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“Friendship and Spiritual Growth – Both Take Time and Effort” 1 Peter 1:22-2:3

“Living Hope”

A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter

“Friendship and Spiritual Growth – Both Take Time and Effort”

1 Peter 1:22-2:3

Introduction

The Result of Holiness In the Believer’s Life – Love For Other Christians (vv. 22-25)

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:15 the believer is commanded to be holy. Our holiness is not just for our own sake, but it also affects those around us, specifically the church body that we are to be connected to. Peter is writing multiple churches (Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia) and he tells individuals to be holy – then he shows why this is important – because our personal holiness will affect the effectiveness and potential power of the church.

(v. 22) “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth,” – obedience to God’s Word (the truth) leads to purification of the soul, Then, that purification of the soul leads to further obedience which leads to further purification, etc. Just as sin has devasting consequences, obedience also has healthy consequences. Obedience leads to further obedience. Rebellion and Sin leads to more rebellion and sin. Starve the wolf and eventually it will die. Feed the wolf and it will grow to eventually devour you.

Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

Obedience Produces Further Holiness In The Life of the Believer.

Obedience to God leads to “a sincere brotherly love,” and “earnestly from a pure heart” The love that Christians have within the same family of God must be genuine and steadfast, “without hypocrisy.” Because they are followers of Jesus, they are obligated to love other Christians. The book was written to multiple churches experiencing hardship due to what he calls “the Dispersion.” In that time of stress, they gather together and what characterizes their meetings? Love.

Love is a characteristic of a Christian, but is there a difference in loving one’s neighbor Matthew 22:39 “. . . You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – which leads to the parable of the Good Samaritan, and loving your brother (a fellow believer)? (v. 22) “a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,”

Should I love the world the same way I love the Church?

The “pure heart” carries the idea of not being hypocritical, of having a gesture where you turn toward the person, and the action comes “from the heart.” With the neighbor you are to show love (bind their wounds, put them on your donkey, pay for their hospital/in stay – show compassion, a love in action), but with a fellow Christian (a fellow chosen exile) your heart faces them, there is a genuine concern for their welfare (your heart is engaged toward them).

Not a hypocritical love, “The Greek word from which we get our word “hypocrite” was used of an actor on the Greek stage, one who played the part of another. The word means literally, “to judge under,” and was used of someone giving off his judgement from behind a screen or mask. Some of these whom Peter was writing, had put a mask of feigned (false) love over their usual countenances when associating with certain others of their brethren.”[1] “There is always danger that we pretend like an actor instead of having actual affection.”[2]

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What Is Required to Drop the Mask of Hypocrisy At Church?

5 things required to drop the mask of hypocritical warmth toward other believers. 1) time. Most of us only see each other on Sunday. How many Sundays does it take to develop a friendship? Most people don’t give church enough time for a genuine connection to develop. 2) Not letting your guard down – I want to be known and at the same time I don’t truly open up to people. They only know the false face you present on Sundays. 3) false or unrealistic expectations. You have too high an expectation on how people are going to treat you, or how quickly relationships will form. 4) Doing Ministry Together – the best way to get to know another person (and for them to know you) is to serve in a ministry together. If you want to get to know someone really quick go on a week-long missions trip with them. 5) Small Groups – am I actively involved with a group of people so that I can be known?

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Because God loves Christians (having given His life for them), and as His child and name bearer, we imitate Him in loving (other) Christians. But it is a supernatural love (because they are born again) that the world should look on and marvel, John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

(v. 21) “sincere brotherly love, “love one another earnestly,” In the original language there are two words for love used here, one is “brotherly love” – phile (where we get Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love,) This love is a love of liking. One person likes another person because that person is like himself in the sense that person reflects his own personality, the same likes, the same dislikes, as himself. It is an affection or fondness, a purely human attachment for another person. There is a commonality that connects them together.

It is used here to contrast how a person feels toward fellow Christians, with worldly associates. What is it that attaches two people together in friendship? Salvation should change how we view our worldly associates with the Christians in our lives. There is the saying, “birds of a feather flock together.” The species of birds gather together based on the similarity of character.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6YDhVeW5Kc birds murmuration. The starling is a bird and it was created to fly, so it flocks with other starlings and they fly together in formations called murmurations (named because of the sound of their wings). Scientists don’t know why they do this or even how.

Christians were saved and set apart to bring Jesus glory with their lives; so they gather together and worship God in formations called churches. Angels look on in astonishment how they have been shown grace, and how these churches bring God glory in their obedience to His Word and their dedication to seeing others saved. In that murmuration of the church our relationships one with another must be pure.

Where the church gets this wrong is that we think the common characteristic is our race (Hispanic church, black church, white church), or socio-economic (rich, middle-class, poor), or culture (cowboy church, etc.) or generational (contemporary or traditional, Gen. x church, etc. ) – no our common bond is a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

It doesn’t matter where the man next to me is from, what color he is, what team he cheers for, what college he went to (or not), the car he drives, the square footage of his house – none of these things matter – what makes us brothers is that we both have been saved from our sin, we love Jesus and are seeking to be faithful to His Word.

