Christian Baptism is a rite of identification- The recipient who is -baptized into God's name-character- now and for all time is to identify Himself with Christ, His purpose, and His work with the result that what God is- His character, purpose, and work- now rests upon the one being baptized-

The focus of the Great Commission is the longing for all people groups as well as the undesirables of the world not only to come to a saving knowledge of Christ, but to mature in the faith unto the honor and glory of Christ-

The word used for -worship- here ---------- -proskune--- is the primary word for worship in the New Testament. It literally means -to kiss the hand- and so is translated as -to bow down- or -to prostrate oneself on the ground.- The idea behind this word is that of bowing

If you could go back to Christ's day and ask almost any Jew, you would find that Calvary- being hung on a cross- was a symbol of ridicule and shame -cf. 1 Cor. 1-23- Deut. 21-22-23--

On the surface, this is an odd statement. If we -suffer for the sake of righteousness-- especially as God's people were at the time of the writing of this epistle- we could lose a lot- yet turn your eyes upon Jesus and the question is dramatically changed.

A large emphasis in Scripture when it comes to Christian service is being undefiled -ceremonially acceptable to God- and therefore useful to the Master. This is why God acted so severely with His people in 586 BC. It was not out of rashness or an uncontrolled temper. Rather it was to protect His people from themselves lest they in their sinning be disqualified from the privilege of service in God's Kingdom---This is a rebroadcast of a pervious sermon,

This sounds like the -health and wealth- theology of Christless Christianity. But it is not. No doubt passages in this category have been used by -health and wealth- theologians, and so we must be very careful here. Yet we must see that Christianity is not combative to the natural order of creation, but restorative- And as such, it can and, many times, does result in temporal blessing.

In our interaction with the world, a growing faith will result in a tenderness, kindness, and compassion toward all men- If we are to enjoy a blessed life, these Attitudes must be cultivated in our lives-

In a difficult marriage the man most certainly can't force his wife to be his companion. Nevertheless, this command ought radically to alter the way a godly man approaches his wife. He does not seek from his wife a good friendship. Rather, he seeks to be a good friend to her- In a bad marriage this undoubtedly will open the man up to all sorts of verbal abuse- which raises two important questions-

What Peter wrote here is not archaic or inapplicable to today's culture. Rather, it is God's will for all women at all times- whether we go back 3,800 years to the time of Abraham- 2,000 years to the time of Christ- Or last week.