Character Counts 1 Peter 2: 11-25

1 Peter 2: 11-25 (ESV) "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,1 but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you and example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not reviled in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of you souls." 

The greatest apologetics for the Christian faith is a changed life. God changes lives

1 Peter 2: 11-12 (ESV) "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."

Christians were called "evildoers" by the pagans. Peter tells them to keep their conduct pure, good, honorable so that the world who is watching can see their changed lives.

Verses 12 and 15 are the theme verses.

1 Peter 2:15 (ESV) "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people."

Accusations against Christians

-Forming a revolution because they served a different king.

-Slave revolts, because of their freedom in Christ. They were equal in the fellowship.

-Atheists, because they didn't worship Caesar or the Roman gods.

-Accused of incest because they called each other brother and sister.

-All kinds of awful things were said about Christians because of ignorance and hatred.

-Accused of being cannibals because they said they ate "the body and blood of Christ"

-Blamed for burning Rome.

Christians lived in a hostile society and Peter encourages them to live a life above reproach/criticism.

Romans 12:18 (ESV) "If  possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."

1 Peter 2: 13-16 (ESV) "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."

These are hard verses to take sometimes. When Thomas Jefferson did not like something in the scriptures he would cut it out.

There are times when a Christian must disobey government or leaders. To save innocent lives (Moses' mom and the midwives who saved Hebrew boys). When prayer was forbidden (Daniel). Hiding Hebrew spies (Rahab). When ordered to worship idols (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego). When they were told to stop evangelizing (Peter and John Acts 4, Peter and Paul and others). When it comes down to honoring God or obeying the government you have to pick God and be willing to face the consequences. But you have to make sure that you are honoring God. 

However, most often we need to be obedient

I. Obey and honor the governing authorities

Generally speaking we ought to be the most obedient citizens.

II. God wants obedience

See vs 15

III. Government is a minister of God

See vs 13 and 14

Romans 13:4-7 (ESV) "for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer."

Even bad governments can do good. China is an example of that. Even though they don't allow evangelism and allow child labor and many other things they do punish those who commit murder, rape, theft, fraud. 

IV. Good Citizens silence foolish talk

See vs 15

Let us strive to be like Daniel. Daniel 6:1-4 (ESV) "It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him."

Through his conduct and character he won over the king. Daniel was a prisoner of war, an exile in Babylon where they tried to strip him of his Hebrew identity. But Daniel was true to God, but was also respectable and good to the king. The Babylonians were jealous of him and made laws that would show how he favored God over the king.

1 Peter 2:18-25 (ESV) "Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrow while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you and example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." 

Some say that the bible endorses slavery, but in Exodus 21:16 & Deuteronomy 24:7 the bible outlaws kidnapping for slavery. The New Testament lays the ground work for ridding the world of slavery. Christians and Christian nations were the first to abolish slavery.

What did Jesus say? In a sermon he said many could work to earn freedom. Even if they had harsh masters. Again, Character Counts. We are to work hard in our situation because in the long run we are obeying God and serving the Lord.

V. Work hard because ultimately it's the Lord you are pleasing

 Follow the example Christ has given us.

Colossians 3:22-24 (ESV) "Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eyeservice, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

VI. Be good even to the unjust

See vs 18

Worker integrity, effort, quality of work,  be the best accountant, logger, teacher, doctor, student. Why? to point others to Jesus.

Your character lays the groundwork for the gospel (see vs 12). A Holy life is the best platform to share the truth from.

Philippians 2:12-18 (ESV) "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me."

Jesus the Cornerstone 1 Peter 2:4-12

 1 Peter 2:4-12 (ESV) "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.' So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,' and 'A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.' They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against you soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."

I. Jesus is cornerstone

What is the point of a cornerstone? In older church buildings the first large stone "the cornerstone" was used to list important information and dates about the building. The cornerstone was the principle stone...the first stone...the largest stone. Structurally it supported the bulk of the weight of the structure and it set the standard for the rest of the building. The cornerstone ensures that the walls were straight and the angles correct. If the cornerstone is off the whole structure is off and unstable.

