ResponsiveReiding

1 Peter Part 5

1 Peter 2:1-3 & Psalm 34

Reacting or Responding?

THE AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

When people are marginalized,

When they feel powerless in their circumstances,

When they are subject to ridicule because of things they hold dear,

When they are misunderstood and misrepresented,

When they are treated unfairly, with no recourse,

When there is no prospect of change on the horizon

It is only natural to react in certain ways.

Peter knows this.

Because Peter knows his own heart.

Just as he knows sin because he knows his own sinfulness.

Therefore he knows his readers.

And even if he didn’t know these things first hand, the Holy Spirit gave him these words to pen.

And no one knows our hearts like our Creator.

He knows us better than we know ourselves.

His readers have been forced into a hostile culture.

They’ve been robbed of many if not all of the even scant rights they enjoyed as Romans – as some of them certainly were.

Many of them never even had those rights – and were always at the mercy, or more precisely, at the mere whim of those in political power.

There was no regard for their Christian convictions.

There was no religious freedom as they understood it.

They had no voice in the government.

They were displaced to areas where they did not know the customs, and few cared to know theirs.

Language was a barrier.

But even more, the people groups they were plunged into had no concept of a single, personal creator God,

No reference point for external moral absolutes like the 10 commandments.

They were plunged into this mess of a situation.

Similarly the Church in America today sits in the midst of a society that is in many ways becoming just like the one they were sent to.

Years ago I was traveling from the 12 Corners to Pittsford on Monroe Ave.

It was a clear, lovely morning.

There were few cars on the road.

The one immediately in front of me, and a few way behind us was all the traffic on our side.

There were just a few cars – spread out in the oncoming lanes.

I noticed the head of the driver in front of me, duck down to the right.

But he didn’t pop back up quickly. He was going about 40.

As I watched, helplessly behind him, his car started to drift over the double yellow lines into the oncoming lane.

The elderly couple in the car coming straight at him had no time to react.

They hit head on.

To me it was all like it was happening in slow motion.

I could see it happening, but was powerless to intervene.

All I could do was run into a store to get someone to call 911 – this was before cell phones – and attend to the 3 unconscious victims until a passing nurse and then an ambulance got there.

The driver in front of me was simply trying to retrieve a dropped cassette tape, and veered off.

That might be how it looks to many of us here today – when it comes to the direction our nation is taking.

Increasing hostility toward Evangelical Christianity.

Lessening regard for our Biblical and moral convictions.

No voice in government.

The devaluing of human life resulting in abortion, euthanasia, physician assisted suicide, a market for harvested baby parts, and an erotomania that makes the only absolute right: The one to seek sexual expression in any form – the only thing no one can safely criticize.

A horrible wreck unfolding right before our eyes.

Peter has given us some extremely valuable tools so far to respond to all this.

[[SLIDE]]   The Believer’s dual-identity as both Elect and Exile

[[SLIDE]]   Reminding ourselves of the wonder of salvation

[[SLIDE]]   And last time, like wrapping those two things around a 4 piece core he drew is to consider a mindset rooted in HOPE, HOLINESS, COMING JUDGMENT and LOVE.

But he also knows that these things need enlarged upon, repeated, and supplemented by more knowledge.

So our text today puts three things before us in consideration of all this.

[[SLIDE]]  This is how he begins – building off of what has come before:

“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.  Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

[[SLIDE]]   And we’ll look at it in 3 parts: OUTLINE

1. [[SLIDE]] 5 Dangers to look out for.
2. [[SLIDE]] 1 Direction in overcoming these dangers.
3. [[SLIDE]] 1 Penetrating and all important question to answer.

[[SLIDE]]   1. 5 Dangers to look out for.

Note that the dangers Peter draws our attention to here are not EXTERNAL dangers, from the circumstances themselves.

No, these are INTERNAL traps.

Sinful tendencies which may be undetectable in the good times, but surface when we are tested and tried – the way his readers were.

[[SLIDE]]  It is a reminder of Paul’s admonition in 2 Cor. 10:3-6 – ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, ⁶ being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. ^[1]

Let’s take them in order and see how they might be important to his 1^st audience, so we can be aware of them for ourselves.

[[SLIDE]]   a. MALICE – a mean-spirited or vicious attitude or disposition, malice, ill-will, malignity

[[SLIDE]]    Bush, Obama, Clinton, Trump.

This is NOT a political sermon.

What I am doing here, I am taking from Peter’s cue in 2:13 & 17.

No doubt you have one or more visceral responses to one or more of the faces you see here.

You might react badly to President Bush for his war or spending polices.

On the other hand, President Obama’s visage may conjure up concern over the loss of religious freedom or increasing debt or some others issues.

Mrs. Clinton’s picture might evoke and entirely different set of responses, as well may Mr. Trump’s.

The point it is this – when we feel unheard and trampled upon in any way – when we foresee or at least THINK we foresee – impending disaster but feel powerless, it is extraordinarily easy to slip into and justify MALICE toward such people – from all different sides!

[[SLIDE]]   And note the definition I gave you here a mean-spirited or vicious attitude or disposition, malice, ill-will, malignity^[2]  BDAG

One does not have to wish ill on the one they dislike, they need only to fail of GOOD WILL toward them.

A vicious indifference. As though they are not human and in need of grace like ourselves.

Anger may be legitimate – but when that crosses over into wanting to see them get their comeuppance, or fall or be punished or suffer shame – we’ve fallen into the trap of the Enemy and become people of REACTIONS rather than people of Godly RESPONSES.

This is one of the most subtle but important aspects of being conformed to the image of Christ.

Jesus – as the Son of His Heavenly Father – did not allow his reactions to be jerked about by those around Him, but RESPONDED according to the need of the hour and the need of those He was interacting with.

In like – Peter calls his readers to refrain from an understandable but sinful response to the sins they are exposed to.

As we’ll see in later portions of the letter – he has very specific responses to sin in mind.

But he must point out the problem of falling into the trap of reacting out of emotion and fear and anger first.

