Christ's Commandments

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448) 1Pet 2:18-19 . . Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all
respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those
who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the grief of
unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.

The koiné Greek word for "servants" in that verse is oiketes (oy-ket'-ace)
which means: a fellow resident, viz: a menial domestic.

Menial domestics are in the same category as the household staff in the
Hollywood movie Remains Of The Day; in which a master butler supervises
everyone in service, including the under-butlers, and all the women. The
home owner typically communicates with his staff by means of the master
butler rather than doing so personally. So the “masters” of 1Pet 2:18
probably correspond to the master butler; viz: a supervisor.

Master butlers are like a ship's first officer, who, as far as the crew is
concerned, is God to them when all hands are on board and the vessel under
way. First officers can't be expected to be sweet little diplomats all the time
in the performance of their duties and responsibilities. It has to be expected
that they are going to become curt, cross, imperious, and demanding on
occasion. And then again, some supervisors are just naturally rude. They're
that way with everybody. Though they might be very competent in the
performance of their duties and responsibilities, some are imbalanced; viz:
they're somewhat lacking in social skills. In other words; it could be said of
some: The man is a pig.

Some employees chafe under the supervision of abusive supervisors; and
there are certain labor laws on the books that permit employees to pursue
grievances. However that may be, it is far better for a Christian to take
advantage of a disagreeable situation to prove himself because Peter says it
is “commendable” to bear up under unjust suffering.

The koiné Greek word for "commendable" is surprising. It’s charis (khar'
ece) which is commonly translated "grace". In other words, bearing up
under abuse-- while in the performance of one's duty as a service person
(employee) --is the conduct of a gracious Christian as opposed to one that's
ill-bred; viz: the belly-achers and the thin skinned cry-babies have some
growing up to do.

†. Heb 12:28 . .Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot
be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with
reverence and godly fear.

The gracious Christians are the ones serving God acceptably. The rest, no
matter how lofty their goals, and no matter what they attempt to do for God,
are just spinning their wheels because they are "ungracious" which
Webster’s defines as: disagreeable; viz: lacking propriety.

For Christians who're compliant by nature, 1Pet 2:18-19 is very easy to
obey. But for those who are proud, arrogant, conceited, overly indignant
and/or easily insulted; I can only say you have my sympathy because this is
something you're going to have to work at. Why? Because this is not
optional; no, it's a "calling"

†. 1 Pet 2:21-24 . . For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered
for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps . . who, when
He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not
threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously

The koiné Greek word for "reviled" is loidoreo (loy-dor-eh'-o) which means:
to reproach; viz: vilify.

Webster’s defines vilify as: 1) to lower in estimation or importance; viz:
demean, and 2) to utter slanderous and abusive statements against; viz:
defame; denigrate.

"Reviling in return" (e.g. retorts, rejoinders, and recriminations) is a
common knee-jerk reflex; a natural reaction of the base nature (the flesh)
and contrary to one of the Lord's fundamental teachings in the Sermon On
The Mount.

†. Luke 6:29 . . And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also
the other.

In this day and age of assertiveness, Luke 6:29 is very unpopular with some
Christians. Oh, they'll vote for turning the other cheek alright and agree it's
good Christian character. But you know, good Christian character is sort of
like the Classics: everybody says we ought to have the Classics in our
libraries, but who really reads them? I have to chuckle sometimes at
Christians when one says: The Sermon On The Mount is all the religion I
need. Okay, fine; so when did you plan on beginning to exemplify its
principles?

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Continued From #261

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449) 1Pet 3:1-2 . . In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own
husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may
be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your
chaste and respectful behavior.

Peter began his command with the words “in the same way” meaning that
he's instructing Christian wives to be submissive and respectful even with a
husband they despise rather than just with a husband that deserves their
respect. Here's the model:

†. 1Pet 2:18-19 . . Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all
respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those
who are harsh.

A Christian woman who refuses to be submissive and respectful of her
husband is also refusing to be submissive and respectful of her creator's
wishes. Good Lord! that is an awful thing to be guilty of by someone passing
themselves off as a follower of the Bible's Christ. It's nothing in the world
but blatant fraud and hypocrisy.

†. 1Cor 11:3 . . But I would have you know, that the head of every man is
Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is
God.

†. Eph 5:23-24 . . For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is
the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the
church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in
everything.

Would you, as a Christian wife, be submissive and respectful of Christ? Then
be submissive and respectful of your husband; even if you feel he doesn't
deserve it. The object here isn't your husband anyway: it's Christ. So
respect your husband out of respect for Christ.

I once overheard a conversation between a caller and Dr. Laura on radio
that went something like this:

Caller: My husband doesn't deserve my respect; he hasn't earned it.

Laura: Have you earned your husband's love?

Caller: I shouldn't have to earn his love. It's a husband's place to love his
wife unconditionally.

Laura: Aren't you being a bit unfair? You expect your husband to love you
unconditionally, while refusing to respect him unconditionally? Isn't that a
double standard? No wonder you two drifted apart!

(chuckle) Apparently Dr. Laura's caller was somehow under the impression
that wives not only have the right to lay down the law in marriage, but also
the right to exempt themselves from any and all laws their husbands might
have in mind.

NOTE: This a piece of advice to young single guys from an old man whose
been married to the same woman going on 36 years. When you exchange
vows with your bride, avoid promising to make her happy. Scheming women,
especially the domineering ones, are not above using that promise to
manipulate their husbands.

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450) 1Pet 3:3-5 . . And let not your adornment be merely external--
braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses --but let it
be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle
and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

Some of the more ascetic Christians have attempted to use that passage to
insist it's wrong for women to wear cosmetics. An interpretation of that
nature would mean putting on dresses is wrong too and thereby Christian
women would be in danger of being arrested for indecent exposure
whenever they went out. No, he's only reflecting an old Portuguese proverb
that goes something like this: A beleza não ajusta a tabela. (Beauty doesn't
set the table) which simply means a pretty girl might be amazing in the
bedroom but quite useless as a homemaker.

Hollywood movies often portray "spirited" women as somehow desirable. No,
they aren't desirable: they're pigs, and they make men miserable.
Hollywood also commonly portrays women slapping men in the face and
getting away with it. That is NOT what Peter means by a "gentle and quiet
spirit" and besides, slapping is the felony crime of assault and battery-- not
what I would call setting a good example for growing girls.

†. Matt 5:3 . . Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.

†. Matt 5:9 . . Blessed are the peaceable: for they shall be known as God's
kin.

An assertive, confrontational woman is neither peaceable nor poor in spirit;
no, in point of fact she's quite militant, obnoxious, chafing, critical,
temperamental, impudent, and arrogant. Those might be desirable
characteristics for strong females in television and movie roles but clearly
not desirable in a Christian wife.

