Faith in the Crosshairs 1 Peter Precious (1:17-25)

Faith in the Faith in the CrosshairsCrosshairs

1 Peter1 PeterPrecious Precious (1:17-25)(1:17-25)

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• Shadow of Nero's Shadow of Nero's PersecutionPersecution

• Point: "Live out the faith Point: "Live out the faith in the midst of suffering"in the midst of suffering"

ReviewReview

God will God will nevernever give me give me something to take me something to take me away from him, his people away from him, his people or his Lordship in my lifeor his Lordship in my life

−Didn't come from himDidn't come from him

OROR−I'm misusing itI'm misusing it

1 Peter1 Peter

(ESV)(ESV)

Early Church= 3 Types of PeopleEarly Church= 3 Types of People

−SlavesSlaves• WarWar• BankruptcyBankruptcy• Sale (self or parents)Sale (self or parents)• BirthBirth

−FreemenFreemen−FreedmenFreedmen

• Period of service and/orPeriod of service and/or• Payment of price- often by someone Payment of price- often by someone

elseelse• RedemptionRedemption

Spiritually-SpeakingSpiritually-Speaking

−SlavesSlaves

•"We are offspring of Abraham "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?" say, 'You will become free'?"

Jesus answered them, "Truly, Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to who commits sin is a slave to sin- John 8:33-34sin- John 8:33-34

"You shall be holy, for I am "You shall be holy, for I am holy…"holy…"

And if you call on him as Father And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers… your forefathers…

……not with perishable not with perishable things such as silver or things such as silver or gold, but with the gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.without blemish or spot.

He was foreknown before He was foreknown before the foundation of the the foundation of the world but was made world but was made manifest in the last times manifest in the last times for the sake of you who for the sake of you who through him are believers through him are believers in God, who raised him in God, who raised him from the dead and gave from the dead and gave him glory, so that your him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.faith and hope are in God.

Having purified your souls Having purified your souls by your obedience to the by your obedience to the truth for a sincere truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have pure heart, since you have been born again, not of been born again, not of perishable seed but of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the imperishable, through the living and abiding word of living and abiding word of God;God;

for "All flesh is like grass for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the and all its glory like the flower of grass. The flower of grass. The grass withers, and the grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains of the Lord remains forever.”forever.”

And this word is the good And this word is the good news that was preached news that was preached to you- vs. 17-25to you- vs. 17-25

Gird, sober-minded so you Gird, sober-minded so you can set hope, be holy…can set hope, be holy…

And if you call on him as And if you call on him as Father who judges Father who judges impartially according to impartially according to each one’s deeds…each one’s deeds…

If= If= sincesince

FatherFather= family connection= family connection

Judges impartiallyJudges impartially= = according to reality- not according to reality- not appearanceappearance


Judges impartiallyJudges impartially= = according to reality- not according to reality- not appearanceappearance- looking for looking for what is good and rightwhat is good and right


Judges impartiallyJudges impartially= = according to reality- not according to reality- not appearanceappearance- looking for looking for what is good and rightwhat is good and right

• Present tense- todayPresent tense- today−DisciplineDiscipline−Trials and HardshipsTrials and Hardships−EnemyEnemy−PeoplePeople

……part of the problem is that part of the problem is that we don't know how to we don't know how to define 'blessing.' A define 'blessing.' A blessing is not always blessing is not always easy, painless, simple, easy, painless, simple, comfortable or expected. comfortable or expected.

……A blessing often comes A blessing often comes wrapped in the mystery of wrapped in the mystery of darkness. But I am learning darkness. But I am learning this truth - this truth - anything that anything that makes us cry out to God makes us cry out to God can be counted as a can be counted as a blessing" -Mary blessing" -Mary Southerland Southerland

God's discipline is not God's discipline is not punitive, but correctional. punitive, but correctional. Helping me become all I Helping me become all I was created in Christ to bewas created in Christ to be

Father…judges impartiallyFather…judges impartially

−Final sense- last dayFinal sense- last day

……we must all appear before we must all appear before the judgment seat of the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for may receive what is due for what he has done in the what he has done in the body, whether good or evil body, whether good or evil - 2 Corinthians 5:10 - 2 Corinthians 5:10

……conduct yourselves with conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of fear throughout the time of your your exileexile……

2 Types of People2 Types of People

−Slaves who belong to this worldSlaves who belong to this world−Freedmen who belong to the Freedmen who belong to the

LordLord

−Adam, Eve, Jesus- free from the Adam, Eve, Jesus- free from the beginningbeginning

