Righteousness in Christ

2 Peter 1:1 makes an interesting point in its second sentence.

"To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours" (2 Peter 1:1, NIV)

The ESV states a "faith that is of equal standing as our own". Let that sink in a moment. Peter is writing believers that were not among the Disciples and is calling their faiths equal on account of the righteousness of Christ. Peter had been used by Christ to accomplish some pretty amazing things. He'd cast out demons, healed people and briefly walked on water. He had seen Christ in his glorified form. Yet his faith was equal to those he was writing because of the righteousness of God and Christ Jesus. 

First, Peter seems to have learned some humility by the time he penned it. Second, how great is it to consider that what makes our faith precious or on equal standing to great men of God is the righteousness of God himself? I for one, am certainly thankful that the importance level of my faith is not based upon a meritocracy.

Supplementing your faith

To paraphrase 2 Peter 1:5-9 is to call to action those who have faith in Christ Jesus. Peter encourages us to add to our faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. Each of these things builds upon one another towards the ultimate goal of love. So here is my prayer tonight Lord.

May you grant me now in my journey with you these building blocks of love. Most crucially give me self-control in my times of weakness. Amen.

"But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." (2 Peter 1:9, NIV)

When we as Christians are not actively seeking to add these qualities to our faith we are being nearsighted to satisfy some fleshy desire. We lose sight of the fact that these flesh rewards pale in comparison to the eternal rewards we have thanks to the cleansing we have received from Christ Jesus. We have forsaken the old and perishable for the new and everlasting. Let us (myself the chief offender) not forget the exchange that has been made at such an incredible price, passed freely on to is.

An overarching principle concerning my theology

There are few things I enjoy more than a rousing intellectual debate. I enjoy speaking and discussing, and even arguing with others insofar as the debate is rooted in principled discussions. The types of mindless disagreements we see in comment sections that are purely partisan, sectarian or otherwise mindless aims at upsetting one another do not fall into the type of edifying discussions that I enjoy. These types of drive-by talking points are often nothing more than a manifestation of a human weaknesses that has found infinite ways of expression thanks to our technological advances. Prior to the internet there was doubtless this type of intellectual vapidity, but those comments not worthy of print were not printed. I do not wish or claim to be some guardian of positive intellectual stimulation, but one needs only read a handful of comments beneath a hastily penned opinion piece on a web search masquerading as a news outlet to understand my point.

Within this blog I will often post my current, flawed and evolving views on theological, philosophical and political positions both past and present. As an intellectually curious individual I find this to be stimulating. I hope that if they are ever read they will be edifying. As a Christian though they must necessarily be posted, if posted at all, in a manner that displays the love of Christ to the world above all else. This love of Christ must serve as the spine to any argument or thought put forth here. Otherwise I am merely exercising some vanity within myself and undoubtedly, am guilty of some sinful pride.

Two verses from 1 Peter 3 set out some of the girding principles to whatever theological questions catch my eye. The first explains why these theological matters are important. The second reminds us of what must be the end result of a theological discussion. 

Why then, concern ourselves with theology?

"but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make sense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; it do it with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:12, ESV )

We study theology so that we can explain that hope we have living inside us. We do this not to condemn or judge others but in gentleness offer the living hope given to us by Christ The Lord.

But then what should be the result of theological discourse?

"finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind" (1 Peter 3:8, ESV)

That unity of mind should be the end of theological debate. But sympathy and brotherly love come from it to, leading us all to a tender heart and a humble mind - fertile soil for the encompassing brotherly love we are called to.

A prayer for moral strength of character

Lord let this be my verse and prayer this week:

"Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good" (1 Peter 3:10-11a, ESV).

Keep deceit from my lips Lord. Help me to be honest in all my sayings and guard my tongue from evil. Help me to be proactive and seek to do good. Hear my prayer. Amen.

