WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.500 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.280 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.280 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:36.399 Today's reading will be from 1 Peter 1, verses 1-2, chapter 2, verses 11-12, and chapter 5, verses 12-14. 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:40.679 Our reading from the first letter of Peter. 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:45.079 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ to God's elect. 00:00:45.740 --> 00:00:52.280 Exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:56.079 Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, 00:00:56.820 --> 00:01:02.480 through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood. 00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:05.319 Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:13.700 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:18.819 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:23.179 they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 00:01:23.939 --> 00:01:27.319 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, 00:01:27.699 --> 00:01:33.280 I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. 00:01:33.919 --> 00:01:35.039 Stand fast in it. 00:01:35.899 --> 00:01:41.679 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 00:01:42.459 --> 00:01:44.259 Greet one another with a kiss of love. 00:01:44.260 --> 00:01:46.640 Peace to all of you who are in Christ. 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:48.520 This is the word of the Lord. 00:01:49.100 --> 00:01:50.300 Thanks be to God. 00:01:51.260 --> 00:01:52.980 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:59.880 We, over the last few weeks, have been exploring the Apostle Paul 00:01:59.880 --> 00:02:03.880 and talking about the nature of the church, 00:02:04.020 --> 00:02:07.180 the New Testament vision on the purpose of the church 00:02:07.180 --> 00:02:09.980 as the one body of Jesus Christ 00:02:09.980 --> 00:02:15.319 and the way in which we are many different parts of that one body, 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:18.040 that we have different gifts from the Holy Spirit, 00:02:18.819 --> 00:02:22.819 that we're to exercise for the building up of that body in love. 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:27.080 And we talked about the ways that we can be stewarding our time 00:02:27.080 --> 00:02:28.400 and our talents and our treasures 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:32.480 to carry out the mission of God through his church. 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:37.119 And so today we're going to continue in this focus of what it means to be the church, 00:02:37.219 --> 00:02:40.659 but we're going to shift from Paul to Peter. 00:02:41.139 --> 00:02:45.719 And we are going to begin exploring over the next couple months 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:48.319 this great letter of 1 Peter. 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:50.799 Now you may be wondering, why 1 Peter? 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:56.719 Well, in the last few paragraphs of Martin Luther's preface 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:59.479 to his German translation of the New Testament, 00:02:59.699 --> 00:03:02.740 which he did about 500 years ago in 1522, 00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:04.539 Martin Luther said this. 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:04.979 He said, 00:03:05.879 --> 00:03:08.379 Which are the noblest books of the New Testament? 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:12.560 From all of this translation that I've just given you, 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:14.699 you can now judge for yourselves 00:03:14.699 --> 00:03:19.400 all the books and you can decide among them which are the best. 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:23.960 John's Gospel and St. Paul's epistles, 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:25.800 especially that to the Romans, 00:03:25.800 --> 00:03:28.040 and St. Peter's first epistle 00:03:28.040 --> 00:03:32.360 are the true kernel and marrow of all the books. 00:03:33.160 --> 00:03:35.760 They ought properly to be the foremost books, 00:03:36.500 --> 00:03:40.960 and it would be advisable for every Christian to read them first and most, 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:42.540 and by daily reading, 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:46.320 to make them as much his own as his daily bread. 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:51.620 For in them you find depicted in masterly fashion 00:03:51.620 --> 00:03:56.300 how faith in Christ overcomes sin, death, and hell, 00:03:57.080 --> 00:04:00.420 and gives life, righteousness, and salvation. 00:04:00.580 --> 00:04:03.400 This is the real nature of the Gospel. 00:04:03.539 --> 00:04:05.240 If you haven't read much Martin Luther, 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:07.240 that's kind of how he typically speaks. 00:04:07.300 --> 00:04:08.500 Big statements like that. 00:04:08.580 --> 00:04:10.259 But something to consider. 00:04:10.420 --> 00:04:12.460 Why are we reading 1 Peter? 00:04:12.460 --> 00:04:15.340 Well, it truly is a noble letter, 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:17.280 and I hope that you'll come to find that. 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:19.079 Now, who is Peter? 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:25.600 We have a slide here of Rembrandt's depiction of Peter 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:26.720 when he's an old man. 00:04:27.699 --> 00:04:29.920 And if you're brand new to the Christian faith, 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:34.139 Jesus Christ made Peter the leader of his 12 disciples, 00:04:34.139 --> 00:04:36.419 and he gave him this nickname, Petros, 00:04:37.039 --> 00:04:40.419 which means rock or rocky or rock man. 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:41.979 That's what, when Peter says, 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:43.759 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:46.060 that's the nickname that Jesus gave him. 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:50.699 And we preach the Gospel of Mark 00:04:50.699 --> 00:04:52.959 from Christmas to Easter, 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:55.259 and we said when we were preaching that Gospel 00:04:55.259 --> 00:04:59.959 that Mark was the secretary and the translator of Peter. 00:05:00.139 --> 00:05:02.219 And one ancient source says that Mark, 00:05:02.220 --> 00:05:05.760 quote, wrote accurately all that Peter remembered. 00:05:05.880 --> 00:05:08.560 So we spent months basically meditating 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:10.800 on the memoirs of Peter 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:13.940 and all of his memories about Jesus. 00:05:15.020 --> 00:05:16.940 And so now Peter's an older man, 00:05:17.280 --> 00:05:19.380 and he writes this letter to these Christians, 00:05:19.540 --> 00:05:21.780 and he ends the letter summarizing his letter 00:05:21.780 --> 00:05:22.960 in chapter 5, verse 12. 00:05:22.960 --> 00:05:27.220 He says, stand fast in the true grace of God. 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:30.120 And that's what we're gonna be exploring together 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:31.460 in the coming months. 00:05:31.459 --> 00:05:34.139 What does it mean to stand fast 00:05:34.139 --> 00:05:36.680 in the true grace of God? 00:05:36.739 --> 00:05:38.099 What is the true grace of God? 00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:40.459 What does it mean to stand fast 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:42.699 in the true grace of God? 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:45.359 Now as Peter opens this letter today, 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:47.539 I think the message for us 00:05:47.539 --> 00:05:49.740 is that our Christian identity 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:54.979 is apostolic, exiled, and elect. 00:05:56.060 --> 00:05:57.479 Our Christian identity, 00:05:57.480 --> 00:05:59.420 the things that our Christian identity 00:05:59.420 --> 00:06:00.500 are based upon, 00:06:01.200 --> 00:06:03.980 is that we are apostolic, 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:06.819 exiled, and elect. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:08.060 And I'd like to just explore 00:06:08.060 --> 00:06:09.660 these three themes with you 00:06:09.660 --> 00:06:11.500 as we get to know this letter a little bit. 00:06:11.560 --> 00:06:13.200 Our Christian identity, first of all, 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:14.720 is apostolic. 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:16.920 Peter opens and he says, 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:20.340 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. 00:06:21.540 --> 00:06:23.780 Now God's grace had made Peter a disciple, 00:06:23.900 --> 00:06:24.740 had made him a Christian. 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:26.740 It was by grace that God the Father 00:06:26.740 --> 00:06:31.500 revealed to Peter who Jesus really, really is. 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:32.300 And Peter said, 00:06:32.400 --> 00:06:33.060 you're the Messiah, 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:34.420 you're the son of the living God. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:36.860 But it was Peter who was not only called 00:06:36.860 --> 00:06:37.800 to be a Christian, 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:40.860 Peter was also called to be an apostle. 00:06:41.019 --> 00:06:41.920 And what is an apostle? 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:44.319 An apostle is this special, 00:06:44.980 --> 00:06:46.939 unique, particular calling 00:06:46.939 --> 00:06:48.460 as a sent one. 00:06:48.579 --> 00:06:49.840 That's what an apostle means, 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:50.620 a sent one, 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:52.460 someone who is sent. 00:06:52.459 --> 00:06:54.379 And the meaning of this word 00:06:54.379 --> 00:06:56.939 is so much bigger and richer than that 00:06:56.939 --> 00:06:59.620 because it's one sent with a message 00:06:59.620 --> 00:07:00.419 and a mission. 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:04.259 It's one sent to represent another, 00:07:04.539 --> 00:07:06.939 one sent to serve as their delegate, 00:07:07.139 --> 00:07:08.599 one sent as a trained 00:07:08.599 --> 00:07:12.120 and authorized ambassador of the king. 00:07:12.699 --> 00:07:14.139 And so Peter and all the apostles 00:07:14.139 --> 00:07:17.459 are speaking for the Lord Jesus Christ himself, 00:07:18.459 --> 00:07:20.759 speaking on his behalf. 