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The People of God

TEXT1 Pet. 2:9-10

INTRODUCTION:

A.      IDENTIFYING MARKS OF THE CHURCH:  Name, Work, Worship, Doctrine.

          1.       Useful study because of ignorance in and out of the church.

          2.       Can always use a boost in these areas.

B.      MUST NOT STOP HERE.  IF WE DO, WE WILL HAVE OVERLOOKED THE

          VERY ELEMENTS WHICH MAKE THE CHURCH WHAT IT IS – THAT MAKE

          PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT WORK AND WORSHIP.

C.      THE CHURCH MADE UP OF PEOPLE WHO POSSESS CERTAIN CHARACTER

          TRAITSTHESE TRAITS JUST AS IMPORTANT IN IDENTIFYING THE RIGHT

          CHURCH AS DOCTRINE.

I.      THE PEOPLE OF GOD ARE A PEOPLE OF FAITH.

A.      CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED BELIEVERS ( Acts 2:44;  4:32;  1 Tim. 4:12 ).

B.      FAITH IS NECESSARY ( Heb. 11:6;  Gal. 3:26 ).

C.      WHAT IS FAITH?  ( Heb. 11:6 ).  Confidence in his promise to reward.

          1.       Confidence in his Ability ( Matt. 19:26 ).

          2.       Confidence in his Judgment ( 1 Cor. 1:25 ).

          3.       Confidence in his Motive ( Rom. 5:8 ).

          4.       Confidence in his Integrity ( 2 Tim. 2:11-13 ).

          5.       Illustrate  č Doctor, Parachute, Drive, etc.

D.      HOW DEEP IS THIS FAITH? ( 2 Tim. 1;12 ).

II.     ARE A PEOPLE TOGETHER.

A.      EMPHASIZED FROM THE BEGINNING ( Acts 4:42, 44-46;  4:32 ).

C.      MANIFESTED IN SEVERAL AREAS.

          1.       Association ( Rom. 12:30 ).

          2.       Mutual concern ( 1 Cor. 12:25-26 ).

          3.       Doctrine ( 1 Cor. 1:10 ).

          4.       Love ( 1 Pet. 1:22 ).

C.      WHAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER?

          1.       Called out of darkness ( 1 Pet. 2:9 ).

          2.       Fellowship with God ( 1 John 1:6-7 ).

          3.       With one another ( 1 John 1:3-4 ).

III.    ARE SAINTS, CONSECRATED TO THE LORD.

A.      SAINT, hagios, “separated, set apart from, distinguished.”

B.      HOW?

          1.       Cannot partake of sin ( 1 Pet. 4:3-4 ).

          2.       Careful of his associations ( 1 Cor. 15:33 ).

          3.       Careful of the pattern he follows ( Rom. 12:9 ).

          4.       God demands this distinction ( Matt. 5:13 ).

C.      WILL MAKE US SEEM ODD TO OTHERS ( 1 Pet. 2:9 - KJV ).

D.      GOD’S BLESSINGS ARE PECULIAR, ALSO.

CONCLUSION:

A.      SOUND CHURCHES ARE NOT JUST DOCTRINALLY SOUND.

B.      CHARACTER IS IMPORTANT.