Jesus

Living with Truth

Living with Truth

Sean Vickers

Living with Truth

2 Peter 1

Ever since the birth of the Church it has been under attack. Never in the history of the world has an institution been attacked more and yet survived and sometimes thrived. Even in our American culture Christianity and the Church are attacked with false prophets and twisted versions of truth. Where does a believer in Jesus Christ turn for answers for life and the church? God has given us the Word of God as our standard and source of truth. Many of the same battles we fight today for truth were present in the early church and addressed by the Apostles.

2 Peter is a letter to the early church written by the Apostle Peter.  In this letter, Peter describes some twisted versions of Christian truth that were being taught and straightens things out. It is important to have a proper understanding of Christian truth because it is out of our beliefs that we live our lives.

Peter begin this second letter by identifying himself and the recipients by writing: “To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours.” (2 Peter 1:1) This letter was written to the church, those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. The church today can learn a great deal from 2 Peter.

Peter then describes how a believer can have confidence in their calling and election. In verse 3 Peter encourages the reader when he writes, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” As believers in Jesus Christ we lack nothing that we need to live lives that honor God. We even participate in the “divine nature and escape the corruption in this world.” (2 Peter 1:4)

Peter then encourages the reader to make every effort to add to their faith virtues that demonstrate that they belong to Christ:

For this very reason, 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, mutual affection;
and to mutual affection, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

A person that has these virtues present in their life can claim the promise in verse 8 that says, “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This promise encourages believers to continue to grow in their faith and to live a life that honors God which lead to a productive effective faith.

Taking a personal inventory using this character traits can help identify areas of your life where there is growth and areas that need to be changed.

The second part of chapter 1 describes the source of prophecy that is found in the Scripture. Peter summarizes this passage in verses 20-21, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never has its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” This creates the foundation for refuting the false teachers that are addressed in chapter 2.

The Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. It was the source of truth for the early church and it is our source of truth today. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3) “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the mourning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19)

Living in Faith

Living in Faith

Sean Vickers

Living in Faith 

1 Peter 4:12-19

All believers will endure suffering. The type of suffering Peter is describing in 1 Peter 4:12-19 is suffering for the cause of Christ. He helps the reader understand how to respond to suffering that comes into a believers life because they belong to Jesus.

Peter instructs the reader to expect painful trials and understand that trials are a part of the Christian’s life. When we can anticipate something, we can be ready when it comes and not be surprised. Our culture is turning more and more hostile towards Christians. As we see this developing in our society we can take measures to confront this hostility and ready ourselves for what is coming.

As these trials come, Peter tells us to rejoice. This seems counter intuitive on the surface. How can we rejoice when we experience trials for the sake of Christ. Peter mentions 4 reasons:

  1. We identify with the sufferings of Christ. (1 Peter 4:12)
  2. We will be rewarded when He returns. (1 Peter 4:13)
  3. The Spirit of Glory and of God rests on us. (1 Peter 4:14)
  4. These trials give us an opportunity to place our faith in God and commit ourselves to our Faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Peter 4:19)

In this passage Peter also encourages us to identify the cause of the trial we are under. He writes, “If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.” 1 Peter 4:15) These sufferings give you the opportunity to examine your life:

  • Why am I suffering? (1 Peter 4:15) Ask yourself if you are the cause of the trial.
  • Am I ashamed of Christ or do I look for opportunities to praise Him? (1 Peter 4:16)
  • Do I look for opportunities to introduce people to Jesus? (1 Peter 4:17-18)

How strong is someone’s faith if it is never tested? God will use the trials of this life to strengthen us for His glory and our good.

Living in Community for God

Living in Community for God

Sean Vickers

Living in Community for God

1 Peter 4:1-11

The older I get, the more interested I am in making sure that I am living my life to the fullest for God. When I was young, it seemed that time went by slowly and I was always waiting for what was next. Now that I am older, times seems to fly by and I am constantly wondering where the time went. In the passage before us, Peter describes four attitudes a believer should have to make the most of the time they have. As you read about these attitudes, ask yourself if you have these attitudes present in your life and what adjustments you may need to make to live your life to the fullest for God.

