1 Peter 1:13-19 ESV
“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. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ And if 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, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”
This is speaking to Christians who were sanctified of the
Spirit of God for obedience to Jesus Christ, and who were born again of the
Spirit of God to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept
in heaven for us who are faithful to that calling. For though we have not seen
Christ, we love him and we believe in him. And we rejoice in him with
inexpressible joy, for we are obtaining the outcome of our faith, the salvation
of our souls.
Therefore, we are to be children of God who are living for
the Lord, who are following him in obedience to his commands (New Covenant),
and who are walking in his ways and in his truth. And we are to be those who
are preparing our minds for action by being serious-minded about God and about
our salvation and about the gospel and what it teaches us with regard to how we
are to live as followers of Christ. We are to take God and his word seriously,
and we are not to live like the ungodly of this world.
And we are to set our hope fully on the grace that will be
brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. For we are obtaining the
outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls. And this goes to the subject of
our salvation being progressive and not a one-time thing that takes place in
our lives. For we are saved (past), and we are being saved (present active),
and we will be saved (future) when Jesus returns for his bride and he takes his
bride to be with him for eternity, which is when our salvation will be complete.
But this is conditional on us walking in obedience to our
Lord, in practice, and on us living holy lives, different from the world and in
all our conduct, and on us no longer being conformed to the passions of our
sinful flesh. And we are to be those who conduct our lives in the fear of the
Lord, believing God’s word, honoring him as Lord of our lives, showing him respect
and reverence, and walking in obedience to his commands. For Jesus ransomed us
from our slavery to sin so we would now serve him with our lives.
For Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:23-26).
And he said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
An Original Work / December 18, 2013
“About
midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other
prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84
Lord, I praise You forevermore.
You, my Savior, I now adore.
Hope in heaven awaiting me,
Because You died at Calvary.
I have been forgiven,
And I’m bound for heaven.
Jesus set me free from
All my sin, I say.
I will praise Him always!
Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:
Overcame death, my vict’ry won!
Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!
I rejoice in His love for me.
I will walk in vict’ry!
My sin is but hist’ry!
I am free to please Him
With my life today.
I will love Him always!
Lord, I thank You for giving me
A new life bought at Calvary.
Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.
Tender mercies now flow within.
Lord, I am so thankful;
Through my Lord, I’m able
To sit at His table;
Fellowship with Him.
I will thank Him always!
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