Since Being Saved (Part A)

I have found in my Christian walk is the easier part of my walk in identifying false teachers and not liking what I have not found easy is dealing with persecution and so we had the Bible discovers everything our strong points and our weak points are covered in the Scripture, and we do well to familiarize ourselves with them so that the Holy Spirit can do what he will do in us, whether we be weak or strong. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first Peter, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, and now here's Pastor Rick with a brand-new message called since being say talk from first Peter chapter 1, you are in first Peter chapter 1 and if you have your Bibles.

Please turn to first Peter chapter 1 take versus 22 through 25. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit in sincere love of the brethren love one another fervently with a pure heart. Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible through the word of God which lives and abides forever because all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers its flower falls away word of the Lord endures forever. How this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you, since being say that would be the title. I would give to this morning's consideration.

Since you say your Christian since you have given your life to the Lord. Going forward from there. That's what Peter is getting at is he closes up this section as we know, being first Peter. Peter would not die at home in bed and he knew it is would be a public death and execution for believing Jesus Christ would be violent, painful, but it would also be full of glory. It would be a sermon not only for those in his lifetime, but for those after.

To this very day and so here this man Peter knowing he's going to be a martyr writing to Christians who are suffering is encouraging them still. He opened up his letter to Grace and peace of the Lord. He proceeded to tell them to gird up the loins of their mind to be strong and now he is saying.

Well, since you're saved something we all need to be reminded of so strong will be the deception in the coming last days in human history which could happen at any time when God puts an end to human rule on this planet so strong will be the deception throughout the earth on the citizens of antichrist and his forces. His influence that they will commit themselves to bloodshed against those who love Jesus Christ they will murder quite a few and they will do it with glee and they will do it with zeal. John writes about this.

It was shown to him in the Revelation.

Revelation 6 he writes when he opened the fifth seal that is the Lord who took the scroll.

John writes I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God for the testimony which they held.

They didn't back away when evil came knocking and grabbed hold of them and their families. They didn't back away from the word of God. John saw this himself persecuted at the time that he was given the vision long after all of his friends had died violent deaths Peter being one of them.

Paul being another since you being a Christian. While we are on the top topic while we're on the subject.

Here are some things that go with it.

And may we be mindful of this. May this may this do something good for us when we consider such truths from God's word. We look now in verse 22 we get back to these things from Revelation. Also in persecution, which again first Peter concerned itself with how pause when one moment second Peter he deals with apostates in the church. False teachings. I have found in my Christian walk in a easier part of my walk in identifying false teachers and not liking them.

What I have not found easy is dealing with persecution and so we had that the Bible discovers everything our strong points and our weak points are covered in the Scripture, and we do well to familiarize ourselves with them so that the Holy Spirit can do what he will do in us, whether we be weak or strong to his glory because he makes a strong and so now looking again. Verse 22. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren love one another fervently with a pure heart. Since you have been purified your soul that salvation is talking about sin to Christians since your say since you have received the gospel of Jesus Christ produced by the Holy Spirit. Peter does not say that we purify our own souls, we cannot do that.

Our purification is achieved when we receive it in and and that's the context that's what he is saying is real.

Bring that out further in verse 25 but before we get there. Will stay here as it is the surrender to the gospel to the truth of God. Revelation 710. Crying out with a loud voice, saying, salvation belongs to God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.

That's what those strong and powerful angels will be heralding their John heard them say it wrote it down crying with a loud voice, saying, salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb who was in the midst of the throne is so much a part of it. John says he is in the midst of the throne so vital is this purification the salvation of the soul that hell is obsessed with keeping those hated human beings remember receiving it. We have been recruited in Christ to fight that obsession to be down its objectives were supposed to do it by holding to the word even when not popular even when not popular around our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ even when everything is against us. We are to uphold. That is the testimony that is referred to in Revelation 6. They were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. They held to it did not given up. God purifies our souls when we are saved in the strictest sense of the word absolutely do not have power personal purity.

It is something that must come from the fountain.

The throne of God. This has a process that goes with it.

This purification process. There is that instant purification where in position with God in his presence.

We are justified. We are now our sins are washed away. We are saved we are purified. That's justification, then his Holy Spirit begins to work in our lives, and through them a new pattern of living now takes place, and that is sanctification practical sanctification where he is constantly building us up and rebuilding us up. And when we slip backwards. He pushes us and gets us to move forward again.

