WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.640 Verse 11. 00:00:01.639 --> 00:00:31.620 Amen. 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:34.259 David Helm wrote this. 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:45.679 If human language retains within her possession a word better suited to follow chapter 2 and verse 10 than the one Peter chose. 00:00:46.500 --> 00:00:47.659 I can't think of it. 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:59.260 Beloved is the honored title that accompanies everyone whose spiritual identity and eternal destination are wrapped up in Christ. 00:00:59.960 --> 00:01:01.879 I love the way he said that. 00:01:02.539 --> 00:01:06.219 I don't know that there's a better word to begin verse 11 with. 00:01:06.539 --> 00:01:07.400 Of course there isn't. 00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:09.200 It's the inspired word of God. 00:01:09.299 --> 00:01:10.459 It's the one the Spirit chose. 00:01:11.099 --> 00:01:12.519 And it's a tremendous word. 00:01:12.519 --> 00:01:19.519 And I want you to just imagine for just a moment that you belong to one of those little congregations. 00:01:20.119 --> 00:01:24.259 Perhaps a congregation not much larger than what has gathered here today. 00:01:24.260 --> 00:01:30.600 In the first century somewhere in Asia Minor in one of those provinces that are named at the beginning of the letter. 00:01:31.100 --> 00:01:33.460 You belong to one of those congregations. 00:01:34.960 --> 00:01:37.740 Your life as a believer at that point. 00:01:37.739 --> 00:01:40.559 Though filled with hope and joy. 00:01:40.559 --> 00:01:43.739 Has been anything but easy. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:48.379 You used to be right at home in the world. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:48.879 Comfortable. 00:01:50.500 --> 00:01:51.919 And then somewhere along the way. 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:54.179 Someone preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:01:54.299 --> 00:01:55.539 And something happened. 00:01:55.540 --> 00:02:00.740 Something that you may not even necessarily be able to fully understand and comprehend yet. 00:02:00.960 --> 00:02:02.240 But something happened. 00:02:02.440 --> 00:02:04.580 And maybe it wasn't even the first time that you heard it. 00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:06.800 Maybe you'd heard it many times before. 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:08.900 But on that day in hearing it. 00:02:08.900 --> 00:02:11.740 It was as if God himself called you. 00:02:12.700 --> 00:02:14.180 And transformed you. 00:02:15.040 --> 00:02:15.920 And you believed. 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:22.019 And now though you at that point had felt at home in the world. 00:02:22.139 --> 00:02:27.819 Now really the only way to describe your existence is as a stranger here. 00:02:28.539 --> 00:02:31.299 As an exile here. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:34.959 And this new faith that you possess. 00:02:35.379 --> 00:02:39.099 And the life that follows this faith and obedience to Jesus. 00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:42.739 Has suddenly become an obstacle to most of your relationships. 00:02:42.740 --> 00:02:49.420 You're mocked and ridiculed by people who once loved you. 00:02:51.379 --> 00:02:56.980 Those government officials that at one time you had a pretty good relationship with. 00:02:57.320 --> 00:03:00.379 Now suddenly that relationship has soured. 00:03:02.100 --> 00:03:06.719 Your employer or in the case of some of the people in this letter. 00:03:07.180 --> 00:03:07.860 You were a slave. 00:03:08.160 --> 00:03:11.540 And perhaps your master at that point was a kind master. 00:03:11.539 --> 00:03:13.620 And had appreciated your work. 00:03:13.739 --> 00:03:15.759 And had demonstrated kindness to you. 00:03:15.799 --> 00:03:18.459 And the arrangement that you had made with him economically. 00:03:18.599 --> 00:03:20.759 But now suddenly as a result of this new faith. 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:22.639 And the life that follows this faith. 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:25.939 Now he has become a harsh master towards you. 00:03:28.500 --> 00:03:29.639 Perhaps you're a wife. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:33.180 And you've come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus. 00:03:33.340 --> 00:03:35.979 But your husband continues to reject him. 00:03:35.979 --> 00:03:40.319 And you're trying to sort out how can I be a faithful wife. 00:03:41.719 --> 00:03:45.879 To a husband who seems to now loathe me. 00:03:46.280 --> 00:03:47.759 And the God that I serve. 00:03:48.799 --> 00:03:51.899 That was the distinction of the people to whom Peter was writing. 00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:53.739 They were suffering. 00:03:55.319 --> 00:03:58.199 Some were even thinking that they were worthy of death. 00:03:58.199 --> 00:04:00.280 On account of this new way of life. 00:04:00.539 --> 00:04:02.840 But again you're in that congregation. 00:04:03.219 --> 00:04:05.360 And despite all of that you're persevering. 00:04:05.860 --> 00:04:06.420 It's hard. 00:04:06.900 --> 00:04:08.479 There's days that you're tempted to doubt. 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:09.659 Whether or not it's true. 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:10.939 And whether or not it's worth it. 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:12.539 But you're persevering in faith. 00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:14.020 You don't know exactly how. 00:04:14.340 --> 00:04:17.540 But it's as if God has just got this magnet on your heart. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:19.639 And he just keeps drawing you. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:21.660 And he just keeps pulling you in. 00:04:22.779 --> 00:04:23.740 So on the Lord today. 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:24.420 Sunday morning. 00:04:24.540 --> 00:04:25.779 You make your way to the gathering. 00:04:25.779 --> 00:04:26.720 Like you always do. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:29.400 And to your great surprise. 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:30.700 One of the elders of the church. 00:04:30.880 --> 00:04:32.480 Stands before the congregation. 00:04:32.640 --> 00:04:32.920 And says. 00:04:33.280 --> 00:04:35.180 We have a letter to read to you today. 00:04:35.280 --> 00:04:37.000 It's from Peter. 00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:39.440 And he begins to read. 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:42.060 Everything that we've studied up to this point. 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:44.620 1 Peter 1.1 through 2.10. 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:48.120 And I can just imagine at this point. 00:04:48.200 --> 00:04:49.360 In the reading of that letter. 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:51.780 Someone in that congregation. 