Two kinds of people?

 

 

READ 1 Peter

A liberal church taught my mother that everyone would go to heaven, but is this what the Bible teaches? Today’s reading makes distinctions between those who are Christians and those who do not have faith in Christ. The first of these is that believers have a LOVE for Jesus:

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8–9)

The second is an ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE beginning with Christ’s return: “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13)

The third difference is that unbelievers are DISOBEDIENT to God, even destined to that: “So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.’ They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.” (1 Peter 2:7–8) This destiny is written about in other passages:

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— (Romans 9:22–23)

For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 4)

Those who are God’s are set apart as HOLY and offer PRAISE to their Savior:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9–10)

There is more. Genuine Christians are SUBMISSIVE and “subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good” obeying the will of God by doing good and silencing ignorance. They honor all, love one another, and fear God. Servants respect their masters, even those who are unjust. All who are mindful of God can “endure sorrows while suffering unjustly . . . . “Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, so that we might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:13–23)

This submissive attitude is reflected in Christian wives married to unsaved men, in Christian women who know what true beauty is, and in Christian husbands who show honor to their wives. It is also revealed in the entire body of believers by a “unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” without retaliation for mistreatment but blessing. (1 Peter 3:1–12)

Genuine Christians HONOR Christ, defend their faith with gentleness and respect, maintain a good conscience, and know it is “better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:15–17)

Sin is also put behind us, making those who are unsaved “surprised when we do not join them” in their sinful practices. Christians know the shortness of life and the value in our prayer life of being “self-controlled and sober-minded.” Showing hospitality without grumbling and serving each other with our spiritual gifts is also important. (1 Peter 4:3–10)

Also, genuine Christians do not run when persecution happens but realize the blessing of God when we share in Christ’s suffering. We also know that we are saved by grace and are concerned that, “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1 Peter 4:17–18)

In this reading, two things stand out: HUMILITY because of God’s grace and RESISTING SIN knowing that other believers also do the same. We know that after trials, “The God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:8–10)

In a world filled with pride and sin, Christians should be distinctive. If I am not, then I am worldly and in danger of severe discipline.

No, not everyone will go to heaven; all are sinners, yet some are sinners saved by grace. Thank God for Jesus who walked into my life with grace and mercy — He makes the difference.