Encounter the Truth

The child of the manger has come to rule. To reckon with the message of Christmas, we must learn not only to trust in the Saviour who came, but to bow before the King who will one day return.

Sin has separated us from the God who made us. Rather than living in friendship with him, we are excluded from the blessings of his presence. But Jesus came to us as Emmanuel—God with us—that we might know God through faith in him, and so live with him forever.

Sin has separated us from the God who made us. Rather than living in friendship with him, we are excluded from the blessings of his presence. But Jesus came to us as Emmanuel—God with us—that we might know God through faith in him, and so live with him forever.

The child of the manger has come that he might save his people from their sins. That was God's message and God's design, right from the start.

Jesus came as the long-awaited Messiah—the promised King of Israel, who would bring to fulfilment the promises of God for a needy and oppressed people. And for all who will turn to him and trust in him, he is to us the Saviour-King.

Jesus came as the long-awaited Messiah—the promised King of Israel, who would bring to fulfilment the promises of God for a needy and oppressed people. And for all who will turn to him and trust in him, he is to us the Saviour-King.

After long years of judgment in exile, God proclaims comfort for his people. He will bring them into the land of promise, he will lift their judgment, and he himself will come to them as a gentle shepherd gathering his flock. In the incarnation, God has come to his people in the Person of his Son—the one who calls himself the good shepherd and who lays his life down for the sheep.

Into a dark world, God brings a promise of light. Warfare will cease and joy will come. And the cause of this change…? The birth of a child who will sit on David's throne and rule eternally.

n a world of suffering and sadness, God gives his servant confidence that the Lord himself will come and stand upon the earth—and that his servants will see the Lord in resurrected bodies. Here is stunning gospel hope for a broken and dying world.

In a world of suffering and sadness, God gives his servant confidence that the Lord himself will come and stand upon the earth—and that his servants will see the Lord in resurrected bodies. Here is stunning gospel hope for a broken and dying world.

While rulers of the kingdoms of the world rage against the Lord and his rule, God places his King on the throne of his kingdom. The Lord promises blessing for all who take refuge in him. Jesus is God's true and universal King, and we must fear him, honour him, and seek refuge in him.

While rulers of the kingdoms of the world rage against the Lord and his rule, God places his King on the throne of his kingdom. The Lord promises blessing for all who take refuge in him. Jesus is God's true and universal King, and we must fear him, honour him, and seek refuge in him.

Instead of starting our Christmas season with a study of one of the gospels, we thought we'd look back to the promises of God in the Old Testament. God promised David a Son who would sit on an eternal throne, and this Son of David would also be God's own Son, Jesus.

Instead of starting our Christmas season with a study of one of the gospels, we thought we'd look back to the promises of God in the Old Testament. God promised David a Son who would sit on an eternal throne, and this Son of David would also be God's own Son, Jesus.

Peter is writing to believers who are living in the midst of a storm and coping with the uncomfortable sensation of being unsteadied by the winds swirling about them. Opposition, scorn, persecution for the faith—true suffering as believers—these are realities confronting them and threatening to intensify against them. As he concludes his letter, Peter now gives to these believers and to us some concrete and practical advice concerning the way in which we should hold our ground and keep our footing in such unsteady and unsteadying times.

Peter is writing to believers who are living in the midst of a storm and coping with the uncomfortable sensation of being unsteadied by the winds swirling about them. Opposition, scorn, persecution for the faith—true suffering as believers—these are realities confronting them and threatening to intensify against them. As he concludes his letter, Peter now gives to these believers and to us some concrete and practical advice concerning the way in which we should hold our ground and keep our footing in such unsteady and unsteadying times.

Peter tackles the reality of suffering head-on in this vitally important passage, and he teaches us what to do to be ready for suffering—and then to endure suffering as a believer. Those going through suffering need to hear and receive his message—and those living in times of relative ease need to hear it too, that we may be prepared for that which will surely come.

Leadership matters. Good leadership raises and dignifies any group of people—bad leadership does the opposite. This principle, which is true in general, is especially true in the church. The need for good and godly leadership for the church is only accentuated when times of pressure and difficulty arise. The key principles that Peter outlines here for leadership with godliness and integrity are so desperately needed in the church today.

