Sermon Tone Analysis

Upsetting the Equilibrium

I want you to think of three words that describe yourself.

Any three, doesn’t matter.

Before you answer, I’m actually going to ask your spouses, your family, children.

I’ll ask your co-workers, former bosses, restaurant workers, the person who made your day bad at the bank.

Would they give the same three descriptions of yourself?

Last week we talked about part of our hope, part of our inheritance, is our salvation.

Our very souls have been saved; but are we living in a way that reflects such a great salvation?

Will you please turn to beginning in verse 13 and stand for the reading of God’s Word.

1 Peter 1:13-25

The Word of God for the people of God: you may be seated.

Analyzing the Discrepancy

Peter just finished explaining in this letter about the hope these exiles have in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; which subsequently gives them hope for their salvation.

Now, in this section, Peter changes his tone.

He no longer speaks of things that are certain (their hope for salvation), but instead implores them to a better way of living.

In verse 13, Peter tells the Gentile Christians:

He is telling them that this hope must be placed on the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the grace that he will bring for all who believe.

First, though, they must prepare their minds for action.

This literally means “when you have girded the loins of your mind.”

This is great imagery.

It was customary at this time for a man to tuck the front of his robe into his belt in order to free up his arms and legs for quick action or fast running.

It is equivalent to our modern expression of roll up your sleeves or tighten your belt.

It means to be ready for anything; it isn’t about physical strength.

They must be ready to exercise their minds in serious thought and reflection.

Second, they must also discipline themselves; be self-controlled; be sober.

They must maintain a continuing attitude of level-headedness.

These two exhortations provide the background for Peter’s call to set all their hope on Jesus.

Not, set some of your hope in things of this world, some of it on the people in your life, and then some on Jesus.

No, set all your hope.

Christian hope is not half-hearted or lukewarm.

In the first part of the letter, Peter reminded them of the hope they have based on what Christ had already done (through his death and resurrection), but now they have confident expectation of Christ’s second coming and should prompt a reorientation of their lives.

This hope also causes them to act as obedient children.

Peter says in verses 14 through 16

Peter is using the word children to echo what he said previously: those who are in the inheritance are children of God and they have new birth.

They are people reborn with God as their father; they should be obedient to Him.

These believers are being called to reorient their lives to conform to the will of God, not to the ignorant desires or expectations of the world.

Once one is empowered by hope and grace, they are asked to abandon the destructiveness of their evil desires.

Thus, in verse 15 Peter calls them to “be holy yourselves in all your conduct.”

Why?

Because the one who called you is holy.

The holiness of God is the primary motive for human holiness.

Peter is telling them that true Christ-followers will imitate the God whom they worship.

They will form their character in accordance with God’s character.

And, since God’s nature and character is holy, His people should also display His holiness.

The word “holy” carries a double meaning.

It means to be set apart for sacred use and also means to be morally pure, blameless in heart and life.

Well, we know that these readers are already set apart: they are literal exiles in their land.

But, are they morally pure in heart and life?

Peter isn’t just telling them to do it sometimes.

He tells them to be holy in all their conduct.

The phrase “in all your conduct” is derived from a verb meaning to move or turn about.

So, in every move, with every turn, these Christians need to be holy.

There is no aspect of believers lives that does not fall under the command to be holy.

Then, Peter quotes , “You shall be be holy, for I am holy.”

Peter wants to emphasize that the character of God has not changed from the beginning.

Indeed, that is the narrative of the entire Bible.

A holy God is calling His people to holy living.

In verse 17, Peter identifies the basis for Christian holiness and issues another call to live rightly:

1 Peter 1

This is a message to all who would call upon the Lord.

God shows no favoritism in judgment, so then live like exiles in reverent fear of the Lord.

Any talk about holiness must balance the idea that God is Father and also that He is judge.

We want to downplay this in our culture.

Although God is their father, they cannot think that disobedience and sin will go unnoticed or undisciplined.

Their behavior will have consequences.

And the Father judges each one impartially.

Thus, if these Christians really call God their Father, they should remember His character and live in an appreciative fear of His impartial judgement.

They should not allow familiarity and being His children as an excuse for doing evil.

What then is their motivation for living holy?

Peter tells them in verses 18-21:

Their motivation for holy living is first they were bought by the precious blood of Christ.

Dead to their old ways, being ancestors of Adam, they could not have saved themselves.

God did not buy them with the things of this world, such as silver or gold.

Money and precious stones would have been easy for God to make.

Instead, God sent Himself and spilled His blood, something infinitely more precious and sacrificed his Son who was like a lamb.

An innocent lamb, without evil, without sin, without any spot or defect.

This is their first motivation.

Their second motivation for holy living is that their salvation is founded in Christ who existed before the creation of the world and was destined to be humanity’s Savior.

Christ was always God’s redemption plan.

It was not made in haste or a contingency: God’s son was always to be the Savior of the world.

And it was for these exiles, for all believers, that Christ was chosen.

Because Christ died on their behalf, they should want to be holy.

Their third motivation for holy living is their hope and faith in Jesus Christ.

In verse 13, Peter told them to set all their hope on Jesus and this is the bookend to that section.

Your hope is in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Because your hope is on this and nothing else, it should propel you to live holy.

What does this look like?

What is holy living.

Well, in verse 22 Peter tells them:

Now that you understand the importance of holiness, now that you have the proper motivation, now that your minds are buckled tight and you are obedient children: love one another deeply from the heart.

The root of holiness is love for God and love for others.

Genuine mutual love that comes from deep within the heart.

Why must they love one another?

Verse 23 and 24 says:

Again Peter uses the new birth theme: these believers new birth is a completed event with ongoing consequences.