2. Admonitions From 1 Peter

3. What Lost People Do They “malign” believers 4:4 To speak evil of or against…to blaspheme Those who live “for the lusts of men” (v. 2) are astonished when believers refuse to participate with them in sinful activities They label saints as “strange” Admonitions From 1 Peter

4. What Lost People Do They “malign” believers 4:4 Sin & the manner in which it is practiced is emphasized They “run” to sin Ù more than a mere association; it is an eager participation It is “excess” Ù an overflowing This is not surprising 1 Jn 3:13 Jn 15:18-19 Admonitions From 1 Peter

5. What Lost People Do They “ask” believers 3:15 We are never to be intimidated or troubled before them v. 14 They may ask out of curiosity, or they may inquire out of impure motives v. 16 Either way, saints are faced with questions at times re: the way we live, what we believe, etc. Admonitions From 1 Peter

6. What Lost People Do They “observe” believers 2:12 Sometimes, unbelievers watch how we live To scrutinize minutely, to examine carefully They may be looking for ways to criticize later They may be curious, or genuinely interested For whatever reason, believers need to remember that others always watch us Admonitions From 1 Peter

7. Our Response To What Lost People Do When they malign, we need to… …arm ourselves with the mind of Christ 4:1 Arming ourselves = to furnish or provide one’s self with arms Christ’s mental resolve becomes our own cp. Mk 14:36 Heb 12:2-3 Admonitions From 1 Peter

8. Our Response To What Lost People Do When they malign, we need to… …entrust our souls to our Creator 4:19 2:23 All we can ever do is “commit” or “entrust” ourselves to God who can work out things beyond our own control cp. Rom 8:28 Admonitions From 1 Peter

9. Our Response To What Lost People Do When they malign, we need to… …remember they will give an account 4:5 We must not forget their maligning will not go unanswered 2 Cor 5:10 Heb 4:13 We must let God take vengeance and not take it ourselves cp. Rom 12:17-21 Admonitions From 1 Peter

10. Our Response To What Lost People Do When they ask, we need to… …sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts 3:15 Setting Christ apart in hearts, enthroned, is the first step to being able to answer such inquiries It is the proper answer to the fears & intimidations mentioned in v. 14 Admonitions From 1 Peter

11. Our Response To What Lost People Do When they ask, we need to… …always be ready to answer with meekness and fear 3:15 We must have a working knowledge of His will “Defense” = an apology, verbal defense Acts 22:1 An answer based on our “hope”…not based on the number of Biblical facts we know Admonitions From 1 Peter

12. Our Response To What Lost People Do When they ask, we need to… …keep a good conscience 3:16 A successful defense begins with this A firm conviction of the righteousness of the cause we live everyday That inner strength that knows our actions really do match our verbal defense cp. Rom 2:15 Admonitions From 1 Peter

13. Our Response To What Lost People Do When they observe, we need to… …abstain from fleshly lusts 2:11 We do not participate in that which “wages war” against the soul We have to constantly fight that which tries to ruin us cp. Gal 5:16-21 Admonitions From 1 Peter

14. Our Response To What Lost People Do When they observe, we need to… …keep our behavior excellent 2:12 We keep ourselves “excellent” or “honorable” before those watching us That which is beautiful, harmonious, symmetrical We should try to make our lives attractive & lovely Admonitions From 1 Peter

15. Conclusion Generally speaking, lost people fall into 3 categories: The uninterested Ù they “malign” The curious Ù they “ask” The interested Ù they “observe” Admonitions From 1 Peter

16. Conclusion The heart of the lost one and how the believer handles himself will determine what happens Those who malign will be judged 4:5 Those who ask & slander will hopefully be put to shame 3:16 Admonitions From 1 Peter

17. Conclusion The heart of the lost one and how the believer handles himself will determine what happens Those who observe and speak evil will hopefully & eventually glorify God when He visits them in their salvation 2:12 cp. Mt 5:16 Admonitions From 1 Peter