Sermon Notes from "In Exile and at War: The Christian Life Before God and Man." Sermon by Mitch Chase.

[From the 10:45AM worship service this morning at Kosmosdale Baptist Church.]

1 Peter 2:11-12.

I. Introduction: "If Necessary Use Words" [?]


A. NOT said by St. Francis Assisi (to whom it is attributed): see "Speak the Gospel" by Mark Galli)

B. NOT biblical
1. The good news is a historical reality that must be proclaimed.
2. Transformed lives testify to the power of the gospel, but our lives are NOT the gospel.
3. Transformed lives will cause others to inquire concerning the source of the transformation, but then we must actually proclaim the gospel.
4. Evangelism require making disciples through teaching, etc.

II. "Abstain from Sinful Passion" (v. 11)

A. "Beloved"
1. Peter does not personally know [at least the majority of] these readers: this is a circular letter.
2. Peter's love is based on the fact that fellow believers are, like him, united to Christ.

B. "Sojourners and Exiles"
1. Physically: dispersed Jewish Christians
2. Spiritually: awaiting the consummation of redemption

C. Christian living is always to be done in accordance with our identity:
1. united to Christ;
2. redeemed from sin.

D. "Sinful Passion"
1. Our culture promotes living according to unbounded desire.
2. Due to the Fall, at our core, we desire wrong things, and even when we are redeemed, wrong desires remain.

E. Christians cannot be pacifists regarding desire.
1. We cannot unthinkingly entertain and pursue whatever desire occurs to us.
2. We must engage in warfare against sinful desire.

III. "Live Holy Lives Among Unbelievers" (v. 12)

A. "Conduct:"
1. The way we live.
2. This assumes that believing the gospel changes the way we live.
a. We must acknowledge that we are repenting sinners.
b. We must be willing to ask forgiveness when necessary.

B. We will be falsely accused.
1. Historically, Christians have been falsely accused of:
a. Cannibalism, due to unbelievers misunderstanding the Lord's Supper;
b. Incest, due to Christians calling fellow believers "brother" and "sister."
2. We must, like Jesus when He was falsely accused, respond to false accusation in a way that honors God.

C. "Glorify God"
1. Our godly response to false accusation provides additional opportunities for gospel witness.
2. The way that we respond to false accusation points to the truth of the gospel.

D. "The Day of Visitation"
1. Our confidence comes from our knowledge that Christ is coming.
2. God has provided us with an "amazing opportunity" for evangelism as we wait for the Lord's coming.

IV. Conclusion

A. Good deeds must be based upon the gospel.

B. We cannot assume the theology of those doing good deeds: Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons may seem to have strong family commitment, etc.

C. We must proclaim the true gospel.