Sanctification of the Believer

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Desire for the True Word

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The third evidence of spiritual growth is the desire for the "true word". The Word of God can be "twisted" to justify what we want to do. Saul (Paul) justified the killing of Christians by quoting scripture which said that blasphemy was punishable by stoning. So he justified the stoning to death of Stephen. If we are to rightly discern the scriptures, we must put away all malice, envy and guile. Matthew Henry describes malice as anger resting in the bosom of fools. Guile is deceit in words. It uses flattery, falsehood and delusion as its tools. All of this stems from insincerity which is false and counterfeit and can be applied to love, friendship, compassion or even faith. Envy is desiring what another person has and covers areas like abilities, wealth, fame and success, even the gifts of the Spirit.

So Peter says, do not be part of these things. Strive to eliminate them from your life. These sins are called sins of the "second table". They are not soul wrecking, but they do keep us from growing spiritually. The best of Christians need to continually examine themselves, their motives, their feelings toward one another. Our best efforts for God will neither please Him nor accomplish anything unless we are properly motivated.

Peter was telling these people to put away these things that take from our spiritual growth and put in their place the "pure spiritual milk". The "milk of the Word" is for the building up of the soul. When we are new Christians, we must seek after the Word of God. Desire it as a new baby desires milk.

Only by studying God's Word can we become mature Christians, growing in Grace and knowledge of God. This Peter called "growing up to salvation". You might ask, why should we do this? Well verse 3 says because we have tasted the kindness of the Lord. Those who feed upon the "milk" of the Word experience more and more of His kindness, which is His Grace.

Offer up Spiritual Sacrifices

The fourth evidence of spiritual growth is in the offering up of spiritual sacrifices. "Come to Christ," Peter says, "to offer up spiritual sacrifices." What are "spiritual sacrifices"? Matthew Henry says they are your body, your soul, your affections, your prayers, your phrases, your tithes, your service and your all. If we are to be Priesthood of Believers, we must offer up these spiritual sacrifices to God.

You might ask, what is the doctrine of the "Priesthood of Believers"? It is a position of the believer, bought by the death of Christ, evidenced by the renting of the veil of the Temple at the very moment that Christ died, allowing believers to do, what only Priests could do before, come boldly into the presence of God. Now every believer in Christ is a priest. John says in Rev. 1:6, "Jesus, who loves us and has freed us from sin by His blood and made us a "kingdom of priests" to His Father, to Him be glory for ever and ever."

In the dispensation of the Law, man went to God through the High Priest. In Christ, we do not need this intermediary. In the dispensation of the Law, God dwelled in the Holy of Holies in the Temple. In Christ, we become the dwelling place of God, the Holy Spirit, for He now dwells in us and Christ is the "cornerstone" of that spiritual house.

Peter quotes some scripture from Isaiah and the Psalms where Jesus is prophesied as being the cornerstone chosen and precious and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame. But to those who do not believe, He will be to them the stone that makes them stumble. Notice, they stumble because they disobey the Word as they were "predestined" to do. All who continue in their disobedience and contempt of the Gospel are appointed to eternal destruction and God, from the beginning, knows who they are.

"But you," Peter says, "are a chosen race." Not only were the Jews chosen but all believers are "chosen", and because of that choosing, we are different. Different in spirit, in principle and in practice. Chosen in Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit. Peter calls us, "A holy nation, God's own people." For what purpose has God chosen us to be His people? "That you might declare the wonderful deeds of Christ." Your job is to witness.

Then Peter advises them to look back at what they were before Christ came into their lives. We to should look back and remind ourselves of our previous lives and the mercies of God in granting us forgiveness and faith in Christ. Peter says, "Compare your former state with your present state."

We need to be reminded continually of what we have escaped, eternal hell, a terrible place, separation from God if nothing else. Christ not only saves us from this but He gives us purpose in our life and Grace sufficient for whatever we are called on to endure.

So show evidence of your spiritual growth by offering yourself as a spiritual sacrifice.

Abstain from Fleshly Lusts

"Beloved, I beg you, as aliens and exiles, abstain from the passions of the flesh." Notice here Peter uses a term of endearment, "Beloved". He shows his love and concern in the way that he addresses them. This is particularly appropriate in light of the subject that he is about to address. Peter was not speaking about relations between two duly married people, he was speaking of un-natural and unusual appetites of the flesh. Christians should keep all of their appetites under control.

Accesses of any nature can lead to many sins of corruption. These sins make it difficult to maintain a good relationship with the Lord. The aim of Satan is to destroy our relationship with God. Sins of the flesh weakens our self respect which in turn weakens our witness. Peter considers these sins the most injurious to the soul.

He further warns them concerning their conversation and personal conduct. Keep your conversation clean, free of cursing, free of gossip, be honest in all their dealings, live good clean decent lives, for this, Peter says, is necessary when you live among Gentiles (unbelievers). People who are looking for something to say against you. This kind of life might not only stop their mouths but it might also recommend Christ to them. For years, these dispersed Jews were called outsiders and troublemakers and when they accepted Christ, they were even more condemned because they did not remain separated from the Gentiles as the Jews did, but were out witnessing amongst the Gentiles seeking to lead them to Christ.

