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Sermon #5695

A Chosen Generation

A Sermon on 1 Peter 2:11-12

Originally preached April 8, 1962

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Scripture

1 Peter 2:11-12 ESV KJV
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day …

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Sermon Description

This world is filled with hostility and confusion. The Scriptures, however, present the people of God as ones who live in this world, yet are not confounded by disaster. When things go wrong, the people of God have a quiet trust in the Lord. In this sermon on 1 Peter 2:11–12 titled “A Chosen Generation,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones highlights the importance of belonging to this people of God. Belonging begins with being born again. The Christian is aware of being called out of darkness; indeed, they want to come out of it. It is clear to others. The people of God are recognized as being different, because they are born of the same spirit as Jesus. The interests of the soul then become supreme for this new person. While the Christian settles down into this world, they are not of it. Their entire desire is to please and glorify God. This makes them distinct in the world as they live, not according to darkness, but in marvelous light. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges his listener to know they are part of this people of God as their eyes have been opened to Jesus Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones finally calls Christians to do good works in this world, as they await the world that is to come.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon begins by introducing 1 Peter 2:11-12 as the focus verses. These verses encourage believers to abstain from fleshly lusts and live honest lives so that unbelievers will glorify God.

  2. Dr. Lloyd-Jones then introduces the theme of believers never being confounded or put to shame, which is promised in 1 Peter 2:6. This promise is only for those who belong to God.

  3. Dr. Lloyd-Jones asks the congregation how they can become people of God. The answer is that people must be born again through God's action. People of God have a new nature and see Christ as the precious cornerstone.

  4. Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses how people can know if they have been born again. Signs include being called out of darkness, obeying the call, and seeing the truth about Christ. Additional signs are recognizing one's sin, desiring to be free from sin, and finding Christ precious.

  5. Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns that if one is not born again, the wrath of God remains on them. He pleads with the congregation to make sure they belong to God.

  6. Dr. Lloyd-Jones introduces 1 Peter 2:11-12 again as a test to see if one belongs to God. The first test is having a central concern for one's soul. Unbelievers live for fleshly pleasures, but believers abstain from these because they war against the soul.

  7. Believers realize they have an eternal soul that will be judged by God. They put the interests of the soul first, even above natural human relationships. The soul's interests take priority over pleasure, success, reputation, and relationships.

  8. Believers have a new relationship to the world. They see themselves as strangers and pilgrims. They no longer belong to the world and its ways. Unbelievers settle into the world, but believers see it as temporary.

  9. Believers see the world as fallen, sinful, and passing away. They do not expect to find fulfillment in the world. Their hope is in the new heavens and new earth. They look forward to the coming of the heavenly Jerusalem.

  10. Believers live to glorify God, not themselves or others. They obey God's call to abstain from fleshly lusts and live honest lives so that unbelievers will glorify God in the day of judgment. Believers long for unbelievers to be saved from God's wrath.

  11. Dr. Lloyd-Jones pleads with the congregation to examine themselves to see if these marks of being God's people are true of them. If not, only judgment awaits after death. But believers will never be put to shame.

  12. Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls unbelievers to be saved from darkness and judgment by coming to God's light and believing in Christ.

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Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.