Praise God For Our Great Salvation
By Roger Comstock
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV)
The above passage provides the theme of the apostle Peter’s first epistle. We often refer to the apostle John as the apostle of love and Paul as the apostle of faith. Similarly, Peter could be called the apostle of hope. Always remember that the “hope” of the New Testament should be more accurately translated as confident expectation.
For the purposes of this article I want to center our attention on the phrase, “has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”, particularly the word “again”. How was Peter “begotten again”? The word “begotten” is translated by some as “born”, so how was Peter begotten again?
Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:5 that one must be “born again” in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. We know that being born again is normally a synonym for baptism but that is not the case here. Like Peter, we at times get weak in our faith. Peter did as he walked on the water (Matt. 14). And again Peter displayed a weakness of faith in the garden and as he saw the events of Jesus death unfold. But the resurrection renewed that faith and carried him through his apostleship and eventually his death. Thus you see the resurrection gave a new birth to Peter’s faith and confident expectations / hope, just as this verse states. And so the “again” isn’t a re-baptism in water but a powerful rebirth of the faith that had at one time made Peter so bold as to scold the Lord when He was informing them of His impending death.
In fact, Peter’s living faith and living hope would lead him to write this beautiful description of our joint inheritance (Rom. 8:15) as being “incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved”. All of which is the promise of that hope realized ultimately in our eternal salvation at the end of time.
This brief section begins with word “Blessed”. Here it is not the “blessed” of the beatitudes from Jesus’ sermon on the mount in Matthew chapter five, but rather would be more accurately translated as “praise”. And thus we praise our Father for the renewing of our faith and hope by the power of His resurrected Son.
The Inspired Game Warden
By Roger Comstock
I was somewhat surprised by the results when I did a Bible word search and found that lions are mentioned over 120 times in the Bible. David slew a lion to protect his flock (1 Sam 17). And of course Daniel spent some time with the lions (Dan 6). Solomon used lions to decorate his lavish palace (1 Kgs 10). Solomon also tells us why the lion is considered the king of beasts in Proverbs 30:30.
Recently the news has reported on the sighting of a lion (cougar) here in our general area. Having lived where the ‘gators and wild hogs thrive in south Florida and where the bears roam in the East Tennessee Mountains and have visited the mountains of Wyoming and Montana where we saw grizzlies and black bears, I have great respect for the wild animals combined with a love for their God given beauty like many of you.
I’ve also learned that we humans do some not so smart things around wild animals. Park rangers and game wardens warn people but they seem to be oblivious to the dangers posed by nature’s predators.
In the last chapter of Peter’s first epistle he warns of about one particular lion who is roaring, walking, and seeking (1 Pet 5:6-10). And as in everyday life, people seemingly are oblivious to the dangers of this lion which he says is like the devil. As this most dangerous and most successful predator remains on the loose and on the prowl just like the roadside spectacles of tourists, people try to get as close as possible, again oblivious to the danger.
Just like the beauty and awe of the king of beasts, Satan has made his trademark, sin, so very appealing that people seem to be hypnotized into his snare. As the apostle of hope reminds us of the lion’s roaring, walking, and seeking he also describes him as looking to devour. Notice Peter didn’t say lion wanted to cuddle or lick or purr but rather devour. Have you watched the wildlife programs of lions and how they stalk and how they attack and how they gorge themselves on their latest prey?
Although not specifically mentioned here in 1st Peter, it must be quite obvious that the lions prey does not survive, oh sure, once in while the prey escapes but that is rare, but sadly too many are willing to take the risk, to the lion’s delight. So as Peter, the inspired game warden, warns us of the ravaging of the lion we must resist / avoid even coming near to sin. This is a cat and mouse game that you cannot win. James 1:13-15 tells us about the devouring of this lion, “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (NKJV).
Use your faith to resist the temptation or you may be the lion’s next meal!
