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[Chaplain]

We cannot change our heart, but we can change our mind.

1 Peter 1:13
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Because we understand those things that were only a mystery to the prophets and angels, we’re to think soberly. What does it mean to “gird up the loins of your mind”? In Bible days, men would wear ankle-length robes. But if they wanted to move quickly or freely, they would loop the bottom of their robes over their belts. Thus, Peter is saying, “Don’t walk around with long robes or long faces. Pull up the mental garments that are tripping you up. Change your way of thinking concerning your situation.”

It’s such an important principle. You cannot change your heart, but you can change your mind. God can change your heart. He won’t change your mind, but if you choose to change your mind, God will change your heart.

We must not conform ourselves to the former lusts that we enjoyed before God saved us.

1 Peter 1:14–16
So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

When people go through difficulty, there is a tendency for them to drift into carnality. “Oh, what’s the use,” they say. “Let’s just watch a video.”

As we face trials and difficulties, Peter tells us we’re to gird up the loins of our minds, to think soberly, and hope to the end. Whatever we do, we’re not to return to our old fleshly inclinations, for God says we’re to be holy, to be whole. In other words, we’re not to tear ourselves apart or wear ourselves down with sin and sloth, laziness and iniquity. Instead, we’re to choose in the midst of our difficulty to think rightly.

Do we fear the repercussions of our sins?

1 Peter 1:17
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.

Keep the context in mind. Peter says to a group of people going through really tough times, “In the midst of this difficulty you can either experience unspeakable joy, or you can feel sorry for yourself and drift back into carnality. If you return to carnality, know the repercussions are going to be heartbreaking. Therefore, pass the time in fear—not fear of the Father, but fear of the repercussions of your sin.”

What is the cure for the carnal lifestyle?

1 Peter 1:18, 19 (a)
For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ…

“If you have a tendency to return to your carnal lifestyle, I want you to remember that you were purchased with the blood of Christ,” Peter says.

Why did it take the blood of Christ to purchase us?

The wages of sin is always death. Look carefully at the blood pulsing from the veins of Jesus Christ. See the thorns smashed into His skull. Listen to the crowd around Him mocking and cursing Him. Understand that is what sin does. The only way we, our kids, or our friends and neighbors will understand the result of sin is to look at the Cross.

Jesus, our Passover Lamb ("a graphic picture of what sin does").

1 Peter 1:19 (b), 20
…the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.

In the infamous work The Passover Plot, it is suggested that the disciples drugged Jesus on the Cross, which caused Him to swoon until He “came to” in the tomb, appearing to come back to life. While visiting a college campus, I noticed that this book is still being sold and is required reading for a certain course on religion.

I, too, believe in the Passover plot—that it was plotted before the foundation of the world. Jesus Christ would be sent to die as a Passover Lamb for my sin. In looking on Him as a Lamb slain, I see not only His grace and mercy, but a graphic picture of what sin does.

What is the cure for animosity?

1 Peter 1:21, 22
Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.

“They’re going to persecute you,” Jesus told Peter. “They’re going to stretch out your arms and take you where you don’t want to go,” He said, speaking of the manner of his death (see John 21:18-19). “What about this man?” Peter asked as he pointed to John. “What is that to thee?” Jesus answered. “Follow thou Me.”

When pressure rises, when persecution comes down, when things are tough, like Peter, we say, “How come he’s not going through it?” or, “How come she’s got it made in the shade?” If we’re not careful in the time of difficulty, we can raise questions about one another and even experience a certain degree of animosity. Perhaps because he himself felt this, Peter said the solution is to love one another fervently—and then goes on to give us four reasons why we should.

People become born again when they believe the message of the Gospel.

1 Peter 1:23–25
For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

The first reason we are to love one another fervently is because we are children in the same family, born not of man but by the explosive power of the Word of God.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1548). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson

 

[Chaplain]

Why do believers stop reading or studying God's Word?

1 Peter 2:1–3
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Peter closed the first chapter of his epistle by saying we should love one another fervently because we’re members of the same family. Just as we were all conceived by the incorruptible Word of God, as newborn babes, we’re to continue in the Word of God.

If you’re a parent, you know how newborn babes crave milk. In the middle of the night, they want milk. When you’re trying to study, they want milk. Every few hours they want milk. Peter says we’re to be the same way. He doesn’t say if we’re newborn babes, or when we’re newborn babes, but rather we’re to continue all the days of our lives as newborn babes, craving the sincere milk of the Word.

If we are all in the Word together, the result will be unity. If you don’t believe me, take a look around. This group of people would never get together for any other reason except the Word. We have different interests, political inclinations, ideas, philosophies, and backgrounds. However, as we study the Word, we are knit together in unity.

That is why we are to lay aside the slow-burning anger of malice, the trickery of guile, and the divisiveness of hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking. The degree to which those attributes exist in our lives will be the degree to which our hunger for the Word will be diminished.

No matter how good the meal my wife, Tammy, prepares for me, if I stop off at McDonald’s on the way home and score a couple of Quarter Pounders with large fries—and super-size the whole deal—when I get home, I won’t be interested in what she’s made.

When people stop reading or studying the Word, it’s because they’re eating the junk food of the world. That’s why Peter says, “First lay aside the junk and then you will desire the milk of the Word.”

People are the church, not the building.

1 Peter 2:4, 5 (a)
You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones…

Peter says not only are we children in the same family, but we are stones in the same building. Several years ago, there was a mini controversy at Applegate Christian Fellowship for a few days relating to whether young men should be allowed to wear hats in church. While I understand the concern for respect, the issue wasn’t that guys were wearing hats in church. The issue was that the church was wearing hats. The building isn’t the church—the body is! We are the living stones.

People like to be on the church grounds at Applegate Christian Fellowship. They enjoy the amphitheater, the sanctuary, the mountaintop. I like to be there, too. Why? It’s not because the grounds are anything special. It’s because the fragrance of the church is left behind. These buildings are nothing more than buildings. But because the church is here worshiping and praying, studying and fellowshiping with the Lord, the environment is filled with the fragrance of Jesus.

What does it mean that we are living stones?

1 Peter 2:5 (b)
…are being built up a spiritual house…

That we are living stones who are being built up, or fit together, as a spiritual house brings to mind a most interesting Scripture.…

"The stones used in the construction of the Temple were finished at the quarry, so there was no sound of hammer, ax, or any other iron tool at the building site." 1 Kings 6:7

When Solomon’s temple was being constructed, all of the chiseling, hammering, cutting, and chipping was done underneath the old city of Jerusalem. When the stones were taken to the temple mount, they could be fit together in silence.

We’re living stones being fit together for an eternal temple in heaven. This life is the quarry, which explains why we always feel like we’re being chipped and chiseled. “Why am I next to this blockhead?” you ask, or, “Why are they part of the family?” You know why? As living stones, we constantly rub against one another, knocking rough edges off one another in the process. You see, God puts us right next to the very people He knows will smooth us down so He can build us up into a temple for His glory.

The problem is, I try to get away from the blockhead I’m rubbing against. But because God puts us in fixes to fix us, He puts us with people and in situations He knows will shape us most effectively. So if I try to fix the fix God put me in, He will be faithful to put me in another fix to fix the fix He wanted to fix in the first place! If we don’t learn this, we’ll go from fix to fix until finally we say, “Okay, Lord. I’m not going to try to fix this, or wiggle out of that, but I’m going to embrace and accept where You have me because I know You’re doing a work on me, shaping me for eternity.”

1 Peter 2:5 (c)–8
What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

According to tradition, during the construction of Solomon’s temple, work went smoothly until the builders were unable to locate the cornerstone. Word was sent to send the missing stone up to the temple mount.

“We sent that stone a long time ago,” the quarriers replied.

The builders were confused until one of them remembered a perfectly cut stone that was tossed over the gully into the Kidron Valley because no one knew what to do with it.

The rejected cornerstone is a biblical allusion that shows up again and again throughout Scripture (Isaiah 28:16-18; Psalm 118:22; Acts 4:11).

“It was a mistake to marry him,” she cries.
“I can’t figure her out,” he sighs.
“This is unworkable. Let’s quit,” they say.
The same thing happened to Jesus.…
“How can this carpenter, this peasant, be the Messiah?” they scoffed. “He leads no army. He has no credentials. Let’s get rid of Him,” they said.

Instead of saying, “Dump them,” you and I must be those who look at people and situations and say, “I bet this is the Cornerstone working in my life. Jesus is using this situation in some way I can’t figure out. It doesn’t fit in with my thinking. It doesn’t work according to my calculation or design—but somehow, even as He was rejected, this could very well be a key to what He is doing in my life.”

Believers are priests of God.

1 Peter 2:9 (a)
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood…

Not only are we children in the same family and stones in the same building, but we are priests in the same temple.….

1 Peter 2:9 (b), 10
…a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

As children of the same family, stones in the same building, priests in the same temple, we are also citizens of the same nation. People look at us and say, “What a peculiar group you are.” Any nation that would heavily fine a person for destroying an eagle’s egg, yet actually encourage the destruction of a human embryo is peculiar indeed. Therefore, I’m glad they look at us as being strange!

Why does Peter warn believers to abstain from fleshly lusts?

1 Peter 2:11 (a)
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts…

As a body, we are to do three things in light of our unity. First, we are to live in purity. Having talked about trials and persecution from without, Peter seems to shift gears here and address the potential danger from within. “I beseech you,” he says. “I beg you. I plead with you. Hear the cry of my heart: Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against your soul.”

In times of difficulty, people sometimes say, “Why should I refrain? Why should I abstain? I just can’t take it anymore.”

Peter answers, “Even as things get tough, whatever you do, don’t give in to your fleshly lusts. Be careful. You’re vulnerable.” Perhaps better than anyone else, Peter knew what he was talking about, for he was one who succumbed to his fleshly lusts when things got tough.

“Watch and pray,” Jesus told him specifically, “lest you enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). Peter listened to his flesh, saying, “This Passion Week has been pretty intense. You need a break. Kick back. Relax.” So he did. A few hours later, standing by the fire not of persecution, but of temptation, Peter ended up denying Jesus three times. Shaken in his soul, he wept bitterly (Luke 22:62).

Peter knows what he’s talking about when he says to the early believers, to you, and to me, “I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims. Abstain from the lust of this world.” Notice Peter doesn’t say, “Refrain temporarily,” or, “Know when to say when,” or, “Be sure you have a designated driver.” No, he simply says, “Abstain completely.”

Satan's strategy against our personalities, our emotions, our wills, and our volition.

1 Peter 2:11 (b), 12
…which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

The Greek word translated “war” is strateuomai, from which we get our word “strategy.” The Enemy has a strategy to war against your soul—your personality, your emotions, your will, your volition. The strategy of Satan is simply to say, “Abstinence is too old-fashioned, too legalistic, too unrealistic, too harsh. Just know when to say when. Be wise in what you’re doing.”

You see, gang, Satan won’t come blasting into your life with a drug dealer in tow. No, his strategy is much more subtle. He simply wants you to compromise a little here and a little there, until there is nothing left of your purity. The problem with lust is not that it hurts God or others. The problem with lust is that it wars against us. It tears us down as it wears us down.

Submission to Government

1 Peter 2:13–20
For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king. You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

We are to walk in purity and humility. At the time of Peter’s writing, a majority of Rome’s population were slaves. They were treated as less than human. Peter instructs them to not only honor the king, but to submit to their masters. How, then, can we have the audacity to snivel about our president or whine about our bosses when our brothers and sisters served cruel masters and honored a demented king whose main objective was to annihilate them?

Lord, forgive us.

Why is Jesus so special?

1 Peter 2:21–25
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

We are to walk in purity, humility, and we are to walk in conformity to the Lamb. Facing persecution, the early believers were not left on their own without a model to follow, for “Christ also suffered for us, leaving an example, that we should follow in his steps.”

When my son Peter-John was about three years old, we were playing in the snow, and I said, “Come on, PJ, follow in my footprints if you can.” He couldn’t. My stride was too big.

To be frank, folks, I look at a verse like this and read that when He was being wrongly, cruelly, terribly treated, Jesus didn’t answer back. I am to follow His steps. Yet I know I can’t do this because I want to fight back; I want to let my opinion be known; I want to make sure I’m heard. Here’s the good news: Jesus not only is our example; He is our enabler. He is not only the Lamb He is the Shepherd of our souls.

Peter-John did indeed follow in my steps that day—as I lifted him into the air and back down again and again so that he could put his feet in each one. He followed in my footsteps not only because I gave him steps to follow, but because I also enabled him to do so by lifting him up.

That’s what our Lord does. He’s the One who hoists me up and allows me, if I’ll let Him, to follow in His footsteps.

And He’ll do the same for you.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1555). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson

 

[Chaplain]

How do Christian wives win a lost husband to the Lord?

1 Peter 3:1, 2
In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.

As a pastor, I have found that, when a man gets saved, his wife and his kids follow him in faith. Such was the case in the house of Cornelius (Acts 10), as well as in the family of the Philippian jailer (Acts 16). When a woman is saved first, however, I have found she tends to come alone. This is partly due to a phony sense of male superiority that says, “If she found it first, how right can it be?” Or, “This church stuff doesn’t fit in with the macho image I’ve cultivated so carefully.”

Consequently, Peter is saying to wives, “Even if your husbands aren’t saved, don’t preach at them. Don’t put tracts in their lunchbox when you send them off to work. Don’t turn on the Christian radio station when you go to bed. You are to win your husbands simply by submitting to them.”

Real beauty comes from within.

1 Peter 3:3, 4 (a)
Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible…

The Greek word translated “adorn” is kosmos, which means “ordered universe,” and from which we get our word “cosmetic,” so here Peter is speaking of an order not of the outward appearance, but an order in the inner person. “Don’t make clothes, jewelry, or the way you fix your hair the center of your universe or your top priority,” says Peter. If you do, you’re missing God’s best for you.

Women with a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

1 Peter 3:4 (b)
…even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Derived from the idea of a powerful horse brought into submission, the Greek word translated “meek” is praus, which means “strength under control.” Thus, a meek person is one who is centered, grounded, one who knows what he or she is about, who has a godly perspective on life. It is no wonder, then, that to the Lord, a meek and quiet spirit is never out of style.

I believe heaven will prove to be the great reversal. That is, many of those who appear on the cover of People magazine today will, in eternity, be shriveled, insignificant, or absent altogether—while many of those on earth who are today thought of as unattractive, unimportant, and insignificant will be beautiful in heaven because of their inner person. For the next billion years, no one will care about your hair or biceps, your wardrobe or your tan. All that will matter is whether you cultivated a meek and quiet spirit.

The marriage of Abraham and Sarah.

1 Peter 3:5, 6
This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.

Not only are wives to be attractive inside, they are to stand by their husbands’ side. The example used here is an interesting one, for Peter reaches back to the Old Testament and singles out Sarah as the model of a submitted woman.

Catch the scene:

Sitting in front of his tent, Abraham saw three men headed his way. As they drew nearer, he realized they were unique—and indeed they were, for they were two angels and the Lord. Running out to greet them, he fell at their feet, saying, “Come to my tent and be refreshed.” Over dinner, the Lord said to Abraham, “Sarah will bear a son”—a reiteration of the promise given to him years before (see http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis 12:2&version=NLT;AMP;NKJV). Hearing this, Scripture says Sarah laughed within herself (Genesis 18:12).

The story is pertinent because in reaching back to this particular event, Peter is saying that Sarah called Abraham “lord” at the very point she was having a hard time believing his vision. How needed is the submissive spirit of Sarah today. The wife who hears the vision, the dream, the call of her husband, is tempted to say, “No way. You’re too old. You’re untrained. You’re not qualified enough. You’re not smart enough. You’re not skilled enough. Forget it!”

A dear friend of mine loved the Word and felt called to start a ministry. “That’s impractical,” said his wife. “Get your head out of the clouds and your feet back on the ground. This is just not going to happen.” He let go of the vision. Today they’re divorced, and their kids are heartbroken.

How much better it would have been had this wife taken Peter’s simple, practical word and said, “Here’s my perspective, honey, but whatever the Lord leads you to do, I’ll travel with you.” How much better it would have been if, like Sarah, in the moment of her own doubting, she chose to honor her husband, even though his vision didn’t make sense to her.

“I would be happy to believe in my husband’s vision,” you say. “But let me tell you, my husband’s no Abraham!”

For that, you can be glad—for you recall the story.…

To escape famine in the land, Abraham headed to Egypt. He took Sarah with him. Once there, Abraham instructed Sarah to tell people they were brother and sister, knowing Pharaoh would kill him in order to add Sarah to his harem. This amazes me until I remember that, although Abraham is indeed a giant of the faith, he is still a man with flaws and weaknesses. “Take these camels, goods, and servants,” said Pharaoh to Abraham. “Your sister is one pretty lady.” So Abraham became a wealthy man. What about Sarah? Even though Abraham had let her down, God didn’t. He protected her when He plagued the house of Pharaoh, rendering Pharaoh unable to touch her (see Genesis 12:17).

Even though Abraham was going in the wrong direction, God protected Sarah and enriched the family as a result of her obedience. As for Abraham, he suffered the consequences of his sin. His heart was later broken when he had to let go of the son born to him through his union with one of the servants given him by Pharaoh (Genesis 16:3-4).

When I lead my family in the wrong direction, God deals with me directly. Because Tammy travels with me, God protects her and enriches our family through her submission. As you study Abraham’s life, you see that a key component to his greatness was having Sarah for his wife—one who traveled with him, one who trusted in God, one who called him lord.

Wives, don’t strive with your husbands. If he has a dream, if there’s something on his heart, if he senses a calling stirring within him—even if it doesn’t make sense to you, even if you might be worried about the financial repercussions, don’t get in his way. Travel with him. If you don’t, he will become quenched spiritually, your family will be fractured unnecessarily, and years will be tragically lost. Be like Sarah—even if you have to stifle a chuckle or two—and watch the Lord bless abundantly.

Husbands.

1 Peter 3:7 (a)
Husbands, likewise…

Of his seven verses dealing with marriage, Peter spends six of them addressing women. I think there’s a reason for that.

If you went to a pet store to buy a pet turkey, you would pick up a cage, food, water bowl, and a booklet, wherein you would find lengthy instructions on how to care for your pet. The turkey, on the other hand, wouldn’t need a book telling him how to live with you because the smarter one gets the instructions.

I think you see the analogy! Women are given a greater amount of instruction because their challenge to live with men can be much more difficult! Peter makes it as simple as he can for husbands when he tells them they are to do three things.…

How does a husband get to know his wife deeply?

1 Peter 3:7 (b)
…dwell with them with understanding…

As a husband, I am to know my wife deeply, profoundly, in the way she deserves to be known. How does this happen? I believe the answer can be seen in the way our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, relates to His bride.

At the outset of His public ministry, Jesus called Philip to follow Him. So impressed was Phillip with Jesus that he told his friend Nathanael he had found the Messiah.

“Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
So Nathanael did.
“Behold, an Israelite in whom is no guile,” said Jesus of Nathanael.
“How do you know me?” asked Nathanael.
“Before you came to meet Me, when you were sitting under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus said.
“Truly You must be the Master,” Nathanael said.
“Stick around, Nathanael,” said Jesus, “for you will see angels descending and ascending from heaven.”
And Nathanael followed Jesus from that moment on (see John 1:43–51; 21:2).

Rabbinical literature indicates that studying was often done under a fig tree, the national symbol of Israel. Thus, Nathanael was studying when Jesus saw him. I suggest he was reading the account in Genesis 28. Jacob, a man whose name meant “guile,” was in a place he thought was forsaken by God. Yet in his sleep, Jacob saw a ladder come down from heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it. Thus, it could be that when Jesus referred to him as an Israelite in whom there was no guile, no “Jacob”—and then went on to refer to Himself as the Ladder upon which the angels ascend and descend, Nathanael might have thought, That’s the story I was just reading a few moments ago! (see John 1:43–51)

Jesus, the Bridegroom, knew His bride, Nathanael, because Nathanael was studying the Word. The best way for you to have knowledge of your wife, husband, is to spend time with her in the Word.

