Dimensions of the Faith Courses (Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary)

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary has developed the Dimensions of the Faith series for any Christian who desires foundational knowledge in the areas of Old and New Testament, Biblical Interpretation, Church History, Theology, and Missions and Evangelism. The goal of each course is to:
Paint the big picture of what you are learning
Provide you with basic content
Introduce you to keywords that will enlarge your capacity for understanding
Guide you to understanding how greater knowledge of God’s Word can be applied naturally to everyday life and service
Direct you to valuable resources as God’s Word whets your appetite for further study

For a variety of settingsYou may wish to use the materials as a source of your own personal spiritual growth and enrichment. You may also wish to study the materials as a group. The series is especially designed as a leadership tool for churches. What more important areas of study are there for growing and deepening your congregation in the faith? We encourage pastors, especially, to use the series with the formal and informal leadership of your congregation.

In a variety of formatsWe invite you to the series in audio CD and print notebook format. You can listen to the lectures and access the study guides here on the Dimensions website, or for greater flexibility in the home, car, or church, we invite you to order the series from the Ockenga Store

With a goal in mindIf you complete all ten courses, the Ockenga Institute and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary would be privileged to award you a Dimensions of the Faith Certificate. Each course has a short exam that you must pass (21 out of 30) in order to qualify for the Certificate. The exams are meant to aid in the learning process. All exam questions have been taken from the lectures and most of the questions are directly related to material in the study guide.

1 Peter 4:12-19 ESV Study Bible

(1 Peter 4:12–19 ESV)
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 1Peter 4:13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 1Peter 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 1Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 1Peter 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 1Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1Peter 4:18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 1Peter 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

4:12–13 Beloved marks the beginning of a new section of the letter (cf. 2:11). Suffering is the norm for Christians, not a surprising exception. To suffer as a Christian is a call to rejoice as a disciple of Christ, and such joy is the prelude to the joy that is to come at the return of Christ (when his glory is revealed).

4:14 To be insulted because one belongs to Christ is to be blessed by God, because in such times the Spirit of glory, the Holy Spirit, rests upon believers in an especially powerful way. Further, it is the same Spirit that rested on Jesus (Isa. 11:2; cf. Matt. 3:16) who now rests upon the believer.

4:16 The term Christian in the NT is always (except in this case) used by opponents of believers. The term was coined in Antioch (Acts 11:26), and Agrippa used it in his conversation with Paul (Acts 26:28). The term means “follower of Christ.” Christians are to suffer in such a way that they bring honor to God instead of disrepute.

4:17–18 In the OT, household of God (lit., “house of God”) refers to the temple but now God’s people are his temple (see 2:4–10). “Judgment beginning with God’s house” alludes to Ezek. 9:1–6 and Mal. 3:1–4, where the Lord purifies his people. Judgment here is not punitive, however, but purifying and cleansing. The suffering of God’s people refines them (1 Pet. 1:6–7). what will be the outcome … ? If the people of God need purifying, then surely the judgment of those who do not obey the gospel will be much more severe (cf. vv. 3–5). Peter reinforces this point by quoting Prov. 11:31 from the Septuagint (Greek OT). Scarcely saved does not mean that the righteous just barely receive salvation. “Scarcely” (Gk. molis, “with difficulty”) means that the righteous are saved in the midst of suffering; their salvation is not easy and simple.

4:19 This verse encapsulates the message of 1 Peter: Believers suffer in accord with the will of God, for he rules over everything that happens to them. As the sovereign Creator, God is also loving and faithful, therefore they should entrust their lives entirely to him, just as Jesus did when he suffered (2:23). Such trust manifests itself in doing what is good.

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!