1 Peter 2: Gentiles in the Kingdom of Heaven

Peter witnessed the Lord transforming the hearts of the Gentiles. They believed in Jesus as their Messiah to the point of abandoning their normal social lives and turning away from the worship of false gods. They recognized Jesus as their King. Peter wrote to them:

1 So get rid of every kind of evil, every kind of deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander. 2 Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation. 3 Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good!

They had tasted that the Lord is good, yet this was only the beginning. Just as a newborn craves milk, Peter urges them to desire the Word of the Lord so they can grow. As a Jew, Peter was amazed by how the Lord was transforming Gentiles. He wrote to confirm that they were truly part of God's kingdom:

9 However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not God’s people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.

1 Peter 1: Faith and suffering

Peter writes to both Jewish and Gentile believers who share the great privilege of receiving new life. They achieved this by believing in the ancient prophets (such as Isaiah) and trusting in their ultimate fulfillment through Jesus, who was crucified and resurrected from the dead. However, this new life requires a radical break—for instance, walking away from the social and religious practices of pagan temples. In verses 13–16, Peter urges:

1 Peter 1:13–16 (MSG)

"So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, 'I am holy; you be holy.'"

James 5: Wisdom and Life

James 5: Wisdom and Life

The letter of James addresses many topics that call to mind the book of Proverbs. Wisdom comes first through understanding and trusting that the Lord is good. This moves us to put our faith into action.As an example, in James 5:11b, James writes:

"...the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful."

If we truly believe this, we will see our suffering from a different angle: the Lord is compassionate and merciful to me—I am not suffering alone, which enables me to endure suffering patiently.

We can look at another example: because the Lord is merciful, we must also be merciful to our brothers and sisters, even to those who stumble in the church, as shown in James 5:19–20:

James 4: Problems in the Church

Last Sunday, we had a fierce presidential election in Brazil that divided the country. Nowadays, it is all too common for two friends to end their friendship due to political polarization, where one group slanders the other. In a way, James is calling the church back to the Law—to love one another, regardless of political affiliation. The world and its leaders are far less important than the Lord and His kingdom.

James was writing to Jews in synagogues scattered beyond Judea. Certainly, the Jews of that era were influenced by the surrounding pagan culture, where people sought their own honor and glory. When a brother speaks evil against another, he is seeking his own glory by exalting himself above his neighbor.

James 3: Warnings to Preachers

A preacher can lead a congregation closer to or farther from the Lord. James explains that, in general, one should not rush to become a teacher because the Lord will hold teachers to a higher standard of judgment. With their words, a preacher guides the congregation just as a small rudder steers a massive ship. However, a preacher must be vigilant about whether he is truly guiding people to praise the Lord. Finally, a preacher must continually seek wisdom from God rather than regarding himself as a wise person who deserves honor. If a teacher begins to view himself as great and wise, he will drift away from both the Lord and the congregation.

James 2: faith and works

 

James 2:14–17

"What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."

James points out that faith—trusting in Jesus, who saved us and resurrected from the dead—must be accompanied by good works, such as acts of generosity. He argues that saving faith is more than head knowledge. Works are essential; without them, faith is dead.

James 2:26

"For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."

James 1: Trust

James was Jesus' brother, who came to believe in Him after the resurrection. He begins his letter with:

James 1:1

"I, James, am a slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered to Kingdom Come: Hello!"

Interestingly, James sees himself as a slave of the Master, Jesus. He points out that the Father is good and trustworthy, always eager to share His wisdom with those who ask for it:

James 1:5–8

"If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who 'worry their prayers' are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open."

Ultimately, to serve Jesus is to trade self-reliance for total trust in the Father's character.