1 Peter 3:13-17

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1 Peter chapter 3 is where we're going to be this morning.

1 Peter 3 · chapter mention

As Wes has already mentioned, this is one of those days where it doesn't go the way you had planned the night before.

Nathan is sick.

He called me this morning, so I give that to you as a...

If it's terrible, blame Nathan. If it's good, just talk to me, alright?

Let me know.

1 Peter chapter 3 is our text this morning.

1 Peter 3 · chapter mention

We've got some things that are happening at Christ Family Church that we're really excited about.

And one of those is our community groups.

We've got three community groups right now.

We want to see them grow, expand, and multiply.

And in our community groups, we've been talking a lot about loving our neighbors and reaching our communities with the gospel.

And we've been praying for opportunities to join God in what He's already doing.

To be part of what He is working out.

Because God invites us to join in what He is already doing.

We don't have to do anything new.

Well, all of us here, I can say with boldness, we all live in the South.

We all live in the Bible Belt, although the Bible Belt might not exist much longer.

And one of the barriers that we as Christians in the South deal with is that people already have a preconceived notion of what a Christian looks like.

They already know.

They think they have the idea of what a Christian is supposed to look like and how they're going to or supposed to act.

Well, this barrier prohibits us from having deep conversations with people without first removing that barrier.

Without first proving to them who we really are.

Proving to them that we're real.

Proving to them that our life has been changed through the gospel.

The problem here in the South is there's a ton of people just like that.

Who have the preconceived notion of what a Christian looks like.

So this circumstance that we face, the people around us, people who know or think they know what a Christian is,

people who claim to be Christians and maybe aren't at all,

makes it vitally important that we live a specific way, a certain way through the gospel in our communities.

If we're going to reach those communities, we have to be real.

We have to live a specific way, a biblical way, not a denomination way or not a religious way.

So this morning I want to talk about for us evidences of a Christian life.

Evidences that are dead giveaways to people around us that we are Christians, that we are believers,

that we are followers of Christ, that we live the gospel out.

There's a saying in sports, the saying is the team looks good coming off the bus.

Meaning they've got their great uniforms on, they've got the physique, whether it's football or basketball or whatever.

They've got their confidence, they're strutting around with their headphones and they're dressed to the tee or whatever.

And you look at them and say, oh man, they look good coming off the bus.

But you guys know the reality is, is how do they play?

How do they act it out, out on the field or out on the court?

That's what speaks, not how they look coming off the bus.

The same is for us as Christians.

We may look good getting off the bus.

We may look good leaving the church building.

We may look good sitting in a room with a bunch of Christians singing songs.

But how are we when we're out in life?

How are we out on the field?

And that's what I want to talk about this morning.

So, 1 Peter chapter 3, we're looking at five verses.

1 Peter 3 · chapter mention

We're going to start reading in verse 13 and kind of dig through them.

Starting in verse 13.

Now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.

Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.

But in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy,

always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.

Yet, do it with gentleness and respect,

having a good conscience so that when you are slandered,

those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

For it is better to suffer for doing good,

if that should be God's will,

than for doing evil.

Let's pray together.

Father, you know the circumstances of this day.

None of this has surprised you.

None of this has taken you,

thrown you off guard.

God, we trust in you this morning,

that you are at work here this morning.

And I ask, God, that you would speak through me,

that you would use me,

that what is spoken would not be my opinions,

that it would be your word to us this morning.

As nerve-wracking as this may be,

God, you have put me in this position,

so I pray, God, that you would use me to proclaim,

to build your kingdom this morning.

I pray for the hearers of your word,

that we would hear with our hearts,

and not with just our ears.

And when that happens,

we know that action is to follow.

When that happens,

we know that we leave this place different,

living different,

striving to be different,

because we have heard a word from you.

So, God, I plead and I beg,

speak to us this morning.

Use your word,

spirit move,

in Jesus' name.

Amen.

So, just a little background here.

Peter is writing this letter to churches in Asia Minor,

and there's persecution happening in these churches.

These are churches in Asia Minor

who are tasting great persecution.

They are living it.

And they're dealing with the question,

is it worth it?

Is it worth it to struggle,

to deal with this type of persecution,

to suffer?

And Peter writes this letter,

and it's to affirm to them,

yes, it is.

That's why in chapter 1, verse 3,

it says we have a living hope

for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He, right off the bat,

tells them it is worth it

through Jesus Christ

and because of Jesus Christ.

