1 Peter 1:1-2

B1 Greetings to addressees 1 Peter 1:1-2

C1 The letter is written to strangers

D1 The Greek word is παρεπίδημος parepídēmos. It refers to someone who lives in their native country and moves to another country.

D2 It might refer to

E1 Their earthly existence and moving from Israel to the foreign lands that are mentioned here.

E2 Their heavenly home and citizenship compared to their living here on earth. Compare: 1 Peter 2:11 NLT - Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

E3 Both

C2 Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia:

C3 The addressees were of the διασπορά diasporá, scattering. This is most likely from the church:

D1 Acts 8:1 NRSV And Saul approved of their killing him. That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.

D2 Acts 8:4 NKJV Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

D3 James 1:1 NRSV James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

C4 Elect

D1 The Greek word ἐκλεκτός eklektós means chosen.

D2 Elect is the noun for the phrase according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. This is the reason some translations place the word in verse 2 instead of verse 1.

C5 Foreknowledge

D1 The Greek word is πρόγνωσις prógnōsis (G4268) and means

E1 in its plain, normal sense a knowing beforehand (Bullinger’s Critical Greek. Also see Vine’s NT notes and Adam Clarke note on this passage).

E2 in Calvinist understanding pre-arrangement, thus, nearly that same as predestined (Thayer’s Lexicon. God foreknows what will be because He has decreed it—Pink. Source).

D2 Compare

E1 Acts 26:4-5 WEB “Indeed, all the Jews know my way of life from my youth up, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem; 5 having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. (Emphasis is mine. It is the word προγινώσκω proginōskō (G4267) which is the verb form). There is no hint of predestined. The word simply means know before.

E2 2 Peter 3:17 CSB - Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. Same comment as the verse above.

C6 The Trinity in 1 Peter 1:2

D1 Foreknowledge mentioned with the Father

E1 Romans 8:28-30 LITV But we know that to the ones loving God all things work together for good, to those being called according to purpose; 29 because whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the First-born among many brothers. 30 But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

E2 Romans 11:2 (HCSB) God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew...

D2 The blood of His Son, Jesus Christ

E1 Hebrews 12:24 (HCSB) to Jesus (mediator of a new covenant), and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.

E2 Ephesians 2:13 (HCSB) But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.

D3 The sanctifying work by the Holy Spirit

E1 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV) But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

E2 Romans 15:16 (NKJV) that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

C7 Application

D1 Without God’s intervention, all people will go to hell and be tormented forever and forever.

D2 It is God’s desire that all be saved.

E1 1 Timothy 2:4 (NKJV) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

E2 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) 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.

D3 God, in His sovereignty, decreed that humans would have a measured, limited libertarian free will.

D4 People can resist or not resist.

D5 When God works in your life are you going to resist or not resist.

Trials

James 1:1-8 WEL James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes, which are scattered abroad, greeting.

2 My brothers, consider it all joy when you find yourself surrounded by various trials.

3 Know this that the testing of your faith brings about endurance.

4 Let endurance have its full, complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, then ask the God, who gives to all profusely and doesn't scold, and it will be given to him.

6 But one must ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 Do not let that person think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

8 A double minded person [is] unstable in every way.

Some translations have temptations instead of trials.

The Greek word is πειρασμός peirasmós (Strong’s G3986) and means adversity, hard things to experience, temptation depending on the context.

It makes no difference if the word is temptation or trial, because both are difficult experiences.

Can any good come from these trials/temptations?

Is not God in control?

The answer is “yes” to both questions.

The trial/temptation leads to endurance and completes in us more maturity. We also are faced with our true self instead of a facade. We may think that we can face anything because of God’s help. Now we know instead of think.

God’s grace is needed to overcome.

So

1. Ask God to relieve, take away, this trial/temptation.
2. Ask God, “What can you teach me from this?”
3. "Thank you, for you grace to help me."
4. "Give me wisdom to respond correctly."
5. Then, rest in God’s care and go to sleep if it is bedtime.

Easier said then done, but God is faithful.

Paul writes it this way: Romans 5:3-5 NLT We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Peter writes on the same topic: 1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

John 16:33 NLT I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

1 Samuel 30:6 NASB Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Psalm 62:1-2 NLT For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David. I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.

A Few Thoughts on Proverbs 28:13

Proverbs 28:13 NASB He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

Perhaps, the context of these various proverbs would include verse 14. Proverbs 28:13-14 NASB He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

There is one thing a person does wrong in verse 13—conceals.

