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Our Lord takes Simon Peter and calls this faltering, failing, fumbling disciple to service. We learn one all-important lesson from this interview. Love for the Savior is the prerequisite for service.

Three times our Lord interrogates Simon Peter, and three times he responds. Then we find that three times the Lord Jesus Christ gives him his commission.

Why three times? Dr. Godet suggests that the reason lies in the fact that Simon Peter denied Christ three times, and now He makes him affirm his devotion three times. No doubt that is part of the reason, but there is more.

It is quite interesting to note that Simon Peter, with the other disciples, had been called to the ministry—actually had been called into the apostleship—after a miraculous catch of fish. If you will recall the account of this fishing experience back in the Gospels of Mark and Luke you will refresh your mind in the fact that it was after our Lord took over the directing of their fishing that the nets broke—and after that He made them apostles.

Then you will further recall that Simon Peter lost his commission around a little fire of coals that had been built in the courtyard of the palace of the high priest the night Jesus was arrested. Simon Peter went blundering in there to warm his hands and made the fatal mistake of his life. It was there he denied the Lord three times. He should not have gone there, but he did; and when he did, he committed this base denial.

Is it not an interesting thing that now by the Sea of Galilee, around coals of fire, after a miraculous catch of fish, the Lord Jesus restores his commission to him? Here the Lord puts Simon Peter back into service. What a picture of spiritual beauty!

When our Lord asked Peter the question three times, it looks like repetition, but it is not. While there is a similarity in the questions, no two are identical.

The first interrogation: “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter [would that we could read this as our Lord said it that morning!], Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” There are many who express the desire to have had the privilege of being present at certain great occasions in the life of our Lord—when He performed miracles, etc. Candidly, I am not sure that I would want to go back to that day. However, if I could go back and hear Him speak to Simon Peter by the Sea of Galilee, I would go back gladly.

To begin with, He called him Simon. That is interesting—“Simon, son of Jonas.” Why did He call him Simon? You will recall when the Lord Jesus first met this man—Andrew brought him to Jesus. When Jesus beheld him, He said (in effect), “Thou art Simon, son of Jonas, thou shalt be called Cephas, which by interpretation is a stone.” Cephas is the Aramaic word for “rock man”; in Greek it is Petros. And that name clung to him. We find that over in Caesarea Philippi, when he gave that marvelous testimony concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and said, “Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69), the Lord Jesus said in effect, “Blessed art thou, Simon [He goes back to his old name], you will be called Peter because you are going to be a rock man from here on. You will be a man who will stand for something, but right now there is still a question.” And so the Lord reminds him of his old name.

There are three words in the Greek language that are translated into the English by the one word love. Perhaps, my friend, you are not aware of the fact that the English language is a beggar for words. We have the one word love and that is about all. You cannot think of another word. Hollywood, today, would give a million dollars for another word. The best they have done is sex and that is pretty low. But the Greek language is a language that is versatile; it is flexible. They have three words for this thing called love.

The first word they have is the word eros. In the use of this word they degraded the meaning of love. The Greeks degraded the word in this use for they personified it. The fact of the matter is they have made “Eros” a god and put together in combination the names Aphrodite and Eros. Today we know these names better as Venus and Cupid. The latter are the Roman names but they are the same, as the Greeks are the ones who started this idea with Aphrodite and Eros. Eros is a word of sensuality and we do believe that the Hollywood word sex, that has really been put into high gear today, would best express what the Greeks had in mind. But this word eros is never used in the Word of God.

There is another Greek word—it is phileō, and it means “friendship.” It has to do with the affections and the emotions in human relations at its very best usage. We get our word philanthropic from it, and philadelphia comes from it—Philadelphia, the city of “brotherly love.” And that is a word that is used in Scripture.

