For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household…
Summary: The word, ”judgment” has many uses. Today we explore how Peter uses it in today’s passage.
Continue reading “1 Peter 4:17 — Uncommon Tater”1 Peter 4:17 — Uncommon Tater
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 3:22 — A Negative Allegory
[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”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 (a) — The Flavors of Righteousness
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
Summary: There are four types of righteousness and two of them will get you to heaven. The only problem is that the third type is impossible to achieve and the fourth requires that somebody else achieve it and offers you a free pass. Fortunately for us, Jesus does both.
Continue reading “1 Peter 3:18 (a) — The Flavors of Righteousness”1 Peter 3:15 (c) — The Keys to the Heart
But do this with gentleness and respect…
Summary: When we share our story of knowing God with others, we need to do it in a way that communicates both with the mind and the heart. Gentleness and respect both speak to the heart.
Continue reading “1 Peter 3:15 (c) — The Keys to the Heart”1 Peter 3:8 (c) — Oil on the Water
… love one another …
Summary: Peter tells us to love one another using a rare word that means ‘brotherly love.’ This kind of love is not caught up in arguments but is the oil on the water that calms arguments. It allows brothers and sisters in the same family to get along.
Continue reading “1 Peter 3:8 (c) — Oil on the Water”1 Peter 3:1(b)-2 — Without Words
… so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
Why would anyone want to submit to God? Mmmm…. because God is the creator of the universe and everything in it? Because when our body dies our spirit remains? Because God is the one who determines whether our spirit is with Him for eternity or tossed into the burning lake of fire? I guess that would be a good reason to submit to God.
And what does God want from us? He wants our love above all else and that we should love others as ourselves. (Matthew 22: 35-40) Oh, and he wants us to “go and make disciples.” (Matthew 28: 16-20)
Continue reading “1 Peter 3:1(b)-2 — Without Words”1 Peter 2:24 (c) — The Back Side of the Page
…“by his wounds you have been healed.”
As we work our way through Peter’s letter, I find myself marveling at how much information Peter was able to pack into a few words. I also admire how well it correlates with the rest of the Bible. In a way, it is as if Peter has handed us a key to understanding the rest of Scripture.
In “Innocence Found” (1 Peter 2:24 (a)), we explored a thought experiment that ended with a close-up view of Jesus on the cross. To say that we have been healed by Jesus’ wounds is, at the very least, thought-provoking. How does that work? We know what kind of wounds Jesus suffered for our sake, but what kind of wound were we healed from?
Continue reading “1 Peter 2:24 (c) — The Back Side of the Page”