Sunday, March 14, 2004

Sojourners and Pilgrims

1 Peter 2:11-25
Our relationship to the world and human government
v.9-12 - Our relationship to the world

  1. our citizenship has changed -- we are now set apart as people belonging to God (v.9,10).
  2. your citizenship is evident in your behavior. The change in our citizenship demands a change in our conduct. (v.11,12) -- People know where you are from by the way you act.
    --v.11 do not forsake your inheritance by living like the people of the world.


giving glory (glorifying) God is a RESPONSE to what He has already done for us. If you don't glorify God:
  1. what you do will glorify something or someone else.
  2. you are involved in behavior that wars against your soul.


v.13-17 - Our relationship with human government
  1. Don't use your citizenship/freedom as a cover-up for doing evil.
    --Christ has given us freedom from sin. We have been given the Holy Spirit to live after Spirit.
  2. being free is NOT an excuse to rebel against human government. We are to be witnesses.
  3. god ordained human government for a reason; to keep order, to punish evildoers, to commend those who do good (v.13,14).


Matt 5:13-16:

13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

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