That is something you will need to grow in the grace of our Lord and to come to understanding with faith "FROM God"
1 Peter 2:2.
You are right in that what you said.
"God does not reject anyone by outward appearance.
We are separated from God by our sin nature.
Our sin nature is inherited at birth, going all the way back to Adam. Romans 5:12.
It's the heart of mankind that God looks at.
1 Samuel 16:7.
Here is what the Bible say about the heart.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Jeremiah 17:9-10.
Psalms 53:1-3 gives a good description of the state of man at his best when he is separated from God and again this separation is at birth!
Here's the Good news!
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That "WHOSOEVER" believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that "WHOSOEVER" believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, "WHOSOEVER" believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
[24] who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
My Interpetation:
To be set free from checks and balances scales through Jesus Sacrifice on cross death 3rd day rise again from grave.
Provided - Hand of God Taking Authority over our words and minds speaking faith , living your life like God, Christians.
Mark 1:15 KJV
'"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" '
To believe I'm Jesus Christ to be the truth also healing God's spoken words
Interpretation Written and Spoken by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY
As I had a tear of meniscus last week and am compelled to stay home this week, I grab the opportunity to write a few comments. It is actually not bad to have such a break from work, nevemind the meniscus problem.
Well, we, christians, are called by God as kings and priests, aren't we?
1 Peter 2:9-10, "9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people... 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God...."
And Rev 1:6, "And (Jesus) hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;... Amen."
But we don't see ourselves to be kings and priests, do we? Where is our kingdom? We are normal people among normal people. Paul says in 1 Cori 1:26 that "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:". Not many noble, Paul says. So where is our kingdom? Is it an imaginary one?
Some say that the scriptures talk about the Heavenly kingom. Others say that we will be kings during the millenium. Both are right but I wish to see it in another way.
Let'a go to David the King. When did prophet Samuel annoint David as King of Israel? When he was a kid. When did David actually reigned? Many many years later after the death of Saul. So he was annointed as a king by God but for many years he hadn't got any kingdom.
Similarly we have been actually annointed by God as kings and priests now but we have not been given our physical kingdom yet. The latter will be done some time in the future.
Similarly Jesus was annointed by God as a king (and He is actually a king) but His kingdom will be revealed some time in the future. Until that time people can not see any Kingdom.
Rom 8:19, "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."
Col 3:3-4, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him"
Brother Richard, what a beautiful prayer of faith and dependence on the Lord!
May your heart rest in this truth - that God's plans for you are perfect and full of peace.
Psalm 37:5 (KJV): "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
As you stand at this final stage, remember that victory is not only in the job offer itself, but in the steadfast trust you place in the Lord through every step. Whether He opens this particular door or another, His purpose for you cannot fail.
Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
You are indeed chosen, set apart, and dearly loved. ( 1 Peter 2:9)
May God go before you this week, grant you favor before men, and give you peace to wait in faith. Whatever the outcome, your testimony will shine of His goodness and faithfulness.
Standing with you in prayer, brother - may His will be done and His name glorified.
Dear Lord in my search for a job at the final stage accept me to Trust in your word that; Psalm 18:2 (NLT): "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my saviour; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety". please my father this coming week I ask you to grant me victory to be appointed for the job by Gods grace. Help me to emerge the best to the employers with God's report in Jesus Christ's name Amen. Also, I believe that I am chosen. I am a member of the royal priesthood and a member of a Holy Nation, God's very own possession. I show others the Goodness of God because He has called me out of darkness and into His marvellous light ( 1 Peter 2:9). Help, lord, this week to receive my Job Offer and appointment in Jesus' name, amen
Permit me to follow the example of Elihu and act in accordance with his statement in Job 32:21-22.
In a previous comment, you emphasized the importance of properly considering a matter before speaking, so as not to appear as "fools." I wonder if perhaps the claim that Christ will reign with the saints on earth was rebutted too quickly, without sufficient consideration.
The 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 14:2-3 are described as the firstfruits of those saved in Israel after the rapture, as verse 14 clarifies. However, this does not imply that Christ will not return to earth with them. They will return together with all who have inherited salvation, as seen in Revelation 21:1-3.
It is also important to note that the New Jerusalem, symbolically represented as the Bride, represents the spiritual Church or body of Christ. This is supported in Hebrews 12:22, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:5, and 1 Corinthians 3:9. Only those who have received the Spirit of Christ are considered part of the Church of Christ ( 1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 8:9).
This Church will return to earth and reign with Christ for a thousand years, as indicated in Revelation 20:4, Revelation 12:5, and Revelation 19:15.
As Elihu said in Job 34:22: "If you have understanding, hear this; listen to the voice of my words."
Please note that my words are not intended as insults or to cause offense, for that would not reflect the love that the Lord Jesus expects from us. Rather, my intention is to encourage careful consideration of matters from a biblical perspective, rather than relying solely on worldly opinion. As the Lord Jesus said, many teach the traditions of men as doctrine, and as Paul says, we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.
I remain sufficiently vague here but the character limit here is sometimes not the most convenient way to conclude a thought (or perhaps we are to be our own zip drive). Ok enough said I'll zip my lip on that subject...
What I wanted to say in full on the final sentence in the last post was that the church needs not to be too focused on social issues but also not too removed from them either. There is no reason why we have to divorce the Gospel when focusing on issues; in light of Christ's clear emphasis of them on the Sermon on the Mount. The world needs to see us living out the truth of the Word and not just conveniently fitting the mold so that there is any justification to us being singled out as hypocrites or hateful people.
Maybe I should have titled this as one of Satan's strengths; as it seems we are all afraid to "offend" anyone. The Gospel is an offence as we read in 1 Peter 2:8 - "And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." With this and other supporting scriptures let's dispel any lingering thoughts to the contrary. What offends people should NOT be abrasive speech; as that is not what brings us to the Lord but His love constrains us ( 2 Cor. 5:14). Love and concern for others can be associated with a certain moral compass even if few represent Him properly in this manner. So in one sense we should commit to going out of our way to help people with volunteer efforts; although impromptu ones or routine ones with our own personal contacts is likely to bear more fruit. But we can't let that be the end all. Being knowledgeable as to the agendas of a particular organization is best found in sites such as Charity Navigator. This situation takes wisdom as we can work with people in certain churches and organizations but not commit to membership; for instance.
I'll call this series (if it goes beyond this post) in depth Christian fellowship in the Body of Christ. As typical on my end I don't put as much forethought as I should perhaps. It should be clear by now that if I am obsessive with anything there is always scriptural backing. Hopefully thinking outside the box will help us to meditate on deeper meanings of our brothers and sisters in Christ; and how we learn to build relationships based on Christ's teachings and through the Spirit rather than our own understanding.