00:04:53.400 --> 00:04:55.360 Maybe with tears. 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:57.420 Beginning to stream. 00:04:57.980 --> 00:04:59.080 Down their face. 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:01.800 Stop the elder. 00:05:01.939 --> 00:05:02.439 And just say. 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:03.560 Pastor. 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:06.980 Can you just read that bit again? 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:10.379 You know that whole section. 00:05:10.740 --> 00:05:12.660 On that future inheritance. 00:05:12.660 --> 00:05:14.020 That's imperishable. 00:05:14.220 --> 00:05:14.900 And undefiled. 00:05:15.020 --> 00:05:15.420 And unfading. 00:05:15.520 --> 00:05:16.460 Can you read that again? 00:05:18.139 --> 00:05:19.420 That whole bit. 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:20.040 About. 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:22.699 Us being God's chosen. 00:05:22.699 --> 00:05:25.899 Can you just read that again? 00:05:27.659 --> 00:05:28.740 And suddenly. 00:05:29.740 --> 00:05:30.839 Your heart. 00:05:30.979 --> 00:05:31.819 And your affections. 00:05:31.939 --> 00:05:32.579 Are warmed. 00:05:33.180 --> 00:05:35.139 Not because your circumstances. 00:05:35.139 --> 00:05:36.199 Have changed. 00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:38.480 Not because those friendships. 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:40.300 That you once loved. 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:41.339 Have now soured. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:42.659 Are now. 00:05:43.019 --> 00:05:44.259 Beginning to sweeten again. 00:05:44.259 --> 00:05:45.680 Not for that reason. 00:05:46.219 --> 00:05:47.360 But simply because. 00:05:47.599 --> 00:05:48.159 Once again. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:50.560 You have been enamored. 00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:52.020 With the wonderful gospel. 00:05:52.020 --> 00:05:53.439 Of Jesus Christ. 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:55.439 And this new identity. 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:56.560 That is yours. 00:05:56.980 --> 00:05:58.100 In Christ. 00:05:59.060 --> 00:06:00.160 That transcends. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:01.460 All of those other things. 00:06:01.460 --> 00:06:03.420 That makes all of the suffering. 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:04.120 Worth it. 00:06:04.440 --> 00:06:06.100 That makes all of the hardship. 00:06:06.100 --> 00:06:07.140 And the struggle. 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:09.000 Worth the way. 00:06:10.200 --> 00:06:10.680 Yeah. 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:11.680 I think beloved. 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:13.740 Is precisely the right word. 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:14.860 To start with here. 00:06:15.959 --> 00:06:18.019 Because that's exactly who we are. 00:06:18.139 --> 00:06:18.879 In Christ Jesus. 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:21.280 We are the beloved of God. 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:23.800 And as strangers. 00:06:23.939 --> 00:06:25.360 And exiles in this world. 00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:26.920 As Peter reminds us of. 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:27.240 Again. 00:06:27.340 --> 00:06:28.319 Right here in verse 11. 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:31.000 We may be despised by the world. 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:32.439 But he reminds us. 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:34.220 We are chosen of God. 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:35.960 Yeah. 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:38.319 There may be people around us. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:39.420 Who hate us. 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:45.740 who think that our new convictions and our new faith and our new way of life is not only strange, 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:48.319 but evil as he covers it here. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:53.920 Yeah, they hate us, but we are beloved of the Lord. 00:06:55.140 --> 00:06:57.080 And we are beloved by the apostle. 00:06:58.080 --> 00:07:00.040 And we're beloved by his people. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:07.639 Beloved is also signaling for us here as far as the literary structure of the letter is concerned. 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:11.620 It's signaling for us a shift in the content of Peter's letter. 00:07:13.339 --> 00:07:17.199 He has well established up to this point our gospel identity. 00:07:18.259 --> 00:07:28.979 And now he's turning away from all of this emphasis on who we are and to whom we belong and what is waiting for us in eternity. 00:07:28.979 --> 00:07:36.339 He's turning away from that in order that he might urge us now to live in a way that's worthy of that calling. 00:07:36.339 --> 00:07:40.859 That calling that he said in chapter 1 is to be God's children. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:47.019 And the calling that he said in chapter 2 is to be God's people in the world. 00:07:47.119 --> 00:07:51.979 He is now beginning to urge us on how to live in light of that. 00:07:52.419 --> 00:07:53.620 And the point of it is simple. 00:07:53.620 --> 00:08:02.019 The point is that if we are God's people, a priesthood called out of darkness to represent God in the world, 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:08.240 then as his people we need to take seriously our way of life. 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:14.399 The conduct of our lives day by day as it's lived before one another, 00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:18.819 but then even especially as it's lived before the unbelievers around us, 00:08:18.819 --> 00:08:24.740 we are to take seriously what that looks like because we are no longer representing ourselves. 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:28.980 I'm not representing the blank and chips ultimately. 00:08:30.620 --> 00:08:32.460 I'm representing the Lord God. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:35.179 That's Peter's point. 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:37.960 And from here to the end of chapter 4, 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:42.659 he's going to provide several specific categories and areas of life 00:08:42.659 --> 00:08:45.319 that give us instructions on how we are to do that, 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:49.639 how we are to conduct our lives faithfully as God's people in the world. 00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:54.679 But these two verses, as again David Helm puts it helpfully, I think, 00:08:55.480 --> 00:09:01.659 are the threshold into the house that Peter is going to begin building in the next two chapters. 00:09:02.419 --> 00:09:04.740 I want you to think of it as this house. 00:09:04.740 --> 00:09:11.899 There's a room over here that deals with how we are to live honorably in relationship to the government, 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:15.259 civil officials that have authority over our lives. 00:09:15.820 --> 00:09:20.220 And then we're going to move from that room to this room over here that deals with, 00:09:20.340 --> 00:09:21.720 we might say, employers. 00:09:22.139 --> 00:09:24.039 In this case, it's master slaves. 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:27.799 We might understand that by application in our situation 00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:32.379 to be the way we relate to our employers and the businesses that we work for and so on and so forth. 00:09:32.379 --> 00:09:34.159 Those who have authority over us in that way. 00:09:34.740 --> 00:09:39.360 And then we're going to move from that room over to this room that deals with the home 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:45.240 and our marriages and what it looks like to be a faithful husband and a faithful wife 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:51.759 according to God's design, but especially as it relates to those who are unbelievers in our homes. 00:09:51.860 --> 00:09:53.759 Then we're going to move to a room on suffering. 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:58.580 We're going to move to a room on our friends who now think we're strange 00:09:58.580 --> 00:10:01.879 because we don't want to do the things that we used to do with them. 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:03.180 We're going to move to all of these rooms. 00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:06.959 But before we get to any of these rooms, here stands verses 11 and 12. 00:10:07.319 --> 00:10:09.219 This is the doorway into the house. 00:10:10.139 --> 00:10:17.659 Two big principles that Peter issues here that are summarizing the overarching purpose 00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:21.799 that's going to guide us moving forward in these next two chapters, 00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:24.719 which is why we will settle just on these two for the day. 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:28.860 If I can just say this too. 00:10:30.180 --> 00:10:37.379 Here we see Peter, the preacher, maybe for the first time, really coming through. 00:10:38.560 --> 00:10:40.820 We, of course, see Peter, the apostle. 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:45.279 We see Peter very pastorally handling these Christians. 00:10:45.420 --> 00:10:46.160 Now we get here. 00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:47.960 It's Peter the preacher now. 00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:49.700 How do we know? 00:10:50.740 --> 00:10:53.440 Because he doesn't just simply tell us what we ought to do. 00:10:53.680 --> 00:10:57.259 He pleads with us to live in godliness here. 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:02.200 Indeed, this is how we're going to thrive in exile. 00:11:02.360 --> 00:11:08.300 So he urgently, he passionately implores Christians to hear and obey 00:11:08.300 --> 00:11:10.800 because of who they are in Christ. 00:11:10.800 --> 00:11:16.540 I want you to understand the tone now that I think Peter intends to communicate through this letter. 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:22.639 He is shifting now from this great comforting tone to this great plea, 00:11:23.019 --> 00:11:26.539 this imploring tone for them to obey. 00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:33.139 And he gives two exhortations, each one with a reason attached to it. 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:36.379 One of them is framed negatively. 00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:39.819 That is, he's telling us what we must not do. 00:11:39.820 --> 00:11:42.280 One is framed positively. 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:46.780 That is, he is telling us what we must do, what we must pursue. 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:48.600 Let's start with the negative one. 00:11:48.920 --> 00:11:53.960 Number one, he says, exhortation number one, abstain from the passions of the flesh. 00:11:55.060 --> 00:11:56.820 Abstain from the passions of the flesh. 00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:57.720 This is verse 11. 00:11:57.720 --> 00:12:08.879 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain, refuse, quit the passions of the flesh, 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:12.639 which wage war against your soul. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:15.980 Now, it's New Year's resolution season. 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:24.460 Perhaps some of you have joined with millions of others to determine that 2026 is going to be the year I get healthy again, right? 00:12:24.460 --> 00:12:27.879 And you know the best way to handle New Year's resolutions, right? 00:12:28.560 --> 00:12:30.000 You just don't make them, right? 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:32.180 If you don't make them, you can't fail on them. 00:12:32.280 --> 00:12:37.300 If you don't try to better yourself, you'll succeed, right, in not bettering yourself. 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:40.300 And yet, here we are, New Year's resolution season. 00:12:40.420 --> 00:12:46.860 Maybe some of you have done that, and you've said, you know what, this year I'm going to really try to develop a healthier lifestyle physically. 00:12:47.340 --> 00:12:52.740 And even with all of the various supplements that are available, every other commercial I see is GLP-1. 00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:56.340 And there's all of the things about gyms and things like that as well. 00:12:57.320 --> 00:13:04.919 Despite all of those things, we know that at the heart of this, a healthy lifestyle really just boils down to two things. 00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:06.860 Diet and exercise. 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:08.519 Diet and exercise. 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:13.060 You can do all the other stuff, and it may work for a little while, 00:13:13.059 --> 00:13:22.500 but if you don't get control of your diet and of your exercise, that is, cut some things out and pursue other things, 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:24.819 the healthy lifestyle is never really going to develop. 00:13:25.299 --> 00:13:29.099 And I think we can understand these two principles kind of laying out that way. 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:34.219 And here on the very first one, Peter's telling us some things that we need to cut out. 00:13:35.059 --> 00:13:38.779 We need to abstain from the passions of the flesh. 00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:40.839 Well, what are these passions? 