Preach Forth the Virtues of Christ
As God's chosen people, we are called to demonstrate the virtues of Christ and show others the goodness of God.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that Christians, as a chosen people and a holy nation, are called to proclaim the virtues of Christ by living out His goodness in their lives. He asserts that true transformation occurs when God's divine light illuminates the soul, enabling believers to reflect Christ's virtues authentically. Without this divine light, even the most knowledgeable individual remains spiritually lost. The sermon encourages believers to embrace their identity in Christ and to actively demonstrate His goodness to the world.
Text
"For you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests,
God's holy nation, His very own possession. This is so you can
show others the goodness (or virtues) of God, for He called you
out of the darkness into His wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9
When God causes His divine light, His marvelous light, to shine
in upon the soul, then a Christian will preach forth the virtues of
Christ in an imitable practice; and until then a man, under all other
knowledge, will remain an incarnate devil.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Purpose of God's People
- A. To show others the goodness of God
- B. To demonstrate the virtues of God
- II. The Nature of God's People
- A. Chosen people
- B. Kingdom of priests
- C. God's holy nation
- D. His very own possession
Key Quotes
“When God causes His divine light, His marvelous light, to shine in upon the soul, then a Christian will preach forth the virtues of Christ in an imitable practice;” — Thomas Brooks
“until then a man, under all other knowledge, will remain an incarnate devil.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We must strive to demonstrate the virtues of Christ in our daily lives, so that others may see the goodness of God.
- When we fail to demonstrate the virtues of Christ, we remain under the influence of darkness and sin.
- God's divine light and marvelous light are necessary for us to live out our faith and demonstrate the virtues of Christ.