How to Glorify God? (1 Peter 1:13-2:3)

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I had the privilege to preach at Foothills Bible Church this past weekend on “Gaining Deeper Roots” from 1 Peter 1:13-2:3.  Here is the FBC sermon. 


Holiness is the road to glorifying God.  Read that again.  Do you believe it?  This is how we are to grow deeper in our relationship with God.  We live holy lives as followers of Jesus.


Here are my short notes from 1 Peter 1:13-2:3.

 

Simon Peter challenges us to taste the meaty truths of God’s Word and see that He is good and his Glory is worth every step.  Let’s see three areas where we need to grow wider and deeper in the Christian life so that we can experience the abundant life that God wants to give.
    
First, we are to deepen MENTALLY by “preparing our minds for action.”  Verse thirteen reads, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
As followers of Jesus, we can’t be emotionally-driven or rationally-driven, but driven by the Scriptures.  We are to be Scripturally-Driven.  We are to prepare our minds to respond according to God’s commands.  First Peter 1:14 says, “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.”
     
To prepare your mind for action means you program your mind to respond to God’s will, even if it’s contrary to emotion and reason.  How do you do that?
    
The word “prepare” is in the tense that conveys the idea of continuing action.  You keep on preparing your mind.  Read the Bible regularly, meditate on it, memorize it…get it deep down in your soul.  David said, “Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against God.”
    
We are to allow God’s Word to so saturate our minds that we think God’s thoughts and react with God’s response.
     
Second, we are also to deepen MORALLY, by becoming like God in His holiness.  First Peter 1:15-16 reads, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
    
What is meant by the word “holy”?  We speak of the “Holy Bible” or “Holy Land” and people say “Holy Cow” J.  The word “holy” means distinctive, pure, sacred—belonging to God. Holiness is not a negative word.  Holiness is more.  Holiness is not just an appropriate amount of sin avoidance; it is a passionate pursuit of God’s virtues while living in this world longing for Jesus’ return.
    
Holiness is becoming like God.  God is generous.  God is impartial.  God is faithful.  God is merciful.  God is love.  God is humble. God is pure.  God is just.  God is love.
The word “Holy” first shows up in the Bible with Moses at the Burning Bush in book of Exodus.  It is found 611 times in 544 verses in the Bible.  50 of the 66 books of the Bible speak directly of the word Holy.  It is a big deal to God and thus a big deal to Peter.
True holiness is powerfully attractive.  Because it is not expressed to it’s fullest in the world.  It is a moral courage and sacrificial love and sheer joy that make people sit up and say, “Wow!  So that’s what being a follower of Christ can look like!”  It’s being like Jesus whose goodness drew people to Himself like a magnet.
          
Beginning with verse 16 (1 Peter, Chapter 1) Simon Peter gives four motivations for holiness. 
1. The first is a desire to look like our Heavenly Father.  Verse sixteen reads, “for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
        
2. The second motivator is a reverent awe of God’s judgment.  “Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear” (verse 17).
        
3. The third motivation to holiness is an Understanding of how shallow being unholy really is.  First Peter 1:18 says, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers.”  (Peter calls the ungodly life an empty life.)
     
4. The fourth motivator is the loving sacrifice of Jesus.  “You were redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.  Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:19-21).
    
The cross was not an accident; it was an appointment.  It was not a human tragedy; it was divine strategy.  It was a part of God’s plan before time began.  Jesus Christ denied His personal desires and willingly sacrificed Himself on the cross for us because He loved us.
     
It’s certainly not too much to ask for us to sacrifice some personal pleasure for the One who sacrificed His all for us.
    
Gratitude is a powerful motivator to holiness.  Only Jesus loved you enough to pour out His life-blood on your behalf.  “Since He who called you is holy, be holy in all you do.”
 
 
Third, we are to mature SOCIALLY by loving one another deeply.  Verse 22 says,  “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” 
    
One of the most difficult lessons for children to learn is to be unselfish.  Little children think the world revolves around them.  They have to be taught to go counter to their nature and share with one another.  The same is true spiritually.  One of the most difficult lessons of the Christian life is to put others ahead of self.
     
As you mature in the family of God (the church), that love deepens.  And you learn to take advantage of the opportunity to express love because you recognize that life is fleeting.  In verses 24-25 Peter wrote, “For, ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.’  And this is the word that was preached to you.”
    
The more mature Christians recognize life doesn’t go on forever.  People die and your chance of influencing them is temporary.  So you take advantage of the opportunity you have to express love while they are alive.
  
In order for your love to deepen, you must get rid of wrong attitudes that alienate you from people.  We read in 1 Peter 2:1: “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”
    
Conclusion: 
Sometimes growing up in the Lord (Mentally, Morally, and Socially), like growing up in general is difficult and stretching.  It has growing pains, but with a pursuit after Holiness, glorifying God is easy!  Because, “Holiness is the Road to Glorifying God.”
 
How are you glorifying God through your holiness?  Go deeper in your prayer life.  Go further in your meditation and memorization of the Word of God.  Make the wisest choice.  Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you every step of the way.

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jeffbaxter@churchleaders.com'
Jeff Baxterhttp://sacredoutfitter.blogspot.com/
Jeff Baxter's passion for helping the next generation know and love Jesus led him to pursue his Doctorate in Youth and Family Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. Jeff has been a frequent speaker in various settings including the National Youth Workers Convention. Jeff lives in Littleton, Colorado, with his wife, Laurie, and their three children where he is an associate pastor at Foothills Bible Church. His most recent book is Together: Adults and Teenagers Transforming the Church (Zondervan). Jeff blogs at sacredoutfitter.blogspot.com.

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