The other word for love is “love one another earnestly” This is a agape love, one that expresses the ideal love, “that is exercised by the will rather than emotion, not determined by beauty or desirability of the object, but by the noble intention of the one who loves. Earnestly, means to stretch to the furthest limit of a muscle’s capacity. To go “all out.” – this kind of love requires serious effort.

Why should we love this way? Because (v. 23) “you have been born again” Because I have been supernaturally saved, born anew, I am therefore able to love another believer with a love that is different than how the world loves.

Then as he is discussing how believers are to have a genuine love for each other, he says, V. 24 “all flesh is like grass,” and them references, 40:6, “The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” These things always follow the same pattern – growth, flowering, and decay. But God’s Word remains unchanged and will exist forever, “the word of the Lord remains forever.”

To explain why he quoted Isaiah Peter adds, “And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” The word of God that had been preached to them was the gospel, the good news of salvation. The gospel enters the heart, regenerates you, imparted its eternal life to you, overcame what is corruptible and perishing by replacing it with what is incorruptible and remains forever. Let the good news of salvation, do its’ work in you. Let fade what needs to fade, and let bloom what needs to grow in your heart.

The Result in the Believer’s Life – Love For the Word of God (2:1-3)

2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.[3]

So, as you are sincerely showing brotherly love, and love that you choose to show toward another believer (with exertion) – it requires that you put away, “all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” – Malice is the desire to bring harm to another person, then we are given parts of we may do that (deceit (bait for fish), hypocrisy (lies behind a mask), envy (ill-will at the sight of another’s good fortune), slander (using words to destroy another person), etc.)

If the church is to be unified it must be characterized as a place and people of love and these spiritually immature behaviors (deceit, hypocrisy, malice, etc.) have to diminish. How does a person put away “all malice, envy, hypocrisy, etc.” How does a believer change that part of them that they know is corruptible? It is the Word of God that showed them how to be saved, so it is the Word of God that nourishes our spiritual growth.

(v. 2) “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation,”[4] – The word that is used for pure here is a reference to uncontaminated food. God’s Word has no contaminates, and gives us what we need to grow spiritually. The point is not to compare milk with solid food (like Hebrews 5, or 1 Cor. 3) but to push the believer to the source of spiritual growth (God’s Word), and that we should desire for it to be apart of our lives. So, unlike Paul saying you will move past milk to soild food, Peter is saying the believer should always crave God’s Word. If you are a new convert, or have been a Christian for many years – the same principle applies. God’s Word is the source of spiritual growth.

In Exodus 16:1-4 God has given the people freedom from sin, they have escaped pharaoh’s army, and now they are headed toward the promised land, “And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat (flesh) pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, . . .” Where do you go, where does your heart long to find subsistence for your soul? Flesh pots or manna? Do you go to what enslaved you for nourishment or the manna provided from heaven?

“The goal of every Christian’s life here on earth is to fully mature, becoming the person God intends for each of us to be; simultaneously all believers together are growing into the mature fellowship we ought to be (God’s intended community).”[5]

The Isaiah passage that Peter quotes shows the life cycle of plants, always following the same patter (growth, flowering, fading, and death). The human life cycle is similar (birth, childhood, young adulthood, middle age, and old age, and eventual death). There is no stopping the natural process. Spiritual growth follows a similar cycle, but it is different – to grow spiritually it takes effort – there must be a longing.

A five-step plan for what to do when you have your quiet time:

Start with prayer. Ask God to prepare you to meet with Him. If there is something in your life that you know displeases Him, confess it. Let Him forgive you so that nothing will hinder your communion together.
Read a specific passage of Scripture – perhaps a chapter or two. If you are not very familiar with the Bible, you may wish to start with the New Testament. Many people think that the Gospel of John is a good place to start. Perhaps you would enjoy reading one or two of the Psalms every day.
Meditate on it for a while after you have read a passage. Think about what you read, and ask yourself what it means. What does God want you to do? Remember, even though you may not understand all you read in the Bible, you can still obey what you do understand.
Write down questions about the passage as you read. It is good to write down the things you learn and the questions you have. Later you can search out the answers from someone who knows the subject or Bible commentaries. You can ask the question, “what did this teach me about God?” and “what did this teach me about myself?”

Write down the big idea and insights. Journaling is simply writing your thoughts and reflections about your life and relationship with the Lord in a notebook. Spend some time writing your thoughts as you spend time with God in His word and prayer. It can be as simple as writing what’s on your heart.

You can write about what God is teaching you in your Bible reading time. You can also write about how you are feeling and struggling with. Develop the habit of writing. This habit reinforces what God is trying to tell you in your mind and heart. I believe it is part of a good quiet time because it is a way for you to remember what God is revealing to you during that time.

Finally, respond and take action. Respond with praise and thanksgiving – “I praise you God for…..” Respond in repentance and confession – “I confess my sin of ……” Respond by asking for guidance – “Lord, lead me today by…..” Respond with obedience – “I will obey you in……”

Conclusion

I have discovered that anything that is an “ought” in my life I will always be a failure at, for “ought” is a lousy motivator. Anything that is an “ought” I may in time do. I will do it out of compulsion, guilt, or duty – it will do it begrudgingly but I won’t do it often.

