Your Destination – Salvation 1Peter1:1-9

We are beginning a new series. We will be going through First and Second Peter, verse by verse. First Peter deals with the threat to the church from suffering. Second Peter addresses the threat to the church from false teachers.

We will accept the Apostle Simon Peter as the author through an amanuensis, Silvanus (5:12). The letter was probably written about A.D. 67, a couple of years before Peter's death. Peter writes from “Babylon” which could be actual Babylon, but more likely refers to Rome which was known as Babylon when Christians were called “evil-doers” during the times of persecution beginning with Nero.

God preserved this general letter for our day so that we may know that Christians ought to expect to suffer as Christ suffered. And in the midst of suffering we can allow the grace of God to be demonstrated in our lives. We will break the first chapter of 1Peter into four parts: Salvation Destined (vv1-9), Declared (vv10-12), Demonstrated (13-19), and Explained (20-25).

SOURCE AND CIRCULATION of the Letter

Ø From Peter

 Apostle = messenger sent by Jesus Christ

Ø To Sojourners - exiles, pilgrims, strangers

 Folks not at home

 Settled but not permanent - Hebrews 11:13-16

■ Not going back - Hebrews 11:15 and John 15:19; 17:14

 Dispersed = scattered or Sown in Asia Minor (and to us)

 Elect (as opposed to the merely called – Matthew 22:14 [see vv.3, 5, 6, 12])

■ By God's sovereign choice (not by merit)

l received by faith alone

l those who reject God's offer are accountable whether by indifference (Matthew 22:5), rebellion (22:6) or self-righteousness (22:12)

■ According to God's Knowledge (foreknowledge) - He knows you can and will make it to heaven and can be used here on earth.

■ Because of The Holy Spirit's work in you - making you more and more like Jesus...more obedient to truth

■ Paid for and sealed with the Blood of Jesus Christ - and actually your blood belongs to Jesus Revelation12:11; 7:13-14,ff

Ø The Desired Effect on the Recipients

 Grace = Spiritual blessing which makes us more aware of His sufficiency

 Peace = Freedom from fear, passions, moral conflicts that distract from Jesus.

DOXOLOGY - HYMN OF PRAISE TO GOD for:

Ø Your Benefactor V.3 – God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jesus with His dual nature – the God-Man - God is His God and God is His Father)

 God has re-birthed you.

 Gave you a hope that is alive...proven and guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus. If Christ is risen ... 1Corinthians 15:14, 17 (Having lived a clean life is not enough reward!)

 Dead people don't inherit anything...

Ø Your Inheritance V.4

 Incorruptible – indestructible and cannot be spent

 Undefiled – flawless and stain-proof (by evil)

 Unfading – colorfast and not effected by time

 Reserved – guarded

 For you – believer (a strong statement)

Ø Your Security V.5

 By the Power of God – above every other power Colossians 1:13

 Kept – a sentinel is posted

 Through Faith – the intermediate agency IN GOD'S POWER – the immediate agency

 Ready for Complete Deliverance - Romans 8:18; 1John3:2

Ø Your Cause for Rejoicing V.6 (You are part of the blessed Matthew 5:11-12)

 The accomplishment of trials -

■ Faith proven – to you and to the world = great value

l V.7 Gold wears away

l Faith stands the test of fire better than gold.

■ Praise, Honor, and Glory to Jesus (He is shown off)

Ø Living the Blessing of John 20:29

 Joy indescribable

 Full of glory – like the face of Moses, except better 2Corinthians 3:9-13

Ø Signed Deed V.9 accomplished by Jesus – Hebrews 12:2

To and for those chosen by God (the elect)... Make the election results conclusive ... 2Peter 1:10

2Peter 1:1 = faith in the accomplished work of Jesus

VV.5-7 = repentance

Want to know if you have been nominated? 1Corinthians1:18

The story and the message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the [manifestation of] the power of God. [Amplified Version}

