Believe
Where are we going?  Two goals:
(1) How we can pull from the Old Testament and how it complements the New.  Understand the mindset of people of that time frame.  For us but not always to us.
(2) The simple lesson of belief 
Focus on belief although it is hard to separate it from faith, trust, repentance and obedience
Read Luke 4:16-30 (Holman translation)
14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity.  15 He was teaching in their synagogues, being praised by everyone.
16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up.  As usual, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.  17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written:
            18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
20 He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.  And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him.  21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this scripture has been fulfilled.”
22 They were all speaking well of him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from his mouth; yet they said “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
23 Then he said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself.  What we’ve heard that took place in Capernaum, do here in your hometown also.’”
24 He also said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.  25 But I say to you, there were certainly many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months while a great famine came over all the land.  26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them except a widow at Zarephath in Sidon.  27 And in the prophet Elisha’s time, there were many in Israel who had leprosy, and yet not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
28 When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was enraged.  29 They got up, drove him out of town, and brought him to the edge of the hill that their town was built on, intending to hurl him over the cliff.  30 But he passed right through the crowd and went his way.
But first, let’s look at a couple of parallel passages to discover an important point.
Matt. 13: 54-58.  
54 He went to his hometown and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?”  55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?  Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 And his sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where did he get all of these things?”  57 And they were offended by him. Jesus said to them “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.”  58 And he did not many miracles there because of their unbelief.
Note vs. 58
Mark 6: 1-6.  Note vs. 6
1 He left there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said.  “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands?  3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” 5 He was not able to do a miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 
6 And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Jesus made reference to two people: The widow at Zarephath who lived in Elijah’s time and Naaman who lived in Elisha’s time.  Our focus will be Vs 27. 
A brief history:
After king Soloman, the nation split in two.  Israel to the north and Judah to the south. Elijah and Elisha were prophets during that time with Elisha as a successor to Elijah.
At the time of Elisha, king Jehoram was king of Israel and Jehosephat was king of Judah. 
Syria to the north was conducting a series of raids on Israel and eventually invaded and eventually captured Israel around 720 BC.    
Let’s take a road trip to II Kings.  Specifically, II Kings 5:1-19.   Buckle up!
1 Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a man important to his master and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram.  The man was a valiant warrior, but had a skin disease.
   -Naaman was:
     (1) An army commander, important to the Syrian king of Aram.
     Highly regarded because the Lord used him…for what? 
          …..The Lord gave him victory.  He was a valiant warrior, raiding Israel.
             But had a skin disease – leprosy.
2 Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife.  3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”
      (2,3) Took captives.
             The slave girl knew of Elisha and was confident that he could help.
             She trusted God and Naaman trusted her.  He was desperate.
4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.  5 Therefore, the king of Aram said “Go, and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.”  So he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
       (4,5) Naaman Had the king’s ear and respect. The Letter: official business.
       Booty: 750 lbs. of silver @ $25/oz = $300K;
                     150 lbs. of gold @ $2000/0z = $4.8M    Plus clothing.
       This was a large caravan.  Several animals, servants, horses and chariots.
6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel and it read:
“When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.”
       (6) A note from the boss
  7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease?  Recognize that he is only picking a fight with me.” 
Vs. 7 – King Jehoram read the letter and tore his clothes.  “Am I God”
          “He is trying to pick a fight.”
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes?  Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.”  9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
Vs. 8,9 – When Elisha heard of this he sent a note to the king.  He was known.
         By both kings 2 Kings 3:12,13.  Send Naaman my way. I’ll show him
          There is a prophet in Israel.  Maybe also show Jehoram?
         Naaman’s caravan arrives at Elisha’s house and stands at the door.  What a    
         Contrast this must have been. 
10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean.”
Vs. 10 – Elisha sent a messenger to the door.  “Go wash in the Jordan and your
          Skin will be restored to you.”  Seems simple enough.
11 But Naaman got angry and left, saying “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the skin disease.  12 Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?  Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and left in a rage.
Vs. 11,12 – Naaman got angry enough to leave.  Read Naaman’s thoughts…
          “We have better rivers in Damascus, better than all Israel.”
          He left in a rage.
13 But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?  14 So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God.  Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.
Vs. 13 – He listened to the council of his servants…..and obeyed.
Vs. 14 – He did as Elisha had said and was cleansed.  More than healed…
15 Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there is no God in the whole world except in Israel.  Therefore, please except a gift from your servant.”
 
