January Bible Review

Soak on these things.........

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 3Praise 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, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:1-8

One of Peters’ purposes for writing this letter was to encourage the redeemed that had been persecuted and scattered all over creation. In the very first verse He reminds them of a couple things that identify them...they were elect, and they were strangers in this world. TAI Think about it....how would being reminded that you are elect and strangers in this world be encouraging? Give this a couple of minutes and chew on it!

Peter was always first to open his mouth. He declared he would not betray Christ, yet he did three times. He chopped off a mans ear with a sword.... Peter could have very well been called Peter the loudmouth, Peter the impatient, Peter the betrayer.... but he was able to refer to himself in this letter as Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ. What characteristic of God does this highlight?

Read Mark 10:33. Did the Pharisees choose to have Jesus crucified?
Read Mark 15:15. Did Pilate choose to have Jesus crucified?
Read Acts 2:23. Did the Pharisees and Pilates’ choice to crucify Jesus work against Gods’ plan or fulfill it?

We see the work of the Trinity in salvation in these verse. We see the choosing of the Father, the Sanctification of the Spirit and the payment of the Son. Now in reference to time we see that in eternity past the Father chose us for salvation and Christ as the payment for our sins, but inside the framework of time Christ made that payment and within our own lives we have been sanctified [brought to life] for obedience. Our first act of obedience after being brought to life is to believe upon Christ unto salvation. 2 Thess. 2:13

Sanctified for obedience!
OBEDIENCE is
......... the result of sanctification [enablement to obey for first time]
......... the evidence of sanctification,[a changed life]
......... and the process of sanctification. [as we obey we are transformed]
TAI - Think about it! Why is obedience the evidence of true salvation?

Confident living requires assurance of personal saving faith & assurance of it’s unchanging nature
a. It is good that we examine ourselves 2 Cor. 13:5
b. It is good that we understand God has guaranteed the redemption of those born by the spirit!

We were not born into a possible inheritance! But a guaranteed inheritance!
When we receive an earthly inheritance it is usually land, money, family valuables etc. but God reminds us that the inheritance that He has given us is eternal and can not be damaged or destroyed!
never perish ............Unable to be corrupted [imperishable]
never spoil ...............without defect or flaw [unpolluted, containing nothing that can be ruined]
never fade! Often inscribed on tombstones, this inscription will fade, but never my inheritance in Christ.
　
　
　
　
　
We often misunderstand what it means for God to loves us. If He loved us we think He should prevent us from struggling & suffering, remove all stumbling stones out of our way and rescue us quickly from every hard time. But in reality, because God loves us, He puts us in, leaves us in, permits us to experience struggles and suffering knowing that they will conform us into the image of Christ. Whatever causes us to depend upon God the most and be changed into His image is a loving act in Gods’ eyes.
　
　
　
　
A TALE OF TWO SONS Read and Re-read Luke 15:11-32
Luke chapter 15 has 3 parables. The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son. They share one common theme. Joy over what was lost being found. We can see that Jesus is telling these parables to reveal an error with the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They are annoyed that Jesus hangs out with sinners. Understanding those two things we can see the main point In the story of The Prodigal Son. That main focus is the contrast between the Fathers joy over one who repents and the Pharisee’s lack of joy over it.

There are 3 main characters in this parable. The father represents God and demonstrates his forbearance and forgiveness, the younger son represents a sinner in rebellion who later repents, and the older son represents the Pharisees who have religion but don’t necessarily have a relationship with God.

here is a scriptural definition of prodigal living........
1Pe 4:3-4 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;