Devotional: Three Preparations to Avoid Being Broadsided by Life's Disappointments, Disasters and Devilry (1 Peter 1:13 NASB)

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13 NASB)

This is a verse full of action commands. 

*Prepare your minds for action.

The Christian life is a life of mental action. You can't just sit idly by not engaging your mind for action. The Devil's workshop is an idle mind.  If you do not prepare your mind for action then you leave yourself open to all sorts of temptation and sin.  

*Keep sober in spirit.

A mind prepared for action will by default be sober.  This doesn't mean we can't enjoy life and have fun. But it does mean that we are alert to what is going on around us and that we are serious about honoring God in what we do.

*Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

What is my hope fixed on?  There are so many temporal things I can fix my hope on. But if my hope is in any of these things I will be disappointed at some point. My hope must be fixed completely on the grace of Jesus Christ. It's the only thing that will not disappoint.

If I do these three things, I won't be broadsided by life's disappointments, disasters and devilry.

Devotional: Civil Disobedience (Hebrews 11:23 NKJV)

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. (Hebrews 11:23 NKJV)

Here we have a case of civil disobedience.  We are commanded in the New Testament to obey those in authority over us.  Is this a blanket command no matter what?  No.  When the commands of a tyrannical government clash with what we know to be in direct disobedience to Scripture, then civil disobedience is the only direction we can take.

Moses' parents didn't  hide him simply because he was a beautiful child.  If you read the account in the Old Testament you find that the Pharoah had commanded the people to commit genocide...to kill all the male babies as soon as they were born.  This is similar to abortion, closer to partial birth abortion, and out right murder of innocent lives no matter what way you slice it.  It is in direct disobedience to God's command, "Thou shalt not kill."

I don't know what will happen after tomorrow (Nov. 8). We have a pivotal election on our hands and civil disobedience has been threatened by both sides depending on who wins the election.  I'm not sure civil disobedience is the answer, but if whoever is elected were to make laws demanding us to support or do things that are clearly against the dictates of Scripture, then civil disobedience is in order.

Moses' parents had faith enough to take their own lives in their hands by civil disobedience to a tyrannical government's command to disobey God's Word.  I hope I will have that kind of faith if the occasion ever dictates it.

We need to be in prayer for our elected leaders and those who will be elected. We also need to remember that God is in control of this election, even though it doesn't seem like it from our point of view.  Who ever ends up in the White House is by God's doing, either to bless our nation or to judge our nation. Go vote and trust God for the outcome.

`Marsha's Musings: The Lord Knows How To Deliver The Godly (II Peter2:4-11 NKJV)

                     

  

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. (II Peter 2:4-11 NKJV)

We see terrible wickedness every day in the news. Each day new revelations come out from Wikileaks and The Vertas Project about how certain ones in our elections are conspiring to rig the elections and do other devious deeds.

These verses today tell us that God will not spare these wicked, evil doers on judgement day.  When He decides to rain his wrath down on them there will be no escape for their souls.  

However, God has delivered the godly from destruction in the past as detailed in these verses.  If He can do this for them He knows how to deliver His godly ones today if He so chooses.  This is not to say that God's people will not have to endure suffering and even death for their faith as some of the New Testament saints did.  God may not deliver us in this world, but make no mistake, He will deliver us on judgement day if we are in Christ.  The salvation of our souls is much more important than the saving of our earthly bodies.

The last part of this passage is sobering.  Peter mentions two categories of people that are especially subject to God's punishment; those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and those who despise authority.  He goes on to describe them as presumptuous and self-willed, not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries.  Peter says even angels do not bring reviling accusation against dignitaries before the Lord.

These categories aren't surprising to me, but the part about speaking evil of dignitaries was.  I have been guilty of this as have many of my Christian friends.  We get national leaders in Washington D.C. that  we are not happy with and the nasty accusations fly.  I'm not saying that we should turn a blind eye and go along with everything that comes out of our White House/Congress/Senate.  But I have a hard time keeping my remarks and comments limited to what I think about the decisions that come down.  I often find myself engaged in character assassination.  It is difficult to not assign bad motives to some decisions as it looks blatant at times.  

