WEBVTT 00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:22.559 It's great to be with you guys. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:23.519 My name is Duncan. 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:25.199 I'm one of the leaders here. 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:33.280 And today we have been working through Colossians, but today we are going to be considering growing in holiness. 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:36.479 Next week we'll continue our time in Colossians. 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:37.600 We'll head back there. 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:41.679 But for today, we're looking at this idea of growing in holiness. 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:44.560 Before we dive in, let me pray for us. 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:49.280 Loving Father, thank you for your grace and your mercy towards us. 00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:54.159 I thank you that you have called us to yourself through your son's work on the cross. 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:59.840 And I pray, as we come and we consider holiness, would you speak to us? 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:03.280 Would you do what we cannot by your Spirit's work? 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:12.319 Move us towards yourself, move us to live lives that are worthy of you for your name and your glory and our good. 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:13.359 Amen. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:25.359 I wonder as you consider sin, I wonder as you consider the brokenness in your life, the brokenness around you, what you think. 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:30.560 In my life I have seen the reality of sin being worked out. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:35.599 I have felt the temptations towards sin, sins of different kinds. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:43.760 I have known the impact of sin personally in my life, the taste of death that is left through sin. 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:47.519 Obviously, not physical death, but spiritual death. 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:54.719 The feeling of guilt, the feeling of shame that can come and sometimes feel almost overwhelming. 00:01:55.519 --> 00:02:01.920 The reality of sin promising so much and yet delivering so little. 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:07.840 I have never seen sin live up to the expectation. 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:11.520 I have seen sin in those around me as well. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:16.000 People who are close to me, friends and family members. 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:23.120 And sin, no matter what the sin, is never confined to an individual. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:25.280 Sin has a ripple effect. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:28.000 It affects those around the people. 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:32.879 I have seen marriages ripped apart because of sin. 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:40.719 I have seen people I love just walk away from the faith because of sin. 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:48.639 The fact that their hearts were so captured by their sin that sin became their God. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:52.080 They rejected the faith. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:56.080 And that is what happens when sin is unchecked. 00:02:56.400 --> 00:03:02.400 When we do not consider the reality of sin in our lives, when we don't take it seriously. 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:16.800 And if you're a Christian here today, even if you're not a Christian, I would say actually, if you understood what sin is, if you understood the destructive nature of sin, you would see it as something to hate. 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:25.039 You would see it as something desperately that you want to just escape from, escape from its clause. 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:28.639 Because your sin is not something to be messed with. 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:30.879 It is not something to be treated lightly. 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:39.360 Your sin, my sin, if left unchecked, will lead straight to the grave with no hope of life. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:46.159 As we come to consider growing in holiness, we need to feel the weight and the reality of what is at stake. 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:50.800 This isn't something to just mess around with. 00:03:52.159 --> 00:04:00.319 Every Christian in this room, my desire for all of us is that we would see the seriousness of this. 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:03.280 That we wouldn't just give in. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:08.879 None of us would believe the lies of sin we see all around us. 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:12.479 None of us would be overcome by sin. 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:21.439 Because it is not just about the life here and now, it is about your eternal destiny. 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:28.720 As we seek to consider this passage, don't allow it to just go by, but hear what God has to say. 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:33.920 Growing in holiness is the only way to live the Christian life. 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:35.920 There is no other way. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:45.279 You are either gonna grow in holiness by his grace or head toward eternity without him. 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:49.839 Eternity without God, without life, suffering forever. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:54.560 Three realities I want to expose in our passage. 00:04:54.879 --> 00:05:00.639 The call to holiness, the motive for holiness, and the result of holiness. 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:03.839 And those can be on the screen if you click next. 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:04.879 Thank you. 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:06.800 That can just orientate you. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:09.279 So the call to holiness. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:11.040 Look at verse 13. 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:20.000 Therefore, preparing your minds for action and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:24.959 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance. 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:36.160 But as he who called you is holy, so you so you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:46.639 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourself with fear throughout your time of your exile. 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:50.319 This is the call that rings out. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:56.000 That we need to realize the call toward holiness is a complete call. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:05.199 And what I might mean by that is it is not just calling you brother and sister in Christ, to give some of yourself towards holiness. 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:18.319 Now, Peter is clear as he writes to these believers: holiness requires all of you, both mind and body, your complete self. 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:22.720 It is not just when you feel like putting on your holy. 