Righteous Attitude Toward Sin 1 Peter 4:1-3

Peter encourages the reader to have a righteous attitude toward sin. “Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because He who has suffered in His body is done with sin.” (1 Peter 4:1) Remembering what Christ did in His own body to pay for the penalty of our sins helps us combat the sin that is present in our own lives. The person who remembers Christ’s great sacrifice on the cross does not live to satisfy the evil desires of the flesh, but lives to fulfill the will of God. Peter reminds us that we spent too much time living as “pagans” before we received Christ. He lists the prevailing sins of the day to make a contrast between the “pagan” lifestyle and the believer’s lifestyle. Nothing will sabotage the time that we have to live for God more than sin. In light of what Christ did for us on the cross, why would we want to return to a sin-filled life?

Understanding Attitude Toward the Lost 1 Peter 4:4-6

I was twenty when I received the gift of eternal life that Jesus offers those who will trust Him. The change in my life was dramatic and noticed by my family and friends. Many of them did not understand why my life style changed so dramatically and why I was so passionate about the things of God. Peter describes the need for a understanding attitude toward the lost. He writes, “They think it is strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, that they heap abuse on you.” (1 Peter 4:4) They too will be judged for the way they live their lives and what they do with Jesus Christ. The truth is they don’t understand because they don’t believe. Having an understanding attitude will not only help you stand up to their abuse, but you will have opportunities to be a light for Christ in a very dark world. Take every opportunity to minister to those who do not know Jesus. Time is too short to miss these divine appointments.

Expectant Attitude Toward Christ’s Return 1 Peter 4:7

Since time is short, we should have an expectant attitude toward Christ’s return. Peter writes, “The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray.” (1 Peter 4:7) The early church expected for Christ to return during their lifetime. Every day that passes is an opportunity for us to minister to those around us. When Christ comes back, it will be too late. The truth is that we will all see Jesus one day. We don’t know when, but we know it is closer today than it was yesterday. The quality of our lives today will determine our reward on the day we see Jesus face to face.

Servant’s Attitude Towards Others 1 Peter 4:8-11

The final attitude Peter encourages the reader to have that is described in this passage is a servant’s attitude toward others. He encourages love, hospitality, and the proper use of our gifts. Rick Warren, the pastor of Saddleback Church in California, describes the unique ministry S.H.A.P.E. that God has given each one of us.

  • S – Spiritual Gifts
  • H – Heart
  • A – Abilities
  • P – Personality
  • E – Experience

The unique blending of these five areas of our lives equip us for a the unique ministry God has for each one of us. Peter goes on to emphasize that our gifts should be used for the glory of God, not ourselves. This will ensure that God receives His proper glory. Peter ends this passage with a fitting doxology, “To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.“

Living Without Fear

Living Without Fear

Sean Vickers

Living Without Fear

1 Peter 3:13-22

When a commitment is made to teach through the Bible verse by verse, there are going to be times when the teacher arrives at a passage that is difficult and defies simple explanation. 1 Peter 3:13-22 is one of the most difficult passages in the New Testament to interpret and teach. We may not be able to solve every problem presented by this passage, but we can find a source of hope in difficult times, which is Peter’s theme for this letter.

Peter starts this passage with a question, “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?” (1 Peter 3:13) This verse immediately follows the direct quote of Psalm 34:12-16. If a person seeks to love life and see good days as Psalm 34 describes, who will harm them? It is unlike that an individual who lives a righteous life will be persecuted for doing good. Peter encourages the reader that if suffering does result from a righteous life, they will be blessed. Peter was there when Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount and said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

With the possibility of suffering for doing good, Peter calls the reader to not fear or be frightened. Two forms of protection are given to defeat fear. The first is to “set apart Christ as Lord,” in your heart. In the Bible, the heart represents the spiritual center of man. When the center of one’s life is rightly focused on God, he is able to defeat fear and live victoriously for Christ. Christ is Lord of our lives. He is in control, and by his grace He will not allow us to face any situation that He will not provide us the strength we need to find hope.

The second solution for fear is preparation to defend the hope we have as believers in Christ. (1 Peter 15) In order to defend the hope we have, it is necessary to understand the depth of Christ’s love for us and what that means to us on a personal and practical level. When a believer is firmly grounded in the Word of God, has experienced the grace of God through Christ, and can explain this hope to those who would ask, they are well on the way to defeating fear and being confident believers who can find hope in every situation. Peter encourages the reader to give this reason with gentleness and respect, and with a clear conscience.

Jesus is the supreme example of suffering for doing good that brings God glory and salvation to man. Peter writes, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” 1 Peter 3:18 This is the good news about Jesus in one verse. It is by Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection from the dead that we can have eternal life.

