Great Bible Truths with Dr David Petts

075 1 Peter 3:1-7 - Wives and Husbands

1 Peter.  Talk 7.          1 Peter 3:1-7   Last time: Submission to rulers Submission to masters   Today: Submissions to husbands 3:1-7   1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewellery, or the clothing you wear— 4 b...

074 1 Peter 2:13-25 - Submission to Authority

Submission to Authority   The next section of Peter’s letter deals with the subject of submission to authority:   submission to rulers (2:13-17) submission to masters (2:18-25) submission to husbands (3:1-7)   1 Peter 2:13-17      Submission to rulers   13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the w...

073 1 Peter 2:1-12

Last time: 1 Peter 1:10-25 the great privileges of being a Christian our responsibility to live holy lives things that encourage to fulfil that responsibility   The theme of privilege and responsibility continues in today’s passage.   1 Peter 2:1-12   1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord...

072 1 Peter 1:10-25

So far in this series:   Talk 1. The background to the letter and the circumstances in which it was written. The theme of the whole letter is:   Suffering now, maybe. Future glory, certain.   Talk 2. We saw that the first two verses in chapter 1 are more than a formal greeting but are actually of a special significance to the suffering Christians to whom Peter was writing at the time. They were exiles, rejected by men, but chosen by God.   Talk 3. Verses 3-9 spell out some ...

071 1 Peter 1:3-9

In our last talk we looked at the first two verses in chapter 1 which we saw are more than a formal greeting but are actually of a special significance to the suffering Christians to whom Peter was writing at the time.   They were exiles, rejected by men, but chosen by God. The verses we are looking at today spell out some of the great privileges of being a Christian. To be chosen by God is something very special. As Peter says in verses 6-7, at present we may have to suffer grief in all...

070 1 Peter 1:1-2

1 Peter.       Talk 2.    1 Peter 1:1-2   In our last talk we:   Considered the background to the letter and the circumstances in which it was written Took a rapid tour through the whole letter Identified the main theme of the letter -                           present suffering perhaps, future glory certain   Background   Author Peter Date 62 to 64 A.D.   Circumstances Written to Jewish Christians who had been driven out of Jerusalem and scattered throughout Asi...

069 1 Peter - Introduction

1 Peter       Talk 1.  Introduction   In this talk we will:   Consider the background to the letter and the circumstances in which it was written Take a rapid tour through the whole letter (based largely on the notes in the NIV Life Application Bible) Identify the main theme of the letter   In following talks we will work systematically through the letter and consider how Peter’s teaching should impact on our lives today.   Background   Author Peter Date 62 to 64 A.D....

068 Ephesians 6:10-20 - Standing in Victory

Ephesians Talk 20    Standing in Victory   Last time:   3 secrets of living in victory   Know your enemy Know the battlefield Know that ultimate victory is guaranteed   Know your Enemy Ephesians 6:11-12, 16   Spiritual - not against flesh and blood (12) numerous - plurals (12) cunning - schemes (11) organised - rulers and authorities (12) (cf Titus 3:1) evil - spiritual forces of evil (12) deadly - flaming missiles (16)         Know the Battlefield T...

067 Ephesians 6:10-20 - Living in Victory

Ephesians 6:10-20   10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your...

066 Ephesians 6:1-9 - Living in right relationship with each other (Part Two)

Ephesians Talk 18        Living in right relationship with each other (Part Two)   There are three main sections to this part of Paul’s letter:   Husbands and wives (5:22–33) (which we discussed last time) Children and parents (6:1-4) Slaves and masters (6:5-9)   1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 ‘Honour your father and mother’ – which is the first commandment with a promise – 3 ‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life ...

065 Ephesians 5:21-33 - Living in Right Relationship with Each Other (Part 1)

064 Ephesians 5 15-20 - Living in the Spirit

Podcast Notes: Last time: 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children   1-2 Follow God’s example - living a life of love 3 -6 Living holy lives 7-14 Living in the light   10 and find out what pleases the Lord   Today:   Ephesians 5:15-20 Living in the Spirit   15 Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the ...

063 Ephesians 5:1-14 - Following God's Example

Podcast Notes: 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you...

062 Ephesians 4:17-32 - Putting off the old self and putting on the new

Podcast Notes: Our passage for today is Ephesians 4:17-32 We’ll begin by reading it and then we’ll: Briefly look at the background to the passage Offer a short overview of the passage Seek to apply the teaching of the passage to our lives today 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignoranc...

061 Ephesians 4:1-14 - Living lives worthy of our calling

Chapter 4 is something of a turning point in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians As in his other letters, the opening chapters tend to be more theological in nature, the concluding chapters being more practical So here in Ch. 4 v1 Paul says: As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. In other words, in the light of all the blessings I’ve been talking about, live appropriately Cf. Rom 12:1-2     I urge you therefore…because of God’s...

