Holy Living
071909 AM
Text: 1 Peter 1:14-16
Introduction
There was a parade yesterday in San Diego, you may have heard it mentioned on the news last night, one commentator stated that “thousands on thousands” attended. The promoters of this parade say it gathers more spectators than any other parade, including Independence Day. It is said to be the fifth largest of such parades in the entire country. It was touted in the media prior to the event; there were articles in several sections of both Friday and Saturdays Union-Tribune and many references on various news casts and of course the reporting after the fact. You could find it in the “entertainment” listings of the signonsandiego.com website. Then again, you may have missed the whole thing because it is likely that you had not interest in what this parade was celebrating. I’m speaking of the LGBT Pride parade that took place yesterday. It was the 35th annual celebration of the LGBT lifestyle in San Diego. So you may have missed it but if you did not I hope you are not surprised at all the hype and attention garnered by event, the promoters have a very clear agenda – they want their lifestyle choice to be validated by society as a whole, legally and morally. And they are simply a very vocal and very visible representation of what is a very common opinion among people in America today – that their lifestyle is a matter of personal choice and everyone else must respect (and approve) their choices.
What they fail to realize is that it doesn’t matter what I think about their lifestyle choice. It doesn’t matter what the law of man says about their lifestyle choice. What matters is what God says and what God has said, from the Old Testament to the New Testament, is that He desires all mankind to live righteously and holy.
Leviticus 11:45 For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
1 Peter 1:14 - 16 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
And so our lesson today will focus on Holy Living.
Holy Living:
I. Requires We Love God and Others
A. Types of Love
1. There are three types of love mentioned in the New Testament:
a. Philia, denotes a general type of love, used for love between family, between friends, a desire or enjoyment of an activity.
b. Eros, is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing and is usually sexual in nature.
c. Agape, It chiefly means doing and caring for some one as much as you care for yourself. This is a godly love and can be manifest even if you do not necessarily like someone or do not know them.
1) This is the love God showed to us (John 3:16)
2) This is the love God expects us to evidence in our lives as we strive to follow His will.
B. Teachings of Love
1. Christ taught there were two commandments on which all the law and prophets depend:
Matthew 22:36 - 40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him,“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
II. Requires We Not Love the World
A. We are not to love the world or the things of this world.
1. 1 John 2:15 - 17 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
a. Lust of the Flesh
b. Lust of the Eyes
c. The Pride of Life
2. Genesis 3:6 (NASB) When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
3. Matthew 4:3-10
B. We do not stand alone
1. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
2. We can say with Paul:
Philippians 4:3 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
III. Requires Our Daily Commitment
A. We are not to love the world or the things of this world.
1. Our commitment to Holy Living is not a once and done decision, we renew it every day.
a. We must take up our cross daily (Matthew 10:39)
b. We must ask for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11)
c. We must pray continually. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
d. We must search the scriptures daily (Acts 7:11)
e. We encourage one another daily (Hebrews 3:13)
Conclusion
To live Holy requires we love as God loved, with all our hearts, minds, soul, and strength. We must not love the world or the sin of this world, and with the Lord’s help resist temptation. We must choose daily to walk after the will of God.
If we do not walk like Jesus, we will not live for Jesus. If we do not live FOR Jesus, we will not live WITH Him.
Invitation
If you desire new life in Christ, repent of your sins, confess His name and be buried with Him by baptism into His death so that you may have new life with Jesus and for Him.
If you need forgiveness as a child of God, make your need known right now as we stand and sing.
