Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Grace Means...Righteousness



1 Peter 2:11-25

 

The last two verses of 1 Peter 2 give us a brief summary of the truth of salvation. These verses contain a concise, beautiful statement of how we are saved.

1 Peter 2:24–25 (NKJV) 24who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

 

These words give us a picture of grace. We were lost in sin.

 

Wait a minute! What on earth do we mean when we say lost in sin?”

 

Before we go any further, we need to know what we mean by sin” and how we understand lost.”

 

Sin and the concept of sin are treated as a joke in our society. People will casually call themselves sinners, even laughing about it. However, sin as a concept and as a reality is a grave matter. All the wars on earth, all the disease and death on earth are all directly the results of sin. God says (Ephesians 2:8) that we were dead in our trespasses and sins. He also says (Romans 6) that we were slaves to sin. So what” is the attitude of many. I am not a bad person,” says another. However, our sinful condition has destined us for wrath. We don't consider ourselves to be bad people." Still, everything we do is tainted, stained with sin, and the bad part is we can do nothing to free ourselves or remove the stain.

 

Now comes the part where we talk about being lost. By lost, we mean subject to judgment and condemned because of sin. Hell is treated as a laughing matter in our world. Of course, the devil wants people to discount the thought of hell. But Jesus said that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. Here is what He said:

Matthew 25:41 (NKJV) Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

 

Those on the left hand” are people ordinary everyday people who were slaves of sin. This is what it means to be lost.” One more Scripture passage about sin:

Revelation 20:14–15 (NKJV) 14Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

Not having ones name written in the Book of Life is the same as being lost. Being lost in sin” is the most terrifying, awful thing I can think of. This brings us back to 1 Peter 2:24-25.

1 Peter 2:24–25 (NKJV) 24who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

 

We were lost in sin, condemned, and Jesus bore our sins in His own body. He saved us by paying for our sins, by taking our judgment in our place. This is how we know what love is. This is how we understand the meaning of grace. Salvation is a gift. We did not, cannot earn it. We do not deserve it. But God in His love and kindness gives it. That is grace.

 

Tucked in the middle of 1 Peter 2:24-25 is the reason God saved us from sin. It says, that we might live for righteousness.” This is our subject today. Grace means righteousness. We will look at how righteousness impacts our relationship with our flesh, our government, and our masters.

 

1 Peter 2:11-12 say:

1 Peter 2:11–12 (NKJV) 11Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12having 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.

 

The Apostle Peter is begging. The Apostle Paul begs in Romans 12:1. The reason is that our fleshly lusts war against our souls. Where our English translation says abstain," Peter used a word that means to have in full,” or to have enough.” This leads to the idea of being done with something. To be finished with it.  We have had plenty of opportunity to fulfill the desires of our flesh. As Ephesians 2:3 says:

Ephesians 2:3 (NKJV) among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

 

We have seen the futility of living for the flesh. We can see its end. We have had our fill. Now, be done with it.

 

The result of righteousness relative to our flesh is that our good conduct brings glory to God. The day of visitation spoken of here in verse 12 is the day of judgment—the day when we all give an account to God.

 

People will and do speak evil against the children of God. Those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Let us not give them a reason to blaspheme our God by living according to our flesh. If we are truly sojourners and pilgrims (strangers) in this world, we must show this by our lives. If we live according to our flesh, then we are not living by the Spirit, nor will we have any effective witness to God's saving grace.

 

While we must not submit to the desires of our flesh, Peter next tells us a couple things we must submit to. The first is government.

 

While we are not of the world (we are sojourners and pilgrims), we are subject to the laws of the land. While we answer to a higher law, we submit to those whom God has placed over us.

 

1 Peter 2:13 says:

1 Peter 2:13 (NKJV) Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake.

 

We need to take time to understand what Peter is saying here. This phrase is difficult to translate from Greek because the word that the NKJV translates as ordinance” is only used of God in the New Testament. In those cases, it means creation.” So, some translators have rendered this word as creation.” As in, submit yourselves to every human creation.” Others have translated this word as institution.” As in, submit yourselves to every human institution.” As every ordinance or piece of legislation may prove impossible to obey, and the following verses mention kings and governors, the meaning institution” and thus government” becomes clear.

