1 Peter – The Blood of Jesus Part II (1 Peter 1:2b)

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Scripture Text

1 Peter 1:2b “…unto obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ…”

Introduction

In our last post we left off in a destitute state.  We were dead in our sins without hope.  In this post salvation is offered.

Hope in Jesus Christ

Now we see the glorious work of Jesus.  Rom 6:23b…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  We know we start as sinners.  We have shown that we have a sin debt.  We understand that sin’s penalty is death.  We now see that Jesus paid the price on Calvary for us but we still don’t know why the blood? 

We will find our answer in the Old Testament, before Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us, when God required animal sacrifices for sin.  Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.  We know that if we lose a significant amount of blood we will die.  This is what happened on Calvary; Jesus shed his blood.  Sin’s penalty is death; the blood that Jesus shed represents that death that paid the price for our sin.  The penalty for all sin was paid that day; all we have to do is accept it.  If you are reading this post and are not saved, or not sure, you can receive the gift of salvation made possible by the blood of Jesus or the death of Jesus as we have learned.  With salvation we are restored to God, given the tools to turn a carnal mind into a spiritual mind, and one day, a place in heaven where we shall forever be with the Lord.

Closing Thoughts

We have now covered the steps to salvation but there is one more; it may surprise you but we have a role in salvation.  No, I’m not talking about works here. We have a part to play if we are to be saved.  What is our role? We must accept God’s gift. Without acceptance we will not go to heaven.  God has provided a plan, a way to be forgiven our sin, but our acceptance is required.  We now know that all are sinners, the penalty for sin is death, we cannot pay that penalty but praise God Jesus paid the penalty for us.  Now we find out that we have a part to play.  How can we accept salvation?  Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

I have proclaimed the gospel message; it is now time for the work of the Holy Spirit to penetrate the hearts of those God has drawn to Him. Please listen to that still small voice and allow the blood of Jesus to pay the penalty for your sin.

Until Night,

A Servant

 

1 Peter – The Blood of Jesus Part I (1 Peter 1:2b)

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Scripture Text

1 Peter 1:2b “…unto obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ…”

Introduction

Our study in verse 2 continues. In this post we cover the blood of Jesus. “The blood of Jesus” is under attack these days.  In this “tone it down” era of time some say we don’t need a blood bath religion.  I’ll let God’s word answer that question. Hebrews 9:22b …without shedding of blood is no remission. We cannot take the blood that Jesus shed out of Christianity, that blood provided the atonement for our sin.  Without the blood of Jesus we remain in our sin.

Obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ

Let’s talk about how the sin debt was actually paid.  We didn’t pay it, we can’t pay it, only Jesus can.  All of our life we have heard about the blood of Jesus.  Why does God require the blood of Jesus to forgive our sin?  I am going to try to answer that but we need to start with the reason there is sin in the first place.  In the beginning of God’s creation man was pure. (God doesn’t create junk) Adam and Eve enjoyed fellowship with their Creator.  Then the tempter came and Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  When they disobeyed sin entered into this world and corrupted it.  From that point forward we all carry the sin curse.  The sin curse caused the spiritual mind God created to become a carnal mind. (Carnal: self-serving and evil) We can see this plainly even in a baby.  You don’t have to teach a child to lie, they already know how.  Each one of us looking back can remember doing the wrong thing, not because we were taught to do wrong, but because it came naturally.  Clearly we each start with a carnal mind.  Now when we read Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  We have to admit that yes, I am a sinner.  If we stop here we still don’t understand the need for the blood.  Well as you know, the bible doesn’t stop here.  In Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death;  Wages is what we get paid when we earn something.  As we just read the bible says that sin’s wages is death.  Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  In this verse we see the separation between us and God.  The carnal mind makes us an enemy of God.  We carry a death sentence upon us because of our carnal mind.

There is payment for sin available, a way out if you will, and we will cover that next time…

Until Night,

A Servant

 

1 Peter – Sanctification (1 Peter 1:2)

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Scripture Text

1 Peter 1:2 …through sanctification of the Spirit…

Introduction

In this post we are going to look at what happens when a person is saved.  As a Christian it is hard to explain to a lost person what it’s like when you are saved.  We look for words but words cannot describe the change inside. Here is my best effort at describing the moment of salvation… I am clean, my conscience is clear! Stem to stern, from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet, inside and out, my sin is gone, the stain, the blot and the darkness are all gone.  I am free from the evil force that ruled over me. When we are saved everything changes, we have a whole new purpose in life.

How about God, what does God see when we are saved?  Now we are getting to the point Peter is making in verse 2 when he says “through sanctification of the Spirit”.

 

1 Peter – Foreknowledge of God Part II (1 Peter 1:2a)

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Scripture Text

1 Peter 1:2a “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”

Introduction

Last time we discussed the foreknowledge of God.  Now it is time to examine the “Elect”.

The Elect

Let’s turn our attention to the word “Elect”.  By way of definition it means what you think, to pick or to choose.  We are familiar with elections; we will cast ballots to elect a president among other offices.  Spiritually speaking, we also choose whom we shall serve.  Does God know the actual number of those who will accept the gift of God and go to heaven?  According to the foreknowledge of God the answer is yes. This does not mean that God forced one to be saved or prevented another; it simply means God looked forward in time and was able to see every person’s decisions and know who will accept Him. Peter calls them the chosen; but how did he know they were the elect?, by the foreknowledge of God.  If you will remember Jesus said he knew all along that Judas was the betrayer.  Jesus knew Judas would sell him out before he actually went to the Jewish leaders and bargained for 30 pieces of silver.  In John 13:21 Jesus said at the last supper “one of you shall betray me”.  How else could Jesus know this other than foreknowledge?

 

1 Peter – Foreknowledge of God Part I (1 Peter 1:2a)

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Scripture Text

1 Peter 1:2a “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”

Introduction

I am going to cover a topic that has spawned much debate. Some would say this topic is controversial so just skip over it and move on.  Why introduce a subject that may divide those who follow this blog?  The answer, to do a verse by verse study I cannot skip over it.  I will give you my thoughts based upon my study and prayer for understanding of the subject at hand.  I will use scripture to support my conclusions because my opinion doesn’t matter, what God says does.

Verse 2 is actually a continuation of verse one.  In context this is part of Peter’s greeting to Christians scattered throughout the provinces listed in verse 1. Contained within this greeting is a statement of doctrinal importance I want to look at very closely.

The Foreknowledge of God

 

1 Peter – Introductions 1 Peter 1:1

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Scripture Text

1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia

Introduction – The Man

The Apostle Peter by the time of this epistle was a seasoned minister and missionary.  He was an elder and mentor to the early church.  In the beginning it was not so; Peter had a knack for putting his foot in his mouth among other things.  He was brash, spontaneous and forceful but at the same time he could be humble, tender and giving.  Peter, in the garden where Jesus was captured, picked up a sword ready to fight to the death only to deny his Lord three times later that same day.  Such were the early days of Peter.

Now as this epistle opens Peter is two or three years away from martyrdom which he suffered in Rome. (63-64AD) Peter doesn’t speak of this in his 1^st epistle but he will make reference to his time being short in 2 Peter.