There are many of who understand our salvation to be in terms that Jesus has saved me so that I may serve Him. Didn’t Jesus say, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” We become disciples of Christ, so that we may become His fishers of men (and we serve, and we work, and we toil). What we miss is that Jesus’ invitation simply says, “Come, follow me,” – meaning to be in a relationship with Him. Being a fisher of men was not the purpose of my salvation (it happens, it is an outcome) – but the relationship with Jesus, the following comes first.

We serve, and in our minds we “I ought to have a quiet time” “I ought to spend time with Him” — and we get burn out, and tired, and disillusioned by life, all the while we work, and serve, and toil – and Jesus says, I said “Come and follow me.” Jesus invites us to a relationship first (service comes later as an outflow of the relationship). He simply wants to know you, and for you to know Him. He did not die, so that you can serve Him, he died so that, you can have a relationship with Him. He doesn’t really need our help anyway, He’s God!

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[1] Kenneth W. Wuest, First Peter in the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1960) 45.

[2] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of 1 and 2 Epistles of Peter, the three Epistles of John, and the Epistle of Jude (Minneapolis, Minnesota; Augsburg Publishing House, 1966) 71.

[3] See Psalm 34:8

[4] See also Hebrews 5:11; 1 Cor. 3:1, ff.

[5] Dennis R. Edwards, The Story of God Bible Commentary, 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 2017) 79.

“Be Holy” 1 Peter 1:13-21

Drew Boswell Ministries

“Be Holy” 1 Peter 1:13-21

00:00 / 00:44:44

“Be Holy” 1 Peter 1:13-21

“Living Hope”

A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter

“Be Holy”

1 Peter 1:13-21

Introduction

The Christians that Peter is writing to are scattered because of what he calls the Dispersion. Their being pushed out seems to be because of their following Jesus’ teachings. They are described as “elect” and in v. 3 “born again to a living hope.” Chosen or set apart to be changed and have a relationship with God. When a person becomes a Christian, they begin to break away from societal norms, they become citizens of another country. The traditions they once held, they no longer conform to – they become strangers to the world.

In today’s text Peter is directing Christians to be holy (set apart). Which will cause them to become ever further separated and dispersed from the world’s culture.

Exodus 3:1-2 “Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush . . . (v. 5 ) “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” What made this ground holy, and the surrounding ground not holy? It is the manifested presence of God in that place that made it holy – God chose to have his presence manifest there (in the burning bush). Within the heart of the believer is a plot of land where God wants to manifest His presence. But there has to a “removing of the sandals,” on that plot of land.

The Command For Holiness In the Believer’s Life (vv. 13-16)

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

In the previous verses (vv. 3-12) Peter has explained to us that we have a salvation and inheritance waiting for us in eternity, therefore . . . there is a conclusion that we should reach as a result of Peter’s words. We are not to just have hope, but that hope should lead to action (a living hope) – show that hope has been given to you. (v. 13) we are to set our hope on grace.

“preparing your minds for action,” literally to gird up one’s loins in the mind.[1] This was a first century practice where you would gather the loose material of your clothing and free it from your feet, by tying it around your waster, so that your feet would free to fight.[2] In Exodus when Moses gives the people God’s instructions for the Passover, they were to eat the Passover meal with their clothing girded up, a staff in their hand, and shoes on their feet – all actions steps of being ready to move at a moments notice (Ex. 12:11).

Peter is saying take action, in preparation of a fight, specifically in your mind – get your mind ready for some deep thinking. Mind meaning “the faculty of understanding, of seeing through a thing.”[3] For the Christian, the mind is fighting against worry, doubt, hate, unforgiveness, jealousy, impurity – all these things that enter into our mind. The Holy Spirit doing His work of sanctification (1 Peter 1:2); if our minds hold on to these things, it keeps our minds distracted from God’s purpose and intent.

“being sober-minded,” Don’t do anything that will distract you from, or cause you to lose clarity of the grace that we have through Jesus. The believer is able to see the world and its situations without the crippling affects of worry, fear, or sinful thoughts that cloud God’s revealed truth.

Hope is faith looking to the future believing that God will do what He said He would do. It is what Hebrews 6:19 calls this hope, “an anchor for our soul.” Our hope finds its anchor in the mercy and grace of God. When Christ returns or we meet Him in eternity, our hope in His grace if secure because God always keeps His Word, Romans 10:9 “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Our thoughts are to be focused and prepared on how it is only by God’s grace that we are saved. Grace is where “salvation is freely given by God to underserving sinners.” Think about God’s grace (the freely given forgiveness of your sin).

Drunk people staggering around in long robes around their feet are not good at fighting or doing hard labor. What do Christians do that cause them to fail to prepare their minds? How are they drunk-minded? Why would they not think about God’s grace? V. 14 helps us understand – we revert to the thoughts and actions of when we were not saved by God’s grace.