There are two things a person can and should do in verse 13—confess and forsake.

The words:

B1 Conceal

C1 The Hebrew word is כָּסָה kâçâh (Strong’s H3680) and means cover up something, conceal, hide from view.

C2 Genesis 18:17 NASB The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

B2 Transgression

C1 The Hebrew word is פֶּשַׁע peshaʻ (Strong’s H6588) and means leaving loyalty and rebellion.

C2 1 Samuel 24:11 NIV See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.

B3 Prosper

C1 The Hebrew word is צָלַח tsâlach (Strong’s H6743) and means to succeed, profit, to accomplish what one sets out to do.

C2 Genesis 24:21 NLT The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the LORD had given him success in his mission.

B4 Confess

C1 The Hebrew word is יָדָה yâdâh (Strong’s H3034) and means to throw stones in various contexts. It is a revealing, not a denying. Depending on context it can also mean praise.

C2 Daniel 9:20 NLT I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the LORD my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain.

B5 Forsake

C1 The Hebrew word is עָזַב ʻâzab (Strong’s H5800)and means to loosen, leave, forsake, stop, and quit doing something.

C2 Examples

D1 Ruth 1:16 NASB But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.

D2 Proverbs 2:13 CSB from those who abandon the right paths to walk in ways of darkness,

B6 Compassion/mercy

C1 The Hebrew word is רָחַם râcham (Strong’s H7355) and means to show love and compassion.

C2 Psalm 103:13 NASB Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

The meaning

B1 Covering up sin, denying it, damaging those who revealed it and those asking questions.

B2 God will be against this person. God will get His revenge sometime, some place.

B3 Confessing sin, admitting, and acknowledging the damage to others, brings God’s compassion.

B4 Note both admitting one’s sins and forsaking sins are needed. Just confessing means little. The forsaking shows repentance and change. This is seen in action both in public and private.

An example

B1 Unfortunately, there has been sexual sins committed by pastors, ministers, and religious workers. These have been denied, excused, and covered up. If that isn’t bad enough that the sinner covers it up, the other leaders, sometimes the highest positions in a group or denomination cover it up, too.

B2 Politicians, teachers, medical, etc. do the same with money, fraud, etc.

Notes

B1 Just confessing is not enough. A change, a repentance, needs to be noted.

B2 Three examples

C1 2 Chronicles 33:9-12, 15-16 NLT But Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem to do even more evil than the pagan nations that the LORD had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land. The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all his warnings. So the LORD sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the LORD his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. ... Manasseh also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the LORD's Temple. He tore down all the altars he had built on the hill where the Temple stood and all the altars that were in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city. Then he restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and thanksgiving offerings on it. He also encouraged the people of Judah to worship the LORD, the God of Israel.

C2 The whole book of Jonah: God commanded that Jonah go and preach in Nineveh, but he rebelled, was being chastised, repented, and instead of running away from God’s command to preach, he went and did preach. The city of Nineveh was evil, doing evil, and thinking evil. Hearing of the judgment of God coming upon them, they humbled themselves, repented, and that generation did not do those evil things (but their descendants did and were punished ~150 years later).

C3 Luke 18:9-14 WEL He told this parable to certain [people] who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on others.

10 "Two men went into the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11 "The Pharisee stood and prayed this way with himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12 “‘I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.'

13 "The tax collector standing in the distance wouldn't even as much as look up to heaven but beat on his chest saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner.'

14 "I tell you—this man went down to his house justified instead of the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

B3 If I sin

C1 If I sin and only God knows, I confess my sin to Him and forsake my sin.

C2 If I sin against one person, and they alone know it, I confess my sin to God, go to the offended, confess my sin, make amends, and forsake my sin.

C3 If I sin against one or many, and many know about it, I confess my sin to God, go the the offended and publicly confess my sin, make amends, and forsake my sin.

B4 Some notes about forgiveness and after care:

C1 Do not seek revenge. (NOTE: If a crime has been committed in private or public, it MUST be reported to law enforcement. Abusers often claim, reporting a crime is seeking revenge. Abusers are liars. Don’t let any pastor, pastors, elder board, etc. tell you, “Leave it here. We will take care of it. Those pastors and/or elder board are LIARS).

C2 Leave the punishment to God. (NOTE: God’s choice of punishment might be a judge sentencing the guilty party to prison).