00:13:42.179 --> 00:13:44.939 Well, we might look back to chapter 2 to see some of them. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:48.179 Chapter 2 and verse 1, Peter tells us there, 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:54.779 put away malice and deceit and hypocrisy and envy and slander. 00:13:55.899 --> 00:13:57.059 Now, that would make sense, right? 00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:01.419 We would say, yeah, those would certainly fit the category of passions of the flesh. 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:04.299 We need to cut those things out if we're going to live in godliness. 00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:11.599 We might also look ahead if you just want to flip over to chapter 4, verse 2. 00:14:13.699 --> 00:14:20.479 Peter tells us we are to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 00:14:21.199 --> 00:14:25.959 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do. 00:14:26.219 --> 00:14:30.579 Gentiles he's using here in the sense of unbelievers, not just non-Jews. 00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:33.139 And he gives us another list, doesn't he? 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:43.439 So living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, lawless idolatry. 00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:48.080 He said, yeah, well, those sound a lot like passions of the flesh to me as well. 00:14:48.699 --> 00:14:51.759 We could go to a number of other New Testament passages, couldn't we? 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:57.139 We could go to Romans chapter 1 or Colossians chapter 3 or Ephesians chapter 5. 00:14:57.139 --> 00:15:05.399 Or we could go to Galatians chapter 5 and we can see list after list after list after list showing us all of these passions of the flesh. 00:15:05.699 --> 00:15:06.580 The works of the flesh. 00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:09.139 And we would say, yes, all of those are included here. 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:11.740 And yes, Peter intends for us to think about that. 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:15.039 But I do think it's actually important that Peter doesn't give us a list here. 00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:20.179 We need to at least notice that he's not concerned with a list at this point. 00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:22.079 What is it that he's concerned with? 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:33.699 The emphasis at this point is on the new life in Christ being distinct from the old way of sin. 00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:42.680 That because you are in Christ, there should be a dramatic transformation of life. 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:46.520 That is certainly progressive. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:49.840 You will grow in this way of life. 00:15:50.160 --> 00:15:54.300 It doesn't all come at once, but the affections come at once. 00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:56.960 No longer are you living for yourself. 00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:59.940 No longer are you living for your own pleasure. 00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:07.500 Now your affections have shifted and your priority is the glory of God and the pleasure of God. 00:16:07.800 --> 00:16:08.980 You want to live for him. 00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:12.680 You want to fulfill the purpose for which he has created you. 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:17.480 In other words, your new identity should mark you out, he says. 00:16:18.300 --> 00:16:20.640 And we can talk about all kinds of ways for it to do that. 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:26.880 But the emphasis here is just on the fact that something should be marking you in your behavior as different. 00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:29.200 And this is his pattern, isn't it? 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:35.600 In chapter 1, he simply says, don't be conformed to the passion of your former ignorance. 00:16:36.780 --> 00:16:38.379 Don't go back to the darkness. 00:16:39.660 --> 00:16:40.920 We read it in chapter 4. 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:49.080 Live the rest of the time in the flesh from here on forward, no longer for human passions, but for the will of God. 00:16:49.140 --> 00:16:52.759 Because human passions is what you once, that's all you cared about. 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:55.580 Well, we're not going to live that way anymore, he says. 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:56.700 That's the emphasis. 00:16:56.700 --> 00:17:10.220 And the bottom line is that to live for God's pleasure and according to his will is the exact opposite of living for the passions that marked your life before becoming a Christian. 00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:13.480 Remember what he's just said. 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:19.480 God has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:25.539 And to live as his people means refusing to go back to the darkness. 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:34.519 Grace then does not free us to live as we want. 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:40.519 Grace frees us to live as God wants. 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:45.019 And there's two great errors that Christians tend to fall in. 00:17:46.139 --> 00:17:49.519 One is that old antinomianism. 00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:53.619 Literally, it means no law, which is to say what I just said. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:55.700 That grace has set me free. 00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:58.859 Therefore, my behavior doesn't really matter anymore. 00:17:58.859 --> 00:18:00.559 Therefore, I have received grace. 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:02.319 Grace is greater than sin. 00:18:02.679 --> 00:18:06.519 And therefore, I am free to live as I want to live. 00:18:06.699 --> 00:18:08.419 Well, no, the Bible doesn't teach that at all. 00:18:08.879 --> 00:18:12.919 If that were true, why on earth would Peter even write this? 00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:17.419 But there's another error that we tend to fall into. 00:18:18.719 --> 00:18:21.299 It's another blemish on our understanding of the gospel. 00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:26.980 And that's when we go to the other extreme and we embrace the law to the extent that we forget grace. 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:29.259 This was the issue in Galatians. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.720 To the Galatians, wasn't it? 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:37.759 Peter or Paul tells them, he says, having begun by the spirit, are you now going to be made complete and mature by the flesh? 