Sermon Central
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God Has Done The Work Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Mar 16, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: We are perishable, we are not eternal, and we will one day die and be gone from this Earth. But, something does remain and it remains for all of eternity … the Word of God. This is what we've been taught and what we must rely on, fully!
“God has done the work”
1 Peter Sermon Series, Part 3
Introduction
- His name, Cephas, in the Syriac language, means “rock”
-- One of the original 12 apostles (walked on water)
-- Was at the Transfiguration of Jesus
- Became a leader of the apostles in the first church (Acts 2-4)
-- Performed miracles of healing (Acts 3:6)
- Personal favorite: When Jesus asked him "Who do you say I am?" Peter made that famous statement, "You are the Christ (Messiah) the Son of the Living God." (Matthew 16:15-16)
Last time …
- (v8) Because we have not seen him … we still love Him!
-- Why is it critical that we understand this? Because it is our command!
- We are filled with His glory because we believe the hope we have within us!
-- APP: It is when we focus on ourselves that we lose hope and lose focus!!
-- HUGE: (v9) When we receive it is the culmination of all that we have lived for!
- What Christ has done on the cross, and promised, is revealed in this one verse
-- “… you ARE receiving the end result” … it’s a constant process, always
-- Receiving is an active word, not past or present … but current tense
-- Peter exclaims: “Hey man … you are GETTING what Jesus promised!”
- Read 1 Peter 1:13-25
∆ Point 1 – Set your eyes … (13-16)
- When Peter writes, “therefore”, he is tying in the previous verses for us (v13)
-- We are preparing to receive the salvation and hope promised by Christ
-- We received this hope when we committed to knowing Christ as Lord
- THEREFORE … with this knowledge before us, he gives us two commands:
-- First, prepare your minds for action (be disciplined to hear and do)
-- Second, be self-controlled (be prepared and realistic about what lies ahead)
- Even in the great and wonderful times, it is easy to lose hope and focus
-- Not to mention what happens to us in the difficult times of life
-- Our tendency is to exaggerate what is going on; it is human nature
-- We lean AWAY from spiritual concerns and TOWARDS physical ones
- Example: “The sky is falling and the world is now ending!”
- Reality: “It’s raining.”
- Peter says to “set your hope on the grace to be brought”; this is from Christ
-- Set your heart, your focus, your worries, your joy, on the One who brings hope
-- The final destination for the believer is in what Christ has in store
- John 14:2, “My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”
-- APP: Jesus never said, “In YOUR house …” - We hope for what God has!
- Peter calls us to live as “obedient children” (v14)
-- We are called to not conform to the things of evil; to the world’s issues
-- This is how we lived when we were ignorant (means, did not know)
-- APP: Now, we have been educated – we know – we must live/act like it
- Don’t be deceived here: it is an attitude adjustment that Peter just gave us
-- We are no longer ignorant (can’t say we didn’t know); so live better
-- This doesn’t mean full bank accounts and all that nonsense; but a better life
-- Live above the noise; focus intently on the One who brings you hope
- How? (v16) God instructed us to, “Be holy, because I am holy” (Lev 11:44)
-- Nothing matters more than God’s holiness; and nothing is higher than it either
-- The OT and NT speak very clearly about this, and we should not miss it
-- Holiness requires an attitude change, a decision to not be controlled by us
- God’s command to His people is (para): “We should live to be like Him.”
- God is Holy, that is a done deal; we are His people … act like it
-- 1 Cor 6:20, “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies”
- TRANS: If we set our eyes on Him, we learn a simple truth
∆ Point 2 – It’s not about us … (17-21)
- IMP: God takes our character and its development VERY seriously
-- We call on Him as Lord, as Father, and Peter calls Him judge in v17
-- There is a direct tie in here: The One who is Holy is the One who judges all
-- Being part of God’s family is a great privilege; but it takes commitment
- So, if we are His, we will live in a way that reflects Him b/c we want to honor