I also want to avoid being boring here; while admitting that without being strongly gifted with serving spiritually it is an effort at times for me to do what I'm sure many of you do on a regular basis in terms of serving others. In general my theme here is that being Born Again allows us to rejoice in serving not only other believers but those in the world who; well aren't exactly out there heaping praise on us all the time. I will say that even when I am not up to par; there is sympathy at times when people see my concern to get it right in an attempt to honor my supervisors and therefore the Lord in my work.
Of course as Paul stated it wasn't his primary mission (he really didn't have the time) in serving tables (see Acts 6:2). He certainly was an example of self sacrificial life himself but the Word of God and the limits of time he had as a travelling Apostle didn't allow for lengthy sidetracks.
I would like to redirect our attention to our role as kings and priests spelled out in Revelation. Jesus acts now; according to Hebrews 4:14 and many other verses in that book and elsewhere to facilitate intercession with the Father in our behalf. We are also 1 Peter 2:5
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ-this indicates our role in service; prayers and TRAINING for future rule in heaven.
How to pray in 2025: Part 6: Touching on "imprecatory" prayers.
I am on a roll here; but like a brick wall there is the very difficult discussion I am about to address on prayer in regard to the destruction of the wicked. Whether it is necessary to actually do this or not; we should know that David prayed many of these prayers and having the broken and contrite spirit that Psalm 51 mentions is imperative to avoid our own hypocrisy in some "holier than thou" prideful attitude.
I am convinced that this is a priority issue that also encompasses prayer that must be discussed. As my earlier posts suggest there is a sort of merging of the concept of people dying in the seal judgments with the plagues and hell in the 5th seal. Isaiah himself states that hell enlarges herself ( Isaiah 5:14).
When we are saved; TRULY Born Again we understand we truly were enemies of God; helpless in our sin and we indeed were on the broad road to destruction before He called and chose us. At least it USED to be taught that way. Today's "seeker friendly" attitude is something that I have no doubt stating that will be part of the concept of "spewing out of His mouth" in regard to a lukewarm church mentioned in Revelation 3:16 which I would suspect means someone is left behind in the Tribulation. Whether their faith is true or not no doubt a remnant there was saved or Jesus sould not have addressed it. Now of course that actual church along with all the other ones in Asia Minor in the region of Turkey are long gone but the concept stands today.
Whether we feel like it or not God wants us to love the things He loves and hate what He hates. There are many corresponding verses which I will leave the reader to study. Let's veer to the other side on that concept; the idea of loving our enemies. God is backwards to our flesh; but we only begin to realize that after we are saved. We are a peculiar people ( 1 Peter 2:9). We are aliens to this world ( 1 Chron. 29:15).
Revelation 1:6 - And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
And made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; three things. Now again, notice it says he made us kings and priests. The fulfillment is in Exodus 19:6. God gives the promise that He's going to make Israel a kingdom of priests for Him.
In 1 Peter 2:5, Peter quotes that for the Jews. Again, this is all within the Jewish Literature section. The Gentiles are never called kings and priests. When Jesus reigns on the earth after His second coming, Jewish believers will be working the temple as priests, not Gentiles.
Then it says to Him be glory and dominion, and the word dominion is the word KRATOS, which means grip. It shows the one who is in control. To Him is glory and control for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 2:19 - For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
For this is thankworthy, and the word thankworthy is kind of interesting, it's the word CHARIS for grace. For this is grace, if a man for conscience toward God endures grief, suffering wrongfully, or unjustly.
1 Peter 2:20 - For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted, literally beaten with fists, for your faults, and the word faults is the word sin. And you take it patiently? That is, you endure a beating because you have sinned. But if, when ye do well, and here we get into the TOV and the RAH again. If you function in a way in God's administration, the way He has created you to function, and you suffer for it, and you take it patiently, that is, you endure under it, this is acceptable with God.
The word acceptable is the word grace. God identifies Himself and His grace with the lowly, with those who need His grace, which is why we're told three times in the New Testament that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. So, this is grace, that because of your conscience towards God, and notice that.
Again, as we get into understanding about submission, my master is abusive, but because of my conscience toward God, because of my personal relationship with Christ, I'm not going to fight for my rights. I'm not going to protest the injustice. But I'm going to submit myself to God. And what does God do? His grace ministers to, and is sufficient.
1 Peter 2:17 - Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Honor all men. The word honor means put a value on them. Value all people. If you have to look at all people as being ones for whom Christ died, they have value!
Then we have three commands that are Present Imperatives, showing continuous action. Continually love the brotherhood (the family of God), continually love the family of God. Continually fear God. That's what it says. Is it right to fear God? Yes, it is right. In fact, just by studying the social habits of man, do you know that we make decisions based on who we fear the most, and who we love the most? And we sometimes compromise with our walk with the Lord because we fear how other people are going to react to us if we obey the Lord. We fear them. We fear rejection. We fear their response.
1 Peter 2:18 - Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
But here we have Peter saying, servants be subject, or in submission to your masters with all fear. Now the word servants, you would think it would be DULOS, which is a slave, but it isn't. This word means household servant. These are servants that lived in the household, and they were like part of the family. They lived in the household, and they served among the family members.
The word for masters is not the word Lord like it usually is in the text. This one is DESPOT, the owner. So, we have household servants. They are to be in submission to their owners in all fear. Not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward (SKOLIOIS). This is where we get our word scoliosis from, the crooked. Fear them too! Some translations use the word harsh or abusive.
So, whether it's to a master who is good and gentle, or someone who is harsh and abusive, they are to be in an orderly relationship to their masters in all fear.
1 Peter 2:16 - As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
But do it as free men. There's another paradox. Do it as free. That's the opposite of slave. And not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, and that's the word RAH in Hebrew, KAKOS in Greek. You see, I'm free. Christ has set me free. I'm no longer a slave to sin, but I am a slave to Christ. It's one or the other.
So, I've been set free to serve Christ, but I'm not to use that freedom for a cloak to function in a way that I was not created to function, but rather as slaves of God. Many don't understand what true freedom is. A person is either a slave to sin, or a slave of Christ. That's it! We have been set free from being a slave to sin in order to serve Christ and be a slave to Him.
Some might say that's not freedom. Oh yes, it is. It's not freedom for me to do my own thing. In fact, in 1 Corinthians Chapter 6, Paul laid out the principles of freedom. Paul basically was saying freedom to do whatever you want to do is not freedom. You know you are free when you are free not to do things.
So, if nothing in this earthly world, this material world that we live in, if nothing means that much to you, it's not a problem. But I can get addicted, obsessed with anything, video games, sports, gambling, anything, and it will bring me under its power. You see, I can say I'm free to do that if I wanted to. Well, then I'm not free. I'm not free unless I can stop doing anything for the sake of other people, and their walk with Christ. To me, that's freedom!
