Preparing for the Lord's Day
EXILES IN A FOREIGN LAND
1 Peter Sermon Series
What is it that motivates human action and decisions? While there are several factors involved in driving the human will, the Bible simplifies human motivation into two categories: a person is either living to the flesh or to the spirit (John 3:6). By virtue of humanity's fall into sin, we are all born living to the flesh. That means that all of our actions are ultimately motivated out of a desire to gratify the desires of the flesh. We are motivated by passions that are contrary to the will and the glory of God. And to live in this way leads to judgment and destruction. However, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, those who are joined to Him through faith die to the flesh and begin to live to the spirit. Those who live to the spirit are motivated to pursue the will of God. They are desirous of His glory. And though they will one day die to the flesh, nevertheless, they will live eternally to the spirit. How then do we live to the spirit when we are so powerfully influenced by the flesh? What we will see in our text is that to live to the spirit we must see that the way of the flesh is death. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon 1 Peter 4:1-6, Ezekiel 36:22-29, Matthew 26:41, John 3:6; 6:63, Romans 8:4-13, 1 Corinthians 5:5, Galatains 6:8, and Westminster Confession of Faith 13.
This week we will celebrate that sacrament of the Lord’s Supper during our worship service. As we receive the elements of bread and wine, look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. For as we physically receive the signs of the Lord’s body and blood, spiritually we feed upon Him and all His benefits. Our hymns for this week include "Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation," "Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven," and "Jesus Paid It All."
If you’re going to be out of town this Sunday, let me encourage you to listen to the sermon online (usually posted by Monday afternoon) or you can download the REPC podcast, which will be delivered to your mobile device.
Sermon Outline
Text: 1 Peter 4:1-6
Title: Live in the Spirit
1. The power of the flesh is dead. (vv. 1-2)
2. The time of the flesh is past. (v. 3)
3. The judgment of the flesh is coming. (vv. 4-6)