C3 There is no such thing as forgive and forget. Sin leaves scars, permanent scars. Don’t believe such a lie.

C4 Seek counseling. Do not seek so-called Nouthetic Counseling, now termed Biblical Counseling, for they tend to revictimize the victim and comfort the abuser, criminal, sinner, etc.

C5 Beware of false promises, fake tears, fake commitment, fake solutions, and so-called peace offerings (gifts and other nice things).

C6 Abuse must be gotten away from. Divorce is necessary.

C7 We must confess. It is acknowledging a truth. Healing starts with acknowledgment.

C8 The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin. John 16:8 CSB "When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:

C9 We must not resist God’s Spirit, when He convicts us of sin.

There is a balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead

To heal the sin-sick soul.

Two Worldviews

1. Flesh/Word
2. Spirit

Basic Verses

Romans 8:1-10 WEL There is now not any condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, [those] who don't walk after the flesh but after the spirit. [97.7% contain the whole verse]

2 For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus freed me from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh because of sin, condemned sin in the flesh,

4 So that the righteousness of the law could be fulfilled in us who don't walk after the flesh but after the spirit.

5 Those following the flesh are interested in the things of the flesh, but those following the spirit [are interested in] the things of the spirit.

6 To have a carnal mindset [is] death, but to have a spiritual mindset [is] life and peace,

7 Because the carnal mind [is] hostile to God, because it does not submit to God's law, nor indeed can it.

8 So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if it is so that God's Spirit lives in you, and if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

10 And if Christ [lives] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin, but the spirit [has] life because of righteousness.

Flesh versus Spirit

B1 Some general thoughts

C1 Flesh usually refers to physical flesh as muscles, bones, skin, etc. 1 Corinthians 15:39 NKJV All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.

C2 Sometimes it refers to heritage.

D1 All humans: Romans 3:20 NKJV Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

D2 Israelites: Romans 9:3 NKJV For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.

C3 Occasionally it refers to worldview.

D1 Romans 7:5 NKJV For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.

D2 Galatians 5 is the main chapter for this. Galatians 5:16-26 WEL I say, "Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another, so that you cannot do the things that you want to.

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious. They are adultery, sexual sin, moral corruption, unrestrained lust,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, provoking jealousy, hot anger, pushing to be first, selfish scheming, dissensions, heresy,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, wild partying, and so on, about which I have told you before, and as I have also told you in the past that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

24 Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be longing for empty praise, irritating one another, and envying one another.

D3 This passage teaches

• The flesh worldview is opposite the spirit worldview.
• They desire to overcome, overpower the other.
• The flesh is under the law. The spirit is not (it is under grace).
• The actions of the flesh worldview in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds are
  • Adultery
  • Sexual sin
  • Moral corruption
  • Unrestrained lust,
  • Idolatry
  • Witchcraft
  • Hatred
  • Strife
  • Provoking jealousy
  • Hot anger
  • Pushing to be first
  • Selfish scheming
  • Dissensions
  • Heresy,
  • Envyings
  • Murders
  • Drunkenness
  • Wild partying
• Those living the flesh worldview do not go to heaven.
• The fruit of the Spirit worldview are
  • Love
  • Joy
  • Peace
  • Longsuffering
  • Gentleness
  • Goodness
  • Faith,
  • Meekness
  • Self-control
• There are no laws against this fruit.
• Those who live the spirit worldview have killed the flesh worldview.
• Those who live the spirit worldview do not desire
  • Empty praise
  • Irritating one another
  • Envying one another.

B2 Some concluding thoughts

C1 The natural state of every human is depraved. It is both in an active and passive sense.

D1 In the active sense, it is everyone is addicted to sin, just as surely as those addicted to anything. John 8:34 CSB Jesus responded, "Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.

D2 In the passive sense, it is everyone does not and can not seek God. Romans 3:11 CSB There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.

C2 God seeks us. If God did not seek us, we would be lost to God’s judgment and eternal, conscious punishment.

D1 Luke 19:10 CSB "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."

D2 Matthew 25:46 NKJV "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

C3 To those who believe the Gospel and place their faith into Jesus as the only Savior will have everlasting life. John 3:36 NKJV "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

C4 We are now dead in Christ. The old nature and self are dead. There is now a new creation and new heart. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

C5 The new creation and new heart seeks to glorify God and do His will through God’s grace. Matthew 5:16 NKJV "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

C6 By God’s grace we can live for Him every day.