II. Jesus supports it all

-All of creation

-By him, through him and for him were all things made. Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV) "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers of authorities-all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

-Everything is held together by Christ. Romans 11:36 (ESV) "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen."

-The Church, his people, the new covenant. Ephesians 5:25-30 (ESV) "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body."

This is a tough assignment for husbands because we all fall short. Without Jesus the church would have fallen apart. We are nothing without Jesus.

III. Jesus is the standard

-like the cornerstone sets the standard for the whole structure, Jesus sets the standard for us.

-WWJD bracelets from the '90s This was a great question. Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV) "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted."

It is good to be ecouraged by the life of those who have gone before us. Jesus is our ultimate example.

IV. We (Christians) are being built up into a spiritual house

Peter was probably thinking about his conversation with Christ when he wrote this scripture.

Matthew 16:15-18 (ESV) "He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.'"

What does this mean? We do not hold to the Catholic position that Jesus was making Peter as the authority for the  early church. Peter did have a voice in the early church but not the ultimate authority, but Jesus is saying something was important about Peter. His confession that Jesus was the Christ was important to Jesus. and his teaching and ministry. The church is built upon Jesus, it's cornerstone and also the foundation is the teaching of the apostles who received their teaching from Jesus.

Ephesians 2:18-21 (ESV) "For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in thee Lord."

Paul and Peter and John in Revelations 21:14 say basically the same thing about a spiritual house being built up with Christ as the cornerstone.  It is almost as if God is the author of all scripture. Because even though Paul is not Peter and Peter is not Paul they are saying the same thing, that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone and upon him this church, this kingdom, his people are being built up into a temple. He calls us 

-a chosen race

-a royal priesthood

-a holy nation

- a people for his own possession

We are chosen by God, we are loved by God, we are his people and we are set apart for special service. We have each been gifted to serve and we each have a special place in this spiritual house.

What are we do do with this responsibility? What are we supposed to do with this calling?  To share the good news!

1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV) "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of the darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Peter was pulling from Old Testament ideas of Israel being called to be set apart and be holy as God's chosen people. They were supposed to display the goodness of God. They were supposed to be a light to all nations. We are now called to display the goodness of God. We are called to proclaim the "excellencies" of God. We have been called out of darkness to share the good news. We were not "a people", but now we are and we are now supposed to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

We are to offer up a spiritual sacrifice through prayer, worship and our bodies. We are to bring our will, our mind, and our actions into submission to Jesus Christ to honor God. Out of love for him and also as a testimony to the lost. 

1 Peter 2:11-12 (ESV) "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against you soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."

Peter is speaking about evangelism and he is remembering Jesus's words about being a "light" before men. 

Matthew 5:16 (ESV) "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Let your life be an example to the world a testimony. 

We are too have confidence. We need to make our "walk" match our "talk" But you have to talk! We are supposed to let God work through us. God is going to build his church and build his kingdom and he will use us.

Challenge...try to have a spiritual conversation with somebody this week. We are called to do it.

Psalms 67 (ESV) "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!

Drink Milk, Get Strong

 Peter - writing to believers in modern day Turkey, were under control of Rome.  Were spiritual exiles.  If weren't experiencing extreme persecution, were about to.  Needed to get strong.  Emperor Nero about to be in control.

Is no situation in life where you wouldn't be better off spiritually strong.  Last week Ed talked about how to respond to God's grace. Be holy - in mind AND action!

1 Pet. 1:22-23
DRINK MILK.  GET STRONG  - pure, spiritual milk.

Don't get confused with Paul's milk metaphor in 1 Cor. 3:1-3 (you haven' matured).  It is a positive here.  Just as babies need milk, so we ought to crave the things of God in this way.

