Our Identity: Joyful Exiles

Following Jesus PART III
11 May 2014
Rev. Leo Schuster

1 Peter 1:1-2
1Peter and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To God's elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

1 Peter 2:9-12
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.  12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

WHO WE ARE
--Scattered exiles and God's chosen possession.
--Roots us in who we are in contrast to the world's message.
--Yet we are special in God's eye.
--Reorients us to our ultimate, true home.
--Reference Jeremiah 29 as exiles.

WHY WE ARE HERE
--Made and sent to worship.
--Built to serve--bridging the presence of God to the rest of the world.

HOW WE LIVE
--V.11-12
--We fight and internal war with our innately sinful desires.
--Our weapon is the gift of grace as given to us by Jesus's blood.
--Humility in our lives as we reflect on His Glory.