Holy Living
Enduring Trials • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 views"A Call To Holy Living Is A Call To Live A Sincere Life For Jesus Christ."
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week, Quincy Rogers set the foundation of our study in 1st Peter by sharing how Jesus Christ is our living hope, not matter what we are going through. As we continue our study tonight, Peter’s letter will focus on encouraging the believers to live a holy life. This portion of the letter is a call to action for us as believers to live a life that aim’s to please the Lord Jesus Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:9). When it comes to living a “holy life”, too many times we as the church have either complicated this or have not taught correctly on holiness. My hope and prayer tonight is that if you call yourself a believer in Jesus Christ that “The Call To Holy Living Is A Call To Live A Sincere Life For Jesus Christ.” As Tim mentioned three weeks ago, we either believe or we don’t believe in Jesus Christ. If we are calling ourselves believers, the question we need to all ask ourselves is “Am I living like a believer?”
Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. For
All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.
(Pray)
Anytime we see a “Therefore” start off a sentence, we need to recognize that the author is making a point to what he said previously. If you go back and re-read verses 3-12 in this letter, Peter is making the point that Jesus Christ is the living hope whether we are in a season on the mountain top or in a season in the valley. And since we are proclaiming that Jesus Christ is our living hope, Peter wants us to recognize some things about the way we are to live.
The Call:
The Call:
In verses 13-16 of the text, Peter addresses three things we need to get a grip on.
Our Minds, Our Emotions, and Our Behavior:
The mind is one of the most powerful things God has created in us. Many scientists and psychologist have conducted numerous studies and research on the mind and brain. In some cases, people have sold their brain for millions of dollars to scientists after they die. One thing that has been shown through studies about the mind is that whatever we allow in can dictate our thoughts, which can dictate our emotions, and finally all of these things can dictate our behaviors.
(Personal Example: Music and T.V.)
See, some who are against Christianity will say something like this; “Be careful, they will brain wash you.” Let me ask you something, how many of you ever washed your clothes, car, your dog, yourself? Okay, did you wash those things? Because they were dirty! Here’s my point; The Word of God is washing your brain because it’s the only thing, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that can clean all the dirt of sin that gets trapped in our minds.
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
The only reason people say foolish things like “be careful, they will brain wash you” is because they don’t want to confront their own sins and they would rather conform to the teachings of the world then conform to the teachings of God. Which leads me to my next point about the call to holy living. Let’s re-read verses 14-16;
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
What Being Holy Isn’t:
Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (aka MTD)
This inaccurate teaching has tainted what living a holy life is all about. Here is what this teaching states;
1.) There is “a god” that exits.
2.) God wants people to be good, nice, and fair.
3.) Our goal in life is to be happy and care about ourselves.
4.) God only gets involved in our life when things get bad.
5.) Good people go to heaven.
Many in the church today believe that as long as they change things from the outside, they are good! However, a call to holy living is not just about being “good”, a call to holy living transforms our lives.
The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’
“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
What Being Holy Is: (Holiness by J.C. Ryle)
1.) The Habit of Being of One Mind With God:
“It is the habit of agreeing in God’s judgement-hating what he hates-loving what he loves-and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His word. He who most entirely agrees with God, he is the most holy man.”-J.C. Ryle
2.) A Hate For Sin and A Desire To Do The Will Of God:
Since I love your commands
more than gold, even the purest gold,
I carefully follow all your precepts
and hate every false way.
Your decrees are wondrous;
therefore I obey them.
The revelation of your words brings light
and gives understanding to the inexperienced.
I open my mouth and pant
because I long for your commands.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your practice toward those who love your name.
Make my steps steady through your promise;
don’t let any sin dominate me.
Redeem me from human oppression,
and I will keep your precepts.
Make your face shine on your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
My eyes pour out streams of tears
because people do not follow your instruction.
3.) Strive To Be Like Our Lord Jesus Christ:
Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,
This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands. The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him: The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.
“Embracing the call to live a holy life doesn’t mean we will be perfect. Embracing the call to live a holy life means to live differently.”
“...be holy in ALL your conduct...”-1st Peter 1:15
Reverence For Christ:
Reverence For Christ:
If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers.
Reverence: The proper sense of awe, respect and wonder that is inspired and demanded by an encounter with, or meditation upon, the character and activity of the living God.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
(Example: Why We Worship)
“If we don’t have faith and hope in God, we won’t revere Him.”
Sincere Brotherly Love:
Sincere Brotherly Love:
Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.
Brotherly Love: The proper sense of awe, respect and wonder that is inspired and demanded by an encounter with, or meditation upon, the character and activity of the living God.
Agape Love: Agape will involve deep feelings and affection, but agape begins with a decision. Agape doesn’t wait for merit earned by the one who receives love; and agape doesn’t wait for inspiration.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
“We make the decision to love one another because Christ decided to love us even when we didn’t love Him.”