I.  A mark of a true Christian is that they crave the things of God.  (especially the Word).  Ought to want to hear from God.

Psm. 119:72, 97

II.  God's Word satisfies.  _ Jer. 15:16, John 6:35
How to connect with Jesus?  by faith, reading, hearing the Word, spending time in the Word

III.  God's Word is pure.   Psm. 12:6, Prov. 30:5  (Every word of God proves to be true)
Our spirit craves the Word.  Are we feeding it with good stuff?  Or, is this why we always feel unsatisfied, because we're filled with other stuff.

IV.  God's Word nourishes and strengthens the believer. - Psm. 1:1-3
One of the outgrowths of that:

V.  A strong believer loves God's people.  
1 Pet. 1:22-23 - ever seen a "christian" that spews hate at other believers?
John 13:34-35 - We need to have a special love, affection, patience, and care
Sincere - not phony (frenemy - ie:  enemy that acts like a friend to your face), genuine, without selfish motives ..(if I'm nice I can get....)
Fervently/earnestly - extended out, stretched tight, strained, to the point that it hurts.
From a pure heart - your innermost being...."from the bottom of my heart" - really mean it.

Which leads to 1 Pet. 2:1 ...."therefore" ties it to the last thought:  cut this stuff out!!!
Malice - wickedness, evilness, maliciousness, cause trouble, sew division
Deceit - crafty and manipulative.  Trick or bait someone into a trap.
Hypocrisy-phony - Literally under a mask.  Actor.... they're all a bunch of .......
Envy - jealousy, hatred
Slander - evil speaking, backbiting, defamation

Basically the caricature of the mean girl in middle school.  Stop that and love one another.
We need each other.  When the fight finds you, and it will, you'll need people to have your back.

Crave and grow in the word. 
Love one another. 
Put away the wickedness.

Rom. 15:1-6

Practical Ways to Respond to God's Grace (towards you) 1Peter 1:13-19

 Peter (like Paul) builds application on doctrinal truths. 1 Peter 1: 13 begins with "Therefore" so when you see it you should go back and see why it's "there for"

The previous verses gave us 5 important pieces of information....

1.  Vs 1 You are one of the Elect  (chosen/selected)

You have been chosen. How do you know that you have been chosen? If at some point in your life (or in the future) you have been called by the Holy Spirit (wooed/ drawn) you are then chosen.

2.  Vs 3 He caused you to be born again

God did not force you to be born again, but He made provisions for forgiveness, reconciliation, New Birth. It was nothing that you did on your own, He draws you to be born again.

3. Vs 4 He has given you an imperishable inheritance 

Your inheritance is waiting for you until you get there (heaven). Your inheritance is unfading like an earthly inheritance.

4. Vs 5 You are being guarded by God's power

You are being kept by His grace not your own goodness

Jude 24-25 (ESV) "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

1 Peter 1: 6-7 (ESV) "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

All this goodness that has happened to you in your life is because of God. You will go through trials. The trials are designed to refine your faith, not destroy your faith.

Romans 8:28 (ESV) "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

5. Vs 9 You are obtaining the outcome of your faith

The salvation of your soul....eternal life

1 Peter 1: 10-12 (ESV) "Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look."

The prophets inquired about and wondered about it, angels "long to look into this"... this mystery to them is fulfilled in you. They stand in AWE of the Gospel.

1 Peter 1: 13-19 (ESV) "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.' And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile was inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."

I. Prepare your Mind...for Action!

Prepare your mind to do something! A Christian's life is not just heart and head but also HANDS. Prepare your hands.

James 2:17 (ESV) "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

Matt. 7:24 (ESV) "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

Repentance  is a change of heart and mind, but if there is not a change in action then it is dead. Repentance is a 180 deg. turn....it is an action.

II Be Sober Minded (not under the influence)

Be self controlled

Ephesians 5:15-18 (ESV) "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit."

Think straight, use your head. Be controlled by God not alcohol/drugs.

