II Peter 1: 9-12
For he who lacks these qualities
These qualities are what we just discussed yesterday, in the previous verses to this, namely: Faith, Virtue, Knowledge, Temperance, Patience, Godliness, Brotherly Kindness, and Love.
Whoever is not living this way, needs to pay attention here.
is blind or short-sighted,
Because he is not seeing. He is either blind or myopic, near-sighted, having only a short-term view, not considering the long-range effects.
having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
If someone has really been saved, and experienced God's great Love for them, can they really "forget" that, that life-changing event happened? I think that they have chosen to ignore it, or it never really happened.
Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you;
So if you find it too difficult to live this Christian life and have slidden back into your former lifestyle, then it would be to your benefit to examine what you actually believe. Did God really give you the faith to know that Jesus took your death on the Cross? That you are the criminal that deserves execution, and Jesus took your place? Seriously examine your own heart and thinking processes.
And if you find you haven't, then ask God for saving faith, and make it certain.
for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
If you are certain, and you are depending on God's Holy Spirit to lead you in this path with all these milestones of virtue that you are appropriating for yourself, to live this way; then He will keep you from stumbling.
for in this way the entrance into the Eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
This is how God wants to grow you, and He will generously and lavishly give you everything He knows you will need to be everything He made you to be, and to do everything He planned for you to do, as your part in His Great Plan of the Ages! And to rule with King Jesus in His Kingdom!
Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the Truth which is present with you.
That's why Peter is writing this letter, to have a permanent record; and it is also why I am typing this blog every day--to remind you daily to persevere in diligently pursuing God's righteousness in our lives and our neighborhoods and our communities and our society. As the Vocal Minority, we can lift our Nations out of the mire of the slick deception the World has fallen into, for the benefit and betterment of all of our citizens in every Nation.
Those of us who have been established in the Truth do well to be reminded of these important tenets of our faith, so we can stay the course in the power and strength of God's power and strength that lives in us.
O my Father, please continue to help me, to strengthen me, and give me the time and the desire and the ability to hear Your voice in my spirit, whispering behind me, "this is the Way, walk here." Lead me, grant me the persistence to continue to share Your Truth in practical ways with Your children every day, and bring them to partake of Your nourishment, as regularly as they nourish their bodies.
Father, You are our Good Father, who Loves us with Your eternal, agape Love, far beyond what I will ever understand. Teach me how to love my fellow sojourners in this life, how to reach back to them to encourage them on their paths, urging them on, as I take each step, being encouraged by those that went before me.
Lead us all, Father, to grow, and to go, and to help one another, and to find all those who are still lost. Let all of Your sheep and lambs be gathered into the safety of Your fold, Father, that there will be that One Fold with One Shepherd, our King and our Lord.
And every eye will see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord and King, to the glory of God the Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, July 29, 2019
Sunday, July 28, 2019
A Step By Step Path
II Peter 1: 5-7
Now for this very reason also,
The reason is that we are living with Divine Life, God's Holy Spirit in us.
applying all diligence,
Constant and earnest effort to accomplish this with persistence.
in your faith supply moral excellence [virtue],
In believing who God is, we will emulate His character with a sterling moral standard.
and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
In maintaining this high morality, we will learn more and more of Christ's character.
and in your knowledge, self-control [temperance],
Learning more of how Jesus was without sin, we will be able to keep our fleshly weaknesses under His control.
and in your self-control, perseverance [patience],
Keeping on keeping on. Steady progress, not being in a hurry.
and in your perseverance, godliness,
That steady progress, building God's character in us, little by little.
and in your godliness, brotherly kindness,
Developing God's character in us, we will see one another in the affection of family relationships, as God sees us.
and in your brotherly kindness, love.
In relating to one another affectionately, we will come to love them and want the very best for them regardless of what it costs us. The way God loves us.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing,
If we can demonstrate these qualities in our daily lives together, and we are growing in these relationships.
they render you neither useless nor unfruitful
Then God will be able to use us to further His Kingdom, and we will bear the spiritual fruits listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This will work out this way because what we know, what we have learned about who God is and who Jesus is and what He has done for us is pure and sure and trustworthy. It is the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Not mixed with any superstitions or fables that would weaken its power to work in us.
We have God's Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Life, and Truth, the Spirit of Jesus, living inside our own, human spirits, giving us the Divine Life--not to be gods, but to have God's power and authority today in this mortal body.
As we live our lives day by day, we are learning and growing in our knowledge of how to follow the Manufacturer's Instructions by walking in His footsteps in our thinking processes and desires. The closer we draw to our Source, the more we will demonstrate and display in our relationships all the positive and helpful character traits that God is building in us.
Instead of looking at the World as the World looks at it, we will see with God's vision, with His Light showing up what the World really is, and we will not be seduced by its lies and smooth deceptions.
We will have true liberty, the freedom to do what is right.
O my Father, help me to be diligent in strengthening my faith, believing everything You are teaching me, and applying all these lessons in my daily living every day.
Teach me how to keep on, patiently taking each step, confidently trusting You to guide me faithfully where You want me to go, doing what You want me to do. Not being distracted by my own flesh or the pull of worldly things.
Father, help me to see my brothers and sisters, and my neighbors, and the people I see as I go about my days, as You see them, so I will love them as You love them, Father, because You want them all to know You, too. Show Yourself to them through this clay pot, that You are transforming into Your crystal vase, molecule by molecule.
And I will one Day shine like the Sun with the glory of Christ in me.
And every eye shall see, and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Christ Jesus really is the Lord God who is the Sovereign King of the Universe--to the glory of God the Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Now for this very reason also,
The reason is that we are living with Divine Life, God's Holy Spirit in us.
applying all diligence,
Constant and earnest effort to accomplish this with persistence.
in your faith supply moral excellence [virtue],
In believing who God is, we will emulate His character with a sterling moral standard.
and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
In maintaining this high morality, we will learn more and more of Christ's character.
and in your knowledge, self-control [temperance],
Learning more of how Jesus was without sin, we will be able to keep our fleshly weaknesses under His control.
and in your self-control, perseverance [patience],
Keeping on keeping on. Steady progress, not being in a hurry.
and in your perseverance, godliness,
That steady progress, building God's character in us, little by little.
and in your godliness, brotherly kindness,
Developing God's character in us, we will see one another in the affection of family relationships, as God sees us.
and in your brotherly kindness, love.
