I Peter 1:17-25

1. the Fatherhood of God - I Peter 1:17-21
1. God is a Father who judges impartially -17 [without respect of persons]
1. our society is open to hearing about God, as long as He is harmless and committed to our well being
1. if we talk about a Father who judges all men impartially, people get uncomfortable
2. the clear teaching of Scripture is that all we do and say will come under the scrutiny of the Father
2. the other side of the coin
1. not only is our Father the Judge, but the Judge is our Father
2. we need not dread His scrutiny, it is tender
3. He pities us as a father pities his children, knowing our weaknesses and is infinitely patient
4. our lives will be looked at by the One who offered to adopt us into His family
5. we should develop an attitude of godly fear
1. this is not the cringing fear of a slave before his master
2. this is a fear of disappointing Him
3. lesson: outward appearance can be deceptive
1. God is not fooled by the mask we wear, and the makeup we put on
2. God does not look on the outside, but on the inside
4. this is not a judgment for sin, but a judgment of works
2. God is a Father we can talk to - 17 [if ye call on the Father]
1. any believer that calls on the Father has His full attention
2. when the going gets tough, we should talk to our Father who lovingly hears us
3. talking to the Father will do more good than trusting in man or financial resources
3. God our Father eternally redeems us - 18 [redeemed]
1. redeemed means to set free by paying a price
2. there is a sense in which salvation is free, but that does not mean it was without cost
1. the first law of economics states, "there is no free lunch"
2. the first law of redemption is that free salvation cost the Father everything - 19
3. the glorious truth proclaimed in the gospel is that He chose to pay it
3. the love of the Father is clearly demonstrated in the redemption He provided through Christ
1. the child of God has been bought out of the bondage of a vain life [vain conversation] - 18
2. the life of an unbeliever is a live that has no worthwhile results in the sight of God
4. lesson: financial resources are perishable [corruptible things, as silver and gold]
1. some people think that money is the answer to all their problems
2. the value of money is very limited, and needs to be treated that way
3. the blood of Christ has real and lasting value - 19
5. lesson: the ways of tradition are not always the right ways [received be tradition] - 18
1. this is quite a statement from a man who was an orthodox Jew & proud of the traditions of his forefathers
2. Peter had to learn that sometimes forefathers are dead wrong
3. no doubt they were well meaning men, but sincerely wrong
4. God our Father sovereignly plans all things - 20 [was foreordained before the foundation of the world]
1. some people mistakenly believe that God had a plan A and a plan B
1. plan A was the Garden of Eden were man would live happily ever after
2. when plan A failed, God put plan B into operation (Jesus dying on the cross)
3. plan B does not agree with Scripture (there was no plan B)
4. before the foundation of the world, the Father already had the cross planned
5. the death of Christ was an appointment, not an accident
2. the need for thinking in terms of eternal value [before the foundation of the world &in these last times]
1. these two phrases involve a tremendous amount of time
2. when God chose to make time, He created something entirely new
3. God also determined that time would not go on indefinitely
4. the great span of time mentioned in this verse is not even comparable to eternity
5. if we are to have a right sense of values, we must think in terms of eternal values
3. when the going gets tough, it is a comfort to know that we can trust in a Father who had the end of all things planned before the beginning of anything
5. God our Father has triumphed gloriously - 21 [that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory]
1. the resurrection of Christ was a triumph over sin, death, hell and Satan
2. the Father was the One responsible for raising Christ from the grave
3. the Father raised Christ from the dead and gave Him glory, so that our faith and hope would be in God
4. when the going gets tough, their is One who will not fail us: the Father
2. the Saviorhood of Christ
1. Christ our Savior died as a substitute for us - 19
1. the OT Passover Lamb is a picture of Christ
2. the lamb was carefully scrutinized for a period of time to make sure it was without defect
3. the lamb died for the sins of the people [when I see the blood, I will pass over you]
4. the Lord Jesus was scrutinized for 33 years, then He voluntarily died as a substitute for us
2. Christ died to save us - 18 [redeemed]
1. the Father gave His Son
2. the Son gave His blood - 19
3. Jesus Christ gave his life as a ransom for many
3. the brotherhood of believers - 1:22-25
1. the brotherhood of the believers is essential for our spiritual experience
1. the love that God has shown to us should prompt a similar response toward God
2. this love for God is demonstrated by loving the brethren
3. such love is not an easy thing
2. what is that love which Peter is speaking of
1. it is not just kind feelings or generous impulses
2. it does include service, ministry, self-denial and self-giving
3. not because it is a pleasant thing to do, but because it is right (doing it for the sake of Christ)
4. this love does not have its origins in the heart of man, but it comes from the very being of God
3. the marks of divine love
1. unfeigned - 22
1. it means sincere, without hypocrisy or pretense, genuine
2. how often we act one way to someone’s face and another to their back
2. pure heart - 22
1. that our motives be as white as light
2. this love will never use people
3. the love of the world often ends in lust
3. fervently
1. the meaning is to be boiling over, intently
2. it is easy to be intent on seeking our own good, but can we be just as energetic in seeking the good of others
4. cause of such love
1. obeying the truth - 22 (salvation)
1. love is not the result of social enjoyment or getting to know someone better
2. true love is made to glow in our hearts by the Truth
2. we must know the truth
1. mere contact of Christian with Christian will not necessarily produce love
2. love for God and man will grow in proportion to our studying and learning Divine Truth
3. we must also obey the truth
1. do, and you shall know; obey, and you will love
2. let no command lie unfulfilled
3. Jesus said, "if ye love me, keep my commandments"
5. origin of the life within us - 23-25
1. our spiritual life is not by the will of the flesh, nor by the will of man, but of God - 23
2. saved people have been born twice - 23 [being born again]
3. the life that has been implanted within us is like the inheritance that awaits us
1. incorruptible - 23
1. time, nor this world affect it
2. this is a life of perfection, like that of God (holy and perfect in every way)
2. it will last forever [the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever] - 23
1. the nature of the life within us is infinite and eternal
2. the love that this life manifest is the unfeigned love of God
3. God’s Word in comparison to the things of this world - 24 25
1. we have the Bible today, in spite of all that has been done to destroy it
2. the Bible lives, abides, and endures forever - 23, 25
4. the life that is within us enables us to love, not with the love of man, but with the blessed love which is the very heart and life of God Himself