Exploring Christ's Spiritual Laws

Webers.Home · Sep 6, 2019

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1Pet 4:1-2 . .Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm
yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the
flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no
longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

The koiné Greek word for flesh is sarx (sarx); which basically indicates the
meaty parts of either man or beast; i.e. the body. The meaty parts of course
include one's brain.

The "lusts of men" is speaking of lusts that are common to everyone. (cf.
1Cor 10:13)

The koiné Greek word for "lusts" is epithumia (ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah) which
means: a longing, defined by Webster's as a strong desire, i.e. a craving.

Cravings aren't necessarily bad. Problems arise when we let our cravings
rule us to the point of acting contrary to good scruples and/or our better
judgement especially when it comes to making God frown upon our conduct
as unbecoming, i.e. inappropriate for His son's followers.

NOTE: It offends some Christians to even so much as think that Christ
might've had human longings just like everybody else. They truly believe he
should have been above all that-- he wasn't. Much of Jesus' suffering in the
flesh came from suppressing his body's natural cravings. (Heb 5:7-8)

As the Word in heaven above, Jesus knew by omniscience that it's tough to
be an h.sapiens; but now he knows for himself by personal experience just
how tough it is. (Heb 2:16-18, Heb 4:15)
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Webers.Home · Sep 8, 2019

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1Pet 4:7 . . The culmination of all things is approaching; therefore be
serious, and watchful in your prayers.

The koiné Greek word for "watchful" is nepho (nay'-fo) which means: to be
discreet; viz: exercise discretion-- caution in speech, prudence, and care
taken to consider all circumstances and possible consequences.

Nepho prayer implies being realistic and avoiding flowery bombast, rhetoric,
and rote chanting. After all, there's a high priest in heaven representing his
fellow men who speaks your language and knows for himself how people
think and how people feel; so get down to business with God and tell Him
what's on your mind without beating around the bush about it.
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Webers.Home · Sep 9, 2019

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1Pet 4:8 . . Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because
love hides a large number of sins.

A person easily provoked is not a loving person.

One Saturday morning I and another man at church were moving some
furniture from one place to another inside the main building where,
completely unknown to us, a wedding rehearsal was being conducted. The
woman in charge of organizing the wedding came out into the hall and
began scolding us for talking and making noise.

When I pointed out that there were no posted signs in the hallway indicating
a function in progress on the other side of the door, she became sullen, and
tightened her lips and narrowed her eyes in anger. Had that lady exemplified
the love about which Peter wrote, she would have handled her inconvenience
with a little more tact and sensitivity.

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be known as God's kin." (Matt
5:9)

BTW: That same lady was also in the choir, and sang doxologies in front of
about 2,000 people every Sunday morning. She was good at musical
harmony, but obviously in sore need of some training in the civil kind.
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Webers.Home · Sep 10, 2019

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1Pet 4:10 . .As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving
one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

The koiné Greek word for "manifold" is poikilos (poy-kee'-los) which
means: motley, i.e. varied in character. All that’s really saying is that the
gifts of God are multifarious; viz: having a number of different aspects or
characteristics. (cf. Rom 12:5-8, 1Cor 12:1-11)

Unfortunately, people with natural aptitudes generally make up the majority
of those in church capacities for which is supposed to be required a spiritual
gift from God. They may look like they're "on fire" for The Lord, but really all
they are is ambitious.
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Webers.Home · Sep 11, 2019

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1Pet 4:11b . . Whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God
supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to
whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Hardly anybody seems to care much about that anymore, nor would
anybody probably know the difference anyway. It’s been my observation
that the truly spiritually-gifted Christians are mostly invisible, and go about
their business right under the noses of the stars in church, whose own
spiritual decadence is oftentimes very embarrassing to Christianity.

Point being; those that do have genuine spiritual gifts need to make very
sure that when they exercise those gifts in church; they do so in the Lord's
best interests rather than their own.
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Webers.Home · Sep 12, 2019

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1Pet 4:11a . . If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.

The koiné Greek word for "oracles" is logion (log'-ee-on) which refers to
something spoken rather than something imagined.

The Bible is the voice of God in written form (Acts 7:38) but not every
speaker is the voice of God is spoken form.

In order to comply with 1Pet 4:11a, speakers really need to sincerely believe
themselves infallible and speaking for God ex cathedra; which is a pretty tall
order to say the least; and scary too.