So, he affirms to them

that this persecution is okay.

It's worth it.

So, now,

we come to chapter 3.

And in these five verses,

Peter gives us some evidences

of a Christian life.

And these evidences for you this morning

come in questions.

The first one is,

are you passionate for good?

Are you passionate for good?

The second one is,

Christ Lord of your life.

The third one,

do you have a readiness

to defend your faith?

Fourth,

do you live with a good conscience?

And fifth,

do you suffer for doing good?

And of course,

we'll run through those again.

First one,

first question for you,

first evidence.

Are you passionate for good?

And we see this in verse 13.

Now,

who is there to harm you

if you are zealous

for what is good?

Another word for good

is righteous.

You have a fervent pursuit

of good,

of righteousness.

In the face of danger

and suffering,

the churches in Asia Minor

were encouraged

to pursue righteousness

above everything else,

no matter what.

This word zealous

means an intensity

or an enthusiasm,

a passion.

In Jesus' time,

zealots were a group

that pledged

to free the Jews

no matter what

from all foreign rule.

And they would assassinate,

they would steal,

they would lie,

they would kill themselves

for the greater good.

That's the kind of passion

that Peter is talking about here.

That's the word he's using.

So much passion

that they'd even give up

their own lives for it.

Now,

there's an assumption here

in verse 13.

If we are zealous

for what is good,

then we're the opposite

towards what is bad.

See the assumption?

If we're zealous

for what is good,

if we're passionate

about what is good,

what is righteous,

then we're the opposite

towards what is bad,

which we know

is sin.

So the question for you

and for me

is are you zealous

for sin

or for what is good?

Is there a line

that you won't cross

in your life?

Do you have

boundaries set up?

Are you zealous enough?

Are you passionate enough

to care?

Or do you just go through

and whatever happens,

happens?

Do you take extreme measures

to avoid sin?

Guys,

do you watch TV shows

that lead to thoughts

in your minds?

Do you visit websites

that you wouldn't visit

in front of other people?

These are the questions

and the circumstances

that a passionate person

of good would not do.

Are you zealous

for what is good?

Do you pursue people

above God?

Do you pursue

the praise of people

instead of the praise

of God?

Again,

something that somebody

who is zealous

for good

would not do.

Another way to look at it

in Matthew 5,

Matthew 5:6

verse 6

in the Beatitudes,

the beginning of the Sermon

on the Mount,

Jesus says,

Blessed are those

who hunger

and thirst

for righteousness

for they shall be

satisfied.

Hunger and thirst.

Two strong verbs.

And we all can relate

to these two verbs.

We all know the feeling

of being hungry.

We all know the feeling

of working outside

in the middle of summer

and being exhausted

and thirsty

and all you want

is some water.

And the only thing

that's going to quench

that thirst

is that water.

That's the idea here

is hungering

and thirsting

for righteousness.

Are we zealous?

Are we passionate

for good?

If you're a Christian,

the assumption

will be true

in your life.

You will oppose

the bad.

You will oppose sin.

And you will be

passionate and zealous

and you'll hunger

and thirst

for righteousness.

Is there a passion

in your life

for good things?

For godly things?

Do you want

to do good things?

So there's our first

piece of evidence

found in verse 13.

Passionate for good.

The next one is,

is Christ set apart

in your heart

as Lord?

And this is found

in verse 15.

Verse 15 reads,

but in your hearts

honor Christ the Lord

as holy.

Christ as Lord

is New Testament language.

In the Old Testament,

Lord was always used

as Yahweh or Jehovah.

So to say

that Christ is Lord

is saying

that Christ is God.

That Christ is God.

He is the same

as the God

of the Old Testament.

His deity

is being proclaimed

when it says

Christ as Lord.

So is Christ

set apart

as Lord

in your heart?

Is He holy?

Holy.

Now, of course,

Christ is holy,

but is He set apart?

Is He part of your life?

Has He changed your life?

So, so many times

in churches

we describe salvation

as a decision.

It is a decision

to be made.

Choose this day

to be saved.

Do you want to go to heaven

when you die?

There's that aspect

of biblical salvation.

I will not

shoot that down.

But it's not

the whole story.

See, the depravity

of all of us

is missed.

The depravity

of our sin

and our lack

of doing good

is missed.

The holiness

of God

is missed.

The atonement

for our depravity

of sin

or sin

is missed.

The judgment

of God

is missed

that we are guilty

of that sin.

