Dr Paul Allen

Prayer is the native language of faith . John Calvin called prayer the “chief exercise of faith.” That’s why when faith is awake and surging in us, prayer doesn’t feel like a burden or an obligation. It feels natural. It’s how faith most instinctively speaks. Throughout the Bible , faith and prayer are inextricably linked. One of the clearest examples is Jesus ’s statement in John 15:7: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, [ask whatever you wish] and it will be done for you.” “Abiding” in Jesus’s is faith—fully believing his words. Asking whatever you wish is prayer. The Bible tells us to “trust in [ God ] at all times” (Psalm 62:8) and to “[pray] at all times in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18), “believe in God” (John 14:1) and ask of God (Luke 11:9). Prayer is the chief exercise of faith. John 15:7 also shows us that God’s Word and faith and therefore prayer are inextricably linked. Faith is a response to God’s word: “faith comes from hearing and hearing through the wo...

Zechariah's vision of the four horsemen (Zechariah 6:1-8), engraving by Gustave Doré. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua ; upon one stone shall be seven eyes....his seven lamps....those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” ( Zechariah 3:9 ; 4:2, 10) All of the visions among the myrtle trees promise a future in which the Lord rules the world from Jerusalem . Each of the visions also speak of angelic and God-ordained agencies that are used throughout history to accomplish His will. Those insights also bring serious questions about the nature of God ’s sovereignty. What is the need for horsemen that walk “to and fro”? What about the “eyes of the LORD”? Assuming that the lamps and the candlestick and the olive trees are pictures of God-ordained human involvement (as other Bible passages would confirm), what roles would they play? There is obviously much that we do not know about the hea...

Crucifixion of St. Peter by Caravaggio. The early Christians were persecuted by the Roman Empire (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” ( 2 Peter 3:17 ) Peter ’s final epistle, especially chapters 2 and 3, is the classic New Testament passage on the false teachers that would plague the church in the “last days” (v. 3). In addition to the characteristics listed in the introductory verse, 2:1 (e.g., slipping in surreptitiously heretical teachings, denying the redemptive work and Lordship of Christ ), a number of their attributes are predicted for our guidance, as follows: They will “wrest the scriptures” (3:16), distorting their literal meaning to conform to their own philosophical preferences. This involves using “feigned words” (2:3)—that is, plastic words, with devious meanings to make them say what their users wish to convey. They m...

English: Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia )  “… And in your self–control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness.” 2 PETER 1:6  Godly perseverance is a sure evidence of true salvation.The mature Christian does not give up. His Christianity is like the steady burning of a star rather than the ephemeral brilliance (and speedy eclipse) of a meteor. The Greek word translated “perseverance” in the verse (hupomone) refers to consistent endurance in righteousness and faithfulness in resisting temptation. The precise meaning for hupomone is hard to pinpoint. There is no exact English equivalent, and it’s not common in classical Greek; but the Bible often uses it in reference to the toils and troubles that are unwelcome in life and produce inconvenience and harm. This word even includes the idea of death, as in the Jewish writings in which hupomone speaks of spiritual stamina that empowers people to die for their faith in God . Despite its script...

William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) - The Flagellation of Our Lord Jesus Christ (1880) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “… And in your brotherly kindness, Christian love .”  2 PETER 1:7 Sacrificial love proves genuine faith. Classical Greek had three common terms for love. As we saw yesterday, phileo (philadelphia) is the love of give and take, best expressed in friendship. Eros is the love that takes—one loves another strictly for what he or she can get out of that person. It is typical of the world’s sexual and lustful desires, which are always bent toward self–gratification. Agape is the love that gives. It is completely unselfish, with no taking involved. This is the highest form of love, which all the other virtues in 2 Peter 1 ultimately lead to. It seeks another’s supreme good, no matter what the cost. Agape was exemplified perfectly by Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. But what does this highest type of love look like? A brief survey of the one anothers in the New Testam...

English: Cross in the village of Úsilné, České Budějovice District, Czech Republic with the writing 'Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ'. Česky: Křížek v obci Úsilné v okrese České Budějovice s nápisem 'Pochválen buď Pán Ježíš Kristus'. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ .” 2 PETER 1:8 If you are a Christian, your life will produce spiritual fruit. If you want to enjoy assurance of salvation in all its richness, you need to faithfully pursue all the virtues we have been studying this past week. The reason is simple—they produce fruit in the Christian life , and nothing is a better indicator of true salvation than that. It was the criterion Christ used to distinguish between the true and false believer (Matt. 7:15–20). The reasonable question that ought to arise next is, what is fruit? The New Testament says it encompasses m...

