Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 37

 Suffering for Jesus Part 7

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: KJV Note: AMP=Amplified Bible; NKJV-New King James Version

It is no desire or design or determination for any true son or daughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Jesus Christ to suffer at any level while we still reside inside of these feeble, fragile, and fractured physical bodies of ours. Knowing this, the Apostle Peter wanted to remind those early Jewish converts to Christ and all of us today (and of every era and generation since the Cross of Christ) that have been born from above that our Lord Jesus Christ suffered severely for our sins when He never had to, as it is written, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" (1 Peter 3:18) (KJV). He voluntarily placed Himself inside of a human body that He created in order to pay all of our penalty for sin. The cost or the payment of sin before a holy and righteous God is death, as it is written, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) (NKJV). Death is what we owe God the Father for our sin and sinning against Him (physical death and eternal death, that is, separation from Him forever in hell and the lake of fire, as it is also written by the Apostle John with these words, "Then death and Hell [the realm of the dead] were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire🔥[the eternal separation from God]. And if anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire." (Revelations 20:14-15) (AMP), but Jesus Christ and the perfect sinless life He lived, voluntarily stepped in between the lake of fire for every human being, becoming our substitute for sin and taking upon Himself our sin and the wrath of God the Father poured out upon Him for humanities sin. So, Peter wants us to recount, recall, and remember this great act of sacrificial love 😍done for each one of us by our loving elder Brother Jesus Christ and in so doing walk through our trials, test, and temptations with patience and endurance knowing that we are not walking alone but that He is with us through every time ⌚of suffering and that any present suffering down here will be nothing compared to the glory that is to be revealed in us when we are made just like Jesus, as Paul the Apostle wrote to the Church ⛪@ Rome with these words, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:18-23) (NKJV). Jesus Christ is just and we are unjust, therefore, we owe everything we are to Him alone and must be willing to repay Him by submitting to His rule over our spirit, soul, and body while He keeps us down here on the earth 🌎as His ambassadors. 

Here is what John Wesley had to say of 1 Peter 3:18, "For - This is undoubtedly best, whereby we are most conformed to Christ. Now Christ suffered once - To suffer no more. For sins - Not His own, but ours. The just for the unjust - The word signifies, not only them who have wronged their neighbours, but those who have transgressed any of the commands of God; as the preceding word, just, denotes a person who has fulfilled, not barely social duties, but all kind of righteousness. That He might bring us to God - Now to His gracious favour, hereafter to His blissful presence, by the same steps of suffering and of glory. Being put to death in the flesh - As man. But raised to life by the Spirit - Both by His own Divine Power, and by the Power of the Holy Ghost." Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of 1 Peter 3:18, "The example of Christ is proposed as an argument for patience under sufferings, the strength of which will be discerned if we consider the several points contained in the words; observe therefore, 1. Jesus Christ Himself was not exempted from sufferings in this life, though He had no guilt of His own and could have declined all suffering if He had pleased. 2. The reason or meritorious cause of Christ's suffering was the sins of men: Christ suffered for sins. The sufferings of Christ were a true and proper punishment; this punishment was suffered to expiate (compensate or make reparation for sin) and to make an atonement for sin; and it extends to all sin. 3. In the case of our Lord's suffering, it was the just that suffered for the unjust; He substituted Himself in our room and stead, and bore our iniquities. He that knew no sin suffered instead of those that knew no righteousness. 4. The merit and perfection of Christ's sacrifice were such that for Him to suffer once was enough. The legal sacrifices were repeated from day to day, and from year to year; but the sacrifice of Christ, once offered, purgeth away sin. The blessed end or design of our Lord's sufferings was to bring us to God, to reconcile us to God, to give us access to the Father, to render us and our services acceptable, and to bring us to eternal glory. The issue and event of Christ's suffering, as to Himself, were these, He was put to death in His human nature, but He was quickened and raised again by the Spirit. Now, if Christ was not exempted from sufferings, why should Christians expect it? If He suffered, to expiate sins, why should not we be content when our sufferings are only for trial and correction, but not for expiation? If He, though perfectly just, why should not we, who are all criminals? If He once suffered, and then entered into glory, shall not we be patient under trouble, since it will be but a little time and we shall follow Him to glory? If He suffered, to bring us to God, shall not we submit to difficulties, since they are of so much use to quicken us in our return to God, and in the performance of our duty to Him?"