The gospel

is missed

that we can't

do anything

good

apart from

Him.

When you and I

become Christians,

we receive

this gift

from God.

And when we

receive this gift,

we surrender

our lives

to Him.

Not because

it seems better

or feels better

or it beats hell,

but because God

has chosen you

and He knows

His children.

And we surrender

our lives

and we make Him

Lord of our lives.

See, we were sinners

with no hope.

Sinners

without a direction.

Sinners,

in fact,

our direction

was the opposite

of God Himself.

And we became

saints with hope

in eternity.

Jesus Christ

is not a decision.

He's a Savior.

He's not

an invitation.

He's a calling.

He's not a part

of your life.

He is

life.

So to acknowledge

Jesus Christ

as Savior

is to worship

Him as Lord.

He should be

the sole object

of our love,

our reverence,

our loyalty,

and our obedience.

So in so doing,

then,

our entire lives

will flow

from Him

being Lord

of our lives.

So all our actions

will be

different,

will be godly,

will be passionate

about good.

if Christ

is Lord

of our lives,

then we will

do three things.

First,

we'll do

is we'll

recognize

His perfection.

Turn to

Hebrews chapter 7

Hebrews 7 · chapter mention

real quick.

Hebrews chapter 7

Hebrews 7:26

verse 26.

It reads,

For it was indeed

fitting that we

should have such

a high priest

holy,

innocent,

unstained,

separated from

sinners,

and exalted

above the heavens.

Verse 27.

He has no need

like those high

priests to offer

sacrifices daily,

first for His own

sins and then

for those of the

people.

So He did this

once for all

when He offered

up Himself.

Holy,

unstained,

set apart.

Jesus is the

only one who

is perfect

and worthy

to be praised.

It's not us,

not what we do,

but Jesus alone.

So if Christ

is Lord of our

lives,

we'll recognize

His perfection.

But not only

will we recognize

His perfection,

we will submit

ourselves to

His will.

We'll submit

ourselves to

His will

and not our

own.

Romans 12

Romans 12:2

verse 2

says,

do not be

conformed to

this world,

but be

transformed by

the renewal

of your mind,

that by testing

you may discern

what is the

will of God,

what is the

good and

acceptable and

perfect.

He knows

all and He

has what is

best for us.

So when

Christ is Lord,

we will submit

ourselves to

His will.

And thirdly,

we will make

His glory known

through our

lives.

So if we do

these things,

we hear repeat

often that we

were created to

do two things.

Logos question

number two,

to glorify Him

and enjoy Him

forever.

Well, if that's

our end,

how we get to

our end is by

Jesus Christ

being our

Lord.

In Revelation

Revelation 1:12–18

chapter 1,

verse 12

through 18,

it reads,

then I

turned to see

the voice that

was speaking to

me.

And on

turning, I

saw seven

golden lampstands

and in the

midst of the

lampstands, one

like a son of

man, clothed

with a long

robe and with

a golden sash

around his

chest.

The hairs of

his head were

white, like

white wool,

like snow.

His eyes were

like a flame

of fire.

His feet were

like burnished

bronze, refined

in a furnace,

and his voice

was like the

roar of many

waters.

In his right

hand he held

seven stars.

From his mouth

came a sharp

two-edged sword,

and his face

was like the

sun shining in

full strength.

When I saw

him, I fell

at his feet

as though dead,

but he laid

his right hand

on me, saying,

fear not.

I am the

first and the

last and the

living one.

I died, and

behold, I am

living forevermore,

and I have the

keys of death

and Hades.

This is who

we worship.

This is Jesus.

He is in

heaven.

He is the

first and the

last.

He is the

living one and

alive forevermore.

We bring him

glory when he is

Lord of our

lives.

We will honor

his name, and

his name will be

above anything

else.

In other words,

back to

Matthew,

Sermon on the

Mount, chapter

6, the Lord's

prayer says,

Hallowed be

your name.

Holy, holy,

holy is your

name.

Your kingdom

come.

Your will be

done.

That will be the

outpouring of

Jesus as Lord of

our lives.

Holy, holy,

holy, your

kingdom come.

Your will be

done.

Earlier in

1 Peter, and

in all of

Scripture, when

it says, when it

talks about the

heart, the

origin of the

human behavior,

the seat in

which all

decisions and

actions come

from, it is

what makes us

who we are.

So to make

Jesus the Lord

of our hearts

automatically makes

an inner thing

into an

external thing.

So an internal

thing becomes

an external

thing.