We need to refrain from speaking evil of our dignitaries. We need to limit our comments and remarks to our  dissatisfaction with decisions that are handed down.  Rather than complaining and not doing something to change it, we need to sit down and take the time to write or call our law makers and respectfully tell them why we are dissatisfied and ask them to try to change it or block whatever is coming down the pipe. This is a better way to channel our frustrations than assassinating the character of those in office.  My goodness!  If the angels won't even bring accusation against them, why on earth are we doing it?  Yikes!

God knows I am so guilty of this!  It is so easy to just hit the retweet button or the share button on posts that say terrible ugly things about the character of our leaders.  But what if it's true?  Perhaps we can point out what their deeds are if it's a case where people need to know in order to make an informed decision such as in voting or letter writing to fight it, but refrain from descending into name calling and ridicule.  

So here I sit talking about all of this!  Will I remember it later?  Apparently I did not the last time I posted this devotional back in 2014.  Shame on me!  I hope I will do better this time around. 

So  two lessons here:

1. God knows how to deliver the godly from evil.  Whether He decides to do it in this earthly life  or at judgement day is His choice.  We  know He will deliver His godly ones on judgement day regardless.

2. If the angels will not bring reviling accusation against dignitaries, why on earth should we be doing it?

Marsha's Musings: What Is Meant by "the whole world"? (I John 2:1-2 NKJV)

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (I John 2:1-2 NKJV)

How do I reconcile this last phrase with the doctrine of election found in Romans 9, John 6:44, 65, John 12:37-40, and others?  I know God does not contradict Himself. And I know that if this is to be taken that He is the propitiation for every person in the whole world, then He failed because some still die in their sins and go to Hell. Here is something from the Geneva Study Bible that sheds some light:

Verse 2
And he is the ^b propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the ^c whole world. 

(b) Reconciliation and intercession go together, to give us to understand that he is both advocate and high priest. 

(c) For men of all sorts, of all ages, and all places, so that this benefit being not to the Jews only, of whom he speaks as appears in (1 John 2:7) but also to other nations.

So if we take what John is saying in light of the physical context in which he is in, he is telling his audience of that day, that salvation is for more than the Jews. It's for people of all nations....all over the world.  This interpretation is in keeping with the references mentioned above that indicate no one can come to Christ unless the Father draws him, or the place in John 12 and Romans 9 where it says God hardens and blinds some.  

But the main point John is driving at in this book is that he wants us to walk in the light as He is in the light so that we will not sin. However, when we do sin, we have an advocate with the Father.  Jesus Christ's sacrifice for our sin has satisfied the Father's justice and wrath against sin for those He has given to Him. What a comfort to know that!

Marsha's Musings: What is Sin? (I John 1:10 NKJV)

      

    

If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (I John 1:10 NKJV)

If a person thinks God should save them because of how good and moral they are, then they in effect are saying they have not sinned.  

Sin defined is missing the mark and the mark is being holy as God is holy.  There is not a man alive or who has ever lived except Christ who has not missed the mark. We have all sinned and to say we have not is to tell God Almighty that He is a liar.  

This is a litmus test.  If a person thinks they can get into God's good graces because they have been good enough themselves whether by living a good moral life or doing religious ritual or both, then they are saying they have not missed the mark, in effect saying they have not sinned...His word is not in that person. They are not a true Christian.

Marsha's Musings: Why do we need to confess our sins if they have already been forgiven (I John 1:9 NKJV)

                                               

 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9 NKJV)

I was told a long time ago that this verse is the Christian's bar of soap.  As I came to this verse though, I had a question and that question was answered for me on the website  gotquestions.org.  The link is at the bottom of this page.