III. Do not be conformed to your (sinful) passions.

God created us to be passionate beings. We have a lot of emotions/feelings. Your emotions are not your lord. 

Jer. 17:19 (ESV) "Be not a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of disaster. Let those be put to shame who persecute me, but let me not be put to shame; let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed; bring upon them the day of disaster; destroy them with double destruction! Thus said the LORD to me: 'Go and stand in the People's Gate, by which the kings of Judah enter and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem,'"

People say to follow your heart, but your heart is damaged...if your emotions /feelings are aligned with God's will then go ahead and be passionate.

Romans 12:2 (ESV) "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Follow God's will in all you do...marriage, career, hobby, sexual activity. The world is not aligned with God's will.

IV. Set your hope (expectations) on His grace

Do not set your hope on your own good works.

Ephesians 2: 8-9 (ESV) "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

The greatest blessings in your life come... 1) thru His grace and 2) your willingness to accept that grace.

V. Be Holy

Practical and positional holiness. The point is that you are holy (chosen/set apart), ACT LIKE IT

1 Cor. 6:9-11 (ESV) "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God."

Act like who you are....HOLY!

VI. Conduct yourself with (holy/reverential) fear

This is not a theophobia (a fear of God/religion) that would cause you to run from God.

This is and AWE of God

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."

VII. Know this, Remember this, Be sure of this...

1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV) "knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such a silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."

This is something we should never forget!

Inheritance for Exiles 1 Peter 1: 1-9

 Nothing good is ever permanent. Nothing good is ever perfect. Nothing good keeps its goodness. Have you ever felt like good gifts are incomplete? The lost person complete emptiness. The believer is longing for a better country. We forget that this life is not all there is. God created us for eternity.

New series... 1 Peter

In Peter we see both triumphs and failures. He was a fisherman from the little village of Bethsaida in Galilee.

- He walked on water

- When asked he said "You are the Christ". "flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father who is in heaven." 6 vs later Peter rebukes Jesus and Jesus says "Get behind me Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

- I will never betray you... denied Jesus 3 times before the rooster crows.

- Jesus asked "Do you love me?" 3 times and Peter said "Yes" "feed my sheep"

- He was the preacher at Pentecost. He spoke with authority. Acts 4:13

-He was rebuked by Paul for shying away from Gentiles because of pressure from Jews.

-God worked miracles through Peter... lame to walk, raised from the dead, his shadow cast.

-Peter is a hero of the faith, a leader.

-Peter's name in Aramaic is "Cephas" which meant rock.

1 Peter 1:1-2 (ESV) "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Potus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you."

-Peter says that he was writing from "Babylon" which is probably code for Rome so as to protect the church in Rome. He was writing to Gentiles converts in the towns in modern day Turkey. They were exiles from "Babylon". Spiritual exiles...believers are chosen, called and set apart. They are one in Christ. These believers were being persecuted by Nero.

1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV) "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 

If you are in Christ this is you, you are set apart.

VS 2 "We are known by the Father, Sanctified by the Spirit, bought by the blood of Christ." 

This is best explained by a hymn.

"Down at the cross where my savior died. Down where for cleansing from sin I cried. There to my heart was the blood applied. Glory to his name!"

We see the trinity in this vs.

Grace & Peace this is a greeting that both Paul, Peter and the early church use to a persecuted people. He was encouraging them to set their minds on the things above. Nero was persecuting Christians.

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Peter is mixing his Hebrew the background with his new life.

I God's Great Mercy

Why did God save us? John McArthur said ....because of God's great mercy. God's mercy is for our misery...our great need...to give relief

Matt. 17:15 (ESV) "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and they could not heal him."

Lamentations 3:22 (ESV) "The steadfast love the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end"

Psalms 103:17 (ESV) "But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children"

Psalms 108:4 (ESV) "For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds."