1 Peter 2:12 - Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Having your conversation, that is, lifestyle, honest among the Gentiles:
They really have trouble with the words good and bad. The word honest is the word KALOS for TOV, the Hebrew word we went over earlier. It literally says have your manner of life functioning in the purpose for which it was made among the Gentiles. In order that (Purpose Clause), whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, again KALOS, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
So, you function in the way that God meant you to function. That's having a good lifestyle. We make mistakes and we sin, but he's talking about function. Before I received Christ, I was not functioning according to the purpose that I was created for. So, what God has done, He has saved me, and I am now involved in His administration system, not the worlds. We've got the world's administration, and the Lord's administration functioning together, two different administrations.
So, what am I to do with that other system out there? I have to live in it and not be of it. What he's saying is, function in the Lord according to the purpose for which He created you. And if they speak evil of you for it, then they're going to glorify God when He comes back because they're going to know that it was all of the Lord.
1 Peter 2:15 - For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
For so is the will of God, that with well doing you may silence the ignorance of foolish men: The "well doing" is TOV in Hebrew. You're functioning in the way that God has created you to function in a dysfunctional world. One day, the ignorance of foolish men will be silenced.
1 Peter 2:11 - Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
He says dearly beloved, or literally beloved. It is interesting that as soon as you get into submission, you call your readers beloved. The word beloved is AGAPETOI, which means people who are the objects of God's love. So, he's reminding them. He says those who are the objects of God's love, I appeal to you. That's what beseech means.
He says I appeal to you as to strangers and pilgrims. I mean, they were literally strangers and pilgrims. They were living in countries that were not their own. They knew humanly what it meant to be a stranger and a pilgrim spiritually.
This Greek word for stranger (PAROIKOUS) means to live alongside of. And you might say don't we live alongside of each other? What this literally means is that it's showing a separation. It's coming and living alongside of people who are already living there.
I know I'm throwing out a lot of terms here, but I share these things in order to set things up when we get to Revelation. I know this has been long and some of you might be saying please hurry up and get this over with. But the book of Revelation says that there are only two kinds of people. There are people who belong to Christ, and the other people are called earth dwellers.
So, we're living alongside of earth dwellers. But we're just passing through. We're strangers here and we're pilgrims. And that's the word for traveler. I might be alongside of them, but I'm not of them. I'm passing through. I'm a pilgrim!
He says abstain from fleshly lusts, which are warring, and notice the translation, are warring against the soul; The word war is a Present Participle. It is continuously warring. The believer is continuously in a war. His fleshly desires are continually warring against the soul, constantly!
The word soul is PSUECHE, your psyche, the arena of your mind.
1 Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
In this verse, we see a lot of Jewish terms. You are a chosen generation. The word generation in this verse (GENOS) means race. The Jews are God's chosen race. He says you are a royal priesthood. And that's not for Gentiles. That's for Jews. You are a holy nation. You are a peculiar people. Sometimes I think this could apply to us because I've come across some pretty peculiar people that are not Jews!
But the word peculiar (PERIPOIESIN) means people of a possession. That you should shew forth the praises of him who has called you out of the darkness into his marvelous light: So, he's bringing up this stone of salvation.
To the ones stumbling at the word, being disobedient: again, refusing to be persuaded, and to which also they were appointed, that is, to stumble because of their disobedience. Now it's interesting about this stone. We've seen PETROS, we've seen Petra, and we've seen LETHOS as we have here. But it's interesting what Jesus said in His public ministry using LETHOS.
When Jesus saw them, beheld them, He said what is this then that is written, the stone, the LETHOS, which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. He's quoting from the same Isaiah Chapter 28 text. Whosoever shall fall upon this stone shall be broken. But on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. So, a person only has one of two choices. You voluntarily fall on the stone, which is Christ, and be broken, or if you reject Him, He will fall on you and grind you to powder.
Is it A, or is it B? That's basically the Lord's presentation. There was no C, or none of the above. And for every person's life, those are the two choices. Lay down your life, surrender to Christ to be broken. Or if not, He will fall on you and grind you to powder in the great judgment.
1 Peter 2:7 - Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
Unto you therefore who believe he is precious: but to them which be disobedient, and it's interesting that it's one Greek word (APEITHOUSIN) that means refuse to be persuaded. Disobedient is somebody who refuses to be persuaded by God's Spirit. The stone which the builders rejected, this same stone became the head of the corner.
1 Peter 2:8 - And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
A stone of stumbling, and a PETRA of offence, a rock of offence. The way they built their buildings in those times, they took a cornerstone and put it in the corner of where the building was going to go and then used other stones and built off from that in order to make the house.
So, the cornerstone was the head focus of how that building was put together, so that when Christ came, He came as the chief cornerstone, and that all of His people, the ones who believe upon Him, are being built up in Him into this spiritual house. But for those who disbelieve, He is not the chief cornerstone, He is the stumbling stone, and a rock of offence. Interesting that Peter is writing this and he calls Jesus Petra. He's not calling himself that!
1 Peter 2:4 - To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
To whom (Christ), coming, and please notice that this is a Present Participle, coming. To whom continually coming, as unto a living stone (the living stone is Christ), disallowed, or rejected of men, but chosen of God, and precious.
He's now introduced as a living stone. This is the word LETHOS. It's not the word PETROS, or PETRA. It's the word LETHOS which is a medium size stone. It's larger than a PETROS, but not as big as a Petra. So, He was rejected by men, but by God He is elect and precious.
1 Peter 2:5 - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
You also, as lively stones, and the word lively is an Old English word for living. It's the same word for Jesus Christ, and it's the same wording, LETHOS, only it's plural.
1 Peter 2:6 - Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
He says wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, (from Isaiah 28:16), Behold, I lay in Sion, or Zion. You'll hear Jewish people call it Sion also. I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, that's a LETHOS, elect, and precious: and he that believes upon Him shall not be confounded.
And the word confounded means embarrassed, or to withdraw yourself. The bible tells us that when Christ comes, the non-believers are going to look for places to hide, whereas the believer is going to run out because their Lord has come.
Interesting that even in the Hebrew scriptures, God said a chief cornerstone is going to come who's elect and precious, and the that believes upon Him shall not be embarrassed, or withdrawn. The word (not) by the way is Double Negative, shall never be confounded, or ashamed, or withdrawn.
1 Peter 2:3 - If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
So, if indeed you have received Christ, if indeed you have been feeding off of His truth, and found that He is gracious, he says keep going. If you've been born of the seed of God, the word of God, then continue to grow by feeding on His word that feeds your reasoning process.
There are two words that I want to share that I think is absolutely necessary to know to be able to fit in and understand the Jewish Literature section of the bible. There are two words in Hebrew, one represents good, and the other represents bad or evil. The Hebrew word for good is the word TOV. The Hebrew word for bad or evil is RAH.
Now here's how it works in Hebrew:
In creation, you'll remember that after the various days of creation, it said God looked at what He had created and saw that it was good, everything was good. Well, the Hebrew word for good TOV) means it is serving the purpose for which it is created. Now Rah is the opposite. If something is bad or evil, it's basically functioning in a way that it was not created to function.
