Archives - May 2007, Part 3, from www.timewithgod.blog-city.com

timewithgod.blog-city.com — May 2007

1 Peter 3:9-22 Finally some answers to questions that have bugged me!

God always provides

My commentary says that as we read this, we have to continually bear in mind that this whole book was written against a backdrop of persecution and suffering.  That will be important in understanding it.

The early Christians were probably thinking as we often do that it ought to make sense that life would get better when we become Christians.  But Peter here takes us through everything that Jesus endured and through it helps us see that "we do not deserve better treatment than our savior had when He was on earth.  We should comfort ourselves with the promise that if we suffer with Him, we shall be glorified with Him.  Furthermore, the sufferings now are not worthy to be compared with the glory that awaits us."

In between all this lie some of the most puzzling verses I've read in the Bible.  My commentary did a good job of sorting them out.

Verses 19-20 mention Christ in the spirit preaching to spirits in prison -- people who'd refused to obey God in the time of Noah.  Many say this means He preached in hell while His body was in the tomb.  According to my commentary, Peter is describing what happened in the time of Noah.  The spirit of Christ preached through Noah to unbelievers before the flood.  They weren't disembodied spirits at that time, but would be in Peter's time -- rightly in prison awaiting God's final judgment.

Verse 21 mentions "And that water is the baptism that now saves you."  The water he was referring to was the great flood.  The ark (representing Christ) saved Noah's family through the water -- water was under it and around it and falling on top of it, but through it all they were saved by their refuge.  The water represented death to all who were in it.

Jesus' death was a baptism, it says.  "He was baptized in the waters of judgment.  This is what He meant [in Luke 12:50].  The psalmist describes this baptism in [Psalm 42:7].  In His death, Christ was baptized in the waves and billows of God's wrath, and it is this baptism that is the basis for our salvation."

Father, thanks for reminding me of how Jesus suffered and died for me -- how He took upon Himself the wrath You intended for me for my sins.  Help me to remember that any suffering I endure in this life for His name pales in comparison, and it provides me with an opportunity to show others Your love by returning good for evil.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Published: Wednesday, 30 May 2007

1 Peter 4 Being a CHANNEL and not a TERMINAL

letting God work through us for others

There was a strange thought in verse one, it seemed to me:  "The person who has suffered in the body is finished with sin."  At first glance, it almost sounded like we could endure some persecution and gain the ability not to sin anymore.  My commentary clarified this:  "When a believer deliberately chooses to suffer persecution as a Christian rather than to continue in a life of sin, he has ceased from sin.  This does not mean that he no longer commits acts of sin, but that the power of sin in his life has been broken.  When a man suffers because he refuses to sin, he is no longer controlled by the will of the flesh."

Verse 7 urges us to "think clearly and control yourselves so you will be able to pray."  Again, we have to remember that this was written in a time of persecution.  A believer could become so anxious and distracted by panic that he or she would have trouble praying.  Instead, our fellowship with God should be undisturbed by discordant circumstances, my commentary says.

Our purpose for living is touched on as well here, and my commentary says, "Our purpose should be to show kindness in the name of the Lord Jesus with no thought of being repaid ... We are not meant to be the terminals of God's gifts to us ...We are intended to be channels through whom the blessings can flow to others."

Part of that "flow" may involve teaching, and verse 11 shows us that we must be sure that what we teach is the very word God would have us say on a particular occasion.  "It is not enough for a man simply to preach from the Bible.  He should also have the assurance that he is presenting the particular message intended by God for that audience at that time."  It's therefore important that we open our minds to what Christ is saying to us, and that goes back to something else I read in verse 1:  "Strengthen yourselves with the same way of thinking Christ had."  Sort of a "WWJS?" (What would Jesus say?)

A quote from G. Campbell Morgan seemed to tie it all together today:  "If a man is known as a Christian and does not live as one, he dishonors God.  To bear the name is to take a responsibility, a great and glorious one, but none the less a very solemn one."

Father, help me never to bring shame on You by my words, actions, or thought.  As I teach, please insure that I'm using the right words for the right audience at the right time.  Help me to put away sin in my life and be a pure channel for Your blessings.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Published: Thursday, 31 May 2007