When a Christian wife gets all dressed up to her nines, but yet lacks a
"gentle and quiet spirit" then her ensemble is incomplete. In point of fact, an
assertive, confrontational wife is, in reality, nothing less than a barnyard
animal.

†. Prv 11:22 . . As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman
which is without discretion.

So then, by all means Christian women should continue to shop at Sephora,
but at the same time make an effort to be agreeable too.

†. 1Pet 3:5-6 . .That is the way the holy women of old made themselves
beautiful. They trusted God and were subordinate to their husbands. For
instance : Sarah submitted to her husband, Abraham, when she called him
her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of
what your husbands might do.

Sarah, as you might recall, was a stunning girl not only in her youth, but
even later on after menopause. But from what I gather from their
association, Sarah's physical attributes are not why Abraham chose to live
with her, and in point of fact, I really don't think Abraham paid all that much
attention to Sarah's looks at all. No, Sarah was special in other ways; and
even when she couldn't bear Abraham a child, he stuck with her; though in
that day, he didn't have to.

What is it that a Christian wife might fear from her husband? Well, that's
pretty easy. No doubt her biggest concern is that he might take advantage
of her affable personality. Well, that's insufficient grounds to stop a Christian
woman from being the kind of woman that the Bible's God can approve. If
it's any comfort; we're all in the same boat. People are naturally predatory,
and can't help but take advantage of Christianity's good nature. What can I
say: it comes with the turf.

†. Php 1:29 . . For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in
Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

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451) 1Pet 3:7a . . Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to
knowledge

The koiné Greek word for "knowledge" is gnosis (gno'-sis) which means:
knowing (as information) in other words: facts and/or ideas, acquired by
study, investigation, observation, or experience.

Gnosis is different than "intuition" which Webster's defines as: the power, or
faculty, of attaining to direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational
thought and inference.

Gnosis is different than "instinct" too, which Webster's defines as: (1) a
natural or inherent aptitude, impulse, or capacity, (2) a largely inheritable
and unalterable tendency of an organism to make a complex and specific
response to environmental stimuli without involving reason, and (3)
behavior that is mediated by reactions below the conscious level; viz: a
mental and/or emotional knee-jerk reflex.

So then, what Peter is talking about is a man's applying his learned
knowledge of Christian conduct to his marriage. It should go without saying
that studying the Bible is merely the satisfaction of one's curiosity when
somebody never applies its instructions to real life.

†. Jas 1:22-25 . . And keep in mind that it's a message to apply, not just to
listen to. If you don't apply it, you are only fooling yourself. For if you just
listen, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve
your appearance. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look
like. But if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law-- the law that
sets you free --and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard,
then God will bless you for doing it.

Anyway, the word "likewise" points us back to the principle below.

†. 1Pet 2:18-19 . . Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all
respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those
who are harsh.

In other words, Christian husbands are called to be consistent with Christian
conduct even with a difficult wife, and a portion of what Peter instructed
wives, also applies to husbands.

†. 1Pet 3:1-2 . . so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word,
they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they
observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

The koiné Greek word for "chaste" is hagnos (hag-nos') which has no direct
reference to sexual conduct but just simply means clean, as opposed to what
we might call dirty and/or naughty; viz: innocent, decent, civil, modest, and
perfect. (e.g. 2Cor 7:11, Php 4:8, 1Tim 5:22, Jas 3:17, and 1John 3:3)

There are young boys being brought up by macho fathers who teach their
sons to "control their women". Well, that might be an acceptable marriage
philosophy in the home of a Muslim fundamentalist and/or a club-toting
Neanderthal, but not in the home of a man passing himself off as one of
Christ's followers.

†. Matt 5:44 . . Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to
them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you

†. Luke 6:32-33 . . If you love only those who love you, what credit is that
to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good only to
those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do as
much.

†. Matt 7:12 . . So in everything, do to others what you would have them do
to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

†. Eph 4:30-32 . . And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you
were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and
compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God
forgave you.

When married people no longer practice turning the other cheek with each
other; it's over; the love is gone, and they exist in a perpetual cold war.

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452) 1Pet 3:7b . . giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel,

The koiné Greek word for "honor" is time (tee-may') which means: a value,
i.e. money paid.

The word for "weaker" is asthenes (as-then-ace') which means: having no
strength, i.e. fragile.

And the word for "vessel" is skeuos (skyoo'-os) which can indicate anything
from a soup bowl to a file cabinet or a cardboard box; in other words: a
container.

Peter isn't saying women are physically weaker than men; but that Christian
husbands should exercise the same care with their wives as they would a
fragile antique worth thousands of dollars like, say, a Ming vase. Nobody in
their right mind handles a Ming vase like a farmer handles a 5-gallon bucket.
Not that some women couldn't take that kind of handling; it's just that its
unbecoming for a Christian man to lack sensitivity for his wife's feelings.

This Ming-vase value isn't an intrinsic value, nor is it a deserved value
either; but rather, it's a gratuitous value. In other words: Christ commands
Christian husbands to categorize their wives up there with the Dresden china
even if she's as tough as a female cop and/or a WWF wrestler-- and this is
not a choice; no, it's not a choice; it's an order.

Christian husbands who treat their Skil saws and their tomato plants with
more care and concern than they treat their wives can just forget about
associating with God on any meaningful level.

†. 1Pet 3:7c . . as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers
be not hindered.

Note "heirs together".

Couples sometimes assert themselves with words like "What I do is between
me and the Lord." No; not when you're married. Marriage changes
everything between one's self and the Lord because people become one
flesh in marriage: no longer two.

453) 1Pet 3:8a . . Finally, all of you be of one mind,

Peter’s not talking about the nerve center of a Borg-hive collective. The
koiné Greek word for "one mind" is homophron (hom-of'-rone) which
means: harmonious; and this is the one and only place in the entire New
Testament where that word appears.

Webster’s defines "harmonious" as: 1) musically concordant, 2) having the
parts agreeably related; viz: congruous, and 3) marked by accord in
sentiment or action.

Peter's directive emphasizes the third element-- "marked by accord in
sentiment or action". Head-strong Christians, domineering Christians, and/or
those for whom every disagreement is either an affront or an act of war to
win at any cost; of course have trouble complying with that command; that
is; if they even consider it worthy of their notice..

454) 1Pet 3:8b-9 . . having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be
pitiful, be courteous; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but
contrariwise blessing.

"compassion" is from the koiné Greek word sumpathes (soom-path-ace')
which means: having a fellow-feeling; viz: sympathetic, i.e. (by implication)
mutually commiserative.

