Christians are Aliens in this world

  Christians are Aliens in this world

The Apostle Peter writes,

“Dear friends,

I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:9-12. 

We as believers in Christ must remember that we are simple visitors, landed immigrants in this world. While here we need to follow the laws of the country in which we live. 

Only if the laws of the land prohibit our worshipping God do we have the right to go against the law of the land.

Peter makes it clear we are to abstain from sinful desires and live good lives among those around us.

For a moment take a look at your life are you doing what Peter is telling you to do here?

Please think about it.  

Aliens and Strangers

  Aliens and strangers

The apostle Peter writes,

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11,12

Peter here reminds us that we are aliens in this world. As such we need to live good lives. We as Christians have no right to judge others outside of our faith. 

We however must live lives that glorify God in the country in which we live. Glorify God in word and in deed so that even those who accuse us of doing wrong, as Peter puts it, “May see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us”

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

That covers a lot

 That covers a lot

The apostle Peter wrote,

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11,12

This is something Christians particularly in North America don’t completely understand. They live in democracies that offer freedoms many in the world could only dream of.

Sadly many calling themselves Christians use that freedom wrongly.

The apostle Paul wrote,

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13.

What is the sinful nature Paul is talking about here. I believe it’s disobeying the worlds of Jesus. Jesus who said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.

That covers a lot. 

I believe this means we must alway show unconditional love to all we come in contact with even if we disagree with them in any way. For it is only in showing unconditional love to those around us that we will win souls for Christ.

Please think about it.

Peter's Call

Peter's Call
The apostle Peter writes,
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:9-12.
Peter makes it clear that those who believe in Christ Jesus are.
 “...a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation , a people belonging to God,”
We are a people who are to
“declare the praises of him (Jesus) who called out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 
Peter reminds us that we are
“aliens and strangers in the world” 
“to abstain from sinful desires,”
He tells us to,
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
Thus my question to anyone reading this who claims to be a Christian is are you doing what the apostle Peter is telling us to do?
Please think about it.

Delight in the Law of The Lord

Delight in the Law of The Lord
The Psalmist writes,

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked 

or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, 

and on his law he meditates day and night.” 

                                                          Psalm 1:1,2.

The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
If you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you delight in the law of the Lord? Do you abstain from “sinful desires”?
Do you live a good life?
Francis of Assis wrote,

“The deeds you do may be the only sermon

 some persons will hear today” 

                                                    Francis of Assisi.

What will your deeds,... “your Sermon”, tell those around you about you. About Christ.
Please think about it.

Christian living

Christian Living
The apostle Peter wrote,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11,12.
Here is from the pen of the apostle Peter is what Christians should do.
He reminds us we are “aliens and strangers in the world” that we are to abstain from sinful desires.
That we are to live such good lives among those who are around us “that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us”.
Are you abstaining from sin? Think carefully about that.
 Sin comes in many forms. Sin is doing what God does not want you to do. We all know the obvious, do not kill, do not steal, do not give false witness, do not commit adultery and such. But what about the other things Jesus and the apostles told us not to do.
What about judging others?
Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Do you judge people, especially those outside the church? The apostle Paul tells us not to. If we do is it not sin?
How many Christian organisations expel those who are teaching things contrary to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles?
Is it not a sin if the organization fails to expel those who teach contrary to the word of God?
Here’s something else to consider. Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Are you treating people the same way you would like to be treated? Jesus told us to treat people the way we would like to be treated. Not to do so is to go against the teaching of Jesus.
Would you want your rights and freedoms restricted especially if you live in a democracy? Do you like to be demonstrated against?
Many Christians today demonstrate against other groups they disagree with. They try to have the rights of those they disagree with restricted. Rights granted to them by a democratically elected government.
Remember what the apostle Paul said,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”  Romans 13:1,2.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
Do you endeavour to live at peace with those around you? Are you endeavouring to live a holy life?
Please think about it.