Bible Text: 1Peter 3:8-9 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |

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March 21st, 2021

1Peter 3:8-9
“Living as Blessings from God ”
 

In a previous study (cf. 1Peter 2:13-17), Peter exhorted us to submit to authorities and institutions, both civil (kings and governors) and societal (supervisors and employers); he then gave attention (cf. 1Peter 3:1-7) to the institution of marriage, instructing believing husbands and believing wives to live with their unbelieving spouses in such a manner, so as to influence them for Christ, that they might come to salvation.

In our text today, Peter tells how God’s people are to behave with everyone, believers and unbelievers, so that we might be a blessing to them.

Read 1Peter 3:8-9…
8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

Notice (verse 8), “To sum up,” i.e., in conclusion, be “harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit.” These are the virtuous attitudes we are to have and to display as members of the Church of God, the Body of Christ, the Family of Believers and Followers of God’s Son.

Let’s consider each of these attitudes that we are to have and to demonstrate:

• Be harmonious -This literally means ‘same-think,’ to be ‘like-minded’ or ‘of one-mind,’ i.e., having the same commitment to the Truth of God, though the Spirit of God in us, leading to a deep and settled unity in all our hearts.

Ephesians 4:1-6
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,
3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Philippians 1:27
27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

It is the divine love of God in us that allows us to live in harmony with each other, and that is what the Lord desires, so the world will know us by His love in us
(John 13:34-35).

John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

After the Holy Spirit came upon and into those first believers in Jerusalem, on the Day of Pentecost, it became clear that something outside of this world was the cause
(Acts 2:36-47).

Acts 2:36-47
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ–this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
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.
39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

• Be sympathetic – This means to ‘share the same feeling’ that someone else is experiencing, whether it be their sorrow or their joy; even if they are unbelievers who are struggling with the chaos and anxiety of this pandemic, as well as the normal issues of daily life. We are to show empathy by coming alongside those who have spiritual, physical, and emotional needs; so that, we might be able to help them on God’s behalf, by sharing God’s message of love and hope with them.

• Be brotherly – This is the loving affection that is expressed among people who are closely related, a demonstration of the unselfish and sometimes sacrificial serving of one another within a family. Its greatest example is to be seen among those who are in the Family of God, and it is to then to expand from there in order to reach out to the world around us.

• Be kindhearted – This is an affection or feeling of kindness that causes us to feel the pain of others deeply. It is expressed as the tenderhearted compassion of God shown to lost sinners through Christ
(Romans 5:8).

Romans 5:8
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 11:35,
35 Jesus wept.

Jesus is approaching the grave of Lazarus, and He is aware of the pain that Mary and Martha and the rest of Lazarus’s family are feeling, it says, “Jesus wept.” Jesus’s tears are the result of a very deep sense of compassion for those who loved Lazarus and were grieving his loss.

• Be humble in spirit – This is one word in the Greek, literally, ‘humble-minded’, it is the most important virtue in our Christian life, as we seek to follow the example of Jesus
(Matthew 11:29).

Matthew 11:29
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.

Mark 10:45
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Philippians 2:1-11
1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In 1Peter 3:8 we are told that God wants us to not just express, but to actually be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit.

1Peter 3:8
8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;

In the first part of 1Peter 3:9, we are told that God wants us to be “not returning evil for evil or insult for insult.”

1Peter 3:9
9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

The word translated ‘evil’ here means much more than something that is done or said, it implies that ‘evil’ means the very inherent nature or quality of all things that are considered bad.

Peter exhorts all Christians not to respond to evil (done against you) with evil, you are not to start doing so; and if you are retaliating with evil, you must stop doing so immediately, because that in itself is evil.

Matthew 5:38
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’

The teaching Jesus is referencing here comes from two Old Testament passages:

Exodus 21:21-25
21 If, however, he survives a day or two, no vengeance shall be taken; for he is his property.
22 “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide.
23 But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life,
24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

Leviticus 24:17-21
17 ‘If a man takes the life of any human being, he shall surely be put to death.
18 The one who takes the life of an animal shall make it good, life for life.
19 If a man injures his neighbor, just as he has done, so it shall be done to him:
20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.
21 Thus the one who kills an animal shall make it good, but the one who kills a man shall be put to death.

The reason for this law was to prohibit retaliation, to prevent excessive or unjust retribution that is fueled by anger, i.e., God says that the punishment is to match the crime. According to Israel’s civil law, punishment was often carried out by the injured party, the victim, or by one of the family members; but the trial and sentencing was always officiated by the appointed judges or rulers of the people.

We are required to keep the laws of our government (unless they contradict God’s Law), and we expect and insist that others to do the same; but we, God’s people, aren’t to seek retaliation or retribution (Romans 12:19; pp. Deuteronomy 32:35), “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”

Romans 12:19
19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.

Deuteronomy 32:35
35‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution,
In due time their foot will slip;
For the day of their calamity is near,
And the impending things are hastening upon them.’

Matthew 5:39
39 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Jesus said, “I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”

This is one of those verses that is misinterpreted more than it is properly interpreted, so, it needs some clarification; or I’m afraid a few of you may leave here today thinking that I’m saying it is okay to let some evil person beat you up.

Let me make it very clear, I am not inferring or even implying, that you should allow some evil person attack to you, or anyone who is with you. This verse does not mean that you are to run from, be pushed around by, or give in to, bad people.

God’s Word records that early in His ministry Jesus turned over tables and drove evil men out of the Temple (cf. Matthew 21:12); and near the end of His ministry (cf. Matthew 21:12) He used a whip, that He had made, to drive evil men out of His Father’s House.

Matthew 21:12
12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.

John 2:15)
15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables;

Look, we are not to be doormats or pacifists when it comes to evil, for by not restraining evil we may fail to protect the innocent and stand up for justice; but even so, we are not to seek retaliation, as Paul writes
(Romans 12:21).

