Scriptures for Today
1 Peter 1:13-25
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Gird Up Your Mind
1 Peter 1:13
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
“Gird up the loins” means get ready for action. In Bible times, men would pull up their garments so they could move quickly. Here, it is applied to your mind, meaning your thinking needs to be ready, focused, and disciplined.
Being sober means clear-headed, not distracted or controlled by emotions or the world. Sometimes we allow, as an example, our emotions to affect the decisions we make. That’s an example of not being sober. Be sober in all things.
Your focus is on the future grace that will be revealed when Jesus Christ returns. That keeps your mind on the things of God and not on all these other things out there.
Stop Living Like Before
1 Peter 1:14
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
Before salvation, there was ignorance. People followed their desires without understanding truth. That is no longer the standard.
Now you are called obedient children. That means your life should not look like it used to. Your life should change. You do not want to continue in the sins of the past. Let’s get those things fixed now.
The Bible says, “AS OBEDIENT CHILDREN.” That’s the problem in today’s world. Not many people want to be obedient to an authority. But God is commanding us to be obedient children of His. We are His children. We are to do what He says to do.
Be Holy in Everything
1 Peter 1:15-16
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
This is the command. Be holy, not partially, but in all areas of life. Conversation here means your conduct, your way of living.
God’s standard is Himself. This is not about culture or opinion. The standard is God’s holiness. And yes, that’s impossible if you walk in the flesh and you go after the lusts of the flesh. You cannot be holy as you walk in the flesh.
Walking in the flesh means to live controlled by your sinful desires instead of God’s truth. It’s living based on what you feel, what you want, and what pleases you instead of living by what God says. For example, there might be people here that could care less what I’m saying. They are living by their own desires. They came here, but it wasn’t to hear the preaching of God’s word.
Then there’s others here that are walking in the Spirit, listening, and ready to receive God’s word with all readiness of mind. God wants us to walk in the Spirit and deny all the other desires that we have.
For example, live a holy life. Don’t look at things you shouldn’t be looking at. Don’t yell and scream at your children. Don’t stand right in front of the church sign at the front door that says no vaping and vape. Don’t refuse correction. Don’t always think that you’re right. Don’t ignore God’s words. Don’t chase money, status, and pleasure.
All of those things lead to death. “For to be carnally minded (or fleshly minded) is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” The flesh leads to destruction. The Spirit leads to life. Is it possible to not sin? Yes. When you walk in the Spirit, you don’t sin.
But, will you always walk in the Spirit 100% of the time? No.
God Judges Without Respect
1 Peter 1:17
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
We should always call on the Father as believers. We call on the Father when we pray in this church. Believers call on the name of the Lord throughout their life. Believers pray to God.
God does not play favorites. He judges according to truth, not status or position. God is not a respecter of persons. If you do wrong, you’re wrong no matter who you happen to be.
This fear you see there “pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” is not about losing salvation. It is about recognizing who God is and living with that understanding.
So, this verse is saying simply: “Since you call God your Father, and God judges righteously without playing favorites, you SHOULD live your life here with reverence.” You don’t have long here. Might as well live the absolute BEST you can live in the fear and reverence of the Lord.
You Were Bought with Blood
1 Peter 1:18-19
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
You were not purchased with money. You were redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
That raises the value of what you have been given. Your life is not cheap. It cost the blood of Christ. The Bible also doesn’t just say the blood of Christ. “But with the PRECIOUS blood of Christ.”
You want an example of precious? Precious means of great price, costly. Of great value and worth. My daughters that God gave to me are very precious to me. They are of great value. I would give my life for any one of them in a split second. Beautiful, precious, of great, great value.
Babies are absolutely precious to their mother who just gave birth to them. The mom immediately forgets all the great pain she just went through because that little precious baby is so amazing.
Well, Jesus Christ has greater value than anyone. And if I would give my life for any one of my daughters, then I should dedicate the rest of my life to Jesus Christ and go through whatever is needed to get the job done for Him.
No one has been redeemed with corruptible things. The traditions of men don’t redeem anyone. The Baptist name doesn’t redeem anyone. The Baptist church doesn’t redeem anyone. The Catholic doesn’t redeem anyone. Those are all corruptible things as you can see by all the churches throughout this world. The vast majority of them are corrupted.
Jesus isn’t corrupted. He is the sinless, spotless, perfect Son of God. He cannot be corrupted by anyone at any time. He is absolutely precious. He’s never done anyone wrong. Just like those precious newborn babies.
This Was Planned Before the World
1 Peter 1:20-21
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
“Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world.” This verse proves Jesus is God. He was already there before the foundation of the world. Before anything was created Jesus was known to be the Savior of the world that would be created.
This was not an accident. This was planned before the world existed. The plan was already in place but was manifest or made visible or revealed openly in these last time for you and for I.
