Awakened by Holy Stimuli

1 Peter 1:17-21

                   Spiritual Stimulation Involves Holy Considerations.

A fear of God is largely missing in our society, but that is not the saddest reality. Far too many Believers have little to no measurable respect for God as Father or Judge. From the appearance of things not many Christians cherish deeply the extraordinary price paid for our redemption. The result is a generation of professing Believers who have little or no desire to sustain holy and godly lifestyles. Immorality, sex outside of marriage, lying, cheating, coveting, and materialism are more a part of Believers’ lives then the Word of God and walking in the Spirit. We need a special blend of holy stimulation to awaken godly desires deep within the recesses of our souls. Here are some helpful considerations:

A.     Consider how God is the Father and the Impartial Judge; continue your journey with the utmost respect for Him (17).

                                                   i.      Get Serious About Combating Sin.  Interactivity with a father and a judge demands respect! As God’s children, we need to respect Him by being serious about refusing sin and pursuing holiness. Our Heavenly Father is a holy (John 17:11) and righteous Father (John 17:25). He will not compromise with sin. He is merciful and forgiving, but He is also a loving disciplinarian who cannot permit His children to enjoy sin. After all, it was sin that sent His Son to the cross. If we call God “Father,” then we should reflect His nature.

                                                 ii.      Don’t Worry About Punishment for Sins. 

1.      What is this judgment that Peter wrote about? It is the judgment of a believer’s works. It has nothing to do with salvation, except that salvation ought to produce good works (Titus 1:16; 2:7, 12). When we trusted Christ, God forgave our sins and declared us righteous in His Son (Rom. 5:1–10; 8:1–4; Col. 2:13). Our sins have already been judged on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), and therefore they cannot be held against us (Heb. 10:10–18).

2.      The Fathers judgment of His own in this life is chastening and corrective, not eternal punishment; He has committed the judgment of sinners to the Lord Jesus (John 5:22). The prospect of God’s corrective measures should awaken holy respect in the heart of God’s people.

3.      Lincoln writes: “He is looking on, taking notice of all, whether there is integrity of purpose, intelligence of mind, and desire of heart to please Him.”

                                                iii.      Prepare for the Judgment Seat of Christ.  But when the Lord returns, there will be a time of judgment called “the Judgment Seat of Christ” (Rom. 14:10–12; 2 Cor. 5:9–10). Each of us will give an account of his works, and each will receive the appropriate reward. This is a “family judgment,” the Father dealing with His beloved children. The Greek word translated judgeth carries the meaning “to judge in order to find something good.” God will search into the motives for our ministry; He will examine our hearts. But He assures us that His purpose is to glorify Himself in our lives and ministries, “and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Cor. 4:5). What an encouragement! –Wiersbe: The Bible Exposition Commentary

                                               iv.      Live Daily with a Healthy Fear of God.

1.      We are to pass the time of our stay on earth in fear. As we realize the extent of His knowledge and the accuracy of His judgment, we should live with a wholesome fear of displeasing Him.

2.      Christians are not at home in this world. We are living in a foreign country, exiled from heaven. We should not settle down as if this were our permanent dwelling. Neither should we imitate the behavior of the earth-dwellers. We should always remember our heavenly destiny and behave ourselves as citizens of heaven (MacDonald, W.).

B.     Consider how Christ is our Redemption Sacrifice; place your faith and hope in God (18-21).

                                                   i.      Remember Your Bondage (1:18).  Redeem means to buy back someone from bondage by the payment of a price; to set free by paying a ransom. “Redemption” was a technical term for money paid to buy back a prisoner of war. Here it is used of the price paid to buy the freedom of one in the bondage of sin and under the curse of the law (i.e., eternal death, cf. Gal. 3:13). The price paid to a holy God was the shed blood of His own Son (cf. Ex. 12:1–13; 15:13; Ps. 78:35; Acts 20:28; Rom. 3:24; Gal. 4:4, 5; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:11–17).