So Peter warns them that the general population was watching them and listening to everything that they said or did, so they needed to be careful of their conversation so that, by their life, they might convince some for the "day of visitation" is coming. Here Peter was prophesying of the evangelistic work that Paul and others would do later on amongst these people and he was saying that when that day comes, when God calls them by His Grace to repentance, they will glorify God and will applaud you for your excellent conversation and life amongst them while they were yet sinners.

Certainly these words of advice are good for all Christians, our conversation, our honesty, our lives are all open books for the world to see. Lets not give Satan any more ammunition than he already has.

Submit to Government

"Be subject, for the Lord's sake, to every human institution." Why was this so important to these people at this time?

1. Because the death of Christ became a matter that Rome had to get involved in.
2. Because His crucifixion became a disturbance in Rome that was associated with the Jews and Rome frowned upon any disturbance from any country that was under their jurisdiction.
3. Because Christianity stirred up people where ever it went and because of this, Christianity became known as a problem to the state.

To counter this bad publicity, Peter urged all Christians to be obedient to all civil authorities. The duty of Christians is here described as "submissive". It includes loyalty to the authorities, obedience to their just laws and subjection to their legal penalties. This subjection is here recommended to all human institutions. All who by the nations constitution are duly sworn and installed as protectors of the law, who uphold the law of the land and do so by Divine permission.

Particularly mentioned are Governors who were sent to uphold the law and commissioned by the king or emperor. Also the kings or emperors themselves who were allowed to rule by God's permission. He tells these people that they must submit to these governing officials for the Lord's sake, for He has ordained government for the good of mankind.

Then Peter lists the duties of government:

1. They are to maintain the laws of the land.
2. They are to punish those who break those laws.
3. They are to encourage those who do not break the laws.

Peter gives an additional reason why Christians should submit to the government. A Christian must conduct himself in all areas of life so as not to reflect badly upon his Maker. But you might ask, what about the spiritual nature of Christian liberty? In Deut. 27:15, it says that the Jews were not bound to obey any sovereign who was not a Jew and converted Jews thought the same way that they were not bound to anyone who was not a Christian. What about that? Well Peter does declare the freedom that they have in Christ but he did not believe that it was intended to allow Christians to disobey those in civil authority duly installed by governments.

However, he does list some five freedoms that are ours in Christ.

1. We are free from the bondage of sin.
2. We are free from ceremonial law. (Old Testament)
3. We are free from the condemnation of the law.
4. We are free from the wrath of God.
5. We are free from the fear of death.

But Peter warns, we must not use our freedoms in any way that would reflect unfavorably upon Christ.

He concludes with four Christian duties:

1. Honor all men. This includes the poor and the wicked. We must show respect to all people weather they deserve it or not. The wicked must be honored not for their wickedness, but for ant other good qualities they might have.
2. Love the Brotherhood. All Christians are part of one Church, one family, united in Christ. All have the same qualifications, all have the same Lord and all are striving for the same goal.
3. All Christians should fear God. This will evidence itself with reverence, duty and submission. This appears to be the most important, for if we are found wanting in this duty, all the others cannot be performed.
4. Honor the king or the highest official of the land, for he is allowed to reign by the permission of God.

So we are to be submissive to those in authority.

Honesty in Business

The second area of submission has to do with "honesty in business". This relates primarily to the employee. Here Peter commands the same attitude, from the Christian, toward his employer as he did toward the government.

This newfound freedom that the Jews found in Christ, needed some clarification. It did not mean that they were free from obeying their employers (masters). Employees are here called servants and they were described as people who were hired or bought for money. Some were actually slaves, taken in war or born of another slave. Some was servants who were working off loans and some were simply hired hands, working for a wage. Many of these people believed that their "freedom in Christ" meant that they were no longer responsible to their master of employer.

To these people, Peter orders them to be submissive to their masters. To work faithfully and honestly and to submit patiently to hardships and any loss of their freedoms due to a prior position or economic arrangement. This, Peter says, they owe to their masters even if he is not a good and gentle master. God will approve the servant who serves well his master even though he is forced to suffer pain, emotionally or physically, unjustly for what credit is there if you repay right for right.

Why did Peter want them to do this, why should we do this? Verse 21 says, "Because for this, we have been called." Christians have been called to suffer. We are bound to deny ourselves and follow Christ, to the cross, if necessary.

Secondly, we should not mind suffering when we reflect on the suffering of Christ. His suffering should make us see how truly little we suffer and be grateful for it. We should see that Christ suffered wrongfully and without cause, for He did no sin. He suffered out of love for mankind. Patiently, He endured His persecution. He was falsely condemned, He was mocked, He was beaten and all this He took without saying anything. All this He did, not as an example of patience in suffering, but to purchase for us redemption for our sins. He became our sacrifice that we might not have e to bear the guilt for our sins.

We who accept this are justified in the eyes of God, and must die to sin and live unto righteousness. We must show our desire and submit to Christ, as our Master, as these servants were instructed to serve their earthly masters.

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