Charismatic Bible Studies - 2 Peter 1:1-4, Part 1

[Hidden In Him]

Escaping Eternal Corruption, By Attaining Unto Glory And Virtue, Part 1



When is the last time someone preached to you that the Lord Jesus Christ has called you to His own glory and virtue? While I do not teach the doctrine of sinless perfection, I fully believe that we are called to emulate Him by following the same pattern He set for us, which including living a virtuous and godly life, something Peter will now start this letter off with by preaching as well:

1 Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those having obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you in the recognition of God and Christ our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the recognition of Him having called us unto His own glory and virtue, 4 through which He has given unto us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:1-4)

The word "virtue" was used three times in the opening verses of this letter because Peter especially wanted to drive home a point. There was a heresy called Gnosticism now sweeping the churches, and as will be covered in later studies, many were falling back into the sins of the flesh they once escaped from because of the presence of these heretics in the churches. Those being seduced back into sin will cause Peter to warn in the next Chapter:

20 If after having escaped the pollutions of the world through the recognition of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened unto them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow having been washed to wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:20-22)

This is why even now in his opening verses, Peter was urging readers to "escape the corruption that is in the world through lust." They were to emulate Christ in fleeing from sexual immorality and instead embrace the moral virtue and purity He walked in, because this was highly valued in the eyes of God. Even in Roman society moral virtue was valued. An example can be seen in the Vestal Virgins (pictured above), who swore an oath to maintain their virginity and moral purity until the age of thirty. Those chosen as Vestals were therefore held up within Roman society as the epitome of what virtuous women were like.

Virginity was of paramount importance in Roman society, particularly for the Vestal Virgins, who were expected to embody the highest standards of purity. Their vow of chastity was not merely a personal commitment but a reflection of their role as representatives of the state’s moral integrity... A Vestal who broke her vow could be punished by being buried alive, a fate that underscored the seriousness with which Roman society regarded their sacred duties. This harsh reality contributed to the cultural perception of the Vestal Virgins as paragons of virtue. (The Role of the Vestal Virgins in Upholding Roman Virtues. Roman Mythology Worldwide).

This same attitude of regarding virtuous women as treasures of immense value was expressed in scripture as well regarding the women of God. One writer put it well by stating it this way:

The Bible has much to say about the two words "virtue" and "virtuous." For most Bible believing women, the first verse to come to mind is Proverbs 31:10, where the Lord said, "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies." This virtuous woman who is so rare is priceless. No amount of money can buy her for her price is so far above the most precious jewels. God, himself, puts this high price on such a woman. (A Biblical Study of the Word Chaste, Understanding Your Bible.com)

But while virtuous women were placed on a high pedestal, they could also be corrupted, which if it happened brought shame upon husbands who had entrusted their hearts and lives to them. As an ancient proverb stated, "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that makes ashamed is like rottenness in his bones." (Proverbs 12:4)

Unfortunately, early church records show that both men and women were being targeted by the Gnostics and seduced by them. Christian men were being lured into sexual sin by female "prophetesses" such as the one described in Revelation 2:20, and Christian women were being targeted by Gnostic sorcerers with extraordinary yet demonic supernatural gifts. The call of God, therefore, was to maintain moral purity in the face of sexual temptation, which was now increasingly creeping into the churches in the form of heretics bent on seducing believers into sexual immorality (Jude 1:4). As Peter will state later in this letter concerning them:

13 These are spots and blemishes, reveling in their own deceits while feasting together among you, 14 having eyes full of an adulteress and incessant sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained upon sexual covetousness; they are accursed children. (2 Peter 2:13-14)


Changing From Glory To Glory

So how were such temptations to be resisted? By depending upon the grace of God and His Divine power. As Peter exhorted, "His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness." In other words, the Lord was calling them to escape the corruption that was in the world through lust by walking in His glory and virtue. Though not readily apparent, the apostle Peter was actually making reference to Christ's transfiguration here, which Peter himself had been an eyewitness to:

1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid... 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead." (Matthew 17:1-9)

To quote Peter again, his exhortation was "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you in the recognition of God and Christ our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the recognition of Him having called us unto His own glory and virtue." He was therefore saying here that they needed to walk in the recognition of who Christ truly was; the Son of God made manifest, and clothed in glory and virtue, not the mythological one the Gnostics were teaching who engaged in sin. If they saw Him as He truly was, they would continue becoming conformed to His image; the Son of God, made manifest in the flesh.

