2 Peter Survey

 

THE ESTABLISHED WORD

 

This 2 Peter Survey follows well from Peters 1stEpistle to the Elect in Christ, his desire above all things is that the lambs of God would grow in their knowledge and love for the Lord, and that the way to attend to such maturity in Christ is through the very words and promises of God.

 

Who Wrote?

2 Peter 1:1

1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

 

As is the case in most of the letters written the name of the writer is given at the beginning. It is futile to acknowledge this as the word of God and yet doubt the authority of the introduction of the author.  If this letter was not written by the Apostle Simon Peter, then the letter in its entirety needs to be rejected as being the Inspired, Infallible, Inerrant word of God.

 

To Whom is it written?

 

And he writes to them that have obtained like precious faith.

 

In chapter 3:1 he records that this is the “second epistle” he has written unto them. If our desire is to know who specifically it is written to, we can turn to 1stPeter 1:1-2 “…to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God…)

 

They are the immediate audience of this letter. But as it addresses issues deep into the future, we can take comfort that it was written to all the elect.

 

THE EFFICACY OF THE WORD

 

2 Pet 1:2

 

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 

 

Everything from the obtaining of that precious faith Peter speaks of in the first verse, to the adding of virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity comes from the precious promises given to us that Peter speaks of in verse 4, that is The Word of God.

 

 

All the promises of God, from our believing of the Gospel of our salvation that is written about in the word of God, the Bible, showing us the way to escape the corruption of the world, through to adding of all those virtuous characteristics, come directly from our faith and diligence in the word of God.

 

All these promises are for one declared purpose, note verse 4 that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature.

 

And Peter further writes to us in verse 8

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

There is an EFFICACY in the word of God, “the promises of God”, and that is its ability to change and transform us into the image of Christ.

 

You remember Peter in his first letter revealing to us that we are, As newborn babes, (to) desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby (1 Pet 2:2).

 

You recall Paul’s chastisement in Hebrews of those who have need again to be taught the first principles of the oracles of God, but should have been teachers themselves, even speaking of its value to help us discern Good and Evil saying;

 

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age,eventhose who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

 

There is a transformative power in the scriptures that will make none of us barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, even as Romans 8:29 indicates that we are predestined to be conformed to his image.

 

Think of that which was declared to us in 2 Tim 3:16,

 

Ephesians 6:10

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1stPeter Survey

Pr Edi Giudetti

 

Strengthen and Feed

 

 

1 Pet 1:1

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

 

Here we have an address stemming from the mouth of the Apostle Peter, yes this is the same “ready, fire, aim” Peter of the Gospel accounts in the body, but with a very different spirit in him. If anyone could testify of the change and the maturing of both mind and heart after conversion, it would be Peter.

 

But this letter, the first of two, was only contended against due to the character of the person writing it, it could not be believed that this is the same “unlearned fisherman” of the Gospel accounts. But it is, and it is a testimony to the miraculous change that occurs when the Spirit of God transforms a life.

 

Peter, was writing to the scattered brethren throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, and in this letter, he wonderfully fulfills the charge he received directly from Jesus in Luke 22:32, when Jesus said when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

 

But he also seems to fulfil the charge Jesus gave him three times “….Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).

 

 

STRENGTHENED TO JOY AND HOLINESS

 

1 Pet 1:3-5

 

3 Blessedbethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 

This is the underlying joy we have, this is the fundamental foundation of a lasting hope that we are STRENGTHENED IN and Peter uses it well to persuade the brethren to joy and holiness. As our Lord Jesus Christ as our foundation and our hope and not we ourselves, there should be nothing through which we cannot endure.

 

We do not live as others who have no hope, and we certainly do not live as many which have a dead “hope so” hope, we live as those who have a “lively hope” and we can live that way because it is not dependent upon us but on the one who had “begotten us” unto this lively hope. It is not our work it is the work of Jesus Christ, he had begotten us and not we him, and he did so according to his abundant mercy (v3).

 

Not to nothing or for no reason, but verse 4 tells us To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away. 