In relating to one another affectionately, we will come to love them and want the very best for them regardless of what it costs us. The way God loves us.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing,
If we can demonstrate these qualities in our daily lives together, and we are growing in these relationships.
they render you neither useless nor unfruitful
Then God will be able to use us to further His Kingdom, and we will bear the spiritual fruits listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This will work out this way because what we know, what we have learned about who God is and who Jesus is and what He has done for us is pure and sure and trustworthy. It is the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Not mixed with any superstitions or fables that would weaken its power to work in us.
We have God's Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Life, and Truth, the Spirit of Jesus, living inside our own, human spirits, giving us the Divine Life--not to be gods, but to have God's power and authority today in this mortal body.
As we live our lives day by day, we are learning and growing in our knowledge of how to follow the Manufacturer's Instructions by walking in His footsteps in our thinking processes and desires. The closer we draw to our Source, the more we will demonstrate and display in our relationships all the positive and helpful character traits that God is building in us.
Instead of looking at the World as the World looks at it, we will see with God's vision, with His Light showing up what the World really is, and we will not be seduced by its lies and smooth deceptions.
We will have true liberty, the freedom to do what is right.
O my Father, help me to be diligent in strengthening my faith, believing everything You are teaching me, and applying all these lessons in my daily living every day.
Teach me how to keep on, patiently taking each step, confidently trusting You to guide me faithfully where You want me to go, doing what You want me to do. Not being distracted by my own flesh or the pull of worldly things.
Father, help me to see my brothers and sisters, and my neighbors, and the people I see as I go about my days, as You see them, so I will love them as You love them, Father, because You want them all to know You, too. Show Yourself to them through this clay pot, that You are transforming into Your crystal vase, molecule by molecule.
And I will one Day shine like the Sun with the glory of Christ in me.
And every eye shall see, and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Christ Jesus really is the Lord God who is the Sovereign King of the Universe--to the glory of God the Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, July 27, 2019
The Life We Are Living Now
II Peter 1: 1-4
Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
Here Peter again says he is of the lowest caste of the society of his day, a bond-servant. And also an Apostle of Jesus Christ. Both the lowest and the most honored.
To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours,
To other Christians, both Jewish and Gentile, who have responded favorably to the Gospel they heard, and been given the faith to believe.
by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
Peter is testifying to his own experience of the perfect, sinless Lord he lived with for over three years, that Jesus is our Christ and our God and Savior. He is the Personal Sacrifice whose Blood washed all our sins away from each one of us.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you
Peter is multiplying the blessings he is giving these readers, in God's unearned favor and the peacefulness that defies understanding.
in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
This grace and peace is in knowing God, and knowing who He is, and knowing Jesus, and obeying Him as Boss (Lord).
seeing that His divine power
This refers to Jesus' power as Divine, as He is God.
has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness,
Through His power, Jesus has given us everything we need for living this life on this Earth in a godly manner.
through the true knowledge of Him
To believe accurate information concerning who Jesus is and what He has accomplished for us, and more, to not just know about Him, but to know Him, personally, intimately, deeply.
who called us by His own glory and excellence.
Jesus, as God the Father's Son and emissary to us, has called us to faith through His own glorious authority and excellent eminence.
For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises,
By His glory and excellence He shares with the Father, Jesus has given us wonderful, valuable, and trustworthy promises.
so that by them you may become partakers of the Divine Nature,
By what Jesus has said, we know that by His finished work He performed in His Sacrificial Death, He has cleansed us totally, and now that we're clean, He gave us His own Holy Spirit to live in our personal, human spirits, making them Alive. And since it is God the Holy Spirit giving our spirits Life, the life we are living now is the same as the Divine Nature of the Father and the Son also.
We are living with God's Life, but we are not gods. We have God's power to overcome the enemy and gain the victory over every temptation to sin.
having escaped the corruption that is in the World by lust.
Getting victory over sin, we do not need to participate any more in the rotting corruption that is still all around us in the World, that those of the World lust after.
O my Father, thank You for giving us Your own Life to live right here on this Earth, right now. Thank You that Your Life in us gives us Your authority over the enemy, and the power to overcome every temptation and fault and weakness of our mortal flesh.
Father, knowing You, and curling up in Your lap, is such a privilege that I never would have dreamed I could ever do. Yet Your Love invites me into this intimate relationship with You. And with Your arms around me, I know I can conquer every enemy that would dare come against God's Loved child!
O Father, may all Your children know You that well, to experience Your cuddles and embraces, to strengthen them in all the trials and troubles and sorrows and griefs of the World. Preserve each one of us, that not one would ever be lost, or slide off that narrow path You've set our feet on.
Keep our hands in Yours, Father; as our Good Father You will never let us go! Your leading keeps our steps in Your footprints, to keep us from turning to the right or to the left, to not falter or get anxious. Guide us all along the paths we are walking with You all the way to that glorious Kingdom where we will sit on King Jesus' Throne with Him, as He rules on Your Throne with You.
And every eye shall see, and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord God, King of the Universe, to the glory of God the Father.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
Here Peter again says he is of the lowest caste of the society of his day, a bond-servant. And also an Apostle of Jesus Christ. Both the lowest and the most honored.
To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours,
To other Christians, both Jewish and Gentile, who have responded favorably to the Gospel they heard, and been given the faith to believe.
by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
Peter is testifying to his own experience of the perfect, sinless Lord he lived with for over three years, that Jesus is our Christ and our God and Savior. He is the Personal Sacrifice whose Blood washed all our sins away from each one of us.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you
Peter is multiplying the blessings he is giving these readers, in God's unearned favor and the peacefulness that defies understanding.
in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
This grace and peace is in knowing God, and knowing who He is, and knowing Jesus, and obeying Him as Boss (Lord).
seeing that His divine power
This refers to Jesus' power as Divine, as He is God.
has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness,
Through His power, Jesus has given us everything we need for living this life on this Earth in a godly manner.
through the true knowledge of Him
To believe accurate information concerning who Jesus is and what He has accomplished for us, and more, to not just know about Him, but to know Him, personally, intimately, deeply.
who called us by His own glory and excellence.