Why are women the weaker vessel?

1 Peter 3:7 (c)
…giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel…

Not only are we to have knowledge of our wives, but we are to honor them as weaker vessels. The idea of her being the weaker vessel does not mean she is intellectually, morally, or spiritually inferior. On the contrary, her weakness stems from her innate desire for spirituality. In the Garden of Eden, it was Eve Satan seduced—not to party, but to be more spiritual. Eve was the weaker vessel in the sense that she was more vulnerable to Satan’s suggestion that she eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in order to be more like God (Genesis 3:5).

This helps me understand that my wife will innately have a desire for the Lord that will perhaps transcend my own. Thus, I can be blessed by her relationship with Him. On the other hand, she will also be more vulnerable to some of Satan’s subtle seductions. So we need each other.

After the Fall, the situation worsened due to the curse which said that although the desire of the woman would be for the man, it would be the lot of the man to work hard for a living (Genesis 3:16-19). That is why husbands hear their wives saying, “I just want to be with you,” and why wives hear their husbands saying, “I just want to provide for you.” It’s the curse that affects every marriage to one degree or another.

God put our wives in our lives to enrich us.

1 Peter 3:7 (d)
…and as being heirs together of the grace of life…

Not only are husbands to have knowledge of and give honor to their wives, they are to be enriched by their wives. Suppose you inherited ten thousand dollars, but your wife inherited ten million dollars. Would you choose to have a joint checking account? Would you choose to be joint heirs? I think so!

Husband, you can enjoy the charis, the grace, the “beauty of life” if you see your wife as being rich in the things of God.

“Oh, but I don’t need my wife spiritually,” you might be thinking. “I’m a mighty man of God.” So was Moses.

God had called Moses to set His people free. Yet after hearing the Word of the Lord, he found himself pinned down by Lord’s strength. Intuitively realizing what was happening, his wife, Zipporah, grabbed a sharp rock and circumcised their son. The Lord then released Moses to go on to become the leader of the nation of Israel (Exodus 4:25).

You see, God had told Moses that the eldest sons of the Egyptians would die. Moses had a problem in that his own son was not circumcised according to the covenant of God. Zipporah knew this. Oh, others might have been in awe of Moses. Others might have been impressed with Moses. Others had certainly been led by Moses. Zipporah knew that God would not continue to use Moses if he failed to tend to his own son.

So often, it’s the wife who will say, “Others might think you’re Mr. Wonderful, but because I want to see you become what I know God has called you to be; because I want you to be the leader of our family; because I want our sons and daughters to do well, this is what needs to happen.…”

Husband, God put your wife in your life to enrich you. Listen to her. Honor her. Know her. My wife has a huge part to play in my life and ministry. She’s a joint heir. I will enjoy the charis, grace, the “beauty of life” to the degree that I know, honor and listen to her.

Our prayers will be hindered if we are not loving our wives.

1 Peter 3:7 (e)
…that your prayers may not be hindered.

Husband, more than success in ministry, more than professional accolades, more than material wealth, God wants you to experience the joy of seeing your wife as a joint heir with Christ. He wants you to see your kids grow up serving Him wholeheartedly. To that end, as He did with Moses, He’ll stop you if your priorities are amiss. If you notice a dryness in your walk or a brass ceiling that causes your prayers to bounce back to you, could it be that something is wrong at home? The Father loves us too much to let us go about our business for Him if things aren’t right with our families. If our faith doesn’t work at home, it doesn’t work anywhere.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1561). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Emwitus]

My gosh, have any of christian gaf heard of this kid from a talent show in brazil. Amazing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRAx0wi6A90&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZmiuz3FEEo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6cD...DvjVQa1PpcFOo4sDQrvtcU2CY3YdcwQdQKBISAhcqvIQ=


Beautiful music

 

[Chaplain]

Love refrains the tongue from speaking evil.

1 Peter 3:8–10 (a)
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil…

After talking about marriage and “love life,” Peter talks about loving life. Even in the midst of the persecution where believers were being crucified upside down, Peter encourages his readers to love life.

It is when the hard times come that we need to watch our tongues. It’s very easy to begin complaining, “Why me? Why this? Why now?” Peter tells us that if we want to love life and see good days, we are to refrain our tongue from evil—literally to keep from complaining.

Stop twisting the truth.

1 Peter 3:10 (b)
…and his lips that they speak no guile.

While speaking evil implies speaking against God, “speaking guile” means manipulating situations to make it easier on oneself. This happens most easily when times get tough, as we begin to twist the truth, saying things that put us in a better light. We manipulate the situation to our own advantage.

Stop being evil and be good instead.

1 Peter 3:11 (a)
Turn away from evil and do good…

In other words, “Turn your back on evil and, instead, do good.” This is the idea that we are to do good for others. When hard times come, it’s easy to think that it’s not our fault. Peter tells us that if we want to love life and see good days, we must not let our guard down. This isn’t meant to put a legalistic burden upon us, but rather to be a wise and loving guide for us.

Choosing to do good and seek peace when our lives are falling apart.

1 Peter 3:11 (b), 12
…Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

Peter continues quoting another who experienced brutal days.

"Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth." Psalm 34:12–16

With Saul out to kill him, David found himself seeking refuge in the Philistine city of Gath. When he realized that he was recognized as the one who had slain Goliath, David knew he was again in danger. In order to make it out of Gath alive, he clawed at the gates of the city, ranting and raving like a lunatic as he feigned insanity. When the king heard there was a crazy man within his gates, David was allowed to go his way. (1 Samuel 21:10–15)

Psalm 34 was written while David was running for his life. Yet he says, “I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth, for I have tasted and seen in the midst of this difficulty that the Lord is good.”

Who will love life and see good days? Society says it’s the one who can make his life problem-free, who insulates himself from difficulty, who escapes adversity. David says just the opposite. He says it’s when you’re wondering how the next bill will be paid, or if the marriage will work out that the Lord makes Himself most real to you. He says it’s when you’re trapped in Gath that suddenly you see God.

If we really embraced what Peter is saying, what David is declaring, and what James’ injunction to “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (see James 1:2), we would not try to make our life easier. Instead, we would be those who say, “It’s in the day of difficulty, in the years that are hard for me that I’m going to have the opportunity to taste and see that the Lord is good.”

We all know people who are insulated from problems, who don’t have challenges, who succeeded in making their lives as easy as they possibly could. Yet the easier it gets for them, the less joy there is within them.

Peter says something absolutely shocking—at least to the ears of our culture: “In the midst of suffering, difficulty, and challenges, don’t seek to fix the problem. Don’t make it easier. Instead, choose to do good and seek peace. Don’t murmur; don’t complain. You’ll find that you love life because God will meet you in the midst of your difficulty.”

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1564). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Helscream]

Greetings brothers and sisters in Messiah. With Easter coming up I thought it would be beneficial for all of us to understand the true meaning behind Easter. As well as the distinct difference between Passover and Easter.

Messianic Jew Michael Rood explains.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7C9IZt8g50

 

[Chaplain]

Road to the Resurrection
Join Pastor Greg at the Garden Tomb, as he discusses the significance of the Jesus' Resurrection.

Live Easter Sunday Webcast with Greg Laurie and The Harvest Worship Band
5:30am, 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am (PST)

Click on the link to watch the live webcast broadcasting right now.

 

[Chaplain]

Paul wrote, "Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus."

1 Peter 3:13
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?

To the early church, Peter says, “If you choose to do good in hard times, who can really harm you? Oh, people might hurt you, but they can’t harm you. They might tie you to a tree and ignite you. They might throw you to lions that devour you. But they can’t harm you because you’ll end up in heaven.”

Those who live for heaven have an entirely different perspective on life because they’re able to take a lot more things a lot less seriously. If you’re living for earth, for an easy life, you’ll be miserable. If you seek first the kingdom of God, if you live for heaven, you’ll find that, although people may hurt you, no one can harm you.

Why are we to be happy when we suffer?

1 Peter 3:14 (a)
But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (see Matthew 5:11-12).

Echoing Jesus, Peter says, “Be happy in suffering, in difficulty, in persecution.” Why? Suffering, difficulty, heartache, and tragedy set our sights on heaven.

Although I long to go oh, so much further, I’m not sure that had I not been given the privilege of going through some heartaches and tragedies, I would be where I am presently. And the same is true for you. The aching back, the kids that break your heart, the career advancement that didn’t work out—are all necessary to sever the cords that bind us to this earth.

Paul wrote, "Such things were written in the Scriptures (the Old Testament) long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled."

1 Peter 3:14 (b), 15 (a)
And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts…

After quoting David and Jesus, Peter quotes Isaiah.

With the dreaded Assyrians headed their way, the kings of Syria and Israel asked Ahaz, the king of Judah to join them. However, being warned through Isaiah by the Lord not to, Ahaz refused. This put him in a position in which Assyria, Syria, and Israel were now all against him.

For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Isaiah 8:11-12

“Do not be afraid of confederacies,” Isaiah said. In other words, “Focus on the Lord.”

Peter was talking to a group of people who were, indeed, the object of a conspiracy, as the Roman Empire conspired against Christians. Yet because he knew the Word, Peter was able to draw on Old Testament illustrations to encourage them in their situation.

We suffer so that our light shines on those that live on darkness.

1 Peter 3:15 (b)
…and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

The idea here is not primarily to defend a theological position. Rather, it is to give a very simple explanation for your hope. This is another good thing about hard times: they give us an opportunity to shine brightly in what would otherwise be darkness.

What does the Bible say about our conscience?

1 Peter 3:16, 17
But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Why is it important to have a good conscience? Without one, we will not speak boldly when people ask about the hope within us.

If you stagger out of a tavern, get in your car, and hit fifteen cars on your way down the street, when the policeman pulls you over and the newspaper puts your picture on the front page the next day, how bold a witness would you be?

The Bible speaks specifically about our conscience.

In Titus 1:15, we are warned about the danger of a defiled conscience. The word “defiled” speaks of the way an unwashed window gets dirtier and dirtier, making things appear darker and darker. It’s an excellent illustration, for if I expose my mind to sin, my conscience becomes dirtier and dirtier, allowing less and less light to break through. Bible study becomes increasingly difficult, and my heart feels heavy and dark.

In 1 Timothy 4:2, we read of a seared conscience—one no longer sensitive to that which once troubled it.

Hebrews 10:22 speaks of an evil or a poisoned conscience within those who twist Scripture not only to justify their own sin, but to draw other people in as well.

Because it sounded like a woman’s voice, the owner of a Lincoln Town Car deluxe edition called the computer-generated voice that notified him of any problems “the little lady.” One day, as he was driving, the little lady said, “You’re running low on fuel. You’re running low on fuel.”

No way, thought the man. I have almost half a tank left.

Every thirty seconds, the voice said, “Stop for gas. Stop for gas. Stop for gas.”

Frustrated, he stopped his car, reached under the dashboard, and ripped out the wiring. When he drove a little farther, however, his car sputtered before stopping altogether—for, indeed he was out of gas. The little lady wasn’t wrong. It was his gas gauge that was broken.

Man was created with a voice inside of him that says, “You’re running low on fuel,” or, “Stay away from there,” or, “Watch out for that.” Those with a seared or evil conscience say, “No problem,” as they begin ripping away the wires of their conscience until they no longer can hear the voice within.

"A good conscience is not dependent upon what we do or don’t do, but upon what Jesus did."

1 Peter 3:18
Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

I can truly have a good conscience if I understand that the sins, shortcomings, and failings that are part of my history were completely paid for by Christ. No one knew this better than Peter.

Cursing vehemently, he swore he didn’t know Him, as he stood in the courtyard of Caiaphas—for just as Jesus said he would, Peter denied Christ. Aware of his failing, he wept bitterly (Luke 22:62).

Peter went on from there to become a man who was mighty in ministry, a man who was totally restored because he understood that Jesus Christ died for his sins of betrayal, rebellion, and blasphemy.

The same evening Peter openly denied Jesus, another disciple secretly betrayed Him.…

After selling Him out for thirty pieces of silver, Judas’ conscience bothered him greatly. “I have betrayed innocent blood,” he said as he threw the money on the floor of the temple, wanting to reverse the deal. But realizing that the priests would not allow him a way out, Judas hung himself (see Matthew 27:5).

Both men failed Jesus in the same evening. One went to hell, the other went on to great things. What was the difference? They each chose a tree. Judas chose a tree from which to hang himself. Peter chose a tree upon which to look. Truly, there is great power in seeing the Cross.

“I’m so poisoned,” you say.

So were the Israelites.…

By the tens of thousands, they were bitten by snakes that sent poison coursing through their veins. The cure? God told Moses to put a brass serpent upon a brass pole in the middle of the camp—and whoever would look upon it would be healed (Numbers 21:8). Those who took this to be trivial and simplistic died in the desert. Those who simply lifted up their eyes and looked upon the serpent were completely healed. This served as a sneak preview of what would happen when the Son of God became a serpent, became sin, and hung on the Cross in our place (2 Corinthians 5:21).

So, too, there are people who say, “Guilt will not dissipate simply by looking to the Cross. What’s needed is years of analysis followed by years of counseling.” Peter says otherwise. Because he looked to the One hanging on the tree—even though he had been bitten by his own sin—Peter was forgiven immediately and went on to great ministry.

When Jesus died on the cross, he went to hell for 3 days and preached to the demons hell. What did he say? Read on...

1 Peter 3:19, 20
So he went and preached to the spirits in prison—those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.

“I believe Christ died for my sin,” you may say, “but why am I always thinking about my failure? Why am I always aware of my sin and rebellion?”

You have an adversary who perches on your shoulder and whispers in your ear, “You’re a sinner. You failed here. You dropped the ball there. You’re going to need lots and lots of psychological work to have any hope of recovery because you’re a rotten loser” (see Revelation 12:10). Satan, the accuser of the brethren, is not omnipresent. He cannot be everywhere at once. But he can dispatch demons. Therefore, Jesus not only died for our sins, but after He died, He “preached unto the spirits in prison.” That is, He went to hell.

We know from the account in Luke 16 that before Jesus rose from the dead, hell was divided into two compartments: Paradise was where the Old Testament saints waited for the work of the Cross. That is why Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “This day you’ll be with Me in paradise” (see Luke 23:43). Those who didn’t believe on the Lord were on the other side of hell—a place of torment.

In our text, we read that Jesus preached to the spirits who were disobedient in the day of Noah. Who were these spirits? Genesis 6 tells us they were particularly disobedient and diabolical. The most wicked of all demons, they actually had relations with women, from which a race of giants was produced. It was to these spirits that Jesus preached. Why? They were the “big guns,” the most terrible, the ones that will be released during the Tribulation, where they will cause unparalleled pain and problems for people on the earth.

What did Jesus say to them? He said, “Your authority to keep a grip on John has been broken. The blood I shed washed away every sin he has done, is doing, or ever will do. The perfect provision I have made now absolutely, completely frees him from your authority.”

You see, it is only through sin that Satan’s demons have authority in our lives. When we sin, we essentially rebel against God and open ourselves to the devil and his demons. They can do whatever they want because the sin in our lives gives them a handle upon which to hold. However, the blood of Jesus is so powerful that it eradicates the sin, thereby obliterating the handle.

Without that handle, what can Satan and his henchmen do? All they can do is lie to you and me, saying, “There’s no hope for you. You’ve blown it too badly. You’ve gone too far. You’re through.”

Is your conscience bothering you? Peter says, “Look to the Cross.” If you still feel condemned, realize it’s a lie from the Enemy telling you that you’re not forgiven, that you’re unworthy, that you can’t be used, that you’ve gone too far, that you’ve been too bad. Realize that Jesus told the very worst of the demons that they no longer have power over you.

What is the purpose of baptism?

1 Peter 3:21, 22 (a)
And baptism, which is a figure [of their deliverance], does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [providing you with] the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. [And He] has now entered into heaven and is at the right hand of God…

The Cross provides forgiveness. The demons have been put on notice. If you still are struggling with your conscience, the solution is found in the same place it was in Noah’s day, when the Flood washed away the memory of the sinful world. Just as the Flood drowned out the world and washed away the problem, when a person is baptized, the world’s pull is reduced, washed away, drowned out due to the realization of what Christ did on the Cross and the proclamation He made to the demons in hell.

Paul wrote, "Jesus canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."

1 Peter 3:22 (b)
…and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.

“Angels and authorities and powers” refer to demons. They cannot rebel against Jesus. They cannot contradict Jesus. They must submit to Jesus because they were rendered ineffective by Jesus.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1566). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson

 

[Chaplain]

Peter list seven benefits of suffering.

1. Suffering loosens sin’s grip on us.

1 Peter 4:1–3
So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.

When you go through suffering, you no longer give in to the lusts of the flesh; you no longer succumb to sin with the same ease, the same vulnerability you experienced previously. Why? Perhaps the story of a man in the Rogue Valley provides the best answer.

Known as the life of the party, he played on the local softball team and would often supply the keg. When his three-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver, he lost his heart for partying. He was no longer interested in the keggers after the softball games. He found himself despising the places to which he was once attracted when he saw the reality of what drunkenness and partying did to his own family.

That’s what suffering does. That’s what trials do. The ugliness of sin is seen when it begins to touch your own life. That is why Peter says, “If you’ve suffered in the flesh—either due to your own sin or sin by the hands of others—you see the result of sin and realize that rather than being something to wink or chuckle at, sin stinks.”

2. Suffering causes people we know to see us differently.

1 Peter 4:4
Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.

Not only do you look at life more soberly, but, secondly, suffering causes others to see you differently. Tragedy, persecution, and difficulty make you a marked man. Because of what you’ve gone through, you no longer can spend your life in trivial pursuits.

Everyone will have to give an account for their lives when they die.

1 Peter 4:5
But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.

Those who choose to continue in sin will one day stand before the Lord. Peter is not saying this out of condemnation, but rather out of compassion, for he realizes they’re in grave danger.

3. Suffering places us in company of the martyred.

1 Peter 4:6
That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.

In addition to loosening sin’s grip on us and causing others to look at us differently, suffering places us in good company—the company of the martyred. Some cults use this verse to say, “When a person dies, they’ll have a second opportunity to accept the gospel.” However, taken in context, it’s clear Peter is talking about those who suffered to the point of death and are now living in heaven.

“Blessed are you when men revile, persecute, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for My name’s sake,” Jesus said. “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. So did they unto the prophets who were before you” (see Matthew 5:11-12). In other words, when you’re suffering, being put down, or mocked because of your belief in Christ, rejoice because you’re in the company of the prophets—of Jeremiah and Isaiah, Ezekiel and Hosea.

“Yea, all those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” Paul told Timothy (see 2 Timothy 3:12). In other parts of the world, such persecution results in death. In our present culture, it results in ostracism or rejection. One way or another, those who live godly lives suffer persecution sooner or later. When it happens, we’re to rejoice because, according to Peter, we’re in the company of the martyrs. According to Paul, we’re in the company of the godly. And according to Jesus, we’re in the company of the prophets—good company, indeed!

4. Suffering keeps us focused on eternity.

1 Peter 4:7
The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.

It’s when you’re going through tough times, difficult days, seasons of suffering, pressures and persecution that you long for heaven. The good times, the nice things, and the easier days have a tendency to shift our focus off of eternity. It’s when the tough times come—when the body hurts, the heart breaks, or the wallet is empty that we say, “I don’t belong here. I’m longing for heaven.”

