1 Peter 3:1-17
Again, the theme of 1 Peter is the revelation or revealing of Jesus Christ in and through us now. After we are born again and see that Christ lives in us, we are to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against our soul or against the image of Christ in us. Remember that our flesh is not yet redeemed. We wonder how Christ can live in us if we still have fleshly lusts or desires. But Christ is revealed in and through us when we abstain from fleshly lusts or selfishness and let the divine nature of God's love flow through us. This is the fiery trial or trial by fire that Peter is describing. It is not persecution which most commentaries describe.
1 Peter 3:1-7. Read these verses. Peter is describing how wives or husbands can influence their unbelieving spouse to receive the grace of God through their holy conduct and demonstrated love. Verse 7 is interesting. It says that our prayers will be hindered if we don't treat our spouse with understanding and honor and as an heir of the grace of life. Many might think that God would withhold answers to prayer because of this. I think the true answer lies in the context of what Peter has been teaching. If we understand the true grace of God, we know that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven. We should then be forgiving, graceful and respectful to others . We should allow the divine nature of love to flow through us to our spouse and those around us. If we don't, we really don't understand His grace toward us. This would make it difficult for us to receive from the Lord.
1 Peter 3:8-12 "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tender-hearted, be courteous, not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For 'He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." Wow, I have never heard these verses brought up in any sermons on grace! Did Peter just go back to putting us under the Law? Of course not.
We can be tender-hearted and courteous toward others and not return evil for evil when we understand that God has forgiven us of the sins of our entire lifetime. That brings us to lasting peace with God. It doesn't bring us peace with God just until the next time we sin. But then God wants us to have peace and experience joy in this earthly realm. This comes by turning away from sin and evil, which causes us pain. Then we can inherit the blessings that He has for us. We are not earning His blessings. We are inheriting a blessing. See how important our choices are, even though the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven by the Lord. If we are to love life and see good days while on this earth, we should refrain our tongue from speaking evil. We should turn away from evil and do good. We should seek peace with others and actively pursue it. This is grace! We may not like the next verse, but it is scripture. "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." This is talking about our righteous actions toward others, not our righteousness or right-standing before God. Our righteousness before God is based on the shed blood of Jesus alone. But for God's life and love to flow through us and to others, we have to live and act righteously and walk in a holy manner. How can God's life and love be expressed through us otherwise? I believe this is what is meant when it says the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. To know that our sins are forgiven is just the beginning of the grace of God in our lives. For us to grow up, we must turn away from evil and selfishness and begin to express His divine nature of love to others. This is obedience. This is maturity.
1 Peter 3:13-17 "And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. 'And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.' But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope that is in you , with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."
This really brings out again the background in which the New Testament epistles were written. Christians were proclaiming that Jesus had borne the penalty for all sins, and that God loves us and had forgiven us of all sins. Outsiders said this grace was just an excuse to sin and that Christians were really evildoers using grace as a cloak or covering for vice. So Peter is telling the believers to sanctify the Lord God in their hearts. This means to let the Lord be revealed through them in their outward actions of goodness and kindness and right living. Then when people see our kindness and holiness and ask us about it, we have a chance to tell them the reason for our hope. Our hope is the forgiveness of all sins and the eventual physical resurrection of our body through our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter says if people revile us for our kindness and gentleness and good deeds, that is much better than suffering evil for doing wrong and fulfilling the lusts of our flesh.
Once again, this shows the multi-faceted grace of God in our lives. We are justified before God through faith in His mercy and grace through the shed blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. No amount of good works can add to that. But we are justified before men by our good works. Our good works are profitable to us and to those around us. This is the true grace of God.
Keith Oliver
Saturday, May 25, 2013
1 Peter 2:17-25
Remember the theme of 1 Peter: the revelation or revealing of Jesus Christ in and through us now. It is not speaking of the future return of our Lord. I also emphasize that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven, past, present, and future sins. When you read the epistles with the central message of the gospel in mind, it really helps to open up these New Testament writings.
Remember also that the fiery trial or trial by fire that Peter speaks of is to abstain from fleshly lusts so that Christ can be revealed through us. 1 Peter 2:11-12. We begin to understand the idea of Christ living in us as we read the New Testament. We then ask ourselves the question, why do I still have these fleshly desires if Christ lives in me? Our flesh is not yet redeemed. Paul said that we have this treasure, the Holy Spirit, in an earthen vessel. 2 Corin. 4:6-7. God indwells us by the Holy Spirit. But we must abstain from fleshly lusts so that God and His divine nature are revealed through us. How can anyone see Christ in us if we live our lives in selfishness? Also, will we experience His joy and peace if we are suffering the pain that inevitably comes from sinning? No. Jesus and His divine nature of love are revealed through us when we abstain from fleshly lusts and walk in love. This is the multi-faceted teaching of grace. Peter says this is the TRUE GRACE of God. 1 Peter 5:12.
Some people say that this will just come naturally to Christians after we hear of His grace and forgiveness. Well, it didn't happen to the first century Christians. Paul and Peter had to tell them directly to stop sinning even after they had heard that they were forgiven. How is any Christian supposed to pick up their Bible and read through it and not see all of this? Are we just supposed to ignore all of these admonitions to walk in holiness and just hear only that our sins are forgiven? I think this is what brings confusion to many believers. We hear sermons about grace and there is no mention of turning from sin. Then we read our Bible.........
1 Peter 2:17-20 "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God." This is speaking of slaves and masters, but the principles still apply. If we recognize that Christ has come to live in us because of our conscience toward God, we can act in love even if we are unfairly treated. If we are sinning or acting immorally and we suffer for it, that is our own fault. Even though we are saved by God through faith in His grace alone, our actions still have consequences in our lives here on the earth.
1 Peter 2:21-25 "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth," who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." Wow! These verses are so rich with truth.
We are supposed to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth. If we are to follow His example, we should stop sinning and stop lying! If we actually stop sinning and participating in the lusts of the flesh, people will think we are strange or different. Then we can share with them the Good News of forgiveness of all sins. 1 Peter 4:3-4. But the lives of many Christians are no different than unbelievers. Many Christians are as guilt-ridden as many unbelievers because we think that God has forgiven our past sins but is holding our present and future sins against us. That is why I emphasize that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven, past, present, and even future sins. Then we can start walking in holiness and our lives will be truly different. We will be at peace with God. Our lives will be lived in holiness instead of selfishness before men. This will draw people to the grace and love of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:24 says that He bore our sins in His own body on the tree. Jesus bore the penalty for our sins so that we don't have to. Why? So that we, having died to sins, should live for righteousness. This is talking about our righteousness before God. It is saying that we have died to the penalty of sin. This allows us to draw close to God without fear of punishment. Praise the Lord. Notice that righteousness before God and healing are tied together. As we come to understand that we have been made righteous before God apart from our works, physical healing is ours also. This is the grace of God for us. Peter also says that by His stripes we are healed. He is quoting from Isaiah 53:4-5. "Surely He has borne our griefs (infirmities) and carried our sorrows (sicknesses); yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." If you don't think Isaiah was referring to our physical sicknesses and diseases, look at Matthew 8:17. Matthew said this verse was fulfilled when Jesus healed a group of sick people.
