Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
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”
But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Summary: The “living and the dead” does not mean that being dead is the end of the road. When called before the Judge, both the living and the dead will have to give account.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:5 — Giving Account”
They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.
Summary: Peter offers us insight into what to expect when we turn our back on the world’s ways. Social pressure is a real thing and surprisingly powerful when we are confronted with it face to face.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:4 — Cheap Kite”
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
Summary: Peter gives us a short list of things pagans do. He does not rub our noses in it, but simply says we have done enough in the past. Now is the time to live for God.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:3 — Enough”
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”
… 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”
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”
[Jesus Christ] …who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Summary: Where is Jesus? Peter gives us a peek into the eternal dwelling place of Jesus.
Continue reading “1 Peter 3:22 — A Negative Allegory”
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”
…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”