1 Pet 2:11,12
INTRO: In the early phases of Peters first letter he has dealt extensively with who Christians are. In short, we are the people of God. Now he begins a very practical exposition of how to live the Christian life. So, he says, We are the people of God. And here is how to live like it. The first thought we will consider I have entitled Top Temporaries (explain the use of temporaries in the business world). Christians are temporaries in this world and the qualities Peter sets out for our lives will make us top temporaries!
I. WE ARE OTHER WORLDLY PEOPLE 1 Pet 2:11A
A. Christians are like strangers - pilgrims
1. strangers - living as foreigners in strange land
2. pilgrims - remaining in a place but a short time
3. Heb 11:13-16 Patriarchs were so called
B. What is our citizenship, then?
1. Phil 3:20 here is plainly set out that information!
2. therefore, we cannot accept the ways & standards of the world because we are citizens of Gods kingdom
3. we are not permanent residents of earth and must do nothing to keep us from the ultimate goal (Mt 6:33)
4. because of this special circumstance of the Christian, Peter gives two great general guidelines for life
II. ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS 1 Pet 2:11B
A. Abstain
1. somehow, words lose some force in translation
2. word form here means to keep constantly holding oneself back
B. Fleshly lusts
1. we have perhaps narrowed this to sexual sin
2. but Gal 5:19-21 flesh here means much more than what we might consider sexual immorality!
3. that is included but look at hatred, strife, heresy, envy, etc...
4. flesh stands for human nature without God!
C. Why keep constantly away from fleshly lusts?
1. they war against the soul!
2. they will work actively against the highest interests of the souls well being
3. Gal 5:21b the point well made!
III HAVING YOUR CONVERSATION HONEST 1 Pet 2:12A
A. Two words here need explanation and enlargement
1. conversation - a mans whole conduct...or as Peter has earlier noted in 1 Pet 1:15
2. honest - more than just moral goodness...but goodness which is lovely, fine, beautiful, attractive thus, goodness so attractive that it attracts!
3. everything about Christians life involved here
B. Now, why be so concerned? 1 Pet 2:12B
1. many will have unkind, untrue things to say (explain)
Mt 5:11 (Nero blamed Christians for Romes burning)
2. and the only truly effective answer is to live a holy, Christian life which proves slander untrue
3. best argument for Christianity is still a real Christian by your good works
4. and what about the damage done by unChristian living?
C. The possible side effects of this life style?
1. they...glorify God... when?
2. in the day of visitation...now here is a wonderful thought and possibility
3. your life of faith, love, commitment, serenity is being constantly observed by others
4. when catastrophe comes to them, they are apt to remember you and how you have reacted it is apt to be you to whom they finally turn for help and answers
5. people need the help of Godly lives about them!
CLOSE: Yes, Christians should be top temporaries. We should be the most attractively good people on earth. And if we are, there will be a magnetism which will draw others to our Lord.
Cecil A. Hutson
08 July 2001
You Must Hear the Gospel
Romans 10:17
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
Hebrews 11:6
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
Acts 3:19
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
Romans 10:9
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)
You Must Be Baptized
Acts 2:38
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!
You Must Be Faithful Unto Death
Revelation 2:10
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)