We stumble and we fall. We succumb to temptation.

He does not abandon us. He says I will never leave you nor forsake you any means. It.

Although we do not lose our salvation when we stumble like this. We can lose our peace and joy.

And if if if too long for goes on too long. We begin to question our salvation, our assurance becomes shaky and so we always are encouraging each other.

The Scripture is encouraging us the spirit of God is encouraging us to not make slipping back a practice he says in obeying the truth, but we cannot separate belief from obedience from action, and some try to know there's even a theological title for those who think that all you have to do is believe in it doesn't really matter what you do after that antinomianism against the law and order and truth we do have to keep those two connected and then this becomes frustrating to some of you in a loss I should say because then I'll those areas.

We try so hard to obey God and we fail that.

Don't let that get you to give up ever make that thing serves you help it cause you to be kinder and gentler towards others more merciful towards others.

Remember, your weaknesses and learn to use them for the glory of God and not for the satisfaction of the devil obeying the truth to sides of purification belief and following what we believe. When Peter was telling about that day he preached to the Gentiles and the Holy Spirit fell upon them.

He wrote this war. Luke wrote it and accept the 15th that the Holy Spirit interrupted his sermon, purifying their hearts by faith by trusting in the work of God. This purification that Peter is talking about in obeying the truth you have you met those who claim they got the Holy Spirit just never obey him dental and not loving their very critical this very of everybody else there always out for something for themselves. They try to show off their gifts as though it's something that they possess and makes them better than you is not being obedient and is not being loving, and it helps us all to be mindful not to attack those. But to certainly not fall into that trap.

Some seem not to believe in obedience. Mere belief in believing is useless if you're solicitous have a theology and never be able to do it. So again, since your Christians.

By the way, since you're being persecuted all by the way there's more to it must act upon what we claim we believe Jesus puts it this way. Jesus answered and said to him, this is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent okay yes I got that part and then John 831 Jesus said to those Jews who believed him. If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed this is healthy talk for healthy Christians were not intimidated by this because the weakness of our flesh we embrace it. We get up we go at it again, but you come across a young man or young woman or an old man or a woman who was in adamant about marrying an unbeliever. When the Scripture says don't do that. I'm giving this as an example and they do it anyway in defiance of the Scripture over the flesh very dangerous ground find oneself and not that we are supposed supposed to treat them as enemies but were not supposed to give then say well it's okay when the Scripture says it's not. But if this goes on too much too often in any society in any area where the gospel is preached to have a condition that G Ezekiel will himself was faced with by the Jewish people at the time that where he was ministering were claiming Yahweh is God, but they didn't mean it. So Ezekiel writes God speaking to him. So they come to you as people do they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them for with their mouth they show much love, but with their hearts pursue their own gain. Nothing new under the sun.

Ezekiel 33, 31, you might want to write that verse down because it is to come in a practice in the New Testament church what to James when he said be doers of the word Jesus and baptizing them in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you. Matthew 28, 20 teaching them to observe they get frightened when they hear that word obedience. Why is we all struggle with our flesh. That's why, but it is that struggle that brings down devils. That's what God is looking for that struggle that resistance.

We must not ever get into that place. We blame God for anything. There are those who blame God. Paul says this to Timothy about God that he desires all men to be saved to come to the knowledge of the truth which Peter is talking about here in verse 22, he says through the spirit. Now we look at your only way to obey us through the spirit can do without him. Who needs God if I can obey God without God you can't do it you cannot find the forgiveness and mercy for not doing it either. Without him, John 1613. However, when he the spirit of truth is, he will guide you into all truth. We depend upon often God withdraws from his people not not his love and his salvation sense of his presence.

He knows what he's doing when he does this he is extracting from us faith, pure faith as peers we can get it faith to trust in him. In spite of these things that seem to not be in place we going to just trust in him 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews that 11th chapter which so many Christians call the chapter of faith. Well, it is a chapter of faith. It is also the chapter of grace and works.

Believe it or not.

By faith Noah prepared the heart yet the faith he knew what he was supposed to do and then he went out and he did that his faith and action that is being a hero of the word and a doer of the word, all those heroes that are listed in that 11th chapter God gave them all they needed to perform the great acts of faith that they did do faith plus work equals grace because as Peter says right here through the spirit so let's try to put this in context a little bit now looking back again at verse 22. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit that is what is going on with the Christian life in sincere love for the brethren is so easy to talk about loving the brethren, if it were that easy. He would not have written about.