One of the meanings of commiserate is condole: like when we share
someone's grief at the passing of a loved one, or their job has been
outsourced to cheap labor in India, or they've lost their entire retirement
fund to an unscrupulous corporation like ENRON, or their life savings to a
crooked Ponzi schemer like Bernie Madoff, or when there's news from their
doctor they have to begin chemo-therapy for a recently detected advanced
cancer, or when the car of a single mom with limited income needs
expensive repairs. That is no time to be thoughtless. People in those
predicaments are in sore need of condolences, and they are in no mood for
philosophical platitudes.

The Greek word for "railing" is loidoria (loy-dor-ee'-ah) which means slander
or vituperation; which Webster's defines as 1) to abuse or censure severely
or abusively; viz: berate, and 2) to use harsh condemnatory language.

Rejoinders fall into that category; which are defined as a usually rude or
angry reply to something written or said; viz: insensitive come-backs
deliberately meant to hurt people's feelings; viz: tit for tat. That kind of
behavior doesn't go unnoticed.

†. Matt 12:36-37 . . I say to you, that every careless word that men shall
speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your
words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.

455) 1Pet 3:10-11 . . Let him who means to love life and see good days
refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. And let him turn
away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

Webster's defines guile as "duplicity" which is defined as: contradictory
doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially in the belying of one's
true intentions by deceptive words or action; in other words, speaking with a
forked tongue and/or saying one thing while meaning another.

You know, it's ironic; but if we were to take guile out of the political process,
nobody would get elected. I simply cannot imagine an America with
forthright politicians either in Congress, or the Senate, or the White House.

My father-in-law, who retired from Safeco Title as a senior vice president
and general counsel, once remarked that advertising is the art of deception.
You know what that says to me? It says that Madison Avenue's Mad Men
really have gone mad after all.

FYI: To seek peace and pursue it is blessing-worthy.

†. Matt 5:9 . . Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the
children of God.

If it's true that only peaceable kinds of people qualify to wear the label
"children of God" then the opposite is just as true: difficult Christians are
unworthy of the distinction.

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456) 1Pet 3:14a . . If you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you
are blessed.

Peter isn't talking about one's religious beliefs per se, but about one's
personal righteousness; in other words, one's personal conduct, and their
convictions about what's right and what's wrong.

The koiné Greek word for "righteousness" in that passage is dikaiosune (dik
ah-yos-oo'-nay) which means: equity (of character or act). Webster's
defines equity as: justice according to natural law or right; specifically
freedom from bias or favoritism.

When Adam and his wife indulged in the forbidden fruit, they became their
own Gods with their own opinions about what's right and what's wrong.

†. Gen 3:22 . . And Yhvh God said: The man has now become like one of us,
knowing good and evil.

To give an idea of just how much this situation effects everyday life: the US
Supreme Court not too long ago voted 5-4 on an important firearms issue.
What does that tell me? It tells me that there are justices on that Court
whose opinions are unrighteous because if the justices were all righteous,
then the vote, whichever way it went, would have been unanimous.

The effects of humanistic righteousness are evident in mainstream
Christianity too. When I wrote this, a Presbyterian General Assembly voted
whether or not to allow gay clergy. The measure passed by the slimmest of
margins: 51%. What does that tell me? It tells me that fully half of that
Presbyterian General Assembly is not listening to God because had they all
been listening, the vote would have been unanimous one way or the other
rather than two opposing opinions.

457) 1Pet 3:14b . . And do not fear their intimidation, nor be shaken,

Peer pressure, mob rule, cultural influences, group-think, survival, and
customs are always at work seeking to manipulate people.

Take for example the current wave of suicide bombings and acts of terrorism
perpetrated by Islamic extremists. In their own sick estimation, the murders
and destruction of private property they cause are justifiable; but any
unbiased person can easily see that what they are committing are crimes
against humanity.

The extremists no doubt see themselves as martyrs and patriots, but the
unbiased world only sees them as criminals; which, in the grand scheme of
things; is exactly what they are. Meanwhile, the extremists are exerting peer
pressure on peaceable Muslims all over the world to join their cause. When
peaceable Muslims refuse, then they too become targets just as if they were
devils rather than followers of Mohammad. In other words, the extremists
are insinuating that unless Islamists commit murder and destruction of
private property, they aren't true Muslims. That's a pretty extreme example
of how peer pressure, mob rule, cultural influences, group-think, survival,
and customs cause people to do unrighteous things.

In this current world, if you side with God in matters of right and wrong, you
become a target for intimidation; which Webster's defines as: inducing fear
and/or a sense of inferiority. Intimidation need not be a threat of violence to
be effective. Peer pressure and ostracism are powerful tools of intimidation.
Human beings are herd animals; we all want to fit in and belong. If you
follow the herd, you will be accepted; but if you dare to buck the tide; you
will find yourself unpopular in a very short time. It's ironic. Here in America
we idolize the concept of rugged individuality. But the truth is; we despise
people who do their own thinking; and Americans really despise individuals
who dare to side with God.

I was reading an article in the newspaper recently that said in the past, it
was wise for candidates for Federal office take sides with religion, but
nowadays, in an increasingly irreligious American society, it's becoming best
not to if they hope to win enough votes to get elected.

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458) 1Pet 3:15a . .Dedicate your hearts to the Lord God

The koiné Greek word for "dedicate" in that passage is hagiazo (hag-ee-ad'
zo) which, in some translations of the New Testament, is rendered "sanctify"
which just basically means to consecrate and/or venerate.

Webster's defines "venerate" as 1) to regard with reverential respect or with
admiring deference, and 2) to honor (as an icon or a relic) with a ritual act
of devotion

Dedicating one's heart to the Lord God is not as difficult as one might expect.
For example:

†. Matt 15:8-9 . . This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far
away from Me. But their worship of Me is folly: teaching as doctrines the
precepts of men.

In other words: a heart dedicated to God should take a serious interest in
what He says does, and what He says does not, please Him. This was a
constant flash-point issue between Christ and the religious authorities of his
day. They had gotten to the point where their man-made rules, and
regulations, and traditions superseded God's instructions as per the
covenant that Yhvh's people agreed upon with God in the Old Testament;
and that was a fatal error.

†. Deut 4:2 . .You shall not add anything to what I command you or take
anything away from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God
that I enjoin upon you.

†. Deut 5:29-30 . . Be careful, then, to do as the Lord your God has
commanded you. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left: follow only the
path that the Lord your God has enjoined upon you

†. Jer 7:23 . . But this is what I commanded them: Do My bidding, that I
may be your God and you may be My people; walk only in the way that I
enjoin upon you, that it may go well with you.

†. Deut 27:26 . . Cursed be he who will not uphold the terms of this
Teaching and observe them.

The Lord God has some thoughts about doctrines and precepts not only for
His people; but also for Christians too.

†. 1Cor 14:37 . . If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let
him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the
commandments of The Lord.

