HOW TO SILENCE THE CRITICS (7 OF 16)
by Jerry Vines
Scripture: I PETER 2:11-20
This content is part of a series.
How to Silence the Critics (7 of 16)
Series: There's Hope
Jerry Vines
I Peter 2:11-20
10/10/04
If you are a Christian, it is very important how you live because someone is watching. Every Christian life is an advertisement for the Christian faith, either a good advertisement or a bad advertisement. It has been often said, and I concur, that the best argument for the validity of the Christian faith is a beautiful, winsome Christian life. One philosopher said, "Show me your redeemed life and I will be inclined to believe in your redeemer."
The truth of the matter is most people do not read the Bible. They never even open the Bible. They don't even know what is in the Bible. The only Bible most people ever read is the Bible they see lived out in your lifestyle. If you are a Christian, it is important how you live. Someone is watching.
The first religious poem I ever memorized was this. "You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day, by deeds that you do, by words that you say. Men read what you write whether faithless or true, say, what is the gospel according to you?"
It is because of this that Peter now takes a practical turn in his writing. He's going to talk about practical matters. He's going to talk about the importance of living the Christian life. He's going to do it because he says that the way you live your life as a Christian is a means of stopping the mouths of the critics.
He says in verse 15, "That with well-doing ye, may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." The verb there "put to silence" means to muzzle. It's like putting a muzzle on an animal. It was used in Matthew 22 about the Lord Jesus Christ where the Bible says that the Lord Jesus Christ put to silence the Sadducees, that is, because of the lifestyle of the Lord Jesus Christ they were muzzled. Their criticisms were silenced.
The Christian faith has always had its critics. From the very beginning of the Christian faith, there have been those who h ...
Series: There's Hope
Jerry Vines
I Peter 2:11-20
10/10/04
If you are a Christian, it is very important how you live because someone is watching. Every Christian life is an advertisement for the Christian faith, either a good advertisement or a bad advertisement. It has been often said, and I concur, that the best argument for the validity of the Christian faith is a beautiful, winsome Christian life. One philosopher said, "Show me your redeemed life and I will be inclined to believe in your redeemer."
The truth of the matter is most people do not read the Bible. They never even open the Bible. They don't even know what is in the Bible. The only Bible most people ever read is the Bible they see lived out in your lifestyle. If you are a Christian, it is important how you live. Someone is watching.
The first religious poem I ever memorized was this. "You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day, by deeds that you do, by words that you say. Men read what you write whether faithless or true, say, what is the gospel according to you?"
It is because of this that Peter now takes a practical turn in his writing. He's going to talk about practical matters. He's going to talk about the importance of living the Christian life. He's going to do it because he says that the way you live your life as a Christian is a means of stopping the mouths of the critics.
He says in verse 15, "That with well-doing ye, may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." The verb there "put to silence" means to muzzle. It's like putting a muzzle on an animal. It was used in Matthew 22 about the Lord Jesus Christ where the Bible says that the Lord Jesus Christ put to silence the Sadducees, that is, because of the lifestyle of the Lord Jesus Christ they were muzzled. Their criticisms were silenced.
The Christian faith has always had its critics. From the very beginning of the Christian faith, there have been those who h ...
There are 23527 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