 

Even when the governor, Pilate, was doing wrong, Jesus submitted to his authority. However, Jesus also warned Pilate.

John 19:11 (NKJV) You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.

 

Romans 13:1-7 gives a clear explanation of our attitude toward government. Our passage in 1 Peter 2 acknowledges that governments are human institutions created by men and provides us with the reason for submitting to these flawed creations. This reason is that by doing good, we might silence the ignorance of foolish men. Here as in the case of abstaining from fleshly lusts, the idea is to give no occasion for people to speak evil of our God.

 

Attached to this is a warning. Read the following carefully.

1 Peter 2:16 (NKJV) as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

 

We all know people who disobey the government because of desires. The law harshes” their groove, so they ignore it. The most common example is speed limits, but many other examples exist. The idea is that we are prone to take exception to laws not based on principle but based on preference. To take exception for righteousness’ sake is one thing (for example, we must preach the gospel no matter what the law says). However, preference is no reason to be rebellious.

 

The principle that captures the idea of the whole theme of righteousness is stated in verse 17.

Honor all. Love the brotherhood.” (The word people does not appear after honor all” in the original. It was added to make the meaning clear.)

 

We should not disrespect anyone. We are not even to insult those who insult us. If someone strikes us, we are to turn the other cheek. Jesus serves as our example. 1 Peter 2:23 says:

1 Peter 2:23 (NKJV) who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.

 

Jesus did not do this because of weakness, but because He had confidence in God. We, too, can have confidence in God. This confidence extends to trusting God even in the face of mistreatment by our masters.

 

In times of slavery, men have beaten, raped, and killed their fellow human beings without fear of punishment or reprisal. Such treatment of others is evil. It is the picture of how sinful we are as humans. However, Peter tells us:

1 Peter 2:19 (NKJV) For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

 

Jesus bore His suffering without a word. He was not bitter but pitied those who would suffer the judgment of God for what they were doing. He committed Himself to God. This serves as our example.

 

Most of us will never face slavery, but we all have those to whom we must answer, and these are not always just. According to Peter, if we continue to honor all” and maintain our respect for authority, this is commendable.” The word Peter uses that is translated as commendable” is the word grace.” It also means favorable or pleasant, but its primary meaning is grace. In other words, when we bear up under unjust suffering, we are most like our God, who is full of grace. This is why the example of Jesus is given for us to follow.

 

Of course, we are not God, and everything we do is tainted by sin. So, we often suffer because of our own sin. There is nothing honorable about such suffering. Peter clarifies that if we suffer for the wrong we have done, we are only getting what we deserve.

 

When we abstain from the lusts that drive the world around us, we glorify God by making the world's criticism look foolish. When we submit to government, we silence the ignorance of evil men. And when we bear unjust suffering, we show Jesus Christ to the world. These three things should motivate us to live righteous lives.

 

The best statement of living a righteous life is found in 1 Peter 2:17.

1 Peter 2:17 (NKJV) Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

 

As believers for whom Christ died, we should recognize the value that God puts on every person and treat each person as precious in the sight of God. This is evidence that we have experienced the grace of God. 1 John 4:19 tells us:

1 John 4:19 (ESV): We love because he first loved us.

 

This love experienced by us in the grace of God is the source of a proper attitude and the appropriate treatment of our fellow human beings. This is righteousness relative to people. Treating others right (righteousness) begins with loving our neighbor as ourselves, honoring them, and when appropriate submitting to their authority.

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Grace Means...Mercy



1 Peter 2:1-10


Lets review briefly a couple details that we have covered so far in the book of 1 Peter.


First, at the beginning of his letter, Peter speaks of the wonderful salvation given by God and in which all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ partake. This salvation is mysterious and wonderful beyond words or comprehension.


Since we receive this salvation freely by grace, Peter calls on us to respond by living lives set apart to God, not conforming to our former lusts. Speaking of living holy lives, Peter swings back around to speaking of the glories of our salvation. However, this time he tells of the living, abiding Word of God by which we have been saved.


He ends the first chapter by contrasting humanity with the spoken (or written) word of God. The word of God never changes or fades, but we people sure do. We are like grass - here today, gone tomorrow. It was the written word of God (the spoken word) that was good newsed” to us and by which we came to know the living and abiding Word of God. I realize that we have no verb good newsed.” So, I made one up because that is how chapter one ends. The unchanging spoken word of God was good newsed” to us. (The verb in question is a combination of  good” and proclaim,” and would normally be translated “evangelize.”)


