1 Peter 1:17-21 – Living life reverentially

In these five verses, Peter now called on the people to live a life of reverence. By the new birth, believers entered into a relationship with God and should now give Him the due reverence that He deserves. In these verses we see three reasons why we should live a life of reverence.

The first reason is found in verse 17. Peter reckoned that since believers have God as Father, and He is One Who would judge impartially, believers should therefore conduct their earthly lives in reverential fear of Him.

In verses 18-19, he gave the second reason, now that we believers know that the salvation and hope we have obtained was through the shedding of the precious Blood of Christ, God’s precious Son. We are not redeemed by perishable things such as gold or silver, for redemption cannot be done with perishable things that would subject to decay and corruption. God used the precious blood of Christ, the unblemished spotless Lamb of God, to secure our redemption from our slavery to sin. This gives us another great reason to live a life in awe of Him.

Finally verses 20-21 provide the third reason for us to live in reverent fear of God. Peter tells us here that the work of redemption by Christ transcends time. God had already chosen Christ for this work before the creation of time. So when men fell, it did not take God by surprise. He already knew what He would do. He sent His Son so that fallen men through Him could become believers of God. All these did not take place as an after-thought of God, neither did it happen by accident. It was God’s plan made before the foundation of time. Now, God had also raised Christ from the dead and gave Him glory. And in this same glorious resurrection, believers found their faith and hope in God. Therefore, let us live in awe of Him and set our faith and hope in Christ.   

1 Peter 1:13-16 – Living in holiness

As recipients of the living hope, the Apostle Peter wanted his readers to know that they had obligations to live in the light of that living hope. He implored them to conduct their lives in a way that would reflect their status as the people of God. From verses 13-25, he began by detailing the need for holiness, before dealing with reverence and rounding up with the need for love

The word “therefore" in verse 13 helps to connect what Peter would soon be dealing with and the things he had discussed with them earlier. He was, in effect, saying, “Now that you have this living hope in Christ, you need to be decisive, and adopt a mindset that would enable you to act rightly.”

In calling on them to have a sober spirit, Peter was asking them to take control of their minds and thus their lives. Our actions are often the result of what our minds dwell upon. Hence being sober minded is critical to change. He then asked them not to be governed by their flesh. Instead, they should confidently expect to receive the grace: i.e. the inheritance and salvation when the Lord Jesus Christ appears. Peter wanted them to have the attitude of looking at the outcome when Christ returns. And when they had that mindset, the trials would be endurable. They would then have the assurance that staying faithful to the cause of Christ in trials would be worth the sacrifice.         

In verses 14-16, he then invoked them to demonstrate their new nature as children of God and display the spirit of obedience. And when that happened, they would be demonstrating their characteristics as God’s children. They should say no to the fleshly lust that was a trademark of their former life, when they were ignorant of God. But now, they should positively take the example of the Holy God, and demonstrate a life of holiness, both in thoughts and in deeds.  We are to be holy because God is holy.

What does all these mean for us? Simply this. God our Father makes a holy living a possibility. Why? Living a life with holiness is the result of being God’s child. In our old nature and fallen DNA, we simply do not have the power to do so by our own strength.  Understanding and knowing God as our Father is pivotal. He will give us the strength and enable us to live a holy life that will reflect Him.

Being in Christ, we have become sons and daughters of the Heavenly Father. Unlike earthly fathers who would sometimes be unreasonable, our Heavenly Father is not.  He gives and gives, over and over again. Hear the chorus of a song in your soul today. It says:
His grace has no limit,

His love has no measure,

His boundary has no measure

Known unto man.

Out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He gives and gives again.

1 Peter 1:10-12 – Our awesome privilege

From verses 10-12, Peter related the great salvation to the Old Testament prophecies. He revealed that the prophets of old affirmed this great salvation through their prophecies. He linked the word “grace” to salvation partly because of the largely Gentile readers and partly because the Grace of God included the salvation of the Gentiles. And though the prophets were given the revelation, they did not fully comprehend what they had received and communicated. Hence, they made careful search and investigation concerning what was revealed to them.

