Old Testament Reading – Psalm 1:1-6 –
New Testament Reading – 2 Timothy 3:1-17
How Should We Then Live
“The Validation of Our Salvation”
1 Peter 1:24-2:3
In his first epistle to Christians who were persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, the Apostle Peter challenged them to get their eyes off of their persecution, and on to their salvation, for it was to such suffering they were called.
- Peter said their response to suffering would prove, manifest, or validate their relationship with God.
- Peter began his appeal with a review of:
- The definition of salvation – In 1 Peter 1:2-4, Peter used the terms “elect,” “begotten,” and “kept.”
- One does not become a Christian by making a mental decision regarding the Person and work of Jesus Christ, for that would only lead to a religion.
- Our salvation was God determined, God purchased, God applied, and God secured.
- We were chosen by God before the foundation of the world; He sought us and He bought us with His redeeming blood, and He who has called us will see that we are begotten, possessed, and preserved until the day we are present with Him in heaven.
- The assurance of salvation – In 1 Peter 1:3-5, Peter said our salvation was “given to us” through the grace and mercy of God the Father, that it was “obtained” through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that it includes our “inheritance” in heaven, as well as “God’s power” to keep us saved until it is “revealed” on that day.
- There are two tests to determine the authenticity of our faith in Christ:
- The objective test – “Do we believe Jesus was the Savior sent from God?”
- The subjective test – “Is our faith in Christ a living reality, or is it just a profession?”
- There are six evidences of a true salvation experience.
- A new awareness of right and wrong
- A new hunger for God’s Word
- A strong desire for a new way of life
- An increase in testing
- A genuine love for other Christians
- A sincere desire to see others saved
- The validation of salvation –
- In 1 Peter 1:13-21, Peter said the believer’s response to God for what He did to deliver us from the penalty of our sins is to live a life of hope, holiness, and honor.
- In 1 Peter 1:13-21, Peter said the believer’s proper response to God for what He did to deliver us from the penalty of our sins is to live a life of hope, holiness, and honor.
- In 1 Peter 1:22-25, Peter said the believer’s proper response to others is to love one another with the same kind and level of love which the Father revealed to us in sending His Son to give His life a ransom for our souls.
- In 1 Peter 1:24-2:3, Peter said the believer’s proper response to himself would be to desire the pure milk of the Word, in order to grow in his own understanding of what God has done for him through Jesus Christ, and to live his life in such a way that unbelievers would see Christ in him, and be drawn to Christ to receive their gift of eternal salvation.
1. Five Things to Reject – 1 Peter 2:1 – “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.”
The Greek word for “laying aside,” means to reject vigorously.
Therefore, to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, a Christian must reject those attitudes and actions that hinder their goal of spiritual maturity.
- Malice – the root of evil, wickedness, immorality, and other sins of the flesh.
- Deceit – any form of cheating, trickery, or dishonesty.
- Hypocrisy – pretending to be something we aren’t.
- Envy – resenting what others have and wanting what others have, without being willing to work for them.
- Evil speaking – gossip, backbiting, slander, etc.,
- Peter said we must put them ALL away, for malice leads to deceit, and deceit to hypocrisy, and hypocrisy to envy, and envy to gossip or slander.
2. One Thing to Admit – 1 Peter 2:2 – “As newborn babes.”
The Greek word for babes is “brephos,” which was used to describe a child as long as it nursed at his or her mother’s breast.
- Peter was not talking about a new convert, or a spiritual babe, as the Apostle John referred to in his epistle.
- Peter was referring to all believers in Christ, whether young or mature in the faith.
- Every believer should crave the milk of God’s Word the same way a newborn baby craves its mother’s milk.
- In Peter’s analogy, no matter how mature in the faith a believer becomes, they should never lose that initial craving for the pure milk of the Word.
- Today’s Christians have become so satisfied with the pablum of spiritual feelings they cannot digest spiritual truth. In fact, they have no appetite for it whatsoever.
“Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow
of wickedness, and receive with meekness the
implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
James 1:21
3. One Thing to Desire – 1 Peter 2:2 – “Desire the pure milk of the word.”
- Peter said believers of every age should never stop craving for that pure, uncontaminated, unadulterated milk of the Word.
- The Greek word here is “logikon” rather than logos, which means we must first learn what the passage says, and what it means, before we can learn what it means to us.
- The historical and prophetical meanings of a passage are essential to its proper application to our personal lives.
“The deeper our devotion to God,
the stronger our life message,
and the broader God designs
our life ministry!” WJE
4. One Reason for it All – 1 Peter 2:2-3 “That you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”
Peter listed two reasons one might have for not craving for the pure milk of God’s Word.
- Perhaps they have never “tasted” that the Lord is gracious – they have never been born again.
- Becoming a member of a religious organization is not equal to having a personal relationship with a holy God.
- Perhaps they were born again, but they “left” (not lost) their first love somewhere along their spiritual journey.
- They replaced the milk of the Word with the honey of the world, and it no longer satisfies.
Those who are content where they are spiritually will never grow to spiritual maturity.
- However, True Spiritual growth rises out of discontent:
- If you are not happy with where you are in your relationship and/or your fellowship with the Lord, God may be using the message to call you to Himself:
- To learn of Him – Jeremiah 29:13
- To learn from Him – Matthew 11:29-30
- Until you fully know Him – John 17:3