"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you
know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (Jas 3:1)
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Webers.Home · Sep 13, 2019

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1Pet 4:11b . . Whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God
supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to
whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Hardly anybody seems to care much about that anymore, nor would
anybody probably know the difference anyway. It’s been my observation
that the truly spiritually-gifted Christians are mostly invisible, and go about
their business right under the noses of the stars in church, whose own
spiritual decadence is oftentimes very embarrassing to Christianity.

Point being; those that do have genuine spiritual gifts need to make very
sure that when they exercise those gifts in church; they do so in the Lord's
best interests rather than their own.
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Webers.Home · Sep 14, 2019

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1Pet 4:15-16 . . Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an
evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's affairs. Yet if anyone suffers as
a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

NOTE: The koiné Greek word for "Christian" is christianos (khris-tee-an-os')
which means: a follower of Christ. That word appears in only three places in
the entire New Testament. The other two are Acts 11:26 and Acts 26:28.
Peter’s is the only epistle where it appears; and it’s nowhere in any of the
four gospels.

A good example of glorifying God in the midst of one's troubles is Mr. Job.

"At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to
the ground in worship and said: Naked I came from my mother's womb, and
naked I will depart. The Lord gave, and The Lord has taken away; may the
name of The Lord be praised. In all this, Job did not sin by accusing God
with wrongdoing." (Job 1:20-22)

"His wife said to him: Are you still clinging to your integrity? Curse God and
die! Job replied: You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good
from God, and not trouble? In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." (Job
2:9-10)

Jas 5:11 speaks of the "patience" of Job; which is illustrated by the fact that
in all his trouble, Job remained loyal to God and never once lost his
confidence that God is blameless in all that He does.
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Webers.Home · Sep 15, 2019

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1Pet 4:19 . .Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God
commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

In the world of business, it’s sometimes necessary to take a concern to court
in order to force venders of goods and services to honor their commitments.
Well, the Bible’s God is not like that; no, the Bible's God is not a slimy
weasel: He's a person of real integrity.

Peter emphasized that human soul was created rather than produced by a
mysterious interaction of time, space, and matter. In other words: human
soul had both a beginning and a beginner; viz: human soul would not exist
at all had not a higher power willed it into existence.

FYI: What is meant by souls?

A: Soul basically refers to consciousness and individuality. (Gen 1:20-21,
Gen 1:24, and Gen 2:7)

In its entirety, normal human life consists of body, soul, and spirit. (1Thess
5:23). Those three components are separable, viz: the soul and the spirit
are capable of surviving the body's demise. (Matt 10:28, Luke 23:46, and
Heb 4:12)
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Webers.Home · Sep 16, 2019

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1Pet 5:1-3 . .Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder
and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that
is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight
not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not
for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted
to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

First off; Peter assures church officers that his proximity to Christ says very
clearly, and without ambiguity, that he knows what he's talking about so
they really ought to listen to what he has to say about managing a church.

The New Testament doesn't record Peter as being present at Christ's
crucifixion, but that obviously doesn't eo ipso preclude his attendance
somewhere in the audience that day, or observing everything from a safe
distance. (cf. Matt 26:58, Matt 27:55)

The conjunction "therefore" refers to one of Peter's previous statements;
specifically this one:

"For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God" (1Pet 4:17)

That's an echo of 1Cor 3:4-23 and 1Cor 4:2-5 where Paul revealed that
people "serving Christ" are facing a possibly very unpleasant evaluation.

Church is no country for achievers, nor is it a career track, nor is it a country
for control freaks and power-hungry imperious despots, nor for people who
love to bask in limelight and crave admiration and the center of attention;
no, serving in a church is for shepherds.

If you're not sure what shepherding entails; then next time you're at a
county fair strike up a conversation with some of the 4H kids and they'll be
only too glad to tell you just what a thankless, man-killing, drudgery-ridden,
time consuming, smelly, expensive, inconvenient, filthy, and sometimes
dangerous line of work that animal husbandry really is.

So why do 4H kids do it? Primarily because they love their animals; and if a
luminary in church doesn't feel a genuine affection for those under their
supervision, then that luminary will utterly fail to exercise oversight
according to the will of God. Self-seeking luminaries are depicted as very
poor sources of water. (2Pet 2:17)

NOTE: Professional church officers are basically hirelings; and according to
God's son, a hireling cannot be depended upon to protect the sheep when a
wolf is at the door.

"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep. He who is an hireling, and not the owner of the sheep, beholds the
wolf coming, and abandons the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches
them, and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling, and is not
concerned about the sheep." (John 10:11-13

A paid church officer might be willing to sacrifice himself for the benefit of
The Lord's sheep; but will he sacrifice his wife who has cancer, and/or his
two daughters' future whom he has to put through college, and/or the
mortgage on his home and/or his health insurance?

