BIG IDEA:
4. Live For Eternity (1:13-21) — Since We Have Such a Glorious Living Hope,
Live For Eternity And Escape the Futility of the Human Condition
OVERVIEW:
a. LIVE IN HOPE BECAUSE OUR FOCUS MUST BE ON ETERNITY :13
b. LIVE IN HOLINESS BECAUSE THAT IS THE STANDARD FOR ETERNITY 14-16
c. LIVE IN FEAR BECAUSE ETERNITY MEANS ACCOUNTABILITY :17-21
INTRODUCTION:
I’ve never been much of an investor – never had the resources to dabble in the stock market – but I remember 1 important principle — Diversify, Diversify, Diversify; Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket
While we might not be big players in the stock market – we all are making important investment decisions every hour of every day – We are deciding how to spend our time — how are we going to live our lives??
Peter gives us some important counsel – and it is not what we would expect from the financial experts – He tells us: Put all your eggs in 1 basket and LIVE FOR ETERNITY – “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to at the revelation of Jesus Christ”
“Therefore” – Link to what has gone before
We won’t respond correctly unless we have understood the foundation Peter has laid in vs. 1-12;
We have been sovereignly called by God into a privileged position of being born into the family of God with the guaranteed future of:
1) a living hope, associated with the resurrection of Jesus Christ — Death is not our Destiny — we have been called to life
2) a protected eternal inheritance — better than any inheritance this world could ever offer
3) a complete salvation — not some partial deal where we still have the warts and blemishes of sin
The path to glory winds thru some troubling trials and intense suffering – but our faith is being refined and focused more and more on the person of Christ — the object of our love and devotion and the source of our joy and rejoicing
Our privileged position in this NT Church Age (where God has revealed these precious truths about our guaranteed future) is the envy of:
1) the OT Prophets — who could only predict the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow
2) the NT Apostles — who only dealt with isolated fragments of the entire jigsaw puzzle
3) the holy angels — who have not experienced salvation and a personal relationship with the the indwelling Holy Spirit as we have
Let’s think about what life would be like without the Living Hope as our focus; our Perspective; our Orientation –
Solomon in Ecclesiastes spells out the futility of the perspective of simply living under the sun — without reference to eternity
(J. Sidlow Baxter) 10 Vanities that would frustrate us and condemn us to futility:
1) The vanity of human wisdom — the wise and the foolish end up the same = in the grave – So what’s the point??
2) The vanity of human labor — The worker is no better off than the shirker in the end
3) The vanity of human purpose (cf. Management by Objective) — Although man can plan all he wants, it will be God who actually brings about His purposes
4) The vanity of human competition — You can strive to be #1 — but the end result is envy rather than joy; people backstabbing you
5) The vanity of human greed — You are never satisfied; the rich man builds his barns and stores his goods, but always wants a bigger barn — elusive goal; you can never get enough
6) The vanity of human fame — brief, uncertain, soon forgotten — Who cares who Micky Mantle is today??
7) The vanity of entertainment — Let’s escape into a world of fun and entertainment — only a temporary denial of the pain of reality
8) The vanity of human awards — the bad are often honored; there is no justice
9) The vanity of human relationships — How do others treat you?? Don’t set your hopes on this or you will be disillusioned
10) The vanity of doing your best— nobody more frustrated than a perfectionist — We can’t hit the target
How do we deal with our failures??
Nothing wrong with some of these — but must be viewed from eternal perspective
Eccles. 3: 11 God has set eternity in the heart of every man so that we are restless until we find our rest and fulfillment in Him
Erland Waltner: Holiness, reverence, and love are the three major ethical qualities that Peter here uses to lay a solid groundwork for the further lofty patterns of faithful discipleship that he develops later in this letter.
OUTLINE
Hope Changes the Lifestyle, 1:13-21
1:13 The Alignment of the Mind
1:14-16 Obedient Children of a Holy God
1:17-21 Reverent Fear in Redeemed People
Daniel Doriani: Between verses 13 and 21, Peter describes what happens when we hope in the grace of Jesus. We no longer conform to evil desires (1 Peter 1:14). We exercise self-control rather than indulging every urge. Further, because “he who called you is holy,” we are holy (1:15). That leads to God’s central command: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1:16, quoting Lev. 11:44–45; 19:2).
