Peter’s Encouragement
The good news of the gospel is on every page of the bible. Even the Old Testament is full of the good news of God’s salvation. The messages in the four gospels are challenges for Christians to live as unto God and not unto men. The blessings in the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11 fly in the face of worldly wisdom. God’s blessings are diametrically opposed to the world’s definition of the “pursuit of happiness.” The world’s happiness is based on “happenstance.” It’s a fleeting emotional high. That which is of this world is temporal…here today and gone tomorrow.
Paul had persecuted the Christians before he had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. He humbled himself and understood that he was the “chief among sinners.” Paul knew according to the spirit of Christ that he was given a new nature by the God’s abundant grace and mercy. Paul learned to strive to keep himself under subjection to his new nature of the spirit. When we realize that we are subject to the new nature, God will break our hearts for what breaks his. Sin is the nature of the flesh for which Jesus Christ sacrificed his life as a righteous payment for sin on our behalf.
The men who wrote the New Testament were holy men of God who were moved by God’s Holy Spirit. The New Testament defines the enemy as the adversary, the devil, the thief whose purpose is to steal, to kill, and to destroy. His tools are the old nature of the flesh: the boastful pride of life, the over desires of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes. Jesus Christ redeemed us from our sinful nature for he who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.
We were not deserving of God’s saving grace. We were deserving of death for the wages of sin is death. However where sin abounded grace much more abounded. Even though we were guilty before God the righteous judge, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin. We’re forgiven and loved not because we were worthy of forgiveness and love but because love, mercy and grace is the nature of God himself. For in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. When we realize that God’s salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, then we can “thank God for his unspeakable gift.”
The apostle Peter wrote two epistles so that men of God could “make their calling and election sure.” Peter wrote to believers in “enemy territory.” 1 Peter 1:13 and following says: “13. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14. As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:”
Peter exhorts the believers to long for the pure milk of the unadulterated word of God. The Christians were fearful of the persecution of the believers. However, despite the trials of this world, we can “gird up the loins of our mind”…..we’re in control of our thoughts and attitudes according to our holy calling. “Holy means to separate our thoughts, actions, and behavior according to God’s divine design. For God is no respecter of persons. He is however, a respecter of His Word. Holiness is according to God’s terms and not the world’s terms. Therefore, be ye doers of the Word with godly fear, reverence, and respect.
Peter’s exhortation continues in 1 Peter 2:6-8: Built up as living stones we will not be disappointed. However unto those who don’t believe the cornerstone Jesus Christ will be a stumbling stone. 7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. As living stones we’re built up to offer spiritual sacrifices holy unto God.
Although we are in this world, we are not of this world. The more wealthy the culture becomes, the more the people will worship the almighty dollar and the “blessings” of this world. When true men of God preach the word of God, the world will persecute them and ostracize them for speaking against what the world considers politically correct. The world does not realize that the true blessing is to pursue the Blessor and not the blessing. Therefore Peter reminds us that we are God’s building, his holy temple and that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone, the firm foundation.
According to verse 9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” He chose us before we chose him. He chose us before the foundations of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. We’re a royal priesthood with direct access to our Heavenly Father. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. We who have been born from above are an holy nation. We’re citizens of heaven, having been born again, not of corruptible seed (of Adam) but of incorruptible (of God) by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever.
Continuing in verse 11: Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” To win the spiritual battle, we must put on the whole armor of God. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual to the pulling down of strongholds. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God bringi every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. The two offensive weapons in our spiritual Arsenal are the sword of the spirit which is the word of God and prayer.
We’re aliens and foreigners in a world of darkness. We’re citizens of heaven. To bear up under suffering we must understand that this world is not our home, we’re just passing through. If we hold on to the things of this world, John said, the love of the father is not in us.
In a hostile world, Jesus said, “blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven.” As the Apostle Paul said, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
The love of God defeats the hatred of the adversary and his minions. According to Romans 12, be not overcome with evil but overcome evil with good.
Continuing in 1 Peter 2:12 “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. 13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.”
We submit ourselves as sons of God with gentleness according to the love of God. The spirit of Christ in us will determine the world’s reaction to the word of God that we witness with our behavior. They don’t care that you know until they know that you care.
Continuing in verse 18: Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.”
Why should we be submissive to an unreasonable master? This finds favor (to God and men who admire our character) when we for the sake of confidence toward God suffer unjustly. They don’t watch if we seek “just retribution” but they take notice when we bear up under unjust suffering. This is the mark of Godly character. This is an example of God’s living epistle, known and read of all men.
Bearing up under suffering was the example of Jesus himself: 20. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
According to 2 Peter 1:10, Our calling is to give all diligence (with meekness and humility) to make our calling and election sure. We look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy (of our salvation) endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God. Because of the price he paid on our behalf he has called us to “shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light…”
May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael