Children of Obedience 1 Peter 1:14

Children of Obedience An Interesting Expression: “Children of _________” Common Hebrew idiom in which one is said to be “the child of” a quality or characteristic by which they are recognized—it depicts the person’s nature, as one is seen as belonging to it Some New Testament examples: “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17) “The son of perdition” (John 17:12) “A son of peace” (Luke 10:6) “Children of light” (Eph. 5:8) “Sons of this world” vs. “the sons of light” (Luke 16:8) “Sons of light and sons of the day” vs. Sons “of the night [and] of darkness” (1 Thess. 5:5) “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36) “Son of Man” (Matt. 16:13; 20:28; cf. Dan. 7:13) “Son of God” (Matt. 16:16; 14:33; John 5:18; 10:30-33) “By nature children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3) “Sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2; 5:6) vs. “Sons of obedience” (1 Pet. 1:14)

Children of Obedience An Intriguing Identification: “Children of Obedience” Children of God are to be “children of obedience” Characterized by a spirit of obedience due to habitual practice Our nature is to be one of obedience Our “Sonship” to God requires our obedience One becomes a child of God (having soul purified) “by obedience” (1:22) One continues as a child of God (as His elect) “for/to obedience” (1:2) One who fixes his hope on heaven is characterized by obedience (1:14) When one sets his hope on heaven, When one becomes a “child of obedience,” Then obedience is not a burden, a drudgery, an inconvenience, But it is “who I am” and “what I do” and “what I want”!

Children of Obedience An Immediate Application: “Be Holy in All Your Conduct” As children of obedience, we know WHAT NOT TO BE (1:14) Fashioning our behavior to sons of disobedience and our former life As children of obedience, we know WHAT TO BE (1:15-16) Become separate (holy) from evil, from habitual sin, from all worldly defilement, and be consecrated to God (read the book of First Peter) Why? Because we are God’s children! Because Jesus is coming (1:5, 7, 13, 17)!

Are You a Child of Obedience? Believe Jesus is God’s Son – Mark 16:16 Repent of your sins and turn to God – Acts 2:38 Confess your faith in Jesus – Romans 10:9-10 Be immersed into Christ – Mark 16:16 God will wash away all of your sins – Acts 22:16 God will add you to His church – Acts 2:47 God will register you in heaven – Hebrews 12:23 Walk faithfully with the Lord – 1 John 1:7