The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’
1 Peter 2:9-12.
Here the apostle Peter tells those in the church both Jew and Gentile they are “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,...”
He goes no to say,
“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Peter tells the early members and through them us that at one time we were not a people of God. Upon receiving Christ as our Saviour however we became a nation.
Look carefully at what he says,
“I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.”
We as believers in Christ are aliens and strangers in this world. There is no Christian nation on earth yet.
As what in Canada is called a Landed Immigrant I understand what it is to be an alien and stranger in a foreign land. I while living in Canada, I am not a citizen even though I enjoy all the freedoms and blessings of Canada. While living here I must obey the laws of the land. I must as Peter puts it “abstain from sinful desires.”
As Christians we need to do the same. We are need to live in harmony in the land. The apostle Paul said,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18.
Peter saying,
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
1 Peter 2:12
Jesus gave us several teachings that if we follow them, if we bind them on our heart we will not go wrong.
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?”
Matthew 5:43-46
Also our love cannot be superficial it must be the love the apostle Paul describes,
“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.Dear Christian
Do your actions reflect the teachings of Peter, Paul and Jesus spoken of here?
Please think about it carefully.
