Monday, January 25, 2016

2Peter 1:5 comments: virtue


    5 ¶  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (revised)


Believing is one thing but faith must put on flesh to have a usefulness in God’s plan. As James told Jewish Christians in his letter, faith without works is dead.

James 2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Paul made it clear that we are called to something after we are saved.

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The evidence or fruit of having God’s Spirit in us, being saved, is also made clear by Paul.

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Peter here begins building on the foundation of faith, given by God. He wants the Christian to do these things diligently, to cultivate these traits. First, adding to the faith given to us we seek virtue, the moral power of a changed life. Virtue is many things such as moral courage and the courage of your convictions, not standing on them for the purpose of forcing others to mirror you but the courage of living in the manner deliberately in which Christ has called you to live.

Romans 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

This is very difficult for young people driven by biology and a need for validation and love, for certain sub-cultures within our country who regard sexual desire as a mere physical need to be satisfied, and for older people who have become obsessed with sex as a symbol of youth and health. But, moral virtue is fundamental to being a Christian in practice with fornication underscored here next in the context of adultery with another person’s spouse.

1Thessalonians 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5  Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6  That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Knowledge here, because of the context, must be linked to the knowledge of Christ in verse 3. This was a desire of Paul which he expressed in 1Corinthians and Philippians.

1Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 

Philippians 3:9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto [understand as in Psalm 139:6 and Proverbs 1:5] the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect [complete in understanding as in Col. 4:12 and 2Chronicles 8:16]: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend [to know, as in contrast to know in verse 10] that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

The knowledge of Christ is attained by prayerfully reading the Bible and submitting to Him and His authority over you and by exercising your faith in the practice of virtue which requires a conscious rejection of sin and its hold over your body and your mind.

Added to the faith which came from God is virtue or a desire to do right by God and then seeking the knowledge of Christ and His will for your life. How can you know Christ if you hold His standard for your life in utter contempt by your behavior?

Sunday, January 24, 2016

2Peter 1:1-4 comments: important things - revised


An epistle is a letter.

2Corinthians 7:8  For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

This second epistle of Peter is substantially different from the first in that it deals with warnings and some complicated theological issues. There is also no stated secretary or amanuensis so Peter may have written it himself or the secretary just chose not to put his name on it. Perhaps it as still Silvanus or Peter’s protégé, Marcus.


1 ¶  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Starting with the last word of this passage, lust is to covet something that you do not have or that is not yours to possess.

Romans 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

One of the greatest trials we face is not being satisfied with what we have and desiring something that we do not have. This comes from the focus of our satisfaction being on things and people rather than on Jesus Christ. We lust because we are ignorant or we are evil, neither thing being welcome.

We live in a culture, a world system, that values coveting above all other things. You should want more material possessions, more education, more money, a bigger home, a newer car, a better computer or cellphone, and you should want to be taller, more muscular, prettier, smarter, or more popular than you are. This is dictated to us in movies, TV, books, magazines, and the internet. We spend much of our lives chasing money to have more things and are never satisfied, as we are taught to not be. But, God’s way is not so.

Matthew 6:19 ¶  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

    25 ¶  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

1Timothy 6:6 ¶  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

You may have read those things but you didn’t believe them. You weren’t thinking about them as you stood in line waiting to get into your favorite store on Black Friday. You weren’t thinking about them when you shopped for your last truck, your last home, or were teaching your children to covet and lust after material possessions at their last birthday party or Christmas.

The purpose of selling a product, whether it be a Christian college or a car, with an attractive young woman in the picture of the advertisement is to create covetousness. The purpose of a romance novel or pornography is to make you spend money because you want something you don’t have; which in reality is in the first case a fictional character rather than your husband or in the second  a disease-ridden young woman who may have trashed her life but looks good when her picture is airbrushed. You are being taught, by advertising and media and entertainment, to want something you don’t have.