Peter describes two obstacles to holiness. His people conformed themselves to their passions, and they followed the futile way of life inherited from their ancestors (1 Peter 1:14). As a counter, they must set their hope on Christ and remember their identity as obedient children of the holy God.
Biblical holiness entails a person’s righteousness, justice, and separation from sin. If a man is holy, he is set apart from this world, for God. Later, Peter will insist that holiness manifest itself in positive actions by masters, servants, husbands, and wives (1 Peter 2:18–3:17). That can lead to social disruption and trouble for the person who is holy (4:1–4). We are strongest when we know how to separate from worldliness while staying engaged with the world.
Peter states three reasons why believers should be holy.
First, we should be holy because the God who called us is holy (1 Peter 1:15–16). God will remake us in his image, in the likeness of the Son (Rom. 8:29; Phil. 3:21; 1 John 3:2). We should therefore be holy because it is both our obligation and our future to conform to God’s character. As we see his glory, we become like him (2 Cor. 3:18).
Second, Peter notes that his people should be holy for this reason: “Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear” (1 Peter 1:17). Peter here combines two concepts that we needlessly separate: God is both Father and Judge. It is a great privilege to call God Father (Matt. 6:9; Luke 11:2; Rom. 8:15). But this intimate relation hardly exempts us from obedience. On the contrary, Peter declares (to quote the ESV translation of 1:17), you must “conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.” That is, while we live as strangers in this world, we both think of God with familial love, as Father, and retain an awe of the mighty and holy Lord. C. E. B. Cranfield observes:
It is of God’s infinite condescension that you are allowed to call him “Father.” You are not to presume on his goodness, but rather let it make you reverent and humble. He has not ceased to be the impartial Judge of all men. The more truly, the more intimately, we know him, the more of awe and reverence we shall feel.
The fear of the Lord, including fear of his justice, is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7; Matt. 10:28; Heb. 4:1). Since human fathers also judge their children, this joining of intimacy and justice should not surprise us. Indeed, just as human children both respect and obey the parents who love them, so those who call God Father should love and obey him. If we seek his benefits, if we invoke him as Father, we should act like his children and meet his standards for the family.
This leads to a third reason for holiness. God the Father also “judges each man’s work impartially” (1 Peter 1:17). He neither looks at appearances nor plays favorites. He judges our deeds, and nothing is hidden from him. Jesus states that “he will reward each person according to what he has done” (Matt. 16:27). Paul agrees: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10; cf. Jer. 17:10; Matt. 12:37; Rev. 20:12). This in no way nullifies justification by faith. But God will judge and Jesus will be proved right when he says, “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:16, 20 ESV). This is not salvation by works. It reflects the great principle that our works follow our heart commitments so that genuine faith will show itself in words and deeds. In Psalm 62, David says that the LORD is his rock and salvation and that he “will reward each person according to what he has done” (Ps. 62:12). Because David trusts the Lord, he knows his works will reflect that. God will see them and be pleased.
For this reason, Peter says, “conduct yourselves”—create a way of life—marked by reverent fear of God “throughout the time of your exile” (1 Peter 1:17 ESV; the NIV uses “live . . . as strangers”). The term exile is paroikia. There are two Greek words for the idea of settling in a place. One is katoikia, which signifies settling down. The other, which Peter uses here, is paroikia. It means “to settle temporarily.” Since we are sojourners, resident aliens, in this world, we never fully settle or perfectly fit here. We should neither expect nor attempt to do so.
I. (:13) LIVE IN HOPE BECAUSE OUR FOCUS MUST BE ON ETERNITY
The only way to escape the Futility of the Human Condition =
Since We Have Such a Glorious Living Hope, Live For Eternity
Erland Waltner: The word therefore leads into three imperatives, which appear as participles in the Greek:
(1) prepare your minds for action,
(2) discipline yourselves, and
(3) set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.
A. Put All Our Eggs in One Basket = Eternity — “fix your hope completely”
- We don’t have to hedge our bets with God
- We don’t have to provide for our own security
- We already have a golden parachute – our future is guaranteed
Very important for these suffering Christians – they have made a commitment; they are paying the price – Will it be worth it??
