June 5, 2016 – Teachings from the Rock – From Affliction to Healing

From Affliction to Healing

Isaiah 53:4-9 – New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
⁸ By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.
⁹ He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.

In your opinion, why would the One who took up our pain and bore our suffering be considered punished by God (verse 4)?

Where does our peace come from (verse 5)?

Why are we compared to sheep (verse 6)?

What did “He” not do in response to being oppressed and afflicted (verse 7)?

How was He taken away (verse 8)?

Where was He cut off from (verse 8)?

Who was He assigned a grave with (verse 9)?

How much violence had He done (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

John 19:1-11 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ² The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe ³ and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

⁴ Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” ⁵ When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

⁶ As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

⁷ The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

⁸ When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, ⁹ and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

¹¹ Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

Who had Jesus flogged (verse 1)?

What did the soldiers make and put on Jesus head (verse 2)?

In your opinion, why did the soldiers cloth Jesus in a purple robe and go up to Him again and again saying “Hail, king of the Jews” (verses 2 and 3)?

What did Pilate say to the Jews gathered there (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why did Pilate bring Jesus out “wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe” (verse 5)?

Who shouted “Crucify! Crucify!” (verse 6)?

Why did the Jewish leaders insist that Jesus must die (verse 7)?

Who became more afraid (verse 8)?

What did Pilate ask Jesus (verse 9)?

What kind of power did Pilate claim to have (verse 10)?

Where did Jesus say the source of Pilate’s power was from (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what parts of Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 53:4-9 were shown to be fulfilled by Jesus in the John 19:1-11?

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Who will Paul regard “from a worldly point of view” (verse 16)?

Who did Paul once regard “from a worldly point of view” (verse 16)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” (verse 17)?

Who were we reconciled to through Christ (verse 18)?

How is God “reconciling the world to himself in Christ” (verse 19)?

What is God doing through “Christ’s ambassadors” (verse 20)?

What does Paul implore “on Christ’s behalf” (verse 20)?

Why did God make “him who had no sin to be sin for us” (verse 21)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how do the words and actions of the Jewish leaders in John 19:1-11 demonstrate the “worldly point of view” that Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21?

In your opinion, how does Isaiah’s prophecy that “the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” anticipate Paul’s statement “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them” in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21?

1 Peter 2:18-25 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ “Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹ For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. ²⁰ But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ²¹ To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

²² “He committed no sin,
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

²³ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” ²⁵ For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

What should slaves feel about God (verse 18)?

How should slaves respond to “good and considerate” masters (verse 18)?

How should slaves respond to “harsh” masters (verse 18)?

In your opinion, why does Peter give these instructions (verse 18)?

What is commendable (verse 19)?

To what are we called (verses 20 and 21)?

Who did Peter say “committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth” (verses 21 and 22)?

What did Jesus do instead of retaliating or threatening (verse 23)?

Why did Jesus bear our sins “in his body on the cross” (verse 24)?

In your opinion why were we “like sheep going astray” (verse 25)?

Who have we, the sheep who had gone astray, returned to (verse 25)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them” amplified by Peter’s in 1 Peter 2:18-25 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness”?

In your opinion, how does Peter, who in 1 Peter 2:18-25 says “because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” expect us to respond to the John’s explanation of what happened to Jesus in John 16:1-11?

In your opinion, how is the injustice that Isaiah in Isaiah 53:4-9 sees where Jesus is called to be “pierced for our transgressions” transformed to a “credit” by Peter in 1 Peter 2:18-25?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Isaiah, John, 2 Corinthians and 1 Peter show us about ourselves today?

Next, back to Peter 3:1 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

May 29, 2016 – Teachings from the Rock – Walking in the Spirit as Foreigners

Walking in the Spirit as Foreigners

Genesis 12:10-20 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ “Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. ¹¹ As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. ¹² When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. ¹³ Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

¹⁴ When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. ¹⁵ And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. ¹⁶ He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.

¹⁷ But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. ¹⁸ So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? ¹⁹ Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” ²⁰ Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.”