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:22.379 An apostle is someone 00:07:22.379 --> 00:07:24.939 who's been entrusted by Jesus 00:07:24.939 --> 00:07:26.800 with his message and his mission 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:29.639 as fully authorized representatives 00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:31.539 of the sender. 00:07:32.539 --> 00:07:33.699 And what are the qualifications 00:07:33.699 --> 00:07:35.120 of an apostle? 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:36.779 What are the essential requirements? 00:07:37.599 --> 00:07:39.240 Well, no one could be an apostle 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:42.939 unless they had seen the risen Lord. 00:07:43.039 --> 00:07:44.259 You had to be a witness 00:07:44.259 --> 00:07:46.879 to the resurrection of Jesus. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:49.800 And in the gospel of John, 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:51.060 John chapter 20, 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:54.519 we see Peter running to the tomb of Jesus 00:07:54.519 --> 00:07:56.040 on that Easter Sunday morning 00:07:56.040 --> 00:07:58.000 and it says that Peter saw 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:00.699 the linen cloths lying there, 00:08:00.779 --> 00:08:03.879 this tight burial cocoon 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:05.480 that Jesus had been put in, 00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:07.519 undisturbed, uncut, 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:09.339 and yet somehow empty 00:08:09.339 --> 00:08:11.639 with Jesus' body no longer in it. 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:13.259 It's in the shape of Jesus' body, 00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:15.659 but Jesus' body is not there. 00:08:15.660 --> 00:08:17.220 And Peter, 00:08:17.340 --> 00:08:19.280 later on on that Easter Sunday night, 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:21.260 he was there in the room 00:08:21.260 --> 00:08:23.080 where Jesus showed up 00:08:23.080 --> 00:08:24.240 in Luke chapter 24, 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:25.020 and it says this, 00:08:25.080 --> 00:08:26.700 Jesus himself stood among them 00:08:26.700 --> 00:08:27.500 and said to them, 00:08:27.980 --> 00:08:29.000 Peace be with you. 00:08:29.660 --> 00:08:31.460 And they were startled and frightened, 00:08:31.780 --> 00:08:33.300 thinking they had seen a ghost. 00:08:34.139 --> 00:08:35.019 And he said to them, 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:35.920 Why are you troubled, 00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:38.000 and why do doubts rise in your minds? 00:08:38.259 --> 00:08:40.120 Look at my hands and my feet. 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:42.000 It is I myself. 00:08:42.139 --> 00:08:43.399 Touch me and see. 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:47.299 A ghost does not have flesh and bones 00:08:47.299 --> 00:08:48.519 as you see that I have. 00:08:48.579 --> 00:08:49.779 And when he had said this, 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:52.019 he showed them his hands and feet, 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:55.579 and while they still did not believe 00:08:55.579 --> 00:08:57.319 because of joy and amazement, 00:08:57.720 --> 00:08:58.360 he asked them, 00:08:58.419 --> 00:08:59.799 Do you have anything here to eat? 00:09:00.299 --> 00:09:02.159 And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, 00:09:02.199 --> 00:09:02.939 and he took it, 00:09:03.199 --> 00:09:05.100 and he ate it in their presence. 00:09:05.779 --> 00:09:07.139 And then he opened their minds 00:09:07.139 --> 00:09:09.879 so they could understand the Scriptures. 00:09:11.100 --> 00:09:13.580 Peter, the apostle, was there. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:15.500 He saw Jesus. 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:17.059 He heard Jesus. 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:18.860 He touched Jesus. 00:09:19.259 --> 00:09:21.080 He learned from Jesus 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:23.559 that most extraordinary Bible study 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:25.299 on Easter Sunday night 00:09:25.299 --> 00:09:27.080 with the risen Jesus. 00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:32.420 Peter was there in Matthew chapter 28 00:09:32.420 --> 00:09:33.980 when the resurrected Jesus said, 00:09:34.400 --> 00:09:36.780 All authority in heaven and on earth 00:09:36.780 --> 00:09:37.900 has been given to me. 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:40.520 Now go and make disciples of all the nations, 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:42.460 baptizing them in the name of the Father, 00:09:42.580 --> 00:09:43.379 Son, and Holy Spirit, 00:09:43.740 --> 00:09:45.060 and teaching them to obey 00:09:45.060 --> 00:09:47.220 everything I've commanded you. 00:09:47.620 --> 00:09:51.879 Peter is a trustworthy eyewitness 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:54.019 to the resurrected Jesus 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:56.439 from that first Easter day 00:09:56.439 --> 00:09:57.820 all the way, 00:09:57.899 --> 00:09:58.919 those 40 days, 00:09:59.019 --> 00:10:01.259 to Jesus' ascension into heaven 00:10:01.259 --> 00:10:03.240 at the right hand of the Father. 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:05.419 And the resurrected Jesus 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:06.980 gave his own authority 00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:09.460 to his apostles 00:10:09.460 --> 00:10:11.639 so that they would go out 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:13.299 and speak with the authority 00:10:13.299 --> 00:10:15.740 of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. 00:10:16.899 --> 00:10:19.100 Jesus gave them revelation and knowledge. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:20.860 He gave them the authority 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:22.100 to preach and teach. 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:23.120 He gave them the authority 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:25.600 to lay down doctrine and ethics. 00:10:26.300 --> 00:10:27.300 He gave them the authority 00:10:27.300 --> 00:10:29.360 to establish people in the truth 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:31.820 that was not merely a human word 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:35.200 but was the very word of God. 00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:37.200 And the resurrected Jesus 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:39.100 gave his apostles the authority 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:40.879 to write this uniquely 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:44.680 and divinely inspired New Testament 00:10:44.680 --> 00:10:46.899 and all the letters of the New Testament. 00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:48.100 Now why is this important? 00:10:49.060 --> 00:10:50.420 It's important because 00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:53.379 you cannot follow Jesus Christ 00:10:53.379 --> 00:10:56.139 without following his apostles. 00:10:57.740 --> 00:11:00.259 We cannot follow Jesus Christ 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:03.599 without following his apostles. 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:06.019 Many people say, 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:07.459 I love Jesus 00:11:07.459 --> 00:11:10.279 but I'm not so sure about his apostles. 00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:12.819 People say, you know, 00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:15.319 there's parts of the letters 00:11:15.319 --> 00:11:18.259 of Peter and John and Paul and James 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:20.100 that I have a hard time with. 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:20.879 I have a hard time 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:22.159 with their doctrinal truth 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:24.360 and their ethical demands. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:26.840 And what I want to make clear today 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:29.759 is that that is not you 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:31.740 disliking and having a hard time 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:33.200 merely with the apostles. 00:11:34.019 --> 00:11:35.240 That's you disliking 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:36.559 and having a hard time 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:39.080 with the resurrected Jesus. 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:44.960 They are the special chosen mouthpieces 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:47.480 of the resurrected Christ. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:50.420 And he said in John chapter 16, 00:11:50.540 --> 00:11:50.820 he said, 00:11:50.940 --> 00:11:53.280 I have much more to say to you apostles, 00:11:53.540 --> 00:11:54.860 more than you can now bear, 00:11:54.940 --> 00:11:55.620 but when he, 00:11:56.040 --> 00:11:57.480 the spirit of truth comes, 00:11:57.800 --> 00:11:59.879 he will guide you into all the truth. 00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:01.240 The Holy Spirit is going to come 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:02.960 and guide my apostles 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:04.340 into the deeper truth 00:12:04.340 --> 00:12:05.420 they need to preach 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:06.339 and teach 00:12:06.339 --> 00:12:07.559 and write the scriptures 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:08.559 and the New Testament. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:09.439 And friends, 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:10.599 being a Christian 00:12:10.599 --> 00:12:12.459 means that we are devoted 00:12:12.459 --> 00:12:14.860 to the apostles' teaching. 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:18.199 So that when we want to find 00:12:18.199 --> 00:12:19.579 the truth of Jesus, 00:12:20.319 --> 00:12:22.000 we turn to what the apostles 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:23.419 have written down. 00:12:25.199 --> 00:12:26.139 We are, 00:12:26.319 --> 00:12:27.199 let me put it this way, 00:12:27.939 --> 00:12:29.339 we are not being led 00:12:29.339 --> 00:12:30.500 by the Holy Spirit 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:32.740 into Jesus-inspired 00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:34.659 and Jesus-authorized truth 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:36.899 unless it is apostolic truth. 