The General Epistles - Part 9

Well, good evening once again, everyone, and welcome to the Bible study. I've been reviewing in the past what we covered the last meeting. I'm going to cease doing that. I hope that you are able to do that yourselves since you have reviewed the material from last time. I know there might be one or two that are joining us for the first time, and I hope that you are keeping notes and you are identifying key issues. We have come to 1 Peter chapter 2, so that's where we'll begin this evening. Remember that the Apostle Peter writing somewhere circa 62-64 AD. It was a time of great unrest in the Roman Empire. The people were scattered to and fro, and as we read in 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 1, to those that strangers scattered abroad in various provinces in Asia Minor and also in the Middle East. And so, Father, we know that these ones, and you know that these ones are new in the faith, as we shall see. You could preach the whole Bible, basically, in a launch point from 1 Peter chapter 2, especially. You can never say all that can be said about any verse just about in the Bible. So let's begin here in 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 1. Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and the things that Peter writes here are almost what you would call inclusive.

He includes just about every evil work that we could possibly have. So, laying aside all malice and all guile. Guile is closely related to hypocrisy, and it's also related to being devious, being sneaky, pretending to be one thing, and really your motive is something else. And hypocrisy, and we know full well that hypocrisy is claiming to be one thing, and actually you're manifesting something else. And envy, envy is just being jealous of other people, in being what they might have, as one of the great sins that is identified in the Ten Commandments. It says that you shall not covet. So covetousness is idolatry. So if you covet what your neighbor has, or anyone else, that is a form of envy, idolatry, and all evil speaking. All evil speaking's plural. Just imagine what the world would be if we all stop doing everything that is given here as newborn babes. Now this word newborns, some say, okay, this proves that we are born again when we are called and convicted, and we repent, baptize, and receive God's Spirit. Even when we have received God's Spirit, we're not born again in the ultimate sense, but we are begotten and new, and we're counted as children of God as newborn babes. Now that word is artigan nato, artigan nato, and it means a young convert, one who is new in the faith, as one that is new in the faith, desire the sincere milk of the Word. Everything proceeds, basically, from the Word and from the Spirit. The Word of God, and I have tried it for years and years to get various congregations to memorize John 663. John 663 is a very important verse, and you should memorize it. Here's what it says.

The flesh profits nothing. It is the Spirit that makes alive. The words that I speak, Jesus talking, they are Spirit and they are life. John 663 says that the Word of God can be equated with the Spirit of God, and we are to renew the inward man daily, as it says in 2 Corinthians 4 and verse 16, that the inward man is renewed daily. And one of the ways that we renew the inward man is through study of the Word, through study, through meditation, through prayer, through obedience, through fasting, through meditation, that we meditate on the Word of God. A great place to meditate on the Word of God is Psalm 119 verses 9, 10, and 11 say your word. Have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you? The words that I speak, they are Spirit and they are life. And then later in the psalm beginning about verse 97, Psalm 119 going on 97, 99, 31, 03 especially, he talks about how he meditates upon the law of God. Day and night, he talks about the Word of God being sweeter than honey. And it also says that it's a light into my path.

So the Word of God is so important. And so newborn babies especially, and all of us are admonished to grow through study of the Word of God. If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Now that word gracious is not the usual word for grace. It is not carous, but it is a word that is, it indicates that God is good. He is kind. He, you could, you could translate it as gracious. It's only used seven times in the New Testament. And here it is translated as gracious. But it means if you have tasted that the Lord is good, He's kind. And you could say He's gracious. He's called you into His marvelous light. To whom coming unto a living stone. So the analogy is used of a stone. That is, Jesus Christ is the stone. Disallowed of men. Jesus Christ came to His own, and His own received Him not, as recorded in the Gospel of John chapter one. He came to His own, and His own received Him not. Unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious. The preciousness of God, the preciousness of Jesus Christ the God, cannot be really measured in any human kind of terms. We want to go now to Ephesians chapter two, and we shall read about that stone there in Ephesians chapter two, and we will begin somewhere around verse 18.

