Change of pace. Shift gears. My wife and I go to McDonalds every Sunday morning for Egg McMuffins and senior coffee. Around $10. About $2 of actual ingredients or less, but that’s eating out. Then my granddaughter told me about the McDonalds app, which everyone in the world already uses that except me. We get a 2nd breakfast sandwich for $1 now and save $3. That makes it taste better to me. Don’t tell me that I am cheap. I already know that.

But as we sit this morning eating at MdDonalds, I look out the window and see some muhly grass, small cypress plants, some pansies, and some mulch. A sparrow or two. Do you think those plants or birds are worried about the future? Here is your Bible thought for the day: Matthew 6:²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?^[g] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ³⁴ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Are you a worrier? I am. I worry about not having anything to worry about. I think, “things are going too good; surely something bad is going to happen!” I am a “what if” person. What it this happens, what if this or that goes wrong. People hate to travel with me b/c I stress them out with my worrying. Anyone out there like that?

Jesus wasn’t telling us to not even try to work hard and provide for our needs. The birds don’t “sow or reap or gather into barns”, but they do constantly look for bugs to eat and to carry back to their chicks in their nests. But they don’t store up in barns for the future. They live day to day. And your (our) heavenly Father feeds them. How much of my time and energy is spent on planning for the future, for retirement, for possible catastrophic events? Again, nothing wrong with insurance and retirement plans. That is just good stewardship of what God has given us. But that should not be my main focus. I need to be focused on just enjoying each day that God gives me.

The sad thing is that, compared to most third world countries, I really don’t have anything to worry about. I have money, a nice house, stocked pantry, food in the fridge and freezer, and a credit card to go to a grocery store that in over stocked with food. I have a family doctor and we have hospitals and medical help for any sickness. I have medicare A and B and a supplemental policy to pay for it. I have nice cars. In the meantime, some child is walking 3 miles one way to get dirty water from a pond that the animals drink from and waste gets into. I. saw a “Water for Life” commercial raising money for drilling wells for clean water in Africa. A lady’s baby had died from drinking contaminated water. The mother could do nothing to get clean water and they did not have money for medical help. She had a 2nd baby and was afraid to let that baby drink the only water she had, the dirty water, for fear that child would die also.

Maybe a good New Year’s resolution for me would be to try not to worry so much. As Jesus said, worrying about something doesn’t help one bit, and it is a lack of faith. Seek first the kingdom of God and let God provide. What can I do today that would be the kingdom living that you read about in the sermon on the mount? What can I do today that will help someone find the kingdom of God and salvation. That’s what I need to be focussing on.

Have a great new year.

I saw an image of 2 Peter 2 that is really good. From another blog. Dave Owens https://guamdaveo.blogspot.com/2018/12/devotional-beware-false-teachers-2.html

2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also appeared among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. ² Many will follow their indecent behavior, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; ³ and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

3 traits identify false prophets or false teachers: 1) Immoral “indecent” sexual behavior, often taking advantage sexually with followers, like David Koresh who claimed that all the married women in his Branch Davidian cult were his wives, no longer to have sex with their husbands; 2) power; they “exploit” you, which implies taking control over followers, a power or pride thing; 3) greed; money is almost always involved; TV evangelists like Joel Osteen net worth $100 million, Joyce Meyers $8 million, Pat Roberson $100 million, Kenneth Copeland $300 million, Benny Hinn $60 million. BTW notice the phrase “even denying the Master who bought them”. Calvinism: TULIP. The L is “limited atonement”: since God only predestined a certain number to be saved, then Jesus only died for them, not for the whole world. But 2 Peter 2:1 says that Jesus “bought” these false teachers with his blood, so he died for them also and “Limited atonement” is wrong. False teachers will be judged and destroyed.

2 Peter 2:⁴ For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, held for judgment; ⁵ and did not spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; ⁶ and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example of what is coming for the ungodly; ⁷ and if He rescued righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the perverted conduct of unscrupulous people ⁸ (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), ⁹ then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, ¹⁰ and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt passion, and despise authority.

The main premise is “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment“. 3 examples of God judging and punishing the unrighteous: 1) the angels that sinned (when Satan led them in a rebellion against God) who were already in hell awaiting judgment; 2) the ungodly world before the flood; 3) the ungodly people in Sodom and Gomorrah by reducing them to ashes; 2 examples of God rescuing the godly from a trial: 1) He saved Noah and 7 others from the flood; 2) He brought Lot out of Sodom safely; Lot was oppressed by the perverts in Sodom, his soul tormented day and night by their deeds; we have to ask why he moved into Sodom if he was so against their sins; I assume he could get richer faster than living in the land that Abraham allowed him to pick (Genesis 12) but it cost him as he lost all his possessions, his wife turned to a pillar of salt, his 2 daughters got him drunk and committed incest with him.

