Word For the Day

  Looking for and Hastening the Day of the Lord But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:10-13 NAS95). Oh, how we ought to long for the coming day of God when the new heavens and new earth appear! Why do we cling to this sinful existence that tortures our souls? Rightly does Peter remind us of Lot. Who, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men  by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt...

  How To Spot a Fake For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"— and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:16-21 NAS95). Peter said they did not follow cleverly devised tales. The world is full of counterfeit gospels and antichrist.  Pet...

  Remember Who You Are Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind (2 Peter 1:12-15 NAS95). Nothing brings the need for the Gospel in focus more than the imminent possibility of death. Peter has just told his readers to make their call and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). Nothing can so give composure in the prospect, or in the hour, of death, as to know that we have faithfully and simply followed the Lord Jesus, and sought his glory (Matthew Henry). Therefore, it is not a meritless task to add godly virtues to our faith. Peter wrote that he wi...

  Love Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love . For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8 NAS95)[Emphasis Added]. Each of the virtues mentioned in these verses coalesce into this last virtue of love. Love is the ultimate test of our faith. Peter was questioned by our Lord after Peter had boasted of his loyalty and failed.  So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Tend My lambs." He *said to him again a se...

  Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness , and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8 NAS95)[Empasis Added]. Oh that we might be able to echo David’s words: As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight (Psalms 16:3 NAS95). Brotherly kindness is a virtue of great importance as it aligns with the second greatest commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself. If we are commanded to love our neighbors, how much more should we love our brothers and sisters in Christ? Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if...

  Godliness Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness , and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 1:5-8 NAS95) [Emphasis Added]. The word translated godliness in the passage above carries the idea of proper worship. Used only by Peter (Act_3:12), and in the Pastoral Epistles. It is from εὐ, well, and σέβομαι, to worship, so that the radical idea is worship rightly directed. Worship, however, is to be understood in its etymological sense, worth-ship, or reverence paid to worth, whether in God or man (Vincent’s Word Studies). Therefore, whether in private worship or corporate wors...

  Perseverance Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance , and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8 NASB) [Emphasis Added]. The word translated perseverance above has the nuance of patient endurance (Strongs). The King James Bible translates that word as patience. If you think about it, the battle against sin really does require a good deal of patient endurance. Mortification of the flesh, this side of heaven, is a never ending battle. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not (Romans 7:18 ...

  Self-Control Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control , and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8) [Emphasis Added]. Self-Control or temperance is one’s ability not to let the use of what is good in moderation become excessive. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-13). Having one’s affections set on worl...

  Knowledge Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge , and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8) [Emphasis Added]. Knowledge is to be sought by the Christian. That is to say knowledge that goes beyond mere facts. Facts are critical, but just knowing the facts is not enough.  Paul prayed for the Ephesians: [I] do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened...

  Virtue And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue ; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8 KJV) [Emphasis Added]. The KJV translates the Greek word used above as virtue, but the New American Standard Bible translates that word as moral excellence. Moral excellence is probably a better translation as the word, in classic Greek, speaks to one’s God-given ability to perform heroic deeds (The MacArthur Study Bible). It also came to mean excellence that made one stand out. With that understanding, to be diligent to add virtue to our lives would require us to use whatever energy or courage God has provided us to that end. What does that look like? Well, I suppose it ...

The Foundation Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust (2 Peter 1:3-4). Peter has written to us about the foundation for living the Christian life. That foundation is knowing Jesus Christ. It is not just knowing about Him; it is having the true knowledge of Christ and His divine power. For he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6b).   Therefore, Peter provides a list of virtues to add to our faith that, if employed, provide the means to the true knowledge of Christ. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, k...

 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD." (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). One of the pitfalls of pursuing a biblical education, formally or informally, is spiritual pride. There is something about knowledge that tends to puff up one’s ego. Paul in dealing with the subject of food sacrificed to idols makes the following statement. Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know ...

  Abstain from Every Form of Evil Scripture “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22 NKJV). Commentary This seems like a no brainer. Who doesn’t know we are to abstain from evil? However, if it is so fundamental to the Christian life, why is this warning given so many times in Scripture. The answer is as obvious as the command: we are in a battle with evil our entire Christian life, and the enemy has an ally, our flesh. Focus for a moment on just one word in this command. Consider the word EVERY if you will. Why is this word there? You know, don’t you? It is there because we tend to pick and choose the evils we will allow in our lives. Today it might be anger, tomorrow greed, and the next day fear. This is not how a Christian is to live. It’s true that we will often fail in one way or another, but to have a mindset other than to abstain from all forms of evil is to make a pact with the devil. If we are not totally sold out for God, then we have not surrendered...

  A Key Element of Prayer Scripture Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men——extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise [his] eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14 NKJV) Commentary God is not impressed with our morality. Yes we must practice holiness for without it no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14), but we don’t earn our standing by good works. If we stand...

  The Flesh Is Weak And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:40-41). I guess the truth of this title goes without question, but the extent of our weakness might be a surprise to some. Even when the spirit is willing to fight against sin, it often just gives up. That tells us victory is found only with help. God must be involved in your daily battles or you will fail. Jesus tells the disciples to pray that they would not enter into temptation. Not that they would never experience any temptations, but that they would not be overcome by them or surprised by them. Jesus was about to be taken, tortured, and killed. They were about to experience great fear. Jesus wanted them to be prepared. Watch and pray is ...