Mine skipped to the wrong verse, I'll get it. Ephesians chapter two and about verse 18. Ephesians two, 18. For even through Him we both have access by one Spirit under the Father. Now, the both means Jew and Gentile have the access to God the Father. We can come boldly, as we shall see in Hebrews a little later in chapter 10, we can come boldly before the throne of God. Remember, on the day of atonement in the Old Testament, and under the terms of the Old Covenant, only the high priest could go into the Holy of Holies, and he did that once a year on the day of atonement.

Now God has made it possible for us to live in the Holy of Holies. We can go at any time, any moment, anywhere, and come boldly before the throne of God and make our wants and petitions known before God.

Now verse 19. Now therefore you are no more strangers. They were strangers and foreigners, but they're fellow citizens. Fellow citizens of what? This new nation, this new nation, which we'll mention a little later as well, this new nation, this Israel of God, Galatians 6, 16. The overriding purpose of God from eternity past to eternity future, the overriding plan, purpose, and providence of God is to bring all peoples, all nations, kensors, racers, tongues, into the Israel of God.

But fellow citizens with the saints, in times past you were not dead. Of course, you have to be called. You have to be convicted. You have to repent of your sins. You have to be baptized, receive God's Spirit to the... So your fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. So the temple of God, the church of God, is also likened to, metaphorically, to a household and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.

Now, in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, we read that He is the foundation. What other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid in that foundation is Jesus Christ. He is the chief cornerstone. Now, please listen to all of this and don't get it confused of what we're saying. He is the foundation. He is the chief cornerstone. Off the cornerstone comes the whole building. In whom are the building, fitly framed together, grows unto an holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are built together for an habitation through God, through the Spirit. So Jesus Christ has likened unto that stone.

Now, we now go to Hebrews chapter 10. Go to Hebrews chapter 10, please. In Hebrews chapter 10, we'll be in verse 7. Then said, I lo, I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do your will, O God. That's what Jesus Christ did. He came to do the will of God.

He's called us to do the will of God. And above all, when He said, sacrifice and offer and burn offerings and offers for sin would not neither have pleasure therein, which are offered by the law. Then He said, lo, I come to do your will, O God.

He takes away the first, that is, the first covenant that He may establish the second, which is the new covenant, but which will we are sanctified. We're set apart through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for every and once and for all and for every priest in daily ministering and offering sometimes the same sacrifices which can never take away sin.

So Jesus Christ came and made that offering. He is the foundation. He is the chief cornerstone. And now we're going to go back to verse Peter chapter 2 and first Peter chapter 2 and read verse 4 once again. Verse Peter chapter 2 verse 4 again. So we've read those verses from Ephesians and from Hebrews, to whom coming as a living stone, He's not dead, He's disallowed indeed of men, the Jews rejected Him, but chosen of God and precious, you also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house.

So we are part of the household of God. We are part of that spiritual house that God is building, a temple, a house not made by hands.

We are counted as a royal priesthood. That doesn't mean that we're all called to the ministry. A few years ago, we had some insisting that we're all priests and we're all ministers of God. We're all ministers of God in that we're all to live the example that Jesus Christ sent, but we have not all been called to the ministry. No one takes this honor to himself, as it says in the book of Hebrews. A spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices. Now, what are spiritual sacrifices? One of the main spiritual sacrifices, and I'm quoting now from Hebrews 10, verses 12, 13, 14, to do good and to communicate God as well pleased with such sacrifices, God as well pleased. So let us not forget to communicate and to do good. So when we offer up our prayer, when we carry on conversation with God, we are communicating with him. So to communicate and to do good, forget God. I'm quoting from Hebrews 10, verses 12, 13, 14. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture. Now this is a quote from Isaiah 28, and we want to turn to Isaiah 28 and read what it has to say there. It is an amazing prophecy. It seems to me that as soon as we finish the general epistles, we've already done Isaiah once. Seems to me we need to go back and do it again because in a lot of terminology Isaiah is called the second gospel.

