I invite you to take your Bibles. If you came without one this morning, there should be one in the

pew rack in front of you. It's on page 1,440 in that Bible. It's 1st Peter Chapter 2

verses 18 to 25. Five, servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are

good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.

For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God, a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly,

for what credit is there if when you sin and are harshly treated you endure it with patience, but if when you do what

is right and suffer for it, you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ

also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in his steps, who committed no sin nor is any deceit

found in his mouth.

And while being reviled, he did not revile in return.

While suffering he uttered no threats, but kept entrusting himself to him who judges righteously.

And he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

For by his wounds you were healed.

For you were continually strained like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

As I ponder paragraph after paragraph in this letter, the overwhelming impression I get is that

it makes a difference to be a Christian. I remember I was out at Stanford University a few years ago talking with some

Intervarsity students about the impact of Christian Edenism on Stanford chapter

in the Bay Area. I remember one of the students, I don't remember which one it was, said he couldn't believe as he did student ministry how so many students were able to do add on Christianity.

That is, they heard the gospel, that you believe, trust, you accept, you receive, he died for your sins,

he rose again, that it gives you eternal life, and they just kind of added on to all their other commitments

and nothing changes.

Do their homework the same? Use their money the same? Pursue their plans after graduation the same? Do their

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