 

There is nothing on earth that can compare to this inheritance, anything and everything can become corruptible, defiled and fade away. We have seen the effects only of natural disasters that can do it, the effects of war can do it, the political motivations of those in power can do it; and whatever can’t be taken away by these things, the effects of illness can remove the use and pleasure of any inheritance here, but not there. In heaven the inheritance is incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.

 

It is eternal life we inherit, this is our lively hope, this is our joy, this is our victory, death has lost its sting, we no longer have any fear of death. We look for the hope in anticipation and the more things go wrong here, the more we look up, we lift up our heads, knowing that our redemption draweth nigh (Lk 21:28). Just like the treasure we store in heaven, so too is this inheritance Reserved in heaven!

 

4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

 

And the joy we have is that we can know there is an inheritance reserved for us, “reserved”, it is kept, held FOR US.

And it was legally done, for there was

The Book of James Survey

Pr Edi Giudetti

 

CONTRASTED WITNESS

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The book of James is a book of contrasts, bringing out distinctions between lives changed and lives unchanged by the Gospel of Christ.

 

It speaks to attitudes, how we ought now to live in comparison to how we usually lived.

 

Amongst other areas and topics;

It speaks to how we handle trials and afflictions in life,

how we perceive others,

how we are to live the natural outworking’s of our faith,

how our mouths betray the nature of the true spiritwith us

and how pride ought to give way to humility.

 

If James is anything, it is a book that well demonstrates what ought to be the contrasting nature of a true conversion to Christ.

 

THE PENMAN?

 

With regard to WHO penned this general epistle, we know by the first verse that it is a man named James, but there are four men called James in the New Testament, two very obscure and considered most unlikely, but the other two distinct ones are James the brother of John and James the brother of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

James the brother of John was killed by Herod in the early days of the Church (Acts 12:2) not long after the conversion of Saul, it is generally believed he is not the author of this letter.

 

But we see the leader of the Church in Jerusalem being James the Lords brother in Acts 15 who heads the first council discussing doctrinal distinctions on Salvation. It is this James that tradition mostly supports as the author of this letter.

 

The book of James is very Jewish in its orientationas are all the books from Hebrews to Revelation. It is a general letter, not written specifically to any one church or person but, “to the twelve tribes scattered abroad” (v1).

 

DATE

 

That he writes to the Scattered brethren indicates it was written after the diaspora, the formal word for the ‘dispersion or scattering’ of the Jews which had occurred after either the persecution under Saul, or after the destruction of the temple in 70AD.

 

The historian Josephus writes that this James was killed in 62AD, so the earlier time is preferred.

 

THE CONTRAST OF TRIALS

 

Ja 1:2-4

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 

Certain few people think it a joy to fall into divers temptations, the meaning in this context referring to those trials and afflictions we might endure from time to time.

 

So many and so divers they are to us, that we would normally afflict our souls and be wearied by them.

Tears fill our eyes for them,

anger fills our hearts,

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY questions fill our minds;

“Why is this happening to me?”,

“Why did this occur?”,

“Why did he/she hurt me so much?” etc.

 

 

Fascinating isn’t it? The very question that comes most to our hearts respecting trials betrays to us an inner knowledgethat there is a PURPOSE to all we undergo.

 

James teaches exactly this and state this is the reason we should “count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations” and the reason?;

 

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 

There is a work that temptations take within our lives, a work that is blessed, a work that brings about patience, it is a perfect work and not a partial work.

 

Its end is that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 

Well this is certainly not easy to accept, especially when you are in the midst of the trial.

 

Yet any of you who have had to undergo such trials in your life, no matter how painful, you know it has come to the better in you, it has changed you, strengthened you, made you patient, made you entire.

 

As a father I know that I wil

The Book of Hebrews Survey

The post Hebrews Survey appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.

Philemon Survey

Pr Edi Giudetti

 

01-07-2018

 

Introduction

 

We would take our family on bushwalks now and again. Each time we went away camping or on special trips. Sometimes those journeys would be through beautiful rainforests and sometimes through bushland.  Recently my daughter and I went Hiking through the stunning Wilsons Promontory, so much to see, so many wonderful views.

