Talk of JESUS .com

Tag: master

Jesus Christ IS Lord – 1
Who IS JESUS?

What does the BIBLE say about JESUS?

.. Grace to you and peace, from the One who is and who was and who is to come, .. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 1:4-5 excerpt LSB

Our evangelism of the gospel may present the Lord Christ Jesus more casually than the scriptural truth that HE IS GOD!
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Christians and others sometimes talk of Jesus presumptively or perhaps even flippantly.

JESUS IS! just as the LORD told the Hebrews through Moses the explanation, 
I AM THAT I AM! 
Exodus 3:14 KJV  אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה
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- God IS! We certainly agree.
- Scripture is God’s written word. We agree that the BIBLE is truth.
- JESUS IS and was and will be.
JESUS defined

JESUS CHRIST LORD.

Without quibbling over the hundreds of NAMES Christians use to proclaim JESUS to unbelievers, let’s simply DEFINE and consider these three I have chosen today:

Ἰησοῦς

The KJV translates Strong’s G2424 in the following manner: Jesus (972x), Jesus (Joshua) (2x), Jesus (Justus) (1x).

Ἰησοῦς – Jesus
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Lexicon :: Strong's G2424 - iēsous
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Jesus = “Jehovah is salvation” Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, God incarnate [in the flesh!]

Before, Then, Now & Forever
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According to the GOSPELS of JESUS CHRIST
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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word [logos] was with God [theos], and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Gospel of John 1:1-4 NKJV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Gospel of John 1:14 NKJV

Human History: ~4 B.C – ~A.D. 30
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Consider the enduring testimony of Scripture recorded in approximately A.D. 50 through the A.D. 90's, soon after the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ more than 2000 years ago.
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The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. – Mark 1:1 [A.D. 50’s]

Prologue of the Gospel of Luke:

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

In the days of Herod, king of Judea .. – Luke 1:1-5a ESV [~A.D. 60-62]

Βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ Δαβίδ, υἱοῦ Ἀβραάμ

The book [Biblos] of the genealogy [genesis] of Jesus [iēsous] Christ [christos], the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

Matthew 1:1 [A.D. 60’s]

Χριστοῦ – Christ

“Where is He that is born King of the Jews? – Matthew 2:2

Pilate said to them, “Then, what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

They all said, “Let Him be crucified!”

Matthew 27:22 LSB, GNT

λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλᾶτος τί οὖν ποιήσω Ἰησοῦν τὸν λεγόμενον Χριστόν

Christ defined

Χριστός Christós, khris-tos’; from G5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:—Christ.

Post-Resurrection – from A.D. 30’s – to ???? eternity
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The BIBLE documents MANY post-resurrection appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Apostles, Paul, and others.
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In about A.D. 55 the Apostle Paul writes: 
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After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:6 LSB

We may be familiar with the AWESOME appearance of JESUS to Saul [Paul] on a road to Damascus but read of a much later revelation of the risen Jesus to the Apostle John for UNDERSTANDING a more present, even future context of ALL CREATED MEN AND WOMEN appearing before the Throne of the Lord Christ Jesus!

The Revelation of Jesus Christ
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 ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ 
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Vision of the Son of Man

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.

But he laid his right hand on me, saying,

“Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Revelation 1:17-18 ESV

HEAR the Apostle John’s description of the Lord, SON OF MAN, as Jesus had described His Person born into this world, the same RISEN LORD John had witnessed some SIXTY YEARS before when he was a young Apostle.

~ A.D. 90-95

.. and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.

The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

The revelation of Jesus Christ to John 1:12b-16 ESV

LORD, Lord, lord

Fallen flesh resists JESUS as Lord, born in flesh and blood, the Son of Man dying in suffering flesh and sacrificed blood on a Cross.

Roger@TalkofJesus.com

Is JESUS your Lord?

CREATED humankind have difficulty accepting ALMIGHTY GOD, born as a mere man, suffering for sinful souls condemned to death and hell.

THEREFORE, WE who would be EQUAL to ALL resist following JESUS as Lord.

Lord defined
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What does Lord (or LORD) mean in the Bible?
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And Abraham answered and said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.

Genesis 18:27 LSB – אֲדֹנָי ‘ăḏōnāy

And he said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master H113 Abraham, who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master H113; as for me, Yahweh has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s H113 brothers.”