1 Peter 2:25 "For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." Who is the Shepherd and Overseer of our soul or our mind? It is the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 1:22. He is the one Who is leading us through obedience to the truth to walk in love and turn away from sin and selfishness. That is how the revelation or revealing of Christ will take place in us.
Keith Oliver
Remember the theme of 1 Peter: the revelation or revealing of Jesus Christ in and through us now. It is not speaking of the future return of our Lord. I also emphasize that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven, past, present, and future sins. When you read the epistles with the central message of the gospel in mind, it really helps to open up these New Testament writings.
Remember also that the fiery trial or trial by fire that Peter speaks of is to abstain from fleshly lusts so that Christ can be revealed through us. 1 Peter 2:11-12. We begin to understand the idea of Christ living in us as we read the New Testament. We then ask ourselves the question, why do I still have these fleshly desires if Christ lives in me? Our flesh is not yet redeemed. Paul said that we have this treasure, the Holy Spirit, in an earthen vessel. 2 Corin. 4:6-7. God indwells us by the Holy Spirit. But we must abstain from fleshly lusts so that God and His divine nature are revealed through us. How can anyone see Christ in us if we live our lives in selfishness? Also, will we experience His joy and peace if we are suffering the pain that inevitably comes from sinning? No. Jesus and His divine nature of love are revealed through us when we abstain from fleshly lusts and walk in love. This is the multi-faceted teaching of grace. Peter says this is the TRUE GRACE of God. 1 Peter 5:12.
Some people say that this will just come naturally to Christians after we hear of His grace and forgiveness. Well, it didn't happen to the first century Christians. Paul and Peter had to tell them directly to stop sinning even after they had heard that they were forgiven. How is any Christian supposed to pick up their Bible and read through it and not see all of this? Are we just supposed to ignore all of these admonitions to walk in holiness and just hear only that our sins are forgiven? I think this is what brings confusion to many believers. We hear sermons about grace and there is no mention of turning from sin. Then we read our Bible.........
1 Peter 2:17-20 "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God." This is speaking of slaves and masters, but the principles still apply. If we recognize that Christ has come to live in us because of our conscience toward God, we can act in love even if we are unfairly treated. If we are sinning or acting immorally and we suffer for it, that is our own fault. Even though we are saved by God through faith in His grace alone, our actions still have consequences in our lives here on the earth.
1 Peter 2:21-25 "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth," who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." Wow! These verses are so rich with truth.
We are supposed to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth. If we are to follow His example, we should stop sinning and stop lying! If we actually stop sinning and participating in the lusts of the flesh, people will think we are strange or different. Then we can share with them the Good News of forgiveness of all sins. 1 Peter 4:3-4. But the lives of many Christians are no different than unbelievers. Many Christians are as guilt-ridden as many unbelievers because we think that God has forgiven our past sins but is holding our present and future sins against us. That is why I emphasize that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven, past, present, and even future sins. Then we can start walking in holiness and our lives will be truly different. We will be at peace with God. Our lives will be lived in holiness instead of selfishness before men. This will draw people to the grace and love of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:24 says that He bore our sins in His own body on the tree. Jesus bore the penalty for our sins so that we don't have to. Why? So that we, having died to sins, should live for righteousness. This is talking about our righteousness before God. It is saying that we have died to the penalty of sin. This allows us to draw close to God without fear of punishment. Praise the Lord. Notice that righteousness before God and healing are tied together. As we come to understand that we have been made righteous before God apart from our works, physical healing is ours also. This is the grace of God for us. Peter also says that by His stripes we are healed. He is quoting from Isaiah 53:4-5. "Surely He has borne our griefs (infirmities) and carried our sorrows (sicknesses); yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." If you don't think Isaiah was referring to our physical sicknesses and diseases, look at Matthew 8:17. Matthew said this verse was fulfilled when Jesus healed a group of sick people.
1 Peter 2:25 "For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." Who is the Shepherd and Overseer of our soul or our mind? It is the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 1:22. He is the one Who is leading us through obedience to the truth to walk in love and turn away from sin and selfishness. That is how the revelation or revealing of Christ will take place in us.
Keith Oliver
Friday, May 24, 2013
1 Peter 2
I continue to emphasize the theme of 1 Peter: the revelation or revealing of Jesus in and through us now. I also remind everyone that the sins of their entire lifetime have been forgiven, past, present, and even future sins. This idea opens up the writings of the New Testament epistles and helps to make sense of them. The church declared that Jesus paid the penalty for all sins to be remitted, and that God is not counting sins against people. 2 Corinthians 5:19 That is our message to the world. Luke 24:47 says that repentance, or changing our way of thinking, and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations. This idea was prevalent in the message of the early Christians. Non-Christians said this message of grace was just a cloak or covering for sin, and that Christians were really just evildoers looking for an excuse to sin. 1 Peter 2:12, 15-16. Now you can understand the emphasis on holiness in all of the epistles. How can Jesus be seen in us when we are running wild or mean or angry? Also, how can we as Christians enjoy love, joy and peace when we are participating in the works of the flesh? Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within us. Luke 17:21. Paul said the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 So now we understand what Paul meant in Galatians 5:19-22. Paul says that if we practice the works of the flesh, we will not inherit or walk in or experience the kingdom of God within us. We will not experience the fruit of the Spirit listed in verse 22. How can we experience love, peace and joy if we are suffering turmoil from practicing the works of the flesh? Paul is not saying that Christians who participate in these behaviors will not go to heaven. But we will suffer the earthly pain and misery that sin brings with it.
Peter expounds upon the process of spiritual maturity in 1 Peter 2. We recognize that our sins are forgiven. We start to see Christ in us. We learn to abstain from fleshly lusts and walk in love. We show mercy and grace to others through our words and actions.
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." If we understand that Jesus paid the penalty for all of our sins, past, present and future sins, we should realize that God is not holding sins against those around us either. So we should be able to lay aside any malice or envy or evil speaking against others. We should take in the Word of God. This will cause us to grow in our understanding of Christ in us. The Lord is full of grace or gracious toward all of us.
1 Peter 2:4-5 "Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Peter says that Jesus is a living stone, part of the spiritual house of God. He is the foundation stone. We are also living stones. God has come to indwell us also, just like Jesus, through the Spirit of God within us. This is the beginning of understanding our identity. We recognize that our sins are forgiven and Christ has come to dwell in us through His Spirit.
