Friday, August 15, 2025

God is Good

 


God is Good

Psalm 145:9; 107:9; 34:8

This concept is a fundamental theme in the Christian Faith; it is often expressed through praise, worship, and acts of service to others. 

Notice a more in-depth description:

Regarding God's Character:

God is inherently good, meaning that He is incapable of evil or wrongdoing. His very nature is described as perfectly good, righteous, and full of integrity. 

The Bible repeatedly highlights the goodness of the God. Psalm 145:9 states, "The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works." A declarative statement highlighting His essential generosity to all creation. Psalm 107:9 asserts, "For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness," demonstrating His faithful provisions. He is always true to His promises. This faithfulness provides security and stability for us, knowing that God will never abandon us. Additionally, Psalm 34:8 encourages, "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Yes, God is ‘good’ and in ultimate control of all things, yet He allows for human choice and responsibility by extending this warm invitation. This sovereignty does not negate His goodness but demonstrates His power, wisdom, and our opportunity. 

God is good! We are encouraged to correctly perceive Him as ‘good’ and free of all and any bad. God's good character encompasses attributes like love, justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Again, not merely an attribute, but His ‘goodness’ is the very essence of His being, prompting His activities and exchanges with people. This goodness is seen in His providing, His willingness to offer forgiveness, and His desire for the welfare of all creation. Summarily, God's good character is the groundwork for His relationship with people, offering love, affording forgiveness, and providing hope. 

The Bible painstakingly emphasizes God's goodness:

  • Psalm 23:6: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." 
  • Psalm 31:19: "Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!" 
  • Psalm 107:1: "O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." 
  • Nahum 1:7: "The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." 
  • Lamentations 3:25: "The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him." 
  • Romans 2:4: "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" 
  • Ephesians 2:7: "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." 
  • Titus 3:4-5: "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." 

God really wanted us to grasp this fundamental truth about Himself: He is good! He said this, demonstrated it, illustrated it, punctuated it repeatedly throughout the Bible so that we would not miss the fact that He is good. Goodness is not merely an abstract concept but also a reflection of God's activities and interactions with the world. This includes His acts of creation, provision, and salvation. Whether its formation, redemption, or consummation God is always good, doing good, and bringing about good. He even works all things together for our good because we love God deeply, are brothers and sisters of His Son, the Lord Jesus, and he has a brilliant purpose for us in Christ. So many other doctrines are correctly expressed and explain, but this idea must not be forgotten by us who claim to believe God’s Word. He is good; God is good! The devil is evil, sin is evil, the World system is bad, the flesh is bad, but God is good all the time!

The Bible is filled with examples of God's goodness, from the creation account where God declares everything He made to be "very good" to the explanations of His faithfulness and provision throughout history. Specific statements like Psalm 23:6, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" and Psalm 34:8, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good" highlight this beautiful truth. 

Really embracing this idea of God can be challenging when life goes sideways and crazy. In fact, our circumstances can cause us to spin out of control if we do not have a correct view of God. Part of the problem is we tend to interpret God through the lends of our problems and struggles. We are inclined to classify Him as good if He is ‘blessing’ us and those we love. We also see Him as bad when unexpected things pop up and we are obviously not in control. But the character and nature of God remains static and uninfluenced by the changes we are registering. When every day hurts expressively, we fail to see God in and of Himself is still ‘good’ and unchanged. This world is broken by sin and often those consequences touch even the lives of righteous people who do right and are obedient to God. It is not that God is in less control or subject to the problems; in His sovereignty He permits the ugly, painful, and unimaginable in even the most godly saints lives for His own good purposes. Study carefully the first message of the Bible in the book of Job to see this for yourself. Even if God came down to us and personally answered our questions of ‘why the bad’ we may not appreciate the answers, or we will have to confess our ignorance in the brilliant light of His goodness!


Wednesday, August 13, 2025

The Lord is Good

 


The Lord is Good

Psalm 34:8

The phrase "the Lord is good" refers to the belief in God's inherent kindness, generosity, and benevolence towards people and all of creation. 

This expression "The Lord is good" appears often emphasizing God's goodness, mercy, and faithfulness, encouraging believers to trust in Him and praise His name. The point is that God's actions and character are fundamentally good, just, and merciful. 

