the acts of the apostles-第87节

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Bithynia。〃　His　letters　were　the　means　of　reviving　the　courage　and
strengthening　the　faith　of　those　who　were　enduring　trial　and　affliction；　and
of　renewing　to　good　works　those　who　through　manifold　temptations　were　in
danger　of　losing　their　hold　upon　God。　These　letters　bear　the　impress　of
having　been　written　by　one　in　whom　the　sufferings　of　Christ　and　also　His
consolation　had　been　made　to　abound；　one　whose　entire　being　had　been
transformed　by　grace；　and　whose　hope　of　eternal　life　was　sure　and　steadfast。

At　the　very　beginning　of　his　first　letter　the　aged　servant　of　God　ascribed
to　his　Lord　a　tribute　of　praise　and　thanksgiving。　〃Blessed　be　the　God　and
Father　of　our　Lord　Jesus　Christ；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃which　according　to　His
abundant　mercy　hath　begotten　us　again　unto　a　lively　hope　by　the　resurrection
of　Jesus　Christ　from　the　dead；　to　an　inheritance　incorruptible；　and
undefiled；　and　that　fadeth　not　away；　reserved　in　heaven　for　you；　who　are
kept　by　the　power　of　God　through　faith　unto　salvation　ready　to　be　revealed
in　the　last　time。〃

In　this　hope　of　a　sure　inheritance　in　the　earth　made　new；

518

the　early　Christians　rejoiced；　even　in　times　of　severe　trial　and　affliction。
〃Ye　greatly　rejoice；〃　Peter　wrote；　〃though　now　for　a　season；　if　need　be；　ye
are　in　heaviness　through　manifold　temptations：　that　the　trial　of　your　faith；
being　much　more　precious　than　of　gold　that　perisheth；　though　it　be　tried
with　fire；　might　be　found　unto　praise　and　honor　and　glory　at　the　appearing
of　Jesus　Christ：　whom　having　not　seen；　ye　love；　in　whom；　though　now　ye　see
Him　not；　。　。　。　ye　rejoice　with　joy　unspeakable　and　full　of　glory：　receiving
the　end　of　your　faith；　even　the　salvation　of　your　souls。〃

The　apostle's　words　were　written　for　the　instruction　of　believers　in　every
age；　and　they　have　a　special　significance　for　those　who　live　at　the　time
when　〃the　end　of　all　things　is　at　hand。〃　His　exhortations　and　warnings；　and
his　words　of　faith　and　courage；　are　needed　by　every　soul　who　would　maintain
his　faith　〃steadfast　unto　the　end。〃　Hebrews　3：14。

The　apostle　sought　to　teach　the　believers　how　important　it　is　to　keep　the
mind　from　wandering　to　forbidden　themes　or　from　spending　its　energies　on
trifling　subjects。　Those　who　would　not　fall　a　prey　to　Satan's　devices；　must
guard　well　the　avenues　of　the　soul；　they　must　avoid　reading；　seeing；　or
hearing　that　which　will　suggest　impure　thoughts。　The　mind　must　not　be　left
to　dwell　at　random　upon　every　subject　that　the　enemy　of　souls　may　suggest。
The　heart　must　be　faithfully　sentineled；　or　evils　without　will　awaken　evils
within；　and　the　soul　will　wander　in　darkness。　〃Gird　up　the　loins　of　your
mind；〃　Peter　wrote；　〃be　sober；　and　hope　to　the　end　for　the　grace　that　is　to
be　brought　unto　you　at　the　revelation

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of　Jesus　Christ；　。　。　。　not　fashioning　yourselves　according　to　the　former
lusts　in　your　ignorance：　but　as　He　which　hath　called　you　is　holy；　so　be　ye
holy　in　all　manner　of　conversation；　because　it　is　written；　Be　ye　holy；　for　I
am　holy。〃

〃Pass　the　time　of　your　sojourning　here　in　fear：　forasmuch　as　ye　know　that　ye
were　not　redeemed　with　corruptible　things；　as　silver　and　gold；　from　your
vain　conversation　received　by　tradition　from　your　fathers；　but　with　the
precious　blood　of　Christ；　as　of　a　Lamb　without　blemish　and　without　spot：　who
verily　was　foreordained　before　the　foundation　of　the　world；　but　was　manifest
in　these　last　times　for　you；　who　by　Him　do　believe　in　God；　that　raised　Him
up　from　the　dead；　and　gave　Him　glory；　that　your　faith　and　hope　might　be　in
God。〃

Had　silver　and　gold　been　sufficient　to　purchase　the　salvation　of　men；　how
easily　might　it　have　been　accomplished　by　Him　who　says；　〃The　silver　is　Mine；
and　the　gold　is　Mine。〃　Haggai　2：8。　But　only　by　the　precious　blood　of　the　Son
of　God　could　the　transgressor　be　redeemed。　The　plan　of　salvation　was　laid　in
sacrifice。　The　apostle　Paul　wrote；　〃Ye　know　the　grace　of　our　Lord　Jesus
Christ；　that；　though　He　was　rich；　yet　for　your　sakes　He　became　poor；　that　ye
through　His　poverty　might　be　rich。〃　2　Corinthians　8：9。　Christ　gave　Himself
for　us　that　He　might　redeem　us　from　all　iniquity。　And　as　the　crowning
blessing　of　salvation；　〃the　gift　of　God　is　eternal　life　through　Jesus　Christ
our　Lord。〃　Romans　6：23。

〃Seeing　ye　have　purified　your　souls　in　obeying　the　truth　through　the　Spirit
unto　unfeigned　love　of　the　brethren；〃