1 Peter 2:6-8 "Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, 'Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes in Him will by no means be put to shame. Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,' and 'A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.' They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed." When we accept His grace, He is precious to us. For those with a works mentality who choose not to believe in His grace, they stumble and do not receive the life of God.
1 Peter 2:9-10 We see in these verses what darkness and light is. If we approach God by our works and reject His grace, we are in pride and in darkness and are not the people of God. If we trust in His grace and mercy, we are walking in His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:11-16 'Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts 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. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God." Our bodies are not yet redeemed, so they still have fleshly lusts and desires. We are told to abstain from these fleshly lusts because they war against the soul. Our soul or mind is where we understand the idea of Christ in us. These fleshly lusts war against that image of Christ in us. We ask ourselves the question, how can Christ live in me when I have these fleshly lusts or desires? This is the fiery trial that Peter says we must pass through for Christ to be revealed in and through us. See 1 Peter 1:5-7. Also, 1 Peter 4:1-2, 12-13. If we give in to fleshly desires, it distorts the image of Christ in us. It also prevents God's love from being revealed through us to others. If we live in selfishness and act immorally, that is when people call us evildoers and say we are just using grace or liberty as a cloak or covering for vice or sin. When we walk in love, Christ and His love are expressed through us. This is the process of maturity in the believer. If we are then persecuted as Christ is revealed in us, we should rejoice.
Most churches and pastors do not declare that all sins, even future sins, are forgiven. They either do not understand it or they feel that people will just sin and run wild and they will lose control. They declare that if Christians persist in sin, they might lose their salvation. Others are declaring that Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of our entire lifetime. But they seem to shy away from teaching obedience and the portions of the epistles that discuss holiness, as if that is putting people back under the law or trying to control people. Peter and Paul both understood grace. They were not schizophrenic, teaching grace for part of their epistle and then switching back to teaching law. Hopefully everyone can see the grace of God in the teaching of holiness. Our sins are forgiven by faith in His mercy and grace alone. That is grace. His same grace teaches us to walk in holiness, not as some prerequisite to gain entrance into heaven, but for our benefit in this life and for the benefit of those around us.
Keith Oliver
I continue to emphasize the theme of 1 Peter: the revelation or revealing of Jesus in and through us now. I also remind everyone that the sins of their entire lifetime have been forgiven, past, present, and even future sins. This idea opens up the writings of the New Testament epistles and helps to make sense of them. The church declared that Jesus paid the penalty for all sins to be remitted, and that God is not counting sins against people. 2 Corinthians 5:19 That is our message to the world. Luke 24:47 says that repentance, or changing our way of thinking, and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations. This idea was prevalent in the message of the early Christians. Non-Christians said this message of grace was just a cloak or covering for sin, and that Christians were really just evildoers looking for an excuse to sin. 1 Peter 2:12, 15-16. Now you can understand the emphasis on holiness in all of the epistles. How can Jesus be seen in us when we are running wild or mean or angry? Also, how can we as Christians enjoy love, joy and peace when we are participating in the works of the flesh? Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within us. Luke 17:21. Paul said the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 So now we understand what Paul meant in Galatians 5:19-22. Paul says that if we practice the works of the flesh, we will not inherit or walk in or experience the kingdom of God within us. We will not experience the fruit of the Spirit listed in verse 22. How can we experience love, peace and joy if we are suffering turmoil from practicing the works of the flesh? Paul is not saying that Christians who participate in these behaviors will not go to heaven. But we will suffer the earthly pain and misery that sin brings with it.
Peter expounds upon the process of spiritual maturity in 1 Peter 2. We recognize that our sins are forgiven. We start to see Christ in us. We learn to abstain from fleshly lusts and walk in love. We show mercy and grace to others through our words and actions.
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." If we understand that Jesus paid the penalty for all of our sins, past, present and future sins, we should realize that God is not holding sins against those around us either. So we should be able to lay aside any malice or envy or evil speaking against others. We should take in the Word of God. This will cause us to grow in our understanding of Christ in us. The Lord is full of grace or gracious toward all of us.
1 Peter 2:4-5 "Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Peter says that Jesus is a living stone, part of the spiritual house of God. He is the foundation stone. We are also living stones. God has come to indwell us also, just like Jesus, through the Spirit of God within us. This is the beginning of understanding our identity. We recognize that our sins are forgiven and Christ has come to dwell in us through His Spirit.
1 Peter 2:6-8 "Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, 'Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes in Him will by no means be put to shame. Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,' and 'A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.' They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed." When we accept His grace, He is precious to us. For those with a works mentality who choose not to believe in His grace, they stumble and do not receive the life of God.
1 Peter 2:9-10 We see in these verses what darkness and light is. If we approach God by our works and reject His grace, we are in pride and in darkness and are not the people of God. If we trust in His grace and mercy, we are walking in His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:11-16 'Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts 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. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God." Our bodies are not yet redeemed, so they still have fleshly lusts and desires. We are told to abstain from these fleshly lusts because they war against the soul. Our soul or mind is where we understand the idea of Christ in us. These fleshly lusts war against that image of Christ in us. We ask ourselves the question, how can Christ live in me when I have these fleshly lusts or desires? This is the fiery trial that Peter says we must pass through for Christ to be revealed in and through us. See 1 Peter 1:5-7. Also, 1 Peter 4:1-2, 12-13. If we give in to fleshly desires, it distorts the image of Christ in us. It also prevents God's love from being revealed through us to others. If we live in selfishness and act immorally, that is when people call us evildoers and say we are just using grace or liberty as a cloak or covering for vice or sin. When we walk in love, Christ and His love are expressed through us. This is the process of maturity in the believer. If we are then persecuted as Christ is revealed in us, we should rejoice.
Most churches and pastors do not declare that all sins, even future sins, are forgiven. They either do not understand it or they feel that people will just sin and run wild and they will lose control. They declare that if Christians persist in sin, they might lose their salvation. Others are declaring that Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of our entire lifetime. But they seem to shy away from teaching obedience and the portions of the epistles that discuss holiness, as if that is putting people back under the law or trying to control people. Peter and Paul both understood grace. They were not schizophrenic, teaching grace for part of their epistle and then switching back to teaching law. Hopefully everyone can see the grace of God in the teaching of holiness. Our sins are forgiven by faith in His mercy and grace alone. That is grace. His same grace teaches us to walk in holiness, not as some prerequisite to gain entrance into heaven, but for our benefit in this life and for the benefit of those around us.
Keith Oliver
Sunday, May 19, 2013
1 Peter
I am seeing the writings of the New Testament more clearly as I understand the multi-faceted teaching of grace. I hope that each of you are seeing it more clearly also. It is easier for me to understand why the New Testament epistles were written and the content of what they are discussing. Let us reason together and reach some conclusions.
