A Required Return

A Required Return

1. The Church at Ephesus

Revelation 2:2-3 

If you had nothing else but these two verses, the church at Ephesus had it going on!  

They were working hard, enduring the difficulties of this world and calling out so-called apostles who are liars.  They were steadfast in bearing the Good News in the name of Jesus – and they were not losing heart.

More importantly, Jesus was commending them for their efforts! 

But Jesus continued…

Revelation 2:4-5 

What seemed to be good now appears to be hollow.  

They were so busy working for Jesus that they were failing to grow in their love for Him.  In fact, Jesus told them, “You have left me behind!”

He didn’t condemn the church for abandoning Him; He pointed out the problem and provided the way to resolution.  

• Remember from where you have been saved.  
• Repent of serving in His name when you are not following Him. 
• Do the things He leads you to do in His power for His glory.

Jesus said, if you do not repent, He will remove the lampstand (the church would lose its effectiveness and would not bear fruit).

2. The church at West Point.e

2 Peter 1:3-9 

Who has been granted ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness by the grace of God? US.

God redeemed us through the blood of Jesus Christ, restored us in fellowship with Him and positioned us as full recipients of His promises.  

For what reason?

That we may become partners in His divine nature, having escaped the corruption caused by our sinful desires. 

There is a heart change and life change that is accompanied with true surrender.  We are no longer slaves to our sinful desires, because we have been given divine power to choose God’s desires.

Our time spent in prayer and in His Word work together to keep Him first in our lives.  If we neglect either of these - we are not able to keep Him First in our lives. If we lose our first love, we become like the church at Ephesus – losing our impact and effectiveness.

Because we are partners in His divine nature and are no longer slaves to our sinful desires, we make every effort to use what God has given us to grow in His character.

We begin with faith. Many people place faith in their abilities, their money, their family or their experience – but it is only when we place our faith in Jesus, trusting in His completed work, that we will enjoy a restored relationship and experience salvation.

If you have not placed your trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, you do not have a foundation of faith from which you may grow. 

From the foundation of faith in Christ, we make every effort to add to that faith, virtue – or excellence of character.  

Character has been defined as “who you are when no one else is around”.  

To our virtue, we add knowledge.  What kind of knowledge?  The knowledge of God’s word, His promises, character and commands.  

How can we partner with someone in whom we know little about?

To knowledge, self control.  Every effort. Let me just say that every effort is not made to control self, but every effort is made to decrease self so that God might increase - who brings about self control (Galatians 5:22-23).

To self control, steadfastness.  In the same way we build up endurance through physical activity, we build up spiritual endurance by practicing what God instructs.

To steadfastness, godliness. Godliness is the devoted practice of God’s activity.

To godliness, brotherly affection.  This is where the church becomes family.  We help, protect, provide, defend, support….

To brotherly affection, love.  Love in action!  God’s love so fills us that it overflows to the church and is seen by all people to God’s glory.

Let’s not miss this instruction.  Beginning with your faith, change begins internally, which ultimately affects your external behavior.  

Instead of “doing right” and hoping it sticks, we must permit God to change our hearts.

Therefore, if we are guilty of “doing godly things” but neglect “being godly”, we are circumventing God’s work within us and missing our first love.  

Are these qualities optional? No.  

God’s Word said if you have ALL of these qualities in INCREASING measure, it will KEEP you from being INEFFECTIVE and UNPRODUCTIVE.  

If we lack ANY of these qualities, or are not growing in each of them, God said we are blind and have forgotten we were cleansed from our former sins. We are trying to be the church with a misplaced focus.

Let us return to our first love through repentance.

May we Fall before our wonderful Savior who ransomed us from the gates of hell.

Let us commit to keep Him first – before your family, your job, your school, your hobby, your money, your health, your possessions and before yourself.

Make EVERY effort to grow in the qualities of Jesus, by His power, for His glory.

Who Are You?

1 Peter 2:9-12

1. A Royal Priesthood

You have open access to God for daily fellowship and communion for all eternity.

a. We Will Serve.