060 Ephesians 3:14-21 - A Prayer for the Ephesians

Ephesians 3:14-21 A prayer for the Ephesians   14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and h...

059 Ephesians 3:1-13

Podcast Notes:   Welcome to Talk 11 in our series on Ephesians. Today we’ve reached Chapter 3 and we’ll be looking at the first 13 verses. But first let’s set it in context by reminding ourselves of what Paul has been saying so far. In Ch. 1 he concentrates on the blessings of being in Christ.   In Christ: We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing We are chosen and adopted to be God’s children We have been redeemed by his blood and our sins have been forgiven We...

058 Ephesians 2:19-22 - God’s New Temple

(Apologies for missing fragments in the audio - this is due to a technical error at the recording stage) Notes: In our first talk in this series we said that the overall theme of Ephesians could best be summarised with Paul’s words in Chapter 5. I am talking about Christ and his church. This is particularly noticeable in our passage for today where Paul describes the church as a temple. But first let’s remind ourselves of what we said last time. We started to look at Ephesians 2:11-2...

057 Ephesians 2:11-22 - Jew and Gentile reconciled through Christ

Last time: Ephesians 2:1-10 Made alive in Christ What you WERE and why (1-3) We were dead in our transgressions and sins (1, 5) We were by nature deserving of wrath (3) Why? We followed the ways of the world (2) We lived in sin (2) because we lived among sinners (the disobedient)(3) We followed the ways of the Devil (2) We followed the desires and thoughts of the flesh (3) We were by nature deserving  (children) of wrath Why were we ‘deserving of wrath’? (Greek: children ...

056 Ephesians 2:1-10 - Made alive in Christ

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Chris...

055 Ephesians 1:15-23 Part 2 - What are the Heavenly Realms?

Ephesians 1 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints (his holy people), 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.   What is this incomparably great power? It’s the power that...

054 Ephesians 1:15-23 Part 1 - Thanksgiving and Prayer

Welcome to talk number six in our series on Ephesians. In the first five talks we were considering the first 14 verses of Chapter 1.   We examined exciting themes such as: the will of God for our lives, the fact that we are chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world, the fact that we are in Christ and all that that means, and what it means to be sealed with the Holy Spirit.   Today we turn our attention to verses 15-23 which in the NIV  are given the heading Tha...

053 Ephesians 1:1-14 Part 5 - The Gift of the Holy Spirit, continued

Last time we began looking at how Paul describes the gift of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 1:1-14. When Paul says we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, I suggested that this sealing refers to a secondary experience. Please go back and listen to my reasons for what I know is a controversial yet Pentecostal viewpoint. In this episode we will continue to examine Paul's description of the gift of the Holy Spirit in these verses. A deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (arrabon) In Ephesians 1:...

052 Ephesians 1:1-14 Part 4 - The Gift of the Holy Spirit

Welcome to the fourth talk in our series on Ephesians. We have been looking at the first 14 verses of chapter 1. So far we have seen that Paul is praising God for blessings in the heavenly realms (v3). These include: The will of God 1-4-5-9-11 Election and Predestination 4-5-11 In Christ (10 references) The gift of the Holy Spirit 13-14, which is our theme for today. Obviously this is a vast subject, so today we’ll concentrate specifically on what Paul is saying in Ephesians 1:13-1...

051 Ephesians 1:1-14 Part 3 - "In Christ"

Welcome to our third talk in our series on Ephesians. We are looking at the first 14 verses of chapter 1. So far we have seen that Paul is praising God for blessings in the heavenly realms (v3). These include: The will of God 1-4-5-9-11 Election and Predestination 4-5-11 In Christ (10 references) The gift of the Holy Spirit 13-14   Today our theme is what it means to be in Christ. Let’s look at vv 1-14 again, this time noting the references to the phrase in Christ   Ephesia...

050 Ephesians 1:1-14 Part 2 - Election and Predestination

Last time We looked at Ephesians 1:1-14 and we identified 4 major themes in the passage: The will of God 1-4-5-9-11 Election and Predestination 4-5-11 In Christ (10 references) The gift of the Holy Spirit 13-14   We concentrated on the will of God. We saw that it’s God’s will for us to:   v4 be holy and blameless in his sight (cf. v1 God’s holy people) v 5 be adopted into his family v9 know his purpose - ultimate (v10) and immediate v1 know God’s personal calling in our...

049 Ephesians 1:1-14 Part 1

Ephesians is one of the most exciting books in the NT. The church to which it’s addressed was established by the apostle Paul in AD53 during his homeward journey to Jerusalem (see Acts 19 and 20). About 7 years later Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison in Rome. It was intended not only for the Ephesian Christians of his day, but, as the very first verse tells us, for all those who have come to put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. So it’s highly relevant to us as Christia...

048 Healing in Practice

[Based on the book, Just a Taste of Heaven - click here for more information] Healing in Practice A Doctrinal Foundation Doctrine is vitally important because what we believe about healing will determine how we pray for the sick. If what we have argued so far is correct, then an appropriate doctrinal basis for praying for the sick would seem to be as follows: God has revealed himself as a healing God in both Old and New Testaments.  Jesus never refused anyone who asked for healing an...

047 Healing and Suffering - Why do Christians suffer?

046 Sickness among God's people in the New Testament 2 of 2 - Why were the Corinthians sick?

Illness in Corinth Having looked at four Christians who were sick, though not because of sin or unbelief, we must now turn our attention to a group of Christians who were sick because of their sin – the Corinthians referred to in 1 Corinthians 11:30. The Corinthians The situation in Corinth was extremely serious. There were divisions in the church, they tolerated immorality, and there was disorder in their worship. Their behaviour at the Lord’s Supper was just one example of this. In t...

045 Sickness among God's people in the New Testament 1 of 2 - Godly Christians

Sickness among God’s People in the New Testament Although there is a close connection between faith and healing in the New Testament, we cannot automatically conclude that if a Christian is not healed it is because there is sin in their life or because they do not have enough faith. It is by no means as simple as that. Furthermore, that kind of teaching can lead to dangerous extremes like refusal to see a doctor when we are seriously ill. For example, any doctrine that teaches that God has...

044 Healing and the anointing with oil - James 5

[Below is the chapter on which this episode was based. Click here for books by Dr David Petts] Lessons about healing from the epistles - James The passage in James 5:14-15 provides the clearest instruction to Christians who are sick to be found in the New Testament:   Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up...

043 Christians and the use of medicine

[below is the chapter on which this podcast was based - click here for books] Medical Healing   There are undoubtedly positive promises for healing in the New Testament, but if these are not balanced and understood in the light of  the overall teaching of the Bible, there is always a danger of going to unbiblical extremes. One such extreme is the belief that to resort to the use of medicine indicates a lack of faith. An outstanding example of this is A.B. Simpson, who was one of the ...

042 Healing in the book of Acts - 2 of 2 - Healing on the Island of Malta

Lessons about healing from Acts – Part Two The healing of the sick on the island of Malta Last time: There are many references to healing in the Book of Acts. General references include: the disciples’ prayer that God would stretch out his hand to heal (4:30) the statement that on one occasion all the sick were healed as Peter’s shadow passed over them (5:14-16) a description of Philip’s evangelistic ministry in Samaria (8:5-8) and the mention of extraordinary miracles of heal...

041 Healing in the book of Acts - 1 of 2 - The Lame Man (Acts 3)

There are many references to healing in the Book of Acts. Some of these are general, others are specific. General references include: the disciples’ prayer that God would stretch out his hand to heal (4:30) the statement that on one occasion all the sick were healed as Peter’s shadow passed over them (5:14-16) a description of Philip’s evangelistic ministry in Samaria (8:5-8) and the mention of extraordinary miracles of healing as a result of people touching handkerchiefs and aprons...

Lessons about healing from the first disciples

[Below is the chapter on which this podcast is based] In the last four chapters we have examined the healing ministry of Jesus as it is portrayed in each of the four Gospels. But Jesus did not only heal the sick, he commissioned his disciples to do so too. So in this chapter we will turn our attention to the healing ministry of the disciples as it is described in the Gospels. In the next chapter we will see how that ministry continued in the Acts of the Apostles. The Gospels record three...

040 Lessons about healing from the first disciples

[Below is the chapter on which this podcast is based] In the last four chapters we have examined the healing ministry of Jesus as it is portrayed in each of the four Gospels. But Jesus did not only heal the sick, he commissioned his disciples to do so too. So in this chapter we will turn our attention to the healing ministry of the disciples as it is described in the Gospels. In the next chapter we will see how that ministry continued in the Acts of the Apostles. The Gospels record three...

039 Jesus the healer in the gospel of John 2 of 2 - The man blind from birth

The man blind from birth (John 9:1-25) We looked last time at a case where there was a clear connection between sickness and personal sin. We now turn to a case where there is no such connection. The story Seeing a man who was blind from birth, Jesus’ disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? (v. 2). The popular understanding of that day was that all sickness was caused by sin. Jesus’ reply is highly significant: Neither this man no...

Jesus the healer in the gospel of John 2 of 2 - The man blind from birth

The man blind from birth (John 9:1-25) We looked last time at a case where there was a clear connection between sickness and personal sin. We now turn to a case where there is no such connection. The story Seeing a man who was blind from birth, Jesus’ disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? (v. 2). The popular understanding of that day was that all sickness was caused by sin. Jesus’ reply is highly significant: Neither this man no...

