Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.
James 1:22
1st Peter Chapter 2 - Real Treasure
Sunday services on April 24th
Introduction: This book this message that comes from the book of 1st Peter is about real
searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit ofChrist in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and thesubsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving notthemselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you throughthose who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,things into which angels long to look.1st Peter 1:1-12Exp: Peter starts right off the bat in this amazing trinitarian statement. That God theFather foreknew this message, that the Holy Spirit was confirming it through theirsanctification, and that Jesus’s blood us the grace and peace that brought it alltogether.The Father predestining usThe Spirit making us HolyJesus leading us along the wayAll of it is an inheritance bought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus made allfo this possible, he purchased our hope with the sprinkling of his own blood.Ill: What did you inherit? Have you heard these stories about surprise inheritances fromwealthy millionaires? How would you love to find out you had a long lost relative whodied and left you with a fortune. In fact:Luis Carlos de Noronha Cabral da Camara, a Portuguese aristocrat, selected randompeople from a Lisbon telephone directory to be his heirs.He literally took a phone bookand picked 70 people to be his heir.
I asked myself this question a few times, for me as you can see I inherited my mothersheight. We are all made up of things like this, nature versus nurture, some are reallygood things. Maybe you inherited your parents really good looks, or you are like meand you inherited a faith filled legacy. Not everything you inherit is good. Sometimesyou inherit things that are terrible, your bad temper, alcoholism, maybe even abusivebehavior or damaging habits you know are not helping you out.Scripture says that we inherited our sinful nature, that we have all fallen short of theGlory of God. We are all doomed!App: This is why this salvation that Jesus purchased is like a brand new inheritance.We now inherit eternal life. We now inherit real treasure, that is refined, that is tested
and will not be destroyed. Jesus didn’t select you out of a phone book, he chose youfrom before the foundation of the world. Im serious you and I do not fully understandthat fact, that enormous realization that God taking into account all factors andunderstanding the dynamic of free will, versus his divine providence, demonstrates tous while we are still sinners his limitless love!Regardless of your theological persuasion you are chosen! You will go through trials,you will suffer, but in light of the glory of this understanding all of it is temporary andfleeting. You belong to him!4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heavenfor you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvationready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a littlewhile, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,T/S: You belong to him. (Even the angels don’t understand this fully2. Live Holy in your Exile13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set yourhope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of JesusChrist. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of yourformer ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all yourconduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you callon him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conductyourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you wereransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not withperishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ,like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.Exp: I love this passage and the imagery that he uses throughout this book. Headdresses this book as from Babylon, he uses this here and refers to the Diaspora ofthe Jews from Israel. He now addresses them as ones who are in exile.You are in exileDon’t live here at home this is not your home. You must be ready for action, you mustbe sober minded. Set your hope on grace! Remember the grace that has been given toyou. You are in exile!Ill: Have you ever been to a foreign country? Especially in less than ideal situations?My Friday the 13th story in back in Nam.
App: Consider the believers and others now who are in neighboring countriessurrounding Ukraine. They are in many cases homeless and without means of work.They are in a forced exile by the war. They are refugees. This image of the people ofGod is being called to account here. We are not citizens of this world we are citizens ofheaven.Live different. Live holy lives. Live sober lives. (Expand)T/S: Live out your exile in fear but also in light of the grace that was bought by Christ.3. Live for real treasure and real Gold.20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifestin the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, whoraised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are inGod.22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincerebrotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you havebeen born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the livingand abiding word of God; 24 for“All flesh is like grassand all its glory like the flower of grass.The grass withers,and the flower falls,25but the word of the Lord remains forever.”And this word is the good news that was preached to you.Exp: None of this is outside God’s plan, the cross was known to God long before. Itwasn’t a surprise, and Jesus was directly intentional in how he lived and presentedhimself.He had made himself known! God revealed himself. Peter knew this!13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked hisdisciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Somesay John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of theprophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peterreplied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answeredhim, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealedthis to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, andon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosedin heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was theChrist.Matthew 16:13-20Peter confessed Christ, and he saw firsthand the resurrected Jesus! He went into thetomb, and ate with Christ! Christ gave him a direct command to “Feed his Lambs” Thisis exactly what he is doing here.22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincerebrotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,Peter gives the application he tells us to love one another from a pure heart. Whetheror not someone has hurt you intentional or not. We are called to love one another out ofa pure heart. Earnestly.Church this one hits close to home for me!This letter written in exile is for me and for you, as we examine the writings of someonewho knew Christ firsthand may we come to find hope again in the resurrection. May webe filled with faith and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. May we purchase real treasure andreal gold refined in the fire. May we recognize that we are not home and that we needto love our fellow exiles with a pure heart.Application and prayer
