Post by foxjj on Jul 17, 2023 7:26:23 GMT
Born Again Believers. First Peter 1:1-9
We only have two letters from Peter who wrote earnestly to the scattered Jewish believers, as also to the Gentiles who became believers through their faithful witnessing. His letters are of hope, encouraging each one in their faith as exampled in the opening of his first Epistle:
“1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.” - 1 Peter 1:1-2.
From Peter’s opening we see whom the original letter was addressed. His intent was to give encouragement in a time when followers of Jesus were often ostracized by their community, even to the point of outright persecution. Verse 2 shows how The Father, The Spirit and The Son are all involved in our salvation. Through The Fathers foreknowledge we are convicted by the Spirit, becoming obedient to the Lord Jesus. This results in sanctification, which is a Spirit controlled mind living in a state of grace and peace, knowing we are cleansed of our sin through the sacrificially shed blood of Jesus, of which was foreshadowed in The Old Testament. An example been Exodus 24:7-8:
“7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.” 8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
It was only after their promise to obey that the blood was applied. So it is in your life and my live if - when we hear The Gospel - we are convicted and repent, confessing both our sins, and our need of Jesus in our lives. It is at this point the sacrifice of Jesus, and the shedding of His blood on Calvary is applied to our lives bringing redemption. Thereby the blessing that Peter pronounced in verse 2 will apply to us: “Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”
Peter continued: “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
In verse 3 and following, Peter addressed the unique spiritual condition of born again believers in Jesus Christ. It is this spiritual condition that separates from religion. Religion is defined as following rules and rituals in an attempt to please God, which contrasts to a personal relationship with The Lord who has redeemed you from sin. Although we are still in the world experiencing life’s circumstances, we know God’s peace, and live with the blessed hope that only His promise’s can give:
“6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
This is the experience of the born again believers of whom Jesus referred when speaking to Thomas: “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”- John 20:29.
Today, let us give thanks to our God for His Salvation.
John Joseph Fox.
We only have two letters from Peter who wrote earnestly to the scattered Jewish believers, as also to the Gentiles who became believers through their faithful witnessing. His letters are of hope, encouraging each one in their faith as exampled in the opening of his first Epistle:
“1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.” - 1 Peter 1:1-2.
From Peter’s opening we see whom the original letter was addressed. His intent was to give encouragement in a time when followers of Jesus were often ostracized by their community, even to the point of outright persecution. Verse 2 shows how The Father, The Spirit and The Son are all involved in our salvation. Through The Fathers foreknowledge we are convicted by the Spirit, becoming obedient to the Lord Jesus. This results in sanctification, which is a Spirit controlled mind living in a state of grace and peace, knowing we are cleansed of our sin through the sacrificially shed blood of Jesus, of which was foreshadowed in The Old Testament. An example been Exodus 24:7-8:
“7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.” 8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
It was only after their promise to obey that the blood was applied. So it is in your life and my live if - when we hear The Gospel - we are convicted and repent, confessing both our sins, and our need of Jesus in our lives. It is at this point the sacrifice of Jesus, and the shedding of His blood on Calvary is applied to our lives bringing redemption. Thereby the blessing that Peter pronounced in verse 2 will apply to us: “Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”
Peter continued: “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
In verse 3 and following, Peter addressed the unique spiritual condition of born again believers in Jesus Christ. It is this spiritual condition that separates from religion. Religion is defined as following rules and rituals in an attempt to please God, which contrasts to a personal relationship with The Lord who has redeemed you from sin. Although we are still in the world experiencing life’s circumstances, we know God’s peace, and live with the blessed hope that only His promise’s can give:
“6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
This is the experience of the born again believers of whom Jesus referred when speaking to Thomas: “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”- John 20:29.
Today, let us give thanks to our God for His Salvation.
John Joseph Fox.
