Thursday, June 15, 2023
1 Peter 4:6-7
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
1 Peter 4:3-5
3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ~ 1 Peter 4:3-5
Today, we return to our study of 1 Peter 4 where the Apostle Peter is helping us to recognize the value of the culture of God which is primarily inculcated into our souls by the Holy Spirit and our choice to obey the Word of God. It is God's definitions of all things that reveals His culture which is that which makes all things good and right, even though they may be delivered to us through painful experiences.
In v.4 of today's passage we read, "They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you."
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
1 Peter 4:1-2
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. ~ 1 Peter 4:1-2
Today, we transition into 1 Peter 4. You will remember that at the end of 1 Peter 3, we read about Noah and his family building and entering into the Ark. In so doing, they gave safe haven in their souls to the culture of God. In like manner, when we placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we began the process of inviting the culture of God into our being. This is what allows us to be defined by the truth of God.
In v.1 of today's passage we read, "Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin."
The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ validates His identity as God. If He were not God He could not be our Savior. It was His resurrection that attested most to His divinity. And, His resurrection was proven by more than 500 eyewitnesses at one time when they saw Him as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15. It is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ that provides undeniable proof that He is the Savior of the world.
The Lord Jesus suffered when He took on Satan's definition of things and defeated Him. In so doing, the Lord Jesus loosened the grips of sin and death on us. Since we are dead to sin, we choose not to be defined by it. As a result of trusting in the work of Christ, the life that we had before we trusted in Him has been rendered powerless. That part of us died when Christ died, so temptation and sin no longer has power over us; it is dead.
The phrase "arm yourselves," is a military phrase. And, the preparation of the believer in Christ is more so inward than it is outward. Believers in Christ are to arm ourselves with a compass bearing that directs our soul, so that we will be properly prepared for the real battles that await us. These battles matter in for eternity, not just for time as we know it.
Monday, June 12, 2023
1 Peter 3:21-22
21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. ~ 1 Peter 3:21-22
Today we conclude our study of 1 Peter 3 where the Apostle Peter has been instructing us on the principles that enable us to be defined by God as we live our lives in this fallen world. Knowing the difference between good and evil is not a natural phenomena for mortal man; we must first be trained in the culture of God before we know what is really worth investing in.
In Isaiah 53:3-5 we read, "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."
With such verses, how could we miss that the Lord Jesus is the predicted Messiah of the Old Testament? The only way anyone misses Him is that they choose not to believe in this One who overcame sin and death by dying on the cross for His friends. Once we have believed in the Lord Jesus as our savior, we are then granted a clear conscience as indicated in our passage for today. A cleared conscience before God is the result of having been born again which is when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our spirit making us alive to God. This is the ultimate picture the Lord gave us through the ark of Noah.
In v.22 of today's passage we read, "...who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him."
Friday, June 09, 2023
1 Peter 3:19-20
19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water. ~ 1 Peter 3:19-20
Today, we continue our study of 1 Peter 3. This passage is one of the most difficult passages in all of the Bible to interpret and to understand. However, the difficulty understanding it is quite instructive, much like our pain and suffering. Most often, it is in hindsight that we make the most sense of our suffering and pain. If it weren’t for the experience of separation, we would not appreciate the joy of love. Such is it's nature.
When the Lord Jesus died on the cross, He experienced spiritual death which is separation from God. Then He was made alive through His resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. In Psalm 91:16 we read, "With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation." This verse is one of many in the Old Testament which told us beforehand that the Messiah would overcome sin and death by dying and rising from the dead. In Psalm 16:10 we read, "For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay." This is yet another verse from the Old Testament attesting to the fact that the Messiah would overcome death by raising from the dead. This is the reason that David pictured the Messiah alive in Psalm 22:29 which reads, "That all of God’s people will also undergo a resurrection, all those who go down to the dust will bow before Him, even he who cannot keep his soul alive."
In v.20 of today's passage we read, "...to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water."
Thursday, June 08, 2023
1 Peter 3:17-18
17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
~ 1 Peter 3:17-18
Today, we continue our study of 1 Peter 3 wherein the Apostle Peter has reminded us that sometimes it is God's will that we suffer for doing what is right. In writing this the Apostle draws our attention to the distinction between good and evil. That which is good or evil is what God has deemed them. And, as long as we consistently choose God's definitions of things, we should be safe from being defined by evil and we should be defined by God.