D1 Hebrews 13:9 NLT So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God's grace, not from rules about food, which don't help those who follow them.

D2 1 Peter 5:12 NLT I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God's grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

Why Are You In Church This Morning?

This is rather long and probably needs to be divided into 2 parts. Cheers.

Why Are You Here?

Why Did You Come to Church Today?

A1 What is church?

A2 What is church supposed to be?

A3 What do we do in church?

A1 What is church?

B1 The Greek for church is ἐκκλησία ekklēsia. It means originally any public assembly of citizens summoned by a herald (Vocabulary of the Greek Testament by Moulton and Milligan 1914-1929). In the New Testament it is translated assembly, congregation, church.

B2 It is usually used in the sense of properly, people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church (the mystical body of Christ) – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom. (Source).

B3 Simply put it is believers. It is not simply Christians, because some people call themselves Christians but are not in the Bible use of the word.

B4 A Christian is someone who has been convicted they have broken God’s law and deserves God’s punishment. They must be convince that they are not a good person. It is someone who then repents, believes in, and trusts into Messiah Jesus for salvation and in no one and nothing else. Doing good works does not save.

A2 What is church supposed to be?

B1 Church is an assembly of believers. It is not for unbelievers. Unbelievers are always welcomed and encouraged, but they are not the reason and purpose for the church.

B2 We are not to stop meeting together. Hebrews 10:19-25 NKJV Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

C1 What Day is this? Some understand day to be the destruction of Israel. Some believe it is the rapture. I believe it refers to 1 Corinthians 3:13 MKJV each one's work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it is.

C2 This day is the judgment day for Christians.

D1 Romans 14:10 WPNT But you, why do you judge your brother? And you too, why do you look down on your brother? Because we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

D2 2 Corinthians 5:10 WPNT Because we must all be exposed before Christ’s Judgment Seat, that each one may receive his due for the things he did while in the body, whether good or bad.

C3 This day is immediately after the rapture.

C4 This is where Christians are judged for what we have done in this life. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 MKJV And if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, 13 each one's work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it is. 14 If anyone's work which he built remains, he shall receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire.

C5 Wilbur Pickering commenting on 2 Corinthians 5:10 states, “If we are wise, like Paul, we will never forget the Accounting. He was ‘confident’ that upon leaving his physical body he would be at home with the Lord. To have the same confidence we also must consciously live so as to be well pleasing to Him.”

B3 We are to be like our brethren in Acts 2. Acts 2:42 WPNT And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ teaching and in the fellowship, both in the breaking of the bread and in the prayers.

C1 Continued steadfastly

C2 Apostle’s teaching (doctrine and lifestyle). We must know what we believe.

C3 Fellowship (with other believers)

C4 Communion (Lord’s Supper)

C5 Prayer (part of worship both as individual and corporate)

B4 We need to be taught. Ephesians 4:14 NKJV that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.

C1 We need to know what we believe. What we believe is important. We must be taught, and we must study the Bible and doctrine.

C2 We need to learn discernment. The pastor must lead in this, but every Christian needs to know what Christians believe. The pastor can go into error.

C3 We all need to be able to defend the faith. We all need to be taught and to be trained. 1 Peter 3:15-17 WPNT Rather, sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready with an answer for everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with meekness and respect; keeping a good conscience, so that wherein they speak against you as evildoers, those who revile your good way of life in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, should the will of God so determine, than for doing evil.

C4 We need to learn to recognize deception. False teachers will try to deceive us. They change the meaning of words, they claim this teaching was only for the New Testament times, they will tell you the Scriptures have been corrupted, they will slowly—I mean slooowly—introduce lies (it might take years, but they will do it. It is how they take over a church), they will promote important people with many doctorates who believe some life (thus implying that we should believe them), they will assert authority (“We are elders, so you must submit).

D1 Example 1: 1 Timothy 2:4 CSB Who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

E1 Calvinist:

F1 All has different meanings.

F2 Here are some examples of different meanings.

F3 All here means all types.

F4 There are many sources. This one is from here.

E2 Plain, normal sense

F1 It states all.

F2 There are no qualifiers to modify the plain, normal sense of all.

F3 Even if it is kinds, types, etc., the Calvinist version fails.

G1 If all refers to gender, then we know there are only 2 genders—male and female. This would indicate that all means each and every male and female.

G2 If all refers to economic status, we know there are the rich, the poor, and everyone else. This would indicate each and every economic class.