So in Isaiah 28 and verse 16, let's read what it says because there's a quote from Isaiah 28 and verse 16. Therefore, thus says the Lord God, behold, notice how it is parallel with what we read from 1 Peter 2.

Thus says the Lord God, behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone. So here, once again, it is a foundation as in 1 Corinthians chapter 3. What other foundation can any man lay in that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Behold, I lay in Zion. Zion, of course, Zion and Jerusalem are used synonymously in the scripture. Technically, there are two different areas, but oftentimes one is used for both. I lay in Zion, and especially Zion, the symbolic of the church. For a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. He even believes shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line in righteousness, to the plummet, and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the water shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannelled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then you shall be trodden down by it. Then he goes on. I would encourage you to read tomorrow or tonight, later, the rest of chapter 28 of Isaiah. So we see that verse 16, which is quoted almost word for word here in verse chapter 2. Once again, verse 6 in verse chapter 2. Word for also it is contained in the Scripture. We just read the Scripture. The Scripture is Isaiah 28 16. Behold, I lay in Zion a cheap cornerstone. Remember I said it. Zion and Jerusalem can be used synonymously, one sometimes used for the other or both. And Zion especially is symbolic of the church. I lay in Zion a cheap cornerstone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. So he that believes on Jesus Christ shall not be confounded, not be in darkness, shall not be put to shame or disgraced or dishonored in any way. If you remain faithful, God is going to see to it that eventually you're given a crown of righteousness. Unto him therefore which believed he is precious, but unto them that which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, he came to his own as his own, received him not, the Jews rejected him. They're still looking for a Messiah for a Savior to come, a human being to lead him them into a great political dynasty that would rule the world. The Jews are planning on building a second temple. They're going to call that temple the temple of prayer, the house of prayer for all nations, and they're going to encourage everybody. According to scripture, they're going to resume animal sacrifice, and the sacrifice will be taken away as in Daniel chapter 10 and verse 31.

Disallowed the same is made the chief of the corner. Now, the chief of the corner, Jesus Christ is the head of the church. He is the headstone. He is the cornerstone.

He is the foundation. He is also the headstone. So let me repeat that once again. He is the foundation, and the foundation is made of stone, cement, as in Matthew 16, where Jesus said to Peter, you are Peter, you are Petru's little stone, but upon this rock, big rock, Petra, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Now, several times in scripture, it is said that Jesus Christ is the head of the church. So he is the foundation of the church. He's the chief corner stone, and he is the headstone. He's the head of the church. Now, 1 Peter 2, 8, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, were unto also they were appointed. Well, God sent to Israel, prophet after prophet, as you read about in Matthew 23 there toward the end of the chapter, I said to them, prophets, they killed the prophets and sown them, and then eventually Jesus Christ was born, and they were looking for a great human deliverer that would restore to them the days that they enjoyed in which they basically rule that part of the world under the rulership of Solomon, which the reign of Solomon was a symbolically, metaphorically like the millennium, as it says in Malachi chapter 4, that each man living under his own bind and fig tree, but you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. This royal priesthood, royal means kingly, but we are going to be kings and priests of God in the kingdom of God. It does not yet appear what we shall be, but when he comes we shall see him as he is. That's 1 John chapter 3 verses 1 and 2, which we'll come to later in the general epistle. It's a purchase people. Now, this word peculiar is peculiar because it's not clear.

This is basically the only time this is years in the Bible, and it means a peculiar people. It is one that has been called out. It is a holy nation.