Revelation 1:6 This verse says we are priests TO HIM forever.  

Let’s be clear, God WANTS you to find Him and know Him!  (Jeremiah 29:13) If you and I are serious about discovering what God wants, we must eliminate the barriers of discovery.  But how?  

Re-igniting our love for God which comes by 

• repenting of any unconfessed sin and intentional sinful behavior. 
• Actively seeking Him through prayer and His Word. And…
• DOING what He says.

b. We Will Wage War

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Being a royal priesthood is not a stroll in the park!  We are engaging in battle as soldiers of the Lord. Against what?

We wage war against evil and demolish strongholds with God’s ability. 

How might that look?

We intentionally make EVERY thought obedient to Christ! Why? Because we love Him and our minds are bent toward disobedience.

As we grow to love Him more, We will align our desires with His, which alters our motivation, resulting in transformation, where God is glorified through our lives.

2. A Holy Nation

God is building a new nation of holy people.  

For any person WHO IS WILLING to separate himself from the sin and evil of this world and set his life apart unto God through Jesus Christ – God makes that person a citizen of His holy nation.

This reiterates the fact that it takes more than a verbal agreement, or more than repeating a prayer  – your confession must be coupled with a heart commitment!

What are our responsibilities as a holy nation?

1. We Will Serve – Luke 1:74  says we have been enabled to serve him without fear.   

Serving is our measure of gratitude offered back to Him. 

b. We Will Obey – Isaiah 35:8

Since it is His nation and His kingdom and we have willingly become His citizens, we are privileged to follow His commands. 

As a citizen of a holy nation, God has given us the means to obey Him through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.  

c. We Will Be Loyal – If we carry dual citizenship, where does our allegiance lie?  (Revelation 3:16 addresses the idea of dual citizenship.)

Attempting to walk the line between this world and Heaven declares your loyalty to self instead of the Lord. Why are we loyal to the Lord?  Because we LOVE HIM above all!

d. We Will Speak Up.  We are prepared to give an answer for the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15).  The purpose? So others may know the love of God.  

Know there is a reason for hope. 

Know there is salvation, peace, mercy and forgiveness in Jesus.

3. A People Belonging to God

God chose you to come to repentance.  No matter what you think about yourself.  No matter what the whispers of this world say about you.  No matter the deep hurt you have experienced.

The value placed upon you, by your Creator, is the life of His Son, Jesus.

4. A People with a Responsibility

1. We Will Declare the praises of Him!  

Don’t forget, we used to NOT be His people, but are now counted as His people!  This is the basis for our love in action.  (Romans 10:14-15)  

b. We Will Abstain

2 Corinthians 7:1 As we understand who we are in Christ, we must distance ourselves from sinful behavior.  Why? 

It wages war internally! 

If we allow the war to rage on after surrender has been declared – we do not fully grasp what happened at the cross and through the resurrection.  Further, we do not take seriously the identity we have in Christ.

c. We Will Live to glorify God in such a way that even the non-believers will glorify God when He returns.  

First, they will hear our testimony because we have been obedient. 

Second, they will see real change because we have been transformed.

When they find themselves on their knees confessing Jesus as Lord, they will come to the realization they have chosen poorly.  Sadly, it will be too late to change their eternal destination.

If you are holding out on becoming a full-fledged, God honoring, citizen of Heaven, let me ask you one question.  

When will you take your last breath here?

Your last breath is your last opportunity repent and confess Jesus as Lord - and you do not know when that will be.  There will be no do-overs. You are either a child of the king on this side of Death or you will NEVER BE.

That is a mistake that has eternal implications.

If we are a Royal Priesthood, then let us serve.

If we are a Holy Nation, then let us obey the laws of our new citizenship.

If we belong to God, then let us live in His provision, security and protection.

Let us be responsible by declaring His praises, abstaining from sinful behavior and living lives that bring glory to God.

If we love God, let’s live for Him!

Our Cornerstone

1 Peter 2:4-8

1. Jesus is…

God clearly describes His plan – His Son is the foundation by which His church will be built, but it will not be built until Jesus makes “the way” through His death and resurrection.

