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John 1:35-36 – The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"

We now continue our study of chapter one, in which John the apostle is giving testimony about the divinity of Jesus. 

In our last post, John the apostle was relating an eyewitness account of the testimony of John the Baptist.  John the Baptist confirmed for the religious leaders (Pharisees sent from the Sanhedrin) that he himself was NOT the Messiah, nor a reincarnation of Elijah, nor another Prophet.   The Baptist described himself as simply a voice, crying out in the wilderness, paving the way for the Messiah.  

The Baptist also testified that when Holy Spirit landed upon Jesus in the form of a dove, it was a sign from God that he was the long awaited Messiah.  John the Baptist confirmed Jesus as the Messiah publicly a number of times. 

As we pick up in verse 35, we find that John the Baptist was standing with two of his followers. We know that one of them was Andrew (verse 40), and as we mentioned in our introduction, it is quite likely that the second was John, who would later become the apostle John and the writer of this gospel.

As they are standing there, the Baptist watches Jesus walk by. The Greek word for watch means 'to attentively behold, to earnestly fix your eyes upon'. In other words, it was not just a passing glance. John knew he was looking upon the Messiah, the Son of God and the deliverer/redeemer of mankind.  John then proceeded to do what he always did – point others away from himself and towards Jesus, the Lamb of God.

John 1:37 – The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

The words spoken by the Baptist were clearly blessed of God – there had been no miracle, no flash of lightening, no angles singing; just a few simple words that created a hunger/desire within these two men to understand Jesus and his message.  That inward desire manifested itself in their actions – they immediately left John and followed Jesus. 

John 1:38 – Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?"  And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), where are you staying?"

Don't you just love the response of Jesus?  As soon as the two disciples began to pursue him, he turned to meet them.  He wasn't too busy.  He didn't have an assistant check their credentials or degree of religious training.  He didn't require an appointment.  He immediately responded to their heartfelt desire to know him!  

Rather than putting them on the spot, Jesus speaks first. His question (What are you seeking?) could be paraphrased this way - "What is your petition or request? What would you like to tell me? What would you like to ask me?"

In their response, they address Jesus as 'Rabbi', which is a Jewish title of respect or honor given to teachers of the law.  Although they do not yet recognize Jesus as the fulfillment of that law, they are willing to believe the testimony of John the Baptist, who points them to Christ.  At that point, they can discover Jesus for themselves.  

Their response to Jesus (where are you staying) indicates that they were ready to spend some time getting to know Jesus and his ways.  They weren't in a big hurry to have an answer within a minute.  They were willing to open their minds and hearts and embark on a journey to find knowledge and truth.  

I believe Jesus is calling us to the same kind of relationship. He has unknown depths of wisdom and knowledge. He has answers to all of mankind's greatest questions. And he turns to us and asks, 'What are you seeking?' He is making us the offer of a lifetime - to embark on a close, intimate journey with him, as he reveals answers to the questions that are deep within our souls. Does that sound like an exciting journey to you?

John 1:39 – He said to them, "Come and you will see."  So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

In the Jewish way of keeping time, the tenth hour refers to roughly 4 o'clock in the afternoon.  Since 6 pm was considered sunset, the disciples had a choice - either come back in the morning, or stay the night with Jesus. 

Before we go any further, let me ask you a question:  Have you ever put something off until tomorrow, only to find that tomorrow never comes?  Do you have a goal that you have always planned to accomplish, but you haven't done a thing about it in the last 10 years?  If so, chances are you will never do that thing!

In this situation we see that the disciples could have put off meeting with Christ until 'tomorrow', but they did not. They probably had busy lives, just like we do. But they put aside their work, hobbies, friends, etc in order to connect with Jesus. They were truly searching for spiritual answers.

What a wonderful lesson for us! Much to our shame, we often find reasons to put off spending time with Christ. We often look for a 'more convenient time' (Acts 24:25) to research or consider spiritual matters. And sadly, every time we delay, we miss out on an opportunity to fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit. Furthermore, with the instability in our society today, we need to spend MORE time gaining wisdom from Jesus, not LESS!

John 1:40-41 – One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ).

John now begins to tell us how the disciples were gradually brought to Christ.  Andrew is one of the first to follow Jesus, and as soon as he hears about the Messiah, he brings his brother Simon (Peter).

This is a common occurrence.  Once a person finds Jesus, they are so thrilled, delighted and amazed with him, that they cannot help but share this good news with others.  And so it goes -  one invites another, who invites still another and Jesus accepts all of them, giving them the power to become sons of God (John 1:12). 

When was the last time you shared the good news with someone else?

John 1:42 – He brought him to Jesus.  Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John.  You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).

When Andrew brings his brother to Jesus, Jesus immediately identifies him as Simon, son of John (your translation may say Jonah or Jonas).  Jesus also delivers a prophesy regarding Simon – his name would later be changed to Peter/Cephas. 

Let's discuss this name change a bit further. It is not uncommon to re-name a person based on a past event.  For example, when the patriarch Jacob wrestled with God all night, he was renamed Israel which means 'he who prevails with God' (Genesis 32:26-28). Keep in mind that it was the event itself that prompted the name change; the event occurred first, and the name was changed afterward.  But in this scenario, Jesus is actually foretelling the future. He declares that at some future time, Simon's name will be changed to Peter.

So, how do you view yourself? Your spouse? Your children and/or grandchildren? Do you only see their current failures and struggles, or do you envision them as Jesus does - successful, productive citizens and spiritual generals in the kingdom of heaven?

Your words have tremendous power (Proverbs 18:21).  So be sure to speak words of success, love and encouragement over your family every day. Tell them not to give up or be discouraged; remind them that eventually they will overcome their current obstacles and be victorious. Want to sow seeds of greatness into their lives? Use your words to paint them a picture of their future success!

John 1:43-44 – The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee.  He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 

Jesus recognizes that it is his time to leave Judea where he has been baptized by John.  No doubt there were those who wanted him to remain close to John the Baptist, hoping to see more and greater confirmations that he was the Messiah.  There were also those who would have wanted him to travel straight to Jerusalem, so that he could assume the public role of Messiah that they envisioned for him. 

But Jesus has other plans.  He is busy doing his Father's will.  At this time, he is revealing himself as Messiah to those who will later become his apostles.  This is not the actual calling of these men to be apostles (you can read about that in Matthew 4:18).  It is simply the time in which they become fully convinced that Jesus is truly the divine Son of God and redeemer of mankind.

John 1:45 – Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Phillip, fully convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, shares the good news with another friend of his – Nathanael (who is also called Bartholomew or son of Tholomew).

What causes Philip and the others to be fully convinced that Jesus is the Messiah? I think it is a combination of more than one thing.

To begin with, we know that Andrew and another disciple (most likely John) were originally followers of John the Baptist.  This tells us that they were spiritual seekers.  They were looking for truth and spiritual reform.  Religion was not just a thing relegated to some dusty corner of their lives; it was an integral part of who they were.  It affected their daily lives and the fortunes of their nation.   

Their search for truth led them to John the Baptist. Because they followed John the Baptist, they witnessed John's confirmation of Jesus as the Messiah. This led them to seek an audience with Jesus, which resulted in an invitation to spend the night with him. And during the discussions of that night, it is probable that Jesus opened the Old Testament scriptures (the Law and the Prophets) to them, showing that he was the fulfillment of all that had been prophesied about the Messiah.

Once Andrew and John were fully convinced, they told the good news to Peter, who told Philip, who then told Nathanael.

So let's ask ourselves this question: Would any of this have happened to these men if they had not been actively seeking the truth?  Do you think they would have found the Messiah while sitting at home, complaining about the Romans and the taxes and the corrupt priesthood? Do you think revelation knowledge of the Messiah would just have come to them as they read the evening news?

What about us?  Are we actively seeking a fresh encounter with Holy Spirit in our own lives?  Do we spend time at the feet of Jesus, asking for wisdom to help us turn our nation around before it self-destructs, or are we just sitting around complaining about government mismanagement? Will we find the answers to our personal and national problems by listening to the news media?  

Matthew 7:7 – Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

My personal opinion is that we will never 'stumble' onto the answers we need for ourselves or for our nation.  It will take a definite effort on our part.  The good news is that Scripture supports the idea that God is found by those who actively seek him. 

Jeremiah 29:13 – You will seek me [God] and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Let's face it – what we have done in the past is not working.  Let's turn to the source of all truth for the answers we so desperately need in our own lives and in our country!  

John 1:46 – Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."

Clearly, Nathanael had some preconceived ideas about Nazareth.

Generally speaking, Nazareth was not the most prized real estate in that region. It was an obscure village of Galilee. It was far away from Jerusalem, thinly populated, mountainous and wild. It was surrounded by Gentile nations and the Jews considered it a wicked place. To be identified as a Nazarene was an expression of contempt among the Jews. All in all, they would be prone to immediately dismiss anything or anyone who came from Nazareth, including Jesus.

So we find that Nathanael could have rejected Christ based on his own preconceived ideas. What preconceived ideas do you have about revival or Holy Spirit or the supernatural or angels or miracles? Are these ideas preventing you from finding the truth?

Nathanael took the time to 'come and see' before making a decision on the matter of the Messiah. Can we do the same to spiritual things we don't fully understand?

John 1:47 – Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"

Our translation says that Nathanael had no deceit in him.  Your translation may say "guile".  The root meaning is deceit, fraud or hypocrisy.  According to Jesus, Nathanael is exactly what he seems to be – a true Jew, who fears God and obeys his law. 

Thus, Jesus makes a distinction between those who profess to be Jews and those who are truly Jewish in their hearts. The same distinction can be made of Christians. There are those who claim to be Christians for one reason or another, but they are hypocrites who lack true faith, devotion and love. On the other hand, there are also true Christians who have integrity of heart before God and man. Let us always strive to be like Nathanael!

John 1:48 – Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"  Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

Having never met Jesus before, Nathanael naturally wonders how or where Jesus could have known about his character.   

The answer Jesus gives Nathanael blows his mind! Jesus says he has 'seen' Nathanael under the fig tree. In the original Greek, Jesus refers to it as "THE" fig tree, not simply "A" fig tree.� Thus, it was not just any old fig tree, but a very specific tree, which Nathanael knew well.

Scholars speculate that the fig tree was the personal place of daily prayer and/or devotion of Nathanael. It was the place he routinely went in order to commune with God. We might refer to it as a personal prayer closet. It was here that Nathanael released his thoughts, prayers, dreams, desires, motivations and secret feelings to God.

When Jesus declares he has 'seen' Nathanael there, he is clearly not referring to the act of physical sight (II Chronicles 16:9).  Jesus is saying that he had knowledge of all the prayers and communion that Nathanael shared with God.  In order for Jesus to know this, he had to be divine. 

John 1:49 – Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!"

The words of Jesus quicken Nathanael's spirit.  He knows that Jesus has spoken the truth and that he actually is the Messiah, the Son of God.  And because of his understanding of the scriptures, Nathanael correctly proclaims him the King of Israel (According to scripture, if Jesus is the Messiah then he is also the King of Israel). 

While this is true, it also reflects the limitations of Nathanael's thinking.  Jesus came not only to be the savior and king of Israel, but of the entire world - Gentiles as well as Jews!

John 1:50-51 – Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Nathanael had based his faith in the divinity of Jesus on one revelation – that Jesus knew what he had spoken to God in secret.

But Jesus was going to furnish much, much more abundant proof than just that! All of the apostles were soon going to witness vast numbers of miraculous events. The blind would see, demons would be cast out, thousands would be fed, storms would be stilled, Jesus would be resurrected, and on and on and on.

However, scholars are somewhat mystified by the exact words of Jesus here in the book of John. We can't point to any specific time when Nathanael saw a literal vision in which heaven was opened and angels were ministering to Jesus. Of course, this does not mean that this event did not occur (John 20:30). It also does not mean that this particular event has yet taken place. Perhaps Jesus is referring to something that will happen during his second coming.

One thing we can be sure of is that Jesus still desires to reveal himself, his power and his glory to his present day followers.  If we want to know Jesus in this way, all we need to do is seek him!

Let me offer you some encouragement:

The scripture says that John the Baptist ministered in the spirit and power of Elijah; he pointed people to Christ.  No matter what our individual ministry may be, we too need to operate in that same spirit and power.

We don't need to put on strange clothes, eat unusual food and separate ourselves from the world in order to do so.  All we need to do is live in a state of thankfulness for all that Jesus has done for us.  When we do, we will find that our conversation and our actions will automatically reflect what Christ has done for us and this in turn will open doors of opportunity for us to share that good news with others.  

I encourage you to meditate on the goodness of God and watch doors open up for you to testify about Christ.

Let me offer you some relief:

God is not finished with you yet!  In today's study we noted that Jesus knew Simon would one day become Peter; his character and spiritual man were going to grow and change.

Likewise, you are not going to be the same person next year that you are right now. Neither are your spouse and/or your children. So make sure you take the time to speak words of life, success and encouragement to everyone in your household, regardless of their current situation. Recognize the potential in those around you, and sow seeds of greatness into your loved ones!

Let me offer you some strength:

Today's lesson demonstrates a biblical principle:  Those who truly seek will find.  Picture yourself in Andrew's shoes as Jesus turns to him and asks, 'What do you seek'? 

What do you want from the Lord?  Health?  Answers to problems?  A spouse or a child?  A financial breakthrough?  A spiritual gift?  

I am NOT saying that God is going to answer every prayer you pray in the manner in which you want. But I am saying that God will communicate with you; he will give you answers to your questions, even if the answer is 'no'. So if you are seeking Him and his will in a situation, don't give up! Strengthen your resolve. Stay in communion with Jesus until he reveals the answer to you. You'll be glad you did!

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John 1:19-20 – And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"  He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." 

As John the Baptist preached his message of repentance, his fame spread from the region of Galilee all the way to Jerusalem.  From the nature of his preaching, people speculated that he was the long awaited Messiah (Luke 3:15). 

But John is very careful not to take any of the honor or glory that belonged to Christ.  He clearly states, without the slightest hint of ambiguity, that he is NOT the Messiah the Jews are expecting to come. 

 

John 1:21 – And they asked him, "What then?  Are you Elijah?"  He said, "I am not."  "Are you the Prophet?"  And he answered, "No."

Why would the Jews ask the Baptist if he was Elijah? 

Answer: They were referring back to an Old Testament prophesy.

Malachi 4:5 - Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

The Jews were interpreting this prophesy of Malachi literally.  They expected Elijah himself to rise from the dead, reappear upon earth and herald the coming of the Messiah. 

So, when the Jews ask John if he is Elijah, they mean it in the literal sense and thus he answers them correctly – 'No, I am not'.

Even though the Jews misunderstood this prophesy, it was still valid.  God did exactly as he said he would.  He sent his people a prophet (John the Baptist) who possessed and exhibited the same bold, powerful character and message of repentance as Elijah had. 

John's ministry pointed people to the true Messiah, preparing them to receive the gospel message from Christ (Luke 1:17, Matthew 3:3). Thus, he was the 'Elijah who was to come'; he was the fulfillment of Malachi's prophesy. Jesus himself confirmed this fact (Matthew 11:14, Mark 9:13).

At this point, John has denied being the Messiah or Elijah raised from the dead. So who is he? Still seeking an answer, the religious leaders next ask if he might be 'the Prophet'. Although it is not certain who the Jews are referring to here, it may have been the prophet Jeremiah (Matthew 16:14) or the unnamed prophet referred to in Deuteronomy 18:15. In either case, John now denies that he holds the prophetic office.

John 1:22 – So they said to him, "Who are you?  We need to give an answer to those who sent us.  What do you say about yourself?"

So far, John had answered their questions and told them who he was not.  He was not the Messiah, nor Elijah raised from the dead, nor any of the Old Testament prophets.  At this point the religious leaders are out of ideas, so they plainly ask John, 'Who are you?   What account do you give of yourself and your actions?' 

Again, this is not an unreasonable question.  The Sanhedrin was the ruling religious authority.  They did not allow or sanction people to be teachers of the law unless they had been fully trained.  Clearly, John had not been.  So they needed to investigate his situation.  Was he a prophet sent from God?  Was he the Messiah himself?  Or was he a mere man of no authority teaching religious doctrines?  

John 1:23 – He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."

John answers their question by quoting yet another Old Testament scripture/prophesy (His answer is taken from a portion of Isaiah 40:3.) By doing so, John is showing that the scriptures were fulfilled in him; the foundation of his ministry was built upon divine authority. John did not need the approval of the Sanhedrin; he was operating from a much higher calling.

