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What We Believe 1689 London Baptist Confession Of Faith 1. Of The Holy Scriptures 2. God and The Holy Trinity 3. God's Decree 4. Creation 5. Divine Providence 6. The Fall Of Mankind, and Sin, and Its Punishments 7. God's Covenant 8. Christ the Mediator 9. Free Will 10. Effectual Calling 11. Justification 12. Adoption 13. Sanctification 14. Saving Faith 15. Repentance to Life and Salvation 16. Good Works 17. The Perseverance Of the Saints 18. Assurance Of Grace and Salvation 19. The Law Of God 20. The Gospel and the Extent of Its Grace 21. Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience 22. Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day 23. Lawful Oaths and Vows 24. Civil Government 25. Marriage 26. The Church 27. The Communion of Saints 28. Baptism and the Lord's Supper 29. Baptism 30. The Lord's Supper 31. The State of Humanity after Death and the Resurrection of the Dead 32. The Last Judgement

What Is Series 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. A King Maker Listen Now The Magi were king makers in their land. Jesus did not need their approval, but rather they came to worship the King of Kings. The gifts that they brought speak to His kingship, His death, and His burial. However, following His resurrection He ascended to sit beside the Ancient of Days which He is currently reigning as King over all! Repentance Listen Now Repentance is a necessity to be a Christian, repentance is a necessity to be preached in church, and repentance is a necessity in our sanctification and to be conformed to the image of the Son. Let us contemplate and reflect on the Holiness of God and in return on the sin that we commit in idolatrous rebellion against His commands. The more we understand how holy and pure He is, the more we will detest sin, mourn over our sin (Matthew 5:4) , and will with all urgency and weight repent! Repentance is a gift granted by God that leads to faith in Christ and salvation. However, repentance is ongoing as we grow in sanctification and holiness and will continue until we are pure in heart and free from the presence of sin for the first time in His presence in our eternal home. Until then let us mourn over our sin which leads us to godly repentance and sanctification which is the will of God. Prayer Listen Now ​

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 1:1-2 Podcast The group to whom he is writing are the elect of God. This is important to remember as we work through 1 & 2 Peter. His audience is the elect and chosen of God. These are the true regenerated believers of God who have been sovereignly chosen by God grace and mercy! (Ephesians 1:4) . The elect exiles are truly exiles on this earth with Heaven being are home guaranteed (Rev 17:14) 1st Peter 1:3 Button We can look at the resurrection of Christ with a greater hope and assurance. Since He was resurrected from the dead as the first fruits, we who are born again have the promise that we shall be resurrected as He was at His coming to finally see hope complete. 1st Peter 1:4-6 Button Peter reminds these exiles of the living hope and the inheritance that is theirs because of the mercy of God. He encourages them to rejoice in this fact. He wants them to keep in their minds the good news and the future hope they have because as he is going to tell them, trials are coming and are necessary. This applies to us today as well. We know that trials have come and will come, but we are to rejoice and remember that we are exiles and that we have an inheritance that is being kept for us and we are being kept for our inheritance. 1st Peter 1:7 Button Peter is telling them the trials are coming and that the trials are necessary, but for them to remember what he had just told in the preceding verses: rejoice, you were born again to a living hope and have an inheritance that is being kept for you in Heaven.This world is temporary, but your inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, and will never fade away! God values your faith more than your temporary comfort, so know that the trials will come! God loves His children and values their faith so much that He will put them in the crucible to refine it! 1st Peter 1:8-12 Button We know that the hope of this world and the hopes spoken of in the Bible are not the same. The hope of the Bible and the promises of God are of full assurance to the believer. Faith is linked to this assurance which is an anchor for the soul. 1st Peter 1:13-16 Button The true and Holy God has called the believers to be holy and set apart for Him. While we are exiles in this world we are to renew our minds and set our hope on our inheritance that we are to receive as we will declare to the God who rescued…... .Holy, Holy, Holy! 1st Peter 1:17 Button The more we begin to understand who God is and the magnitude of His holiness, the more we would reverence and fear God. The more we reverse we fear and reverse God, the less we will sin. 1st Peter 1:18-21 Button Jesus paid the price for His sheep. This was a personal and absolute transaction. He would receive and redeem all whom He purchased on the cross. Jesus did not come to purchase all people, because if He would have redeemed all people by His blood on the cross, all people would be rescued and set free. Christ’s blood on the cross purchased everyone He intended to redeem and not one more or one less. Chris does not pay to redeem someone and then gets cheated and fails to not gain possession of that person. In the previous verse we see to whom Peter is talking to, those who call Him as Father. 1st Peter 1:22-25 Button The Gospel is the power of God unto to salvation (Romans 1:17) The call of the Gospel rings out across the planet, but the life changing Word of God and His Gospel will only take root in the cultivated soul of His elect. Since we don’t know who the elect are we evangelize like everyone we meet is and all that hear the Gospel and believe with a sincere heart of true contrite repentance, will find a perfect Savior! If you are a Christian, then know that prior to you hearing and believing the Word of God, God Himself was preparing the soil of your soul so that the truth of His Word would be the greatest news ever! 1st Peter 2:1 Button 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 Button 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 Button 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 Button 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 Button 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 Button 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. 1st Peter 3:1-7 Button 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 Button 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 Button 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 Button 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 Button 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 Button 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. 1st Peter 4:1-6 Button 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 Button 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 Button 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 Button 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 Button 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! 1st Peter 5:1-4 Button Although the Bible refers to the elders as those who are called by God to shepherd the flock of God, we must remember that all the sheep are God’s sheep. Christ is referred to as the Chief Shepherd. He is addressing the elders who are called to shepherd His sheep and ensuring them that those who are faithful to their position and calling as shepherds of His sheep on earth, will receive an unfading crown of glory when the Chief Shepherd appears! 1st Peter 5:5-7 Button Why would He want us to cast our anxieties on Him? He cares for us! No one has or ever will care for you more than God! God cares for you! Let that sink in! 1st Peter 5:8-14 Button Satan will accuse us continually. We have no problem being accused of things that are not true. However, what about when what he accuses us of is true? This is a tactic that he uses to discourage and cause doubt in believers. Questions and doubts may arise in our minds from such accusations such as “How could a Christian really do that?” or “How could God ever forgive me?”

