3rd JOHN - The Mega Themes

HOSPITALITY - John took the time to thank his friend Gaius for his kindness. I fear sending thank you cards, or letters is a lost art. It was something my mom always did and encouraged me to do the same. In the time period we are studying common courtesy was still alive and well. 

            As I’ve already said in another post, supporting traveling ministers today is as important as it was back in John’s day. They travel light and need a place to spend the night and have meals provided. When you help these brothers you become a part of their ministry in a participatory way. It is God’s way of providing for them; however, what if no one in the local brethren felt so inclined to support the teachers in that way? Well it would seem that finding someone inclined to open their home to such traveling ministers was not an issue back in the day, because it seemed to be engrained in their culture. This is no doubt why John had to caution the people about who they invited into their homes. False teachers were prevalent at the time and being careful was important. 

 

PRIDE - As Diotrephes exhibited, pride, coupled with arrogance disqualifies a person from being a true leader. Those who would become a good and fair leader MUST shun prideful, arrogant behavior. Believers need to see humility and selflessness to assure them that the leader is true to the Word of God. 

If you have a desire to become a church leader you mustn’t misuse or abuse that position of leadership. If you do you’ll have a hard time getting the congregation to listen to you.  A prideful, arrogant individual shoots himself in the foot by not exhibiting Christ’s truth in his actions. That individual CAN have an epiphany and allow the Spirit to change his demeanor and behavior, but it cannot be done on his own.  Without the Lord in the middle of it, any change probably wouldn’t be lasting. It is God we serve, for he alone has our best interests at heart.

 

FAITHFULNESS - I found out many years ago that pastors rarely get an “attaboy” for the work they do with their church. I suppose it could have something to do with the fact that they are called by God to minister to a congregation, so that calling should be enough to keep them going, right? Not so. 

No matter what you do for a living, there are times when it can be a grind. Picture an old fashioned meat grinder. My German grandmother had one. It clamped to the kitchen table, and you fed raw meat into the flared opening on the top. She would then crank the rotating handle and watch the meat get drawn into the grinder. Maybe that’s how some of those in ministry feel like when things get tough and unduly stressful. 

Those in ministry need to be appreciated and loved for their tireless endeavors for the church and it’s parishioners. I try to make it a habit to thank law enforcement and military personnel for their service. I also share my appreciation for our pastor with him every Sunday morning. I happen to think it’s the right thing to do. We need to verbally and at times, physically support our ministerial leaders.

Next we’ll be checking out Jude’s letter to Jewish Christians. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible.

3rd JOHN at a glance

WHO WROTE IT?: The Apostle John 

WHY WAS IT WRITTEN?: This letter was written to commend a brother in Christ, who John knows, for his hospitality and to encourage him in his Christian life.

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN?: This letter was written around AD 90 from Ephesus.

WHO WAS IT FOR?: Gaius, a prominent Christian who attended one of the churches known by John.

 

            Church leaders traveled from town to town working to establish new congregations. These leaders counted on the hospitality of fellow believers to provide housing, and meals. Gaius was one of the people who welcomed these leaders into his home. 

            How we treat others reflects our true values; in other words, what’s really important to us. We need to ask ourselves the following question: Do we see people as mere objects or inconveniences, or as unique creations of a loving God?

            For Gaius, hospitality was important to him. Because of his attitude toward the brethren, he had gained a solid reputation thanks to his personal lifestyle. John’s brief letter centers around three men; Diotrephes, who was a self-proclaimed church leader who did not reflect God’s values in any way. He was in it for personal gain and the accolades that come with being a leader. Then there was Demetrius, who followed God’s truth and the afore mentioned Gaius, who always did what was right as he walked in the truth.

            It is imperative that we determine to reflect Christ’s values in our relationships, opening up our homes for fellowship, prayer meetings or bible studies, with the purpose of touching others with God’s love.

 

DIOTREPHES - All we know about this man is that he wanted to control the church. John denounced 4 areas of his life: 1) his refusal to have anything to do with other spiritual leaders, 2) his slander of those leaders, 3) his bad example in refusing to welcome any teachers, and 4) his attempt to excommunicate those who opposed his leadership. Diotrephes was an example of a bad leader; full of pride, jealousy, and slander. 

 

            While 2^nd John emphasizes the need to refuse hospitality to false teachers, 3^rd John urges the brethren to continue offering hospitality to those who teach the truth. This is an important way for them to show support for these traveling teachers of the true Gospel. Today we can show hospitality to God’s workers in various ways. It could come in the form of a letter of encouragement, a gift, financial support, opening up your home or praying for them. 

