Exiled Brethren – 1 Peter 1:22-25

Chapter one of I Peter continues to develop the theme of endurance despite the exile status of the Christian. Last message, we covered versers 13-21 noting that Peter ties the believer's survival in hostile conditions to the Orientation of his soul, Sufficient motivation, and The object of his faith. To this list, the apostle adds a 4th category in our text today: The elect exile's endurance is tied to: BROTHERLY LOVE. ....Around 1630, John Winthrop (governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony) preached a sermon foundational to the founding of our country entitled “A Model of Christian Charity”. He delivered his address from the deck of the flag ship “Arbella” on his way to build a nation from scratch with a small band of settlers. Winthrop recognized a principle from scripture he identified as “a community of perils”. His contention was that when a small band of believers finds themselves in hostile territory, their survival, in part, depends on their sincere care for one another. Furthermore, their exile status would serve as a model and testimony to others if they were faithful to apply exhortations from the scriptures like that which we find in our text today. There is so shinning “city on a hill” without its foundations grounded on the Word of God.