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

In 1 Peter 1:21 was learn that believers have a living hope, and “that hope is nurtured through deliberate action.”[4] Peter was saying that the Christian’s mind and how we understand the world around us, and what is truth, does not conform to the world’s mold. The world is trying to fit you into a mold, Peter says, your old passions will try to pull you back into a mold. That breaking away from the mold takes effort.

Paul says something very similar is Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Being Holy Begins With Your Mind.

Obedience to God begins with the mind, a proper understanding of God’s will – then it moves to our bodies; action taking place. The right actions resulting from a mindset change is holiness. He quotes Leviticus 11:44, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”[5]

God is described as being holy, and there is an expectation that His followers would also be holy. “Just as God is different from the world, so are we as His children and heirs of the inheritance set before us in heaven, to be different from the world.”[6] For God, holy means separateness; He is separate from all of creation. It also means His moral perfection. His ways are morally pure and right. When His people violate the truth of Scripture God’s moral character cannot refrain from expressing His displeasure in judgement.

God has revealed certain attributes about Himself. Because we are his children there is an expectation that we mirror/emulate Him (to be like Him). For example, these would be things like holiness, love, patience, merciful, forgiving, etc. and then there are attributes that we will never be able to duplicate; eternality, omniscience, omnipresence, etc.

In the beginning God created all that exists and after each day of creation He said, “it is good.” The creation and its’ order is good because it flows from God’s moral character. Genesis 3 describes the fall of mankind, when sin came into the world. With that fall God’s created order was corrupted and mankind sins against God. But what makes it sin? Because it violates God’s moral order, His character.

Whereas God created Adam and Eve’s marriage perfect, now there is shame and hiding themselves from each other. Where siblings love each other, now brothers kill each other. Whereas mankind knew God personally and have a close relationship with Him, after the fall they worship the creation instead of the Creator. Etc. All of creation was corrupted – so now there has to a pulling away from that corruption, a mind re-set, an re-aligning ourselves with God and His moral character.

Marriage is good, family is good – adultery is bad because it perverts God’ creation and violates God’s moral character. When we don’t separate from the world and live in it’s fallen state we are rebelling against God’s order of creation and His moral character.

Because we are fallen and sinful, our heart’s desire this world and its fallen state, we are conformed, to those passions, and we are ignorant of how those things are wrong, evil, bad, and destructive (because it’s all we have ever known), Peter says, don’t be “conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.” The fallen world doesn’t know its’ fallen – so God steps in and reveals Himself and the truth of His ways to the world. We must separate ourselves from our previous sinful lives by following God’s revelation of Himself to us (His Word).

Another word for conform is fashion, “the act of assuming an outward appearance patterned after some certain thing, an appearance or expression which does not come from and is not representative of one’s inmost and true nature.”[7]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8xJ13pAZNw mimicking something on the outside, that you are not truly on the inside. The Christian must stop putting on the costume of their old self in order to blend in – it is a caricature of how you used to be.

One approach is to focus on the exterior – The Amish approach to avoid the appearance of the world. All their clothes are distinctively different than the outside world (no buttons, zippers, and identical colors). They avoid electricity, cars, and farm with animals only because those things represent the world. The men wear their facial hair and women wear their hair a particular way all in an effort to avoid a worldy appearance. But Peter’s focus begins on the inside; your mind being renewed, and how you think, your understanding of the will of God, that then leads to outward change in behavior.

Many Christians fall into the trap of simply adding or taking something away from their wardrobe, or putting a sticker on their car, or posting a picture of some religious activity – but not doing the hard work of “preparing their minds,” “setting their minds,” #quiet time, #alone with Jesus, #coffee and the Word – mind renewal is not an aesthetic. Don’t focus on how the cup is arranged in the picture, or making sure to show your highlighted pages, but gird up your loins of your mind and get serious about getting sin out of your life. (from ignorance to enlightenment).

The Reason For Holiness In the Believer’s Life (vv. 17-21)

17 And if (since) you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

(v. 17) “And if (since) you call on him as Father,” – It is not just to call God our Father, but it is to invoke His name, “to call on” as in to ask Him something, as in prayer.[8] A foundational requirement of a follower of God is Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

We are His children; we represent Him and carry the responsibility of representing Him in this world. It is only right that we seek to please Him with our lives, and represent him is such a way that gives Him glory. It is not right to ask God to answer our prayers, while not seeking to know His will (or to be out of His will in sin).[9] John 14:13 “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

The story of the prodigal son says, “And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.” Anyone who heard Jesus’ story would be aghast at the son’s rude and disrespectful behavior. Is it right to approach God (who is a good Father), ask for something being His child, and then live in such a way to bring discredit to His name and live outside of His will and plan for your life?

(v. 18) Because you know that you have been “ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers,” – to be ransomed is to be bought back, usually in the context of slavery. We were slaves to sin, chained with no way to free ourselves. God sent His Only Son, Jesus to pay what was required in order to free us. The ransom Jesus paid was His own blood (not gold or silver).

The “futile ways” is our sin nature that we inherit from Adam. This sin nature is passed generation to generation – but the slavery to sin has been broken. You can still sin (if you choose), but now it is a choice. Life before Christ is a life living for something that doesn’t match how you were created. We were created to have a relationship God, and to bring Him glory – when we live for ourselves and try to live in this world’s ways it is pointless, never satisfying, and empty (futile).

