104: Letter 104 — The Address: Resident Foreigners (1 Peter 1)

Peter’s first readers became foreigners without ever leaving home. Today we ask how a believer lives as a resident foreigner without settling in or pulling back, and what Peter says to the ones in the fire.

In this letter

– What following Jesus cost in a Roman city

– Paroikia (G3940), the time of your stay here

– The Christian who settles in and the Christian who pulls back

– Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles in Babylon

– Trials as refining, with Job 23:10

– Loving a Christ you have not seen

– A word for anyone who feels like a stranger right now

Scripture — 1 Peter 1:6–8, 17, 2:11–12, 4:4, Jeremiah 29:4–7, Job 23:10, John 20:29

The question to sit with

Which way do you drift, toward settling in or toward pulling back? When did following Jesus last cost you anything, and which neighbor has watched you do good up close?

Coming tomorrow | The Whole Letter.

> There’ll be more mail tomorrow.

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The Believer’s Creed

I believe in the eternal God— 
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit— 
One in essence, infinite in glory, 
the Maker of heaven and earth, 
whose wisdom shaped all things seen and unseen. 

I believe in Jesus Christ, 
the only begotten Son of God, 
conceived by the Holy Spirit, 
born of the Virgin Mary, 
holy and humble, yet Lord of all. 
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, 
was crucified, died, and was buried; 
He descended into the depths of hell, 
and on the third day He rose victorious. 
He ascended into heaven, 
and now reigns at the right hand of the Father, 
from where He will come again 
to judge the living and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit, 
the breath and power of God within us, 
who gives life, convicts hearts, and sustains faith. 
Through the Spirit, the Church is made holy, 
a communion of saints across all generations. 
I believe in the forgiveness of sins, 
the resurrection of the body, 
and life everlasting in the presence of God. 

I believe in the sacred mystery of the Trinity— 
not three gods, but one holy unity: 
Father, Son, and Spirit—eternal, unchanging, divine. 

I believe in the sacred story revealed in Scripture: 
that from the beginning, light has warred against darkness, 
and though the enemy rose in pride, 
God’s promise prevailed through the Seed— 
Christ Jesus, born of a woman, 
who triumphed through His cross and empty tomb. 

I believe salvation is a gift of grace— 
received by faith, sealed by repentance, 
and made real through the transforming love of God. 

I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, 
a lamp for our path and truth for every soul. 

I believe in the call of baptism— 
a burial of the old, a rising to new life in Christ. 

I believe the Holy Spirit empowers believers 
with gifts of healing, wisdom, and tongues, 
that we may glorify God and serve the world in love. 

I believe in divine healing, 
for the power that raised Christ from the grave 
still moves with mercy among His people. 

The Believer’s Charge 

We believe that we are called and anointed— 
not as spectators, but as servants of the living God. 
We are His witnesses in all the earth, 
ambassadors of reconciliation and bearers of His light. 

We believe that Christ has commissioned us 
to go into the world and proclaim His gospel, 
to speak truth to the lost and hope to the broken, 
to open blind eyes and set captives free. 
In His name we move without fear, 
for the Spirit goes before us with power and signs. 

We believe the promise of our Lord: 
that these signs will follow those who believe— 
we shall cast out demons in His name, 
speak with new tongues of heavenly fire, 
lay hands upon the sick and see them restored, 
tread upon the works of the enemy, 
and walk in the authority of the risen Christ. 

We believe that the Spirit within us 
confirms the Word with power and grace— 
that we are vessels of His love, 
agents of His mercy, 
and temples of His presence. 

We choose to live as those sent by God, 
our hearts aflame with His gospel, 
our hands ready to serve, 
our voices lifted in praise, 
our lives poured out for His glory. 

The Blessed Hope

I believe in the glorious return of Jesus Christ, 
who will restore all things 
and reign in righteousness and peace. 

And I believe in eternal life— 
the home prepared for the redeemed, 
and the solemn truth of judgment for the unrepentant. 

This is our faith, our confession, our calling, and our hope. 
To God be the glory—forever and ever. 
Amen.

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