Living as Distinct Christians in a Changing World

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound challenges and responsibilities that come with living as Christians in a world that is increasingly at odds with the values of the Gospel. We are living in a time of significant cultural and moral transformation, where the very foundations of society are shifting rapidly. This transformation is not just a series of moral issues but an entirely new moral regime that stands in stark contrast to the teachings of Christ. As believers, we are called to be a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God's own possession. This identity is not just a title but a call to live lives that reflect the holiness of God in a world that often rejects His truth.

The world around us is marked by a cultural revolution that seeks to redefine morality and truth. This revolution is characterized by a rejection of the God of the Bible and an embrace of a worldview that is antithetical to the Gospel. As Christians, we must recognize that we are aliens and strangers in this world, called to live lives that are distinct and set apart. Our citizenship is in heaven, and our lives should reflect the values of the Kingdom of God rather than the shifting sands of cultural trends.

The challenge before us is not just the worldliness of the world but the worldliness that has crept into the church. We must be vigilant in maintaining a distinct Christian identity, one that is not conformed to the patterns of this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation requires a commitment to holiness, a holiness that is rooted in the character of God and not in human standards.

As a community of believers, we are called to be a holy people, a people who live under the authority of God's Word and who are committed to living out the Gospel in every area of our lives. This means being a people who are not only distinct in our beliefs but also in our actions, living lives that are marked by love, integrity, and a commitment to the truth of God's Word.

Key Takeaways:

- Cultural Transformation: We are living in a time of rapid cultural and moral transformation, where the foundations of society are shifting. As Christians, we must recognize this change and understand that our identity as a chosen race and a holy nation calls us to live lives that reflect the holiness of God. [03:16]

- Alien and Stranger Identity: Our identity as Christians is that of aliens and strangers in this world. This means living lives that are distinct and set apart, reflecting the values of the Kingdom of God rather than the shifting cultural trends. Our citizenship is in heaven, and our lives should reflect this reality. [08:03]

- Worldliness in the Church: The challenge is not just the worldliness of the world but the worldliness that has crept into the church. We must be vigilant in maintaining a distinct Christian identity, one that is not conformed to the patterns of this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds. [22:48]

- Commitment to Holiness: Holiness requires a transcendent point of reference, rooted in the character of God. As Christians, we are called to live lives that are marked by love, integrity, and a commitment to the truth of God's Word, standing as a holy nation in the midst of a world that often rejects His truth. [29:34]

- Living as a Holy People: As a community of believers, we are called to be a holy people, living under the authority of God's Word and committed to living out the Gospel in every area of our lives. This means being distinct in our beliefs and actions, living lives that are marked by love and integrity. [32:48]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to the Conference
- [00:59] - Personal Reflections and Gratitude
- [02:33] - The Collapse of Culture
- [03:50] - Social Transformation and Moral Regime
- [06:24] - Living in an Age of Transformation
- [07:00] - A Chosen Race and Royal Priesthood
- [08:03] - Aliens and Strangers
- [09:32] - The World vs. God
- [11:25] - Cultural Revolution and Moral Controls
- [13:57] - Patterns of Cultural Acceptance
- [16:03] - Historical Precedents and Lessons
- [18:19] - Reaping What We Have Sown
- [22:33] - Worldliness in the Church
- [29:34] - The Revolutionary Christian Worldview
- [32:48] - Living as a Holy People
- [36:51] - Our Identity in Christ
- [42:30] - Living Out the Gospel
- [46:01] - The Glory of God in Our Lives
- [47:11] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Peter 2:9-12
2. James 4:4
3. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

---

Observation Questions:

1. According to 1 Peter 2:9-12, what are the characteristics of the identity given to Christians? How does this identity contrast with the world around them? [07:00]

2. In the sermon, what examples were given to illustrate the cultural and moral transformation happening in society today? [03:16]

3. How does James 4:4 describe the relationship between friendship with the world and enmity with God? What implications does this have for Christians? [08:18]

4. What does 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 say about the wisdom of the world compared to the wisdom of God? How does this passage relate to the sermon’s message about the Christian worldview? [34:25]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of being "aliens and strangers" in 1 Peter 2:11-12 challenge the way Christians should live in a world that often rejects God's truth? [08:03]

2. The sermon mentioned the worldliness that has crept into the church. How does this align with the warning in James 4:4 about friendship with the world? [22:33]

3. In 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Paul talks about God choosing the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. How does this idea challenge the cultural values of power and wisdom? [35:10]

