1 Peter 1:13-25

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Everyday Living in view of Our Salvation and Position in Christ

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BACKGROUND NOTES

DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

Believers should strive for purity of life. (1 Peter 1:13-16)
a. Gird up the loins of your mind (be disciplined in your thinking)
b. Be sober (self-controlled)
c. Rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
d. Don’t be conformed to past evil desires
e. Be holy

Believers should strive for perfection of love. (1 Peter 1:22-25)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Remember, you never have to sin.

QUESTIONS

Does God relax His standards for godly living when Christians are facing the pressure of persecution? Does God lower His moral standards for Christian conduct when they are undergoing trials?

How did Peter address this issue with his first century readers?

What does this say to us today?

Explain the meaning of the “therefore” of 1 Peter 1:13.

Refer to 1 Peter 1:17-21. List the three motivating reasons as to why Christians should strive for purity of life.

ANSWERS

No. God does not fluctuate or lower His standards and moral obligations for Christians when they face trials and have difficulties.

The early Christians here in 1 Peter were facing persecutions and trials, and Peter’s epistle reflects God’s expectations – that they were to be obedient and living holy lives regardless of circumstances.

As believers, we are expected to be obedient children in the family of God and we are expected to live holy lives, regardless of difficult circumstances.

In view of our salvation and blessed position in Christ we are therefore to live our lives in line with our status. We are to be what we are in Christ, even when we are facing problems or persecutions.

Because of 1) discipline in God’s family, 2) the cost of our salvation, and 3) God’s eternal plan for us.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

As we “strive” for purity of life, strive does not mean that we do this in our own strength, but we need the power of the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. We have to work at being holy and we have to work at letting the Holy Spirit take control in our lives. Discuss and consider.

Consider the five exhortations given to believers in reference to purity of life. a. Gird up the loins of your mind. Read 2 Corinthians 10:5. b. Be sober or self-controlled. Recall times when you have sensed yourself being out of control. What steps could you have taken to be self-controlled? c. Rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. How frequently during the day do you consider your eternal future and eternal benefits that will be fully realized when the Lord returns? Does this affect your daily investments? d. Don’t be conformed to past evil desires. How do you find release from conforming to your former evil desires? Are you practicing the positive – staying in God’s word; continuing in prayer; involving yourself in Christian service; meeting frequently with other believers, being accountable to them? e. Be holy. Read 1 Peter 1:15 and Leviticus 11:44. God’s desire and empowerment by the Holy Spirit is for us to be holy. Are you striving to be holy? We will never be sinless in this life, but as believers, we are to sin less. Are you sinning less?

“Love one another fervently with a pure heart.” (1 Peter 1:22) This is possible because we are born again and have new life, divine life. The Holy Spirit enables and empowers the divine life that we now have in Christ. (See also 2 Peter 1:3-4). Therefore, we can love one another fervently and with a pure heart. Is this true in your life? Do you have difficulty loving the unlovable, the cantankerous, the arrogant, the ones who rub you the wrong way? Or, are you letting the Holy Spirit enable and empower you to love fervently and with a pure heart?

CHALLENGE

Remember, you never have to sin. Because of the flesh or sinful nature that we still possess we do sin, but because we now have new life in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we don’t have to commit any sin. How is it in your life?

KEY VERSES

“…gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13)

“…as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:15)

“…conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things…but with the precious blood of Christ…” (1 Peter 1:17-19)

“… love one another fervently with a pure heart.” (1 Peter 1:22)