1 Peter 1:13-25
Wednesday, 17 April 2024
“Always live as God’s holy people should, because God is the one who chose you, and he is holy.” -1 Peter 1:15[CEV]
Everyone has an address in whatever part of the world one lives. Well, the believers’ address is GOD’s holy people! That designation comes to God’s children because our Heavenly Father is Holy! We are called into this great privilege of being born into the family of God as Peter states at the beginning of this chapter “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.”(1 Peter 1:3, 4).
We have that imperishable inheritance in heaven because of two imperishable things as mentioned in our reading today. Why is our redemption so precious?
1. For you know that it was not with perishable things…that you were redeemed… (V.18). But we have been redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ- the Lamb without spot or blemish! Jesus, the Lamb of God was WITHOUT ANY SIN (1 John 3:5). The blood offered from the sacrifices of animals in the Old Testament could only temporarily make restitution for one’s sin but Jesus once and for all by His death offered His blood to obtain ETERNAL redemption for us! (Hebrews 9:12-14). His blood was without sin! His blood is enough to cleanse us from ALL sin (1 John 1:9).
When we understand how priceless and powerful is Christ’s blood that purchased us, we can only fall on our knees and offer our lives to Him!
2. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable…(V.23)— that is the Word of GOD which lives and abides forever! Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63). Since God’s Word is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12) it has the power to bring life! The faith to trust in Christ for one’s salvation comes by the hearing of God’s Word (Romans 10:17) upon which the Spirit of God acts, for one to become “born again” (John 3:5).
The seed of God’s Word has the potent to make one alive in Christ and renew his spirit daily, when with meekness he receives the implanted Word (James 1:21).
Having understood our great privilege (not because we deserved it in any way)— don’t we have this great responsibility to conduct ourselves as God’s children in the most befitting way? Yes we do! Hence Peter exhorts us in Vs.13&14 to have our minds alert, fully sober, to be obedient children, not to be lured back to our old way of life. It is not an easy road for the believer and so when he slips or falls, remember Christ’s precious blood which is able to cleanse us from Any/All sin if we are willing to confess it to Him (1John 1:9). Besides, we have GOD’s Word- living and active- which if we feed on daily, will nourish, encourage, correct and train us in righteous living and equip us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16&17). When the believer has both Christ’s powerful blood that cleanses and His living Word that guides his life, he can live a victorious Christian life that befits your address.
So dear child of God- Remember-the badge on you- “God’s holy people!” Can we ask ourselves today whether we are living up to that address?
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the great privilege to be called your child, Help me to conduct my life in a manner that reflects Your character. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Listen: 'Yes I know'