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Sermon Notes At The Acts Church we advocate for deep personal study, and also public discipleship. Therefore, we have not only made our pastoral notes readable, but also accessible for the public. To God Be The Glory! ​ *To Access and Download These Notes, Click On The Underlined Verses Or Topics* The Gospel According To John The 1st Letter Of Peter The 2nd Letter Of Peter The Letter Of Paul To The Romans Sermon On The Mount Attributes Of God More To The Story What Is Series

Welcome to The Acts Church! We are a community of believers in Jesus Christ who desire to know God more deeply through the study of His Word and to worship Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Our church is committed to the truth of the Bible and to the joy that comes from living according to its teachings. We believe that the Bible is God's inspired and inerrant Word, and that it is the only infallible rule for faith and life. Our goal is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to all people, and to help believers grow in their faith and become more like Christ. We invite you to join us in person and online. To Him be the glory.

The 1st Letter Of Peter Peter is writing to the elect of God who are exiles in a foreign land. He is writing to them to encourage them and remind them that sufferings and trials are coming and are guarantees, but to not to be discouraged because the trials are from God and are to refine their faith. Suffering, testing, and persecution are coming and we are to look to Christ as our example on how to respond as Peter will labor in this letter to the chosen of God. Peter will encourage and remind his audience that they are strangers and exiles that are not in their true home and they are to keep their eyes upon their forever home in heaven where their inheritance is waiting. Christians have an inheritance that is being reserved for them and they are being reserved for their inheritance. This will be finally complete when we as exiles take our first step home! Chapters 1-5 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Shawn Owens Pastor Shawn Owens dedicates part of his study time to make notes easy to read, and thorough for anyone who cannot attend in person. Pastor Shawn desires for these notes to help you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 1st Peter 2:1 Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, and slander are all from our natural man that is unregenerate and are actions that the devil displays. To go against these things (malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander) mentioned in this verse is to go against our fallen nature. That is why it takes the super nature of regeneration to begin to produce actions that are opposite to our fallen naturel. It is only after we are born again can we then begin to lay these things aside as we are becoming more conformed to the image of God. If you are a Christian, put these things down and never pick them up again! 1st Peter 2:2-6 Peter is not meaning that we are to be content with basic and surface level understanding of the Bible. In other passages of scripture, those who are new or young in the faith are partaking of the “milk” of the Bible instead of the “meat.” Just as infants drink milk and are not ready for meat, the same goes to new converts who partake of the milk at first and then as they grow in their faith, they will begin to be partakers of the meat or rather the deeper things of God and His Word. The milk or surface level things of His Word are meant for infants in the faith, but sadly many people who have been Christians for a long time are still on the milk of the Word. The Bible repeatedly states that those who are partaking of the milk or surface level things of God despite how long they have been a Christian are infants. God commands us to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3:18) and being surface level is not what the Bible commands for a Christian. 1st Peter 2:7-12 We can only let our light shine if He has called the light into our souls. To His people, He has made His face shine upon us and lifted His countenance upon us (Numbers 6:24-26) and the ultimate completion of Him shining His light upon and in us will be in our eternal home! 1st Peter 2:13-20 When we are treated unjustly, we are not to repay evil with evil, but are to give all vengeance to God who will always bring perfect vengeance and vindication to those who suffer unjustly (Romans 12:17-21) ,(Luke 18:1-8) . No suffering is without purpose! 1st Peter 2:21-24 The lashes that Jesus took on his body was punishment that He was taking in our place. The injuries from the whip and the lashings looked like stripes on His back and those stripes were the punishment He took in our place. It is by those stripes and His blood that we escape the punishment and penalty of sin. Every lash of the whip, every punch, every slap, every scourge, the crown of thorns, every bone, nails in the hands and feet, the crucifixion, and the wrath of God was what we deserved. However, Christ came to die in the place of His sheep. The Good Shepherd came to lay His life down for His sheep (John 10:11) and the unblemished blood of the Lamb as a result of His stripes and wounds, would be the spiritual healing for His elect. 1st Peter 2:25 The Good Shepherd willingly laid down His life for the sheep (John 10:11) and bore their sins in His body (1 Peter 2:24) and as a result of what the Shepherd did in His life and in His death, verse 25 is possible.

