PREPARED FOR ACTION A Study from 1 Peter JoLynn Gower 352-2458 493-6151 jgower@guardingthetruth.org

WORD FOR THE JOURNEY 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Mind: dianoia: through understanding, perception, 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

THE HOLINESS IMPERATIVE 1 Peter 1:15-16… but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." Holy: hagios: morally blameless; ceremonially consecrated This is strenuous mental preparation 1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance… Conformed: suschematizo: take the shape of Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world

JUDGMENT IS COMING 1 Peter 1:17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; Yes, Christians will be judged, but it isn’t a salvation judgment 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB 1 Peter 1:18-19… knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. Redeemed: lutroo: to redeem by paying a price or ransom Titus 2:14 … who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Commemorated the blood of the Passover Lamb

REDEMPTION WHY ONE NEEDS A REDEEMER (GA’AL) 1. Had become enslaved – kinsman redeemer paid the price to redeem the enslaved relative 2. Had lost control of land – kinsman redeemer paid the price to redeem the land 3. Family murder – kinsman redeemer served as the judicial executioner of the murderer 4. Had produced no heirs – kinsman redeemer married the one without heirs and produced heirs After the fall, people were in slavery to sin, had lost control of the land God gave to superintend, death had entered through sin, and no one was being saved

WHO COULD BE THE REDEEMER WHO COULD SERVE AS A GA’AL The nearest blood relative: (Leviticus 25:48) Leviticus 25:48-49… then he shall have redemption right after he has been sold. One of his brothers may redeem him, or his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or one of his blood relatives from his family may redeem him; or if he prospers, he may redeem himself. Was willing to pay the price (would use his own resources to pay the price) Was able to pay the price (was qualified i.e. sufficient resources and not himself a slave: Ruth 4:6)

JESUS AS GA’AL In terms of salvation, we had no eligible kinsman to redeem mankind because no one was able (i.e. not himself enslaved to sin) Sin entered through being a descendant from Adam’s seed) Jesus became eligible for us by meeting the requirements: He became a blood relative (Hebrews 2:14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same) He was able because he wasn’t born of Adam’s seed and therefore was not born enslaved to sin He was willing

THE BIG PLAN 1 Peter 1:20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you … Foreknown: proginosko: known ahead of time (or outside of time) Appeared: phaneroo: become visible God had a plan before the foundation of the world John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” Ephesians 1:5-7 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

IMPERISHABLE SEED 1 Peter 1:22-23 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. Luke 8:11 "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.” The positive result of living the truth is a purified life GOOD FRUIT 1 Peter 1:25 … But the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word which was preached to you.