Holy Virtue (Photo credit: Lawrence OP ) “For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short–sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.” 2 PETER 1:9 If you don’t practice spiritual virtues now, you’ll forget their significance later. Physical nearsightedness and mental amnesia both are unwanted conditions. Nearsightedness (myopia) causes people’s eyes to focus the parallel rays of light in front of the retina. They can clearly see things right in front of them, but the farther out they look, the more out of focus objects become. Amnesia, of course, is memory loss. Sometimes it’s selective, but usually it’s total—everything prior to a certain time or incident. It often causes people to forget their name, their family, and everything about their identity and background. Those two impairments should be even less welcome on the spiritual level. Professed believers who are unfruitful become spiritually nearsighted. They focus on temporal fads and passing ea...

English: Peresopnytsia Gospels. 1556-1561. Miniature of Saint Matthew. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” 2 PETER 1:10–11 The pursuit of virtue results in assurance now and eternal reward later. Assurance is a great blessing, as Peter tells us in verse 10 of today’s passage. However, it is not the only thing you will enjoy if you are pursuing godly virtues . Years ago a Jewish teenager named Marvin learned about the additional blessing of rewards from the lady who led him to Christ . Before he left home to join the Marines as a struggling, often persecuted believer, she told him: “You’re a true Christian , Marvin…. One day when your earthly life ends you will go to Heaven because of what the Mes...

Sarah Trimmer (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "Giving all diligence , add to your faith virtue ; and to virtue knowledge , etc." 2 Peter 1:5-6 If you would enjoy the eminent grace of the full assurance of faith , under the blessed Spirit's influence, and assistance, do what the Scripture tells you, "Give diligence." Take care that your faith is of the right kind--that it is not a mere belief of doctrine, but a simple faith, depending on Christ , and on Christ alone. Give diligent heed to your courage. Plead with God that he would give you the face of a lion, that you may, with a consciousness of right, go on boldly. Study well the Scriptures, and get knowledge; for a knowledge of doctrine will tend very much to confirm faith. Try to understand God's Word; let it dwell in thy heart richly. When you have done this, "Add to your knowledge temperance." Take heed to your body: be temperate without. Take heed to your soul: be temperate within. Get tempe...

Cross (Photo credit: Photographic Textures ) "Exceeding great and precious promises." 2 Peter 1:4 If you would know experimentally the preciousness of the promises, and enjoy them in your own heart, meditate much upon them. There are promises which are like grapes in the wine-press ; if you will tread them the juice will flow. Thinking over the hallowed words will often be the prelude to their fulfilment. While you are musing upon them, the boon which you are seeking will insensibly come to you. Many a Christian who has thirsted for the promise has found the favour which it ensured gently distilling into his soul even while he has been considering the divine record; and he has rejoiced that ever he was led to lay the promise near his heart. But besides meditating upon the promises, seek in thy soul to receive them as being the very words of God . Speak to thy soul thus, "If I were dealing with a man's promise, I should carefully consider the ability and the c...

Ovrios, the tradition of burning the Jude (who betrayed Jesus Christ), in Kondariotissa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear , pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” ( Jude 1:22-23 ) In the context of this passage, Jude has been exhorting us to “build up” ourselves in the “most holy faith,” keeping ourselves in God’s love and looking forward to “the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ ” ( Jude 1:20-21 ). The instructions that follow may apply to us and our fellow believers. If so, then these categories would fit the “vessels of . . . dishonor” that Paul alludes to that are in a “great house” ( 2 Timothy 2:20 ). “Of some have compassion, making a difference.” Some of those in our circle of influence need our “pity.” The word choices imply a desperate need that we must attempt to remedy. Many of the Lord’s healing miracles were done because of compassion. We are encouraged to “mak...

William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) - The Flagellation of Our Lord Jesus Christ (1880) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” ( Jude 1:15 ) Jude is referencing the preaching of pre-Flood Enoch, who warned about God ’s coming judgment when the Lord returns “with ten thousands of his saints” (v. 14). Jude identifies two ungodly traits that bring about this judgment. First, there are ungodly deeds that were committed in an ungodly way. Perhaps the best commentary on this deep sin is the Lord Jesus ’ description of the unbelief of those who reject the gospel of salvation: “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” ( John3:19 ). Their actions were not mere misdeeds; these deeds were c...