Lesson 47

Study of First Peter Chapter 3

Review:

 

 

This next paragraph, 3:8-12,  deals with the believer's relationship to society in general therefore we have here exhortation to all believers.

 

What Peter is laying out here are essentials of Christian character which should be seen in our dealing with others in the midst of the routines of life.

 

The five virtues Peter named here in vs:8 are social and specify how Christians are to relate to one another especially within the church.

 

 

#1 harmonious  o`mo,frwn  to be like minded; to have the same thinking

Having the same thinking is related to the essentials of divine viewpoint, the norms and standards of doctrine, not the non-essentials like hobbies or food.

 

Ultimate Purpose of the Church = edification  Let all things be done for edification.  1 Cor 14:26;  also Eph 4:12f 

 

Rabbit Trail   Eph 4:12-16

Growth within this unity, the church;  purpose of these gifted men given to the church.

4:12 functional purpose;       (equipping grace)

4:13-16 ultimate objective - mature Believer

 

4:12  Functional Purpose of the gifted men given to the church!

 

In vs:11 some out of the "each one" have received a spiritual gift related to communication of God's truth in the present age!  [Evangelists; pastor-teachers]

This is absolutely necessary so that the rest of the "each one" are equipped - prepared to carry out their part in the body, to fulfill their part in the "work of ministry,"  the building up of the body.

 

Paul uses 3 prep. phrases to describe the functional purpose of  these gifts;  

- The first one establishes the purpose while the other 2 lead us in the direction that this purpose, the equipping is to take!

- His priority is to equip the saints!  Primacy of teaching the Word!  Only way to adequately fulfill the responsibility given to him.

 

- Need to examine a key word "equipping";   What does it mean and how is it used?

 

- The assumption of this word is that something is worn, broken, damaged;  that something is not functioning as it should and it needs to be put back to together;  to be restored, to be put in order for its proper, intended  function.

 

-  Also has the idea of making something what it ought to be, i.e., fully equipped for life, stable, sound doctrinally, Christ-like in character, etc.   1 Ths. 3:10;  Heb. 13:21

 

- Paul stresses the functional purpose or result of the systematic expository teaching of the word,  2 aspects:

it is to lead to the work of service, of ministry;

it is to lead to the building up (edifying) of the body of Christ.

 

*** Question for us today is this!  Is the teaching of the word of God which gives us the revealed will of God, Is it sufficient?

 

The bottom line or the conclusion or the message that most seem to be sending today is that the Word is not sufficient, never mind that its been demonstrably sufficient for believers for 1000's of years;  that is for those who believed its message and lived it!

 

2 Tim 3:16-17  answers the question is Scripture sufficient  as it deals with 3 major points of truth.

#1 The origin of Scripture.

#2 The use of Scripture.

#3 The purpose of Scripture.

 

 

4:13-16 Ultimate objective of the gifts - an advancing believer prepared for life 

#1 Unity  4:13a

#2 Maturity  4:13b

#3 Stability  4:14-16

 

#1 Unity  4:13a

 

- here the attainment, the goal reached is threefold... again we have 3 prepositional phrases and  they all speak to the spiritual goals that the body of Christ is striving to attain   [clearly a process being spoken of]

 

Note:  Primary focus of context is of the Church, the body of Christ, its corporate growth and maturity to the stature of the fullness of God.

For the church to grow, it follows that the individual members that make up that body must also be growing spiritually;

 

1st prep phrase

a. to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, 

 

 

#2 Maturity  4:13b   [this is to flow out of  the faith/epignwsis in the believer

 

b. to a mature man,

 

 

This is God's desire and objective for each one, that we mature as believers!  This involves the word of truth being the basis, the foundation of your thinking.

 

c.  to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of  Christ.

This 3rd prep phrase amplifies what is maturity and what is the std of evaluation.

 

 

Principle: Remember that the church does not grow qualitatively if the individual members of the church are not growing in the Word!

 

#3 Stability is the Result  of this growth  4:14-16 

 

Vs:14 gives us a view of what stability is not with several metaphors that give us a vivid picture of arrested spiritual development. The instability that results from rejecting truth.

 

In vs:15-16 we have the positive aspect; what we should expect from mature believers;  those who have been functioning within the sheep - shepherd relationship; and therefore are being equipped; prepared for a worthy life.