WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:07.379 So with 1 Peter 2 open in front of us, let's pray and let's ask that God would be with us this evening as we turn to his inspired word. 00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:23.940 Heavenly Father, we thank you, Lord, for the reminder already this evening that you are the great God in heaven and we are on earth. 00:00:23.940 --> 00:00:33.320 And so, Father, we would want to make our words few and to stand in awe of not who we are, but to stand in awe this evening of who you are. 00:00:34.420 --> 00:00:45.520 And it's our prayer now, dear Heavenly Father, that you would help us this evening as we think about what it means to be your distinct people living our lives in this world, 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:48.960 that you would help us to fathom something more of your greatness. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:59.520 And Father, that you would help us appreciate and to savor and to love something more of the call that you have made in each one of our lives through your son, Jesus Christ. 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:03.280 I pray, Father, that this evening he would become great in every one of our sights. 00:01:03.799 --> 00:01:08.859 So, Father, thank you that you hear us because we pray confidently in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:10.299 Amen. 00:01:10.299 --> 00:01:15.319 So, when was the last time you saw a walking billboard? 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:18.120 You ever seen a walking billboard before? 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:20.719 So, I had the experience. 00:01:20.779 --> 00:01:25.899 If you don't know what a walking billboard is, let me just give you an example from something I experienced recently. 00:01:26.179 --> 00:01:31.479 I was walking last September down to Toll Cross from the church. 00:01:32.099 --> 00:01:37.959 And I got to Toll Cross and on the street corner was this chap and he was dressed. 00:01:38.859 --> 00:01:39.479 See, I'm getting this one. 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:39.819 There it is. 00:01:40.099 --> 00:01:42.560 He was dressed as a giant Domino's pizza box. 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:47.299 And he's standing on the street corner and on his box, you'll see it there. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:48.060 This is not Edinburgh. 00:01:48.159 --> 00:01:50.260 This is what I found on the internet, but it's exactly the same box. 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:58.579 On the front of his chest is a box that simply said, any pizza, any size, $6.99. 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:01.719 And there was a little arrow for Domino's pizza that way. 00:02:02.300 --> 00:02:02.939 It's the kind of deal. 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:05.900 I don't know if you've ever done that deal before, but it's the kind of deal that I look at and I think, 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:07.600 who is phoning that up ordering a small? 00:02:07.960 --> 00:02:08.659 I don't know about you. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:09.439 Think about it. 00:02:11.060 --> 00:02:20.759 But this guy was standing at Toll Cross and his job, his one job, was to make Domino's pizza visible to the world. 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:25.020 And his job was to be a walking billboard. 00:02:25.240 --> 00:02:27.659 Well, Gary kind of alluded to it earlier. 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:32.439 We're going to think of ourselves this evening as walking billboards. 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:34.980 Walking billboards. 00:02:34.979 --> 00:02:39.280 Now, I want you to think of your life at the minute, as it is at present. 00:02:40.060 --> 00:02:42.019 The things that you do with your life. 00:02:43.899 --> 00:02:46.179 The way you conduct yourself at work. 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:49.819 The way that you are around family and friends. 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:52.539 The way that you raise your children. 00:02:53.699 --> 00:02:55.659 The things that inspire you. 00:02:55.739 --> 00:02:57.479 The things that drive you in life. 00:02:57.979 --> 00:03:01.379 The things, the hobbies that you do in your free time. 00:03:01.500 --> 00:03:02.759 Here's the question this evening. 00:03:02.759 --> 00:03:06.719 What are you making visible to the outside world? 00:03:08.519 --> 00:03:10.579 What are we making visible to the outside world? 00:03:11.500 --> 00:03:16.719 What image do people see as they look at you and I in action in our everyday lives? 00:03:16.780 --> 00:03:18.099 What do they see when they look at us? 00:03:18.099 --> 00:03:26.699 Because that's what we're going to be challenged to think about tonight as we continue this little series that we've called the distinct disciples. 00:03:26.699 --> 00:03:34.159 Thinking about what it means to live as God's distinct holy people as we live our lives here on earth. 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:43.120 And tonight we're going to be thinking about this great trait that should characterize our lives as God's people called holiness. 00:03:44.379 --> 00:03:44.939 Holiness. 00:03:44.939 --> 00:03:51.659 Now at its most basic level holiness is a spatial term if you want to think about it like that. 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:53.859 It means to be set apart. 00:03:54.699 --> 00:03:56.359 To be distinct. 00:03:56.639 --> 00:03:57.780 To be separate. 00:03:57.939 --> 00:03:59.659 That's what holy means. 00:03:59.819 --> 00:04:03.060 And let me just hit you with a little bit of Bible trivia here at the outset. 00:04:03.699 --> 00:04:04.699 If you're up for Bible trivia. 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:07.199 You all look like you're up for Bible trivia on a Sunday night. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:11.840 Holy is a word that occurs more than 600 times in the Bible. 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:13.539 Get your head around that. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:16.180 More than 600 times in the Bible we get the word holy. 00:04:16.699 --> 00:04:25.220 And if you incorporate kind of sister words such as holiness and kind of sanctify, that number rises to be well over 700 times. 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:29.800 So God wants us to know about holiness. 00:04:31.019 --> 00:04:31.899 And why? 00:04:32.899 --> 00:04:34.459 Why does he want us to know about holiness? 00:04:35.280 --> 00:04:36.819 Because that's what he is. 00:04:36.819 --> 00:04:44.040 He is holy in that he is in his radiant and majestic purity. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:48.019 As Gary has already said, he is so far above the things of this world. 00:04:49.100 --> 00:04:52.819 Our God is holy, holy, holy. 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:56.300 Isn't that what the angels praise him for being in Isaiah chapter 6? 00:04:56.560 --> 00:04:58.800 Holy, holy, holy. 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:16.620 And so it would naturally flow, wouldn't it, that this God, this holy God, he calls his people to live in such a way that, however imperfectly, reflect, advertise, display, share, and enjoy that holiness. 00:05:16.620 --> 00:05:23.920 Now, J.C. Ryle, former Bishop of Liverpool back in the day, in his wonderful little book called Holiness. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:28.980 If you're up for reading something tonight, I'm going to recommend a book later on this evening, but there's one for you at the moment, right? 00:05:29.300 --> 00:05:31.740 J.C. Ryle has written a brilliant book called Holiness. 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:33.459 He defines holiness like this. 00:05:33.459 --> 00:05:41.879 Holiness is the habit of being one mind with God, according as we find his mind described in Scripture. 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:54.899 It is the habit of agreeing with God's judgment, hating what he hates, loving what he loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of his word. 00:05:56.060 --> 00:05:59.240 That's J.C. Ryle, my second favorite J.C. 00:05:59.479 --> 00:06:00.439 Okay, J.C. Ryle. 00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:12.240 So, this is what God calls his people to be, to be holy, to be distinct, to be radically different from the world around us, to be attractively distinct. 