WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.120 Found your place there in 1 Peter chapter number 2. Begin reading in verse number 4. Actually, just start in verse number 1 and we'll read down through verse 10. 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:36.100 He said, 00:00:36.119 --> 00:01:06.099 He said, 00:01:06.120 --> 00:01:36.120 00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:39.400 But now have obtained mercy. 00:01:40.320 --> 00:01:46.620 Peter's reminding them and he's kind of reminding, hey listen, remember where you used to be, but look where you are now. 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:53.980 You've been placed in something much greater than we could even imagine and God is not done building our lives. 00:01:54.080 --> 00:01:58.360 He's not done working in them and he's got a plan for us and we're going to see it here tonight. 00:01:58.460 --> 00:02:00.180 So let's ask him to bless our time together. 00:02:00.180 --> 00:02:04.380 Father, thank you for this opportunity to gather again to open up your word. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:16.460 Thank you for this letter that you included for us, Lord, that we can see that even when times are difficult, even when the world seems to be going the opposite direction, you still have a plan. 00:02:16.460 --> 00:02:18.980 You still have a purpose. You still have a job for us. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:21.240 And Lord, we're thankful for that. 00:02:21.300 --> 00:02:26.760 I pray that you would just help us to take some of these truths that we see here in your text tonight and apply them to our life. 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:30.580 I pray you would just help me, Lord, that you would guide my thoughts and words. 00:02:30.620 --> 00:02:31.939 And we ask this in Christ's name. 00:02:31.939 --> 00:02:33.780 Amen. Thank you so much for standing. 00:02:33.859 --> 00:02:34.280 You may be seated. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:38.659 How many puzzle people do we have in here? 00:02:39.579 --> 00:02:40.979 You better raise your hand, Miss Brenda. 00:02:41.159 --> 00:02:42.120 I know some of y'all do. 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:44.039 And I know Miss Brenda does too as well. 00:02:44.579 --> 00:02:48.219 And, you know, sometimes I like completed puzzles. 00:02:49.020 --> 00:02:54.400 But sometimes I don't have the patience and the attention span to do a puzzle. 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:56.079 And some of them are so intricate. 00:02:56.219 --> 00:03:00.639 You can see in there, you people that do like snow puzzles, y'all are crazy. 00:03:01.099 --> 00:03:04.359 Because I'm like, everything just looks white on the thing. 00:03:04.539 --> 00:03:08.899 But, you know, I remember as a kid trying to do a puzzle and just getting tired of it. 00:03:08.939 --> 00:03:12.879 I'm just going to force the puzzle piece somewhere so I can just move on. 00:03:13.259 --> 00:03:15.059 I mean, because, you know, you're looking for a certain section. 00:03:15.139 --> 00:03:16.119 You're looking for a corner piece. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:17.439 You're looking for all of these things. 00:03:17.519 --> 00:03:19.239 And the colors kind of look right. 00:03:19.579 --> 00:03:21.479 The shape looks, you know, close enough. 00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:22.979 So you're just going to jam it in there. 00:03:23.119 --> 00:03:27.419 And you push it in there and you turn it a little and you push it harder and it still doesn't fit. 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:30.399 You think, well, if I just step back far enough, it looks like it's okay. 00:03:31.179 --> 00:03:35.659 But the reality is, you know that peace doesn't belong there. 00:03:36.679 --> 00:03:38.599 That peace had a place. 00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:40.779 It just wasn't that place. 00:03:41.419 --> 00:03:45.899 And when we come to the Word of God and when we come to our life as Christians, 00:03:45.899 --> 00:03:49.399 sometimes it's difficult as we're living here in this world. 00:03:49.939 --> 00:03:55.539 As we're here in the in-between, so to speak, of salvation and heaven. 00:03:55.539 --> 00:03:58.139 And we try to sometimes fit in. 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:01.680 I mean, we don't want to be that person that sticks out like a sore thumb. 00:04:01.979 --> 00:04:03.299 And we try to belong. 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:07.439 And we try to just kind of make life work the best as possible we hear. 00:04:07.639 --> 00:04:10.340 But something just sometimes feels off. 00:04:10.979 --> 00:04:13.159 It just feels a little bit different. 00:04:13.979 --> 00:04:16.879 And sometimes we fight that and we think, I don't like this feeling. 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:21.879 But we come to our text here this evening and Peter reminds us, that's a good feeling to have. 00:04:22.659 --> 00:04:28.959 In fact, that's exactly how you should feel because you weren't made to fit into this world. 00:04:29.079 --> 00:04:29.920 Praise the Lord for that. 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:32.860 I'm so thankful that this isn't it. 00:04:33.340 --> 00:04:34.980 That this isn't all that life is. 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:37.460 And I'm thankful for the blessings that we have on this side. 00:04:37.500 --> 00:04:39.580 But I'm thankful for what is coming. 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:44.200 And Peter reminds these original listeners, these original hearers, 00:04:44.280 --> 00:04:50.400 that they were made and they were placed into something far greater when Christ came into their life. 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:55.560 He's writing to these men and women, these strangers, these pilgrims, 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:58.080 these that are just passing through. 00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:02.120 We think to ourselves, well, if I don't belong in this world, where do I belong? 00:05:02.779 --> 00:05:04.000 And that's what Peter answers. 00:05:04.139 --> 00:05:07.240 That's kind of where he's been leading it up to in the first chapter. 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:10.079 He's reminding them of all the things they had in Christ. 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:14.099 But now he's kind of moving into chapter 2 and really through the rest of the book. 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:18.779 He's saying, take all of those things we've looked at and it's going to affect how we live. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:21.419 And it's going to remind us where we belong. 00:05:21.939 --> 00:05:22.759 And here's where we belong. 00:05:22.819 --> 00:05:23.899 We belong with Christ. 00:05:23.899 --> 00:05:28.759 The Bible tells us that we're already seated in heavenly places with Jesus Christ. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:32.659 That our citizenship is no longer here on this earth. 00:05:32.779 --> 00:05:35.839 This is not our final destination. 00:05:36.019 --> 00:05:37.919 And he says, listen, God is building something. 00:05:38.359 --> 00:05:42.259 And you're the right piece and the perfect piece for what he's doing. 00:05:42.779 --> 00:05:44.259 Which is an amazing thing to think about. 00:05:44.759 --> 00:05:46.439 That God wants to use this piece. 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:47.839 That he wants to use you. 00:05:47.959 --> 00:05:53.920 That he wants to allow us to have a job in his grand plan of redemption. 00:05:55.259 --> 00:05:57.240 But God's not building a physical structure. 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:01.220 He's not building this massive building that we can see. 00:06:01.540 --> 00:06:05.579 No, what he is doing, the Bible tells us, we already saw here in our text in verse 5. 00:06:05.740 --> 00:06:07.399 He's building a spiritual house. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:10.579 He's building a spiritual family. 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:13.939 And as a believer, you're not just saved. 00:06:13.939 --> 00:06:17.279 Yeah, you're saved, but you're placed in your position. 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:20.439 And you belong to him. 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:23.279 That's a beautiful thing to be reminded of. 00:06:23.540 --> 00:06:28.079 So with that foundation, Peter's going to show us just a couple truths in these few verses we read. 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:29.740 That just give us hope for the journey. 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:32.740 Number one is this, that we are God's spiritual house. 00:06:33.899 --> 00:06:34.639 Verse number 5. 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:53.139 So Peter brings our mind to a house being built. 00:06:53.919 --> 00:06:55.740 And we think of a house and we'll drive by. 00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:57.719 And we drive by things around Gainesville. 00:06:57.800 --> 00:06:59.599 And they're building all kinds of things it feels like. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:02.760 And if you're like me and my family, we're like, wonder what that is. 00:07:03.020 --> 00:07:03.560 Look it up. 00:07:03.660 --> 00:07:04.080 Google it. 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:05.320 Figure out what's going on there. 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:07.160 We want to know what's taking place. 00:07:07.220 --> 00:07:08.620 But we know something's happening. 00:07:09.020 --> 00:07:10.640 Because they start moving dirt around. 00:07:10.780 --> 00:07:12.439 And then they lay a foundation. 00:07:12.740 --> 00:07:15.100 And we start trying to guess of what it is. 00:07:15.280 --> 00:07:19.700 And Peter's saying, listen, this thing that God is building is not a structure. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:21.580 It's made of people. 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:25.180 And that kind of is a weird analogy to think of in our mind. 00:07:25.180 --> 00:07:27.900 But he tells us who these people are. 00:07:28.540 --> 00:07:31.459 He's saying it's those that are saved by the blood. 00:07:31.860 --> 00:07:32.720 We sang this morning. 00:07:32.840 --> 00:07:36.759 It's those that Christ has changed their lives. 00:07:37.280 --> 00:07:39.960 He refers to it as this, lively stones. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:43.379 That we have a hope that is secure in Christ. 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:46.699 And the reason we're alive is because we were once dead. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:49.399 And then Jesus showed up in our life. 00:07:49.840 --> 00:07:51.040 And now we're alive. 00:07:51.420 --> 00:07:52.819 I know it's super deep tonight. 00:07:52.819 --> 00:07:55.420 And we're going to, it's going somewhere. 00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:57.980 But we're not just alive. 00:07:58.699 --> 00:08:02.540 God didn't just save us so we could just kind of get out of here when he comes again. 00:08:02.939 --> 00:08:04.259 We already talked about it this morning. 00:08:04.620 --> 00:08:07.120 He saved us to be ready and to be working. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:10.000 We're to occupy till he comes. 00:08:11.019 --> 00:08:13.199 But our life is not built on our good deeds. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:17.399 Our life is not built on who we are and what we do. 00:08:17.539 --> 00:08:20.939 That's not the foundation that God is building with. 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:22.300 What is the foundation? 00:08:22.819 --> 00:08:24.399 Verse number four says this. 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:28.439 To whom coming as unto a living stone. 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:34.879 We see in verse number six that he's talking about the chief cornerstone, elect and precious. 00:08:36.059 --> 00:08:41.600 See, what our life is built on, the family that we're built into, the house that God is building, 00:08:41.819 --> 00:08:45.679 it is all based on Jesus Christ. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:49.799 And just as we've been made alive, that's why Jesus is the living stone. 