Sermon 9: “Now the People of God” Part 1

Text: 1 Peter 2:5-10 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

Purpose: The purpose of this section was to remind these Christian’s that their new position in Christ was full of rich blessings and humbling purposes for God’s glory.

Proposition: God wants us to reflect on these rich blessings we have as a body of Christians.

Interrogative: How can we do this?

Truth 1: The church forms two distinct and glorious functions: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ...”

• One preliminary thought: The temple of the Holy Spirit is described in two ways in the New Testament: 
  • Individuality: Paul refers to each individual Christian as the temple of the Holy Spirit: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are...” 
  • Interdependence: 1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not [plural] that your body [singular]  is the temple [singular] of the Holy Ghost which is in you [plural], which ye have of God [plural], and ye are not your own [plural]? 
  • Peter’s point Interdependence: 2:10 “Ye also, as lively stones [plural], are built up a spiritual house [singular]...” 
• Function 1: We Function as God’s Temple: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house...” 
  • We like the temple of old have a special sense of` God’s presence: Revelation 2:1 “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks...” 
  • We like the temple of the old find a special place of repentance, sacrifice, and reconciliation: 1 Corinthians 11:26-29 “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body...” 
  • We like the temple of old are a place for communion with God: Ephesians 3:14-19 “I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in

Simply Healthy Christianity

Text: 1 Peter 2:1-3 “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious...”

Purpose: The purpose of these verses is to emphasize that Christians must have a longing for God’s word so that they will have a healthy growing Christian walk.

Proposition: God wants me to have a longing for His word. 

Interrogative: How can I have a longing for God’s word?

Truth 1: Command: I must realize that I am commanded to have this appetite: 3:2 “Desire the sincere milk of the word...”

• The sense of the statements: You absolutely must desire the word of God.
• The context of the statement: The word used for desire (ἐπιποθέω) is used 9 times in the NT and in all 9 examples; the word is used in the context of a longing for or yearning to be close to someone that we love. 
• The nature of object of the statement: 
  • The word is sincere/without any mixture of error
  • The word is logically order: The word used for “word” is not the typical word used (λογός) but is a word used only one other time in the NT. (λογικός) Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

Application: I am being disobedient to God’s clear command if I refuse to cultivate this healthy appetite for God’s word.

Truth 2: Rivals: I must remove hindrances to this appetite: 3:1 “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking...”

• The Prominence of this command in the NT: 
  • Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light... 
  • Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts... 
  • James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls... 
• Our hunger for God’s word is directly related to our willingness to put away the specific sins that are mentioned in this list: 
  • Observation 1: We cannot afford to go half way on this command “All” 
  • Observation 2: The dehumanizing lusts that we harbor in our hearts will so dominate our thinking that they replace a healthy hunger for God’s word and shade the way we interpret it: 
    • Malice: Ill will toward others 
    • Guile: Deception 
    • Hypocrisy: Two-facedness 
    • Envies: Becoming discontented because another has experienced God’s good hand 
    • Evil Speaking: Slandering others 

Application: I am acting in self-deception if I think I am able to entertain sinful passions while continuing to cultivate a hunger for God’s word. 

Truth 3: Picture: I must understand this practical illustration: 3:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby...”

• The illustration: “As newborn babes...” 
  • Newborns have a relentless hunger for their mother’s milk. 
  • Newborns need this constant feeding to support rapid growth and good health. 
  • Newborn establish a powerful bond with their mother while feeding. 
  • Newborn babies develop a sense of security as they feed. 
• The stated

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Part 6: The Helmet of Salvation

Text: Ephesians 6:10-16 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation...”

Purpose: Paul wrote this section, recognizing both the reality of the constant conflict with spiritual wickedness in high places, and the means by which God strengthens Christians in the battle so they can be victorious. 

Proposition: God wants us to focus our thinking on the reality of our coming salvation when we are most prone to discouragement in the battle. 

Interrogative: How can we do this?

Review

Article 1: Have your loins girt about with truth...

Article 2: Have on the breastplate of righteousness...

Article 3: Have your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace...

Article 4: Taking the shield of faith...

Article 5: Take the helmet of salvation...

Take the helmet of salvation:

Question 1: What is the helmet of salvation?

• Dwight Pentecost in His book Designed to be Like Him wrote: “No Roman soldier would think of advancing into battle without a helmet to cover his head. This helmet was usually a cap made of leather to which metal plates had been fastened. Some helmets were made of solid metal cast in the form of a head-covering. Whatever the external form of the helmet, the purpose was the same—to protect the head from the blows of the broadsword.[1]” Simply put for the soldier: The purpose of the helmet protects the mind.

Two Facts about the Helmet:

• Fact 1: The helmet is a defensive instrument to protect how the Christian thinks: 
  • Simply put for the Christian: The state of the Christian’s mental health is perhaps the single most important thing that is true about him. 
    • Every Christian Needs: freedom from internal restlessness 
      • A confidence that He is saved. 
      • A clean conscience. 
      • A disinterest in the favorable or unfavorable opinions of others. 
      • A freedom from the lust of materialism. 
      • A confidence in the providence of God. 
      • An all-consuming passion for God and His Kingdom 
• Fact 2: Putting on the helmet is an illustration of the Christian choosing to focus his thinking on his salvation when he is in the face of tremendous spiritual opposition: 
  • What aspect of our salvation are the scriptures telling us to focus upon? 
    • The Christian’s salvation in the Past: 
    • The Christian’s salvation in the Present: 
    • The Christian’s salvation in the Future: 1 Thessalonians 5:8-9 “Let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ...” 
      • Saved from the wrath of God both in the Tribulation and for all eternity: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 “Yourselves know perfectly that the day of

In this first sermon on Pastor Joel's series in Ephesians 6:10-18, you will look at what the Bible has to say about the first piece of spiritual armor: the belt.