The Voice of Hope: Recent Episodes
Heralds of Hope
As we continue in our study of Revelation, we come to Revelation 15, which offers a glimpse behind the curtain of the preparations before the bowl judgments occur. J. Mark studies this passage, examining the scenes of the seven angels preparing God's final judgments, saints worshipping the Lamb through meaningful song, and the glory of God filling His temple. Through these dramatic scenes, we discover God’s solemn warnings to repent and hear a call to worship the King before the day of His judgment arrives.
In this episode, J. Mark explores Revelation 14, where we see the Bible's picture of the coming harvest. He explains the significance of the 144,000—firstfruits of the redeemed, the messages of the three angels, and the final harvest of the earth. Throughout this passage, we see how God preserves His people while extending one final call to repentance before His judgment comes. This episode challenges us to consider which harvest we will be a part of.
In this episode, J. Mark examines the second beast of Revelation 13, often called the False Prophet, and uncovers his role as “Satan's Enforcer” during the final years of the Great Tribulation. Revelation 13:11-18 reveals how he will use political authority, religious deception, and economic control to compel the world to worship the Antichrist. We also explore the significance of the mark of the beast and why this passage is about spiritual vigilance. Join us as we discover how this prophecy calls believers to discern deception and faithfully proclaim Christ in a world opposed to Him.
In this episode, we examine one of the Bible's most sobering prophecies: the rise of the Antichrist. Revelation 13:1-10 reveals the source of his authority, the deception that captivates the world, and his global hostility toward God and His people. Join us as we explore how the Antichrist will wield immense power and demand worship yet discover that his reign is only temporary and Christ's final victory is certain.
In this episode, J. Mark explores Revelation 12:7-17 where we see three powerful scenes from John's vision. In this passage, John witnesses Satan's humiliation, heaven's jubilation, and the preservation of God's people. Though the enemy wages war with great fury, his defeat is certain, and God's promises remain secure. Join us for "Deliverance Has Come" as we discover why believers can face spiritual conflict with confidence, knowing that victory belongs to Christ.
In Revelation 12:1-6, John is given a vision of three signs that reveal the unfolding cosmic conflict behind human history. In this episode, J. Mark explores the sign of the woman, the dragon, and the male child—symbols that point to Israel, Satan, and Christ. Their story traces the long battle between good and evil that began in Genesis. In this episode, we explore how this passage uncovers the spiritual reality behind the visible world and shows how God faithfully carries out His redemptive plan through every age.
At the end of time, the final trumpet will sound—what do you think will happen? In this episode, J. Mark continues our study in Revelation 11:15-19 and explores the significance of the seventh and final trumpet judgment. At this time, Christ’s kingdom is proclaimed, and the King is worshiped by the twenty-four elders. The nations rebel against Christ’s rule, but believers are rewarded for faithfulness, while judgment is executed on the wicked. Join us to learn about Revelation’s prophecies about the end of time and be encouraged by God’s overarching plan that shows His sovereignty and justice for the world.
What does true worship look like in a world that rejects God?In this episode, J. Mark explores the account of the two witnesses in Revelation 11:1-14. These witnesses are sent to earth to call people to repentance. As we look at the measuring of the temple, and the ministry, martyrdom and resurrection of the two appointed witnesses, we see God’s call to worship him faithfully. Though the world rejects God's message, this passage reminds us that His purposes will prevail and His faithful servants will be vindicated.
In this episode, we study Revelation 10:1-11, an interlude between the trumpet judgments in which John encounters a mighty angel who declares that God’s long-awaited plan is moving toward its fulfillment. J. Mark makes four key observations about this messenger—the stirring sight, the simple prohibition, the significant proclamation, and the singular scroll. Through these observations, […]
In this episode, J. Mark examines Revelation 9:13-21, looking at the judgment released by the 6th trumpet. When this trumpet sounded, lion-headed horses who breathed fire were released upon the earth, carrying out God’s divine judgment. Instead of repenting and turning from their sin, humanity continued in their sin, showing that transformation comes only through […]
Revelation 2:1-7 Several decades ago, my wife and I lived in a city in eastern Pennsylvania. Since many of these cities were built in the early days of our country, entire blocks of houses were joined wall-to-wall. We called them “row houses.” As you can imagine, there’s not much privacy in a setting like that! […]
Revelation 1:9-20 “When all else fails, read the instructions.” This well-known saying reveals a tendency of human nature to assume we know how to do something without needing to be instructed. It is intriguing that, male or female, young or old, there is something in our human nature that seeks independence and self-sufficiency. We don’t like to […]
Revelation 1:4-8 Take a moment to think about your possessions. What’s the first item that comes to your mind? What is the most enduring tangible thing you own? How long will it last? For your lifetime, for your child’s lifetime? But what will happen to it eventually, at the end of time as we know […]
Revelation 1:1-3 In most works of literature, the final chapter or chapters contain the conclusion of the plot lines that were introduced throughout the book. Usually, things come together in a way that is understandable and coherent. While the Holy Scriptures are unique among all the world’s literature because God inspires them, they, too, follow […]
With this episode of The Voice of Hope, we’re beginning a new series of study from the last book of the Bible, the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Some people are intrigued by the Book of Revelation, some are scared by it. Others, because they’re not sure what to do with it, ignore the book completely. […]
Jonah 4:10-11 Today, we wrap up our study in the incredible book of Jonah. Thank you for being there. If you have followed along in this journey, you know our theme has been the hearts we see throughout the book of Jonah. We have reflected on the heart of God, the heart of the sailors, […]
Jonah 4:1-11 Remember the time you were driving down the road and someone aggressively passes you, then cuts in front of you? Or think about someone pulling out in front of you only to slow down and turn off in a couple hundred feet. In these moments it is hard to keep our temper controlled. […]
Jonah 3:1-10 Have you ever found yourself wondering if God hears? This is a question that reaches to the core of who we are. Does God hear? Does God know? Years ago, before I was a teenager, we had a family friend who was suffering from a brain tumor. This was one of the first things I remember praying about for an […]
Jonah 1:17-3:1 I have a question for you, a question that many of us can relate to, Are you in a pit? It’s a common human experience, isn’t it? That feeling of being trapped, surrounded, at rock bottom. Pits come in many shapes and sizes, and they arrive for different reasons. Perhaps it’s a pit of your own making, born from your mistakes or your own stubbornness. Or maybe it’s a pit […]
Jonah 1:5-16 We’ve been journeying through the incredible book of Jonah, and today, is our third episode. Our focus today is a deeply personal and a somewhat uncomfortable question: Who really are you? This question is for each of us. The prophet Jonah, as we will see, was a bit confusing. He was a man […]
Jonah 1:1-4 Welcome to our second lesson in the profoundly meaningful book of Jonah. As we study the timeless book of Jonah, we discover a revelation of the very heart of God. Our mission today is to unpack what the book of Jonah shows us about God’s heart. Understanding God’s heart matters deeply because we […]
The Bible is a captivating book, and high on the list is the incredible account of a man getting swallowed by a fish and living to talk about it. You already know I am talking about Jonah and what happened to him is one of the most popular stories in the Bible. However, the main […]
Mark 16:9-20 The late Vernon Grounds told of an incident that happened while he was in seminary. Their school had no gymnasium, so he and his friends played basketball in a nearby public school. At the school, an elderly janitor waited patiently until the seminary students finished playing. Invariably, he read his Bible as he […]
Mark 16:1-8 For Christ-followers, the resurrection of Jesus is not a debatable issue. By faith, we accept the Bible record as accurate and authoritative. We have embraced Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” […]
Mark 15:42-47 When you die, where do you want to be buried? In Brunswick, New Jersey, in the 1790s, Mary Ellis fell in love with a sea captain. As he was leaving on a voyage, he left his favorite horse with her and promised to return to her as soon as he could. Every day, […]
Mark 15:33-41 Have you ever considered the remarkable gift bestowed upon us by God in our human voice? It is one of the likenesses of being made in His image. We use our voices to speak or to sing. With the same voice, we can both bless God and curse men, as James 3:9 reminds […]
Mark 15:16-32 Do you know how many Messianic prophecies Jesus fulfilled during His earthly ministry? Mathematician Peter Stoner counted the probability of one person fulfilling “just” 48 of the prophecies found in the Tanakh (Old Testament) would be one in (10 followed by 157 zeros)! Yet, Jesus (Yeshua) fulfilled not just the 48 specifically Messianic […]
Mark 8:34-38 When I shop for an item I need, one of the first things I do is look at the price. I have an idea of how much I’m prepared to spend. I sometimes think about how long it took me to earn the money. Is what I want to buy worth the effort […]
Mark 8:27-33 Throughout history, a diverse array of perceptions about Jesus has emerged. From His birth to the present, people have attempted to shape a Jesus that resonates with them. A blog post by Kevin DeYoung provides some thought-provoking examples. He writes: “There’s the Republican Jesus—who is against tax increases and activist judges and for […]
Mark 8:11-26 Many of us played “Blind Man’s Bluff ” as children. It works like this if you have never played it: One group member is blindfolded, and the other players disperse. Then, the blindfolded one must go and find the other players. In some versions, the first person tagged becomes “it.” In other versions, […]
Mark 8:1-10 I read a story about a first-grade class where some students were recent refugees from other countries. The topic being taught in class was simple fractions. The teacher defined halves and quarters and then asked the children to write down whether they would prefer a half or a quarter of a […]
Mark 7:31-37 Have you heard the saying, “He has the Midas touch?” The saying refers to the mythical King of Phrygia, an ancient kingdom in Asia Minor, now modern-day Türkiye. One day, peasants in Midas’s kingdom found a foreigner asleep on the land; they bound him and brought him before their king. Midas recognized […]
Mark 7:24-30 Thomas Edison was an amazing person. It is said that “[He] was more responsible than anyone else for creating the modern world. Specifically, no one did more to shape the physical/cultural makeup of present-day civilization. Accordingly, he was the most influential figure of the last 500 years.” Edison’s early life wouldn’t have indicated […]
Mark 7:14-23 You have probably heard the saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Some people think it’s a quotation from the Bible! You know that God gave specific commands for hygiene in the Old Testament Law. He wanted His people to enjoy good health, and cleanliness was part of it. These commands are not […]
Mark 7:1-13 Fiddler on the Roof, a timeless classic first released in 1964, held the record for the longest-running Broadway musical for almost a decade. The story centers on the weight of choices as Tevye, a milkman in the village of Anatevka, grapples with preserving his Jewish religious and cultural traditions in the face of changing times. One of the most […]
Luke 12:22-34 There once was a king who had all this world could afford. But the thing he loved most was to laugh. Once while he was being entertained, a jester came along. He wanted to join in the festival and perform for the king. His opportunity came and he put on the best comical […]
Luke 12:22-34 There once was a king who had all this world could afford. But the thing he loved most was to laugh. Once while he was being entertained, a jester came along. He wanted to join in the festival and perform for the king. His opportunity came and he put on the best comical […]
Mark 6:45-56 Early in human history, people learned that sailing the oceans and seas of planet Earth was costly and dangerous. Countless lives were lost as storms, hidden shoals, and other catastrophes awaited the unsuspecting sailors. Yet despite the risks, many persisted because of the advantages of travel and the movement of goods from one […]
Mark 6:30-44 Reverend Frank Graeff was a pastor in Philadelphia in the late 1800s. He had a radiant personality and an ever-present smile. Because of his cheerful outlook on life and simple faith, he was nicknamed, “The Sunshine Minister.” Although Reverend Graeff’s nickname indicated a life filled with joy, he also knew heartache and spiritual […]
The Lord’s Messenger Mark 6:14-29 As a young person, I was an avid reader. Because of that, I enjoyed the literature classes I had in school. Back then, we were assigned to read different types of classic literature. One author I remember was Edgar Allen Poe. I read one of his short stories […]
Join us today for a special discussion on the future of HOH with Anthony, Arlin, and J. Mark! Thank you for joining us today. Did you catch last week’s special episode for Father’s Day? Anthony and J. Mark hosted a discussion on fatherhood. Want to double your impact? We currently have a DOUBLE MATCH opportunity […]
Father’s Day Episode – Building Blocks for Fathers Anthony High, Executive Director, and J. Mark Horst, Bible Teacher discuss fatherhood in this special episode of the Voice of Hope. Anthony: Here in the United States, we are celebrating Father’s Day. J. Mark, what’s a memory you have of your Father? JMH: I’ll briefly share two. […]
A History Lesson : HOH Celebrates 65 Years! Can you tell me a bit about Dr. Yoder? 1. J. Otis Yoder was born on the plains of Colorado in 1914. At two years of age, he was stricken with double pneumonia. His parents were given little hope for his survival, so they told God that […]
A Disciple’s Commission : Part 2 Mark 6:7-13 One significant difference between the setting in Luke 9 and today is hospitality. In biblical culture, hospitality was a requirement! The widow in Zarephath took her last food and gave it to the prophet Elijah. She had no idea God would use her obedience to sustain her […]
A Disciple’s Commission : Part 1 Mark 6:7-13 When I was in junior high school, one of the classes we boys had to take was woodshop. The teacher was eccentric, but I learned some fundamentals of woodworking in that class. Of course, the best part was using essential hand tools to build simple projects. […]
Amazing Unbelief Mark 6:1-6 I once heard a story about the first automobiles in the rural United States. An older gentleman and his grandsons sat on the porch enjoying a lazy summer afternoon. He was reading a newspaper, and they were watching the swallows dipping and swooping through the humid air. Suddenly, a […]
Women of God I Timothy 2:11-15 I had the privilege, or misfortune, of growing up in the 1960s and 70s. During that time, the concept of authority was trashed in favor of personal autonomy. The mantra of that era was “no one is going to tell me how to live.” It led to the wholesale […]
Don’t Be Afraid, Just Believe Mark 5:21-43 Charlotte Elliott was a sickly English woman who developed a long history of refusing to do things she was asked to do because of her illness. Her brother was a pastor, and he was particularly persistent in trying to get her to do something positive. But Charlotte […]
Going to the Dark Side: Part 2 Mark 5:1-20 At the insistence of the demons, Jesus permitted them. By His power, Jesus could have sent them anywhere, even back to the abyss. That fact that He didn’t do that tells us He had a larger purpose to fulfill in this interaction with the demons and […]
Going to the Dark Side: Part 1 Mark 5:1-20 What was the purpose of Jesus’ coming to earth? Hint: there’s more than one right answer. In First John 3:8, John answers this question very clearly. In this context, John is writing about the relationship between sin and the child of God. He wrote, “He […]
Is Jesus in Your Boat? Mark 4:35-41 Few ships in the world are more famous than the Titanic. She began her maiden voyage on April 10, 1912, from Southampton, England, to New York City. On April 14, the Titanic struck an iceberg and in a few short hours broke apart and sank. More than […]
The Mystery of the Kingdom Mark 4:21-34 In Ephesians 5, in the context of his teaching about marriage oneness, Paul wrote, “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” In First Corinthians 15, he wrote, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be […]
Resurrection Celebration 2024 Selected Texts We Shall Assemble/There is a Redeemer Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we […]
Don’t Miss Your Moment Luke 19:28-48 Some of you are familiar with Leo Tolstoy’s famous Christmas story where the main character is Martin, an old cobbler. One night as Martin sat reading from the Gospels, he thought he heard someone calling him. He listened and heard clearly: “Martin, look out into the street tomorrow […]
A Fruitful Life : Part 2 Mark 4:10-20 This text reveals several key INGREDIENTS necessary for producing “A Fruitful Life.” In the previous episode of The Voice of Hope we began studying Mark 4:1-20, Jesus’ parable of the soils. We looked at the skill of the sower, the quality of the seed, and the […]
A Fruitful Life: Part 1 Mark 4:1-20 As we continue our study of Mark’s Gospel, we come to the record of Jesus’ teaching that’s often called “The Parable of the Sower.” You’ll notice as we read Mark 8:1-20 that the sower is only mentioned twice, once in verse 3 and again in verse 14. […]
A House Divided Mark 3:20-35 When God created us, He made us in His image and likeness and designed us for fellowship with Him. But when sin entered the human family there was a division, a separation. Satan didn’t attack the physical bodies of Adam and Eve, instead, he attacked them at the very […]
A Model for Leaders Mark 3:7-19 When I was a boy, models of classic cars were a big thing. They came in a box unassembled, and you had to glue all the plastic parts together and then paint the model whatever color you wanted. In my memory, I can still smell the glue we […]
Bible Distribution in Guinea-Bissau, Interview with Anthony High This is a special feature on the VOH. J. Mark Horst interviews Anthony High, our Executive Director. Next week, we will return to our series in the book of Mark. Do you remember your first Bible? The first copy I had was called The Rainbow Bible. It had […]
Missed Part 1? Catch it here!
The Return of Messiah : Part 2
Joel 2:28-32
The Next ACTION (that will accompany the return of Messiah) is,
The Signs are Appointed
Here are verses 30 and 31, “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.” None of these were evident at the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost.
Those who teach that this prophecy has been fulfilled in the past point to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70. That truly was a horrific time for the Jewish people, but those who hold this view are compelled to say that some of this language is figurative. Joel doesn’t imply that and neither does Jesus in Matthew 24 where He speaks of similar signs occurring at the close of the Great Tribulation. It is certainly true that “a day of the Lord” did occur in AD 70, but this particular one is designated as “that great and terrible [or awesome] Day of the Lord.”
Jesus said in Matthew 24, “Immediately after the tribulation of those daysthe sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven,and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together Hiselect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
In verses 30 and 31 Joel describes scenes that are associated with the destruction of war. Bloodshed is prominent in wartime, and blood will be poured out in abundance during the Great Tribulation. When the fourth seal judgment is opened in Revelation 6:8, one-fourth of the world’s population will be killed – tremendous bloodshed. The trumpet judgments of Revelation 8 and 9 tell us that another one-third of human and sea life will be destroyed. And during the bowl judgments what remains of the sea will be turned to blood, Revelation 16:3.
In Revelation 14 we read, “So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundredfurlongs [or stadia].” That’s a lot of blood; about 184 miles worth!
Fire is predicted by Joel as another one of the signs. Again, Revelation gives us numerous pictures of the fire of judgment. At the opening of the seventh seal, in Revelation 8:5, “Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thundering, lightning, and an earthquake. So, the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.”
And then, further, we read in Revelation 16, “Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.”
And where there’s fire, there’s smoke. “Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So, the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Andthey were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man,” Revelation 9:1-5.
Revelation 18 informs us about the merchants and their lament of the fall of the great economic empire of Babylon. “‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’”
Joel’s predictions remind us of some of the plagues God sent on the land of Egypt and the signs that accompanied the Lord’s presence on Mt. Sinai. God, as the Creator, controls all His creation and He is able to do what He says He will do, even if we don’t see how it can be done. So, cosmic disturbances will herald the final judgment.
These signs will be associated with the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. Thus far we’ve looked at two actions that will accompany the return of Messiah: the Spirit apportioned and the signs appointed.
The Final ACTION (that will accompany the return of Messiah) is,
The Salvation is Assured
Knowing what we do about the horrors of the Great Tribulation leads us to ask, “Will anyone escape the terrible Day of the Lord?” Hear what Jesus said in Matthew 24 about this time; “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
The final verse of our text, as well as other Scriptures, agree with what Jesus said. “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls.”
Immediately, we notice two things. First, the assurance of salvation, literally, escape; “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” To be saved is to be delivered from something, in this case, from both physical and spiritual destruction. Second, in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, specific geographic locations, there shall be deliverance. If my understanding is correct, the words “saved”, and “deliverance” are from the same Hebrew word. It emphasizes the goodness of God in preserving a remnant, rather than liquidating the race of His people. Paul quotes this statement by Joel in Romans 10:13 where he speaks about Israel’s future salvation.
The prophet Zechariah tells us, “It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.” That’s Zechariah 12:9-11.
Zechariah further describes this day and the remnant of Israel in chapter 13. “And it shall come to pass in all the land,” says the Lord, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one-third shall be left in it: I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”
Very early in Israel’s history, Moses seems to speak of this time in Deuteronomy 4:30 and 31, “When you are in distress (the footnote says tribulation), and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.”
For centuries now, Jewish people have been buried on the Mount of Olives facing the Temple Mount. I have seen those graves and they are spaced as tightly as possible because there’s only so much space available. It costs many thousands of dollars to be buried there. Those who are buried there hope to be resurrected when Messiah comes and to enter Jerusalem with Him. Sad to say, unless they accept Jesus as Messiah, this will not be their destiny.
In this final verse of the text, Joel presents a clear understanding of salvation. He says whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered, and those who are delivered will be the remnant that God calls. So, here you have a clear teaching on the interaction of Divine sovereignty and man’s free will. The Lord will call an escaped remnant, and those among that group will be whoever calls on the name of the Lord.
Just like our personal salvation, Israel’s future deliverance won’t be a result of their ingenuity or luck or fate. Any escape from the power of sin for us today or the power of physical death in this future time is only possible because God wills it and determines it. Remember the words of Jesus in John 6:44, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” God takes the initiative in our salvation, and we have the choice of how we will respond. It will be the same for Israel in this future Day of the Lord.
To "call on the name of the LORD" is to call on Him in believing faith. It is to worship God exclusively and consistently. Think of the experience of Elijah on Mount Carmel. In the contest between Baal and Jehovah, Elijah said, “Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” Elijah was calling the people to place a believing faith in the god who answered by fire.
Calling on the name of the Lord also carries the meaning of acknowledging one’s faith publicly in an openly hostile environment. Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are already experiencing this. Think about the decision of Jewish people to publicly identify with Jesus the Messiah during these events leading up to the Day of the Lord when evil will be almost totally ascendant. It will be the equivalent of putting a target on your back.
In this setting that Joel describes, a believing faith gives not only physical deliverance but a spiritual transformation and an abundant entrance into that great millennial period of peace and prosperity. Judah and Jerusalem once again become spiritual centers for a redeemed Israel (see Micah 4:6-8).
I admit there is much that we don’t know about these events and how they will all unfold, so we need to be gracious in our disagreements and humble in our conclusions. But one thing we know for sure is that what God has promised He will fulfill. That should provide comfort and encouragement for us no matter what the future may yet hold for us personally.
Like the church in much of the world, we in the West may be called to go through a time of suffering, purifying, and refining too. The Scriptures repeatedly warn us that as we approach the end of the age, evil will intensify and opposition to God and His people will increase. We should be preparing ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren to stand firm in the faith, regardless of the cost.
We must not live in fear of such a time. God has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. In Mark 13, Jesus promised that He will provide what we need in those circumstances, even to the point of giving us the words to speak in answer to our ungodly, vindictive authorities. However, I would add, that if we’re not in the habit of listening to the Holy Spirit’s voice now, we could miss hearing Him in that time of extremity.
The prophets, Jesus, and the apostles all spoke clearly about the signs that would foreshadow the end of the age. While evil has existed ever since the fall of mankind, the technology of our time makes it visible in unprecedented ways. Clearly, we are living in such times. I also just learned recently that the Jewish Talmud states that the history of the world is comprised of six eras of one thousand years each. The final millennium mirrors the seventh day of creation and is a time of rest known as the Millennium of Messiah. Interesting!
What are you and I to make of all this?
The most important action you can take to prepare for the return of Messiah is to make Him your Savior and Lord if you haven’t already done that. Without Him, you have no hope and no future. He is the only one who can save you from sin, from self-destruction in the present, and from eternal punishment in the future.
Don’t wait until it is too late, and the Spirit of God no longer calls you to repentance. Today, if you hear His voice, don’t harden your heart. Remember, you can only come to Him when He calls, not when you decide you’re ready.
Further, pay attention to what is going on around you. I meet people, even professing Christians, who are so caught up with the present they don’t have time to think about the future. They’re distracted by all the things the world has to offer and they’re too busy working hard, playing hard, and pursuing earthly pleasures to give much thought to where we are on God’s timeline of history. Don’t be like that. Jesus warned us to watch and pray lest we fall into temptation. It would be tragic to be like the five foolish virgins and miss the coming of the bridegroom.
Jesus is coming again. Are you ready for the return of Messiah?
The Return of Messiah : Part 1
Joel 2:28-32
Hope is a little word, but it has powerful effects. We sometimes say, “As long as there’s life, there’s hope.” We often use it in the context of physical injuries or serious illness. But I’ve also heard the statement reversed, “As long as there’s hope, there’s life.” Think about that.
In 2020, the world was ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic. Government, medicine, academia, and the media made the situation worse by their totalitarian responses and by withholding information and suppressing information. There were forced lockdowns and masking that destroyed many social interactions. People suffered from the lack of human contact, especially the elderly. Children were developmentally stunted by their isolation.
The media was filled with constant, breathless apocalyptic warnings. Freedoms of speech and assembly were canceled, and people’s reputations and livelihoods were destroyed. All these things added to a pandemic that already existed, a pandemic of hopelessness.
Every day the news media is filled with climate change hysteria, warnings of over-population, economic disparity, racial animosity, gender dysphoria, and many other issues. Governments and media use these issues to divide people into classes and create hopelessness, fear, and dependency.
People try to escape their feelings of hopelessness by living in a fantasy world, abusing drugs and alcohol, and even pursuing spiritism. It’s not surprising then that suicide rates in the developed world are astronomical and climbing. In the United States in 2022, more than 100,000 people died of drug overdoses. The loss of hope leads to despair.
I read recently of a person who has been through numerous surgeries in an attempt to change their gender. As a result of those surgeries, and other trauma in their life, they are in constant physical and emotional pain. Without hope of relief, they’re now looking for a doctor who will help them die. Their hopelessness is tragic, and unnecessary.
In contrast, Jesus offers us real hope. Listen to what Titus wrote in his epistle. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” That’s Titus 2:11 to 14.
Did you notice from these verses where our hope comes from? It is centered around two appearances of Christ. The first one is in verse 11, “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” That’s the first coming of Christ when Jesus came into the world to provide salvation for us. Paul says in Ephesians 2:13 that prior to the coming of Jesus, we had no hope.
And the second part of our hope is in verse 13; “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” This is the second coming of Christ, our eternal glory! Notice that both comings of Christ impact our choices about the way we live.
Our study in Joel this time centers around the final verses of chapter two. In the Hebrew text, these verses form their own chapter, chapter three. With a sweep of his pen, Joel transports us into the distant future to the time of Christ’s Second Coming.
As I understand Scripture, this second coming of Christ occurs at the end of the Great Tribulation, and ushers in His one-thousand-year reign as outlined in Revelation 20:6. What Paul describes in First Thessalonians chapter four is the Rapture, where those who believe in Christ, whether dead or living, will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. We have no indication in Scripture that Jesus will “touch down” on earth during this event. But according to the prophet Zechariah, He will physically stand on the Mount of Olives at His Second Coming. You can read about that in the opening verses of Zechariah 14.
God, through Israel’s prophets, foretold an unprecedented future age of peace. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, and others all spoke about this coming age. Wars, famines, floods, disease, and other effects of the curse will have no place in the Millennial reign of Christ. I will explain more of this as we proceed through our text.
So, follow along now as I read Joel 2:28 to 32. This is God’s Word to us.
In this text, God, through Joel, informs us of several distinct ACTIONS that will accompany the return of Messiah. These actions should provide both hope and comfort for us.
You may wonder how we can know that Joel is speaking about the Kingdom Age. First, Joel indicates it by his choice of words. “It shall come to pass afterward…” That’s pretty generic, pretty indefinite. But let’s look at how Peter identified this time more specifically in Acts 2:17. He was speaking in the context of the Holy Spirit being poured out at Pentecost. “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God…’” So, Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit connected Joel’s prophecy with the last days. He brings clarity to the indefinite expression in the Hebrew text,
This connection is illustrated in the 3rd chapter of Hosea. (I urge you to look at this when you have time.) In the first two verses of Hosea 3, the prophet speaks of Israel’s past, illustrated by his marriage to a prostitute. Verses 3 and 4 speak of Israel’s present situation of abiding many days “without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice…” And then, verse 5 refers to the future like this. “Afterward, shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days*.”*
Let’s look now at the actions that will accompany the return of Messiah.
The First ACTION (that will accompany the return of Messiah) is,
The Spirit is Apportioned
“It shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit…” Let’s just stop right there, for now. We already noted that Peter adds to our understanding by adding the phrase "the last days” to Joel’s “afterward.” The last days refer to the period of time we are in right now. It’s the time between Pentecost and the second appearing or second coming of Christ to bring in the Kingdom Age. There the redeemed will live and reign with Him for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:6).
Joel prophesied that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh. Since Peter specifically quoted Joel’s prophecy, some Bible teachers understand that this prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost. But let’s look more carefully at what was happening in Acts chapter 2.
As the Holy Spirit was being poured out at Pentecost, those in the crowd heard the teaching of the apostles in their native languages. There’s a whole list of languages given. Some of the people were amazed and confused and they said, “What is going on?” But others mocked and said, in our modern terms, “These people are drunk.”
Then Peter stands up with the eleven and says, “No, these people aren’t drunk as you suppose, after all, it’s only 9 o’clock in the morning (the 3rd hour of the day). Now, let’s look carefully at what Peter said in response to those who were mocking. He does not say, as Jesus did in Luke 4:21,“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” I checked multiple translations of Peter’s statement and none of them imply that Pentecost fulfilled Joel’s prophecy.
Here’s how several translations express the idea. KJV – “This is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel.” NKJV – “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.” NIV – “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.” And ESV – “This is what was uttered through the prophet Joel.” Peter was saying to these scoffers, “Look, what you’re witnessing is similar to what the prophet Joel spoke about.” You’re free to disagree, but it seems clear to me that there is more to this outpouring of the Spirit than what happened at Pentecost.
Joel said the Spirit would be “poured out.” The Hebrew word, shaphak, implies the giving of something in great abundance. Think of a drenching rain or a spring that gushes clear, pure water seemingly without limit. Under the old covenant, the Holy Spirit was given sparingly, to only a few people and for specific acts of prophecy or service. Samson comes to mind, or Saul prophesying in I Samuel 19 when he was pursuing David, or Gideon in Judges 6:34.