5. Suffering frees us to participate in ministry.

1 Peter 4:8–11
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

With persecution heightening, no doubt Peter’s readers had already begun to scatter. Some would leave everything to hide in catacombs. Others would open their homes to those fleeing persecution. All would be called to love one another fervently, especially in those dark days of difficulty. So much of my time is absorbed with “stuff.” When my material, emotional, or relational “stuff” is taken away, I find I am free to share with and care for others in ways I never had previously.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1571). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Chaplain]

Embracing suffering.

1 Peter 4:12
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

“Why me?” we ask when fiery trials come upon us. The real question is, “Why not?” If suffering loosens sin’s grip on us and causes others to see us differently, if it places us in good company, keeps us focused on eternity, and frees us to participate in ministry—why wouldn’t we embrace it as a necessary part of our growth?

6. Suffering allows us to experience glory.

1 Peter 4:13, 14
Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.

Jesus gave us a wonderful illustration concerning suffering when He reminded us that after a woman endures pain and suffering to give birth, she forgets about the agony when her baby is born because the suffering is transformed into glory. The same baby who causes pain brings joy.

The heartache, setback, or difficulty that is causing you pain and agony will be the very thing that will ultimately bring joy. That which is breaking your heart right now will soon be the delight of your soul—watch and see!

Peter calls believers to stay away from murdering, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.

1 Peter 4:15
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.

I find it interesting that Peter places busybodies and murderers in the same category.

What does the word "Christian" mean?

1 Peter 4:16 (a)
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian…

The word “Christian” only appears three times in the Bible: twice in the Book of Acts (11:26; 26:28) and once here. Meaning “little Christ,” it was initially a put-down. The early church, however, said, “That’s okay. We’ll wear with pride what the world intends as derision.” Believers have claimed it ever since.

There is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

1 Peter 4:16 (b)
…let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

If we’re suffering, our attitude should be “Thank You, Lord, that I’m found worthy to suffer. I’m in good company. You’re freeing me from the sins that used to strangle me. My vision is refocused on eternity.”

Satan is warring against God's church.

1 Peter 4:17 (a)
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God…

Writing this epistle from Rome, Peter is accurately discerning the situation. As he watches the bizarre behavior of Nero and reads the winds of change, he knows that the judgment that has begun will continue. The judgment he speaks of is not from God, for the judgment we deserve was poured out on Christ. Rather, it is Satan who wars against the church.

"What terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News."

1 Peter 4:17 (b)
…and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

If you think times are tough now, wait until God moves upon a Christ-rejecting world during the Tribulation described in Revelation 6-19. Yes, it’s hard being a Christian—but it’s a whole lot harder being a pagan. The pagan will endure unbelievable difficulty only to end up in hell.

Life is hard. That’s just the way it is. It’s hard for everyone. You’re not being picked on. I’m not being singled out. It’s just life. Even though it’s hard, and even though we have problems, we have access to the problem-solver, Jesus Christ. We can cast our care upon Him.

Who can be saved?

1 Peter 4:18
And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom. But with God all things are possible” (see Matthew 19:24-26). Because the rich were considered to be especially blessed, the idea is not that the rich can’t be saved. The idea is that any man getting saved is impossible. It is only with God that all things are possible. Only God can squeeze sinners like us through the eye of a needle.

7. Suffering reminds us to faithfully commit our soul unto our Creator.

1 Peter 4:19
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Of all the titles for God, Peter could have employed in this section dealing with suffering, he says, “When you suffer, commit your soul to your Creator.”

Why Creator?

God is the Creator of everything, including the situation in which you’re suffering. Nothing can happen that God doesn’t allow. He’s the Creator of the person to whom you’re married, the person with whom you work, and the neighbor by whom you live. He’s the Creator of every situation.

After tossing and turning concerning a certain aspect of ministry, I slipped out of bed, thinking, How am I going to deal with this? As I stepped outside, I immediately felt the unmistakable, all too familiar sensation of cold ooze flowing through my toes. Yes, I had stepped squarely on a giant slug. Although I immediately recoiled, the slug stuck to the bottom of my foot so firmly that I had to shake it off—causing it to hit the side of my house. As I watched it slide down the wall, I suddenly realized that, although God could have made me a slug, He, instead, created me in His own image. Because He’s my Creator, because He made the situations and the challenges around me, I must trust Him with them all.

Dear, precious people, may we be those who slowly but surely learn to embrace suffering. May we begin to understand that it truly loosens sin’s grip on us personally, causes others to see us differently, places us in good company, keeps us focused on eternity, frees us to participate in ministry, allows us to experience glory, and reminds us to commit our souls unto our Creator faithfully.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1572). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson

 

[Chaplain]

"The words “elder,” “bishop,” and “pastor” are used interchangeably in the New Testament."

1 Peter 5:1 (a)
The elders who are among you I exhort…

Presbuteros, the Greek word translated “elder,” describes the man as—one who is to have some maturity, experience, and history with God.

Episkopos, the Greek word translated “bishop,” describes the ministry—not as overlording or overburdening, but as overseeing.

Poimen, the Greek word translated “pastor,” describes the method—as that of feeding the flock of God.

The following words directed toward elders also apply to every one of you who is involved in caring for or overseeing your family or others.

Is Peter the first pope?

1 Peter 5:1 (b)
…I who am a fellow elder…

Notice, Peter doesn’t identify himself as the first pope. Rather, he says, “I’m an elder just like you.”

Peter was a witness to the sufferings of Christ.

1 Peter 5:1 (c)
…and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed.

“I’m one of you,” says Peter, “but I’ve also had a little more history with Jesus than you. I saw His sufferings and His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration” (see Matthew 17).

How is God's flock fed?

1 Peter 5:2 (a)
Feed the flock of God…

Although he knew tough times were coming, Peter says, “Don’t neglect your singular responsibility to feed the flock of God.” We don’t need to be plugged in to a lot of activities or Christian recreation. What we need is the Word of God.

"Although Peter was one with the people, he was responsible to oversee them."

1 Peter 5:2 (b)
…which is among you, serving as overseers…

Such is the tension for any leader—as a pastor, a parent, or a youth leader. Sometimes it can be extremely difficult. If I am simply overseeing but am not among the people to whom I’m ministering, I will become aloof and untouchable. If, on the other hand, I’m just one of the gang, shooting pool and joking around every night, I probably won’t have the authority to oversee as I’m told to do.

What is Peter’s solution? We’ll see it in verse 3.

Are we eager to serve God?

1 Peter 5:2 (c)
…not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.

You shouldn’t have to be prodded to pastor, to parent, or to work with the fourth-graders in Sunday school. In other words, your motivation should not stem from someone relentlessly badgering you, but from the internal call of God. There are two inherent dangers in the ministry. The first is laziness, when people do the very least they possibly can. There’s no room in the ministry for laziness because, to a large degree, the well-being of the flock depends upon the care of those in positions of authority.

Don’t boss around the people assigned to our care.

1 Peter 5:3 (a)
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage…

As pastor, I’m not the Reverend Right Most Holy Bishop. Rather, I’m just one of the sheep. Why am I up front? If the church were likened to a hospital, I am up front simply because I’ve been a patient a little longer than most of you in the Hospital of God’s Grace and Goodness. Thus, I know where the cafeteria is and where the restrooms are. I know which orderlies to watch out for, and which doctors have big needles. We’re all in this thing together. We’re all sheep. Therefore, no one in the body of Christ can lord it over anyone else.

Are we the examples God knows we can be?

1 Peter 5:3 (b)
…but lead them by your own good example.

Here is the solution to verse 2. In parenting, pastoring, or anything else concerning working with people, the bottom line is this: Be an example. That’s how you can be among people and oversee them, as well. Whether raising my kids or serving at church, I am not to be a lord. I’m to be an example.

There’s a big difference between dictatorship and leadership. Dictatorship says, “Go.” Leadership says, “Let’s go.” Whether parenting or pastoring, the true leader is involved in whatever he’s teaching or helping others to do. Paul put it this way to his young prote—ge—, Timothy: “Be thou an example of the believer” (see 1 Timothy 4:12). In other words, be a man of prayer, a man of compassion, a man who worships. Let people see this first in you.

Let me ask you this question: If everyone at your church was exactly like you, what kind of church would we have? If everyone prayed for the body of Christ as much as you do, how much prayer would we have? If everyone tithed exactly like you, how much would we be able to invest for the kingdom? If everyone came to morning worship as much as you, how many would come? If everyone helped in Sunday school to the degree you do, would the church be bigger, stronger, and healthier? Or would we be meeting in the park at Picnic Table Number Three? It’s a very important question because that which each of us does or doesn’t do affects the rest of us very definitely.

What is the purpose of crowns?

1 Peter 5:4
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

If you’re an example—if you’re feeding people and caring for them—the day is coming when all of those things that were unnoticed will be greatly rewarded. A time is coming when all of the things I have done are going to be tested by fire. I will stand before the Lord, realizing I could have given more generously and served more freely.

The crowns of which Peter speaks are not just to parade around in. No, they are to cast at Jesus’ feet in gratitude and adoration—as well as determining our function in eternity. If you’re tired of where you’re at now, be one who says, “I might not be where I wanted to be on earth, but I’m praying, giving, worshiping and serving as if the chief shepherd is coming. My efforts will be known to Him, and I will be fulfilled in ways I never was on earth.”

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1576). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson

 

[Chaplain]

What does Humility mean?

1 Peter 5:5 (a)
In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility…

Peter reminds us we are called to humility. Humility means that even if the elder over me—be it Mom and Dad, or the spiritual brothers overseeing my ministry—makes the wrong decision, I must be the right person. This applies to marriage, parenting, church, the job site—anywhere people are. Our responsibility is not to make sure that those in authority over us make the right decision. Our responsibility is to make sure we’re the right people.

Why? Read on.

God opposes the proud.

1 Peter 5:5 (b), 6
…“God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

Those who are humble will be exalted. Immediately? No. They will be exalted in due time, at the perfect time.

Why does God want us to give him all of our worries and cares?

1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

The Greek word epirrhihipto, translated “casting,” is interesting because it means to roll something that will most likely roll back upon you. Have you found that after casting your care on the Lord, you feel okay for a day or two, but then the burden rolls right back on you? If so, know that’s the way of the Lord. Why? He wants us to stay in close touch with Him, and if we cast our care upon Him never to feel the pressure, the anxiety, the tension, the worry again, we would not be people who pray.

You see, the Father wants to do something bigger than merely taking our burdens from us. He wants to develop a relationship with us. Thus, the burdens and struggles that repeatedly roll upon us cause us to become linked to Him in continual prayer. That’s infinitely more important than the solution to the burden for which we were praying in the first place. So cast your care upon Him—and keep doing it over and over and over again, knowing how deeply He cares for you.

“Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, "I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on." (Job 2:2)

1 Peter 5:8, 9
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Even as you cast your care upon God, know the Enemy is out to destroy you.

Taking hope from Peter's mistakes and failures.

1 Peter 5:10, 11
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

As both a pastor and a parent, I go through the previous nine verses and realize how greatly I have failed and how far short I fall of this standard. That’s why I believe verse ten is the key to this whole section. You see, the Christian life is all about grace. No one knew this better than Peter.

In verse 1, Peter declared himself a witness of the sufferings of Christ. Yet when we read the Gospel account, we see that Peter was not present when Christ was led away to be tried by Caiaphas. He was following far off in the shadows. When Christ was on the Cross, he viewed His suffering from a distance, if at all, for of all the disciples, only John was at the foot of the Cross (John 19:26).

Peter also says he was a partaker of glory. He fails to mention, however, that he was reprimanded by God for placing Jesus on the same plane as Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5).

In verse 2, Peter says pastors are to feed the flock of God. Yet when he initially heard these words, Peter wasn’t waiting for the empowering of the Spirit with God’s people as he was supposed to be. Instead, he was fishing on the Sea of Galilee (John 21:3).

Peter also tells pastors not to be lazy. When Jesus asked Peter to pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, what did Peter do? He fell asleep (Mark 14:37).

In verse 3, Peter tells us we are not to be lords over God’s heritage. We are to be an example. Yet in the garden, what did Peter do? Far from being an example, he took out a sword and chopped off the ear of Malchus (Mark 14:47).

“Submit yourself unto the elder,” Peter says in verse 5. When Jesus said He had to suffer many things in Jerusalem, Peter rebuked Jesus, saying, “Be it far from thee, Lord” (see Matthew 16:22). Submission? Hardly.

Peter went on to say we are to be clothed with humility. Yet as he sat in the Upper Room with the other disciples, it was not Peter but Jesus who humbled Himself to wash feet (John 13:3-5).

In verse 7, Peter tells us we are to cast our care upon God. It is an interesting choice of words, for when Jesus told Peter to cast his net on the other side of the boat, Peter was fishing for fish rather than fishing for men as he had been called to do (Matthew 4:19; John 21:6).

In verses 8-9, Peter tells us to be sober and vigilant in light of our adversary. Yet when Jesus warned him that Satan desired to sift him like wheat, what did Peter say? “Not me, Lord. I am ready to go to prison with You. These other guys might fail you, but You can count on me.” Hours later, seduced by Satan, Peter denied Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-74).

Peter failed at every point. But here’s the good news—he was used mightily even after all his failings, because he understood that which he shares with us in verse 10: It’s not impeccability that is necessary. It’s “teachability.” I have failed. You have failed. Yet if, like Peter, we learn lessons from our failures, we can speak with authority. We can say to others, “I’ve been there. I’ve done that. I’ve made mistakes. You don’t have to.”

If as a dad or mom, a Sunday-school teacher, elder, or leader at work, you are aware of your shortcomings, if you’re not careful, you will think they disqualify you from sharing with others. Take hope from Peter. He failed at every point. Yet when he learned his lesson, he didn’t fall again. It’s God’s grace that will establish, settle, and strengthen you as long as you learn the lessons God has for you.

Peter’s final greetings.

1 Peter 5:12, 13
By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.

No doubt Marcus is John Mark, who, after failing in a previous missionary endeavor (Acts 13:13), was later encouraged by Barnabas and went on to be useful to both Peter and Paul (2 Timothy 4:11).

1 Peter 5:14
Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

To a people going through persecution, Peter ends his letter not with a promise of ease, but with a benediction of peace, knowing that harder times were ahead.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1578). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Chaplain]

Why did Peter make it in his walk with Jesus?

2 Peter 1:1 (a)
Simon…

As we read the Gospel accounts, we see Peter talking when he should have been listening (Matthew 16:21-22), sleeping when he should have been praying (Mark 14:37), stepping out when he should have held back (John 18:10), and holding back when he should have stepped out (John 13:8).

That’s why Peter is such a favorite of mine—I see his characteristics and tendencies in my own walk and history. Maybe you see them in yours as well. But here’s the great news, the amazing truth, the glorious fact: Even with all of his failures and denials, even with all of his setbacks and stumbles, Simon made it through.

Why? Because he was such a great guy?

No. Simon made it through because Jesus prayed for him (Luke 22:32). And guess what. The same thing is true of you and me. We’re all people who want to do right, but who invariably mess up. We’re all people whose spirits are willing, but whose flesh is unbelievably weak. Yet even right now, Jesus knows the temptation we’re facing, the fears we’re feeling, the questions that are churning. He knows them all, and He’s praying for us (Hebrews 7:25)—not because we’re worthy, but because He’s faithful.

When did Peter discover his identity?

2 Peter 1:1 (b)
…Peter…

When Jesus first called Peter, He said, “You are Simon, but you shall be Petros, Peter, Rock,” as if to say, “You’re shifting sand now, but I know what I’m going to do with you, and I know what will be accomplished in you.”

When was Simon’s name officially changed to Peter? It happened in Caesarea Philippi.…

“Whom do men say that I am?” Jesus asked His disciples.
“Some say You’re Elijah; some say You’re John the Baptist; some say You’re Jeremiah; some say You’re the promised prophet of Deuteronomy 18,” they answered.
“Yes, but who do you say that I am?” He asked His boys.
It was Peter who said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
“Blessed are you, Simon,” Jesus said, “for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father which is in heaven. Thou art Peter. Upon the rock of your confession, I will build My church. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (see Matthew 16:18).

Peter discovered his identity. Peter was changed from shifting sand to rock when he understood who Jesus was. And the same is still true today. I know men fifty years old who are still trying to figure out their identities. Confused about who they are, they try to drive the newest car, marry the youngest wife, and line up the easiest job. But they remain unhappy and unstable because it’s only when a man, woman, or teenager finally realizes who Jesus Christ is that life begins to make sense. It’s only when we understand that God doesn’t exist for us, but that all things were made by and for the One who died for us (Colossians 1:16) that we see who we are in Him.

Show me a teenager who realizes that Jesus does not exist to give him a girlfriend, but that he exists to please Jesus Christ; show me a mom who understands that her purpose is to please Christ even more than pleasing her family; show me a businessman climbing the ladder vocationally who knows his job simply gives him opportunity to please Christ in the workplace—and I’ll show you a teenager, a mom, a businessman who knows their true identity.

Please note with me one other element of Peter’s introduction. In his first epistle, he referred to himself simply as Peter. In this, his second epistle, coming to the very last days of his life, he refers to himself as Simon Peter.

Samuel Chadwick, powerful preacher of generations past, was known as the “Preacher of Passion.” This was due to the fact that at some point in every sermon, tears would fill his eyes. His writings reveal the reason why week, after week, year after year he felt such compassion for people. He recounts how every Saturday night, after his sermon was prepared, he would go into his study, close the door behind him, and reflect on what a sinner he had been before he met Christ and how good God was to save him. Remembering the pit from which he had been rescued caused him to break down in gratitude. Then, looking out at his congregation the next morning, realizing many of them were in the same place he had been, he wept for them.

For we who have been saved for over ten years, the danger lies in forgetting the emptiness, the shattered relationships, the broken promises, the valleys that defined our days before the Lord saved us. What was good for Samuel Chadwick and Simon Peter is good for you and me as well—as we reflect on who and where we would be if it wasn’t for Jesus in our lives.

Why did Peter choose to be Jesus' servant?

2 Peter 1:1 (c)
…a servant…

The Greek word translated “servant” is doulos, or bondservant. After six years of service, slaves were set free. But if a slave wanted to remain in his master’s service, an earring would be placed in his ear, signifying that he was a slave by choice.

Such is what Peter was. Why?

Because although the doulos was committed to serve his master for life, the master was equally committed to provide for the slave. Now, if you know Jesus at all, it makes all the sense in the world that Peter would want to be a servant of His because who would care for him, who would provide for him better than Jesus?

What does apostle mean?

2 Peter 1:1 (d)
…and an apostle of Jesus Christ…

“Apostle” means “sent out one.” Of the hundreds of disciples, or “disciplined ones,” who followed Him, Jesus chose twelve apostles to bring into His inner circle, and then to send out into ministry. Peter was one of those twelve.

What does precious mean?

2 Peter 1:1 (e)
…to those who have obtained like precious faith…

I find it intriguing that throughout his writing, Peter uses the word “precious.” In his first epistle, he wrote of precious blood (1:19). Here in verse 1 of his second epistle, he speaks of precious faith. In verse 4, he’ll talk about precious promises. In chapter 2, he’ll speak of the precious stone. Although it’s not a word we would expect to find in the vocabulary of a big fisherman, “precious” is a perfect choice because it literally means “beyond calculation.” And truly, the faith, blood, and promises of our Lord are of incalculable worth.

Peter is just like any of us.

2 Peter 1:1 (f)
…with us…

Peter isn’t saying, “I’m flying First Class because I’m an apostle, but the rest of you are in Coach.” No, he says, “You have the same precious faith I do. It’s common to us all.”

Peter calls Jesus God.

2 Peter 1:1 (g)
…through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Greek phrase translated “of God and our Savior Jesus Christ” is literally “of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” This means Peter is calling Jesus—with whom he lived and walked for three years—God.

What will happen as we grow older in the Lord?

