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Illustrations of Salvation
- 1st – Lay aside… vs. 1
- Cast off…
- Therefore – laying aside…
- THEREFORE – in light of the commands to be HOLY – HOPEFUL – and LOVING…
- LAY ASIDE [ἀποτίθημι] – to cast off – toss these things out the window!
- Hebrews 12:1 – “Let us lay aside [ἀποτίθημι] every weight – and the sin which so easily ensnares us – and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…”
- The Christian life is a not a sprint – it is a MARATHON…
- Often – we START off well in our race – but we do not all FINISH well…
- Because we treat the RACE like a sprint – get tired and give up…
- We need to CAST OFF any weight – the sins – that would slow us down…
- So we can finish the RACE – receive the prize – Jesus Christ – Philippians 3:14
- 1st – Malice…
- We are given a list of FIVE things that will keep us from FINISHING the RACE…
- All MALICE [κακία] – the desire to do evil / cause trouble!
- 2nd – Deceit…
- All deceit [δόλος] – to deceive – from a word to bait…
- Try and LURE someone – in an effort to get from you what you WANT!
- We enjoy going fishing at MCC after church for lunch…
- But you have to feel sorry for those fish – the worm drops in the water…
- And they are LURED out of their safety – because to their DESIRE for the worm!
- 3rd – Hypocrisy…
- Hypocrisy [ὑπόκρισις] – to be TWO faced!
- The word hypocrisy comes from the Greek stage – those who wore masks…
- The idea was who they looked like on the outside – was not who they really were!
- We should not pretend to be one thing on Sunday – and another every other day of the week!
- 4th – Envy…
- Envy [φθόνος] – the desire for things we do not have!
- People are rarely HAPPY with what they possess – they always WANT more…
- Envy is not about what we NEED – it is NOT being content with whatever we have…
- Since God promises to provide what we NEED – Matthew 6:33
- When we are ENVIOUS – we are calling God a LIAR…
- And it will cause us to be BITTER towards the LORD – and jealous of others!
- James 3:16 – “Where envy and self–seeking exist – confusion and every evil thing are there.”
- 5th – Evil speaking…
- All evil speaking [καταλαλιά] – to talk down to others…
- It carries the idea of tearing others down in an effort to build ourselves up!
- Did you even notice when people gossip – it is always about BAD things…
- People like to TEAR others down – in an effort to make them look GOOD…
- But they are deceiving themselves – and need instead to examine their own lives…
- God will not excuse our SIN – just because we think someone else is a bigger SINNER!
- Cast off…
- 2nd – Newborn babes… vs. 2-3
- GRACE for SALVATION…
- Having CAST off the things that will keep us from FINISHING the RACE…
- As we conclude the FIRST section of the book – the GRACE of God for SALVATION…
- We are given THREE illustrations that define our RACE…
- Newborn babes – Living stones – the People of God!
- 1st – Milk of the Word… vs. 2
- As newborn babes – desire the pure milk of the word – that you may grow thereby!
- NEWBORN – only here NT – infants…
- How are we to be like NEWBORNS – in our desire for the MILK of the Word…
- That we MAY [subjunctive] grow through reading our BIBLES!
- From the moment infants are born – they immediately – constantly NEED milk…
- They have to eat 8-12 times each DAY – just to survive – they CRAVE milk!
- The idea is we should CRAVE the Word – long to be in it all throughout the day…
- If we did not eat for a couple of days – we would know it – start to CRAVE food…
- Yet so often we go days – weeks without spending time in the Word…
- One of the results of our salvation – is we should CRAVE the Word like a newborn baby!
- Psalm 42:1-2 – “As the deer pants for the water… My soul thirsts… for the living God…”
- 2nd – PURE milk… vs. 2
- PURE [ἄδολος] – only here NT – the negative of the word DECEIT [δόλος]
- There is a trend today to replace breast milk with formula…
- It is an imitation – DECEPTION – of what is the very best for the newborn!
- God created us to WORSHIP Him – satan tries to get us to WORSHIP anything but the LORD…
- He tries to CONVINCE us living for money – pleasure – fame – is good enough…
- But everything satan does is only a COUNTERFEIT – copy of what God intended…
- It is the knock off IMITATION of the genuine product – looks similar but it does NOT last!
- 3rd – TASTE… vs. 3
- SINCE you have tasted the Lord is gracious!
- GRACIOUS [χρηστὸς] – to be GOOD – useful – pleasant…
- Once we have TASTED His WORD – seen the GRACE of our Lord [κύριος]
- Nothing in this world will ever be enough for us – nothing else will FULFILL us!
- Matthew 11:30 – “For [His] yoke is EASY [χρηστὸς] and [His] burden is light.”
