From Ben Fronczek.... With Blessings Comes Responsibility

With Blessings Come Responsibility

With Blessings Comes Responsibility    

1 Peter (Part 2)  (by Ben Fronczek)

Introduction:

There will be all kinds of celebrations around the nation on Memorial Day, from parades to picnics, 21 gun salutes at the local VFW halls, to re-runs of old war movies on TV. The day has been set aside to remember and pay tribute to those who have spilled their blood so that we can live free and live the blessed life that we can have in this country, which not many other countries have. But with this blessed freedom comes responsibility. Idealistically, it is to uphold those ideals set forth by our founding fathers. 

We should be a free people of law and order and justice.  Living according to these ideals honor those who gave up their life for the freedom and blessings we now possess. But, permitting evil, injustice, oppression, prejudice, and the like in our land, and ignoring what our forefathers wanted dishonors those soldiers who gave up their lives for us.  The freedom and the blessings we enjoy come with a responsibility to uphold laws and a certain ethical life style. As Christians who are wonderfully blessed by God, those blessings likewise come with responsibilities.  This topic brings us to our 2^nd lesson in 1 Peter. Just like Americans aren’t free to do and live anyway they want, as Christians we are called to live a certain way which is meant to glorify our Lord.

I Peter 1:13 begins with the word, ‘Therefore’.  And when we see the word, ‘Therefore’ at the beginning a new paragraph, it indicates that the reader is about to receive some information based on what he just read in the previous section. And what did Peter talk about in that last section? He reminded those early Christians, and us, how truly blessed we are because of the hope that we have in Jesus. We not only have salvation because of what Christ did for us, even more wonderful and exciting is the fact that God has promised us an inheritance  that will never perish, spoil, or fade.  It’s waiting there for us in the place we call Heaven. This is the greatest blessing one could hope for, and it’s going to be the greatest adventure we will ever experience. Jesus, Himself said that He is going there to prepare a place for you and me. Now in light of these great blessings; our salvation and heavenly hope, Peter continues on by writing,  ‘Therefore’.  

Therefore what?

 “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

So in just 2 verses Peter gives us a list of six responsibilities that come along with the blessings we have received in Christ.

^{1)      To prepare our minds for action}

^{2)      To be sober or self controlled}

^{3)      To set our hope fully on the blessings and grace given to us}

^{4)      To live as obedient Children}

^{5)      To choose not to conform to the evil desires we had when we lived in ignorance}

^{6)      And to live a holy life style, because our Lord, our new Master is holy}

         ^{With blessings come responsibility.}  

In the last lesson I mentioned the fact that Peter probably wrote this letter to those early Christians because they needed encouragement because they lived during a very difficult time. It was easy to get discouraged and down in a frump. He knew that from experience, so he began his letter with these words of encouragement and hope.  But he doesn’t stop there. Now that he has caught their attention with these encouraging words of hope and blessing he tells them, 

‘Now you need to prepare your mind for action.’

I don’t know about you, but when I am down in a frump or depressed I have a tendency to shut down a bit. I am less enthusiastic about doing anything and can become a bit self-centered. But the more I am encouraged, the more excited I am about who I am as a Christian, as a child of God, and the more I am reminded of the blessings that my God has in store for me, the more enthusiastic I become and more I want to serve Him. Next Peter tells us to get control of our mind, 

‘be self controlled.’ Some versions say, ‘be sober,  ‘Keep sober in spirit,(ASV)’ ‘Think clearly and exercise self control (NLT)’

In other words, now that you have been reminded how blessed your really are and what you are going to get in the end, get your head screwed on right, and get your mind and body under control.  There is a battle going on to take control of your mind, the devil wants to rob you of the joy, and peace of mind you should have as a  Christian. Peter tells us to sober up, get that mind under control again. And the very next thing he tells us is to keep your mind set on not only the grace He has already shown us, but also on the end prize.

In Phil. 3 Paul wrote,  

“¹² I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.”

Paul not only lived to serve Jesus, based on this text he lived and looked forward to win the prize or get what God has promises each and every one of us who have accepted Jesus; that heavenly reward.  Paul goes on to say that all mature Christians should take that same view or live like that.

In other words, stop focusing on your past failures. Stop focusing on all the negative and all the problems in this world. Stop focusing on all the heart aches and pain which will ultimately bring you down. Instead, look forward, and keep your mind on the prize. And keep pressing on to win that prize If you learn to do this it will make you Christian walk so much easier. I personally believe this focus, this hope, is what sustained those early Christians, and gave them the strength they needed in times of great persecution. They did not live for the day of suffering, but rather for the day they would enter glory. Peter does not stop there. Now with this mind-set; focused on the grace given us and the hope we have, he tells those early Christians and us as well that we need to become like obedient children.