With this background, chapter two starts out with the word therefore.” This therefore” looks back at the wonderful things by which we were saved, and it looks forward to those things we are saved to. To say that another way, Peter is looking back at what he has just told us about salvation and at the same time looking forward to the great things God is doing.


Now, if you will allow me, I am going to start at the end. In 1 Peter 1:10, the last verse of todays Scripture passage, it says:

1 Peter 2:10 (NKJV) who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.


This is where we are going today. We will see how we, who were not a people, became the people of God and obtained mercy.


We are going to see that Grace Means...Mercy.


Mercy is defined as:

compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm (New Oxford American Dictionary, iOS)


With God, mercy also includes His loving kindness by which He gives us blessings instead of the punishment we deserve. For example, in 1 Peter 2:1-10, not only does God forgive us and withhold the punishment we deserve, but He also gives us immeasurable blessings and a privileged position.


Going back to verse three of 1 Peter 2, Gods mercy is what is in view when it says:

1 Peter 2:3 (NKJV) if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.


Two exciting and important things stand out about this verse. First, when it says if indeed,” it means since, but it is an assumption or a supposition, so it cannot be translated since.” In other words, Peter assumes that we have tasted that the Lord is gracious when he says if,” instead of “since.” This is important because it makes it abundantly clear that Peter is addressing believers. If one is not a believer, the truths he is talking about do not apply.


This verse's second important and exciting thing is the word translated as gracious” or good.” One Greek scholar said, We have no adjective in English that conveys this blend of being kind and good at the same time.” However, taking this into consideration, this is what we are talking about when we say Gods mercy.”


Because of Gods goodness, kindness and mercy, Peter begins his second chapter by asking us to lay aside all: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. Malice means evil. Deceit means using words to trick or trap someone. Hypocrisy means pretending to be something we are not. Envy means rejoicing in the misfortune or resenting the success of another. And slander means to speak evil of another. All of these represent the ways we violate Gods commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves.


These sinful attitudes are a result of our lusts that wage war against our souls. But we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus and reborn by an incorruptible seed. Therefore we are instructed to crave (desire) the pure milk of the word.


For being a fisherman, Peter sure uses a lot of big, difficult words. The NKJV translates Verse 2 as:

1 Peter 2:2 (NKJV) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby...


It does not actually say of the word.” Peter uses a word that appears only here and in Romans 12:1, and in Romans 12:1, it is translated as reasonable.” (Romans 12:1 (NKJV): which is your reasonable service.) Some have translated it as "spiritual" milk. The idea behind this word is the mind or logic. When Peter says the "reasonable," pure milk, the word he uses for pure is the opposite of the term for malice that he used when saying, Putting aside all malice.” 


The idea is that we are to pursue the pure, unadulterated word of God, which is food for the mind and thus the spirit. 


Too often, I have seen people pursuing the more profound things of God and going way off course. People get into and believe some weird stuff. Nothing we do is ever free of the corruption of sin, so we need to stick with the simple truth of Scripture. Dont try to be deep or profound. Just try to understand what God is saying in His word. His word is reasonable, and it is the food we need.


1 Peter 2:1-10 tells us to do three things. Three main verbs express what mercy demands we do. The first is crave.


Peter used a term that means a just-born baby. A just-born baby only has one pursuit - milk. Once they have milk, they go to sleep. Thats it. Nothing else matters. That is how we are to crave the word.


Second, we are to be built up. Verse 5 says:

1 Peter 2:5 (NKJV) 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.


Here, again, our simple fisherman shows that he is not so simple. Are being built up can also be translated as Be being built up.” The verb form can be a command as well as descriptive. 


Jesus is a living stone. Peters name means rock, and the word used is "Petros," a small natural stone. The Church is built upon the "Petra," natural bedrock or a cliff. This living stone that is the cornerstone is "Lithos," a shaped or hewn stone cut for the purpose. 


Jesus is the head of the Church. He is the stone that was rejected by men. We are being built up as His body, a spiritual temple. Being made a part of a building that God is making is an incredible mercy, seeing that we deserve only punishment.


