Our Privileged Position
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Peter wrote to believers in a season of growing hostility to their faith. Christian in Asia were beginning to face opposition and suffering as a result believing in Jesus. He wrote to them to remind them of their inheritance in heaven, to point their attention back to Christ and the gospel as their source of strength to endure suffering.
He reminds them of God’s purpose in their suffering.
And calls them to fix the hopes on God.
I want to point us for the next few weeks to a few the Gospel truths that he uses to encourage them in difficulty. This won’t be a line by line exposition, but gleanings from 1 Peter.
He began these instructions with referring to these believers as exiles in Babylon. He draws on the OT experience of Daniel and other Israelites living in Babylon in the “Dispersion” and calls them to view their own circumstances the same way. All Christians are to live like exiles. To live like we are not in our home, we are in a foreign land and this is to permeate our lives. We live by higher principles than the principles of the world we are in, and we have different goals too. So let’s look at some of the truths that Peter presents to encourage these suffering Christians to live like this.
Today: Our Privileged Position.
Those Whom God Honors
Those Whom God Honors
Jesus, God’s Chosen One
Jesus, God’s Chosen One
1. The One Whom God the Father Loves and honors
The One appointed by whom Men would come to God.
23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
2. The One Appointed By Whom Men Would Come to God
Believers, Through Christ!
Believers, Through Christ!
Only In Christ.
Only In Christ.
“Offer Spiritual Sacrifices Through Him”
Example: I recieved many blessings, simply because I was connected to someone else.
My Father,
Anchored In Truth Leading to Grace Baptist Church.
Because of our Faith In Him
Because of our Faith In Him
By Trusting in Christ, you honor the son, you affirm his reliability, and you obey God’s message.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
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Contrast that with Unbelievers
Contrast that with Unbelievers
Contrast that with Unbelievers
Contrast that with Unbelievers
They Dishonor the son, deny his reliability, and disobey God’s message.
10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
When you set up another way to come to God you dishonor him.
When you ignore his calls, you dishonor him.
You are either obeying God, or disobeying him.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
What Makes Them Special?
What Makes Them Special?
“That must mean believers are the smart ones, they special ones, the wise ones.”
Nothing in Themselves/ but God’s Distinguishing Grace
No, it’s all of grace. It’s not of yourself that you are a Christ, but it’s from God.
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
Ordained to eternal life
31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
1 Cor. 1:30-31
1 Cor 1:
They are in Christ, connected to him!
The Honors They Receive
The Honors They Receive
1. You are made part of God’s special People
“Chosen Race, Holy nation, peculiar people"
-Spoken of Israel in the OT, now applies to the Church in the NT
-The ones in whom God delights.
2. God Now Receives your Spiritual Worship.
-Temple (God’s Dwelling Place)
If you are not a believer that sounds dull and strange, but to those who know him that is joy and peace!
4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!
You are a dwelling place for God. God is with us
-Priest (Free Access to God)
-Spiritual Sacrifices (Prayer, praise, self-denying service)
3. You have the status of Priest-King, under Christ.
You have the status of Priest-King, under Christ.
Authority to Rule
If we suffer with him, we will reign with him!
If you are not a believer that sounds dull and strange, but to those who know him that is joy and peace!
4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!
The Mission they Possess
The Mission they Possess
vs. 9 To Proclaim His Excellencies
We hold on to him and trust his promises even when our world is falling down.