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  • Living in Light of Christ’s Return (1 Peter 1:22-2:3)

    How should we live in light of the return of Jesus? In 1 Peter 1:22-2:3, Peter wastes no time in diving right into the answer. In v. 22, the apostle reminds believers to “love one another earnestly from a pure heart,” a plea for brotherly love for fellow Christians. Brotherly love is a familial bond which goes deeper than blood. A daily challenge, we as Christians must show the love of Christ towards one another in order to show the lost world around us what love truly is.  

    Because of our Savior returning in glory soon we must strive to honor him with all we say and do. A good starting point is seeking to meet the needs of fellow believers. Perhaps there is a brother or sister that is facing a cancer diagnosis, or is wrecked with anxiety and depression, or is a single mother struggling to get by. Maybe your pastor could use a word of encouragement. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to opportunities to show compassion. 

    Moreover, our model for Christian love is the sacrificial love of Christ. Our Lord came voluntarily to be murdered on a bloody cross to pay the insurmountable debt of sin which alienated us from God. As Paul wrote in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What love!? This Christ-like love we must display towards believers and the lost alike, opening hearts to the gospel.

    Moving forward, Peter writes in v. 23 that because we have been “born again” through the “living and abiding word of God,” we are to love others well. Our salvation should produce a warmth for the brethren which grows over time. The word of the Lord “remains forever,” and endures unlike human flesh which withers and dies like the grass (v. 24-25). This passage speaks to the power of the Word of God, which produces in us a desire for holiness. Additionally, this word is “the good news that was preached to you.” The gospel message brings us to faith in Christ and the Word of God nurtures that faith into Christ-like maturity. 

    Progressing to ch. 2, Peter continues his practical exhortation to believers. As we live out our faith, we are to forsake anger towards one another, lying, living a double life, desiring what others have and speaking out against the brethren (v. 1). Such actions invalidate our Christian witness and provide a terrible example to the lost. Brothers and sisters, we must strive to draw closer to Jesus every day, read the Word of God and pray so that we can love others well.

    Furthermore, we must crave the “pure spiritual milk” of the Word just like a newborn baby longs for his mother’s milk. Only then can we “grow up into salvation.” When Jesus comes back, we will be glorified with him and receive the fulfillment of our salvation. Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, his resurrection and his return are the basis of our salvation. And when he returns in blazing glory, our faith will be made sight. Indeed, as v. 3 states, if we have “tasted that the Lord is good,” we will desire to grow in our faith, love our brothers and sisters and share the gospel with the lost.

    Reflection Questions:

    Do you desire to grow in your faith and crave the “pure spiritual milk” of the Word of God?

    Who can you display the love of Christ to in your faith community?

  • Una Esperanza Viva (1 Pedro 1:3-12)

    Enfrentar la muerte de un ser querido. Lidiar con conflictos familiares. Experimentar problemas en el trabajo o ser despedido de un empleo. Dificultades financieras. Sufrir por la fe. En esta vida, todos estamos destinados a enfrentar de frente las dificultades y las pruebas. La pregunta que se nos plantea, especialmente como cristianos, es esta: ¿cómo responderemos? Es muy tentador volverse amargado y adoptar un sentimiento de desesperanza. Pero ese es el camino del mundo, no el camino de la Palabra. Dios, a través de los escritos de Pedro, nos dirige a dónde debemos poner nuestra esperanza, incluso en medio de las circunstancias y dificultades de la vida. Esta esperanza es una esperanza viva en la resurrección de Jesucristo.

    La esperanza viva que tenemos es por la misericordia de Dios y por la persona y obra de Jesucristo. La resurrección de Jesucristo asegura nuestra resurrección si, en verdad, nos hemos arrepentido de nuestros pecados y hemos confiado en Cristo como Señor y Salvador. Además, al mirar hacia atrás a nuestra salvación, vemos la obra de Dios, a saber, que “nos hizo nacer de nuevo” (1:3). Esta es una salvación que los profetas predijeron y que los ángeles anhelan contemplar (1:10-12). Podemos tener certeza de la esperanza por causa de Aquel que nos da la esperanza, porque Él nos guarda (1:5). Observa también que la esperanza viva que tenemos por medio de la resurrección es para que recibamos una herencia que es “incorruptible, incontaminada e inmarcesible” (1:4). En otras palabras, la herencia que recibimos como aquellos que hemos nacido de nuevo por medio de Cristo en el evangelio es una herencia eterna. Aunque ahora enfrentemos pruebas, dificultades y sufrimientos, son temporales (1:6), mientras que nuestra herencia es eterna.

