Call to Commitment

 

As I read the autobiography of Charles Finney, there are not a few occasions, in which I discover his keen sense of humor. In these writings that I have selected from his first and fourth chapter, although they contain very serious faults in the ministry and in Christianity in New England in Finney´s day, they also contain humorous descriptions of the styles of preaching that he experienced. If I would dedicate this chapter to humor, I could go through the book and find a good number of stories richly humorous, but obviously that is not my purpose in presenting the ministry of Charles Finney. Perhaps, however, we might stumble upon other instances of humor, as we point to some of the most important and interesting stories of his life.

 My purpose in this chapter is to show the necessity of the knowledge of the gospel, in those who proclaim it. When Jesus left simple Galilean disciples in charge of future Christianity, “He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Lk.24:45). I have seen that people with little training or education can receive a clarity of truth in their experience, which they share as they expound the gospel. Others only show their ignorance.

 Above all, Finney points to the greatest need of anyone, who attempts to minister the great revelations of heaven to people on this earth, and that is the power of the Holy Spirit in preaching. For that reason, after opening the disciples understanding, four verses later, Jesus counsels them to “tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Lk. 24:49)

  

Charles Finney´s Pre-conversion Experience with Christianity

 Total ignorance in preaching 

My parents were neither of them professors of religion, and I believe among our neighbors there were very few that professed religion. I seldom heard a Gospel sermon from any person, unless it was an occasional one from some travelling minister, or some miserable holding forth of an ignorant preacher that would sometimes be found in that country. I recollect very well that the ignorance of the preachers that I heard, when I heard any at all, was so great that the people would return from meeting and spend a considerable time in irrepressible laughter, in view of the strange mistakes which had been made and absurdities which had been advanced.

 

 

In his book, Joy Unspeakable, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones refers three or four times to Charles Finney’s baptism in the Holy Spirit. I quote: “Take a man like (Charles) Finney. He was converted one day, the next day this happened to him. He knew nothing about it, he just found it happening to him…”

I believe that the original autobiography of Charles G. Finney was published in 1876, one year after his decease. I found a copy in my dad’s library, sometime in the early 1960’s, published by Revell in 1911 and still have it in my possession. I am going to post a few chapters on this blog, which I hope many will read. I first want to present his personal account of salvation and subsequent Baptism in the Holy Spirit from Chapter 2. I want to emphasize the fact that this was an experience claimed by many great men, used of God, many years before the Pentecostal Movement. It is contrary to today’s popular teaching that this Baptism occurs at conversion. Later, I also would like to give a sampling of Finney’s accounts of revivals in certain places and, perhaps, other experiences in his lifetime.

 

 CHAPTER 2:  His Conversion and Baptism in the Holy Spirit 

My Conversion to Christ 

On a Sabbath evening just at this time of my history, I made up my mind that I would settle the question of my soul's salvation at once, that if it were possible I would make my peace with God. But as I was very busy in the affairs of the office, I knew that without great firmness of purpose I should never effectually attend to the subject. I, therefore, then and there resolved, as far as possible, to avoid all business and everything that would divert my attention, and to give myself wholly to the work of securing the salvation of my soul. I carried this resolution into execution as sternly and thoroughly as I could. I was, however, obliged to be a good deal in the office. But as the providence of God would have it, I was not much occupied either Monday or Tuesday, and had opportunity to read my Bible and engage in prayer most of the time.

 But I was very proud without knowing it. I had supposed that I had not much regard for the opinions of others, whether they thought this or that in regard to myself; and I had in fact been quite singular in attending their prayer meetings and in the degree of attention that I had paid to religion while in Adams. In this respect I had been so singular as to lead the church repeatedly to think that I must be an anxious inquirer. But I found, when I came to face the question, that I was very unwilling to have any one know that I was seeking the salvation of my soul. When I prayed I would only whisper my prayers after having stopped the keyhole to my door, lest someone should discover that I was engaged in prayer. Before that time I had my Bible lying on the table with the law books, and it never had occurred to me to be ashamed of being found reading my Bible any more than I should be ashamed of being found reading any of my other books. But after I had addressed myself in earnest to the subject of my own salvation, I kept my Bible as much as I could out of sight. If I was reading it when anybody came in, I would throw my law books upon it to create the impression that I had not had it in my hand. Instead of being outspoken and willing to talk with anybody and everybody on the subject as I had been in the habit of doing, I found myself unwilling to converse with anybody. I did not want to see my minister for two reasons: First, I did not want to let him know how I felt; and secondly, I had no confidence that he would understand my case and give me the direction that I needed. For the same reasons I avoided conversation with the elders of the church, or with any of the Christian people. I was ashamed to let them know how I felt, on the one hand; and on the other, I was afraid they would misdirect me. I felt myself shut up to the Bible.

