Exiles

Application

1. When we fix our gaze on things of this world, we lose sight of our mission to hold out the gospel to the world. What characterizes your life more, fear and frustration or hope and opportunity? Why?

2. What worldly desires “wage war against your soul,” tempting you to live as a citizen of this world rather than of God’s Kingdom?

3. How are you living out your calling as a holy priest, an ambassador for God among people who need the gospel? Are you speaking truth in a way that is winsome?

Key Points

• The Bible provides us with core truths of our faith that direct us how to live in any culture at any time.

• Our identity as God’s people supersedes everything, including our allegiance to the country in which we reside.

• Like the Israelites in exile in Babylon, God’s people are exiles scattered throughout the nations of the world, living as his priests and ambassadors.

• The mix of Christianity and worldly power will not bring about the future we hope for. We must be careful not to abdicate our role as disciple makers, expecting government to Christianize society.

• As believers, God’s power enables us to simultaneously subvert the world and submit to worldly authority.

• There is no future in investing our emotional energy into this world, because it is passing away. It is not worthy of our affections and allegiance, which are transcendent and eternal.

Other Scripture References

John 14:27

Matthew 5:44

2 Corinthians 5:20

1 Peter 5:13

Revelation 19:13–16

Romans 12:21

1 Corinthians 7:29–31