Question: "Why do we need to confess our sins if they have already been forgiven (1 John 1:9)?"

Answer: The apostle Paul wrote, “To the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” (Ephesians 1:6-8). This forgiveness is referring to salvation, in which God has taken our sins and removed them from us “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). This is the judicial forgiveness that God gives us upon receiving Jesus Christ as Savior. All our past, present, and future sins are forgiven on a judicial basis, meaning that we will not suffer eternal judgment for our sins. We still often suffer consequences of sin while we are here on earth, however, which brings us to the question at hand.

The difference between Ephesians 1:6-8and 1 John 1:9is that John is dealing with what we call “relational,” or “familial,” forgiveness—like that of a father and a son. For example, if a son does something wrong to his father—falling short of his expectations or rules—the son has hindered his fellowship with his father. He remains the son of his father, but the relationship suffers. Their fellowship will be hindered until the son admits to his father that he has done wrong. It works the same way with God; our fellowship with Him is hindered until we confess our sin. When we confess our sin to God, the fellowship is restored. This is relational forgiveness.

“Positional” forgiveness, or judicial forgiveness, is that which is obtained by every believer in Christ. In our position as members of the body of Christ, we have been forgiven of every sin we have ever committed or ever will commit. The price paid by Christ on the cross has satisfied God’s wrath against sin, and no further sacrifice or payment is necessary. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant it. Our positional forgiveness was obtained then and there. 

Confession of sin will help to keep us from the discipline of the Lord. If we fail to confess sin, the discipline of the Lord is sure to come until we do confess it. As stated previously, our sins are forgiven at salvation (positional forgiveness), but our daily fellowship with God needs to stay in good standing (relational forgiveness). Proper fellowship with God cannot happen with unconfessed sin in our lives. Therefore, we need to confess our sins to God as soon as we are aware that we have sinned, in order to maintain close fellowship with God.

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/confession-forgiveness.html#ixzz3MAnZdsKX

Marsha's Musings: No Sin? (I John 1:8 NKJV)

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (I John 1:8 NKJV)

Here is a verse that refutes the idea of Christians being able to obtain a state of sinless perfection in this life. If any body tries to tell you it is possible or that they have obtained it, they are a liar!  Plain and simple. The truth is not in them.

Marsha's Musings: Walking in the Light (I John 1:6-7 NKJV)

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (I John 1:6-7 NKJV)

This couldn't be any more blunt then what it is.  The problem is that many Christians have compartmentalized their lives.  Church is where they are spiritual.  In the privacy of their home when no one is looking they look at things on the internet they shouldn't and maybe do other things they wouldn't think of doing in front of their Christian friends. At work and out in the world they are worldly.  They talk like the world, look like the world and act worldly.  

I'm not saying Christians should be legalistic, just different than the unsaved, ungodly person.  Their lives should be consistent across the board...walking in the light of God's Word all the time.

Marsha's Musings: God is Light (1 John 1:5 KJV)

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5 KJV)

Do you ever wonder why some people get so angry over the mere mention of God's name?  It's because God is light and He exposes the darkness of men's hearts. They want nothing to do with the Light of God's truth. Light always exposes darkness (sin). That makes some people angry. They don't want to be found guilty of sin.

We as Christians, sometimes have pet sins and we get very uncomfortable when the Light of God's Word exposes it.  I have seen church members get angry when the pastor touches on a sensitive point in their life.  I've seen these people gather others around them who are also unhappy about their sin being exposed by the Word and actually drive a pastor out of the church and replace him with one who will tickle their itching ears.  

A thought to ponder is this: Do I have sin in my life that I would prefer to remain unexposed by the Light of God's Word? What am I willing to do about it?