A better translation would be a purchase people. There was a price paid, as it says in 1 Peter chapter 1, which we read last time, that you are redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and you're not your own. Now, let's focus on this. You're a royal priesthood, a holy nation. The Israel of God was not a people, but is now considered to be the church of God. It's considered to be, it is the church of God, and it's called also a holy nation. Now, I want to turn to Isaiah 51 verse 4. So, if we go to Isaiah 51 in verse 4, and let's read there what it says. It's not a lot of places in Scripture which says that the nation of God, God's nation, is a holy nation. But I'm going to read Isaiah 54.3 and 4 and so on. Isaiah 54.3, for you shall break forth on the right hand on the left, and your seed shall inherit the Gentiles or the nations. Now, that word there is joy, which the Jews call the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Fear not, or you shall not be ashamed, neither be you contaminated, or you shall not be put to shame, or you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall not remember the shame of your youth, and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood. For your maker, your husband, is your, your maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name, and your demer, the holy, the holy one of Israel, the God of the whole earth, shall be he be called. Now, that's Isaiah 54 verses 4 through 55. Now, I want to go to 51 and verse 3 and 4. Isaiah 51 verses 3 and 4. For the Lord shall comfort Zion. That is his holy nation, his new nation, the church of God. For the Lord shall comfort Zion. He will comfort all her ways, places he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving in the voice of melody. Harken unto me, my people, give ear unto me, O my nation. So you see, God calls his people, his chosen ones, his special one, a nation for ye have ear unto me, O my nation, for a law shall proceed from me. That reminds me of Isaiah chapter 2 verse 4, where it talks about you'll go up and go to Jerusalem and to Zion, and from Zion shall go without the law. Harken unto me, my people, and give a ear unto me, O my nation, for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness near my salvation is gone forth, and my arms shall judge the people, and the eyes shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. So here we see a culmination. Now I want to clarify something. You hear over and over that the Jews are God's chosen nation, and they repeat what is said there in Genesis chapter 1. I want to go to Genesis chapter 12. I will bless them and bless you, curse them that curses you, and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.

It's in you, and that one is Jesus Christ. It is through Jesus Christ that we're all blessed. It is not through just being ethnically a Jew, born a Jew, and your bloodlines be a Jew.

Remember that a Jew is not one who is one outwardly, but it is one that is inward, as in Romans chapter 2. If you want to go to Romans chapter 2, in Romans chapter 2, and we'll start in about first 20, I think. Let's start in 26. Romans 2.26, therefore, if the uncircumcision, that's the Gentiles, keep the righteousness of the law, shall not the uncircumcision be counted for circumcision, and shall not uncircumcision, which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge you, who by the letter and circumcision do transgress the law. Verse 26, therefore, if the uncircumcision, keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision, and shall not uncircumcision, which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge you, I'm sorry, and if shall not uncircumcision, which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge you, who by the letter, I'm clicking on the same thing, who by the letter of the law, keep it, and shall not uncircumcision, which by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge you, who by the letter and circumcision do transgress the law. Now, here's the key verse, for he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that uncircumcision which is outward in the flesh, so you can be circumcised, even if you're not Jewish ethnically, or you can be circumcised if you are a Jew, fleshly, but shall not be a part of the Israel of God. Now, for verse 29, for he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart. So the sony part of the heart has been cut away, and it remains a so teachable, mellow kind of heart that can be taught God's way. Is that of the heart in the spirit, and not of the letter who is praised, is not of man but of God. Now, I want to have you know and understand for sure about this part about nation. So a Jew is not one who is one outwardly, but one who is one inwardly, whose heart has been circumcised. Now, I want us to go back to Isaiah 66.

In Isaiah 66, and what the Zalchim said here, especially by the Jews of a nation being born all at once, well, the Israel of God, that nation at the resurrection, there's going to be that holy nation that will be born of God. Now, listen to this terribly, because deception is coming upon the whole world. The deception that is coming, it says in Matthew 24, I think it's verse 24. 24 and 24 never leave, but if not, it's 24, 23 or 25, then it's 24. If it were possible, the very length would be deceived. So it's not if you're a part of the very length, you won't be deceived. We'll start in verse 5, Isaiah 66. Hear the word of the Lord. Isaiah 66, 5. Hear the word of the Lord, you that tremble at the word, your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my namesake. There is in Revelation, it talks about those who say that they are Jews and are not. I will make them come and worship at your feet.

