1 Peter 1:14-15  "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation."

Introduction: What we have here is a Biblical progression.  In our last study we talked about the “mental” attitude aspect of Holiness.  This mental attitude aspect was found in the little phrase, “gird up the loins of your mind.” Then Peter continued by saying “be sober” which means to be “self controlled or to “be balanced”.  Once the HEAD IS RIGHT, now you are ready for the CONDUCT.  Churches work at it backwards by telling us how to live before we know how to think.  Folks, the head controls everything.  If the Holy Spirit can control your mind, get you and me to “pull our minds together” then He can give us some consistency in our conduct.  This is a short study, but remember how God works.  It is ATTITUDE FIRST, then CONDUCT. If I should try to get you to live right before I get your head right, then you are constantly up and down spiritually. This is the reason some of us are the first persons forward when the invitation is given in the church service.  No consistency is because we have been told in essence to LIVE RIGHT before we begin to THINK RIGHT. 

 THE CONDUCT ASPECT OF HOLINESS  v. 14

                A. First, we have an illustration of right conduct: 

                                1. “as obedient children.”  v. 14

                                                a. why are we referred to as “obedient children?”  It conveys the idea of a simple, trusting, unquestioning kind of obedience.  (it does not mean we are stupid or robots)  Could I stop right here and write out some verses, which show the absolute importance of OBEDIENCE.  I think we often treat obedience as something that we “should do” but not as “something which is an absolute imperative for the believer. (I know most of you will not look these verses up, but if you will take the time, you will see the tremendous emphasis on the little word OBEDIENCE in the Bible)

                                                                l. Deut 26:16...”this day the Lord hath commanded thee to DO THESE STATUES AND JUDGMENTS.  Thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart and with all thy soul.”   (rather strong on obedience....agreed)

                                                                2. Joshua 1:8...”this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that you mayest OBSERVE TO DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN THEREIN....for then should thou make thy way prosperous and have good success.” (hard to get much stronger than this)

                                                                3. Exodus 19:5...”if you will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar people unto me above all people.”

                                                                4. Deut. 4:24-31...note how everything for the nation of Israel is hinged on OBEDIENCE. 

                                                                5. John 7:17...”if any man will do His will...he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself.”  Here KNOWLEDGE AND ASSURANCE ARE DIRECTLY TIED DIRECTLY TO OBEDIENCE .  (As you DO , you KNOW). 

                                                                6. John 14:21-23 "He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.  Here THE INTIMATE SELF DISCLOSURE OF THE FATHER IS TIED DIRECTLY TO OBEDIENCE. 

                                                                7. Acts 5:32  "And we are His witnesses of these things: and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to them that obey Him." Here THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLLY SPIRIT IS TIED DIRECTLY TO OBEDIENCE.

                                                                8. I John 3:22..."And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight". Here CONFIDENCE AND ANSWER TO PRAYER IS TIED DIRECTLY TO OBEDIENCE.

                                                                                1. Lesson:  Let’s get real people.  Your problem in life is not knowing where to go to school, when to change jobs, whom you should marry.  Your problem and my biggest problem is found in the simple word OBEDIENCE.  I would not hesitate to say that most of the problems in the lives of believers would be corrected OVER NIGHT if we had a revival of mere OBEDIENCE....where every believer confessed their sins and began to become sensitive to areas where they are not presently living a life of OBEDIENCE.  Revival would break out without having a guest speaker, special music or anything else.

                B. Second, we have a Definition of Right Conduct:   v. 14

                                1. “not fashioning yourselves.”  “according to former lusts.”  

                                                a. NEGATIVE ASPECT:  (of definition)   “not fashioning.”

                                                                                l. “not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts.”  Peter is saying that the “pre-salvation lusts are still there, and that he does not want them to live like they lived before salvation.” It is obvious that when these people became Christians, that all of their old desires did not go away. If you wonder if these believers knew what the real world was like, then turn to I Peter 4:3 and read the verse.  Look at the list of things mentioned about these believers.  Let me list a few of them....it would nearly make you afraid to walk in and fellowship with these people....they were wicked, real wicked...”lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing.”  I have lived long enough as a believer to realize and to understand that even though I am a believer in Christ, I still have the capacity to commit any sin that I committed before I was a believer.  (I have not risen above any sin.)