As Peter is describing the death and resurrection of Christ, he describes an event where Jesus “preaches to spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.” These verses about this preaching event are difficult and should not take the focus off the hope a believer can have in Christ. It is helpful to answer three questions about this event: 1) To whom was Jesus preaching? 2) When did this event take place? and 3) What was the content of the message?

First, the passage describes the recipient of the message as “spirits.” This is a term reserved to spiritual being like angels or demons. This term would not be used to describe the spirit of man. Peter uses the word “spirits” to describe angels or demons and “souls” to describe man. This message was preached to spiritual beings in prison; fallen angels who were connected to the sin in Noah’s day.

Secondly, when did this event take place? There are two main ideas about the timing of this message to fallen angels. This proclamation took place either during the three days between His death and resurrection or during His ascension. Whichever time it was has the same effect. Jesus made a proclamation to the fallen angels after His death on the cross.

Finally, what was the content of Jesus’ message? Peter does not tell us the content of Jesus message to these imprisoned spirits. We do know that it was not a message of redemption, since angels cannot be saved (Hebrews 2:16). Since this message is linked to the resurrection, we know it was a message of victory over Satan. One can imagine the resurrected Lord strongly proclaiming His victory to these imprisoned spirits in a loud victorious battle cry.

To summarize this difficult passage: After Christ died on the cross and was resurrected, He made a victorious proclamation to fallen angels. (Jude 6)

In the remainder of this passage, Peter uses the symbol of baptism to bring hope to the reader by reminding them of their salvation. Baptism is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the same way, the flood pictures death, burial, and resurrection. The waters buried the earth and lifted the ark to safety. The ark is a symbol of the salvation that God provided for Noah and his family. They were saved from the flood by placing their faith in God as He provided a way of salvation from the rising waters. Sinners, in the same way, are saved by faith in God as they trust Christ, God’s provision for the penalty of sin.

It is important to emphasize that baptism does not save anyone. It is a faith relationship with Jesus, that baptism represents, that saves. The symbol should not be confused or substituted for what it symbolizes.

Clear Application for Today

  • Teaching verse by verse through the Word of God is both challenging and rewarding.
  • As we live for God, we should not look for suffering, but when it comes, we should trust God with the details of our lives.
  • In our hearts, we should set apart Christ as Lord.
  • We should be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have.
  • We should marvel at what Christ did for us on the cross.
  • Baptism is an important symbol of our salvation relationship with Christ.
  • Jesus is at the right hand of the Father with all of creation in submission to Him. We are His prize possessions!

 

Living at Home

Living at Home

Sean Vickers

Living at Home

1 Peter 3:1-12

God has instituted a precious relationship between a husband and his wife that is under attack in our culture. Attempts to redefine marriage and the practice of cohabitation before marriage are examples of this attack. This attack can be overcome by turning to the Word of God for truth. The marriage relationship is the focus of 1 Peter 3:1-9.

Peter continues his theme of submission to authority that he started in 1 Peter 2:12. He has stated that believers should be submissive to governmental leaders and employers using Christ as our supreme example. Now he focuses his attention on those closest to us, our mates. Married couples have a choice to make: Live life conforming to the trends and patterns of this world or honor God and follow His pattern for marriage.

Peter starts by addressing wives and encourages them to be submissive to their husbands. In our society, this idea is becoming more and more foreign to our way of thinking. A wife demonstrates her faith in God by submitting to their husbands. She also is a mighty instrument of ministry to her family when she lives a life of “purity and reverence.” Peter indicates that the husband who is lost can be won to Christ by the godly life of his wife. There is great power in living a righteous, Christ-centered life.

In this passage of scripture, Peter also identifies the source of a woman’s beauty. He contrasts a woman who seeks beauty in outward adornments, braided hair, gold jewelry, and fine clothes with a woman who seeks “inner” beauty that comes from a gentle and quiet spirit. A woman of “inner” beauty is of great worth to God. Peter does not condemn paying attention to dress and fashion, but does communicate that is not ultimately the source of true beauty that God honors.

In verse 8, Peter challenges husbands to be considerate to their wives, respect them, and provide protection for them as the weaker partner. This again is counter cultural and foreign to our current way of thinking. God has instituted an order to the marriage relationship. Men are to be the spiritual head of the household and provide for and protect their wives. Husbands and wives are equally important to God with different roles within the family. Peter indicates that both husbands and wives are heirs of the gracious gift of life that Jesus offers.