The 2nd Letter Of Peter Peter is again writing to the same group of people as he wrote to in 1 Peter, which are those chosen of God who are exiles. The theme of this epistle is different from the theme of his first epistle. Peter is encouraging his audience to study, know, and stand on the Word of God because false teachers and false prophets will be all around them, trying to destroy the church. This truth is the same with us, as we today, are to stand on the authority of God’s Word and contend for the faith. Peter closes this epistle by exhorting all believers to grow in the grace and knowledge Jesus Christ and this is done through the study of His sacred Scriptures. Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapters 1-3 Shawn Owens Pastor Shawn Owens dedicates part of his study time to make notes easy to read, and thorough for anyone who cannot attend in person. Pastor Shawn desires for these notes help you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2nd Peter 2:1a These are the words of truth versus words of lies, the words of freedom versus the words of bondage, the words of life versus the words of death! 2nd Peter 2:1b Chapter 2 is a continuation from the idea that Peter labored at the end of Chapter 1. He made it clear that the Old Testament prophets were carried along by the Holy Spirit to record the words of God. The prophetic word of the Old Testament was made more sure by the incarnation of Christ as Peter was an eyewitness. The same is true to the New Testament authors as they too were carried along by the Holy Spirit to record the God breathed(theopneustos) words. The origin of Scripture is God (not man), but God used men as instruments that He carried along by the Holy Spirit. Peter drives home the point that God was the origin of the words spoken by the true prophets of God in the Old Testament as compared to the false prophets whose words come from their own fallen heart and not from God. The whole matter comes down to the source and the origin of the words: God or man? 2nd Peter 2:1c This verse is not in reference to being bought in a redemptive way. This verse does not speak of a general atonement for all people with the death of Christ on the cross. We have clear scripture throughout the Bible that speaks to a particular redemption for the elect (John 10:28) (Romans 8:29-30) (Acts 20:28) (Hebrews 7, 9, 10) . We must not take one passage of scripture, read it on the surface level, and then dismiss all the other numerous clear texts on the atonement for the sheep in the death of Jesus. We must ask ourselves, is the word “Master” being used here in this context speaking of Jesus of God the Father? What point is Peter trying to convey to these people He is writing to? What is in view here in regards to being bought? 2nd Peter 2:2-11 These false teachers are not Christians but are rather following the sinful desires of their unregenerate hearts. They do not love God, but rather serve another “god”….themselves. 2nd Peter 2:12-22 These false teachers and heretics are compared to unreasoning animals or brute beasts who are born as creatures of instinct. The wild beasts act in accordance with their natural instincts whereas these false teachers act according to the nature we are all born into which is a fallen sinful nature which is hostile to God. They revile even angelic beings which they have no understanding or knowledge of which is something even the holy angels will not do even to the fallen angels. Just as the wild unreasoning animals are captured and destroyed so is the fate of false teachers and heretics by the hand of God.

The 1st Letter Of Peter Peter is writing to the elect of God who are exiles in a foreign land. He is writing to them to encourage them and remind them that sufferings and trials are coming and are guarantees, but to not to be discouraged because the trials are from God and are to refine their faith. Suffering, testing, and persecution are coming and we are to look to Christ as our example on how to respond as Peter will labor in this letter to the chosen of God. Peter will encourage and remind his audience that they are strangers and exiles that are not in their true home and they are to keep their eyes upon their forever home in heaven where their inheritance is waiting. Christians have an inheritance that is being reserved for them and they are being reserved for their inheritance. This will be finally complete when we as exiles take our first step home! Chapters 1-5 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Shawn Owens Pastor Shawn Owens dedicates part of his study time to make notes easy to read, and thorough for anyone who cannot attend in person. Pastor Shawn desires for these notes to help you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 1st Peter 4:1-6 Christ suffered in this world. Isaiah 53 is the chapter on the suffering servant which is referring to Christ. Peter has already stated in this epistle that Christ has suffered for us as an example (1 Peter 2:21) . Not only did Jesus suffer unjustly, but the ultimate suffering in the flesh was His death on the cross 1st Peter 4:7 We are closer to Heaven than we have ever been. We are inching closer and closer to our glorification and the completion of our salvation. Therefore, we don’t lose heart, but rather set our thoughts and attention on our inheritance that awaits even in the middle of suffering. While we wait eagerly for the redemption of our bodies in glory, we are to continue to grow in sanctification, for this is the will of God. 1st Peter 4:8-9 Think about the love of God upon you. Think about all the sins He has covered. Think about His compassion and patience He has had on you, even though you have disobeyed the sovereign holy God of the universe. Think about when you sin, He is always ready to forgive His people. Think about the sacrificial love He has shown. We are to love like He loves 1st Peter 4:10-11 At the end of this verse, Peter breaks out in a doxology with a declaration that God be glorified. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for “glory” was the word kavod. This word carried the meaning and idea of the weightiness of God in regards to His being and to His intrinsic glory. The Greek word “doxa” is where we derive the word “glory.” This is where the word doxology comes from, meaning that we give glory, praise, and worship to God. Throughout the Bible, the authors of the books of the Bible burst out into doxology in the middle of their writings when they consider the glory of God. The greater knowledge and theology of who God is, the greater praise and glory will be given to God. Higher theology=higher doxology. 1st Peter 4:12-19 It is hardest to trust Him when trials and suffering are on us. We feel the weight of the sufferings, but we must remember that God is good and faithful and the sufferings of this present time are not to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us (Romans 8:18 ). The glory that will be revealed will be in our eternal home and all suffering, tears, mourning, death, and pain will be gone (Revelation 21:1-7) . We will know every trial, judgment, and suffering was worth it!