00:06:12.339 --> 00:06:20.379 Now, I don't know about you, how you came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but I know for me, one of the things that convinced me of the truth of Christianity 00:06:20.379 --> 00:06:26.620 was seeing the holy lives of God's people in action round about me as they lived their lives out in front of me. 00:06:26.620 --> 00:06:31.660 I just saw something compellingly different about their lives. 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:38.579 I mean, the way that they dealt with hardship, the way that they conducted themselves in the workplace and at home, they weren't different. 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:39.560 They were the same. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:49.040 But how they gave themselves to good things as they lived their lives out in front of me, I could see that not only was the relationship with the Lord real rather than fake, 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:53.520 but they were taking the relationship with the Lord seriously and pursuing his holiness. 00:06:54.140 --> 00:06:56.120 It's compellingly attractive, friends. 00:06:56.200 --> 00:07:00.120 I don't know if you found that in your own life, but that was one of the big things that drew me to Christ. 00:07:01.300 --> 00:07:04.460 Be holy as I am holy, says the Lord. 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:08.500 This is what God calls us to be as his people. 00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:14.439 He calls us to be walking billboards that image his holiness to the outside world. 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:22.199 And so before we get into some really practical stuff tonight, as we think about what that holiness is going to look like as we live our lives in this world, 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:26.980 it's so important that we get our head around the order of holiness. 00:07:28.220 --> 00:07:29.720 The order of holiness. 00:07:30.819 --> 00:07:37.079 Because when it comes to the relationship between God and his people, the order is never, it is never, 00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:42.259 you are holy in that you have reached some kind of moral standard. 00:07:42.479 --> 00:07:46.959 Therefore, I will rescue you and you will be my people because you're already holy. 00:07:47.659 --> 00:07:48.779 You're already good enough. 00:07:49.039 --> 00:07:50.219 That's why I'm choosing you. 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:52.819 It's never that way around in scripture. 00:07:52.979 --> 00:07:54.699 It's never that way around with this God. 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:57.919 It is, I have rescued you. 00:07:58.360 --> 00:07:59.899 Not because you are good. 00:08:00.039 --> 00:08:02.680 Not because there was anything morally good about you. 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:06.360 I rescued you because I am gracious, declares the Lord. 00:08:06.360 --> 00:08:08.920 And I have called you to myself. 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:13.720 And here's how I want you to live as my chosen and treasured people. 00:08:14.379 --> 00:08:15.639 That's the order of holiness. 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:22.160 So what we see, isn't it, as we, Jonathan read just there, what we see happening at the Exodus, 00:08:22.460 --> 00:08:25.520 that God rescued the Israelites from Egypt. 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:26.620 Why did he rescue them? 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:29.639 Not because they were good, but because he was gracious to them. 00:08:30.080 --> 00:08:31.080 He rescued them. 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:34.659 He brought them to the other side of the Red Sea and he brought them to Mount Sinai 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:41.100 where he gave them the law, which was how he wanted them to live as his ransomed and redeemed people. 00:08:41.179 --> 00:08:43.939 Let me just take you back to those verses that Corey read to us. 00:08:44.059 --> 00:08:45.839 Sorry, Jonathan read to us from Exodus 19. 00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:48.120 The Lord is speaking to Moses. 00:08:48.199 --> 00:08:49.139 This is where the people are. 00:08:49.199 --> 00:08:50.319 They've come out of the Red Sea. 00:08:50.439 --> 00:08:51.539 They've journeyed to Sinai. 00:08:51.719 --> 00:08:52.459 Here they are. 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:54.280 God speaking to them. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:09:02.360 You yourselves have seen what I did in Egypt and how I carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself. 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:10.120 Now, if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all the nations, you will be my treasured possession. 00:09:10.680 --> 00:09:12.759 Although the whole earth is mine. 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:13.340 Do you hear that? 00:09:13.400 --> 00:09:14.639 God saying, I could have picked anybody. 00:09:14.780 --> 00:09:16.259 Although the whole earth is mine. 00:09:16.259 --> 00:09:21.740 You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. 00:09:22.019 --> 00:09:24.220 This is the order of holiness. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:29.100 And this is the way that exalts the glory and the grace of God in salvation. 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:31.779 I have loved you, says God. 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:34.600 Taking some of the imagery there. 00:09:35.539 --> 00:09:37.639 I have carried you on eagle's wings. 00:09:39.539 --> 00:09:40.899 I've saved you. 00:09:40.899 --> 00:09:53.600 And so now I want you with your whole being, your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength to love me and to find your fullness in me. 00:09:55.100 --> 00:10:00.100 And so now I want you to live and to image, manifest my holiness to a watching world. 00:10:00.179 --> 00:10:03.000 So that they will look in and say, isn't Israel's God great? 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:04.500 Isn't he great? 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:07.600 And they will come to know me as well. 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:19.899 Because as you are satisfied in me, as you find your joy in me, as you find your identity and your all in all in me, the world will come in to say, we want to know this God of Israel. 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:22.340 We want to know Israel's God as well. 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:26.240 Do you see the glorious and gracious order that that is? 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:29.240 Do you see how this order gives all the glory to God? 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:35.259 What a gracious and what a wonderful calling upon that nation. 00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:41.360 But of course, Israel failed to be that holy people that the Lord called them to be. 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:44.100 They couldn't do it. 00:10:46.060 --> 00:10:49.580 And so will there ever be one who truly images God's holiness? 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:55.720 Well, as we turn to the New Testament, along comes the Lord Jesus, the complete and the perfect Savior. 00:10:55.720 --> 00:11:01.759 And we find him in the gospel saying, and I love this, to his perplexed disciples. 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:05.980 Remember that conversation that he has with the rich young ruler in Luke 10? 00:11:06.139 --> 00:11:17.759 The man who, by all intents and purposes, was squeaky clean, who claimed to have followed the law to a T, but who Jesus exposed because he was unwilling to sell all that he had and follow. 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:21.980 Jesus exposed that money was a bigger God in his heart than God. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:31.320 But Jesus says to his perplexed disciples who think to themselves, well, if this guy can't make it in, if this guy can't make it in, what hope do we have? 00:11:32.940 --> 00:11:38.039 And Jesus says those words that what is impossible with man is possible with God. 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:39.039 Now, how is that true? 00:11:39.100 --> 00:11:41.259 You ever thought about that when he says that, when you read that in Luke? 