On top of this mountain, or Rock, Christ was identified by the Father as being His Beloved Son in whom the Father was wellpleased.
Jesus spoke about entering the Kingdom of heaven. Mat 7:21-27 KJV Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (25) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (26) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: (27) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Notice He concentrated on the aspect of a HOUSE ON A ROCK that CANNOT FALL.
2Pe 1:2-11 KJV Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, (3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Jesus and Peter both mentioned the note about coming into a place in which we never fall.
2 Peter 2:10 ...ye shall never fall: (11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Mat 7:21 KJV Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. It is interesting that Peter notes 7 things to add to our faith when we are saved.
2Co 7:1 KJV Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS in the fear of God. Cleanse FROM ALL filthiness of flesh and spirit.
Peter said we've escaped the corruption in the world through lust, but must become partakers of his divine nature. 2 Peter 1 (4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. So putting it altogether, we realize that we perfect holiness, and come to a place where we partake of his divine nature, or become IMAGES OF GOD.
But we must add to our faith. Add ... 1) virtue, 2) knowledge, 3) temperance, 4) patience, 5) godliness 6) brotherly kindness 7) charity. Virtue is courage and manliness or valour. A backbone. Knowledge is wisdom so we are mature believers. Temperance is not allowing the animal part of us to rule us, and it is limiting all earthly pleasures in our lives. Patience is being able to sustain our Christianity and strength in the midst of tribulations and trials. Godliness is true love for God and great respect for God. And brotherly kindness and charity speak for themselves If these things are not added to our faith, we will fall and never enter the eternal Kingdom! These PERFECT HOLINESS.
Like a house on the Rock that never falls when the storms rise.
Jesus told us to hear His words and DO THEM in order to build our the house of our Christianity on the Rock.
Mat 7:(24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 2Pe 1:12-18 KJV Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. (13) Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; (14) Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. (15) Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. (16) For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (17) For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (18) And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. Peter recommended people HEED HIS WORDS.
Mat 17:1-5 KJV And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, (2) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. (3) And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. (4) Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. (5) While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. Things start coming together as we study these scriptures, connecting the transfiguration with Peter's words and Jesus' words in Matt 7.
1 Peter 1:10 ...give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall Our calling and election is OUR HOUSE!
Notice that Mat 7:21 said Doing the will of the Father in heaven will allow us to enter the kingdom.
If we must do the will of the Father in order to enter into the Kingdom, and JESUS MUST ALSO KNOW US to enter the kingdom, then obviously doing God's will is how Jesus COMES TO KNOW US. If we add to our faith, and BUILD ON TOP OF THE ROCK of the Word of Jesus, We shall never fall.
2Pe 1:10-11 KJV Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In order for Peter to mention the point of never falling, and then mentioning an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Jesus, we are to understand that this is the ultimate goal in our lives... to make it and enter this eternal place.
I've seen many fall and so have you.
Peter said we partake of the divine nature when we experience this. 2Pe 1:4 KJV Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. This means we are made into God's image. And after saying we should heed his words, because he was there when The Father spoke to Jesus about being His Son on the mount of transfiguration, we then read: 2Pe 1:19 KJV We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Jesus shone like the sun on that mountain. And Peter said when we take HEED, THE LIGHT SHINES IN A DARK PLACE, and the day dawns and the daystar arises in our hearts! Therefore, when the Father said what He did about Jesus being His Son, and then said HEAR YE HIM, we see Peter's words illustrated perfectly.
2Co 3:18 KJV But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2Co 4:5-6 KJV For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. (6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Paul even said that His message he preached was JESUS. So we are changed into His image, or we partake of His divine nature, when we RECEIVE HIS WORDS AND DO THEM.
When Jesus said I NEVER KNEW YOU, he was saying there was no KNOWLEDGE of JESUS in our hearts because His light was unable to shine in us and change us into His image!
Our hearts LOVE, and that is why KNOWING JESUS, or MUTUALLY LOVING HIM -- He loves us and we love Him back -- is associated here with receiving His word INTO OUR HEARTS like LIGHT in our hearts. Therefore, our HOUSE is on the ROCK OF TRANSFIGURATION.
2Pe 1:3 KJV According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: All things that Peter refer to include the preaching and the gifts of the Spirit etc.
And an important point is that the FATHER told the disciples to HEAR JESUS.
Mat 16:15-17 KJV He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. The FATHER gives His identity. BUT WE MUST HEAR THE SON NEXT. Mat 16:18 KJV And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. His words include BUILDING A HOUSE ON A ROCK!
2Pe 1:10 KJV Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: Our feet are shod with the PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL.
Mat 16:19 KJV And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Notice whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven.
Notice that in both the prayer and the words in 7:21 that Jesus mentions the Kingdom of Heaven and the Father which is in heaven. Mat 6:9-10 KJV After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Mat 7:21 KJV Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. In other words, we pray for the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN COME because we want to enter and are ready to do so because we are doing his will in earth as it is in heaven.
If we're doing his will in the earth as it is in heaven, then we might as well enter His Kingdom of Heaven, and pray for it to come here to earth!
Matt 7:21 is saying that the Kingdom for which we pray to come, noted in Mat 6:9, is what we enter if we do His will in earth as it is in heaven of 6:10. No wonder we beome images of God like Jesus if we do the will of the Father! Joh 5:30 KJV I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. Joh 8:29 KJV And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. He always did the will of the Father.
If we do not ADD TO OUR FAITH, we will be people who build our callings and election on SAND.
When Peter was speaking about building three tabernacles, it was as though The Father told him to stop talking and LISTEN TO JESUS!
So Jesus is the SUN and HE SHINES ON US.
TRANSFIGURED is the same Greek word for CHANGED in 2 Cor 3:18. METAMORPHOO. It is also the same word as TRANSFORMED in Rom 12:2' Rom 12:2 KJV And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. And it is associated with THE WILL OF GOD! These words above were not given to sinners, but believers who knew Jesus' identity!
Rev 2:26-28 KJV And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: (27) And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. (28) And I will give him the morning star. He will give us the MORNING STAR if we overcome. Rev 22:16 KJV I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. He is the MORNING STAR! He gives us HIMSELF by changing us into His image! When He says LET THERE BE LIGHT, He gives us Himself! Isa 60:1-3 KJV Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. (2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. SHINE means LET THERE BE LIGHT. Peter told us that the day star will arise in our hearts! Praise God, let us BUILD OUR ELECTION ON THIS MOUNTAIN OF TRANSFIGURATION! |