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"Distributing the Good Gospel Materials of the Pioneer Tract Society"
=20
PO Box 2392 Daly City, CA 94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752 =
Fax: 1-650-757-5750
Webpage: http://www.isaiah58.com E-Mail:
=20
Denying Jesus
"Now Peter sat outside, in the palace; and a damsel came unto him, =
saying, `Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.' But he denied before =
them all, saying, `I know not what thou sayest.' And when he was gone =
out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were =
there, `This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.' And again he =
denied with an oath, `I do not know the man.' And after a while came =
unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, `Surely thou also art =
one of them, for thy speech betrayeth thee.' Then began he to curse and =
to swear, saying, `I know not the man.' And immediately the ***** crew. =
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, `Before the =
***** crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.' And he went out, and wept =
bitterly." - Mt.26:69-75
In the pre-dawn chill, impetuous Peter warmed himself by the fire =
in the courtyard of the high priest's palace and vehemently denied =
knowing the Lord. Doubtless he made himself believe that doing so was =
his only escape. It will not stretch the imagination too far to suppose =
that in his dark hour of reasoning he was thinking, "If I am killed or =
thrown into prison, how can I help the Master?" He could even have been =
planning to rescue Jesus by organizing his friends. Whatever his =
thoughts were, they seemed logical to him; that is, until the ***** =
crowed and "the Lord turned and looked at Peter." It was then that Peter =
for the first time saw himself as he really was: a poor, wilted, =
backslidden apostle.
Earlier that evening Peter, in the high optimism of faith, =
declared to Jesus, "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny =
thee." Now, a few hours later, we find this same apostle to be of =
another persuasion, his faith gone, and he in the bondage of fear. It =
was when he began to chart his own course that he began to doubt and to =
become fearful of his enemies. The conclusion of a dying faith is fear. =
The heart that trusts in God has a shield through which neither fear nor =
doubt may pass.
As a fisherman, Peter had many times matched his courage against =
the winds and waves on the Sea of Galilee. He did not run from danger so =
long as he was familiar with the dangers which confronted him. How =
boldly he drew his sword to defend Jesus when the soldiers and servants =
of the high priest came to arrest him in the Garden of Gethsemene! But =
the little maids in the palace confronted Peter with another type of =
warfare - the uncertainties of a trial before the council and the =
bitter, merciless questions of the elders. How was he to fight these =
experienced rulers? How foolish they would make him appear before all =
the people! He would have died for his Master in a physical contest, but =
in a battle of spirits he fled before the probing questions of little =
girls. Peter was neither the first or the last to fail this test.
The only hope for Peter was that he had not lost faith in the =
forgiving love of his Master. What a change awaited this faint-hearted =
disciple! In only a few weeks, he possessed the spiritual strength to =
stand in Jerusalem and proclaim the gospel to the same angry mob that =
now was having his Lord sent to the cruel cross of Calvary. When the =
time came, thank God, he wasn't afraid. There is no room for anxiety in =
the heart which is filled with God's Spirit. Where there is faith, there =
cannot be fear. Peter's fear and unbelief had so dominated him that he =
disobeyed openly, and God had to refuse his service. Then Peter proved =
his sinful condition by denying the Lord outright. But, as we have =
stated, a few weeks later Peter was a completely different man.
On Pentecost morning, Peter was transformed by the grace of God =
which is greater than all sin, and he fearlessly proclaimed, "Let all =
the house of Israel assuredly know that God hath made that same Jesus =
both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36). This apostle need weep no tears of =
remorse for his actions now. He could face danger and death joyously, =
for his works and words were in accord with Him who had restored to him =
the joy of his salvation.
Yes, men saw a new Simon Peter that day, no longer behind "locked =
doors for fear of the Jews", but boldly standing in the temple =
courtyard, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Twice he was brought =
before the council and warned to stop preaching. His boldness astonished =
the leaders of Israel, for even to them as they sat in their judgment =
seats he preached Christ as man's only hope of salvation (Acts 4:5-12). =
Neither prison nor the lash could stop this reclaimed apostle. Once, =
after being beaten, he departed from the council rejoicing that he was =
worthy to suffer shame for the sake of Jesus (Acts 5:40-41).
"In Works They Deny Him"
Thousands are today denying their acquaintance with this same Lord =
that Peter once denied. Their denial may not be as obvious as Peter's =
was, perhaps, for he denied our Lord in both works and words. But notice =
that the works came first. On the night of Jesus's betrayal and arrest, =
Peter attacked the high priest's servant with a sword. This was not the =
behavior of a faithful follower of the meek Son of God. Later that same =
night, Peter's verbal denial of Jesus was no greater a denial of the =
Lord than was his attack on those who arrested Jesus; it was merely =
another way of denying him.