                                                 ii.      Do Not Lead a Full, But Empty Life (1:18).  We were not redeemed with perishable money (18).

1.      Before our conversion, we were the same as the rest of the world (1:18). Our talk and walk were as empty and trivial as everyone else around us. Our unconverted days are described as vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers. Peter’s focus is not on any specific action, but on the way of life that we inherited from our ancestors. Those old ways were futile, empty of power and incapable of securing salvation. Like Peter’s readers we all needed to be snatched from our hopeless condition. 

2.      But now we have been ransomed from that futile existence by a tremendous transaction. We have been rescued from the slavery of world-conformity by the payment of an infinite ransom. No, it was not with silver or gold that we kidnap victims have been freed (see Ex. 30:15)!

                                                iii.      Note the Cost of Your Redemption (1:19-21).  We were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (19-21). Peter describes Christ as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, who is offered in our place to pay the price for our sins. God’s way of salvation is contrasted to human attempts at gaining salvation through the use of earthly means (v. 18).

1.      Nothing Compares To His Perfection (19).  Christ is a lamb without blemish or spot, that is, He is absolutely perfect, inwardly and outwardly.

a.       Precious blood: a lamb: The analogy here may be a reference either to the Passover lamb (see Ex. 12:3–6) or to the many lambs without blemish that were offered as part of the Old Testament sacrificial system (see Lev. 23:12; Num. 6:14; 28:3).

b.      If a believer is ever tempted to return to worldly pleasures and amusements, to adopt worldly modes and patterns, to become like the world in its false ways, he should remember that Christ shed His blood to deliver him from that kind of life. To go back to the world is to re-cross the great gulf that was bridged for us at staggering cost. But even more—it is positive disloyalty to the Savior.

c.       “Reason back from the greatness of the sacrifice to the greatness of the sin. Then determine to be done forever with that which cost God’s Son His life.” –MacDonald: Believer's Bible Commentary

2.      Nothing Compares To His Predestination (20). “Foreordained” indicates that God has known (v. 2) the One who would bring salvation, even as He has known those to whom that salvation is offered and secured (see Rom. 11:2).  Christ’s death was planned, not and accident or unexpected turn of events.  God designed it with us in mind!

3.      Nothing Compares To His Manifestation (20b).  “But was manifest,” this phrase contrasts with the first half of the verse. What was known only to God before the creation of the world is now made known to us. The payment for sin was planned before the Creation of the world and revealed for people’s sake through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. (The present Age is these last times [1:20] whereas the coming Age is “the last time” [v. 5].)

4.      Nothing Compares To His Resurrection (21). 

a.       Peter made it clear that Christ’s death was an appointment, not an accident; for it was ordained by God before the foundation of the world (Acts 2:23). From the human perspective, our Lord was cruelly murdered; but from the divine perspective, He laid down His life for sinners (John 10:17–18). But He was raised from the dead! Now, anyone who trusts Him will be saved for eternity.

b.      When you and I meditate on the sacrifice of Christ for us, certainly we should want to obey God and live holy lives for His glory.

5.      Nothing Compares To His Glorification (21). The Father indicated His complete satisfaction with Christ’s redeeming work by raising Him out from among the dead ones and honoring Him with the place of highest glory in heaven. The result of all this is that our faith and hope might be in God. It is in Him, not in the present evil world system, that we live and move and have our being.

a.       That our faith and hope might be in God (21).  It is through Christ, whom the Father resurrected (1:3) and glorified in His Ascension (John 17:5; Heb. 1:3) that people may come to know and trust in God. As a result of God’s eternal plan and priceless payment for sin, faith and hope can be placed in Him.

b.      Loyalty to the Lord Jesus is further demanded by the fact that it is through Him we have come to believe in God. He is the One who has revealed the Father’s heart to us. As W. T. P. Wolston says: “it is not by creation nor providence nor law that man knows God, but by Christ.” 