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 36

 Suffering for Jesus Part 6

1 Peter 3:16-17 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. KJV Note: AMP=Amplified Bible; NKJV-New King James Version

The Apostle Peter wanted those early Jewish converts to our Lord Jesus Christ (and us as well) to know that the fierce acts of violence against them and against us today are not because of what they/we have done to any of them or against any of them, but because they/we belong to our Lord Jesus Christ. The world 🗺 is made up of only two kinds of people now and the first are those of us who have been delivered from the power of darkness just as the Apostle Paul wrote with these words to the Colossian Church ⛪, "For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins' penalty]. (Colossians 1:13-14) (AMP). Here is an annotation from the Amplified Bible of what Paul is saying in Colossians 1:13-14, "rescued and transferred. God has liberated believers from the dominion of darkness. The Apostle uses the common symbolism of light and darkness for good and evil, for God's Kingdom and Satan's kingdom, that is found throughout the New Testament. The kingdom from which believers have been rescued is the kingdom of darkness.

redemption. The Greek word points naturally to the payment of a price or ransom for the release of a slave. They are freed from bondage to sin by forgiveness through the Blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7)."  And the second kind of people who are still the children of wrath and under the control of the power of darkness and still slaves to sin just as Paul the Apostle also wrote with these words to the Ephesian Church ⛪, "For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God]. Let no one deceive you with empty arguments [that encourage you to sin], for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [those who habitually sin]. [ Lev 18:24-25] So do not participate or even associate with them [in the rebelliousness of sin]. (Ephesians 5:5-7) (AMP). The Apostle Peter knew from his own experience that some would vehemently scoff or treat the truth of the Gospel of Christ with contempt and disregard it all together because they want to continue to indulge in their personal path of sin without ever turning from it in true repentance from within their inner man 👨 or inner woman 👩, so Peter says, let them mock you or scoff at you or deride you or slander you or speak ill of you or threaten you, for the day will come when they see that it is Christ 'in us' the hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27) that has made us the 'new creation' (2 Corinthians 5:17) that we are. 

Here is what F.B. Meyer had to say of 1 Peter 3:16, "Keep a good conscience! Remember you have to live with yourself! A good conscience is the best bedfellow! Paul exercised himself always to have a conscience void of offense toward God and man, Act_23:1; Act_24:16. This is especially necessary when we are called on to give our witness for our Lord. We must not keep silent when we ought to speak, and when we speak we should do so reverently, simply and without heat."

It is quite easily understood that the Apostle Peter desired to see all believers only suffer for Christ sake for their/our doing of good and not that of their/our doing of evil, for we all (as born again sons and daughters) of our Lord Jesus Christ will give an account to Him directly and personally (Romans 14:12). The eyes of the Lord are in every place watching over the good and evil alike (Proverbs 15:3), therefore, Paul the Apostle wrote these words that must be heeded carefully by each one of us, "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5) (NKJV). When we sin, we bring dishonor to the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we must repent/turn from our sin that we made be a vessel for honoring Christ and bringing glory to His Name. Paul the Apostle wrote these words to Timothy to exhort and encourage him to live a life of honoring Christ and to teach others who have turned to Christ to do the same, "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:19-22) (NKJV). A born again believer can backslide into some very egregious sin from his old man 👨 or her old woman 👩, but when we truly repent/turn and confess our sin to our sin bearer (the One who carried all our sin to the Cross @ Calvary) then He will faithfully forgive us and then cleanse us from  all our unrighteous deeds (1 John 1:9). Let us never forget these words of Paul also written to Brother Timothy, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." (2 Timothy 2:13) (NKJV). Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of 1 Peter 3:17, "That is, if God sees it to be necessary for your good that you should suffer, it is better that you should suffer for doing well than for crime. God often sees it to be necessary that his people should suffer. There are effects to be accomplished by affliction which can be secured in no other way; and some of the happiest results on the soul of a Christian, some of the brightest traits of character, are the effect of trials. But it should be our care that our sufferings should not be brought upon us for our own crimes or follies. No man can promote his own highest good by doing wrong, and then enduring the penalty which his sin incurs; and no one should do wrong with any expectation that it may be overruled for his own good. If we are to suffer, let it be by the direct hand of God, and not by any fault of our own. If we suffer then, we shall have the testimony of our own conscience in our favor, and the feeling that we may go to God for support. If we suffer for our faults, in addition to the outward pain of body, we shall endure the severest pangs which man can suffer - those which the guilty mind inflicts on itself."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 35

 Suffering for Jesus Part 5

1 Peter 3:14-15 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: KJV Note: AMP=Amplified Bible; NKJV-New King James Version

The Apostle Peter wanted to encourage those Jewish believers back then who were scattered to many places away from Jerusalem because of the fierce, foul, and furious persecution that they experienced because of their new birth 'in Christ' that was not understood and even hated by the still spiritually dead Jews in Jerusalem and Judea. This Peter wanted them to be joyful over because the Spirit of Christ rested upon them and was back then and still now these many centuries later that the devil 👿 and his demons hate violently the conversion of sinners out of darkness into the light of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostle tells us this first, "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;" (1 Peter 3:14) (KJV). I recently came across the story of a young missionary man in Nigeria who was murdered/martyred for his new birth 'in Christ' (along with his wife and young son) by Islamist who serve and belong to Satan in their false religion of Islam. The young brother 'in Christ' was helping others come out of Islam's spiritual darkness into the light of Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us pray for those who knew them and loved them who are still sojourners here on the earth. Peter wanted those true believers back then and those of us still alive now to be unafraid of the terror because even if we suffer the ultimate persecution (as the young brother and his family did) of being murdered/martyred for Christ sake, we are going to be with our Lord Jesus immediately as the Apostle said with these words, "For we know that if the earthly tent 🎪 [our physical body] which is our house is torn down [through death], we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our [immortal, eternal] celestial dwelling, so that by putting it on we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened [often weighed down, oppressed], not that we want to be unclothed [separated by death from the body], but to be clothed, so that what is mortal [the body] will be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection]. Now He who has made us and prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the [Holy] Spirit as a pledge [a guarantee, a down payment on the fulfillment of His promise]. So then, being always filled with good courage and confident hope, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]— we are [as I was saying] of good courage and confident hope, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth] or away from home [and with Him], it is our [constant] ambition to be pleasing to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:1-9) (AMP). 