There’s some disagreement about the meaning of the phrase “on all flesh.” Was the Holy Spirit poured out on all flesh at Pentecost? It depends on how you define the term. Some say, “No, the Spirit is only given to those who accepted Jesus as Messiah.” Others say, “Yes, all means every class of humanity and every nationality.” They support that by what Joel says about male and female servants and the fact that so many nations were represented in that crowd.
But if, by this phrase, Joel meant literally everyone, then the fulfillment must wait for a time when righteousness is experienced by all. It seems likely that the Holy Spirit will be present in all His fullness during the Millennial Kingdom, it will be a time unlike anything previously known to humanity.
God, through the prophet, Ezekiel, said to His people, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.” The Holy Spirit will control the life of each person and the fruit of His presence will be evident. We can hardly imagine what this will be like.
Joel said that the evidence of this outpouring would be that “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” In other words, the common people would speak under the inspiration of God’s Spirit, not just those designated as prophets, like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others. The old men would receive revelation through their dreams while sleeping. The young men would be given visions during their waking hours. To be sure, some of these things were experienced in the early church but hardly at the level implied in the text.
Verse 29 begins with the words, “and also.” This is an emphatic addition to the previous statements in verse 28. It implies something extraordinary or unexpected. Servants were often captives from other people groups or fellow Jews who were so deep in debt that the only way they could pay what they owed was to become a bond slave. I think this highlights how economic and social status will be erased in that millennial kingdom.
But as we’ll see in our next action, there seems to be clear evidence that this wasn’t the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy.
(This is Part 1 of a 2-part message)
Missed Part 1? Listen here!
A Promise of Restoration: Part 2
Joel 2:18-27
Another Outcome (that results from God’s promise of restoration) is,
The Assurance of Protection
In verse 20 God says, “But I will remove far from you the northern army [literally, northerner] and will drive him away into a barren and desolate land, with his face toward the eastern sea and his back toward the western sea; his stench will come up, and his foul odor will rise, because he has done [great] things.” In other words, God is saying, “I will protect you.”
It is possible that Joel is still referring to the locust plague here, but it is also surely more than that. For one thing, locust swarms usually came into Israel from the south or southeast, from the dry desert regions. The term northerner is never used elsewhere to describe locusts, nor does the Scripture ever refer to the locust performing “great things”. Neither would locusts perish in a desolate land because they would keep on flying. More likely, God is speaking of enemy armies.
Enemy armies usually entered God’s land from the north because of the major trade routes there. Those routes generally followed flat terrain and ready access to water. So, a northern army would be invading the land of Israel and Judah. This phrase, northern army, is a recurrent theme used in the prophetic books to describe God’s judgment. In Ezekiel, the turbulent whirlwind comes from the north, revealing the LORD and a message of destruction to the prophet Ezekiel. Through Jeremiah, the LORD declared, “Out of the north the evil will be unleashed on all the inhabitants of the land.”
Miraculous deliverances are part of God’s modus operandi and part of Israel’s history. One of them is the account of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, recorded in Isaiah 36 and 37. Threatening Israel with a great army, he was so confident in his ability that his army commander actually taunted the leaders of Israel. But godly King Hezekiah and the people cried out to God for His protection. That very night the angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Not only that but when Sennacherib returned home, two of his sons assassinated him. For the time being, the northern threat was eliminated.
If there is another “northerner” yet in the future, and that seems likely, the army described in the final chapter of Joel may be the same army described in Daniel 11:40 and Zechariah 14:2. Some commentators liken the four kinds of locusts in verse 25 to the four major kingdoms that Daniel spoke of in his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: the Babylonians, the Medes and Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans.
Daniel wrote, “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” God’s protection will be assured!
The defeat of God’s enemies will be total. The stench of their dead bodies will be stifling and sickening. Revelation 19 issues a call to the carrion-eaters to come and consume the corpses of those who will fight against King Jesus and the armies of Heaven that follow Him. One can hardly imagine the horror of such a scene.
As one of God’s children, are you assured of His protection? If not, it’s not because God hasn’t promised it. It may be that you’ve failed to understand it or claim it. Don’t get me wrong, God’s protection doesn’t eliminate all pain and suffering from our lives. That’s not what I’m implying. I’m saying that, as those who have repented of our sins and embraced salvation alone through Jesus, we are invincible until God is finished with us here. If you question that, I urge you to read the book of Job.
According to Romans 8:38 and 39, “…neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s just one of many similar promises we have as an outcome of our spiritual restoration. Be assured of God’s protection; you and I are safe in His care.
So, thus far, we’ve looked at three outcomes that result from God’s promise of restoration to His people: assurance of identity, assurance of presence, and assurance of protection. There is yet one more outcome.
The Final Outcome (that results from God’s promise of restoration) is,
The Assurance of Prosperity
God’s relationship with Israel was connected to the land. In seeing the repentance of His people, He is, according to verse 18, filled with righteous zeal for His land. Material prosperity was one of the results of God’s people walking in obedience to His commands. Deuteronomy 30 relates God’s promises of restored prosperity to His repentant people.
Remember, the locust plague and the various invasions of enemy armies had stripped the land bare. Normally, it would take years to recover from a locust plague. The impact of the plague on the ground and even on the seed for a future crop was devastating. But God promised to miraculously restore the crops of the fields and vineyards. In addition, enemy armies often stripped the land as they foraged for food or destroyed crops as a military tactic.
Productivity will be restored. Again, we see the importance of grain, new wine, and oil, both for the blessing of the people and the restoration of true worship. From starvation to plenty, from rejection to acceptance, from reproach to acclaim (see the prayer of verse 17). These crops indicate food, refreshment, and plenty. God doesn’t respond with “barely enough” but with full and abundant measure!
In verses 21 to 23, God addresses the land, the animals, and finally human beings. The land is commanded to exult in joy and gladness by becoming verdant and productive again. Even though the locusts, the drought, and the invading armies had wreaked havoc on the land, God’s restoration will be so much greater than the destruction.
In chapter one, verses 18 to 20, we learned about how the brute beasts of the field groaned under the locust plague. They were bewildered by the calamity that surrounded them and they were noisy in their protest. Now they’re instructed to rejoice in the newly verdant pastures and the fruits of the land. There was plenty to eat and drink.
Look at verse 23, “Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you.” What a contrast, from weeping, and lamentation, and wailing to gladness, joy, and rejoicing. Granaries that had fallen into disrepair are now restored because the threshing floors are full of grain. The vats are overflowing with the juice of grapes and the oil of the olives as the presses are filled with the ripe fruits of the land.
Psalm 104 proclaims the greatness of God like this, “You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.”
Further, God promises to restore the years that the locusts have eaten. It seems likely that this prediction will have seasons of fulfillment. Obviously, one of those fulfilments was in the near future, but there will be an ultimate fulfillment at the end of the age when the Messiah’s kingdom is set up on earth. (See Zechariah 14, Isaiah 2, Micah 4, Matthew 24, and Daniel 2.) It doesn’t seem likely that any other explanation would fully make up to Judah for the years of damage done to the land by the invading armies.
Today, the promises of God under the New Covenant are not connected to a specific land or to abundant material blessings, though some teach otherwise. The entrance into the kingdom of God doesn’t mean guaranteed health and wealth. In fact, Paul warned the newly planted churches of Asia Minor in Acts 14 that “…through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Later, in Second Timothy 3:12 Paul reminds us “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…”
So, is there an application that can be made for us today from this assurance of prosperity? What’s really in focus here is not the material blessings that Israel would receive as an assurance of their restoration. I’m sure those things were wonderful and the cause of much rejoicing. What really mattered was the fact that God was once again dwelling among His people who love and obey Him! This material prosperity would call forth heartfelt praise and worship to God for His abundant mercy and His marvelous lovingkindness.
Just like ancient Judah, the church today needs to experience genuine repentance and revival. God’s plea for repentance was the focus of two earlier programs in this series. In Joel’s time, Judah repented, they turned away from their sin and turned toward God in obedience to His law. God heard their cries of lament and confession and He responded with gracious forgiveness. He will do the same today.
The evidence of repentance today isn’t increased crops and material prosperity, it is the abundance of the fruit of the Spirit and the joy of finding life’s satisfaction in our relationship to our Heavenly Father through the Vine, Jesus Christ. “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are the marks of spiritual prosperity and the blessing of God. And that “…those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
I challenge you to take this list of spiritual fruit and evaluate your life before God. Don’t be mistaken or misunderstand me. These fruits of the Spirit are not something we try to produce to please or impress God, so He accepts us. In the natural world, it is the inner nature and life of the tree that produces the fruit. The same is true for us. Through our attachment to the Vine, Jesus Christ, it is His nature and His life that produces the fruit of the Spirit in and through us.
The promise of restoration is just as valid for us today as it was for the people to whom Joel was prophesying. Repentance is the requirement that makes this restoration possible. You and I can experience the outcomes that result from God’s promise of restoration to His people.
We can have the assurance of identity; God will put His seal of approval on us by giving us His Holy Spirit. People will look at your life and say, as they did of Peter and John, “this person has been with Jesus.” Living life with a spirit of repentance assures us that God will say, “these are My people.”
We will also experience the assurance of presence. Do you have the confidence and the assurance that you will never be put to shame? “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” The Holy Spirit is the presence of God Himself living in you. How amazing is that?
Further, we have the assurance of protection. Though the enemies of God may threaten us, attack us, and perhaps even destroy us physically, we are protected by the power and the promises of God. Nothing and no one can separate us from the love of God in Christ. We are safe in His care, so let’s live that way.
And finally, as part of this promise of restoration, we will experience the assurance of prosperity. I close with these words from the apostle Paul from Ephesians chapter one. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
God the Father longs for each of us as His children to experience these outcomes that result from His promise of restoration to His people. I pray you will find them real in your life!
A Promise of Restoration
Joel 2:18-27
Not far from where I live is an old house. I first saw this house more than 40 years ago. It wasn’t in very good shape. The roof was sagging, some windows were broken, and in some places, the stucco was coming off the walls. The yard and grounds weren’t well kept either.
An elderly man lived in that house and his appearance was somewhat like the condition of his house. He didn’t seem to have family connections and he was a bit of a recluse. He had served for years as the custodian at a local high school, just across the road from his house, but it had been closed as smaller schools were consolidated into a new building in a nearby town.
Eventually, the old man died, and the house continued to deteriorate. Then one day I noticed that it was being repaired. It was purchased by a person who had an interest in local history. He saw value in preserving that house for its history of it as well as reclaiming it for future use. I remember watching with interest the progress of the renovations on that old house.
As I recall, the first thing they did was to replace the sagging, leaky roof to preserve the structural soundness of the building. Then there were major renovations inside the house to bring it up to current building code specifications.
But the most dramatic change came when the new owner decided to remove the stucco from the exterior of the building. Underneath the dirty white stucco were beautiful brown sandstone walls. A crew of masons spent several weeks cleaning those stones and then repointing them. It was an amazing restoration and today it is a beautiful specimen of local architecture and building methods from an earlier time.
In the same community, just about a mile down the road is another house. This one is made of brick; not brick veneer, but solid brick walls. This one was the scene of a terrible fire a number of years ago. The owner of the property has simply abandoned it. There it sits, year after year, the structure falling in and the landscape being overtaken by weeds, briars, and trees. It’s in such bad shape that it can’t be restored, it would need to be torn down so a new house could be built on the site. It’s an eyesore in the community.
There’s a very marked and visible difference between these two properties. Why? Because someone intervened, someone took an interest in the one house, but not the other.
There is a parallel between those two houses and our lives as human beings. As sinners, we are all in a state of disrepair and brokenness. Our lives are on a downward spiral of decay and eventual destruction. But there is Someone who can intervene. There is Someone who sees beyond the brokenness, the destruction, and the weeds that describe our sinful existence. He sees the potential that He created in us and the glory we can bring to Him if we respond to His plea for repentance. That Someone is God.
In our previous study, we looked at Joel 2:12 to 17 and God’s plea for repentance to His ancient, chosen, earthly people, Israel. He reminded them of His lovingkindness, His mercy, and His gracious forgiveness of sin. He urged them to repent so He could bless them. We noted that this is the same God we serve today, and He hasn’t changed.
In our text for this teaching, we turn to Joel 2:18 to 27 to look at God’s promise of restoration to a repentant people. One of the things we learn quickly in reading the messages of these Old Testament prophets is that human nature hasn’t changed. Our circumstances today are different from what they were in Joel’s day, but there are clear applications of the Scripture we can and must make to our lives if we want to experience the promise of God’s restoration.
So, follow along as I read our text, Joel 2:18 to 27, and then we’ll explore it together under the title, “A Promise of Restoration.” Here is the Word of God to us.
This text reveals four favorable OUTCOMES that result from God’s promise of restoration.
The opening verse of our text, verse 18, introduces a change of focus. This is the hinge point of Joel’s prophecy. From here to the end of the book, Israel moves from being the object of God’s judgment to becoming the object of God’s blessing – in the near future and also at the end of the age. I will approach this text a bit differently and rank these outcomes according to their importance, not the way they appear in the text.
The First Outcome (that results from God’s promise of restoration) is,
The Assurance of Identity
I go immediately to the final verses of our text, verses 27 and 28. Both of these verses end with this statement. “My people shall never be put to shame.” For right now, let’s focus on the two words, “my people.” Here, I turn to Hosea chapter one. I realize that Joel’s prophecy precedes Hosea and Hosea’s prophecy is primarily directed at Israel, the northern kingdom. But the issues are the same, both groups of people were shot through with moral corruption and spiritual bankruptcy.
God told Hosea to marry a prostitute and have children with her as an object lesson, an illustration of Israel’s broken and troubled relationship with God. The names assigned to these children by God were very specific.“Now when she [that’s Gomer, Hosea’s wife] had weaned Lo-Ruhamah [her name means, no pity], she conceived and bore a son. Then God said: ‘Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are NOT My people, and I will NOT be your God.’” Lo-Ammi’s name was representative of Israel’s spiritual condition and their estrangement from God, “not my people.”
In our text, God, through Joel, was foretelling a coming judgment of apocalyptic proportions. Judah would suffer because of their unfaithfulness to Him. By this judgment, the surrounding nations would conclude that Judah was NOT the people of God. If you’ve been with me for previous studies in this book you already know that God’s plea for the people’s repentance included specific wording that they could use in their prayer of contrition.
Part of that prayer was “Spare Your people, O Lord.” They were in danger of being cut off, of becoming, as it were, “not my people.” They were in danger of losing their unique identity as the people of God. The text here in Joel chapter 2 assumes that the people did repent. And as a result, God said “You are my people.” We know that whatever repentance occurred it was only temporary. About 250 years after Joel prophesied, the nation went into captivity in Babylon.
God’s discipline of His people, historically and today, is proof of their identity. Proverbs 3:11 and 12, “My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.”
Would God say of you and of your church, “You are my people?” On what basis? How are the people of God identified? In Joel’s day, it was by their repentance from sin and their obedience motivated by their faith in God’s character and His promises. It’s the same today, isn’t it? Genuine faith in the salvation provided through Jesus and the embrace of God’s promises motivates a life of obedience to the commands of Jesus. That produces holy living.
In John 13:35 Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love each other.” In Luke 6:46 He said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord [or master] and don’t do what I say?” And in John 14:15 He said, “If a person loves Me, he will obey My commands.” And in Acts 4:13 we read, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
Are you assured of your identity in Christ? When other people look at your life, what do they see that convinces them that you belong to Jesus, that you’re one of His children? It’s obvious from this text that genuine repentance is the key. Genuine repentance results in a changed life and a changed lifestyle. We are rescued out of Satan’s kingdom, according to Colossians 1:13, and conveyed into the kingdom of God. When we genuinely repent of our sin and cast ourselves on His mercy, He will say to us, “You are My people.” So, the first outcome of restoration is the assurance of our identity.
Another Outcome (that results from God’s promise of restoration) is,
The Assurance of Presence
As a result of Judah’s sin, God had removed His presence from them, which was why they were experiencing such severe judgment. But now, Judah’s response to His discipline and their evidence of genuine repentance motivated God to act. Verse 18 says, “Then the Lord will be zealous for His land and pity His people.”
The Psalmist, David, wrote, “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust,” Psalm 103:11-14.
God’s pity for His people moved Him to be zealous for His land. The idea of being zealous is similar to the godly jealousy that a husband or wife has for their spouse. He or she wants to guard, protect, and nurture the relationship so that it can become all that God intended it to be. And indeed, God likened His relationship with Israel to a covenant marriage. Hosea’s experience was a real-life illustration of this principle.
In verse 27, God says, “you shall know that I am in the midst of you.” This was God’s desire from creation. After Adam and Eve sinned, they hid, and God came looking for them. He knew where they were, what they had done, and why they were hiding. But He wanted fellowship with them. God didn’t need Adam and Eve in the sense that He was somehow incomplete without them. He is all-sufficient in Himself. But He obviously wanted the fellowship and love and worship of those whom He had created in His image. He wanted to be present with His people.
Why did Israel have the Tabernacle, and later, the Temple? It was so God could live among them. Both the Tabernacle and the Temple were the hub around which Jewish life was supposed to revolve. God was at the center, and everything flowed outward from His presence. That was what God intended then and it’s still what He intends for us today. He wants us to be assured of His presence, and today we have the advantage because the Holy Spirit dwells within our spirit. Think about that; the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-holy God lives in you! That’s mind-boggling.
The calamities Judah faced were ample evidence that God had abandoned them and that He was no longer present among them. In Deuteronomy 28:63, when the children of Israel were about to enter the Promised Land, God warned them about the consequences of disobedience. He said, “And it shall be, that just as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be pluckedfrom off the land which you go to possess.”
And yet, in that context of judgment, two times, in verses 26 and 27, God makes the statement “my people shall never be ashamed.” That should alert us God was looking beyond their immediate or near future to a time yet in the distance. Judah did repent, it seems, but they eventually rebelled against God again and were carried captive to Babylon in 586 BC.
Nor was that the last time in their history that they were put to shame. From the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD until the founding of the modern state of Israel in May 1948, the Jews have been dispersed to the far corners of the world. They’ve been hounded, harassed, vilified, persecuted, and slaughtered, unlike any other nation or ethnic group.
No other group of people has gone through what the Jewish people have gone through and have still retained their language, their culture, and their religion. Even today, anti-Semitism is growing around the world and the people of the modern state of Israel live in a very dangerous neighborhood, surrounded by nations devoted to their destruction. But as we continue farther in our study of Joel’s prophecy, we’ll discover that the time is coming when this prophecy of God’s presence will be literally and finally fulfilled.
Is God’s presence real in your life? Do you have the confidence and the assurance that you will never be put to shame? Listen to the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 5:1-5. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us*.”*
In verse 5, the KJV reads like this; “And hope maketh not ashamed…” The word in the original language means to humiliate, dishonor, disgrace, frustrate, or disappoint. If God’s presence is real in your life, then you can take this promise to the bank! Now, to be sure, this isn’t talking about your daily experiences living in a world affected by sin. What it means to you is just what God’s promise meant to the people of Judah – finally, your faith in Him will be vindicated. You will ultimately stand in His glorious presence! This is a reality my mind cannot fathom, but I accept it by faith. So, walk today in the assurance of His presence.
A Plea For Repentance : Part 2
Joel 2:12-17
The Next STEP (in responding to God’s plea for genuine repentance) is,
Gather the People
These next two verses are very similar to chapter one, verse 14. “Sound the shofar in Zion! Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather all the people.” This was the work of the priests; they were to lead by example. Here, Joel goes through a list of specific people who should be there. No age group is excluded, and nothing should be allowed to interfere with this gathering, not even previous exceptions in the law of Moses; like the one exempting newly married couples from certain duties for their first year together (Deuteronomy 24:5).
Notice with me how this plea for repentance is set in the context of the community of God’s people. Our culture, western culture is a “me” culture instead of a “we” culture. The emphasis in our culture is on the individual. Our wants, our desires, our rights take precedence over everything else. That isn’t the biblical pattern, although we have tried to adapt the Scripture to fit our culture. I’m not suggesting that individual repentance isn’t necessary, it is, but individual repentance does have ramifications for the larger community.
If you look at examples of repentance in Hebrew culture, the emphasis is on the group rather than the individual. Nehemiah prayed, “please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.” Daniel’s prayer in chapter nine of his book is very similar. Both godly men include themselves in the prayers of repentance.
Joshua 7 records the defeat of Israel’s army at Ai that resulted from the sin of Achan. After the defeat, Joshua tore his clothes and cried out to God. What did God say? He said, “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them.” Did you catch that? One man sinned, Achan, but his sin affected the whole group. In the New Testament, in the closing verses of First Corinthians eleven, Paul tells us that those who participate in the Lord’s Table in an unworthy manner cause disease and death in the body, the church.
Joel called on the religious leaders of Judah to consecrate a fast. The Hebrew word is kadhesh. It means “to be set apart” or “to be holy.” To consecrate something is to set it apart for a special purpose. So, the people of Judah were commanded to set apart time and resources for a period of fasting. Fasting involves crying out to God and asking Him to reveal His will. Fasting can sharpen mental alertness and spiritual perception. The process often leads to purification, as God through the Holy Spirit reveals sin that we were previously unaware of.
The priests were instructed to gather the people for a sacred assembly. A sacred assembly was a special time of corporate worship. It was a time when no regular work was done. Israel as a nation had regular festivals that included gatherings like this one, but this was an “emergency” meeting. Just as Joel instructed them to consecrate a fast, he now tells the priests to sanctify or consecrate (they’re both the same Hebrew word) the congregation. If they were going to hear from God and make an appeal to Him, it was imperative that take care of any sin among them.
As the crowd is gathered the priests are to lead them in repentance. They are instructed to “weep between the porch and the altar.” When there is sin in the Body of Christ, leaders need to set the example of repentance.
I remember so well, as a young man, attending a large gathering of Believers representing many different local congregations. It was customary in that gathering for ordained leaders to sit on the large platform behind those who were leading the meeting. I don’t remember the name of the man who spoke at that meeting, but I do remember him making a passionate appeal from the Scriptures for a spirit of repentance and godliness among leaders of the church.
At the end of his message, he gave an invitation to those in attendance who were leaders in their local congregations. Among the dozens of leaders present, not one responded. I was stunned. I thought to myself, “is there no one among this large group of leaders who is in need of repentance, of forgiveness, of cleansing?” And then I understood why there was so little repentance in their churches. As leaders, they should have set an example for their people. They had gathered the people, but they failed to lead.
The first step in responding to God’s plea for genuine repentance is, “turn to Me.” The next step is to gather the people of God into the presence of God in sacred assembly.
The Final STEP (in responding to God’s plea for genuine repentance) is,
Pray to the Lord
The priests were to “weep between the porch and the altar.” The area between the porch and the altar most likely referred to the porch of the temple entrance and the altar in front of the temple, where sacrifices would have been offered.
Think about it, the picture that Joel gives us earlier in verse 14 is that the grain and the drink offerings would be cut of when God judged their sin. The stripping of the land by the locust plague would leave them with nothing to offer. They are to lament between the porch and the altar. The altar has no sacred fire on it because no sacrifices or offerings are available. No sacrifices mean no atonement for sin, no access to God or fellowship with Him. It is like a table spread without any sacred food!
The area between the porch and the altar was a place of limited access. Not everyone could go there. Only the priestshad a reason to go beyond the altar toward the temple. This was where the priests usually stood to intercede for the people through sacrifices and prayers. Joel called them to “weep between the porch and the altar,” which is the entrance hall to the temple (Ezekiel 8:16). This way, the priests would lead the congregation in repentance.
So, instead of praying for and blessing the people as was the custom, instead of the joyful music that normally accompanied their worship, the priests were on their faces weeping and wailing in repentance. The prophet Amos, Joel’s contemporary, speaking for the Lord, stated, “Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” I wonder, does God have a similar message for the Church in our day?
And then, God so graciously provides them with a script for their prayer in verse 17. Try to imagine the weeping of this multitude punctuated with loud cries of “Spare Your people, O Lord, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
Do you see God’s heart in this prayer? As Joel stated in verse 13, God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. He is longing to bless His people if only they will love and obey Him. The focus of the prayer is on God, Your people, Your heritage. God is jealous for His name and His glory. If Judah was destroyed God’s reputation would suffer. The surrounding nations would scoff, “where is their God?” Many of the prayers in the Old Testament have this focus on God’s name and God’s glory.
After rehearsing the many rebellious acts of the children of Israel on their journeys through the wilderness, Moses said in Deuteronomy 9, “‘O Lord God, do not destroy Your people and Your inheritance whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not look on the stubbornness of this people, or on their wickedness or their sin, lest the land from which You brought us should say, “Because the Lord was not able to bring them to the land which He promised them, and because He hated them, He has brought them out to kill them in the wilderness.” Yet they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your mighty power and by Your outstretched arm.’”
I believe that the message God had for Judah through the prophet, Joel, is a message He has for the church today, especially the church in the western world. In Deuteronomy 32, after outlining the many gifts God gave to Israel, He offers this assessment.
“But Jeshurun (this was a term of endearment God used for Israel) grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, you grew thick, You are obese! Then he forsook God who made him, And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation. They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; with abominations they provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they did not know, to new gods, new arrivals that your fathers did not fear. Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful, and have forgotten the God who fathered you.”**
Earlier in this message I quoted Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart. These, O God, You will not despise.” How will you respond to this plea for repentance? How will you go about getting a broken heart? The first step is to ask God to grant it to you. Paul wrote in Second Timothy 2:24 to 26, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”
Another important aspect of attaining a broken heart is to realize the relational aspect of our sin. Why do I say that? Often, we view our sin as a failure of performance rather than a failure of intimacy. The grief we experience is disappointment in our inability to do what is right, and not that we have “despised” the living God.
When we sin, we play the part of an adulterer who looks for satisfaction in another, rather than the only One who can satisfy. That is why David said to the Lord, “against you, you only, have I sinned,” Psalm 51:4. David rightly saw his failures in terms of relationship, and as a result his heart was grieved as it can be only when we have sinned against the One we love so much.
Finally, true repentance comes to us not merely by understanding the relational aspect of sin, but by understanding the nature of the One with whom we are in a relationship. The more we see God as glorious and holy, the more we will see sin as something to weep over. Repentance is less about feeling bad over behavior, and more about feeling awe and delight towards God. The more glimpses we have of the glory of God, the more we mourn for scorning that glory.
I believe there are many unsaved people around us today asking the question, “Where is their God?” They see our affluence, our focus on the material, our lack of concern for the poor, the way we respond to adversity, the moral failures of church leaders, and a multitude of other choices. And they reach the conclusion, “these people really aren’t any different from us aside from the fact that they’re religious.” Can you and I prove them wrong?
God said to the people of Judah, “turn to me with all your heart.” Today, He is inviting us to turn to Him in genuine repentance, repentance that changes the direction of our lives. He doesn’t want religion; He wants a relationship. He wants to be the supreme love of our lives.
Perhaps it’s time to gather the people, to call a solemn assembly to humble ourselves before the Lord with fasting, and prayer, and tears of repentance. Perhaps it’s time to ask God to forgive us for the way our choices have caused unbelieves to disregard God and His name. And perhaps it is time for us to pray “Spare Your people, O Lord, And do not give Your heritage to reproach…”
Remember, “…[God] is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him…” Do you want God’s blessing? If so, these are the necessary steps of action we must take in responding to God’s plea for genuine repentance.
Listen to Part 1 here: A Plea for Repentance : Part 1 - Heralds of Hope
VOH-M 2879 230730 The Day of the Lord Joel 2:1-11
By the grace of God, I have never lived in a part of the world wracked by war. But because I enjoy studying and learning about history, I have read many books and watched many movies about World War II. During that war, both the Axis and Allied powers used saturation bombing as a technique to demoralize the enemy and to destroy manufacturing centers and lines of transportation.
Beginning on September 7, 1940, the German Luftwaffe bombed the city of London daily for 56 days, almost 2 months. During the entire war more than 20,000 civilians in London died as a result of the bombings. More than a million houses were damaged or destroyed.
On the side of the Allies, Major General George Doolittle supervised the repeated bombing raids of Berlin. Over the course of the war, thousands of tons of bombs were dropped causing massive fires and widespread destruction. Both sides lost countless airplanes and crew members in the destruction. Many civilians also died from hunger, disease, or injuries.
Most of the air raids were not carried out with total surprise. Early in the war, coastal watching and listening posts alerted citizens of an impending raid. Later, radar became more prevalent and reliable. But the wailing of sirens announcing an imminent air raid was a sound that aroused fear in even the most stouthearted.
We’re conducting our study from the book of Joel under the theme; “The Day of the Lord.” Today’s teaching, like the title cut from a music album, carries that same title. My opening comments gave a bit of insight into some of the damage done in World War II. But according to Joel, the effects of the coming day of the Lord would be much more severe. I can imagine that Joel’s words struck fear in the hearts of those who heard his message.
So, I invite you to listen and follow along as I read our text, Joel 2:1 to 11.
In this proclamation by the prophet, Joel, we see the sequence of WARNINGS that will precede the Day of the Lord. We ignore these warnings at our own peril.
The First WARNING (that will precede the Day of the Lord) is,
The Alarm Sounded
You may recall that in ancient times, every walled city had watchmen stationed at strategic places to warn the people of any approaching danger. One prominent example of this practice comes to us from Ezekiel chapter three where the prophet outlines the responsibilities of the watchman and the consequences he faced if he failed to warn the people of danger.
In our text, Joel is sounding the alarm. He cries “blow the shofar, the ram’s horn, in Zion, and sound the alarm in my holy mountain.” So, this alarm is not from a soldier on the wall of Jerusalem, but from a priest on the Temple Mount, Mount Moriah. This is primarily a spiritual warning. He is vehemently warning the people that the day of Jehovah’s terrible judgment is approaching. In fact, this judgment is so certain that Joel refers to it in the past tense; it has come.