So what we

do on the

inside then

turns into

actions as

we live.

It will be

evident.

Our entire

lives will

change for the

good.

Our desires

will be His

desires.

Not because He

changed, but

because He

changed us.

Our actions

will line up

with His

will.

And as

Romans 12

said, we

will be

transformed by

Jesus Christ

and His

Lordship.

So Christ

being Lord

is another

piece of

evidence to

prove a

godly life.

The third

evidence is

in a

question.

Do you

have a

readiness to

defend your

faith?

Back to

1 Peter 3

1 Peter 3:15

verse 15,

the second

part of

15.

Read the

first part.

But in

your

hearts,

honor Christ

the Lord

as holy,

always being

prepared to

make a

defense to

anyone who

asks you

for a

reason for

the hope

that is

in you.

Always be

prepared.

Yet do it

with gentleness

and respect.

The language

here paints a

picture of a

courtroom.

Make a

defense.

Defend your

case.

Make an

argument.

This, of

course, does

not mean that

we're going to

be in a

courtroom or

setting like

that to

defend our

faith.

But it

does mean

that since

the gospel

is a

public

lifestyle,

it is a

changed

lifestyle,

lived out

for people

to see,

people are

going to

ask.

And we're

going to

have to

make public

defenses,

public

arguments.

A

commentator

said,

it does

mean that

every

believer

should grasp

the

essentials

of the

faith and

should have

the ability

to explain

to others

why they

think the

Christian

faith is

true.

So do you

have a

readiness to

defend your

faith?

Do you

have this

yearning just

to know

why you

believe what

you believe?

See,

apathy is

not accepted.

In verse

15, it

says,

always being

prepared.

Now, I'll

be honest,

this morning

took me by

surprise.

I don't

know that I

was prepared

this morning

for the

phone call.

Needless to

say, I

had to be

prepared.

I had to

prepare myself.

But see,

apathy is

not allowed.

The idea

that we

can just

coast on

through and

not care,

just, you

know, I'm

Christian,

whatever,

whatever that

means.

I'm going to

go to

heaven.

It's cool.

It's not

a fruit of

the gospel

in your

life.

We should

always be

concerned about

the opportunity

to share.

It is a

proactive

attitude.

I'm afraid

that churches,

the American

church, is

filled with

apathetic

people who

can defend

their church.

they can

defend their

worship

experience,

but they

cannot defend

the hope

that they

have or

they say

they have

in Christ.

Now, think

about that.

They can

defend why

they go to

a specific

church, but

they can't

defend Jesus

of the church

they say

they go to.

Here's the

reason I

think, I

believe, is

because they

have been

emotionally

infected.

their need

to get

their feelings

stirred up

has been

met and

not their

spiritual

need.

So, when

you attack

a feeling

or attack

emotion,

the gloves

come off

and they're

able to

defend that,

but they're

not able to

defend the

Jesus.

And Peter

is not

saying,

now, defend

those churches

you're with.

Defend those

churches in

Asia Minor.

He's saying

be ready to

give an

answer for

what?

For the

hope.

Always being

prepared to

make a

defense.

Anyone

asks you

for a

reason for

the hope

that is

in you.

A living

hope, as

1 Peter 1

3 says,

we have a

living hope

for the

resurrection

of Jesus

Christ from

the dead.

Jesus

resurrecting

gives us

hope.

And because

of his

action, we

no longer

fear death.

Or we

should no

longer fear

death.

Now, I

can guarantee

that if I

surveyed

everybody in

this room

and I

said, what

is your

greatest fear?

Some of

you are

going to

say to

die.

Death.

And that's

reality.

Some will

say spiders.

Some will

say snakes.

Some will

say, I

don't

know.

some of

you will

say death

or dying.

Now, the

reason is

probably

something

related to

not being

able to

do or

accomplish

something

yet that

you want

to accomplish.

And I

can relate

to that a

little bit.

But Jesus

himself and

eternity with

Jesus is

far better

than anything

this world

has to

offer.

Anything.

Think of

the greatest

thing that

you could

accomplish.

And he

is far

better than

that.

When we

die, it's

going to be

like Apple

with their

new iPad

3.

Hang with

me.

Don't drop

off the

cliff.

Hold on.

The iPad

2 is a

remarkable

piece of

technology.

People in

here have

it right

now.

They're

studying.

They're

cross-referencing.

And I'm

okay with

that.

Remarkable

piece of

technology.

