In the forests of northern Europe and Asia lives little animal called the ermine, known for his snow-white fur in winter. He instinctively protects his white coat against anything that would soil it.

Fur hunters take advantage of this unusual trait of the ermine. They don’t set a snare to catch him, but instead they find his home, which is usually a cleft in a rock or a hollow in an old tree. They smear the entrance and interior with grime. Then the hunters set their dogs loose to find and chase the ermine. The frightened animal flees toward home but doesn’t enter because of the filth. Rather than soil his white coat, he is trapped by the dogs and captured while preserving his purity. For the ermine, purity is more precious than life. HGB, Our Daily Bread, April 21, 1997 God placed in that little creature a quality that reminds us of the duties God has given to Christians.

Transition

This morning I want us to examine two God-given duties that will enhance our Christian testimony.

God Gave Us a Duty to Hope

Read verse 13

1. Note first the motivation of this duty
   1. The first word in the verse is “wherefore”. It means on account of what was just said.
   2. Because (v.10-12) we are privileged above the prophets, above the untold millions, and above the angels, this ought to motivate us to fulfil our duty to hope.
2. Note next the preparation for this duty
   1. Peter charged his readers to gird up the loins of their minds. To “gird up” was to tuck their loose clothing into their belt to ease work. The idea here is to prepare your mind to hope. Think about all the things God has done for you – He purchased salvation for you (v.3); He promises an inheritance for you in heaven (v.4); He is keeping you secure (v.5); He is using your trials to increase your rewards in heaven (v.7).
   2. The second preparation is to be sober. This word means to be calm and collected in spirit. If we are to trust God fully, we must give Him our worries and stay calm.
3. Note last the activation of this duty
   1. God commands us to hope. The word hope means to have a full confidence in God.
   2. We are to hope to the end or literally to hope completely upon God’s grace.
      ² The King James Bible Commentary states, “Into this one word grace Peter has put all the glorious content of our salvation previously given in verses 3-12.”
   3. Many people fear the future. They have no hope of eternal life. As Christians, our complete hope is to be placed upon God’s grace (divine help).
   4. God’s grace is being brought to us in the revelation of Jesus Christ. The way God worded this indicates that He is presently giving us His grace that will be complete when Christ is revealed in the air to take Christians to heaven.
      ☆ Christians have a God-given duty to hope in the grace He has promised. We will never be a good testimony to the angels or to the lost world until we have a confident assurance that we are saved and that Jesus is coming back to take us to heaven.

God Gave Us a Duty to be Holy

God commands us to be holy in both verses 15-16. How are we to do this? We will see that Peter identifies three steps.

1. First, be an obedient child of God (v.14)
   1. We are to act like obedient children.
      ☆ (Colossians 3:20) Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
      1. Obedient children listen to instructions.
      2. Obedient children willingly do what they are told without being threatened for motivation.
      3. Obedient children respond right away. “Delayed obedience is disobedience.”
   2. God requires such obedience from us.
      1. The word “as” means we are to follow the example of obedient children and do exactly what God tells us to do.
      2. We must listen to God’s instructions, willingly yield, and quickly respond.
      3. Many Christians have a bad testimony because they refuse to obey God. All excuses are disobedience.
      4. Though obvious, you must be a child of God before you can be an obedient one. Are you sure you are?
         ☆ If you refuse to obey God, you will never be holy.
2. Second, stop fashioning yourself after former lusts.
   1. Former lusts are the evil desire that ruled you before you got saved. Like what?
      1. They include desires for money, pleasure, sensuality, alcohol, tobacco, pornography, popularity, etc. They led to pride, selfishness, immorality, addictions, immodest dress, bad language, and many other sins.
         ☆ (Ephesians 2:2) “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”
         ☆ (1 Peter 4:3)
      2. Before you were saved, you were ignorant of many sins. Now if you know the Lord, you are no longer ignorant of His holy expectations.
   2. We are no longer to fashion (conform, mould) ourselves to the former lusts in our ignorance. This may mean “do not conform yourself” or “do not allow yourself to be conformed”. Either way, we must stop yielding to former lusts. This is taught in many Scriptures.
      ☆ (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.
      ☆ “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” (Ephesians 4:22)
      ☆ Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)
      ☆ God requires that we stop fulfilling sinful lusts. Yes, it may be difficult, but we cannot be holy if our lives are patterned after the world.
3. Third, follow God’s holy example.
   1. The word “but” is the Greek word alla which tells us to do the opposite. Following God is opposite to following lusts.
   2. Instead we are to pattern our lives after the One who called us to salvation (that is God).
      1. He is holy. He is pure, morally blameless. He is set apart from all that corrupts. He always does right.
      2. God commands us to follow His holy example. We must be holy as He is holy in all manner of conversation (all areas of our conduct). God commands us to separate from sin and all that corrupts; to be pure; to choose what we know is right according to the Bible.
      3. We are to please God instead of pleasing self. We are to do right instead of doing what our flesh desires.
      4. This includes every area of our behaviour – thoughts, actions, words, music, dress, attitudes, recreation, entertainment, games, hobbies, habits, friends, – private and public, social and religious. Nothing is to be left out.
         ² D. L. Moody once said, “A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.”

Conclusion

Peter identified two duties that will enhance our testimony. 1) We have a duty to hope in God’s grace. If you know the Lord, have a strong confidence that he will fulfil his promises to you. 2) We have a duty to be holy. Though it is not easy, we are to act as God’s obedient children and stop letting our flesh and the world mould us into their sinful lifestyles. BUT instead we are to actively be holy as God is holy.

Are you an obedient child? If not, it is time to yield to God.

Perhaps you are not positive you are a child of God. If you will admit your sin, repentantly humble yourself, and place your faith in Christ’s payment, you can be saved today.

Song: Nothing Between – 321
—
Duties That Enhance
24 May 2015 AM – 1Peter 1:13-15 – 1Pe15 – Scott Childs