This sounding of the ram’s horn should cause all the people of the land, Jew, and non-Jew alike, to tremble. Like the air raid sirens of World War II, it was a frightening sound that motivated people to seek cover. In fact, Amos wrote, “If atrumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid?” Even today, observant Jews say that the sound of the shofar should inspire the hearer to be in awe of Yahweh.
What was the cause of this fear and trembling? The day of the Lord! A day filled with darkness and gloom. It will come, blocking out the light like the locust plague blots out the light of the noonday sun. The locust hoard is compared to a great and powerful army unlike anything that preceded it in the history of the land of Judea and wouldn’t be seen again for many generations. It is a harbinger or a foreshadowing of the final Day of the Lord which, according to Jesus and Daniel, will be unlike any other day ever.
As we saw in chapter one, this day of the Lord is localized and is not far removed from Joel’s time in history. But the prophet clearly reveals to us later in this book that there is an ultimate, or final day of the Lord coming.
There is a need for the alarm to be sounded in our day too. Like the people of Joel’s day, we too have strayed from the Lord. We have broken His covenant and ignored His laws. We have given our strength to the gods of wealth, lust, and pleasure. We love comfort, ease, and entertainment. We do all we can to avoid suffering, hunger, discomfort, and the crucifying of our flesh. Men of God must, as it were, sound the trumpet and warn the people.
God will not be mocked. The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” Yes, if you and I are ignoring God, if we are following our own path through life regardless of what He wants, then we too should be fearful of the coming judgment. The alarm has sounded.
The Next WARNING (that will precede the Day of the Lord) is,
The Army’s Strength
These next several verses rehearse the appearance of the locust hoard and the effects it will have on the land. “A people come, great and strong, the like of whom has never been nor will there ever be any such after them, even for many successive generations.” Wait a minute! I thought we were talking about locusts, but Joel uses the word, people. Does this imply that the actual locusts are a symbol of a conquering army coming over the land? We shall see.
The beginning of chapter two seems like a repetition of chapter one; what’s the point? If you compare the two chapters, chapter two includes many more frightening details about this locust invasion and its effects. It reminds me a bit of Genesis chapters one and two. In chapter one you have the daily sequence of creation. In chapter two you have some repetition but with added details, especially in the details of the creation of mankind.
The appearance of these locusts will be like horses and their riders. Interestingly, in German, locusts are called heupferde (hoop-fer’-day). That means hay horses, and if you look closely at the head of a grasshopper it really does resemble a horse’s head. The rapid motion of the locust swarm is likened to a formation of running horses. The ground trembles beneath them.
Next, Joel describes the sounds of the locust swarm. The noises made by their flying and the noise of their foraging are different. When they jump and leap, it sounds like the rattling of a chariot on stony ground and the sound of their wings seems to make the very heavens tremble. When they begin to devour the vegetation the noise of it sounds like a crackling fire.
Notice beginning in verse 7 the descriptive picture of a well-disciplined and unstoppable army. They are tireless and relentless in their progress and not one of them breaks rank. They march in order without jostling each other; each one stays in his allotted space. Even if one of them falls, the others close ranks and keep moving forward. The weapons used against them are ineffective because they can actually alight on the edge of the sword! The vastness of their numbers and the clouds they produce blot out the light of the sun, moon, and stars.
Compare this darkening of the sky with what Jesus said in Matthew 24. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Do you see the similarities between Joel’s day of the Lord and the final Day of the Lord?
And what about the locusts themselves? Let’s compare them with the locust invasion pictured in Revelation chapter 9. “The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.”
These are not real locusts because they don’t destroy crops, in fact, they’re forbidden to touch any green thing on the earth! Instead, they are to torment men with a sting like a scorpion; not all men, but only those who don’t have the seal of God on their foreheads. They are demonic spirits so vile that, according to Jude 6, they have been chained in the bottomless pit for centuries. Now they are unchained to do their painful and destructive work.
The people who lived through the locust plague in Joel’s day probably thought they were living through hell on earth. But their experience was nothing compared to this vicious locust plague that will come upon the whole earth during the time of the Great Tribulation. The saddest part of this picture in Revelation is that there is no repentance. Even after experiencing this horrible torment, wishing for death but unable to die, they refuse to repent but continue to blaspheme God and live in extreme wickedness.
So, what are you and I to make of all this? First of all, the day of the Lord is coming. Make no mistake about that! Like a woman in the pains of childbirth, once it begins, there will be no stopping it. Joel and other the Old Testament writers prophesied about this day. John the Baptist and Jesus both spoke about the day of judgment. The apostles and the writers of the New Testament also speak of this terrible day that is coming. And Peter warns us about those who deny the coming day of the Lord.
He wrote, “Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”
The warning is clear, the day of the Lord is coming. The question is, “are you ready?” So, the alarm has been sounded, the strength of the army has been described, what’s next?
The Final WARNING (that will precede the Day of the Lord) is,
The Army of the Savior
Notice that this army is designated as the Lord’s, it is His army, He commands it. It is great in both numbers and might. It carries out His commands with great power and precision because strong is the One who executes His word.
The locust plague Joel describes in this text is literal, but it foreshadows a future judgment that was to come upon Israel. The Lord’s army of judgment on Israel was comprised of the Assyrians and the Babylonians. The Assyrians uprooted the ten northern tribes in 722 BC, and in 586 BC the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar reduced the Temple to rubble and carried the people captive. They would languish in Babylon for 70 years as punishment for their sins.
And as I mentioned earlier, both the literal locust plague and the invasion by Assyria and Babylon were harbingers of a greater day of the Lord yet to come. In words addressed to the Jewish people, the prophet Zechariah states, “Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.”
Jesus warned us about this coming day in Matthew 24. “Therefore, when you see the‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),“then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.Butwoe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.Forthen there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved;but for theelect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
Did you hear that? Jesus said “unless those days were shortened, no one would survive.” Consider yourself warned. The Day of the Lord is coming, and it’s closer than it’s ever been before. No one who is unprepared will escape. Now is the time to prepare.
Jesus Christ died on the cross, the death of a common criminal as it were, taking the punishment we deserved upon Himself. When you and I, by faith, accept His sacrifice as the only acceptable payment for our sin, we are freed from the judgment we deserve. We are redeemed, we are pardoned, we are forgiven! We become God’s sons and daughters, members of His family.
Have you accepted Jesus’ offer of salvation? If not, this is your warning, the Day of the Lord is coming. The alarm has been sounded, the army’s strength has been described, and the army of the Savior will be irresistible and unstoppable. Make your choice today.
A Call to Lament
Joel 1:13-20
“Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”
Those words from the wise man, Solomon, sound strange in our ears today. We live in a world that wants to eliminate all hardship, pain, and suffering. Families have their loved ones cremated so there’s no physical body of the deceased to be viewed as a graphic reminder of our mortality. Parents refuse to take their children to funerals, lest they be emotionally upset or ask mom and dad difficult questions about life and death.
I saw a meme not long ago that pictured children riding in the back seat of a car in the 1960s. The windows were open, the wind was streaming through their hair, and they were laughing and having a good time. I remember those days! The next scene was a picture from today with three children in the back seat of a car tightly strapped down and totally encased in bubble wrap. Yes, it’s a bit extreme, but it communicates the mindset of today; trying to shield ourselves and our children from any and all kinds of pain.
Even many who profess to preach the Gospel, proclaim a message that God wants you to be happy, healthy, and wealthy. The message of sorrow for sin and repentance is nowhere to be found. When was the last time you heard a sermon emphasizing repentance and sorrow for sin?
Our study in the book of Joel brings us to the second part of chapter one. As we’ll see, Joel calls his hearers and readers to a time of reflection, prayer, and repentance. We approach this text not just as an historical record of what happened, but to see how it is profitable for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, and for instruction in righteous living for us today.
I’ve titled today’s teaching, “A Call to Lament.” If you listened to the teaching from last week, you’ll see that I’m using the final point of that teaching as a springboard for what we’ll talk about today. To begin, let’s read the text, Joel 1:13 to 20.
In light of the devastation by locusts, Joel urges his hearers to lament the seriousness of their situation. He gives them several WAYS to express genuine grief and repentance.
The First WAY to express lament is,
Consecrate a Solemn Fast
Notice this command is addressed to the priests, the spiritual leaders of the nation. In the previous message we pointed out the graphic terms used to describe the grieving process, words like weep, wail, howl, be ashamed, and turn pale. The peoples of the East are very vocal and demonstrative in expressing grief and sorrow. The process involves tearing their hair and striking their chests repeatedly.
The Hebrew Scriptures highlight the use of sackcloth and ashes as signs of deep mourning. Here, the priests are commanded to put on that uncomfortable clothing, not just for the day, but to lie in it all night before the altar of God. There would be no sleep under those conditions.
They were further instructed to sanctify or consecrate a day of fasting. This was more than just a suggestion or an “if it’s convenient for you” kind of proclamation. Instead, this was to be a solemn assembly, hallowing the act of abstaining from food. You and I can fast for our physical health, but this was not the focus in this fasting. This fasting was being made as an offering and a sacrifice to God.
This assembly and fasting day included the elders and all the inhabitants of the land. This was to be a time of national repentance and mourning for sin. They were told to “gather into the house of the Lord your God.” As they gathered there, the priests were to lead the nation in crying out to the Lord with vehement earnestness and perseverance until relief would be granted.
Surely, they would’ve reflected on the words of the Lord to Solomon in Second Chronicles 7:14, “if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
In the United States, from the earliest days of our history as a nation, our leaders have periodically called for a day of prayer and mourning in response to some need or some calamity. The terrorist attack of September 11, 2011, is a case in point. We still have a “Day of Remembrance” annually on that day in September. Some state governors have called for a statewide day of prayer in the midst of drought or other natural disasters. It acknowledges there are situations we humans are powerless to control.
Have your spiritual leaders, your pastor/teachers, ever called for a day of fasting and prayer in your congregation? In Joel’s time, those who were God’s people were being judged for their insincere worship, their focus on materialism, and oppression of the poor. Aren’t those same things prevalent in organized religion today? Many people attend carefully scripted and choreographed Sunday services complete with bands, fog machines, and the latest digital technology. But during the week, you be hard-pressed to notice any difference between them and their unbelieving neighbors.
On the other hand, you have those churches who pride themselves in not having followed those excesses. Their members are quite pleased to be able to check all the boxes that seem to indicate their rejection of worldliness, but they are blind to the sins of the spirit like pride, arrogance, and a disparaging view of those unlike them. Both groups need repentance!
Like those in Joel’s time, we too need to cry out to the Lord. He is gracious and merciful, willing, and ready to forgive, to heal, and to restore. As spiritual leaders, it’s our responsibility to consecrate a time for repentance and cleansing.
The Next WAY to express lament is,
Consider the Solemn Day
That solemn day is – The Day of the Lord! That day is introduced by the word, alas. Interestingly, the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament, reads like this; Alas, alas, alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is night, and it will come as trouble upon trouble.” The triple repetition is a literary device that strengthens the meaning exponentially. We see a similar pattern in Isaiah’s vision of the Lord in Isaiah 6:3, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts…” And in Revelation 8:13, “woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth.”
Joel says this day of the Lord comes suddenly, secretly, and irresistibly. It is a destruction from the Almighty. We must be clear in our minds about the meaning of the day of the Lord. It should be obvious to us that within the pages of Scripture there are multiple “days of the Lord.” This day of the Lord Joel prophesied to the people of Judah was just one day of the Lord. It was in their near future. But as we’ll see in further studies, the day Joel predicts for Judah does presage that day when God will judge and take vengeance on a global scale.
There are four specific “days” that are given to us in Scripture. First is man’s day, we call that the span of human history, from creation to the final consummation of all things. Then there is the day of Christ, His earthly ministry and the time between the Ascension and the Rapture. There is also the day of the Lord, ultimately, the judgment of the unbelieving world for their rejection of Christ. And finally, the day of God, the time between the end of the millennial kingdom and the final judgment at Armageddon, according to Revelation 16:14.
Also notice that the name of God Almighty is used here in verse 15. This name of God isn’t used very much in Scripture. In fact, it’s not used as a mere name, but always in reference to His power. For example, His power to enliven the bodies of Abraham and Sarah to have a child in their old age, Genesis 17.
Of further interest to us is the fact that the words destruction and Almighty come from the same Hebrew root. So, we could read it as “the day of the Lord will come as might (shod) from the Almighty (shadday).” The word shod is always used of the might or power put forth to destroy, a mighty destruction. Joel says that “that Day shall come, like might put forth by the Almighty Himself; to destroy His enemies, irresistible, inevitable, unendurable, overwhelming the sinner.” Truly that will be a solemn day.
So far, we have two ways to express lament; consecrate a solemn fast and consider the solemn day, the day of the Lord.
The Final WAY to express lament is,
Cry a Solemn Prayer
Is it possible that Joel’s words in verses 15 through 20 are the script for this cry, this solemn prayer? They begin by acknowledging the hopelessness of their circumstances. The people were anticipating a rich harvest and the joy and gladness of presenting the first fruits and thank offerings to God. But all of a sudden, the food was stripped from the fields, orchards, and vineyards right before their very eyes.
William Thomson writes of his travels in the Middle East during the late 1800s and his personal witness of a locust invasion. “I saw under my own eye not only a large vineyard loaded with young grapes, but whole fields of grain, disappear as if by magic, and the hope of the husbandman vanish like smoke."
Joel goes on to list additional judgment. Drought caused the seeds to shrivel in the ground, granaries and storehouses fell into disrepair because there was no use for them. The locusts destroyed what was above ground and drought destroyed what was under the ground. The fire of drought destroyed the pastures so that the flocks and herds cried out too. If you’ve ever been around hungry or thirsty cattle, they will bawl nonstop!
In March of 2023, Joyce and I had the privilege of visiting Israel and Jordan. We saw the Bedouins grazing their sheep and goats on ground that appeared to be barren. But as we looked carefully, we noticed little tufts of grass scattered here and there. Joel states that the conditions will be so desperate that not even the sheep will find adequate pasture.
Here you have the beasts, creatures of habit without the ability to reason, suffering because of the choices of their masters. But even their cries of confusion and pain failed to awaken their masters to the need for repentance. Try to imagine the cacophony of sounds as the people are weeping and wailing, and the cattle are bawling continuously. It would make you want to cover your ears and run away!
So, Joel concludes by appealing to the only help left, the Lord, Jehovah, "the unchanging, eternal, self-existent God," the "I am that I am," the covenant-keeping God. “Oh Lord, to you I cry out!” He echoes the sentiments of the writer of Psalm 36. “Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast.”
In the book of Deuteronomy, God had repeatedly warned Israel that he would bring judgment on them if they disobeyed Him. And because Israel was an agrarian society, that judgment would specifically be directed at the land with its crops and produce. Hearing about the devastation that was coming should have alerted them to their need for repentance.
What is the condition of the people of God today? We often hear people say that the church needs revival. Maybe you’ve said that yourself. But what is the church comprised of? It’s made up of individual believers - you and me. So, are we willing to acknowledge that WE need revival? Are you willing to admit that your ease, your wealth, your comforts have lulled you into a spiritual stupor? Am I willing to admit the same?
Is it time to call to the people of God to a solemn fast, to abstain from food as an offering to God and an indication of our sincerity in seeking His face? Some of our Kenyan brothers and sisters that Heralds of Hope partners with have all-night prayer and fasting vigils. And there are testimonies of healings, deliverance from demons, and other supernatural happenings as a result of those times of seeking the Lord. We can learn from their example.
Here are the ways Joel called God’s people to express genuine grief and repentance for sin: consecrate a solemn fast, consider the solemn day, and cry a solemn prayer. I urge you to reflect on the call to lament for the sin in the church and in your life personally. Ask God to cleanse you and restore your joy!
A Divine Warning
Joel 1:1-12
Life is full of dangers. When there are dangers, we usually appreciate being forewarned about them. Some dangers are so obvious, there’s no need for a warning. I don’t need a warning sign at the edge of the cliff. I know enough to stay well back from the edge. I don’t need the warning on my step ladder that reads “Don’t stand on the top step.”
But some dangers are hidden and without a proper warning, we could be injured or even killed. When you and I see a warning sign or read a warning label on a product, we have a choice to make. We either heed the warning or we ignore it. But if we ignore it, those who posted the warning aren’t responsible for the results of our choice.
Most of us understand how warnings work in the physical world. We know that if we don’t respect or heed those warnings, we could end up paying a high price. But somehow, when it comes to the realm of the spiritual, we think we can ignore the warnings. Or maybe we think they don’t apply to us. That’s a conclusion that can have tragic consequences.
As followers of Jesus, we believe the Holy Scriptures are our guide for living. Its pages are filled with many promises of blessing to those who are faithful and obedient. But there are also many promises of destruction and suffering to those who disobey God’s Word. For the ancient nation of Israel, a synopsis of the Law was given in Deuteronomy 27 and 28. It outlines both the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience. Moses gave them this word from God just prior to his death and their entrance into the Promised Land.
Like us, the ancient people of God were prone to forgetfulness. Their history was a cycle of ups and downs, economically, and spiritually. Into one such downturn, God sent the prophet, Joel, with a message of warning. Joel’s message was unique to Israel’s experience and history, but we can definitely see what happens to those who fail to heed God’s warnings.
The primary message of Joel’s prophecy centers around the day of the Lord. The usage of this phrase shows up in other Old Testament Scriptures, but Joel is the one who develops it, both in the near future and the ultimate fulfillment in the distant future. And so, for the next several weeks, we’ll be looking together into the book of Joel so we can be adequately prepared for “The Day of the Lord.”
Today, we will be looking together at the first twelve verses of chapter one. I’ve titled my teaching, “A Divine Warning.” I invite you to follow along as I read Joel 1:1 to 12.
In this text we see several ASPECTS of the divine warning Joel gives to the people of Judah. Though the circumstances are unique, the principles taught are applicable to us today.
The First ASPECT of the Divine Warning is,
The Call to Listen
Joel begins with these words, “Hear this, you elders, and give ear, all you inhabitants of the land!” The verb translated as hear is “Shema” in the Hebrew language. It describes both the mental activity of hearing as well as its effects. In other words, the expectation for the person who hears is to obey. In fact, even today, religious Jews refer to the prayer in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 as the Shema because it begins with the word, hear.
The verb translated as listen can be rendered as “to give ear,” that is, to give due consideration to someone or something (Deuteronomy 32:1). The verbs are used here synonymously to call the people of Judah to attention.[1] This double call to listen implies that the subject is critically important.
In our Western way of thinking, listening involves a mental activity. That mindset comes from the influence of Greek culture and its emphasis on knowledge. But in Hebrew, the word shema is often translated into English as obedience. Let me give you an example. Then [Moses] took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient (shema)! (Exodus 24:7)
Notice, Joel makes a special appeal to the older men first. Why? Elderly people, because of their long years of experience, are considered the most qualified to be judges. They have observed the consequences that result from certain choices. They know what choices should be encouraged and what choices should be discouraged. Their experiences have taught them the value of paying close attention when someone speaks, especially God.
The Lord, through Joel, asks the older men if they have ever seen anything like the devastation produced by the locust plague that is coming. If there had been anything like this before in their history, they would’ve known about it. The story would’ve been passed down from generation to generation. Once we get into the details of the locust invasion, we’ll see that an event like this wouldn’t be forgotten. So, this coming locust invasion would be unprecedented.
Now remember, when the Hebrew speaks of hearing - that includes action, obedience. How were these elders to obey? Joel says, “tell your children about it and let them tell their children, and their children to another generation.” This event wasn’t to be forgotten. It was to be a continuing reminder of the importance of listening to God.
Today, the call comes to us to listen to the Word of the Lord too. Not just to hear it with our ears, but to obey what is commanded. We too need to listen to the words of the elders, those among us who have more experience. Today, older people are often scorned, pushed aside, and accused of being out of touch with new ways of thinking and living. It happens even in the church. We are suffering the results of that ill-advised behavior.
And then we need to pass on the faith to our children, grandchildren, and beyond. Current research tells us that nearly two-thirds of 18–29-year-olds in the United States who grew up in church have withdrawn from church involvement as an adult. Could some of that rejection be a result of the failure of us older Believers to truly live out our faith in daily obedience? That might make us uncomfortable, but it’s something to think about.
So, the first aspect of the divine warning is the call to listen.
The Next ASPECT of the Divine Warning is,
The Call to Learn
This connects logically with the call to listen. If I have learned something only in theory with my mind, but have never put it into practice, I can’t truly say I’ve learned it. During my high school years, I had a chemistry class where I memorized the Periodic Table of Elements. I had to be able to reproduce it for an exam. Today, I only remember a few of the elements on the chart, and most of them mean nothing to me. I never truly learned chemistry. It didn’t have a practical application to my life and my field of work.
Much of learning is accomplished through observation and God, through the prophet, Joel, is giving His wayward people an unforgettable object lesson. The locust invasion Joel describes was being sent by God to help the people of Judah to move from simply hearing with the ear to hearing with their heart!
This plague of locusts was an awful calamity in an agrarian culture. Depending on the source you check, there are anywhere from dozens to hundreds of kinds of different locusts. They can fly for up to 17 hours at a time. Swarms of locusts have been spotted 1,200 miles out at sea! In 1889, a swarm in the Red Sea covered 2,000 square miles. The density of the swarm can be as high as 120 million locusts per square mile. Africa and the Middle East experienced a significant locust plague not that long ago, in 2020 during the time of Covid-19.
If you ever experienced something like this, do you think you would easily forget it? I doubt it. In our day of digital media, there are many photos and videos online that show the “before and after” effects of a locust invasion. The devastation is incredible! Joel said these locust hordes would come up over the land like an enemy nation. In fact, this locust invasion was most likely a precursor to an actual invasion by Judah’s enemies.
What Joel seems to be describing is the four stages in the life cycle of the locust. Each stage wreaks its particular devastation, from the larva to the adult. In verse six, the Lord says, referring to the locusts, “His teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a fierce lion. He has laid waste My vine and ruined My fig tree; He has stripped it bare and thrown it away; Its branches are made white.”
Compare that scene with Micah 4:4 describing the Lord’s reign in Zion. “…everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid…” Sitting under one’s vine or fig tree is the symbol of ultimate peace, the true shalom. It is the description of God’s original creation in Eden. Having those things wiped out speaks of total destruction.
Nothing would be left of the vegetation. Even the bark would be stripped from the trees! Imagine what follows; loss of product to sell causes hyperinflation and loss of trade, living standards fall, hunger and malnutrition spread, and diseases break out with the potential to wipe out the entire community.
God through the prophet, Joel, is saying to His people, “Listen and learn.”
The Final ASPECT of the Divine Warning is,
The Call to Lament
Beginning with verse 5 we have a call for 3 specific groups of people to engage in great lamentation. The prophet uses very descriptive words to describe what this should look like.
First, the drunkards are commanded to wake, not from sleep but from their stupor. Even in their inebriated state, they will not be able to ignore the reality of the damage caused by the locusts. They are told to weep and wail because the wine has been cut off. They will be shocked into sobriety when they realize their binge has come to an end.
You know, there are many things besides wine or alcoholic drinks that people are intoxicated with. Power, money, pleasure, sports, food, the list goes on and on. To intoxicate means “to excite or stupefy… especially to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished.” Intoxicate contains in it the word, toxic. When something is toxic it is poison. That’s the way the word was originally used.
The drunkenness of these men was toxic to their relationship with the Lord. It had left them insensitive to their sin and to the coming judgment. Far too many professing Christians today are intoxicated with the things of the world and are either unaware of their sin or in denial that it exists. But just like in Joel’s time, a day of judgment is coming, and sobriety will come like a bucket of ice-cold water poured over one’s head!
The next group of people mentioned id the priests, verses 8 through 10. Joel uses the Hebrew idiom, “lament like a virgin for the husband of her youth.” This can mean either a very brief marriage or more likely, that the bridegroom dies before the marriage can actually be consummated. Either way, it is a lamentation of the deepest and bitterest kind. Instead of a beautiful wedding garment, she puts on rough and irritating sackcloth.
And what is the reason for this grievous lament? the cutting off of the grain and drink offerings. The grain offering was made from flour mixed with oil and the drink offering, according to Numbers 15, was about a gallon or 4 liters of wine. These were offered with the daily evening and morning sacrifices. With the loss of resources, these sacrifices became impossible. With the cessation of the offerings, there was no more remedy for sin! There was no place of fellowship with God. This was the ultimate judgment.
Grain, oil, and wine were the lifeblood of the ancient Jewish economy. So, no sacrifices meant no work for the priests. Temple worship came to a halt. Besides having nothing to do, the priests also had nothing to eat. Remember, they depended on the offerings of the people for the supply of their physical needs. Because the land was stripped bare, the people had nothing to offer, and the priests went hungry.
The final group of mourners are the farmers and vinedressers. They are called to “turn pale with shame.” Wheat and barley were the primary cereal grains, the most valuable commodities produced by the land. Grapes and olives were also highly valued, but they had been devoured by the locust hoard. Figs, dates, pomegranates, and apples are also mentioned. The failure of all these crops meant nothing to eat and nothing to sell. The specter of starvation reared its hideous head! No wonder joy “withered away” from the people.
What Judah was facing had been foretold by Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 28. There, he rehearsed all the curses that God would send to His people if they failed to obey His commands. And in verse 42 of that chapter, He stated, “Locusts shall consume all your trees and the produce of your land.”
God’s Word is filled with warnings for you and me too. Several times in the Gospel Jesus is recorded as saying, “he who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Numerous times He invites us to learn from the parables He used. And He reminds us that if we fail to listen and learn, then we will indeed live to lament our failure.
What warnings are the Word of God and the Spirit of God speaking to you? Are you remembering that there are consequences for not listening to Him? Are you learning the lessons God wants you to learn? I urge you to respond in obedience today so you can avoid the great grief that comes to those who ignore His commands. Don’t ignore the divine warning.
[1] Joel 1:2–4 meaning | TheBibleSays.com
Introduction to the Book of Joel
(Song) A Shelter in the Time of Storm
I don’t know about you, but I am truly grateful for the truth of that song. With all of the turbulence in our world today, what a comfort to have God as our Rock and our Refuge!
Welcome to The Voice of Hope. This program is produced and sponsored on this station by Heralds of Hope. Our mission is to “use media to make disciples of Jesus Christ to accomplish the Great Commission in our lifetime.” I’m your host and Bible teacher, J. Mark Horst. Thanks for tuning in today.
If you’re tuning in for the first time, we give you a special welcome. What you hear today will be a bit different than our normal programming, but we hope it will be a blessing to you. If you’re new to the program, be sure to tune in next week to get a better understanding of what our program normally sounds like.
For those who tune in regularly, you may recall that I closed last week’s program with an overview of what we’d share today. I mentioned that we’re beginning a new study from the Old Testament book of Joel. So, later in the program I plan to introduce that study. I also said we’d give you an update on some of the exciting things that are happening at Heralds of Hope, the parent organization for The Voice of Hope. But before I do that, here are the men with a song of challenge that speaks to the reason that Heralds of Hope exists.
(Song) My House is Full, But My Field is Empty
That’s a sobering question. Who will go and work in the fields? In John 4:35, Jesus said, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” He also said, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” At Heralds of Hope, we take these commands seriously and we know that some of you listening take them seriously too.
As you look around and see all the turmoil and strife in our world, what’s your response? For some people, it’s fear. It motivates them to become what we call “preppers.” They’re building bunkers or “safe houses” in rural or mountainous areas, hoarding food, stockpiling guns, and ammunition, and preparing for doomsday. They hope to be able to protect themselves from the coming collapse of civilization.
Other people respond with cynicism. They believe that no matter what they do, it won’t actually make any difference. So why bother spending time, money, or energy trying to improve the quality of their lives or their neighbors’ lives. They withdraw into their own world, selfishly pursuing ways to gratify their desires for pleasure with the mantra, “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.”
And then there’s another group; those who actually have hope. They don’t deny there’s a lot of trouble in the world. Just like everyone else, they see the violence, the wars, the corruption of governments, the crime, the injustice, and all of that. But they believe they have a solution to those problems. And that solution is the Gospel, the Good News that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, to restore broken human beings to wholeness.
From their own experience they know that the Gospel brings peace and conquers fear. They know that they’re not going to change the whole world, but rather than becoming cynical, they invest in the lives of other people. They’ve seen individuals, and families, and communities transformed by the love of Jesus. That strengthens their hope and motivates them to more action.
At Heralds of Hope, we’re part of this group who have hope. The apostle Paul gives the reason for our hope in Romans 5:1-5. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ... And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
So, the first step to finding genuine, lasting hope is to be, in Paul’s words, “justified by faith. And the first step to being justified by faith is, again, according to the apostle Paul, found in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” The Holy Spirit takes the Word of God and applies it to the hearts of those who hear it. Then, they must decide what they will do with that knowledge. But how will they hear the Word if no one tells them?
Proclaiming the Word of God is what Heralds of Hope has been doing for the past 54 years. We currently broadcast our Bible teaching programs in 23 major languages via radio and internet. Not all 23 languages are fully supported by designated donations. So, we have a Summer Funding project going on right now. For each dollar contributed to this appeal - up to 80 thousand dollars, several generous donors have pledged to give 2 dollars toward our final goal of 240 thousand dollars. We are so grateful for their generosity.
These donations will be used to pay for several unfunded or underfunded broadcasts among those 23 languages. The letter we sent out stated that any funds received in excess of the current need will be designated for the growth of prospective broadcast opportunities. We have several projects we’re working on including Dari, for Afghanis, Farsi, for Iranians, and several more. Your gift for international broadcasting will enable us to move forward more quickly with these projects.
