The Epistles

&
The Practical Christian Life

Class 5
The General Epistles
© John Stevenson, 2008
The Epistle to the
Hebrews

Jesus is
Better
GOD,
after He spoke long ago
to the fathers
in the prophets
in many portions
and
in many ways,
in these last days
HAS SPOKEN TO US IN HIS SON,
whom He appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the world.
GOD…
HAS SPOKEN TO US IN HIS SON,
WHO He appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the world.
And He is
the radiance of His glory
and
the exact representation of His nature,
and
upholds all things by the word of His power.
When He had made purification of sins,
He SAT DOWN
at the right hand of the Majesty on high;
 Hebrews
1-2 3-4 5-7 8-9 10 11-13
Jesus is Better…
Than
Than As a Providing Offering As a
Moses
the High a better a better way of
or
angels Priest Covenant sacrifice Living
Joshua
How to
Hold to Jesus… live as a
result of
holding
to Jesus
 Hebrews
1-2 3-4 5-7 8-9 10 11-13
Jesus is Better…
Than
Than As a Providing Offering As a
Moses
the High a better a better way of
or
angels Priest Covenant sacrifice Living
Joshua
Beware of…
Neglecting
soFalling
great aaway
Salvation
fromentering
Not the
Living
intoGod
his
Rest
 Hebrews
1-2 3-4 5-7 8-9 10 11-13
Jesus is Better…
Than
Than As a Providing Offering As a
Moses
the High a better a better way of
or
angels Priest Covenant sacrifice Living
Joshua
Beware of… Not going
Neglecting on to who fall
Those
soFalling
great aaway Maturity
away from Jesus
Salvation
fromentering
Not the cannot renew to
Living
intoGod
his repentance
Rest
 Hebrews
1-2 3-4 5-7 8-9 10 11-13
Jesus is Better…
Than
Than As a Providing Offering As a
Moses
the High a better a better way of
or
angels Priest Covenant sacrifice Living
Joshua
Beware of… Not going There remains
Neglecting on to who fall noComing
Those more sacrifice
short of
soFalling
great aaway Maturity for sinsof God
away from Jesus the grace
Salvation
fromentering
Not the cannot renew to ─ that no root of
Living
intoGod
his repentance bitterness cause
Rest trouble
The Epistle of
James

Faith
Leading to
Works
Characteristics of the Epistle
• A Lack of Personal Notes
• Little Mention is made of Christ
• Absence of a mention of Gentiles
in the Church
• Christianity is not presented in
contrast with Judaism
 Epistle of James
Asking God for Wisdom (1:1-18)
Hearing & doing the Word (1:19-27)
Problem with Partiality (2:1-13)
Faith & Works (2:14-21)
Taming the Tongue (3:1-12)
Wisdom from above (3:13-18)
Warnings…
Over Quarrels & Conflicts (4:1-16)
Against Arrogant Boasts (4:11-17)
Against the Rich (5:1-11)
About the need for Prayer (5:12-20)
 Does James contradict the
Apostle Paul and his
teaching about salvation by
grace through faith?
The First Epistle of
Peter

Submissive
Suffering
 Pontus
Bithynia

Cappadocia
Asia
Galatia

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to

those who reside as aliens, scattered
throughout Pontus, Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who
are chosen (1 Peter 1:1)
1 Peter 1:1 - 1 Peter 2:13 - 1 Peter 3:14 -
2:12 3:13 5:14

Call to
Call to Holy Call to
Submissive
Living Suffering
Living
What kinds of persecutions
do Christians around the
world face today?
 What kinds of
persecutions do Christians
in this country face today?
Blessed be the
1 Peter 1:3-4
God and Father
of our Lord
Jesus Christ has caused us
to be born
Who…
again
To… …a living hope
through the
resurrection of Jesus
To… Christ from the dead
…obtain an inheritance which
is imperishable and undefiled
and will not fade away,
reserved in heaven for you…
 In this you 1 Peter 1:6-9
greatly rejoice
though now for a little while,
if necessary, you have been
distressed by various trials
these come
so that… Your faith may be
proved genuine
And…
It may result in praise, glory
and honor
You rejoice…
obtaining as the outcome of your
faith the salvation of your souls
As to this 1 Peter 1:10-15
salvation…