The Sermon On The Mount The sermon on the mount is a sermon given by the greatest preacher ever, Jesus. This sermon was given early in Jesus’ ministry and covers a wide range of important topics which many considered radical and turned their world upside down. He is correcting and teaching the true meaning of the law and the word of God which has been hijacked and distorted by the rabbis, scribes, and Pharisees. His sermon covered the beatitudes, exegeting the true meaning of the law and commandments, how to pray to the Father, righteous living as a Christian, and what is required to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus stated many times throughout this sermon “you have heard it said, but I say to you” as He is showing authority as the supreme teacher who spoke with all authority. The sermon He gave that day is just as relevant to us today to live a life honoring and pleasing God. We have the sermon notes from God Himself, and we would be wise to listen! 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. Matt. 7:24-29 Listen Now Sitting on the side of a mountain, the greatest preacher ever, delivered the greatest sermon ever. The words that He spoke have all authority and are all truth. We have heard His words. Do we believe His words? Do we act on and obey His words? If so, we are standing on the rock of ages and can say with all sincerity, affection, and love: Lord, Lord! Matt. 7:21-23 Listen Now Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but those who do the will of the Father. A profession of faith does not save anyone, but a possession of faith does. “Lord, Lord” speaks of true affection for Jesus. However, those who are not true believers although they may declare they love the Lord in actuality do not love Him. How can one be sure that they are numbered among the elect? Do you love the Biblical Jesus? If we can honestly and sincerely from the depths of our souls answer that question “yes” then we must know that love for Him doesn’t come from an unregenerate heart. If we have true affection for Jesus, it is because He has removed our heart of stone and given us a new heart that beats with affection for Him via regeneration. If we love Him we will keep His commands which is the will of the Father. Only by the Spirit can we call Him Lord, Lord and mean it from the depths of our souls. One day He will not say depart, but rather will speak the most beautiful words a creature can hear which comes from Matthew 25:34: “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matt. 7:13-20 Listen Now The broad way is the easy way as this is the path all humanity’s feet hit running when we are born. Only through the mercy and grace of God and faith in Jesus who is the gate do our path and way change. We then begin walking on the narrow way which can difficult way full of testing, persecution, and cross carrying. This is the way least traveled. However, this way is worth traveling because it has the greatest destination a creature could ever arrive. The destination is our eternal home where we have eternal life. Only those who have entered by the small gate can one day enter the gates of glory! Keep walking, it’s worth it! Matt. 7:1-12 Listen Now Do not judge, so that you will not be judged which can also be translated “do not condemn, so that you will not be condemned.” Let us not be people that walk around with a spirit of condemnation and self-righteous, hypocritical judgment upon others. Christ is the only one who can condemn as He demonstrated in the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11 as He is the only One without sin as the perfect eternal judge. He would have been fully just to condemn everyone of us. However, to the believer He has extended mercy and forgiveness through justification. As a result of justification, we who stood to be condemned now have no condemnation through His imputed righteousness upon us. All who are saved have heard the words the woman caught in adultery heard, “I do not condemn you. Go. From now on sin no more.” There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1) . As Christians who have escaped condemnation and have been forgiven of the most, let us reflect this in our attitudes and actions toward others as we seek to help them rather than destroy them. Let us examine ourselves first and remove the log from our eyes so that we can then with sincere motives help our brothers and sisters to grow in sanctification so they like the woman can strive to go and sin no more. Matt. 6:25-34 Listen Now If Jesus were to look us eye to eye and tell us not to worry about the current situation that we are worried about and that He is working everything out for good, would we stop worrying and believe Him? He is not physically speaking to our ears to tell us that, but He is speaking that very truth to our spiritual ears to our souls through His word. Do we know that He is working all things out together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose and that He does all things well? God has decreed all things that come to pass before the foundation of the world and our worry will never change His plan. Rather, let us remember who He is and trust Him in all things including in our daily provision. Let our minds not be consumed with worry, which is futile, but let our minds be consumed with seeking after His kingdom and His righteousness. The more we know Him and the more our faith grows, the less anxious and worry filled we should be. Why should we worry as plan A is running flawlessly full steam ahead as we speak! Jesus is telling us not to worry or be anxious. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Matt. 6:14-24 Listen Now Every Christian has the most precious and priceless treasures that any creature can ever have: salvation, eternal life, dwelling with God, and an inheritance in our eternal home. In a world that values and seeks after wealth and material things, let us keep our gaze fixed upon the Kingdom of Heaven where our treasures are being stored up. On treasure maps “x marks the spot” of where the treasure is found. The map we have is God’s Holy Word and we know exactly where our treasure is located. Our treasure is found in Christ and the Kingdom of God to where our treasures are being stored up and kept. So let us persevere following the map of God’s Word with our eyes fixed upon our eternal home. One day we will reap the bounty of these treasures as we dwell forever with God. We can be confident that our treasures and our inheritance will not rust, fade, or be stolen as they are being kept by God omnipotent. Not only is He keeping out inheritance for us, but He is keeping us for our inheritance and treasure! For where treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matt. 6:12-13 Listen Now We are commanded to pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17 ) yet prayer is something we all struggle with. His disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray and our desire should be the same. Here in the sermon on the mount we get to hear Jesus teach us how to pray as He gives us this model for prayer. Let us surrender our prayer life into conformity with His teaching. Let us understand the undeserved privilege to address the eternal God as Father. Let our petition be that the name of our Father continuously be holy in our words and actions. Let us pray that the kingdom of God and the things of will take priority in our lives as we seek the kingdom of God first and display that He is King over all including our lives. Let us pray that God we surrender and pray that the decretive will of God that we may not know to be done as we trust Him will all our souls. Let us also pray that sanctification which is the preceptive will of God be our will and be done in our lives every second of our lives. Let us then pray that God mercifully supply our daily needs. Let us pray that we understand the debt that we could not pay and be in continuous thanks for Christ paying our debt by His blood on the cross as He declared tetelestai. As Christ has forgiven us and no longer holds our sins against our account, let us pray that we would forgive as Christ has forgiven us. Let us pray that God would keep us from temptation and from the assault of the enemy lest we stumble. However, if we are tempted and tested let us pray that God deliver us as He is the only means of escape. As we reflect on this prayer and all that is teaches, let our souls and voices lift up doxology to our God to whom belongs all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority from before and now and forever. Let us remember the two rules for prayer: 1.) Remember to whom you are speaking. 