recent posts

about

  • Honoring Authority (1 Peter 2:13-17)

    Last week we looked at the identity and mission Christians should have in their relationship with God to the world. One particular command the Apostle Peter gave was for these suffering Christians to keep their conduct among unbelievers honorable so that they will come to know and glorify God (2:12). Peter does not leave this thought there, however. Peter goes beyond generalities and gets specific on how these Christians can live out such honorable lives. The first place he starts is with authority. Peter says, “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good” (2:13). In other words, Peter is telling these followers of Christ to submit to governmental authority. As we look out and see the moral challenges of our culture, it would be easy to object to Peter’s command. However, Peter is speaking in a time when Nero was Emperor. While physical persecution had probably not begun, there was no doubt Christians were being ostracized and criticized for their faith. And, yet, Peter calls for Christians to be obedient to authority. But what if government is not doing its duty to punish the evil and to praise the good? The general guideline to give here is that we must obey the authority God has given to our leaders but when these leaders clearly contradict Scripture and demand we follow, we must say with Peter as did the other apostles, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Our ultimate authority is God but we must understand He has put people in authority too. Government is one arena of that. Notice, then, this obedience to government authority is not without purpose. Peter continues, “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” (2:15-16). In the context of suffering and ridicule, we obey authority so that our honorable lives may be a witness to the world about Christ. Our freedom does not give us a license to sin but gives us the opportunity to do good and to live as servants of God. How do we live as good and honorable Christian servants before a hostile culture? First, we honor everyone. We must not forget every man and woman has been made in the image of God. Secondly, we love the brotherhood. The world will know we are Christ’s disciples by our love for brothers and sisters in Christ (John 13:34-35). Thirdly, we live good and honorable lives by fearing our ultimate authority while honoring the human authority He places over us. Only God is worthy of our awe. Only God is worthy of our worship. We worship Him through our obedience to Him and that includes honoring the human authority he places over us. When we live such honorable lives before others, we point them to the One who is Lord and who, by His grace, saves them as they respond in repentance of sins and placing their faith in Him.

    Reflection Questions:
    How often do you consider how you can honor and pray for governmental leaders as opposed to complaining about them?
    How can you, by the power of the Holy Spirit, work out 1 Peter 2:17 in your own life?

  • Identidad y Misión (1 Pedro 2:4-12)

    En nuestra cultura actual, se nos dice que la identidad es algo que nosotros elegimos. Tenemos el derecho de identificarnos como mejor nos parezca y según lo que sentimos. Sin embargo, la realidad no podría estar más lejos de la verdad. No somos soberanos sobre nuestra identidad. Cuando negamos esta realidad, los problemas que rodean la identidad se convierten en un problema de idolatría. ¿Por qué? Porque la identidad no es algo que elegimos en un vacío. La identidad se centra en la persona de Jesucristo. En medio del sufrimiento, podemos ser propensos a cuestionar quiénes somos, nuestra identidad. Debemos revisar y recordarnos a nosotros mismos dónde encontramos nuestra identidad. Nuestra identidad está centrada en la piedra angular que es Jesucristo (Isaías 28:16). Aquel que fue rechazado por los hombres pero escogido por Dios es el que es la piedra viva. Esta piedra viva específica está edificando una casa espiritual compuesta por otras piedras vivas mientras descansan sobre la piedra angular. En otras palabras, nosotros, que ponemos nuestra confianza en Cristo, encontramos nuestra identidad en Cristo. Solo podemos “ser un sacerdocio santo, para ofrecer sacrificios espirituales aceptables a Dios por medio de Jesucristo” (2:5). A través de Jesucristo podemos ver nuestra identidad como piedras vivas.

    Pero, ¿qué pasa con aquellos que rechazan a Cristo? Ellos desobedecen la palabra. Así, su identidad impacta su misión. Su misión revela su identidad y apunta a su destino. Y todo tiene que ver con cómo uno responde a Cristo. Él es la piedra angular. Él es quien nos da nuestra identidad, y Él es quien nos llama a la misión. Nuestra identidad transforma nuestras relaciones y moldea nuestra misión. Convertirse en cristiano cambia nuestra relación con Dios y con el mundo. Nuestra identidad ya no es la de enemigos de Dios. Nuestra identidad es que somos un pueblo que pertenece a Dios. 1 Pedro 2 nos muestra esto usando los cuatro términos “linaje escogido”, “real sacerdocio”, “nación santa” y “pueblo adquirido por Dios” (2:9). Dios ha escogido una comunidad de personas para ser su pueblo y servirle como sacrificios vivos (Romanos 12:1). Nuestra identidad como pueblo de Dios significa que reflejamos a Dios siendo apartados y viviendo vidas santas para su gloria.