The more I try to make this The more I try to make this "home," the more enslaved "home," the more enslaved I becomeI become

The more I focus on and live The more I focus on and live for my real home, the more for my real home, the more I truly free I becomeI truly free I become

ExiledExiled for a time and a task for a time and a task

"I'm not going to take them "I'm not going to take them out of the world, but I'm out of the world, but I'm going to make them mine, going to make them mine, so they no longer belong to so they no longer belong to the world…"- Jesusthe world…"- Jesus

……conduct yourselves with conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from you were ransomed from the the futile ways futile ways inherited inherited from your forefathers… from your forefathers…

futile waysfutile ways::

• IgnoranceIgnorance- "It is hard to - "It is hard to investigate and to find the investigate and to find the framer and the father of the framer and the father of the universe; and, if one did universe; and, if one did find him, it would be find him, it would be impossible to express him impossible to express him in terms which all could in terms which all could understand"- Platounderstand"- Plato


Ignorance-Ignorance- The supreme cause, The supreme cause, by all men dreamed of and by by all men dreamed of and by no man known- Aristotleno man known- Aristotle

−The gods are unknowable and The gods are unknowable and totally uninterested in men totally uninterested in men and the universeand the universe

−Mystery and power, but never Mystery and power, but never lovelove


Dominated by unquenched desireDominated by unquenched desire−Extreme poverty while the rich Extreme poverty while the rich

feasted on outrageously expensive feasted on outrageously expensive farefare

−Chastity forgottenChastity forgotten•8 Husbands in 5 years- Juvenal8 Husbands in 5 years- Juvenal•2323rdrd husband by 21 husband by 21stst wife- Jerome wife- Jerome•Orgies and "unnatural sensuality" Orgies and "unnatural sensuality" looked on as normallooked on as normal

•Society constantly looking for Society constantly looking for newer and wilder ways of gratifying newer and wilder ways of gratifying it's lustsit's lusts


Futility of lifeFutility of life−"Sun can rise and set again; but "Sun can rise and set again; but

once our brief light is dead, there once our brief light is dead, there is nothing left but one long night is nothing left but one long night from which we never shall from which we never shall awake"- Catullusawake"- Catullus

−"Life must always be futile when "Life must always be futile when there is nothing on the other side there is nothing on the other side of death" - William Barclayof death" - William Barclay


• IgnoranceIgnorance

• Unquenched DesireUnquenched Desire

• FutilityFutility

All of these devalue people All of these devalue people and value self above othersand value self above others

……conduct yourselves with conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of fear throughout the time of your your exileexile, knowing that , knowing that you were you were ransomedransomed from from the the futile ways futile ways inherited inherited from your forefathers… from your forefathers…

From Slaves to Freedmen by From Slaves to Freedmen by way of paymentway of payment

Payment was made in order Payment was made in order to satisfy a debtto satisfy a debt

What debt?What debt?

ransomed…not with ransomed…not with perishable things such as perishable things such as silver or gold, but with silver or gold, but with the the preciousprecious blood of blood of Christ, like that of a lamb Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.without blemish or spot.

The price= Christ's bloodThe price= Christ's blood

Value comes from scarcity Value comes from scarcity and enduranceand endurance

−SilverSilver−GoldGold−Precious Metals and Precious Metals and

DiamondsDiamonds

Precious blood of ChristPrecious blood of Christ

Conduct yourselves with Conduct yourselves with fear…ransomed (set free fear…ransomed (set free from slavery to futility) from slavery to futility) with the precious blood of with the precious blood of Christ…Christ…

How does that change how How does that change how I see my freedom as a I see my freedom as a Christian?Christian?

Saving Private Ryan: "Earn Saving Private Ryan: "Earn this!"this!"

……with the precious blood with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or lamb without blemish or spot.spot.

Walk like an EgyptianWalk like an Egyptian

……with the precious blood with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or lamb without blemish or spotspot

−Emancipation from Emancipation from slaveryslavery

−Deliverance from deathDeliverance from death

He was foreknown He was foreknown before before the foundation of the the foundation of the world world but was made but was made manifest in the last times manifest in the last times for the sake of you who for the sake of you who through him are believers through him are believers in God, who raised him in God, who raised him from the dead and gave from the dead and gave him glory, so that your him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.faith and hope are in God.

