II Peter
part 5 continued
Service – Following are some excerpts from “Eight Steps to Spiritual Maturity”
regarding Christian service, the fourth step on our chart.
First, the Holy Spirit has given each believer a gift (I Cor.12:7).
Second, gifts are not based on the spirituality of an individual. That is evident as Paul tells the very corrupt church of Corinth that they were also given gifts (I Cor.1:7; 3:1-3).
Third, gifts are not the same as the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is to be part of a person’s character (Gal.5:22-25).
Fourth, it is possible to have a gift and not use it.
Paul warned Timothy about this (I Tim.4:14; II Tim.1:6).
Fifth, gifts are never intended for personal benefit but for blessing others.(I Pet. 4:10; I cor.14:12) (Note: exception I Cor.14:2, 4).
Sixth, gifts are not talents or ability. One’s talent or ability may be exercised along with the gift but they are not Spirit given gifts.
Seventh, one is to operate his gift in the realm of faith provided him (Rom.12:3).
Eighth, one can know his Spiritual gift in two ways. If one is being filled or controlled by the Spirit, he will know his gift because he will be exercising it. The issue is not the gift with its related power, but the full control of the Holy Spirit (Note: complete yielding to the leadership of the Spirit).
Furthermore, one can discern his gift by that which motivates him. Specifically, what is the thrust or drive provided by the Holy Spirit? (pg.339)
Ezra 1:5 – Then the heads of fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.
Ro.12:6-8 –Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Prophecy: The word prophecy means to speak forth. The term was used of Aaron who was to be the spokesperson in behalf of Moses. The word prophecy contains two forms or aspects of prophecy called foretelling and forthelling [sic]. Foretelling is the predicting of truth beforehand. Coming from divine revelation. Forthtelling is the proclamation of truth already given and can be referred to as preaching.
(See I Cor.14:2 for a biblical definition of prophecy).
Ministry: Ministry can be rendered as practical service. Interestingly, the word ministry is the word for servant or one who serves. The term could address any spiritual or physical ministry. Nothing inspiring or miraculous is related to the work of ministry. The work of ministry is just plain hard work! As a servant, one should not be afraid to get his hands dirty or to do the undesirable task.
Teaching: Teaching addresses the instruction of others. This gift provides one with the joy of making the Scriptures clear and understandable. The stress is not on proclaiming or preaching as in prophecy [sic], but on explaining the truth. The one with the gift of teaching is able to understand, organize, and explain the truth. Here the emphasis is on a special gift because all believers are obligated to teach to some degree (Mt.28:19-20; II Tim.2:2).
Exhortation: The thought of exhortation is comforting or encouraging. The word means to call or summon to ones side, in the sense of encouraging, comforting, or consoling. This individual stirs others positively. Perhaps the greatest example is Barnabas, whose name means son of consolation. He took to his side Paul and John Mark to encourage them in the ministry (Acts 9:26-27; 15:39).
Giving: The gift of giving speaks of those who share earthly possessions. The imparting of substance to others in need without receiving recognition marks these folk. These people live to give and give. They do it with simplicity or liberality. They have no ulterior motives; in fact, they are free from hypocrisy or pretense. They just love the thrill of giving!
Ruling: The word rule speaks of governing or administrating. Coming from a Greek word meaning to set or stand before, this is one who is placed in front as an authority. The term is not addressing the function or office of an elder, but those who have the God given gift to organize and lead others. These folk rule with diligence, which means they put forth the effort to get the work done. They are not lazy, nor do they do the job halfheartedly.
Mercy: The gift of mercy is the ability to express compassion towards those in misery. These folk are able to express sympathy to those who are hurting the most without dragging them further down. Showing mercy with cheerfulness, these folk can bring a smile to a room and happiness to a dark situation. They freely give of themselves in love and cheerfulness.
Our responsibility to God is to fulfill His task assigned to us. Part of that task is to use our God-given gift(s). If we neglect to exercise our gift(s) then we have broken the circuit and have cut off the purpose and power of God.
The purpose and power of God can only effectively operate through a yielding or submissive person. Furthermore, through neglect, we will forfeit possible future rewards and recognition by our Lord.
