Set Apart your Hearts

now, in that, your hearts set apart Christ, Lord... (1 Peter 3:15)

The word 'set apart ἁγιάζω (hagiazō) means to consecrate, set apart as holy, sanctify, hallow, purify. When Jesus taught the disciples to pray he starts with this word, "our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name." (Matthew 6:9). God is holy, his name is to be revered but perhaps the purpose of starting our prayers with such recognition is to set apart our hearts to him? Certainly, Peter explains to us what it looks like to set apart our hearts, it is not the outward beauty that pleases God, "rather the inward person of the heart, the incorruptibility of a meek and tranquil spirit, which in the sight of God is precious" (1 Peter 3:4).

therefore put aside all uncleanness and abundant depravity, receiving in meekness the implanted word of God, that is powerfully able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

Peter writes the goal of faith is the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:9). This really puts emphasis on the importance of adoption, in which the Holy Spirit is one of adoption testifying we are children of God (Romans 8:15-16; Ephesians 1:4-5). There are three that testify, spirit, blood, and water and they are one (1 John 5:7-8). Our adoption is not full as we await the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23). In between being a spiritual man, and in an unredeemed body in which sin dwells and evil is near, there lies the soul of man. And that which is powerfully able to save our souls, the implanted word of God, we receive in meekness. There is the testimony of water, which I believe is the purification of the body of sin, not like the washing of dirt from the body, but of a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21).

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, (1 Peter 4:1, ESV)

What is a good conscience toward God? It is a place where one can say it is well with the soul. It is walking in the Light and not darkness. It is the setting apart of the body, to the Lord. It is consecrating the heart to the Lord. It is not being in a wretched state as Paul writes, delighting inwardly in the laws of God but doing the things he hates. Peter writes we are to put aside the body and its fleshly desires that war against our soul. This is baptism, we have died with Christ, crucified with him, united in his death, conformed to his death, so to be raised, to walk in newness of life.

because existing three that testify, the Spirit and the water and the blood also the three exist to the extent one. (1 John 5:7-8)

The testimony of water is one or agrees with the testimony of Spirit and blood. In other words, the true children of God will grow up to bear fruit of such a testimony, of the purification of the body of sin.
John writes those born of God will overcome, they will not continue in sin (1 John 3:9; 1 John 5:18; 1 John 2:13). What good is it to cleanse the outside and not the inside? This is hypocrisy; to cleanse the outside while the inside is unclean (Matthew 23:25). Putting on my nice Sunday clothes and going to church dirty inside. Having communion with Christ without judging sin done in the body. Are we called to heaven, to see God and be before him? then "just as the one calling you is holy also come into existence holy in all your conduct" (1 Peter 1:15). The inward new birth of the Spirit and the implanted word of God will bring about the outward fruit of purity. This purification of the body of sin, this giving life to the mortal body, regeneration, transformation, is through consecrating, setting apart. How does one get there?

receiving in meekness the implanted word of God, that powerfully able to save your souls (James 1:21).

The word of God is incorruptible, to receive it with meekness as the implanted word changes people, saves the soul. This is needed as in the body sin dwells, and we are to consider it dead in Christ. This will happen when we receive in meekness the implanted word of God, consecrating our hearts to him. Consecrated in truth, even Jesus as the Son of Man consecrated himself in truth (John 17:17-19). "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). How can I have an inheritance and see God? be meek and have a pure heart. How can I have a pure heart? Receive in meekness the implanted word of God. Meekness and purity go together. Receive in meekness the implanted word of God and consecrate your hearts Christ Lord, they are the same. "Do not let your beauty be external... rather, of the inward person of the heart, of unfading beauty, of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great value in God’s sight" (1 Peter 3:3-4). There is a reasonable service and sacrifice acceptable to God of presenting the body a living sacrifice unto holiness (Romans 12:1).

in that, your hearts set apart Christ, Lord... (1 Peter 3:15)

This is what God desires. "For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in offerings. The sacrifices of God; a broken spirit (soul, life, inward man). A broken contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17, ESV). God esteems highly, not an outward only display of beauty, piety, and good works, but that which comes from the inner person of the heart, the unfading beauty of a meek and tranquil spirit. It is the heart set apart, consecrated, receiving in meekness the implanted word of God that will bring about this most precious thing in the eyes of God.

The Crucible

" The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies ." 1 He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. The definition of zeal is great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective. It is this time, to arouse zeal, shout, raise a war cry! As Paul writes, " In diligence not lagging in spirit being fervent serving the Lord ." 2 Our energy comes in the bond of brotherhood, formed in the crucible of combat. A crucible is place of severe test or trial, it is derived from Latin crucibulum ("night-lamp, metallurgic melting-pot"), and is a derivative of crux ("cross"). 3 The Bible speaks of the crucible of the cross for Jesus and for those who follow Him. The purpose of a soldier is two-fold; to accomplish the mission and to care for one another, as commanded. Each soldier has a role to play on a team. Without knowin...

