1 Peter 1:17-21; Verse 17 - Strangers

1 Peter 1:17-21

**These five verses discuss such a critical Christian truth that I didn’t want to separate them and possibly miss the big picture. I still plan to hit one verse at a time, but I want each verse to be taken in the context of the whole.

“Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. (V18) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, (V19) but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.(V20) He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.(V21) Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

Business accounting was the class that convinced me to change my major from finance to business management. I was TERRIBLE at accounting – the only thing I could do well was reconcile. I was a reconciling fool, but unfortunately, the rest of accounting was beyond my grasp. I had to work incredibly hard just to keep up. When finals rolled around, the teacher announced that if you were happy with your grade, you didn’t need to take the final. My grade was: 79.46, or a C – 80 was a B.

I went to the teacher and pleaded my case. “I have not missed a class, I have been to every study session, and turned in every extra credit assignment. If you will round up the six – that will turn the 4 to a 5 – which will round the 79 to an 80. So you’re not giving me anything, you’re just rounding up one decimal place further than normal.” She replied, “I’m sorry, I don’t round up. Your grade is your grade.” Stupid accounting.

That is an example of being judged impartially. She ignored all my arguments and reasoning (persuasive and valid reasoning in my opinion) and focused on the only thing that mattered – the grade. I am much more philosophical about it now than I was then – I was ticked!

Peter begins this passage with the sobering reality that God is utterly impartial, even to those who call him Father. He does not grade on a curve, nor does He compare our actions with others; He judges us based upon the talents and opportunities He has given us (think of the Parable of Talents). As Acts 10:34 says, “God is no respecter of persons.”

This verse provides a powerful explanation of why we should live our lives in reverent fear. We are totally at the mercy of God. We have no hope – not one chance to escape the penalty of sin. Because of sin, we are doomed to live apart from God in this life and for all eternity – that is beyond frightening. We fear God because He is our completely righteous (and we are far from righteous) and impartial judge (and we know that we deserve to be judged). But we revere Him because He loves us and cares for us like a Father. Thank God for His love today!

One other interesting point, the Greek word for “strangers” is most often used to describe people living in a foreign land. Imagine a community of faithful Israelites living in Rome, or Assyria – even though they were no longer in Israel, they lived their lives as if they were.

When one becomes a follower of Jesus, their residency is transferred to the Kingdom of God. They become a member of a community of people living in a foreign land; strangers who live obediently to Jesus Christ – instead of living like those around them. As Peter instructs, we are called to live according to the customs and expectations of our new homeland, even as we live our lives on earth.

The obvious question in light of this verse is: does your life reflect the culture around you or the Kingdom of God?

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 3:20

1 Peter 1:15-16 - Holy

1 Peter 1:15-16

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy.”

I’ve always had trouble understanding verses like this. If God is holy, how in the world can I be holy? In other places the bible tells us to be perfect – I can’t be perfect; I’ve tried – perfection is beyond my grasp. Why does the bible exhort us to do the impossible?

This may surprise you, but I have two thoughts on that question. First, my definition of “holy” and “perfect” are not necessarily the bible’s definitions. “Holy” means set apart or separated for a special or unique purpose. God is holy because there is no one like Him – He is a one of a kind – so He is holy, or separate by nature.

You and I on the other hand, are not holy by nature. We, like all people, are stuck in the tar pit of sin. But because of God’s grace and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God can pull us out of the pit, wash us off, and set us apart for His work. We become holy because God makes us holy.

“Perfect” is often translated as “mature”; the idea is “grown up”, not necessarily without sin. While I cannot be without sin, I can be mature and grown up. The process of sanctification is how we become mature in Christ. We obey Christ which opens the door to allow the Holy Spirit to change us – in other words, we put ourselves in position to be changed and God is faithful to change us.

Second, putting translation and semantics aside, God can do absolutely anything. He created this world with a word – He can do anything He wants to – even make sinners holy and perfect. That is the unbelievable power of the God we serve. He is not some small, powerless vending machine that we approach when we want something, insert some good works or church attendance, and demand the God give us our heart’s desires. He is majestic and wild and worthy of awe, fear, and total submission. We can be thankful that He is loving and treats us as beloved children – He is complete power and complete love.

Over and over Peter reminds us of the graciousness of God. Isn’t it amazing that you and I can be used by God? Isn’t it astonishing that God loves us so much that He takes the effort to change us from our stubborn and sinful ways? And isn’t it just flat out ridiculous that God would choose to call us friends while we were sinners? The miraculous is commonplace for our God – how else could he dare to call us holy?

1 Peter 1:14 - Ignorance

1 Peter 1:14

“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.”

Can you imagine if there were no Christians in the world? How long would it take for goodness to fade away? How long till evil reigned supreme? Imagine everyone in the world seeking to slake the thirst of their own desires? When I picture “evil desires”, that is what comes to mind. People taking what the want, when they want it, without regard to anyone or anything.

As a long-time Christian I’ve heard it many times, “Can you believe that _________ did __________? That is just terrible.” My thought was usually, “Yes, I can believe ___________ acted that way, they don’t know Christ. Of course they are going to act that way.” While we should never condone the sins of those who don’t know Christ, we shouldn’t really be surprised by them. They are ignorant of the truth. Evil desires thrive in ignorance.

My attitude is different when ____________ is a Christian and knows better. (And my name goes in that blank more often that I would like to admit.) When a Christian follows the evil desires he or she had when they lived in ignorance, they are basically saying to the world, “God and His grace are not enough for me – I need ___________ too.”

The disobedient child of God is a butterfly trying to burrow back into the cocoon. The pardoned criminal breaking back into prison. Lazarus wrapping the death clothes around him and walking back into the grave. The disobedient one turns his nose up at the unlimited grace and love of the Holy God to dabble in the temporary pleasures of today. Or as CS Lewis says,

“Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Are you ready to put away your mud pies? Seriously, are you? Do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance…