1 Peter: Elect Exiles of the Dispersion

Some of the first readers of 1 Peter were likely in Jerusalem years earlier on Pentecost.  Jews from Pontus and Asia had heard the apostles speaking miraculously in their own native language on that day (Acts 2:8-11).  Some of them were likely among the 3,000 who had obeyed the gospel that day (Acts 2:36-41).  Thus, some of the original recipients of 1 Peter might have been there with Peter on the day the church began.… Read More 1 Peter: Elect Exiles of the Dispersion

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Zechariah: “They Will Look On Me Whom They Have Pierced”

Christ is speaking in first person through Zechariah’s prophecy.  That is made clear when He cited Himself as the one “whom they have pierced,” a foretelling of the crucifixion.  Thus, “I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication” could be a prophecy that Christ would pour out the Holy Spirit.  Speaking of Jesus on the Day of Pentecost, Peter said, “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear” (Acts 2:33).  Thus, this prophecy could have its fulfillment in the beginning of the church on Pentecost, with “the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem” referring to the Jews in Jerusalem who obeyed the gospel that day (Acts 2:38-41), and as a secondary application to the church as a whole, the spiritual house of David and the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. 12:22-23).… Read More Zechariah: “They Will Look On Me Whom They Have Pierced”

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Church Discipline: There’s More to be Said…

If someone in the church wants to get us involved in practicing discipline against someone else in the church, we must make sure that their reasons for doing so are completely honorable and solely revolving around concern for that person’s soul and the sanctity of the church as a whole.  This is why church discipline is intended as a result of actual sin as defined as such by Scripture rather than one’s own standards and scruples, and is to be done under the wise and prudent parameters of Matthew 18:15-16 before any further action involving the church and disfellowship is taken.… Read More Church Discipline: There’s More to be Said…

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Zechariah: “The House of David Shall Be Like God”

Zechariah’s statement, “…the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord, going before them” (12:8c), is likely a figurative prophetic reference to Jesus.  Christ was a descendant of David’s house (2 Sam. 7:12-16; Ps. 132:11; Is. 11:1; Jer. 23:5; cf. Matt. 1:1; Lk. 1:32, 69; John 7:42; Acts 2:30; 13:23; Rom. 1:3; 2 Tim. 2:8; Rev. 22:16).  John depicted Jesus as “the Word” who “was God” and “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1, 14; cf. Phil. 2:5-7; 2 Cor. 4:4b). … Read More Zechariah: “The House of David Shall Be Like God”

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