Wednesday, May 06, 2026

1 Peter 3:2 (KJV) A Chaste Conversation, Coupled with Fear


1 Peter 3:2 (KJV)

While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.


The passage begins “Likewise, ye wives.” It sounds pointed and if not accusative, at least isolated. But we must not take it so because this context ends, “Likewise ye husbands.” And encourages them that they are “heirs together of the grace of life.” 


With that in mind I focus on the coupling of the chaste conversation and fear.

The word conversation is an easy one - behavior.


Chaste is “reverent, pure, clean.” Thayer’s dictionary gives as the primary definition, “exciting reverence.” In the context of our passage, it’s a behavior that motivates and leads others towards the same reverence for the Lord. So many these days want to water down the concept of fear but I don’t believe that’s healthy. I believe fear to be exactly what it sounds like, terror. When I was an ironworker I was afraid of falling. It did not prevent me from doing my job, but it did prevent me from falling. Fear is not a bad thing as long as it informs and does not cripple our behavior.


The sum of the equation is a chaste conversation, coupled with fear results in behavior that tends to the saving of souls. 


Such an equation is fitting but for the wives and the husbands.

2 Corinthians 5:11 (KJV)

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.


#ChasteConversation #FearOfTheLord #FirstPeterThree #ChristianBehavior #PersuadeMen

Chaste Conversation Coupled with Fear: The Kind of Christian Behavior That Persuades Men Toward God

Do you believe the fear of God is missing in modern Christianity? Leave a comment below and join the conversation. I’d love to hear your thoughts on what it means to live with a “chaste conversation coupled with fear.”

For more Bible studies, articles, books, and daily encouragement, visit marvinmckenzie.org.


To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7100 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

1 Peter 3:2 (KJV) A Chaste Conversation, Coupled with Fear

Here's a comic version of the lesson.

Tuesday, May 05, 2026

1 Peter 2:8 (KJV) You Cannot Step Around Jesus


1 Peter 2:8 (KJV)

And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.


I saw an article the other day in which James White, a noted Reformed/Calvinist teacher, disagreed with John MacArthur, another well known Calvinist Bible teacher on the state of infants who die. According to the article, MacArthur held the position that infants are innocent and that therefore all those who die in infancy go to heaven. (I would agree with that.) White takes exception and argues that the Calvinist doctrine of election requires that some of those infants be among the elect—chosen and saved—while others would be appointed to death and hell. White’s position, I think, is the logical conclusion of the (I believe unbiblical) Calvinist doctrine of election. If God is truly selecting some souls for heaven (for His glory) and some souls for hell (also for His glory), it stands to reason that such election would extend to all souls and not merely those who survive to adulthood.


But that is not the biblical doctrine of election.


And that is not what this verse is teaching. God has not appointed men to stumble at His Word by being disobedient. Rather, the passage teaches that God has appointed Christ as the stumbling stone. God has appointed that those who believe on Christ shall not be confounded, and that those who stumble in disobedience will be offended.


There you have it.

  • All you who are avowed atheists and haters of Christ.
  • All you who have chosen a religion without Christ.
  • All you who have embraced Islam, or any religion that teaches an unbiblical view of Christ.


The marker of faith Almighty God has appointed is Jesus Christ. You may, by your own will, accept Him, reject Him, or attempt to step around Him. But in the end, it will be God who judges. And He has declared that His judgment will be determined by your relationship to Christ.


#StoneOfStumbling #ChristTheCornerstone #OffendedAtTheWord #JesusIsTheStandard #FaithOrStumble

You Cannot Step Around Jesus: The Meaning of “A Stone of Stumbling”


Do you believe 1 Peter 2:8 teaches that God appoints men to unbelief—or that Christ Himself is the appointed dividing line? 

Leave a comment below and join the discussion. For more Bible teaching, articles, books, and daily encouragement, visit marvinmckenzie.org.


To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7100 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

1 Peter 2:8 (KJV) You Cannot Step Around Jesus

Here's a comic version of the lesson.