Aligning with the great Father.  1 Peter 1:17 [pg. 1139]

• We pray and rely on God as Father—it’s relational.
• We want to make dad proud, but we also don’t want to make him mad.
• He is one who will judge as an impartial “dad”.
  • We are to take seriously his holiness and his direction for our lives.
  • For “he is that loving disciplinarian who cannot permit His children to enjoy sin.” BEC

• He is that Father we fear, yet we love him deeply.
  • “Reverent fear” is an awe of God that is not rooted terror. EBC
  • “Reverent fear is evidenced by a tender conscience, a watchfulness against temptation, and avoiding things that displease God.” BKC

• Life is lived out for the Father because we love him who loved us.

“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

• We will become strange.
  • Loving God more than we love ourselves.
  • Loving that which God loves is counter cultural.
  • Loving others even at the cost of yourself is foreign.

The Father paid dearly for you.  1 Peter 1:18-20

• He redeemed you. (18)
  • “redeemed”- λυτρόω to pay a ransom.
  • Being set free from bondage or from being enslaved.
  • We were steeped in sin, yet he paid our ransom.

• The price paid was by the blood of Christ. (19)
  • Not by the traditional means of money that runs out. (18)
  • Imperishable will last forever.
  • The lamb without stain of sin. (19b)
  • Chosen before sin even happened. (20a) 

The Father does the work of a saving faith.  1 Peter 1:21

• He gives the faith to believe through Jesus. (21a)

“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”  Ephesians 2:8

• The Father raised Jesus from the dead.
• The Father glorified Jesus.
• Ultimately, our faith and hope are in the steadfast love of the Father.

Because of the Father’s love, we love.  1 Peter 1:22

• We have a great Father who we love very much.
• We love him by becoming holy like him through obedience.
• Our obedience in following his lead will cause us to love one another—deeply!

Take Aways

1. Love God—he is a great Father!
2. Love people.
3. Live truth.
4. Proclaim Jesus—tell others!