Look at any professional athlete who has cheated on his beautiful wife or girlfriend and understand that the new thing doesn’t have to be better than the old thing, it just must be different. 

Coveting, lusting, is about wanting something you don’t have no matter how good what you do have is. It is the primary attitude a consumer society demands created by Sigmund Freud’s nephew, Ed Bernays, as the father of modern advertising or propaganda, as he called it, and detailed in the BBC documentary, The Century of Self. Face it, modern Christian, you’ve been had. You are mark, a sucker, a prime con candidate. You prove this every time you look longingly at a celebrity or even a television program on improving your house and garden. You just want more and you insist on teaching your children that wanting what you don’t have is the greatest thing.

Peter is speaking to his fellow believers who have received faith through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, who is God. We don’t all receive the same measure of faith as Romans 12:3 indicates, but when we believe we are given faith.

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:   

Through the knowledge of Christ we can receive grace and peace and display glory and virtue. Through the knowledge of Christ we can obey God’s will. Through the knowledge of Christ we can have all things pertaining to life and godliness.  The knowledge of Christ comes through Him speaking to us through His word which Peter will mention later. I didn’t capitalize word because Word capitalized refers to Christ.

Believing and trusting in the promises that Christ has given us, the promise of lifelong communion with Him and the promise of eternal life, among others, can keep us from the corruption inherent in this world system through lust, desiring things we do not have or possibly should not have.

We are promised an escape from temptations we face.

1Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

We are promised comfort in all of our trials and tribulations.

2Corinthians 1:3 ¶  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

We are promised joy in this life.

John 16:24  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

We are promised eternal life with our Creator.

Revelation 21:1 ¶  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
There are many other promises but you won’t know about them unless you read God’s words.

Friday, January 22, 2016

1Peter 5:10-14 comments: called to eternal glory


10 ¶  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12  By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. 13  The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. 14  Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Paul was called to be an Apostle.

Romans 1:1  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Christians are called to be separated to God and holy.

Romans 1:7  To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God has called us to eternal glory by Jesus Christ. This particular calling is referred to by Paul.

Romans 8:26 ¶  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 ¶  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Peter prays that after these Christians have suffered a little while they are finished, completed, and perfected. In his next letter Peter spoke of growing in grace toward a goal of being a complete Christian.

Paul also wrote;

Romans 5:1 ¶  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Silvanus is the secretary, called an amanuensis, by which Peter dictated this letter. Often, the Bible authors dictated to a ready scribe who would write down what they said.

Romans 16:22  I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.

For instance, Moses had to have someone write his own words as this person recorded Moses’ death.

Deuteronomy 34:5  So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD…7  And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

Peter is having this written from Babylon, which was a thriving center of Jewry at this time and later after Roman persecution dispersed Jews from Israel, from which the Babylonian Talmud came. There is no historical evidence that Peter ever saw Rome, however, we have his word here that he wrote from Babylon. There is no literal, physical reason from the point of view of this evidence to say that Babylon is a symbol for Rome. However, one might make the argument that Babylon means Rome because of the references written by John in Revelation, chapters17 and 18.

The identity of that Babylon with Rome is based on the mention of seven mountains, or hills.

Revelation 17:9  And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

However, if it must be understood that Jerusalem is also said to be set on seven hills.(9)

Regarding the kiss of charity, that is not a custom in the present United States. Men would feel uncomfortable with that practice and it would seem inappropriate, typically, although certainly not in every circumstance. This calls us to remember that before we insist a New Testament practice must be exercised by the church for the church to be Biblically correct we must determine if the practice is based on the culture of the time or if it is a command for all Christians. Charity, or love for the brethren, is required for all Christians everywhere but things like kissing each other in charity, long hair on women, or men wearing robes are cultural practices in context. Use proper discernment and, if you have a conviction be wary of trying to impose it on others.