Jesus, as God the Father's Son and emissary to us, has called us to faith through His own glorious authority and excellent eminence.
For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises,
By His glory and excellence He shares with the Father, Jesus has given us wonderful, valuable, and trustworthy promises.
so that by them you may become partakers of the Divine Nature,
By what Jesus has said, we know that by His finished work He performed in His Sacrificial Death, He has cleansed us totally, and now that we're clean, He gave us His own Holy Spirit to live in our personal, human spirits, making them Alive. And since it is God the Holy Spirit giving our spirits Life, the life we are living now is the same as the Divine Nature of the Father and the Son also.
We are living with God's Life, but we are not gods. We have God's power to overcome the enemy and gain the victory over every temptation to sin.
having escaped the corruption that is in the World by lust.
Getting victory over sin, we do not need to participate any more in the rotting corruption that is still all around us in the World, that those of the World lust after.
O my Father, thank You for giving us Your own Life to live right here on this Earth, right now. Thank You that Your Life in us gives us Your authority over the enemy, and the power to overcome every temptation and fault and weakness of our mortal flesh.
Father, knowing You, and curling up in Your lap, is such a privilege that I never would have dreamed I could ever do. Yet Your Love invites me into this intimate relationship with You. And with Your arms around me, I know I can conquer every enemy that would dare come against God's Loved child!
O Father, may all Your children know You that well, to experience Your cuddles and embraces, to strengthen them in all the trials and troubles and sorrows and griefs of the World. Preserve each one of us, that not one would ever be lost, or slide off that narrow path You've set our feet on.
Keep our hands in Yours, Father; as our Good Father You will never let us go! Your leading keeps our steps in Your footprints, to keep us from turning to the right or to the left, to not falter or get anxious. Guide us all along the paths we are walking with You all the way to that glorious Kingdom where we will sit on King Jesus' Throne with Him, as He rules on Your Throne with You.
And every eye shall see, and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord God, King of the Universe, to the glory of God the Father.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, July 26, 2019
Grace In Service
I Peter 5: 1-14
Therefore,
He is again reminding them of what he has already said in this letter.
I exhort the elders among you,
He is earnestly cautioning the church leaders, all who have authority over others in the church.
as your fellow elder
Peter is putting himself in the same class as these pastors and teachers.
and witness of the sufferings of Christ,
Peter didn't just hear about Jesus later, he actually lived with Him for over three years, and saw Him being executed.
and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
Peter went with James and John when Jesus took them up the Mountain of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8) where they saw Jesus' glory. And he also knows that our bodies will also be glorified like His was then, when He returns.
shepherd the flock of God among you,
The pastors and teachers are to be like shepherds caring for their sheep.
exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily,
Not because they have to, but because they want to.
according to the will of God;
This is according to the order of authority established by God in Creation and practiced within the Godhead.
and not for sordid gain,
Not to fleece the sheep, for personal gain.
but with eagerness;
But with a willingness and desire to benefit the sheep.
nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge,
None of God's children that He has put in authority over other of His children is any more valuable to Him than every other of His children. This is just how He has chosen to put order into the church. We are all His family.
but proving to be examples to the flock.
The leaders are to be the models who are expected to demonstrate the character qualities of our Lord for the rest to copy in their own attitudes.
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
The Chief Shepherd is the Good Shepherd, who will reward all of His children at the Judgment Seat of Christ for all the works we have done. And if these church leaders perform their tasks in the humility and positive attitudes toward the people that they are urged to do here, then their reward will be glorious!
You younger men , likewise, be subject to your elders;
The younger members are still learning how to think and live their lives among their brothers and sisters in the congregation, and they need to remember that they are still to obey their leaders in following what they're showing as they grow in the Lord.
and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,
Now Peter is talking to everyone, from the grassroots to the upper echelons of power in the church, that we all are to relate to one another in humility, considering one another's needs before ourselves. This is how God is and how He designed us to get along and prosper together.
for,
But when we humble ourselves under His authority, and toward one another, then we are being like Him, and He pulls us closer and wants to be good toward us.
We also, made in His image, after His likeness, like people who are like us, and want to spend time with them; but would rather not socialize with people who will argue with and attack us and our beliefs.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
So we are to submit our thoughts and attitudes and plans to God's thoughts and attitudes and plans. He sees the whole picture, we do not. So we trust Him to have our best benefit in mind for us.
casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
We don't need to worry, because He has us in His hand. He cares what happens to us, and He won't let anything that hurts us to harm us, but to work everything into His Plan, part of which is to reward us!
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.
Seriously, we really need to watch out! Because:
Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whoever he can devour.
The devil is our enemy, he hates us vehemently, because he lost his place, and God has put us in his position, instead! He couldn't die, so there couldn't be any Redemption for him; and we sin, too, but God Redeems us!
We are God's "favorite child" over him, and he resents it and hates God and us, and wants to "get back" at God by destroying us!
So he prowls around all over this Earth looking for everyone who has left the door open to his deceptions; and he eats them up! He has lied to Mankind, twisting all of God's good gifts He has given us, to use them to destroy us. The devil has convinced people that darkness is Light, and death is Life. And what is evil is good for us. And is destroying God's human race.
But resist him, firm in your faith,
We are told to run away from temptation, (I Corinthians 6:18; 10:14; I Timothy 6:11), but here we are told to stand firm in resisting the devil, and he will flee from us (also James 4:7)! The devil knows that we have the authority of Jesus Christ to command him, even if we don't realize it. When we do, and we use that authority, the devil runs away from us in fear.
knowing that the same experiences of suffering are bring accomplished by your brethren who are in the World.
None of this is easy, even though it is simple. We need to be aware of others in our neighborhoods and all over the World who are suffering for the faith, who are being persecuted because they name the Name of Jesus. We are not alone in this, and we can take encouragement from their faithful stance and perseverance.
