Based On Love

BASED ON LOVE 1 Peter 1:13-25 September 12, 2021 You're walking down the street, and a crazy man with a knife jumps out in front of you - and threatens to kill you. He's slobbering and drooling. There's insanity in his eyes. He even swings at you a couple of times with the knife. There is no doubt in your mind this guy means business. He charges at you, and by pure luck, you turn the knife around and stab him through the heart and kill him. You're not in trouble for that - right? It's clearly self-defense. The police will take your statement, maybe interview a few witnesses, and that's the end of it - right? Well, not so fast. Occasionally that's the end of it. But, in most states the Attorney General convenes a Grand Jury. This is a trial to determine if there should be a murder trial. Evidence is given. The prosecutor makes the case that you are a murderer. Somebody died by your hand. You must have your own attorney to defend you. Everything you did in a split second will be reviewed and criticized; both good and bad. And, the Grand Jury can conclude that you need to go to an actual murder trial. However, one of the differences between a Grand Jury trial, and a murder trial, is what you believed. Did you believe your life was in danger? It doesn't matter what the average person would believe, or what is reasonable to believe. In this case the most important fact for the jury to determine, is did you believe you were in mortal danger. If so, you should be found innocent. What if, the jury doesn't see it your way, and finds you guilty? What if they determine you need to go to a full on murder trial? And then, suddenly, the Prosecuting Attorney - they guy who has been giving evidence against you - suddenly says, "It was my job to prosecute you. But, I believe you. I believe you really did fear for your life. So, I'm going to go to the murder trial in your place. And, when you're found guilty, I'm going to go to prison in your place." That's what Peter is writing about today. Instead of being on trial for self-defense, we are on trial for the sins we commit. Jesus is the Prosecuting Attorney. And, the standard he is looking for is love. All the things you did during your life, both the good and the bad, were they motivated by love? Jesus says, I'm going to take your punishment, because I believe you tried really hard to love God, and love your fellow man. Isn't that motivation for each of us to love one another as much as we possibly can? Peter thinks so. Remember, this is a very positive and encouraging letter. Peter starts with an affirming image. Our text said 'prepare your minds for action'. What Peter actually writes is 'gird up the loins of your mind'.1 Middle eastern men wore shirts that went all the way to their ankles. That was fine, unless you had to run. The shirts were so narrow you always tripped if you tried to run. So, before running, you pulled the hem of your shirt up to your waist, and tied it in place with your belt. That set your knees free for running. It was called girding up your loins. So Peter is saying get your mind ready to run. Get rid of any impediments which might trip you. It's like saying, roll up your sleeves. Put your shoulder to the wheel. Get your head in the game. Loving your neighbor as yourself starts with mental preparedness. The name of the game is salvation. Going to Heaven. Living eternally in the presence of God. Peter says I want you to put 100% of your hope and trust, in grace.2 Not in good works, not in donations. Just grace. The NFL started again this week. I am a happy man. So, permit me a football illustration. Peter says the goal is to win the game. But, we only have one play, we will pass. No running. No punting. Just passing. And, no passes under 30 yards. Every play, every game, the Quarterback will drop back and throw for the endzone. And, I want you to trust me, we will win. You can imagine how players might not be comfortable with that. We should run every now and then. If we are deep in our own territory, we need to punt. Coach Peter, you need to consider diversifying. Peter says nope. We only have one play; grace. And, the world tells you, you won't know if grace works until you die. But, I'm telling you, you will know you were right when Jesus comes back. That will be your proof. Get your head right, trust grace, and look for the Second Coming. Now, you can imagine, people began to ask, "If I am saved by grace, which is all God's doing and none of my own, does it matter what I do? Does it matter what kind of life I live? I'm saved even if I'm an ax murderer, right? So, why should I even try?" Peter's answer is to quote the book of Leviticus. In four different places in Leviticus, God gives the command - you must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. Let's define holy. In the strictest sense holy means set apart. Anything which is set apart for a special purpose is holy. This building is just a building; no different than any other building in Ponder. Except for 2 hours on Sunday morning when it is set apart for the worship of Jesus Christ. For those 2 hours this place is holy. And, the people who walk out of the world, and into this sanctuary - for the specific purpose of worshipping Jesus, are holy. Peter works with that concept and writes to the churches - you need to be different. There is the way the entire world is. And then, there's the way you need to be. I need you to be different. Technically, Peter uses the Greek word thēōsis. Which strictly interpreted means - godlike.3 Peter does not mean you can become a god. Not at all. What he means is, you can be more like Jesus. When I say be different, I mean be more like Jesus. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself. Show compassion to those who hate you. Put others first. Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit living in you, and then do what it says. If you do that, you are not earning your salvation. You are not working your way to Heaven. You are still completely dependent on grace. But, your difference changes the world for the better. The Apostle Paul talks about this same topic. Why do I need to do good things, if good things don't save me? Here is how he explains it (1 Corinthians 3:12-15), "Anyone who builds on a foundation may use a variety of materials-gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames." Our good works do not save us. But, our good works proclaim we are different. We are followers of Jesus Christ. The fire Paul is talking about is judgement. Peter actually uses the word judgment. The first thing we need to know is that every human being gets judged by God.4 Christians don't get to skip judgement. It's kind of like a Grand Jury. Even if it was self-defense, and even if you feared for your life, you still have to go through the process. In some respects, every other religion in the world has one advantage over Christianity. Why should you live a good life? So you can go to Heaven. If you are Muslim, or Buddhist, or Hindu - you go to Heaven based on living a good life. It's easy for their Pastors to tell them, 'You need to be a better person'. It's more difficult for Christians to embrace good living. You know when it's better to be a Christian? When it comes to dealing with the consequences of sin. The technical term is penal substitutionary atonement.5 That's a really big phrase which means - Jesus will take your punishment for you. Peter understands now matter how hard you try to be different, you are going to make mistakes. After all, you are born again. You are learning to be a new creation. Nobody gets that right all the time. So, you are going to sin. What should be done about that? Peter says, how about if the prosecuting attorney, Jesus, the guy who was reviewing the evidence against you - takes your punishment for you? What would you think of that? Of course, most people ask - why would he do that? Peter says, because of love.6 Because Jesus really, really loves you. And, Jesus loves how you have loved. Jesus loves that you did your best to be holy because he is holy. Jesus loves that you did your best to be different. Jesus loves that you changed the world for the better by trying every day to be more like him. Jesus loves that. You are not saved by your works. You are not saved by love. But, the one who saves you loves your love. If you are grateful to Jesus for your salvation, why wouldn't you want to do everything you can to please him? Peter says Jesus will interpret your life through the lens of love. Some things you will do well. Some things you will totally botch. But, just like the Grand Jury, there will only be one question at your judgment. Did you do what you did, out of love? Maybe you got it wrong, but were you coming from a good place, from love? If so, Jesus is happy to take your punishment for you. Peter says, these last years I have had a change of perspective.7 I used to think Jesus was coming back any day. I was convinced I wouldn't go to bed at night before Jesus came back. Now, I believe he is waiting for more souls to be saved. So, the odds are pretty good you will die before Jesus returns. I know that's scary. You are afraid what might happen if you are wrong. What if I have to earn my way to salvation? What if Jesus doesn't choose to take my punishment? What if Jesus isn't real? What if I'm wrong? When I die it's too late to try something else. Peter says people are like grass. They come, they live for a little while, and then they die. That's the truth. But, God is eternal. And, God has made promises. And, God's promises are eternal. So, even if it takes Jesus 10,000 years to come back - your salvation is assured. Trust God. This is all going to be okay. Jesus says to each of us - I love you. And, I will save you. If you put your complete trust in me - even though you've never met me, even though you won't meet me until after you die - I will save you. I will suffer all your punishment for you. I will do that because I love you. I will do that, because I love how you love each other. I love that you try so hard to be holy, like I am holy. I love that you are willing to be different. I'm going to put you through a trial. But, do not be afraid. I've got you. I love you. 1 NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016), 2180. 2 William Barclay, The Letters of James and Peter (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2003), 212. 3 Donald Fairbairn, "Salvation as Theosis: The Teaching of Eastern Orthodoxy," Themelios, 23 no. 3 (June 19980, 42-54. 4 R. C. Sproul, general editor. New Geneva Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1970. 5 Paul W. Felix, "Penal Substitution in the New Testament: A Focused Look at First Peter," The Master's Seminary Journal, 20 no. 2 (Fall 2009), 171-197. 6 Donald Senior, New Interpreter's Study Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003), 2184. 7 NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, 2180. --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ 2