The All Sufficient God-breathed Word
By Roger Comstock
In the apostle Peter’s writings, he mentions the inspiration of the scriptures several times but each of those occurrences are rather subtle, unlike the apostle Paul who used the Greek word “theopnuestos” (theo – God / pneustos – breathed) from which we translate our word “inspiration”, used only time in the New Testament.
Although Peter doesn’t use the specific word that Paul uses, he says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3). In chapter 1 and verse 20-21 of this same letter he writes, “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” And then in chapter 3 and verse 2 he writes, “that you 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 Savior.”
Each of the above statements are about inspiration though not specifically stated. But I want to fix your attention on the first of these statements, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness …” (2 Peter 1:3). Similarly, the apostle Paul referring to inspiration said, “that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:17b NKJV). You see these statements from these inspired apostles define the purpose of inspiration.
I have long said that the Bible informs mankind as to the best way to live. Setting aside religion (if that were possible) just using God’s word as a standard to live by, it is the best way to live. But the reality is that if a man were to live by the Bible, obviously, that would make him a Christian. Further reality, you cannot take religion out of the Bible any more than you can take Christ out of the gospel or God out of the creation. The major point of inspiration is the total, absolute, unequivocal, all-sufficiency of our New Testament for the purpose of instruction man as to how he be pleasing to God and thus how he can get to heaven. Jude tells us that we have all we need or are going to have (1:3) and Paul tells us that it thoroughly furnishes and here Peter tells us that it provides all for life and godliness.
What else could we possibly ask for? Well, we should ask that man accept the Word just for what it is, complete, thorough and finished. We don’t need miracles or the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we need the Book to read it and apply it.
“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles-- if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),” (Ephesians 3:1-4 NKJV)
The Way of Righteousness
By Roger Comstock
2 Peter 2:21(NKJV)
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness,
than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Lord willing we’ll be traveling for the next couple of weeks. Our plan is to fly to Seattle, Washington then rent a car and drive ultimately arriving in Cheyenne, Wyoming and Custer, South Dakota where I’ll be holding gospel meetings. Our plan is to visit Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota.
I have never driven in half of the above mentioned states. I will take me GPS with me and I assure you I’ll be very dependent on this wizard of modern technology. One of the things that amazes me about using the GPS is how accurate they are, even to a specific house number and street address. I trust my GPS. There have been times that I’ve wondered if the thing was working and where it was taking me. But up to now, the GPS has gotten me to me destination. This will be our third time to hold meetings in Cheyenne and Custer, but it’s been a year since we were there, so I’ll again depend upon the GPS to remind me of where I should be and how to get where I’m going.
This brief outline provides more spiritual parallels than I can cover in this short article. First I had to decide where I want to go. Spiritually I must do the same, I want to go to heaven.
But the I must also decide how I’m going to get there. God has provided mankind with an absolutely perfect road map, His GPS (Gospel Positioning System). Truer than anything any man could devise, the Word is very specific as to the only route to the desired destination, as cited above from 2nd Peter chapter two, “the way of righteousness.”
If I choose to ignore the GPS or make up my own route, I then have no room to complain when I don’t reach the desired destination. So we must look into God’s Word with a heart of commitment to follow the path He has laid out.
As I mentioned above, I sometimes have to go back to the map / GPS to remind me of directions I’ve used in the past but maybe have forgotten or maybe I just need a refreshing of the details. Again, so it is with God’s Word, we need to be continually reminding ourselves of God’s perfect plan and path to follow.
On previous trips we’ve traveled some roads that were difficult and somewhat treacherous and often there are detours and obstacles. Such is the Christian life, but adhering to the route that God has prepare for us will get us over those bumps in the road.
“If Any Man Suffer As A Christian”
By Roger Comstock
I understand that suffering may be a relative term, meaning we all may not see suffering alike. What might be suffering to one person may not be suffering to someone else and we may see it in degrees. Some are of the mind that the journey to heaven consists of being able to endure a certain number of sermons, to some that’s suffering while others may face greater trials.
