"And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ," (I Peter 1:17--19).
* The word translated 'redeemed' comes from a Greek term, meaning 'to pay a ransom.' At immeasurable cost to the Redeemer, we have been bought back from the marketplace of sin. And the price paid for the ransom of our souls was the precious, perfect blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
* One of the many Scriptural motivations for holy living is the high price our Savior paid for our redemption. The shedding of the sinless blood of the Son of God to redeem us from Satan's domain should cause us to live in reverent fear before God.
Oh, that we would live like the redeemed!
* Peter's appeal for holy living centers on the priceless value of the Lord Jesus' blood in redeeming the elect. When we ponder deeply the high cost of our salvation, we long to live in reverent fear before the sinless Savior. May we never take lightly what was purchased at so great a sacrifice.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Bits & Pieces: Biblical Saints called Light
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven," (Matthew 5:14--16).
* In John 8:12, the Lord Jesus stated that He is the Light of the world. As disciples who have the light of His life within us, we too are to penetrate our darkened world. And our witness to His light within us must continually point the praise to God.
* By calling His disciples 'light', the Lord Jesus emphasized the penetrating work believers are to have in society. By its very nature, light illuminates. And, as the light of the world, we are to glorify our Father by radiating the Lord Jesus' life.
* The main message of warning in these verses involves hiding the light of Jesus' life from a sin-darkened society. Our Lord knew the tendency of Christians to be intimidated and silent concerning His life within them. Our lives are to radiate before a watching world, matched by an eagerness to verbalize our faith.
* In John 8:12, the Lord Jesus stated that He is the Light of the world. As disciples who have the light of His life within us, we too are to penetrate our darkened world. And our witness to His light within us must continually point the praise to God.
* By calling His disciples 'light', the Lord Jesus emphasized the penetrating work believers are to have in society. By its very nature, light illuminates. And, as the light of the world, we are to glorify our Father by radiating the Lord Jesus' life.
* The main message of warning in these verses involves hiding the light of Jesus' life from a sin-darkened society. Our Lord knew the tendency of Christians to be intimidated and silent concerning His life within them. Our lives are to radiate before a watching world, matched by an eagerness to verbalize our faith.
Bits & Pieces: Biblical Saints called Heirs
"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him," (Romans 8:16, 17).
* It is part of the gracious ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives to not only confirm that we are in God's family by the new birth, but that we are heirs, as well. We are recipients of all spiritual blessings now, and, in the future we will share with the Lord Jesus in all the riches of God's kingdom. And, although suffering is part and parcel of such inheritance, to be glorified with Jesus is worth it all.
* It is part of the gracious ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives to not only confirm that we are in God's family by the new birth, but that we are heirs, as well. We are recipients of all spiritual blessings now, and, in the future we will share with the Lord Jesus in all the riches of God's kingdom. And, although suffering is part and parcel of such inheritance, to be glorified with Jesus is worth it all.
Bits & Pieces: Biblical Saints called Children of God
"See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that, when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is," (I John 3:1,2).
* In these beautiful verses, John comforts, consoles, and encourages our hearts. It is very comforting to contemplate the Father's love in calling us His children. When the world opposes us, there is consolation in the reminder that it opposed our Savior far more vehemently. And we are encouraged in knowing that He will return to take us home.
* The beloved apostle bids us understand and appreciate three great truths: (1.) As born-again ones, we have an eternal relationship with God as our Father; (2.) Opposition by the world should be expected, since we are identified with One they hated (and still hate) so violently; and (3.) There will come a time when, as children of God, we will see and know our Savior perfectly.
* The apostle John emphasizes the privilege, the price, and the promise of our salvation. Our privilege is to be called children of God. The price to pay is opposition from a world system ignorant of our Lord. And the promise is His imminent and certain return, when we will see Him as He is!
* In these beautiful verses, John comforts, consoles, and encourages our hearts. It is very comforting to contemplate the Father's love in calling us His children. When the world opposes us, there is consolation in the reminder that it opposed our Savior far more vehemently. And we are encouraged in knowing that He will return to take us home.
* The beloved apostle bids us understand and appreciate three great truths: (1.) As born-again ones, we have an eternal relationship with God as our Father; (2.) Opposition by the world should be expected, since we are identified with One they hated (and still hate) so violently; and (3.) There will come a time when, as children of God, we will see and know our Savior perfectly.
* The apostle John emphasizes the privilege, the price, and the promise of our salvation. Our privilege is to be called children of God. The price to pay is opposition from a world system ignorant of our Lord. And the promise is His imminent and certain return, when we will see Him as He is!
Bits & Pieces: Biblical Saints called A People for God's Own Possession
"But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now YOU ARE THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY," (I Peter 2:9, 10).