And isn’t this a timely word for us as we face the political, moral and cultural future in America right now?

Who might you harbor malice in your heart toward?

Don’t candy coat-it. Admit it. And repent.

Amazing as it may seem, Peter will go on to tell these very people – thrust into these circumstances by the fallen whims of the Emperor Claudius –

[[SLIDE]]   1 Peter 2:13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

[[SLIDE]]   1 Peter 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

In due course we’ll have to unpack what these look like under various circumstances – but we cannot be simply swept away in our anger or frustration.

[[SLIDE]]   b. DECEIT – taking advantage through craft and underhanded methods, deceit, cunning, treachery…

to make false through deception or distortion,  falsify, adulterate ^[3]

The temptation here is – when powerless, to get down on the perceived enemy’s level, and try every which-way to gain the upper hand – even if it is less than kosher.

[[SLIDE]]   I saw a great example of this very thing this week. Trying trough craft and cunning to discredit.

On NEWSGRU.COM, they ran a video of a 2014 Mass at which – in Latin, the phrase “luciferi” was used in prayer.

They tried to say the participants were praying to, or at least invoking Lucifer’s name as God.

I am no apologist for Roman Catholicism. They codified their own apostasy from Christianity at Trent when they denied the Gospel and anathamitized anyone who preached justification by faith in Christ alone.

But to misrepresent what was in fact a phrase taken from 2 Peter 1:9 where Jesus is called “the morning star” – the same phrase some apply to Satan in Isa. 14  – is underhanded, deceitful and distorted.

And isn’t it evident that both sides of an argument – political or otherwise often take words out of context, or use underhanded means to defeat their opponent – because legitimate means seem impotent?

This, is not to be the Christian’s response no matter HOW much it may be the tactics of those who oppose us.

[[SLIDE]]   c. HYPOCRISY – The temptation here, especially for Peter’s readers, would be to compromise at work or in the marketplace, and hide their Christianity in order to get along – while being good little Christians at home or at church.

It was Sigmond Freud’s father, who though Jewish, converted to Lutheranism when the family moved, so that he could do business in his new town. His attitude was – we need to do what we need to do to conduct business.

We can want to deny our allegiance to Christ when it seems uncomfortable – or even a central doctrine like Peter himself did in Antioch when the “Circumcision Party” came to town.

Paul notes in Galatians, those who had visited from James, reported the persecution of the Christians by some of the Jews, and even tho he stops eating with the Gentiles when the Circumcisers show up – probably hoping to avoid his fellow Christians from being persecuted – he shows himself a hypocrite – and Paul calls him on it.

No doubt this was a sharp reminder of how easily he fell into this trap personally.

[[SLIDE]]   d. ENVY – How very easy it is to slip into envying those who do not have the strain of these things on them – and who seem to thrive in the World by simply caving to the World’s standards.

[[SLIDE]]   Psalm 73:1–3 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. ² But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. ³ For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

[[SLIDE]]     e. SLANDER – Repeating anything about anybody to discredit them – because we can’t do anything else.

Giving ourselves over to criticizing, defaming, doing anything we can to detract from those we perceive to be the bad guys.

In America right now – it is the Premier sport of the age – from the left, the right, conservatives, liberals, atheists, Evangelicals – name it.

As we said already – We need to see in the first place, how these things might have played out in the lives of Peter’s 1st readers.

And in their being brought to our attention – we see a truly essential principle in the Christian life that in the rest of this letter will take on more and more importance: The Believer is never justified in responding to someone else’s sin WITH sin of our own.

The truth is, that when we are in dire straights and feeling helpless and perhaps hopeless, stretched beyond measure and facing unsure outcomes – we can respond both to outsiders, and to insiders alike in these categories.

To lash out at the outsiders and treat them with disdain, contempt and disrespect, and to let that overflow to the ones closest to us as well.

Many a man takes out their frustrations at work by vilifying their boss or co-workers, but then in turn brings that poison right back into their homes and infects their families with it.

Put these things away says Peter – or more literally, take them off – like you might shed inappropriate, soiled and smelly garments.

In his reader’s case, they are swimming in an alien society and culture, and alienated BY that culture.

How one responds to that society and culture, will be the same way they respond to it at home and in the Church!

It does not take much of a survey of Christian radio or literature to see how readily many of us are reacting to the way American culture is growing increasingly hostile toward us – with malice. Allowing a deep seated resentment to well up inside which spills over into unguarded words and attitudes toward our perceived persecutors.

This is not to say we ignore such slights nor justify them. It IS to say we cannot let the malice which is being directed toward us – be returned by malice WITHIN US!

[[SLIDE]]   2. 1 DIRECTION – In opposition to falling into the temptation of the 5 things just mentioned – Peter gives one great remedy: Crave the pure unadulterated “milk” that enables you to grow up fully into the salvation you’ve been saved for.

[[SLIDE]]  1 Peter 2:2–3 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

There is little doubt Peter has Psalm 34 in mind here – he quotes it here at the end of vs. 3 – and again more fully in chap. 3:10-12.

[[SLIDE]]  Psalm 34:8–10 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! ⁹ Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! ¹⁰ The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

What is it specifically the Believer has “tasted” in this regard? MERCY & GRACE

In opposition to caving into malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander – fill yourself up on the mercy and grace you have received in your salvation.

Swim in it.

Make it your filling food.

You are forgiven.

Pardoned.

Graced.

Promised.

Indwelt.

Kept.

And in response – extend mercy and grace.

[[SLIDE]]  3. 1 All important Question: IF IF IF IF IF – If you have in fact been the recipient of mercy and grace.

IF – is the question. Are you truly a Christian?

Or are you merely a religionist?

A cultural Christian?

A Christian in the sense that you aren’t a Jew or a Muslim or an adherent of some other religion?

Not a “Christian” because you were raised in a Christian home or belong to a Christian denomination – but because you personally have felt your guilt – and run to Christ for mercy on the basis of His substitutionary atonement?

