1 Peter 3:8–What's Left To Say?

1 Peter 3:8–"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind."

Could there any more comprehensive an exhortation for community?  To be sure, this verse is not without context, coming about midway through Peter's first epistle, but suffice to say that it encompasses much of this letter's intent for Christians–to be a people of love.

Consider, for a moment, the elements exhorted here: unity, sympathy, brotherly love, tenderness, and humility–could there be a more comprehensive list for the character demands of Christian unity?  But this is not an inventory, a to-do list for Christian fellowship and life.  It is focus, focus for our Christian sanctification, focus for our lives.

Let us strive to live this verse out in ever-increasing measures as we seek to be obedient to the will Christ has for us in our lives!

1 Peter 2:2-3–Long For Pure Spiritual Milk

1 Peter 2:2-3–"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation–if indeed you have tasted the Lord is good."

For those who have tasted the presence of the Lord a hungering sets in, a hunger for a deeper relationship with the Almighty God.  Many people assume that Christianity, if it is to be included in a person's life, should be done in a moderate manner.  This couldn't be more destructive to the Christian message.  God doesn't want merely a piece of a person's life; He intends to have the entirety of a person's life and devotion.

For this reason, among a vast litany of other reasons, Peter is right to exhort us to "long for the pure spiritual milk."  Reams of paper could be expired in defining pure spiritual milk, however, it is enough for now to say that pure spiritual milk is the nourishing knowledge of Christ Jesus received through faith.  It is found in prayer, study, fellowship, and worship.  And, as Peter commands, we should long for this milk as infants.  In this way we will be ensuring the stability of our salvation.

1 Peter 3:14-16–Honor Christ

1 Peter 3:14-16–"But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.  Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."

I admit that this is a hefty passage, dense with theological weight.  There is more than one sermon in this passage alone.  That being said, the general theme of it seems to be pretty clear: stay true to the gospel of Christ and live our your faith with integrity.  Everyone who reads this blog knows that I could write more (yes, I wrote could), but truthfully this passage really speaks for itself.  Read it again. Meditate on what it says.  And have a blessed day!

1 Peter 2:15–A Statement Doing Good

1 Peter 2:15–"For this is the will of a God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people."

This is an interesting verse, as is most of Peter's epistle.  Peter is saying, quite plainly, that Christians are called to live a certain life, with a specific ethic.  We are commanded to live lives of character and of integrity, recognizing that we should give no reason(s) whatsoever for anyone to discredit Christ due to the flaws in our own lives and testimonies.  It could be said that this is one of the primary ways in which Christians are called to evangelize and minister to the world: by living lives of authenticity and character.  This is our task.  Let us pray for the strength and wisdom to fulfill this task with excellence and honesty.

1 Peter 5:6-7–Humble Yourselves and Cast Your Anxieties

1 Peter 5:6-7: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you."

Perhaps the most difficult task for humans as well as one of the most essential is the task of humbling one's self.  The very idea itself can sometimes be a humiliating proposition.  It is thus ironic that there is nothing more liberating and more empowering than humbling yourself and laying your anxieties on Christ.  This is the task for Christians.  It is our call, that we would humble ourselves before the Holy Lord as we cast our worries upon the Lord.  But it turns out that this is, in actuality, a simple task when we place Christ upon the throne of our lives.  Let us then strive to humble ourselves with all sincerity and devotion.

Holiness is Not Attainable

One of the primary characteristics of the people of God is that they will be holy as the Lord is holy (Lev 20:26; 1 Pet 1:16).  But this identification is something affirmed, something declared by God to define His chosen people.  God places the badge of holiness upon His people, holiness.  But it is essential to recognize that this distinction is not earned or attained by the chosen people; it is given by God's grace.

This is important.  There has always been a large swatch of the Christian experience that has thought of personal piety as a status, some state of being to be attained through personal discipline or strength of will.  But this does not conform to the narrative of Scripture.  Holiness is an attribute that only God possesses and the only way for a human being to possess holiness is for God to bestow it.

The key is this: no man can achieve holiness, God gives it by virtue of His choosing.  There is no effort to exert aside from obedience to the covenant obligations, but God, because of who He is, bestows the status of holiness to whomever He pleases as expressing His love and faithfulness.  Only in Christ are we made holy.  This cannot be stated any more firmly.  What it means, though, needs to be carried throughout its ripples in the pool of theology.

1 Peter: Backing Up Prayer in Lifestyle.

1 Peter 4:7: "The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers."

This verse, although abstracted from an exhortation for believers to become armed and ready to suffer as Christ has suffered, is a powerful and profound teaching for Christians.  The essence of Peter's instruction is that Christians have an obligation to live with a certain conduct of life, not only because it is befitting of Christ but more so because it is our lifestyle which protects and confirms the validity of our prayers.

To be sure, there is a depth to what Peter is saying but, at its heart in its context, Peter is charging believers to back up their beliefs and to substantiate their faith with the very way that believers live.  Clearly, simple belief is not so simple.

Faith in Christ demands that we never cease to be transformed by the Holy Spirit and the working of the Holy Word in our lives.  We should not take lightly the investment of Christ's riches that have been deposited within us.  Instead, we should always strive on towards greater depths of commitment and sanctification in Christ.  And in doing so, we protect our prayers from the defilement of debauchery and sin.