But there is yet another word for love. It is agapaō. Agapaō is actually the highest and noblest word for love. Dr. Vincent in his Word Studies calls it a word of dignity. It is also a divine word, in that it is a word used to speak of the love of God. The Lord Jesus Christ, in His choice of language, passed over the words eros and phileō and used the word agapaō when He was speaking to Simon Peter. He said, “Do you, Simon Peter, love me with all your heart?”

It is wonderful to have the right doctrine and the right creed, but salvation is a love affair. If you do not love Him, there is no affair. “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” Love is the supreme word.

Candidly, if it had been left to me I would have chosen faith as the supreme word of Christianity. In fact, I would consider faith as the supreme word of any religion. But, of course, Scripture answers that right away: “And now abideth faith, hope, charity [love], these three; but the greatest of these is charity [love]” (1 Cor. 13:13). But I’ll tell you why I would choose faith—it is a greater compliment to be trusted than to be loved. You see, there is many an old rascal today who is being loved by some wonderful girl. Yes, there is. Sometimes it is the other way around also. But, you see, the minute the object proves unworthy, he is no longer trusted. Will you think closely with me for a minute? Simon Peter had failed the Lord. Actually, the Lord could no longer have confidence in him, but He loved him. Oh, how He loved him!

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). While Simon Peter was denying the Lord, the Lord Jesus was on His way to the cross to die for him! Later, Peter wrote in his first epistle, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Pet. 2:24).

Now notice that our Lord’s first question to Peter is, “Lovest thou me more than these?”

What He is saying is: “Do you love Me more than these men love Me?” You will recall that the Lord Jesus said, the last time they were in the Upper Room, “One of you will deny Me”—Simon doubtless thought, “Yes, I haven’t trusted this crowd either. But there is one fellow here upon whom You can depend—You can depend on me.” The Lord Jesus said, “Simon, son of Jonas, are you prepared now to say that you love Me more than these other disciples love Me?” That is what He is saying. Now listen to Simon Peter, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” Here Simon came down and would not use the word agapaō; he used the word phileō. He says, “You know that I have an affection for You.”

Why did not Simon Peter use the word our Lord uses? If you want my opinion, this man is through boasting. Never again will he brag of what he will do. Never again will you hear him saying, I am going to do something big for the Lord. For here on he is going to do something big, but he is not going to say anything about it. He comes to the low plain: “I have an affection for You.”

Now will you notice the exhortation. Our Lord responds, “Feed my lambs.” Let me give you a better translation: “Be grazing my baby lambs”—the word for lambs is diminutive, which means little baby lambs. “Simon Peter, if you love me I want you to go and graze the little baby lambs; I want you to feed them.” Many Christians seem to think He said, “Be criticizing My little lambs.” But He has not given you that commission, friend. He says feed them.

The second interrogation: Will you notice verse 16, “He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” This time our Lord leaves off “more than these.” The reason I think He does it is that He is saying, “Maybe, Simon Peter, you cannot boast anymore and say that you love Me more than do the other disciples, but can you not now say that you do love Me?” In this He is helping this man, trying to lift him up to a higher plane. But Simon Peter just cannot. And somehow we admire him for it. We are glad that he is not boasting anymore. Instead he is willing to take a lower position. Listen to his affirmation: “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I have an affection for thee.” But he does not attempt to rise higher—he does not dare to do this, for he is afraid to make such a gesture.

The second exhortation: Will you notice this second exhortation, which, incidentally, is ours also. “Feed my sheep.” Actually it is not that at all, but rather, “Shepherd the sheep”—that is the word that is used. We want you to notice something, and this is interesting: He says, “feed” the little baby lambs but “shepherd or discipline” the sheep. In our day we have this truth in reverse; we want to discipline the young—that is our method, and we feel as if we should “teach” the old folk. My friend, that is not His method. We are to feed the lambs, and shepherd or discipline the older sheep. Do you know why? It is because the little lambs follow the sheep, hence the older sheep must be disciplined.

