1 Peter 1:23-25—The imperishable Seed
…for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:23-25
“All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off…”
Humans are familiar with flesh and with grass. Both are beautiful in their prime; both eventually fade, wither, and die. Flesh may live longer than the flower of grass; however, neither will retain their beauty forever.
“…But the word of the Lord endures forever.”
Nothing that is produced from the earth or born upon the earth will remain forever. Our culture is obsessed with retaining their youthfulness; nevertheless, each one of us will eventually lose that fight and face life’s end.
Only one thing is permanent, and it alone will endure forever. Generations rise up, grow old, and die, but the Word of the Lord existed before each one of them, and it will remain long after they are nothing but dust.
…for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
Perishable vs. imperishable seed
Seeds are uncanny. They can survive for generations in the right conditions. In fact, in the Arctic, off the coast of Norway is a cold-storage vault for seeds called the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Up to 2.25 billion seeds are being kept in sealed, cold dormancy against doomsday scenarios.
And yet, even doomsday seeds are destined to one day perish. They are temporary, made of organic matter susceptible to decay and destruction.
There is a Seed, however, that will not perish. This Seed, present before time began, is not dependent upon human ingenuity to stay viable against the day of destruction. This Seed formed the heavens and the earth; this Seed has been found throughout the centuries by those who sought diligently for it; this Seed has provided the framework for the connection between every man and his God.
This Seed became flesh and dwelt upon the Earth. Satan thought he had destroyed the Seed—in his mind, it was indeed finished and the throne of God had been toppled.
But this Seed was imperishable. It was indestructible. And like a natural seed planted in the earth, this Seed rose up from the grave, never to die again.
Now you and I have access to this Seed in written form—the Holy Bible. You were born again through the living and enduring Word of God, and you have received from Him unparalleled, indestructible everlasting life.
And this is the word which was preached to you.
It’s that simple. You heard somewhere that Jesus was the Word of God made flesh. And now, by faith, you have made a dwelling place for Him in your heart. And just as the grave could not keep the Seed captive for long, so too, the circumstances you face are no match for the imperishable, indestructible Word of God.
His Word endures forever.
Dorothy
Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89
© 2015, Dorothy Frick
Read More1 Peter 1:22—Sincere and fervent love
Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart… 1 Peter 1:22
This reminds me of one of my favorite Scriptures, James 1:21: “Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.” Here’s why:
Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls…
You cannot be obedient to the truth and at the same time allow filthiness and all that remains of wickedness to continue unchallenged in your thought life or behavior. When a man or woman is obedient to the truth, one of the actions they will embrace is to lay aside all filth and any wicked thing that may be hanging onto their life.
Receiving the truth of the Word of God into your heart and holding it fast has a profound effect on your soul. James said that such humble receptivity of Scripture on your part is able to save your soul—it brings life, stability, and wisdom to your mind and emotions. Peter declared that obedience to the truth actually purifies your soul. And Jesus told us, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Saved, purified, and free—this is what abiding in the Word will bring to your life.
… for a sincere love of the brethren…
One of the most impressive things I experienced when I was newly saved was the sincere love that characterized the motley crew I joined when I started my walk with Jesus. I heard no backbiting, saw no posturing for attention, and sensed no superior attitudes among the young believers in that dorm Bible study. I felt accepted, 100%. Although Jesus Christ was the main attraction, everyone in that little group received plenty of positive, happy interaction. I look back on those days and realize what we were experiencing was koinonia—true Christian fellowship. We were totally real, totally accepting, always pressing on to the upward call, and full of the love of the Lord, life, and one another.
… fervently love one another from the heart.
I realize now what a rare privilege I had been a part of in the early days of my Christian walk. The potential for koinonia is always present where two or more are gathered in His name—but the actual operation of it is not always apparent.
Peter admonished his friends to fervently love one another from the heart. If koinonia was a “given” whenever believers gathered, surely they would not have needed the reminder. Today the Church is no different. The “stuff” of koinonia is present within all of us who in obedience to the truth have purified their souls for a sincere love of the brethren—but there are many adversaries blocking the way to its free flow.
How do we allow the sincere love of the brethren residing within us to pour forth as fervent love?
Paul offered a list of behaviors and attitudes native to all of us who are born again. Instead of complaining that others aren’t playing nicely, I’m going to let these power points from God correct and readjust me however I need. I’m ready for true koinonia again, and I’m willing to do my part. *[Note: The following confessions are qualities and behaviors I am reaching toward in God; not all of them describe my normal daily behavior. I am still growing. 🙂 ]
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
- Love is patient. [I am patient with other believers; I listen to them without anxiously looking around or impatiently waiting for an opening for me to continue talking.]
