Compelling Love

Peter’s first epistle teaches about our heavenly inheritance as believers, and our pilgrimage in getting there.  Those placing their trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord have a living hope through His resurrection from the dead, to a heavenly inheritance that will not fade away.  As we await the fulfillment of this hope, we are “kept by the power of God through faith”.

1 Peter 1 (NKJV)
³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Minister Debra Aiken writes, “Jesus Christ is coming again with grace for his people and being assured of this guaranteed hope we have in Him we can find hope and confidence even in suffering.  Every believer, (child of God) through faith in Jesus Christ is born a second time by the Holy Spirit of God; therefore, hope lives in us.

The gifts that we received from our new birth in Christ are (1) grace and mercy (2) a living hope and (3) an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for us who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

(http://www.tellthelordthankyou.com/blog/2018/9/27/1-peter-13-it-was-grace-and-mercy)

We have the living hope of eternal life in the presence of God’s love and glory.  Our hope, combined with faith in Christ’s words of promise, causes us to rejoice with “joy inexpressible and full of glory.”  Though we have not seen Him, we love Him and believe in Him, awaiting the full salvation of our souls, including body, mind and spirit.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the “firstfruits” of many to come.  (1 Corinthians 15:20,23)

1 Peter 1 (NKJV)
⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

God calls us to rest our hope fully upon His grace, keeping our faith through hard times, as we are “upheld by His power”. (1 Peter 1:5).  He calls us, and enables us, to “be holy in all (our) conduct”.

1 Peter 1 (NKJV)
¹³ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

We are born again through faith in the living and enduring word of God.  Peter describes how we are to walk that out.

1 Peter 1 (NKJV)
²² Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, ²⁴ because

“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
²⁵ But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

The God of all grace has called us to eternal glory by Christ Jesus.  As we submit ourselves beneath His mighty hand,  He promises to exalt us in due time, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

1 Peter 5 (NKJV)
⁵ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

He calls us to resist the devil, steadfast in the faith, and promises to “perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us” in this pilgrimage to His eternal glory.

⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. ¹⁰ But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

David Krause, dhkrause@neteze.com, 05/25/2019, https://compellinglove.net/

Photo credits:
(1) http://www.tellthelordthankyou.com/blog/2018/9/27/1-peter-13-it-was-grace-and-mercy
(2) https://resources.worldprayr.org/1-peter-18-9/
(3) https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/1-Peter/1/13
(4) https://www.verseoftheday.com/en/01232016/
(5) http://www.tellthelordthankyou.com/blog/2015/8/7/1-peter-57-casting-your-worries-on-god-or-carrying-them-on-own-which-are-you-doing