One Grace

" moreover, One, to each of us has been given Grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ ." 1 Grace is a founding principle of Christianity. It is by Grace we grow into the fullness of Christ through faith; " to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. " 2 Without Grace we will never reach this fullness. The weakness in the Law was it attempted to do it in the flesh, and people failed over and over, so God in His infinite wisdom, unveiled this mystery, through faith in Christ we have grace to boldly approach His throne of Grace, to receive grace and mercy as needed! This gift of Grace is properly understood by examining this verse in three parts; moreover, One Grace, to each of us has been given, according to the measure of the gift of Christ . First, we understand, One grace, it is easy to miss the One, and this verse is translated in different ways, I believe it says One Grace and i...

Truth All Around You

Stand then girding your loins in truth and putting on the breastplate of righteousness. * How can a soldier stand in battle if he has not been prepared, trained? How can a house stand if it has been built on sand? How can we stand against spiritual forces if we have not been prepared? Our battle is not against flesh and blood so in regards to such, what good is armor to a child or how can one stained with dirty clothes stand with a defiled conscious? To stand one must be prepared, be his workmanship, someone prepared beforehand to do battle. For this purpose you begin girding your loins in truth, putting on truth, wrapping truth all around you. ... girding your loins in truth... * The word girding is perizōnnymi (from peri "about, around" and zōnnymi "put on") meaning around about put on. Often gird your loins with truth is translated as putting on a belt. Surely we can say truth holds on the garments and confidence in truth is important in standing. I like th...

Those He Calls He Equips

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen . Hebrews 13:20-21 When God calls us he equips us, the God of Peace, the one who brought us from the dead by the blood of the Eternal Covenant, will equip you so to do his will. So in this concept of being equipped, we see the calling being irrevocable. "For it is God who works in you to Will and to act on behalf of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13 God called you, he's working in you equipping you to work on behalf of his good pleasure. "So that the man of God may be complete fully equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:17 . In Hebrews 12 we read God disciplines those he loves, so that we share in his holy character, as the scriptures...

Word Of Life

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. " 1 Jesus is the Word, He was in the beginning with God. 2 All things were made through Him. He is the Word and Light of men, the way, the path, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." 4 Thus we can say as the Psalmist, Jesus, the Word, is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path. 5 "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." 6 Concerning the Word of Life, " the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life ," Proclaimed, that our joy may be complete, a glory like that in the beginning, fellowship with the Father, with one another, and with his Son Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot...

Hypocrisy and Self-righteousness

“ Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you ” Matthew 7:1–2 In Mathew 7 Jesus is speaking out against hypocrisy, he coins the term, it is exposed as a very serious sin. Because of their hypocrisy these religious leaders were leading his people astray. Today it is the same, it is a top reason why people do not attend a church. Of course we blame the sinner and hear cute little sayings like, come join us you will fit right in... which makes light of the situation. On a more serious note, Jesus gives seven woes to the Pharisees, he even warns them of hell fire and damnation, for their hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Hypocrisy is basically pretending to be something you are not, it is not to be confused with our imperfection. Our righteousness is found in Christ alone, not in self. Hypocrisy and self righteousness is usually seen by others when we in our own righteousn...

Formed Into The Same Image

because those he foreknew also he predestined, to form to the image of His Son, to the extent He exists the firstborn of many brethren . * The word for form in this verse is σύμμορφος ( symmorphos ) from sym "same, with, or together" and morphos "form or shape." We are being formed, shaped into the same image as Christ. This word has the same root word morphos as in transformed, μεταμορφόω ( metamorphos ) from meta "among, with, after" and morphos "form or shape." Into the same form as Christ we are predestined. Adam was a living soul, but Christ was a life giving Spirit. Adam was formed in the image of God but that image was corrupted. In Christ we are formed a new, so that image is being restored. To be a Christian is more than just doing good works, more than just going to heaven, we are called to be formed into an image after Christ, Christ like. who will transfigure our lowly bodies into the same form as his glorious body, according t...

Feed On Me

"Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me." 1 This "living" Jesus speaks of is eternal or everlasting Life but what does this mean? Is this life an after life in heaven as traditionally taught or something we begin to experience here on earth? We read that Life is in knowing, a personal experience, " this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent ." 2 We receive the Spirit of life when we first believed, but the true disciple of Christ is known by abiding, these have learned that Life is in eating the bread of Life and drinking living water. Life is in Christ, all else has become as rubbish but to know Christ, and the Life he gives, "so also the one who feeds on Me will live." "So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples. and you will know the truth, ...

Kiss the Son

Why do the nations rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel, together against Yahweh and against his anointed. Break apart their bands and cast away their cords. He who sits in the heavens laughs, Yahweh scoffs. Then shall he speak unto them with anger, fury, and dismay. I established my King upon Zion, My Holy Hill. I will declare the decree of Yahweh who said, you are my son, you I have this day begotten. Ask concerning, I will establish nations your inheritance Your possession the uttermost parts of the earth. You shall afflict them with a staff of iron on a potter's vessel dashed to pieces. Now, O, kings be wise, be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, because brutish is his wrath. Blessed are all who put their trust in Him. 1

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