Genesis 24:27 LSB – Lexicon :: Strong’s H113 – ‘āḏôn ‘

The unused root of [אֲדֹנָי ‘ăḏōnāy] used by Abram’s slave or servant referring to his owner:

אָדוֹן
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The KJV translates Strong's H113 in the following manner: lord (197x), master(s) (105x), Lord (31x), owner (1x), sir (1x).
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Note the intended authority implied in each of these human roles, let alone those references to God:
- firm, strong, lord, master
- reference to men
  - superintendent of household, of affairs
  - master
  - king
- reference to God
  - the Lord God
  - Lord of the whole earth
- reference to men
  - proprietor of hill of Samaria
  - master
  - husband
  - prophet
  - governor
  - prince
  - king
  - father
  - Moses
  - priest
  - theophanic angel
  - captain
  - general recognition of superiority
- reference to God
  - Lord of lords (probably = “thy husband, Yahweh”)
  - my Lord, my Lord and my God
  - Adonai (parallel with Yahweh)
ALL of these references to Lord are RELATIONAL. and ALL imply our UNEQUAL relationship as servants before a superior power.

kyrios – Lord
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Moving from the Hebrew Scripture to the Greek of the New Testament we observe Jesus asking followers about their RELATIONAL loyalty to Him.
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“Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

Gospel of Luke 6:46 LSB – QUESTION of JESUS for followers

Do the christians you encounter call JESUS Lord? OR something else?

κύριος –

– From kuros (supremacy)
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κύριος kýrios, koo'-ree-os; from κῦρος kŷros (supremacy); 
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):—God, Lord, master, Sir. 
- source
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he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord

JESUS, Son of Man, the Son of God

“I and the Father are one.”

John 10:30 [Or a unity, one essence}

And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “You yourselves say that I am.”

Luke 22:70

“For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day.

“But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. – Luke 17:24-25

ἐγὼ τὸ Ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ὦ ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος ἡ ἀρχὴ καὶ τὸ τέλος

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 22:13

Jesus says to his disciples (followers): “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. – Revelation 22:14

To be continued…

NEXT: in Jesus Christ Lord part 2 – Christ, the Anointed One

Talk of JESUS .com

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July 27, 2024
An Apostolic Model: Ministering to a Growing Church
How did Twelve Apostles minister to multitudes of disciples of a growing Church?
- Who would lead change after hearing their murmurings,
  - (And THAT, knowing that some came to Christ from one TRADITION,
  - while others came to the Lord from diverse ethnic standards of community, family and worship of God.)
- How can WE help relieve so many PERSONAL problems for hundreds of families belonging to our growing church?
- WHEN will we ever have time to minister to our church family?
- What must we do for each and every saint of our Lord Christ Jesus?
ACTS of the Apostles and the Jerusalem CHURCH 6:1-7

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
ACTS of the Apostles 6:1 ESV

Leading through diverse difficulties of a growing Church

‘.. but we have always done it THIS way?’
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(This isn't going to be so easy, is it?)

Luke reveals the cultural challenge of the church familiar to him, however most of us (in this 21st century) will not understand the root of the problem: 

Mixing gentiles with Jews. Even bringing the traditional challenge of some Jews joining in fellowship with other Jews divides political alliances in the Sanhedrin of Jerusalem.

Therefore I will begin by including a background for our scene in first century Jerusalem, as well as outcomes of church ministry which have occurred over two millennia. - RH
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First let’s clarify some ‘church‘ terms we derive from the Greek language of the New Testament.

Who are Apostles? (and who are Disciples?)
HOW MANY APOSTLES?
TWELVE (our standard answer)
WHO ARE THE APOSTLES?
No need here to recite them by name, but remembering:
ALL Apostles at this point in ACTS are leaders of the Church in Jerusalem.
Matthias has now replaced Judas.
Saul of Tarsus will soon encounter the risen Christ Jesus and join in ministry as Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles.

ἀπόστολος – full definition linked here
Disciples (disciples)

μαθητής

Strictly speaking, disciples are the ones taught; that is, anyone who follows the teachings or traditions of any teacher or rabbi.

The disciple^G3101 is not above his master [didaskalos],
nor the servant [doulos] above his lord [kyrios].
Instruction of Jesus Christ – Matthew 10:24

לִמּוּד

54:13 וְכָל־בָּנַיִךְ לִמּוּדֵי יְהוָה וְרַב שְׁלוֹם בָּנָֽיִךְ׃

And all thy children shall be taught^H3928 of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
prophesy of the Messiah by Yeshaiya (Isaiah) 54:13

μαθητής mathētḗs, math-ay-tes’; from G3129; a learner, i.e. pupil:—disciple.
- The Twelve were disciples of Jesus who followed their Teacher full-time for three years.
  - You’ve probably noticed that most translations of the Bible capitalize ‘disciple’ to avoid confusion when referring to the Twelve Disciples [Apostles].
- Many others of the multitudes also became disciples and followed Jesus Christ in the early days before his crucifixion and resurrection.
Now, in our scene in Jerusalem after the Lord’s resurrection, the Church in Jerusalem has many disciples – disciples of the Holy Spirit (who of course first receive the Holy Spirit, as we have just read from Luke’s account).

