How Now Shall We Live - Sermon Rewind

Jan 25, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Resting in the Secure Gift of God's Salvation

Once we have received the righteousness of Christ, our eternity is secure because it is based on His work rather than our own. This gift of God is something we cannot earn, and therefore, it is something we cannot lose. Knowing that we are forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Christ allows us to live with a deep sense of peace. This assurance serves as the foundation for how we carry ourselves in a world that often feels unstable. We can rest in the knowledge that we belong to Him forever. [01:16]

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:13 (NKJV)

Reflection: When you consider that your salvation is a gift based on Christ's work rather than your own, how does that change the way you approach your mistakes today?

Day 2: Remembering That This World Is Not Our Permanent Home

As followers of Christ, we are described as sojourners and pilgrims who are merely passing through this life. Because our true citizenship is in heaven, it is vital that we do not become too attached to the temporary pleasures or values of this world. We are called to be in the world but not of it, maintaining a heart that is set on things above. Just as a traveler does not redecorate a temporary lodging, we should be careful not to let our hearts become too enamored with earthly pursuits. Our focus remains on the eternal home that awaits us. [17:48]

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.
1 Peter 2:11 (NKJV)

Reflection: In what specific area of your life have you become too attached to worldly success or comfort, and how might you begin to view that area through the lens of being a temporary resident?

Day 3: Navigating the Relentless War Within Our Own Souls

There is a persistent struggle within every believer where fleshly desires wage war against the new heart God has provided. This conflict is not a single battle but a long military campaign that requires constant vigilance and reliance on the Holy Spirit. When we give in to sinful impulses, we are essentially feeding a nature that creates tension and torture within our souls. However, we now have the power to take every thought captive and choose obedience over our old habits. By recognizing this internal war, we can better lean into the strength that the Spirit provides. [23:51]

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Galatians 5:16-17 (NKJV)

Reflection: Think of a recurring temptation or fleshly desire you face; what would it look like to take that thought captive the moment it enters your mind today?

Day 4: Drawing Others to Christ Through Our Daily Conduct

Our lives serve as a powerful testimony to those who do not yet know the Lord, making our conduct a matter of great importance. When we live honorably, even those who are hostile toward faith may eventually glorify God because of the good works they observe in us. This does not mean we must be perfect, but it does mean we should live honestly and be quick to seek forgiveness when we fail. A kind and gentle spirit often speaks louder than any argument, showing the world the reality of a transformed life. We want our actions to be the reason others say yes to God's invitation. [33:58]

Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1 Peter 2:12 (NKJV)

Reflection: Is there a relationship with an unbeliever where your reactions have been strained? How might a kind and gentle spirit change your next interaction with them?

Day 5: Finding Freedom Through Full Surrender and Sincere Repentance

God often speaks to our hearts about specific areas—like anger, pride, or worldliness—that hinder our walk with Him. Dealing with these issues requires us to bring them openly to the Lord, turning away from them in sincere repentance. We are invited to surrender these burdens completely, trusting in the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus. By doing business with God in prayer, we find the grace to change and the strength to live for Him. This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily invitation to walk in His marvelous light. [39:51]

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

Reflection: As you reflect on your week, what is one specific fleshly desire or attitude the Holy Spirit is nudging you to surrender to Him right now?

Sermon Summary

Once redeemed by Christ and clothed in His righteousness, believers are called to a distinct way of life. The text emphasizes the assurance of salvation — that justification is a gift of grace secured by Christ’s work — and then presses the question: how shall the redeemed now live? The answer is a firm, pastoral plea to abstain from fleshly lusts. Those lusts are not merely sexual improprieties but every inclination of the fallen nature: anger, jealousy, selfish ambition, drunkenness, and other works of the flesh listed in Galatians. Temptation itself is not sin, but indulging, lingering, or cultivating those desires feeds a destructive pattern that entrenches the soul in conflict.

Believers possess a new nature and the indwelling Spirit, which gives real power to resist and put sin to death. Yet life in these temporary bodies means an ongoing struggle — a campaign rather than a single skirmish — because fleshly desires wage continual warfare against the heart God has renewed. Three practical and theological reasons are given for intentional abstinence: this world is a temporary sojourn and not the believer’s home; indulging the flesh intensifies the internal warfare and spiritual conviction; and public conduct matters because unrighteous behavior can hinder others from coming to Christ. The call is not to perfectionist pretense but to honest repentance, visible integrity, and humility when failure occurs: confess, seek forgiveness, and let Christ reshape the heart.