Conclusion:

We can cultivate stronger desires to live holy by believing, embracing, and acting on strong biblical and theological truths. Allow the holiness of God and the price of redemption to deeply impress your innermost being! Find stimulating hope in the Revelation of Jesus Christ! Make a point of living holy in practical ways each day of life. Christ died for you and me that we should live for Him! Is your desire to live holy spiritually strong, or is it beginning to weaken under the pressure of worldly appeals to conform? Are you fully persuaded to lead a devoted life? Is it your defining aim to please Christ? Have you prepared for living differently by placing the grace of Christ return before you?  Have you decided to be an obedient child living holy because God, your Father, is holy?  Can you think deeply upon the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ and still harbor casual attitudes toward sin? Allow these questions to awaken and alert you to where you are presently in your walk with the Lord. While you are at it, have a large mug of God’s holy java!

For Goodness Sake!!

Is fighting the Ebola virus on the continent of Africa a good idea? Should we spend more American tax dollars to provide supplies and medicines to refugees affected by the religious persecutions and wars in Iraq and Syria? Is it wise to help US veterans who are disabled and or struggling with PTSD regain their balance to make a fresh start? Should the Veteran Administration Hospitals provide higher quality service and care to those who have hazarded their lives serving our country? These are legitimate considerations facing our country collectively and each of us as Americans. As a prospering nation it is incumbent upon us to show forth goodness to others around the world while diligently addressing the swelling needs here at home. Furthermore Christians are responsible for demonstrating the goodness of God on a daily basis through acts of kindness and generosity. This brings us to another aspect of the fruit of the Spirit called “goodness.” Once more the great Apostle Paul says to us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). What is goodness according to the Bible?

GOODNESS

In Romans 15:14, Paul says, “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” Christians are to be “full of goodness” and this fits them for meaningful ministries of encouragement, exhortation, and warning to others. We should reserve zero room for evil expressions. Again in Ephesians 5:8-10, he says, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9, (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)10, Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” “All goodness” is consistent with living according to God’s light and Word; goodness is the fruit of the Spirit, and all genuine goodness is acceptable to the Lord Jesus. Of supreme importance is the fact that God, not society, defines goodness and all types thereof. Once more Paul says in Second Thessalonians 1:11-12, “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12, That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” There is a goodness that belongs to God; a kind of goodness He delights to show and work out in and through Believers for Christ’s glory. Goodness actually demonstrates the grace of God as it influence our lives. Grace marks and controls the expression of goodness. Thus goodness is not merely a passive quality in Believers; it is a deliberate preference to what is right, and a decided rejection of moral evil. Goodness utterly insists upon opposing evil while persisting to follow and choose all forms of moral good (Easton’s Bible Dictionary).

So then the sixth quality the Holy Spirit produces in Believers is “goodness” (Gal. 5:22) toward all including those who have been intentionally insensitive or have sought to do harm to others. Goodness may not only be thought of as uprightness of soul, but also as outward-reaching actions toward others to help or benefit them even when it is not deserved. Goodness is virtue in both disposition and deportment. It is morality within and usefulness demonstrated. Christians must perform that which is beneficial toward others regardless of who they are while pursuing what is good for society. A person’s failed past does not automatically forfeit all expressions of goodness towards them from individuals or society. 

A defining question should be entertained at this point, “Is all ‘goodness’ God’s goodness?” It is imperative that we remember that ‘good’ is to be defined by God and not society at large. Modern secularized values persistently call good evil and evil good. The new morality is actually the same old evil of a past generation. Society influenced by a warp and twisted media will sanction sinful, evil, and outrageous practices in the name of doing ‘good.’ To the biblically illiterate alternative lifestyles are good, drug usage is good, recreational sex is good, consuming alcohol is good, cheating on your marriage is good, aborting babies is good, killing the elderly is good, and corrupt business and government is good. Our society is utterly inept at deciding or executing authentic goodness!

