Well, good evening. It's a privilege to be here tonight and to go through this passage with you all.
And I'm just going to commit the time to God in prayer before we start.
God, Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you that it is available in our own language
and in many different translations and versions.
And we pray that tonight as we go through it, that you will speak to each one of us
and that we will grow in our Christian faiths.
And that if we aren't a Christian here tonight, we will be challenged as to what that means
and the response that we need to give to that question.
So we ask your blessing on this tonight and pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
So we're looking at 1 Peter over seven weeks.
And last week, Luca took us through the first 12 verses of 1 Peter.
So it's always good to know the context of what we are studying.
So in case you weren't here last week, 1 Peter is a circular letter written to non-Jewish Christians.
By that, I mean it was a letter written to be passed around the churches in Asia Minor,
which is modern day Turkey.
And it was for them to read to the congregation.
And it was mainly to the Gentiles or the non-Jews.
It was written during the reign of Emperor Nero, which is around 54 to 68 AD.
And so it's only 20 to 30 years after Jesus' ascension from the earth.
And it's called 1 Peter as it was written by the Apostle Peter.
And the main purpose of his writing was to encourage and challenge the Christians
to be distinct disciples in the world, even in the face of suffering.
So if you were here last week, you should have left thinking,
our salvation is great.
Our home is in heaven.
That is where we're going to.
We are to rejoice in this fact, even though we might be suffering right now.
The knowledge of our salvation and that our home is in heaven
puts our current suffering into perspective.
And it's from this point that I want us to start tonight.
The title for this week is Be Holy.
There we go. Lovely.
Be Holy.
So I think to start off, we need to know what that means
because holy is a difficult word.
We don't use it in everyday language.
So it's important to get to grips with it.
So Oxford Dictionary, always helpful,
defines holy as being devoted to the service of God
morally and spiritually excellent.
But as with many words, they can mean various things
in various contexts and situations.
So here we're going to translate holy as sacred,
fast forwarding, sacred, pure, morally blameless, set apart.
And I want you to keep this definition in your head
as we go through the passage tonight.
We are called to live holy lives as Christians in the world.
We're to be representatives of God,
blameless and morally upright among men.
We've been set apart by God,
made right before him to a life of distinct discipleship.
We are to be holy.
Have you ever held up a white shirt or maybe a bed sheet
and you think, oh yeah, that still looks good and clean,
only to put it beside a brand new one
and you find in fact it's more slightly yellow than white.
Now as much as the adverts of Daz or Purcell
will have you believe,
you can never get a shirt back to its original white.
Not sure if you can see that,
but one of them is slightly more yellow than the other.
We were once sinners.
We were once sinners dressed in filthy rags.
But as Christians, we have been made new,
clean, as white as snow by the Lord Jesus.
Now we aren't to go against this and roll around in the mud as it were.
We're to live holy lives,
giving praise to God for the position he has put us into.
We're to constantly compare ourselves,
our conduct and words,
to our ultimate example who is the Lord Jesus,
who lived a perfect life here on this very same earth that we are on.
So it's a large passage tonight
and I'll not be going through each part in detail,
but I would highly recommend you go home this week
and study it through the course of the week.
There's so much that we can take from this passage.
We're going to roughly split it in half
and we're going to look at 1.13 to chapter 2, verse 3
with the heading of,
we have been made holy
and looking at 2.4 to 10
with the heading of,
so we are to be holy.
And hopefully that will make more sense by the end.
So let's start with a question.
Are you holy?
We are called to be holy.
Read with me in verse 15.
But just as he who called you is holy,
so be holy in all you do.
For it is written,
be holy because I am holy.
The second part of this verse is referenced in Leviticus 11.44
where God is commanding the Israelites to be holy
and not to defile themselves by eating unclean animals.
You can check that up later on.
If the Israelites did eat an animal that was unclean,
then they themselves would become unclean
and they would have to follow the specific commandments
to be made clean again.
Now if you're a Christian,
this is what is being asked of you.
We are called to be holy.
We're called to be clean in the sense of not sinning
and following God's instructions.
And this isn't something we can nod along to and go,
yeah, I'll get to that at some point in the future.
We're to live a life that is completely different
to those around us.
We are to live lives which shine for Jesus
by both what we do and what we don't do.
Our words and actions are to point to the one
by whom we have life and have it to the full,
as Graham was telling us this morning.
So what does that entail, practically speaking?
Helpfully, this passage takes us through
what this looks like.
If you follow me down the passage in verse 14,
we see that as obedient children,
do not conform to the evil desires you had.