Living as aliens and pilgrims necessitates careful attachment — not withdrawal from culture, but refusal to be assimilated by its values. A life formed by grace should be distinguishable by gentleness, consistent kindness, and integrity so that even critics may, through observing good works, glorify God when He visits hearts. The urgency is pastoral and pastoral-level direct: embrace holiness not as legalism but as the Spirit-enabled way to weaken the flesh, strengthen the soul, and redeem witness to a watching world. Those who sense conviction over particular sins are urged to bring them to Christ, repent, and surrender those impulses through prayer and the power of the cross.

Key Takeaways

1. Abstain from fleshly lusts Believers are commanded not merely to moderate sinful impulses but to actively keep away from them: avoidance is a spiritual discipline stemming from the recognition that fleshly desires are invasive and corrupting. Abstinence here is continuous — a daily, Spirit-dependent refusal to entertain what warps the heart. The more a desire is indulged, the more it strengthens its claim and extends its campaign against the soul. [06:05]
2. This world is not your home Seeing life as temporary reorients priorities; attachments to fleeting pleasures become incongruous with citizenship in heaven. When identity rests in Christ rather than in earthly comforts, the urge to pursue immediate gratification loses its moral authority. Living as a sojourner frees one to steward presence in the world without capitulating to its agenda. [16:46]
3. Fleshly desires wage war Sin is not an isolated temptation but a sustained military campaign against the renewed heart, producing internal tension and spiritual fatigue. Giving the flesh even small concessions fuels its momentum, making subsequent resistance harder and conviction sharper. Understanding sin as war clarifies why vigilance, repentance, and reliance on the Spirit are continual necessities. [22:11]
4. Live so others are drawn Personal holiness impacts public evangelism: inconsistent behavior provides a legitimate stumbling block for seekers, while genuine humility and grace can open hearts. Integrity isn’t primarily about reputation management but about making God’s grace believable to observers. When failures occur, swift repentance and authentic restoration can itself become a powerful testimony. [29:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:23] - Assurance of Salvation
[01:53] - Cultural Moral Drift (Barna Poll)
[06:05] - Peter’s Plea: Abstain From Lusts
[09:18] - Defining Fleshly Lusts (Galatians)
[16:46] - Reason One: World Is Not Home
[22:11] - Reason Two: Lusts Wage War On Soul
[29:21] - Reason Three: Witness and Influence
[33:25] - Repentance, Restoration, Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

1 Peter 2:11–12 (NKJV)
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Observation questions

In verse 11, what two titles does Peter use to describe believers, and what does he plead with them to do?
According to the passage, what do fleshly lusts do? The sermon described this as a "long military campaign" that is a "relentless military aggression." [23:15]
In verse 12, what kind of conduct are believers called to have among unbelievers (“the Gentiles”)?
What is the potential positive outcome when unbelievers observe our good works, even if they speak against us?

Interpretation questions

The sermon defined "fleshly lusts" not just as sexual sin but also things like "hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath." [10:36] Why is it important to have such a broad understanding of what "wages war against the soul"?
Peter calls believers "sojourners and pilgrims." [16:46] How does seeing ourselves as temporary residents in this world change our perspective on pursuing its pleasures and desires?
The idea that sin "wages war against the soul" suggests an ongoing conflict. [22:11] How does this truth expose the lie that giving in to a temptation "just this once" will satisfy the desire and make it go away? [24:08]
Verse 12 suggests that our good works can lead critics to "glorify God." How can a believer's humble response to their own failures—like asking for forgiveness after an outburst—be just as powerful a testimony as their successes? [33:05]

Application questions

We are called to "abstain from fleshly lusts." This isn't just about avoiding big, obvious sins. What is one subtle "work of the flesh" (like selfish ambition, envy, or an outburst of wrath) that you find yourself wrestling with in this season of life? [11:01]
Remembering that this world is not our permanent home helps us not get "too attached." [20:59] In what specific area of your life (possessions, career, relationships, comfort) do you feel you are becoming too attached to this world, making it harder to live as a "sojourner"?
Giving in to sinful desires "feeds the war going on in your soul." [24:48] Can you think of a time when indulging a particular sin didn't bring satisfaction, but instead created more internal tension and conviction? What did you learn from that experience?
Our conduct should be "honorable among the Gentiles." [30:30] Think about your daily interactions at work, in your neighborhood, or online. What is one practical way you could be more intentional this week about showing the "kind gentle spirit that is different than others"? [34:12]
Sometimes our biggest testimony isn't perfection, but how we handle our imperfections. Is there a situation where you need to "swallow your pride," own a mistake, and ask for forgiveness, showing others what repentance looks like? [32:45]
A recent poll showed that many Christians agree with the statement, "The best way to find yourself is to look within yourself." [02:37] How does the biblical call to abstain from the desires of our fallen nature challenge this cultural idea? Where should we be looking to find our true selves?