No, the best interests of The Lord's sheep will be very low on the hireling's
list of priorities because his primary interest is in keeping his job, protecting
his income, his health benefits, and his wife and children. The hireling will
circle the wagons when the wolf comes; yes, but not around the sheep; no,
around himself and what's his. So be very cautious in putting too much
confidence in church officers; you just might end up disillusioned and very
disappointed.
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Webers.Home · Sep 17, 2019

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1Pet 5:5a . .You younger, be subject to your elders

The elders in this instance are church elders; not just any nondescript
person of age that happens to be in the area; and the inference is that the
inexperienced Christians should not think of themselves as know-it-alls, but
rather, respect the mature Christians as mentors who genuinely know a
thing or two.

Peter's command isn't optional; no, it's mandatory, and it's very serious.

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they
watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it
with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." (Heb 13:17)

If you should find yourself in a church whose elders you don't trust and/or
simply cannot respect, then it's time to move on and find a church whose
elders are worth their salt.
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Webers.Home · Sep 18, 2019

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1Pet 5:5b . . and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one
another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

The koiné Greek word for "humble" is tapeinophrosune (tap-i-nof-ros-oo'
nay) which means lowliness of mind; viz: modesty, which Webster's defines
as freedom from conceit or vanity. Lowliness of mind is to be greatly desired
for its blessing.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt
5:3)

Humility is very rare on internet forums. Active members are typically easily
insulted and infected with vanity; plus imperious, domineering, despotic,
assertive, confrontational, arrogant, conceited, reactive, thin-skinned, self
righteous, emotional, critical, and defensive. Those are not what I would call
good Christian attributes. They also have a propensity to jump to
conclusions, get the wrong impression, and fly off the handle. Those aren't
good Christian attributes either; in point of fact; none of those attributes are
blessing-worthy.

"Grace" is one of those ambiguous abstract nouns that nobody seems to
agree upon. Noah found grace in God's eyes (Gen 6:8) which in his case,
regarded providence; which can be defined as kindly patronage. It was by
God's providence that Noah and his family survived the Flood while the sons
of God and their harems didn't. Let that sink in. Just because people label
themselves a Christian, and profess a belief in Christ, is no guarantee they'll
escape the horrors of the book of Revelation. Noah was a righteous man,
and perfect in his generation; too many of today's card-carrying Christians
are neither.

The koiné Greek word for "proud" is huperephanos (hoop-er-ay'-fan-os)
which means appearing above others, viz: haughty. Those kinds of people
typically regard others with contempt, i.e. underserving of respect or even
so much as common courtesy. Haughty people are typically cruel,
thoughtless, insensitive, and badly infected with a superiority complex,
which goes hand in hand with arrogance: defined as an exaggerated sense
of one's importance, sometimes manifested in an overbearing manner.

Arrogant people can be intolerably pushy and assertive at times; standing up
to them usually always provokes an indignant reaction and a call to arms, so
to speak, because these folk regard any and all disagreements with their
way of thinking as demeaning attacks upon their core values and their
distorted sense of self worth. These people have very little interest in
harmony; they're stand-up fighters whose primary interest is winning.

Seeing as how Heaven is reputed a place of peace, then the arrogant, the
haughty, and the proud cannot be allowed to go there with their unholy
personalities. For sure they'd just end up making things very uncomfortable
for Heaven's normally mild-mannered, affable society.
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Webers.Home · Sep 20, 2019

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1Pet 5:6 . . Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you at the proper time

Humility is defined by Webster's as ranking low in a hierarchy or scale; for
example:

"Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven." (Matt 18:4)

"greatest' is a category. In other words: there is more than one great person
in heaven certainly. But Jesus taught it is better that you be made great
than to make yourself great; for example:

"When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place
of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you may have been invited
by him, and he who invited you both shall come and say to you "Give place
to this man" and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place.

. . . But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that
when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you; "Friend, move
up higher" then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table
with you. For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who
humbles himself shall be exalted." (Luke 14:8-11)

Speaking critically of the religious luminaries of his days; Jesus once said:

"The scribes and the Pharisees do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for
they broaden their phylacteries, and lengthen the tassels of their garments.
And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the
synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called
by men: Rabbi." (Matt 23:2-7)
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Webers.Home · Sep 21, 2019

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1Pet 5:7 . . casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He is concerned
about you.

