1 Peter: The Beauty and Duty of Belonging

1 Peter: The Beauty and Duty of Belonging 

Christians are elected into a family (flock).

Christians are growing into their salvation.

Christians are joyful in spite of suffering.

Christians are heirs to an eternally glorious salvation.

Christians are being made to be like God . . . with a duty to holiness.

Christians are children of God . . . with a duty to brotherly love.

1Peter 1:22-25

The Word of God gives new birth.

The New Birth comes through the Word of God.

New birth gives a living hope.

New birth gives an earnest love.

We cannot love fully without hope.

Living Hope leads to loving well.

Two pathologies:

Consumeristic love: filling a selfish need for pleasure and affirmation. “Love me, love me!”

Legalistic love: filling a selfish need for affirmation/validation through requirements (quotas) to love others

Jesus died and rose again for you . . . but not just for you.

Jesus founded a church, a family.

Christians are children of God . . . with a duty to brotherly love.