BBC Sermon Cast

It is one thing to claim that you have been born again by the word of God and another to evidence this by your life. This is Peter’s broad theme from 1:22–2:10. Having been well instructed about the believer’s responsibility for a life of holy conduct (1:1–21), we turn our attention in this study to our responsibility to live a life of holy communion (1:22–2:3). We will see that a holy communion is a loving communion. Love and holiness are inseparable. Holy living is inseparable from loving living. This is Peter’s point in the text before us. We will study these verses under four headings:

1. The Responsibility for a Holy Communion (1:22)

2. The Resource for a Holy Communion (1:23–25)

3. The Resolve for a Holy Communion (2:1–2)

4. The Reason for a Holy Communion (2:3)

The world views fear as an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm. The fear Peter writes about is not the fear of unpleasantness caused by threat. It’s pleasantness caused by a relationship to live in holiness—not wanting to disappoint our God.

Though the particular words used by Job’s three friends vary, they share a common theme: Job was experiencing calamity because he had sinned. If he would simply repent and ask for forgiveness, all would be well with him. But this missed the mark. In fact, he was not suffering because of a lack of faith but rather because of and for his faith. Chapters 4–5—as well as the remainder of the speech cycles—highlight this truth. We will consider chapters 4–5 under the following headings:

1. A Sincere Introduction (4:1–6)

2. A Simplistic Observation (4:7–11)

3. A Sensational Revelation (4:12–21)

4. A Cruel Admonition (5:1–7)

5. A Creedal Exultation (5:8–16)

6. A Condescending Exhortation (5:17–27)

With our hope in Jesus comes a lifestyle—a lifestyle of active thinking and holiness. This lifestyle will reflect back to where our hope is. We learn about this hope-filled lifestyle in 1 Peter 1:13–16. We will consider this text under two broad headings:

1. A Healthy Hope is Ready (v. 13)

2. A Healthy Hope is Holy (vv. 14–16)

Our faith must be more than words. That is, our verbal profession to faith must be attended by works in keeping with faith. In the words of Jesus, we must be salt and light. In this study, we consider Matthew 5:13–16 under the following headings:

1) Not Saved by Our Works

2) Saved Unto Good Works

3) Purpose of Good Works

Friendship with the world is enmity with God, and the cause of many avoidable perils in the church. But God gives more grace. We consider the text under three headings:

1. Worldly Passions and Desires (vv. 1–3)

2. Worldly Identity (vv. 4–5)

3. Heavenly Grace (v. 6)

Our hope is secure in Jesus Christ. This hope is an assured confidence that whatever happens to us now, we are alive in Jesus. Through this hope we have an imperishable inheritance waiting for us and is kept safe by the Father. We will consider these verses under three broad headings:

1. God is Worthy because He Keeps Us (vv. 3–5)

2. God is Worthy because He Prepares Us (vv. 6–9)

3. God is Worthy because He Shows Us (vv. 10–12)

Peter addressed his first letter to “elect exiles of the Dispersion.” We discovery in these verses that believers are exiles, not because they are displaced from their homeland, but because of their adoption into a new homeland.

Paul was at pains to ensure the Colossians didn’t miss the main thing about Christian living: Christ. They were tempted to replace Christ with all sorts of religious practices and duties. According to Colossians 3:1–4, the only way to genuine holiness is through Christ: remembering his accomplished work over the grave, seeking the things that are above, and looking toward the future.

There are texts in Scripture that remind us of the truth this world cannot always be easily fixed. Sometimes, re-creation is the only hope for a broken world. Daniel 12 point us to that truth. The messenger angel had delivered news of great trouble in chapter 11. Chapter 12 continues that theme as the angel tells Daniel that he shouldn’t expect things to be fixed between prophecy and resurrection—but how he and his people should live in the space between.