The apostle Paul likewise made the same point when he said to the Corinthians that by beholding the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, they would be changed from glory to glory into His image:

We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Peter had witnessed Him transfigured on the mountain, whereas the apostle Paul had been taken to Third Heaven, where he undoubtedly saw the Lord Jesus Christ in His glory firsthand as well. And Paul initially encountered Christ Jesus supernaturally on the road to Damascus, where scripture records:

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." (Acts 9:3-5a)

Stephen saw a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ being seated at God the Father's right hand in Heaven. Thus, they were all "seeing" Him in His glory in one way or another, whether through their own experiences or through what was being reporting to them. They were also seeing Him manifest Himself in their midst through supernatural gifts. He was addressing them directly through prophetic utterance, including when the churches received letters like the Book of Revelation, where the Lord addressed them directly regarding what they were doing, what He was seeing, what He was pleased with, and what He was not (Revelation 1-3). So in one way or another, all were "seeing" and hearing Him. The only question was, who were conforming themselves to His image based upon what they were seeing and hearing? Fortunately, when it came to conforming themselves, they were not alone, for as Peter stated above, the power of God to do so was being granted to them through the Holy Spirit, which was being poured out upon the churches in great abundance.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Leaning On His Divine Power

What did Peter mean by saying "His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness," and how was that playing out in real life? The general principle was "walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh," but what did that mean specifically? This is where I personally believe the supernatural gifts must still play a prominent role in lives of believers, or we actually know nothing of His Divine power by experience, and we will not "see" His glory being manifest enough in our lives to begin truly conforming to it from glory to glory. The early church appears to have placed too high a reliance upon continuing to operate in the supernatural gifts not to. Jude, for instance, who was writing about the same Gnostic temptations Peter had, had this to say regarding what their response should be:

17 Beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk in accordance with their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are the ones creating divisions, soulish individuals who do not have the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:17-21)

In other words, the means of keeping themselves in the love of God (i.e. in His good graces rather than falling into deception and rampant sin) was to continue building themselves up upon their most Holy faith, by praying in the Spirit. By this he was referring primarily to corporate prayer which included praying in tongues, and in turn facilitated all the other supernatural gifts as well, such as prophecy, word of knowledge, healing, etc. It was an integral part of continuing to walk in the Spirit. Receiving Spirit-filled preaching and teaching (whether from the Spirit directly or through others), engaging in Spirit-filled worship, praying in the Holy Spirit, operating in Spirit-breathed ministry, and every activity scripture described as being Spirit-led is what was empowering them to continue conforming themselves to Christ's image, and continue changing from glory to glory.

It was also the clear distinction Jude was making between the heretics and the saints in his letter. The Gnostic heretics were merely "soulish men" who did not "have the Spirit." But true believers did, and they needed to continue abiding in Him by fanning the flames of the Holy Ghost and not let them go out. If the church devolved back into no longer operating in the gifts, how would they differ from any other soulish religion concocted by the minds of men or worse yet by demonic spirits, including the heretical lie now being foisted upon the church by the Gnostics?

The empowerment to walk in godliness and depart from sin was also being facilitated in the process of engaging in these things as a lifestyle, for the fruit of the Spirit was being increasingly made manifest as well, such as the fruit of self-control, which specifically referred to the empowerment to bring the flesh under submission. And unlike with the Vestal Virgins, it was actually being generated not be "the self" but by the Holy Spirit present within the believer; not by them simply having to deny themselves through the power of the flesh alone, but by God's empowerment within them. As the apostle Paul told the Galatians:

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

The apostle Peter will mention self-control in this letter as well, but reiterated that it was something believers needed to add to their faith. It would not simply fall on them. They would need to continue walking in the Spirit, renewing their minds, and retraining their natural instincts until all the qualities of Christ became ever-increasingly manifest within them:

But applying all diligence, reinforce your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly kindness, and brotherly kindness with love, for these things being in you and abounding make you neither idle nor unfruitful in the recognition of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:6-7)

For the New Testament writers, self-control (which included the power to fast the flesh) was the principle element involved in walking in virtue, especially for men, and it likely explains why both appeared in Peter's list. By operating in the power of the Spirit, His presence was there, and with it came the empowerment to exercise self-control over bodily desires and the sex drive.

Unfortunately, virtue is no longer valued in Western society like it was amongst the ancient Greeks. Satanist influence in the Western world has eroded morality to the point where it is actually looked down upon and mocked in many circles as a sign of inexperience in life. But as the end-times progress and the moral landscape becomes increasingly darker, it will provide an even more dramatic backdrop against which the glory of God will shine even brighter, and moral virtue in every sense will stand out even more. It will not happen, however, through those who have abandoned faith in the supernatural gifts and outpourings of the Spirit. It is through the Spirit-filled church that He will manifest both His glory and His virtue, as a witness to the world that purity and holiness not only still exist but will stand out that much more starkly amidst the earth's increasing moral degradation.

I will get more into discussing the influence of ancient Gnosticism on the early church in Studies 6, 7, and 8. For now, suffice it to say that it is again on the rise in the earth, and something the end-time church will increasingly have to account for before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.


Questions & Applications

1. What thoughts came to your mind in reading this study? (Is there anything that came to mind, or that you remember thinking as you were reading through it).

