The Apostle Peter's Encouragement - Part 1

This week, Michael writes: The good news of the gospel is throughout 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.

The Apostle 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 of all sinners."  Paul knew according to the spirit of Christ that he was given a new nature by 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, 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 people of God could "make their calling and election sure."  Peter wrote to believers in "enemy territory."  1 Peter 1:13-17 says:  “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, as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges 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.

Let's continue Michael's message on Peter's encouragement in the next post.
In Christ, Brian