            Next up we shall look at the Mega Themes found in John’s 3^rd letter. Until then walk with the King and be a blessing. “Peace be with you.” ^{(3 John 1:15a)}

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible

2nd JOHN - The Mega Themes

TRUTH - Believing that God IS truth, it is imperative that we read and follow the teachings in His Word.  It ought to be a matter of fact that true followers of Christ consistently obey God’s truth found in scripture. 

            The only way to be loyal to Christ’s teachings is to study the bible. With our busy schedules we often have a hard time carving out a piece of uninterrupted time to read and pray. The enemy throws all sorts of distractions and time burners to disrupt our good intentions.  As the saying goes: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” ^[1] The only way to enhance our relationship with our Lord is to purposefully enter into scripture reading and even studying daily. I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet that those who don’t read the Bible, do so because they simply don’t want to. Spiritual laziness. Christ paid the price for our sin debt thru a brutal, bloody death and we can’t be bothered to pick of the book and dig into it. How do we ever expect to get to know Him? If you were dating a pretty girl and never spent any time with her how would you expect to get to know her. Catch my drift?

            Knowing God takes time and effort.  We don’t pick it up thru osmosis like plants. The Bible is spiritual food for our soul. You cannot find God’s truth anywhere else. With the widespread availability of the bible online and in bookstores throughout the globe, it would be totally our fault to remain ignorant of what scripture teaches. Without scriptural knowledge we become susceptible to the false teachers that litter the landscape. If we know the scriptures well we’d be able to spot a heretic when he spoke.  Asking them what they have to say about Jesus, as in, is he God’s son and/or is he both God and man? That would be because a lot of the false teachings revolve around Jesus and whether he is both divine and human? Christ is the linchpin of our faith, so we can identify heretics largely by the way they view Jesus.

 

LOVE - A major point has been made in this letter and many others that God IS love. He defined it and exhibited it in the form of his Son, Jesus the Christ. Love is the main ingredient in true Christianity. 

            In John’s 1^st letter he states: “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment:...” “We love because he first loved us.” [vv. 4:16b & 19]

            As followers of Christ, we must embrace the meaning of the letters WWDJ not only regarding what he would do, but also what he would think and say in any and all situations.

It should be clear to us that we are not, nor shall we ever be perfect; we are too flawed for that, but with the Holy Spirit’s help we CAN become malleable clay in the potters hands. God knows all that we are capable of and if we allow it, we can achieve all that God has for us this side of heaven. 

            Love is the truest ingredient and being selfless makes the loving part much easier. All qualities that we’d have trouble manifesting in our lives ourselves. The Spirit can teach us how to love God and the brethren more. It comes out of giving, and meeting needs ... that’s putting love into action.

 

FALSE LEADERS - We’ve seen that false teachers are coming at believers full force in the 1^st Century, as well as now. We mustn’t allow them a toe hold ... a platform from which to spread their lies. We mustn’t encourage those who are opposed to Christ. Remove yourself from any association with false teachers / leaders. Always be aware of what is being taught in the church you attend. If it contradicts what scripture states, do a little research to prove things one way or another. If our church preaches or teaches something that is diametrically opposed to the solid, definitive truth found in the Bible, we should seriously pray and consider finding another church. No rationalization of falsehood is acceptable in God’s economy. 

 

            Next we shall take our first look at John’s 3^rd letter to another dear friend Gaius. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible

^[1] This expression is often attributed to the Cistercian abbot Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 – 1153).  It’s meaning is: “the intention to engage in good acts often fails. It points up the principle that there is no merit in good intentions unless they are acted on.”

2nd JOHN at a glance

WHO WROTE IT?: The Apostle John (“the elder”)

WHY WAS IT WRITTEN?: This letter was written to emphasize the basics of following Christ (with truth & love) and warn against false teachers, which was becoming a prevalent problem for the early church.

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN?: This letter was written around the same time as his first letter ... roughly AD 90 from Ephesus.

WHO WAS IT FOR?: There are two widespread theories regarding the recipient of this letter. A common theory is that it is to a dear lady friend he knows from one of the churches John was overseeing. A second theory is that the “chosen lady” refers to a church, but he doesn’t say where and he seems to do that regularly as evidenced in Revelation. Regardless of which happens to be true, this brief letter has good information for all Christians. 

 

            False teachers were a dangerous problem for the early church. His warning was to be careful who you show hospitality to, making sure the one(s) you invite into your home are not heretical teachers. That may sound harsh and unchristian-like to us today, yet those who distort the truth could seriously harm many believers, drawing them away from their ultimate destination, namely, their eternal home.