I Am the Resurrection John chapter 11
In John 11 we read the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. It is not Jesus’ last miracle but it is perhaps his greatest. This miracle raised the most response from Jesus’ friends and His enemies. It proved Jesus had power over death. This is not the only time Jesus raised someone from the dead, but it was the first time he raised someone who had been in the grave for four days. (There was a superstition in that day, that the spirit of a person hung over the body for three days. So if the right ritual was carried out within three days, life could be restored.)
Paul said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” 1Corinthians 15:19. If Jesus does not have power over death, whatever else He can do amounts to nothing.
Jesus’ business is to deal with death. Our part is to believe. Faith or belief is a major emphasis in chapter 11 of John’s gospel. Another major emphasis is the glory of God. There are three groups in whom Jesus seeks to strengthen faith and reveal the glory of God…

THE DISCIPLES vv.1-16 a messenger to Jesus to tell of Lazarus’ illness v.3. Jesus’ encouraging message – v.4. Two more days then Jesus goes to Bethany – v.6. When Jesus arrives, Laz has been in the grave four days – v.17. (Laz died the day the messenger arrived to tell Jesus)

• Jesus’ message was still good news = believe His word even though circumstances are

discouraging.

• Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters – v.3

o Note the prayer of the sisters – does not tell Jesus to come or to heal Laz. Just
informs of need and reminds of love.
o Not a Pampering love but a Perfecting love
o Do not think that love and suffering are incompatible – consider Jesus, the beloved
son of God

• Christian comfort is not more important than God’s glory

• Jesus’ promise was not that Laz not die but that death would not win and God (the Son of

God) would be glorified… A promise to hold on to.

• Why Jesus waited

o So Laz would die? (Laz dead when messenger came)
o To make a greater point? 4 days dead
o The timing of God vv.9-10 (the light of the Father’s will)
o The teaching of the disciples v.15

• Thomas - not great faith but great loyalty “Let’s go die with Him”

THE SISTERS vv.17-40

• Suffering and trial will increase faith if you respond positively to the Word and the Spirit of

God. Jesus has sent a promise.

• Martha the worker (Luke 10:38-42)

o “If” v.21 = futile hope
o “Even now” v.22 faithful hope

• The Doctrine of the Resurrection

o The girls believed the OT words of hope
§ Inspite of Psalms and Ecclesiastes that make the grave seem to be the end
§ Jesus has the final word, not David or Solomon Consider His own resurrection.
o Jesus IS (I Am) the Resurrection v.25
§ Out of a book and into a person
§ Out of the future and into the present vv.25-26
o Martha’s confession: Lord, Christ, Son of God

• Mary the thinker and feeler
• Fell at His feet (as in Luke 10:39 and John 12:3 see 11:2)

o Jesus wept
§ Groaning within as moved by indignation – sin> death, fear used as tools of Satan.
§ He knew He would raise Laz

• Love for Laz and the sisters

• Onlookers saw tears as hopelessness

o No one expected a miracle
o Didn’t I say? V.40


THE JEWS vv.41-57 the spectators

• Jesus prayed publicly – “ Father I thank you that you have heard Me…”

• Lazarus raised

• Because of Laz, many believed v.45
• Others sought to kill Jesus v.53
• As God planned vv.51-52

• Lazarus, the one delivered from death became a “marked man” v.12:10

Jesus is Holy God

Man is wholly depraved … even “if one went to them from the dead, they will not repent.” Luke 16:30 Dives, the rich man in the story Jesus told of the rich man and a begger named Lazarus who each died, had pled with Abraham to send someone back to life to warn his kin not to come to the place of toment. Abraham replied, “if one went to them from the dead, they will not repent.” This different Lazarus was raised from the dead and the opponents of God would begin to seek opportunity to take his life as well as Jesus', the one who raised him from the dead. They certainly did not turn to God because of the testimony of one raised from the dead... neither the testimony of Lazarus or Jesus. Nor will the testimony of us, who are raised with Christ be believed apart from the election and sovereign will of God and the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.

Except by the sovereign power and grace of God-

Jesus is the Resurrection, a Savior and a Redeemer, not just a doctrine. When you know Jesus as savior, you are resurrected and will never die. The sisters each said, “If you had been here, our brother would not have died.” No one ever died in Jesus’ presence. Believers live spiritually in Jesus' presence having been raised to walk in newness of life and will never die.

Jesus – The True Vine John 15: 1-17

Jesus being the true vine, explains much about the shortcomings of much of religion today and down through the ages. It give light to the extra-biblical saying: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” The best intentions without the life of “the life-giver” are no better than nasty rags in God’s economy and in regard to achieving eternal, abundant life.

