Lonnell Williams
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
So I'm giving you a little Greek language, Greek lesson really quickly.
It says when Peter says, save yourselves, the Greek word for that is.
All right.
It is a passive imperative.
That means that Peter is commanding them to receive something that only God can do.
So the literal phrase is not rescue yourselves.
It is be saved.
Be saved by God.
Be saved by the spirit.
Be saved by the same word that just cuts you.
Because the same word that wounds you in conviction is the word of God he uses to rescue you in salvation.
You cannot save yourself.
but you can refuse to be saved.
You cannot rescue yourself, but you can keep fighting the rescuer.
You cannot raise yourself, but you can refuse to come out of the grave when mercy calls your name.
So when Peter says, save yourself, he is not putting salvation into their hands.
He's putting the responsibility into their lap.
So it's not self-help.
It's a separation command.
Peter is not saying fix yourself.