2) Remember who you are. “Lord teach us to pray.” As Jesus said in this prayer “Pray then in this way.” Matt. 6:11 Listen Now We see God showing He is the provider in Genesis 22:14 when Abraham called the place on Mount Moriah “the Lord will provide” speaking of the true sacrifice God would provide in this area many years later in the way of Christ His only begotten Son. We are to petition for God to mercifully provide for our daily needs as we are daily dependent upon Him for everything. Give us this day our daily bread should be our daily petition as He is our provider. Above all He provided His Son who is the true bread of Life and we need Him not just daily, but every second of the day! All whom the Father has mercy given the Bread of Life to will not hunger this day or for all eternity! Matt. 6:10 Listen Now We see how the model of prayer that Jesus is teaching builds on itself. We must first realize whom we are praying to and the privilege it is to call the eternal God our Father. We are then to pray that we reverence His name as holy in our mouths and also in our actions. As the desire to make His name hallowed in our lives grows, we will then desire and pray that His kingdom and rule will be in every aspect of our lives. Him being in complete rule and kingship in all aspects of our lives will result in a desire and growth in our obedience to His will that is revealed in His Word which is sanctification. Jesus is teaching a model for prayer in this verse, but He also showed us by example when in the garden He prayed “your will be done” as Christ was desiring the eternal will of the Father be accomplished as He lived a life of full obedience to the Law and to the Father. Christ inaugurated the kingdom at His first coming and is reigning now, waiting for the day He returns to consummate the kingdom. While we are on earth let us our lives reflect His kingship in all aspects of our lives. Let our lives also reflect our surrender to His efficacious and preceptive wills as we trust His will eternal decrees and long for sanctification in our lives. Let our petition be as instructed by our Lord in His sermon on the mount “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:9 (Part 2) Listen Now Let the petition spoken by Jesus that the name of God be holy arise from the depths of our souls and find its place on our lips, in our minds, and in all aspects of our lives. His name is holy for He is holy. We must remember to whom we are speaking to when we pray and how holy His name is. What we think of His name and how we treat His name reveals what we think of Him. One cannot truly worship God in spirit and truth with awe and reverence when they don’t reverence His holy name. How important is God’s name to us? Does honoring, reverencing, and making His name holy in our lives rise to the top of our prayer requests? It is of the utmost importance to God Himself. Let us also come to prayer holding to this petition that our lives would declare the holiness of God and His name as we ascribe glory due His holy and awesome name. As we come to prayer, let us remember what a privilege it is to be able to call God Abba, Father, just as Christ did. Let us also see the weight and focus on God’s name being reverenced and being made holy in our lives. May our prayers begin with the same focus and as Jesus instructs us “Our Father who is in Heaven, hallowed be your name!” Matt. 6:9 (Part 1) Listen Now What a privilege it is to come to prayer and as unworthy rebel creature that was made from the dust and call the eternal holy God “Father.” This is not brought about by any merit of ourselves, but by our adoptions as sons via the union with His only begotten Son. The eternal Son was with the Father before the world was and before the world was the Father was loving His Son. It is that same love the Father has upon His Son that He shows to His elect as he adopts them as sons in union with His eternal Son. As Jesus cried out in the Garden “Abba, Father” now we to can cry out the same thing to God the Father as a result of our sonship with God. We can prayer “Father” because He cried “my God, my God” as He was dying for us. So let us never come to prayer casually or irreverently, but rather let us understand the incomprehensible privilege to pray “our Father who is in Heaven.” Matt. 6:1-8 Listen Now Prayer is vital and essential in the life of a Christian. Being able to come before the throne of the Living God in prayer is an incomprehensible privilege that should never be taken flippantly or irreverently. When we pray, we must always remember to whom we are speaking to and then in return remember who we are. When we do these things, the prayer of the heart, with more and more frequency, will in reverence, trust, and worship cry out “not my will, but yours be done.” Matt. 5:48 Listen Now Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. This is the standard of God and this is immutable. This is impossible for us to achieve as fallen creatures, which is the bad news. It is only when one understands the bad news can one truly understand and be in awe of the good news found in Christ alone. The righteousness that merits our entrance into Heaven is not our own, but rather the imputed righteousness and perfection of Jesus upon us. This is the good news of the gospel. We can’t, Christ did! The death of Christ (passive obedience) is vital to the gospel and our salvation. As equally as importance is the perfect life He lived fulfilling all righteousness (active obedience) on behalf of all the Father had given Him. Without the righteousness of Christ imputed to us through faith alone we have no hope. Let us never be idolatrous and arrogant to think we can achieve the righteousness that is required on our own. Justification in which we are declared righteous by faith alone (sola fide) strikes at the heart of the gospel. Justification by faith alone is non-negotiable and to preach anything else is to preach another gospel (Galatians 1:6-10) . This is a hill worth dying on because on a hill 2,00 years ago the one who lived a perfect life and fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law became sin and died so I could become the righteousness of God in Him! Matt. 5:38-47 Listen Now Christians are not to return slap for slap but are rather instructed to turn the other cheek. There is a small detail in this verse that gives insight into the meaning of this verse. Since most people are right hand dominant, to be slapped on the right cheek would mean that one would be slapped with the back of the hand. Being slapped with the back of the hand is insulting, degrading, and showing disdain for someone. We see this in our own culture today with the phrase “that was a slap in the face” to indicate something that is hurtful, insulting, and ever slanderous. Jesus is teaching to avoid personal retaliation which would result in sin just as the one who slaps you, but rather we are show the love of God and be salt and light. We often want to get one up and get more than revenge on people that wrong us, but we are to let God take care of the vengeance. What is implied by turning the other cheek is that being in this world that hates God and the things of God, those who bear His name and live for Him can expect continued persecution, slander, and difficulty. Jesus is speaking in this context to personal matters and not to matters of self-defense, government/law enforcement to maintain law, or necessary military defense. Matt. 5:33-37 Listen Now God swore by nothing greater that Himself when making the promise to Abram in Genesis 15 . In swearing by Himself, He was saying if He doesn’t come through on His promise of the Abrahamic covenant, then He will die and cease being God which means we have no hope of heaven. However, the good news is that He cannot die or lie, and we know His promise is eternal as all His promises are yes. As children of God let us be like Him and let our yes be yes and our no be no. Matt. 5:27-32 Listen Now It is better to enter Heaven blind and lame, than to see while running into hell! Matt. 5:20-26 Part B Listen Now God looks at the heart. As in water face reflects face, so the heart reflects man (Proverbs 27:19) . From the heart comes the inclination, motives, and desire of a man. Jesus is teaching that murder is not just in an outward action, but from within the heart. As believers we are to love as Christ loved and this is only done by a heart that has been regenerated by the power of God. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves, but this can only be accomplished by loving the Lord our God. We only love Him because He first loved us! Matt. 5:20-26 Part A Listen Now God is concerned about who you really are as opposed to what you appear to be. God knows what is in man as He looks at the heart. Those whose righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees are those whose heart have been born again. Matt. 5:17-20 Listen Now Once we are justified and grow in sanctification we are to pursue, hunger, and thirst for righteousness. Unlike the pharisees who quest for righteousness was external, those who are born again worship in spirit and truth and desire God and His righteousness from the soul. We are to delight in the law of God (Psalm 1:1-2) , meditate (Psalm 119:97) on His word, and strive for obedience down to the smallest letter and stroke because we love Him. We only love Him because He first loved us. “So thankful for the active obedience of Christ no hope without it.” - J.G Machen Matt. 5:13-16 Listen Now Starting at verse 13, Jesus begins to discuss the impact the blessed ones will have on society and the world. Verses 10-12 that speak about being persecuted for righteousness thrusts us into verses 13-16. The blessed ones who are righteousness will be persecuted, but we are to stand firm and be the salt and the light of the earth in a world that is corrupt and decaying and full of darkness. Christians are salt and light; it is not optional. Christians are to have an impact and influence on the society and those around them. Matt. 5:10-12 Listen Now Those who are blessed are those who are covered in the imputed righteousness of Christ. The fallen world hates God and righteousness and without righteousness there is no peace. That is why those who hunger and thirst after righteousness and are being conformed to the image of God will be persecuted. This persecution is a blessing as it is what we as His children have been called to. Let us not respond to persecution with unrighteousness, but rather with righteousness. Let us not be discouraged, but rather rejoice. Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed and theirs is the kingdom of God and every second of persecution will be more than worth it when we see Him as He is. Let us rethink what it means to be persecuted for righteousness as it means we are blessed. So what are we to do in our persecution for righteousness? Rejoice! Matt. 5:9 Listen Now At the moment of our justification there is a declaration that “the war is over” and there is peace between us and God. This is not a temporary cease fire or just a momentary truce, but rather a peace that is eternal. Righteousness is required for peace and at the moment of our justification we are clothed in the imputed righteousness of Christ forever which means that we have eternal peace with God. Knowing this truth, we as children of God are to be peacemakers first and most importantly by sharing the news of peace to all that we know that are at war with God. The Christians is not just a peacekeeper, but a peacemaker. There is no peace in the life of a non-believer and there never will be until peace is made by justification which is brought about by faith in gospel of peace and faith in Jesus Christ our righteousness. Being a peacemaker does not always mean avoiding a conflict, but it means that righteousness must be present as we see when we look at the cross. When people look at the cross, they may see torture, violence, bloodshed, vile actions of men, unimaginable evil, and conflict. However, if we carefully we see peace. The righteousness of Christ through His death and through His blood, brought us peace. How does one know they are born again and a true child of God? They are peacemakers. Matt. 5:8 Listen Now God told Moses “I am.” He is not becoming anything, rather He is the only true being. We have our existence and being in Him (Acts 17:28) . Who made God? He is! Where did God come from? He is! We have not seen God, but we love Him (1 Peter 1:8-9) . However, one day we will see Him and see Him as He is! Matt. 5:7 Listen Now God is displeased when we who have been shown the most mercy are the most stingy distributing mercy to others. We must remember that we as the blessed ones are poor in spirit who are beggars with a hand outstretched for God’s mercy. Those who God has been merciful to, we are to extend that mercy as this is a characteristic of the regenerate person. The greatest realization and fulfillment of mercy is when we who were spiritually poor beggars and paupers are welcomed into the kingdom of Kings of Kings. If anyone asks the reason we are allowed in the Kingdom of God, the myriads and myriads of people there will give the reason with this word: Mercy! How blessed it that! Matt. 5:6 Listen Now Hunger and thirst after righteousness is a sign of regeneration. The blessed one that hungers and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied. Their souls on this earth will be satisfied, but at the same time year for more righteousness. However, the greatest fulfillment is this when we enter the Kingdom of God where righteousness dwells. The blessed one who hungers and thirsts after righteousness will be forever satisfied in glory with Christ who is the Bread of Life (John 6:35) and the Living Water (John 4:7-14, John 7:37-38) ! Matt. 5:5 Part B Listen Now Being meek and gentle is not an optional characteristic or attribute of a Christian, but rather a characteristic of everyone who will be in Heaven. To be meek one must be born again as they by the Holy Spirit are poor in spirit and mourn over their sin. Meekness begins with the vertical aspect in regards to our meekness to God. We are to be meek to God and in total submission and obedience to His Sovereign authority. To be meek is to be humbled before God knowing that we deserve absolutely nothing and all that we have is from God to whom we are in total submission. This vertical meekness is the only thing that allows us to be meek toward others which is the horizontal aspect of meekness. The same humility that the blessed one has toward God, is to be shown toward other people as we live in humility with Christ being our example. One can’t be meek toward others if they are not meek before God as the horizontal can’t be present without the vertical. The attitude and love one has toward others is an indication of the attitude and the love they have toward God. Matt. 5:5 Part A Listen Now True meekness is found in testing. This is where meekness or submission to God is the most sincere. The meek person is humble, gentle, and in submission to God and that results in the meek person saying, “not my will, but yours be done.” Matt. 5:4 Listen Now The true blessedness is not in the mourning, but rather in the comfort! Matt. 5:1-3 Listen Now This is the first sermon Jesus gave in His earthly ministry. When a rabbi would teach in the synagogue, he would sit down to teach instead of standing. We The teacher sitting down was a way of saying “class is about to start, listen up.” We see another example of this when Jesus was teaching in the synagogue. Luke 4:14-21

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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The Gospel According To John There are 4 gospel accounts. However, the gospel according to John is unique as compared to the other 3 gospels. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the “synoptic gospels” as they give a synopsis of the entirety of the life of Jesus. John is not a synoptic gospel as it does not go into the details of the entire life of Christ, but rather gives us a more heavenly account of Christ. The gospel according to John does not address Jesus’ physical birth in Bethlehem but rather states on the eternal nature of Jesus as it stated in the first verse of this book. Jesus, who is the eternal Logos, was with God and was God in the beginning which is a reference to creation. Since Jesus is before creation, he is outside the created order making Him eternal and the creator of all things. John does not go into detail about Jesus’ genealogy, His early child years, His transfiguration, or His ascension into Heaven. The gospel according to John does not have parables and many of the stories and miracles that are in the other gospels. There is a large percentage of the content in the book of John that is not in the synoptic gospels. John spends a significant amount of time addressing the last week of Christ’s life on earth as well as a significant amount of time giving details about the last supper. John gives us details on something unique only this book which is the intertrinitarian prayer between the Father and the Son. The book of John also gives the most detail and discussion concerning the Holy Spirit. The “I am” statements of Jesus are found in John. The book of John is a heavily theological book as well as an evangelistic book. John turns our attention to who Jesus truly is and the implications of who He truly is. He is God, the Son of Man, the Son of God, and the eternal Logos who is eternal and, in the incarnation, became flesh to exegete the Father and do His will. The word believe is used 98x in the book of John which is the most used word in the book (248x in the NT) because he wants His readers to believe in the true Christ. The purpose of this book is found in John 20:30-31 which states “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” 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. John 15:2-6 By the mercy and grace of God the Father, the Vinedresser we have been joined to the true Vine, Jesus. It only through our union with Jesus, the true Vine that we can produce any fruit that is pleasing to God. For those who are not “in Christ” they produce no fruit pleasing to God and will be gathered one day to be burned in the lake of fire forever. The branches that are in the true Vine are being pruned to produce more fruit and will spend eternity with the true Vine, the Vinedresser, and the Holy Spirit forever. Let us never once boast in ourselves, but rather let us give glory to God and God alone because just as Jesus stated we can do nothing without Him! John 15:1 The nation of Israel was led out of Egypt, passed through the water, led into the wilderness to be tempted, failed to keep the law perfectly, and because of their sin judgment and exile came. Christ, the true Israel of God came of Egypt, was baptized by John the Baptist, tempted in the wilderness and succeeded, and then succeeded in keeping the Law perfectly. Jesus the true Israel of God would be our merciful High Priest, the suffering Servant, and the true sacrifice at temple. He would have judgment brought upon Himself, but not for His sins, but rather for His elect who are spiritual Israel. As a result of our union with the true Israel, the true Vine which is Christ we are regarded as spiritual Israel and will inherit the true promised land forever! This only possible by abiding and being in union with Christ, the true Vine! John 14:28-31 With the agony of the cross in view, knowing the separation from the Father awaits, knowing the wrath of the Father awaits as He hangs on behalf of His sinful sheep, and knowing the sting of death awaits, He says “Get up, let us go from here! The cup of wrath awaits and there is no other way to satisfy the wrath of God to leave the sheep peace than through His death on the cross! With that knowledge and to complete work He was sent to do by the Father, He declared “Get up, let us go” the cross awaits as the hour has come! John 14:21-27 These men had left everything they had to follow Jesus and He would soon be leaving them as His hour is at hand. He would not leave them empty handed but would rather leave them something priceless: His peace. This peace is only possible by His death on the cross as His death would satisfy the wrath of the Father on behalf of His sheep as He would die in their place. He brings us peace with the Father and also gives us peace for our walk with Him throughout life. His peace is what relieves fears, anxiety, and worry. He gives us His peace as He is the Prince of Peace and the peace that He gives is a personal peace. He is returning to the Father and to the glory He had with Him before the world was and what better gift could He leave than His peace. It is His peace that allows Him to tell His disciples in the upper room and now us today “don’t let your hearts be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:16-20 We are all guilty of breaking the law of God and needing someone to be our advocate before the eternal God. Jesus is our paraclete who when called upon, stands at our