JRM Sison Chapter - November 1, 2009

Peter was a man who loves to talk. He is one perfect example of a man that can’t backup his words. Luke 22:31-34 says it all,
     ³¹ And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
     ³² But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
     ³³ And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
     ³⁴ And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Jesus knew right from the start that Peter would deny Him; and not only once but thrice! One fact can be gathered in this happening; Jesus couldn’t be pleased by words alone. It will take more than words to please the Lord. Peter was a man of words. Note that Jesus said in v.33 that Peter was not yet converted! Although Peter followed Jesus and became His disciple, he was not yet a true convert! Jesus knew the capability of Peter; that was the reason why Jesus prayed for him. Peter will be used by the Lord to strengthen those who believed in Jesus. Even if the Lord had seen from the beginning up to the denial of Peter that Peter is all talk, He still knew that Peter would be a great leader; a leader that will not only be talking but also walking and doing!

Lovest Thou Me?

Before Peter started his ministry, Jesus asked him, “Lovest thou me?” three times! It is as if Jesus needs an assurance from Peter; that Jesus doubts Peter’s answers. But that was not the case; for every answer of Peter, Jesus said unto him to FEED His sheep/lambs. Jesus had given Peter a responsibility; a responsibility to strengthen the brethren. What better way to strengthen a person than to be fed PROPERLY. Jesus knew what would happen to other leaders not only in the New Testament times but especially now. Jesus wanted an assurance not on Peter’s love but on his acceptance in the responsibility that will be given to him.

Increase Our Faith

Even though Peter was not yet converted before he denied Jesus, he had already faith in Jesus. But the faith that he had received was not enough; he denied the Lord three times. Note what Jesus had said in Matt 10:33, “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” and in Luke 12:9, “But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” Denial of Jesus meant denial before the Father and His angels. Peter’s denial was worst than Judas’ betrayal. The only thing that saved Peter was his faith. He repented on what he had done. True enough that he ran away from Jesus but he came back and declared not only his allegiance to the Lord but also his love. When the disciples desired that their faith be increased, Jesus put it plainly that faith is earned (Luke 17:5-10). True that confession about Jesus Christ as our God and Saviour leads to salvation but a confession is not about babbling but about living; as Christians we don’t brag about it but we show it through our lives and daily living. Peter knew this; that is why he came back not the sniveling coward that he was but the strong and mighty leader that the Lord was expecting in Peter’s life. He even wrote, citing Leviticus 11:44, “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16).” He placed “walking in holiness” on top of his repertoire.
What kind of holiness was Peter talking about? Surely it wasn’t like that of the Pharisees. The holiness was about one’s personal and spiritual growth. Like a child that learned how to crawl before he learned how to stand; learning how to stand before he could walk; learning how to walk before he could run; learning how to run before he could dance and make exhibitions. Thus, foundation is very important. What is the foundation of holiness? Jesus said it clearly, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me - John 14:23-24.” The foundation of holiness is “to keep His words”.

The Perfect Word of God

Is there such a man or thing that is perfect? There is! Jesus had said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect - Matt. 5:48.” Our Father in heaven is perfect! Now, as a Perfect God, He must have His Perfect Word given to the world for us to understand His plans. The Bible states that the Word is Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God (John 1:1-3, 14; John 3:16; 1 Timothy 3:16). Rev. 19:13, 16 named Jesus Christ as the Word of God! Therefore, our Perfect God had given us the Perfect Word of God; and that is our Holy Bible… or is it? Do you believe that what you are holding in your hand is God’s Perfect Book? Do you EVEN BELIEVE that there is such a PERFECT Book?

Notice these very important logical explanations about God’s Book (Holy Bible):
     ·     If Jesus Christ is the Word of God and the Word of God is the Holy Bible, therefore Jesus Christ is the Holy Bible.
     ·     If the Holy Bible is lacking in verses and Jesus Christ is the Holy Bible, therefore Jesus Christ is lacking.
     ·     If the Holy Bible is incorrect and Jesus Christ is the Holy Bible, therefore Jesus Christ is incorrect.
     ·     If the Holy Bible is inerrant and infallible and Jesus Christ is the Holy Bible, therefore Jesus Christ is inerrant and infallible.

Someone once ask me, “Why make an issue over the versions of the Bible? Why not stick on teaching the basic doctrine of salvation?” The answer is quite simple: I am God’s servant. As God’s servant it is my duty to:
     ·     Defend His Name
     ·     Defend His Son
     ·     Defend His Word
     ·     Obey His very Word in the Name of His Son.
And that is done in order! Such questions belong to people who forgot to “STUDY” God’s Word; they just want to “DO their BEST” or “BE DILIGENT” or “WORK HARD” or “MAKE EVERY EFFORT” (see 2 Timothy 2:15). Such questions are raised up by people who are not “MADE” free because somebody have to “SET” it first (see John 8:32).

There are many reasons why we must have a Perfect Bible in our hands. The disciples were with Jesus Christ, our God and Saviour, yet they desire to know Him more! What about us? Will our loving God deny us the pleasure of knowing His only begotten Son? Will our Perfect God give us or even allow us to read an incomplete knowledge of the Son? Will our God of peace give us a Bible that will confuse us?

Consider this: we have at least 200 English Bible versions available today. If we have all those versions in the church and we recite 1 Timothy 3:16, what will we hear? 1 Cor 14:33 states, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” How about this: if we have God’s Perfect Book in the form of our King James Bible and recite the same verse, what happens? Peace and harmony will be the effect.

False Christs Means False Bibles

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time - 1 John 2:18.
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect - Mark 13:22.
These two verses show that the antichrist shall come and they are the false Christs that will seduce even the elect. Consider again the simple logic:
If Christ is the Bible and there shall rise false Christs in the world, therefore false Bibles shall also rise in the world. Note that if there is an antichrist there must be an anti-Bible. The antichrist will never declare himself as the false Christ but will show himself as godly and holy like Christ. The antichrist’s mission is to deceive and seduce many, even the elect. So, how can the antichrist win membership if he is going to fight the world directly? By all means, the antichrist will work stealthily and convincingly.
Let us open our eyes and see clearly what is true and what is not.

Are You Bold Enough?

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus - Acts 4:13.
I have a question for all of us, “How bold are we for the Lord?” Sad to say, many Christians right now are good compromisers. They compromised their faith and belief with the standards of living and fame. Truly that a Christian’s downfall is the 3G’s; Girls, Gold, Glory. Let us face the fact that the Lord wanted us to hear, obey and keep His words. If a situation or a thing will compromise our faith and belief, then by all means, reject it. We must be bold enough to reject what the devil is offering us. We must be bold enough to mention and proclaim God’s Truth. When Jesus had said in Acts 1:8 that we are to become witnesses, He meant that we must tell the Truth. And who is the Truth? John 14:6 states that Jesus is the Truth.

Are you man enough to proclaim the True Words of God? Or are you compromising with the world and proclaim the perverted versions of God’s Words? Decide right now; A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump - Gal. 5:9. Either you serve God or mammon. Choose… as if you have a choice.