Paul reveals the future Bema Judgment, which every believer will face. The believer’s works will be judged for their quality and the believer for his faithfulness to his Lord’s commands.
I Cor. 3:13-15 – each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
I Cor.4:2 – Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
Every believer needs to understand that there are future consequences to present actions. The sins of neglect or disobedience will reap the loss of future positions of service with the Master. We are to remember that one is not saved to sit but to serve Him who saved us!
The submissive one not only places himself in a position of being used by God, but of being developed by God for the fullest use.
It is one thing to do the bidding of God and another to be molded by Him for the message He intends to display.
The bidding of God to a ministry is revealed in the use of gifts and other related tasks. The molding of God is laid before us in conformity to the death of Christ, and in the Sermon on the Mount. (Mt.5 – 7 ) (Eight steps to Spiritual Maturity - pgs. 340-342)
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
II Peter part 5
II Peter
part 5
6a) “And in your knowledge (add) self-control.”
This virtue of self control, within the context as Peter intends it, requires some qualification and exposition to avoid taking it the wrong way.
While this is the case with each of the concepts and each of the words chosen to express them (as we have seen), I think that we need to exercise a little more caution here; especially considering the “self help” atmosphere that we live in our world today.
It seems that everywhere you turn, whether in written media, on radio or on T.V. we are inundated with self help programs; be they exercise regimes, or exercise devices and apparatus’ promising to transform our bodies in 30 days or your money back, dance and self defense videos that will develop “six pack abs”, brain games to forestall the onset of memory loss (or worse), diets of every description imaginable, organic foods and supplements to reverse the aging process and eliminate disease, water filters, electric juicers and blenders to help us to live to 100, and seemingly absolutely no end to new age Gurus and “Doctors” offering to guide us into “spiritual nirvana, completed self realization, unhindered self expression and total self awareness” (just turn on P.B.S.).
So what does Peter mean by self-control? Let’s look at the original Greek word used in our text. We can check out how it is used in some other scriptures, and we can compare some passages that explain the benefits and reasons why it is good for us to exercise self-control from the perspective of having a more effective ministry in our service in the Church.
The word used by Peter is – ἐγκράτϵιαν – encratian, from the root ecron which means – control over oneself, or lordship which one has over oneself or over something else; and so it is correctly translated as self-control, but that doesn’t help much yet.
The problem is that many within the greater Christian community, over the centuries and even still today, have tried to promote the idea of meritorious aestheticism (monasticism for example) and self denial as a means to attain salvation, under the rubric of Encratia.
In addition to the problem of Encratic asceticism; there is also the very serious error of autonomous ethics (carrying the idea of self control to complete self mastery and moral self determination); that we discussed in our previous study concerning moral excellence.
This concept ultimately leads to ethical utilitarianism (the standard is; whatever produces the most desirable results for the individual is the ethic to be followed);
And consequentiallism (the standard is derived from whatever seems to produce the greatest good for the greatest number).
There is no place within Christian orthodoxy for either Autosoterism (self salvation through self effort, self denial or self control);
Or for autonomous ethics (establishing and living by ones own personal ethical standards rather than submitting to those established and revealed by God).
It is when we explore some New Testament passages where the idea of our exercising self-control for the sake of others is expressed that the picture of what Peter is promoting comes into view more clearly. This aspect is vital for our correct understanding of the idea and for our proper performance in Christian ministry and service.
Gal 5:13-15 – For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Rom 14:1-23 – Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. (Herein lies the key to understanding the need for exercising self-control, the welfare of others who are affected by your actions)
Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written:
"As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this,
Not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself;
but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love.
Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace
And the things by which one may edify another.
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.
It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God.
Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
I Cor.8:7-13 – However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.
But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble,
I will never eat meat again,
So that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
I Cor.9:19-27 – For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.
To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;
to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
So we see that it is primarily (all though not exclusively) for the sake of others that we are to add self-control to our faith. As I said, I think it is very important that we understand this first. Remember, we have already added moral excellence.
Now concerning the personal benefits of adding self-control to our Christian walk; this is certainly a very important aspect for our growth into Christian maturity and now that we have put it into the proper perspective regarding our salvation and our ethic; we are ready to explore this aspect of self-control.
I Cor.9:24-27 – Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?
Run in such a way that you may win.
Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.
They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable (rewards/crowns – 3:14-15).
Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim;
I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others,
I myself will not be disqualified (obviously not from salvation but from rewards – II Jn.8).
It is easy to see how a complete misunderstanding of this passage could be had if we did not consider it within the context of the rest of the New Testament teaching concerning self-control.
So we see that there are two aspects to our adding self control to our faith, moral excellence and knowledge.
1. We are to consider the needs and reactions of others that look to us for instruction and guidance and to restrain ourselves from giving offense to a weaker brother or to anyone to whom we may be ministering to
(I Thes.2:10-12).
2. And we are to continue to be careful to walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Eph.4:1; Col.1:10) so that we do not jeopardize our testimony or our rewards.
Both of these considerations also weigh heavily on the effectiveness of our service to God.
Our primary job, as Christians in this world, is to be servants and instruments in the hand of God to be used as ambassadors of reconciliation to the lost, to the troubled and to the backslidden; and to encourage, equip and empower the Church to do the same.
II Cor.5:18-20 – Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself,
not counting their trespasses against them,
and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were making an appeal through us;
We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Now there are all kinds of service that we can be called to in the Church and they all contribute in some way to the effective ministry of the Church;
Some more obviously or directly than others, but all to the glory of God; and all serve to accomplish His purpose in reaching out with the offer of reconciliation.
I Cor.12 – 14 – Spiritual Gifts and Ministries:
12:4-11 – Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
12:27-31 – Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
14:1 – Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
14:39-40 – Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
Eph.4:11-13 – And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Ro.12:4-8 – For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly:
if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching (a separate gift from pastor);
or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality;
he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
It is God Himself who equips the saints for service and He prepares the good works they are to perform ahead of them for them to walk in.
Eph.2;8-10 – For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Heb.13:20-21 – Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
But we must willingly offer ourselves for service, without reservation or double mindedness; and we must put to proper use the gifts and callings to ministry that God has ordained for us.
Mt.6:24 – “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Mt.10:37-39 – “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”
“He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”
part 5
6a) “And in your knowledge (add) self-control.”
This virtue of self control, within the context as Peter intends it, requires some qualification and exposition to avoid taking it the wrong way.
While this is the case with each of the concepts and each of the words chosen to express them (as we have seen), I think that we need to exercise a little more caution here; especially considering the “self help” atmosphere that we live in our world today.
It seems that everywhere you turn, whether in written media, on radio or on T.V. we are inundated with self help programs; be they exercise regimes, or exercise devices and apparatus’ promising to transform our bodies in 30 days or your money back, dance and self defense videos that will develop “six pack abs”, brain games to forestall the onset of memory loss (or worse), diets of every description imaginable, organic foods and supplements to reverse the aging process and eliminate disease, water filters, electric juicers and blenders to help us to live to 100, and seemingly absolutely no end to new age Gurus and “Doctors” offering to guide us into “spiritual nirvana, completed self realization, unhindered self expression and total self awareness” (just turn on P.B.S.).
So what does Peter mean by self-control? Let’s look at the original Greek word used in our text. We can check out how it is used in some other scriptures, and we can compare some passages that explain the benefits and reasons why it is good for us to exercise self-control from the perspective of having a more effective ministry in our service in the Church.
The word used by Peter is – ἐγκράτϵιαν – encratian, from the root ecron which means – control over oneself, or lordship which one has over oneself or over something else; and so it is correctly translated as self-control, but that doesn’t help much yet.
The problem is that many within the greater Christian community, over the centuries and even still today, have tried to promote the idea of meritorious aestheticism (monasticism for example) and self denial as a means to attain salvation, under the rubric of Encratia.
In addition to the problem of Encratic asceticism; there is also the very serious error of autonomous ethics (carrying the idea of self control to complete self mastery and moral self determination); that we discussed in our previous study concerning moral excellence.
This concept ultimately leads to ethical utilitarianism (the standard is; whatever produces the most desirable results for the individual is the ethic to be followed);
And consequentiallism (the standard is derived from whatever seems to produce the greatest good for the greatest number).