When describing himself, John could have pointed out his great authority, given to him by God. He could have described himself as the one who was specifically chosen for the high honor of heralding the Christ. He could have used a number of high or lofty titles that brought dignity, respect or honor to himself. But he doesn't. Notice that John refers to himself as merely 'the voice'. A voice cannot exist by itself. It is dependent upon the person it belongs to. So John assigns himself a position of humbleness, modesty and dependence upon God. He himself is nothing; he is simply the voice of God.

What is the true purpose of a voice? Isn't it to communicate? Your voice can send a message or sound an alarm. It can also teach or encourage. This shows how John sees himself. He is a vessel that the voice or message of repentance flows through. That voice sounds an alarm that people are dead in their sins. It encourages them to repent and prepare the way for the Messiah who is soon to come.

According to scripture, this voice 'cries in the wilderness'.  Why is it described that way? 

The word 'cry' signifies earnestness and importunity.  John brings a sense of urgency with his message.  Sin is not a laughing matter.  It is not something to overlook or sweep under a rug.  It is something that must be dealt with immediately and completely, without delay; it must take place right now!  If the people were to find the true Messiah, they must prepare for his coming NOW.

'Wilderness' is often used to describe a place of barrenness or waste, a neglected or uncultivated region.  Spiritually speaking, man is in a wilderness of sin; as long as he is apart from God he experiences spiritual barrenness.  His life is disorderly or neglected and he is dead in trespasses and sin.  The connotation is that John's voice cried out to people in their sinful, spiritually barren state and called them to a state of life and fruitfulness in Christ through repentance. 

It is also worth noting that a wilderness is often entirely uninhabited or very sparsely populated.  This was the kind of area where John preached.  In such a situation, you could not help but clearly hear his voice crying out. 

What about us? In our busy modern lives, can we hear the voice of God calling to us?  If not, it might be time to retreat to a place of solitude, apart from the demands of the secular world for a time, so we can more clearly discern what God is saying to us.

John 1:24-25 – (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)  They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

Did you notice that it was not the Sadducees or the priests/Levites who questioned the Baptist, but the Pharisees? This makes sense because the Pharisees, more than any other sect of Judaism, were zealous for the Jewish religious rites. They would never allow a rite to be added to Jewish worship except by the authority of the Messiah or a prophet.

In this case, it should be noted that Baptism was not a new rite in the Jewish religion. When a Gentile wished to become a Jewish proselyte he was not accepted until he had been both baptized and circumcised. These baptisms were never performed except by the express permission of the Sanhedrin. In addition, Jews NEVER baptized other Jews because it was unnecessary - they were born into the covenant; they didn't need to be added in again.

So in the opinion of the Sanhedrin (particularly the Pharisees), John the Baptist was misusing the rite of baptism.  He was twisting it into something it should not be; he was using it in a new way.  The only way this would be allowable was if John was a prophet, or Elijah or the Messiah.    

For those of us living some 2000 years later, the answer seems obvious.  Jews as well as Gentiles must become proselytes to the new dispensation of the gospel, which Jesus was about to introduce.  But this was not clearly evident to the Pharisees of that day.  

John 1:26  – John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,

John freely admits that he uses water baptism for a new purpose – to reveal the nature and necessity of repentance.  But neither the water nor the Baptizer has any power to cleanse from sin.  They can only prepare the hearts and minds of the people to turn towards the Messiah, who was even now among them.

John probably turned the world of the Pharisees upside down with his statement. Think about it - he was not the Messiah, but the Messiah had come. He had already been born and grown to adulthood. He was standing by, ready to be revealed. Although the religious leaders couldn't pick him out of the crowd, he was there.

In some ways, this is a sad commentary on the religious leaders.  They, of all people, should have had their hearts and minds trained to look for the Messiah.  In theory, they should have recognized him well before any of the common people.  But they did not. 

Can we stop and examine ourselves for just a minute?  Scripture tells us that where two or three believers are gathered together, Jesus is present.

Matthew 18:20 – For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. 

Yet, how often do we gather in church to participate in religious rites and ceremonies, but we fail to recognize the Spirit at work among us?  Are we sensitive to the presence of Jesus in our midst, or are we as blind as the Pharisees?

Furthermore, when we see him, how will we react?  Will we be as the religious leaders, telling Holy Spirit how he can and cannot move in our midst?  Will we attempt to restrain him or resist him or even rebuke him, if he does something that does not meet our expectations?

Or will we be as the true disciples, surrendering to the power and anointing of the Spirit, willing to be part of something new and/or unexpected, even if we don't quite understand it fully? 

If we really want the Spirit to move in our midst as we claim, then we have to give him authority to move as he pleases, and we must submit.  This was a major issue for the religious leaders back in Jesus' day.  They did not want to surrender their authority to Jesus; because they did not submit to him, they missed all that God had in store for them.  Let's not be like that!

John 1:27-28 - even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."  These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John turns the focus from himself and his ministry to the object that he is there to reveal – Jesus the Christ.

The latchet of a sandal was the string or thong by which it was fastened to the feet.  To unloose them was the role of a servant.  By his statement, John indicates that he was unworthy to perform even the lowest menial task for the Messiah. 

This is a true demonstration of John's humility.  John was well known and loved among the people.  Thousands came to be baptized and hear him preach.  He had followers of his own.  He was highly respected even among the political leaders of the day. 

The religious leaders were jealous of the crowds that John attracted, but John doesn't care.  His only desire is to tell everyone that there is one in their midst who was far superior to him; one who is worthy to receive all praise and glory for he is the promised Messiah.

John 1:29 – The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

A day or at least a night has passed since John spoke to the Pharisees.  They have had a chance to consider his answers.  But before they can ask any further questions or take any action, they find John pointing out Jesus of Nazareth and likening him to a lamb.

  What does the scripture tell us about lambs?

• During the Passover feast, a lamb was killed and eaten by the Jews to commemorate their deliverance form Egypt (Exodus 12:3-11).
• Every morning and every evening a lamb was offered in the temple as part of the daily worship and sacrifice (Exodus 29:38-39).
• It was prophesied that the Messiah would be like a lamb led to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7).

But Jesus was not just an ordinary sacrificial lamb.  He was the Lamb of God; a sacrifice appointed by God to take away the sin of the world, and reconcile men to God! 

The significance of the word 'world' was certainly not lost on the already astonished Jews. In the daily temple sacrifices, only the sins of the Jews were laid upon the sacrificial lambs.  But the Lamb of God was different – he would take away the sins of both Jews and Gentiles.

Isaiah 53:6 – All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Another interesting point is that John the Baptist uses the present tense in describing the removing of sin – Jesus 'takes away' sin.  Because it is in the present tense, it denotes a continuous act.  Every day, multiple times a day if necessary, Jesus takes away our sin by his blood.  He removes the guilt and punishment of sin from every believer.  He also frees us from the power and dominion that our sin held over us.   

John 1:30 – "This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.'"

This is actually the third time John's audience heard these words. They were spoken in verse 15 and (partly) in verse 27. Here, as before, John makes note that he was born on earth before Jesus, yet Jesus was far superior to him in every way.  Jesus was divine, existing long before his incarnation.

John 1:31 – "I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water that he might be revealed to Israel."

What are we to make of the phrase 'I myself did not know him'? 

First, let's consider some background.  John the Baptist was a relative of Jesus.  John's mother Elizabeth and Jesus' mother Mary were cousins (Luke 1:36).  John and Jesus were about the same age with John being just a few months older. 

It is possible that John and Jesus knew each other before John Baptized him.  If that was the case, then when John declares 'I myself did not know him', he must be referring to the fact that, although he was acquainted with Jesus as a devout and holy man, he did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.  John may have suspected that to be the case, but he had to wait until God identified him with a sign from heaven.

But scholars favor the second scenario – that John and Jesus had never met.  Could this be possible, considering they were related?  Yes, it could.  In those days, there was much less travel; it was expensive and often dangerous.  There were no phones, no internet and no zoom.  There were no cars or buses.  John hung out in the wilderness region of Hebron, wearing camel's hair and eating locusts, while Jesus was raised in Nazareth.  So it is entirely possible that the two were not acquainted and that John did not know Jesus by sight.

Why does it matter anyway?

If a friendship or even an acquaintance existed between John and Jesus, the religious leaders may have been suspicious of a plot between the two to name Jesus as the Messiah.  They would certainly refuse to accept John's testimony about Jesus.

But, if John doesn't know Jesus, then his ministry can only be based on a word/command that he received straight from God himself.  This means John's message has divine authority.  It did not come by his own design (or a conspiracy between he and Jesus), but by inspiration of Holy Spirit and the command of God.  And if God is speaking through John, then the Messiah has truly come!

John 1:32-33 – And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.  I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'"

The Messiah is the one on whom the Spirit of God descends and rests.  This was not John's idea; this was the true sign of the Messiah that God had revealed to him.  The visible sign of the Spirit descending on Jesus served several purposes. 

• First, it was a confirmation for John. He did not need to fear making a mistake by endorsing the wrong person as the Messiah. Because John could be absolutely certain that Jesus was the Christ, it gave him great boldness in his witness.

• Second, it publicly identified the Messiah to the world. While the crowds looked on, Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, descended from heaven and rested upon Jesus. John emphatically points this out to the people. Thus, God himself announces and endorses the Messiah. There is no need for an agreement or approval from the religious leaders.

• Third, the anointing of the Spirit prepared/equipped Jesus for his mission and ministry.  As you recall, Jesus he did not embark upon the wilderness temptation until he had been anointed by the Spirit (Matthew 3:13-4:1). Scripture tells us that God gave Jesus the Spirit without measure (John 3:34).

Let's pause for a minute here. Jesus was not the only one with an assignment from heaven. God also has something for each one of us to accomplish in this life.  And he empowers us to complete that assignment in the same way – through Holy Spirit!

What is the nature of your current relationship with the Spirit?  Do you fellowship with him each day?  Can you hear him speaking to you?  Do you turn to him for guidance and revelation?  Do you allow him to fill you with boldness and power?  Have you accepted a heavenly prayer language from him?  Has he given you a gift for the edification of the body of Christ? 

Jesus had a divine nature, but even he did not try to complete his assignment without the assistance of Holy Spirit.  How much more do you and I need him?

John 1:34 – "And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God."

Once the Spirit descended upon Christ, the heavenly sign was completed and John the Baptist was fully convinced that Jesus was the Christ.  He was just as fully convinced that Jesus was the divine Son of God who existed before the foundations of the world.  Because he was convinced, he couldn't help but bear witness or testify to this truth. 

As we mentioned in our introduction, the apostle John provides seven different witnesses in his gospel that all testify to the divinity of Jesus.  John the Baptist is the first of the seven.

 Let me offer you some encouragement, relief and strength:

In this chapter, the apostle John gives us the witness of John the Baptist that Jesus was the divine Son of God.  But not everyone was happy to hear the good news. 

As we saw from this brief account, multitudes of common people were excited about Jesus. When convicted of sin, they repented and readied themselves for the coming of the Messiah.

On the other hand, the religious leaders were not excited.  They wanted to keep their status in society and their religious authority/power.  They never even considered the fact that they were sinners.  In their pride and arrogance, they set themselves up against the Messiah.

You may find this to be true in your own life and ministry.  As you step out to do what God has called you to do, those you minister to will be forever grateful.  These people will be a tremendous encouragement to you in your ministry. 

But there will also be those who dismiss both your ministry and your message. They may even actively oppose you, as the religious leaders of John's day did. So let me offer you some relief for that situation – you will never be accepted 100% of the time by 100% of the people. The key is to keep your eyes on Jesus and do the work he called you to do; he will take care of your detractors.

Ministry is never easy. God often calls us to do something that seems impossible. If we could speak to John the Baptist today, I think he would confirm that!  So you're going to need strength, determination, wisdom, finances, open doors and a multitude of other things in order to fulfill your mission. But that is not problem – God has provided his precious Holy Spirit to guarantee our victory, if we will only depend upon him, just as Jesus did!

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John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Word became flesh:  John has devoted the opening segment of his gospel to proving that Jesus the Messiah is one with God the Father and God the Spirit; he is divine.

Here again, we find that John makes a statement that is so simple anyone can understand it, and yet so profound, even the most mature believer could meditate on it for years (and the scholars could write millions of words about it)!

Why does John use the term 'flesh'?  Do you find that odd?  Why wouldn't he say the Word was made 'man'?

The answer is that the term 'man' implies a body that houses a sinful, corrupt human nature.  But Jesus was neither corrupt nor sinful.  His divine nature was not transformed into human nature when he became a man. Instead, as we have noted above, he remained divine but fused that divinity with a soul and a body when he walked the earth.  If you wish to study this concept further, please look around for other sources.  As mentioned above, scholars have written thousands of pages to try and explain the mystery of this divine truth.

Rather than trying to fully explain this concept, let's just appreciate it - the God of the universe, the one who created all things, left the glory and splendor of heaven and permitted himself to be limited by a body of flesh, for the purpose of restoring fellowship with mankind!      

And dwelt among us:  The literal interpretation used here would be 'tabernacled' among us. Think back to what you learned in the Old Testament. The Israelites constructed a temporary dwelling place for God, called the tabernacle.  At times, God's glory and presence (his Shechinah glory) was manifested in that place (Exodus 40:34-35, I Kings 8:10-11, Ezekiel 10:4).  John uses this expression to describe the incarnation – the manifest presence of God condescended to dwell in a tabernacle or temple of flesh.

What else do we know about the tabernacle?

It was a temporary structure.  'Tabernacle' is never used to signify a lasting structure or habitation.  In the same way, the body of flesh that Jesus dwelt in was only a temporary residence for his eternal divinity. 

The Old Testament feast of tabernacles or feast of booths was a celebration held in temporary structures. This points to the fact that during his time on earth, Jesus celebrated or enjoyed fellowship with his disciples.  He lived, ate, worked, and conversed with them for several years.  During this time, he provided the fullest proof of his divinity (the working of miracles) but yet the clearest proof of his humanity.

And we have seen his glory:  Though he was housed in a body of flesh, the divine nature and glory of Christ were evident to anyone who looked for them. His divine glory was evident at the transfiguration, in the miracles her performed, in his suffering during at the Garden of Gethsemane and the cross, and in his resurrection and ascension.  This glory was further proof that God had come in human form.

Glory as of the only Son from the Father:  In our culture, Jesus would be referred to as an 'only child'.  This means that he is the only true son of God the Father (we are the adopted sons and daughters of God, born again through the Spirit).  He is the only person born of a woman whose human nature did not come by the ordinary means of birth.  Instead, he carried the divine nature given to him by his true Father – God.  As such, he is above every man, angel or other created being (Hebrews 1:1-5).  His glory and majesty are equal to God, because he IS God. 

Full of grace and truth:  This phrase is a very rich and full; we could meditate on just this one aspect of Christ all day long!

Grace refers to the love and mercy of God which he exhibited by sending a redeemer to save us.  Truth refers to the revelation and fulfillment of the plan of salvation.  Until the time that Christ was incarnated, the promise of redemption/salvation was just that – a promise; a future reality that millions and millions of people looked for.  Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise made under the old dispensation of the law.

John 1:15 – (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")

The event described in this verse probably occurred at the time when Jesus made his first appearance among those who came to be baptized by John the Baptist. As we mentioned in our introduction, many scholars believe that John the apostle was a follower of John the Baptist before he met Christ.  Therefore, he could be relating an event that he himself saw.

This quote from John the Baptist could be paraphrased this way: "It is proper that Jesus should be honored and respected above me, because he is a person superior in nature to me (he is divine).  Though he was born (in the flesh) after me, he actually existed before me (because he is both divine and eternal)."

John 1:16 – For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

Back in verse 14 the apostle John said that Jesus was full of grace and truth.  He now points out that every believer receives from that abundance.

Think of it this way:  Suppose you were starving, you went into a restaurant, and you were seated at an enormous empty table that would seat 10 people.  A server came up and gave you a menu.  But before you could even see all of the choices, the manager showed up with a platter overflowing with a huge steak.

You are happy and thankful beyond words!  But after only two or three bites of meat, the manager returns with a plate of potatoes.  Then he brings salad.  Then bread and butter.  Then two different kinds of vegetables.  Then some coleslaw.  Then a plate of different fruits.  Next thing you know, the table is completely full.  Every kind of food you could ever want is on that table. There is an abundance - more than you could ever eat. 

Or what about this:  You are in your garage, trying to restore your broken down old car.  But you are missing the tools you need, so you call the local parts store.  The manager sends a truck to your house and delivers a torque wrench.  You are delighted.  But before you can even open the hood of the car, he also places a set of screwdrivers on your workbench.  As you are considering the screwdrivers, he adds a socket set.  And some ramps.  And a hammer.  And a cordless drill.  And an air compressor.  Before you know it, your garage is full.  Every kind of tool you could ever want or need is in your garage.