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:40.779 The truth of the resurrected Jesus 00:12:40.779 --> 00:12:42.860 has spoken through his apostles. 00:12:44.079 --> 00:12:45.879 And the reason I'm belaboring this 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:48.079 is because if we are not apostolic, 00:12:48.319 --> 00:12:49.879 then what are we? 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:52.439 If we are not apostolic 00:12:52.439 --> 00:12:54.319 as Christians and as churches, 00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:56.179 then we are at the whim 00:12:56.179 --> 00:12:58.120 of the worst idiosyncrasies 00:12:58.120 --> 00:12:59.779 of strong personalities 00:12:59.779 --> 00:13:02.779 and faddish social trends. 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:05.500 And if we are not apostolic, 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.339 then we are shaped 00:13:06.339 --> 00:13:08.079 by powerful institutions 00:13:08.079 --> 00:13:09.419 and ideologies 00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:10.480 and influencers 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:12.059 with agendas 00:13:12.059 --> 00:13:13.679 that curiously align 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:14.720 almost perfectly 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:16.299 with the political left 00:13:16.299 --> 00:13:17.699 or the political right. 00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:20.600 If we are not apostolic, 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:22.600 we are being formed 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:23.519 by the internet 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:24.939 and algorithms 00:13:24.939 --> 00:13:26.299 and God forbid, 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:28.039 impersonal robots. 00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:28.179 thoughts? 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:32.219 Yeah! 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:36.059 I mean, 00:13:36.279 --> 00:13:37.779 if that's what you're going for, 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:39.639 I guess that's what you ought 00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:40.779 to be excited about 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:41.620 being formed by. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:42.719 But what I'm saying is 00:13:42.719 --> 00:13:45.240 we need the objective standard 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:46.980 of the truth 00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:48.860 that the resurrected Jesus 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:49.860 has given to us 00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:51.299 through his apostles. 00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:54.679 If you're exploring Christianity, 00:13:54.939 --> 00:13:56.019 my question for you is 00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:57.279 what or who 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:59.479 is your ultimate authority 00:13:59.479 --> 00:14:01.259 for truth and life 00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:03.259 other than yourself? 00:14:05.339 --> 00:14:06.839 And if you're a Christian, 00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:09.679 what is your daily intake 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:11.399 of the apostles' teaching? 00:14:12.339 --> 00:14:13.620 And how literate 00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.639 have you become 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:15.719 regarding the contents 00:14:15.719 --> 00:14:17.199 of their letters? 00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:19.120 And how much 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:20.200 of your thinking 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:21.159 and your priorities 00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:21.899 in your life 00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:23.279 is aligned 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:25.200 with the apostles' teaching? 00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:28.139 I want to invite us today 00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:28.899 as we begin 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:30.700 to explore this letter 00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:31.639 and challenge us 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:33.240 to build our lives 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:35.039 on apostolic truth, 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:36.840 which is the one 00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:37.700 sure foundation 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:38.820 that Jesus has given 00:14:38.820 --> 00:14:40.440 for his church. 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:42.759 You with me so far? 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:45.100 Our Christian identity 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:47.139 is apostolic, 00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:49.460 but more than that, 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.139 our Christian identity 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:52.120 is exiled. 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:54.039 Our identity 00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:54.779 as Christians 00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:56.199 is fundamentally 00:14:56.199 --> 00:14:57.759 an identity 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.299 of being 00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:59.659 an exiled people. 00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:01.779 Here's what he says. 00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:02.120 He says, 00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:02.460 Peter, 00:15:02.580 --> 00:15:03.860 an apostle of Jesus Christ 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.679 to God's elect, 00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:06.480 exiles scattered 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:08.500 throughout the provinces 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.199 of Pontus, 00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:09.720 Galatia, 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:10.419 Cappadocia, 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:10.939 Asia, 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:12.519 and Bithynia. 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.740 How does he identify 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:15.439 these Christians? 00:15:15.559 --> 00:15:15.860 He says, 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:16.700 you are exiles 00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:17.600 who are scattered, 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:18.879 or the Greek word 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:19.519 for scattered there 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:20.360 is the diaspora. 00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.220 You're exiles 00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:22.840 of the diaspora. 00:15:24.180 --> 00:15:25.519 And then in chapter 2, 00:15:25.560 --> 00:15:25.919 verse 11, 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:26.259 he says, 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:26.779 Dear friends, 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:27.440 I urge you 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:28.120 as foreigners 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:29.159 and exiles 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.279 to abstain 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:31.300 from sinful desires 00:15:31.300 --> 00:15:32.100 which war against 00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:32.659 your soul. 00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:34.659 Live such good lives 00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:35.419 among the pagans 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:36.500 that though they accuse 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.539 you of doing wrong, 00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:38.639 they may see 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.399 your good deeds 00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:40.320 and glorify God 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:40.800 on the day 00:15:40.800 --> 00:15:41.920 he visits us. 00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:42.460 What does he call 00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:42.960 these Christians? 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:44.100 He calls them foreigners. 00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:45.379 Sojourners. 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:46.440 Sojourners. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:48.040 Strangers. 00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:50.120 Resident aliens. 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:50.920 Exiles. 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:53.180 Why is he using 00:15:53.180 --> 00:15:54.779 this language of exile? 00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:56.000 Why does he make this 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.240 the controlling metaphor 00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:59.639 of his entire letter? 00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:01.899 Well, Peter is revealing 00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:02.740 to us 00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:03.340 the nature 00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:05.659 of Christian community 00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:07.659 and our relationship 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:09.420 with surrounding cultures. 00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:11.979 With this language 00:16:11.979 --> 00:16:12.719 of exiles 00:16:12.719 --> 00:16:13.339 and foreigners, 00:16:13.479 --> 00:16:14.099 he's revealing 00:16:14.099 --> 00:16:14.579 to us 00:16:14.579 --> 00:16:15.179 the nature 00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:16.259 of Christian community 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:17.599 and our relationship 00:16:17.599 --> 00:16:19.679 with surrounding cultures. 00:16:20.479 --> 00:16:21.479 We have a map 00:16:21.479 --> 00:16:22.240 if we can bring 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.319 that slide up. 00:16:23.979 --> 00:16:24.740 It's a map 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:26.519 of the ancient world 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:28.319 which is modern Turkey. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:30.000 It's a vast area 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:31.679 the size of California 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:34.019 which the Apostle Paul 00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:35.519 did not evangelize. 00:16:35.599 --> 00:16:36.259 He evangelized 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:37.099 the southern part 00:16:37.099 --> 00:16:37.659 and went along 00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:39.120 the Mediterranean there. 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:40.719 But Peter is writing 00:16:40.719 --> 00:16:41.980 to this central 00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:43.699 and northern Turkey 00:16:43.699 --> 00:16:45.699 which is known 00:16:45.699 --> 00:16:46.939 for diversity 00:16:46.939 --> 00:16:48.100 of ethnic groups 00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:48.819 and diversity 00:16:48.819 --> 00:16:49.439 of languages 00:16:49.439 --> 00:16:50.139 and cultures 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:51.259 and a vast diversity 00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:52.399 of religions. 00:16:53.719 --> 00:16:54.259 And what you need 00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.039 to know is that 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:56.199 Roman emperors 00:16:56.199 --> 00:16:56.860 would basically 00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:58.139 go on conquest. 00:16:58.939 --> 00:16:59.799 They would annex 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.799 a region 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.419 like the ones 00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:02.220 you see here 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:03.199 and they would 00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:04.680 displace peoples there 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:05.319 to strengthen 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:06.480 the rule 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.200 of the empire 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.119 through a process 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:09.039 of colonization. 00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:11.039 So Claudius 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:11.799 the Roman emperor 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:12.480 who ruled 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:15.019 from 41 to 54 AD 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.980 he established 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.919 colonial cities 00:17:16.919 --> 00:17:17.799 in all five 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.460 of the provinces 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.559 that Peter names 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:21.019 and it was not 00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:22.259 uncommon for Claudius 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:24.039 to deport groups 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:24.980 like Jews 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.819 and like Christians. 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:26.539 He would deport 00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:28.019 groups to colonies 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.819 who were viewed 00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:29.939 as troublemakers 00:17:29.939 --> 00:17:31.259 back in Rome 00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:33.279 and he would 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:35.220 basically send them away 00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:36.519 and so these Christians 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:38.259 who Peter is writing to 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:39.039 were most likely 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:40.599 converted in Rome 00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:41.779 and then they were 00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:42.619 deported 00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:43.359 because they were 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:44.299 being troublemakers 00:17:44.299 --> 00:17:45.039 they were deported 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:47.039 to Asia Minor 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:47.940 and there they're now 00:17:47.940 --> 00:17:49.140 living as displaced 00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:49.700 foreigners 00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:51.140 and dislocated 00:17:51.140 --> 00:17:52.059 outsiders. 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.440 These are the exiles 00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:55.279 of the diaspora 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.400 to whom Peter 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:57.740 is writing his letter 00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.799 and these Christians 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:00.480 were not citizens 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:02.519 of the dominant power. 00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:04.740 The cause 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:06.000 of their alienation 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.839 from society 00:18:06.839 --> 00:18:07.759 is their faith 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:08.720 in Jesus Christ 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:10.539 and their refusal 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:11.639 to give allegiance 00:18:11.639 --> 00:18:12.519 to the gods 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.599 of the empire. 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:15.559 And so the questions 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.399 these exiles 00:18:16.399 --> 00:18:16.980 and foreigners 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.940 are asking themselves 00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:19.599 is how do we relate 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:21.159 to these surrounding 00:18:21.159 --> 00:18:21.779 cultures 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:22.619 that we're in now? 00:18:23.339 --> 00:18:24.619 How do we live 00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.879 in this society 00:18:25.879 --> 00:18:27.200 that sees us 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:28.559 as incomprehensible, 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.960 that sees us 00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:30.639 and our faith 00:18:30.639 --> 00:18:31.839 as perhaps even 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:33.599 offensive and dangerous? 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.480 And now that we're 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.659 suffering because 00:18:36.659 --> 00:18:37.639 of the ways of Jesus 00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:39.079 how are we to 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:40.980 endure this disfavor 00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:42.039 and this rejection 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:43.679 because of Jesus? 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:46.460 And Peter is writing 00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.259 to show them 00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:48.279 how to live 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.379 as exiles 00:18:49.379 --> 00:18:50.819 and as foreigners 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:51.539 and he's basically 00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:52.359 saying in this letter 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:53.119 let's get together 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:54.440 and let's think about 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:55.200 the story 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:56.279 of the Bible 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:58.420 and let's think about 00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.099 how in much 00:18:59.099 --> 00:19:00.160 of the Old Testament 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.379 the people of God 00:19:01.379 --> 00:19:02.859 are living in places 00:19:02.859 --> 00:19:03.740 other than their 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.599 native land. 00:19:05.639 --> 00:19:06.680 Abraham and Sarah 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.799 were called by God 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:09.019 to leave their country 00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:10.480 and leave their people 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:12.099 and leave their household 00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:12.819 and Abraham, 00:19:13.139 --> 00:19:13.379 Isaac, 00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:13.859 and Jacob 00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:15.619 lived as foreigners 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:17.180 in Canaan. 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:19.220 And then Joseph 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:19.819 we remember 00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:21.119 and all of Jacob's 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:21.740 children 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.180 and eventually 00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:23.019 his grandchildren 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:23.980 all the way down 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.400 to the generation 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:26.019 of Moses 00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:27.539 they lived as aliens 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.660 and sojourners 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:29.900 in Egypt. 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:32.039 And then later on 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:32.799 the whole nation 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.339 of Israel 00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:34.599 would be exiled 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:35.480 from the promised land 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.480 to live as strangers 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:37.859 in Babylon. 