G3 If all refers to occupation, we know that some are in the fields of education, legal, medical, government, agriculture, services, engineerings, repair, retired, ill, etc. This would indicate each and every person, since all have some occupation.

D2 Example 2: Acts 10:9-16 WEB Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. 10 He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, 12 in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. 13 A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” 16 This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven.

E1 Hebrew Roots groups: If you read on, Peter is trying to make since (SIC) out of this vision, because he knew the Lord wouldn't have him eat unclean meat. What came about? In verse 28 Peter says, "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." Peter says here that God showed, in that vision, that he should not call any MAN common or unclean.

E2 The passage in the plain, normal sense was understood by Peter that he, Peter, was to get up, kill, and EAT. Peter was COMMANDED to EAT.

B5 We need to remember Jesus’s death and its purpose. 1 Corinthians 11:20 WEB When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.

C1 We gather for the Lord’s Supper.

C2 This is only for believers.

D1 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 GNB So then, you should each examine yourself first, and then eat the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For if you do not recognize the meaning of the Lord's body when you eat the bread and drink from the cup, you bring judgment on yourself as you eat and drink. 30 That is why many of you are sick and weak, and several have died.

D2 Matthew 7:6 NKJV “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

B6 We need to live a Christian life.

C1 Good works which glorify our Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NKJV Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

C2 Care and concern are in this order.

D1 Spouse

D2 My children

D3 The members of my local assembly

D4 The believers everywhere else.

D5 Non-Christians for a witness and testimony.

C3 Some things we are to avoid: Galatians 5:19-21 WPNT Now the works of the flesh are obvious, namely: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, fits of anger, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions, envyings, murders, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like; about which I am warning you beforehand, as, in fact, I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

C4 Some things needed to be seen in our lives: Galatians 5:22-23 WPNT But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control—against such things there is no law.

A3 What do we do in church?

B1 Sing: Ephesians 5:19-21 NKJV speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

B2 Pray: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV pray without ceasing.

B3 Collect:

C1 For congregation expenses: 1 Timothy 5:17-18 NKJV Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer [is] worthy of his wages.

C2 For the poor Christians: Galatians 2:10 NKJV [They desired] only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

B4 Offer sacrifices

C1 The sacrifice of praise: Hebrews 13:15 NKJV Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of [our] lips, giving thanks to His name.

C2 The sacrifice of helping the brothers and sisters in financial need: Hebrews 13:16 NKJV But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

C3 Ourselves: Romans 12:1 HCSB Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. (Compare: Luke 9:23-24 WPNT Then He said to everyone: “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me. Because whoever desires to ‘save’ his life will lose it, but whoever ‘loses’ his life for my sake, he will save it).

C4 The sacrifice of prayer: 1 Timothy 2:1 HCSB First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone.

C5 The sacrifice of thanksgiving: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 HCSB Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

B5 Be taught

C1 The Gospel

C2 Jesus’s doctrine (teachings)

C3 The Christian life

C4 Apologetics

C5 Summary: Matthew 28:19-20 WPNT As you go make disciples in all ethnic nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to obey everything that I commanded you; and take note, I am with you every day, until the end of the age!” Amen.

B6 Encourage each other

C1 By faith

C2 By prayer

C3 By good works

C4 By listening

C5 By helping serve in the congregation

C6 By the grace and help of the Holy Spirit

D1 Acts 9:31 WPNT So then the congregations throughout all Judea and Galilee, and Samaria, had peace and were built up; and proceeding in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit they were being multiplied.

D2 The Greek word for encouragement is παράκλησις paraklesis. It means (via Strong’s)

E1 An imploration, entreaty (urgent request (for mercy or help)).

E2 An exhortation (urgent counsel, encouragement, or caution).

E3 A comfort, solace.

D3 He helps in our prayers: Romans 8:26 NKJV Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

D4 He strengthens us to get through trials: Ephesians 3:16 NKJV that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.

D5 He never abandons/forsakes us: John 14:16-17 GNB92 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive him, because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him, because he remains with you and is in you.

D6 Gives us peace in difficult situations: Romans 15:13 GNB92 May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit.

B7 Application

C1 The church is us believers.

C2 We are a family.

C3 We are to worship God together, be taught, and be encouraged.

C4 We are to bear one another’s burdens.

C5 We are to be taught, then do, then teach others.