4. The sermon emphasized a commitment to holiness rooted in the character of God. How does this commitment manifest in the life of a believer according to the passages discussed? [29:34]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life. In what ways do you feel like an "alien and stranger" in today's culture? How can you embrace this identity more fully in your daily life? [08:03]

2. The sermon highlighted the danger of worldliness within the church. What steps can you take to ensure that your faith community maintains a distinct Christian identity? [22:48]

3. Consider the cultural transformations mentioned in the sermon. How can you remain steadfast in your Christian values amidst these changes? [03:16]

4. How can you actively live out your identity as a "royal priesthood" and "holy nation" in your interactions with others this week? [07:00]

5. The sermon discussed the importance of living under the authority of God's Word. What practical steps can you take to deepen your commitment to Scripture in your daily routine? [32:48]

6. Reflect on the idea of holiness requiring a transcendent point of reference. How can you ensure that your understanding of holiness is rooted in God's character rather than human standards? [29:34]

7. Identify one area in your life where you struggle with worldliness. What specific actions can you take to address this and align more closely with the values of the Kingdom of God? [22:33]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Our Identity in a Shifting Culture
In a world undergoing rapid cultural and moral transformation, Christians are called to recognize their identity as a chosen race and a holy nation. This identity is not merely a title but a call to live lives that reflect the holiness of God. As society's foundations shift, believers must remain steadfast in their commitment to God's truth, understanding that their ultimate citizenship is in heaven. This means living lives that are distinct from the prevailing cultural trends and rooted in the values of the Kingdom of God. [03:16]

1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively demonstrate your identity as part of a holy nation in your daily interactions and decisions today?


Day 2: Living as Aliens and Strangers
Christians are called to live as aliens and strangers in this world, reflecting the values of the Kingdom of God rather than the shifting cultural trends. This identity means living lives that are distinct and set apart, with a focus on heavenly citizenship. As believers navigate a world that often rejects the truth of the Gospel, they must remain committed to living out their faith in a way that honors God and stands as a testament to His transformative power. [08:03]

Hebrews 11:13-16 (ESV): "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one."

Reflection: How can you remind yourself today that your true citizenship is in heaven, and how does this perspective influence your daily choices?


Day 3: Guarding Against Worldliness in the Church
The challenge for Christians is not only the worldliness of the world but also the worldliness that has crept into the church. Believers must be vigilant in maintaining a distinct Christian identity, one that is not conformed to the patterns of this world but transformed by the renewing of their minds. This transformation requires a commitment to holiness, rooted in the character of God rather than human standards. [22:48]

Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where worldly influences have crept in. What steps can you take today to renew your mind and align this area with God's will?


Day 4: Commitment to Holiness
Holiness requires a transcendent point of reference, rooted in the character of God. As Christians, believers are called to live lives marked by love, integrity, and a commitment to the truth of God's Word. This commitment to holiness stands as a testament to God's transformative power in a world that often rejects His truth. By living out this calling, Christians can demonstrate the reality of God's Kingdom in their everyday lives. [29:34]

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (ESV): "For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you."

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to reflect God's holiness in your interactions with others?


Day 5: Living as a Holy People
As a community of believers, Christians are called to be a holy people, living under the authority of God's Word and committed to living out the Gospel in every area of their lives. This means being distinct in beliefs and actions, living lives marked by love and integrity. By embodying these values, believers can serve as a light in a world that often rejects the truth of the Gospel, demonstrating the transformative power of God's love. [32:48]

Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV): "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Reflection: How can you intentionally live out the Gospel in your community today, demonstrating love and integrity in your actions?

Quotes



We are living in a time of collapse of cultural collapse of moral deterioration we are speaking here of living in an Unholy world and it does not take great spiritual perception to see that the world around us is Unholy and yet this is a unique moment moment I think when anyone with even the slightest historical perspective with even the slightest perception will realize that this is one of those turning times in history when it is not merely a set of moral issues that confronts us but an entirely new moral regime that is all around us. [00:02:41]

We are living in a time of Total Transformation Peter Ducker a keen Observer of the economic and management scene he knows the sociology of business and also the patterns of world economies he wrote several years ago that we are living in the age of social transformation and that transformation is now so comprehensive and so fastpaced that by his estimation the last half century of the 20th century involved more societal change than all the previous ages of Human Experience added together. [00:03:47]

We are aliens and strangers just as were these Gentile Christians in the first century and the word of God infallible and inherent speaks to us just as it spoke to those Christians with the same exhortation and the world that surrounded those early Christians is hauntingly like the world that surrounds us now we see a direct opposition between the world and its creator we are reminded by James in chapter 4 verse 4 do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity toward God therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy to God. [00:07:53]

