Intro Illustration: David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group, discusses some disheartening research concerning the failure of Christians in our day to remain distinct: "In virtually every study we conduct, representing thousands of interviews every year, born again Christians (talking about people who say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that they say is important and that they believe they will go to heaven at death because they have confessed their sin and accepted Christ as Savior, much more than people who just claim to be Christians) fail to display much attitudinal or behavior evidence of transformed lives. For instance, based on a study released in 2007, we found that most of the lifestyle activities of born again Christians were statistically equivalent to those of non born again people. When asked to identify their activities over the last 30 days, born again believers were just as likely to visit a pornographic website, to take something that did not belong to them, to consult a medium or psychic, to physically fight or abuse someone, to have consumed enough alcohol to be considered legally drunk, to have used an illegal nonprescription drug, to have said something to someone that was not true, to have gotten back at someone for something he or she did, and to have said mean things behind another person's back." (Davon Huss Pleasant Ridge Church of Christ)
Sermon Text: 1 Peter 1:17-21 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
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1. Our Life Judged
1 Peter 1:17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; NKJV
a. "Our Calling Upon The Father"- God favors no one. When he sees as individuals and we stand before God on our own life. God has judged each and every person and found us guilty of disobedience in our life. In John 9 there was a man who was blind from birth. His disciples asked Jesus if this man was being punished because of his sins committed by his parents, Jesus response to this question was that neither him or his parents had sin. We do not face judgment because of others but we stand before God and He see us we are. The Book of Revelation speaks of the "Great White Throne of Judgment" and that all will stand before God to be judge,(Rev.20:11). Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2Cor 5:10) Peter writing to us as a Christian when we call on God that He Judges us without any bias or partiality. That God judges individually as we are, how we live and represent His Son. Our lives should be and are a reflection of Jesus in the world. When people see us they should see Jesus in the way we live. 1 Peter 1:15-16 ":... you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." NKJV. God wants to live lives according to His word. In 1965 I enlisted in the U.S. Army, as part of that enlistment I was required to agree to live by the Uniform Code Of Military Justice (USMJ). My daily living was directed by the USMJ. As a Christian Soldier there is a book that should direct a Christians live, it's called the Bible.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. NKJV
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. NKJV
b. Our Judgment of The Father-Peter states that we will be judged by our Heavenly Father who judges us "without partiality". The word used in the Greek (ap-ros-o-pol-ape'-tos) implies that the judgment God uses is not due to the respect to the person.
Gal 2:6 ".........God shows personal favoritism to no man ........." NKJV
c. Our Conduct- Our conduct is not to be perfect for we are unable to live a sinless life but, we should strive to please our Father in Heaven. Abraham was untruthful, Jacob was a deceiver, Moses was a murder, David was an adulterer, murder and a deceiver yet all of these found favor in the eyes of God because of their faith.
Rom 5:1-2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, NKJV
Text Illustration:
In the summer of 1805, a number of Indian chiefs and warriors met in council at Buffalo Creek, New York, to hear a presentation of the Christian message by a Mr. Cram from the Boston Missionary Society. After the sermon, a response was given by Red Jacket, one of the leading chiefs. Among other things, the chief said: …
‘Brother, we are told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, makes them honest and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what you have said.’
[Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Hopeful (Wheaton, IL: SP Publications, Victor Books, 1982), p. 57. Quoted in Hope in Hurtful Times, by Charles Swindol From Gene Gregory’s Sermon: The Way God Thinks of You
2. Our Life Redeemed
1 Peter 1:18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, NKJV
a. Redemption Price- The first 21 verses of 1 Peter could be summed this way (vs.3-12) living a life of Holiness and verses (vs.13-21) fear for God. Not a fear of bodily harm but a respect and concern as we struggle to live a life before the righteous God (1Pet 1:16). While we are unable to even come close to a sinless life God the Righteous Judge commutes the sentence of death to an eternal life with Him as a result of our redemption price paid by His Son Jesus. The price for our redemption was very high, God sent His Son in the form of a Man that He (Jesus Christ) would redeem us from the penalty of sin. "We owed a price we could not pay, Jesus Paid a price He did not owe.
Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. NKJV
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV
b. Redeemed Sin- In Luke 1:68 the word "redeemed" is made up of two Greek words Luke 1:68 (epoíeesen) and (loo'-tro-sis) these words could be translated as "have purged" and "from a ransoming" Through the "shedding of blood" by Christ on the cross He (Jesus) has purged us from dead works (Heb 9:14) and paid the price for our disobedience (sin) to a everlasting inheritance kept and reserved by God Himself (1Pet 1:4).
Luke 1:68 "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, NKJV
Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? NKJV
Gal 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), NKJV
Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, NKJV
c. Redemption Inheritance Not Tradition- Our redemption is older than this world. Peter states that our redemption was "foreordained before the foundation of the world" (1Pet 1:20).. When God created all of creation we were on His mind. Our deliverance did not come by mere tradition but it is a result of a sacrifice, not an animal sacrifice given by a high priest taken from men. This High priest was not appointed by men but, our High Priest is Jesus Christ "offered a more excellent sacrifices" (Heb 9:14) and paid the price for our disobedience not for just a year, but paid it "once and for all" as a eternal redemption.(Heb 9:12)
Heb 5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. NKJV
Heb 5:5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You." NKJV
Heb 9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. NKJV
Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? NKJV
3. Our Faith and Hope Is Jesus
1 Peter 1:21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. NKJV
a. Our Redemption was Unbelievable Cost- The price paid for our redemption cannot be measured in monetary value, it can't be measured by any standard we can imagine. It cost God His only Son who paid the price (redeemed) us for not His sin but He became the propitiation (1Jn 2:2) for our sin.
1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. NKJV
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. NKJV
Text Illustration:
"Redemption is a word implying helplessness. The picture of redemption is of one held captive by forces that cannot be overcome. Only a third party can intervene to rescue. Redemption never comes by our own efforts. Spiritually, redemption cannot happen without a Redeemer. This word is precious because it reminds followers of Jesus that relationship with Him has been purchased at great cost." (Sermon Central)
b. Our Faith and Hope In God-It is only through "faith" can we obtain an eternal redemption. Just as the Old Testament saints though they had not seen their salvation, Jesus Christ they believed God and His Word and they were justified by their faith. It was not the law but only our faith that secures our eternal inheritance. (Heb 11:6)
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. NKJV
Text Illustration:
I heard the story of three guys that were hiking in the woods. They came to a raging river. Not sure what to do next the first guy looked to the heavens and said, “God please make me strong enough to get across this river.” Poof he had big strong arms and legs and he jumped in and began swimming. Two hours later after a fierce struggle he made it to the other shore.
The second guy seeing that looked to the heavens and said, “Dear God give me enough tools to cross this river.” Poof he was given a rowboat. An hour later after nearly capsizing he made it to the other shore.
The third guy said, “Dear God please make me smart enough to cross this river.” Poof God made him a woman…..and then he looked at the map, walked five minutes upstream and crossed the bridge.”
Living for Jesus every day is the proof of our Eternal Security and points others to Our Redeemer Jesus Christ. Our only hope is in the redemptive power of the Blood of Christ. Peter in Matt 16:16 Peter while speaking to Jesus said "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" Our redemption and salvation is in no other than Jesus.
Matt 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
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