Romans 12:21
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

But, what about being slapped in the face (cf. Matthew 5:39)? In the Jewish culture, as in ours , being slapped in the face is an act of contempt or disdain; even a slave during Bible times would have preferred to be whipped on the back rather than slapped in the face by his master.

Matthew 5:39
39 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Again, Matthew 5:39 says, “whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” This is not advocating that we let some bully beat us up, this is not a physical attack. Most Jews are right handed (about 90%) along with most all ethnic groups; and so to strike with the back of the right hand across the right cheek of a person’s face, is clearly an act of contempt — this is not about being assaulted, as much as it is about being insulted, devalued, even humiliated.

On that subject, let me say this: parents should never slap their children, for that is a demoralizing injury that leaves a wound in the heart of one being slapped.

1Peter 3:9…
9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

Neither are we to return insult for insult. This means to use words in a vengeful way, to be abusive, speaking evil of or cursing another. It is not about my or your individual rights, or the injustices done to us, or getting even with those who harm us.

As God’s children, we can expect to be minimized, ridiculed, insulted, and treated with contempt, because of our relationship with the Lord; the point is, you are not to retaliate when that happens, you are not to seek retribution; but you are to respond (1Peter 3:9) by, “giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.”

Believers should be a blessing to both believers and unbelievers: We can pray for the salvation of an unbeliever. We can pray for the sanctification of a believer. We should express gratitude for someone’s kindness toward us or toward others. We should forgive those who sin against us, seek forgiveness from those we sin against, and pray for those who persecute us.

1Corinthians 1:18
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

2Corinthians 5:20-21
20 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.
21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Mark 1:14-15
14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

Mark 1:17
17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

As Christians, those born-again by the Spirit of God, we have received God’s blessings of forgiveness for all our sins, and eternal life in heaven; all because of God’s great love for us; therefore, we ought to be a blessing to others on God’s behalf.

If you have not received God’s blessings, but you would like to, you need to do the following:

Repent of your sins,
we are all sinners!

Believe in Jesus Christ alone for salvation,
for there is no other way to receive forgiveness for sins and eternal life.

Follow Christ by demonstrating your new life in Him,
as you seek to know, obey, and proclaim God’s Word.

1John 5:11-13
11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

 
Pastor Mike Hale
>’(((><

Bible Text: 1Peter 3:1-7 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |  

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March 14th, 2021
1Peter 3:1-7
“Marriage Should Honor and Glorify God”
Read 1Peter 3:1-7…
1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,
2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.
3 Your adornment must not be merely external–braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;
6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.
7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

“In the same way” (1Peter 3:1, 7). This is referencing what we studied last week (1Peter 2:13-17), that Christians are to be subject to every authority instituted among men, i.e., local and national civil authority; also (1Peter 3:18-20) we are to be subject to those over us in the work place, i.e., employers, supervisors, etc.

1Peter 2:13-17
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

1Peter 3:18-20
18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,
20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.

See Ephesians 5:22-33…
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;
29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,
30 because we are members of His body.
31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.
32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

The Bible teaches that the husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head the church, which is His own body. Wives should always put their husbands first, just as the church puts Christ first, and husbands are to love their wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave His own life for her.

Marriage is to be honored above all human relationships, because the foundation of marriage was ordained and established by God at the very beginning of creation.

The relationship between a husband and wife is symbolic of the relationship each Christian has with God through Christ; and just as Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, a husband is to be the head of his wife (Ephesians 5:28-30).

Ephesians 5:28-30
28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;
29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,
30 because we are members of His body.

Ephesians 5:31
31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

In verse 31 Paul quotes Genesis 2:24,

Genesis 2:24
24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

And then Ephesians 5:32-33 he says,
32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

Mark 10:6-9,
6 But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE.
7 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER,
8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

Hebrews 13:4,
4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

God determined that a marriage is made up of one man and one woman who are committed faithfully to one another; and anyone who defiles that relationship should be punished. Let’s look at an example:

1Corinthians 5:1-5,
1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife.
2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1Corinthians 5:9-13,
9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;
10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler–not even to eat with such a one.
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?
13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.

Christian marriage is meant to be a beautiful example of the fellowship and unity that exists between the Father and the Son, the Son and His Church, and the Husband and his Wife (1Corinthians 11:3).

1Corinthians 11:3
3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.

In the NT times, outside of the Christian community, women weren’t treated with much respect; in fact, they were considered to be about equal to servants. According to the earliest available Hebrew prayer books, many “devout” Jewish men would pray each morning, “God, thank you that I am not a Gentile, a slave, or a woman.” How arrogant, prideful, unbiblical, and unloving that prayer is.

The truth is, in Christ, in the Church, God’s people are equal in all respects concerning salvation, worth, giftedness, and inheritance (Galatians 3:26-28).

Galatians 3:26-28
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

And yet, the Word of God demands that wives be treated with honor and respect. Yes, wives are to voluntarily align or rank themselves under their husband’s leadership; but this is done not because the husband is somehow more intelligent or skilled than the wife, this is done because God commands it and because the order of creation itself demands it.

1Timothy 2:13,
13 For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.

God’s instructions were given to Adam, not to Eve (Genesis 2:16-18).

Genesis 2:16-18
16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;
17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”
18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”

Genesis 2:21-24
21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.
22 The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”
24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

Read 1Peter 3:1-2…
1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,
2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

Peter doesn’t tell the believing wife to leave her unsaved husband, nor is she told to preach at him; but instead, her behavior is to serve as an example of Christ in that marriage, so that maybe her husband will come to a saving knowledge of
Christ.

Read 1Peter 3:3-6…
3 Your adornment must not be merely external–braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;
6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

It is the woman’s inner beauty, her willful submission in respecting her husband, her modesty (in that she is not preoccupied with outward looks to the detriment of her inward character, and then there is also her gentle and quiet spirit, which is not only a witness to her husband, but is highly valued by God.