00:08:50.459 --> 00:08:59.500 Because Jesus' whole mission and his whole goal and his whole purpose was to come and to give his life a ransom for many. 00:08:59.500 --> 00:09:06.759 But we don't, I'm looking forward to Easter, but we can celebrate the resurrection and we should every single day. 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:11.019 Because we don't serve some person laying in a tomb. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:13.500 No, he's alive and he's alive forevermore. 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:17.500 That is the foundation of everything we do. 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:25.840 And Peter was reminding him then of this truth because life was hard and it just seemed like I'm not sure I can hold on. 00:09:26.059 --> 00:09:26.940 Well, here's the great news. 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:28.200 It's not built on you. 00:09:28.899 --> 00:09:30.399 It's not built on your foundation. 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:35.840 It's built on the fact that Jesus lived and he died and was buried and he rose again. 00:09:36.819 --> 00:09:38.879 Peter already told us in verse number 3 of chapter 1, 00:09:39.439 --> 00:09:42.919 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:09:43.319 --> 00:09:49.500 which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope 00:09:49.500 --> 00:09:53.759 by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 00:09:54.819 --> 00:09:57.460 Listen, I'm so glad we serve a risen Savior. 00:09:57.460 --> 00:10:02.259 I'm so thankful that I can talk to him whenever I want to. 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:07.860 That I can go boldly into the throne room because Jesus, he's not lifeless. 00:10:08.620 --> 00:10:16.120 No, he's active and he's on the throne and he's victorious and he wants us as his children to be a part of that. 00:10:16.600 --> 00:10:20.240 That he's building our life on that same principle. 00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:22.180 And Peter wants us to see something though. 00:10:22.179 --> 00:10:28.099 That this cornerstone, this living stone that is Jesus Christ, 00:10:29.219 --> 00:10:32.239 there's some people that have differing opinions on who it is. 00:10:32.819 --> 00:10:37.319 That God and sometimes mankind have differing opinions on the stone. 00:10:39.179 --> 00:10:40.579 In verse 7 and 8 we see this, 00:10:40.580 --> 00:11:07.879 Listen, we can come on a Sunday night and we can be excited about the songs that we sing, 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:11.939 that he is able to deliver thee and we're reminded of the truth of who God is. 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:13.840 But here's the sad reality. 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:16.759 Many men reject Jesus Christ. 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:22.039 We'll hear it today and they won't come out and just be mean about it. 00:11:22.059 --> 00:11:23.779 They'll say, hey, he was a great teacher. 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:24.779 And he was. 00:11:25.299 --> 00:11:30.100 I mean, the morals of Jesus, we just need to be good and moral like Jesus was. 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:30.899 And we should. 00:11:31.659 --> 00:11:33.440 But Jesus didn't come to be a teacher. 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:36.720 He didn't come to be a moral compass in that sense. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:38.759 No, he came as a savior. 00:11:40.040 --> 00:11:42.519 Jesus isn't something that we add on to our life, 00:11:42.600 --> 00:11:45.660 that we were almost there and we were going to cross the finish line 00:11:45.660 --> 00:11:49.120 and we needed just a little bit of help and Jesus showed up right on time. 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:50.960 No, we were dead. 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:52.720 We had no hope. 00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:55.279 We had a debt that we could not pay. 00:11:55.480 --> 00:12:00.060 And when Jesus comes, you cannot remain neutral. 00:12:00.940 --> 00:12:02.120 And what Peter is alluding to, 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:04.279 it's prophecies we see throughout the Old Testament. 00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:05.340 We'll dig in here in just a minute. 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:11.660 But in Psalm 118, verse 22, it's prophesied that this stone, this Messiah that would come, 00:12:11.899 --> 00:12:13.240 the builders would reject it. 00:12:14.040 --> 00:12:15.220 The builders would refuse. 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:21.139 Sometimes you're ever building something and they deliver something to your build site. 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:23.000 Or you go to Home Depot. 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:26.720 You know, like when I go to Home Depot, I pretend like I know what I'm doing. 00:12:27.540 --> 00:12:28.500 Anybody else like that? 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:31.779 I just kind of watch what all the other guys are doing there and I'm like, 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:34.480 let me see if this two by four is straight because that's what it looks like. 00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:36.500 Like I can do anything with a two by four. 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:38.120 Like I just, I'm going to know if it's straight or not. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:38.799 But you know what you do? 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:40.200 You look at it and you reject it. 00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:41.799 You say, I don't like this one. 00:12:41.820 --> 00:12:42.700 I don't like this one. 00:12:45.340 --> 00:12:48.940 But what Peter's reminding us here is that's what a lot of people do with Jesus. 00:12:48.940 --> 00:12:53.500 They like the idea of a God. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:59.240 They like an idea of a Savior as long as that Savior is the type of Savior they want. 00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:01.940 It's the type of Savior they're looking for. 00:13:02.280 --> 00:13:04.760 Because they would look at our life and we would look at our life and say, 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:06.080 well, this is my greatest need. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:07.840 You say, well, what do you mean? 00:13:08.180 --> 00:13:09.120 Well, look at the Gospels. 00:13:09.920 --> 00:13:12.060 The reason they had such an issue with Jesus, 00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:14.880 there's multiple reasons, but one of the overarching things 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:18.960 is because they thought the Savior they need is a political Savior. 00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:23.360 Because in their mind, their greatest problem was Roman oppression. 00:13:24.419 --> 00:13:27.559 Rome had no business in Israel's affairs. 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:31.000 And so what they thought the Messiah would do is he would show up 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:35.100 and he would kick Rome out and make Israel what it should be in their minds. 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:40.019 But their greatest need was their sin debt. 00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:43.279 And when Jesus began to speak of suffering, 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:46.159 when he began to speak of sacrifice, 00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:49.279 they're thinking, whoa, that's not the kind of God that I signed up for. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:52.500 That's not the kind of Savior that we're looking for. 00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:55.419 And Jesus showed up and he began to preach 00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:58.600 and he showed love and he showed compassion. 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:01.199 He didn't come on a conquering horse. 00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:02.779 No, we're going to see next week on Palm Sunday, 00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:03.919 he came on a donkey. 00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:06.600 He came signifying peace. 00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:08.639 He came with the message of hope. 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:10.659 And the Bible tells us in John 1.11 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:15.719 that he came unto his own and his own received him not. 00:14:16.959 --> 00:14:21.360 They said, man, we've been waiting all this time and this is what we get? 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:24.740 Some random rabbi from Nazareth? 00:14:25.819 --> 00:14:29.000 There's no way this can be the one that was prophesied in Isaiah, 00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:30.459 that was prophesied in Micah. 00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:32.960 This is no way this is the Savior. 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.560 Because of that, this stone, 00:14:37.280 --> 00:14:38.639 this living stone, 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:40.700 the foundation of all of our lives, 00:14:40.780 --> 00:14:42.879 the foundation of the plan of God 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:44.519 before the foundation of the world, 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:45.400 here's what they did. 00:14:45.540 --> 00:14:46.500 They rejected it. 00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:48.340 And they dismissed it. 00:14:48.560 --> 00:14:50.320 And they kind of cast it aside. 00:14:51.180 --> 00:14:53.560 They looked at Jesus like a broken piece of pottery 00:14:53.560 --> 00:14:55.000 and said, well, that's not worth anything. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:55.980 And just threw it away. 00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:58.800 We'll find our own Savior. 00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:04.480 But it really doesn't matter if men reject or accept 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:07.539 because it doesn't change the fact of who Jesus is. 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:10.399 Because the Bible tells us in verse number four, 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:12.740 to whom coming as unto a living stone, 00:15:13.060 --> 00:15:14.600 disallowed indeed of men, 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:18.580 but chosen of God and precious. 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:22.920 Listen, Jesus wasn't in the right place at the right time 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:24.819 and all of a sudden become the Savior of the world. 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:27.199 That's not how it happened. 00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:31.099 No, this was planned in eternity past. 00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:34.339 And it was by the will of God that this took place. 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:36.279 And all throughout the New Testament 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.959 and really the Gospels, 00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:40.279 God puts his stamp of approval on Jesus. 00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:42.259 At his baptism, he says, 00:15:42.579 --> 00:15:45.719 Behold, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. 00:15:45.839 --> 00:15:47.579 There on the Mount of Transfigurations, 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.519 over and over again, 00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:51.439 God was reminding, hey, this is the plan. 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:56.200 And what God did is he has already given us the verdict of his Son 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:59.000 through the resurrection and through the ascension 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:01.920 and through the exaltation that already has taken place 00:16:01.920 --> 00:16:03.860 and will come to pass. 00:16:04.640 --> 00:16:07.380 Because the Bible tells us very clearly in Philippians 2, verse 9, 00:16:07.660 --> 00:16:09.720 that God hath also highly exalted him 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:11.860 and given him a name that is above every name. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:14.420 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow 00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:15.700 and every tongue should confess 00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:18.480 that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:21.620 And listen, there is coming a day where that will take place. 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:23.240 That all these people say, 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:25.279 There is no God and there is no Savior. 00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:27.879 And hey, we're just going to try to be the best people we can. 00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:29.800 They're going to realize one day that there is a God 00:16:29.800 --> 00:16:31.600 and that there is a Savior. 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:34.159 And his name is Jesus Christ. 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:39.460 And while we live in a world that really rejects Christ 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:41.820 and even looks at him as a failure, 00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:46.340 and he was just this kind of good teacher some 2,000 years ago, 00:16:46.400 --> 00:16:48.280 some shadowy figure in the Middle East, 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:51.540 God says, No, he's chosen. 00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:53.580 And he's precious. 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:56.920 He's the honored cornerstone. 00:16:57.920 --> 00:17:00.420 And here's where it becomes personal for us 00:17:00.420 --> 00:17:02.140 and what Peter wanted them to understand. 00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:03.820 If you know Christ as your Savior, 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:05.480 if you've come to him with all these things, 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:07.279 you're now a living stone in him. 00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:10.200 That you're built on the same foundation 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:13.420 and the same power that walked Christ out of the grave 00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:14.779 lives within us. 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:18.379 And that we can be a part of this work that he's done 00:17:18.379 --> 00:17:20.019 and every stone is unique. 00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:21.980 Every stone is valuable. 00:17:22.399 --> 00:17:23.519 Every stone is chosen. 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:26.940 It's placed exactly where God wants it. 00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:29.180 And Peter was reminding them this 00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:31.500 because at times it can feel like, 00:17:31.899 --> 00:17:33.619 What is all this thing? 00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.480 What is life? 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:37.119 It feels so random sometimes. 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.299 And he's saying, Listen, 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:40.119 No, you're part of something great. 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:42.460 Listen, I think human beings, 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:43.759 it's kind of built into us. 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:45.180 We want to be a part of something. 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:47.839 We want to be a part of something that's growing 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:50.839 and it's healthy and we feel like we belong. 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:53.099 Listen, this is the greatest thing we can belong to. 00:17:53.619 --> 00:17:54.119 It's God. 00:17:54.879 --> 00:17:55.839 That we've been purchased. 00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:59.039 That he bought us with his own precious blood. 00:18:00.139 --> 00:18:02.700 So not only have we been placed in this house 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:06.720 because he's alive and he's given us his life. 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:11.200 But Peter shows us that we have a function within the house. 00:18:12.080 --> 00:18:14.180 Anybody have like furniture and things in your house that's just, 00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.440 you're like, What is that? 00:18:15.860 --> 00:18:16.460 I don't know. 00:18:16.580 --> 00:18:17.100 It's just there. 00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:20.580 You know, you want things in your house that are functional. 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:21.980 You know, that's what we say. 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:23.680 We want a functional living space. 00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.420 Whatever that means. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:25.720 You know, that's just, 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:27.680 but we want it to be able to work. 00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.539 And here's what God says. 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.740 Listen, when you're in the house, 00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:31.299 when you're part of what I'm building, 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:32.620 I have a job for you. 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:35.000 I have something I want you to be a part of. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:35.660 He says this, 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:38.620 that you are in holy priesthood, verse 5, 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:44.960 to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:50.000 Now, there's quite a few times in these few verses we read 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:53.200 that Peter's writing to mainly Jewish believers. 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:55.460 And some of these things, man, 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:58.299 they would have immediately just ran back to the Old Testament. 00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:59.440 They would have understood what he was saying. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.840 And when we study the Old Testament, 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:05.880 you can see that only certain men could approach God. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:08.799 The priests were kind of the go-betweens. 00:19:08.860 --> 00:19:10.100 They were the mediators. 00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:12.440 And there was different sections of them. 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:16.380 And there was one high priest who once a year would go into the holies of holy 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:18.220 and make a sacrifice there. 00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:20.519 And it was kind of a long process. 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:23.279 And all of it was there to picture the coming Christ. 00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:27.180 And I'm thankful that we don't live in the Old Testament. 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.420 Am I the only one? 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:31.819 I'm thankful for it. 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:35.819 I'm thankful that once for all, the sacrifice has been made. 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:38.279 That we don't have to go through a priest. 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:41.539 We don't have to allow somebody else to go to us. 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:46.480 No, I'm so thankful based on the Word of God that every believer has access 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:49.500 and has a role for God and is called to serve. 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:51.960 And he's saying that's what you're here for. 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:54.579 That you weren't just saved to sit. 00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:56.000 You weren't just saved to hold on. 00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:57.960 No, you were saved to serve. 00:19:58.579 --> 00:20:00.659 You were saved to give a sacrifice. 00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:05.319 And if we're a holy priesthood, if we're set apart, 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:07.159 that's what that word holy means. 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:09.519 We talked about it already, set apart, different. 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:11.759 What are we to sacrifice? 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:14.660 He says a spiritual sacrifice. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:17.160 Paul says it like this. 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:20.259 That we're to lay our life down. 00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:24.139 That our life should be on the altar. 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:26.359 That we're to sacrifice ourself. 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:30.839 And it has this idea, Lord, whatever you want me to do, I'll do it. 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:33.859 God's not calling us to sacrifice animals. 00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:35.279 Praise the Lord. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.980 Like, I just don't think I could do that. 00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:40.059 I'm good at eating animals. 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:42.579 That's just the only thing I know about it. 00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:44.059 But I don't want any part of that. 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:45.220 I get a little squeamish. 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:47.420 I like when it just shows up on my plate already fried. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.819 Okay, that's what I'm just making sure. 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:55.640 No, but we're to offer our life as a sacrifice, 00:20:55.799 --> 00:21:00.000 wholly acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:03.059 We sing that song sometimes, that chorus, 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:05.759 Take my life and let it be. 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:08.640 Consecrated, Lord, for thee. 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:14.079 Listen, if we're part of this house, if we are a lively stone, 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:15.539 then that should be our prayer. 00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:18.279 It's not just for young people to say, 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:20.039 Hey, well, give your life to the Lord. 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:22.000 No, all of us should give our life to the Lord. 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:24.319 That God is calling all of us to do something. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.779 We can do this. 00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:29.139 We can be a priest, this holy priesthood, by serving others. 00:21:29.659 --> 00:21:30.839 By giving generously. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:32.500 By worshiping faithfully. 00:21:32.659 --> 00:21:35.399 By choosing to obey the commands of God. 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:37.759 That we are His people. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:39.740 We are His house. 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:41.339 That we are excited. 00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:41.939 We're thankful. 