    Al vivir de esta manera, nuestra identidad informa nuestra misión. Como pueblo de Dios, vivimos para proclamar quién es Dios y lo que Él ha hecho, especialmente en el evangelio. 1 Pedro nos dirige a esta misión al llamarnos a “proclamar las virtudes de aquel que os llamó de las tinieblas a su luz admirable” (2:9). Las virtudes de Dios se ven más claramente en su obra salvadora al sacar a los pecadores de las tinieblas hacia su luz redentora. Esta salvación no solo transforma nuestra relación con Dios, sino que también afecta nuestra relación con el mundo. Ya no somos amigos del mundo, aunque aún vivimos en él. Nuestra identidad como extranjeros y peregrinos nos recuerda que nuestro hogar definitivo está con el Señor.

    Esta identidad nos lleva a una vida diferente. Por ejemplo, vivimos en una cultura excesivamente sexualizada donde los “sentimientos” dominan las acciones. Sin embargo, el apóstol Pedro exhorta a sus lectores “a abstenerse de los deseos carnales que combaten contra el alma” (2:11). La vida de un cristiano debe verse distinta a la de quien desobedece la Palabra de Dios y hace lo que siente. Debemos darnos cuenta de que la vida cristiana es una guerra espiritual. No cedemos, sino que nosotros, que hemos recibido las Buenas Nuevas, debemos hacer buenas obras para que incluso los incrédulos las noten. Una conducta honorable en medio de la burla y el sufrimiento ilumina la gloria de Dios. Habla como testimonio. Por eso Pedro dedica tiempo en el resto de su carta a explicar más sobre esto. Nuestra relación con el mundo es diferente porque nuestra identidad y misión son diferentes. Nuestra identidad y misión en el mundo son diferentes porque nuestra relación con Dios es diferente. En pocas palabras, el evangelio de Dios informa y transforma nuestra identidad y misión con Dios y hacia el mundo.

    Preguntas de Reflexión:
    1. ¿Dónde sueles colocar tu identidad en lugar de en Cristo?
    2. ¿Con quién estás viviendo en misión, tanto para tu crecimiento espiritual como para el testimonio del evangelio?

  • Identity and Mission (1 Peter 2:4-12)

    In our culture today, we are told identity is ours to choose. We have the right to identify as we see fit and how we feel. The reality, however, cannot be further from the truth. We are not sovereign over our identity. When we deny this reality the issues surrounding identity become a problem of idolatry. Why? Because identity is not ours to choose in a vacuum. Identity centers upon the person of Jesus Christ. In the midst of suffering, we can be prone to question who we are, our identity. We must review and remind ourselves where we find identity. Our identity is centered upon the cornerstone who is Jesus Christ (Isaiah 28:16). The one who was rejected by men but chosen by God was the one who is the living stone. This specific living stone is building a spiritual house made up of other living stones as they rest in the cornerstone. In other words, we who place our trust in Christ, find our identity in Christ. We can only “be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (2:5). Through Jesus Christ can we see our identity as living stones. But what about those who reject Christ? They disobey the word. Thus, their identity impacts their mission. Their mission reveals their identity and points to their destiny. And it all has to do with how one responds to Christ. He is the cornerstone. He is the One who gives us our identity, and He is the One who calls us to mission.

    Our identity transforms our relationships and shapes our mission. Becoming a Christian changes our relationship with God to the world. Our identity is no longer as enemies of God. Our identity is we are people belonging to God. 1 Peter 2 shows us this by using the four terms “a chosen race”, “a royal priesthood”, “a holy nation”, and “a people for His own possession” (2:9). God has chosen a community of people to be His people and to serve Him as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Our identity as God’s people means we reflect God by being set apart and living holy lives for His sake. By living this way, our identity informs our mission. As God’s people, we live to proclaim who God is and what He has done, namely in the gospel. 1 Peter directs us to this mission in calling to “proclaim the excellencies of him who called you of darkness into his marvelous light” (2:9). The excellencies of God are seen clearest in His saving work by bringing sinners out of the darkness into His redeeming light.

    This salvation not only transforms our relationship with God but affects our relationship to the world. We are no longer friends of the world, although we still live in the world. Our identity to the world as exiles reminds us our ultimate home is with the Lord. This identity leads to a different life. For instance, we live in an overly sexualized culture where “feelings” dominate actions. However, the Apostle Peter urges his readers “to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul” (2:11). The life of a Christian should look distinct from the person who disobeys the Word of God and does whatever they feel. We must realize the Christian life is a spiritual war. We do not give in but we, who have received the Good News, must do good deeds so that even unbelievers will take notice. Honorable conduct in the midst of ridicule and suffering shine the light on the glory of God. They speak as a witness. That is why Peter devotes his time to elaborate more on this in the rest of his letter. Our relationship to the world is different because our identity and mission are different. Our identity and mission to the world are different because our relationship with God is different. Simply put, the gospel of God informs and transforms our identity and mission with God and to the world.

    Reflection Questions:

    1. Where do you often place your identity instead of Christ?
    2. Who are you living on mission with both for spiritual growth and gospel witness?