They could've just passed on because he could've said to himself. If it were that easy was no need to write to Christians to tell Christians to love Christians they going to do that.

That's what we do wish I wish seeing that you have purified your hearts. Therefore love seeing that this one thing is true of you therefore see if something else is true of you that you love when so many people fake love because they know that is valuable, otherwise they wouldn't fake it by faking it. We admit that this we needed first Corinthians 13 verses one through two where all familiar with this. We who believe in. Incidentally, if you're not a believer you should be informed that this section is better of Peter. This first one is written to believers were being persecuted for being believers. He doesn't have unbelievers in mind, directly, but that does not mean that an unbeliever coming to this passage of Scripture is left out.

You see, for example, if I were to speak preached to a room of people who were much more intelligent than I the whole room that could be happening right now. It is funny. I don't have to be as intelligent as you all I have to do is activate your intelligence to get you to use it in the presence of God. That's called anointing to bring the anointing in us the same with you if you ever's personal coworker or family member that is more intelligent than you and you tend to be intimidated, don't be. You've got truth on your side and all you need to do is activate their Intel of intelligence to make contact with the truth.

Now that's not easy but it is possible and it happens otherwise intelligent people would not get saved and they do you looking at one go look at the guy next to you. First Corinthians 13 though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing God says you nothing if you don't have the love happen. You say you are a believer. Having said you believe. Therefore let's see it. God says it knew not only annoying, but you nothing without this love that he talks about. We insist that we are saved we do we do it without love. First Peter 48 going to get back to this above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. Love does things that nothing else can do one day. What is the thing with this love nest two types of love is talking about here two different words work with me nice as love one another fervently with a pure heart.

Here above that he says in sincere love of the brethren. The first love in sincere love of the brethren. This filing will, but the second time he uses it loving one another fervently with a pure heart is agape a distinct feature of agape is its source see people that are not saved do not have agape love. They have a common law they can have love for family love the profession love for each other.

They can have romantic love. Love is also out of love that exist without God.

God's ordained. This is called common grace. He is allowed certain things to be available even to unbelievers.

Our society would fall apart.

It's common it's not spiritual.

Agape love comes from him. It is an exotic. It's not like a dandelion that can grow without cultivation it needs care and attention it needs work and it's constantly in need of work in some senses because of our flesh. It is a most fragile love, because someone will irritate us will offend us, someone will lead us down, someone will enrage us and suddenly that love that we boasted of.

We are groping for we can't find it.

We get angry with God for allowing us to be in such a corner. God really doesn't have much to say when we find ourselves there because he said it already. All through his word and he wants us now to work it but it's painful. It's not natural it's spiritual so we calibrate our love by what the Scripture says love suffers long and is kind how many of you are not kind when you feel offended or moody or whatever else your love is gone. The Bible does not give you a pass. There is also a hook. I didn't know you stepped on your toes. Okay, the love is doing everyone now love does not envy well if you were to tell me you are one of the greatest bicycle riders in the world I would applaud that if you were to tell me you are one of the greatest pastors in the world. I get envious. You see, it's okay.

It's okay for others to be successful long as they are not more successful than where the and then in our sphere, but is precious to us and so this love takes works, so that when I'm standing in a group and someone seems to shine brighter than I do in an area that I should shine brightly in. Now I'm sensing envy well up inside of me and not love and that's gotta be dealt with by me. Nobody can deal with that. But me in praying is not really make much of a difference because God is saying, not prayer time swing the sword time.

Now it is time to work, break out your tools and work. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, then what work that's what so love suffers long and is kind love does not envy. Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up see somebody proud product out of them so much I love that I love not. Agape love.

I must add that God is no advocate of halfhearted anything that comes very easy to all of us doesn't start a project definition is weeds. The thrill is gone, is what we thought that's why contracts exist because of the flash, God still does not come along and say that's okay.

I like it. We're so glad you tuned in today to study the book of first Peter on cross reference radio cross reference radio is the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and we are blessed to bring you God's word with each broadcast. If you'd like more information about this program or want to listen to additional teachings from Pastor Rick please visit our website cross reference radio.com. We also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast so you'll never have to miss a program.

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