We’re blown away by what God is doing because, in less than two weeks after the summer appeal went live, we’ve already reached the goal. Praise God! Does that mean you can’t be a part of what God is doing? Absolutely not! Your gift will be applied to the development of programming in the new languages that I just mentioned a moment ago: Dari, Farsi, and others. We believe your generous outpouring of support is God’s way of confirming the direction our team has taken. Thank you so much and God bless you!
If you wonder whether or not our programs are effective, here’s a response from a listener in India. He listens to our Telugu language program, Living Hope. He writes.
“I live in a very small village. I have a physical weakness and need healing. Yet, I look forward to your radio broadcasts because they impart joy to me that I cannot fully express in words. There are more people who are interested in listening to the broadcasts around my house, so we all, about 5 families, eagerly look forward to the time of the broadcast. And as we begin to listen, our hearts are filled with joy and peace. And the fifteen minutes pass just like a moment, and we think, ‘oh, it’s over, we wish we could listen a little longer.’ Thanks for broadcasting a blessed, fruitful exposition of the Word of God.”
And here’s one more from a listener in Nepal.
"I’m a single lady with four children. My husband died seven years ago, and if I hadn't received Jesus at that time, I would not be alive today. We didn't have any finances to raise my children, and society and my relatives were against me. I was about to give up on life. I heard about God's love and cried bitterly. I embraced the truth and was advised to listen to your radio program. The programs were continually speaking to me and encouraging me through God's word. Today, all the members of my community have become Christians. This is thanks to the radio program that helped me become a believer and follow his path. Thank you very much.”
Isn’t it amazing that you and I have the privilege of working with God to share the Good News of His love? After all, God could accomplish the task without us if He wanted to. But no, He included us in His plan to reach the world with the message of salvation. Now, I want you to understand something very important. If you are a partner with us in the work of sharing the Gospel, these expressions of thanks really belong to you. Without your prayers and financial support there’s no way we could reach people like these who lives have been transformed by the power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. And now they’re sharing that Good News with others.
Another facet of ministry we engage in because of your partnership is Bible distribution. And some exciting things are happening there, too. You know, for us who live in the western world, purchasing a Bible isn’t a big deal. Most of us have multiple copies of the Scripture in our homes. But being able to purchase a Bible in many other parts of the world IS a big deal.
For those who live in countries that are hostile to the Gospel, copies of the Scripture may not be available – at any price. China is the largest Bible printer in the world, but it’s difficult for a Chinese person to get a copy of the Scriptures, especially in their language. Almost all of those Bibles printed in China are shipped out of the country. In North Korea, being found with a copy of the Scripture is a direct ticket to a labor camp or perhaps even the firing squad.
In other countries, if the Bible is available, many people can’t afford a copy. In 2021 a couple of our staff visited the African country of Malawi to observe our Bible distribution efforts firsthand and see how the process could be improved. One of the things they learned while they were there was how difficult it is for the average wage earner to purchase a Bible. Here’s what they were told, “giving a free Bible to a person in Malawi is comparable to someone in the US giving another person a free iPhone!” Amazing, isn’t it?
And then, there’s a unique situation we discovered through Equipping the Saints, an organization we’ve partnered with in earlier Bible distribution efforts. Guinea Bissau is a small country in West Africa. The majority religions are Islam and traditional beliefs that include the worship of ancestors and nature. The official language is Portuguese, but the common language is Portuguese-Creole. You can purchase a New Testament from Amazon in this dialect.
But purchasing a copy of the complete Scriptures inside the country of Guinea Bissau is another matter, we’re told. They’re just not available. And even if they were, most people couldn’t afford one. So, when we learned about this opportunity, we agreed to help print and ship a 20-foot container of Bibles, 18,000 copies. For a country with a population of just over one and a half million, that seems like a drop in the bucket, but at least it’s a start. And we’re hoping soon to have one of our team visit Guinea Bissau to see the distribution firsthand.
Can you imagine what it would be like to have someone hand you a Bible for the first time in your life? No, I know you can’t, neither can I. But we can at least try to imagine. Because you donated money for Bibles, a 70-year-old man and his wife in Zambia danced with joy at receiving their very first Bible ever! In that same country a 55-year-old man acknowledged it was the first Bible they ever had in their home. His six children had never seen a Bible. Now, they have Bibles and can read together. What a tremendous privilege we have to place copies of God’s Word into people’s hands in a language they can understand.
Now, as promised, let’s begin our introduction to the Old Testament book of Joel.
The Old Testament book of Joel lies between Hosea and Amos, among what we call the “minor prophets.” The term minor is used as an adjective, but it has more to do with their length than the content of their message. Since all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable, we ignore parts of it to our own disadvantage and even loss.
The book of Joel is often neglected by Bible teachers. Why is that? One of the main reasons is because its message is prophetic. Some people are uncomfortable with prophetic portions of Scripture and others just ignore them outright! Some teach that Joel’s prophecy will be fulfilled by the Church, rather than God’s ancient chosen people. They say that because Israel was unfaithful to the covenant God made with Abraham, they were replaced by the Church. But you need to disregard or allegorize too many other Scriptures to reach that conclusion.
We need to remember that the covenant God made with Abraham didn’t depend on Abraham’s faithfulness. Go back and read the account in Genesis chapter fifteen. You’ll see that God put Abraham into a deep sleep and then passed between the pieces of the covenant sacrifices by Himself. That wasn’t normal. Normally, both parties to the covenant passed between the pieces. God made the covenant based on His sovereign purposes and His power to fulfil the promises of the covenant. God doesn’t make promises He doesn’t intend to keep!
Another reason for the neglect of this book is that certain phrases have been cherry-picked from the text and applied in ways that the author never intended. Phrases like “the former and latter rain, I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten,” and more. So, rather than deal with the abuse of Scripture, it’s easier to ignore it.
As I understand it, the book of Joel gives us a timeline of Israel’s prophetic history from the Babylonian captivity to the Millennial Kingdom. If we’re mistaken about the role for Israel in God’s program for humanity, we will be susceptible to theological error and to the false teaching about prophecy today.
If you’re a regular listener to The Voice of Hope, you’ve heard me teach the importance of background and context in accurately interpreting and applying the Scripture. We need to learn what we can about the author, when the book was written, why the author wrote it, what the original readers would have understood the book to mean, and so on.
Hopefully, I can strike a balance in giving you some important background for this book. I don’t want to get so deep in the weeds that some of you tune me out. On the other hand, it’s important that we have some of the highlights.
Joel’s name means, Yahweh is God, but we know almost nothing about his family. All we have is the name of his dad, Pethuel, which means Persuaded of God. We assume he wasn’t part of the priesthood because of his familiarity with shepherding and agriculture, but I wouldn’t debate that too strenuously.
What about Joel’s time in history? One interesting fact is that Joel doesn’t mention the name of any king in either Israel or Judah. What do we make of this? Well, there was a period of time in Judah, between the kings Ahaziah and Joash, where wicked Queen Athaliah ruled the kingdom. We also know from the book of Amos, that Joel’s writings existed when Amos prophesied during the time of Joash and Uzziah. So, Joel must’ve written before that time.
Joel also mentions the Temple four times in his writing. That indicates that it must’ve still been standing. Along with that, he doesn’t mention anything about the Assyrian conquest of the northern kingdom in 722 BC or the Babylonian conquest of Judah in 586 BC. Those events most likely occurred long after he wrote his prophecy. In light of that we can assume that he wrote prior to Joash’s coronation in 835 BC.
Why did Joel write this prophecy? Well, the short answer is that he was one of the “holy men of God [who] spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,” according to Second Peter 1:21. But let’s look further. If you read these three chapters you can miss the overarching theme, The Day of the Lord. We will conduct our study with that as our theme. So, Joel wrote to warn his readers about God’s coming judgment of their sin.
Isn’t this the message of the entire Bible? God’s judgment fell on Adam and Eve because of their sin. They were kicked out of Eden and the earth was cursed beneath their feet. But God promised Eve a “seed” that would crush the head of the serpent, Satan. The angel that came to Mary told her that her son should be called, Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. Joel was in a long line of prophets who were revealing God’s plan for the coming of the Savior! Keep this in mind as we study this together.
The judgment Joel warned about would come in the form of a locust plague on the land of Judah. It seems like there is reference to both a literal locust plague, much like one of the ten plagues in Egypt, and also a reference to the invading armies of surrounding nations that would swarm over the region like locusts and strip the land of its resources.
In light of these predictions, Joel urged his readers to repent of their sins and cast themselves upon God’s mercy. As we work our way through the text, we’ll see more clearly what those sins were and why God was bringing judgment on His people. He also outlined the path to repentance and assured his readers of God’s forgiveness.
And last, but certainly not least, we’ll look at God’s program for Israel as Joel outlines it, in their near future and then in the distant future.
I hope you can be with me for an inspiring journey through the book of Joel, beginning next time we’re together for The Voice of Hope.
Missed Part 1? Listen here!
An Approved Worker
II Timothy 2:15-19
During the 1970s, Keith Hernandez was one of baseball's top players with a lifetime batting average of .300. He won numerous Gold Glove awards for his excellent fielding. He won a batting championship for the highest average, the MVP award in his league, and two World Series titles. Yet with all his accomplishments, he missed out on something important to him ‑‑ his father's acceptance and recognition that what he accomplished was valuable.
Here's what Keith had to say in a candid interview about his relationship with his father: "One day I said, 'Dad, I have a lifetime .300 batting average; what more do you want?' His father replied, 'Someday you're going to look back and say, "I could have done more.'"
What a sad story! Within the human psyche, there is a deeply rooted desire for acceptance and approval. Yet with all the fame and fortune that went with his baseball career, Keith couldn’t buy what he wanted most, the acceptance and approval of his dad.
It’s sad, this insight into Keith’s life is closer to being the rule than the exception. With the breakdown of family, divorce, and the pursuit of pleasure and possessions, many young people are not receiving the acceptance and approval they so desperately seek, especially from their fathers. So, they turn to all kinds of bizarre activities and behavior to fill that aching void in their lives; to try to find acceptance and approval among their peers. This should fill us with sadness because the loss of something so valuable has ongoing consequences in many areas of life.
This lack of parental approval and acceptance is sad, even tragic. But even more tragic in the lives of many people is the lack of approval and acceptance with God. While God loves and cares for every human being, the Bible makes it clear that the only way to acceptance with God is through Jesus Christ. The only way to bridge the gap that separates sinful humanity from an absolutely holy God is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Paul’s letters to Timothy highlight this truth.
Acceptance with God comes through our salvation, our new birth. In writing to the Ephesians Paul reminds his readers that they have been “accepted in the beloved,” accepted in God’s family, “[by] redemption through [Jesus’] blood,” Ephesians 1:6 and 7. This is the ONLY way you and I can be accepted by God. The Scriptures make it very clear that no amount of good works on our part can make us acceptable with God; only the blood of Christ can do that.
Understand, however, that acceptance and approval are two different concepts. Our approval from God is based on our works that are motivated by His indwelling presence. Remember what God said at Jesus’ baptism? “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus was approved because He was submitting Himself to the Father’s will. Likewise, our obedience secures for us the approval of our Heavenly Father.
Think about it this way. My children always have my acceptance; at least at a certain level because they are part of me, they are family. Though I may disown them (God forbid) I cannot change the fact that they are part of me. However, they do not always have my approval. I’m not always pleased with what they do. So, while I accept them for who they are, I withhold approval for their wrong behavior or foolish choices. And I extend approval when they do what is praiseworthy, right, and good.
Let’s turn now to our text, Second Timothy 2:15 to 19 to learn how you and I can become “An Approved Worker” of Jesus Christ. This is the Word of God to us. II Timothy 2:15-19
Paul’s instructions to Timothy outline several essential QUALITIES that will aid us in our quest to be an approved worker.
The First QUALITY is,
He is Diligent
The KJV opens our text with the word study, so diligence is probably not the firstidea that comes to your mind. The Greek word is spoudazo (spoo-dad-zo). It means to make haste, to exert oneself, to endeavor, to exercise diligence. In secular Greek usage, it contained the ideas of being anxious, hurrying, doing your best, and carefulness.
And what is the reason for this command to be diligent? It is to present or demonstrate the quality of being approved by God. This is where I got the title of our study. Paul is urging Timothy to exercise diligence in presenting himself as approved by God.
As I mentioned earlier, the concept of approval is different than that of acceptance. Timothy is not trying to earn God’s acceptance. He has that through Jesus Christ. But God’s approval, according to our text, is connected to Timothy’s choices, and his behavior. Wuest says, “A workman approved is a workman who has been put to the test, and meeting the specifications, has won the approval of the one who has subjected him to the test.”
Years ago, when I was serving the Lord as a cabinetmaker, my boss wanted me to move into the specials department of the company. This department was responsible for making specialty items that couldn’t go through regular production. When I joined that department, I wasn’t immediately given the most difficult units to build. Instead, I was given the simpler items to help develop my skill set. As I passed each test, I was given more challenging and difficult projects to work on. I became an approved workman for my employer.
In our text, Paul earnestly wishes Timothy to pass the test! In doing so he will have no reason to be ashamed. His work will stand the scrutiny of the one who is testing him. Now you know as well as I do that if you are careless in your work, you’d prefer not to have it tested or scrutinized. You know that if your work is of inferior quality, you will be ashamed; especially if you know you could have done better! So, diligence is a vital part of being an approved workman.
Now, let’s look at the focus of Paul’s command. The reason for this diligence, this testing, and this approval that precludes shame is Timothy’s handling of the Scripture. This attention to his personal life and to God’s desire for him will lead to the careful handling of the Word of God. The idea of rightly dividing is expressed in the words, “cutting it straight.”
The imagery evoked here is interesting. Paul was a tentmaker. A tentmaker had to know how to cut a straight line when making the parts for his tents. Knowing what we do about Paul, I assume his tents were among the best available. I’m sure that he was attentive to each detail in order to produce a quality product.
A farmer must know how to plow a straight furrow, and a mason must know how to dress stones properly, so they fit together to make a lasting structure. Those in the construction trades know the importance of accuracy. Careless or sloppy work is a cause for shame when it’s exposed.
So how does this relate to the handling of the Scripture? Sophocles, a Greek writer expressed the concept this way, “to expound soundly.” There are certain practices and procedures that lead to a quality product for the tentmaker, the farmer, or the mason. In a similar way, there are processes that must be used by the teacher of the Word if he is to expound the Word of God accurately. Our text makes it clear that Paul placed a high priority on these processes and urged Timothy to follow them diligently. You can’t get the desired result if you don’t take the proper steps.
I find it interesting that some people who are so meticulous in the way they handle the details of their daily work can be so sloppy in the way they handle God’s Word. Most tasks we perform have a better outcome if we follow proven steps of action. In the kitchen, recipes tell you ladies to add certain ingredients and perform certain tasks at specific places, so the finished product is edible. Earlier, I mentioned my cabinet-making employment. Sometimes, when I was learning how to build a unit I’d never built before, I’d get the steps out of order. That made extra work for me and sometimes affected the quality of the finished product.
When we talk about principles of interpretation in Bible study, we’re talking about the methodology we use in order to reach a proper understanding of the text. This discipline is called hermeneutics. It is easily proven that you can make the Bible say just about anything you want if you isolate verses from their context or change the common meaning of words! II Peter 3:16 talks about those who distort the Scriptures to their own (spiritual) destruction. This is how many cults (false religions) get started. It’s also how false teaching gets into the church.
Dr. J. Otis Yoder was the founder and first president of Heralds of Hope. He was the Bible teacher on our radio programs for more than 30 years. One of the statements he made about biblical interpretation was this one; “a text without a context is a pretext.” It was part of the reason why he argued for a systematic approach to biblical exposition instead of a topical approach. The topical approach, by its nature, was more likely to result in faulty interpretation. In the years we served together he repeatedly urged me to be faithful to the careful exposition of the Word. Today, I am still grateful for his commitment and his encouragement.
There was a lot of error floating around in the Ephesian church. These errors were the more dangerous because they were being taught and promoted by those inside the fellowship; by leaders who were trusted by the people. Paul reminded Timothy repeatedly of the importance of diligently staying close to the Word of God and the teachings of the apostles. Those reminders are even more necessary today.
If it’s your goal to be an approved worker, you will need to exercise and develop the quality of diligence. You must learn how to rightly divide the Word of truth.
The Second QUALITY is,
He is Discerning
Not only must the approved worker be diligent in the pursuit of truth, but he must also be discerning so he can detect and reject errors. Certain things need to be embraced and held on to at all costs, while other things need to be seen for their falseness and be rejected. It takes discernment to know the difference. Verse sixteen begins with the word, but. This sets up a contrast between the commands of verse fifteen and the instruction Paul is about to give.
He urges Timothy to shun profane and vain babbling. The Greek word translated into the English word shun, is periistemi. It means, “to turn oneself about, as for the purpose of avoiding something.” Expositor’s Greek Testament translates it this way; “Give them a wide berth.” In the pursuit of excellence, of being an approved workman who correctly interprets and applies the truth of God’s Word, the error must be shunned by giving it a wide berth. The New Testament warns us to avoid false doctrine and avoid fellowship with those who promote it.
The goal of these false teachers was not to draw people to Christ. Rather, it was to gain a following they could control for their own personal gain. In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he warned him about those who equated personal and financial gain with godliness. There are many like them today. There is a continual need for the exercise of a discerning spirit. Otherwise, you and I will be led away by the errors of the false teachers. This exhortation is just as needful today as it was when Paul wrote it to Timothy. In fact, with our modern digital communication, error can be disseminated more widely, more convincingly, and more quickly than ever before!
Have you ever had a conversation with someone whose goal seemed to be to waste your time? I have. They’re not interested in the truth; they’re only interested in a good argument! Timothy had more important things to do than spend time chasing down silly stories and worthless myths that were pointless in the quest to be an approved worker. Paul warned Timothy that paying attention to these empty words would only lead to more ungodliness.
Paul’s reference to empty words is kenophonia. It is a compound word made up of phone (voice) and kenos (empty or hollow). Wuest says, “Empty words are not merely empty, but because they are empty, [become] evil words. As nature will not endure a vacuum, so empty words become filled with evil and thus become words of evil content and purpose.” With this understanding, it is easy to see how these kinds of words only lead to more ungodliness, a state of irreverence for God and His Word.
Paul further states that the words of the false teachers will spread like gangrene. Medical writers of Paul’s day used this term, gangraina [gang-grah-ee-nah], to describe a sore that eats into the flesh. It is accompanied by obvious discoloring of the affected area and a horrid smell. Gangrene is a decay of tissue in a part of the body when the blood supply is obstructed by injury, disease, or some other cause.
Hymenaeus and Philetus are put forth as two prominent examples of those who lack discernment. They exemplify the effects of flawed character and erroneous teaching. Yet they may have maintained a very agreeable public persona. Philetus’ name means “beloved or amiable.” He may have been the consummate nice guy. Most false teachers don’t appear as ogres. We do well to remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:15; “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep=s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
Hymenaeus and Philetus were teaching that the resurrection of the righteous dead had already passed. By their proclamation of this false teaching, the faith of some weaker individuals was being overthrown. Philip Towner comments on this; "That such a mistake could be made [believing the resurrection was already past] may seem strange to us. But the fervency of the first-generation church's hope of Christ's return and certain carry-overs from the pagan religions out of which believers came . . . could have led some to the conclusion that all of salvation's blessings were to be experienced now. A modern parallel is what we might describe as Christian triumphalism (or the “health and wealth” gospel), which presents the Christian message as a quick solution to all of life's problems. The same basic mistake seems to be involved."
Perhaps you know some whose faith has been destroyed by the health and wealth gospel; those who want the blessings of the kingdom age without the sufferings of the present time. It is important for us to be aware that those who have untreated spiritual and emotional needs or wounds may be more susceptible to being taken in by these false teachers.
There are many hurting people in our churches and in our communities who need someone to walk beside them in the path of discipleship. They need the support of a loving, caring, faith community as they experience the trials and struggles of life. They need to understand that the adversities of life are the tools God uses to help us realize and admit our own helplessness and to perfect the character of Christ in us. Some of them will reject our help because they are looking for a quick fix. Those with that mentality are the most susceptible to false teachers.
Error abounds today, and according to God’s Word, it will only get worse as we near the return of Christ. In fact, it will get so bad, Jesus said, that if it were possible, even the elect would be deceived! To be an approved workman, there will be an increasing need to exercise the quality of discernment.
The Final QUALITY is,
He is Disciplined
I chose to identify this last quality as disciplined for this reason; it speaks primarily of those who are disciples of Christ. A disciple, any disciple, follows the disciplines, the set of beliefs, or teachings set forth by the one whom he is following. He builds his thought processes and his actions around those core disciplines put forth by his teacher. To be an approved worker by God calls for a disciplined life. We will see this quality expanded in this final verse of the text.
The final verse of our text begins with the word, nevertheless. Just as Paul uses the word, but [in verse 16] to set the contrast between the diligent, approved worker and the false teachers, this word, nevertheless, sets the contrast between the false teachers and the unshakeable foundation of God. What an encouraging word! In spite of the false teachers and the destruction they sow within the body of Christ, the firm foundation of God is immovable.
The text states the firm foundation stands sure. The word, stands, is a verb in the present tense meaning, it has stood, with the present result that it stands permanently. Add to this the testimony of the Lord Jesus Himself; “...upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Matthew 16:18.
The Church of Jesus Christ has an ideal integrity, a cohesiveness, that is unaffected by some [false teachers] who belong to it. The apostle John references these false ones in his epistle by saying, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.” Their departure exposes them for who they are, but it doesn’t diminish the stature of the Church one bit.
As I was meditating on this unshakeable foundation I thought of these words from Hebrews. “See that you do not refuse him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape, if we turn away from Him who speaks from Heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he has promised, saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. Now this,’ yet once more’, indicates the removal of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire,” Hebrews 12:25 to 29. When the shaking takes place, will you be one of those who remain?
Next, Paul mentions a seal. In the time of Paul and Timothy, a seal could be a wax seal bearing an impressed stamp, or an embossed figure on paper, with the purpose of authenticating a document. The term can also mean any device for making such impressions or embossments, essentially being a mold that has the mirror image of the figure in counter‑relief, such as those mounted on rings that were called signet rings.
It seems at this point in verse nineteen that Paul moves from viewing the church collectively, as an unshakeable body, to view the individual members who bear the imprint or seal of the Master. The seal is a mark of identity, of authority, of ownership. And notice the seal bears two inscriptions.
The first inscription on the seal is the Lord knows those who belong to Him. This inscription testifies to the security of the Believer. It may well be that in writing these words the apostle is remembering the confrontation between Moses and Aaron, and Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, recorded in Numbers chapter sixteen. As you may recall, these men accused Moses and Aaron of taking too much authority over them. Their argument was, “Since all the members of the congregation are holy why do you two presume to be the only leaders?” Here is how God, through Moses, responded to these usurpers. “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who are His, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near to Him: that one whom He chooses will He cause to come near to Him.” You Bible readers know the outcome of that event. Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and all who joined their rebellion, perished. The ground opened up and swallowed them. God knew those who belonged to Him and He identified them unmistakably! That’s security.
In writing to the Corinthians Paul says, “Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God; Who has also sealed us, and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee,” Second Corinthians 1:22. And He also states, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God,” Romans 8:16. The Lord knows those who belong to Him and He identifies them by giving them the presence and power of His Spirit.
Then there is the second inscription on the seal; “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” This inscription testifies to the purity of the Believer. The words of the prophet Isaiah come to mind. “Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; be clean, you who bear the vessels of the Lord.” Today, you and I are not those who bear the vessels of the Lord, we ARE the vessels of the Lord! His presence lives within us. And as such our purity must be maintained.
Those who name the name of the Lord are those who, when they speak His name acknowledge and appropriate what His name involves. Naming the name of the Lord is not simply saying, “I believe.” It is a declaration, a confession, of faith and allegiance. It is an embrace of the truth that leads to obedience and loyalty. Jesus warned us about those who say, “Lord, Lord, and do not obey His commands” in Luke 6:46 and other places too. We don’t want to be in that group.
The command is to, “depart from iniquity.” The Greek word is aphis-temi, and means to cause to withdraw or to instigate revolt. To revolt against something is to resist, seeking to overthrow its power or authority. Sadly, today, many professing Christians revolt against the wrong thing! They’re revolting against the principles of God’s Word rather than revolting against iniquity. They’re revolting against God-ordained authority in the home and in the church. They’re following the inclinations and passions of their flesh rather than following the commandments of the Lord. They are the kind of persons Paul was warning Timothy about.
There is something definitely wrong with our understanding of being a disciple of Christ when survey after survey reveals that in morality, entertainment, recreation, and other lifestyle choices, professing Christians show little or no difference from those who make no profession of faith! Yet in Second Corinthians 6:14-18, Paul writes, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore, come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, do not touch what is unclean; and I will receive you. I will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
God desires a pure church, a pure bride, for His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of this in Ephesians five; “...Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” What a need there is in the Church today for a holy, disciplined, godly living!
Finally, think with me about the relationship between these two inscriptions of the seal: security and purity. These concepts go together. The purity of the individual and the church is necessaryfor their security in Christ. And their security in Christ provides both the desire and the power for them to live lives of purity.
The apostle John reinforces the link between purity and security in chapter three of his first epistle. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man who has this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure.”
I want to be an approved workman of the Lord Jesus. And I believe that you’re listening to this teaching because you have the same desire, the same goal. If you do, then I must ask you; How would you evaluate these qualities in your life? Or, more importantly, how would God evaluate these qualities in your life? Are you an approved worker measured by His criteria?
Are you diligent in your pursuit of the truth? Are you handling the word of God properly and applying it to your life in such a way that you have no cause for shame before Him?
Are you exercising discernment in a world that is awash in false philosophies where the prevailing idea is that every person’s path to God is a valid one for them? Are you searching the Scriptures to make sure that what you’re hearing is actually the truth of God?
And as a disciple of Jesus Christ are you living a disciplined life that sets you apart for the false teachers and from the unbelieving world? Do you have the security that comes from being sealed by the Holy Spirit of God? And are you endeavoring by the grace of God and the power of His Spirit to live a holy life?
Remember what I said at the beginning of this message? The text begins in verse fifteen with the command to be diligent. In light of that fact, I close this teaching with these words from the apostle Peter; they are so appropriate.
“...but also, for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither [e]barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things, you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
An Approved Worker
II Timothy 2:15-19
During the 1970s, Keith Hernandez was one of baseball's top players with a lifetime batting average of .300. He won numerous Gold Glove awards for his excellent fielding. He won a batting championship for the highest average, the MVP award in his league, and two World Series titles. Yet with all his accomplishments, he missed out on something important to him ‑‑ his father's acceptance and recognition that what he accomplished was valuable.
Here's what Keith had to say in a candid interview about his relationship with his father: "One day I said, 'Dad, I have a lifetime .300 batting average; what more do you want?' His father replied, 'Someday you're going to look back and say, "I could have done more.'"
What a sad story! Within the human psyche, there is a deeply rooted desire for acceptance and approval. Yet with all the fame and fortune that went with his baseball career, Keith couldn’t buy what he wanted most, the acceptance and approval of his dad.
It’s sad, this insight into Keith’s life is closer to being the rule than the exception. With the breakdown of family, divorce, and the pursuit of pleasure and possessions, many young people are not receiving the acceptance and approval they so desperately seek, especially from their fathers. So, they turn to all kinds of bizarre activities and behavior to fill that aching void in their lives; to try to find acceptance and approval among their peers. This should fill us with sadness because the loss of something so valuable has ongoing consequences in many areas of life.
This lack of parental approval and acceptance is sad, even tragic. But even more tragic in the lives of many people is the lack of approval and acceptance with God. While God loves and cares for every human being, the Bible makes it clear that the only way to acceptance with God is through Jesus Christ. The only way to bridge the gap that separates sinful humanity from an absolutely holy God is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Paul’s letters to Timothy highlight this truth.
Acceptance with God comes through our salvation, our new birth. In writing to the Ephesians Paul reminds his readers that they have been “accepted in the beloved,” accepted in God’s family, “[by] redemption through [Jesus’] blood,” Ephesians 1:6 and 7. This is the ONLY way you and I can be accepted by God. The Scriptures make it very clear that no amount of good works on our part can make us acceptable with God; only the blood of Christ can do that.
Understand, however, that acceptance and approval are two different concepts. Our approval from God is based on our works that are motivated by His indwelling presence. Remember what God said at Jesus’ baptism? “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus was approved because He was submitting Himself to the Father’s will. Likewise, our obedience secures for us the approval of our Heavenly Father.
Think about it this way. My children always have my acceptance; at least at a certain level because they are part of me, they are family. Though I may disown them (God forbid) I cannot change the fact that they are part of me. However, they do not always have my approval. I’m not always pleased with what they do. So, while I accept them for who they are, I withhold approval for their wrong behavior or foolish choices. And I extend approval when they do what is praiseworthy, right, and good.
Let’s turn now to our text, Second Timothy 2:15 to 19 to learn how you and I can become “An Approved Worker” of Jesus Christ. This is the Word of God to us. II Timothy 2:15-19
Paul’s instructions to Timothy outline several essential QUALITIES that will aid us in our quest to be an approved worker.
The First QUALITY is,
He is Diligent
The KJV opens our text with the word study, so diligence is probably not the firstidea that comes to your mind. The Greek word is spoudazo (spoo-dad-zo). It means to make haste, to exert oneself, to endeavor, to exercise diligence. In secular Greek usage, it contained the ideas of being anxious, hurrying, doing your best, and carefulness.
And what is the reason for this command to be diligent? It is to present or demonstrate the quality of being approved by God. This is where I got the title of our study. Paul is urging Timothy to exercise diligence in presenting himself as approved by God.
As I mentioned earlier, the concept of approval is different than that of acceptance. Timothy is not trying to earn God’s acceptance. He has that through Jesus Christ. But God’s approval, according to our text, is connected to Timothy’s choices, and his behavior. Wuest says, “A workman approved is a workman who has been put to the test, and meeting the specifications, has won the approval of the one who has subjected him to the test.”