2 Peter 2:Reckless, self-centered, they speak abusively of angelic majesties without trembling, ¹¹ whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a demeaning judgment against them before the Lord. ¹² But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, using abusive speech where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, ¹³ suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions as they feast with you, ¹⁴ having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having hearts trained in greed, accursed children; ¹⁵ abandoning the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the reward of unrighteousness; ¹⁶ but he received a rebuke for his own offense, for a mute donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the insanity of the prophet.

Again, the 3 traits of false teachers and false prophets: 1) sexually immoral, revelers in the daytime, eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin; 2) power: they revile angelic authorities, abusive speech control of followers, deceptive; 3) greed, money; hearts trained in greed, following the way of Balaam. The story of the prophet Balaam is in Numbers 22-24. He was hired by the Balak the king of Moab to curse Israel as they passed through the land of Moab on the way to the Promised Land. He agreed to go but his donkey spoke to him on the way rebuking him. He apparently would have cursed Israel and received his pay, but 4 times the Spirit made Balaam bless Israel instead of cursing them. The 4th time Balaam even predicted the coming of the Messiah in the distant future. Balaam did eventually get his pay at Peor (Numbers 25) when he advised Balak to get the Israelite men to have sex with the Moabite women which led to God killing 24,000 Israelites. The killing was stopped when Phinehas stuck a spear through an Israelite man and a Moabite woman having sex brazenly in the Israelite camp. Balaam was a prophet for hire just like the false prophets in 2 Peter 2.

2 Peter 2:¹⁷ These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸ For, while speaking out arrogant words of no value they entice by fleshly desires, by indecent behavior, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, ¹⁹ promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved. ²⁰ For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹ For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. ²² It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”

Another trait of false prophets is that they entice followers to engage in fleshly desires, promising them “freedom” to sin. A great example of this is the David Berg cult The Children of God, the Family Interntional who practised free sex and used sex to draw in new members (flirty fishing). Peter then adds that if someone has escaped from sin (i.e. has been saved) but then is overcome by sin, the latter state is worse than the first (he is worse than if he never became a Christian). In other words, he was once saved but fell from grace and ended up lost again. Does that imply degrees of punishment? Peter says it is like a dog returning to his vomit or a washed clean pig returning to wallow in the mud. That’s a pretty simple example, and yet Calvinists still say that you can’t fall from grace!

The Christian churches has been and continues to be filled with false prophets and false teachers for the past 2,000 years. Joseph Smith of the Mormons; Russell and Rutherford of the Jehovah’s Witnesses; Ellen G White of the Seventh Day Adventists; David Koresh of the Branch Davidians; Jim Jones of the People’s Temple; David Berg of the Children of God; Marchall Applewhite of the Heaven’s Gate suicidal cult; Mary Baker Eddy of the Christian Scientists; the false teachers and preachers of the LGBQT movement; the numerous false prophets who predicted the coming of Christ at certain dates that did not come true; the pope who claims to be the head of the church, who claims that God still gives inspired doctrines through him; the mega church TV evangelicals who are worth 10-100 million dollars. In the church I grew up in, a preacher of some denomination who taught different than my church on some minor doctrines like instrumental music in worship were considered to be false teachers, but I don’t agree with that. Always examine the motives of any teacher. Search the Scriptures to see if what they are teaching is the word of God. Have the attitude of the Bereans: Acts 17: ¹¹ Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

Many question whether Peter really wrote 2 Peter. He says in 2 Peter 1:A lot of uncertainly about exactly when Peter wrote 2 Peter and when he died. Tradition says that he was crucified upside down in Rome by Nero. Since Nero died in 68 AD, we can assume Peter both wrote 2 Peter and died between 64-67 AD. Are we sure Peter wrote 2 Peter? Many scholars say Peter did not write 2 Peter (even if they think he did write 1 Peter). Here is an article that discusses that debate over who wrote 2 Peter. https://answersingenesis.org/is-the-bible-true/did-peter-write-2-peter/?srsltid=AfmBOoqlolwPdUTr6Zvy1Nb5zI2-Cqhe_32JKTx8HuQ_zLsswW7kjs1j

I won’t summarize the article, but one point is interesting. Some say the grammar and style of 2 Peter is different that 1 Peter, which is true. I thought the article made a valid answer to that: “The differences between 1 Peter and 2 Peter reflect the specific pastoral situations in each. For example, 1 Peter is written to encourage believers who are facing suffering for their faith (1 Peter 1:6, 3:14). On the other hand, 2 Peter is written to warn believers about false teachers (2 Peter 2). In 2 Peter, Peter is at a different stage in his life, although only a few years apart from 1 Peter, as he knows that he is near death and so is leaving a farewell address (2 Peter 1:12–15).” Another issue is: “It is well noted amongst scholars that of all the books in the New Testament, 2 Peter had the most difficult time of being accepted into the canon. One of the reasons for this is that there were other letters that were forgeries (e.g., The Gospel of Peter, The Acts of Peter, The Apocalypse of Peter) around the second century claiming to be written by Peter.” “The early church father and historian of Christianity, Eusebius (AD 263–339), in his compilation on early church history, tells his readers that although 2 Peter was disputed, it was not unknown but recognized by many (Hist. eccl. 3.25). Irenaeus (AD 130–202), bishop of Lyon, seems to have had access to 2 Peter as the wording of 3:8, “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day,” is very close to what he wrote (Haer. 5.23.2). Other early church fathers, such as Clement of Alexandria (AD 150–215), also appear to accept 2 Peter as Scripture (see Eusebius Hist. eccl. 6.14.1, 3.25.3).” Bottom line, in the 4th century AD our 27 books of the NT were “officially” acknowledged to be the ” NT canon” of inspired scripture. Those who made that decision were not inspired and could have made a mistake, accepting a book that was not inspired or rejecting one that was inspired. But they did reject a few spurious “Peter epistles” like “The Acts of Peter”, and they did accept 2 Peter even though they acknowledged that many doubted Peter as the author. They saw enough evidence that the early church fathers accepted Peter as the author based on comments they made. I would add another argument that Peter wrote 2 Peter. My argument comes from 2 Peter 3 and his prediction of a new heavens and earth. As I will show later in a blog on 2 Peter 3, I think that chapter is predicting 70 AD. If so, the letter was written before that event, i.e. before 70 AD. If it was written before 70 AD, then those living at about the same time as Peter’s death would have known if Peter really wrote it. They would have exposed the letter as spurious if he did not write it. Another good article: https://bible.org/article/2-peter-peter%E2%80%99s “2 Peter was recognized as canonical by the Councils of Hippo and Carthage in the fourth century, and this is the more significant because these Councils rejected the Epistle of Barnabas and 1 Clement, because they were not of apostolic origin. . . . At the Reformation it was regarded as second-class Scripture by Luther, rejected by Erasmus, and regarded with hesitancy by Calvin.” I would claim that 2 Peter is “first class Scripture” b/c of the accurate prediction about 70 AD found in 2 Peter 3. I found this to be a good point in the article: “The struggle over 2 Peter began early in church history. “II Peter was disputed up to the time of Eusebius. It was quoted less and discussed more by the Church Fathers than any other single book of the New Testament.”¹¹ The earliest certain reference to ii Peter is in Origen, whom Eusebius (H.E. vi. 25) refers to as having said that Peter left one acknowledge epistle, and ‘perhaps also a second, for it is disputed… .’ Farther back than Origen it is not easy to trace.¹² Robert Picirilli has shown that 2 Peter is clearly a possible source for several allusions by the early church fathers. If and when the similarities between 2 Peter and the Fathers are a possible twenty-two times, “the level of likelihood ranging from merely possible to highly probable”¹³ is high that 2 Peter is Peter’s. He summarizes the external evidence well, by saying that:

One cannot dogmatically affirm that there are certainly no allusions to 2 Peter in the Apostolic Fathers; the common material is too obviously there… . [The] authenticity of 2 Peter will have to be debated on grounds other than whether the Apostolic Fathers knew it and alluded to it.” The arguments for and against Petrine authorship are many and complicated. But I do think Peter wrote 2 Peter.

2 Peter 1:1 To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: ² Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³ for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. ⁴ Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust.”

Notice twice “granted to us“:

1) His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. His divine “power” (dunamis: Power, strength, ability, might, miracle: the word we get dynamite from). Dunamis is often used of the miraculous power of God and of the Holy Spirit. It is often translated “miracle”. God’s miraculous power has granted (dóreomai: To give freely, to bestow) to us everything pertaining to eternal life and godliness (eusebeia: Godliness, piety, devotion). (AI) “In the New Testament, “eusebeia” refers to a reverent and devout attitude towards God, characterized by a life that reflects His holiness and commands. It encompasses both an inner piety and outward conduct that aligns with God’s will. This term is often associated with living a life that is pleasing to God, marked by moral integrity and spiritual devotion.”

