Holiness in an unholy world... (3)
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Not just putting in time...
Not just putting in time...
Introduction
Introduction
Today, we’re going to look at making the most of our time.
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
One day I was talking with somebody, not from here, who was complaining about their work. They had no joy. It seemed to be very stressful. By the way they talked, it was a drag. I told him that life was too short to be working at something that you literally hate.
I do understand that we need to pay the bills. I get that there just isn’t enough for most people to live on social assistance or on some form of disability. EI usually pays 55% of what you made when you were working. Most of us are not independently wealthy enough to just quit our jobs and live on our savings, but to spend our lives feeling unfulfilled and not really sure what God’s will is for us, isn’t God’s best.
Many will work until it’s time to retire and then wonder, “What am I really here for?”
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Both Peter, who was one of Jesus’ closest friends, and Paul the apostle who wrote nearly half of the New Testament, had a different perspective on life than the average person. Today, we’re going to look at this perspective on how we fit into this world.
Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
Live your time as foreigners...
Live your time as foreigners...
Let’s look into what this means and then we’ll get into the why and the how.
The what...
The what...
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
Foreigner and exile might bring a little different meaning, but it does bring things to light that this world is not our home.
(Strong’s, Bible Hub)
χρόνον (chronon) τῆς (tēs) παροικίας (paroikias) - temporary stay [on earth]
As much as this looks like home. This world is what we can see with our eyes. This is all that we have ever known, but this is not it. This is not our goal.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
When we are born, we are given citizenship. For those of us who were born here in Canada, we were given citizenship based on our birth, not based on our abilities. Anybody that comes to Canada from another country needs to apply to become a citizen of Canada.
I’ve been told that many Canadians wouldn’t even pass our citizenship exams. It requires learning about our country.
What Peter and Paul are saying is that we are not of this world. When we give our lives to Christ, we become citizens of Heaven.
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state,
or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.
It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.
For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.
The what...
The what...
We need to live our lives here as if this were not our home but live our lives knowing that one day we will be with Jesus.
Some of you have heard the story of Lot in Genesis 18-19, this is the first book of the Bible, we have the story of Abraham’s nephew, named Lot. Abraham is an important figure in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. In Christianity, He is the Grandfather of Jacob, also known as Israel. In Islam, he is the father of Ismael, who they would call their ancestor.
Lot was living in a valley where two cities were: Sodom and Gomorrah. These two cities were very evil in God’s eyes. Even though Lot was a foreigner there, he became very comfortable living there. In fact, he didn’t want to leave even though two angels had come to destroy the cities.
Finally, while he lingered, the angels took Lot, his wife, and their two daughters by the hands and dragged them out of the city for the sake of Abraham. Once they were out of the city, the LORD rained down fire and brimstone on these cities.
The why...
The why...
Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially...
For God does not show favoritism.
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.
They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)
This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
I’m sure if I was to ask you if you grew up in a home where there was favoritism or if there was a teacher’s pet in your classroom in school, there would be many that might say, that one of your siblings was a favorite. Maybe some would even admit to being the favorite child.
We live in a society where there is much racial tension. Women had to fight for the right to vote. There have been wage discrimination, and the list could go on and on.
God shows no favoritism.
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Each one of us will be acquitted or condemned based on what we have done with what God has revealed to us.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
This speaks to believers/Christians, to those who believe that Jesus died for them.
In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul the apostle is speaking of laying a foundation. When Paul brought the good news to the people in Corinth, he laid a foundation, and the was the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He proclaimed that the only way to please God was to believe, salvation through faith alone.
If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.
If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
One day God is going to test our works. Each and every one of us will stand before God. It will either be at the Judgment Seat of Christ or at the White Throne Judgment. The first is for believers and the second is for those who are not saved or were saved after the rapture.
Everybody will be judged impartially because God is fair.
The How...
The How...
Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
Live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
There is something to be said about having an intimate relationship with God. He wants us to know Him as our loving Father, and yet He is holy. There is no sin in HIm nor can there ever be. He is the creator of the universe. He is all-powerful. He has always been and always will be. There is no one like Him nor will there be anyone like Him. He causes the stars to shine. All the laws of Physics exist because He put them into motion.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
It’s because of Jesus that God doesn’t consume us, but it was not God’s desire to consume us but to save us. John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Because of God’s great love, we don’t have to be afraid. Human nature can cause us to worry about what others think, but
The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.
Jesus promised that we would be persecuted because of Him. In Matthew 10:28-33
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
Because of God’s greatness, we need to have a healthy fear, respect, awe, of Him, but because of His great love, He calls us His children.
Because God is impartial, we need to ask Him to help us to be impartial and love those that we feel don’t deserve our love.
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.
Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.
Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.