The wisdom of the Apostle Peter to these early Jewish converts to Christ and to all of us who have come to Christ long after them is not Peter's own wisdom, but he just went back into the Old Testament and quoted one of the great Prophets of God Isaiah when he said, "For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying: 'Do not say, 'A conspiracy,' Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread." (Isaiah 8:11-13) (NKJV). These words undoubtedly were etched into the inner man of the young Nigerian brother formally a Muslim, but born from above by our Lord Jesus Christ, so he took his stand for Christ and brought glory to His Name just as the first martyr of the Church Stephen did (Acts 7:54-60). Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of 1 Peter 3:14, "Peter had heard Jesus say that 'all men should honour the Son as they honoured the Father.' I beseech you, embrace the whole Christ, and see to it that you do not dethrone Him from His rightful place, or take from Him the glory that is due to His name. For your love will suffer, and become a mere sentiment, inoperative and sometimes unwholesome, unless you keep in mind Peter's injunction. But, further, there is included in this commandment, not only what Isaiah said, 'Let Him be your fear and your dread,' but also a reverent love and trust. For we do not hallow Christ as we ought, unless we absolutely confide in every word of His lips. Did you ever think that not to trust Jesus Christ is to blaspheme and profane that holy name by which we are called; and that to hallow Him means to say to Him, 'I believe every word that Thou speakest, and I am ready to risk my life upon Thy veracity'? Distrust is dishonouring the Master, and taking from Him the glory that is due unto His name." 

Now Peter declares that we should allow our reverential fear of only our Lord Jesus Christ to set Him apart alone within our inner man 👨 or inner woman 👩 that the whole world may know and see that Christ rules everything around us and not nothing else or anyone else, as it is written by Peter with these words, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" (1 Peter 3:15) (KJV). The English word 'sanctify' is translated by the Greek word hagiazō meaning to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: - hallow, be holy, sanctify. Jesus Christ must be Supreme in us. This is what John Wesley said of Jesus Christ being Supreme within us, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts - Have an holy fear, and a full trust in His wise providence. The hope - Of eternal life. With meekness - For anger would hurt your cause as well as your soul. And fear - A filial fear of offending God, and a jealousy over yourselves, lest ye speak amiss." The desire in the inner man 👨 and inner woman 👩 of true believers to declare the truth of the Gospel of Christ comes from our Lord Himself, because He is on a seek and save mission upon the earth 🌎 even while He sits at the Right Hand of God the Father in Heaven right now, for He is doing it through His truly born again sons and daughters as the Apostle Paul said when he wrote these words to the Church @ Corinth, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by

faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him], that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people's sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God]. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ's representatives] pleading with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].(2 Corinthians 5:17-21) (AMP). Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of 1 Peter 3:15, "Then there is another point to be noted: 'Sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord.' That is Peter’s addition to Isaiah's words, and it is not a mere piece of tautology, but puts great emphasis into the exhortation. What is a man's heart, in New Testament and Old Testament language? It is the very centre-point of the personal self. And when Peter says, 'Hallow Him in your hearts,' he means that, deep down in the very midst of your personal being, as it were, there should be, fundamental to all, and interior to all, this reverential awe and absolute trust in Jesus Christ—an habitual thought, a central emotion, an all-dominant impulse. 'Out of the heart are the issues of life.' Put the healing agent into it, the fountain-head, and all the streams that pour out thence will be purified and sweetened. Deep in the heart put Christ, and life will be pure."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 34

 Suffering for Jesus Part 4

1 Peter 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? KJV Note: NKJV= New King James Version

In the early days, weeks, months, and years of my conversion/new birth/resurrection to my Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, I remember reading an article or watching an interview of the late Dr. Jerry Falwell in which he was questioned as to why he did not have security or body guards with him when he went to conferences or preaching engagements or elsewhere that took him away from his home Church ⛪ and city and his response at first to me was interesting and even peculiar but after spending more time ⌚ in the Word of God being taught the Word by the Author of the Word God the Holy Spirit, Dr. Falwell's answer made so much sense to me as his response to the questioner was, "I am bullet proof until my Lord Jesus Christ finishes the work He is doing through me on the earth 🌎." This is the very concept being resounded, rang out, and reverberated by the Apostle Peter to all of those early Jewish men and women converted to Christ with these words, "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" (1 Peter 3:13) (KJV). These sons and daughters of our Lord Jesus Christ were being murdered/martyred by the unconverted/spiritually dead Jews in the city of Jerusalem and some were able to leave the city which is exactly what the Apostle Peter acknowledged concerning them in the very opening of this his first letter ✉ written to them, "Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia," (1 Peter 1:1) (KJV). They had been scattered because of persecution, yet Peter wanted them to know and understand as well as we true believers today and of every era and generation that despite the raging attacks from the devil 👿, his demons, and his two-legged devils that they then and we now are safe even though our Lord Jesus might allow our physical murder to take place as He did with the Apostle James, as it is written here, "Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the Church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword." (Acts 12:1-2) (NKJV). Herod surmised to do the same thing to the Apostle Peter, but our Lord Jesus Christ was not finished with the work that He would do through Peter, so He(Christ) saved Peter from death at that time ⌚. Why did He(Christ) not save the physical earthly life of James the brother of John? Simple answer, He was finished with the work He would do through James. The Lord Jesus is the One in control of all things and He determines when, where, and how His servants come to Him in Heaven. The little English phrase in 1 Peter 3:13 'is he that will harm' is translated by one Greek word kakoō meaning to injure; figuratively to exasperate: - make evil affected, entreat evil, harm, hurt, vex. This is one of the ways the devils seeks to come against those of us who are true born from above sons and daughters of Yahweh/Jesus/The Most High by trying to exasperate us or aggravate us or make us annoyed and frustrated during our walking/living as sojourners and pilgrims on our way home to Heaven to be with our Lord Jesus. However, as we are reminded above by the life and death of James the brother of John the devils first priority is to kill us physically, but he cannot hurt or harm or kill the real us our soul. Herod thought he was the one who determined, declared, or decided the time ⌚and place, and manner of death of James, but he did nothing that was not allowed by Christ Jesus. We true believers can know and be certain that our enemy can do NOTHING to pull us away from or apart from union with our Lord Jesus Christ as it is so eloquently written with these words by the Apostle Paul to the Church ⛪ @Rome, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39) (NKJV). We also know who is with us everyday and everywhere and will never leave us on our own and that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as it is written with these passages of Scripture, "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6) (NKJV) and "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." (Joshua 1:5) (NKJV) and "And David said to his son Solomon, 'Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.'" (1 Chronicles 28:20) (NKJV) and lastly "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5) (NKJV).

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of 1 Peter 3:13, "And who is he that will harm you,.... Or 'can harm you'. God will not; for His eyes are upon the righteous, to protect and defend them, and, His ears are open to their cries, to avenge them; He is on their side, and He is the only lawgiver that is able to save, and to destroy. Christ will not; for when He came the first time, it was not to condemn, but to save; and when He comes a second time, though He will rule the wicked with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces as a potter's vessel; yet His people, who are His jewels, He will spare, as a man spares his only son. Good angels will not; these rejoice at the conversion, and in the salvation of sinful men, encamp about the saints, and are ministering spirits to them: nor the devil; though he would devour, he cannot; for greater is He that is in the saints, than he that is in the world: nor can sin; for though it wars against them, it shall not have the dominion over them; and though it often breaks in upon their peace and comfort, it cannot damn and destroy their souls: nor the law; for though it pronounces guilty, and curses those that are under it, and are of the works of it, yet since Christ has fulfilled it for His people, by obeying its precepts, and bearing its penalty, the curse, it lies not against them, nor can it inflict any punishment on them: nor the men of the world; who hate and persecute the saints; these can do them no real harm; they cannot hurt their grace, which shines the brighter, being tried and proved in the furnace of affliction; they cannot destroy their peace and comfort by all the trouble they give them; all the harm they can do them is to their bodies; they can do none to their souls; and even all the evil things they do to their bodies work together for their good; and they must be very wicked men that will do harm in any respect to such as behave well in states, cities, towns, or neighbourhoods: if ye be followers of that which is good; of God, who is essentially, originally, and infinitely good, and does good to all His creatures, by imitating Him in holiness and righteousness, in kindness, mercy, and beneficence; and of Christ, the good Shepherd, following Him in the exercise of grace, as of humility, love, patience, etc. and in the discharge of duty; and of good men, the Apostles of Christ, the first Churches, faithful ministers, and all such who through faith and patience have inherited the promises, and that both in doctrine and practice; and of all good things, whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, particularly righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Some copies, as the Alexandrian, and others, read, 'zealots', or 'zealous of good'; of good works, as in Titus 2:14 and so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 33