side and advocates in our behalf before the Father as He is the original Paraclete. When He left earth and ascended to the Father, He did not leave us alone, but rather sent another Paraclete to guide us, teach us, strengthen us, and sanctification which is God the Holy Spirit. As a result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ, He has come to us and is always with us. We are not orphans, but rather sons of God and are awaiting the day Christ will come to all His children to forever dwell with them! John 14:7-15 To see Jesus is to see the Father as Jesus was exegeting the Father. The love of the Father was being explained by the Son as He was dying on the cross to redeem all that the Father had given Him and loved before the foundation of the world. All those who are regenerated will love God and this is because He loved them first and in regeneration caused their heart to beat with affection for Him for the first time. All those who He loved first and now love Him are predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son and will be obedient and keep His commandments. How can one know they have their name written in the Lamb’s book of Life? If someone has honest and sincere affection for the Biblical Jesus, they can know they are numbered among the elect because love for Christ does not come from an unregenerate heart! The Father loves us with the same love in which He loved His only begotten Son as a result of our adoption as sons. The Son loves the Father and we who share in union with His sonship will now love the Father. How is this possible? He loved us first! John 14:6 To deny that Jesus is the only way to the Father is to deny God Himself as these words were spoken by the second person of the Godhead as He spoke what He was commanded by the first person of the Godhead. To deny that Jesus is not the only way to the Father is to declare God a liar. Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar. Who else was perfect? Who else could atone for sins? Who else has fulfilled all righteousness? Who else could redeem? Who else is the Son of Man, the eternal Son of God, the Monogenes? How could anyone ever look at Christ and who He is and what He has done and say that He is not enough and there has to be other ways to God. The exclusivity of Christ as the only way to the Father is not negotiable as it strikes at the heart of Christianity. All those who believe in Jesus as the only way will enter glory and live forever in a place that He has personally prepared for them. Because there is only one way to the Father and it’s through His only begotten Son as He is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life! John 14:1-5 Jesus went to prepare a place for His elect and our place for eternal rest is guaranteed. Our inheritance is being reserved for us and we are being reserved for our inheritance. His sheep will not get to the front desk of our eternal home and hear “we can’t find your reservation,” “your reservation has been lost,” or “we don’t have enough rooms.” The reservations of all the elect were made before the foundation of the world when God wrote their names in the Lamb’s book of life and that reservation is eternally set. Our salvation and redemption is personal. Christ has personally prepared each room for all who the Father has given Him and will personally come to receive them on the Last Day. On that day we who are weary exiles will personally be welcomed home! John 13:28-38 As Jesus is nearing His departure from His disciples and from this world, He instructs them that the mark that will let the world know they are His disciples is their love toward one another. The same is true for Christians today as God’s word does not change. Christians should be the most merciful, gracious, forgiving, patient, and loving people as we have had the most mercy, grace, patience, and love shown upon us. Let us follow Christ and love as He has loved. Are we like Peter? Do we claim that we would be willing to lay our life down for Him, but at the first moment of opposition, difficulty, or persecution we run and deny Christ? Let us pray for boldness in our stand for Christ so that at no time do we hear what Peter heard: the rooster crow! John 13:21-27 John was seated on Jesus’ right side which in our culture if the seat of honor. However, in their culture the one seated on the left was considered to have the seat of honor. It was custom that the host would give the guest of honor who would have been seated on their left the first of the bread that had been dipped which was known as the sop. As a result, many believe that Judas was seated on Jesus’ left the night of the betrayal which would have been the seat of honor. He was the honored guest. It would be Judas’ actions in leaving this supper to betray Jesus that would lead to the arrest, trial, and ultimately the death of Christ. He would have the most important role this evening as His betrayal which He meant for evil would be meant for good by God for the saving of many lives as Christ death would redeem and save His elect. Jesus was on His Father’s Heavenly timeline and the time for this betray was perfect as Jesus told Judas to do what He had to, do it quickly because Jesus’ hour is here! John 13:12-20 Christ has led by example as the Sovereign God humbled Himself and became a servant to ransom those who were His. If the Sovereign can be a servant, then who are we to think that having a servant’s heart in all humility is beneath us. Let us contemplate the depths of the humility that Jesus displayed and as His followers mirror Him. The greatest weapon in destroying our pride is the Holy Spirit bringing the Scriptures alive in our souls. For as we read of Christ, who He is, what He has done, and who we are then our pride will be broken, our praise will be sincere and God honoring, and our lives with be lived out with service and humility toward God and others. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45). John 12:44-13:11 The Sovereign God left His glory in Heaven and humbled Himself by taking on the form of a servant. He humbled Himself unto death even death on a cross. It would be this death by this suffering servant that would cleanse all that were His. After He has completed His work, He put back on His garments of glory and returned to the Father to rule and reign forever. What can wash away our sins and cleanse us? Nothing, nothing, nothing but the blood of Jesus. John 12:41-43 Do we seek the approval of God or man more? If we please God, it doesn’t matter who we displease. If we don’t please God, it doesn’t matter who we please. Let us as Christians be bold and courageous in our witness for Christ. Let it be the desire of our hearts to seek His approval in all we do. Because as Isaiah saw Him and declared He is Holy, Holy, Holy! John 12:34-40 God sovereignly hardened the hearts and blinded the eyes of the majority of the people of Israel. This was done in accordance with the ordained and predetermined redemptive plan set from the foundation of the world. If their hearts were not hardened and they had believed in Him, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory and there would be no salvation for anyone. Through this hardening and their hatred for Christ, they murdered the only innocent person ever to live! Their hearts were so hardened and their eyes so blinded, they committed first degree murder against the eternal God. It would be through their actions and the brutality of the cross that the Son of Man would atone for the sins of His people, redeem His elect, and lay His life down for His sheep for them to secure their salvation. The hardening was so that the Son could redeem those the Father had given Him on the cross and complete the redemptive mission that was planned from the foundation of the world. John 12:27-33 Jesus knew that He could not be saved from this hour as it was for this hour that He came. He knew the anguish, horror, and pain that was to come, but for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross (Heb 12:2) . He endured the cross so that He would see the fruit of His harvest. His harvest includes Jew and Gentile as Him being lifted up would result in Him drawing all men. This hour would result in a triumph over sin and the enemy. What looked like a victory for the world and for satan was rather a cosmic triumph over them, as God would be glorified. As Jesus said “Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Hallowed be Your name! John 12:20-26 The Greeks who came to the Passover wanted to see Jesus and worship, but in their worship, they were kept at a distance by the dividing wall. However, the dividing wall would soon be destroyed when the Son of Man, who is the Bread of Life, like the wheat would fall into the earth and die. It would be in His suffering and His death that Christ would be glorified which would also result in the bringing forth of much fruit. This fruit is the salvation of the souls of the wheat harvest which is His elect from the Jew and the Gentile. Jesus carried His cross unto His death and in His suffering, He was glorified. Let us pick our cross daily and carry it even unto death and endure suffering so that we will be glorified with Him one day. The Godhead from eternity past had an exact time for the Lamb of God to be slain for the redemption and atonement of His elect. Jesus has lived a perfect life fulfilling all righteousness for His sheep and now His life is coming to an end. The time for Him to be glorified and to lay His life down for His sheep is at hand as He Himself spoke and proclaimed, “The hour has come for the Son on Man to be glorified.” The cross is coming, His suffering is coming, His death is coming, His burial is coming, His resurrection is coming, and His ascension is coming. As a result, the Holy Spirit would be coming to regenerate and bring in the fruit of His harvest. Let us forever feel the weight of the words “The hour has come.” John 