And that really puts into proper focus about sin, about doing good, about doing bad, doing evil, is that as a sinner, I function in a way that God did not design for me to function. It's not according to my purpose that He has for me.
I wanted to share this now because it says in the last line of Verse 3, if you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. In the Greek text, it says the Lord is useful. The corresponding Hebrew word is TOV. If you have tasted that the Lord is functioning in a way that He is meant to function, then continue on.
If you have tasted from Christ and found Him to be true, and found Him to be the Messiah, and found Him to be the Savior, then continue on. The Lord is useful in the way that He functions and in His relationship to us.
Now the word for "word," you would think that it would be the word for the word of God or for scripture, but it isn't. It is the word LOGIKOS, and it pertains to the reasoning process of man. We get our English word logical from this term. And so, it's not milk of the word. It's milk for the reasoning process. It's milk to feed your mind. And it is without duplicity. It has no double meaning.
The only other place where LOGIKOS is found is in Romans Chapter 12 Verse 1. It's the word reasonable, except is doesn't mean your logical service. It means your service is coming out of your reasoning process. You serve the Lord with thinking things out and making your decisions to obey Christ.
So, what Peter is saying is that as newborn babes, desire the sincere, that is, it means what it says, milk of the reasoning process. It's the milk that feeds the reasoning process. And the purpose clause: in order that you might grow in it.
1 Peter 2:2 - As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
After having done this, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:
Well, wouldn't you know it, the text is not as easy as it sounds. As newborn babes, there are different phases of growth in the Christian life. Both Paul and Peter mentioned milk as being the food for young Christians, infants, people who have just come to know the Lord.
Peter here, and then Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, he said when I first ministered to you, I fed you with milk. Now you should be able to eat solid food but you're still not able, and you're still drinking milk. And that was a five-year period that he said you should be able to start eating solid food. But milk is for infants, babes, newborn Christians. There's nothing wrong with that.
There's no problem, until you've known the Lord for 10 to 20 years and you're still drinking milk. That's a problem!
But desire the sincere milk. The word sincere is the negative form of the word guile. It's without deception, or literally without duplicity, and it literally means no double meaning. That's what deception is. You say one thing, but you mean another. Well, with the milk that you're fed with, you don't have to worry about it tricking you or not saying what it says. It is without duplicity. It has no double meaning. It means what it says, the intent of the inspiration of the writer as he wrote it.
Paul says it's that easy for a person who's saved because the old life still functions but it does not have control over us. Just put it off. You don't have to be delivered. You don't have to be prayed for. You don't have to cast the demon out. After having laid aside all malice, and the word malice has to with causing adversity.
Secondly, and all guile. Guile means deception.
Thirdly, and hypocrisies. That is, acting the role. It's the third principle in being a non-believer. You have to take on many roles and act many roles depending on what people you're with.
Fourthly, envies. This is desiring what other people have or who other people are.
And lastly: all evil speakings. This is one Greek word, KATALALEO, which means to speak against, and it's the word slander. So, causing adversity, and all deception, and acting, and your envy, and all slander, put it off.
1 Peter 1:22 - Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Seeing you have purified your souls, and it's interesting that this is an Aorist Participle. After your souls have been purified in obeying the truth through the Spirit into an unfeigned, that is, un-hypocritical love of the brethren, a love that is not an act. It's the real thing. See that you love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Now fervently doesn't mean get excited. It means to extend, a pure heart that extends itself, not observation, but you actually extend help to the brethren, and it's out of a pure heart, out of your love and concern for them.
1 Peter 2:1- Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
He says wherefore, or therefore, based upon what he said at the end of Chapter 1, you've been born again by the seed of God which is the word of God, and now you will grow by the same way.
Wherefore laying aside, and in the Greek text that's actually what is called an Aorist Participle, past time. It's literally translated after having laid aside. That shows salvation. And there are five things that are associated with the old life and with salvation. It is interesting that both Paul and Peter used the same language about the old life. They literally say put it off, lay it aside. It's the term for taking off your coat. And it literally means to take it off and just lay it down on the side.
Hebrews 13:15 - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
The term giving thanks, giving is a Present Participle, confessing praise and thanks to His name. God says I don't want animal sacrifices. I want the sacrifice of praise and thanks. And again, that's not something to be practiced. He's after our heart, that no matter what is going on, we praise Him and thank Him because we know it's from Him. If we complain and murmur, then we are complaining against God!
Hebrews 13:18 - Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
He says Pray for us. That's a Present Imperative. Imperative is a command. Continue to pray for us.
The reason: For we trust we have a good conscience, and this is based on the fact that we have a clear good conscience before God, therefore pray for us in all things willing to live honestly.
Hebrews 13:20 - Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Now may the God of peace, because the main verb is not until we get down to Verse 21. And it's an Optative mood which means it's a wish. So, we could put the word may in here. Now may the God of peace, concerning prayer, power, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus. He's the God of peace, and He raised up Jesus from the dead.
Concerning His position: That great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. All of these scripture references in the Old Testament, as well as in the New Testament, say that Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep: Psalm 23, Isaiah 63:11, Isaiah 40:11, Ezekiel 34:23, John 10:11, 1 Peter 2:25, and 1 Peter 5:4.
Always nice to hear from you. I can see how you would be reminded of those two verses. It is God who builds the house even though some men over the years have tried to take credit. We are told in Psalm 127:1 that "Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it.
You brought up 1 Peter 2:5 which speaks of us being the living stones and that we are being built up a spiritual house, and that took me to Ephesians 2:20-22, especially Verse 22. What is being picturing for us is that individually we know that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. But collectively, we are being shaped according to Peter in 1 Peter Chapter 1, (which you rightly so brought up) that we are living stones being shaped and formed to fit in.
We will eventually be a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. That is, God's presence and His glory will be in the midst of us, radiating out in us, to us, and through us throughout eternity. It will be in the shape of a habitation, or dwelling. And that's what we're being prepared for, to fit into this habitation. And it is God doing all the building!
Gigi, I don't understand why you say "Such living causes unbelievers to take notice of what we profess because our lifestyle agrees with what the Scriptures". Where in the Bible does it say God's children are supposed to live their lives in a manner that causes unbelievers to take notice?
1 Peter 2:12 KJVS says:
"Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."
Based on that scripture, doesn't it seem like the purpose of living a Godly life to glorify God?
You said you don't own a Bible.
That is something you will need to grow in the grace of our Lord and to come to understanding with faith "FROM God"
1 Peter 2:2.
You are right in that what you said.
"God does not reject anyone by outward appearance.
We are separated from God by our sin nature.
Our sin nature is inherited at birth, going all the way back to Adam. Romans 5:12.
It's the heart of mankind that God looks at.
1 Samuel 16:7.
Here is what the Bible say about the heart.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Jeremiah 17:9-10.
Psalms 53:1-3 gives a good description of the state of man at his best when he is separated from God and again this separation is at birth!
Here's the Good news!