 

But imagine the Rainforests with the largest and oldest trees. If you go early in the mornings or just after the dew has settled, you see beautiful spiders webs glittering with the sun behind it.  You’d walk along river banks down low in the valleys and hop over the rocks that poke out to get across the other side, see the water falls at the head of the river. You’d walk along tall cliff edges, not too close, but close enough to have your breath taken away by the height of the cliff and the colour of the cliff faces.

 

But imagine as you take your walk on a relatively obscure path that, just at the right time and just with the right angle of sunlight, you see something sparkle ahead.  It is bright enough to grab your attention and sparkles often enough to hold your gaze.  If the light was any different you would not have seen it, if the time of day was different you might have missed it, if you weren’t looking in the direction you might certainly have walked right past.

 

That is the Book of Philemon in the wonderful scope of the Bible. A diamond that often goes unnoticed by many, because the topic seems just a little too simple on the surface.

 

 

Acknowledgment Of A Faithful Man

 

 

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, 2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: 3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

 

A most wonderful introduction to this letter, not only does it demonstrate the passionate and faithful greeting of a like-minded lover of God, but also speaks volumes of the character trusted to be that which accurately describes the recipient.

 

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timoth your brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

 

Yes, this is another of the letters of Paul written from a prison cell. It is believed it was written from Rome, his first captivity in about 60-62 AD. Though it is not certain, nor does precisely which imprisonment give much light on the nature of the letter. Enough for us and Philemon to know that Paul was a prisoner when he wrote the letter.

 

unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

 

Philemon was a justified man, beloved of Paul and a fellow laborer for the word of God and the Gospel of Christ. Paul trusted that he knew the value of the Gospel personally. Verse 19 indicates to us that Philemon was saved by Christ through the ministry of Paul himself.

 

So if this is the case, Philemon himself would have personal knowledge of the change that can come upon a man when he is born again. When the sin nature that was the defining attribute of a lost man, was forgiven by a holy God through the shed blood of Christ.

 

Now, Philemon is “dearly beloved” and acknowledged to be a “Fellow Labourer”. Verses 3 and 4 tell us that the letter was never intended to be a private letter. Many think the letter to be private, but these two verses tell otherwise even though the ongoing correspondence is directed specifically to Philemon himself.

 

2

The Book Of Titus Survey

The post Titus Survey appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.

2 Timothy Survey

 

Pr Edi Giudetti

17-06-2018

 

Our 2 Timothy Survey identifies the foundational encouragement for the work of the Gospel for the salvation of the world. Paul encourages young Timothy as a soldier of Christ, to live and endure the hardness that will be required to live the Gospel. He warns of the state of the Church in the latter days and brings understanding of what it will take to live distinct from the world and that latter-day Church.

 

During the first and second world wars the call had gone out to all men of age to join the forces of their nations against a frightening enemy. To protect their own families and loved ones against invaders that would take away not only their way of life, but the very freedoms they have enjoyed. The risk they were asked to pledge was their lives, the reward they would receive was the preservation of their freedom, for themselves and for their families.

 

The risk was real, their courage needed to be great, they needed to quit themselves like men, setting aside all other plans for the benefit of loved onesand their nation. It was a call to duty, to honour and potentially to death.

 

It was the great war of 1914 to 1918 that opened the eyes to the seriousness of the call, 41 million people diedduring these four horrific years of the Great War, AKA World War 1 (They had only began to number World Wars when the second world war broke out in 1939). Up until then the 1stWorld War was called The War to End all Wars.

 

Twenty-one years later the deadliest war in history broke out and cost the world 3% of its entire population. Some nations like Poland and Lithuania lost over 15% of their people, most were civilians.

 

Available records indicate that 60 to 80 million people died in WW2.

 

100 million people between those two wars.

 

But those who were called stepped up to the plate, willing to sacrifice their lives for the temporal benefit of the free world. You and I are recipients of that sacrifice.You and I live today in a free country because people knew that there was an enemy to fight in the world.