The third interrogation: “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” Christ now adopts the word of Simon Peter when He asks, “Simon Peter, do you really have an affection for me?” Our translation does not show it, but our Lord comes down to the statement of Simon Peter here, and Peter is grieved now.

In the third affirmation—“Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.”

Let us get at the real meaning of this conversation between our Lord and Simon Peter. Peter was grieved, not because the Lord had asked him the question three times, but he was grieved in his heart because the Lord had to come down and stoop to his level in using his word.

But Simon Peter is still not prepared to climb up. He as much as says that the best thing he can do is to say to the Lord that he has an affection for Him and that the Lord knows he has this affection. He is not bragging now for he realizes that the Lord knows his heart—that he has a real affection in his heart for Him.

The third exhortation is “Feed my sheep”—here it has the meaning “be grazing my sheep.” You see, the sheep need feeding also.

Milton suffered the loss of a friend, a young minister, who was drowned in the Irish Channel, in crossing; and Milton wrote a poem entitled “Lycidas,” in which he made this statement: “The hungry sheep look up and are not fed.” In this line he was referring to the pulpit in his day—he might well have been writing of a future day which is ours.

Let me impress it upon your heart that the acid test of any man today, either in pulpit or pew, is “Lovest thou me?”

McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 4:502-505

"Who is feeding his sheep?"

Jer 3:15

Response to comment [from a Catholic]: "[W]hy don't you just preach the gospel instead of attacking the Church?"

Christians should clean their own house before reaching out to the world (e.g. minimally, getting the gospel of grace right). Evangelicals work to get the true gospel out. Those who are opposed to Christ and his gospel persecute the true church (Ac 8:1-3, 1 Thes 2:14).

Have you noticed a pattern among many church goers? They act pious at church but then immediately return to a life of sin-- sometimes even before leaving the parking lot. They care more about defilement of a Eucharist-- a piece of bread falling to the ground, than they do about defilement of the human body (the actual temple of the Lord [e.g. fornication]). The perverted illustrations given by the church only serve to get man's attention off of the real issue--that is, sin in the life of a person that must be repented of (to God, not to a man or Mary). When a man is forgiven (not temporarily by a priest but forever by our High Priest, Jesus), he is freed from guilt. Then, he has all the tools he needs (indwelling of the Holy Spirit) to live the Christian life (authentically not fraudulently).

"Peter is the rock..."

Jesus is the rock. J. Vernon McGee said on this passage: " This man, Simon, was as weak as water. Our Lord told him that he would be a stone man. I think everybody laughed there that day because nobody believed he could become the rock man, the man who would stand up on the Day of Pentecost and give the first sermon, which would be used to sweep three thousand persons into the church (see Acts 2:40–41).

McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 4:376

"[W]hy didn't Jesus put someone in charge to settle issues...?"

God did leave someone in charge. The Holy Spirit is our helper (Jn 15:26). The Church belongs to God [not Rome] 1Ti 3:15; Christ, the foundation-stone of. 1Co 3:11; Eph 2:20; 1Pe 2:4,5. Christ, the head of. Eph 1:22; 5:23. Purchased by the blood of Christ [not works] Ac 20:28; Eph 5:25; Heb 9:12. Sanctified and cleansed by Christ [not men] 1Co 6:11; Eph 5:26,27. Subject to Christ [not a religious leader] Ro 7:4; Eph 5:24. The [church is the] object of the grace [not works] of God. Isa 27:3; 2Co 8:1. Unity [by grace] of. Ro 12:5; 1Co 10:17; 12:12; Ga 3:28. Saints [born again] baptized into [by spirit of God not infant baptism] 1Co 12:13. Is edified by the word [not works, not membership] 1Co 14:4,13; Eph 4:15,16. The wicked persecute. Ac 8:1-3; 1Th 2:14,15. Defiling of, will be punished. 1Co 3:17.

"J. Vernon McGee is serpentdove's pope!"