  • Psalm 34:8: "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him".  Encourages our personal experience and faith in God's goodness, promising blessings to us as we trust in Him. 
  • Psalm 100:5: "For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations". Highlights the enduring nature of God's goodness and mercy, extending throughout all generations. We can unflinchingly count on the Lord to constantly and repeatedly deal with us in mercy and truth according to our reoccurring needs.
  • Psalm 145:9: "The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works". Emphasizes God's universal goodness and the encompassing nature of His tender mercies. Again, we are invited to behave favorably toward God knowing He is good, affectionate, and compassionate in character.

Consider the thoughts of Dr. Ross, “David then wrote of the marvelous nature of God, affirming that He is gracious and compassionate (cf. 111:4), slow to anger, and full of loyal love (the identical statement, in Heb., is given in Ex. 34:6; Neh. 9:17; Pss. 86:15; 103:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2). Because God is good and compassionate to all, all His works and His saints praise Him.”[1]

  • Nahum 1:7: "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him". Places interest on God's protective nature and His awareness of us as we trust in Him. 

Such a truth is clearly brought out in the following quote: “Though the Lord is wrathful and powerful against those who oppose Him, He is good (cf. Ex. 34:6; Pss. 106:1; 107:1; 136:1; Jer. 33:11) to those who trust in Him. He is good in the sense that He is faithful and merciful, protecting (a refuge in times of trouble), helpful, and caring. The Hebrew word for “refuge” is mā‘ôz. Translated “stronghold” in Psalms 27:1; 37:39; 43:2; 52:7, it means a strong, fortified place. The people of Nineveh thought they were safe in their fortifications, but their security was short-lived compared with the comfort and safety God provides for His people.”[2]

Is this idea still relevant today? These considerations continue to be relevant for us currently, encouraging us to seek God and experience His goodness firsthand. This emphasis on God’s goodness and kindness is very healthy. It's a reminder that God is not distant, but a present and active force in the lives of those of us who trust in Him. This truth encourages and supports our relationship with Him, fellowship, and our prayers towards Him.

It is important to remember that God’s characteristic of goodness is balanced by His severity. He should not be perceived as ‘good’ from a mere human perspective, but to remember that God is ‘good’ according to His standpoint. This includes a ‘goodness’ that accounts for his severity, justice, righteousness, and chastening. Frankly, God can only be ‘good’ if He is severe also. Yes, God has a strict capacity as well…He is also stern, demanding, and firm to go alone with His goodness, mercy, generosity, and kindness. We must not imagine God or emphasize this quality separated of the other realities as only merciful, kind, or giving. No, we must also notice Him as severe and strict regarding sin, disobedience, and rebellion. If we ever wonder, God is tremendously balanced in His character.

The notion of the severity, strictness, and judgment of God can be seen clearly from the following verses:

Romans 11:22, Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Exodus 34:6-7, And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Matthew 7:23, And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

John 3:36, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

We must always cherish both aspects of God’s character because they belong together in the Word of God…. His goodness and severity go together. It is only when we truly appreciate His goodness that we adequately consider His severity and vice versa.



[1] Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 896.

[2] Elliott E. Johnson, “Nahum,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1498.


Friday, August 8, 2025

Enter God's Rest (Part 1)


Lesson Five

Enter God’s Rest

Hebrews 4:1–13

 

Theme: Since Christ Jesus, the Son of God, has completed the work of redemption and is at rest, we must accept it, rely on it and enter rest with Him. Accept Christ’s peace for the conscience, the heart, and the mind by faith.

 

Reflection

Begin your study by sharing thoughts on this question. 

1. What misconceptions do people have about finding true peace? 

There are several misconceptions related to true peace. One delusion is the notion that peace is primarily external and must be arranged or constructed in society through amicable interactions. While it is desirable to live in a peaceful society, God has far more in mind than social peace and political stability. Another misconception is that substantial peace must be earned or worked to secure through religious duties and rituals. Many religions, all based on this same flawed philosophy of works, exist in the world because of the quest of the human soul for peace with God. But real peace is ours through faith in Christ and by God’s grace and love, not our efforts to earn it or perform satisfactorily. Another approach is that people attempt to find a kind of peace in a liquor bottle, drugs, activities, or even a certain place. They want to escape the ugliness and dreadfulness of reality by numbing themselves to it…even for relatively short periods. The fact is their minds and perceptions are temporarily impaired, but reality remains uninfluenced in any positive ways. The truth is real peace can only be ours through faith (confidence, reliance, and trust) in Jesus Christ and the Word of God. God provides an inner rest and repose for the mind, heart, and soul of those who believe Him.