038 Jesus the healer in the gospel of John 1 of 2 - The healing at the pool

Lessons about healing from John None of the Gospel writers tell us of all the miracles of healing Jesus performed. John has chosen to record only three (4:46-54, 5:1-15, 9:1-25) although he makes it very clear that Jesus did many more (John 20:30). His purpose in recording them, along with the other miracles he tells us about, is that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name (John 20:31). So John’s aim is not so...

Jesus the healer in the gospel of John 1 of 2 - The healing at the pool

Lessons about healing from John None of the Gospel writers tell us of all the miracles of healing Jesus performed. John has chosen to record only three (4:46-54, 5:1-15, 9:1-25) although he makes it very clear that Jesus did many more (John 20:30). His purpose in recording them, along with the other miracles he tells us about, is that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name (John 20:31). So John’s aim is not so...

037 Is healing part of salvation?

Healing & Salvation - Dr David Petts   In recent talks we saw several occasions where Jesus said Your faith has healed you. The Greek word used here is sozo which can also mean save. Does this mean that that healing is in some sense a part of salvation? The answer to this question is NOT NECESSARILY.   Is healing a part of salvation? The fact that sozo (which in the NT is usually translated 'save') is sometimes used to mean 'heal'[1] has been used by some to argue that healing...

Is healing part of salvation?

Healing & Salvation - Dr David Petts   In recent talks we saw several occasions where Jesus said Your faith has healed you. The Greek word used here is sozo which can also mean save. Does this mean that that healing is in some sense a part of salvation? The answer to this question is NOT NECESSARILY.   Is healing a part of salvation? The fact that sozo (which in the NT is usually translated 'save') is sometimes used to mean 'heal'[1] has been used by some to argue that healing...

036 Jesus the healer in the gospel of Luke

[Below is the chapter from the book, Just a Taste of Heaven, on which this podcast episode is based] The Power of the Spirit   Isaiah predicted that when the Messiah would come the Spirit of the Lord would be upon him in order that he might preach good news to the poor, proclaim freedom to those who were captive, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour (Isaiah 61:1-2)   In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus claimed that this prophecy was now fulfilled. This is important in our understanding of ...

Jesus the healer in the gospel of Luke

[Below is the chapter from the book, Just a Taste of Heaven, on which this podcast episode is based] The Power of the Spirit   Isaiah predicted that when the Messiah would come the Spirit of the Lord would be upon him in order that he might preach good news to the poor, proclaim freedom to those who were captive, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour (Isaiah 61:1-2)   In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus claimed that this prophecy was now fulfilled. This is important in our understanding of ...

035 Jesus the healer in the gospel of Mark

In his Gospel Mark tells us how great crowds followed Jesus.   In 1:28 we read that because of his miracles, news about him spread quickly over the whole region   1:32-34 the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.   2:2     So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door...   2:13   A large crowd came to him and he began to teach them.   3:7     A...

Did Jesus die for our sicknesses?

  [Below is the chapter from the book, Just a Taste of Heaven, on which this podcast is based]   In the last chapter, as we considered various causes of sickness, we noted that, since Christ’s death on the cross both atoned for sin and won a victory over Satan, it is possible to understand that healing from sickness is a result of his redemptive work on the cross.  But that is not to say that he died for our sicknesses in the same way that he died for our sins as some teach. I have dis...

034 Did Jesus die for our sicknesses?

  [Below is the chapter from the book, Just a Taste of Heaven, on which this podcast is based]   In the last chapter, as we considered various causes of sickness, we noted that, since Christ’s death on the cross both atoned for sin and won a victory over Satan, it is possible to understand that healing from sickness is a result of his redemptive work on the cross.  But that is not to say that he died for our sicknesses in the same way that he died for our sins as some teach. I have dis...

033 Jesus the Healer in the Gospel of Matthew

As we turn now to what the New Testament teaches about healing we will consider first the ministry of Jesus as it is revealed in the four Gospels. We will take representative examples from each. In Matthew’s Gospel I have chosen the healings recorded in Matthew 8:1-17 because: After the general statement about Jesus’ healings in Matthew 4, this is the first record of specific healings found in Matthew. The passage appears to be fairly representative of the healings of Jesus recorded in Ma...

Jesus the Healer in the Gospel of Matthew

As we turn now to what the New Testament teaches about healing we will consider first the ministry of Jesus as it is revealed in the four Gospels. We will take representative examples from each. In Matthew’s Gospel I have chosen the healings recorded in Matthew 8:1-17 because: After the general statement about Jesus’ healings in Matthew 4, this is the first record of specific healings found in Matthew. The passage appears to be fairly representative of the healings of Jesus recorded in Ma...