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:42.460 How is that true? 00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:51.920 Well, not only did Jesus die the death that his people deserve to die for their unholiness and crediting to them his righteousness. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:12:06.820 Not only that, but God has now sent his spirit to live in the hearts of his people, breaking the power of sin in their lives and enabling them to live the holy life that God has called them to live. 00:12:06.920 --> 00:12:10.019 What was impossible with man is possible with God. 00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:11.860 Do you see the order? 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:13.079 Do you see the glory of this? 00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:14.799 That we were made in God's image, friends. 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:16.179 We were made in his image. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:23.579 And Jesus has redeemed us so that we can bear that image again to the world. 00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:28.240 And be that city on a hill that he spoke about. 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:30.860 You know, I love that image, the city on the hill. 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:32.819 I love driving over on a Sunday night. 00:12:33.579 --> 00:12:36.159 Drive from the new town over to this side of town. 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:37.199 Drive past the castle. 00:12:37.299 --> 00:12:38.679 You cannot miss the castle, can you? 00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:40.719 You cannot miss the castle at night. 00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:43.979 Tell you what, see when you're out in Livingston, you can see the castle. 00:12:44.099 --> 00:12:45.399 How many miles away that is. 00:12:45.839 --> 00:12:47.559 That city on a hill cannot be hidden. 00:12:47.699 --> 00:12:50.059 This is what Jesus is calling his disciples to be. 00:12:50.959 --> 00:12:54.319 To be as the redeemed new covenant people of God. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:57.500 The people who live by faith in Jesus Christ. 00:12:57.819 --> 00:13:01.579 That attractive community of salt and light. 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:03.159 I love it. 00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:06.159 Our friends down at Charlotte Chapel, they have as their mission statement. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:07.980 This is what they want to be about. 00:13:08.079 --> 00:13:11.000 They want to be conspicuous for Christ. 00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:12.620 Love that. 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:15.480 Conspicuous for Christ. 00:13:15.579 --> 00:13:16.980 I had to look up that word conspicuous. 00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:18.000 It means to be different. 00:13:20.860 --> 00:13:21.259 Attractive. 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:22.899 Pursuing others. 00:13:23.339 --> 00:13:24.399 Conspicuous for Christ. 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:27.899 And we find the apostles, don't we, picking that up. 00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:31.699 And we find them constantly urging as we read those letters in the New Testament. 00:13:31.939 --> 00:13:34.899 Urging the early Christians to be that holy community. 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:40.959 That by the Spirit's help images the holiness and the glory of God. 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:43.899 And this is where we're going to tap into our verses tonight in 1 Peter. 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:46.779 This is what Peter is saying. 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:49.120 To the people that he's writing to. 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:53.539 Peter, remember the guy, Peter, who knows all about what it means to fail. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:58.580 Writing to Christians who are feeling the heat for standing for Jesus. 00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:03.000 Now if you remember in the context, he's writing at a time when Emperor Nero, 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:07.679 his widespread persecution of Christians has either just kicked off, 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:09.779 or is literally just about to kick off. 00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:14.240 So as we eavesdrop in these words tonight, let's not think that they are empty platitudes. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:19.139 No one's reading these words thinking, let's put these in a coffee cup, let's post them on Instagram. 00:14:19.299 --> 00:14:22.580 These are real and raw words to suffering Christians. 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:25.600 And what does Peter want them to know? 00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:27.080 Their identity. 00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:29.240 Their identity. 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:35.000 So important, isn't it, in times of testing and trial that we know whose we are. 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:37.740 Look what he writes, verse 9. 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:41.480 But you are a chosen people. 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:44.840 A royal priesthood. 00:14:45.680 --> 00:14:47.180 A holy nation. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:49.039 God's special possession. 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:50.340 Do you recognize that language? 00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:53.080 You're a holy nation. 00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:54.120 This is who you are. 00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:56.240 You aren't just the same as everyone else in the world, 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:58.440 except that you do some religious stuff on the weekends. 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:00.940 You're radically different. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:02.600 Radically different. 00:15:02.680 --> 00:15:05.340 Because Christ has made you his own. 00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:11.100 And so then, because of who they are, how does he want them to live? 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:13.680 Well, I guess there's three options for them at this point. 00:15:13.800 --> 00:15:15.220 Three ways Peter could have gone here. 00:15:15.660 --> 00:15:19.720 Three options for them, just as there's three options for us this evening. 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:22.040 Option number one, back off. 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:24.280 Come out of the world. 00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:25.780 Back away. 00:15:26.540 --> 00:15:29.280 Come away from everything and everyone in society. 00:15:29.420 --> 00:15:31.300 And let's just retreat to a holy huddle. 00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:32.820 An option. 00:15:33.920 --> 00:15:34.600 Back off. 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:36.120 He doesn't say back off, does he? 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:39.320 Option number two, blend in. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.680 Keep their heads down. 00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:43.019 Just become like everyone else. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.060 Chase the same dreams. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.060 Use the same words. 00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:46.379 Think the same thoughts. 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:47.540 Treasure the same things. 00:15:47.820 --> 00:15:48.720 Just blend in. 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:50.860 Does he say blend in? 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:53.019 No, he doesn't say blend in, does he? 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.220 Doesn't say back off. 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:55.060 Doesn't say blend in. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:55.899 What does he say? 00:15:56.980 --> 00:16:00.600 That you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness. 