00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:38.960 We think of the prophets 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:39.500 Daniel 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.859 and Jeremiah 00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:42.500 and Ezekiel 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.359 and then later on 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:44.639 they were resident aliens 00:19:44.639 --> 00:19:45.799 in Persia. 00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:46.700 We think of Esther 00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:48.759 and Peter saying 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.980 look the people of God 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:50.940 have been scattered 00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:52.359 to surrounding cultures 00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:53.719 with different beliefs 00:19:53.719 --> 00:19:54.819 and different values 00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:55.799 and different ideals 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:56.779 and different customs 00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:57.899 and different mores 00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:59.199 and different practices 00:19:59.199 --> 00:19:59.979 and he's saying 00:19:59.979 --> 00:20:00.740 to these Christians 00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:02.339 your identity 00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:03.500 and your experience 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:05.399 as displaced people 00:20:05.399 --> 00:20:06.019 of God 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:07.519 the disliked people 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.099 of God 00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:09.299 it's nothing new. 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:11.399 It's nothing new. 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:13.519 And so here I am 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.359 as an apostle 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:15.339 of Jesus Christ 00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.899 to help you navigate 00:20:16.899 --> 00:20:18.099 what it means 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:19.519 to be exiles 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.759 for Jesus' sake. 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:23.679 So let's think together 00:20:23.679 --> 00:20:26.219 about these exilic communities 00:20:26.219 --> 00:20:27.199 of the people of God 00:20:27.199 --> 00:20:27.879 in Canaan 00:20:27.879 --> 00:20:28.619 and in Egypt 00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:29.899 in Babylon 00:20:29.899 --> 00:20:31.000 and in Persia. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:33.119 How did they live out 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:33.879 their differences 00:20:33.879 --> 00:20:35.399 with all the other peoples 00:20:35.399 --> 00:20:35.979 around them? 00:20:36.919 --> 00:20:38.019 How were they 00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:39.019 a counterculture 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:40.639 of non-conformists? 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.919 How did they 00:20:42.919 --> 00:20:44.159 bear witness 00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:45.240 to an alternative 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:46.639 way of life? 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.599 And how did they 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:49.500 in the words of Jesus 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.680 in John chapter 17 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:53.859 how did they live 00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:55.079 as in the world 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:56.839 but not of the world? 00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:58.940 Now the reason 00:20:58.940 --> 00:20:59.400 we're preaching 00:20:59.400 --> 00:20:59.900 this letter 00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:00.359 is because 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:01.119 I think it has 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.759 incredible relevance 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.660 to Christians 00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.420 and to churches 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:05.319 in North America 00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:07.920 in election year 2024 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:09.420 among other things 00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:09.960 that are happening 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:11.259 in this season. 00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:13.319 We could probably 00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:14.920 think of many examples 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:16.819 of unbalanced 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:18.240 and extreme relationships 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:19.259 that churches have 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:19.819 established 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:20.620 with the cultures 00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:21.420 around them 00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:21.960 can we not? 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:23.819 Because some churches 00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.339 say you know 00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:24.920 what we need to do 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:25.880 we need to transform 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:26.579 our culture. 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:28.380 Our culture is 00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:29.400 clearly in decline 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:30.160 and so we need 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:32.000 to seek political power 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.759 and we need to 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:34.160 rectify the situation 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:34.819 by imposing 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.859 Christian beliefs 00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:36.839 and Christian standards 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.880 on an unwilling 00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:38.740 populace. 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:39.400 Let's transform 00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:39.859 the culture. 00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.500 And other people 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.220 come along and say 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.700 no, no, no, no 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.660 let's not transform 00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:44.140 the culture 00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:45.240 let's assimilate 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:46.640 to the culture 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.559 let's accommodate 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:48.159 ourselves 00:21:48.159 --> 00:21:49.940 and let's embrace 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.519 these various 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.639 justice movements 00:21:51.639 --> 00:21:52.299 and movements 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:53.259 of liberation 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.339 so that we can be 00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:55.099 seen to be 00:21:55.099 --> 00:21:56.279 on the right side 00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:57.079 of history. 00:21:58.139 --> 00:21:58.819 And then other churches 00:21:58.819 --> 00:21:59.480 say no, no, no 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.519 let's not transform 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.019 the culture 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:02.099 let's not assimilate 00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:02.679 to the culture 00:22:02.679 --> 00:22:04.240 let's just withdraw 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.339 from the culture. 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:06.899 Let's retreat 00:22:06.899 --> 00:22:07.859 into these strong 00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:08.519 tight-knit 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.480 sheltered communities 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.740 with little connection 00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.819 to the rest of society 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.919 so that we can avoid 00:22:12.919 --> 00:22:14.440 being polluted by it. 00:22:15.179 --> 00:22:16.059 And then people say 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:16.419 no, no, no 00:22:16.419 --> 00:22:17.359 let's not transform 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:17.879 the culture 00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:18.539 or assimilate 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.099 to the culture 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:19.500 or withdraw 00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:20.219 from the culture 00:22:20.219 --> 00:22:22.019 let's just ignore 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:23.579 the culture altogether. 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.699 We just need to build 00:22:24.699 --> 00:22:25.579 up the church 00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:26.379 and win people 00:22:26.379 --> 00:22:27.159 to Jesus 00:22:27.159 --> 00:22:28.119 and leave the culture 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:28.879 to take care 00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:29.759 of itself. 