CENTRAL THOUGHT
Our life on earth is the route to heaven, our final destination.
HYMN: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER
INTRODUCTION
A pilgrim is one who travels from his/her country, to a holy place for religious reasons. This implies that a pilgrim has a permanent abode. A pilgrim is also one journeying through life as a stranger in this world since this world is not his final destination. A pilgrim can be regarded as a stranger or foreigner or sojourner in another country. The pilgrim is not a permanent dweller and does not naturalize (without the right of citizenship) in the foreign land. After some time on the pilgrimage, the pilgrim must return to his real abode. It is very important to note that in the journey of life, a pilgrim must live with determined focus so that he/she is not entangled by the affairs of the foreign or temporary land of pilgrimage.
Some Christians have lost focus of who they are, where they are from and where they are going. The Christian is Christ’s
representative or ambassador on earth who was redeemed to fulfill God’s purpose and Heaven is the final destination of the believer that overcomes the world.
The world is wallowing in darkness and sin; low morals have become acceptable, environmental factors are very potent, exerting a continuing eroding influence on all within it; these challenges may not be sharp and easily noticeable. This study is aimed at reassuring the believer that Christian principle still remains the standard in this race of life.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
1.To identity the Christian status as a pilgrim.
2.To understand God’s expectation of His children and why.
3.To know that it is practically possible to be holy in our corrupt world.
4.To highlight the qualities of a life that befits a Christian pilgrim.
BIBLE TRUTH
Q1 WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN STATUS FROM FOLLOWING THE SCRPTURE? 1 Peter 1:1-2, 2:9-11, Heb. 11:13, 2 Cor. 5:20
The Christian must be conscious of his status at all times; he/she must know that he is not like every other person. Christians are not citizens of this world but mere sojourners. In 1 Pet. 1:1-2, Peter was writing to strangers or Jewish converts who have been regenerated to a lively hope of eternal salvation. Christians scattered throughout various countries of the world should live according to God’s word and lead others to embrace and receive Christ.
Christians are citizens of heaven who ought to live not according to the ways of this world, which is most corrupt. Fleshly and worldly action should not rule and dictate the lifestyle of the believers (1 Pet. 2:11). Those who profess to seek heavenly country should not be entangled with the affections of worldly things.
Salvation automatically confers on the individual a different status (a minute he was in darkness the next he is saved and, in the light,), by reason of a transformation through Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit then works on one’s life to make us
Christ-like. This is a spiritual thing hence Nicodemus in John 3:3-7 could not understand what it meant to be born again. At salvation we experience the privilege of having our sins forgiven by faith in Christ’s shed blood at Calvary and reconciled to God. The believer is saved to serve God, please, obey Him and make His counsel known to others. The believer is made holy and right with God, not of works but this was imputed on him/her by the new birth and therefore must strive to maintain that state.
The believer must abstain from every evil pleasure since they war against the very nature/status he has obtained from God. Above all, the believer must be conscious that he/she is a stranger on earth in transit to his/her real home which is heaven. As Christ ambassador (i.e. representative) on earth, he/she must be careful to show forth Christ by his/her lifestyle.
Q2A. WHAT IS THE NATURE OF GOD AS SPECIFIED IN 1 PETER 1:15-16?
God is holy and there is no unholiness in Him as stated in Habakkuk 1:12-13; God’s eyes are pure that He cannot behold sin. God is holy and we who profess to be His children should exhibit a character of holiness. As His people, we ought to be like Him and be holy (Lev. 11:44).
Q2B. WHAT DOES GOD EXPECT FROM HIS CHILDREN AND WHY? 1 Peter 1:1-2, 15-25
Dogs give birth to dogs and lions to lions, and in all it is natural that every animal or plant reproduce their kind. Same is expected of the spirit. God gives birth to His kind i.e. people/children who are expected to live holy lives set apart for Him. If we worship God, then our lives must imitate the Lord whom we worship. Our character should be formed in accordance with His. By giving one’s life to Christ, he/she is endowed with grace to be a child of God i.e. put on the very nature of God which is holiness.
God expects us to worship Him as our father and be holy because that is His nature and that a holy and precious price was paid for our redemption. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, that we were ransomed with the precious life blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless lamb of God (the living Bible) and not mere Gold or silver. So, the manner in which our redemption was affected should make us live a holy life.
