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Concerning This Salvation – a letter from Peter – 1
Remembering Our Great Salvation

Who needs to be encouraged more than believers in Christ suffering for His sake? And who trusted the Lord for their salvation more than any?

First century Christians expelled from Rome and major cities of the Empire.

Jews dispersed throughout the Empire, seeking to separate their identities from followers of The Way, increasingly persecuted believers of Christ, as did Roman authorities.

The Apostle Peter writes to the church, primarily in first century cities in modern-day Turkey.

1 Peter 1:

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:

To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Peter’s first encouragement of these persecuted believers of the dispersion is to call them elect or chosen by God the Father. He calls upon imagery of Israel as the Lord’s ‘chosen people.’ These faithful will also know prophesy from scripture of the Lord’s Messiah.

“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,
My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 42:1 NKJV

Peter speaks of the foreknowledge ‘through the sanctifying work of the Spirit’ and calls on believers ‘to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ.’ This clear reference of his greeting reassures their anointing by the Father, Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Grace to you and peace multiplied.

That the Lord chose you and me, as well as certain believers in these Asian provinces to whom Peter and other Apostles write, is great grace. We have received undeserved mercy and peace through Christ’s immeasurable love for sinners redeemed.

Even so, Peter continues with an uplifting opening blessing, perhaps familiar to Christians from an opening call to your own worship.

Blessed be God
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εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ κατὰ τὸ πολὺ αὐτοῦ ἔλεος ἀναγεννήσας ἡμᾶς εἰς ἐλπίδα ζῶσαν δι’ ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐκ νεκρῶν - 1Peter1:3MGNT [Greek New Testament]
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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5 NASB

Before considering the depth of this salvation introduced in Peter’s blessing, read what follows as one who has experienced the persecution of those to whom the Apostle writes:

6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The Salvation of your Souls

Salvation – σωτηρία – sōtēria { sō-tā-rē’-ä }

Let’s begin with salvation, ‘the goal of our faith.’ Salvation is first deliverance, preservation, or safety. It includes deliverance from the molestation of enemies and our enemy is satan, ruler of this world, our temporal flesh and angelic opponent to Christ Jesus.

In an ethical sense, salvation is ‘that which concludes to the soul’s safety,’ guaranteed by the Messiah of God.

Future salvation is the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God. source: BlueLetterBible.com

It’s worth mentioning that the root word for salvation in greek is σωτήρ {sōtēr}, meaning savior, deliverer or preserver. Christ Jesus has saved, delivered and preserved all believers born again to a living hope, as Peter encourages us.

Preserve your body and soul

Peter speaks here to the church in the plural, souls. Perhaps you recognize the anglicized greek word, psychē, from it much maligned meaning by unbelieving contemporary interpreters of our complex God-given life. Our soul is defined as: the breath of life, the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing; the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.), as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body).

Much we could discuss here, yet Peter addresses it sufficiently in his letter to the church, the body of believers saved by Christ Jesus. One form of the greek word for soul used by Jesus address the cooling breath of life of those who no longer believe in God.

Matthew 24:9-11 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. (Peter addresses this later in his letter in 1 Peter 4.)

Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
Matthew 24:12 NASB

A Communion Plea

We do not presume
to come to this your table, merciful Lord,
trusting in our own righteousness,
but in your manifold and great mercies…

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you,
preserve your body and soul to eternal life.
Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you,
and feed on him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you,
preserve your body and soul to eternal life.
Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you,
and be thankful.
from The Book of Common Prayer

The Grace that would come to us

Now Peter encourages from the foundation of scripture.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. 11 They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

Prophets also asked about the Christ before His own sufferings for us. Once Jesus suffered, died and rose again, what would follow?

What follows for believers in Christ?

In a word, grace.

Grace – χάρις – charis

Grace is that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness.

Certainly in this mortal life of suffering and persecution these hearers of Peter’s letter must have yearned for a return to a grace guaranteed beyond today.

Grace is described [by Strong’s concordance] as a gift, a benefit, the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace. It is good will and loving-kindness, the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.

Grace through the Holy Spirit

Peter assures them that the Prophets prophesied about the grace that would come to you. He testifies that the Spirit of Christ was within them, a reference to the Holy Spirit, living breath of God in the Word of Christ.

12b These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.

Be Holy

‘Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.
Leviticus 20:26 NASB

Peter points back to Moses and several commands of the Lord. He uses Jesus’ familial authority of holiness.

17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work…

He urges followers of Christ (v.13b), set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And as Jesus taught, Peter urges us to be like Christ as an obedient child of the Father.

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

What’s it like to be holy?

13-16 [PHILLIPS] So brace up your minds… Live as obedient children before God. Don’t let your character be moulded by the desires of your ignorant days, but be holy in every department of your lives…

… you should spend the time of your stay here on earth with reverent fear.

22 [CSB] Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, 23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.

Peter’s call to holiness in our Christian living and witness to the world is challenging enough. And for those facing true persecution and opposition to our faithfulness to the Lord, Peter encourages us in our new and permanent salvation in Christ, Redeemer of our sinful souls.

This brief life of ours

What more can Peter say to encourage those first century Christians suffering for their true faith in Christ Jesus?

In fact, Peter has much more to say beginning with cautions about those ‘christians’ who disobey God our Father and Christ. We began this series with “They Stumble Because They Disobey,” from 1 Peter 2.

Just prior to this, Peter reminds us that by comparison to eternity (and judgment) this mortal life in the flesh is very brief. Comfort to those faced with persecution or death for their faith in Christ.

Once again, he quotes scripture, specifically the Prophet Isaiah, in the thought connecting their faithfulness and his caution against false prophets.

Isaiah 40:

The verses from Isaiah preceding 1 Peter 24-25 will be familiar to the persecuted church of the first century. Prophesy of John the Baptist and Jesus both resound in the powerful imagery of Isaiah 40:1-5.

All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
When the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:6c-8

Beloved believer, we are like grass, yet so are opponents to our faith in Christ Jesus. By His grace we know our salvation.

Isaiah urges us to be a bearer of the Good News.

“Here is your God!”
Behold, His reward is with Him
Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,
In His arm He will gather the lambs
And carry them in His bosom;
He will gently lead the nursing ewes.
excerpts from Isaiah 40 NASB

Peter ends this opening of his first letter:

25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”
And this is the word which was preached to you.
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To be continued...
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August 13, 2019
Hebrews – 2 – Pioneer of Perfect Salvation
In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.
Hebrews 2:10 NIV

But we see Jesus… Hebrews 2:9a

The author begins his letter to his Jewish brothers stating that G_d’s final word is through the Son, not angels or prophets.

Previously the author of Hebrews has made a case through scripture that Jesus, the Son of God, is higher than the angels.

Heir of all things

Who has ascended into heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name or His son’s name?
Surely you know!
Proverbs 30:4 NASB

Continuing in our study of Hebrews, a letter authored to first century Jews, we now continue the second chapter after what we covered previously in the beginning verses 1-9 in Hebrew 2 – Pay Attention.

Fitting and proper perfection

Are you a perfect Jew?

Or more to a personal point, am I a perfect Christian?

Of course not.

So how do we have any chutzpah outside of the Messiah Jesus to say that we may be accepted into eternal life by the Lord? This is the issue of salvation the writer of Hebrews takes on here.

Hebrews 2:

For it was bekavod (fitting, proper) for him, for whom are all things and through whom are all things, in bringing banim rabbim (many sons) to kavod, to bring to shleimut (perfection, completion) the Rosh (Head) and Mekhonen (Founder) of their Yeshua’at Hashem through yissurim (suffering).
Hebrews 2:10 Orthodox Jewish Bible

Most Christians lack a full understanding of many terms of Hebrew origin like perfection, author, purification and redemption. I am neither a Torah trained Rabbi nor Messianic Jew, but further readings of Paul‘s letters will help you to understand an academic Jewish approach to some of these terms.

10 – It was fitting for Him

Various translations of πρέπω read: it became Him, it was bekavod, it was fitting, it was entirely appropriate – the concept that God does what is right and perfect. Jews and Christians must agree that man has a tendency to weigh perfection incorrectly.

כָּֽל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִישׁ יָשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו וְתֹכֵן לִבֹּות יְהוָֽה׃
עֲשֹׂה צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט נִבְחָר לַיהוָה מִזָּֽבַח׃
Proverbs 21:2,3

in bringing many sons

“Many sons – πολύς υἱός speaks of multitudes and not specifically men (as opposed to women) or of a specific son. Think of the beneficiary as humanity, rather than all creation or even the Creator Himself. And what is the benefit – what is our reward?

unto glory

“εἰςδόξα – eis doxa – To glory or toward glory.

Gloria Patri

Now glory means many things to different people, so let’s be clear in our completed understanding of doxa, as in ‘doxology.’ Yes, praise of God or of a man.

Glory becomes a Biblical description of the brightness of God, or of the sun, moon, stars, angels or an object; implying magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace and majesty.

God is unsurpassed glory! A higher indescribable brightness. Yet the glory of God has a contrasting glory of which we seldom speak.

Doxa in Greek translates as an opinion, judgment, view; therefore our human opinion or estimate of someone or something, whether good or bad, is a glory or judgement – Biblically of God, a Most High Glory.

to perfect

τελειόω – to complete (perfect), to bring to the end (goal) proposed, to accomplish or bring to a close, a fulfillment by event of the prophecies of the scriptures.

לָכֵן אֲחַלֶּק־לֹו בָרַבִּים וְאֶת־עֲצוּמִים יְחַלֵּק שָׁלָל תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱרָה לַמָּוֶת נַפְשֹׁו וְאֶת־פֹּשְׁעִים נִמְנָה וְהוּא חֵטְא־רַבִּים נָשָׂא וְלַפֹּשְׁעִים יַפְגִּֽיעַ׃ ס
Isaiah 53:12

their head and founder

We must, at some point in our lives, confess that some have authority over us. (This is assumed in a Biblical-based Hebrew culture.) Current authority, previous authority and a succession of authority all come into play.

Abraham, Israel, Moses, David and family patriarchs may all be mentioned as a head or founding father of Jews. The Lord granted both His Authority and succession through them. Here the author of Hebrews points to their Higher Authority.

ἀρχηγός – archēgos implies one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer. Jesus, therefore, becomes a captain or founder, a chief leader or Prince over these who followed.

Within the same verse His origin was established as ‘Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things’… or other translations read: ‘God—for whom and through whom all things exist—...’ Clearly, the Son of God IS God! Jesus IS before all founders and over all authority.

of their salvation

Two questions come immediately to mind:
1. What is salvation?
2. Whose salvation? (Or who can be saved?)
σωτηρία sōtēria –Salvation, in Greek, the common language of first century Judea and much of the Roman Empire, refers to deliverance, preservation, safety, even from molestation by one’s enemies. A Roman understanding of sōtēria could have viewed a “savior” as a threat to their own authority.

In an ethical sense, that which concludes to the soul’s safety, of Messianic salvation.

יָשַׁע – yasha` is the Hebrew concept. Isaiah asks,

פָּגַ֤עְתָּ אֶת־שָׂשׂ֙ וְעֹ֣שֵׂה צֶ֔דֶק בִּדְרָכֶ֖יךָ יִזְכְּר֑וּךָ הֵן־אַתָּ֤ה קָצַ֨פְתָּ֙ וַֽנֶּחֱטָ֔א בָּהֶ֥ם עֹולָ֖ם וְנִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃

How can we be saved if we remain in our sins?
Isaiah 64:5 CSB

The question of who can be saved is one of some debate, which we will not take on today. Since the writer of Hebrews refers to the Son, the Messiah, as God in this introductory passage, we will briefly examine His own answer to this question.

When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved? ”
Matthew 19:25 CSB

The Jewish Apostle and tax collector relates consecutive stories about money, the rich and salvation, asking the Messiah who can be saved. Hear His answer:

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26 CSB

Not even an Apostle or rich ruler can earn salvation or buy perfection. Yet God the Father has made a way for the completion of sinful man.

through sufferings.

διά dia πάθημα pathēma

We hesitate here, even that the Messiah must suffer, let alone that we must in death. Yet the meaning is clear: that which one suffers or has suffered. We shrink from some of the descriptions of sufferings: misfortune, calamity, evil, affliction.

Many of us have experienced some of the afflictions which Christians must undergo. And we know we cannot endure that with the Messiah suffered for our sins as a Sacrifice painfully crucified on the Cross.

Hebrews and gentiles know that in perfection a price must be paid for sin.

Sanctification – ἁγιάζω

To sanctify is to purify, separating from the profane and dedicating or consecrating to a Holy God.

How can a sinner be consecrated to the Lord God?