These are examples of 'grace upon grace'. In both scenarios, Jesus is the manager.  He has complete authority over the vast fountain of resources that God (the owner) possesses.

Now, let me ask you this:  Does the phrase 'grace upon grace' sound stingy to you?  Of course not!  The phrase includes an element of abundance – it isn't just a single instance of grace, it is layer after layer after layer of added grace.  It includes things that you don't even know that you need yet!

By definition grace is divine favor; it is a gift from God that we do not deserve or earn by works.  It is also true that the fullness of the supply is constant – God never runs out.  Yet, some Christians live without an abundance of grace.  They don't seem to have all that they need.  Why is that?  It is because the power to receive grace increases with use or diminishes with neglect, depending on what we do with it:     

Matthew 13:12 - For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even what he has.

Grace upon grace begins with salvation, but also includes wisdom, love, the ability to live a holy life, provision, protection, power, open doors, the ability to forgive, creativity, strength, peace, sanctification and many, many other things. It encompasses anything and everything that you need as a child of God.

What do you need? A plate of provision? A funnel of forgiveness?  The oil of joy?  Ask the Lord for it, then begin to use what is already at your disposal, no matter how small it seems. In due time, you will find grace upon grace.  You will come into what you need.

The expression 'grace upon grace' also implies superiority.  The grace given to Christians under the gospel is superior and more abundant than that given under the Law.  So let's rejoice and be glad that we live in the gospel dispensation.  And let's exercise the grace we have, that we may obtain more!  

John 1:17 – For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Here John calls attention to the difference between Moses and Christ.

Think back to what you know about the giving of the Law.  When the children of Israel left Egypt, God brought them to Mt Sinai.  There, the people were to meet him at the mountain.  God showed up in a thick cloud accompanied by darkness, thunder, lightning and an earth quake.  The people had been warned not to even touch the mountain, or they would perish.  Great fear was upon all of the people.   

Moses climbed to the top of the mountain to meet with God. At that time, God gave him the law to pass on to Israel. Thus, the law truly did come from God to Israel through Moses.

The law had value.  It was the covenant between God and Israel; they were his chosen people who enjoyed the highest level of God's favor, protection and communion that was possible at the time.  The Law pointed out sin.  The Law, by its rites and ceremonies, pointed to the future dispensation of grace.  It contained types and shadows of the greater future covenant, when the Messiah would come and make atonement for sin once and for all. 

So while the law did a number of good things, it was still limited. Its laws and rites were actually a burden to those who had to live by them.  Furthermore, The Law had no power to save or redeem from sin. I think it can best be described as a precursor to grace – it effectively established that you sinned, and it put you under a sentence of death and condemnation.  Then it pointed to the one who could actually redeem you, the coming Messiah.

Hebrews 10:1 - For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.

By contrast, Jesus the Messiah came to earth bringing or exhibiting both grace and truth. 

So while those under the law had the promise of what was to come, those under the gospel can actually experience grace and forgiveness! 

Therefore we can say that Jesus brought truth.  This truth stands in opposition to both pagan beliefs and the law because it is the substance or reality of all those things prefigured by the law.          

John 1:18 – No one has ever seen God; the only God who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

How does the apostle John use the word "seen" in this verse?  He is not denying that Moses (and others) saw manifestations of God at different times (Judges 13:22, Exodus 24:9-10).

The word 'seen' is used in the sense of knowing or being intimately acquainted with.  John is pointing out that Jesus, the Son of God who existed with God before the world was formed, clearly knew his Father.  Jesus had an intimate knowledge of God which neither Moses nor any other person ever had. 

Since Jesus alone is intimately acquainted with God in this way, he is the only one qualified to reveal the will, nature and purposes of God to mankind. The fullest revelations of who God is and what he plans to do are revealed in Jesus Christ and the gospel message.  This work is further carried on by both the written word and Holy Spirit.

Let me give you some encouragement:

Do you realize just how much God loves you?  He sent his only Son to die for you!  And Jesus was on board with that plan, despite the fact that he had to pay the price for your sin!  What a wonderful topic of meditation this week as we celebrate the Christmas season!

Let me give you some relief:

As Jesus revealed, there is nothing you can do that he cannot or will not forgive! 

Even though you may have stumbled or fallen, life isn't over yet!  The only way Satan can have victory over you, is if you quit or give up.  So repent, change your ways, and get back in the game (Proverbs 24:16). 

Let me give you some strength:

Do you need a boost in your spiritual walk this week?  Then meditate on the first chapter of the gospel of John.  Let your mind consider all that God has done just for the purpose of making himself know to YOU and fellowshipping with YOU.  You will discover that he you are so precious to him, he was willing to give his very best to reach out to you.  

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Welcome back.  We are in the midst of a very profound and majestic discourse of the divinity of Jesus as written by the apostle John.  In the prior verses, John calls our attention to the fact that Jesus was one with God the Father (and the Spirit) before the universe was ever created. 

The scriptures also tell us that the mystery of man's redemption by the Word incarnate (Jesus the Messiah), was hidden in God before anything was created (Ephesians 3:6-9).  Thus, we can be assured that the Father, Son and Spirit were all agreement regarding not only the necessity, but the process/method of reconciling man to God.  Again, this was all known to the Trinity before they even brought the universe into existence.

Can we stop for a minute and make this personal?  It is one thing to paint this picture in broad strokes and say that the Trinity purposed to save mankind before he was created, but it's much more personal than that.  Truly, the Trinity was in agreement about rescuing YOU from sin and death.  God so intensely loves YOU, that he planned to perfectly and completely redeem YOU before the foundations of the world were laid.  When God looked at time, he saw YOU there.  He saw that he had breathed the breath of life into YOU, but an enemy had you in bondage.  In his great mercy and compassion, he did not leave you to that fate.  He himself, in the person of the Word, came to take sin upon himself.  How great is the love of God toward YOU!  How far are his ways past understanding!

My opinion is that when we get to eternity and we have a chance to see the whole design and scope of the plan of redemption, it will blow our minds!  It is also my opinion that our existence in eternity will be an everlasting witness of the love of God, to any and all other life that God has created.

John 1:5 – The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

We ended our last post by pointing out that Jesus is both life and light.  He illuminates our spiritual darkness and shows us the way to eternal life.

Light is always self-evident – it makes itself known.  Suppose you were in a completely dark forest, so dense and thick that you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face.  That darkness would be overwhelming.  But I guarantee that if a lightening bug passed by, you would see its glow!  Why?  Because even the most minuscule light overcomes the darkness that surrounds it.  This principle is true both in the natural realm and the spiritual realm.  In fact, it has some pretty profound spiritual significance.

Man is in a state of spiritual darkness, which began when sin entered the human race in the Garden of Eden.  But the light of God has shined through that darkness ever since.    

Romans 1:19-20 - ...since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Here are just some of the ways in which God has manifested himself or shined his light in our spiritual darkness down through the ages: 

• God created each person with an innate sense that there is a God, and He gives us a desire to find Him.
• God has given us a conscience that we might know there is right and wrong and therefore an ultimate eternal judge of our actions.
• God revealed himself through his chosen people, Israel.
• God's countless miracles attest to his existence. Creation gives evidence of God's existence.
• God revealed Himself to us through the 'types and shadows' of the Old Testament.
• God spoke to man through his prophets.
• God preserved the sacred scriptures for us, in which we find His promises of the redeemer.

Ultimately that Redeemer, the Word, the true light, came to earth in fleshly form.  And God used John the Baptist to call our attention to that light.

John 1:6-7 – There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

As you probably already know, John did not perform any miracles.  He never claimed to have dreams or visions.  His calling was simple:  He was a messenger sent from God to us (Malachi 3:1).  His purpose was just as straightforward:  He came to provide a witness and testimony that Jesus was the Messiah – the Word made flesh; the light of the world.

Through John, God began to herald a change that was about to take place.  The astonishing era of grace was about to unfold.  The Messiah had come and through him all of mankind (Jew and Gentile alike) could be forgiven and welcomed into the presence of God, the source of all light. 

This raises a question – If light reveals itself, then why did God send John to bear witness about Jesus?    

The answer is that mankind loves darkness and willfully closes his mind and heart to the light of God.  John was like a kind of spiritual night watchman, who went around town calling out that dawn was breaking; it was time for people to arise, shake off spiritual slumber, and begin to live in the light.

John 1:8 – He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

John preached a message of repentance from sin.  By awakening people to the reality of their sin and depravation, he prepared them to receive the light of the gospel message and come to faith in Christ.

This should be abundantly clear to each one of us, as we consider our own conversion experience.  At some point, all of us were happy living in sin and darkness.  But one day, someone (a modern-day messenger of God) shared the gospel with us and because of the conviction of Holy Spirit, we became acutely aware of our sin.  That awareness or knowledge of our sin caused us to seek and accept the forgiveness of Christ.

To avoid any confusion or controversy, the apostle John makes it very clear that John the Baptizer was NOT the actual light.  He was like the star that guided the wise men to the manger.  He is the friend of the bridegroom, not the bridegroom himself.

John 1:9 – The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Jesus is the true light (John 9:5, II Corinthians 4:4).  He is not a fallible, uncertain or dangerous guide.  He is the perfect, true, reliable anchor of our faith.  He is the rock upon which our salvation stands.  He is the source of all gospel revelation, which banishes spiritual darkness, error and ignorance from our lives. 

John now reveals another staggering truth – no more will divine revelation be restricted to a select group of people. The light will be diffused upon Jew and Gentile alike; upon people of every tribe, tongue and nation.

Isaiah 49:6 - And he [God] said, It is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel: I will also give you for a light to the Gentiles, that you may be my salvation unto the ends of the earth.

God does not exclude anyone from his forgiveness or his kingdom. But there will always be men who choose to exclude themselves from it.  They choose to close their eyes to the truth and reject the light.  They choose to reject/ignore Holy Spirit conviction when it falls upon them, and thus reject the salvation that Jesus provides for them. 

It should be further noted that once we have accepted Christ as savior, Jesus makes us lights as well (Matthew 5:14).  We are to let our lights shine, so that God may be glorified and draw sinners to himself. 

How is your light shining?  Is it bright and bold?  Or has it become a bit dimmed as of late? This might be a good time to examine yourself and see what you can do to add fuel to your spiritual fire.

John 1:10 – He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

Jesus was always 'in the world'.  As discussed previously, He existed before the creation, He was active in creation and He continues to breathe life into all creation.  If he didn't, everything would collapse and die. 

But what John refers to here is clearly the incarnation of Christ – the time when he took upon himself a body of flesh and dwelt among us for the purpose of redemption. 

During that period of time, the world did not 'know' Jesus.  In other words, the people of that generation either did not understand that he was the Messiah or they refused to acknowledge it.  Regardless of whether their ignorance was accidental or intentional, the end result was the same – mankind crucified him (I Corinthians 2:7-8).  

John 1:11 – He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

Who or what does John refer to when he says Jesus the Messiah came 'to his own'? 

We have clear evidence in the scriptures that Jesus did exactly what John claims – he ministered or revealed himself almost exclusively to the Jewish nation during his incarnation.

Matthew 15:24 – But he [Jesus] answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(It was only after the coming of Holy Spirit that Gentiles were admitted into the family of God. See Acts chapter 10).

If any nation of people should have accepted Jesus as Messiah, it was the Jews!  They were God's covenant people.  They had all the promises and prophesies that identified the Messiah. They lived in expectation of his coming.

Yet, the scriptures supply vast evidence that, in general, the nation of Israel did not receive or accept Jesus as Messiah (Luke 17:25, Acts 4:9-11).  It's almost unbelievable!

Furthermore, the apostle Paul clearly outlines in the book of Romans (see chapter 11), that rejection of the gospel by the Jewish nation is the result of a temporary spiritual blindness, which God used to open up the gospel message to the entire world (the Gentiles). 

Romans 11:11 - I say then, Have they [Israel]] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.

God has not rejected his people Israel (Romans 11:1-2), even though they rejected him.  At the present time, God's love for Gentiles is creating jealousy in the hearts and minds of the Jews.  One day, at the perfect time, He will bring them back into fellowship with himself.

John 1:12 – But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

During the incarnation, the vast majority of Jewish religious leaders and common people rejected Jesus as the Messiah.  They rejected the light, truth and spiritual revelation of the gospel message.  That's the bad news.

The good news is that there were some who did believe, and put their faith in Christ.

 And there is more good news – people who formerly rejected him can still be touched by the gospel, if they allow its truth to penetrate their hearts and minds.  As long as a person is living and breathing on planet earth, they can change their mind and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.  So don't ever stop bringing the names of your unsaved loved ones before the throne of Christ!  With God, all things are possible! 

Those who respond to Holy Spirit conviction and repent of their sin are given the right or privilege (your translation may say 'power') to become a child of God.

This is the highest privilege that can be given to us!  Before we met Christ, we were slaves to sin.  We were under the curse of God.  We were children of the darkness/evil one and the only thing our father could bestow upon us was death and destruction.  

But now that we have placed our faith in Christ, God has adopted us as sons and daughters (Galatians 4:4-6, Ephesians 1:5-6)!  We are no longer slaves to sin; we have freedom in Christ.  We are no longer under the curse, we are blessed by God.  We have God as our Father and we are co-heirs with Jesus in the kingdom of God.

John 1:13 – who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

In John chapter 3, Jesus makes it very clear to Nicodemus that there are two kinds of birth – physical and spiritual. 

The Jews had placed their faith in their natural/physical birth along with the bloody rite of circumcision.  According to their thinking, since they were born Jewish, and since they were circumcised, Abraham was their father and they were automatically included in the family of God (John 8:37-41).  

To some degree, this was true under the Law. 

 

Let me offer you some encouragement:

As a child of God, you have full access to the throne of God.  Don't ever stop mentioning the lost before that throne!  Even though you may not see the results right now, God is at work in the lives of those you pray/intercede for.  So no matter what, don't give up!   

Let me offer you some relief:

As a child of God, your past sins have been washed away.  If God does not hold them against you any more, why would you?  Cast off the shame of those old sins; don't let guilt keep you from actively participating in God's kingdom.

Let me offer you some strength:

As a child of God, you are a light or messenger of the gospel, just like John the Baptist. So let that light shine brightly!  Be confident and secure as you share what God has done for you.  Remember, it's your job to share, but it is Holy Spirit's job to quicken the hearts of those around you who still need to find Christ.

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Introduction:  Welcome back, readers!  We are about to embark on a study of one of the most beloved books in the canon of scripture – the gospel of John! 

This book is for truly for everyone.  It is written in plain, uncomplicated language, but at the same time it is dignified and profound.  On one hand, it is simple enough for a newborn in Christ to digest.  But on the other hand, even the most mature believer finds it deep and complex.

WHO:  Despite some modern day criticism, early church fathers (Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, Eusebius and others) are in COMPLETE agreement that the gospel of John was written by John, brother of James, who was one of the twelve apostles.  His parents were Zebedee and Salome (Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40).

John was probably born in Bethsaida, a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee.  In his early life, he and his brother James worked for their father in the family fishing business.  These are the brothers that Jesus referred to as the 'sons of thunder' because of their tempers (Mark 3:17).

John most likely had what we would call a 'middle class' or 'upper middle class' upbringing.  His father's business was profitable enough to have paid employees (Mark 1:20).  His mother Salome is later described as one of the women who traveled with Jesus and provided for his needs (Matthew 27:55).  She also purchased spices to embalm his body (Luke 23:55).

Furthermore, at the crucifixion when Jesus asks John to care for his mother Mary, the scripture records that John brought her into 'his own house' which indicates he was not destitute by any means.

We also find that John was known to Caiaphas, the high priest (John 18:15) - further indication that John was probably a well known figure and a man of some means.

Many feel that John was originally a disciple of John the Baptist and that he was the unnamed partner of Andrew as mentioned in John 1:35-40.  Eventually, he becomes the disciple closest to Jesus – 'the disciple whom Jesus loved'.  John is believed to be the youngest of the twelve, becoming a disciple around the age of 25.

John was obviously an eyewitness to the life and ministry of Jesus.  He was also in the 'inner circle' of Jesus along with Peter and James. As such, John saw things that most of the other disciples did not.  He was a witness to the transfiguration of Jesus.  He was present when Jesus raised Jairus' daughter from the dead.  He was allowed to witness the suffering/torment of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He was present at the trial of Jesus and he was chosen to care for Mary, mother of Jesus, after the crucifixion.

WHERE AND WHEN: After the ascension of Christ, John remained in Jerusalem for some time (Acts 1:14, 3:1, 4:13).  We know he was sent to Samaria to preach the gospel with Peter (Acts 8:14-25) and he was present at the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15).  All this agrees with the history recorded by the church fathers, which asserts that John lived in Jerusalem until the death of Mary (15 years after the crucifixion).  Afterwards, he settled in Ephesus, living there from 70 to 98 AD.  His gospel was most likely written in Ephesus, between 85 and 90 AD.

