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Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida. Clearly declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the You can reach us toll free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ and that today’s first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

We’ve been doing a few little studies in the book of 1 Peter, so let’s go back to 1 Peter. One of these days we’re going to go verse by verse, but until then I start studying and I see a word and another word and I say, no, no, no, no, I haven’t put that together like that before I like that. That’s good. That’s good. So there it goes. I want you to take your Bible and turn to the book of 1 Peter, chapter 1, 1 Peter, chapter 1.

You notice there are a lot of interesting verses, of course. They’re all good verses. But there’s some of these verses that reveal a few things. One is that they reveal our choices that we make. You know, some people believe that just whatever will be will be and you’re not really responsible and God’s already made all the decisions for you. I want you to see and be convinced that, no, there’s verses in the Bible that says that we’re supposed to make some of these wonderful decisions.

So look there in verse 6, in verse 6 where he says, wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. You rejoice. That’s a choice. And if you are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that’s also a choice. Because see, we’re the one that determines whether we’re happy or whether we’re sad. we’re up for a while to work down. And so many Christians, they govern their lives by what’s going on, what’s happening in your life.

You ever have somebody ask, well, how are you doing? You, well, I’m, you know, under the circumstances. What are you doing under there? You’re supposed to be seated into heavenlies and you look down on everything, not down here and then looking up on everything. So you’re not under the circumstances. You’re over the circumstances. A lot of problems in this life, that’s true. But understanding that there are verses that will reveal choices that you make. Look what he says in verse 8.

Verse 8 says, home having not seen ye love. Is love a choice? This is a choice because we’re going to deal with this thing called choice, but there’s something else that I think is very important as we go through the vocal first Peter, because we know the main subject matter of this is about suffering, suffering in this present time. But everybody would love to be vindicated. Have you ever been accused of something and you know you didn’t do it, but there’s no way to prove it you didn’t?

And you’re hoping that something will happen to, you know, vindicate you, justify that you told the truth. One of these days because of what we go through in life. We gave up a lot of things to do what God wants us to do. Some people may think we’ve been foolish. There may be times in your Christian life where you may think we’ve been foolish. But when you get to heaven and God rewards you for what you did, you’ll be vindicated.

That will be the crowning day that you know you made the right decision. You made the right decision by trusting Christ as Savior. what it did save you from hell. And one day when people are gonna be cast in the hell and you won’t be, you’re gonna be vindicated. You’re gonna be so glad. So he makes a statement here in verse 13 and 14 of the same chapter, first Peter. He says, we’re for it gird up the loins of your mind.

Is that a choice? Is that something that you can do? See, there’ll be things that God will do and there’s things that God wants you to do. And I don’t believe that God will do for us. What we can do for ourselves. So we look to the Lord for guidance and trust him to do what we can’t do, but you go ahead and keep doing what you can do for the Lord. He says, be sober and hope to the end for the end result for the grace that is to be brought under you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

So there’s things that God wants us to do. But you’ll also notice he makes a statement in verse 15. But as he which hath called you is holy, Be ye holy in all manner of behavior, manner of life. That’s a choice, but it’s also more than a choice. There’s an example. Why should I be holy? Because he is holy. He says, he is the example of what he wants us to be. Now when we read the book of Ephesians in chapter 5 verse 1, he says, be imitators of God.

Imitate God. He is the example of what we’re supposed to be like. So we know we’re supposed to follow Him. He is a good example. Also in chapter 2, Luke, what he says there in verse 1. Verse 1, wherefore lay in the side all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all evil speaking, is there a choice there? Is there a responsibility there? Is there anything in that verse that we’re told to do or not to do?

So when you study scripture, you’re always trying to say, what can I apply? What can I gain from this verse that can help me in my Christian life? So there’s a choice that we make. We can choose to lay things aside or we can choose to not lay it aside. But in everything that we do, there is going to be consequences. those consequences will either validate, vindicate God or yourself of your own decision. So this is why these things are said.

Now look what else he says here in verse 2, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word. That’s a choice. You can desire the right things. You can desire the wrong things. We’re the one that God holds responsible for where we place desires. So we’re supposed to desire the right things. Look in verse 11. Verse 11, dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims. As means that there’s somebody here or something mentioned here that we’re supposed to be like.

It’s an example. We’re supposed to live like strangers. You know, we’re not living here. This world is not my home. I’m just a passing through. I’m pilgrims means that I’m on my way home. It means that my citizenship is in another place, that I’m just an ambassador while I’m here in this world. So you see, as you go through, you see there’s choices that we make. There’s examples for us to follow. And then when you have made a decision, understanding if it’s the right decision for the right person doing the right thing, you’re going to be vindicated when it’s all over with.

