Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from 1 Pet 1:1-2 and following. Indeed, the Lord had said to His disciple Peter even before he was denied, “When once you have returned, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-34). This is the service that the apostle performs in this epistle. For the execution of these tasks is presented in four stages: Peter reminds believers of their blessed, heavenly position before God; then he instructs them about the relationships and duties vested in them, as strangers in this world; he explains that during their lives here on earth, believers are placed under the righteous government of God; and finally, he encourages his brothers to be patient in suffering.
That is why it recalls our incomparable privileges: the salvation of the soul and a heavenly inheritance free from any attack. God keeps it for the heirs and keeps them for inheritance. But already they have a foretaste of it: “an unspeakable and glorious joy”. It has its source in the living hope they have in a living Person: the risen Jesus; in faith; in love for the One whom the redeemed have not yet seen, but whom their hearts know well. And the more we love the Lord, the more we will feel that we do not love Him enough. What was to characterize these Christians was the same walk as Christ, “obedience to the truth”; the truth, the thought of God, having absolute rights over our hearts. So it was with the perfect man, with Christ Jesus, but He did not need, like us, obedience to the truth to purify his soul. The truth governed him; Wasn’t he himself “the way, the truth, and the life”? As for us, this obedience to the truth purifies our donkeys and prevents them from carrying themselves on objects contrary to the holiness of God.
The consequence of this is that any object alien to the character of God is banished from the heart. Now God’s character is love, and we realize that love by placing our affection on our brothers and sisters, on those whom God loves. In the Christian, consistent with his character, this affection is real, without hypocrisy, not giving himself appearances that do not correspond to reality. She has ardor and starts from hearts from which defilement has no place. This was all the more important to say that these Christians found themselves transported out of the narrow customs and selfish interests of Judaism, into broad Christian love.
What a difference indeed, between their current position and their previous state! As Jews, the seed from which they came was corruptible. They belonged to a sinful people condemned by the fact of their earthly and sinful origin. But now they had nothing to do with their nature of yesteryear. It was a new birth and the seed that produced it was alive and permanent, that is, remaining eternally: the Word of God. As for the corruptible seed, nothing will remain of it! All flesh is like grass; it disappears like the flower of the grass that shines for a moment, then dries and falls and is only good for fire. So it is with man; and, wonderfully, so was Christ coming into grace to take man’s place to save him (Ps. 102. 5, 12; 103. 15, 16; Isa 40. 6-8; J 1. 11).
The Word that had been spoken to them remains eternal. It was to her that they had to remain attached. It is also the only safeguard for us, in the days when Satan has managed to question this Word, to weaken its reach in the eyes and hearts of Christians, until the moment when he declares it highly childish and worthless.
Let us note that from the beginning of this epistle, the Spirit brings out its eminently practical character. It is for a pilgrim people who derive their origin from a risen and glorified Christ, to realize, in all their walk here on earth, their character as a saved people, apart from all the principles of Judaism that would like to link it to an earthly religion.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Salvation, the object of hope and wonder:
Eternal hope
Help the believer at the hour of death Pr 14:32 The wicked is overthrown by his wickedness, but the righteous find refuge even in his death.
Assure immortality Acts 24:15 and having in God this hope, as they themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and the unjust.
-A heavenly treasure Col 1:5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, and which the word of truth, the word of the Gospel has previously made known to you.
Anticipates the coming of Christ 2:13 while awaiting blessed hope, and the manifestation of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ,
-The sure anchor of the soul Hb 6:18-19 so that, by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may find a powerful encouragement, we whose only refuge was to grasp the hope that was proposed to us. 19 This hope, we possess it as an anchor of the soul, sure and solid; it penetrates beyond the veil,
-Based on the resurrection 1 Pet 1:3 Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his great mercy, regenerated us, for a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- Divine Holiness of God
Ex 15:11 Who is like you among the gods, O Lord? Who is like you magnificent in holiness, Worthy of praise, Performing wonders? Ps 99:9 Exalt the Lord, our God, and prostrate yourselves on his holy mountain! For he is holy, the Lord, our God! Isaiah 6:3 They cried out to each other, and said: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! Rev 15:4 Who would not fear, Lord, and glorify your name? For only you are holy. And all nations will come, and bow down before you, because your judgments have been manifested.
- Training(edification)
-according to the divine plan Ex 25:40 Look, and do according to the pattern shown to you on the mountain.
-a perfect example Jn 13:15 because I have given you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you.
-life must be transformed and not conformed To Rom 12:2 Do not conform to the present century, but be transformed by the renewal of intelligence, so that you may discern what God’s will is, what is good, pleasant and perfect. 2 Cor 3:18 All of us who, with our faces uncovered, contemplate as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, we are transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Lord, the Spirit.
-the danger represented by the old ideals 2 Pet 1:14-15 because I know that I will leave it suddenly, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made known to me. 15 But I will be careful that after I leave you can always remember these things.
- Family influence
Ps 34:12 Come, my sons, listen to me! I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Mk 7:10 For Moses said, Honor your father and mother; and: He who curses his father or mother will be punished with death. Eph 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents, according to the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 that you may be happy and live long on earth. 1 Tim 5:4 If a widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn above all to exercise piety towards their own families, and to give back to their parents what they have received from them; for this is pleasing to God.
From all the above, we note that because of the very value He recognizes in faith, God works to purify it in the crucible of trial. But an assurance is given to us: He does so only “if necessary”. These are the blessed realities that concern us, of which the prophets have been carefully informed and in which angels desire to look closely. We who are involved in these things administered by them, would we be the only ones who are not interested in them? Truth, as the apostle has just exposed, has rights and effects on us. It is that belt that strengthens our understanding and curbs our imagination (Eph 6:13-20). And it is to the truth that we have to obey. We who once walked among the “sons of disobedience” (Col 3:5-11) have become “children of obedience,” obedience not only to but to Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:1-2), that is, consistent with His own, motivated by love for the Father (John 8:25-30; Jn 14:28-31). Besides, everything here is in contrast to the Old Testament. It is not silver, gold, or anything that can redeem us (Ex 30:11-16; Nb 31:48-51), but the precious blood of Christ. It is also the consequence of the value at which He appreciates the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb. It is not as with the Israelite the natural birth that brings us into the rights and privileges of God’s people – that no one thinks is a child of God simply because he has Christian parents! We are regenerated by the incorruptible, living, permanent Word. The holiness required in all our conduct responds to this new nature; we invoke the Holy God as Father. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterhole to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow ” Christians are living stones and Jesus the cornerstone.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.