 I have recently terminated my expositional comments on the Second Epistle of Peter, having previously posted Peter's first epistle, as well as the Epistle of James. These three, of course, are from the General Epistles. I have also commented on a number of other books of the Bible, including Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Zechariah, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Hebrews, James and Revelation, along with a devotional book on the Psalms. I am considering leaving expositional Bible teaching for a while and a number of ideas are going through my mind. 

 I would like to bring up old articles from this blog, which I think are especially important. Today, I was reading an article on the Mukti revival in India. I would also like to form written articles from recent messages by our sons Mike, Daniel, and David. Perhaps I will also repeat some of their older messages, already posted here. At the moment, I am thinking of going to an old autobiography of Charles G. Finney, published in 1911, which now is out-of-print. I found it in my dad's library, sometime in the early 1960's and still have it in my possession, although the cover is torn off and a few of the first pages are missing. At that time, early in my ministry, a fire began to be kindled in my soul, that continues to burn today in this 21st Century. I plan to copy a few significant chapters in their entirety. I believe that you will find these on this blogspot in the very near future. I would also like to uncover the heart of Jonathan Goforth, who saw missionary revival in China. 

 

2 Peter 3

 

Ungodly human shortsightedness

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

             2.      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, 

            3.      knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 

4.      and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 

5.      For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 

6.      by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 

7.      But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 

8.      But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 

9.      The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

It seems proper that Peter should terminate his final contribution to the canon of Scripture by writing about the things of eternity. It is consistent with the Lord’s plan that the very last chapters in the Bible should take us into the new heavens and the new earth. The inspired word gives the account of this planet and the universe around it, from its creation to its destruction. After it tells human history, up to the time that the final despot and all God’s enemies have been judged, eternity is ushered in.

 In this chapter, Peter also will write about the final destruction of the universe, before he opens a door to a new one, which reigns in righteousness. He begins in the first verse with the theme of remembrance, which, he states, has been his purpose in both, but he particularly emphasizes it throughout this second letter. He uses the reader’s memory, in order to “stir up” their “pure minds”. Warren Wiesbe makes a statement, “It is possible to have a pure and sincere mind and yet have a bad memory!”

God saved righteous Lot

  

False Prophets and Teachers

       1.      But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers            among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who                      bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 

      2.      And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 

      3.      By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 

 Peter continues to prod the believers’ memory, reminding them of Old Testament stories, which were familiar to them. He warns them that there will be false teachers among them, as there were false prophets throughout the Jews’ history. Paul also warned the Ephesian elders, who met with him in Meletus, before he sailed on towards Jerusalem. I will first point out that Paul recognized the three-fold ministry of the elders, which we studied in 1 Peter, chapter 5. They are elders, but also, bishops and shepherds or pastors: “The Holy Spirit has made you overseers (bishops), to shepherd the church of God” (Ac.20:28).

 He went on to caution them: “From among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Ac.20:30). As long as we are in this deceitful world, we must beware of false people with wrong motives and their false doctrines. Jesus spoke of them in the parables of Matthew 13, telling of tares among wheat, a mustard seed which grew into a tree, leaven mixed into a loaf of meal, and bad fish netted along with good fish. In Matthew 25, He began, “The kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins… five of them were wise, and five were foolish.” To the seven churches in Revelation, Jesus exposed the false doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, a false prophetess and her disciples. Can we expect less in these days of deep deception?

  

Destroying demonic literature in Ephesus

Verses 12-21 

 Spiritual benefits from memories

12.   For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 

13.  Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 

14.  knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.

15.  Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. 