Verse 17, live out your time as foreigners here
in reverent fear.
Verse 22, love one another deeply from the heart.
Chapter 2, verse 1, rid yourselves of all malice
and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
And 2, verse 2, crave pure spiritual milk
so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
Going back to the context of the passage,
which is always good practice.
Peter was writing to people who were suffering
and they were about to suffer even more severely
in the short-term future.
How much of a greater impact would these actions
we've just heard have on those
who are watching these Christians?
When times are tough, it doesn't give us an excuse
just to ignore these commandments
and just do whatever we want.
We're to be shining lights in the world
and it is in the darkest places
that the light shines brightest.
Let's go in through them.
Do you obediently do what God says at all times,
fleeing from sin and your old ways,
as verse 14 would tell us?
We have been made new.
We have a fresh start.
We can't go back to being slaves to sin,
letting our evil wants take over
and rule our lives.
Do you live as a foreigner,
not fitting in because you don't actually
belong here anymore,
as verse 17 would tell us?
Our home is in heaven.
In Edinburgh, you can spot a tourist a mile away.
Maybe that they're wearing unusual clothes
or speaking in a different language
or maybe they're actually just looking up and around
rather than at their phone or the pavement.
Basically, it's because of what they're saying
and what they're doing.
We have to be the same.
By our actions and words,
we are to be radically different in the world,
making people stop and think,
why are they different?
Why do they bless others
when they are suffering themselves?
We're to love one another deeply from the heart,
as verse 22 would tell us.
We're to be selfless in order to serve others
and put them first.
We're not to be friendly and loving on the surface,
but underneath, envious and spiteful.
We're to flee from all talk,
which puts others down.
It goes against who we are now as Christians
and isn't true or is hurtful to others.
2 verse 1 tells us we're to flee from those things.
There's always the phrase,
sticks and stones may break my bones,
but words will never hurt me.
How untrue is that phrase?
Words and what people say to each other
can be the most damaging of all.
I once had a guy who'd recently been started
going along to a church
and he said to me,
why would I want to become a Christian?
They all speak so badly about one another.
That's not to be us.
We're to be pure in word,
building each other up
and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Finally, we're to crave spiritual milk.
That's God's word
in order to grow as Christians.
2 verse 2 tells us.
Being a Christian means to be Christ-like
and we can only be Christ-like
in our words and deeds
by learning more about him.
That's why it's so important
to read your Bible
and to come to occasions like this
where the Bible is taught.
The bracelets were popular
and they still are.
Say, WWJD,
what would Jesus do?
That should be our first thought
in any situation that we face.
He is our ultimate example and guide.
Now this is no short order
and I don't expect you to sit there
and go tick, tick, tick.
Yep, what next?
The truth is that we fall short
and we can't do this on our own.
We fail and we're weak
but this is exactly the point.
We can't do this on our own.
We need God's help.
Verse 18 to 21.
These verses explain
what our hope rests in.
Not imperishable things
but in the imperishable.
If you read with me
verses 24 and 25,
they explain
that all people are like grass
and their glory
is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers
and the flowers fall
but the word of the Lord
endures forever.
It's what Christ has done
that matters
not who we are
or what we have done.
If you're a Christian here today,
if you aren't a Christian here today,
then you need to be made right
with God.
God is holy.
Completely separate
from sin and evil.
We on the other hand
are sinful.
We are all guilty.
Not a single one of us
lives a life without sin.
Our sins hurt others
and God in the process.
This means that God
being holy
is separate from us
in our sinful state.
There is this divide
which we cannot cross.
People try and bridge this gap
with good deeds.
Go into church
or some sort of balance system
where you do more right
than wrong
and you'll be okay in the end.
But none of that's good enough.
All our attempts
to be holy on our own
are futile
and they will fail.
Verses 18 and 19
read with me, say,
For you know that it was not
with perishable things
such as silver or gold
that you were redeemed
from the empty way of life
handed down to you
from your ancestors
but with the precious blood
of Christ
a lamb without blemish
or defect.
Only by trusting
in the Lord Jesus
can we be reconciled
to God
through Christ
and his redemptive sacrifice.
Jesus paid the price
for us.
He redeemed us
so that we can be set free
from a life of slavery
to sin
to a life of freedom
and a close relationship
with God.
Only Jesus could have
bridged that gap
between us and God
as he was fully man
and yet fully God
lived a sinless life here.
he gave up that life
so that sinful people
that's you
that's myself
so that we could have
that close relationship
we could be saved
from that eternity
separated from God
which is what we call hell
to an eternity with God
which is what we call heaven.