Let us consider meaning and applications of: the vine, The True Vine, the branches, The Vinedresser (Husbandman KJV), and the fruit.

THE VINE – the True Vine = Jesus

• Past References – The symbol of nation Israel – The golden vine on the front of the holy place in Herod’s temple, also on coins of Maccabees – in scripture …not flattering: no faith, justice, or righteousness… even killed the Son of the vineyard owner

Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15, 19:10; Hosea 10:1; Psalm 80:8

God intended Israel to be a display to the world that would demonstrate what grace could do in a people. They were intended to display His glory. But as a nation, they chose their own glory above the glory of God. The vine produced a bad crop, unworthy of the owner.

• Future Reference – the vine of earth - Revelation 14:14-20 There will be a harvest of the crop that is earthy instead of godly. The crop will be abundant -the flow of the blood pressed out of the crop will be as high as the bridles on horses. But the produce, though abundant is cursed instead of blessed because it is not for God's glory, but for man's.
  

• Present Reference – Jesus The fruit that is produced as a result of being connected to Jesus, the true vine, will glorify God.

• NOTE about vines in Israel, then and now – Large, strong. When mature to break off a branch is to injure the vine. Vineyards require much attention to produce a worthy crop, but the established vines are sturdy. The True Vine is not in danger of ill-health. Those who abide in Him are not disconnected by winds of circumstance or minor incidents. If there is a disconnect, it will be by purposeful cutting of the vinedresser, not accident.
  

BRANCHES – followers (of Jesus or self)

• Assignment – Bear fruit by abiding in the Vine A simple assignment for us, sticks.

  • and expect “pruning” (purging KJV) Pruning is cutting away unproductive wood so that it does not cause disease in the branch or cutting away healthy wood or even fruit to cause a harvest that is of greater quality and quantity.
    

  • Pruning is like the narrow gate that Jesus said leads to life. Pruning and the narrow gate cause some culling of things in our lives. Pruning is God, the loving, perfect, vinedresser cutting away whatever is necessary to produce a greater glory for Him. To produce fruit for His glory is our job as branches. Sometimes He prunes things, people, areas in our lives that we think we deserve to keep. Sometimes the things He prunes from us are people that we love or possessions that we love and that we are sure that we deserve because we have been faithful...we have been productive... More about this under the heading of the Vinedresser
    

• Alternative –

  • Take away – same word in v.11:29 (the stone over the tomb of Lazarus - taken out of the way) and in v.8:59 (rocks lifted up in this case for the purpose of throwing)
    

  • Trash fire – (dead grapevine is good for nothing, although I smoked some one time. I don't know why. It was not hard to give up) not acceptable as firewood for altar. Families were responsible for bringing wood to fire the altar of God. Grapevine was not acceptable as firewood for God's altar. Grapevine fires were just to get rid of "trash."
    

• Abiding – resolute relationship “dwells in (KJV)” 1John 3:24

  • Union and communion with Jesus & His Word v.7, v.3 1John 3:24 i.e. head – body; body – member; groom- bride; shepherd - sheep; foundation – building Purposefully seeking to please Jesus by seeking His will and doing it. I speak a lot about the grace of God. It is only by His grace that we are drawn to Him, saved by Him, our sins forgiven by Him, our salvation secured by Him. But, He also has a requirement of purposefully turning away from yourself as lord and following Jesus as our master.
    

  • Obedience out of love – vv.9-10 We must demonstrate obedience to the will of God out of the respect that is due in a love relationship.
    

• Assessment – We have ways to determine whether we are abiding in the Vine

  • fruit vv.2, 5, 8 Is God-honoring fruit being produced?

  • pruning v.2, Hebrews 12:6 Are we being honed by God as a result of His attention directed toward us as objects of His love?

  • prayer v.7 Are our prayers the expression of the heart of God and therefore answered for His glory?

  • love Jesus and fellow followers vv.9,12,13 Is our love for Jesus (expressed by our obedience and our desire to know and please Him) growing (regardless of how old we are or how long we have been following)?

  • joy v.11 Is glorifying Jesus your joy?
    