Peter references the godly adornment (inner beauty) of certain OT women, e.g., Sarah, who was submissive to her husband Abraham, trusting in his leadership. Sarah serves as the model of a godly woman who showed respect toward her husband Abraham’s headship.

All true believers are children of Abraham by faith.

Romans 4:3,
3 For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Romans 4:9,
9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Romans 4:16-18
16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
17 (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”

Galatians 3:29
29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

In the same way, all believing women who follow Sarah’s example of submission are called her “daughters” if they “do what is right and do not give in to fear.” What does that mean? Well, our society pressures women into rejecting their god given roles as mothers and rejecting their husband’s role as head of the family; however, God’s Word exhorts Christian wives to “do what is right,” to respect their husband while exhibiting a gentle and quiet spirit, in order to be a witness to him for Christ, and an example to others of what pleases God.

Read 1Peter 3:7…
7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Peter now turns his attention to a Christian husband’s responsibility before God, to be understanding concerning his wife’s deepest needs, i.e., physical, emotional, spiritual and relational; whether she is a believer or an unbeliever the husband is to be actively and genuinely sensitive toward her, caring for, respecting and cherishing her.

A Christian husband is to be chivalrous toward his wife, notice I did not say chauvinistic or misogynistic, but chivalrous [courteous, respectful, heroic]. God, through Peter, says that the wife, since she is a woman, is considered to be the weaker partner, speaking about physical strength.

The simple truth of biology and anatomy is that for the most part, mean are usually stronger than women; and therefore, a Christian husband is to serve as both provider and protector for his wife; but I would highly suggest to you husbands that, if your wife has a black belt in karate, and you are feeling puny or physically indisposed when you and your wife are attacked, let her deal with the bad guys while you dial 911.

Peter says a husband is to cultivate a sincere and genuine companionship with his wife, and he is to honor her as a fellow heir of God’s wonderful grace of life, marriage, and family.

A Christian husband is to love and respect his own wife; if he does not, his prayers may very well be hindered; and since his prayers would most likely include appeals for her salvation, if she is an unbeliever, it is very important that he obey God’s exhortation in this, so that he and his wife might know God’s blessings.

A Christian husband is to be generous and gracious, as he loves and cherishes his wife. He is to put aside his own wants, needs, and comforts if that is what is required to meet her needs. A husband who loves his wife “as Christ loved the church” will find that his wife has a much easier time respectfully submitting to his leadership, if he earnestly treats her with love, kindness, and respect.

God wrote the manual on marriage. He commands husbands to love their wives, and wives to respect their husbands. When husbands and wives walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, yielding to the authority of the Word of God — not only will they experience God’s love, joy, peace, and happiness; but their children will be blessed, God’s church will be strengthened, and God will receive the glory, honor, praise and worship, that He alone deserves.

 
Pastor Mike Hale
>’(((><

Bible Text: 1Peter 2:18-25 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |

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March 7th, 2021
1Peter 2:18-25
“Serving the One Who Died for Us ”
Read 1Peter 2:16-17
16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

As Christians, we are free from the sin’s condemnation, i.e., we are free from the judgment that will come upon the unbelieving world, all those who reject God’s Son.

Romans 6:22-23
“Having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We are bondslaves of God, and we live to please God, to honor those who are made in God’s image (all humankind). We are to love the brotherhood, our fellow Christians (see 1Peter 1:22-23).

1Peter 1:22-23
22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

John 13:34-35
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1John 5:1-2
“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.”

As Christians, we are to fear God (reverence, respect, and trust); and we are to honor the king, for he is God’s agent for fulfilling the purpose of human government (see Romans 13:1-7).

Romans 13:1-7
1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

Read 1Peter 2:18-21
18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

Slaves [subordinates, workers, employees] are to serve their masters [supervisors, employers] obediently and respectfully, just as if serving Christ.

Notice (1Peter 2:18), this command is not limited to those who have kind, good, gentle, and trustworthy masters, but also to those who have mean, even unreasonable [dishonest or crooked] masters; the Greek word used here is skolios, from which the medical term scoliosis [twisted/crooked spine] is derived.

Anytime we find ourselves in subordination to someone, we are to serve as if serving Christ; the reason being, He is our example and we are to follow in His steps

(1John 2:6),
“the one who says he [lives] in [Christ] ought himself to walk in the same manner as He [Jesus] walked.”

We are to serve wholeheartedly, as if serving the Lord.

Ephesians 6:5,
“Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ.”

Colossians 3:23,
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.”

God wants us to do our best, in whatever situation we may find ourselves, whether serving under, over, or alongside other believers or unbelievers.

1Peter 2:12
“Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

1Peter 2:15-16
“For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.”

At the time 1Peter was written there were millions of slaves; they were a very necessary and normal part of everyday life. There are many ways a person might have become a slave: as a prisoner of war, as one owing a debt, as one born to a slave, as one who voluntarily becomes a slave, or one who stays a slave even though given his freedom.

In God’s Church, we are all equal and there is to be no partiality or favoritism shown in regard to a person’s demographics, education, wealth, etc., for everyone in God’s family is equal in salvation, inheritance, and worth.

Galatians 3:28
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

What is important is who we are in Christ and that we live our lives to please God, not the role we have been given or the situation we find ourselves in .

Colossians 3:17
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father,”

Colossians 4:1
“Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven,“

Ephesians 5:15-18
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,”

Ephesians 5:20-21
“always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ” (out of reverence, respect, and trust in Christ).”

In whatever capacity you serve, whether under, over, or alongside others, you are to serve wholeheartedly, as if serving the Lord, confident that He will provide all you need to accomplish what He requires of you.

Philippians 4:12-13
“I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me,”

Philippians 4:19
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Our greatest enemy is not our depraved culture or those who have authority over us, neither is it unbelievers who seem to be bent on making our lives more miserable; our battle is ultimately not against people, but against the devil, our own flesh and the godless system of this world that opposes God.