It would be difficult to find anyone who has been forgiven of sin =
by Christ who has backslidden so far as to verbally deny him; at the =
same time, there are many who deny Jesus by the way they try to do him =
service, just as Peter denied him by taking up the sword in the garden. =
Paul speaks of such brothers by saying, "They profess that they know =
God, but in works they deny him" (Tit.1:16). May God give us grace to =
see that if we fail to obey His Word, we are already denying Him in =
works, our continued lip-service notwithstanding. "Faith without works," =
wrote James, "is dead" (Jas.2:17). Worship without obedience is nothing =
more than flattery.
Yes, indeed, my reader, we can by our works deny the Lord we claim =
to serve and be just as far from God's approval as Peter ever was. For =
instance, Paul declared, "But if any provide not for his own, and =
especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is =
worse than an infidel" (1Tim.5:8).
As we view this generation of pleasure-loving believers we are =
made to recall Paul's description of them: "Having a form of godliness, =
but denying the power thereof." He further warns us, "From such turn =
away" (2Tim.3:5). Peter, in describing this same class of unholy =
believers says, "But there were false prophets also among the people, =
even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring =
in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them" =
(2Pet.2:1). Jude comments on this same group by telling us, "For there =
are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to =
this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into =
lasciviousness [lustfulness], and denying the only Lord God, and our =
Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you =
once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved [rescued] the people out =
of the Land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not" (Jude =
4,5). Please note that none of these verses refer to believers who =
verbally deny Jesus; on the contrary, they claimed to speak for him. =
Nevertheless, their denial of the Lord was real.
Reader, are you among the multitude of those who worship the Lord, =
but deny Jesus by your works? Having found many such worshippers among =
His Old Testament people, the Lord lamented, "This people draweth nigh =
unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips, but their =
heart is far from Me", adding the dreadful statement, "In vain do they =
worship Me" (Mt.15:8-9). Jesus was referring to more than a verbal =
denial when he said, "Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I =
also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Mt.10:33). This warning =
was repeated by Paul in his second letter to Timothy, when he wrote, "If =
we deny him, he will also deny us" (2:12).
Do you have the witness of the holy Ghost that your life is free =
from sin? Or does your life proclaim, "I know him not"? Are you =
uncertain - this very moment - that your heart is free from evil? If you =
are not sure, it is time for you to realize that as long as you remain =
in this condition you are denying the Son of God openly.
When all sin is confessed, and all doubt is removed from our =
lives, when we submit to the divine will instead of following our own, =
when the love of God rules our hearts, and when we wholly submit to the =
Word of Truth, then - and not before - we do no longer deny the Lord, =
the one who bought us with his own blood. The true followers of Jesus =
Christ are distinguished not merely by their speaking well of Jesus, but =
also by their submission to his will. For this reason Jesus said, "By =
their fruits [works] ye shall know them."
Questions? Log onto the Internet, Click Here,
and you can E-mail them to: GSAVELLI@aol.com=20
=20
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<DIV> </DIV>
<P>
<P>
<CENTER><FONT face=3Darial size=3D3><B>"Distributing the Good Gospel =
Materials of=20
the Pioneer Tract Society"</B></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER>
<TABLE width=3D550 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR height=3D35>
<TD width=3D550 bgColor=3D#000000 height=3D35><IMG height=3D35=20
src=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
Shared/Stationery/bartop.gif"=20
width=3D550 border=3D0></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT face=3Dverdana size=3D1>PO Box 2392 Daly =
City, CA=20
94017-2392 Phone: 1-650-757-5752 Fax:=20
1-650-757-5750<BR>Webpage: http://www.isaiah58.com =
=20
E-Mail: </CENTER>
<P></FONT> </P>
<P>
<CENTER>
<TABLE width=3D600 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD><IMG height=3D241 hspace=3D10=20
src=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
Shared
Stationery/reli58.gif"=20
width=3D150 align=3Dleft vspace=3D5 border=3D1> <!-- ******** END =
OF HEADER *************** --><A name=3Dtop></A><FONT=20
size=3D4>
<CENTER><FONT color=3Dpurple>
<H1>Denying Jesus</CENTER></H1></FONT>
<P><B><I>"Now Peter sat outside, in the palace; and a damsel came =
unto=20
him, saying, `Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.' But he denied =
before=20
them all, saying, `I know not what thou sayest.' And when he was =
gone out=20
into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were =
there,=20
`This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.' And again he denied =
with an=20
oath, `I do not know the man.' And after a while came unto him =
they that=20
stood by, and said to Peter, `Surely thou also art one of them, =
for thy=20
speech betrayeth thee.' Then began he to curse and to swear, =
saying, `I=20
know not the man.' And immediately the ***** crew. And Peter =
remembered the=20
word of Jesus, which said unto him, `Before the ***** crow, thou =
shalt deny=20
me thrice.' And he went out, and wept bitterly." - =
Mt.26:69-75</B></I>
<P>In the pre-dawn chill, impetuous Peter warmed himself by the =
fire in=20
the courtyard of the high priest's palace and vehemently denied =
knowing=20
the Lord. Doubtless he made himself believe that doing so was his =
only=20
escape. It will not stretch the imagination too far to suppose =
that in his=20
dark hour of reasoning he was thinking, "If I am killed or thrown =
into=20
prison, how can I help the Master?" He could even have been =
planning to=20
rescue Jesus by organizing his friends. Whatever his thoughts =
were, they=20
seemed logical to him; that is, until the ***** crowed and "the =
Lord turned=20
and looked at Peter." It was then that Peter for the first time =
saw=20
himself as he really was: a poor, wilted, backslidden apostle.