This living stone was rejected by men.  

In The New Testament, Jesus did not fit the hopes and expectations of the Jewish people for the Messiah - so they rejected Him.

We also reject Jesus…

• when He does not fit our plans, 
• when we want to build our own lives and our own church, 
• or when we determine His way is not worth the personal cost.

The living stone was chosen and precious in the sight of God. Jesus was foreknown before the foundations of the earth (1:20) and is precious to God (1:19).   Equally as important, God's plan cannot be thwarted (Job 42:2).

God’s plan is not determined by our approval or acceptance.

 The reason God’s church will succeed in its purpose is because His church is built upon the foundation of Christ. 

In Matthew 16:18, when Jesus gave Simon the name “Peter” (which means rock) and claimed He would build His church on this rock – did Jesus claim Peter was now THE living stone, chosen and precious by God? Did Peter superseded Christ Jesus in His role as the foundation of the church? No, and it would be a heresy to lift Peter to such a position.  

Jesus was referring to Peter’s confession (Matthew 16:16) that “Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), Son of the living God”. 

It is upon this direct revelation from God to mankind and the confession by man that the church will be built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Peter moves from identifying Jesus as the living stone to the cornerstone.  The cornerstone is the preeminent stone that comes before all others that sets the pattern for which everything else will be built.  

Jesus came to be the very foundation of our lives that would become the standard for everything we would say, think and do.  If He is not your foundation, He is not in the proper role in your life.

Jesus is also a stumbling stone. If your life is not built on the cornerstone, His way has become a stumbling stone in your life.

2. The Church is…

As you continue coming to Him, you are like living stones. In the midst of our daily challenges, our weariness and our discouragement – something miraculous happens when we continue coming to Him.  

We become more like Him and can be used for His purpose!

By nature of this verse, God is presently and continually building us up as a spiritual house. A spiritual house is the dwelling place of God made up of those who follow Him.  It is not a physical temple or church building – it is the work of the Spirit in us through Jesus.  

It is in this process, we discover our purpose and reason for existence together.  The impact of this truth; however, must translate to our everyday lives.  

We carry the presence of God as we leave this place, and with that, carry the responsibility of making Him known at school, at work, at home, as we date, as we play sports or other hobbies, etc…

He is building us up to be a holy priesthood. Holy means to be set apart for service to God.  It describes our loyalty and commitment to follow Christ. 

The priesthood; however, describes our status.  God did not give His Son for us to only escape the eternal fires of hell; He saved us to be heirs to His kingdom.

Therefore, with a genuine relationship that results in salvation, we are full-time servants of God for the rest of our days and our spiritual sacrifices are acceptable, because they are offered through Jesus.

What are these sacrifices?

Romans 12:1 says to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him. Simply put, your spiritual sacrifice is dying to your desires and living for His daily.

In verse 7, we are also honored just like Jesus is.  Not because of our accomplishments or successes, but because we are found in Christ (Colossians 3:3).

3. Who the rest are (those who do not believe)

The rest are disobedient builders who choose to build without the foundation of Jesus Christ. What God counts as precious, is rejected by them.  They may want Christ enough to prevent an eternal Hell, but they do not want Him enough to live for Him.  Therefore, Christ is a decorative stone without true function.

They are also stumblers. To them, Christ has become a stumbling stone. They believe Jesus was real, was a good teacher and prophet, who experienced an unfortunate death – counting Jesus as just another man. If He is just a little better than man – He is but a hollowed out stone in your life.

They cannot believe Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy and was born of a virgin.  The world tries to explain it away, but if your savior was not born of a virgin, He is not the Savior of the Bible and is only a hollowed out stone in your life.

They cannot believe Jesus lived a sinless life. If your Savior did not live a sinless life, He is not divine and does not have the power or authority to save – a hollowed out stone in your life.

They cannot believe Jesus was raised from the dead.  There are many worldly theories about the death and resurrection of Jesus, but there is also a detailed explanation (with witnesses) in the Bible. Jesus is precious and chosen by God, but if your Savior did not overcome death, he cannot give you eternal life – he is but a hollowed out stone.