00:22:30.919 --> 00:22:31.699 And what we're going 00:22:31.699 --> 00:22:32.719 to find in this letter 00:22:32.719 --> 00:22:33.919 is that this apostle 00:22:33.919 --> 00:22:34.799 of Jesus Christ 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:36.019 is encouraging us 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.699 to avoid 00:22:36.699 --> 00:22:37.659 all of these 00:22:37.659 --> 00:22:39.759 unbalanced excesses 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:41.599 of being defensive 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.519 against culture 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:45.779 of being relevant 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.660 to culture 00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:48.559 of being purified 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:49.500 from culture 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:51.720 of being unconcerned 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:52.619 about culture 00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:54.500 and instead of all 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.180 these things 00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:56.279 he's saying 00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:57.900 you as Christian exiles 00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:59.700 you as Christian foreigners 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:01.299 should be distinctively 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:02.539 and faithfully 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:04.759 present within culture. 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:09.099 not defensive against 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:10.200 not relevant to 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:11.319 not purified from 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:12.420 not unconcerned about 00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:13.500 but distinctively 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.220 and faithfully 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:15.619 present within. 00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:18.660 Just as God 00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.720 and Jesus Christ 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:21.460 became fully 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.140 and faithfully 00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:23.299 present among us 00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.680 and pursued us 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:26.039 and identified with us 00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:26.619 and offered 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:28.039 his life to us 00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:29.240 through his sacrificial love 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:30.119 despite the fact 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:30.859 that we were 00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:32.640 other in his eyes 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:34.680 so this apostle 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.259 of Jesus 00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:36.460 expects these 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.460 Christian exiles 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:39.800 to maintain 00:23:39.800 --> 00:23:40.920 their distinctive 00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:41.560 identity 00:23:41.560 --> 00:23:43.420 as those who've been 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:45.220 chosen by God 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:46.780 to be an alternative 00:23:46.780 --> 00:23:47.700 community 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:49.360 while also 00:23:49.360 --> 00:23:50.240 provocatively 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:51.660 connecting with 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.880 and serving 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.800 their neighbors 00:23:53.800 --> 00:23:54.400 rather than 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.259 coercing them 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:56.440 or disparaging them 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.420 or avoiding them 00:23:57.420 --> 00:23:59.020 all without 00:23:59.020 --> 00:23:59.980 assimilating 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:01.420 to the culture's ways 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:02.280 or compromising 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:02.980 the values 00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:04.099 of the gospel. 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:06.240 And as you see 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.859 even when 00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:08.019 what we've read today 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:09.119 he expects some 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:10.279 aspects of Christian 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:10.819 practices 00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.700 some aspects 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:12.460 of the Christian 00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:13.799 social project 00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.559 will be both 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:15.920 highly offensive 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:17.859 and highly 00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.559 attractive 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:19.200 to any 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:20.180 pagan culture 00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:21.599 in which we reside 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.619 as exiles 00:24:22.619 --> 00:24:23.539 and foreigners. 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:26.039 And he shows us 00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:26.619 in this letter 00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:27.480 how to be 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.680 for the city 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:30.240 which is part 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:30.779 of our mission. 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:32.000 how are we 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.299 to be 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:33.700 for the city 00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:34.220 how are we 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:34.700 to seek 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.480 the peace 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.539 and the blessing 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:37.500 of the city 00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:39.119 as exiles 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:40.539 and as foreigners. 00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:42.599 And over the 00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:43.079 coming months 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.399 we're going to 00:24:43.399 --> 00:24:44.119 explore how 00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:44.599 the Christian 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:45.119 community 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:46.460 is to be 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.359 distinctively 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:48.579 and faithfully 00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:49.200 present 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:50.440 within our culture 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:52.420 so that we might 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.099 be the salt 00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:53.700 of the earth 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:55.139 and the light 00:24:55.139 --> 00:24:55.660 of the world 00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:56.099 that Jesus 00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:56.879 called us 00:24:56.879 --> 00:24:57.639 to be. 00:24:57.640 --> 00:25:00.140 Does that make sense? 00:25:01.080 --> 00:25:02.420 So our Christian 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:02.800 identity 00:25:02.800 --> 00:25:03.800 must be 00:25:03.800 --> 00:25:04.640 apostolic 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:06.400 but it also 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:07.259 must be 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:07.900 exiled 00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:09.500 and finally 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.120 our Christian 00:25:10.120 --> 00:25:10.520 identity 00:25:10.520 --> 00:25:12.060 is to be 00:25:12.060 --> 00:25:13.180 elect. 00:25:14.340 --> 00:25:14.980 And I'll close 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.340 with this 00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:15.800 our Christian 00:25:15.800 --> 00:25:16.140 identity 00:25:16.140 --> 00:25:16.980 is to be 00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:17.800 elect. 00:25:18.800 --> 00:25:19.420 Peter 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.060 an apostle 00:25:20.060 --> 00:25:21.160 of Jesus Christ 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:21.980 to God's 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.520 elect 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:24.839 who've been 00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:25.379 chosen 00:25:25.379 --> 00:25:26.879 according to 00:25:26.879 --> 00:25:27.759 the foreknowledge 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.160 of God 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:28.619 the Father 00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:29.119 through the 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:29.980 sanctifying work 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:30.500 of the Spirit 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:31.460 to be obedient 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.599 to Jesus Christ 00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:33.660 and sprinkled 00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:34.279 with His blood 00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:35.220 grace and peace 00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:35.839 be yours 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:37.000 in abundance. 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:39.420 Peter wants 00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:39.940 them to know 00:25:39.940 --> 00:25:40.619 that the reason 00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:41.359 you're suffering 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:42.099 trials 00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:43.759 as exiles 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.539 and as foreigners 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:45.259 is because 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:46.539 you're God's 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:46.920 elect. 