We are to participate. We are to be being built up. Heres the tricky part. We are being built up to offer spiritual sacrifices.


What are spiritual sacrifices?


How do I offer up spiritual sacrifices? I mean - I get up, go to work to earn my pay, go home, eat dinner, watch some TV or mow the grass, and go to bed. Wheres the spiritual sacrifice in that?


Lets go back to our word reasonable.” Verse 2 says crave the reasonable pure milk, and Romans 12:1 says presenting our bodies is our reasonable service of worship. The idea is not "reasonable" as in "to be expected," but reasonable as in "spiritual" or worship of the mind/soul.


Spiritual sacrifices start in the mind by taking every thought captive to obedience to Christ. If that is not enough to keep you busy, you arent doing it right. Think of your testimony in the world. How can you have the most impact for Christ? Well, it starts in the mind/soul, taking every thought captive to obedience to Christ. Every attitude, every thought matters. Start there by feeding yourself on the pure milk of the word.


If we are not obedient to the word, we will fall, stumbling over Christ.


I said there were three main verbs, and we have covered only two - craving and being built up. The third one is "proclaim."


We have been chosen to proclaim the glories or excellencies of God. Verses nine and ten say:

1 Peter 2:9–10 (NKJV) 9But 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; 10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.


These verses point once more to the greatness of Gods mercy. We are chosen, royal, holy, and special. We once were not a people. We were lost without God and without hope. But God chose us and made us His own. All the things Peter has said about Jesus being the cornerstone and us being a chosen people, a holy nation, and a people for His possession are taken directly from the Old Testament. These are the things that God told Israel He chose them for. However, they rejected all these things, so God made them available to us. Romans 11 tells us:

Romans 11:12–15 (NKJV) 12Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

13For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?


God has not rejected Israel permanently nor forgotten His promises. But He has made His promises available to us. 


Our simple fisherman has me stumped. He calls us a royal priesthood. As such, we stand in the gap for our world. As long as we are here, the evil one is held back. But when we are removed, the time of Jacobs trouble will begin. What has me stumped is the fact that Peter uses three different words for people. Various translations render them differently. Look at verses 9 and 10 again.

1 Peter 2:9–10 (NKJV) 9But 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; 10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.


The NKJV translates these words as "generation," "nation," and "people." The ESV translates them as race, nation, people. Literally, the first one, generation," means a family or descendant, like Israel, a nation named after its progenitor. The second one is the word from which we get our word ethnic. It signifies a people joined by a common culture and language (Not necessarily skin tone). The Church shares a common culture and language as we follow Jesus. The third word, translated as "people," is used almost exclusively connected to of God,” as in the people of God.” The Jews are still called the chosen people.” But we have been grafted in. Now we are called the people of God. We were not a people, but now we are a people, as in the people of God.”


This all represents mercy of such great magnitude that there are no words to describe it. But the response of a grateful heart is to crave, be built up, and proclaim.

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Grace Means...Godliness



1 Peter 1:13-25


A quick recap of what we have seen so far in Peter: 

1. We are chosen and sanctified by the grace of God

2. Grace means salvation. (A living hope, a precious faith, and a firm foundation)


As the songwriter says:

Wonderful Grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;

How shall my tongue describe it,

Where shall its praise begin?

Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free;

O the Wonderful Grace of Jesus reaches me!


Peter 1:12 ends with the words, “...things which angels desire to look into.” These are the things our salvation is made of. Peter also describes our faith as “more precious than gold.”


Think about it! Without Jesus, we are condemned to suffer in burning, conscious torment forever and ever and ever. However, because of God's grace, every person on this planet is offered a home in paradise forever and ever and ever.


That’s it in a nutshell.


However, the world is not simple. Creation is a complex, mysterious thing. Some parts of creation are beyond the understanding of supernatural beings, whose existence we are told about but whose realm we cannot fully comprehend (i.e., angels). And because of this, Peter says:

1 Peter 1:13 (NKJV) 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.


Please pay attention to the “Therefore” in this passage. It refers back to what Peter has just been saying. Peter has just explained that the prophets revealed mysterious things about the gospel that they did not fully understand and that angels long to look into. THEREFORE we are to “gird up the loins of our minds.”


HOLY COW!!! How on earth am I supposed to do that? What does that even mean? 


