As you embark on this spiritual journey through the New Testament, you will gain clarity on how to separate oneself from worldly desires and align closer to God. Dr. McGee provides valuable guidance on navigating worldly pressures while maintaining a firm Christian witness. From the responsibilities within a household to engaging with non-believers, the teachings highlight the significance of steadfast faith, emphasizing obedience to governing authorities as a testimony of God’s love. Explore how the example of Christ’s suffering is both redemptive and instructive for believers today.
the foundation ye saints of the Lord is laid for your faith
SPEAKER 02 :
We’ve all heard complaints about Christians who are hypocrites. And you know, a lot of the time, that criticism hits closer to home than most of us would like to admit. It’s tough to live the Christian life in a world that has really lost its way. And it’s easy to compromise on the things that we know we shouldn’t do or say. Well, needless to say, the Lord has much more mercy and forgiveness on the repentant soul than our unsaved neighbor or coworker. But you know, that doesn’t mean we give up trying, does it? As our offering to the Lord, we can work at living blameless lives before the world. Welcome to Through the Bible with our teacher, Dr. J. Vernon McGee. I’m your host, Steve Schwetz, and we’re on a five-year, never-ending journey through the whole Word of God. And we stop in the New Testament book of 1 Peter for some practical help in living the Christian life. Our focus isn’t necessarily on what you don’t do as a Christian, which is often how we define separation. but primarily on the positive actions like living and working honestly and consistently doing good works. We’ll learn that by doing this, we show the world God’s grace and goodness. This is a great study. It’s one that I know you’re going to love. So hang on just a minute because first I got a couple of letters from our fellow Bible bus passengers that I want to share. First is Stephanie in the U.S. writes this. This book is possibly my favorite book in the entire Word of God. I get excited every time I hear Dr. McGee give a lesson on Daniel. Each chapter is better than the last, and each prophecy and history lesson is more profound than the next. Thank you, Mom, for leading me to this great ministry. I didn’t realize it at the time that you were sowing seeds that would come to fruition after your death. Yet I am so very thankful that God had his almighty hands on me when I didn’t even realize it. We’re so glad to have you aboard, Stephanie, and we too are grateful for your mom’s legacy. Next, we’ve got an email. This is from a listener in Zimbabwe. Thank you, Pastor. Coming back to Jesus is the best decision one can make. I am one of those people who are growing in Christ through these teachings. Thank you for the learning that you provide. I am able to discern the truth of what is being taught in our churches and share it with others I meet. Next, we’ve got an email. This is from France. Thank you very much. Your God is the best friend I could find. He is now my God too. Our final email comes from a listener in Malawi who’s excited to share. I have learned a lot from these studies in God’s word, including one, we need to return to the Lord after we have realized that we have sinned. Next, God is able to transform even those we consider not worthy. And then we’re not supposed to give up, even if things turn upside down, for God may allow such things to work for our good. I will continue to listen as long as you teach, so please continue. Isn’t that an encouragement? You know, we love to hear what God is teaching those who study His Word with us. And what’s He teaching you? Well, you can leave a note quickly in our app by just using the feedback option. You can also email us at BibleBus at ttb.org. And you can always write to Box 7100, Pasadena, California, 91109. In Canada, Box 25325, London, Ontario, N6C 6B1. Or call and leave a message at 1-800-65-BIBLE. And if you’d like to join us as we pray for listeners like these here at home and all over the world, join our World Prayer Team. You’ll find it in the menu of our app or at ttb.org forward slash pray. Now let’s pray together for our study. Heavenly Father, thank you that your mercy and forgiveness are ours when we need it. Teach us how we can be living witnesses of your grace to all those around us. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen. Here’s Dr. J. Vernon McGee with our study of 1 Peter 2 on Through the Bible.
