Monday, 28th September 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文
「那召你們的既是聖潔，你們在一切所行的事上也要聖潔。因為經上記著說：『你們要聖潔，因為我是聖潔的。』」
——彼得前書 1:15–16
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引言
彼得前書第一章一開始，彼得就稱這群信徒是：
「分散……寄居的。」
——彼得前書 1:1
這個「寄居」非常重要。
彼得寫信的對象，是一群生活在小亞細亞不同地方的基督徒。他們真實地活在這個世界裡，要工作、要面對家庭、要處理人際關係，也要承受周圍人的眼光、排斥和壓力。
但是彼得一開始就提醒他們：
你們雖然活在地上，你們真正的身份卻不是由地上的環境決定。
你們是神所揀選的，是因耶穌基督從死裡復活而重生的人，是有活潑盼望的人。
所以彼得前書第一章所處理的，不只是「基督徒應該做甚麼」。
它先處理一個更根本的問題：
基督徒到底知不知道自己是誰？
今天教會裡常常講「天國文化」、「屬天生命」、「神國的價值」。
但彼得沒有只停在觀念上。
他很實際地問：
如果你真的是屬神的人，
你的思念是甚麼？
你的盼望是甚麼？
你的價值觀是甚麼？
你的生活方式又是甚麼？
如果我們口裡說自己屬天，但我們每天所追求、所看重、所選擇的，仍然完全跟世界一樣，那麼「屬天身份」就只會變成一句口號。
彼得卻讓我們看見：
屬天的身份，一定會在地上的生活被看見。
所以在這裡我們可以看到第一：
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一、先知道自己到底屬於誰
彼得前書 1:13 說：
「所以要約束你們的心，謹慎自守，專心盼望耶穌基督顯現的時候所帶來給你們的恩。」
彼得首先處理的，不是外面的行為，而是人的心和盼望。
他說：
「專心盼望。」
一個人的盼望放在哪裡，往往就顯出他真正認為自己屬於哪裡。
如果我的安全感完全建立在金錢上，
如果我的價值建立在別人怎樣看我，
如果我人生最大的盼望只是成功、地位、享受和保障，
那麼即使我口裡說自己是屬神的人，我裡面的方向仍然可能是屬地的。
但是彼得提醒信徒：
你們已經重生了。
你們有「活潑的盼望」。
你們有一個：
「不能朽壞、不能玷污、不能衰殘」的基業。
——彼得前書 1:4
所以基督徒不是沒有地上的生活。
我們一樣工作，一樣照顧家庭，一樣管理神所給我們的財物，一樣負起地上的責任。
但是我們知道：
地上的一切，不是我們最終的身份，也不是我們最終的盼望。
我們是寄居者。
我們活在地上，卻知道自己真正屬於神。
當這個身份清楚，我們看事情的方法就會開始改變。
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二、既然屬於神，就不能再照從前的樣子生活
彼得前書 1:14 說：
「你們既作順命的兒女，就不要效法從前蒙昧無知的時候那放縱私慾的樣子。」
這句話非常直接。
彼得不是說：
「你信了耶穌，只要心裡相信就可以。」
他說：
不要再效法從前的樣子。
因為新的身份，一定會帶來新的生活。
接著第15至16節說：
「那召你們的既是聖潔，你們在一切所行的事上也要聖潔。因為經上記著說：『你們要聖潔，因為我是聖潔的。』」
這裡彼得直接承接《利未記》的聖潔觀。
「聖潔」不是先指外面的宗教表現。
它首先是：
分別出來，歸給神。
所以聖潔不是先問：
「這件事可不可以做？」
而是先問：
「我到底屬於誰？」
如果我是屬神的人，
我的言語就不能完全跟世界一樣；
我的金錢觀不能完全跟世界一樣；
我的關係不能完全跟世界一樣；
我的慾望、追求和選擇，也不能完全跟世界一樣。
不是因為基督徒故意要跟別人不同，
而是因為：
我們已經被分別歸給神。
所以聖潔不是一個外面的樣子。
聖潔是：
因為我屬於神，所以我的生命開始有分別。
而且彼得說得很清楚：
「在一切所行的事上也要聖潔。」
不是只有主日。
不是只有聚會。
不是只有服事的時候。
而是在每一天、每一個選擇、每一個反應裡。
我們都要問：
今天這個選擇，是從我從前的慾望出來，
還是從我現在屬神的身份出來？
今天這個反應，是世界教我的，
還是神正在塑造我的？
這就是分別。
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三、既然是被贖回來的人，就要按新的價值生活
彼得前書 1:18–19 說：
「知道你們得贖，脫去你們祖宗所傳流虛妄的行為，不是憑著能壞的金銀等物，乃是憑著基督的寶血，如同無瑕疵、無玷污的羔羊之血。」
彼得在這裡把信息再推深一層。
為甚麼我們不能再按從前的方式生活？
因為我們要記得：
我們是怎樣被贖回來的。
彼得特別說：
不是憑著「金銀」。
金銀在地上的世界，代表價值、能力和保障。
人很容易用這些來衡量自己：
我有多少？
我擁有甚麼？
我的地位有多高？
別人怎樣看我？
但是彼得說：
你真正的價值，不是由這些東西決定。
你是：
用基督的寶血贖回來的。
這一句非常重要。
如果基督用祂的生命買贖了我，
我就不能再說：
「我的人生是我的，我想怎樣活就怎樣活。」
我需要重新問：
「主啊，我既然是祢所贖回來的人，我今天應該怎樣活？」
所以彼得不是只叫我們「不要犯罪」。
他是在重新建立我們整個人生的價值系統。
我們怎樣看金錢，
怎樣看成功，
怎樣看地位，
怎樣看別人的肯定，
怎樣看得失，
甚至怎樣看苦難，
都應該被「基督已經用寶血贖回我」這件事重新調整。
屬天身份，不只是告訴我「我是誰」。
它也決定：
我今天為甚麼而活。
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總結