You have a choice. As a Christians, you can live your life and act like a disobedient child who will not obey his parents, teacher, or anyone else. And like that child you will not only cause pain and heart ache to others, you will also become miserable, unhappy, and discontent yourself. Or you can become like the obedient child who does their best. In doing so you will receive honor and praise from others and you will feel good about yourself, and will have peace of mind.  Negative actions and thoughts will only produce negative results. You will reap what you sow.

So Peter instructs that we should strive to become like those obedient children. More specifically he tells us not to go back to the evil desires you had  before you were a Christian, or before you knew about Christ, when you lived in ignorance and didn’t know better or even care. As you can imagine those things will only pull you down to where you were before.

This is why Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:8-15,

“⁸ You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Peter’s final recommendation here is this, he wrote,

“Just as He who called to us holy, so be holy in all that you do. For it is written, be holy, because I am holy”

With our mind now focused on Jesus, and focused on amazing grace that God has shown us, and focused on the wonderful hope that we have in Heaven, we not only have the strength to become like obedient children, we have something to motivate us to become holy, like God. In between the lines I can almost hear Peter saying, ‘Come on guys, if I can do it, the guy who denied even knowing Jesus three times, then so can you.’

I believe that this is a super natural power that Christians are given when we believe and accept God’s grace and love, and when we accept our position in Him, and we REALLY look forward to our heavenly home. It’s life changing! When we choose to live like this, it honors Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. It doesn’t dishonors Him because it is achieving His ultimate goal of truly saving your soul from the evil and sin of this world. We must always remember, with ever blessing comes with responsibility. And our responsibility is to take hold of what He has given us, and let it strengthen us, and let it help us get through this life by honoring Him by how we live.

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Jim McGuiggan.... The argument of Romans 7

The argument of Romans 7

Keith asked how Romans 7 functions in the argument of Romans. Paul has a lot of things to say about the Torah (covenant law) in his writings. He said that if you don't keep the Torah it's worse than not having it (chapter 2). While he insisted that having the Torah had advantages (3:1-2) he insisted it wasn't all advantage since it pronounced judgement on the Jewish nation because of its sin (chapter 3:19-20). He also insisted that God's saving purposes came to fullness in Jesus and independent of the Torah (3:21). This all made it look like he was undermining the covenant law and despising the Jews (see 3:31). No wonder they asked (3:1), "What advantage is there then in being a Jew?"

   

Worse was to come in 5:20 when he said God brought the Torah in "so that the trespass might increase." Chapter 5:12-20 summarizes humanity in Adam and "the trespass" that was to increase was the sinful rebellion of Adam's children. Instead of making things better the entrance of the Torah only made the human sinful situation worse. And Paul said it was meant to do that (note the use of "hina" and compare 11:32). This all sounded terrible. The covenant law (Torah) was meant to increase sin? Does that not make the Torah a bad thing? Besides, if the wages of sin is death and the Torah was brought in to increase sin then it was brought in to bring death rather than life. And what is more, if the purpose of the Torah was to promote sin so that God would get more glory for his increased grace that should mean that people "should" sin since they're supposed to bring God glory.

  

 His critics would claim that the logic of Paul's gospel would put them under obligation to sin or live after the flesh (see 6:1 and 8:12). The whole of 6:1 through 8:17 is one piece that is dealing with these matters.

   

Paul insists that that is not the logic of the gospel. He insists that their baptism which brought them into union with the living Christ and his death, severed them from sin in every way (6:2-10). He insisted they were now slaves to Christ and must follow this sin-destroying Master. Yes, but if the Torah has been set aside, having done its job of making the human sin situation worse, why aren't they free to sin? Because they are free only to unite with and serve Christ the sin-destroyer.

   

Yes, but has he not said bad things about the Torah? No, he insists that the Torah is holy and righteous and good and it was given to Israel that they might have life with God (7:7-13). But, like the good and holy commandment in the Garden of Eden, the Torah became an occasion for Sin to seduce Israel as the Serpent had seduced Eve. The result for both was death. Israel re-enacted the sin of Adam and Eve. It wasn't that the Torah was evil--it was the reverse. But the holy commandment bound Israel to its rebellion and pointed her out as under God's judgement. In doing this, the Torah was doing precisely what it was supposed to do. The problem was in Israel's divided heart (see 7:14-25) because the Torah was always holy and spiritual.