That command is very difficult for a person afflicted with Reactive
Attachment Disorder; which is basically the inability to believe that even one
person in the whole universe cares a whit about your welfare. RAD is
characterized by the inability to trust. For example: when a RAD victim
reads 1Pet 5:7, they instinctively believe it may be true for others, but has
absolutely no application to themselves. RAD is a very effective faith
inhibitor.

However, even just vocalizing your anxieties can be very therapeutic; while
holding it all in can be destructive to your nerves. I think I'd rather talk to an
imaginary playmate than to no one at all.
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Webers.Home · Sep 22, 2019

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1Pet 5:8-9 . . Be discreet, stay alert. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls
about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour; whom resist, steadfast
in the faith

The word "discreet" is translated from the Greek word nepho (nay'-fo) which
basically means to abstain from wine. Well; you know the first thing to go
when too much alcohol gets in your system is judgment; especially what's
known as better judgment; viz: there are things that people do when under
the influence that they would never do when sober. Alcohol loosens people
up, slackens their inhibitions, makes them let their guard down, makes them
careless, clumsy, inefficient, and certainly less intelligent even when their
normal IQ is in the hundreds.

Lest someone get the wrong idea; Peter isn't forbidding drink; rather,
getting tipsy. If you're one of those rare people with good self control,
alcohol poses no threat to your spiritual condition, But if you're one of the
many with an unbreakable habit of always exceeding their limit; then I'd
have to say that, relative to God's favor vs satanic predation, total
abstinence is really the only sensible option.

"the faith" isn't only a collection of beliefs, but includes a collection of
practices, i.e. behaviors; since according to James, faith without practices is
a half-baked faith.

"And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't
obey, you are only fooling yourself. For if you just listen and don't obey, it is
like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your
appearance. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But
if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law-- the law that sets you
free --and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God
will bless you for doing it." (Jas 1:22-25)
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Webers.Home · Sep 24, 2019

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2Pet 3:1-2 . . Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of
which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 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.

I just don't know why so many professing Christians insist that it's
unnecessary for believers to study the Old Testament when Peter insisted
just the opposite. The koiné Greek word for "mindful" is mimnesko (mim
nace'-ko) which means: to recall to mind; viz: to keep in mind; to never
dismiss, discard, nor forget.

"And he said unto them: These are the words which I spoke unto you, while
I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the
law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Then
opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures."
(Luke 24:44-45)

The "scriptures" to which Jesus referred are those of the Old Testament
since there was as yet none for the New.

"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as
warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come." (1Cor
10:11)

The "things that happened to them" refer to the adventures of Moses' people
during their forty years in the wilderness prior to entering the promised
land; which consists of the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy. Those are things that Paul says believers should know. (1Cor
10:1)

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become
convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how
from infancy you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make
you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired
by God; and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for
every good work." (2Tim 3:13-17)

Paul's instructions to his friend Timothy targeted pastors; of whom Paul says
are ill equipped to do their jobs if they don't study the Old Testament.

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that
through patience, and the counseling of the scriptures, we might have
hope." (Rom 15:4)

The koiné Greek word for "hope" in that passage is elpis (el-pece') which
doesn't mean to cross your fingers and hope for the best. It means to
expect; viz: to anticipate, usually with pleasure. The world's hope is nothing
but wistful thinking, while the believer's hope is in the bag and that's why he
can look forward to it rather than wish for it.

According to Paul, elpis hope is reinforced by studying the Old Testament so
that believers who neglect the Old Testament are more likely to suffer
doubts about their future than a believer who studies the Old just as
diligently as he studies the New. And besides, the Old and New are not two
separate Bibles; no, there is only one Bible. and it is a continuous revelation
from front to back; ergo: people who choose the New Testament as their
Bible are working with an incomplete revelation.

But back to Peter's statement: "the commandment of us, the apostles of The
Lord and Savior." Too many Christians regard the apostles' writings in the
epistles as merely information rather than divine edicts that Christ expects
to be obeyed just as much as he expects his own personal words to be
obeyed. Failure to obey the apostles' writings in the epistles is a domino
effect of insubordination all the way to the top.

"Whoever listens to you; listens to me. Whoever rejects you; rejects me.
And whoever rejects me; rejects the one who sent me." (Luke 10:16)
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Webers.Home · Sep 25, 2019

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2Pet 3:8-10 . . 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. 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.

. . . 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.

Humans have but a short time in the grand scheme of things to accomplish
their ambitions before death catches up with them and puts a cap to all their
hopes and dreams.

