Finding Clarity in the Chaos

Finding clarity in the chaos. A sermon grounded in 1 Peter, and applied from all over the Bible The chaos of world events provides an opportunity to reveal and remind Christians who we truly are. 1 Peter 2:9–10 (ESV) 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. When we looked at this passage a few sermons ago, we pointed out The most important thing about you is how God thinks of you. Meaning... those who are saved by the mercy and grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ are a distinct people. Christians are a distinct people and their identity has changed from once not “being a people” to now being known as “God’s people.” 1 Peter is just one of the many places in the Bible where we as God’s people are reminded and instructed that our lives are fundamentally different from the world around us. The Christian life is fundamentally different than the life of an unbeliever. Yet, as we have mentioned there is a form of religion that claims to be Christian, but bears no resemblance to what we see in the Bible, nor does it look any different from the lives of those who don’t claim Christ. So, because the goal of this sermon is to help us know how to think and live as Christians in the midst of the chaos of our culture, I think its imperative this morning that, with the Lord’s help, I make an effort to help us think distinctly Christian about the world around us. Now, as I say that I can feel many of you leaning in to hear a message on the return of Christ and the end times prophecies. I am not saying I won’t ever preach that sermon, but I am prefacing that the focus of this message isn’t on those events.

Finding clarity in the chaos. A sermon grounded in 1 Peter, and applied from all over the Bible So, here’s what I will say about the end times and how the events unfolding in Israel and the Middle East relate to one another. This isn’t the first time that Jews have been targeted for extinction and destruction by another group of people. It was just 80-90 years ago that the Germans and their allies participated in the killing of Jews in a manner that can only be described by the word Holocaust. During the Holocaust 6 million Jews were murdered... Now, I know that was in Europe and not the Middle East. But, we cannot forget the Jewish people have been targeted before, and we need to recognize the horror of racism, including anti-semitism. The events unfolding in the Middle East are definitely a part of the last times, the thing is we just don’t know where in the unfolding of last things this moment is. But, we do know that there are things that haven’t happened, but that must happen according to Scripture. Now, we don’t have time to get into all of that today... and you can go watch and listen to teaching through the entire book of Revelation on our website. It was the focus of our Wednesday morning Bible study for a year. These events in Israel and the Middle East should cause you to think about the end. These events should cause you to think about the reality of the Gospel and the life you are living. In fact, the confusion surrounding the events by many Christians reveals a deficiency. God’s people don’t worry about the end, because the end is victory. That’s like being nervous about winning. If you belong to the Lord then the coming of Christ is a a day of celebration and hope. There are some who aren't worried about the return of Christ, but they are wrestling with how to think about the killing of lives on both sides. They are trying to figure out how to feel, what to say, and even what to do in light of the chaos in the Middle East. The events unfolding in the Middle East bring to light the need for us, as God’s people, to make sure that we see these events and everything around us clearly. And, as God’s people we know that it is possible to see the world clearly when we view it through the lens of the Gospel.

Finding clarity in the chaos. A sermon grounded in 1 Peter, and applied from all over the Bible 1. Chaos demands clarity, and the Gospel is the light by which we see clearly Acts 26:13–18 (ESV) 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ When Paul was sharing about his conversion, he did so in terms of darkness and light, from the power of Satan to the power of God, from unforgiven to forgiven. It’s similar to the way that Jesus speaks in Revelation of His work in the hearts and minds of the church in Laodicea. Revelation 3:17–22 (ESV) 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ” Jesus uses imagery to describe the truth that Paul testifies too in Acts 26. Jesus says in Revelation 3:18 to come to him to get the treasure you seek, the righteousness and forgiveness you lack, and the sight you are without.