A Christian because you know you’ve been made a child of God, born again by the Spirit of God, because God has been good to you – and for no other reason than that alone.?

This is of the utmost importance today.

Are you a Christian?

Have you truly tasted of His mercy and grace in the Cross and the New Birth?

Or are you a Christian in name only?

IF – you have tasted that the Lord is “good” – drink in the reality of His mercy and grace over and over and over again so that you do not spew out the poison of MALICE, DECEIT, HYPOCRISY, ENVY or SLANDER.

Putting it all together then this is Peter’s point:

[[SLIDE]]  Given the present stresses, Christians are tempted to react out of our flesh in sinful ways: MALICE, DECEIT, HYPOCRISY, ENVY and SLANDER. And the way to escape those snares and display Christ instead – is to dwell on the goodness, specifically – the MERCY & GRACE of God to the exclusion of other things. But this is not some psychological mind game – it is the exclusive province and privilege of those who have been born again by the Spirit of God.

Are we aware of these tendencies within us?

Are we seizing on the honor of directing our thought-life to dwell on God’s goodness more than the things of this World? To make us radically different manifestations of Christ’s Spirit in this age of darkness?

[[SLIDE]]  Are YOU, am I truly a Christian? For this cannot be done otherwise.

If you have NEVER tasted of the Lord’s goodness in salvation – you cannot drink of the “pure milk” mentioned here. And you need to come to Christ today!

^[1] 2001. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

^[2] Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker & Walter Bauer. 2000. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

^[3] Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker & Walter Bauer. 2000. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

1 Peter Part 4

1 Peter 1:1-25

Leviticus 11 (entire)

4 Foundations of Living the Gospel Here and Now

THE AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON IS AVAILABLE HERE

1^st. Tool: Dual identity – Elect/Exiles (vss. 1-2)

2^nd. Tool: A Praising heart for a stupendous salvation. (vss. 3-12)

3^rd. Tool: 4 parts of a whole.

Given what we’ve seen already, we know that Peter does not see Christians as passive victims, even though they may have no power to change their outward circumstances in the slightest way.

He is speaking to his readers – to US – in such a way that they & we might learn how to live and act.

To take advantage of what CAN be done, and for the RIGHT REASONS, rather than being left to endlessly stew over what can’t realistically be changed.

Peter sees his readers as spiritual men and women.

Born again in Christ Jesus to live in a whole new way.

They have rights and privileges that extend far beyond their geographical location, cultural setting, linguistic isolation, and government imposed exile.

They are God’s people.

Made for God’s purposes.

Indwelt by God’s Spirit.

Informed by God’s Word.

Thrust into the middle of God’s sovereign work in the world.

In the process of being conformed to the image of God’s Son.

And destined for an eternal inheritance of unspeakable glory in, with and through Christ Jesus – the Lord of all.

[[SLIDE]] SO – “THEREFORE” (13) Preparing (or HAVING prepared) your minds – to think soberly.

SOBER: “a broader range of soberness or sobriety, namely, restraint and moderation which avoids excess in passion, rashness, or confusion” (GELNT domain 88.86), hence self-control.^[1]

1. Grasping your dual identity as Elect/Exiles…
2. Living overawed at your great salvation which is yet to be fulfilled…

And live out that sober-mindedness out virtue of 4 things:

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

[[SLIDE]]  1. (13) Set your hope FULLY on the resurrection.

NOTE: This is NOT some spiritualized or religious technique to finally get things changed. It is the way to proceed forward regardless of whether or not things change.

Sometimes, even Christians can take on a somewhat superstitious approach to adversity.

One that says inwardly – “if I just do X or Y, God will magically be happy and change everything.”

So, I’ll Pray more.

Read the Word more.

Make sure I don’t skip Church.

Give more.

Etc., etc., etc..

In reality your circumstances may, or may never change in this life.

If they change, they may change for the better, OR for the worse.

If they do not change – how do you live here and now?

Informed and encouraged first and foremost by God’s promises for the future.

How utterly foreign this is to all worldly mindedness.

Our hope doesn’t rest in earthly change. But in what is to come because of Christ.

“Peter’s point is that one sets one’s hope on future grace, not by idle wishfulness or unfounded optimism, but by a mental resolve to live in such a way as to manifest the “living hope” of the Christian believer. The Christian hope is a reality to be recognized and acted upon now.”^[2]

To set our hope fully on the grace that is to be brought to us when Jesus appears – is to be constantly mindful that when He does appear – the wonder of the fullness of God’s undiluted favor poured out upon us in that moment is so transcendently high and wondrous, that in comparison, nothing we’re suffering now is worthy to impact our thoughts and actions. GLORY IS COMING!

If instead we live like the world for its values: We lose “sobriety”.

[[SLIDE]]  2. (14-16) Pursue holiness now. (Guido Reni – 1631)

1 Peter 1:14–16 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Reject former patterns of sin.

HOW?

By living in accord with your destiny – pursuing holiness above everything else, since you are destined to be conformed to the image of The Holy One.

Peter makes a couple of important points about this.

1. Sin is connected to the “passions of our former ignorance.”

To continue in the things Jesus died to save us from the penalty of and the ravages of – is to live like Jesus hasn’t come, hasn’t paid for our sin, hasn’t sent His Spirit to indwell us, and hasn’t guaranteed us an eternal future in Him in the resurrection.

It is to live as though blind and unaware of the way things really are.

Which is as ignorant as it gets.

1. God is holy. And the privilege that attaches to those in Christ is that we get to be holy too!

NOTE:  – We WILL be holy.

He is in the process of conforming us to the image of Christ. So doesn’t it make sense to live in accord with where we are going?

Does it make sense to Head to Toronto if your destination is Miami?

So does it make sense to keep walking in sin when your destiny is to be like Christ?

1. God is “other” than anything else in this world.

So as His People – He wants us to make that otherness known by who and what we are as His.

It is in this context Peter takes us back to Leviticus 11.