2) Through these things (i.e. His own glory and excellence) He has granted to us His precious (timios: Precious, valuable, honorable)and magnificent (megas: Great, large, mighty: from which we get mega) promises so that by them (His promises) you can become partakers (koinónos: Partner, sharer, companion, participant) of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption (phthora: Corruption, decay, destruction) in the world on account of lust. God promised eternal life to us: Titus 1:² in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began ³ and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior” It is by that promise of eternal life that we partake of God’s nature, which I take to mean “immortality”. 1 Timothy 6:15 he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” 1 Corinthians 15:⁵³ For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” Think about that for a moment. We have escaped the sinful corruption of the world (and of us) through lust. We were trapped by our own lusts that separated us from God and made us dead spiritual. Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Usually you “escape” from something really bad, like being held a prisoner in a terrible place. By the grace of God, we escaped that corruption, that decay, that spiritual rottenness and have been given immortality, constantly cleansed by the grace of God through faith in the blood of Jesus. We share (partakers) of God’s immortality. All the bad in this life means nothing in light of this immortality and eternal life. 2 Corinthians 4:¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” I watch my wife’s 94 year old mother, her body failing in so many ways, “wasting away”. It helps to think that inside of her is this immortal body that will pass into eternal life with God, Jesus, her deceased husband of 70 years. I know she is ready and doesn’t even want to hang on to this life.

2 Peter 1:⁵ Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, ⁶ and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, ⁷ and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For the one who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; ¹¹ for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

But you can fall from grace and lose your eternal life (Calvinism says that you can’t fall from grace). Galatians 5:⁴ You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” 2 Peter 2:²⁰ For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹ For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. ²² It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.” A saved sinner can also become complacent and revert to his lusts. He can “forget” his purification from sin nd just take that for granted. He can become very worldly minded. He can become “useless and unproductive”, bearing little or no fruit. So to “make certain your eternal life, here are the qualities that you need to practice so that you don’t “stumble” and fall from grace. So you can receive “entrance into the eternal kingdom of Jesus”. They were “already” in the kingdom, the church, of Jesus. Colossians 1:¹³ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” But there was another “phase” of the kingdom to be delivered in 70 AD (as 1 Peter talked about so much) when the kingdom was officially realized as the kingdom above all worldly kingdoms. Revelation 11:“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Entrance into that phase of the kingdom was still future to the diaspora that Peter was writing to. Notice what Paul told the new converts on his first journey: Acts 14: ²¹ When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” We are not waiting to enter that kingdom today. We are in that kingdom, the church, the saved.

This is the famous Christian ladder: This image from Paul Reich: https://www.plumblineministries.org/post/the-progression-of-godliness

Obviously it all starts with “faith” since we are saved by grace through faith. Are these 7 virtures to be added to faith sequential, logical order, each virture building on the previous one. In other words, is “moral excellence” the first things we strive for once we are saved? And then add knowledge” to your “moral excellence”? Is there any priority of virtues here? I don’t think so. “Love” is the last one, and surely love is perhaps the first virtue we should strive for after becoming a Christian. I think the image above gives a brief definition of each virtue that will suffice. I am going to just sit here (and I encourage you the reader to do the same) and think about whether I have these virtues and are they “increasing” (2 Peter 1:⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing) constantly in my Christian walk. Rate yourself from 1 to 10 (10 being the highest) on these virtues in your life. Which ones are you the strongest in? Which ones are you the weakest in? I don’t get drunk or cheat on income tax, but what about my sinful thoughts and desires? I think I have the knowledge of God’s word pretty good, but do I really know God Jesus in a personal, intimate way? Can I control my lustful thoughts, passions, and desires? How “pious” am I, worshipping God constantly, giving him honor and praise? How affectionate am I with other believers, just good old brotherly love “(philadelphia: Brotherly love, love of brothers: Philadephia, the city of brotherly love) with hugs and concern? (AI) “Philadelphia refers to the love and affection shared among believers, akin to the love between siblings. It emphasizes a deep, familial bond that transcends mere friendship, highlighting the unity and mutual care expected within the Christian community. This term is used to describe the ideal relational dynamic among Christians, characterized by kindness, compassion, and support.” Finally, how loving am I? The Greek word for “love” is agape. (AI) “Agapé is a term used in the New Testament to describe a selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. It is the highest form of love, often associated with the love of God for humanity and the love that believers are called to have for one another. Unlike other Greek words for love, such as “eros” (romantic love) or “philia” (brotherly love), agapé is not based on emotions or feelings but is an act of the will, characterized by a commitment to the well-being of others.” Finally, are these virtues “increasing” as the years go by? In some of them, I think I am doing worse than I did when I first became a Christian. I don’t know about you, but I have a lot to work on! I’m thankful we have the grace of God and don’t have to practice these virtues perfectly.

What a challenge from Peter to the diaspora of Jewish Christians! What a challenge to us today! I need to look at the image above every day and think about practicing these virtues. I need to think about my purification from sin and how wonderful it is to be saved and given immortality and eternal life. How many days do I probably get up and go through the day with all its lusts and stresses and never even think about my forgiveness from sin?