Cf. Peter’s question – Lord, we have left all to follow you – Did we do the right thing??
(Matt. 19:27-30)
Rom. 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us”
B. Bank On the Future = Eternity — “on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ”
The fountainhead of hope is the death, burial, resurrection and 2nd coming of Christ
Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, insructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Christ Jesus”
we have tasted of God’s grace and experienced its transforming power in varying degrees — when we are completely transformed into the likeness of Christ – that will be glory indeed
the older our bodies get, the more we long for that perfect redemption body
our hope is not focused on keeping this body in a Fountain of Youth state = impossible – but rather on Christ giving us a resurrection body
“being brought to you” — present tense – it’s already on the way
It’s impossible to fix our hope on eternity while stockpiling all our resources for present luxury and comfort and future security;
Where our treasure is, there our heart will be also
Peter Davids: They are to hope totally in their reward at the return of Christ instead of setting their hope on the transitory and corrupt (as 1:24-25 characterizes them in closing this section) people and rewards of this age. Peter has already pointed out the centrality of hope, of course, in 1:3 (as has Paul in 1 Cor. 13:13; Rom. 5:2-4; etc.), and will mention it again in 1:21 and 3:15. Their hope is to be in the “grace” that the revelation of Jesus Christ will bring to them. This use of grace for the consummation of salvation in the final revelation of Christ is also found later in the final prayer of the Lord’s Supper in Did. 10:6, “Let grace come and let this world pass away. … Marana tha, Amen.” The revelation of Christ brings in him the fulfillment of his promises, for example, an inheritance (1:4) or salvation (1:5, 9). That is, it brings the full experience of Christ’s favor or grace, and therefore is to be prayed for and longed for. Note that as in 1:7 the revelation of Jesus is spoken of rather than his coming or his rule, for Peter does not envisage Jesus lacking power or authority or even presence in the community now, but rather sees that what is needed is for this hidden rule to become completely and universally manifest.
C. Roll Up Our Sleeves — “gird your minds for action”
the picture here is of gathering up the long Oriental outer garment and tucking it into the belt around your waist so that you are ready to take a journey or get to work;
- roll up your sleeves and get to work;
- pack your bags and be ready to move out
Same imagery used in Luke 12:35 “be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit”
be ready when the Master returns – time of accountability and journey to glory
can’t coast thru life in Neutral, or even Cruise Control – no spiritual sluggishness here
Put it in Drive
Not: gird your minds for thinking, or for dreaming….ACTION
Danger: of going to excess; becoming unbalanced
D. Exercise Self-control — “keep sober in spirit” – keep your wits about you
don’t lose your heads; don’t go off the deep end in fanatical presumption
cf. The Thessalonian believers who quit their jobs and sat around waiting for the return of Christ
Peter Davids: For Peter the cares of this life and the pressure of persecution can “intoxicate” the Christian and distract his or her focus just as easily as wine might (as Jesus also taught, Mark 4:16-19). The need of the hour is clear judgment and a mind and will prepared to resist anything that would deflect them from a hope set on Jesus’ appearing.
characteristic of cults – they can’t keep life in balance
Hard to balance intensity of mission with self-control of attitude
Peter wants us to be level-headed about our commitment to eternity
fulfilling the tedious daily tasks and responsibilities must be transformed from the drudgery of futility to the balanced side of living for eternity – by an attitude of obeying Jesus Christ with a thankful spirit in order to be an example and testimony to others
(Peter will have more to say later about the virtues of commendable conduct — in the home, in the workplace, in the community, etc.)
