Christopher Olamiji Taiwo

According to 1 Peter 1:13, we should have full attention undivided mind about christ's coming by prepare our mind for action. It inspired hope because our now maligned faith will receive its full rewards of its praise, glory and honour. It inspired self-control and soberness because He is holy and we must be holy. Therefore, we must be free from fleshy life such as excess, passion, drunkenness and confusion. When we don't really expect Christ to come soon, our lives will base on worldly materials and set our mind on materialism.

1 Peter 1:18-19, say I am worthless without the precious blood of Jesus Christ but with the blood of Jesus Christ I am worthy more than anything in this world. 1 Peter 1:18-19 tells me how precious and important I am in the sight of God and God concerns over all His creation. This indicates that with the blood of Jesus Christ I have a long-term value of balance sheet and financial assets with God my creator now and beyond. My true long-term investments is everlasting life with Jesus Christ and the Father, because Jesus Christ is the Messiah and God anointed Saviour and only begotten Son of God and that His blood is precious and valuable in the presence of His Father

The people of our culture upset when they sense they are being judged by someone because they feel it is only the creator (God) has the right. God's love for the world and final judgment can reconcile through the way we lives our live in the present, as everyone will give account at judgment day. The final judgment must be at the core of the Good New of Jesus Christ because He paid the price of our salvation and He was also appointed by the Father. The Gospel became not and make no sense and people live their lives as they like when final judgment is left out or ignored

Holiness means separation and consecration, that is totally committed to the service of God in righteousness with pure heart. I am holy now by Jesus Christ's atonement called salvation. The biggest struggle with holiness is the world and itsmaterials, the environments and some of friends around us. I must be obedient to the words of God hate iniquity, love righteousness and resist any kind of temptations in order to become holy.

The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ should get our undivided attention because we will be rewarded and His glory will be manifested. It inspired hope so that we would be determined to live our lives in holiness. It inspired self control and soberness because He is holy and we should be holy as He is holy God. When we don't really expect Christ to come soon, it makes us to live sloppy life but the hope of His return quicken our spirit to live a holy life in anticipation of His quick returns.

The basis of Christian joy that is inexpressible and glorious is the salvation of our soul which is the goal of our faith. The joy interplay with human emotions because its quick by faith vision of God through the Holy Spirit inside us and it is essentially emotional. It differs from what is generally regarded as the pursuits of happiness because it is everlasting joy. Yes I can tell the genuine article of joy from the counterfeit which come from worldly things, it is a joy from grace of God not of works it is natural from God.

Yes I can remember several instances God used difficult circumstances to refine and purify my faith especially in my former office, in the ministry as a minister. What God really accomplished in my is salvation of my soul, He made me more committed and love Him more. Genuine tested faith brings glory to Jesus because it refined and purify faith so that I can trust Him, give Him praises and glorify in always.

According to 1 Peter 1:5 God's part in securing our salvation we were shielded by God's power until Jesus Christ is revealed while our part in the salvation base only in our faith in Jesus Christ.

Forgiveness and obedience come as a package because Jesus Christ is our High Priest. We were forgiven through our faith in Jesus Christ shedding blood on the cross and obedience is Christians destiny, we are to obey Jesus Christ in order obtain forgiveness according to John 3:16. It is a deceptive to think you can have either forgiveness without obedience or obedience without forgiveness because the two cannot be separated from each other. You cannot be forgiven without faith and obeying Jesus Christ by keeping His words. The true faith requires obedience because you must prove your faith by obeying what you believed and obedience is not a work but an act of what you believed. Therefore, salvation came through faith in Jesus Christ sacrifice on the cross not by any works or good deeds according to Ephesians 2:8-10.

I will describe the behaviour of a Christian who identifies more with his present homeland than his heavenly one as carnal Christian who accepted the forgiveness without obedience. Paul described them as carnal Christian according to the in Romans 8:5-8, they set their mind on the worldly things instead od heavenly things. To get our spiritual priorities straight, we must choose Bible as our best friend reading it, study it, meditating on the and obey every words in the Bible. God told Joshua to dwell in words day and night (Joshua 1:8 and Psalms 1:1-3). Bible is Christian manual to operate successful and fulfilled in this world full of sinful life.

Accordingto 1Peter 1:8-9, the basisof Christian joy that is inexpressible and glorious in the salvation of our soul and goal of our faith. The Christian joy of our salvation interplay with human emotions because it is something someone cannot explain, it is an endless joy, despite all the suffering and persecutions encountered on this planet there is an assurance of unlimited joy ahead when we finally finished our assignments faithfully see our Lord Jesus Christ face to face.

In my difficult circumstances to refine and purify my faith. God accomplished many things that brings glories and honours to Jesus Christ. I now does things patience even in my response to people and things, I overcame anger by enduring people hardship. I believed and teach people that with patience and endurance all things are possible to those that believe and trust God. During this period many of my colleagues thought it is over even my family because I came from Muslim background, but to the glory and honour to the Lord Jesus Christ I overcame and became stronger in faith and encourage others in having faith Jesus Christ.

1Peter 1:5 basically tells us that God secure us through our faith in His Son, but we must activate our faith by totally surrender ourselves to our Lord Jesus Christ so that our security will be sure. Jesus Christ says "If anyone loves Me,he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him (John 14:23).

Forgiveness and obedience comes together as a package because once we believe in the sprinkling of the blood for cleansing of sins we must believe and obey the commandment attached to our faith in the personthe sheds His blood. It is a deceptive to think that you can be forgiven without obedience to the condition the brought the forgiveness. We don't deserve the forgiveness it is by the grace and mercy of God that we were forgiven not of our righteousness or any good work but by our faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, forgiveness and obedience is a package for our transport to our heavenly home and to receive and blessing from our father.

The behaviour of a Christian who identifies himself /herself more with the present homeland than his/her heavenly one is carnal and worldly according to (Romans 8:5-8) because they are walking in the flesh and set their mind on the things on this homeland not on the heavenly things. To get our spiritual priorities straight, we most be genuinely born again as our Lord Jesus Christ says to Nicodemus in (John 3:3-6). We most chosen the Bible as our first and best friend, reading it, study it, meditating on it daily and practice the words (2Timothy 2:15).

The behaviour of a Christian who identifies himself /herself more with the present homeland than his/her heavenly one is a carnal Christian according to Romans 8:5-8. They are walking in the flesh pursuing the worldly things. To get our spiritual priorities straight we most be born again the change of mind set (repentance) choose the Bible as our best friend by reading, study, meditate and practice what the Lord says through His words.