1 Peter 1:17-25 17 If ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Peter is addressing the “Strangers scattered throughout.” He is in the process of trying to comfort and encourage them in the midst of great persecution.
Peter began his letter by reminding these Christians they were…
- “Strangers in a foreign land” (v 1).
- “the chosen of God” (v 2).
- “A people with a living hope” (v 3-4).
- “Secure in Christ” (v 5-12).
In the remainder of the first chapter, Peter takes up the theme of “What to do while on this journey.”
While on this journey we are to...
#1. GLORIFY GOD (v 17-21).
Pass the time without unnecessary temporal attachments. Peter reminds us “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.” We are Strangers & Sojourners here.
Pass the time in fear [Fob'-os] = a reverential awe.
· The Fear of God is,… the continual awareness that I am in the presence of a holy, just, and almighty God, and that every thought, word, action and deed is open before Him and is being judged by Him continually.
We should glorify the Lord because of what He has done for us?
- Divine Favor (v 2).
- Abundant Grace & Peace (v 2).
- The Holy Spirit (v 2).
- Salvation (v 3).
- The richest inheritance imaginable (v 4).
Those who are saved should willingly honor the Lord (v 17).
- Because of the cost of our redemption (v 18-20; 23-25).
- Because of God’s purpose in redemption.
- Saved from “vain conversation” = aimless life (v 18).
- Saved to a life of “faith and hope…in God” (v 21).
While on this journey we are to...
#2. PURSUE PURITY (v 22). “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:”
Key phrases: “Purified your souls” [past tense]; “Pure heart” [present & future].
A need for purity (v 15-16) “as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
· Purity/Holiness: Holy (hagios) means to be righteous, pure, virtuous, mature, and complete; to be separated and different from the world.
· Conversation: manner of life: outward expression of our inward nature.
Psalm 119:1 “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.”
2 Timothy 2:22 “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
The avenue of purity (v 22) “In obeying the truth.”
The agent of purity (v 22) “Through the Spirit.”
The answer of purity (v 22) “Love of the brethren.”
While on this journey we are to...
#3. LOVE LAVISHLY (v 22). “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:” Jeremiah 31:3
The Love of God is a continuous theme in the Bible,.. from Adam’s fall to the Bible’s last invitation.
We have been born again as a result of God’s Love (v 23). John 3:16;
Isaiah 38:17 “Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.”
God’s Love Is...
- Unmerited. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
- Universal. John 3:16
- Unfailing. “He loved them unto the end” John 13:1
- Unsearchable. “That ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend…what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19
- Unequaled. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” 1 John 3:1
- Unquenchable. “The love of Christ constraineth us.” 2 Cor 5:14
- Unselfish. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
The Quality of our Love (v 22). “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:”
Our love for one another is to be…
- Brotherly love = loving affection.
- Unfeigned love = authentic, sincere, genuine, without hypocrisy.
