Explore the Bible Series

with Dr. Jim McCullen
You can contact Dr. James McCullen at: DRjim@preachhim.org

Accept challenging standard; display new identity

Accepting a Challenging Standard • 1 Pet. 1:13-25 • March 11

Introduction: My first Bible professor, W. L. Muncy Jr., told us, “Men do not gather to go hunt mice, but they will gather to hunt bear, elk, and deer.” He was emphasizing presenting a challenge. In our Christian life, we face a challenging lifestyle because of the world’s opposition. Christ gives us the ability to overcome the world and be victorious even though we face the reality of Accepting A Challenging Standard.

1. Accepting A Challenging Standard The . . Call To Holiness. 1:13-16

We are called to holiness, but how can you and I be holy? It is a matter of grace! Christians receive salvation by grace, and Christ in us causes holiness through His presence. We get the opportunity to participate in holiness through the choices we make, and yet right choices follow the direction of the grace God gives. I talked with a pastor the other day who believes you can live without sinning, and that is a holy lifestyle. The church he represents teaches what they call “entire sanctification” and this is an advanced or second work of grace. They also believe it usually comes sometime after the salvation experience. Baptists believe we receive a complete holiness from the Lord at salvation, and we comply to His holiness in our growing Christian lifestyle. We are commanded in the text to, “Be holy, because I am holy.” Try to find a pagan god that commands holiness. It will be a rare find; if ever found.

2. Accepting A Challenging Standard The . . Choices Of Holiness. 1:17-21

Our choices in holiness include reverence for the residences we live in even though they may be temporary, and the redemption we receive. God knows where we will reside. It may be far away from home, and difficult choices may be presented to us. Our choice of holiness will include revelations about God’s eternal and evangelistic plan. In our choices for personal holiness God reveals His truth to us, and we may receive an advanced knowledge through the grace given in this kind of lifestyle. This truth is underlined by the resurrection of our Lord. We serve a Teacher who remains a risen Savior!

3. Accepting A Challenging Standard The . . Commendations Of Holiness. 1:22-25

In today’s world and from the world’s perspective, holiness represents a real challenge. The purity commended from a holy lifestyle certainly represents a commendation for this standard of life. Not only do we receive the commendation of purity in this way of the Christian walk, but we gain a different perception. Christians see the Word of God advanced in the world and non-Christians completely miss the relevance. It seems some think the Bible is out of date but they will live forever. This word contains the Gospel that was preached to us, and our acceptance of it will also be Accepting A Challenging Standard. Amen? Amen! (For additional information visit: http://preachhim.org/SundaySchoolIndex.html.)

Display A New Identity • 1 Pet. 2:1-12 • March 18

Introduction: I am interested in being around new Christians because I enjoy seeing the contrast displayed in their new life in Christ. Humorously, but sadly, someone has said many new Christians must backslide in order to get in fellowship with the majority of the church. The reality remains that Christ makes a difference in a person’s life. If a person belongs to Christ he or she will Display A New Identity .

1. Display A New Identity Through . . Desire. 2:1-3

Do you desire to display an identity changed by Christ? We need to annihilate sins that hinder our Christian lifestyle. Simon Peter mentions five such sins: wickedness, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. If those get annihilated by our choices and the empowering of God’s Spirit, we will be far along in a display of Christian character in our lives. This process will be fueled as we assimilate scriptures into our new walk with Christ. Strong Christians always have a growing knowledge of God’s Word. I do not believe the Lord allows some to be growing Christians and some to lag behind in their growth. Our desire plays a large part in how much we grow.

2. Display A New Identity Through . . Discipline. 2:4-10

Are you a disciplined person? Most of us have not had to be that disciplined. If you get an education you will need to show some discipline. To grow in Christ you must discipline your concentration on Christ and try to emulate His life. Simon Peter suggests a likeness between the Christian community and the building of a house. You will not build a stone house without the laying of one stone upon another, beginning with a foundation stone. Christ is the foundation in the Christian life and if we make proper choices, we will build upon His foundation. Simon also tells us we are destined to be a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for His possession. What a privilege!

3. Display A New Identity Through . . Demonstration. 2:11-12

Have you noticed the good reports coming from youth groups who have strongly emphasized abstinence in several areas of their lifestyle? Refraining from drugs and alcohol produces a significantly different lifestyle. Sexual abstinence until marriage receives an emphasis from these groups that produces glowing reports of success with decreases in sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies outside of marriage. In our text, Simon tells us to “abstain from fleshly desires that war against you.” The world can make fun, and speak against us, but they cannot argue with the successful demonstration of how Christ changes lives. We give an outstanding demonstration of God at work in our lives when we conduct ourselves in such a way that the non-Christian sees the difference. They must back up and say there is a difference in a Christian who really tries to live in a way to Display A New Identity. Amen? Amen! (For additional information visit: http://preachhim.org/SundaySchoolIndex.html).