Yet from Jesus’ instruction from the Gospel of the Apostle Matthew, note another distinction of this relationship between rabbi and pupil: that of master (or lord) and servant.

These also apply in Luke’s account describing the model by which the Apostles lead the early Church.

Our NEW Pastors

(Some call them: ‘ministers‘)
- FIRST: Jesus was the Rabbi. And Jesus was the Master.
- THEN: The APOSTLES became the Rabbis. And the Apostles were then masters of their sheep (students; flocks, servants, community, school, fold, gathering, or whatever you may choose to call this multitude of the Church).
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
Jeremiah 23:1, 50,17 KJV

But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; G1249
Gospel of Matthew 20:26 KJV – Teaching of Jesus to His disciples

The Twelve, led by two of Jesus’ inner circle of Apostles, Simon Peter and John, now lead the New Testament Church as rabbis to a multitude of disciples.

Lambs of the Apostles’ fold

The Apostle John, who Luke records as standing at Peter’s side on the day of Pentecost, opens our eyes to the resurrected Jesus, where the Lord calls on Peter to restore the foundation of his calling:

“Tend My lambs.” .. “Shepherd My sheep.” .. “Tend My sheep.
The risen Master’s loving command to Simon Peter to minister to His church – Gospel of John 21:15,16,17

These new disciples of the Twelve include NOT ONLY men from traditional Judaism, but also men, women and children accepted into fellowship, tender young lambs of Jesus who could NEVER before have been full members of their community of faith in the Lord God.

“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back.
Jesus teaching the Jews that He will Shepherd the gentiles, as scripture has said. – Gospel of John 10:16-17 NASB20
- And what happens when ANY two groups of differing cultural traditions choose to follow one leader?
- Dissension and murmuring by some unwilling to abide by rules and traditions imposed by others.
Who is the master ministering to these NEW lambs?

“They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

“Go; behold, I am sending you out like lambs in the midst of wolves.
Instruction of the Master Jesus to seventy-two [72] disciples + Gospel of Luke 10:3 NASB20

Master – διδάσκαλος – didaskalos

The KJV translates Strong’s G1320 in the following manner: Master (Jesus) (40x), teacher (10x), master (7x), doctor (1x).

Doctor:
a teacher (from didasko, “to teach”), cp. didaskalia, “teaching, doctrine, instruction,” is translated “doctors,” with reference to the teachers of the Jewish religion, Luk 2:46. Cp. paideutes, “a teacher.”
See MASTER, TEACHER.
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words 1 Strong’s Number: g1320 Greek: didaskalos – via BlueLetterBible.org

The rabbis of Jerusalem quarreled with each other as they had also challenged the legitimacy that Jesus’ MANY disciples should call the Lord, ‘Master.’ Now that Peter, John and the Apostles have remained in Jerusalem as Jesus commanded, MANY disciples remained faithful to the church gathered under the leadership of the Apostles.

Note from earlier, after Peter preached in the Temple,

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.
Acts records the reactions of other rabbis

These Apostolic Masters of the Church community now face division and opposition just as Jesus had encountered in Jerusalem prior to His execution and resurrection from the dead.

Lord

We will never understand our role as a servant of the Church until we know the sacrificial love of its servant-Master.
Roger@TalkofJESUS.com
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"lord" occurs 7,790 times in 6,587 verses in the NASB20. Page 1 / 132
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Here too I urge caution and prayerful understanding of terms frequently used and misused by the church. i.e. Lord, Master, servant, slave (even God and ‘love,’ translated from several different Greek and Hebrew words in Scripture).
- LORD – Yᵊhōvâ – יְהֹוָה
  - i.e. So Noah acted in accordance with everything that the LORD^H3068 had commanded him.
- From הָיָה (H1961)
  - i.e. Genesis 27:29 הָוָה
May peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you;
Be master of your brothers,
And may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be those who curse you,
And blessed be those who bless you.”

