Resolve To Be A Christian
Enduring Trials • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
At age nineteen, these resolutions were adopted by Dr. James Clement Furman who became the first president of Furman University:
Resolved, never to speak ill of an individual but to call to mind my own sins and imperfections and be silent.
Resolved, when my heart feels cold and languid, to strive earnestly in prayer to God for deliverance from such a state and for the abiding influence of His Holy Spirit; and to inquire into the causes which have produced this effect upon me and to guard against them in the future.
Resolved, never to go to bed without having endeavored to learn something more of God as He is revealed in the Holy Scriptures than I knew when I rose in the morning.
Resolved, to keep in mind during the business of the day the good resolutions which I may have formed for my assistance so that if I neglect them, I may humble myself and in my retirement earnestly seek pardon from God.
Resolved, to say nothing to irritate the feelings of anyone and especially of my relations and friends.
Resolved, to leave as soon as possible any company which might draw off my thoughts from the things of eternity.
Resolved, never to neglect to devote a certain portion of every twenty-four hours to secret meditation and prayer.
Resolved, never to halt in doing anything of which I am convinced that it is duty.
As we continue our study through Peter’s 1st letter, we are going to see him encourage us, who proclaim to be Christians, to resolve to be Christians. To resolve to be a Christian means you make a firm decision. This is who I am, this is what I believe and don’t believe, and I will stand firm not matter the cost. Tonight, Peter gives us 5 Resolutions and the goal for us today is to do a self-examination and ask our selves, “Have I truly made a firm decision to follow Christ?”
Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished with sin—in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will. For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander you. They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards, they might live in the spirit according to God’s standards.
The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
(Prayer)
4 Resolutions For The Christian
4 Resolutions For The Christian
1.) Resolve: To Fight Against Sin.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished with sin—in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.
In your bibles, circle, highlight, or underline the phrase “arm yourselves also with the same understanding.” The apostle Peter is reminding us that we are at war against our sinful nature. As a Christian, we must make a firm decision to fight against sin. Now, we can’t do this on our own. We must be clothed in the armor of God. Let’s look at Ephesians 6;
Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
I encourage you to get rid of this mindset that being a Christian is suppose to be easy. Every day is a fight, and some fights are tougher than others, but there is no such thing as a “day off” when fighting sin. If we fall into this type of thinking, it’s very easy for us to walk in the ways we once lived.
(Example: Someone trying to hurt/destroy me and my family everyday.)
2.) Resolve: That You Will Be Different From The World, No Matter The Cost.
For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander you.
As the church, we are called to be different from the world. Unfortunately, there have been times when the church has looked more like the world. This does not please God. While He is patient and loving, He is also justice, and there will be a time of judgement and punishment. The Lord gave this type of warning to Israel when the people were acting like the world and no living a life to please God. Let’s read from the prophet Ezekiel;
“Say to the rebellious people, the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I have had enough of all your detestable practices, house of Israel. When you brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in both heart and flesh, to occupy my sanctuary, you defiled my temple while you offered my food—the fat and the blood. You broke my covenant by all your detestable practices. You have not kept charge of my holy things but have appointed others to keep charge of my sanctuary for you.’
The Apostle Paul echos this same warning in his letter to the Ephesian Church;
Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.
In your minds, you need to be okay with being different from the way the world thinks and acts. You will feel the pressures of the world as they try to get you to conform to their living. For some reason, we get surprised by this.
“We often get surprised when unbelievers get surprised at us.”-Stephen Davey
(Example: “Everyone is doing it.”)
When we choose to live a life for Christ, it will collide with how the world wants us to live, and the world will not like it.
3.) Resolve: To Have An End Time Mindset.
They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards, they might live in the spirit according to God’s standards.
The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.
As a Christ follower, we need to be sober minded at the fact that this life on earth will end. As a matter of fact, everything will be destroyed. Why? Because of the curse of sin. The curse of sin destroyed and continues to destroy the once perfect world that God initially made. That’s why death is unnatural to us. Death wasn’t the original intent. The world however, tries to deny this sober reality. But this isn’t the only life we experience. There is an eternal life, and some will be judged to live for the rest of eternity with Christ and many will be judged to live for the rest of eternity separated from Christ in hell.
The final judge is Jesus Christ.
Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
“This is why we have a duty to teach the truth about Jesus Christ.”
4.) Resolve: To Do All Things That Glorify Christ.
Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
How Do We Glorify Christ?
Love One Another
Hatred stirs up conflicts,
but love covers all offenses.
Hospitable: Descriptive of practical kindness paid especially to strangers, often in the sharing of food and drink, lodging, and provision
Using Our Gifts To Serve Others:
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 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.
For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.
“Our gifts are not be used to glorify ourselves, but to glorify Christ!”