SPEAKER 01 :
Now friends, we come back today to the second chapter of 1 Peter and we begin actually with verse 11 today. And I’d like to mention that again. It says, Dearly beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Now, this is the great section on Christian separation, what it really is. And it’s actually not so much restraining, from doing certain things as it is positive of doing certain things. And that’s what we’re going to see as we move on now. And worldliness actually today is doing the things of the flesh. And true separation is a separation from the flesh. Someone has put it like this, the flesh is a good servant but a bad master. And that is something that the child of God should remember. And not only is he to restrain from that because he’s going to come into judgment someday, but actually for the very fact that these things will destroy his testimony as far as the world is concerned. This is something that is very important for believers. Paul had said to the Gentiles and Ephesians practically the same thing, and now Peter says to his people, the diaspora, the Jews scattered abroad, he says, “…in time past you were not a people.” That is, they had rejected God and God had rejected them. And now God’s doing something new. But you’re now the people of God who had not obtained mercy, but now have attained mercy. That’s verse 10, by the way. Now, as we move on here, verse 12. “…having your behavior honest among the Gentiles, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation.” Now, this is what we mean when we say that true separation today is not some little pious position that you assume and that you refrain from doing certain worldly things. Believers who are in the business world, and most of us today have contact with the business world, we are to show forth the praises of God by honesty. And that is a witness to the world. Now 13, he says, “…submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to the king as supreme, or unto governors as unto them that are sent by him, for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” Now, at this time, Nero was just coming to the throne in Rome. He was the new emperor. And yet, he says here that you’re to obey those that are the supreme ruler and you’re to obey the ordinances of man. The Roman Empire boasted itself that it gave justice to man. But of course, it’s been like every other government, including our own. We talked today about that the little man, he has a fair chance. Well, he doesn’t. I mean, let’s face up to it. If you have money enough to buy a lawyer that is smart enough to evade the law, You can pretty much evade it. It’s the poor man today that’s having the problem with the law, you see. But what about the believer today? Well, we are to obey the law. Rome intended their law to be just. It was not. They crucified Christ, you must remember. They are the ones that persecuted the early Christians. And they boasted loudly about justice. And today we hear so much about the sacred cow, the freedom of the press, very little about freedom of religion. But my friend, today, religion is very politely being suppressed. When I say religion, I mean the preaching of the Word of God. Now, what are we to do? Rebel against the government? No. We are to obey. We are to submit ourselves. Now, he says, verse 15, For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. So that the life that you live, and when you submit to governments and those in authority, again, you are revealing the praises of God in your life. You may not want to take that traffic ticket. I’ve never taken one joyfully so far. Always pled my innocence. And sometimes there was some question about that. But we are to be obedient unto the law. And for that reason, we are giving a testimony. Now, will you notice here, he’s going to talk here in verse 16 and 17 about about our relationships to others. Now, notice this, as free and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Now, you and I today have a liberty in Christ that the man outside does not really have. There’s a marvelous liberty in Christ. But what about the man on the outside? Now, I personally believe that I can go places and I can see things that the average person cannot. I really mean that. I don’t think I would be hurt by it at all. But you see, I don’t want to use it as a cloak to hurt somebody else. I’d be malicious if I did something like that. We must remember we are free, yet we are the servants of God. Now, listen to this. Honor all men. We are to respect other human beings. A Christian should remember that. Love the brotherhood. Now, we are to respect and honor all men. Not told to love them. Some of them are just too unlovely. But we’re to love the brotherhood. And what’s the brotherhood? Of believers and fair God. And we should reveal that in our lives and honor the king. Now, I don’t care who’s president. And I speak very frankly here. I can truthfully say that I have never voted for a president that I really wanted. I was always voting against the other fella. But even when the other fella got in, and they did most of the time, why, I must confess that I’ve never known a president, frankly, that I felt was really capable and a man of ability. Now, I know you Democrats are going to get after me and you Republicans are going to get after me, but I don’t mind that. I’m not discussing politics. What I’m trying to say is this, regardless of who’s president and regardless of his maybe inability, he should be honored because of the office that he has. And I’m not impressed by these scripture-spouting, pious individuals who attack the President of the United States, regardless of who he is. And we’ve had some, well… We haven’t had the best, but the office is a marvelous office. Now, will you notice verse 18? Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the perverts. Now, he’s saying here that if you have a boss that’s a Christian and you and him have fellowship, I have quite a few letters from men who are in business, and I get letters from their employees of how wonderful it is to work for a Christian. But what about that godless fellow you’re working for? Well, again, you should be subject to him if you’re going to work for him. And long as he’s asking you to do that which is legitimate, that which is right, why you’re to be subject to it. And this word subject, and we’re going to come to it in the next chapter in another connection, it has in it a freedom of choice. It’s more like subject yourself. You do this voluntarily. Not because you feel like that he’s a great individual, but you’re doing it for your testimony for Christ. Now, verse 19, for this is thankworthy. If a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully, for what glory is it if when you’re buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patiently? That is, if you were having problems and difficulties because you played the fool, and businessman said to me, says, I played the fool. He played the stock market, to tell the truth, and he lost all of his capital. He went bankrupt, and he was suffering for his own faults. He says, but if when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. You know, a great many people, when they make a fool of themselves, they become very humble all of a sudden. God knows that that’s not honest. The Lord knows your heart. But if you have done the best you can and trouble has come to you and you take it patiently, God recognizes that. Now, verse 21. Peter doesn’t get very far without he tells you about the Lord Jesus again. And here we have the