Satan is God’s greatest enemy, for he is the god of this world and therefore, the ultimate enemy of God’s people. Satan wants to confuse and separate us, in order to destroy our witness for Christ; and he uses the cravings of the flesh and temptations of sin in order to do that.

Jesus died (physically, temporarily) so that we might live (spiritually, eternally); He came to save us from an eternal punishment, allowing us to overcome the world, sin, death, and hell through Jesus Christ (1John 5:5, 11-12),

1John 5:5,
“Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

1John 5:11-12
“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”

2Corinthians 5:21
“He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Read 1Peter 2:22-25
22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Jesus loves us so much that He took upon Himself our penalty, suffering in our place, allowing His own blood to be shed, so that we might receive forgiveness.

Romans 3:23-24
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

No wonder Acts 4:12 says,
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father accept through Him. He paid the highest price (His own life); suffered the most brutal death (crucifixion); and experienced the greatest pain (separation from the Father), when He took upon Himself God’s punishment for sin, so that we might be justified through His once for all sacrifice for all sin.

Romans 3:10-12
“There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.”

Romans 5:8,
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

When John the Baptizer saw Jesus approaching him at the Jordan River

(John 1:29) he said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus’ death was God’s ultimate expression of love for us, bringing eternal spiritual healing from sin, and we will also receive eternal physical healing, but not until we go to be with the Lord.”

Revelation 21:4
“and He will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

1Peter 2:25
25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Believers and followers of Christ [Christians] are members of Christ’s Body, we are children of God and members of God’s family; we are also like sheep who have been brought back under the loving care of their Shepherd, the One who guards, protects, and provides for us.

God the Son [Jesus Christ] was submissive to God the Father while on He was on this earth. Jesus, although equal to the Father, submitted Himself to Him for the Glory of God. How much more then, should we humble ourselves under the Lordship of Christ, as we serve God here on earth.

Philippians 2:5-8,
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Hebrews 9:11-12,
“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

Hebrews 9:26b-28,
“He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

Hebrews 10:14,
“For by one offering He [made perfect] for all time those who are sanctified.”

Hebrews 10:16b-18,
“‘I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,’ He then says, ‘And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’ Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

As Christians, God’s people, we have been forgiven all our sins (past, present, future) and we have been made holy and righteous through the sacrificial death and sovereign resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Lord and Savior.

1Peter 2:9-12
9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Therefore, while we have life on this earth we are to serve God in accordance with what His revealed Word teaches us, no matter who we may be serving under, over, or alongside of, whether they are trustworthy or they are corrupt, we are to serve wherever God places us, as if we are serving the Lord Himself, for He is our Master in Heaven and it is to Him that we must give an account!

 
Pastor Mike Hale
>’(((><

Bible Text: 1Peter 2:11-17 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |

Links from Our Website:
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February 28th, 2021
1Peter 2:11-17
“God’s People Serve God Alone!”
 

Read 1Peter 2:11-12…
“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

God gave us (through Christ), all we need, to know and to serve Him, now and forever, and also to enjoy our life as aliens and strangers in this world. We are not to partner with the world’s philosophies and practices.

God has provided His eternal and sovereign Word to everyone who believes and receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. What do the Scriptures say?

Romans 3:23-24,
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 6:23,
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 10:9-10,
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Romans 10:13,
“for ‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

The world we live in is rapidly throwing off moral restraints and putting away what it calls old fashioned, out-of-date, traditional values, especially any morals or values that are rooted in the Word of God concerning gender, marriage and sexual behavior. Why is that?

1Corinthians 1:18,
“The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

1Corinthians 2:14,
“But a natural man [without the Spirit of God] does not accept the things of the Spirit of God [God’s Word], for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised [discerned].”

Matthew 7:13-14,
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Matthew 7:21-23,
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

So, you see why Jesus commands us, “Enter through the narrow gate” [that being God’s Son]. The reason that only a few find the narrow gate [Jesus Christ], is because only a few are willing to trust in Christ, and Him alone, for salvation.

John 3:36,
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 8:24,
“Jesus said to the Jewish leaders, ‘you will die in your sins; unless you believe that I am He [Messiah, God’s Son, Savior], you will die in your sins.’”

Jesus claimed (John 10:30; 11:25-26; 14:6-7), to be the only way to, the only truth of, and the only life from God; there is no other way to receive forgiveness for sin, eternal life, and an intimate relationship with God.

John 10:30
“I and the Father are one.””

John 11:25-26
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?””

John 14:6-7
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.””

There is a wide road of belief and behavior that presumes to lead to heaven; don’t be deceived by it! When you trust in Christ you make a spiritual and willful decision about sin, self, and God; this total change in purpose and authority begins with repentance [turning away from your old way of living [without Christ] and turning toward your new way of living [through Christ].

Ephesians 4:22-24,
“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.”

Read 1Peter 2:13-16…
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.”

Christians are new creations in Christ (cf. 2Corinthians 5:17), for we have been purchased and purposed, we are eternally protected by Almighty God, so that we might know, honor, and serve Him, with our whole lives.

2Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Jesus Christ is our example and authority, we must turn from all that is bad according to God’s standard (the Bible); no matter how politically correct or culturally acceptable SIN may become, we are to honor and obey God, first and foremost.

We must fortify our minds and control our bodies with the Word of God as our authority and our shield.. We must (cf. Romans 12:9) hate what is evil (by God’s standard) and cling to what is good (by God’s standard)!

Romans 12:9
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.”

1Peter 2:17,
“Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”

God is the ultimate judge, not the Pope, not the Supreme Court, not the President, nor any other form of authority, for God’s people will seek to please God above everything and everyone.

Titus 3:1-2,
“Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.”

Romans 13:1,
“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.”

