Here we are reminded that we have a grace based hope.
We have hope because of His grace.
No matter what the circumstance, no matter how heinous the sin His grace is greater.
When He returns His grace will prevail in your life.
Our responsibility is to rest our hope fully in this grace extended through our living savior. How?
Discipline - “gird up the loins of your mind”
Your flesh, this world and the devil will always try to get you to take your eyes off of this living hope.
Steel yourselves!
Maturity - “be sober”
In the original languages this is not a command. A better translation would be “being sober minded.”
This doesn’t mean you have to be a grumpy fuddy duddy.
Every Christian should have a developed theology of laughter.
What it means is that you take serious things seriously.
Be Holy
Be Holy
Peter likes to speak in clear positive and clear negatives.
Be this, not this
Do this, not this
As he beings reminding us of our critical need for holiness he employs this language
Be an obedient child - if we are the child then who is the parent? God is of course, and Peter continues this thought in v. 17 when he says that we call on the “Father”.
Not conforming to who you where without Christ.
Our great salvation motivates holiness
What holiness is: the putting off of the former lusts, that is, separation from sin. (v. 14)
The nature of our holiness: “as He is holy.” (v. 15)
We are called to be holy in the same way that God is holy.
Whoa! I don’t know if I can do that.
Isn’t there some lesser version of holiness that is more attainable for me?
No! there is only one brand of holiness and that is God’s holiness.
The reason for our holiness: “because it is written, Be holy for I am holy.” (v. 16)
Be Fearful
Be Fearful
Peter begins this verse by saying “If you call on the Father...” - It seems as though Peter is implying that you should be calling on God as Father because you are after all His child.
Peter makes an important connection in this verse that helps us understand what it means to “fear God.”
We are to fear Him as a child fears their father.
This is not a crippling fear, but rather it inspires confidence.
This is not a fear of terror, but one of trust for He is always just.
This is not a fear of uncertainty, but one of reverence.
This is not a fear that is limited to reverence, but also includes genuine fear. When should a child fear their father? When they have done wrong.
The concept of fearing God is found throughout the Scriptures
Deut. 8:6 ““Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.” - Notice the connection between obedience and fear.
Proverbs 9:10 ““The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Job 28:28 “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ””
Eccl. 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.”
Why?
You have been redeemed!
Not with silly things like silver and gold
But with the blood of Christ.
This takes us back to what the therefore is there for.
You believe
That Christ eternally existed before the foundations of the world.
That God raised Christ from the dead.
That your faith and hope are in Him.
Be Loving
Be Loving
“Since you have purified yourselves with the truth that results in the love for the brethren...”
Because you are genuine believers
Which results in genuine love for each other
Love each other:
Fervently
Purely
Why?
Because of our salvation
Because life is short.