Holy Exiles
Sermon Notes
We’re continuing our teaching series called Exiles, which is about living with a greater purpose! How can you personally live with a greater purpose in life? We want 2021 to be A Year of Multiplication here at City Awakening, meaning we don’t just want to be recipients of grace, we also want to be instruments of grace! We want to be instruments of grace in our city, so we can bring much hope and joy to the people in our city. The reality is everybody is looking for hope and joy regarding issues they’re facing in life, and if you’re a believer your skeptical friends won’t have any reason to ask about the hope and joy you have if your life isn’t any different than theirs. I mean a drug addict doesn’t want help from somebody who’s currently living as an addict, they want help from somebody who used to be an addict but isn’t living like an addict anymore. In a similar way if we want to bring hope and joy to our skeptical friends, we have to live differently than we used now that we’re followers of Jesus. If we want to bring hope and joy to the people in our city, we have to live differently than the people in our city, we have to live as Exiles. It isn’t about living isolated like the Amish, it’s about living as instruments of grace like Jesus. We’re to live in the world, but live differently than the world, and that’s what we’re talking about today. We’re talking about how to grow in holiness, so we can live holy lives and be instruments of grace like Jesus. Let’s turn to 1st Peter 1:13 and get into it. You’ll find 1st Peter in the last quarter of your bible, we’ll be in 1st Peter 1:13-2:3. The title of today’s message is Holy Exiles, and here’s the big idea. Holy living isn’t a suggestion, it’s a command! We’re to walk in holiness, as Holy Exiles...We’re to walk in holiness, as Holy Exiles...
Context:
Here’s your context. Peter’s writing this letter to Christians suffering persecution for their faith in Jesus. They’re suffering even to the point of being kicked out of their homelands, and so they’re literally living as exiles in a foreign land. Now last week Peter taught us in vs 1-9 what it means to be a Joyful Exile, and the implications that come with having our identity in Jesus as a Joyful Exile. But in today’s text he’ll teach us how to grow in holiness so we can live holy lives like Jesus, and it’s actually the 2nd D in our 3D discipleship which stands for discover, deepen, and display. We want to help you Discover your identity in Jesus, Deepen your walk with Jesus, and Display your faith in Jesus as instruments of grace in our city. This week Peter’s gonna teach us about Deepening our walk with Jesus as Holy Exiles. He’s gonna teach us: What is holiness, and How to grow in holiness, how to grow in our walk as Holy Exiles? Let’s check it out.
The Word:
1st Peter 1:13 states, “Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded...” Notice he says we’re to use our ‘minds,’ we’re to be ‘sober-minded,’ meaning we’re to think correctly and critically. Critical thinking isn’t about being critical of others, it’s about thinking deeply, sifting through what’s true and isn’t true. I do this when I watch movies with my family. I’ll pause movies and be like “Okay is what they’re saying true? Is there really a multi-verse like the marvel movies teach? Do you really think Thor’s a god when his muscles are puny compared to your dad’s? Ridiculous isn’t it?” It drives my family nuts, they’re like “Can we just enjoy the movie first then talk about it later?” But the reason I do this is because I want them to learn how to think critically, how to ask “Is this true or false? Is this a Christian worldview or not?”
I believe critical thinking is critical more now than ever before in history, because we’re living in an information age where you can download massive amounts of information at the click of a button. There’s ideological vomit constantly being spewed at us on social media, the news media, even subtly in tv shows and movies including Disney movies. The information age is a powerful age with agendas constantly being pushed through various media outlets attempting to condition your mind to think a certain way. It’s one of the reasons you’re so frustrated with the news. It’s because you know every network’s pushing an agenda and you don’t know who to trust. We have to think critically more now than ever before because if we don’t, we’ll digest ideological vomit which is nasty and unhealthy for our souls. Peter’s saying we have to think!... We have to use our ‘minds,’ be ‘sober-minded,’ think correctly and critically as Holy Exiles.