Romans 13:7,
“Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”

The leaders of Israel were continually at odds with Jesus; in fact, in Matthew 22:15-22, the Pharisees plotted together with the Herodians [Hellenistic Jews], to try and trap Jesus in His words against Rome by asking Him,

Matthew 22:15-22
“‘Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?’ But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, ‘Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.’ And they brought Him a denarius. He asked them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’ They answered, ‘Caesar’s.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.’ And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away.”

All authority comes from God, whether it be civil or religious; and therfore we must always obey God’s Word above any law or authority placed over us.

In Matthew 23 Jesus confronted the religious/governmental leaders of Israel; it is a masterpiece of rebuke, in which He calls them “hypocrites,” “sons of hell,” “whitewashed tombs,” “blind guides,” “brood of vipers!”

In Acts 4:18, Peter and John are called before the Council [Sanhedrin, Supreme Court of Israel] and they are commanded “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” They were then threatened and let go. Did they stop proclaiming Christ? Absolutely not!

Acts 4:18,
“And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus”

It is recorded that because the apostles continued to preach Jesus, the high priest sent for the captain of the temple guard, ordering him to bring Peter and the other apostles before the Sanhedrin (see Acts 5:27-42).

Acts 5:27-42
” 27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31 He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel’s Counsel
33 But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
40 They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

So, the apostles were ordered not to speak in Jesus’ name anymore, and what was their response (Acts 5:29-32),

Acts 5:29-32
““We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” ”

What can we learn from the apostles’ experience?

1. We should disobey civil laws only when it is absolutely necessary, i.e., when we are commanded to do what the Word of God forbids, or when we are forbidden to do what the Word of God commands.

2. We should try to peacefully resolve any conflict that arises between God’s Word and civil law; but when there is no acceptable resolution to the problem, we must be willing to suffer for our disobedience to civil law.

3. We are to obey and honor God, to do what is right according to His Word, and that may not always line up with what is acceptable in our culture, or made lawful by our government; but God’s Word has supremacy.

Romans 8:28-39,
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God’s people, as law-abiding citizens, are to willfully submit to the authorities who govern us; in fact, we ought to set an example for others to follow.

Romans 12:18,
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Romans 13:8,
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.”

Jesus said (Matthew 7:12),
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

So, in summing up today’s lesson, let me be very clear, if the laws of our county, state, or federal government demand that we violate the clear and revealed teachings of the Word of God,

(Acts 5:29).
“We must obey God rather than men”

Colossians 3:17,
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

Colossians 3:23-24,
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that…

…It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

 
Pastor Mike Hale
>’(((><

Bible Text: 1Peter 2:1-10 | Speaker: mike | Series: 1Peter |

Links from Our Website:
Bulletin (pdf)
Sermon Notes (pdf)
February Calendar (pdf)
Upcoming Events
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February 21st, 2021
1Peter 2:1-10
“A People Who Have Received God’s Mercy”
 

In the beginning, God came and visited Adam and Eve in the Garden; He walked and talked with them. However, after they sinned against Him, the intimate relationship that humankind had once known with God was over, and it would only be reconciled (Genesis 3:15) in the future, through God’s One and Only Son.

Genesis 3:15
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

Isaiah (700 B.C.) said God would again come to earth, this time He would come in the flesh of a baby boy, born to a virgin; He would be called “Immanuel” because He was God in human flesh, and He would be given the Hebrew name Yeshua, in Greek, Jesus [Deliverer or Savior], because He would save those who believe in Him, by dying for their sins, according to Scripture; then He would be buried, but on the third day He would come out of the tomb alive, according to Scripture; He would then show Himself to His followers for 40 days, after which He would ascend back to the right hand of the Father in heaven; who would send the Holy Spirit to indwell and seal everyone who believes in Jesus Christ, through a spiritual birth into God’s eternal family, as children of God.

All this has happened just as God said it would, and the Bible tells us that God will again live among His people, but this final time He will bring all those who belong to Him to be where He is.

John 14:1-3
14:1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

1Thessalonians 4:15-17
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Revelation 21:1-4
21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
What a magnificent future Christians have to look forward to: our eternal home will be with God. But until that day comes (at least 1007 earth days away) we have plenty to keep us busy here on earth, as God completes His Church by adding new members to this spiritual body of which Christ is the Head. God will use every obedient believer to proclaim Jesus Christ, so others will be saved.

Read 1Peter 2:1-3
2:1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,
2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

Notice (verse 1) “therefore,” this is a transitional word that points us back to the content of the previous chapter, where we are told why we are to put “aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.”

1Peter 1:3
3 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,

1Peter 1:14-16
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
16 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

1Peter 1:22-23
22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

1Peter 1:25
“‘The word of the Lord endures forever.’ And this is the word which was preached to you.”

If you are born-again into God’s family, you are not to live as you did when you.

Ephesians 2:1-3
2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

1Peter 2:2-3
2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

Peter says (1Peter 2:2-3), that we should “Long for the pure milk of the word.” “Long for” is translated from an imperative Greek verb that means, “to desire” or “to crave.” Newborn babies cry out for their mother’s breast milk, and once they have tasted it, nothing else will satisfy them, because it alone contains all they need to grow and develop in those early months of their life; but it is not just the milk the baby long’s for, it is the closeness, the flesh on flesh, the bonding during those times a baby is nursing from its mother’s breast.

Those who have sampled the Lord’s loving kindness, will continue to crave the sustenance and seek the fulfillment that only God’s Word provides

(Psalm 19:10),
“They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb,”

(Psalm 119:33-35)
33Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall observe it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
And keep it with all my heart.
35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.

Back to 1Peter 2:4-8
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For this is contained in Scripture:
“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”
8 and,
“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

Jesus Christ (John 14:6) is the only way to, the only truth of, and the only life from, God; and although He is rejected by men, He is the only propitiatory sacrifice that is acceptable to God.

