Proclaiming Truth – Part 2

 

Continuing Michael’s message: In 1 Peter 2:16-20 the Apostle Peter tells us, “as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people.

Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your

masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.”

 

When we suffer wrongly for the sake of righteousness, this fulfills Jesus’ exhortation on the sermon on the mount ... “blessed are they when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven.” Testing produces a testimony for God. It’s easy to praise God when everything goes well with us in this world. However, we are not of this fallen world. We may suffer wrongly on this side of eternity. God’s will is that we do the “right” thing with a heart of love for God (accordant to the standard of truth and justice or the will of God. That alone is right in the sight of God), despite suffering wrongs. Jesus Christ Himself suffered to bear our wrongs. For God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. Even though we were unworthy of His love and grace and deserving of death (due to our sins), He sent his Son to bear the death we deserved.  

What is God’s plan? You who were dead in trespasses and sins, whom God has made righteous through Jesus’ payment for our sins: you are God’s plan. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Psalm 37:1-5 says, “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”

There is much evil in this dark God-rejecting world. However, despite the darkness of the world around us, we can live in the light of the truth of His Word. God’s righteous judgement will prevail in the end. According to Psalm 37:14-15: “The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.” Therefore the righteous humbly wait on the Lord. Psalm 37:6-8 says, “He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.

 

God is still sovereign Lord overall. Despite the darkness of this world he will sustain the righteous according to Psalm 37:23-24 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.” These verses in Psalm 37 confirm the truth of Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” ... that we may be to the praise of the glory of His grace! Proclaim that truth!

Your brother in Christ, Michael

Proclaiming Truth – Part 1

 

This week, Michael writes that the Word of God in the pages of the Holy Bible reminds us who we are, where we’ve come from, where we are, and where we’re going. The spiritual battles rage all around us, but when we’re in the center of the will of God, we’re in the calm eye of the spiritual hurricane. In 1 Peter 2:9, the Apostle Peter wrote in similar times to ours: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”. God himself has chosen us. The purpose is that we should show forth the praises of His glory by being a witness of His love, mercy, and grace.

James 5:16 tells us that, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” He has made us righteous in Christ, for Jesus Christ, who was without sin, became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf, that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him. Therefore, be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).

1 Peter 2:10-12 continues, “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.”

God has called us as aliens and foreigners in a world of darkness of sin and unbelief. We may be natural born citizens of the United States. However, we’re spiritually born-again citizens of the kingdom of Heaven. We have been born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God that lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23). Because we have been called into His righteousness through Christ, we’re to abstain from fleshly lusts. Lusts are the carnal appetites, depraved affections and over-desires of the fallen flesh ... including anything that we desire over our desire to walk in fellowship with our Lord. The first of the Ten Commandments says in the KJV: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” The literal translation of the Aramaic text is, “thou shalt have no other gods between your face and my face.” 

The world speaks against Christians for being “intolerant” because the children of God lives by a biblical worldview, so cannot accept and affirm views that oppose the Word of God. In God We Trust, therefore will not sin against Him. The pagan undegenerates are tolerant of the evil in the eyes of the Lord of this world, however they are intolerant of God’s righteous standard of His revealed Word. John 3:20-21 says, “he who does evil darkness hates the light neither comes to the light lest his deeds should be clearly seen and reproved. But he who does truth comes to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God.” 

1 Peter 2:13-15 continues: “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:”

We’re encouraged by secular humanists to submit to the ordinances of man. Righteous ordinances are of God; for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of those who do well. The freedom we have is to use our God-given liberty (Freedom of the will; exemption from compulsion or restraint in willing or volition), not as servants of men, but as servants of God. In doing well, we will put to silence the evil of the “natural man”. According to Romans 12:21, “be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”  We have a moment by moment decision to do the right thing. The right thing is to do as Jesus would do. In Jesus’ words, “Don’t you know that I must be about my Father’s business?”