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That "WHOSOEVER" believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that "WHOSOEVER" believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, "WHOSOEVER" believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 10:9-11
You noticed I emphasized WHOSOEVER?
That's an invitation to everyone!
That's what makes the Good news Good news!
Blessings!
1 Peter 2:24 KJV
[24] who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
My Interpetation:
To be set free from checks and balances scales through Jesus Sacrifice on cross death 3rd day rise again from grave.
Provided - Hand of God Taking Authority over our words and minds speaking faith , living your life like God, Christians.
Mark 1:15 KJV
'"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" '
To believe I'm Jesus Christ to be the truth also healing God's spoken words
Interpretation Written and Spoken by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY
As I had a tear of meniscus last week and am compelled to stay home this week, I grab the opportunity to write a few comments. It is actually not bad to have such a break from work, nevemind the meniscus problem.
Well, we, christians, are called by God as kings and priests, aren't we?
1 Peter 2:9-10, "9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people... 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God...."
And Rev 1:6, "And (Jesus) hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;... Amen."
But we don't see ourselves to be kings and priests, do we? Where is our kingdom? We are normal people among normal people. Paul says in 1 Cori 1:26 that "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:". Not many noble, Paul says. So where is our kingdom? Is it an imaginary one?
Some say that the scriptures talk about the Heavenly kingom. Others say that we will be kings during the millenium. Both are right but I wish to see it in another way.
Let'a go to David the King. When did prophet Samuel annoint David as King of Israel? When he was a kid. When did David actually reigned? Many many years later after the death of Saul. So he was annointed as a king by God but for many years he hadn't got any kingdom.
Similarly we have been actually annointed by God as kings and priests now but we have not been given our physical kingdom yet. The latter will be done some time in the future.
Similarly Jesus was annointed by God as a king (and He is actually a king) but His kingdom will be revealed some time in the future. Until that time people can not see any Kingdom.
Rom 8:19, "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."
Col 3:3-4, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him"
GBU
May your heart rest in this truth - that God's plans for you are perfect and full of peace.
Psalm 37:5 (KJV): "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
As you stand at this final stage, remember that victory is not only in the job offer itself, but in the steadfast trust you place in the Lord through every step. Whether He opens this particular door or another, His purpose for you cannot fail.
Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
You are indeed chosen, set apart, and dearly loved. ( 1 Peter 2:9)
May God go before you this week, grant you favor before men, and give you peace to wait in faith. Whatever the outcome, your testimony will shine of His goodness and faithfulness.
Standing with you in prayer, brother - may His will be done and His name glorified.
In a previous comment, you emphasized the importance of properly considering a matter before speaking, so as not to appear as "fools." I wonder if perhaps the claim that Christ will reign with the saints on earth was rebutted too quickly, without sufficient consideration.
The 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 14:2-3 are described as the firstfruits of those saved in Israel after the rapture, as verse 14 clarifies. However, this does not imply that Christ will not return to earth with them. They will return together with all who have inherited salvation, as seen in Revelation 21:1-3.
It is also important to note that the New Jerusalem, symbolically represented as the Bride, represents the spiritual Church or body of Christ. This is supported in Hebrews 12:22, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:5, and 1 Corinthians 3:9. Only those who have received the Spirit of Christ are considered part of the Church of Christ ( 1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 8:9).
This Church will return to earth and reign with Christ for a thousand years, as indicated in Revelation 20:4, Revelation 12:5, and Revelation 19:15.
As Elihu said in Job 34:22: "If you have understanding, hear this; listen to the voice of my words."
Please note that my words are not intended as insults or to cause offense, for that would not reflect the love that the Lord Jesus expects from us. Rather, my intention is to encourage careful consideration of matters from a biblical perspective, rather than relying solely on worldly opinion. As the Lord Jesus said, many teach the traditions of men as doctrine, and as Paul says, we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.
I remain sufficiently vague here but the character limit here is sometimes not the most convenient way to conclude a thought (or perhaps we are to be our own zip drive). Ok enough said I'll zip my lip on that subject...
What I wanted to say in full on the final sentence in the last post was that the church needs not to be too focused on social issues but also not too removed from them either. There is no reason why we have to divorce the Gospel when focusing on issues; in light of Christ's clear emphasis of them on the Sermon on the Mount. The world needs to see us living out the truth of the Word and not just conveniently fitting the mold so that there is any justification to us being singled out as hypocrites or hateful people.
Maybe I should have titled this as one of Satan's strengths; as it seems we are all afraid to "offend" anyone. The Gospel is an offence as we read in 1 Peter 2:8 - "And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." With this and other supporting scriptures let's dispel any lingering thoughts to the contrary. What offends people should NOT be abrasive speech; as that is not what brings us to the Lord but His love constrains us ( 2 Cor. 5:14). Love and concern for others can be associated with a certain moral compass even if few represent Him properly in this manner. So in one sense we should commit to going out of our way to help people with volunteer efforts; although impromptu ones or routine ones with our own personal contacts is likely to bear more fruit. But we can't let that be the end all. Being knowledgeable as to the agendas of a particular organization is best found in sites such as Charity Navigator. This situation takes wisdom as we can work with people in certain churches and organizations but not commit to membership; for instance.
Again keep Matthew 10:16 in mind.
I'll call this series (if it goes beyond this post) in depth Christian fellowship in the Body of Christ. As typical on my end I don't put as much forethought as I should perhaps. It should be clear by now that if I am obsessive with anything there is always scriptural backing. Hopefully thinking outside the box will help us to meditate on deeper meanings of our brothers and sisters in Christ; and how we learn to build relationships based on Christ's teachings and through the Spirit rather than our own understanding.
I also want to avoid being boring here; while admitting that without being strongly gifted with serving spiritually it is an effort at times for me to do what I'm sure many of you do on a regular basis in terms of serving others. In general my theme here is that being Born Again allows us to rejoice in serving not only other believers but those in the world who; well aren't exactly out there heaping praise on us all the time. I will say that even when I am not up to par; there is sympathy at times when people see my concern to get it right in an attempt to honor my supervisors and therefore the Lord in my work.
Of course as Paul stated it wasn't his primary mission (he really didn't have the time) in serving tables (see Acts 6:2). He certainly was an example of self sacrificial life himself but the Word of God and the limits of time he had as a travelling Apostle didn't allow for lengthy sidetracks.
I would like to redirect our attention to our role as kings and priests spelled out in Revelation. Jesus acts now; according to Hebrews 4:14 and many other verses in that book and elsewhere to facilitate intercession with the Father in our behalf. We are also 1 Peter 2:5
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ-this indicates our role in service; prayers and TRAINING for future rule in heaven.
I am on a roll here; but like a brick wall there is the very difficult discussion I am about to address on prayer in regard to the destruction of the wicked. Whether it is necessary to actually do this or not; we should know that David prayed many of these prayers and having the broken and contrite spirit that Psalm 51 mentions is imperative to avoid our own hypocrisy in some "holier than thou" prideful attitude.