2. For at least a decade now there has been a movement aimed at encouraging Christian youth to "Wait until marriage." Some opponents of it, however, have argued that the movement can be hypocritical, and that many who adhere to it have engaged in premarital sex at some point without admitting it. Do you feel such teachings would be more effective in accomplishing their goals if greater stress were laid upon operating in the supernatural gifts and walking in the Spirit? If so, how and why?

3. Both Christ and Paul gave teachings speaking favorably of celibacy, and Jesus even taught on the virtuosity of becoming a eunuch (Matthew 19:10-12). Do you think it should still be taught today, or do you think such teachings are going too far in today's society and thus outdated in a different context from New Testament times?

4. Revelation 19:7-8 speaks of the bride of Christ preparing herself with "fine linen, bright and pure," which symbolizes righteousness and purity, and Revelation 21:2 represents the church in her final, glorified state, as being "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." What do you think it will take for the church to finally become spotless, and fully adorned in the beauty of holiness for the returning King?

5. As an aside, for people who might be reading along and do not have a Charismatic fellowships to attend, and have little or no experience of the supernatural gifts yet desire to, what would your advice to them be?

 

[JLB]

Leaning On His Divine Power

What did Peter mean by saying "His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness," and how was that playing out in real life? The general principle was "walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh," but what did that mean specifically? This is where I personally believe the supernaturally gifts must still play a prominent role in lives of believers, or we actually know nothing of His Divine power by experience, and we will not "see" His glory being manifest enough in our lives to begin truly conforming to it from glory to glory. The early church appears to have placed too high a reliance upon continuing to operate in the supernatural gifts not to. Jude, for instance, who was writing about the same Gnostic temptations Peter had, had this to say regarding what their response should be:

17 Beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk in accordance with their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are the ones creating divisions, soulish individuals who do not have the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:17-21)

In other words, the means of keeping themselves in the love of God (i.e. in His good graces rather than falling into deception and rampant sin) was to continue building themselves up upon their most Holy faith, by praying in the Spirit. By this he was referring primarily to corporate prayer which included praying in tongues, and in turn facilitated all the other supernatural gifts as well, such as prophecy, word of knowledge, healing, etc. It was an integral part of continuing to walk in the Spirit. Receiving Spirit-filled preaching and teaching (whether from the Spirit directly or through others), engaging in Spirit-filled worship, praying in the Holy Spirit, operating in Spirit-breathed ministry, and every activity scripture described as being Spirit-led is what was empowering them to continue conforming themselves to Christ's image, and continue changing from glory to glory.

It was also the clear distinction Jude was making between the heretics and the saints in his letter. The Gnostic heretics were merely "soulish men" who did not "have the Spirit." But true believers did, and they needed to continue abiding in Him by fanning the flames of the Holy Ghost and not let them go out. If the church devolved back into no longer operating in the gifts, how would they differ from any other soulish religion concocted by the minds of men or worse yet by demonic spirits, including the heretical lie now being foisted upon the church by the Gnostics?

The empowerment to walk in godliness and depart from sin was also being facilitated in the process of engaging in these things as a lifestyle, for the fruit of the Spirit was being increasingly made manifest as well, such as the fruit of self-control, which specifically referred to the empowerment to bring the flesh under submission. And unlike with the Vestal Virgins, it was actually being generated not be "the self" but by the Holy Spirit present within the believer; not by them simply having to deny themselves through the power of the flesh alone, but by God's empowerment within them. As the apostle Paul told the Galatians:

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

The apostle Peter will mention self-control in this letter as well, but reiterated that it was something believers needed to add to their faith. It would not simply fall on them. They would need to continue walking in the Spirit, renewing their minds, and retraining their natural instincts until all the qualities of Christ became ever-increasingly manifest within them:

But applying all diligence, reinforce your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly kindness, and brotherly kindness with love, for these things being in you and abounding make you neither idle nor unfruitful in the recognition of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:6-7)

For the New Testament writers, self-control (which included the power to fast the flesh) was the principle element involved in walking in virtue, especially for men, and it likely explains why both appeared in Peter's list. By operating in the power of the Spirit, His presence was there, and with it came the empowerment to exercise self-control over bodily desires and the sex drive.

Unfortunately, virtue is no longer valued in Western society like it was amongst the ancient Greeks. Satanist influence in the Western world has eroded morality to the point where it is actually looked down upon and mocked in many circles as a sign of inexperience in life. But as the end-times progress and the moral landscape becomes increasingly darker, it will provide an even more dramatic backdrop against which the glory of God will shine even brighter, and moral virtue in every sense will stand out even more. It will not happen, however, through those who have abandoned faith in the supernatural gifts and outpourings of the Spirit. It is through the Spirit-filled church that He will manifest both His glory and His virtue, as a witness to the world that purity and holiness not only still exist but will stand out that much more starkly amidst the earth's increasing moral degradation.