            Christ is the exact opposite of society’s prevailing values, that is, falsehood and self-centeredness. For Christ IS truth and love in person. Therefore, all who claim loyalty to him must be committed to these ideals. The ideals to follow are truth, itself and living the truth, reflecting the love of God, and acting with love toward one another.

            “Truth and love are vital to the Christian and are inseparable in the Christian life. 2^nd John, his brief letter to a dear friend, is no different. John says to live in the truth and obey God, watch out for deceivers, and love God and each other.”

            We must assess our walk with God and recommit ourselves to being a person of truth, love, and obedience. Assessing where our relationship with the Lord stands at any point in time is incredibly important. As we strive to BE like Jesus in our daily lives, we must continuously rachet up our commitment, for Christ is the way to peace and harmony within the body of believers. Notice I didn’t say “a way”, but rather, THE WAY. For anyone who forgets what true love is, go back and reread 1^st Corinthians 13. That is GOD’S definition of true love. We need to adhere to the principles laid out in the ‘Love Chapter’.

            Next we’ll be taking a look at the Mega Themes presented in John’s 2^nd letter. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible

1st JOHN - Heresies Facing the Early Church

            The eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry had pretty much died off when John wrote this letter. 2^nd & 3^rdgeneration believers had begun to have doubts regarding that which they had been taught about Jesus. Those Christians with a Greek background struggled with the idea that Jesus was both human & divine. This was due to the Platonic thought that the ‘spirit’ was all-important. According to Plato, the human body was simply a prison that man wished to escape from. Heresies sprang forth from the mixing of this kind of Platonic thought with Christianity.

            One particular false teaching that was widespread held that Jesus actually was a spirit being who only appeared to have a human body. This teaching was referred to later as Docetism ... which is from the Greek word for “to seem”. Their claim was that Jesus cast no shadow and left no footprints; he was God, but not man.  Another false teaching was related to Gnosticism (from the Greek word meaning “knowledge”), which said that all physical matter was evil, the spirit was good, and only the intellectually enlightened could enjoy the benefits of religion. Both groups found it very hard to believe that a Savior could be fully human.

            John answers these false teachers as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life on earth. He saw Jesus, talked with him, touched him ... John knew Jesus as more than merely a spirit. In his very first statement of this letter John states emphatically that Jesus had been alive before the world began and also that he lived as a man among men and women. In other words, he was both divine AND human.

            Through the centuries that followed many heretics denied that Jesus was both God and man. In John’s day people had trouble believing he was actually human; today more people have problems seeing him as God. But Jesus’ divine-human nature happens to be a crucial issue of Christianity. Before you accept what any religious teacher says about a topic, listen carefully to what they believe about Jesus. To deny either his divinity or his humanity is to consider him less than Christ, our Savior and Lord.

            Next up is our first look at John’s 2^nd letter, written to certain woman from a non-specific church. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible.

1st JOHN - The Mega Themes (part 2)

TRUTH & ERROR - False teachers encouraged believers to remove moral restraints, saying the physical body doesn’t matter. These charlatans also said Jesus wasn’t really a man, and that salvation comes from having some mystical knowledge. The result of these bogus teachings was that people become detached from reality and indifferent to sin.

            God is truth and light, so the more time we spend with him daily the better we will know him. That way we will be able to keep our focus on the truth. We must check the message for its validity; test the claims they’re making. Don’t allow yourself to be led astray by any teaching that denies Christ’s deity or humanity.

 

ASSURANCE - Our God is in complete and total control of both heaven & earth. Because God’s word is absolutely true we can have the assurance that eternal life shall become a reality and that we can be victorious over sin. By faith and trust in God we can be certain of our eternal destiny. 

            Assurance of our relationship with God is a promise; however, it is also a way of life. Our confidence is built by reading and trusting in God’s Word and in Christ’s permanent solution for our sin.

 

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John counters two major threads in the false teachings of the heretics in this 1^st letter. They denied the existence of sin. John says that if we continue to sin, we cannot claim to belong to God. If we say we have NO sin then we cannot claim to be a part of God’s family. If we say we have no sin, we only kidding ourselves and refusing to live according to God’s truth.

            The false teachers also denied that Jesus was the Messiah - God in the flesh. The apostle John said that if we believe that Jesus was God incarnate and trust him for our salvation, than we are children of God.

 

JOHN’S WRITING STYLE - One of the distinct features of his writing style was his habit of noting both sides of a conflict. He wrote to show the difference between real Christianity and anything else. Here are some of his favorite contrasts ... Light & darkness - The new commandment & the old commandment - Loving the Father & loving the world - Christ & Antichrist - Truth & lies - Children of God & children of the devil - Eternal life & eternal death - Love & hatred - True prophecy & false prophecy - Love & fear - Having life & NOT having life. You will find these throughout his letter.   