  

 In fact, as it turns out in the purposes of God, when people walk after the Spirit (in more ways than one) they fulfil what the righteous Torah was after (8:3-4). The holy Torah never becomes evil though it becomes a tool in the hands of Sin (7:7-11). The Torah itself never brings death (7:10). It is Sin that makes use of it to condemn sinners and so it becomes "a Torah of sin and death" (7:21-23).

   

In this whole discussion Paul is dealing with the many faces and roles of the always holy and spiritual Torah. He shows he doesn't despise it, that it serves more than one function depending on the angle one looks at it from, that its covenant form and nature has served its purpose and is restructured by the Spirit in Christ (Romans 8:1). It's only on the surface he appears to contradict himself and it's only on the surface that he seems to be promoting sin by speaking evil of the Torah. Be sure to see 13:8-10 where he calls Christians to live out the requirements of the Torah.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... The Effective Word Of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

               "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"

                   The Effective Word Of God (2:13)

INTRODUCTION

1. We have seen the character of the church in Thessalonica - 1Th 1:
   3-10
   a. Their faith, love and hope
   b. Their worthy example to others in Macedonia and Achaia

2. To some degree, the condition of the church may have been due to the
   diligent and caring nature of Paul's ministry while with them - 1 Th 2:1-12

3. But it could not have happened without their willingness to receive
   the word of God...
   a. Preached to them by Paul, Silas, and Timothy
   b. Which they received as the word of God
   -- Which worked effectively in them - 1Th 2:13

[In our text (1Th 2:13), we are reminded of the effectiveness of God's
Word for those who believe it.  In this study, I wish to expand upon
this thought in order to increase our appreciation for and reception of
the Word of God in our lives...]

I. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GOD'S WORD

   A. LIVING, POWERFUL, ABLE TO DISCERN...
      1. The word of God is no dead letter - He 4:12
      2. Just as Jesus' words were both spirit and life - Jn 6:63

   B. PRODUCES FAITH...
      1. As we hear (or read) it, it is able to develop faith in our 
         hearts - Ro 10:17
      2. This it does through the evidence it presents - cf. Jn 20:
         30-31

   C. HAS POWER TO SAVE...
      1. For it contains the gospel, God's power unto salvation - Ro 1:16-17
      2. Which is able to save our souls - Jm 1:21

   D. CAUSES ONE TO BE BORN AGAIN...
      1. By the word of God, He has brought us forth - Jm 1:18
      2. For the word of God is an incorruptible seed, by which one is 
         born again - 1Pe 1:22-23

   E. KEY TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH...
      1. We grow by virtue of the word of God - 1Pe 2:2
      2. Just as newborn babes grow by virtue of their mother's milk

   F. HELPS TO OVERCOME SATAN...
      1. John praised young men who overcame Satan through the Word of 
         God - 1Jn 2:14
      2. Of course, Jesus overcame Satan by appealing to the Word - Mt 4:1-11

   G. POSSESSES POWER TO SANCTIFY...
      1. As praised by the Psalmist - Ps 19:7-11
      2. As prayed by Jesus - Jn 17:17

   H. PRESERVES BOTH YOUNG AND OLD...
      1. The young cleanse their way by taking heed to it - Ps 119:9
      2. The elders were told they could guard against false teachers 
         and apostasy with the help of God's word - Ac 20:28-32

[Such are the many benefits of the wonderful Word of God.  It truly is
"The Effective Word Of God"!  But as indicated in our text, God's word
must be properly received...]

II. FOR GOD'S WORD TO BE EFFECTIVE

   A. MUST BE RECEIVED WITH FAITH...
      1. For it is works in those who believe - 1Th 2:13
      2. For it is God's power unto salvation to those who believe - Ro 1:17
      3. For it does not profit those who do not receive it with faith 
         - He 4:2

   B. MUST BE RECEIVED WITH MEEKNESS...
      1. The word must be received in meekness if it is to save - Jm 1:21
      2. For such is the person God is willing to guide and teach - Psa 25:9

   C. MUST BE RECEIVED BY DOERS...
      1. Not just hearers of the Word - Jm 1:22-25
      2. It is in obeying the Word that our souls are purified - 1Pe 1:22

   D. MUST BE FERVENTLY DESIRED...
      1. Like newborn babes longing for their mothers' milk - 1Pe 2:2
      2. For the one who meditates on it day and night is truly blessed 
         - Ps 1:1-3

   E. MUST ABIDE IN US...
      1. If we are to be strong, and overcome the wicked one - 1Jn 2:14
      2. If we are not to sin against God - Ps 119:11

CONCLUSION

1. Is the living, powerful Word of God effective in our lives?
   a. Is it producing faith, saving us by causing us to be born again?
   b. Is it producing spiritual growth, manifested by overcoming Satan,
      living holy lives whether we are young or old?