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:43.899 We're not serving because we're forced to. 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:45.579 No, we're serving because we love Him. 00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:47.700 That's what the whole book of James is about. 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:50.400 And Peter takes it one step further. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:54.819 He shows that not only does this stone, 00:21:55.120 --> 00:21:57.279 it's important on how you respond, 00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:59.819 but he shows the different ways people respond. 00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:02.000 And in these following verses, 00:22:02.340 --> 00:22:04.220 he reaches back in the Old Testament 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:06.420 and pulls from three key passages. 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:08.680 He looks at Isaiah 28, 16. 00:22:08.860 --> 00:22:10.799 He looks at Psalm 118, 22. 00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:12.299 And he looks at Isaiah 8, 14. 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:15.779 And all of those passages, along with many others, 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.660 they point to this. 00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:18.740 Jesus is the stone. 00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:20.380 He is the stone. 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:23.000 The Bible tells us there in verse number 6, 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:25.500 Wherefore, also it is contained in Scripture, 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:29.640 Behold, I lay in Sion a chief cornerstone, 00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:31.200 elect and precious, 00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:36.400 and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. 00:22:37.820 --> 00:22:40.820 The cornerstone is the most important stone 00:22:40.820 --> 00:22:42.240 in the whole structure. 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:48.680 It is the standard that everything else is measured by. 00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:50.460 That's what a cornerstone is. 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:52.299 It is vital that it is good. 00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:54.880 The alignment of the entire building 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:57.579 is based off that cornerstone. 00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:00.480 And if the cornerstone is off, 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:02.680 then everything else is off. 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:05.380 And what many people do, 00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:06.779 they look at Jesus and they say, 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.079 well, it's just a little off. 00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:09.859 It doesn't match. 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:12.399 No, we don't get to determine 00:23:12.399 --> 00:23:15.000 and define what is right and what is wrong. 00:23:15.699 --> 00:23:17.099 That Jesus is the standard. 00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:19.639 That He is what everything is measured off of. 00:23:19.639 --> 00:23:21.119 And Peter is saying, 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.859 if the cornerstone is perfect, 00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:25.359 and it is because God laid it. 00:23:26.419 --> 00:23:28.679 Listen, this plan of salvation, 00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.480 humanly speaking, 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.639 makes no sense. 00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:34.440 We probably could think we could come up 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.420 with a bunch of different plans, 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:36.080 but that's, 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:37.440 it's not our job. 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:39.100 No, God laid the stone. 00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:40.000 Not man, 00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:40.960 not religion, 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.900 not tradition, 00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:42.960 but God. 00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:45.200 And that's what He's reminding us, 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:47.220 that He's the one that chose that. 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.420 And He gives this promise, 00:23:48.520 --> 00:23:49.600 if we believe that, 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:51.280 he that believeth on Him 00:23:51.280 --> 00:23:53.620 shall not be confounded. 00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:54.759 Or we could, 00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:56.040 it could be translated like this, 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.120 shall not be ashamed. 00:23:57.119 --> 00:24:00.419 Because sometimes we're going to take some ridicule 00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:03.019 because we place our faith and trust 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:05.319 on Jesus and Jesus alone. 00:24:06.239 --> 00:24:07.459 And people will look at us and say, 00:24:07.459 --> 00:24:10.159 well, Jesus is just a crutch for the weak. 00:24:10.959 --> 00:24:13.859 No, He's the cornerstone for everything. 00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:16.619 That He is what our life should be built on. 00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:19.319 And when we rest on that truth, 00:24:19.479 --> 00:24:20.779 we may not fit in, 00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:21.959 and we shouldn't fit in. 00:24:22.199 --> 00:24:23.500 But the truth of it is, 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:25.119 is that you'll never be put to shame. 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:28.399 You will never regret trusting Christ. 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:32.119 I've stood beside the bedside of people 00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:34.919 as they're about to step into the presence of the Lord. 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.539 And I've never heard somebody say, 00:24:37.739 --> 00:24:39.899 I regret living for the Lord. 00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:42.339 But I have heard people say, 00:24:42.959 --> 00:24:45.479 I wish I would have done more for the Lord. 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:48.599 And I believe when we see the Lord face to face, 00:24:48.739 --> 00:24:49.659 we're all going to think, 00:24:49.899 --> 00:24:51.819 I wish I would have done more for the Lord. 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.459 We're never going to be ashamed. 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:54.099 We're never going to think, 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:55.740 man, this is a bad decision. 00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:57.399 And the world may reject Him, 00:24:57.619 --> 00:24:59.059 but those who have trusted Him 00:24:59.059 --> 00:25:01.740 will stand accepted before God. 00:25:02.639 --> 00:25:04.459 Because He is the cornerstone. 00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:07.039 And that's what our life should be built on. 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:08.399 You want to talk about real security, 00:25:08.659 --> 00:25:09.679 you want to talk about real hope, 00:25:09.879 --> 00:25:11.379 it's in Jesus Christ alone. 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.480 That's what Peter's saying. 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:18.099 But not only does the cornerstone save, 00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:22.179 He says that stone also causes people to reject. 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:26.279 That stone which the builders disallowed. 00:25:26.839 --> 00:25:28.439 We kind of already hit on this a little bit, 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:31.139 but we just want to unpack it a little bit more. 00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.980 That's what happened to Jesus. 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:35.059 That the builders, 00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:37.939 and who He was specifically talking about in the New Testament, 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:40.119 would have been the Jewish people. 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:42.119 The ones that should have known. 00:25:42.719 --> 00:25:43.639 And they did know. 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:45.960 And when Jesus showed up on the scene, 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:48.460 every prophecy they had studied, 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:49.640 and they had learned, 00:25:49.800 --> 00:25:50.940 and they were looking for, 00:25:51.060 --> 00:25:52.180 when He showed up, 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:52.620 they thought, 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.000 well, 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:55.280 this is not how we thought it would look. 00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:57.520 And they threw Him away. 00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:58.680 I mean, 00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.420 really what they did is, 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.100 they looked at Him, 00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:01.380 and said, 00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:02.080 He doesn't fit. 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:05.460 He's not what we need at this moment. 00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:06.820 They kind of looked at the puzzle piece, 00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:08.280 and they tried to put it into their life, 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:08.599 and they said, 00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:08.859 well, 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.160 no, 00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:10.639 we'll come back to this later. 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.639 And they threw Him away. 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:15.559 And they got rid of Him. 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:17.660 And let me just remind you, 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.920 people still do the same thing today. 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:22.940 They were not called to evaluate Jesus by our standards. 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:27.980 We're not called to reject Him 00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:29.359 when He doesn't fit our lifestyle. 00:26:29.639 --> 00:26:29.779 No, 00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:31.500 we are to be conformed to Christ. 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:34.700 Christ isn't to be conformed to us. 00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:37.639 Jesus isn't somebody we just put in our pocket 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.660 when we need a little bit of help. 00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:39.000 No, 00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:41.080 our life should revolve around Him. 00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:44.060 Because that's what we're building it upon. 00:26:45.580 --> 00:26:46.040 And Peter says, 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:48.240 not only do some people reject the stone, 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.560 but the stone, 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:51.880 it causes some people to stumble. 