But when

the iPad

3 comes

in, what

does Apple

do?

They tell

you, you

don't want

the iPad

2.

It's a piece

of junk.

You want

the iPad

3.

Look at

it.

It's even

better.

better.

And they

do this so

that you'll

buy their

product.

Now, the

reality is

that when

we get to

heaven, it's

not going to

be like the

Apple iPad

2, which is

good, and the

iPad 3, which

is better.

It's going to

be Jesus'

best and

everything else

is garbage.

And we're not

even going to

want what's

behind us.

We're not

even going to

want what's

here.

We're going to

want Jesus.

We're going to

want to worship

Jesus alone.

So, we can

then say,

nothing is

better than

Jesus, here

or in

eternity.

And we can

no longer

fear death.

So then, if

we can no

longer fear

death, the

question in

verse 13 is

rhetorical.

Now, who is

there to harm

you if you

are zealous

for what is

good?

You're

zealous for

what is

good?

You're

zealous for

righteousness?

That desire

has been put

in you through

Jesus.

Jesus is our

living hope

through His

resurrection.

We have

eternal security.

He is far

better than

anything this

world has to

offer.

The answer

is simple.

No one.

We no longer

fear death.

Then no one

can intimidate

us.

No one can

change our

mind.

strongholds

that we

struggle with.

Strongholds

that just

grab us

and hold

on to us

really can

no longer

be strong.

So, let's

turn it a

little bit.

Are you

being asked

to make a

defense?

Are you

being asked

to defend

the hope

that you

have in

Jesus

Christ?

Christ?

Does your

lifestyle lead

to questions

of why you

act the

way that

you do?

A godly

life is a

life that

lives in

opposition or

opposite to

the world.

That is as

clear a

statement and

as simple

statement as I

can make.

It is

opposite of

the world.

See, the

world celebrates

individuality.

The gospel

promotes unity.

unity.

The world

preaches

self-preservation.

The gospel

promotes one.

The world

promotes the

idea that

beauty and

attractiveness

is all we

need.

The gospel

proclaims the

blood of

Christ is all

we need.

The world

promotes do.

Do, do,

got to do

this, got to

do that.

The gospel

proclaims done.

Jesus has

already done

it.

The world

leads to

death forever.

forever.

The gospel

leads to

life everlasting.

If we

live a

gospel-centered

life, people

will ask

for us to

make a

defense because

we will

be different.

Are you

being asked?

Are you

being asked?

The last

part of

verse 15

says,

yet do it

with gentleness

forgiveness and

respect?

Now, when you

encounter a

hostile challenge

to something

important to

you, no

matter what

it is,

what is your

response like?

Does it

tend to be

more emotional

and harsh

and more

right at

them?

If it is,

we're all in

the same

group.

We're all

together.

It's because

answering critics

in your own

power, with

your own

emotion,

that's going

to be the

reaction.

We're going

to go after

them.

We're going

to defend

with raw

emotion.

But see,

the gospel

enables us

to answer

with gentleness,

with respect.

Now, I know

what some of you

are thinking.

This doesn't

mean that we

fold like

lawn chairs.

We just,

you know,

take the

critics and

that's cool,

man.

Whatever.

Just tell

me.

Tell me

I suck.

It's cool.

Tell me

Jesus is

horrible.

That's cool.

No.

But we

can, the

gospel still

allows us to

correct with

gentleness,

with love,

with care and

concern for

their hearts

and their

souls.

We can

still be bold

and right

and not

sin.

The gospel

enables us

to answer

with gentleness

and respect.

See, this is

why Peter

tells us to

do this,

to do it

with gentleness

and respect.

He knows

that we're

human.

He knows

that the

readers of

this are

going to

be human

and we're

going to

have the

same sinful

nature,

the same

emotional

fortitude

and whatever.

We're going

to be made

the same.

And he

knows

through the

leading of

the Holy

Spirit,

of course.

Nevertheless,

our response

can be and

must be

gentleness

and respect.

Gentleness

to the

unbeliever,

concern for

their souls,

love for

them,

respect

towards God,

respect and

fear is

another word

here,

towards God.

which as

we know,

fear of

God,

everything

trickles

down from

that,

from our

reverence

to God,

everything

kind of

trickles

down from

that.

So,

we fear

God,

we're going

to be

humble.

We fear

God,

we're going

to put

others

before

ourselves.

We fear

God,

we will

respond to

our offenders

with love

and gentleness.