2. If the Word of God is not making a powerful impact in our lives,
   could it be...
   a. We are not receiving it with faith and meekness?
   b. We are not receiving it with the intention of obeying it?
   c. We have not fervently desired it, so that it can not abide in us?

If such is the case, then we haven't taken the Word of God seriously.
We have treated it no differently than the word of men.  May the church
of the Thessalonians always serve to remind us how we ought to receive
it...

   "...you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth,
   the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe."
                                                        (1Th 2:13)

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary.... White, black, brown, red and yellow- they are just colors

It has become fashionable for some to play the "Race" card of late.  Personally, I consider this sort of thing offensive.  It seems to me that blacks often call each other racial names and that is "OK"???  Furthermore, I have often seen blacks look down on Hispanics, so- Who is racist when this happens??? Thirty years ago, I worked for Woodbridge Sanitary Pottery in New Jersey (now closed).  They made vitreous china- you know, sinks, lavatories, toilets and the like.  At lunch time, you could go into the cast shop and see many small groups eating lunch;  Japanese, Chinese, Korea, Polish, Russian and Italian were just a few of them.  Each group disliked the others and looked down on them!!!  The place was FULL OF RACISM!!!  This experience taught me that racism is not a "whites only" thing, but encompasses every nationality, all across this globe.  Hatred is always wrong and is a primary tool of Satan (and those humans who choose to follow him), who is trying to destroy ALL RACES!!!  Be aware of this, learn to HATE THIS TRICKERY OF SATAN and at the same time, remember to love everyone- no matter how different they are from you!!!!  Consider these few Scriptures... 

Ephesians, Chapter 4

 11  He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;  12 for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;  13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;  14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;  15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;  16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

Galatians, Chapter 3

  26 For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.  27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The love of God changes things; it can change you (if you will let it).  I know, because I am not the same person that I was in the sixties or even the very early seventies, for that matter.  Honestly, the Bible taught me what love was really all about and if you really love- well, HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY BE A RACIST???  Now, when I was about 23 years old, my life seemed empty (even though I had risen to a supervisory position) and so I was searching for something to give me the yearnings of my heart.  About this time, I met a man named Eugene Searcy, who changed my life.  He gave me a copy of the living bible- which I read through several times in the next couple of years.  Without him caring enough about me to give me his bible- WHERE WOULD I BE TODAY???  So, I often think kindly of him and wonder whatever became of him???  I pray that he is well and that God will richly bless him (wherever he might be).  For, you see, he led me to God's truth and I love him for it!!!!!   And, I forgot to mention.... he is black!!!!!!  These things are true and unadulterated in any way and if they help- then I am one very happy man!!!!  May God help us all to learn to "get along"!!!!!

Your Friend,

Gary

From Ben Fronczek... Christian Hope for those who Despair I Peter 1:3-12 (part 1)

Christian Hope for those who Despair

 

Christian Hope for those who Despair    

 I Peter 1:3-12 (part 1)

- By Ben Fronczek

One of my favorite New Testament characters is the man we know as Peter. I like him because he is like so many of us in so many ways. He was impulsive, sometimes hot tempered, more than once he put his foot in his mouth and said something foolish. There were times when he was on fire for the Lord and then times when his faith wavered. He even denied being a follower of Jesus. He messed up just like many of us mess us from time to time. Another thing I like about Peter is that fact that even though he may have messed up now and then, he did not throw in the towel or give up. If anything he grew wiser and his faith grew stronger and stronger as it should.  Christians today can learn from Peter because we have two letters which he authored to the early church. And in these letters we find wise, encouraging, and practical advice to believers from a guy who not only walked with Jesus, but also knows what it was like to mess up that walk. Peter penned these words about 30 years after Christ’s death and resurrection. He was writing to encourage the persecuted Christians of Asia Minor.

Those early Christians lived in a very difficult time. It was a very anti-Christian society.  Speaking or writing from experience, Peter knew that those early Christians needed not only words of instruction, but also words of hope and encouragement just like he did when he was younger.

Over the up and coming weeks I plan on presenting some sermons based on what he wrote in his epistles. And to begin with I would like to talk about what he himself started with in 1Peter 1, and that is his message of hope.

Read:  1 Peter 1:3-12

I don’t know about you but there are times when I get discouraged and down even though I know that I am very blessed because I am a Christian. And I suppose I am just being selfish. I cannot imagine those who have real trouble in their lives, whether due to sickness, poverty, loneliness, a miserable job, or family life, real persecution or a 1000 others things that cause real heart ache in this world. There are a lot of discouraged and miserable people in this world, even some who know God. It even surprised me that Solomon once wrote this in Ecclesiastes   

^2:17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.   4:1-2 “Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: ‘I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter.  ² And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.’

