In this world where people are vainly searching for their identity, in 1 Peter 2:4-10, Peter lets his readers know just who they are as ‘living stones’ in the spiritual house that God is constructing for the glory of His Son, Jesus. As ‘living stones’, believers are being built upon the one foundation and cornerstone (Jesus) in whom we find our identity as God’s chosen and precious people, and as those called out of darkness of sin into the light of His grace. Then, as God’s people, are task is to be in the world declaring aloud the praises of Him who loved us and brought us to Himself – all because of His grace.
Philip Burns
Rev Philip Burns is the minister of Bendigo Presbyterian Church.
‘How to grow up in your salvation’ (1 Peter 2:1-3)
If believers have been ‘born again’ by the imperishable seed of the Word of God, it follows that the natural outcome of this new birth will be hunger. In 1 Peter 2:1-3, Peter tells believers that we should be hungry for that which gave us birth (ie the Word of God) and presents this to us in the image of craving milk just like a new-born baby. But in order to feed properly and be full on the Word of God, we need to put aside those sins which would hinder us, as well as ensuring that we do not fill up on the ‘junk food’ of the world leaving no room for the real truth of the Word.
‘Born again: what it means and looks like’ (1 Peter 1:22-25)
When Peter told his readers that they had had been redeemed by through the precious blood of Christ, in 1 Peter 1:22-25 he urged them to therefore have a sincere, pure and fervent love for one another. This kind of love would be evidence that they had been made new (born again) through the Word of God which they had received and believed. Love for others will also be the main evidence that we also belong to Jesus and know the depth and the value of his redeeming love.
‘Redemption – BC, AD and beyond’ (1 Peter 1:20-21)
When Peter told his readers , that they were to live holy lives because God the Father had redeemed them through the payment price of the blood of Jesus, Peter also let them know in 1 Peter 1:20-21 that this death of Jesus was no accident. Rather it was all according to God’s plan who before time, set Jesus apart to be our Saviour, then in the fullness of time sent Him to be our Saviour, so that this is what He is for all time! Such an amazing plan of salvation for all of God’s people!
‘Reverent pilgrims, redeemed slaves’ (1 Peter 1:17-19)
In their desire to live holy lives in response to God’s grace toward them, in 1 Peter 1:17-19, Peter tells his readers that they are to live in fear of the Lord, knowing well his impartial judgement that will come to all men. But to balance this, believers should also live knowing the redeeming love of God their Father who purchased them to be His own, not with money, but with the precious blood of His Son, Jesus.
‘From the head down to the fingers and the toes’ (1 Peter 1:13-16)
After telling his readers of the wonderful inheritance that God’s people will receive because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, in 1 Peter 1:13-16, Peter then seeks to apply these truths to life. A very important word in his letter is the word ‘therefore’. Because of what Christ has done and what is coming, God’s people are to set their hopes on what is in heaven, not on what is on earth and live lives of holiness. The going will be tough and discipline will be required, but the rewards will be eternal.
‘A psalm for the whole world’ (Psalm 67:1-7)
In an age where ‘selfies’ are trending more and more popular, Psalm 67 rightly points us back to God (instead of man) as the source of all grace and blessing. The need of the hour is that we know more and more of this grace and blessing – not so that we become comfortable, but so that we may be a blessing to others, even the whole world. Given too that God is the Lord of all the nations, the Psalm points out that His praise ought to be sung by peoples from every land. In this day when less than half of the world has even heard about the Lord Jesus Christ, we must pray that God would fulfill the Psalm’s vision and send His word to the ends of the earth. (No audio this week, sorry).
‘A Psalm for the New Year’ (Psalm 90:1-17)
It’s good practise to begin the New Year with sober thoughts and Psalm 90 does just that. As one of the oldest portions of Scripture, the Psalm brings us face to face with the eternal nature of God, His judgments and His mercies and yet at the same time, the transient nature of man. Life is short, therefore Moses encourages us to ‘number our days’. The truly wise person lives in the light of the shortness of life here on earth and the length of eternity.
‘He walked on earth…in our shoes’ (Hebrews 4:14-5:10)
When white man John Griffin made himself up and lived as a black man, he found out the hard way what many experienced in 1959 racist America. When Jesus came to earth as a human, he too experienced the nature of life as we know it. Hebrews 4:14-5:10 tells us of his experiences – how he endured human frailty, suffering and even death. Though He was fully God, yet he entered into the realm of our pain and through that pain and eventual death secured an eternal salvation for his people. At Christmas time we remember the wonderful truth that God became man and as man he still lives to be our great High Priest in heaven – fully able to understand what we must endure.
‘The focal point of the prophets, the apostles and the angels’ (1 Peter 1:10-12)
At Christmas time, it is good to remember that long ago the prophets had some idea that God was going to do something special in the future when His Messiah would come to earth. What the prophets looked forward to is what the Apostles proclaimed about the death and resurrection of Jesus. These things are told to us in 1 Peter 1:10-12, with Peter even giving us the amazing truth that angels long to understand the fulness of such truths. Thankfully, we have the Word of God that tells us everything God wants us to know!