The everyday details of life take their significance from eternity
Transition: Live in Hope = Our Perspective
Now look at our Character and how it impacts our Conduct
II. (:14-16) LIVE IN HOLINESS BECAUSE THAT IS THE STANDARD FOR ETERNITY
Hope motivates us to live for eternity
Holiness guides us — gives us the standard
A. Be Consistent With Our New Family Identity = “children of obedience” — chip off the old block
Viewed Negatively —
The goal of every parent: to have obedient children
Have nothing to do with the former lusts of our old family identity – when we were children of Satan, walking in darkness, in bondage to sin, friends with the world
1 Peter 4:1-6 spells out in more detail what he means here
2 things are contrasted: the lusts of men and the will of God – they don’t match; you can’t pursue both
“yours in your ignorance” – not talking about their IQ – their condition of not knowing God and His holiness; now they are Enlightened – the grace of Revelation and understanding
Peter Davids: The problem with desire is not that one enjoys or needs things in the material world—Scripture is neither ascetic nor Platonic, for it does not believe that the physical world or pleasure is evil in itself or a lower level of existence—but that the goods of this age become the goals one seeks rather than means to the goal of serving God. Desire in the biblical view is also totally undifferentiating, for it makes no difference to desire whether the property belongs to you or to a neighbor or the man or woman is the one bound to you by covenant love or not. Desire goes after anything that satisfies the drive. It is indeed these proximate desires (tempered by the wish to avoid undesirable consequences of certain behavior) that control most people, and to conform to these desires is to slip right back into the life-style that the Christian should have abandoned at conversion.
B. Be Consistent With the Character of God Who Called Us
Viewed Positively
God is Holy
— in terms of transcendent = above His creation; separate from all that is created and earthly
- the High and Holy one that inhabits Eternity
- a Holiness of Divine Majesty
Exod. 15:11 Who is like Thee among the gods, O Lord? Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness?”
the angels cover their faces when they adore Him
— in terms of moral purity = usually how we think of holiness
no darkness mixed with the light; total whiteness, no black
The Fundamental moral attribute of God is Holiness
controls the exercise of His other attributes
What is our standard for Holiness??
a) Not the world – doesn’t take much to be holy in comparison with the world
self-righteousness – swelling our chest and thanking God we are not like that poor reprobate who did some awful deed on the 11:00 news last night
b) Not other Christians in our general circle of friends –
-
- whether at school (cf. Christian schools – peer pressure to be an average Christian)
- whether at work
- whether in church
I can do “such and such” because Joe does such and such
cf. Attitude of How holy do I have to be?? How close can I get to that line that divides the world from Christians = wrong approach
c) Not even the best Christian role models we know
all our helpful; all our deficient; none are the standard
leads to legalism
d) All are inadequate – We need to go back to the life of Christ – to see Holiness Incarnate
Have we become so accustomed to sin that we no longer are righteously indignant??
Does nothing shock us anymore??
What does God mean when He says He is Holy??
Can’t talk about the holiness of God without reference to Isaiah’s vision in Chapt. 6
We have lost the sense of the Majesty of God – of God sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted – we want to know God as our father and friend in a familiar sense – but God is also the One who inhabits Eternity –
We cannot stand before such a one apart from forgiveness of sin
God as Judge — connected to Holiness of God — importance He places on moral purity
Do we really want to be Holy??
III. (:17-21) LIVE IN FEAR BECAUSE ETERNITY MEANS ACCOUNTABILITY
A. (:17a) Appreciate God as Both Our Father and Our Judge
And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man’s work, conduct yourselves in fear
Erland Waltner: Since they call God Father, however, they are to be aware that God is also judge and, indeed, an impartial one. A judge discerns right from wrong, truth from falsehood, integrity from deception. Their confessions of faith and also the shape of their conduct are open to this Father-judge. Hence, it is appropriate for Peter to call them to a life of reverent fear.
B. (:17b) Appreciate the Temporary Condition of Our Present Earthly Life
during the time of your stay upon earth;
Peter Davids: The term “sojourning” is used in the OT to indicate those who do not have the rights of citizenship but are temporary foreign residents of an area (Lev. 25:23; 1 Chron. 29:15; Pss. 33:5; 38:13; 118:19). Like Israel in Egypt (Acts 13:17) Christians are foreigners on earth. Since they belong to another land (Eph. 2:19; Heb. 11:9; 13:14), they are not citizens here (Phil. 3:20). If they recognize the temporary nature of their present life, they will be better able to live in the light of their ultimate judgment and permanent state.
C. (:18-21) Appreciate the Infinite Cost of Our Redemption
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. 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.
- Its Price
a. Not perishable things like silver or gold
b. Precious blood of Christ
2. Its Purpose — Deliverance from the futility of the human condition
3. Its Place in God’s Eternal Plan (:20-21)