I will get more into discussing the influence of ancient Gnosticism on the early church in Studies 6, 7, and 8. For now, suffice it to say that it is again on the rise in the earth, and something the end-time church will increasingly have to account for before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.


Questions & Applications

1. What thoughts came to your mind in reading this study? (Is there anything that can to mind, or that you remember thinking as you were reading through it).

2. For at least a decade now there has been a movement aimed at encouraging Christian youth to "Wait until marriage." Some opponents of it, however, have argued that the movement can be hypocritical, and that many who adhere to it have engaged in premarital sex at some point without admitting it. Do you feel such teachings would be more effective in accomplishing their goals if greater stress were laid upon operating in the supernatural gifts and walking in the Spirit? If so, how and why?

3. Both Christ and Paul gave teachings speaking favorably of celibacy, and Jesus even taught on the virtuosity of becoming a eunuch (Matthew 19:10-12). Do you think it should still be taught today, or do you think such teachings are going too far in today's society and thus outdated in a different context from New Testament times?

4. Revelation 19:7-8 speaks of the bride of Christ preparing herself with "fine linen, bright and pure," which symbolizes righteousness and purity, and Revelation 21:2 represents the church in her final, glorified state, as being "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." What do you think it will take for the church to finally become spotless, and fully adorned in the beauty of holiness for the returning King?

5. As an aside, for people who might be reading along and do not have a Charismatic fellowships to attend, and have little or no experience of the supernatural gifts yet desire to, what would your advice to them be?

Amen, so true.

There is so much the Lord desires for His people to walk in in these last days.

As we prioritize quality habits, Spirit led habits in this season, I believe we will become more and more sensitive to the leading of the Spirit, and walk in a stronger anointing; a stronger manifestation of the Life of the Spirit.

Expressing His divine nature to a lost and dying world… more and more.


But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 1 John 2:27

We won’t get it just sitting in a pew once or twice a week.

We must utilize everyday more and more to spend time with the Holy Spirit, becoming more and more sensitive to His leading.


Great study topic sir.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Great study topic sir.

Thank you for that!

There is so much the Lord desires for His people to walk in in these last days.

As we prioritize quality habits, Spirit led habits in this season, I believe we will become more and more sensitive to the leading of the Spirit, and walk in a stronger anointing; a stronger manifestation of the Life of the Spirit.

Expressing His divine nature to a lost and dying world… more and more.

I believe it's the only way the end-time harvest will come. It must be more than works of power, because the love of God and the accurate word of God must be present as well, but any in-depth look at how the harvest was occurring in New Testament times reveals how important the supernatural works of God played in bringing it about. It was never merely a philosophical religion, but a religion of power, being both seen and experienced by those who were placing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I'll go ahead and give an answer or two of my own, since sometimes I forget and never do, and thank you once again for the reply.

1. What thoughts came to your mind in reading this study? (Is there anything that can to mind, or that you remember thinking as you were reading through it).

The main thing that stuck out to me in writing this one was coming to the realization of exactly what the Greek word for "virtue" meant here in context. The word ἀρετή was hard to pin down because it went all over the place, and could mean almost ANY form of moral goodness or excellence. So the first time I studied this book I didn't get it, and assumed he was potentially talking about things like faithfully withstanding persecution. But that topic never enters in in this letter. I noticed him talking about the world being corrupted "through lust" and suddenly it dawned on me, "Oh! He's talking about the same thing he's gonna be talking about in Chapter Two, like from the outset!" LoL.

Good to receive revelation from God. We can read right past things sometimes and not realize what it is we are actually reading.

3. Both Christ and Paul gave teachings speaking favorably of celibacy, and Jesus even taught on the virtuosity of becoming a eunuch (Matthew 19:10-12). Do you think it should still be taught today, or do you think such teachings are going too far in today's society and thus outdated in a different context from New Testament times?

Yes. I remember when I was in college as a new born Christian, and I kept mentioning to people how no one taught on these principles anymore, and that a Christian who is single is that much more free to serve the Lord. MAN it was hard finding anyone who would agree with me or wanna talk about it. Everybody kept saying "But God said it's not good for a man to be alone..." Granted, this was on a college campus, where all the Christians I was talking to were still young and red-blooded, and most had their eyes on finding a potential partner in life. But I still found it astonishing that no one seemed to want to acknowledge what was a clear Biblical teaching. I ended up being single into my early 40's, though not without some struggles. But I still agree with Paul's teaching especially, and I do not think it's outdated. Maybe the Lord's return isn't right around the corner like they thought it might be back then, but the principle still holds that an unmarried man or woman is more free to serve the Lord Jesus Christ than a married one is. It's just common sense, for those who can succeed at it.

 

[hawkman]

The empowerment to walk in godliness and depart from sin was also being facilitated in the process of engaging in these things as a lifestyle, for the fruit of the Spirit was being increasingly made manifest as well, such as the fruit of self-control, which specifically referred to the empowerment to bring the flesh under submission.