These are words of despair. He seems to be saying it’s better to be dead than alive and have to deal with all the injustice and garbage and trouble that is going on around us.  Solomon is definitely in a frump, or in low period of his life when he wrote those words. Maybe that’s where you are. Maybe you know someone who is there right now. Well I believe that through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Peter wrote these words to shake believers out this kind of frump. He wanted to remind us that there is something better to focus on; and that is the hope we have in Jesus. Let’s begin by breaking down what Peter had to say here in this text.

#1. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade —kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

There are some key words and thoughts here. Do you think Peter could appreciate and understand God’s mercy? You bet he could! He was the guy that denied even knowing Jesus three times after our Lord was arrested. He was a liar, and a traitor when asked about his faith. But then what happened after Jesus rose from the dead and made them breakfast on the beach one day? Three times He asked Peter, “Do you love me?”, “Do you love me?”  “Do you love me?”. And then He reinstates Peter by giving him a commission to take care of and feed His sheep (that is His followers, His disciples.) Peter definitely could appreciate the mercy of God; and not only because he was personally forgiven, but primarily because all of us have been shown mercy because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Peter wrote; 

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade …” 

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection He has blessed every believer by giving us a new life, with new hope and promise of an existence that can never perish, spoil or fade.

Because of God’s mercy we have the greatest promise, the greatest adventure that one could ever look forward to, and it is waiting for us beyond this physical life in Heaven. Most of us get excited and are thrilled with anticipation before we go on a vacation or adventure. It is our hope that we will have a great time. The adventure we will experience in Heaven will be far more exciting and fulfilling than any vacation or adventure we could ever experience on this earth. That’s the hope we have as Christians as we look forward to what God has promised us.

Every day that passes brings the Christian one step closer to this amazing adventure and because of that we should not let Satan knock us down with despairing thoughts or trials. I believe that why the Apostle Paul had this to say as he wrote the Corinthians:  

” ¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:16-18

Peter and Paul knew and were convinced of the fact that no trial, no hardship, nothing in this life can compare to what we are about to experience in Heaven. So they both encouraged us just to hang in there. That’s why in out text Peter goes on to write,  

“⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”

And Peter goes on to tell us that those trials are not without purpose.     I like how the NLT translates verse 7. It says   

“⁷ These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

God and heaven is watching. The text says if you remain strong there will be praise, glory and honor awaiting you when Jesus is revealed.  The focus in this text is not about the trials, it is about the hope that we have and how we should be able to overcome them all because of who we are and what lies ahead. What it comes down to is this; our peace of mind, our happiness is determined by how much faith we really have. I like what Peter says in the following verses

⁸ You love Him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. ⁹ The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰ This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. ¹¹ They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and His great glory afterward.

¹² They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.” NLT

I truly believe that Peter understood how hard is to live the Christian life.     We are bombarded on every side with negative thoughts, propaganda, atheistic, liberal views, and temptations that can trip us up. And we also battle with our own fears, lusts, guilt, and other weaknesses just like Peter did.

But Peter reminds us that our God is a God of mercy and will show it to those who accept His gift; His one and only Son, as their new Lord and Savior. Peter reminds those early Christians and I believe he wanted to remind all of us of the amazing hope that we have set before us; the excitement and adventure that comes after this earthly life where we will be able to enter an existence where God Himself resides with all His angels, and with His Son. It’s really there, and God, with His Son and the multitude of angels, along with all those Christian who have gone on before us are just waiting to welcome us into that abode.

The writer Hebrews wrote;  

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (12:1-3)

Challenge: To hang in there and don’t let ANYTHING  rob you of the joy and the hope that you have in Jesus.

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Jim McGuiggan... Romans: The World: A Beloved Rebel (2)

 Romans: The World: A Beloved Rebel (2)

Chapter 1:18-3:20

He begins with creation and the human apostasy from God. In that human rebellion the creation itself became an occasion for sin, was perverted and was treated as if it were God instead of the creature (1:18-23). From there he moves to Sinai, the creation of Israel (compare Isaiah 43:1,7; 44:2,21,24; 49:5 and elsewhere) and Israel's apostasy (2:1-3:20). The whole world is under God's judgment. (He will later summarize humanity as non-redeemed in Adam, the old man-5:12-21.)