 

Bible Reading

Read carefully and thoughtfully Hebrews 4:1–13.   

To those who fail to see themselves as Jesus’ brothers, and to understand the thought of Hebrews 3 and 4, it may seem frightening. Such people might cringe as they imagine these verses describe God examining them, to highlight each hidden fault. But this is not the point at all! The writer has just explained rest. That rest goes beyond the promise of Palestine to Israel. God’s rest is a rest of soul and spirit, a rest of thought and attitude. The inner person is to be at rest as well. And we can rest, for nothing is hidden from God’s gaze. He knows our deepest, most secret needs, and with His Word lays bare that need—and guides us into rest. –The Teacher's Commentary

 

     Commentary

This chapter continues the theme of rest that was begun in 3:11. The word “rest” is used in five different senses in this section: (1) God’s Sabbath rest of Gen. 2:2 and Heb. 4:4, 10; (2) Canaan, the rest for Israel after wandering for forty years (3:11, etc.); (3) the believer’s present salvation rest in Christ (4:3, 10); (4) the overcomer’s present rest of victory (4:11); and (5) the future eternal rest in heaven (4:9). God’s Sabbath rest is a type of our present rest of salvation, following the finished work of Christ on the cross. It is also a picture of the “eternal Sabbath” of glory. Israel’s Canaan rest is similar to the life of victory and blessing we gain as we walk by faith and claim our inheritance in Christ. There are in this chapter four exhortations relating to the life of rest. –Wiersbe, Warren W.: Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament

The nature of rest. The word “rest” is used in Hebrews 3 and 4 in three distinct senses. First is the usage we’ve seen. Entry into the Promised Land, so large a feature of Old Testament history, is a portrait—a tangible example—of the idea of rest.

It was an appropriate picture. God had promised the land to Abraham and his descendants. During the years of Israel’s slavery in Egypt, pagan peoples had populated and improved the land. They had built houses, planted vineyards and orchards, and tamed the wilderness. Yet their lifestyle more and more evidenced the grossest of sins. The time of their judgment by God corresponded with Israel’s release from slavery. In coming into Canaan, Israel would be God’s instrument of judgment on sin—and would inherit riches for which she had not labored. The people would sit under trees they had not planted and drink wine made from grapes of vines they had not cultivated. They would come into a land where the work had been done—and they would rest.

Like Israel of old, you and I in Jesus have been delivered from slavery. Sin’s power in our lives has been broken, and we are called by God to enter a “Promised Land” experience, in which we will rest. We are to enjoy the benefits of the work Jesus has done for us. The Christian life is not one of struggle to carve out a bare living in the wilderness. The Christian life is one of appropriating all the benefits of the spiritual abundance that Jesus so richly provides.

A second connotation of “rest” is seen in the application of the term to God’s own rest on completion of Creation. The Jewish teachers had noted a fascinating feature of the Genesis account. For each of the first six days, the text speaks of “evening and morning.” The beginning and the end were clearly marked off. But the seventh day has no such demarcation. The rabbis took this to mean that God’s rest has no end. With the creative work complete, God is not inactive, but He no longer creates, for that work is done.

Strikingly, it is His rest (4:5) that believers are invited to enter! We are to come to the place where we appropriate fully what God has done, and while never becoming inactive, we do stop laboring. The load of a Christian life that some experience as a struggle is lifted. The pressure of trying harder is gone. –The Teacher's Commentary

      Outline

In this section, there are three primary segments.  First is a review of Israel’s example of unbelief and their consequent failure to enter God’s rest (Heb. 4:1-9). Secondly, as Christians we are challenged to follow Christ (Heb. 4:7-11), and thirdly, submit our inner most hearts to the scrutiny (examination, search, analysis, laying bare) of the Word, and believe (trust) God to personally appropriate—fittingly adopt and depend on without reservation—the heavenly and spiritual blessings of His everlasting rest (Heb. 4:12-13).