2 Corinthians 1:3 (ESV) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort"

Titus 3:5 (ESV) "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit"

Ephesians 2:4-8 (ESV) "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -by grace you have been saved- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God"

God shows us his love and his mercy with his patience. Even small mercies in times of tragedy...look for them.

How should we respond? In faith and show mercy to others.

Luke 6:36 (ESV) "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

Matt. 5:5 (ESV) "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

We should be the most loving and merciful people of all.

II. Our Transformation

Be born again...you have been changed...born again. We are used to this language, but can be confusing especially if you claim to follow Jesus, but live your life like the rest of the world. When Jesus saves us there should be a change in who we are.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

2 Cor. 5:17 (ESV) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away;( behold, the new has come."

Galatians 2:20  (ESV) "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me

How do I know that I am saved? The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of our inheritance. If you have trusted in Jesus, the Holy Spirit is in you and you will produce fruit.

Galatians 5:19-24 (ESV) "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

You are never going to be perfect, however you need to be growing . Does sin bother you? Aaron Rogers said "the most miserable person is the believer walking in sin."

1 John 1:8-9 (ESV) "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV) "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

III. Our Hope & Our Inheritance

1 Peter 1:4-9 (ESV) "to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

We are saved from the penalty of our sin. We are being saved from the power of sin over us. Finally being free from the presence and effects of our sin.

We have a promised inheritance. Ephesians 1:11, Colossians 1:12, Hebrews 9:15 

Peter describes this inheritance by what it is not. It's not perishable, defiled and will not fade away. Everything on earth is tainted  like this. This inheritance is in heaven. Eternal life, joy, peace perfection, being in the presence of our creator, our savior, every wrong righted, every tear dried and reward for faithfulness.

Matt. 6:19-21 (ESV) "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heave, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

God has given us so many blessings in this life, but this life is still just temporary.

Encouragement...

- to the non-believer... life is temporary, you need to be made right with God. He is merciful. If by God's grace you accept by faith in Jesus

- to the believer... do not store up treasures on earth....

How to Pray for our Country

 God has blessed this country with a lot. I believe that is a result of his direct blessing and indirectly through godly people and principles.

This part of the country really does celebrate America. We need to make sure we don't worship the country, but the One who has given it to us. Some believe that Christians shouldn't get involved in politics, but we absolutely need to be involved politically....vote, write officials, campaign, run even. But what Christians SHOULD do is PRAY for our country. The future is bright, in a recent poll 74% or young people said that they want to grow spiritually. 44% were more interested since COVID.

The first "Great Awakening" began even before we were a country. In the 1700's churches and ministers did not keep up with the growth in the colonies. Many people due to "enlightenment" and "Rationalism" turned to Deism, Universalism and even atheism. God did a great work through men like Whitfield, Edwards and Wesley. During this time they saw the start of mission societies, new churches, new ministers, missionaries, a rise in attendance, holiness. They began teaching people the importance of a genuine relationship with God.

1 Timothy 2:1 (ESV) "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people,"

I. Pray for the lost to come to Christ

Do we still pray for the lost? How many lost people are on your prayer list? Do we have a heart for the lost? Do we have compassion for the lost?

Jesus had great compassion on the multitudes

Matt. 14:14 (ESV) "When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick."

Matt. 9:36 (ESV) "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like the sheep without a shepherd."

Matt. 15:32 (ESV) "Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 'I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.'"

Think of someone you know who is lost...and pray for them. Pray for a revival, but specifically pray for a  lost person.

1 Timothy 2:2-4 (ESV) "for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

II. Pray for political leaders (those elected and those unelected)

Pray for their salvation. They need Jesus. Wouldn't it be amazing if revival broke out in D.C.?

III. Pray that they would govern righteously

 So that we may have freedom to live godly lives. So we have the freedom to assemble, to worship, to pray, to preach, to evangelize...without threat of violence of imprisonment like Daniel, Paul and the Apostles. When Paul wrote these words in 1 Timothy, Nero was the emperor in Rome. He was known for persecuting Christians. Paul was encouraging Timothy to pray for leaders, even Nero.