彼得前書第一章，其實在問我們一個非常根本的問題：
你到底知道自己是誰嗎？
我們活在地上，
卻是屬神的人。
我們身處世界裡，
卻不是讓世界定義我們。
彼得一步一步帶我們看見：
先知道自己屬於誰，
然後與從前的生命有分別，
最後按著被基督贖回的新價值而活。
這就是聖潔。
聖潔不只是「不要做甚麼」。
聖潔是：
我已經屬於神，所以我選擇按神的方式生活。
今天我們需要重新問自己：
我口裡說自己是屬天的人，
但我的盼望是不是仍然只在地上？
我口裡說自己是屬神的人，
但我的價值觀是不是仍然完全跟著世界走？
彼得提醒我們：
我們是寄居者。
不是因為地上的生活不重要，
而是因為我們知道：
這裡不是我們最終的歸宿。
我們今天在地上所活的每一天，
都應該讓人看見：
我是屬神的人。
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省察
- 我最近最看重、最盼望的是甚麼？這顯出我的心真正放在哪裡？
- 我的生活中，有沒有一些地方仍然在效法從前的價值和慾望？
- 我是否真的相信，自己不是用金銀，而是用基督的寶血贖回來的？
- 今天在我的言語、金錢、關係和選擇上，有甚麼地方需要更清楚地活出「我是屬神的人」？
Key Scripture
“But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”
— 1 Peter 1:15–16, NKJV
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Introduction
At the beginning of 1 Peter, Peter describes the believers as:
“pilgrims of the Dispersion.”
— 1 Peter 1:1
This word, “pilgrims,” is very important.
Peter was writing to believers living in different parts of Asia Minor. They were living real lives in this world. They had to work, care for their families, deal with relationships, and face pressure, rejection, and misunderstanding from the people around them.
But from the very beginning, Peter reminds them:
Although you live on earth, your true identity is not determined by your earthly environment.
You are chosen by God.
You have been born again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You have a living hope.
So 1 Peter 1 is not only asking, “What should a Christian do?”
It is asking a much deeper question:
Does a Christian truly know who he belongs to?
Today, in the church, we often speak about “Kingdom culture,” “heavenly living,” and “Kingdom values.”
But Peter does not leave these things as spiritual ideas.
He makes them very practical.
If you truly belong to God,
what are your thoughts centered on?
What are you hoping for?
What are your values?
How are you living?
If we say that we belong to heaven, but everything we pursue, value, and choose is exactly the same as the world around us, then our “heavenly identity” can easily become nothing more than a slogan.
Peter shows us something very clear:
A heavenly identity must be seen in the way we live on earth.
So here we can see the first thing:
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- Know Who You Truly Belong To
1 Peter 1:13 says:
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Peter does not begin with outward behavior.
He begins with the mind and hope.
He says:
“Rest your hope fully.”
