Illustrations of Salvation  

• 1^st – 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
  • 1^st – 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!
  • 2^nd – 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!
  • 3^rd – 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!
  • 4^th – 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.”
  • 5^th – 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!

• 2^nd – 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!
  • 1^st – 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…”
  • 2^nd – 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!
  • 3^rd – 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].”

• 3^rd – Living Stones… vs. 4-8
  • 1^st – 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.”
  • 2^nd – 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!
  • 3^rd – 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!
  • 4^th – 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…”

• 4^th – People of God… vs. 9-10
  • 1^st – 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!
  • 2^nd – 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!
  • 3^rd – 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!
  • 4^th – 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!
  • 5^th – 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!

• 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…