00:26:52.780 --> 00:26:53.240 Verse 8, 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:55.600 And a stone of stumbling, 00:26:56.280 --> 00:26:57.580 and a rock of offense, 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:59.900 even to them which stumble at the word, 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.320 being disobedient, 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:05.460 whereunto also they were appointed. 00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:07.100 See, 00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:08.980 here's the idea Peter wants us to see. 00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:11.340 Jesus is not neutral. 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:14.559 There's no middle ground. 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.079 You can't say, 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:16.220 well, 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:18.019 I'm just not going to make a decision. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.319 No, 00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:20.819 when it comes to this living stone, 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:22.220 when it comes to Jesus Christ, 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:24.720 you either build your life on Him, 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.620 or you stumble over Him. 00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:29.279 That's the only two options that you have. 00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:30.960 And why do they stumble? 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:33.279 It's not from a lack of evidence. 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:36.319 It's not from a lack of understanding. 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:36.900 No, 00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:38.019 it comes from this, 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:40.140 a refusal to obey. 00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:42.900 The truth was presented. 00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:45.240 The evidence was laid out. 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:48.279 And we've seen it all throughout the New Testament. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.539 And even people today, 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:49.720 well, 00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:50.640 I don't want to, 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.680 I can't believe that. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:53.279 It's not that you can't believe it. 00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:55.660 It's that you refuse to believe it. 00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:58.240 Because the evidence is overwhelming that, 00:27:58.320 --> 00:28:01.040 that Jesus Christ is who He says He is, 00:28:01.080 --> 00:28:03.519 that He did what the Bible says He did, 00:28:03.600 --> 00:28:05.300 and He still changes lives today. 00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:08.180 And we talked a little bit about this morning, 00:28:08.320 --> 00:28:10.580 and really the sobering truth is this, 00:28:10.580 --> 00:28:13.759 that if someone rejects Christ as Savior here, 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:17.720 they are going to fall before Him one day as a judge. 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:21.299 And that's this rock of offense. 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:24.299 Jesus didn't come to be a stumbling block. 00:28:24.860 --> 00:28:26.880 But when we refuse to look at the truth, 00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:28.799 when we refuse to open our eyes, 00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.620 that's what happens. 00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:31.339 You ever try to walk somewhere with your eyes closed? 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:32.799 You know, 00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:33.700 and you get up in the middle of the night, 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.440 you got to go to the restroom, 00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.440 you need a midnight snack. 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:37.940 I try to keep my eyes closed as long as possible. 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.339 Because if you're like me, 00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:40.100 as soon as my eyes, 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:41.100 if they're open long enough, 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.500 I'm not going back to sleep. 00:28:43.360 --> 00:28:43.680 And you know, 00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.720 I think to myself, 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:44.880 well, 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:45.900 I know my house pretty well. 00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:47.580 But I also have kids. 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.540 And sometimes they just decide, 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:51.320 this is a great spot to leave something. 00:28:52.080 --> 00:28:52.900 Sometimes the kids, 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:53.800 their name is Tyler. 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.280 And I'm like, 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.640 who left this shoe here? 00:28:56.140 --> 00:28:56.320 Well, 00:28:56.340 --> 00:28:56.660 it was me. 00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:59.140 I didn't see it because my eyes were closed. 00:28:59.840 --> 00:29:01.080 It doesn't mean that it's not there. 00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:03.620 It doesn't mean the truth isn't right in front of me. 00:29:04.280 --> 00:29:05.320 There's a lot of people in this world 00:29:05.320 --> 00:29:06.519 that just walk around with their eyes closed 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:06.720 and say, 00:29:06.780 --> 00:29:06.880 well, 00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:07.800 it's just not true. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.700 Just because you close your eyes 00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:11.220 doesn't mean it's not true. 00:29:12.360 --> 00:29:13.680 I remember when my kids were real little, 00:29:13.800 --> 00:29:14.680 I'd come in and say, 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.300 is your room clean? 00:29:15.360 --> 00:29:15.620 They're like, 00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:15.880 yeah. 00:29:15.900 --> 00:29:17.940 I'm like, 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:19.320 just because you close your eyes, 00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:21.280 I can still see your room is messy. 00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:23.860 And we laugh at a little situation like that, 00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:25.220 but that's how people live their life. 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:28.460 And when we live our life like that 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:30.300 and we move forward like that, 00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:31.280 if we're doing that, 00:29:31.540 --> 00:29:33.100 we're going to stumble over that. 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:37.300 But I'm thankful that he opened my eyes. 00:29:38.320 --> 00:29:39.400 That's what the gospel does. 00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:41.860 Maybe the first time you heard the gospel, 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.300 you're like, 00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:43.400 I don't like that. 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:44.960 You know why? 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:46.240 Because the truth hurts sometimes. 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:47.560 You know, 00:29:47.560 --> 00:29:49.720 because I would imagine the overarching theme 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.540 when people hear the gospel, 00:29:50.780 --> 00:29:50.980 well, 00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:51.780 I'm a good person. 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:52.740 You know, 00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.940 we live in the Bible belt. 00:29:54.620 --> 00:29:56.040 I do nice things. 00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:58.440 I'm not as bad as some people. 00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.220 Listen, 00:29:59.280 --> 00:30:00.320 that's not what saves you. 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:02.200 But the more that I heard the gospel, 00:30:02.300 --> 00:30:02.759 I realized, 00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:03.820 that's me. 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:06.399 That should be my cross. 00:30:07.139 --> 00:30:09.119 That's my sin that held him there. 00:30:09.439 --> 00:30:11.119 And when we look at Christ like that, 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:12.500 we're going to run to him 00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:14.599 instead of stumble over him. 00:30:15.639 --> 00:30:18.339 So Peter shows here in these first few verses 00:30:18.339 --> 00:30:20.679 what this cornerstone does. 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:23.220 It either changes your life 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:25.559 or you're going to stumble over it. 00:30:25.919 --> 00:30:26.700 But he goes on to say, 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.919 if you accept Christ, 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:29.500 if you come to the realization 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.419 that you're a sinner 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:31.580 and he's a savior 00:30:31.580 --> 00:30:33.320 and you call upon him, 00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:34.620 it's going to change everything. 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:37.620 And not only are you God's spiritual house, 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:39.840 you are God's spiritual people. 00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:41.680 That's what he says in verse number nine. 00:30:42.560 --> 00:30:43.080 But ye, 00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:43.980 talking, 00:30:44.100 --> 00:30:45.300 he's writing to these believers, 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:48.300 ye are a chosen generation, 00:30:49.060 --> 00:30:50.480 a royal priesthood, 00:30:50.840 --> 00:30:51.900 an holy nation, 00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:53.539 a peculiar people 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:55.560 that you should show forth 00:30:55.560 --> 00:30:56.380 the praises of him 00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:57.600 who hath called you out of darkness 00:30:57.600 --> 00:30:59.880 into his marvelous light. 00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:02.000 Which in times past 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:03.360 were not a people, 00:31:04.140 --> 00:31:05.539 but are now a people of God, 00:31:05.800 --> 00:31:07.300 which had not obtained mercy, 00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:10.820 but now have obtained mercy. 00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:14.400 I love that three-letter word 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:15.539 that we see in the Bible all the time, 00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:16.380 but. 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:17.740 I mean, 00:31:17.800 --> 00:31:19.000 there's some great verses 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.980 that start that way. 00:31:21.560 --> 00:31:23.380 We're reminded of who we are, 00:31:23.800 --> 00:31:26.160 but ye are. 00:31:26.700 --> 00:31:27.320 And that really, 00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:28.060 that phrase, 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:29.500 it changes everything here 00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:30.960 because he's moving out of being 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:32.279 a stone of stumbling 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:33.819 and a rock of offense. 