Let the Lord be glorified, but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. A voice of noise from the temple of voice of the Lord that renders recompense to the enemies rejoiced with Jerusalem. Before she surveilled, she brought forth. Before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child. And then, of course, Jesus Christ was born, as it talks about in Revelation 12, and other places in the New Testament of Jesus Christ being born, that she brought forth a man-child.

Before she revealed inner pain, she brought it forth. Who hath heard this in verse 8? Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such thing shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once?

So what the Zionists are saying, those are saying that through being a Jew ethnically, if you treat the Jews well, that all the nations of the earth will be blessed. You need to understand this, be worthy, so you will not fall for the deception that is coming upon the earth.

Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as sin as Zion surveilled, that's the church, she brought forth her children, that's the resurrection, that is the birth into the kingdom of God. Shall I bring to the birth and not cause her to bring forth, says the Lord? Shall I cause her to bring forth and shut the womb, says your God? Rejoice you with Jerusalem and be glad with her.

All you that love her rejoice for joy with all her, with her all, you that mourn for her. And so when it talks about the newborn nation, which is the Israel of God.

So the Jews coming out of captivity in 1948 and a nation being established in 1948 is not the fulfillment of this prophecy of a nation being born all at once. This is talking about the resurrection, that a nation, as we read from Isaiah 51 verse 4, my nation, God calls Zion, my nation. It is born when we are resurrected into the kingdom of God. What right now? We are begotten children of God. So we're not yet, of course, born again, as they are saying. Now you know that from Galatians chapter 3, and I've turned there many times, we'll turn there as many times as I have breath. In Galatians chapter 3, you come to understand who he is really. Well, I've already read it. He is from Romans. He is a Jew who has been circumcised in the heart. And then Galatians 3, starting in verse 15, brethren, I speak after the manner of man, though it be but a man's covenant. This is Galatians 3.15, though it be but a man's covenant. Yet if it be confirmed, no man dissimules or heads thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed, singular, not plural, singular, not plural, even though Jesus was a Jew.

This says in Hebrews, it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He said not unto your seeds as of many, but as of one, seest one seed, and to your seed, which is Christ. And this I say that the covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ the law, which was 430 years after, cannot disannul that he should make the promise of non-effect. So Abraham spoke it 400 years about all nations being blessed through this seed. And then Israel entered into the Old Covenant, but that is not disannul what Abraham had been promised. And now in the last part of this chapter, we see that the promise is fulfilled, and who really are the children of Abraham? In Galatians 3, 24, wherefore the law was our school may pass through the Old Covenant to bring us under Christ the New Covenant, that we may be justified by faith. We're not justified by deeds of the law, but we must repent of breaking God's immutable spiritual law. But after that faith is come, we're no longer under a schoolmaster. You don't have to offer up those sacrifices, for you're all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many as of you that have been baptized under Christ and put on Christ, there's neither Jew nor Greek, there's neither modern or free, there's neither male or female, for you're all one in Christ Jesus. And if you be Christ, then are you Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. So that completes the picture there of showing of what this Holy Nation is. So I hope we're never deceived by anyone that is proclaiming anything about the Holy Nation. That the Jews coming out of, coming back to Israel in 1948, and a nation being established, modern-day Israel, that's not the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham. I've just read the fulfillment of the promise of Abraham. A Jew is one who is of the Israel of God, and a Jew is one who has had exercised faith in the sacrifice of Christ. Yes. So Dr. Ward, the verse 16, the plural, seeds, is referring to the children, the called-out children. No, he said not of seeds, not of seeds. Oh, not of seeds. Okay, I'm sorry. Not of seeds. It's just one seed. Okay, I misheard, sorry. It's just one seed from Israel, just one seed. Okay. And that seed is Christ. Gotcha. Okay. Now we go back to 1 Peter, and maybe a little bit redundant, but we're going to pick up in 2-8. I mean, not 2-8, but in 2-10, which in times fast were not a people, but are now the people of God, which did not obtain mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Now, we have covered this in previous studies, but I'll cover it once again briefly. See, Israel of old, the old covenant people were given a divorce, and they were put away because of their spiritual heart rate and also their disobedience and going against God. And they became lo ami, not my people, and lo ruhama, not having obtained mercy. I guess you should say lo ruhama first, not obtain mercy, not my people second, whichever way. So we go to Hosea. This shows the unity and fulfillment of Scripture and the unity of the Bible.