Wednesday, June 07, 2023
1 Peter 3:15-16
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15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ~ 1 Peter 3:15-16
Today, we continue our study in 1 Peter 3 where the Apostle is revealing to us how to battle against being defined by this fallen world. In context, Peter has taken us to the importance of good solid relationship skills including good communication with the Lord and with one another.
In v.15 of today's passage we read, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
Literally, the first sentence of this verse is written, "But, set apart Christ in your hearts." This is the heart of the whole book of 1 Peter. You see, before we go out and face the world every day, we must first give Him His rightful place in our hearts, otherwise we will be inauthentic before a lost and dying world. In reality, He sets Himself apart in the first spot of our hearts as we allow Him to reveal Himself to us. Having experienced His goodness and faithfulness for ourselves, we naturally will develop a love for Him which will, in the end, be unparalleled. It takes a long time to get to this place and many never get there. I am in process myself.
As a result, we will be loyal to Him, although imperfect in our attempt to be so. We will have His heart because He will have revealed it to and for us through the various trials of life. What is required of us is that we go through the trails with Him. We must not only embrace Him through the trials, we must allow Him to embrace us through the trials. This scenario creates in us a love for Him, and this kind of love can not be faked.
The more we trust Him, the more we will give Him safe passage into our souls. The interesting part of growing in our trust of God is we do not learn of His faithfulness without dealing with our need. And, the greater the need, the more magnanimous will be our discovery of His faithfulness. And even then, we have to go through stuff with Him in order to see that He is truly committed to us.
With the next sentence of this verse we discover that the plot thickens. It reads, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."
The word "answer" here means defense. We get our English word apologetics from it. Apologetics means to have a defense or offer explanations or give good reasons for that which we believe. The Greek word used here is used to describe lawyers who stand in a courtroom and give good and compelling reasons on behalf of their client. We live in a world where we are always in the courtroom. We are never out of the courtroom. This world is a living courtroom, and the best defense for the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the relationship that we have garnered with Him and from Him as we go through the stuff of life with Him.
This grand concept of hope is always magnified by our suffering. And, as others see us dealing with the suffering that they also go through, they see our hope. This type of hope creates inquisitiveness in others. And, without even knowing it, they are asking of us a revelation of God.
At the end of this verse and on into the next, the Apostle Peter directs us to add three ingredients to this presentation of God before the lost onlookers. The last sentence in this verse reads, "But do this with gentleness and respect."
The word Peter used here for gentleness means mild, calm, kind, quiet, and tender. The word used for respect is the word from which we get our English word phobia or fear. The picture Peter is giving us here is that of a person who treats people who perhaps humanly deserve unkindness, yet who get kindness because of the givers authentic relationship with the Lord.
In v.16 of today's passage we read, "Keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."
This is not about winning arguments with people, it is about God loving them into heaven through our broken and yielded lives. You see, when we are defined by God, our actions will reflect Him and not our natural selves. This, of course, will always leave us with a clear conscience which enables us to continue to pursue God unimpeded. This is the key to living this life which garners the curiosity of those observing our relationship with God.
The Apostle Paul stood up in Acts 23, and said, "I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." And the point is this: A clear conscience will help us face anything, even a hostile world. As we are criticized by others, our conscience will be clear because we set the Lord Jesus apart in our hearts. They might accuse us of all sorts of things, but we will have a clear conscience. This will result in a loving boldness that will enable us to endure even with the worst of the hurting that are out there.
Tuesday, June 06, 2023
1 Peter 3:13-14
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. ~ 1 Peter 3:13-14
Today, we return to our study of 1 Peter 3 where the Apostle Peter is sharing with us those most important principles regarding suffering that he had learned through his walk with the Lord for some sixty years. Suffering is easier to endure when we know that there is a purpose to it. This is the theme for today's text.
Monday, June 05, 2023
1 Peter 3:11-12
Click here for the 1 Peter 3:11-12
11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 12 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. ~ 1 Peter 3:11-12
Today, we continue in our study of 1 Peter 3 where the Apostle Peter is giving us strategies from God which will enable us to know intimacy with Him even though we might be going through the worst of times. These two verses come from Psalm 34 where David is so grateful for God's goodness that he invokes others to join him in witnessing and tasting God's abundant love.
In v.11 of today's passage we read, "Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it."
In our last study the Apostle Peter urged us to resist retaliation upon those who inflict their evil on us. And, if we do this, we will increasingly experience the very life of God in and through our lives. We can only do this if we turn away from evil. Now, the verb here, "turn away," means to reject. It's a compound verb which has an intensity about it. It is a positive rejection of what is sinful in the treatment of others. We are to turn away from that, even our persecutors.
