Relationships: Jesus
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Introduction
Introduction
It’s February, so it’s time to talk about relationships! We will talk about THOSE kinds of relationships next week, but this week we are going to talk about one relationships that rules all of the others. Sounds like Lord of the Rings, right?
Let’s jump into 1 Peter 1:3-9
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Text
Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry, but rather what is inside the heart—the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.
Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner, showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.
Right off the bat, Peter makes a distinction. He isn’t talking about any god. He is talking specifically about the God who revealed Himself in His Son Jesus.
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You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.
Our inheritance is eternal life with Jesus, and it is the only thing that can be possessed on this earth that won’t fade away in some way.
While initial faith gets us to the point of salvation, our continued faith and God guarding us preserves us until we obtain that final, lasting salvation.
The people Peter was writing to probably had some major persecution to deal with. This could have been in the time of the Emperor Nero who covered Christians in freshly killed animals and fed them to dogs and wolves and covered Christians in tar and lit them on fire to light up his garden.
Peter uses an image of refining gold to talk about difficulty and proven character. When refining gold, it would be heated up then all of the impurities would rise to top and be taken out. The refiner would know it is ready when He could see Himself in it. Sometimes God uses suffering and pain to take thing away from our lives which hold us back from being more like Him.
Our proven character will result in praise, honor, and glory of Jesus Christ. OUR PURPOSE!
These believers had not seen Jesus, but they put their faith in Him anyway because the truth of who He is is unmistakeable. We are in the same boat.
The salvation of their souls is found in their continuing, persistent faith in Jesus.
Body
Body
Why do I need relationship with Jesus? (6, 8)
Why do I need relationship with Jesus? (6, 8)
The people Peter was writing to seemed to feel really grateful and to need this salvation, but we live in an enlightened world now, so why do we need this? We know way more about life, this world, and the universe than they did, so why are we still talking about Jesus like we NEED Him?
When you do some serious evaluation of your life, knowing everything you know, do you feel complete?
Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
John 8:
What the scriptures say is that you aren’t and you know it. You know you are in need of someone greater than you to save you because there is no way you can save yourself. You can’t do enough good, you can’t work hard enough, you can’t pray enough.
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Ephesians 2:
The scriptures say that because you are separated from God by your sin, your only destiny is death. BUT GOD being rich in mercy sent Jesus to bridge the gap through His sacrifice so that you could be whole with God.
The people Peter wrote to understood this, and that is why this joy they had affected everything.
What does a relationship with Jesus look like?
What does a relationship with Jesus look like?
Worship (3, 6-9)
Joy (6, 8)
Proven Character (6-7)
Faith (6-8)
How can I have a relationship with Jesus? (3b-5, 8-9)
How can I have a relationship with Jesus? (3b-5, 8-9)
Simple, continuing faith.
Faith can simply be defined as “continuing trust or faithfulness.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
Worship
Mercy/Grace
New Life
Sealed by God’s Power
Salvation is not complete
Suffer with joy to proven character (New Life)
Conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
We will close with this illustration, who sits in your chair.
We will close with this illustration, who sits in your chair.
Something besides you
You
God
Whoever sits in your chair, gets to tell you what to do. Having faith in God means that you have a continued trust of His leadership and salvation in your life.
Some of you need to start this continued faith today.
Some of you need to start this continued faith today.
Some of you have been going to church for a long time, you may have even been baptized, but you know that you do not have a continued faith in Jesus and you really never did.
Some of you have been going to church for a long time, you may have even been baptized, but you know that you do not have a continued faith in Jesus and you really never did.
Some of you have faith in Jesus, but you have fallen off the path and you need to put your trust in Him again to lead and guide you.
Some of you have faith in Jesus, but you have fallen off the path and you need to put your trust in Him again to lead and guide you.
Some of you have that one area where you are in the chair and not your Lord and King.
Some of you have that one area where you are in the chair and not your Lord and King.
Decisions need to be made tonight. What are you going to do?
Decisions need to be made tonight. What are you going to do?
Response
Response
What did you think about what we talked about tonight? Do you have any questions that I can help you with? Was anything unclear?
Where are you in your relationship with Jesus?
Have you ever been through one of those “refining experiences” where you went through something difficult and came out better for it? Tell us about that.