A4 Sources and quotes

B1 1 Timothy 2:4:

Understanding 1 Timothy 2:4 by Pastor John Samson God "desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:4 I have often times heard people quote 1 Timothy 2:4 to dismiss, out of hand, the biblical teaching on Sovereign grace or Divine election. In quoting the verse they have told me that God has no interest in electing certain people to salvation but that His desire is for every person to be saved. Yet, we must remember that the word "all" always has a context. It can sometimes mean all people everywhere - many times it does - but it sometimes means "all" in the sense of "all kinds" or "all classes, types" of people or at other times it refers to all within a certain type or class.. For instance, we do the same thing in our English language when a school teacher in a classroom may ask the question, "are we ALL here?" or "is EVERYONE here?" She is not asking if everyone on planet earth is in the classroom, but because of the context in which the question is framed (the school teacher's classroom) we understand she is referring to all within a certain class or type - in this case, all the students signed up for the class. I believe 1 Tim 2:4 is speaking of all in this sense of "all types." What is my biblical basis for saying this? The context. Lets read the passage: 1 Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Who are the "all people" of verse 1? I believe the "all people" of verse 1 are the same "all people" of verse 4, as the subject matter does not change in any way at all in the intervening verses. When Paul wrote "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.." was he asking Timothy to get the equivalent of the local phone book and starting with the alphas and going all the way through to the omegas (the Greek alphabet) make supplication, pray, intercede and make thanksgiving for each individual in the city... or more than that, the whole world? I don't think so. Why do I say this? Because Paul qualifies verse 1 with verse 2 when he speaks of "kings" (kings are types of people) and "those in high positions" (again "those in high positions" are types of people). Why should we pray for them? One of the reasons we should pray for them is because these people (kings and those in high positions of authority) make decisions which affect society at large. If these people have their eyes opened, they will not be persecutors of Christians but will enact laws that will actually restrain sin so "that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." So one of the reasons to pray for them is because good government can mean a measure of peace in a society, and it is a lot easier to spread the Gospel when there is no civil unrest. The passage also points us to another reason to pray, namely that God desires all (all who?) .. all types of people.. including these influential people with authority in society.. to be saved. His message to Timothy was this: Do not just pray for the peasants, the farmers and the uneducated (the people who seem to be coming to Christ in great numbers right now), but remember to pray for kings and the very rulers in society who are at this moment persecuting Christians. Make prayer of this kind a priority - do it "first of all" - pray for these people Timothy - make sure the Church is praying for these people - because God desires all kinds of people - even kings (or Emperors like Caesar) and the elete in society - people of every kind, to be saved. We must remember that the earliest Christians were almost all from the lower class of society, so this would be BIG news to them. As Paul wrote elsewhere.. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. Turning to another Scripture in Revelation chapter 5, we are given prophetic insight into the future, revealing to us what Jesus the Lamb actually achieved in His atoning work on the cross. He did not save everybody or make a mere potential atonement available for everyone, but he made an effectual atonement - a powerful one that achieved its desired end or goal of saving certain specific people. What exactly did He achieve? In Revelation 5:9, the heavenly anthems ring out in praise of the Lamb saying, "...for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed (specific, actual) people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation..." Note the words, for they are very specific. It does not say that Jesus ransomed the people OF but people FROM every tribe and language and nation. The Greek word for "from" is ekmeaning "out of" - He redeemed people out of every tribe, language, people group and nation.. NOT all without exception, but all without distinction. I mention this verse in Revelation 5 because this is in perfect harmony with 1 Timothy 2:4 which teaches very clearly that God desires all (all kinds of people) to be saved. God will have every tribe, tongue, people group and nation represented around the throne as the heavenly hosts sing of the Lamb who was slain to redeem them.

B2

The World’s Worst Bible Interpretation in History This is obviously a touchy subject and you are free to believe or not to believe whatever you feel. However, Jesus never said He made all food clean. If you read the scripture of Peter's vision, it says (Acts 10:15) "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." As far as I can see throughout scripture, the unclean animals were never cleansed. If you read on, Peter is trying to make since out of this vision, because he knew the Lord wouldn't have him eat unclean meat. What came about? In verse 28 Peter says, "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." Peter says here that God showed, in that vision, that he should not call any MAN common or unclean. I believe the issue of the clean and unclean meats is not a Salvation issue, but God loves us and cares about us enough to show us what is good food to put into our bodies (His Temple) and what is not good. Why would we want to eat things that live off of waste? As for the bad grammar that that man has... I agree with you!