    Esta esperanza viva nos lleva a ver la vida y las dificultades desde una perspectiva diferente. Al ver las pruebas desde una perspectiva bíblica, el cristiano puede entender el propósito y el resultado previsto de las diversas dificultades de la vida. En medio del sufrimiento, hay una obra de refinamiento que Dios está haciendo para revelar la autenticidad de la fe en la vida del creyente. A medida que el cristiano persevera en estos tiempos, el resultado será honra de parte de Dios en la venida de Cristo (1:7). Por esto, nos regocijamos. No ponemos una sonrisa falsa ni nos alegramos solo por hacerlo. Más bien, encontramos genuinamente una razón para regocijarnos en medio de los sufrimientos, no por los sufrimientos en sí mismos. Todo esto se hace evidente cuando vemos que la razón por la que podemos regocijarnos es por causa de Jesús. Aunque no lo hemos visto cara a cara, por la fe lo amamos y creemos en Él. Por causa de su resurrección hemos nacido de nuevo. Por causa de Él recibimos una herencia eterna. Por causa de Él podemos enfrentar tiempos difíciles mientras seguimos regocijándonos. Por causa de Cristo, podemos tener una esperanza viva.

    Preguntas para reflexión:
    • ¿Cómo sueles responder a los sufrimientos y pruebas que enfrentas? ¿Cómo te guía la Palabra de Dios en tu manera de responder?
    • ¿Qué papel desempeña la iglesia local en ayudarte a enfrentar estas pruebas con una perspectiva bíblica?

  • A Living Hope (1:3-12)

    Facing the death of a loved one. Dealing with family conflict. Experiencing issues at work or getting laid off from a job. Trouble with finances. Suffering for the faith. In this life, we all are bound to meet hardships and trials head-on. The questions posed for us, especially as Christians, is this: how will we respond? It is so tempting to turn bitter and to adopt the feeling of hopelessness. But that is the way of the world, not the way of the Word. God, through the writing of Peter, directs us to what we put our hope in, even in the midst of life’s circumstances and difficulties. This hope is a living hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    The living hope we have is because of God’s mercy and because of the person and work of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus Christ ensures our resurrection if we have, indeed, repented of our sins and have trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior. Moreover, looking back at our salvation, we see the work of God, namely “he has caused us to be born again” (1:3). This is a salvation the prophets foretold and angels long to look at (1:10-12). We can be certain of hope because of the One who gives us the hope, for He is guarding us (1:5). Notice, too, the living hope we have through the resurrection is so that we may receive an inheritance that is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1:4). In other words, the inheritance we receive as those born again by Christ in the gospel is an eternal inheritance. Though we may face testings, trials, and sufferings now, they are temporary (1:6) while our inheritance is eternal.

    This living hope causes us to see life and hardships from a different perspective. Viewing trials from a biblical perspective, the Christian can see the reason and intended result of various difficulties in life. In the midst of suffering, there is a refining work God is doing to reveal the genuineness of faith in the Christian’s life. As the Christian perseveres through these times, the result will be honor from God at the return of Christ (1:7). For this, we rejoice. We do not slap a happy face and rejoice for rejoicing’s sake. Rather, we genuinely find in a reason to rejoice in the midst of sufferings, not because of the sufferings themselves. This is all made plain when we see the reason we can rejoice is because of Jesus. Although we have not seen Him face-to-face, by faith we love Him and we believe in Him. Because of His resurrection we have been born again. Because of Him we receive an eternal inheritance. Because of Him we can face difficult times while still rejoicing. Because of Christ, we can have a living hope.

    Reflection Questions:

    • How do you typically respond to the sufferings and trials you face? How does the Word of God inform you in your response?
    • What role does the local church play in helping you face these trials with a biblical perspective?