Where a person places his hope often reveals where he believes he truly belongs.
If all my security is built on money,
if my value is built on what other people think of me,
if my greatest hope in life is only success, status, comfort, and security,
then even if I say that I belong to God, the direction of my heart may still be earthly.
But Peter reminds the believers:
You have been born again.
You have a “living hope.”
You have an inheritance:
“incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away.”
— 1 Peter 1:4
This does not mean that Christians do not have responsibilities on earth.
We still work.
We still care for our families.
We still manage the resources God has given us.
We still carry earthly responsibilities faithfully.
But we know:
The things of this world are not our final identity, and they are not our final hope.
We are pilgrims.
We live on earth, but we know that we truly belong to God.
When that identity becomes clear, the way we see life begins to change.
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- If We Belong to God, We Cannot Continue Living as Before
1 Peter 1:14 says:
“As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance.”
This is very direct.
Peter does not say:
“You believe in Jesus, so as long as you have faith in your heart, everything else can stay the same.”
He says:
Do not conform to the way you used to live.
A new identity must produce a new way of life.
Then verses 15–16 say:
“But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”
Here, Peter is directly drawing from the holiness teaching of Leviticus.
Holiness is not first about outward religious appearance.
At its heart, holiness means:
To be set apart and to belong to God.
So holiness does not begin by asking:
“Am I allowed to do this?”
It begins by asking:
“Who do I belong to?”
If I belong to God,
my words cannot be completely shaped by the world;
my view of money cannot be completely shaped by the world;
my relationships cannot be completely shaped by the world;
my desires, ambitions, and choices cannot be completely shaped by the world.
It is not because Christians are trying to be different for the sake of being different.
It is because:
We have been set apart for God.
So holiness is not an outward image.
Holiness means:
Because I belong to God, my life begins to look different.
And Peter says very clearly:
“You also be holy in all your conduct.”
Not only on Sundays.
Not only during church meetings.
Not only when we are serving.
But in every part of daily life.
Every day, we need to ask:
Is this decision coming from my former desires,
or from my present identity as someone who belongs to God?
Is this reaction shaped by the world,
or is God shaping my life?
This is what it means to be set apart.
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- If We Have Been Redeemed, We Must Live by a New Value System
1 Peter 1:18–19 says:
“Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
Here Peter takes the message even deeper.
Why can we no longer live the way we used to live?
Because we need to remember:
How were we redeemed?
Peter specifically says:
Not with “silver or gold.”
In this world, silver and gold represent value, power, and security.
People often measure themselves by these things:
How much do I have?
What do I own?
What position do I have?
What do people think of me?
But Peter says:
Your true value is not determined by these things.
You were:
redeemed by the precious blood of Christ.
This is extremely important.
If Christ gave His life to redeem me,
then I can no longer say:
“My life belongs to me, and I can live however I want.”
Instead, I need to ask:
“Lord, since I have been redeemed by You, how should I live today?”
Peter is not simply telling us, “Do not sin.”
He is rebuilding our entire value system.
The way we see money,
the way we see success,
the way we see status,
the way we see the approval of others,
the way we see gain and loss,
and even the way we see suffering,
must all be reshaped by this truth:
Christ has redeemed me with His blood.
A heavenly identity does not only tell me who I am.
It also determines:
What I am living for.
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Conclusion
1 Peter 1 is asking us a very basic question:
Do you truly know who you are?
We live on earth,
but we belong to God.
We live in this world,
but the world does not define us.
Peter leads us step by step:
First, know who you belong to.
Then, live differently from your former life.
Finally, live according to the new value of being redeemed by Christ.
This is holiness.
Holiness is not only about “what we should not do.”
Holiness means:
I belong to God, so I choose to live according to His ways.
Today, we need to ask ourselves again:
I say that I am a heavenly person,
but is my hope still only on earthly things?
I say that I belong to God,
but are my values still completely shaped by the world?
Peter reminds us:
We are pilgrims.
Not because earthly life is unimportant,
but because we know:
This world is not our final home.
Every day we live on earth should show one thing clearly:
I belong to God.
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Reflection
- What am I valuing and hoping for most right now? What does this reveal about where my heart is?
- Are there areas of my life where I am still conforming to my former desires and values?
- Do I truly believe that I was not redeemed with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ?
- In my words, finances, relationships, and daily choices, what needs to change so that my life more clearly shows: “I belong to God”?
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