12:12-19 Jesus has ministered for over three years, but His time to enter Jerusalem in triumphal entry has arrived as His hour is drawing near and His gaze is fixed on the cross. In the incarnation, the eternal God humbled Himself, took on flesh, and entered His creation. His birth was of humble means, as He was born in a manger. We see this humility again as the eternal Logos rides in on a lowly donkey, as He enters Jerusalem. He will die on Passover in just a few short days. The Passover Lamb in the Old Testament was to be inspected for a set number of days to ensure the Lamb was without blemish and worthy to be sacrificed. Jesus the true Passover Lamb, as He rides into Jerusalem is beginning the Passover Lamb inspection. He will be inspected for several days, and Pilate will make the judgment that Jesus is worthy to be slain as He is unblemished, without sin and guilt. Hosanna, “save us now” is the shout as the King enters Jerusalem in His final days with His destination in view being the cross. The people wanted to be saved from the Romans, but that was not His mission. His mission was to save His elect as He, the Passover Lamb, will be slain to redeem them. The next time He arrives, He is not coming on a donkey in humility, but as a conquering King and on His robe and His thigh, He has a name written “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” John 12:1-11 Mary loved Jesus and she poured out her love upon Him lavishly, knowing that He is more precious and valuable than anything she had. Let us be like Mary and not hold anything back from Him in loving Him, worshipping Him, and in our devotion to Him as there is nothing more precious and priceless than Him. He is worthy of all we have and then more. Let our worship and love for Him fill the air as a sweet fragrance everywhere we go as we worship and love Him unashamed. Mary broke the vial so that the sweet aroma filled the room. Upon the cross the body of Jesus was broken so that His precious blood could be shed as His sacrificial death and offering of Himself was a precious and fragrant aroma unto the Father. Mary did not spare her valuable possession or hold back her lavish love for Christ. The Father did not spare His only begotten Son as on the cross the lavish love of God was on full display. Mary anointed Jesus out of love and worship, but it was also done in preparation for His burial which is nearing as His hour is approaching. His death is certain, and He will placed in a tomb, but He will not stay there because He is the resurrection and the life! John 11:47-57 Christ divides. You are either a child of God or a child of the devil. You are either a wheat or a tare. You are either a sheep or a goat. You are either saved or lost. You are either for God or against Him. You are either dead in sin or alive in Christ. The division is Christ and if you believe in Him. You either love Jesus or you hate Him. He brings division (Luke 12:49-53) . All through the gospel according to John, we have seen the people are divided in regards to Christ. In these verses we see a group that hate Jesus and plot to kill Him. They are going to seize, arrest, and kill an innocent man. The order has been given and the people are aware of the plan to seize Him. They begin to gather at Passover anticipating and wondering whether or not He will come because they know if He comes, He will be arrested. The looming question is “will He attend Passover?” Not only will He attend Passover, He is the Passover Lamb. Caiphas was right even though he didn’t know the true meaning of what He said. It was better that One die so that the elect of Israel and the Gentiles be gathered together and not perish. Who is this One that dies so that this could be a reality? The Passover Lamb! John 11:28-46 The miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead is one that should leave us in absolute awe of our God who has the power of life and the power over death. Christ would shortly after this story face the enemy of death when He would lay His life down for the sheep and suffer the wrath of His Father. He would then be placed in a tomb. The resurrection of Lazarus was amazing but would pale in comparison to the resurrection that is coming shortly when the Son on Man would be resurrected from the dead. The same one who raised Lazarus from the dead is the same One who raised Himself from the dead as He is the resurrection and the life! If we are a Christian and we look close at this story, we will find the story of our salvation. We were dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1) and were unable to bring ourselves to life. What can a dead man do? Dead men don’t reach, seek, or grasp for God. What can a dead man do? Be dead. Lazarus was unable to bring himself to life but was dependent of Christ coming to him. If Christ had never came to Him, he would have remained dead. The same is true for all those who believe as we all would be dead in our sins if Christ had never came seeking and finding us. One day while we were dead in sins an effectual call came to us. This call was a personal call. He called us by name as He calls His sheep by name (John 10:3) . He calls the names of all that have been written in the Lamb’s book of life before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8, 17:8) . His call is effectual as it brings forth the desired effect for which it was intended. When Jesus called Lazarus’ name and commanded him to come forth, he came. The same is true for us who were dead in sin when He called us personally and effectually from death to life and from darkness to light, we came! The Shepherd called our name and we followed. Lazarus was bound in grace linens when he came out of the grave but was set free. We are enslaved and held captive to sin and the enemy, until He brings us to life and sets us free. We were dead in sins until one day God came to the tomb of our souls that were spiritually dead. He called us by name effectually and personally and we were brought from spiritual death to spiritual life. All those who have been raised to spiritual life will one day be raised with Him in the resurrection on the last day. This is only possible through Christ. He is the resurrection and life! John 11:1-27 Those who believe in Christ will never die as He Himself has given us eternal life as a gift. Eternal life has begun in those who believe in Christ and will be consummated in our bodily resurrection on the last day. It is through Christ than we are resurrected spiritually and one day resurrected bodily. Our spiritual and physical resurrections and eternal life are dependent on Christ as He declared “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 10:31-42 The Jews claimed that Jesus was a man claiming to be God. However, He was the eternal God who humbled Himself, took on flesh, and became truly man. In the incarnation, the invisible God became visible and exegeted the Father. What Jesus was exegeting is the personal love God has for His sheep! John 10:22-30 Whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life? Who did the Father give to the Son? Who did the Son fulfill the righteousness requirement of the Law for? Who did the Shepherd lay His life down for? Who does the High Priest intercede for? Who does the Shepherd effectually call? Who hears the voice of the Shepherd? Who comes to the Shepherd? Who follows the Shepherd? Who does He give eternal life to? Who does the Shepherd hold in His hands with eternal security? The answer to all those questions is: the sheep, the elect of God. What confidence does the sheep have that they will one day be forever with their Shepherd? That confidence is not in ourselves, not in our own goodness, and not in our own abilities. Our confidence is in the Shepherd as He promises that He holds His sheep and He will never let go and nothing can remove us from His hands. We are secure because He is holding us. The same arms and hands that hold the universe, the same arms that were stretched out on a cross, the same hands that were nailed to the cross for His sheep are the same arms and hands that hold His sheep forever! He is the Good Shepherd! John 10:12-21 Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He has all authority to enter by the door as He is the true Shepherd over His sheep. His sheep are the elect whom the Father chose before the foundation of the world and gave to Him. All the Father gives to the Son they come to Him as His call is effectual. He calls His sheep by name as He knows His sheep personally. He calls them by name because the name of His sheep have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. The Good Shepherd loves His sheep and the love He has for His sheep was on display when on the cross, He willingly laid down His life for them. He laid His life down for His sheep so that they would be saved and have eternal life. Now, He leads His sheep and they will not follow another because they are His sheep as they belong to Him. Although we might face dangers, threats, and difficulties in this life, His sheep know that He is the Good Shepherd and will shepherd us all the way to our eternal home where we will find the most perfect pasture! John 10:1-11 Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He has all authority to enter by the door as He is the true Shepherd over His sheep. His sheep are the elect whom the Father chose before the foundation of the world and gave to Him. All the Father gives to the Son they come to Him as His call is effectual. He calls His sheep by name as He knows His sheep personally. He calls them by name because the name of His sheep have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. The Good Shepherd loves His sheep and the love He has for His sheep was on display when on the cross, He willingly laid down His life for them. He laid His life down for His sheep so that they would be saved and have eternal life. Now, He leads His sheep and they