Then the Apostle admonishes us to "search for peace." The word "search" here is the strongest form of seeking in the Greek language. This word is better translated "hunt." And, the word "peace" is another intense word that means "tranquility." It means a constant condition of tranquility which produces permanent joy. This is to be the nature of our living. This admonition literally reads, "Let him hunt with all his might tranquil unity that results in permanent joy."
In v.12 of today's passage we read, "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."
That phrase, "The eyes of the Lord" is a very common Old Testament phrase and it always relates to God's watchfulness over His people for whom He has special concern. The idea is that of God's omniscience and the fact that He is aware of every detail of our lives. God watches us so that He might answer our prayers. The word for prayer here means petition for our needs. Peter is saying choose the way of God's life and our prayer life will soar and we will grow in deep intimacy with Him as we walk with Him daily. This will also result in not being hindered in our walk with the Lord because it is obvious that it is the flesh that stunts us the most in our walk with Him.
When we embrace any form of evil, it is then that "the face of the Lord" is "against" us. When God becomes angry, the Bible always focuses on His face. In Genesis 19:13 we learn regarding Lot and Sodom, "We are about to destroy this place because their outcry has become so great before the face of the Lord." We see this also in Lamentations 4:16 which reads, "The face of the Lord scattered them." This means God sees the wicked with an angry face.
Disobedience to God's commands brings the anger of God against those who refuse to be defined by Him. In Leviticus 20:3 we read, "I will also set My face against that man and will cut him off from among his people because he has given some of his offspring to Molech, the false god, so as to defile My sanctuary and profane My holy name."
God sets His face in condemning fashion against those who reject His truth. In Revelation 6:16 we read, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb." During the days of the Tribulation, after the sixth seal is opened there will be a great earthquake, the sun will turn black, the moon will turn blood red, the stars will fall out of the sky, the heavens will recede like a scroll, and every mountain and island will be removed from its place. In that moment fear will grip all the unsaved upon the earth, and they will cry out for the mountains to fall on their face.
This proves that the mind does something interesting when we experience fear. The brain tries to find the quickest way out of the discomfort. But, the problem is the unsaved on the earth at the end will not be able to escape their court date with the truth. The truth is we were all conceived sinful. And, as a result the penalty for that which separated us from all that is true and good must be paid or we will pay the penalty for our sinfulness for eternity.
In the end, no one will be able to hide from God. No one will escape the horror of the inequity of their sinfulness. No one will be able to capitalize on race or status. And, all who had not received the free payment for their sinful condition will experience such terror as described in today's text. This will happen because they refused to believe in the Lord Jesus and receive His free gift of forgiveness.
Deceived totally by the devil, the unsaved will reach a point where they will not be able to believe. They will be defined by unbiblical fear to the point that they will be driven away from all that is true and good. They will sadly feel at home with isolated darkness, but, darkness is not a place anyone would consider home. Isolated, and all alone, there will be no one present with the unsaved in eternity. This aloneness will not warrant relationship with anyone, and they will experience an eternity of the closing in of the madness. This is where unbiblical fear leads.
When we resist the flesh, we resist the way that leads to destruction. And, when we love on those who treat us badly, we are possibly going to be those who will be a part of God's rescue of their lives. Who knows, when we get to heaven we may even meet those who treated us badly here on earth and they will say that our response to them made a difference in them coming to the Lord.
Friday, June 02, 2023
1 Peter 3:9-10
9 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 grant you his blessing. 10 For the Scriptures say, "If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies." ~ 1 Peter 3:9-10
Today, we return to our study of 1 Peter 3. This first letter of Peter is an epistle with teaching about getting the culture of God into our souls right now. This teaching is about our sanctification, it shows us how we acquire the wisdom of God. Our sanctification is a process whereby God is changing our souls which is made up of our mind, will, and emotions. In this process, God is actively delivering His wisdom into our daily lives. But, we must choose what He has to offer and turn away from what is natural to our fallen natures.
In today's text, Peter continues to identify the tools which will aid us in winning the battle in our souls amid our sufferings. Peter instructs us what we should do when our community is threatened. One of the greatest truths discovered in the Scriptures is: "selflessness leads to joy in life." Of course, the opposite truth is: "selfishness leads to misery in life." We are told in Galatians 6:8 when we feed our flesh which houses the evil desires within us, we entertain destruction. On the other hand, when we feed the Spirit of God who has made our spirits alive to Him, we experience His life or eternal life.
