Not our Home - 1 Peter 1:1-9

Do you ever feel out of place? 

In 1st Peter 1:1-9 scripture speaks of the Christians living in what is now Turkey as exiles - they are away from their homeland. The Jews knew something of exile. Scripture tells the story of their exile in Babylon. Scripture, including later in this chapter, also uses exile to speak of Christians now living on the earth - this is not our home.

Over history Christians have often removed themselves from the world around us, staying only with other Christians and following spiritual practices. This is not the example Jesus gives us.

Jesus is our great example of living in exile, and the Apostle Paul urges us to think and live in exile as Jesus did. Consider Philippians 2 

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

  who, though he was in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God
    as something to be exploited,
  but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
    he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—
    even death on a cross.

Jesus left his eternal and infinite existence for exile in finite human flesh upon the earth, he laid aside his glory to take up great humility, and the honor he is due for the suffering of the cross.

In his life Jesus reveals the ways of heaven, forgiving sinners, touching lepers, giving sight to the blind healing the lame, seeking the lost, and condemning the self-righteous.

On the cross Jesus pays the price of our entry to his homeland, that it might become ours. In his resurrection, the eternal power of his origin bursts forth into ours, that we might be re-born into new life.

As exile upon the earth, while we are away from our eternal homeland with Jesus, we live as citizens of the kingdom of God, making a difference in Jesus' name.

 

Preached April 18, 2021 at Oviedo Presbyterian Church by Paul Ogne