Here, Peter made clear one thing: it was the Spirit of Christ Who was at work through the prophets. While the prophets had the revelation; and predicted that the Messiah would experience both suffering and glory, they did not know how their prophecies would fit together and when all these would happen. It was not possible for them to understand fully till the earthly ministry of Christ had taken place.

What they understood then, was that God would not fulfill what they had been prophesying in their days. But their prophecies were meant for sometime in the future. Peter wanted to encourage the readers by telling them that they (the readers) however, had the privilege. Through the Gospel preached to them by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven, they had the full picture. They had a fuller picture of what the angels longed to see and what the prophets did not fully understand.

What’s the point? God cares for us believers. This is a demonstration of His great and amazing love. What we have received were carefully engineered and crafted by the loving hands of God. The prophets searched and presented the truth of the Gospel; the chain of messengers of God brought the messages around and we have the privilege of receiving the truth. What’s more encouraging is that angels look intensely and longingly at what God had done for us. Our salvation was the glad and joyful service of God’s servants, saints and sages of old. And we are the privileged recipients of God’s wonderful news.

With this encouragement, we must resolve to attain a life with a strong spiritual fortitude, to remain faithful to God in wherever lot He has planted us. Let our hearts be stirred to worship Him forever! And let our minds and lives be forward looking, and be fixed to glorify Him in everything we seek to do! 

1 Peter 1:3-9 – The certainty of our hope

Peter started out assuring believers that the people of God are the chosen heirs of divine salvation. Here he also reveals elements that would mark believers out as God’s very own people. So in verse 3, he began by praising the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for His mercy in working in the lives of those believers. In His workings He gave them a living hope, one they could be assured since they had been born again. In this experience they also had a change in status and prospect. Peter told them that in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, this hope has been made certain. And because the Resurrected Christ is alive, the hope believers have in Him is a living hope.

In the Old Testament, the people of God were promised a land as their inheritance. Using that concept, Peter wanted the believers to know that they were saved to receive an inheritance. In the case of believers of Christ, the inheritance they are promised is imperishable, undefiled and will not fade away. He wanted to underscore the fact that this inheritance cannot be destroyed.

The three descriptive phrases Peter used are allusions taken from the Old Testament. Palestine was sandwiched between Mesopotamia and Egypt and would often be subjected to invasions and political maneuvers. Peter’s point is that the inheritance promised to the people of old was subject to destruction. However, in contrast, the inheritance of the believers will never be destroyed. It is reserved in Heaven for all believers who are saved and kept by God’s power. In talking about the “salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”, Peter was referring to the glorification, the ultimate phase of salvation.

In the light of the great inheritance awaiting believers, Peter in verses 6-9 called on them to greatly rejoice in their trials. He told them that the duration of their trials would only be “for a little while”, meaning that they were only temporary and brief. Peter was comparing it with the permanent, eternal inheritance that they would be receiving ultimately.

For believers, trials are God’s instrument to perfect them. Believers should respond to their trials appropriately knowing that God uses each trial to make believers abandon themselves to Him in total trust. And just like fire that purifies gold, trials will purify the believers’ faith to show its genuineness. However, we need to remember that purified gold will perish but proven faith will not. It will remain to bring praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

When Peter spoke of the revelation, he had the second coming of Christ in view. He saw it as a future event. In verse 8, Peter told the believers that even though they would definitely experience joy when Christ appears to be seen, they could also have joy now when they do not see Him. Why, because of their faith (verse 7) and love (verse 8). In fact, this love for Him and faith in Him had made them rejoiced greatly with joy, that was not only inexpressible but also glorious. Their proven and genuine faith ultimately assured them of their salvation.

We need to be reminded of the inheritance we are going to receive. It is so extraordinary that no words can ever adequately describe it. Meanwhile let’s just allow the joy of our salvation to rise in our heart in the face of trials. For this certainly brings the positive outcome for our faith, and ensure our ultimate victory! 