Rejecting the Gospel rejects the only hope we have. 

Rejecting Jesus as the cornerstone leads us further down a path of unbelief and disobedience.

Good news – if you will stop, and turn to Him, the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.  

If you already have, you have a purpose!  God is currently building you up with other followers to be a spiritual building, representing Him in your daily life.

Jesus as your foundation first brings about salvation. Second, it brings strength. Third, it brings purpose. And Fourth, it brings glory to God as He builds His spiritual house in us.

Taste and See

Peter continues the Lord’s instruction to the discouraged Christians.  Since they have experienced God’s grace, been born again and have been commanded to love the church with expressions of love - there are specific actions required to maintain love for each other.

1 Peter 2:1-3

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. ² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1. Clean House

“Putting away”.  As it relates to attitudes, it literally means to get rid of and continue doing so.  

Why must we put away these attitudes? Each attitude undermines the very character of God and His church. If they exist to any degree, we cannot love each other as previously commanded.  

Malice: deep seated feelings against a person, bitterness toward another, holding a grudge.

First, there is no additional guidance given. So, malice cannot be justified in our lives.  Regardless of what has happened in the past that causes your bitterness or grudge – you must stop it!  

Second, if your heart is harboring bitterness toward another, who is in control of your heart?  More importantly, who IS NOT in control?

Deceit: In 1 Peter 1:22, we are to have sincere brotherly love. If we deceive others, we have chipped away at the foundation of trust required for sincere love. (Romans 16:18, Ephesians 5:6, Revelation 12:9) 

What is deceit? Using words to get what you want. This comes in the form of flattery, false promises, suggestive talk, enticing words and lying.  If you are using words to manipulate people to fulfill your desires, you are deceitful.

Hypocrisy: A hypocrite is one who pretends to be something he is not.  We are hypocrites when…

we act like we love God, but do not live like God tells us.

When we profess to believe God’s word, but do not search it for ourselves.

When we act friendly, but really don’t care.

When we pretend to follow God, but live how we want.

You and I cannot love genuinely when we are not genuine.

Envy: desiring what someone else has.

Yes, this is applicable to money and possessions, but it goes deeper. 

A beautiful singing voice. Someone’s looks, personality or reputation. Someone’s relationship or freedom from a relationship. Someone's education, career or promotion.

If you are dissatisfied with what you have, you are envious of what someone else has. This creates a barrier to genuinely love others.

Slander: evil speech.  This includes being critical, judgmental, back biting, gossiping, or condemning toward others.  It is talking ill about someone else when they are not in your presence.  

In God’s eyes, those who slander are just as guilty as the one who committed a failure (and is the subject of conversation). There is never a spirit of humility when speaking ill of another person.  (If you are listening to someone talk ill about another, you are a participant as well.)

That is what we must get rid of, but what must we do?

2. Clean Heart

We must long for pure spiritual milk.  

How vital is milk to an infant?  It is imperative for survival and growth.  This is not a declaration that the Christians of that day were a bunch of spiritual babies.  Rather, it describes the continuing deep desire we must have for God’s Word.

What is the purpose of this command?  That we may grow unto salvation, maturing in our faith.  We must realize that it is not the occasional gathering together, or doing ministry that causes us to grow – 

it is our obedience to God’s word that brings about spiritual growth.  

Until we have this deep desire to study and do God’s Word, we will not get rid of the attitudes that prevent us from loving one another.  

…Which prevents us from being the church.  

…Which limits God’s work in and around our lives.

3. Clean Home

 Peter is not telling the discouraged Christians to question their faith, he is encouraging them to remember God’s graciousness!  

If we will meditate on the goodness of God as described in His Word and have experienced in our salvation – we will desire to know Him more.  

When we know Him more, we will be compelled to become more like Him.  

When we become more like Him, we will take off the attitudes and behaviors that are unlike Him.

If you do not desire Him have you genuinely experienced Him?  

