Monday: How Should We Live?
A theme that Peter returns to more often than any other is posed by the question he asked in 2 Peter 3:11: “Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness?” (NRSV).
Image © Bill Osborne from GoodSalt.com
Read the following texts. What does Peter say about Christian behavior? 1 Pet. 1:15-17, 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 Pet. 2:1; 1 Pet. 3:8-9; 1 Pet. 4:7-11; 2 Pet. 3:11.
Peter considers Christian behavior at many points in his two letters, and a number of themes keep recurring. First, Peter twice emphasizes the link between the judgment of God and Christian behavior (1 Pet. 1:17 and 2 Pet. 3:11). God will judge everyone’s actions. Thus, a Christian should live a life of holiness.
Second, several times Peter mentions that Christians should be holy. In the Hebrew Bible, things that are holy are set aside for use in the temple (Exod. 26:34; Exod. 28:36; Exod. 29:6, Exod. 29:37) or for God’s purposes (for example, the Sabbath in Genesis 2:3). In fact, God’s plan was that His people should be holy, just as He is holy, a theme Peter touched on, too (Lev. 11:44; Lev. 19:2; 1 Pet. 1:15-16). The process of setting something aside as holy is called “sanctification,” and Peter’s desire is that his readers become sanctified by the Spirit and be obedient to Jesus (1 Pet. 1:2).
Third, Peter has provided some specifics as to the kind of behavior appropriate to those who are sanctified. They should rid themselves of malice, guile, insincerity, envy, and slander (1 Pet. 2:1). They should have unity in spirit, love for one another, and a humble mind (1 Pet. 3:8-9). They should have goodness, godliness, and love (2 Pet. 1:5-7). Indeed, they must maintain constant love (1 Pet. 4:7-11). Finally, Peter urges his listeners to cast their anxiety upon Jesus (1 Pet. 5:7).
| How can we learn to encourage one another in ways that are not judgmental, to live the kind of life that Peter is calling for in his epistles? |
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Peter reminds us some crucial points of our Christianity;
*our future, what is waiting each one of us--- judgment!
*our ID, who we are and who is our father----- holy as our father!
Both our destiny and our identity in mind will lead our daily lives.
But sometimes we get into amnesia and we forget these things!
Let's be close to the Scripture (Bible) and the spirit of prophecy, with a humble heart, the Holy Spirit will remind us each time what to do until the fulfillment of our sanctification's process!
What is the true judgement? What did you do with my Son
Why does the Scripture say be Holy as I am Holy? The standard of Christian living is Christ and Christ alone.
What is the motivation of our Christian living? Love
Just as we have received the word, giving us guidance in truth and righteousness we therefore ought to take it serious and be a peculiar people.
Ephesians 5:
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
God bless you my friends.
Let's remember that Sanctification is a process not a static condition, that will not be completed until Christ's return, in a moment, in a twinkle of an eye we shall all be changed 1 Corith 15:52. It is love and understanding that He wants us to display to those around and this love, as our lesson tells us, will cover a multitude of sins. I thank Jesus that it is only Christ God sees standing before Him in my place for my holiness is as filthy rags.
Is there any one holy in this life?
Bongani, in order to answer that question we would have to set ourselves up as the judge, and only God can judge that question. Meanwhile I encourage my friends, and they encourage me as we all strive to be like Jesus.
It all depends how you define holy. It is like being in love. I don't spend all the time kissing and cuddling, or whispering sweet sentiments to my wife. Am I in love when I am cleaning the house? Am I in love when I go to work and don't see her for 8 hours? Am I in love when I am cleaning the car? Of course I am. Love is something that stays with us in all that we do.
Being holy is something that stays with us in all that we do. Paul expresses it in a number of ways. "For me to live is Christ". If you are "living in Christ" it means that you are in love with him. That is essentially what Holiness is about. It is not about what we do but our attitude to Jesus.
Hello dear friend. In reply to Bongoni Nilevision's question.
Please follow this truth.
Dad: Do you believe sin exists?
Son: Yes
Dad: Why?
Son: We all sinned from the very time our parents disobeyed god in the Garden of Eden.
Dad: That is true.
Dad: It is for this very strong belief that we ought to believe Romans 5:19; "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
Son: I now believe we ought to believe that we now have the power to be righteous, thanks Dad.
Its not for us to judge and be judge.All judgments belongs to God. We need to always be in the Presence of Him who is Holy. God is waiting, with open arms. There should a soul searching within our selves,for eg. Praying and studying to get to know the Saviour better, that's where I believed Holyness comes in. May God help us be Holy as He is.
Very interesting comments on holiness. It already has been said that sanctification is a work of lifetime. Within this process, being holy would be a present point (grade) of growth, comparable with the growth of a plant that is omplete at each state of growing. The source of spiritual growth is the connection with the Holy God we call Our Father. (1 Peter 1:15-17) Holiness does not mean sinlessness. (1 John 1:8) In this sense we are holy, but sinners at the same time. (1 John 1:1) For this reason we need a mediator, (1 Timothy 2:5) Christ Jesus, our Lord. Or else we would have no need of our heavenly High Priest making intercession for us. (Hebrews 7:25) Reformation has tried to put it this way: Simul justus et peccator, to be justified by Christ`s righteousness, being just, but sinner at the same time. Right from the beginning Peter is joining togehter sanctification by the Spirit and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:2) This is encouraging all along the way.
Winfried Stolpmann