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:02.040 You see, this is all God's work. 00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:05.879 Out of darkness into his wonderful light. 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:06.960 Later at verse 12. 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:08.300 Live such good lives. 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:08.639 Where? 00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:10.560 Among the pagans. 00:16:11.420 --> 00:16:12.300 So what does he say? 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:13.159 Back off. 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:13.480 No. 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:14.139 Blend in. 00:16:14.220 --> 00:16:14.440 No. 00:16:14.560 --> 00:16:15.220 What does he say? 00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:16.360 Stand out. 00:16:17.560 --> 00:16:18.139 Stand out. 00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:19.820 Be a declaring people. 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:21.680 Be a speaking people. 00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:23.139 Be a praising people. 00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:26.159 And what is that going to look like? 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:31.740 Well, folks, in the time that we have left, I want to ask us three questions from these verses. 00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:38.799 And I want to pick out three words from these verses that Peter uses as he writes to these Christians and says, 00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:43.620 this is what holiness is going to look like in your everyday lives. 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.059 You ready for these? 00:16:45.299 --> 00:16:45.899 Three things? 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:48.039 Okay, I know it's a Sunday night, but we're still awake. 00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:48.319 Okay? 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:49.080 Yeah? 00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:50.200 Three things. 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:50.960 Here's the first one. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:53.340 Firstly, verses 11 to 12, he goes personal. 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:54.720 Look at it there. 00:16:55.560 --> 00:16:58.360 Here is what holiness will look like in a body that fights you. 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:00.400 What will it look like? 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:02.960 It will look like abstaining. 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:04.039 Do you see the word there? 00:17:04.539 --> 00:17:04.900 Abstain. 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:07.019 This is what he's urging them to do. 00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:12.240 Because he's saying to them, there's a battle raging deep inside every one of your souls. 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:18.220 There's a war going on in each of your hearts between the old you and the new you. 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:20.700 Do you know that war in your own life? 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:22.079 The battle with sin? 00:17:23.120 --> 00:17:24.779 I know it all too well, friends. 00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:28.079 It is a battle that is raging inside of each of us. 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:31.100 Do you know that love that God in his grace has given that to us in his word? 00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:33.519 As if to say, this is what you should expect. 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.940 It's great, isn't it? 00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:47.200 And so as God's chosen people, their lives need to be marked by a dogged determination to say no to sin and to say no to the sinful desires that wage war on them. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:50.960 The practices that used to dominate their lives. 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:54.400 The thoughts that used to occupy their minds. 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:57.360 The words that used to just flow from their lips. 00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:59.200 He says, put sin to death. 00:17:59.340 --> 00:17:59.840 Abstain. 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:00.519 Say no. 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:06.559 So what the English Puritan John Owen used to call the mortification of the flesh. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:08.119 Killing sin. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:12.039 Taking a razor blade to the throat of sin and killing it. 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:13.379 Just putting it to death. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:14.599 I love it. 00:18:14.639 --> 00:18:17.079 Do you know every Christmas what do we get from the health board? 00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:19.259 Get your flu jab. 00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:21.759 How can you kill the flu? 00:18:22.379 --> 00:18:23.000 Catch it. 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:23.519 Kill it. 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:23.900 Bin it. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:24.579 Catch it. 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:24.960 Kill it. 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:25.299 Bin it. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:32.039 Friends, if the war on flu is worth fighting, then the war on sin, God says, is well more worth fighting. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:33.140 Catch it. 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:33.819 Kill it. 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:34.379 Bin it. 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:35.879 Same for your sins, says Peter. 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:36.559 Kill it. 00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:37.759 Abstain from it. 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:41.160 And don't just be known for what you don't do. 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.579 Be known for what you do do. 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:46.220 Be known for your good life. 00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:47.720 Be known for your good deeds. 00:18:48.360 --> 00:18:51.860 Pursue a life worthy of your calling in Christ. 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:55.140 Be known as people who don't do. 00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:58.579 And be known as people who do do good works. 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:01.799 Just before we came out, we took the girls for a hot chocolate. 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:04.759 And then we took them around the National Portrait Museum on Queen Street. 00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:05.779 I don't know if you've ever been there. 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:14.200 But as you go in, and this is a portrait gallery full of faces of famous Scots who've made contributions to our society down the years. 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:15.140 And do you know who's there? 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:17.039 Thomas Guthrie. 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:19.039 I don't know if you've ever heard of Thomas Guthrie. 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:24.399 He's got a statue at the west end of Princess Street just before you enter the Princess Street Gardens. 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:26.059 You'll be sure and look next time you go there. 00:19:26.159 --> 00:19:26.819 Thomas Guthrie. 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:30.599 Free church minister from 1850. 00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:33.579 And there he is in the National Portrait Gallery. 00:19:33.659 --> 00:19:34.259 Do you know why? 00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:41.059 Because his Christian faith resulted in a full load of charitable deeds among the poor. 00:19:41.059 --> 00:19:44.099 Be known for his good deeds. 