In verse 12, Peter begins to show the importance of remembrance in spiritual life. David put himself in a compromising, hypocritical position, when he allied himself with one of Israel´s enemies. This was Achish of Gath, one of the five kings of the Philistines. His fault was in putting his trust in this man, instead of looking to the Lord for protection. Living a lie, finally caught up with him. He found himself with Achish, about to begin a major battle against his own people, Israel, as the Philistines mounted a major offensive against them. King Saul and David’s friend, Jonathan, died in this battle. God freed him from this dangerous situation, but things soon went from bad to worse.

 After a two-day’s journey, his army of 600 soldiers arrived at the city of Ziklag, which Achish had given to them. They discovered that the Amalekites had ransacked and burned the city, while they were absent, stealing the wives and children. David’s men were at the point of stoning him and he had absolutely no one to turn to. David was greatly distressed, the biblical account relates, and it is at this point, when David’s memory began to function. He remembered the hand of the Lord so heavily upon his past life, all the way back to his youth and “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” He went on to recover every one of the wives and children, but David won a greater battle in his soul, recognizing the grace of God in the victory. Grace became a ruling principle in his future kingdom. Read this valuable account in 1 Samuel 30. Memory strengthened and restored David with His Lord.

  Peter sees the need, on his part as a teacher of the gospel, to be faithful to remind the churches of things they already know. It is a great lesson for all Bible teachers that they should not be concerned about being repetitious. We have seen Peter, in the first part of this chapter, preoccupied with the possibility of stunted growth, short vision and stumbling in their walk of faith. Here, however, he sees people with experiential knowledge, presently living and established in the truth that has come into their lives.

  

Warren Wiersbe, pastor of Moody Church

 Verses 1-11 

A powerful introduction

           1.     Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of                 Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained                      like precious faith with us by the                                   righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus                                                                                                                Christ: 

2.      Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 

There are times, when we have to hold a verse of Scripture under a Spirit-inspired microscope to be able to bring out every small detail of significance. Other times, we do better to see the overall picture that the verse intends to convey. There is a detail, concerning Peter’s presentation in the first verse of each of his two epistles. I am not sure why the apostle uses his original name in his second epistle, while he does not in the first. We do learn one fact, however, concerning this difference, which perhaps is small, but it certainly shows us that, when Jesus gave Peter a second name, which signified a stone, he did not wish to eliminate his given name, Simon. It can be safely said that, as we begin a new Christian life, the Lord has no intention of erasing all natural biography from our past, nor removing our unique personality, which He created from conception.

 Not only does Peter add his given name in his second epistle, but also adds servant to his title of apostle. Translators may have good reason for changing the literal Greek word to servant, which simply and quite definitely means slave. Slave accurately describes our relationship to Christ, Whom we have received as absolute Lord. Paul teaches that “you are not your own… you are bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Co.6:20). It is hard for me to understand that people, who have been bought and are not their own, can be anything, but slaves. The very same word is translated slave in the next chapter, 1 Corinthians 7:22: “Likewise he who is called being free is Christ’s slave.”

 In calling himself a bondservant, the apostle is referring to a situation in the Old Testament in the law of Moses in Exodus 21:2-6 and in the second recitation of the law in Deuteronomy 15:12-18, when a Hebrew, due to duress, sells himself as a slave. He was to serve for six years and then, by law, in the seventh year, he must be released. Not only is he to go free, but his master must liberally grant him sheep, grain and grapes, and other supplies, to help him to get a new start in life. There was a clause in the law, that the slave, because of love for his master, could choose to stay under his mastery. His new position was marked by piercing an ear with an awl, and it meant that he would be a voluntary slave for the duration of his life. It was a wonderful picture of New Testament voluntary surrender to Christ, motivated by love. Not only Peter, but Paul, James and Jude, considered themselves bondslaves. 

 

Your adversary, the devil

 

Shepherd the Flock of God

 1.      The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:    

       2.      Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 

3.      nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 

4.   and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 

 The words that Peter heard directly from the mouth of Jesús form the background for his message to the elders of the churches, to whom he is writing. Jesus taught, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you… do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven... whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt. 20:25, 26; 23:8, 9, 12).