- Love is kind. [I am not terse or harsh. I consider how I would like to be treated if I was in the other person’s shoes.]
- Love does not envy. [I am glad for others who live blessed lives. I rejoice sincerely for them when they receive what I wish I had.]
- Love does not boast. [I am sensitive that others may not have what I have, and I do not make a big deal out of my own advantages. I don’t seek to make anyone jealous of me.]
- Love is not arrogant. [I realize each one has God-given talents, skills, abilities, or attributes—not just me—and I also realize that I’m not the only one who has a unique place in God’s plan and God’s heart.]
- Love does not act unbecomingly or rude. [I choose to be aware of how my words, actions, facial expression, and body language impact others, and I seek to be in control of what I am communicating. I am not only as shrewd as a serpent, but I am also as harmless as a dove in regard to other peoples’ dignity.]
- Love does not insist on its own way. [I don’t have to have things go my way to be content or happy. I don’t push my own preferences or agenda as more important than others’.]
- Love is not provoked or easily angered. [I use self-control when I feel I’m about to be provoked and I let go of things easily. For example, if I get served last at a restaurant or my order is mixed up, I don’t blow a gasket.]
- Love does not keep a record of wrongs. [I don’t hold grudges against those who have hurt me. I don’t bring up past wrongs or flaws of those with whom I’m in relationship when they do or say something I don’t like. I don’t pull out the things they once repented of or confided in me about to make me look better than them.]
- Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness. [I am heartbroken, not giddy, tickled, or ready to dish out the “juice” when a fellow believer with whom I am not “in sync” stumbles or falls.]
- Love rejoices with the truth. [I am glad whenever truth prevails, miracles happen, bodies are healed, and souls come to Christ—even if it’s through someone whom I perceive as odd, cocky, or a bit off.]
- Love bears all things. [I am able to press on in Christ and to remain kind-hearted even when no one else believes in me or cares much at all about me.]
- Love believes all things. [I believe the Word. I believe in God. I believe in the Son who died for me. I also believe that the same Spirit who lives in me and convicts me also lives in everyone else called by His name…and therefore, I believe He is working in them just as much as He is working in me.]
- Love hopes all things. [I hope in Him, and my hope fixed on Him purifies me. It is an anchor for my soul, bringing me stability and hope for good to come.]
- Love endures all things. [Nothing will separate me from the love of Christ—not tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword (Romans 8:35). I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).]
- Love never fails. [I can fail; but the love of God never fails, and His love is poured out in my heart. As I lean heavily on that love, then I will not fail.]
Again I ask, how do we allow the love that is in us to pour out with sincerity and fervency?
We go to the Word and receive His living truth which will transform us day by day—and we act on it as we endeavor to put others first.
May the Lord direct us all in this.
Dorothy
…and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5
© 2015, Dorothy Frick
Read More1 Peter 1:20-21—Before the foundation of the world to now: Why He came
For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:20-21
For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world…
The spotless Lamb of God was foreknown before the foundation of the world. According to John, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). In other words, before creation, Jesus was; before the world was founded, Jesus’ calling as the Lamb of God was established.
A second time, later in his ministry, John spoke of the pre-existent nature of Christ. As the now elderly apostle was revealing the deceptive following of evil in the last days, he wrote, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him [the Antichrist], whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8; emphasis added).
… but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God…
The early church believed that they were alive in the last times. Perhaps the apostle John, as he neared the end of his very long life, realized that the last days would be further on in history; but Peter certainly called his day the last times. This was not inappropriate; the Messiah Jesus had appeared after more than a thousand years of prophetic anticipation to bring “whosoever will” to newness of life through faith in Him. For Peter, the hour was late; it was essential that men and women turn to faith in Christ—who appeared, not for His own glory, but for the sake of redeeming men and women back to God.
… who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory…
You know the history. Jesus was brutally beaten and crucified. He hung on the cross at Calvary for hours, His blood draining from His body to the ground below. When Justice was satisfied and His life was expiring, He said with His last breath, “It is finished.”
He died and was buried. Three days later, after all hope had faded of any miraculous intervention, and after the forces of darkness had declared total victory over the life of the humble Son of Man, God acted. Against all human odds, God, the Creator of all things, reached through the grave into the realm of the dead and raised the Messiah from death. The humble Son of Man was now the resurrected Son of God crowned with glory.
… so that your faith and hope are in God.
Throughout the millennia of earth’s existence, men and women have placed their hope and faith in a multitude of causes, dreams, beliefs, deities, and traditions. And yet sadly, all their misplaced trust ended in futility, heartbreak, hopelessness, and despair—that is, “until He appeared and the soul felt its worth” (“O Holy Night”, circa 1847).
