1st Peter 1:15

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Pilgrims of Dispersion1st Peter 11-5

• 1st Peter 11-5

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The Lords Church Has Many Names

• Collectively
• The Church
• Church of God
• Church of Christ
• The Way
• Body of Christ
• The Elect

• Individually
• Disciples
• Saints
• Believers
• Priests
• Christians

Each describes relationship between man and God!
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Less Commonly Used Name

• Pilgrims of Dispersion-NKJV
• Strangers Scattered-KJV
• Pilgrims, what comes to mind?
• Columbus, 1492, Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria
• John Wayne, Howdy pilgrim!
• Thayer definition One who comes from a foreign
  land and resides beside the natives.
• Stranger, Foreigner, Visitor, Sojourner, Aliens

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Peter Writes to

• Pilgrims/Strangers, dispersed/scattered
• Jewish Christians in the Gentile world
• Foreigners in a strange land
• Aliens tempted and tried on every hand
• 1st Peter 16-7, Wherein ye greatly rejoice,
  though now for a season, if need be, ye are in
  heaviness through manifold temptations That the
  trial of your faith, being much more precious
  than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried
  with fire, might be found unto praise and honour
  and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ

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Peter Also Writing to

• Christians then and now, everywhere
• Visiting in a strange land
• Dwelling temporarily on earth
• Waiting to go home
• Waiting to be with the Father
• Pilgrims dispersed among the world
• Strangers scattered among the wicked
• Sojourners passing, wandering through this
  physical life

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Pilgrims Responsibility

• To be Separate
• 1st Peter 211-12, I beseech you as strangers
  and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which
  war against the soul Having your conversation
  honest among the Gentiles that, whereas they
  speak against you as evildoers, they may by your
  good works, which they shall behold, glorify God
  in the day of visitation.
• 2nd Corinthians 614-18, be ye separate

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Consequences of Being Separate

• Some will think strange things
• 1st Peter 43-4, time past of our life we
  walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine,
  revellings, banquetings, and abominable
  idolatries Wherein they think it strange that ye
  run not with them to the same excess of riot,
  speaking evil of you..
• John 1518-19, If the world hate you, ye know
  that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were
  of the world, the world would love his own but
  because ye are not of the world, but I have
  chosen you out of the world, therefore the world
  hateth you.

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Need to Be Like Pilgrims of Today

• Refusing to give up the language
• Refusing to be citizens of the land
• Refusing to give up heritage
• Refusing to accept culture of this world
• Refusing to change speech, dress, and conduct
• If we choose to adapt to this world we choose
  not to be separate.

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Reward for Remaining Separate

• Abide with God forever
• 1st John 215-17, Love not the world, neither
  the things that are in the world. If any man love
  the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
  For all that is in the world, the lust of the
  flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of
  life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof
  but he that doeth the will of God abideth for
  ever.

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Reward for Remaining Separate

• Vile body changed to a glorious body
• Philippians 320-21, For our conversation is in
  heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour,
  the Lord Jesus Christ Who shall change our vile
  body, that it may be fashioned like unto his
  glorious body, according to the working whereby
  he is able even to subdue all things unto
  himself.

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Reward for Remaining Separate

• A true home built by God
• Hebrews 1110, He (Abraham) looked for a city
  which hath foundations, whose builder and maker
  is God
• Hebrews 1116, They (those of faith who have
  gone before us) desire a better country, that is,
  an heavenly wherefore God is not ashamed to be
  called their God for he hath prepared for them a
  city.
• True home is a continuing city
• Hebrews 1314, For here have we no continuing
  city, but we seek one to come

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Reward for Remaining Separate

• Dwell in righteousness
• 2nd Peter 313-14, We, according to his promise,
  look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
  dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved,
  seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent
  that ye may be found of him in peace, without
  spot, and blameless.
• Jesus return from heaven for us
• Revelation 211-225, A glorious return

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Conclusion

• Are we pilgrims in this world?
• Are we strangers in a strange land?
• Do we view life as a journey?
• Do we keep ourselves separate from the sins of
  this world?
• Do we keep a view of home in our hearts?
• Do we think of this new home often?
• Are we truly Pilgrims of Dispersion?
• Are we truly Strangers Scattered?