John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Why is that? Well, because He is

(John 1:29)
“the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world

(Revelation 1:8)
“The Alpha and the Omega,” “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty,”

and (Revelation 1:17-18)
“He is the first and the last, the living One who was dead but is alive forevermore.”

Revelation 1:17-18
17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

1Peter 2:7
7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”

The first part of 1Peter 2:7 tells us that those who believe in Christ consider Him to be precious; the last part of

1Peter 2:8
8 and,“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

1Peter 2:8 tells us that those who reject Christ, those who are offended by what God’s Word says about Him, stumble to their own doom and are ultimately crushed [divinely judged] by this stone that they have rejected.

Jesus is the “cornerstone” [quoted from Psalm 118:22], lit. Head of the corner, or Chief cornerstone].

Psalm 118:22
22The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.

The chief [head of the corner] or cornerstone [is the large foundation stone which supports every part of the structure, every stone in the building is oriented to it]; and that is exactly what [or Who] Jesus Christ is to God’s kingdom, God’s people, God’s church; everything God is aligned to Him and rests upon Him, as the NT tells us:

In Matthew 21:42, Jesus said to the Jews, “Have you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the Chief cornerstone.’”

Matthew 21:42
42 Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures,
‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone;
THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD,
AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’?

In Acts 4:11-12
11 He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.
12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Ephesians 2:19-22
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
The Church [the Body of Christ] is God’s dwelling place on earth; every believer is said to be a member of God’s household, the church of God, the body of Christ.

The Church is God’s dwelling place on earth;
every believer is a part of the body of Christ.

1Corinthians 12:12
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

1Corinthians 12:14
“For the body is not one member, but many.”

1Corinthians 12:18
“But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”

1Corinthians 12:20
“But now there are many members, but one body.”

1Corinthians 12:27
“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

God Himself selects, shapes, and sets every stone in the precise location He has determined, and so, the church of God is in a continual state of construction, and will be so, until Christ returns to get us; for every believer is a “living stone” being added to the house of God. Every true believer is a member of this living spiritual body, of which (Colossians 1:18), “[Christ] is the head.”

Colossians 1:18
He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

Back to 1Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

We were chosen by God, called out of darkness into His glorious light, purchased by Christ’s own shed blood, that we may proclaim God’s message of love and hope, in this godless world.

1Peter 2:9a
9a But you are A CHOSEN RACE,

Peter says here (1Peter 2:9a) that Christians are a chosen race

Deuteronomy 7:6
For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

1Peter 2:9b
9b, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION,

Before the world was made God determined that, out of all the people on the earth, He would have a people of His very own who would love and honor Him and (1Peter 2:9b), they would be a royal priesthood because they believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, of whom

(Revelation 5:9-10) proclaims,
Revelation 5:9-10
9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

(Revelation 20:6b),
“they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”

1Peter 2:9c
9c A HOLY NATION,

Peter says (1Peter 2:9c) Christians are a holy nation. What does that mean? Holy [hagios] means separate or set apart; and nation [ethnos] means people, specifying an ethnic group (a people with similar characteristics), not based on skin color, stature, or language, but on spiritual birth into a living hope, made effectual through the Holy Spirit, by believing in God’s Son.

1Peter 2:9d
9d A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION,

1Peter 2:9d says we are a people for God’s own possession, we belong to God, He owns us, for we have been purchased by the shed blood of God’s Son.

We have been purchased by God through the shed blood of God’s Son.

Titus 2:14
14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

At the moment of genuine saving belief, the Holy Spirit indwells you, marking you

(Ephesians 1:13-14),
“after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in [Christ] with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

1Peter 2:9e
9e so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

In the last part of 1Peter 2:9, the sovereign reason for God’s grace and favor is stated, so that, “you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

As representatives and witnesses of God’s marvelous grace, our main purpose is to proclaim [to make known that which is otherwise unknown] the message of forgiveness for sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ.

1John 1:5-7,
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1Peter 2:10
10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Back to 1Peter 2:10, where Peter concludes this section saying, “for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” Wow! How quickly we forget that before repenting of our sins, believing in Christ, and following Him, we were without hope, doomed to an eternal hell.

Ephesians 2:1-7,
2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5:8-10,
8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord

We all deserve the penalty of death
[eternal separation from God] because we are sinners, but God has granted us forgiveness and eternal life through His Son.

Jesus said (Matthew 5:7),
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy,”

(Luke 6:36),
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful,”

(Luke 6:38),
“For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

As a chosen people,
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
a people who have received God’s mercy,

being called out of darkness into God’s marvelous Light, so that we might proclaim the message of Christ; as Christians, we, out of all the people on this earth, should be merciful toward others, just as God has been toward us, for we have received God’s sovereign and eternal mercies through

 
Jesus Christ:
crucified, resurrected, and coming again.

Pastor Mike Hale
>’(((><

Bible Text: 1Peter 1:17-25 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |

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February 14th, 2021
1Peter 1:17-25
“Secured by God’s Eternal Word”
 

Read 1Peter 1:17-21…
“17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

Through Jesus’ shed blood we are made righteous.

Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and sovereign resurrection provides the opportunity for you to actually know God, and be made acceptable to Him! God created us so that we might know and worship Him; He saved us so that we might know and serve Him, while enjoying His blessings.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
“23 Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”

Ecclesiastes 2:24,
“There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.”

Until a person realizes that their main purpose for existence is to know, honor, and worship God, they are living in vain

(Ps 14:1),
“The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.”

Everyone is a sinner having been born dead in sin and separated from life with God, unable to have a relationship with the holy and righteous God of creation because of sin’s curse.

Romans 3:23
“23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

God’s Word (Rom 3:23) says no one is acceptable to God because of sin;

Romans 6:23
“23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:23 says the penalty for sin is death; but God’s grace [undeserved and unmerited favor] is freely given to all who believe in and receive Christ as Savior; for Jesus took our punishment upon Himself

Romans 5:8
“8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8 declares that because of His great love for us, expressed by dying on the cross we are forgiven.

