Study of First Peter Lesson
13
Review:
but like But
here is a strong adversative drawing a contrast between being conformed to the
lusts of the sin nature and the life we are being exhorted to maintain
- the as or like is the preposition kata plus the accusative which points to the standard
But according
to the standard of the Holy One who called you,
Who are the
called here?
be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
- obvious he's talking about living after salvation
-
In the flow of the context Peter is stressing the change from their status
dominated, ruled by the sin nature as unbelievers to now being in Christ and
righteous positionally.
What's Peter's
emphasis here? That Christian conduct
should be consistent with Christian character.
Your life should reflect the new nature in Christ!
The word used
for behavior or conduct
avnastrofh, makes it clear
that the stress is on the external or
outward, what is observed by others.
Being Holy -
set apart for service is a grace process from beginning to end.
f1 - Become holy positionally the moment we believe
in Christ, are regenerated, His perfect righteousness is imputed to us and are
placed into union with Him. God's
response to our faith and seeing that imputed righteousness is to declare us
justified.
f2 - (stress
here) - this is where the divine operating assets come into play, the grace
provision for each believer as they grow and mature in Christ, that is in the
knowledge of His will illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
Did you notice
that it said in ALL your behavior
not just some or what appeals to you!
because it is written,
"YOU SHALL BE HOLY,
Need to note
the contexts where used. Gives us a
strong connection with the previous statement of vs:15
"in all your behavior, its every
aspect of life that is in view!
- quote from Lev 11:44
- Lev 19:2
- Lev 20:7
- Lev
Reason given:
"FOR I AM HOLY."
Summary!
1. God is the absolute standard for righteousness.
2. We are positionally holy or righteous from
the moment of believing in Christ and having His righteousness imputed to us
but this does not guarantee an automatic holy life.
3. We as believers being in union with Christ
are to emulate God's thinking, viewpoint in every sphere of our life.
4. As we grow in our understanding and use of
the truths of the Word of God in our life as we deal with the issues faced we
will experience temporal victory over the prodding deceitfulness of the sin
nature attempting to regain rulership.
5. Mechanics of this victory:
a. Ensure the ministry
of God the Holy Spirit is operative - not quenched or grieved.
quenched = rejection of truth 1 Ths
Solution is the
use of 1 John 1:9
b. Consistently place yourself
in a position of exposure to sound teaching of the Word.
c. The objective is
to build the f/o/r of DVPT so that God the Holy Spirit has something to work
with, to bring to mind to provide the necessary viewpoint to deal with the
issues in life.
d.
The final result is that you will be holy in every aspect of your conduct as
Peter exhorts us in vs:15.
- Look at Gal
5:25 - have another word for walking here.
- The premise of the verse is stated in the first phrase with the 1cc
If we live by means of the Spirit and we are! Then we are to walk by means of the Spirit.
6. What is the alternative if we fail to follow
through and be holy in all our conduct?
What then? The alternative is to
adjust to the justice of God by way of divine discipline.
Peter points
out another motivation for living a life of holiness. Life set apart for a
purpose to God!