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THE CALL TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY

March 11, 2001 PM

Sermon Outline

1 Pet 1:13-16

INTRO: Peter has, in the opening words of this letter, stressed to Christians the term salvation. It is something they both possess and anticipate. It is a precious inheritance. It is worth any price to possess. It is incomparably better than that which ancient prophets had in their lives. Now, the direction of Peters letter changes to a call to live differently. Our being the saved children of God does not permit our going on in the same old ways. Indeed, the saved, the born again have a great challenge to be vitally, radiantly different. Now, look at:

I. THE MIND OF THE SAVED PERSON (1:13)

A.Be constantly, deliberately ready 1:13a

1. gird up the manner of dress required this girding of flowing robes about the loins so that one could move with no impediments

2. and it is saying that discipleship isnt accidental

3. we must not permit worldly entanglements - 2 Tim 2:4

4. minds must not be in neutral, overborne, etc!

B. Be constantly in control 1:13b

1. sober - refers originally to abstinence from wine

2. in ethical, moral matters this word speaks of self-control ... a mind that is not under the worlds influence moral alertness

3. word is used to describe a Christian quality in a number of roles elders, wives of elders and deacons, aged men, young women .. all disciples!

4. 1 Pet 5:8

C. Be constantly hoping 1:13c

1. we keep our goal, our purpose ever in mind

2. we do not swerve aside ... but keep our eyes on that fact of Jesus return and our salvation

3. if we mislay our hope, it is very easy to lose sight of any daily purpose in being a Christian

4. Phil 3:13,14

II. THE LIFE OF THE SAVED PERSON (1:14-16)

A. It is a changed life 1:14b

1. former life characterized by desire, ignorance

2. strong desires lead people in all sorts of directions

3. and ignorance can be claimed as an excuse

4. but even the morally good person is changed ... in that he has a higher purpose in his morality and a spiritual center

B. It is an obedient life 1:14a

1. this new life comes under Gods control

2. and is very much a parent-child walk

3. God reveals qualities, gives examples and promises a bright outcome

4. Eph 5:1 be like God ... our Father

C. It is a holy life 1:15

1. first, it is holy in every departmentof life

2. now, what is this holiness? is it so hard to define?

3. verses 13,14 have told us the how of holiness

4. a deliberate fashioning of mind and life after Gods revealed will ... that results in holiness

D. It is a spiritual life 1:16

1. because it is God centered, oriented

2. everything we do, say, plan has in mind this unique relationship with God

3. and any time we leave God out, our lives return to a secular plane which inevitably leads away from Him

4. somehow, we need to examine every decision under the microscope of be ye holy!

CLOSE: Jesus was different. The apostles were different. And so must we be ... different because holiness is simply not the worlds way.

Cecil A. Hutson

11 March 2001

God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)