Marsha's Musings: That Our Joy Might be Full (I John 1:1-4 NKJV)

     

   

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. (I John 1:1-4 NKJV)

John was an eyewitness of the Jesus Christ and His ministry.  Notice the following words in these verses and phrases:

Heard

Seen

Looked upon

Handled

Bear Witness

Manifested to us

This is no hear-say religion.  There were eyewitnesses to the life of Christ and all that He did.  John has credibility because he was an eye-witness.  We can  believe what he says because he was there and saw it.

What does John say about Christ?

1. He is from the beginning

2. He is the Word of life

3. He is eternal life

4. He was with the Father

5. He was manifested to men

6. He is the Son of God the Father

What does John say about fellowship?

We can have fellowship with one another when our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.  

What is the purpose of John's writing?

That our joy may be full.

Marsha's Musings: Growing in Grace and Knowledge 2 Peter 3:17-18

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (II Peter 3:17-18 NKJV)

What do we know beforehand?

knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, (II Peter 3:3 NKJV)

as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. (II Peter 3:16 NKJV)

How do we keep from being led astray?

1. Grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 

To grow in His grace we have to have a knowledge of Him

2. Grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 

When we learn about Jesus through His Word, and apply what we learn to our lives then we grow in grace and knowledge of Him. Pretty simple, but we must put in the time and effort. 

Marsha's Musings: Twisting Hard to Understand Things in the Bible. (II Peter 3:13-16 NKJV)

                           

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. (II Peter 3:13-16 NKJV)

If we are looking forward to a new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells, shouldn't we be diligent to be found by God in peace, without spot or wrinkle?  In other words we should be living righteous and holy lives in preparation for our new dwelling place. Somehow this escapes many who claim the name of Christ.

Peter mentions Paul's epistles and the fact that some things he wrote are hard to understand and that many twist those hard to understand things up to their own destruction.  I can't help but wonder if he might have had Romans 9 among others in mind. I would have imagined that even Paul might have had some hesitation over Romans 9, but he was writing under the direction of the Holy Spirit and who was he to argue with God?  

Peter says that people who twist the hard to understand writings of Paul do the same to the rest of the Scriptures. This is very true.  If you change one thing to make the Bible more palatable then it creates a domino effect and you have to twist or leave out other parts of Scripture in order to keep your straw man together. Actually, it's a molding and shaping of a god of man's imagination when people do this.

  I, as we all should, need to be very careful of how we treat God's Word. Am I making it mean something it does not because the God it protrays isn't in line with how I would think God should be?This is dangerous ground to be on. If I shape a false image of God in my mind, then necessarily, I have also shaped a false Christ that can not save.

Let's be very careful!

Marsha's Musings: Be Holy in Conduct and Godliness. (II Peter 3:11-12 NKJV)

                

   

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons 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 dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (II Peter 3:11-12 NKJV)

Peter gets right down to brass tacs here.  In light of the coming judgment of God and destruction of the world, we should be conducting our lives in holiness and godliness while looking for the coming day of God.  

How many professed Christians fill the church pews each Sunday and live like the Devil the rest of the week!?  I recieved an email from a woman recently who had been sexually harrassed by another church member. Her friend, also a member of that church had been date raped by another church member. I understand that pornography is a vice used by many men who profess to be Christians also.  Many still time from their boss. Others lie and cheat on their spouses.  All these things and more go on in Christian churches.

It seems the church of God has lost sight of why we exist....to glorify God.  Entertainment is the order of the day and the preaching of God's word is no longer front and center. It's a mere 15 to 20 minute devotional tacked on to a long rousing song and entertainment service. People are not taught about sin and holy living. That is not "seeker friendly" and neither is doctrine.

My friends, these things ought not to be!  How can a person do these things with impunity and claim the name of Christ?  If you are living in sin and are not repentant, then something is terribly wrong.  Please get on your knees before the throne of grace in true repentance and live with eternity in view.

Marsha's Musings: Like A Thief in the Night/Global Warming (II Peter 3:10 NKJV)

                    

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (II Peter 3:10 NKJV)

Don't let anyone tell you they know when the return of Christ will happen. According to this verse no one will know when it will happen.  So if someone says they know, you can mark them as a false prophet and not listen to them anymore.