God requires the death of a perfect sacrifice as payment for sin’s curse
and Jesus Christ took upon Himself our penalty, in order that we might personally know God,
be made acceptable, and receive unconditional love and eternal life from Him

Romans 8:38-39
“38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 10:11-13
“11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED”

Hebrews 9:11-12
“11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

Hebrews 9:15
“15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

Hebrews 9:26-28
“26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

Through Jesus’ shed blood we are made righteous.

The writer of Hebrews tells us, by the shedding of His own blood Jesus became the one and only sacrifice for all time, that we might not only receive forgiveness, and eternal life, but also spiritual birth into the family of God, having been made righteous through Christ.

2Corinthians 5:21
“He (the Father) made Him (the Son) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

John 1:12
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” [born of God].

John 1:1-4
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”

Jesus is the Word [Logos, the fullness of God].

Jesus is declared to be the Word of God [the Logos, the complete and full embodiment, expression, and manifestation of God’s character, nature, and revelation; through Whom all things were made and the Life of God [supernatural/ eternal] and Light of God [revelation of Himself] came to us, and darkness [godlessness, all that opposes God] has been completely understood and overcome.

2Corinthians 4:4
“The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

2Corinthians 4:6
“6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

John 3:19-21
“19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.””

Ephesians 5:8-12
“For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.”

Jesus was not just a physical expression of God’s revelation,
He was God in human flesh

(John 1:14)
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:18
“No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

Colossians 1:15-17
“15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

Colossians 2:9-10
“9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;”

The word Christian (meaning “adherent” or “follower” of Christ)
comes from the Greek word christianos, and it
occurs only three times in the NT: First, it is used in

In Acts 11:26
“26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

where the believers and followers of Christ were called Christians, at Antioch. Second, it is used in Acts 26, where Paul (as a prisoner) stands before King Agrippa and gives his personal testimony as to how he was saved through faith in Jesus Christ, then King Agrippa says to him

(Acts 26:28)
“Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

Third, it is used in 1Peter 4:15-16, where we are told not to be ashamed if we suffer for being a Christian, but instead praise God that we are called by His name.

In 1Peter 4:15-16
“15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.”

Christians are believers and followers of Christ.

God’s Word speaks of becoming a Christian, growing up in Christ, suffering for Christ, and demonstrating God’s love in the relationship we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Christians are believers and followers of Jesus Christ .

(John 14:6)
the way, the truth, the life; the only way to have a personal and eternal relationship with God the Father through God the Son.

John wrote (1John 1:3)
“indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ,”

and Jesus said (John 14:20),

John 14:20
“I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” This relationship is initiated and cultivated by God, who loves us, calls us, saves us, sets us apart, purifies us, provides for us, and protects all those who belong to Him, having become one with Him through Jesus Christ, now and forever.

God loves us, calls us, saves us, purifies us,
provides for us,
and protects us through Christ, now and forever!

1Peter 1:22-23
“22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

Our love for God is shown by our love for one another,
from the heart, for we have been born again through the eternal Word of God.

Matthew 12:34-35
“the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things.”

Our love for God (and for others) is to be expressed by what we do and what we say, because we belong to God.

1Peter 1:24-25 is a direct quote from Isaiah 40:6-8, but what doers it mean?

1Peter 1:24-25
24 For,
“ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,
AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.
THE GRASS WITHERS,
AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,
25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”
And this is the word which was preached to you.”

Isaiah 40:6-8
6 A voice says, “Call out.”
Then he answered, “What shall I call out?”
All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
When the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.

See James 1:11
“The sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed.”

See James 4:13-15
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’

Do you see, everything is temporary except the Word of God,
which is in us, making us eternal beings.

Jesus said to the religious leaders (John 10:27-30),

John 10:27-30
“27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.””

Read 1Peter 1:22-25…
“22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,
“ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,
AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.
THE GRASS WITHERS,
AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,
25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”
And this is the word which was preached to you.”

Speaking to His Father (John 17:22-23) Jesus said,

John 17:22-23
“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

A personal relationship with God is only available through a genuine belief in and a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

1John 5:11-13
“11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life

Do you have the assurance that you belong to God?

Do you believe in Christ for salvation,
having called upon Him for the forgiveness of your sins?

1John 1:8-9
“8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

If I claim not to sin, I deceive myself and I am not speaking the truth; God knows me, loves me, and in spite of myself He saved me, because He is faithful.

God wants you to have an intimate and eternal relationship with Him, but you have to come His way, and this is the message that has been declared to you: The Only Way to God, the Only Truth of God, and the Only Life from God, has come to earth, from the Father, full of grace and truth; He is the Living and Eternal Word of God, who put on flesh and lived among us, in order to show us and then to become the only means of forgiveness and eternal life

1Corinthians 15:1-5
“ 15:1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”

and therefore

(Romans 10:13)
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,” for we are sanctified and secured by the Word of God that endures forever. “And this is the word which [has been] preached to you.”
Pastor Mike Hale
>’(((><
 

Bible Text: 1Peter 1:1-16 | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1Peter |

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February 07, 2021
1Peter 1:1-16
“Secured for God’s Service

Read 1Peter 1:1-2…
“1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”

Peter, writing to God’s elect [those who believe & follow Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior]. He calls them aliens in the world [strangers, pilgrims, sojourners, exiles, foreigners]; for their true citizenship is in heaven.

Peter encourages believers who are suffering.

Peter encourages these believers, who are suffering, as they faithfully live to serve God in a pagan society that is hostile toward God and His children.

The persecution of Christians is increasing every year. Over 340 million Christians are living in places where they experience high levels of persecution. Last year across the world:

• 4761 Christians were killed for their faith, about 13 every day
• 9,488 churches and other Christian buildings attacked
• 4,277 believers detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned

The top ten out of 50 countries that are persecuting Christians, are North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Eritrea, Yemen, Iran, Nigeria, India.

