Paraphrase of 1 Peter 1:1-2: Those of us who believe have been chosen by God the Father before the dawn of time to be set apart from the world by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus and to be purified before God by Jesus' blood. And because of this work of the whole of the Trinity to bring us to reconciliation and relationship with God, we should live differently in this world. In fact, we should live as strangers and aliens.
According to Philippians 3:20, our citizenship is in heaven, and we are awaiting our Savior from there, so why do we get so preoccupied with life on this earth, to the neglect of our true citizenship? I know I become preoccupied much too easily, but first imagine residing as an alien in another country. If I were to move from Texas to France, never minding the four years of French I took in high school, I think I would be frequently reminded that my citizenship lies elsewhere. The culture, food, and language would be different, but more than that, there would be a general out-of-place feeling ever-present in the back of my mind. I would be reminded that I am a stranger and an alien in that country.
I think too many people believe they are living as citizens of the kingdom of heaven while in reality, they are living like I would live in France with my 15-year-old four years of French. I could participate in some of the activities of the country's people, I could eat their food, and I might even be able to speak and understand some of the language, but I would not be living as a citizen. How could I? I would have no right to participate in the full life of a citizen of any other country while remaining an American myself. And while there are paths to citizenship of other countries through naturalization, with requirements including length of residency, passing a test, and remaining in good standing with the law, there is no amount of time spent in church, adherence to religious traditions, or even knowledge of God (see James 2:19), that can grant citizenship to the kingdom of heaven.
So if naturalization isn't an option, only one option remains: I would have to be born again to become a citizen of anywhere other than here. Impossible, you say. But what does Jesus say? "Humanly speaking, it is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) In John chapter 3, Jesus told Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." But Nicodemus had been skeptical, too: "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answers him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (vv. 3-6) And there is our answer. Being born of the flesh, as we all have been, only grants us citizenship to this earthly kingdom, where we can all experience an amount of God's common grace (see Matthew 5:45), but only as an American citizen living in France--this is not full participation in citizenship. To enter the kingdom of God as a citizen, we must be born again of the Holy Spirit of God, through Jesus Christ who has redeemed us. In this chapter of 1 Peter 1, we read that it is according to the great mercy of "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who...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." (vv. 3-4) An inheritance is a gift; it is not earned, but rather it is earned through the work of another, given to the one who has a right to it by birth. This citizenship is not of our own doing; it is humanly impossible to acquire. Our citizenship was brought at a great price, and it is only acquired through the purchaser of its rights. We have been redeemed "with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." (1 Peter 1:18-19) So there is only one path to citizenship in the kingdom of heaven: "Jesus
answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me." (John 14:6)
So the question remains, what should life on this earth look like for citizens of the kingdom of heaven? "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4) We must walk in newness of life. "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again,
but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out,
'Abba! Father!' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we
are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and
fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may
also be glorified with Him." (Romans 8:14-17) As children of God and co-heirs with Christ, we will suffer in this world. In fact, Jesus promises us that "in this world you will have trouble, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
Because of Jesus, we will have to live as aliens and strangers in this world, but because of Jesus, we will inherit the kingdom of heaven for eternity. Our flesh binds our citizenship to this world, but the Spirit of Christ sets us free to live in His kingdom forever. "To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood--and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:5-6)
So be born again, brothers and sisters; exchange citizenship of this world for citizenship in a kingdom that will never pass away. "...and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a Son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13-14)
Verse 1
Peter, apostle
Of Jesus Christ, To those who
Are elect exiles,
2
Sojourners of the
Dispersion, God the Father
Knew you long ago,
2 (continued)
You are set apart
By the Spirit to obey
Jesus and be cleansed
2 (continued)
May grace and peace be
Multiplied to you in the
Fullest of measures
3
Blessed is God the
Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Messiah
3 (continued)
According to His
Great mercy, He has caused us
To be born again,
3 (continued)
Born to living hope
Through the resurrection of
Jesus from the dead
4
And to obtain an
Inheritance that can't be
Destroyed, defiled, changed
5
And through faith you are
Being shielded and kept by
The power of God
5 (continued)
For salvation that
Is ready to be revealed
At the end of time
6
You greatly rejoice
In this, even though you have
Suffered in trials
7
These have come to show
That your faith is genuine,
Strong through many tests
7 (continued)
As fire purifies
And tests gold, your faith is found
More precious than gold
7 (continued)
That faith may result
In praise, glory, honor, when
Jesus is revealed
8
You love Him even
Though you have not seen Him and
Do not see Him now
8 (continued)
You believe in Him
And rejoice with glorious,
Unspeakable joy
9
That you may receive
The salvation of your souls,
The goal of your faith
10
Of this salvation
The prophets searched with careful
Investigations
10 (continued)
They prophesied of
The grace that was going to
Be given to you
11
They sought to know what
Person or time the Spirit
In them was pointing
11 (continued)
When he predicted
The sufferings of Christ and
Subsequent glories
12
It was revealed to
Them that they were not serving
For themselves, but you
12 (continued)
Now this Good News has
Been announced to you by those
Who preached in power
12 (continued)
Angels long to look
Into these things sent by the
Spirit from heaven
13
Prepare your minds for
Action, be sober-minded,
And hope to the end
13 (continued)
Grace will be given
To you when Jesus Christ is
Revealed to the world
14
As obedient
Children don't be shaped by past
Ignorant desires
15
But like the Holy
One who called you, be holy
In all your conduct
16
Because it has been
Written, "You must be holy,
For I am holy."
17
You call on Him as
Father who impartially
Judges each one's work
17 (continued)
So conduct yourselves
In reverent fear as you
Live as strangers here
18
You were redeemed from
The empty way of life that
You inherited
18 (continued)
But you have not been
Ransomed with perishable
Things like silver, gold
19
But with the precious
Blood of Christ, a lamb without
Blemish or defect
20
He is tthe lamb who
Was appointed long before
The world existed
20 (continued)
But he was revealed
And made manifest in these
Last times for your sake
21
Through Christ you believe
In God, and you have placed your
Faith and hope in Him
21 (continued)
Because God raised Christ
From among the dead and has
Given Him glory
22
You have purified
Your souls for sincere love by
Obeying the truth
22 (continued)
So then you would love
One another fervently
And with a pure heart
23
You've been born again,
From imperishable seed,
Not perishable
23 (continued)
Through the living and
Enduring word of God that
Cannot be destroyed
24
For "All men are like
Gracss, and all their glory like
The flower of grass
24-25
"The grass withers and
The flower falls, but God's word
Endures forever."
25 (continued)
And this is the Good
News preached to you by which you've
Been evangelized
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