“For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)
As God’s people, we so often look out the window into a dark and evil world and groan with grief with the state of our godless and lawless culture. We are inundated by all the corruption and perversion and long for the day the Lord Jesus returns to put an end this demonic system once and for all.
But if we aren’t careful, we can become disillusioned with the world, while forgetting to look at the spiritual condition of the church. We must remember that those who love this world will always do what the worldly do, but our responsibility is first to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are right with God in a spirit of purity, humility, and repentance.
The Apostle Peter sends a strong warning to God’s covenant people, reminding us that judgement begins with the household of God. We all must stand before the judgment seat of Christ and will give an account for our own deeds, whether good or bad.
This message is needed now more than ever, as the church is full of hypocrisy, immorality, carnal mindedness, and perversion.
To learn more about this warning for God’s people, watch this teaching from 1 Peter in the link below. Please be sure to like, subscribe and share to get the message to as many people as we can. For the days are evil.
The teaching on this passage begins at the 23:30 minute mark.
“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”
[Revelation 1:7]
The past few weeks I have seen the usual chatter about the very predictable and highly irresponsible “rapture of the church” prophesies circulating on all the big social media platforms. It seems like these “predictions” happen every few years, creating an enthusiasm for Christians who are hoping to be translated out of this world without warning and escape the coming days of great trouble.
There is only one problem.
Every single pre-tribulation rapture prediction in my lifetime has been proven false, and these so-called prophets are left scrambling to justify their false prophecy and adjust their timelines one more time. If we haven’t learned anything over the last 40 years, it’s that sensational rapture claims without Biblical substance has become the boy who cried wolf one too many times.
This latest craze of rapture predictions have been connected to Yom Teruah — or the Day of Shouting — otherwise known as the Feast of Trumpets. Yom Teruah began yesterday (September 23) at sundown at the sighting of the new moon. The Feast of Trumpets is one of God’s divine appointments (Leviticus 23) that has been intertwined within the fabric of creation to bless all of God’s covenant people and point us to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
The irony is that I actually believe the Second Coming of Christ will almost certainly occur on or around a future Yom Teruah – just not this one. The difference is that I see the return of Jesus Christ and the rapture as being one-in-the-same event, not two separate events separated by a “7-year” tribulation period.
Defining our Terms — The Gathering
For clarity, when I speak of the “Second Coming” of Christ, the dispensational camp is thinking of a totally separate event, completely distinct from the pre-tribulation rapture. The pre-trib doctrine teaches the sudden, secret, invisible “return” of Jesus to whisk away the church to heaven before God unleashes hell on the world during the great tribulation.
Separating the Second Coming of Christ into two “phases” or “comings” has created confusion and an unhealthy preoccupation with the pre-tribulation rapture. At the same time, this doctrine has provided a convenient loophole to make a square peg fit into an otherwise round hole.
Just for the record, I believe the Bible clearly teaches a “rapture” event in the future. I just disagree with the conventional timing that is being proposed by the pre-trib camp. I believe a better description of this event is what the Bible calls the “gathering” of God’s people, which provides a more accurate interpretation of what happens at the end of this age when Christ returns to resurrect our mortal bodies and translate us into His glorious image to inherit the Kingdom.
Here are just a few Scriptures that describe the gathering (aka rapture). Notice the timing element.
“In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. 12He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” [Isaiah 11:11-12]
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ 30At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.“ [Matthew 24:29-30]
“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed.” [2 Thessalonians 2:1-3]
He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest (gathering) is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. 42And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” [Matthew 13:37-43]
In other words, it’s not a matter of “if” the rapture takes place but rather “when.” And as I said earlier, the notion that there will some type of secret rapture for the “church” prior to the great tribulation is Biblically indefensible.
If only God’s people would take off their pre-trib rapture-colored glasses and read their Bibles with a fresh set of eyes and an open mind, they would see that not only is it careless and useless to predict the very day or hour of Christ’s return, but also that the pre-trib rapture is nowhere to be found in the pages of Scripture.
Top 3 Reasons the Gathering (Rapture) Cannot Be Pre-Tribulation
I have written extensively on the timing of the rapture, so I won’t belabor the point. Here are my top three reasons from Scripture that the rapture cannot be a secret, invisible event prior to the tribulation.
