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: Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Chapters: The Books of II Peter & Jude
Message: Fight For The Baby In A Manger
Hello My Friend,
Happy Birthday Jesus! And Merry Christmas Everyone! Recently, a conversation was started among a group of Christians of whether or not it is appropriate to celebrate Christmas since it was founded on pagan principles, many refusing to have any part of Christmas based on what they read here.
[Jeremiah 10:2-5 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.]
First of all, these were idols that they made from trees, and second, I do not know about you, but I for one am celebrating the birth of Christ just as the angels did at the birth of my Saviour.
[Luke 2:8-14 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.]
There is a lot of commercialism and worldliness in regards to the holiday, but just as the Jews had and still have Holy Days in which they would give thanks to God, and reflect on all that He has done for them, this is why we have Christmas Day, even if it was not the actual day that Jesus was born, [Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.]
The Book of 2 Peter is the twenty-second book of the New Testament, the sixty-first book of the Bible, and contains three chapters. The author of this letter is Peter and it was written to the Christian exiles. The purpose of the letter was to warn them of the dangers of the apostasy and false teaching from within the church. What we are to learn from the book is that judgment is coming to all these false teachers, [2 Peter 2:1,9 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:]
Peter, begins his letter with the reminder to all believers that we must be united with the same faith, and it is through that faith that we become more knowledgeable in the Word of God and better prepared to handle all of the worlds evils and for what is to come before Christ returns.
[2 Peter 1:1-4 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.]
[having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.] The second that one accepts Christ as their Saviour they have escaped the corruption of this world, evil things that the lusts of the flesh held them bondage to. We should not even be thinking about what we can do to remain living in sin after we are saved, [Galatians 4:8-9 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?]
Those who claim they believe in Christ and are saved, but have not changed their ways in the slightest way need to check their salvation as having faith in Him is only the beginning, [2 Peter 1:5-10 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. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:]
[he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off,] Virtue, is not something that we are seeing a lot of these days, even in the Church, those who say they are saved and lack virtue truly are blind to not only the Scriptures, but what should be common sense. However, God’s grace is an amazing thing as it means to be forgiven, and to receive eternal life through no efforts of our own, even if we died in our sin. This is something that no true Christian will fully understand, but if they wise up and escape their sin is all the more grateful for not receiving the punishment they deserved, [Ezra 9:13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;]
As Peter continues his letter, he recalls when Jesus was on the mountain of transfiguration and he saw Him talking with Moses and Elijah [Matthew 17:1-13]. That was all the proof he needed to believe that everything written in the Bible was done under the inspiration of God and will come to pass.
[2 Peter 1:16-19 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:]
[We have also a more sure word of prophecy;] The prophets of old ought to be enough to bring us to Christ, but Jesus took it a step further when He sent not only the twelve Apostles out preaching the Gospel, but other faithful believers as well. First and far most is our faith, we do not need to see it to believe it, but we need to believe it to see it. Jesus, said this to Thomas who would not believe that He raised from the dead until he put his finger in the nail holes in His hands, [John 20:27-29 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.]
Life gets the best of us sometimes, which is why we need these reminders that we belong to Jesus pretty much every day. Not all who say they are Christian think that way, false Christians deceive people into believing that what they are doing is in God’s will when what they are actually doing is their own. Peter, warns about those who appear to be Christians, but are far from it.
[2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.]
[And many shall follow their pernicious ways;] [Pernicious; Destructive; having the quality of killing, destroying or injuring; very injurious or mischievous.] Mark God’s words, every false prophet, preacher, teacher, servant and liar will be judge with the same judgment as the ones who trusted them, [Revelation 21:7-8 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.]
Peter, reminds us that while judgment comes to all, only those saved will survive Judgment Day, and this goes all the way back to the angels who turned on God and are awaiting that day as well, [2 Peter 2:4-7 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:]
[delivered just Lot,] Lot, chose the beautiful plains that led to Sodom because they appealed to his eyes, but learned how wicked the nation was but continued to raise his family there at a distance. He and two of his daughters were the only ones to survive the destruction. Unfortunately, things took a turn for his daughters, but he was still saved because his faith was counted for righteousness, [Genesis 19:29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.]