Simply stated, Jesus came to die so that you and I could live. Now your hope in Him is an anchor for your soul; now your faith in Him is the substance of things you have hoped for and the evidence of the things you’ve not yet seen.
Because your hope is in Him, you are no longer drifting anchorless in the world; and because your faith is in Him, you will live forever in the presence of God.
Dorothy
© 2015, Dorothy Frick
Read More1 Peter 1:18-19—Redeemed
…knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 1 Peter 1:18-19
Peter had just written that our Father judges according to each one’s work, and because of that, we should conduct our lives in fear—the fear of the Lord.
And just in case anyone still thought they could treat their salvation as a “gimme”, Peter stressed his point further with a sobering reminder of the price of their redemption.
…knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold… but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
Back in the days of the early church, Roman citizenship was highly valued. It was so prized that many non-citizens would save up for a lifetime to purchase it, qualifying them to all the privileges that accompanied citizenship. Even Paul the apostle avoided a lashing by asserting his natural-born Roman citizenship; the commander in charge of Paul’s punishment admitted that he had purchased his citizenship with a large sum of money (see Acts 22).
This well-known method of attaining privileged status was nothing like redemption from God. Unlike Roman citizenship, you can’t buy your redemption. No amount of silver or gold will ever be able to purchase your soul from hell. How could it? Your soul is eternal; silver and gold are perishable.
Only one commodity exists which can redeem your soul from eternal destruction—the precious blood of Jesus the unblemished, spotless Lamb of God. And that blood did not just magically appear before the throne of God in exchange for your sins—no, Jesus had to allow His body to be broken first—marred more than any man, according to Isaiah—before His blood could be presented as the purchase price for your redemption.
… you were… redeemed… from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers…
Jesus redeemed you from something—a futile way of life. No matter how talented, gifted, skilled, intelligent, or charismatic you may have been, your days were spent in futility before God’s intervention.
You were redeemed from constantly having to measure up to the unattainable mandates placed on you by others who themselves live in futility. You were redeemed from sin, hopelessness, and destruction…and your redemption was paid in full by the Savior of your soul.
Think about this: If you were kidnapped, tied and duct-taped by evil souls, and a ransom was paid and lives were lost to attain your release—would you consider your rescue to be no big deal once it was behind you and in the annals of history? Would you seek to return to the lifestyle that brought you into captivity in the first place? Would that be attractive to you? When Peter contrasts the depths of futility to the immeasurable value of redemption, he exposes the folly of such attraction.
That which man could not do for himself, and that which gold and silver could not purchase, God settled, once for all, in the redemptive death of His Son Jesus Christ.
Everything else pales in comparison.
Dorothy
For thus says the LORD, “You were sold for nothing and you will be redeemed without money.” Isaiah 52:3
© 2015, Dorothy Frick
Read More1 Peter 1:17, Part 2—Facing the Father on that Day
If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth… 1 Peter 1:17
Our Father will one day judge each one’s work impartially. As Peter wrote about that sober event awaiting every believer, he admonished each one of us to conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth.
Peter was not commanding Christians to live lives of paranoia or terror; he was, however, calling our attention to the gravity of that moment when each one of us will stand before our Father and our works will be judged. In light of that sober time to come, Peter urged all of us to conduct our lives with fear—the fear of God. This kind of fear kicks in when temptations arise; this is the type of fear which convicts you when self-control, charity, or faith start to waver.
Conducting yourself in fear—in the fear of the Lord—is the wisest and safest thing you can do in your allotted timespan here on the earth.
I can’t help but be sobered when I look back at wasted opportunities or trysts with sin and self-centeredness in my life. If you, like me, have had a spotty batting average, here are two Scriptures which I have found to be extremely powerful and recharging. They remind me of His mercy which endures forever.
1. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
First, I believe firmly that all those missteps, missed chances, and downright mean or malicious thoughts, words, or behaviors in which I’ve partaken were nailed to the cross of Christ, judged as despicable, and the punishment I deserved, Jesus bore. If I catch myself sliding into any of those things again for which Jesus was crucified, I have the right and the responsibility to stop, step away, and run to Him for forgiveness and cleansing. And according to John, those things are washed away when I confess them. That means that they—once confessed—will not re-appear on that Day. I praise God for that!
2. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
The sacrifice of Jesus was for all of my sins, and yet the Word is clear in 1 John 1:9—you and I will need to continue to confess our sins and receive forgiveness and cleansing when, as believers, we miss the mark and fall short of the glory of God.
Peter also made it very clear—the Father will impartially judge according to each one’s work. I don’t know about you, but I am seriously sobered by this fact.
Enter mercy.
