While making final preparations for Sunday morning's message, I met up with an old friend. A Calvin quote on the purpose of 1 Peter that I think I first read about five years ago. It struck me (reading it this afternoon) how much it sounds like our friend John Piper - if I may speak anachronistically.
"the main object of [1 Peter] is to raise us above the world, in order that we may be prepared and encouraged to sustain the spiritual contests of our warfare. For this end, the knowledge of God’s benefits avails much; for, when their value appears to us, all other things will be deemed worthless, especially when we consider what Christ and his blessings are; for everything without him is but dross. For this reason he highly extols the wonderful grace of God in Christ, that is, that we may not deem it much to give up the world in order that we may enjoy the invaluable treasure of a future life; and also that we may not be broken down by present troubles, but patiently endure them, being satisfied with eternal happiness. Further, when he gives thanks to God, he invites the faithful to spiritual joy, which can swallow up all the opposite feelings of the flesh." (John Calvin, Commentary on 1 Peter)How is this an Easter truth? Well, you'll have to read 1 Peter 1:4 to find out!
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