00:19:44.179 --> 00:19:45.240 This is what Peter was writing. 00:19:45.379 --> 00:19:48.000 Be known for your good deeds. 00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:55.480 Be known for being a community of individuals who are marked by a compelling Christ-like consistency. 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.480 Right? 00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:59.339 You're the same in the bedroom as you are in the boardroom. 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:02.299 Remarkable Christ-like consistency. 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:09.599 I remember at university my flatmates and I, we became friends with a group of three Mormon missionaries. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:13.839 And I remember one of my flatmates, we used to have debates with him all the time. 00:20:13.899 --> 00:20:14.939 We used to play football with him. 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:16.259 Great relationship with him. 00:20:16.399 --> 00:20:20.119 And I remember one of my flatmates coming back from Tesco one day. 00:20:21.179 --> 00:20:23.740 There are other supermarkets available, but I didn't mean to say that. 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:28.900 And he told me that he'd met one of those Mormon missionaries outside the shop. 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:31.799 And he was dressed in his casual gear. 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:35.759 And he had a cigarette in one hand and he had a bottle of beer in the other hand. 00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:40.700 And my friend said to him, unless I've missed something, what's going on there? 00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:48.380 And it turned out that this guy was an undercover reporter looking to get to the heart of the Mormon movement. 00:20:48.380 --> 00:20:54.420 And trying to find out what really was going on and trying to really understand whether this was real or fake. 00:20:56.560 --> 00:20:59.080 Friends, I wonder if someone was to do an expose on us. 00:21:01.040 --> 00:21:03.320 And I hope none of you are here tonight because of that, right? 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:10.540 But if somebody was to do an expose on us, if someone was to get the heart of us corporately and individually, 00:21:11.300 --> 00:21:13.600 friend, would they find real or fake? 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:21.379 Would they find a compelling Christ-like consistency to our lives? 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:24.599 These guys know that they are not perfect. 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:27.099 These guys know that they are failures. 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:28.779 These guys know that they are messy. 00:21:29.379 --> 00:21:34.259 These guys know that they are deeply dependent on God's grace. 00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:36.719 And they are honest about their struggles and their failures. 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:40.980 But boy, are they serious about pursuing their all-sufficient savior. 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:42.699 Is that what they would find? 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:48.059 So in our world that says you only live once, 00:21:48.879 --> 00:21:52.839 in our world that says it's fine as long as it's not hurting anybody, 00:21:53.219 --> 00:21:56.659 in our world that says it's my body, I will do what I want with it, 00:21:56.939 --> 00:22:00.039 in our world that says what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. 00:22:00.199 --> 00:22:02.539 You used to get that all the time when I played football. 00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:04.259 What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. 00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:06.899 Peter says abstain. 00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:10.519 Peter says your body is Christ's. 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:13.279 Peter says your body is holy. 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:17.799 So let me ask you friends, in your battle with sin, are you abstaining? 00:22:20.679 --> 00:22:21.879 Are you in the fight? 00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:31.380 Are you wrestling with the Spirit's help as God's chosen people to say no to sin and yes to Christ? 00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:35.940 Friends, if that fight is going on in your life right now, that is not a sign of failure. 00:22:36.080 --> 00:22:37.320 That is a sign of faith. 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:44.079 In your heart, when you see sin raise its ugly head in your life, does it break you? 00:22:44.139 --> 00:22:47.159 And do you cry out to the Lord with that desire to change? 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:52.920 If that's you this evening, then can I offer you two S's by way of encouragement? 00:22:53.080 --> 00:22:55.279 I love to alliterate two S's by way of encouragement. 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.560 Firstly, you have a Savior. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:04.480 For those of us here who are feeling beaten up by our failures, let's remember those wonderful words of Romans 8, chapter 1. 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:11.460 That there is now, therefore, no condemnation for us who are in Christ Jesus. 00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:14.000 That he paid it all. 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:18.539 That we are saved by grace, not merit. 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:21.319 We are saved by mercy, not me. 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:28.960 And recall the words of that wonderful old hymn, no condemnation now I dread. 00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:31.299 Jesus and all in him is mine. 00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:36.339 Alive in him my living head and clothed in righteousness divine. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:42.419 Bold I approach the eternal throne and claim the crown through Christ my own. 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:44.319 First S, remember your Savior. 00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:49.859 Second S, remember you have the Spirit living inside of you. 00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:53.859 The helper that Jesus Christ promised when he would go and he would send. 00:23:54.399 --> 00:23:55.959 Coming from the Father and the Son. 00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.519 Living inside of you. 00:23:57.740 --> 00:24:00.139 Pushing you in the direction of Christ's likeness. 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:02.500 Helping you and I to say no to sin. 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:04.240 And yes to Christ. 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:08.819 See Peter is saying here as he goes personal straight off the bat. 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:12.019 That the battle for holiness starts in the heart. 00:24:13.639 --> 00:24:16.500 What will holiness look like in a body that fights you? 00:24:16.699 --> 00:24:19.399 It will look like abstaining. 00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:22.120 Secondly, and these other two will be really quick. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:24.120 Okay, secondly verses 13 to 27. 00:24:24.320 --> 00:24:24.960 He goes social. 00:24:26.780 --> 00:24:29.759 Here is what holiness will look like in a world that oppresses you. 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:31.740 What will it look like? 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:33.640 It will look like doing. 00:24:34.820 --> 00:24:36.500 Again, see it in the text, the word doing. 00:24:36.600 --> 00:24:40.060 It's amazing how often the word good deeds comes up in this little section of this letter. 00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:41.460 Peter says, 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:44.000 Although you are aliens and strangers in the world. 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:47.500 Rubbing shoulders with people, doing your daily business. 00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:50.919 Glorify God by being a distinct blessing. 