†. 1Ths 4:1-2 . .We beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord
Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please
God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments
we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

Lest someone should take the Lord Jesus Christ's commandments lightly; I
should point out that compliance with his wishes is a measure of the
dedication of one's heart to the Lord God.

†. Matt 17:5 . .Behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is My beloved
son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to him.

†. John 14:15 . . If you love me, you will comply with what I command.

†. John 14:21 . .Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one
who loves me.

†. John 14:23-24 . . If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching . . He who
does not love me will not obey my teaching.

†. John 15:14 . .You are my friends if you do as I wish.

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459) 1Pet 3:15b . . Be ready always to give an answer to every man that
asks you a reason of the hope that is in you.

The koiné Greek word for "hope" in those passages, and in others (e.g. Rom
8:23-25 and 1Pet 3:15) is elpis (el-pece') which means expectation;
viz: elpis hope isn't wishful thinking, nor crossing your fingers, nor is it a
hope-so kind of hope; no, it's a know-so kind of hope that confidently
anticipates obtaining the thing it's looking forward to; ergo: elpis is an
anticipating hope; viz: it doesn't pray for the best, while in the back of its
mind; dreading the worst.

The Bible says that elpis hope is a "calling"

†. Eph 4:5 . .you were called to one [elpis] when you were called

When people aren't sure what happens next when they cross over to the
other side; they can't possibly comply with Peter's mandate.

460) 1Pet 4:1-2 . .Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm
yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the
flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no
longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

The koiné Greek word for "lusts" is epithumia (ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah) which
means: a longing (especially for what is forbidden). The "flesh" is of course
man's base nature; viz: that which comes natural.

It's really difficult, if not downright impossible, for some Christians to
accept that Jesus Christ's human body was just as human as everybody
else's; and his human body had the very same needs as a normal human
body; e.g. food, water, shelter, comforts, safety; etc. Jesus Christ suffered a
degree of privation, but he also endured another problem associated with
being human.

In the beginning God made this statement:

†. Gen 2:18 . .Then the Lord God said: It is not good for the man to be
alone; I will make him a suitable helper suitable for him.

Woman's purpose is life is very simple: to be a man's BFF (best friend
forever). Well; that is something Christ had to do without; and though the
Bible says nothing about it; I, being a man, know it bothered him. He had
female friends; but they were not the kind of friends that Gen 2:18 is talking
about.

Oh how dark the night the Lord walked through
On his way to die for me and you.
Loneliness plagued his righteous soul,
Love and family were ne'er his bowl.

†. Heb 2:17-18 . . It was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us,
his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High
Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the
sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and
temptation, he is qualified to help us when we are being tempted.

†. Heb 4:15-16 . . This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for
he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us
come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will obtain His
compassion, and grace to help us when we need it.

The koiné Greek word for "temptation" and "tempted" is a bit ambiguous. It
primarily indicates testing rather than tempting; about which Jas 1:14 says
"Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed"

Note "drawn away" and also note "own lust" and also note "enticed" When
those elements are missing in an incident, there's a test, but there's no
temptation.

Take for example the incident with Eve. She was overcome by her own lusts
and easily enticed to taste the forbidden fruit. The fruit appealed to her
eyes, appealed to her intellect, and appealed to her curiosity as to how it
might taste. Had Christ been there, He would've agreed that the fruit was
esthetically appealing, and agreed that it looked good to eat, and agreed
that the fruit would enlighten. But he wouldn't be overcome by his own lusts
and enticed to taste it. You know; entrapment doesn't work on good men;
only on those with weaknesses

†. Heb 7:26-28 . . For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest,
holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the
heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up
sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because
this he did once for all when he offered up himself. For the Law appoints
men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came
after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.

Priests are taken from among men; not from among the gods. The reason
for that is simple. Priests have to be able to sympathize with their
constituents. The gods may empathize with you, but they cannot truly
sympathize with you because they don't know for themselves by personal
experience what it is to be human. Only another human being knows what
it's like. In other words, in order to know what it feels like to be a raccoon,
you have to be a raccoon: a real raccoon.

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461) 1Pet 4:7 . . The culmination of all things is approaching; therefore be
serious, and watchful in your prayers.

The koiné Greek word for "watchful" is nepho (nay'-fo) which means: to be
discreet; viz: exercise discretion-- caution in speech, prudence, and care
taken to consider all circumstances and possible consequences.

nepho prayer implies being realistic and avoiding flowery bombast, rhetoric
and rote chanting. After all, there's a high priest in heaven representing his
fellow men who speaks your language and knows for himself how people
think and how people feel; so get down to business with God and tell Him
what's on your mind without beating around the bush about it.

462) 1Pet 4:8 . . Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another,
because love hides a large number of sins.

A person easily provoked is not a loving person.

One Saturday morning I and another man at church were moving some
furniture from one place to another inside the main building where,
completely unknown to us, a wedding rehearsal was being conducted. The
woman in charge of organizing the wedding came out into the hall and
began scolding us for talking and making noise. When I pointed out that
there were no posted signs in the hallway indicating a function in progress
on the other side of the door, she became sullen, and tightened her lips and
narrowed her eyes in anger. Had that lady exemplified the love about which
Peter wrote, she would have handled her inconvenience with a little more
tact and sensitivity.

†. Matt 5:9 . . Blessed are the peacemakers : for they shall be known as
God's kin.

BTW: That same lady was also in the choir, and sang doxologies in front of
about 2,000 people every Sunday morning. She was good at musical
harmony, but obviously in sore need of some training in the civil kind.

463) 1Pet 4:10 . .As each one has received a special gift, employ it in
serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

The koiné Greek word for "manifold" is poikilos (poy-kee'-los) which
means: motley, i.e. varied in character. All that’s really saying is that the
gifts of God are multifarious; viz: having a number of different aspects or
characteristics. (cf. Rom 12:5-8, 1Cor 12:1-11)

Unfortunately, people with natural aptitudes generally make up the majority
of those serving in church capacities for which is supposed to be required a
spiritual gift from God. They may look like they're "on fire" for the Lord, but
really all they are is ambitious.

†. 1Pet 4:11b . . Whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which
God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Hardly anybody seems to care much about that anymore, nor would
anybody probably know the difference anyway. It’s been my observation
that the truly spiritually-gifted Christians are mostly invisible, and go about
their business right under the noses of the stars in church, whose own
spiritual decadence is oftentimes very embarrassing to Christianity.

Point being; those that do have genuine spiritual gifts need to make very
sure that when they exercise those gifts in church; they do so for the benefit
of the Lord’s sheep rather than for their own ends.

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464) 1Pet 4:11a . . If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.

The koiné Greek word for "oracles" is logion (log'-ee-on) which means
something spoken as opposed to something in writing.

