A LONG ,LOST AND FORGOTTEN MESSAGE;
CALL UNTO HOLINESS
THE GREAT SALVATION AND THE GLORIOUS
CALL TO HOLINESS
1 Peter 1:10-16
The New Testament calls our experience of receiving
eternal life, being justified by faith, receiving complete forgiveness for all
past sins, becoming sons and daughters of God by faith in Christ, "so
great salvation". Yes, it is salvation: salvation, freedom,
deliverance from sin and all its penalty and power. It is not ordinary
salvation, it is "so great salvation" (Hebrew 2:3). It is so
great that the prophets of the Old Testament "enquired and searched
diligently," wanting to know the time or period when men will have the
privilege of receiving it. Receiving the revelation of the coming Christ, the
Messiah, His suffering to pay the full penalty for our sins, the reconciliation
with God and abundant grace to live in fellowship with God; seeing the vision
of Christ's glory after His suffering and the future state of the glorious
Church, the result of His work of redemption. They enquired if they would be
partakers of such grace and glory! "It was revealed that not unto
themselves, but unto us ... " (1 Peter 1:12). So great and glorious,
so much that even the angels desired to look into it; search and enquire to
know the particular time and the people who are privileged to be recipients of
such divine favour.
This great salvation comes with great grace that
transforms our lives. Those who receive this salvation and this grace are
called to holiness of heart and life. With the grace and the call comes the
power to be holy in heart, life, words and deeds - "Be ye holy in all
manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15,16).
1. THE
PROPHETS' HOPE FOR PRESENT SALVATION IN CHRIST
1
Peter 1:10-12; Matthew 13:16,17; Luke 24:27,44-47; Acts 3:24-26; 10:43; Psalms
22:1,7,8,16,18, 27-31; Isaiah 53:3-12; Hebrews 11:13,40.
Salvation
in Christ dated from the beginning, originally promised in Eden, prophesied by
the Old Testament prophets, provided at Calvary by Christ, we possess it today
by faith. The salvation of the soul is no modern invention. It was known
to ancient prophets; no mean conception, it was the theme of holy,
exalted angels, no obscure dream, it was proclaimed by well-known
apostles; no earth-born scheme,
but a revelation of the Holy Spirit - (1 Peter 1:10-13).
The
work and ministry of the prophets were not limited to their own day and
dispensation. There was a deeper meaning in their words and revelation that
could not be experienced in their time. It was clear to them that they,
centuries beforehand, were seeing and saying things that were meant for the New
Testament period. Salvation in Christ did not originate with Paul or the other
New Testament Apostles. It dates back through all the Old Testament that the
world's redemption should come through the Saviour who will die for our sins
and be raised from the dead for our justification and then be glorified and
exalted by the Father.
It
was revealed to the prophets that the things which they announced before-hand
would not be fulfilled in their own day. Picturing the gospel day as well as
they could, they looked forward to it with longing desire. Even the angels that
have vast privileges seem to envy the love, grace, favour, redemption,
adoption, the position as the Bride that Christ granted to us. They have all
the blessings of a sinless state in God's presence, but they still "desire
to look into" the mysteries of grace revealed and granted to us, as
though coveting the salvation and its possession. What a great salvation is ours in Christ as we pray, believe and plunge
into the fulness of the gospel.
2. THE PURITY
AND HARMLESSNESS OF GOD'S CHILDREN
1 Peter 1:13,14; 4:2,3; Ephesians 4:17-24; Philippians
2:15,16; Ephesians 6:14; Luke 21:34-36;
1 Thessalonians 5:5-8; Hebrews 3:6,14; Romans 12:1,2; Colossians 3:1-17.
It is
instructive to know how the old Testament prophets and the angels in heaven
have desired to know the time and the recipients of the gospel of God's grace.
If the great and the gifted, the high and the holy find a sacred joy in
pondering the provisions of God's love and mercy for us, how urgently the
helpless sinner should give heed to the offer of God's gracious pardon and receive spiritual cleansing as well as eternal
life.
"Wherefore
gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end". In
using the word "wherefore", Peter sums up all the blessings,
privileges and hopes of the believer which he has enumerated and bases his
exhortation on them. It is because of the fulness of the gospel that was revealed to us, and the greatness of the
salvation granted us that we must "gird up the loins of our mind and be
sober." The people to whom Peter wrote wore long flowing robes which
hindered fast progress or strenuous action. Around the waist, they wore broad
belt or girdle. When strenuous action was necessary, they shortened the long
robe by putting it up within the belt in order to enable them freedom of
movement. This is what Peter is using as a metaphor: the christian's journey is
long and laborious; he must therefore gather up his robe because there are many
miry places and much pollution in the world, "blessed are they that
have not defiled their garments; they shall walk with Me (the Lord) in white".
Christians must gird up "the loins of their mind", otherwise they will impede or hinder spiritual
progress. We must not allow our minds to wander; we must keep our thoughts
fixed on the Lord and on the journey to our final destination.
We
must be sober-balanced and temperate. Excess of legitimate things can in fact
make the soul to sink into a deadly lethargy. The christian must be temperate
in all things: in his thoughts and habits, be calm, quiet, thoughtful and
always dependent on the Lord. As a pilgrim, the christian travels on in hope.
It is this hope that urges him onward, making him to disregard the discomforts
on the way. The joy that is set before him keeps his hope fresh and bright.
"As
obedient children" or rather - as "children of obedience",
christians live pure and harmless lives, not fashioning themselves to the
former lusts in the time of ignorance. Being no more ignorant of the moral law,
not being ignorant of the Person and power of Christ, the christian now lives
in obedience to God's Word and he enjoys doing so.
3. THE
PATTERN OF HOLINESS FOR CHRISTIANS
1 Peter 1:15,16; Leviticus 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7,8,26;
Matthew 5:48; Luke 1:74,75; 1Thessalonians 4:7,8; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Peter
3:11,14.
"As
He which has called you is holy, so be ye holy." Our calling is that
we be holy after the pattern of the Holy One who has called us. The christian's
desire, prayer and pursuit must be to fashion himself, not according to his
former lusts, but after the likeness of God. "So be ye holy in all
manner of conversation". In all details of your entire life; as you
interact with other people, take the holiness of God as your pattern and "be
not conformed to this world."
God
called the Israelites to be His peculiar people, kingdom of priests and a holy
nation (Exodus 19:5,6). He had also called us christians to be "a
chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a peculiar people"
(1 Peter 2:9). God is holy, therefore we who are His children must pray and
have faith to be holy. In order to reflect God’s character and radiate His holy
nature, we must be fully consecrated to God.
Considering
that our God is Holy; indeed the most Holy One, is the reason He has not called
us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He has saved us, cleansed us, set us
apart for Himself, sanctified us, that we might be holy to Him. "Holiness
unto the Lord" should be written in the hearts of christians. God has
promised to sanctify us, make us holy and thus make us become "partakers
of His holiness". If we earnestly desire Him, having a strong
sustained longing, with hunger and thirst, we shall be filled, because we have
His unfailing Word of promise. Cleansed and purified by the Blood of God's only
begotten Son, we should follow after holiness in all things; circumstances of our lives and in all manner
of conversation. "Holiness unto the Lord"
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