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.779 He says, no, that's legalism, isn't it? 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:44.279 It's saying, well, maybe Jesus is enough to get me in the door. 00:18:44.399 --> 00:18:48.480 But it's going to have to take a lot of works on my part to actually finish the job. 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:50.440 Well, no, that's not the gospel either. 00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:52.519 Peter helps us here. 00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:55.519 He says, yes, you are in Christ. 00:18:56.779 --> 00:19:01.700 But then he also says, he's called you out of darkness and it's time to live like it. 00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:07.859 As God's representatives in the world, we must abstain from the sins of the flesh. 00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:11.899 Now, I want you to notice the reason that he supplies here in verse 11. 00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:20.700 I urge you as sojourners and exiles, abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war. 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.799 With your soul. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:25.279 Wage war. 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:31.079 Don't miss the weight here. 00:19:32.399 --> 00:19:34.839 War is no small thing. 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:41.159 Sin is destructive, he means. 00:19:41.159 --> 00:19:46.019 And it's destructive, he means, to the whole person. 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:49.159 Which I think is what he means by the soul here. 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:56.019 Not just the immaterial part, but the whole person is affected by the pursuit of sin. 00:19:56.019 --> 00:20:06.519 But though we are quick to recognize typically that sin takes its toll on the body, perhaps it would be good for us to remember now. 00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:10.500 That it also takes a tremendous toll on the soul. 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:13.900 On that spiritual part of you. 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:22.200 To be clear, those who are truly God's people are safe in Christ. 00:20:22.820 --> 00:20:24.460 We studied that in chapter 1, didn't we? 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:28.820 We are being guarded by God's power through faith. 00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:31.420 For a salvation ready to be revealed. 00:20:31.540 --> 00:20:32.259 That's chapter 1. 00:20:33.040 --> 00:20:36.880 But we shouldn't quickly dismiss the warnings that are ever present in the New Testament. 00:20:38.800 --> 00:20:39.660 What are they? 00:20:39.660 --> 00:20:51.100 These passions wage war against your soul in that giving in to them will lead you to the path of apostasy. 00:20:52.560 --> 00:20:55.460 Of forsaking the faith altogether. 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:00.820 It wants to destroy you. 00:21:02.360 --> 00:21:03.940 And it will destroy you. 00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:12.019 Jesus said there's two kinds of people who profess faith at some point but eventually fall away. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.779 He said it in the parable of the soils. 00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.600 The four soils. 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:24.380 Remember, there were two of them who, upon hearing the gospel message, at first are enamored by that message for one reason or another. 00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:26.200 But it never takes root in their heart. 00:21:26.580 --> 00:21:29.799 So for a little while, they continue with the true believers. 00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:33.039 And you can't tell much of a difference between them. 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:34.220 But eventually they fall away. 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:36.200 And he says there's two reasons that they fall away. 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:38.799 One of them is through suffering. 00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:42.759 The gospel doesn't take a real root in their life. 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:47.440 And so when the gospel actually begins to cost them something, they decide, yeah, this isn't for me. 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:48.839 And they leave. 00:21:48.839 --> 00:22:04.899 The other, he says, is the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things chokes out the truth in their lives. 00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:10.820 In other words, they are enamored in some sense with the gospel message. 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:13.040 And for a little while, they're willing to profess that. 00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:20.780 But then when they find that it's actually going to cost them the passions that they really want most, they begin to live for those passions. 00:22:20.780 --> 00:22:24.060 And for a little while, they may try to hold on to both things. 00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:25.580 Well, maybe I can still be a Christian. 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:27.540 I can still live this way too. 00:22:27.540 --> 00:22:33.000 But inevitably, as you give in to the passions of the flesh, you will leave the faith. 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:37.539 I think that's the warning that is implicit in what Peter is saying here. 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:40.480 And we can find this warning in a number of places in the New Testament. 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:45.720 Yes, if you are in Christ, you are safe in Christ and God is guarding you. 00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:50.799 But then the warnings are the instruments that he uses to guard us, isn't it? 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:54.519 Do not give in to the sins of the flesh. 00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:57.259 Abstain from the sins of the flesh. 00:22:57.259 --> 00:23:00.400 They are waging war with your soul. 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:03.960 So cut them out. 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:07.920 Peter issues this important warning. 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:09.680 Sin warns against you. 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.799 Wars against you. 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:17.099 And if you're going to persevere as a Christian in exile, you're going to have to learn to abstain from them. 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:20.559 Else you're going to set yourself on the road to apostasy. 