Vs. 15 – Naaman’s statement of belief.
16 But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not accept it.”  Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.
17 Naaman responded, “If not, please let your servant be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the Lord.”
Vs. 16,17 - An odd request; why dirt?  There is a large, fascinating area of study that has to do with cosmic geography.  We can only speculate about what Naaman intended to do with dirt but I believe it is connected to cosmic geography where Israel is holy land and his intention to worship only Yaweh. 
18 However, in a particular matter may the Lord pardon your servant: When my master, the king of Aram, goes into the temple of Rimmon to bow and worship while he is leaning on my arm, and I have to bow in the temple of Rimmon – when I bow in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.”
19 So he said to him, “Go in peace.”
 
Vs. 18,19 – My job includes supporting the king as he worships the god Rimmon.
           Am I okay?   Yes, God knows your heart.  You’re good. Go in peace. 
I believe there is a takeaway here.  We not only live among many different church traditions, but even in our Leveaner group we have various theology differences.  It’s the heart and only the heart that matters.
Back to Luke
Who was there?  Brothers, Sisters, childhood friends, synagogue family.
Why were thy angry?
Naaman and the widow were gentiles.
            Not the elect of Israel
No Torah - How will how know if he breaks the law?
No scripture - No Psalms, No basis for theology
No temple - No sacrifices
            No offerings
No festivals
No circumcision.
Neither Naaman or the widow brought anything to the table.  Only belief.
This was a point of friction in Jesus’s word at Nazareth
Jesus asks one thing of us: BELIEVE
This is what Jesus taught.
John 3: 14-18 (To Nicodemus)
14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.  16 For God so loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe in him is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.”
2000 years later after Jesus and 3000 years after Naaman and 4000 years after Abraham, what is required?  Belief. 
Micah 6:6-8  6 What should I bring before the Lord when I come to bow before God on high? Should I come before him with burnt offerings, with year old calves?  7 Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousand streams of oil?  Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the child of my body for my own sins?  8 Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord required of you:
To act justly,
To love faithfulness (mercy, compassion, kindness)
To walk humbly with your God
Not about performance before the New and certainly not after.
Paul wrote in Romans 5:8 “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
What can we bring to the table? Nothing but belief.
Every week at Lev we hear of our new heart, our identity, the fruit of the Spirit, of the abundant life…   It all starts with belief.
Remember Thomas, yes, doubting Thomas.  He gets a bad rap.  Recall that he wasn’t around the previous time when Jesus appeared to the disciples.  “I won’t believe”, he said, “until I see the nail prints…”
Jesus told him “Because you have seen me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believed.”
That’s you!
   
Some Additional References:
Matt. 8 The centurion’s servant “just say the word” Vs. 10 and 13
John 1: 11,12
John 5: 24
John 6: 28,29; 35; 40; 47
John 7: 37,38
John 20: 29 (to Thomas)
John 11:25
John 12:36
John 14:1
John 20:31
Acts 16:31
Romans 3:22; 4:3; 10:9;
Galatians 2: 15,16
I John 3: 23
 
II Kings 5:1-19
 
1 Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a man important to his master and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram.  The man was a valiant warrior, but had a skin disease.
2 Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife.  3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”
4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.  5 Therefore, the king of Aram said “Go, and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.”  SoSo, he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel and it read:
When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease?  Recognize that he is only picking a fight with me.”
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes?  Have him come to me, and he will know and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.”  9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean.”
11 But Naaman got angry and left, saying “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the skin disease.  12 Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?  Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?”  So he turned and left in a rage.
13 But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?  14 So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God.  Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.
15 Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there is no God in the whole world except in Israel.  Therefore, please except a gift from your servant.”
16 But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not accept it.”  Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.
17 Naaman responded, “If not, please let your servant be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the Lord.  18 However, in a particular matter may the Lord pardon your servant: When my master, the king of Aram, goes into the temple of Rimmon to bow and worship while he is leaning on my arm, and I have to bow in the temple of Rimmon – when I bow in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.”
19 So he said to him, “Go in peace.”

Crisis in the Churches of Northwest Asia

• The Christians throughout the Empire are suffering severe persecution.
• Peter has received word that the churches in northwest Asia are suffering massive attacks.
• They are distressed and in great need of encouragement.
• The persecution has become so bad that the Gentile Christians are being tempted to revert to their past pagan lifestyles to lessen the heat.
• Some believers are rebelling against local authorities because of the mistreatment and slander they are receiving from them.

