BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
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BIBLE STUDY LESSON
For the week beginning Sunday
December 9, 2012
____________________________________________________________
LIVING
IN HOLINESS
(Be
Holy in all that you do)
(1
Peter 1:13-25)
In 1 Peter 1, verses 13-25, the
apostle calls for Christians to live holy, think clearly, and, to exercise
“self-control”, or “to be sober”, at all times. He also urges us to look
forward with earnest expectations of CHRIST’s return, and, to not slip back into
their old ways of doing evil. We are called to be “holy” because GOD is holy,
and we share HIS “nature”, which makes it possible. GOD’s nature, not only
consists of “Holiness”, but also, “Life”, “Personality”, “Truth”, “Justice”,
“Love”, and “Wisdom”. These “communicable attributes” are given to us by GOD at
birth. They allow us to be able to worship and have a personal, experiential
relationship with HIM while living here on earth, in the midst of unGODliness.
In fact, GOD not only expects us to live holy, but HE also expects us to
exercise all of these GODly elements of HIS nature on a daily basis (Vs.
13-16).
Sadly though, since the time of Adam
and Eve (the very beginning), every member of mankind has, to some level or
degree, suppressed our GODly nature, and chosen instead, to take up, and
exercise our “sin nature”, which was given to us by satan, through a single act
of disobedience to GOD by this now infamous couple.
However, GOD, through HIS eternal
mercy and grace, chose anyway, to pay a high price to save us from the empty
lives that we had inherited from our ancestors, and, continue to create for
ourselves today. HE bought us back with the precious lifeblood of HIS only
begotten SON, JESUS the CHRIST, the sinless, unblemished LAMB of GOD! And HE
had already chosen HIM for this purpose, long before the world ever began (Vs.
18-20).
In verses 23-25 Peter reminds us
that the Christian must obey the GOD, in WHOSE spiritual image they are made.
And just as a person physically resembles their earthly parent, so must the
Christian spiritually resemble their heavenly FATHER, through their behavior
and obedience to HIS Word.
Here in this passage, the contrast
that Peter alludes to is that, we don’t have to make an effort, nor, change our
behavior in order to “physically resemble” our earthly parents, for it is an
automatic occurrence, through physical birth. However, our resemblance to GOD,
can only be manifested through our behavior, because “GOD is spirit” (John
4:24), and does not have a physical image. Therefore, our resemblance of HIM
must come through a transformation of the heart (spiritually), which dictates
our behavior and what we do, 100 percent of the time. It is a “spiritual
resemblance” that GOD is seeking, and that can only be acquired and maintained
through our learning, and becoming accustomed to practicing, “the Word of
GOD”.
When we choose the Christian walk,
we should automatically become strangers to worldly behavior. We are then no
longer permanent residents of this earth, but rather, we become citizens of
Heaven, and therefore, the laws of GOD must become paramount to us. In fact, it
is not until a person really falls in love with goodness, that, wrong things,
will no longer fascinate, and have power over them. Our relationship with GOD
becomes our greatest asset. This is in sharp contrast to the person, who loses
their heart to the things of this world, as that person, is the person, who
will remain most vulnerable to satan.
The end of all things is near, for
each of us, personally. For, that is the resounding message that the Old
Testament prophets, and, New Testament writers and thinkers, all leave us with.
And that message is just as valid today as it ever was. Our only true hope lies
in our ability to maintain a discipline and self-control that is fueled by our
obedience to GOD’s, and our conformance to the prompting of the HOLY SPIRIT,
WHO will always compel us towards CHRIST JESUS, and away from the gravitational
pull of this world.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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