peculair

1 Peter 2:9 KJV 1900

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:

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

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.

Greek - The Odyssey

Ulysses and his crew on a long dangerous journey

along the way they sailed by an island where Sirens lived

Sirens: beautiful bodied, sweet voiced temptresses

lure passers with sons

sailers drawn to island and crash boats ashore

then Sirens destroy them

Ulysses knew the temptation

had others bind him to the mast

sail by he loved the Sirens’ songs

wanted to get closer

BUT he was restrained

he can’t follow his urge

He had won the battle of temptation

BUT HE WASN’T FREE

Often times this mentality is carried over to our faith

we hold believers to a standard that they should grit teeth and endure

overcome all things and anything less is a failure

cause many to bail out because they can’t do it

others keep pushing on but find no freedom in Christ because they are bound to the ship but their hearts are elsewhere

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

the idea was not for us to merely flee from sin

there is no fleeing from one pleasure without also fleeing to a greater pleasure

when we find ourselves before something more desirable than what we are chasing

we’ll let go of our former love

we’d be crazy to not trade crumbs for a dinner feast

Greek — The Odyssey

Another sailor who came across Sirens’ island

instead of resisting by restraint

He hired Orpheus

the skilled musician

play his most beautiful piece

when in earshot of island

captain and crew were pleased

not by Sirens

but by better music

Freedom

Real freedom comes through God’s grace

to see that our cravings are more than just sin

ALL APPETITES AT THE ROOT FOR AN ALL SATISFYING GOD

God will always be better treasure

a more pleasing song

John Owen — Where our affections filled, taken up, and possessed with these things … what access could sin, with it’s painted pleasures, with it’s sugared poisons, with it’s envenomed baits, have unto our souls?

when we find God and all His greatness

it’s natural to no longer to desire the imitation of real pleasure

DESIRE

If we are asking if this or that is okay

we’ve probably missed it

It’s not as much about what we do or don’t do

but where are we looking for our desires to be fulfilled?

In Him but tied up looking at other pleasures

In Him looking to Him for full satisfaction

1 Peter 2:1-

1 Peter 2:1–5 ESV

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

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.

1 Peter 2:10 ESV

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.

1 Peter 2:11 ESV

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

List of things that we should do:

Subject to authority

1 Peter 2:13 ESV

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

Government & authority

1 Peter 2:

1 Peter 2:18 ESV

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

Employer or boss

1 Peter 3:1-

1 Peter 3:1 ESV

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,

women listen up

1 Peter 3:1–6 ESV

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

guys thought they got off easy right...

1 Peter 3:7

1 Peter 3:7 ESV

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

or as in

Ephesians 5:25 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

as for sinful living

1 Peter 4:1

1 Peter 4:1–2 ESV

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.