2 Peter 1:2
May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

The more knowledge you have of Jesus Christ, the greater understanding you’ll have that our God is truly a God of grace.

At the outset of his ministry, Billy Graham was referred to as “God’s Machine Gun.” But as he went on in his knowledge of the Lord, he found himself becoming more and more oriented toward grace—so much so that many Christians today scratch their heads and wonder how he can be open to so many. “That denomination can’t be Christian,” they scoff. Or, “Surely, those people can’t be saved.” But Billy has a way of being incredibly embracive without compromising. And in his own writings, he explains that as he grows older in the Lord, he’s more and more amazed by the grace of the Lord.

The older you grow in the Lord, the more grace-oriented you’ll be as you realize the Christian life is all about Jesus and the undeserved, unearned favor He lavishes upon us so freely due to the finished work of Calvary. The result? Unmistakable, undeniable, unshakable peace. Grace and peace walk hand in hand.

No excuses, all believers can walk in holiness.

2 Peter 1:3 (a)
As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…

Notice that Peter is not telling us that everything we have need of pertaining to life and godliness will be given to us. No, he says everything we need to live an abundant, fulfilled life—and everything we need to live like Christ—has already been given to us.

This is radical because many of us don’t have this understanding. We think we’re still pursuing some key and if we can find it, then we’ll be able to unlock the secret of life. We’re looking for the combination on the padlock of godliness. But Peter says something wonderful when he says God has already given us all things—not most things, not a bunch of things—but all things that pertain to life and godliness.

When my son Benjamin was born, although he wasn’t all that he will be one day, everything he needed was already packed into his little body. His job, then, was not to find additional body parts to add to himself. His job was simply to grow.

“That’s obvious,” you say. But a whole bunch of Christians do what I did for some years in my walk—they read, search, look for what’s missing in their faith, instead of simply taking God’s Word at face value, which says His divine power has given us everything we need for godliness and all we need for abundant life. This understanding can save us a bunch of time and a lot of money. For instead of searching bookstores and infomercials to find the seven secrets of effective people, or the way to “awaken the giant within,” we can simply grow in the knowledge that we’ve already been given everything we need to live abundantly and godly.

How do we grow? Read on.

2 Peter 1:3 (b)
…through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.

We grow as we get to know the Lord Jesus through prayer, through the Word, through worship morning by morning, day by day, evening by evening. For the better we know Him, the better we understand how all things that pertain to life and godliness can function within us.

"God makes amazing promises available to you and me."

2 Peter 1:4 (a)
And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises.

“She shows great promise,” the teacher says of the child prodigy.
“He shows so much promise,” the press says of the NFL rookie.
The question is—will they live up to it?

The same is true of us, for in addition to giving us everything we need to live godly, God also makes amazing promises available to you and me. The question is: Are we living up to them?

2 Peter 1:4 (b)
These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature…

We partake of the divine nature through the promises He’s given to us and through the knowledge of Him who gave Himself for us.

2 Peter 1:4 (c)
…having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The craziness of the world can be traced directly to lust. Whether regarding money, sex, esteem, or approval, lust simply says, “I’ve got to have more.” And it is from such a mind-set that we have been delivered.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1586). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Chaplain]

Sunday Morning, April 15th, 2012 — 7:30 am, 9:30 am & 12:00 pm (PST)
“Our Witness to the World,” Romans 13, by Pastor Tony Scotti

Live Webcast Video Link

 

[IceCold]

I have a question about adultery. In the Bible it says this:

http://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/deuteronomy/passage.aspx?q=deuteronomy+22:22-24

22 "If a man is discovered committing adultery, both he and the other man's wife must be killed. In this way, the evil will be cleansed from Israel. 23 "Suppose a man meets a young woman, a virgin who is engaged to be married, and he has sexual intercourse with her. If this happens within a town, 24 you must take both of them to the gates of the town and stone them to death. The woman is guilty because she did not scream for help. The man must die because he violated another man's wife. In this way, you will cleanse the land of evil.

Does the passage mean that a married man is allowed to have sexual relations with unmarried women?

 

[Chaplain]

Does the passage mean that a married man is allowed to have sexual relations with unmarried women?

No. Jesus said, "You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Here is a commentary on Deuteronomy 22:23-24 if you are interested.

If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed (engaged) to a husband: If a man had intimate relations with a virgin who was betrothed to a husband, and it happened in the city (and no one immediately hears the woman cry out in an attempt to stop the man), then both were to be executed.

The woman was to be executed for disgracing her virginity; the man was to be executed because he humbled his neighbor’s wife. Interestingly, the woman was considered the wife of another man, even though she was only betrothed, and was still a virgin, having not yet consummated the marriage.

 

[Chaplain]

Make every effort to respond to God’s promises.

2 Peter 1:5 (a)
But also for this very reason…

In light of the fact that we have everything we need to enjoy life fully and to live godly; in light of the fact that we have been given hundreds of promises so graciously; in light of the fact that we are free of the grasp of lust, we are to be those who add to their faith diligently.…

Moral excellence.

2 Peter 1:5 (b)
…giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue…

“You have faith,” says Peter. “Now go for virtue, or moral excellence.” This means that the darkness of our culture as portrayed on the screen or in print, in song lyrics or in the questionable jokes around the water cooler has no place in our lives.

Moral excellence with knowledge.

2 Peter 1:5 (c)
…and to virtue knowledge.

Why are we to add virtue before knowledge? I believe it’s because if my mind is cluttered with pornography and violence, I won’t be able to extract knowledge about life from the Word because I’ve filled my spirit with the junk food of the world. Moral excellence is that which makes room for us to take in the Word and gain knowledge of the Lord.

Knowledge with self-control.

2 Peter 1:6 (a)
And to knowledge temperance…

Why is temperance, or self-control, to be added to knowledge? Because as I gain knowledge, if I’m not very, very careful, I will begin to say, “Now that I have knowledge about this, I can handle it.”

A dear pastor friend of mine who had been mightily used by the Lord began to say, “My studies have convinced me that Jesus drank alcohol.” And he went on to develop an extensive argument for why Christians should be able to drink. This led him and his wife to wine-tasting events, which led to nightclubs, which led to dancing with other people, which led to divorce. In the name of knowledge, this dear brother sacrificed temperance—and lost his family and ministry as a result.

Peter warns us that as we add knowledge, we must be sure we don’t get caught up in a pharisaical pseudo-intellectualism that makes us feel that, because we’re a cut above others, we can indulge ourselves in ways that will destroy us.

Self-control with patient endurance.

2 Peter 1:6 (b)
…and to temperance patience…

Although I’m temperate, disciplined, self-controlled, if I’m not careful, I can become impatient with those who aren’t. Therefore, I must add patience to my temperance.

Patient endurance with godliness.

2 Peter 1:6 (c)
…and to patience godliness.

Yes, I must be patient—but not to the point where I no longer stand for righteousness and godliness.

Godliness with brotherly affection and love.

2 Peter 1:7 (a)
To godliness brotherly kindness…

Brotherly kindness keeps godliness from being harsh, for brotherly kindness dictates that we be as magnanimous as we possibly can to as many as we possibly can.

2 Peter 1:7 (b)
…and to brotherly kindness love.

Because John tells us that love is the proof that we have passed from death to life (1 John 3:14), it is easy to see why He places charity, agape, perfect love at the top of the list.

Are we abiding in Jesus?

2 Peter 1:8
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you feel barren or unfruitful spiritually, if you’re going through a dry season in your walk, the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to tell you to start working on these things. Start being kind to people. Start adding temperance to your life. Be patient with folks. Go for moral excellence. The degree to which you add these qualities to your life will be the degree to which you will be fruitful and productive in your knowledge of the Lord.

“Abide in Me,” Jesus said, “and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, neither can ye except ye abide in Me” (John 15:4). It is as we abide in the only One whose nature contains all of these traits, the only One who lived them out daily, that we will be able to incorporate them into our own lives.

Why do many Christians continue to walk in the flesh instead of the Spirit?

2 Peter 1:9
But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

The idea of purging, or pruning, takes us back to the abiding, the fruitfulness of John 15.

How can we be assured that we are saved and will not fall back into sin?

2 Peter 1:10
So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.

“I’m worried I’m going to lose my salvation,” some say. Not if you do these things. “I’m worried I’ll stumble,” some say. Not if you do these things. According to Peter, if you do these things, your calling, your election is sure and you’ll not fail.

2 Peter 1:11
Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

If you do these things, you’ll not only be fruitful in this life, but you will be rewarded eternally. I find it amazing and wonderful that Peter doesn’t give us a fifteen-volume set of books on how to be fruitful. Rather, he gives us two verses. If I don’t pursue knowledge, I may fall. If I don’t add virtue, I may fall. If I don’t seek after godliness, I may fall. But if I do these things I will never fall—and I will be rewarded eternally on top of that.

How well do we understand the basic truths Peter has taught us?

2 Peter 1:12, 13
Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live.

Very likely in prison even as he writes this letter, Peter knows he’s about to die. And he uses whatever life he has left to say, “I know you know this stuff. But I will not be negligent to put you in remembrance of it until you are established in it.”

If you are a Sunday-school teacher, parent, elder, or anyone else who wants to be used in service, this is a huge point, for the key to ministry is putting people in remembrance of things they already know. You see, because our minds have been affected by sin, we forget the things we should remember and remember the things we should forget. Therefore, your job as a dad, my job as a pastor is to say the same things over and over and over until those in our charge are established in them.

It’s not how much you know that counts, gang. It’s how well you know what you know. What matters is how well you understand the basic truths, and how deep they sink into the soil of your soul.

Peter is ready to die.

2 Peter 1:14
For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life,

Peter knew his death was imminent. But rather than producing panic, this knowledge produced peace.

2 Peter 1:15
Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.

The Greek word translated “decease,” is exodos. I like that! Just as the children of Israel left Egypt for the Promised Land, Peter knew he’d soon leave earth for the ultimate Promised Land: heaven. But before he does, he reminds us of three important truths concerning the Word. First, he reminds us that men die, but the Word lives.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1588). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[JGS]

I have a question about adultery. In the Bible it says this:

http://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/deuteronomy/passage.aspx?q=deuteronomy+22:22-24



Does the passage mean that a married man is allowed to have sexual relations with unmarried women?

There's other verses that condemn fornication overall. Christianity is even more explicit in condemning sex involving adultery as well as sex between two unmarried people both of which are fornication.

 

[Chaplain]

Jesus' story is not a clever concocted, made-up story.

2 Peter 1:16
For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

“We’re not following fables and myths, super heroes and zodiac signs, fads or theories,” says Peter, “for we were actual eyewitnesses of the majesty of Jesus Christ.”

Peter saw Jesus’ deity at the Transfiguration.

2 Peter 1:17, 18
When he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

The event to which Peter refers is the Transfiguration—when Jesus’ deity shone through His humanity. Wouldn’t it be radical to hear a voice from heaven and to see the Lord glowing, talking with Elijah and Moses? Yet Peter, who had experienced all of this, says there’s something even better.…

Miracles do not produce or increase our faith. Then what does?

2 Peter 1:19 (a)
And so we have the prophetic word confirmed…

If someone offered you the choice of either being on Mount Hermon with Jesus, seeing Moses and Elijah, hearing a voice from heaven—or having the Old Testament, most of us would choose to see the Lord glowing, to see Moses and Elijah, to hear a voice from heaven. But Peter would choose otherwise. Why? Because experiences fade, but the Word endures.

The problem with experiences is that all they produce is a craving to see more. How do I know? Because the people who saw more experiences than any other were the children of Israel. They saw God part the Red Sea miraculously. They were fed from heaven daily. They saw miracles constantly. Yet why couldn’t they enter into the Promised Land? Because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:19).

Having been around for a while, I would rather hear a great Bible study and be fed from the Scriptures than see a bunch of experiences unfolding. There was a time when this was not true in my life. But the longer I walk with the Lord, the more I realize that experiences fade—even the valid ones, even the wondrous ones. Only the Word endures.

God's words are like a lamp shining in a dark place.

2 Peter 1:19 (b)
…which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Finally, the world gets darker, but the Word shines brighter. The Greek word translated “dark” is literally “murky.” “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path,” the psalmist declared (119:105). The darker or murkier the world gets—or the darker or murkier your situation becomes in your marriage, your family, at school, or on the job—the brighter the Word will shine and be more precious to you than ever.

"No Scripture stands by itself in isolation."

2 Peter 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.

“Make sure you understand that no prophecy is of private interpretation,” Peter warns. That is, there is no such thing as a private interpretation of Scripture that someone can sell you “for only $29.95.” I love hearing teachings and reading commentaries because it’s wonderful to see how, regarding basic truths of the faith, godly men always line up in agreement.

Not only is interpretation never given to individuals exclusively, but Scriptures are linked together perfectly. That is, doctrine or theology cannot be built upon an isolated Scripture, but only upon the full counsel of God.

I would be sadly mistaken if I said, “Folks, I’ve just been reading Daniel and now I understand how to pray. We are to pray three times a day—morning, noon, and night. We are to face Jerusalem. And we are to pray with our windows open.” Now, if I read a little further, I’d see Jesus specifically telling us to pray in a closet so that we wouldn’t be seen of men (Matthew 6:6). And Paul instructed us not to pray three times a day, but unceasingly (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

No Scripture stands by itself in isolation. That is why, at Biblical churches, we are absolutely committed to going through the Bible cover to cover. In your own devotional life, I would encourage you to do the same.

Old Testament prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

2 Peter 1:21
For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

The Word is inspired, indeed. One thousand years before Jesus Christ came, men of old were moved by the Holy Ghost to post prophetic signposts that would point to Him as Messiah.…

David prophesied that Messiah’s hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16).
Isaiah prophesied that Messiah would not open His mouth to defend Himself when tried on false charges (53:7), and that although He initially would be destined for burial with the wicked, He would ultimately be buried in the tomb of a rich man (53:9).
Micah prophesied that Messiah would be born in the town of Bethlehem (5:2).
Zechariah prophesied that He would ride into the Holy City on the back of a donkey (9:9), that He would be betrayed by a friend for thirty pieces of silver (11:12), and that the silver would be used to buy a potter’s field (11:13).
Malachi prophesied that He would have a forerunner announcing His coming (3:1).

What is the chance that those eight prophecies would be fulfilled in the life of one individual? The “Law of Compound Probabilities” tells us the chance is 1 in 1028. In other words…

You cover the entire state of Texas two feet deep in silver dollars, one of which has a red mark on it, and tell your friend to walk through the entire state—through the Panhandle down to the Gulf, through Dallas, Houston, and Corpus Christi, from north to south, east to west—and choose one silver dollar. The statistical probability that he will choose the one with the red mark is 1 in 1028.

But there are not three prophecies given in the Old Testament concerning Messiah. There are three hundred! And the probability of one individual perfectly fulfilling all three hundred is beyond the ability to illustrate.

No other so-called holy book dares to deal with prophecy. Only this book we hold in our hands has the boldness, the courage to deal with future events.

That is why, although men die, the Word lives.
That is why, although experiences fade, the Word endures.
That is why, although the world gets darker, the Word shines brighter.

How I thank God for the Scriptures. I’m so glad we have this Book.

Introduction to Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Although Peter was a fisherman by occupation, Jesus commissioned him to be a shepherd by vocation when He said, “Feed My sheep; tend My flock; tend My lambs (see John 21:15–17). And as a shepherd, Peter knew his responsibility was twofold: to feed the flock, even as Paul instructed the Ephesian elders to do in Acts 20:28; and, secondly, to warn the flock as Paul instructed two verses later in Acts 20:30—for if a shepherd feeds the flock without warning it, he is only fattening it for the kill.

So here in chapter 2, as we come to the heart of Peter’s last epistle, we will see him issue a heartfelt word of warning to those he cares about so deeply.…

Peter warns of False Teachers who were coming.

2 Peter 2:1
But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.

Just as there were false prophets amidst the “holy men of God who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (see 1:21), Peter knew that, following his “exodus,” false teachers would move in who would seek to destroy the work of God.

False teachers preach evil teachings and shameful immorality.

2 Peter 2:2 (a)
And many shall follow their pernicious ways…

“Pernicious” means “lascivious” or “loose.” False teachers are loose with the truth, loose with their morals.

Because of these teachers, Christians are slandered.

2 Peter 2:2 (b)
…because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

Peter prophesied that, due to their loose lifestyles, false teachers would give a black eye to the Christian community, making it fodder for jokes on late-night television.

False teachers want to steal from Christians.

2 Peter 2:3 (a)
In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money.

What motivates these false leaders, these false teachers? Making merchandise of God’s people, their desire is not to feed the flock, but to fleece the flock.

God condemned false teachers long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

2 Peter 2:3 (b)
…for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

Throughout history, there has been no shortage of gimmicks to make money in the name of spirituality. For example, certain ministries sell “holy water” from the Jordan River for a donation of twenty-five dollars. But if you go to Israel, you’ll see the same little vial selling for one dollar. This tendency so grieved Jesus that it caused Him to overturn tables in the temple rather than allow His Father’s house to remain a den of thieves (Matthew 21:12-13)

.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1592). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[IceCold]

No. Jesus said, "You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Here is a commentary on Deuteronomy 22:23-24 if you are interested.

But I checked and apparently the word for adultery in the Bible is moicheia which only applies to having sex with married women. Basically you'd be allowed, as a married man, to bang prostitutes. The ten commandments also allude to this.

The only reason I'm say this is that there's this person in another forum who's Christian Orthodox and she wears a niqab and allows her husband to do anything to her (he can bang any girl and she must comply to anything he asks sexually, treesomes, anal and even if he'd ask her to bang another man). She says that the Bible states that women are the property of their husband (like in the commandments) and that it says a woman should do what the husband tells her due to this. It kinda freaked me out to say the least.

edit: You know what, don't even bother answering to me. That chick is mentally deranged. It's the only rational reason I can come up with to explain her views.

 

[phisheep]

I don't think it is quite sound analysis to assume that everything not expressly forbidden in the bible is therefore permissible, quite apart from any difficulties in translation.

 

[Chaplain]

God is going to judge all angels that sinned against Him.

2 Peter 2:4
For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.

“Wait a minute,” you say. “I know some of these preachers get a little carried away with their merchandising, but they’re really angels at heart.”

“I don’t care if he, she, or they appear angelic,” Peter counters. “The fact is, God didn’t spare even angels who sin.”

God judged the world during Noah's time. Why?

2 Peter 2:5
And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood.

Not only were angels cast down, but the world was washed up when, seeing a world polluted beyond redemption, God flooded it to put it out of its misery.

"The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart." Genesis 6:5-6

God judged the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Why?

2 Peter 2:6
Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people.

Whether it be in a worship leader like Lucifer, or a prosperous community like Sodom, God does not look lightly on falsity. The wheels of His judgment may turn slowly—but they grind thoroughly.

“Look at history,” Peter says. “See what happens to angels, to people, to communities who manipulate, exploit, and play games spiritually.”

"And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment." Jude 7

Why did God rescue Lot out of Sodom?

2 Peter 2:7, 8
But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day.

When Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees for the land to which God called him, he took his nephew with him. But as they traveled, problems arose when their flocks increased to the point that tension arose between the herdsmen over water rights and pastureland. “The world is watching us,” Abraham said. “It’s not good that our men are fighting. Therefore, choose where you want to settle. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”

We are told in Genesis 13, that Lot lifted up his eyes and, seeing grassy green hills, he said, “That’s where I want to take my flock.” And so it was that Lot chose to settle in the green hills surrounding Sodom and Gomorrah—a great place for cattle, but a lousy place for kids; a great place economically, but a dangerous place for his family; a great place materially, but a dark place spiritually. Lot lifted up his eyes—but he didn’t lift them high enough. Whenever you’re considering a move, if you lift your eyes only high enough to analyze the situation economically, you might end up on the hills of Sodom and Gomorrah that will destroy your family eventually. Look higher. Ask God who gives wisdom to all men generously (James 1:5).

