Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

In this post, we move into the last section of First Peter chapter 3.  The apostle has spoken to us about suffering at the hands of civil authorities, or suffering as a consequence of our own sins or misconduct.  1 Peter 3:17  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.   Peter summarizes the heart of God on this matter of Christian suffering. It is an honor and blessing if we suffer for His name's sake, or if we are persecuted for the sake of the gospel.  In fact, the text tells us it is the will of God that if a Christian is to suffer at all, then our Father wants it to be for the cause of Christ and His gospel.  Or, to put it another way, let no Christian suffer for breaking the law, man's or God's. This complements Peter's instruction about being good citizens, as we are about doing the work of the ministry.  1 Peter 3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, ...

A note about the archive index containing all lessons I have posted on this blog since its inception in 2019.   An index for  all lessons  posted from 2019 through 2021, was published on  September 7, 2022. An index for all lessons posted in 2022, was published  J anuary 24, 2023. Each index lists lesson titles and the dates each one was posted, so that you can study subjects that we have written about. December is almost here and our thoughts are turning to Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ.  In the archives you will find 9 lessons titled "The True Story Of Christmas," that were posted between  December 16 and December 21, 2019. These lessons are good resources for sharing  the true reason we celebrate Christmas, when we gather with our families and loved ones. A Christian response to persecution for faith in Christ.  1 Peter 3:13-14   And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14)  But and if...

Unity in the church and loving one another.  1 Peter 3:8-9  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:  9)  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.  In our last post, we looked at God's mandate for Christians in each local church to maintain unity. Having one mind is a prominent theme in the New Testament.  Romans 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. In this text, it is being united in avoiding the conceits and self centeredness pushed on us by the culture.  Instead, we are to be open and ready to have fellowship with Christians of all backgrounds, vocations, ethnicity, or education.  All Christians are put into the body of Christ by the Spirit of God as He deems b...

So far, Peter has given us doctrinal truth about our Lord Jesus Christ, and our standing with God through faith in Jesus. The Holy Spirit led him to teach us about family relationships, between a Christian husband and wife. We explored this in some detail. Today, Peter is going to turn to the subject of suffering for the sake of our Savior.  1 Peter 3:8-9  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:  9)  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.   Peter reminds the church that unity is evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work among a local church family. There are many examples of unity among the redeemed people of God with regard to accomplishing His work on earth. Psalm 133:1-3  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  2)...

  This link will take you to the YouTube channel of Heritage Baptist Church, which is the church my wife and I attend. Pastor Alvis has asked me to teach the adult Sunday school class for the foreseeable  future. I began back in October with a series titled "Every Good And Perfect Gift."    Part 10 focuses on Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament Passover lamb. I hope that you are able to view the livestream and be blessed by what God says in His word about these truths. Bob

We took 2 posts to examine what the Spirit of God guided Peter to write concerning the God ordained family order. We learned that marriage is between one man and one woman for life. The husband has been set in authority over his wife, not by virtue of any inherent superiority. Rather, this is the family order that God specified. We looked at a few examples of godly wives such as Sarah and Hannah.  After Adam and Eve sinned, marriage was marred. Genesis 3:16  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.  The family order instituted by God was perverted by the fall of Adam and Eve. Genesis 3 is where we read about God holding them to account for their sins.  God pronounced judgment that is a direct result of their choice to disobey God and listen to the voice of the serpent.  God's judgment upon Eve was the sorrow a...

Under the guidance of God's Spirit, Peter is teaching us about the family order, as ordained by God.  The beautiful influence of a godly wife.  1 Peter 3:1-2  Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;  2)  While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.  Christ is the head of the church, and the head of each husband. God has placed the husband as the head of his wife, not because of superiority in any way, but because this is the family order that pleases God. We looked carefully at the word "subjection" in our last post and it has the idea of a wife arranging herself under her husband's direction and guidance.  We also spoke about how the godly testimony of a Christian wife can be used by God to reach an unsaved husband for Christ.  Next, Peter is going to contrast the difference between a Christian wife and a wo...