 

Timothy was called to be a minister to wield the Gospel against an enemy that is UNSEEN, who is taking the vast majority of the people of the world captive and to death. The risk for man is not temporal but eternal, it’s not about a loss of freedom but an ABSOLUTE AND PERMANENT Loss of HOPE.

 

Above the gates of Hell in classic Novel of Dante’s inferno is a sign which reads “Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here”

 

There are two weapons the enemy uses to great effect, Deception and Death.

 

The weapons of the ministry are also two, The Gospel and the Spirit of God.

 

In this letter, Timothy was Called for the ministry and given instruction by the man who suffered Greatly for the Gospel; Paul uses the Title Soldier when speaking of the work Timothy is called to undertake. And that title is more fitting that we might readily understand.

THE CALL TO COURAGE

 

This is Paul’s second letter to Timothy, and is believed by most teachers that it was the last letter he ever wrote. Paul was now in Prison for the last time. Unlike the first Roman captivity Paul was not under house arrest, this time he was without some of the most basic things;

 

Toward the end of Chapter 4 Paul asks Timothy “The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bringwith thee, and the books,butespecially the parchments.” (2 Tim 4:13).

 

Paul tells Timothy in verse 6 of Chapter 4 that his “…departure is at hand  7 I have fought a good fight, I have finishedmycourse, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Tim 4:6-7)

 

It is believed Paul was caught up in the Christian persecution under Emperor Nero, one of the most vile and evil empe

1stLetter to Timothy Survey:

THE CHARGE

Pr Edi Giudetti

 

10-06-2018

 

 

As we consider our 1 Timothy Survey,  this first letter of Paul the Apostle to Timothy, I would like you to consider the love and care God has for the Church, for the Gospel, for the truth. It is not only the preparation of the people that concerns the Lord, but the consistent love and direction of his people, that they may be able to withstand difficulties and affliction, grow in the love of the Lord, and most importantly share that love to all would hear.

 

Timothy is to be instructed in many of the basic governing principles of the Church.

 

These last four letters of Paul, prior to the book of Hebrews, are what is referred to as the “Pastoral Epistles”, they are Pastors letters essentially given to individuals. Not to be confused with Paul giving letters to Pastors.

 

The first nine letters given to churches where encouraged to be read among the entire congregation, not so the Pastoral letters, they were addressed to individuals for the care and protection of the Church.

 

Timothy is not a Pastor, at least not yet, but he is given the charge to seek out a pastor and to carry on the work of Paul, even on Paul’s behalf.

 

Many are the instructions given by Paul and this morning we will work to expound some of the more important instructive points as well as advice Paul provides the young Church leader.

 

THE CHARGE

1 Tim 1:1-4

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; 2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

 

Timothy, the young man who accompanied the Apostle Paul on several of his missionary journeys, now abides in the city of Ephesus in the south west coast of Asia minor, as Paul besought him. The entire letter of 1stTimothy is one of instruction, it is what I have here referred to as THE CHARGE.

 

3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

 

Probably the most common form of preaching and teaching today is delivered by men who’s desire is more to entertain and motivate than to teach. It is the sign of the times we are living in and Paul will speak to this shortly.

 

Timothy is to “Charge”, to burden, to impart a responsibility upon some that no other doctrine is taught by them but that which has been taught by the Apostles.

 

We should keep in our minds that as this letter was being written, the New Testament was being completed. 

 

The full canon of the Bible, the complete standard of all doctrine, was not yet penned down in the form of a book. All was taught corporately through the Apostles themselves as they journeyed. Then, as they wrote, copies of their letters were passed from Church to church, and done so at a rapid rate.

 

The church that received the original epistle would make an exact copy and pass that copy on to the next church and so on. Some of these people may have been professional scribes, but some may also have been simple brethren who were lettered, who could both read and write. It does not take any great skill to perfectly copy, word for word, a letter. You and I could do it very easily today.

 

Understand that there was no desire by ANY of the faithful copiers to try to “Interpret” what was written, as is so common among modern translators today. The early believers believed the word of God to be so profound that they would not dare limit the value of the scriptures by presuming a “Sense” of the text.

 

But before the writings,