After looking toward Sodom, in Genesis 14 we see Lot living in Sodom. “It’s closer to the schools and to soccer practice,” he may have said. “We can save gas money.” So they moved to Sodom—where the situation worsened, for in chapter 19, we see Lot sitting in the gate as a leader of Sodom. Following God’s judgment of Sodom, Lot ended up in a cave outside the city, where, after being seduced by his two daughters, he fathered Moab and Ammon—two nations who would be perpetual enemies of the children of Israel.

In light of this sad, sordid story, I would think Lot was at best a marginal believer. But Scripture says otherwise, for Peter calls him a righteous man who was vexed, grieved, bothered by the pollution and sin surrounding him. This tells me a couple of things.…

First, we don’t know what’s going on in the heart of a man. We may think, That guy’s in Sodom. She’s in sin. But because we don’t know what’s going on deep within them, we mustn’t judge them.

“The heart is deceitful,” Jeremiah tells us, “and desperately wicked above all things. Who can know it?” (see Jeremiah 17:9). That’s why the psalmist would say, “Search my heart, Lord, and see if there be any wicked way in me” (see Psalm 139:23). We don’t even have the ability to know our own hearts, much less the hearts of others.

Second, Peter’s account of Lot reminds me that the sins of believers are never mentioned once in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, we see, for example, Abraham lying about his wife in order to protect his own skin, Lot’s foolish mistake in moving his family to Sodom, David’s murder of Uriah and adultery with Bathsheba. But in the New Testament there is no record of a believer’s sin.

Why?

Because under the New Covenant, the work of the Cross renders sin forgiven and forgotten (Hebrews 10:17). The Good News of the gospel is that if you are born again, you are justified—just as if you never sinned. Christianity is not based on good ideas or good views. It’s Good News. And I like that—a Lot!

Is there proof that believers will not go through the Great Tribulation?

2 Peter 2:9
So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.

I believe this passage to be one of the most powerful proofs that believers will not go through the Tribulation—that period in history described in Revelation 6-19 when God will pour out His wrath upon a Christ-rejecting, sinful world.

Peter’s words refer to a story we know well.…

“Abraham, we have come to judge Sodom,” said the Lord. Knowing his nephew, Lot, was living in the midst of Sodom with his family, Abraham said, “Shall not the judge of all the earth do righteously? Will You destroy the righteous with the wicked? If there are fifty righteous men in the city, will You spare the city?” “I’ll spare the city for fifty righteous men,” the Lord answered. “On second thought,” said Abraham, “if there are forty-five righteous men living in Sodom, will You spare the city?” “I’ll spare it for forty-five,” said the Lord. “Thirty?” ventured Abraham. “Okay,” said the Lord. “What if there are twenty righteous men living in Sodom?” “I’ll spare Sodom if there are twenty righteous men within,” said the Lord. “I hate to ask this,” Abraham finally said, “but will You spare it for only ten?” “Yes,” said the Lord. At that point, Abraham stopped negotiating. After all, Lot, his wife, two daughters, and two sons-in-law lived in Sodom. Surely they had influenced at least four others. However, as it turned out, Lot, his wife, and his two daughters were the only ones who escaped destruction, as the angels literally pulled them out of the city (Genesis 19:16).

The Lord does, indeed, know how to deliver the godly out of temptation, out of judgment, out of destruction. And, just as He did Lot and his family, He will deliver believers before He pours out His wrath in the Tribulation. Before the Tribulation breaks forth, He will snatch us up, take us out, call us home in the event called the Rapture, described in 1 Thessalonians 4.

Despising the demonic realm.

2 Peter 2:10 (a)
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government.

The idea of “despising government” does not speak politically, but spiritually. That is, those who despise government are those who refuse to believe in the unseen spiritual realm.

2 Peter 2:10 (b)
They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries.

Again, the idea of dignitaries speaks not of human dignitaries, but of the demonic hierarchy seen in Ephesians 6.

Are we putting the Lord between us and Satan?

2 Peter 2:11
But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings.

In the Book of Jude, we read that after Moses died, Satan wanted his body (Jude 9). Knowing Scripture as he does, perhaps this was because Satan is aware of the fact that Moses will most likely be one of the two witnesses spoken of in the Tribulation period (Revelation 11)—and he wanted to prevent this from happening. Be that as it may, as Michael the archangel protected the body of Moses, Jude tells us he did not dare bring railing accusation against Satan, but rather called upon the Lord to rebuke him (Jude 9).

As they rant and rave against the devil, I have seen some evangelists talk to and about Satan in ways Michael dared not speak. Peter and Jude say this ought not to be. Why? If you’ve played football you know the answer.…

As a football team, the last thing you want to do is mock your upcoming opponent in an interview because the opposing coach will gladly clip the article and put it on his team’s locker room bulletin board, knowing your comments will fire up his team better than he himself could. “They call us wimps and losers? We’ll see about that.…”

So, too, anyone who tries to incite believers to action by mocking Satan and his demons is making a big mistake. Wise is the man who, like Michael, puts the Lord between himself and the Enemy.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1595). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Chaplain]

False teachers flaunt their sinful lifestyles.

2 Peter 2:12, 13 (a)
These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time.

The riot spoken of here is not one of throwing rocks or bottle rockets against government buildings. No, it speaks of false teachers who flaunt their sinful lifestyles in the name of liberty.

Greed is the motivation for all evil.

2 Peter 2:13 (b)—16
They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals. They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse. They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.

Balaam's story...

Hearing what the three million Israelites who were headed his way had done to Kings Sihon and Og, a worried King Balak sent for a prophet named Balaam to curse them. “The king wants to see you,” said Balak’s emissaries to Balaam. So Balaam asked God if he should go. When God said, “No,” Balaam said to the emissaries, “Sorry, guys. God says I can’t go.” Hearing this, Balak sent more powerful men to Balaam’s house. Again, Balaam prayed. “The Lord said I can’t go. In fact, even if you gave me a houseful of gold, I couldn’t go with you (hint, hint, hint).” After returning to Balak, they appeared a third time to Balaam—this time with a houseful of gold. At this point, Balaam prayed again. And this time, God said, “If you’re going to keep pressing the point and wanting your way, go—but don’t say anything I don’t tell you to say.” So Balaam got on his donkey and set off to see Balak. On his way, God intervened three times, sending an angel to stand in Balaam’s path. But only his donkey saw the angel, causing Balaam to become so angry that the donkey had to finally speak in self-defense. Balaam finally reached Balak and, although God didn’t allow him to pronounce a curse on the people of Israel, Balaam was instrumental in their bringing a curse upon themselves (Numbers 22–24).

In reaching back to this Old Testament account, Peter says the same greed that motivated Balaam motivates false teachers.

False teachers promise liberty that is really slavery.

2 Peter 2:17–19
These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

The liberty promised by false teachers is like the Judas tree of the Middle East.…

The Judas tree has a beautiful red flower that attracts bees by the millions. But the nectar inside contains an opiate that is deadly to them—as evidenced by the piles of dead bees at the base of every Judas tree.

Peter’s clear warning is extremely appropriate for us today because in the last days more and more will teach from their own imaginations, following their own agendas. And if you think Peter’s warning doesn’t apply to you, perhaps you are in the gravest danger because you will eventually buy into some new idea or practice that, although it’s not seen in the life of Christ, throughout the Book of Acts, or taught in the Epistles, will seem so spiritual, so logical. Oh, it may not be the current fad of “holy barking” or “holy laughter.” It may be something much more intellectual, much more subtle, but no less dangerous.

False teachers preach legalism.

2 Peter 2:20–22 (a)
And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.”

Peter likens false teachers to dogs and defines such dogs as those who said, “It’s not enough to simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You must also be circumcised as Old Testament law prescribes. Christianity should be painful. Misery proves spirituality” (see Philippians 3:2). So important is this issue that Paul will write an entire book—the Book of Galatians—dealing with it.

Why do people become legalistic? I believe it’s because they themselves are miserable. They’ve given up certain things and therefore say, “If I’m in pain, you should be, too. If I’m under the law, you should be as well. If I can’t go there, I’m going to make sure you can’t either.”

But if you watch a legalistic preacher, a legalistic parent, a legalistic person, you’ll see the truth of Peter’s analogy, for, although they bark and yap at others, they eventually return to those tendencies or activities against which they preach most vehemently.

False teachers preach hedonism.

2 Peter 2:22 (b)
And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

In addition to the dogs of legalism, we’re to beware of the hogs of hedonism. To be hedonistic is to live for pleasure.

You can give a pig a bath, blow-dry her hair, put a bow on her tail and blush on her face. But, although she’ll look fine for a short time, she will eventually make her way back to that which pleases her—mud.

So, too, any teacher or religion that encourages people to wallow in sin is piglike in nature. And wise is the one who is able not only to identify those tendencies in false teachers, but is aware of them within himself.

Peter writes his second epistle to stimulate wholesome thinking and refresh our memories.

2 Peter 3:1
Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder).

Reminiscent of his commitment to “put you always in remembrance of these things” (see 1:12), Peter says, “I’m writing to you to stir up your minds, to bring to your remembrance that which I’ve already taught you.”

All Scripture is inspired by God.

2 Peter 3:2
I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.

Because he places his writings alongside those of the holy prophets, Peter is evidently aware of the inspiration of the Spirit flowing through him as surely as it had flowed through Isaiah and Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.

Scoffers in the last days.

2 Peter 3:3 (a)
Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come…

“Things are going on just as they always have,” says the skeptic. “We’ve heard the prophecy update podcasts. We’ve read The Late Great Planet Earth. But where is this Second Coming everyone keeps talking about?”—little knowing that his very scoffing fulfills Bible prophecy.

What is the root skepticism and cynicism?

2 Peter 3:3 (b), 4
…walking according to their own lusts. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”

The root of skepticism and cynicism lies in a desire to follow one’s flesh and fulfill one’s lust. A denial of the return of Jesus allows people to live however they want because it removes accountability to the God who made them and who will return for them.

People also scoffed at Noah right before the Earth was flooded by God.

2 Peter 3:5, 6
They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood.

There was another time in human history when men scoffed. Day after day, decade upon decade, as Noah constructed a prophetic illustration of gigantic proportion, the laughter of his friends and neighbors accompanied the sounds of his saw and hammer. But eventually, the collapse of the water canopy that surrounded the earth in days of antiquity caused rain to fall, resulting in a world-wide flood—as evidenced to this day not only by geological data, but by its appearance in the written or oral history of virtually every culture.

Another flood is coming. This time not of water, but of fire.

2 Peter 3:7
And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

Just as the world was destroyed in the days of Noah, Peter says it will be destroyed again—not by water, but by fire. Let the cartoonists draw their caricatures of prophets of doom. Let the world make its jokes. But you can go to the bank on the fact that just as the world was flooded with water in days of old, it will one day be burned with fire.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1597). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[JGS]

I don't think it is quite sound analysis to assume that everything not expressly forbidden in the bible is therefore permissible, quite apart from any difficulties in translation.

In that case it's more like planning your whole religious belief on one verse.

There are plenty of verses that condemn fornication regardless of marital status. Sound like the hubby is just a freak and needs a verse to justify it.

 

[mrbagdt]

In that case it's more like planning your whole religious belief on one verse.

There are plenty of verses that condemn fornication regardless of marital status. Sound like the hubby is just a freak and needs a verse to justify it.

the use of scripture to put down women still bothers me. i dont have enough biblical knowledge to explain why certain things in a literal sense from the bible are not the right thing to do.

But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

 

[JGS]

the use of scripture to put down women still bothers me. i dont have enough biblical knowledge to explain why certain things in a literal sense from the bible are not the right thing to do.

That's true in regard to instructing the congregation and it's certainly true that a woman was not to have a leadership position within the church.

Christianity has always had a hierarchy for things when it pertains to headship/management. This was seperate from equality though. Women were admired and respected throughout Scripture, were a large portion of the ministry, and were assumed to be rulers in heaven alongside men & Jesus.

 

[mrbagdt]

That's true in regard to instructing the congregation and it's certainly true that a woman was not to have a leadership position within the church.

isnt 'leadership position' a little to vague? what if a woman was, say, the worship leader for a church? or the leader of the sunday school classes? or is this to say that the head pastor at a church should never be a female? or that a female should never lead a sermon presented to the church? i take some issue with that belief, it just doesnt seem right to me. a lot of the leadership positions within my church are jointly held by a couple (youth ministry, young couples), but since they all eventually report up to our pastor (male) who reports to our board (all males) i guess that makes it ok.

i certainly agree that there are clearly laid out roles of each sex in the household and in the family. im still uncertain that i understand the roles of the sexes within the church.

 

[JGS]

isnt 'leadership position' a little to vague? what if a woman was, say, the worship leader for a church? or the leader of the sunday school classes? or is this to say that the head pastor at a church should never be a female? or that a female should never lead a sermon presented to the church? i take some issue with that belief, it just doesnt seem right to me. a lot of the leadership positions within my church are jointly held by a couple (youth ministry, young couples), but since they all eventually report up to our pastor (male) who reports to our board (all males) i guess that makes it ok.

The leadership position is spelled out in the NT. The context seems to be adults, so teaching a kids class may not count. They cannot teach before the congregation/church.

What makes it a bit more vague is that there isn't really that complicated a structure in Christianity. There was a local church and it was headed by a group of men qualified for that role. So there wasn't a Sunday school and there wasn't just one leader. Plus everyone shared an equal responsibility in teaching & spreading Christianity outside the congregation and their reward was equal.

So there were particular reasons that one gender was preferred for church leadership despite the risks and rewards being the same and gender equality itself being the same.

 

[mrbagdt]

The leadership position is spelled out in the NT. The context seems to be adults, so teaching a kids class may not count. They cannot teach before the congregation/church.

What makes it a bit more vague is that there isn't really that complicated a structure in Christianity. There was a local church and it was headed by a group of men qualified for that role. So there wasn't a Sunday school and there wasn't just one leader. Plus everyone shared an equal responsibility in teaching & spreading Christianity outside the congregation and their reward was equal.

So there were particular reasons that one gender was preferred for church leadership despite the risks and rewards being the same and gender equality itself being the same.

the 'cannot teach before the congregation' is what im not sure i understand. if a woman stands before the church to share her testimony, would that be considered wrong? i almost take it as meaning that i cannot (or is it should not?) learn about christ from a woman, which i dont feel is true.

the fact that there isnt a complicated role structure is why i dont understand why women shouldnt be allowed to teach before the church. christianity is a movement, and since it is all peoples equal responsibility in teaching and spreading the word, why would someone be limited in what they can do based on their sex?

maybe i am making a mountain out of an anthill. if someone visits my church and acts annoyed because the pastors wife goes up and does the 'welcome to our church, we are glad you are here, look around and tell someone you are glad to see them this morning!' i just want to say 'you're doing it wrong.' i don't feel like it is a black/white issue.

with this guy from earlier who was doing that stuff with his wife and using scripture to support it, seems like he is ignoring 'For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.'

 

[Chaplain]

How we see time and how God sees time.

2 Peter 3:8
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

After addressing the ridicule of the lost concerning the Lord and His delay in verses 1–7, Peter goes on to speak about the restraint of the Lord in verses 8–9—an understanding based upon the fact that the Lord completely transcends time.…

God will keep His promise of returning.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

As far as I understand prophecy, Jesus could have come back in 1967, following Israel’s Six Day War, when Jerusalem was at last united. Why didn’t He? If you are among those who didn’t get saved until after 1967, He delayed His coming for you. Although we want the Lord to come back so desperately, we must never forget what this would mean to those who don’t yet know Him.

What is the "Day of the Lord"?

2 Peter 3:10 (a)
But the day of the Lord…

After discussing the Lord’s delay, Peter goes on to talk about the Lord’s Day.

For prophecy to make sense to you, there are four days you need to know:

The Day of Man began in the Garden of Eden when God gave man the privilege, the opportunity to steward this planet (Genesis 2:15). But when Adam and Eve chose to listen to Satan rather than to obey God, the Day of Man became a total, unmitigated disaster characterized by famine and starvation, disease, war, and death.

The next day on the calendar is the Day of Christ—which will begin when Jesus appears in the clouds to meet His bride in the air and take us to heaven for a seven-year honeymoon with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

The third day is the Day of the Lord when, beginning with the Tribulation, God will intervene in human affairs (Joel 2; Revelation 6). Extending through the period of time called the millennium, the Day of the Lord starts dark, but gets brighter and brighter—just as the Jewish day begins at sundown and works its way to dawn. I like that!

The fourth day, seen here in verse 12, is the Day of God, which begins after the millennium, when, because heaven and earth have been polluted by the presence of Satan, the present heaven and earth are done away with, replaced by a new heaven and earth.

Who will be caught off guard when Jesus returns?

2 Peter 3:10 (b)
…will come as a thief in the night…

Because it is the Day of the Lord rather than the Day of Christ that will come as a thief in the night, the scoffer, the unbeliever will be caught off guard—but not the believer who is watching for His coming (I Thessalonians 5:4).

What will happen to the sky and Earth during the "Day of the Lord"?

2 Peter 3:10 (c)
…in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise…

The Greek word translated “great noise” is rhoizedon, which speaks of a great roar and the wind of a fire.

2 Peter 3:10 (d)
…and the elements shall melt with fervent heat…

The Greek word translated “element,” is stoicheion and refers to the letters of the alphabet—alpha, beta, gamma, delta, etc. If a great noise, wind of fire, and melting of gamma rays sound familiar, it’s because these are all terms associated with nuclear radiation.

2 Peter 3:10 (e)
…the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

On December 2, 1942, this scripture suddenly had new meaning for many who were reading with understanding—for on that cold winter day on the University of Chicago’s Stagg Field, Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Ferme, and Albert Einstein tested their theory that if Uranium 235 was bombarded with neutrons, energy would be released. And indeed it was.

Moving the experiment to a desert in New Mexico, on July 16, 1945, engineers were shocked when the ten-inch rail metal used to drop the first nuclear device was immediately vaporized, shooting debris seven miles into the air and eighteen hundred feet in every direction. With heat so intense that the surrounding sand was turned into glass, it was clear something ominous was taking place. The Nuclear Age was born.

Finally, in August of the same year, the A-bomb was dropped over the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Many who read these verses said, “Impossible! Elements can’t melt. The whole earth can’t be burned up.” But in the events of 1945, they were suddenly silenced.

While the Day of the Lord will indeed usher in the destruction spoken of here, I believe Peter’s reference is to something even more devastating.

What could possibly be more devastating than nuclear warfare?

Concerning Jesus Christ, Colossians 1:17 tells us that all things were made and are held together by Him. Now, because Coulomb’s “Law of Electricity” says that like charges repel, what keeps the positive-charged protons in every atom from pushing apart? With no better explanation, scientists call it “atomic glue.” We, however, know that by Him all things hold together, that He upholds all things with the Word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). But there will come a day when He lets go—and with one gigantic boom everything will be wiped out, obliterated, done away with in the Day of the Lord.

Why should we live holy and godly lives?

2 Peter 3:11
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.

If everything we strive for materially will explode eventually, what should be our priority?

Rabbi Chaim Herzog, a prominent scholar and lover of the Torah lives in the old section of Jerusalem in a small apartment containing only a chair, desk, and bed. “Rabbi, is this your house?” asked a lady from New York who had come to visit him. “Yes,” replied the Rabbi. “Well, where is your furniture?” The Rabbi looked at this wealthy American lady and said, “Where’s your furniture?” “I didn’t bring my furniture,” she said. “I’m just traveling.” “Ah,” the Rabbi smiled, “so am I.”

The message of Scripture from cover to cover is that we’re pilgrims and sojourners on this earth. Yes, God can bless us with cars and houses—but we’re not to make them high priorities because they’re just going to burn, dissipate, and dissolve. “Keep your eyes on the big picture,” says Peter. “Look for the coming Day of God.”

