To start the year, we are studying Peter’s first letter by beginning with I Peter 1:1-2. In each section, we will see how he describes the people of God. In his greeting, Peter calls Christians “elect exiles,” which is a curious expression that mixes something positive (elect, chosen, selected) with something negative (exiles, driven out, rejected). As it turns out, God’s election makes his people exiles in this world, and Peter reminds us that it is our call to live our lives as those who are in the world but not of the world.
From the very first preaching of the gospel after Jesus’ ascension, the new believers were “added” to local churches. Once God added them to...
Instructions to slaves and masters orient all Christians toward commitment and service to the Lord Jesus.
Just like us, the people of Jesus’ day spent much of their time laboring for things that perish. Just like us, they often found...