One of the interesting things which often occurs when reading a passage like Leviticus 11 – is that we have this almost uncontrollable urge to figure out practical reasons for all the details.

Why not eat camels, pigs hares or rock badgers? Is there something inherently bad or unhealthy in consuming them?

Why can’t we even touch their carcasses? (v 8)

Why only seafood with fins and scales?

What’s God got against lobster, crabs, oysters and clams?

Some birds are OK, some not.

Some insects are OK, and some not.

[[SLIDE]] I know every time I see the GEICO Gecko, I imagine he might taste like a plump chicken wing.

A little honey Bar-B-Q sauce and some bleu cheese and he’s gone!

[[SLIDE]]  But God tells His people – NO.

And what about all the special cleaning rituals?

No doubt, we might be able to attach some scientific or health reason to all of this – but God tells the people that above all else – He has THIS reason: (v 45). “I am holy, and therefore YOU are to be holy.”

What has THAT got to do with it?

The word “holy” means in the first place, set apart, consecrated. Unique.

And God, in demonstrating that He is utterly unique, not like the idols that men create and fashion out of their own minds –

And not one and the same with the creation – like sun or moon or earth gods

And last of all not like US.

In making His “otherness” known, He sets apart things that mark out His people as unique among all the peoples of the earth.

And some of these markers are put in place for no other reason that to mark them out as uniquely belonging to the unique and only true God.

And that’s enough.

You are my Children. Let it be known that you are not like everyone else – because you belong to me.

And if they cannot see the reasons behind my statutes – so what?

They set you apart in a fallen world as living unto an authority that transcends all else.

Don’t be afraid to be MINE.

Reject the culture’s views on morality and sexuality and so many other areas. And show yourself to live as unto me.

I am other – so as mine, you be “other” too.

NOTE: We don’t have invent any oddness of our own in this enterprise.

Not bending to the Culture in terms of morality, religion, ethics, materialism, self-love, etc. – will grow more and more into aberrant features to the World.

As 1 Peter 4:4 says, they will be surprised enough when they see that you don’t buy into and follow the World’s forms of excess.

God knows that is sufficient.

[[SLIDE]]  3. (17-21) Judgment AND deliverance – Remembering God WILL judge (your persecutors will not be unaddressed) and how blessed you are in comparison.

(Rubens – Lot fleeing Sodom)

1 Peter 1:17–21 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, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Again – Peter has a couple of thoughts to consider about this.

1. It is good to fear being partakers in the things God will judge.
2. It is good to jealously guard the gifts and the position that has been granted to us in Christ.
3. It is good to fear losing anything of what was so dearly purchased at the cost of the Blood of The Lamb.
4. It is good to fear going back into your former bondage to sin.

Remembering God’s timing in sending Christ when He did for you.

How privileged you are to see first-hand the things the OT prophets only saw in dim shadows.

How privileged you are that you partake of things the holy angels who dwell in the very presence of God WISH they could fully comprehend.

How privileged to know that your salvation is not an accident, but that Christ’s predestined sacrifice for human sin included His thoughts of saving you from all eternity.

If you know these things – live like they are true and let them govern every decision you make!

[[SLIDE]]  4. (22-24) Love one another. (Dirck Van Baburen 1616)

1 Peter 1:22–24 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; ²⁴ for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,

The purifying of your soul in salvation, your obedience to the truth of the Gospel, has now enabled you to love in a way the world knows absolutely nothing about.

And it is one of the things you have been born again for – to “love one another from” this newly purified heart.

A heart no longer set on the world’s values and selfish desires – but on higher, spiritual, eternal things.

For Peter, loving one another is wrapped up in living for Christ in every aspect of life.

This is such an un-Worldly way of thinking about love.

The World puts the weight of love on the shoulders of our emotions and personal passions being fulfilled by someone else.

It is why people talk about falling in an out of love.

What they mean is: Sometimes I have an emotional affection for someone, that at other times I do not.

And while Christian love also impacts our emotions – it doesn’t find its root or its residence there.

It is not just how we feel about each other, it is how we think about ourselves as being bound to each other in Christ – as members of the same Body.

Far above the pragmatic – this is Biblical thinking in terms of loving one another.

I cannot love someone in Christ by exposing them to sin – mine or others.

I cannot love someone in Christ by venting my spleen at them.

I cannot love someone in Christ by living in a state of constant frustration and anger.

I cannot love someone in Christ by adopting the World’s morality.

I cannot love someone in Christ by living in fear and faithlessness.

I cannot love someone in Christ by indulging in sin secretly.

CONCLUSION: (25) This is how the Gospel is lived out.

1 Peter 1:25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Everything the World lives for – will perish.

Only the Word of God – the working out of the Gospel in lives lived in joyful submission to Christ Jesus will endure.

Since that very Word of the Gospel that saves us alone will endure.

[[SLIDES]]  Prepare your minds for action in the midst of this exile where you live Christian.

Do it with all godly sobriety.

Set your hope fully on the grace to be brought to you at the appearing of Jesus Christ – not on any earthly goal or circumstance.

Pursue the holiness you are destined for – now.

Remain overawed at the wonder of what it cost to ransom you from your sin and the way the whole world lives.

And in these realities – live a life loving the brethren, by making these things the foundation of how you live.

^[1] Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

^[2] Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

1 Peter Part 3

1 Peter 1:1-12

Psalm 103

Our Stupendous Salvation

THE AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

So far we’ve seen that Peter’s 1^st means of ministering to his readers in their difficult circumstances, is to get them to remember their dual self-identity.

[SLIDE] They are both God’s ELECT, and EXILES.

These 2 states are not contradictory.

So you and I, as Believers today need to keep this duality in mind as we face the crumbling culture in which we live.

Biblical Christians in America today are more and more “strangers in a strange land”.

AND –

This in no wise renders the reality of the Christian’s being fully owned by God and uniquely His.

We must not let the darkness of our age, cause us to forget the light of who and what we are in Christ.

We are exiles NOW, for certain. But ELECT of God and chosen by Him for the glory of salvation in Christ.

