PeterPlan to Find Love

PeterPlan 2 for Finding Love

PeterPlan to:

1. Find the Trustworthy (Trust Christ, 1 Peter 1:8,9): The Unseen, I love and trust, with joy for salvation.
2. Find Love (Love Others, 1:22): I'm obedient, purified and affectionate, loving with strength.
3. Find Your Place. (Submit to Others, 2:13-15): I submit to institutions, for punishment and commendation, in good conduct.
4. Find Your Strength. (Suffer with Christ, 4:1,2): I suffer and endure, foregoing men's desire, doing God's will.
5. Find Your Work. (Serve Others, 5:2,3): I serve with a free will out of devotion, as an example.
6. Find a Way Out. (Welcome Christ, 2 Peter 3:10,13): Christ comes unexpectedly with fire to make a new heaven and earth.

Units 3-6 are under development.

No man is an island. Most of us like to have people around us who understand us and support us. We are part of families, teams, and often work-groups. But we also like to have special relationships with some people. Like a spouse or a best friend. It is easy to get hurt by the very people who are close to us. Whom can we really love? Where does love come from? What does love to us? These and other questions are the center of this course.

The following table outlines the Bible research sections and links of this study.

1. Research Question	What is the relationship between born-again and love in 1 Peter 1:22,23? Definitions: purified & truth & love & born again & word of God. NKJV: Since you have purified your souls / in obeying the truth / through the Spirit / in sincere love of the brethern, love one another fervently / with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and abides forever.1 Peter 1:22,23.
2. Literature Review	Biblical context: 1 Peter 1:22-2:10, concordance on purified & truth & love & born again & word of God Historical/geographical context: Written from Rome about 64 AD during Nero's persecution.(Rome burned 64 AD.) Commentary & study & sermon: 1 Peter 1:22,23.
3. Data Analysis	BORN AGAIN: We can be born again, from incorruptible seed, through God's Everlasting Word. (See also question 3 & 4 below.) God's Word>accepted as incorruptible seed>leads to a new birth. LOVE: Our souls are purified, by the Spirit, through obedience to the truth, for fervent love. (See also question 5 below.) The Spirit>in our new birth>helps us obey the truth>thus purifying our souls>for the love for others.
4. Conclusion	Presented at the end of the following five main questions.

Now come the five main questions that apply the above research.

1. How does God's Word change us?

1.1 Joe was a thief that was up to no good. Then he found a Bible and really got into it. He found Christian friends. He gave up stealing. Joe could say that...

God's Word leads to a new birth.

1.2"...having been born again...through the word of God..." 1 Peter 1:23

1.3 Check the ways in which God's Word changes people. People receive:

faith, love, a dislike for sin, perfection, Christ, dreams.

2. How do we learn to obey?

2.1 The hardest thing for Mary was to take orders, to submit to others. She felt that she was pretty good and knew what she was doing. Actually, she felt that she was better than most of the people around her. And there was some truth to that. But her inability to obey directives got her into trouble. Then Mary found Christ and was born again. Soon Mary could say from experience that...

The Spirit helps us obey.

2.2 "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit...love one another..." 1 Peter 1:22

2.3 In what ways can you obey the truth?

love others, not hurt others, study the Bible, do your own things.

3. What can uncluttere our lifes?

3.1 William had a very busy schedule. There never was any spare time. One day he got sick and he found out that things went on quite well without him there. On his sickbed he had an opportunity to examine his life. Since he recently had become a Christian, this was a good time to prioritize his life concerns. Most things turned out to be priority C and D. By cutting out some of them, he had more time for his highest priorities. Soon he could say that...

3a. Christ helps us purify our souls

3.2 "Since you have purified your souls...love one another fervently with a pure heart..."1 Peter 1:22

3.3 Check the things that clutter your life?

pressing appointments, sports, material possessions, clothing.

4. What people are fully save to love?

4.1 When Jane married she loved her husband and fully trusted him. She soon found that this trust was misplaced. She divorced and later found a fellow Christian who shared her values. She now advises to...

First love the brethern.

4.2 "...in sincere love of the brethren..." 1 Peter 1:22

4.3 What people are very safe to love? What people have your best interests in mind?

thieves, fellow Christians, liars, family, friends.

5. How do we express our love?

5.1 Sam was not an emotional person. He prided himself on his self-control. He was never exited, bubbling over with joy or tears. But he loved people. He was a real friend to all his neighbors. He helped where help was needed. With time, he learned to express the joy that he found in cutting the grass for the old widow next door. He said that...

We help others, only desiring their best.

5.2 What then is the relationship between the new birth and love? The new birth leads to love. There is no true love of people without a new birth. All love is a gift from God. Even when people do not recognize it as such, love is still God's gift.

5.3 Check the things that are the result of Christian love for others.

forgiveness of sin, joy, perfection now, a place in heaven.

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