After you have suffered for a little while,
It's only a little while that we will need to suffer, it will end soon.
the God of all grace,
No one is gracious like our God is gracious!
who called you into His eternal glory in Christ,
God the Father calls us into faith in Jesus Christ to believe He died for us, then He gives us that New Life in putting His own Holy Spirit into our spirits, making them Alive.
will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
And God is working in us to transform us into the very character that Jesus demonstrated, to grow us into the princes and princesses who will rule forever with King Jesus as He rules with His Father over all Creation.
To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
King Jesus dominates, holds sovereign authority, He has the right and power to govern and control everything God makes, all Creation that is now, has ever been, and will ever be in existence. He alone is God! Amen and Amen!
Now Peter is giving his ending, his final thoughts in concluding the letter.
Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for I so regard him),
Silvanus was Peter's secretary who took his dictation to write this letter. He may not have known him well, but what he did know impressed him that he was a good Christian.
I have written to you briefly,
He considers this just a letter, not a whole book.
exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God.
He is encouraging them to take to heart Peter's eye-witness testimony, as this is how gracious our God is to all of us.
Stand firm in it!
Have confidence in your faith, as standing on the foundation Rock.
She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark.
Here are some personal notes, mentioning mutual friends.
Greet one another with a kiss of love.
The custom of that day was to give a kiss on the cheek in greeting someone you consider to be a faithful friend (Luke 22:48).
Peace be to you all who are in Christ.
His final admonition to end the letter.
Peter wrote this whole letter to share how God's Grace to us gives us security, prompts our submission to Him and to one another, strengthens us in the suffering we experience, and encourages us in our service to one another in the church. It's all God's grace.
G.R.A.C.E. = God's Riches At Christ's Expense. We cannot earn it or deserve it. God gives it to us because He determines that we are worth it to Him. He values us with the highest valuation, even higher than His Angels!
Paul wanted to make sure that we would realize the eternal value God places on us, so that we would respond to Him in the appreciation and gratitude that would teach us to live our lives in the order and Love that God put into His Creation. So that we would have purposeful and joy-filled lives here and enjoy His glory and presence forever and ever.
O my Father, You are more than we could ever imagine! Higher and greater and kinder and powerful and mighty and good and sweet and beautiful! Father, You are everything, the source of all that exists. We all live and move and have our being inside You because we are Your imagination!
O Father, teach us who You are, we want to know You. Teach us how You see us, for that is who we are.
Teach us how great is Your graciousness toward us, that You Redeem us from where we were into where we are now, and where we will be for all eternity.
And every eye will see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Therefore,
He is again reminding them of what he has already said in this letter.
I exhort the elders among you,
He is earnestly cautioning the church leaders, all who have authority over others in the church.
as your fellow elder
Peter is putting himself in the same class as these pastors and teachers.
and witness of the sufferings of Christ,
Peter didn't just hear about Jesus later, he actually lived with Him for over three years, and saw Him being executed.
and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
Peter went with James and John when Jesus took them up the Mountain of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8) where they saw Jesus' glory. And he also knows that our bodies will also be glorified like His was then, when He returns.
shepherd the flock of God among you,
The pastors and teachers are to be like shepherds caring for their sheep.
exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily,
Not because they have to, but because they want to.
according to the will of God;
This is according to the order of authority established by God in Creation and practiced within the Godhead.
and not for sordid gain,
Not to fleece the sheep, for personal gain.
but with eagerness;
But with a willingness and desire to benefit the sheep.
nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge,
None of God's children that He has put in authority over other of His children is any more valuable to Him than every other of His children. This is just how He has chosen to put order into the church. We are all His family.
but proving to be examples to the flock.
The leaders are to be the models who are expected to demonstrate the character qualities of our Lord for the rest to copy in their own attitudes.
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
The Chief Shepherd is the Good Shepherd, who will reward all of His children at the Judgment Seat of Christ for all the works we have done. And if these church leaders perform their tasks in the humility and positive attitudes toward the people that they are urged to do here, then their reward will be glorious!
You younger men , likewise, be subject to your elders;
The younger members are still learning how to think and live their lives among their brothers and sisters in the congregation, and they need to remember that they are still to obey their leaders in following what they're showing as they grow in the Lord.
and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,
Now Peter is talking to everyone, from the grassroots to the upper echelons of power in the church, that we all are to relate to one another in humility, considering one another's needs before ourselves. This is how God is and how He designed us to get along and prosper together.
for,
God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (Isaiah 57:15; 66:2).God, even in His Majesty and Glory, has demonstrated His own humility in sending His Son to demonstrate His character to us, humbling Himself supremely for our benefit. So when people get a prideful attitude, it is so opposite Him that it rankles Him painfully and He pushes it away.
But when we humble ourselves under His authority, and toward one another, then we are being like Him, and He pulls us closer and wants to be good toward us.
We also, made in His image, after His likeness, like people who are like us, and want to spend time with them; but would rather not socialize with people who will argue with and attack us and our beliefs.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
So we are to submit our thoughts and attitudes and plans to God's thoughts and attitudes and plans. He sees the whole picture, we do not. So we trust Him to have our best benefit in mind for us.
casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
We don't need to worry, because He has us in His hand. He cares what happens to us, and He won't let anything that hurts us to harm us, but to work everything into His Plan, part of which is to reward us!
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.
Seriously, we really need to watch out! Because:
Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whoever he can devour.
The devil is our enemy, he hates us vehemently, because he lost his place, and God has put us in his position, instead! He couldn't die, so there couldn't be any Redemption for him; and we sin, too, but God Redeems us!
We are God's "favorite child" over him, and he resents it and hates God and us, and wants to "get back" at God by destroying us!
So he prowls around all over this Earth looking for everyone who has left the door open to his deceptions; and he eats them up! He has lied to Mankind, twisting all of God's good gifts He has given us, to use them to destroy us. The devil has convinced people that darkness is Light, and death is Life. And what is evil is good for us. And is destroying God's human race.
