The Three Legged Stool

TEXT1 Pet. 1:1-2

INTRODUCTION:

A.  TWO SERMON TYPES – TOPICAL AND EXPOSITORY.

          1.  Topical  deals with a subject à Several passages used.

          2.  Expository à Expose the meaning of a particular text.

B.  EXPOSITORY SERMONS INVOLVE CONTEXT – BY DEFINITION.

          1.  Must see discussed topics as they are intended.

          2.  Some books set context in their salutation – often overlooked.

          3.  1 Peter salutation could be made into a series on various topics.

          4.  Introduces “sanctification” as central to faithfulness.

C.  SANCTIFICATION IS A 3 LEGGED STOOL.

I.      FIRST, THE AUTHOR AND ITS READERS.

A.  PETER – APOSTLE – WHAT IS REQUIRED?

          1.  Qualifications given by Peter (Acts 1:21-22).  Matthias chosen to succeed Judas.

          2.  Apostle’s work:

                   a.  Witnesses (Acts 1:8;  2:32).

                   b.  What they themselves saw and heard (1 John 1:32 Pet. 1:16).

          3.  Peter not a pope (Matt. 16:18)

                   a.  Rock – petros – foundation stone;  Peter – petra – movable stone.

                   b.  Peter uses this to illustrate (1 Pet. 2:4-5).

B.  READERS:

          1.  The elect – chosen.

                   a.  Who is chosen? (2:9) – Race or nation, not individuals, but a class.

                   b.  What is chosen (Eph. 1:4)  “Holy and without blemish…”

                   c.  Believers – How? (2 Thess. 2:13-14John 6:44-45) Called thru the Gospel.

                   d.  Mourners (Matt. 11:27-28Matt. 5:3-4).

                   e.  According to God’s foreknowledge (Eph. 1:4-51 Pet. 1:20Eph. 3:10-11).

          2.  Sojourners of the Dispersion.

                   a.  This world is not my home (1:142:11Phil. 3:202 Cor. 5:8).

                   b.  Used of dispersed Jews (John 7:35).

                   c.  Christians (James 1Acts 8:1, 4).

II.     SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT.

A.  SANCTIFY – hagios – HOLY, SET APART, SEPARATE, SPECIAL (2:9).

          1.  God claims us (2:9Rom. 8:16-17Gal. 4:6-7).

          2.  God exalts us (Eph. 2:4-7).

          3.  Special (James 1:17-18).

B.  OF THE SPIRIT.

          1.  Called to this sanctification by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:13-14).

          2.  The Gospel demands sanctification.

                   a.  The Gospel Commands (2 Cor. 17-18).

                   b.  The Gospel Explains (Titus 2:11-122 Tim. 3:16-17).  THE SPIRIT’S ROLE.

III.    THE THREE LEGGED STOOL.

A.  SANTIFICATION FROM SIN (2 Cor. 6:17-18).

          1.  We are to be different (Rom. 12:2)  By being right.

          2.  Abstain from fleshly lust (1 Pet. 2:11-121 John 2:15-17).

          3.  Commanded – Something we do, not done to us (2 Cor. 7:1).  WE DO IT!

          4.  What is typically thought of, but it is not all.

B.  SEPARATION UNTO OBEDIENCE.

          1.  Obedience in necessary.

                   a.  Sacrificial gifts are no substitute (1 Sam. 15-22).

                   b.  Let God define “good works” (Matt. 7:21-27).

                   c.  He has some designed for us (Eph. 2:102 Tim. 3:16-17).

          2.  God has separated us for such (Titus 2:13-14).

          3.  Expected to be zealous and ready (Titus 3:1).

C.  SEPARATED UNTO SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD.

          1.  Reference to the high priest (Lev. 16Heb. 9:19-2210:22).

          2.  And to forgiveness obtained by Christ’s blood (Heb. 9:2210:221 John 1:7).

          3.  Separated to it.

                   a.  Who?  The elect – believers and sojourners (1:1).

                   b.  Theirs exclusively (Rom. 8:11 John 1:6-72:1-2).

                   c.  In Christ? (Rom. 6:3Gal. 3:26-27).

D.  ONE SANCTIFICATION.

          1.  Can’t have one without all three.

          2.  Without separation from sin and obedience there is no blood sprinkling.

 

                             SANCTIFIED

FROM SIN                                           UNTO OBEDIENCE

                         UNTO FORGIVENESS

CONCLUSIONARE YOU A SAINT?