The author of Hebrews continues by assuring us that the Messiah Jesus completed our sanctification and He, the crucified Son of Man calls us brothers (or sisters). What undue grace and love of those of the world. And grace for both Jew and gentile, grace for those of the first century and sinners of this twenty-first century.

Once again the writer of Hebrews quotes familiar scripture, even the very song
from Psalm 22 יְהוֹשׁוּעַ Yĕhowshuwa` cried out from the cross! He also quotes the historical record of Samuel and the prophet Isaiah.

Again, I will trust in him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave me.
Hebrews 2:13 CSB

The Lord God has become a personal God on the Cross!

וְה֥וּא כֹהֵ֖ן לְאֵ֥ל עֶלְיֹֽון׃

a Priest of G_d Most High

The writer of Hebrews closes this section about Jesus becoming our Pioneer of Perfection with explanation why the Son of Man became a High Priest for us.

17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

More about atonement and our need for this Priest in Hebrews 3.
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To be continued...
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January 16, 2019
Interrupting Jesus 11 – a last supper in Jericho

Jericho, best known as the place where the Hebrew nation, led by Joshua, began their conquest of Canaan with a march around the walls of Jericho, strategically central to inland trade routes to the Mediterranean.

Along a barren highway to the west, about a 15 mile walk to Jerusalem after an ascent from the small town of Bethel. Galileans, Judeans, Samaritans and of course, Roman soldiers, traveled these highways through Jericho. It would be the path to the festival of the Passover, this one the time of the Sacrifice of Jesus.

The crowds have traveled with the popular Rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth. In just days they would lay palms before His triumphal entry into the gates of Jerusalem. Like Joshua, His Hebrew Name means: “Jehovah is salvation.”

Jesus IS the Christ, the Messiah.

Into the town of Jericho crowds enter. People allign the streets as if awaiting a King with riches or celebrity you must see once in your mortal life. One of the town’s lesser citizens is a resented tax collector. (Perhaps you have heard how the Jews hated the men who collected taxes for Rome.) In fact, one of the purported followers of Jesus used to be a tax collector. Perhaps you have read his Gospel.

Luke 5:

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

The Messiah came to save sinners: seductive women, adulterous men, liars, thiefs and even tax collectors.

Jesus did not come to save the regular attenders of church (synagogue). Jesus has tax collectors and sinners following Him as Disciples and as part of the crowds – sinners like you and me – sinners like Zacchaeus.

In fact, Luke reports a parable Jesus had told about a Pharisee and a tax collector. Here is a story we can relate to about good ‘church’ people and the corrupt public official in their midst:

Luke 18:

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ¹⁰“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee,standing by himself, prayed thus:

‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

¹²I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

¹³But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying,

‘God,be merciful to me, a sinner!’

¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Do you, dear claimant of Christ, good observer of God’s ordinances, come to the LORD pleading for mercy while showing no mercy for your fellow sinners?

Matthew, the tax collector who quit to follow Jesus, and the other repentant sinners of the crowds knew that the Messiah, the Christ, Jesus, was a merciful teacher. Not only the Gospel of His miracles preceded Jesus as He entered Jericho, but also the wisdom and compassion of His teaching of scripture. A tax collector like Zacchaeus might just have a chance to see this man of mercy traveling to Jerusalem through his town of Jericho.

Luke 19:

He entered Jericho and was passing through. ²And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. ³And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. ⁴So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.

⁵And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”

Imagine, the leading teacher and prophet comes through town with crowds of followers. Jesus pauses where you are and looks up to you! He calls you by name. Further, this well-known teacher boldly tells you (in front of all of the witnesses around Him) that He has to come to your house for dinner. Unthinkable! Nobody wants to associate with tax collectors and corrupt politicians, let alone have dinner.

Have you ever been looked down on by others, rejected by everyone of importance?

Jesus did not think himself to be so important as to not interrupt His journey to Jerusalem to have dinner with a sinner. Zaccheaus

⁶So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.

⁷And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

⁸And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

⁹And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.

¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Jehovah is salvation: Jesus has interrupted the journey of His high sacrifice about to take place at the Passover. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, has come to the house of a sinner for a feast.

What is your response to Christ Jesus? Have you repented of your sins and accepted the grace of God?

Lord have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us.

Therefore, let us keep the feast, beloved fellow forgiven sinner.

September 12, 2015