In many ways, Peter's exhortations for wives and husbands follow a standard cultural script - a script that seems severely dated to modern eyes. But there is more here than meets the eye. What happens to the authority structures in society and...

The mission of elect exiles is to live like Jesus so our hostile world will find life in Jesus. This calls for submission to governing authorities--even submission in unjust situations where there is no way out. Our model for responding properly when...

Christians are aliens and exiles wherever we find ourselves in this world. At the same time, we are at home in every place because we are joined to the Foundation Stone who is the ground of all lasting reality and we are being built in Him into an...

The Gospel is God's abiding message of salvation to his people. This news will not run out of relevance, and no amount of time can dispute God's Word. The Gospel takes root in the lives of God's people like a seed in soil, and the...

Christians have been set apart for an inheritance in Christ, much like an adult child who comes into possession of a rich, abundant farm. It is a sudden and unconditional gift, and yet one that comes with profound responsibility. The child must now...

Peter's letter is built on the resurrection hope. The Christian has been sealed for life, for an inheritance in Christ that cannot perish. It is because this inheritance is so good and so incontestable that we can endure suffering. We look...

Peter addresses his letter to exiles, in this case literally. But he writes knowing that all Christians are strangers in a strange land. In this brief opening, Peter reminds his recipients who they are: those known by God, set apart by the Spirit...

Christ took on our life that we might live by his. The grace that appeared on Christmas day was the grace of the Holy Spirit, making us alive and renewing us. We were heirs only to death, but Christmas is the news that God is good and loving, and will...

This week we begin a short Christmastide series on the appearing of our Lord. Titus refers to two appearances of God in history: the first as an appearance of his grace, the next an appearance of his glory. With Christmas, God revealed his intention...

An old man nearing death, Simeon discovers the infant Christ with his parents in the Temple. The sight of this baby is the sight of salvation itself. In this moment, Simeon's life is fulfilled and he can "depart in peace," leaving...