00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:35.339 And he begins to describe 00:31:35.339 --> 00:31:36.480 those in Christ 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:38.099 by looking at our identity 00:31:38.099 --> 00:31:39.599 from several different angles. 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:41.740 The first thing he calls us is this. 00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:42.380 If we know Christ, 00:31:42.619 --> 00:31:44.460 we're a chosen generation. 00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:46.660 And this would have been shocking 00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:48.059 for them to hear in the first century. 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.900 Because even at this time, 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.180 and you, 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.359 we saw Peter, 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:53.240 and Peter's grown a lot by this point. 00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:56.640 Because even after Christ rose from the dead, 00:31:56.660 --> 00:31:58.099 and even after God was moving 00:31:58.099 --> 00:31:58.920 among the Gentiles, 00:31:59.079 --> 00:32:01.720 they still wanted to have this Jewish sect 00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:03.220 and this Gentile sect. 00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:05.319 They didn't really want to cross lines. 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:07.299 They didn't like to be together. 00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.299 And Jesus, 00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:09.700 through the inspiration, 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:10.180 Peter, 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:10.779 through the inspiration 00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.319 of the Holy Spirit, 00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:11.539 says, 00:32:11.620 --> 00:32:11.819 listen, 00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:13.420 you're all in one family. 00:32:14.380 --> 00:32:14.559 You know, 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:16.339 sometimes we look at our own family 00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:16.599 and think, 00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:18.460 I'm not sure I want to be in your family. 00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:19.839 Okay. 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:20.920 Some of you are like, 00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.180 yeah, 00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:23.180 don't point at people in here tonight. 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.660 But in Peter's day, 00:32:27.800 --> 00:32:28.960 there would have been hostility 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:30.360 between Jews and Gentiles. 00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:31.120 There would have been division. 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:32.660 There would have been deep prejudice. 00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:35.519 But he says, 00:32:35.580 --> 00:32:37.039 because what Christ has done, 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:38.680 listen, 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:40.039 you're in this family 00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:41.640 the same way they're in this family. 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:43.759 Not from anything you've done, 00:32:44.300 --> 00:32:45.259 but God chose it. 00:32:46.060 --> 00:32:47.680 God's the one that placed you in here. 00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:49.820 You didn't get some special privilege 00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:51.359 because you were a Jewish person 00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:53.059 and you were a Gentile person. 00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:53.659 No, 00:32:53.859 --> 00:32:55.059 the same gospel 00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:56.039 and the same Savior 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:56.740 that saved them 00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.460 saved you. 00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:58.779 And because of that, 00:32:58.839 --> 00:32:59.500 you are together. 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.939 In Ephesians chapter 2, 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.619 we don't have time to go into that, 00:33:02.679 --> 00:33:03.079 but it says, 00:33:03.159 --> 00:33:03.319 listen, 00:33:03.639 --> 00:33:05.480 Jesus made both those things one. 00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:08.019 For by grace are you saved through faith. 00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:10.019 It's not of your works, 00:33:10.139 --> 00:33:11.079 it's a gift, 00:33:11.179 --> 00:33:13.159 not of works that any man should boast. 00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:15.819 And we see that over and over, 00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:17.480 that we're not divided by race, 00:33:17.619 --> 00:33:18.299 our background, 00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:19.119 our culture. 00:33:19.379 --> 00:33:19.519 No, 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.940 we're chosen from all races, 00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:22.480 from all kindreds, 00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:23.579 from all tribes, 00:33:23.659 --> 00:33:26.559 and we become one spiritual people. 00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.799 You read the book of Revelation, 00:33:29.619 --> 00:33:30.720 it's going to be shocking. 00:33:30.879 --> 00:33:31.059 Listen, 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.980 they're not all going to be Baptists, 00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:35.240 and they're not all going to be Americans. 00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:38.960 I'll stand on that, 00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:41.019 because I'm pretty sure the Bible says, 00:33:41.379 --> 00:33:42.099 from every tribe, 00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:43.019 and every tongue, 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:45.159 and every nation, 00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:46.559 we are going to be there. 00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:47.639 And here's the reason why. 00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:49.919 We're in the same family. 00:33:50.679 --> 00:33:52.240 That God is building a people, 00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:55.240 that is not based on skin color, 00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:57.039 it's not based on religious background, 00:33:57.279 --> 00:33:57.399 no, 00:33:57.440 --> 00:34:00.240 it's based on the fact that we know Jesus. 00:34:01.419 --> 00:34:01.639 See, 00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:03.240 before you knew Christ as your Savior, 00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:06.000 before you were placed into this spiritual house, 00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:07.419 and this spiritual family, 00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:09.699 your identity may have been rooted in your past, 00:34:10.420 --> 00:34:11.239 in your background, 00:34:11.779 --> 00:34:12.699 in your family, 00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:13.920 in your culture, 00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:16.519 but here's where it changes when you know Christ. 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.700 It's in Him, 00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:19.200 and Him alone. 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:20.920 I mean, 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:22.420 you read throughout the New Testament, 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.860 read Paul's letters, 00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:25.200 and you're going to see that little phrase, 00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:25.700 over, 00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:26.480 and over, 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:27.180 and over, 00:34:27.720 --> 00:34:29.019 in Christ. 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:30.960 That's the difference. 00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:33.099 That's where our identity is. 00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:34.579 That's what we're banking on. 00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:36.320 We belong to a new family. 00:34:37.159 --> 00:34:37.500 He said, 00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:38.639 you're a chosen generation. 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:39.420 Number two, 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:39.879 he says, 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:41.960 a royal priesthood. 00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:43.679 Earlier, 00:34:44.359 --> 00:34:47.000 he called us a holy priesthood. 00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:48.859 So not only are we set apart, 00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:50.319 we're royal. 00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:51.920 I like that. 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:54.960 I like the thought of that. 00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.379 Here's what it means. 00:34:56.859 --> 00:34:58.259 It means we don't just serve. 00:34:58.839 --> 00:34:59.019 No, 00:34:59.059 --> 00:35:00.059 we serve a king. 00:35:01.219 --> 00:35:03.079 We don't serve just a king. 00:35:03.659 --> 00:35:05.579 We serve the king of kings. 00:35:06.279 --> 00:35:08.440 That we are in His presence, 00:35:08.659 --> 00:35:09.519 and not only that, 00:35:09.699 --> 00:35:10.900 we serve each other. 00:35:11.639 --> 00:35:12.579 And when you study Scripture, 00:35:12.659 --> 00:35:13.460 you're going to find out this, 00:35:13.679 --> 00:35:15.719 that Jesus is both king and priest. 00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:17.619 You come to the Old Testament, 00:35:17.779 --> 00:35:18.400 there was priests, 00:35:18.460 --> 00:35:19.219 they had their job. 00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:20.599 There was kings that had their job. 00:35:20.679 --> 00:35:21.500 There was prophets that had this. 00:35:21.739 --> 00:35:22.440 Here's the beautiful thing. 00:35:22.799 --> 00:35:24.119 Jesus is all of those things. 00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:26.420 What you're going to begin to see 00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:27.739 is everything in this Bible, 00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:29.119 it points to one person, 00:35:29.779 --> 00:35:30.119 Jesus. 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:33.059 That we are living our life for Him, 00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:34.840 and because we're in Him, 00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:36.320 we are holy priests, 00:35:36.579 --> 00:35:37.739 we are kingly priests, 00:35:37.900 --> 00:35:39.279 and we don't have to go through 00:35:39.279 --> 00:35:40.420 other people we mentioned already. 00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:42.259 That you have access. 00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.759 The book of Hebrews, 00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:44.779 chapter 4, verse 16, 00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:46.659 let us go boldly 00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:47.860 into the throne room. 00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:49.039 You don't have to have 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:49.840 your preacher pray for you. 00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:50.579 I will, 00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:51.279 and I do, 00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:52.219 and you should pray 00:35:52.219 --> 00:35:52.820 for one or another, 00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:54.139 but you can go right to Him. 00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:55.219 Why? 00:35:55.279 --> 00:35:57.119 Because we're a holy priesthood, 00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:58.679 a royal priesthood. 