A study of 2 Peter 3

2Peter3:3"First of all you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say" Where is this coming he promised? Ever since our fathers died everything goes on just as it has since the beginning of creation." There are very few Scriptures that describe the time we live in as well as the one posted above. We live in a time when even our own church leaders deny the power of the Lord at times and even say that Revelations is an analogy. Well if that's what they think they haven't finished the rest of this chapter; and are not being very good Shepard's to the flock that the Lord gave to them. I am not going to retype the whole chapter here but I will be as descriptive as possible. The next few verses of the chapter describes how the scoffers turn their backs on the knowledge that the heavens and the earth was created with the word of the Lord and by this same word the heavens and earth shall parish. Verse 8 states " But do not forget this one thing dear friends: With the lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day. 9 The lord is not slow in keeping his promise' as someone understands slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish' but everyone to come to repentance." So while he may seem slow in coming to us to him its like the world was just formed, so we must be patient and ever vigilant in continuing to look forward. After discussing how the earth and the heavens will be destroyed and made new verse 14 gives us some more advise on thing to watch for and provides hope for the end. 14" So then dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind our Lords patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do other Scriptures, to their own destruction." Here Peter has deftly reminded us to keep an eye on those who teach the word; we need to make sure that our teachers are not only using the Scripture but that they are using them correctly; and trying to putting a new spin on it to make it more sinner friendly. Its not that I don't think of myself as a sinner because I most certainly am; but I don't live a life that is filled with purposeful sin.( the topic of purposeful sin will be covered in a future blog) So now to the end 17" Therefore dear friends since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!Amen" Again he admonishes us to keep a keen awareness of where we are getting our information from and to keep growing in our faith in his saving power and his ultimate return. Don't be afraid to question where your pastor is basing his sermons; I am not suggesting to be confrontational about it but just be sure you are following true Biblical teachings and not the traditions of man and what sounds good to the ear. In the end good Pastors are like real good friends should be and that's someone whose not afraid to tell you the truth even if it may not be what you want to hear. This is important because weather we are still here on earth when that last trumpet blows or we go to sleep before then we will stand in judgement for our lives. Thanks for reading this post I hope I inspired you if you see error in my teaching don't be afraid to let me know I am not above correction. Love your brother in Christ Edward Gollihugh.

What I believe

Here is a short list of what I believe.

1) I believe that the bible is the inerrant word of God almighty; and is the most reliable and accurate work found in all of antiquity.

2) I believe that Jesus Christ is the holey son of the one and only true God; and that he died on a cross as a replacement for me and my sin; and that he rose from the dead and will come in judgment of all one day.

3) I believe man as a descendant of Adam and Eve are fallen and responsible for all the sin and corruption that exists in this world.

4) I believe that the bible implores Christians the world over to share the truth held with in it pages with the lost; even if that truth might be unpopular and hurt some ones feelings.

5) I believe that Jesus is the one and only name under heaven by which men (and women) can be saved.

6) I believe all will stand before the lord for judgment of our lives and only those that believed in Jesus will enter into the kingdom of heaven.

This list is not exhaustive but contains some of the most important of things that I believe.

Time to get off the couch and start spreading the Truth

There are many so called Christians out there in America and all over the world today, but how many of us (yes I am including me in this US) can say we truly put our faith first. In saying that what I mean is that we as Christians have gotten so caught up in trying to be politically correct that we have thrown being biblically correct out the window. I mean can you tell me in any one verse where Jesus told anyone living a sinful lifestyle was ok. I sure can not think of a single time when the Lord didn’t say exactly what people needed to hear even if it was hard for them to hear it. Heck he went into the Temple and kicked over money changing tables and told the people in the Temple they had made his fathers house a den of vipers. When are we as a Christian community going to clean the vipers out of our midst? What I am saying is we have churches out there teaching that it is ok to be gay, that it is ok to live in you sins that Jesus died for us all. Don’t mistake what I am saying there he did die for the sins of the world and all who believe in him will be saved, but we have churches teaching that everyone regardless of what they believe will go to heaven. The last time I read my bible John 3:16 still said “For God so loved the world that he gave is only begotten son that who so ever should believe in him would not perish but would have eternal life.” So you have to believe to get eternal life. Belief takes action; so when are we going to get off of our couches and start sharing the gospel. Jesus gave his disciples a commission to go into the world not to become one with it. People try and explain away there lack of action by saying that Jesus hung out with out casts and sinners , well that is right but he never hesitated to correct the error of some ones ways. We also have those who claim to be Christians that go the total opposite direction in that they commit awful crimes in the name of God. These people are no better than those who teach loose and lascivious living as being compatible with the bible. We as Christians need to be better at explaining that while what we share with them of the Gospel may not be to their liking it is no less true and if we hated them we wouldn’t be wasting our breath sharing it with tem. Truth no matter how unpleasant is no less still truth. That’s all for now next time I will try to put more bible quotes in this. If you disagree with me please use biblical reference; and realize I am not a trained theologian.