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The Key

You are a forgiven person. You have been cleansed of all your sins. Don’t forget this truth. It is the key that unlocks the door to spiritual growth. If you are not growing, it’s because you have forgotten what Christ accomplished for you at the cross, and as Peter wrote in his second letter, you have become nearsighted and blind.

When Peter was penning these words, I wonder if he thought about that last supper when Jesus raised the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me?” We don’t know for sure, but it is clear that Jesus’ words found a home in Peter’s heart. He was not going to forget what the Lord had done, and he wanted to make sure that his readers would never forget as well.

Let God’s forgiveness take root in your heart. Stand firm in the fact that God remembers your sins no more. When you do, you’ll be able to participate in the divine nature and say with confidence that you have been given everything you need for life and godliness.

Two Gospels?
James 4:1 – 1 Peter 3:22

Are there two different gospels, one for the Jews and one for the Gentiles? I get a letter or an e-mail almost weekly from someone touting this idea. But is it true? Did Peter and the twelve preach a different gospel than Paul? Did Peter focus solely on the message of the Kingdom and leave the Gospel of grace for Paul to preach?

Some will read this and answer the questions with a resounding yes. This answer just leaves me scratching my head. I don’t get it, and believe me, I have tried.I can’t find but one gospel message in Scripture, a message that is good news for both Jew and Gentile alike.

Check out 1 Peter. Here are some of the phrases you’ll find in the first two chapters: “Born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”, “redeemed by the precious blood of Christ,” “He bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” If Peter was teaching another gospel, why was he so focused on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Those who buy into the two message theory will try to point me to passages in the Gospels to prove that Peter was only interested in the message of the Kingdom. He also denied the Lord. That doesn’t prove anything other than the fact Peter was clueless until the resurrection and the giving of the Holy Spirit. Paul was clueless as well. He was persecuting Christians until he met the Lord on the road to Damascus. And if you asked Paul why, he would have told you that this Jesus guy was nothing more than a phony and that when the real messiah comes He will restore the kingdom to Israel.

But that changed when the Spirit of God invaded their lives. Their religious upbringing focused their attention on Israel. The Spirit of God turned their hearts toward Jesus and empowered them to boldly proclaim His death, burial and resurrection. Peter went to the Jew, Paul to the Gentile. To each group they proclaimed the fullness of God’s love and grace found only in the person of Jesus Christ.

They spoke as one. Why are we trying to complicate it?