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:22.400 That's a strong warning. 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:24.640 Now do you see Peter the preacher? 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:36.060 He's moving away from comfort here for a moment to pleading passionately calling us to obedience for our own good. 00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:38.740 There's a second part though, isn't there, in verse 12. 00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:42.040 Not only are we to abstain from the passions of the flesh. 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:47.000 Second, he says we are to keep our conduct honorable. 00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:49.520 Keep our conduct honorable. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.480 Let's read the verse again. 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:56.579 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles, that is unbelievers in this sense, honorable. 00:23:58.140 --> 00:24:07.539 So that when they speak against you as evildoers, the assumption is that they are going to do that. 00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:13.720 If you live the way God is telling you to live, they will not understand. 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:16.960 They will not even see it as strange. 00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:19.259 They will see it as evil. 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:21.319 That was the context of these Christians. 00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:24.619 Maybe it's the exclusivity claim of Christ. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:28.140 Christians in that day in some places were referred to as atheists. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:32.420 Not because they believed there was no God, but because they believed there was only one God. 00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:36.819 And to the context in which they lived, that was evil. 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:43.119 This life that they're now living is going to face accusation, right? 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:44.799 Peter's saying that's going to happen. 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.420 The world will not understand. 00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:59.300 So when they do that, you persist in this honorable living so that they may then see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 00:24:59.299 --> 00:25:03.339 Now Peter is undoubtedly quoting Jesus directly here. 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:06.819 Your kids right now are learning the Sermon on the Mount. 00:25:07.139 --> 00:25:09.399 Remember what Jesus said right towards the beginning of it. 00:25:09.399 --> 00:25:20.980 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:29.079 Now I understand as evangelical Protestants, we are sometimes allergic to those two words. 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:31.720 Good works and good deeds and for good reason. 00:25:32.620 --> 00:25:36.599 We stand strongly on the conviction of justification by faith alone. 00:25:36.860 --> 00:25:40.339 That there is nothing in us that earns salvation in any way. 00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:47.879 And yet, when we come to the New Testament over and over and over, we see good works. 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:52.699 That is obedience to God's law, obedience to God's design. 00:25:53.179 --> 00:25:56.679 We see that as one great end of the gospel. 00:25:57.119 --> 00:25:58.039 And it's working us. 00:25:58.939 --> 00:26:00.619 Can I just, I didn't have this in my notes. 00:26:00.699 --> 00:26:02.779 Can we just look at Titus chapter 2 real quick? 00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:03.919 Can I just show you one place? 00:26:04.179 --> 00:26:05.819 There are many of them that we could look at. 00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:07.659 But just turn to the left in your Bible. 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.759 Let me show you this one. 00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:11.220 Titus chapter 2. 00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:15.879 Verse 11 to 14. 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:20.200 Paul is writing to Titus here. 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:23.679 He's reminding them of their gospel identity and then the outworking of it. 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:27.779 He says, the grace of God, chapter 2 verse 11, has appeared. 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:29.099 That is, Jesus has appeared. 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:31.619 Bringing salvation for all people. 00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:37.559 Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions. 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:42.599 And to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. 00:26:43.159 --> 00:26:48.359 Waiting for our blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:26:48.419 --> 00:26:49.979 Now notice this in verse 14. 00:26:49.980 --> 00:27:01.059 Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession. 00:27:01.360 --> 00:27:03.660 Sounds a lot like 1 Peter chapter 2, doesn't it? 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:05.480 But notice the last phrase. 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:10.539 The result of this is that they are zealous for what? 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.339 Good works. 00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:16.220 One great end of the gospel. 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:21.100 If you've read through that confession of faith that I handed out to you in last week's member meeting. 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:25.640 One great end of the gospel is our obedience to God. 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:28.480 Our obedience to his moral law. 00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:31.220 Our obedience to his design and creation. 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:35.319 All of those things are summarized in this term, good works. 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:38.360 Yes, we are not justified by those things. 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:57.399 And yet, our justification by faith, this grace that we receive of God, does this radical, gracious work in us so that the result is good works and good deeds that we must pursue if we are to glorify the Lord. 00:27:57.400 --> 00:28:10.380 This transformation away from the passions of the flesh to an honorable way of life is part of the work of God's grace that God does in us through the gospel. 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:16.900 He calls us out of darkness so that we might abstain from the desires of the flesh. 