(v. 17) But we have been bought back with “the precious blood of Christ,” – Is there any amount of gold and silver that can ransom a human soul? No, something more precious is needed. Is animal’s blood enough, or their life an equal exchange? No, that only covers a season, then another animal is needed, and then another, will be required – and that only covers the sin over, it does not remove it. The animals blood covers the sin, they are still separated from God because of their sin. Something more precious, of more worth is needed. In fact, we can’t find it on earth, it had to be brought to us from heaven.

As the old hymn says, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

(v. 20) Knowing that sin would enter the world, the plan has always been for Jesus’ blood to be shed for our redemption, “foreknown before the foundation of the world.” God’s plan for the redemption of the world was finished, accomplished in Jesus’ appearance.

So, as we understand the great price that was paid for our freedom, we then “conduct ourselves with fear,” better reverential fear. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Our mind is focused on the grace of God, our habits are holy, and our faith is anchored in grace as we reverently walk before God carrying his name and anticipating our inheritance.

Holiness is not just separation from the world but it is also a devotion and love of God that then drives us away from the world (to willfully abandon what the world offers.) God does what is consistent with His nature, we grow in holiness as we align our actions with His nature (truthfulness, love, grace, mercy, etc.)

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[1] R. C. Sproul, An Expositional Commentary, 1 Peter (Sanford, Florida; Ligonier Ministries, 2019) 26.

[2] Similar to a woman handing another person her ear rings, or guy rolling up his sleeves.

[3] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures In The New Testament (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1933) 87. See also Matthew 22:37.

[4] Dennis R. Edwards, The Story of God Bible Commentary, 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 2017) 55.

[5] See also Matthew 5:48.

[6] Sproul, 30.

[7] Kenneth S. Wuest, First Peter in the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1960) 37.

[8] Greg W. Forbes, Exegetical Guide to the New Testament, 1 Peter (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2014)

[9] See Prodigal Son

“Hope for the Chosen Stranger” 1 Peter 1:1-12

“Living Hope”

A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter

“Hope for the Chosen Stranger”

1 Peter 1:1-12

Introduction

For centuries men have tried to run a mile in four minutes. It has been attempted for thousands of years. The Romans and Greeks even tied athletes to bulls so they would run faster and develop stronger muscles, but in the end no one was able to complete the mile in four minutes.

It was simply deemed impossible, and people concluded that the physiological makeup of human beings prohibited them from this feat. In a well known slice of history, one man shattered millennia of belief when he did in fact run the mile in four minutes in 1954.

Roger Bannister finally did what people had tried to do for thousands of years, giving people a new reference about what was possible. Amazingly, once people had a new belief because of his model, within the next twelve months some two dozen others were able to break the four minute mile as well; something that today is a common occurrence. It is remarkable how everything changes when someone opens to us the truth.

Indeed, both can be demanding and both require that we push ourselves to the limit so that our muscles can more fully develop and our endurance increases. And in the end we will be able to look back and see how far God has brought us and be amazed as we can testify that, “With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26).

“what the Christian life is meant to be in times of stress.”[1]

The Author and His Audience (vv. 1-2)

Peter,

In Matthew 4:18 we see Peter’s calling to be one of Jesus’ disciples, “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he (Jesus) saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”2 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Leaving his fishing business behind, he and his brother were with Jesus all through his earthly ministry. John 1:42 says, “Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).” Jesus looked at this man and could see that he would be a rock for the faith. Matthew 16:18, “upon this rock I will build my church.”

Mark 8:31, “And he (Jesus) began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” The book of 1 Peter was written to churches who were suffering because of their following Jesus’ teachings. Peter has grown in his understanding of what it means to be a Christian.

Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him three times, and when the rooster crowed he knew Jesus had been correct. After the resurrection, Jesus came to Peter and after asking Peter three times, “do you love me? John 21:17-19 “Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Peter was with Jesus all the way to His going up into heaven, and then was commissioned to go and tell the gospel, to “go therefore and make disciples.” His relationship with Jesus changed over the years of being with Him. The words, “follow me,” mean the same thing as when he is now an apostle – but to “follow me,” changes as we walk with the Lord. By the time the events in Acts took place, Peter gives moving sermons without hesitation declaring Jesus the Son of the living God, performs miracles, has visions, helps the early church advance, and his writings are included in the canon of the Bible.

an apostle of Jesus Christ,

“an apostle is an emissary who operates with full authority of the one whom he is sent.”[2] Peter was one of the twelve disciples who were apart of a group Jesus personally called to be his disciples. These men held the authority of apostles, and represented Jesus and His teachings. Jesus gave them “the keys of the kingdom of heaven,” judicial authority to “bind and loose” in the church (Matt. 16:19), and the responsibility to “feed” or “shepherd” Jesus’ followers (John 21:15-17).

In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians, it was agreed that Paul had been “entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews” (Gal. 2:7).