Here's what

Martin Luther

wrote about

speaking to

people about

the hope

that we

have.

He says,

do you know

what the

devil thinks

when he

sees men

use violence

to propagate

the gospel?

He sits

with folded

arms behind

the fire

of hell

and says

with malignant

looks and

frightful grin,

ah,

how wise

these madmen

are to play

my game.

Let them

go on.

I shall

reap the

benefit

and I

delight in

it.

But,

when he

sees the

word

running

and contending

alone on

the battlefield,

then he

shudders

and shakes

for fear.

We must

defend,

not with

our opinions,

not with

our thoughts,

we defend

with the

word.

We defend

with the

word,

the gospel

of Jesus

Christ.

Do you

know the

word?

Do you

know the

word of

God?

So,

not only do

we have a

readiness to

defend our

faith,

but another

piece of

evidence is,

do you

have a

good

conscience?

Verse

16.

Having a

good

conscience.

Having a

good conscience.

So,

be ready to

defend your

faith for

the hope

that you

have,

with

gentleness

and respect,

having a

good

conscience.

the rest

of that

verse,

so that

when you

are

slandered,

those who

revile your

good behavior

in Christ

may be put

to shame.

The key

word here,

key words

here are

in Christ.

Does your

reaction,

does your

defense,

does the

way you

live your

life fit

within the

statement

in Christ?

Are you

living in

Christ?

Does your

life lean

towards sin

or towards

righteousness?

Now,

Jamie and I

had the

great opportunity

to take our

kids to see

the Lorax

last night.

So,

if they all

were at the

wedding and

you didn't

see us at

the reception,

that's where

we were.

We were at

the movie

theater.

There's a

line in

the movie

that's very

applicable to

this.

The Lorax

asks the

once-ler,

he says,

which way

does a

tree fall?

And the

once-ler says,

I don't

know.

And the

Lorax

responds by

saying,

it falls

whichever way

it's leaning.

Be careful

which way

you lean.

So,

for you

and for

me,

which way

does your

life lean?

Sin

or

righteousness?

If a

life is in

Christ,

that means

your life

through the

gospel leans

towards

righteousness.

His term

in good

conscience

does not

mean that

you've got

a good

credit score.

It doesn't

mean that

you have

good

relationships

with your

co-workers

or you

can sleep

well at

night

or you

don't

believe in

the Easter

Bunny or

Santa Claus.

None of

that.

It has to

deal with

our

relationship

with God.

Because of

Christ and

His work

on the

cross,

we can

live in

God's

presence

clothed in

Christ,

clothed in

His

righteousness.

To have a

good conscience

means that

we stand

firm in

our knowledge

of Christ's

work for

us on the

cross and

our standing

with God.

What Paul

repeatedly says

to the church

in Corinth

talking about

their conscience,

where they

think they

are.

Our sins

all have

been forgiven.

We are

children of

God,

every single

one of

them.

We stand

as if none

have ever

been committed,

as if we

are perfect.

And in

fact,

we are

because of

Christ and

His

perfection

and His

righteousness.

There's a

saying,

and we've

got

presidential

campaign going

on this

year,

and there's

a saying

that says

we all

have

skeletons

in our

closet.

We all

have things

that are

in there

that we're

just ashamed

of,

things we've

done,

things we've

thought,

things we've

whatever.

Well,

politicians,

you'll notice,

ramping up

now,

and they've

already been

doing it,

they're

starting to

pull

skeletons

out of

the opposing

politicians'

closets.

Well,

this guy

had affairs,

and this

guy doesn't

do this,

or this

guy,

whatever,

and on

and on

and on.

They try

to sway

us as

voters to

vote for

who they

want us

to vote

for.

Well,

here's the

reality.

Sure,

we all

have skeletons

in our

closet.

We all

have

something

we've

done

that

we're

ashamed

of.

But

because of

Christ,

because of

what He's

done,

those

skeletons

don't exist.

Because He

has forgiven

us of

those sins.

He has

cleansed

us as if

we've never

committed

them.

So if we

live in good

conscience

with God,

those

skeletons

don't exist.

that's good

news.

There's

nothing to

fear.

Am I

saying go

and run

for politics?

No.

I'm not

saying that.

But I

am saying

even better,

you're

standing

before a

holy,

righteous

God is

right because

of Christ.

If you

are a

child of

God,

if you

know Jesus,

if you

have

surrendered

your life

to Him.

So see

what matters

is our

relationship

with God.

Not how