Salvation Brings an Active Witness in the World
That ye should show forth the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness, into His marvelous light (2:9-10). We were shown to be a holy priesthood (2:4-5), glorifying the Father as we render the calves of our lips (Hosea 14:2). Here we are a royal priesthood, not going in to worship, but going out to be a shining witness in the dark world from which we have been delivered. The Christian is in the show and tell business. The salvation which we share was meant to be shown and shared. The Samaritan woman witnessed to the fact that she had received living water when she left her waterpot and went into the city (John 4:28). Her statement Come, see a Man was powerful because of the transformation in her life. We once were in the darkness. In fact we were darkness and we hated the Light. But we were delivered out of the authority of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of the Son of His Love (Col 1: 12-13). The Lord Jesus said, Ye are the light of the world (Matt 5:14). Do all our activities in the world manifest the light? Do we walk as children of light?
Salvation Brings an Abhorrence of Worldly Lusts
Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul (2:11). In the salvation which we share there is a constant warfare with the flesh, the sin principle within the believer. It is an unusual and dangerous warfare because the enemy is already within and, like an encamped army, is always ready to attack. The flesh principle has not been removed nor can it be improved. While the Christian is told to resist the devil and he will flee from you, and to love not the world, he is told to flee fleshly lusts (James 4:7, 1 John 2:15, 2 Tim 2:22). Paul told the Roman saints to put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof (13:14). The flesh cannot be catered to nor can it be played with. When we are presented with a danger, our two intuitive reactions are fight or flight. With the flesh the best response is flight. Get out of the situation immediately, for sin often takes place when desire and opportunity meet. Joseph used the flight response and got the victory. Achan and David lingered, savored the situation, and fell into sin. They did not restrain the cravings of their lower natures (Gen 39, Josh 7, 2 Sam 11).
Salvation Brings an Affinity for the Will of God
For so is the will of God that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men (2:15).
Peter learned the great truth of doing the will of God when the Lord said to him after his restoration, If I will (John 21:22). Four times in this epistle he mentions the will of God. The time past of our lives may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles. We are to live the rest of our time to the will of God (4:2-5). Peter told his readers that we are the bondservants of God (2:16). The Hebrew bondservant could earn the right to be set free after six years of service. However, if, because of his love for his master, his wife, and his children, his reason to serve was greater than his desire to be free, he would be taken to the door and have his ear bored through with an aul. He was thus marked as one who had given up his own will because of his devotion. He would then be forever conscious of the will of his master and would serve him forever (Ex 21:1-6). Do we have an affinity for His will? It is revealed in His Word! Are we pliable in the hands of the Potter? Paul as a new convert said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? (Acts 9:6).
Salvation Brings an Adjustment in the Wardrobe
Which is in the sight of God of great price (3:4). Whose adorning let it not be the outwardlet it be the hidden man of the heart Is the inward man important? Peter shows us that it certainly is! But is the outward important as well? Again Peter says it certainly is! It is invariably a reflection of the inward. Peter deals with the cosmetology of the inner man where the grace of God has produced a gentle and peaceful spirit. This is very much in contrast with the spirit of the present age. In the cosmetology of the outer man there are a number of questions raised by a meditation on our text and which will help us decide what is acceptable in the wardrobe. Is this displaying the natural beauty which God has given to His creatures or is it artificial and superficial? Has it been decided on in the sight of God or in the eyes of the world? Will it arouse baser instincts when seen by the opposite sex? Is it what I would wear if my hope were set on God? Will it cause me to be described as being, like Sarah, as one of the holy women? The passage shows us that the way one is adorned outwardly is a manifestation of what is going on in the heart! May we ask ourselves these questions: In whose sight do I dress? Whom do I attempt to please? How important to me is the expression, in the sight of God?