00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:55.240 Rather than a disrespecting nuisance to society. 00:24:55.240 --> 00:25:04.740 Submit to, respect, honour, love both the powers that be and the people around about you. 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:16.059 So that any accusations that people would say that society would be better off if you Christians weren't here will have zero foundation to them. 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:21.240 So far as you're not being asked to do something that contravenes God's word. 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:28.279 Do you see how Peter's pleading with them to do good and to do good for the glory of God and the renown of the Lord? 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:32.539 Do you see what a countercultural attitude that is to have? 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:35.680 So friends, are we doing? 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:39.099 Are we being a blessing? 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:46.319 I don't know about you, but I want to be the kind of church that if we ever moved from Brunsfield, 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:50.779 say we sold up here and we bought something down, a warehouse down out at Dalkeith or something like that, right? 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.839 We started meeting out there. 00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:57.180 I want to be the kind of church that this community would mourn over the fact that we're not here anymore. 00:25:58.879 --> 00:25:59.899 Do you remember those guys? 00:25:59.899 --> 00:26:01.759 Do you remember how they used to invite us to stuff? 00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:05.059 Do you remember how they used to tell us they were praying for us? 00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:08.779 Do you remember how they practically cared for the poor in this neighborhood? 00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:11.180 Boy, we miss them and wish they'd come back. 00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:15.859 Do you want to be that kind of church that people would mourn if we ever moved from here? 00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:17.039 Do you want to be that kind of neighbor? 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:22.940 I want to be that kind of neighbor who would be sadly missed if we were to ever move from our stairwell on our street. 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.980 Do you remember them? 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:26.700 Do you remember how they used to take the recycling out? 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:29.720 Do you remember how their door was always open? 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:32.319 Do you remember how we used to be able to nip down and get a screwdriver from them? 00:26:32.860 --> 00:26:34.980 Do you remember how they used to always know our names? 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:40.319 Do you remember how they always used to ask how we were doing and they actually meant it? 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:46.480 Do you remember how we used to love having them and their contributions on the parent-teacher council? 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:51.620 Do you remember how they used to be able to do and they used to be able to do and they used to be able to do? 00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:56.739 And as a person authority, right now, we have a massive opportunity to be radically different. 00:26:57.979 --> 00:27:03.099 You know, I hear some of the ways that our politicians are spoken about at the minute as I watch TV, 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:05.939 programs that have a good news for you and mock the week, 00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:10.859 and as I listen to radio and I hear how our politicians in power are spoken about, 00:27:10.979 --> 00:27:12.919 and it really saddens me. 00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:21.080 I was thinking this week, how counter-cultural would it be that next time somebody in our presence criticizes Theresa May, 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:25.019 slanders Nicola Sturgeon, that instead of joining in, 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:29.820 what we say is that, yes, they're not perfect, 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:32.700 but what a hard job that is. 00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:36.659 And as a Christian, I believe God has put them there, 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:39.480 and our God calls us to pray for them, 00:27:39.899 --> 00:27:42.919 that he would be so gracious to them and show them grace and wisdom 00:27:42.919 --> 00:27:45.859 that they would know how to best lead our country at this time, 00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:49.099 and ultimately they would turn to him and ask him for wisdom. 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:54.019 And I will contribute my voice and my hands in any way I can to do that, 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:56.200 and that's exactly what I'm going to do. 00:27:57.139 --> 00:27:59.779 Try that one on for size this week and see how that goes, okay? 00:28:00.379 --> 00:28:02.659 But do you know a sense that we have a wonderful opportunity at the minute 00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:06.439 as we hear how our politicians are being slated at the minute 00:28:06.439 --> 00:28:09.259 to be radically different, to be praying for them? 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:13.460 Peter says to this generation, 00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:16.980 be a compelling Christ-like community. 00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:21.200 What is holiness going to look like in a world that oppresses you? 00:28:21.879 --> 00:28:23.179 It will look like doing. 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:26.339 And thirdly, verses 18 to 25, 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:29.200 right, he's gone personal, he's gone social, he goes vocational. 00:28:30.179 --> 00:28:33.220 Here is what holiness will look like in a job that demands you. 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:35.559 Answer, what will it look like? 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.799 It will look like entrusting. 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:41.339 And the people that Peter has in mind here are slaves. 00:28:41.419 --> 00:28:43.000 You'll see that in the language there, slaves. 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:44.099 This is who he's got in mind. 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:47.200 Now, that would have looked very different in this day 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:50.000 to what we might immediately picture when we hear that word slaves. 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:55.519 These would have been household servants who would have been working for and living with a master. 00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:59.839 And Peter pleads with them, do you see it, because of their faith in Christ, 00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:04.559 to serve Christ by serving their master. 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.640 That's what he's saying. 00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:08.240 Serve Christ by serving your master. 00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:10.039 Be the best worker that you can be. 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:12.399 Be known for your integrity. 00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:15.039 Have a reputation for your good deeds. 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:19.159 And do your job for the glory of the Lord. 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:22.700 And do it for his pleasure, not your master's. 00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:23.399 That's what he's saying. 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:25.619 Be the best employee you can be. 00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:27.019 Sounds fine. 00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:27.619 Sounds good. 00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:31.639 Well, I want you to do that even if your master is bad. 00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:33.299 Do you see that in the language? 