 Suffering for Jesus Part 3

1 Peter 3:10-12 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. KJV Note: NKJV= New King James Version

As we continue on into our listening 👂 to the Apostle Peter command these early Jewish converts to our Lord Jesus Christ to refrain from evil words and actions among one another because of disappointments or disagreements or even the diversity of personalities' in their various flocks, we find him here now quoting the words of King David from part of his 34th Psalm. We must remember that these faithful brothers 'in Christ' were being obedient to the leading and guiding of God the Holy Spirit in them and they were not writing these letters 🔤 for any reason other than to build one another up in their 'most holy faith' (Jude 1:20) in order for their own individual spiritual good as well as that of all true believers in our Lord Jesus Christ during those early days and to Glorify Him with their lives. This too applies to each and every one of us today all of these many centuries latter, for as it is written, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) (NKJV). Christ Jesus our Lord is unchanging, for He is no different with us than He was with them and He expects and demands from us the same things He demanded from them. So then, we find the Apostle Peter writing these words for them then and for us now and for all true believers in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ of every era and generation of humanity before He returns and puts an end to time ⌚ which He Himself created or established for we humans to live in and under, "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." (1 Peter 3:10-12) (KJV). The Apostle Peter (for the most part) quoted these words exactly as they were written by King David many years before Peter was ever born in order to remind and encourage and 💪 strengthen these brothers and sisters in the faith during their time of tremendous physical and spiritual persecution from the 👿 devils demons and the human two-legged 👿 devils they were working their evil through. We must also understand that King David and the Apostle Peter had no idea what our Lord Jesus would do with the words that were ✍ through them hundreds and even thousands of years in the future, however, their purpose, their process, and their plan was to write words that would build up those that belonged to Yahweh and bring Glory to His Holy Name. Let us also remembered that these original words came from the heart of a warrior. A man (King David) who killed many men in war (in battle) during the time in human history when their were no smart 💣 bombs, no missles, no drones, but every war was fought with only swords, knives, and 🛡 shields in close face to face combat, yet David was a man after God's own heart and this acknowledgement was given to Him by God (Yahweh) Himself, so David wrote with the heart of God these words of refraining from evil, but knowing that our God is against the evil doer (as he declares in the very last part of his words in this Psalm 34), likewise King David also declared these words, "God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day." (Psalms 7:11) (NKJV). Although these early Jewish believers in our Lord Jesus Christ were being viciously, violently, and vigorously pursued by the devil 👿 through his two-legged devils, Peter wanted them to recall, remember, and respond to these words written by King David so long ago (just as he wants me and you true believer in Christ today to do likewise) and not repay evil perpetrated upon us back with our own evil, however, this has nothing to do with believers in war on the battlefield or any believer defending himself/herself in self-defense and any family from being hurt or killed. In 1 Peter 3:10, the little English phrase 'let him refrain' is translated by the Greek word pauō which is a primary verb meaning to pause; to stop, that is, restrain, quit, desist, come to an end: - cease, leave, refrain. In the original Hebrew written by King David in Psalm 34, he used the English word 'keep' translated  by the Hebrew word nâtsar meaning to guard, to protect, to maintain, to obey. In other words, we believers 'in Christ' have as our responsibility to guard our words and to stop 🛑and quit speaking words that dishonor our Lord Jesus Christ. As I declared of myself in the last study/commentary, this area for me when I am angered is a red flag 🚩that requires me much grace and much prayer, for I pray often these words also from King David, "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips." (Psalms 141:3) (NKJV). In 1 Peter 3:11, the little English phrase 'Let him eschew', that which is evil 😈 is translaed by the Greek word ekklinō meaning to to deviate, that is, (absolutely) to shun (literally or figuratively), or to avoid, eschew, go out of the way. In the original Hebrew written by King David in Psalm 34, he used the English word 'Depart' translated by the Hebrew word sûr meaning to turn off (literally or figuratively); to turn aside or to withdraw. In other words again we have as our responsibility to withdraw from every, that is, to deviate from it and shun it and any person or people being used by the devil 😈 and his demons trying to lead us into evil, as it is written, "Abstain from every form of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:22) (NKJV). God the Holy Spirit 'in us', that is, "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27) (NKJV) will not force us or make us yield to His will for us, but He/Christ will grant us grace/strength 💪 when we yield our will to His will to turn away from that which is evil just as King David declares in Psalm 34:15 and as the Apostle Peter quoting him in 1 Peter 3:12. Amen!!!

Here is what the Expositors' Bible Commentary had to say of 1 Peter 3:10-12, "The psalmists knew much of such trials, and it is from the words of one of Psa_34:12-16 that St. Peter enforces his own lesson. It is a psalm full of the knowledge of the trials of God’s servants: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous"; but it is rich also in plenitude of comfort: "The Lord delivered him out of them all." The father of long ago teaches thus to his children the fear of the Lord: "He that would love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: and let him turn away from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears unto their supplication: but the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil." A glance at the Psalm will show that the Apostle has not quoted precisely; and though he has much in common with the Greek of the LXX, he does not adhere closely to that. But he gives to the full the spirit both of the Hebrew and the Greek. The life of which the Psalmist speaks is life in this world. The original explains this by making the latter clause of the verse, "and loveth many days, that he may see good." And the love is to be a noble feeling, a desire to make life worth living. Such a life must exhibit watchfulness over words and actions. The precepts begin at the beginning, with control of the tongue. Control that, and you are master of the rest. "It is a little member, but boasted great things." "The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiled the whole body". (James 3:5-6) It needs to be kept as with a bridle, and not only when the ungodly are in sight, but constantly. But the words of the Psalm contemplate a further danger. Men may give good words with the lips while the heart is full of bitterness. Then the lips are lying, and this is an evil as great as the former, and more perilous to him who commits it, because the sin does not come to the light that it may be reproved, but contrives to wear the mask of virtue. And the actions need watchfulness also. They must not only possess the negative quality of abstinence from evil, but the positive stamp of good deeds done. "By their fruits ye shall know them." And the work will be no light one. Peace is to be sought, and the Apostle uses a word which implies that a chase is needful to obtain it. St. Paul has a passage very much in the spirit of St. Peter’s teaching here, and the words of which picture distinctly the difficulties which the Christian will have to labor against: "Giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3) This tells us why our Apostle urges the pursuit of peace. It is the clasp which binds the Christian communion together. From all sorts of causes men are prone to fall apart, to break the oneness; and peace is able to hold them fast. Hence the diligence in seeking it, the earnestness of the pursuit that it may not elude us. But when all is done, when men have not been sitting with folded hands waiting and dreaming that peace would come without pursuit, but have labored for it, they do not always attain to it. "I am for peace," says the Psalmist, "but when I speak, they are for war". (Psalm 120:7) And so the disappointed struggler is directed to the sure source of consolation amid discomfiture. The Lord marks his efforts, knows their earnest purpose in spite of their ill-success. He beholds also those who have withstood them, but with far other regard. St. Peter has not quoted what the Psalmist says of their fate: "God will root out the remembrance of them from the earth." God’s righteous pilgrim is not forgotten. His prayer is heard, and will be answered for good. No shadow has come between him and God, though his lot seem very dark. Neither can the wrongdoer raise a shadow to screen himself from the all-seeing eyes. All things are naked and open before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of 1 Peter 3:10-12, "He gives an excellent prescription for a comfortable happy life in this quarrelsome ill-natured world (1Peter 3:10): it is quoted from Psalm 34:12-14. “If you earnestly desire that your life should be long, and your days peaceable and prosperous, keep your tongue from reviling, evil-speaking, and slandering, and your lips from lying, deceit, and dissimulation. Avoid doing any real damage or hurt to your neighbor, but be ever ready to do good, and to overcome evil with good; seek peace with all men, and pursue it, though it retire from you. This will be the best way to dispose people to speak well of you, and live peaceably with you.” Learn, (1.) Good people under the Old and new Testament were obliged to the same moral duties; to refrain the tongue from evil, and the lips from guile, was a duty in David's time as well as now. (2.) It is lawful to consider temporal advantages as motives and encouragements to religion. (3.) The practice of religion, particularly the right government of the tongue, is the best way to make this life comfortable and prosperous; a sincere, inoffensive, discreet tongue, is a singular means to pass us peaceably and comfortably through the world. (4.) The avoiding of evil, and doing of good, is the way to contentment and happiness both here and hereafter. (5.) It is the duty of Christians not only to embrace peace when it is offered, but to seek and pursue it when it is denied: peace with societies, as well as peace with particular persons, in opposition to division and contention, is what is here intended. 3. He shows that Christians need not fear that such patient inoffensive behavior as is prescribed will invite and encourage the cruelty of their enemies, for God will thereby be engaged on their side: For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous (1 Peter 3:12); he takes special notice of them, exercises a providential constant government over them, and bears a special respect and affection to them. His ears are open to their prayers; so that if any injuries be offered to them they have this remedy, they may complain of it to their heavenly Father, whose ears are always attentive to the prayers of his servants in their distresses, and who will certainly aid them against their unrighteous enemies. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil; his anger, and displeasure, and revenge, will pursue them; for he is more an enemy to wicked persecutors than men are. Observe, (1.) We must not in all cases adhere to the express words of scripture, but study the sense and meaning of them, otherwise we shall be led into blasphemous errors and absurdities: we must not imagine that God hath eyes, and ears, and face, though these are the express words of the scripture. (2.) God hath a special care and paternal affection towards all his righteous people. (3.) God doth always hear the prayers of the faithful, John 4:31; 1 John 5:14; Hebrews 4:16. (4.) Though God is infinitely good, yet he abhors impenitent sinners, and will pour out his wrath upon those that do evil. He will do himself right, and do all the world justice; and his goodness is no obstruction to his doing so.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 32

 Suffering for Jesus Part 2

1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. (KJV) Note: NKJV= New King James Version

In the previous verse, the Apostle Peter commanded those early Jewish converts/believers to our Lord Jesus Christ (who were scattered into various other parts of the world because of persecution) to love one another and have compassion for one another and to be of one mind. Now he continues on into informing/commanding them and we true believers today and of every era and generation of the things that we are not to do among one another as members or parts of the Mystical Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, as it is written, "Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." (1 Peter 3:9)(KJV). It is a reality and fact that although those early Jewish believers and all we true believers are born again of incorruptible seed by the Word of God as the Apostle has already declared to them and to us in 1 Peter 1:23, yet we still have the corruptible seed of our 'old man 👨' and 'old woman👩' within us, thereby requiring us to consciously put to death the filthy deeds of our flesh/old nature, as it is written by the Apostle Paul with these words, "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13)(NKJV) and also these words, "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5)(NKJV). It is not enough that we actively love 😍 one another, but we must also actively defend against the corruption of the old nature still remaining in us, for both must work jointly in order for us to treat one another as our Lord Jesus Christ desires to among us when we are with one another (this certainly goes for us in the real world 🗺, but now because of social media it is just as true with our Lord Jesus that we behave such toward one another in the virtual world as well) or do you think that Christ ignores the written evil words? I am constantly in prayer and repentance over responding inappropriately to a threat or attack against me from non-believers because that is what I have within my 'old nature', so all that I write here concerning the way we should behave with our brethren and sisteren 'in Christ', and those outside of Christ I am speaking to myself first and foremost, although I know that all of my sin rest on the Mercy Seat in Heaven covered by the Blood of Christ Jesus my Lord, it is always a cutting 'ramah', that is word from the Word for me when I read or hear these words spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ, "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36)(NKJV). I have been guilty of speaking to many useless and idle words that will bring me great shame in the presence of my Lord Jesus Christ at the Bema Seat. The English word 'rendering' used by the Apostle Peter in verse 9 is translated by the Greek word apodidōmi, meaning to pay back or to deliver back and this is exactly what I have done to many times when provoked by the evil one😈and the human instruments under his control, company, and command. I pray for myself and for any other brothers and sisters in Christ struggling in this area that we would come all the way back to our first love 😍 whenever we leave His loving embrace and to continue abiding 'in Him' as He declares that we must do with these words, "You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." (John 15:3-4)(NKJV). When we are obedient to these words from our Lord Jesus Christ, then no vile filthy words or actions from the devil👿and his two-legged devils will cause us to react or respond with idle words that are of no profit to us spiritually nor to the two-legged devils spewing said vile filty words to us or at us. Let us listen carefully to the following Proverb and meditate upon it mulling it over and over in our minds, "Do not say, 'I will recompense evil'; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you." (Proverbs 20:22)(NKJV). Amen!!!

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of 1 Peter 3:9, "Not rendering evil for evil,.... Doing an ill thing in return to one that has done ill to you, and in a way of revenge for it; which is contrary to what is before advised to, and which is taking God's prerogative and work out of His hands, whose vengeance is, and which is to be overcome of evil: or railing for railing; returning ill language to such as have given it, but rather should imitate Christ, who, when He was reviled, reviled not again, 1 Peter 2:23 and whose advice is, instead of returning injuries, blows, or words, to turn to him that smites on the right check the other also and to bless them that curse, do good to them that hate, and pray for them that persecute, Matthew 5:39 and which is here directed to: but contrariwise blessing; praying for a blessing on them; for if we are to do so for our enemies, for them that hate us, despitefully use and persecute us, as did Christ, Stephen the protomartyr, and the Apostles, then much more our fellow Christians who may do us an injury or speak evil of us, or to us: who seem to be chiefly intended: the argument to persuade to it follows, knowing that ye are thereunto called; referring either to what goes before being called by grace to the discharge of all the above duties exhorted to, and particularly to suffer patiently all injuries and affronts; and instead of making returns in the same way, to bless and pray for those that have hurt us, either by words or deeds; see 1 Peter 2:20 or to what follows, that ye should inherit a blessing; temporal blessing or blessings; for godliness has the promise of this life and godly persons shall not want any good thing; and even while the blessings of others are cursed they have their outward mercies with a blessing, and they are blessings indeed to them; wherefore, the little they may have is better than the large affluence of others: and also spiritual blessing, or blessings; such as peace of conscience, the pardon of all their sins a justifying righteousness adopting grace, all supplies of grace from Christ, His presence and communion with Him: and also an eternal one, even life for evermore; called so, because it springs from the free favour, good will, and blessing of God, and which its being an inheritance also shows; and because such that enjoy it are eternally and unspeakably happy." Here is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary had to say of 1 Peter 3:9, "It is manifest that if such harmony, kind feeling, attachment, affection, and humility flourished among believers, these virtues would put discord to the rout, and leave no occasion for rending the oneness of the Christian body. They would also be proof against evil from without, both in deed and speech, neither tempted to 'render evil for evil' in their actions nor 'reviling for reviling' in their words. They have a duty to the world, and cannot thus belie their Christian profession. They are called to adorn the doctrine of their Savior, and the Master’s Sermon has among its prominent precepts 'Bless them that curse you.' This is the spirit of St. Peter’s exhortation, 'But contrariwise blessing'; that is, Be ye of those who bless. For there is a law of recompense with God in good things as in evil; the blessers shall be blessed: 'For hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.' It is as though he urged them thus: Ye were aforetime enemies of God; but ye have been made partakers of His heavenly calling, (Hebrews 3:1) that ye may come to blessing. This should move you to bless your enemies. And more than this, the servant of God may receive no blessing from the world, may get curses for his blessing; but yet he knows where to flee for consolation. He can pray with the Psalmist, 'Let them curse, but bless Thou,' (Psalm 109:28) conscious that the Lord will stand at the right hand of the needy.'"

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 31

 Suffering for Jesus Part 1

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: KJV Note: MKJV=Modern King James Version

The Apostle Peter now turns his attention to addressing the very cause of why these Jewish converts (brethren and sisteren) to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ were scattered about in the world having to leave their homes in Jerusalem because of the intense and even murderous persecution from other Jews who were still spiritually dead. First, the Apostle wants to remind them of how they should treat one another during these times, as he writes, "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:" (1 Peter 3:8) (KJV). The need for all true believers (not make believers) to be 'of one mind' (and this little English phrase used only one time in the New Testament is translated by the Greek word homophrōn meaning to be like minded, that is, harmonious: - of one mind and also the English phrase 'having compassion one of another' is translated by the Greek word sumpathēs used this one time only in the New Testament meaning having a fellow feeling ('sympathetic'), that is, (by implication) mutually commiserative: - having compassion one of another and also the English phrase 'love as brethren' is translated by the Greek word philadelphos used also this one time only in the New Testament meaning fond of brethren, that is, fraternal: - love as brethren) is critical during times of persecution by those who are without any faith in Christ or without true faith in Christ, just as Paul the Apostle wrote to the brethren and sisteren in Thessaloniki with these words seeking their love 😍, comfort and support during his times of affliction, adversity, and animus from unbelieving Jews and Gentiles, "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." (2 Thessalonians 3:1-3) (MKJV). The desire of the devil 👿 as he works through the human instruments under his control is to bring so much turmoil, tumult, and trouble in the path of we true believers in order that he may use these things to hinder us (1 Thessalonians 2:18) from our assignment by our Father in Heaven and cause delay, disturbance, and even destruction of the things our Lord Jesus Christ has commended us to do for His glory and for the edification of the Body His the Church ⛪, for the enemy knows that there is nothing that he can do to separate us from our Father in Heaven as Paul the Apostle reminded all of us with these words, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) (MKJV), so the devil works through physical and spiritual means to obstruct the work of God through those who are his (the devil's)sons and daughters. This is why you see such popularity with the false prophets/profits and false teachers because the 'god of this world' (2 Corinthians 4:4) has no need to cause them to be handicapped in spreading their false gospel and false message which cannot save any sinful soul.

Here is what the Expositors' Bible Commentary had to say of 1 Peter 3:8, "The Apostle now ceases from his special admonitions, and enforces generally such qualities and conduct as must mark all who fear the Lord. 'Finally,' he says-and the word may indicate the close of his counsels; but the virtues which he inculcates are of so important a character that he may very well intend them as the apex and crown of all his previous advice - 'be ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humble-minded.' St. Peter has here grouped together a number of epithets of which all but one are only used in the New Testament by himself, and they are of that graphic character which is so conspicuous in all the Apostle’s language. 'Like-minded.' If the word be not there, the spirit is largely exemplified in the early history of the Church. How often we hear the phrase, 'with one accord,' in the opening chapters of the Acts. Thus the disciples continued in prayer; (Acts 1:14) thus they went daily to the temple; (Acts 2:46) thus they lifted up their voices to God, (Acts 4:24) for all they that believed were of one heart and one soul. (Acts 4:32) Such lives exhibit harmony of thought, the same aim and purpose. The men may not, will not, always use the same means or follow the same methods, but they will all be seeking one result. Such unity is worth more than uniformity. 'Compassionate.' This feeling St. Paul describes (Romans 12:15) as rejoicing with them that do rejoice and weeping with them that weep. For the times of this life are not always sorrowful, though the best of them are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed. (Romans 8:18) 'Loving as brethren.' The sense of the brotherhood of Christians is strongly marked in all the New Testament Scriptures. It is the name by which our Lord claims fellowship with men, being not ashamed to call them brethren. It is the designation of the Christian body from the first, (Matthew 23:8) is constantly found in the Acts and the Epistles, (Acts 6:3-9, Acts 11:29) and has been used of the Church in every age, marking how as one family we dwell in Him. Next comes the word which is not St. Peter’s alone: 'Tenderhearted.' St. Paul has it, (Ephesians 4:32) but it is no Greek notion. It was a Jewish idea that deep feeling was closely connected with some of the organs of the body; and in the Old Testament, as in the story of Joseph (Genesis 43:30) and elsewhere, (1Kings 3:26) we come upon such phrases as 'His bowels did yearn upon his brother.' This Hebrew notion the LXX has conveyed into Greek by the word which St. Peter here uses, and which those translators had used and consecrated long before. For them so exalted was the thought contained in it that they employ it in the prayer of Manasses (1Peter 3:7) to express the tenderness of God towards the penitent, the yearning love of the Father, who sees the prodigal afar off, and has compassion. 'Humble-minded.' This word and those akin to it are almost a New Testament creation. The heathen had no admiration for the temper it expresses, and where they do use the word it is in a bad sense as signifying 'cowardly' and 'mean-spirited.' Before Christ none had taught, 'He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.' (Matthew 23:11).

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…