Summary: A Study in First Peter

1 Peter 1:13-16

Where is your hope?

I. What are the truths that require action

A. You are loved by God! vs. 2

B. You are sanctified by the Spirit of God! vs. 2

C. You are born again! vs. 3

D. You have a living hope! vs. 3

E. You have an inheritance! vs. 4

F. You will face trials! vs. 6

G. You believe in a real person, Jesus! vs. 7

H. You are able to rejoice greatly! vs. 9

II. Since these statements are true, what should we do? vss. 13-16

A. Prepare our minds for action. vs. 13

B. Be self-controlled. vs. 13

C. Set your hopes on Jesus. vs. 13

D. Do not be conformed to our evil desires. vs. 14

E. Be holy as God is holy. vss. 15-16

III. What does the language say?

A. The different texts:

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. NIV

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, NASB

Behave like obedient children. Don’t let your lives be controlled by your desires, as they used to be. CEV

Live as children of obedience to God; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires that governed you in your former ignorance when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel AB

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ESV

As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; NKJV

Be like children who obey. Do not desire to sin like you used to when you did not know any better. NLV

Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. The Message

B. The different word meanings

Conform – "to fashion or shape one thing like another," –

Silly Putty

Ignorance – “not the "ignorance" which mitigates guilt); of the former unregenerate condition of those who became believers (RV, "in the time of your ignorance")”

IV. So how are you to apply this to yourself today?

A. You are commanded to obey –

Shows your great need of the cross

B. How should you obey?

1. Not in part but in all things

2. Even if it seems contrary to our thinking

a. Abraham/Isaac

b. Judges

3. Out of love and devotion

a. Voluntarily

b. Constantly

c. Readily

C. Why should you obey?

1. He is our Maker (Clay and Potter)

2. He knows what we need

3. God’s laws are beacons to your life

V. So what now?

A. As you move to obey – you understand the cross more

B. As you obey more – the Gospel is seen in your life

C. You should ask yourselves: Is this how I am now living?