A Royal Priesthood

April 29, 2014

Dear City Calvary,

Here's a question for you - where is the nearest priest when you need one?  I mean, what if you need someone to perform priestly duties and there is not a guy with a white collar in sight?  What to do?  Where to look?  How about looking in the mirror.  That's right.  If you are born again by believing in Jesus, then God's word calls you "a royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9).  This is not just any priesthood either.  In the Old Testament, the words "royal" and "priesthood" never went together because royalty was from the tribe of Judah and priesthood was for the tribe of Levi.  Nevertheless, there you are, a royal priesthood.  This is thanks to Jesus, the King of Kings and our High Priest, who has adopted us into His family.  

So the next question is - what do royal priests do?  1 Peter 2:9 says, "that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."  That is what we do, declare praises of Jesus who has saved us out of death, darkness and hell and brought us into His wonderful glorious light and into an inheritance that will never perish, spoil, or fade.  That sounds like a fantastic job description, don't you think?!?  We'll look into this and more next time.

Sorry I missed sending letters the past two weeks.  This Sunday we are back in 1 Peter 2, after our detour for Easter and the men's retreat.  God's word is so rich and it is a blessing to go through the Bible with you - book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse.   

Blessings in Jesus,

Pastor John

Are Smart Phones Really Smart?

April 9, 2014

Dear City Calvary,

What an age we live in - the Information Age.  It is possible to immediately find the answer to just about any question in life.  Just ask Siri, the nice lady on the phone.  Push the button, ask the question, and she'll tell you the answer - or at least where to look.  I would love it if she would give me the correct numbers to win the next Powerball lottery; but alas, there are some limitations to what she can do.  With the aid of smart phones, we have a vast array of knowledge right at our fingertips.  We can know just about anything.

With all this available knowledge, the real question is what does God want us to know?  Open the Bible and He'll tell you.  In particular, we talked about four things, this past Sunday, in 1 Peter 1:18-21.  Peter writes "For you know..." 

1. Our predicament - We are sinners who need to be redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to us by our forefathers.

2. The price that was paid to redeem us - Jesus didn't pay with perishable things (silver or gold) but with the only thing in all the universe that be enough - His precious blood.  He, the perfect Lamb of God, gave His own blood to pay for our redemption in full.  It was the highest of prices.  It shows how much God values us, that He would pay our eternal debt.

3. It was pre-determined - Jesus was chosen, before the creation of the world, to be the one to pay this price.  In other words, God knew before He created us that man would fall, resulting in the ultimate cost that only He could pay, to redeem us.  He went forward anyways because we are worth it to Him.  You are worth it to Him!!!

4. Our privileged position - Through Jesus, we are in this privileged position to be redeemed and to believe in God, having this eternal relationship with Him.  What a privilege we have to put our faith and hope in Him!!!

Knowing this, how should we treat each other?  That is what we will talk about on Sunday.  In this age of smart phones and information, people are more interconnected than ever before.  If that is true, then why are we so lonely?  Maybe it is because people have lost the understanding of what "sincere love" and "loving one another deeply, from the heart" look like.  We need a lot more than a smart phone to accomplish this.  Come and find out.  And while you are at it, bring a friend.  Also, who are you bringing to church on Easter Sunday?  That is a great day to invite someone to church, especially those who won't go with you the other weeks.

Blessings in Jesus,

Pastor John

  

Our Thinking Defines Our Living

4/2/14

Dear City Calvary,

As we have been learning in 1 Peter, we (those who believe in Jesus) are PRIVILEGED PEOPLE.  Why?  Through Jesus, we have been given a new birth into a living hope and into an eternal inheritance that will never perish, spoil, or fade, kept in heaven for us.  We are receiving the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls.  This salvation given to us is so incredible that Old Testament prophets searched diligently to understand it and even angels are amazed and eagerly watch it happen (1 Peter 1:3-12).  In other words, because of Jesus - we are born again into a family with the most powerful and wealthy Father in all the universe who is giving us an inheritance of untold riches that will last for all eternity.  In the spiritual realm, we are privileged people!!!  

So how should people of such privilege live?  1 Peter 1:13-17 tells us - in the way we think and the way we behave.  

            In the way we think, we are to:

                        * Be ready - with minds prepared for action (gird up the loins of your mind)

                        * Be sober - self-controlled in our thoughts

                        * Be hopeful - set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when you see                         Jesus.

            In the way we behave, we are to:

                        * Be obedient - as "obedient children"

                        * Be changed - not conforming to the evil desires we had prior to Jesus

                        * Be like our Heavenly Father - who says "Be holy because I am holy".

This Sunday in 1 Peter 1:18-21, we are to "know" something.  What is it we are to know?  Come and find out.  I guarantee, it is really good and so worth knowing.  Know what I mean!?!

Blessings in Jesus,

Pastor John