The"American Wisdom Series"
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Pamphlet#5103 KC1peter4

Do you have a "former life"?

In our last study we learned from Peter, now a fulltime fisher of men, that while our faith will be tested our future is magnificent.

Next he will exhort us to consider soberly what God has done for us, and to conduct our lives accordingly, to match our high calling.

1 Peter 1:13
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
All right, get your act together!

Be sober!

Now if the thought that "you" should "quit drinking" so much just came to your mind, then that is exactly what it means, for the Greek word nepho, translated "sober", means to abstain from wine (including other adult beverages; so don't try that "I only drink beer" line of self denial bull).

However, Peter also means to be "sober minded" and vigilant and to place your hope on the grace that will be bestowed unto you when Jesus appears at His coming.

(The word "revelation" used here is the same word as "appearing" in verse 7.)

[14] As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
Do you have a "former life"?

No, no, I don't mean from the "world that then was" in the first earth age, just the un-Christ-like life you lived when you were ignorant and lustful, which for some could be expressed in one word, ignoramus!

Well, there better be a change in your behavior now that you know better and it starts by listening to your Father.

The apostle Paul gave the same admonitions in his letters.

It truly is remarkable how much these two thought alike.

Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Act like a Christian and remember; there are no dress rehearsals, we are always on stage!
1 Pet. 1:15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has called you and made you part of His body, the "body of Christ".

When you engage in unholy conduct it's not just a reflection upon yourself, but you make Him look bad, don't you?

That's not good!

[16] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
This is a direct quote from the Book of Leviticus.
Leviticus 11:44
For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy...
Did Peter know the Old Testament scriptures or what?

Remember how he stood up on Pentecost Day in Acts chapter 2 and quoted from the Book of Joel?

Well, here he quotes from the Book of Leviticus.

In chapter 2 he will quote from Isaiah 53.

In chapter 3 he will quote from Psalms.

And in chapters 4 & 5 he quotes from Proverbs.

This man knew his Bible.

Do you?

And check out this move:

Acts 1:15
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
Acts 1:16
Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
Peter knew from Psalms 69 and 109 that those scriptures needed to be fulfilled and he got the job done!

Imagine that!

There are more scriptures that need to be fulfilled, you know.

For instance, there's some "sealing" that needs to be done in Rev 7, like now, and some witnessing and delivering-up soon to come, etc.

Are you or are you going to be a participant in fulfilling them?

Pretty exciting thought, isn't it?

Peter now continues to discuss our behavior.

[17] And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
And if you pray to the Father, and call yourself Christian, you better love and revere Him and be obedient and produce some fruit and good works while you're "walking under the sun".

You see, God is no respecter of persons and He judges a person's works, whether they be holy or unholy.

Rewards will be handed out accordingly.

Just read the 2nd and 3rd chapters of the Book of Revelation and notice that Jesus Christ addresses the works of all the churches, meaning the people in them.

Oh, and if you claim to be a Christian, you are in one of them.

Do you know which one?

There are only two out the seven that Christ finds acceptable.

1 Pet. 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
Hey, Christ didn't redeem you from your "former life" with money!

He paid for you with His very life!

[19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Precious blood indeed!

The innocent, holy, perfect Lamb of God gave His life, WILLINGLY.

[20] Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Yes, it was God's plan from the beginning and it is even written in the stars of heaven and contained in the pure uncorrupted Zodiac.

See appendix 12, as in the 12 signs, in the back of the Companion Bible.

"These last times" means the first advent.

[21] Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
If you believe that God raised up Christ from the dead, then you have the faith and hope that He will raise us up too!

Once again Paul said the very same thing in 1 Thes. 4:13-14.

1 Thes. 4:13
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
The Sadducees were running around claiming there is no hope [life] after death.

That's Sad U See!

[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
But we know that those who have died believing in Christ have been raised-up and are with Him, and so when Christ returns He will bring them with Him.

That's our faith and hope which we just read in 1 Pet. 1:21.

So let your life match your high calling.

Let your light so shine!

We have all the reason in the world to be kind, gentle and loving towards one another.

We have the faith and the hope, the magnificent future is ours already!

Concerning loving one another,

Here's Peter:
1 Pet. 1:22
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Here's Paul:
Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
The word "love" in both of these verses is "philadelphia".

Is that the church, the Church of Philadelphia in Rev. 3:7-13, that you are in?

 That's an excellent choice!

1 Pet. 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
You are born again by the Word of God, which is eternal.

Let's review.

How are you born again?

By the Living Word of God which is eternal.

How does that compare to your flesh?

[24] For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
Got it?

Your flesh grass is temporary!

And flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

[25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Peter is quoting the scriptures again and the two verses above are from Isaiah 40:6-8.
Isaiah 40:6
The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

[7] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

[8] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

The Word of God is eternal and shall stand forever.

If you have it, and love it, and obey it, then you have Him and abide in Him and do you know what that means?

You can stand forever, too!

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them {the ancient Israelites} for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

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