Interpretive Journey 1 Peter 5:6-7

Interpretive Journey 1 Peter 5:6-7

            1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you”.  This is one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible.  As we look at the five steps of how to apply, or live out, this scripture we will see what the author’s meaning was and still is today. 

            The first step of the interpretive journey is to grasp the text in their own town looking at the historical and cultural text.  This Epistle was written around 64 AD and was passed around between 5 different provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.  Peter wrote this letter at a time when Nero began his violent outrage against believers in Rome.  Peter refers to the recipients of this letter as pilgrims, strangers in this world, sojourners.  Knowing that Christians would be persecuted he was trying to encourage them to endure the trials and put your hope in Jesus because in a little while this will all be over.  He also challenges the believer to have righteous conduct.  It seems that this Epistle is meant for a more general audience and its intent was more than just a letter.  It was intended to be widely spread to give a message of hope and exhortation especially during the time of Nero persecution. 

            The second step of the interpretive journey is to measure the width of the river to cross.  This is the step where the Christian today can see the differences from the biblical audience.  In this specific Bible passage there are some differences.  One of the main differences is the fact that there was a violent “president” persecuting Christians.  I live in America and it is hard for me to relate to something like that.  I see on the news where other countries are bullied by their government and oppressed.  Not so much here in the USA.  Although Americans have personal struggles we are not hiding in houses to have Bible study and pray. 

            The third step in the interpretive journey is cross the theological principle bridge communicated by the passage.  The theological principle that I see is humble yourself.  When I read the verses before this passage, especially verse 5 Peter says “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Then Peter goes on to say “humble yourselves, therefore…”.  He is calling Christians who have the hope of Jesus Christ to humble themselves.  This was a very stressful time for Christians because of Nero so when Peter goes on to say “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”  So he is saying I know you are scared and stressed but humble yourselves and know that he cares for you so give him your worries. 

            The fourth step in the interpretive journey is to consult the biblical map.  In other words how does this theological principle fit in with the rest of the Bible?  So many passages come to mind but I want to bring out two right now.  The first one is Philippians 4:6 where Paul say to not be anxious for anything but instead go to God an pray.  The second verse is in James 4:10 where he says “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”  So it is a theological principle that is throughout the Bible.  There is nothing in the Bible to refute the theological principle of humbling oneself and casting cares on Jesus. 

            The fifth step in the interpretive journey is to grasp the text in our town.  How should individual Christians today live out this theological principle?  Peter was talking to an audience that was starting to be violently persecuted whereas today in America we are not under that kind of violent persecution.  The principle of Christians humbling themselves is still a valid theological principle.  Humility is associated with setting aside our selfishness and looking to the needs of others.  However in this passage of 1 Peter 5:6-7 it would appear that he is encouraging Christians to humble themselves and rely on God to get them through.  That is why Peter keeps reminding them of the hope in Christ Jesus.  It is worth saying that in verse 5 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”, the oppose in the Greek means to set oneself against.  So if you read this verse this way God sets himself against, in a battle way, the proud but gives grace to the humble.  The proud is something that God hates and is willing to do battle against it.  Pride is the same thing as the devil.  Humility brings about God’s grace and He becomes your warrior as you cast all your cares on Him as well. 

Ralph Winter - Unreached Peoples and Beyond (1974 to Now)

Spiritual Gifts....

Spiritual Gifts within the body of Christ has been debated for centuries and there is still a difference of opinion today of the validity of spiritual gifts within the church.  It is also debated whether they really exist.  Over the centuries spiritual gifts have been misunderstood and because of that the body of Christ is not functioning to its fullest capacity.  In this essay I will define what spiritual gifts are and their purpose, the difference between spiritual gifts and the gifts of the spirit, the purpose of tongues and whether tongues is valid today.

Spiritual gifts are defined by Elwell as gifts from God enabling the Christian to perform his or her service (Elwell pg 1135).  The most common term used in the NT is charisma which means spiritual gift.  This is important because it is used in relation to God’s grace.  Spiritual gifts are manifestations of God’s grace whether normal or abnormal.  As Elwell says spiritual gifts purpose was always the edification of believers.  The spiritual gifts are also service to the church. 

There is a difference between the spiritual gifts and the fruit of the spirit.  Spiritual gifts are to be used in service, whereas fruits of the spirit relates to a Christians character (Towns pg 317).  The fruits of the Spirit will show a person’s maturity.  The gifts of the spirit are not contingent upon whether a person is godly.  They are an external manifestation of God.  The fruits of the Spirit show maturity because they show character.  For example in 1 Corinthians 13:1-4 Paul says if you have tongues, faith, knowledge, and service but have not love you are nothing.  Love is the foundation of the fruits of Spirit and is the goal of our lives. 