Jesus took our place
he took the punishment
that we deserve
so that we could become
children of God
adopted sons and daughters
of the living God
and it didn't just end there
Jesus was raised again
to life
as verse 21 tells us
by God
to show that death
was defeated
and the redemptive work
was complete.
How amazing is that?
We've been made holy
by Jesus' work
by the shedding of his blood
that is what our hope rests in
and this isn't a hope
that is unsure
but an assured hope.
We don't rely on anything
that we've done
but on what Christ has done
and this is a good job
because we aren't good enough
and we can never meet
God's perfect standard.
If you're sitting there today
knowing that you've never accepted
the Lord Jesus as your saviour
asking him to come into your life
and to forgive you
for your sins
then you need to act.
I'm struck by the words
of the hymn
and I'm very thankful
that we've sung it already
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
We are to be holy
We are to set our hope on Jesus
Verse 13
The founder and perfecter
of our faith
We are to live our lives
obediently
Verse 14
As foreigners
17
Loving one another deeply
22
Ridding ourselves of all impure talk
2 verse 1
Craving God's word
2 verse 2
He is the ultimate example
and guide in our daily lives
We can learn about Jesus
and his life on earth
in the Bible
and it can be trusted
because unlike us
the word of the Lord
endures forever
as verse 25
tells us
Second half
moving into the
second part of our passage
We're called to live lives
of praise
prayer
and service
There's an identity crisis
going on in the world today
The idea of who someone is
and what defines them
is massively changing
I remember my grandfather
used to say
that he used to be known
as Tom's boy
or Jane's girl
and you would introduce yourself
and it would be the first thing
you would say
I'd say
Hi I'm Jonathan
son of Paul and Denise
But nowadays
we introduce ourselves
by our job
don't we?
You know
we say
Hi I'm Jonathan
I'm working the family business
Among young people
there's an identity crisis
with people not knowing
of who or what
they identify to
and this matters so much
because their identity
also defines them
and is as much a part of them
as their legs and arms
This passage tells us
that our identity
is in Christ
and we should really be saying
Hi I'm Jonathan
a Christian
In verse 5
we're called living stones
which are being
you can read with me
being built into a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood
offering spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ
A spiritual house
is a house
in which God dwells
In Old Testament times
this was the tabernacle
and then later on
the temple
Now the priests in the temple
they would have various roles
and responsibilities
but ultimately
they were to serve
and bring praise to God
However this did not give
the priests
unlimited access to God
The high priest
could only enter
God's presence
once a year
into the place
called the Holy of Holies
We are a spiritual house
because God dwells in us
from the moment
that we become a Christian
God no longer dwells
in a temple
or a building
but in his people
We are living stones
of the spiritual house
being the church
with Christ as the cornerstone
as verse 6 and 7
tells us
Now there's much debate
as to what this actually means
or what stone in the building
it's actually referring to
Is it the capstone?
Is it the cornerstone?
But ultimately
Jesus is the indispensable stone
He is the one
who holds us all together
and aligns us correctly
We're not on our own
We have Jesus as our head
and as our foundation
We're described as being
a holy priesthood
in verse 5
and a royal priesthood
in verse 9
We have unlimited access
to God's presence
That's a mind-blowing statement
We have unlimited access
to God's presence
What a privilege
and a responsibility that is
When remembering Christ's death
on the cross
I've always been struck
by the curtain in the temple
being torn in two
from top to bottom
Now this curtain
was a heavy, thick
woven piece of material
which separated the holy place
to the holy of holies
which is where God's presence appeared
So Jesus' death on the cross
meant that man had direct access
to God's presence
We're to appreciate the gravity
and the opportunity
of this fact
We're all priests
with responsibilities
to serve
to praise
and to pray
Are you praying?
We're to pray for those around us
Our non-Christian friends
family, colleagues
our brothers and sisters in Christ
who may be rejoicing
or they may be suffering
We're to pray for our country
our government
our world
We're to go with thankfulness
in our hearts
for all that God has done for us
and the blessings
that he heaps upon us
We're to pray
with that reverent fear
knowing that we are
in the presence
of the holy God
and yet with the knowledge
that we are blameless
before him
because we are adopted
as his children
Wouldn't it be
of great encouragement
if we all knew
that we were fervently
praying for one another?
I'll ask again
Are you praying?