And God said to Moses, “I AM^H1961 WHO I AM^H1961”; and He said, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘I AM^H1961 has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:14 NASB20

אָמַרְתְּ לַֽיהוָה אֲדֹנָי אָתָּה טוֹבָתִי בַּל־עָלֶֽיךָ׃
I said to the LORD [Yᵊhōvâ}, “You are my Lord [;ăḏōnāy];
I have nothing good besides You.” – Tehillim (Psalms) 16:2
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For this is what the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said:
“In repentance and rest you will be saved,
In quietness and trust is your strength.”
But you were not willing,
Isaiah 30:15
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κυρίῳ kyrios – Lord
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"lord" occurs 106 times in 100 verses in the book of 'Act' in the NASB20.
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And increasingly believers in the Lord^G2962, large numbers of men and women, were being added to their number,
Acts of the Apostles 5:14 NASB20

ἐκκλησία – ekklēsia – ‘Church‘

Luke has only used the term ‘church’ once at this point in Acts of the Apostles to describe these ‘large numbers of men and women.’ He opens his second account describing the miraculous growth of the church:

Acts of ALL with one accord

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
- And now HOW has Luke just introduced the Church by name?
A Church Seized by Signs and Wonders

Acts 5:11 KJV And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
- The Church (that is, the early church) lives as a community of love in fear of God, yet joyful of Christ’s anointing Spirit given to His disciples of the Church who will ‘follow Jesus, as their Master.’
- The saints of the Apostolic community serve the Living God and obey the Apostles as their lords and masters.
The disciple^G3101 is not above his master [didaskalos],
nor the servant [doulos] above his lord [kyrios].
Instruction of Jesus Christ – Matthew 10:24

the servant [doulos]

Now that we have defined some of these ‘Christian‘ terms so foundational to understanding Luke’s account of the Acts of the Apostles; NEXT, God-willing, we will examine the role the these servants of the Church.
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ACTS of the Church 6: 
To be continued...
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December 22, 2021
Why Submit? – a letter from Peter – 4
Why should we submit to anyone? If a follower of Christ Jesus encounters difficulty from your community, your boss, your spouse or anyone else, why submit to their will rather than your own?

We began last time with Peter telling us the purpose of our good works through Christ Jesus:

Submit to every human authority because of the Lord… For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.
1 Peter 2:13a,15-16 CSB

The Apostle opened his first letter to the persecuted church with blessings and encouragement concerning this salvation through Christ Jesus. But Peter quickly proceeds, warning the faithful against those opposed to the risen Savior.

He assures us that Jesus is the cornerstone of the church and that faithful followers of Christ are living stones. Yet because of Christ some will stumble because they disobey our Lord.

Peter now adds specific applications to their lives and ours.

Remember Our Example Before Men

No witness is better than a personal witness.

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:21

Although Peter had been part of the inner circle of the Lord, most first century believers had only the good works of the Apostles as their image of Christ risen and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Part of Peter’s authenticity becomes evident by his own admissions of failings. We first hear of this humility in Peter when Jesus first called him.

Luke 5:

The crowds are pressing into Jesus who is teaching near Lake Tiberias, as the Romans called this Sea of Galilee. He sees two boats having returned from less than successful fishing that day.

3 He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.

Peter, of course, also listens to Jesus preach from his boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”

6 When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear…

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!”
Luke 5:8 CSB

Peter, James and John that day all became Jesus’ closest Disciples and friends. Surely believers who witnessed Peter during his brief years following the Lord’s resurrection came to know this humble, yet sometimes boisterous redeemed sinner who writes this letter.

1 Peter 2:

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9 CSB

If you are the one receiving this letter doesn’t this make you feel special, that is, set aside for God?

God chooses you through Christ! Peter is just the Lord’s humble messenger of the Good News. But then he explains this further to the largely gentile or non-jewish hearers of his letter.

10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

In Christ Jesus we are chosen, therefore we must act differently than the world around us. By God’s grace we have received mercy and can show our good works to others.

How to submit to others

13 Submit to every human authority because of the Lord…

We have already looked at the list of those we resist by our lack of humility. Peter will remind us later in his letter:

Since Christ had to suffer physically for you, you must fortify yourselves with the same inner attitude that he must have had.
1 Peter 4:1 JB Phillips New Testament

In this sense we feel the prescribed holiness of the priest made possible only by the grace of God through the Holy Spirit.

Masters

We abhor slavery. Yet in a sense all are slaves of servants to someone; Christians moreso, as Peter insists.

19 For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it?

This is a fair question the Apostle asks. For such a situation, whether physically or metaphorically, our beating is punishment for sin, a transgression of some law of man or a Law of God.

But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

Christ’s example before men

21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

This witness of Jesus by Peter stands as a question to new Christians for every example to follow his mention of slaves or servants.
- Are you a servant of God? Then the Father is your Master.
- Is Christ Jesus your Lord? Then Jesus must be your new Master.
Why then do you not follow Jesus’ example before men?

