Christianity in Action 1 Peter 1:13ff

Christianity in Action Because You Were Born for Glory… Before the foundation of the world: “Chosen according to the foreknowledge…” A fresh start, a bright future: “has caused us to be born again to a living hope …” With indestructible security: “…protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed…” Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ

Christianity in Action Because You Were Born for Glory… Now Brace Your Mind… Decisively renounce the shallowness, the values, means and ways of the Kosmos. Lit: “gird the loins of your mind…” Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ

Christianity in Action Because You Were Born for Glory… Now Brace Your Mind… Decisively renounce the shallowness, the values, the mind games of the Kosmos. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. Hebrews 10:34-35. But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light… 1 Peter 2:9-10

Christianity in Action Because You Were Born for Glory… Now Brace Your Mind… Decisively renounce the shallowness, the values, the mind games of the Kosmos. Open the “eyes of your heart” to see yourself and your world as God does. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance… . Ephesians 1:18

Christianity in Action Because You Were Born for Glory… Now Brace Your Mind… Decisively renounce the shallowness, the values, the mind games of the Kosmos. Open the “eyes of your heart” to see yourself and your world as God does. The opposite of drifting, fumbling, confused, dreamy, naïve Christians… for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light Ephes. 5:8

Christianity in Action Because You Were Born for Glory… Now Brace Your Mind Take ACTION! NOT a life driven by cravings. The “Self-Serving-Self-Life” Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance. Epithumia: passionate longing, cravings…

Christianity in Action Because You Were Born for Glory… Now Brace Your Mind Take ACTION! NOT a life driven by appetites. The “Self-Serving-Self-Life”

Christianity in Action The Face of an Appetite-Driven Lifestyle... Because You Were Born for Glory… Now Brace Your Mind Take ACTION! NOT a life driven by appetites. The “Self-Serving-Self-Life” MORE IS LESS! “This person seeks to fill up…the emptiness of his being” - Wiersbe 2 Peter 2:17-19 These people are as useless as dried-up sprngs or as mist blown away by the wind…They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting… With an appeal to twisted desires, they lure back those who have barely escaped a lifestyle of lies… They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and decay. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

Christianity in Action Because You Were Born for Glory… Now Brace Your Mind Take ACTION! NOT a life driven by appetites. The “Self-Serving-Self-Life” Self-Addiction… “Keep SOBER in Spirit...” Sin has always been an ugly word, but it has been made so in a new sense over the last half-century. It has been made not only ugly but passé. People are no longer sinful – they are only immature or underprivileged or frightened or, more particularly, sick. Phyllis McGinley The Province of the Heart,

Christianity in Action Because You Were Born for Glory… Now Brace Your Mind Take ACTION! NOT a life driven by appetites. The “Self-Serving-Self-Life” Self-Addiction… “Keep SOBER in Spirit...” NOT Conformity What Instead? As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 1 Peter 1:14

Christianity in Action Because You Were Born for Glory… Now Brace Your Mind Take ACTION! BE DIFFERENT! 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” 15 but like the different One who called you, be different yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE DIFFERENT, FOR I AM DIFFERENT.” = different or distinct

Christianity in Action Self-Serving-Self Live  Self-Serving Others Life Because You Were Born for Glory… Now Brace Your Mind Take ACTION! BE DIFFERENT! Radical Non-Conformity Agape Love! 22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart…

What Does It MEAN? I’m really good at this! Take Your But I'm SOOOO We can STOP OBSESSING! My needs, my thirsts, my desires, my… Take Your Chances? But I'm SOOOO Good at it!

What Does It MEAN? We can STOP OBSESSING! Let God Obsess For You! My needs, my thirsts, my desires, my… FREEDOM! True FULFILLMENT! (i.e., not temporary) Let God Obsess For You! He KNOWS about your desires… He also has a brilliant plan: "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Luke 12:29-31 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

What Does It MEAN? We can STOP OBSESSING! Let God Obsess For You! My needs, my thirsts, my desires, my… FREEDOM! True FULFILLMENT! (i.e., not temporary) Let God Obsess For You! He KNOWS about your desires… He also has a brilliant plan Take ACTION! We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16

What Does It MEAN? We can STOP OBSESSING! Let God Obsess For You! My needs, my thirsts, my desires, my… FREEDOM! True FULFILLMENT! (i.e., not temporary) Let God Obsess For You! He KNOWS about your desires… He also has a brilliant plan Take ACTION!