A podcast devoted to teaching the Word of God and salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus was calling Israel back to obeying the Law. In obeying the Law, Israel would be "Salt & Light."
Mosaic Law (Written Law - 613 commandments: moral, civil, ceremonial) Oral Law (Traditions of the Elders - Detailed rules expanding how to apply Mosaic Law)
The second coming of Jesus and the establishment of His earthly kingdom will be in response to the repentance and reception of the Tribulation generation of the Jews who will embrace Jesus as their Messiah King (Zech. 12:10-14:21).
The requirement for the Kingdom was Israel's “repentance”.
Israel's mission was to reveal God to the nations (Deut. 4:6-8). But Israel failed to accomplish her mission because she failed in the three ways the devil will test Jesus. Will Jesus, the new Israel, fail too?
God Will Send Another Prophet Like Elijah. This prophet will prepare the way for the LORD. There will be judgment on the proud and wicked. There will be mercy and rejoicing for the righteous.
Jewish communities were spread throughout the Nile Delta and along trade routes. Many Jews settled in Egypt for economic opportunities, military service, or as refugees from persecution.
Though Herod was only half Jewish, he was given the title of “King of the Jews” by Rome in 40 BC. He took control of Jerusalem in 37 BC until his death in 4 BC. Despite great achievements, he was a vicious man consumed by suspicion and paranoia.
Joseph became the earthly father through marrying Mary and adopting Jesus. In doing so, Joseph willingly accepted all the fatherly responsibilities, and simultaneously, legally established Jesus as a son of Abraham and of David.
Throughout his gospel, Matthew will show over and over again the various ways Jesus fulfills the COVENANTS and PROPHECIES of the Hebrew Scriptures.
What Are Matthew's Main Themes? Matthew proves Jesus is the Messiah. Matthew shows that Jesus did not fail to establish the kingdom (the failure was the nation of Israel's). Because the nation of Israel failed to respond, the Gospel was now open to Gentiles.
Like a root, bitterness puts off poison fruit like slander, lying, malice, hatred, anxiety, division.
Manipulation comes in many forms, but in all its various forms it is always a matter of control and it always plays on the desires of the other person. The manipulator plays on the other person's desire for love and acceptance. Manipulation plays on the other person's desire for safety and security for themselves and for others they love.
The delay of Jesus' second coming is not evidence of a failed prophecy, but the manifestation of God's loving patience. The delay has and is giving opportunity for people from every tribe, tongue and nation to be reconciled to God. God wants a big family with Him in the New Heaven and the New Earth (3:13)! It is our privilege to serve God's patient purpose by sharing the way of salvation with those not yet reconciled.
Contrary to the contention that everything has continued the same since God created all things by His Word, Peter points out that God destroyed all things by His Word and with water through the Flood. Though the false teachers deliberately leave out the Flood, Peter makes clear a cataclysmic event of judgment happened in the past and that another is promised for the future, only this one will be through fire.
False teachers are doomed for destruction. As they introduce destructive heresies, they are “bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” (2:1). Their judgment is certain: “Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” (2:3).
In verse 10, Peter calls these false teachers bold and willful. Together, these words describe people who are recklessly and ruthlessly determined to have their own way. Their arrogance is driven by claims to have received direct revelation from God by means of dreams. Jude notes that "relying on their dreams" these false teachers will blaspheme/slander spirit beings (Jude 8).
The Flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah are historical examples of how God, on one hand, punished the unrighteous, and on the other, rescued the godly from temptation.
These false teachers will secretly bring in what Peter calls "destructive heresies". Originally heresy meant "to make a choice", but over time and usage it came to mean "a sect, or party". The false teachers will be divisive because their teachings will cause division and schism within the church family instead of unity (Eph. 4:1-6).
The Old Testament prophecies of the second coming of Jesus are so reliable, Peter encourages his readers to give constant attention to them. They are like lanterns of truth and hope guiding believers through the dark journey of this life. The lanterns will no longer be needed when the light of day dawns, when Jesus comes. And Jesus' coming means a new life for believers has begun like the morning star signals the beginning of a new day.
How you live your life now will determine your service, your authority and the honor you receive in the Kingdom. Now is the time to learn and take on the kingdom virtues of agape love, brotherly affection, service, humility, grace, forgiveness, faithfulness, diligence, integrity, wisdom, righteousness. Jesus will exalt believers who seek to partake of the divine nature. But He will rebuke those who continue in the old nature of self-centeredness.
We believe in a promise that Jesus is literally, physically coming a second time to this earth. Is this promise of such a nature that it warrants such a belief? The answer to this question is based on the premise that a promise is only as good as the one who makes it. This is the issue of our study this morning.