I am convinced that this is a priority issue that also encompasses prayer that must be discussed. As my earlier posts suggest there is a sort of merging of the concept of people dying in the seal judgments with the plagues and hell in the 5th seal. Isaiah himself states that hell enlarges herself ( Isaiah 5:14).
When we are saved; TRULY Born Again we understand we truly were enemies of God; helpless in our sin and we indeed were on the broad road to destruction before He called and chose us. At least it USED to be taught that way. Today's "seeker friendly" attitude is something that I have no doubt stating that will be part of the concept of "spewing out of His mouth" in regard to a lukewarm church mentioned in Revelation 3:16 which I would suspect means someone is left behind in the Tribulation. Whether their faith is true or not no doubt a remnant there was saved or Jesus sould not have addressed it. Now of course that actual church along with all the other ones in Asia Minor in the region of Turkey are long gone but the concept stands today.
Whether we feel like it or not God wants us to love the things He loves and hate what He hates. There are many corresponding verses which I will leave the reader to study. Let's veer to the other side on that concept; the idea of loving our enemies. God is backwards to our flesh; but we only begin to realize that after we are saved. We are a peculiar people ( 1 Peter 2:9). We are aliens to this world ( 1 Chron. 29:15).
Revelation 1:6 - And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
And made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; three things. Now again, notice it says he made us kings and priests. The fulfillment is in Exodus 19:6. God gives the promise that He's going to make Israel a kingdom of priests for Him.
In 1 Peter 2:5, Peter quotes that for the Jews. Again, this is all within the Jewish Literature section. The Gentiles are never called kings and priests. When Jesus reigns on the earth after His second coming, Jewish believers will be working the temple as priests, not Gentiles.
Then it says to Him be glory and dominion, and the word dominion is the word KRATOS, which means grip. It shows the one who is in control. To Him is glory and control for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 2:19 - For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
For this is thankworthy, and the word thankworthy is kind of interesting, it's the word CHARIS for grace. For this is grace, if a man for conscience toward God endures grief, suffering wrongfully, or unjustly.
1 Peter 2:20 - For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted, literally beaten with fists, for your faults, and the word faults is the word sin. And you take it patiently? That is, you endure a beating because you have sinned. But if, when ye do well, and here we get into the TOV and the RAH again. If you function in a way in God's administration, the way He has created you to function, and you suffer for it, and you take it patiently, that is, you endure under it, this is acceptable with God.
The word acceptable is the word grace. God identifies Himself and His grace with the lowly, with those who need His grace, which is why we're told three times in the New Testament that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. So, this is grace, that because of your conscience towards God, and notice that.
Again, as we get into understanding about submission, my master is abusive, but because of my conscience toward God, because of my personal relationship with Christ, I'm not going to fight for my rights. I'm not going to protest the injustice. But I'm going to submit myself to God. And what does God do? His grace ministers to, and is sufficient.
1 Peter 2:17 - Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Honor all men. The word honor means put a value on them. Value all people. If you have to look at all people as being ones for whom Christ died, they have value!
Then we have three commands that are Present Imperatives, showing continuous action. Continually love the brotherhood (the family of God), continually love the family of God. Continually fear God. That's what it says. Is it right to fear God? Yes, it is right. In fact, just by studying the social habits of man, do you know that we make decisions based on who we fear the most, and who we love the most? And we sometimes compromise with our walk with the Lord because we fear how other people are going to react to us if we obey the Lord. We fear them. We fear rejection. We fear their response.
1 Peter 2:18 - Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
But here we have Peter saying, servants be subject, or in submission to your masters with all fear. Now the word servants, you would think it would be DULOS, which is a slave, but it isn't. This word means household servant. These are servants that lived in the household, and they were like part of the family. They lived in the household, and they served among the family members.
The word for masters is not the word Lord like it usually is in the text. This one is DESPOT, the owner. So, we have household servants. They are to be in submission to their owners in all fear. Not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward (SKOLIOIS). This is where we get our word scoliosis from, the crooked. Fear them too! Some translations use the word harsh or abusive.
So, whether it's to a master who is good and gentle, or someone who is harsh and abusive, they are to be in an orderly relationship to their masters in all fear.
1 Peter 2:16 - As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
But do it as free men. There's another paradox. Do it as free. That's the opposite of slave. And not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, and that's the word RAH in Hebrew, KAKOS in Greek. You see, I'm free. Christ has set me free. I'm no longer a slave to sin, but I am a slave to Christ. It's one or the other.
So, I've been set free to serve Christ, but I'm not to use that freedom for a cloak to function in a way that I was not created to function, but rather as slaves of God. Many don't understand what true freedom is. A person is either a slave to sin, or a slave of Christ. That's it! We have been set free from being a slave to sin in order to serve Christ and be a slave to Him.
Some might say that's not freedom. Oh yes, it is. It's not freedom for me to do my own thing. In fact, in 1 Corinthians Chapter 6, Paul laid out the principles of freedom. Paul basically was saying freedom to do whatever you want to do is not freedom. You know you are free when you are free not to do things.
So, if nothing in this earthly world, this material world that we live in, if nothing means that much to you, it's not a problem. But I can get addicted, obsessed with anything, video games, sports, gambling, anything, and it will bring me under its power. You see, I can say I'm free to do that if I wanted to. Well, then I'm not free. I'm not free unless I can stop doing anything for the sake of other people, and their walk with Christ. To me, that's freedom!
1 Peter 2:12 - Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Having your conversation, that is, lifestyle, honest among the Gentiles:
They really have trouble with the words good and bad. The word honest is the word KALOS for TOV, the Hebrew word we went over earlier. It literally says have your manner of life functioning in the purpose for which it was made among the Gentiles. In order that (Purpose Clause), whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, again KALOS, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
So, you function in the way that God meant you to function. That's having a good lifestyle. We make mistakes and we sin, but he's talking about function. Before I received Christ, I was not functioning according to the purpose that I was created for. So, what God has done, He has saved me, and I am now involved in His administration system, not the worlds. We've got the world's administration, and the Lord's administration functioning together, two different administrations.
So, what am I to do with that other system out there? I have to live in it and not be of it. What he's saying is, function in the Lord according to the purpose for which He created you. And if they speak evil of you for it, then they're going to glorify God when He comes back because they're going to know that it was all of the Lord.
1 Peter 2:15 - For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
For so is the will of God, that with well doing you may silence the ignorance of foolish men: The "well doing" is TOV in Hebrew. You're functioning in the way that God has created you to function in a dysfunctional world. One day, the ignorance of foolish men will be silenced.
1 Peter 2:11 - Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
He says dearly beloved, or literally beloved. It is interesting that as soon as you get into submission, you call your readers beloved. The word beloved is AGAPETOI, which means people who are the objects of God's love. So, he's reminding them. He says those who are the objects of God's love, I appeal to you. That's what beseech means.