The early Christians were going into all the world and preaching the Gospel, the Good News that Jesus had paid for the sins of the entire world. They had to be declaring that Jesus paid for the sins of our entire lifetime, past, present, and even future sins. They were NOT just declaring that our past sins were forgiven, but that each new sin is a new offense to God that must be dealt with again each time that we sin. If they were, no one would have accused the early Christians as teaching grace or liberty as a cloak or covering for vice, as described in 1 Peter 2:15-16. If they were declaring that our past sins were forgiven but our present and future sins are still held against us by God, no one could twist that teaching into an excuse to sin. But that is exactly what many of the epistles address. So, why all the teaching about holiness in the epistles if all sins are already forgiven?
God's plan is simple. He created us in His likeness to be happy, healthy, at peace, tranquil, to be loved by Him and to love others. This plan was disrupted with Adam's sin. But Jesus paid the penalty for all of our sins and restored us to God. We are now indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We are now at peace with God again. This is grace. But we do not live in a perfect environment anymore as Adam and Eve did. We live in a fallen world. We live in a body that is not yet redeemed. We may know that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven, past, present and even future sins. But sin still causes us pain. I may know that God is not counting my sins against me. But if I persist in sinning, I will still experience pain and suffering and not experience the joy and peace that God has for me. This is the reason for all of the teaching on holiness in the epistles. Our holiness does not bring us any justification before God. We are saved by His grace and mercy alone through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. But Peter tells us that we can be barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:8. That is why Peter tells us to be diligent and add virtue or moral goodness and self-control and godliness and brotherly kindness to our faith. 2 Peter 1:5-7. Does God dwell in us? If we are born again, the answer is yes. Peter says that God gave us all the precious promises in the New Testament so that we MAY BE partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:4. When we are born again, the divine nature of God comes to dwell in us. But we have a choice. We can either partake of the divine nature through walking in love or we can experience the corruption that is in the world through the lust of our flesh. How can anyone see God in us if we act immoral or mean or spend our time fulfilling the lust of the flesh? If our families fall apart, or we end up in jail, or we cause pain to others or ourselves through fulfilling the lust of the flesh, will we be happy? Is the divine nature of God, Who is love, being expressed through us when we fulfill the lust of the flesh? No. This is the reason for the teaching of holiness that is found in all of the epistles. The same grace that tells us that our sins are forgiven therefore teaches us to walk in holiness. God has made us to be at peace with him through the blood of Jesus Christ. But we won't experience that peace if we are caught up in the ways of the world.
This is not going back under the law. It is not putting those who have come to understand grace back into bondage. If parents gave their young daughter a new bicycle, but told her not to ride it in the street, is that putting their daughter in bondage? Of course not. It is giving her instruction so that she can enjoy her new bicycle without getting hurt. That is what the teaching of holiness is. God wants us to be at peace and have joy and harmony with Him and walk in love toward those around us. To teach holiness in that manner is the same as teaching that all sins have been forgiven. It is all the same grace of God for us. Our sins are forgiven. Our choices are also vitally important if we are to experience His peace and joy.
Many believers can quote that they are the righteousness of God, and this is right and true. Many believers can say that the sins of our entire lifetime are paid for, and that God is not counting our sins against us. 2 Corin. 5:19. This is also an amazing truth. Paul pleads with us to accept this truth and be reconciled to God. 2 Corin. 5:20. But many of these same believers are not experiencing joy and peace, and their lives are no different than non-Christians. Paul makes another pleading to the Corinthians 2 verses later. He pleads with them not to receive the grace of God in vain, or to no effect in their lives. 2 Corin. 6:1. Is Paul a kill-joy? Is he saying they will go to Hell if they don't walk in holiness? No. He is saying that these believers will not experience the true grace of God if they are caught up in sin and walking in unholiness. Paul tells them to recognize that they are the temple of God. He tells them to therefore walk in holiness and stop touching what is unclean or to stop sinning. Is this just so they can grow up and be mature Christians? Yes, but it is also so that they will enjoy the grace of God. Our choices are vitally important even though our sins have been forgiven. This is the true grace of God. 1 Peter 5:12.
I hope this helps each of us see more clearly the grace of God in the teachings of holiness that are included in each of the epistles. We will continue with chapter 2 of 1 Peter in the following lesson.
Keith Oliver
I am seeing the writings of the New Testament more clearly as I understand the multi-faceted teaching of grace. I hope that each of you are seeing it more clearly also. It is easier for me to understand why the New Testament epistles were written and the content of what they are discussing. Let us reason together and reach some conclusions.
The early Christians were going into all the world and preaching the Gospel, the Good News that Jesus had paid for the sins of the entire world. They had to be declaring that Jesus paid for the sins of our entire lifetime, past, present, and even future sins. They were NOT just declaring that our past sins were forgiven, but that each new sin is a new offense to God that must be dealt with again each time that we sin. If they were, no one would have accused the early Christians as teaching grace or liberty as a cloak or covering for vice, as described in 1 Peter 2:15-16. If they were declaring that our past sins were forgiven but our present and future sins are still held against us by God, no one could twist that teaching into an excuse to sin. But that is exactly what many of the epistles address. So, why all the teaching about holiness in the epistles if all sins are already forgiven?
God's plan is simple. He created us in His likeness to be happy, healthy, at peace, tranquil, to be loved by Him and to love others. This plan was disrupted with Adam's sin. But Jesus paid the penalty for all of our sins and restored us to God. We are now indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We are now at peace with God again. This is grace. But we do not live in a perfect environment anymore as Adam and Eve did. We live in a fallen world. We live in a body that is not yet redeemed. We may know that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven, past, present and even future sins. But sin still causes us pain. I may know that God is not counting my sins against me. But if I persist in sinning, I will still experience pain and suffering and not experience the joy and peace that God has for me. This is the reason for all of the teaching on holiness in the epistles. Our holiness does not bring us any justification before God. We are saved by His grace and mercy alone through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. But Peter tells us that we can be barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:8. That is why Peter tells us to be diligent and add virtue or moral goodness and self-control and godliness and brotherly kindness to our faith. 2 Peter 1:5-7. Does God dwell in us? If we are born again, the answer is yes. Peter says that God gave us all the precious promises in the New Testament so that we MAY BE partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:4. When we are born again, the divine nature of God comes to dwell in us. But we have a choice. We can either partake of the divine nature through walking in love or we can experience the corruption that is in the world through the lust of our flesh. How can anyone see God in us if we act immoral or mean or spend our time fulfilling the lust of the flesh? If our families fall apart, or we end up in jail, or we cause pain to others or ourselves through fulfilling the lust of the flesh, will we be happy? Is the divine nature of God, Who is love, being expressed through us when we fulfill the lust of the flesh? No. This is the reason for the teaching of holiness that is found in all of the epistles. The same grace that tells us that our sins are forgiven therefore teaches us to walk in holiness. God has made us to be at peace with him through the blood of Jesus Christ. But we won't experience that peace if we are caught up in the ways of the world.
