The Eighth Day New Creation

In Gen. 17:12, we read that all the children in Abraham's household were to be circumcised on the eighth day. But why the eighth day? Well, the text doesn't say explicitly. That is, the text of the immediate context doesn't give direct commentary. But with seven days of creation in the narrative background, it is hard not to suspect why, and hard not to see that the broader context does provide a plausible answer implicitly. Is it not likely that the eighth day symbolizes the new creation, on which there is a cutting away of the old? 

And likewise baptism, typified by the ark passing through the ancient flood (1 Pet. 3:21), symbolizes the new creation. Just as Noah and his family entered the new creation through the waters of judgment, so also the one baptized with Christian baptism passes through the waters of judgment (dying with Christ, who was judged) into the new creation kingdom of God.

Luther's Esteem of 1 Peter

Martin Luther on 1 Peter:

"The one who understands this letter has without doubt enough so as not to need more . . . because the apostle did not forget anything in this letter that is necessary for a Christian to know."

—As cited in Paul J. Achtemeier, 1 Peter (Minneapolis: 1 Peter, 1996), 64.

Render to God What Is God's

Render to Caesar what is his, but no more. A good reminder for this 4th of July, the year of our Lord 2013. We ought to love our country, but manifestly love God immeasurably more.

To Submit, or Not to Submit, That Is the Question

Which of the following may Evangelicals disobey? Or where do Evangelicals allow for disobedience? Or perhaps putting the questions that way is slanting things too much. After all, there are differences of opinion on some of these. Or maybe we can have differences of opinion on all of these. Things that make you go hmmm. . . .

1. "Let everyone submit to the governing authorities" (Rom. 13:1; cf. Tit. 3:1).

2. "You who are younger, submit to the elders" (1 Pet. 5:5; cf. Heb. 13:17).

3. "Wives, submit to your husbands . . ." (Col. 3:18; cf. Eph. 5:22; 1 Pet. 3:1).

4. "Servants, submit to your masters with all respect. . ." (1 Pet. 2:18; cf. Eph. 6:5).

In case you were wondering, the same Greek word is behind the word "submit" in all the verses listed here in one through four. Following the verses listed, some of the additional verses cited in parentheses (Heb. 13:17; Eph. 6:5) use different words that are often translated "obey" or the like.

Christians are a Royal Priesthood, Part 3

As promised, here now are ways two through five that Christians offer up spiritual sacrifices to God according to Edwards' exposition of 1 Pet 2:9-10. (Two posts ago I gave the first of five.)

Second, Edwards says:

This spiritual priesthood offers to God the sacrifice of praise. Many of their sacrifices under the law were sacrifices of peace-offerings, which were mostly for thanksgiving and praise. But the spiritual sacrifice of the hearty and sincere praises of a saint, are more acceptable to God than all the bulls, and rams, and he-goats that they offered.

Here Edwards cites Heb. 13:15 and Ps. 50:23, among other texts.

Third, he says:

The next sacrifice which is offered by this spiritual priesthood, is obedience, sincere obedience. The sacrifices under the law did not only represent Christ's satisfying for sin by suffering, but they also represented Christ's obeying in suffering; for the sacrifices under the law were not only for propitiation, but they were for purchasing benefits, and so typified not only the satisfaction, but merit, which was by obedience.

 In this section Edwards cites Rom. 12:1; Ps. 40:6-8; and 1 Sam. 15:22.

Christians are a Royal Priesthood, Part 2

Edwards' second point (see here for the first) in explaining the priestly service of Christians is this: "Secondly, Christians are also a priesthood with respect to their offerings to God." Here he cites 1 Pet. 2:5: "you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Well, what are these sacrifices? Edwards lists five ways Christians offer spiritual sacrifices to God.

First, "Christians offer up their own hearts to God in sacrifice: they dedicate themselves to God (Rom. 6:13)." And this happens in two ways: "the first is when the heart is broken for sin. A sacrifice, before it can be offered, must be wounded and slain. The heart of a true Christian is first wounded by a sense of sin, of the great evil and danger of it, and is slain with godly sorrow and true repentance. . . . The second way is when a Christian offers his heart to God, flaming with love. The sacrifice of old was not only to be slain, but to be burnt upon the altar; it was to ascend in flame and smoke, and so to be a sweet savour to God" (Works, vol. 2, Hickman ed.).

In the next and last post in this brief series, I'll post the other 4 ways Christians offer up spiritual sacrifices to God according to Edwards' exposition.

A Clear Head and Warm Heart

As we Christians engage our social, political, and economic landscape, as is right to varying degrees according to gifting, calling, and opportunity, we must keep clear our heads and warm our hearts. There is so much muddle in our world, and the temptation is to slip off the point.

The apostle Peter can help us pilgrims as we move toward the celestial city never feeling at home here till, at length, we arrive at our long-awaited and intensely-desired destination: "Girding up the loins of your mind, being sober-minded, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 1:13); and "fervently love one another from the heart" (1 Pet. 1:22). Now, in case we've forgotten by chapter four, Peter states it still stronger: "Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another" (1 Pet. 4:8). This is no small matter in a world without hope (Eph. 2:12) and where love grows cold (Matt. 24:12).

So, a clear head and warm heart. That's in large measure the Christian's daily focus. Let's be there! Let's live there!

The Particular Selective Love of God

From Jonathan Edwards' sermon on 1 Pet. 2:9-10, Christians are a Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a Peculiar People:

The electing love of God is singly of every particular person. Some deny a particular election, and say that there is no other election than a general determination, that all that believe and obey shall be saved. Some also own no more than an absolute election of nations. But God did from all eternity singly and distinctly choose, and set his love upon, every particular person that ever believes, as is evident from Gal. 2:20: 'Who loved me and gave himself for me' (Works, vol. 2, Hickman ed., 938).

You'll perhaps notice that Edwards addresses here the same Arminian arguments thrown up today, which still blow away like chaff before the mighty rushing wind of the Word of God.