It's Temporary

Chad Ball

Adamsville First Baptist Church

1 Peter • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

1 Peter 1:1–2

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Transcript

Introduction

As we think about temporary things and eternal things, we saw last week that the Bible clearly states that the heavens, the earth, and the things in the earth are all going to be burned up one day. All of it will melt and the Lord will reveal new heavens and a new earth which will last forever.

As we face different things on a daily basis, it would do us much good to be reminded that this earth and the things of the earth are temporary. When it comes to things like a Pandemic, adjusting our lives to it, starting school with it, wearing masks, etc., we can take comfort that the Pandemic is temporary. It may last longer than what we want, but it will eventually end.

The time our children spends at home is temporary, and I really still have no idea how true that is. Just a few short years ago, I rocked Kalyn to sleep, now she is driving and has a job.

These are two different situations, but illustrate the same idea, but just like a coin has two sides, so does the idea that everything earthly is temporary.

When thinking about my kids growing up, it should make me pause and enjoy each moment with them to its fullest. When I think that COVID-19 is temporary, it should give me hope that I can be less careful one day.

When thinking that my days on earth are temporary, it should cause me to enjoy each moment, as well as to seize every opportunity to know Christ more and to make Him known.

A proper perspective is what we need today. A perspective that understands that we are pilgrims with a permanent destination that is out of this world. We have this hope because of the grace of God and it brings a peace that surpasses all understanding even in these turbulent times.

This morning, we will begin to look at the first letter that Peter wrote. If you have your copy of God’s Word, please find 1 Peter and stand with me as we read the first two verses.

1 Peter 1:1–2 NKJV

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Pray

Peter wrote this letter to people who were hurting and suffering, people who were being ridiculed and persecuted because they lived for Jesus Christ. Throughout the Roman Empire believer had been attacked and were being savagely persecuted - so much so that they had been forced to flee for their lives.

They had forced to leave everything behind: homes, property, businesses, jobs, church, friends, and fellow believers. They endured persecution unlike anything that we can fathom, but take note it is coming! Persecution will come, but take courage because it is only temporary because

We are Pilgrims

As believers, we are strangers in this world. We are living in a land that is not our own. We are living as foreigners in a land hostile to our home country. We are citizens of heaven. In fact, we are more than citizens. We are joint heirs with Christ. The things of this earth are temporary and we should treat them as such.

We should keep our eyes and minds...

focused on heaven as our permanent home.

focused on how short life is.

focused on how uncertain, insecure, and short-term all things upon earth really are.

Too often, we stress ourselves out over these temporary things, forgetting that they are indeed here today and gone tomorrow. When we live with eternity in mind, with an attitude of heaven being home, then we will focus on what eternally matters rather than all of these temporary distractions.

We are chosen

I can remember getting chosen on the playground at school and I never really felt good about it. It was because I was either the next to last or the very last one chosen.

We are not chosen in the same way by God. The apostle Peter is very clear here. We are elect or chosen, according to the foreknowledge of God.

Foreknowledge means that God always knew exactly what every individual will do, every single thought, word, action, and consequence. The almighty knows who will trust Jesus and who will not trust Jesus. This is not a predetermination as some would teach.

In Acts 2:23, we see a predetermined foreknowledge:

Acts 2:23 NKJV

23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

God determined to have Jesus taken by lawless hands, crucified, and put to death.

The apostle Peter also speaks of God working in predetermined way.

1 Peter 1:20 NKJV

20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

He is speaking of Jesus being foreordained before the foundation of the world as the lamb through which we would be saved.

The difference is that if God foreordained who would be saved, then He would be choosing certain people for salvation. However, He always knew who would repent and they are elected according to His foreknowledge.

This in no way negates or cancels salvation being available to whosoever will because we know from 2 Peter 3:9 that...

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

We can take great comfort in the foreknowledge of God because it means that God knows, He controls, and He is working all things for His purpose and glory.

We are chosen according to the foreknowledge of the Father and...

In Sanctification

We are chosen in sanctification of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit has a multifaceted ministry among us and He starts the work of sanctification on people even before they are believers. Sanctification means to be set apart unto God.

It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of our sin and convinces us of our need of salvation. He sets us apart as He draws us to salvation.

I can remember before I got saved that the Holy Spirit would deal with me in church and I would feel as if I needed to go get saved during the invitation. I would resist and then go home. At home, the need to do something would cease, but then it would come again during church on the next Sunday. As the preacher would preach, the Holy Spirit would work in my heart.

I’m thankful that the Holy Spirit kept working on me until I responded. When the Holy Spirit is working, we must make the decision...

to be set apart unto God for salvation and eternal life.

to be set apart unto God to live a life that is totally different from the life we have been living, a life that is holy, righteous, and pure.

For obedience

We are chosen for obedience. Salvation and Sanctification lead to a life of obedience to the Father. Why is obedience so important? God created and made life; therefore, He knows exactly how life has to be lived in order to get the most out of it.

God loves us and wants the very best for us, but for us to get the very best, we must read and follow the instruction manual.

Shortly after COVID hit, I found out that my blood sugar was running high, so more doctors and another dietician to see. I was told that resistance training would be very beneficial for lowering my blood sugar. So, I found a bowflex for a great price on Amazon. Can you believe that they did not send it put together, but I had to follow the instructions to assemble it. With it assembled, you then have to look at another book of instructions to know what to do with it. If I did not read those instructions and follow them, I could get hurt or worse, I could waste a lot of time making up exercises and have no benefit. Because I have followed the instructions for how to use the machine, I have already seen benefit and have seen all the ways that I can use it. I have to obey the bowflex instructions to get the most benefit.

That is exactly how life is. If I am going to enjoy it to the fullest, I must obey the instructions.

For Sprinkling

In God’s foreknowledge, we have been chosen for sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

The sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ is the way we become acceptable to God. There is no other way. The blood of Jesus covers all of our transgressions and makes us guiltless before God. We are perfect and acceptable to God through the blood of Jesus.

Our sins are completely washed away!

Grace and Peace

1 Peter is a letter, and we have just looked at how he addressed the letter. Now, look at the greeting:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied

What a glorious thought for us to leave with today!

Grace is the unmerited favor of God. He saves the believer by grace.

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

In addition to grace, peace. Not just peace, but peace multiplied. This is what the Lord has led us to today: If the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all worked together to draw you to salvation and if you responded with faith, then you are at peace. You are at peace with God and consequently that is the only thing that truly matters. All of this other stuff that is going on: the virus, the riots, the election, the economy, all of the uncertainty of these days, we can be certain that God loves us and if we believe, then we can rest in His promise that all of this is going to work for our good.

Decision

Pray

This morning, maybe you are a believer and you just don’t have the peace with God that you used to. Could it be that there is some unconfessed sin or some way that you have disobeyed God? Come and pray seek the Lord’s forgiveness and peace.

There are some of you that have been saying “no” to the Lord’s drawing I have watched Sunday after Sunday as you have resisted the draw of the Holy Spirit. It is time for you to do your part. It is time for you to believe in Jesus. Why don’t you come as we sing. Please stand with me and respond to the Lord’s leading.