1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. NSV
Receivers of mercy are what Christians are. A chosen group of people describes the holy Christian church. We are royal priests unto our God who speak to God on the behalf of people and speak to people on the behalf of God. This is pretty cool stuff indeed. Out of darkness we have been called and into the light.
So it is no surprise we do not fit into the world. We are rejected by those who still walk outwardly in darkness as well as by erring and false brothers. The Chief Cornerstone was rejected as well. The builders despised Jesus when He was making His way to the cross. We have the honor of serving Him who is our foundation and become our cornerstone and we His living stones. But what will happen to the unbeliever and the false and erring brothers? They will stumble over Jesus. The rock of Salvation will grind them to powder Matt 21:44.
Now how do we respond to this? What difference should this make in our lives? St Peter had something to say about that.
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. ESV
Abstaining from the passions of the flesh does not only have to do with lust of the eyes, flesh and pride of life but in addition reacting to the rejection in hopes of seeking revenge. These passions will war against the soul. This activity will hinder growth in the Christian’s life. In addition God seeks to use us as clay jars to do good deeds in front of the unbeliever so they will see it and glorify God when He comes to them.
1 Peter 2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. ESV
These actions are what the people who are defined by the mercy of God do. They put away all the reactions which define humans. Indeed are still guilty of them but put them away and do not feed those passions and cause them to grow. This is the response of those who have tasted and know that the Lord is good.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen †
Receivers of mercy are what Christians are. A chosen group of people describes the holy Christian church. We are royal priests unto our God who speak to God on the behalf of people and speak to people on the behalf of God. This is pretty cool stuff indeed. Out of darkness we have been called and into the light.
So it is no surprise we do not fit into the world. We are rejected by those who still walk outwardly in darkness as well as by erring and false brothers. The Chief Cornerstone was rejected as well. The builders despised Jesus when He was making His way to the cross. We have the honor of serving Him who is our foundation and become our cornerstone and we His living stones. But what will happen to the unbeliever and the false and erring brothers? They will stumble over Jesus. The rock of Salvation will grind them to powder Matt 21:44.
Now how do we respond to this? What difference should this make in our lives? St Peter had something to say about that.
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. ESV
Abstaining from the passions of the flesh does not only have to do with lust of the eyes, flesh and pride of life but in addition reacting to the rejection in hopes of seeking revenge. These passions will war against the soul. This activity will hinder growth in the Christian’s life. In addition God seeks to use us as clay jars to do good deeds in front of the unbeliever so they will see it and glorify God when He comes to them.
1 Peter 2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. ESV
These actions are what the people who are defined by the mercy of God do. They put away all the reactions which define humans. Indeed are still guilty of them but put them away and do not feed those passions and cause them to grow. This is the response of those who have tasted and know that the Lord is good.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen †
3 comments:
Dave.
Mercy indeed features quite often in the AP.
AP IV.(V)
32] But faith is that which freely apprehends God's mercy on account of God's Word [which relies upon God's mercy and Word, and not upon one's own work]. If any one denies that this is faith [if any one imagines that he can rely at the same time upon God and his own works], he does not understand at all 33] what faith is. [For the terrified conscience is not satisfied with its own works, but must cry after mercy, and is comforted and encouraged alone by God's Word.]
LPC
That is law. The law kills (your previous post)
We should, we ought, we must...do this, do that, don't do that...all law.
When the law has done it's job on me (killed me off) I need new life.
Where's the gospel? This is exactly why I became a lutheran.
The "becoming better" stuff just kicked my butt.
I am declared righteous for Jesus' sake. He who began a good work in me will bring it to completetion...and that's good enough for me.
Thanks!
- Steve
Thank you both for reading and commenting on this.
Bro LPC we can always rejoice in the mercy we are shown by God. It is totally amazing.
Steve, I rejoice with you in your new found peace you have in the true understanding of law and Gospel.
God's peace. †
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