From Ephesus he was banished to the Isle of Patmos by Domitian, where he wrote the book of Revelation.  Later (after the death of Domitian in AD 96), John returned to Ephesus where he too died, not long after his return.  Tradition claims that he is the only apostle to die a natural death.

RELATIONSHIP TO THE OTHER GOSPELS:  John's gospel stands apart from the synoptic gospels in a number of ways. 

For instance:

• John's gospel does not contain any of the parables of Jesus.
• While the synoptic gospels chiefly report the ministry of Jesus in Galilee, John writes about events taking place in Judea.
• While the synoptic gospels stress the public discourses of Jesus, John stresses the private interviews Jesus had with his disciples.
• While the other gospels reveal what Jesus did, John delves more deeply into why he did it.

There are a couple of reasons for these differences.  One is the late date of writing.  While the other three (Matthew, Mark and Luke) were all written before 70 AD, John's gospel was written much later (85-90 AD). By the time he writes his account, all of the other apostles (including Paul) are dead. Jerusalem and the temple have been destroyed by the Romans and the Jews have been dispersed throughout the surrounding regions. About 50 years have passed since the birth of the church, and even at that early stage, Satan is attempting to introduce false doctrines into the church. The world was a completely different place when John wrote his gospel!

Also, while John could have written another gospel covering the exact same material as the others, Holy Spirit led him in a new direction – to prove that Jesus was the Son of God.  Thus, his gospel does not need to cover the basics found in the other gospels.  Accordingly, we find no genealogy, no record of birth, no mention of boyhood growth, no record of baptism, no mention of either the wilderness temptation or Jesus' suffering in Gethsemane.

Instead, John's account goes back to the beginning of time, when Jesus was one with the Father and Holy Spirit.

While John's gospel is very different from Matthew, Mark and Luke, it should be noted that his gospel does not contradict the others; it supplements them, giving us a richer and fuller picture of Jesus and his ministry. 

WHY: We know that none of the four gospel writers gives us an exhaustive account of everything Jesus did (John 21:25). Rather, each author was moved by Holy Spirit to reveal certain truths in their writings. Naturally, they choose events from the life and ministry of Jesus that reflected these truths.

One of the main truths or points that John is making in his account of Jesus is this:

John 20:31 - But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.

Specifically, John presents seven miraculous signs, seven 'I am' statements and seven eye witness accounts for the purpose of convincing his readers that Jesus is the Son of God. The point of understanding that Jesus is the Son of God is so we can believe on him and find salvation.

Another one of the awesome aspects of John's gospel is that it emphasizes the Father-Son relationship between God and Jesus.  In John 14:7-9 we are assured that anyone who sees Jesus has seen Father God.  This is God at work, revealing himself to us through his Son.

As we study this book, one of our focuses should be to understand how Father God views us and how he wants to deal with us. 

Well, I don't know about you, but I am ready to get started!    

John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

In the Beginning – Hmm... We've heard this phrase before, haven't we?  Where was that?  Right – the first verse in the bible:

Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Right off the bat, John goes straight to his main focus – Jesus as the Son of God.  Let me explain.  Matthew begins his gospel with a genealogy of Jesus; this draws the reader's attention to the physical beginning of the savior's life on earth.  Mark begins his gospel with the ministry of John the Baptist, pointing the reader to the precursor of Jesus' earthly ministry.  Luke also begins his gospel with the birth of John the Baptist – again, drawing our attention to the beginnings of Jesus' public ministry on earth in human form.

But John draws our attention to the beginning of time.  Before the Roman Empire.  Before the Israelites became a nation.  Before the birth of Moses, Abraham, Job or Noah.  Before Adam and Eve were created and placed in the garden.

Before all of that, before the very foundations of the earth were set in place, before anything was created, Jesus (the Word) existed.  Therefore, he cannot be created; he is eternal.  And since there is only one Being that is uncreated and eternal (Yahweh), Jesus must therefore be divine.  He is God.

[Here in the very first verse of this gospel, we find an example of what we alluded to in our introduction – This gospel is simple enough for a new Christian, yet deep and complex enough to challenge a mature believer!]

Was the Word: 'Word' or 'the Speech' is the name that John gives to the one who existed before creation, but afterward took on a body of flesh and walked this earth (John 1:14, I Timothy 3:16).  Obviously, he is referring to the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

But why use the term 'Word'?  Think of it this way:  Word(s) or Speech is the method that we use to communicate with each other.  It is the way we make our will known or convey our thoughts to others.  Jesus is the method or way that God communicated his divine will to mankind.

Word(s) or Speech is not only the way we make our will/thoughts known, but the way in which those in authority carry out their will.  God's plan for the ages has been carried out by his Son, Jesus. 

Also, although there is no way most of us would know, in the Targums (translations of Hebrew scriptures into Aramaic for the benefit of Jews who no longer understood Hebrew) the phrase 'Word of God' is frequently substituted for 'Jehovah'.  John may have had this in mind as he wrote.  

Was with God:  This expression denotes intimacy.  John reveals that Jesus was with God in the beginning; he was intimately united with his Father and being of the same essence and nature, he shared in God's divine glory.  Jesus is therefore a Person distinct from the Father, but of the same essence and nature with God.  Simply stated, the Word (Jesus) was and is God.

The Word was God:  John wants to make his point very clear – Jesus existed with God, but he was not an inferior being in any way.  He is not a second God, nor is he god-like.  HE IS GOD.  His both divine and eternal.  He is in mutual communion with Father God and Holy Spirit.

There is no stronger proof or declaration in all of scripture that affirms Jesus the Son is equal to the Father.  We see that Holy Spirit moved upon the apostle John to make this point irrefutable.

John 1:2 – He was in the beginning with God.

While this sounds a bit repetitious, it is nevertheless very important.  John once again confirms these vital points, so there is no room for error or misinterpretation:

 Jesus (the Word/Speech) existed before creation.  He is eternal. Jesus (the Word) is one with God.  He is divine, having the same essence and glory as the Father.

By stressing these points, John refutes a number of false doctrines that had crept into the early church which suggested that the Father existed before the Son or that the Father and Son were diverse in nature and will, or that the Word in the beginning was not the same as the Word by which all things were made.

John 1:3 – All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John now uses the proof of creation to once again establish, beyond any doubt, that Jesus is God.  Essentially John's reasoning goes like this:  Since He who made all things is God, and since Jesus made all things and nothing was made without him, therefore Jesus is truly God.In other words, Jesus is not merely an instrument of creation.  He did not receive delegated power from the Father.  He, along with the Father and Holy Spirit are coworkers in creation.

Let's take a closer look at John's statement in this verse.

Were made through Him:  The original word for 'made' comes from the verb 'to be'.  It signifies to create or form from nothing.  Don't miss the significance of this – God did not take raw materials that he found lying around and make something out of them.  He, Jesus and the Spirit literally created the very molecules which made up every part of creation.  They formed the universe and everything in it from nothing!

Without him was not any thing made that was made:  When we compare this phrase with the prior phrase, we find they actually say the same thing. 

One phrase is stated in a positive manner:  All things were made through Him.

The second phrase expresses the same thought, in a negative manner:  Without Him was not any thing made that was made.

This is a very common method of writing among the Hebrews.  They use both positive and negative statements to confirm their point of view.  When they state something in this way, they are attempting to call significance to it. 

John 1:4 – In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

In Him was Life:  All throughout the scriptures, God is referred to as the 'living God' because he is the source or fountain of life.  God has infused (breathed) this life into his creation (Genesis 2:7).  Not only did God create life, but he sustains it – without him, all living things would instantly decay or be reduced back to nothing.  In other words, they would die. 

We can't help but notice that the same is true in the spiritual realm.  Without Jesus, mankind is dead in trespasses and sin.  But through him, we are a new creation, having eternal life.

I John 5:11-12 - And this is the witness, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.

John concludes that the source of both natural and spiritual life is God, and since Jesus is God, he possesses these same attributes. He is able to give us eternal life.

The Life was the Light of men: How does light assist us in daily life?  It allows us to see things with clarity and it prevents dangers which result from a state of darkness.  A good example of this would be a light house.  The light shines on the coastline at night, allowing the captain of a ship to clearly see the shoreline.  It reveals rocks and other dangerous obstacles that would otherwise be hidden in darkness.

Jesus the Messiah is called the light of the world (John 8:12, Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:15-16).  He is our teacher, imparting knowledge and understanding to mankind.  By his light, we are made aware of spiritual darkness and danger.

Let me offer you some encouragement and relief:

As John pointed out, God is the author of life.  The scriptures are full of examples of his resurrection power.  Do you have things in your life that need to be resurrected or brought back to life? Have you been trying to breathe life into them yourself, without any results?

These could include things like your marriage, your health, your finances, etc.  If that is you, I encourage you to seek God in prayer.  Ask him to breathe his breath of life into your situation and give you relief.   Find scriptures that speak to your situation, and pray them over yourself.  

Let me offer you some strength:

Are you going through a difficult time right now?  Here is something to consider:  John tells us that Jesus was with God and Holy Spirit before the foundation of the world.  The scriptures also tell us that God/Jesus/Holy Spirit knew the ending of all things before the beginning or creation of the world.

This can only mean that God sees you and your problems, right now!  He knew you would be in your current situation.  He is right there with you, longing to draw you close to him.  His Spirit is standing by, eager to lead you to victory.  So don't despair and don't focus your eyes on the circumstances.  Declare the Word of God over your life.  Declare victory in your situation.  Be assured that God is going to bring you through that valley and into a land flowing with milk and honey!

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II Peter 3:10 – But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

In our last post, we mentioned the return of Jesus.  Though it seems to be ‘taking forever’ in our opinion, the Lord is not bound by time.  For him, a thousand years of time is like a single day. 

And though his return may or may not be imminent, we can rest assured IT WILL CERTAINLY OCCUR.  Once the appointed time arrives, Jesus will return like a thief.  In other words, his return will come suddenly and unexpectedly. 

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 -  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

This implies that some people will be unprepared for it.  (Also see Revelation 16:15 and Matthew 24:43-44).   While the heathens are obviously unprepared, it should be noted that there will be unprepared Christians as well (as in the five foolish virgins).  The wise Christian will be constantly mindful of the Lord’s return. 

The rest of this verse describes events that will take place at the end of time.  Peter’s words have generated an immense amount of speculation on the part of believers.  For example:

Peter declares that the heavens will pass away.  Does this mean only the earth and its atmosphere (the first heaven), or does it also include the planets and stars located in the second heaven? 

Peter says the earth (and planets?) will be set on fire, or burned.  Everyone agrees there will be a raging conflagration on earth.  But people disagree on the effects of the fire.  The disagreement centers around the word ‘dissolved’. 

Some are persuaded that this should be taken literally; the earth will not only be destroyed, but it will pass away or cease to exist entirely, even on a molecular level.

Some believe that this refers only to the inhabited portions of the planet.

Others maintain that fire/heat merely changes the form of things.  For example, if you burn wood on a campfire, it does not cease to exist; its form is merely changed into heat, gases and ash.  Likewise, these people believe that fire will simply change earth it to a new form, perhaps converting it into the elements it was originally formed from.  They believe that unless God intervenes and annihilates it, the actual matter which now makes up the earth will still be in existence after the fire.  This may be substance God uses to make the new heavens and the new earth.

And what about the great noise or roar which will accompany the fire?  Some speculate the noise will be caused by the changing of the earth’s present form back into its elements.  Others believe the sound is literally the crackling or roaring sound accompanied by fire, as in the case of a forest fire.  Still others think it refers to the explosion of an atomic bomb, which they believe will initiate the fire. 

Clearly, there is room to speculate on how this event may occur, but the result of it is clear - the works of both God (plant/animal life, seas, mountains, etc) and the works of man (art, cities, infrastructure, buildings, money, etc) will be destroyed. 

While these opinions/scenarios are really interesting, the exact nature or cause/effect of the inferno is not the main point the apostle wants us to see.  We don’t want to get so caught up in them that we miss Peter’s true point.  Putting all speculation aside, his true point is very clear:  Just as God destroyed the old heavens and earth by water, he will destroy the current heavens and earth by fire. 

This point should cause us to stop and examine our own lives.  If the world itself needs to be purged from the effects of sin, how much more do you and I need to rid ourselves of sin and live holy lives? 

II Peter 3:11 – Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

The purpose of knowing that the earth will once again be destroyed is not so we can indulge in vain speculation.  It is so we can prepare ourselves against that day. 

If Jesus came today, would you be comfortable standing before him?  Are you satisfied with your spiritual life?

There are certainly times when we eagerly anticipate the return of Christ, and it spurs us to great levels of spiritual activity. 

But on the other hand, how often do we put off things we should be doing, while promising ourselves that tomorrow is another day?  The busyness of daily life sometimes crowds out our spiritual goals; the cultivation of holiness and godliness falls to the wayside.  We should regard Peter’s admonition in this verse as a wake-up call - the time to be negligent or idle has passed.

2 Corinthians 7:1 - Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.   

This world is not our home, so don’t make plans to stay here!  Our fleshly desires need to be crucified and our personal holiness needs to be nurtured.  We need to discover, accept and operate in our spiritual gifts.  We need to find our kingdom assignment, and accomplish it will all our might.

Do you earnestly desire the return of Christ?  Have you prepared yourself for it? 

II Peter 3:12 – waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!

The Greek word ‘hastening’ reflects expectation, or to wait with eager desire.   So, as we diligently work in the kingdom, we should long for or expect the return of our Savior. 

Titus 2:12-13 - Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

In other words, we should not be surprised at the return of Jesus.  As his children, we not only expect him to return, we live in such a way that we are prepared to be commended as good stewards when he does come.  We are not the foolish virgins, but the wise ones, who have oil in their lamps.  We do not hide our talents in the ground; we use them to produce eternal results for God. 

This also means that we do not fear the ending of the world.  Have you ever spoken with people about the end of the world?  Some will simply laugh and make light of it.  Others will express fear or dismay about this topic.  But that should never be the case for the Christian. 

We should view the return of Christ as the culmination of our redemption.  It is the beginning of our eternal life with Jesus; there is no reason for us to fear!  This event will only usher us into eternal joy, peace and love.  Since this is the case, we should eagerly look forward to it and set all our hope upon it.  Those who hope in the Lord will never be disappointed.

II Peter 3:13 –But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

God has not only promised to return for us, He has promised a new heaven and earth.  Isaiah prophesied about it (Isaiah 65:17, Isaiah 66:22), and the apostle John actually saw it in his vision of the Revelation of Jesus Christ!  

Revelation 21:1 - And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

We don’t know all the details of how God is going to accomplish this, but we can rest assured that he will.  We can also be sure that this new world will be purified from sin and defilement; righteousness will dwell in it.  It is going to be a wonderful place!

II Peter 3:14 – Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

Thoughts of the return of Christ and the implementation of the new heaven and earth should motivate us to examine our own lives and see if we are ready for these events. 

The person who earnestly pines/waits for the new heaven and earth, will feel the natural desire to renew himself/herself.  They will do their utmost to remove sin and fleshly desires from themselves and replace them with Christian graces and holiness.  Their desire will be to have every last stain of sin removed from their lives. 

The opposite is also true.  Those who bury the promises of Christ’s return and never take the time to reflect on them, are likely to focus their time and efforts on the things of this world even though they are Christians.

The more we desire things to come, the more diligent we are likely to be in renewing our minds/hearts and focusing ourselves on kingdom work.  For this reason, we would do well to review these promises from time to time.

What does Peter mean by saying we should be found at peace?

He is probably referring to an overall state of mind and heart.  Those who are ready for the return of Christ have peace with God, the righteous judge, and peace with their own consciences.  This peace will spill over into our relationships and we will be at peace with our fellow man.

This peace comes from God and is not dependent on any outward circumstance.  It is a precious peace that the world cannot understand or possess.  It is a peace that assures us God will keep all of the promises he has made to his people.       

II Peter 3:15 – And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

Christians can be assured that God’s alleged delay in returning to earth is not evidence that he will not keep his promise.  Rather, it is proof of his desire that everyone come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  His mercy is revealed as he gives chance, after chance, after chance for sinners to repent.  Therefore, the believer should not be weary or disheartened if the coming of the Lord delays.  We should rejoice in every day that passes, for it keeps the window of salvation open for the lost.

Every new day also affords the believer more opportunities to labor in the kingdom of heaven.  We should stop and ask ourselves this:  What are we doing with the gift of today?  This way of thinking should cause us to share the gospel message at every opportunity.