God was God was RedeemerRedeemer before before he was he was CreatorCreator


• Jesus is not an emergency Jesus is not an emergency measure to deal with an measure to deal with an unanticipated problemunanticipated problem


• Jesus is not an emergency Jesus is not an emergency measure to deal with an measure to deal with an unanticipated problemunanticipated problem

• The problem was known The problem was known before the world was created- before the world was created- yet God still created ityet God still created it


• God already knew you were God already knew you were going to sin before he saved going to sin before he saved you, yet he loved and you, yet he loved and accepted you anywayaccepted you anyway

He was foreknown before He was foreknown before the foundation of the the foundation of the world but was made world but was made manifest in the last times manifest in the last times for the sake of you who for the sake of you who through him are believers through him are believers in God, who in God, who raised him raised him from the deadfrom the dead and gave and gave him glory, so that your him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.faith and hope are in God.

The crucifixion cannot be The crucifixion cannot be understood apart from the understood apart from the resurrectionresurrection

If Jesus died but did not raise, If Jesus died but did not raise, we have a dead former we have a dead former miracle-worker who can offer miracle-worker who can offer nothing to anyonenothing to anyone

I can follow the teachings of a I can follow the teachings of a dead teacher. Or be loved and dead teacher. Or be loved and transformed by a living Saviortransformed by a living Savior

Pain did not bring salvation- it Pain did not bring salvation- it was simply the mechanism was simply the mechanism

Love called for and allowed Love called for and allowed the pain for the purpose of the pain for the purpose of redeeming slaves to freedom redeeming slaves to freedom in Christin Christ

A life lived in conscious A life lived in conscious awareness of the sacrifice of awareness of the sacrifice of Christ produces:Christ produces:

• ReverenceReverence for the gift for the gift

• Actions that glorify the GiverActions that glorify the Giver

God is using events to refine me God is using events to refine me into what he's called me to be. into what he's called me to be. Instead of shaking my fist and Instead of shaking my fist and blaming God, I thank God and blaming God, I thank God and live for himlive for him

Having purified your souls Having purified your souls by your obedience to the by your obedience to the truth truth FORFOR a sincere a sincere brotherly love, love one brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a another earnestly from a pure heartpure heart, since you have , since you have been born again, not of been born again, not of perishable seed but of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the imperishable, through the living and abiding word of living and abiding word of God;God;

Futile waysFutile ways::

−The gods don't love us- no value in The gods don't love us- no value in themthem

−Desire turns people into the means Desire turns people into the means to selfish gratificationto selfish gratification

•And throws them away afterwards And throws them away afterwards

−Futility- there is no afterlife, so use Futility- there is no afterlife, so use people now to get what you want people now to get what you want

God's WayGod's Way::

By obeying truth (salvation), we By obeying truth (salvation), we were purified morallywere purified morally

The evidence of and purpose for The evidence of and purpose for purification (holiness) is that purification (holiness) is that we would love God and otherswe would love God and others (Matt.22:36-40)(Matt.22:36-40)

God's WayGod's Way::

We don't need to love one We don't need to love one another as though we were another as though we were brothers and sisters. We brothers and sisters. We can love one another can love one another because we really are because we really are brothers and sistersbrothers and sisters

The purpose and evidence of The purpose and evidence of holiness is glorifying God by holiness is glorifying God by treating people as valuable treating people as valuable and equal partners in the and equal partners in the faith faith for their benefitfor their benefit

−Reason for the Great Reason for the Great CommissionCommission

−Foundation of marriageFoundation of marriage−Basis of unityBasis of unity

The evidence of holiness is notThe evidence of holiness is not: :

−MoralityMorality. The Pharisees had that . The Pharisees had that −Bible knowledgeBible knowledge. An atheist can . An atheist can

possess thatpossess that−Number of people in a churchNumber of people in a church. Cults . Cults

have thathave that−Really long prayersReally long prayers that impress. that impress.

Jesus warned against that. Jesus warned against that.

The evidence of holiness is sincere The evidence of holiness is sincere and fervent loveand fervent love

Conducting my life in Conducting my life in reverence for Christ's reverence for Christ's sacrifice means knowing sacrifice means knowing God is judging God is judging how I lovehow I love fellow believersfellow believers

Worked backwards, how I Worked backwards, how I speak of and treat speak of and treat people, esp. other people, esp. other believers, is a primary believers, is a primary evidence of my walk with evidence of my walk with GodGod

Does my life honor the Does my life honor the sacrifice of Christ's blood sacrifice of Christ's blood that was violently shed to that was violently shed to ransom me from a life of ransom me from a life of futility?futility?

2 Types of People2 Types of People::

• Slaves Slaves

• FreedmenFreedmen

Which am I? Does it show Which am I? Does it show in how I live and how I in how I live and how I treat others?treat others?

Faith in the Crosshairs 1 Peter Precious (1:17-25)

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