will not follow another because they are His sheep as they belong to Him. Although we might face dangers, threats, and difficulties in this life, His sheep know that He is the Good Shepherd and will shepherd us all the way to our eternal home where we will find the most perfect pasture! John 9:35-41 This man was born blind and there was nothing he himself or anyone else could do to give him sight and heal his blindness until Jesus came to find him. Jesus touched him and mercifully gave him his sight. After Jesus has healed his eyes, the man then believed that Jesus was the Son of Man and worshipped Him. This man had never seen any light until this day and now was standing eye to eye with the eternal God, the Light of World. We can see the story of salvation unfold in this event. We too are born spiritually blind, and we are unable to see the truth of God or the things of God. We can’t give ourselves sight and neither can anyone else. We are completely hopeless to ever see the truth of God unless God the Holy Spirit comes to us and by His power through regeneration opens our eyes to the truths of God. He removes the scales from our eyes, and we now see the beauty of the gospel and of God. Jesus answered Nicodemus and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” We can only see the things of the kingdom of God after we are born again which is from God and God alone. We too like this man, after our eyes have been opened, then we believe in Christ. It is this belief that brings about our justification. This belief does not and can not occur before our eyes are open when we are born again as regeneration precedes faith. One day those who He has healed their spiritual blindness will enter the kingdom of God and we will have the highest blessing any creature can have: We will see Him as He is! John 9:1-34 This man was born blind and there was nothing he himself or anyone else could do to give him sight and heal his blindness until Jesus came to find him. Jesus touched him and mercifully gave him his sight. After Jesus has healed his eyes, the man then believed that Jesus was the Son of Man and worshipped Him. This man had never seen any light until this day and now was standing eye to eye with the eternal God, the Light of World. We can see the story of salvation unfold in this event. We too are born spiritually blind, and we are unable to see the truth of God or the things of God. We can’t give ourselves sight and neither can anyone else. We are completely hopeless to ever see the truth of God unless God the Holy Spirit comes to us and by His power through regeneration opens our eyes to the truths of God. He removes the scales from our eyes, and we now see the beauty of the gospel and of God. Jesus answered Nicodemus and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” We can only see the things of the kingdom of God after we are born again which is from God and God alone. We too like this man, after our eyes have been opened, then we believe in Christ. It is this belief that brings about our justification. This belief does not and can not occur before our eyes are open when we are born again as regeneration precedes faith. One day those who He has healed their spiritual blindness will enter the kingdom of God and we will have the highest blessing any creature can have: We will see Him as He is! John 8:48-59 Jesus was before Abraham. He was also before Moses and Adam. He was before the sun, the moon, the stars, the earth, the angels, and the universe. He is before all things and in Him all things are held together (Colossians 1:17 ). Abraham looked forward to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ and believed which resulted in righteousness being credited to Him. We now are to look back to the life, death, and the resurrection and believe which credits righteousness to us. Unless we believe Jesus is Ego Eimi (Yahweh) we will die in our sins (John 8:24) . How incomprehensible is it that the one who lived a perfect life for you, laid down His life for you, was raised from the dead for you, covered you with His righteousness, and intercedes for you is the one who was before Abraham, the great I AM! John 8:31-47 We were once slaves to sin doing the will of the devil. We were running from God with our ears unable to hear, our eyes unable to see, and our hearts unable to love and believe the truths of God. Our father was the devil, and we were doing the desires of him. Until one day, God the Holy Spirit, sovereignly came to our dead stone hearts and by His power, brought us to life and gave us a new heart that beats with love and affection for God. It would be those whose hearts were changed and were born again that would receive another act of absolute mercy and grace as He would give us ears to hear. The elect of God are given ears to hear, in their regeneration, to which for the first time can hear their shepherd calling to them. His sheep hear His voice and they come, and He never loses one of them. As our ears are open to His effectual call and we believe, we are adopted as sons of God in union with the sonship of the only begotten Son of God and now call God “Abba Father!” We have gone from slaves of sin and the devil, who don’t belong in His house, to sons who will be in His house forever. What an indescribable act of love, mercy, and compassion to have God remove the scales from our eyes, change our minds, bring our hearts to life to have affection for Him, and open our ears to hear Him! He who has ears, let him hear. John 8:12-30 He is the Light of the world. The Light shined bright when darkness fell upon all the land when He was lifted up on the cross to lay His life down for His Sheep. We were once children of darkness walking in the dark and hating the Light. At the time of our regeneration God came to our hearts that were full of darkness and declared that there be light as He did into the darkness at creation. Now we are new creations and are to walk in the Light as we now love the Light. There will be no need for the dull light of the sun in our eternal home because the true Light will illumine it forever! John 8:1-11 As Christians we were like this woman as we came before Christ naked, guilty, and deserving of death. He would have been perfect not just to stone us, but much worse by sending us to the lake of fire for all eternity. Although we were guilty and deserving of justice, He had compassion and showed us mercy. Those who have forgiven and by faith alone been justified have been clothed in the righteousness of the Righteous judge of the world. And we like this woman heard the most beautiful and life changing words that could ever be spoken by Jesus “I do not condemn you, from now on sin no more!” John 7:31-53 The tension, hatred, and drama surrounding Jesus in Jerusalem is brewing and will continue to escalate as Jesus is nearing His death. The Jews want to kill Him and even though they think now is the right time the hour set from all eternity has not yet come. Jesus will be more hated, more despised, more condemned as He draws closer to His death. It is His words that will continue to offend people and will eventually lead Him to the cross to die. In the wilderness the rock was struck to provide physical water. It would be on the cross that Jesus the true rock would be struck and from Him living water would flow to all who believe. The invitation still goes out today just as Jesus cried out on the Last Day of Feast of Booths “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” If you realize you are thirsty and come to Him to drink, He will satisfy and quench your thirst and you will never thirst again. John 7:14-30 Why do we listen to the words and teaching of Jesus? What credentials does Jesus have for us to listen to Him and believe His words? Jesus was not taught at the most prestigious biblical institutions on this earth or by the most recognized teachers of the time such as Gamaliel. Throughout His earthy ministry many tried to question Him and trip Him up in matters of the Law, but He gave the right answer always. Jesus has the highest credentials of anyone as to why we listen to His words and His teaching: He is sent from the Father and His teaching is from the Father. So, as we read the Bible and hear the truths that Christ declared let us listen and believe because we are hearing the words of the Father as they are being exegeted by the Son. He who has hears let him hear! John 7:1-14 What are your thoughts about the words and teachings of God? The world hates God and the words of God and as a result will hate us. However, the believer should love and cling to every word of God that we find in His sacred scriptures as His words are spirit and life. You must believe the words of God to have eternal life. There are no other words that give us life everlasting as Peter had declared, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.” John 6:66-71 There are hard truths in the Bible that offend people. God is not apologizing for His hard truths or giving us permission to ignore them or deny them just because we don’t like them. We are required to believe, teach, and preach what the Bible says, not what we want it to say. Many hear His truth and keep walking away looking for something else they think will fulfill them and give them life. However, no one will ever find life outside of Christ. Let us be like Peter and answer from the depths of our soul “where could I go, but to you and where would I want to go but to you because you have the words of eternal life!” John 6:48-65 Those who are predestined, called, justified, drawn by the Father, granted the ability to come to the son, appointed to eternal life, born again, come to Christ, believe in Christ, raised on the last day, and are glorified are those who the Father has given to the Son. We are hopeless on our own to come to Him, believe in Him, and be born again as our flesh counts for nothing. To believe that there is still a