You and I were born again as sons and daughters of God because of His great mercy, and fittingly enough, mercy will be the common denominator at the judgment seat of Christ.
You see, His mercy was poured out upon you when you professed your faith in Christ. This has made you His own treasured possession (see Malachi 3:17) and will usher you into your eternal home.
And there you will be—born-again you, who experienced struggles and failures at times—maybe often—standing before the Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work.
But that’s not where it ends—the mercy that you have shown others throughout your life will be a key component on that Day—and according to James 2:13, perhaps your mercy will be the most important work in your life!
If, in your life, you were quick to show mercy to others, here’s what God will see on that Day: You were one who walked in mercy toward others, even through the struggles. You strove to bless people, to help them, to smile and give a good word when others ignored them—and you purposed to believe the best of those God placed in your path. Even when your dreams seemed to shatter and all that you had hoped for seemed to wither away, you showed mercy to others. You chose kindness over backbiting and forgiveness over grudges. In small ways and large, mercy not only followed you, but you allowed it to express itself freely in your character.
And because you were merciful as a believer, the impartial Judge—your Father, who is Love—will cause you to triumph over judgment on that Day.
When you are disappointed with yourself—perhaps you messed up with your behaviors, attitudes, words, or thoughts—you have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ Himself (1 John 2:1). Turn to Him with your whole heart and allow His love and forgiveness to wash you. But remember, freely you’ve received His mercy; now freely extend it to others as well (Matthew 10:8).
And as you do, when you arrive before His throne, the mercy you have shown toward others will cause you to triumph over judgment.
Dorothy
© 2015, Dorothy Frick
Read More1 Peter 1:17—The impartial Judge, your Father
If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth… 1 Peter 1:17
If you address as Father…
Father. What a glorious privilege to call God, the Creator of the universe, our Father! It was extremely rare prior to Jesus’ life for anyone to call God Father; in the Old Testament, only about a half dozen Scriptures refer to Him as Father. In these cases, the references spoke of His relationship to all of Israel, not to individual people.
But Jesus changed that paradigm. He came for this very purpose—to forge the way for you and me to be sons and daughters of God. His selfless act of redemption on the cross resulted in this: You have the right to call God your Father through faith in Jesus Christ.
I may be mistaken, but I’ve never heard a Muslim call Allah Father. I’ve never heard Buddhists or Hindus or other non-Christian faiths call their deities Father. But you and I? We are sons and daughters of the Most High God. He is our Father.
… the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work…
Remember, this impartial Judge is our Father…and He has our best interests at heart.
And because you have trusted in His Son for salvation, as you stand before the impartial Judge, He will view you through the shed blood of Jesus—cleansed, whole, and justified.
But despite the wonderful, redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ, your Father and Judge will also look at your work…all that you have done in your time on the earth. And according to Peter, that is what He will judge—without partiality.
What will He consider when He judges your work? The Greek word for “work” is ergon, and according to Strong’s it means:
- your business
- your employment
- that by which you are occupied
- that which you undertake to do
- your enterprise
- your undertakings
- any product whatever that you produce
- anything accomplished by your hands
- your art
- your industry
- the activity of your mind
- any act you do
- any deed you do
- anything you do
The Father will actually judge all that you and I do or try to do.
… conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth.
Because everything you and I do, attempt to do, or leave undone will be judged impartially by our Father on that Day, Peter adjured all of us to conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth. In other words, live your life on purpose, with one primary goal in mind—to know God, to make Him known, and to live for His purposes and good pleasure by faith in Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Shockingly, the Greek word for “fear” in this verse is phobos, from which we derive our words phobia and phobic. Why would Peter charge believers to conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth when other Scriptures penned by the apostle Paul declare boldly, “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!’” (Romans 8:15). Both men use the word phobos to express their thoughts. What gives here?
To me, it is clear. You are compelled to face life fearlessly as you pursue the upward call of God in Christ Jesus—no matter what life throws your way. You need not fear these things because you belong to the God of the universe!
But your fearlessness in the Lord does not negate the truth that Peter reveals: You are called to take hold of one fear—the fear that will effectively prevent you from living merely for yourself and not the Lord; the fear that will help to keep you from letting go of the Word of God to drift downstream along with the rest of the world.
You are not called to become paranoid that you will drift away from the Lord; no—the fear by which you are to conduct your life is a sober recognition of the adverse consequences that inevitably catch up with the Christian who loses interest in living for Jesus as His disciple.
This is a sober thought, indeed. Tomorrow, I will share two verses which have brought me great hope and comfort in light of all this as I prepare myself to face Him on that Day. I believe these Scriptures will bless you, too.
Dorothy
Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
© 2015, Dorothy Frick
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