The definition of speaking in tongues comes from the Greek word glossolalia which is: profuse and often emotionally charged speech that mimics coherent speech but is usually unintelligible to the listener and that is uttered in some states of religious ecstasy and in some schizophrenic states (Merriam Webster’s dictionary). Speaking in tongues has two functions: one was the affirmation of a group entering the church and the other is it is a “spiritual gift” bestowed on chosen people by God.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14 that when you speak in a tongue your mind is unfruitful.  In that same chapter Paul says that when you speak in tongues you edify yourself.  That word edify in the Greek implies a recharging.  So we can say that speaking in tongues is able to help you recharge your spirit and stay in communion with God.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit is when one becomes filled with the Holy Spirit and is placed in the body of Christ (Towns pg 296).  In Luke 12:49 Jesus says “I have come to bring fire on the earth and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed”.  This verse is talking about the death, burial and resurrection Christ.  This is also laid out well in Romans chapter 6.  The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the gift from the Father that Jesus talked about.  It is the indwelling and promise of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. 

Speaking in tongues is not a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Some have insisted that the Spirit coincides with conversion.  Some insist that to receive the Spirit is with water baptism.  Others insist that the baptism of the Spirit is not related to conversion and is independent of water baptism.  The Holy Spirit is not energy or something you can get if you do something.  It is not some sort of magical power you can tap into.  The Holy Spirit is a being and is the third part of the Trinity.  He is a person just like Jesus.  The Holy Spirit comes into us at conversion.

Inerrancy and Inspiration

            In many of the debates I have had with friends and family I have found that the one argument that consistently rises to the top about the Bible is whether or not it is accurate and inerrant.  How can the Bible have been interpreted correctly from one translation to another is the question that I hear over and over.  How could the Bible be inspired by God when it was man who wrote it down is another question I hear over and over.  In this essay I would like to address the questions of inerrancy and inspiration.

            Biblical authority must begin with God himself.  God will reveal Himself to His people through revelation.  In doing so, God can declare His authority.  Jesus himself had to submit to the authority of God the Father.  God the Father sets the authoritative standard if you will.  Jesus said in John 14 that He only does what the Father tells Him to do and says what the Father tells Him to say.  Knowing that God the Father is both true and truthful, (John 8:26, Romans 15:8), we take God at His word.  The word truth describes both God and the Word of God.  Therefore, if the Word of God and God are the same which is truth we can then say that it is reliable and therefore authoritative. 

            The word inspiration comes from the Greek word theopneustos.  This word is found in the book of 2 Timothy 3:16.  The two words God and Spirit make up the word inspiration.  So when you say that the writers of Scripture were inspired you could say that the writings were God breathed.  The Word of God was actually formed by the breath of God.  There are many Scriptures that say what the Word of God is.  For example, The Gospel of John says that the

       Word became flesh and dwelt among us, referring to Jesus.  Hebrews 4 says that the Word is living and active dividing body soul and spirit.  The Word is not only inspired but alive through

the person of Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit.  God actually breathed His Spirit into Adam and gave him life.  The inspired Word of God gives life. 

            Inerrancy is the view that when all facts become known they will demonstrate that the Bible is true in its original form or autographs (Elwell pg 156).  2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is inspired by God.  My view is the Biblical argument.  If the Bible says that it is inspired by God then it is reliable and true.  Although, because tradition says through the Historical argument that the Bible is inerrant we can also conclude the Scriptures are reliable.  I think that the Biblical argument has a better foundation because it is straight from God the Father.  .  The Epistemological argument says that you have no foundation if you deny inerrancy.  Slippery Slope argument says that you can give up on inerrancy and eventually allow your faith to become crushed and fall away from the faith.  The Epistemological argument is very evident today along with the Slippery Slope argument and I have found that many people today fall into these two arguments.  I have seen several of my friends fall away from the faith and/or slide on the slippery slope because they reject or doubt the reliability of the Scriptures.

            Knowing that Gods Word is inerrant is to know that it is authoritative.  To say that it is inerrant is also to say that the Word is inspired.  Therefore, we can say that “inerrancy states that what is inspired is authoritative” (Towns pg 65).  Knowing that the Word of God is inerrant is a key to my walk with God.  Knowing that the Scriptures are authoritative gives me confidence. 

         Knowing that all Scripture is inspired by God is life giving.  When I go to the Word of God I want to know that what I am reading is “truth”, aletheia, reliable.  I see in the Word that it says what it is and what it is good for.  Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edge sword, it even penetrates dividing, soul, and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that the word of God is good for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be equipped for every good work.  The word is also seed to scattered (Matt 13).  I have confidence that when I go to the inerrant, inspired Word of God I will find the revelation of how to have a relationship with my Creator and love those around me. 

What Is the Word of God...

When you think of the Word of God what do you think of?  Do you think of a book of over a thousand pages that only scholars can read and understand?  Do you think about how it was penned by humans and how it probably has mistakes?  Maybe it is a book of good childrens stories and has good morals to follow.  I would like to suggest looking at what the Word of God says about itself.  There are many things that the Word says about itself but in this blog lets start with the Gospel of John.  John says in his Gospel that the Word was with God and the Word was God. 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1).  Later in that same chapter it says that the Word became flesh. 

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me." For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.   No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:14-18)

Now I know that there has been some good in depth teaching on this Scripture.  All i would like to point out is that the Word of God is Jesus.  When it says that the Word came and dwelt among us it is like Jesus pitched a tent with us.  That is what the word dwelt actually means.  I like how Dr Dan Hayden puts it in his studies.

