INTRODUCTION
Illustration:
Hello, Hiya, Gidday, Hi Y’all, Konnichi wa, Good Day, Shalom, Bonjour, Aloha, Greetings and Salutations
How someone greets another tells a lot about that person?
A handshake, for instance, tells a lot. It amazes me how many different types of handshakes their are.
The Formal Handshake
The Limp Handshake
The Secret Handshake
The Hip Handshake
The Firm Handshake
A handshake tells people about a person and how they need to relate to them.
Peter opens his letter with a firm handshake. He simply states that it is Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ who is sending this letter. Even writing from a distance Peter was easily identified by his very nature. Peter knew who he was and by all indications so did the ones receiving his letter.
Transition:
Peter wrote his letter at a time when it was extremely dangerous to declare one’s personal faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Christianity would be outlawed within the next year. Believers had begun to suffer religious persecution, and the persecution would not soon end. This Letter was written to prepare them for the persecution to come, and to encourage them and give them hope in the midst of their anguish.
Peter wrote to house churches in Asia minor. In fact he was writing to a network of house churches.
In the New Testament, various phrases are used to describe those people of God who make up the Lord’s church
a. Individually, they are referred to as disciples, saints, believers, priests, Christians, etc.
b. Collectively, they are called the church, the body of Christ, the temple of God, the people of God, the family of God, etc. -- Each of these terms describe various relationships maintained by those who are Christians
2. Some interesting metaphors not commonly used in reference to the Church are found in 1 Pe 1:1, Peter addresses the Church as "resident aliens", "the diaspora " and "those chosen".
3. A proper understanding of these phrases can give insight into:
a. Our faith?
b. Our witness?
c. Our church?
1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2. according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure. 1 Peter 1:1-2 NASB
CONTENT
CHARACTARIZED BY THEIR FAITH
Explanation
1. Transliterated from Grk., it is parepidemos {par-ep-id’-ay-mos} which is a combination of three words: a. para - "alongside of" b. epi - "upon" c. demos - "used in Biblical Greek of the people of a heathen city" (Wuest)
2. Dr. McGough defines this word… "dwellers beside"
Illustration
When you get a flu shot your getting injected with a very small amount of the sickness. So small that it shouldn’t make you sick and should keep you from getting very sick. Many people in the Church just want a flu shoot amount of Christianity. Not too much that they turn into fanatics, but just enough to keep them from going to hell.
Application
1. Our responsibility as "resident aliens" is to be SEPARATE - cf. 1 Pe 2:11-12
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. NIV
a. We may be "in the world," but we are not to be "of the world" - Jn 17:15-19
15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.NIV
b. Remaining separate may cause some in the world to think we are strange - cf. 1 Pe 4:3-4
3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you NIV
c. But Jesus said this would happen, even as it did to Him - Jn 15:18-19
18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. NIV
2. Figuratively speaking, we should be like those foreign refugees now in our country:
a. Who resist giving up their heritage, their language
b. Who resist attempts to "Canadianize" or "Americanize" them and destroy their cultural traditions
3. Can it be said of Christians, that we are keeping ourselves SEPARATE from the world?
a. Are we allowing the world to influence our…
1) Speech?
2) Dress?
3) Conduct?
b. If so, then we are no longer "resident aliens," but "naturalized citizens" of this world!
c. Remember John’s warning in 1 Jn 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. NIV
Christians can be identified by their faithfulness.
CHARACTARIZED BY THEIR WITNESS
Explanation
The Diaspora of Christians
1. The Greek word is diaspora {dee-as-por-ah’}
a. It is noun form of the verb diaspeiro
b. Which means "to sow, to scatter seed"
2. The term is found in Jn 7:35, and there it refers to the Jews who were scattered among the Greeks
a. As a result of the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities
35 The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? NIV
3. It is significant that Peter is using this term to refer to Christians.
4. Peter implies that all Christians are:
a. Sojourners living in a world not their own
b. They are like scattered seed, spread out among those in the world
Illustration
The legend of Johnny Appleseed illustrates the idea of scattered seed. Johnny Appleseed is best known for planting apple seeds across North America. Johnny Appleseed was awelcome visitor in the homes of many of the settlers he met on his journey. He not only planted his apple seeds but he would bring news to these people from their relatives and friends who lived miles away. He would also read to the settlers from his well-worn Bible. The seeds he planted were not just the seeds of new apple trees but also the seeds of eternal life. He shared his life, his faith and his love for others in a way that has become part of our folklore.
Application
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 NASB
Christians can be identified by their faith.
CHARACTARIZED BY THEIR CHURCH
Explanation
The word "elect" is the Greek word eklektos. It means, as we have implied, "to be picked out or selected." Chosen. It is not a unique word or concept in the New Testament. Look at Matthew 24:31. This is Jesus himself speaking, He is talking about the end times
Illustration
Many Christians have been infected with the most virulent virus of modern American life, what sociologist Robert Bellah calls "radical individualism."
They concentrate on personal obedience to Christ as if all that matters is "Jesus and me," but in doing so, miss the point altogether.
For Christianity is not a solitary belief system.
Any genuine resurgence of Christianity, as history demonstrates, depends on a reawakening and renewal of that which is the essence of the faith—that is, the people of God, the new society, the body of Christ, which is made manifest in the world—the church.
[Harm of Radical Individualism, Citation: Chuck Colson, The Body (Word, 1992), p.32]
Growing up I can remember the excitement of playing baseball in an open field. The teams were picked by an age old method. The two captains were known by reputation. They would toss the bat to choose who went first. Everyone else would anxiously wait to be picked. The excitement would mount as the first players were chosen. Each team captain continued choosing until everyone ended up on a team. The choices were made according to the team captains preferences. Isn’t it great that God makes the choice of who will be part of His team.
Application
This time of year is often identified by family gatherings. Christians are chosen by God. Christians are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Christians are to obey Jesus.
Christians can be identified by their fellowship
CONCLUSION
A story is told of a hitchhiker who was trying to get a ride one night in Las Angelos. A car pulled over to pick him up. When the hitchhiker got into the car he saw the face of the driver and recognized the driver was Kirk Douglas. The hitchhiker was shocked and all he could think to say was, "Do you know who you are?"
Are we "resident aliens"? We are, if we…
a. view our life here on earth as a journey in a foreign land!
b. View as our true home, the heavenly city God has prepared for those who confess they are strangers and pilgrims on the earth!
Are we "the diaspora"? We are, if as we…
a. view our lives as living testimonies.
b. Keep ourselves separate from things in the world that would lead us away from God!
Are we "chosen"? We are, if we…
a. accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior
b. follow Jesus, obeying his teachings.
c. are united in fellowship with the Church (the family of God).
As a Christian "Do you know WHO YOU ARE?"
INVITATION
Every time God’s word is preached a decision is waiting to be made.
If God’s Spirit is speaking to you this morning don’t put it off. Procrastination is one of the devil’s best tools.
If God has been speaking to you about giving your life over to him.
If you feel convicted and would like to recommit yourself.
If God has been speaking to you about committing your life to full time ministry.
If you feel God wants you to join with this church family don’t postpone your decisionany longer let God’s Spirit begin to work fully in your life today.