Dual self-identity: Elect Exiles.

Now Peter calls upon his readers – both then and now – to remember that present circumstances do not define the future.

Life won’t always be the way it is right now.

Our situations are not eternal – but temporary.

And to take some of the crushing pressure of the present off of their shoulders, Peter reminds them that they must not forget what is yet before them because they are in Christ.

So the second tool he is going to place in their hands is a revisiting of the stupendous wonder of their salvation in Christ.

The incomparable and incomprehensible wonder of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Before we jump directly into the text, let me make an observation about it.

Vss. 3-12 are only one sentence in the original Greek.

And the words and ideas Peter uses here under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, are so densely packed and full of meaning at every turn – it is very easy to let them slip by almost unnoticed.

So we will really set our attention today on each concept the text brings up in such rapid fire succession.

To do unpack it carefully, we are going to look at the passage in 4 segments.

OUTLINE

I. v 3 – THE GOODNESS OF GOD HIMSELF in Giving us salvation.

II. vss 4-5 – THE GRANDEUR OF OUR SALVATION

III. vss 6-9 – THE GIFTS BIBLICAL FAITH GRANTS

IV. vss 10-12 – THE INSCRUTIBLE GLORY OF IT ALL

I.  (v 3) THE GOODNESS OF GOD HIMSELF (In Giving us salvation)   1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1. Salvation is an act of MERCY
2. Salvation is a “caused” act. DELIBERATE
3. Salvation is not given in a vacuum, but unto an end. COMPREHENSIVE – not 1 dimensional only for here and now.
4. Salvation is living in prospect of a LIVING HOPE. FORWARD LOOKING
5. Salvation is completely tied to Jesus’ RESURRECTION. GUARANTEED

In a sovereign and deliberate act of mercy, God has given us an entirely new life of divine blessedness.

One that does not terminate here – but reaches into eternity, and is certain for us since it was accomplished in the death, burial, and especially the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Our eternal hope – is rooted in the absolute certainty of Jesus’ resurrection.

If you are Christian here today – it is not an accident – you don’t just HAPPEN to be one.

God, the Judge of all the universe has personally extended MERCY to you, made you an OBJECT of His mercy – a trophy of it.

And He did this DELIBERATELY – He caused it to come about.

You have been born again into a COMPREHENSIVE salvation – that encompasses not only your present, but your eternal future.

A future filed with the hope of being in a state of eternal bliss and glory and honor and blessing without end!

And this, purchased and guaranteed by the most astounding proof – the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Does this mean your present sufferings aren’t real? Of course not.

But it is a call for us to weigh our trials and sufferings against the wonder of what it means to be God’s child in Christ.

To see our present distress in comparison to our eternal blessedness.

II.  (vss 4-5) THE GRANDEUR OF OUR SALVATION & INHERITANCE     1 Peter 1:4–5 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1. That “hope” is called our INHERITANCE.
2. That hope is IMPERISHABLE, UNDEFILED, UNFADING.

Our being born again is not the end, but the beginning. We are born TO – a living hope. Hope beyond this life, and stretching into the full eternity of the next. He has made us into new creatures that we might be inheritors of what He has stored up for us. Things which:

Are IMPERISHABLE – Can NEVER die or end.

Are UNDEFILED – Are possessed of absolutely no corruption whatever – nothing which makes them less than absolutely perfect in every way.

UNFADING – Are perennially fresh and new. Never losing their luster and shine.

These 3 descriptions are noted as diametric opposites of any inheritance we might imagine in this present life.

In Heaven, our inheritance is imperishable. Here, everything is perishable.

In Heaven, our inheritance is pure and unmixed. Here, everything is stained by sin.

In Heaven, our inheritance remains perennially fresh and vibrant. Here, everything is in a state of decay.

What’s more, is this not the perfect picture of Christ Himself WHOM we inherit? Isn’t this why this “hope” is termed “LIVING”? It is Christ who is alive – tho He died. And HE is our great hope Himself!

He died once, but was raised imperishable (as we will be) – and is alive forever more.

He is undefiled. He was sinless in life, sinless in death, and remains sinless forever.

His glory was dimmed or veiled here – but there, His glory is unfading and perennially fresh and lovely and glorious.

And He is preserved, reserved for us in Heaven, until the day when He will be the final and complete fulfillment of all for us in His return.

3. It is kept in HEAVEN for us – we do not receive it now

4. The Believer is being preserved for that inheritance as much as it is being preserved for us.

5. That preservation is not some mechanical provision, but God’s own power exerted on our behalf.
This hope is both SECURED for us, and we are ORDAINED for it – in the established wonder of Christ’s death and resurrection!

As sure as He is resurrected – that’s how sure this hope is, and how sure our salvation is so that we might obtain this hope.

[SLIDE]  III.   (vss 6-9) THE GIFTS BIBLICAL FAITH GIVES   1 Peter 1:6–9 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1. THIS is why we rejoice now, even in the most troubling, confusing and adverse circumstances.
2. Not only that, but enduring or experiencing the trials themselves is a means to purify our faith so that it is rooted only in Christ, and not in anything else. We must be careful never to view these tests and trials from God as some sort of divine entrance exam. They serve a completely different purpose.
Where we most often talk about how MUCH faith someone has, Peter’s emphasis is rather upon its GENUINENESS.
3. This kind of faith is more precious than any kind of earthly wealth.

Now trials themselves are indeed grievous – even though in Christ, they yield much, rich fruit.

Christians do not live as though trials are not painful. We live authentically.

They DO grieve us.

But not like they grieve those who have no sense of the goodness of God in them and behind them.
Note that there is something that is more valuable than the purest gold imaginable. What is it? Praise and glory and honor bestowed upon us by God Himself, when Jesus returns. We can live now not mourning the loss of earthly riches when we look forward to having God Himself, praise us, honor us, and give us glory – whatever that can possibly mean. What a wonder to contemplate.

And Peter’s point here isn’t how MUCH faith you have, but rather the purity or genuineness of it. That it is faith in the right object: Jesus Christ.