sufferings of Christ. And they are an incentive to the believer today. And fact of the matter is, they are an example. And that’s exactly what Simon Peter says. For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his step. who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Now, the Lord Jesus, you have to divide his sufferings, sufferings which he suffered as a human being down here when he became a man and suffering for righteousness sake, and then his suffering for the sin of the world. Now, when he suffered for the sin of the world, that’s no example to us today. That is our redemption. That’s what we accept and believe. But when he walked down here, here he was down here 30 years, absolutely unknown. I have a notion no one but those in his neighborhood in Nazareth knew anything about him. Then at 30, he began to move out. Well, he suffered, I’m sure, in Nazareth. I think the psalmist makes that clear. Then he suffered when he began his ministry, standing for righteousness sake. Well, you and I are going to suffer. And he left us an example in that connection. But notice verse 23, who when he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. He let the Lord settle the accounts. You know, Paul said in Romans, he says, Venge not yourself, my beloved. Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. Let God handle those accounts. And he’ll handle them, by the way. Now, he says here, his suffering now for the sins of the world. Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree. Now, he’s no example to us here. You and I can’t suffer for our own sins, let alone the sins of the world. But he now is talking about redemption. You say, how do you know? Well, let’s keep reading here. “…in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins,” that was our condition, “…should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes we are healed.” Now, healed of what? And I’ve noticed that the faith healers never use this verse, and rightly so. Because by whose stripes you’re healed, it’s evident here what he’s talking about. He says, we were dead in sins. We were absolutely dead. And we should live now unto righteousness by whose stripes we’re healed. Healed of what? Of sin, friends. He’s the great healer. I’ll agree with that. But the great healer heals of sin. And no human physician can handle that problem. Now he says, “…for ye were a sheep going astray, but are now returned to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.” Now the suffering of Christ… is actually the theme of this last of this chapter, as you can see. He suffered vicariously to set us an example. And he also suffered for our sins. He suffered a vicarious substitutionary death for our sins. By whose stripes you’re healed. Now, that’s a quotation from Isaiah 53, and it reveals that Isaiah is not speaking primarily of physical healing, but that which is more important and more profound, healing from sin. Now, humanity here, as he closes this, both lost and saved, they’re called sheep. Will you notice that? For ye were sheep going astray. You see, all we like sheep have gone astray. All of us. Everyone is turned to his own way. And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Now we come to chapter 3, and here we find out that suffering also produces conduct. We saw that it produces separation. Now it produces conduct, the conduct of believers. Now that conduct is manifested in two different places for the believer. And it’s his conduct in the home and his conduct in the church. In the first seven verses, why we have the conduct in the home. And verse 1 actually ties us right back into chapter 2, where we were talking about separation there and separation and conduct. are blended and molded together here. Because he opens this chapter this way, in the same manner, or likewise. Likewise, ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the behavior of the wives. Now, we had back in Ephesians the same theme of the position of the woman or the wife in the home. But there it was a Christian home, not only a Christian home. but where they were Spirit-filled believers. Because you see, this entire section back in the 5th of Ephesians began with, “…be filled with the Spirit.” Then what are you to do? Well, one of the things is, “…wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord.” Now, here the husband is to love the wife even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. Now, you’re talking here about a Christian home in which the wife and the husband are both believers and they’re spirit-filled believers. And now the relationship is one on the part of the man that he loves his wife, willing to die for her. Now, for the sake of order in any place, there must be leadership. There must be headship. And that has been given to the husband. Now, when the wife is told to submit here, it’s not like the obedience of a child. A great many men think that when they get married, the wife becomes sort of their first child. She’s to obey him like a child is to obey. And may I say that’s not true at all. And as we suggested before, submission actually has to do with that which is voluntary. Submit yourself. This man loves you. You are to submit to him. But the better word, and I like it better because it means more. Respond to this man. If he comes to you, he’s a Christian husband, puts his arms around you and says, I love you. I love you more than anything else. Well, there’s nothing wrong with the wife looking up and saying, I love you. Now, suppose, though, that the wife is married to a man that’s not a Christian. To begin with, she shouldn’t have married him if that was the case. Any woman or any man’s in trouble that marries a non-Christian. The scripture says an ox and an ass are never to be yoked together. And there are a lot of them yoked together today. But sometimes the wife gets converted. Sometimes it’s the husband. After they’ve been married. Now, what is to be the position of the wife in a case like that? Is it to be the same as it was when a woman is married to a wonderful Christian husband? We’re going to see that next time. And you may want to call somebody that has some different ideas than I do on this to hear what this passage really says. So until then, may God richly bless you, my beloved.
SPEAKER 02 :
So what should a believer do if they’re married to an unbeliever? Is faith grounds for divorce or an opportunity to be a witness? Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about when the Bible bus returns to 1 Peter for our next study. In the meantime, for more great teaching by Dr. McGee, join me on ttb.org for a Sunday sermon, Sparks Fly Upward. And if you need some help locating a particular Bible study resource, including our Bible companion for 1 Peter, call us at 1-800-65-BIBLE or visit ttb.org or email us at biblebus at ttb.org. Again, that’s ttb.org or 1-800-65-BIBLE. Now, when you’re in touch, why don’t you tell us how you listen to Through the Bible? That helps us a lot. If you listen by app or online or on our Bible bus flash drive or maybe your favorite Christian radio station, it really helps us to know that information. So thanks in advance for helping us be good stewards of the resources that God has so faithfully provided through friends like you. Now, as we go, I’m Steve Schwetz, praising God for the difference that His Word makes in all of our lives. I’ll meet you back here soon.
SPEAKER 03 :
Jesus gave it all, all to him I owe. Sin had left the prince of sin, he washed it white as snow.
SPEAKER 02 :
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