Unlike a Catholic, I do not have to make an idol out of J. Vernon McGee. J. Vernon was a great Bible teacher. The way you can tell a believer from a make-believer is who they point to. For J. Vernon it was Christ. For the Pope, it is himself. J. Vernon will receive his reward in heaven. The Pope has received his here (Mt 6:2). Like Peter, J. Vernon pointed to Jesus (Ac 10:26).

"But look at what happens when there is no shepherd (Eze 34:5). Which is why Jesus left Peter as the shepherd on Earth when he ascended to Heaven."

This is incorrect. The Roman Catholic Church did not replace Israel and a Pope did not replace Jesus. The Roman Catholic Church teaches this and it is not biblical.

The Jews:

1. Descended from Abraham. Isa 51:2; Joh 8:39.

2. Divided into twelve tribes. Ge 35:22; 49:28.

3. Called

a. Hebrews. Ge 14:13; 40:15; 2Co 11:22.

b. Israelites. Ex 9:7; Jos 3:17.

c. Seed of Abraham. Ps 105:6; Isa 41:8.

d. Seed of Jacob. Jer 33:26.

e. Seed of Israel. 1Ch 16:13.

f. Children of Jacob. 1Ch 16:13.

g. Children of Israel. Ge 50:25; Isa 27:12.

h. Jeshurun. De 32:15.

4. Chosen and loved by God. De 7:6,7.

5. Circumcised in token of their covenant relation. Ge 17:10,11; Ac 7:8.

6. Separated from all other nations. Ex 33:16; Le 20:24; 1Ki 8:53.

7. Described as

a. A peculiar people. De 14:2.

b. A peculiar treasure. Ex 19:5; Ps 135:4.

c. A holy nation. Ex 19:6.

d. A holy people. De 7:6; 14:21.

e. A kingdom of priests. Ex 19:6.

f. A special people. De 7:6.

g. The Lord’s portion. De 32:9.

8. Sojourned in Egypt. Ex 12:40,41.

9. Brought out of Egypt by God. Ex 12:42; De 5:15; 6:12.

10. In the desert forty years. Nu 14:33; Jos 5:6.

11. Settled in Canaan. Nu 32:18; Jos 14:1-5.

12. Under the theocracy until the time of Samuel. Ex 19:4-6; 1Sa 8:7.

13. Desired and obtained kings. 1Sa 8:5,22.

14. Divided into two kingdoms after Solomon. 1Ki 11:31,32; 12:19,20.

15. Often subdued and made tributary. Jdj 2:13,14; 4:2; 6:2,6; 2Ki 23:33.

16. Taken captive to Assyria and Babylon. 2Ki 17:32; 18:11; 24:16; 25:11.

17. Restored to their own land by Cyrus. Ezr 1:1-4.

18. Had courts of justice. De 16:18.

19. Had an ecclesiastical establishment. Ex 28:1; Nu 18:6; Mal 2:4-7.

20. Had a series of prophets to promote national reformation. Jer 7:25; 26:4,5; 35:15; 44:4; Eze 38:17.

21. The only people who had knowledge of God. Ps 76:1; 1Th 4:5; Ps 48:3; Ro 1:28.

22. The only people who worshipped God. Ex 5:17; Ps 96:5; 115:3,4; Joh 4:22.

23. Religion of, according to rites prescribed by God. Le 18:4; De 12:8-11; Heb 9:1.

24. Religion of, typical. Heb 9:8-11; 10:1.

25. Their national greatness. Ge 12:2; De 33:29.

26. Their national privileges. Ro 3:2; 9:4,5.

27. Their vast numbers. Ge 22:17; Nu 10:36.

28. National character of

a. Pride of descent, &c. Jer 13:9; Joh 8:33,41.

b. Love of country. Ps 137:6.

c. Fondness for their brethren. Ex 2:11,12; Ro 9:1-3.

d. Attachment to Moses. Joh 9:28,29; Ac 6:11.