In v.9 of today's passage we read, "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 grant you his blessing."
Thursday, June 01, 2023
1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you should be in agreement, understanding each other, loving each other as family, being kind and humble. ~ 1 Peter 3:8
Today, we return to our study of 1 Peter 3 where the Apostle Peter is giving us God's instruction for the solid infrastructure that we need to deal with the difficulties of living life in this fallen world. Brennan Manning once wrote, "Suffering, failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement, and death will be part of your journey, but the Kingdom of God will conquer all these horrors. No evil can resist grace forever."
In today's verse we are given some skills that can get us to the place where we can benefit from the pain and suffering that comes into our lives. In this verse, Peter implores us to live life to the fullest with excitement, integrity, and confidence in the God of the Bible by learning to see the pain and the suffering as a means rather than an end. Very often, I have discovered, my pain serves me in a variety of ways from making sense out of my life and helping others navigate through their difficulties. The key is to allow God the time He needs to use it to bring about His purposes. And, I have found, that if I am patient, I will free myself from much anxiety because I will not worry about the circumstances.
Todays' verse begins with: "Finally, all of you should be in agreement."
To this point in this epistle, the Apostle Peter has been addressing different groups of people who were all dealing with suffering in some form. He now addresses all groups of believers whether suffering or not, encouraging us to broaden our understanding of this most unusual means by which God changes us. The first is the importance of valuing community especially when we are suffering. Community is an absolute necessity when we are hurting the worst. When we are suffering, we are especially tempted to withdraw and fortify ourselves, in order to protect ourselves. When we are in such a place, we must be careful to not let our suffering desensitize us to the hurts and needs of others. The best time to bless others is when we are struggling the most ourselves.
There are a number of things we can do in community in order to find purpose in our suffering. The first is "to be in agreement." When we are suffering, we need people who can help us think straight. These people make sure that we are being controlled by reason rather than emotion, but most define being in agreement as everybody agreeing with me. That is not what the Apostle was writing about here. When we all think the same, that does not promote unity, it promotes uniformity. There are a litany of disagreements that we as believers in Christ have and should have. We are all fallen humans all gathered together to be in agreement, but that does not mean we have to think alike. Being in agreement is cooperating in the midst of our diversity.
In addition, we are to be "loving each other as family." This means we need to love with brotherly love. Here Peter uses the Greek word "philadelphos" which means brotherly love. We get our word Philadelphia from this word. There really are people who are brothers and sisters we can trust, who will accept us and with whom we can feel secure.
Next Peter says, "being kind" which is to be tenderhearted. The heart in the ancient world was the seat of emotion. It was where you felt things, which for them, was in their bowels. He is saying that we need to emotionally commit ourselves to one another. We must feel emotionally, not just remain intellectually or theologically, but to feel with another.
Then, Peter says we need to be "humble." This word Peter used here literally means "humble-minded." In Philippians 2:3 we read, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself." When we are feeling weak and vulnerable, we need somebody who can identify with us in humility. That helps lower our defenses and then the purposes of God can be realized.
Finally, I have learned, the best time to help others and love on them is when I am struggling. Scientific research provides compelling data to support the anecdotal evidence that giving is a powerful pathway to personal growth and lasting happiness. Loving on others is God's way of bringing His completeness into our lives. As we encounter our own pain, we discover that if we allow God to inculcate His culture in us and we choose to become more others-minded, we will discover that His way does not only help us to cope with our own pain, it also equips us to discover why we are ultimately on this earth to be a blessing to others.
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
1 Peter 3:7
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
1 Peter 3:3-6
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. ~ 1 Peter 3:3-6
In the Roman world of the first century, cosmetics were big. The women dyed their hair all kinds of colors.They waved it and they braided it elaborately. But, attention to one’s outward appearance, as the source of meaning or influence, never leads to wholeness or completeness. It is almost, as if, many are trying to deny the existence of the Fall. However, the Apostle Peter was not arguing that a women should not adorn herself outwardly. He was merely arguing that the Christian wife was to not invest more in the outside at the expense of the inside.
In the book of Genesis, Abraham was called to trust God’s promises on a journey of faith. And, Sarah most often, followed her husband. Sarah's life was shaped by her husband's calling. And, in the end Sarah trusted God to mold Abraham. Women who do this discover that their confidence in God is the antidote to all of their fears. And, the fact is, this is true for us all. As we come to the place that we allow God to define us and direct our ways, life turns out so much better.