What will happen to the Universe on the "Day of God"?

2 Peter 3:12
Looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.

The flavor of the Greek text is that we don’t look for the Day of God passively, but that we actually have the ability to speed it along.

“I thought God was sovereign,” you say.

He is, but in Scripture we see a sovereign God affected and impacted by His people and their cooperation.…

Before entering the Promised Land, the children of Israel sent twelve spies to check it out. And because they chose to retreat in fear rather than advance in faith, they were destined to wander in the wilderness for forty years (Numbers 13).

The children of Israel actually slowed down God’s timetable by forty years.

“Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” Jonah declared. But the people repented, and God chose not to destroy the city (see Jonah 3).

Yes, God is sovereign. Yes, God is in control. But He factors in to His sovereign plan the attitudes and cooperation of man. Knowing this, Peter says we can hasten His return.

Are you tired of death and disease and depression? Have you had your fill of sadness and sickness and sin? If so, there are two ways you can hurry the day when righteousness will rule the earth.

First, the Day of God is hastened by our prayer. In teaching us to pray, Jesus taught us to ask that His kingdom come (Matthew 6:10). This is precisely what one who heard Him teach that prayer did. At the end of the Book of Revelation, Jesus said, “Behold, I come quickly”—to which John responded in prayer, “Even so, Lord, come quickly.” The same is still true. Prayer influences the timing of God—including the coming of the kingdom.

Second, the Day of God is hastened as we share. According to Acts 2:47, the Lord adds daily to the church such as should be saved. Thus, there is someone who is the last one to be added to the church to complete the bride of Christ. And when that last one gets saved, the body of Christ will be complete, and we’ll go up.

Consequently, as we witness, share, and invite people to be a part of the family and make a decision for Jesus Christ—we actually bring closer the day of His return. But the benefits of hastening the day are not limited to future times. Rather, this kind of living and thinking has benefits now, as it produces within us three important qualities.…

Purity. First John 3:3 tells us that he who looks for Jesus’ coming purifies himself. It’s amazing how careful a person drives when he looks in his wallet and realizes his license has expired. So, too, it’s amazing how purity will characterize the life of one who believes this could be the day, this could be the hour of Christ’s return.

Peace. The one who looks for the Lord’s coming takes a whole lot more things a whole lot less seriously. In other words, the one who looks for the Lord’s coming is not uptight about the scratch in his car, the bruise to his ego, or the slight at the office because he sees the bigger picture of eternity.

Purpose. The life of the one who looks for the Lord’s coming, who is involved in the work of the kingdom, is neither boring, predictable, nor routine. If you feel that your life is simply going in circles, it could be because you’ve lost sight of your purpose.

Hasten the day, gang, by your prayer and as you share. Live for eternity, and you’ll find unparalleled purity, purpose, and peace.

2 Peter 3:13
But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

Taken from Isaiah 65:17, the Hebrew word translated “create” is bara and refers to the act of creating something from nothing. The new heavens and new earth are not a remodeled or renovated version of the present. No, they’re brand new.

How can we be spotless and blameless in God's sight?

2 Peter 3:14
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.

We know Jesus is coming back, but there are many who don’t have a peace about His coming because they know they are not spotless and blameless. Understand, dear saint, that in Luke 12:37 we hear Jesus saying, “Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching.” Therefore, if you are simply watching for His coming, if you are tired of this world system’s sin and corruption and want to see the Lord rule and reign at last—it is you the Lord calls blessed.

Many years ago when we went to see the Oakland A’s play, upon entering the stadium, Ben, seven, and Mary, eight, were given free wristbands with their names and seat numbers on them. As we made our way into the stands, we turned around to see Mary wasn’t with us. We looked and looked for her until—after about ten minutes—one of the ushers brought her to the seat number printed on her wristband. When we were reunited, did we yell at her? No. Did we come down on her? No. Did we say, “Mary, you are spotted and full of blame. Depart, Mary. Away with you!” No.

For although she had wandered off, although she had become mixed up, all she really wanted was to be with Mommy and Daddy. So with tears in her eyes, we embraced her, sat her down between us, and bought her some popcorn, a hotdog, and a some cotton candy.

So, too, if your heart is like Mary’s, if you simply say, “Yes, I wandered away, but what I really want is to be with You, Father”—don’t you know He is going to embrace you as tightly as we embraced Mary?

“Wait a minute,” you say. “The text says not only are we to look for Him, but we are to be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”

That’s true. And the only way we can be found of Him in peace without spot and blameless is to be found in Him. The great news of the gospel is that the moment you became a Christian, you were positioned in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Consequently, when the Father looks at you, He doesn’t see you. He sees the spotless and blameless One, Jesus Christ.

And no one embodied the reality of this truth better than Peter…

When Jesus called to Peter fishing on the Sea of Galilee in direct violation of the command He had given him to remain in Jerusalem, Peter couldn’t swim to shore fast enough. And when he got there, did Jesus lecture Peter, berate Peter, humiliate Peter? No. He served Peter (John 21:12-13).

Will Jesus be mad at you when He comes? Not if, like Peter, you’re saying, “Lord, even though I’m out to lunch, drifting out to sea, fishing where I ought not be, I still want to be with You.”

Peter and Paul had an interesting relationship.

2 Peter 3:15, 16 (a)
And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand…

In Galatians 2, we read that Paul rebuked Peter for his failure to fellowship with Gentiles when fellow Jews were present. Here, Peter tells us that Paul’s writings are hard to understand. With different callings and different methods—Peter called to primarily minister to Jewish believers, Paul to Gentiles—Peter and Paul illustrate what is to take place in and through the body of Christ as we find both unity and diversity in Him.

Are Paul's writings inspired by God?

2 Peter 3:16 (c)
…which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

There are those who contend that it was not until centuries later that the church recognized Peter’s, James’, or Paul’s writings to be inspired. But such is not the case, for in placing Paul’s writings on the same plane as “the other Scriptures,” Peter knew they were equally inspired.

Peter’s final words.

2 Peter 3:17
I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.

While it is true that belief affects behavior, it is equally true that behavior affects belief. For example, the more you study evolution, the more you become aware of its scientific absurdity. But people continue to buy into it because believing they are nothing more than animals allows them to justify their own animal behavior.

Peter says, “I know you know the truth. But be careful because if you choose to live in carnality, you will eventually change your theology to justify your sin.”

2 Peter 3:18
Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

Peter closes not by saying, “Grow in devotion,” or, “Grow in zeal,” or “Grow in holiness.” He closes by saying, “Grow in grace” because grace is not the starting point. Grace is the only point.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1600). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[JGS]

the 'cannot teach before the congregation' is what im not sure i understand. if a woman stands before the church to share her testimony, would that be considered wrong? i almost take it as meaning that i cannot (or is it should not?) learn about christ from a woman, which i dont feel is true.

Each church is different, but sharing testimony is not instruction usually. It often is about explaining how the instruction was put into practice.

Some could also argue that reading something prepred is not teaching snce the original diocumentation was from an elder/pastor/book.

the fact that there isnt a complicated role structure is why i dont understand why women shouldnt be allowed to teach before the church. christianity is a movement, and since it is all peoples equal responsibility in teaching and spreading the word, why would someone be limited in what they can do based on their sex?

maybe i am making a mountain out of an anthill. if someone visits my church and acts annoyed because the pastors wife goes up and does the 'welcome to our church, we are glad you are here, look around and tell someone you are glad to see them this morning!' i just want to say 'you're doing it wrong.' i don't feel like it is a black/white issue.

with this guy from earlier who was doing that stuff with his wife and using scripture to support it, seems like he is ignoring 'For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.'

I think most churches do a bad job at explaining the headship arrangement. They either describe it as men are the boss or they are scared to touch it due to how it clearly sounds- women are second class citizens. Only further readng on unrelated subjects makes it clear that women are equal but are not viewed as qualified for that particular role.

Although there are obviously some exceptions to the rule, women have a different emotional make-up from men that makes them suited to some things while men are suited for others. Since Christianity is about generalizations andmkeeping things simple, the organization of it decides to keep things simple and arrange the headship by gender.

Since most of the NT is regarding church organization then the appearance is it's geared toward men. However, as the verse you mentioned indicates, normal life was much more equitable with a husband basically be the defacto household manager. Very few units of civilization have functioned without a manager/leader of some type and the family is no different.

 

[Liberty4all]

the use of scripture to put down women still bothers me. i dont have enough biblical knowledge to explain why certain things in a literal sense from the bible are not the right thing to do.

I always took it that the Bible was written a a time when society as a whole literally "put down" women.

It's really only been in the last 100 years or so that women got equal rights in North America.

 

[JGS]

I always took it that the Bible was written a a time when society as a whole literally "put down" women.

It's really only been in the last 100 years or so that women got equal rights in North America.

There's a bit of a difference between the Bible putting down women and people using the Bible to put down women.

In most instances, the Bible presents women as pretty important parts of society at least as important as men but, again, holding different responsibilities.

 

[Chaplain]

Live Now

Sunday Morning, April 22nd, 2012 — 7:30 am, 9:30 am & 12:00 pm (PST)
"Woman, God's Ingenious Plan," Genesis 2:18-25, by Pastor Xavier Ries

Live Webcast Video Link

Sunday Evening, April 22nd, 2012— 6:00 pm (PST)
A special message, by Pastor Xavier Ries
Live Concert with Sarah MacIntosh

Webcast Video Link for tonight's Concert

 

[mrbagdt]

thanks JGS. i think the best way to view it is not so much as a way of limiting women but as a way to have clear roles laid out for each sex, the same as it is with the household. while even the highest authority within an individual congregation may be male, everyone knows that he still answers to God above. id agree with the difference between the bible putting down women and using the bible to put down women. there are tons of scriptures that can be used on face value to drive your whole doctrine and to do some abhorrent things, but most of the time it is taking the scripture out of context or ignoring instruction that is received somewhere else.

had an interesting discussion yesterday regarding churches that either encourage (or don't discourage) their congregation going to bars and clubs with their 'unsaved' friends as a way to be around them. used ideas like the 'Jesus was the friend of sinners' as a justification for taking part in a lifestyle that, to me, is clearly not what Christianity is about. in the end, it was basically said that you should never act above a sinner, you shouldnt look down on them, you shouldnt be judgemental towards them and you shouldnt avoid them. however, you also shouldnt form a close-knit friendship with a sinner or go into business with a sinner, because that is undoubtedly a way of allowing sin to enter into your life. i think its a tricky line to travel, but the only reason to ever minister at bars and hand out cards to attend church is using watered down doctrine as a way to increase numbers.

 

[Chaplain]

John says Jesus is God, that they heard, saw, and touched him, in defense of what the gnostics were proclaiming.

1 John 1:1–3
We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Claiming to possess super intellects, to be true thinkers, they were known as gnostics—or “the knowledgeable ones.” And these “knowledgeable ones,” these “enlightened ones” maintained that even if His followers claimed Jesus was God, they were embarrassingly naive to think He had a body physically, for anyone with any intelligence understood that anything in the material realm was inherently evil.

Why did they make this claim?

By arguing that everything material is evil, the gnostics absolved themselves of any responsibility for the activity of their bodies. In other words, their logic allowed them to position themselves as deep thinkers while behaving themselves as party animals.

“It is impossible that God actually became a Man,” the gnostics declared. “Jesus was an emanation of God, but not God Incarnate.” And such thinking is the common denominator of all cults to this day.

Here at the outset of his epistle, John says, “Wait a minute. Jesus wasn’t a phantom, an emanation, or a vision. We walked, hung out, and lived with Him. And we want you to have the same kind of fellowship with Him.”

How can this happen?

The same way it did for two men on their way to the town of Emmaus.…

“Why are you so sad?” asked the Stranger walking with them. “Don’t you know what’s happened?” they replied, not realizing it was the Lord. And they went on to recount to Him how Jesus had died on the Cross just a few days before. Then, beginning with Moses and working His way through the Old Testament, Jesus opened the Word to them, explaining how it all pointed to Him. Upon reaching their destination, yet wanting to hear more, the two men invited Jesus to dine with them. And it was when they saw Jesus break bread that their eyes were opened to recognize Jesus in their midst (Luke 24).

Two things took place on the Road to Emmaus: Jesus opened the Word to the disciples, and the eyes of the disciples were opened to Jesus. Haven’t you experienced the same thing? “Lo, I come in the volume of the book,” Jesus says (see Psalm 40:7). And truly this book causes us to have an awareness of the nearness of the Lord. When I don’t get into the Word, I miss Him. Oh, He’s still here, but, like the men on the Road to Emmaus, I don’t recognize Him as readily or see Him as clearly.

Secondly, we see Jesus in the breaking of the bread at the table of Communion. “Take eat. This is My body broken for you,” He said (see 1 Corinthians 11:24). That’s why Communion is so very, very important. It’s not just a little cracker-and-juice-monthly ritual. It is infinitely more than that, for it is at the table that we are given the unspeakable privilege of seeing Jesus clearly once again.

Why are Christians joyful?

1 John 1:4
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

John says that the reason to touch the Lord at the table of Communion and see Him in the pages of the Word is in order that we might be full of joy. Elton Trueblood, classic preacher from a generation past, put it this way: “The Christian is joyful not because he is blind to injustice and suffering, but because he is convinced that these, in the light of Divine Sovereignty, are never ultimate. The humor of the Christian is not a way of denying the tears but rather a way of affirming something that is deeper than tears.”

We’re full of joy not because we’re trite or frivolous, but because there’s a deeper reality than the temporary separation from a loved one, the problem with the car, or the bankruptcy of the business. None of those things need rob us of joy because we know there’s a much bigger picture.

Why a "sour, dour, dark, and discouraged Christian is an oxymoron."

1 John 1:5
This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.

People who are depressed in their spiritual lives because they think being a Christian is so hard, don’t match up with true biblical Christianity because John says there’s no dark side to God; there’s nothing negative about Him; there’s not a mean bone in His body. Therefore, a sour, dour, dark, and discouraged Christian is an oxymoron, a contradiction of terms.

“Wait a minute,” you say. “Wasn’t Jesus the Man of Sorrows?” (see Isaiah 53:3).

Yes. Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). He wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35). When Jesus wept, however, it was always for others.

“What about when He wept in the Garden of Gethsemane?” you ask.

The night before He would go to the Cross, Jesus sweat blood because He was terrified not by the pain of the Cross, the spittle that would run down His face, or the flagellum that would rip into His back. Jesus was almost literally scared to death by the thought of being temporarily separated from His Father when He would be made sin on our behalf.

“What if I can’t pay the bills?” we ask. “What if the car doesn’t work?” “What if I lose a loved one?” These are the things that frighten us. But separation from the Father? We don’t even give it a second thought. God have mercy on us. We’re terrified of all the wrong things.

We are lying to ourselves if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in sin (practicing it).

1 John 1:6
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

We cannot say, “I’m close to the Lord and I’m miserable. I’m walking with Jesus; I’m at the table; I’m in the Word—and am I ever depressed.” We’re kidding ourselves if we say we have fellowship with Jesus but walk around in darkness.

How to know if we are living/walking in the light.

1 John 1:7 (a)
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…

One of the ways we know we have fellowship with the Lord is that we have fellowship with other people. That is, if we’re truly in the light, our hearts will be full of joy. Therefore, we won’t gossip about, find fault with, or put down others.

Jesus blood, continually cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7 (b)
. . .and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

The Greek word translated “cleanseth” clearly speaks of a continual cleansing.

If we’re continually cleansed, shall we continue to sin? “God forbid,” says Paul (Romans 6:2) because even though we are cleansed from the penalty of sin, the repercussions of sin remain. Whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7). And there are no exceptions to this rule.

“Be sure your sin will find you out,” Numbers 32:23 declares—not “sometimes it will find you out,” not “perhaps it will find you out,” but “it will find you out,” bringing with it terrible, painful, and sometimes lifelong repercussions.

People who say they are not sinners are deceived.

1 John 1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Who was saying they had no sin? The gnostics. “It’s not me sinning,” they said. “It’s just my body.”

So, too, there are people today who say, “There are no absolutes. What’s wrong for you isn’t wrong for me. I may not be perfect, but I’m not a sinner.”

John, however, says any person at any time in any culture who says, “I’m not a sinner,” is deceiving himself. He just doesn’t get it.

Why do we continue to confess our sins?

1 John 1:9, 10
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

For a number of years in my own walk, this passage kept me in bondage. You see, somewhere along the line, I picked up the idea that if there was one unconfessed sin in my life, God would not hear my prayers. As a result, I would spend time at night on my knees by my bed trying to remember if there was any sin I hadn’t confessed that would keep me out of fellowship. I knew I could be forgiven; I knew I could talk to the Father—but only if I first confessed my sin.

The problem with this kind of thinking is that it adds to what Christ did on the Cross. And in so doing, it is heresy. How are we saved? How do we walk with God? How are we allowed to enter heaven?

Cults answer, “Believe on Jesus Christ, and…”

“Believe on Jesus Christ and follow this teaching…” or, “Believe on Jesus Christ and knock on doors…” or, “Believe on Jesus Christ and wear holy underwear…”

And I suggest that “Believe on Jesus Christ and make sure you confess every sin” falls into this category. When Jesus died on the Cross, He didn’t say, “To be completed.” He said, “It is finished. The price is paid. The veil is rent. The way is open.”

Am I suggesting we are no longer to confess our sin? Not at all. Confession of sin is a needful practice because in constantly confessing our sin to the Lord, we allow the Holy Spirit to readjust our thinking and set us free. Do I confess sin? Constantly—not to earn forgiveness, but because I want to be free. And each time I confess my sin, I find myself celebrating, saying, “Thank You, Lord. As I talk with You about this sin, I’m even more amazed by Your finished work on the Cross of Calvary.”

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1613). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Kentpaul]

I wish i could meet jesus one day

 

[Ward]

There is no one verse that flat out states women can't be preachers. There are a lot of verses that leave it ambiguous.

A number of verses are quoted in this argument that implicate women should be silent. Timothy was quoted above as such a verse. Timothy is a letter by Paul to Timothy. The root of that question is, was Paul providing Timothy with tenants for all of Christianity or was he merely telling Timothy how to handle particular problems at his church?

I don't know if it's Corinthians or Colossians, but it has a similar women should be silent verse, but it is preceded by issues that are clearly church specific. Also, the silence/quietness original translation is calm and orderly fashion.

In Corinthians, women are prophesying and praying, and Paul's only concern is that they dress appropriately. Why didn't he urge the church to lock that down?

I'm looking for a verse I can't find, oh well.

At the same time, Deborah was a judge in the old testament. Basically she was the top ruler of Israel.

 

[JGS]

There's really not that much ambiguity. Woman are expected to be preachers. I think the terms have been mixed up in our day.

All Christians are preachers and there have also always been women who served as prophets. Anna who saw Jesus at the temple is an example as is Deborah. God is able to discern individually what each person who able to carry out so he individually chose ones to carry out his purposes - each of us actually. He assumes all of us have the abilty to preach about him.

However, women rarely if ever, acted as priests under the Levitical arrangement or as elders in the Christian one. Anytime it's been mentioned of them having that kind of influence, it was [almost] always in a negative way.

This is a total aside, but just to be clear, the Scriptures don't necessarily say men make the better leaders except maybe in terms of physique and precense. They are simply the ones determined to be the leader of the church. There are way more evidences of men failing at their role than women failing at their role in the Bible.

 

[Chaplain]

Sinning is a choice for the Christian.

1 John 2:1
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.

At nearly one hundred years of age, John has the right to address us as “little children”—as well as to speak with authority concerning the sin that threatens to wipe us out and do us in.

When we do sin, we have a lawyer, Jesus, who will plead our case before the Father.

