1 Peter 1: As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. 17 And if you address as Father the One who judges impartially based on each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your temporary residence. 18 For you know that you were

1 Peter 1:14-21 redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20 He was chosen before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the times for you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

1 Peter 1:14-21 Cliff Notes Called to become holy because we are holy  Colossians 3:12a -- Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved  Holy = fulfilling the special purpose for which something or someone was designed “each one’s work” = the quality of your ministry & life in the fellowship “conduct yourselves in fear” = realize God will evaluate your ministry & life in the fellowship

THE HOLY WORD 1 Peter 1:22 – 2:3

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. Holiness begins when we accept God’s Word.

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. Romans 10: But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things! 16 But all did not obey the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? 17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. This good news is life germinating

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 2 Cor. 5:17 -- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. This good news is enduring & imperishable

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1: For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached as the gospel to you.

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. Matthew 24:35 -- Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. “Yeah, but do we REALLY know we have God’s Word in its original form?”

The Power of the Word 24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. Enduring 2 Peter 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. Author J Caesar (Gaellic Wars) Tacitus (Annals) Aristotle Homer (Illiad) New Testament Written B.C. 100 A.D B.C A.D. Time span 950 years 1,000 years 1,400 years 500 years 250 Number of copies ,500+ Earliest copies A.D. 900 A.D B.C. A.D. 350

The Power of the Word 24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. Enduring 2 Peter 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. Author J Caesar (Gaellic Wars) Tacitus (Annals) Aristotle Homer (Illiad) New Testament Written B.C. 100 A.D B.C A.D. Time span 950 years 1,000 years 1,400 years 500 years 250 Number of copies ,500+ Earliest copies A.D. 900 A.D B.C. A.D. 350

The Power of the Word 24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. Enduring 2 Peter 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. Author J Caesar (Gaellic Wars) Tacitus (Annals) Aristotle Homer (Illiad) New Testament Written B.C. 100 A.D B.C A.D. Time span 950 years 1,000 years 1,400 years 500 years 250 Number of copies ,500+ Earliest copies A.D. 900 A.D B.C. A.D. 350 Fragments and citations as close as years!!!

The Power of the Word 24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. Enduring 2 Peter 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. Author J Caesar (Gaellic Wars) Tacitus (Annals) Aristotle Homer (Illiad) New Testament Written B.C. 100 A.D B.C A.D. Time span 950 years 1,000 years 1,400 years 500 years 250 Number of copies ,500+ Earliest copies A.D. 900 A.D B.C. A.D. 350

The Power of the Word 24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. Enduring 2 Peter 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. Author J Caesar (Gaellic Wars) Tacitus (Annals) Aristotle Homer (Illiad) New Testament Written B.C. 100 A.D B.C A.D. Time span 950 years 1,000 years 1,400 years 500 years 250 Number of copies ,500+ Earliest copies A.D. 900 A.D B.C. A.D. 350 If God exists, then wouldn’t he be able to get us his word intact?

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. The Word enables us to relate to others in a holy way.

1 Peter 1: By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:22 (NASB) -- Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart

Some implications…  It will require learning  It will require an onslaught upon our value system  It will require support from others  It will require much time  It will require much intentionality  It will require us being willing to be led (by God & by others)  It will require some radical & painful surgery on our hearts & way of relating

Some implications…  It will require learning  It will require an onslaught upon our value system  It will require support from others  It will require much time  It will require much intentionality  It will require us being willing to be led (by God & by others)  It will require some radical & painful surgery on our hearts & way of relating 1 Peter 2:1 -- So rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.

1 Peter 2:2-3 2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation, 3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 Peter 2:2-3 2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation, 3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good. The Word fuels a holy addiction to holy relating.

1 Peter 2:2-3 2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation, 3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 Peter 2:2-3 2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation, 3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good. Peter is calling us to become addicted to the Word.

1 Peter 2:2-3 2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation, 3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good. Ps. 119:16 -- I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

1 Peter 2:2-3 2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation, 3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good. Ps. 1: How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers! 2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

How does our addiction to the Word translate to holy relating?  Most of the NT is about fleshing the Gospel out in fellowship with others…  Feasting on the Word will primarily be about rooting our identity in the Gospel…  The context of Peter’s call to stir addiction to the Word is actually corporate (as it always is in the NT)

How does our addiction to the Word translate to holy relating?  Most of the NT is about fleshing the Gospel out in fellowship with others…  Feasting on the Word will primarily be about rooting our identity in the Gospel…  The context of Peter’s call to stir addiction to the Word is actually corporate (as it always is in the NT) Colossians 3:16 (NASB) -- Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Some ideas for how to stir Word addiction that translates to holy relating…  Sit under good Bible teaching from people who are addicted to the Word themselves  Equip & multiply workers who are addicted to the Word  Develop a culture in which dialoguing about the Word is our lingua franca (common language)

Some ideas for how to stir Word addiction that translates to holy relating…  Sit under good Bible teaching from people who are addicted to the Word themselves  Equip & multiply workers who are addicted to the Word  Develop a culture in which dialoguing about the Word is our lingua franca (common language) “One key to a deep friendship is time spent in long conversations... Many people do not seem to have time for long conversations. They have so many things to do! When they have free time, it is spent on entertainment... We can’t bear the thought of just sitting and discussing issues... (But such discussion) has a richness to it. It satisfies the deep desire in our hearts implanted by a God who is committed to truth. God’s understanding of truth includes more than facts. Christian truth has a qualitative and experiential aspect to it. So truth can be enjoyed only if we are willing to linger with it, to ask what its implications are, to ask how it should influence our thinking and acting... Those who set aside time for enriching discussions on issues, on the things of God, will rediscover the joy of truth. They will bring new

Some ideas for how to stir Word addiction that translates to holy relating…  Sit under good Bible teaching from people who are addicted to the Word themselves  Equip & multiply workers who are addicted to the Word  Develop a culture in which dialoguing about the Word is our lingua franca (common language) depth of true personal fulfillment to their lives. We need to bring long chats back into our schedules, allowing significant slots of time for truth-related discussions... It is in such times that minds meet, that we experience together the joy of truth which is one of the most precious forms of joy. People who let long conversations eat into their schedules—and that is a sacrifice—will know the joy of minds meeting on a deep level. From such depths true friendships will be forged...” -Ajith Fernando in Reclaiming Friendship

Closing Thoughts  Have you accepted God’s good news for you?  Are you sharing this good news with others?  Are you committed to fervently loving others from the heart?  Are you addicted to the Word?  Do you have deep spiritual friendships centered in the Word?