Sermon Clips

63s

#DontFeedSin

“``And one of the things I believe the devil wants us to believe is that if if I give in to this temptation just this once, just this once because it's, you know, whether whether it's that anger or or or whether whatever it is, friends, if I give in to it just this once, then that desire will be satisfied and it'll go away and I won't have any more trouble with it. That's not true, is it? Not true at all. It's not true at all, friends, because that is not the nature of sin. The nature of sin is that when you entertain or give in to those sinful desires, friends, you are feeding the sinful nature within you. Sin is by its very nature addictive. And so giving in once, what are you doing? You're feeding the war going on in your soul. You're creating torture for your soul.”

67s

#BeInNotOfWorld

“``How do we do this? How do we be in the world but not of the world? Well, you know when you when you go on vacation or when you go somewhere for maybe a a short trip, if if you're just going for a few days or a week, you don't buy the place you're going to, do you? At least most people don't. You you just go there for a few days and you stay. You don't pack up all your stuff in a U Haul and take it where you're going for just a week. Right? No. You put a few clothes in and you take em and to be honest with you, I prefer to live out of a suitcase. When I go somewhere temporary like that. You don't start redecorating. Hey, I don't like this place, you know? Let's let let let's call decorators r us, you know? Let's order some new stuff for this. No. If you're just gonna be there for a short time, if you don't if it's not yours, you don't start redecorating, you'll start remodeling friends, you don't get too attached because you're gonna be leaving soon. Amen?”

79s

#ConfessAndRepent

“``Now, you say, well, pastor, what if it is true? How do you handle that? You do what we're supposed to do anyway and that is when we are convicted of our sin, We ask forgiveness of that. We own it. We're not perfect. Amen. Please don't misunderstand me and say as Christians, we're supposed to be perfect. We're not perfect. In fact, one of the biggest ways you'll turn people off is to try to act perfect when they know you're not. Right? So own it. You know? When you blew up at somebody, how do you handle that? You swallow your pride, you go to them. You know what? Man, the other day at the water cooler when you, you know, said this and I flew off the handle, I was wrong. I'm sorry. Would would you forgive me? That in and of itself maybe the testimony they need. And and and you know what? Go a step further. You know what? I I tried to just dismiss that but god wouldn't let me. He just kept speaking to my heart saying I needed to I needed to ask for your forgiveness. What a testimony. Amen? Live honestly, openly before people, and then and then repent of that and let let god change your heart.”

25s

#KindnessDrawsToChrist

“``Friends, the way we live, the way we treat people, the kindness we show, the grace that we extend, the Christ like nature that exudes from our lives ought to draw people to the lord rather than push them away. The gospel might, but the way we act and the way we treat people never should.”

48s

#EvenTheCowsKnow

“``Man by the name of Arthur Simon is founder of the of an international organization known as Bread for the World, believes as I believe we all should, that all aspects of our lives ought to be touched by Christ and ought to be a great testimony for him. Where Arthur learned this from was from his father who was a who happened to be a farmer in from Wisconsin. And here's one of the phrases that his father said often. He said, even the cows should know you're a Christian by the way you treat them. Now some of you are dairy farmers, know, or maybe live on a farm and so forth, and so you can chew on what that exactly means. You can chew on the cut on that one. But friends, he said not even not just the cows, but if so if the cows, then even more so people. Amen?”

54s

#LustWagesWar

“``The phrase here, the word which ties it together here. It indicates that it is the character of such lusts to to wage war against the new heart that god has placed in us. The word war here is not talking about just a a battle. It's it's it's a term that that doesn't just speak of a battle, but it's a it's a war talking about a war that is a long military campaign. It it is kind of like, if you think of it, you know, this war on terror that we've been fighting has been a long war. Amen? There have been long wars throughout history. That's the that's the the the the idea here. And so Peter says, listen, abstain for fleshly lust because they war against your soul. It's talking about a long military campaign that is a relentless military aggression.”

24s

#FeedingTheBattle

“``You know, the reality is I I don't think you need me or the scriptures to tell you that this takes place. You know that there's a battle going on inside of you. Amen? You feel it. You wrestle with that. Friends, we know that but what you may not know is that giving in to those desires makes that war much worse.”

20s

#DontLingerOnTemptation

“``Temptation is not a sin. And, man, we could really argue and go on about this for a long time, but temptation is not a sin. Lingering on it is. Some people say, well, as long as I don't act on it, I'm not sinning. Right? Well, no. We know Jesus is pretty clear saying that it is it is possible to have lust in our heart that is sin.”

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South Side Baptist Church This sermon · AI assistant

What are fleshly lusts and their scope?

How do fleshly lusts wage war against the soul?

How should believers live as sojourners and pilgrims?