This is not going back under the law. It is not putting those who have come to understand grace back into bondage. If parents gave their young daughter a new bicycle, but told her not to ride it in the street, is that putting their daughter in bondage? Of course not. It is giving her instruction so that she can enjoy her new bicycle without getting hurt. That is what the teaching of holiness is. God wants us to be at peace and have joy and harmony with Him and walk in love toward those around us. To teach holiness in that manner is the same as teaching that all sins have been forgiven. It is all the same grace of God for us. Our sins are forgiven. Our choices are also vitally important if we are to experience His peace and joy.
Many believers can quote that they are the righteousness of God, and this is right and true. Many believers can say that the sins of our entire lifetime are paid for, and that God is not counting our sins against us. 2 Corin. 5:19. This is also an amazing truth. Paul pleads with us to accept this truth and be reconciled to God. 2 Corin. 5:20. But many of these same believers are not experiencing joy and peace, and their lives are no different than non-Christians. Paul makes another pleading to the Corinthians 2 verses later. He pleads with them not to receive the grace of God in vain, or to no effect in their lives. 2 Corin. 6:1. Is Paul a kill-joy? Is he saying they will go to Hell if they don't walk in holiness? No. He is saying that these believers will not experience the true grace of God if they are caught up in sin and walking in unholiness. Paul tells them to recognize that they are the temple of God. He tells them to therefore walk in holiness and stop touching what is unclean or to stop sinning. Is this just so they can grow up and be mature Christians? Yes, but it is also so that they will enjoy the grace of God. Our choices are vitally important even though our sins have been forgiven. This is the true grace of God. 1 Peter 5:12.
I hope this helps each of us see more clearly the grace of God in the teachings of holiness that are included in each of the epistles. We will continue with chapter 2 of 1 Peter in the following lesson.
Keith Oliver
Sunday, May 12, 2013
1 Peter 1:17-25
Remember the theme of 1 Peter: the salvation of our soul or mind is the revelation or revealing of Jesus in and through us now, not in the future when Christ returns. 1 Peter 1:6-7 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it it tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ..." The various trials or sufferings or being tested by fire is the suffering in the flesh and ceasing from sin (1 Peter 4:1-2, 12-13) so that Christ is revealed in and through us now. For Jesus to be revealed in and through us, we must grow up spiritually, which involves turning away from sin and evil and walking in holiness and love. How can those around us see God in us if we are mean or running wild in sin or acting selfishly? They can't. So the same grace that tells us that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven also teaches us to put off sin and walk in holiness. It is the same grace. This is how Jesus Christ is revealed in us. This is the revelation of Jesus Christ to our generation.
1 Peter 1:17-21 "And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each man's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like gold or silver, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."
We see the first two members of the Godhead, God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, mentioned in these verses. Remember that God the Father planned the plan of salvation before the world even existed. Jesus Christ shed His blood for the redemption of mankind. The Holy Spirit is the One who leads us into sanctification of our mind and actions through our obedience to His leading. In verse 17, it says that God the Father without partiality judges according to each man's work. This is not God judging us so that we might be sent to Hell or not. Remember, God is a loving Father who planned for our redemption. We are saved by trusting in His grace that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins through His shed blood. God as a Father is judging and overseeing our spiritual growth. He wants us to grow up spiritually into His image, just as any human parent would want to see their children grow up and achieve good things and experience joy and happiness. Our heavenly Father wants us to grow up also. So we should conduct ourselves in fear or reverence for our heavenly Father during our time here on the earth. I want to be just like my Father. He is holy. He is love. I should give Him reverence and walk in holiness and love. I should emulate my Father. We are not redeemed with corruptible things but with the precious blood of Christ. He was without spot or blemish. He did not sin nor did His flesh contain sin. He is perfect. God planned before the foundation of the world that His innocent blood would be shed for the sins of all mankind. This is what our faith rests in. Our hope for the physical resurrection of our bodies rests also in God. Ephesians 1:14 says that the Holy Spirit of promise is the guarantee or down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession. Our bodies have been purchased but are not yet redeemed. God gave us the Holy Spirit as the down payment on our inheritance until the eventual redemption of our bodies.
1 Peter 1:22-25 "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because, 'All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.' Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you."
Notice the third member of the Godhead is mentioned in verse 22. Through the leading of the Spirit, we are to purify our soul or mind and obey the truth of the Word. We are to learn to walk in love instead of the lusts of our flesh. Notice also that all three parts of a person are referred to in these verses. Humans consist of spirit, soul and body. We are a spirit. We have a soul or mind. We live in a body. Our spirit is the part of us that is born again through the Word of God or the gospel. Our souls are to be purified or changed so that we learn to walk in love and not the lusts of the flesh. Why? Verse 24 says that our flesh is as grass and will wither and fall away. Our flesh is not yet redeemed, so it still has lusts or desires that are not of God. That is why 1 Peter 2:11 says that we must abstain from fleshly lusts.
The same grace of God that sent Jesus to pay the penalty for all of our sins is the same grace of God that leads us into holiness through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord. 1 Peter 5:12 Peter said this is the TRUE GRACE of God in which we stand. Apparently there was a false teaching of grace that was circulating then. It said that our sins are forgiven so we can sin and do anything we want and it doesn't matter. In Jude verse 4, Jude refers to this type of teaching. Jude said that ungodly men had crept into the church, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness or an excuse to sin. Paul was accused of the same thing. Romans 3:8 "And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come'? -- as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just." This is the underlying background of the New Testament epistles. The church was proclaiming that Jesus had paid the penalty for all sins. Some immature Christians were using it as an excuse to sin. Outsiders were saying that Christians were just using grace as a cloak or covering for sin. 1 Peter 2:15-16.
Keith Oliver
Remember the theme of 1 Peter: the salvation of our soul or mind is the revelation or revealing of Jesus in and through us now, not in the future when Christ returns. 1 Peter 1:6-7 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it it tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ..." The various trials or sufferings or being tested by fire is the suffering in the flesh and ceasing from sin (1 Peter 4:1-2, 12-13) so that Christ is revealed in and through us now. For Jesus to be revealed in and through us, we must grow up spiritually, which involves turning away from sin and evil and walking in holiness and love. How can those around us see God in us if we are mean or running wild in sin or acting selfishly? They can't. So the same grace that tells us that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven also teaches us to put off sin and walk in holiness. It is the same grace. This is how Jesus Christ is revealed in us. This is the revelation of Jesus Christ to our generation.
