Who am I?
1 Peter 1:13-25
"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"
(1 PETER 1:15-16)
Who am I? you ask. I could answer that question a number of ways, besides simply telling you my name. I used to describe myself, spiritually, as a "sinner saved by grace." But the Bible answers my question quite differently: Scripture calls me a saint. Can you imagine that? Me, a saint? No one who knew me would ever guess that.
The word "saint" means one who is holy. It appears to be a favorite Bible term for Christians. Believers are called "saints" over 50 times in the New Testament while the word "Christian" appears only three times.
Paul addressed the Christians at Philippi with these words: "To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi..." (1:1). How could all those people be saints? Think of it this way: Positionally, we are holy "in Christ;" experientially, we are to become more holy in our daily walk. Paul was calling his friends what God had called them to be. Holiness is more than merely positional. It is real in me right now. God is at work in me! I am a partaker in His good and holy nature.
About the writer:
This month's writings first appeared as the June, 1981 Anchor. Jim Eckhardt's wife Chris let us know that Jim, the original author, went to be with the Lord in January of 2011. While living, Jim dedicated himself to the Lord, to his family, and to career work at Scripture Press Publications and for 31 years as a teacher and administrator in the Dallas area.
INSIGHT
"FATHER, HELP ME KNOW THE TRUTH OF YOUR WORD ABOUT ME, THOUGH MY OWN EXPERIENCES MAY NOT SHOW IT."
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
1 Kings 4-5
Proverbs 1
Titus 1-3
Peter 1:13-25
New International Version (NIV)
Be Holy
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a]
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b] 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,
“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”[c]
And this is the word that was preached to you.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Peter 1:16 Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2
b. 1 Peter 1:22 Some early manuscripts from a pure heart
c. 1 Peter 1:25 Isaiah 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)
LETTING GO OF THE TRY-HARD LIFE [PART 4]
with Emily Freeman
What do you truly believe about God? Sometimes our hearts have trouble believing the things we know to be true. Why does this happen? And when it does, where do we turn?
No comments:
Post a Comment