Wouldn’t it be a shame to, like I said, sometimes we find people that are climbing a ladder for 20 years and it was leaning on the wrong wall. Totally wasting their life, trying to get ahead in life chasing dreams and bubbles and everything’s falling apart. Looking verse 13 where he says, submit yourselves. Is that a choice? Is that something God says we can do? See there’s responsibilities. There’s choices that we have to make in our life. And you’re the one, I’m the one that decides whether or not do we submit?

Do the children submit to the parents? Does the wife submit herself to her husband. That’s why when you get into chapter 3, it’s talking about the wives submitting herself to her husband. And it’s also talking about suffering. I don’t know why, but I’m not that’s that long. But submit yourselves one to another as God’s word tells us to do. Look in verse 16, as free not using your liberty. See, there’s thing God wants you to do, there’s things God doesn’t want you to do.

Don’t use your liberty as a cloak of militionists, as some people say, as a license to sin, as though God has given you and I permission to sin. Because, well, I did something and nothing happened. I did something else and nothing happened, but realize there are consequences to our choices. Now look in chapter 4, the book of 1 Peter, chapter 4 and look in verse 1. Is there anything in verse 1 that tells us something to do? Luke says, for as much then as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves.

Arm yourselves. I mean, if the enemy’s coming after you need to arm yourselves, well, God says we arm ourselves with the right kind of mind by the way that we think. Arm yourself because the devil is going to try to get into your mind and he works on your mind. He says, arm yourself likewise with the same mind. Now the same mind, we’re going to look at that just a moment for he that had suffered in the flesh, had ceased from sin.

So you’re going to have problems in this world and they’re sinned in the world and you’re going to suffer while you’re in the body. But it’s better to suffer in the flesh and not commit the sin than it is to do whatever you want to do and you commit to sin, but then you suffer because of your bad decisions. And that’s mentioned in quite a few places here in this book, because you want your conscience to be clean, your conscience to be right, conscience to be pure.

And so he makes this statement here. Now look in verse two, after you and I have trusted Christ as our Savior, even though we know that our faith is on trial, look what he says in verse two, that heat no longer for the rest of your life should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lust of men but to the will of God. So verse 2 tells us something. It gives us direction. It tells us what God wants us to do.

So there is the will of God that’s mentioned and he’s talking here in the book of 1 Peter about how you and I are supposed to live. Now when it comes to examples. I want you to look at a few verses here in the book of 1 Peter. Now we haven’t covered all of them. There’s a lot of things you can look at and find and have a good time. But as I study the Scripture, I’m always looking for something.

I’ll get on a thought. And then I’ll look in that book. Remember, I’ve already gone through it several ways, looking at just the word suffering. Then we like that, just the word grace. And sometimes faith, just a word. Well, these are other things that I, when I read it, I’m looking for something. I’m always looking, trying to figure out how am I supposed to apply this to my life? What difference does it make if I read this or I don’t read this?

What does God want me to do? Also, I want you to look there in chapter 1 and look in verse 7, because there is an example that God gives throughout the book. Now we know that we’re talking about how we live in this present life, how we’re supposed to live, as strangers and pilgrims in this world, that we’re not going to stay here forever, and life is short, and then when you get to 2 Peter in chapter 1, Peter talks about how that he knows that he has a short time time and he’s going to lay this old tabernacle aside and he’sURES to go home to be with the Lord.

But in verse 7 when he says that the trial of your faith, this is a good illustration, but he says, being much more precious than a goal that parisid, though it be tried with fire, might be found under praise, honor, and glory at the appearance of Jesus Christ. So we understand that there are illustrations that God gives, whether it’s gold that is tried in the fire and people wouldn’t understand a little bit about that and get the draw to come to the top and clean it it off and think they do what silver it because they want to try to purify what’s there.

Well the reason God sees puts you into that melting pot and turns up the heat, He’s trying to get all those things that’s not good in your life to come to the surface so that you can get rid of it. So you see you don’t clean up your life when you accept all those things but when you see how it’s hurting your testimony or hurting your life your effectiveness well then see God puts you in a fire and turns up the heat so that you can see what’s wrong in your life.

And it’s the problems in life that reveals how strong you really are. And that’s pressure. And the pressure reveals an awful lot about our character. Also, look there in verse 10. And verse 10. And understand that when you get into chapter 3 and talking about, you know, Noah and the ark and just a few that were saved and preaching to the spirits that were in prison. Remember, here in verse 10, you have prophets that spoke in time passed by the Spirit that was in them.

