Therefore...

The apostle Paul gave his life to Christ; spent his life preaching and teaching, evangelizing and converting; establishing and nurturing the first churches. His letters were filled with encouragement, advice, instruction and sometimes scolding. His letters were written to congregations who were new to the Christian faith. The apostle Peter was different. His letters were written to people who had been Christians for a while. By the time Peter wrote (in the year 60 or so) – some of those who heard Peter’s letters read out loud – could have been 2nd generation Christians. Scholars agree that Peter’s letters were written to baptized members of churches, who were mostly secure in their Christian identity. We will remember that in Paul and Peter’s day, Easter was the day when – after weeks of study, reflection, and prayer – new believers were baptized. We will remember that then and now, baptism is not the end of road. Once we are sprinkled or dunked…once we are dead to the old and alive to all that is new – the expectation is that we baptized, will continue our biblical study, continue our personal reflection and move deeper into our prayer life. Our lifelong efforts are to be spent maturing in faith and growing more and more into the likeness of Christ. As we have experienced many Lenten seasons and Easter mornings, and as we are –according to the church calendar -- presently in the middle of Eastertide – the apostle Peter has sent us a letter that explores the consequences of that Easter morning for those of us who proclaim Christ’s resurrection. Peter’s instructions are for all of us who are baptized and mostly secure in our Christian identity. You see, for baptized Christians it is not enough to claim Jesus’ death and resurrection strictly as our avenue to forgiveness, heaven, and eternal life…it is not enough to restrict the Easter morning events to one day…not enough to restrict the Easter morning events to some kind of future hope for a world yet to come. Peter speaks to us here and now – encouraging us to live in such a way - that every day – our living reflects and witnesses to all that miraculous Easter morning encompasses. Peter makes it clear that the consequences of baptism, the consequences of a personal confession of faith, the consequences of proclaiming Christ as Messiah…is that …there must be some kind of action…some kind of response..on our part. If God is going to be our God – then in accordance with this covenant into which we have entered - we must be God’s people. If we are going to call Christ our Lord and Savior – that proclamation is replete with expectations and responsibilities. Expectations and responsibilities that are --to be sure – challenging. Expectations and responsibilities that are also a wonderfully rich vision of the privileged vocation we have been given as Christians. A wonderfully rich vision of who the church and her members could be --if we live by Jesus’ example. One commentary wrote that Peter’s letter is a reminder to those who have become a tad too comfortable in their Christian identity…another wrote that Peter’s letter is a bit like Christian Education – a way for us to continue to live into discipleship. The scripture passage this morning was the because part. Because you are Christians, because God is merciful, because Jesus died for our sins and was raised up, because we now have an inheritance and a salvation… Now comes the THEREFORE part - So let me run down a list of just a little bit of what Peter has written to us…what it is – to which we are called. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ Put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. Though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Keep loving one another earnestly; show hospitality to one another without grumbling; humble yourselves, be self-controlled and sober-minded. Have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, tender hearts and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary bless for to this you were called that you may obtain a blessing. 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. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ..May it always be so. Amen.