1 PETER 2
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
– 1 Peter 2:1-3,11-12
1 PETER 2 PASSIONS OF THE FLESH
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As a child of God, one must get rid of all hatred and envy
The children of the light do not lie or engage in treachery
If they cannot control the passions of their flesh
It will consume them and let in more wickedness
Let go of all the old nature and put on your new creation
Your body, soul and spirit belong to your Creator.
This letter of Peter was addressed to the Christians scattered around in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. These places have been impacted by Greco-Roman culture and had been under Roman control since the mid-first century B.C. The Greeks and the Romans were not believers and they believed many gods and being in a place where polytheistic religion is the norm, it would have been very hard for them. They were heavily persecuting the Christians at this time and were surrounded by paganism and corruption from the control of those who were in power that time.
Peter is writing to them so that they will be encouraged to endure suffering and persecution. He admonishes them to put away all kinds of impurities because they are already surrounded by much corruption. He reminded them of their newborn status which they received when they professed their faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. He encouraged them to focus on longing to seek for the truth that comes in the word of the Lord so that their sufferings and trials may be occasions for them to endure and grow their faith. Because they have witnessed Christ’s love for them, they were instructed to focus on those promises that God has given his covenant people.
He urged them to be sojourners and exiles, reminding them that they are on a journey to their heavenly father and that their earthly sufferings are their ticket to their salvation. He cautions them to watch out for the passions of their flesh which can cause them to have inner conflicts and compromise their loyalty to the Lord. Because of the persecutions surrounding them, he warns them to continue wearing their new nature in Christ so that the Gentiles will be able to see God’s goodness through their conduct. In other words, they were to conduct themselves in holiness and righteousness and put off their old nature.
REFLECTION
- Cite examples of passions of the flesh that are rampant in our society now.