The 2nd Letter Of Peter Peter is again writing to the same group of people as he wrote to in 1 Peter, which are those chosen of God who are exiles. The theme of this epistle is different from the theme of his first epistle. Peter is encouraging his audience to study, know, and stand on the Word of God because false teachers and false prophets will be all around them, trying to destroy the church. This truth is the same with us, as we today, are to stand on the authority of God’s Word and contend for the faith. Peter closes this epistle by exhorting all believers to grow in the grace and knowledge Jesus Christ and this is done through the study of His sacred Scriptures. Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapters 1-3 Shawn Owens Pastor Shawn Owens dedicates part of his study time to make notes easy to read, and thorough for anyone who cannot attend in person. Pastor Shawn desires for these notes help you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2nd Peter 1:1a Regeneration or being “born again” precedes faith. Regeneration is a supernatural act from God and not by our flesh. The Holy Spirit invades the souls of the elect and changes the disposition of their minds, souls, and wills toward the things God which they previously hated. He removes the heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh. The one who was dead in sins and trespasses is raised to spiritual life. It is a sovereign act of God. In regeneration we are changed and are new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17) . This is not turning over a new leaf, but a life changing event by the supernatural work of God. The one who previously hated God and was hostile now begins to have affection and love for Christ. We are as passive in our spiritual birth as we are in a natural birth. Being born again or regenerated is initiated and performed by God and God alone. In the parable of the sower in Luke 8:4-15 , there are 4 different soils mentioned. This is the state of the hearts prior to hearing the Word of God which is the seed in this parable. How did the good soil become good soil before hearing and receiving the Word of God? The good soil is good because God had tilled and cultivated the soil in regeneration. He prepared and changed the soil to be ready to receive the Gospel with gladness and sincerity. When the heart that has been regenerated (good soil) hears the Word of God and the Gospel (the seed), faith springs forth and results in salvation and justification. 2nd Peter 1:1b If one doesn’t believe that Jesus is God, then they don’t believe in the Jesus of the Bible. If one doesn’t accept the Son as God as He truly is, they can’t have the Father or eternal life. Knowing and believing Jesus is God is a necessity to true faith. If Jesus is not God, then He was born in original sin and unable to save us. If Jesus is not God, then He wouldn’t have precious unblemished blood to redeem His people. If Jesus is not God, then a creature would be attempting to rescue fallen rebel creatures. Jesus is God and came to save and purchase His church (Acts 20:28) The doctrine of the Trinity is vital to the Christian faith. For every Christian, we have been saved, rescued, and redeemed by our only Savior and God, the great I AM!!!!! 2nd Peter 1:2 Growing in grace is not measured by time, involvement in church activities, or feelings, but is rather measured in light of the knowledge one has of God which is then applied practically in our lives. We have a peace that surpasses all comprehension and a grace that’s amazing, let us grow in the knowledge of those things and of our God!!! Higher theology = higher doxology!! 2nd Peter 1:3 He called us not because of our merit, actions, or righteousness, but by His own GLORY and EXCELLENCE! 2nd Peter 1:4 Those who are chosen from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-6) have a promise of God for salvation and glorification (Romans 8:29-30) . It is these to which He has set His love upon, that He effectually calls. By His divine power He causes them to be born again and to become partakers of the divine nature of God as He indwells them with the Holy Spirit which is a seal (Ephesians 1:13-14)(Ephesians 4:30) and a help throughout life. In this divine act of mercy and power, He transforms us and rescues us from the power and corruption of sin and by His indwelling presence in us, leads us to sanctification and conformity to the image of God, to which the elect have been predestined (Romans 8:29) . Throughout this life He has by His power and Spirit granted us all things for life and godliness due to partaking of His divine nature by His divine power (2 Peter 1:3-4) . This will be seen at its fullest in eternity as we will be a partaker of the Divine forever and ever as we are dwelling with Him and have a body that is in conformity with the body of His glory (Phil 3:20-21)(1 John 3:1-2) . This end for His people is a result of His divine power, His mercy, His grace, His precious and magnificent promises, His glory, and His excellence!! 2nd Peter 1:5-15 Peter wants the church to be able to recall all the things he has taught them after his death to defend the faith, the church, and God. 2nd Peter 1:16-21 Peter did follow or proclaim tales, myths, or fables when he declared the power and the coming of God. What he had proclaimed was truth as he was an eyewitness of the majesty of God. Peter did not die for a tale that was not true, but rather died as a martyr for God and the truth of God.

