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An Alert Life (4 of 4)
Series: 1 Peter
D. Marion Clark
1 Peter 5:8-14
Introduction
We have come to the end. Before we start with this final text, let's review what we have learned up to this time.
Peter's letter is written to several Christian churches scattered about in northern Asia Minor, which today is found in the country of Turkey. These are young churches and the Christians are struggling through trials. The trials are mostly the pressure and persecution placed against them by their nonChristian neighbors. Remember, the early Christians are the radicals of their day. Christianity is an upstart religion viewed with suspicion precisely because its tenets and practices challenge the conventional religious traditions. The believers want to know how they should respond. How should they respond to neighbors who act wickedly against them? How should they respond to ungodly and oppressive authorities? How should Christian slaves respond to ungodly masters, and Christian wives to unbelieving husbands?
Peter's answer is respond to God, not to the world. View yourselves and your status, not according to how the world regards you, but according to how God regards you. You may be strangers in the world, regarded with hostility, but you are in truth the chosen people of God called to declare his praises. You may seem to be in a precarious position under the hostility of the world, but understand that you are under God's watchful care and protection. Your guaranteed inheritance is everlasting glory. Therefore live in response to the way God would have you live, and not in reaction to, or under the influence of, the world. Bless those who would curse you. Live in submission to authority knowing that you are under the authority and care of your Lord and Shepherd.
We as believers in Christ Jesus are to, as verse 7 says, cast all our anxiety on him because he cares for us. Now, let's go through Peter's closing words.
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your ...
Series: 1 Peter
D. Marion Clark
1 Peter 5:8-14
Introduction
We have come to the end. Before we start with this final text, let's review what we have learned up to this time.
Peter's letter is written to several Christian churches scattered about in northern Asia Minor, which today is found in the country of Turkey. These are young churches and the Christians are struggling through trials. The trials are mostly the pressure and persecution placed against them by their nonChristian neighbors. Remember, the early Christians are the radicals of their day. Christianity is an upstart religion viewed with suspicion precisely because its tenets and practices challenge the conventional religious traditions. The believers want to know how they should respond. How should they respond to neighbors who act wickedly against them? How should they respond to ungodly and oppressive authorities? How should Christian slaves respond to ungodly masters, and Christian wives to unbelieving husbands?
Peter's answer is respond to God, not to the world. View yourselves and your status, not according to how the world regards you, but according to how God regards you. You may be strangers in the world, regarded with hostility, but you are in truth the chosen people of God called to declare his praises. You may seem to be in a precarious position under the hostility of the world, but understand that you are under God's watchful care and protection. Your guaranteed inheritance is everlasting glory. Therefore live in response to the way God would have you live, and not in reaction to, or under the influence of, the world. Bless those who would curse you. Live in submission to authority knowing that you are under the authority and care of your Lord and Shepherd.
We as believers in Christ Jesus are to, as verse 7 says, cast all our anxiety on him because he cares for us. Now, let's go through Peter's closing words.
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your ...
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