It is a saying from Peter’s time and culture. He is trying to say, be prepared to do some hard work with your head. 


The New Testament uses some fascinating pictures of the Christian life. 


We are seen as soldiers, farmers, runners, and wrestlers. In your mind, picture each of these. Notice they all wear different clothing. Soldiers dress for battle. Farmers dress for hard physical labor; runners dress for speed, and wrestlers dress to give no hand-holds to the opponent.


Christian, the idea is that we need to get serious and be sober in our heads because we will be challenged, attacked, and involved in a battle. This battle is for our hearts and minds, and we must start by “fixing our hope fully on the grace of God."


Fixing our hope on the grace of God is essential for our lives as Christians. 


Our world is full of things that take our eyes off the grace of God. Financial pressures, final exams, grades, health challenges, family strife, and a thousand other little details occupy our minds.


In all the things that occupy our daily lives, we have an undercurrent of desires. I want, I want, I want. I want to be safe. I want to feel loved. I want to be significant. I want to be noticed. I want to be heard. I want pleasure. I want rest. These are all desires, and they are not bad by themselves. Actually, I would say that all of them are needs. But how do we meet these needs? In what ways do we seek pleasure? At what cost do we find safety and security? These desires must come under the control of the Holy Spirit. God has promised to meet all our needs. 


Before we knew Christ, we were children of the world. And the world offers all the wrong ways to meet our needs. 


As part of fixing our hope on the grace of God, Peter points to an essential component of being sober and ready for action. He says:

1 Peter 1:14 (NKJV) as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance...


In our ignorance, we were disobedient. We did not know God, His grace, or Jesus Christ. We were slaves to our desires. We sought to satisfy ourselves through whatever means we found worked best for us. However, when we were born again to a living hope, we put on a new self. This new self is a child of obedience to God and His word. Now, we have a choice. We either conform to our old way of doing things - driven by our desires. Or, we let ourselves be transformed by the living and abiding Word of God.


Peter says we were ignorant and, not knowing anything else, we were controlled by lusts. But as obedient children, we are not to conform to these former things. The Apostle Paul said the same thing in Romans 12:2.

Romans 12:2 (NKJV) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.


Our transformation makes us the opposite of what we were before we knew Jesus Christ. Peter describes our change as:

1 Peter 1:15–16 (NKJV) 15but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy.”


WOW! How am I supposed to be holy?


I have seen some crazy stuff classified as "people trying to be holy." Hair cut in specific ways (or not cut), dresses worn in specified colors - not too long and not too short, beards trimmed just so (without a mustache!) Hats - hats of a particular color and shape, women properly subjected to men, NO PHOTOGRAPHS, no radios, no chrome, no cards, no dancing, no beer, no smoke, no buttons, no zippers, no shoelaces. Seriously! I am not making this stuff up!


Holy means set apart. We are "set apart" as God’s own people, His children. WE DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING! We just need to behave like God’s children. We must imitate Him. (Ephesians 5) He shows justice, mercy, love, forgiveness, goodness, and kindness. He teaches humility, thankfulness, and self-control. He is joyful, compassionate, and loving. He does not condemn those who come to Him seeking forgiveness. Holiness is not something we do - it is something we ARE.


REALLY! You mean I don’t have to wear the proper clothes to be holy?


Clothing has very little to do with holiness. (If you think you are not influenced by clothing, consider how a priest or a judge is dressed.) Holiness is living by the Spirit, not conforming to the lusts that were ours in our ignorance. And holiness is a gift of God’s grace. It makes life better. Living as imitators of God and beloved children prepares us to live with Him forever, and ever, and ever.


This leads us into the next subject that Peter brings up. Grace means godliness, and holiness is definitely part of godliness. Another gift of God’s grace is fear.


Yep - I said fear.


Look at what Peter says:

1 Peter 1:17–21 (NKJV) 17And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each ones work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.


Long passage - I know. But pay close attention to what Peter is saying. He says God is the judge of each one. “Each one” includes everybody. Yes, God is going to judge each person, individually, down to the tiniest detail. Unless, of course, you are a child of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) This forgiveness is a result of our being redeemed by the precious blood of Christ.


The Judge, God, judged our sins and then paid the penalty for them with the blood of His only Son. 


What kind of gratitude should we show? 


