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Bro. Otis Fisher
The book of 1 Peter. Peter 1. He was an apostle. He was of Jesus Christ. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. To the strangers scattered throughout Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. What does he mean strangers?
The apostles had a position in the first church that does not exist today. This is why they could perform miracles. David, why doesn't that position exist today? He doesn't need to prove anything anymore.
The church does exist. It has for 2000 years. So the position of the miracles has disappeared. Not that he could not do a miracle. Because it's the same God and he doesn't change. Second verse. 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. Elect. Jesse, what does the word elect mean?
As it's used here. We are chosen. Virg, how do we know we are in that group? According to the foreknowledge of God the Father. David, what is foreknowledge? God had no foreknowledge. If he had foreknowledge, he'd have to have afterknowledge.
With God, that does not exist. There is no foreknowledge with God. I would define the word thus. God knows what he has decreed to occur at any time. Before it actually does occur in history. This is an earthly term, foreknowledge.
Sanctification is another term. Virg, what does sanctification mean? All right. The Holy Spirit is the agent in this. And he set us apart for a special work. It is a divine act of God. Romans 8, 29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And whom he called, them he also justified. And whom he justified, them he also glorified. All of this is in the past tense, as though it's already occurred.
Now, in the real tense, we have not been glorified yet, but we shall be. We were by a certain second creation made the sons of God in Christ, his only begotten. By whose spirit we are inwardly changed, and by whose blood we are also reconciled.
What was the scripture of that virgin? Romans 8, 29 and 30. We were changed by a certain second creation, born again. 3. Blessed be the 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.
Please notice the word, again. In that verse, he has begotten us again. David, what would that mean? It must be that he begat us the first time. Then the second time. Lively hope means living assurance to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that feedeth not away reserved in heaven for you.
Greg, what does inheritance mean? Alright. What else does it mean? Alright. Is there any way that inheritance can come into play if there is not a death? No. There has to be a death. Now, Virg, in this case, whose death was it?
Christ. No, it was Jesus. Christ didn't die. Jesus did. Since we are his children, we inherit. Incorruptible means what, Greg? Alright. Undefiled means what? Alright. And feedeth not away means what? Alright.
Perpetual. Perpetual is a good term. What does that mean? Without end. So, it is reserved for you and I. We have it now. It is immortal. It is pure. And it is perpetual. Reserved means it's already there.
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Now, we are kept. The word keep is a military term. It means to keep, to guard, to protect. It cannot be lost.
It is a present participle implying an action constantly going on. The word power here is dunamos. Greg, what does dunamos mean? We get our word dynamite from it. Revealed is uncovered. It's constantly being uncovered.
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations or trials. Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be. Why was that little phrase if need be put in there, Verge?
Alright, we all die at a different time. You are in heaviness through manifold temptation or trials. Greg, what kind of trials and temptations are you talking about? I'd have to include what he says because he says all things.
Now for a season. Jesse, what does it mean now for a season? Why a short time? Alright, it is a short time. We're still on earth for a short time. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than that of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
Now, this trying of gold. Greg, can you describe for me the process, say you had a gold mine and you bring a sample to the assayer. What process does he go through? Puts it in a crucible. He heats it.
And keeps doing this, removing impurities until he can see his reflection clearly in the finished product. Does not Christ do the same thing with us, Verge? Until he can see his reflection in us. That the trial of your faith being much more precious than that of gold.
So, he's going to try our faith continually all of the time. That's more precious than gold. Why? Why is that more precious than gold, Joy? Alright, Jesse? That's right. Verge, you had something? That's right.
Greg? That's right. And our faith will get us there. Will we need faith in heaven, Fred? Will we need? Alright. Fred? Let me add one thing about gold. You cannot sin enough to do away with it. You cannot lose it.
What else is there that you cannot do with it? Spend it. Buy it. Faith is faith. It comes from God. It's his faith. Eight. Whom having not seen, ye love. In whom, though now you see him not. Let me start over.
Whom having not seen, ye love. In whom, though now you see him not. Yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
I thought we had salvation now, Joy. Alright. Will faith be needed in heaven? Why? That's right. So, if you have sight now, it's not faith. Is that right? Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.
Now, in Genesis 49 and 10, we find these words. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Daniel 2 .24.
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed. And the kingdom shall not be left to another people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Haggai 2 .7. And I will shake all the nations, and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 6 .12. And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of the hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is Branch, and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.
He's coming. He's prophesied, and the Bible is coming over and over and over. 11. Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the suffering of Christ and the glory that should follow.
Now, shadows have no face to them. We can get a profile, but we can't get a face of shadows. Are we seeing the shadows of the end now, Jesse? I think so. What do you think, David? I think so. Greg, what do you think?
Jesse, that's right. My grandfather thought so. My father didn't think it could get any worse. But we're still here. That doesn't mean he's not coming. He's already come for them. Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves, but unto us, they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, which things the angels desired to look into.