Years ago, when I was serving the Lord as a cabinetmaker, my boss wanted me to move into the specials department of the company. This department was responsible for making specialty items that couldn’t go through regular production. When I joined that department, I wasn’t immediately given the most difficult units to build. Instead, I was given the simpler items to help develop my skill set. As I passed each test, I was given more challenging and difficult projects to work on. I became an approved workman for my employer.
In our text, Paul earnestly wishes Timothy to pass the test! In doing so he will have no reason to be ashamed. His work will stand the scrutiny of the one who is testing him. Now you know as well as I do that if you are careless in your work, you’d prefer not to have it tested or scrutinized. You know that if your work is of inferior quality, you will be ashamed; especially if you know you could have done better! So, diligence is a vital part of being an approved workman.
Now, let’s look at the focus of Paul’s command. The reason for this diligence, this testing, and this approval that precludes shame is Timothy’s handling of the Scripture. This attention to his personal life and to God’s desire for him will lead to the careful handling of the Word of God. The idea of rightly dividing is expressed in the words, “cutting it straight.”
The imagery evoked here is interesting. Paul was a tentmaker. A tentmaker had to know how to cut a straight line when making the parts for his tents. Knowing what we do about Paul, I assume his tents were among the best available. I’m sure that he was attentive to each detail in order to produce a quality product.
A farmer must know how to plow a straight furrow, and a mason must know how to dress stones properly, so they fit together to make a lasting structure. Those in the construction trades know the importance of accuracy. Careless or sloppy work is a cause for shame when it’s exposed.
So how does this relate to the handling of the Scripture? Sophocles, a Greek writer expressed the concept this way, “to expound soundly.” There are certain practices and procedures that lead to a quality product for the tentmaker, the farmer, or the mason. In a similar way, there are processes that must be used by the teacher of the Word if he is to expound the Word of God accurately. Our text makes it clear that Paul placed a high priority on these processes and urged Timothy to follow them diligently. You can’t get the desired result if you don’t take the proper steps.
I find it interesting that some people who are so meticulous in the way they handle the details of their daily work can be so sloppy in the way they handle God’s Word. Most tasks we perform have a better outcome if we follow proven steps of action. In the kitchen, recipes tell you ladies to add certain ingredients and perform certain tasks at specific places, so the finished product is edible. Earlier, I mentioned my cabinet-making employment. Sometimes, when I was learning how to build a unit I’d never built before, I’d get the steps out of order. That made extra work for me and sometimes affected the quality of the finished product.
When we talk about principles of interpretation in Bible study, we’re talking about the methodology we use in order to reach a proper understanding of the text. This discipline is called hermeneutics. It is easily proven that you can make the Bible say just about anything you want if you isolate verses from their context or change the common meaning of words! II Peter 3:16 talks about those who distort the Scriptures to their own (spiritual) destruction. This is how many cults (false religions) get started. It’s also how false teaching gets into the church.
Dr. J. Otis Yoder was the founder and first president of Heralds of Hope. He was the Bible teacher on our radio programs for more than 30 years. One of the statements he made about biblical interpretation was this one; “a text without a context is a pretext.” It was part of the reason why he argued for a systematic approach to biblical exposition instead of a topical approach. The topical approach, by its nature, was more likely to result in faulty interpretation. In the years we served together he repeatedly urged me to be faithful to the careful exposition of the Word. Today, I am still grateful for his commitment and his encouragement.
There was a lot of error floating around in the Ephesian church. These errors were the more dangerous because they were being taught and promoted by those inside the fellowship; by leaders who were trusted by the people. Paul reminded Timothy repeatedly of the importance of diligently staying close to the Word of God and the teachings of the apostles. Those reminders are even more necessary today.
If it’s your goal to be an approved worker, you will need to exercise and develop the quality of diligence. You must learn how to rightly divide the Word of truth.
The Second QUALITY is,
He is Discerning
Not only must the approved worker be diligent in the pursuit of truth, but he must also be discerning so he can detect and reject errors. Certain things need to be embraced and held on to at all costs, while other things need to be seen for their falseness and be rejected. It takes discernment to know the difference. Verse sixteen begins with the word, but. This sets up a contrast between the commands of verse fifteen and the instruction Paul is about to give.
He urges Timothy to shun profane and vain babbling. The Greek word translated into the English word shun, is periistemi. It means, “to turn oneself about, as for the purpose of avoiding something.” Expositor’s Greek Testament translates it this way; “Give them a wide berth.” In the pursuit of excellence, of being an approved workman who correctly interprets and applies the truth of God’s Word, the error must be shunned by giving it a wide berth. The New Testament warns us to avoid false doctrine and avoid fellowship with those who promote it.
The goal of these false teachers was not to draw people to Christ. Rather, it was to gain a following they could control for their own personal gain. In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he warned him about those who equated personal and financial gain with godliness. There are many like them today. There is a continual need for the exercise of a discerning spirit. Otherwise, you and I will be led away by the errors of the false teachers. This exhortation is just as needful today as it was when Paul wrote it to Timothy. In fact, with our modern digital communication, error can be disseminated more widely, more convincingly, and more quickly than ever before!
Have you ever had a conversation with someone whose goal seemed to be to waste your time? I have. They’re not interested in the truth; they’re only interested in a good argument! Timothy had more important things to do than spend time chasing down silly stories and worthless myths that were pointless in the quest to be an approved worker. Paul warned Timothy that paying attention to these empty words would only lead to more ungodliness.
Paul’s reference to empty words is kenophonia. It is a compound word made up of phone (voice) and kenos (empty or hollow). Wuest says, “Empty words are not merely empty, but because they are empty, [become] evil words. As nature will not endure a vacuum, so empty words become filled with evil and thus become words of evil content and purpose.” With this understanding, it is easy to see how these kinds of words only lead to more ungodliness, a state of irreverence for God and His Word.
Paul further states that the words of the false teachers will spread like gangrene. Medical writers of Paul’s day used this term, gangraina [gang-grah-ee-nah], to describe a sore that eats into the flesh. It is accompanied by obvious discoloring of the affected area and a horrid smell. Gangrene is a decay of tissue in a part of the body when the blood supply is obstructed by injury, disease, or some other cause.
Hymenaeus and Philetus are put forth as two prominent examples of those who lack discernment. They exemplify the effects of flawed character and erroneous teaching. Yet they may have maintained a very agreeable public persona. Philetus’ name means “beloved or amiable.” He may have been the consummate nice guy. Most false teachers don’t appear as ogres. We do well to remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:15; “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep=s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
Hymenaeus and Philetus were teaching that the resurrection of the righteous dead had already passed. By their proclamation of this false teaching, the faith of some weaker individuals was being overthrown. Philip Towner comments on this; "That such a mistake could be made [believing the resurrection was already past] may seem strange to us. But the fervency of the first-generation church's hope of Christ's return and certain carry-overs from the pagan religions out of which believers came . . . could have led some to the conclusion that all of salvation's blessings were to be experienced now. A modern parallel is what we might describe as Christian triumphalism (or the “health and wealth” gospel), which presents the Christian message as a quick solution to all of life's problems. The same basic mistake seems to be involved."
Perhaps you know some whose faith has been destroyed by the health and wealth gospel; those who want the blessings of the kingdom age without the sufferings of the present time. It is important for us to be aware that those who have untreated spiritual and emotional needs or wounds may be more susceptible to being taken in by these false teachers.
There are many hurting people in our churches and in our communities who need someone to walk beside them in the path of discipleship. They need the support of a loving, caring, faith community as they experience the trials and struggles of life. They need to understand that the adversities of life are the tools God uses to help us realize and admit our own helplessness and to perfect the character of Christ in us. Some of them will reject our help because they are looking for a quick fix. Those with that mentality are the most susceptible to false teachers.
Error abounds today, and according to God’s Word, it will only get worse as we near the return of Christ. In fact, it will get so bad, Jesus said, that if it were possible, even the elect would be deceived! To be an approved workman, there will be an increasing need to exercise the quality of discernment.
The Final QUALITY is,
He is Disciplined
I chose to identify this last quality as disciplined for this reason; it speaks primarily of those who are disciples of Christ. A disciple, any disciple, follows the disciplines, the set of beliefs, or teachings set forth by the one whom he is following. He builds his thought processes and his actions around those core disciplines put forth by his teacher. To be an approved worker by God calls for a disciplined life. We will see this quality expanded in this final verse of the text.
The final verse of our text begins with the word, nevertheless. Just as Paul uses the word, but [in verse 16] to set the contrast between the diligent, approved worker and the false teachers, this word, nevertheless, sets the contrast between the false teachers and the unshakeable foundation of God. What an encouraging word! In spite of the false teachers and the destruction they sow within the body of Christ, the firm foundation of God is immovable.
The text states the firm foundation stands sure. The word, stands, is a verb in the present tense meaning, it has stood, with the present result that it stands permanently. Add to this the testimony of the Lord Jesus Himself; “...upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Matthew 16:18.
The Church of Jesus Christ has an ideal integrity, a cohesiveness, that is unaffected by some [false teachers] who belong to it. The apostle John references these false ones in his epistle by saying, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.” Their departure exposes them for who they are, but it doesn’t diminish the stature of the Church one bit.
As I was meditating on this unshakeable foundation I thought of these words from Hebrews. “See that you do not refuse him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape, if we turn away from Him who speaks from Heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he has promised, saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. Now this,’ yet once more’, indicates the removal of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire,” Hebrews 12:25 to 29. When the shaking takes place, will you be one of those who remain?
Next, Paul mentions a seal. In the time of Paul and Timothy, a seal could be a wax seal bearing an impressed stamp, or an embossed figure on paper, with the purpose of authenticating a document. The term can also mean any device for making such impressions or embossments, essentially being a mold that has the mirror image of the figure in counter‑relief, such as those mounted on rings that were called signet rings.
It seems at this point in verse nineteen that Paul moves from viewing the church collectively, as an unshakeable body, to view the individual members who bear the imprint or seal of the Master. The seal is a mark of identity, of authority, of ownership. And notice the seal bears two inscriptions.
The first inscription on the seal is the Lord knows those who belong to Him. This inscription testifies to the security of the Believer. It may well be that in writing these words the apostle is remembering the confrontation between Moses and Aaron, and Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, recorded in Numbers chapter sixteen. As you may recall, these men accused Moses and Aaron of taking too much authority over them. Their argument was, “Since all the members of the congregation are holy why do you two presume to be the only leaders?” Here is how God, through Moses, responded to these usurpers. “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who are His, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near to Him: that one whom He chooses will He cause to come near to Him.” You Bible readers know the outcome of that event. Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and all who joined their rebellion, perished. The ground opened up and swallowed them. God knew those who belonged to Him and He identified them unmistakably! That’s security.
In writing to the Corinthians Paul says, “Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God; Who has also sealed us, and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee,” Second Corinthians 1:22. And He also states, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God,” Romans 8:16. The Lord knows those who belong to Him and He identifies them by giving them the presence and power of His Spirit.
Then there is the second inscription on the seal; “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” This inscription testifies to the purity of the Believer. The words of the prophet Isaiah come to mind. “Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; be clean, you who bear the vessels of the Lord.” Today, you and I are not those who bear the vessels of the Lord, we ARE the vessels of the Lord! His presence lives within us. And as such our purity must be maintained.
Those who name the name of the Lord are those who, when they speak His name acknowledge and appropriate what His name involves. Naming the name of the Lord is not simply saying, “I believe.” It is a declaration, a confession, of faith and allegiance. It is an embrace of the truth that leads to obedience and loyalty. Jesus warned us about those who say, “Lord, Lord, and do not obey His commands” in Luke 6:46 and other places too. We don’t want to be in that group.
The command is to, “depart from iniquity.” The Greek word is aphis-temi, and means to cause to withdraw or to instigate revolt. To revolt against something is to resist, seeking to overthrow its power or authority. Sadly, today, many professing Christians revolt against the wrong thing! They’re revolting against the principles of God’s Word rather than revolting against iniquity. They’re revolting against God-ordained authority in the home and in the church. They’re following the inclinations and passions of their flesh rather than following the commandments of the Lord. They are the kind of persons Paul was warning Timothy about.
There is something definitely wrong with our understanding of being a disciple of Christ when survey after survey reveals that in morality, entertainment, recreation, and other lifestyle choices, professing Christians show little or no difference from those who make no profession of faith! Yet in Second Corinthians 6:14-18, Paul writes, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore, come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, do not touch what is unclean; and I will receive you. I will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
God desires a pure church, a pure bride, for His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of this in Ephesians five; “...Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” What a need there is in the Church today for a holy, disciplined, godly living!
Finally, think with me about the relationship between these two inscriptions of the seal: security and purity. These concepts go together. The purity of the individual and the church is necessaryfor their security in Christ. And their security in Christ provides both the desire and the power for them to live lives of purity.
The apostle John reinforces the link between purity and security in chapter three of his first epistle. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man who has this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure.”
I want to be an approved workman of the Lord Jesus. And I believe that you’re listening to this teaching because you have the same desire, the same goal. If you do, then I must ask you; How would you evaluate these qualities in your life? Or, more importantly, how would God evaluate these qualities in your life? Are you an approved worker measured by His criteria?
Are you diligent in your pursuit of the truth? Are you handling the word of God properly and applying it to your life in such a way that you have no cause for shame before Him?
Are you exercising discernment in a world that is awash in false philosophies where the prevailing idea is that every person’s path to God is a valid one for them? Are you searching the Scriptures to make sure that what you’re hearing is actually the truth of God?
And as a disciple of Jesus Christ are you living a disciplined life that sets you apart for the false teachers and from the unbelieving world? Do you have the security that comes from being sealed by the Holy Spirit of God? And are you endeavoring by the grace of God and the power of His Spirit to live a holy life?
Remember what I said at the beginning of this message? The text begins in verse fifteen with the command to be diligent. In light of that fact, I close this teaching with these words from the apostle Peter; they are so appropriate.
“...but also, for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither [e]barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things, you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Gospel Theology: Why is Correct Theology Important for Salvation?”
II Timothy 3:10 – 4:5
A number of years ago, a strange situation developed on a farm in New Zealand. Without warning, a farmer’s cows began to get sick and die. The illness was a mystery. The farmer had never experienced anything like it before, so he called in the health inspectors. They tested the farm’s water supply and conducted other environmental tests. During the testing, even more cows got sick and died. Soon almost his entire herd of 100 cows was sick.
When the test results came back from the lab, the lead readings were off the chart. An autopsy of one of the dead cows revealed the cause. The cows had lead poisoning and the remainder of the herd was slaughtered! The farmer was baffled.
A rifle range was next to the farm. Over time, hundreds of stray bullets had landed in the adjacent farmland. They inadvertently got mixed in with the grass that was made into hay, which was then fed to the cows. The tiny pieces of lead, some too small to see with the naked eye, had poisoned the cows.
False teaching can have a similar impact on a believer that lead poisoning had on that herd of cows. Over time, exposure to wrong teaching produces wrong thoughts about the character of God and His relationship with His people. This produces carelessness in our understanding of who He is and what He expects of us as His followers. That ultimately leads to spiritual death, which is alienation from Jesus Christ.
For this reason, all Christ-followers should pay careful attention to what we are being fed. If we don’t know God’s Word ourselves, we won’t be able to discern if fragments of poison are part of our regular spiritual and intellectual intake.
The importance of teaching sound theology and doctrine can’t be overstated. This is particularly important for those involved in Bible teaching or missionary work. Too many professing Christians today think that being politically correct is more important than standing up for truth, even the truth of God’s Word.
You’ve heard the old saying, “You are what you eat.” If it’s true that what we put into our bodies affects our health and well-being, how much more important is it that we are careful about what we “consume” intellectually and spiritually?
Jesus said in Luke 6:45 “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” You and I don’t live out of what we say we believe; we live out of what we actually believe! The things we believe about God affect the choices we make in life. And Scripture makes it clear that choices determine destiny. Wrong beliefs result in wrong choices. That’s why correct belief is so important!
As part of our introduction, we need at least a brief look at the terms we’re using in our title, “Gospel Theology; Why is Correct Theology Important for Salvation?” What is the Gospel? You might answer “the Good News.” OK, but the good news about what? That I can have a better life if I accept Jesus; that I can have a personal relationship with Him; or I get to go to heaven when I die? Those things are true, but they aren’t the heart of the Gospel.
The gospel is called the ‘good news’ because it addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings. Here’s the problem: God is holy, just, and He’s perfect, and I’m not. Paul defined the Gospel succinctly in I Timothy 1:15. “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” Prior to conversion, every person is a sinner in need of salvation.
What is theology? The etymology shows that it comes from the Greek, theos = God, and logos = word. So, we can simply say “Theology is a word about God.” The word of man about God is founded on the Word of God from God. In other words, man speaks because God has spoken; spoken both in His Son - the living Word - and in the Scriptures - the written Word. So, Gospel theology is based on what God has said in His Word about Himself and about humanity.
Let me also comment on a related word, doctrine. It appears 56 times in Scripture (4 times in our text) and is simply defined as something that is taught. Paul uses the words, teaching, and doctrine interchangeably. His particular concern, and ours, is the teaching of “sound” or healthy doctrine.
If you can, turn with me in your copies of the Holy Scripture to II Timothy 3. I’ll begin reading with verse 10 and continue on through chapter 4 and verse 5.
As we examine this text, we will discover several essential CONCEPTS that will help us answer the question, “Why is correct theology important for salvation?”
The First CONCEPT is,
Gospel Theology Embraces Suffering (10 – 13)
Oh my; what a place to start! If people sat in on the weekly services at your church, would they conclude from being there that your understanding of the Gospel embraces suffering? If those same people followed you to your home and lived with you for a couple of weeks would your lifestyle choices convince them that gospel theology embraces suffering?
In verse 12, Paul makes a very clear, emphatic statement. “All who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus shall suffer.” Or, put it this way, “all [that] are bent on living a godly life will suffer.” The apostle Peter agrees with Paul’s words, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you: But rejoice, because in this you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings...” That’s First Peter 4:12 and 13.
What’s the relationship of Christ’s sufferings to our salvation? In Matthew 16:21 we read “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Isaiah 52 and 53 give a graphic picture of Christ’s sufferings and the glorious results – our justification! Gospel theology is clear; without Christ’s suffering, there is NO salvation.
Praise God we don’t need to suffer the penalty of our sins; Jesus took that upon Himself on the cross. But if we’re genuinely saved, we’ll experience suffering. Acts chapter 5 records the experience of the apostles before the Sanhedrin. Verse 45 says “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” Why did they do that? Because they understood the greatness of the gift of salvation! The love of Christ, expressed in His suffering, motivated them to love Him in return. It should motivate us too.
Paul wrote that Timothy knew about his suffering. And why did he suffer? Because of his commitment to Christ and the qualities mentioned in verse 10. In his mind and experience, there was a direct cause and effect between salvation and suffering.
Today, many Christians insist that salvation and discipleship are two separate concepts. But Jesus and the writers of the New Testament taught them as inextricably linked together. Jesus never looked for converts; He called disciples. When He did speak of conversion it meant “a turning around.” You’re going one way, following one master (self and Satan); then you turn around and follow a different Master (Jesus).
In Luke 9:23 Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.” A genuine understanding of salvation includes discipleship, and discipleship means cross-bearing. Cross-bearing is suffering, but like Jesus, we can face it with joy. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that “...Jesus…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
After Jesus told Nicodemus to be “born again,” He said the effects of that experience would be visible – like the wind in the trees. Genuine salvation results in discipleship. Genuine discipleship results in visible lifestyle changes. Genuine discipleship is possible only to those who’ve received a new nature, the nature of Christ.
How much foundation must we lay in order to bring people to a proper understanding of the Gospel and salvation? Since the suffering of Christ is the basis of our salvation, and our suffering is a result of embracing that salvation, we must be sure people understand the cost of their redemption. This concept of suffering, I believe, is one that’s often ignored or minimized in many evangelistic efforts.
The Second CONCEPT is,
Gospel Theology Embraces Scripture (14 – 4:1)
It really doesn’t matter what you and I think the Gospel is. Does that statement shock you? It’s true! The Scriptures tell us what the Gospel is and we’re not at liberty to change it. It is fixed, unmovable, and objective. It’s not influenced by our personal feelings, our interpretations, or our prejudice. It’s based on facts as God has revealed them to us. Like Timothy, we need to embrace those facts and continue in them.
Paul tells Timothy in chapter 3 verse 15 that “it is the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation that is in Christ Jesus.” So, in order for a person to experience salvation he or she must have exposure to the Scripture; personally, and corporately. This is one of the essentials of a healthy spiritual life and a healthy church!
Paul Hattaway tells us about the importance of the Scripture in China. He tells how “Asia is full of bizarre religious beliefs. Numerous cults flood the continent, and it’s a constant battle for Christian leaders just to keep the most dangerous heresies from infiltrating and destroying their flocks. In China, the Eastern Lightning cult is also known as “The Church of Almighty God.” It continues to ravage churches throughout the country. At the core of the strange movement is the belief that Jesus has been reincarnated as a woman and is living in central China, waiting for the right time for her identity to be revealed to the world.”
Paul Hattaway goes on. “Now you may think, ‘That’s ridiculous! No Christian would ever believe such nonsense.’ That’s true, but in China, the availability of Bibles has been severely limited. This is a deliberate attempt to strangle the massive house church movement. Believers with only a shallow knowledge of the Bible have been easy pickings for this cult.”
In my introduction, I quoted I Timothy 1:15. “…that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” No one can come to an understanding of salvation without first understanding their lostness. Paul says in Romans 3:20 that it’s through the law that we come to the knowledge of sin. He further states in Romans 10:17 that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” All of these things are foundational, and a person can’t be truly born again without understanding them.
Verse 15 tells us that our faith in Christ Jesus is based on the foundation of the Holy Scriptures. In other words, the Word of God lays out the requirements of salvation. When we, by faith, agree with God’s conditions, we can then access salvation. Peter made this clear in Acts 4:11 and 12 “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Paul reminds Timothy that this embrace of the Word comes to us in the same way as our initial conversion experience - by faith. Faith believes what God’s Word says is true, even if it seems foolish, impractical, or impossible. Jesus said, “Whoever will smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Doesn’t that sound foolish, impractical, and impossible? From the standpoint of our human reasoning, absolutely! But faith believes and acts on the command knowing that God promises to bless those who obey Him in faith.
It was Augustine who said, “Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore, seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.” The embrace of the Word will lead us to believe first, and then our obedience will lead to deeper understanding.
While we’re thinking about the role of faith in salvation, I remind us of something very important. Scripture tells us plainly we are saved by grace, through faith. Faith is the channel of relying on Christ for our salvation and grace is the power that enables it. So, we are saved by grace, an act of God, through our faith, which is enabled by God. That removes from the realm of human possibility any attempt to make ourselves acceptable in God’s sight.
OK. Now we’re saved; what keeps us saved? Listen to I Peter 1:3-5. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Our salvation is NOT maintained by our good works! Don’t minimize good works; they’re an important part of discipleship. But if we think our good works maintain our salvation – we’ve reduced the Gospel to moralism! We “are kept by the power of God through faith” – and not faith in ourselves.
One theological concept critical to understanding our need for salvation is our bent, our natural inclination, to sin. We see it expressed in our text in the actions of the false teachers. Genesis chapter 3 records the sin of our first parents; the resulting sinful nature has been passed down to us today. Paul talks about this in I Corinthians 15:21 and 22.
The description of humanity outside of Christ is painfully graphic in vivid scenes from the Old Testament and in shocking words from the New Testament. Worthless, corrupt, defiled, open graves, like poisonous snakes, cursing and bitterness, murderers, evil men, seducers, ruin, and misery are all words describing our lostness. Outside of Christ, we are without hope and without God in the world; doomed to destruction, Paul says in Ephesians 2:12.
But many professing Christians today recoil from this concept. We’ve been influenced by humanism; the idea that man is basically good, he just needs to be educated or reformed. Thus, the Gospel is reduced to moralism - to improvements in behavior. But Scripture is clear; the Gospel is transformation, not reformation.
Far too many believers and churches succumb to the logic of moralism and reduce the Gospel to a message of moral improvement. We communicate to lost persons the message that what God desires for them and demands of them is to get their lives straightened out so they can live their best life now. I fear our churches contain people who live morally and look right but are headed for eternal punishment.
Another theological concept necessary for our understanding of salvation is the sovereignty of God. Some carry this to the extreme, saying you and I have no choice in the matter of our salvation. I remember Bro. J. Otis Yoder told me about discussing this concept with one of his fellow students in seminary. Bro. J. Otis was arguing that as human beings we have free will, we choose to respond to the call of God. To this, his fellow student said, “Yoder, your God’s a peanut. If my God wants to save a man; He saves him!”
We rightly reject the idea that man has no choice in the matter of his salvation. We embrace the reality of God’s sovereignty but realize He doesn’t force Himself on anyone. In His foreknowledge, He’s aware of who will accept and who will reject the invitation to salvation. While the invitation is open to all, according to Romans 10:13, we must respond to the personal call of God’s Spirit. In John 6:44 Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
We should also be aware that we cannot respond to the message of salvation solely on our time schedule. We must respond when the Spirit of God, speaking through the Word of God, is inviting us to respond. That’s why we have warnings about “hardening our hearts” and “quenching the Spirit.” Strictly speaking, a person cannot repent when he chooses, repentance and faith are gifts from God.
Another theological concept necessary for our understanding of salvation is the certainty of the Judgment. We see this in verse 1 of chapter 4. If there’s no final judgment, or if that judgment ends our existence, there’s no need for the Gospel of salvation. Paul says God will judge the living and the dead on that final day. From other Scripture portions, we know our earthly life is only a brief preparation for eternity.
At the end of life, you and I are going to stand before a just and holy God to be judged. We’ll be judged either on the basis of our own righteousness - or lack of it - or the righteousness of another. The good news of the gospel is - Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, of perfect obedience to God, not for His own wellbeing but for His people. He’s done for you and me what we couldn’t possibly do for ourselves. Not only has He lived that life of perfect obedience, but He also offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of God.
Forgiveness is a very costly matter. It cost God the sacrifice of His own perfect Son. God pronounced the value of Jesus’ sacrifice by raising Him from the dead - so that Christ died for us, He was raised for our justification. So, the gospel is something objective. It is the message of who Jesus is and what He did.
And it also has a subjective dimension. How are the benefits of Jesus subjectively appropriated to us? How do you and I get them? As I said earlier, the Bible makes it clear that we are justified not by our works, not by our efforts, not by our deeds, but by faith–and by faith alone. The only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him–and in Him alone. If you do that, you’re declared just by God, you’re adopted into His family, you’re forgiven of all of your sins, and your eternity is secure in Him.
The Final CONCEPT is,
Gospel Theology Embraces Service (4:1- 5)
Why did God provide for your salvation? Just so you could escape divine retribution? Definitely! So you could spend eternity in heaven with Him? For sure! So you could have a good life? Maybe, but not so much, depending on what you mean by that. I believe Paul’s teaching here points to something very important; we are saved to serve.
Notice what Paul says to Timothy here in chapter four, verse one. “I charge you before God...” In I Timothy 6:13, Paul speaks of this same charge. The English translation is a bit different, but the original word is the same. It means “one who is in sight.” It’s used to describe a person who does or says something in the presence of someone else and is consciously aware that he is being both thought of and observed. So, Paul says I charge you before or in the sight of, God.
Timothy, like every Christ follower, would face difficult situations in life. Timothy would also face hard situations in the church. Paul reminded him that his embrace of the Scriptures by faith would enable him to persevere in these situations. Surrounded by false teachers and unfaithful men, Timothy would need to keep his focus in the right place; we need that too.
And that focus was on “our God, even Christ Jesus.” Again, we get a glimpse of Paul’s attitude toward the deity of Jesus. In these final words to Timothy, Paul is striving to make an indelible impression, a lasting impression, on his beloved son in the faith. The deity of Jesus Christ must have a basic and prominent place in all Christian teaching and preaching!
The service Paul charges Timothy to embrace is to preach the Word! What does it mean to preach the Word? No doubt, when you hear the word, preach, you picture a pastor/teacher standing behind a pulpit; hopefully proclaiming the Word of God. But the word Paul used here, kerruso, is much different.
Into Timothy’s mind came a mental picture of a royal messenger riding or walking into the local town square. This kerruso, was an imperial herald, a spokesman for the emperor. He didn’t bring his own message. He proclaimed the message he had been given. In him was vested all the power and authority of the sovereign and to ignore the message he gave was to imperil your own well-being.
Paul goes on to list three important aspects of embracing our service. First, it must become a lifestyle. As those who are truly saved, we are called to be ready to serve at any time, whether it’s convenient or inconvenient, whether it makes us comfortable or uncomfortable.
Now I’ll go from preaching to meddling. What circumstances does it take for you to skip Sunday School, the preaching service, prayer meeting, or an opportunity to serve someone else – convenience, comfort? How about a sports event, a day on the lake, or hours in the deer stand? We’re able and willing to endure inconvenience and discomfort for the things that are important to us. I stand convicted!
Second, our embrace of service must be rooted in our commitment to the Scriptures. Our own salvation moves us to obey God’s command to take the Gospel to all people; to share the Good News with them. We are also commanded as brothers and sisters in the Lord to bear each other’s burdens. There’s room for everyone’s gifts and abilities in this task, and EVERYONE has something to offer.
In addition, our service must be accompanied by longsuffering. We need to be uncompromising in proclaiming the truth, but harshness adds nothing of value to that proclamation. Instead, it detracts from the truth. Harshness puts the focus on the messenger more than the message. As those who have embraced the Gospel, we must be even-tempered, not easily crushed by suffering, slow to anger, and slow to retaliate.
