2:16 “slaves…” (1Cor 7:21-24; Eph 6:5-9; Phm 1:8-21; 1Tim 6:1-2; Tit 2:9-10; Col 3:22-25)
- Submit: to one’s control
22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving…
Titus 2:10b “so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive”
Why do we remain here on earth, what is the purpose?
- Ambassadorship and it’s privilege
- Develop in us a longing in us for heavenly, kingdom, eternal things
-Gen 2:18-20 Go back to Adam and the naming of the animals - dissatisfaction for what is, to make space for what will be
- Choose the “I love you, too”
-1John 4:10, 19 - For “we love BECAUSE He loves is first”. And that by…
-Choice, preference, and calling
-Making us the object of His affection and attention
-Care and provision
- He desires for us, in this place of temptation and titillation, to say back to Him “I love you, too”. And that by…
-Choice, preference and calling - agape
-Trusting him and His word enough to obey - John 14:21
-Making Him the object us our affection and attention - Lord
-Security and hope - refuge
Therefore our love for God, in Christ, by His Spirit is in response to His mercy (Rom 12:1) and “I love you, too”
“Live as free, but do not use your freedom as a cover up for evil” (also see Gal 5)
1Pet 2:21-25 suffering for the believer, the child of God, begins with their longing as an alien and stranger for their true home-land and continues through living under the effect of sin, grieving sin’s destruction in the lives around them (1Pet 1:1; 2:11)
21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
“...the shepherd of our souls.
-”Return: to turn one’s self to…
Of this Shepherd we can know, be confident, place ourselves as to trust His eternal care and entrust ourselves to that care...
Although I may be subject to the authorities here, it is to the Good Shepherd I entrust my eternal self - and I show the truth of this faith by trusting His word, being subject to authority that He Himself has established to accomplish His will
And our willingness to honor these authorities is a proof of our trust in our sovereign Father and His gentle and sure care
Phil 1:6 “6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
X John 10:25-30 my sheep know my voice, no one can snatch away
John 10
14“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father… 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all c ; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”
Jesus Prays for All Believers
John 17:20-26
20“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you e known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
-Psalm 23:1, 4,6
-Isaiah 43:13
-Isa 40