* Did you realize that everyone is possessed? People are either controlled by the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life, or they have been bought with a price, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and are His possession. Each and every one who has been saved from hell is possessed by God. And we decide daily the degree to which we experience the joy of His ownership.
* What a comfort and a conviction to be called a people for God's own possession! Comforting to rest assured that we can never be lost from His love, never be forsaken during fearful trials. Convicting is the responsibility to walk in a manner worthy of the holy God who owns us.
* One of the most natural responses we make when shown great kindness is to tell someone about it. And the more possessed we are by God's Spirit, the greater our desire and determination to speak of His goodness.
For, our relationship to Jesus is personal, but not private.
When we say nothing for Christ, such silence is sin.
* Did you realize that everyone is possessed? People are either controlled by the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life, or they have been bought with a price, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and are His possession. Each and every one who has been saved from hell is possessed by God. And we decide daily the degree to which we experience the joy of His ownership.
* What a comfort and a conviction to be called a people for God's own possession! Comforting to rest assured that we can never be lost from His love, never be forsaken during fearful trials. Convicting is the responsibility to walk in a manner worthy of the holy God who owns us.
* One of the most natural responses we make when shown great kindness is to tell someone about it. And the more possessed we are by God's Spirit, the greater our desire and determination to speak of His goodness.
For, our relationship to Jesus is personal, but not private.
When we say nothing for Christ, such silence is sin.
Bits & Pieces: Biblical Saints called Beloved Children
"Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma," (Ephesians 5:1,2).
* It is the general nature of a child to imitate the actions and attitudes of his parents. As children beloved by the Father, we are to imitate His giving nature by a life-style of love. We could have no more perfect a model of sacrificial love than the Lord Jesus.
* The two basic commands Paul gives in these verses are (a) to imitate God, and (b) to walk in love. In a child-like copying of God's giving nature, His beloved children are also to be other-oriented. Our Model is the One who sacrificed Himself as our substitute.
* Beneath the surface simplicity of Paul's commands to imitate God and walk in love are depths of application that challenge for a lifetime. To genuinely demonstrate the love shown to us as beloved children calls for a life-style of sacrifice.
Ponder what such love cost the Lord Jesus...
* It is the general nature of a child to imitate the actions and attitudes of his parents. As children beloved by the Father, we are to imitate His giving nature by a life-style of love. We could have no more perfect a model of sacrificial love than the Lord Jesus.
* The two basic commands Paul gives in these verses are (a) to imitate God, and (b) to walk in love. In a child-like copying of God's giving nature, His beloved children are also to be other-oriented. Our Model is the One who sacrificed Himself as our substitute.
* Beneath the surface simplicity of Paul's commands to imitate God and walk in love are depths of application that challenge for a lifetime. To genuinely demonstrate the love shown to us as beloved children calls for a life-style of sacrifice.
Ponder what such love cost the Lord Jesus...
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Bits & Pieces: Biblical Saints called A Chosen Race
"But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD'S OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light," (I Peter 2:9).
* In contrast to those who are disobedient to the Word, and are destined for hell, Peter asserts that we who are the church are a chosen people. For His own good pleasure, and completely to the praise of His glorious grace, God chose certain ones before the foundation of the world to be His body, the church. In response to such unmerited and undeserved favor, we are to proclaim His excellencies.
* In his desire for his readers to live lives of holiness, Peter contrasts the destinies of the lost and the saved. As a chosen people, from all eternity the church was elected by God for salvation in Jesus Christ, while the rest were passed by. In response to God's unconditional grace in election, we are to declare His sovereign goodness and proclaim His gracious nature.
* In stark contrast to those who are destined for hell, Peter states that the church has been chosen for salvation. Before the foundation of the world, God unconditionally elected a multitude of individuals no man can number, for whom the Lord Jesus would lay down His life, atoning for their sin. In the light of such grace, how eagerly we ought to proclaim the excellencies of our sovereign Lord!
* In contrast to those who are disobedient to the Word, and are destined for hell, Peter asserts that we who are the church are a chosen people. For His own good pleasure, and completely to the praise of His glorious grace, God chose certain ones before the foundation of the world to be His body, the church. In response to such unmerited and undeserved favor, we are to proclaim His excellencies.
* In his desire for his readers to live lives of holiness, Peter contrasts the destinies of the lost and the saved. As a chosen people, from all eternity the church was elected by God for salvation in Jesus Christ, while the rest were passed by. In response to God's unconditional grace in election, we are to declare His sovereign goodness and proclaim His gracious nature.
* In stark contrast to those who are destined for hell, Peter states that the church has been chosen for salvation. Before the foundation of the world, God unconditionally elected a multitude of individuals no man can number, for whom the Lord Jesus would lay down His life, atoning for their sin. In the light of such grace, how eagerly we ought to proclaim the excellencies of our sovereign Lord!
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