little something in man to come and believe on our own is to reduce the awe that should be accompanied in response to the sovereign working of the Holy God upon a fallen creature in salvation. The more you know how unable we are to come to Him outside of Him is to then give to Him the glory that is due Him! Why are you born again? Why did you come to Him? Why did you believe? Why will you be raised on the Last Day? Why will you glory God and enjoy Him forever? The answer is God! Therefore, to Him be all the glory forever! Amen! John 6:41-47 God has shown sovereign omnipotence, sovereign love, sovereign grace, and sovereign mercy upon those who He draws as no one can come to Christ without the drawing of the Father! Those who the Father draws are the same people who He chose and gave to the Son in eternity past in election and predestination. Our salvation and redemption is intimate and personal as the Father has set His love and affection on His elect, gave His elect to the Son, and then draws them to His Son! We have a seal upon us by way of the Holy Spirit guaranteeing our inheritance and being raised up on the last day. What started in eternity past with our election will be complete in eternity future in our glorification which speaks to the chain that doesn’t ever rust, doesn’t ever have a weak link, or will ever break: the golden chain of redemption (Romans 8:29-30) . John 6:37-40 So often we think of our salvation as the moment in time and space where we believe and place faith in Christ. That is a part of our salvation, but that is a cheap and shallow view on salvation. The words “to save” are in every tense of the Greek. We were in a sense saved from the foundation of the world through God foreknowing us, we were saved at the time of our regeneration and justification, we are saved and being saved throughout our Christian life, but ultimately the total fulfillment of our salvation will be with God in Heaven when we see Him as He is. The depth and magnitude of our salvation is amazing and can never be truly comprehended. However, let us know that our salvation started and was guaranteed before the world was when the Father chose His elect, wrote their names in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and gave them to the Son. The Son would then die for the those whom the Father had given Him, and the Holy Spirit would regenerate and seal the same people, guaranteeing their inheritance. The chief of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever which is the end result of those who come to Christ. If you have come to Christ, it is because before the world was, the Father loved you with same love in which He loved His Son (John 17:24) and gave you to His only begotten Son! Jesus who came to do the will of the Father would complete His work on the cross as He cried out on behalf of those who had been given to Him as He laid His life down for them and cried “It is finished!” John 6:28-36 The Father sent the Son and the Son descended from Heaven via the incarnation. In the incarnation Jesus humbled Himself, took on flesh, and was born of a woman in Bethlehem. Jesus’ beginning however was not in Bethlehem as He has no beginning for, He has aseity which is life in Himself as He is eternal. The place He was born in the flesh is of significance as Bethlehem means “house of bread.” At the Last Supper Jesus took bread (unleavened bread-represents without sin as Jesus was sinless) and broke it and after giving blessing it said, “this is My body which is given for you” and this was fulfilled on the cross. It is out of the “house of bread” that the Bread of Life had His body broken and His blood shed so that we may have eternal life though Him. All that come to Him have this promise: they will never thirst or hunger and will have eternal life! John 6:26-27 We see that throughout the New Testament being sealed involved the Holy Spirit. Jesus had the seal of the Father upon Him which can be seen by the Holy Spirit descending and lighting on Him at His baptism. The Father declares “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” We as believers are also sealed by the same Holy Spirit of promise when we are saved. We are not His only begotten Son who He is well-pleased with, but we are His adopted Sons whom He has loved before the world was. The Father set His seal upon Jesus to have authority to give the bread that leads to eternal life. Those who are regenerated and sealed by the Holy Spirit have a promise that they will dwell with the Bread of Life forever. The promise that we will have eternal life and dwell with Him forever is the most certain promise we can have because it has been made and sealed not but an earthly king, but by the King of Kings! John 6:15-25 In the beginning the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. The One who spoke all things into existence is now not just hovering but walking on the waters He created. He has all power in heaven and on earth. With the sound of His voice physical waves and storms are calmed and with that same voice the storms in our lives can be calmed. He is telling us the same thing He told His disciples in the boat when are faced with anything in this world “Do not be afraid, Ego Eimi.” John 6:1-14 Jesus told the woman at the well that whoever comes to Him will never thirst again as He is the Living Water. Not only is He the Living Water, He is also the Bread of Life and whoever comes to Him will never hunger. God is our provider and our sustainer. He has blessed us not just a little, but with abundance. Not only do our cups run over, but our baskets are full! John 5:31-47 There is another witness to who Jesus is……..His resurrection! Those who are believers are united with Him in His resurrection. His elect are resurrected spiritually and having a living hope of a physical resurrection on the Last Day! This is the promise to the children of God. The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God! (Romans 8:16 ). John 5:25-30 Those who have been born again have had a spiritual resurrection by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and will one day be resurrected bodily with Him by that same power to eternal life. The resurrection of Christ is our living hope! John 5:18-24 Despite what the Pharisees and many others my believe, Jesus is God. He has the power to give life to whom He pleases both physically and spiritually. Physical healing is miraculous, but pales in comparison to the miracle that a Holy, Sovereign, Eternal God would have mercy on one sinner and rescue them. The pharisees did not know they were standing before the judge of the world in the flesh and would one day stand Him before Him again in the final judgement. We too, will all stand before the judge of the world one day as He will judge in righteousness. Those who He has chosen to given life by sovereignly raising from them from spiritual death to spiritual life and who believe will have and eternal life as they will stand before the judge of all the world and be declared righteous because they are clothed in the righteous garment of the Judge. He whoever has ears, let them hear! John 5:1-17 Jesus has power over sickness, disease, sin, and death. With the sound of His voice, He accomplishes all He desires according to His will as He is the omnipotent, sovereign God. He never stops working as He holds all things together by the power of His mighty word. The Pharisees persecute and want to kill Him because of His claims of deity. However, Jesus can claim deity because in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus is Ego Eimi, the great I AM! John 4:39-54 Our God is omnipotent as with just the sound of His words healing occurs, the universe comes into bring, the Earth is formed, planets are created, the sun and moon are birthed, light is declared into the darkness of the heart of His sheep, and we are declared righteous. He is omnipotent and compassionate. This is our God! Let us hear the words of God being spoken to us through His word and let us, with unwavering belief, walk toward these truths and promises. When we do that, we will be like the royal official in this story as we declare like he did: God's Word and His promises never fail. John 4:25-38 There will be a harvest on the Last Day at the end of the age. Those who are not born again will be gathered and thrown into the furnace of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. However, the righteous will shine forth as the sun into the kingdom of their Father. John 4:16-24 God is Spirit as He is invisible and omnipresent. Those who worship Him MUST worship Him in Spirit and in truth. So often we ascribe praise and worship to Jesus and Him only. So often we put all the emphasis on the Holy Spirit. We should praise God as the triune God He is. However, so often the Father is one who gets pushed to background of our worship. True worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth as those are the worshipers He is seeking. John 4:1-15 This woman had continued to come to this well day after day for water. She endured the shame and guilt of her life, and it was probably the worst part of her day to come and gather water. She would do anything to not have to come and gather water. When Jesus tells her that the water He is talking about will result in her never being thirsty again she wants that water, but she still thinks he is talking physical water. She has been trying to have her thirst quenched, but it has and never will be quenched because she was not looking to the source of living water. People often look for people, accomplishments, and material things to satisfy their thirst, but those things will always leave a person thirsty and never quenched. Any other well a person goes to will leave them empty and thirsty. The only true peace and quenching of thirst is found in God.

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 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.