2 Peter 1:¹² Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them and have been established in the truth which is present with you. ¹³ I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, ¹⁴ knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

I have taught lessons through the entire Bible many, many times since I started preaching and teaching the word. I have studied and taught the same books, like Acts, over and over through the years. I also realize that anyone in my classes have studied the same books multiple times with different teachers. I sometimes think, why keep studying the same Bible books over and over? Isn’t once enough? A lot of people feel that way and maybe that’s why the shift from direct Bible study to a study of some book some person wrote about the Bible. That’s ok, but I’m thinking, “why not just let the Holy Spirit Himself speak to us directly through the written word. There will always be a new, fresh perspective on the same passages even though we’ve studied them many times. Also our circumstances, age, season of life, experiences change. The Holy Spirit can take the. same book, like James, and apply it in a current, different way than He would have 5 years earlier.

Then there is the “reminder” factor. Peter is saying, “you already know all this; I’m just reminding you b/c it is very important.” That’s what a “reminder” is. Reminding us of something we already know. I get a phone call from my doctor: this is a reminder that you have an appointment Tuesday. I already knew I had the appointment, but I appreciated the reminder so I would not “forget” to go. Peter had spoken in 2 Peter 1:⁹ For the one who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.” Peter is trying to remind them of what it felt like when they first became Christians, when Jesus forgave all their sins, when they arose from the water of baptism to a new life, when they were so excited and happy about their new birth. Some had forgotten that, just as we tend to take that for granted today. Peter wanted to “stir” (diegeiró: To awaken, to stir up, to arouse) them up with this reminder, to call them to action (to go to that doctor appointment). (AI) “The verb διεγείρω is used in the New Testament to describe the action of awakening or stirring someone from sleep or inactivity. It conveys a sense of urgency and thoroughness, often implying a transition from a state of rest or dormancy to one of alertness or action. This term can be used both literally, as in waking someone from physical sleep, and metaphorically, as in stirring someone to spiritual awareness or action.” Peter wants to stir them to be “diligent” about the 7 virtues on the spiritual ladder.

Peter said that he wanted to remind them as long as was alive, but that, when he wrote the letter, his death was imminent. As stated in the 1st article on 2 Peter 1, his death was at the hands of Nero who died in 68 AD. Thus Peter died before that, sometime between 64-67 AD. He said that he would be
diligent” even after death that this 2nd letter would remind them of his warnings in the letter. We must be able to read 2 Peter as if Peter is personally speaking directly to us through the Holy Spirit. My mom wrote some long letters about things before she died. Occasionally I read through those letters again. When I do, I can just see her face, her voice, her expressions as if she was talking directly to me even though she was dead.

1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ² so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God. ³ For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of indecent behavior, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries. ⁴ In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of debauchery, and they slander you; ⁵ but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

Peter had just mentioned the suffering of Christ in 3:¹⁸ For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.” “Therefore” “arm (hoplizó: To arm, to equip: the word is only used once in the NT) yourselves to suffer just as Christ did.  (AI) “In ancient Greek culture, the concept of arming oneself was closely associated with the life of a soldier. Greek hoplites were heavily armed infantry soldiers, and the term ὅπλον referred to their armor and weapons. The act of ὁπλίζω would have been understood as a crucial step in preparing for warfare, emphasizing readiness and protection.” “The one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased (pauó: To cease, to stop, to restrain) from sin”. That does not mean the Christian will reach a state of never sinning. 1 John 1:⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” It does mean that is you turn from sin that you will suffer. 2 Timothy 3:¹² Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Outsiders will not persecute you if you are still participating in the same sins that they commit. They will persecute you if you condemn and turn from the sins they are living in. So if you do suffer for Jesus, it is a sign that indeed you have turned or ceased from sin. It is a sign that you have chosen “to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God.”

Those lusts can be summed up in 1 John 2:¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” I wonder how many church going Christians have not really made this choice. They are still living in their lusts just like the non Christians are. They are no different than outsiders. They don’t suffer persecution or mockery either. Peter says to his readers that they should have already turned from these lusts, and then he names the lusts.