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:24.560 Now I'll be holy. 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:28.480 It is a complete life oriented around this. 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:33.920 Every moment of your life, you are called to be holy. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:43.439 And as we consider this call, the most important thing is to actually consider and be clear on who is calling. 00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:49.920 Because verse 16 says, You shall be holy, for I am holy, declares the Lord. 00:06:51.120 --> 00:07:01.360 We need to understand holiness is not just something we take lightly, because actually holiness itself is understanding our God. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:04.639 Do you grasp the reality of that? 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:12.319 That you're not just moving towards moralism, to be feeling like you are a good person. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:21.839 The call is to come, to move bit by bit toward Him, toward the Creator God. 00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:29.279 And if you are His people, you'll hear this call, you'll take this call seriously. 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:38.480 Because the reality of being in relationship with God is inseparable from the reality of your call toward holiness. 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:43.199 You cannot have one without the other. 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:48.560 As we come to faith, we do not just stop there. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:52.480 We do not just say, Oh, thank you for my salvation. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:54.480 Now I'll do what I want. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:57.199 No, we then start living. 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:00.879 Living in light of our salvation. 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:08.000 You misunderstand the gospel when you overextend freedom and grace in Christ. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:17.279 When you misunderstand actually what they are, when you believe the lie that says you just need to know his grace and do nothing about it. 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:24.079 Because this in fact diminishes the grace that he has brought to you. 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:28.879 It misses the purpose of his grace towards you. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:36.240 This is not just to save us, but it's to bring us into life. 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:43.360 A life to be lived, lived out in the light of his grace. 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:49.519 Grace which brings you into relationship to the holy God of the universe. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:54.399 A God who cries to you, you shall be holy. 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:55.200 Why? 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:57.120 For I am holy. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:02.240 It is misunderstanding the call toward holiness. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:12.399 If you don't grasp this, that your call toward holiness is firstly and primarily a pursuit of God. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:19.039 It is knowing that as we grow in holiness, we grow toward our holy God. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:27.279 We grow in his likeness, in his image, we grow in the way in which we've been made and created to live. 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:37.679 The person who dismisses their pursuit toward holiness is the person who reveals themselves to reject God. 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:42.399 That is not the Christian faith. 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:47.360 The call God gives is a call to action. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:49.039 Look at verse 13. 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:52.159 Therefore, prepare your minds for action. 00:09:52.320 --> 00:10:00.399 And being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:02.639 This is not passive. 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:12.720 Peter has just been reminding them in the previous verses of their salvation, the reality that they are born again, these believers. 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:18.799 And he doesn't just then say to them, so chill out, relax, it's all good. 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:19.519 No. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:23.759 Therefore, prepare your minds for action. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:35.679 Peter is revealing the reality that out of your new identity, out of this salvation, comes a call not to be passive, but to act. 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:39.519 Enabled because of your salvation. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:46.639 Being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:50.240 Brother, sister in Christ, where is your mind? 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:55.840 What is it that captures you most in your thoughts? 00:10:57.440 --> 00:11:04.559 Because here there is a clear reality, how our minds should be shaped as Christians. 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:07.440 A holy mind is a sober mind. 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:09.840 Because what is a sober mind? 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:19.519 It is to be able to think with clarity, clearly knowing what is real from what is and what is true. 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:23.840 Because the opposite of this is for your mind to be impaired. 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:32.000 When people get drunk, for instance, they don't think clearly, they don't perceive truth. 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:42.960 And here Peter is calling them to be sober-minded, which is to know what is true, to have clarity in what is real. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:52.080 And what is true is what Peter is exclaiming and proclaiming here is that there is an eternal reality. 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:56.879 They have and we have a hope that is to come. 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:59.679 And that hope is secure for us. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:04.240 That is grace rooted in the person Jesus Christ. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:08.960 And as we live, we should live out of that reality. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:12.399 Out of that future hope. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:17.679 When we forget this, we fail to live the life we've been called to. 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:22.559 A life that understands the finite from the eternal. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:37.440 A life that grasps that the hopes of this world have nothing on the hope of grace that we will one day know and fully experience when Jesus Christ returns. 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:45.840 It is so easy for us, for me, for you to be trapped by the false hopes around us. 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:49.039 We all face this constantly. 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:51.840 We are bombarded by it daily. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:55.039 False hopes that the world sets before us. 00:12:55.519 --> 00:13:01.759 Relationships, sex, money, success, holidays, Facebook likes, material stuff. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.279 The list goes on. 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:07.600 If you get this, things will be better. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:12.960 Do this, have this, experience this, and you will find happiness. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:16.159 It is killing us. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:25.120 Your life will not be a life that has so much joy in it when you are consumed by these things. 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:36.720 You will grow in numbness, and you will also grow in the neediness of needing more and more and more to fill that void. 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:45.759 We live in a world where depression and loneliness and anxiety and dissatisfaction are increasing, not decreasing. 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:49.919 And the important thing to ask is why? 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:54.000 Because we are eternal beings. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:02.879 And we cannot find the longings of our heart met in the momentary things of this world. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:07.120 You cannot find what you need here. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:11.919 You could have everything, everything this world has to offer. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:17.759 Whatever it is, and still feel utterly empty. 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:28.399 But God calls there is a better hope, a truer hope, a hope that will not disappoint. 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:32.320 Allow this to be the goal in your life. 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:39.039 Allow this to be the hope that your mind is completely fixated upon. 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:43.360 Let nothing distract you from this reality. 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:48.000 Because we will all have misplaced feelings. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:58.559 Sadly, some of us will struggle our entire lives with emotions that feel overwhelmingly dark at times. 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:01.919 But brother, sister, know this. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:08.240 Know what is true when your emotions seek to deceive you. 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:15.440 Because one day you will know the full and unwavering grace found in Jesus Christ. 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:23.679 Though in part we experience it now, one day we will know it fully and we will not find it to be lacking. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:26.799 No longer will we feel the strain. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:31.440 No longer will we feel the bowel for our emotions. 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:34.639 You'll find his grace. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:41.440 His grace that right now helps us, but we will find his grace is enough. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:45.919 Set your mind on the true hope. 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:52.000 But this call doesn't just stop with the mind, but it also captures our actions. 00:15:52.639 --> 00:16:02.559 Because when our hope is so set on the eternal, when we have a right thinking in that direction, why would we go after the worthless ways of this world? 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:09.039 Verse 14, as obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance. 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:21.279 Verse 17, and if you call on him as father, who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout your time of your exile. 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:29.039 We need to grasp this call roots us in our identity. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:35.360 Peter uses this language of child and father, and he does it with intention. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:42.799 As a child of my good heavenly father, why would I not hear his call? 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:50.480 Why would I not know his ways for me are for my flourishing? 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:54.320 His ways are life-giving. 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:57.919 Why would I not surrender my life to that? 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.080 I think C.S. 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:03.919 Lewis helps us grasp this. 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:08.960 The blindness we can some have, sometimes have. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:17.440 He says this, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong but too weak. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:28.079 We are half-hearted creatures fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:40.720 Like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:44.160 We are far too easily pleased. 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:49.039 Do not be fooled by the passions of your former ignorance. 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:53.440 Do not think that is where life is found. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:18:00.480 Don't let your life be lived chasing things that will never supply the longings of your soul. 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:07.440 The call away from those things is not a call away from life, but to life. 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:11.200 Lift your gaze to something far more glorious. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:17.200 Because as we set our hope fully on the grace to come, our lives will be transformed. 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:24.400 We will live as obedient children, knowing his goodness, knowing what he has for us is good. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:33.599 The call Peter sets towards holiness is built into viewing him as Father. 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:38.559 But Peter also wants us to realize who God is. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:43.200 He doesn't want to diminish the godness of God. 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:47.440 As we consider God, we always need to be careful. 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:49.279 We don't lessen him. 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:56.960 But also we see him as the one who is the righteous judge. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:59.519 The one who one day will judge. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:01.920 We will give an account before him. 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:14.720 And though there is security in Christ, that does not leave you license to continue in sin, to continue to reject, seeking to grow in holiness bit by bit. 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:24.799 It is the priority with reverent fear of a holy God that we should fight for our holiness. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:28.640 Because that is the reaction we should have. 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:36.000 When we see Him, when we truly understand His holiness, His set apartness. 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:54.559 If you woke up this morning and if God spoke directly to you, and if He said Christ is returning to judge everyone tomorrow, now you'll be frightened, you'll be freaked out, put that to the side for a minute. 