“A Hidden Life” (1 Peter 2: 24) by Carley Evans

Because Jesus dies while bearing our sins in His body, we are to live to righteousness rather than to sin. “For [we] have died, and [our] life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3: 3)

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” (Colossians 3: 12)

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4: 8)

Jesus’ love covers a multitude of sins. Our lives of sin are hidden in Christ; our sins being nailed with His body to the tree at the Mount of Olives. Now we live as “God’s chosen ones,” seen by Him “holy and beloved.” Now, we are called back to “the Shepherd and Overseer of [our] souls” (1 Peter 2: 25) by way of Jesus’ sacrifice and our acceptance of His gift of salvation. “According to His great mercy, He causes us to be born again to a living hope through [His] resurrection.” (1 Peter 1: 3)

Our lives are hidden; and we are “born again” to righteousness — a righteousness purchased for us by Jesus Christ.

Like Newborn Infants (1 Peter 2: 2 – 3, HCSB) by Carley Evans

“Desire pure spiritual milk,” commands Peter. After all, says Peter, “you taste that the Lord is good.” Now that you taste the goodness of God, why do you continue in “all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander”? (1 Peter 2: 1) “Rid yourselves” of these weights. Be, instead, “like newborn infants,” desiring more of the goodness of the Lord God who is your salvation.

Grow up into Christ, who is your head. “He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.” (Colossians 1: 17 – 18)

Put and keep Christ first in your life. “Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Colossians 3: 12) Remember that “once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him.” (Colossians 1: 21 – 22)

“Take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires; you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.” (Ephesians 4: 22 – 24)

“The Peace of Christ” (Colossians 3: 15, ESV) by Carley Evans

Paul identfies us as “God’s chosen ones.” We are “holy and beloved.” As God’s chosen, as His beloved, we are to “put on” “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” (Colossians 3: 12) To these qualities, we are to add forgiveness. “As the Lord has forgiven you,” writes Paul, “so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3: 13)

 

Above compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience and forgiveness, Paul calls us to “put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3: 14)

In combination with love, we are to “let the peace of Christ rule in [our] hearts.”

Peace should come naturally, says Paul, because we “are called in one body.” Since we are united in Christ, we ought to be at peace with one another.

“Therefore, as you receive Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith…abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2: 6 – 7)

Remember you are God’s chosen people; “be thankful.”