Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Sermon – 1Peter
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
This is the second in a series of sermons focused on the implications of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Last week we saw that as a result of the resurrection we now have new life, so that even if we still experience problems we can still rejoice because of all that Christ has done for us and the hope we have for a glorious future. Today we will be looking at how we get this new life and how that new life changes us in important ways.
Will you pray with me? Holy Father we ask that you allow us to be in your presence this morning as we worship. Help us to hear your word through my preaching today. Transform us by that word into holy people who truly love one another. We pray this in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.
1 Peter 1:10-25 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry, 11 inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-- things into which angels long to look! 13 Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. 14 Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. 15 Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 17 If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. 18 You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20 He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. 21 Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. 22 Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. 23 You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever." That word is the good news that was announced to you.
A prophet is someone who sees clearly what is happening in the world and discerns what God thinks about it. They are not future tellers or psychics although what they say does have an element of timeless truth. Rather they are truth tellers who understand what is going on in the world around them and are connected sufficiently to God’s spirit through prayer to discern what God wants done about it. Moses saw the oppression of the Israelites and discerned God’s desire for their freedom. Amos saw the injustice to the poor and needy in his society and discerned God’s warning that the destruction of the nation was near if they did not repent and change their ways. Prophets are needed whenever the world we live in diverges from the Creator’s intent.
The Apostles of Jesus Christ who witnessed his resurrection were prophets. They saw clearly what was happening in the world around them and they knew what God wanted through the Holy Spirit. They spoke in synagogues, homes and later churches proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. As the church grew Apostles trained other preachers teaching them the message that God wanted proclaimed about the grace of Jesus Christ. So long as these new preachers proclaimed a message consistent with the teaching of the Apostles their words were considered to be the word of God. This was made possible by the Holy Spirit who speaks though the faithful words of the preacher to the attentive hearts of the congregation. According to Peter, the angels, God’s own messengers, are so interested in what is be proclaimed in the churches by faithful preachers they bend over to listen to what is going on. Because of this we can believe in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead because in the New Testament and in faithful preaching the teachings of the Apostolic witnesses are preserved. So long as my preaching is based on teachings of the Apostles who witnessed the event and is carried from my mouth to your ears by the Holy Spirit you are hearing God’s holy word.
When we hear and understand the Word of God proclaimed we are filled with hope of receiving the grace of Jesus Christ which was revealed in his resurrection. This is what brings us to new life in Jesus Christ. As you sit here in this sanctuary you are being transformed by God’s Word into God’s obedient children. That is why, as we listen to the word of God more and more, we find ourselves leaving our old lives behind, our lives of dishonesty, drunkenness, promiscuity, violence, anger. We begin to realize that these things are in our pasts and were washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Recently I heard a story from a woman working in the entertainment industry. She had been a talented singer at one point, but her lifestyle eventually caught up with her and the hope of a promising career turned into a night of darkness and desperation. She contemplated suicide as the only solution to her problems. But then she looked at the calendar and saw that it was Christmas Eve. She did not know Jesus, but he seemed like the only alternative for someone in her situation. So she prayed that Jesus would send his spirit to help her. And that night she received new life in Jesus Christ. I can’t say that a story as dramatic as this one will happen to everyone who accepts Christ in their lives. But I can say the Christ is offering new lives to anyone who comes to him.
Shortly you will have the opportunity to ask Christ for new life. We have been hearing the word of God read and proclaimed so Christ’s work of transformation has already begun. As we gather around this table we will be sitting at the family table of God with Christ at the right hand seat of honor. We will be eating with the Creator, the transcendent God of the Universe and Supreme Judge. This should terrify us and scare us to death. Approaching God in this way should fill us with fear, awe, reverence and wonder. We should we amazed at what is happening. Coming into the presence of God can’t help but be transforming, and a new life can’t help but be terrifying to someone who is comfortable in his old life. But if the word of God is faithfully preached and this sacrament is properly administered then we will come into the presence of God and our lives will never be the same again.
When this happens and we find ourselves with new lives we just can’t stop giving glory to God for all she has done for us, for our news lives, for the forgiveness of our sins, and for the promise of eternal life. Coming into the presence of God has the effect of purifying our lives. We become holy just as God is holy. And this allows us to do what God really wants us to do. God gives us new lives so that we will love each other, genuinely, truly, love one another. This is an intense, fervent concern for the well being of the people in the church, in our community and around the world. We are to love each other as much as God loved his own son. And this love will burn in us forever because it is indivisible from the new life we have in Christ.
There is an old story about a man named about a man named William Beeterwolf. Dr. Beeterwolf lived around a hundred years ago. One day while working on a scaffold three stories above the ground Dr. Beeterwolf tripped and plunged to the ground for what appeared to be certain death. But a workman below saw Dr. Beeterwolf falling to the ground directly above him so he braced himself breaking Dr. Beeterwolf’s fall and saving his life. But as a result of breaking Dr. Beeterwolf’s fall nearly every bone in his body was broken. The crippled man was asked how Dr. Beeterwolf had treated him since the fall. He replied saying, “Well he gave me half of everything he owns. I also have a share in his business. He never lets me want for a thing. He is constantly concerned about me and hardly a day passes that I don't receive from him some little token of remembrance.”[1]
This is a wonderful story of gratitude and love. Remember that Jesus died for you so that you could live a new life. Like Dr Beeterwolf we should be grateful to Jesus for giving us new life. And our response to Christ’s sacrifice for us should be to love one another as much as God loves us.
So, the word of God is what God uses to transform our lives into people who love one another. That is why it is so important to immerse yourselves regularly in the Bible. Every day as you read from God’s holy word you take on a new life and become more holy, hopeful and loving.
Lord Jesus transform us into the children of God so that we can love others as fully as you love us. Continue to speak to us your transformative word through the Bible and my preaching. We pray this in your glorious name, Amen.
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