• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"As obedient children"

Text: " 1 Peter 1:14

CHILDREN OF GOD

The concept of being called “children of God” was one that is steeped in Scripture.

1. We become children when we receive Jesus as our Saviour (John 1:12).

2. We become children of God through being “born again” (John 3:3-8).

OBEDIENT CHILDREN

The Apostle Peter picks up on this concept and extends it to the idea of “obedience”.

“As obedient children,
not conforming yourselves to the former lusts,
as in your ignorance.”
1 Peter 1:14

1. “As obedient children”

a) Obedience is what God desires of His children.

i) In the days of Israel in the Old Testament.

ii) In the days of the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

b) Obedience is an important word to note.

i) The root word is found in the word “to hear”.

ii) The derived meaning is the word “obedience”.

iii) Obedience is really obeying what we hear from God in His word.

2. “Not conforming yourselves to the former lusts”

a) This is a reference to the time before one comes to faith in the Lord Jesus.

b) To whom did we listen?

i) Our sinful self.

ii) Peter called it “the former lusts”.

iii) One conforms to the call of sin.

iv) Thus, the sinner ends up with the characteristic of “disobedience”.

v) In sin, we could not hear God’s voice.

vi) In the grip of sin, we would not heed God’s voice.

3. “As in your ignorance”

a) Peter had always exhibited a very candid approach to life.

b) Finesse of words was not a trait of his.

c) Thus, he addressed the problem as he saw it.

i) It was a problem of ignorance.

ii) There was no genuine knowledge of God and his saving grace.

iii) There was no comprehension of what it means to be God’s children.

iv) Thus, there was no focus on obedience.