Growing in Grace and Hope

“CHOOSING TO BE DIFFERENT” - 1 Peter 1:13-2:2

We have started a series called “Growing in Grace and Hope.” What we're going to do over the next several weeks is to look at the book of 1 Peter and see what he has to say about how to live in this pursuit.

Before we dig in I want to set the stage a little by reminding you of the two worlds that the Bible refers to oftentimes. Not the two physical worlds, but spiritual ones, the evil side and the godly side. The Bible also calls this the flesh versus the spirit, darkness versus the light, the old versus the new. The Bible says many times that there's something very real happening with these two entities, these two realities. If you are a believer, a Christian, if you've trusted Jesus as your Savior, you have been freed from the old side, but you still have to battle against it.

One thing I liked about the Star Wars movies was the emphasis on the good side versus the dark side. Some Christians didn’t like Star Wars because they say it is too New-Agey. If you depend upon Star Wars for your theology, you are misinformed. But what I like about Star Wars is that it emphasized good versus bad and the possibility to be changed. Darth Vader is wholly bad, but he is changed at the end - redemption is possible.

If nothing else, at least we Christians should be able to identify with that part of the story in popular literature and movies. For us, we know that by God's grace we are changed ... brought over from the dark side to the side of God. But then we find out quickly that a real struggle continues. We find out that the battle between the dark side or fallen nature and the new creature rages furiously.

I've often thought, wouldn't it be great when we come into a relationship with Jesus Christ, if He would just take us to Heaven right away. If that were to happen we wouldn't live in this tension between the old and the new. But for some reason God has decided to keep us here. He's left us on earth to figure out how to live for Him in what Philippians 2 calls, “an evil and perverse generation.” To live in a time that is opposing God's will, to live in a time that is largely anti-God, how is it that we can live God's way in this evil and perverse generation?

There was this story on the radio about a school teacher who passed up free tickets to take her class to see Romeo and Juliet. The teacher said she did not want to take her students there because Romeo and Juliet do not model a lifestyle of choice, that all the models there were of heterosexual relationships - too normal - so she wouldn't take her students there. It was one of those moments where I throw up my hands (mentally - since I was driving) and say “I can't believe it!”

But then after I settle down I'm not really surprised by it. I'm bothered by it, but I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised by sin. The Bible tells us in 1 John 5:19 - “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.” We shouldn't be surprised by sin. Should we be saddened? Yes. Shouldn't we want to change the world? I do. But we shouldn't be surprised. The world system lies in the grasp of the evil one who nurtures and drives this way of thinking. The evil is designed to appeal to our fleshly desires, to make life easy and comfortable, and tempting us to go the way of sin and reject God.

Well, that's the background I want you to see ... to recognize this tension as we dig in to what Peter says in this fist chapter where he challenges Christians to be different.

1 Peter 1:13-2:2 – “¹³ So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. ¹⁴ So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. ¹⁵ But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. ¹⁶ For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” ¹⁷ And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” ¹⁸ For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. ¹⁹ It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. ²⁰ God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.  ²¹ Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. ²² You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.  ²³ For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. ²⁴As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. ²⁵ But the word of the Lord remains forever. And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.  ¹ So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. ² Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,”

A Challenge to Be Different:

1) You have been made new.

1 Peter 1:14-15 - “So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.”

He says don't slip into your old sinful habits. Act like who you are. Remember the family name. Peter takes it a step further and uses the word “holy.” Being made new is the first thing. I first understood this the best when my first child was born. Ashley came out new - looked a little bit like E.T. (Unlike those TV deliveries where the baby comes out looking beautiful) - but new, pure, but born into a world of wickedness. Peter adds on, not only are we made new, but now we are to live God's way - in holiness.

Holiness is a scary word. It can conjure up some strange images of monasteries, praying on your knees all day, wearing funny clothes. But holiness has a simple definition “To be set apart.” Holiness is to be set apart from the ways of the world, from the ways of the sin, and be set apart to God. That's what Peter is saying, “You've been made new, now be holy, be set apart from the world's ways and to God.”

It's like when I have to walk through a muddy area. If I am really careful, I can usually find steps that keep me out of the mud - maybe a stone here or a small patch of grass there. But usually I just choose the easy way out - to walk right through the mud. And then my feet pick mud and each step picks up thicker layer until my feet feel heavy. I wipe my feet off in the grass, get in the car, drive home, get out of the car and wipe my feet off again and come into the house. My wife says, “Look at the mess all over the house. You've got mud all over it.” In the waffle sections of my shoes is mud and dirt. So I sheepishly pick up token pieces of mud and take off the shoes. During that time I think to myself I should have just tried to avoid all that mud. It would have been much better.