We have faith in God through Jesus Christ. He’s the only way. You didn’t come to God on your own. You came to God through Jesus Christ.
So, Jesus Christ came at the exact time, and through Him, your faith is placed in God.
And do you know what God did? He raised Jesus from the dead. The Father raised Jesus. The Son of God raised Himself. And the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. God gave Jesus glory. And because of all that, your faith and hope better be in God Almighty!
Love Without Hypocrisy
1 Peter 1:22
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Now please look and see this because I promise you, IF YOU GET THIS, your life will change. If you are saved right now, you have obeyed the Gospel. You have obeyed the truth. If you’re listening right now and receiving these words, you are obeying the truth through the Spirit of God.
And what does that do for you? This leads to unfeigned love of the brethren. “Unfeigned” means genuine. Not fake. Not surface-level love. It’s a deep and genuine love just like the love of God. And that’s what we all need to get and what we all need to focus on more and more.
We love each other by following God’s commandments. This leads to a deeper and deeper love for each other. For example, the person sitting next to you and on each side of you and behind you is someone God loves greatly. You need to get that same love, genuine love, for that person. You need to care for that person.
This is real love, coming from a pure heart. It is active, strong, and sincere. “See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” Love one another. Strongly. Earnestly. With intensity. Without holding back. Fervently is like stretching something to the absolute limits. Love with all you’ve got. Try it. Real, active, intense love that comes from a pure heart.
For example, I loved when my daughters were little. They loved me from a pure heart so much. Abigail still comes to me and says, “I love you daddy.” As they grow up, you don’t get that as much. Abigail is growing up, and I’m going to miss that. I hope that doesn’t go away. I hope Callie, Taylor, Emma, and Abigail when I’m old still come to me and say, “I love you daddy.”
We all need to work on that and keep that love from a pure heart for each other. Let’s all work on that together.
Born Again by the Word
1 Peter 1:23
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Our first birth was of the flesh, corruptible. But once you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, you were born again. Born of the Spirit of God. INCORRUPTIBLE! By the word of God! This means the Scriptures because the next verses will teach us that.
Your new birth is not temporary. It is based on the word of God, which never changes. That means what God has done in you is lasting. The word of God doesn’t change. Man has changed the word of God into something else making it NOT the word of God. But the actual word of God is forever.
And because His words are forever and because His words do not pass away, you will not pass away. You have everlasting life because God’s words are everlasting. They are spirit and life. They are much greater and much different than man’s words. They are spirit and life. They work inside a person.
Everything Else Fades
1 Peter 1:24-25
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Everything in this world fades. People fade. Achievements fade. Our flesh and our bodies fade away as we get older and older. Our bodies don’t get better. They fade away. “For all flesh is as grass, and ALL THE GLORY of man as the flower of grass.” Think of a beautiful flower. It’s beautiful for a short time. It’s glorious for a short time.
And then what happens to it. It withers away, falls away, and goes back to the dust of the earth. But what’s different than that? Look at the verse there. But the word of the Lord endureth forever! Totally different.
The words you see right there have outlasted you and will outlast you. They endure forever. That’s what your life is built on. That’s what the eternal life you have is built on. God’s words. God’s promises to you. He promised you everlasting life IN HIS WORDS if you would simply and I mean simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
We’re speaking of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s how the words of the Lord came to you: “BY THE GOSPEL.” That’s the first step. You hear the Gospel and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
This passage is not telling you to become holy to be saved. It is telling you that because you are saved, your life should reflect that holiness that God gave to you. You were bought with a price. You were changed. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. Your life should not stay the same. Stay with us here. I want to become a great friend of yours and an even greater friend of yours.
I want to be there when you need help. I want to be there when you’re sick. I want to be there when you’re in trouble. I want to put you ahead of myself. Let’s all do that for each other. When I’m sick and dying, will I be alone or will you be there with me? Don’t leave me alone. I’m not going to leave you alone. God gave us each other. Let’s do this God’s way.
Matthew 25:34-36
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Matthew 25:37-40
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
We MUST act more like this. We MUST get away from always pleasing ourselves and give more and more to others. If I’m sick and you’re sick, I’m going to get up and come visit you. I’m going to put my sickness aside, and I’m not going to worry about myself so much. I’ve got to get to my friends and the people I love.
Practical Applications
- Get your mind focused and disciplined. Do not live distracted or careless.
- Stop living like you did before salvation. That is not who you are anymore.
- Holiness is not optional. It is the standard God gave.
- Love others genuinely, not outwardly or for show.
Conclusion
God is holy, and He calls you to live differently. You were not bought with money. You were bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. Everything in this world fades, but the Word of God stands forever. So live like it matters because it truly does. Give it all you’ve got.
Let’s pray.
Leave a Reply