 

            Next we will take a quick look at the heresies that the early churches guarded against. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible

1st JOHN - The Mega Themes

SIN - Do Christians sin? Yes, at times the “old man” rises up and takes over. Along with the sin comes guilt and shame, but our advocate, Jesus Christ, will handle the case. Sin requires God’s forgiveness, and Christ’s death on the cross provides that forgiveness for us. Our responsibility as a believer in Christ is to determine to live according to the standards the Lord has laid out in scripture. Our choosing to live for the Lord will show that our life is in the process of being changed; transformed into the likeness of Christ. Those who believe but have yet to make that life altering transformation are wasting valuable time. It’s your choice ... choose wisely. Life without God is no life at all.

            While we can deny our continuous inclination to satisfy our sin nature, we’d be lying to ourselves. No one has remained sinless except Jesus. We must acknowledge our sinful inclinations, even as a Christian, and earnestly strive to live a life that pleases God. The Lord knows our inclinations and understands that we are but human, but we still need to confess whatever sin we commit and seek forgiveness. If there are any consequences that result from our sinning we will have to endure them, but in the end God’s love and grace cleanses us. The idea is that as we grow spiritually, our faith and trust in God blossoms bearing the fruit of the Spirit. We must resist the temptation to sin. We’re able to do that because the Lord provides for us spiritual armor that can defeat any temptation thrown our way.

 

LOVE - Jesus plainly told his disciples and the multitude of people who sought him out to love others just the same as Christ loves them. There are no restrictions on who we’re to love because we are to love any and all people we encounter each day ... saved or unsaved. Christianity isn’t an exclusive club; it’s open to everyone who seeks to become part of God’s family. The love we experience and begin to exhibit is evidence that we are truly followers of Christ. God is the Creator of love; he cares that his children love one another.

            Love is being selfless; putting others first. Treating others the way you’d like to be treated, regardless of the circumstances. Our job is not to retaliate or pass judgment on another; our job is to love them all the same way God has shown us compassion and mercy. Love is an ACTION word; which means giving sacrificially of our time and money to meet the needs of others, as in their needs supersede our own.

 

FAMILY OF GOD - When we became “saved” from our sins (and ourselves) we became a child of God. The Holy Spirit of God, the 3^rd person of the Holy Trinity, gives us the ability to love our brethren in the faith, among other things. How we treat others reveals to them just who our father is. We are to live as faithful, loving family members.

            I know full well that your church may have a person who will talk your ear off after service, so much so that you think if they talk much longer your ear might melt off the side of your head. So what about those people? Love them. What about the nosey, gossipy older widow lady who never has a good thing to say about anyone? Love them. Real love, not fake. Interact with them on purpose to show them that they matter.  Don’t avoid them, befriend them; pray for them.

            Be Jesus to people. Show you care in verbal or tangible ways. We don’t know peoples “back story”. Be Jesus to them. Ask the Lord to use you to be a blessing to others. You know, I actually ask the Lord to bless me, not simply so I am blessed, but so I can “pay that blessing forward”. John preached that we as followers of Christ should treat others as more important than ourselves. God wishes to draw out of us the best version of ourselves for the purpose of showing the world what HE is all about. When people look at you do they see the light of Jesus in your eyes? Do they see that there is something different about you? Are they drawn to you? That is the Spirit working thru you. Rejoice my brothers, glorify God my sisters, because while God didn’t NEED any of us, HE CHOSE each one of us to share his message with our world. We are ambassadors of Christ from when we wake up in the morning till our heads hit the pillow at night. We must do all we do IN HIS NAME & FOR HIS GLORY!!

 

Next we will continue to look at 2 other Mega Themes, TRUTH & ERROR and ASSURANCE. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible.

            

1st JOHN at a glance

WHO WROTE IT?: The Apostle John ... at the time of this writing John was the only of the original disciples / apostles left alive. He was therefore considered the ‘elder statesmen’.

WHY WAS IT WRITTEN?: John’s 1^st letter was sent to reassure Christians in their faith & to counter false teachings.

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN?: This correspondence was probably written sometime between AD 85-90 from Ephesus.

WHO WAS IT FOR?: This particular letter is untitled, so we can assume that it was not written to any particular person or church.  Apparently it was sent as a “pastoral” letter to several Gentile congregations.

 

                  The apostle John was an older man when he wrote this letter. He had not yet been banished to the isle of Patmos, where he would live in exile. As an eyewitness of Christ, he wrote with authority to give this new generation of believers assurance and confidence in God and in their faith.