PETER WRITES 1 PETER

• Year: A.D. 65
• From: Rome
• To: The churches in northwest Asia: Pontus, North Galatia, Cappadocia, and Bithynia.[1]
• 1) Set your hope (1:13)
• 2) Be holy (1:16)
• 3) Conduct yourselves (1:17)
• 4) Love one another (1:22)
• 5) Crave spiritual milk (2:2)

 
THE LIVING STONE AND A HOLY PEOPLE
1 Peter 2
1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.

• Peter is addressing behavior that is proper for Christians.
• However, he is not giving us a behavior verse in a vacuum.
• The key is found in the text prior to this section.
• Because we have been purified by the Gospel (1 Peter 1:17-24), we are empowered to live righteously.
• Notice that this is not “thou shalt not” language.
• Instead, this is about laying aside all that is not natural for the Christian.
• In the Old Covenant, there was no ultimate victory over sin.
• However, in the New Covenant God has provided a solution to the sin problem.
• When we believe we are given a new nature (see 2 Peter 1:3-4 - 3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.[2]).
• We can, therefore, act in a manner which fits our identity.

2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation,

• Peter is not talking about growing through Christian activity.
• Activity does not grow a person.
• The word of God, the Gospel of grace, grows the believer.
• As we form a better understanding of the finished work of Christ, we will mature.
• But the Gospel must be pure, without man-made religion added to it, or we will not grow.
• God has not designed us to grow spiritually under spiritual law.
• Instead, we are called to know the pure milk of the finished work of Christ.
• We will grow as we become more acquainted with God’s nature revealed in Christ.
• But we cannot let false gospels taint our understanding of the true Gospel.

3 if you have tasted that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)

• God’s kindness is what leads us to repentance.
• God is not mean or belligerent.
• He has kindness and gentleness towards us.
• He is a living and breathing being with infinite love and this love is directed to the world.
• Believers have tasted God’s kindness and have been changed as a result.
• And the more we embrace the kindness of God, the more we will grow.

4 As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God--

• Everyone on the planet looks at Jesus in one of two ways.
• He is either the most precious gift given to us, or He is the most offensive thing in existence.
• But Jesus is the same towards both groups.
• He is the living stone.
• All creation points to Him.
• Our salvation is in Him whether we believe or not.

5 you yourselves, as living stones,

• Believers are also considered living stones.
• Whatever righteousness Jesus possesses, we also possess by grace through faith (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• We are as pure and valuable as Jesus Christ Himself.
• The entire Trinity is pleased with us.
• Because He is pleased with us, He seeks to build us up using His kindness and love.
• The enemy uses legalism and judgment to tear people down. But God uses grace.

a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood

• Whereas the Old Covenant only allowed priests in the line of Aaron and Levi, in the New Covenant all who believe have been made holy or set apart as priests.
• This is due to the fact that believers have unending access to God because He lives within them.
• Therefore, there is no longer a need for the priest to enter the Holy of Holies on behalf of God’s people.
• In the New Covenant, we are the Holy of Holies.

to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

• Peter is an apostle to Jews.
• He is telling his fellow Jews that they are being built up into a holy priesthood.
• Historically, priests have been one person at a time.
• But now he’s saying that all believers are priests.
• Furthermore, he argues that sacrifices are no longer physical, as in the Old Testament, but now spiritual.
• And the sacrifice that God wants is for His children to simply present themselves as the living and holy people that they already are because of Christ.

6 For it stands in Scripture:
See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and honored cornerstone, (Ephesians 2:20)
and the one who believes in him
will never be put to shame. (Isaiah 28:16)

• Will not be put to shame: The Gospel does not disappoint believers.
• If our Christianity is disappointing, then it is not true Christianity.
• Whatever we long for and need from God, we have been given in the Gospel.
• God will never judge us, and He will never abandon us.
• Christ’s work is too perfect for this.

7 So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,
The stone that the builders rejected--
this one has become the cornerstone, (Psalm 118:22)

• God took Jesus, the one rejected by humanity, and made Him the cornerstone of all creation.
• He is eternal life itself.
• Notice that the cornerstone of the faith is not doctrine or theology.
• It is a person. Jesus Christ is the foundation for Christianity.

8 and
A stone to stumble over,
and a rock to trip over. (Isaiah 8:14)
They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.

• Before creation, the Trinity planned to save people through Christ.
• He is the cornerstone and the only way to the Father.
• However, God also determined that all who reject Christ will face judgment.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, (Exodus 19:5-6) a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises (Isaiah 43:21) of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

• God’s people are holy.
• We are not becoming more holy progressively.
• By one sacrifice we have been made perfectly cleansed (see also Hebrews 10:14).

 
A CALL TO GOOD WORKS
11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.