Reason #1 – Prophetic Signs that Precede the “Rapture” Must First Be Fulfilled
I could spend multiple blogs just discussing all the prophetic signs that must first occur before Jesus Christ Returns to gather His people. Here is just a sample size.
Birth pains must rapidly increase in intensity and frequency, including war, famine, pestilence, natural disasters, cosmic phenomena, and overt persecution of God’s people.
The rise of the final Beast empire and the revealing of Beast himself, who will blaspheme God, establish a global surveillance and economic system, muster an army, and martyr the saints.
The reestablishment of some form of the Levitical priesthood in Judah and the resumption of the sacrificial system in Jerusalem.
The abomination of desolation must take place in or on the holy place in Jerusalem (aka Temple Mount), where the Beast declares Himself to be the god of this world.
The world is deceived by Satan with many false signs and wonders, and the mark of the Beast is required for everyone who surrenders allegiance to the Beast and rebels against God.
The testimony of the Two Witnesses who call the world to repentance and who come working great wonders and with supernatural signs to validate their message.
The siege of Jerusalem, when all hostile nations will surround her and trample the city underfoot, killing many and taking many into captivity.
I will share just one passage to prove that there are specific signs that must be fulfilled prior to the Return of Christ and the rapture.
“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God … And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His coming.” [2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, 8]
Reason #2 – The Rapture is a Supernatural, Public, and Universally Visible Event Connected to the Return of Christ to Earth
There is nothing secret or mysterious about the rapture. The Scriptures tie the rapture (gathering) to the glorious return of Jesus to the earth, which is described as the unique Day when heaven is opened, the elements melt in fervent heat, the earth will be shaken, the great trumpet blast of God is unleashed (aka Yom Teruah), the angelic army descends to fight, the archangel shouts and a cry of a command is given, and every eye will see Jesus riding the clouds in glory as He descends to earth to wage war against the Beast and all the forces of darkness that is gathered in Jerusalem to fight.
There is nothing secret or invisible about the Biblical description of this event. Just consider the most famous “rapture” passage used by the pre-tribulation camp to support their view and ask yourself if it fits the “secret rapture” profile?
“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. 15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.” [1 Thessalonians 4:14-17]
Reason #3 – The Rapture Is Simultaneous With the Resurrection of Dead
There is no way to dispute the fact that in every single passage of Scripture that describes the “rapture,” or gathering of God’s people, it is always connected to the resurrection of dead – specifically the first resurrection. Scripture is replete with references that remind us that the resurrection of the dead occurs at the end of the age, when Christ returns to earth in glory. This one reason alone is enough to debunk any notion of a pre-tribulation rapture.
If you notice in the passage above (1 Thessalonians 4), the catching up of believers coincides with the resurrection of the dead – except the dead in Christ are raised first, and then those who have survived the great tribulation and remain will receive their immortal bodies.
Allow me to leave you with a few more passages that demonstrate the timing of the resurrection, which is the same as the timing of the final gathering (rapture) of God’s people.
“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” [John 6:39-40]
“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him. 24Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power.” [1 Corinthians 15:22-24]
“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.53For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” [1 Corinthians 15:51-53]
Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. [Revelation 20:4-6]
So when we ask the question, “Are you rapture ready,” we are asking an entirely different question than our pre-tribulation brothers. We are asking, “Are you ready to be Christ’s witnesses in a hostile world, to suffer persecution and tribulation for His sake, to resist the strong delusion of rebellion coming upon the world, and to faithfully endure to the end?”
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”
[1 Timothy 4:1]
King Solomon once famously penned the words … “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” [Ecclesiastes 1:9].
Looking through that universal prism, I am inclined to believe that the battle for truth has pervaded all of human history to this very day. When one considers just how many competing belief systems exist and how many denominational differences we discover within Christendom itself, it becomes an overwhelming task to sort through the theological weeds of faith. We are forced to ask questions that define the parameters of the faith. In other words, how far from sound doctrine can one be to disqualify himself from the true ekklesia – the covenant people of God?
Couple that with outright false prophets and feel-good preachers who prey on the mentally and spiritually weak, especially the Biblically illiterate, and it is evident that many who identify with Christ, howbeit in name only, will be susceptible to mass spiritual deception in the last days.