 

I.                 Understand that God Still Offers the Promise of His Rest to His People (Heb. 4:1-6, 9).

a.      Fear the Possibility of Coming Short of God’s Rest (4:1).

b.      Take Advantage of the Good News of Rest by Exercising Faith in this Promise (4:2-3).

c.      Bear in Mind God’s Rest is Still Available (4:4-6, 9).

d.      Beware of Unbelief and Unresponsiveness to God’s Word (4:6)

II.               Respond Now in Faith to God’s Offer; Let us Labor to Enter His Rest (Heb. 4:7-11).

a.      God Has Been Patient with Israel’s Slow Respond to His Offers (4:7, 8).

b.      God Expects an Immediate Response to His Offer of Rest (4:7).

c.      We must Labor to Enter into His Rest to Avoid Falling in Unbelief (4:11).

III.             Trust God’s Word to Reveal Unbelief, Detect Genuine Faith, and the Needs of our Hearts (Heb. 4:12-13).

a.      Trust the Word to Expose the Thoughts and Motives of our Hearts (4:12).

b.      Trust God to Help You Understand the Condition of Your Heart (4:13).

 

Discovery

Explore the Bible reading by discussing these questions.

2.  Why didn't the Hebrews enter God's rest? (Heb. 4:1-3)                                      

Having reminded his readers that the generation which came out of Egypt did not enter into the rest of Canaan because of unbelief, the writer now proceeds to warn them of a possible failure on their part of entering into rest in Messiah. —Wuest, Kenneth S.:

A.    A Reflective Command for Believers to Follow (v. 1-9)

1.      Our Recourse—“Let us therefore fear

a.      Should be influenced by our focus on Christ as Apostle and High Priest (3:1)

b.      Should be influenced by the superiority of Christ’s revelation over Moses’ (3:2)

c.      Should be influenced by the failure of Israel to enter rest because of unbelief and hardened hearts (3:7-19)

d.      Should be influenced by the fact that the opportunity to enter God’s rest still stands (4:1)

                                                              i.     Believers today may enter and enjoy their spiritual inheritance in Christ. We must be careful lest we fail to believe God’s Word, for it is only as the Word is “mixed with faith” that it can accomplish its purposes.

1.      The phrase, “let us fear” means both reverential respect for the judgment of God upon unbelief, and the attitude in which the believer examines his own heart.

2.      If these Hebrews forgot Christ’s ultimate triumph over His enemies and theirs (Heb. 1:13-14), then they will fail to continue in faith.  If they lack faith in the power of God to bring them victory, their unbelief will forfeit God’s rest. Paul urges them therefore, to “fear”—to take it to heart that unbelief—lack of confidence in God—is the reason Israel did not enter the land.

3.      It is with reverential fear all are to examine their own spiritual condition (1 Cor. 10:12; 2 Cor. 13:5) and to actively press for commitment on the part of others (Jude 23). 

                                                            ii.     The Canaan rest for Israel is a picture of the spiritual rest we find in Christ when we surrender to Him.

1.      When we come to Christ by faith, we find salvation rest (Matt. 11:28).

2.      When we yield and learn of Him and obey Him by faith, we enjoy submission rest (Matt. 11:29–30).

3.      The first is “peace with God” (Rom. 5:1); the second is the “peace of God” (Phil. 4:6–8). It is by believing that we enter into rest (Heb. 4:3); it is by obeying God by faith and surrendering to His will that the rest enters into us. –The Bible Exposition Commentary

2.      Our Reasons (4:1b-9)

a.      The Assurance of an Available Promise of Rest (v. 1)

                                                              i.     No one should conclude that the promise of rest is no longer valid. It has never had a complete and final fulfillment in the past; therefore the offer is still in effect.

                                                            ii.     The argument in this section is given in several propositions:

1.      God finished His work and rested, so that His rest has been available since Creation (4:4).

2.      The Jews failed to enter into their rest (4:6).

3.      Many years later (Ps. 95), God said that a rest was still available (4:7). That “today” is still here!

4.      This means that Joshua did not lead Israel into the true rest, because a rest still remains (4:8-9).

                                                           iii.     The promise stands. This is the thought with which the chapter begins (v. 1). Even though a later, obedient generation did enter the Promised Land, that entry did not completely fulfill the promise of a “rest” for God’s people. In fact, much later, in the time of David, the promise and the warning were repeated: “Today, if ye will hear His voice” (v. 7). If God’s full blessing for His people had been granted when Joshua led Israel into Palestine, then the promise of a rest would not have been repeated much later to the people of David’s day, or by the writer of Hebrews to Christians then and now. –The Teacher's Commentary

                                                           iv.     The promise is “entering into His rest.” This is the rest God gives to believers involving His peace, confidence of salvation, dependence on His power, and assurance of a future home in heaven (Matt. 11:29). Since there remains a rest, don’t think that believers have missed entirely their opportunity to take advantage of it (Heb. 12:15).