Global warming is a hot topic these days.  This verse describes a global warming that no one can fight or stop!  Those who have rejected Christ will find themselves in the midst of a global warming episode that they will not be able to escape from.  The photo above looks like one I saw from the terrible wildfires that burned through my state, displacing hundreds of people from their homes. It's a good illustration what will happen when God destroys the earth.

So the take home message is this: Are you one of God's chosen people?  Repent and turn to Him today!

Marsha's Musings: God's Timing/Did God Choose Us or Did We Choose Him? (II Peter 3:8-9 NKJV)

B

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:8-9 NKJV)

This statement that a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day with the Lord, should not be taken literal in my opinion. Many have tried to take this verse in the literal sense of time and come up with all sorts of crazy ideas about creation and prophecy.

I think Peter is just trying to convey the fact that God is not confined to time as we are. He is also trying to convey that God's timing is not always our timing.  This means that we might think something should happen a certain way at a certain time but God may have a different time table.

Verse 9 has been misused and misunderstood a lot. Many try to use this verse to say that God wants to save everyone. If this is true, and all are not saved, then this verse can not be true and God is a liar.  

Others say that God wants all to be saved, and He is longsuffering, waiting for them to come to Him, but when you press these people and ask them if ALL are saved that have died so far, they have to say, "No, not all are saved."  So then this would imply that God failed in His mission and Jesus died in vain.

Others would say that this verse means everyone will be saved regardless of what they believe.  This is universalism.  The Bible teaches that only those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved.  So this can't be the meaning of this verse either.

The only logical conclusion then is that God has a people in mind that He has elected to bestow mercy on and He is longsuffering, not willing that any of them should perish, but that all of them should come to repentance. This is the only interpretation that fits with the whole of Scripture teaching.  Read the following verses and see what you think.

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:14-16, 26-30 NKJV)

And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? (Romans 9:10-16, 19-24 NKJV). Read the whole chapter of Romans 9.  It's very surprising.

What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (Romans 11:7 NKJV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6 NKJV)

These are just a few passages that show God has a chosen people that He has elected to show mercy on.  If you go on any Bible website and do a search on the following words, elect, election, predestination, and chosen, you will find many passages that point to the fact that God has a chosen people, elected before the foundation of the world, that He is going to or has shown mercy on.  He will be longsuffering until each and everyone of them have come to a saving knowledge of Him.  

My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.” (John 10:29, 31-33 NKJV)

If we take the verse in 2 Peter 3 to mean that ALL will be saved, then we must also say that this verse means that God has given ALL men to Jesus and ALL will be saved.  How does this square with the fact that Jesus teaches about Hell? There would be no need for Hell if ALL are going to be saved.

In the same vein, if our verse in 2 Peter teaches that God intended to save ALL people, but we know from Scripture that not ALL are saved, then it makes God out to be a weak God Who can't accomplish what He set out to do and Jesus died in vain for most people.  

I can hear someone saying, "Ah, but God  gave man free will so that he can choose whether he wants to follow God or not."

Yes, man has a free will to act within his nature.  

There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. (Romans 3:11 NKJV)

Scripture says that there is none who seeks after God.  Seeking after God is not in man's nature.  But man is free to act within his nature.  He will only seek God if God has mercy on him and causes him to seek Him. Note in the verse below that it's not by the will of man but by the will of God that people are saved.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13 NKJV)  

Notice again, in the Ephesians passage above, "having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will", that it is according to the pleasure of His will, not man's will that we are saved.

I am really on a roll here, but I need to get other things done around the house, so I need to end this post.  It's just really exciting to me to see how Scripture fits together and how this all makes so much sense!  

