We are going to continue in our study of 1 Peter
chapter 1today. I had a lot of fun putting this message together. I had it
almost completely done and then it was like a light bulb turned on in my head
and I saw something in the text that really excited me. So after spending hours
studying Greek meanings and reading commentaries on the text, I am not going to
use it hardly any of it. I am going to show you the consistencies that are in
the scripture that people don’t notice. The Bible was written by many different
people over many years and yet, if you are willing to search, you can see the
same redemption story over and over.
1Pe 1:17 And if you call on him as Father who judges
impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear
throughout the time of your exile,
1Pe 1:18 knowing
that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers,
not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
1Pe 1:19 but with
the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
I am
going to talk about sin today. I know, ugh. Hang in there though; this is a
message of redemption and deliverance not of rejection and despair. I have 7
points or stages concerning sin that I want to cover so I am going to move
fairly quickly. I am going to use these three verses, in order; to show you the
plan of salvation and that there is hope even though we are undeserving of the
wonderful salvation that Peter wrote about a few verses back.
1. “And
if you call on him as Father”
Calling on God as father has a lot
of implications. It is more than just saying he is my “dad”. The father that
Peter is speaking of is, of course, God the father. Not just any father. He is
a just and perfect father. Unlike our fathers that even if you had a great
father he still was not perfect. God, our father, is perfect and demands
perfection from us. Remember verse 16, be holy as I am holy? Moses writes this
in Deuteronomy…
Deu 32:3 For I
will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God!
Deu 32:4 "The
Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness
and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
Realize…God, the Father, accepts no sin
2. “judges impartially according to each one's
deeds”
If
we have a father that accepts no sin then he must, as a just and righteous God,
judge our deeds to see if we are sinless. We are each be judged by our own
actions. Paul writes in Romans…
Rom
3:23 for all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God,
We are separated from God by our sins. If God accepts one single sin
into His kingdom then He would be allowing imperfection which is against His
word, which would make Him an unjust God and a liar. This is how we know that
it is not about doing more good than bad to get into heaven. It is about being
perfect and sinless in order to be in the presence of God.
Realize…We, the people, are
sinners
3.
“conduct
yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,”
I
am going to use this portion of text for both points 3 and 4. First of all
Peter writes conduct yourselves with fear, not conduct yourselves with
integrity or good morals or by being perfect, because, as we read earlier, we
cannot be perfect. We cannot absolve ourselves of our sins or just decide that
we are not going to sin anymore. Even if we could, our past sins would not just
disappear just because we are good now. Paul in Ephesians writes..
Eph 2:8 For by
grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is
the gift of God,
Eph 2:9 not a
result of works, so that no one may boast.
Realize…We cannot pay for our sins
4.
“conduct
yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,”
Using that same text we see that we are
supposed to conduct ourselves with fear. Paul writes in Romans that the wages
of sin is death. Sin cannot go unpunished. If God allowed one sin to go
unpunished or unaccounted for then He is not a holy and just God. Look at what
we have seen so far…God accepts no sin,
we are sinners and we cannot pay for our sins. If God is
important to you, to any degree, than this should be a wakeup call to you.
Jesus says in Matthew…
Mat 10:28 And do
not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who
can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Realize…
A fear of the consequence of sin
5. “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways
inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or
gold,”
Again, we will use this one verse for points
5 and 6. First, notice that you were ransomed from your futile ways. The ransom
for your past and future sins are paid for, when you do it God’s way, which is
the only way. God, because of His love for us made a way for us to share in His
glory. But there had to be a payment, a reckoning for our sins. Otherwise God
would not be just.
1Jn 4:10 In this
is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be
the propitiation for our sins.
Realize…There is freedom from the penalty of sin
6. “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways
inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or
gold,”
We were ransomed from the futile inheritance
and now we are adopted into a new family with a new inheritance. One that is imperishable
and undefiled and unfading. We become children of God and are able to rejoice
in the benefits of that status. This is about the process of salvation. God’s
plan for our redemption is through adoption.
Eph
1:5 he predestined us for adoption as
sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Realize…The process God made to conquer sin
7.
“with
the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot”
This
is how God can still be just and holy and be able to allow you and I, sinners,
into heaven and adopt us as children. Jesus was without blemish or spot as he
walked on the earth. He was perfect and therefore was able to be that perfect
sacrifice for all of us. As long as we are “in Him” we are able to come to the
throne. He paid the penalty that had to be paid in order for God to be a just
God. There had to be payment, payment that we don’t even have the currency to
pay. Jesus stepped up in our place and took the punishment that we deserved so
that God’s wrath would pass over us. His blood covers our sins so that when God
cast his gaze upon us, he sees us as righteous and holy, because he sees His
son. Therefore, allowing us to be holy as he is holy.
Realize…
Jesus Christ is the only salvation from
your sin
This is the only way to heaven. No one
comes to the Father except through the Son. Because we cannot be holy and
righteous without Him and that is what our Righteous, just God requires.
Joh
14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me.
Do
you know Christ today? If you are counting on going to heaven by being a good
person or by your works then you are going to be eternally disappointed. Talk
with one of us before you leave today and be sure that you understand what it
means to be saved, born again or whatever you want to call it.
Realize…God,
the Father, accepts no sin
Realize…We, the people, are sinners
Realize…We cannot pay for our sins
Realize… A fear of the consequence of sin
Realize…There is freedom from the penalty of sin
Realize…The process God made to conquer sin
Realize… Jesus Christ is the only salvation from
your sin
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