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God's People – Their Worldview (1 Peter 2.17)

"Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." (1 Peter 2.17). This summary statement speaks multitudes about the character of true Christians. It addresses their relationships with humanity in general, with fellow Christians, with their Creator, and with civil rulers. We will explore some implications of this broad-scoped statement.

First, believers are to honor all people. To honor is to assign a proper value and to treat another in accordance with that valuation. Contrary to…  ( Click for more )

God's People – The Right use of Liberty (1 Peter 2.15-16)

"For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men — as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.." (1 Peter 2.15-16). This expression "cloak for vice [evil]" occurs but once in the New Testament. The term is used here in a prohibitive way, i.e. believers are told something that they ought not to do. A close examination of this text will reveal some interesting and helpful results.

A "cloak…  ( Click for more )

God's People – Their Respect for Authoritites (1 Peter 2.13-14)

[Note: This article was written a short time prior to the Presidential elections being held in the United States of America on November 2nd, 2004. Further, it was set for distribution on the very evening in which the vote tallies from the various states were being accumulated. The author of this devotional piece had no knowledge of who the winners of the election would be. With that background, the reader is challenged to read these thoughts and make application as appropriate.]

"Therefore…  ( Click for more )

God's People – Their Mission in the World (1 Peter 2.11-12)

"Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2.11-12).

There are desires and there are desires! Paul, having been separated from the brethren at Thessalonica against his will, told them that he "… endeavored more eagerly to see your face…  ( Click for more )

God's People – Their Identity (1 Peter 2.9-10)

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2.9-10).

They once were not a people; they once were in darkness; they once had not obtained mercy! These past-tense phrases refer to the recipients of the book of 1Peter. What a dismal…  ( Click for more )

God's People – Not Disobedient (1 Peter 2.6-8)

"Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, 'Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.' Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,' and 'A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.' They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed." (1 Peter 2.6-8).

Peter quotes three Old…  ( Click for more )

God's People – Special in His Son (1 Peter 2.4-5)

"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2.4-5). There are two prominent sets of contraries in this text. We will examine these contraries and make a few observations about them.

The first set of opposing terms in this text is "living stone." Anyone who knows anything knows that stones…  ( Click for more )

God's People – Crave Special Food (1 Peter 2.1-3)

"Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious." (1 Peter 1.22-25). The first admonition of this passage is to lay some things aside. Literally the expression laying aside means to remove or put off something in the same way that an unwanted article of clothing is removed (note how those who stoned Stephen laid their garments…  ( Click for more )

God's People know His Eternal Word (1 Peter 1.22-25)

"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because 'All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.' Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you." (1 Peter…  ( Click for more )

God's People know True Riches (1 Peter 1.17-21)

"And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him…  ( Click for more )

God's People; A Life of Holiness (1 Peter 1.13-16)

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" (1 Peter 1.13-16). The expression "gird up the loins of your mind" is not one which would ordinarily mean much to someone of our…  ( Click for more )

God's People; The Grace of the Gospel (1 Peter 1.10-12)

"Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from…  ( Click for more )

God's People; A Living Joy (1 Peter 1.6-9)

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith——the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter…  ( Click for more )

God's People; A Living Hope (1 Peter 1.3-5; 1 of 1)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1.3-5). Some hopes die. Sicknesses, accidents, old age, financial reversals, and similar calamities…  ( Click for more )

Salutation (1 Peter 1.1-2; 1 of 1)

Peter's first general epistle begins with these words: "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion..." (1Peter 1.1a). Just exactly to whom Peter wrote is a matter of discussion among Bible student. However, it is worthy of note that he wrote to "the pilgrims of the dispersion." Consider the significance of this phrase.

A pilgrim is a sojourner, someone who is only staying temporarily in a particular place. It is used only by Peter and by the Hebrews writer to speak of the faithful characters…  ( Click for more )

The Truth or Perversion: An Awesome Reality (Galatians 1.6-9)

"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Galatians 1.6-7).

A small word in the text cited can escape the reader's attention if great care is not exercised. Notice that Paul spoke of those who "… want to pervert the gospel of Christ." (emphasis mine; jb). Some might pervert the teachings of the scriptures inadvertently, but those…  ( Click for more )

The Resurrection: A Central Doctrine (1 Corinthians 15.3-4)

It is obvious from a cursory reading of 1 Corinthians 15 that the resurrection is an important, even central, doctrine of the Christian faith. However, is the Gospel comprised only of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as some have alleged? Or does the Gospel consist of more than these fundamental facts?

"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 6 – Our Equal Rank One with Another (7/7) A closing commendation of grace (6.18) (1/1)

"Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen." (Galatians 6.18). This type of closing was not unusual with Paul. He frequently commended the brethren to the grace available in Christ as he ended his letters. However, the closing to the Galatians should be viewed with a slightly different perspective in as much as there are specific warnings in the Galatian epistle regarding grace. Note some of these warnings especially as they relate to…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 6 – Our Equal Rank One with Another (6/7) Faith in Christ – the only Basis for Boasting (6.11-17) (2/2)

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." (Galatians 6.15-17). The great question that occupied the minds of the debaters of the region was circumcision. Should it be imposed upon all or was it…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 6 – Our Equal Rank One with Another (5/7) Faith in Christ – the only Basis for Boasting (6.11-17) (1/2)

"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6.14). The context of this statement is one which directly concerns the doctrines of the Judaizers as compared to the truth of the Gospel. The Judaizers zealously courted the Galatians but it was to no good end (Galatians 4.17). Paul on the other hand had boasted in the only legitimate source of…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 6 – Our Equal Rank One with Another (4/7) Mutual Responsibilities of all Christians (6.1-10) (4/4)

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6.9-10).

As we have opportunity" simply means as we have occasion, or as occasions present themselves to us. That is the frequency with which we are to do good. It is not a seasonal thing which comes and goes based on the calendar…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 6 – Our Equal Rank One with Another (3/7) Mutual Responsibilities of all Christians (6.1-10) (3/4)

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." (Galatians 6.7-9).

There is a list of things that fall under the heading of "doing good" in the first nine verses of Galatians 6.…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 6 – Our Equal Rank One with Another (2/7) Mutual Responsibilities of all Christians (6.1-10) (2/4)

"For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load." (Galatians 6.3-5).

Spiritual self-examination is one of the most difficult commandments contained in God's will. But, the effects of not doing it, or for doing it ineffectively, are totally unacceptable to the human mind.…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 6 – Our Equal Rank One with Another (1/7) Mutual Responsibilities of all Christians (6.1-10) (1/4)

While those who belong to Christ do not practice (engage habitually in) sin, that does not mean that they cannot be "overtaken in a trespass." In fact, that is the exact scenario which begins Paul's final chapter to the Galatian Christians. However, the point of the passages isn't to state such a possibility; it is to point out our mutual responsibilities when such an event occurs.

"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual…  ( Click for more )