The Precious Blood of Christ

SERMON # 1122 DATE: AUGUST 19, 2020

TOPIC: “The Precious Blood of Christ” 1 Peter 1:17-23 We are not only exhorted to holiness but also to have a reverent mind. The mind is the focus of your life. With all force and efficiency, the thoughts are concentrated in your mind and from there they influence your way of life. It is in the mind where the whole of your life accumulates. Therefore, we need a reverent mind!

I. A reverent mind is living in RESPECTFUL FEAR toward God.

A. Live with DEEP APPRECIATION of who God is.

1. "Who God is in your life" is seen in the way you behave; it is not merely saying it.

2. (Vs. 17) It is to have conscience of the One to whom we address ourselves as Father. The "...who judges each man's work impartially according to the work of each one...". The one who judges His children impartially (who favors no one).

3. If you can realize the extent of His knowledge and the precision of His judgment, YOU SHOULD LIVE WITH A SOUND FEAR OF DISLIKING HIM!

4. THE FATHER JUDGES HIS OWN IN THIS LIFE!

5. (John 5:22 “…but has entrusted all judgment to the Son…”) The Father has entrusted the judgment of sinners to the Lord Jesus.

6. Lincoln writes: "He is observing, taking everything into account, if there is integrity of purpose, intelligence of mind and desire of heart to please him."

7. We should spend the time of our pilgrimage on earth IN FEAR!

8. As believers we are not comfortable in this world. We live in a strange place, exiled from heaven.

9. Don't get attached to what's here, which is strange to the eternal realm, as if it were your permanent home.

10. Then, you should not imitate the conduct of those who dwell here on this earth.

11. You should always keep in your mind THE HEAVENLY DESTINY AND CONDUCT YOURSELF AS IF YOU ARE A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN!

12. (Vs. 18) When you converted from that empty and trivial life like those of the people who surround you.

13. When you were unconverted, you walked in your “vain” way of living, which was transmitted to you by your parents.

14. But we have been redeemed, rescued from the bondage and conformity of the world THROUGH THE PAYMENT OF AN INFINITE RANSOM! NOT WITH GOLD OR SILVER!

15. (Vs. 19) It was not with gold or silver; IT WAS WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST!

16. Christ is a "...lamb without blemish or defect." That is, He is absolutely perfect!

17. If you wanted more the pleasures and diversions of the world, if you wanted to adopt the fashions and styles of the world and become like the world in its false ways, you should first remember that Christ SPILLED HIS BLOOD TO FREE YOU FROM THAT KIND OF LIFE!

18. To return to the world is to return to cross the great chasm that was saved for us at an overwhelming price.

19. But even more: IT IS DISLOYALTY, which offers no doubt, AGAINST OUR SAVIOR!

20. Let us reason about the greatness of the sacrifice to the greatness of sin! Would you go back?

21. Would you be able to break forever with what cost the Son of God His life?

22. (Vs. 20) The work of Christ for us was not something that occurred to God in the course of history.

23. The Redeemer was already destined to die for us BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD!

24. Now, at the end of time, that is, at the end of the law, THE LORD CAME FROM HEAVEN TO RESCUE US FROM OUR FORMER WAY OF LIVING! What great love!

25. The moment we become like the world; our testimony is weakened.

26. (Vs. 21) Loyalty to the Lord Jesus is further demanded by the fact that it is THROUGH HIM THAT WE HAVE COME TO BELIEVE IN GOD!

27. He is the one who has revealed to us the heart of the Father!

28. A quote from W.T.P. Wolston: "It is not by creation, nor by providence, nor by law that man

knows God, but through Christ."

29. The Father indicated his complete satisfaction with the redemptive work (ransom) of Christ by raising him from the dead (for he died for you) and honoring him with the position of the greatest glory in heaven!

30. The great result of all this is that our faith and hope be in God! In the world and its pleasures it is not!

31. It is in Him, and not in the present evil system of the world in which we live and move.

32. (Vs. 22) So we have to have a mind to love, a mind that loves, that manifests love.

33. The new birth is described and it points out that one of the changes it produces is “…brotherly love…” (of brothers).

34. One has to hurry, do it quickly, go straight to the obligation to love.

35. "Having purified your souls..." The purification that has been achieved when we have believed.

36. The means used for this purification is “…obedience to the truth…”.

37. “…love one another dearly, with a pure heart…” Without any other intention.

38. Our love must be with all our strength, fervent (unceasing) and pure! Amen.