We're also to offer
spiritual sacrifices
as verse 5 says
Once again
in Old Testament times
the priests
were to carry out
duties of sacrificing
and presenting offerings
to God
Elsewhere in the New Testament
there are passages
about what these
spiritual sacrifices are
and some of these
sacrifices are
I'm going to read
the references out
in case you're making notes
or want to look them up
later on
In Hebrews 13
verse 15 and 16
some of these
spiritual sacrifices
are praise
good works
are possessions
Romans 12 verse 1
tells us that our body
is a spiritual sacrifice
Romans 15 and 16
says that service
is a spiritual sacrifice
We're to give God
the praise
that he deserves
for what he has done
and that he is doing
for us
We're to do good works
in order to bring him glory
We're to share
our possessions
and be hospitable
and selfless
in all situations
and to all people
We're to give our bodies
and have complete commitment
to God's ways
We're to serve God
in whatever he would
have us to do
using our God-given gifts
to do so
Once again
this is no easy task
but by relying on Jesus
the foundation
and cornerstone
of our faith
we can live a life
worthy of the calling
that we have received
Our sacrifices
are not perfect
but Jesus mediates
to make them perfect
before the Father
so we aren't to shy away
in fear
from our responsibilities
and our privileges
Finally
verse 9
is a great encouragement
to finish this section
You can read with me
But you are a chosen people
a royal priesthood
a holy nation
God's special possession
that you may declare
the praises of him
who called you
out of the darkness
and into his wonderful light
Our identity is in Christ
We have gone from being a nobody
to being a child of God
We have gone from being
a temple of sin
to a royal priesthood
We are chosen
God's special possession
Going back to who
this was written to
Imagine for a moment
the Gentile
the non-Jewish Christians
who were hearing all this
You know these phrases
which spoke of
God's people
the Jewish nation
the Israelites
and they were being described
in the same way
and it's true for us
tonight as well
These truths would have
given such comfort
at a time
when these people
were suffering
and they would go on
to suffer even more
These words should be
an encouragement
for us here today
whether we're going
through tough times
or not
We are chosen
a royal priesthood
a holy nation
God's special possession
Verse 10 says
Once you were not a people
but now you are
the people of God
Once you had not
received mercy
but now you have
received mercy
Summing it up
We have been made holy
by the redeeming work
of the Lord Jesus
We're therefore
to be obedient
as foreigners
in the world
loving one another
deeply
ridding ourselves
of all malice
craving spiritual milk
which is God's word
We do so by setting
our gaze on Christ
and his coming
when we will be
made new
and spend eternity
with him
in heaven
We are a holy priesthood
and have the privilege
and responsibility
of praying
and offering
spiritual sacrifices
to God
We're to put others
first
serving God
where he has placed us
and using the skills
and gifts
that he has given to us
We can take comfort
that we are chosen
We have received mercy
and are the people
of God
Our identity
is not in our job
It's not in where
we come from
or how many Instagram
followers we have
It is in Christ
We are to live this out
in the world
being shining lights
for God
in the darkest of places
Like we thought about
at the beginning
we've been made clean
as white as snow
not just the sort of
off-white
like your shirt
or your sheets
when they've been
through the wash
We've been made new
and so we aren't
to roll around
in the mud
and ruin what
has been done
for us
We are to live
holy lives
relying on God's
help
bringing the praise
and the glory
to him
and we're to be
constantly comparing
ourselves
to Jesus
who is our
perfect example
My friend got
married in the summer
and they had a hymn
which at the time
I hadn't heard before
but we've sung it
quite a bit since
and I've sung it
in the car even
more often
and I think songs
and hymns often
have a way of
saying things
so concisely
and succinctly
that just sum things up
and it's really powerful
So I'm just going to
finish with the words
of this
It's yet not I
but through Christ
in me
No fate I dread
I know I am forgiven
The future sure
the price
it has been paid
For Jesus bled
and suffered
for my pardon
and he was raised
to overthrow the grave
To this I hold
my sin has been defeated
Jesus now
and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released
I can sing
I am free
Yet not I
but through Christ
in me
I'm just going to pray
to close
God and Father
we thank you
for your word
we thank you
that we
as Christians
have been made holy
by the work
of the Lord Jesus
We thank you
that it has nothing
to do with ourselves
that we
would never be good enough
going it alone
We pray that
as we
rely on you
day by day
that we will
fulfill our duties
as priests
that we will
bring praise
to you
we will serve
others
and that we
will pray
we pray
that we will
look out for one another
in our
daily lives
and in the struggles
that we go through
and that we will support
those who are suffering
and going through
tough times
so we thank you
for your word
and we pray
that these things
will continue
to have an effect
as we go away
from here
and I ask that you
will bless
our weeks
going forward
whatever that may
look like
we pray all these
things in Jesus name
amen
again
and
time
to repeat
ล