Again vs. 13 states, “Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” So now he’s giving us something to actually think about which is ‘the grace’ of Jesus. He’s saying what should motivate Christians to live as Holy Exiles is the grace Jesus poured out for us on the cross, and the imperishable living hope we have in the resurrection of Jesus. So the Christian faith isn’t about the absence of thinking, it’s about thinking about your convictions, then living a lifestyle that acts on those convictions. In this case it’s about living a lifestyle that thinks and acts on our convictions regarding the grace of Jesus...If you’re a skeptic who thinks Christians live on faith and you live on facts, you aren’t thinking correctly because you live on faith too! You’re living on faith right now trusting the chair you’re sitting in will hold you! So you can’t say you don’t live on faith, because both skeptics and believers live out their faith convictions every day. You also can’t say Christianity isn’t a thinking intellectual faith because Peter’s saying we need to think! We need to think in particular about the grace and eternal future we have in Jesus, which was proven by the historical evidence of the resurrection. But if you believe this life is all there is, then the only future you have is a tombstone. And you know what you do when your future’s a tombstone? You try not to think...You try not to think about your gloomy tombstone future or else it’ll depress you. You’re not thinking while Christians are actually the ones thinking. We’re thinking about the grace of Jesus and our incredible resurrection life that’s coming beyond the tombstone. It’s those faith convictions, that motivate us to want to live as Holy Exiles.
Vs. 14, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” Peter’s quoting an Old Testament book of the bible called Leviticus. He says “Be holy, because I am holy...Be holy because God is holy!” It’s written in the imperative mood, meaning it’s a command! That’s why our big idea is holy living isn’t a suggestion, it’s a command! It’s because God commands us to walk in holiness as Holy Exiles. So what is holiness? It’s God...Our definition and standard for holiness is God...The text states “Be holy because I am holy,” meaning God is the very definition and standard of holiness. He’s the only one who can claim the title holy. In fact the Greek word for holy means to set apart. He’s set apart, He’s in a category of His own. Exodus 15:11, “Who is like you O Lord... Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” The answer is nobody, because He’s in a category of His own. He’s holy, set apart, perfect in goodness, justice, and love. Some of you are like, “Well then how are we supposed to be holy? How are we supposed to grow in holiness to live as Holy exiles?” Peter teaches 3 ways to grow in holiness.
Vs. 17, “If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.” This is the 1st and primary way to grow in holiness.
#1 Growth in holiness starts with Jesus = Growth in holiness starts with faith in Jesus, it starts with having a relationship with Jesus. Peter says there’s things we’ve inherited from our ancestors, and the reason he says this is because none of the things we’ve inherited from them can save us from our sin nature and make us holy. Our ancestors money can be helpful, but it can’t make us holy. Our ancestors technological advancements can be helpful in solving some problems, but it can’t make us holy. Their technology gave us motorized vehicles, but also the atomic bomb. Peter’s point is nothing can save us from our ancestral sin nature and make us holy except for Jesus. He’s saying the only way for us to be redeemed from our ancestral sin nature is for the holiness of Jesus to cover up our unholiness on the cross. When you believe Jesus died for your sinful unholiness, he fills you with the Holy Spirit and his holy spiritual DNA, so you can live a holy life like him. Holiness is about so much more than just saying no to sin and living a good moral life. It’s about saying yes to Jesus and being filled with his holy spiritual DNA so you can actually live a holy life! So how can you be holy like the text states? How can you live as a Holy Exile? Peter says you can’t, without the help of Jesus. Let’s pick it up in vs 22.
Vs. 22 states, “Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly.” This is the 2nd way to grow in holiness. It starts with having a relationship with Jesus, and then...
#2 Growth in holiness continues with the church = Growth in holiness starts with Jesus, but it continues with the church, with the community of believers. Peter says it continues by showing sincere love to each other, and that can’t happen in isolation. You can’t love others in isolation which means you can’t grow in holiness in isolation either. When you miss church or your small group meetings, you’re missing out on opportunities to grow and help others grow in holiness. Hebrews 10:25, “Let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” If you want to grow in holiness don’t neglect church gatherings, because you can’t love sincerely or grow in holiness in isolation.
Vs. 23, “Because you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For ‘All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.” This is the 3rd way to grow in holiness. It starts with Jesus, continues within the church, and then #3...
#3 Growth in holiness continues with the Bible = Peter continually puts an emphasis on the Bible, on the word of God. In vs 22 he says obey its truth, here he says its truth endures forever, which is how truth works! Truth endures because you can’t change something that’s true. You can be fooled by people manipulating the truth, but that doesn’t change the fact it’s true! You can’t change the truth, but you can defeat a lie with the truth. The only way to defeat a lie is with the truth. Like I said there’s a lot of vomit being spewed at you, and its distorting your identity, purpose, and pursuit of joy. You have insecurities about your identity, you’re trying to find purpose in things that aren’t eternal, you’re pursuing joy in things that’ll eventually wither like grass. I mean what if the life you’re living, is a distorted image of the soul satisfying life you could live?...What if the life you’re living, is a distorted image of the holy life God wants you to live?...You’ll never know without knowing the truth of God’s word. Psalm 1:1-2, “How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked... 2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.” If you want to grow in holiness and the soul satisfying life God wants for you, defeat the lies in your heart and mind with the truth of God’s word.