• Peter is encouraging believers to avoid sin, not in order to become more holy, but because they are holy.
• Believers are foreigners and strangers to sin now that they have been redeemed in Christ.
• These fleshly lusts wage war against our souls which are designed for righteousness.
• Believers have the mind of Christ and therefore are no longer designed for sin.

12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.

• God will return and show off His precious children.
• Because we are precious and excellent, we are to keep our behavior excellent.
• The world will see this behavior and, hopefully, glorify God upon His return.

13 Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority 14 or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. 15 For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.

• Submission to earthly rulers is for the Lord’s sake, or for the advancement of the Gospel.
• The world is to see our living in peace with one another, and loving those in authority, and believe in Jesus as a result.
• Peter is not saying that earthly leaders are correct about every opinion they hold.
• He is saying that they are in a position in which they punish evil doers.
• This is the position we are to respect even if we have disdain for their beliefs.

16 Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.

• There is a spiritual freedom underlying Peter’s word.
• There is nothing that can shake the salvation of the Christian because we are completely free in Christ.
• This is the true source of freedom for the Christian.
• To be sure, this freedom can be used in a negative way, but this is unfitting for believers.
• We are to use our freedom as bondslaves of God.
• Bondslaves have a choice.
• We are slaves to freedom and righteousness in Christ, and we have a choice to express this new propensity or not.

17 Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

• Nothing good has come from mistreating people.
• Therefore, Peter is trying to save the Christian time and energy.
• Loving people is always the right decision.
• We have nothing to lose from honoring one another.
• 1 Timothy 2:1 - First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.[3]
  
  

SUBMISSION OF SLAVES TO MASTERS
18 Household slaves, submit to your masters with all reverence not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel. 19 For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly.

• Peter is not asking believers to lead political revolutions.
• Instead, he is teaching Christians the importance of resting in their identity in the midst of whatever governmental context exists.
• The Gospel is trans-circumstantial meaning it applies in every context, but it does not guarantee a change in circumstance.

20 For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

• Suffering for doing what is right and for the sake of the Gospel is different than suffering as a result of sin.
• There are negative consequences when we sin.
• However, believers are inherently opposed to the ways of the world.
• As we live as lights we will suffer because who we are is in direct contradiction to the world system.

21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

• Peter is not encouraging seeking out pain and suffering for being a Christian.
• There is plenty of pain and suffering that will happen simply by virtue of being a Christian in this fallen world.
• This is Peter’s point.
• If we suffer because we are opposed to the ways of the world, then we are true believers who are intimately associated with Jesus in this life.
• Titus 3:1-2 - Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people.[4]
• Daniel
• Joseph
• Paul & Peter

22 He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; 23 when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.

• Just as Jesus trusted in His Father unto death, so are we to trust in God in the midst of our sufferings.
• Peter is not encouraging Christians to try and overthrow the government or change their circumstances in some forceful way.
• Instead, he is saying that regardless of whether circumstances change or not, we are to entrust ourselves to God, our Shepherd and Guardian.

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness.

• Peter is speaking of the certainty of the Christians death to sin in Christ.
• Therefore, the word might is not speaking of a hypothetical outcome.
• It speaks, rather, of a promised outcome for all who believe.
• Dying to sin is not a surface level action in which we become moralists.
• Instead, it is an inner reality in which Christ has changed our nature.
• We no longer thrive under the reign of sin.
• Christians are no longer compatible with anything but righteousness.

By his wounds you have been healed.

• Peter is speaking of the spiritual healing which occurred for all in Christ.
• When we believe we are healed spiritually from sin.
• This is not a verse guaranteeing physical healing.
• Miracles of physical healing are a reality but there is a difference between God acting in a miraculous way through physical healing and what has been achieved by the death and resurrection of Christ.

25 For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.[5]

• Peter is communicating the importance of knowing our safety in God.
• God is our eternal shepherd and guardian; he keeps us safe from the evil one and the world.
• When we believe we are forever saved and reunited with God.
• We are hidden with Christ in God and are therefore safe (Colossians 3:3).
• The Gospel, therefore, is designed to bring in rest and security for the Christian.
• False gospels promote fear which in turn encourages religious rules and regulations to be obeyed in order to earn somehow or keep God’s favor.[6]

[1] Viola, Frank, The Untold Story of the New Testament Church. Destiny Image, Shippensburg, PA, 2004. 166-167.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Pe 1:3–4.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Ti 2:1–2.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Tt 3:1–2.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Pe 2:1–25.
[6] Farley, Andrew. www.BibleCommentary.com. 1 Peter.