And you also find that phrase that’s mentioned in chapter 3, and you’ll see that in just And just a minute of which salvation that profits have inquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come under you. Now understand this when you’re talking about. about suffering. He’s talking about this one main thing. How can I take suffering patiently? So, you suffer patiently. Just look at this because I think you need to see this and makes a statement here in 1 Peter chapter 2.

Look in verse 20 where he says, and what glory is it if when you be buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patiently. But if when you do well and suffer for it, you take it patiently. acceptable with God. So God in the Old Testament, and he used this as an illustration, God told the prophets things to write. Then they would search diligently, seeking to understand what they wrote, and when is certain things going to happen, trying to discern the difference between the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.

So when they wrote, they had to wait patiently for the fulfillment of what they wrote. See, every prophet who wrote about the future, they were vindicated when the prophecy was fulfilled. When Christ came and died on the cross, vindicated, established, proved that all those prophecies that were made was true. So when he’s talking to you and I about our suffering that we’re going to go through, the trial of our faith. We suffer now patiently because we’re looking at the end result.

We know that it’s going to be vindicated down the road. In other words, I’m going to win. Whatever suffering that I go through, it will be worth it all. So I believe that you’ll find that little train of thought as you go through the scriptures. See it in verse 11, searching what are what manner of time the spirit of Christ, which was in them, did signify when it testified beforehand to suffer the Christ and the glory that should follow.

But these fulfillments are things in the future. So you and I know we have the trial of our faith now, but the praise, honor, and glory, as it says in verse 7, is in the future. And so there’s illustrations that God is going to give to us. Look in verse 15 and 16. He says in verse 15 and 16 of chapter 1, but as he which hath called you is holy, be holy in all manner of behavior because it is written, be ye holy for I am holy.

As he says here, in this word, be ye holy for I am holy. And he’s talking about the things that God wants us to be like. So we have an example. He is holy. Therefore, why should I be holy? Because Our Father is holy. It is a great example. He’s telling us we often compare ourselves among ourselves. Now, I think there’s a verse in the Bible that says, they that compare themselves among themselves and recommend themselves that God said, you’re not wise.

It’s not the wise thing to, if you wanna compare yourself with anybody, who should you compare yourself to? To the Lord. Now, how are you doing? Because we always compare ourselves with those that we’re doing better than, and then condemn ourselves if somebody’s doing better than us. So that’s not a wise thing to do, God says. Now, look in chapter 1 and verse 19. In verse 19, he makes this statement, because it was foreordained from the foundations of the world.

God set something, planned something, This is the root thing before the foundations of the world, that the Son of God, the perfect lamb, would come shut his blood and make the payment for the sins of the world. So you see there’s all this patience in there, and the Bible talks about enduring with much long suffering. You read that same thing mentioned in the book of Romans 9. So when Christ came and did make the payment, that was the fulfillment.

That was the vindication that what God wanted and what God promised, it was true. Why is He giving us the illustrations like this? Because one of the things that we want is, how do I know that’s true? How do I know that it’s going to be worth it? So God tells us in advance, now listen, you’re going to suffer, but then the glory. And it’s going to be worth it all. So he says here in verse 19, but with the precious blood of Christ as a lamb without, blemish and without spot, who barely was foreordained before the foundations of the world.

But now get this word manifested in these last times for you. You see, it was told about in the Old Testament and ordained in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament, we have the fulfillment of it. He was manifested. That’s the vindication of what God had said would going to take place. See, if Christ never came, you can’t use as an example that what God said He would do. But for us, we’re privileged to live on this side of the cross and He says, look, I said this and this happened.

Therefore, you know that what I’m telling you, it will be worth it all. And it’s supposed to affect our lives. That’s why He wants us to live holy because it’ll be worth it. Do sacrifice. It’ll be worth it. Give up this world for the will of God. It will be worth it. And your decision when that day comes will be vindicated. Therefore, this is what we’re supposed to do. Look in chapter 3 and verse 9. Chapter 3 and verse 9.

notice that there is a situation with a man and a woman. And the woman is told that she could win her husband by the way she lives, you know, where she’s living with a husband. And it’s not the adornin of the hair or the dress that’s going to win him. It’s going to be because of your attitude, your submissive spirit, and so forth. Convincing the woman why she should treat her husband the way she So then he uses an illustration and use the illustration about in the old 10 See in verse 6 even as Sarah obeyed Abraham.

That’s the illustration She did that and God richly blessed her. She had a child and This child is where the whole nation of Israel came from But she obeyed submitted herself see in verse 5 where it says been in subjection unto their own husband, this is now in this life. Go ahead, submit yourself to the authority of the Lord, knowing that what God promised, he will perform. And that even though you suffer at this present time, all of your suffering will be worth it.

