The Living Word

1 Peter 1:22-2:10

If it's [the Word] true it requires a response. Peter sets before us Jesus as a LIVING HOPE, requires a life of holiness (v. 13-15)

v.22-2:3 Highlights

1. v.23 - we have been born again through the living and enduring Word of God. Obedience to the Word brings us new life.
2. v.22, 2:11 - obeying God's Word will purify your souls. Sinful desires war against our soul.
   --You are not able to obey the Word by your own strength, but you can THROUGH the Spirit. Let the Spirit work in you.
3. Obeying God's Word will cause you to continue to grow (2:2,3)
   --we should be eager and crave the Word (milk). The milk is the gospel.
4. 2:4,5 -- As you obey God's word you will be separated from the world.

Our response:
Jesus is the Living Hope - live holy
Jesus is the Living Word - obey Him
Jesus is the Living Stone - serve Him

Hope and Holiness

1 Peter 1:13-21

Hope: the confident expectation of things to come.

- God has proven himself to us by telling us what is going to happen. Many Old Testament and New Testament prophesies have been proven true.

If your hope in God is real it affects how you live your life. Hope begets holiness. v.13 Therefore (what is it there for? based on what you have read before)

v.13-16 Peter connects our conduct to the coming of the Lord (v.15)

1. v.13 prepare your mind for action. Set your mind on the things of the Spirit.
   --be disciplined in your thinking. Set your mind on what matters, what counts.


2. v.13 - Be sober (self-controlled).
   --evidence of walking in the Spirit
   --to be free of every form of mental and physical excess
. We Can choose to live after our body or after the Spirit.

3. v. 13c Set your hope on the Lord's return
   --the fullness of the grace given to you will be given at the end of the race.
   --set your sights on the end, don't quit in the middle. Prepare yourself for a long race, at the end you get your reward.


4. v. 17-21 To call on your Heavenly Father for help.
   --v.20 Jesus was chosen before Creation. He (God) had the plan in place from the beginning of time.
   --v.17 God deals with us with impartiality
   --our judgment is individual, not on a curve and NOT compared to others
   --God judges us [holds us accountable] only by what He has asked us to do

God has already given us his greatest treasure -- Jesus. He will freely give us whatever we need to get through this life.

Ruth

Ruth illustrates that we don't have to live in the world -- we don't have to take on worldly attitudes to get by.* Psalm 73 v. 17 and 23-24

Ruth 1: summaryBad, very bad things happen as a set up for something good. Details:

• Because of famine in Bethlehem, Elimelech moves his family to Moab, a Gentile area.
• Elimelech dies, his sons marry, sons die. Now there are three widows (after 10 years).
• Naomi is probably struggling to trust the Lord. Ruth vows to stay with Naomi. Naomi stops trying to convince Ruth to go back to Moab.
• Return to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. Naomi changes her name to Mara.

Sidenote on the meanings of names
Elimelech: my god is King
Naomi: pleasant (ness) Mara: bitter
Mahlon: sickly
Ch/Kilion: pining
Ruth: grace
Boaz: kinsman redeemer/in him is strength

Image: Naomi = Israel, married to God (Elimelech). Israel's sons, not men of godly strength. They were sickly and wasting away. Under testing (the famine) Israel left the place of blessing (Bethlehem) and the love of God dies (Elimelech). Bitterness makes Israel return with grace (Ruth/the church) to the place of blessing.