1 Peter 1:17-21 "And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each man's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like gold or silver, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."
We see the first two members of the Godhead, God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, mentioned in these verses. Remember that God the Father planned the plan of salvation before the world even existed. Jesus Christ shed His blood for the redemption of mankind. The Holy Spirit is the One who leads us into sanctification of our mind and actions through our obedience to His leading. In verse 17, it says that God the Father without partiality judges according to each man's work. This is not God judging us so that we might be sent to Hell or not. Remember, God is a loving Father who planned for our redemption. We are saved by trusting in His grace that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins through His shed blood. God as a Father is judging and overseeing our spiritual growth. He wants us to grow up spiritually into His image, just as any human parent would want to see their children grow up and achieve good things and experience joy and happiness. Our heavenly Father wants us to grow up also. So we should conduct ourselves in fear or reverence for our heavenly Father during our time here on the earth. I want to be just like my Father. He is holy. He is love. I should give Him reverence and walk in holiness and love. I should emulate my Father. We are not redeemed with corruptible things but with the precious blood of Christ. He was without spot or blemish. He did not sin nor did His flesh contain sin. He is perfect. God planned before the foundation of the world that His innocent blood would be shed for the sins of all mankind. This is what our faith rests in. Our hope for the physical resurrection of our bodies rests also in God. Ephesians 1:14 says that the Holy Spirit of promise is the guarantee or down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession. Our bodies have been purchased but are not yet redeemed. God gave us the Holy Spirit as the down payment on our inheritance until the eventual redemption of our bodies.
1 Peter 1:22-25 "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because, 'All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.' Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you."
Notice the third member of the Godhead is mentioned in verse 22. Through the leading of the Spirit, we are to purify our soul or mind and obey the truth of the Word. We are to learn to walk in love instead of the lusts of our flesh. Notice also that all three parts of a person are referred to in these verses. Humans consist of spirit, soul and body. We are a spirit. We have a soul or mind. We live in a body. Our spirit is the part of us that is born again through the Word of God or the gospel. Our souls are to be purified or changed so that we learn to walk in love and not the lusts of the flesh. Why? Verse 24 says that our flesh is as grass and will wither and fall away. Our flesh is not yet redeemed, so it still has lusts or desires that are not of God. That is why 1 Peter 2:11 says that we must abstain from fleshly lusts.
The same grace of God that sent Jesus to pay the penalty for all of our sins is the same grace of God that leads us into holiness through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord. 1 Peter 5:12 Peter said this is the TRUE GRACE of God in which we stand. Apparently there was a false teaching of grace that was circulating then. It said that our sins are forgiven so we can sin and do anything we want and it doesn't matter. In Jude verse 4, Jude refers to this type of teaching. Jude said that ungodly men had crept into the church, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness or an excuse to sin. Paul was accused of the same thing. Romans 3:8 "And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come'? -- as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just." This is the underlying background of the New Testament epistles. The church was proclaiming that Jesus had paid the penalty for all sins. Some immature Christians were using it as an excuse to sin. Outsiders were saying that Christians were just using grace as a cloak or covering for sin. 1 Peter 2:15-16.
Keith Oliver
1 Peter 1:10-16
We are continuing to go through 1 Peter verse by verse. The theme of 1 Peter: the salvation of our soul or mind is the revelation or revealing of Jesus Christ in and through us now. The gospel declares that our sins have been forgiven. That includes the sins of our entire lifetime, past, present and even future sins. Jesus made one sacrifice 2000 years ago for the sins of every person. This was for past as well as future generations and for our past sins as well as our future sins. We must accept and receive this grace to be born again. When we are born again, Jesus comes to live within us. We are indwelt by God's Spirit. He wants to reveal and express Himself through us. For Him to be revealed through us, we have to learn to walk in holiness and love. How can God, Who is love, be revealed in us if we are not walking in love? This is really the theme of 1 Peter. It is describing the process of spiritual maturity within the born again believer.
1 Peter 1:10-12 "Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into."
The salvation that Peter is referring to is the revelation or revealing of Jesus Christ in and through us. God wants a race of beings recreated in His image, born again, and expressing His love, joy and peace through each of them. This is the salvation that Peter is declaring. This is what Jesus died for, so that our sins are paid for and we are restored to relationship with Him. This is the grace that was prophesied through the Old Testament that was to come to us. This could not happen until Jesus came and rescued us, so it was not available for those under the Old Testament or Covenant. Peter says it has now been reported to those of us under the New Testament or Covenant. They preached the gospel by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. In other words, the Holy Spirit confirmed the preaching of the gospel with miracles, signs and wonders. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, so that brings us peace. Jesus bore our sicknesses and carried away our diseases so that we don't have to be sick. That leaves us well. This is the gospel, and this is the message that the Holy Spirit confirms when people believe and act upon it.
1 Peter 1:13-16 "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; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy".
Peter is telling us to gird up the loins of our mind or to change the way that we think. The revelation of Jesus Christ that comes to us is not in the future when Christ returns for the church. Grace is brought to us now when we recognize that Jesus has come to live in us and that He is to be revealed in and through us. This requires us to change our thinking. The apostle Paul used the phrase renewing our mind. This is where spiritual growth begins, in our thought life. We are born again. Jesus comes to live in us. Our spirit is made new. Then we are to renew our minds, which will lead to change in our outward action. This is the process of spiritual growth. Notice that Peter says, "as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance." He has moved from talking about being born again as a newborn baby in Christ to becoming an obedient child. How does this take place? We renew our minds and begin to change our actions. We no longer let our actions be guided by the lusts of the flesh. The body is not yet redeemed, so it still contains lusts or desires. 1 Peter 2:11 tells us to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. We see that Christ lives in us through our mind or soul. But fleshly lusts war against that image of Christ in us. We should abstain from fleshly lusts and walk in holiness. That is beginning to allow the revelation of Jesus Christ in and through us. That is the process of spiritual growth.
God declares that He is holy in verses 15 and 16. For God to be revealed in and through us, we must be holy in our conduct, for He is holy. Praise the Lord! The same grace that teaches us that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven is the same grace that teaches us to walk in holiness. Sin still causes us pain and hurts those around us. God is love. He wants us and those around us to experience His love, joy and peace. He wants to express His love through us to others. He can't do that if we persist in hurting ourselves and others by continuing in sin. This is what Jesus meant in the parable of the sower and the seed, with the example of the seed sown among thorns. We hear and receive the Gospel, the good news that our sins are forgiven. But the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires or lusts of the flesh enter in and choke the word of grace and it becomes unfruitful. We don't experience the love, joy and peace that we are meant to because we get caught up in sin and other distractions. So it really is the grace of God that leads us into holiness.