1.      Christ invites us to the rest of salvation (Matt. 11:28). Notice that rest here is a gift; it is unearned and unmerited. This is the rest of salvation that comes from realizing that Christ finished the work of redemption on Calvary’s cross. It is the rest of conscience that follows the realization that the penalty of one’s sins has been paid once for all and that God will not demand payment twice.

2.      Christ invites us to the rest of service (Matt. 11:29-30). In verses 29 and 30, the invitation changes from salvation to service.

(1)   Take My yoke upon you. To “take a yoke” in that day meant to become a disciple. When we submit to Christ, we are yoked to Him. Enter into submission to His will; turn over control of your life to Him (Rom. 12:1, 2).

(2)   and learn of Me. This command does not represent a crisis as we come and yield to Christ; but this step is into a process. As we learn more about Him, we find a deeper peace, because we trust Him more. Life is simplified and unified around the person of Christ. This invitation is for “all”—not just the people of Israel (Matt. 10:5–6).  As we acknowledge His lordship in every area of our lives, He trains us in His ways.

(3)   for I am meek [gentle] and lowly in heart. In contrast to the Pharisees who were harsh and proud, the true Teacher is meek and lowly. Those who take His yoke will learn to take the lowest place.

(4)   and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Here it is not the rest of conscience but the rest of heart that is found by taking the lowest place before God and man. It is also the rest that one experiences in the service of Christ when he stops trying to be great.

(5)   “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Again there is a striking contrast with the Pharisees (Matt. 23:4).  Jesus’ yoke is easy; it does not chafe. Someone has suggested that if Jesus had had a sign outside His carpenter’s shop, it would have read, “My yokes fit well.”  The word “easy” means “well-fitting”; He has just the yoke that is tailor-made for our lives and needs. The burden of doing His will is not a heavy one (1 John 5:3).

(6)   His burden is light. This does not mean that there are no problems, trials, labor, or heartaches in the Christian life. But it does mean that we do not have to bear them alone. We are yoked with One who gives sufficient grace for every time of need. To serve Him is not bondage but perfect freedom.

                                                             v.     The fatal mistake for the believer is to seek to bear life’s load in a single collar. God never intended a man to carry his burden alone. Christ therefore deals only in yokes! A yoke is a neck harness for two, and the Lord himself pleads to be One of the two. He wants to share the labor of any galling task. The secret of peace and victory in the Christian life is found in putting off the taxing collar of “self” and accepting the Master’s relaxing “yoke.” –J. H. Jowett

b.      The Possibility of Coming Short of the Goal of Rest (v. 1)

                                                              i.     All who profess to be believers should make sure that they do not come short of the goal. If their profession is empty, there is always the danger of turning away from Christ and embracing some powerless religious system that cannot save.

                                                            ii.     We should be careful that none of us suppose that we have missed the Lord’s Rest.

1.      Moses showed clearly (Deut. 3:18-20; 12:9-11) that for Israel their rest was their inheritance. In the same way it is natural to suppose that the term “rest” also refers to the functional equivalent for a Christian’s inheritance.

2.      That Christians are “heirs” has already been affirmed (Heb. 1:14) and this will be repeated (6:12, 17; cf. 9:15). The inheritance cannot be separated from Messiah’s kingdom and His “partners’” share in it (12:28).

3.      The concern is that no one would think they had missed their “inheritance- rest.” Some struggled with the problem of the delay in the Second Coming, and needed to exercise patience—Christ is coming and will not delay (10:36-37). If this was God’s concern, it was urgent to show that this promised “rest” is still available.

 

 Response

Use these questions to share more deeply with each other.

3.  What is the rest God offers his people?

 

4.  How can we experience God's rest both now and in the future?

 

 Journaling

Take a few moments to record your personal insights from this lesson.