"Who, breathing his last, returns to the earth; that day all his planning
comes to nothing." (Ps 145:4)

But God is under no such time constraints. He exists in eternity; viz: God
always was, He always is, and He always will be. As such, God is at liberty to
take as much time as He pleases to work things out.

It's theorized by a number of scientists and laymen alike that a big bang
initiated the cosmos. Well for sure a big bang will end it; and that's not a
theory: that's a divine prediction.

The Bible says The Lord's return will be of a sudden (Luke 17:24, Rev 22:20)
but sudden is not the same as soon.

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of
persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 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?"
(2Pet 3:11-12)

I've noticed that some people endeavor to leave themselves a legacy in the
form of all sorts of man-made structures like highways, buildings, libraries,
museums, stadiums, bridges, dams, etc. Those structures are neither
permanent nor eternal. One day; they'll all disappear in a great roaring fire
ball.
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Webers.Home · Sep 26, 2019

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2Pet 3:14 . .Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent
to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless

Some of the brethren haven't a clue what it is to be in peace; their
temperaments won't permit. But that's something they really need to work
on because temperamental behavior will not be permitted in the new
cosmos.

The koiné Greek word for "looking forward" is prosdokao (pros-dok-ah'-o)
which means: to anticipate; viz: to await; for example:

When I was a small boy living in Santee California back in the late 1940's, I
used to climb one of the olive trees in the front yard so I could see down the
road in the direction that my dad came home every evening in a black 1933
Model A Ford. I always climbed the tree ahead of time so I could begin
watching for my dad and spot him coming a long ways off, and then I'd get
down and sprint out to the end of our dirt driveway and jump on the running
board of that old Ford and ride it back to the house with my dad.

Prosdokao is like that. It fully expects the arrival of a future event; and the
future event Peter spoke of in previous verses is not only The Lord's return;
but also the utter annihilation of the current cosmos to be replaced by one in
which only righteousness exists. Today, righteousness and unrighteousness
exist side by side, but in the future, it won't be like that.
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Webers.Home · Sep 27, 2019

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2Pet 3:17 . .You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your
guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall
from your own steadfastness,

"unprincipled" is translated from the Greek word athesmos (ath'-es-mos)
which appears in only two places in the entire New Testament; once here
and once in 2Pet 2:7 speaking of the manner of life of the people of Sodom
and Gomorrah of whom the Bible says: "The men of Sodom were wicked
exceedingly, and sinners against The Lord. (Gen 13:13)

In other words: the people of Sodom weren't just defiant; they were outright
impudent; knowing full well that their ways were offensive to God.

The Greek word translated "steadfastness" is sterigmos (stay-rig-mos')
which appears in no other place in the New Testament but right here so we
don't have other passages to compare and thus help us understand what
Peter means by it.

Sterigmos basically refers to stability; defined by Webster's as resistance to
change, i.e. the ability to withstand force or stress without being distorted,
dislodged, or damaged.

Resistance to change doesn't imply impervious to change; in other words;
it's possible to weaken the kind of steadfastness Peter was talking about.

The word for "error" is plane (plan'-ay) which means, among other things,
fraud and deception; cf. Eph 4:14. False impressions, false premises, and
wrong ideas-- even when innocent --fall into that category. Honest mistakes
are still mistakes, and their consequences can be just as serious as willful
steps in the wrong direction.
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Webers.Home · Sep 28, 2019

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2Pet 3:18 . . But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.

The above quote from the apostle Peter's second epistle isn't addressed to
just any John Q and Jane Doe looky-loo. It's specifically addressed to
Christ's believing followers. (2Pet 1:1)

The two pursuits that the apostle Peter ordered are worthwhile for Christ's
believing followers because whatever growth in grace they obtain is a
permanent growth; and whatever knowledge of God they gain, they keep
too: throughout eternity.

Why become more and more gracious? Because the people in heaven are
gracious. Yes; they are nothing like the churlish race of cruel hominids
infesting the world that you and I live in. If you should perchance go to
heaven as an ungracious churl yourself; then you will be in for culture shock
because people in heaven are truly civilized and would make even Emily Post
seem as rough-hewn as a third-generation Oregon logger.

It's for that very reason that I sincerely believe every new arrival in heaven
has to first attend a sort of finishing school where they are forged into
decent human beings before being permitted to associate with the others.
We pick up a lot of bad, anti-social habits down here on the planet and those
habits have to be broken because God's home is a place of peace. It isn't
conducive to peace to have thoughtless morons running loose annoying
people and committing senseless acts of unkindness.
_

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