First Peter

Verses twelve through nineteen: Persecution is not widespread throughout professing Christendom. In fact, there is very little evidence of it to be found. All is pleasant as love, acceptance and inclusion reign supreme in all of Catholicism/Protestantism.  The reason for this is found in verse 18 where Peter writes about those in the church who were on track for salvation. He identified them and separated them from the church masses by referring to them as “the righteous.” The Apostle Paul further explained the relationship between true righteousness and real persecution when he wrote in 2 Timothy 3:12: “All who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” In 1 Peter 4:14 we are told that when persecutors (church members) come against God’s saints they blaspheme Him while the object of their persecution–the righteous–glorify Him. Verses 14,16,19 all speak of being persecuted for the Lord’s sake–for obeying His Word and manifesting His righteousness. That Peter was writing to the church is shown in verse 15 where he address his message to “you.” By looking at 1 Peter 1:1-4 we know that “you” refers to the Israelites in the Church of God. This is revealed by his use of such statements as “grace and peace unto YOU,” “OUR Lord Jesus Christ” Who had “begotten US again” and by referring to the recipients of his letter has having an “inheritance” on layaway in heaven.

Obviously, if few people in the church choose to enter God’s strait gate and walk His narrow way, then many in the church choose to enter Satan’s wide gate and walk his broad way (Mat. 7:13,14). These are those who walk in the darkness of counterfeit religion as manifested in the Counterfeit Church which offers a counterfeit salvation provided by her counterfeit god–Satan. Paul referred to this in Galatians 1:6-9 where he wrote of the perverted gospel many in the church were embracing. He went on to say in 2 Corinthians 11:4 that the result of believing and obeying that perverted gospel was the exaltation of  a false Jesus. The modern church has embraced both the false gospel and the false god of that gospel. Being unwilling to hear or read God’s Truth, nothing will change as we draw near to the return of the Lord. Rarely do a week go by that I do not hear about yet another Satanic practice being hailed as yet another sin that God has led His people to embrace. As a result, nothing that takes place in the name of Jesus surprises me. I have gone beyond wonder at the utter depravity found in the so-called church.  L. J.