And finally, Paul mentions the importance of doctrine or teaching. It’s interesting isn’t it, that our text begins and ends with doctrine? Four times he mentions it in 13 verses. So often we hear things like “doctrine divides; love unites.” But it’s not biblical teaching that divides Christians; it’s their response to biblical teaching. When you and I embrace the teaching of God’s Word and act upon it - that draws us together! It enables us to serve together, to live out our salvation in practical ways multiplying its effects.
However, Paul warns us that we will need to be diligent in embracing our service. Why? Because many people will reject the message that motivates it, and we will suffer for our faithfulness to the Word.
Today, there is much wrong theology (words about God) being disseminated across the globe. There is much erroneous doctrine (teaching about God) being promoted. This is why it’s critical that we have sound, biblical preaching in our churches. We must be people of the Book.
Theology and doctrine wrongly presented can appear to be cold, factual knowledge about some distant deity who’s not really involved in our daily lives. But to those who, by faith, have embraced the saving grace of Jesus Christ, the study of God’s character and attributes leaves us in awe and wonder. How can a God so holy, so powerful, and so glorious dwell in our hearts by faith? Miraculous! When we grasp the magnitude of what we’ve received we will embrace Scriptural theology and sound doctrine as a way to lovingly respond to such a great salvation!
Suffering, Scripture, and Service; what’s your Gospel theology?
Gospel Theology: Why is Correct Theology Important for Salvation?”
II Timothy 3:10 – 4:5
A number of years ago, a strange situation developed on a farm in New Zealand. Without warning, a farmer’s cows began to get sick and die. The illness was a mystery. The farmer had never experienced anything like it before, so he called in the health inspectors. They tested the farm’s water supply and conducted other environmental tests. During the testing, even more cows got sick and died. Soon almost his entire herd of 100 cows was sick.
When the test results came back from the lab, the lead readings were off the chart. An autopsy of one of the dead cows revealed the cause. The cows had lead poisoning and the remainder of the herd was slaughtered! The farmer was baffled.
A rifle range was next to the farm. Over time, hundreds of stray bullets had landed in the adjacent farmland. They inadvertently got mixed in with the grass that was made into hay, which was then fed to the cows. The tiny pieces of lead, some too small to see with the naked eye, had poisoned the cows.
False teaching can have a similar impact on a believer that lead poisoning had on that herd of cows. Over time, exposure to wrong teaching produces wrong thoughts about the character of God and His relationship with His people. This produces carelessness in our understanding of who He is and what He expects of us as His followers. That ultimately leads to spiritual death, which is alienation from Jesus Christ.
For this reason, all Christ-followers should pay careful attention to what we are being fed. If we don’t know God’s Word ourselves, we won’t be able to discern if fragments of poison are part of our regular spiritual and intellectual intake.
The importance of teaching sound theology and doctrine can’t be overstated. This is particularly important for those involved in Bible teaching or missionary work. Too many professing Christians today think that being politically correct is more important than standing up for truth, even the truth of God’s Word.
You’ve heard the old saying, “You are what you eat.” If it’s true that what we put into our bodies affects our health and wellbeing, how much more important is it that we are careful about what we “consume” intellectually and spiritually?
Jesus said in Luke 6:45 “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”You and I don’t live out of what we say we believe; we live out of what we actually believe! The things we believe about God affect the choices we make in life. And Scripture makes it clear that choices determine destiny. Wrong beliefs result in wrong choices. That’s why correct belief is so important!
As part of our introduction, we need at least a brief look at the terms we’re using in our title, “Gospel Theology; Why is Correct Theology Important for Salvation?” What is the Gospel? You might answer “the Good News.” OK, but the good news about what? That I can have a better life if I accept Jesus; that I can have personal relationship with Him; or I get to go to heaven when I die? Those things are true, but they aren’t the heart of the Gospel.
The gospel is called the ‘good news’ because it addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings. Here’s the problem: God is holy, just, and He’s perfect, and I’m not. Paul defined the Gospel succinctly in I Timothy 1:15. “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” Prior to conversion, every person is a sinner in need of salvation.
What is theology? The etymology shows that it comes from the Greek, theos = God, and logos = word. So, we can simply say “theology is a word about God.” The word of man about God is founded on the Word of God from God. In other words, man speaks because God has spoken; spoken both in His Son - the living Word - and in the Scriptures - the written Word. So, Gospel theology is based on what God has said in His Word about Himself and about humanity.
Let me also comment on a related word, doctrine. It appears 56 times in Scripture (4 times in our text) and is simply defined as something that is taught. Paul uses the words teaching and doctrine interchangeably. His particular concern, and ours, is the teaching of “sound” or healthy doctrine.
If you can, turn with me in your copies of the Holy Scripture to II Timothy 3. I’ll begin reading with verse 10 and continue on through chapter 4 and verse 5.
As we examine this text, we will discover several essential CONCEPTS that will help us answer the question, “why is correct theology important for salvation?”
The First CONCEPT is,
Gospel Theology Embraces Suffering (10 – 13)
Oh my; what a place to start! If people sat in on the weekly services at your church, would they conclude from being there that your understanding of the Gospel embraces suffering? If those same people followed you to your home and lived with you for a couple of weeks would your lifestyle choices convince them that gospel theology embraces suffering?
In verse 12, Paul makes a very clear, emphatic statement. “All who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus shall suffer.” Or, put it this way, “all [that] are bent on living a godly life will suffer.” The apostle Peter agrees with Paul’s words, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you: But rejoice, because in this you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings...” That’s First Peter 4:12 and 13.
What’s the relationship of Christ’s sufferings to our salvation? In Matthew 16:21 we read “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Isaiah 52 and 53 give a graphic picture of Christ’s sufferings and the glorious results – our justification! Gospel theology is clear; without Christ’s suffering there is NO salvation.
Praise God we don’t need to suffer the penalty of our sins; Jesus took that upon Himself on the cross. But if we’re genuinely saved, we’ll experience suffering. Acts chapter 5 records the experience of the apostles before the Sanhedrin. Verse 45 says “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” Why did they do that? Because they understood the greatness of the gift of salvation! The love of Christ, expressed in His suffering, motivated them to love Him in return. It should motivate us too.
Paul wrote that Timothy knew about his suffering. And why did he suffer? Because of his commitment to Christ and the qualities mentioned in verse 10. In his mind and experience there was a direct cause and effect between salvation and suffering.
Today, many Christians insist that salvation and discipleship are two separate concepts. But Jesus and the writers of the New Testament taught them as inextricably linked together. Jesus never looked for converts; He called disciples. When He did speak of conversion it meant “a turning around.” You’re going one way, following one master (self and Satan); then you turn around and follow a different Master (Jesus).
In Luke 9:23 Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.” A genuine understanding of salvation includes discipleship; and discipleship means cross bearing. Cross bearing is suffering, but like Jesus, we can face it with joy. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that “...Jesus…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
After Jesus told Nicodemus to be “born again,” He said the effects of that experience would be visible – like the wind in the trees. Genuine salvation results in discipleship. Genuine discipleship results in visible lifestyle changes. Genuine discipleship is possible only to those who’ve received a new nature, the nature of Christ.
How much foundation must we lay in order to bring people to a proper understanding of the Gospel and salvation? Since the suffering of Christ is basis of our salvation, and our suffering is a result of embracing that salvation, we must be sure people understand the cost of their redemption. This concept of suffering, I believe, is one that’s often ignored or minimized in many evangelistic efforts.
The Second CONCEPT is,
Gospel Theology Embraces Scripture (14 – 4:1)
It really doesn’t matter what you and I think the Gospel is. Does that statement shock you? It’s true! The Scriptures tell us what the Gospel is and we’re not at liberty to change it. It is fixed, unmovable, and objective. It’s not influenced by our personal feelings, our interpretations, or our prejudice. It’s based on facts as God has revealed them to us. Like Timothy, we need to embrace those facts and continue in them.
Paul tells Timothy in chapter 3 verse 15 that “it is the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation that is in Christ Jesus.” So, in order for a person to experience salvation he or she must have exposure to the Scripture; personally, and corporately. This is one of the essentials of a healthy spiritual life and a healthy church!
Paul Hattaway tells us about the importance of the Scripture in China. He tells how “Asia is full of bizarre religious beliefs. Numerous cults flood the continent, and it’s a constant battle for Christian leaders just to keep the most dangerous heresies from infiltrating and destroying their flocks. In China the Eastern Lightning cult is also known as “The Church of Almighty God.” It continues to ravage churches throughout the country. At the core of the strange movement is the belief that Jesus has been reincarnated as a woman and is living in central China, waiting for the right time for her identity to be revealed to the world.”
Paul Hattaway goes on. “Now you may think, ‘That’s ridiculous! No Christian would ever believe such nonsense.’ That’s true, but in China the availability of Bibles has been severely limited. This is a deliberate attempt to strangle the massive house church movement. Believers with only a shallow knowledge of the Bible have been easy pickings for this cult.”
In my introduction I quoted I Timothy 1:15. “…that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” No one can come to an understanding of salvation without first understanding their lostness. Paul says in Roman 3:20 that it’s through the law that we come to the knowledge of sin. He further states in Romans 10:17 that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” All of these things are foundational, and a person can’t be truly born again without understanding them.
Verse 15 tells us that our faith in Christ Jesus is based on the foundation of the Holy Scriptures. In other words, the Word of God lays out the requirements of salvation. When we, by faith, agree with God’s conditions, we can then access salvation. Peter made this clear in Acts 4:11 and 12 “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Paul reminds Timothy that this embrace of the Word comes to us in the same way as our initial conversion experience - by faith. Faith believes what God’s Word says is true, even if it seems foolish, impractical, or impossible. Jesus said, “Whoever will smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Doesn’t that sound foolish, impractical, and impossible? From the standpoint of our human reasoning, absolutely! But faith believes and acts on the command knowing that God promises to bless those who obey Him in faith.
It was Augustine who said, “Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore, seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.” The embrace of the Word will lead us to believe first, and then our obedience will lead to deeper understanding.
While we’re thinking about the role of faith in salvation, I remind us of something very important. Scripture tells us plainly we are saved by grace, through faith. Faith is the channel of relying on Christ for our salvation and grace is the power that enables it. So, we are saved by grace, an act of God, through our faith, which is enabled by God. That removes from the realm of human possibility any attempt to make ourselves acceptable in God’s sight.
OK. Now we’re saved; what keeps us saved? Listen to I Peter 1:3-5. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Our salvation is NOT maintained by our good works! Don’t minimize good works; they’re an important part of discipleship. But if we think our good works maintain our salvation – we’ve reduced the Gospel to moralism! We “are kept by the power of God through faith” – and not faith in ourselves.
One theological concept critical to understanding our need for salvation is our bent, our natural inclination, to sin. We see it expressed in our text in the actions of the false teachers. Genesis chapter 3 records the sin of our first parents; the resulting sinful nature has been passed down to us today. Paul talks about this in I Corinthians 15:21 and 22.
The description of humanity outside of Christ is painfully graphic in vivid scenes from the Old Testament and in shocking words from the New Testament. Worthless, corrupt, defiled, open graves, like poisonous snakes, cursing and bitterness, murderers, evil men, seducers, ruin, and misery are all words describing our lostness. Outside of Christ we are without hope and without God in the world; doomed to destruction, Paul says in Ephesians 2:12.
But many professing Christians today recoil from this concept. We’ve been influenced by humanism; the idea that man is basically good, he just needs to be educated or reformed. Thus, the Gospel is reduced to moralism - to improvements in behavior. But Scripture is clear; the Gospel is transformation, not reformation.
Far too many believers and churches succumb to the logic of moralism and reduce the Gospel to a message of moral improvement. We communicate to lost persons the message that what God desires for them and demands of them is to get their lives straightened out so they can live their best life now. I fear our churches contain people who live morally and look right but are headed for eternal punishment.
Another theological concept necessary for our understanding of salvation is the sovereignty of God. Some carry this to the extreme, saying you and I have no choice in the matter of our salvation. I remember Bro. J. Otis Yoder telling me about discussing this concept with one of his fellow students in seminary. Bro. J. Otis was arguing that as human beings we have a free will, we choose to respond to the call of God. To this, his fellow student said, “Yoder, your God’s a peanut. If my God wants to save a man; He saves him!”
We rightly reject the idea that man has no choice in the matter of his salvation. We embrace the reality of God’s sovereignty but realize He doesn’t force Himself on anyone. In His foreknowledge He’s aware of who will accept and who will reject the invitation to salvation. While the invitation is open to all, according to Romans 10:13, we must respond to the personal call of God’s Spirit. In John 6:44 Jesus said “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
We should also be aware that we cannot respond to the message of salvation solely on our time schedule. We must respond when the Spirit of God, speaking through the Word of God, is inviting us to respond. That’s why we have warnings about “hardening our hearts” and “quenching the Spirit.” Strictly speaking, a person cannot repent when he chooses, repentance and faith are gifts from God.
Another theological concept necessary for our understanding of salvation is the certainty of the Judgment. We see this in verse 1 of chapter 4. If there’s no final judgment, or if that judgment ends our existence, there’s no need for the Gospel of salvation. Paul says God will judge the living and the dead in that final day. From other Scripture portions we know our earthly life is only a brief preparation for eternity.
At the end of life, you and I are going to stand before a just and holy God to be judged. We’ll be judged either on the basis of our own righteousness - or lack of it - or the righteousness of another. The good news of the gospel is - Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, of perfect obedience to God, not for His own wellbeing but for His people. He’s done for you and me what we couldn’t possibly do for ourselves. But not only has He lived that life of perfect obedience, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of God.
Forgiveness is a very costly matter. It cost God the sacrifice of His own perfect Son. God pronounced the value of Jesus’ sacrifice by raising Him from the dead - so that Christ died for us, He was raised for our justification. So, the gospel is something objective. It is the message of who Jesus is and what He did.
And it also has a subjective dimension. How are the benefits of Jesus subjectively appropriated to us? How do you and I get them? As I said earlier, the Bible makes it clear that we are justified not by our works, not by our efforts, not by our deeds, but by faith–and by faith alone. The only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him–and in Him alone. If you do that, you’re declared just by God, you’re adopted into His family, you’re forgiven of all of your sins, and your eternity is secure in Him.
The Final CONCEPT is,
Gospel Theology Embraces Service (4:1- 5)
Why did God provide for your salvation? Just so you could escape divine retribution? Definitely! So you could spend eternity in heaven with Him? For sure! So you could have a good life? Maybe, but not so much, depending on what you mean by that. I believe Paul’s teaching here points to something very important; we are saved to serve.
Notice what Paul says to Timothy here in chapter four, verse one. “I charge you before God...” In I Timothy 6:13, Paul speaks of this same charge. The English translation is a bit different, but the original word is the same. It means “one who is in sight.” It’s used to describe a person who does or says something in the presence of someone else and is consciously aware that he is being both thought of and observed. So, Paul says I charge you before, or in the sight of, God.
Timothy, like every Christ follower, would face difficult situations in life. Timothy would also face hard situations in the church. Paul reminded him that his embrace of the Scriptures by faith would enable him to persevere in these situations. Surrounded by false teachers and unfaithful men, Timothy would need to keep his focus in the right place; we need that too.
And that focus was on “our God, even Christ Jesus.” Again, we get a glimpse of Paul’s attitude toward the deity of Jesus. In these final words to Timothy, Paul is striving to make an indelible impression, a lasting impression, on his beloved son in the faith. The deity of Jesus Christ must have a basic and prominent place in all Christian teaching and preaching!
The service Paul charges Timothy to embrace is to preach the Word! What does it mean to preach the Word? No doubt, when you hear the word, preach, you picture a pastor/teacher standing behind a pulpit; hopefully proclaiming the Word of God. But the word Paul used here, kerruso, is much different.
Into Timothy’s mind came a mental picture of a royal messenger riding or walking into the local town square. This kerruso, was an imperial herald, a spokesman for the emperor. He didn’t bring his own message. He proclaimed the message he had been given. In him was vested all the power and authority of the sovereign and to ignore the message he gave was to imperil your own well-being.
Paul goes on to list three important aspects in embracing our service. First, it must become a lifestyle. As those who are truly saved, we are called to be ready to serve at any time, whether it’s convenient or inconvenient, whether it makes us comfortable or uncomfortable.
Now I’ll go from preaching to meddling. What circumstances does it take for you to skip Sunday School, or the preaching service, or prayer meeting, or an opportunity to serve someone else – convenience, comfort? How about a sports event, a day on the lake, or hours in the deer stand? We’re able and willing to endure inconvenience and discomfort for the things that are important to us. I stand convicted!
Second, our embrace of service must be rooted in our commitment to the Scriptures. Our own salvation moves us to obey God’s command to take the Gospel to all people; to share the Good News with them. We are also commanded as brothers and sisters in the Lord to bear each other’s burdens. There’s room for everyone’s gifts and abilities in this task; and EVERYONE has something to offer.
In addition, our service must be accompanied by longsuffering. We need to be uncompromising in proclaiming the truth, but harshness adds nothing of value to that proclamation. Instead, it detracts from the truth. Harshness puts the focus on the messenger more than the message. As those who have embraced the Gospel, we must be even-tempered, not easily crushed by suffering, slow to anger and slow to retaliate.
And finally, Paul mentions the importance of doctrine, or teaching. It’s interesting isn’t it, that our text begins and ends with doctrine? Four times he mentions it in 13 verses. So often we hear things like “doctrine divides; love unites.” But it’s not biblical teaching that divides Christians; it’s their response to biblical teaching. When you and I embrace the teaching of God’s Word and act upon it - that draws us together! It enables us to serve together, to live out our salvation in practical ways multiplying its effects.
However, Paul warns us that we will need to be diligent in embracing our service. Why? Because many people will reject the message that motivates it; and we will suffer for our faithfulness to the Word.
Today, there is much wrong theology (words about God) being disseminated across the globe. There is much erroneous doctrine (teaching about God) being promoted. This is why it’s critical that we have sound, biblical preaching in our churches. We must be people of the Book.
Theology and doctrine wrongly presented can appear to be cold, factual knowledge about some distant deity who’s not really involved in our daily lives. But to those who, by faith, have embraced the saving grace of Jesus Christ, the study of God’s character and attributes leave us in awe and wonder. How can a God so holy, so powerful, and so glorious dwell in our hearts by faith? Miraculous! When we grasp the magnitude of what we’ve received we will embrace Scriptural theology and sound doctrine as a way to lovingly respond to such a great salvation!
Suffering, Scripture, and service; what’s your Gospel theology?
The Day of The Lord
I Thessalonians 5:1-11
Change is occurring rapidly in our world. Within the last 30 years, computer technology has revolutionized the way we communicate. The stuff of 20th century science fiction has become today’s reality. Things that we once thought were impossible are now routine. Artificial intelligence, or AI, has far-reaching implications for our future and our personhood.
My grandfather was a student of Biblical prophecy. He loved the Word of God, and he took it literally. But he couldn’t visualize how some of the prophetic things he read in the Scripture would be worked out. Let me illustrate.
Revelation chapter 11 tells us that during the Tribulation, God will have two hand-picked witnesses testify in the city of Jerusalem for 1,260 days, or three and one-half years. These witnesses will be hated by the Antichrist and his followers, and they’ll try to kill them. But God miraculously preserves their lives until their mission is complete. After that, they’ll be killed, and their bodies will lie in the streets three days. Revelation 11:9 says, “And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.”
My grandpa couldn’t see how that was possible, but he believed it. Some of his contemporaries scoffed at the idea; It’s impossible. Today, with our instant, worldwide communication, it’s reality. We are moving toward the climax of human history. I believe we are approaching “The Day of the Lord.”
The Old Testament prophets spoke about the Day of the Lord. They saw it as a day of judgment, a time when God would mete out justice on the wicked, a day when God would judge the excesses of his people Israel and purify a remnant for himself. But it seems they did not see the time we live in, the church age.
We know, Jesus’ first coming was not for judgment. He did not come to condemn the world but to save it. His first coming was as the Jewish Messiah. When the Jews rejected Him, the Gospel was given to the Gentiles. His first coming was for the purpose of gathering a bride, the church, Jew, and Gentile, for Himself.
Today, when we talk about this coming day of judgment what do we mean? Some people refer to the catching away of the church as the Day of the Lord. Others say, “no, that’s the Rapture, the Day of the Lord is when Christ comes to judge the earth.” I view these events as two separate happenings, but what’s the difference? Let me just give you one significant difference.
At the Rapture, according to our text and Acts 1:9-11, Jesus will not set foot on the earth; we’ll rise to meet Him. At the Day of the Lord, He will, according to Zechariah 14:4, set His feet upon the Mount of Olives. It is important that we distinguish between these two events so everyone understands what we’re talking about.
In our text from I Thessalonians both of these events are in view, the catching away of the saints and the day of judgment. It seems clear to me that one precedes the other and the order in which they happen is important.
Let’s read I Thessalonians 4:13 to 5:11 keeping in mind what we’ve just talked about. Observe with me three ASPECTS of The Day of the Lord.
The First Aspect is:
The Indication of its Coming
Paul begins chapter 5 by saying; “I don’t need to write to you about the times and seasons relating to the Day of the Lord.” At the end of chapter four, he gave specific instructions about the return of Christ for the church, what we call the Rapture. So, I conclude, one of the indications of the Day of the Lord is this; Believers must be taken out of the world.
Let’s look at verses 13 to 18. The Believers evidently had some question about what would happen to those who died. Paul reminds them that we do not grieve as those who have no hope. In verse 14 Paul says, “since we believe that Jesus died and rose again.” The resurrection of Christ is an established fact. It provides a basis for our belief in the resurrection. Paul says, “those who sleep (have died) in Jesus will God bring with him.”
Then he gives specific details about this event. First, those who are alive when Christ comes for the Church will not precede those who have died. Verse sixteen tells us that the dead in Christ shall rise first and then those who are alive will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. This catching away will take place with a specific series of actions.
The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, a cry that stirs people to action. And then, the voice of the archangel; I wonder what that will sound like? The final sound recorded here is, the trumpet of God. The call for the church to rise. Hallelujah! I hope you are ready because it could happen today!
Another indication of the coming Day of the Lord is false security. What does verse 3 say? “Men shall say peace and safety, but sudden destruction shall come upon them.” The United Nations was formed in October of 1945 to promote world peace. A new era was being ushered in. Nations would resolve their differences peacefully. Global citizens would be educated to believe in the goodness of their fellow men. All would dwell together in peace and security.
There’s only one problem. Since the formation of the UN, wars have broken out continually. Instead of seeing man’s goodness, his depravity has become increasingly evident. And all is not peace and security. This is one of the indications of the approaching Day of the Lord. Men will be talking about peace and safety when there’s none to be found. That certainly sounds like today, doesn’t it?
The day of the Lord will come. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Paul says it’s like a woman expecting a child. The only unknown is the actual time of the birth. But there are signs, there are indications of when the labor begins and so it is with the day of the Lord.
The Second Aspect is:
The Preparation for its Coming
Paul reminds us that we are not in darkness about the day that’s coming. Let’s observe some preparations that we must make so that day doesn’t come upon us unaware.
We’re not to be caught sleeping. This is a different word than the one used in verse 15 of chapter four where it speaks about the dead. This sleep is voluntary. A sleeping person is not aware of what’s happening around him. He’s relaxed, uninvolved, and unconcerned. We’re cautioned to avoid sleeping in a spiritual sense.
What are some specific ways we can be prepared for the coming day of the Lord? Watch. Here is the idea of being alert, of being fully aware of your surroundings. How do we watch? First, we need to be students of the Word. And we need to be informed about what’s happening in our world. We need to take what we hear and see and filter it through what the Word says.
There is an unprecedented movement of the Holy Spirit across the world today. Not so much in our western nations, but in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Thousands of people are coming to Christ. At the same time there is evidence of unprecedented activity of the enemy. The rise of militant Islam and Hinduism is a clear indication of the intensifying battle between light and darkness. Our brothers and sisters are targeted because they reject these false religions.
In our western culture, the rise of moral degeneracy and spiritual deception is alarming. Teenagers and children are being duped by predatory adults into mutilating their bodies with false promises that they can change the biological sex they were born with. Woe to those who hold to and publicly defend traditional Judeo-Christian values and lifestyles!
Part of our preparation for the coming day of the Lord is to know what is happening in our world. We must be awake, not sleeping.
And then Paul says, “be sober.” It means to be free from intoxicants, something that takes control of your body or mind. There are intoxicants besides alcohol and drugs. How about power, or money, or possessions or position? People become intoxicated with those too. But we’re to be under the control of the Holy Spirit. Being intoxicated causes us to lose focus, to lose balance, to be careless. If we live that way the day of the Lord will come as a thief.
This word sober also has the idea of being discreet, of being careful of appearances. Paul says later in this chapter, “abstain from all appearance of evil.” Don’t do anything that gives anyone the impression that you are involved in something evil.
In verse 8 we’re again instructed to be sober. When something is repeated in the Scriptures it is especially important. Then we’re told how to fulfil those instructions. We’re to put on the breastplate of faith and love. The breastplate was an important piece of armor. It protected the vital organs of the torso. We are to put on faith, that’s moral conviction, and love. These two will yield a certain degree of sobriety. They will protect us from making foolish choices.
Then we’re to put on a helmet, something that protects the head. That helmet is the hope of salvation. Hope, in this usage, is not something that is doubtful. This hope is an expectation, a confidence in God and his promises.
In preparation for the day of the Lord we are to be awake, alert to the times we live in. Under the control of the Holy Spirit, we need to maintain our sobriety with faith and love. And we must keep the confidence of our salvation in view, so we’re not caught unaware by the signs that warn us of that coming day.
These are some specific things we should do in preparation for its coming.
The Final Aspect is:
The Consolation of its Coming
Isn’t it comforting to know what our future is? Look at verse 9. Paul says, “for God has not appointed us to wrath.
The judgment the unbelieving world will face is not intended for the follower of Christ. I personally believe the Church will be taken out of the world prior to the Tribulation. I believe this text we’ve been looking at supports that belief; and there are other passages as well. Let me quickly give you two other examples in Scripture.
One is in Genesis 18 where Abraham, in his dialogue with God about the situation in Sodom and Gomorrah, says to God, “that be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?”
The other example is Noah. God brought judgment on the unbelieving world, but he made a way of safety for Noah. Noah was warned by God of the coming flood, and he was motivated by reverence for God to build an ark for the saving of his house. The righteous were spared the destruction that was poured out upon the wicked. God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by Christ. We are to be preserved from the fate of the wicked. Praise God!
Then Paul reminds us of the consolation he has already given in chapter four. No believer will be left behind. Whether we live until Jesus comes in the clouds to receive his church, or whether we die before then, we have the assurance that we shall live with Him. As my grandpa looked at the events in his day, he thought the catching away of the church would happen while he was living. Was he wrong to feel that way? No, it gave an urgency to life, a watchfulness.
Some people put these events so far in the future it has no impact on their daily living. And you know what happens? They get careless! They lose the discipline of being sober, of being watchful. Paul closes by saying, with all of this in mind, comfort each other, build each other up as you are already doing. So often we talk about things that don’t have any eternal value. When was the last time you mentioned either the Rapture or the second coming of Christ in a conversation to encourage someone? We’re commanded to do that.
Brothers and sisters, the day of the Lord is coming, judgment. We’ve noted the indications, the things the Bible tells us will happen as we approach that time. We’ve noted the preparations we’re to make, an active pursuit of alertness and sobriety. The strengthening of moral conviction and love for the brotherhood. We’ve noted the comfort and consolation that is ours in the assurance that we will be spared from the wrath to come and dwell in the presence of God the Father.
But those promises do not apply to you unless you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you don’t have a relationship with him, then the day of the Lord will overtake you as a thief. Jesus said in John 3;36; “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Today the choice is still yours to make. You can exchange God’s wrath for his mercy. But if you reject that invitation, you must face the consequences. Let me urge you to make sure that you are ready for the Day of the Lord.
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
John 16:7-15
At Heralds of Hope, Inc, we get lots of mail from people around the world. Some who write have questions about the Bible, and about living the Christian life. Some of the most frequent questions we receive are questions about the role and function of the Holy Spirit.
Because this subject is so large, there’s no way we can do justice to it in one brief message. But I want to give you some principles to help you discern the proper function of the Holy Spirit. Principles to help you answer the specific questions that arise about the Holy Spirit’s role and ministry in the church today.
Our text is John 16:7-15. Here, Jesus is instructing His disciples about the coming of the Comforter. The setting of this text is just prior to the crucifixion. It gives the most detailed information about the ministry of the Holy Spirit prior to Pentecost. Because He knows the coming events will be painful for the disciples, Jesus assures them His going away is necessary for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s coming would be the key to their doing greater works than He did.
Read John 16:1-15
Notice in verse seven, Jesus tells the disciples that it’s necessary for Him to go away. It is to their advantage that He go away, because, if he stays, the Holy Spirit cannot come. If He goes, He promises to send the Comforter, the intercessor, the consoler, to them. I’ve titled the message, “The Ministry of the Holy Spirit.”
In our text, we observe theministry of the Holy Spirit to Christians and non-Christians. In each of these relationships, we’re given three specific FUNCTIONS of the Spirit. I make the assumption that many of you listening today are Christians, so we will spend most of our time looking at the Holy Spirit’s ministry to the redeemed. But we do want to look briefly at His ministry to unbelievers as we begin.
- The First Relationship is,
To Unbelievers (vv.8-11)
Notice the beginning of verse eight, “And when he is come, he will reprove the world...” Jesus had just finished warning the disciples about some of the things the “world” would do to them, in verse two. These are the ungodly, those who are part of the world’s system of doing things. All of us were part of the world. All of us were separated from God by our sin. We needed the Holy Spirit to bring us to a consciousness of our sin. This is the primary ministry of the Holy Spirit to unbelievers.
Let’s look at the three ways Jesus said the Holy Spirit would bring about that conviction.
