Submission: The Way of a Jesus Follower
All authority comes from God and disobedience to those authorities is an insult to God WHO is the ground/foundation of authority…he gives us a fixed principle AND then Peter takes […]
What Knowing Jesus Means
As we obeyed the gospel of Jesus (i.e. believed in Jesus) we were born again which leads us to loving others (sincerely, earnestly, etc.).
The response to the message is understand that our identity in Jesus compels/causes us to love others, even amid suffering/hardships such as the ones Peter’s readers were experiencing.
Remembering Our Profession
As believers in Christ was must live in reverential fear because God judges, God judges impartially and God judges according to our deeds. In light of the fact that you’ve called on God as Father (who judges AND does so impartially and according to your life) Christians must conduct themselves with fear.
Gospel-Driven Holiness
Gospel-Driven Holiness means being “all in” with Jesus and working hard to look like Jesus. We must be willing to run from things that drive us from God.
Praise God that He Has Saved Us!
Peter bursts out in praise for what God has done. What has he done?!? He’s brought new life to individuals through Lord Jesus Christ. This salvation (the truth that God saves sinners) gives us hope, joy and love amid adverse circumstances.
Knowing Who We Are Through Difficulties
No matter how disciplined, organized, and faithful we are, the reality is that we are sinners living in a sin-cursed world with other sinners. Nothing we can do will ever change that reality. We need grace.
Doing Flows from Being
The Bible commands good behavior BUT good behavior flows from good character (Matthew 7:17). Doing flows from being—keeping this order is very important IF you want to understand the gospel well AND deepen in your love/pursuit of Jesus.
Affection Breeds Activity
As we abide and understand the love of God poured out in the gospel of Jesus our affections we’ll increase and we’ll exude God’s love.
Citizens of the Kingdom Reflect the King’s Love
The love we’re called to exude is a love that does patience, kindness and doesn’t do boasting or envy and doesn’t do arrogance.
Love In Action
Our Christian culture has been caught “on their heels” with regards to the issue of love.
We’ve not loved well. Loving others (Christians & non-Christians) is hard, inconvenient, and a pressing task and yet Jesus said people will know we’re His followers by the love we show.
Christians typically think love is a feeling and/or attitude BUT love is love when it is manifested in action.