Peter tackles the reality of suffering head-on in this vitally important passage, and he teaches us what to do to be ready for suffering—and then to endure suffering as a believer. Those going through suffering need to hear and receive his message—and those living in times of relative ease need to hear it too, that we may be prepared for that which will surely come.

Peter tackles the reality of suffering head-on in this vitally important passage, and he teaches us what to do to be ready for suffering—and then to endure suffering as a believer. Those going through suffering need to hear and receive his message—and those living in times of relative ease need to hear it too, that we may be prepared for that which will surely come.

Peter has been preparing us for enduring opposition from a scornful world, and he wants believers in Christ to learn how to live godly and honourable lives in the midst of opposition. He wants us to flourish as disciples of Christ, pursuing godliness and fruitfulness in Christ, even as the world closes in about us and the days darken. To help us and equip us in this, he sets before us powerful reasons and motivators to live godly lives.

Peter has been preparing us for enduring opposition from a scornful world, and he wants believers in Christ to learn how to live godly and honourable lives in the midst of opposition. He wants us to flourish as disciples of Christ, pursuing godliness and fruitfulness in Christ, even as the world closes in about us and the days darken. To help us and equip us in this, he sets before us powerful reasons and motivators to live godly lives.

Christians live in the context of constant pressure from the world around. That was true in the first century AD—and it is true today. Knowing the possibility of opposition and persecution, Peter urges us to be committed to doing good and ready to explain our hope in Christ to anyone who asks. And if suffering should come our way even so, we must be ready to follow in the footsteps of our Saviour.

Christians live in the context of constant pressure from the world around. That was true in the first century AD—and it is true today. Knowing the possibility of opposition and persecution, Peter urges us to be committed to doing good and ready to explain our hope in Christ to anyone who asks. And if suffering should come our way even so, we must be ready to follow in the footsteps of our Saviour.

The biblical pattern for marriage is so out of step with the world's pattern. Wives and husbands are called to honour one another in complementary and distinctive ways—seeking the spiritual good of the other. We can see how the world's approach breaks down, and how we need to look to the Maker's design and pursue marriages that honour, not only one another, but the Lord.

The biblical pattern for marriage is so out of step with the world's pattern. Wives and husbands are called to honour one another in complementary and distinctive ways—seeking the spiritual good of the other. We can see how the world's approach breaks down, and how we need to look to the Maker's design and pursue marriages that honour, not only one another, but the Lord.

We are called to be subject to government and to those in authority over us in the workplace. And we are to do that, not because they are necessarily good and respectable leaders who treat us well, but because we fear the Lord. If this involves suffering—which it might—we must turn our eyes to the Lord Jesus, who willingly suffered for our sake on the cross.

We are called to be subject to government and to those in authority over us in the workplace. And we are to do that, not because they are necessarily good and respectable leaders who treat us well, but because we fear the Lord. If this involves suffering—which it might—we must turn our eyes to the Lord Jesus, who willingly suffered for our sake on the cross.

We are called to be subject to government and to those in authority over us in the workplace. And we are to do that, not because they are necessarily good and respectable leaders who treat us well, but because we fear the Lord. If this involves suffering—which it might—we must turn our eyes to the Lord Jesus, who willingly suffered for our sake on the cross.

Jesus is the cornerstone, and in him, we are being built up together to be a beautiful temple in which God lives by his Spirit. We were nothing—we were not a people—but in Christ we are part of something beautiful, holy, and new. As a new people, we are to live in newness and holiness, and we need to fight sin within, and keep our conduct honourable—so that God may be glorified in us.

Jesus is the cornerstone, and in him, we are being built up together to be a beautiful temple in which God lives by his Spirit. We were nothing—we were not a people—but in Christ we are part of something beautiful, holy, and new. As a new people, we are to live in newness and holiness, and we need to fight sin within, and keep our conduct honourable—so that God may be glorified in us.

