1 Peter 2:1

Monday, 14 October 2019

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 1 Peter 2:1

Beginning in Chapter 2, Peter writes “therefore.” It is right to remember that when you see the word “therefore,” you should stop and see what it is there for. In other words, we should go back and review what has been previously said. Since the last “therefore” which was in verse 1:13, some of the points which Peter wrote were –

1) We will be judged according to our works, and so we should live accordingly.
2) We have been redeemed, not with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Jesus.
3) Jesus was foreordained before the foundation of the world, and was manifest now for our sake.
4) Through Him, we believe in God, and our faith and our hope rests in God.
5) Because of this faith (obeying the truth through the Spirit), we are to love one another with a pure heart.
6) This love is possible because we have been born again into incorruptible life by the word of God; the gospel of our salvation.

Therefore and because of these points, we need to “lay aside” anything which would hinder, or be a detriment to, the gospel of our salvation. Such things include:

Malice – the intent or desire to cause harm or pain to someone;
Deceit – the intent to defraud or deceive someone;
Hypocrisy – making false claims or pretenses of having admirable principles, beliefs, or feelings;
Envy – having resentful or unhappy feelings of wanting what someone else possesses; and
Evil speaking – engaging in gossip, coarse language, willful destruction of others with the tongue, etc.

Life application: Peter has given us a short list of things that are incompatible with our life in Christ. We are not to do these things because we bear the name of Christ, and our conduct and actions reflect on Him in the eyes of others.

One of the most common claims against Christians is that of being hypocrites. Often, that is unfounded and is simply a person’s own misunderstanding of our life and freedom in Christ. However, it is also a common trait to be found in many Christians, maybe especially between them.

If we put aside such things, we will have a strong and admirable life-walk in the gospel, thus bringing credit and honor on Jesus our Lord and God the Father. Pay heed! We are called to holy living!

Lord God and Heavenly Father, please guide us in our walk and keep us from the sinful attitudes mentioned in Your word, of which we are to avoid. These things, from time to time, well up in us. They can cause division, animosity, and strife. Help us, O Lord, to bring honor to You and to put to rest these things. Help us to be the godly Christians You have called us to be. Amen.

 

 

 

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