Ethics of a Chosen Race

We belong to something greater than ourselves

Introduction

Most organizations that you belong to are about you. You joining a Gym so YOU can get in shape. You join an academic program so YOU can get smarter. You join a social club so YOU can have fun.

The church is utterly different. You join the church because Christ is Great and worthy to be praised. What we get out of it is a connection and salvation from one who is infinitely greater than we are.

It does mean that belonging to the church will mean that we see Him as the ultimate goal and treasure.

Grow Up (1-3)

In chapter 1 Peter has talked about how their salvation has changed them making them obedient to the truth.

In light of that he tells us to put away our old way of living:

Literally, we are to “take off” these old traits. Much like taking off an old dirty set of clothes in order to put on new ones The list of old traits are not comprehensive, but are a snapshot of the unproductive sinful way of life we had before Christ:

Malice – The quality or state of wickedness or depravity

Deceit – being underhanded or deceitful

Hypocrisy – To put forward a public persona that it is different from who you are – Acting like you good when you are a sinner. A false outward show of who you are

Envy – Jealousy

Slander – Speaking ill of others, defamation These are the characteristics of the lost, the people still in their sin before Christ has redeemed them and given new life to them.

As they take off the old self, they are to begin growing in the new life of Christ

Peter uses an image of a newborn baby. NEW LIFE IMAGERY! The only way that the newborn grows healthy and matures is by taking in the nourishment of milk. Like this baby, the new believer must long for spiritual milk – Learning and living out the Word of God.

Long for – As a baby wants milk and cries until he gets it, the new believer should crave spiritual nourishment.

Pure – αδολος – This is in contrast with the word for “deceit.” Is the “a” negation of the word for deceit. It means that this spiritual milk is pure in truth

It’s purpose – that you might grow up in to salvation

Evangelism Explosion illustration

Just one bad egg in the mix makes the whole thing bad no matter how great the other ingredients

Salvation is granted in fullness upon the point of faith Yet, our lives are not indicative of the full maturity and righteousness that is granted Our lives are about sanctification as we learn to apply the full salvation that we are given It is up to the Christian to grow in that salvation

If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good

The word taste is used in reference to it being milk

If you have come to the place of salvation it is assumed you understand that the Lord is good in his mercy, salvation, and love

The one who has truly tasted that the Lord is good should long for more of the same

Like the old Lay’s commercial, “Bet you can’t eat just one”. When you come to Christ because you understand His goodness, you always want more of your relationship with Him.

Application:

What are you doing to grow Up into Christ?

Are you actively seeking to take off the old sin life?

Are you seeking Him in His Word?

Work Together (4-8)

What is a living stone? -

Stone - This is a reference to the temple which took thousands of stones to create. Each stone is one part in the whole

Living stone - you are a living, breathing part of something greater than yourself - the church

You come to Him (in faith) to be built up as a

spiritual house - The temple, the dwelling place of God

A holy Priesthood - intercessors for God - To offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God

Jesus is the cornerstone of this temple

For those who believe -never be put to shame -

For the unbelieving – they will stumble over it

They will deny the truth

They will not find themselves encountering the living Christ

Application:

We come together as the church to be the temple - the very dwelling place of God

If one stone gave way it could be disastrous to the structure - The same is true of living stones

You are called to be a stone in this temple

Romans 12:3-8 “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Personally - We need to recognize that we are the dwelling place of God therefore holy

Corporately - We are to take our place in something bigger than ourselves

Proclaim Him (9-10)

How God describes us as His people:

a. A Chosen race – much like the Jews, only we are a race of believers in Chosen in Christ

b. A Royal Priesthood – We are to mediate between a lost world and Christ

c. A holy nation – set apart for God’s glory

d. A People for His own possession – A people belonging to God

Contrast that to the previous list above

Why?

To proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of the darkness and in to His marvellous light

He chose us and made us into this house, this people of God

He gave us mercy, which we did not have before

Application:

We are a people set apart to glorify and honor God

We gather to show the world the greatness of God

We do it through Worship, ministry, evangelism, holiness

Live Honorably (11-12)

Peter urges us as sojourners and exiles - both alluding to the fact that we are passing through in this world and we will be home someday

To abstain from the passions of the flesh - Which wage war against your soul - The reality of sin

Keep you Conduct among the Gentiles Honorable - the fruit of the Spirit

So that when they speak against you as evildoers

They may see you good deeds and glorify God

Application:

The way we act in the middle of a lost culture matters

What do people honestly see in us as Christians, corporately? - Is it something that glorifies God?

What if we, as a church started right here. What if we corporately decided to turn away from all of our sin and live out our faith completely. What kind of difference could we make?

There is nothing that would impact our culture as much as us living in Holiness in front of lost people

Conclusion