Mark 16:15 - And he said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

On the other hand, the alleged delay of the Lord’s return does not change the fact that God will proceed with final judgment and punishment at the end of the age.  Wicked men should not make the mistake of thinking they will escape judgment.

This truth about the longsuffering of God has also been confirmed by the apostle Paul in his writings, which would later make up the majority of the New Testament.  Obviously, the truth/wisdom revealed by both Peter and Paul had a common source – Holy Spirit.  

Peter’s mention of Paul’s writings actually serves another purpose – it binds the church together.  Paul is mainly considered the apostle to the Gentiles, while Peter is most often associated with Jewish believers.  Here, Peter shows that the same revelation has been given to all the apostles, because there is a single church of Jesus Christ, made up of both Jews and Gentiles.

It is obvious that Peter’s readers were aware of the teachings of Paul.  How could that be so? 

Much of the New Testament is made up of letters written to the churches by the apostle Paul.  After one church read and studied the letter, it was passed on to other churches as well.  Thus, his teachings spread throughout the churches.  Can you imagine how excited each church would be to get a new letter?  To receive new wisdom and revelation about Jesus and their Christian walk?    

How vastly different things are today!  Most of us are at the point where we can access the entire bible almost instantly – we can even get it on our phones!  In light of this, we have to ask ourselves a question:  What excuse do we have for not being familiar with it?  How much value do we place on our access to the word of God?  What excuse do we have for not growing and maturing in our Christian life?

There are many Christians who want to be like Peter Pan – they never want to grow up!  They want pastors and teachers to spiritually spoon feed them like toddlers.  Truthfully, if that is what you want, there is enough access to sound teaching that you could do it. 

But I encourage you not to be that person.  I encourage you to be the person who searches the scriptures for yourself, allowing Holy Spirit to reveal to you the deep things of God (I Corinthians 2:9-10).

I encourage you to be the person who reads the word and discovers for yourself the promises of God that pertain to your life and situation.  Don’t depend on someone else to discover this for you. 

I assure you, the discovery of these truths is like discovering buried treasure!  When you come across a promise and Holy Spirit quickens it to you, you will KNOW that it is for you; you KNOW it will come to pass! 

In short, be a grown up in Christ!  The time for being a baby is over.  Those who refuse to grow up will miss the astonishing things that God has in store for them.  They will miss out on being a valued partner with God as he brings to pass his plan for the ages.

Do you want to be part of the army of God – one who can enforce his will on the earth? Or do you want to be the baby who stays on the sidelines and misses all the action?

II Peter 3:16 – as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters.  There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

Are there things in scripture that are hard to understand?  You bet there are!  If you don’t believe me, go ahead and read Revelation!

But we need to keep this in perspective.  The gospel message itself is not difficult to understand nor is it complicated.  Rehearse it with me now:

Mankind rebelled against God and allowed sin into the world.  God made provision for that sin to be forgiven through the blood of Jesus; it is a free gift resulting in eternal life.  Those who accept this free gift become children of God.  At the end of time, God will gather his children to himself while the wicked will be cast into hell.

2 Timothy 3:15 - And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

It’s not complicated, is it?  Even a child can understand the message of salvation.  In fact, there are many, many, many elemental truths in scripture that are clear and easy to understand. 

But at the same time, there are truths that can only be understood by mature believers (Hebrews 5:12-14).

Think of it this way:  We would not expect a first grader to be able to complete a thesis necessary to get a doctorate.   Eventually, over time, the student could certainly achieve this, but he would need to work up to it.  

In the same way, Christians must mature in the knowledge of God. There are two components to maturity.

The first is ‘head’ knowledge.  The believer who wants to mature needs to read and study the word.  They need to know the ‘play book’; they must understand the authority, the power and weapons that God has provided for them to use. 

They will also need experiential knowledge.  They must put into practice the things they have learned.  It isn’t enough to know that God answers prayer – you must learn to actually pray.  It isn’t enough to know that Holy Spirit fills believers and empowers them – you must be filled yourself. 

As the believer learns and subsequently puts into practice these truths, they mature to greater and greater levels in Christ.  As they mature, they can understand the more difficult revelations of God.  

How much have you grown in Christ in the last six months or year?  What is holding you back?  Is it a lack of knowledge?  Is it a lack of experience?  Have you been negligent in taking the next step that God has made known to you?  If you are not growing, I strongly urge you to spend time with the Lord, asking him how to move forward.

While there will be Christians who grow in Christ, there will also be ignorant and unstable people who twist the scriptures. 

Here is something interesting – the Greek word for twist is a metaphor taken from torturers, who placed people on racks and stretched/tortured them until they acknowledged lies as the truth, or spoke/confessed things they never intended to really say. 

In the same way, there will be people who ‘stretch’ or distort the true meaning of Holy Spirit in the scriptures. They twist the scriptures to make them say something that God never intended, and thus they make lies into truth.

For example, Peter spoke about licentious men who abused the doctrine of grace.  As we mentioned previously, they taught that since God’s grace covers every sin, it is okay for Christians to sin as much as they like.  According to them, there is no need to pursue holiness - the more God forgives, the more his grace is magnified – so go ahead and indulge!  Obviously, this is a twisted and perverse understanding of grace. 

Once they accepted this perversion of the truth, they could do any and every sinful thing their evil hearts desired.  However, the twisting of the doctrine of grace will eventually lead to their spiritual death and destruction. 

II Peter 3:17 – You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.

There can be no doubt that scoffers and heretics will come.  Here Peter admonishes believers to be on their guard against the false twisted teachings endorsed/promoted by these lawless men who are following their own sinful desires.  We want to be careful not to be lured into false beliefs, which appeal to our fleshly natures.  We do not want to depart from faith in Christ, and the confidence of our salvation which he has given to us.  

II Peter 3:18 – But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.  Amen.

Again, we notice that it is possible for the believer to grow in his spiritual life. 

While we may be more spiritually mature today than we were yesterday, we all still have areas for improvement.  Hopefully, what we are tomorrow is not what we are today!

Consider this:  We plant seeds in the ground, which start off as very tiny plants.  But as we cultivate, prune, water and fertilize them, they grown to a point of producing fruit.  The amount of fruit produced is in direct proportion to the degree of care and attention we bestow upon the plant or tree. 

The same is true in our spiritual lives.  We must cultivate Christian graces.  We must prune our thoughts and conduct in order to become holier.  We must water and fertilize our minds with the word of God, while being on guard against false doctrines presented by scoffers and false teachers. 

Our ultimate goal is to be made over into the image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Let us be ready for the day of his coming!  

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Think about this for a minute:  Living things do not remain static.  Anything that is not actively growing, is actually in the process of dying.  Likewise, if you are not growing in your faith, then you are actually dying spiritually.  

Why not take a few minutes right now to assess your recent spiritual growth?  If you are not on track, I encourage you to repent before God and make some immediate changes in your life.

Let me offer you some relief:

You don’t need to worry if you don’t understand EVERYTHING about your Christian faith.  There are some truths that are for the mature believer. 

But here is the good news – one day, YOU can be that believer!  Just keep on growing, every day.  Keep reading the word, practicing what you learn and keeping your eyes on Christ.  Before you know it, you will be ready for increased knowledge and wisdom.

Let me offer you some strength:

It’s not always fun to diet or exercise your earthly body.  Likewise, crucifying your flesh and replacing it with personal holiness and Christian graces isn’t always easy or fun either.  But I can assure you, it is worth it!  Once you begin the process you will be so glad you did!

And eventually, Christ will return.  Those who are best prepared will have the most joy at his return.  So shake off weariness and hesitation.  Get back in the spiritual self improvement game! 

 

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II Peter 3:1 – This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved.  In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,

In this section of his second letter, you can sense the urgency and gravity that Peter feels as he earnestly writes to the believers in Asia Minor.

Notice that these true believers have sincere or pure minds.  This indicates that they are still true believers, walking on the narrow path that leads to eternal life.  They have not been polluted by the false teachers/prophets mentioned at length in chapter two.  As we saw in that chapter, Peter took the time to thoroughly warn Christians about false doctrines of licentiousness that would eventually lead them to apostasy.

But that is not the only snare that Satan has set for believers. 

Peter also senses danger for the church in the guise of scoffers. A scoffer is someone who jeers or mocks; who treats something with contempt.  They attempt to cast doubt or derision on something, based on their own reasoning or opinion. 

Jude 18 –They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions."

In this particular case, scoffers are people who mock the promises that God has made to his children.  In so doing, they attempt to undermine the faith of the believer. 

But Peter isn't about to let that happen. He is going to refute the false, faith destroying opinions of these ignorant people.

Because there are scoffers in every generation (including ours), it is crucial that we listen to the wise council of Peter.

II Peter 3:2 – that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior though your apostles,

Peter wants to stir up the minds of Christians to remember the words of prophesy given to believers in both the Old Testament (the law and prophets) and the New Testament (doctrines included in the gospel message given through the apostles).

Notice that Peter joins together the prophets of old and the apostles of that day, confirming the continuity of scripture.  Though there were numerous prophets and apostles who spoke over a span of hundreds of years, they spoke consistent doctrines and promises. 

It is vital that we remember and meditate on the promises of God delivered through these messengers, so that scoffers do not derail us from the true gospel message.

II Peter 3:3 – knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.

It should be noted that we have no way of knowing how long this period of time will last.  It could be over before you finish reading this blog, or it could still be continuing long after your great grandchildren are old and gray! 

Here's what we do know:  Scoffers are present throughout the era of the last days, which means we can expect to encounter them, if we haven't already.

Here is something else we know:  Like the false teacher, the scoffer is motivated by a craving to indulge in their own sinful desires. 

For a moment, picture a sinner who comes face to face with the reality of God. He discovers that God is pure and holy, and He desires for us to be like He is. To accept and follow Christ is to embrace a life of holiness.

I Peter 1:15-16 – ...as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy".

But the sinner is more in love with his sin than he is with God.  He does not want to be restrained by what he perceives as the limitations of godliness and holiness.  So, what will he do now? 

This particular sinner might become a scoffer.  In order to avoid the truth, he will constantly try to pick it apart and prove that it is not true.  He will dismiss every point that he cannot fully understand.  He will find things that he cannot explain and use it as an excuse to deride the whole gospel.  He will boldly proclaim the truth to be a lie; he will deem the gospel worthless or despicable.  He will persuade himself that that the gospel is spurious. 

If he can convince himself that is the case, he has the liberty to cast the gospel aside and follow his evil propensities. Sadly, his opposition to the truth began and ended in his own lusts.

II Peter 3:4 – They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming?  For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."

Here is one of the doctrines that scoffers love to revile – the second coming of Jesus.  When Jesus returns to earth, he is going to judge the world in justice and righteousness.  Those who are found in Christ will receive rewards.  Those who have rejected Christ will be judged and punished. 

We can instantly see why the scoffer desires to blaspheme the doctrine of the second coming.  Remember, he or she wants to continue wallowing in their sin.  If they openly acknowledge that Jesus is going to return and judge the wicked, then they must admit their actions are wrong, and they need to repent.  However, scoffing at the idea of the return of Christ sears their conscience and allows them to keep on sinning.  

The argument presented by the scoffers goes something like this:

When the prophets of old foretold the return of Christ, they expected these events to occur any day (imminently). But nothing happened. They died and were buried long, long ago, but nothing changed. The world just keeps spinning on and on.

Our own forefathers spoke of the same promises. They kept the words of the prophets alive in their generation, but they too are dead. And nothing has changed. The world continues as it always has.

Since the days of creation, the course of nature has gone on steadily. Day after day, month after month, year after year the sun rises and sets. Spring follows winter. The tides ebb and flow. People are born and people die. Nothing has changed.

Where is the evidence that Christ would return? Show it to us! Where is the fulfillment of the promise? It is never going to happen!

These are the views of the scoffer.

To make matters worse, scholars think that some Christians of that day had taken it upon themselves to predict an exact date/time for Christ's return.  When that date passed by without anything happening, scoffers seized the opportunity to claim God's promise had failed.

Let's take a look at their claim.

First, we notice that they do not deny that God made a promise to return.  There is way too much evidence and too many witnesses of that promise in both the Old and New Testaments to deny its existence.  So instead of denying the promise, they mock it.  They scorn it.  They argue against it.  This demonstrates a much higher degree of contempt than simple denial.

Obviously, their claims are sketchy at best. Simple human reasoning tells us that just because something has not yet happened, does not mean it won't happen at a future date.

But we don't want to use human reasoning to defend our beliefs. Here's why: The second coming of Jesus is the crowning event/denouement of the plan of salvation. When Jesus returns, he brings justice and righteousness to all things. The wicked are judged. Death, the final enemy, is defeated. The righteous inherit eternal life and begin the next phase of our existence. All loose ends are tied up. Everything is perfectly finished. If Christ never returns, these things never take place. Clearly, the significance of the second coming cannot be over stated.  So we don't want to use changeable, imperfect human reasoning to defend it. We want to use the infallible word of God – which is exactly what Peter does!

II Peter 3:5-6 – For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.

The phrase 'deliberately overlook' once again stresses the fact that the scoffer did not arrive at their conclusion by reason or sober judgment.They stubbornly choose to ignore the truth so they can continue in their sinful ways. They will eventually find out that being willfully ignorant does not justify them.

Peter begins his rebuttal with a clear fact:  Despite the claims of the scoffer, things have NOT remained unchanged since the beginning of creation.

Creation was disrupted by the flood during the days of Noah.  God swept away a whole world of ungodly men during that destructive event.  If God was willing and able to destroy the wicked in the flood, why does the scoffer refuse to believe he will do so again, at his second coming?

In the book of Genesis, we find reference to a vast unformed collection of materials and elements which are collectively called water. The earth itself was formed from/out of this water by the powerful, creative words of God (Genesis 1:1-2).

During creation, God divided the waters according to his wisdom.  Some were stored in the heavens (what we know as the atmosphere or first heaven), some were gathered together into the seas (leaving dry land) and some was stored in the 'great deep' (Genesis 7:11). 

Genesis 1:6-8 – And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."  And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse.  And it was so.  And God called the expanse heaven.  And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

And there they stayed, allowing life to flourish on earth. 

However, the wickedness of man increased to such a level that the world was entirely filled with violence and sin. At that point, God demonstrated his wrath and mighty power by releasing the repositories of water and allowing the earth to be destroyed by the flood waters, as he promised he would do:

Genesis 6:17 – For behold, I [God] will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven.  Everything that is on the earth shall die.

(See also Genesis 6:7, 6:13, 7:4). Thus, the scoffer cannot claim that the earth has continued since creation without change.  Neither can he claim that God is incapable of destroying it.  His argument against the second coming of Christ has been demolished!

II Peter 3:7 – But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

This might be a good time to comment on the word "heavens". Scripture speaks of three different heavens. The first heaven refers to the atmosphere of the earth. The second heaven refers to what we would call 'space'; it entails all of the stars, planets, etc. The third heaven is the place where God dwells. When Peter says the heavens are stored up for fire/destruction, he is not referring to the place where God dwells.

Through the word of God (scripture), Peter has just proved that there was a major change in the heavens and the earth during the days of Noah.  This change came solely as a result of God's word and will.  The earth and the laws of nature have no power or stability of their own.  They go on day after day, year after year because God wills it to be so.  He created them.  He sustains them.  He established their laws of operation.  He alone controls them.

By his word he created them; by his word, he destroyed them with the flood.   Thus, the foolishness of the scoffer is readily apparent. 

The scoffer and the Christian alike should also take note that a second total destruction has already been decreed for the earth.  The same powerful word of God that destroyed the world by water will also destroy it by fire.

Like the flood, this future judgment is tied to the destruction of the wicked. Obviously, it is yet to come; we do not know when it will occur. It may or may not happen within our generation or lifetime. But come it will, just as surely as the flood did, because God always keeps his promises. He does what he declares he will do.

Isaiah 66:15-16 – For behold, the Lord will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.  For by fire will the Lord enter into judgment, and by his sword, with all flesh; and those slain by the Lord shall be many.

Therefore, the Christian should never believe the lies of the scoffer.  Rather, we place our faith in the immutable promises of God.  We do not need to fear the future; we only need to remain faithful to our loving heavenly Father, who keeps us safe within the secret place of the Most High (Psalms 91:1-8).   At the perfect time, he will deliver his saints and destroy his enemies.

II Peter 3:8 – But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

This is the second point of rebuttal given by Peter to the claims of the scoffer.

The opinion of the scoffer is that if God was going to return, he would surely have done so by now. They imply that too much time has passed between the promise and the fulfillment; God has forgotten or neglected the promise of his return. In God's neglect, the world continues on and on as it always has.

But Peter again points out that their human reasoning is faulty.  God is not trapped in space and time as humans are.  He transcends time. For him, nothing is past or future, but all things are present.  He existed before he created time, and he will live eternally after he brings time to an end. 

