1 Corinthians 1:23-24 – “we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

One of the most difficult doctrines of Christianity is grace.  We bring nothing to the table to God, we can offer nothing, we simply receive the gift of grace and mercy through Jesus.  When we talk about living out the Christian life, our default is to try to “be good” as if it were possible within our own power.  If it were, Jesus died needlessly.  As it is, when the Bible speaks of our call to be perfect, holy, and righteous, that is only possible through Jesus.  The righteousness is not our own, but we are clothed in the righteousness of God.

Isaiah 61:10 – “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Philippians 3:8-9 – “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith”

With that in mind, 1 Peter encourages to walk in a manner of life according to who you are in Christ.

1 Peter 1:13-16 – “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,  but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Brothers and Sisters, Jesus Christ is Lord.  We have been adopted as sons and daughters of God, and we are righteous in Christ.  He blood has ransomed us from sin; we are His.  The total cost of our sin past, present, and future, has been atoned for by Jesus.  These are the things, the gospel Truths that we are to have in our mind as we live our life.  There is a way in which even adopted sons and daughters of God can backslide and be conformed to passions over time, which is not in line with the Truth of the gospel, and the Truth of who we are in Christ.  This type of manner of life is referred to as ignorance, because it forgets that we are no longer bound by sin – we are no longer destined for life apart from God, but we belong to a righteous family.  God is saying to us, stop living a lie, believe the gospel, set your hope on the grace of God in Jesus daily, and live out who God has said you are – a holy, righteous, adopted son or daughter.  Each day is a new day for the mercies of God, and so we trust in Him.

Grace and Peace,

Adam