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{ Hope beyond your past 1 Peter 2:1-17

Our past sins can present serious barriers to Hope

Three Questions to Answer How does our past cripple and hinder our Hope? How can we have Hope beyond our past? How will this change the world?

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 1 Peter 1:14 (NIV)

How does our past cripple and hinder our Hope? Past sins committed in ignorance

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 1 Peter 2:1 (NIV)

How does our past cripple and hinder our Hope? Past sins committed with knowledge

As you come to him, the living stone— rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him. 1 Peter 2:4

Jesus - The Cornerstone From 1 Peter 2:6-8 we see that Jesus is...  A chosen and precious cornerstone  Trustworthy  Precious to us  Was rejected but became the cornerstone

How can we have Hope Beyond our past?  Embracing Jesus as the Cornerstone of your life  Appreciate Him for who He is  Put your complete trust in him  Embrace His victory over sin for yourself

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV)

How can we have Hope Beyond our past? 1) Embracing Jesus as the cornerstone of your life 2) Embrace what God's word says about you

What God's word says about you Living Stones Holy Priesthood Offering Spiritual Sacrifices A Chosen people Royal priesthood A holy nation God's special possession One's who sing His praises The people of God Ones' who have received mercy You are...

“Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.” 1 Peter 2:11-12 NLT

How will this change the world?  Unbelievers honoring God  The Church's reputation repaired  A people defined by their love for one another  Society being impacted by changed lives

Takeaways  Practice saying to yourself what God is says about you  Practice your priestly duties  Practice going "down to the river”