1 John 2:1 (a)
But if anyone does sin…

“I write to you that you sin not,” John said. But knowing personally the frailty of humanity, he continued, “but if you sin…”

1 John 2:1 (b)
...we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

If we sin, we’re not written off the list or kicked out of the family, for we have an advocate, a defense attorney in Jesus Christ.

What does it mean that Jesus "is the propitiation for our sins"?

1 John 2:2 (a)
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins...

The tactic of our defense attorney is not to manipulate the evidence for us or to make excuses for our sin. No, our advocate bases His entire case upon the fact that He is the propitiation for our sins. That is, He took upon Himself the righteous indignation of the Father that should have been hurled on us.

Think of it this way.…

While driving eighty miles an hour through downtown Medford, Oregon, I’m pulled over by an officer of the law and taken into a courtroom. But although I walk in with knees knocking and forehead perspiring, I am greatly relieved to discover that the presiding judge is my dad. That is why there is a smile on my face even after the evidence against me is presented. After all, the judge is my dad—and he knows boys will be boys.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I hear his voice thunder, “Guilty. The fine is five thousand dollars or five years in jail.” “How can this be?” I cry. “You’re my dad.” “Sir,” he answers, “in this courtroom I am your judge. And justice must be done.” So I open my wallet to pay the fine, but all I find is a crumpled dollar bill and some change. And just as the bailiff is about to slap cuffs on my wrists and haul me to jail, the judge stands up, deliberately takes off his robe, and leaves the bench to stand beside me and to pay my fine. Thus, justice is served because the price for the sin of speeding was paid—not by me but by my father who paid a debt I was completely unable to pay.

And that’s exactly what happened when Jesus Christ became the propitiation, the payment for my sin.

Did Jesus only die for a select few?

1 John 2:2 (b)
…and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus not only paid the price for my sin, but for the sins of the whole world. “All manner of sin is forgiven all men, He said, except for one: the blasphemy of the Spirit” (see Matthew 12:31). The one sin that will separate man from God presently and that will damn him eternally is the repeated refusal to listen to the Spirit speaking to one’s heart, saying, “You need a Savior. Jesus paid the price for your sin. Accept His free gift of salvation.”

Proof 1 that we are saved.

1 John 2:3, 4
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

After talking about enjoying communion with God in the first section of his epistle, in verses 3–11, John goes on to talk about obeying the commandments of God. The second appearance of the word “know” in this passage is the Greek word ginosko, which speaks of intimacy. Thus, we know we are walking in intimacy with God if we keep His commandments.

Proof 2 that we are saved.

1 John 2:5
But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

We have the privilege of saying, “Lord, even though I struggle and fall, I see the beauty of holiness and the rightness of Your ways—and I desire with all of my heart to do what You say.” If that is your heart, you are in Him.

Proof 3 that we are saved.

1 John 2:6
Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Is it a burdensome obligation to keep His commandments and to walk as He walked? Read on.

It's all about Love.

1 John 2:7
Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before.

“I’m not laying legalism on you,” says John. “I’m not giving new rules to you. That which I’m telling you to do you’ve heard all along from the very beginning.”

1 John 2:8
Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.

Having said, “I write no new commandment to you,” in verse 7, the word “new” John uses in verse 8 doesn’t refer to something that hasn’t been heard before, but rather to something that is fresh. In other words, although it’s an old commandment, it’s neither stale nor archaic. The old commandment is as fresh as the day it was given.

1 John 2:9–11
He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

The new commandment of which John speaks is the greatest commandment of all. The new commandment is to love.

“What is the greatest commandment?” the young lawyer asked the Master. And Jesus said, “How do you read it?” “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and soul and mind and strength,” the lawyer answered. “That’s it,” Jesus said. “And the second is like unto it: Love thy neighbor as thyself” (see Matthew 22:36-39).

The fresh word for you and me is that we are to love, for if we say we’re walking with the Lord and are close to the Lord but have hatred in our hearts toward our brother, then something is not right. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to say, “To the best of my knowledge, I’m not bitter toward anyone, mad at anyone, or angry with anyone because I know what a sinner I am. I know how much I’ve failed. I know how gracious God has been to me.” When that’s our heart, we know things are right.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1619). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Chaplain]

What are the three stages of spiritual life?

1 John 2:12–14
I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

Although there are four stages in our physical life (childhood, youth, adulthood, and, “My, you’re looking wonderful”), John tells us there are three stages of spiritual life: little children, young men, and mature fathers.

Two things are characteristic of the little child: He realizes his sins are forgiven (verse 12), and he knows the Father (verse 13). While this is an excellent starting point, the child must go on to become a young man.

The young man in the faith not only knows the Father and knows his sins are forgiven, but he has overcome the wicked one (verse 13). How? By the Word of God (verse 14). In His wilderness temptation, it wasn’t the Word quoted three times by Jesus that defeated the Enemy. It was His submission to it.…

• When Jesus said, “It is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God,” His implication was, “therefore I will not turn stones to bread, but will live by God’s Word” (see Matthew 4:4).
• When Jesus said, “It is written that thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God,” His implication was, “therefore I will not jump off this pinnacle and tempt My Father to save me” (see Matthew 4:7).
• When Jesus said, “It is written that thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,” His implication was, “therefore, I won’t bow down to you, but will worship My Father exclusively” (see Matthew 4:10).

Believers who think power lies in merely quoting Scripture are mistaken. It’s not the quoting of the verse, but rather submission to the Father that overcomes the Enemy. The wicked one flees when he hears a man or woman say, “I don’t care what my fleshly tendencies are, here’s what God’s Word says—and with His help and by His grace, His Word is what I choose to follow.”

The third category of spiritual life is that of fathers, or mature ones. Like little children, fathers know their sins are forgiven and understand the nature of their Father. Like young men, they overcome the wicked one by being submitted to the Word. And as a result, they have a simple, singular passion: To know Him that is from the beginning (verse 13)—to know Jesus (John 1:1).

As you walk with Jesus, spiritual life gets simpler and simpler because the longer you walk with Him, the fewer principles there are. I used to have notebooks full of principles concerning success in ministry, theology, and family. But the more time that passes, the more I say, “Jesus, You’re my life—not ministry, not theology, not success as a family, but just You. I love being with You; I love talking with You; I just love You.”

That’s when you know you’re reaching the state of spiritual fatherhood. And the interesting thing about fathers is that there’s reproduction. In the office, on the campus, around the neighborhood, others sense the Lord in you and are inspired to follow in your footsteps.
Children, young men, spiritual fathers—John commends them all.

What does John mean when he says, "Do not love this world"?

1 John 2:15 (a)
Do not love this world...

The Greek use of the word “world” is clear: It doesn’t refer to people, but rather to the philosophy and mentality of the world system.

What are Satan's three plays to make people break their relationships with God?

1 John 2:15 (b), 16
…neither the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

If the San Francisco 49’ers approached their game next week with only three plays in their playbook—a sweep around the left, a run up the middle, and a screen pass to the right—and the opposing team knew they had only three plays, I guarantee they wouldn’t win.

From the beginning of time, Satan has had only three plays: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.…

In Genesis 3:6, we read that Eve saw that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was good for food (the lust of the flesh), pleasant to the eyes (the lust of the eyes), and would make one wise (the pride of life).

In Matthew 4, we read that Satan tried to tempt Jesus to turn stones into bread (the lust of the flesh), to look at the kingdoms that could be His (the lust of the eyes), and to prove Himself to the people by jumping from a pinnacle (the pride of life).

To this day, every temptation, every attack from the Enemy and every worldly seduction falls into one of these three categories because Satan has no other plays. Therefore, to counter the lust of the flesh, do what Paul did when he said, “I don’t allow my body to have mastery over me” (see 1 Corinthians 9:27). To counter the lust of the eyes, do what David did when he said, “I will set no wicked thing before my eyes” (see Psalm 101:3). To counter the pride of life, do what Jesus did when He humbled Himself and made Himself of no reputation (Philippians 2:7).

This world is fading away, along with everything that people crave.

1 John 2:17
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

All that is in the world is based upon the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. But it’s all going to pass away.

The three-fold meaning of the word “antichrist”...

1 John 2:18 (a)
Dear children, the last hour is here.

In the beginning of the chapter, John talked about the light of God. Here in the second half of chapter 2, he gives us a warning about the darkness of the Enemy.…

1 John 2:18 (b)
You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come.

Literally translate, “against Christ” or “in place of Christ,” the term “antichrist” carries with it a three-fold meaning.…

• First, Antichrist is a person (Revelation 13; 16; 19). A world leader will come on the scene who will be so cunning, so clever, and so charismatic that he will actually take the place of Christ in the minds of many people.

• Second, there is such a thing as the spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:3). The spirit of antichrist has pervaded human history. For example, as the atrocities of Hitler and Stalin continue to come to light, the only explanation for their murderous insanity is the spirit of antichrist attempting to destroy God’s people, and, in Stalin’s own words, to become “the new Christ.”

• The third meaning of the term “antichrist” is seen here in our text in reference to teachers who, in denying Jesus’ deity, make Him out to be less than He declared Himself to be when He claimed to be God Himself (John 10:30-33).

How to tell when someone has been seduced by the spirit of antichrist.

1 John 2:19
These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.

John tells us we can recognize those who have been seduced by the spirit of antichrist as those who say, “Forget the church. I’m not interested in the body of Christ. I can experience Christ on my own.” Linked to no one, accountable to no one, they not only depart from the fellowship, but, as seen in verses 20–25, they deny the faith.….

God has given us His Spirit, so that we will be protected from lies.

1 John 2:20
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

The Greek word translated “know” is eido, which means “to know intuitively,” so John is saying, “Because you have an anointing from God, there are certain things you know—not because you have mentally figured them out, but because you intuitively know they’re wrong.” That which false teachers propagate falls into this category because their words simply don’t ring true in our hearts.

All cult beliefs come from Gnostic heresy.

1 John 2:21–23
So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

To deny the Father and the Son means to make a differentiation in their elevation. Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, and all other cults have their roots in Gnostic heresy because all of them diminish the Son.

“Jesus is great,” they say.
“Is He God?” I ask.
“He is great and by Him you must be saved,” they say.
“Is He God?” I ask.
“He’s the first begotten, the Son of God,” they say.
“Is He God?” I ask.
“Well…”

“Why does John get so uptight about cultists who diminish the Son?” you ask. “Mormons love the Lord. They always talk about Jesus. What’s the big deal?” I answer this way.…

You’re in my house when suddenly a man comes up my walkway, kicks down the door, and rolls a live grenade in your direction. As you sit glued to your seat, paralyzed with fear, I spring into action. I run down the hall, grab my nine-year-old son, Ben, and—just as the grenade is about to go off—I throw him on the grenade, saving you in the process.

Such is the damnable and erroneous picture the cultist paints concerning the Father. They say Jesus was not God, not equal to the Father, but rather a created being God the Father sent to take the blow while He watched. You see, unless I understand that Jesus is Himself the Wonderful Counselor, the Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6)—unless I understand that Jesus is who He claimed to be when He said I and the Father are one (John 10:30), unless I take Paul’s words at face value when he said that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:18-19), my perception of the Fatherhood of God and the sacrifice of the Son will be terribly skewed.

“Great is the mystery that God became a man,” Paul told Timothy (see 1 Timothy 3:16). This is infinitely more than a doctrinal discussion, for if you do not say that Jesus is God, then you make God a very cruel, awful Person who created a Son to take the hit because He was unwilling to do so Himself. If, on the other hand, Jesus is indeed God, then God Himself absorbed the blow, took the hit, and was pinned to the Cross personally. No wonder those who teach anything else are damned.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1621). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Chaplain]

What is the key to eternal life?

1 John 2:24, 25
Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

The mystery of God in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself is the key to eternal life.

False teachers...

1 John 2:26
These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.

False teachers not only depart from the fellowship and deny the faith, but they also try to deceive the family in their attempt to cloud people’s understanding of the true nature of the Son.

The Holy Spirit protects believers from false teachings.

1 John 2:27
But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

John is saying, “If you listen to the Holy Spirit, you’ll recognize false teaching as foolishness.”

I’ve heard people use this verse to say, “If we need not that any man teach us, we don’t need to come to Bible study.” However, because God gave teachers to the church (Ephesians 4:11), because Paul himself taught daily in the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9), and because the early church devoted herself to teaching (Acts 2:42), we know John is not denying the necessity of true teaching. Rather, he is denying the validity of false teaching.

How do we know we are born again?

1 John 2:28, 29
And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

Those who have made Jesus less than He is will be ashamed at His coming when they find themselves face to face with His deity.

Everyone is not a child of God. We accept adoption into God's family by belief and acceptance of Jesus. God offers each human the choice of being His child.

1 John 3:1
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

In his Gospel, John tells us that as many as received Jesus were given power, or authority, to become the sons of God (1:12). Here, he picks up on the same theme.

Paul further develops this idea of sonship when he writes of the “doctrine of adoption” in his epistles to the Ephesians and Romans. Seen in light of our position as sons of God, the Greek word for adoption is interesting indeed. Huiothesia comes from huios, or “son,” and thesis, or “position.” Thus, Jesus Christ took our position on the Cross in order that we might take the position of the Son in heaven. He who was rich became poor for our sakes that we might enjoy the riches of God (2 Corinthians 8:9).

The story is true, I’m told, of the brothers who wanted to play Little League. As they signed up, the registrar was puzzled when, according to their papers, he noticed they were six months apart.
“You’re brothers?” he asked.
“Yep,” they answered.
“But you’re only six months apart,” the puzzled official countered.
“Well, one of us was adopted,” said one of the boys.
“Which one?” asked the registrar.
“We ask our dad all the time,” said the boys, “but he says he can’t remember.”

"I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." John 17:23

I studied this verse a year ago, and have been in somewhat of a daze ever since, for the word “as” means “to the same degree.” In other words, Jesus says that the Father loves me, His adopted son, to the same degree that He loves Jesus, His only begotten Son. Amazing!

We will be like Jesus when we die.

1 John 3:2
Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

We don’t always act like sons of God or look likes sons of God, but John says when He shall appear, we shall be like Him. Do I like that? Yes, because I like Him! After all, Jesus Christ is the Man everyone desires to be like…

So gentle was He that little children flocked to Him (Matthew 19:14).
Yet so commanding was He that a single look from Him parted the angry crowd intending to do Him in (Luke 4:29-30).
So authoritative was He that fierce storms would be quieted by His word (Mark 4:39).
Yet so tender was He that He stilled the storm of criticism that swirled around the adulterous woman (John 8:11).
So embracive was He that sinners called Him friend (Matthew 11:19).
Yet so righteous was He that His blood could wash away the sin of the entire world (1 John 2:2).

Jesus is, indeed, the Perfect Man. He’s everything every one of us innately wants to be.

The more you read the Gospels carefully and thoughtfully, prayerfully and contemplatively, the more you will develop a profound appreciation of the personality, character, integrity, wisdom, and strength of Jesus. When I didn’t know as much about Jesus as I know now, I wasn’t as impressed with Him as I am today. And this is amazing because in every other case, the better you know people, the more disillusioned you become as you begin to see their cracks and flaws.

Not so with Jesus. The longer you walk with Him and the more you learn about Him, the more you will be impressed by Him, and the more you will long to see Him. Even though now we only see Him through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12), I like what I see!

Do you want to be pure/holy everyday? The Apostle John tells us how...

1 John 3:3
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Every man who has the hope of seeing Jesus, everyone who looks for His coming walks with a greater degree of purity than with which he would otherwise walk.

Whether you subscribe to a Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, or Post-Tribulation Rapture, when you read Jesus’ words concerning the end times, you cannot come to any other conclusion than to say He wants us living each and every day looking for His coming.

“I’ve been hearing you talk about the soon coming of Jesus for twenty years now,” you say. “Before that, I heard Billy Graham talk about it. And isn’t it true that one hundred years ago D. L. Moody also believed Jesus would come shortly? C. H. Spurgeon said the same thing one hundred and fifty years ago. And it still hasn’t happened.”

That’s okay. Even if the Lord doesn’t come back in my lifetime, put me in the company of men throughout history who have lived their lives expecting the soon coming of Christ. Put me in the company of St. Francis of Assisi and Thomas ‘ Kempis, Spurgeon and Moody, Torrey and Finney. I would much rather be with those men throughout the ages—including the first-century church—who were living the true expectancy of the coming of Christ than to be in the company of those who say, “It can’t be today.”

Struggling with a certain sin vs. blatantly, habitually, and continually practicing sin.

1 John 3:4
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

The Greek word translated “commits” is in the present perfect tense that speaks of continual action. Thus, this verse does not refer to one who falters in sin, struggles with sin, or falls because of a struggle with a certain sin. It refers to one who blatantly, habitually, and continually practices sin.

I used to watch my son Benny in the backyard with his baseball bat, practicing his swing over and over again. So, too, there are those who practice sin in order to get good at it.

Sinning is a choice for the child of God.

1 John 3:5, 6
And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

In verses 5–8, and in verse 4 of chapter 4, John will give us three reasons why Jesus came. As seen here in verse 5, the first reason was to take away our sin.

How do we tell if we are walking with Jesus or Satan?

1 John 3:7, 8 (a)
Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning.

We need to remind those who claim to be believers yet habitually, continually practice sin that, in the life of a true believer, the Lord came to take away sin.”

Jesus came to Earth to destroy the works of the Satan. What does this mean?

1 John 3:8 (b)
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

Here we see the second reason Jesus came: to destroy the works of the devil. In taking away our sin, Jesus paid the price for sin. In destroying the works of the devil, He destroyed the power of sin. That is, He destroyed the power of the Enemy to entangle us in those things that compromise our ability to impact the world for the kingdom.

Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning.

1 John 3:9 (a)
Whoever has been born of God does not sin,

Because Jesus came to take away sin and to destroy the works of the devil, he who is truly born again doesn’t practice sin.

"Why a Christian involved in sin is the most miserable person in the world."

1 John 3:9 (b)
for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

The seed spoken of here in verse 9 could either refer to the life of Christ within the life of the believer (John 1:13) or to the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23). Which is it? I believe it’s both. When the Spirit of Christ comes into a man and when the Word of God stirs within him, he cannot continue sinning indefinitely. Oh, he might struggle with sin. He might even be ensnared at times by sin. But he’s not comfortable in sin. That’s why a Christian involved in sin is the most miserable person in the world. He has too much of the Lord to enjoy sin, and too much sin to enjoy the Lord. The seed—be it the Person of Christ, the Word of God, or both—does not allow a person to habitually, continually practice sin.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1623). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Chaplain]

Love is what defines a child of God.

1 John 3:10
So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

In the lives of those who are born again, there is not only the absence of something negative but also the presence of something positive. That is, there is not only an absence of habitual, constant sin, but there is the presence of love.

Was Cain a believer?

1 John 3:11, 12 (a)
This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother.

John points to Cain as a picture of one who could not claim to be a believer.

Why did Cain kill Able?

1 John 3:12 (b)
And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.

The Book of Hebrews tells us Abel’s sacrifice was offered to God in faith. Cain’s, on the other hand, was the work of his hands, the fruit of his own energy, and was therefore rejected. This produced a bitterness and jealousy so deep within Cain that it caused him to kill his brother.

The more successful a person is, the more vulnerable he, like Cain, is to jealousy or envy and the more likely he is to make a snide remark about the one of whom he’s jealous. Oh, it might be just a word or two, a wink or a chuckle, a nod or a smile. But when I engage in such activity concerning a brother, I know in my heart what I’m doing. I’m murdering him.

Jesus said, "The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you."

1 John 3:13
So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

Even though you’re called to love all people—especially the brothers and sisters in the Christian community—don’t expect to be loved in return.

How do we know we are saved?