The Letter Of Paul To The Romans The Letter Of Paul To The Romans... (To Be Edited) Shawn Owens Pastor Shawn Owens dedicates part of his study time to make notes easy to read, and thorough for anyone who cannot attend in person. Pastor Shawn desires for these notes help you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Notes 1 Notes 1 Notes 1 Notes 1 Notes 1 Notes 1 Notes 1 Notes 1 Notes 1 Notes 1

Types And Shadows Of Christ The Old Testament is full of examples of Christ, His Resurrection, and His Glorification. These notes are simply a resource to reveal the true depth of not only the Old Testament, but also the deep connection between The Old and The New Covenant. Shawn Owens Pastor Shawn Owens dedicates part of his study time to make notes easy to read, and thorough for anyone who cannot attend in person. Pastor Shawn desires for these notes help you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Passover When the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons. The exact time for Christ to take on flesh and to enter His creation was ordained and determined before the foundation of the world. The exact date and time that the eternal Son of God would be slain on a cross as the true sacrifice for the sins of His people was also set before the foundation of the world. The date and the hour of His death were not random but were rather perfect and precise. The day of His death was Passover as He is the true Passover Lamb who was slain to redeem and lead spiritual Israel out of slavery. The Lamb was inspected, not the person in the house! The worthiness of the Lamb and the blood of the Lamb applied in faith saved the firstborn, not the worthiness of the people themselves. Christ the Passover Lamb was inspected and found worthy to be the true Passover Lamb. He the Passover Lamb who is holy and unblemished and so are the people to whom His blood covers as they are declared holy and with spot or blemish by faith in the Lamb. The unblemished spotless blood of Christ our Passover Lamb applied is what rescues, covers, and saves all the firstborn who have entered through Him as He is the Door. The Lamb was examined and was innocent and so are all who believe in Him as they have been declared holy and innocent by the imputed righteousness of the Passover Lamb and escape death and eternal judgment. We are spared because God did not spare His only begotten Son, the true Passover Lamb! Moses Moses is pointing to someone greater as he is a type and shadow pointing to Jesus. Jesus left His place of reign and glory to become a servant and a shepherd to set His people (spiritual Israel) free from slavery of the enemy and sin. As He is the Passover Lamb who was sacrificed to set His people free, Christ is the mediator of a better covenant and now intercedes for His people as they journey through the wilderness traveling to the true promised land. Moses sets the people of Israel free, but whom the Son sets free, they are free indeed! Joseph Joseph is a type and shadow of Christ as Jesus would be the greater Joseph. Joseph was in charge of supplying the physical bread to save the lives of many people. Jesus supplies us Himself as He is the Bread of Life who satisfies the spiritual hunger of all who come to Him (John 6:37) both Jew and Gentile and as a result gives them eternal life. Joseph’s brothers in an attempt to destroy Joseph by their own evil actions, actually set up the conditions that would bring about the events that would eventually lead to the saving of many. They meant it for evil, but God meant it for good to save many lives (Genesis 50:20). This is pointing to the cross, whereby the evil actions of evil men to kill and destroy Jesus would set up the event that would ultimately lead to saving of many. Those who ate the bread given by Joseph would hunger again eventually and would all eventually die. However, whoever comes and eats of the Bread of Life, the greater Joseph will never hunger and never die. They meant the crucifixion for evil, but God meant it for good for the saving of His elect! Jacob's Dream Jacob’s dream is pointing to the Messiah (the anointed one) who would be the rock and cornerstone upon which the house of God would be built and who access to Heaven would come through. Through His humiliation(descension) and exaltation(ascension), He is forever the mediator between Heaven and earth and between God and man. We were all at one time separated from God, but all who believe have been reconciled to Him and now rest in Him, His works, and His righteousness as living stones in God’s household. No one has ever ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. Isaac's Bride God the Father has chosen a bride for His Son and appointed them before the foundation of the world. The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father to those chosen to be the bride of His Son to bring them to the Son. The Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, seals, and leads the bride though the wilderness journey and will guide us on this journey until one day our eyes behold our Bridegroom for the first time. On that wedding day we will not only see our Bridegroom for the first time, but we will see Him as He is! Abraham & Isaac The story of Abraham and Isaac is about a father and son on a mountain but is a type and shadow pointing to what would occur nearly 2,000 later in this same area between the Eternal Father and the Eternal Son. God the Father would send His Son, His only begotten Son to fulfill the promise He made on Moriah that on the mount of the Lord a sacrifice would be provided. This would be fulfilled in Jesus who in this same area, like Isaac would carry the wood on His back to the place of sacrifice and would willingly lay down His life in trust His Father. Isaac was not the son that by his sacrifice would take away the sin of the world, but was pointing to the promised Son who could take away the sins of the who would be the true sacrifice of God, the Son of God. Jesus trusted the Father even unto death as He tasted the wrath of the Father as it pleased the Father to crush His Son in our behalf so that we could have peace with God. God promised He would provide a sacrifice in this area, and this was fulfilled 2,000 years later when the Son of God would die on Mount Calvary. Many read this story and ask how could Abraham be willing to sacrifice His son? The deeper question is how the eternal Father could send His eternal Son to be the sacrifice and suffer His wrath in the place of evil fallen. This is love that our finite minds can’t comprehend fully and should bring us to awe, reverence, and worship for His mercy, grace, and love for His people. He spared nothing as He sent His Son, His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Sodom & Gomorrah One day God’s wrath will be revealed upon all ungodliness and those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. When He comes on the Last Day, He is looking for righteousness. Those who are unrighteous will face the immutable eternal wrath of God that will be poured out. All those who are descendants from Abraham by faith are covered in the righteousness of Christ and will be spared from the wrath of God because Christ satisfied the wrath of the Father upon the cross. It is faith in Him that we are declared righteous and will escape the wrath to come and enter into the consummation of the land that was promised to Abraham and his descendants where righteous dwells. Melchizedek Melchizedek is noted to have no recorded genealogy or documentation of his birth or of his death. The Old Testament presents Melchizedek specifically and solely as a king and priest providing neither his genealogy that preceded him of his genealogy that succeeded him so that He would symbolize an “eternal king and priest” since he had no record of documentation of birth or death (Melchizedek did have parents, just not a genealogy record that could be found). This would be a type and shadow to point to Jesus, the only true eternal king and priest who is without beginning or without end. This speaks to His eternal nature as He has life in Himself (aseity). Noah, The Flood and The Ark The wrath of God upon the wicked and ungodly came via the flood in the time of Noah. Only those who believed God and by faith entered the ark were saved from the coming wrath and death. The flood was a foreshadowing of the judgment on the Last Day and the ark was foreshadowing of Christ who saves us from the wrath to come. All those who by faith believe in the work of the cross, enter through the only door into the ark which is Christ, and are covered by His atonement will be rescued from the wrath to come and will step foot one day into a new Heaven and an new earth where the curse has been removed and where righteousness dwells. Abel Abel was a shepherd who offered a Lamb sacrifice to God which was accepted and pleasing to God. Abel’s “innocent” blood which poured into the ground still speaks. However, Abel was a type and shadow pointing to Christ who is the the Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God who was innocent and killed by envious and evil men. His sacrifice was pleasing to God and His blood will speak forever for His sheep! Adam & Eve Christ is referred to as the Last Adam. In the story of Adam and Eve we see a foreshadowing of Christ and His bride, The Church. As Adam was put to sleep (which can be used to describe death) to make his bride, Christ died on the cross to purchase His bride. Adam’s disobedience and sin resulted in him and his bride getting kicked out of paradise. However, the last Adam’s obedience and Him taking the sin of His bride, results in Him welcoming His bride into paradise. Elisha Elisha means “God is salvation” Cities Of Refuge The Levites did not have their own inheritance of land to settle in due to being the priestly family. There were to be given isolated areas of land within the other family’s allotments of land as to be a presence in all the lands since they were priests. (Joshua 13:14) (Joshua 18:7) (Deuteronomy 18:1-2) .Therefore, the Levites were given 48 cities to live in throughout Israel from other tribes’ land. Out of the 48 total cities, 6 of those were specifically designated as cities of refuge (Numbers 35:6-7) . Three of the 6 cities of refuge were east of the Jordan and three were west of the Jordan. Abrahams’s Servant Finds Isaac’s Bride In Genesis 22 the story of Abraham and Isaac are typology pointing to Father (Abraham) and Son (Isaac) and the redemptive sacrificial work of the Lamb on the same mountain centuries later. In Genesis 24 the oldest servant of the house in charge of all that Abraham had owned was more than likely Eliezer who is mentioned in Gen 15:1-3 . Abraham represents the Father, Isaac Jesus the Son, then Eliezer is typology of the Holy Spirit. The Sabbath Our final rest will be in Heaven with Jesus who is the true substance of the Sabbath! Jericho Joshua representing Jesus and grace lead the Israelites into the Promised Land instead of Moses who represents the law. Moses’s one sin disqualified him from the promised land as this is symbolizing that one sin against God’s holy commandment with grace is worthy of eternal damnation and not entering the promised land. Fiery Furnace God promised that He would be in the fire with them and to those who are His, the same promise is to all those who are called by His name. Wilderness Journey We are finally being tabernacled by Yahweh, we are in the Promised Land and our earthly tents have been done away with in lieu of our permanent residence. David bring the ark into Jerusalem David is the ultimate type and shadow of Christ. Jesus is referred to as the Son of David, Christ’s kingly reign forever is cemented in the Davidic Covenant, they are both born in Bethlehem, both shepherds, both kings, etc. In this type and shadow we see David again being a type and shadow of Jesus. Daniel And The Lions Den The story of Daniel and the lions den points not only the preceding events of Jesus’ arrest, but also to His resurrection.

The 1st Letter Of Peter Peter is writing to the elect of God who are exiles in a foreign land. He is writing to them to encourage them and remind them that sufferings and trials are coming and are guarantees, but to not to be discouraged because the trials are from God and are to refine their faith. Suffering, testing, and persecution are coming and we are to look to Christ as our example on how to respond as Peter will labor in this letter to the chosen of God. Peter will encourage and remind his audience that they are strangers and exiles that are not in their true home and they are to keep their eyes upon their forever home in heaven where their inheritance is waiting. Christians have an inheritance that is being reserved for them and they are being reserved for their inheritance. This will be finally complete when we as exiles take our first step home! Chapters 1-5 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Shawn Owens Pastor Shawn Owens dedicates part of his study time to make notes easy to read, and thorough for anyone who cannot attend in person. Pastor Shawn desires for these notes to help you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 1st Peter 3:1-7 The Bible does not tell husbands to love your wife as Christ loved the Church and to be ready to lay your life down for her only when she is submissive. The Bible does not tell wives to only be submissive when your husband loves them like Christ loves the Church. Husbands are to love their wives like Christ loved the Church even when she isn’t submissive and does not display a quiet and gentle spirit. Wives are to be submissive to their husbands even when he doesn’t love her as he should. Each is commanded to be obedient in their roles as unto the Lord even if the other person is not fulfilling their role. 1st Peter 3:8-10 Our words are either a sword or a stitch. We can make and open wounds or we can stitch wounds with our words. However, the greatest stitch and healing of wounds is not our words, but the words of God! (Psalm 147:3) 1st Peter 3:11-12 God welcomes the prayers of His children. Our prayers do not change God’s mind. God has ordained all things that will come to pass by His sovereign decree before the foundation of the world and our prayers do not change His plan A. However, God has ordained our prayers and He uses them as instrumental causes to bring about His sovereign plan. Our prayers are included in the providential plan of God’s sovereign decree. Prayer does not change the will of God, but as we grow in sanctification, it will change us to submit to the will of God. 1st Peter 3:13-15a Peter is going to then instruct every believer not only to sanctify Christ as Lord in your heart, but also to be ready at all times to make a defense of the gospel and an account for the hope that is within us. The question that must be asked is: what do you believe and why do you believe it? 1st Peter 3:15b-18 The spirit that raised Christ, will raise us one day. Since Christ has been resurrected from the dead our hope is living. This is the hope that we are called to be always ready to make a defense. 1st Peter 3:19-22 Peter wants to reassure his readers that no matter who or what comes against you or no matter what comes in our lives, we can have peace knowing our God is on His throne ruling and reigning as we speak. After his mission and work was completed, Christ ascended into Heaven. He is the supreme ruler and sovereign God over all the universe. Everything and everyone is in subjection to Him.

The 2nd Letter Of Peter Peter is again writing to the same group of people as he wrote to in 1 Peter, which are those chosen of God who are exiles. The theme of this epistle is different from the theme of his first epistle. Peter is encouraging his audience to study, know, and stand on the Word of God because false teachers and false prophets will be all around them, trying to destroy the church. This truth is the same with us, as we today, are to stand on the authority of God’s Word and contend for the faith. Peter closes this epistle by exhorting all believers to grow in the grace and knowledge Jesus Christ and this is done through the study of His sacred Scriptures. Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapters 1-3 Shawn Owens Pastor Shawn Owens dedicates part of his study time to make notes easy to read, and thorough for anyone who cannot attend in person. Pastor Shawn desires for these notes help you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2nd Peter 1:1a Regeneration or being “born again” precedes faith. Regeneration is a supernatural act from God and not by our flesh. The Holy Spirit invades the souls of the elect and changes the disposition of their minds, souls, and wills toward the things God which they previously hated. He removes the heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh. The one who was dead in sins and trespasses is raised to spiritual life. It is a sovereign act of God. In regeneration we are changed and are new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17) . This is not turning over a new leaf, but a life changing event by the supernatural work of God. The one who previously hated God and was hostile now begins to have affection and love for Christ. We are as passive in our spiritual birth as we are in a natural birth. Being born again or regenerated is initiated and performed by God and God alone. In the parable of the sower in Luke 8:4-15 , there are 4 different soils mentioned. This is the state of the hearts prior to hearing the Word of God which is the seed in this parable. How did the good soil become good soil before hearing and receiving the Word of God? The good soil is good because God had tilled and cultivated the soil in regeneration. He prepared and changed the soil to be ready to receive the Gospel with gladness and sincerity. When the heart that has been regenerated (good soil) hears the Word of God and the Gospel (the seed), faith springs forth and results in salvation and justification. 2nd Peter 1:1b If one doesn’t believe that Jesus is God, then they don’t believe in the Jesus of the Bible. If one doesn’t accept the Son as God as He truly is, they can’t have the Father or eternal life. Knowing and believing Jesus is God is a necessity to true faith. If Jesus is not God, then He was born in original sin and unable to save us. If Jesus is not God, then He wouldn’t have precious unblemished blood to redeem His people. If Jesus is not God, then a creature would be attempting to rescue fallen rebel creatures. Jesus is God and came to save and purchase His church (Acts 20:28) The doctrine of the Trinity is vital to the Christian faith. For every Christian, we have been saved, rescued, and redeemed by our only Savior and God, the great I AM!!!!! 2nd Peter 1:2 Growing in grace is not measured by time, involvement in church activities, or feelings, but is rather measured in light of the knowledge one has of God which is then applied practically in our lives. We have a peace that surpasses all comprehension and a grace that’s amazing, let us grow in the knowledge of those things and of our God!!! Higher theology = higher doxology!! 2nd Peter 1:3 He called us not because of our merit, actions, or righteousness, but by His own GLORY and EXCELLENCE! 2nd Peter 1:4 Those who are chosen from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-6) have a promise of God for salvation and glorification (Romans 8:29-30) . It is these to which He has set His love upon, that He effectually calls. By His divine power He causes them to be born again and to become partakers of the divine nature of God as He indwells them with the Holy Spirit which is a seal (Ephesians 1:13-14)(Ephesians 4:30) and a help throughout life. In this divine act of mercy and power, He transforms us and rescues us from the power and corruption of sin and by His indwelling presence in us, leads us to sanctification and conformity to the image of God, to which the elect have been predestined (Romans 8:29) . Throughout this life He has by His power and Spirit granted us all things for life and godliness due to partaking of His divine nature by His divine power (2 Peter 1:3-4) . This will be seen at its fullest in eternity as we will be a partaker of the Divine forever and ever as we are dwelling with Him and have a body that is in conformity with the body of His glory (Phil 3:20-21)(1 John 3:1-2) . This end for His people is a result of His divine power, His mercy, His grace, His precious and magnificent promises, His glory, and His excellence!! 