A man’s relationship with God is influenced by the quality of his relationship with his wife. Peter says, ” . . . . so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” (1 Peter 3:7) This passage shows that a man’s prayers are hindered if his relationship with wife is unhealthy, which shows the importance of our marriage relationship. Read Ephesians 5:22-33 for more scripture on the theme of submission in the marital relationship.

Finally in 1 Peter 3:8-9, Peter addresses all believers to:

  • live in harmony with one another,
  • be sympathetic,
  • love as brothers
  • be compassionate and humble,
  • not repay evil with evil, and
  • not return insult with insult, but with blessing

This type of life leads to blessings.

Peter finishes this thought by quoting Psalm 34: 12-16 that focuses on the way we can “love life and see good days.”

Living Under Stress

Living Under Stress

Sean Vickers

1 Peter 2:18-25

Are you stressed? Do you feel pressure? Everyone feels the pressures of life that causes stress. What we do with these pressures determines our health and the extent that we honor Christ with our lives. There are both good and bad stresses.

Good stress occurs when we exercise or challenge ourselves mentally or emotionally. Rising to the occasion to make a difference in someone else’s life brings stress. Take for instance the paramedic who arrives on the scene of an accident to administer CPR just in time to save a life, the soldier who puts himself in harm’s way to protect the freedom we enjoy, or the counselor who says just the right thing, at just the right time, that helps someone deal with life’s pressure. I am thankful for those who intentionally put themselves under pressure for others. This is the good side of stress. What are other examples of good stress?

Most of the time when we mention stress we are describing negative stress and its effects. Bad stress occurs when the pressures of this life lead to a helplessness and depression. Job related pressure, financial stress, and relational stress are all examples of negative stress we all experience. Since we all deal with the stresses of this life, good stress or bad stress, we must develop strategies to cope with stress that both honor Christ and lead to a healthy life. Every stressful situation we encounter is an opportunity to place our faith in God.

In 1 Peter 2: 18-20, Peter describes two situations a believer can get into that cause pressure: Stress in the workplace and stress in walking in the steps of Christ. This passage occurs as Peter is writing about the need for submission in the believer’s life.

Stress in the Workplace 1 Peter 2:18-20

Peter is writing in a day where slavery was common. His instruction is focused on slaves responding to their masters. Since we live in a society where slavery is illegal, we can apply the principles found in this passage to employees responding to their bosses. Peter instructs the reader to “Submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.” The principle of submission, although not popular, is the key ingredient to the employee / employer relationship. This submission is to take place with employers who are good and those who are difficult. It is easy to submit to an employer when we agree with them. Submission is tested when we don’t agree with the boss or feel their course of action is unfair. In this passage, Peter calls the believers in Christ to submit to and honor their employer.

In our working situations and in life, living a life that honors God and doing good will cause stress and suffering. When you think about it, if we are living as aliens and strangers in this world as 1 Peter 2:11 describes, it makes sense that there will be stress because of the uniqueness of our lives. The second stressor that Peter mentions in this passage is the stress that we encounter when we walk as Jesus walked.

1 Peter 2:21-25 shows that Jesus is our Example and that we must follow in His Steps. Peter paints three pictures of Jesus Christ that will help us understand how we should respond to stress and suffering.

He is our Example  1 Peter 2:21-23

Jesus suffered for us when He died on the cross for our sins. How he handled the lies, false accusations and shame of the cross set us a supreme example of how we should endure the suffering of this life. 1 Peter 2:23 says, “When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.” This is the key! When stress and suffering comes, we have an opportunity to trust God with the circumstances. We will find that He is faithful. It is during these times that our faith will grow beyond the place it can during peaceful times. Jesus endured the cross because it was the will of God and because of His great love for us. God’s will and our love for Him will motivate us too.

He is our Substitute  1 Peter 2:24

Jesus’ death on the cross provided a way that we can be saved. We can die to the old way of life and live lives of righteousness. His wounds healed us! If you have a relationship with God, never forget that Jesus has the power to heal our wounds.

He is our Shepherd and Overseer of our soul  1 Peter 2:25

Peter concludes this passage by comparing us to sheep. Sheep are defenseless, hopeless, and completely dependent on the shepherd for their well being. John 10:1-14 and Psalm 23 are great examples of our need for a Shepherd. He is the Shepherd of our souls who will never fail.

What stress or struggle in your life do you need to give to Jesus?

Remember our Savior, who is our ultimate Example.