Is this Marcus the Mark who wrote the gospel with that name on it? We don’t know. That Mark is also thought to be John Mark of Acts. However, that Mark is closely associated with Paul, being last mentioned in 2Timothy 4:11. It is an interesting point to ponder, though.

(9) Ernest L. Martin, “The Seven Hills of Jerusalem,” on Associates for Scriptural Knowledge, http://askelm.com/prophecy/p000201.htm. (updated February 1, 2000).

I hope you have enjoyed studying 1Peter as much as I have and that you will also study it on your own. Let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

1Peter 5:5-9 comments: humility


5 ¶  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Here, Peter calls for the younger Christian to be respectful of the older. Then, going on he tells all of them to subject themselves to each other, in humility. God opposes the proud but gives the humble person grace. Paul also expresses this command from the Holy Spirit.

Romans 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Ephesians 5:21 ¶  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Our submission to each other is therefore voluntary in submission to Christ, in an orderly fashion that does not violate God’s restrictions on the proper nature of our relationships with each other. We must keep in mind that in the church Christ has eliminated all distinctions of ethnicity or race, social class, and gender regarding whether or not one is more important than the other to God.  

Galatians 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

So, for those men in the church whose pride will not let them assist a woman who has been given a task to complete I would ask, would you humble yourself if Paul asked you directly?

Romans 16:1 ¶  I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2  That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

We humble ourselves under God’s authority and, in due time, we will be exalted or lifted up.

James 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

We put our cares and concerns and worries on Him, because He cares for us. This also allows us to empathize with the sufferings of others.

2Corinthians 1:3 ¶  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

    8 ¶  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

It is important that the Christian be alert to Satan’s presence and not fall into the traps he lays. He, like a lion on the prowl, seeking his prey, is a real, ever-present threat, although limited by God’s permission, as we saw in the book of Job. Here is an interesting verse about where an actual lion receives its prey. In the narrative God is asking rhetorical questions of Job that teach us a great deal about the reality we experience. In the following verse it is implicit that God provides a lion’s prey, and it is not accident.

Job 38:39  Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40  When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

Satan is like the lion that roars for its prey, but who, as a careful reading of Job shows, only obtain its prey with God’s permission.

Psalm 104:21  The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

We are told to beware and to resist Satan in the faith given to us. God permits Satan to attack and gives us the power to resist. Remember, the faith given to us is given to us by God and we did not generate it ourselves. Every person has the capacity to believe and once they believe faith is a gift from God.

Romans 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We need that faith from God for without the faith God gives us we cannot please Him.

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Paul tells us how to resist the Devil.

Ephesians 6:10 ¶  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Peter tells these Christians that what they are up against is not something unique to them alone. The troubles they face are problems all Christians, and indeed, all people face in this world.

1Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

1Peter 5:2-4 comments: pastoral authority


2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3  Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Here, an elder, and we can presume this elder is a bishop, or what we would today call a pastor, is commanded to feed the people under his spiritual care. This is not about a physical meal but about feeding them the word of God, about feeding them spiritual things. The words of God are often symbolized as food. In the Old Testament;

Deuteronomy 8:3  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

And in the New by Jesus Christ Himself;

Matthew 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Job, in the book written further back in antiquity than when Moses penned the first five books of the Bible, it is said;

Job 12:11  Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

Job 34:3  For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

Notice how Jeremiah refers to the word spoken to Him by God.

Jeremiah 15:16  Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

 

This is a common thread in the Bible. Prophets, at times, are literally told to eat literal scrolls of words. Here is Ezekiel;

Ezekiel 2:8  But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. 9  And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; 10  And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

    3:1 ¶  Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. 2  So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 3  And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.

And John of the Revelation;

Revelation 10:9  And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

The elder is to take the oversight of feeding the word of God to the flock, not being forced but willingly, with constraint also carrying with it a certain restriction, not just being forced to do something. No pastor should feel restricted by what he is to preach, as long as what he is saying is from the Scripture and faithful to it. They are called to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God.