Jesus warned us as much …
At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, 11and many false prophets will arise and deceive many. 12Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. 13But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come … For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. 22If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short. 23At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible. 25See, I have told you in advance. [Matthew 24:10-14, 21-25]
I have come to conclude and understand that the battle for truth is the fiercest of all and that a real enemy to truth exists — the evil one — who is the father of lies and the great deceiver of mankind. The Bible reminds us that the whole world is held under the sway of the evil one.
Couple this satanic system of mass deception with the proliferation of technology and artificial intelligence, and there is a recipe for disaster of historic proportions. As I said, there is nothing new under the sun. From the garden to Babel to Egypt to throne of Ahab and Jezebel, Satan’s most powerful weapon has been the distortion, perversion, corruption of the truth in exchange for the lie.
As Hitler himself is quoted as saying, “Tell a lie loud enough for long enough and people will believe it.” The prince of the power of the air is a master at blinding those in unbelief. This spiritual defection will be so great, this rebellious hardening toward God so defiant, that God will send them a strong delusion to believe Satan’s great lie. The world will sell its soul in exchange for a vain promise and the collective conscience will be seared past the point of no return.
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival. 9The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, 10and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. 11For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, 12in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness. [2 Thessalonians 2]
Of course the technological revolution is a key component to this end times apostasy. Entire lives integrated with the beast system. As the human race becomes more reliant on technology, we find ourselves at a crossroads – a transitional point – where trans-humanists and technocrats are leading mankind to shed the image of God and clothe itself with the image of the Beast.
The more we give our minds to this demonically charged, artificially derived “intelligence”, we are one step closer to world-wide mind control, otherwise known as a hive mind. Every believer in Messiah, every loyal follower of Yeshua, will be forced to draw a line and soon deviate from the trans-human path and defect from this world system. Mind augmentation will devolve into mind control, which will lead to blind allegiance and worship of the Beast.
And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain … And the second beast performed great signs, even causing fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. 14Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. 15The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed. [Revelation 13:8, 13-15]
In one way, this separation will be an extreme disadvantage, insomuch that those participating in the beast system will have instant access to unlimited information at the speed of thought. Language will no longer be a barrier, as AI has already crossed the language threshold. Babel has reemerged.
In contrast, those faithful, set-apart believers who refuse to integrate with the Beast system will be outcasts in a hostile surveillance state. Not only will the remnant of God’s people be forced to flee to places of refuge in the wilderness, but also will be targeted enemies of the state, hunted and persecuted by a superior “race” of enhanced humanity 2.0
In another way, however, God’s faithful remnant will have the greatest advantage of all. We will have the presence of the Holy Spirit, the power of the Almighty, the protection of the angelic host, and the gospel of King Jesus. God will supernaturally provide and protect a faithful remnant in the wilderness.
We will see God’s display of power and glory again in the form of signs and wonders and miracles. We will experience God’s presence like the great saints of old, such as Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, and Daniel. Perhaps the Lord will once again provide manna from heaven and water from the rock to sustain His people in the last-days wilderness wanderings (see Revelation 12:6, 14].
Only those sealed with the Spirit of God will be able to withstand the schemes of the evil one.
The Spirit searches all things and leads us in all truth. The Spirit will speak on our behalf when we are taken captive and stand as witnesses before the rulers and kings of this world. The Spirit discerns truth from error and intercedes on our behalf through a groaning too deep for words.
But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. 20For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. [Matthew 10]
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time. 4You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception. [1 John 4]
I find it practically impossible for anyone truly sealed by and united with the Spirit to renounce Christ, serve the Beast, sell his soul for the world, participate in the Beast system, take the mark, become genetically altered and mentally integrated with machine (AI), and revel in the spirit of lawlessness. The Spirit of God is essential to withstand the evil one, especially in these days of deep fakes and fake news and fake people and fake preachers and fake prophets and fake signs and wonders.
The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. 9You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you. [Romans 8]
We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. 23Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies … 26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. 27And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. [Romans 8]
I realize there is tension with the text concerning those who fall away. It is not unreasonable to assume that one cannot fall away, or defect from the faith, if he first does not belong in the faith. This tension is felt strongest concerning the once-saved, always-saved debate.
As the argument goes, if an apostate walks away from the faith and Jesus altogether, then it implies he once was “saved,” only later to defect from the family of God. Therefore, the popular teachings of eternal security and the perseverance of the saints seem to be in contrast with these examples in the Scriptures. Obviously this confluence of ideas is much more nuanced than that.