00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:49.059 Because you 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:49.720 bear this 00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:50.879 special status 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:52.580 as His chosen 00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:53.480 people. 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.160 And Peter 00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:55.440 wants 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:56.120 he says 00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:56.520 I want to 00:25:56.520 --> 00:25:57.160 help you 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:58.240 know who 00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:58.700 you are 00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.560 before God 00:25:59.560 --> 00:26:01.040 so that 00:26:01.040 --> 00:26:01.660 you can be 00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.440 who you are 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:03.600 in society. 00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:05.620 If you know 00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:06.220 who you are 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:06.940 before God 00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:07.660 in this vertical 00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:08.120 dimension 00:26:08.120 --> 00:26:08.960 then you will 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.560 know how to 00:26:09.560 --> 00:26:10.200 live in the 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:10.760 horizontal 00:26:10.760 --> 00:26:11.600 dimension. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:13.360 And what he 00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:14.000 says is that 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.460 each of the 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:15.160 three persons 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:15.440 in the 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:15.680 blessed 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.420 holy trinity 00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.780 were involved 00:26:17.780 --> 00:26:18.580 in electing 00:26:18.580 --> 00:26:19.140 you. 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:20.660 and this 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.120 means that 00:26:21.120 --> 00:26:22.540 what most 00:26:22.540 --> 00:26:23.140 fundamentally 00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:24.840 defines your 00:26:24.840 --> 00:26:25.300 identity 00:26:25.300 --> 00:26:27.180 is not what 00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:27.759 Caesar 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:29.120 Claudius 00:26:29.120 --> 00:26:30.160 does to you 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:31.840 or not what 00:26:31.840 --> 00:26:33.020 Caesar has 00:26:33.020 --> 00:26:33.720 done yesterday 00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.120 and we're 00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:34.920 gawking about 00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.520 on the front 00:26:35.520 --> 00:26:36.220 page today. 00:26:37.060 --> 00:26:37.820 What most 00:26:37.820 --> 00:26:38.420 fundamentally 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:39.360 identifies you 00:26:39.360 --> 00:26:40.140 is not how 00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:41.020 your pagan 00:26:41.020 --> 00:26:42.060 neighbors are 00:26:42.060 --> 00:26:42.960 relating to you 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.460 or what they're 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.259 saying to you 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:44.920 in real life 00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:45.660 or about you 00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.740 in the media. 00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.420 None of that 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.480 really matters. 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:50.420 What really 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:50.980 matters and 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.800 what fundamentally 00:26:51.800 --> 00:26:52.860 defines your 00:26:52.860 --> 00:26:54.700 identity is 00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:55.800 that you are 00:26:55.800 --> 00:26:56.680 in a relationship 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.920 with the 00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:59.340 triune God. 00:27:00.540 --> 00:27:01.060 And what's 00:27:01.060 --> 00:27:01.740 most important 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.420 about you is 00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:04.120 the fact that 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:05.480 you are objects 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.800 of his loving 00:27:06.800 --> 00:27:08.100 concern from 00:27:08.100 --> 00:27:09.400 all eternity. 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.680 He says you've 00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.240 been chosen 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:13.200 according to the 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.500 foreknowledge of 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.200 God the Father. 00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.880 That means that 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:17.220 you've been 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:17.880 intentionally, 00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:19.020 deliberately, 00:27:19.560 --> 00:27:20.160 and actively 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:21.100 chosen. 00:27:21.260 --> 00:27:22.020 That he chose 00:27:22.020 --> 00:27:22.720 you according 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.700 to and 00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.620 consistent with 00:27:24.620 --> 00:27:25.300 his plan 00:27:25.300 --> 00:27:26.340 and purpose 00:27:26.340 --> 00:27:27.320 of salvation. 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:28.780 And so 00:27:28.780 --> 00:27:29.780 you are 00:27:29.780 --> 00:27:32.540 in a relationship 00:27:32.540 --> 00:27:33.960 with God 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.820 and with the 00:27:34.820 --> 00:27:35.480 people of God 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.320 not because 00:27:36.320 --> 00:27:37.840 of what you 00:27:37.840 --> 00:27:38.320 are 00:27:38.320 --> 00:27:39.760 or what you 00:27:39.760 --> 00:27:40.380 have 00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:41.500 or what you've 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:41.800 done 00:27:41.800 --> 00:27:42.540 or what you 00:27:42.540 --> 00:27:43.720 have decided 00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:44.380 but simply 00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:45.540 because God 00:27:45.540 --> 00:27:46.940 before you 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.480 were aware 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.000 of him 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.840 decided 00:27:48.840 --> 00:27:49.700 in his 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.360 purposeful 00:27:50.360 --> 00:27:50.900 plan 00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:52.000 to bring 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.380 you into 00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:53.100 a relationship 00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:53.760 with him 00:27:53.760 --> 00:27:54.540 as your 00:27:54.540 --> 00:27:55.040 Abba 00:27:55.040 --> 00:27:55.760 Father. 00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:57.560 Friends, 00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:57.980 there's no 00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:58.760 identity that's 00:27:58.760 --> 00:27:59.700 deeper or 00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.600 stronger than 00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:01.020 that. 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.240 No matter 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:03.700 what your 00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:04.820 present circumstances 00:28:04.820 --> 00:28:05.380 are, 00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:06.180 no matter how 00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:06.940 people are 00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:08.120 treating you, 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:08.860 no matter how 00:28:08.860 --> 00:28:09.860 dislocated and 00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:10.940 disoriented you 00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:11.500 feel, 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.460 God took the 00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:15.059 initiative to 00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:16.140 draw you into 00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:16.920 an intimate, 00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:17.820 loving, 00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:18.580 redemptive 00:28:18.580 --> 00:28:19.320 relationship with 00:28:19.320 --> 00:28:20.100 him to save 00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:21.400 you and to 00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:21.680 give you 00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:22.360 access, 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:25.340 24-7 access 00:28:25.340 --> 00:28:25.820 to his 00:28:25.820 --> 00:28:26.480 fatherly 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.100 goodness 00:28:27.100 --> 00:28:28.279 and grace. 00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:29.799 You, 00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:30.519 the people of 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:30.860 God, 00:28:31.120 --> 00:28:31.539 have been 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.519 chosen according 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:33.700 to the foreknowledge 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.460 of God the 00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:34.759 Father. 