Family Bible Series

with Dr. Andy Chambers
You can contact Dr. Chambers at CHAMBERS@mobap.edu

Jesus opens our eyes; Jesus takes care of us

Jesus Opens Our Eyes • John 9:8-10, 20-22, 24-25, 30-33, 35-39 • March 11

Jesus’ miracles, as recorded by John, always had a deep spiritual significance even beyond the demonstration of Christ’s power. When Jesus healed the man born blind, He also proceeded to open his spiritual eyes and change his life in a dramatic way. What happens when Jesus opens your eyes and changes your life?

First, the change Jesus makes can be so dramatic that others will notice the difference (John 9:8-10). The people could hardly believe it. The man was blind from birth, yet here he was looking back at them (v8). They argued over whether he was the one Jesus healed, and he kept insisting he was the one (vv9-10).

When Jesus changes your life, people will notice the difference. The change might be so dramatic they hardly recognize you. That’s how much Jesus can change you.

Second, the change Jesus makes might make those closest to you uncomfortable (John 9:20-22). The Pharisees demanded to know from the man’s parents whether he was their son. They admitted he was, but they didn’t tell the truth when they said they did not know how or who opened his eyes (vv20-21). They were afraid of the Jews, because they had threatened anyone who confessed Christ with expulsion from the synagogue (v22).

The man’s change put pressure on his parents. They knew the truth about Jesus, but they were afraid to confess Him publicly, so they kept silent. If people near you pull away some when you become a Christian, realize that your faith has provoked a crisis in them. They have to decide if they will have to courage to confess Christ too. Keep testifying.

Third, the change Jesus makes enables you to testify immediately to what Jesus has done for you (John 9:24-25, 30-33). The Pharisees summoned the man a second time and pressured him to agree with them that Jesus was a sinner (v24). Suddenly the man boldly responded that all he knew about Jesus was that he was blind, but now he could see (v25)! His quick wit made them angrier, but his boldness only increased. He pointed out the irony in that a man was going around restoring people’s sight, and yet the Pharisees did not know anything about Him (v30). The fact that Jesus opened his eyes was evidence enough that Jesus was from God and not a sinner, because God obviously was listening to Him (vv31-33).

Notice that the man had not been trained in theology. Obviously, he would need to be further equipped for a lifetime of effective service. However, the minute Jesus changed his life, he had something to say. So do you. Tell others what Jesus has done for you.

Fourth, the change Jesus makes will lead you to worship Him (John 9:35-39). The man so confounded the Pharisees that they threw him out of the synagogue. Jesus found him and called him to believe in Him (vv35-37). When the man understood who Jesus was, He worshiped Him (v38). Christ opened His eyes both physically and spiritually (v39).

When Jesus changes your life, the first thing you will want to do is worship Him!

Jesus Takes Care of Us • John 10:1-5, 7-15, 17-18 • March 18

Jesus often wove beautiful real life illustrations into His teaching about a relationship with Him. John 10 describes how Jesus cares for you as a good Shepherd who cares for His sheep.

First, Jesus leads you (John 10:1-5). At night a shepherd would lay across the entrance to his sheep pen to keep predators out. Anyone who climbed in some other way than the gate was a thief (v1). The shepherd entered by the door (v2). The sheep hear the shepherd’s voice calling their name and they follow him, and only him, out into pasture (vv3-5).

Shepherds develop a close bond with their sheep so that they come to recognize only his voice and learn to ignore all others. Today you can drive down a busy noisy road in Israel and see a shepherd leading his sheep safely along the side of the road, because they ignore all the noise around them and listen for the voice of their master. What a beautiful picture of how Christ leads us. We need to recognize His voice by becoming immersed in His word so that we learn to listen and follow Him only.

Second, Jesus gives you life in abundance (John 10:7-10). Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep” (v7). By that He meant that they should go out through no one else but Him (v8), and if they go out through Him they will find pasture (v9). Pasture here meant food for the sheep. Spiritually, this means when you go through Christ and abide in Him and His word, your soul finds nourishment (see John 6:35, 53-57; 15:5, 7). He brings you to pasture, because He came to bring you life in abundance (v10).

Just as the shepherd loves His sheep and desires to lead them to food, so Jesus the good Shepherd loves you and desires to nourish your soul and give you life in abundance. Sheep trust their shepherd to lead them to pasture. Do you trust Jesus enough to follow Him?

Third, Jesus laid His life down for you (John 10:11-15, 17-18). The good shepherd lays his life down for the sheep (v11). He is not like the hired man, who has no personal investment in the sheep. They are not his. So, the hired hand runs when he sees a wolf coming. He does not care for the sheep (vv12-13). Jesus is the good Shepherd, not a hired hand. He laid His life down for His sheep when He was crucified for your sin (vv14-15). Jesus willingly died for His sheep (v17). Though He was following His heavenly Father’s command when He went to the cross, He went there willingly (v18).

The most beautiful portrait of the good Shepherd’s care for the sheep is what Jesus willingly did at the cross for you. At the cross Jesus suffered for sin. He experienced all the wrath of God that was due to you. He faced the agony of being forsaken by His heavenly Father. All of this He did willingly so that He might offer a sacrifice that was pleasing to God and thereby make atonement for you and me.

Jesus the good Shepherd cares for you!