Let's continue Michael's message on "Proclaiming Truth" in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Two Natures

 

Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

 

The gospel message is good news, but real - from good to bad, then good because of the bad. Genesis 1:31 tells us that after He created everything, then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day (the original good news and meant to be eternal). Then, our first parents believed the devil, doubted God and disobeyed Him in willful rebellion (original sin), which brought the curse against the earth, corruption, a sin nature upon our body and soul (Genesis 3:1-7, 17-19), and death into the world to all (for the wages of sin is death - Romans 6:23). This is the eternal bad news and that sin nature remains with every created being throughout their lifetime. 

 

But, when God pronounced this judgment against sin, He also designed a “good news” plan of salvation through redemption by a Savior (the woman’s Seed - Genesis 3:15) in that started to play out immediately, coming about in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ – God incarnate, His sinless life, His atoning sacrificial death on the Cross for the sins of the world, His resurrection defeating death once and for all, His ascension into Heaven to intercede for us to Father God for all those who repent of their sin, believe God, accept receive Christ, are transformed and regenerated by the Holy Spirit unto eternal life, being born-again of the Spirit. Their sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus, Christ’s righteousness imputed to them, they are adopted as children of God, granted citizenship in Heaven, and, as followers of Christ, serve the Lord as ambassadors of the kingdom of God here and now. Go and make disciples spreading the gospel message.  

 

In theology, regeneration defined as new birth by the grace of God; that change by which the will and natural enmity of man to God and His law are subdued, and a principle of supreme love to God and His law, or holy affections, are implanted in the heart, thereby being given a new heart with spiritual discernment and connection to God direct. Sad to say though, on this side of eternity we carry the flesh desires of our old sin nature along with us and need to take up our cross daily to consciously, willfully and intentionally follow Him. Genesis 5:17 (above) explains the battle. Romans 7:14-17 concurs, “For we know that God’s law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” The sin nature and the lusts of the fallen flesh are formidable.

 

Genesis 5:16, 24-25 directs us to mindfully, “walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. This is the recipe for success. Two natures beat within the Christian heart. One is foul , the other blessed. One we love and one we hate. The one we feed will dominate. Resolve to live a life that is pleasing in the eyes of God, walking daily in His holy Word, Will and Way, led by the Spirit.

 

In Christ, Brian

Flee

 

1 Corinthians 10:13-15 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.

 

The Bible tells us to “turn and run as fast as you can” from four things. The first is idolatry. The Greek word for “idolatry” is “eidōlolatria” and you can actually see the word idolatry in it. The meaning of this Greek word is basically the worship of false gods. This stems from the first two Commandments of God’s Moral Law in Exodus 20:3-5a “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them. What God is saying is that we are to have nothing between His face and our face; nothing above, over God in our elevation or pre-eminence. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary goes into greater detail, defining the word as: “The worship of idols, images, or anything made by hands, or which is not God. Not just the worship of images, statues, pictures, etc. made by hands; but also the worship of the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon and stars, or of demons, angels, men and animals. It is the excessive attachment or veneration for anything, or that which borders on adoration. Nothing comes before Creator God.

 

Secondly, flee from youthful lusts. 2 Timothy 2:22 “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” The Greek word for “lust” here is “epithymia”, meaning the youthful craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden”. It has been called “sowing your wild oats” in the past, meaning behaving gratifying the desires of the flesh in an uncontrolled way, engaging in rebelliousness or promiscuity in one's youth. It is sinful (the voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God). Seek God and what is pleasing in His sight, not lustful desires and pleasures of youth.

 

Thirdly, flee from materialism. The excessive desire, the preoccupation with or emphasis on stuff, that considers material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values; that money, possessions, and comfort are the most important things to obtain in life. It is covetousness (the strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good) in its purest form. 1 Timothy 6:9-11states that “they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” I have witnessed the driving force of true mental additions of materialism and its destructive consequences. And I bet that you have also. Love God and others, and use things; not vice-versa.

 

Fourthly, Flee from sexual immorality. 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” The incontinence or lewdness of persons, male or female (including viewing pornography, adult videos, strip clubs and intercourse) in thought, word or action. The Greek word for “sexual immorality is “porneia”, which is defined as human passions of  illicit sexuality that includes adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, incest, pedophilia, rape, etc. (consensual or not) because it is outside of God’s design and His intent for human sexual relationships. Though fallen mankind deems them politically correct in our culture, God sets the standard; not sinful men and women. Sexual immorality is a form of idolatry also; a forsaking of the true God, and worshipping of the idol of self and sinful self-indulgence. 

