1 Peter 2:2, "Digging In" (fighting pos.)

 

• Stability (Eph. 4:4)

• Protection (Heb. 4:12)

• Defense (1 Pet. 3:15)

 

 

Assembly Line Salvation

1 Pet. 3:15

 

Henry Ford--famous for automobile and assembly line

The one who put the finishing touches on the car had a desirable job

Salvation works that way

 

-Dan Smith put his hand on a man's back and immediately the man went forward.

-Kurt met K.B., heard preacher at church, talked to Dr. Sewell and Lonnie Short, and called Mr. Adams and got saved.

-Saul/Paul:     Stephen stoned, Acts 7:58

                        Made havoc on the church, Acts 8:3

                        Lord witnesses to him, Acts 9

 

age of account.          witness                           witness                          witness    saved

 

Our job is not to win souls, but to preach the gospel (Mk. 16:15)

And every little bit means much.

 

 

Preaching portion:  2 Peter 3:6, 7, &13

Subject:  Cosmology

Theme/Proposition:  The cosmology of the Bible.

 

Introduction:  Cosmology is a world view.

 

1A  Cosmology in the past  v. 6

2A  Cosmology in the present  v. 7

3A  Cosmology in prospect  v. 13

 

 

1 Pet 4.12-19

The Way of the Prophets

 

Intro:  In ancient Rome, crowds by the tens of thousands would gather in the Coliseum to watch as Christians were torn apart by wild animals. Paul Rader, commenting on his visit to this famous landmark, said, “I stood uncovered to the heavens above, where He sits for whom they gladly died, and asked myself, ‘Would I, could I, die for Him tonight to get this gospel to the ends of the earth?’” Rader continued, “I prayed most fervently in that Roman arena for the spirit of a martyr, and for the working of the Holy Spirit in my heart, as He worked in Paul’s heart when He brought him on his handcuffed way to Rome.” Those early Christians “lived on the threshold of heaven, within a heartbeat of home, no possessions to hold them back.”

 

Don’t be surprised

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised (why me Lord?) at the painful (Gk:  purosei—Fiery; Eph 6)  trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you

 

1 Tim 3:12

God Allows (we don’t see Job 1 and 2)

 

Rather, Rejoice

13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

 

Mt 5:10-12

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

 

You’re in Good Company

 

A Badge of Honor

14 If (condition, ei followed by indicative) you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit (indicative of God’s approval, blessing, and protection) of glory and of God rests on you.

 

15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.

 

 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian (name applied in derision, Acts 11:26), do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

 

Eusebuis

When the Emperor Valens threatened Eusebuis with confiscation of all his goods, torture, banishment, or even death, the courageous Christian replied, 'He needs not fear confiscation, who has nothing to lose; nor banishment, to whom heaven is his country; nor torments, when his body can be destroyed at one blow; nor death, which is the only way to set him at liberty from sin and sorrow."

 

Look Ahead

17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

 

18 And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

 

Peter encourages Christians to look ahead (apocalyptic) for comfort

 

Remain Faithful to the End

 19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will (Gk:  thelo) should commit (2:23; Acts 7:59; Lk 23:46) themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good (Gal 6:9)

 

Archaeologists digging in the remains of a school for imperial pages in Rome found a picture dating from the third century. It shows a boy standing, his hand raised, worshiping a figure on a cross, a figure that looks like a man with the head of an ass. Scrawled in the writing of a young person are the words, “Alexamenos worships his God.”   Nearby in a second inscription: “Alexamenos is faithful.” Apparently, a young man who was a Christian was being mocked by his schoolmates for his faithful witness