He says I appeal to you as to strangers and pilgrims. I mean, they were literally strangers and pilgrims. They were living in countries that were not their own. They knew humanly what it meant to be a stranger and a pilgrim spiritually.
This Greek word for stranger (PAROIKOUS) means to live alongside of. And you might say don't we live alongside of each other? What this literally means is that it's showing a separation. It's coming and living alongside of people who are already living there.
I know I'm throwing out a lot of terms here, but I share these things in order to set things up when we get to Revelation. I know this has been long and some of you might be saying please hurry up and get this over with. But the book of Revelation says that there are only two kinds of people. There are people who belong to Christ, and the other people are called earth dwellers.
So, we're living alongside of earth dwellers. But we're just passing through. We're strangers here and we're pilgrims. And that's the word for traveler. I might be alongside of them, but I'm not of them. I'm passing through. I'm a pilgrim!
He says abstain from fleshly lusts, which are warring, and notice the translation, are warring against the soul; The word war is a Present Participle. It is continuously warring. The believer is continuously in a war. His fleshly desires are continually warring against the soul, constantly!
The word soul is PSUECHE, your psyche, the arena of your mind.
1 Peter 2:9 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
In this verse, we see a lot of Jewish terms. You are a chosen generation. The word generation in this verse (GENOS) means race. The Jews are God's chosen race. He says you are a royal priesthood. And that's not for Gentiles. That's for Jews. You are a holy nation. You are a peculiar people. Sometimes I think this could apply to us because I've come across some pretty peculiar people that are not Jews!
But the word peculiar (PERIPOIESIN) means people of a possession. That you should shew forth the praises of him who has called you out of the darkness into his marvelous light: So, he's bringing up this stone of salvation.
1 Peter 2:8 Continued
To the ones stumbling at the word, being disobedient: again, refusing to be persuaded, and to which also they were appointed, that is, to stumble because of their disobedience. Now it's interesting about this stone. We've seen PETROS, we've seen Petra, and we've seen LETHOS as we have here. But it's interesting what Jesus said in His public ministry using LETHOS.
When Jesus saw them, beheld them, He said what is this then that is written, the stone, the LETHOS, which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. He's quoting from the same Isaiah Chapter 28 text. Whosoever shall fall upon this stone shall be broken. But on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. So, a person only has one of two choices. You voluntarily fall on the stone, which is Christ, and be broken, or if you reject Him, He will fall on you and grind you to powder.
Is it A, or is it B? That's basically the Lord's presentation. There was no C, or none of the above. And for every person's life, those are the two choices. Lay down your life, surrender to Christ to be broken. Or if not, He will fall on you and grind you to powder in the great judgment.
1 Peter 2:7 - Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
Unto you therefore who believe he is precious: but to them which be disobedient, and it's interesting that it's one Greek word (APEITHOUSIN) that means refuse to be persuaded. Disobedient is somebody who refuses to be persuaded by God's Spirit. The stone which the builders rejected, this same stone became the head of the corner.
1 Peter 2:8 - And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
A stone of stumbling, and a PETRA of offence, a rock of offence. The way they built their buildings in those times, they took a cornerstone and put it in the corner of where the building was going to go and then used other stones and built off from that in order to make the house.
So, the cornerstone was the head focus of how that building was put together, so that when Christ came, He came as the chief cornerstone, and that all of His people, the ones who believe upon Him, are being built up in Him into this spiritual house. But for those who disbelieve, He is not the chief cornerstone, He is the stumbling stone, and a rock of offence. Interesting that Peter is writing this and he calls Jesus Petra. He's not calling himself that!
1 Peter 2:4 - To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
To whom (Christ), coming, and please notice that this is a Present Participle, coming. To whom continually coming, as unto a living stone (the living stone is Christ), disallowed, or rejected of men, but chosen of God, and precious.
He's now introduced as a living stone. This is the word LETHOS. It's not the word PETROS, or PETRA. It's the word LETHOS which is a medium size stone. It's larger than a PETROS, but not as big as a Petra. So, He was rejected by men, but by God He is elect and precious.
1 Peter 2:5 - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
You also, as lively stones, and the word lively is an Old English word for living. It's the same word for Jesus Christ, and it's the same wording, LETHOS, only it's plural.
1 Peter 2:6 - Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
He says wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, (from Isaiah 28:16), Behold, I lay in Sion, or Zion. You'll hear Jewish people call it Sion also. I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, that's a LETHOS, elect, and precious: and he that believes upon Him shall not be confounded.
And the word confounded means embarrassed, or to withdraw yourself. The bible tells us that when Christ comes, the non-believers are going to look for places to hide, whereas the believer is going to run out because their Lord has come.
Interesting that even in the Hebrew scriptures, God said a chief cornerstone is going to come who's elect and precious, and the that believes upon Him shall not be embarrassed, or withdrawn. The word (not) by the way is Double Negative, shall never be confounded, or ashamed, or withdrawn.
1 Peter 2:3 - If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
So, if indeed you have received Christ, if indeed you have been feeding off of His truth, and found that He is gracious, he says keep going. If you've been born of the seed of God, the word of God, then continue to grow by feeding on His word that feeds your reasoning process.
There are two words that I want to share that I think is absolutely necessary to know to be able to fit in and understand the Jewish Literature section of the bible. There are two words in Hebrew, one represents good, and the other represents bad or evil. The Hebrew word for good is the word TOV. The Hebrew word for bad or evil is RAH.
Now here's how it works in Hebrew:
In creation, you'll remember that after the various days of creation, it said God looked at what He had created and saw that it was good, everything was good. Well, the Hebrew word for good TOV) means it is serving the purpose for which it is created. Now Rah is the opposite. If something is bad or evil, it's basically functioning in a way that it was not created to function.
And that really puts into proper focus about sin, about doing good, about doing bad, doing evil, is that as a sinner, I function in a way that God did not design for me to function. It's not according to my purpose that He has for me.
I wanted to share this now because it says in the last line of Verse 3, if you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. In the Greek text, it says the Lord is useful. The corresponding Hebrew word is TOV. If you have tasted that the Lord is functioning in a way that He is meant to function, then continue on.
If you have tasted from Christ and found Him to be true, and found Him to be the Messiah, and found Him to be the Savior, then continue on. The Lord is useful in the way that He functions and in His relationship to us.
1 Peter 2:2 Continued
Now the word for "word," you would think that it would be the word for the word of God or for scripture, but it isn't. It is the word LOGIKOS, and it pertains to the reasoning process of man. We get our English word logical from this term. And so, it's not milk of the word. It's milk for the reasoning process. It's milk to feed your mind. And it is without duplicity. It has no double meaning.
The only other place where LOGIKOS is found is in Romans Chapter 12 Verse 1. It's the word reasonable, except is doesn't mean your logical service. It means your service is coming out of your reasoning process. You serve the Lord with thinking things out and making your decisions to obey Christ.
