QT 05/12/2024 Thu. 1Peter 1. Our Present & Future Salvation. 我们现在和未来的救赎.
QT 05/12/2024 Thu. 1Peter 1. Our Present & Future Salvation.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/pet1
God have chosen you believers for salvation and separating you all from the world. How is this possible when we still live in this world? God does this through the Spirit, who applies the blood of Christ to you believers in such a way that you have the inclinations to obey God. Believers should rejoice in God’s salvation despite present sufferings, nothing always that these sufferings are part of God’s plan, as testified to by the Old Testament prophets.
In this life, believers must live up to who they are—children of God, by setting their hope on Christ’s coming. Would you be holy, fearing God, and loving one another as foundations of our outlook in life? To help his readers in this aspect, Peter writes to scattered Gentile believers scattered over a wide geographical area:
(1) To RECOUNT for them: (a) God's great mercy shown to them, (b) the living hope they have in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (c) the everlasting inheritance and (d) salvation of their souls (1Pe 1:3-9). Even the prophets and angels were looking forward to these things (1Pe 1:10-12).
(2) To EXHORT them not to go back to the "passions of your former ignorance" (1Pe 1:14). On the contrary, they should lead holy lives "since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." (1Pe 1:16, Lev 11:44-45). Self-control is vital here (1Pe 1:13), especially when they have to "set" their hopes fully on Jesus' grace instead of other things.
(3) To CONSIDER themselves as "strangers" in the world but to live in reverent fear of God and to set their "faith and hope" in God (1Pe 1:17-21).
(4) To REMIND them that they have been "purified" by obeying the truth, the result of which is "a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart" (1Pet 1:22).
REFLECTION: Since "all flesh is like grass... and flower", about to wither and fall (1Pe 1:24), in what things should we invest our energy, resources and thoughts?
APPLICATION: Press on towards holiness, faith in God, forsaking past sins. Set the mind on the praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ appears again (1Pe 1:13). Accept the "exile" feeling as we stand firm on God's truth (1Pe 1:1,17). Await the "inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" (1Pe 1:4).
星期四 2024年12月5日 今日读经：彼得前书1章. 我们现在和未来的救赎.
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/1Pe/1/
上帝拣选了你们这些信徒，使你们得救，并将你们从世界中分别出来。当我们还生活在这个世界上时，这怎么可能呢？上帝借着圣灵这样做，圣灵将基督的宝血浇灌在你们这些信徒身上，使你们有顺服上帝的倾向。尽管目前遭受苦难，信徒仍应因神的救赎而喜乐，但正如旧约先知所见证的，这些苦难是神计划的一部分。
在今生，信徒必须不辜负自己的身份--上帝的儿女，将希望寄托在基督的再来上。你愿意将圣洁、敬畏上帝和彼此相爱作为我们人生观的基础吗？为了在这方面帮助他的读者，彼得写信给分散在广大地区的外邦信徒：
(1) 目的是为他们数算：(a)神对他们极大的怜悯， (b)他们在耶稣基督的复活有活着的盼望，(c)那永恒的基业和(d)被拯救的灵魂(彼前1:3-9)。就连先知和天使也很期待察看这些事(彼前1:10-12)。
(2) 呼吁他们不要再效法“从前无知的时候放纵私欲的生活”(彼前1:14)。相反的，他们必须过圣洁的生活“因为圣经上记着说：'你们要圣洁，因为我是圣洁的。'”(彼前1:16,利11:44-45)。自制是很重要的(彼前1:13),尤其当他们必须把他们的希望完全“寄托”在耶稣的恩典而不是寄托在其他东西。
(3) 要把自己看为“寄居”在世上的人但要存敬畏神的心，并叫他们的“信心和盼望”都在于 神(彼前1:17-21)。
(4) 提醒他们，他们已在顺服真理中心灵被“洁净”，其结果将是“真诚地爱弟兄，从清洁的心里彼此切实相爱”(彼前1:22)。
反省：既然“所有的人尽都如草...像草上的花”，必干枯凋谢(彼前1:24)，那么我们应当往哪里投资我们的精力、金钱和心思？
应用：坚持圣洁、对神的信心、割舍过去的罪。专心盼望耶稣基督显现的时候所要带来的赞美和荣耀(彼前1:13)。在神的真理上站立得稳，接受那在地上“寄居”的心情(彼前1:1,17)。等候那“不能朽坏、不能玷污、不能衰残，为你们存留在天上的基业”(彼前1:4)。