00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:39.200 And if you suffer for doing bad, that's not commendable. 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:43.440 But if you suffer for doing good, that is glorious in God's sight. 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:47.000 Now, it's not a direct match for our work situations, 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:49.759 but I think there are principles that are exactly the same. 00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:52.299 So you think about your job. 00:29:52.399 --> 00:29:53.419 You think about what you do. 00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:57.200 In our world that thinks nothing of having an extra five minutes on a lunch break, 00:29:58.119 --> 00:30:01.139 of slagging off a colleague or client behind their back, 00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:04.680 of surfing the internet when the boss isn't in the room watching, 00:30:05.580 --> 00:30:07.140 dishonestly overcharging, 00:30:07.540 --> 00:30:09.740 Peter says, work for the Lord. 00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:12.759 It's his smile you should be about. 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.380 Work for the Lord. 00:30:15.560 --> 00:30:17.780 Again, friends, are you the kind of employee 00:30:17.780 --> 00:30:20.600 that if you ever moved from your workplace, 00:30:20.820 --> 00:30:23.280 people would be deeply saddened that you've moved on? 00:30:24.360 --> 00:30:25.920 Would they be deeply saddened? 00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:28.040 Or actually, would they be glad to see the back of you? 00:30:29.080 --> 00:30:31.020 Gossiping Glenda, bitter Barry, 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:33.580 apathetic Amy. 00:30:34.020 --> 00:30:35.900 It's really hard to think of names who people aren't in here. 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.840 But are we those kind of people? 00:30:41.300 --> 00:30:43.740 And I love Peter's pastor's heart in all of this. 00:30:43.820 --> 00:30:44.640 Where does he point them? 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.500 To themselves? 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:46.800 No. 00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:47.740 Where does he point them? 00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:48.920 To Jesus. 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:52.140 It's where we finish every sermon here, isn't it? 00:30:52.280 --> 00:30:53.060 Look into him. 00:30:53.520 --> 00:30:54.300 Look into him. 00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:56.340 Peter says, look to Christ. 00:30:56.340 --> 00:30:57.920 If you're feeling the heat for being a Christian, 00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:59.720 know that Jesus not only cares, 00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:01.860 he not only knows, 00:31:02.340 --> 00:31:05.039 but he sits beside you in your story. 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:08.600 This Christ knew insult. 00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:10.480 Your king knew ridicule. 00:31:10.840 --> 00:31:11.860 Jesus knew suffering. 00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.660 And what did he do? 00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:15.440 He entrusted himself to God. 00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:18.700 He entrusted himself to God. 00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:22.940 So Peter's call here is that whatever comes at you in your work life, 00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:24.720 keep your sights set in the Lord. 00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:26.400 And live for his pleasure. 00:31:26.840 --> 00:31:27.799 And trust him. 00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:30.120 Friends, I just say as a side, 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:31.960 when it comes to holiness in the workplace, 00:31:32.080 --> 00:31:33.480 I'm not speaking like this is easy. 00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:35.500 Remember doing it for four years? 00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:37.640 It's really difficult. 00:31:38.859 --> 00:31:43.880 But let's trust and know that God honors those who honor him. 00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:47.019 And that in Jesus Christ, 00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:49.240 we have a friend who is closer than a brother. 00:31:50.380 --> 00:31:51.319 And that in Christ, 00:31:51.380 --> 00:31:54.660 we have a king who knows what it is to be rejected and humiliated. 00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:57.619 And one who sets us, 00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:58.980 as Peter says here, 00:31:59.160 --> 00:31:59.859 do you see the word? 00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.599 An example. 00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:03.900 It's the word there for a stencil. 00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:04.839 That's the word. 00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:06.159 If you remember doing that as a child, 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:07.399 my girls are into it at the minute. 00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:09.099 They get a bit of tracing paper 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:10.779 and they just stick it on top of something 00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.879 and they just trace the outline. 00:32:11.959 --> 00:32:12.639 That's what he's saying. 00:32:13.439 --> 00:32:15.000 Christ has left us a stencil, 00:32:15.159 --> 00:32:15.799 an example. 00:32:17.419 --> 00:32:19.699 What will holiness look like in a job that demands you? 00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:22.339 It will look like entrusting. 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.119 Abstaining, 00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:25.319 doing, 00:32:26.119 --> 00:32:26.879 and entrusting. 00:32:28.199 --> 00:32:29.519 Peter says God's people, 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:30.759 his chosen people, 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:33.259 are to have holiness at heart. 00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:36.959 And as we bring this to a close this evening, 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:38.359 let me just mention one thing 00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:39.579 as we work towards a close. 00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:41.579 We thought about it at the outset, 00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:44.099 how when we come to think about holiness, 00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:46.079 it's important to think about the right order. 00:32:46.339 --> 00:32:46.899 Do you remember that? 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:48.299 The right order there. 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:50.199 This is all about God's grace. 00:32:51.079 --> 00:32:52.839 So important to remember the order. 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:55.799 Equally important that we remember the goal of holiness. 00:32:55.799 --> 00:32:57.519 Now, 00:32:57.700 --> 00:32:59.139 let me just give you an example 00:32:59.139 --> 00:33:01.379 of how I've learned this the hard way in parenting. 00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:01.859 Okay? 00:33:03.339 --> 00:33:05.059 A lot of girls are both going through 00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:07.759 what my father-in-law likes to label 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:09.159 the terrible twos at the minute. 00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:11.240 Or as I like to just call it, 00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:13.299 original sin making its first public appearance. 00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:15.299 But the terrible twos, 00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:16.159 this is where they are. 00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:19.240 They're playing like the best of friends one minute 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:20.819 and in the next minute you turn their back 00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:21.980 and they're hitting each other. 