The new birth that is ours through the Word of God leads to a new way of relating to one another—and the key mark of this is love. When pressure comes, the temptation is always to turn on those near and dear to us. But this must not happen with the people of God. We have been made new—and this new birth enables us to love one another with sincerity, from the heart.

The new birth that is ours through the Word of God leads to a new way of relating to one another—and the key mark of this is love. When pressure comes, the temptation is always to turn on those near and dear to us. But this must not happen with the people of God. We have been made new—and this new birth enables us to love one another with sincerity, from the heart.

Jesus has ransomed us from our former way of life through his own blood. Having ransomed us at such cost, the God of holiness calls us to be holy in our way of life. Pressure and opposition must not lead us to sin and to conformity with the world, but instead to radial holiness.

Jesus has ransomed us from our former way of life through his own blood. Having ransomed us at such cost, the God of holiness calls us to be holy in our way of life. Pressure and opposition must not lead us to sin and to conformity with the world, but instead to radial holiness.

We who belong to Christ are immensely privileged people. The Spirit so worked in the Old Testament prophets that they might write down God's Word to serve us today—that we might have this gospel hope. Even angels long to look into the wonders of what God has revealed to us in His Word. Our trials may be real, but our privilege is immense.

We who belong to Christ are immensely privileged people. The Spirit so worked in the Old Testament prophets that they might write down God's Word to serve us today – that we might have this gospel hope. Even angels long to look into the wonders of what God has revealed to us in His Word. Our trials may be real, but our privilege is immense.

Life in this world is hard, and opposition is real. But the Christian believer has a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These trials may test our faith, but real faith will be proved genuine in trial. We who love Jesus have joy in the prospect of his coming. And this joy and this hope have power to sustain us in days of darkness.

Life in this world is hard, and opposition is real. But the Christian believer has a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These trials may test our faith, but real faith will be proved genuine in trial. We who love Jesus have joy in the prospect of his coming. And this joy and this hope have power to sustain us in days of darkness.

As he begins this letter, Peter knows that God's people are facing real trials and difficulties. He does not minimize those trials, but he reminds us of our rock-solid foundation in the sovereign and saving work of God.

As he begins this letter, Peter knows that God's people are facing real trials and difficulties. He does not minimize those trials, but he reminds us of our rock-solid foundation in the sovereign and saving work of God.

Worshipping God acceptably also involves honouring leaders within the church—following their example, submitting to their leadership, listening to their teaching, and praying for them. Are we marked by this kind of worship as a church?

Worshipping God acceptably also involves honouring leaders within the church—following their example, submitting to their leadership, listening to their teaching, and praying for them. Are we marked by this kind of worship as a church?

The writer tells us to worship God acceptably, and here he tells us what worship of the living God will look like as we live in his presence: showing brotherly love, living in marital faithfulness, keeping our lives free from the love of money. Do we understand true worship? Do we worship in this way?

Life in this world is hard, and opposition is real. But the Christian believer has a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These trials may test our faith, but real faith will be proved genuine in trial. We who love Jesus have joy in the prospect of his coming. And this joy and this hope have power to sustain us in days of darkness.

The writer tells us to worship God acceptably, and here he tells us what worship of the living God will look like as we live in his presence: showing brotherly love, living in marital faithfulness, keeping our lives free from the love of money. Do we understand true worship? Do we worship in this way?

By faith we have come to the unseen and untouchable Mount Zion where God himself is found and where his saints gather. We must be careful to listen to his voice and worship him acceptably with reverence and awe.

By faith we have come to the unseen and untouchable Mount Zion where God himself is found and where his saints gather. We must be careful to listen to his voice and worship him acceptably with reverence and awe.

By faith we have come to the unseen and untouchable Mount Zion where God himself is found and where his saints gather. We must be careful to listen to his voice and worship him acceptably with reverence and awe.

The writer now delves further into the theme of endurance. He takes us into the deep waters of opposition and trial and suffering—and shows us how we are to approach situations of pain and difficulty, and to endure as believers—even to flourish as believers—in and through those times.

The Christian life is a marathon run by faith. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus—and his model of endurance in suffering—if we are to run faithfully to the end.