 

Do we have Holy Scripture to back that up? Plenty. Matthew 15:19, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” 1 Corinthians 6:13b tells us that “The body is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” Galatians 5:19 “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery or lasciviousness.” Ephesians 5:3 “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” Colossians 3:5 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.” Jude 7 “In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire (aka Hell).” 

 

We are told to” flee these four things because we cannot win that battle. So, put on your “cross-trainer” running shoes and “get out of Dodge” as fast as you possibly can (do not walk, but run). Galatians 5:16, 24-25 tells us, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Align your life to God’s Word, Will and Way. 

 

In Christ, Brian

Awake

Romans 13:11-14 “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

 

In a Bible Study this week on this passage of Holy Scripture, we learned four directives for the child of God. The first, we are to watch vigilantly; awake and aware. We are to watch what is going on in our surrounding, in our communities, in our state, nation and world to discern what is happening, pray for direction, listen to the indwelling Holy Spirit for assistance and respond properly through the Word of God as our social compass and guide. There much world and national chaos these days, and the Christians must attentively observe the times and seasons of life, which are constantly changing before Jesus comes again. 

 

The time between the Lord ascension in Heaven on His first earthly visitation and His return for the Church and tribulation is called “the Age of Grace”, which is also called “the Church Age”.  The late Rev. Billy Graham wrote: The world is living in the “age of grace.” Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world and extended His mercy and grace to whoever will receive Him as Lord and Savior. God’s offer of forgiveness and a new life still stands. But this period of grace will not go on indefinitely and someday it will be too late for men and women to repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. Someday is “Judgement Day” and it is nearer today than it was yesterday. 

 

Like time, there are three period of salvation for the Believer – past, present and future. [A] Past Salvation, where we repent sin and accept Jesus Christ as Savior, so we have been justified and saved from the penalty of sin. John 3:35-36 proclaims, “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 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.” [B] Present Salvation, which is the process of sanctification while still being in the sinful flesh and growing/maturing  into the likeness of Christ in our daily walk, so we are being saved from the power of sin. [C] Future Salvation, where we saved eternally in Heaven with glory, so we will be saved from the presence of sin.

 

Secondly, we are to war valiantly. Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before. We are to put off all darkness of sin and unbelief, then put on the full armor of God, being salt and light in this world. 1 John 1:6-7 declares, “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.” It is a matter of victim or victor in the war on God. Thirdly, we are to walk virtuously. Galatians 5:16 tell instructs us, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 

 

Fourthly, we are to wait victoriously. Galatians 5:22-25 explains that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Jesus Christ defeated sin and death and victory is ours, but we must be awake and defend the faith, while going and making disciples of all nations with the goal the none should perish but find salvation too at the foot of the Cross in Jesus. Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng, blend with ours your voices in the triumph song. Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King, this through countless ages men and angels sing.

 

Lord, use me today in your way, that I am not an embarrassment to You or let you down in any way, but live in thoughts, words and deeds which are pleasing in your sight. Amen. 

 

In Christ, Brian

 

 

First love - Part 2

 

Revelation 2:2-4 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Michael continues: Agape love is that God initiated love by loving us first. Romans 5:8 says, “But God commended his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” We can love Him only because He loved us first. We received His gift of the Holy Spirit when we repented of our sins, received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and were born-again, converted, transformed and regenerated. With the Holy Spirit, we received the ability to love Him with spiritual, agape love in return.

Ephesians 3:16-19 says: That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints [those who have been sanctified] what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

To know God is to know the love of God which passes earthly knowledge. This super-natural spiritual knowledge assures our hearts of God’s unconditional love. For we are the sons and daughters of God in the midst of a wicked and perverse nation among whom we shine as lights in a world of darkness. Knowing the heart of God, to forsake the darkness of the world is forsake God commission. Knowing God’s heart is to love Him above all ... to acknowledge, despite the world’s malicious accusations, that we’re loved with the pure unadulterated love of God. 