There is no place within Christian orthodoxy for either Autosoterism (self salvation through self effort, self denial or self control);
Or for autonomous ethics (establishing and living by ones own personal ethical standards rather than submitting to those established and revealed by God).
It is when we explore some New Testament passages where the idea of our exercising self-control for the sake of others is expressed that the picture of what Peter is promoting comes into view more clearly. This aspect is vital for our correct understanding of the idea and for our proper performance in Christian ministry and service.
Gal 5:13-15 – For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Rom 14:1-23 – Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. (Herein lies the key to understanding the need for exercising self-control, the welfare of others who are affected by your actions)
Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written:
"As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this,
Not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself;
but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love.
Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace
And the things by which one may edify another.
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.
It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God.
Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
I Cor.8:7-13 – However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.
But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble,
I will never eat meat again,
So that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
I Cor.9:19-27 – For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.
To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;
to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
So we see that it is primarily (all though not exclusively) for the sake of others that we are to add self-control to our faith. As I said, I think it is very important that we understand this first. Remember, we have already added moral excellence.
Now concerning the personal benefits of adding self-control to our Christian walk; this is certainly a very important aspect for our growth into Christian maturity and now that we have put it into the proper perspective regarding our salvation and our ethic; we are ready to explore this aspect of self-control.
I Cor.9:24-27 – Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?
Run in such a way that you may win.
Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.
They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable (rewards/crowns – 3:14-15).
Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim;
I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others,
I myself will not be disqualified (obviously not from salvation but from rewards – II Jn.8).
It is easy to see how a complete misunderstanding of this passage could be had if we did not consider it within the context of the rest of the New Testament teaching concerning self-control.
So we see that there are two aspects to our adding self control to our faith, moral excellence and knowledge.
1. We are to consider the needs and reactions of others that look to us for instruction and guidance and to restrain ourselves from giving offense to a weaker brother or to anyone to whom we may be ministering to
(I Thes.2:10-12).
2. And we are to continue to be careful to walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Eph.4:1; Col.1:10) so that we do not jeopardize our testimony or our rewards.
Both of these considerations also weigh heavily on the effectiveness of our service to God.
Our primary job, as Christians in this world, is to be servants and instruments in the hand of God to be used as ambassadors of reconciliation to the lost, to the troubled and to the backslidden; and to encourage, equip and empower the Church to do the same.
II Cor.5:18-20 – Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself,
not counting their trespasses against them,
and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were making an appeal through us;
We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Now there are all kinds of service that we can be called to in the Church and they all contribute in some way to the effective ministry of the Church;
Some more obviously or directly than others, but all to the glory of God; and all serve to accomplish His purpose in reaching out with the offer of reconciliation.
I Cor.12 – 14 – Spiritual Gifts and Ministries:
12:4-11 – Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
12:27-31 – Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
14:1 – Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
14:39-40 – Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
Eph.4:11-13 – And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Ro.12:4-8 – For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly:
if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching (a separate gift from pastor);
or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality;
he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
It is God Himself who equips the saints for service and He prepares the good works they are to perform ahead of them for them to walk in.
Eph.2;8-10 – For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Heb.13:20-21 – Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
But we must willingly offer ourselves for service, without reservation or double mindedness; and we must put to proper use the gifts and callings to ministry that God has ordained for us.
Mt.6:24 – “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Mt.10:37-39 – “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”
“He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”
Friday, February 7, 2014
II Peter part 4
II peter
part four - add knowledge:
5c) “And in your moral excellence, (supply) knowledge.”
Like the virtue of moral excellence that we just considered, this virtue, knowledge, which we are to add to our faith, is an attribute that was enjoyed perfectly in the beginning by Adam and Eve before they sinned.
Our progenitors were created with the capacity for perfect knowledge; not infinite knowledge, that is something that only God can ever posses,
but completely correct knowledge.
The Apostle Peter is saying, that by the power of God and through the glorious gifts that He has bestowed upon those who are partakers of the divine nature (born again ones), we can and should now begin to seek to attain a more perfect knowledge of God and of truth.
Adam and Eve shared a common language between themselves and with God.
And so it is with us; we share a common language with God by virtue of the fact that we have the “mind of Christ” and are able to understand God’s truth (I Cor.2:16).
So, what is the beginning of knowledge for the born again believer?