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:57.440 How would you live today? 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:02.480 How would you spend your moments today? 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.400 How would you act? 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:06.400 How would you treat other people? 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:12.559 For all of us, I know our lives would be completely shaped by that reality. 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:14.480 My life would be and yours would be. 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:21.440 If I knew without shadow of doubt, Christ is returning tomorrow, I'm gonna face him tomorrow. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:25.839 I have to give an account to how I lived my life tomorrow? 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:30.400 How much would we want to make much of him? 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.799 How much would we want to glorify him? 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:36.880 How much would we want to just speak about him and his goodness? 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:51.759 Yet here we so often forget, we so often forget that there is a rightful judge, a holy God, who is lying us to see him and lying for us to live in light of his holiness. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:00.960 Conduct yourselves with fear throughout your time of exile. 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:06.000 Because this time will end, and you have no clue when that will be. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:10.319 Whether that's when you die or whether that's when Christ returns. 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.279 You don't know. 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:15.759 Allow that to shape your life. 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:17.680 Don't mess around. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:23.519 Treat your life with the seriousness God calls you to. 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:59.759 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last time. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:02.720 For the sake of you. 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:08.240 To grow in holiness, dwell upon the cost of your salvation. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:14.240 Don't neglect considering the reality of what Christ has done. 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:17.519 Don't allow your heart to become numb towards it. 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:20.880 It's so easily done. 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:37.599 Peter writes, and you can imagine him writing this, longing for these believers to be struck by these words, longing for their hearts to once again be stirred, their affections captured by Christ. 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:47.920 As he considers the world, he wants to show the greatness of the cost Christ paid. 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:53.599 The most valuable thing on earth that Peter can think of is silver or gold. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:56.640 And he exclaims, Do you see the worth of silver or gold? 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:58.880 The way people value it. 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:06.880 They do not even begin to express the value, the cost Christ paid. 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:11.119 Silver and gold are worthless compared to that. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:13.519 They are momentary things. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:17.759 God did not just use money to ransom you. 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:30.640 It was with something not that perishes, but rather with the life of the eternal one come as a man. 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:39.200 Jesus Christ, his son, giving his blood so that we might be brought back from the slavery of sin. 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:54.480 The cost was great, with such a clear purpose that your life has not been ransomed, has not been bought, has not been paid for, for you then to go and waste it. 00:23:55.359 --> 00:24:03.200 Living how you want, thinking you are free to do so, living, neglecting the precious blood paid for you. 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.359 Do you see? 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:09.839 Do you feel how disgusting and vile that is? 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:18.559 When we reject what he gave for us in order to return to what he died to save us from. 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:22.799 Your sin, my sin. 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:27.279 When we're in that point, we need to consider Christ. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:37.119 Consider him seeing you, going your own way, knowing what he gave for you, crying out, don't you get it? 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:38.319 Don't you see? 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:42.160 I bled so that you would be saved from that sin. 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:50.319 I was beaten so that you would not have to live, returning to that way. 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:57.519 I was mocked and rejected so that you would be freed, freed to true life found in me. 00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.720 Only me. 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:04.000 We just so easily return to our sin. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:10.160 We so easily just see that blood shed and think nothing of it. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:13.839 The cost was priceless. 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:16.000 His blood shed. 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:18.880 The eternal one come in the flesh. 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:35.599 Verse 20 for he was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last time for the sake of you, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory so that your faith and hope are in God. 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:38.960 Do you know what God actually has done? 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:42.160 God never needed you. 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.920 He never needed me. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:47.359 He will never need you, he will never need me. 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:53.440 Don't view God and his salvation as some sort of self-help for him. 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:55.920 That is evil. 00:25:56.480 --> 00:26:02.319 But the holy God, the God who calls us, chose this. 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:05.680 He chose to come. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:24.799 The eternal one came as a man, a man to be able to suffer, so that he was able to bleed and shed the most precious blood for your sake, for my sake, so that we might have faith and hope in God. 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:29.279 That this restoration we so long for would be complete. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:44.640 When we forget this, we diminish and downplay the cost of Christ, the purpose of his cost given for us, so that we do not need to go back to sin. 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:50.880 We will fall into rejecting him if we do not see this. 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:55.279 We will live as though we deserved his salvation. 