Psalms 90:4 – For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

No measurable duration of time has any bearing on the eternity of God.  Therefore, God's actions cannot be judged according to our understanding of time.  While a thousand years is far, far past the limits of our fleshly existence, it is nothing to God, for he is eternal.

Even believers sometimes get impatient as we wait for God to fulfill his promises.  Peter provides a good reminder for us that God's hidden purposes will be accomplished perfectly; he is not bound by our measurement of time.  

Conclusion: God is willing and able to fulfill all of the promises he has made to YOU, even if it's been a long time in coming! Don't give up! Don't let your faith waiver!

Habakkuk 2:3 - For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay.  

Did you catch what God said to Habakkuk?  The appointed time for fulfillment of God's promise would surely come!  Though it takes awhile, wait for it!

What promise are you claiming?

• Are you praying for one of your children? Don't give up- wait for it!
• Are you looking for revival to break out in your community? Don't give up- wait for it!
• Do you want to see miracles? Don't give up- wait for it it will surely come!

II Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

All of us can probably recall a time when someone made us a promise, but then either broke it or forgot it. When this happens, we begin to make assumptions about why they failed to keep their promise. We might think they changed their mind/plans, or they forgot their promise to us, or perhaps they do not have the ability (time, resources, money, authority) to complete the task. In the case of humans, any of these assumptions may be true.

But no such assumption can be made in the case of God.  He has not failed or forgotten to do anything.  The true reason for any perceived delay is the patience and goodness of God.  In his great mercy, God delays judgment in order to afford mankind more time to repent, and thus prevent their own eternal judgment/ruin.

Ezekiel 33:11 - Say unto them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn you, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?

Although God does not desire the death of the wicked, it will eventually happen if they do not repent.  God has appointed a day to judge the world in righteousness and he will keep that appointment. 

Scripture says the return of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, when people are asleep and secure, not expecting him to come (Luke 12:39-40).Therefore, the wicked should not wait to repent.

Every day we have on earth is another day to add Christian graces to our lives, to do good works, to become more like Christ, to share the gospel, to praise and worship our redeemer, to exercise faith, to encourage a brother/sister or to grow in the knowledge and wisdom of God.

Each one of us need to consider the return of the Lord as an imminent event.  If we relegate it to sometime far in the future, we will tend to become slack in our service for God.

Let me offer you some encouragement

Peter says that in the last days, scoffers will come.  They mock the promises of God.  They will try to undermine your faith, and get you to doubt God's promises too. 

Don't fall prey to their false and flawed reasoning. Use your shield of faith to stop their fiery darts of unbelief and doubt. If you are waiting for God to fulfill a promise he made to you, stand strong. Here are some practical things you can do to combat doubt: Repeat that promise or scripture over and over; keeping it fresh within your heart. Pray over it. Rejoice over the answer/victory, even though you haven't seen it yet. Declare that scripture over your life or the lives of your children.

Remember, God spoke the world into existence. There is power in speaking his word over yourself and your children!

Let me offer you some relief:

As a Christian, you don't need to fear the return of the Lord.  Every sin you have committed has been cleansed and forgiven through the blood of Christ.  Satan will try to tell you otherwise, he will constantly bring to your remembrance past mistakes and failures.  When that happens, chase him off with your spiritual sword - the word of God! 

Quote scriptures that speak of your forgiveness and acceptance through Christ.  If you stand up to Satan, he will flee from you (James 4:7)!

Let me offer you some strength:

You are on planet earth for a reason; you have a purpose in life.  Every day that you wake up is a new day to fulfill that purpose.   Whatever God has called you to do, do it with all your might!

Don't be one of the five foolish virgins – work diligently each day for the glory of God, and look for his return.  He will be back for you before you know it!

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II Peter 2:10 – and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.  Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,

As we noted in our last post, it is likely that Peter is referring to a heretical sect known as the Nicolaitans:

• These people claimed to be Christians, but they abused the laws of grace, even to the point of denying that Jesus was the Messiah who died on the cross. 
• They also claimed to have 'secret' spiritual wisdom which they received through mystic revelation.  This was supposedly given to them, and no one else.  Their actions caused divisions within the church body.
• They introduced false doctrines into the church.  This was not done blatantly; instead they introduced their own opinions here and there until they succeeded in twisting the truth.
• Peter describes them as greedy.  They gave smooth convincing sermons designed to take money from honest believers who wanted to support the gospel.
• Peter describes them as licentious.  Their behavior was unrestrained by law or morality and characterized by abuse of freedom.  Their sin had no boundaries and basically taught that 'anything goes'.  (I can see where that would be a popular doctrine!)

In short, they intentionally perverted religious truth in order to open doors of licentiousness and sin for themselves and anyone they could convince to join them.  Sadly, there are still false teachers in the world today!

Our last post ended with Peter assuring us that God has punishment in store for these wicked people.

Peter now builds upon that topic.  Not only does God punish the wicked in general, he especially punishes heretics and seducers, who add the 'lust of defiling passion' to their corrupt doctrines and false teachings.  Not only are they teaching evil, they are living it for all the world to see, while still identifying themselves Christians.

They live for the indulgence of their carnal appetites, following the desires and inclinations of their own minds.  Since their minds are filled with thoughts of sin and worldly pleasure, they will relentlessly pursue those things without restraint. 

This is the opposite of the true believer, who renews his mind in righteousness (Romans 12:2) and keeps a diligent guard on the thoughts that enter his mind. 

2 Corinthians 10:5 - Casting down arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

You are the gate keeper of your own mind - God allows each one of us to choose what we will allow our minds to dwell on.  As you are deciding what to think about, keep this in mind - the seeds you plant in your mind will come to fruition in your actions (James 1:13-15).  So be careful what you think about!

As if that were not enough, false teachers also hate authority.  In our study of I Peter chapter 2, Peter admonished believers to submit to those that God has placed in authority over us, such as kings, magistrates, governors, etc.  God has placed them there for our good - to punish evil and maintain order.  As we respect and obey them, it brings glory to God and removes any reason that the heathen have for slandering Christianity.    

However, these vain false teachers do not respect authority of any kind.  Because they desire unbridled freedom of all kinds, they rebel against authority in the government, the church, the family and ultimately against God himself.  Their ultimate goal is anarchy.

I can't help but compare this passage of scripture to some of the events taking place in our nation today.  We seem to have areas where people have thrown off the restraints of government, society and police, resulting in pockets of anarchy.  One thing we can do is to pray, asking God to send revival into these areas.  If these rebellious people will accept Christ as Lord, he will change their hearts and minds.  

II Peter 2:11 – whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord.

This verse is actually the second half of the thought expressed in verse 10, which describes the false teachers as people who rebel against all authority, especially that of the civil government.  In their bold and scornful rebellion, they curse, imprecate and judge the government officials in authority over them.

Peter now contrasts their actions with those of the angels:

There is evidence in scripture to show that angels do not mock, blaspheme, reproach, judge or otherwise rail against others, even when they are zealously engaged in the work of God. 

An example of this is referenced in Jude 9-10 as well as in Jewish tradition, where the archangel Michael contended with Satan for the body of Moses. During their encounter, the only words spoken by the angel were simple, truthful and straightforward – 'The Lord rebuke you'. There was no use of harsh or violent language. The angels did not presume to judge or condemn their adversaries.

But these false teachers are senseless brutes – they speak blasphemy and judgment against those who have their authority from God.  We might say they rush in where angels fear to tread, and they rail against things they don't understand (the purposes of God in granting authority to certain people). 

Scripture does not give us a full account of what was said by these foolish men.  We only know that they spoke presumptuously and wickedly against authority.  Our assumption is that the people of Peter's day knew the specifics of the situation.  We can also assume that Holy Spirit wanted to call our attention to the bigger picture here – that false teachers exhibit a lack of respect for authority, always leaning towards anarchy. 

II Peter 2:12-13a – But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing.

Let's stop and talk about wild boars for a minute.  Except for older males, wild boars travel in groups.  They are swift, nocturnal, unpredictable and aggressive.  They are omnivorous (they'll eat anything – plants, meat, garbage, etc).  The males average around 200 pounds, although many larger animals have been documented. 

These animals are extremely destructive.  They love to root, trample and wallow.  In the process of doing so, they destroy crops, forests and property.  They prey on or compete with native species such as rodents, deer, birds, snakes, frogs and lizards. 

They also spread disease to both animals and humans.  There are more than 24 diseases that people can get form wild boars including hepatitis E and tuberculosis. 

Now, suppose that a large wild boar was loose in your neighborhood.  What would that be like? Remember, that animal is wild and aggressive. You can't tame it. You can't train it. You can't reason with it. It's unpredictable and aggressive. It's only goal in life is to fulfill its desires - eat, destroy and reproduce.

Peter is saying that licentious false teachers/prophets are like wild boar.  They ignore their God given ability to restrain their behavior and desires.  They want to be wild, throwing off all restraint or authority in pursuit of their base fleshly desires (money, sex, power, drunkenness, entertainment, etc).  They don't care who they hurt or destroy in the process.  They infect unsuspecting believers with their diseased doctrine and practices.  In the end, they will be destroyed - their behavior will eventually lead to both moral and spiritual death.   

The ironic thing is this – these people are all about casting off authority because they don't want to be restrained or bound by law and society.  But by rebelling against the authority sanctioned by God, they place themselves under the bondage of their own evil passions.  So either way, they wind up being 'captured' - they will serve a master of some kind. 

Those who serve a master earn wages.

We are all familiar with 'wages' – money earned by performing work.  In a sense, all people are earning eternal wages.  Those who serve God are laying up treasures in heaven, while those who serve Satan (or themselves) are laying up torment/punishment in hell. Recompense may or may not come in this life, but it is guaranteed in the next.  The justice of God guarantees it. 

II Peter 2:13b –They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime.  They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you.

Most sinners wait for the cover of secrecy or night to indulge in sinful pleasures. But these false teachers are so bad, they have cast off even that light fetter. They defy all decency by openly and shamefully practicing wickedness in a place and manner that all can see.

These vile sinners are like blots or blemishes. Picture it this way: You are wearing a brand new, pure white, silk shirt to a party. Turns out, the host of the party is serving BBQ wings. You pick up a really saucy wing and – oops – your shirt isn't white anymore! What a shame; the spot ruins the shirt.

In the same way, the actions and beliefs of false teachers are a scandal and a disgrace to the true spiritual church of Christ, which should be (and one day will be) without spot or wrinkle.

Furthermore, our translation says they revel in their deceptions, while the King James Version says they 'sport themselves with their own deceivings'.  Not surprisingly, the Greek word means to live delicately or luxuriously.  In other words, they take advantage of their views/doctrines to live in rebellion and luxury.  They indulge in their most corrupt passions under the guise of Christianity.  In fact, they even look forward to the Christian feasts as an occasion to indulge (1 Corinthians 11:17-22).

What could be worse?  They clearly blaspheme God and slander salvation by their words and deeds.

II Peter 2:14 – They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin.  They entice unsteady souls.  They have hearts trained in greed.  Accursed children!

'Eyes' is a figurative expression often used in scripture. In this case, it refers to the mind/disposition of man. For example:

• Bountiful eye refers to a person of kindly disposition (Proverbs 22:9).
• Haughty or lofty eyes refer to a spirit of pride (Psalms 131:1).
• Lowly eyes refers to a person who is humble (Luke 18:13).
• Sharpening of the eyes refers to anger (Job 16:9).

In this case, eyes full of adultery refers to idolatrous inclinations.  Peter tells us their desires are insatiable.  Your translation may say 'cannot cease from sin'.  This does not mean that they do not have the natural mental ability to stop sinning.  Neither does it mean that they are physically incapable of ceasing to sin.  Rather, it means that they are so corrupt that they will certainly always sin. 

And they don't like to sin alone.  They try to involve as many people as possible in their false doctrines which promise carnal pleasures and liberties.  Christians who are not deeply rooted in their commitment to Christ are in danger of being beguiled (baited or entrapped) by these deceivers.

Peter refers to these wicked people as accursed children.  This either means they brought a curse with them wherever they went, or that they deserved to be cursed.

I Peter 2:15-16 – Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray.  They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

The right way refers to the narrow path of righteousness that Christians tread in this life (Matthew 7:13-14).  This path leads to peace, blessing and eternal life.  False teachers and prophets have left the narrow path and proceeded to follow Balaam down the wide road.  This road leads to sin, torment and eternal death.

Remember Balaam son of Beor (or Bozor)?  He is most famous for having a conversation with his own donkey, but there is a whole lot more to his story.  You can read the whole account of Balaam in Numbers 22-25. 

One – Balaam professed to be a religious leader or servant of God, but that is very questionable. He was planning to do great harm to the nation of Israel by accepting a lot of money to curse them. So too, false teachers were professing to be Christians, but causing great harm in the church.

Two – Balaam was greedy and covetous. He knew full well that God did not want him to go with the Moabites to curse Israel, but he went anyway because he wanted the honor and fortune that King Balak was going to give him. (Balaam's tendency to avarice is clearly evident throughout the entire narrative. You will see it if you go back and read the account in Numbers). He preferred rewards of this life over the blessing of God. The false teachers of Peter's day were also willing to disobey God in order to receive earthly rewards.

Three - Inciting others to licentiousness. The culmination of Balaam's story is this: Although he desperately wanted to curse Israel so he could get paid, God would literally not allow him to do it. (In fact, he verbally blesses them instead.) So he does the next best thing –he reveals to the King of Moab how to get Israel to curse itself. And – you guessed it- he did it through licentiousness.

Balaam instructed the Moabites to throw a great feast and invite Israel.  There was plenty of alcohol, food and false idols.  The beautiful young women of Moab came to the feast ready to party and soon the whole affair turned into a great orgy in which the false gods of Moab were worshipped by the Israelites.  As a result of their actions, God severely punished them. 

This brings up an interesting question: Have we avoided the snares of false teachers only to curse ourselves? Are we doing things contrary to the word of God? Are these things blocking the Lord's blessing from our lives?

For instance, are you harboring unforgiveness towards someone?  Are you with holding tithe and offerings from the Lord?  Has Holy Spirit clearly spoken to you to do something for him, but you refuse like an obstinate child?  All of these things can block God's blessings from you.  

II Peter 2:17 – These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm.  For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.

Imagine for a moment that you are in the midst of a desert.  You are out of water.  It is extremely hot.  There is no relief from the relentless sun.  You are sweaty and exhausted.  Your mouth is like sandpaper and your lips taste like salt.  As time passes by, you are getting closer and closer to death.

But suddenly, you crest a sand dune and way off in the distance you see a well!  Relief and joy flood your spirit because that well promises relief and life to you.  You struggle to get through that last mile and reach the well.

Now suppose you uncap the well, only to find that it is dry. Imagine what that would feel like. You would despair and give up hope. You are closer to death than you have ever been because the well did not deliver what it promised – water.

In the same way, sinners are seeking relief from sin.  They are in a desert of death and despair.  They are looking for life, and they turn to the church to find it.  But what if they are not met with a true Christian teacher or pastor?  A false teacher is like that dry desert well – they promise relief from spiritual death, but they can't deliver (Jude 12-13).  Those seeking the refreshing truth of the gospel are disappointed.  Their spiritual journey has just gotten more difficult, instead of easier.

Here is Peter's point: False teachers offer doctrines that seem wonderful.  According to them, you can have your cake and eat it too.  You can be a Christian but live as sinful a life as you like.  But that is not true.  Their vain, empty promises are like wells without water or rain clouds without rain.

Peter also assures his readers once again that God is going to punish these wicked people.  Utter darkness denotes a place of future punishment (Matthew 8:12) which God has prepared for those who choose this path. 

So here's the really important question:  If a sinner came to you as a well of spiritual life, would you be able to give them the water of salvation?

John 7:38 - He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.

In the gospel of John chapter 4, Jesus speaks to the woman at the well about the living waters of salvation.  In John chapter 7, Jesus says that if we are believers, the precious Holy Spirit lives within us and is like a mighty river of water that brings healing and salvation to those who need it. 

If you are a Christian, you have this water.  What you need to do is learn how to use your bucket to draw out that water and present it to others by sharing the gospel message.

II Peter 2:18-19 – For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.  They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption.  For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

'Those who are barely escaping from error' refers to new Christians.  Having turned to Christ, they have just recently escaped from sin and death.  This puts them in a very dangerous place – they have probably only recently broken off many of their old habits and there may be a strong desire to relapse into old ways. 

At this point, if they receive sound doctrine to help them grow in grace, they will become rooted and grounded in Christ and go on to bring forth a spiritual harvest for the kingdom of heaven.