Biblically speaking good encompasses right motives, moral endeavors, and godly outcomes. So, to be considered “good” requires virtuous purposes, a wholesome undertaking or task that actually pleases God, and the end product is honoring to God and truly beneficial to humanity. Biblical goodness does not accommodate the relativistic and situational ethic kind of ‘good’ so common today. There is no conception of using morally evil means to secure ‘good’ ends. Nor is there toleration for wicked endeavors that brought about ‘good’ developments. No leniency is afforded for a net ‘good’ merely because the motives were right. This is because God’s standards for goodness are absolute. He requires wholesome tasks performed with spiritual motives and righteous outcomes. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Youngblood, and Bruce 1995) says:

Goodness—the quality of being good; praiseworthy character; moral excellence. The Bible speaks often of the goodness of God (Ex. 33:19; Rom. 2:4). God’s goodness consists of righteousness, holiness, justice, kindness, grace, mercy, and love. Goodness is also one of the fruits of the Spirit that should characterize Christian believers (Gal. 5:22). Christians are called to goodness, even as God the Father is perfect and good (Matt. 5:48).

Therefore, a believer branded by spiritual “goodness” will manifest righteousness, holiness, justice, kindness, grace, mercy, and love in action. Though these qualities are perfect in our heavenly Father, they are quite imperfect in us His children. Nevertheless He is the standard of genuine goodness. The Spirit of God will communicate these same qualities into the yielded believer’s experience. That is, we will do right because it is indeed right, be set apart unto God’s will and pleasure, fair/honest in our dealings, kind towards the deserving and undeserving alike, graceful toward all, show mercy to those admitting their failures while affording opportunities for redemption, and give love to friends and foes unconditionally. The glory of God is upon such a life; Christ is greatly honored through such expressions. The more mature we are in Christ, the more prominently “goodness” will pervade our personalities.

Goodness can also be described as “generosity of self and possessions.”  It includes hospitality and a multiplicity of acts of benevolence, charitableness, generosity, philanthropy, and thoughtfulness that flow from an unselfish heart. It portrays a kind soul who is far more interested in investing in the lives of others than receiving.  God’s desire for all believers is that we continue actively engaging in multiplied good works. This is precisely what Paul prescribed in Titus 3:8, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” God plans for His people to be intentionally plugged into activities, ventures, venues, and opportunities that express goodness—organizations that are profitable to humanity. Bible believing churches always need more bus workers, evangelism ministries always need more participants, homeless ministries constantly need volunteers, discipleship ministries need workers, and jail ministries could use a great deal more help. The person who is often given to melancholy moods, gloom and depression because of an over indulgence in self-centered thinking needs this quality.  There is something restorative about serving others that lifts a person out of the rut of self-thoughts. 

To see goodness in action consider the life of the Lord Jesus who ceaselessly “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38; Matt. 9:35; 12:15; 15:21-31). Consider the record of Matthew,

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. ²⁴ And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. ²⁵ And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan (Matthew 4:23-25).

No one would argue that these were not genuinely good actions performed by the Lord Jesus. He filled up His life with such helpful exercises of service to God and mankind. He recruited and trained others to serve alongside Himself and to continue such spiritual and benevolent acts/deeds. Likewise it is still good to preach the Gospel of salvation, teach the truth of God’s Word to transform lives, and labor to heal people’s bodies and minds. According to our Lord Jesus’ example, it is good to help folks overcome the forces of evil and darkness in their individual struggles, deal with the mistakes and failures of their past, and fight the spread of violent diseases. These are good endeavors before God and for the good of humanity. The Lord Jesus made these the focus of His ministry to others. The kind of help He afforded empowered, lifted, and transformed the present situation posturing people for a better future. He did NOT perpetuate a victim mentality! His incredible works demonstrated that He is indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, and what was truly important to God. The Lord Jesus helped people with their most pressing spiritual needs, and He ministered to their temporal needs as well. He gave them bread to eat that He may offer them the Bread of Life (John 6). He freed people from sin and it’s power that they may experience all their potential in the plan of God for them. The dysfunctional become functional and the disenfranchised are invested with fresh opportunities because of Christ’s goodness to us all.