                  John starts off his letter by listing his credentials as an eyewitness to the Incarnation & then revealed his reason for writing. He then presented God as “light”, which symbolizes absolute purity and holiness.  John then explains how believers can walk in the light and have intimate fellowship with the Lord. He lets them know that should they sin; Christ is their advocate. The way John puts it sounds like he’s our lawyer when he uses the words “pleads our case” before God in chapter 2 verse 1. That’s what an advocate does. He represents us before the Father. 

                  John then urges his readers to obey Christ without question and love all of God’s family. From all the Bible text is can see that being a Christian leaves no room for hate, resentment, bitterness, lying, arrogance and so on. Why is that? Because we’ve continuously been told to love one another and treat others the same way we’d like to be treated.  We must learn to see others, whether saved or not, as God sees them. John then gives his readers a warning regarding “antichrists” and THE Antichrist who will try to persuade them away from God’s truth.

                  In the section of the letter from 1^st John 3:1-4:21, John presents God as “love”. This is because of his giving, dying, forgiving, and blessing. He didn’t do it for himself, but for YOU!

God is the epitome of love; the only true and consistent example of perfect love in existence.

Perfect love is defined in the 13^th chapter of Paul 1^st letter to the Corinthian church. Because God loves us, he calls us his children and makes us like Christ thru the work of the Holy Spirit. 

                  John warns of the false teachers who are lurking around looking for any opportunity to lead believers away from the truth with faulty teaching. We must reject these purveyors of falsehood and stay as close to God as we can, living in his love.

                  In the final portion of his letter, John presents God as “life”. God’s life is in his Son. To have his Son is to have eternal life.

 

                  Next we’ll take a look at the Mega Themes found in John’s 1^st letter. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible.

2nd PETER: The Mega Themes

DILIGENCE - If our faith is real, then it will show in our Godly behavior. We must be diligent to feed ourselves a steady diet of Godly truth so we can grow spiritually. We must take our walk with the Lord seriously, for if we do then the chance of backsliding or being deceived by false teachers will be minimized. 

            The result of our relationship with the Lord should begin with faith and trust and end with us loving others, even as Christ loves us ... unconditionally. If we’d like to grow in the things of God, we need to follow his example as shown to us in the Gospels and remember what has been taught to us. We need to be faithfully obedient in all things that pertain to God.

            Growth is necessary, for if we don’t grow we stagnate. It’s very much like a pond that doesn’t have a source flowing fresh water into it. It will become stagnant. We need to drink of the free flowing water of life that comes from God’s Word on a daily basis. It’s like trying to grow flowers or vegetables in a garden. It requires time and effort. It requires regular weeding; it requires fertilizer, and it requires water to make them grow. If we do nothing to cultivate the garden it will die and so will we spiritually if we don’t carefully persevere in our effort to absorb as much of God as humanly possible. How else can we stay prepared for the time Jesus returns for his church? 

 

FALSE TEACHERS - The 1^st Century believers were warned by Peter to beware of false teaching. These heretics are prideful. They promote sexual sin and advise against keeping the Ten Commandments. Peter countered their false teachings by pointing to the Spirit-inspired scriptures as our absolute authority.

            Christians must have spiritual discernment to be able to resist these false teachers. God can rescue us from their abject lies if we stay true to his Word and reject all those who distort the truth by what they say. The only way to gain and increase our ability to discern what is from God and what isn’t is to train ourselves by praying for that ability. God doesn’t withhold his gifts from us, but rather wishes us to flourish in all Godly things.

 

CHRIST’S RETURN - There will come a day when Christ will create a new heaven and a new earth. This is where we will live forever. Our hope rests in this promise, and God has never reneged on any of his promises ... ever. Christ’s return will come at the end of the age. We have no idea when either the Rapture of the church or Christ’s 2^nd Coming will be. That is why it is imperative that we stay ready. We don’t want to be asleep at the wheel when the blessed event takes place. When Christ DOES return he will be coming to exact judgment of all those who have refused to believe.

            There is a cure for complacency, lawlessness, and heresy and that is having the confident assurance that Christ will indeed return for us. Since it is not God’s will that ANY would perish, he holds off his return to give unbelievers every opportunity to repent. As Christians, we need to stay ready by continuing to trust God and resist the pressure to give up waiting for Christ’s return.

 

            Next we will take our first look at the 1^st of 3 letters written by the Apostle John. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible.

2 PETER at a glance

WHO WROTE IT?: The Apostle Peter

WHY WAS IT WRITTEN?: To warn Christians about false teachers & to encourage them to grow in their faith & knowledge of Christ.