But resist him, firm in your faith,
We are told to run away from temptation, (I Corinthians 6:18; 10:14; I Timothy 6:11), but here we are told to stand firm in resisting the devil, and he will flee from us (also James 4:7)! The devil knows that we have the authority of Jesus Christ to command him, even if we don't realize it. When we do, and we use that authority, the devil runs away from us in fear.
knowing that the same experiences of suffering are bring accomplished by your brethren who are in the World.
None of this is easy, even though it is simple. We need to be aware of others in our neighborhoods and all over the World who are suffering for the faith, who are being persecuted because they name the Name of Jesus. We are not alone in this, and we can take encouragement from their faithful stance and perseverance.
After you have suffered for a little while,
It's only a little while that we will need to suffer, it will end soon.
the God of all grace,
No one is gracious like our God is gracious!
who called you into His eternal glory in Christ,
God the Father calls us into faith in Jesus Christ to believe He died for us, then He gives us that New Life in putting His own Holy Spirit into our spirits, making them Alive.
will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
And God is working in us to transform us into the very character that Jesus demonstrated, to grow us into the princes and princesses who will rule forever with King Jesus as He rules with His Father over all Creation.
To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
King Jesus dominates, holds sovereign authority, He has the right and power to govern and control everything God makes, all Creation that is now, has ever been, and will ever be in existence. He alone is God! Amen and Amen!
Now Peter is giving his ending, his final thoughts in concluding the letter.
Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for I so regard him),
Silvanus was Peter's secretary who took his dictation to write this letter. He may not have known him well, but what he did know impressed him that he was a good Christian.
I have written to you briefly,
He considers this just a letter, not a whole book.
exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God.
He is encouraging them to take to heart Peter's eye-witness testimony, as this is how gracious our God is to all of us.
Stand firm in it!
Have confidence in your faith, as standing on the foundation Rock.
She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark.
Here are some personal notes, mentioning mutual friends.
Greet one another with a kiss of love.
The custom of that day was to give a kiss on the cheek in greeting someone you consider to be a faithful friend (Luke 22:48).
Peace be to you all who are in Christ.
His final admonition to end the letter.
Peter wrote this whole letter to share how God's Grace to us gives us security, prompts our submission to Him and to one another, strengthens us in the suffering we experience, and encourages us in our service to one another in the church. It's all God's grace.
G.R.A.C.E. = God's Riches At Christ's Expense. We cannot earn it or deserve it. God gives it to us because He determines that we are worth it to Him. He values us with the highest valuation, even higher than His Angels!
Paul wanted to make sure that we would realize the eternal value God places on us, so that we would respond to Him in the appreciation and gratitude that would teach us to live our lives in the order and Love that God put into His Creation. So that we would have purposeful and joy-filled lives here and enjoy His glory and presence forever and ever.
O my Father, You are more than we could ever imagine! Higher and greater and kinder and powerful and mighty and good and sweet and beautiful! Father, You are everything, the source of all that exists. We all live and move and have our being inside You because we are Your imagination!
O Father, teach us who You are, we want to know You. Teach us how You see us, for that is who we are.
Teach us how great is Your graciousness toward us, that You Redeem us from where we were into where we are now, and where we will be for all eternity.
And every eye will see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Why Am I Mistreated?
I Peter 4: 12-19
Beloved,
Remember that it is because you are so greatly loved by God, and Peter wanted to remind the recipients of this letter that he loved them, too. That's why he is telling them these hard things to hear.
And I care for you, too.
do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you,
We should not be surprised when we undergo hard times, as these people were at the time; and as God's people have been throughout all times.
which comes upon you for your testing,
This is another test, because this life is our school.
as though some strange thing were happening to you;
Don't see it as something unexpected or unusual. Schooling always includes tests as a teaching method.
but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing,
Let it encourage us that we are considered by God to be worth His attention when the World tries to push Christ away and we are caught in the fire.
so that also at the Revelation of His Glory you may rejoice with exultation.
Then when Jesus returns in Glory, we also will participate in His honor and authority, and tremendously enjoy being with Him in His presence.
If you are reviled for the Name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of Glory and of God rests on you.
As long as the reactions of our persecutors are against the goodness and character of Christ they see in us, and we respond positively, then we will be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or a thief, or evildoer, or troublesome meddler;
We must watch our own attitudes so that we won't do any of these evil acts, or even offend by our words; so don't think they're reacting to Christ in you if you have done something of yourself they are reacting to.
but if anyone suffers as a Christian,
If they really are reacting to Christ in us.
he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
We need not be beat down, but lift our heads high, giving God the honor that we could be called "Christian," "little Christ."
For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God;
Discipline and punishment always starts in the family, the parents teaching and training their own children how to behave as members of their particular family.
and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of God?
When He drew us, we responded by turning toward Him. So what will happen to those who turn away from Him?
Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God
We who weather all the testings and learn all the teachings and respond to negative circumstances and situations positively and bless those who persecute us and pray for our enemies and treat them in love; then the sufferings we suffer will be what God intends for us, to refine us as His gold and diamonds.
shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
And we will put our lives and ourselves in His tender, loving hands, to do with us as He wants; because we trust Him to be the good and faithful and gracious and generous and just God and Father that He is.
O my Father, please help us all to look at our own thoughts and attitudes to see that they correspond to Your thoughts and attitudes toward us, and not our own, fleshly thinking. Father, our own hearts lie to us, we can't rely on our own feelings to be True. Help us to learn Your ways, to think Your thoughts so we can direct our hearts to feel how You feel.
Break our hearts for what breaks Yours, Father. Teach us how to love others as You love them, seeing them the way You see them.
And when Satan attacks us because he hates You, and his minions try to make life hard for us as Your children, then help us to remember that You are using that pressure on us to make us into Your diamonds.
You have purpose for everything and everyone You made, even the evil and wicked who are against everything You are. You are using even them to further Your great Plan of the Ages. And when the End of this Age comes, all will see how You have worked everything out together for the destruction of the wicked and the good for Your family.
And as Your sons and daughters, we will shine like the Sun in the Kingdom of Your Son; we will reign with Him in His authority, as He reigns as Sovereign King over All Creation in Your authority, Father God.