Missions Update, Samaritan Aviation Matt & Jeannine Condon
Disciple making incorporates the entirety of the Christian life, and it is one of the clearest ways that we can show love towards our family and the world. Now that we are clear on what it means to be/make a disciple of Jesus, let's turn our attention to the brief but helpful pattern that Peter gives to us.
In our study today, the Apostle Peter uses clear and powerful language to describe two very different roads a believer could choose to follow.
2 Peter 1:3-8 reveals that Jesus has granted us everything needed to become like Him in character, values, attitudes and actions. But to what end? For what purpose? We have also discovered that becoming partakers of the divine nature; of possessing the character, values, attitudes and actions of Jesus Himself, requires effort on our part.
As followers of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to become like Christ in character, values, attitudes and actions. This transformation starts with a growing knowledge of Jesus and His promises. Then we are to make every effort to supplement, or add to, our faith with the qualities found in 2 Peter 1:5-7.
Self-control is the war between impulsivity and doing what's right or beneficial. It's the ability to control emotions, impulses or behaviors to achieve a greater goal.
Jesus has granted us everything needed to become like Him, but we must put effort into the process of transformation as well. The very first principle we see in this passage is that: Becoming partakers of the divine nature; of possessing the character, values, attitudes and actions of Jesus Himself, requires serious effort on our part.
The goal of God's salvation plan for you wasn't completed the moment you trusted in Jesus as your Savior; that was just the beginning. God wants to reform you into the character, values, attitudes and actions of Jesus Himself. This is the message of 2 Peter.
Peter introduced himself, which was usual for a letter, but did so with an unusual juxtaposition. He identified himself with two nouns that could not be farther from each other. He began with the title of "servant / slave" in greek, doulos. This word was used to describe someone who was fully and completely under the authority of another.
As we embark on a study of 2 Peter, it is always so important for us to rightly understand the context. We practice the historical-grammatical approach to interpreting the scriptures, seeking to arrive at the author's original intent and then we can appropriately apply God's Word to our lives.
Down through the centuries of the church, many things have been taught and practiced with regard to water baptism. Some churches sprinkle, some baptize infants, some make baptism a requirement for church membership, some believe baptism is necessary in order to be reconciled to God. This morning I will share what we believe about baptism and why.
Peter concludes his letter to his beloved brothers and sisters in Christ to endure the humiliations that come with suffering knowing a day is coming when God will make all things right.
Wise leadership is a blessing from the LORD especially during times of stress and calamity. Peter calls upon the elders of the churches of Asia Minor to shepherd their church families as they suffer persecution for being Christians.
Persecution is here in the United States and by all indicators, it will increase in frequency and intensity. This is hard for Christians in America because of the support Christianity has enjoyed historically. Those days are gone. We need to learn how to think about and respond to Christian suffering from Peter's instructions to his suffering audience.
How are we to understand this? We're prone to think Peter was saying that the end of the world was near. With the resurrection, ascension and exaltation of Jesus (3:22) God's plan of salvation here on earth entered its final stage that will culminate in the second coming of Jesus. This may well be what Peter had in mind when he made this statement. The point being that in light of the fact that we're in the home stretch, we should be about these three things that follow.
Pagans of the first century viewed Christians as killjoys who lived gloomy lives devoid of pleasure. The pleasures from which Christians of the first century typically abstained earned Christians the reputation of being haters of humanity and traitors to the Roman way of life.
Peter is writing Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, who were expelled from the vicinity of the city of Rome and resettled in remote parts of Asia Minor which is modern day Turkey. They are foreigners living in hostile communities.
Peter wrote to Christians expelled from Rome and resettled in remote parts of Asia Minor. They were foreigners living in hostile communities. Even in a hostile setting like that of Peter's readers, believers can live in such a way as to get along peacefully with their neighbors. Being honest, being respectful, working hard and doing good work go a long way towards garnering good will from one's neighbors.
When faced with unjust insult and evil, Peter's readers must decide whether to respond in kind out of the old nature and perpetuate strife or to demonstrate the power of God's grace through radically new conduct.
The phrase "with all fear" specifies the way that servants are to be subject to their masters. However, we need to identify the object of that fear. The one they should fear is determined by 2:17 building off of 1:17, where Peter makes the claim that one of the primary motivations for Godly living in a hostile environment, is the "fear" of the Lord.
God has honored your faith in Jesus by making you a living stone and a holy priest in His Temple; His dwelling place on earth today.
Because LOVING ONE ANOTHER is one of the primary purposes of God's Covenant Community of which you are a member.
We Will Give Account to Jesus and Receive either Reward or Rebuke!
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