Welcome back my friends. It is time for us together to join our hearts around the

word of God and get our minds aligned with its truth so that we can take action in this world in ways that are consistent with what we believe.

That's the emphasis that Peter has been teaching us in the book of 1st Peter, chapter 1.

We are down to verse 17, and Peter has just made that strong point that we are to live consistently with a life of faith in Jesus Christ,

which he says looks like a holy life. And he goes on making his case today in verse 17 he says and if you

call on him as father who judges impartially according to one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of

your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers.

Not with perishable things such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times

for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who

raised him from the dead and gave him glory so that your faith and hope are in

God.

That's a long sentence, but it has so much meaning for us.

My friends, what Peter is telling us is that we are to recognize that our insistence that we call God

our father makes claims on us.

Do you hear that in what he's saying?

He's saying if you call God Father, you need to live like you're his child.

You see, we can't have this inconsistency going on and if we do that should cut us to the

heart and make us sad and sorrowful that what we profess is not being demonstrated in the way we live.

He says, in fact, you should be afraid because your life isn't consistent with what you say you believe.

Look at the verses again very carefully says if you call on him as father who judges

Em partially according to each one's deeds

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