For you, acknowledge your need for a Savior, cry out to God, turn from your ways, and lay down the rights to your life.

If you have experienced Him, what other desire consumes your heart and mind?  For you, let it go and turn away! And keep doing so…

There is no room for these attitudes in His church.  

For the sake of our Lord Jesus, will you forgive those who have hurt you?

Will you use your breath to encourage and build up the church?

Will you return to your first love?

Will you, once again, taste and see that the Lord is Good?

Love One Another

1 Peter 1:22-25

1. I have a responsibility

As YOU continue developing moral virtue in your mind, thoughts, feelings and desires.

This describes my (and your) active involvement in an unending process of defeating the old nature.

You and I have responsibilities in our relationship with the Lord. While it would be far easier for God to give me a purified soul…It is with the help of the Holy Spirit you and I develop moral virtue through our obedience to God’s instruction.

If we continue rebelling (neglecting) against His instructions, we cannot develop moral purity.  

If we do not develop moral purity, we cannot love each other in the way the Lord teaches.

1 Corinthians12:27 - Those who are born again are the Body of Christ, supernaturally connected together in Christ Jesus.  God says you and I are to love each other in the same way we love, protect, provide, support, help, encourage and defend our family. 

In other words, the church is to love each other like family genuinely.

Why? Because we are genuinely family!

It is more than an acquaintance.  

It is more than a superficial relationship.  

It is more than a group of people who happen to meet at the same place each week.

We are not called to simply exist together; we are commanded to care for each other. It is this kind of sincere love that is a living witness in our daily lives.

Now for the convicting part. 

If you and I are not studying God’s Word and obeying His teaching, we cannot love each other in this way.  As a result, our daily witness is rendered ineffective and we become a group of people who simply show up to attend a worship service together.

2. I have a reason for my responsibility

Why then must we be obedient, develop moral virtue and love each other? 

Because something has taken place within us that is so significant, the only way to describe it is that we were born again.

We were all first born of perishable seed – the seed of man which is characterized by sin, selfishness and death.  

This is the seed of the world in which we live.  

This is this seed from which we must be saved!

How is this salvation accomplished?  Through the Word of God.

Jesus was not only resurrected by the power of God, but He resurrected US from the perishable seed!

In effect, it is His work and presence that saves us.  

It is also His work and presence that develops our moral virtue as we obey Him.

You and I cannot be saved out of death, 

infused with the spirit of God, 

Blessed with the continued presence of the Lord AND not be changed!

Jesus Christ does not save you and me to remain where we are.  

He saves us TO HIMSELF.  That is a life surrendered to His authority.  A life that is no longer our own to do what We wish.  

You and I do not get saved from Hell without first experiencing Jesus as Lord.  (Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus…)

When you know Jesus as Lord, you will earnestly seek to follow Him in obedience which develops moral virtue and equips you to love His church.

3. I have a hope because of God’s responsibility.

What was good news when you first heard it, is still good news today!

God has not changed.  His promises have not changed. He will never change.

No matter what you are going through right now – it is but a temporary circumstance that is overshadowed by God’s eternal promise.

He does not cease to be God when things do not work out like we had hoped.

He does not cease to be God when we do not understand.

Or when it looks like the world is winning.

Or when we fail miserably.

He is the God of my salvation.  My anchor. My cornerstone.  

There is no power in heaven, on earth or under the earth that can separate me from His love.  John 16:33 He overcame death so this world would not overcome me.

Here is the deal.

• You and I cannot be the church if we are not developing moral virtue through obedience to His word.
• You and I cannot love each other sincerely if we are not developing moral virtue through obedience to His word.
• You and I cannot love the lost if we are not developing moral virtue through obedience to His word.
• You and I have lost our way if we are not developing moral virtue through obedience to His word.

No matter where you are today and no matter your past – God's grace is extended to you. 

If we are to go and be the church, we must commit ourselves to the living word.  Study, Pray, Obey.

We must sincerely love each other like family.

We must seek to live In Such a way that God is magnified in our daily lives.