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood[3]:

“Who are elect exiles” – the chosen strangers, “these believers are estranged from their communities because of their distinctive Christian lifestyles.”[4] These elect exiles are scattered “the Dispersion” into various cities in Asia Minor (Pontus, Galatia, Asia, etc.) because of persecution of some kind (we are not told what it is). It does not seem to be persecution from the state, instead it is a result of the culture/the local people don’t like the Christian lifestyle (Christians in society) and so are pushing them out.[5]

What is it about these Christians that would cause society to want them to go away? They are described as “elect” and later in v. 3 “born again to a living hope.” Chosen or set apart to be changed and have a relationship with God. When a person becomes a Christian, they begin to break away from societal norms, they become citizens of another country. The traditions they once held, they no longer conform to – they become strangers to the world.

(v. 2) “according to the foreknowledge of God,” – foreknowledge[6], “refers to the past act of putting limits upon something with the present result that some certain thing has been appointed or decreed.”[7] The people are suffering, but God is not caught off guard. Just as Jesus’ suffering and going to the cross was part of God’s plan, their suffering is known by God and He is using it for their benefit, and for the furtherance of the gospel.

Salvation is a work of the Trinity, the Father’s foreknowledge (see above), The Spirit’s sanctification (sanctify means “to set apart”), and the Son’s blood being sprinkled. It is the Father’s “sovereign plan to save His people. That redemption is accomplished by Christ and applied to people’s lives by the Holy Spirit.”[8] This plan for our lives doesn’t stop at salvation, but God works in our lives and lays out a path for us.

God’s foreknowledge God is an ordained plan for our lives, complete with boundaries and direction. Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

“for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood,” In the OT on the Day of Atonement, when reconciliation was made for the people of God, the blood of slain animals was taken by the high priest into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled on the mercy seat. It was a symbol of the covering of their sins by the blood sacrifice. When Jesus died on the cross his blood once and for all covered our sin.

With Salvation there is the expectation of obedience.

Exodus 24:7-8 “Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Peter is referencing the OT people’s pledge to obedience to God’s word who were then sprinkled with blood. NT believers are also called to be obedient to God’s Word, but we are not sprinkled with the blood of animals, but with Christ’s blood. “God is the ultimate source (of our salvation), activated by the Spirit, for the express purpose of/for obedience.”[9]

The obedience that is referred to first is the obedience of following the Holy Spirit’s instruction to have faith in the blood of Christ – to follow the Word of God who became flesh (John 1:1,14). Then as we are sanctified by the Spirit we continue to grow in following God’s Word. We are set apart for God’s kingdom as his children, yet we remain in this fallen world which rejects God.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

What the Christian Life Means In Times of Stress (vv. 3-12)

A Living Hope (vv. 3-5)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance[10] that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Peter gives a blessing to God, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” – a short doxology, a praise. Why would Peter just stop in mid-sentence and praise God? We are to bless God because we have a “living hope.” When we think of hope it is usually about something we want to happen in the future, but we are not sure if it will happen. As in “I hope they have cheesecake as a dessert option.” But when the Bible uses the word, hope, it is a certainty that will take place in the future. Our hope of eternal life is living and certain because Jesus is living, resurrected from the dead.

This living hope carries more than just living (as in alive), but also actively living, an energizing hope, an optimistic attitude, one that produces excitement and movement.[11] The hope we have in our salvation moves us to action.

A living hope affects how we see the world around us and how we encounter life’s struggles, Proverbs 4:18-19 “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.”

Peter then tells us of an inheritance, that is waiting for us in heaven. The inheritance is described as, “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.” Because we are the children of God, co-heirs with Christ, we have an inheritance that will never go down in value, substance, or purity, and it can never be taken away.

“by God’s power are being guarded through faith,” – Is there anything that break into heaven and steal our salvation, or somehow dimmish its value, or stain its beauty? No, God himself, guards our salvation – He will reveal it “in the last time.” By our faith in God we are able to understand God’s power – the power that guards our inheritance.

But what is the inheritance? “We received justification at the moment we believed. We are receiving sanctification, namely victory over sin and growth as a Christian life now. We will yet receive that part of salvation which awaits us in Glory.”[12] This is glorification – we will inherit a glorified body in which all things are made perfect.

We Can Have Joy In the Midst of Stress Because We have Eternal Life and An Inheritance.

Joy In The Midst of Trials (vv. 6-9)

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

(v. 6) “In this you rejoice,” – The central theme that runs through 1 Peter is that followers of Jesus, who are suffering (because of the Dispersion) should have hope. Peter is writing to comfort and encourage them. These trials they are enduring are temporary and they have a purpose. God is going to use this persecution against the followers of Jesus for their ultimate well-being.

(v. 7) “so that the tested genuineness of your faith . . . may be found to result in praise and glory and honor” God uses the pain and stress of this life to purify and strengthen our faith. The reason is, “that the trial of our faith might result in praise and honor at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”[13] The result is when Christ is revealed our praise and glory and honor of His name will be true and pure. That process (God’s sanctifying work in your life) is more precious than gold (or any earthly measurement of value).

1 John 3:2-3 “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

We Experience Joy Because it is founded upon the promises of God

not Our Current Life Situation.

