Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Aliens in the World, but Chosen by God | 1 Pet 1:1 | Morant61 | 21235 | ||
Study of 1 Peter 1:1.............................. Sir Pent recently suggested that it might be beneficial to study books of the Bible, rather than simply commenting on and asking questions about the same passages over and over again. Thus, I volunteered to start with a study of 1 Peter. Please feel free to ask questions or make comments as the Spirit moves! 1 Peter reads very much like a how to manual. If I were to sum up the message of 1 Peter in one sentence, I would say, "1 Peter tells us how to live the Christian life in a hostile world." The very first verse sets the stage for this message by focusing upon the contrast between the audience’s spiritual status and their social status. Peter uses three words to describe his audience. Two of the words are found in this verse and one in 1 Pet. 2:11. They are: a) Elect - 1 Pet. 1:1. b) Strangers - 1 Pet. 1:1, 2:11. c) Aliens - 1 Pet. 2:11. Unfortunately, most have viewed the last two terms as descriptions of a metaphorical spiritual journey. However, given the context, the best view is that these two terms describe the social status of Peter’s audience. If this is the case, these two terms are very meaningful. Strangers is a translation of the Greek word ‘paroikos.’ It refers to people who live in a certain place, but without the legal protection and rights that citizens would have. Aliens is a translation of the Greek word ‘parepidemos." It is a word which refers to people who live in a certain place, but have no lasting roots. They are temporary residents. If these were the kinds of people to whom Peter was writing, it is not surprising that much of the letter deals with suffering and injustice, brought about because of faith. Peter was writing to people who had no legal recourse. There was no one to whom they could turn to when their employer fired them because they were Christians. There was no one to whom they could turn to when people treated them unfairly simply because they believed differently than their neighbors. Would it not be tempting to get even? Would it not be difficult to keep from developing a harsh attitude toward those who were abusing you? Thus, much of 1 Peter deals with the issue of how to respond to injustice and persecution. But, here at the beginning of the letter, Peter makes a very important point about his audience. They may be temporary residents in their countries. They may not have any legal standing among their peers. They may be slaves, or worse. But, with God, they were chosen - elect! This is the reality that Peter will appeal to time and again in this letter. It doesn’t matter what the world thinks of you! It doesn’t matter what you boss thinks of you! It doesn’t matter what your family thinks of you! God has chosen you! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | Aliens in the World, but Chosen by God | 1 Pet 1:1 | Makarios | 21331 | ||
Greetings Tim! Yes, Amen to the fact that we have been chosen by God and set apart from this world! The NASB actually uses the word "alien" in 1 Peter 1:1 and uses "aliens" and "strangers" in 1 Peter 2:11.. If we continue with the theme that Peter is addressing the social status of the people in which he is addressing, then I see something here that I would like to share.. 1 Peter 2:11 states, "Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul." (NASB) This, I believe, should be our focus as we ponder our "new identity" as aliens. If we are aliens and far from our "homeland", then we should find some things about this particular land that are totally foreign and possibly harmful to us that the "residents" of this land are all rather accustomed to. For instance, the "residents" or natives of this land are all infected with something called a "sinful nature," and this verse, 1 Peter 2:11, is a warning to us about that, to avoid or abstain from it. Little do these residents know that this sinful nature is a cancer that will not only put their bodies to death but also destroy their soul. So we do, in fact, have a real "culture shock" here! Our culture does not warrant this thing called "sinful nature", and it is just as harmful to the natives of this land as it is to us, but we have found that these natives do not know this information! Our culture is very different from the culture of these natives. We, as "offworlders", do not have any reason to be alarmed by this "cancer", since we have the knowledge that proves that our soul is infinitely more important than our bodies could ever be, and we know that if we happen to be infected with this cancer (which is the sinful nature), then our bodies could very well die but this cancer cannot touch our souls! And this difference is one of the main differences between "offworlders" and natives of this land. There are several Scriptures that help to show how an offworlder has a different point of view than the natives of this land (Hebrews 13:14, 1 Chronicles 29:15, Psalm 39:12). However, being an "offworlder" myself, I have found something interesting.. I have found that every inhabitant in this land has the potential to become an "offworlder" like us! Yes, they can also have an "immunity" from their souls being effected by this cancer (sinful nature) by simply believing in the One who sent us here as "emissaries." If they believe and worship Him with all of their spirit and in truth, then they will be like us also! They will also have this immunity against the cancer. However, we will only be able to convince a few of them, I'm afraid, but we must keep trying! I know that some may say that we must not endanger interplanetary peace and security by "threatening" the natural course of events and culture in which the natives of this planet live. However, we cannot help but to exhibit our "uniqueness" among these folk, and we are commissioned by the One who sent us here to go and spread this news to everyone that would react favorably to having their souls being saved from this cancer! At least they will be comforted with the knowledge (knowledge that we will give them) that the most important part of their existence can be preserved past death, which happens to be about 70 years for these earthlings. But how are we to know just who will "react favorably" to the knowledge of this immunity and just who will not? We don't know, and the Handbook that the One sent with us does not tell us these things either. But the Handbook does say that we must do this, seemingly without reservation, in Matthew 28:19.. With this in mind, we can convince them that there is a way for their souls to be cured even though their bodies will all eventually die from this cancer! We must work fast.. Your Brother in Christ, Nolan |
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3 | Aliens in the World, but Chosen by God | 1 Pet 1:1 | Morant61 | 21345 | ||
Greetings Nolan! So, you don't think the Prime Directive applies here! ;-) Actually, I guess you do! The Prime Directive of Mt. 28:19! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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4 | Aliens in the World, but Chosen by God | 1 Pet 1:1 | Makarios | 21353 | ||
Hello Tim! Good to be back! And yes, I believe in OUR Prime Directive! :-) - Nolan |
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