1Corinthians 4:1 ¶  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

In this, Peter emphasizes that an elder’s desire of the ministry must not be for financial gain, making merchandise of the gospel. It is not wrong, certainly, for a pastor to be paid a salary even though early Baptists in America, which churches were controlled by the congregations rather than a single pastor acting as master of ceremonies and authority over all church business, did not usually pay their pastors a salary and they had to have secular employment like farming to maintain themselves.

1Timothy 5:17 ¶  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

But Paul also emphasizes this fact, that the man who wishes to pursue the office of a bishop or a deacon must not be greedy for financial gain.

1Timothy 3:2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;…8 ¶  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Titus 1:7  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

So, a young man who is primarily interested in money should direct his attention to the business world, not the ministry over a church, in order to shear the sheep, so to speak, and a congregation had better beware of men seeking the spiritual oversight who appear to have a love of fine things, clothing, cars, and houses. Be warned of that and be warned of the strutting peacock in an expensive suit driving the pricey car who is trying to win your favor.

A ready mind indicates a willingness as did not by constraint. So, this elder willingly assumes the oversight of the flock and not for the purpose of fleecing them financially but to feed them spiritually.

Regarding filthy lucre, there is a culture among certain Independent Baptist churches, where the pastor is completely in charge, not to consider themselves as needing to be accountable for financial matters to the congregation. When a pastor is an honest and humble man this doesn’t usually lead to excess but if the pastor is weak in that regard many abuses can occur. Transparency in financial dealings is one essential in the need to abstain from all appearance of evil and creating situations that make even their good works on behalf of the church to appear otherwise.

Honesty requires that you make yourself accountable and your dealings on behalf of Christ transparent even when you feel it’s not necessary.  This builds trust and takes the edge off of lesser problems that have more to do with personality as secretiveness and withholding information produce  mistrust when there is none warranted. Problems in other aspects of the ministry can be blown way out of proportion easily when there is a lack of transparency in financial matters. Transparency can be as simple as being open and forthcoming when questioned, not necessarily passing out balance sheets quarterly.

Peter goes on to reveal that the leadership model of an elder, and in this case my assumption is as a reference to an elder that rules, a pastor today, is one of setting an example or model to follow, not of being a dictator or tyrant over the congregation. I have heard that in some fundamentalist congregations that submissive persons will even get approval from their pastor for when they can take vacation from work to go visit family or what kind of car they are permitted to buy. I’m not talking about just being considerate when you hold a position in the church organization. I’m talking about getting permission. Women raising children alone might be treated like secondary wives to the pastor and he assumes the right to dictate their behavior and activities and that of their children because the woman has no husband which is not the same as helping or giving guidance to someone who is overwhelmed and asks for help, or even mentoring a young person. These kinds of things go way beyond taking spiritual oversight of the flock and are the foundation of many abuses and, in some cases, moral and legal crimes.

When you quit your job because your pastor doesn’t like your work schedule then something is very, very wrong with your spiritual walk with Christ. When you abandon your spouse, children, and grandchildren because the pastor demands all of your free time there is a sickness there that is not of Christ.

Cults can be avoided by following a Biblical model. A pastor assumes a role of spiritual leadership and for that he is responsible to Christ. To assume the role of a tyrant or an abuser is not what Christ wants. When a Christian abandons family and employment to follow a pastor who has moved across the country to a more financially lucrative pastoral position and encouraged him to follow he has disconnected himself from devotion to Christ and has chosen the cult of a mere egotistical man.

Leadership in the pastorate is not control. It is leadership by example. Nicolaitanism, victory over the laity, which we have come to understand is a separate class of priest-like bishops who are dictators and beyond accountability is something Jesus said he hates in Revelation 2:6, 15.