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:22.680 And he calls us into his marvelous light to live in the new way of the spirit. 00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:25.840 And remember the context in which he's writing this. 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:30.819 He's just affirmed their identity as God's people in the world. 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:36.199 He said they are a holy priesthood called to represent God. 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:46.159 And therefore, we must consciously, intentionally pursue a life that is lived according to God's will. 00:28:47.159 --> 00:28:54.579 Which he then says will in time prove beautiful and attractive. 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:58.480 Even to unbelievers. 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:02.819 Now, I want you to listen carefully to what I'm about to say. 00:29:02.959 --> 00:29:06.379 If we don't get this part of it right, we're going to blow it. 00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:12.139 Peter is not teaching us to ask this question. 00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:26.680 He's not teaching us to ask, what must I do and how must I live so that the unbelieving world around me will look at my life with approval. 00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:30.380 That's not what he's training us to ask. 00:29:30.380 --> 00:29:38.180 Many Christians are going wrong because they think that's where we start. 00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:46.360 That we look at those we love and we look at our friends and we look at our culture and we ask the question first, 00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:55.979 what must I do in order to gain their approval and thereby somehow glorify God in the beauty of the gospel? 00:29:55.980 --> 00:30:05.620 That is why Christians and churches are running away from preaching on legitimate sin. 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:12.360 Becoming tolerant of sins in our culture that are so prevalent. 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:15.180 LGBTQ stuff just comes to the mind because it's such a hot button. 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.240 I don't mean to just pick on that one. 00:30:16.339 --> 00:30:19.920 It's just, it's such a hot button thing right now in our culture. 00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:30.060 And Christians and churches are starting with this question to say, okay, well, what must I do in order for my life to be made attractive to them? 00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:36.920 And inevitably the answer is, well, it is to accept and tolerate what they've chosen to do in the name of love. 00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:39.860 There's no other way to get around that. 00:30:41.120 --> 00:30:44.920 If that's the approach you take with this exhortation from Peter, 00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:50.580 you will profess a faith that is then contradicted by your very life. 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:55.660 That's not living as God's people in the world. 00:30:57.340 --> 00:31:00.720 That does not represent God to the world as a holy priesthood. 00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:01.539 It doesn't do that. 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:09.779 And if that's the approach we take, we're inevitably going to neglect to do the truly good deeds that God wants us to do. 00:31:11.300 --> 00:31:14.740 We'll have a pseudo version of it, but not a true version of it. 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:21.180 And eventually, if we're not careful, we will end up embracing rather than abstaining from the passions of the flesh. 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:26.220 And if we embrace rather than abstain from the passions of the flesh, we lose the gospel. 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:31.200 And if we've lost the gospel, we've lost everything. 00:31:32.420 --> 00:31:37.380 We think back again to that confession of faith that you are reading through and studying right now. 00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:42.700 Why have that whole section, that biblical anthropology and article three on humanity? 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:43.460 Why? 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:46.940 Because if we don't get that right, we will lose the gospel. 00:31:47.740 --> 00:31:51.200 And if we've lost the gospel, we've lost everything. 00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:54.460 So, Peter is not teaching us to say, 00:31:55.000 --> 00:32:01.299 what must I do or how must I live in order for the unbelieving world around me to look on my life with approval and with pleasure. 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.380 That's not the question. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:03.519 Here's the question. 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:16.639 What must I do and how must I live to display the beauty of God's design and of God's law for human flourishing? 00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:37.259 That reveals a life that is actually truly good and honorable, which in this case it means beautiful. 00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.599 That's the word here. 00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.400 And attractive. 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:45.119 Now, I think that's what Peter's teaching us to ask. 00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:50.539 And the reason I think that is because all of these different areas that he's going to follow up with after these two verses. 00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:58.180 It is God who has designed humans to flourish with a proper submission to authority. 00:32:58.180 --> 00:33:06.840 And God tells us in his word, there is a way that Christians are to relate to those authorities, even the unbelieving ones. 00:33:08.360 --> 00:33:09.320 What is that? 00:33:09.360 --> 00:33:10.160 It's God's design. 00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:12.759 It's God's law for human flourishing. 00:33:13.100 --> 00:33:13.820 And it's good. 00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:15.000 And it's beautiful. 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:20.319 We can see this happening right now in our nation. 00:33:20.900 --> 00:33:24.640 People are dying because of this. 00:33:30.519 --> 00:33:37.000 It's God who designed humans to flourish in the complementary roles of male and female in marriage. 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:43.200 Our culture wants to despise that. 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:46.799 But that's God's design. 00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:51.059 Julie and I, we had this long conversation last night. 