Always Remember the Truth

BIBLE STUDY #796 CHURCH IN THE HOUSES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24 – 31, 2013

Topic: “Always Remember the Truth” Peter 1:9-15 We can see that when there is absence of faith there cannot be goodness; and from the goodness there will not be knowledge, etc. The same will occur with the self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and the greatest which is love. One cannot abound in these other fruits or graces because of the lack or absence of the first of them which is the faith. In us the faith should go on the vanguard, at the forefront; and the love that guides us should go at the rearguard, in back. To the faith the Christian adds goodness, which is that morale of-excellence, where there isn’t any type of bad habits. In the exercise of goodness comes the science which is goodness; that is to understand the good and the bad. Later the power of dominion of the desires and the passions will manifest in us. In our self-control we will then add patience, which is “the patient tolerance”. Incontinence, to not be able to restrain oneself weakens the mind; continence, to be able to put restraint to the impulses takes away the weakness and imparts strength. And in our perseverance; the fear to God which is godliness, fills us with confidence in a powerful God. To the godliness, brotherly kindness, that takes us to do well to the brothers, to be generous, to have courtesy, to be kind. From there we arrive at the greatest of all, which is the love for everyone. If we don’t have these things we have a short eyesight. Those who don’t will be idle and without fruits (2 Peter 1:8, 9). Whoever doesn’t have these graces or fruits, it is as much as nothing for God’s kingdom. By lacking them one is blind referring to the spiritual realities of the invisible world. Surely such a one has forgotten the purification of his old ancient sins. It means that instead of growing spiritually he has turned back to the flesh. To not have these graces that start with the faith and end with the love makes us blind. It is like closing the eyes and be incapable of seeing the distant objects, to not be able to see celestial things. Then the eyes pay attention to the present and worldly things which is what they will only be able to see. In this way they arrive at a grade of stubbornness with God. “Be eager to make your calling and election sure”. (Vs.10) The apostle Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives us this warning in view of the blessed consequences of having these graces and of the disastrous effects of not having them. “Brother”, Peter says, pointing out that affection he feels towards them, what constrains him to press them with so much fervor. In no other part does he speak to them with so much affection, which makes much more emphatic the calling he makes to them. “Procure to do in everything what depends on you”, do what you supposed to do. It is God who does in us, but it is up to us to be voluntary instruments in His hands to make firm or certain His election of us; it is up to us to make an effort or not. Be careful not to fall in the disgrace of uselessness! If we cease to progress in the divine things we run in risk or danger of ruining our lives. God guards the Christian who moves forward for His cause. The danger is in all types of idleness and spiritual blindness. We cannot have the luxury of stumbling in the race of our call and vocation. The more willing we are, the faith will be added, and the closer we’ll be to the entrance of that Heaven (Vs. 11). If these virtues are in us we will not enter harsh penalties or fire but rather in triumph, without slips or falls! “Because in this way…”, it is necessary for us to make an effort to add to the faith all the other graces to have our abundant entrance to the kingdom of Christ. Peter will not stop to remind them always of these things, (Vs.12). It is like saying: “I will always have them as needy, this way I will remind them.” “Certainly I will always remind them.” It is that the apostle Peter understands that there will be, every time more, the need of admonishment because of the growing corruption. The Christian character had to be developed at all cost. There are moments of forgetfulness of the truth that we have received and there are also anxious moments where one needs to know what to do. So the truth is to be repeated constantly. Peter acknowledged the times and while he was in that present body he should take advantage as much as possible the time he had left fighting for the good of the Church of Christ. He wanted the brothers to watch themselves from a spiritual sleepiness while he was coming closer to the end of his life (Vs. 13).

To have to abandon his tabernacle (body) would be somewhat quick. (Vs.14). Jesus had told him that when he was old of age he would be taken… That was the base of his knowledge, now that he was old, he knew that his predicted ordeal was near (John 21:18, 19). It is as Peter had said: “Before I leave I will procure, I will be diligent, in leaving my advices in writing in my letters and in Mark’s gospel (which was dictated by Peter to Mark)”. Death is not the cessation of being but rather the departure from a place. To

have the truth in writing is to have the truth in memory, truths that are of high importance and precious. Thanks to God for His advice! Amen.