In verses 17 through 22, the three members of the Godhead, the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are spoken of. Their functions in the plan of redemption are expounded upon more clearly from 1 Peter 1:2. Remember God the Father planned the plan of redemption from the foundation of the world before we even existed. The blood of Jesus Christ was shed or sprinkled for the redemption of the sins of mankind. The Holy Spirit is the One Who reveals the plan and leads us into maturity through obedience. Remember, our salvation is not determined by our works, but according to His grace through the shed blood of Jesus. But our obedience is required for us to grow spiritually. I know that some people who have come to understand grace don't seem to like the word obedience. Our spirit is made perfect when we are born again. But our mind and body are not. For God to express Himself in and through us, it requires our obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification of our spirit is instant when we are born again. Sanctification of our mind and our actions is a process. We will expound on this idea in the next lesson and finish the 1 chapter of 1 Peter.
Keith Oliver
We are continuing to go through 1 Peter verse by verse. The theme of 1 Peter: the salvation of our soul or mind is the revelation or revealing of Jesus Christ in and through us now. The gospel declares that our sins have been forgiven. That includes the sins of our entire lifetime, past, present and even future sins. Jesus made one sacrifice 2000 years ago for the sins of every person. This was for past as well as future generations and for our past sins as well as our future sins. We must accept and receive this grace to be born again. When we are born again, Jesus comes to live within us. We are indwelt by God's Spirit. He wants to reveal and express Himself through us. For Him to be revealed through us, we have to learn to walk in holiness and love. How can God, Who is love, be revealed in us if we are not walking in love? This is really the theme of 1 Peter. It is describing the process of spiritual maturity within the born again believer.
1 Peter 1:10-12 "Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into."
The salvation that Peter is referring to is the revelation or revealing of Jesus Christ in and through us. God wants a race of beings recreated in His image, born again, and expressing His love, joy and peace through each of them. This is the salvation that Peter is declaring. This is what Jesus died for, so that our sins are paid for and we are restored to relationship with Him. This is the grace that was prophesied through the Old Testament that was to come to us. This could not happen until Jesus came and rescued us, so it was not available for those under the Old Testament or Covenant. Peter says it has now been reported to those of us under the New Testament or Covenant. They preached the gospel by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. In other words, the Holy Spirit confirmed the preaching of the gospel with miracles, signs and wonders. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, so that brings us peace. Jesus bore our sicknesses and carried away our diseases so that we don't have to be sick. That leaves us well. This is the gospel, and this is the message that the Holy Spirit confirms when people believe and act upon it.
1 Peter 1:13-16 "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; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy".
Peter is telling us to gird up the loins of our mind or to change the way that we think. The revelation of Jesus Christ that comes to us is not in the future when Christ returns for the church. Grace is brought to us now when we recognize that Jesus has come to live in us and that He is to be revealed in and through us. This requires us to change our thinking. The apostle Paul used the phrase renewing our mind. This is where spiritual growth begins, in our thought life. We are born again. Jesus comes to live in us. Our spirit is made new. Then we are to renew our minds, which will lead to change in our outward action. This is the process of spiritual growth. Notice that Peter says, "as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance." He has moved from talking about being born again as a newborn baby in Christ to becoming an obedient child. How does this take place? We renew our minds and begin to change our actions. We no longer let our actions be guided by the lusts of the flesh. The body is not yet redeemed, so it still contains lusts or desires. 1 Peter 2:11 tells us to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. We see that Christ lives in us through our mind or soul. But fleshly lusts war against that image of Christ in us. We should abstain from fleshly lusts and walk in holiness. That is beginning to allow the revelation of Jesus Christ in and through us. That is the process of spiritual growth.
God declares that He is holy in verses 15 and 16. For God to be revealed in and through us, we must be holy in our conduct, for He is holy. Praise the Lord! The same grace that teaches us that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven is the same grace that teaches us to walk in holiness. Sin still causes us pain and hurts those around us. God is love. He wants us and those around us to experience His love, joy and peace. He wants to express His love through us to others. He can't do that if we persist in hurting ourselves and others by continuing in sin. This is what Jesus meant in the parable of the sower and the seed, with the example of the seed sown among thorns. We hear and receive the Gospel, the good news that our sins are forgiven. But the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires or lusts of the flesh enter in and choke the word of grace and it becomes unfruitful. We don't experience the love, joy and peace that we are meant to because we get caught up in sin and other distractions. So it really is the grace of God that leads us into holiness.
In verses 17 through 22, the three members of the Godhead, the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are spoken of. Their functions in the plan of redemption are expounded upon more clearly from 1 Peter 1:2. Remember God the Father planned the plan of redemption from the foundation of the world before we even existed. The blood of Jesus Christ was shed or sprinkled for the redemption of the sins of mankind. The Holy Spirit is the One Who reveals the plan and leads us into maturity through obedience. Remember, our salvation is not determined by our works, but according to His grace through the shed blood of Jesus. But our obedience is required for us to grow spiritually. I know that some people who have come to understand grace don't seem to like the word obedience. Our spirit is made perfect when we are born again. But our mind and body are not. For God to express Himself in and through us, it requires our obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification of our spirit is instant when we are born again. Sanctification of our mind and our actions is a process. We will expound on this idea in the next lesson and finish the 1 chapter of 1 Peter.
Keith Oliver
Sunday, May 5, 2013
1 Peter 1:3-9
As we mentioned in the last lesson, the main theme of 1 Peter is the revelation of Jesus within us now. This is the salvation of our soul or mind. When we accept Christ, we are born again. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. For Christ to be revealed in and through us to other people, we must first recognize that He lives in us. We must also go through the fiery trial that Peter speaks of in 1 Peter 1:6-7. This is the suffering in the flesh that Peter describes so that we cease from sin. How can anyone see Christ in us when we are sinning? They can't.
This theme is the subject of much of the New Testament epistles. Jesus paid for the sins of our entire lifetime, past, present and even future sins. Jesus made one sacrifice for sins forever. Every sin that we have ever committed in the past or will ever commit in the future were future sins when Christ died for us 2000 years ago. I was born in 1962. I became a Christian in 1981 at the age of 18. Christ did not pay the penalty for only the sins I committed from 1962 until I was born again in 1981, and then each new sin I committed or will commit after 1981 is a new offense to God. No! He paid for the sins of our entire lifetime. This is the Good News. This is what brings us lasting peace, not just until the next time we sin. What grace!
