Living As Exiles - A study of 1st Peter, Week 2
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we started our study of the book 1st Peter. These are my favorite types of messages to preach - working our way through a book.
For the next few weeks we will be taking this book, a little bit at a time, attempting to discover what God’s word has for us. There will be times through this book that we will just be learning, and there will be times where there are calls to action as God’s word instructs us and corrects us.
Before we get into the word, lets pray together.
PRAY
There are only two books in the Bible that we attribute to being written by Peter. He wrote two letters, meant to be circulated throughout the church and we have those recorded in scripture as 1 and 2nd Peter.
Peter was a disciple of Jesus, Peter was a disciple, who walked with Jesus. He had the great honor of walking and talking with our Lord Jesus. He was an eye witness of the Lord. As an apostle, he spoke with the authority of the Lord. He was one sent to speak - with the voice of Christ. And so as we approach this book, as we read and study this letter, we do so with the understanding that these are RED letters. This is what Jesus would have had him say.
As I was studying for this message, I was reminded that it was Peter, the author of this book, that Jesus spoke to at the end of John.
When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him.
A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him.
He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.
It was with that weight, that Peter lead the church, it was with those instructions that Peter wrote this letter, to you and I.
I say all of that to say, there are things in this chapter that will make us uncomfortable, and that is okay. Peter knew that his job as an elder of the church would be to shepherd them. To comfort and correct them, and we will see that in this letter.
Recap
Recap
The title of my series is Living as Exiles. I pull that title from the first verse of the book, in the address, Peter writes to Christians who are exiled - as we read through this book and others we realized that he is referring to our exile from Heaven - and realize that 2000 years later - We are exiles.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen
This is an identity that we can and should be assuming ourselves.
We are dispersed.
We have our nationality - but our citizenship is in heaven, and from there we await a savior.
Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
Sermon
This morning we are edging a little further into the book - getting into the beginning of chapter 2. Something you should understand, before the Bible was cannonized, before we put together what we call the bible, there were no chapters or verses. Those were added later to help navigate through the thousands of pages of the word. So as we look at the scripture today, and go from chapter 1 straight into chapter 2, you should know that it is one continued thought. This was one letter.
Peter defines you as:
Peter defines you as:
He is speaking to Christians. This is how he defines Christians. Redeemed, purified, and born again.
Redeemed
Redeemed
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,
Empty way of life : Our ways were empty.
There is some blame here, that we have to accept - I am the sinner. At the same time, we can say - we came by it honestly!
Inherited - Consider for a moment, the things that we inherited.
Generational sins that carry weight
All the way back to original sin
by the precious blood of Christ
but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.
Purified
Purified
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,
A work that WE do
By obedience to the truth
The bible is the truth. We can’t claim to know it without reading it. We can’t claim to follow it and still have “yeah but” statements.
Born Again
Born Again
Therefore
Therefore
Clean yourself up
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.
Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander.
What does the world complain about Christians - that we are a bunch of hypocrites. What did Peter know about Christians 2000 years ago.... that we was a bunch of hypocrites.
Only you can prevent forest fires - only you can prevent
Desire the word.
The word of God - this Bible, a collection of scripture and letters
it should be our prayer, this should be so present and prevelent in our lives.
Addicted to it.
So that you can grow up into your salvation.
Peter echos the desire of Jesus and Paul when he says - You can’t stay where you have always been. You have to grow.
To be able to grow, you have to do these things: You have to clean yourself up.
Rid yourself of the nonsense.