Ps.46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!”
Prov. 1:7 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Jn.10:14 – "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me.”
Jn.17:3 – “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Jn.20:28-31 – Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe (know for certain - Heb.11:1) that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;
And that believing you may have life in His name.
Jn.21:24-25 – This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.
Eph.3:14-19 – For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend (know completely) with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
And to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge (worldly and human knowledge), that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Phil.3:7-11 – But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Col2:1-3 – For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea,
and for all those who have not personally seen my face,
that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love,
and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
The knowledge we are to add is godly knowledge found in the Word of God.
It is knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ and if we continue to grow in such knowledge we will certainly grow on our journey toward Christian maturity. (II Pet.1:8)
The third step on our chart, in conjunction with knowledge, following after salvation and separation is submission.
It is a submission to the truth of God’s word; submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit and submission to the will of God as He reveals it to us through His word and by His Spirit.
As I stated before, I believe there is a natural flow to the steps as Pastor Hanson has outlined them on our chart.
The step of submission to God’s word and His will follows naturally after separation to God and from the things that used to keep us from Him.
I cited Ro.12:1+2 previously in the context of our new life in Christ; now I want to emphasize the concept of submitting our minds to God in order for us to receive this most precious knowledge of which we have been speaking.
Ro.12:1-2 – Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
You see, as stated on page 267 of “Eight Steps to Spiritual Maturity”;
Now that our spirits have been regenerated and we are born again as new creations before God, our minds need renewing also.
This is accomplished through study, memorization, and life application of God’s word; and daily seeking and submitting to His will.
This renewal process concerning the mind is not automatic or instantaneous. No, we must seek it, through the power of the Holy Spirit and when we are lead by the Spirit to the place of renewal, we must submit and yield to it and apply it to our lives.
Ro.6:16 – Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?
Ro.6:18-19 – and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
“If one is serious with God then he has to put himself in a position where God can deal with him. In other words, in a spirit of submission one has to submit to the exposure of God’s light, which is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ and in the Word of God.”
(E S T S M - pg.270)
I Pet.1:13-16 – Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
Eph.4:22-24 – that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
One very important principle that we should always keep in mind is this;
“The key to future or further knowledge lies in the application of knowledge received.”
It is a matter of good stewardship as with so many of God’s gifts, blessings and answers to prayer.
As we grow in the knowledge of God and of Christ we come to see the greatness of God’s love for us and of Christ’s love for us; as we do we grow in our love for God and for our Savior. Our desire to please God and to be close to Him increases with our knowledge.
Augustine called it irresistible grace and while I do not agree with the concept as he defined it (irresistible on the unwilling), I do believe that the gracious love of God when understood by a willing recipient of that love is indeed irresistible.
An old Jewish proverb says:
“To know God is to love God and to love God is to desire to obey Him.”
And so we see that by adding knowledge to our Christian journey of faith we grow in our ability to submit to God, which will put us in the right place for our next step; service.
II Peter part 3
Comments concerning virtue
II Peter
part three
So, I ended last weeks posting with a question and an invitation to join us in a exercise. (Restated at the end)
The question was; - "I would also like to ask you to think with me about morality in general and about ethics in particular. Do you think there is a difference between morals and ethics?
Should there be?"
The general consensus among those in attendance last week was that there is really no distinction between ethics and morals in our society today; the lines of distinction have been blurred and all but obliterated.
By definition ethics is a normative science; that is to say it is the standard of "oughtness"; the way things ought to be, concerning behavior.
It is the study of the foundational principles that inform and dictate the moral standards of a person or group.
We in America, traditionally followed the Judeo/ Christian ethic found in the Bible; it was a Theocentric/ Christocentric ethic; even though not all members of our society adhered to said ethical standards. Never the less, that was the basis for what was defined as acceptable and what was unacceptable moral behavior.
Morals, by definition is a descriptive science. It is the description of the current state of behavioral standards of a person or group; that is to say the "isness" of what people consider acceptable behavior.
I am a member of the "Baby Boomer" generation and I was fully engaged in the counter culture revolution of the sixties and seventies. I mention that because; the way I see it ; it is largely a result of what we did back then that has brought about or at the very least, contributed greatly to our current situation concerning the loss of our ethical standards and the degeneration into the reversal of the situation concerning moral standards in our society.