True Christians can definitely feel that we are in the end times, and yes, that is said of every generation, but the world is truly becoming more corrupt by the second. Peter, warned of how corrupted things will become, [2 Peter 2:9-12 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. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 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;]
[as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed,] [Brute; Senseless; Irrational. Bestial. Rough. Uncivilized. Insensible. A beast. Any person destitute of reason. A brutal person. A savage in heart or manners.] Does any of this sound familiar? It is exactly what many nations are seeing right now, uncivilized people speaking evil of things they do not understand, riots in the daytime, cursed children, and corrupt politicians, and this is within the churches also. However, God, does not need to lift one finger to destroy them, they are destroying themselves by their own corruption. Peter, goes on to describe these natural brute beasts as wells without water.
[2 Peter 2:17-21 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.]
[to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.] These brute beasts know of Jesus, and maybe even say they got saved, and lived as though He was their Saviour for a little while, and then the truth came out. While we are not the judge, we must understand that the world, and quite frankly, half of the Christian world, is entangled in some kind of sin, and they know it is against God. This is why salvation is only made possible if we have truly received Christ and keep our faith until our last breath. Jesus Himself said.
[Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.]
While we are not the judge, we must understand that the world, and quite frankly, half 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. They think that going back into the world and living a sinful life has no consequences? Think again. If God will not spare the angles that have turned on Him and reserved them for judgment, He will not spare anyone who falsely believes in His Son.
[2 Peter 3:1-5 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 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. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:]
[Where is the promise of his coming?] We are saved by grace through our faith and acceptance of the Lord, Jesus Christ as our Saviour, but we are not saved from the consequences that result from living an immoral or wicked life if we do not repent of them. We do not know the hour in which Christ will return, but we do know that we better be prepared.
[2 Peter 3:7-10 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 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.]
[longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,] It truly is awesome to know that as long as there are people here on earth that are seeking Christ that God has not destroyed the planet yet. Then again, mankind is destroying it themselves with their extreme measures to try and escape its destruction. However, that is the best news for us we are saved, we will not only be saved from its total destruction, we get to look forward to the new heavens and earth, [2 Peter 3:11-13 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.]
The Book of Jude was written by Jude in 66AD also, to all saints. The purpose of the letter was to remind them of false teachers and the judgment coming. 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 1:17-18 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.]
Jude, is the brother of James and an earthly brother of Jesus as pertaining to the flesh by Mary and Joseph. Jude, warns us the apostasy within the church and how it creeps into the Church, [Jude 1:1-4 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.]
[earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.] We are in a fight for our faith and we must not stop defending the cross until the day God takes us home or Jesus returns, [1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.]
As merciful and gracious as God is He is well aware of those who take advantage of His good graces. When people start changing His Word and character to suit their flesh, that is when He draws the line. Jude, goes on to remind those the deceiver that from the time that the Jews were freed from Egypt that not all of them crossed over into the promise land.
[Jude 1:5-7 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.]
[set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.] Jude’s message is quit similar to Peter, he goes on to describe some of the past events that were all examples of what happened to those who went against God and failed, [Jude 1:10-12 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;]
[twice dead, plucked up by the roots;] Those who are twice dead are known as those who never accepted Christ or accounted of their righteousness. These are the reprobates, the false teachers, preachers, and servants who send millions of people to hell with their false teachings. Jude, describes events similar to Peter, noting that this went all the way back to the flood that destroyed the earth the first time.
[Jude 1:14-18 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.]
[Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these,] While there is no mention of the prophecy that Enoch spoke to the people before Noah, who was his great grandson, it is recorded that he walked with God, [Genesis 5:22-24 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.]
God, is a patient God, so patient that He is willing to wait until the very last believer receives His Son before sending Him back to earth, but He does not want us acting like heathens either, [Jude 1:21-25 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.]
[of some have compassion..others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;]. God, is not easily provoked by anyone, except by those who deliberately twist His Word and convince others that it is truth. While some people can be won to Christ through compassion, most people will not get saved until they are faced with fear, [2 Corinthians 7:10-11 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [2 Peter 3:9-10 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.]
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, because You love us too much to see us end up in hell. Lord, I know I am saved through my faith in You alone, but I do not want to just get by here with my salvation, through Your power, I know I can do all things. And I ask these things in Your name Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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