Accept a Challenging Standard - I Peter 1:13-25

Generally speaking, Americans are not interested in how much has been added or how little has been discounted—they just want the bottom line. What is the price today? How much does it cost? Well, here is the bottom line in this lesson today. Peter is really challenging his readers to live a holy life. This is a call to be ‘just like Christ’ in order to be worthy of the name—Christian. How much does it cost you to live holy? That depends on what you value most. One thing is for sure—it will never cost you as dearly as it did the Son of God when he made it possible for you to become a Christian.

In the study of the first dozen verses of the first chapter, Peter made it very clear to new Christians that they have a heavenly inheritance already prepared and paid for and that they are now designated as “God’s chosen people.” Peter explained that Israel was God’s chosen people—however they lost their position when they denied and crucified Jesus Christ, their Messiah. Then he reminds all Christians that have accepted Christ as Savior that they also still have an additional responsibility that they must meet—they must now live for him…it is called “being obedient” and it never cost anyone more than it is worth.

The written lesson for today starts with the thirteenth verse and the word THEREFORE. Therefore tells you to look back and see what he has said. He told them that their forefathers were disobedient, never got to fully enjoy their promised land of Canaan and lost their position of God’s chosen people…And now that you have accepted the messiah that they rejected—you have other responsibilities too—you must also be obedient. You must live holy before God. As the title of the lesson says, you must: “ACCEPT A CHALLENGING STANDARD.

Therefore…or in order to be able to do what has to be done…the first requirement is to “fully decide”… “Set your mind on what has to be done” or “gird up the loins of your mind.” Similar to Paul’s example—Peter is thinking about Christians running the good race. The long robes worn in those days would impede a good runner and so they would lift the lower part of their robe and gird it up in a belt to prevent stumbling or falling. Peter is thinking of the days ahead as being a race toward heaven, the goal, and nothing should be allowed to get in the way of progress. This is a challenge to be positive in their thinking. If he were writing today he might have said; ‘roll-up your sleeves and get with it’ or ‘air up the tires put gas in the tank and get going.’

The long flowing robe would tangle around and impede the legs of a runner. What are some of the things that Peter might have been thinking about that would impede the human mind that is set on heaven as its goal? One was definitely that they should be sober. He could have several things in mind…the first thought might be to refrain from strong drink…any mind that is intoxicated is out of control…actually alcohol takes over where reason left off and becomes the controller of your thoughts and actions. In our day and time there are many other intoxicants that are as deadly as alcohol. If Peter was writing in 2007, he might say that we should not get caught up in the perversions of drugs, pornography, homosexuality, molestation. These are the hard core problems. Let’s hasten to say that perversions were rampant in Rome, Greece, Egypt and throughout the Persian Empire. Those people excelled in sexual deviations.

One does not need to be caught up in the hard core problems to encounter problems that will distract the mind. Peter was saying that Christians should not get foolishly involved in anything that would stand in the way of their forward progress. Criticism from others messes up your mind…false accusations are harmful…rejection requires one to keep control of his mind. There is another important mind set…keep your mind on God’s word and only what it teaches. In another place we are told not to be blown off in the wrong direction by every wind of doctoring. Some of the cults in operation today can tangle your mind if you allow them to get in your door.

In your mind you know and understand the truth of the gospel which tells you that Christ will soon return. In your heart you believe and accept the promise of his return. This should motivate you to live for him daily—you should stay mentally alert; learn to be self-disciplined and keep your focus on the goal…heaven. Are you ready to meet Christ? He will come as a thief in the night—unexpected, and then it will be too late to gird up your mind. Two will be plowing in the field; one will be taken to meet God and the other one left. A man and wife will be in bed, asleep—when one awakes the other will be gone. You may be flying first class, up front, watching the pilot when he suddenly disappears leaving you on a run-away plane. Now you have two problems. There is a very simple moral to this admonition and it is: don’t ever go to the field to plow, go to bed with your wife, get on a plane that someone else is flying until—you are ready to meet God. Do you remember the two most dangerous words in our language? [Tomorrow and procrastination] Don’t procrastinate—tomorrow may not come.