1 John 3:14
If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

“I’m not sure I’m a Christian,” someone says. John says one of the primary ways a person knows he’s born again is if he loves his sisters and brothers in the Lord. If you find yourself caring about your brothers and sisters in Christ and wanting to stand up for them, you can be sure something unusual has taken place in your heart because such feelings are contrary to human nature.

Hating people is the mark of a child of Satan.

1 John 3:15
Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

Jesus said, “You’ve heard it said of old that you’re not to commit murder, but I say unto you if you’re angry with your brother, you’re guilty of murder” (see Matthew 5:21-22). If I’m angry with someone, I am guilty of murder. Why? Because I will be killing him with my comments and cynicism (Proverbs 18:21).

The message of 1 John is that we are to love. An on-fire group of young believers in Germany end each of their petitions to the Lord with, “No matter the cost.” I like that. Ask the Lord to make you a lover of people—no matter the cost.

Jesus said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me." How does this apply in a real world situation?

1 John 3:16
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

There is no reconciliation apart from death. For us to be reconciled to God, someone had to die—and it wouldn’t be us. God initiated the process of reconciliation by laying down His own life.

So, too, the only way there will ever be reconciliation between you and the person with whom you are at odds with or toward whom you feel tension is if someone dies. Either you will lay down your life and quit proving your point—or the other person will be the bigger person and choose to do so. If there’s someone with whom you want to be reconciled—be it a parent, child, spouse, or ex-spouse—the only way it can happen is through death. Somebody’s gotta die.

The Apostle James wrote, "You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?"

1 John 3:17, 18
If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

It’s very easy to talk about love and even easy to wax poetic about it. But John says, “Don’t talk about it, kids—just do it.”

Go by what the Word of God says, not what we are feeling. Why? Feelings are fickle!

1 John 3:19, 20
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

If your heart is attacking you, don’t worry. God is greater than your heart, for He knows more about who you are than your heart ever could.…

What are the things that please God?

1 John 3:21, 22
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

We have confidence with God because we do things that are pleasing in His sight. What things are pleasing in His sight? To the Jews, it was the six hundred thirteen commandments—three hundred sixty-five that are negative, two hundred forty-eight that are positive—they are found in the Old Testament law. But six hundred thirteen being quite a heavy load, David reduced the number to twelve.…

"Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever." Psalm 15

And if a dozen is too many, Micah reduced the number to three when he said,

"No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Yet if three is too hard, Jesus reduced the number to two when He said,

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

How do we have an assured heart, a free heart? By loving the Lord and His people—not in word and tongue, but in deed and truth (3:18).

When I don’t live up to my own expectations, I tend to say, “I’m such a loser, why should I even bother to ask the Lord for anything?” But when my heart is not condemning me, I find I have a beautiful freedom with the Lord. From His perspective, it’s there all the time. But I only recognize it when I am free from the heart attacks of condemnation.

What is God's commandment for us?

1 John 3:23
And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.

“Master,” they said, “what must we do to do the works of God?”

Jesus answered, “This is the singular work of God: That you believe on Him whom the Father hath sent” (see John 6:28-29).

What does obeying God’s commandments prove?

1 John 3:24
Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

We know Jesus lives in us when the fruit of His work in and through our lives is the fruit of the Spirit, or love (Galatians 5:22).

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1626). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Chaplain]

How to identify the Cultist

Perfect, mature love requires discernment.

1 John 4:1
Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.

Perfect love requires that we test the spirits in order that we don’t fall prey to those who would seek to lure us away from the simplicity of the gospel. How do we test the spirits? Read on.

If a teaching, suggestion, or thought is of the spirit of God, it will affirm both the deity and the humanity of Christ.

1 John 4:2, 3
By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

The question in the early church never concerned the deity of Christ. The debate was over His humanity. Church councils would convene in the second century and argue vehemently over this issue because gnostic thought had penetrated the church. Two thousand years later, however, it is the deity of Christ that is continually called into question. John says the Spirit of God attests to both the humanity and deity of Christ. Such is the test by which we recognize Him.

The Spirit who lives in us is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

1 John 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

The walls of the submarines that descend two miles into the Mariana Trench of the Pacific Ocean are constructed of thick steel plates to withstand the tremendous pressure placed upon them. But the pictures taken from such heavily protected submarines reveal fish swimming two miles below the surface of the water with scales no thicker than that of any other fish. How can this be? The answer is simple: The pressure on the inside of those fish is equal to the pressure of the water around them.

That’s the beauty of Christianity. Some people erect massive walls to insulate themselves from the attacks of the Enemy—only to find themselves filled with the frustration of isolation. The key is not to put up massive walls to protect you from the Enemy—but to realize the One inside you is greater than whatever pressure threatens to attack you. When we understand that He that is in us is greater than any temptation, problem, trauma, or difficulty that could come against us, we can move through life freely.

Jesus said, "He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."

1 John 4:5, 6 (a)
They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us.

Inspired by the Spirit, John declares those who truly know God know the Word. Those who don’t know God don’t listen to the Word.

How to tell if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception?

1 John 4:6 (b)
By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

In this simple section, John has told us all we need to know to identify the cultist. That is, if a person draws people closer to God, if he embraces both the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, if he encourages folks to read the Scriptures, he is of the Spirit. On the other hand, if he diminishes either the deity or humanity of Christ, if he makes people feel distant from God, or if he makes light of the Word, he is in error.

Knowing God through Love

John tells us that even though we are to test the spirits, we must not become cynical. Although we are to be able to identify heresy and pseudo-spirituality, we must also be those who love, for God is love.

1 John 4:7, 8
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Earlier, John told us God is light (1 John 1:5). Moses tells us He is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 9:3). Taken together, these descriptions of God paint a powerful portrait—for fire can either be very lovely or it can be terrifying. It all depends on one’s relationship with the fire. Fire in the fireplace is light and love. But outside of the fireplace, raging through one’s house, fire is terrifying.

So, too, he who embraces what God did for him on the Cross of Calvary will be one who basks in His love, one who glows in His light. On the other hand, he who doesn’t accept God’s free gift of salvation will feel the heat of His wrath because the sin of unbelief abides on him (John 3:36).

It's not that we loved God first, it's God who loved us first.

1 John 4:9, 10
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Scripture declares that no man seeks God (Romans 3:11). He seeks us. And He pulls us into His kingdom by the provision He made for us on Calvary. He does the whole thing.

I don’t know what happens to us. Why is it that, when we get saved, we accept grace so easily—but then after we walk with the Lord for a season, we begin to think we can add to grace? “Even as you have received Christ, so walk ye in Him” Paul declares in Colossians 2:6.

“Herein is love,” John says—”not that we loved God, not that we had devotions, not that we were involved in missions—but that God loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Jesus said, "A person who is forgiven little shows only little love." Why it is important to remember this in our own lives...

1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

If God so loved us—and keeps on loving us—then we have no other recourse but to forgive people who have knowingly or unknowingly offended us. If you’re having a hard time forgiving someone, ask the Lord to give you a glimpse of your own sin, a peek at how much He has forgiven you.

Seeing God Through Love

If we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

1 John 4:12, 13
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

How do you know if you’re really walking with the Lord and dwelling in the Lord? Because you have His Spirit. How do you know if you have His Spirit? The fruit of the Spirit being love, I know I am walking close to the Lord to the degree that I am loving people.

How to be free of heresy?

1 John 4:14, 15
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

We must confess that Jesus came in the flesh to be the Savior of the world. And we must confess that He is the Son of God. These are the two components that will keep us free of heresy.

"To feel God’s love is very precious, but to believe it when you do not feel it, is the noblest." (Spurgeon)

1 John 4:16, 17
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

God is love. Therefore, if we are His, if we are abiding in Him, we will, like Him, love others.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1629). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Chaplain]

Perfect love expels all fear.

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Perfect love casts out fear. How so? If I understand that God really, truly loves me, I can have absolute confidence that whatever happens at any given moment is the best for me. Regardless of what the doctor may say, what the IRS may declare, or who wins the election—when you are sure of God’s love for you, you don’t have fear.

The answer to anxiety and fear is not to face your fears or to figure out your phobias. The answer to fear is to become saturated in God’s love because His perfect love casts out fear. Grumpiness and cynicism, doubt and despair wash over me whenever I take my mind off God’s perfect love—so undeniably demonstrated at Calvary.

Loving others is linked to our understanding of God's love toward each of us.

1 John 4:19–21
We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Forgiveness doesn’t have to do with feelings. Forgiveness is a decision we make. If we decide to forgive, feelings will follow in due season. Who can choose to forgive? Only one who’s living in love. Who is living in love? The one who realizes that, although he’s a sinner and a failure, because God has been so good to him, he has no reasonable option but to love his brother.

"Everyone who loves the Father will also love the Son."

1 John 5:1
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

It is the spirit of antichrist that says, “I love God, but the Son is on a different level.”

We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments.

1 John 5:2
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

Because God is love, the closer I get to the Lord, the more His love will rub off on me and the more I will love His children. Those who think they don’t need fellowship with the body or those who call Christians hypocrites are not truly close to the Father because John says he who loves God loves His kids.

God commandments are not burdensome.

1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

God’s commandment to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves is neither hard to discern nor, by the power of His Spirit, hard to follow.

How to overcome the seductions, temptations, and attractions of the world.

1 John 5:4, 5
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

How do we overcome the seductions, temptations, and attractions of the world? Not by a program, but through a Person. “In the world you will have tribulation,” Jesus said, “but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

I was often asked what Applegate Christian Fellowship’s follow-up program was for all of the people who are baptized there Sunday after Sunday. My answer was that Jesus Christ—the One who overcame the world, the One who dealt with every temptation successfully, the One who stared down the Enemy—lives in every one of them and in Him lies victory.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1630). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Chaplain]

I wish i could meet jesus one day

You will!

 

[Chaplain]

The Certainty of God’s Witness

The Apostle John exposes false Gnostic teachings again.

1 John 5:6 (a)
This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood.

Keep in mind that throughout his entire epistle, John is doing battle with gnostics who taught that because the material realm is evil, if Christ was, indeed, who He claimed to be, He couldn’t really have had a material body.

The Trinity.

1 John 5:6(b) - 7
And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

Perhaps this verse is footnoted in your Bible as not being in the original manuscript. In this way, one of the most powerful statements of the Trinity takes its place with other passages whose validity is questioned in many good translations. Among them are John 8—the story of the woman taken in adultery—Mark 16:15, and Romans 8:1.

"The 3rd-century Church father Cyprian (died 258), in writing on the Unity of the Church, Treatise I section 6 quoted John 10:30 "The Lord says, 'I and the Father are one' " and added: "and again it is written of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 'And these three are one.'"

But remember, we not only have copies of the original texts—we also have sermons of church fathers that are older than the oldest texts we have. And guess what. The messages of the early church preachers refer to John 8, Mark 16, Romans 8, and 1 John 5:7. So whatever texts they had in their hands contained the very passages that newer translations question. If these texts were not so pivotal, I wouldn’t think so much about the controversy. But I see something more than coincidental in attacking such powerful passages.

The Spirit, the water, and the blood.

1 John 5:8
And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

Just as the Father, the Word, and the Spirit bear witness in heaven, the Spirit, the water, and the blood bear witness on earth.…

• First, the Spirit bears witness that Jesus Christ is in us. Paul put it this way: His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God (Romans 8:16). No matter how many people argue with me or point out my faults accusingly, I know I’m a child of God because His Spirit bears witness with my spirit.
• Second, water bears witness that Jesus Christ is in us. When Satan says, “You’re not saved,” think back to the day you went into the water of baptism and came out looking like a drowned rat. What would make you do that? The Spirit drew you—and the water is a confirmation or reminder to you.
• Third, the blood bears witness that Jesus Christ is in us. I come to the table of Communion, and as I drink of the cup, I absorb and embrace, commemorate and celebrate the work of Christ on my behalf.

The Spirit inside you, the baptism you went through, and the blood shed for you work together as one proof that you truly are a Christian..

Do we believe the testimony that comes from God?

1 John 5:9
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.

“This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,” said God of Jesus (Matthew 3:17). If we believe the information given to us by mere people, how can we not believe the statements made by God?

How do we call God a liar?

1 John 5:10, 11
All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Sorry, Islam. Sorry Watchtower Society. Sorry Salt Lake City. The fact of the matter is this: Life is in the Son.

Jesus said, "There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son."

1 John 5:12
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

In his Gospel, John added a phrase to this verse for greater emphasis when he wrote, “But the wrath of God will abide on him” (see 3:36).

Confidence and Compassion in Prayer

What will hinder our prayers?

1 John 5:13–15
I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

If we ask for things or situations that are not God’s will, He’s good enough and kind enough and loving enough to say, “I didn’t hear that, did I?” We ask for the dumbest things! Think back to that for which you prayed passionately when you were eighteen, twenty-four, or sixty years old. So good is God to you and me that He says, “I’m not going to hear prayers that are not My will—not because I’m mean, but because I want the best for you.”

On the other hand, if we ask anything according to His will, God hears us.…

“Lord, help me to love people,” we say.
“I hear you,” He answers.
“Help me to forgive people I feel have wronged me,” we pray.
“I hear your prayer,” He replies.

John tells you and me that if we ask anything according to His will, God hears us. And if He hears us, we have confidence that He will give us that for which we ask. So if your prayers are crashing before they make it to heaven, do some investigation as to why.…

"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear." Psalm 66:18

If I’m living in rebellion and sin, my prayers will not be answered. Why? Because God is mad at me? No, it’s because it’s a sign that I’m involved in some sin that, if not dealt with, will wipe me out. Thus, God’s failure to answer my prayer is not punishment but protection.

"Husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered." 1 Peter 3:7

Because God wants husbands and wives to walk in unity and love, if a husband is not honoring or loving his wife, his prayers will be hindered as an incentive for him to make things right.

"So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God." Matthew 5:23-24

When you come to the altar—to the place of worship and petition—and there the Holy Spirit taps you on the shoulder, saying, “This person is deeply and greatly offended with you,” you need to make things right with him before you continue in prayer.

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[a] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7

If we’re not in the Word, we can’t pray in harmony with the heart of Jesus because we won’t know what His will is. Consequently, our prayers won’t be heard.

Is there a sin you’re harboring? Are there problems in your marriage? Is there a relationship that needs to be repaired? Are you neglecting the Word? These are the issues that will hinder our prayers.

Keep praying for those that are caught up in sin.

1 John 5:16
If you see a Christian brother or sister sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.

“If you see a brother sinning, pray for him that the Lord will convict him and that he will choose to do what is right,” says John. “But if he is sinning unto death, do not pray for him.” The sin unto death is the rejection of Jesus Christ—the blasphemy of the Spirit (Matthew 12:31).

“My spirit will not always strive with man,” God declared (Genesis 6:3). Thus, there comes a point in time when a man says, “No,” to the prompting of the Spirit so many times that he cannot be born again. If a man has done this, we are not to pray for him.

How can we know if someone has come to that point? We can’t. Therefore, we’re to keep praying.

Before Jeffrey Dahmer died in prison, he had a true, born-again experience and shared the gospel with every prisoner he could. When I read his story, I thought, Wait a minute. This guy kills people, cuts up their bodies, puts them in his freezer, and has them for lunch. Then he goes to prison, hears the gospel, gets saved—and now everything’s okay? Yes. As shocking as that seems, the power of the Cross of Calvary, the matchless mercy of the Master, the unfathomable potency of the blood makes such a miracle possible. And although at first it seems disquieting and troubling, in reality it gives me great hope because I know if the Lord can save Jeffrey Dahmer, He can save me.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1630). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Chaplain]

Paul wrote, "That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you."

1 John 5:17, 18 (a)
All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death. We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning…

That is, whoever is born of God does not practice sin, does not work on getting better at sinning.

Who protects us from sin and Satan?

1 John 5:18 (b)
…but he who has been born of God keeps himself…

The original Greek text makes it clear that the word “he” refers to Jesus, and the word “himself” is actually “him.” Thus, Jesus—who is begotten of God—keeps him. Keeps who? You and me (Jude 24).

Can Christians be possessed?

1 John 5:18 (c)
...and the evil one cannot touch them.

I love this! Jesus keeps me, and the wicked one cannot do anything to me. Demon possession in a Christian is impossible because we’re kept by Jesus—and greater is He in us than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Who controls Earth?

1 John 5:19
We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

This is truth—but it isn’t despair. Things will not be right until Jesus Christ comes back to rule and reign. Until then, it’s pointless to pin our hopes to anything but that fact.

What is idolatry for the Christian?

1 John 5:20, 21
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

John ends his epistle with a word of warning that, while it at first seems out of sync with the rest of the book, is, in fact, most appropriate. You see, taken in context, the idols of which John writes are not movie stars or sports heroes, fancy homes or opulent lifestyles. No, the idols to which he alludes throughout his entire epistle are those who embrace and propagate the spirit of Gnosticism.

Gnosticism can be seen in anyone who worships his own concept of Christ, in anyone who idolizes his own intellectual theology about God. And it will always manifest itself in a pulling away from the body of Christ. The end result of the subtlety of such idolatry can be seen in a story found in Judges 17-18 of a man named Micah.…

Using her life savings, Micah’s mom bought two idols for her son—a “graven image,” which was very possibly a silver calf like the golden calf of Exodus 32, and a “molten image,” which was possibly a poor replica of the ark of the covenant, containing a copy of the Ten Commandments. After constructing a shrine for his idols, Micah made an ephod—an article of clothing worn by priests. And after fashioning terraphim—family gods—he consecrated one of his sons to be his priest. Although this sounds strange to us, Micah was emblematic of a problem in the entire nation of Israel, a nation wherein “everyone did right in his own eyes” (see Judges 21:25).

When a Levite passed through his region, Micah jumped at the opportunity to add a bona fide priest to his designer religion and employed the Levite. At this point, Micah had a religion with four attractive elements:

Practical convenience. With his shrine conveniently located in his backyard, Micah had no journey to make, no traffic to fight.

Family involvement. His mom having financed the whole enterprise and his son being the priest, Micah could have “family time” even as he worshiped.

Biblical components. With his ephod, miniature ark, copy of the Ten Commandments, and a replica of the idol the first high priest had made, Micah incorporated biblical components into his backyard religion as seamlessly as those who think a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer at family gatherings or the display of a nativity scene at Christmas is an alternative to fellowship with the body of Christ.

Cultural tolerance. Mixing terraphim with the ark of the covenant made Micah inclusive and politically correct.

But Micah’s custom-made religion toppled around him when the men of Dan ripped off his idols and lured away his priest. And, as a result, Micah’s do-it-yourself belief system that had nobly included practical convenience, family involvement, biblical components, and cultural tolerance was, in the end, tragically impotent.

“Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together,” warns the writer of Hebrews (see Hebrews 10:25). We are to worship as a family corporately. If we don’t, when trouble strikes and when disaster comes, we’ll run to our custom religion, but it will not save us no matter how loudly we cry. Any who have been through difficulties and tragedies know that blessing and strength come from being part of the body, submitting to the principles and precepts of the Lord, and continuing in the ordinances faithfully.

In Shiloh—only a few miles away from Micah’s house—stood the tabernacle containing the true ark of the covenant, the true Word of God, the true priesthood. While Micah dabbled in deception and idolized imitations, reality was right up the road.

May such never be said of us. May we continue to be those who exchange the subtlety of idolatry for the surety of Shiloh as we renew our commitment to be a people whose God is the Lord.

Taken from Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1632). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Chaplain]

Sunday Morning, May 6, 2012 — 7:30 am, 9:30 am & 12:00 pm (PST)
“Sex and Marriage,” 1 Corinthians 7:1-9 by Pastor Xavier Ries

Live Webcast Video Link

 

[Emwitus]

I'm surprised there doesn't seem to be any real discussion in here. Would have loved that kind of thing. (And i don't mean arguing about doctrine but just on stuff like revelation and and such. )