“Indecent behavior” is aselgeia: Licentiousness, debauchery, sensuality, lewdness. (AI) “In the Greco-Roman world, “aselgeia” was often associated with the hedonistic lifestyles prevalent in certain segments of society. The term captures the essence of living without regard for moral or social norms, often in pursuit of personal pleasure. Such behavior was not only common in pagan religious practices but also in the broader cultural context, where indulgence in sensual pleasures was sometimes celebrated.” “Carousing” is kómos: Revelry, carousing, orgy. (AI) “In ancient Greek culture, a “kómos” was a common feature of religious festivals and social gatherings, where participants engaged in revelry and merrymaking. These events were often associated with the worship of Dionysus, the god of wine, and were marked by a lack of restraint and moral boundaries. The New Testament writers, aware of these cultural practices, used the term to caution against the dangers of such excesses and to promote a life of holiness and discipline.” “Drinking parties” is potos: Drinking, banquet, feast. (AI) “ In the Greco-Roman world, banquets and drinking parties were common social events. These gatherings were not only for celebration but also for discussing philosophical ideas, forming political alliances, and enjoying entertainment. However, they could also lead to moral excesses and were sometimes criticized by philosophers and moralists of the time. In Jewish culture, while wine was a common part of meals and celebrations, excessive drinking was generally discouraged.” “Wanton” is athemitos: unlawful, forbidden, improper. (AI) “The term “athemitos” is used to describe actions or behaviors that are considered unlawful or forbidden according to divine or moral law.” “Idolatries” is eidólolatria: Idolatry (a transliteration: the process of converting a word or phrase from one writing system to another while preserving its pronunciation.. ” (AI) “ In the Greco-Roman world, idolatry was a prevalent practice, with numerous gods and goddesses being worshipped through statues and images. Temples dedicated to these deities were common, and religious rituals often involved offerings and sacrifices to idols. For early Christians, rejecting idolatry was a significant aspect of their faith, as it distinguished them from the surrounding pagan culture.”

The pagan Gentiles were “surprised” (xenizó: To entertain, to lodge, to surprise, to astonish) that the Christians were no longer running with them in the same excesses of debauchery. (AI) “The verb “xenizó” primarily means to entertain or to host a stranger or guest. It can also imply being surprised or astonished by something unusual or unexpected. In the New Testament, it often carries the connotation of hospitality, especially in the context of welcoming and caring for fellow believers or strangers.” The connection between entertaining a stranger and being surprised (the two translations of xenizo) is that one is surprised when a stranger comes to your door looking for hospitality. You didn’t expect that person to show up at your door and you are surprised. “running with them” is suntrechó: To run together, to rush together, to come together. (AI) “The verb “suntrechó” is used in the New Testament to describe the action of people coming together quickly, often in a crowd or group, usually with a sense of urgency or excitement. It conveys the idea of converging or assembling rapidly, often in response to an event or situation.” “Debauchery” is asótia: Dissipation, debauchery, profligacy, reckless living. (AI) “ In the Greco-Roman world, “asótia” was often associated with the behavior of those who lived extravagantly and without regard for societal norms or personal responsibility. Such lifestyles were typically marked by excessive drinking, sexual immorality, and wastefulness. The term would have been understood by early Christians as a warning against adopting the hedonistic practices prevalent in the surrounding pagan culture.” The pagan Gentiles will slander (blasphémeó: To blaspheme, to speak evil of, to slander, to revile) you if you do not run with them in their debauchery.

These are some interesting word studies. The sins of the first century Gentiles are very similar to where our culture is today. Sexual immorality, drinking parties, hedonism (the ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life), drunkenness. Sinners today are “running together” to have a drinking party at a bar, to “hook up” with someone there for random sex, to find some thrill adventure that makes them laugh and be happy. They work at jobs but live for pleasure, sex, and drinking. I think it will become more and more apparent who the true children of God are in the future. The true Christian will not participate in those things. The sinners will mock them for not participating with them. “Oh, you think you are too good, better than us. You are going to miss out on all the fun.” It will also be harder and harder for the true Christian to abstain from all these sins. Their friends do all these sins and are surprised that you don’t. Psalm 1:Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” 1 Corinthians 15:³³ Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

“But they (the pagan Gentiles) will give account to Jesus who is ready to judge the living and the dead”. We automatically think this refers to some future (in our future) final judgment, but notice 2 Timothy 4:I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to (mello which always means about to happen in the NT)judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign.” 1 Peter 4:¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?This sounds like a judgment of the pagan Gentiles as well as the Jews in 70 AD. But how would AD 70 be a judgment on the Gentiles (as described in Romans 2)? In 70 AD, the Jewish Christians were shown to be the true children of God and not the unbelieving Jews who were killed in the destruction of the temple and city. That event in 70 AD would have also shown the pagan Gentiles that the Jewish diaspora Christians living among them in the empire were the true children of God. It would also show that the Jewish diaspora Christians whom they slandered were really the people of God. It would have exposed their pagan sinful life. The godly lives of the Christians would judge and condemn the sins of the pagan Gentiles and unbelieving Jews. The idea is found in 1 Peter 2:¹² Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of visitation.” So 70 AD was not a judgment of the Gentiles and the whole world as most depict it with an end of the world and everyone, dead or alive, standing before Jesus in judgment to be given eternal sentences and punishment. It was simply a time when the true Christian way of life in believers would be shown to be the one true way of God and thus the pagan Gentiles would be judged.