1 Peter 1:1-2 – Christians, God’s chosen people

Peter was one of the 12 apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. According to Matthew 4:18, he together with his brother Andrew, were the earliest of the apostles whom Jesus called while walking by the Sea of Galilee. Both of them responded to the call and left their fishing nets immediately to follow the Lord. We were first introduced to him as Simon but the Lord Jesus then changed his name to Peter, meaning “a stone” or “a rock.” This was probably given in anticipation of what he would become - a solid anchor of the Church. And from a tentative disciple who denied Jesus three times at the Lord’s trial, he became a key figure in the expansion of the Kingdom of God after the Lord’s death, resurrection and ascension. He spent the last decade of his life in Rome, and finally died there.

In the whole of the New Testament, there is only one Peter mentioned and he is none other than the apostle Peter. It is hard to refute that he was the one who wrote two letters to the churches that were circulated to believers, who were scattered throughout the Roman province of Asia Minor or today’s Western Turkey. In reading the letters he had written, we know that the Christians he wrote to were experiencing fiery trial. In this first letter to Christians undergoing severe trials, he sought to encourage them to persevere in the Lord.    

In 1 Peter 1:1, we learn that his letters were sent to believers living in the northern regions of Asia Minor. He specifically called them “… aliens scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia”. Apparently, Peter did not have a particular destination in mind, that’s why he named so many different groups in his opening address. As Peter was an Apostle to the Jews, we would assume that the letters were written to Jews. However, the way he addressed his readers implied that they were Gentiles, rather than Jews. The use of the words “aliens” in 1 Peter 1:1; “ignorance” in verse 14; and the phrase “futile way of life” in verse 18, suggest that he was addressing Gentiles. Furthermore, in 1 Peter 2:9-10, he said that they were “formerly not a people but now the people of God” also suggest that they were Gentiles. For Jews would only see themselves as the people of God.

Peter began his first letter by calling himself an apostle of Jesus Christ. His intention in the opening salutation was to prepare the readers for what he was about to tell them – trials and suffering. He knew that what he was going to talk about would be a very difficult subject, so he began by reminding them of their status in Christ and where their ultimate destination would be. He used the word “aliens” to refer to his readers. This term was deliberate. He wanted to distinguish them from citizens of this world. Aliens are people from another land who temporarily reside with people whom they do not belong to. The natives of the land would also often hold aliens in contempt. In describing them as aliens, Peter wanted them to see their real identity in Christ and to see that earth was just their temporary residence. Should they suffer hardship from those whom they did not belong to, they should know that it was to be expected.

He also referred to his readers as “the chosen”. This was to help them cope with the trials and hard times. He wanted them to know that God engineered that they should be part of God’s eternal will and purpose. In talking about the “foreknowledge of God, the Father”, Peter was saying that according to God’s sovereign will, whatever He knew beforehand wouldha   happen, and would take place. Hence, they were part of God’s sovereign plan. Here, Peter revealed that it was the Holy Spirit Who had separated the chosen ones and set them aside for the special calling. God’s plan was for believers to obey Jesus Christ and experience the forgiveness through the cleansing of His Blood. Notice that in verse 2, Peter made reference to all the three Persons of the Trinity. The apostle then rounded up verse 2 with a prayer wish: for God’s grace or divine favor, and peace to be poured upon His people in the fullest measure. Why? In view of the fiery trials, God’s grace and peace in the fullest measure would be greatly welcomed. 

Like Peter’s readers, we are also called and chosen to be God’s own unique people. In these days of increasing troubles we are also expected to stand out and be identified as God’s set apart people, called to live in obedience to Christ our Lord and Master.   

