The Church Is Bigger Than You Think Pt. 2
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Last week, we looked at verse 9; I just didn’t get finished with it. We began looking at the thought of “The Church Is Bigger Than You Think” - and we will continue that thought tonight.
Last week, we looked at “Our Position” - We are told that in Christ, we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, and a peculiar people.
We dug into all those last week, and tonight, I want to focus on...
Our Purpose
Our Purpose
We have a purpose as the Church!
After looking through our position last week, we know that we are to live godly, but the reason we do this is not for our own purpose, it’s not for our praise, it’s not so people can see us and think, “Wow, they are really good people.” No…It’s about God!
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
What’s the point in men seeing our good works? It’s to glorify God!
It’s never about us, but it’s always about God!
We must daily get our agenda out of the way and live on purpose for God’s purpose. He created us for His glory—we must never stoop to live for anything less.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
I’ve heard it said many times that as a Pastor and Preacher, I’d have to step down to become President of the United States. What I’m trying to say with that is, nothing is more important than the calling of God upon your and my life! Nothing is more important than fulfilling the purpose He has set out before us!
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
There are a couple things right here that show what our purpose as the Church is:
To Magnify The Divine
To Magnify The Divine
1 Peter 2:9 (KJV 1900)
9 ...that ye should shew forth the praises of him...
Because of our position as the saints of God, we ought to bring forth the loudest praise!
The words “shew forth” are from a Greek word meaning, “to declare abroad; publish; celebrate; to make known by praising or proclaiming.”
We are to declare God’s praises.
1 I will bless the Lord at all times:
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord:
The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt his name together.
The word praises here is unique, the Greek word means, “actions, virtues, moral goodness and excellence, purity, or moral course of thought.” It is not the usual word used for praise, but one that enthusiastically praises the virtue or the excellence of the one being praised.
The way that we live must always elevate Christ rather than ourselves.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Our will must submit to His will. We are on this earth to make God look great!
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
We have a purpose to magnify the divine!
We have another purpose according to this verse, and that is:
To Make A Difference
To Make A Difference
1 Peter 2:9 (KJV 1900)
9 ...who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
God didn’t save us to impress the world - He saved us to impact the world!
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Where did these men learn the truths they were sharing? Where did they gain the boldness with which they preached? What happened to these fellows to make them into what they are now? They “had been with Jesus”.
We are to make a difference!
One light can make a difference in the darkness!
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
What difference can you make this week at work, in your home, or in your neighborhood?
When we let God have full control of our lives, He can use us to influence others for the cause of Christ. That’s why we are here— our purpose is to live for Christ in such a way that others will want to come to know Him as well.
God has called us out of our depravity, deadness, and darkness!
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Believers have a new life principle (chosen generation), a new access to God (royal priesthood), a new government (holy nation), and a new owner (peculiar people).
Knowing these facts will affect the way the believer lives life.
The next thing we see about us is:
Our Past
Our Past
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Peter gives a reminder to the church. This reminder also ought to cause praise to God. We were not a people! We were dead in our trespasses and sins! He called us from our deadness and our darkness and into his Life and His light! We are now the people of God!
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Peter reminds the church that those who have trusted in the Living Stone belong into the family of God as the people of God!
Peter also reminds the church that they had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy!
Without Christ, we had no mercy because we had rejected it or did not know about it. By putting our faith in the Lord, however, we accepted His grace, forgiveness, and mercy. Receiving God’s gift of salvation drastically alters the life of any sinner. He goes from death to life, from Hell to Heaven, from darkness to light, from weakness to power, from turmoil to peace, from corruption to incorruption. Jesus Christ impacts the life of every sinner who puts his faith in Him.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
I’m so thankful that God doesn’t just reform us but regenerates us. He does not overhaul the old nature and improve it slightly, but rather destroys our past through the blood of Christ and makes us completely new.
F. B. Meyer wrote, “How can we repay Him for all that He has done for us—when we compare what we are, with what we were? Once in darkness, now in marvelous light. Once not included among the people of God, now accounted as part of them. Once without hope of mercy, now the happy recipients of untold mercy. What shall we say? Is it not our duty to praise Him, not only with our lips, but in our lives, casting our crowns at his feet, and bearing our part in the song of adoration, which from all creation breaks around His throne. Let us show forth His praise!”
Conclusion
Conclusion
The Church is bigger than you think! These facts should change how we behave in this world!