That's exactly what being set apart means. God says, “You've got two paths. You can run in the mud or you can run in the direction I've called you.” That direction might not be the easy choice or the natural choice. But the effects of not running God's way, not living God's way, has a lot more consequences. It's more painful. Our relationships aren't as good. We experience guilt. We feel like we have to hide things.

God says “You're made new. Here's the way. Run this way. Choose to be different.”

Choosing to be different is a discipline. It's tough. Living God's way and following His plan are not easy. We have this tendency to be tempted to the old.

There are two extremes for Christians: Discipline and drifting. A drifter is the opposite of discipline. This is someone who loafs at it, who coasts, who does just enough with their faith to get by. Doing just enough to get “in” at the end - like fire insurance. Where are you on this continuum? Are you disciplined with your faith or are you a drifter? Discipline is tough.

Video – Footprints

Vs. 13 - “So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.”

So, spiritually, we are to keep in our minds the second coming of Jesus, the reward of heaven and roll up our sleeves and do what is not always easy. Discipline comes from love for the Lord and looking forward to the goal.

1 Timothy 4:8 – “”

2) Prepare yourself for a different life:

Peter is saying, this isn't the time to take it easy, to kick back and drift through life guided by natural impulses or the old nature. He bears down on his pen, and says, you are a new creation and as a new creation live differently. Get ready. Don't lazily slip back into your old ways. Be disciplined to be different. You see it in vs. 14, 22 and 2:1 – “So you must …”

Vince Lombardi used to say that failing to prepare is preparing to fail. You know that if a team goes in unprepared they're going to get wiped out. Peter's saying prepare, get ready, roll up put your mind in gear.

About ten years ago, I took the middle and high schoolers ice skating on New Years Eve. It was fun. I'm not real good on skates but I have a real competitive nature so I loved the opportunity. We played hockey in the dark and these 14-year olds (Seth, Sean, Forest, Jared, others) are coming with the puck and as I

try something stupid I fall and I think it was Seth who comes by dancing around, laughing at me - no grace, no mercy. I'm laying on the ground swinging my stick, trying to hit them. You laugh at me, but do you know what the evil one is doing to those who are not prepared, to those who are falling by the wayside, those who haven't prepared for a new life? He's circling around with no grace, no mercy, no kindness, and he's laughing as we fall away, as we give in to the temptation of the old. We've been made new. Now prepare yourself for a different life.

WHY?

3) We need to prepare for a new life because God paid a price for you.

Vs.18-19 – “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”

The empty life inherited from our ancestors – that is the idea of trying to be a good person in order to earn our way to heaven. That was empty. You can’t do it. Instead, God gave us a new way to relate to Him – by faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross. You've been made new, prepare for a different life. God paid a price. It wasn't out of silver or gold. It was His blood, Jesus died for you. That's the motivation. If you take nothing else away from here remember that you prepare for a new life because Jesus paid a price. He shed His blood so that we might live forever

Ways to be different:

1) Discipline with your love.

Vs. 22 – “You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.” Peter is saying that there is no better test than love.

I would have preferred him to start off with something a little easier. Instead he goes for the jugular. Do you love other Christians? Is love a filter that your actions go through? Do you consider others better than yourself? Do you put them before yourself? Peter is saying that love is what sets us apart. Love is the display of holiness. Jesus preached this same message. One of the last times He was with His followers in John 13:35 He says, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Holiness starts with love. Do you love one another?

I remember 6 words from an early church history class in college. It was from a story I was reading about a man named Aristides who was a pagan in the late first century who was sent by the Roman government to report on the early church movement. The Roman official went into the compound where a bunch of Christians were living together, intending to write something bad. Instead he wrote these 6 words that had an impact on church history, “Behold, how they love one another.”

I wonder if someone from the secular world came into the Christian community today with the intention of finding something bad to report on. Would he be able to say that or would they say “Behold, how they judge one another Behold, how they plan to win the election. Behold, how they are angry with others who have different beliefs.” Being set apart, being different, being holy is to love one another unselfishly.

There's this story about a pastor who gives a children's sermon. He gave the children an opportunity to accept Christ at the end. A brother and sister came forward and the sister raised her hand that she wanted to follow Jesus and have Him in her heart. The next morning the boy and girl were playing and the girl got mad and smacked her brother good. The brother said, “I thought Jesus was living in your heart?” The girl said, “He is, but He's sleeping right now.”

