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The Book of Second Peter: Message
One
By Dr. Michael
Guido, D.D.
There
was a missionary who was earning $25,000 a year, and
he was contacted by a representative of a big
corporation, who offered him $50,000 to work for his
company. When he turned down the offer, it was raised
to $70,000. But he refused. On being asked why, he
answered, "I prefer the job I have."
"Isn't the salary big enough?" questioned
the representative. "Oh, yes," said the
missionary, "but the job isn't." The
apostle Peter must have felt the same way, for he,
too, was a missionary for our Lord. Let's turn to 2nd
Peter 1:1 and
Note
his signature. It's written, "Simon Peter."
The name Simon tells of his first birth when he
entered the human family. The name Peter tells of his
second birth when he entered the divine family. He
made no decision when he was born the first time. But
he alone made the decision when he was born the
second time. His first name describes his wicked and
weak nature. His second name describes his spiritual
and strong nature. Have you been born again? It's
better never to have been born, than not to be born
again. "I wish," said Voltaire, "I had
never been born." "O blessed be God,"
shouted one who had been born again, "that ever
I was born."
Note
his station. Testified Peter, "Simon Peter, a
servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ." The
word for "servant" in this verse signifies
"a slave." A slave was the property of his
master. A servant could have changed his master, but
a slave couldn't. He was the property of his master.
Thus a Christian is the property of God. "Know
ye not," says the Bible, "that ye are not
your own?" "Why?" you ask. "For
ye are bought with a price," answers the Bible.
When the crown of thorns pierced His brow, He bought
your head. When the spear pierced His side, He bought
your heart. When the nails penetrated His hands and
His feet, He bought your hands and feet. When His
body was broken and bruised for you, He bought your
body. Therefore glorify God in your body.
You
are the person that has to decide whether you'll do
it or toss it aside;
You
are the person who makes up your mind whether you'll
follow or linger behind,
Whether
you'll try for the goal that's afar, or be contented
to stay where you are.
You
can take it or leave it, here's something to do, just
think it over, it's all up to you.
Not
only was a slave the property of the master, but also
in the possession of the master. And it's one thing
to be the property of God, but it's another thing to
be in His possession. I bought a brief case, and when
my preacher-brother came to see me I gave him some
books. He had nothing with which to carry them, so I
said, "Larry, you may use my brief case."
The brief case is my property, but I can't use it
right now; it's not in my possession. Can God use
you? You see, it's not a matter of giving to God, but
taking your hands off His property and letting Him
have His way with you. To call a Christian a slave of
God signifies that he's in the performance of God. In
days of old the slave had no time of his own. His
time belonged to his master. Just so, the Christian
is one whose life is spent in the service of God.
Baron Von Welz renounced his title and treasure to
become a missionary. As he left home for the foreign
field, where his body now fills a lonely grave, he
said, "What is to me the title 'Wellborn' when
I'm born again to Christ? What is to me the title
'Lord' when I desire to be the servant of Christ?
What is it to be called 'Your Grace' when I have need
of God's grace? All these vanities and everything
else I lay at the feet of my dear Lord Jesus."
Note
the society. To whom did Peter write his epistle? The
Bible says, "To them that have obtained like
precious faith with us through the righteousness of
God and our Savior Jesus Christ." They were
Christians. How did they become Christians? By their
character or their cash, their toil or their tears?
Oh, no. The word "obtained" literally means
"allotted." That's to signify they didn't
earn it, nor did they deserve it. It had fallen to
them through no merits of their own, only by God's
mercy. And the channel through which it came is
Christ. He was a judge, and his son was brought
before him for breaking the law. The judge loved his
son, but he was loyal to the law of the land.
Everyone wondered how he could show his love for his
son and his love for the law. He looked at his son,
and realizing that he had broken the law, he demanded
a fine. But the boy was unable to pay for it. So the
old judge dipped down into his pocket and paid the
fine for him. That's what the Lord does for man. The
faith that He requires, He imparts. For the Bible
says, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God." You've heard His word, how
that Christ died for your sin. Now heed it. Say to
Him, "Lord Jesus, I take Thee as my
Savior!" and He'll save you. Testified one who
did receive Him, "The Lord saved me through and
through, and for keeps!" and that He'll do for
you.
copyright 2000 Guido
Evangelistic Association
All Scripture
verses are quoted from the New King James Version..
Click here to go to the next message in this Sower
Scripture Study on the book of Second Peter.
This series of
messages on the books of the Bible were originally
written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program,
"The Sower." They are collected and
reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual
edification.