One could also read Luke 10:30–35, where the Good Samaritan showed himself a good neighbor.  Though there was hostility and religious animosity between the Samaritans and the Jews, still he did everything in his power to aid this fallen Jewish traveler. He not only overcame cultural prejudices, but he defined what it means to be a real neighbor. The Samaritan took the time, altered his schedule, possibly endangered himself, invested his money, valued commonalities more than their differences, took the necessary pains to be of help, generously used his resources, sought to alleviate a real need, and made whatever arrangements were necessary to help this wounded man. He did good because he fundamentally valued another human life. The power of goodness is still just as potent in this modern age of injustice and prejudices. It can still transform individuals and societies through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and submissive believers. Too many Christians fear the fact that showing goodness will cost them. It will cost time, energy, and resources. It is almost never convenient, and yes, we will have times when we feel used and unappreciated. Yes, we will be challenged repeatedly to reevaluate our priorities—what is truly or most important?

But what about the risks involved with helping troubled people? Yes, people will try to take advantage of our goodness. Yes, there are serious inherent dangers to fighting viruses and diseases like Ebola. Yes, our nice and neat schedules will be altered, interrupted, and changed again…again…and again…. Yes, it will cost you and me personally and it will cost the churches or organizations we serve with. Yes, we must take serious precautions/considerations before bringing a homeless stranger into our home for the winter. Yes, there will be occasions when we feel like we are not making any progress. Yes, there will be times when we question whether all this is worthwhile. Yes, there will be setbacks, frustrations, unanticipated roadblocks, regulatory issues, misunderstandings, opposition from those who question our motives, and legal hurdles to clear, but we must remember what we are doing. Yes, we may have to give up a certain higher quality of life…perhaps less personal luxuries in order to address the raw needs of others. Yes, there will be people trying to take advantage of our services or help perpetually. Yes, we will have to make some difficult decisions concerning those who do not want Christ and the Gospel; they really only want a meal or yet another handout. Still…still…still difficulties in worthwhile endeavors are worth the headaches! With proper consideration for biblical guidance, laws, regulations, protocols, and risk management, we continue to maintain good works that are pleasing to God and good for people. There will be “Christian” groups who will criticize us for being too temporal, too social, or too liberal. Let them say what they will; model your efforts after those of the Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. Remember our Lord had many critics who did NOTHING to address people’s spiritual, physical, or otherwise real needs! Like the religious leaders in our Lord’s time, these are far too concern with their personal interests to really be of help to anyone.

There will be times when the Holy Spirit will prompt us Christians to perform a kind act of service. We need to be sensitive and follow these divine impulses. D. L. Moody once stated that it was his custom, after presenting himself to the Holy Spirit’s leadership, to act upon the impulses which came to mind, provided they did not involve violating any known principle of the Word. Is this not a healthy practice to personally adopt? God will transform the inner life as we experience the joy of giving into the lives of others refusing to be selfish and stingy. God is looking for the opportunity to make a greater impact in our world, but He desires to work through people who practice divine goodness by the power of the Holy Ghost. Each submissive believer represents an opportunity to do good right now. The needs are all around us! If you are like me, there are needs in your family and home that you can address in the name of our Lord. There is a hand you can hold, a Bible story you can read at bedtime, a tear you can wipe away, a hand you can give, a prayer ministry you can execute, and a sounding board you can provide. You can be an ear to listen, someone to pray with, and a shoulder to cry on. You can provide these incredible gifts by the grace of God at work in you. You do not need the wealth of a Bill Gates to do good in people’s lives, but you do need the power of God’s Spirit. Look to Him regularly for guidance, strength, power, and all spiritual resources. Understand that you cannot do it all, but you can make a difference in someone’s life. God will supply the grace and wisdom we need as we are careful to maintain good works that glorify Him and help our fellow man. Beloved, it is right to do good for goodness sake!