The question that inevitably arrises concerns whether or not these “apostates” were ever truly obedient as faithful followers of Christ and regenerate children of God to begin with? In my studies, I see valid arguments on both sides; however, I see more Scriptural evidence in eternal security, where true repentance and faith in Messiah leads to the regeneration of the believer. As a result, he becomes a new creation in Christ, is supernaturally sealed by the Holy Spirit, awaits in hopeful expectation for the promise of future resurrection, will persevere to the end, and who relies daily on the supernatural provision of Spirit to walk in obedience to God’s commandments.
The Apostle John provides some clarity when it comes to this mass spiritual rebellion on the horizon. It seems that those with nominal affiliation with Christ will be separated from the true remnant of God’s children, especially when the refining fires of tribulation are burning the hottest. In other words, the wheat will be separated from the chaff in the end, revealing the nature of the true sons of the Kingdom.
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. [1 John 2]
How can we survive the deceptive spirit of this age? Only with the presence and provision of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, it will be impossible to have the spiritual eyes and ears necessary to overcome the evil one during the coming time of Jacob’s trouble.
And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory. [Ephesians 1]
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. [1 Corinthians 2]
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. [John 14]
I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. 13However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. [John 16]
Considering the convergence of these signs, it’s not a big leap to discern that we are living in a unique generation that is primed both for unprecedented spiritual deception and a supernatural witness for Christ to the world He so desperately wants to save. And the point of demarkation will be the witness and work of the Holy Spirit.
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
[1 Peter 4:8]
God’s divine love is the most powerful force in the universe, as the death of Messiah conquered sin and the grave.
When it comes to our ability to love one another through the hurts and hangups of life, only the divine love of Christ can give us the capacity to forgive. The Apostle Peter reminds us that the love of Christ covers a multitude of sins.
Discover the amazing love of the Father in the following message.
“In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge off a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
[1 Peter 3:20-21]
Baptism is a significant, symbolic, and sacred ordinance in the life of God’s people. The importance of baptism can be appreciated all throughout Scripture, from the ritual purity rites required of the Levitical priesthood to the immersion of Jesus Himself in the River Jordan. The Israelites were said to be “baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Corinthians 10:2), as believers in Messiah are said to be “baptized into Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:3).
Unfortunately, baptism has become one of the most confusing and controversial topics within the faith. Great debate remains involving the purpose and practical method of baptism, as some even claim that water baptism is a requirement for salvation itself!
In 1 Peter 3, the Apostle connects baptism with the salvation of Noah and his family through the flood. Many have used this passage of Scripture as a proof text to justify baptismal regeneration, yet a closer look at this text in the broader context of Scripture demonstrates an entirely different picture.
I propose to you that baptism DOES save! Just NOT water baptism.
Jesus and the Apostles are clear. There is a baptism that saves – the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Only the regeneration of the Holy Spirit has the power to save us and make us altogether new from the inside out. Perhaps Paul’s letter to Titus best demonstrates this fact.
“He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.” [Titus 3:5-7]
To discover more about the real meaning and purpose of baptism, be sure to watch my teaching from 1 Peter 3 in the YouTube video below. And as always, please subscribe and share these teachings throughout your network to further the spread of the gospel of the Kingdom!
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, 19in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.
[1 Peter 3:18-20]
In the final verses of 1 Peter 3, we are confronted with one of the most challenging passages in all of Scripture. Peter opens the door for discussion on a variety of controversial topics. For example, we discover an enigmatic reference to Jesus going to the “spirits in prison” and making some form of declaration, which has generated all types of interpretations including the Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory.
Peter also connects the flood to a form of “baptism,” and if not read carefully, would seem to imply some form of baptismal regeneration. Other denominations have run with this passage teaching the false doctrine that one must be water baptized to be saved.
And then there is the obvious allusion to the ancient Book of Enoch, who is described as serving as a mediator between God and the rebellious Watcher angels in the days before the flood.
As you can see, this passage has been the genesis of great confusion and controversy in the church, but a closer look at this passage in its greater context resolves all of these concerns.
Many pastors simply skip over this text altogether to avoid the difficulties it presents. But that is both unnecessary and irresponsible.
We can know with confidence the true identity of the mysterious “spirits in prison.” We can understand the cosmic mission of Jesus in light of His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. We also can disregard the idea of purgatory and baptismal regeneration.