That being said, of course the pastor must call out sin and hold the congregation accountable for doctrine, moral behavior, and the example they set. He must teach God’s word faithfully. He must be a faithful steward of God’s mysteries. This cannot be with any compromise. But, he must be humble and, inasmuch as he is able, be willing to sacrifice and show mercy like Christ.  He should be an example to his congregation, unwavering in his devotion, and solid in his Biblical knowledge. This can only be gained by reading the Bible prayerfully over and over again. A man who has read the Bible many times and studied it carefully, cross-referencing is more fit to be a pastor, all other things being equal, than a man who has several seminary degrees but has not let God speak to him through the entire Bible daily.

Again, the words of Paul regarding a bishop and a deacon;

1Timothy 3:1 ¶  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

    8 ¶  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10  And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11  Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12  Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13  For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Titus 1:5 ¶  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

    6 ¶  If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

But, remember, the pastor of the first century was involved in a small church body that met in a house and the organizational problems of today’s church that meets in a separate building set apart for that purpose such as insurance, incorporation, tax-exempt status, meeting building codes for public usages, and unbelievers working into the congregation based on a false conversion experience would not likely have been important issues for them.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

1Peter 5:1 comments: an elder


1 ¶  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

First, we need to establish for our understanding what an elder is. We know from our language that an elder is an older person who is hopefully wiser by virtue of his or her age. Paul commanded Timothy to show them certain respect.

1Timothy 5:1  Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; 2  The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

Do you see how elder is contrasted with younger in those two verses showing the definition there? Some elders are in authority in the church. Of those, some do preaching and teaching.

1Timothy 5:17  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

Paul ordained such elders in every city, for instance in Crete, to oversee the churches that met in peoples’ homes, as churches did in the first century.

Titus 1:5  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

It follows then that a bishop is an elder who leads a congregation. He must be an elder member of the congregation because the admonition against him being a novice in the faith is clearly mentioned.

1Timothy 3:6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

A bishop would have been then what today we call a pastor, although the meaning of pastor in the first century was a teacher.

Ephesians 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

By the context here, Peter is referring to elders who spiritually rule over the congregation, who have oversight of the Christian’s faith to ensure that sound doctrine is preached and a good example of Christ is set.

Peter establishes his credibility, not only as an elder, but a witness to Christ’s suffering and to His transfiguration on the mount. See Mark 9 and Matthew 17.  Peter is an elder worth listening to and now is about to give a warning and instructions that will not sit well with fundamentalist pastors today in many cases. If you’re thinking, “uh-oh,” you’re right.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

1Peter 4:12-19 comments: suffering for the right reason


12 ¶  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Peter tells these Jewish Christians not to shocked at the persecution they are apparently about to suffer. Remember, he already said that the end times were upon them. These verses would be comforting to many Christians in today’s world. They may not sink in to American Christians because we have gone along so easily with the culture we don’t know what persecution is. Americans honor the civil religion faithfully, enjoy the same entertainments, and the same lifestyles as nonbelieving Americans so there is really little difference in our daily behavior from an atheist who lives next door. Christians in the first century had to and in other countries today have to establish their identity by refusing to go along with the world and are subjected to horrible persecution like murder, rape, loss of employment, forced migration and other things because of it. An American Christian thinks they’ve been persecuted because someone said something unkind about them or to them. It is absurd. The most real persecution a Christian receives today will probably come from their own church. Churches that are abusive are more common than persecution for your faith, in America.

Peter warns them about a fiery trial they will face and tells them not to be shocked by it, as if it was not to be expected. When suffering for Christ, they are partaker’s of  Christ’s sufferings and will have joy when Christ’s glory is revealed.

Philippians 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

2Corinthians 1:3 ¶  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6  And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

If we are criticized or threatened for the name of Christ we should be happy because on the part of the person doing the harm Christ’s authority and even existence is challenged but on our part Christ is glorified and that is what is important.