00:35:58.679 --> 00:36:01.119 He goes on to say 00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:02.199 in verse number 9, 00:36:02.819 --> 00:36:04.379 we're a holy nation. 00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:06.559 Kind of reaching back 00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:07.440 into the book of Exodus 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:09.719 when He referred to Israel as that. 00:36:10.519 --> 00:36:11.179 And I'll just say this, 00:36:11.199 --> 00:36:11.519 we don't have time 00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:12.179 to get into all this, 00:36:12.399 --> 00:36:13.940 the church did not replace Israel. 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:15.539 I just want to throw that out there. 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:16.699 There's a weird thing 00:36:16.699 --> 00:36:17.919 called replacement theology 00:36:17.919 --> 00:36:19.899 where God used Israel for a while, 00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:20.859 but now He got rid of them, 00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:21.819 and the church is here. 00:36:22.879 --> 00:36:24.159 God's not done with Israel. 00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:26.239 I just want to let us know that. 00:36:26.819 --> 00:36:28.679 The church is not the new Israel. 00:36:29.219 --> 00:36:30.379 No, God still has a purpose. 00:36:30.479 --> 00:36:31.179 He still has a plan. 00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:32.439 That's a whole other message 00:36:32.439 --> 00:36:33.279 for a whole other time. 00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:34.899 But what He talks about 00:36:34.899 --> 00:36:36.139 as a holy nation 00:36:36.139 --> 00:36:38.559 is that we are set apart, 00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:41.779 that we're different by design. 00:36:42.599 --> 00:36:44.079 Because when He called Abraham out, 00:36:44.119 --> 00:36:44.719 that's what He was doing. 00:36:44.919 --> 00:36:47.379 He was making Abraham different. 00:36:48.299 --> 00:36:50.059 He had chose them. 00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:51.319 He had called them out 00:36:51.319 --> 00:36:52.539 to make a great nation. 00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:53.759 And our allegiance, 00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:55.339 if we're in Christ, 00:36:55.340 --> 00:36:56.680 is not to a country. 00:36:57.480 --> 00:36:58.240 Listen, I'm thankful 00:36:58.240 --> 00:36:58.920 to be an American. 00:36:59.620 --> 00:37:00.440 I am so thankful 00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:01.660 for the blessings that I have 00:37:01.660 --> 00:37:04.019 that I was born in a great country 00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:05.360 where I could hear the gospel. 00:37:06.220 --> 00:37:08.360 And I'm going to defend her, 00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.640 and I'm going to love her 00:37:09.640 --> 00:37:10.460 with all her problems. 00:37:10.700 --> 00:37:11.860 But listen, my allegiance 00:37:11.860 --> 00:37:13.360 ultimately doesn't lie 00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:14.019 to this country. 00:37:14.760 --> 00:37:16.160 Because I'm looking for a country 00:37:16.160 --> 00:37:17.039 and for a city 00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:18.460 whose builder and maker is God. 00:37:18.940 --> 00:37:20.140 Our allegiance is there. 00:37:20.360 --> 00:37:22.360 My allegiance isn't to a culture. 00:37:22.360 --> 00:37:23.860 I'm not trying to blend in 00:37:23.860 --> 00:37:24.519 with the culture. 00:37:24.780 --> 00:37:26.019 No, it's not to a system, 00:37:26.240 --> 00:37:27.079 but it's to Christ 00:37:27.079 --> 00:37:28.440 and Christ alone. 00:37:29.579 --> 00:37:30.460 That's our nation. 00:37:30.579 --> 00:37:31.740 That's our country. 00:37:33.700 --> 00:37:34.579 And see, here's the tension 00:37:34.579 --> 00:37:36.280 that these early believers 00:37:36.280 --> 00:37:36.760 would have had. 00:37:37.860 --> 00:37:39.500 Many think that they were persecuted 00:37:39.500 --> 00:37:41.660 because they worshiped God. 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:45.000 Many people then, 00:37:45.120 --> 00:37:47.320 and I would venture even to say today, 00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:48.460 many people don't care 00:37:48.460 --> 00:37:50.000 that we worship Jesus. 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:51.900 Here's the difference 00:37:51.900 --> 00:37:53.380 that we worship Him 00:37:53.380 --> 00:37:54.880 and Him alone. 00:37:56.559 --> 00:37:59.219 Rome was a very polytheistic society. 00:37:59.820 --> 00:38:01.300 Ancient Greece was the same way. 00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:02.340 Egypt was the same way. 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:03.480 But here's where people 00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:04.380 have a hard time 00:38:04.380 --> 00:38:05.019 because they'll say, 00:38:05.219 --> 00:38:06.320 well, you can serve your God 00:38:06.320 --> 00:38:07.199 how you want to. 00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:09.639 I love Jesus, 00:38:09.800 --> 00:38:11.480 but it's just not my Jesus. 00:38:12.360 --> 00:38:13.619 Listen, we said this morning, 00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:15.039 there's only one way. 00:38:15.679 --> 00:38:16.400 He is the way, 00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:17.519 He is the truth, 00:38:17.519 --> 00:38:18.699 and He is the life. 00:38:19.980 --> 00:38:22.300 And we still have this same tension. 00:38:23.920 --> 00:38:25.340 That we have a dual citizenship. 00:38:26.099 --> 00:38:27.659 We live here on this earth, 00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:29.900 but our main citizenship is in heaven. 00:38:30.659 --> 00:38:32.360 And sometimes that's going to clash. 00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:34.579 And sometimes it's going to create tension. 00:38:34.920 --> 00:38:37.059 And sometimes loyalties are going to collide. 00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:39.099 And we've been talking a little bit, 00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:41.360 we get so wrapped up in living for here 00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:41.920 that we forget 00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:43.400 we're actually supposed to be living for there. 00:38:44.400 --> 00:38:45.759 And it becomes a difficulty. 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:47.500 And that's what Peter was reminding them. 00:38:48.520 --> 00:38:49.620 Wherever you might be, 00:38:49.680 --> 00:38:50.280 he's saying, 00:38:50.620 --> 00:38:51.480 you know, they're persecuted, 00:38:51.600 --> 00:38:52.080 they're spread out. 00:38:52.580 --> 00:38:54.220 You still belong to God. 00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:57.140 That that's where your allegiance lies. 00:38:58.280 --> 00:38:59.680 He goes on to say this, 00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:02.720 that we're a peculiar people. 00:39:03.800 --> 00:39:06.500 Some people take this part of the verse 00:39:06.500 --> 00:39:09.080 and completely misapply it. 00:39:10.360 --> 00:39:12.320 We today in 2026, 00:39:12.420 --> 00:39:13.780 we hear the word peculiar, 00:39:13.780 --> 00:39:15.100 we say things like this, 00:39:15.340 --> 00:39:16.480 well, they're very peculiar. 00:39:17.260 --> 00:39:18.740 We think they're weird. 00:39:19.460 --> 00:39:20.220 They're odd. 00:39:21.500 --> 00:39:24.519 God is not calling you to be weird and odd. 00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:27.440 That might be your personality. 00:39:27.680 --> 00:39:27.940 Cool. 00:39:28.440 --> 00:39:29.880 But that's not what he's saying. 00:39:30.060 --> 00:39:31.300 Hey, I want you to just go be 00:39:31.300 --> 00:39:32.760 as weird as possible for me. 00:39:33.300 --> 00:39:35.640 That is not what this word peculiar means. 00:39:35.740 --> 00:39:36.320 Here's what it means. 00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:37.320 It means different. 00:39:37.580 --> 00:39:38.400 It means precious. 00:39:38.620 --> 00:39:39.780 It means treasured. 00:39:39.780 --> 00:39:43.880 It signifies ownership and distinction. 00:39:44.640 --> 00:39:47.000 There should be a noticeable difference 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:48.140 about our life. 00:39:48.580 --> 00:39:49.620 The way that we live, 00:39:49.700 --> 00:39:50.519 the way that we talk, 00:39:50.620 --> 00:39:51.280 where we go, 00:39:51.580 --> 00:39:52.200 what we do. 00:39:52.320 --> 00:39:53.760 It's not that we're trying to be better, 00:39:53.960 --> 00:39:54.260 but listen, 00:39:54.420 --> 00:39:55.620 we have a different family. 00:39:56.540 --> 00:39:57.660 You ever gone to somebody's house? 00:39:58.380 --> 00:39:59.560 Maybe you thought somebody, 00:39:59.820 --> 00:39:59.820 00:40:00.260 --> 00:40:02.060 you thought what you did at your house 00:40:02.060 --> 00:40:02.600 was normal. 00:40:03.760 --> 00:40:04.800 And then you get married, 00:40:05.380 --> 00:40:05.720 and you're like, 00:40:05.780 --> 00:40:06.480 what are you doing? 00:40:07.460 --> 00:40:07.740 You're like, 00:40:07.760 --> 00:40:07.840 well, 00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:08.699 this is how we've always done it. 00:40:09.159 --> 00:40:09.500 You're thinking, 00:40:09.579 --> 00:40:10.800 I married a weirdo. 00:40:11.400 --> 00:40:12.539 You go to somebody else's house, 00:40:12.599 --> 00:40:12.960 and you're thinking, 00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:14.480 what are they doing? 00:40:14.820 --> 00:40:15.019 Like, 00:40:15.039 --> 00:40:15.900 who does this? 00:40:17.519 --> 00:40:17.880 Listen, 00:40:17.940 --> 00:40:18.840 there's a difference 00:40:18.840 --> 00:40:20.360 in how people live. 00:40:21.440 --> 00:40:22.639 Lost people are going to live 00:40:22.639 --> 00:40:23.579 like lost people. 00:40:24.500 --> 00:40:25.980 But people that have been saved 00:40:25.980 --> 00:40:27.679 and become lively stones 00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:28.679 and are part of something 00:40:28.679 --> 00:40:29.519 that God is doing 00:40:29.519 --> 00:40:30.579 and God is working in their life, 00:40:30.780 --> 00:40:32.059 it should be different. 00:40:32.619 --> 00:40:36.380 He says in verse number 10, 00:40:36.480 --> 00:40:37.579 which in times past 00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:38.800 were not a people. 00:40:40.500 --> 00:40:40.719 See, 00:40:40.780 --> 00:40:40.960 listen, 00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:41.860 before salvation, 00:40:42.260 --> 00:40:43.800 we had no identity. 00:40:44.760 --> 00:40:46.340 We didn't really belong to anything. 00:40:46.639 --> 00:40:47.519 Wherever the wind went, 00:40:47.559 --> 00:40:47.860 we thought, 00:40:47.940 --> 00:40:48.059 well, 00:40:48.079 --> 00:40:48.740 let's try that. 00:40:49.400 --> 00:40:50.539 Maybe I'll find some peace there. 00:40:50.619 --> 00:40:52.260 Maybe I'll find some happiness there. 00:40:52.320 --> 00:40:54.079 Maybe I'll find something 00:40:54.079 --> 00:40:54.900 that's going to help me. 00:40:55.139 --> 00:40:55.800 But you know what? 00:40:55.800 --> 00:40:56.940 We never found it. 00:40:57.840 --> 00:40:58.860 But he goes on to say 00:40:58.860 --> 00:40:59.480 in verse number 10, 00:40:59.559 --> 00:41:00.059 but now, 00:41:00.559 --> 00:41:01.260 but are now 00:41:01.260 --> 00:41:02.260 the people 00:41:02.260 --> 00:41:03.199 of 00:41:03.199 --> 00:41:04.099 God. 00:41:05.240 --> 00:41:05.460 See, 00:41:05.460 --> 00:41:06.099 we're peculiar. 00:41:06.480 --> 00:41:07.480 We should have a mark 00:41:07.480 --> 00:41:08.000 of distinction. 00:41:08.179 --> 00:41:08.400 Why? 00:41:08.699 --> 00:41:10.139 Because we belong to God. 00:41:10.860 --> 00:41:12.000 Because he's our father. 00:41:12.400 --> 00:41:14.059 We should resemble him. 00:41:14.920 --> 00:41:16.119 That's what Jesus is talking about 00:41:16.119 --> 00:41:16.760 in the Sermon on the Mount 00:41:16.760 --> 00:41:17.460 in Matthew 5. 