Aliens and Exiles 3
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11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Intro
Intro
in this series we are looking at what does it mean to be exiles and aliens. We have a established that peter is writing to a group of people who live in Asia minor and are a minority culture. They are being ridiculed and persecuted by all levels of society.
The reason for their ridicule comes down to a few key words peter calls the readers. Elect, Exiles, of Dispersion. It is these three words .
To be a elect: called by God and set apart for his purposes on earth
Exiles: people who have been deported and removed from the. The word used is — a temporary resident: an alien
Diaspora: scattered people
We have been looking at what does it mean for these scattered people to live a life that is pleasing and honouring to God. while their under the constant threat of persecution and social alienation.
How do we live
How do we live
This text so far we have established that these people are called to a holy people that glorify God in all their lives.
Cross way calls this section living as aliens to bring glory to god in a a hostile world
The believers in this text are in a world that is completely hostile to what they have too say. they reject their message. the call is to bear witness to the gospel as they live in a life pleasing to God.
Our text comes on the heels of one of most famous verse’s in 1 Peter 2:9
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.
Up until this point the priest hood was tied to a specific location and place. The priest were separate from the laity. they were a specific class of people in Jerusalem and they were tied exclusively to the temple.
so when we read in out text peter calls the group Sojourners and exiles the challenge for the church is now how do we exemplify the qualities of this priestly calling. especially in a culture that is full of unbelief and hostility to belief.
Aliens and exiles
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
How do we go about living this call?
Part of the reason that the christians in this text are called sojourners and exiles is due to the fact that Christians did not have a home land and the true citizenship is not in earth but in heaven.
The same language is used in Eph 2:19
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Christian let that sink in… your home is not here. its heaven.
When earth doesn't feel right thats why.
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Because they are different then the culture and their true home is the kingdom there is the clear charge to live as if we are citizens of heaven
Abstain from the passions of the flesh
Abstain from the passions of the flesh
So what are the passions of the flesh? Passions of the flesh are strong desires that are characteristic of the sinful nature. These passions are not consistent with the life that christ calls us to and inaprotiatate for a christian to partake in.
1 Peter already referenced some of these practices in an earlier passage
1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
however the apostle Paul has provided further examples
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
They will not enter the kingdom as this is not the characteristic of one who belongs to the kingdom
We look around and im sure we can see evidence of this in our world. the call for the christian is to there for put away all these things
the word that Peter uses for abstain is translated from apechō this means to keep away and avoid this translated as a verb in a present and active tense meaning this is not a one time thing but rather abstaining from sin is a practices that these exiles are to take up always.
Wayne Grudem comments
1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary 1. Abstain from Following Sinful Passions (2:11)
Such a command implies that inward desires are not uncontrollable but can be consciously nurtured or restrained—a needed rebuke to our modern society which takes feelings as a morally neutral ‘given’ and disparages any who would say that some feelings and desires are wrong
Peter is communicating that the christians must take an active role in their putting their sin to death.
The war being waged.
The war being waged.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
the apostles warning to avoid sin are not simply coming from a place of moral superiority. these calls to abstain are not say just dont have sex dont drink for the sake of being religious
Rather the call to abstain from sin is that these passions of the flesh wages war on the soul.
The greek word Strateuo to serve as a solider. sin creates a war within our soles
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
everyone of the things that are listed are fun. Sin claims to be good and fun there is a reason we desire to do the wrong thing. they evoke passion within us.
however the momentary lie of sin is that it does not last. by sinning and indulging our flesh we neglect our spirt and the spirit of the living God
entertaining desires may seem okay or harmless but the reality is that they wage war within us and harm believers
32 He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.
Peter is calling the church here to not go on with what the world is doing. in their holy status they are called to live holy which means not doing what everyone else is doing. not going along with the sinfulness of the generation. he also does it in a way for concern for the believer. Sin offers a false promise. it attempts to take the place of God in our lives attempting to offer a contentment and fullness that only life in the sprit can provide.
Honorable conduct
Honorable conduct
12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
The next verse is the postitive adverse side of the previous. It start with Peter exulting their conduct pure implying that the people have been already.
The word gentiles here is interesting as Peter is writing to both Jewish and gentile converts however those receiving the letter are called Gods holy people former titles dont matter any more 1 Peter 2:10
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.
the people of God must be holy and be honourable amongst those who do not believe.
the word conduct could also be translated as let you life style
The word Honourable does not merely mean good behaviours, but a goodness that supersedes moral goodness or ethical righteousness it includes astethic worth and beauty
Sam storms called this honourable: “a goodness that commends itself to the beholder by is nobility and attractiveness”
1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary 2. Maintain Good Conduct among the Gentiles (2:12)
Christians living in an unbelieving society must avoid sinful desires and continually maintain exemplary patterns of life, so that unbelievers will be saved and God glorified. There is no reason to doubt that such a strategy for evangelism would still work today.
The call to live honourable is call to live what we believe in
When they speak against
When they speak against
within the second portion of the verse there is an assumption that unbelievers will bring charges against the church
Reference the persecution and claims
verbal persecution
lies, eating people
living an honourable life calls other people come and see the lords goodness as the behaviour is contrary to the worlds
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Conclusion
Conclusion
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Peter in this text discussing the great threat to the soul of the believer. In a context where they can be killed for their belief and they are already in conflict. The greater threat to the believers is the war waged in and for the soul.
The call is the refrain and fight back against what wages war within the soul and cling to God. Acting justly and honourably in away that Glorifies God.
The call to the church here is the call for us here and now. as people with out a home land lets resist sin and live an honourable life. Resisting the devil and his ways are possible
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