The actual word “christian” is found in the New Testament only two times. Here in 1 Peter 4:16 “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” (NKJV) the great apostle ties Christianity and suffering together as to say that they go hand in hand. In his first epistle Peter uses some form the word “suffer” 15 times. In more than half of those occurrences he is referring to the suffering of our Lord and in some of those he uses our Lord’s suffering as an example for us, to encourage us as we deal with these challenges to our faith. In fact, he in two occurrences ties trials and suffering together.
Peter, in warning us of the reality of suffering, seems to see suffering as a sort of badge of honor. Certainly, the trials of temptations should be seen as a form of suffering. Satan’s relentless attacking is to be seen as a joy (James 1:2) because it is to have a positive end, that being greater patience (James 1:3). The apostle Paul definitely sees suffering for the cause of Christ as an honor even to be counted worthy of suffering for Christ (2 Thess. 1:5). Jesus said that it is a blessing to be persecuted for His cause (Matt. 5:11-12).
All this being said, just how do we see or evaluate the suffering that may likely come upon us or maybe has already come upon us. We can whine and fuss, cry and moan. Or we can do as Peter says and rejoice (1 Peter 4:13) in the suffering, in whatever form it may come, knowing that our perception of the suffering will determine its ultimate fruit.
So how can I come to a positive attitude toward suffering? First and I think primarily we must focus on the goal, the end result. In athletics there are some athletes who actually see training and practice as a joyous thing. Others may think those people are a little crazy, but it is that attitude of seeing joy in trials and suffering that makes the end result so gratifying. I’ll close this article with just two verses that may help us accomplish that attitude. The apostle Paul said, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18 NKJV). And the apostle Peter’s closing words of this first epistle, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” (1 Peter 5:10 NKJV).
“It Just Isn’t Fair!”
By Roger Comstock
As sad as it may be, the statement that is the title of this article too often true. Bottom line, life frequently isn’t fair, acknowledge it, deal with it! That is a hard pill to swallow, especially if one is young in the faith and in years.
I’ll share a personal scenario with you which is true and in similar ways maybe all too common. A teenage Christian who had been reared in a good “christian” home that was well rooted in Biblical principles and truth and practice. He began to date a schoolmate and as we too often say “one thing led to another” and they made some sinful choices as he surrendered to lust and persuasion and they committed fornication. Though these teens thought they were in love they did not marry until after they had finished high school and the girl became a Christian and their new baby was born and was a few months old by the wedding day. I sang for their wedding, we all believed that they were committed for life, a forgiven, beautiful young family.
Roughly four months later the mother moved out for another man and is now pregnant again and has since filed for divorce and custody of their little girl. I have been impressed by the christian boy/man for his faith and courage to try his very best to live and behave in a godly manner though broken hearted beyond belief as now the courts begin to intervene and make life altering decisions for these three and their families. I know the judge personally and believe him to be a good, just man though not a Christian.
To the very best of my knowledge this young man has tried his best to do what is right in God’s eyes. He stepped up and took responsibility for his actions. Now his life is in shambles. He “flunked” out of college and lost his full scholarship and now faces exorbitant attorney fees and the risk of losing custody of his little girl as his marriage is destroyed.
Here’s my point, finally! In Peter’s epistles he was writing to Chirstians in a time of unbelievable persecution during the rule of Nero, the cruelest of Roman emperors. He speaks to the struggles of suffering through the unfairness of life as a Christian. No, life isn’t fair because the “god of this world” runs things and his world lives by his rules and not God’s rules of right and wrong, fair and unfair. This is exactly what Jesus warned His disciples about and what Peter warns about in his epistles.
Persecution comes in manifold forms and may be different for each child of God. I may not see and know your’s and you may not know mine. But if we stand for the truth we will face great opposition and suffering.
So as we each face the unfairnesses of life as God’s children in an evil world, may we always remember that with God we are a majority. May we love and encourage one another remembering that with God we win and His truth will prevail. Believe it, live it, and depend upon it. God bless!