A prayer in God's Grace and Mercy

I've spent a bit of time in 1st Peter today and then reread it looking specifically for grace and mercy. I try not to go into a reading looking for specifics because I fear that I will distort the message of that which I am reading- intentionally or otherwise. But while reading and rereading 1 Peter today the notions of Grace and Mercy seemed to jump out at me. In the end I find Peter's words confirming this particular search in the rereading. The grace is brought to me in the revelation of Jesus Christ (1:13).

Incredibly, the once I had no mercy I now do (2:10). Paradoxically, that Grace was to be mine even in the time of the prophets - it was preordained (1:10). And hearteningly, his great mercy has caused me to be born again to a living hope (1:3).

Therefore, let this be tonight's prayer:

"The God of all grace, who is called you to his eternal glory in Christ will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you" (1 Peter 5:10b, ESV)

Lord, restore, confirm, strengthen and establish me in your grace and mercy. Amen.

The Importance of Love from I Peter 4:8

The entirety of my first few posts on this blog paints a bleak picture of what's happened in my life in the past few weeks and is a veiled chronicle of my long-term struggles and their most recent iterations. But, thankfully as a Christian I do not serve a God that relishes the opportunity to point out my flaws. Thankfully as a Christian I have a written validation from the God of grace and mercy to draw solace and vitally, hope from whenever I open its pages. My life could be (and has been) in utter shambles and if I humble myself to pick up His word and read it I generally receive the comfort, peace and sustenance that at times I don't even realize I need. 1 Peter 4:8 speaks to that infusion of hope that I so often desperately need.

The last two posts showed God's call to us through Peter's urging to be sober-minded and alert. We need to be on guard and ready to do His work. We need to be humble and ready to go at a moment's notice to do the Lord's work. This way we can be holy and set apart and ready for the time when God - this is an incredible line - the time when God will exalt us (I Peter 5:6). But we also need to be alert and ready because of our ever present adversary, the devil seeks someone to devour (I Peter 5:8). But in all of this humbling of ourselves, in all of Peter's calls to be ready and alert he has one more important thing for us to do.

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins" (I Peter 4:8).

This simple little verse packs two things in its shortness that are crucial for me at this point. First, there is one thing I must do, above all else. That call to love in earnest is at the heart of what it is to be a Christian. But, what hits me the most right now while I'm somewhat down on myself because of my shortcomings is the hope that this message gives me. I, a possessor of a multitude of sins, have hope because sincere and earnest love covers over that multitude of sins. Not just that God's love covers over my many sins, but the love that we Christians share with one another is so great that it overcomes all failings and shortcomings. There is a great hope in that message.

A prayer for self-control

As I continue to delve into First Peter it becomes painfully obvious what I need to pray for. I need character development as a man - as a Christian man. I need to develop further and become more Christ like. Among the character traits I need the most are touched in the beginning of chapter 2.

"So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander" (1 Peter 2:1, ESV).

But the middle ones I struggle with, those of deception and hypocrisy all stem from my lack of self-control. This Christian virtue that I sorely lack I desperately pray for. Peter calls us,

"Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul" (I Peter 2:11, ESV).

I feel the war, the effects of the ongoing conflict, the aftereffects of a recently lost battle. I feel the constant presence of my lack of self-control - my desire for the passions of the flesh. Let me hear Peter's urges. Let me hear his call to abstain from these passions that wage a war against my soul. Let my battle tides turn so that I am not in the mess of cleaning up from this war. Hear my prayer God.

"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers" (I Peter 4:7, ESV).

Grant me self-control Lord. Hear my prayer. May I be alert and ready to overcome the things that trouble me so that I can live the holy life you call me to. Grant me self-control. I ask for a radical change so that I can overcome the passions of the flesh that I desire and are destructive. Replace those passions with ones that are pleasing and glorifying to you. If this radical change is not in your will give me the inner strength to pursue the changes through to a new character. If I must struggle to overcome my weaknesses let my strength rest in giving you my weakness. Hear my prayer God. The end of all things is at hand, do not let me continue to suffer from my old foolishness.