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN?: Approximately AD 67; 3 years after 1^st Peter was written, possibly from Rome.

WHO WAS IT FOR?: The church at large. In a case like this the letter would have been passed around to all the area churches; it wasn’t written to one church or individual.

 

            The Apostle Peter knew he wouldn’t be around much longer, since Emperor Nero was hell-bent on single handedly wiping out Christianity and Nero massive persecution efforts were taking place when Peter was in Rome. It is for that reason that he took the time to warn the early church recipients of his correspondence to be watchful for those who were teaching a different gospel. Once Peter was gone others would have to take up the mantle of battling the faux doctrines that were being spewed out. These teachers were charismatic & very persuasive, drawing many away from the one true gospel. That is also why Peter reminded his readers about the unchanging truth in the gospel.

            Heretical teaching can be presented in a subtle, deceitful way. Their presentation is appealing & offers a perspective that is more palatable than the real story, even though its falseness can be easily proven by anyone with a sound grasp of the true gospel. Believers today, as in Bible times, must still be alert so as not to fall into false doctrine, heresy & cultic activity. Peter’s letter gives ALL Christians, both then & now, clues to help detect false teaching.

            Peter ends his short letter as he began it, urging his readers to grow in the grace & knowledge of the Lord. They needed to work at cultivating that relationship with Christ, for the closer a believer is to Jesus / God, the easier it is to recognize false teaching.

            No matter where we are in our spiritual journey, no matter how spiritually mature we happen to be, this evil, sin riddled world will always be a challenge to our faith. Satan is relentless ... he is a defeated foe, so he has absolutely nothing at all to lose. He pulls out all the stops to trip up believers. That is why we MUST be on our guard, praying faithfully, that we might defeat our enemies. The devil cannot beat God, so the closer we are to God the more of a threat we become to our most vile enemy. We should never think we’ve arrived spiritually. There is ALWAYS room to grow. If we determine to draw closer to Christ each day we will be prepared to stand for truth in any and all circumstances.

            Next we’ll take a look at the Mega Themes found in Peter’s 2^nd letter. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible.

1st PETER: The Mega Themes

SALVATION - Our salvation is a gracious gift from God. He chose us out of his love for us ... Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins & the Holy Spirit cleansed us from sin when we believed. Eternal life is a wonderful gift for those who trust in Christ.

            Our safety & security are in God. If we experience joy in our relationship with Christ now, how much greater will our joy be when he returns, & we see him face to face. Such a hope should motivate us to serve Christ with a greater commitment.

 

PERSECUTION - Peter offers faithful believers comfort & hope. We should expect ridicule, rejection, and suffering because we are Christians. Persecution makes us stronger because it refines our faith. We can face persecution victoriously, as Christ did, if we rely on him.

            Christians still suffer for what they believe. We should expect persecution, but we don’t have to be terrified by it. The fact that we will live eternally with Christ should give us the confidence, patience, & hope to stand firm even when we are persecuted.

 

GOD’S FAMILY - We are privileged to belong to God’s family, a community with Christ as the founder & foundation. Everyone in this community is related - we are all brothers & sisters, loved equally by God.

            Because Christ is the foundation of our family, we must be devoted, loyal, & faithful to him. By obeying him, we show that we are his children. We must accept the challenge to live differently from the society around us.

 

FAMILY LIFE - Peter encouraged the wives of unbelievers to submit to their husbands’ authority as a means of winning them to Christ. He urged all family members to treat others with love, compassion, & humility.

            We must treat our families lovingly. Though it’s never easy, willing service is the best way to influence loved ones. To gain the strength we need for self-discipline & submission, we need to pray for God’s help.

 

JUDGMENT - God will judge everyone with perfect justice. We all will face God. He will punish the evildoers & those who persecute God’s people. Those who love him will be rewarded with life forever in his presence.

            Because all are accountable to God, we can leave judgment of others to him. We must not hate or resent those who persecute us. We should realize that we will be held responsible for how we live each day.

 

            Next we will take our first look at Peter’s 2^nd letter. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible

1st PETER at a glance

 WHO WROTE IT?: The Apostle Peter

WHY WAS IT WRITTEN?: To offer encouragement to persecuted Christians.

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN?: Approximately AD 62-64; possibly from Rome.

WHO WAS IT FOR?: Jewish Christians driven out of Jerusalem & scattered throughout Asia Minor.

 

                  Peter was probably in Rome when the great persecution under Emperor Nero began. (Eventually Peter was executed during this persecution.) Throughout the Roman Empire, Christians were being tortured & killed for their faith, & the church in Jerusalem was being scattered.       