Peter insists that these Christians not let themselves suffer reproach for being a criminal or even a busybody. His list runs the gamut from a murderer to that nosy pest. So, it is clear that we get no approval from God just because we make ourselves obnoxious to others. We certainly cannot cry foul and claim persecution as Christians when we are arrested for criminal behavior or reproached for being a nuisance. Let not others condemn us by saying, “those people are notorious criminals,” or even, “those people are just about sticking their noses in other people’s business.”  The reason many Christians have a bad reputation is not due to their devotion to Christ but due to the fact that they have confused just being a stench in everyone else’s nostrils with being hated because their very lives convict unbelievers of their lost state. If you’re persecuted because you are just a pain in the neck or a menace to society don’t count it as a badge of your consecration.

But if you suffer as a Christian with the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22 exhibited by your every word and deed then do not be ashamed but give glory to God for your suffering. Judgment begins with Christians first which is why America is in such disarray and failing so miserably in so many departments. It is a casualty of Christianity and God removing His hand of protection and letting national and personal sins run rampant more and more with each generation. This is because those calling themselves Christians have turned their back on Biblical Christianity and adopted some kind of prosperity gospel or an atheistic Ayn Rand worship of Self or, sadly, even worship of the state.

If judgment begins with us, then just think of the fate that awaits the ungodly who reject Christ’s free gift of salvation. One could say, “you know man, you may not like Christians. True, we’re often not any better acting than an atheist morally or ethically. In fact, we are barely saved by God’s grace, hanging onto the thread of His mercy. But, we are His! Just think about how bad it is going to be for you who have completely rejected Him.” You, masochistically, making yourself suffer for Christ, by the way, by denying yourself food, dressing pitifully, and denying yourself things that God has given you, as you walk around as if in mourning is not suffering for Christ.

When we suffer it should be according to the will of God, committing our souls to Him. In Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians, there was this sub-theme about Christ’s faithfulness, as well.

1Thessalonians 5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

    16 ¶  Rejoice evermore. 17  Pray without ceasing. 18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19  Quench not the Spirit. 20  Despise not prophesyings. 21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22  Abstain from all appearance of evil.

    23 ¶  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24  Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

It’s not about us. It’s about Christ. It is Him we should depend on. He is faithful.

1Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Commit your soul to God. You will be persecuted if you do and you will not have to poke anyone in the ribs to make it happen.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

1Peter 4:11 comments: respect in the church


11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

I want to say something additional about verse 11. ...If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth…

God has given us each different gifts and abilities which it is incumbent upon the rest of us to respect, as they came from God.

Romans 12:1 ¶  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Ephesians 4:7  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

If someone in the church wants to exercise their gifts from God; whether it be gifts of hospitality, service, ministry, teaching, exhortation, or whatever it is important that we honor and respect that gift given by God. We should not interfere with it or take it over unless help is asked or make the person feel as if they are inadequate in any way. A church is not a business, it is a voluntary association, the body of Christ on earth. No one, after a long week of frustration and perhaps emotional abuse at work and in their family, has to come to a church meeting or work and be made to feel as if they or what they have to offer is inferior or inadequate to someone else in the church, in any way, shape, or form.

Presumed social class, gender, appearance, education, or ethnic background have nothing to do with the value of a Christian or their service, to God. If Miss Camelia bakes cupcakes for the church social and we assume she did the best she could with what resources she had we give glory to God for what He provided through Miss Camelia. We do not whisper about, “how anyone could eat those pathetic cupcakes,” or tell her that we’ll help her out by throwing out her cupcakes and making them ourselves. No one will know.

The same goes for Brother Hiram who is offered a chance to preach a sermon. Maybe Hiram isn’t comfortable speaking publicly but he’s willing to do it for his Lord. We should give the glory to God and look for even one truth in his sermon we can hang on to and thank him for his effort, giving him a chance to get better at it.