00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:35.299 And he says 00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:35.860 you've been 00:28:35.860 --> 00:28:36.600 chosen also 00:28:36.600 --> 00:28:37.600 through or by 00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:38.420 the sanctifying 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.680 work of the 00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.080 Spirit. 00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:42.320 The Holy Spirit 00:28:42.320 --> 00:28:43.259 is the means. 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.180 The Holy Spirit 00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:45.120 is the instrumental 00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:46.640 agency and 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.940 power by which 00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:49.000 God the Father 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:50.400 takes hold of 00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:52.000 us and 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.880 regenerates our 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:53.779 heart and 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.580 convicts us of 00:28:54.580 --> 00:28:55.900 sin and 00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:56.580 quickens our 00:28:56.580 --> 00:28:57.519 grasp of the 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.140 gospel and 00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:59.580 gives us faith. 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.380 The Holy Spirit 00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:02.080 is the one who 00:29:02.080 --> 00:29:03.019 makes the 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:04.340 electing foreknowledge 00:29:04.340 --> 00:29:05.059 of the Father 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:06.460 operative in 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.500 our lives. 00:29:08.900 --> 00:29:09.320 And the 00:29:09.320 --> 00:29:10.080 question for us 00:29:10.080 --> 00:29:10.920 is has the 00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:11.640 Holy Spirit 00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:13.180 acted on you 00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:13.960 in this way? 00:29:15.320 --> 00:29:16.039 And is the 00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:16.740 Holy Spirit 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.800 dwelling in 00:29:17.800 --> 00:29:18.640 you now? 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.380 Has he 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:21.200 sanctified you? 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:22.019 Has he set 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:22.680 you apart 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:23.519 to the 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.960 Father and 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:25.240 to the 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.120 eternal plan 00:29:26.120 --> 00:29:26.420 that the 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:27.100 Father has 00:29:27.100 --> 00:29:27.480 for your 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:27.960 salvation? 00:29:29.100 --> 00:29:29.759 If the 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.320 Holy Spirit 00:29:30.320 --> 00:29:30.740 has done 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.039 that, 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:32.779 what then 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.220 is the 00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:34.519 goal and 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.120 the purpose 00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.500 of the 00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:35.900 Father's 00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:37.560 plan carried 00:29:37.560 --> 00:29:38.160 out by the 00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:38.720 Holy Spirit? 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:40.539 He says 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:40.839 you've been 00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:41.680 chosen according 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.000 to the 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.700 foreknowledge of 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.019 God the 00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:43.319 Father, 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:43.740 you've been 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.880 chosen through 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.839 the sanctifying 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.640 work of the 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:46.940 Spirit, 00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:47.759 and you've been 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.819 chosen for 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:50.960 obedience to 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.880 Jesus Christ who 00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:52.600 sprinkled you with 00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:53.079 His blood. 00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.880 If your sins 00:29:55.880 --> 00:29:57.460 have been 00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:58.240 cleansed by the 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:59.100 blood of Jesus 00:29:59.100 --> 00:30:00.640 that was shed on 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.180 the cross, 00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:03.360 if you are now 00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:04.279 part of the 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:04.860 new covenant 00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:06.039 covenant because 00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:06.759 of that great 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.659 sacrifice of 00:30:07.659 --> 00:30:08.319 Jesus on your 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:10.099 behalf, then 00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:10.819 Peter says the 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.779 only logical 00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.919 deduction, the 00:30:12.919 --> 00:30:13.819 only necessary 00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:16.399 consequence is 00:30:16.399 --> 00:30:17.319 that we must 00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:18.939 obey. 00:30:20.159 --> 00:30:21.459 We must be 00:30:21.459 --> 00:30:23.939 obedient to 00:30:23.939 --> 00:30:24.740 all that has 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.399 been commanded 00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:27.319 of us by our 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:27.939 risen and 00:30:27.939 --> 00:30:28.899 living Lord 00:30:28.899 --> 00:30:29.699 Jesus. 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:32.099 Because if we 00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:32.939 have this great 00:30:32.939 --> 00:30:33.939 privilege of 00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:35.579 being elected, 00:30:36.479 --> 00:30:37.359 then we bear 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:37.899 that great 00:30:37.899 --> 00:30:40.000 responsibility to 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.359 live in 00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:40.959 accordance with 00:30:40.959 --> 00:30:42.639 the character of 00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:43.179 the one who 00:30:43.179 --> 00:30:44.039 elected us. 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:46.259 So friends, do 00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:46.740 you think of 00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:47.519 yourself this way? 00:30:48.679 --> 00:30:49.659 Do you think of 00:30:49.659 --> 00:30:50.899 yourself as God's 00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:53.259 elect, foreknown 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:55.159 by the Father in 00:30:55.159 --> 00:30:57.119 all eternity, set 00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:58.000 apart by the 00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.659 power of the 00:30:58.659 --> 00:30:59.319 Holy Spirit, 00:31:00.459 --> 00:31:01.259 cleansed by the 00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.419 precious blood of 00:31:02.419 --> 00:31:03.500 Jesus Christ, and 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.839 chosen to be 00:31:04.839 --> 00:31:05.839 obedient? 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:07.139 To obey, chosen to 00:31:07.139 --> 00:31:08.539 be obedient. 00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:11.159 Peter ends his 00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:11.639 letter and he 00:31:11.639 --> 00:31:13.799 says, stand fast in 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.720 the true grace of 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:15.079 God. 00:31:16.659 --> 00:31:17.819 If you take your 00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:19.619 stand in this 00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:21.639 grace, this grace 00:31:21.639 --> 00:31:22.779 of the triune God, 00:31:22.859 --> 00:31:23.919 the Father, Son, and 00:31:23.919 --> 00:31:25.039 Holy Spirit, if you 00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:26.139 stand in that grace, 00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:28.819 then you will know 00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:30.419 how to live as 00:31:30.419 --> 00:31:31.259 exiles and 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:32.159 foreigners, and you 00:31:32.159 --> 00:31:33.619 will be the salt of 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:35.099 the earth and the 00:31:35.099 --> 00:31:36.279 light of the world. 00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.699 So stand fast. 00:31:39.899 --> 00:31:41.159 Stand fast as God's 00:31:41.159 --> 00:31:43.439 elect people, chosen 00:31:43.439 --> 00:31:45.619 by him, foreknown by 00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:47.939 the Father, sanctified by 00:31:47.939 --> 00:31:49.839 the Spirit, sprinkled 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.519 with the blood of 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:53.419 Jesus, chosen to be 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:55.219 obedient. 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:55.460 it. 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:57.100 In the name of the 00:31:57.100 --> 00:31:57.960 Father, Son, and Holy 00:31:57.960 --> 00:31:59.299 Spirit, amen.