God values humanity so much that he was willing to give His only Son so that it could be redeemed – Your soul has immense value to God. Matthew 16:26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” The economy of God values human souls and having a relationship with Him incredibly high – how do you value your own soul? But just as gold is refined so is the human soul.

You value your current comfort; God values your soul’s development and how you end up. “Just as fire separates gold from useless dross, so God uses suffering and trials to separate true faith from superficial profession.”[14]

We Can Have Joy In the Midst of Stress Because God Is At Work In Our Soul.

The Prophetic Witness of the Christian Hope (10-12)

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

This idea of salvation was not something new; the prophets of all throughout the OT spoke of God’s grace, salvation, and future glory. But they didn’t know when the Messiah would arrive. They had prophesied about where Jesus would be born, how he would live His life, even the details of the crucifixion. They knew Jesus would suffer.

Those Christians suffering as a result of the Dispersion, have experienced God’s grace and salvation through Jesus. But just as Jesus had suffered, they too, as His followers must also suffer – but His suffering led to Hid glory, and our suffering in His name (or because of our following His teachings) will lead to our being more like Christ.

12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

The prophets looked on and marveled at God’s promises, and the angels also look at on and marvel at what God is doing for human beings. Angels are not participants in salvation but spectators of it. Angels marvel at how once depraved creatures far form God, now live holy lives glorifying God. The angels delight in looking on to what God is doing on earth, and when one sinner repents, there is cheering in heaven, “Luke 15:10 “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Also, the prophets of old were painting a prophetic picture of Jesus and salvation over generations, and their ministry “were serving not themselves but you,” They were pointing the way for Jesus to fulfill their prophecy, and their words were for the future generations to have faith in Jesus because of their revelations. Today we are blessed to have the complete revelation of who Jesus is.

We Can Have Joy in the Midst of Stress Because We Have The Complete Salvation Picture.

Conclusion

__________________

[1] J. Ramsey Michaels, Word Biblical Themes, 1 Peter (Dallas, Texas; Word Publishing, 1989) x.

[2] Greg W. Forbes, Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament, 1 Peter (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman & Holman, 2014) 11.

[3] See also Ezekiel 36:25-27.

[4] Forbes, 12.

[5] Leonhard Goppelt, A Commentary of 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1993) 20.

[6] Not knowledge beforehand.

[7] Kenneth S. Wuest, First Peter in the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1960) 16.

[8] R. C. Sproul, An Expositional Commentary, 1-2 Peter (Sanford, Florida; Ligonier Ministries, 2019) 7.

[9] Forbes, 13.

[10] See also Matthew 6:19-21.

[11] Wuest, 20.

[12] Wuest, 22.

[13] Wuest, 25.

[14] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 Peter (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Publishers, 2004) 44.

“What Does The Empty Tomb Mean?” Luke 24:1-31

“What Does The Empty Tomb Mean?”

Luke 24:1-31

Introduction

Years ago we bought a couple of movies for a road trip that the Boswell family was going to take. One the movies was “Meet the Robinsons.” I had read the reviews of an it was a Disney movie so I put it in the dvd player and we got on the road. There was a part that I could not see that both of the boys (Joshua and Caleb) really did not like – even border line scaring them. It is where the boy is desiring to be adopted so he is trying to impress the potential parents by showing them his invention of a peanut butter and jelly gun. There is a malfunction and the peanut butter gun explodes sending it all over the man who has a bad reaction. The woman grabs an epi pen and injects her husband just in time before he was going to pass out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVZ-BFZmDTQ (play behind with no sound)

Joshua and Caleb are very allergic to peanut butter. It causes them to swell up and we have to stay on top of things constantly. At one stage Joshua tested 4 out of 5 for reaction to peanuts – with 5 being shock and death. So, the boys have had a fear of peanuts their whole life. There have been a few occasions over the years when they have gotten too close, and the effects were very scary.

As their father I am helpless to change this about them. The best that I can do is to try and protect them from the potential dangers. So, from now on the boys will have to live with this severe allergy. But what if I could somehow take this fear away, to make it to where the boys could sit down and eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? To even know what peanut butter tastes like!

But this to me is what Easter is all about – we all have a condition that we cannot change, we were born with it, and it is leading us to an eternal death. But God as the all-powerful Father has made a way to be rid of sin and death forever. We no longer have to live in fear of death. This Easter I would like to invite you to journey with me as we discover what the empty tomb means for your life. Let’s go look into the empty tomb.

Prayer – Lord, show us this morning what you would have us to know about you and the power of your resurrection. Show us areas in our lives where we need to change and become more like, and show us where we need to trust you more. You alone are good and gracious, and you alone have the power over sin and death. Thank you for enduring the cross for us, and giving us eternal life. To you belongs all the praise, and all the glory, forever and ever, Amen.

For the Women the Empty Tomb Meant Hope (vv. 1-12)

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 23:48-49 “And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle [Christ’s crucifixion], when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.” The woman had followed Jesus through his ministry, watched as he was crucified.

Luke 23:55-56 “The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.”

Old Testament law required that they rest on the Sabbath [Saturday], so they sat smelling the spices and the perfumes they had purchased and prepared. Thinking of their teacher laying in the tomb bloody, his body broken, and they would have had an urgency to prepare Christ’s body before the stink of decomposition.