22 He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; 23 when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.

We just have trouble doing that, new Christian or long-time believer, don’t we?

Then Peter reminds us of the reason Christ came to us as a man, the suffering servant predicted by scripture.

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree [cross]; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness.

The sinless Son of Man, Jesus, became the sacrificial lamb, His Blood the covering for our own sins. Therefore, we must live to righteousness.

For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:21 CSB

Submission to Husbands

In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands…

Once again, a topic perhaps as malaligned as slaves serving masters.

Some translations soften the blow of this topic offensive to some women of the church. Wives are often more zealous for Jesus than their husbands.

It may be helpful for Christian wives to remember that Peter was a devoted husband, who called Jesus his Master. MacArthur’s outline heading: Submission in the Family may be most appropriate.

1 Peter 3:

Peter tells our sisters in the Lord why they must submit and how they must act to reflect Christ’s glory.

… so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live when they observe your pure, reverent lives.

Pure and reverent lives. How often do we hear this call even to Christian men? Other translations shed additional light on Peter’s meaning:
- While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. KJV
- when they see your respectful and pure conduct. ESV
- as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. NASB
Twenty-first century culture nearly everywhere has strayed far from these original meanings and we must not devalue Christian women in any way simply because the Bible clearly states the roles of both men and women.

Chaste and respectful behavior

ἁγνός – hagnos chaste – exciting reverence, venerable, sacred, pure; pure from carnality, chaste, modest; pure from every fault, immaculate; clean (in the Hebrew sense of cleansed)

Paul, in his letter to Titus uses this same word for wives when he encourages older women to mentor younger women in the church:

‘to be sensible, pure, G53 workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.’
Titus 2:5 Strongs Concordance BlueletterBible.org

φόβος – phobos respectful – fear, dread, terror or alarm, that which strikes terror; also: reverence for one’s husband

What does it mean to reverence the Lord God? Or reverence Jesus Christ as your Lord?

Let us not confuse fear and dread with respect and reverence, not even of husbands, who must honor their wives. For the enemy of Christ would have some men fear their wives, having no reverence for Christ or God our merciful Father.

ἀναστροφή – anastrophē behavior – manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment” from G390; behavior:—conversation.

Of course our good works (or evil works) quickly become most evident by our words in women and especially in men. Peter’s additional encouragement to wives faithful to their husband and faithful to the Lord points toward a Christ-like example from women as well. The writer of Hebrews uses this same word also translated as conduct when he writes:

Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, G391 imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:7 NASB Strong’s concordance from BlueLetterBible.org

Your inner beauty

Remember, Peter is married. He may also have a sister or daughter – the Bible does not confirm this. Many, perhaps most of the Apostles were married, had daughters and sons, sisters and brothers.

Isn’t it most familial that in Christ the early church referred to each other as “brother” and “sister,” and greeted each other with a kiss?

Therefore acknowledging our humility of role, as Christ also humbled Himself as a servant, Peter points inward to our soul rather than the desirable outward appearances of the world.

3 {NASB} Your adornment must not be merely external…

The cultural particulars of the time or locale carry less importance, but reflect the appropriateness of the saints.

The imperishable qualities of a wife in Christ

4 [NASB] but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

She is a quiet and gentle soul. Oh, such a compliment to her husband, such a witness to a gentle Jesus. She also will submit to the Father – a bruised reed she will not break.

Peter puts forth the example of Sarah, wife of Abraham, as a holy example of a wife who does submit to her husband. She called him ‘lord,’ the Apostle reminds. A servant calls their master, lord.

Do you call Jesus Lord?

Peter also calls upon husbands to ‘live with your wives in an understanding way.’ What does he mean?

The Apostle presumes that as a brother in Christ that you have a ‘gnosis‘ of scripture and the Lord; that is, a deeper more perfect and enlarged knowledge of this religion, such as belongs to the more advanced.

She is ‘the weaker vessel,’ knowing less about God while she submits to you. It may have been so in the first century, yet in this day I must ask you, husbands who claim Christ, is it so?

Do you know more about the Bible and about the Lord than your wife? Who is truly ‘a weaker vessel’ in knowledge of Christ our Lord?

Is Christ your Lord?

Are you an unrepentant sinner or by grace a sinner saved in Christ Jesus?

In addition to living honorably as a witness to unbelievers, the Apostle next suggests how to live honorably among other Christians.

Beloved Christian brother, dear sister in the Lord,

Peter will next call upon all brothers and sisters in the Lord to do no evil. He has more instruction to those of us who submit to the teaching of Jesus.
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To be continued... 
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August 28, 2019