Why is a message about God's faithfulness such good news? Part of the answer is implied in 1:18 - 3:20 where Paul charts the sinful course of human history. In light of humanity's treacherous betrayal of God and our crass abuse of the dominion he gave to us (Genesis 1:26-27 with Genesis 3) it might be thought that God would obliterate us.

And in some ways the biblical record could be seen as proof that God had abandoned humanity. The expulsion of Adam, Eve and Cain from God's presence, Noah's flood and the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah could be used as proof that God had turned from humanity and was bent only on destroying them in outbursts of his anger. If such expressions of his anger were typical of his full feelings toward the human race our situation would be hopeless and lead to utter despair. But Paul's good news is that God is faithful even in the face of our faithlessness. This means that however we understand the wrath of God it is to be seen as part of his faithfulness toward us.

But far from implying that God is not angry about our sin Paul insists that the anger of God is being revealed against all unrighteousness (1:18). We need to note the present tense of the verb and follow the major versions and we need to note that when God's wrath is being revealed it is against "all" unrighteousness.

It's clear not only from the biblical record but from looking around us that not every evil person is suffering from God's anger in the present time. Oppressors and cheats, drug barons and porn kings, warlords and corrupt financiers are living in luxury while feeding off the helpless. Is the wrath of God being revealed against all that? Paul would say yes. Every time one oppressor is exposed and dealt with every oppressor is judged. When a society imprisons a ruthless criminal it speaks its mind against all ruthless criminals. Society can't catch up with them all but God can! The justice he brings down on criminals at a national or individual level is a demonstration of how he feels toward all oppression and impenitence. Specific judgements are a promise and a prophecy that all crimes are noted and will be dealt with. No one "gets away with" anything. As God works to bring his eternal purpose to a glorious conclusion in a final judgement and revelation he shows his local and individual judgements to remind us that a final judgement is up ahead.

[The psalmists and prophets indicate this when they speak of judgements on various nations. They often describe the judgments in galactic terms. Stars fall, skies are rolled up, the earth is bludgeoned and the like. This links the crime of the particular nation in view with a humanity-wide rebellion and a universal judgment. See Isaiah 13, 34 and Jeremiah 4 as illustrations of this.]

It's worth noting that Paul begins this section of Romans with God as our Father creator and that all the corruption he lists later begins with our departure from him (1:18-23). If we're out of tune with God we're out of tune with creation and our fellow-humans. Paul views our sin not simply as the breaking of some universal laws—it is a violation of a personal relationship. And our betrayal of God, our refusal to acknowledge who he is and give to him our grateful thanks blinds us. Professing ourselves to be wise (Genesis 3 and the forbidden fruit is in view) we became fools (Romans 1:21). Sin disables us until we are no longer able to think well. It isn't that now we have rebelled against God that we think 2+2=5. It's all subtler and much more dangerous than that. Thinking we're very wise (thinking we're gods) we refuse to be taught. Our intellectual gifts are used to serve our own selfish ends. They're used to "explain" why we should deprive one another or why it's okay to jettison developing human beings. We show why it's all right to bury little nations under mountains of debt in order to please stockholders and to demand our rights at every single point to the destruction of community relationships.

Thinking we are very wise we not only do we oppose gender-discrimination, we completely deny the differences in gender which is part of our being in the image of God (see Genesis 1:26-27 and Romans 1:26-27). We substitute "citizenship" for relationships (like father and mother and children) and wonder why we promote the absence of "natural affection" (love for family members). Did ever a nation or an individual admit that what it was doing was just plainly evil? Haven't we all justified our wickedness?

As history developed our evil grew Paul says God gave us up to perversity and moral derangement (Romans 1:24,25,28) It's one face of God's wrath (though it's not the whole picture) that he chose to give us over to our sin. Our deepening wickedness is the result of God hardening us. It isn't that God simply stepped back and "allowed" us to sin more--the passages speak of a direct act of God that results in our choosing to sin even more. God's doesn't choose sin for us we do that ourselves but God works with us (as he did with Pharaoh and Israel see Romans 9:17-18 & 11:7-10) to drive us further into desperate need.

Paul's good news, however, is that God didn't drive us under sin so that he might be rid of us. He concluded us all under sin "that he might have mercy on us all" (Romans 11:32). His giving us up to our wickedness was an act of mercy. We're tempted to think that a worsening world is proof that God will or has abandoned us but Paul sees it as the merciful wrath of God driving us to desperate need for mercy which he is eager to provide. Our "wisdom" is our arrogance and our arrogance by God's grace leads us into abysmal trouble out of which we cry for help.