It is now the case that the cart is leading the horse so to speak. The "isness" of our moral (or more to the point, lack there of) activities have become our standard of "oughtness" and so whatever we can get away with in society has become our new ethic and standard of morality.
It saddens me to admit that I and my generation had such a detrimental effect on our national morals.
We thought we were doing great things by promoting things like "free love" and "experimentation" with psychedelic drugs. We were wrong.
A perfect example of how far we have fallen was witnessed at the recent Grammy awards show; the degradation of the female performers, the mockery of traditional marriage along with an open display of satanism on public television prove the point.
So, that was the question.
And the invitation was;
I would like to ask you to help me to make a list of traits that you would consider to be virtuous; things that would reflect moral excellence to you.
Make your list and write out your answers and hold on to them.
Here are some that we came up with at last weeks session.
Honesty, selflessness, accountability, guarded conversation, compassion, humility, generosity, faithfulness, brotherly love, sensitivity, good stewardship, mercy, forgiveness, and civility.
Our next study will be about knowledge, the kind of knowledge that the Apostle is encouraging us to add to our faith and moral excellence.
II Peter part 2
II Peter
part two
Now that we have taken an overview of the “eight steps” and laid the groundwork for our study, let’s go back and consider these important truths in a more detailed way.You see, Peter is saying that we are already in a position to grow in the grace and knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ because God has already granted us everything we need in order to do so. And so there should be nothing holding us back from growing to spiritual maturity. Now we must add these other virtues to our faith.
By grace, through faith we are now: (I Jn.3:2 – We are now the children of God.)
4) Partakers of the divine nature: Through the one time event of the new birth we, as believers in Jesus Christ have already become “partakers of the divine nature.”
Jn.3:3,6-7 – Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
“Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
I Pet.1:3-5 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; to receive an inheritance (salvation and sonship) which is imperishable, undefiled, will not fade away, reserved in heaven for us and protected by the power of God; to be revealed in the last time.
Acts 2:38 – Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Ro.8:9-16 – However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.
Gal.2:20 – "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
II Cor.5:17 – Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
5) Therefore, for this very reason (that God has done His part fully): Apply all diligence, make every effort, be ever zealous to do your part in exercising your opportunity, privilege and obligation in Christ to grow into the fullness of what God has provided.
Ro.6:1-14 – What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?
May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Ro.12:1-2 – Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
The message is clear! What is needed now, once we have been born again, is a change in the way we live. A leaving behind of the old fleshly sinful lifestyle and an embracing of the new godly spiritual life in Christ.
But, it is by no means automatic or without real effort on our part.
We must seek it with all diligence!
The next step on out chart after salvation is separation;
Separation to God and from the lusts of the world, the flesh and the devil.
We are to put our faith into practice; we are to restrict our activities and our thoughts to those things that reflect our new position as born again children of God.
Now that our life is complete in Christ we are to develop a holy lifestyle. (I Pet.1:6)
The biblical term used most frequently for holy separation is sanctification.
There are many aspects to our sanctification;
First of all we are sanctified or set apart from the world and to God by the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf:
Jn.17:14-20 – His prayer for us is that while we are yet in the world, we will not be of the world;
That we would be kept apart from the influence, corruption and control of the evil one;
And that we like Him, would be sanctified unto God in truth; the truth of God’s word.
Heb.2:11 – For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.
Heb.10:10, 14 – By this will (Jesus will was to do His Fathers will) we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
Secondly we are to take an active and continual part in our own sanctification:
I Pet.3:15 – But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
Ps.34:14 – Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
Thirdly we are sanctified through the work of the Holy Spirit on our behalf:
I Cor.6:11 – But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
And finally, we are sanctified and set apart in Christ by the will and work of our heavenly Father:
I Cor.1:30 – But by His (God’s) doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.
This step of separation or sanctification in our quest to move toward spiritual maturity requires us to add moral excellence or virtue, to our faith.
Our position in trespasses and sin (Eph.2:1-3) before regeneration (Titus 3:5) may be understood as lacking virtue or our having less than excellent moral standing before God;
A condition that needs to be corrected not only as pertains to our standing before God regarding our salvation, but also with regards to our actual behavior in our daily life.