 I have heard a few leaders say that the charges that are under their care are rowdy and rebellious and, therefore, require a firmer grip and demand more authority, than that to which Jesus limited his disciples. I would suggest then, that they would start over and build something Christian. There are no rules in Christianity, besides those which Jesus laid down, and there are no exceptions to those rules.

 There is no wiser advice in Scripture than that which Peter gives in this letter. This rough fisherman has been broken and gentled. He writes to the elders in the churches and equalizes himself to them. He places himself among them and not over them in the least. 

 

Christian discipline in Acts

     

1 Peter 4

 The end of all things is at hand 

      1.   Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in         the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 

2.      that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 

3.      For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 

4.      In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 

5.      They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 

6.      For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 

7.      But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 

 According to 1 Peter 3:8, there is to be a unity of mind among the brethren, but that unity is based on oneness with the mind of Christ. The divine principle is found in the prayer of Christ to the Father: “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (Jn.17:23). Unity among human beings outside of Christ is beyond useless; it is dangerous. It is the basis of ecumenicalism that is a religious unity, which rebels against godly principle. It will ultimately exist as Babylon, exposed and defined in the book of Revelation, as a harlot that has been unfaithful to her Husband…. Her Husband being her Creator, whom she has forgotten. It adulterates along with the world’s system, exalts itself and is empowered by the spirit of the devil.

 The mind of Christ is centered on God-ordained suffering. As He walked on earth, Jesus never diverted once from this purpose. A messianic phrase in Isaiah 50:7 states, “I have set My face like a flint.” and the account in Luke’s Gospel, 9:51, records the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “When the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.

 

Wesley:“Not the outward sign, but the inward grace.

 

Matrimonial responsibilities

      1.   Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 

   2. when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 

3.      Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 

4.      rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 

5.   For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 

6.     as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 

      7.  Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the                         weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be                         hindered.

Warren Wiersbe commented that God has established three institutions on earth… the government, the church, and the home. The latter is formed first by a husband and his wife, and so, both Peter and Paul give inspired counsel to the married couple. I emphasize that, because as is true in all the Scripture, this counsel is also divinely inspired. It qualified Paul, who was not married, along with Peter, who was married, to give expert advice. Christian couples need counsel from heaven that goes beyond earthly experience. This world’s wisdom is not sufficient for any area of Christian living, and the believers’ home is a heavenly, supernatural institution. All counsel to believers must be based on biblical, Holy-Spirit directed wisdom.

 Peter begins with the wives and, because he is writing to first generational converts, he assumes that not all have believing spouses. Those, who are married in Christ, should have no need for advice concerning unconverted husbands or wives. Paul gave clear command: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial (the word Belial from Hebrew… worthlessness, unprofitableness, wickedness)? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” (2 Co.6:14-15). 

 

1 Peter 2

 

A Cornerstone with accompanying Living Stones  

1.     Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 

      2.      as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 

      3.       if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

4.      Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 

5.      you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

6.    Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE WHO BELIEVES ON HIM WILL BY NO MEANS BE PUT TO SHAME." 

7.      Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE," 

8.      and "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 

9.      But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 

10.  who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 

 The New Testament does not teach that Christianity is something to be added to a person’s natural, sinful existence. As in our chapter, verse 1, there must first be a laying aside, before any Christian ingredient can be added. This principle is confirmed by Paul in Ephesians 4:22 and 24: “Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man… put on the new man…”  He teaches it again to the Colossians: “You have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man…” (Col.3:9, 10). 

 

The flower fades

1 Peter 1:13-25

 

The holiness of God and His people

13.  Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 

14.  as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 

15.  but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 

16.  because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." 

 “Therefore” is based on the previous verses… because Christians are involved in the theme and life that was the envy of prophets and kings. To this, the prophets dedicated their entire lives, searching and inquiring the time of Christ’s suffering and the subsequent glories. They understood that these supreme events of the ages would come to a future people. Not only holy prophets, but holy, heavenly hosts longed to study the matters of an elect people, who would receive these glories. 