How much are we indebted to God’s grace? 


Oh, we can still pay for our own sins if we want to. We can refuse God’s gift by saying no to Jesus. The penalty is suffering in burning, conscious torment for forever and ever and ever. And anybody who wants to can go there. However, God does not want anyone to go there. He actually pleads with us to accept His gift of forgiveness and salvation.


But, how do we treat God’s gift?


 I am referring to those of us who believe and know the forgiveness and love of God. How do we treat God’s gift? 


Some of us treat God’s gift with contempt.


Others of us treat God as if He is inconvenient.


Why should I give 10 percent of everything I get to the Church?


REALLY? God gave you everything you have. God gave His Son for you, and you object to giving a portion! Because, what, you have better things to do with it besides honoring God?


Why should I read my Bible? 


REALLY? You claim to know God or at least believe in Him, but don’t read what He says about Himself? Who are you trying to fool? Because, I assure you, God is not fooled. Same for going to church. What is more important than worshipping God at least once a week?


This is what is meant by fear. Aretha Franklin called it R-E-S-P-E-C-T. 


The fear of God is a gift of His grace - part of not conforming. Without this gift of fear, our lives are meaningless and empty. Knowing who it is that we live for and who it is that we serve gives more meaning and purpose than any other single thing. Peter describes Our lives without God as “aimless” (meaning empty or meaningless) conduct. If we do not fear God, we waste our lives. I am not saying we won’t be saved, but our lives will be wasted. (1 Corinthians 3:15)


In addition to holiness and fear, Peter tells us that God’s gift of godliness also includes love (also part of not conforming).


Look at what Peter says:

1 Peter 1:22–25 (NKJV) 22Since 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, 23having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24because

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,

25But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.


In Peter's writing, there is no break between verses 21 and 22, and the word “since” was added to try and make the meaning clear. This means that our faith and hope in God are directly connected to our souls being purified by obedience to the truth. Actually, putting our faith and hope in God by trusting in the precious blood of His Son is obedience to the truth. 


Did you get that? Trusting in Christ for salvation is obedience to the truth. Somehow, this leads to love of the brethren. Peter says, “Love on another fervently with a pure heart.”


As humans, how significant are we? Verse 24 compares us to grass.


At my house, we mow the grass almost every week. We have no pity or mercy for the individual blades of grass. We just do not value the individual blades of grass.


With approximately 7,900,000,000 people on earth (as of April 23, 2021), we are as common as grass (and not any more robust). However, God does not treat us like grass.


 He has caused us to be born again by an incorruptible seed, the precious blood of Christ. This seed will never go bad, will never produce bad fruit. In the original language, Peter describes this seed as “the living and abiding word of God.” The text does not actually have the word "forever." It doesn’t need to. It says, “The living and abiding “logos,” which directly references Jesus Christ. 


Not only is Jesus Christ not corruptible, but there is another word mentioned in this passage. That word is the written word of God. Verse 25 uses a different word for “word.” It uses the word “rhema,” which means “a spoken word.” And, this time also, it does not say “forever.” It says, “until the age.” There will come a time when the Bible is no longer necessary. But until that time, we have the written word of God.


The Son of God, the Word, showed us how much God values people, each person. He gave His life. He also spoke and said, “Love each other.” The written word of God also puts loving each other second only to loving God.


So, God values each person immeasurably, hugely, humongously - well - I can’t find a word to say how much, because, - well, - like - He gave His only Son! (God’s love is ineffable- too great or extreme to be expressed in words.) And He also commands, not suggests, that we love each other.


But, how do we treat each other?


Let’s see. We have bitterness, anger, rage, fights, selfishness, backbiting, and gossip. And I am talking about in the Church and in our homes. 


We treat those for whom Christ died as if they are of no more value than grass! Wow, I wonder who got it wrong - God or us?


If we walk by the Spirit, if we let go of all bitterness, wrath, and malice, we will be loving each other. Only two things will never change, God and His Word, and both of these tell us to love one another.


God’s grace means godliness, not conforming to our former lusts. As grace works in our lives it will produce holiness, fear and love. We must examine ourselves and see if we are partakers in the grace of God. We will know by our fruit - holiness, fear and love.

The Fifth Seal, The White Robes Revelation 6:11

Revelation6:11 (NKJV) Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, un...