<P>Earlier that evening Peter, in the high optimism of faith, =
declared to=20
Jesus, "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." =
Now, a=20
few hours later, we find this same apostle to be of another =
persuasion,=20
his faith gone, and he in the bondage of fear. It was when he =
began to=20
chart his own course that he began to doubt and to become fearful =
of his=20
enemies. The conclusion of a dying faith is fear. The heart that =
trusts in=20
God has a shield through which neither fear nor doubt may pass.
<P>As a fisherman, Peter had many times matched his courage =
against the=20
winds and waves on the Sea of Galilee. He did not run from danger =
so long=20
as he was familiar with the dangers which confronted him. How =
boldly he=20
drew his sword to defend Jesus when the soldiers and servants of =
the high=20
priest came to arrest him in the Garden of Gethsemene! But the =
little=20
maids in the palace confronted Peter with another type of warfare =
- the=20
uncertainties of a trial before the council and the bitter, =
merciless=20
questions of the elders. How was he to fight these experienced =
rulers? How=20
foolish they would make him appear before all the people! He would =
have=20
died for his Master in a physical contest, but in a battle of =
spirits he=20
fled before the probing questions of little girls. Peter was =
neither the=20
first or the last to fail this test.
<P>The only hope for Peter was that he had not lost faith in the =
forgiving=20
love of his Master. What a change awaited this faint-hearted =
disciple! In=20
only a few weeks, he possessed the spiritual strength to stand in=20
Jerusalem and proclaim the gospel to the same angry mob that now =
was=20
having his Lord sent to the cruel cross of Calvary. When the time =
came,=20
thank God, he wasn't afraid. There is no room for anxiety in the =
heart=20
which is filled with God's Spirit. Where there is faith, there =
cannot be=20
fear. Peter's fear and unbelief had so dominated him that he =
disobeyed=20
openly, and God had to refuse his service. Then Peter proved his =
sinful=20
condition by denying the Lord outright. But, as we have stated, a =
few=20
weeks later Peter was a completely different man.
<P>On Pentecost morning, Peter was transformed by the grace of God =
which=20
is greater than all sin, and he fearlessly proclaimed, <B><I>"Let =
all the=20
house of Israel assuredly know that God hath made that same Jesus =
both=20
Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).</B></I> This apostle need weep no =
tears of=20
remorse for his actions now. He could face danger and death =
joyously, for=20
his works and words were in accord with Him who had restored to =
him the=20
joy of his salvation.
<P>Yes, men saw a new Simon Peter that day, no longer behind =
"locked doors=20
for fear of the Jews", but boldly standing in the temple =
courtyard,=20
preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Twice he was brought before =
the=20
council and warned to stop preaching. His boldness astonished the =
leaders=20
of Israel, for even to them as they sat in their judgment seats he =
preached Christ as man's only hope of salvation (Acts 4:5-12). =
Neither=20
prison nor the lash could stop this reclaimed apostle. Once, after =
being=20
beaten, he departed from the council rejoicing that he was worthy =
to=20
suffer shame for the sake of Jesus (Acts 5:40-41).