Peter doesn't say to speak the oracles of God, but to speak as the oracles of
God; viz: to speak as God and for God. If speakers can to do that-- if they
don't sincerely believe themselves infallible and speaking as God and for God
ex cathedra --then they really ought to do us all a favor and sit down and
shut up!

465) 1Pet 4:12-13 . . Beloved, don't be perplexed by the fiery trials you are
going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be
very glad-- because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his
suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory
when it is displayed to all the world.

It's easy to think of Christ's sufferings as only those that occurred on the
cross and the night of his arrest. But it's important to remember that Christ
lived on this earth for about 30 years prior to his public appearances; and
during those years, he did not lead a sheltered life; in point of fact, during
those 30 years he underwent a sort of boot camp.

†. Heb 5:7-9 . . During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers
and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from
death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he
was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made
perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

It's a piece of cake for the Word of John 1:1 to comply with God's wishes
because the Word himself is God too. But when the Word took on the nature
of a human being; that's when he found out just how difficult it is for flesh
and blood to live a holy life; hence the prayers and loud cries and tears. The
incarnate Word had a mission; and left on his own, Christ would have surely
failed. But God was onboard to insure he didn't.

†. John 3:34 . . God's Spirit is upon him without measure or limit.

However, Jesus didn't take the Spirit for granted but kept up a barrage of
prayers for assistance. You won't see much of that in the Gospels. The place
to look for Jesus' prayers is the Psalms where David did quite of a bit of
ghost writing for him. (cf. Luke 24:44-45)

The koiné Greek word for "partners" is koinoneo (koy-no-neh'-o) which
means: to share with another; viz: to participate. In other words, football
fans are not on the team, no they're up in the safety of the stands either
cheering, hissing, or booing. In order to "participate" in a game, you have to
be down on the gridiron in harm's way getting some bruises.

The Bible says there is no trial taken you but such as is common to the
entire human race (1Cor 10:13). Jesus wasn't shielded from any of those.
The Word not only came as a man, but he also lived as a man.

†. Heb 2:17-18 . . It was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us,
his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High
Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the
sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and
temptation, he is qualified to help us when we are being tempted.

†. Heb 4:15-16 . . This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for
he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us
come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will obtain mercy,
and find grace to help us when we need it.

For a good many millennia, the Word's compassion for Man was pretty much
limited to empathy rather than sympathy. In other words, until John 1:14,
the Word could understand your pain, and he could pity your pain; but he
could not feel it because the Word had zero experience at being human.

So then, when I meet with Christ around the table in God's home, I don't
expect to meet a stranger to my way of life; no, I fully expect to meet a man
who's been around the block a time or two. Not only will he be able to relate
to my stories, but I in return will be able to relate to his. Sharing in Christ's
glory would have the nature of an entourage if not for the fact that I will
have the satisfaction of knowing that Christ sort of came from the same
neighborhood as I to get to where he is today.

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466) 1Pet 4:15-16 . . But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an
evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's affairs. Yet if anyone suffers as
a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

The koiné Greek word for "Christian" is christianos (khris-tee-an-os') which
means: a follower of Christ. That word appears in only 3 places in the entire
New Testament. The other two are Acts 11:26 and Acts 26:28. Peter’s is the
only epistle where it appears; and it’s nowhere in any of the four gospels.

Not everyone pledging their allegiance to Christ actually follows him.

†. Luke 6:46 . .Why do you call me Lord and Master and do not what I say?

†. Matt 7:22-23 . . Many will say to me in that day; Lord, Master, have we
not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in
thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them; I
never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

A good example of glorifying God in the midst of one's troubles is Mr. Job.

†. Job 1:20-22 . . At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.
Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: Naked I came from my
mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave, and the Lord has
taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. In all this, Job did not sin
by accusing God with wrongdoing.

†. Job 2:9-10 . . His wife said to him: Are you still clinging to your integrity?
Curse God and die! Job replied: You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall
we accept good from God, and not trouble? In all this, Job did not sin in
what he said.

Jas 5:11 speaks of the "patience" Job; which is illustrated by the fact that in
all his trouble, Job remained loyal to God and never once lost his confidence
that God is blameless in all that He does.

Christians ought not to think of themselves as bullet proof, but actually as
meat on the hoof.

†. Rom 8:35-36 . .Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? Just as it is written: For Thy sake we are being put to death all day
long; we are considered as sheep for the slaughter.

Sometimes people complain by asking: Why me? Well; why not you?
Welcome to the human race. Man is born into trouble just as naturally as the
embers from a fire go up instead of down. (Job 5:7)

467) 1Pet 4:19 . .Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God
commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

In the world of business, it’s sometimes necessary to take a concern to court
in order to force venders of goods and services to honor their commitments.
Well, the Bible’s God is not like that; no, the Bible's God is not a slimy
weasel: He's a person of real integrity.

†. 2Tim 2:13 . . If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny
himself.

Q: What is meant by souls?

A: According to Gen 2:7, soul essentially refers to people existing as
individuals. Humans aren't the only souls on earth. Aquatic creatures are
souls (Gen 1:20-21) winged creatures are souls Gen 1:20-21) and all animal
life on land (Gen 1:24).

It's interesting that Peter emphasized that humans are created souls rather
than self-existing souls. In other words: humans had both a beginning and a
beginner; viz: humans would not exist at all had not God willed them into
existence.

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468) 1Pet 5:1-3 . .Therefore, I exhort the elders among you-- as your fellow
elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory
that is to be revealed --shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising
oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God;
and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those
allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

First off; Peter assures church officers that his proximity to Christ says very
clearly, and without ambiguity, that he knows what he's talking about so
they really ought to listen to what he has to say about managing a church.

The New Testament doesn't record Peter as being present at Christ's
crucifixion, but that obviously doesn't eo ipso preclude his attendance
somewhere in the audience that day, or observing everything from a
respectable distance. (cf. Matt 26:58, Matt 27:55)

The conjunction "therefore" refers to one of Peter's previous statements;
specifically this one:

"For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God" (1Pet 4:17)

That's an echo of 1Cor 3:4-23 and 1Cor 4:2-5 where Paul revealed that
people "serving Christ" are facing a possibly very unpleasant evaluation.

Church is no country for achievers, nor is it a career track, nor is it a country
for control freaks and power-hungry imperious despots, nor for people who
love to bask in limelight and crave admiration and the center of attention;
no, serving in a church is for shepherds; and if you're not sure what
shepherding entails; then next time you're at a county fair strike up a
conversation with some of the 4H kids and they'll be only too glad to tell you
just what a thankless, man-killing, drudgery-ridden, time consuming, smelly,
expensive, inconvenient, filthy, and sometimes dangerous line of work that
animal husbandry really is. So why do 4H kids do it? Because they love their
animals; and if a luminary in church doesn't feel a genuine affection for
those under their supervision, then that luminary will utterly fail to exercise
oversight according to the will of God. Self-seeking luminaries are depicted
as poor sources of water. (2Pet 2:17)

You know what a professional church officer is? They're a hireling; and
according to God's son, a hireling cannot be depended upon to protect the
sheep when a wolf is at the door.

