“The Just Shall Live By Faith”
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
“Articles of Faith”
(A Study in I Peter)
Lesson 12 - The End Is At Hand:
Armed with the knowledge that if we as Christians are being singled out, segregated, or alienated because we believe and live according to the Gospel; we are being judged by God, as alive! This grand truth was to comfort and strengthen these Christians as pilgrims and sojourners in unfamiliar circumstances.
Now, Peter begins to insert into these Christians, a sense of urgency and realism concerning the reason they are where they are and why it is so urgent that they devote themselves unreservedly to God.
The End Is At Hand:
2 Peter 3:1-2 “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,”
In Peter's second letter to these same Christians (which we will study immediately after this letter is concluded), he is reminding them of information that they have already been given. This informs us that they were aware of the reason they had to leave their home and it was their faith in the words of the Apostles that motivated them to act. In addition to the words of the Apostles, they were reminded of the words spoken before by the holy prophets. These holy prophets of God spoke concerning the events that were unfolding in the lives of these Christians. They had been exhorted to heed many things the prophets had spoken of (from the time of John the Baptist to this very letter), note:
• They were reminded that the Messiah must come.
Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,”
• They were reminded that He must suffer and Die.
Isaiah 53:12 “Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”
Luke 24:44-46 “Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,”
• They were reminded that He would deliver a new covenant.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord , when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord . 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord : I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord ,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord . For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
Hebrews 9:15 “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
• They were taught that the Messiah did not come to destroy the Old Law, but to fulfill it completely.
Matthew 5:17-18 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
Romans 10:4 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Galatians 3:24-25 “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”
Colossians 2:14 “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
These things and many more were taught by the Apostles and fulfillment of the words of the prophets was shown. Many of us have very little trouble understanding these things, however, since Christ came to fulfill ‘ALL' the Law and prophets, His work was not complete at His ascension to the Father. There was still one thing left to fill up!
• They were taught that the Messiah would bring vengeance on the un-godly for the blood of the Apostles and prophets.
Matthew 23:33-36 “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation .”
This vengeance would come in the form of a national judgment on Israel (the day of the Lord – II Peter 3:10 ), and would bring to bear the wrath of God on disobedient Israel . This also was in fulfillment of the teachings of the prophets!
I want to share with you a passage from the book of Daniel. At the conclusion of the book of Daniel; a statement is made to Daniel, he will ask a question, and an answer will be given. Within this body of exchange, we will see the prophecy of the end of all things !
The Statement:
Daniel 12:7 “Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered , all these things shall be finished.”
Daniel is being made to see what will happen to his people in the latter days ( 10:14 ). He is being instructed to seal up the completion of the words of this book until the “end of time” . Since the words of the man in linen concentrated on the shattering of the holy people (Daniel's people – Israel ), it greatly concerned him. This would sponsor Daniel's question!
The Question:
Daniel 12:8 “Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, "My lord, what shall be the end of these things ?"
Daniel sought to understand this complete shattering of his people. They were already in Babylonian captivity, so this could not be referring to God's judgment at that time. This also explains Daniel's confusion.
The Answer:
Daniel 12:9 “And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end .”
Daniel is being told that it was not for him to know the details of these coming events. However, to comfort him, some information is given him as assurance that this is not the punishment he and the others are presently living, but a future event, note:
Daniel 12:10-13 “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away , and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days."
There could be little doubt by Daniel or us that this was an event for his people in a latter time. However, since the time of the end is subject specific, it is a direct reference to the shattering or final destruction of the holy people (the children of Israel – those who engaged in daily sacrifice under the Old Law). It is also important to note that this end would not come until a period of enlightenment came first ( Vs.10 – would mirror the Apostolic commission by the Lord, to go into the whole world and preach the Gospel, he that believes and is baptized will be saved. These would become the wise that would understand and avert disaster).
These words were mirrored by John the Baptist, and the Lord Himself as pending, when they taught prior to the coming of the kingdom (we will deal with this teaching in more detail when we cover II Peter 3 ). Now that the kingdom is established, the Apostles of Christ have picked up the herald warnings to Christians that the warnings to Daniel are at hand.
So, in our next lesson, when we begin in verse 7 , and we read, “ But the end of all things is at hand” , that like the teaching to Daniel, it is subject specific (to Christians converted from Judaism – Israelites), and dealing with the complete shattering of Israel as the people of God. This and the warnings of the Apostles that it would be God through Christ, that would judge Israel and raise up a powerful army to utterly destroy her; are the catastrophic events that have caused them to leave their home and venture into the unknowns of Asia and Northern Asia minor.
Being reminded of the events that would shake their homeland and all the neighboring countries, would sponsor Peter's encouragement to be watchful, serious, and prayerful. Try to imagine yourself in their shoes! A foreknowledge of your homeland's destruction. An exodus to another country. How would you live? How would you interact? What news of home?
Many more questions could be asked like these, but now you have a little more insight on the importance of this letter concerning suffering, hope predicated on faith, and arming ourselves with the mind of Christ!
Next:
“ Serving and Suffering for the Glory of God ”