If we are willing to study the whole counsel of God.
To discover more about this fascinating passage, please watch my teaching in the YouTube video below, and please feel free to share within your own networks.
But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)
In a culture full of skepticism and confusion, believers are often challenged to provide a reasonable defense for their faith. Unfortunately, many followers of Christ are ill equipped to give a reason for the hope they have.
To be a committed follower of Christ, it is essential to know and understand what you believe. The faithful should have a foundational understanding of the gospel message. However, it is not enough to know only what you believe, but more importantly why you believe.
This is what the Bible calls apologetics — or the ability to provide reasonable answers to the objections of our faith. While apologetics may not always lead a skeptic to Christ, it will at least silence their faulty presuppositions and give him more to consider.
In the following teaching from 1 Peter, I address the importance of apologetics in a believer’s life and share practical examples of how to always be prepared to give an answer.
Please watch and share and help us spread the good news to the world.
For, Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. [1 Peter 3:10-12]
Our family relationships are the most valuable treasures we possess in this life. God created us for relationship because He is a God of relationship, as we know Him as our Heavenly Father. By His very nature, God desires to share His love and life with His people, His family. And by extension we are called to share God’s love and life with others.
Here in 1 Peter 3, Peter reminds us about the true purpose of our relationships, as we are called to love, forgive, pursue peace, and bless the ones we love.
To discover more about this powerful passage, please watch and share the teaching in the YouTube video below.
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. [1 Peter 3:7]
Marriage is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind and the most significant human relationship in life. God uses the marriage relationship as the primary illustration to signify His love and faithfulness to His covenant people.
As marriage goes, so goes the family, the church, and society as a whole. Our generation has suffered greatly due to the breakdown of the family and the delegitimization of marriage in the culture. Fewer young couples are getting married in the West, and those that do get married are getting divorced at higher rates than ever.
We know how much God values marriage, as He created marriage in the beginning.
We also see how much our enemy, the devil, hates marriage and is seeking to steal, kill, and destroy families.
Here in 1 Peter, the Apostle teaches us profound truths about the significance and blessing of marriage in the eyes of God. Be sure to listen to my teaching below and please share to help me get the good news of the gospel to as many people possible.
For “you were like sheep going astray,”but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. [1 Peter 2:25]
One of the most significant theological concepts in all of Scripture is the division of the Kingdom of Israel into two distinct houses — the House of Israel (Ephraim) and the House of Judah. This division took place after the death of King Solomon and persisted until the northern House of Israel was exiled from the land, scattered and assimilated into the nations, and permanently estranged from God [see Hosea 1-2].
The House of Judah (aka the Jews), however, were not divorced from the LORD and even though having been exiled into Babylon, the Jews retained their identity and returned to the land, which paved the way for the coming of the Son of David — Jesus the Messiah.
Once on the scene, Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep. In John 10, Jesus specifically makes reference to the separation of these two houses, or kingdoms. He came first for the Jews, but His mission did not stop there. Jesus sent out His followers to make disciples of all nations, which is precisely where the lost sheep of the House of Israel had been scattered and lost.
“I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, 15just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.“ [John 10:14-16]
Notice that the mission of Jesus was in effect to bring both of these houses — Jew and Gentile — back together into one fold and under one Shepherd.
The prophets and the Apostles often speak of this redemptive plan of God to reunite God’s covenant people. Here are just a few examples.
“Return, O faithless children,” declares the LORD, “for I am your master, and I will take you—one from a city and two from a family—and bring you to Zion. 15Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding … 17At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations will be gathered in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. They will no longer follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. 18In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave to your fathers as an inheritance.“ [Jeremiah 3:14-15, 17-18]
“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel associated with him, and I will put them together with the stick of Judah. I will make them into a single stick, and they will become one in My hand.’ 20When the sticks on which you write are in your hand and in full view of the people, 21you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take the Israelites out of the nations to which they have gone, and I will gather them from all around and bring them into their own land. 22I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over all of them. Then they will no longer be two nations and will never again be divided into two kingdoms.“ [Ezekiel 37:19-22]
As you can see, the mission of Jesus our Good Shepherd has always been about reuniting the two houses into one Kingdom.
To learn more about this fascinating topic, please view and share the following teaching from 1 Peter 2.
Days of Noah 