Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:  1 Peter 2:1-2

Jesus said “Unless you become like a little child, you will not enter the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 18:3) Previously we talked about becoming Born Again in Christ, during this process you are in some ways literally becoming reborn, becoming a new creation (2 Cor. 5:7) When we come to Christ we are never the same again, our lives are transformed as we are becoming conformed into the image of Christ

As the Apostle Peter states “Laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envies and evil speakings” As a new creation in Christ, we now act differently then we once did. We no longer are bearing the fruits of a bad tree, we are bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 7, Galatians 5) We no longer live like we once did, we lay aside the sinful lifestyle that was in disobedience to Christ

Next the Apostle Peter goes on to say “As newborn babies”, when you first come to Christ, you are a babe in Christ. You might not know anything but Jesus is Lord, and as we walk with Christ , we grow in Christ being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. This is why it’s so important to belong to a Church community, you need discipleship and fellowship with other Christians, you can’t complete this walk alone!

This is why I recommend that new Christians should do more listening and learning then preaching and teaching. Many new Christians are on fire for The Lord, which is great, but most don’t have a deep understanding of God, the gospel, the Bible, ect. If we look back at our thoughts and opinions from several years ago, we should see a total maturity in faith. It’s going to take time to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and learning the Word of God is a lifelong process that will never end

Desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow! You should have a strong desire to read your Bible, to consume the Word of God, this is the milk that is going to make you into a mature Christian. Without the milk, you will never grow in Christ. We should always continually strive to keep growing and learning in Christ by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit

Come to Jesus with childlike faith, unless you become like a little child, humble yourself and learn with obedience, you can’t enter the Kingdom of God, Amen!

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: 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; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 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. 1 Peter 1:17-21

Think about this scenario, your headed to life in prison for the crimes you have commited, you have one call you can make, who do you call? Your probably going to call the one who can bail you out or help you , right? This is the same scenario with your soul, your soul is on trial and being sentenced to eternal damnation, so who are you going to call? Hopefully you are calling upon God, because he’s the only one who can save you.

Notice what the Apostle Peter says here “If you call on the Father (God), who without respects to people, judges according to everyone’s works” There is good news and bad news here, the good news is your judge is a righteous and fair judge, the bad news is your judge is a righteous and fair judge. One day everyone of us will stand before God and be judged for our life, are you ready to stand before The Lord on judgment day? The judge doesn’t care how much money you have, or how many touchdowns you scored, or how popular your social media account is, God will judge you based on His standard of morality, the Ten Commandments

This is an issue that will effect everyone, so what can we do? How can we escape the wrath that is to come? Well as the Apostle Peter says here “As you know that you are not redeemed with corruptible things BUT with the precious blood of Christ” There is only one escape from the wrath to come and that’s to repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ! Now that’s a very simplified explanation I know but as scripture tells us “Everyone who calls upon the name of The Lord, shall be saved” (Romans 10:13)

There is only one solution in this world to save your soul, but why? As Peter mentioned , the precious blood of Jesus Christ, there is only One who can atone for your sins, there is only One who can wash you clean from your filthiness, there is only One who can transform you and make you Born Again! Nobody else can provide this solution for your soul, that’s why Jesus said “I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life, Nobody comes to the Father, except through me (John 14:6) There is only One path to salvation and One way to the Father, and that’s Jesus Christ

As Peter continues to say “But was manifest in these last times for You” God has made this so easy for you, Jesus Christ came into flesh, died for your sins, and rose on the 3rd day defeating sin and death forever, all you need to do is turn away from your sins, put your full faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen!

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; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16

A message we dont hear in the Churches very often today, “Be Holy”, what a concept! Many Christians today if you told them you need to Be Holy , they will tell you your a legalist or your “outdated” however as Peter states here “It Is Written” meaning this is the Word of God from God, this is not just an idea or opinion of an Apostle, this has been the message sent from God for His people throughout time!

Now before we get into what God really means by this, I love how Peter starts this “Gird up the loins of your mind” meaning prepare your minds for action! As we walk in this spiritual warfare we can’t just expect to survive this walk without preparation. We need to be prepared, we need to put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6) we need to be filled and led by the Holy Spirit, we need to begin and end our days on our knees in prayer, we need to be walking in the obedience of Christ, we need to study and meditate on the Word of God. We can’t begin this battle until we gird up our loins in our mind!

The Apostle Peter then states “Be Sober”, what a concept! Why should you avoid drunkenness, besides the obvious reasons? Because the battle begins in your minds, if you lost control of your thoughts , you have already lost the battle. You notice , when people are drunk, they are easily persuaded into sin. The battle begins in your mind, you need to be prepared with the Holy Spirit to enter into this spiritual warfare, entering the battle drunk, you have already lost!

As obedient children of Christ not conforming yourselves to former lusts! If you are a Christian, you are Born Again, you are a new Creature, how can you be transformed by Christ and still living in the same old sins? It’s not logicial, you are either a Child of God or a Child of Disobedience. So how do we avoid falling into the same old sins again? Going back to what the Apostle Peter said Prepare your minds in Christ! Sin begins in the heart and mind, you need to cleanse yourself from within before you can see a change outwardly

The Apostle Peter states “It Is Written” meaning this is the Word of God, Be Holy for I (God) is Holy” This is the standard we are striving for as a Christian, so what does it mean to be Holy? The Greek meaning of the word “hagion” means Set Apart, be Set Apart for Christ! The meaning behind the Church, the Ekkelssia is Called Out Assembly of Believers, meaning Set Apart. If you are a Christian, you have been Set Apart from the world by the Blood of Christ and the seal of the Holy Spirit, Amen!

Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 1 Peter 1:10-12

The entire Bible is about Jesus Christ and Gods Kingdom to come! Regardless of what book or chapter you are reading in your Bible, it will in some way point to Christ. This is what the Apostle Peter is trying to convey to us here, the prophets throughout the Old Testament foretold about Christ and the New Covenant, they searched diligently the scriptures and when Jesus came, he fulfilled it

As a Christian, sometimes your daily walk may seem long or boring, however think about this , you are living in prophetic times! Until Jesus Christ returns, you are living in prophetic times, everything you do on a daily basis for God’s Kingdom, matters! As Jesus taught us about the parable of the Mustard Seed, the Kingdom of God is growing daily, you are part of the building of Gods Kingdom! (Matthew 13)

Just as the Old Testament prophets were living in prophetic times and the Apostles were living in prophetic times, you are also living in prophetic times, think about that! Just like them, we know how it ends, we know Jesus Christ has the victory and Gods Kingdom is eternal , however we don’t know all the little details of how Gods plan is going to work itself out, so enjoy the journey of a lifetime, literally

The Apostle Peter says “Which things the angels desire to look into” The Angels in Heaven have been watching Creation since the beginning, they know how it’s going to end also, but they are eagerly watching how it’s all going to play out! The angels have watched the prophets suffer and die for Christ, the angels have watched the Apostles suffer and die for Christ, the angels are watching the Church right now! All eyes in Heaven are on you, are you fulfilling your calling in Christ?

So what is the mission of the Church, as Peter says “By them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven” We share the good news of Jesus Christ and Gods Kingdom, this is our job as Christians and this is the same message given since the beginning of time, Amen!

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9

How do we know if your faith is genuine? You will often hear people say “They are a fake Christian” or “We are the real Church”, so how do we know who is real or fake? Well don’t worry because your faith is going to be tested by trials and temptations. People will often question God, why would he allow me to go through this? Or I’m a good Christian, why would God let me go through this? We must go through the trial of fire to strengthen our faith in Christ

Previously the Apostle Peter talked about how Jesus is our Living Hope, which is great news for us all. However the reality is we are still living in a fallen world until Christ returns, you are going to go through many trials and temptations as a test of your faith. As Peter says here “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory appearing of Jesus Christ” 

Becoming saved in Christ doesn’t mean your done now until Christ returns. In fact when you become saved, this just begins your journey with Christ. As disciples of Christ, we have alot of learning and growing to do with the Holy Spirit, a process called sanctification, Peter hopes your trial of faith might be found honorable when you stand before The Lord Jesus Christ. 

When we look back at our walk with Christ, you probably say “I can’t believe I said that or believed that a year ago” We should continually be seeing growth in our Christian walk , if were not seeing any growth as a Christian, then something is wrong with our conversion to Christ. If the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, then we should see fruits of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 7) 

Many of us, including myself, when we go through a trial, a difficult time, a test, we see how much we learned from God through this and how much our faith has grown. This is the whole purpose of trials and temptations, it’s actually for the benefit of your soul. That’s why the Apostle James says “Consider it joy when you go through trials” (James 1:2) What? How can that make any sense? Because when you understand its all for your own benefit in the eternal perspective. 

As Peter also says here “Receiving the result or outcome of your faith, the salvation of your soul” How did you respond going through a trial or temptation? Did you lean on the rock, Jesus Christ? Or did you fall like the house built on the sand? As Jesus said “Those who endures to the end, shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13) Amen!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

What in this world gives you hope? This is an important question that we should be asking , because without Jesus Christ there is no hope for your life. That is the reality of everybody’s life, whether you’re a Christian or you’re an Atheist or a Muslim, we are all under the curse of sin and death. The question is what is your hope from the grip of death in this fallen world?

As the Apostle Peter reveals to us here, Jesus Christ is our Living Hope. Regardless of what happens to you in this world, regardless of pain and suffering, sickness, and health, you have victory in Jesus Christ. Why? Because Jesus Christ is Risen, He has overcome the grave, Christ has paid in full the wrath for your sins. Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of God the Father, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Outside of Christ, there is no hope! You must understand this, nobody else is able or willing to die for your sins. Nobody else is able or willing to rise from the dead, defeating sin, death, and Satan. Christ is the only one who can and did, just for you because He loves us! But outside of Christ there is no hope for salvation! (John 14:6, Acts 4:12)

Jesus not only justified us before God, but Jesus also transforms us and make us Born Again (John 3:3) Notice what Peter says here “According to His abundant mercy has begotten us again “ Some translations say “Has given us a new birth” other translations say “Has caused us to be Born Again” The reality is you are never the same when you have an encounter with Jesus Christ , you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Then Peter goes on to tell us “A living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” This is why the resurrection of Christ is the center of Christianity, this is your living hope! The Church gathers on Sunday morning because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are Born Again because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we always have hope because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Living Hope!

As a Born Again Christian in Christ we have an inheritance, eternal life, that is incorruptible or undefiled. Again, we are not just saved, we are transformed. Notice what Peter says we have a reservation or inheritance in Heaven. Jesus Christ is preparing a place for you (John 14) because Christ has overcome the grave!

We are kept and protected by the power of God, by the Holy Spirit living inside of you, through faith unto salvation is ready to be revealed, Amen!