We should pray  that our leaders would govern righteously so that we may have the freedom to live godly lives.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (ESV) "and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."

Pray that we can work hard, earn an honest living and train up the next generation to do the same.

Acts 5:29 (ESV) "But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'"

We should be thankful for our freedom, but we must obey God rather than men.

IV. Make sure you walk the walk

1 Peter 4:14-16 (ESV) "If you are insulated for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name."

Matt. 5:16 (ESV) "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

As Christians we ought to be the best people in our communities. We should love and care for others. In a Christian society a church is seen as a blessing. In a lost society it's seen as a threat. Let our lives honor God.

V. Pray that they might punish evil and reward good

Justice is God's idea. Many of our laws were built on OT law given to Israel.

Romans 13:3-5 (ESV) "For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience."

1 Peter 2:13-17 (ESV) "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, of to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Hoor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor."

Let us pray that our leaders punish real evil so as to protect real good.

Proverbs 29:2 (KJV) "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."

Government is God's idea, but men have gotten in the way.

The greatest slavery is in our sin. Pray for the lost. Pray for our country and shine your light in the world.

The Enduring Gospel - 10 Things that Haven't Changed

 The bridge illustration is the Gospel message.

2 Cor. 5:18-19 (ESV) "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message reconciliation."

1 Peter 3:18 (ESV) "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,"

John 14:6 (ESV) "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

In the last 2000 years so much has changed, but the Gospel remains the same.

I. The  Message 

Acts 4:10-12 (ESV) "let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Peter was speaking to the Sanhedrin .... 2000 years later it is the SAME message.

II. The Simplicity of the Message

It is incredibly profound, that God became a man and yet it is so simple that a child can understand the message.

Roman 10:9-10 (ESV) "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

It is as simple as A. B. C  Admit, Believe, Confess. It is simple so you can share the Gospel message.

III. The Need for the Message

Matt. 1:21 (ESV) "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

There has been no change in man's condition or man's need for a savior. All of the advancements we have made it doesn't change our sinful nature.

IV. The Primacy of the Message

1 Cor. 15:3-4 (ESV) "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures"

It is a basic message. The world needs teaching on family, finance, forgiveness etc. The Gospel is the FOUNDATION...where Christ's teaching begins.

V. The Offense of the Gospel

Why was Jesus crucified? Because He was at odds with Jewish leaders...He offended them. Just because the message may be offensive doesn't mean that it is untrue.

Sin equals separation from God. Jesus is the only way to salvation and reconciliation to God.

You don't have to be offensive when you share the Gospel just because the message is offensive to some.

VI. The Responsibility for Conveying the Message

2 Cor. 5:18-20 "All this from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."

Romans 10: 13-14 (ESV) "For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?"

The Great Commission... we are called to share the Gospel message.

VII. The Means of Conveying the Message

We have seen the message move from scroll to codex to printing press to radio to TV and to the internet. But still need people telling people about Jesus!

Matt. 5:18-20 (ESV) "For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Acts 1:8 (ESV) "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

You didn't have to witness miracles or the resurrection, but you are a witness to what God has done in your life. You share your testimony.

VIII. The Power of the Message

Romans 1:16-17 (ESV) "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"

1 Cor. 1:18 (ESV) "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

You may not feel the power, but how many millions have been "touched" by the power... obviously it is there.

IX. The Response of the Message

Some will accept...some will not, but that is not our responsibility. We present, God draws and THEY decide. Free will

X. The Central Figure in the Message

Hebrews 13:8 (ESV) "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

It is not about me. It is about Christ.

If the Gospel is not true... 1 Cor. 15:14-19 "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are all people most to be pitied."

Matt. 28:19-20 (ESV) "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am always with you always, to the end of the age."