A Letter of Hope

Sean Vickers

1 Peter- A Letter of Hope

This week we begin a new study through the book of 1 Peter. The apostle Peter wrote this book to encourage the Christians of his day who were experiencing persecution because of their faith. Although we are not yet persecuted for your faith in our context, 1 Peter has words of encouragement for us in our time and our culture.

The epistle starts off by identifying Peter as the author and believers who find themselves as aliens in a world hostile to Christianity as the recipients. Throughout the book, Peter exhorts believers to remain faithful and trust God no matter their circumstances.

In 1 Peter 1: 3-9, Peter writes about the reasons we have to praise God:

1. We should praise Him because His mercy has provided a way of salvation and new birth by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3

2. We should praise Him because of the promise of an eternal inheritance that is “imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading.” 1 Peter 1:4

3. We should praise Him because there is a place in Heaven for all who will believe. 1 Peter 1:4

4. We should praise Him because we can be eternally secure. 1 Peter 1:5

5. We should praise Him because He brings purpose to the trials that we face on this earth. We praise God by how we handle the hard times of our life. When trials come, they are opportunities for us to place our faith in God and glorify him in our time of need. 1 Peter 1:6-7

6. We should praise Him because following and loving Christ leads to joy that is unexplainable. 1 Peter 1:8

7. We should praise Him because the outcome of our faith will be the salvation of our souls. 1 Peter 1:9

He deserves our praise!

 

City of Refuge

Sean Vickers

Joshua 20:1-9

Before the People of God crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land, God told Moses to set aside six cities to be known as Cities of Refuge. These cities were places that people who may have accidentally killed another person could flee to a city of refuge and be protected from the “avenger of blood” (family of the deceased) until the elders of the city could investigate the circumstances. If the person seeking refuge was found guilty, they were put to death. If they were found to be innocent, they could continue to live in the city of refuge without fear.

These Cities of Refuge can be seen as a picture of our salvation in Jesus Christ. We are all guilty (Romans 3:23), and there is an avenger seeking our souls. (John 10:10) There is a place we can run and find safety for our souls. The place is a Person, Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12) We must run to our Savior Who is our Refuge.

Has God brought you to a place where you understand you are guilty? Have you taken your guilt to Jesus and placed your faith in Him. He is our Refuge.

Total Offering

Total Offering

Sean Vickers

In Mark 12:41-44 Jesus is observing people at the synagogue contributing to the offering box. Jesus, being the Master Teacher, uses this as a teachable moment for His disciples. He says,

“Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, by she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” Mark 12: 43-44

Challenging Observation from this Passage

  1. God cares how much we give.
  2. Jesus want to teach His disciples and us how to manage our money.
  3. The amount of the gift is not as important as the attitude of our hearts when we give.
  4. Jesus wants us to trust Him with everything in our lives.
  5. We exercise our faith when we give our all to Jesus and His work.

Father, help me today to give you all I have for all You are.

 

A Soft Heart Towards God

A Soft Heart Towards God

Sean Vickers

Mark 4:1-20. In the Parable of the Soils Jesus identifies four different soil types and teaches a lesson on the condition of our hearts and how receptive we are to the Word of God.

The Seed = The Word of God

The Sower = Servant of God who shared the Word with others

The Soil = The human heart

The Hard Heart

  • Resists the Word of God
  • Easy for Satan to snatch away biblical truth before it takes root
  • Must be plowed up before it can receive seed
  • Represents a heart that is completely closed to the Word of God
  • The enemy of the hard heart is Satan

The Shallow Heart

  • Thin Soil with bedrock underneath
  • What ever is planted has no root and will not last
  • Receives the Word with “joy” representing an emotional response
  • The emotional response ends when the pressure of this life crash back in
  • The enemy of the shallow Heart is emotions that don’t lead to a changed life. Being “moved” but not “changed”

The Crowded Heart

  • Seed is sown among the weeds and the weeds choke out the Word’s work
  • “But the worries of this life, deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” v19
  • This is a person that hears about the “narrow way” but remains on the “broad way.” Matthew 7: 13-14
  • The enemy of the crowded heart is the things of the world

The Fruitful Heart

  • The True Believer and the person that has a soft heart before God and His Word
  • The only fruit bearing plant demonstrating true conversion and true change
  • Produces a crop well beyond the plants normal capacity
  • God causes the increase EXPLODING into a rich harvest

God, grant us soft hearts that You may do Your work deep down in our hearts.