And every eye shall see, and understand how it all fits together.
And every knee will bow in subservience and obeisance to our Lord Jesus, King of the Universe.
And every tongue in every language will shout out loud the glory and honor and authority of Jesus of Nazareth, the lowly itinerant preacher, who is Lord God Almighty, Sovereign King over all Creation--to the glory of Almighty God The Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Beloved,
Remember that it is because you are so greatly loved by God, and Peter wanted to remind the recipients of this letter that he loved them, too. That's why he is telling them these hard things to hear.
And I care for you, too.
do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you,
We should not be surprised when we undergo hard times, as these people were at the time; and as God's people have been throughout all times.
which comes upon you for your testing,
This is another test, because this life is our school.
as though some strange thing were happening to you;
Don't see it as something unexpected or unusual. Schooling always includes tests as a teaching method.
but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing,
Let it encourage us that we are considered by God to be worth His attention when the World tries to push Christ away and we are caught in the fire.
so that also at the Revelation of His Glory you may rejoice with exultation.
Then when Jesus returns in Glory, we also will participate in His honor and authority, and tremendously enjoy being with Him in His presence.
If you are reviled for the Name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of Glory and of God rests on you.
As long as the reactions of our persecutors are against the goodness and character of Christ they see in us, and we respond positively, then we will be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or a thief, or evildoer, or troublesome meddler;
We must watch our own attitudes so that we won't do any of these evil acts, or even offend by our words; so don't think they're reacting to Christ in you if you have done something of yourself they are reacting to.
but if anyone suffers as a Christian,
If they really are reacting to Christ in us.
he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
We need not be beat down, but lift our heads high, giving God the honor that we could be called "Christian," "little Christ."
For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God;
Discipline and punishment always starts in the family, the parents teaching and training their own children how to behave as members of their particular family.
and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of God?
And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? (Proverbs 11:31).We are the children, we have obeyed the Good News that Jesus paid our debt for us, and let Him be our Personal Sacrifice. And that is only possible because the Father has drawn us to this decision.
When He drew us, we responded by turning toward Him. So what will happen to those who turn away from Him?
Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God
We who weather all the testings and learn all the teachings and respond to negative circumstances and situations positively and bless those who persecute us and pray for our enemies and treat them in love; then the sufferings we suffer will be what God intends for us, to refine us as His gold and diamonds.
shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
And we will put our lives and ourselves in His tender, loving hands, to do with us as He wants; because we trust Him to be the good and faithful and gracious and generous and just God and Father that He is.
O my Father, please help us all to look at our own thoughts and attitudes to see that they correspond to Your thoughts and attitudes toward us, and not our own, fleshly thinking. Father, our own hearts lie to us, we can't rely on our own feelings to be True. Help us to learn Your ways, to think Your thoughts so we can direct our hearts to feel how You feel.
Break our hearts for what breaks Yours, Father. Teach us how to love others as You love them, seeing them the way You see them.
And when Satan attacks us because he hates You, and his minions try to make life hard for us as Your children, then help us to remember that You are using that pressure on us to make us into Your diamonds.
You have purpose for everything and everyone You made, even the evil and wicked who are against everything You are. You are using even them to further Your great Plan of the Ages. And when the End of this Age comes, all will see how You have worked everything out together for the destruction of the wicked and the good for Your family.
And as Your sons and daughters, we will shine like the Sun in the Kingdom of Your Son; we will reign with Him in His authority, as He reigns as Sovereign King over All Creation in Your authority, Father God.
And every eye shall see, and understand how it all fits together.
And every knee will bow in subservience and obeisance to our Lord Jesus, King of the Universe.
And every tongue in every language will shout out loud the glory and honor and authority of Jesus of Nazareth, the lowly itinerant preacher, who is Lord God Almighty, Sovereign King over all Creation--to the glory of Almighty God The Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Let's End Well
I Peter 4: 7-11
The End of all Things is near;
Peter knew that we are in the Last Days. How much nearer the End is now!
therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.
So, noting that we haven't much time left, let's be serious, reasonable, and logical, according to God's reasons, so that we can pray accurately. Prayer is very important, especially now, at the End of all Things.
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Most important here now is that we love one another fervently. When we're loving one another, then their annoying little quirks won't bother us, they'll slide off of us like water off a duck's back. And it's our love for one another that proves that Jesus really did come.
Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
Be ready to offer hospitality openly, not being concerned for any extra it may add to your already full schedule. Be generous, and it will all work out.
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
God has given different spiritual gifts and abilities to each one of us, a great variety of colors and sizes in the gifts we each have. We need to recognize which gifts we each have, develop them, and use them to benefit one another.
For instance:
Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God;
If your gift is speaking or teaching, then depend on the Lord to teach you what to say, not just your own opinions.
Or:
Whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies;
If your gift is serving, then do so graciously, not tiring in your service, but relying on God's strength to keep you going.
No matter what your particular gift is, use it faithfully to help others. We haven't much time left to finish the course laid out before us, before it comes to the End. Let's get busy.
so that in all things God may be glorified
God planned out how all these things work out, and we are working at His direction and in His strength, so He gets all the credit, all the honor, all the Glory.
through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
It is because of Christ Jesus that any of this is even possible. He participated in Creating it all, He dealt with Mankind all through each season Man has lived so far, and He took on Himself the full responsibility of Redeeming us back into the purpose for which He did it all. So God has given Him full Authority to rule over it all.
So every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess in every language that Jesus of Nazareth is our Lord God Almighty, our Sovereign King, and Owner and Master over all Creation; to the Glory of God the Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The End of all Things is near;
Peter knew that we are in the Last Days. How much nearer the End is now!
therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.
So, noting that we haven't much time left, let's be serious, reasonable, and logical, according to God's reasons, so that we can pray accurately. Prayer is very important, especially now, at the End of all Things.
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Most important here now is that we love one another fervently. When we're loving one another, then their annoying little quirks won't bother us, they'll slide off of us like water off a duck's back. And it's our love for one another that proves that Jesus really did come.
Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
Be ready to offer hospitality openly, not being concerned for any extra it may add to your already full schedule. Be generous, and it will all work out.
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
God has given different spiritual gifts and abilities to each one of us, a great variety of colors and sizes in the gifts we each have. We need to recognize which gifts we each have, develop them, and use them to benefit one another.
For instance:
Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God;
If your gift is speaking or teaching, then depend on the Lord to teach you what to say, not just your own opinions.
Or:
Whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies;
If your gift is serving, then do so graciously, not tiring in your service, but relying on God's strength to keep you going.
No matter what your particular gift is, use it faithfully to help others. We haven't much time left to finish the course laid out before us, before it comes to the End. Let's get busy.
so that in all things God may be glorified
God planned out how all these things work out, and we are working at His direction and in His strength, so He gets all the credit, all the honor, all the Glory.
through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
It is because of Christ Jesus that any of this is even possible. He participated in Creating it all, He dealt with Mankind all through each season Man has lived so far, and He took on Himself the full responsibility of Redeeming us back into the purpose for which He did it all. So God has given Him full Authority to rule over it all.
So every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess in every language that Jesus of Nazareth is our Lord God Almighty, our Sovereign King, and Owner and Master over all Creation; to the Glory of God the Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
The Judgment Seat Of Christ For Rewards
I Peter 4: 1-6
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh,
Christ Jesus has suffered death for us when He didn't deserve it.
arm yourselves also with the same purpose,
We must also be willing to suffer when we don't deserve it. Have the same mind-set and thinking processes Jesus had, submitting His will to the Father's.
because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
Someone who is willing to face opposition and persecution for his faith is not likely to fall back into a sinful lifestyle.
so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
This person will live the rest of his life seeking God's will for him, not looking for how to gratify fleshly desires.
For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles,
These hearers have been saved out of sensuous lifestyles, and have already done all they could do in living worldly. That is all past now.
having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.
These are all the facets of the lifestyle they have left to follow Christ.
In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;
Now all their old friends don't understand this change, and they just want them to do what they always did before. They don't want to admit that this change is really possible, so they mis-characterize it by accusing and slandering.
But they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Those "friends" that are not willing to see this change honestly and turn to the Lord themselves, also; but push against the good, choosing to destroy themselves; they will be judged for that, too.
For the Gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
This is a difficult verse to understand. So we must go to scriptures we do understand to shed some light on this.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians to deal with some situations that were going on there.
One thing was that there was a member of their congregation who was committing incest with his father's wife, and they were "puffed up" in tolerating this situation rather than disciplining this man (I Corinthians 5:1-2). Paul told them to kick him out of the local church, delivering him unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus (I Corinthians 5:5). This man could have died.
This assumes that the offender here is a Christian. And it turns out that he was, because he did forsake that relationship and repented and asked them to take him back. In his second letter to them, Paul says to forgive him and take him back: sufficient to such a man is this punishment, ... confirm your love toward him, ... this is why I wrote to you (II Corinthians 2:6-9). So that man didn't die, he returned.
Another issue Paul addressed to the church at Corinth was how they observed the Lord's Supper, or Communion. He said that they should examine themselves so that they wouldn't partake "unworthily"; and because they were not doing this, For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (I Corinthians 11:30). This means that, because they did not take seriously the import of this ordinance, God was causing some of them to fail in their physical health, and some had even died.
This did not mean that they didn't have faith, but God wants us to have a good witness to the World, so if His child is straying and refusing to come back, or is causing God's reputation to be tarnished, then He is not beyond taking that child out of the Earthly picture; but he will still enter into the Kingdom as His child.
So I would understand this verse in I Peter 4:6 as those who responded to the Gospel and were saved, but died by reason of judgment for fleshly sins, having returned to their former lifestyles. But they would not lose their Salvation, they would also be raised to Life at the Resurrection.
Let's see how this works out.
Paul says that we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ in Romans 14:10, and in II Corinthians 5:10 he says, For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad.
Paul explains what will happen at this Judgment of the saints:
But if all we've done is to enjoy God's blessings and spend all His resources on ourselves; or we have done great things to help people, but for our own fame, then those works will be burned up, and we will suffer the loss of any rewards we might have otherwise gotten.
The very next verses here, I Corinthians 3:16-17, say that we are God's Temple here in this life, because the Spirit of God lives in us; so, if any man destroys the Temple of God, God will destroy him, for the Temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
That is why some Christians die. They have fallen back into those unhealthy lifestyles that detract from our physical health, and have "destroyed the Temple of God."
But that is not for us to judge. God is the judge, and we are not to be condemning any brother or sister, but encouraging them to follow our Lord in His footsteps.
If we "love them back" then they may return in repentance, as that Corinthian brother did. But even if they don't, then it still is not for us to judge if they were believers or not.
In any wise, we who have been born into His family will not ever be "unborn" to be lost again. Some will have great rewards, some few, and some may not have hardly any at all.
But we all will enjoy our great Prize, our Lord Jesus Christ! He is our Bridegroom, our Brother, our King; and we will live with Him forever!
O my Father,, thank You for all the wonderful plans You have made for all of Your Creation! You have purpose for everything You have made, and every detail will add to the great Story, the Tapestry of Time, the Great Symphony of the Ages!
You have told us everything we need to know to come to You, to learn who You are and how You see us, and how we are to respond to You and live for You. Your encouragement and promises are precious! You have told us that You will reward us just for letting You work through us by Your Holy Spirit living in us! You are doing the work, yet we are rewarded for it! You are Amazing!
Father, please help all of Your children to understand how important it is for us to avoid all of the seductions of the enemy to "live on the edge" instead of seeking You and Your ways with all our hearts. The enemy only wants to destroy our testimonies, to nullify our efforts to grow Your Kingdom.
And You are very serious about fulfilling Your Plan of the Ages. If you tell one of Your children to put themself out in the line of fire, and they don't realize that You will sustain them through it and they back out, then You will have someone else do it (See Esther 4:14).