Ch. 2:1, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word,, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, 3 if you have tasted that the Lord is good.” Again Peter’s talking about God’s word, but this time he’s stressing the necessity of it for growth in holiness. He’s saying God’s word is as necessary for a believer’s growth as milk is to a newborn’s growth. Believing in the gospel will give you the spiritual DNA of Jesus, but studying the word of God will give you the multivitamins to grow that DNA. If you’re feeling malnourished in life it’s because you’re not eating enough of God’s word. Peter says it’s as necessary for growth as milk is to a newborn’s growth. Reading the bible starts to become more of a delight when you realize it isn’t about guilt driven submission, it’s about being with Jesus in joyful conversation. It’s about reading the bible to learn from Jesus and be nourished by Jesus. You start to delight in its nourishment knowing it’ll never steer you wrong, and you delight in obeying it because you know it pleases God.
Now I’m glad Peter uses a newborn for an illustration, because we sometimes feel the pressures of not growing fast enough. I mean when I first became a Christian I felt insecure in my prayers, my understanding of the Bible, my overall growth and walk with Jesus compared to others. If the pastor said “Open your bible’s to 1st Peter,” I felt like everybody was staring at me because I couldn’t find it and you could hear my pages turning. It’s one of the reasons I tell you where to turn in the bible, it’s so new believers don’t feel embarrassed. But we need to remember growth isn’t a competition, and all growth is gradual. I mean think about how fast a newborn’s grow? They grow slow! You can feed them all the milk you want, but they still won’t be able to do algebra, grow 6 feet tall, run a 4.2, and play in the NFL as a newborn. It’s because newborns grow slow. God commands every believer to grow in holiness, but don’t get discouraged if your growth seems slow, because growth takes time...You ever seen an acorn grow?...It grows slow... It grows very slow...But did you know an acorn has the power to crack cement? It can’t happen overnight by repeatedly smacking it on the cement, it happens gradually by planting it under the cement and letting it grow in time. But it not only has the power to crack cement, it also has great potential to multiply. One acorn can grow into an enormous oak tree, that’ll produce numerous more acorns and oak trees. I recently read that one acorn has the ability to produce enough wood to cover the entire world. City Awakening that’s the kind of growth and multiplying power Jesus plants inside us when we receive the seed of the gospel. If you believe in the gospel, believe Jesus died for your sins on the cross, the seed of the gospel slowly works its way through your body cracking every cemented lie, idol, sinful desire in your heart. It doesn’t happen overnight, it happens gradually with time in a relationship with Jesus, his church, and his word.
The Big Idea:
The big idea is holy living isn’t a suggestion, it’s a command! We’re to walk in holiness, as Holy Exiles...But it has to start and continue with a relationship with Jesus, because he’s the only one that’s holy. He’s the only God who came to live a perfect holy life, then love us enough to die for our unholy lives on the cross. If you’re a skeptic think critically about the tombstone life you’re living, and accept Jesus’ invitation to have a joyful resurrection life with him.
If you’re a believer, what makes you different than the world is your dedication to Jesus and your holy living, your obedience to his word. Your skeptical friends won’t have any reason to ask about the hope and joy you have in Jesus if your life isn’t any different than theirs. You can’t make a difference if your life isn’t any different, but if your life is different it can make a world that’s different...You can’t make a difference if your life isn’t any different, but if your life is different it can make a world that’s different...So strive to live as a Holy Exile to the point where it causes people to ask “Why are you so different?...Why are you so caring, so loving, so generous, so devoted, so full of hope and joy unlike the world I know?”...Strive to live as a Holy Exile so the life you live will reflect the Jesus you love, and reach the skeptical friends you love. Spend time with Jesus in his word, and overtime you’ll see the acorn seed of the gospel grow.
Exodus 15:11, “Who is like you, O Lord...Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”
#1 Growth in holiness starts with Jesus
#2 Growth in holiness continues with the church
Hebrews 10:25, “Let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
#3 Growth in holiness continues with the Bible
Psalm 1:1-2, “How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked... 2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.”