God has given each of us something, some ability, some interest, some knowledge that can help others whether it be knowing how to fix a car or knowing how to manage conflict between children. We need, and I say, need, again, to give glory to God for their ability and praise them for their effort, helping them to grow in knowledge of the Lord and exercise the gift He gave them. We do not need to interfere, be callous, thoughtless, or act like there is some standard of excellence every person must meet to qualify to do something for God. No one can match God’s priceless gifts to us and we need to be more thankful for people willing to do some small thing in the body of Christ, as God has given to each of us an ability.

Saturday, January 9, 2016

1Peter 4:8-11 comments: good stewards of the grace of God


8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9  Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Peter continues from verse 7’s thought about being sober and prayerful to tell the believers to have charity, which in the Bible refers to love between Christians. We use the phrase to act charitably today as a sort of throwback to that former definition as being kind, gracious, or understanding in your dealings. If you do not express this in your own family you are not likely to do it in the church and if you do it in the church and not in your own family it is a sham. Read the entire chapter of 1Corinthians 13 (verse 3 of that chapter shows you that the meaning of  charity here is not our common definition today) and the following verses;

2Peter 1:5 ¶  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It was a new commandment from Christ Himself, to love the brethren as a sign of their love of Him.

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The fighting for position in a church family, the competitiveness, the treating of others as spiritual inferiors because of their social class or gender or ethnicity, trying to dominate or control them is not of God, nor can it be pleasing to God.

Romans 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Galatians 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Hospitality, opening up your home and your time to a brother or sister in Christ, particularly one  in need, spending time together and providing a meal as a gracious host is something honoring to God.

Romans 12:13  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

We hold the grace of God as stewards and we are called to do right by it. Are you gracious and merciful, as God? What about in your own family? Has someone let you down, sought forgiveness, and been shown it by you or are you unyielding, a pharisaical boor, demanding your respect and banishing anyone who doesn’t comply with your convictions? You will be the same in the church, no doubt.

It is important to understand the world in which these people lived. Pagan Roman and Greek religion, by the first century, had become devoid of all moral teachings and were mere following of ritual. You might get a pontiff or priest to act as a kind of lawyer between you and the gods so you didn’t anger them. However, moral philosophy and philosophers took over that part of religion that teaches and corrects morality for us. The most important moral philosophy of first century Rome was Stoicism, mentioned in Acts 17. In this philosophy which guided the Roman mind there was little compassion. One of its tenets was justice without sympathy, absolute moral standards without deviation, and virtue for virtue’s sake or as some modern pagans dressed in Christian clothes would say, “virtue is its own reward.” Christianity called for compassion and genuine love and concern plus mercy between members of a church, and by extension, I have made the point that it should extend within a family, as well.(8) The view that the poor are poor because they deserve to be poor or that if you mess your bed we’ll make sure you sleep in it is more pagan Stoic than representing the compassion of God for a fallen race of beings. Christians were called to truly care for each other, to forgive freely each other, and to express genuine concern for others.

James 2:13  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

If you think that someone in church doesn’t do as much as you do and you gnash your spiritual teeth at them for not doing what you consider to be their share, because after all they aren’t serving God sacrificially and selflessly like you are, do you think you are acting as a Christian, or a Stoic philosopher? Are we in a human army and should we stand at attention, salute, and drop for pushups if a button is missing from our clothing? Do you practice the religion of Christ or the philosophy of Zeno, the founder of Stoicism. Do you have the attitude, “that person probably isn’t saved because they don’t act like I do?” Do you think you deserve some special treat from God (or the gods) because of your devotion?

The Stoic does right because it is the right thing to do. The Christian does right because He loves Christ, wants to please Him and show his love for Him. The Stoic regards others who have misfortunes as just not being right with God. The Christian, knowing the book of Job tells them that bad things can happen even to the most righteous acting person, feels compassion and empathy and wants to help their brother or sister. The Stoic thinks, “speaking the truth in love,” is ripping into someone for their failures, their lack of organization, lack of planning ahead, physical weakness, mental illness, or some other failing. The Christian leads by example and puts a supporting arm out for someone who is stumbling.