2nd Peter 1:5-15 Peter wants the church to be able to recall all the things he has taught them after his death to defend the faith, the church, and God. 2nd Peter 1:16-21 Peter did follow or proclaim tales, myths, or fables when he declared the power and the coming of God. What he had proclaimed was truth as he was an eyewitness of the majesty of God. Peter did not die for a tale that was not true, but rather died as a martyr for God and the truth of God. 2nd Peter 2:1a These are the words of truth versus words of lies, the words of freedom versus the words of bondage, the words of life versus the words of death! 2nd Peter 2:1b Chapter 2 is a continuation from the idea that Peter labored at the end of Chapter 1. He made it clear that the Old Testament prophets were carried along by the Holy Spirit to record the words of God. The prophetic word of the Old Testament was made more sure by the incarnation of Christ as Peter was an eyewitness. The same is true to the New Testament authors as they too were carried along by the Holy Spirit to record the God breathed(theopneustos) words. The origin of Scripture is God (not man), but God used men as instruments that He carried along by the Holy Spirit. Peter drives home the point that God was the origin of the words spoken by the true prophets of God in the Old Testament as compared to the false prophets whose words come from their own fallen heart and not from God. The whole matter comes down to the source and the origin of the words: God or man? 2nd Peter 2:1c This verse is not in reference to being bought in a redemptive way. This verse does not speak of a general atonement for all people with the death of Christ on the cross. We have clear scripture throughout the Bible that speaks to a particular redemption for the elect (John 10:28) (Romans 8:29-30) (Acts 20:28) (Hebrews 7, 9, 10) . We must not take one passage of scripture, read it on the surface level, and then dismiss all the other numerous clear texts on the atonement for the sheep in the death of Jesus. We must ask ourselves, is the word “Master” being used here in this context speaking of Jesus of God the Father? What point is Peter trying to convey to these people He is writing to? What is in view here in regards to being bought? 2nd Peter 2:2-11 These false teachers are not Christians but are rather following the sinful desires of their unregenerate hearts. They do not love God, but rather serve another “god”….themselves. 2nd Peter 2:12-22 These false teachers and heretics are compared to unreasoning animals or brute beasts who are born as creatures of instinct. The wild beasts act in accordance with their natural instincts whereas these false teachers act according to the nature we are all born into which is a fallen sinful nature which is hostile to God. They revile even angelic beings which they have no understanding or knowledge of which is something even the holy angels will not do even to the fallen angels. Just as the wild unreasoning animals are captured and destroyed so is the fate of false teachers and heretics by the hand of God. 2nd Peter 3:1-9 Peter is referring to this letter as the second letter he is writing to the exiles, with 1 Peter being the first letter in view. The audience of this letter is the same as the first which is the Diaspora who are the scattered exiles in Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1) . Peter states the purpose of this letter is to stir up a reminder to them that they are to remember and hold fast to the words spoken by the prophets in the Old Testament as well as the commandments of the Lord as they had heard from the apostles. The same is true for us today as we are to renew our mind and constantly be in remembrance of the words of sacred scripture. The foundation of the church was the prophets and the apostles (Ephesians 2:19-21) and they both speak today through the Bible. 2nd Peter 3:10-18 Peter ends his letter with an exhortation and instruction to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are not to be lazy or idle in our growth in His knowledge, but rather be diligent. Our sanctification and knowledge of God are linked. As Paul stated, we must renew our minds daily. We are sanctified in the truth; His Word is truth (John 17:17) . Higher knowledge and theology equal higher doxology and sanctification to the believer.

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