I. Living in reverent fear vss. 17-21
A. How you should understand your relationship with God. vs. 17
B. A short summery of the Christian faith. Vss.18-21
1. Redemption vss. 18-19
2. Revelation vs. 20
3. Resurrection vs. 21
II. Key words and phrases vs. 17
A. Strangers
B. Impartially
C. Reverent fear
D. Call on a Father
III. So, how does this apply to you today?
A. You are different because you have a “Heavenly Father.”
B. You are different because your “Father” is the impartial and loving judge.
C. You are different because you are not of this world.
1. You live in reverent fear.
a. Means you deal with his people different because they belong to Him.
b. Means your reverent fear should be see by all
c. But this fear is based on Faith, Hope and Love
2. Your reverent fear should motivate your actions.
a. As The Evangelist in Pilgrims Progress
b. Living for God
c. Loving God’s people
IV. Stories from history.
A. Joseph Bellamy (1719-1790) “ I will tell them there forever Jesus is Precious”
B. Polycarp - 70 and 155 A.D.,
Polycarp’s greatest contribution to Christianity may be his martyred death. His martyrdom stands as one of the most well documented events of antiquity. The emperors of Rome had unleashed bitter attacks against the Christians during this period, and members of the early church recorded many of the persecutions and deaths. Polycarp was arrested on the charge of being a Christian -- a member of a politically dangerous cult whose rapid growth needed to be stopped. Amidst an angry mob, the Roman proconsul took pity on such a gentle old man and urged Polycarp to proclaim, "Caesar is Lord". If only Polycarp would make this declaration and offer a small pinch of incense to Caesar’s statue he would escape torture and death. To this Polycarp responded, "Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" Steadfast in his stand for Christ, Polycarp refused to compromise his beliefs, and thus, was burned alive at the stake.
