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How should followers of Jesus live in a world that is opposed to Him?
That is the question that both 1 and 2 Peter answer in different ways. In his first letter, the apostle Peter dealt with the external opposition to Christ’s church that comes from the hostility of persecutors.
The answer to unjust suffering is to recognize that we are sojourners in this world. Our true home is not in this life but in the heavenly places with Christ at the right hand of the Father. So, when we suffer, we should not be surprised but rather count it a privilege to share in Christ’s suffering.
Now, in his second letter, Peter deals with the internal opposition to Christ’s church that comes from the heresy of false teachers.
The proper response to this danger of false teaching is to grow up into maturity in Christ. Therefore, Peter encourages us to keep close watch on our personal lives. Like Jesus, Peter warns that false teachers will be known by their fruit. The sensual lives they lead show they do not really take the teachings of Jesus to heart. The best way, then, to avoid the dangers of false teaching is to grow in an experiential knowledge of Jesus. When we increase in godliness, blamelessness, and steadfastness, we demonstrate by the fruit of our lives that we belong to Christ.
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Watch part 1 of the series 2 Peter. This teaching normally takes place Monday nights but is being taught virtually during closings related to COVID-19.
These are the last recorded statements of Jesus Christ before His death on the cross. Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and
Mortality and the purpose of life are prominent themes in Thomas Cole’s paintings. Through his paintings, he vividly brings out the human dilemma of mortality, a dilemma we ourselves must wrestle with. Given the inevitability of death, what are we to do with our days? We can try to stave
In the article below, Dr. Boa synthesizes material from several teaching sessions from his series Biblical Principles for Marriage and from portions of his spiritual formation text Conformed to His Image (primarily from chapter 18, “Holistic Spirituality”). Dr. Boa focuses on agape love as one of the five forms of loves (based on the different Greek words). After reviewing all forms, he gives reasons for why agape is the greatest.
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