That judgment in 70 AD that was about to happen (2 Timothy 4:1) would be a judgment of “the living and the dead”. Jesus was “ready” to do that judgment. Vs 6 says that the gospel was preached to the dead, so the “dead” in vs 6 must be those spiritually dead, not physically dead. So the “dead” in vs 5 would also have to be the spiritually dead. The pagan Gentiles who would have to give an account for their sins (vs 5) would be the spiritually dead in vs 5 that Jesus was about to judge through the lives of the true believers. Some of those Gentiles who slandered the Christians would see the error of their ways and “glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12), become Christians, and “live spiritually (4:6).

1 Peter 4:⁷ The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. ⁸ Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Be hospitable to one another without complaint. ¹⁰ As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God. ¹¹ Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

This is such a critical statement: “the end of all things is near (eggizó: To draw near, to approach, to come near)”. The word eggizo is often translated in the NASB as “at hand” (Mark 1:15 the kingdom is at hand) or “approaching” (Luke 19:29 as Jesus approched Bethpage), or “near” (Luke 21:8 the time is near discussing AD 70 and things that were to happen within that generation Luke 21:³² verily I say to you — This generation may not pass away till all may have come to pass). So Peter’s meaning is clear. He is predicting the end of all things to happen soon. The world did not end soon, so he is not predicting that.If he was predicting that, then he is a false prophet b/c the end of the world did not happen soon. What did end soon (about 6 years after writing 1 Peter) was the destruction of Jerusalem and the judgment on the Jews in 70 AD, so this must be what Peter is referring to. He is referring to the end of the Jewish age, the Jewish nation as God’s nation, the end of keeping the Law and animal sacrifices, etc. that happened in 70 AD.

Since that end was near, Peter gives a list of Christian duties: use good judgment, pray, be
fervent (ektenés: Earnest, fervent, constant in love). The Greek adjective ἐκτενής (ektenés) conveys the idea of being earnest, fervent, or constant in action or attitude. It is often used to describe a quality of intense and sustained effort or emotion, particularly in the context of prayer, love, or other spiritual disciplines. The term suggests a stretching or reaching out with purpose and dedication. The word is derived from the Greek verb ἐκτείνω (ekteinō), meaning “to stretch out” or “to extend.” Be hospitable (philoxenos: Hospitable: Derived from two Greek words: φίλος (philos), meaning “loving” or “friend,” and ξένος (xenos), meaning “stranger” or “foreigner.” (AI) “In the ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman cultures, hospitality was a highly valued virtue. It was often seen as a sacred duty to welcome and care for travelers and strangers, who were vulnerable and dependent on the kindness of others. In the early Christian community, hospitality was especially important as believers traveled to spread the Gospel and needed safe places to stay. The practice of hospitality was also a means of demonstrating the love of Christ to others, both within and outside the faith community.” Use your unique spiritual gift (miraculous or not) to serve others as a good steward of that gift. Gifts can be divided into 2 general ctegories: 1) Speaking (like prophesying, tongues, teaching), and 2) Serving (like healing, mercy, exhortation). All things to the glory of God forever. Which category is your gift: speaking or serving? Or some of both (me).

The theme of 1 Peter is the suffering of the diaspora Jewish Christians. Read the background for this letter in the first article: 1 Peter Suffering (1). There are 4 fairly lengthy section on this suffering and how to endure it: thus 4 articles Suffering 1,2,3,4. But what about the other comments by Paul mixed in with these sections on suffering?