When it comes to discipline, loving one another, I think sometimes we've told Jesus to fall asleep, or back out, or step off the throne, or we put Him in a closet. In the Bible it's called grieving the Holy Spirit.

2) Discipline with your mouth.

2:1 says, “So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.” I have generalized these five areas under "mouth" because I think they have a way of displaying themselves by the words we use and what we say to others and how we treat them. If we take care of the discipline of love then the words that come out of our mouth tend to have a different tone, tend to have a different direction, tend to have a different meaning.

This isn't just my opinion, this is what Jesus said: “You will know a person's heart by the words that come from his or her mouth.” How does your heart measure up to these? Spiteful, deceitful, hypocritical, envious, critical of others? I think if we're being real, reality says that we are guilty of some of these things, but as we mature in Christ they should occur less often. Greater maturity exemplified through greater love says that these thoughts come up less and less as we grow as Christians

3) Discipline with your desire for God's Word.

1Peter 2:2 – “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment.” Notice the word “crave.” I love that image that you're always thirsty for spiritual milk. He's not saying to be spiritual babies, but that like a newborn is always thirsty for milk, we should keep that spiritual hunger that we had when we were spiritual babes. Be thirsty for God's Word, and don't let that desire burn out.

Some of you know what it is to be a believer for a long time. And maybe you know what it is to have your thirst for God's Word diminish. Do you want to know how to live a different life, how to be set apart, how to be holy? Stay in His Word. Maybe some of you come on Sunday morning and that's the only milk that you get. Discipline your desires for God's Word. The Bible is more than a good book to be consulted through a sermon once a week. It is for every circumstance of life.

In the middle ages the Bible was chained to the pulpit. The common people did not have access to it. There were no Bibles in the home. In fact the official church policy was that only the clergy were to know and interpret the Bible. Later it was in Latin where only the educated or the priests could understand it, That was a huge mistake for the church at that point in history and it showed in the sickness and heresy in the church and in the lack of holiness in Christians. But now, we all have access to God's Word and it shows us how to be different.

Remember as a new believer how exciting it was to tear into it? You maybe even read lesser know Old Testament books. You read everything with the desire to learn. You had been born again, you were new. Always thirsty. If you're more of a drifter when it comes to reading God's Word, then make this a point to be more disciplined. Start with a small goal - and don't start at Genesis and read straight through. Read with your current needs and struggles in mind.

These action steps are not easy action steps. Having discipline with our love, our mouth, our desire for God's Word - these are not easy. Remember Peter, the man who wrote these words, obviously inspired by God. But I started to think about Peter in his earlier years when he walked with Jesus. Peter was a big-mouthed clumsy fisherman and Jesus came into his life and said “I'm going to call you Petros, the stone.” You watch Peter's life. He was instrumental in the book of Acts and the early church. He was also very real and very human. He denied Jesus three times. He had to be publicly rebuked by Paul once when he was being a blatant hypocrite. This gives me hope. Not only was Peter inspired by God when he wrote these words but he was also a fellow brother, somebody that knew what it was like to live in the tension between the old and the new. That gives me hope. He's saying “You've been born again, made new, begin to act like it.” God has declared you to be His child. He has declared you new and holy. Act like who you are. You live by a different set of rules, a whole new game, when you live God's way.

Some kids were playing army in their neighborhood one day. They were split up into Side A and Side B. Without very good props, they decided that if you came up on somebody, caught them off guard, you said “Bang, bang” as you shot them. If you were in a battle and said “Stab, stab” you stabbed them. If you saw them and they didn't see you, you could say “Lob, lob” and that would be grenade and you blew them up Somebody from Side B sneaks up on Somebody from Side A - "Bang, bang", Person A turns around and starts walking right at him. Person B, “Bang, bang,” Still walking right at him, “Stab, stab.” Still walking right at him, “Lob, lob” Person B, "You're not playing the game right!" Person A, “Rumble, rumble, I'm a tank.”

When you're on God's team, when you are saved by God's grace in Jesus, when you're set apart, pursuing holiness, the evil one's game does not affect you. Followers of God have changed the rules. “If anyone is in Christ he or she is a new creation, the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” That's good news! There's hope for those of us left here to live God's way. My hope is that we will be challenged to be men and women that live God's way, live in pursuit of holiness, set apart in how we live their lives.

And it all begins with the acceptance of God's grace. This lifestyle of pursuing holiness starts with accepting God's gracious offer of forgiveness of your sins and the gift of eternal life in Jesus. God declares that you are His child – that you are holy – set apart for Him. Only then do you lave the right motivation and means to pursue holiness, to act like who God has declared you to be.