God therefore expects us to be holy, because He is holy, and that His holy nature has been imputed into us. We must bear in mind that God is an impartial judge and will not and cannot tolerate sin. Without holiness it is impossible to see God (Heb. 12:14). We should live in holiness; purify our soul and live in obedience to God.
Q3. WHAT ARE THOSE FACTORS THAT TEND TO POLLUTE THE CHRISTIAN?
1 John 2:15-17
There are many things that pollute the Christian thereby distracting him/her from focusing on eternity with God. These can be summarized into the love of the world and the things that are in the world; they also include the lust of the flesh (evil desires, the craze for sex), the lust of the eyes (the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you) and the pride that comes from wealth and importance, peer pressure and the desire to belong to a class.
The believer must be careful not to trade eternity with the cares of this world/life that are temporary, natural and physical. He/she must refuse to take for granted God’s redemptive grace that is permanent, supernatural and spiritual.
Q4. IS IT PRACTICALLY POSSIBLE TO BE HOLY IN THIS CORRUPT SOCIETY?
A reasonable superior office can only give his subordinates orders/instructions that are realistic to be actualized. For God who is all knowing to instruct His children to be Holy implies that He knows our abilities, that we can be holy. God is not asking for man’s opinion, it is an instruction, a command “BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY”, man’s discretion is not required. Like the military, once a command is given, it must be obeyed to the letter.
There has never been a sinless society, pure and holy, only in heaven will there be such an environment. As in the days of Noah (Gen. 6:8) and the days of Lot (Gen. 19:17) so it is in our time, same in every generation.
While we are still on earth sin must abound. It therefore behooves on the believer to distinguish him/her self from the crowd by being holy. To be like Zacharias and Elizabeth who had the testimony of heaven as just and perfect- Lk. 1:6. In every generation God leaves for Himself a remnant; choose this day to be amongst God’s elect and strive to be holy.
The Christian must strive to be (holy) like God on a daily basis, and remain holy. The believer must therefore put aside all weights/sins and focus his/her energies on things that are of eternal value.
We read patriarchs that lost their lives in striving to attain the mark (heaven). The question is what price are believers paying today to remain pure. God will not reduce His standards because of any man, if the world of Noah, the great cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for their unholy living, no one that is unholy will see God (Matt. 5:8 and Heb 12:14).
Q5. HOW CAN A PILGRIM LIVE UP TO GOD’S STANDARD OF HOLY LIVING IN THIS CORRUPT SOCIETY? 1 Peter 1:17, 1 Cor. 15:33-34, Prov. 4:14-15, Ps. 119:9-11, Phil. 4:8, 1 Thess 5:22
As a pilgrim on earth, the believer must live in reverential fear of God, the impartial judge. He also must be careful of the company he/she keeps.
A man/woman who desires to live up to God’s standard of holy living must be a man of the word of God and be guided by it. He/she must be an example of the believer, be honest in all (things) his dealings, live right before men and God, be a man of love and distance himself from all appearance of evil. By living up to God’s standard of holy living, the believer will positively influence his relationships, associates and environment. These in turn will compel him/her to remain holy and sustain the good testimony.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
Christians are marked out to be in the world but not of the world. A pilgrim or an ambassador is always mindful of keeping the standards of his home country. We cannot afford to be complacent and absorbed by the dictates of the world: others may be, but we (the believers in Christ) cannot.
MEMORY VERSE
1 Peter 1:15
“But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday: The Christian’ status
1 Peter 1:1-2, 2:9-11
Tuesday: God’s nature
1 Pet. 1:1-2, 15-25
Wednesday: Qualities of a holy life.
Ps. 119:1-3, Ps. 1:1-2, Gal. 5:22-23
Thursday: How a pilgrim can lift up God’s standards of holy living in out corrupt society.
1 Cor. 15:33, 1 Pet. 1:17, 22
Friday: The eternal word of God.
1 Pet. 2:2, 1 Pet. 1:23
Saturday: How the pilgrims lifestyle can affect the unbeliever.
Phil. 1:27, 1 Pet. 2:11-12