Apart from the spiritual love of God, worldly types of love are fragile, limited and fleeting. Worldly love is conditional on the performance of the other party. To love with God’s love, we must approach His throne of grace on His terms according to His word. The love of this world will leave us frustrated and unfulfilled. However, Jesus said, Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Within his grace, mercy, and love, it is God who worketh in us to will and to do of His good pleasure.  

What does it mean to accept Jesus as Lord of your life? Lord means owner. The people of God are God’s people. This is the genitive of possession. Who are we when Jesus is Lord? Christianity is not who we are? Instead Christianity is “whose we are”. According to Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” What is the love of God? John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Herein is the love of God made perfect. He who was without sin [Jesus] was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.  

In order to turn from sin and unto the Lord, we must approach Him with a contrite heart of repentance in humility. Therefore, 1 John 9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God has called us into fellowship with Himself. When we give up the rights of our sinful flesh, then we can come to Him with a heart of humility according to His terms. God will come to us with the grip of His Son’s nail-pierced hands. If He must break our hearts in order for us to reach for His hand, then thank Him for breaking our heart.  

The devil will tempt us to think that we need to be on the throne and in control. The question is not who will sit on Christ’s right and left hand in positions of honor in God’s kingdom. The right question is, do you love me? You are not your own, You are bought with a price. Therefore we are His and He is ours. This is our challenge and our calling: Remember your first love and to love God above all. For He alone is worthy. May  we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace.

Your brother in Christ, Michael

First Love - Part 1

 

Ephesians 1:15-23, “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,” Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”

This week, Michael asks is anyone smarter than God? Is anyone wiser? Is anyone more powerful? Do we know the future better than God? God alone is the one who knows the future. He alone is all powerful and all wise. Why then do we have difficulty believing and trusting in his word? In reality, God is the one who by His mercy and grace loves, protects, and provides for us. Therefore, James 1:22-25 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

He who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, this person shall be blessed in his deed. It’s one thing to hear the Word of God in all its authority and power. The challenge is to do that which the Lord commands. This is what it means to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. The word of God is contrary to the word of secular humanists. To follow according to God’s command is to forsake the commands of fallen mankind. Some of His perfect commands may offend our sense of “human” rights”, but we do not set the standards. 

According to Ezekiel 33, the prophet was frustrated because the people would not heed the word of God. They hear your word but they do not follow them. Verse 31 says, “So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.” Many don’t call Jesus “Lord” because they want to be in control of their own lives. The diagnostic question is, “Why would God let you into His heaven?” Is eternal life on your own terms, or on God’s terms? God’s terms say that you can’t make it on your own. Your own performance is not good enough to deserve eternal life by a long shot. And we know it. If we’re to come to Him, we must enter in according to His terms, not ours.

Bill Gothard, who had youth conferences in the 70’s ministered to a young couple. They asked him, “What if we want to live together without getting married?” He answered, “Then that means that you haven’t made Jesus Lord of your lives. If Christ were Lord, you would do His will. Sin outside of the context of holy matrimony is a sin. And because we sin in thought, word, and deed, Jesus explains in Matthew 5:28, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Marriage is the will of the Lord.” 

In John 21:15-17 Jesus asked Simon Peter, “do you love me more than these?” Meaning, do you love me with the highest form of unconditional love, more than your fishing business ... your nets, your boats, and your fishing crew? Peter responded with a different word for love, “I love (phileo) you like a brother...I’m fond of you.” He asked Peter this question three times. The first two times Jesus used the word “agape”, the unconditional love of God. The third time he used the word “phileo” brotherly love. The third time Peter said, you know all things. You know that I love (phileo) you... I love you the only way I know how. Jesus answered, “Feed my sheep.”

Peter could not love his Lord with agape love, the unconditional spiritual love of God, because he did not yet have the Holy Spirit. Jesus had not yet paid the price for our salvation and the Holy Spirit was not available until after the day of Pentecost. The question Jesus has for his disciples is, “do you love me?” Jesus had said in John 14:15 “if you love me, keep my commandments”, and again in verse 23 “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.”

Let’s continue Michael’s message on the next post. 

In Christ, Brian