Audio Bible Reading June 18 2014

And if ye call him Father, which without respect of person judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your dwelling here in fear. Knowing that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation, received by the traditions of the fathers, But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb undefiled, and without spot.

1 Peter 1:17-19 (GNV Translation Ed. 1599)

In the name of Jesus Christ; Good morning and greetings.

Herein we see again that the only way to receive salvation is through the blood of the Lamb. Things of this world cannot purchase, nor redeem your soul unto the Father. They are as stated above corruptible, or to use a synonym, perishable. They will in time fade and decay. But the blood of Christ is eternal, it is without spot, without corruption. 

Secondly, the traditions of our forefathers, can likewise not save us. Many of the laws as were followed, and are still followed today, are followed for the sake of being, for lack of a better expression, “because that’s the way it has always been”. Remember that Christ freed us from the curse of the Law, and the continuation along this path is both futile and counter productive. 

In summation, neither material things, nor traditional things can be used, nor replace, the redemption by grace as offered by our Father. 

Pray with me friends:
Heavenly Father I come to you this day, as a sinner. I confess my sins, and seek Your forgiveness. I accept Your grace and mercy by pleading the blood of the Lamb as a redemption of my soul. Amen.

Audio Bible Reading June 16 2014

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind: be sober, and trust perfectly on that grace that is brought unto you, in the revelation of Jesus Christ, As obedient children, not fashioned yourselves unto the former lusts of your ignorance: But as he which hath called you, is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy. (a)
1 Peter 1:13-16

Greetings in the mighty name of Christ Jesus

We are pleased to use for today’s commentary an excerpt from Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary it says it so much more in detail than this writer can only attempt to write or convey. 

Wherefore, since you are so honoured and distinguished, as above, Gird up the loins of your mind. You have a journey to go, a race to run, a warfare to accomplish, and a great work to do; as the traveller, the racer, the warrior, and the labourer, gather in, and gird up, their long and loose garments, that they may be more ready, prompt, and expeditious in their business, so do you by your minds, your inner man, and affections seated there: gird them, gather them in, let them not hang loose and neglected about you; restrain their extravagances, and let the loins or strength and vigour of your minds be exerted in your duty; disengage yourselves from all that would hinder you, and go on resolutely in your obedience. Be sober, be vigilant against all your spiritual dangers and enemies, and be temperate and modest in eating, drinking, apparel, recreation, business, and in the whole of your behaviour. Be sober-mined also in opinion, as well as in practice, and humble in your judgment of yourselves. And hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Hope perfectly, or thoroughly, for the grace that is brought to you in or by the revelation of Jesus Christ; that is, by the gospel, which brings life and immortality to light. Hope perfectly, trust without doubting to that grace which is now offered to you by the gospel. The main work of a Christian lies in the right management of his heart and mind; the apostle’s first direction is to gird up the loins of the mind. The best Christians have need to be exhorted to sobriety. These excellent Christians are put in mind of it; it is required of a bishop (1 Timothy 3:2), of aged men (Titus 2:2), the young women are to be taught it, and the young men are directed to be sober-minded, (Titus 2:4, 6) A Christian’s work is not over as soon as he has got into a state of grace; he must still hope and strive for more grace. When he has entered the strait gate, he must still walk in the narrow way, and gird up the loins of his mind for that purpose. A strong and perfect trust in God’s grace is very consistent with our best endeavours in our duty; we must hope perfectly, and yet gird up our loins, and address ourselves vigorously to the work we have to do, encouraging ourselves from the grace of Jesus Christ.

 It is a great favour to be called effectually by divine grace out of a state of sin and misery into the possession of all the blessings of the new covenant; and great favours are strong obligations; they enable as well as oblige to be holy. Complete holiness is the desire and duty of every Christian. Here is a two-fold rule of holiness: It must, for the extent of it, be universal. We must be holy, and be so in all manner of conversation; in all civil and religious affairs, in every condition, prosperous or reverse; towards all people, friends and enemies; in all our intercourse and business still we must be holy. For the pattern of it. We must be holy, as God is holy: we must imitate him, though we can never equal him. He is perfectly, unchangeably, and eternally holy; and we should aspire after such a state. The consideration of the holiness of God should oblige as to the highest degree of holiness we can attain unto. The written word of God is the surest rule of a Christian’s life, and by this rule we are commanded to be holy every way.  The Old-Testament commands are to be studied and obeyed in the times of the New Testament; the apostle, by virtue of a command delivered several times by Moses, requires holiness in all Christians.

(a) Read also Leviticus 19:2, 20:7; 1 Peter 2:9

Audio Bible Reading June 14 2014

Blessed be God, even the 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,

1 Peter 1:3 (GNV Translation Ed. 1599)

Greetings in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ

We start a new study today, so let us begin. Note the words “begotten us again”. This is to say, that we are new creations in the spirit, to be reborn anew, in the likeness that our God had originally planned for us. The first fruit of course is Jesus Christ, in who’s likeness we will become.  When man fell from perfection we became both spiritually and physically corrupted by sin. Our bodies, age, breakdown, and we die. Spiritually, we give into the desires of the flesh and commit all divers of sin. However we now have a living hope, in the way of atonement, and likewise a living mediator who will act on our behalf. Praise God for His grace and mercy.  

Audio Bible Reading June 13 2014