e. Attachment to customs of the law. Ac 6:14; 21:21; 22:3.

f. Fondness for traditionary customs. Jer 44:17; Eze 20:18,30,21; Mr 7:3,4.

g. Stubborn and stiffnecked. Ex 32:9; Ac 7:51.

h. Prone to rebellion. De 9:7,24; Isa 1:2.

i. Prone to backsliding. Jer 2:11-13; 8:5.

j. Prone to idolatry. Isa 2:8; 57:5.

k. Prone to formality in religion. Isa 29:13; Eze 33:31; Mt 15:7-9.

l. Self-righteous. Isa 65:5; Ro 10:3.

m. Unfaithful to covenant engagements. Jer 3:6-8; 31:32; Eze 16:59.

n. Ungrateful to God. De 32:15; Isa 1:2.

o. Ignorant of the true sense of Scripture. Ac 13:27; 2Co 3:13-15.

p. Distrustful of God. Nu 14:11; Ps 78:22.

q. Covetous. Jer 6:13; Eze 33:31; Mic 2:2.

r. Cowardly. Ex 14:10; Nu 14:3; Isa 51:12.

29. Trusted to their privileges for salvation. Jer 7:4; Mt 3:9.

30. Distinction of castes among, noticed. Isa 65:5; Lu 7:39; 15:2; Ac 26:5.

31. Degenerated as they increased in national greatness. Am 6:4.

32. Often displeased God by their sins. Nu 25:3; De 32:16; 1Ki 16:2; Isa 1:4; 5:24,25.

33. A spiritual seed of true believers always among. 1Ki 19:18; Isa 6:13; Ro 9:6,7; 11:1,5.

34. Modern, divided into

a. Hebrews or pure Jews. Ac 6:1; Php 3:5.

b. Hellenists or Grecians. Ac 6:1; 9:29.

c. Many sects and parties. Mt 16:6; Mr 8:15.

35. An agricultural people. Ge 46:32.

36. A commercial people. Eze 27:17.

37. Obliged to unite against enemies. Nu 32:20-22; Jdj 19:29; 20:1-48; 1Sa 11:7,8.

38. Often distinguished in war. Jdj 7:19-23; 1Sa 14:6-13; 17:32,33; Ne 4:16-22.

39. Strengthened by God in war. Le 26:7,8; Jos 5:13,14; 8:1,2.

40. Under God’s special protection. De 32:10,11; 33:27-29; Ps 105:13-15; 121:3-5.

41. Enemies of, obliged to acknowledge them as divinely protected. Jos 2:9-11; Es 6:13.

42. Prohibited from

a. Associating with others. Ac 10:28.

b. Covenanting with others. Ex 23:32; De 7:2.

c. Marry with others. De 7:3; Jos 23:12.

d. Following practices of others. De 12:29-31; 18:9-14.

43. Despised all strangers. 1Sa 17:36; Mt 16:26,27; Eph 2:11.

44. Held no intercourse with strangers. Joh 4:9; Ac 11:2,3.

45. Condemned for associating with other nations. Jdj 2:1-3; Jer 2:18.

46. Received proselytes from other nations. Ac 2:10; Ex 12:44,48.

47. Gentiles made one with, under the gospel. Ac 10:15,28; 15:8,9; Ga 3:28; Eph 2:14-16.

48. All other nations

a. Envied. Ne 4:1; Isa 26:11; Eze 35:11.

b. Hated. Ps 44:10; Eze 35:5.

c. Oppressed. Ex 3:9; Jdj 2:18; 4:3.

d. Persecuted. La 1:3; 5:5.

e. Rejoiced at calamities of. Ps 44:13,14; 80:5,6; Eze 36:4.