When did Abram go “down to Egypt to live there for a while” (verse 10)?

What does Abram know about Sarai (verse 11)?

Who would the Egyptians kill (verse 12)?

What is Sarai supposed to say to the Egyptians (verse 13)?

In your opinion, why would Abram behave this way (verse 13)?

What did the Egyptians see about Sarai (verse 14)?

Who praised her to Pharaoh (verse 15)?

How did the Pharaoh treat Abram (verse 16)?

Why did the Lord inflict serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household (verse 17)?

In your opinion, how did Pharaoh discover that Sarai was Abram’s wife (verse 18)?

What command did Pharaoh give to Abram (verse 19)?

Who sent Abram on his way with his wife and all he had (verse 20)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Matthew 22:15-22 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ “Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. ¹⁷ Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”

¹⁸ But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? ¹⁹ Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, ²⁰ and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

²¹ “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

²² When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.”

How did the Pharisees plan to trap Jesus (verse 15)?

Who went together to Jesus (verse 16)?

In your opinion, why did they begin by saying “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth” (verse 16)?

In your opinion, why did they ask Jesus if it was right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not (verse 17)?

What did Jesus know about their intent (verse 18)?

What did Jesus ask them to show Him (verse 19)?

How did they respond to Jesus question “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” (verses 20 and 21)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (verse 21)?

How did they respond to Jesus’ answer (verse 22)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what could Abram in his interaction with the Egyptians in Genesis 12:10-20 have learned from Jesus statement in Matthew 22:15-22 to “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”?

Galatians 5:13-26 - New International Version (NIV)

¹³ “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

What did Paul say his brothers and sisters were called to be (verse 13)?

How should we use our freedom (verse 13)?

In your opinion, how is the entire law fulfilled “in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself”” (verse 14)?

Who might be destroyed “if you bite and devour each other” (verse 15)?

How do we walk to avoid gratifying “the desires of the flesh” (verse 16)?

What does the flesh desire (verse 17)?

Why are we “not to do whatever you want” (verse 17)?

In your opinion, why are we not under the law if we are “led by the Spirit” (verse 18)?

What is obvious (verse 19)?

Who will “not inherit the kingdom of God” (verse 21)?

What is “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (verses 22 and 23)?

Who has “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (verse 24)?

Why should we “keep in step with the Spirit” (verse 25)?

What should we not become (verse 26)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does Paul in Galatians 5:13-26 help us to understand how to do what Jesus instructs in Matthew 22:15-22 “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”?

In your opinion, how does Abram’s decisions and actions and in Genesis 12:10-20 show the conflict between flesh and the Spirit that Paul talks about in Galatians 5:13-26?

1 Peter 2:11-17 – New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴ or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. ¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”

How does Peter describe his friends that he is writing to (verse 11)?

What wages “war against your soul” (verse 11)?

Why might pagans “glorify God on the day he visits us” (verse 12)?

For whose sake should we submit to “every human authority” (verse 13)?

Who will “doing good” silence (verse 15)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil” (verse 16)?

How should we respond to everyone (verse 17)?

How should we respond to “the family of believers” (verse 17)?

How should we respond to God (verse 17)?

How should we respond to the emperor (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s instructions in Galatians 5:13-26 help us to know how to live “good lives” as Peter commands in 1 Peter 2:11-17?

In your opinion, how does Peter, who heard Jesus say in Matthew 22:15-22 to “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” expand on this command in 1 Peter 2:11-17?

In your opinion, how do Abram and Sarai in Egypt in Genesis 12:10-20 show the conflict that exiles and foreigners have between using “freedom as a cover-up for evil” and showing “proper respect to everyone” as instructed by Peter in 1 Peter 2:11-17?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Genesis, Matthew, Galatians and 1 Peter show us about ourselves today?

