Pass the Time of Your Sojourn

TEXT:  1 Pet. 1:17-21

INTRODUCTION:  “IF YOU CALL ON HIM AS FATHER …”

A.    GOD IS FATHER TO THE CHRISTIAN ( Matt. 23:9;  Rom. 8:16 ).

B.    IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, this admonition is for you!

I.      PASS THE TIME OF YOUR SOJOURN IN FEAR.

A.    WE ARE SOJOURNERS – TEMPORARY RESIDENTS.

        1.     People from another world ( John 17:16 ).

        2.     Where are we from? ( Phil. 3:20 ).

        3.     We long to go home ( 2 Cor. 5:1-8;  Phil. 1:21-24 ).

        4.     Therefore, our energies and goals are heavenly

                                                      ( Col. 3;1-2;  Matt. 6:19-21 ).

               a.     We must not be contaminated ( 1 Pet. 2:11;  2 Cor. 7:1 ).

               b.     Earthlings will develop an attitude about us

                                                                        ( 1 Pet. 4:3-4; John 15:19-20 ).

               c.     We cannot allow this to pressure us to conform ( Rom. 12:2 ).

               d.     We must continue to behave properly ( 1 Pet. 2:11-12 ).

B.    WE ARE TO PASS THE TIME OF OUR SOJOURN IN FEAR

– REALIZING THE GRAVITY OF OUR WALK ( Matt. 16:26 ).

        1.     Eph. 5:15-16.  Like walking in a minefield!

        2.     Temptation is abundant ( 1 Pet. 5:8 ).

        3.     We must realize the need to be different ( Matt. 5:13 ).

        4.     We must keep up our defenses ( Eph. 6:10-18 ).

II.     WALK CAREFULLY – IN FEAR – BECAUSE OF JUDGMENT.

A.    JUDGMENT IS CERTAIN ( Heb. 9:27; Acts 17:30-31 ).

B.    EVERY MAN WILL BE THERE ( Rev. 20:12-13 ).

C.    WE WILL GIVE ANSWER ( 2 Cor. 5:10;  Rom. 14:10-12 ).

D.    NOTHING WILL BE HIDDEN ( Heb. 4:12-13 ).

E.    JESUS THE STANDARD( Acts 17:30-31;  John 12:48;  Luke 10:16 ).

F.    TERRIBLE RESULTS FOR THE CONDEMNED

                                                                      ( 2 Thess. 1:7-9;  Matt. 25:46 ).

G.    2 Pet. 3:11-12.  “LOOK FOR AND EARNESTLY DESIRE?”

H.    LET US THEN WALK CAREFULLY!

III.    WALK CAREFULLY IN APPRECIATION OF CHRIST’S DEATH.

A.    REDEMPTION MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH HIS DEATH.

        1.     Redeemed by his blood ( vs. 18-19 ).

        2.     A sacrificial lamb ( 2:21-24 ).

        3.     No accident ( vs. 20;  Acts 2:22-24 ).

B.    DO WE KNOW WHAT JESUS WENT THROUGH? ( Rom. 5:8 ).

C.    DO WE APPRECIATE IT?

        1.     An appreciation will lead the sinner to repent ( Rom. 2:4 ).

        2.     It will lead to a life of sacrifice and service

                                                                          ( Gal. 2:20;  2 Cor. 2:14-15 ).

D.    WHAT ABOUT YOU?  HAS APPRECIATION LED YOU TO

        WALK IN FEAR?  HAS IT LED YOU ANYWHERE?  DO YOU EVEN

        CONSIDER JESUS AS YOU HURRY ABOUT DOING THINGS SO

        SEEMINGLY IMPORTANT?

CONCLUSION:

A.    DO YOU CALL ON HIM AS FATHER?

B.    HAVE YOU BEEN REDEEMED BY JESUS’ BLOOD? ( Rom. 6:3 ).