Christians are Foreigners 1 Peter 2:11 Christians are Foreigners 1 Peter 2:11.

Christians are Christians are Foreigners 1 Peter Foreigners 1 Peter

2:112:11

Christians are ForeignersChristians are Foreigners

1 Pet. 2:11, “1 Pet. 2:11, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”

“Sojourners” – Foreigners, aliens, strangers.

“Pilgrims” – “sojourning in a strange place, away from one’s own people.”

Wanderers, no permanent dwelling place, Heb. 13:14, have no “lasting city.”


I. Examples of foreigners.I. Examples of foreigners. A. Abraham, Gen. 23:4, A. Abraham, Gen. 23:4, "I am a

foreigner (stranger) and a sojourner among you.”

Heb. 11:9, 10, “By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”


Heb. 11:13, 16, “These all… Heb. 11:13, 16, “These all… confessed that they were strangers confessed that they were strangers (foreigners) and pilgrims on the (foreigners) and pilgrims on the earth… earth… But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.”


B. Moses. Acts 7:29, B. Moses. Acts 7:29, "At this remark, Moses fled and became a foreigner (an alien) in the land of Midian…”

C. Apostles, in carrying out the Great Commission. 1 Cor. 4:11, we have “no certain dwelling-place…”

D. These examples remind us of what it means to be “foreigners and pilgrims.”


II. “Abstain from fleshly lusts which II. “Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” 1 Pet. 2:11.war against the soul.” 1 Pet. 2:11.

A. Rom. 6:7, “our old man was A. Rom. 6:7, “our old man was crucified with Him.” 13:14, “make no crucified with Him.” 13:14, “make no provision…”provision…”

B. Eph. 4:22-32, “put off the old B. Eph. 4:22-32, “put off the old man… put on the new man…”man… put on the new man…”

C. Remember James 1:14, the real C. Remember James 1:14, the real sourcesource of our temptations: our own of our temptations: our own improper desires.improper desires.


III. Rom. 12:2, “Do not be conformed III. Rom. 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world…”to this world…”

A. Jn. 17:15, 16, “not… take them out A. Jn. 17:15, 16, “not… take them out of the world… but keep them from the of the world… but keep them from the evil one… They are not of this world…”evil one… They are not of this world…”

B. Prov. 1:10, “B. Prov. 1:10, “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.”

C. Don’t be like a chameleon – change “color” to adapt to environment.


D. Christians make others uncomfortable- D. Christians make others uncomfortable- a good example condemns bad conduct.a good example condemns bad conduct.

Heb. 11:7, Noah “Heb. 11:7, Noah “prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world…”

So the world pressures us to conform. Peer pressure, be like rest, go along to

get along, be accepted. Go with the flow. Prov. 1:14, “Cast in your lot among us.”


IV. Christians are different.IV. Christians are different. A. 1 Pet. 2:9, “A. 1 Pet. 2:9, “But you are a chosen

race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”

Can this be said of worldly people?


B. Not B. Not conconformed to the world, but formed to the world, but transtransformed into image of Christ, formed into image of Christ, Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18.Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18.

““Abiding in Jesus like Him thou shalt Abiding in Jesus like Him thou shalt be; Thy friends in thy conduct His be; Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.”likeness shall see.”


C. We must have the “heart C. We must have the “heart (attitude) of foreigners.”(attitude) of foreigners.”

Ex. 23:9, “You know the Ex. 23:9, “You know the heart of heart of foreignersforeigners, for you also were , for you also were foreigners..”foreigners..”

Do we? Do we have the “heart” Do we? Do we have the “heart” (attitude) of foreigners?(attitude) of foreigners?

Do we consider ourselves Do we consider ourselves “foreigners” or are we too attached “foreigners” or are we too attached to this world? to this world?


D. Lev. 18:3, “D. Lev. 18:3, “'You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you...”

1 Pet. 1:16-17, “Be holy, for I am holy… conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in fear.”

1 Pet. 2:11, “1 Pet. 2:11, “Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”


E. World notices the difference. 1 E. World notices the difference. 1 Pet. 4:4, “they think it strange that Pet. 4:4, “they think it strange that you do not run with them…”you do not run with them…”

They ask about our faith. 1 Pet. 3:15, They ask about our faith. 1 Pet. 3:15, ““But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear..”

What if they don’t ask?


No difference? Attitude, language, No difference? Attitude, language, habits, dress, use of time and $, habits, dress, use of time and $, family relation?family relation?

Do we look and act and seem like Do we look and act and seem like foreigners to those around us?foreigners to those around us?

2 Cor. 6:14-7:1, “Be not unequally 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1, “Be not unequally yoked.. Come out from among them yoked.. Come out from among them and be separate… perfecting and be separate… perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”holiness in the fear of God.”


V. Our citizenship is in heaven.V. Our citizenship is in heaven. A. Phil. 3:20, “A. Phil. 3:20, “For our citizenship is in

heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

-- Our Head is in heaven… our hope is in heaven… our treasure is in heaven… so our heart is in heaven.

Col. 3:2, “Col. 3:2, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”


B. One of the blessings of adversity – B. One of the blessings of adversity – our trials make us “homesick for our trials make us “homesick for heaven.”heaven.”

Heb. 11:16, “But now they desire a Heb. 11:16, “But now they desire a better country.”better country.”

They make us realize that “this world is They make us realize that “this world is not my home, I’m just passing not my home, I’m just passing through.”through.”

It’s a wonderful world – but with all its It’s a wonderful world – but with all its beauties, it’s filled with beauties, it’s filled with disappointments and heartaches.disappointments and heartaches.


C. 2 Cor. 5:1, “if our earthly house is C. 2 Cor. 5:1, “if our earthly house is destroyed, we have a building from destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”eternal in the heavens.”

V. 6, “knowing that while we are at V. 6, “knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent home in the body we are absent from the Lord.”from the Lord.”


VI. Sadly, so many friends and loved VI. Sadly, so many friends and loved ones are not interested.ones are not interested.

Matt. 24:37-39, Matt. 24:37-39, "As the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”


1 Thess. 5:2, 3, “1 Thess. 5:2, 3, “you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.”


Their problem is that they are “at Their problem is that they are “at home” in this world. home” in this world.

That’s all there is for them.That’s all there is for them. Their “treasure” is here. Their hope Their “treasure” is here. Their hope

is “now.” is “now.”


Conclusion.Conclusion. A. We must ever be conscious of the A. We must ever be conscious of the

fact that we are foreigners (aliens, fact that we are foreigners (aliens, strangers, sojourners).strangers, sojourners).

B. Like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses.B. Like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses. C. Therefore, abstain from fleshly C. Therefore, abstain from fleshly

lusts.lusts. D. Be not conformed to this world, D. Be not conformed to this world,

but be transformed into the image of but be transformed into the image of Christ.Christ.


D. Christians are different. Must D. Christians are different. Must have the “heart of foreigners,” have the “heart of foreigners,” outsiders.outsiders.

E. World notices, think it strange, E. World notices, think it strange, ask about our hope… But they won’t ask about our hope… But they won’t ask if we are like them! Why should ask if we are like them! Why should they?they?


F. Our citizenship is in heaven. F. Our citizenship is in heaven. Adversities make us want to “go Adversities make us want to “go home.”home.”

G. It makes us very sad that so many G. It makes us very sad that so many of our acquaintances do not share of our acquaintances do not share our hope.our hope.

They will be desperately They will be desperately disappointed when their house that disappointed when their house that is built on the sand crumbles and is built on the sand crumbles and falls.falls.

Christians are Foreigners 1 Peter 2:11 Christians are Foreigners 1 Peter 2:11.

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