And someday you’ll be so glad you’ll be vindicated, you won’t lose. And if somebody says something, Okay, let God protect you and defend you. And you’ll be surprised what he will do. Now look there in the verse nine. Verse nine, he says, not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing, but contrary wise blessing, knowing that you are there unto called, get this, because this is down the road, that you should inherit a blessing. In other words, you do this and you’ll get this.

Everybody wants to be blessed. We always ask God to bless our lives. All right, do things that God can bless. God doesn’t bless our disobedience. He blesses our obedience. So this is why he talks about up here, about our obedience to the Lord. See there when he makes that statement in verse six, even as Sarah obeyed, and then up there in verse one where it says, if any obey, not the word, there’s a thing about obeying and disobeying. That’s also mentioned in chapter two about the word disobedience means those who obey and those who disobey.

Because he’s talking about us having a reason to suffer for the Lord. And this was mentioned, I believe mainly because there were some Jewish people that were suffering because of the temple was going to be destroyed. Israel was going to be under persecution. And the temple being destroyed, the children of Israel were scattered in all the things that was going to happen to them. And they were going to be strangers and pilgrims. And so he’s telling them that wherever you go, and there’s Gentile nations out there.

And that’s why it’s mentioned there in chapter two about this. Also look there in verse 16, in verse 16 of chapter three, when he says having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil doers they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good behavior in Christ but your good behavior is a choice. You can have a good life and obey and serve and then suffer the consequences for it and that’s what’s going to take place and as we said before down in verse 21 talking about your good conscience that you have Now, if there’s any verses in the scriptures that seem to be difficult to explain, it seems like you’re just moving right along.

Everything’s going long fine. And all of a sudden you come up verse 18 19 20. So what’s what’s that doing in there? Well, there’s a reason. It’s an example again. And he gives several examples and just a couple verses. But you see, the examples have to fit in with the overall context. It’s not just these stand alone, they are here to explain other things. And you don’t use an example or a parable and try to make everything mean something, but get the thought of it.

You see, when Christ came into the world, and you’re looking in verse 18, chapter 3, But Christ also hath once suffered for sins. Or now he suffered and then glory. But he suffered first. But why did he do it? There’s a reason why God allows us to stay in this old world and why He allows us to suffer. So he says in verse 18, for Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust. Now see, that’s not right.

that you and I as we go through life, you may be just and there’s people who are unjust and they do you wrong. They can defraud you. They can hurt you. See, all kind of bad things about you. Slam you, taught a knife in the back, turn people against you, and it’ll hurt. It’ll hurt deeply. But see, whether you get hurt or stay hurt is going to be your own choice. You can decide that God knows and I’ll be vindicated someday.

Because whenever I get to heaven, if all my works are going to be revealed, then God is going to bless because God says, He is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love. So therefore, can I be patient knowing that one day my heavenly Father that’s going to judge me at the judgmentary of Christ is I’ll be vindicated because I know that God knows and he keeps the books and I can wait and be patient knowing that I’m going to win when it’s over because God knows all the little details and people say and do things that hurt you, you can try to get them back even the score or you can learn to just put your confidence and trust in the Lord.

So get what he says here. He says that he did it, but it was a reason that he might bring us to God. And as we mentioned the other day, we could be used by the Lord to bring people to the Lord. And then he said, but quickened or made alive by the Spirit. So he died the flesh, but it was quickened by the Spirit. And see, but first of all, there was the death. Then there was a quickening.

See, he suffered, then he was made alive. And then the Bible talks about it in the book of Philippians 2, he is now in heaven. So when the Bible talks about you and I, because Christ has suffered for us, he says, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. Are you a new listener to Bibleline? Do you enjoy the teachings of Dr. Arnold? Well, if you’ve never contacted us before, we want to give you Dr. Arnold’s book, the gospel-driven man.

Every day we receive many emails from folks who have questions about repentance and salvation, about faith in works, and about how to share the gospel with friends and loved ones. This book, The Gospel-Driven Man, covers all those topics, and we want all new listeners of Bibleline to receive a free copy. There’s no obligation, no donation necessary, simply call us at 1-800-576-3771, or write to us and request your free copy of the Gospel-Driven Man. The mailing address is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634.

Again, don’t forget to include your mailing address, and God bless you and thank you for listening to Bibleline. Thanks for joining us on Bibleline. If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us. The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. and now a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound, and we will be changed. Product can meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day.

Believing that the Lord is coming soon, just keep looking up.