• To Add to the Harvest – cultivate – Grape vines require much attention. – worship, Bible study, prayer, service, sacrifice

THE VINEDRESSER – God the Father

• Owns the vineyard – Matthew 21:33 In the parable in Matthew, Jesus portrays God as the owner.
  

• Prunes or purges v.2 = cut away dead wood to prevent disease / cut away living tissue so the strength of the plant is invested in crop / cut off bunches of grapes to improve quality as well as quantity of the harvest.

• To be left alone, unattended is the greatest judgment of God.

• The Father is never nearer than when you are being pruned. Though the pruning may be temporarily (in relation to eternity) painful, remember the proximity necessary for a vinedresser to do pruning. He has to be in arm's length. He has to be able to touch.
  

FRUIT – only from a living organism – not the same as “results” Man can produce results, but so can a machine.

• Not for the benefit of the branch (Branches don’t eat grapes), rather for others - Proverbs 10:21 “The lips of the righteous feed many”

• The result of time and cultivation 1Peter 5:6 "...in due time..."
  

• Produces: * producers *holiness and obedience *giving *fruit of the Spirit *character and service *praise

A true branch, connected to (abiding in) the Vine, will produce fruit. Not every branch will have a bumper crop. Not every field will produce a bumper harvest. Not every crop will be a bumper crop. But, there is always fruit where there is life.

SO, IF WE DON’T PRODUCE ARE WE CAST IN THE FIRE, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE ONCE CONNECTED AND FRUITFUL?

1. Do not build doctrine on a parable or an allegory.

2. If a branch did not abide, it never had the life of the vine flowing through it.

3. Nonproductive branch with the life of the Vine in it will “be taken away”: 1)John 8:59 = picked up/cleaned up 2)1Corinthians 9:27 = disqualified for service 3)1Corinthians 11:30 = taken out of this field (life) Some examples of followers who put "self" before God and whom God took out of this life: Leviticus 10:1-5 The sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu (priests), made an offering to God that was unfitting, that demonstrated that they took God and His calling lightly, and God struck them dead. There is no reason to assume that God took His saving grace away from them, especially since verse 5 say that they were carried out in their priestly garments (their robes), indicating that the only thing that changed was their physical life, not their spiritual life.
   Another example would be the case of Ananias and his wife Sapphira in Acts 5. They pretended to be offering all the profit from a land sale to God but were actually holding back some. Apparently, they had been faithful followers of Jesus and partakers of His grace, but on this occasion, they took lightly the holiness of God and God took them out of ... and great fear (awe) came upon the church. There is no reason to assume that Ananias and Sapphira went to Hell, but they lost their opportunity to glorify God on earth because they refused to let the "sap" of the life of Jesus flow through them.
   

THE ULTIMATE END OF ABIDING / FRUIT BEARING

• The Glory of the Father v.8

• Joy of Jesus and followers v.11

• Friends of the King v.14

  • Friend = inner circle of king or best man at wedding

  • Know secrets of his heart but also serves and obeys

  • No conflict between friend and servant i.e. Abraham

Matthew 7:15-21

SBC Resolution on Church Membership and Member Restoration 2008

How about this?

Resolution of Southern Baptist Convention 2008

6. ON REGENERATE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AND CHURCH MEMBER RESTORATION
June 2008
WHEREAS, The ideal of a regenerate church membership has long been and remains a cherished Baptist principle, with Article VI of the Baptist Faith and Message describing the church as a “local congregation of baptized believers”; and

WHEREAS, A New Testament church is composed only of those who have been born again by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word, becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, the local church’s only Lord, by grace through faith (John 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9), which church practices believers’ only baptism by immersion (Matthew 28:16-20), and the Lord’s supper (Matthew 26:26-30); and

WHEREAS, Local associations, state conventions, and the Southern Baptist Convention compile statistics reported by the churches to make decisions for the future; and

WHEREAS, The 2007 Southern Baptist Convention annual Church Profiles indicate that there are 16,266,920 members in Southern Baptist churches; and