00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:23.000 They're pulling their hair 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:23.579 and they're screaming. 00:33:23.859 --> 00:33:26.119 And one episode happened the other day. 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.740 Chloe was playing with this toy frog 00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:29.059 that she'd got in a party bag. 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.640 And my little girl, Grace, 00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:33.319 she wanted that toy frog. 00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:35.380 And so she went over 00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:36.619 and she starts hitting Chloe. 00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:37.819 She starts pulling her hair 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:39.700 and I have to get in there and separate them. 00:33:39.859 --> 00:33:40.920 And I take Grace 00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:42.220 and I put her on the naughty step 00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:43.900 and my words to her are, 00:33:44.380 --> 00:33:45.240 don't do it, 00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:46.839 just play nice. 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:48.039 That's what I say to her. 00:33:48.119 --> 00:33:48.740 Don't do it, 00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:49.480 just play nice. 00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:49.799 So, 00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.200 she says, 00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:51.559 sorry, 00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.079 Chloe says, 00:33:52.119 --> 00:33:52.640 I forgive you. 00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:53.660 And it's all harmony for a minute. 00:33:53.820 --> 00:33:55.180 And then after a few minutes, 00:33:55.400 --> 00:33:56.660 Grace is back over there again. 00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:57.740 Right? 00:33:57.820 --> 00:33:58.759 And she's in her face. 00:33:58.840 --> 00:33:59.740 She's poking her eyes. 00:33:59.820 --> 00:34:01.680 She's trying to wrestle the toy frog from her. 00:34:01.780 --> 00:34:03.420 And I broke it up 00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:04.840 and I put Grace back in the naughty step. 00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:05.200 And I said, 00:34:05.280 --> 00:34:05.700 Grace, 00:34:05.860 --> 00:34:06.840 don't do it, 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:07.960 play nice. 00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:10.480 Same thing happened again. 00:34:11.700 --> 00:34:13.180 And so the third time of the naughty step, 00:34:13.240 --> 00:34:13.880 I'm thinking to myself, 00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:14.760 this is not working. 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:16.660 This is not working. 00:34:18.660 --> 00:34:19.680 Do you know what worked? 00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:23.879 It wasn't telling her to stop doing things 00:34:23.879 --> 00:34:25.139 and to start doing things. 00:34:25.259 --> 00:34:25.940 What worked 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:27.859 was to get her excited 00:34:27.859 --> 00:34:29.599 about another toy. 00:34:30.399 --> 00:34:30.539 Right? 00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:31.299 Parenting tip there, 00:34:31.339 --> 00:34:32.239 if you want to take it there. 00:34:32.399 --> 00:34:32.960 That's what you do. 00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:35.440 You get her excited about something else. 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:39.019 And once she was taken by something better, 00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:41.919 she didn't even look at the frog again. 00:34:43.739 --> 00:34:44.119 Friends, 00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:45.039 if all we think about 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:46.059 tonight, 00:34:46.279 --> 00:34:48.039 if all we come away with from tonight 00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:49.079 is do's and don'ts, 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:50.779 I think we've completely missed it. 00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:53.079 Pursuing holiness 00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:53.820 is, 00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:55.420 as Kevin DeYoung, 00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:57.099 whose book I'll plug to you in a minute, 00:34:57.219 --> 00:34:57.539 says, 00:34:57.920 --> 00:34:59.059 it's not so much about 00:34:59.059 --> 00:35:00.159 pursuing performance. 00:35:00.779 --> 00:35:02.639 It's about pursuing a person. 00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:04.059 He said, 00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:04.619 the goal 00:35:04.619 --> 00:35:06.739 is not holiness per se. 00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:07.420 The goal 00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:08.679 is the holy one. 00:35:10.219 --> 00:35:10.579 Holiness 00:35:10.579 --> 00:35:12.820 is about being captivated 00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:13.940 by Christ, 00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:14.759 by being 00:35:14.759 --> 00:35:15.960 grasped and taken 00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:17.179 by something far better. 00:35:17.179 --> 00:35:18.279 Do you not know that to be true 00:35:18.279 --> 00:35:18.899 in your own heart? 00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:20.099 If this was just do's and don'ts, 00:35:20.139 --> 00:35:21.859 we might do okay for five minutes, 00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:23.059 but we'd be back over there 00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:25.359 doing the same things. 00:35:25.759 --> 00:35:26.739 We need to be captivated 00:35:26.739 --> 00:35:27.399 by something 00:35:27.399 --> 00:35:28.579 greater. 00:35:29.899 --> 00:35:31.159 Be captivated by Christ, 00:35:31.239 --> 00:35:32.199 by abiding in Him, 00:35:32.259 --> 00:35:33.219 and by allowing God, 00:35:33.299 --> 00:35:34.079 by His Spirit, 00:35:34.199 --> 00:35:34.519 as we 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:36.639 fall more in love 00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:37.399 with the Lord Jesus, 00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:38.799 His Spirit will change us 00:35:38.799 --> 00:35:39.759 from the inside out. 00:35:40.179 --> 00:35:41.460 This is what holiness is about, 00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:42.759 being conformed more 00:35:42.759 --> 00:35:43.599 into the likeness 00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:44.339 of Jesus Christ. 00:35:44.399 --> 00:35:45.319 It's not moralism. 00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:46.900 It's not moralism. 00:35:47.100 --> 00:35:48.600 It's pursuing our Savior. 00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:51.300 So as we close, friends, 00:35:51.340 --> 00:35:52.340 what are you making visible 00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:53.340 to the outside world? 00:35:54.760 --> 00:35:56.100 What image do people see 00:35:56.100 --> 00:35:57.019 as they look at you 00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:57.680 and I? 00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:59.360 Do you see the call 00:35:59.360 --> 00:36:00.519 from this holy God 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:02.760 to His ransomed people 00:36:02.760 --> 00:36:05.720 is to be walking billboards 00:36:05.720 --> 00:36:07.720 that image His holiness? 00:36:07.719 --> 00:36:10.179 for Jesus Christ? 00:36:26.339 --> 00:36:26.819 That means 00:36:26.819 --> 00:36:28.139 what is coming from that 00:36:28.139 --> 00:36:29.339 to a long story? 00:36:29.339 --> 00:36:29.819 To us 00:36:29.819 --> 00:36:31.019 and to enjoy 00:36:31.019 --> 00:36:31.599 this Krank 00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:32.419 with a long story? 00:36:32.419 --> 00:36:33.359 To us 00:36:33.359 --> 00:36:33.959 that means 00:36:33.959 --> 00:36:34.959 we may not 00:36:34.959 --> 00:36:36.259 God