1 Peter 3:1-7
More instruction on what it means to be part of the household of God for Peter's church. Embedded in Peter's teaching are more implications for our own Christian conduct. Once again, the doing what is right, informed by God's will, whether it is difficult or not, is Peter's message.
1Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Thoughts...
10.28.2010
10.25.2010
1 Peter 2:18-25
1 Peter 2:18-25
This is one of the more difficult passages for me. I'll withhold my usual introductory comments. Read it and share your thoughts. You may have more insight than I have.
By the way, this is our 100th post:)
This is one of the more difficult passages for me. I'll withhold my usual introductory comments. Read it and share your thoughts. You may have more insight than I have.
By the way, this is our 100th post:)
10.22.2010
1 Peter 2:13-17
13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
This continues the section from 2:11-4:11 about some specifics of Christian conduct in a culture/world that is sometimes in opposition.to real Christian values.
2:13-17 has a very different flavor than Revelation which is very negative toward ruling governmental authorities. Peter helps us figure out what he means by qualifying the kind of government authority Christians should submit to, especially in v. 14. For Peter, when a government is consistent in punishing wrong and commending right, it is doing what God intends authority to do. And, for the Christian, living responsibly with that kind of authority in place, and doing good, is God's will and is even consistent with 'freedom' (v. 16).
It would be interesting to talk about how this applies to us today. It need not be a political-party bashing discussion, in fact shouldn't be according to Peter. Do we/can we live as 'servants of God', doing right and submit to our human authorities? What's at stake? How do we better let or lives silence foolish people?
Hmmmm....
This continues the section from 2:11-4:11 about some specifics of Christian conduct in a culture/world that is sometimes in opposition.to real Christian values.
2:13-17 has a very different flavor than Revelation which is very negative toward ruling governmental authorities. Peter helps us figure out what he means by qualifying the kind of government authority Christians should submit to, especially in v. 14. For Peter, when a government is consistent in punishing wrong and commending right, it is doing what God intends authority to do. And, for the Christian, living responsibly with that kind of authority in place, and doing good, is God's will and is even consistent with 'freedom' (v. 16).
It would be interesting to talk about how this applies to us today. It need not be a political-party bashing discussion, in fact shouldn't be according to Peter. Do we/can we live as 'servants of God', doing right and submit to our human authorities? What's at stake? How do we better let or lives silence foolish people?
Hmmmm....
10.19.2010
1 Peter 2:11-12
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
These two verses introduce the next major section of 1 Peter (2:11-4:11). Remember that chapter and verse numbers are helpful for reference but don't always point to the main divisions of a book.
This next section seems to be about how to conduct ourselves as Christians in a 'pagan' culture (a culture not embracing Jesus) in which we don't 'fit in,' which is sometimes very opposed or even hostile to Christians, and to do it in such a way as to give clear pointers toward God. We are new people, changed people (born from above or born again) living in an unchanged world...so there is bound to be tension, opposition, and discomfort. So Peter reminds us, though it isn't easy or comfortable, we are to live in a way that clearly shares the good news of Jesus...and here's the hard part: NO MATTER WHAT.
Thoughts...
These two verses introduce the next major section of 1 Peter (2:11-4:11). Remember that chapter and verse numbers are helpful for reference but don't always point to the main divisions of a book.
This next section seems to be about how to conduct ourselves as Christians in a 'pagan' culture (a culture not embracing Jesus) in which we don't 'fit in,' which is sometimes very opposed or even hostile to Christians, and to do it in such a way as to give clear pointers toward God. We are new people, changed people (born from above or born again) living in an unchanged world...so there is bound to be tension, opposition, and discomfort. So Peter reminds us, though it isn't easy or comfortable, we are to live in a way that clearly shares the good news of Jesus...and here's the hard part: NO MATTER WHAT.
Thoughts...
10.14.2010
1 Peter 2:4-10
For NIV reading click here 1 Peter 2:4-10
Peter gives additional clarity about our identity as 'those who believe' in contrast to 'those who do not believe.' Peter spends a little more time defining believers and describes them as the Israel God intended, those who received God's mercy and therefore declare His praises.
How do you think the Christian community, our churches, we as individual Christians are grabbing hold of this identity and declaring God's praises in our places of darkness?
Peter gives additional clarity about our identity as 'those who believe' in contrast to 'those who do not believe.' Peter spends a little more time defining believers and describes them as the Israel God intended, those who received God's mercy and therefore declare His praises.
How do you think the Christian community, our churches, we as individual Christians are grabbing hold of this identity and declaring God's praises in our places of darkness?
10.11.2010
1 Peter 2:1-3
1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Peter gets pretty specific and tangible here, not just in the mention of various sins or vices, but in his insistence that his readers (and us) take another step in their growth. This involves making the 'word' a consuming desire so that they can grow up in their salvation which is God's good gift. If your familiar with the book of Hebrews, don't confuse it with how Peter talks about 'milk' (Hebrews 5:11-6:2 and also Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3). The point here is rather about the desire and constant need for real nourishment much like a baby craves his mother's nourishment. It is absolutely essential for life and growth. And they also have come to know that what God gives for their nourishment is 'good.'
Thoughts...
Peter gets pretty specific and tangible here, not just in the mention of various sins or vices, but in his insistence that his readers (and us) take another step in their growth. This involves making the 'word' a consuming desire so that they can grow up in their salvation which is God's good gift. If your familiar with the book of Hebrews, don't confuse it with how Peter talks about 'milk' (Hebrews 5:11-6:2 and also Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3). The point here is rather about the desire and constant need for real nourishment much like a baby craves his mother's nourishment. It is absolutely essential for life and growth. And they also have come to know that what God gives for their nourishment is 'good.'
Thoughts...
10.07.2010
1 Peter 1:22-25
22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever."
And this is the word that was preached to you.
Notice the connection between this section (what we do in response to what God has done) and the one we just finished (vv. 17-21 what God has done). As we have seen several times already, 'faith' is both belief/trust AND faithfulness; it is an inner reality that issues in transformed daily living and the two go together. The one enables the other which shows the former to be genuine. Not sure that was very clear at all...the point is that God's love for us shown in Christ must move us toward a love for others shaped by Christ. Outside of this relationship, our lives have the sturdiness of withering grass.
Thoughts...
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever."
And this is the word that was preached to you.
Notice the connection between this section (what we do in response to what God has done) and the one we just finished (vv. 17-21 what God has done). As we have seen several times already, 'faith' is both belief/trust AND faithfulness; it is an inner reality that issues in transformed daily living and the two go together. The one enables the other which shows the former to be genuine. Not sure that was very clear at all...the point is that God's love for us shown in Christ must move us toward a love for others shaped by Christ. Outside of this relationship, our lives have the sturdiness of withering grass.
Thoughts...
10.04.2010
1 Peter 1:17-21
1 Peter 1:17-21
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (NIV)
Lots of interesting stuff in these five verses we can discuss - understanding that God is both Father and impartial Judge; the biblical concept of fear-of-the-Lord; Jesus' death ransomed us from empty/futile 'conduct'; Jesus was 'chosen' before the foundation of the world; Jesus has been revealed in these 'last times'; Jesus is the means of real belief in God, and therefore our hope.
Your Reflections...
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (NIV)
Lots of interesting stuff in these five verses we can discuss - understanding that God is both Father and impartial Judge; the biblical concept of fear-of-the-Lord; Jesus' death ransomed us from empty/futile 'conduct'; Jesus was 'chosen' before the foundation of the world; Jesus has been revealed in these 'last times'; Jesus is the means of real belief in God, and therefore our hope.
Your Reflections...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)