WHEREAS, Those same profiles indicate that only 6,148,868 of those members attend a primary worship service of their church in a typical week; and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures admonish us to exercise church discipline as we seek to restore any professed brother or sister in Christ who has strayed from the truth and is in sin (Matthew 18:15-35; Galatians 6:1); and now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 10-11, 2008, urge churches to maintain a regenerate membership by acknowledging the necessity of spiritual regeneration and Christ’s lordship for all members; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we humbly urge our churches to maintain accurate membership rolls for the purpose of fostering ministry and accountability among all members of the congregation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to repent of the failure among us to live up to our professed commitment to regenerate church membership and any failure to obey Jesus Christ in the practice of lovingly correcting wayward church members (Matthew 18:15-18); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we humbly encourage denominational servants to support and encourage churches that seek to recover and implement our Savior’s teachings on church discipline, even if such efforts result in the reduction in the number of members that are reported in those churches, and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we humbly urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention and their pastors to implement a plan to minister to, counsel, and restore wayward church members based upon the commands and principles given in Scripture (Matthew 18:15-35; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20).

Jesus -The Way, The Truth, The Life

Jesus – The Way, The Truth, The Life

John 14:1-14; Romans 5:1-2

In Chapter 11 Jesus says, “I Am the resurrection.” We will look at that “I Am” statement in a couple of weeks. Today we consider Jesus' proclamation of His being the Way, the Truth, and the Life as He prepares His disciples for His crucifixion and resurrection. In chapter 13 Jesus washes the disciples' feet after having instituted the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:19-22). Judas has gone out to betray Jesus to the religious leaders, and Jesus has foretold of Peter's betrayal that night. But Jesus tells His followers, “Let not your hearts be troubled...” and lets them know that His “going” will include His preparing a place for them (us).

He has told them that they cannot go the way He is going (13:33, 36) but that they know the way (14:4), and that Way is Jesus. He is the Way - the only Way - to the Father.

Today lets consider these questions

in regard to what Jesus said in John 14:6:

* What is this way like? Why do we need a special way? Where is the way from and to? Is Jesus not one of many ways? How does Jesus provide the way to God?

* What is truth?

* Don't we already have life? What is this life that is Jesus?

THE WAY Matthew 7:14

Ø Difficult way - (“difficult”=thlibo=affliction, tribulation, press...words that were used to describe preparing grain or fruit for use, i.e. threshing) The way to a proper relationship with God is a way of leaving behind the “husks and hulls”.

Ø Narrow entrance – Why is the entrance so narrow?What restricts entrance to God/life?

> The height of (approach to) God - Who may ascend? Psalm 24:3-4 – Clean hands; Pure heart; No idols; No lying

> The Justice of God – Hebrews 10:30

> The Moral Law of God – 1Peter 1:16

> The Requirement of Perfection – Galatians 3:10

> God's Wrath/Righteous Anger (at sin) Romans1:18; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6

Ø Therefore, the One who provides/is the Way must meet these requirements. Sinless - John 18:23; 2Corinthians 5:21; Bearing the Judgment of God without requiring judgment Himself – Romans 3:25-26; Romans 5:6-11; Met God's MoralRequirement and the Requirement of Perfection – 1Peter 3:18; Bore God's Wrath toward you and me – Isaiah53:5-6, 10; Romans 3:25, 1John 2:2

Ø The Way is to God, but Where is the Way from?

> From the Curse... Deuteronomy 11:26-28 NOTE: “turn aside” = to disobey or to fail to obey

The Curse = the opposite of Numbers 6:24-26

> the curse of Sin – Hebrews 5:1-3 Every priest(even the priest), except Jesus, had to first sacrifice for his own sin.

> Galatians 3:13 Jesus delivered us from the curse that the law revealed.

Ø What will Coming to the Father Look Like? Personal, Present, Powerful Relationship with God the Father John 14:15-21; 17:20-26

Ø What Other Ways Have Been Proposed? Decency, Descent, Denominations, Deeds, Denial/Disagreement.

Jesus did not just teach the way or point the way, He is the

Way.

THE TRUTH

Ø Thy Word is truth – John 17:17; John 1:1,14

THE LIFE

Ø 1John 5:11; John 3:16; John 1:4; John 20:31; John 10:10

Ø Set free from slavery to the world John 8:23-24

Ø Made alive with Jesus Romans 6:6-11

Ø Spirit Powered Resurrection Life Romans 8:11

EXCEPT THROUGH ME – JESUS Acts 4:12