†. John 10:11-13 . . I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down
his life for the sheep. He who is an hireling, and not the owner of the sheep,
beholds the wolf coming, and abandons the sheep, and flees, and the wolf
snatches them, and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling, and is
not concerned about the sheep.

A paid church officer might be willing to sacrifice himself for the benefit of
the Lord's sheep; but will he sacrifice his wife who has cancer, and/or his
two daughters' future whom he has to put through college, and/or the
mortgage on his home and/or his health insurance? No, the best interests of
the Lord's sheep will be very low on the hireling's list of priorities because
his primary interest is in keeping his job, protecting his income, his health
benefits, and his wife and children. The hireling will circle the wagons when
the wolf comes; yes, but not around the sheep; no, around himself. So be
very cautious in putting too much trust in church officers; you just might
end up disillusioned and very disappointed.

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469) 1Pet 5:5a . .You younger, likewise, be subject to your elders

The elders in this instance are church elders; not just any nondescript
person of age that happens to be in the area; and the inference is that the
inexperienced Christians should not think of themselves as know-it-alls, but
rather, respect the mature Christians as mentors who genuinely know a
thing or two.

Peter's command isn't optional; no, it's mandatory, and it's very serious.

†. Heb 13:17 . . Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account,
that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for
you.

If you should find yourself in a church whose elders you don't trust and/or
simply cannot respect, then it's time to move on and find a church whose
elders are worth their salt.

470) 1Pet 5:5b . . and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one
another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

The koiné Greek word for "humble" is tapeinophrosune (tap-i-nof-ros-oo'
nay) which means: humiliation of mind; viz: modesty, which Webster's
defines as: freedom from conceit or vanity. Humbleness of mind is to be
greatly desired for its blessing.

†. Matt 5:3 . . Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.

Humility is very rare among people online passing themselves off as
Christians on internet forums. They're typically easily insulted and infected
with vanity; plus imperious, domineering, despotic, assertive,
confrontational, arrogant, proud, conceited, reactive, thin-skinned, self
righteous, critical, and defensive. Those are not what I would call good
Christian attributes. They also have a propensity to jump to conclusions, get
the wrong impression, and fly off the handle. Those aren't good Christian
attributes either; in point of fact; none of those attributes are blessing
worthy.

"Grace" is one of those ambiguous abstract nouns that nobody seems to
agree upon. Noah found grace in God's eyes (Gen 6:8) which in his case,
regarded providence; which can be defined as divine patronage It was by
God's patronage that Noah and his family survived the Flood while the sons
of God (Gen 6:2) and their harems didn't. Let that sink in. Just because
people label themselves a Christian, and profess a belief in Christ, is no
guarantee they'll escape the horrors of the book of Revelation. Noah was a
righteous man, and perfect in his generation; too many of today's professing
Christians are neither.

The koiné Greek word for "proud" is huperephanos (hoop-er-ay'-fan-os)
which means: appearing above others viz: haughty. Proud people generally
have a superiority complex which, as a suit of clothes, is even more
disgusting than any of the filthy rags worn by people living under bridges in
cardboard shelters. Haughty people seek admiration, but those of us in the
know easily see them for the pigs that they really are; which brings us to
"arrogance" which Webster's defines as: a feeling, or an impression, of
superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or presumptuous claims.

Thank God there will be no people in Heaven clothed with either pride,
arrogance, conceit, and/or vanity. Believers infected with those conditions
for now will shed them when they cross over to the other side; and probably
for the first time in their immodest lives will finally know what it's like to be
a decent human being with a civil tongue in its head.

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471) 1Pet 5:6 . . Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of
God, that He may exalt you at the proper time

The role model for this kind of humility is of course Christ; who obeyed his
master with the mindset of a for-life indentured servant.

†. Ps 40:6-8 . . Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast
thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then
said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to
do thy will, O my God : yea, thy law is within my heart.

The opening of one's ears is related to the law of Ex 21:2-6 that stipulates
piercing an indentured servant's ear who wishes to serve his master
permanently.

†. Php 2:8 . . And being found in fashion as a human being, he humble
himself, and became obedient unto death.

†. John 4:34 . . My food-- said Jesus --is to do the will of Him who sent me
and to finish his work.

†. John 5:30 . . I seek not to please myself, but rather, Him who sent me.

†. John 6:38 . . I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do
the will of Him who sent me.

Paul instructed Christians to adopt the Lord's mindset.

†. Php 2:5 . . Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

Christians unwilling to pierce their ears to further God's agenda, are
unworthy to identify themselves one of Christ's followers.

†. Matt 10:38-39 . . Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is
not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his
life for my sake will find it.

When people identify themselves as a Christian, their attitude is supposed to
exemplify the two aspects below:

†. Matt 6:10 . . Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

†. 2Cor 12:15 . . So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have; and
expend myself as well.

472) 1Pet 5:7 . . casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He is concerned
about you.

That command is very difficult for a person afflicted with Reactive Attachment
Disorder; which is basically the inability to believe that even one person in
the whole universe cares a whit about their welfare. RAD is characterized by
the inability to trust. For example: when a RAD victim reads 1Pet 5:7, they
instinctively believe it may be true for others, but has absolutely no
application to themselves. RAD is a very effective faith-inhibitor.

However, even just vocalizing your anxieties can be very therapeutic; while
holding it all in can be destructive to your nerves. I think I'd rather talk to an
imaginary playmate than to no one at all.

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473) 1Pet 5:8-9 . . Be discreet, stay alert. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls
about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour; whom resist, steadfast
in the faith

"the faith" isn't only a collection of beliefs, but includes a collection of
practices; and according to James, faith without practices is a half-baked
faith.

†. Jas 2:17 . . Faith by itself, if it does not produce works, is dead.

†. Jas 1:22-25 . . And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen
to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself. For if you just listen and
don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to
improve your appearance. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you
look like. But if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law-- the law
that sets you free --and if you do what it says and don't forget what you
heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

So then, the best way to defeat the Devil is to simply practice what you
preach.

NOTE: If it's true that faith without works is dead, then the opposite is just
as true: works without faith are dead too.

†. Matt 7:22-23 . . Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Master, have we
not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name exorcised demons? and in thy
name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them: I
never knew you. Depart from me, you that work iniquity.

The workers of iniquity spoken of by Christ are hard-at-work Christians, and
their performance is above average too; but though they are hard-working;
their works are dead and it's no doubt because they didn't believe in his
name; for had they done so, they would have been Christ's kin instead of
strangers.

