"The Role of the Word of God in Holiness"
(This is Part I. The second part is September 22, 2002)
We have seen in Peter, than we have a hope that produces holiness. As we will see in this message and the next one to come that the focal point of these verses before us is that holiness comes from the Word of God and that has hope leads to holiness then holiness leads to harmony .
The Word of God is the Seed that Births us to a Nature of Holiness.
Spiritual birth occurs by the Word of God. 1:23, 25
1. The Power of the Word of God in creation.
Genesis 1 – "And God said…."
So we see His word has creative power. He speaks, its done. He commands, it stands fast and unmovable.
In salvation, we see the power of His creative Word. II Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
We are not made over, made up – but a brand new creation.
2. The Power of the Word of God in natural birth.
God’s Word was spoken to Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child. God spoke through an angel to Mary that she would have a child. The announcement of the birth of a child was pronounced by the Word of God and thus the arrival was concluded. Because God had spoken it, the event would occur even though Sarah laughed and Mary questioned how since she did not know a man.
As we have already seen in Peter, our salvation was predetermined and declared by God, thus the event would occur.
3. The Power of the Word of God in spiritual birth.
John 3: 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, but that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Since salvation is a supernatural birth, then it requires spiritual intervention. God declares it and decrees it.
II Peter 1: 4 "by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature,
It is that Word that is equivalent to the gospel that was preached to us and that we believed – see I Peter 1: 25.
Psalm 19: 7 "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;"
B. Spiritual birth requires cleansing (1:22) and life (1:22)
1. Cleansing
Many believe this was a baptismal ceremony. The ceremonial ritual was that a baptismal candidate would enter the water in old clothes and then after being baptized would put on new clothes to indicate the change in their lives. But we note that it is not water that is used for cleansing but the Word of God.
Verse 22 declares that "you have been purified." This is a completed action and condition. It carries the meaning here of a moral cleansing especially because of 2:1.
In 2:1 he begins by saying, "laying aside." This is that concept of having changed your clothes.
The listing of 2:1
- Wickedness – all kinds of evil conduct
- Deceit – guile – craftiness, using devious words and actions to get what you want
- Pretenses – hyprocrites – hiding what you are really trying to do and who you really are
- Jealousies – envy
- Evil speaking – running down the individual of whom one is jealous
These things you have been delivered of by them having been washed away.
Titus 3: 4-5 "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
Again in John 3:5 "Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Jesus told his disciples in John 15:3 "You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you."
John 14: 6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life." The Word is Jesus and Jesus is the Word.
Ephesians 5: 25-26 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
How did this cleansing take place? Verse 22 – "by obeying the truth."
Thus, in I Peter 1:14 we are called "children of obedience."
What one believes and practices is what is truth to them. Mental accent to truth does not make that truth. Only obedience.
II Thessalonians 2: 11-12 "And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
One more word about "the truth." There is only one "the truth." There is not several diversions of the truth and some who are close and others who are not so close, but it really doesn’t matter as long as our hearts are right. NO – either you know the truth or you don’t. And the truth is Jesus. That’s why Islam is not the truth. Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons are not the truth. If you don’t believe right about Jesus, then you are not in the truth.
Yet, you think that is narrow and bigoted. Yet, Paul said in Romans 1: 16 that "I am not ashamed of the gospel." Don’t you be ashamed either.
2. Quickening of the Spirit
John 3: 5 "…unless one is born of the water and the Spirit."
Without the Spirit, all you would have is a clean corpse. But the Spirit of God accompanies the Word of God to bring life.
John 6: 63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.