So here a very great question – how do I know if my faith is genuine?

How do I know if it is saving faith?

a. Because it is faith in HIM, not in some vague hope.

Trusting His CHARACTER, and therefore trusting His PROMISES.

Not personal, subjective impressions – faith in Jesus Christ, in His person and work.

b. By virtue of its endurance through trials.

Genuine faith survives in spite of every opposition. Because genuine faith is rooted in a revelation of Jesus to the soul that is as real as anything or anybody else in all of life.
4. That faith will find an unbelievable reward in time: PRAISE, GLORY and HONOR from God!
“That at Christ’s appearing, faithful servants shall not only be commended, but gloriously rewarded.

There is not only verbal commendation, but real remuneration; glory and honour put upon them, as well as praise ascribed to them. (1.) Praise, because he shall then commend their faith before men and angels: Rev. 3:5, ‘I will confess his name before my Father and his angels.’ (2.) There will be a solemn owning and honouring of them, when all the holy angels shall be present. Oh! what a favour is it to be commended of God! 2 Cor. 10:18, ‘For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.’ When they had finished the tabernacle, all was viewed and approved by Moses: Moses blessed them. Oh! what is it to be blessed and commended by the Son of God in that great assembly of the whole world!

Here is preferment and advancement to a higher place in the family. Christ will prefer them as men do their servants: Mat. 24:47, ‘Make him ruler over all his goods.’ These expressions are taken from the greatest honours a man can do his faithful servants in the world, 1 Kings 12:20. As Jeroboam was made ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph; so will Christ advance his servants to high dignity, sometimes expressed by ‘setting them upon thrones,’ Rev. 3:21; ‘giving them crowns,’ 1 Peter 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:8. That antithesis is to be regarded; few things, and many things. All things are few in comparison of heaven, our works, our gifts, our sufferings; the reward is far above all these: Rom. 8:18, ‘For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us;’ 2 Cor. 4:17, ‘For our light afflictions, that are but for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.’ It is all little that we do or suffer; it is little that God hath done for us in this world, in comparison of what he will do for us there. Here is the earnest; that is but a small part of the whole sum.^[1]

5. That faith is rewarded AT the appearing of Christ Jesus, not before.
6. That faith puts us in a state of salvation even now.

It is not a mere future possibility, but also a present reality!

IV.  (vss 10-12) THE INSCRUTIBLE GLORY OF IT ALL 1 Peter 1:10–12 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, ¹¹ inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

1. These things are so astounding, the prophets of old wished they could understand it more like we can now.
2. These things are so astounding, even the angels wonder at it.

CONCLUSION:

If all this is true – Then:

Endure without fear,
Rejoice continually
And trust Him to be faithful.

^[1] Manton, Thomas. 1872. The Complete Works of Thomas Manton. . Vol. 9. London: James Nisbet & Co.

A Brief Look at the Doctrine of Election

1 Peter 1:1-12

I Peter 2:9-10

 AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING HERE

I mentioned last time – one of the features of Peter’s address to his readers in this letter, is the dual concept of “ELECT EXILES” in vs. 2.

This is his description of them.

This is meant to form part of their DUAL-SELFIDENTITY as Believers or Christians.

The reality that they ARE indeed exiles – exiled most likely by the Emperor Claudius.

AND,

The reality that in relation to God – they are to think of themselves as “ELECT”.

[3 SLIDES: LBD; NBD; EBD]

Election (בָּחַר, bachar; בָּחִיר, bachir; ἐκλέγομαι, eklegomai; ἐκλεκτός, eklektos; ἐκλογή, eklogē). God’s choice of a person or people group for a specific purpose, mission, or salvation. The theme of election is prominent in both the Old and New Testaments. The doctrine of election traditionally is related to the concepts of predestination, foreknowledge, and free will.^[1]

ELECTION. The act of choice whereby God picks an individual or group out of a larger company for a purpose or destiny of his own appointment. The main OT word for this is the verb bāḥar, which expresses the idea of deliberately selecting someone or something after carefully considering the alternatives (e.g. sling-stones, 1 Sa. 17:40; a place of refuge, Dt. 23:16; a wife, Gn. 6:2; good rather than evil, Is. 7:15f.; life rather than death, Dt. 30:19f.; the service of God rather than of idols, Jos. 24:22). The word implies a decided preference for, sometimes positive pleasure in, the object chosen (cf., e.g., Is. 1:29).^[2]

Election of Grace—The Scripture speaks (1) of the election of individuals to office or to honour and privilege, e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Solomon, were all chosen by God for the positions they held; so also were the apostles. (2) There is also an election of nations to special privileges, e.g., the Hebrews (Deut. 7:6; Rom. 9:4). (3) But in addition there is an election of individuals to eternal life (2 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:2; John 13:18).^[3]

The term ELECT as applying to Believers may be new to some of you, or possibly even disturbing to others – depending on how you’ve understood the Bible uses that term.

Sadly, many a person who has come to understand the nature of what it means to be one of God’s ELECT – has sinfully appropriated the idea and used it without care and discretion and has done great harm by it.

With that in mind, I heartily encourage you to take a copy of today’s notes to look over in a more thoughtful context later – and – if needed, I will gladly set up some discussion times for those who feel the need to dig a bit further.

In truth, while we’ll cover some key points this morning, the topic itself may raise some questions that the Bible answers in other places – or that it DOES NOT answer, casting us back on simply trusting the character of God and His revelation as He has given it.

At the bottom however – it should not be strange for us, especially as creatures made in the image of God and possessing at least some power over making choices – that the God who made us like Himself, has the power to make choices too!

We like reserving the right to make choices for ourselves,

But balk at God having personal preferences or at having the absolute power of HIS choices.

That SHOULD tell us that something is wrong in our thinking at the start.

When we consider God’s choice-making ability in the abstract, we don’t have TOO many problems.

It does not bother us that He made grass green, bananas yellow, bumblebees strangely capable of flight or the oceans to be full of salt water.