The challenge before us is not just the worldliness of the world but the worldliness that has crept into the church. We must be vigilant in maintaining a distinct Christian identity, one that is not conformed to the patterns of this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation requires a commitment to holiness, a holiness that is rooted in the character of God and not in human standards. [00:22:36]

We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession. This identity is not just a title but a call to live lives that reflect the holiness of God in a world that often rejects His truth. As a community of believers, we are called to be a holy people, living under the authority of God's Word and committed to living out the Gospel in every area of our lives. [00:32:48]

Holiness requires a Transcendent point of reference to speak biblically and authentically about Holiness we simply cannot talk about ourselves and we cannot measure what Holiness would be against a human standard there is no anthropological point of reference that we'll do the only way we can speak of Holiness is to understand the revelation of the one true and living God who who is Holy Holy Holy and thus we understand Holiness in terms of his Holiness. [00:29:37]

The world says morality is something to be negotiated it is something relative it is something that is the process of social evolution it is something that can be conformed to the image and the spirit of the age and in our huous modern human beings think the morality is something that needs to grow with us as we are growing the Christian church has to say the morality really isn't about us it's about God first of all and Morality In so far as God has set down his law and his commands and his expectations and his requirements and his standards it is not up for negotiation and we do not grow out of them we grow into them by grace. [00:40:49]

The world says to us that sin guilt and shame are to be dispensed with as oppressive and negative and unhealthy Concepts that are inhibiting the full development of the human personality we have to answer that without those words we have no diagnosis of ourselves we have no knowledge of ourselves except by sin and guilt which is a gift that we may be reminded of our need for a Sav saor and guilt which is objective and shame which is that which helps us to see and understand our guilt we're living in an age in which there is no shame and the modern world says we need to overcome shame and we authenticate the self by our shamelessness and yet we know when we sin that shame is deserved and it is to point us to forgiveness in Christ and the need for that forgiveness. [00:41:31]

We are to live holy lives unto the holy God who has chosen us Peter makes this clear in the first chapter of First Peter when he makes very clear that our status as aliens as alien Christians scattered throughout the world is according to the forn knowledge of God the Father it is by his Sovereign Grace we are first of all a chosen race but secondly we are a royal priesthood under Jesus Christ Our great high priest. [00:36:51]

We are a new ethnos a new people a nation not constituted by geography or genealogy but by the gospel and as a holy nation we are called to stand out from all other nations as holy why because we Are Holy no but because God is Holy he has chosen us redeemed us he has cleansed us of our sins and he is even now by his holy spirit sanctifying us to be his people to be a stone of stumbling for the world to be a great Enigma a question mark placed in the midst of all the nations of the world the church is to be that great question mark that causes the world to scratch its head in wonder why is it that those people would live in such a way why is it they do what they do and will not do what we want them to do a holy nation and then a people for God's own possession this is the sum of the Gospel that God has chosen a people to his own Glory bought them by the blood of his own son. [00:38:48]

The world says that good and evil are relative terms and we live in an age in which the world calls evil good and good evil and yet we must call Things by their proper names this comes down to how we live in the minutia of life this means that we must understand our marriages and our families to be the arena of God's glory displayed and in so far as we sin against God's command and in so far as we violate that Covenant and in so far as we fail to raise our children in the nurture and AD of the lord we become a scandal and the world looks to us and sees itself reflected Christians in this day are living economically by the same rules as the world we are just as susceptible to consumerism We are following the tyranny of choice we want everything we want to actualize ourselves by that which we own and that which we buy and that which we possess when the word of God warns us that it simply cannot be so we want status we want career we want ambition and all these things are to us the Temptations that the world celebrates. [00:42:30]

Living in an Unholy World means we have to keep our wits about ourselves but most importantly it means we have to come into submission to the Lord Jesus Christ into his word as a peculiar people a holy nation a royal priesthood a people for God's Own possession the why is so important here and Peter answers that in verses 11 and 12 beloved I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers they may because of your good deeds as they observe them glorify God in the day of visitation when they accuse you of being a Christian and they claim that that's subversive to the state what's going to be your answer Peter says your answer better be a holy life so that even when they condemn you as Christians they have to respect you for the way you live and they have even to admit they are forced even to admit the inherent Holiness of the way you live and thus it becomes an enigma it becomes a question mark the world is to be a sort of consternation for the world and it is to God's glory. [00:46:01]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Dec 08, 2014. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?