Swept Away by Grace: A Study in I Peter (part 15)—Firm in Truth with Hearts Wide Open

I Corinthians 16: (GNV) ¹³ Watch ye: stand fast in the faith: quit you like men, and be strong. ¹⁴ Let all your things be done in love.

As Peter has instructed the people in the truth of gospel, he was well aware that they would be attacked because of their faith. Whenever we stand on truth—we could be called narrow minded because we believe the only way to God is through faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, Peter urges them to stand firm in Truth with hearts wide open. The Gospel truth holds firm in faith and that firm faith and knowledge of truth regarding our own salvation can open our hearts wide to love fully all whom we meet without judgment and without compromising our truth. 

Picture used by permission of Ronald Barba

As Christians we are to stand upon the uncompromising truth of the Gospel which in turn opens our hearts to love, assist, reach out and embrace genuinely all those who disagree. Because we know what we believe is true, we have no fear of openly loving all who disagree. It gives us the open hearts that will love beyond disagreements

We have found Joy and Love in a close relationship with the Creator and desire to share that with all those whom we meet. Yet, it is love which compels us and that means we must be ready to answer when asked about the hope that is in us in as gentle a manner as we can. Let us strive to be that—gentle soft spoken open hearted truth bearers.

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Swept Away by Grace—A Study in I Peter (part 14) -  Ruled by Love and Grace

Peter has proclaimed the good news of the gospel—the truth that by Grace and Grace alone we have been chosen, redeemed and set apart because of and by the redemptive sacrificial work of Christ on the Cross. He has urged us to live a life that exemplifies what Christ has already done in us so that a broken world might find Christ. We have been given new life and a real joy that supersedes any counterfeit joy we have ever experienced—there within our relationship with Christ we have all that we could ever need or want. Yet, we have been left on this earth to live out this pilgrimage journey for two major reasons—1. That we might be transformed through sanctification into one who can fully enjoy the riches of eternity and 2. We are left here so that we might spread the gospel to all who will give ear. When we understand this truth, we are able to understand not only the obvious blessing; we become able to see the trials and tribulations as a means to this precious end. Hence we are able to rejoice even with trials. Once having given us this backdrop, Peter began to tell us what that should look like. He began with the family. He reviewed the picture of how a wife demonstrating a holy and virtuous life could be the key in winning her husband to Christ. He then told the husbands how being Christ filled would allow them to treat and protect their wives with kindness, tenderness, honor and love. Then Peter turned to address how the truth of the gospel should transform how we treat each other in the church and in the world. Peter urges us to live in harmony with those around us demonstrating sympathy, humility, understanding and love. 

 

photo used courtesy of istockphoto.com

When I truly understand the gospel of Christ having given His life that I might be saved and understand that He loved me when I was most unlovable in my sin, then I must reach out my hand in humble kindness and gentleness to all of whom I meet. If I remember how many times Christ so patiently has pulled me out of the mire, then I cannot be judgmental to those still caught in the mire. I cannot present anyone Christ unless I, like Christ, am willing to love them right where they are.

So let us turn to I Peter 3 and continue to read.

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The Fullness of Your Grace

by Effie Darlene Barba

 

I thank you Lord for each new day

With all the Grace You bring my way

Through valleys deep and mountains high

You lift my heart that I might fly

 

What wondrous Grace I know is mine

Your glory O’er my life doth shine

And each new dawn awake to see

Your Gracious Love displayed to me

 

Sometimes it is through rivers deep

Or Rocky Mountains, ooh so steep

Your strength and might still guide me on

That I might sing this joyous song

 

And recognize as night draws near

That you have filled my life with cheer

The greatest gift you’ve given me

Was found within my children, three

 

And then you went beyond, above

And gave each one their perfect love

Chosen special by your hand

And then their babies oh so grand

 

That joy was more than I deserve

And yet, for me you did reserve

Such precious friends you’ve given me

That filled my heart with hope and glee

 

As wondrous as these joys are now

They’ll pale compared to You, somehow

When one day soon I see Your face

And feel the fullness of Your Grace

© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Swept Away by Grace—A Study in I Peter (part 3)—In the Same Way, Husbands

In this letter of Peter, we noted that Peter has asked the wives to be gentle kind servants, who are vessels of grace in the lives of their husbands. Then, lest the men took this as a license to be abusive in anyway; he quickly tells the husbands of their responsibility as well. Let us read below:

I Peter 3: (EXB) ⁷ In the same way [2:18;3:1], you husbands should live with your wives in an ·understanding[considerate] way [Eph. 5:25–33; Col. 3:19], since they are ·weaker than you[the weaker sex; or the less empowered one;^L the weaker vessel;^C women are typically physically weaker, but in Greco-Roman and Jewish society, they also had less power and authority]. But ·show them respect [pay/give them honor], because ·God gives them the same blessing he gives you—[^L they are co-heirs of] ·the grace that gives true life [or God’s gift of life; ^L the grace of life]. Do this so that nothing will ·stop [hinder] your prayers.

A husband has the responsibility in the home to treat his wife in the same manner as Christ did  the church. He is to demonstrate understanding and kindness. He is to be her protector. He is to have the responsibility to also lead her in understanding the grace of God by example. He is to give her honor, respect and love

. Ephesians explains this one step further—

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Swept Away by Grace- A Study in I Peter (part 13)—Adorned in Humility, Love and Kindness by Grace

Once upon a time I met Pedro Barba (Arroyo), Jr and fell madly in love with this man.  I felt so blessed that God would so graciously bring him into my life—after all I was divorced twice by the age of 22 and knew that God must have seen me as a failure—his oops child.  At least that is what I had been taught.  I wondered how in the world I had gotten to that place as I had been the exemplary young student for Christ—oh, but that is another story for another time as we must move on here.  So, at 23 like a fairytale I met and fell in love with Pedro Barba, Jr.  I felt that God had shown forth His mercy and His grace by placing this man in my life.  After a somewhat rocky courtship we married and my fairytale continued—well not always a fairytale; but neither is any marriage.  There was the fact that he professed to be an atheist; but, I knew God had a plan and well, ok the scripture about not being unequaled yoked—I kind of ignored for a moment.  Throughout that marriage there were many trials, tribulations and even tempestuous storms; but the one thing that endured was love.  Many well meaning Christians would tell me that any trials were a result of my sin of having disobeyed God.  Don’t get me wrong here, I am not condoning my disobedience nor anyone else’s.  Yet, we do fail God on a regular basis with our doubts, worries and selfish desires. 

Truth is we should all be condemned; yet, His mercies are new every morning and it is because of His faithfulness that we are not consumed by our sins.  Christ covered it all on the cross.  It is not by works of these guilty hands that I have gained salvation. 

We must fight against sin; perhaps, I didn’t at that time know how.  I know that I wanted to please God; but, beyond prayer and reading my Bible—I didn’t know how.   Then also in my naivety I believed that with enough love and since God was so gracious to bring Pete into my life; God would save him and we would live happily ever after.  That road would take me down some of my greatest sorrows and my greatest joys.  It was on that part of my journey that I truly learned of God’s Unconditional Love for me and that I had been wonderfully made.  Finally, I began to learn that I wasn’t God’s “oops child”; I was chosen with all my failures, because God saw me as His Beloved Child and He saw the finished me that He could create by His transforming work in me.  God also gave me the gift of always seeing Pete’s heart.  I spent many hours in prayer and repentance.

All of this as the introduction, we will move on in the studies of I Peter before returning to tell you the rest of the story.

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