The paradoxes at the start of 1 Peter have become increasingly precious to me…

Unlike the letters of Paul (who tends to write to people living in one city) and far more like the letter of Revelation, Peter is writing to believers who are scattered throughout provinces in what we know as Turkey today. Back then there may have been 5000 Christians out of a total 4 million people — and it is still about 5000 today, except that the total has lifted to 85 million.

But here is the paradox for Peter. These scattered ones are also spoken of as ‘the elect’ in v1, and ‘the chosen’ in v2. They may well be scattered, but they are also gathered by God to God. “Not one is missing, not one is forgotten” (The Message).

Scattered—but also Gathered (1.1-2)

So reflect on everything that comes to mind when we think of being scattered—and here is the antidote. Distant? But close, always close to God. Fearful? But confident, always confident in God. Forgotten? But remembered, always remembered by God. Scattered? But gathered, always gathered by God.

Peter’s readers are described with another word. The range of translations alerts us to the fact that it is not a straightforward one: be it aliens, exiles, refugees, strangers, or foreigners.

So which one is it? Maybe all of the above, but let’s go with ‘outsiders’.

Peter is writing to people who are not indigenous to Asia Minor—and probably Christians forced out of Rome, as part of a ‘romanizing’ policy to strengthen their hold on these distant regions. Maybe this is the expulsion from Rome referred to in Acts 18. Maybe when Peter “left for another place” in Acts 12, it was Rome to which he went and these people were ones he pastored before they were forcibly deported. This forced re-location led to a very real dislocation. Socially, they were outsiders.

Like me, many of you may have grown up spiritualising this language. Using words like pilgrim, or sojourner and singing along with ‘this world is not our home, we are just apassing through’. No! No!  First & foremost, this is about life on earth, not the journey to heaven. These people are outsiders. They do not have citizenship, or rights and privileges. They do not share the values and customs of the host society. They are a bit like refugees—as we saw in the Opening Ceremony in Paris this morning and that moving tribute to the man behind the IOC Refugee Olympic Team.

Peter is acknowledging that this very real situation is a picture of life as a Christian as well. His readers feel the foreignness, and that sense of being an outsider. At this point in history, it is unlikely to be Nero’s martyrdom, beheading or crucifixion—but Claudius’ slander, harassment, suspicion, marginalisation and abuse.

But here is the paradox for Peter. Though they be outsiders, they are also insiders.

They are drawn into the triune God in a way that stretches across time (1.2). In the past, we read it was the foreknowledge of God the Father at work. He had been thinking about them for a long time. In the ongoing present, it is the sanctifying work of the Spirit. The agency which God uses to make his work happen—and then this Spirit sticks around to make something else happen into the future: obedience to Jesus Christ. Oh yes, these readers are insiders, drawn into life with the living God.

Outsiders—but also Insiders (1.1-2)

So we can reflect on everything that comes to mind when we think of being an outsider—and here is the antidote. Isolated? But close, always close to God. Treated with suspicion? But cared, always cared for by God. Lost? But found, always found in God. Outsider? But insiders, always insiders to God.

I’ve been thinking and praying these thoughts for people whose names I cannot say, whose photos I cannot show and whose country I cannot locate—but who earlier this year took the microphone and sang a song. It was so moving to listen to them, the ‘gathered-insiders’ that they are—and I don’t want to forget them!

It is so easy to do…

There is no more for Heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing, “All is mine”
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

The night is dark, but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Savior, He will stay
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley, He will lead
Oh, the night has been won, and I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future’s sure, the price, it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave

To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus, now and ever is my plea
Oh, the chains are released, I can sing, “I am free”
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

With every breath, I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day, I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
“Yet not I, but through Christ in me”

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
“Yet not I, but through Christ in me”

When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
“Yet not I, but through Christ in me”
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

Source: Musixmatch. Songwriters: Michael Farren / Rich Thompson / Jonny Robinson. Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me lyrics © Farren Love And War Publishing, Integrity’s Alleluia! Music, Cityalight Music

nice chatting

Paul