Dr. Lawrence Butler
The Bridge Church, Pembroke
Synopsis Part II – The Believer’s Life 1. We should be purified. In view of the great Plan of Salvation given by God to man, we should live exemplary lives through the teaching of God’s eternal truth. One major aspect of our lives should be the manifestation of brotherly love (1:22-25). Supporting scriptures – 2:17, 3:8, 3:10. The word love appears 311 times in 281 verses in the Bible.
2. The believer’s life should be free. This means from all evil inclinations or tendencies to live certain ways that are contrary to the call of the gospel. The method of victory is to “desire the sincere milk of the word” in order to promote growth (2:1,3). We begin the Christian life as we do our natural lives, as babies that must grow into adulthood. We start with very little understanding, just faith in Christ to receive forgiveness. But, there is a life that must be lived.
The rules governing our lives are found in the Bible. People generally do not like to be told how they must live. Listen once more to the words of Christ. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
3. We must become living stones. This allows us to become part of a spiritual temple of which Christ is the “chief corner stone” (2:5,6). “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph. 2:19-22).
4. We must regard Christ as precious. He has been rejected as the corner stone of salvation’s plan by many. His very name cannot be used in international venues without controversy.
“Despised and rejected of men” is how Isaiah (53:3) described Him. But, we must recognize Him as the “author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
He is our Lord of Lords, and Kings of Kings!!