00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:52.339 It was such a good conversation. 00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:58.519 And think about where we are in relationship to raising our girls and what are we going to teach them? 00:33:58.599 --> 00:34:00.259 What is it that we want for them coming up? 00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:06.779 And we're just reflecting on the beauty of God's design in the home. 00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:13.539 A strong husband and father who will lead and protect and provide for his family. 00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:25.559 A loving and faithful mother and wife who will care for her home and train her kids to love and to flourish in life. 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:27.179 It is beautiful. 00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:29.119 And it's good. 00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:31.139 And the world hates it. 00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:34.059 And they hate what's behind it. 00:34:35.739 --> 00:34:42.219 And yet Peter's going to follow these two verses up by saying, look, they're going to hate it. 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:48.539 But in time, it will prove good and beautiful and honorable. 00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:55.779 So the question is not, what must I do for the world to approve or to find beauty in my life? 00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:59.279 No, the question is, what is God's will? 00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:01.559 And what is God's design? 00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:07.759 And in time, trust that that will prove itself good and right. 00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:21.619 To keep one's conduct honorable is to live as God designed and commands, even if and when the unbelieving world does not see its beauty and glory in such a life. 00:35:22.460 --> 00:35:27.199 Now, Peter guarantees actually that they will reject the Christian way of life. 00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:30.079 They'll see it as evil from the start. 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:31.599 He says it plainly right here. 00:35:32.279 --> 00:35:34.279 When they speak against you as evildoers. 00:35:34.419 --> 00:35:39.819 That is, their accusation is that what we're doing and how we're thinking is actually evil. 00:35:42.099 --> 00:35:46.679 This is why our time in this life is characterized as an exile, isn't it? 00:35:47.659 --> 00:35:51.739 It's why you should feel like a sojourner and a stranger in this world. 00:35:51.739 --> 00:35:54.319 And if you don't, it's probably a problem with you. 00:35:58.099 --> 00:36:02.439 However, when we live as God's people, the world will see our good way of life. 00:36:03.379 --> 00:36:04.959 And one of two things will happen. 00:36:06.959 --> 00:36:08.059 Some will see. 00:36:09.399 --> 00:36:18.219 And God will use your life and your faith and your conduct to draw them to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:36:18.219 --> 00:36:24.079 So that in time, they will see the beauty of your faith and your life. 00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:27.339 And they will then turn to God and give him glory. 00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:30.119 And that indeed does happen. 00:36:31.239 --> 00:36:33.599 But there's another thing that is potential. 00:36:33.739 --> 00:36:35.500 And I think it's included here. 00:36:35.579 --> 00:36:37.079 It may even be the emphasis here. 00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:41.059 Others will continue to reject the Lord. 00:36:41.859 --> 00:36:44.039 They will continue to reject his people. 00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:48.079 But we'll acknowledge his glory in the final judgment. 00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:52.259 Which I think is what Peter is referring to in that last phrase. 00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:54.179 On the day of visitation. 00:36:54.679 --> 00:36:57.259 I don't think that's a visitation unto salvation. 00:36:57.699 --> 00:36:59.840 I think it's a visitation unto judgment. 00:37:00.259 --> 00:37:02.059 We just read that in Exodus 32. 00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:03.099 Did you notice? 00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:11.119 At the very end of the chapter, God uses that very language to say he will visit them in their sins. 00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:13.519 In order that he might judge their sins. 00:37:13.519 --> 00:37:15.780 I think Peter's drawing on that language here. 00:37:16.179 --> 00:37:27.179 Which means that either our lives being lived for God's glory are either going to be used by God to draw unbelievers to faith. 00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:30.539 And yes, indeed, we pray that that will happen and we believe that it will. 00:37:30.739 --> 00:37:32.099 And we trust the Lord to do it. 00:37:32.920 --> 00:37:40.719 But we also understand that it is the example of our faith and of our life and of our message that will condemn them in the judgment. 00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:44.879 They will be without excuse in the judgment. 00:37:45.239 --> 00:37:50.000 And even then, the word emphasizes every knee will bow. 00:37:51.139 --> 00:37:52.639 Every tongue will confess. 00:37:53.699 --> 00:37:58.199 Every unbelieving heart will acknowledge that God's way is right. 00:37:59.159 --> 00:38:00.199 That Jesus is Lord. 00:38:01.219 --> 00:38:02.719 And that this is actually beautiful. 00:38:02.719 --> 00:38:03.519 Beautiful. 00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:13.460 In the next few passages, Peter is going to walk us through a few areas of life in which we are to faithfully represent God to the world. 00:38:13.900 --> 00:38:20.480 But it's these two exhortations that provide the framework for Christian living in any circumstance. 00:38:20.480 --> 00:38:27.860 Of course, there are more categories of life than just our relationship to government and in the home and in our workplaces. 00:38:27.960 --> 00:38:28.740 There are more than that. 00:38:29.820 --> 00:38:35.380 These two instructions, these exhortations, give us the overarching framework for how to think about our lives. 00:38:35.800 --> 00:38:38.179 We are to abstain from the passions of the flesh. 00:38:38.619 --> 00:38:41.699 And we're to keep our conduct honorable before the watching world. 00:38:41.699 --> 00:38:46.719 And by doing these things, we will persevere to the end. 00:38:48.199 --> 00:38:50.579 And we will glorify our God and Father. 00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:53.679 Leading unbelievers to know and worship Him. 00:38:54.319 --> 00:39:05.579 In other words, knowing who we are and living according to these two principles is how we will thrive in our time of exile.