                                                                                2.“in your ignorance.”  the word “ignorance” is used for anyone who does not know the TRUE GOD.  However much you might know, it is Biblically called IGNORANCE when you do not know the Lord Christ as Savior.   (God said it, I didn’t.) A man or woman who would reject the LORD JESUS CHRIST IS JUST FLAT OUT STUPID)

                                                                                                a. go to Eph. 4:17-2O, where the word is used to portray an unsaved condition.

                                                                                                b. go to Acts 17:3O...where it again is used in the same manner.

                                                                                3.“former lusts.”  v. 14 When we think of the word “lusts” we immediately think of sex, but note the Bible use. ( Rom. 1:24, Gal 5:16, Eph. 2:1-3 , Mark 4:18-19...where our Lord speaks of the “lust of other things.”  (here the word can refer to ANYTHING)  Thus the word “lust” means INORDINATE, EXCESSIVE, UNGOVERNED.

                                                b. POSITIVE  ASPECT: (of definition).  v. 15

                                                                1. “as.” (The STANDARD) this little word represents the STANDARD.  HE IS OUR STANDARD.   “AS He which hath called you is holy.”  The standard of holiness is never a church or organization which has written out the standards or proofs of holiness.  He is our standard for holiness. 

                                                                2. “be.”  (the PROCESS)  (this little word means “to become.”)  Thus, wrapped up in the little word “become” is the whole growth process of the believer.   Thus, it is a PROCESS.  It is just normal for the believer to want to be like the Father.  He is Holy, so we should desire and become holy.  (Remember, holiness is not an ACT, it is a PROCESS).  Too many people have merely ACTS which are construed as their becoming holy, and then have no corresponding process, life of holiness.  The reason some people continually come forward as it relates to holiness....is because they have the opinion that holiness is an EXPERIENCE rather than a PROCESS. 

                                                                3. “holy conversation.”  (MANIFESTATION OF HOLINESS)

                                                                                a. the word “conversation” is one of the favorite words of Peter....He uses it 6 times in this little book.  Most important for you to note the usage, in order to know what is meant by the word .”  (1:15, 1:18, 2:12, 3:1, 3:2, 3:16) The word based on usage means: CONDUCT OR BEHAVIOR. Notice several notations, which might surprise you and also give you some insight into winning those loved ones for Christ.                                                                                                                                                        l. 2:12...if you read this, you will notice that this is WITNESSING WITH YOUR MOUTH SHUT. (they speak evil against your conduct, not your big mouth...but notice what can happen with your day in and day out witnessing with a closed mouth....”glorify God in the day of visitation.”

                                                                                                2. 3:1..here is the witness of the wife and here the witnessing moves into the home...note 3:2...where it says the husband will “behold” your chaste conversation or behavior or conduct.  Again, THIS IS WORDLESS WITNESSING BASICALLY.  It says that they may “be won without the word” by the “conversation (behavior) of the wife.”  (3:1) HOLY CONDUCT IS HOW YOU WIN YOUR HUSBAND.

CONCLUSION

WILL YOU NOTICE AGAIN THE STEPS THAT LEAD TO HOLINESS.  IT BEGINS WITH A “BELTED MIND” AND THEN “SOBERNESS” AND THEN “FIXING YOUR HOPE”  AND THEN OF COURSE “HOLINESS” REALLY JUST HAPPENS.  You give me these three steps in the life of an individual and I promise you that there will be holiness of life, of character, of living, of speech, of conduct, of ears, of eyes etc.  It could not result in anything else. You will also notice in some of these verses where holiness will erupt into love for other believers.  [From my experience as a pastor, I would say that the single greatest proof of holiness, is your love for those other believers who are so unlovely]