King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34
Date: Friday, December 25, 2020
Chapters: The Books of II Peter & Jude
Message: Christ’s Return
Hello My Friend,
Merry Christmas! And Happy Birthday, Jesus. I told my mother that I wanted a Christmas do over, I want to take all the Christmas decorations down, then put them back up and start over because I felt like we have been robbed Christmas this year. II Peter and Jude both give a similar message, while we celebrate the birth of Christ as in His human flesh, these messages speak of His return, and what it will be like prior to His return. We must understand that Jesus has always been here, He descended in the flesh through the virgin Mary for one reason only, [Luke 1:30-32,38 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.]
[be it unto me according to thy word.] You do understand that Mary was just like you and I, a sinner who had faith in God and His Word. Why God chose Mary is only something He can explain, but my guess is that she followed the Law of Moses as it was written, and she believed every word. II Peter was written by Peter to Christian exiles, around 66AD, the purpose of the letter was to warn them of the apostasy and false teaching in the Church. What we are to learn is that the believer must never waver in their faith or doubt any part of the Gospel and be ready for the return of Christ. Yes, Jesus is returning, and if we are not ready, we will not be able to handle the shock. Peter begins his letter with the reminder that all believers must be united with the same faith, and it is through our faith that we become more like Christ as we walk with Him.
[2 Peter 1:1-9 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.]
[For if these things be in you, and abound,] The fruit of the Spirit, that is what it is called, and it all begins with our faith in Christ. Our faith in the Gospel of Christ leads us to virtue, which means strength, and this comes as we learn to walk in the strength of Christ, which leads to the knowledge of Christ and God’s Word as we study it. Temperance, which means moderation, comes as we start walking in the ways of Christ. Of course, patience comes as we endure the trials that come once we start walking as Christ, which leads to godliness as we turn away from the world’s lusts. Brotherly kindness comes as we discover just what happens to all who do not know Christ, and charity, well, that is love and to know love as Christ, that is the biggest obstacle that we need to jump over next to our faith.
[But he that lacketh these things is blind,] Blind, meaning they only have the knowledge of salvation by grace through their faith in Christ, and have never done anything else to become fruitful so their lives never change. When Christ lives in and through us, He changes us, we no longer see many of the things we use do as right, so we repent of them. That is what Christ is all about, to help us remove the things that cause problems for us. Of course, we are not saved by our works, and we will never remove every sin, but we become more like Him as we continue to walk in Him. We need to be different than the world, we are not by any means better than them, but we are children of God, fully capable of living like Christ, and if we stop worrying about what everyone else has and seek the things of Christ, then we will receive more than what we need.
There are many who refuse to believe in Christ because they cannot understand how God could allow all the evil to take place if He loves them so much. Well, let me tell you, God is not in control of your life, you are. If you want less evil in your life, then get rid of the sin and stop living in the lusts of your flesh. Lust goes beyond the mere desire of wanting something to please the flesh, it is an obsession to feed the flesh with what it desires, and it destroys whomever it controls, including Christians. God will allow sin, and if you continue to live in sin, He will let you dangle there sometimes, hanging on by the thread of your faith in Christ until you repent. A true believer will not waver in their faith in Christ, even when they do have sin in their lives, they just suffer in their sin until they repent, or God brings them home because they allowed the sin to take over them. Peter reminds us that as long as we are walking with Christ, He will deliver us from all evil.
[2 Peter 2:9-10,12-15 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;]
[But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness,] Peter is referring to those who think they will never end up in hell because of their own self will. They know of Jesus, and maybe even say they got saved, but there is no sign of Christ in them at all. We are seeing a lot of this, especially this year, as Christians and churches are being persecuted if they even step foot in a church, while thousands of people riot in the streets, destroying the very lives and things they are supposed to be fighting against. Brute beasts, those speaking evil of things they do not understand; rioting in the daytime; deceiving; cunning; unstable; cursed children; corrupt politicians promising freedom. And this is within the church, half of the saved world, is entangled in some kind of sin, they know it is against God’s Word, but continue in their sin, justifying their actions by their salvation.
[2 Peter 3:3-4,8-10,14,17-18 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.]
[Where is the promise of his coming?] We do not know the hour in which Christ will return, but we do know that we better be prepared. Let me make one thing clear, we are saved by grace through our faith and acceptance of the Lord, Jesus Christ. However, we are not saved from the consequences that result from living an immoral or wicked life if we do not repent of them. Jude reminds us of the judgment to come upon all, the saved may not face hell, but they do face judgment before they die. The Book of Jude was written by Jude (brother of James and earthly brother of Jesus by Mary and Joseph), in 66AD also, to those of the common salvation. The purpose of the letter was to remind them also of the judgment coming and false teachers. What we are to learn from it is that we must always be on alert on those who divert believers from the truth of God’s Word.
[Jude 1:1-4,20-25 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: 2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.]
[and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith] We are in a fight here, a fight for our faith in Jesus Christ, and we must not stop defending the cross until the day God takes us home or Jesus returns, [Ephesians 6:12-13 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Happy Birthday to You! You did not have to do it, but you became one of us, You took on human form, and all the pain, suffering, and death that comes with it. Thank You for the great sacrifice You made in becoming like one of us so that You could give Your life to save us. You could have jumped off that cross, You could have changed Your mind and made us fend for ourselves, but you gave Your life to save us, all because You love us too much to see us end up in hell with the devil, fallen angels, false prophets, and all unbelievers. Lord, I know I am saved through my faith in You alone, I do not want to just get by here with my salvation, I want all the fruit that comes from my faithfulness to You. Lord, walk with me, give me faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. Through Your power, I know I can do all things. I ask these things in Your name Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, and have a blessed Christmas, I am praying for you,
Christina
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