†. John 1:9-13 . .There was the true light which, coming into the world,
enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through
him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own, and those who
were his own did not accept Him. But as many as accepted him, to them he
gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his
name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will
of man, but of God.

Q: How can somebody preach in "thy name" and exorcise demons in "thy
name" and do many wonderful works in "thy name" and yet not believe in
his name?

A: Christ's name includes his reputation.

For example: the Watch Tower Society believes that Christ existed, that he
was a Jewish prophet, and that he died for the sins of the world; but the
Society trains its missionaries to reject Christ as God; instead accepting
Christ as an angel in disguise named Michael; and that's only for starters.

As a result the Watch Tower Society's hard-working missionaries go
throughout the world misrepresenting Christ, and advertising the joys of a
kingdom that they themselves will not be allowed to enter.

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474) 2Pet 1:5-7 . . Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to
goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control,
perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly
kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

This is yet another place where the Lord says to make "every" effort. He
didn't say a half baked effort or a half-hearted effort; but every effort; viz :
a whole-hearted effort; for example :

†. Rom 12:11 . . Never be half-hearted in your work, but serve the Lord
enthusiastically.

†. Eph 6:5-8 . . Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters
according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to
Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ,
doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the
Lord, and not to men

†. Rev 3:15-16 . . I know your works, that you art neither cold nor hot : I
would you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I will expectorate you out of my mouth.

The koine Greek word for "goodness" is arete (ar-et'-ay) which means:
manliness (valor).

The Rev. Jesse Jackson has a book on the market titled: "Dare To Be A
Man". Well, I haven't read his book but I have read his public life and
according to Mr. Jackson's public life, real men apparently father children
out of wedlock.

The word for "knowledge" is gnosis (gno'-sis) which means: the act of
knowing; viz: being educated and/or informed. In other words; one cannot
please God without first knowing what displeases Him.

†. Rom 12:2 . . Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let
God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then
you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and
pleasing and perfect His will really is.

The word for "self-control" is egkrateia (eng-krat'-i-ah) which means:
continence. The opposite of continence is incontinence; which is the
condition where a person cannot restrain their natural impulses.

The word for "perseverance" is hupomone (hoop-om-on-ay') which means:
cheerful (or hopeful) endurance and/or constancy. A hupomone person
always keeps looking for the light that they know is at the end of the tunnel;
and even if they can't see it for now; they fully expect to.

The word for "godliness" is eusebeia (yoo-seb'-i-ah) which means piety;
which Webster's defines as: dutifulness in religion; viz: devoutness.

Devoutness corresponds to sanctified; which just simply means to be
dedicated and/or committed. (e.g. John 8:29)

The word for "brotherly kindness" is philadelphia (fil-ad-el-fee'-ah) which
means: fraternal affection. In these days of dysfunctional homes in the USA,
fraternal affection has no point of reference in the thinking of some people
because they've never seen it, nor ever experienced it. Is it any wonder then
that so many homes in America are producing sociopaths, and kids with
Reactive Attachment Disorder?

Fraternal affection was a sorely missing element in my three years of service
in the US Army from 1961 to 1964. The men hated each other; and the men
hated the officers and non-coms; and they in turn hated the men. Everybody
mistrusted each other and each guy had at the most only a couple of guys in
my whole 200-man unit he could lean on. That lack of fraternal affection
had an impact on unit cohesiveness and made America's enemies seem
more like buddies than foes.

I, for one, really appreciate Charlie Sheen's line towards the end of the
Hollywood movie "Platoon". It goes something like this: I think now, looking
back, we did not fight the enemy-- we fought ourselves . . . and the enemy
was in us. That line is profound; and an excellent companion to a line in
Terminator 2, Judgment Day when Arnold Schwarzenegger commented to
the young John Connor: It is in your nature to destroy yourselves.

Peter put "love" last on the progression of graces; yet love is where most
Christians put the emphasis rather than the others; in other words; they
typically start at the finish and work back towards the beginning. That's sort
of like a six year-old kid beginning the twelve-year educational process as a
senior in high school and gradually working his way towards graduation in
kindergarten.

The word for "love" is agape (ag-ah'-pay) which is not just acts of love and
feelings of affection and/or benevolence; but actually a love feast; viz: an
all-you-can-eat buffet. Agape love is a guardian kind of love with a sense of
duty, loyalty, and responsibility that never burns out; whereas romantic
love, and brotherly love are both vulnerable to one's moods and emotions.

If love could be quantified; and packaged in a container, how much love
would God's container hold? Since God's love knows no bounds; then it
cannot be quantified. See what I mean by an all-you-can-eat buffet? No
matter how much love you consume from God's container, it will never be
exhausted; sort of like the cosmos; it's infinite.

What most Christians don't seem to realize is that it's God's all-you-can-eat
kind of love that they are supposed to add to brotherly kindness rather not
just ordinary human love. (John 13:34)

See now why love comes last on the list? It's said that a journey of a
thousand miles begins with a single step. Well that single step for Christians
is goodness; without which they cannot obtain more knowledge, nor more
perseverance, nor more self control, nor more godliness, nor more brotherly
kindness, nor any degree of agape love whatsoever. Christians not yet
accomplished in the primary graces might just as well forget about the
advanced grace of agape love for now.

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475) 2Pet 3:1-3 . . Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both
of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be
mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of
the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior.

I just don't know why so many professing Christians insist that it's
unnecessary for believers to study the Old Testament when Peter insisted
just the opposite. The koiné Greek word for "mindful" is mimnesko (mim
nace'-ko) which means: to recall to mind; viz: to keep in mind; to never
dismiss, discard, nor forget.

†. Luke 24:44-45 . . And he said unto them: These are the words which I
spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled,
which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the
Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they
might understand the scriptures.

The "scriptures" to which Jesus referred are those of the Old Testament
since there was as yet none for the New.

†. 1Cor 10:11 . . These things happened to them as examples and were
written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has
come.

The "things that happened to them" refer to the adventures of Yhvh's people
during their forty years in the wilderness prior to entering the promised
land; which consists of the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy. Those are things that Paul says believers should know. (1Cor
10:1)

†. 2Tim 3:13-17 . . But as for you, continue in what you have learned and
have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned
it, and how from infancy you have known the holy scriptures, which are able
to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is
inspired by God; and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training
in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for
every good work.

Paul's instructions to his friend Timothy targeted pastors; of whom Paul says
are ill equipped to do their jobs if they don't study the Old Testament.

†. Rom 15:4 . . For everything that was written in the past was written to
teach us, so that through patience, and the counseling of the scriptures, we
might have hope.

The koiné Greek word for "hope" in that passage is elpis (el-pece') which
doesn't mean to cross your fingers and hope for the best. It means to
expect; viz: to anticipate, usually with pleasure. The world's hope is nothing
but wistful thinking, while the believer's hope is in the bag and that's why he
can look forward to it rather than wish for it.