00:26:56.400 --> 00:27:04.960 The next time you feel yourself being tempted towards sin, dwell upon the cost paid to rescue you from that sin. 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:15.359 Don't allow your mind to blot the reality of Jesus' blood shed for you, the nails driven into his hands and feet. 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:19.920 No, he has won a victory for you. 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:33.599 He is the one who cries out and says, I shed it for you, for your sake, so that you might know a better life, a true life in relationship with me. 00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:35.839 Why would we neglect that? 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:39.119 Why would you turn away from that? 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:43.680 There is such danger in dampening this reality. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:52.559 Brother, sister, be captured by it, dwell upon it, run to it, cling to it, because without it we are condemned. 00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:57.680 The motive for holiness and finally the result of holiness. 00:27:57.839 --> 00:28:12.559 If you are living your life, longing, desiring to be holy, little by little, there will be implications that our holiness will result in certain realities in our lives. 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:20.720 And as Peter concludes, he considers the reality of them growing in holiness, and he wants them to see, act, and trust. 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:24.000 He wants them to see their position before God. 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:29.440 He wants them to act as his people, and he wants them to trust the word. 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:33.039 See their position before God. 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.480 Look at verse 22. 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:38.400 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth. 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:44.079 He begins by saying, You are pure, brother or sister. 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:49.039 Not that you will be pure, you are pure. 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:55.839 Peter highlights as God's people, as people growing in holiness, you are pure. 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:58.960 That is who you now are. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:04.880 Because the Christian life is the life that is lived out of our identity. 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:10.480 That right now we are pure, so live as pure people. 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:14.559 We are holy, so be holy. 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:18.400 That's not saying there is no sin in your life. 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:44.559 That is not saying you do not feel the brokenness within, but the fact is, in your obedience through faith, positionally before God, you have been transformed and transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, from death to life, from enemy to child, from filthy wretch to spotless, sinless children. 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:50.960 Peter wants us to see this is the reality of our obedience. 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:58.400 That as we obey God, the declaration of our purity is declared. 00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:07.200 As we cling to Christ, that we are his children and he is our Father through Jesus Christ. 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:12.480 And though we don't know and fully experience our purity, we will. 00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:14.880 We will one day know it. 00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:21.119 The reality of our purity when we won't feel the temptation's tug anymore. 00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:25.440 You won't feel the taste of death and see it around you. 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:29.039 You won't feel the shame and guilt of sin. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:35.119 The work of your sanctification, your growing in holiness will be complete. 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:41.680 This is the result that we are headed towards that day. 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:46.079 So in our holiness, we act as his people. 00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:50.480 Love one another earnestly from pure heart. 00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:56.160 If you're a Christian, your holiness will be seen in how you love the church. 00:30:56.880 --> 00:31:01.680 How you love brothers and sisters in Christ because you've been born again. 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:06.720 This is the reality of who you are, united to Christ, united to his people. 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:12.480 This will be displayed in how you love those around you. 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:18.319 A love unique to God's people, growing together in holiness. 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:25.119 And it has only been possible through the word, through Jesus. 00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:37.279 Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God, for all flesh is like grass, and all the glory like the flower of grass. 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:42.079 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord remains forever. 00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:45.680 And this word is the good news that was preached to you. 00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:54.559 The life we have, the life we live as his people, has been purified because of him. 00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:56.480 We have been united to him. 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:59.039 This has happened through faith. 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:03.759 Faith in the good news, the gospel, Jesus Christ. 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:08.079 A gospel that is not perishable but imperishable. 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:11.920 Nothing in this world can destroy it. 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:15.839 The devil himself cannot destroy it. 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:18.240 It is living and active. 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:20.880 It will never perish. 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:29.279 But when we neglect God's word, his gospel, we will not be the people he has called us to be. 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:34.480 We will not be helped and directed in how we might live. 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:39.279 If you are going to base your life on anything, base it on the gospel. 00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:43.759 Base it on the truth of who Jesus Christ is and what he has done. 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:53.279 This is not just a book, it is the word of God, the God who speaks today, the God who says, This is how to live. 00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:55.920 The word that speaks to us. 00:32:56.240 --> 00:33:00.160 Growing in holiness will not happen without it. 00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:04.559 As I come to the end, there are just two things I want to do. 00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:11.200 I want to practically display ways in which we continue to grow in holiness. 