The apostle takes up the Jewish story (2:1-3:19). They felt superior to the Gentile world Paul had just sketched but their own scriptures made it clear that though they possessed the Torah they had not internalised it. They had not taken it into their hearts. They had the marks of God's special favour (like circumcision, the covenants and the Torah) but they didn't have the heart or lifestyle that these called for or bore witness to. So that while they called themselves Jews and took pride in the name they weren't true Jews because a true Jew had the flesh of Abraham and his faith. A true Jew had a circumcised heart as well as body. The true Jew not only possessed the Torah, he lived it (Romans 2:28-29; 9:6).

Paul lumps humanity together and makes the claim that Gentiles who had on their hearts what the Torah called for (Romans 2:14-15) would receive eternal life (through the Messiah) as surely as the Jew who lived in honour before God (Romans 2:6-16). Did this mean the Jews had never been peculiarly blessed by God (Romans 3:1-2)? No, Paul insists they were given special privileges but that they had been faithless just as the Gentiles had been and so, in practice, Jews were no better off than any other nation. A collection of texts from the Jewish scriptures showed that the Jews, like the Gentiles, didn't give to God what was his due (Romans 3:9-19).

He concludes this section then by saying that the whole world is brought under judgment before God. On the whole the Gentiles bore the marks of rebellion against God and the sign of his wrath on them. On the whole the Jews had the witness of the Torah against them as perennial transgressors.

It's possible for humans with their darkened hearts and sensitivity to pain to think that God's reaction to sin is something of "over-kill". We might claim it is too great a reaction to the crimes of humanity but this is part of the reason Jesus Christ is our redeemer. He is able to see it for what it is and confess it for what it is our sin is the one unendurable! (See this developed in the next section.)

And the cross marks us out Jew and Gentile together as rebels against God for when God came, in and as Jesus Christ, we slew him! Explain as we will, protest as fiercely as we might, we showed that as a race we were enemies of God when we laid hands on him and sought his extermination.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... A Preacher Worthy Of Imitation (1 Thessalonians 2:1-12)

               "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"

                A Preacher Worthy Of Imitation (2:1-12)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous lesson we mentioned the value of a good role
   model...
   a. It demonstrates what can be done
   b. It provides direction for what should be done
   c. It inspires one to do what ought to be done
   -- The church at Thessalonica certainly serves as "A Church Worthy 
      Of Imitation"

2. In the second chapter of 1st Thessalonians, we find Paul reflecting
   upon...
   a. His preaching while at Thessalonica - 1Th 2:1-8
   b. His conduct while at Thessalonica - 1Th 2:9-12
   -- From which we learn that Paul certainly serves as "A Preacher
      Worthy Of Imitation"

[Just as churches would do well to emulate the church at Thessalonica,
so preachers would do well to imitate the example of the apostle Paul
while he worked with them.  But not just preachers; all Christians
would benefit by imitating the example of Paul.  Consider therefore...]

I. THE MANNER OF HIS PREACHING

   A. WITH BOLDNESS...
      1. Paul preached with boldness - 1Th 2:1-2
         a. Despite his previous persecution at Philippi
         b. Despite the persecution at Thessalonica
      2. Such boldness was not natural for Paul, or for others
         a. Paul often experienced fear and trembling - 1Co 2:3
         b. Timothy needed encouragement to be bold - 2Ti 1:6-8
      3. But he found boldness "in our God"
         a. For which reason he asked others to pray for him, that God 
            would grant him boldness - Ep 6:19-20
         b. Others also looked to God when in need of boldness - Ac 4:29,31
      -- To proclaim the word with all boldness, look to God for 
         courage!

   B. WITH TRUTH AND HONESTY...
      1. Paul preached the truth, not error - 1Th 2:3
      2. He did so with honesty, not through impure motives or trickery 
         - 1Th 2:3; 2Co 4:2
      3. Note the need for both truth and honesty:
         a. It is not enough to speak the truth, we must do so honestly
         b. It is not enough to be honest, we must speak the truth
      -- Let's strive to have both truth and honesty! - cf. 2Co 2:17

   C. PLEASING GOD, NOT MEN...
      1. Paul was aware that God had trusted him with the gospel - 1Th 2:4
         a. As an expression of grace - Ep 3:8
         b. As an example of mercy and longsuffering - 1Ti 1:11-16
      2. Therefore it was God he sought to please, not man - 1Th 2:4
         a. Knowing that it is God who tries the heart - He 4:13
         b. Knowing that this is what made him a true servant of Christ
            - Ga 1:10
      -- Be concerned with pleasing God, not gaining the popularity of 
         men!

