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.
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.