520

Peter　continued；　〃see　that　ye　love　one　another　with　a　pure　heart　fervently。〃
The　word　of　Godthe　truthis　the　channel　through　which　the　Lord　manifests
His　Spirit　and　power。　Obedience　to　the　word　produces　fruit　of　the　required
quality　〃unfeigned　love　of　the　brethren。〃　This　love　is　heaven…born　and
leads　to　high　motives　and　unselfish　actions。

When　truth　becomes　an　abiding　principle　in　the　life；　the　soul　is　〃born
again；　not　of　corruptible　seed；　but　of　incorruptible；　by　the　word　of　God；
which　liveth　and　abideth　forever。〃　This　new　birth　is　the　result　of　receiving
Christ　as　the　Word　of　God。　When　by　the　Holy　Spirit　divine　truths　are
impressed　upon　the　heart；　new　conceptions　are　awakened；　and　the　energies
hitherto　dormant　are　aroused　to　co…operate　with　God。

Thus　it　had　been　with　Peter　and　his　fellow　disciples。　Christ　was　the
revealer　of　truth　to　the　world。　By　Him　the　incorruptible　seedthe　word　of
Godwas　sown　in　the　hearts　of　men。　But　many　of　the　most　precious　lessons　of
the　Great　Teacher　were　spoken　to　those　who　did　not　then　understand　them。
When；　after　His　ascension；　the　Holy　Spirit　brought　His　teachings　to　the
remembrance　of　the　disciples；　their　slumbering　senses　awoke。　The　meaning　of
these　truths　flashed　upon　their　minds　as　a　new　revelation；　and　truth；　pure
and　unadulterated；　made　a　place　for　itself。　Then　the　wonderful　experience　of
His　life　became　theirs。　The　Word　bore　testimony　through　them；　the　men　of　His
appointment；　and　they　proclaimed　the　mighty　truth；　〃The　Word　was　made　flesh；
and　dwelt　among　us；　。　。　。　full　of

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grace　and　truth。〃　〃And　of　His　fullness　have　all　we　received；　and　grace　for
grace。〃　John　1：14；　16。

The　apostles　exhorted　the　believers　to　study　the　Scriptures；　through　a
proper　understanding　of　which　they　might　make　sure　work　for　eternity。　Peter
realized　that　in　the　experience　of　every　soul　who　is　finally　victorious
there　would　be　scenes　of　perplexity　and　trial；　but　he　knew　also　that　an
understanding　of　the　Scriptures　would　enable　the　tempted　one　to　bring　to
mind　promises　that　would　comfort　the　heart　and　strengthen　faith　in　the
Mighty　One。

〃All　flesh　is　as　grass；〃　he　declared；　〃and　all　the　glory　of　man　as　the
flower　of　grass。　The　grass　withereth；　and　the　flower　thereof　falleth　away：
but　the　word　of　the　Lord　endureth　forever。　And　this　is　the　word　which　by　the
gospel　is　preached　unto　you。　Wherefore　laying　aside　all　malice；　and　all
guile；　and　hypocrisies；　and　envies；　and　all　evilspeakings；　as　newborn　babes；
desire　the　sincere　milk　of　the　word；　that　ye　may　grow　thereby：　if　so　be　ye
have　tasted　that　the　Lord　is　gracious。〃

Many　of　the　believers　to　whom　Peter　addressed　his　letters；　were　living　in
the　midst　of　heathen；　and　much　depended　on　their　remaining　true　to　the　high
calling　of　their　profession。　The　apostle　urged　upon　them　their　privileges　as
followers　of　Christ　Jesus。　〃Ye　are　a　chosen　generation；〃　he　wrote；　〃a　royal
priesthood；　an　holy　nation；　a　peculiar　people；　that　ye　should　show　forth　the
praises　of　Him　who　hath　called　you　out　of　darkness　into　His　marvelous　light：
which　in　time　past　were　not　a　people；　but　are　now　the　people　of　God：　which
had　not　obtained　mercy；　but　now　have　obtained　mercy。

522


〃Dearly　beloved；　I　beseech　you　as　strangers　and　pilgrims；　abstain　from
fleshly　lusts；　which　war　against　the　soul；　having　your　conversation　honest
among　the　Gentiles：　that；　whereas　they　speak　against　you　as　evildoers；　they
may　by　your　good　works；　which　they　shall　behold；　glorify　God　in　the　day　of
visitation。〃

The　apostle　plainly　outlined　the　attitude　that　believers　should　sustain
toward　the　civil　authorities：　〃Submit　yourselves　to　every　ordinance　of　man
for　the　Lord's　sake：　whether　it　be　to　the　king；　as　supreme；　or　unto
governors；　as　unto　them　that　are　sent　by　him　for　the　punishment　of
evildoers；　and　for　the　praise　of　them　that　do　well。　For　so　is　the　will　of
God；　that　with　well…doing　ye　may　put　to　silence　the　ignorance　of　foolish
men：　as　free；　and　not　using　your　liberty　for　a　cloak　of　maliciousness；　but
as　the　servants　of　God。　Honor　all　men。　Love　the　brotherhood。　Fear　God。　Honor
the　king。〃

Those　who　were　servants　were　advised　to　remain　subject　to　their　masters
〃with　all　fear；　not　only　to　the　good　and　gentle；　but　also　to　the　froward。
For　this　is　thankworthy；〃　the　apostle　explained；　〃if　a　man　for　conscience
toward　God　endure　grief；　suffering　wrongfully。　For　what　glory　is　it；　if；
when　ye　be　buffeted　for　your　faults；　ye　shall　take　it　patiently？　but　if；
when　ye　do　well；　and　suffer　for　it；　ye　take　it　patiently；　this　is　acceptable
with　God。　For　even　hereunto　were　ye　called：　because　Christ　also　suffered　for
us；　leaving　us　an　example；　that　ye　should　follow　His　steps：　who　did　no　si