1. 1 Peter 1:¹⁰ As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, ¹¹ seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.” What salvation? He had just told them that after a little while of suffering that they would receive glory and salvation at the revelation of Jesus (His 2nd coming). Therefore they should rejoice even in their suffering. 1:10 comments on that salvation. The prophets in the OT did prophesy of the gracious salvation that the Messiah would bring, of his sufferings and his glorious resurrection. For example, Isaiah 53: But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed. He was oppressed and afflicted,
   Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, But the Lord desiredTo crush Him, causing Him grief if He renders himself as a guilt offering, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. ¹¹ As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied;By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, For He will bear their wrongdoings. ¹² Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the plunder with the strong, Because He poured out His life unto death, And was counted with wrongdoers; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the wrongdoers.” This Messianic prediction has the suffering, death, resurrection, and glory of the Messiah to come 700 years after Isaiah wrote this. The Dead Sea Scrolls confirms that this was written at least 150 years before Jesus was born. A complete copy of Isaiah, the Great Isaiah Scroll, has Isaiah 53 almost verbatim with our earliest Hebrew copy of Isaiah which was 1000 AD. That showed that the prediction in Isaiah 53 were not put in there “after the fact” and that the book was copied accurately through the centuries since the original. But did Isaiah understand his predictions? No. Did Micah understand his prediction that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)? No. Did David understand his prediction of Jesus’ resurrection in Psalm 16:For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay”? No. No doubt these prophets did “careful searches and inquiries” into what the Holy Spirit had inspired them to write. Maybe they meditated on previous scripture. Maybe they asked the Spirit to explain their predictions to them. But they were never told what the “person or time” in which their predictions would be fulfilled. All that was “revealed to them” was that the fulfillment was not for their time or benefit but for the distant future generations. Peter tells the diaspora that they were able to. understand and benefit from the fulfillment of all the Messianic prophecies via the preaching of the gospel (the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus which by grace through faith they were saved). What a great privilege! Even the angels never understood God’s plan. Would you rather live in Isaiah’s time period? I don’t think so. We live 2,000 years after God’s plan was completely revealed in the NT in the first century AD. We are even more privileged than the first century diaspora. We have all the letters of the NT explaining this gospel salvation. They were looking for glory and immortality to be given them after a “little while” at the 2nd coming in 70 AD. We have that immortality and assurance that we will live eternally after we die.
2. 1 Peter 1:¹³ Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, ¹⁵ but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; ¹⁶ because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” “Therefore” (based on what went before) Peter tells them how they should live so as not to lose that future salvation. So they were expecting to receive this salvation and immortality at the “revelation of Jesus” (His 2nd coming). Paul said that the believers, some of whom would still be alive at the resurrection, would receive immortality at the resurrection at the end of the Jewish Age in 70 AD (1 Corinthians 15). That glory was “about to be” revealed to them: 5:1 Elders who [are] among you, I exhort, who [am] a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and of the glory about to be (mello which always means about to happen) revealed.” In 70 AD God would show to the world who the true sons of God were, i.e. the Jewish Christians and not the unbelieving Jews who were rebelling against Rome and would be killed (a million died) in the siege and destruction of the city and the temple. Paul also spoke of this glory “about to be revealed” in Romans 8:¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory about to be (mello)revealed in us”. As Gentiles Christians living 2,000 years later, it is hard to understand what 70 AD meant to the Jewish Christians who had been persecuted by their Jewish non believers during the transition period from 30-70 AD. It gave them relief from their persecution from the Jews (1 Thessalonians 1) and showed the world that they were the true children of God. But, they would need to be faithful in order to receive that glory and immortality. They would need to not be conformed (suschématizó: To conform, to fashion oneself according to: from which we get a “schematic”: a drawing or plan that shows the details of how something operates or is put together) to their former lusts which could cause them to fall from grace and lose their future salvation.” The goal: Be ye holy (hagios: Holy, sacred, set apart) as He (God) is holy. God makes us “set apart”, cleansed, “sanctified” (“Hagiazō”: is a verb that signifies the act of making something holy or sacred. It’s derived from the Greek word “hagios” (ἁγιος), which means “holy”. It signifies the process of setting something or someone apart for God’s special use or purpose.” But we are not special if we conform ourselves to the lusts of sinners all around us. Instead, Romans 12:1 I call upon you, therefore, brethren, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice — living, sanctified, acceptable to God — your intelligent service; ² and be not conformed (suschématizó: To conform, to fashion oneself according to) to this age, but be transformed (metamorphoó: To transform, to change form: the word we get “metamorphosis”: Metamorphosis is a biological process that involves a significant change in an organism’s form, structure, or substance during development. It can occur in many animals, including insects, amphibians, fish, mollusks, and crustaceans) by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what [is] the will of God — the good, and acceptable, and perfect.” In other words we go from ugly cocoons to beautiful butterflies. Not by our own good works, but by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. He cleanses us from sin and will keep us clean by the blood of Jesus. So try to keep that new cleansed self as clean from sin as you can. You don’t have to be perfect and sinless, but you should try. The grace of God will take care of the rest. 1 John 1:⁷ and if in the light we may walk, as He is in the light — we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son doth cleanse us from every sin.” From AI: “Helping us to live for God is what the Spirit’s “sanctifying work” is all about. As Peter indicates, our participation in this can be described mainly as obedience. Sanctification is the moment-by-moment process by which we more and more submit our hearts, minds, and bodies to following Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
   Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 6:11
   And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Paul quotes from Leviticus “be ye holy for I am holy”. “Be ye holy for I am holy” is a central theme in the Book of Leviticus, specifically found in Leviticus 11:44-45 and 19:2, where God commands the Israelites to be holy, reflecting His own holiness. This signifies a call to live a life dedicated to God, reflecting His purity, righteousness, and separation from the world. The Israelites had just come out of pagan Egypt and God was calling them to be different from the Egyptians and their idolatry and sins. Am I any different from the non Christians around me? Am I still consumed by the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life? Would a non Christian look at me and see that I am a special cleansed sinner?