 Peter’s readers were the recipients, not only those of his day, but down through the gospel ages to our day, the message has been heard and received, accompanied by the Holy Spirit from heaven. It is the good news of salvation to a sinful, condemned race, totally unworthy of its benefits. You are the ones, Peter says, who should “gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you…”

 In the apostle’s day, men of the Middle East wore loose-fitting robes. When they would embark upon some activity, perhaps a journey, they would tie their robes closely to their bodies, and shorten them under their belts, to allow freedom of movement. Girding was an act of preparation and Peter applies it to the thought-life of a believer. It must be brought under control… “girded” … to think seriously and deeply and then, be able to come to a place of confident and complete rest in the grace of God. There is no other source of hope for him and it will be brought to him in its completeness, when Jesus Christ is revealed from heaven. This is to occupy his mind. Jesus said, "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master…” (Lk.12:35,36).

                Chosen and born again, with               resurrection life from Christ

       1.      Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,  

       2.      elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 

3.      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, 

4.      to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 

5.      who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

 After an introduction of the apostle Peter and the people, to whom he is writing, I want to refer to the first verse again, simply to look at the word pilgrims.  When Jacob met the Egyptian Pharaoh, he referred to his life as a pilgrimage… he was one, who had not settled down, but was on a continual journey: “Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years.” (Gen.47:9). He had learned that lifestyle from his father, Isaac, and his grandfather, Abraham.

 In Psalms 39:12, David identified with his forefathers as a foreign sojourner: “I am a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.”  The writer of Hebrews referred to the Old Testament saints, using the same Greek word, translated pilgrims in Hebrews 11:13, as in Peter’s first verse: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Peter is writing to pilgrims and I can see no other position for a Christian in this world, than that of a pilgrim (1).

 The apostle goes to great lengths to express to these people, with temporal residency on earth, that they have a history that was initiated by God the Father in eternity. He had chosen them, from the time that He had knowledge of them. Now, of course, we must consider the fact that, due to His omniscience, there is no beginning to His foreknowledge. In the timeless eons of eternity, He knew these pilgrims and chose them for His own. The place that they occupy in Peter’s day, was the result of God’s special attention given them from before the beginning of time. 

 

Introduction

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia”   1 Peter 1:1

 It will not be necessary to relate the entire biblical biography of Peter, because his story is well-known to all those who have read the Gospels of Jesus Christ, as well as the book of Acts. His predominance among the apostles, his strong and impulsive character, have taught us much about countering self-confidence and self-sufficiency, even as a disciple of Christ. We will simply remind ourselves of the major milestones in his life, before delving into his inspired teaching.

 In fact, he was among the three, along with James and John, who formed an inner circle of disciples that experienced things that the other nine did not. As all Christians, he had to learn the ways of God that contradict all human instruction, received over the years, as it is taught in this world. At the same time, Peter was totally consecrated to the Lord, leaving his means of living to follow Jesus faithfully for 3 ½ years.

 He was a native of Bethsaida in Galilee, named Simon by his parents, having learned the fishing profession from his father. At the very beginning of his discipleship, he was renamed Peter, a stone, by the Lord. His home later became Capernaum, a fishing town on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. He was a typical Galilean, despised by the more sophisticated Judeans, especially those of Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin noticed that he was an untrained and uneducated man and even a common servant girl noticed his Galilean accent, when he spoke Hebrew. His native tongue was Aramaic repulsive, as a Gentile language, by the Judeans in the south of Israel.

 

James gives warning to the prosperous

         1.    Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 

  2. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 

          3.    Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 

4.      Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 

5.      You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.

        6.      You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. 

James certainly was far from being a promoter of prosperity, in fact, he seriously warned the rich of the danger of prosperity. Paul, also, in total agreement with James, knew the pitfalls of wealth and, though the wealthy may have been few among Christians, they certainly existed. He tells Timothy to counsel them: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1Ti 6:17-19). There are Christians, who have known how to use their good fortune, have heeded this advice, and have been wonderfully used of God to further His purposes.

 However, in 1 Timothy 6:5-11, Paul gives a clear and concise teaching to Timothy on the Christian position concerning earthly prosperity. He began his doctrine, writing of “useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.” This portion in Timothy merits a few observations. Verse 5 teaches that any search for getting gain from Christianity is done by men of corrupt minds, using devious means that are far from truth.  “From such withdraw yourself.” Christians, certainly men in the ministry, need to shy away from this kind of teaching. “