While it is true that upon conversion we receive complete justification and we stand positionaly clothed in the righteousness of Christ before God;
Still, a real change experientially needs to take place in our practice and behavior now.
Adam and Eve were created in a virtuous state in the beginning; more than just sinless but also with good moral character having a desire and a capacity to do what was right and pleasing before God.
This virtue was expressed toward each other and toward all of creation; God called them “very good” (Gen.1:31).
But then came the fall and everything changed, they lost their moral perfection and sin and death entered the world and human virtue was forever diminished.
What Peter is calling for (II Pet.1:5) is a reclaiming of that lost virtue; a determined effort on the part of every Christian man and woman to regain moral excellence;
not only to cease from sinning, but a commitment to, with the help of God and by virtue of the fact that we are now partakers of the divine nature; to determine to do the right thing before God, to each other and toward all of creation;
and this not to be a one time thing, but it is to be an ongoing process to strive to increase daily in our virtue through our decisions and our actual activities.
We have been reconciled to the world that we were once estranged to.
Through Christ God has provided reconciliation for us and for the world (II Cor.5:18-19).
Now let’s take full advantage of our reconciliation by living it out on a daily basis.
Gal.6:10 – So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
The very word virtue seems strange in our modern world; outdated and old fashioned.
In the past virtue was understood as more relevant and more valuable than perhaps it is today. That ought not to be the case.
Masculine virtue at one time was seen as valor, courage or bravery; along with such attributes as courtesy, civility and humility.
Feminine virtue was characterized by such things as chastity, modesty and manners.
Industry and hard work were highly valued characteristics for all people as was honesty.
I would like to pause here and ask you to help me to make a list of traits that you would consider to be virtuous; things that would reflect moral excellence to you.
I would also like to ask you to think with me about morality in general and about ethics in particular. Do you think there is a difference between morals and ethics?
Should there be?
Make your list and write out your answers and hold on to them.
I will post some of what we come up with at the meeting and you can compare.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
II Peter part 1
II Peter
part one
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ(II Pet.3:18)
“Knowledge is power”
> Knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ is eternal life < (John 17:3)
Chapter one:
1) Faith – of the same kind as “ours” (the Apostles) = true saving faith, grounded in truth.
“The Faith” – once for all delivered to the saints = the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Jude 3).
Faith is the beginning point of the Christian life, it is the foundation upon which Christianity is built; but faith is not all there is to Christianity, it is where we begin to build towards the fullness of Christian maturity and Christ likeness; faith is the first step.
If we desire to grow up into spiritual maturity, then there are additional steps that we must take in order to achieve that goal.
Peter begins this epistle, his last written words to the Church of Jesus Christ, with a comprehensive, and I believe, chronological list of those steps recorded for us.
To begin with we need to establish the fact that everyone has some capacity for faith;
Faith is a natural component of human nature; all people exercise faith every day all day.
Ro.12:3 – God has allotted to each (man) a measure of faith.
This epistle is written specifically to instruct and enable believers to put their faith in the true things of God as taught by the Apostles and as recorded in the Holy Scriptures;
and to avoid the heresies and false teachings that challenge and distort the pure gospel; particularly the problem of the “secret knowledge” cults like the Gnostics of Peter’s day and in our day groups like the Christian Scientists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons and so on. It is only through the knowledge of the true that we can recognize and avoid the false.
1b) By the righteousness of our God – our faith is to be in the provision of God’s own personal righteousness on our behalf through the person and work of His Son Jesus Christ and by that righteousness alone.
Ro.1:16-17 – In it (the gospel) is the power of salvation to everyone who believes (everyone who puts their own personal faith in it)...for in it (the gospel of God concerning His Son, vs.1) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”
You see then that life and salvation are to be found only in the true Gospel as presented in the Holy Scriptures (vs.2) and that they must be received through faith.
As stated earlier; this is the necessary and first step that we must take in entering into the Christian life.
Furthermore it is a one time event (Heb.6:6) that results in the new birth (I Pet.1:3-5).
Just as it is in the natural realm; a child cannot begin to grow towards maturity until he is born into this world, so it is also in the realm of spiritual life in the eternal family of God.