We as Christians are called to live a life of holiness before God . My first thoughts and I will think on this lesson more .

22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

1. What thoughts came to your mind in reading this study? (Is there anything that can to mind, or that you remember thinking as you were reading through it).

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

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Eph. 4:24

To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. 1Thes. 3:13

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 1Thes. 4:7

History of the Holiness Movement – Holiness Movement

 

[Hidden In Him]

We as Christians are called to live a life of holiness before God . My first thoughts and I will think on this lesson more .

22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

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

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Eph. 4:24

To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. 1Thes. 3:13

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 1Thes. 4:7

History of the Holiness Movement – Holiness Movement

Glorious.

It’s amazing how much certain scriptures can witness to you in the right contexts.

It also stands out how many of those verses are imperatives, and that holiness requires active participation on the part of the believer. The holiness comes from Him, but the question is to what extent we are giving ourselves to Him

 

[RandyK]

Questions & Applications

1. What thoughts came to your mind in reading this study? (Is there anything that came to mind, or that you remember thinking as you were reading through it).

It reminded me of 1 John.
1 John.

John 2.1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

This is the same burden that rested upon all of the disciples of Jesus, to communicate what God had said in His Law, that if you follow God's word within your soul, God would be with him or her. God will be a blessing and enable the person to share in His righteousness--in His image and likeness.

This enablement, to be "like God," is what motivated men of old who lived under the Law of God. And it is what motivates us under the New Covenant, to be like Jesus.

John was concerned, like the other disciples, to communicate the value of being under covenant with God, to become like Him, by conformity with His word. It is not enough to call yourself a Christian, to simply say you respect Jesus and wish to adopt some of his standards. The idea is to covenant with him, to make him Lord as God over creation and Lord over our own lives.

We make him Lord over our lives by listening to his voice within, through the Holy Spirit, who doesn't commandeer us like slaves, but requires that we always engage in his love so that when we fail, as we often will, we repent and correct, acknowledging his way as better than the ways of men and their own selfish interests.

2. For at least a decade now there has been a movement aimed at encouraging Christian youth to "Wait until marriage." Some opponents of it, however, have argued that the movement can be hypocritical, and that many who adhere to it have engaged in premarital sex at some point without admitting it. Do you feel such teachings would be more effective in accomplishing their goals if greater stress were laid upon operating in the supernatural gifts and walking in the Spirit? If so, how and why?

3. Both Christ and Paul gave teachings speaking favorably of celibacy, and Jesus even taught on the virtuosity of becoming a eunuch (Matthew 19:10-12). Do you think it should still be taught today, or do you think such teachings are going too far in today's society and thus outdated in a different context from New Testament times?

4. Revelation 19:7-8 speaks of the bride of Christ preparing herself with "fine linen, bright and pure," which symbolizes righteousness and purity, and Revelation 21:2 represents the church in her final, glorified state, as being "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." What do you think it will take for the church to finally become spotless, and fully adorned in the beauty of holiness for the returning King?

5. As an aside, for people who might be reading along and do not have a Charismatic fellowships to attend, and have little or no experience of the supernatural gifts yet desire to, what would your advice to them be?

Yes, there is always the need to recognize when the former Christian culture has lost its "saltiness," and is promoting compromise and "tolerance." The answer is always a return to the "power of God" which is the indication we are living "like Jesus" and conforming to his word.

Thank you for a beautiful word!

 

[Hidden In Him]

It reminded me of 1 John.
1 John.

John 2.1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

This is the same burden that rested upon all of the disciples of Jesus, to communicate what God had said in His Law, that if you follow God's word within your soul, God would be with him or her. God will be a blessing and enable the person to share in His righteousness--in His image and likeness.

Glorious. And good morning. Finally getting a chance to get in and take a look at your reply.

1st John was actually written against the same heresy, so it's no coincidence if the Holy Spirit brought this book to mind. The Gnostics claimed to "know" the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet their actions proved they actually knew nothing about Him, since they followed none of His commands. And when John was talking about "If anyone hates his brother," he was talking about the same kinds of things Peter did: sinning against your brother by cheating him in things like committing adultery with his wife or exploiting him financially.

Yes, there is always the need to recognize when the former Christian culture has lost its "saltiness," and is promoting compromise and "tolerance." The answer is always a return to the "power of God" which is the indication we are living "like Jesus" and conforming to his word.

I agree : ) Two things always tend to go hand in hand: A dismissal of belief in the power of God and the gifts of the Spirit is nearly always followed soon thereafter with an increasing moral compromise, and a "faith" that isn't tied to virtue, or any of the other fruit of the Spirit. The minute the gifts get divorced from the faith, the fruit is nearly always following close on it's heals.

