June 18 2023

June 18 2023

Frankie / General

Holy Spirit / Sanctification / 1 Peter 2:1–5

1 Peter 2:1-5

1. Happy Father's Day! Today is a day to celebrate the sacrifices and dedication of our fathers to their families. What do fathers mean to us? Personally, I have a complex relationship with my father. Due to the way he treated my mother, I find it difficult to love him. However, when it comes to his role as a father to me and my sister, he has been more like a friend than a traditional father figure. Setting aside my mixed feelings, I must acknowledge that he has bestowed upon me numerous blessings. I have inherited certain qualities from my father, such as musical talent and the ability to connect with others easily. These are gifts that I believe God has granted me through my father. It is my aspiration to utilize these gifts not solely for my own benefit, but to bring glory to God's kingdom and to spread His gospel. 

2. We have been discussing the significance of holiness and leading a life of holiness as outlined in the book of 1 Peter. At its essence, holiness is a state of being connected to the God who beckons us, rescues us, and guides us. Due to our sinful nature, we were unable to be in the presence of a holy God. However, through Jesus Christ, we are now linked to a living God, one who remains with us and embraces us in His love. We can now refer to the God who saved us as our Father, and this is the holiness that has been bestowed upon us. It is a radical transformation from our previous identity. Jesus Christ has completely stripped away our former identity, and through His selfless sacrifice and love, we have been granted a new identity: holiness. The core principle of our existence is no longer rooted in living according to our old identity, but rather in embracing the identity of Jesus Christ, who has transformed us into new beings. This new identity imparts a fresh perspective on how we should live our lives. Before we delve into today’s passage, let us first read the preceding verses, specifically Chapter 1, verses 17-25.

1 Peter 1:17–20 NKJV

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

1 Peter 1:21–25 (NKJV)

who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

3. As we discussed last week, Christians do not establish their identity through perfect behavior. Instead, they have already received a new identity from Jesus Christ and live their lives accordingly. Therefore, we understand that Christian obedience is a reflection of this new identity. This is precisely what verses 17-24 in today's reading convey. Peter emphasizes that the focal point of our lives and the motivation behind our obedience should be Jesus Christ, who saved us through his sacrificial blood. Consequently, we are encouraged to live our lives with reverence and humility.

4. This teaches us that while our behavior may falter at times and our circumstances might suggest that we fall short, our newfound identity in God and our companionship with Jesus Christ remain steadfast and unchanging. The new identity bestowed upon us by God provides clear guidance for the direction of our lives, instructing us on how we ought to live as newborn children. Let us now turn our attention to 1 Peter 2:1-5 for further insight.

1 Peter 2:1–5 (NKJV)

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

5. Currently, I am a doctoral student pursuing my PhD degree. My research focuses on comparing the theological perspectives on baptism and the Lord's Supper within the context of the Swiss Reformation. A crucial aspect of my PhD program entails crafting a dissertation comprising a minimum of 80,000 words. In order to commence the writing process, it is imperative for me to present a well-founded rationale for studying these particular subjects. This entails formulating and submitting a research proposal, which typically spans between 12 to 20 pages. The duration required for this process ranges from eight months to a year and a half, as it is essential to ensure the accuracy and validity of my reasons before proceeding with the dissertation. When we engage with the Bible, it is crucial to inquire about its purpose and the reason behind God's inclusion of specific passages. As we uncover these insights, we can then seek to apply them meaningfully to our own lives. In the present context, Peter instructs us in chapter 2:1 to renounce and leave behind all forms of evil.

1 Peter 2:1 NLT

So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.

6. Why did Peter urge us to forsake all evil? Does Peter intend for us to lead lives of moral purity? Is he simply advocating for high moral standards, similar to the conduct of some saints? In the previous discussion, I mentioned Les Misérables, a literary masterpiece known for its compelling characters. Among them, Jean Valjean and Javert stand out as favorites for many readers. These two characters possess contrasting perspectives on life and approach it in distinct ways. Jean Valjean, a thief, faced imprisonment for his actions. Even after being granted parole, he lived a life marked by limitations, constantly monitored and required to report his whereabouts. However, a significant encounter with a priest altered his course, leading him to commit to a new life. From that point forward, Jean Valjean dedicated himself to a path of transformation, shaping his actions for the remainder of his days. On the other hand, Javert, as a soldier, diligently watched over Jean Valjean during his time in prison. Even after his release, Javert maintained suspicion towards him and continued his pursuit. However, at some point, he lost track of Jean Valjean. Eventually, their paths crossed again, but by then, Jean Valjean had completely reinvented his identity, living a virtuous existence as the mayor of a town. The encounter with Javert served as a catalyst for Jean Valjean to reflect on the magnitude of his personal growth and the person he had become. 

7. Les Misérables vividly portrays Jean Valjean's lifelong pursuit of outward saintliness, but despite his efforts, his status as a parolee remained unchanged. Once his true identity was exposed, he became a fugitive once again. It was only in the face of illness and impending death that he finally attained genuine freedom. This powerful narrative emphasizes that our external conduct can never truly alter our core identity. Similarly, when Peter writes in chapter 2:1, his intention is not solely to instruct us on modifying our outward behavior. Instead, he lays the foundation for his message, starting from verse 2, by providing us with reasons as to why we should strive for such transformation. Peter emphasizes that without a correct understanding of our true identity, we can never make progress towards holiness.

1 Peter 2:2–3 NKJV

as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

8. Peter emphasizes that once we have experienced the graciousness of Jesus Christ, we are to earnestly pursue a spiritual existence and eagerly seek a life rooted in that grace. Our identity is initially established through encountering and savoring the grace of Jesus Christ. It is only after tasting and recognizing the transformative power of His saving grace that we can begin to contemplate changing our behavior accordingly. The grace of Jesus Christ not only redeems us but also shapes our very existence.

Ephesians 2:8–9 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 NLT

Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

9. Les Misérables depicts a tumultuous period in late 18th-century France, as the title implies. It portrays a world characterized by misery—a world where both the state and its citizens failed to show care for one another. Furthermore, the individuals themselves lacked forgiveness and compassion. Jean Valjean's predicament arose from his relentless pursuit of personal transformation, despite lacking any legitimate reason to do so. This highlights the inherent wretchedness that emerges when society attempts to govern solely through rigid laws, devoid of justifications, and places excessive emphasis on superficial behavioral modifications.

10. When we hear the term "justification," it may sound like a theological term, but the Bible also expresses it in other ways. It is synonymous with forgiveness and acceptance. When Jesus encouraged us to forgive one another and accept one another, it meant that we should embrace and understand each other's identities unconditionally. It means living our lives, recognizing and acknowledging each other's identity granted by God. However, if we live without justification, without forgiveness, there will be no acceptance. We will end up criticizing each other, emphasizing only our own lives. That is the reality. Therefore, as Peter and Paul proclaimed, the way to rid ourselves of all wickedness is to have the justification of forgiving and accepting one another, based on the identity bestowed upon us by Jesus Christ. It is through this mutual justification that the new identity granted to us begins to be recognized.

John 13:35 NIV

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11. Jesus Christ has become our holy cornerstone, establishing us. He, as a holy priest and through His holy sacrifice, has forgiven us and justified us. As a result, we live our new lives with the new identity granted to us by Jesus Christ. We have become priest-kings in Jesus, living as a holy people belonging to God. Our identity is not obtained through behavioral changes, but solely through the name, power, and love of Jesus Christ. Live your life according to this identity. During our time on this earth, let us no longer cling to futile directions, but rather live solely by the identity bestowed upon us by the Lord. We have been transformed. We are His chosen people!