<P>
<CENTER>
<H3>"In Works They Deny Him"</CENTER></H3>
<P>Thousands are today denying their acquaintance with this same =
Lord that=20
Peter once denied. Their denial may not be as obvious as Peter's =
was,=20
perhaps, for he denied our Lord in both works and words. But =
notice that=20
the works came first. On the night of Jesus's betrayal and arrest, =
Peter=20
attacked the high priest's servant with a sword. This was not the =
behavior=20
of a faithful follower of the meek Son of God. Later that same =
night,=20
Peter's verbal denial of Jesus was no greater a denial of the Lord =
than=20
was his attack on those who arrested Jesus; it was merely another =
way of=20
denying him.
<P>It would be difficult to find anyone who has been forgiven of =
sin by=20
Christ who has backslidden so far as to verbally deny him; at the =
same=20
time, there are many who deny Jesus by the way they try to do him =
service,=20
just as Peter denied him by taking up the sword in the garden. =
Paul speaks=20
of such brothers by saying, <B><I>"They profess that they know =
God, but in=20
works they deny him" (Tit.1:16). </B></I>May God give us grace to =
see that=20
if we fail to obey His Word, we are already denying Him in works, =
our=20
continued lip-service notwithstanding.<B><I> "Faith without =
works,"=20
</B></I>wrote James,<B><I> "is dead" (Jas.2:17).</B></I> Worship =
without=20
obedience is nothing more than flattery.
<P>Yes, indeed, my reader, we can by our works deny the Lord we =
claim to=20
serve and be just as far from God's approval as Peter ever was. =
For=20
instance, Paul declared, <B><I>"But if any provide not for his =
own, and=20
especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, =
and is=20
worse than an infidel" (1Tim.5:8).</B></I>
<P>As we view this generation of pleasure-loving believers we are =
made to=20
recall Paul's description of them: <B><I>"Having a form of =
godliness, but=20
denying the power thereof." He further warns us, "From such turn =
away"=20
(2Tim.3:5). </B></I>Peter, in describing this same class of unholy =
believers says, <B><I>"But there were false prophets also among =
the=20
people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who =
privily shall=20
bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought =
them"=20
(2Pet.2:1).</B></I> Jude comments on this same group by telling =
us,<B><I>=20
"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of =
old=20
ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of =
our God=20
into lasciviousness [lustfulness], and denying the only Lord God, =
and our=20
Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though =
you=20
once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved [rescued] the =
people out=20
of the Land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not" =
(Jude=20
4,5). </B></I>Please note that none of these verses refer to =
believers who=20
verbally deny Jesus; on the contrary, they claimed to speak for =
him.=20
Nevertheless, their denial of the Lord was real.
<P>Reader, are you among the multitude of those who worship the =
Lord, but=20
deny Jesus by your works? Having found many such worshippers among =
His Old=20
Testament people, the Lord lamented,<B><I> "This people draweth =
nigh unto=20
Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips, but their =
heart is=20
far from Me"</B></I>, adding the dreadful statement,<B><I> "In =
vain do=20
they worship Me" (Mt.15:8-9)</B></I>. Jesus was referring to more =
than a=20
verbal denial when he said, <B><I>"Whosoever shall deny me before =
men, him=20
will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" =
(Mt.10:33)</B></I>.=20
This warning was repeated by Paul in his second letter to Timothy, =
when he=20
wrote,<B><I> "If we deny him, he will also deny us" =
(2:12)</B></I>.
<P>Do you have the witness of the holy Ghost that your life is =
free from=20
sin? Or does your life proclaim, "I know him not"? Are you =
uncertain -=20
this very moment - that your heart is free from evil? If you are =
not sure,=20
it is time for you to realize that as long as you remain in this =
condition=20
you are denying the Son of God openly.
<P>When all sin is confessed, and all doubt is removed from our =
lives,=20
when we submit to the divine will instead of following our own, =
when the=20
love of God rules our hearts, and when we wholly submit to the =
Word of=20
Truth, then - and not before - we do no longer deny the Lord, the =
one who=20
bought us with his own blood. The true followers of Jesus Christ =
are=20
distinguished not merely by their speaking well of Jesus, but also =
by=20
their submission to his will. For this reason Jesus said,<B><I> =
"By their=20
fruits [works] ye shall know them."</I></B>
<P><! -- ************ BOTTOM HEADER *********** -->
<P><FONT face=3Dverdana size=3D2><I><A=20
href=3D"mailto:GSAVELLI@aol.com">Questions? Log onto the Internet, =
Click=20
Here,<BR>and you can E-mail them to: =
GSAVELLI@aol.com</A></I></FONT>=20
</P></FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
<P>
<HR>
<P> </P>
<P>
<CENTER>
<H3><I><A=20
href=3D"file:///C:/Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft =
Shared/Stationery/#top">Back=20
to Top</A></I></H3></CENTER>
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