To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Summary: Peter uses specific language to tell us how much honor is due to Jesus.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:11 (c) — The Language of Praise”1 Peter 4:11 (c) — The Language of Praise
1 Peter 4:8 (b) — Formula for Forgiveness
… because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Summary: Peter continues his thought on loving deeply by adding that love “covers over” sins. God models the power of love by forgiving our sin.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:8 (b) — Formula for Forgiveness”1 Peter 4:8 (a) — Deep Love
Above all, love each other deeply…
Summary: Peter echoes the Great Commandment (Matthew 22: 37-40) when he tells us to love each other deeply.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:8 (a) — Deep Love”1 Peter 4:6 — Rorschach Test
For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
Summary: A Rorschach test is to psychology what a mirror is to the face. God has placed occasional Rorschach tests in His Word. Today’s passage is one of them.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:6 — Rorschach Test”1 Peter 4: 2 — More Jesus
As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
Summary: There are two ways to try and live for God. One works and the other doesn’t. The one that works is to fill our lives with Jesus, who points us to God.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4: 2 — More Jesus”1 Peter 4:1 (b) — Done with Sin
… because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
Summary: Peter tells us that it is possible to be ”done with sin.” The price is to stay focused on Christ and adopt Christ’s attitude toward suffering. Today we explore what this means.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:1 (b) — Done with Sin”1 Peter 4:1 (a) — Serving Jesus
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude…
Summary: Salvation and works are two things that are related but separate. We work to serve our God and in the process we put our own wants and needs aside.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:1 (a) — Serving Jesus”1 Peter 3:21 (b) — Baptism, Part II
It [baptism] saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…
Summary: Peter says that we are saved by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This simple phrase describes the incredible moment in history when God opens the door to salvation through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ.
Continue reading “1 Peter 3:21 (b) — Baptism, Part II”1 Peter 3:20 (b) – 21 (a) — Baptism, Part I
…when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.
Summary: Peter uses the analogy of Noah’s ark to describe baptism. Baptism is an appeal to God for a clear conscience. Looking deeper, we see it is also an analogy of our Christian life here on earth.
Continue reading “1 Peter 3:20 (b) – 21 (a) — Baptism, Part I”1 Peter 3:18 (b) — Made Alive
He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
Summary: Peter focuses in on the key fact of Christianity: That Jesus was put to death, was allowed to remain dead, and then was made alive again.
Continue reading “1 Peter 3:18 (b) — Made Alive”