 

[Hidden In Him]

2. For at least a decade now there has been a movement aimed at encouraging Christian youth to "Wait until marriage." Some opponents of it, however, have argued that the movement can be hypocritical, and that many who adhere to it have engaged in premarital sex at some point without admitting it. Do you feel such teachings would be more effective in accomplishing their goals if greater stress were laid upon operating in the supernatural gifts and walking in the Spirit? If so, how and why?

For me the answer is simple here. The Lord Jesus Christ proves Himself REAL through the supernatural gifts. How many Christian youth would take the commandments of God more seriously if the Lord Jesus Christ were truly manifesting Himself in their midst? But so many are attending dead services where it's nothing more than a lot of religious lingo and religious posturing, with nothing that proves He was what the apostle Paul called the LIVING GOD, unlike idols of stone. They see no proof, so what is to stop them from casting aside their faith in the Lord when they see no supernatural evidence that He actually exists?

 

[jonathanbrickman0000]

Unfortunately, virtue is no longer valued in Western society like it was amongst the ancient Greeks.

Questions & Applications

1. What thoughts came to your mind in reading this study? (Is there anything that came to mind, or that you remember thinking as you were reading through it).

A very few of the ancient Greeks valued a few virtues which were worthwhile. All of them threw away their virtuosity at the drop of a hat.

2. For at least a decade now there has been a movement aimed at encouraging Christian youth to "Wait until marriage." Some opponents of it, however, have argued that the movement can be hypocritical, and that many who adhere to it have engaged in premarital sex at some point without admitting it. Do you feel such teachings would be more effective in accomplishing their goals if greater stress were laid upon operating in the supernatural gifts and walking in the Spirit? If so, how and why?

No. I think that what is missing, principally, is the giving of purpose to young adults. Some churches deny that "young adults" exist, and even without this wording, there is a very strong tendency to try to force young adults to remain ignorant and purposeless, lacking anything of real significance to do. When young adults are given no worthwhile purpose, they look to their flesh for further development. The greatest extreme of this profoundly evil parental ethic, is probably the puberty blocker Mengele-ism of today. Children will grow in some directions, but if we do not give worthwhile purposes, they will not develop as we of the Lord's declared worth would like to see.

3. Both Christ and Paul gave teachings speaking favorably of celibacy, and Jesus even taught on the virtuosity of becoming a eunuch (Matthew 19:10-12). Do you think it should still be taught today, or do you think such teachings are going too far in today's society and thus outdated in a different context from New Testament times?

I know no cause to ban anything that Christ the Lord has Personally said, from conversation. I do not, however, know that He commended those that voluntarily made themselves eunuchs. He did say that they did this to flee from sin, which is a good motivation, and He does not condemn it. But I cannot say that it is a preference of His, given that which He said of flesh in general.

4. Revelation 19:7-8 speaks of the bride of Christ preparing herself with "fine linen, bright and pure," which symbolizes righteousness and purity, and Revelation 21:2 represents the church in her final, glorified state, as being "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." What do you think it will take for the church to finally become spotless, and fully adorned in the beauty of holiness for the returning King?

Total purity of the church, requires much, it requires removal of all tares from all wheat (Matthew 13:25-40), which occurs only in the end of this world.

5. As an aside, for people who might be reading along and do not have a Charismatic fellowships to attend, and have little or no experience of the supernatural gifts yet desire to, what would your advice to them be?

Don't worry about it, don't focus there. Focus upon that which Christ the Lord has Personally said, done, and discussed. Build a small group, in your home if no other choice exists, where that focus will not be corrupted by flags and love of money and power and other doomed purposes of this world. Ask the Holy One to bring the profoundly worthwhile. In whatever form He chooses, He will. And His will is all that matters. Ours does not. To follow Christ, we must deny ourselves, take up the burdens the Father desires of us, and follow Him. We must deny ourselves, with the other two.

 

[jonathanbrickman0000]

Thinking about it further, I should have said "not permitted any worthwhile purpose", and "discouraged from all profoundly worthwhile purposes". Young adults, as well as all children even on the verge, are given encouragement to play with Lego instead of building anything worthwhile and lasting. The Lego situation is both literal and metaphor, for what is being done to young adults, with terrible consequences in the long term.

 

[RandyK]

Questions & Applications

1. What thoughts came to your mind in reading this study? (Is there anything that came to mind, or that you remember thinking as you were reading through it).

I'm still contemplating the connection between those with true Christian living and belief in the charismatic gifts. Since the Charismatic Movement is new in history, I doubt this connection is essential even though in my experience it is often true. There are seasons in history when God is upset with the Church in general and leaves it without a strong witness. God doesn't want to sanction poor performance, even though a relative few exemplify Jesus who like Jesus did not perform miracles where faith lacked.

, a

2. For at least a decade now there has been a movement aimed at encouraging Christian youth to "Wait until marriage." Some opponents of it, however, have argued that the movement can be hypocritical, and that many who adhere to it have engaged in premarital sex at some point without admitting it. Do you feel such teachings would be more effective in accomplishing their goals if greater stress were laid upon operating in the supernatural gifts and walking in the Spirit? If so, how and why?