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:19.759 And finally, I want to illustrate for us a reality that Peter is pointing us towards. 00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:25.200 So practically, there are things in the Christian faith called means of grace. 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:27.279 You may have heard that term. 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:32.720 Two of them I have spoken about just there, the word and the church. 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:34.880 And then the third is prayer. 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:40.799 If you neglect any of these three, you will struggle to grow in holiness. 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:44.400 So let me ask, how is your time? 00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:46.240 Don't worry, you don't have to respond. 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:49.279 How is your time in the word going? 00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:55.119 How are you daily making this a priority? 00:33:57.920 --> 00:34:12.400 How are you desperately coming each morning or the time that you have to the word to seek Him, to seek truth, to seek life, to help you in that day live how you have been made to live. 00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:19.280 Because it is only by the Word that we will grow in the likeness of our Savior. 00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:30.880 As His Spirit works within us, to treat this book lightly is to mess around with your holiness. 00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:37.760 If there's a choice between breakfast and reading God's word, read God's word. 00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:39.679 Miss breakfast. 00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:45.039 How engaged are you in church? 00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:48.239 Two weeks ago I preached a sermon on it. 00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:53.039 This was largely the topic, so you can listen to that. 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:55.519 But let me say this. 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:59.119 You've not been called to attend church. 00:34:59.280 --> 00:35:03.039 You've been called to be a part of the church. 00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:07.679 How known are you by brothers and sisters in Christ? 00:35:08.079 --> 00:35:10.480 How invested are they in your life? 00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:18.320 How are you seeking to use the gifts God has given you to serve, to love, to give towards the church? 00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:23.920 Neglecting Christ's bride is neglecting Christ. 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:29.599 We are not just about coming together on a Sunday. 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:34.400 The call is to be brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:40.480 To invest, to love, to care, to be proactive. 00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:42.559 And finally, prayer. 00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:46.159 How does praying feel to you? 00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:49.840 Is praying natural for you? 00:35:50.719 --> 00:35:52.719 Or does it feel forced? 00:35:54.239 --> 00:36:01.119 So often in church, corporate prayer times are so neglected that they are the most neglected times. 00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:10.079 And surely that probably signifies that individually for us, prayer is neglected. 00:36:11.039 --> 00:36:19.519 Your focus in prayer is not about just sounding good, saying the right words. 00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:28.000 It's about coming before your God, your holy father, your savior, seeking Him. 00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:31.679 In the big and small situations of your life. 00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:36.880 I've had many times in my life where I'm just walking somewhere and I'm just talking to my Heavenly Father. 00:36:37.199 --> 00:36:39.039 Those are precious times. 00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:44.000 Times where I've been with brothers and sisters in Christ praying together. 00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:47.119 And sometimes I don't actually even want that to end. 00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:49.280 I'd love it to just keep going. 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:52.960 Let's just keep seeking Him, keep praying to Him. 00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:59.599 A prayerless life is an independent life. 00:37:00.239 --> 00:37:03.679 If you don't think you need to pray, you don't think you need God. 00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:15.360 Charles Spurgeon said, I know of no better thermometer to your spiritual temperature than this, the measure of the intensity of your prayer. 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:20.719 Growing in holiness is a call on us. 00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:23.039 It's a call toward life. 00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:34.639 And one of the things that Peter has been doing in throughout his letter, but also in our passage, is lining it up with our eternal position. 00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:41.440 And there was an illustration that I have which I think helps us in this. 00:37:41.679 --> 00:37:44.400 I stole it, so you can't give me credit for it. 00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:46.880 But I think it's really helpful to consider. 00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:51.440 And what I want you to consider is this rope is a timeline. 00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:55.039 This is a picture of your life. 00:37:55.280 --> 00:37:59.679 This is where it starts, and I know the rope ends there, just imagine it doesn't. 00:37:59.920 --> 00:38:01.119 It keeps going. 00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:02.880 It never ends. 00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:08.480 And this little black bit is your life here on earth now. 00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:12.320 Whatever, 70, 80, 90 years. 00:38:12.639 --> 00:38:14.079 That's your life. 00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:21.840 And what is so bad, what is so unhelpful for us is we worry so much about this. 00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:28.880 We focus so much in this moment on what will make me happy in this moment. 00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:37.599 Whatever it is, whether it's that experience, whether that's it's a new thing, clothes, whatever it is, this new job you want. 00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:46.079 And your focus is so much on the temporary, on the things now, and these things will give you what you long for. 00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:51.440 Yet the fact is, this is eternity. 00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:53.920 And there is a lot more of this. 00:38:54.159 --> 00:39:01.760 And yet, what God is saying, what Peter is saying, is that actually how you live now impacts this. 00:39:02.719 --> 00:39:06.079 Impacts the eternal reality for you. 00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:19.599 That actually, if you mess around here living for what you want, what you think is good, at the end of your life, you will not be thinking, oh man, I wish I played Fortnite more. 00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:22.960