A. Convince the world of sin
Jesus said the Holy Spirit will reprove, convict, or rebuke the world for their sin. What sin? Specifically, the sin of unbelief, according to verse 9. People refuse to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. That’s the sin of unbelief. In the immediate context of these verses, Jesus is referring to the Jews, but we also know this is true for the world at large; and especially for those who have heard and understood the Gospel. The Holy Spirit will convince unbelievers of the sins they’ve committed and of the guilt and condemnation that result from those sins.
B. Convince the world of righteousness
Jesus further stated that the Holy Spirit will reprove the world of His righteousness because He was going back to the Father. What do we make of this? The coming of the Holy Spirit validated the teachings of Christ and the claims He made as the Savior of mankind. Jesus was not an impostor, a magician, a lunatic, or a destroyer of the law as the Jews labeled Him. He was the Son of God. The coming of the Holy Spirit was dynamic proof that this sinless Son of God was put to death unjustly.
At Pentecost, many unbelievers came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and repented of their former attitudes and actions. More than anything else, this dramatic change in the hearts of men testified to the righteousness of Christ. It proved that He was who He claimed to be. Today, those who follow Christ are a constant reproof to unbelievers. The ministry and witness of the Holy Spirit in your life is visible proof of the reality of Christ’s righteousness.
C. Convince the world of judgment
Last, but not least, we have the promise of judgment on the unbelieving. Those who reject Jesus as the only hope of salvation, those who reject the proof of His claims by divine revelation and the witness of transformed lives, will suffer eternal punishment.
This fact was spoken of by the apostles in their preaching after Pentecost. They spoke of the coming judgment; a judgment that could only be escaped by trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation. Part of this judgment will be the destruction of Satan’s power.
The coming of the Holy Spirit dealt a crippling blow to Satan. People no longer needed to depend on external controls to maintain holy living. Now, the Holy Spirit transforms the heart and lives there. He gives ongoing victory to all who would walk in obedience to His voice. The life of a victorious Christian is a constant reminder that Satan’s power has been broken.
Because all of us were at one time part of the world of unbelievers, we’ve experienced these aspects of the Spirit’s ministry. But now we are redeemed. And the Holy Spirit has a different ministry to those who are the children of God.
II. The Second Relationship is;
To Believers
Verse twelve introduces the shift in focus. Jesus told the disciples He had many things He wanted to tell them before His crucifixion. But, He said, you are not able to bear them now; you’re not able to understand them now. However, when the Holy Spirit comes, He will open your understanding. And He gives three specific ways in which the Spirit will do this.
A. Guide You into All Truth
What is the purpose of a guide? To show the way. The picture is of a father taking his child by the hand and leading the way. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will show the way, and guide us into all truth. That implies that we can’t find the truth by ourselves. We should know that from experience. Our sinfulness so affects our way of thinking that to pursue truth on our own will lead us away from God. But Jesus said the Holy Spirit will be a faithful guide. This guidance demonstrates to us that truth is knowable, not abstract. It’s objective rather than subjective.
There are two ways He will accomplish this task. First, “He will not speak of Himself.” Ignoring this truth has caused many to go astray. Some have elevated the ministry of the Holy Spirit at the expense of Jesus. That is directly contrary to what Jesus states here. The Spirit does not have a ministry that is independent of Jesus. Everything that He does or says is designed to validate the words of Jesus. To suggest or practice otherwise is to discredit the worth and value of Christ.
Mark it down, if someone says, “the Holy Spirit told me to do this,” and it is contrary to the truth revealed in the Bible, that person is deceived. The ministry of the Holy Spirit will never contradict the Word; the written Word or Jesus the living Word.
Once I was listening to a popular, Christian, call-in radio program, and a lady called in to talk about her boyfriend who she had caught viewing pornography on the internet. One of the first questions I would have asked her was, “does your boyfriend make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ?” If he didn’t, then the issue was not his behavior, but the fact she, as a Christian, had no business dating him! But you know, the host and his guest never asked that question! They gave her some advice, but I don’t remember what it was because I was thinking, how can the Spirit guide us if we have closed our eyes to the obvious teaching of the Word?
Our desire to have our own way often leads us to reject the clear teachings of Scripture even as we attempt to seek God’s will for a specific need in our lives. Perhaps you’ve experienced this. You’re praying for God’s direction about some detail of your life. The Holy Spirit reminds you that there is an area of need He’s been attempting to address, but you aren’t willing to obey. So what will you do? If you humble yourself and admit your pride and rebellion, and repent, you’ll experience the blessing of the Lord. I must admit I’ve been there.
Secondly, verse thirteen tells us the Holy Spirit will speak the things He hears. So, he will not speak of Himself, and, he will speak only what He hears from the Father and the Son. He does not have his own message; He does not have His own agenda. In John 14:26 Jesus said the Spirit will “bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Jesus further stated in John 15:26, the Spirit “shall testify of me.” I cannot emphasize too strongly how important this truth is in our age of “spiritual experience.” So much of Christianity today is experience-oriented. Experience is good, but only if it is informed by biblical truth.
Are you experiencing the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life? Are you living in obedience to the revealed will of God? If you are, then you have the promise of God that you will be led by the Holy Spirit into an ever-deepening relationship with Him.
B. Show You Things to Come
According to our text, another function of the Holy Spirit is, to reveal the future things to us. In this context, we must understand that Jesus was at least referring to Pentecost and the signs and wonders that would accompany it. This was all new to the apostles. They did not have the benefit of hindsight as we do. They were in a transition period between the old covenant and the new. But I believe the truth goes beyond that limited scope.
It is interesting to note that Peter, in his Pentecost sermon, quoted from the prophet Joel, Acts 2:16 to 21. “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Notice, some of these things apply to Pentecost, but some do not. Those conditions mentioned in verses nineteen and twenty are for a future time. And we have prophetic books like Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, and Revelation that outline how these things will come to pass. And we can only begin to understand them as the Holy Spirit enlightens our minds.
The apostles, Peter and Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, unveil some things about the coming day of the Lord in their writings. But let it suffice to say, that unless the Holy Spirit opens our understanding of things to come, we don’t have the foggiest idea about how it will come about.
I believe there’s another facet to this idea of the Spirit showing us things to come. How many of you have ever made a decision, and later, as you experience the consequences of that decision, you wish you’d made a different choice? I believe the Holy Spirit can help us see the consequences of our decisions before we make them. He can give the wisdom to look ahead and visualize the outcome. In this way, He guides us into truth even as He shows us things to come. But that will only happen if we are open to hearing His voice and following His leading.
C. He Will Glorify Me
Here, Jesus states that the Holy Spirit will glorify Him by receiving His truth and announcing it to mankind. Again, we must remember, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is not to glorify Himself, but rather to lift up Jesus. The Spirit is the One who reveals the truth to us.
Jesus reminds the disciples, and us, that the things the Holy Spirit will reveal, belong to the Father. The Father and the Son are in full agreement and the Holy Spirit is in full agreement too. He will do nothing that is contrary to the Word or will of both Father and Son. This is another way we can discern whether or not the direction we perceive is truly from the Holy Spirit; does it bring glory to Christ or does it bring glory to me? It is God’s design that our lives glorify him, Ephesians 1:12 and 14. The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to help us fulfill that design.
If we commit ourselves to obey the Holy Spirit’s prompting in our lives, He will bring about changes in us that will glorify Christ. As those changes take place other Christians will be encouraged. Unbelievers will be convinced of the reality of our relationship with Jesus. And all will be drawn to Christ.
As we bring this message to a close let’s review the specific functions of the Holy Spirit relating to Believers.
First, “He will guide you into all truth.” Are you experiencing that guidance on a daily basis? Are you walking in obedience to those things you know are the will of God? If you are, then be assured, the Holy Spirit will guide you. But if there is an area where you are suppressing the Spirit, you cannot expect Him to guide you. Obedience is the key.
Second, “He will show you things to come.” Do you know what the future holds for you? Not necessarily the details, but the direction? Have you discovered God’s purpose for your life and are you fulfilling that purpose? Do you have the confidence that your future is secure?
Finally, “He will glorify me.” Is the ministry of the Spirit in your life bringing glory to the Father? Are your brothers and sisters in the body of Christ being encouraged as they observe His working in you? Are unbelievers convinced of the reality of Christ by what they observe in your life? I urge you today to live out the reality of “The Ministry of the Holy Spirit.”
Why do you do business? What is the goal? Tony Hollinger encourages us to serve and improve our communities for God's glory.
This was recorded live at our Strategic Partner Breakfast in Dayton, Virginia, on March 7, 2023.
The Coming Kingdom
Luke 19:11-28
There’s an old Yiddish tale that relates how “Once upon a time, Truth went about the streets as naked as the day he was born. As a result, no one would let him into their homes. Whenever people caught sight of him, they turned away and fled. One day when Truth was sadly wandering about, he came upon Parable. Parable was dressed in splendid clothes of beautiful colors. And Parable, seeing Truth, said, "Tell me, neighbor, what makes you look so sad?" Truth replied bitterly, "Ah, brother, things are bad -- very bad. I'm old -- very old, and no one wants to acknowledge me. No one wants anything to do with me."
Hearing that, Parable said, "People don't run away from you because you're old. I’m old too -- very old. But the older I get, the better people like me. I'll tell you a secret: Everyone likes things disguised and prettied up a bit. Let me lend you some splendid clothes like mine, and you'll see that the very people who ran away from you will invite you into their homes and be glad of your company." Truth took Parable's advice and put on the borrowed clothes. And from that time on, Truth and Parable have gone hand in hand. They make a happy pair.”
As you and I read the gospels we notice that Jesus told many parables. He rarely (maybe never) began teaching with scripture among the common people. It was only in the synagogue, among the scholars that he did so. Most of the time, Jesus told stories about everyday things in order to bring His message in a way that would keep His listeners attention!
And that’s what we find in our text today from Luke 19:11 to 28. Like some of the other parables recorded in Luke’s Gospel, we’re alerted to the reason for the parable before it’s given. This makes both interpretation and application simpler.
This parable relates to “The Coming Kingdom” of Christ. So let’s read our text, Luke 19:11 to 28, and then see what Jesus wants us to learn about “The Coming Kingdom.”
In this text, Jesus spells out several crucial DETAILS of His coming kingdom.
The First DETAIL (of the coming kingdom) is,
Its Chronology
Every kingdom has a chronology, a timeline; either a history or a future or both. The kingdom of Jesus is no different. And our text states right up front that Jesus’ audience didn’t understand the timeline, the chronology, of His kingdom.
Verse 11 tells us He was near Jerusalem. If Jesus was born as “king of the Jews” (according to the magi in Matthew 2), it was only logical that he would inaugurate His kingdom in Jerusalem, right? And because of His nearness to the city and the events taking place, the people assumed He would set up His kingdom without delay. They saw the kingdom as imminent, near at hand. And because they were children of Abraham by birth they assumed they automatically had a place in that coming kingdom. But they were mistaken, and Jesus told this parable to challenge their assumptions.
The first thing we learn from the parable about the chronology of Jesus’ kingdom is that it will only be established in its fullness after He goes to the Father and then returns back to earth. Clearly, the nobleman represents Jesus, the far country is the presence of the Father, and the return is the second coming of Christ.
Let’s unpack this a bit more. Jesus had been telling the disciples about his impending suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension. But because it didn’t fit their narrative about the kingdom, they couldn’t understand. In the previous chapter, after Jesus told them about His imminent suffering and death, we read “But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.” It didn’t compute!
The parable makes it clear that Jesus, the nobleman, must go away for a time. And where does He go? He goes to a far country to be invested with royalty. This reminds me of Psalm 110:1. “The LORD (Jehovah) said to my Lord (Messiah), sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footrest.” Notice, Jesus is told to sit at the right hand of His Father UNTIL His enemies are subdued. There’s a length of time indicated by the word until. You and I, today, are still in that time; the kingdom is not here in its fullness yet!
After receiving the kingdom, Jesus said the nobleman would return; that is, return with the authority of the kingdom invested in him. At that time he will have the authority to pronounce judgment. Paul mentions this in Acts 17, addressing the philosophers in Athens. He said, “[God] has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man (Jesus) whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Paul’s point is; the resurrection is proof that Jesus will exercise the role of the judge when His kingdom finally comes.
The chronology of the kingdom is this; Jesus would not immediately establish His kingdom but would go to heaven to receive the kingdom from His Father. He is there now at the right hand of the Father interceding for us according to Romans 8:34. At the time specified by the Father He will return and receive His kingdom.
The Second DETAIL (of the coming kingdom) is,
Its Constitution
A constitution is a governing document. It sets forth key principles of belief and specific guidelines for those functioning under that constitution. The actions of the citizens of the kingdom are prescribed by the details of the constitution. In our text, Jesus spells out some of the details of the constitution of His kingdom. Part of the constitution is the responsibility of the citizens, and what they are to do.
It’s important for us to notice the two groups of people mentioned in this parable; slaves and citizens. Both have obligations under the constitution.
As the nobleman (Jesus) prepares to leave for the far country He entrusts His slaves with responsibility in His absence. He calls ten of the slaves and gives each a fixed amount of money – a mina; about 3 month’s wages for a rural laborer. The nobleman’s instructions were short and succinct; “Beginning right now, trade with what I’ve given you while I am going and coming.” It’s understood that the goal of trading was to increase the original investment.
The role of the slave was to be faithful in using what He was given to gain more. You and I are voluntary slaves of Christ. After experiencing the love of our Master we have voluntarily committed ourselves to a covenant relationship with Jesus until the day of our death. He entrusts us with His resources and gives us the privilege of increasing them for His glory. At some point in the future, we will give an account of our stewardship. How are we doing?
Notice with me verse 14. “But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.” This can only be a reference to the unbelieving Jews of Jesus’ day. Do you remember what the mob said to Pilate during Jesus’ trial? “They cried out, ‘Away with him, away with him, crucify him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar.’” Their rejection of Jesus couldn’t have been clearer, could it?
As Jesus told this parable, most likely, the minds of the people immediately went to their own history. Archelaus, a son of Herod the Great, experienced the very things Jesus mentioned. Following an uprising in Judea in 4 A.D. where he slaughtered 3,000 people during Passover, Archelaus traveled to Rome to be crowned by the emperor Augustus as ruler over Judea and Samaria. But his rule was so despotic and so chaotic that the Jews and the Samaritans made a united appeal for his removal. In essence, saying “We won’t have this man rule over us.” So the citizens or subjects, the ones who should’ve been loyal to him rejected his rule.
Today, these citizens may be represented by those who are part of organized religion but who’ve never surrendered their lives to the Lordship of Christ. They think they’re going to be citizens of that heavenly kingdom, but like the people of Jesus’ day, they are adamant; “We will not have this man rule over us.” We’ll see in a few minutes the end result of their choices.
The Final DETAIL (of the coming kingdom) is,
Its Consummation
In verse 15 the time has elapsed for the nobleman. He has received his authority and his kingdom and is returning. At his return he calls his slaves to appear before him; to see how well they’ve followed his commands and how much they’d gained in trading. It is a time for reckoning and a time for rewards.
The first slave reported that the original mina he’d received had gained ten more! I’d say that was pretty good, wouldn’t you? He started with one and now he has eleven. So the king commended him and said, “Because you have been faithful in a very little, I give you authority over 10 cities.” This is the reward for faithful service. Isn’t it interesting that the reward for faithfulness is not rest? It is a greater opportunity for service!
Can you imagine Zacchaeus standing there listening to Jesus present this teaching? How was he feeling? He had just promised to give half of his possessions to the poor and to reimburse anyone he had defrauded four-fold (v. 8). Jesus' teaching here would have encouraged him to follow through on his commitment. He would have a great reward, much treasure in heaven if he so served the Master faithfully.
The second slave reported that his mina had gained an additional five. Not as good as the first, but not bad. Again, the king commended him for his faithfulness and rewarded him with rule over 5 cities.
Jesus’ story then skips over the other slaves to highlight the last one. This one said, “Lord, here is your mina which I’ve kept wrapped up in a napkin while you were gone.” Interesting that the word translated napkin is really a cloth for wiping away sweat. This slave’s lack of activity meant he didn’t need the sweat cloth for its intended purpose, so he used it to cover his lord’s mina. Why did he do this?
Look at verse 21. He said “I was afraid of you because you have a harsh disposition. You gather up what you didn’t lay down and you harvest where you did not plant.” Did this slave really believe this or was it just an excuse? I believe it was just an excuse for unfaithfulness!
His master confronted him with his own words dripping with sarcasm. “You wicked slave. If you truly believed what you said about me, why didn’t you at least put my money in the bank where I could retrieve the principal and any accrued interest?”
Why was this slave described as wicked? First, he was negligent with what was entrusted to him; he didn’t use the resources to his best ability. He accepted the Master’s resources with no intention to use them. Second, he placed the blame for his negligence on his master; he unjustly accused him of being harsh and greedy. He refused to take responsibility for his own actions. His judgment would be severe.
Jesus said to those who were standing by “take from him the mina and give it to the one with ten minas.” Notice that verse 25 is a parenthetical aside. Those in the crowd who were listening (intently) interrupted Jesus to remind him that the first man already had 10 minas! Their sense of justice was offended. This wasn’t fair! But I remind you, Jesus doesn’t deal in fairness; at least as we humans understand fairness. He deals with everyone justly.
Jesus went on to tell them that “everyone who is already being faithful will be given more. But to those who are being (present tense) unfaithful, even the little bit that they have will be stripped away.” Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:21. “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father.”
I said earlier that you and I as followers of Jesus are His voluntary slaves. How well are we using the resources He’s given us in His absence? Each of us has time, gifts, abilities, skills, or finances we can invest for His glory and the benefit of others. Like the slaves in this parable, we will be called to account for how we use them.
Finally, Jesus addresses those who claimed to be citizens of His kingdom but rejected His rule. He said, “…bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.”
Like many prophetic utterances, this one has more than one fulfillment. Most likely Jesus was thinking about the coming destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The word, slay, in verse 27, is a particularly harsh word meaning, to slaughter, to butcher, or to cut down violently! That’s exactly what happened when Roman forces under Titus pierced the final wall around the Temple complex. Goaded by the fierce opposition to the very end, the Roman soldiers rampaged through the area sparing no one and burning the Temple.
But there’s also a reference here to a coming event; that Day of Judgment when all who are found in open rebellion against Christ will perish, consumed by the Word out of His mouth. That will be the consummation of the kingdom!
This parable clarifies that while salvation and entrance into the kingdom come by faith in Jesus, rewards for service rest on the believer's works. Both salvation and rewards come as a result of God's grace. Salvation does not depend on working for God but on resting in what Jesus Christ has done. Rewards do not depend on resting in what Jesus Christ has done but on working for God. It is a misunderstanding of Scriptural revelation to conclude that because God has saved us by His grace we need do nothing but lie back and wait for heaven. Such behavior constitutes irresponsible stewardship that Jesus Christ will punish by withholding a reward. In view of what lies ahead for us, we need to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).
My friend, the kingdom is coming; it is in process. Right now we, as slaves of Christ, are called to exercise faithfulness. We have been entrusted with resources to use for His glory and the blessing of others. Our rewards will be based on our faithfulness. How are you doing?
And if you’re an “enemy” of Christ, I urge you to change that today – before it’s too late!
Why do you work? Nathaniel Gingrich encourages us in our service to God and others.
This was recorded live at our Strategic Partner Breakfast in Chambersburg, PA, on February 23, 2023.
Magnificent Motherhood
Luke 1:46-56
One of the finest words in any language is the word, mother. Even if your relationship with your mother was less than the best you have an obvious attachment to her because she gave you life. If someone says something unkind about your mother, you will rise to her defense.
Some in our culture promote the idea that motherhood is at best, a second-rate way for a woman to use her gifts and abilities, and at worst, a tragedy that should be avoided at all costs. Even after decades of indoctrination by radical feminists, many women still have a desire to be mothers.
In an essay titled, “What's Wrong with the World,” G. K. Chesterton challenges the complaint that [motherhood] is narrow and demeaning for women. On the contrary, he states: "a woman is generally shut up in a house with a human being at the time when he asks all the questions that there are, and some that there aren't. (You mothers know all about that.)
It would be odd if she retained any of the narrowness of a specialist. When people begin to talk about this domestic duty as not merely difficult but trivial and dreary, I simply give up the question for I cannot with the utmost energy of imagination conceive what they mean.
How can it be a large career to tell other people's children about [basic math], and a small career to tell one's own children about the universe? How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone [a specialist], and narrow to be everything to someone? No; a mother's function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute.” End of quote.
G.K. Chesterton was an English writer from the early 1900s with a very diverse output from poetry to Christian apologetics. I’ve come to appreciate his writings. He had a unique and memorable way of communicating the truth as you hopefully observed in the quote I just read.
The second Sunday in May in the US and Canada is designated as Mother’s Day. In honor of mothers, we turn to the Gospel of Luke chapter one, verses forty-six to fifty-six. This portion of the Bible is sometimes referred to as “The Magnificat,” because that is the opening word of the Latin text. I’ve titled the message, “Magnificent Motherhood.” Again, that text is, Luke 1:46-56. Here is the Word of God.
Meditating on this text reveals several CHARACTERISTICS of “Magnificent Motherhood.”
The First CHARACTERISTIC is,
She Rejoices in God’s Blessing (46-48)
I admit that Mary’s circumstances were unique. No other woman ever had a privilege like hers; to bear the Christ child. It’s no wonder that the realization of her privilege caused her whole being, spirit, soul, and body, to burst forth with praise to her God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Her privilege was the culmination of countless prophecies given to the people of Israel. No other birth would ever be as significant!
And yet, to every godly mother, the birth of every child is significant. Every mother can and should respond to the child-bearing privilege in a way similar to what Mary did. In our modern, technologically, and medically advanced society, we have somehow developed the notion that human biology or medical intervention can either prevent or provide conception. But that is an extremely arrogant and ignorant conclusion. The Bible explicitly reminds us that God is the one who opens and closes the womb. Genesis 30:2, Isaiah 44:2, Psalm 113:9, and others, all confirm this fact. That should help us understand that every conception is a miracle! If you dispute that, just talk to some childless couples.
Look carefully at Mary’s song of praise. First, she declares the greatness of God with her soul; her mind, will, and emotions. The verb tense of the word magnify tells us that this is what is happening as Mary speaks.
God graced her with the special honor of being the earthly mother of Messiah. Of all the women that He could have chosen, He chose her! I believe Mary was chosen before the foundation of the world to be the mother of the Savior. It was a singular honor. But, if you’re a mother, you too have been chosen to give birth to the children God has given you. How awesome that God would entrust you with that privilege and responsibility!
And then, Mary blesses God with her spirit. The text literally states, “My spirit jumped for joy in God my Savior.” In her spirit, Mary perceived some measure of the importance attached to this child, Jesus. As further proof of her perception, the Bible reminds us several times that she “pondered in her heart” the events of the unfolding revelation. There was a spiritual significance to this experience.
Mary recognized her own poverty and unworthiness. We conclude from her own words that she came from a humble family, a poor family. But it must have been a family rich in faith! I cite as evidence Mary’s reference to herself as a bondslave of God. That is, she had voluntarily surrendered her life to the control of her Master, the God of Israel. This was no easy assignment the Lord had given her!
As a bond slave, her Master knows all about her, and she is amazed that God would favor her in this way. Let me ask you mothers who are listening to me right now; “have you ever been amazed and grateful that God has given you the privilege of bearing children?” Maybe you’re thinking, “Why should I be amazed and grateful?”
Well, look at the last phrase in verse forty-eight. Mary says, “from now on, all generations shall bless me.” Why? Because she was the mother of the Lord Jesus. And while I cannot fathom all that it meant for Mary to “mold and shape” the character of the Christ-child, I do know that her life had an impact on His because that is the way motherhood works.
She knew that this child in her womb would change the course of history in a unique and unprecedented way. While Jesus was one-of-a-kind, I assure you that every newborn has the potential to impact human history in a positive way. And if you, as a mother, raise a godly child, future generations will bless you too!
So, if you’re a mother, I’m asking you, “Have you blessed God, like Mary did, for the privilege of being a mother? Do you want to move from “average” motherhood to magnificent motherhood?” Then rejoice in God’s blessing of children.
The Second CHARACTERISTIC is,
She Rehearses God’s Power (49-53)
Mary begins her rehearsal of God’s power by referring to God as “mighty.” This word contains the idea of capability and possibility. Remember what the angel said to Mary in response to her question about how she could be pregnant without having had a physical relationship with a man? He said, “With God, nothing shall be impossible!” Mary is literally saying that God, who is capable of the impossible, has done excellent, wonderful, things; things no one else can do. Because of this, she stands in awe before Him.
Why was it important for Mary and every godly mother to rehearse God’s power? Because successful motherhood is impossible without it! How would Mary have responded to the circumstances of life that came to her and to her son if she had not been convinced that God was in control? God’s actions, past and present, convinced Mary of His holiness. She knew God could be depended on to do what was absolutely just and right. She was seeing life from God’s perspective, not from a human perspective.
And then, Mary acknowledges God’s holiness, the awesomeness of God’s name. The word awesome is overused in our day. People throw it around lightly to describe all sorts of things. In reality, only God and the works He’s created are awesome. You can have an awesome sunset, but you can’t really have an awesome apple pie! It’s interesting that when Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He told them to say “Our Father who is in Heaven, may your name be regarded as Holy.” God is jealous for the holiness, the awesomeness, of His name.
Next, she rehearses God’s mercy, another facet of His power. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word mercy is often translated, as loving-kindness, especially in the Psalms. It speaks of God’s gracious love, demonstrated in His covenant with Israel. This was Mary’s concept of God’s mercy. God’s steadfast, loyal love follows the generations who fear Him and walk in His ways. This is a message that every godly mother should strive to communicate with her children.
Verses 51 to 53 reference God’s power through a series of contrasts. First, we see God’s dealings with the proud versus the humble. In each case, the aristocratic and the wealthy are set aside in favor of those who are disadvantaged. The text says that God “has scattered the proud...” This is a very graphic word that literally means to winnow. The picture is of an ancient threshing floor where the grain was tossed into the air to separate the kernel from the chaff. By choosing an insignificant, poverty-stricken girl to be the mother of the Savior, God was tossing the expectations of the proud to the wind! And we know from Jewish history that their expectations of a Messiah did not include this scenario.
We also know from history that oppression of the poor was a constant problem for Israel once they settled in the Promised Land. Read the prophets and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Oppression of the poor was one of the major issues that led to the Babylonian captivity. Now granted, it was not the main problem, but it was a symptom of their spiritual condition. God had given Moses specific commands about how the poor were to be treated and cared for. But Israel either ignored or violated those commands. Jesus was born in a time and place where oppression of the poor was rampant!
Next, Mary proclaims that He has removed princes from their place of authority, and in turn, elevated those of very humble circumstances. Jesus, in His earthly ministry, developed this concept by stressing that the only ones qualified to rule were those who understood their position as a place of service, not lordship. God’s view of power is the opposite of man’s view.
And finally, in His power, God provided lavishly for the needs of the poverty-stricken, hungry ones but the affluent he sent away empty. The Gospels abound with illustrations of this reality. While largely forgotten in our modern, affluent society, these truths are universal and timeless. A godly mother will take pains to communicate them clearly to her children so they can understand how God’s economy functions. Magnificent motherhood rehearses God’s power.
The Final CHARACTERISTIC is,
She Recalls God’s Promises
In the concluding verses of our text, Mary appeals to the promises that God made in the past. One thing that causes serious difficulties for our culture and for the church today is we have too little knowledge of the past. And those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat the failures of previous generations.
But Mary makes the connection between the present and the past. God’s actions in this scene from her life are connected with His covenant promises to Abraham. The KJV uses the word holpen in verse fifty-four. Other versions simply update this word to “helped.” But the original word conveys so much more. It means to lay hold of, to embrace. It implies a personal relationship. Every Christian mother needs to help her children see their connection to the past, whether the recent past in their godly ancestors or the ancient past as the basis of God’s activity in the world today. Mary was aware of God’s actions, and how He demonstrated His covenant faithfulness in the history of her people. That awareness assured her that He would be faithful to her in the difficult role she had as the mother of the Messiah.
Mary understood that God’s promises to Abraham were eternal. She was to be the bearer of the promised “seed” that would bring the blessing of Abraham to all nations, not just to the Jewish people. Her current circumstances had a connection to the ancient, covenant promises of God. I imagine that this knowledge sustained her in the misunderstandings and false accusations she faced while carrying out God’s plan for her life. In our current climate of world turmoil and spiritual darkness, I cannot see how any mother can bring children into the world without an acceptance of and appreciation for the promises of God! But Mary’s day was little different.
Now maybe after hearing all this, you’re thinking, “I haven’t been a very magnificent mother.” One of the blessings of being a child of God is that you can make a fresh start as you’re exposed to new principles or reminded of ones you’ve forgotten. Mary was not a super saint; she was not without sin. She was an ordinary Jewish girl with an extraordinary faith in God. Like all biblical characters, she was imperfect, flawed by sin, but open to what God wanted to accomplish in and through her. She is a worthy model for you to follow.
Magnificent motherhood is not for the proud, the power-hungry, the affluent, and others who have no concept of need. No, this kind of motherhood will only come to humble servants of the Lord who rejoice in His blessing. It will only come to those who acknowledge that they are inadequate for the task; those who rely on God’s power to bring them to the desired end. And it will only come to those who realize that, without recalling the promises of God in their lives, there is no hope for a future generation that will walk in faithfulness to God.
Magnificent motherhood is a journey of faith from beginning to end. It is the most monumental task ever assigned to humanity, and it can only be accomplished successfully in the power of God. I pray that these words will encourage you in your role as a mother. May God make each of your mothers, magnificent for Him, for your children, for your husband, for the church, and for the world.
How committed are you? Lyndon Risser challenges us to be an example of generosity and an influence on this generation, to store up eternal treasures.
This was recorded live at our Strategic Partner Breakfast in East Earl, PA, on February 21, 2023.
Are You in the Faith?