In Hosea, we see where this prophecy is given. In Hosea 1, Hosea 1 will begin in verse 7. But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow nor by sword nor by battle, by horses nor by horsemen. Of course, he will save them by his mighty power. Now, when she had weaned lo ruhama, now lo ruhama means not having obtained mercy, she conceived and bear a son. Then said God, called his name Lo Ami, for you are not my people, and I will not be your God. And so God put them away. He gave them a bill of divorcement. Verse 8. Now when she had weaned lo ruhama, she conceived and bear a son. When she had, once again, not clicking on the right thing.

So you got lo ruhama not having obtained mercy, lo Ami, lo Ami not my people. It's lo Ami, not Ama, lo Ami.

But then, you notice verse 11, the Restoration, when the birth of the nation actually takes place, then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together and appoint themselves. They're not going to appoint it, but Jesus Christ will be the head, and they shall come up out of the land for great Shabbat, the day of Jezreel. Remember, Jezreel has a dual meaning. It means God sows literally, but he can sow destruction or he can sow restoration. Through the Church of God, he is sowing restoration. Through the Church of God, he is sowing restoration. There's a time coming in which he is going to be a time of judgment for the nation of Israel.

Now, Hosea 2.1 says, Say you unto your brothers Ami and to your sisters Ruhama. So now they have been restored. They have become the people of God, and they have obtained mercy. So the fulfillment of that comes with what we have just read from 1 Peter.

So we go back to 1 Peter in chapter 2, and we'll see the fulfillment of that. And we'll start in verse 9. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. We've talked about that. Purchase people, we have talked about that. You should jump forth the praises of him that called you out of darkness and his arm as a slight, which in time passed not a people, but are now the people of God, which did not obtain mercy. You were in a condition of low Ruhama, just like Israel and the Old Covenant was. But when God sows restoration, you're going to obtain mercy.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers. Now, we want to look at this word, strangers. This word, strangers, is par-o-a-kos.

Strangers and pilgrims.

The pilgrims, it means a one alongside, a foreign resident. A pilgrim, a stranger. So, dearly beloved, see our citizenship is not of this world.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers. And as pilgrims abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul, your essence, your eternal being. Having your conduct honest among the nations, that whereas they speak evil of you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation, when God actually calls them. And I've told the story of the people of Sri Lanka back when we were doing projects abroad, Ambassador College University. And this harkens back to, all the way back to 1989, when I took a trip with some others to Sri Lanka, gave the commencement address, because we established a school, a carbon copy of Ambassador at Sri Lanka, up in the mountains where the tea plantations are in Sri Lanka.

It was an old school area that missionaries had used in the past, and we established a mini-Ambassador University in Sri Lanka. And so I was invited to come and give the commencement address, so they got one year of the Ambassador experience. They got Ambassador clubs, they got women's clubs, they got the Bible classes, all of that, like they're teaching at ABC, and one year at this Bible class in Sri Lanka. We were entertained by the Minister of Interior, Gemini Dissonica, and we flew in a helicopter from Colombo out to this college up in the mountains.

And we were guarded. At that time, they were trying to assassinate those who were loyal to the President, and Timonaiaka was loyal to the President. Later on, he ran for President and was assassinated. Anyhow, I gave the commencement address. In it, I said, you can have an Ambassador College anywhere from the frozen tundras of the Great North to the lush green valleys and mountains of Sri Lanka.

