1 Peter Pt. 6: Holiness
About the Series
NB: At this point in the sermon series, we’ve reviewed this overarching theme a few times. Instead of just reading the summary, consider asking your group if they can summarize the book’s theme in their own words.
1 Peter is a letter written to 1st-century Christians living on the edge of the Roman Empire, whom Peter calls “exiles” or “strangers.” These disciples are outsiders in society, but insiders in God’s Kingdom, born into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus. Peter encourages them to rejoice, even in suffering, to love one another deeply, and live holy, disciplined lives. He challenges them as spiritually free people to choose to honor everyone, even those who treat them harshly. Underneath his encouragement and instruction is the underlying assumption that disciples of Jesus are learning to become like him—living their lives as He would. They may share in his suffering, but they will also share in his resurrection! Through this series, we are invited to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, becoming like Jesus in our families, workplaces, and communities.
Read this Sermon Recap
1 Peter pt. 6, Holiness
In the opening of the letter, Peter draws the attention of these exiled Christians to both what God in Christ has already done for them AND exhorts them to keep in the front of their minds what God has promised to do in the future.
As he begins to instruct them, there’s a “Ready – Set – Go” moment that comes in 1v13. Ready – “prepare your minds”. Set – “discipline yourselves” or “be sober-minded.” And then finally, Go – “Don’t be conformed to the desires that ruled you when you didn’t know better. Instead, be holy as God is holy.”
While this at first might seem like an unfair instruction to be morally perfect, Peter makes it clear that what he is actually saying is “be who you already are.” God is the one who makes us holy. He has set you apart for his own purposes. The letter later strings together 4 expressions of their new identity in Christ. They are – and should remember that they are – (1) a chosen people, (2) a royal priesthood, (3) a holy nation, and (4) God’s own people (2:9-10).
Understanding our new identity in Christ gives us both purpose and motivation to obey God out of love and freedom, not fear and anxiety. We do not have to slave to be “good enough.” Our sins, and all that kept us from being pleasing to God, have been atoned for by Jesus. We are set free, we are made holy, for the purpose of declaring the “excellence of Him who called us.”
Discuss these Questions
(Leaders: Before going into the questions, you may want to give your group a minute or so of silence, reflecting on and listening to the Spirit around the question, “What is Jesus inviting you to notice tonight?”)
Tonight, we are going to use this set of questions to guide our discussion. You may want to pull up the guide on your phone to help you process and reflect.
1. Is anything lingering in your mind/heart from Sunday that you’d like to discuss?
2. How would you describe the differences between pursuing holiness as a moral standard versus pursuing holiness as an expression of your new identity and purpose received from God?
3. Take a few minutes and just sit with the words used to describe what God has declared true of His new people: chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation, His own possession. Is there one might the Spirit want you to receive more deeply right now?
4. God has done this so that we become people who proclaim (by our praise or celebrating) his excellence. Can you imagine a new way in which your ordinary life might point to your enjoyment of the goodness of God, the hope of the gospel, or the presence of the Spirit?
Practice for the Week
As we pivot in our listening to 1 Peter from descriptions of God’s work for us to how we should respond together, it would be good to take the time to read the letter again, straight through. Hold on to what God says is true of you as you listen to the practical ways we should respond.