God’s People “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people” (2 Corinthians 6:16). Quoted from Lev. 26:12.

God’s People “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people” (2 Corinthians 6:16). Quoted from Lev. 26:12.

God’s People Their Dedication

Their Dedication 1) Will accept & embrace the Lord. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). Received – “Metaphorically of a teacher, to receive, acknowledge, embrace and follow his instructions” (CWSD – NT).

Their Dedication 2) As He speaks they listen. “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3). Hear – “To understand, comprehend” (CWSD – NT) A.T. Robertson says, “Hear and heed.”

Their Dedication 3) They follow. “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers” (John 10:4-5). Follow – “The first thing involved in following Jesus is a cleaving to Him in believing trust and obedience. Those cleaving to Him must also follow His leading and act according to His example” (CWSD – NT).

God’s People Their Dedication Their Standing

Their Standing Before God 1) A holy people. “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering” (Colossians 3:12). “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Their Standing Before God 2) They are godly. “then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:9). Godly – “pious, dutiful (careful to fulfill obligations, JRM) (toward God (A.V. devout, godly)” (Thayer).

Their Standing Before God 3) A faithful people. “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Colossians 1:2). Faithful – “Passive, faithful, to be trusted, reliable” (Vine). Bullinger says, “Pass. faithful, trusty, worthy of confidence; of persons, one on whom we may rely.”

Their Standing Before God 4) They are blameless. “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15). Blameless – “Phil. 2:15 and 1 Th. 3:13 show that it is God’s will that his people should be blameless at the judgment. This is possible by reason of justification and the sanctifying work of the Spirit. It is a motive in admonition and sums up the purpose of Christian life” (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament).

God’s People Their Dedication Their Standing Their Character

Their Character 1) They are obedient. “For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil” (Romans 16:19). “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (Genesis 6:22). “And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him” (Genesis 7:5).

Their Character 2) They are humble. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

Their Character 3) They are loving. “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:1-3).

Their Character 4) They are pure. “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).

Their Character 5) They are peaceable. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” (Romans 14:19).

Their Character 6) They are generous. “Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities” (Philippians 4:15-16). Barnabas – Acts 4:36-37; Gaius – 3 John 3-8.

Their Character 7) They were steadfast. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). NIV

God’s People Their Dedication Their Standing Their Character