Two of those women who would have been among their number was Mary and Martha, as they smelled the pungent spices and sat and rested their minds would have rushed back to their own brother’s death. Martha would have remembered running up to Jesus.

John 11:21-26 “ Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:40-44 “Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Then on Sunday morning, literally Sunday at “deep dawn” the women set out to carry the 80 plus pounds of spices and perfumes to cover the smell of decay. But when they get there the only thing left in the tomb are the grave clothes, the sheet that Jesus’ body had been wrapped in. There was no smell of death, there was no body, there was only an empty tomb.

Matthew 28:4 “And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.” In order for the women to look into the tomb, they had to step over the soldiers as they lay scattered on the ground.

Where were the 11 disciples? The disciples do not seem to be focused on getting Christ’s body from Pilate, preparing his body for burial, finding a place to even bury him, or performing some kind of a ceremony – the disciples are focused on how their plans were not working out.

Jesus had clearly told them what was going to happen. Matthew 20:17-22 “And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

But the disciples had their own plan – “20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”

“4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words,”

The women were coming to cover the smell of death with perfumes and spices, then they remembered his words, not only that “on the third day be raised again,” but what about his other words, “I am the resurrection and the life,

John 6:35 “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

“Then they remembered his words” – what does God have to do for us to get it? Jesus himself told them on several occasions, so the angel says, “Remember how he told you”, the earth shook at his death, the Temple curtain was torn in two, the dead were raised and walked among the people, Jesus’ body was not in the tomb, and finally angels themselves say, “He is not here, he has risen!”

9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

In all the gospel accounts of the resurrection, once the women saw the angels, had seen that the tomb was empty, they quickly went back to tell the disciples. The spices and perfumes that they were going to be used to cover Christ’s body were never mentioned again.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Because of Christ’s resurrection, we have victory over sin, the power that raised Christ from the dead now lives within the believer. We have victory over death, Jesus said in John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

The sting that comes with death can be swallowed up in victory because we know that we have eternal life through Christ. We can leave the concerns and the weight of death behind us in order to run forward and announce to others Jesus is risen! We don’t have to pretend that we are ok, we don’t have to cover up the filth with pungent excuses – we can be changed, we can have real life, a new life.

When the women go back and tell the disciples – the disciples have two responses. One is disbelief because it seemed like nonsense. They had seen Jesus calm the storm, heal the sick, cast out demons, they heard him teach unlike anyone they had ever heard before, they even saw Jesus raise the dead – but they still didn’t get it.

If you just don’t get it, that’s ok, the men who spent three years face to face with Christ didn’t get at first either. But let me encourage you do what Peter does. He responds by running to the tomb. Peter wanted to see for himself. “he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.” He observed the evidence.

This morning if you are wondering about Jesus’ death and this whole idea of Jesus actually being raised from the dead – don’t dismiss it as non-sense. Instead, go and challenge the evidence. It has held up to two thousand years of skeptics, it can hold up to any questions you may bring against it.

Because what if it’s true? 1 Corinthians 15:17-19 “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

For the Disciples the Empty Tomb Meant Purpose (vv. 13-32)

They had a purpose in life (vv. 13-20)

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

The disciples did not understand that one day they would be separated from Jesus and that He would go to be with His Father in heaven. But even more astounding than this is that the disciples had a mission that they were to accomplish.

John 14:12-14 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” As believers pray, Jesus in heaven intercedes for us before the Father. As we seek to follow God’s will he will give us the desires of our heart.

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This purpose required a substitution of their wants and plans (v. 21-24)

21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

For these disciples the redemption of Israel was in terms of political freedom from the Romans. Jesus had told them several times[1] what would happen they put it all in terms of how they would benefit.

Their concept of redemption was freedom from Rome, not freedom from sin – They were all looking for “the one” and since they had given three years of their lives – who knows what they were expecting “to get from Jesus” when he became a king. But now his death had changed all that.

The resurrection teaches us that if we are to be true disciples of Christ we have to put away our plans and our wants and ask God “what’s your plan for my life.” The disciples were in essence saying “we had hoped he would do this for us, and this for us,” they never stopped to think that Jesus’ plan for them was beyond anything they could ever even imagine.

For Jesus the Empty Tomb Meant Redemption (vv. 25-27, 30-31)

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. . . 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

Even bigger than the question of was Jesus raised from the dead? Is the question “Why was Jesus raised from the dead?” All of the Old Testament pointed to a promised messiah who would redeem mankind from the bondage of sin.

The Old Testament also explains that this Messiah that was to come had to suffer these things in order to make a way for mankind to have a relationship with God.

Jesus did not come to simply amaze people with miracles for no reason, he told the disciples time after time why he would suffer the cross. The resurrection means that the power that raised Jesus from the dead can take away all the wrongs that you have ever done, it can give you power to live a new life, it can give your life purpose and meaning.

The real question this morning is “what does the resurrection mean to you?

“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins, I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.” In Jesus’ Name

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[1] Luke 9:22; 13:32; 18:33