   D. WITHOUT FLATTERY OR COVETOUSNESS...
      1. Paul did not resort to flattering words to gain an audience 
         - 1Th 2:5
         a. He undoubtedly knew that using flattery was dangerous - Pr 29:5
         b. Flattery is a tool used by false teachers - 2Pe 2:18
      2. Nor did Paul resort to using covetousness, either to persuade 
         or for his own personal gain - 1Th 2:5
         a. Covetousness is another tool of false teachers - 1Pe 2:1-3
         b. Paul was careful not to take advantage of his brethren, 
            becoming wealthy off of them - Ac 20:33; 2Co 11:9; 12:17
      -- Win souls through the truth, not flattery, and avoid any 
         semblance of taking advantage of brethren for monetary gain

   E. WITHOUT SEEKING FOR GLORY FROM MEN...
      1. Paul was careful not to seek glory from them or from others 
         - 1Th 2:6
         a. As an apostle of Christ it would have been easy to do
         b. He could have easily abused his authority, but he was 
            careful not to
      2. Any such glory would have been vain glory - Pr 25:27
      -- True servants do not seek glory from men, but from God!

   F. WITH GENTLENESS AND AFFECTION...
      1. He was gentle, like a nursing mother with her children - 1Th 2:7
         a. As he counseled Timothy to be towards those in error - 2 Ti 2:24-25
         b. As he instructed the spiritual to be toward those overtaken 
            in a fault - Ga 6:1
      2. He had affection for them, which prompted him to share not 
         just the gospel, but his own life - 1Th 2:8
         a. Paul was a preacher who loved his brethren - cf. Php 1:8
         b. For which he joyfully sacrificed his life as necessary 
            - cf. Php 2:17
      -- Let gentleness and love for the brethren be apparent both in 
         our preaching and in life!

[Indeed, one cannot separate our preaching from our life.  So as we
continue to learn what made Paul "A Preacher Worthy Of Imitation", we
focus our attention more closely on...]

II. THE MANNER OF HIS LIFE

   A. LABORING NIGHT AND DAY...
      1. Paul did not desire to be a burden, and so worked to support
         himself - 1Th 2:9
         a. Not that it is inappropriate for preachers to be supported 
            - 1Co 9:7-14
         b. Paul chose to preach the gospel without charge as a way of
            demonstrating his willingness to accept his calling as a 
            steward - cf. 1Co 9:6,15-18
         c. So Paul often worked as a tent maker while preaching 
            - e.g., Ac 18:1-4
      2. His example should remind us of the sacrificial nature of our
         service
         a. Some may choose to support themselves like Paul did
         b. All should be available and accessible both night and day 
            - Ac 20:31
         c. Note also that we can serve by praying "night and day" 
            - 1Th 3:10; 1Ti 5:5
      -- The main point is that our service to God and one another is a 
         not a 9-5 job!

   B. DEVOUT, JUST, AND BLAMELESS...
      1. "Devoutly" depicts the nature of his service - 1Th 2:10
         a. It was "holy" (NIV)
         b. It was "pure" (NRSV)
      2. "Justly" describes his dealings with his fellow man
         a. It was "upright" (NRSV)
         b. It was "righteous" (NIV)
      3. "Blamelessly" reflects his carefulness to be above reproach
         a. Something he was always careful about - Ac 24:16; 2Co 6:3
         b. Even before he became a Christian - Php 3:6
      -- All three of these graces are important; they impact our
         relationship to God, our relationship to our fellow man, and 
         help keep our reputation pure

   F. FATHERLY...
      1. Paul was like a father to them - 1Th 2:11
         a. Exhorting and comforting them (encouraging them) - e.g., 
            1Th 4:1
         b. Charging them as necessary (commanding them) - e.g., 2Th 3:6,12
      2. For he was concerned about their walk (life) as a Christian 
         - 1Th 2:12
         a. He wanted their walk to be worthy of God
         b. For God had called them into His kingdom and glory
   
CONCLUSION

1. Certainly all preachers would do well to have the same kind of
   fatherly concern (and motherly gentleness and affection) that Paul
   had!

2. But not only preachers...how much better it would be if all members
   of the church served one another as Paul served his brethren!
   a. With boldness, truth and honesty, seeking to pleasing God and not
      men
   b. Without flattery, covetousness, or seeking glory from men
   c. With labor night and day, seeking to be devout, just, and 
      blameless
   -- With the gentleness and affection of a nursing mother, and the
      guidance and encouragement of a caring father

Yes, the apostle Paul is indeed "A Preacher Worthy Of Imitation"...for
such reasons every Christian would do well to heed his admonition as
found in another place:

       "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." (1Co 11:1)

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011