2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 – Christ indispensable peace and grace

In the study of 2 Thessalonians, Paul had dealt with three groups of people: the persecutors, the false teachers and the idlers. He had also very ably revealed Christ in the first chapter, talked about the antichrist in the second and dealt with the Christians in the third. Now he had arrived at the point where he was ready to pronounce the threefold blessing on the Thessalonians. So here he pronounced it over them

Firstly, he pronounced that the Lord of peace Himself would grant them peace in every circumstance. His desire was for them to experience the continual and uninterrupted peace in all situations. Secondly, that the Lord would be with them. The peace to be experienced can only be there when the presence of the Lord Jesus is felt. To experience peace, one needs to know the presence of the giver of peace. Thirdly, he prayed that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ will be with them all. Grace is the divine enablement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a vital ingredient for believers in their Christian journey. Without the grace of God there can be no mercy. Paul concluded this epistle by wishing God’s indispensable grace upon all of them.

In writing most of his letters, Paul usually had one of his traveling companions to act as his amanuensis or scribe. To lend authentication, he would then write a personal statement before he signed off. For this letter, this part was even more important because of some letters written to the Thessalonians purportedly to bear his name. In verse 17, he told them that to sign off was his usual practice and distinguishing mark. It would imply that whatever letter without this imprint would not be his.

Paul’s writings have truly guided us in our journey with the Lord. We thank God for this great apostle, who expounds, explains, inspires and demonstrates to us how to please the Lord, our Master. With the help of all that he had written, we will continue to scale the heights to God’s holy hill. And through the Word, we can find our way up and nestle in His presence and there find our everlasting peace in Him. Amen!       

2 Thessalonians 3:4-15 – Dealing with the indisciplined

Paul’s thoughts migrated from his call to spread the Word to unbelievers, to the need to practice the Word among believers. This call was made in relation to a particular group whom he felt needed attention. In verse 6, he referred to them as the “unruly” and in verse 11 as people who were “leading an undisciplined life.” In his first letter to them, he had already given instruction to this group of people. Apparently they did not heed his instruction, so he now addressed them again. Paul’s emphasis here is on the authority of the instruction rather than the instruction itself. He used such words as “command” (verses 4, 6 & 12), “order” (verse 10) and “obey” (verse 14) to exhibit authority.

On closer examination, we will discover the progression of Paul’s instruction to the Thessalonians. He began by expressing his self-assurance concerning them. Generally, the Thessalonians were an obedient people, practicing the things that they were instructed by Paul. So here he sought to motivate them by expressing his confidence that they would continue to do as he had commanded. With that, he prayed that they would emulate the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ.

Since predominately the Thessalonians were a faithful lot, Paul focused on addressing these faithful in the Lord. The authority of his instruction is in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (v.6). Hence, in that name, he told them to stay away from the unruly. Who were the unruly? They were a group of believers who were consumed by a mistaken zeal. Having heard of the Lord’s imminent return, they gave up their jobs to wait idly for the Lord’s return. Refusing to go back to work, they would rather sponge on the generosity of their Christian brethren. Paul had already admonished them in his first letter to return to work, but they had refused to listen. They had not lived according to the oral or written instruction given by Paul. Realizing they could be a bad influence, Paul gave instruction to the faithful to stay away from them.

Paul even used his own life to illustrate for the Thessalonians to emulate. He was neither an undisciplined person nor a freeloader. Therefore, he told them that they shouldn’t be too. In fact, he told them that he worked diligently day and night so as not to be a burden to them. He did it so as to be a model for them to emulate, even though he had every right to receive their financial support as an apostle. He also reminded them that while he was with them, he gave them a principle to follow. It was the rule that they were told to follow: “If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.”

In verse 11, he turned directly to address the unruly. These people were not busy working with their hands. They were busybodies, meddling with the affairs of others. He exhorted them with his authority to earn their living and to work quietly. As he was admonishing the unruly, he must have felt the need to encourage the faithful to remain steadfast and not grow weary in doing what is good. Paul went on to prescribe the treatment for those who stubbornly refused to take heed of the instruction. He asked the Thessalonians to identify these people and to dissociate with them. The whole purpose was to make these recalcitrant people feel ashamed. However, they must not be regarded as enemies but were to be treated and admonished as members of the family. The purpose was not punitive but restorative.

Remember 1 Corinthians 15:58? In the light of the Lord’s return we must all the more be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for we are confident that our labor will not be in vain. So let’s be active for the Lord!