Marsha's Musings: Atheists and Evolutionists (II Peter 3:1-7 NKJV)

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (II Peter 3:1-7 NKJV)

It seems to me that evolutionists and atheists must have existed when Peter wrote this.  His first statement, "...scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”", applies to the athiests.   

The second statement,  ".....For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water", applies to the evolutionists.

The last statement applies to both the atheist and the evolutionist.  "But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."

Marsha's Musings: A Washed Sow Returns to Wallow in the Mire (II Peter 2:18-22 NKJV)

For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 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. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” (II Peter 2:18-22 NKJV)

When Peter talks about those who have escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and then becoming entangled again with that which they had escaped, he is not talking about one losing their salvation.  He is talking about those whose "committment" to Christ is not genuine to begin with.  They have a head knowledge of Jesus Christ but not a heart knowledge. In applying the Proverbs mentioned at the end of this passage, he is in effect saying that their nature never was changed by God. Therefore, it is no surprise that they became entangled again with the world and with false teachers.  Their end will be worse than if they had not known the way of righteousness.  Why? Because those who have correct knowledge and reject it have a greater condemnation than those who are ignorant of the truth.

Marsha's Musings: False Teachers. (II Peter 2:12-17 NKJV)

But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness (II Peter 2:12-17 NKJV)

Peter continues talking about false teachers. He doesn't have any flattering things to say to say about them.  He uses word pictures to describe them.

*natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed

*spots and blemishes

*accursed children

*wells without water

*clouds carried by a tempest

Peter also tells us what they do. A false teacher may not do all the things on this list, but he/she is still a false teacher.

*speak evil of the things they do not understand

*who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime

*carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,

*having eyes full of adultery 

*cannot cease from sin

*enticing unstable souls

*They have a heart trained in covetous practices

*have forsaken the right way and gone astray

*loved the wages of unrighteousness

Peter tells what their end will be.

*for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

Marsha's Musings: False Prophets & Teachers (II Peter 2:1-3 NKJV)

         

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. (II Peter 2:1-3 NKJV)

There is a popular church that sends young missionaries door to door. They will tell you that there was a complete apostasy of the Christian church and their founding prophet was given the restored gospel, making theirs the only true church on the face of the earth.

If you read these verses carefully, you will see where the lie is.  The Bible says "many" will follow these false teachers.  "Many" does not equal a complete apostasy.  If  there was a complete apostasy the verse would have to say all would follow these false teachers.  Don't be fooled.

How do you know false teachers and prophets?  Know your Bible! Study the Word. Get so familiar with the Word that you will spot false teaching the minute it comes along.

Peter keeps emphasizing the need for knowledge of Jesus Christ and His Word.  It's so important! Learn the Word! It's your defense against doctrinal error.

Marsha's Musings: A More Sure Word of Prophecy. (2 Peter 1:19-21 KJV)

 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:19-21 KJV)

I've noticed that people get all carried away with trying to foretell what will happen in the future by trying to unravel the metaphorical descriptions in the book of Revelation, Daniel and elsewhere.  They try to use these verses of Peter in promoting their quest and get people to come hear what they have to say.  It's my own opinion, but I don't put much stock in most of what they have to say at these prophesy conferences because, quite frankly, it's a bunch of guess work.  If God wanted us to know right down to a tee what and how the future will unfold, He would have put it in plain language. He holds the future in His hands and it's my job to watch and pray.

What these verses are talking about is how our Scriptures came to be and how the prophecy of Christ's birth, death and resurrection came about so that God's elect could be saved.  This the sure word of prophecy. This is the light that shines in a dark place, and causes the Light to dawn in people's hearts.

These verses give us assurance that our Scriptures were authored by God, and penned through holy men of God, the prophets of old, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The prophecy of old unfolds the plan of salvation.

The key action phrase for us is "where unto ye do well that ye take heed".  Are we listening and acting upon what we read in Scripture that is plain to understand? That is far more important than trying to figure out the future of the world from "clues" given in Revelation and elsewhere.