49. None hated or oppressed, with impunity. Ps 137:8,9; Eze 25:15,16; 35:6; Ob 1:10-16.

50. Christ

a. Promised to. Ge 49:10; Da 9:25.

b. Expected by. Ps 14:7; Mt 11:3; Lu 2:25,38; Joh 8:56.

c. Regarded as the restorer of national greatness. Mt 20:21; Lu 24:21; Ac 1:6.

d. Sprang from. Ro 9:5; Heb 7:14.

e. Rejected by. Isa 53:3; Mr 6:3; Joh 1:11.

f. Murdered by. Ac 7:52; 1Th 2:15.

51. Imprecated the blood of Christ upon themselves and their children. Mt 27:25.

52. Many of, believed the gospel. Ac 21:20.

53. Unbelieving, persecuted the Christians. Ac 17:5,13; 1Th 2:14-16.

54. Cast off for unbelief. Ro 11:17,20.

55. Scattered and peeled. Isa 18:2,7; Jas 1:1.

56. Shall finally be saved. Ro 11:26,27.

57. Punishment of, for rejecting and killing Christ, illustrated. Mt 21:37-43.

58. Descendants of Abraham. Ps 105:6; Isa 51:2; Joh 8:33; Ro 9:7.

59. The people of God. De 32:9; 2Sa 7:24; Isa 51:16.

60. Separated to God. Ex 33:16; Nu 23:9; De 4:34.

61. Beloved for their father’s sake. De 4:37; 10:15; Ro 11:28.

62. Christ descended from. Joh 4:22; Ro 9:5.

63. The objects of

a. God’s love. De 7:8; 23:5; Jer 31:3.

b. God’s choice. De 7:6.

c. God’s protection. Ps 105:15; Zec 2:8.

64. The covenant established with. Ex 6:4; 24:6-8; 34:27.

65. Promises respecting made to

a. Abraham. Ge 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 15:18; 17:7,8.

b. Isaac. Ge 26:2-5,24.

c. Jacob. Ge 28:12-15; 35:9-12.

d. Themselves. Ex 6:7,8; 19:5,6; De 26:18,19.

66. Privileges of. Ps 76:1,2; Ro 3:1,2; 9:4,5.

67. Punished for

a. Idolatry. Ps 78:58-64; Isa 65:3-7.

b. Unbelief. Ro 11:20.

c. Breaking covenant. Isa 24:5; Jer 11:10.

d. Transgressing the law. Isa 1:4,7; 24:5,6.

e. Changing the ordinances. Isa 24:5.

f. Killing the prophets. Mt 23:37,38.

g. Imprecating upon themselves the blood of Christ. Mt 27:25.

68. Scattered among the nations. De 28:64; Eze 6:8; 36:19.

69. Despised by the nations. Eze 36:3.

70. Their country trodden under foot by the Gentiles. De 28:49-52; Lu 21:24.

71. Their house left desolate. Mt 24:38.

72. Deprived of civil and religious privileges. Ho 3:4.

73. Denunciations against those who

a. Cursed. Ge 27:29; Nu 24:9.

b. Contended with. Isa 41:11; 49:25.

c. Oppressed. Isa 49:26; 51:21-23.

d. Hated. Ps 129:5; Eze 35:5,6.

e. Aggravated the afflictions of. Zec 1:14,15.

f. Slaughtered. Ps 79:1-7; Eze 35:5,6.

74. God, mindful of. Ps 98:3; Isa 49:15,16.

75. Christ was sent to. Mt 15:24; 21:37; Ac 3:20,22,26.

76. Compassion of Christ for. Mt 23:37; Lu 19:41.

77. The gospel preached to, first. Mt 10:6; Lu 24:47; Ac 1:8.

78. Blessedness of blessing. Ge 27:29.

79. Blessedness of favouring. Ge 12:3; Ps 122:6.

80. Pray importunately for. Ps 122:6; Isa 62:1,6,7; Jer 31:7; Ro 10:1.

81. Saints remember. Ps 102:14; 137:5; Jer 51:50.

82. Promises respecting

a. The pouring out of the Spirit upon them. Eze 39:29; Zec 12:10.

