The Consequence of Having Hope
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· 4 viewsThis may end up being in two parts. Our primary goal is to appreciate that having hope of the resurrection calls us to the responsibility of obedience.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Peter’s writings are important for us to study, and they compliment what we have recently learned in Psalm 119.
It is unfortunate that, during the 20th century, salvation by grace became presented as salvation without consequence or responsibility.
That is not what the New Testament teaches.
Salvation, which comes through trusting in who Jesus is and what God has done for us through him, brings with it a call to live as a kind of people in the world.
Peter will teach the believers in Pontus, Bithynia, and Cappadocia what having the hope of future glory means for their present.
What does it mean to be a believer?
Is the goal of a human life merely to avoid God’s wrath?
Anticipation: What and How
Anticipation: What and How
We begin in media res as indicated by the term “consequently.”
This inferential particle recalls all that Peter has written in 1 Pet. 1:3-12.
Most of this paragraph forms a doxology but summarizes the reality of believers in the world.
Having the certainty of what God has and, thus, will continue to do in Christ brings Peter to the “consequently.”
The core idea is expressed in an imperative: anticipate/hope/trust.
Peter calls his audience to trust in this future grace that will be granted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ (perhaps this is an objective genitive).
He affixes accompanying actions around that kernel/core thought.
“Having girded up the loins of your thoughts” = “prepare your minds,” “prepare mentally.”
“Thinking soberly.” This refers to the ability to remain in control of the self.
God’s people are to be identifiable through their ability to keep themselves under control in every aspect of life, not just alcohol.
These participles teach Peter’s readers that “anticipation” is not merely a waiting game.
There are to be activities that accompany it or that give it meaning.
Conformity
Conformity
Imperative #2 appears in 1 Pet. 1:15.
“Become yourselves holy in all conduct.”
The simile formed in 1 Pet. 1:14, however, is important for understanding the instruction.
Peter, so it seems, offers his readers an illustration to help them picture their responsibility.
“Like children of obedience” (obedient children)”: where the implication is that obedient children conform themselves to a standard.
“Not being conformed to the former desires in the (state of) ignorance.”
“Rather according to the holy one who called you.”
Consquence #2
Consquence #2
The final set of thoughts Peter frames around Leviticus as he makes a theological point for his audience.
What he has just taught them captures the significance of Leviticus 11:44 et. al.
Peter, playing off the word “call upon” utilizes a conditional sentence to bring a third imperative to the forefront.
The term recalls the Old Testament (prophetic, especially Joel) of trusting in God.
To call upon Him as Father is not merely to pray to Him. It is to trust Him as the only creator.
Here, though, Peter describes Him as the one judging impartially according to the work of each one.
Knowing that God will judge, and do so impartially, means that we are to conduct our lives, as foreigners, in fear.
Look back at 1 Peter 1:2.
Knowledge of the high price of liberty/redemption compels us to a higher standard of living.
