1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
“Everything written after Genesis 1 should be believed if we believe Genesis 1:1.”
We continue our sermon series, ‘Living Hope’ by Pastor Joel. He preached on this series a few months ago. I am a note taker and Bible open-in-church gal, so I can share my sermon notes with others. Why keep life-changing information to myself?
So far, we have looked at the life of Peter, and we started studying his first letter, 1 Peter, verses 1 through 9.
Let’s continue on the living hope journey. In this world, we need hope, the living hope, that is, Jesus Christ.
Sermon snippets, here we go.
20 “You are welcome at my house,” the old man said. “Let me supply whatever you need. Only don’t spend the night in the square.” 21 So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.
22 While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.”
23 The owner of the house went outside and said to them, “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this outrageous thing. 24 Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don’t do such an outrageous thing.” Judges 19:20-24
25 But the men would not listen to him.” Judges 19:20-24
Sounds like Sodom and Gomorrah 2.0 to me.
9 They have sunk deep into corruption, as in the days of Gibeah. God will remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins.” Hosea 9:9
God does not forget.
6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:1-8
“Hey, I thought we were looking at 1 Peter? Why all these Old Testament passages?”
We are. Stay with me.
After reading those passages, ask yourself this question. What are we to do?
Be holy as God is holy.
There’s one other time in the Bible where holy, holy, holy is used, and that is in Revelation 4:8-10.
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: Revelation 4:8-10
The entire realm of heaven is worshipping. The focus is on the creator, not the creatures.
“To be holy, get rid of the bad stuff and put in the good stuff.”
“Be holy because God is holy.”
1 Peter 1:13-16,
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” [a]
Be ready and alert. Don’t go back to the lives you used to know. Be holy because he is holy in all we do because he is holy.
When I heard that line, I recalled the life I used to live. It was anything but holy. I don’t ever want to go back there again.
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 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 ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Remember, this world is not our home. We are sojourning here.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b] 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
Be better at loving others with the love of God – not surface love, but deep love.
“If we try to build unity in the church on our first birth, our tries are bound to fail. If we build it on our new birth, we can succeed.”
24 For,
“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.” [c]
And this is the word that was preached to you.” 1 Peter 1:24-25
The word of the Lord endures forever.
Isaiah 40:6-8 says,
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
So, what should we do?
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2:1-3
Be holy because God is holy.
Blessings,
Sermon Snippets – Living Hope – 1 Peter 1:1-9
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