According to Paul, elpis hope is reinforced by studying the Old Testament so
that believers who neglect the Old Testament are more likely to suffer
doubts about their future than a believer who studies the Old just as
diligently as he studies the New. And besides, the Old and New are not two
separate Bibles; no, there is only one Bible. and it is a continuous revelation
from front to back; ergo: people who choose the New Testament as their
Bible are working with an incomplete revelation.

But back to Peter's statement: "the commandment of us, the apostles of the
Lord and Savior." Too many Christians regard the apostles' writings in the
epistles as merely information rather than divine edicts that Christ expects
to be obeyed just as much as he expects his own personal words to be
obeyed. Failure to obey the apostles' writings in the epistles is a domino
effect of insubordination all the way to the top.

†. Luke 10:16 . .Whoever listens to you; listens to me. Whoever rejects you;
rejects me. And whoever rejects me; rejects the one who sent me.

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476) 2Pet 3:8-10 . . Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day
is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but
is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in
the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and
the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that
are therein shall be burned up.

It's theorized by a number of scientists and laymen alike that a big bang
initiated the cosmos. Well for sure a big bang will end it; and that's not a
theory: that's a divine prediction.

The Bible says the Lord's return will be of a sudden (Luke 17:24, Rev 22:20)
but sudden is not the same as soon.

†. 2Pet 3:11-12 . . Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what
manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the
heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat?

I've noticed that some people endeavor to leave themselves a legacy in the
form of all sorts of man-made structures like highways, buildings, libraries,
museums, stadiums, bridges, dams, etc. Those structures are neither
permanent nor eternal. One day; they'll all disappear in a great roaring fire
ball.

477) 2Pet 3:14 . .Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be
diligent to be found by him in peace, without spot and blameless

Some of the brethren haven't a clue what it is to be in peace; their
temperaments won't permit. But that's something they really need to work
on because temperamental behavior will not be permitted in the new
cosmos.

The koiné Greek word for "looking forward" is prosdokao (pros-dok-ah'-o)
which means: to anticipate; viz: to await with expectation; for example:

When I was a small boy living in Santee California back in the late 1940's, I
used to climb one of the olive trees in the front yard so I could see down the
road in the direction that my dad came home every evening in a black 1933
Model A Ford. I always climbed the tree ahead of time so I could begin
watching for my dad and spot him coming a long ways off, and then I'd get
down and sprint out to the end of our dirt driveway and jump on the running
board of that old Ford and ride it back to the house with my dad.

Prosdokao is like that. It fully expects the arrival of a future event; and the
future event Peter spoke of in previous verses is not only the Lord's return;
but also the utter annihilation of the current cosmos to be replaced by one in
which only righteousness exists. Today, righteousness and unrighteousness
exist side by side, but in the future, it won't be like that.

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478) 2Pet 3:17 . .You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on
your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you
fall from your own steadfastness,

What might be the error of unprincipled men? Well, they are utterly mindless
of the impending termination of the cosmos. It doesn't concern them in the
slightest; nor does any other portion of the Day Of The Lord; which begins
with the rapture, followed by three and a half years of fragile world peace
and prosperity, followed by three and a half years of horrific events and
conditions the likes of which the world has never seen or experienced,
followed by the Lord's personal return to rule the world for a millennium,
followed by the utter annihilation of the current cosmos, followed by the
Great White Throne event depicted at Rev 20:11-15, and followed by the
creation of a brand new cosmos where only righteousness is permitted to
exist.

Christ's believing followers need to keep in mind at all times that they are
merely pilgrims on this earth rather than permanent residents. We're
passing through the current cosmos on our way to a land far and away
better than the one we inhabit now. So don't get too attached to this world,
nor diverted by its distractions; because the current earth's days are
numbered and we've much bigger fish to fry.

479) 2Pet 3:18 . . But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.

Those two pusuits are worthwhile. In other words; whatever growth in grace
you obtain is a permanent growth; and whatever knowledge of God you
gain, you keep too: throughout eternity.

Why become more and more gracious? Because the people in heaven are
gracious. Yes; they are nothing like the churlish race of cruel hominids
infesting the world that you and I live in. If you should perchance go to
heaven as an ungracious churl yourself; then you will be in for culture shock
because people in heaven are truly civilized and would make even Emily Post
seem as rough-hewn as a third-generation Oregon logger.

It's for that very reason that I sincerely believe every new arrival in heaven
has to first attend a sort of finishing school where they are forged into
decent human beings before being permitted to associate with the others.
We pick up a lot of bad habits down here on the planet and those habits
have to be broken because God's home is a place of peace. It isn't conducive
to peace to have thoughtless morons running loose annoying people and
committing random acts of unkindness.

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480) 1John 2:24 . . Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard
from the beginning. If that which you have heard from the beginning shall
remain in you, you also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

Within the context of John's letter, "the beginning" is Jesus Christ.

†. 1John 1:1-2 . .That which was from the beginning, which we have heard,
which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands
have touched-- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life
appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the
eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

Jesus Christ identified himself as the beginning.

†. Rev 1:8 . . I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith
the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come: The Almighty.

†. Rev 3:14 . .These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness,
the beginning of the creation of God

†. Rev 21:6 . . And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end.

†. Rev 22:13 . . I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first
and the last.

The koiné Greek word for "beginning" is somewhat ambiguous and doesn't
strictly mean the first item to roll off an assembly line like Apple's new
iPhone 6. The word is arche (ar-khay') which means: (1) a commencement,
and/or (2) chief (in order, time, place, or rank).

So then, Jesus Christ isn't the beginning of the creation of God as if he were
its first thing created; but rather, he is the one who got the ball rolling; viz:
Christ is both the creation's senior officer and its construction supervisor.

†. John 1:3 . . All things were made by him; and without him was not
anything made that was made.

†. Col 1:16 . . For by him were all things created; that are in heaven, and
that are in earth

†. Heb 3:1-6 . . Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,
consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was
faithful to Him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all His
house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses,
inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the
house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things
is God.

Now; the trick to abiding in Jesus Christ is to first off have at your disposal
the correct way to go about it. Well; that is not so easy sans the possession
of a special anointing.

†. 1John 2:26-27 . .These things I have written to you concerning those who
are trying to deceive you. And as for you, the anointing which you received
from him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but
as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and
just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

So then, we may conclude from 1John 2:26-27 that people lacking the
anointing:

1) are susceptible to deception

2) have very possibly bought into a lie and don't know it, because that's the
nature of deception: it's stealthy

3) do not have in their possession the information one needs to abide in him

4) are not abiding in him

That pretty much describes the spiritual condition of every Watch Tower
Society missionary who comes to your door because they will quite candidly
admit they do not have the anointing nor do they ever expect to have it.

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