Next, back to Peter 2:18 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

May 22, 2016 – Teachings from the Rock – Stumbling Stone to Living Stones

Stumbling Stone to Living Stones

Psalms 118:15-24 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ “Shouts of joy and victory
    resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
¹⁶     The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
    the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
¹⁷ I will not die but live,
    and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
¹⁸ The Lord has chastened me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.
¹⁹ Open for me the gates of the righteous;
    I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
²⁰ This is the gate of the Lord
    through which the righteous may enter.
²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
    you have become my salvation.

²² The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
²³ the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad.”

Where do “shouts of joy and victory” resound (verse 15)?

What has done mighty things (verse 16)?

What will the Psalmist proclaim (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what it mean when the Psalmist says “the Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death” (verse 18)?

What does the Psalmist ask to be opened so that he can “enter and give thanks to the Lord” (verse 19)?

Where do the righteous enter (verse 20)?

Why is the Psalmist giving thanks (verse 21)?

What has become the cornerstone (verse 22)?

Who has done this (verse 23)?

How are we to respond to all that the Lord has done (verse 24)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Matthew 16:13-20 - New International Version (NIV)

¹³ “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.”

What question did Jesus ask his disciples (verse 13)?

How did the reply (verse 14)?

How did Jesus change the question (verse 15)?

Who answered (verse 16)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to say “you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (verse 17)?

Who revealed this answer (verse 17)?

What does Jesus call Simon son of Jonah (verses 17 and 18)?

What will Jesus build on the rock that is Peter (verse 18)?

What do the “keys from the kingdom of heaven” allow Peter to do (verse 19)?

What were the disciples not to tell (verse 20)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what is the difference between the “stone the builders rejected” that has become the cornerstone of Psalms 118:15-24 and the “rock” upon which Jesus will build the church of Matthew 16:13-20?

Romans 12:3-13 - New International Version (NIV)

³ “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

How should we not think of ourselves (verse 3)?

How should we think of ourselves (verse 3)?

What do each of us have (verse 4)?

In your opinion, how do the many “form one body” (verse 5)?

What belongs to all the members (verse 5)?

What do we have “according to the grace given to each of us” (verse 6)?

How should we prophesy if our gift is prophesying (verse 6)?

How should we give if our gift is giving (verse 8)?

In your opinion, why must love be sincere (verse 9)?

How should we respond to evil (verse 9)?

How should we be devoted to one another (verse 10)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “never be lacking in zeal” (verse 11)?

When should we be patient (verse 12)?

Who should we share with (verse 13)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does knowing that Peter was given the knowledge that Jesus was the “Messiah, the Son of the living God” by the Father in heaven in Matthew 16:13-20 help us be understand the “faith God has distributed to each of you” that Paul talks about in Romans 12:3-13?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s command in Romans 12:3-13 to “If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully” follow the lead of the Psalmist who says “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done”?

1 Peter 2:1-10 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, ³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

⁴ As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”

⁷ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”

⁸ and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

What should we do with “all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind” (verse 1)?

Why should we crave “pure spiritual milk” (verse 2)?

Who is “rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him” (verse 4)?

What are we “living stones” being built into (verse 5)?

Who will “never be put to shame” (verse 6)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that to those who do not believe the “stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (verse 7)?

Why do people stumble (verse 8)?

Why are we a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession” (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that we “once were not a people, but now . . . are the people of God” (verse 10)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does Paul in Romans 12:3-13 and his discussion of the individual gifts of the many members of one body help us to have a greater understanding of the chosen people, royal priesthood and holy nation that Peter calls us in 1 Peter 2:1-10?

In your opinion, how special is it that the one who Jesus said “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” in Matthew 16:13-20 is the one who tells us that “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood” in 1 Peter 2:1-10?

In your opinion, how does the Psalmist claim that “you have become my salvation” in Psalm 118:15-24 an amazing anticipation of Peter’s statement to we who come to Jesus that “once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” in 1 Peter 2:1-10?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Psalms, Matthew, Romans and 1 Peter show us about ourselves today?

Next, back to Peter 2:11 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)