To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Fri, 28 Jul 2000 00:01:22 -0000
Subject: HF015-The Crown of a Believer's Life


Hebraics, 

This Bible study centers upon the true essence of a believer's life. 
In Biblical Christianity there is one issue that determines whether a
person is truly a Christian or not. It has nothing to do with our 
denomination. The crown of a believer's walk is in 'knowing the Lord.' 

Bible Study HF015 is entitled 'The Crown of a Believer's Life.' Our 
study Scriptures are found in 2 Peter 1:1,2, where the apostle 
writes, "Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those
who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness
of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you
in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." 

Peter has much more to say, but for the moment let me point out two 
important principles the apostle is presenting with regard to the 
covenant of Christ. First, Peter is saying that believers participate
equally in the kingdom of God. We have all "received a faith of the same
kind as [the apostles.]" 

The term 'of the same kind' is the Greek word 'isotimos.' This is a 
political term and speaks of equal honor. Peter's point is that 
believers share in equal honor. There is no second class citizenship in
the covenant of Christ. We share in equal standing. (This is not an issue
of stewardship, or giftings, or placement, etc. It speaks of citizenship.)

Now for the second principle. Again listen to verse two; "Grace and 
peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our 
Lord." The word for knowledge here is 'epignosis,' which has to do 
with perfect or full knowledge. Epignosis is what a believer acquires
through faith in Jesus. The word is very expressive. It speaks of
acknowledgement, consciousness, and recognition. It especially speaks of
knowing something definitely, or with a degree of thoroughness. 

To appreciate how wonderful this word is in regard to Christian 
doctrine, listen carefully to this: "All things have been handed over to
me by My Father, and no one knows [epignosis] the Son except the Father;
nor does anyone know [episnosis] the Father except the Son, and anyone to
whom the Son wills to reveal Him." (Matt11:27)

If we take this to its logical conclusion, Jesus is saying that in 
the new covenant, all born again people will have innate within them this 
'conscious, definitive, recognition' of the Father. This knowing
experience of God is the crown of a believer's life. And it comes to us
from Jesus Himself. (To appreciate the word 'epignosos' study its usage in
the New Covenant writings.)

Here is where denomination has to take a back seat. The very heart of the
new covenant is the Abba! Father! experience. In this case it doesn't
matter if you are Baptist, United Pentecostal, Assembly of God, Church of
God, Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Methodist, Charismatic, and so on.
You cannot tell a person who knows the Lord that they don't know the Lord.
The promise of the new covenant is, "They will all know Me, from the least
to the greatest of them." (Heb8:11) 

But there is more to this issue of epignosis. Epignosis is a deeping of
our knowledge of truth. This is why Peter said, "Grace and peace be
multiplied to you in the knowledge [epignosis] of God and of Jesus our
Lord." As the truth of God reveals itself in our hearts, the result is a
multiplying of grace and peace. This is why believers go through these
experiences of, "I must have been born again, again." 

No, you weren't born again, again. Truth is at work in your life. And
truth always works the freedom of Christ in us. Paul spoke of this as
'Christ being formed in us.' In another place, Paul says, "That I may know
Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His
sufferings, being conformed ot His death." (Phil3:10)

But we have to yet go a step further. To know the Lord is the 
greatest protection that a believer has. This is why we can 
call 'knowing the Lord' the crown of a believer's life. In this 
knowing the believer is protected from the false prophet. It is this
knowing that causes a believer to distinguish false teaching. It is this
knowing that gives the believer the deepest of assurance that he or she is
in the will of the Lord. It is this 'knowing' that is the sign of a person
who is truly born again. 

How about the false prophet? Listen to one of the more terrifying 
Scriptures of the New Testament. Jesus said, "Many will say to Me on that
day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast
out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will
declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness.'" (Matt7:22,23)

Notice Jesus clearly says He "never" knew these people, whoever they were
(are). Yet Paul clearly says that the Lord "knows those who are His." 

What other evidence do we have that these 'false' performers were 
never true believers? It is nailed down in John 10:26-29. Jesus 
said, "But you do not believe because you are not My sheep. My sheep hear
My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to
them, and they will *never perish.*" (John 10:26-28)

Jesus says there is a knowing relation between both Him and His sheep. 
In verse 5, He says of the sheep, "A stranger they simply will not follow,
but will flee from him, because they do not *know* the voice of 
strangers." Yet in the Matthew passage, Jesus said He *never* knew those 
who pointed to miracles, casting out demons, and prophesying as their 
warrant for acceptance in the kingdom of heaven. 

In the new covenant Jesus did not leave it up to religion nor to the
efforts of man to establish people in His kingdom. He calls us one by one
by one. And He still speaks into our lives in that manner. 

Our walk with the Lord is very personal. But for a believer it is 
a 'knowing' walk. Paul said that one of the greatest guiding 
principles for our walk with the Lord is this kingdom peace that is 
given believers. This is why he said, "So, as those who have been 
chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, 
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." He afterwards 
says, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed 
you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Col3:12,15)

This leaves me with a final thought. When a believer first comes to 
the Lord, he or she is given a pure heart. After a while, for 
whatever reason, the believer may begin to sense a bondage of sorts. This
can come from religion, but it is often the result of error at work in our
life. A religion that is not accurate to the gospel will always produce
bondage. 

What do we do? This again is where 'knowing the Lord' comes in. It 
matters not what your religious background may be, or the cause of 
your bondage. The Lord will faithfully guide you on to safer 
pastures. He has promised to save you. But the believer must learn to
trust the Lord and not lean to their own understanding. 

And so, Peter says, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you." How is 
your grace and peace doing?

Would you like to talk about it? Now is a good time to put your 
questions and/or observations on the table. 

The Bible study is open.

Shalom in Christ, 

Buddy

Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org