Or when one of Your children spoils the picture of Your character, You are very serious about how we understand who You are, so they will also suffer a major loss, as Moses did, by striking the Rock instead of speaking to it, and was not allowed to enter the Promised Land after all that 40 years. That Rock was a picture of Jesus, who only died once (I Corinthians 10:14).
O Father, help your children to take You seriously! To realize how important it is to submit our wills to Yours every time we are tempted to take matters into our own hands. Father, whenever we do that, we get into trouble and mess things up. And we must suffer the consequences.
You are Holy! You are God! You have ultimate Authority! You will receive all the Glory, all the Accolades and Applause, all the Credit for all You have done!
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord over all, to the glory of God the Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh,
Christ Jesus has suffered death for us when He didn't deserve it.
arm yourselves also with the same purpose,
We must also be willing to suffer when we don't deserve it. Have the same mind-set and thinking processes Jesus had, submitting His will to the Father's.
because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
Someone who is willing to face opposition and persecution for his faith is not likely to fall back into a sinful lifestyle.
so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
This person will live the rest of his life seeking God's will for him, not looking for how to gratify fleshly desires.
For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles,
These hearers have been saved out of sensuous lifestyles, and have already done all they could do in living worldly. That is all past now.
having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.
These are all the facets of the lifestyle they have left to follow Christ.
In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;
Now all their old friends don't understand this change, and they just want them to do what they always did before. They don't want to admit that this change is really possible, so they mis-characterize it by accusing and slandering.
But they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Those "friends" that are not willing to see this change honestly and turn to the Lord themselves, also; but push against the good, choosing to destroy themselves; they will be judged for that, too.
For the Gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
This is a difficult verse to understand. So we must go to scriptures we do understand to shed some light on this.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians to deal with some situations that were going on there.
One thing was that there was a member of their congregation who was committing incest with his father's wife, and they were "puffed up" in tolerating this situation rather than disciplining this man (I Corinthians 5:1-2). Paul told them to kick him out of the local church, delivering him unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus (I Corinthians 5:5). This man could have died.
This assumes that the offender here is a Christian. And it turns out that he was, because he did forsake that relationship and repented and asked them to take him back. In his second letter to them, Paul says to forgive him and take him back: sufficient to such a man is this punishment, ... confirm your love toward him, ... this is why I wrote to you (II Corinthians 2:6-9). So that man didn't die, he returned.
Another issue Paul addressed to the church at Corinth was how they observed the Lord's Supper, or Communion. He said that they should examine themselves so that they wouldn't partake "unworthily"; and because they were not doing this, For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (I Corinthians 11:30). This means that, because they did not take seriously the import of this ordinance, God was causing some of them to fail in their physical health, and some had even died.
This did not mean that they didn't have faith, but God wants us to have a good witness to the World, so if His child is straying and refusing to come back, or is causing God's reputation to be tarnished, then He is not beyond taking that child out of the Earthly picture; but he will still enter into the Kingdom as His child.
So I would understand this verse in I Peter 4:6 as those who responded to the Gospel and were saved, but died by reason of judgment for fleshly sins, having returned to their former lifestyles. But they would not lose their Salvation, they would also be raised to Life at the Resurrection.
Let's see how this works out.
Paul says that we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ in Romans 14:10, and in II Corinthians 5:10 he says, For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad.
Paul explains what will happen at this Judgment of the saints:
No man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each man's work will become evident; for the Day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (I Corinthians 3:11-15).So we must take care how we live our lives. If we want to honor our Lord and promote His Kingdom, then what we do will withstand the fire and we will get a reward.
But if all we've done is to enjoy God's blessings and spend all His resources on ourselves; or we have done great things to help people, but for our own fame, then those works will be burned up, and we will suffer the loss of any rewards we might have otherwise gotten.
The very next verses here, I Corinthians 3:16-17, say that we are God's Temple here in this life, because the Spirit of God lives in us; so, if any man destroys the Temple of God, God will destroy him, for the Temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
That is why some Christians die. They have fallen back into those unhealthy lifestyles that detract from our physical health, and have "destroyed the Temple of God."
But that is not for us to judge. God is the judge, and we are not to be condemning any brother or sister, but encouraging them to follow our Lord in His footsteps.
If we "love them back" then they may return in repentance, as that Corinthian brother did. But even if they don't, then it still is not for us to judge if they were believers or not.
In any wise, we who have been born into His family will not ever be "unborn" to be lost again. Some will have great rewards, some few, and some may not have hardly any at all.
But we all will enjoy our great Prize, our Lord Jesus Christ! He is our Bridegroom, our Brother, our King; and we will live with Him forever!
O my Father,, thank You for all the wonderful plans You have made for all of Your Creation! You have purpose for everything You have made, and every detail will add to the great Story, the Tapestry of Time, the Great Symphony of the Ages!
You have told us everything we need to know to come to You, to learn who You are and how You see us, and how we are to respond to You and live for You. Your encouragement and promises are precious! You have told us that You will reward us just for letting You work through us by Your Holy Spirit living in us! You are doing the work, yet we are rewarded for it! You are Amazing!
Father, please help all of Your children to understand how important it is for us to avoid all of the seductions of the enemy to "live on the edge" instead of seeking You and Your ways with all our hearts. The enemy only wants to destroy our testimonies, to nullify our efforts to grow Your Kingdom.
And You are very serious about fulfilling Your Plan of the Ages. If you tell one of Your children to put themself out in the line of fire, and they don't realize that You will sustain them through it and they back out, then You will have someone else do it (See Esther 4:14).
Or when one of Your children spoils the picture of Your character, You are very serious about how we understand who You are, so they will also suffer a major loss, as Moses did, by striking the Rock instead of speaking to it, and was not allowed to enter the Promised Land after all that 40 years. That Rock was a picture of Jesus, who only died once (I Corinthians 10:14).
O Father, help your children to take You seriously! To realize how important it is to submit our wills to Yours every time we are tempted to take matters into our own hands. Father, whenever we do that, we get into trouble and mess things up. And we must suffer the consequences.
You are Holy! You are God! You have ultimate Authority! You will receive all the Glory, all the Accolades and Applause, all the Credit for all You have done!
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord over all, to the glory of God the Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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