Vincent Peal made a fortune selling people on the “Power of Positive Thinking.” He was a smart man and gave people many good ideas about how the continuous use of positive thoughts can help one progress toward a goal. I do not remember that he ever warned that the same power of thought in the wrong direction can lead to disaster. Far too often when a person commits their life to Christ and then the next day they go to work with the same crowd as usual and they allow the power of positive thinking to pull them back into their old ways. I guess what I am trying to say is that some sinners commit their life to Christ but not their mind. God is jealous, he wants all or none. The bible says that you can not commit your life to Christ and continue to live and enjoy your old life style. You cannot serve two masters and be successful with either one.

Peter explained this by saying that we must be like God—holy in everything we do. That means holy in the church pew; holy at work; holy on the golf course: and holy when you are in a strange city where people don’t know you. If you were mentally alert, and knew today was your last day to live, would you need to make some quick improvements in your life? Peter is telling us here that the answer to that question should be NO. Our life is uncertain—but two things are certain; we will die and Christ will return—and since we can not know when either will happen…Peter tells us to live holy lives, daily and not to worry.

In v 17—“You call on a Father” is important. First note that Father has a capitol F, so there is no doubt that this is our spiritual Father who will be our judge. “Call on” means to “pray to” “ask for” but the meaning includes more like, serve, adore, love, respect, depend on, have faith in. As your judge…He will be impartial [fare and honest and treat everyone alike] so each one can live their life in reverent fear. Now, “fear” does not mean ‘afraid’ or ‘scared.’ It is not the fear the slave has of a ruthless master; but it does require the kind of respect that always has to be present when we love, respect and serve someone. Note: Yes, once saved, always saved! However, Peter is telling us here that we are not to feel and act cocky but to respond in reverent fear. Salvation is sure and secure but it is not a license to willfully and continuously sin.

The practice of slavery was rampant and color of skin had little to do with it, but it depended on who was in power. Conquering nations took exiles and made slaves of them. Early Christians understood the word “redeemed” meant that someone had paid money, traded cattle, or gave their jewels or precious metals to buy freedom. The people would understand this language, so Peter used it in verses 18-19. People were in bondage [slaves to sin] and God redeemed [paid for their sins] not with material things like gold and silver, but with the blood of his only begotten Son of God. You can see that Paul expanded on this subject greatly if you want to read what he has to say in [Rom. 6:6-7; 1 Co. 6: 20; Col. 2: 13; and/or Heb. 9: 12].

I believe that some bible teachers have said that God created man in perfection and that man sinned and his sins became so outrageous in the sight of God that God had to design a way to bring about salvation from sin. I believe that man sinned and needed a savior—but God, in his foreknowledge knew this would happen, and he already had his total plan designed and established before the creation of the world. Verse 20 says that Christ was chosen before creation. He was not an afterthought added after the world spun out of control. He is an ingenious God and his plan included the law looking forward to Jesus and it surely included Christ and the cross as well as his resurrection and ascension.

Verse 21 contains some hidden thought. We know that Jesus Christ was a part of the spiritual and glorified God-head and they lived in a spiritual realm we call Heaven. Jesus was there laying the foundation and preparing to build your mansion and mine. God interrupted his building project and sent him to earth as an impregnating spirit that made it possible for the Son of God to be born of woman, live and die for our sins and be resurrected on the third day—“And glorified him.” Our faith is in a God that can accomplish ALL OF THAT!

Now if your faith is in God—and you have trusted him to forgive your sins—you are purified, you are not stained by sin any more. The bible teaches that one way we can know that we are purified [saved] is that we will love our brothers in Christ. Peter assumes he is talking to saved people and tells them they are to love others deeply. Why? Because they have been born again. How? Through the living word of God. Saved by grace through faith by imperishable seed [spirit].

Now we are back to the most dangerous thing anyone can do. Sinners must not procrastinate—not even until tomorrow because “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever” [Is. 40: 6-8].