What does that mean, the angels desired to look into this? Greg? But they're in heaven. Is that true for all angels? Good and bad, both. So it's been well hidden from them. They desire to look into it.
They're learning as the church learns. Unto whom it was revealed. Who was it revealed to, Burge? It was revealed to them, but it was for us, not them. The angels themselves have a desire to know these things.
Now, don't think that angels know it all, because they do not. They have no pre-knowledge of anything. Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind. Be sober, and hope. Set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace.
To the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. For the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Now, wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind.
Greg, how do we do this? Study and prayer. Exercise and experience. Be sober, means what, Burge? And hope, and unchangeably on the grace. To the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The grace that is to be. Then, do we not have all of the grace that we're going to have? Joy? Keeps on keeping on. As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts of your ignorance.
Now, what kind of lusts did they fashion themselves to? Joy. Alright, as obedient children. Right, as obedient children unto a father, we're to fashion our mind according to him. Romans 12, 2, and be not conformed to this world.
But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Be not transformed. Be not conformed. Conform is what kind of a verb? Very passive or active.
And be not conformed to this world. But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Transforming comes where? Inside or out? Inside. By the renewing of your mind. What's that mean, Greg? Alright. James 1, 4, but let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
What's that mean, Jesse? That's right. But as he which hath called you is holy. Now, that ties it down to who? God. So be ye holy in all manner of your conversations. What's another word for conversation?
Daily walk, conduct, or character. But as he which is holy called we. But as he which hath called you is holy. God is holy. No doubt about it. So be ye holy in all manner of your conduct. In all manner.
So, no matter what you do, where you go, what you have, who you're with, be holy. What does holy mean, Greg? Holiness is to the spiritual life what health is to the physical life. Because it is written, be ye holy for I am holy, is it possible for any of us that are variously holy to experience heaven and not be holy?
You may not have the baggage you have now, but you'll be holy. And if, or since, ye call on the Father who, without respect of persons, judges according to every man's word, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.
Now, it says in fear. Jesse, am I supposed to be afraid all of the time? Right, right. That's right. Since ye call on the Father. The Father is what, Greg? Holy? Absolutely. Who without respect of persons.
What does respect of persons mean, David? It means no face. He doesn't look at anybody with a face. The word here is work, not works. Or according to every man's work. God's judgment will be according to man's work.
And man's work or conduct will be according to the moral state of his mind. Do you agree, Greg? Absolutely. He is no respecter of persons. For the reason among many, he cannot prefer one to another because he has nothing to hope or to fear from any of his creatures.
He made everything. He doesn't fear anything. All partialities among men spring from one of the two of these. God cannot feel neither one of these. Hope or fear. Therefore, God can be no respecter of persons.
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversations, by tradition from your fathers. Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, silver and gold, from your vain conversations.
Now, everything that we have that we think of on this earth are qualified by gold or silver or whatever. We were not redeemed with that. He could not redeem us with any material thing. What did he use, Virg?
What do you have that God needs? Nothing. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. The worth of the item purchased must be equal in value to the medium of exchange.
Now, that's a lot of words. What do I mean by that, David? The worth of the item purchased must be equal in value of the medium of exchange. That's right. So, what did God use in exchange for his own son?
You want to say something, Fred? The worth of the item purchased must be equal in value to the medium of exchange used. So, he purchased our life with his life. But he did not give us our life. What did he do?
He didn't give us our life. What did he do? Well, you do. He didn't give us our life. What did he do, Virg? It's his life. He gave us his life, not our life. He didn't buy our life. He gave us his life.
That is eternal life. That is Jesus Christ. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you? Now, why did he come? So we could see. 2 Timothy 1 .9, who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
He gave us his life before there was ever any life. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Titus 1 .2, in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandments of God our Savior.
Acts 2 .23, him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. David, what does he mean determinate counsel? That's right, it's a term that we cannot justify in trying to describe.
Galatians 4 .4, but when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
21st verse, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God, who is unchangeable, who by the saved. The difference between what I am and what I want to be is what I do.
The difference between what I am and what I want to be is what I'm doing. Philippians 1 .29, for unto you is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. We believe in him because he made us to believe in him.
22, seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently. Have purified is past perfect, it was done once.
Natural relationships produce natural affections, so spiritual relationships produce spiritual affection. It is lasting because it originated in and from the eternal source of life. That's what makes it everlasting.
23, being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. John 1 .13, which were born not of blood, not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
24, for all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof fadeth away, but the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
The only thing that man can do of himself is what? Sin. Not only does it last forever, but with continual use it lasts forever. Experience is the hardest kind of teaching. It gives you the test before the lesson.
Experience. All right, anything from anybody, unless Diane and Jesse dismiss us.