Peter tells us that Believers are set apart by the work of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of obedience to Christ through the personal application of His blood.

God has made each of us a recipient of His Grace, protected by His power, forever.

Read 1Peter 1:3-5…
“3 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, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

It is by God’s great mercy that we have received forgiveness for our sins through Christ’s shed blood, and eternal life through His bodily resurrection from the grave. God has made each of us a recipient of His Grace, protected by God’s own power, forever.

Read 1Peter 1:6-7…
“6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

We are to rejoice in our new birth which is spiritual, incorruptible, and eternal; but mixed with our rejoicing is the reality that we will suffer, just as Christians all over the world are suffering. These sufferings prove our faith and confirm our salvation, bringing glory, honor and praise to God.

2Timothy 3:12,
“all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

James 1:2-4,
“2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Read 1Peter 1:8-9…
“8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

Our victory in suffering comes through obedience to the Faithful One who saved us,
our faith in God gives reality and assuredness to things yet unseen and things yet fulfilled.

It is usually easier to trust something that we can see and/or touch, but

Hebrews 11:1-3
“1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”

Hebrews 11:6
“6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

I have never seen Christ, and yet I am convinced that I am eternally saved by believing in Him whom I have never seen. Believing without seeing takes faith. It is only by the merciful grace of God, made effectual through the gospel of Jesus Christ, that we can express the faith to believe and to trust Him.

Ephesians 2:8-9
“8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast”

God has done everything to save us — all we are asked to do is to believe Him by trusting His Son, Jesus Christ, for even the faith to believe is a gift from God.

Read 1Peter 1:10-12…
“10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven–things into which angels long to look.”

The OT prophets didn’t understand that Christ would have to die to save us from sin’s curse.

The OT prophets spoke about grace coming to Gentiles yet they didn’t understand that Christ, the Holy One of God, would have to suffer and die in order for us to receive forgiveness from God.

The NT writers tell us that Christians are strangers in this world because they are citizens of heaven and members of God’s own household.

Those belonging to God will, in some way, suffer on this earth at the hands of those who belong to the world, for the world opposes God and hates His followers! Jesus told His disciples

John 15:18-19,
“18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”

1John 3:13,
“13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.”

We must remain prepared.

Read 1Peter 1:13…
“13 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.”

We must prepare our minds for action, training ourselves to recognize and expose the deceit and lies of our enemy the devil, while trusting in the provisions and protection of God.

1Peter 4:7,
“The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.”

1Peter 5:8,
“8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Ephesians 5:15-17,
“15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

We are to be alert, to pay attention, remaining sober minded and self controlled, always confident of God’s grace and God’s faithfulness as we obey God’s instruction, as we exhibit a changed life.

Colossians 3:17,
“17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

Colossians 3:23-24,
“23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

Revelation 1:17-18,
“17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades”

Revelation 22:12,
“12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”

Read 1Peter 1:14-16
“14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.””

Our obedience, expressed in our belief and behavior,
should conform to the Word of God and the Character of Christ.

Romans 12:1,
“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.”

Ephesians 5:1
“Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

We are to represent and imitate God, even in the midst of a pandemic, even if in subjection to a godless government. We are not to conform to the desires, attitudes, and behaviors we had when we were separated from God by sin; for we were either ignorant of His Word or in rebellion toward it, like those in the world today who continue to reject God’s Son.

The people of the world are separated into many groups: gender, race, wealth, intelligence, disability, political party, religious belief and practice, etc.; but God only recognizes two groups of people: those who believe in and follow Christ and those who do not. No other division makes any difference in eternity.

John 11:25-26
“25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?””

Romans 8:1-2
“1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

As Christians, the earth is not our permanent home; for we are pilgrims, foreigners, aliens really, and this earth is only our temporary home.

When you believe in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins—you are granted forgiveness for all your sins (past, present, future) and you are made spiritually alive [born again], for the purpose of pleasing your Father in heaven.

The majority of people, when exposed to the truth about Jesus Christ, will walk away unrepentant and unbelieving, unwilling to accept God’s gift of forgiveness and eternal life through God’s Son; mostly because they do not want to admit and repent of their sin.

On October 8, 1871 D.L. Moody had just given a stirring message to challenge the hearts of his listeners in the large meeting hall in Chicago. Moody, in closing, said this: “I want you to take home the question ‘What shall I do with Jesus?’ and come back next week with your answer.”

That very night the great fire that destroyed Chicago began to rage. Many of the people Moody challenged to come back the following week with their response, concerning what they should do with Jesus, didn’t have another week, many of them died that night, apart from a saving knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Never again did Moody close a message without making clear the urgency with which every individual must personally decide what they are going to do with the gospel of Christ.

We are to proclaim a message of compassion mixed with urgency;
that salvation is free, but there is no salvation apart from true repentance.

As God’s children, we are to be about the work of sharing God’s message with unbelievers, a message of compassion mixed with urgency, for although salvation is free and salvation is eternally secure; there is no salvation apart from the forgiveness of sin, and there is no forgiveness apart from repentance.

2Corinthians 5:17-21
“17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 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.
20 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. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Ephesians 1:13-14,
“13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

The message we share with the world today, tomorrow, and for as long as we have breath, is the very same message that was proclaimed almost 2,000 years ago

(Mark 1:14-15),
“14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.””

Mark 1:17,
“17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.””

Christians are eternally secure,

God has given us a new birth and a living hope through the death and resurrection of His Son; this is an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade, for we are indeed God’s possession, God’s children, protected by God’s power, so that we might apply God’s Word to our life, where others will see Christ in us, and perhaps ask us to tell them the reason for the hope that we have, now and forever,

Jesus Christ: Crucified, Resurrected, and Coming Again!

 
Pastor Mike Hale
>’(((><