The objective of this lesson: to stress that glorifying God is the objective of conversion.
Two prevalent views that can result in spiritual deception are old views that have existed in some form or expression for generations. Those views are (1) because human salvation is based on God's grace [true], the Holy God gives Christians no responsibility [untrue]; and (2) because humanity cannot escape being evil [true], the Holy God does not expect Christians to reflect His holiness [untrue].
At various points in the Protestant Reformation Movement, people stressed in some form these conclusions: (1) for God to provide salvation through grace, there can be no human responsibility, and (2) God's holiness is so far removed from people that no person can reflect God's holiness. It is true that nothing we are or do begins to compare with Who God is or what God does. It is also true that we will not adopt God's values and priorities unless we reflect God. For example: (1) we will not extend mercy to those we regard undeserving of mercy unless God influences us. (2) We will not extend forgiveness with kindness unless God influences us. (3) We will not pray for those who spitefully abuse us unless God influences us. Reflecting God is having His heart and values as we reveal who we are internally and function in our relationships. Reflecting God is not an arrogant attempt to be God's equal.
Consider our text: 1 Peter 1:13-16 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. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 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."
Note that accepting the call to holiness has been a requirement of people who follow God in all ages. Israel's call to holiness used the same injunction, "You be holy because I am Holy," in Leviticus 11:44 and 19:2.
Give careful attention to the connections. These suffering Christians were to (1) have minds prepared for action; (2) have sober spirits [be seriously focused]; (3) have hope that is founded on God's grace; and (4) be serious in their commitment to being obedient children.
Note that both internal and external responses are stressed. Responding to God's holiness involves both the inner person and obedient acts.
Note there is much more involved than "doing something--just anything--that declares you are a person with faith in God." This commitment involves the mind, the spirit, hope, and obedience. It is an internal reality reflected externally. While it was not to be just any internal reality they called "spiritual," neither was it to be just any deeds they declared "obedience to a spiritual commitment."
God does not seek "just any kind of faith response a person regards appropriate." What God wants is specific. The person who belongs to God reflects God in his/her life. God's values and priorities determine who he/she is and how he/she acts in desirable and undesirable situations.
What were their lives committed to reflecting? The fact they were baptized? No! It was much more than that! The fact they were "church members"? No! It was much more than that! The fact they were religious? No! It was much more than that! The fact they were committed to the programs of the church? No! It was much more than that!
Note the stress in Peter's statement is not on baptism, or church membership, or being religious. It was on the seriousness of the Christian's commitment to reflecting God's holiness.
Then to what were they committed? They were to be committed to reflecting God's holiness! They would do this by being a holy people! Consider several scriptures.
People should better understand God by observing the persons Christians are. It is who they are as persons as well as their behavior that should reflect favorably on God. The passages illustrate that those who know and belong to God cause people to glorify God.
Matthew 5:16 [Sermon on the Mount] Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 9:8 [the healing of a paralytic] But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Matthew 15:31 [healings] So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
Luke 2:20 [Jesus' birth] The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
Luke 7:16 [a resurrection] Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited His people!"
Luke 13:13 [the healing of a "bent woman"] And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God.
Luke 17:15 [a man healed of leprosy] Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice...
Luke 23:47 [a Roman officer at Jesus' crucifixion] Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent."
Acts 4:21 [Peter and John's reaction to persecution] When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened...
Acts 11:18 [Jewish Christians final reaction to the conversion of the first gentiles] When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life."
Acts 21:20 [leaders of the Jerusalem church reacting to God's work among the gentiles] And when they heard it they began glorifying God...
2 Corinthians 9:13 [a contribution among gentile Christians for suffering Jewish Christians] Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all...
Galatians 1:24 [Jewish churches attitude toward Paul] And they were glorifying God because of me.
The emphasis on God receiving glory is astounding! The promised Messiah is born, people are healed, a witness watches Jesus die, apostles are beaten, God does the objectionable and unexpected among non-Jews, gentile Christians give a sacrificial contribution, Paul goes against common opinion in the Jewish church, and it produces a common result--God is glorified by people! Not the man Jesus, not the apostles, not sacrificial Christians, not the church, but God!
The objective of Christians is NOT to call favorable attention to themselves, but to cause people to look favorably upon their God! They realize that everything good they represent is made possible by God. They deserve no credit. God deserves all credit.
That is what God expects of us! He wants us to make it evident that who we are and what we do as persons as well as the church is shaped by God! We do not want or take the credit! The church should not want or take the credit! God should receive the credit! The impact on unbelievers: "We want to know the God who produces individuals and a community like that!"
We do not want people to be impressed with us. We want people to be impressed with God! We want them to say, "If God can do that in them, God can work within me."
Why does God call Christians to be holy individuals who have holy behavior? He does so because He is holy! If God is holy, we as God's children must reflect His holiness. Consider a reverse impact. How often have unbelievers witnessed unholy behavior in Christians and said, "If that is God's influence on people, I want nothing to do with Him!"
We simply cannot represent God if we are not committed to reflecting His holiness. Because God is holy, we as Christians must be committed to reflecting His holiness. God's children must reflect their father's nature by surrendering to His influence on them and in them.
Thought Question:
Discuss the importance of Christians committing to being a holy people who reflect the holy God.
The core of the discussion should include this truth: people must not misunderstand the Holy God because of who we are as His children or how we behave in our lives and interactions with other people.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 6