- We can try to be FULFILLED by buying THINGS – but possessions get old and break…
- We can try to be FULFILLED with MONEY – but there will always be something more to buy…
- Because we were NOT created by God to be FULFILLED by the things of this world…
- We were created by God to KNOW Jesus – and WORSHIP Him – John 17:3
- And only when we live for Jesus – will we find we are SATISFIED – John 4:14
- Psalm 34:8 – “Taste and see that the LORD is GOOD [χρηστὸς in LXX].”
- GRACE for SALVATION…
- 3rd – Living Stones… vs. 4-8
- 1st – Jesus is the STONE… vs. 4
- Coming to Him as to a living stone – rejected indeed by men – but chosen by God and precious!
- Jesus is the STONE that was REJECTED by men – they put Him on the cross…
- CHOSEN [ἐκλεκτός] – man REJECTED Jesus – but God CHOSE Jesus to save mankind…
- PRECIOUS [ἔντιμος] – to be held in honor – VERY important!
- Philippians 2:9 – “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.”
- 2nd – We are STONES… vs. 5
- LIVING stones…
- You also – as living stones – are being built up a spiritual house – a holy priesthood…
- To offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ!
- LIVING stones – we are the BUILDING material for a SPIRITUAL house…
- We are the TEMPLE of God – His PRIESTS – who offer SPIRITUAL sacrifices!
- I Corinthians 3:16 – “Do you not know that you are the temple of God…”
- Churches are NOT made out of wood and concrete….
- God uses something far more precious – He uses us to build His house…
- And God has a purpose and plan for each of us in His house!
- Being BUILT…
- BUILT – we are being assembled [present / passive] into the house of God!
- When King Solomon built the FIRST Temple – all the STONES were prepared off site…
- They were finished in the quarry – then just assembled on the Temple Mount…
- Each stone was a perfect fit – they did not even need mortar between the stones!
- I Kings 6:7 – “The temple – when it was being built – was built with stone finished at the quarry – so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple.”
- Did you ever wonder why God did not take us right to heaven when we got saved…
- Why leave us here on earth where we must go through trials and temptations…
- The reason is because we have a lot of ROUGH edges that need to be polished off…
- We are NOT going to be CHISELED and shaped in heaven – the work takes place HERE…
- God puts us through trials to SHAPE us into the people He wants us to be…
- So that when we arrive in Heaven – we will already be a PERFECT fit!
- LIVING stones…
- 3rd – THE Cornerstone… vs. 6
- The SCRIPTURE – Isaiah 28:16
- Behold – I lay in Zion [Jerusalem] a chief cornerstone – elect – precious!
- CORNERSTONE – the key STONE – sets the angles and location of the building…
- ELECT – PRECIOUS – the same words used to describe Jesus – I Peter 2:4
- Anytime you build a house – you need a set of blueprints to follow…
- With so many pieces – so many different parts that have to fit perfectly together…
- If you do not have a blueprint for a major project – it will end in disaster!
- The blueprint God has given to the church – is the Word of God…
- The church of God is built upon the foundation – instruction of the Bible!
- And Jesus is the CORNERSTONE – the most important piece…
- He is the STONE that SUPPORTS and is the FOUNDATION of the church!
- Matthew 16:18 – “On this rock I will build My church…”
- There are a LOT of ideas today about HOW to build a CHURCH…
- In order for a CHURCH to grow – you need to entertain the people…
- In order to get money – hold fundraisers to compel the people to give…
- All ideas that come from the WORLD – nowhere to be found in the WORD…
- Unfortunately many churches today look to the world rather than to Jesus…
- As a result theses churches are not on a good FOUNDATION!
- No SHAME…
- And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame!
- Will NOT – [οὐ μὴ subjunctive] – the most powerful negation in Greek…
- IMPOSSIBLE for those put their trust [present] in Jesus – to be disappointed…
- To those who BELIEVE in Him – He is an unshakable FOUNDATION!
- Matthew 7:24 – “I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
- We will NEVER be disappointed when we choose to make Jesus our FOUNDATION…
- That does not mean things will always turn out the way we expect…
- But we can be absolutely certain – that whatever happens – we are UNSHAKABLE!
- The SCRIPTURE – Isaiah 28:16
- 4th – REJECTED… vs. 7-8
- The DISOBEDIENT…
- Therefore – to you who believe – He is precious. But to those who are disobedient…
- The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone!
- DISOBEDIENT [ἀπειθέω] – those who REFUSE to BELIEVE…
- Jesus is the stone that the builders REFUSED – Psalm 118:22
- According to tradition – when Solomon built the first Temple…
- The first stone sent to the building site was the chief CORNERSTONE…
- When the workers received the STONE – they were not ready – set it aside – forgot!
- The stone the builders rejected – became the chief CORNERSTONE!
