Time Well Spent with Cornelius F. Warren

Send Time Well Spent and Pastor Warren a text about this message. Feel free to ask questions or share comments.The Apostle Peter writes to scattered Jewish Christians who were undergoing intense persecution for their faith. He reminds his readers that “God … has given us the privilege of being born again” (1 Peter 1: 3). Therefore they should not be surprised when suffering comes their way; they should expect it, prepare for it, and respond to it correctly. Peter also encourages them to imitate Christ through a submissive spirit toward one another. If they do, God will richly reward them when the trials of life are over. As we saw last lesson on the subject of holiness, Peter stated the demand (1 Peter 2: 15-16), but then went into a lengthy rationale as to why Christians must be holy, namely, because their heavenly Father is also their judge and they have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (verses 17-21). He does a similar thing here with the subject of love. First, he states something that is true of his readers due to their conversion: They had purified their souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren (verse 22a). Then he states the consequent demand: “Fervently love one another from the heart” (verse 22b). He follows this with a theological truth relative to their conversion, which he supports with a lengthy quote from Isaiah 40: 6-8: They have been born again through God’s imperishable Word (verses 23-25).Thus Peter is saying that the kind of holiness he has been describing, holiness which stems from the new birth, must work itself out in love for fellow Christians. We’ll look first at two aspects of the new birth; and then we’ll look at the new love that must follow. Keep in mind that we must define “the new birth” and “love” from a biblical perspective, not as our culture defines them.Call (917) 889-9158