            Peter, who was experiencing persecution as well, wrote this letter to comfort his readers with the hope of eternal life, challenging them to continue to live holy lives, set apart for God’s use. Whoever suffers for being a Christian becomes a partner with Christ in his suffering.  As our suffering takes place we need to remember that Christ is not only our hope in the midst of the suffering, but our example of how to endure our suffering faithfully. Because we are human, we may not be wired to handle severe suffering graciously, but with the Lord watching over us and the Holy Spirit within us, we are able to deflect our pain by focusing on Jesus himself and what life will be like when we are spending eternity with him. 

That may sound impossible to do in the midst of the suffering, but we serve a miracle working God; there is absolutely NOTHING he cannot do or enable US to do.

            We do not live in a perfect world ... far from it. Because God gave mankind a free will to do as we please, those who reject God can become tools for the devil to use. We were all given a free will because God doesn’t want followers who are FORCED to follow. He wants followers who WANT to follow of their own volition. 

Evil exists because God allows it, otherwise it wouldn’t exist. To force all peoples to serve God would be tyrannical in nature. Therefore, Satan’s influence on those who have no interest in serving their creator has the potential to bring about some very evil, sadistic, satanic events. They’ve been happening overtly all around the world for the last 3 years (and covertly for centuries). People who stand for their faith become a joke to those who have been persuaded to oppose them. Lies can and often do give birth to radical behavior that has the sole mission of destroying all that impinge on their perceived liberty. The devil has talked them into believing that following Christ is restrictive and dull. 

When we suffer gracefully with God’s help, we become a light in this world of darkness. Suffering for the sake of our faith doesn’t sound like a pleasant option but knowing that God never takes his eyes off of any of his children should give us a sense of peace. You see, the Lord knows what we can take and what our breaking point is. It can be a way to see how strong our faith is and at the same time bolster our faith as we endure more than we imagined were possible.

            During Peter’s 1^st letter he used several images that were very special to him because Jesus had used them when he had revealed certain truths to Peter. His name, which means “rock”, had been given to Peter by Jesus. Peter’s plan for the church, a spiritual house composed of living stones built upon Christ as the foundation, had come from Christ. Jesus had encouraged Peter to care for the church as a shepherd would care for his flock. For that reason it isn’t surprising that Peter used the terms “living stones” and “shepherds” and “sheep” when describing the church.

            Next we will take a look at the Mega Themes from Peter’s 1^st correspondence. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible.

JAMES: The Mega Themes

LIVING FAITH - James shares the thought that hearing the truth isn’t enough, they need to put that truth into action. He compares actionless, empty faith to faith that moves and thus, works. A commitment to loving service is evidence of true faith. Living faith makes a big difference for it can be seen by others and so will make a positive impact. Seeing someone’s faith in action says much more than endless chatter that isn’t backed up by action. Make sure your faith is more than just a statement with no resulting action. We need to find ways to put our faith to work.

 

TRIALS - Throughout our lives Christians experience both trials and temptations. Overcoming them successfully produces spiritual maturity and a strong character. We aren’t to resent problems when they come. We must pray for wisdom and guidance from the Lord, and he will provide everything we need to face persecution or adversity. The Lord will keep you spiritually strong and provide patience while going thru any adverse situation.

 

LAW OF LOVE - It should be plain to see that our salvation comes from God’s incredible mercy and absolutely NOT from keeping the law. Christ gave us a command, not just an optional statement, when he said to “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Now it stands to reason that the vast majority of folks love themselves. While there are always exceptions, loving yourself can more easily catapult us to loving and serving those we encounter each day. When we keep the law of love espoused by our Lord it will show that our faith in God is vital and real. When we exhibit love toward others we are overcoming our own selfishness.

 

WISE SPEECH - Wisdom shows in the way we speak. The Lord holds us responsible for the results that come from any destructive words that come out of our mouths. The same discipline we need to guard our tongue is used to put in check our actions. To accept God’s wisdom, as dispersed thru his word and by the Holy Spirit, will affect our speech. We need to tune in to the spirit so that we pick up on the Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction. As a result we invite many teaching moments that help in the spiritual maturation process. The way we speak can either convey true humility and thus promote peace or the opposite. We must THINK before we speak and ALLOW God to give us self-control. It can be like gaining control of a ship in a raging sea. Without that control we can crash against unseen rocks; with it we can have a peaceful journey in spite of the storm.