The prophets
searched…

Angels long
to look…

Therefore…
Gird your minds for action
Keep sober
Fix your hope on grace
Be holy
 And if you address as Father
the One who impartially judges
according to each man's work
Conduct yourselves 1 Peter
in fear during the time 1:17-19
of your stay upon earth;
Knowing that…
You were not redeemed
with perishable things
But
You were redeemed
with the blood of Christ
 Since you have in obedience to
the truth purified your souls for 1 Peter
a sincere love of the brethren… 1:22-25
fervently love one
another from the heart
For you have
been born again
Not
…of seed which
is perishable Flesh is
But like grass
imperishable But
through the living and abiding The Word
word of God. abides
 Therefore, putting aside all malice 1 Peter
and all guile and hypocrisy and 2:1-2
envy and all slander…
Long for the pure milk
of the word
That
by it you may grow in
respect to salvation
And coming to Him 1 Peter
as to a living stone 2:4-5
rejected by men
but
choice and precious
in the sight of God
You also…
as living stones
are being built up To offer up…
as a spiritual house for spiritual sacrifices
a holy priesthood acceptable to God
through Jesus
Christ.
 1 Peter 2:6-8
For you who For those who
believe disbelieve
Behold I lay in Zion a The stone which the
choice stone, a precious builders rejected, This
corner stone became the very corner
stone
A stone of stumbling
and a rock of offense
You will not be To this doom they were
disappointed also appointed.
But you are…
1 Peter
a chosen race
2:9-10
a royal priesthood
a holy nation
a people for God's own possession
that…
you may proclaim the excellencies
of Him who has called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light
For
you once were now you are the
not a people
but
people of God
you had not now you have
but
received mercy received mercy.
Submit yourselves for the 1 Peter
Lord's sake to every human 2:13 – 3:13
institution…

Servants, be submissive to your

masters with all respect (2:18)

You wives, be submissive to

your own husbands (3:1)

Husbands likewise, live with your

wives in an understanding way (3:7)

Let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly,

kindhearted, and humble in spirit (3:8)
But even if you should suffer for 1 Peter
the sake of righteousness… 3:14-16
you are blessed.
And
do not fear their intimidation
And
do not be troubled
But
sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always
being ready to make a defense to everyone who
asks you to give an account for the hope that is
in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
And
keep a good conscience so that in the thing in
which you are slandered, those who revile your
good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
For Christ also died for sins once for
all, the just for the unjust, in order
that He might bring us to God, 1 Peter
having been put to death in the 3:18-20
flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
In which also…
He went and made proclamation
to the spirits now in prison,
Who…
once were disobedient, when the patience
of God kept waiting in the days of Noah,
during the construction of the ark,
in which a few, that is, eight persons, were
brought safely through the water.
The end of all things is at hand;

therefore… 1 Peter
be of sound judgment and sober 4:7-9
spirit for the purpose of prayer.

Above all, keep fervent in your

love for one another, because
love covers a multitude of sins.

Be hospitable to one
another without complaint.
Beloved, do not be surprised at
the fiery ordeal among you, which 1 Peter
comes upon you for your testing, 4:12-14
as though some strange thing
were happening to you;
but to the degree that you
share the sufferings of Christ,
keep on rejoicing; so that also
at the revelation of His glory,
you may rejoice with exultation.
If you are reviled for the name
of Christ, you are blessed,
because the Spirit of glory and
of God rests upon you.
For it is time for judgment to begin
with the household of God; 1 Peter
and 4:17-19
if it begins with us first, what will
be the outcome for those who do
not obey the gospel of God?
And
if it is with difficulty that the righteous
is saved, what will become of the
godless man and the sinner?
Therefore
let those also who suffer according to
the will of God entrust their souls to a
faithful Creator in doing what is right.
Therefore…
I exhort the elders among you… 1 Peter
5:1-3
as your fellow elder and witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and a
partaker also of the glory that is to
be revealed,
shepherd the flock of God among
you, exercising oversight
not under compulsion, but voluntarily,
according to the will of God;
and not for sordid gain,
but with eagerness;
nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your
charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
You younger men, likewise
1 Peter
be subject to your elders
5:5-7
and all of you,
clothe yourselves with humility toward one
another, for God is opposed to the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves, therefore,
under the mighty hand of God,
that
He may exalt you
at the proper time,
casting all your anxiety upon Him,
because He cares for you.
Be of sober spirit,
be on the alert.
1 Peter
5:8-10
Your adversary, the devil,
prowls about like a roaring lion,
seeking someone to devour.
But resist him,
firm in your faith,
knowing that the same experiences of
suffering are being accomplished by
your brethren who are in the world.
And after you have suffered for a little while,
the God of all grace, who called you to His
eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect,
confirm, strengthen and establish you.