So should we just keep on sinning, because all of our sins are paid for? No! Sin still causes us pain and hurts those around us. Also, how can God, Who is love, be revealed in us if we are not walking in love and holiness? The revelation of Jesus in and through us happens as we turn away from ungodliness and worldly lusts and walk in love and holiness. Then people can see that Jesus lives in us. The grace of God forgives the sins of our entire lifetime. The same grace of God leads us to abstain from fleshly lusts so that Christ is revealed in us. 1 Peter 2:11-12 It is the same grace! 1 Peter 5:10 "But may the God of ALL GRACE (grace that forgives us of all sins AND grace that leads us into holiness) Who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strenthen and settle you." This growth process or process of maturity is the theme of 1 Peter. Even though we may recognize that all of our sins are forgiven, we will not experience the joy and peace we are meant for if we continue to experience the pain that comes from sinning. Praise the Lord. Just as a loving parent would teach his child not to play in the street so they would not be hit by a car, our Father teaches us to turn away from sin and walk in holiness. Our salvation is not dependent on our good works, but by His mercy and grace alone. But for us to experience His love, joy and peace on an ongoing basis, our conduct is vitally important. Mixing these ideas which has caused so much confusion in the body of Christ. To say that our salvation is dependent on something other than grace is legalism. But the ditch on the other side of the road is turning the grace of our Lord into lewdness or a licence to sin.
1 Peter 1:3-5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." God, through His abundant mercy or grace, has made us to be born again. Our spirit has been made new. We have a living hope through the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ that our bodies will be made new in the future. This is part of our inheritance that awaits us. It is incorruptible and undefiled and does not fade away, regardless of our failure or a sin that we might commit. Peter speaks of a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time in verse 5. This salvation is the salvation of our soul or mind spoken of in the next verses. This is the revelation of Jesus Christ within us now. We are in the last time. 1 Peter1:20 "He (Jesus) indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." If Jesus was manifest in the last times 2000 years ago, we are in the last time also.
1 Peter 1:6-9 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls." Most commentaries describe these various trials as the persecution that these believers were experiencing from non-Christians. But persecution will not cause Christ to be revealed in us. The salvation of our soul or mind is the revelation of Jesus Christ in and through us now. This is not speaking of the future return of our Lord. Peter describes what the various trials or being tested by fire really is. 1 Peter 4:1-2 "Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God." This is the suffering or trial that Peter is describing. Look also at 1 Peter 4:12-13 "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." When we partake of Christ's suffering, which Peter describes as suffering in the flesh or abstaining from fleshly lusts, Jesus or His glory is revealed in us. This is the fiery trial or being tried by fire described in 1 Peter 1:6-7. When we abstain from the lust of the flesh and walk in love, then praise, honor and glory are found at the revelation or revealing of Jesus Christ in and through us. God is love. When we walk in love instead of lust and selfishness, the nature of God is revealed in and through us. This is the revelation of Jesus Christ in us. This is the pathway of maturity.
We will continue on through 1 Peter chapter 1 in the next lesson.
Keith Oliver
As we mentioned in the last lesson, the main theme of 1 Peter is the revelation of Jesus within us now. This is the salvation of our soul or mind. When we accept Christ, we are born again. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. For Christ to be revealed in and through us to other people, we must first recognize that He lives in us. We must also go through the fiery trial that Peter speaks of in 1 Peter 1:6-7. This is the suffering in the flesh that Peter describes so that we cease from sin. How can anyone see Christ in us when we are sinning? They can't.
This theme is the subject of much of the New Testament epistles. Jesus paid for the sins of our entire lifetime, past, present and even future sins. Jesus made one sacrifice for sins forever. Every sin that we have ever committed in the past or will ever commit in the future were future sins when Christ died for us 2000 years ago. I was born in 1962. I became a Christian in 1981 at the age of 18. Christ did not pay the penalty for only the sins I committed from 1962 until I was born again in 1981, and then each new sin I committed or will commit after 1981 is a new offense to God. No! He paid for the sins of our entire lifetime. This is the Good News. This is what brings us lasting peace, not just until the next time we sin. What grace!
So should we just keep on sinning, because all of our sins are paid for? No! Sin still causes us pain and hurts those around us. Also, how can God, Who is love, be revealed in us if we are not walking in love and holiness? The revelation of Jesus in and through us happens as we turn away from ungodliness and worldly lusts and walk in love and holiness. Then people can see that Jesus lives in us. The grace of God forgives the sins of our entire lifetime. The same grace of God leads us to abstain from fleshly lusts so that Christ is revealed in us. 1 Peter 2:11-12 It is the same grace! 1 Peter 5:10 "But may the God of ALL GRACE (grace that forgives us of all sins AND grace that leads us into holiness) Who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strenthen and settle you." This growth process or process of maturity is the theme of 1 Peter. Even though we may recognize that all of our sins are forgiven, we will not experience the joy and peace we are meant for if we continue to experience the pain that comes from sinning. Praise the Lord. Just as a loving parent would teach his child not to play in the street so they would not be hit by a car, our Father teaches us to turn away from sin and walk in holiness. Our salvation is not dependent on our good works, but by His mercy and grace alone. But for us to experience His love, joy and peace on an ongoing basis, our conduct is vitally important. Mixing these ideas which has caused so much confusion in the body of Christ. To say that our salvation is dependent on something other than grace is legalism. But the ditch on the other side of the road is turning the grace of our Lord into lewdness or a licence to sin.
1 Peter 1:3-5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." God, through His abundant mercy or grace, has made us to be born again. Our spirit has been made new. We have a living hope through the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ that our bodies will be made new in the future. This is part of our inheritance that awaits us. It is incorruptible and undefiled and does not fade away, regardless of our failure or a sin that we might commit. Peter speaks of a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time in verse 5. This salvation is the salvation of our soul or mind spoken of in the next verses. This is the revelation of Jesus Christ within us now. We are in the last time. 1 Peter1:20 "He (Jesus) indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." If Jesus was manifest in the last times 2000 years ago, we are in the last time also.
1 Peter 1:6-9 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls." Most commentaries describe these various trials as the persecution that these believers were experiencing from non-Christians. But persecution will not cause Christ to be revealed in us. The salvation of our soul or mind is the revelation of Jesus Christ in and through us now. This is not speaking of the future return of our Lord. Peter describes what the various trials or being tested by fire really is. 1 Peter 4:1-2 "Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God." This is the suffering or trial that Peter is describing. Look also at 1 Peter 4:12-13 "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." When we partake of Christ's suffering, which Peter describes as suffering in the flesh or abstaining from fleshly lusts, Jesus or His glory is revealed in us. This is the fiery trial or being tried by fire described in 1 Peter 1:6-7. When we abstain from the lust of the flesh and walk in love, then praise, honor and glory are found at the revelation or revealing of Jesus Christ in and through us. God is love. When we walk in love instead of lust and selfishness, the nature of God is revealed in and through us. This is the revelation of Jesus Christ in us. This is the pathway of maturity.
We will continue on through 1 Peter chapter 1 in the next lesson.
Keith Oliver
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