- STUMBLING stone…
- A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.
- They stumble – being disobedient to the word – to which they also were appointed!
- A stone of stumbling – a rock of offence – quoting – Isaiah 8:14
- Jesus is the FOUNDATION of the GOSPEL…
- SALVATION is found in no other name under heaven – Acts 4:12
- Because men are DISOBEDIENT – and REFUSE to believe the WORD of God…
- They STUMBLE – and are OFFENDED – at the name of Jesus!
- When TRIALS come quite unexpectedly – giving us no time to prepare…
- The only hope we have is that we have built our life on a solid FOUNDATION!
- Then if our bank account is EMPTY – we know God PROVIDES…
- If we get SICK – we know the great PHYSICIAN!
- There are NO limits to what God will allow to get our attention…
- The question is are we willing to fall on Him – admit our need – and be BROKEN…
- Or do we insist on going our own way – He falls on us – and we are CRUSHED!
- Luke 20:18 – “Whoever falls on that stone ROCK [λίθος] will be broken. But on whomever it falls – it will grind him to powder…”
- The DISOBEDIENT…
- 1st – Jesus is the STONE… vs. 4
- 4th – People of God… vs. 9-10
- 1st – CHOSEN generation…
- Chosen GENERATION [γένος] – referring to our nationality – our IDENTITY!
- We often place our IDENTITY on where we are FROM – or what we DO…
- But our IDENTITY is that we were chosen [ἐκλεκτός] by God to be His own people…
- Our identity is simply in Christ – and however He wants to use us!
- 2nd – Royal priesthood…
- There are THREE priestly lines defined in the Bible…
- LEVITICAL – which represents the Jewish priesthood…
- MELCHIZEDEK – which is the Priesthood of Jesus – Hebrews 7:1
- ROYAL – to belong to the KING – which is for you and me!
- The purpose of the priest was to be a mediator – a go between God and man…
- God has called us to be His PRIESTS – represent Him to a lost world!
- 3rd – Holy nation…
- HOLY [ἅγιος] – to be SET apart for the Lord – as a nation [ἔθνος]
- We talked last week about being set apart – HOLY – as individuals…
- But we are also called to be set apart – HOLY as a group!
- 4th – Special people…
- SPECIAL [περιποίησις] – to be a POSSESSION – to belong to someone
- God CHOSE us to belong to Him – knowing exactly who we are!
- I know how much of a challenge I can be – how many times I make mistakes…
- I am always amazed – that God also knowing exactly who I am – and still CHOSE me…
- God is not surprised by our mistakes – He knew what he was getting…
- He calls us SPECIAL in spite of all our sin – weaknesses – faults – and failures!
- 5th – People of God… vs. 9-10
- CALLED out…
- That you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness…
- Into His marvelous light!
- PROCLAIM [ἐξαγγέλλω] – to be a MESSENGER for the LORD
- God CALLED us out of DARKNESS into LIGHT – so we might [subjunctive] tell others!
- CALLED out…
- 1st – CHOSEN generation…
- I John 1:7 – “If we walk in the light as He is in the light – we have fellowship with one another – and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
- Those who COME into the light – have fellowship with Jesus – and are FORGIVEN…
- But those who LOVE [ἀγαπάω] the darkness – refuse to COME – John 3:19
- Considering the consequences for rejecting Jesus – hell…
- We need to be MESSENGERS for the LORD – going out into the DARK – to show the LIGHT!
Nothing else in life matters – only what we do with the GRACE of God for SALVATION!
Not a PEOPLE… vs. 10
Who once were not a people but are now the people of God!
When Jen and I were in Israel in 2008 – we had to pass through the Netherlands…
We had a long layover – and thought it might be nice to get out of the airport…
My passport from the US – I was NOT required to have a visa…
But Jens passport was from the PHILIPPINES – a visa was REQUIRED…
It had nothing to do with being a good or bad person…
We were GRANTED or DENIED solely based on our CITIZENSHIP!
We can ONLY be citizens of one of TWO kingdoms – Matthew 12:30
We either belong to the KINGDOM of God – or the KINGDOM of this world…
And if we try to get into heaven with the wrong CITIZENSHIP – the doors are closed!
But once we are BORN again – we are no longer FOREIGNERS…
We no longer belong to this world – we have changed our CITIZENSHIP!
MERCY…
Who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy!
MERCY [ἐλεέω] – helping those who in NEED
We used to be the ENEMIES of God – and did NOT have MERCY [perfect]
But when we BELIEVED – we received His MERCY [passive]
We became the PEOPLE of God – HOLY / ROYAL / CHOSEN / SPECIAL…
Through His MERCY – we have the LIGHT – and been given a new CITIZENSHIP…
The only question is – do we share our HOPE with others – pass on the GRACE…
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