b. The removal of their blindness. Ro 11:25; 2Co 3:14-16.

c. Their return and seeking to God. Ho 3:5.

d. Their humiliation for the rejection of Christ. Zec 12:10.

e. Pardon of sin. Isa 44:22; Ro 11:27.

f. Salvation. Isa 59:20; Ro 11:26.

g. Sanctification. Jer 33:8; Eze 36:25; Zec 12:1,9.

h. Joy occasioned by conversion of. Isa 44:23; 49:13; 52:8,9; 66:10.

i. Blessing to the Gentiles by conversion of. Isa 2:1-5; 60:5; 66:19; Ro 11:12,15.

j. Reunion of. Jer 3:18; Eze 37:16,17,20-22; Ho 1:11; Mic 2:12.

k. Restoration to their own land. Isa 11:15,16; 14:1-3; 27:12,13; Jer 16:14,15; Eze 36:24; 37:21,25; 39:25,28; Lu 21:24.

l. Gentiles assisting in their restoration. Isa 49:22,23; 60:10,14; 61:4-6.

m. Subjection of Gentiles to. Isa 60:11,12,14.

n. Future glory of. Isa 60:19; 62:3,4; Zep 3:19,20; Zec 2:5.

o. Future prosperity of. Isa 60:6,7,9,17; 61:4-6; Ho 14:5,6.

p. That Christ shall appear amongst. Isa 59:20; Zec 14:4.

q. That Christ shall dwell amongst. Eze 43:7,9; Zec 2:11.

r. That Christ shall reign over. Eze 34:23,24; 37:24,25.

83. Conversion of, illustrated. Eze 37:1-14; Ro 11:24.

Torrey, R.A.: The New Topical Text Book : A Scriptural Text Book for the Use of Ministers, Teachers, and All Christian Workers. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos research Systems, Inc., 1995, c1897

The church:

1. Belongs to God. 1Ti 3:15.

2. The body of Christ. Eph 1:23; Col 1:24.

3. Christ, the foundation-stone of. 1Co 3:11; Eph 2:20; 1Pe 2:4,5.

4. Christ, the head of. Eph 1:22; 5:23.

5. Loved by Christ. Song 7:10; Eph 5:25.

6. Purchased by the blood of Christ. Ac 20:28; Eph 5:25; Heb 9:12.

7. Sanctified and cleansed by Christ. 1Co 6:11; Eph 5:26,27.

8. Subject to Christ. Ro 7:4; Eph 5:24.

9. The object of the grace of God. Isa 27:3; 2Co 8:1.

10. Displays the wisdom of God. Eph 3:10.

11. Shows forth the praises of God. Isa 60:6.

12. God defends. Ps 89:18; Isa 4:5; 49:25; Mt 16:18.

13. God provides ministers for. Jer 3:15; Eph 4:11,12.

14. Glory to be ascribed to God by. Eph 3:21.

15. Elect. 1Pe 5:13.

16. Glorious. Ps 45:13; Eph 5:27.

17. Clothed in righteousness. Re 19:8.

18. Believers continually added to, by the Lord. Ac 2:27; 5:14; 11:24.

19. Unity of. Ro 12:5; 1Co 10:17; 12:12; Ga 3:28.

20. Saints baptised into, by one Spirit. 1Co 12:13.

21. Ministers commanded to feed. Ac 20:28.

22. Is edified by the word. 1Co 14:4,13; Eph 4:15,16.

23. The wicked persecute. Ac 8:1-3; 1Th 2:14,15.

24. Not to be despised. 1Co 11:22.

25. Defiling of, will be punished. 1Co 3:17.

26. Extent of, predicted. Isa 2:2; Eze 17:22-24; Da 2:34,35; Hab 2:14.

Torrey, R.A.: The New Topical Text Book : A Scriptural Text Book for the Use of Ministers, Teachers, and All Christian Workers. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos research Systems, Inc., 1995, c1897

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