5. What steps can I take to more fully enjoy God's rest this week?

 

 

 


Friday, July 4, 2025

Awakened by Holy Stimuli


1 Peter 1:17-21

                   Spiritual Stimulation Involves Holy Considerations.
A fear of God is largely missing in our society, but that is not the saddest reality. Far too many Believers have little to no measurable respect for God as Father or Judge. From the appearance of things not many Christians cherish deeply the extraordinary price paid for our redemption. The result is a generation of professing Believers who have little or no desire to sustain holy and godly lifestyles. Immorality, sex outside of marriage, lying, cheating, coveting, and materialism are more a part of Believers’ lives then the Word of God and walking in the Spirit. We need a special blend of holy stimulation to awaken godly desires deep within the recesses of our souls. Here are some helpful considerations:
A.     Consider how God is the Father and the Impartial Judge; continue your journey with the utmost respect for Him (17).
                                                   i.      Get Serious About Combating Sin.  Interactivity with a father and a judge demands respect! As God’s children, we need to respect Him by being serious about refusing sin and pursuing holiness. Our Heavenly Father is a holy (John 17:11) and righteous Father (John 17:25). He will not compromise with sin. He is merciful and forgiving, but He is also a loving disciplinarian who cannot permit His children to enjoy sin. After all, it was sin that sent His Son to the cross. If we call God “Father,” then we should reflect His nature.
                                                 ii.      Don’t Worry About Punishment for Sins. 
1.      What is this judgment that Peter wrote about? It is the judgment of a believer’s works. It has nothing to do with salvation, except that salvation ought to produce good works (Titus 1:16; 2:7, 12). When we trusted Christ, God forgave our sins and declared us righteous in His Son (Rom. 5:1–10; 8:1–4; Col. 2:13). Our sins have already been judged on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), and therefore they cannot be held against us (Heb. 10:10–18).
2.      The Fathers judgment of His own in this life is chastening and corrective, not eternal punishment; He has committed the judgment of sinners to the Lord Jesus (John 5:22). The prospect of God’s corrective measures should awaken holy respect in the heart of God’s people.
3.      Lincoln writes: “He is looking on, taking notice of all, whether there is integrity of purpose, intelligence of mind, and desire of heart to please Him.”
                                                iii.      Prepare for the Judgment Seat of Christ.  But when the Lord returns, there will be a time of judgment called “the Judgment Seat of Christ” (Rom. 14:10–12; 2 Cor. 5:9–10). Each of us will give an account of his works, and each will receive the appropriate reward. This is a “family judgment,” the Father dealing with His beloved children. The Greek word translated judgeth carries the meaning “to judge in order to find something good.” God will search into the motives for our ministry; He will examine our hearts. But He assures us that His purpose is to glorify Himself in our lives and ministries, “and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Cor. 4:5). What an encouragement! –Wiersbe: The Bible Exposition Commentary
                                               iv.      Live Daily with a Healthy Fear of God.
1.      We are to pass the time of our stay on earth in fear. As we realize the extent of His knowledge and the accuracy of His judgment, we should live with a wholesome fear of displeasing Him.
2.      Christians are not at home in this world. We are living in a foreign country, exiled from heaven. We should not settle down as if this were our permanent dwelling. Neither should we imitate the behavior of the earth-dwellers. We should always remember our heavenly destiny and behave ourselves as citizens of heaven (MacDonald, W.).
B.     Consider how Christ is our Redemption Sacrifice; place your faith and hope in God (18-21).
                                                   i.      Remember Your Bondage (1:18).  Redeem means to buy back someone from bondage by the payment of a price; to set free by paying a ransom. “Redemption” was a technical term for money paid to buy back a prisoner of war. Here it is used of the price paid to buy the freedom of one in the bondage of sin and under the curse of the law (i.e., eternal death, cf. Gal. 3:13). The price paid to a holy God was the shed blood of His own Son (cf. Ex. 12:1–13; 15:13; Ps. 78:35; Acts 20:28; Rom. 3:24; Gal. 4:4, 5; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:11–17).
                                                 ii.      Do Not Lead a Full, But Empty Life (1:18).  We were not redeemed with perishable money (18).
1.      Before our conversion, we were the same as the rest of the world (1:18). Our talk and walk were as empty and trivial as everyone else around us. Our unconverted days are described as vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers. Peter’s focus is not on any specific action, but on the way of life that we inherited from our ancestors. Those old ways were futile, empty of power and incapable of securing salvation. Like Peter’s readers we all needed to be snatched from our hopeless condition. 