As the end times approach us we need to decide who we are; a pagan Stoic who believes that following the Golden Rule of ‘doing unto others as you would have them do unto you’ is evidence of their character and standards or a Christian who wants to do for others in his or her small part what Christ has done for them, as a good steward of the manifold grace of God.

When we speak it must always be something as if God Himself would say it, as something that glorifies Him. As Paul told us;

Ephesians 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Colossians 4:6  Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

And James gave this warning;

James 3:1 ¶  My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2  For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3  Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4  Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7  For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12  Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Christian lies regarding speech that undercut our testimony with each other include, “I’m not trying to tell you what to do…,” or, “I don’t mean to criticize you,”, and other things that prepare you to next say something you insist you aren’t saying. Christians need to guard their tongues and eschew all manipulative and insulting speech that demeans others. We should speak God’s words and intent to others in the church and in our families, and not just what we wish God would say either.

Peter warns these Christians to get ready for the end times which he thinks are upon them and as they are upon all of us in every generation we should act and speak toward each other understanding the impact of our speech and how important it is to glorify God in all we do and say, measuring our speech and not speaking in a careless or hurtful manner. He is getting ready to expand on this in dealing with persecution.

(8) William Ralph Inge, Society in Rome under the Caesars (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1888), 22, 23.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

1Peter 4:7 comments - be sober and prayerful


7 ¶  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Peter, like Paul and John, believed that the end of history had to be soon.

Romans 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Philippians 4:5  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

1John 2:18 ¶  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

The phrase at hand refers to the fact that it an event is near, close by. In the following it is said that Isaac will die soon.

Genesis 27:41  And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

Jesus said that His crucifixion was soon to come.

Matthew 26:18  And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

And in the following the Passover is coming up.

John 2:13  And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

They cannot be faulted for thinking events would happen soon. In fact, as reported by Rabbi Hillel Silver in his book, Messianic Speculation in Israel, for the last two thousand years many religious figures have tried to set a date for the end of history, the appearance of the Messiah if they are Jewish, or the return of Christ if they were Christian. But, we are not given to know such a thing. Still, this hope on the part of the Apostles gives relevance to the Bible in every age as we are to look up expectantly for Christ’s return for the church at any time.

Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Paul even wrote a second letter to the Thessalonians to warn them that there were some things that must happen first before that day as, apparently, some people were not going about the necessary things of living as they expectantly waited for Christ to call them.

2Thessalonians 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Still, because they do not know when Christ will call them out, Christians are called to be sober-minded and constantly in a prayerful state. As Paul gave instruction;

Romans 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

1Thessalonians 5:17  Pray without ceasing.

This keeps us focused on God and the Jews were told in the Old Testament;

Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Stay sober-minded, focused, and clear-headed. Paul uses sober in slightly varied ways. In 1Thessalonians 5:6 it is in relation to watchful and unperturbed, not spiritually asleep as the world is.

1Thessalonians 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Then, in verse 8, protecting ourselves with Christian faith and love and our minds with the hope of salvation.

1Thessalonians 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

In other places observe the words used around sober to see what is meant. Paul, in the following, defines the character of a bishop, which today we would call a pastor, and a deacon, both of which serve somewhat different functions in the modern independent Baptist church than they did in the first century.

1Timothy 3:1 ¶  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

    8 ¶  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10  And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11  Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12  Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13  For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

In Titus again Paul is clear on what being sober means by the other words he uses around it where in the following Paul is speaking about elders, bishops, in a city of churches that met in people’s houses;

Titus 1:5 ¶  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

    6 ¶  If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

These admonitions do not just apply to church leadership but to the congregation, as well;

Titus 2:1 ¶  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2  That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6  Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7  In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8  Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 9  Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10  Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.