A.      Christians were redeemed at the terrible cost of Christ’s blood.  Knowing this, it is imperative that we live every moment with respect for the sacrifice that purchased our freedom from sin.

B.      It is this message that is conveyed in 1Peter 1:13-25, which is the text for this lesson in our series.

II.      BEHAVE ACCORDING TO YOUR REDEMPTION

A.      Our knowledge of the gospel of Christ calls us to obedient action (1Pet. 1:13-16).

                                                             1.      Based upon what has been stated in the first twelve verses of this letter, Christians should be focused upon the salvation to come.

a.       Knowing that…

i.         …God has chosen us for “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away” (v. 4)

ii.        …we are “protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (v. 5)

iii.      …“the proof of [our] faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (v. 7)

iv.      …we know “things into which angels long to look” (v. 12)

b.       …we must focus our attention away from the distractions of the world and onto the reward of heaven.

c.        Notice how we should set our attitudes in verse 13:

i.         “Gird your minds for action” – Get ready to work and serve the Lord.

ii.        “Keep sober” – Be serious about serving the Lord.

iii.      “Fix your hope on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” – Focus beyond the present distresses and see the reward.

                                                             2.      This focus should transform us from conformity with worldly lusts into conformity with holiness.

a.       Our behavior must be that of obedient children of the Holy Father.

b.       Rather than being characterized by ignorant lust as in the past, we must be holy because our heavenly Father is holy.

i.         Children of the Father should resemble Him.  Israel was told this many times (the quote of verse 16 is repeated multiple times – Leviticus 11:44; 19:2; 20:7).

ii.        Notice that we are to be holy in all of our behavior.  We are not to “take time to be holy,” but rather we are to be holy all the time.

B.      The price of our redemption should tell us that we must not trifle with God (1Pet. 1:17-21).

                                                             1.      This section of verses calls upon us to realize that being a child of God is not to be taken lightly.

a.       We who are Christians must conduct ourselves with a high degree of godly reverence.

i.         Verse 17 essentially says that if we are going to call God our Father, then we had better behave as His respectful children.  Addressing God as Father is not just a title for Him, but it is also a commitment from us to a relationship.

ii.        In other words, if we claim that God is our Father and then behave in “futile way of life inherited from [our] forefathers” (v. 18), then God will impartially judge us to be children of the world and not His children (compare to Matt. 7:21-23).

b.       This is because of the terrible price that was paid for us.

i.         It is no small thing to enter into a covenant with God for our redemption in which the blood of His Son is the cost that made it possible.  We know how much God values our redemption, so we must also give it the highest esteem.

ii.        Notice the value of our redemption: “You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold…but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (vv. 18-19).

                                                             2.      The magnitude of what God has brought about for our sake should provoke a profound faith and hope in us.

a.       It was known to God “before the foundation of the world” that He would send Christ to die for our sake (see Acts 2:22-24; Eph. 1:3-6; 3:11).

b.       We have the privilege of living in the time after God carried out His plan so that we may believe in God through Christ.  Christ’s resurrection and glory give us faith and hope.

III.   BORN AGAIN OF THE WORD

A.      Being born again by the word of God is preparatory to the love of the brethren (1Pet. 1:22-23).

                                                             1.      Whereas verses13-16 indicate that obedience is to be our response to God’s offer of salvation, verse 22 indicates that love of the brethren is to be the result of our obedience.

a.       Obedience to the truth purifies our souls for a sincere (unhypocritical) love of the brethren.

i.         “Love of the brethren” in verse 22 is from the Greek word philadelphia, which is an affectionate love toward a brother or friend.

ii.        Impure souls are unprepared to offer pure, sincere love to others.  Obedience to God’s truth removes the impurities of the heart so that we can love others who have also obeyed God.

b.       Being thus prepared, Peter instructs us to “fervently love one another from the heart.”

i.         Having the affectionate love of the brethren (philadelphia), we are to practice active, good-will love (agape) from our hearts toward our brethren.  In other words, our affection must be transformed into deeds of kindness for brethren.

ii.        Such love is evident through Jesus, for He commanded His apostles and us to love one another as He loved us (John 13:34-35; 15:12-13; see also 1John 3:16; 4:7-21).

                                                             2.      Love of the brethren should come naturally to us because we have been born again of the word of God.

a.       The new birth of a Christian is a spiritual reincarnation.  It occurs at the point of conversion when a Christian believes and obeys the word of God and thus becomes a new creature (John 3:1-8; 2Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:10; 2Pet. 1:4).

b.       Love is a natural trait of our new creation because love is imperishable, just as the seed of our new creation, the word of God, is imperishable.

i.         The word of God is “living and abiding.”  It never fails, and it abides forever (see verses 24-25).

ii.        Similarly, Paul wrote that “love never fails” (1Cor. 13:8) and that love abides (1Cor. 13:13).

B.      Let us recognize that the word that was preached to us through the gospel is the word of God that abides forever (1Pet. 1:24-25).

                                                             1.      The eternal nature of God’s word is compared to the temporary nature of the flesh.

a.       These verses are quoted from Isaiah 40:24-25.

b.       Whereas all flesh must perish by nature, the word of God abides forever.

                                                             2.      This means that our new birth is for an eternal life, for the seed of our birth is the imperishable word of God.

a.       Our physical bodies cannot live forever, for they are born of the perishable seed of flesh and are not fit for the kingdom of God (1Cor. 15:50).

b.       However, our spirits can abide forever in the kingdom of God because they are born of the imperishable seed of God’s word.

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      We who are Christians have been redeemed from sin by the blood of Christ.  We have been born again by obedience to the word of God.  Therefore, we must behave in holiness as children of God and love one another.

B.      In our next lesson, we will consider 1Peter 2:1-10 – “Grow in Respect to Salvation.”