 

WEALTH - James taught Christians to not compromise when it comes to our attitude about wealth. This is because the glory of money can fade rather rapidly. If you disagree, talk to some of the lottery winners who found that sudden massive wealth can be our undoing. It is far better for believers to store up heavenly treasures thru sincere service toward others. We should show neither partiality, nor disfavor toward the wealthy among us or be prejudice against those who are without. We shall all be held accountable for how we use that which we have. We should never hoard that which we’ve been blessed with, but rather, be generous to all. Being impressed with great sums of wealth in others is foolhardy, for all the money in the world could never purchase forgiveness and provide for us eternal life. Striving to achieve wealth as our sole goal in life causes money to usurp God’s rightful place in our hearts. Serve God not money.

 

            Next we will take our first look at Peter’s 1^st letter to Jewish believers scattered throughout Asia Minor. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible

JAMES at a glance

 

WHO WROTE IT?: Jesus’ brother James, a leader in the Jerusalem church, wrote this epistle.

WHY WAS IT WRITTEN?: To expose hypocritical practices & teach correct Christian behavior.

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN?: Probably AD 49, prior to the Jerusalem council which was held in AD 50.

WHO WAS IT FOR?: The 1^st Century Jewish believers residing in Gentile communities outside of Palestine.

 

            This correspondence could easily be considered a “how-to” book on Christian living. It expresses James’ concern for those Christians that were once part of the Jerusalem church who were being persecuted for their faith. He begins his letter by outlining some general characteristics of the Christian life. Then he strongly urged the believers to act in society in a suitable and consistent way. 

            James then offers practical advice regarding the relationship between faith and action. On the heels of that advice he reveals the importance of controlling one’s tongue.  He distinguishes two kinds of wisdom - earthly & heavenly. James then encourages his readers to turn from evil desires & obey God. He expresses disapproval to those who trust in their own plans, rather than seek God’s will and follow it. James encourages his readers to be patient with one another, just as their Heavenly Father has been patient with them. 

            Finally, James tells his readers to be honest, open, and sincere when it comes to promises they may make ... they should be in the habit of praying for the brethren ... and help each other to remain faithful to God.

             

NOTE: James wrote to Jewish Christians who had been scattered throughout the Mediterranean world because of persecution. In their hostile surroundings they were tempted to let intellectual agreement pass for the true faith. This letter can have rich meaning for us as we are reminded that genuine faith transforms lives. We are encouraged to put our faith into action. It’s easy to say we have faith, but true faith will produce loving actions toward others.

            Next up we will look at the Mega Themes from James letter. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: The Life Application Study Bible

HEBREWS: The Old vs New Covenant - What are the Differences?

    The word testament is another word for covenant, so in one sense the question could be “What is the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament?” The literary work known as the Old Testament is actually made up of 39 individual documents that give us the details of the Old Covenant. The literary work known as the New Testament is actually made up of 27 individual documents that give us the details of the New Covenant.

The Old Covenant is the “working arrangement” that God had with Israel. He had chosen them for a special relationship that He did not have with any other group of people on earth. He took just a few patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and grew their descendants into a great nation and gave them a land (Canaan) and His law to live by (see Exodus 20 and following). The Israelites were to remain loyal to God, obeying Him and worshipping Him alone. If they did, He promised to bless them, and if they did not, He promised they would be punished (see Deuteronomy 27—28). God established a sacrificial system that would allow them to be cleansed (temporarily) from their sins—but these sacrifices had to be repeated over and over. He ordained priests to represent the people before Him, as the people could never come directly into the presence of God. And even with all these accommodations, the nation as a whole was unfaithful and eventually fell under the judgment of God.

The law under the Old Covenant was never a means to salvation; rather, it led to condemnation as people repeatedly broke the law and violated the covenant. In this new covenant, God said, Israel will be restored, sins will be finally forgiven, people will know God directly, and they will have His law written on their hearts so that they will want to obey Him.

Under the Old Covenant, only the priests could enter the Holy Place and only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place once per year. The New Covenant sacrifice of Jesus on behalf of His people means that sins can be forgiven once and for all. Another aspect of the New Covenant is that Gentiles can be “grafted into the tree of Israel” by faith in Jesus, the King and Messiah of Israel (see Romans 11:11–24).

In summary, the Old Covenant was governed by a law that prescribed correct behavior and that the people continually broke. It contained a sacrificial system that only temporarily removed sins. The sacrifices were administered by priests who represented the people of Israel to God, but the people could not enter God’s presence themselves.

The New Covenant is governed by a law that is internalized by the people of God and energized by His Spirit. The sins of the people are forgiven and removed once and for all by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and the people of God have direct, intimate access to Him. Finally, Gentiles who believe are included in the New Covenant.

                  Next we will take our first look at James’ letter to Jewish Christians, until then, walk with God and be a blessing.

 

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/old-covenant-vs-new-covenant.html