But when we come to a subject like salvation – that’s where the wheels come off.

That’s where many think God has gone too far.

To think that God might choose some to salvation while passing over others unnerves us.

It is frightening to let Him have quite that much power.

But I will argue today that that is precisely what the Scriptures teach on the subject.

It is revealed to us at least in part – to truly humble us and show us the vast difference between God and ourselves as His creatures.

AND – To heighten our sense of grace – that salvation is indeed a FREE GIFT.

And that God’s love cannot be bought or coerced.

For if it can be bought or coerced, then it can be bought off – or coerced elsewhere.

[SLIDE]  Let me begin by laying out 4 controlling thoughts to help our study.

[SLIDE]  Then we’ll look at a number of different ways the Bible treats the topic.

[SLIDE]  3^rd, we’ll consider the “fairness” of it all. Especially in Romans 9.

[SLIDE]  4^th, 3 Critical Lessons to learn.

1. 4 Controlling thoughts: It is the testimony of Scripture that:

[SLIDE] 1. No one is lost BECAUSE they are not elect – people are lost because we are fallen in sin.

LOST/SIN

[SLIDE] 2. No one who desires to believe and obey the Gospel and be saved – is denied.

NONE/DENIED

[SLIDE] 3. Because God is just, no one can either be under-punished nor over-punished for sin.

GOD/JUST

[SLIDE] 4. God owes salvation to no one.

GRACE/DEBT

[DOLLAR BILLS SLIDE]   REMEMBER: ELECTION IS NOT SALVATION ITSELF – IT IS MERELY GOD’S DESIGNATING SOME FOR SALVATION. It is not based in any qualitative difference in the individuals – but in God’s personal pleasure.

Election – first and foremost = DESIGNATION. Nothing more.

1. THE DIFFERENT WAYS THE BIBLE TREATS THE TOPIC.

[SLIDE] A. The Bible teaches Election – the freedom and right of God to make choices in all sorts of contexts.

[SLIDE]  DANIEL 4:34-35

We must allow before anything else, that God has the right to make choices – period.

And we must understand that therefore the CONTEXT must define the purpose of the election –whatever it might be.

The question will be – does He make choices of any kind which have to do with people – and if so, what does that look like?

[SLIDE] B. There are different types of election.

[SLIDE]   1. Jesus is spoken of as God’s ELECT – but it is clear this has nothing to do with salvation out of sin:  Isa. 42:1

[SLIDE]   2. Israel is spoken of as God’s ELECT – a chosen “people” – but not all are saved – this is not regarding salvation out of sin: Isa. 45:4. ; Romans 11:28

[SLIDE]   3. Some angels are spoken of as ELECT without relation to being saved out of sin, but preserved from falling into sin: 1 Tim. 5:21.

4. God makes choices regarding individuals in terms of abilities and disabilities –

[SLIDE]   Exodus 4:10–11 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?

[SLIDE]   Exodus 31:1–6 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. 6 And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you:

5. God makes determinations regarding when and where we each exist –

[SLIDE]   Acts 17:26–27 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

6. In prophecy – God determines how all kinds of events occur and play out –

[SLIDE]   Joshua 23:14 “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.

[SLIDE]   Isaiah 46:5–11 “To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? 6 Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! 7 They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble. 8 “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, 9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.

7. God’s electing right is displayed in His choosing people and nations both for all kinds of purposes, AND unto salvation.

[SLIDE]   Deuteronomy 7:1–7 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you, 2 and when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. 3 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, 4 for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly. 5 But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire. 6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples,

[SLIDE] C. Election does not occur ONLY within the context of salvation from sin.

[SLIDE]  1. Sonship / In this context, we have the freedom of a Father to choose between sons (all other things being equal) as to who will be the “firstborn” – the head of the family.

[SLIDE]  Ephesians 1:3–6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

[SLIDE]  2. Bride of Christ / In this context, we see God does no wrong to any when He chooses a Bride for His Son out of those available.

[SLIDE]  2 Corinthians 11:2

NOTE: ALL human beings reserve the right to choose whom THEY will marry – and yet we want to restrict God from having the same freedom.

[SLIDE]  3. People of God / In this context, we see God choosing a particular nation or group of people He desires to call His people – His own, out of all the nations of the earth. There is no wrong done to any in such choosing.

[SLIDE]  1 Peter 2:9–10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

[SLIDE]  4. Displaying mercy & grace / In this context, fallnness is part of the equation. We must be in a pitiful state to receive pity.

We have the large number of passages which tell us about God’s right to choose, and that He does choose some in GRACE unto salvation – while leaving or passing over others who will experience justice.

[SLIDE]  Mark 13:20 — And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

[SLIDE]  Luke 6:13 — And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:

John 15:16 — You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

[SLIDE]  1 Corinthians 1:26–30 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

[SLIDE]  2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

We must recall that He owes salvation to no one – tho in the Gospel He offers it to all.

Therefore, the extension of GRACE to some is neither unfair nor unjust.

We must bear in mind as well, that due to the nature of our fallen condition, if it weren’t for election, none would be saved at all – for left to ourselves, we would never choose Him. Just like Adam, we would always choose ourselves first – which is confirmed as fact every time we sin now, choosing our own will above God’s.

For me, the first 3 are the controlling concepts, because they would function irrespective of the Fall.

[SLIDE]  D. If election does not humble us, but rather becomes a source of pride – we have misunderstood it completely.

It is our UNIVERSAL unworthiness which must be accounted for.

[SLIDES]  Election presupposes:

1 – A universally guilty mankind.

2 – A God who is holy and cannot simply overlook sin or dismiss the charges.

3 – A God who has sovereign discretion over His creation and all its creatures –             including man.

4 – A God who nonetheless desires to reveal His capacity for and exercise His mercy             and grace upon – undeserving creatures.

5 – A substitutionary sacrifice which He accepts in the place of those He pardons, so             that justice is not in any wise compromised.