And a few years later, I got a letter saying, we are still keeping alive your hope that Ambassador Colleges will be established all over the world. And so, I got a, Dissonica had told me, we don't need your money as much as we need your example, your organizational skills and your example. We don't need your money. So that shows how important an example is. We read this verse once again. Having your conduct honest among the nations, that whereas they speak against you as evildoers. Oh, you keep that old Jewish Sabbath, they say. Well, it is the biblical Sabbath. It is the Sabbath of the Old Testament. It is the Sabbath of the New Testament. They may by your good works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation. One of the days, God is going to open their minds and hearts, and they will see your examples, and they will hearken back to that, and they will know that there has been a ministry, a prophet among them. So yes, we are a royal priesthood.

All of us are not ministers. We're not elders. We're not called to that.

There's no need for me to go to Hebrews and go through that. We have to be called into the ministry. But we're all royal ministers. We're all to take the gospel message to the world and set the example so in the day of their visitation, they will give heed.

Okay, we're going to round it off, therefore, this evening we'll begin with verse 13 next time. And this verse part just says the first part. There's no telling how much ground we covered in this. If you master what we covered tonight, you shall be a long ways toward mastering so many things. So I encourage you to review your notes. Hopefully, you take your notes and you follow up and you do some deep dives and deep study into the Word of God, using this as a blueprint or an example to really explore what the Bible has to teach.

Okay, we shall now open it up to questions and comments from you. Do you have any question or comments from you? Question or comment?

Dr. Ward? Yes, sir.

I was able to catch your last Bible study yesterday. You talked about guarding the mind, the Holy Spirit tugging at your mind to obey. Yes. You know, the hymn says, And in me a clean heart make Spirit right renew. God affects all four, the mind, heart, soul, and spirit. I think it would be good for somebody to give a sermon on that. Yeah. Remember, the word soul means your essential being.

We don't have a soul. We are a soul. And only God can destroy our essential being in the lake of fire, which is the second death. Yes, that's a good point.

Thank you, Tim. Any other question or comment?

We poured it out tonight so much. I hope you were able to grasp it.

Anybody else have a question or comment?

Good evening, Dr. Ward. I just want to comment that it's incredibly encouraging, these verses that you've gone through in 1 Peter chapter 2, and also just the importance of remembering our identity as to who we are as the people of God. I don't think we shouldn't walk around lifted up and proud saying, don't you know who I am? But we also ought not to draw back in the age in which we live, recognizing who God has called us to be and the message He's given us to carry. And I think it's just encouraging to read through these things because we didn't make ourselves a chosen generation or a royal priesthood or a holy nation. God did that through Christ, and so it gives us the assurance that He's given us what we need to carry forward as His people and to do His work in the world today. Absolutely. Yeah, we tend to forget and take on this poor little old me kind of attitude, which we shouldn't be boastful or proud people in one sense, but we need to realize who we really are, that we are the people of God. I've thought about giving, asking people at the beginning of a sermon to say, God loves me. Do we ever say that to ourselves? God loves me. And also, there's a there's a song on YouTube, I am a child of God. I am a child of God. So what would you do for your child? What would God do for us? And consider God loves me. Those are three sobering words, God loves me. I think we need to say that to ourselves quite often. God loves me. And we are a royal priesthood, as you brought out. Great comment. Anybody else comment? Question?

Well, thank you for attending tonight. We'll go again two weeks from tonight. 11 and 14 is what? 25? Right.

Yeah, it's the 25th.

11 and 14.

February the 25th. February the 25th. 25th, yeah.

Skip one Wednesday night, and the next Wednesday night we go again.

Thank you, Dr. Ward. We're going to cover the only place in the Bible where specifically it tells you how to grow in grace. Specifically, the growing grace. Okay, good night, everyone.