Living a New Life
1 Peter: Living As Exiles • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
1 Peter, Living As Exiles, How to live as a Christian in a non-Christian society? In the U.S., we’re only just beginning to feel the effects of being exiles, of Christianity being rejected by our society. But for many Christians globally, it’s far worse. According to Global Christian Relief and Open Doors:
On average, 13 Christians are killed because of their faith every day in Nigeria.
In Yemen, it is illegal convert to Christianity. If someone does, the members of their tribe are allowed to kill them. If their tribe doesn’t kill them, they are often arrested and tortured in prison.
It’s estimated that there are only a few hundred Christians in Somalia. If someone converts to Christianity, it’s legal to kill them on the spot. Christians have to gather in secret, and most of them have never heard, let along sung, a Christian song.
The natural question to ask is, “Why? Why would God allow people who become Christians to face such awful treatment because of their faith in him?” But, I’ve found in my experience that God rarely answers the “Why” question. Instead, as Jamie Winship says, the questions God most often answers are “What do you want me to know?” and “What do you want me to do?”
Subject: What does God want us to know? And what does he want us to do?
Body (1 Peter 4:1-11, CSB)
Body (1 Peter 4:1-11, CSB)
God wants us to know this: Living as exiles confirms our commitment and motivates our obedience.
Exposition
It confirms out commitment
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished with sin—2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.
“suffered in the flesh”
Peter means being treated as an exile, or suffering for your faith in Jesus, not having chronic back pain or losing a loved one.
This assumes that your faith has enough outward evidence that people can see it and mock it. If they can’t see your faith in Jesus, they can’t reject you for it.
“finished with sin”
Peter does not mean sinless perfection but a lifestyle of obedience to God (see v. 2).
At various times in life, we all come to crossroads…
It motivates our obedience
We used to be controlled by self-indulgence.
3 For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.
“orgies”— drinking parties involving unrestrained indulgence in alcoholic beverages and accompanying immoral behavior (Louw-Nida)
But now we live differently, and society has contempt for those who live differently.
4 They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander you.
But they will be held accountable, and those who live for Jesus will live even though they die.
5 They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards, they might live in the spirit according to God’s standards.
When we hold to our faith in face of rejection, something powerful happens.
Illustration: Indian Christians are risking everything to follow Jesus (https://globalchristianrelief.org/christian-persecution/stories/indian-christians-risk-everything-to-follow-jesus/).
Application: When there’s a social cost for being a Christian, only those truly committed will pay the price. And when we do, it changes lives.
God wants us to do this: Live like Jesus is coming back.
7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.
March Madness, 2nd period, only a few minutes left, keep your head, think clearly about what’s most important…
What that looks like
Effective prayer
7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.
Don’t waste your prayers and don’t waste your life. In these last days, what do you pray for? One of the best things to do is ask God, “What do you want me to pray?”
Constant love
8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Does Peter mean that love overlooks or ignores sin? Not at all. He means that even a multitude of sins cannot overpower love.
We love others when they don’t deserve it, when they’re different than us, even when they sin against us.
The world’s love is inconsistent at best. Society loves you as long as you fit in. But the moment you live differently, “they slander you” (v. 4).
Christians are called to love differently, constantly, and unconditionally. Could the words “constant love” be used to describe your life?
Glad hospitality
9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Peter isn’t telling us to throw dinner parties without grumbling when it’s time to clean up.
Hospitality is caring for people by sharing your life in Christ with them.
People don’t understand Christianity through our sermons, Bible studies, apologetics, statements of faith, voting, political activism, or the coffee cup verses we post on social media. People will understand Christianity as we share our life in Christ with them.
Going to a friend’s for dinner, only to be hoodwinked into a Chicago cutlery sales pitch… Maybe one reason why people in our society so badly misunderstand Christianity is that we’ve treated them as just another sales pitch.
Grace-filled serving
10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
The word gift literally means a concrete expression of grace.
The point is not your skills, talents, or abilities but rather God’s grace to others through you: teaching, praying, encouraging, serving in the nursery, making a meal, raking a yard, or sharing a word from the Lord.
All for the glory of God
11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Conclusion: Listening
Conclusion: Listening
This points back to what Peter said in 1 Peter 4:2, the simplest and most concise definition of what it means to be a Christian…
2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.
When you signed up to be a Christian, what did you sign up for?
And that brings us all the way back to the original questions:
What does God want me to know?
What does God want me to do?
So, let’s do something totally crazy. Let’s ask him.