Let's talk about freedom for a moment.  Sin makes you a slave to darkness and evil.  You have no way of breaking out of the cycle of servitude to it.  Every person under the bondage of sin will reap the same reward – death. 

However, true Christianity promises and delivers freedom from sin. Hallelujah! By breaking the yoke of darkness from your life, it gives you the freedom to choose Christ; you can choose to live a holy life as a son or daughter of God. You can choose to become a steward in the kingdom of heaven, reaping rewards of life. This is true freedom:

John 8:35-36 - The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

The freedom of the false teachers is different. They define freedom as the absence of needless restraint and/or the strict/narrow limits of religion. But this is not freedom – it is licentiousness which in reality, is slavery.

Here's why:  Whatever a person submits to (greed, lust, desire for power, etc) is truly his master – he is enslaved to it.  So in casting off restraints, they place themselves back under the chains of their passions and desires.  Thus, the promise of freedom from false teachers results in bondage again to sin; all sin results in servitude and slavery.

Here is some good news:  Christians can prevent falling prey to their tactics by seriously attending to their own personal holiness and working to add Christian graces to their lives.

II Peter 2:20 – For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

The unstable souls (verse 14) who come under the destructive influence of false doctrines will find themselves in a worse position than before they were saved. 

By coming to Christ, they gained additional wisdom and knowledge of God that sinners do not have; they have first hand experience of the true saving grace of Christ. 

Knowledge always carries the burden of responsibility.  Each person is responsible for the level of knowledge of God that they have.   By again becoming entangled in the things of the world, they will now be judged on an increased level of knowledge, which will result in a more severe judgment that what the ignorant will receive (Luke 12:47).

II Peter 2:21 – For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

When the apostle uses the word 'better' here, he is making a comparison.

On the one hand, we have sinners who have always been heathens, being in ignorance of the gospel message, and being ignorant of the law of sin. 

But on the other hand we have sinners who were once heathens, but then came to a knowledge of the grace of Christ Jesus.  They knew what it was like to have the freedom to choose Christ.  They heard the gospel message, understood sin, and knew they were saved by grace. 

To have a knowledge of the truth and then turn away from it is considered the greater evil. Those who were always ignorant of the truth have less culpability than those who knew the truth and yet sinned against it.

II Peter 2:22 – What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire."

Here Peter calls upon the wisdom found in Proverbs (26:11) and Jewish tradition.

So far, so good.  This makes perfect sense in the case of the pig.  But when we seek to apply this proverb to the spiritual realm, we get major difference of opinion amongst scholars. 

The debate centers around this:

Did the person in question every really have a true change of heart/conversion experience?

Those who believe the person really DID have a change of heart/conversion (became a Christian) must, by default, believe that people can fall away from the faith. They can 'back slide' or lose their salvation if they willfully choose the ways of sin.

Those who believe the person DID NOT really have a true change of heart/conversion must, by default, believe that the person was never saved (became a Christian) to begin with. Therefore, like the pig, they will return to sin. The logical conclusion to this belief is that those who do truly accept Christ will never 'back slide'. Therefore, you can never lose your salvation, once you truly accept it.

This issue is a divisive one, which scholars in our generation continue to hotly debate.  You can decide for yourself which opinion you think is correct. 

But the real bottom line is this:  No church is completely pure.  No church is without people and thus no church is without sin or faulty doctrine of some kind.  It is the duty of each individual Christian to guard against false beliefs that lead to unrestrained behavior (licentiousness).  As we work towards personal holiness (I Peter 1:15-16), and purposefully add Christian graces to our lives, we can rest assured that Holy Spirit will keep us safe from falling away from grace.  There is no need to fear. 

But woe to those who lead others astray for their own gratification! 

Let me offer you some encouragement:

As we mentioned earlier, God gives each one of us the ability to control our minds.  You can't stop random thoughts of sin from popping into your mind.  But you can control what you allow to stay there! 

What should the minds of holy people be dwelling on?  The apostle Paul gives us the answer here:

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

I encourage you to dwell on these things, because if you do, you will avoid a lot of sin and temptation!

Let me offer you some relief and strength:

As we mentioned earlier, all Christians have the 'living water' of God in our lives.  In other words, you have the same gospel message that Billy Graham, Charles Finney and others had. You have access to the same Holy Spirit power they had.  

All you need to do is get comfortable sharing that water with thirsty souls.  It's not a matter of having a PhD in divinity.  It's not a matter of getting a bullhorn and standing on the corner condemning random people to hell.  It doesn't have to include every book of the bible and take an entire day.  It does not have to be confrontational.

It's simply a matter of being ready to share what God has done for you with people who are hurting.  Is one of your coworkers going through an illness or a marriage problem?  Offer them support and prayer.  Just a little kindness can open the door for you to share what a difference Christ has made in your life. 

Sharing the gospel can be a gentle, peaceful, well received experience.  You don't have to fear it!  Just look for ways to mention Jesus in your daily conversations.  You might be surprised how easy it is to share your faith!

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II Peter 2:1 – But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

At the end of chapter one, Peter spoke about prophesy as proof of the truth of the Christian religion/gospel message. 

BUT (notice it's a big but) not everyone who claims to be a prophet is a true messenger of God. Just as there were false prophets under the Jewish dispensation, there will be false prophets and false teachers in the Christian church. Rather than prophesying by divine inspiration, they prophesy and/or teach from their own vain imaginations, and they ensnare and corrupt many.

In general, we can define it as a mystic belief system that combines certain Christian ideas (particularly that of redemption through Christ) with speculations/imaginings/opinions of men derived from a medley of sources (Buddhism, Platonism, Greek or Jewish philosophies, religions, theosophies or mysteries). 

For example, all Gnostics believe in the essential separation of matter and spirit, with matter being the source of all evil.  Now that may not sound like a big problem on the surface.  After all, Christians also believe that the spirit is separate from the flesh.  We believe that mankind is fallen and has a sinful nature.   

But look where the subtle lie of the Gnostic leads you:  Human flesh is matter, so by default it is evil.  Since God cannot have any direct contact with evil (matter), then the incarnation of God in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ is inconceivable.  Therefore, the incarnation and the true human life of Jesus never took place at all; consequently, his suffering and death on the cross cannot be real (according to the Gnostics). 

See how their vain speculations twist and pervert the gospel message?

Pretty soon the body is divided with one part being faithful to the gospel message, and another part believing some far out or twisted interpretation of the gospel based on secret mystical revelation.  And you see the danger here, right?  A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Now, let's take this one step further. There was a particular sect of Gnostics who called themselves Nicolaitans. I am sure you have read about them in scripture. This group professed to be Christians, but they advocated ideas which abuse the doctrine of grace.

Grace is the divine favor of God towards man; the mercy of God (as opposed to his justice), and any benefits his mercy imparts such as love, pardon, divine favor, etc.

As we well know, Christians still sin, but because of grace God forgives us when we make mistakes or break his laws.  All we need to do is truly repent and confess our shortcomings.  Under the genuine doctrine of grace, we can be assured that God will see our repentance and forgive us.  

The Nicolaitans, however, twisted the doctrine of grace.  They attempted to introduce a false freedom or licentiousness (behavior unrestrained by law or morality, characterized by abuse of freedom, excess, surpassing boundaries) into the church.  Basically, they subtly reasoned that 'anything goes' for the Christian, because no matter what they did, God would forgive them because of grace.  

There can be no doubt that this was a false doctrine:

Romans 6:1-2 - What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer in it?

Their false teachings seemed to particularly contradict the laws set down by Holy Spirit at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15.  As you recall, the Jerusalem Council freed Christians from observing the hundreds of laws/traditions observed under the Old Covenant.  Basically, the church was bound to abstain from idol meats and sexual sins. 

The Nicolaitans so twisted the message of grace, it appeared to Christians that they could, and even should, eat meat sacrificed to idols during pagan feasts.  These feasts frequently ended up in orgies which the false teachers also labeled as permissible through grace.  Thus, these false teachers introduce evil doctrine and practices into the church by perverting the true words of God.  All this is done through a myriad of twisted reasoning and vain speculation, supported by 'secret' truth.

Now that we have at least a basic idea of false teaching, lets discuss the idea of 'bringing in destructive heresies'.

Heresy can refer to either an opinion that is in opposition to established doctrine, or the sect that promotes these beliefs (like the Nicolaitans). Normally, people who have doctrinal differences split off from a group to form a new organization. But in this case, they stayed within the church, creating divisions within Christianity by the introduction of subtle lies and deceptions into true doctrines.

Interestingly, the Greek word translated 'bring in' literally means to 'lead in by the side of others'.  In other words, they did not openly renounce the gospel.  Rather, their false beliefs were like a poison added to the gospel with cunning and craftiness, which would be fatal to the spiritual life of those who believed it.

But scripture assures us that false teachers who sow crops of heresy will eventually reap a harvest of swift destruction. 

As true Christians, we need to make sure we are never caught up in heresy.  

Christians in every generation should always be on guard against false doctrines. The more familiar you are with the bible, the easier it will be for you to spot a lie or the half truth of a false teacher. If you are listening to a teacher and something they say feels wrong to your spirit, don't ignore it. Stop right there. Pray for Holy Spirit to pinpoint the problem. Search the word. Root out the lie. In this way, you can protect yourself from false teaching.

II Peter 2:2 – And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.

We need to make a very important point here:  Heresy is NOT honest error.  It is the intentional perversion of religious truth designed to open doors of licentiousness and sin for those who believe it. 

Why are these false doctrines so enticing?  How is it possible that they can lead 'many' astray?  The answer is simple:  They allow people to have their cake and eat it too. 

Sadly, heresy brings disgrace, calumny and defamation to Christianity.  Because of it, the name and doctrine of Christ will be open to the reproach of the very people who need it the most.  Even true Christians will be misrepresented as hypocrites and the gospel message is reduced to a bad joke.  Thus, people like the Nicolaitans bring blasphemy upon the name of Jesus and the gospel message. 

II Peter 2:3 – And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

We have an example of this in the bible – Judas Iscariot!  Notice, he identified with the apostles, but in reality he was a friend of the devil.  The narrative of the woman with the alabaster box reveals that Judas was very greedy:

John 12:5-6 - Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?  This he [Judas] said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bore what was put therein. 

Peter is saying that all false teachers are the same - they are greedy.  They are looking for money to fund their indulgent lifestyles and in order to get it, they will lie and deceive.

So on the one hand, there are devout Christians who are willing to give everything (including their money) to the cause of Christ.  On the other hand, there are false teachers who devise smooth and artful speeches designed to deceive believers into giving them money.  The outcome is obvious.   This has often been described as 'fleecing the flock', or treating believers as merchandise, which can be sold for profit. 

Sadly, this still occurs. I think we can all recall public figures who sell healing or prosperity to true believers by using deceitful reasoning.

Peter not only warns us of the existence of these practices, he warns us about the judgment they bring.  From the beginning, God has promised to pour out his wrath and indignation on the wicked.  Although those punishments were predicted long ago, they are not impotent or asleep; they are alert and active, hurrying to overtake those who deceive God's children. 

Notice that Peter is slowly and methodically building up an airtight case against false teachers.  By showing what they do and what their final outcome will be, he gives true believers the strength and wisdom to reject their enticing teachings.   

II Peter 2:4 – For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Peter now continues to give further proof that the wicked will be punished. He is going to give us three separate examples: the angels, the world during the time of Noah and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The ANGELS

Angels were created as holy, and they had the experience of actually walking in the presence of God. Although we don't know the exact details, we can discern that through their own choice/free will they rebelled against God.

As a result of this sin, they were punished – cast down to hell and held in chains of darkness, reserved for the final judgment.  That is where they are right now.  The darkness that binds them is so dense and so strong that it cannot be broken.  They cannot deliver themselves, nor can they be delivered by others.  At the final judgment, they will forever (permanently) be excluded from the presence of God. 

Peter's point is this:  If God did not spare these angels from judgment, he will not spare false teachers either.

II Peter 2:5 - if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

The WORLD

We have all read the story of Noah and the ark (Genesis 6-7).  We know that the world had rejected God and become corrupt and sinful:

Genesis 6:5 - And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Because of their rebellion against God, he brought upon them swift destruction in the form of the flood.  Like the judgment of the angels, there was no possible way for these people to deliver themselves or be delivered by anyone else.  

Notice that the numbers did not make a difference to God.  Though the unrighteous were numerous, they were all slain.  Though the righteous were but a few, they were well protected by God.    

Peter's point is this:  If God did not spare great numbers of sinful antediluvians from judgment, he will not spare the wicked false teachers either. 

II Peter 2:6 – If by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;

SODOM and GOMORRAH

This is the third example of God's punishment of the rebellious and wicked. Again, we are familiar with the story. Sodom and Gomorrah were so corrupt, God couldn't even find ten righteous people within the city (Genesis 18:23-28)!

Because of their rebellion against God, he brought upon them swift destruction in the form of fire and brimstone, which burned them into ashes. Like the angels and the antediluvians, the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were incapable of saving themselves, or being saved by others.

The only exception was Lot and his family, the only righteous people in the city.  We note that God spared those who serve him; he postponed the destruction of the city until they moved to a place of safety.

Peter's point is this:  The awful and final judgments that came upon the rebellious and licentious people of Sodom and Gomorrah are plain proof of divine condemnation.  Unlike man, God judges fairly and equitably.  If the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were not spared for their rebellion, neither will the false teachers of Peter's day. 

The angels, the antediluvians and the people of Sodom were incapable of saving themselves.  No one could save them from the wrath of God either.  The same will be true of false teachers.   

II Peter 2:7-8 – and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);

There are several observations we can make from this passage.

• We know that Noah and his family as well as Lot and his family were saved from the destruction which overtook those around them. This demonstrates how God makes a distinction between the righteous and the wicked (Psalms 91).

• As bad as Sodom was, there was still at least one righteous man in it. God does not leave himself without a witness in even the vilest and most wicked places (I Kings 19:18). Maybe sin prevails in your place of employment or your school. You may be tempted to leave that place, but stop for a minute and carefully consider your position.

Is it God's will for you to leave?  Or is this an opportunity to let your gospel light shine even brighter so that others may see your good works and glorify God (Matthew 5:16)?   

• The scripture says that Lot was vexed/wearied/burdened by the unrestrained sin and excessive wickedness of the people of Sodom. If you think about it, that is a really incredible statement and it reveals a lot about him.

How many of us are desensitized to sin because we rub shoulders with unbelievers every day?  Do we cringe if we hear cursing, or are we so used to it that we don't even notice it anymore? When people around us are proud to have taken advantage of others, are you grieved by their sin, or do you simply not care? We could give many more examples, but the point is this: Lot held God's laws in such high esteem, that he was grieved or burdened by the sin around him. He was actually wearied by it. Are we grieved by the sin we see every day? What does that say about us?

• Furthermore, Lot lived in the midst of a culture that accepted extreme licentiousness as the 'norm'. Yet, as long as he lived in Sodom, he maintained his integrity and personal holiness. What about us? Are we more influenced by our culture or God's word?

II Peter 2:9 – then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement,

We can take comfort in knowing that God has a perfect and exact knowledge of both the righteous and the wicked. 

THE RIGHTEOUS

First, let me offer you this word of encouragement: You can be sure that every good work you have done has been seen by our Father and he delights to bless you both in this life and the next.

We can also be sure that God is not only able to deliver his children from trials and temptations, he fully understands the best way to do it. He sees a way to do it, even if we do not; he can deliver in ways we never thought possible.

• He can send angels to assist us.
• He can remove or destroy our enemy.
• He can give us earthly friends to strengthen us.
• Or, he can completely deliver us from trouble by taking us to heaven.

1 Corinthians 10:13 -  God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.

THE WICKED

It may seem as though the wicked escape from trouble, but that is an illusion. Sin carries its own penalty in this life and punishment will reach its maximum fulfillment in hell. There will be no escape from the judgment of God.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Are you in a trial that seems like it has lasted forever, and still has no end in sight? I think we have all been in that position from time to time. In these situations, we should follow the example of King David. The Bible says he 'encouraged himself in the Lord':

1 Samuel 30:6 - And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

When you are in the midst of a long trial, all you need to do is begin to read the word.  The Bible is filled from cover to cover with testimonies of how God loves his people.  He parts the sea for them.  He slays entire enemy armies in the dead of night.  He opens prison doors.  He provides water from rocks.  He makes axe heads float.  The list goes on and on and on.  Keep reading the word until it really sinks into your spirit that God loves you with an everlasting love and is going to make you victorious and deliver you, one way or another.  Let your faith rise up and grasp the victory!    

Let me offer you some relief and strength:

False teachers and prophets appear in every generation, including ours.  Satan would love to ensnare you in a lie and make you ineffective in the kingdom of heaven.  But we can avoid that trap by listening to Holy Spirit, knowing the word, and by testing the word that teachers/preachers give.