I think the connection between obedience to God's internal word, together with its spiritual evidence, should be taught and emphasized. Unless obedience results in spiritual vitality and the operation of spiritual gifts the Christian religion is nothing more than "works."

3. Both Christ and Paul gave teachings speaking favorably of celibacy, and Jesus even taught on the virtuosity of becoming a eunuch (Matthew 19:10-12). Do you think it should still be taught today, or do you think such teachings are going too far in today's society and thus outdated in a different context from New Testament times?

The 1st command of God involved marriage and childbearing. Celibacy was emphasized in times when the famiy was vulnerable to severe persecution. For those who simply, like Paul, wished to devote more time to ministry, there was no prohibition on it unless it created an unhealthy sexual appetite.

4. Revelation 19:7-8 speaks of the bride of Christ preparing herself with "fine linen, bright and pure," which symbolizes righteousness and purity, and Revelation 21:2 represents the church in her final, glorified state, as being "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." What do you think it will take for the church to finally become spotless, and fully adorned in the beauty of holiness for the returning King?

I don't think the Church will become larger and better in these end times. I think the group will become smaller and thus more refined or separated from those who are not willing to stand up to trial.

5. As an aside, for people who might be reading along and do not have a Charismatic fellowships to attend, and have little or no experience of the supernatural gifts yet desire to, what would your advice to them be?

I'm going through some of these problems myself. Personally, I'm contemplating leaving a weak Pentecostal assembly where the pastor is afraid of saying anything political or controversial.

The sermon is all that holds the church together, and it is a weak recitation of biblical passages. The Spirit is not gone, but it is weak, as I see it.

I may have to leave and join in with home Bible fellowships. In the last few months several people have each approached me about doing this. We can't grow strong in a weak church. And we can't hold up a weak church if our word is being rejected.

 

[jonathanbrickman0000]

I may have to leave and join in with home Bible fellowships. In the last few months several people have each approached me about doing this. We can't grow strong in a weak church. And we can't hold up a weak church if our word is being rejected.

I shall ask the Holy One to drive all of you in this!

 

[Hidden In Him]

No. I think that what is missing, principally, is the giving of purpose to young adults. Some churches deny that "young adults" exist, and even without this wording, there is a very strong tendency to try to force young adults to remain ignorant and purposeless, lacking anything of real significance to do. When young adults are given no worthwhile purpose, they look to their flesh for further development.

I have always always felt that the principle problem for Christian youth was that the word was never taught with much spiritual relevance to our time, or in a way that gave them much power or purpose. According to Joel 2:28, they are to have the Spirit poured out upon them in abundance, and see visions, dream dreams, and prophesy. And are the scriptures taught with any REAL spiritual authority?

 

[Hidden In Him]

I know no cause to ban anything that Christ the Lord has Personally said, from conversation. I do not, however, know that He commended those that voluntarily made themselves eunuchs. He did say that they did this to flee from sin, which is a good motivation, and He does not condemn it. But I cannot say that it is a preference of His, given that which He said of flesh in general.

Actually the context appears to be the same as with Paul, Jonathan. The backdrop for his teaching was avoiding difficulties in marriage. The mindset the disciples were walking in was that at least a man could get a divorce when things got bad, and when Jesus condemned divorce except for infidelity, their response was "If this is so, it would be better not to be married," to which it then says:

11 [Jesus] said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.” (Matthew 19:11-12).

This pretty clearly juxtaposes marriage against celibacy, just as with Paul, and gives preference to it IMO.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Total purity of the church, requires much, it requires removal of all tares from all wheat (Matthew 13:25-40), which occurs only in the end of this world.

Ok, this is rather deep, because the Parable of the Tares actually WAS about the coming of the Gnostics. They looked like wheat and talked like wheat because they professed faith in "Christ," and they were present in Christian congregations just like Peter, Jude and the Book of Revelations all said they were. But they were false Christians and imposters who were spiritually worthless. In fact they were dangerous just like tares were. Too much consumption of tares could lead to delirium, dizziness, and a type of drunken state where things no longer seemed real. Such is the effect of sinful teaching. It deludes people with false notions that can ultimately lead to their spiritual death.

How do you suggest they be removed?

 

[Hidden In Him]

Don't worry about it, don't focus there. Focus upon that which Christ the Lord has Personally said, done, and discussed. Build a small group, in your home if no other choice exists, where that focus will not be corrupted by flags and love of money and power and other doomed purposes of this world. Ask the Holy One to bring the profoundly worthwhile. In whatever form He chooses, He will. And His will is all that matters. Ours does not. To follow Christ, we must deny ourselves, take up the burdens the Father desires of us, and follow Him. We must deny ourselves, with the other two.