We find all of these elements present in the biblical record.

III. What it would take for God to be unfair or unjust in election?

1. If God promised salvation to all, and then refused.

He has NOT promised that all will simply receive mercy.

He HAS promised that all who repent and believe can have mercy.

1. If God condemned all for no reason.

He has not condemned mankind for NO reason

He has condemned mankind both for ADAM’S sin (and our part in it) and for our OWN sins.

NOTE: It is reductionistic to think God damned mankind for “merely” eating a piece of fruit. The condemnation is because eating the fruit was the way to become “like God”. To usurp His place.

1. If God changed the agreement or terms.

The terms ALWAYS were – Sin and you will die.

1. If God OWED salvation to any and then denied them.

God OWES all men justice, in that He is holy, and cannot pervert justice.

God owes NO ONE mercy. Mercy and Grace by definition are gifts, not rewards.

There is no prohibition in being generous, there IS a prohibition against stealing.

1. If God had no absolute RIGHTS over His creatures.

1. If God did what He did, not having the right to exercise mercy as he sees fit.

Election & salvation fits none of these

God has never promised salvation to all men, but HAS announced the Gospel and will receive all who come in faith.

God did not condemn mankind for no reason, but for its cosmic rebellion as a race.

God has never changed the terms by which He dealt with mankind – “In the day you eat of it, you will die”.

God owes mercy and forgiveness to none.

God HAS absolute rights over His creatures.

God has the right to exercise mercy as he sees fit.

[SLIDE] SO…Romans 9

[SLIDE]   1. (14) Is God being unjust in Election?

[SLIDE]   2. No.

[SLIDE]   3. Why not?

[SLIDE]   4. (15) Because God has said “mercy and compassion” are matters left up to His discretion.

Mercy is VOLITIONAL, not COMPULSORY.

Someone owed a debt has the power or right to forgive the debt. But he or she is never REQUIRED to forgive it, or it ceases to be an act of GRACE.

Grace to be grace must not be something OWED – Grace by definition is UNDESERVED.

[SLIDE]   5. (16) Mercy isn’t the product of either the will or the exertion of the one desiring it – but a product of the One SHOWING IT!

The intensity with which one desires mercy doesn’t make it happen

All condemned men want mercy.

In fact: Attempts to earn mercy try to make it a duty on the other person, not a free gift.

[SLIDE]   6. (17) Judgment on the other hand IS earned – e.g. Pharaoh. (Judicial hardening)

It is us getting exactly what is due us.

We must keep this in mind. God is doing no one wrong by carrying out their just judgment, even as He is doing no one wrong when He shows mercy – which is His to show.

– Even God’s mercy must somehow be “just” –

• Substitutionary atonement

Sin is never “overlooked” in one case and prosecuted in another. It is ALWAYS dealt with.

[SLIDE]   7. (18) Conclusion – Mercy is a matter of God’s own discretion, and hardening is a matter of His justice.

Mercy for some

Justice for some

Fairness to all.

Neither is being treated unfairly.

[SLIDE]   8. (19) Some will still ask – Then why does God find fault? If this is His plan (His electing grace) and none one can violate it – Why does He still find fault?

Some will be dissatisfied because they do not trust God with that kind of power.

They DO however trust themselves with it.

[SLIDE]   9-a. (20) Who are you (fallen creature), to try and judge God’s plan or righteousness?

A betrayal of the suspicion that God is somehow unjust or unrighteous in His arrangement – because we cannot work through the details to our personal satisfaction.

[SLIDE]   10-b. (21) God has a RIGHT to deal with His creation as He sees fit – period.

The forming of one for honor and another for dishonor – presupposes a fallen LUMP.

Water pail?  I can use the same water for drinking or for cleaning my floor – without in some way being “unfair” to the portion used for cleaning.

[SLIDE]   11-c. (22-24) Why is it a problem for you that He has refrained from judging all peoples in one fell swoop and withholding His final fury, while He opens an opportunity for multitudes to come and be saved – both Jews and Gentiles?

Especially when He owes salvation to none?

[SLIDE  IV. 3 CRITICAL LESSONS:

[SLIDE]  1. Our sense of fair play must be rooted in God’s justice as revealed in His Word, not radical egalitarianism.

[SLIDE]   2. Our sinful hearts are never more revealed than in the uncomfortability we feel when contemplating God’s absolute power and authority over His creatures without having to answer to anybody.

We are back in the Garden – making Him suspect.

[SLIDE]   3. Mercy is not ours to earn or obtain by effort, BUT – God DOES call us to seek it!

He willingly receives all who come and DO ask. He refuses none.

Why would this be so important to Peter’s readers at this point in their lives?

Because they could know that their being in exile is no less an “ACCIDENT” than their salvation – and vice versa – that their salvation is no accident either!

So for us today in our culture as it plummets down.

No Believer here today need fear that these events around us are merely random!

Our God reigns and is sovereignly at work around us.

As much at work in our external circumstances, as He was in our salvation.

And our salvation is secure regardless of our external circumstances, precisely because it is no accident either – but the outworking of God’s own eternal plan.

And YOUR individual part in it.

If you are Christ’s today – you are His because He chose you before He ever formed the worlds to be IN Christ and to be redeemed from your sin and to be part of His Son’s Bride!

If you are NOT His today – in His sovereign plan, He has seen to it you are here once again to hear the good news.

Christ has died for human sin! There is salvation from all of your sin in Him.

Come and trust Him as your substitute today! He calls you to Himself. Don’t fear – run to Him. He will not refuse any who come and cast themselves upon His mercy – trusting in Christ.

[SLIDE]   Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

[SLIDE]   John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

^[1] Thornhill, A. Chadwick. 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. Election. (Ed.) John D. Barry, David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema & Wendy Widder. The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

^[2] Packer, J. I. 1996. Election. (Ed.) D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard & D. J. Wiseman. New Bible dictionary. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

^[3] Easton, M. G. 1893. Easton’s Bible dictionary. New York: Harper & Brothers.