Reverent Fear 1 Peter 1:17-21
Reverent Fear Since we are God s children, we should desire to be like Him. The word holy comes from the Greek word hagios (hag -ee-os), which literally means to be pure or morally blameless. Hagios (hag -ee-os) can also mean to be consecrated or set apart.
Reverent Fear The words saint and holy come from the exact same Greek word, hagios (hag ee-os). Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Reverent Fear God provided us with salvation, He made us His children, and He called us to be holy because He is holy.
Reverent Fear 1 Peter 1:17-21 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
Reverent Fear 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Reverent Fear The main point in this passage is that, as believers, we are to live out our time on earth with a reverent fear of God. Peter is referring to a healthy fear of God that actually has great value for us.
Reverent Fear The three reasons Peter gives us for having a healthy reverent fear of God: First, Peter says, the God you address as Father...impartially judges according to each one's work (verse 17). Second, you were redeemed from your futile way of life with precious blood, the blood of Christ (verses 18-19).
Reverent Fear Third, your faith and hope are the result of God s eternal plan to raise and glorify Christ (verses 20-21).
I. God: Father & Impartial Judge (17) In 1 Peter 1:3-4, Peter said that God has caused us to be born again to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. In verse 3, Peter calls God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I. God: Father & Impartial Judge (17) In 1 Peter 1:14, Peter refers to believers as obedient children. Our loving Father is also a righteous judge, who impartially judges according to each one's work. Because God is just and holy, He doesn t show any favoritism.
I. God: Father & Impartial Judge (17) God s children don t have a license to sin. 1 Peter 1:14-16 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.
I. God: Father & Impartial Judge (17) We are called to live lives that are a reflection of His holy character. As a loving Father, God will discipline His children.
I. God: Father & Impartial Judge (17) Hebrews 12:7-11 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
I. God: Father & Impartial Judge (17) 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.
I. God: Father & Impartial Judge (17) 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
I. God: Father & Impartial Judge (17) Our Heavenly Father disciplines us when necessary. There are a number of Old Testament passages that tell us that a healthy fear of the Lord is valuable for us. Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom
I. God: Father & Impartial Judge (17) Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence Psalm 103:13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. Psalm 103:17 But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him
I. God: Father & Impartial Judge (17) Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life
I. God: Father & Impartial Judge (17) Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life
I. God: Father & Impartial Judge (17) When we fear God, we gain wisdom and confidence. Through a fear of the Lord we experience God s compassion and lovingkindness. Through a fear of the Lord we also learn to hate evil and we enjoy God s protection.
I. God: Father & Impartial Judge (17) Having a healthy fear of God doesn t mean that we don t love Him or that He doesn t love us. The relationship between God and His child is not one of an unhealthy dread; it s a relationship of a healthy respect.
II. A Precious Redemption (18-19) 1 Peter 1:18-19 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
II. A Precious Redemption (18-19) Conduct your life with fear of God s discipline, because you know that God redeemed you out of your sinful manner of life at a great cost the precious blood of Christ. In this section, Peter emphasizes the great value of our salvation.
II. A Precious Redemption (18-19) Not only is redeemed the key word in these two verses, redemption is one of the key aspects to understanding our salvation. Redemption deals specifically with the cost of salvation and the payment of that cost.
II. A Precious Redemption (18-19) By sending Jesus to die on the cross, God paid the price to free us from sin s bondage and curse. Redeemed is translated from the Greek word lutroō (loo-tro-ō). Lutroō (loo-tro-ō) means to release by paying a ransom or to deliver by the payment of a price.
II. A Precious Redemption (18-19) Primarily, Peter s imagery comes from the Old Testament events of the Passover. The Passover lamb was an illustration of an innocent sacrifice that redeemed those who were in bondage.
II. A Precious Redemption (18-19) in 1 Corinthians 5:7, Paul says, For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. As great as the redemption from Egypt was, the redemption Peter wrote about was infinitely greater.
II. A Precious Redemption (18-19) The blood of Jesus is precious in the sight of His Father. Therefore, it is inherently and infinitely valuable. So, we should desire to live holy lives to show thanks to God for the price that was paid to redeem us from our sin.
III. Raised for Our Sake (20-21) 1 Peter 1:20-21 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
III. Raised for Our Sake (20-21) These two verses emphasize the fact that it was God s eternal plan to send His Son to redeem His people. The word foreknown comes from the Greek word proginōskō (pro-gē-nō -skō). Proginōskō (pro-gē-nō -skō) means to have knowledge beforehand or to predestinate.
III. Raised for Our Sake (20-21) It was God s predetermined plan to send His Son to pay the price for our sins.
III. Raised for Our Sake (20-21) Acts 2:22-23 22 Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know
III. Raised for Our Sake (20-21) 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
III. Raised for Our Sake (20-21) For herein shines forth more fully the unspeakable goodness of God, that He anticipated our disease by the remedy of His grace, and provides a restoration to life before the first man had fallen into death. John Calvin
III. Raised for Our Sake (20-21) Although the Son eternally existed with the Father, He appeared in these last times for our sake. Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son The Son, sent by the Father, came to die the death that we deserved in order to save us from our sins.
III. Raised for Our Sake (20-21) Although the Son eternally existed with the Father, He appeared in these last times for our sake. Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son The Son, sent by the Father, came to die the death that we deserved in order to save us from our sins.