So, what Peter is saying is that as newborn babes, desire the sincere, that is, it means what it says, milk of the reasoning process. It's the milk that feeds the reasoning process. And the purpose clause: in order that you might grow in it.
1 Peter 2:2 - As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
After having done this, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:
Well, wouldn't you know it, the text is not as easy as it sounds. As newborn babes, there are different phases of growth in the Christian life. Both Paul and Peter mentioned milk as being the food for young Christians, infants, people who have just come to know the Lord.
Peter here, and then Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, he said when I first ministered to you, I fed you with milk. Now you should be able to eat solid food but you're still not able, and you're still drinking milk. And that was a five-year period that he said you should be able to start eating solid food. But milk is for infants, babes, newborn Christians. There's nothing wrong with that.
There's no problem, until you've known the Lord for 10 to 20 years and you're still drinking milk. That's a problem!
But desire the sincere milk. The word sincere is the negative form of the word guile. It's without deception, or literally without duplicity, and it literally means no double meaning. That's what deception is. You say one thing, but you mean another. Well, with the milk that you're fed with, you don't have to worry about it tricking you or not saying what it says. It is without duplicity. It has no double meaning. It means what it says, the intent of the inspiration of the writer as he wrote it.
1 Peter 2:1 Continued
Paul says it's that easy for a person who's saved because the old life still functions but it does not have control over us. Just put it off. You don't have to be delivered. You don't have to be prayed for. You don't have to cast the demon out. After having laid aside all malice, and the word malice has to with causing adversity.
Secondly, and all guile. Guile means deception.
Thirdly, and hypocrisies. That is, acting the role. It's the third principle in being a non-believer. You have to take on many roles and act many roles depending on what people you're with.
Fourthly, envies. This is desiring what other people have or who other people are.
And lastly: all evil speakings. This is one Greek word, KATALALEO, which means to speak against, and it's the word slander. So, causing adversity, and all deception, and acting, and your envy, and all slander, put it off.
1 Peter 1:22 - Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Seeing you have purified your souls, and it's interesting that this is an Aorist Participle. After your souls have been purified in obeying the truth through the Spirit into an unfeigned, that is, un-hypocritical love of the brethren, a love that is not an act. It's the real thing. See that you love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Now fervently doesn't mean get excited. It means to extend, a pure heart that extends itself, not observation, but you actually extend help to the brethren, and it's out of a pure heart, out of your love and concern for them.
1 Peter 2:1- Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
He says wherefore, or therefore, based upon what he said at the end of Chapter 1, you've been born again by the seed of God which is the word of God, and now you will grow by the same way.
Wherefore laying aside, and in the Greek text that's actually what is called an Aorist Participle, past time. It's literally translated after having laid aside. That shows salvation. And there are five things that are associated with the old life and with salvation. It is interesting that both Paul and Peter used the same language about the old life. They literally say put it off, lay it aside. It's the term for taking off your coat. And it literally means to take it off and just lay it down on the side.
Hebrews 13:15 - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
The term giving thanks, giving is a Present Participle, confessing praise and thanks to His name. God says I don't want animal sacrifices. I want the sacrifice of praise and thanks. And again, that's not something to be practiced. He's after our heart, that no matter what is going on, we praise Him and thank Him because we know it's from Him. If we complain and murmur, then we are complaining against God!
Hebrews 13:18 - Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
He says Pray for us. That's a Present Imperative. Imperative is a command. Continue to pray for us.
The reason: For we trust we have a good conscience, and this is based on the fact that we have a clear good conscience before God, therefore pray for us in all things willing to live honestly.
Hebrews 13:20 - Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Now may the God of peace, because the main verb is not until we get down to Verse 21. And it's an Optative mood which means it's a wish. So, we could put the word may in here. Now may the God of peace, concerning prayer, power, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus. He's the God of peace, and He raised up Jesus from the dead.
Concerning His position: That great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. All of these scripture references in the Old Testament, as well as in the New Testament, say that Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep: Psalm 23, Isaiah 63:11, Isaiah 40:11, Ezekiel 34:23, John 10:11, 1 Peter 2:25, and 1 Peter 5:4.
All of this was to lead up to the verb.
Psalm 107:2
John 1:12
John 12:47
Romans 10:13
Hebrews 11:6
1 Peter 2:9
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Always nice to hear from you. I can see how you would be reminded of those two verses. It is God who builds the house even though some men over the years have tried to take credit. We are told in Psalm 127:1 that "Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it.
You brought up 1 Peter 2:5 which speaks of us being the living stones and that we are being built up a spiritual house, and that took me to Ephesians 2:20-22, especially Verse 22. What is being picturing for us is that individually we know that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. But collectively, we are being shaped according to Peter in 1 Peter Chapter 1, (which you rightly so brought up) that we are living stones being shaped and formed to fit in.
We will eventually be a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. That is, God's presence and His glory will be in the midst of us, radiating out in us, to us, and through us throughout eternity. It will be in the shape of a habitation, or dwelling. And that's what we're being prepared for, to fit into this habitation. And it is God doing all the building!
God bless you also my brother!
The Lord is the builder of the house and the chief corner stone!
This reminds me of Matthew 16:18 and 1 Peter 2:5
God bless you!
Welcome back. This passage in 1 Peter 3:19-20 (and on to verse 22) has been given a handful of interpretations over the centuries of the church age.
I just finished reading a number of commentaries as well a few articles that outlined the history of interpretations for this passage.
I would suggest you do as I did and read some articles about this passage to help you come to your own conclusion on what this passage means.
For me, because of the specific words and language used in this passage I tend to agree that:
----After Jesus' death, He either in His divinity as Spirit, if before the resurrection, or, in His glorified resurrection body, went to
the place where the sinful, wicked sons of god (angels) that infiltrated and brought ruin to the human race in Gen. 6 by
procreating with human women were imprisoned ( 1 Peter 2:4-5, Jude 6) from the time of the flood onward.
----Since the text in 1 Peter 3:19-20 speaks of "spirits" who are imprisoned, but then speaks of "souls" who were saved, I think
that the Holy Spirit was distinguishing between "spirits" (angels) and "souls" (humans).
----That Jesus informed these evil angels about the victory He won over them forever by means of the cross and the shedding of
His blood, despoiling them of any authority they may have had, but now they have been made subject to Jesus Christ (1
Peter 3:22, Col.1:15, 2:15).
----The exact time this occurred is unclear. It may have been between His death and resurrection or between the resurrection
and His going to the Father after speaking with Mary in the garden ( Jn 20:14-17) or when He ascended 40 days after He
resurrected.
----The purpose of Jesus going to the place of imprisonment was to proclaim His pre-eminence, the surety of their judgment,
and to preach the gospel of how He saved the elect humans through His suffering and death (they may not have been aware
of this prior to His visit), but them.
1 Peter 2:12 KJVS says:
"Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."
Based on that scripture, doesn't it seem like the purpose of living a Godly life to glorify God?