This tends to be my advice as well. Build a fellowship of your own, and pray for the outpouring while discussing the true word. Better to receive true and accurate teaching in a living room than watered down teaching in the middle of a congregation of thousands. The worship can be fantastic, and they can offer many services to visitors and members, but at what expense?

 

[Hidden In Him]

I'm still contemplating the connection between those with true Christian living and belief in the charismatic gifts. Since the Charismatic Movement is new in history, I doubt this connection is essential even though in my experience it is often true. There are seasons in history when God is upset with the Church in general and leaves it without a strong witness. God doesn't want to sanction poor performance, even though a relative few exemplify Jesus who like Jesus did not perform miracles where faith lacked.

I think the connection between obedience to God's internal word, together with its spiritual evidence, should be taught and emphasized. Unless obedience results in spiritual vitality and the operation of spiritual gifts the Christian religion is nothing more than "works."

The 1st command of God involved marriage and childbearing. Celibacy was emphasized in times when the famiy was vulnerable to severe persecution. For those who simply, like Paul, wished to devote more time to ministry, there was no prohibition on it unless it created an unhealthy sexual appetite.

I don't think the Church will become larger and better in these end times. I think the group will become smaller and thus more refined or separated from those who are not willing to stand up to trial.

I'm going through some of these problems myself. Personally, I'm contemplating leaving a weak Pentecostal assembly where the pastor is afraid of saying anything political or controversial.

The sermon is all that holds the church together, and it is a weak recitation of biblical passages. The Spirit is not gone, but it is weak, as I see it.

I may have to leave and join in with home Bible fellowships. In the last few months several people have each approached me about doing this. We can't grow strong in a weak church. And we can't hold up a weak church if our word is being rejected.

Taking a break, Randy, but I will be taking a look at this later.

 

[RandyK]

Ok, this is rather deep, because the Parable of the Tares actually WAS about the coming of the Gnostics. They looked like wheat and talked like wheat because they professed faith in "Christ," and they were present in Christian congregations just like Peter, Jude and the Book of Revelations all said they were. But they were false Christians and imposters who were spiritually worthless. In fact they were dangerous just like tares were. Too much consumption of tares could lead to delirium, dizziness, and a type of drunken state where things no longer seemed real. Such is the effect of sinful teaching. It deludes people with false notions that can ultimately lead to their spiritual death.

How do you suggest they be removed?

It looks like the brother was talking about a different but related topic, namely the separation of sheep and goats at the end of the age. Let the tares grow up with the wheat as long as the tares still look and act like immature wheat. Though many seeming Christians are really not, it may ultimately be at the 2nd Coming that they are exposed as frauds.

So, you are talking about the exercise of discipline in the church to remove sinners. This can apply to actual believers and not just Gnostics. If we treat ungodly false brethren like brothers and sisters, we will be guilty of sanctioning their ungodly behavior. If we tolerate sin in genuine brethren who are backslidden or rationalizing their ungodly behavior, again we are guilty of sanctioning sin.

 

[jonathanbrickman0000]

Ok, this is rather deep, because the Parable of the Tares actually WAS about the coming of the Gnostics. They looked like wheat and talked like wheat because they professed faith in "Christ," and they were present in Christian congregations just like Peter, Jude and the Book of Revelations all said they were. But they were false Christians and imposters who were spiritually worthless. In fact they were dangerous just like tares were. Too much consumption of tares could lead to delirium, dizziness, and a type of drunken state where things no longer seemed real. Such is the effect of sinful teaching. It deludes people with false notions that can ultimately lead to their spiritual death.

How do you suggest they be removed?

I will suggest, that the meaning of the parable of the tares is far, far broader than the coming of one little group stamped out by Roman quasichristian mass murder. I will rather suggest, that the tares refer to everyone in the churches who (to maintain the metaphor) look like wheat and talk like wheat, but whose primary purposes are attractive deceptions which lead the sheep astray. I'll suggest 'tares' include, for instance, those of leadership in both the United Methodist Church and the Disciples of Christ who, over many decades, have subverted all stated principles and purposes, in favor of affirming and glorifying all manner of sexual sin, witchcraft, and dead faiths of unbelievers (I speak as a witness). But before this became common, there were and are the USAmerican quasichristian nationalists, whose primary purpose is glory, honor, and power to the nation of this world, and not God. And the same for British-Israelists for the British empire. I'll suggest that all of these fit this description rather well, and there are many more instances of the same, small and large, the Constantinian Romans being another.

And I shall suggest that we must not attempt to remove them, because of that which Christ the Lord has said. We can make them uncomfortable, for the glory of God, by adhering to and promoting that which Christ the Lord has Personally said, done, and discussed. But just as Christ the Lord did not cast out Judas Iscariot, who behaved not dissimilarly, we must not try to cast them out, we must love them as our neighbors. Many of them will convert and be saved, as a result of that which God causes us to do with them and for them.