It is now that our journey of growth toward spiritual maturity can truly begin!
1c) Our God and Savior Jesus Christ – What better or more important doctrinal statement of truth and clarity could Peter possibly have chosen to begin his last declaration of his own personal faith with, than his firm and unequivocal proclamation of the deity of his friend, his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
2) Grace precedes peace – the simple fact is that it is only by God’s grace that peace with God is even available to man. As a consequence of Adam’s sin; in addition to expulsion from the garden, no access to the tree of life and death passing on to all of Adam’s descendents; mankind has been at enmity with God ever since; the fleshly desires of unregenerate men and women, untempered by the influence of the Spirit of God, are in conflict with God and His laws (Ro.8:7-8); mankind as a whole is at war with God. God is the offended party. We as individuals and as a race are incapable of bringing reconciliation to the conflict; we cannot undo what has been done; it is not even in our nature to do so. God must intervene and take it upon Himself to reestablish peace with men. He has done so, as we know, in the person of Jesus Christ (II Cor.5:19).
Ro.5:1-2,8-10 – We have peace with God...we have obtained our entrance into this grace (peace with God) by faith; God demonstrates His own love for us...while we were yet sinners Christ died for us...we shall be saved from the wrath of God...while we were enemies (of God) we were reconciled to God...we shall be saved by His (Christ’s) life.
TREMENDOUS TRUTHS !
Eph.2:1-9 – We were dead (under a death sentence from birth with no way out) in trespasses and sins...we all formerly lived in the lusts of the flesh...we were children of wrath (as the offspring of Adam and according to our own choices and behavior)...but God, because of His great love for us...made us alive together with Christ...by grace you have been saved through faith.
2b) Grace and peace be multiplied to you – how can we receive even more of this blessed grace and peace from God?
Through knowledge!
The knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
How marvelous and exciting to think that God desires to not only add to our blessings but He wants to multiply them!
I Cor.2:9 – but just as it is written,
"THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."
2c) In the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ – This is such a critical concept and unfortunately, it is one that is often overlooked, ignored and even attacked by some individuals within the nominal Church.
The value of knowledge is often overlooked in the sense that credulity (naive, untested, gullible belief) is often portrayed as superior faith;
And experience (emotional, sentimental, shallow and often fleeting) is often overemphasized at the expense of sound teaching;
Many modern preachers are guilty of sensationalism, exaggeration and of pumping up the crowd by making outright false promises based upon erroneous exegesis and just plain old fashioned eisegesis.
The need for knowledge is ignored by way of under emphasizing the need for continued personal bible reading and study by many in church leadership (particularly in certain denominations); accompanied by a general lack of interest for deeper study by a large segment of church members.
And finally, the very idea that one can even hope to understand the deep things of God and of Christ is very often rejected and even attacked by many; in a spirit of pietistic, skeptical, anti- intellectualism; based upon a puerile understanding of passages such as Is.55:8-9 – “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways.”
(A careful reading of the text in context reveals that the difference in view is specifically regarding compassion, mercy and forgiveness. If in fact the meaning was that there is no similarity between God’s thoughts and ways with man’s thoughts and ways in all categories {no analogy of being whatsoever} then there could not be any communication at all between them; and we know that this is not the case).
But, what does the scripture say concerning the value and necessity for the continual pursuit of godly knowledge?
II Tim.3:15 – Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
3) Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness – please just let that sink in for a while. God has left nothing undone concerning His provision for your eternal life and for your current needs in order to help you to live a godly life here and now.
How has He done that?
By giving you access to His life giving truth through presenting you the opportunity, ability and assistance to know Him and to know Jesus Christ in truth;
By His divine power, calling, glory and excellence.
4) He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises,
In order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature.
5-9) Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence,
In your faith supply moral excellence,
And in your moral excellence, knowledge,
And in your knowledge, self-control,
And in your self-control, perseverance,
And in your perseverance, godliness,
And in your godliness, brotherly kindness,
And in your brotherly kindness, love.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing,
They render you neither useless nor unfruitful
In the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted,
Having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
These are the eight steps to spiritual maturity.
We will examine them in detail.
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