1 John 4:1 - Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Just because someone says they have a word or revelation from God does not make it so; we must listen to their word to see if it lines up with scripture and bears witness with our spirits. If we seek the wisdom of God on these matters, he will be sure that we are not fooled by false teachers.

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II Peter 1:10 – Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

In our last post, we looked at the Christian graces that Peter encouraged his readers to cultivate in their lives.  These included virtue, knowledge, self control, patience, godliness, brotherly concern and love.

Because of this (therefore), Christians need to be diligent to 'confirm their calling and election'.   What does Peter mean by that? 

Election means 'divine choice, the predestination of individuals as objects of mercy and salvation; the Christian community as a whole (the elect)'.

God has elected or chosen to offer eternal life to all of mankind through his plan of salvation.  As you know, this plan consisted of God sacrificing his Son on the cross to make atonement for our sin.    

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Notice that redemption is available to everyone (the world, whosoever).

God not only elected to make redemption available, he also calls us to it.  In other words, Holy Spirit calls or draws sinners to himself by bringing conviction for sin, and offering redemption through the blood of Christ. 

At that point (when we feel that call/conviction), God gives us a choice – we can reject his offer and continue in sin/death, or we can accept his offer and allow Jesus to be Lord of our life. 

Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord should continually be growing in their Christian walk and becoming more and more like Christ (II Corinthians 3:17-18).  Specifically, we should expect to see growth and development of the Christian graces in our lives.    

Now, let's switch topics for a minute. Our new topic is 5^th grade science. 

Question: What is a barometer?

(If you got that right, be sure to reward yourself! For some of us, it has been a LONG time since fifth grade!)

Anyway, you can't physically see the pressure of the atmosphere, can you?  But you can see how it changes the level of mercury within a barometer.  And based on the measurement/changes, you can estimate what the weather is going to be. 

In this passage, Peter is referring to a 'barometric confirmation' of our faith. We can't see our Christianity with our physical eyes. But we can determine or measure its progress in different ways. If our actions correspond with our profession of faith (if we see a steady growth of the Christian graces in our lives), then we can confirm or assure ourselves that we are true believers in Christ. This is also a confirmation of our faith to others.

This is still a good tool for us today.  There are still false teachers running around.  There are churches that meet every week and exercise religious rituals, but are not part of the true family of God.  One way to confirm to yourself that your Christianity is real is to look at your graces and check their progress.    

Peter assures his readers that if the graces are growing, we can be confident in our faith.  If we diligently practice the growth of these in our lives, we will not fail in our walk with God.      

In summary:  Election is of God; only he made the plan of salvation and only he carried it out.  Calling is also of God – he calls men to himself via Holy Spirit.  Our works cannot ever earn our salvation.  Our calling and election do not depend on good works or virtue; but good works/virtue (Christian graces) are evidence of the calling and election we possess.

II Peter 1:11 – For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Here, the apostle speaks of an entrance.  What kind of an entrance is he referring to?

He likens the believer's entrance to heaven to the entrance of a victorious Roman general into his home city.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible describes the Roman ritual this way:

On such occasions the general was usually clad in a rich purple robe, interwoven with figures of gold, setting forth the grandeur of his achievements; his buskins were beset with pearls, and he wore a crown, which at first was of laurel, but was afterwards of pure gold.  In one hand he had a branch of laurel, the emblem of victory; and in the other, his truncheon.  He was carried in a magnificent chariot, adorned with ivory and plates of gold, and usually drawn by two white horses. (Other animals were also used: when Pompey triumphed over Africa, his chariot was drawn by elephants; that of Mark Antony, by lions.)

His children either sat at his feet in the chariot, or rode on the chariot horses. To keep him humble amidst these great honors a slave stood at his back, casting out incessant railings, and reproaches; and carefully enumerating all his vices, etc.  Musicians led up the procession, and played triumphal pieces in praise of the general.

Next followed carts loaded with the spoils taken from the enemy, with their horses, chariots, etc. These were followed by the kings, princes, or generals taken in the war, loaded with chains. Immediately after these came the triumphal chariot, before which, as it passed, the people strewed flowers, and shouted Io, triumphe!

Wow!  That would be quite an entrance into one's home city, wouldn't it?  While it sounds exotic to us, it was a familiar ritual to all of the people under the Roman Empire, whether they were Christians or not.  They may or may not have personally witnessed it, but they knew about it.

Peter draws a parallel between the coming home of a triumphant Roman soldier and the coming home/entrance to heaven of a triumphant Christian soldier.  Those who fully embrace Christ in their lives, as evidenced by the adding of the Christian graces, can expect to receive a very warm and victorious entry into heaven!      

Did you know that scripture speaks of 4 different classes of people?

• There are some who are opposed to Christ (infidels or heathens). They will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Revelation 21:27).
• Others are said to be close to the kingdom of heaven, inferring that they will eventually make a decision for Christ (Mark 12:34).
• There is a third group who are 'saved by fire' (I Corinthians 3:15), meaning that they have no good works or growth added to their salvation. An example of this would be someone saved on their deathbed.
• Finally, there is a group who will experience an abundant entrance into heaven. These are fruitful Christians who are daily growing in Christ. They will not only experience a warm welcome into the kingdom, but a more ample reward for eternity.

Which group are you in?

II Peter 1:12 – Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.

Because these truths are so important, Peter is going to take every opportunity to remind believers of them.  This is reflective of his work as both an apostle and a pastor.

Pastors do reveal new truths to their congregants.  The truth was always there in scripture, though they may not have noticed it or understood it. 

Thank the Lord for pastors who never grow weary in coaching their flock to victory in their Christian race!

For our part, let's make sure we are 'coachable' that we allow God to impact/change our lives through the teachings and guidance (reminders) of our pastor.  If we work with our pastor instead of against him/her, we will benefit greatly (Hebrews 13:17). 

II Peter 1:13-15 – I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by the way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.  And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Essentially, Peter tells his readers that as long as he is on earth, it is his duty to spur them on to a diligent performance of their Christian duties and to keep a careful eye on spiritual matters.  Again, this is the duty shared by all apostles and ministers of Christ.

Peter probably feels this duty more acutely than ever, as he senses that he is nearing the end of his earthly life.  Soon, he will be martyred (crucified) for Christ, as Jesus revealed to him:

John 21:18-19 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, when you [Peter] were young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you would: but when you shall be old, you shall stretch forth your hands, and another shall dress you, and carry you where you would not.  This spoke he [Jesus], signifying by what death he [Peter] should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he said unto him, Follow me.

When people sense they are coming to the end of their lives, they often focus on what they consider to be the most important things in life.  They may share memories with you, reveal family secrets or give you some of their special possessions.  They will often try to mend relationships or express their love towards family and friends. 

Peter is approaching the end of his earthly life, and it was a really unusual life!  Consider what we know about the apostle Peter:  He saw the miracles of Jesus.  He witnessed the transfiguration.  He heard the teachings and understood the parables.  He walked on water.  He was at the first communion.  He was schooled in the Old Testament law, then after spending three years with Jesus, he came to an understanding of how the Law was fulfilled in Christ.  He was a first hand witness as the New Covenant was ushered in to replace the old.  He spent time with Jesus after his resurrection.

Amongst all the tremendous and miraculous things that he learned in life, what did he find most important? Assuming he was speaking to Christians, what did he want to emphasize/to highlight/to continue to call to our remembrance? What did he want us to keep in the forefront of our minds?

Faith in Christ, and the necessity of experiencing and practicing the graces/virtues of the Christian life, until we are called to heaven.   

This is important because believers who are established in the truth will not be shaken by the winds of false doctrine.  And nothing can give greater comfort in the closing moments of life than to know that we have faithfully followed/served Jesus and sought his glory. 

Had Peter lived in our day, he would probably have written multiple best selling Christian books.  He could have filled many of them with the wisdom and knowledge he gained from spending time with Jesus. 

Instead, Holy Spirit chose to preserve for us just two rather short letters. And through the power of the Spirit these letters accomplish Peter's goal - to serve as a reminder of the important doctrines of Christianity, preserved as a reference for future generations of believers.

In verses 16-18, Peter refers to the transfiguration of Christ which was witnessed by himself along with James and John. The account of the transfiguration can be found in Luke 9:28-36 and Matthew 17:1-9. It is too long to copy into this post, so please take a moment to read it before continuing on.

II Peter 1:16 – For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made know to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty,

Before and after the coming of Jesus, mankind has worshipped false gods and created false religions.  Fueled by Satan, these gods spring from the evil of men's hearts and imaginations.  They were frequently contrived to please and gratify men's desires with the eventual goal of deceiving and perverting their judgment and conduct.  And they have been very successful.  Passed on from generation to generation as truth, entire cultures have been enslaved to evil and darkness.  

Most false religions have their origins shrouded in mystery with one or maybe two witnesses, along with one great appearance or alleged miraculous sign.

Unlike false religions, the gospel message of Jesus Christ is the true council of God. It is the genuine and infinitely wise plan of a loving Father who has made a way of salvation through his Son. It was never done in secret or shrouded in mystery. Through the preaching of the gospel and the working of miracles, the power and coming of Jesus have been clearly revealed to anyone who will listen.

The coming of Messiah was long predicted in scripture; it began immediately after the fall (Genesis 3:15).  The promise can be traced all through the Old Testament and into the New.  All along the way, God gives us ample evidence that he is carefully watching over his plan to bring it to pass at the perfect moment.  When the time was right, the prediction/promise of the coming of Messiah was fulfilled when Jesus Christ came to earth, born of a woman.  

The power of Jesus was clearly manifested while he was on earth.  The miracles he performed bore witness to the truth of the gospel message.  And the truth of the gospel message is this:  Only the power of Jesus is able to save to the uttermost all sinners that come to God through him.  Nothing but the blood of Christ is able to wash away all guilt and sin. 

There were hundreds if not thousands of witnesses to the power and resurrection of Christ, but Peter was witness to a special manifestation of the divinity of Jesus during the transfiguration.

II Peter 1:17-18 – For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

Again, Peter is drawing on the evidence of his eyewitness account to proclaim the validity and truth of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, which in turn validates the gospel message. 

As Peter, James and John witnessed the glory and divine majesty of Jesus, they also heard God honoring his Son:

Matthew 17:5 - While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear you him.

God himself confirmed that Jesus was the long promised Messiah by bestowing honor and glory upon him. Honor refers to the statement of God and glory refers to the light of Christ's countenance. The three apostles were both eye witnesses and ear witnesses of this event. It was not a vision or a hallucination. It was a real experience.

The statement 'this is my beloved Son' declares that without question Jesus was the promised Messiah. Because that is true, everything contained within the Law (represented by Moses) and the Prophets (represented by Elijah) regarding the Messiah applies to Jesus.

It also means that all future prophesy concerning the Messiah (his return to earth, his defeat of Satan, his 1000 year reign, etc) are also true and we can have the utmost confidence that these events will occur as prophesied at their appointed times.   

Because God the Father loves Jesus, he also loves all those who have faith in Jesus.  Because God the Father is pleased with Jesus, he is also pleased with all those who have faith in Jesus.  In fact, it is ONLY through faith in Jesus that we can be accepted by God and become his adopted children.     

As a final note, the mountain on which this occurred is not definitely identified, though tradition names the location as Mount Tabor.  This mountain was not holy in and of itself; rather it had relative holiness - any place where God is, is holy (Exodus 3:4-5).  Therefore, this was a holy place at the time the transfiguration occurred. 

II Peter 1:19 – And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

We – Christians.

Have the prophetic word – Prophesies that related to the Messiah.

More fully confirmed – The three apostles (Peter, James and John) had seen/heard the transfiguration of Jesus and bore witness that Jesus was the Messiah.

However, the Holy Scriptures are also a witness – a more fully confirmed witness.  Here is why: 

The prophesies about Messiah are found throughout the Old Testament.  They are very numerous, given by different individuals, at different times, and by their sheer number they provide a stronger proof of truth than a single manifestation (the transfiguration), no matter how clear and glorious the manifestation was.

These prophesies were recorded (preserved in writing), so that they remained unchanged and could later (hundreds of years) be compared to the events that actually occurred. By making this comparison, a sound judgment could be made (by anyone) about the identity and work of the Messiah.

You will do well to pay attention to - All Christians should study or pay close attention to these prophesies, because they provide the evidence/confirmation that our belief in Jesus is not vain.

As a lamp shining in a dark place – The prophesies act as a light source that illuminated the identity and work of the Messiah before he came to earth (when our understanding was darkened). Although they did not give perfect light or perfect understanding of the Messiah and his work, they enabled us to see/understand/confirm things which would otherwise be invisible or hidden to us.

Until the day dawns - There is a comparison here between a lamp shining in darkness and the morning light. When you see things by a lamp shining at midnight, your vision is somewhat obscured. While you get a general idea of what you are looking at, you can't see all the details. However, when the light of day dawns, things become illuminated and the details become clear.

In the same way, Old Testament prophesies gave us a limited view of the Messiah, but now that Jesus has actually come, the truth shines like daylight, fully making the gospel clear.

Let's consider an example. In Isaiah 42:1-9, we find a really complex prophesy concerning the Messiah. Feel free to examine the entire passage, but we are just going to take a quick look at one verse:

Isaiah 42:7 - To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

People who lived during the time of Jesus could have looked back at this passage from Isaiah and compared it to what they knew about Jesus.  Did Jesus open the eyes of the blind?  Obviously, the answer is yes!  In fact, Jesus almost certainly healed the eyes of many, many more blind people than the New Testament mentions. 

And Jesus not only opened physical eyes, he opened spiritual eyes/understanding as well.  (This is the part that was probably obscured until Jesus actually came). Those who had their spiritual eyes opened believed on him as Messiah and they were set free from the prison of sin and death.   

So, we see that there were prophesies that were only partially or incompletely understood by people before the Messiah came. However, after Jesus actually came to earth and completed his mission, those prophesies were brought to light or made more clear by the actual events they referred to.

Here is something for your consideration: There are still prophesies yet to be fulfilled concerning the second coming of Christ!  In our day, we have an obscured understanding of the book of Revelation, portions of Daniel and other prophetic books. We know enough to understand the basics – Jesus has promised to return. He has promised to take his faithful followers to heaven. He has promised a final judgment for Satan and sin. He will rule for 1000 years on this planet.

But we obviously do not have a clear understanding of how or when these things will take place.  They will only be fully understood as their fulfillment gradually unfolds.

II Peter 1:20-21 – Knowing this first of all, that no prophesy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophesy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

In other words, biblical prophesies did not originate in the minds of the prophets themselves. They were not the opinions, the inventions or the ideas of man. They originated in the mind of God and they were imparted/given to the prophets by Holy Spirit so they could be communicated to mankind.

 Likewise, the prophets did not prophesy according to their own will.  In other words, they did not choose the time or place of receiving.  They simply yielded to the Spirit of God, when he moved upon them.

Clearly, they did not write by their own authority.  The words that were recorded carry the authority of Almighty God.  Therefore, we should be careful to heed what they wrote. 

This is true for ALL OF SCRIPTURE (not just the prophesies). This is why Paul tells us that ALL scripture is profitable for doctrine, instruction, reproof, correction and instruction (II Timothy 3:16).

Some interpret these verses to mean that no prophesy in the scriptures should be fully understood of only the persons and events to whom the speaker/prophet first intended, for holy men of God were moved by Holy Spirit to speak words which signified a deeper meaning than what was revealed on the surface. 

For example, Psalms 2 was written by King David. It speaks of him ascending to his earthly throne. However, it is considered a messianic Psalm – meaning it also prophetically refers to Jesus eventually ascending to his throne.

Scholars believe that when David wrote Psalms 2 he was under the influence of Holy Spirit and that he believed he was writing only about himself.  He did not understand that Holy Spirit was also revealing a future and greater fulfillment of his words in relation to Jesus.

Let me offer you some encouragement and some relief:

It is always good for us to stop and examine our Christian faith once in a while.  It helps us have confidence that we are on the right track and that we have not become stagnant in our walk with Christ.

I encourage you to take a fair look at your Christian graces.  Are you growing in them?  Have you seen growth in your spiritual life in the last six months?  The last year?  If so, then carry on!  If not, speak to the Lord about your situation.

Let me offer you some strength:

Have you read the book of Revelation? Did you understand it all? Me neither!

But here is the exciting news – even though these prophesies are obscured right now, they will one day be clear. For now we can rest in the knowledge that if God brought about a fulfillment of the prophesies concerning the coming of the Messiah, he will also fulfill the prophesies that relate to his return! In fact, we may live in the generation that sees them completely fulfilled. How exciting would that be!