00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:18.179 That we, 00:41:18.240 --> 00:41:19.940 we're to look like our father. 00:41:20.260 --> 00:41:21.440 We're to act like our father. 00:41:21.639 --> 00:41:21.880 Why? 00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:23.000 Because we're in the same family. 00:41:23.800 --> 00:41:24.880 As much as you try to 00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:26.460 not act like your parents, 00:41:26.940 --> 00:41:27.320 it just, 00:41:27.440 --> 00:41:28.420 it's just going to come out. 00:41:29.220 --> 00:41:29.920 You try to, 00:41:29.960 --> 00:41:30.599 you try to hide it 00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:31.179 as much as possible. 00:41:31.420 --> 00:41:32.659 It's just built in there. 00:41:33.579 --> 00:41:34.359 But as Christians, 00:41:34.440 --> 00:41:35.539 it should be built in there as well. 00:41:36.239 --> 00:41:37.199 We should have that mark 00:41:37.199 --> 00:41:38.619 of distinction in our life. 00:41:38.799 --> 00:41:39.420 He goes on to say 00:41:39.420 --> 00:41:40.119 in verse number 10, 00:41:40.440 --> 00:41:41.980 which had not obtained mercy, 00:41:42.659 --> 00:41:44.099 but now have obtained mercy. 00:41:45.239 --> 00:41:45.599 Listen, 00:41:45.679 --> 00:41:46.539 we used to be guilty, 00:41:47.379 --> 00:41:48.519 but now we're forgiven. 00:41:49.639 --> 00:41:50.179 And he's saying 00:41:50.179 --> 00:41:51.179 because of that, 00:41:51.399 --> 00:41:52.799 because of who you are, 00:41:53.019 --> 00:41:54.279 that you're a chosen generation, 00:41:54.379 --> 00:41:55.219 a royal priesthood, 00:41:55.420 --> 00:41:56.199 a holy nation, 00:41:56.440 --> 00:41:57.099 a peculiar people, 00:41:57.099 --> 00:41:58.539 there should be something you do. 00:41:59.500 --> 00:42:00.519 Look at the end of verse number 9. 00:42:01.659 --> 00:42:03.619 You should show forth the praises 00:42:03.619 --> 00:42:05.639 of him who hath called you 00:42:05.639 --> 00:42:06.239 out of darkness 00:42:06.239 --> 00:42:09.559 into his marvelous light. 00:42:11.860 --> 00:42:13.199 See, we're not called 00:42:13.199 --> 00:42:14.300 just to gather here 00:42:14.300 --> 00:42:16.139 at Central Baptist Church 00:42:16.139 --> 00:42:16.920 when the doors are open. 00:42:17.400 --> 00:42:17.900 We should. 00:42:18.800 --> 00:42:20.019 Here's what we're really called to do. 00:42:20.320 --> 00:42:20.639 Go. 00:42:21.699 --> 00:42:22.800 We're to go you therefore 00:42:22.800 --> 00:42:24.860 and to preach the gospel. 00:42:25.239 --> 00:42:26.079 What are we going to tell him? 00:42:26.079 --> 00:42:26.960 We're going to tell him 00:42:26.960 --> 00:42:29.139 what Jesus did in our life. 00:42:29.739 --> 00:42:31.380 How he called us out of darkness 00:42:31.380 --> 00:42:34.400 into his marvelous light. 00:42:34.559 --> 00:42:36.039 How we were going down a road 00:42:36.039 --> 00:42:37.019 and we were hopeless 00:42:37.019 --> 00:42:38.059 and we were helpless, 00:42:38.259 --> 00:42:38.940 but he showed up 00:42:38.940 --> 00:42:41.239 and everything changed. 00:42:41.880 --> 00:42:42.139 Listen, 00:42:42.259 --> 00:42:44.059 you should never get over the fact 00:42:44.059 --> 00:42:45.420 of what Jesus did for you. 00:42:46.239 --> 00:42:47.139 We get all excited 00:42:47.139 --> 00:42:47.799 that we're going to be 00:42:47.799 --> 00:42:49.380 walking on streets of gold 00:42:49.380 --> 00:42:51.360 and sitting at a table with God 00:42:51.360 --> 00:42:52.840 and we're part of his family 00:42:52.840 --> 00:42:53.799 and we're trying our best 00:42:53.799 --> 00:42:55.559 to be ready and to live like it, 00:42:55.559 --> 00:42:56.519 but part of that 00:42:56.519 --> 00:42:58.779 is to share what he's done with others. 00:42:59.519 --> 00:43:01.679 That's what he's called us to do. 00:43:02.799 --> 00:43:03.960 You were in darkness, 00:43:04.099 --> 00:43:04.960 but now you're in light. 00:43:05.199 --> 00:43:06.000 You were in sin, 00:43:06.099 --> 00:43:07.059 but now you found forgiveness. 00:43:07.340 --> 00:43:08.820 You were completely dead, 00:43:09.000 --> 00:43:09.980 but you're alive. 00:43:10.799 --> 00:43:11.739 Paul told the Colossians 00:43:11.739 --> 00:43:13.000 in chapter 1 verse 13, 00:43:13.299 --> 00:43:14.299 who hath delivered us 00:43:14.299 --> 00:43:15.480 from the power of darkness 00:43:15.480 --> 00:43:17.460 and translated us 00:43:17.460 --> 00:43:18.759 into the kingdom of his dear son, 00:43:19.179 --> 00:43:20.920 in whom we have the redemption 00:43:20.920 --> 00:43:22.259 through his blood, 00:43:22.639 --> 00:43:25.159 even the forgiveness of sins. 00:43:26.159 --> 00:43:26.360 See, 00:43:26.440 --> 00:43:27.920 this light isn't just different, 00:43:28.039 --> 00:43:28.940 it's life-giving. 00:43:29.719 --> 00:43:31.000 That marvelous light, 00:43:31.079 --> 00:43:32.039 it didn't just make your life 00:43:32.039 --> 00:43:32.719 a little bit better. 00:43:32.980 --> 00:43:33.139 No, 00:43:33.239 --> 00:43:34.779 it completely transformed you. 00:43:35.460 --> 00:43:36.599 In John chapter 1, 00:43:36.900 --> 00:43:37.960 in him was life, 00:43:38.019 --> 00:43:38.900 talking about Jesus, 00:43:39.279 --> 00:43:41.059 and the life was the light of men. 00:43:41.699 --> 00:43:43.279 And the light shineth in the darkness, 00:43:43.360 --> 00:43:45.320 and the darkness comprehended it not. 00:43:45.320 --> 00:43:46.780 I mean, 00:43:46.820 --> 00:43:47.640 from the very beginning, 00:43:47.760 --> 00:43:49.000 we see that God has always been 00:43:49.000 --> 00:43:49.519 in the business 00:43:49.519 --> 00:43:51.559 of bringing light out of darkness. 00:43:52.340 --> 00:43:52.920 In the beginning, 00:43:53.220 --> 00:43:53.860 he said, 00:43:54.019 --> 00:43:54.539 let there be light, 00:43:54.660 --> 00:43:55.680 and there was. 00:43:56.260 --> 00:43:56.800 And we think, 00:43:56.860 --> 00:43:57.000 man, 00:43:57.059 --> 00:43:57.920 what a miracle. 00:43:58.320 --> 00:43:59.080 Here's the beautiful thing, 00:43:59.240 --> 00:44:00.600 he did the same thing in your life, 00:44:00.640 --> 00:44:01.539 if you know him as your savior. 00:44:02.340 --> 00:44:03.760 You were in complete darkness, 00:44:03.760 --> 00:44:05.400 and you saw the light, 00:44:05.640 --> 00:44:07.080 you heard the word of God preached, 00:44:07.200 --> 00:44:09.600 and it changed you completely. 00:44:10.599 --> 00:44:11.420 And Peter says, 00:44:11.679 --> 00:44:13.239 tell somebody about it. 00:44:13.980 --> 00:44:14.500 When's the last time 00:44:14.500 --> 00:44:15.519 you told somebody about it? 00:44:16.199 --> 00:44:16.739 When's the last time 00:44:16.739 --> 00:44:19.400 you shared what Jesus did for you? 00:44:20.659 --> 00:44:20.960 See, 00:44:21.019 --> 00:44:21.960 we're called to proclaim it 00:44:21.960 --> 00:44:22.619 to our neighbors, 00:44:22.839 --> 00:44:23.659 and our community, 00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:24.679 and to the nation. 00:44:26.319 --> 00:44:28.659 The gospel is too good 00:44:28.659 --> 00:44:30.159 to keep to ourselves. 00:44:31.179 --> 00:44:31.420 I mean, 00:44:31.460 --> 00:44:32.539 we share all kinds of things. 00:44:32.699 --> 00:44:33.739 You find a sale, 00:44:33.900 --> 00:44:34.759 you're going to tell your friends, 00:44:35.039 --> 00:44:35.179 hey, 00:44:35.259 --> 00:44:36.579 this is on sale at this store, 00:44:36.619 --> 00:44:37.259 you can go right now. 00:44:37.480 --> 00:44:38.159 You get a coupon, 00:44:38.299 --> 00:44:38.639 you do all that. 00:44:38.639 --> 00:44:39.579 We share just the most 00:44:39.579 --> 00:44:40.679 most random information 00:44:40.679 --> 00:44:41.179 with people. 00:44:42.219 --> 00:44:42.739 When's the last time 00:44:42.739 --> 00:44:44.259 you shared the glorious gospel 00:44:44.259 --> 00:44:45.079 of Jesus Christ? 00:44:45.799 --> 00:44:47.779 The light that changes the world. 00:44:49.539 --> 00:44:49.960 Peter said, 00:44:50.019 --> 00:44:50.179 listen, 00:44:50.259 --> 00:44:51.779 this should stir your heart. 00:44:53.119 --> 00:44:54.219 Because when you look 00:44:54.219 --> 00:44:55.599 at where you were, 00:44:56.460 --> 00:44:58.659 and you look at what you are now, 00:44:59.440 --> 00:45:00.840 there's only one explanation. 00:45:01.739 --> 00:45:02.440 God's grace, 00:45:03.159 --> 00:45:03.920 and God's mercy. 00:45:04.960 --> 00:45:06.019 That's the only reason 00:45:06.019 --> 00:45:08.079 we're part of what God is building. 00:45:08.079 --> 00:45:10.299 That He brought us into that. 00:45:10.880 --> 00:45:11.679 We read it already 00:45:11.679 --> 00:45:12.719 in verse number three 00:45:12.719 --> 00:45:13.159 of chapter one. 00:45:13.360 --> 00:45:16.639 According to His abundant mercy. 00:45:17.679 --> 00:45:18.699 That's where we are 00:45:18.699 --> 00:45:19.500 where we are. 00:45:21.099 --> 00:45:22.779 For by grace are you saved. 00:45:23.940 --> 00:45:24.239 You see, 00:45:24.299 --> 00:45:24.940 there was a time 00:45:24.940 --> 00:45:26.199 that we didn't belong. 00:45:27.340 --> 00:45:28.360 We weren't a people. 00:45:28.840 --> 00:45:30.539 We had no standing 00:45:30.539 --> 00:45:31.460 with God. 00:45:31.460 --> 00:45:33.980 There was no mercy 00:45:33.980 --> 00:45:35.440 in our life. 00:45:36.500 --> 00:45:38.139 But because of Jesus Christ, 00:45:38.940 --> 00:45:40.139 everything changed. 00:45:41.179 --> 00:45:42.000 That we can have hope. 00:45:42.440 --> 00:45:43.400 We can have peace. 00:45:43.740 --> 00:45:44.800 We can have excitement. 00:45:45.179 --> 00:45:46.300 We can have something 00:45:46.300 --> 00:45:48.179 to anchor our lives on. 00:45:48.260 --> 00:45:48.400 Why? 00:45:48.519 --> 00:45:49.860 Because of the mercy of God. 00:45:50.340 --> 00:45:52.220 That we are living stones 00:45:52.220 --> 00:45:53.639 placed into something 00:45:53.639 --> 00:45:55.039 God is building. 00:45:55.760 --> 00:45:55.980 Listen, 00:45:56.059 --> 00:45:57.300 don't get used to that. 00:45:57.940 --> 00:45:58.500 Don't just say, 00:45:58.500 --> 00:45:58.739 well, 00:45:58.820 --> 00:45:59.579 I'm fine. 00:45:59.659 --> 00:46:00.179 I'm just going to 00:46:00.179 --> 00:46:01.300 kind of coast. 00:46:01.500 --> 00:46:01.739 No. 00:46:02.059 --> 00:46:02.900 We shouldn't coast. 00:46:02.980 --> 00:46:04.320 We should be thankful 00:46:04.320 --> 00:46:05.659 and moving forward 00:46:05.659 --> 00:46:06.599 for the cause of Christ. 00:46:07.719 --> 00:46:08.119 See, 00:46:08.179 --> 00:46:09.619 our lives now have purpose. 00:46:10.519 --> 00:46:11.099 There's a reason 00:46:11.099 --> 00:46:11.519 to worship. 00:46:12.179 --> 00:46:12.800 There's a reason 00:46:12.800 --> 00:46:13.840 to serve Him. 00:46:13.900 --> 00:46:14.400 There's a reason 00:46:14.400 --> 00:46:16.539 to show His praises. 00:46:16.539 --> 00:46:19.079 We might feel 00:46:19.079 --> 00:46:19.639 out of place. 00:46:20.460 --> 00:46:21.039 We might feel 00:46:21.039 --> 00:46:21.719 like a puzzle piece 00:46:21.719 --> 00:46:22.960 that doesn't quite fit. 00:46:23.599 --> 00:46:24.199 You might feel 00:46:24.199 --> 00:46:25.159 misunderstood by 00:46:25.159 --> 00:46:26.779 everybody around you. 00:46:27.719 --> 00:46:28.800 But not to God. 00:46:29.840 --> 00:46:30.980 He's building something 00:46:30.980 --> 00:46:31.539 in your life. 00:46:32.199 --> 00:46:33.239 Stop trying to hide it. 00:46:33.679 --> 00:46:34.840 Stop trying to act like 00:46:34.840 --> 00:46:35.920 it's not that big a deal. 00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:36.820 No way it is. 00:46:36.960 --> 00:46:37.960 That we're not here 00:46:37.960 --> 00:46:38.940 on this side 00:46:38.940 --> 00:46:40.279 wondering aimlessly. 00:46:40.900 --> 00:46:42.380 That we do have a purpose 00:46:42.380 --> 00:46:43.599 and we are a part 00:46:43.599 --> 00:46:45.019 of something eternal. 00:46:45.019 --> 00:46:46.739 And I want to leave you 00:46:46.739 --> 00:46:47.139 with this. 00:46:47.199 --> 00:46:48.460 If you're in Christ, 00:46:48.960 --> 00:46:50.099 you're not trying 00:46:50.099 --> 00:46:51.300 to find your place. 00:46:52.159 --> 00:46:53.820 You're already placed 00:46:53.820 --> 00:46:55.460 exactly where He wants you. 00:46:56.500 --> 00:46:57.340 So get to work 00:46:57.340 --> 00:46:58.780 and serve Him 00:46:58.780 --> 00:47:00.099 and thank Him. 00:47:00.599 --> 00:47:01.320 Thank Him that you're 00:47:01.320 --> 00:47:02.059 a part of His 00:47:02.059 --> 00:47:02.960 spiritual family 00:47:02.960 --> 00:47:04.259 and you're 00:47:04.259 --> 00:47:06.400 a part of His people. 00:47:07.000 --> 00:47:07.980 Would we make His 00:47:07.980 --> 00:47:09.159 mercy known 00:47:09.159 --> 00:47:09.820 to the world? 00:47:09.820 --> 00:47:10.199 Would we stand