2.      But now we have been ransomed from that futile existence by a tremendous transaction. We have been rescued from the slavery of world-conformity by the payment of an infinite ransom. No, it was not with silver or gold that we kidnap victims have been freed (see Ex. 30:15)!
                                                iii.      Note the Cost of Your Redemption (1:19-21).  We were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (19-21). Peter describes Christ as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, who is offered in our place to pay the price for our sins. God’s way of salvation is contrasted to human attempts at gaining salvation through the use of earthly means (v. 18).
1.      Nothing Compares To His Perfection (19).  Christ is a lamb without blemish or spot, that is, He is absolutely perfect, inwardly and outwardly.
a.       Precious blood: a lamb: The analogy here may be a reference either to the Passover lamb (see Ex. 12:3–6) or to the many lambs without blemish that were offered as part of the Old Testament sacrificial system (see Lev. 23:12; Num. 6:14; 28:3).
b.      If a believer is ever tempted to return to worldly pleasures and amusements, to adopt worldly modes and patterns, to become like the world in its false ways, he should remember that Christ shed His blood to deliver him from that kind of life. To go back to the world is to re-cross the great gulf that was bridged for us at staggering cost. But even more—it is positive disloyalty to the Savior.
c.       “Reason back from the greatness of the sacrifice to the greatness of the sin. Then determine to be done forever with that which cost God’s Son His life.” –MacDonald: Believer's Bible Commentary
2.      Nothing Compares To His Predestination (20). Foreordained indicates that God has known (v. 2) the One who would bring salvation, even as He has known those to whom that salvation is offered and secured (see Rom. 11:2).  Christ’s death was planned, not and accident or unexpected turn of events.  God designed it with us in mind!
3.      Nothing Compares To His Manifestation (20b).  But was manifest,” this phrase contrasts with the first half of the verse. What was known only to God before the creation of the world is now made known to us. The payment for sin was planned before the Creation of the world and revealed for people’s sake through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. (The present Age is these last times [1:20] whereas the coming Age is “the last time” [v. 5].)
4.      Nothing Compares To His Resurrection (21). 
a.       Peter made it clear that Christ’s death was an appointment, not an accident; for it was ordained by God before the foundation of the world (Acts 2:23). From the human perspective, our Lord was cruelly murdered; but from the divine perspective, He laid down His life for sinners (John 10:17–18). But He was raised from the dead! Now, anyone who trusts Him will be saved for eternity.
b.      When you and I meditate on the sacrifice of Christ for us, certainly we should want to obey God and live holy lives for His glory.
5.      Nothing Compares To His Glorification (21). The Father indicated His complete satisfaction with Christ’s redeeming work by raising Him out from among the dead ones and honoring Him with the place of highest glory in heaven. The result of all this is that our faith and hope might be in God. It is in Him, not in the present evil world system, that we live and move and have our being.
a.       That our faith and hope might be in God (21).  It is through Christ, whom the Father resurrected (1:3) and glorified in His Ascension (John 17:5; Heb. 1:3) that people may come to know and trust in God. As a result of God’s eternal plan and priceless payment for sin, faith and hope can be placed in Him.
b.      Loyalty to the Lord Jesus is further demanded by the fact that it is through Him we have come to believe in God. He is the One who has revealed the Father’s heart to us. As W. T. P. Wolston says: “it is not by creation nor providence nor law that man knows God, but by Christ.” 
Conclusion:
We can cultivate stronger desires to live holy by believing, embracing, and acting on strong biblical and theological truths. Allow the holiness of God and the price of redemption to deeply impress your innermost being! Find stimulating hope in the Revelation of Jesus Christ! Make a point of living holy in practical ways each day of life. Christ died for you and me that we should live for Him! Is your desire to live holy spiritually strong, or is it beginning to weaken under the pressure of worldly appeals to conform? Are you fully persuaded to lead a devoted life? Is it your defining aim to please Christ? Have you prepared for living differently by placing the grace of Christ return before you?  Have you decided to be an obedient child living holy because God, your Father, is holy?  Can you think deeply upon the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ and still harbor casual attitudes toward sin? Allow these questions to awaken and alert you to where you are presently in your walk with the Lord. While you are at it, have a large mug of God’s holy java!

MaxEvangel's Promise

MaxEvangel's Promise
We will Always Honor Christ-centered Perspectives!