"This word skene (tent) is the very word used in the New Testament to refer to the tabernacle of God used by Israel in their early worship of God. If you remember, the tabernacle was a wooden structure with a tent pitched over the top. In the Greek New Testament therefore, the word translated “tabernacle” is skene — “the tent” (Acts 7:44; Hebrews 8:2, 5, and chapter 9). Hence, when the glory of God descended to the earth to take up residence in the midst of Israel as described in Exodus 40:34-38, it could be said that God “pitched His tent” among men. The writer of the book of Hebrews calls it “the true tent [skene] that the Lord set up” (Hebrews 8:2). The glory of God went camping with Israel as Israel wandered in the wilderness."  http://www.awordfromtheword.org/dwelt.

Dr Dan Hayden makes a good point to say that just as the tabernacle was used in desert by the Israelites Jesus came down and dwelt among us and pitched a tent. So I would like to throw this out there. If Jesus is the Word and the Word came and dwelt among us what is it that we are supposed to preach when it says to preach the word. 

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

 When you look at the Greek for Word in John 1:1 and 2 Timothy 4:2 it is the same word logos in the Greek.  Therefore we are to preach as a herald, as the greek says, Jesus.  Jesus is who we are suppose to preach.  So what is Jesus?  Jesus is so many things but focus on what Jesus did for us and keep it simple.  His death, burial and resurrection.  Our sin is gone and death has been swallowed up (1 Corinthians 15).  Preach Jesus !!!

Pray this with me....Father in the Name of Jesus i thank you that You sent Your one and only Son into the world to dwell among us.  To pitch His tent with us.  Thank You that in Your perfect will Jesus conquered death and took away our sin.  Break our hearts for the lost and please give us simple words to preach to those around us.  In Jesus Name.... Amen!

Focus on God and God Only....

The Bible challenges us to stay focused on God and Him only.  We are commanded to 'set our minds on things above' -Colossians 3 and put no gods before Him which is the first of the 10 commandments.  Throughout the Old Testament God is calling His people to stop worshiping other gods. Turn from their sin and seek the face of God. The people of God would build physical statues out of gold, wood or whatever they could find. They would put their devotion to this other god and not to the God Almighty. It is like Gods people felt like they were missing something. They never seemed to be satisfied and content. The book of Haggai 1:4-6 is a great example of idolatry. 

“Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes” . 

 This describes the world we live in today. Since the beginning people have always tried to find satisfaction with other “gods”. We can see that the God of Hosts is challenging His people to trust Him and look to Him. To build His house (church), which lies in ruins and not their own house. God even says that if the people build His house first He will pour out a blessing so they will be satisfied and not have a need to feel like they have to worship other gods. All this is important for all of us who want to share the Good news with others.  If we are out worshiping other gods and following the ways of this world we will become stagnant and will miss opportunities to share the Gospel.

1 John 2:13-15 says 

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world."

The worlds ways offer nothing because it is not of God.  Our flesh is never satisfied and is always wanting to bind us up to be non fruitful for the kingdom.  As the body of Christ we must kill the desires for the world and desire God Almighty more than anything.  His will be done, His kingdom advance, seek after His presence and not the world.

In the next blogs I want to talk more about these two scriptures.  Ask God to show you where there are gods in your life that are hindering you.  Ask God to show you where your love for the world is to strong.  I pray this:

Father in the Name of Jesus I pray for me and my fellow brothers and sisters to know the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  That we may walk worthy of you and bear fruit in all that we do.  Thank you Jesus that you love us and want others to come and know you.  Help us become bold and fearless to share our faith and proclaim the Gospel, in Jesus Name..... Amen

Actions Speak Louder than Words....

When you think of evangelism what goes thru your mind as a Christian or as a non believer?Should Christians not say anything at all about their faith and just try to live a quiet life?  Lets look at the Scriptures in Romans chapter 10:13-15 

 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (emphasis added).

As we live a life of loving God and loving others we know that this will make a huge impact on those who do not believe.  The Bible is clear that love is an action and not an idea or something we are supposed to talk about (1 John 3:18).  We are supposed to love as the Bible teaches us, in action and in truth.  Actions speak louder than words.  Please allow me to put this question out there to think about.  Are actions enough to cause a person to want salvation and look to Jesus, and declare that He is Lord, and believe He was raised from the dead?

Romans 10:9 "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved"

Are actions enough?  I would challenge all of us to remember that we all have a story to tell.  We can all see the hand of God in our life.  Sharing how God has pulled you through challenging times.  I would also challenge you to talk to others about how Jesus has forgiving your sin and their sin, and  how everyone needs a Savior.  Pray about this and believe the Holy Spirit to give you words to speak and opportunity to speak those words.  Looking at the verses in Romans 10:13-15 we see that we called to preach the Good News to those who do not have the faith to salvation.  Our actions do speak louder than words... but our actions also empower our words when we share our faith.  

Think about what I am saying and ask God to put people on your heart to share the Gospel.  If someone comes to mind then start praying for that person or persons and believe for the right timing.  Gods heart is for the lost. So with that in mind ask God to break your heart for the lost as well.