After his resurrection, Jesus instructed Peter and the other disciples to go to Galilee and wait for him there. Instead, weighed down by guilt over his threefold denial of Christ, Peter returned to his former occupation of fishing rather than waiting as instructed, likely feeling unworthy to serve after his failure. Jesus finds him in that setting and asks whether Peter loves him more than “these,” a reference to the boat, nets and fishing equipment that represented Peter’s old way of life.
The question calls for a renewed commitment from Peter, asking him to choose between his former livelihood and the ministry Jesus intended for him. Each time Peter affirms his love for Jesus, he receives the same response: feed my sheep, feed my lambs. The exchange happens three times, the same number of times Peter denied Jesus.
Isn’t the point here that even Peter, who denied Jesus, can be redeemed? Peter gave three denials followed by Jesus asking him three times if he loved Him. This led to restoration of a fallen disciple, humbled his self-confidence, followed by Jesus trusting him with leadership of the early Church. Jesus offered Peter a public opportunity to reverse his failure without humiliation, shifting his focus from boastful self-reliance to profound trust in Christ.
People often wonder how much control Satan has over the evil we see today. When we look at corruption in government, harmful messages in entertainment, or false teachings spreading through society, we might ask if the devil is personally directing these things. The answer is not simple.
Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?, NASB; IRS Images, 2025
Even without Satan, the world would be full of evil. This is because human nature is fallen. The Bible tells us that the human heart is deceitful and wicked. People naturally struggle with desires of the flesh, covetous eyes, and pride. We do not need the devil to make us sin. We are already inclined toward it.
What Satan adds to this picture is structure. He takes human sinfulness and organizes it. He builds it into systems that trap people. He creates false religions that lead souls away from truth. He develops harmful philosophies and ideas that sound reasonable but lead to destruction. Satan works like a deceptive angel of light, making evil look appealing and acceptable.
He does not control every individual action, but he shapes the larger systems where fallen humans act out their sinful nature. Through his demonic forces, he influences governments, schools, entertainment industries, and other institutions to serve his purposes. The apostle John wrote that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. This means Satan has arranged an organized system of evil that surrounds us.
Understanding this helps us recognize that we face both internal struggles with our own sinful hearts and external pressures from a world system designed to pull us away from God.
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
In the time of the prophet Isaiah, many questioned whether his writings could have come from one person. Some scholars in the 1800s believed that the book had been written by two or even more authors because of the different styles found within it. Yet Isaiah’s message is unified. It tells of prophet chosen by God who served for more than forty years, speaking to the people of Judah during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
Isaiah began his ministry when Uzziah ruled Judah. Uzziah was a strong and faithful king for much of his life, but pride led to his downfall when he tried to take on the role of a priest by burning incense in the temple. This act brought God’s judgment on him, and he was struck with leprosy. His son Jotham shared the throne with him until Uzziah’s death. Even during these times of relative peace, Isaiah’s words carried warnings about the nation’s growing spiritual sickness.
When Uzziah’s son Ahaz became king, Judah’s condition worsened. The nation turned to empty religious practices while ignoring true devotion to God. They offered sacrifices, kept holy days, and prayed often, but their hearts were far from Him. Isaiah warned that these outward actions meant nothing without faith and obedience. God’s people were compared to Sodom and Gomorrah where people lived in places of great sin and had little knowledge of God. Judah, however, had been blessed with truth and light yet chose to live in rebellion. He told them that their cities would burn and their land would be left in ruins but reminded them that God had kept a small remnant from Sodom and Gomorrah. the remnant was a faithful few who had not turned away. This idea of a remnant runs throughout the book, showing that God always preserves a people for Himself even in times of judgment.
The prophet also pointed out the hypocrisy of their worship. God had given them sacrifices and holy days, but He rejected them when they were done without sincerity. He said their hands were covered in blood, and He refused to hear their prayers. Instead, God called them to change their ways. And then came one of the most powerful promises in Scripture: “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Forgiveness was possible if the people would turn back to God, they would find mercy. If they refused, they would face destruction.
Later in the chapter, Isaiah compared Jerusalem to a once-faithful woman who had become unfaithful. The city that was meant to be full of justice had turned to corruption. Leaders chased after bribes, and the poor were ignored. Yet even in this dark picture, God promised hope. He would purify His people like metal refined in fire. Their judges and counselors would be restored, and the city would once again be called “the city of righteousness.”
God’s message through Isaiah is not only about wrath. It was also about redemption. Those who turned back to God would be restored. The unfaithful could become faithful again. While outward religion is empty without a sincere heart. True faith shows itself in obedience, justice, and mercy. The promise of cleansing from sin points ahead to Jesus Christ, who would bring complete forgiveness through His sacrifice.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Bible teaches that God takes powerful action in the lives of people through three important works. First, redemption is when God pays the price to rescue us from the damage and punishment of sin, and He did this through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is something only God can do.
Next is justification. In this, God — the righteous judge — announces that a person is no longer guilty of sin. He declares them innocent, worthy, and even calls them His own child. Again, this is entirely the work of God, not something people can earn for themselves.
Then comes sanctification. This is the ongoing process where God sets a person apart, marking them as His own. Over time, He shapes them to become more like Jesus. It’s a lifelong journey guided by God’s hand.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
The discussion about homosexuality and the Bible centres on one key issue: does Scripture approve or reject it? For those who trust the Bible, the answer is direct. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, the Apostle Paul lists behaviours that prevent people from inheriting the kingdom of God, including homosexuality. However, he also speaks of hope and change, saying, “such were some of you,” but through salvation, people were washed, sanctified, and justified.
These three words are important. Washed means cleansed from sin. Sanctified refers to being set apart from the control of sin. Justified is God declaring a person righteous, crediting them with Christ’s righteousness. Together, they describe the moment of salvation — a complete spiritual transformation.
This passage, however, does not claim a believer will never struggle with sin again. Even those saved by grace are warned to live holy lives and avoid sin. The Bible encourages Christians to actively pursue righteousness, knowing that while sin’s total power is broken, its temptations may still appear.
Therefore sin is not to reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,