Finding clarity in the chaos. A sermon grounded in 1 Peter, and applied from all over the Bible The Gospel opens your eyes and your heart to the truth of who God is and His plan for your life through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s through the work of the Holy Spirit through the gospel that God saves and sanctifies those who are His. The truth and power of the Gospel brings clarity to who God is, it brings clarity to who we are, and it also brings clarity to what is good and what is evil, to what is right and what is wrong, to what is sin and what is obedience. The Gospel provides the moral clarity necessary for the moment and serves as the foundation for what you will experience in the future. How else can we know what to think about the events in the world unfolding before eyes if not for the objective truth of the Gospel? How can we know what is good or what is evil if not for the objective truth of God’s Word? How can we know what to think, feel, say, or do about the situations of our own lives of the lives of our brothers and sisters, if not for the objective truth contained in the Bible? 2. Moral clarity is built on the objective truth of Scripture. The Bible teaches us that only God is good. Psalm 107:1 (ESV) Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Matthew 19:17 (ESV) 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” Because God alone is good, He is the objective standard by which everyone and everything is judged. And, according to God, His Word is the revelation or Gospel by which we are to learn and be held accountable. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) says, “16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

Finding clarity in the chaos. A sermon grounded in 1 Peter, and applied from all over the Bible 3. Moral clarity allows us to quit picking sides and stand on the truth I read an article this last week that was really well written on the subject of moral clarity. A friend of mine sent it to a group of us in an email... and it was after reading the article that I felt the Lord begin to work on me to shift the sermon this week in this direction. The article mentioned that one of the benefits to moral clarity for Christians is that we are able to get our bearings and think rightly about what is actually happening rather than “who” is sharing a particular perspective. The article quoted Jean Bethke Elshtain, a political ethicists who said: “If we could not distinguish between an accidental death resulting from a car accident and an intentional murder, our criminal justice system would fall apart. And if we cannot distinguish the killing of combatants from the intended targeting of peaceable civilians, we live in a world of moral nihilism. In such a world, everything reduces to the same shade of gray and we cannot make distinctions that help us take our political and moral bearings.” - Jean Bethke Elshtain 4. Gospel driven moral clarity reveals what we “must” and “must not” do. Bernard Howard and Ivan Mesa share when we have gospel clarity we can see and determine rightly what God wants, because we can see if through the lens of God’s Word. And, when we know what God is like and what He says, we are able to know what we are supposed to do and what we are not supposed to do. This means that moral clarity applies to your life and moral clarity applies to the actions of others, including the events happening in the Middle East. Because ew are able to determine when the actions of someone else are moral or immoral, I think we need to make sure we mention the next point. 5. Moral clarity provides a right view of self and others This is first because the gospel and the Holy Spirit provide a right view of God. You cannot have moral clarity without first having the clarity that comes through the power of God.

Finding clarity in the chaos. A sermon grounded in 1 Peter, and applied from all over the Bible But, as God’s chosen people, as a holy generation, and a people for God’s own possession we are called to live according to the truth of the Gospel. And living according to that truth means looking at the world and others with the moral clarity that Scripture provides. Matthew 7:3–5 (ESV) 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Moral clarity doesn’t mean that you cannot or should not speak to the sin and evil in the life of another person. But, the Bible does tell us that we are to look in the mirror at our own lives before we go pointing out the sin in the lives of one another... and I think it’s a good rule of thumb to let the sins of he world remind you to consider your life as well. 6. Moral clarity allows for gospel driven actions What kind of actions might you to take in light of the clarity the gospel brings? Prayer for and against... Rebuking and Restoring... Rebuking a brother or sister and walking with them through restoration to the Lord and others. Defending and Rescuing... Personal Repentance and faith... The first and most important way to respond to the clarity the gospel brings is the repent of your sins and trust in Jesus. God alone is good... and you are not God, therefore you are not good, and as a result you need the grace and forgiveness of Jesus. You need to be transferred from darkness to light, and from not having mercy to having mercy. Paul prays as he writes to the Ephesians in 1:16–21 (ESV):

Finding clarity in the chaos. A sermon grounded in 1 Peter, and applied from all over the Bible “16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” Paul’s prayer was for their eyes to see what his eyes had seen, and that is my prayer for you today... that you would see the goodness and glory of God in Christ, and that in seeing Him and knowing Him you would then live according to the new sight He has given you. So, when it comes to the events in the Middle East and Israel, what are we to do? Christians are called to look at chaos with the clarity of the Gospel and respond in ways that are consistent with Christ and His Word.