Ezra Taft Benson said, “The Lord works from the inside-out. The world works from the outside in. the world would take the people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human behavior.”
Holiness is a probability
1 PT 1:1-3
One person said this about Peter “He was likable man, a hasty man, a going man, a loyal man, a rock man, a growing man and an apostle of Hope. This letter has been called the Letter of Hope, courage and Holy Living and states the fact that holiness of life is more important than deliverance from suffering. This letter was written to remind us of our need to live holy lives, conducted with awe toward God and with eager and heartfelt love toward other believers.
Peter begins his first letter to Christians in Asia Minor by acknowledging their election according to God’s foreknowledge, made possible by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, and for obedience and sprinkling by the blood of Jesus.
The Bible does teach election but there has been some disagreement as to what this means. God we find has chosen some individuals to perform a particular service for Him. Priests, the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the Lord your God has chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried. God chose Jacob over Esau to be the line that the Israel would come. He chose Cyrus to set the Israelites free from captivity many years before he was born. He chose Jeremiah when he was just a young man to preach His word. He chose John the Baptist to be the one to proclaim Jesus was coming. They have been times God has chosen nations to do His work such as Egypt, Israel and Babylon.
God has left it up to us to choose Him and if we do then we become His elected. I have found that the predestination refers only to those who have been saved.
Eph. 1:3-6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” DT. 30:19 "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! Josh. 24:15 But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve.” MT 11:27-29 "My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. JN 20:31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life. RM 4:3 For the Scriptures tells us, "Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous." Rev. 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let each one who hears them say, "Come." Let the thirsty ones come—anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge. God’s election purpose is to save mankind from sin. Salvation is offered to all who will believe in His name. The persons who are elected by God are those who come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ. JN 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 2 PT 3:9 “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.”
God elects those who accept His offer of salvation and who chose to serve Him in love and obedience.
1. Let us look at holiness as it is purposed.
A. The holiness God has for us is from His foreknowledge. He knows what is best for us.
B. The word sanctification here refers to the process of and result of the Holy Spirit working in our heart to cleanse it from moral evil and adjust our wills to God’s will. God wants us to be like Him. Eph. 1:4 “God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” God created man to be like him as we read in Gen. 1:27 “So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.”
C. It is a divine work in which the heart is cleansed form all sin and filled with pure love for God and man. I want us to be clear here this does not mean an absolute perfection, which means there is not room for improvement, but gives us a restoration of the image of God that makes our character and service acceptable to God. This sanctification gives to life a purity, power and beauty that is given by the working of the Holy Spirit.
D. we find that this work originates with the Father and is provided by the redeeming power of Jesus Christ. It is a work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s heart. It comes about when we abandon our self to the will and service of God. It brings peace that is way beyond our understanding. This story talks about how peace comes even when the world gives away.
Genelle was the 2nd youngest of 13 children and grew up in the Caribbean Islands. Her mother was devout Catholic. Genelle disliked church and thought it was a waste of time. She did not like living at home with so many people and so many rules to follow. At the age of 19 and pregnant she moved out to live with her boyfriend. That lasted only 6 years. She then began a life of clubs and parties with its dancing and music. She was mother of two but had made it through college and was enjoying the life of single woman who had to answer to no one. She moved to N. Y. in 1998 leaving her children behind. She found life in N. Y. was one with endless clubs and parties. She tried to get back her children but their father did not want to let them go. She moved in with am named Roger and enjoyed the life she was living. Then came the day that changed her life. It was September 11, 2001 and she rode the elevator up to the 64th floor of the north tower of the world trade Center. She had worked there for nine months. She was making small talk with a co-worker when the building stated to shake. She had no idea what had happened. She heard that a plane had hit the tower but did not think much of it but wondered why people were grabbing their stuff and heading for the elevator. Some one called as to what they were to do and were told to stay put. She talked with her friend Rosa. They called their friends and decided to head out but found the elevators not working and smoke was coming out the stairwells. They were there with about 15b people. They turned on the TV and fond out the news of a terrorist attack. Then the building shook again as they found out that 2nd plane had hit the south tower. She thought this building could not go down for it was designed to be solid. The smoke began to pour in and they put sweaters and jackets to block the smoke from coming in the doorways. After an hour and no help on the way they were wanting to go but the engineer said he was not going. Then the building shook again when the south tower fell down. They removed the tape from the door and headed out. They met some fire fighters and went with them down to the 30th floor. She stopped to take off her shoes when she heard a boom and everything went black. She felt something hit her in the chest. 110 floors came crashing around her and she knew she was being buried alive. Things got quiet and she was still breathing. She tried to move her head but it was pinned under the concrete. She called out for Rosa but no rely. She heard a man cal out, “Help, help, help!” It stopped after a few moments. Then it was that she started thinking about herself and what if she died. She did not know how to ask for forgiveness and she knew she would end up in hell. She went in and out of consciousness. The only thing she could move was her left hand and she tried to move the rubble out of the way. She prayed, “God, I can’t take this pain. Help me get my head free of the concrete.” with a hard yank she pulled her head free but lost hair in the process. She could not get free and one time she felt the leg of a man. She fell asleep. When she woke up she prayed again. “God, you have to help me! You have to show me a sign, show me a miracle, and give me a second. Please save my life!” Her eyes were caked with grime that the tears could not come through. She told the Lord she would give Him her life if she could get out. “Lord, just give me a 2nd chance and I promise I will do your will.” She fell asleep again praying. Them more she prayed the less she felt the pain that was in her foot and side. It turned into night and it was cold. The next day she heard a beep, beep and called for help. She heard someone holler, “Hello is somebody in there?” She called out her name and where she was. She stuck out her hand as far as she could but heard no response. She lost consciousness. When she came awake again she heard rescue workers above her. She prayed again and stuck out her hand. “Genelle. I have you! You’re going to be alright. My name is Paul. I won’t let go of your hand until they get you out.” She could not see Paul but knew he had her hand. Two men finally came and took her by the shoulders and Paul let go of her hand. She was placed on a stretcher and passed down a long line of people. It had been 27 hours since the tower had collapsed. She was the last survivor to be pulled out of the wreckage. She hard to spend five weeks in the hospital. Her loved ones and Roger had trouble looking at her because of what had happened to her face and head. She wanted to get out of the hospital so she could get to living for Christ. The hospital staff worried about her because she did not seem depressed or fearful. They had a psychiatrist visit her often but could not find but a cheerful person. Se was told she probably not walk again but she kept talking with God and fleet that she would be able to walk again. By February 2002 she was able to take her brace off and walk barefooted. She wanted to find the man named Paul but never found that man to tank him. She was on TV and told her story in Time and guideposts but no one named Paul ever contacted her. When she was in the hospital she told Roger they could no longer live together. He came to know tm Lord and they were married and baptized. Genelle’s story reminds us that tomorrow may be to late and we need to ask Christ into our hearts today.
E. God’s way is a well-grounded, living hope. 1 PT 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1. Here is a message to Christians who experiencing fiery trials and unbelievable hardships and were reminded that their salvation was secured by the power of God.
2. They were being encouraged to face the future with holy boldness because their salvation would be perfected.
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is a truth that assures us that God is totally in control of the salvation that He provides.
4. The foundation is that faith establishes us in believing, obedience directs us in doing and patience comforts us in suffering.
Peter was an eyewitness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here he declares it has power to bring salvation to all people everywhere. The God ward look is the power of Hope. What is your hope based on?