II Corinthians 13:1-14
May I ask you a question? Are you in good health? How do you know? What standard do you use to make that determination? Good health is a tremendous blessing. When you have it, it can easily be taken for granted. In many ways, it is a gift from God, but our lifestyle choices also have a significant impact on our health.
When I was a boy, my parents and siblings rarely went to the doctor. As very young children, I know we had periodic wellness checks with our family doctor, and we got our required immunizations to attend public school. But we weren’t taken to the doctor for colds, chicken pox, sore throats, upset stomachs, and fevers. We appreciated doctors, but we only used them when we absolutely needed them.
How things have changed! Now even minor discomfort causes people to head to the medicine cabinet, urgent care, or even the emergency room. For some people, physical health has become an obsession and the medical profession has obliged them by becoming a very profitable business. I’ve discovered that even having blood work done can be quite pricey.
I’m now in my sixth decade of life and am constantly told I should have this test, and that screening, and on and on. Like the rest of you, I value my health, so I recently scheduled an appointment to have a screening for the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and more. I don’t have a family history of those things but thought it might be good to get checked out.
But you know, as important as physical health is, spiritual health is so much more important. Our physical life is limited to the realm of time, but our spirits will live on forever. Some people are uncomfortable with my casual approach to doctors and medical screenings, but those same people totally ignore their spiritual health. That’s very unwise.
Did you know that just as there are tests for your physical health there are tests you can take to evaluate your spiritual health? There are, and we want to look at them in this study from the final chapter of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians.
The church at Corinth had some real spiritual ailments and Paul closes this second letter by asking them a question. The question he asked them is just as applicable to you and me today. It is “Are You in the Faith? Paul shows us how to find the answer to that question.
I invite you to listen and follow along if you can, as I read Second Corinthians 13.
In the closing portion of this letter, Paul proposes several TESTS we can use to prove whether or not we are in the faith.
The First TEST we can use (to prove whether or not we are in the faith) is,
Examine the Source of Your Power
There are a couple of phrases I want us to notice in this first section of verses, one through five. They are “mighty in you” and “by the power of God.” This second phrase, by the power of God, is mentioned twice. First, Christ lives by the power of God, that is, even though from a human viewpoint His death seemed an obvious indication of weakness, He was resurrected by the life-giving power of God. Because of that fact, we as Christ-followers live with Him by the power of Christ toward us.
That calls to mind Paul’s words in his letter to the Romans. “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” That’s Romans 8:9 to 11.
Paul’s conclusion is very clear in this process of determining whether or not you are in the faith. If you do not have the Spirit of Christ in you, you do NOT belong to Him and you are NOT in the faith. Maybe you think it’s not that simple, but it is! And that’s what Paul was wanting those in Corinth, who professed to be Believers, to understand.
Paul was calling his readers to examine themselves, to test themselves, to determine whether or not they were (still) in the faith. His use of the word yourselves is emphatic. He was specifically addressing those in Corinth who were opposing the purity of the Gospel. Earlier, in his first letter, he challenged them to examine themselves in the context of participating in the observance of the Lord’s Table.
What is “the faith.” When I was working on the manuscript for this teaching, Microsoft Word didn’t like the words “the faith.” It kept wanting to eliminate the word “the.” But Paul is referring specifically to biblical faith, which is a believing attitude toward Jesus Christ. It’s not just any faith, faith in myself, faith in a creed, or faith in a system, but belief and trust in a person.
When you and I, by faith, accept the sacrifice of Jesus as the only acceptable payment for our sin, we become partakers of that same power that raised Christ from the dead. Our sins are forgiven and, according to Second Corinthians 5:17, “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
When Paul calls us as Believers to test ourselves that implies a deliberate attempt to ascertain or measure our spiritual condition. And proving is the result that comes out of the testing. If Jesus Christ is “mighty in you,” as Paul said, you will pass the test.
You know, there are only two sources of power in the world; one is God and the other is Satan. Satan exercises his power in the hearts of those who are unredeemed, and unsaved. Their focus is on themselves, and their pleasure, their benefit. It doesn’t take any power to live like that, you just follow your natural inclinations.
God exercises His power in the hearts of those who have trusted Him for their salvation. Their focus is on bringing glory to Him by loving and serving others. They submit to His will and allow His power to flow through them to others.
Testing the source of power in your life will answer the question, “are you in the faith?”
The Next TEST we can use (to prove whether or not we are in the faith) is,
Examine the Motivation for Your Choices
Do you know how to find out whether or not the Spirit of Christ is in you? Here’s a simple test. Just look at the choices you make every day. If someone makes an offensive comment about you or your reputation, how do you respond? If you respond in the Spirit, by the power of God, you will forgive them and even try to return good for that evil. If you respond out of your flesh you will be angry, maybe bitter, and seek revenge.
When someone sins against us our immediate reaction is usually out of our flesh, our old nature, the unredeemed part of us. That’s definitely how unbelievers expect us to respond. If we don’t respond like that, those who don’t know Christ see us as weak. But that’s not true. It takes a strength much greater than our own to respond in the way that Jesus would.
In this context, Paul is asking them to test the motives for their actions, not so he would look good, but so they would learn to do what was right. He had warned them that when he came to Corinth the next time, he would exercise discipline as needed, even severe discipline.
He didn’t really want to do that. He wasn’t looking forward to that with some kind of perverse delight. He wasn’t hoping to make himself look better at their expense. Paul would much rather be seen as “weak” in order that the Corinthians would be strong in doing what was right. He reassured them that any discipline would be for their edification not for their destruction. Many church leaders today could learn from Paul’s example.
While Paul was dealing with their motives there’s another aspect to this. Motivation, to some degree, gives evidence of maturity or the lack of it. Paul wanted the Corinthian Believers to become mature in their faith. This is a common theme in this letter. Mature Believers don’t need the threat of discipline hanging over them to make the right choices. They do right because they know it’s right. The power of the Holy Spirit in them guides their choices.
When was the last time you made a deliberate decision to evaluate your spiritual condition? When was the last time your life choices proved that you were living under the control of the Holy Spirit whom you received in response to exercising your faith in Christ? Those lifestyle choices DO NOT save you, let’s be clear about that. But they do indicate whether or not you are truly in the faith, truly a new creature in Christ.
As you examine the motivation for your choices in life, are you in the faith?
The Final TEST we can use (to prove whether or not we are in the faith) is,
Examine the Level of Your Love
Paul had written a long letter to the Corinthians, and he’d addressed a lot of issues. Now he’s coming to the end of it. In closing, he gives them several ways to test the level of their love for God and each other. First, he writes “be perfected.” What an admonition for such a conflicted congregation! The grammar indicates continuous action and I understand this word was used by ancient physicians to speak of a joint being put back into its proper place after a dislocation. A dislocated joint is painful, it causes weakness, and we’re not able to perform at the level we should. Dislocations in relationships have the same effect; they cause pain and dysfunction.
And then, “take courage.” This is the same word that is used repeatedly in the New Testament to describe the Holy Spirit as the Comforter. Paul encourages the Corinthians to receive admonition that would bring comfort to them. It would call them to put their arm around a brother or sister in mutual love and respect and it would accept the same love in return.
He goes on, “be of one mind and live in peace.” The church in Corinth was notorious for its dissension and conflict. Paul encourages them to reject that practice and cultivate a peaceful disposition. Don’t be the person that’s known to have a short fuse or a hair-trigger temperament. Hebrews 12:14 gives us good advice on this. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord...” When you pursue something, you’re intentional about it. You intend to catch it and hold on to it. Let’s be that way about living in peace.
There are many people today who loudly and publicly proclaim their love for God, but the evidence of their love for their brothers and sisters in Christ is almost nonexistent. In fact, some even state openly that they have no need for the local church. But call to mind the words of the apostle John. “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God MUST love his brother also.”
Paul closes his instruction by urging them to demonstrate that love to their brothers and sisters in a tangible way, a kiss of love. Historically, it was practiced at the celebration of the Eucharist or what many of us today call Communion. A minority of churches still practice it today.
When was the last time you evaluated your love for your brothers and sisters? Think of your most recent interactions with those who are part of your local fellowship. How did you respond to their questions, their opinions, and their choices? Were you willing to truly hear what they were saying or were you more concerned about your own agenda?
Were you willing to see them, or were their ideas preferred over yours? Were you “… tenderhearted, courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this…” These are all ways to test the level of your love for the brotherhood, and they are vital in determining whether or not you are still in the faith.
The final verse of Second Corinthians contains the most complete benediction in all of Paul’s letters. Here, he invokes the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit upon each of them and upon the whole group.
I encourage you to take some time to meditate on that benediction and see how these three expressions of God’s person align with the three tests we’ve looked at in this teaching.
Are you in the faith? Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scripture, these three tests will enable you to discern the answer to that all-important question.
What is your purpose in life? Dale Savage presents insight on finding God's purpose in our chosen profession.
This was recorded live at our Strategic Partner Breakfast in Myerstown, PA, on February 16, 2023.
The Conundrum of Love
II Corinthians 12:11-21
When you hear or see the word love, what thought, what picture comes to your mind? Cute puppies or kittens, rainbows and butterflies, flowers and chocolate, candlelight, and soft music? Or is it something else?
When you think about love how does it make you feel? Does it make you happy, sad, contented, frustrated, confident, or confused? Do you have simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings toward someone? Like a husband I once heard say to his wife, “I love you, but you’re a jerk!”
I don’t recommend that statement, but most of us who are married, or in any kind of committed relationship can identify. He was committed to loving her, but he wasn’t loving her actions at the moment. I’ve said to my wife, “I love you, but I don’t like you very much right now.” With that statement, I’m separating my commitment from my feelings. And I’m sure she’s felt that way toward me too many times because of my insensitivity or carelessness.
For the most part, our world has a distorted understanding and practice of love. The message of our culture is that love is irresistible, it’s fun, it’s delightful, it’s fulfilling. I’ll love you and you’ll love me in return, and we’ll live happily ever after. And there’s a sense in which all of that can be true. But it’s also just as true that love is hard work, it’s painful, it’s exhausting, and it can be heartrending.
This is the conundrum of love and it’s what I want us to think about today as we open the Scriptures. In fact, it’s the title of my teaching from Second Corinthians 12:11 to 21, “The Conundrum of Love.” Hopefully, from my opening comments, you know what a conundrum is. It’s a difficult and confusing issue or dilemma to deal with where the answers sometimes seem like contradictions. Love is like that; like a roller coaster that goes from the highest highs to the lowest lows. The apostle Paul knew and experienced the conundrum of love.
This whole letter of Second Corinthians is a record of the ups and downs Paul experienced in his love relationship with the church in Corinth. As I was preparing this teaching, I debated calling it “The Conundrum of Leadership, but I thought that may cause some to tune it out. But the principles Paul teaches here certainly apply to leaders.
So, let’s turn now to the text, Second Corinthians 12:11 to 21, and here is the Word of God to us through the apostle Paul.
Paul uses a mixture of sarcasm and sincerity in this text, and by these, he shows us clearly the ASPECTS that reveal the conundrum of love.
The First ASPECT (that reveals the conundrum of love) is,
It’s Often Misunderstood
You’ve experienced this aspect of love, haven’t you? You’ve tried, to the best of your ability, to look at a relationship or a situation and to show love in a Christ-like way. You wanted others to understand by your words and actions that you really cared. Maybe you even rehearsed what you were going to say to make sure that the person really understood your feelings and your commitment to loving them. But when it was all over, you were accused of being unloving, uncaring, and hurtful.
Those kinds of experiences are hard, but they’re not uncommon. By reading the verses of our text, we learn that the apostle Paul knew what this was like. He had poured his life into the Corinthian Believers. He reminded them of what that looked like in the previous chapter, chapter eleven. And yet, it seems, his sacrifices were forgotten; lost in the passing of time and the constant questioning of his motives by his critics, the Judaizers in Corinth.
As we noted earlier in this letter, Paul had refused to ask for or to accept financial help from this church. His reasons were clear and straightforward. He desired the very best for them and didn’t want anything to interfere with that desire.
But his choice generated two different responses. One group said, “he really doesn’t love us, otherwise, he’d ask for our support.” The other group said, “he’s a coward, he’s afraid to ask us for financial support and he doesn't have the authority to collect it.” So, Paul writes, sarcastically, “forgive me for this injustice.”
Paul chides them by saying, “you should have commended me. You know me intimately and you know how much I love and care for you. You have received great spiritual blessings from me. You should be speaking in my defense against the false accusations of the Judaizers. But you haven’t done that. Instead, you’ve forced me to boast about myself. I am not one bit inferior to those you hold up as ‘super-apostles’ even though I am nothing.”
Paul further reminds them that during his initial time with them, they had seen the proofs of his apostleship. They had seen the signs, the wonders, and the miraculous deeds. All of these were God’s confirmation of Paul as His servant. And yet, here they were questioning his motives and even questioning his calling.
Imagine the pain this caused Paul. He loved them so deeply that, according to 11:28, his anxious concern about their spiritual well-being was greater than all the things he’d suffered physically. That is an amazing statement and shows us the tender heart of the apostle.
This aspect of love being misunderstood is surely one of its most challenging conundrums.
The Next ASPECT (that reveals the conundrum of love) is,
It’s Often Unappreciated
In spite of the disrespect and unkindness of the Corinthians toward him, Paul states again his desire to visit them. He had stated this desire before but was unable to carry it out. The natural reaction to disrespect and disloyalty is anger or resentment. Pride produces anger, resentment, and retaliation. But Paul doesn’t go there. Because he has set aside his pride, and because he remembers his own path to Christ, he is able to respond to them with humility and forgiveness.
Paul reassures them that when he eventually comes to visit them that he will not be a burden, literally, a dead weight, to them. He wasn’t coming to sponge off of them, as we say. And then, just in case they still don’t understand, he says clearly, “I do not seek what you have, but YOU!” Paul wasn’t interested in their stuff; he was interested in them as his spiritual children.
He said, “it’s not natural for the children to save up for their parents, but rather for the parents to save up for their children.” As their spiritual father, he was choosing to follow that established pattern. He was making provision for their spiritual needs with the same or greater diligence that a godly, earthly father provides for the physical needs of his children. In doing this, he was willing to deny himself what was rightfully his in order to carry out his responsibilities. He was laying up an inheritance for those under his care.
Have you noticed that those who have been given the most are often the least grateful? Parents work hard so their children can have an easier life, but the children just take it for granted. It’s all they’ve ever known so what’s the big deal? One fault of parents is giving their children too much stuff and not teaching them the connection between sacrifice and achievement. This breeds a spirit of entitlement. Why should I be thankful for what is owed to me? It seems this is where the Corinthian church was in their relationship with Paul.
And that leads him to make the most poignant statement in this text. “I will most gladly expend my life for you, even though, the more I love you the less you love me.” It is enlightening to see how the word spend or expend is used in other places. It’s used in Mark 5:26 in reference to the woman with uncontrollable bleeding who had spent all she had on doctors. Luke uses it in the account of the prodigal son who spent everything he had in a foreign country. James uses it to speak about the things we consume relative to our physical appetites.
Paul’s life and example proved his sentiments. He was willing to “put his money where his mouth was.” And yet, in spite of all that, he was accused, in the next several verses, of raising this big collection (which was for the poor in Jerusalem) for himself. Again, Paul resorts to irony and sarcasm and writes, “But be that as it may, I did not burden you; yet being crafty, I took you in by deceit, I tricked you! I said the money was for others, but I really meant to keep it for myself.” It seems obvious that he’s using the words or at least the attitudes of his accusers here.
He asks the Corinthians whether he or any of his helpers, like Titus, had taken advantage of them in the solicitation of this gift for the poor of Jerusalem. The grammar indicates that the answer he expected was “No.” We know that the Corinthians had received Titus with kindness. They treated him with affection and sent him away with every proof of confidence and respect. Were they going to pretend now that he had somehow defrauded them?
Paul said, “I am coming to you in that same spirit.” My actions and the actions of Titus are “cut from the same cloth.” Neither of them tried to take advantage of the church in Corinth. Neither of them could be credibly accused of deceit or impropriety.
This aspect of love being unappreciated is surely one of its most common conundrums.
The Final ASPECT (that reveals the conundrum of love) is,
It’s Often Painful
Pain is not a word or concept that’s naturally associated with love. And yet there is a definite connection. Genuine love, godly love, cares enough about people to confront them for their failures and their sins. This kind of love is foreign to those who don’t know Christ. The popular idea today is, “if you criticize my behavior as wrong or sinful, that’s not loving.” But the Scriptures reject that idea completely. God and His spokespersons never shy away from calling sin what it is. But we are also warned in the Scriptures to speak the truth in love. The truth is offensive enough by itself, we don’t need to make it more offensive by poor behavior.
In the final verses of our text, Paul warns the Corinthians that he is planning to visit them. He assures them that what he has been doing and will do is for their edification, their upbuilding in the faith. But his visit will include some unpleasant and painful accountability. He writes, “I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I may find you not as I would wish…” He hoped to find them walking in the truth and order of the Gospel, but their current behavior argued against that being the case.
Remember, Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians to deal with factions, immorality, and other sins they were engaged in. From this second letter to the Corinthians, we know that some of these sins had been dealt with, but evidently, not all of them. Paul fears that his visit will find them mired in strife, jealousy, flaring anger, selfish ambition, backbiting, gossiping, conceit, and disorder. How disappointing this must’ve been for him.
These are not the identifying characteristics of those who follow Christ. In his letter to the Galatians Paul outlines the fruits of genuine faith: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the exact opposite of the things he expected to face in Corinth.
Further, he acknowledges that they “will not find [him] to be in the condition [they] want…” That is, he will need to administer discipline. He confesses that this will be depressing to him. Here are people who were converted under his teaching and yet they were living like unbelievers, and Paul was ashamed of them and ashamed for them. And when he came to Corinth, he would hold these people accountable before God and the church.
Their sin was a grief to Paul. How we need more men and women today who grieve over the sin of those who profess to be God’s children! And he indicated that he would mourn for those who sinned earlier and still hadn’t repented. There were those in the church who were still living in moral or physical impurity. Others were practicing adultery, incest, and fornication, while still others were living in debauchery, totally given over to the appetites of their bodies. All of these things Paul would address when he visited them. They could expect painful discipline.
In reality, that is what they needed. Genuine love doesn’t withhold discipline because it’s painful. Instead, it sees beyond the present circumstances to the eventual outcome. The writer of Hebrews put it this way; “Now no [discipline] seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
To recap, then, we see these aspects that help us understand the conundrum of love: it’s often misunderstood, it’s often unappreciated, and it’s often painful. By the life he lived and the words he wrote that have been preserved for us, the apostle Paul is a worthy example to follow as we wrestle with and live out the conundrum of love.
Delighting in Your Disability
II Corinthians 12:1-10
Tharon Drake lost his memory in 2007 at 14 years of age. Every day when he woke up, he was a 2-year-old again. According to Wikipedia, his amnesia was brought on by a reaction to routine childhood vaccinations. Every morning, his father accompanied him to school, and by the time he reached swimming practice later in the day, he was a 14-year-old again. Eventually, through the help of medication, he was able to overcome the amnesia. But then a different problem cropped up; by June of 2008, Tharon was totally blind.
In spite of his disability, Tharon continued to swim in high school, eventually competing at the international level. He won many medals at all levels of competition and today holds 11 unbeaten national records as a Paralympic swimmer. But he doesn’t consider those his greatest accomplishments.
Tharon eventually became the first blind NCAA coach in the history of the NCAA. He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business and a Master’s degree in business administration. With these and many more accomplishments in life, the question naturally comes up; what was Tharon’s greatest accomplishment? This quote has guided him to all of his accomplishments. “Everyone has a disability – mine is just more noticeable than most people’s. God can use any person’s disability for His glory if you will allow Him to do so.”
How do you react to Tharon’s statement that “everyone has a disability? Does that resonate with you, or do you feel defensive? At first thought, you may think you don’t have a disability, but in reality, we all do. If nothing else, our disability is the consequence of living in both a body and a world that is marred by sin and its effects.
The apostle Paul knew what it was like to live with a disability. We find him talking openly about this in Second Corinthians chapter twelve. Our study today looks at the first ten verses of the chapter and I’ve titled it “Delighting in Your Disability.” I invite you to listen to God’s Word from II Corinthians 12:1 to 10.
In this text, Paul clearly reveals the DISCOVERIES by which you and I can learn to delight in our disability.
The First DISCOVERY (that will help us learn to delight in our disability) is,
The Definition of Disability
What is the definition of a disability? Here’s the common understanding. It’s a physical, mental, cognitive, or developmental condition that impairs, interferes with, or limits a person's ability to engage in certain tasks or actions.
OK, most likely you already knew that, but how is Paul using the word in our text? The KJV uses the English word, infirmities. The same word is translated in other places as illnesses, diseases, and invalid. But the most common rendering is weaknesses. It implies feebleness of some kind in either mind or body or both.
In verse 10 of our text, Paul gives us a partial list of what these disabilities look like. And notice, he says he is content to experience them. Here again, he uses the word weaknesses. Then, he adds insults, hardships with persecution, and difficulties. No one likes insults, to be shamed, or to have your reputation damaged. In Acts 27 Paul used this word to warn the sailors about the injury or damage they and their ship faced by failing to heed his advice.
And then, hardships. Other related words used are distress, compulsion, constraint, necessity, or necessary. Add to this, persecutions, specifically for religious reasons. Many of our brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing this persecution right now. And finally, distress or hardship and difficulty. It describes a narrowness of place, as we sometimes say, “being in dire straits,” not knowing which way to turn for relief.
I read recently of whole villages in northern Nigeria being abandoned by the Christian families who live there. Why? Because they fear attacks by Fulani herdsmen or Hausa Muslims who have been plundering and pillaging northern Nigeria for years. They leave everything behind and flee into the bush. They are persecuted because they follow Jesus.
We must understand that these disabilities, these weaknesses Paul is talking about are not about bad choices. We have all experienced the results of poor choices in our lives. Paul isn’t talking about the consequences of bad behavior. No, these are circumstances that are beyond our control, situations, and experiences that make us look weak. If we were able, we would avoid these situations completely. But we’re not able to do that. And that is part of what makes them so hard to bear. They are beyond our control.
All of us face situations in our lives like this. In our previous message, we looked at the partial list of things Paul had already endured for the sake of the Gospel. In addition, we face hostility and defamation from those who hate God, Jesus, and the Bible. Like the apostle Paul, we want to learn how to delight in our disability. The first discovery we must make is to define what our disability is.
The Second DISCOVERY (that will help us learn to delight in our disability) is,
The Source of Disability
Does the disability Paul mentions come from Satan or God? Or does it come from both? In verse 7 Paul talks about his “thorn in the flesh.” He said it was “a messenger of Satan to buffet or torment him.” To be buffeted means to be slapped or struck with a fist. So, this messenger from Satan kept slapping Paul upside the head, as we say.
Think about it. Would Satan purposely give something to someone to keep them from becoming proud? Pride is what Satan is all about, it was his original sin. So, he is going to entice many people to follow him in that sin.
But there are a couple of things we must remember: first, Satan is not omniscient, that is, he doesn’t know all things. He doesn’t know how a person is going to respond to a situation he may instigate. Case in point – he most likely thought that Jesus’ death was the end of the story. Wrong! That proves he isn’t able to know beforehand the choices we will make. Second, as we learn from the life of Job, Satan can only do what God allows him to do. He does not have unlimited power or access, especially to the people of God. And Satan misread Job too.
Is it possible that Satan hoped Paul’s hardships would make him bitter toward God just like he hoped Job’s trials would? You know, the idea that “Hey God, I’m doing what you’ve called me to do, and this is the thanks I get!” Job actually went there. But in all of his suffering, he didn’t reject God or speak evil of Him.
Many people have fallen into that trap. They’ve been told, falsely, “Just come to Jesus and your life will be better and easier.” In reality, the opposite is true. When you become a Christ-follower your life will become more difficult; Satan will use your desires, your friends, and your family to try to lure you away from Christ.
Paul realized that God had allowed Satan to buffet him for a specific reason. The reason for this thorn, (which was, literally, anything pointed), was so that he wouldn’t become proud. This thorn, this sharp, pointed thing was uncomfortable. You know, I thought of another sharp thing in Paul’s experience. Remember in Acts 9 the account of Paul’s conversion? What did Jesus say to him? “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” A goad is a sharp stick used to prod cattle. That sharp stick irritating Paul’s conscience was part of his conversion experience. It was part of his humbling himself before Jesus as the Son of God.
So, Paul recognized God was allowing Satan to afflict him for a specific reason. Paul first discovered what his disabilities were and then he discovered that the source of those disabilities was both God and Satan.
The Final DISCOVERY (that will help us learn to delight in our disability) is,
The Purpose of Disability
Most things in life have a purpose, a reason for their existence. What was the purpose of Paul’s disability, whatever it was? What is the purpose of our disability?
Paul had experienced the amazing supernatural revelation mentioned in the earlier part of this chapter. He had been caught up in the very presence of God. We can only imagine what this must have been like. In my way of thinking, this kind of experience would certainly be grounds for boasting. “I must be really special for God to give me this kind of revelation.”
Some of the false teachers in Corinth who were opposing Paul were guilty of this kind of self-promotion. Paul wanted no part of that. But he didn’t really want this thorn in the flesh either. He understood that it was necessary to keep him from becoming proud. I wonder, is the temptation to pride the reason why God doesn’t entrust the “miraculous gifts” of First Corinthians 12 to many people? The well-known people of our time who claim to have these gifts are certainly not models of humility.
We can make several observations from Paul’s insights on the purpose of disabilities. First, Satan’s mission in life is to harass you, discourage you, make you want to give up, to dissuade you from following Christ. So, it’s OK to ask God for relief. That’s what Paul did on three different occasions. He begged God to remove this thorn because he saw it as a hindrance to his ministry, to his effectiveness for God. But God could see the big picture and He said “no.”
He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is fulfilled in [your] weakness.” God’s purpose is to glorify Himself, to glorify the grace and power of His Son, through us as His children. He can’t do that if we’re full of ourselves. And so, He allows disability to keep us humble so we, and others, recognize that any good that comes from us is sourced in Him.
Paul’s conclusion was that he would boast about his disabilities. Why, because they were so much fun? No, Paul didn’t have our modern Western mindset that pleasure or good times are the ultimate goals in life. Paul readily acknowledged the physical, emotional, and spiritual pain that accompanies a life committed to Christ. This second letter to the Corinthians highlights many of those struggles. But he understood the pain wasn’t pointless. He understood that the suffering for righteousness was proof that the power of Christ rested on him.
Not only would he boast about his disabilities - but he would also take pleasure in them or delight in them. Why? Because it was in his weakness that the strength of Christ was revealed. And that is what Paul wanted those around him to see, the power of Christ.
Now, what about you and me? Are our goals in life similar to those of the apostle Paul? Are you and I able to cheerfully embrace our limitations, our disabilities, in order that the power of Christ may rest on us? Or do we chafe and complain, accusing God of being unfair, of giving us a raw deal in life?
I don’t mean to imply that we can’t question God; Paul did. He begged three times for his disability to be removed. We have many examples in Scripture of godly people who questioned God in times of difficulty. Think of Job, Elijah, David, John the Baptist, and others. But ultimately, they acknowledged that God is in control, and He knows what’s best.
Recently, I heard a radio spot by Joni Erickson Tada. As most of you know, she has suffered as a quadriplegic all of her adult life. But she made the statement that she “doesn’t want her suffering to be wasted.” In other words, she knows God has a purpose for what He has allowed in her life, and she wants her suffering to be used by God for His glory and for the blessing of others. Like the apostle Paul, Joni’s response to her suffering has motivated many to embrace their disability for the glory of God.
So, let’s remember, God’s grace is all you and I need. Remember that grace is receiving something that you do not deserve. We all deserve to suffer and spend eternity in Hell. Instead, God has given us Jesus to give us eternal life in Heaven. God will give you and me what we need to continue on regardless of our illness or disability. We need to stay focused on Jesus and stop worrying about what we can’t control.
When you are weak, God is strong. Your disability will stop you only if you allow it to. Trust God that He knows what He is doing and learn to delight in your disability for His glory and for the blessing of others.
A Fool for God’s Glory
II Cor. 11:16-33
You may have heard this quote: “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.” No one is quite sure of the origin of this statement, but it makes a sharp point, and it agrees with many of Solomon’s observations in the Book of Proverbs.
No one likes to be considered a fool, much less have someone call you that to your face! Jesus Himself warned us to be careful about calling someone a fool. We want people to at least think we’re intelligent, understanding, and wise. But if we make the choice to follow Christ and to live according to the teaching of the Bible, those who don’t follow Jesus consider us fools. They see the life of a Christ-follower as dull, boring, and joyless. And God have mercy on us if we give that impression by the way we live!
In our continuing study from Second Corinthians, we come to the closing verses of chapter eleven. Here, Paul continues responding to the accusations of the false teachers in Corinth. We see his extreme discomfort as he feels forced to defend his calling and ministry. In fact, he uses the terms fool and foolishly several times in this text. Sometimes he applies it to himself and sometimes to his critics. But his conclusion seems to be that he is willing to be “A Fool for God’s Glory.” That’s the title for our study today from Second Corinthians 11:16 to 33. Here now are the God-breathed words of the apostle.
As we reflect on Paul’s words to the Corinthians, we observe the several STAGES that describe being a fool for God’s glory. These stages are applicable in our lives too.
The First STAGE (of being a fool for God’s glory) is,
Speaking as a Fool
As I said earlier, Paul acknowledges that boasting about one’s accomplishments isn’t from the Lord; it comes from the flesh. But because of the situation in Corinth and the accusations of his critics he feels compelled to “boast” of what he’s done in service for the Lord. He said, in effect, “since the false teachers are boasting according to the flesh I will do the same.” He wanted the church to understand that he was in no way inferior to these false apostles.
As we’ve seen before in this letter, Paul uses sarcasm to make some of his points. Verse 19 is clearly one of these instances. He writes, “Since you are so wise, you gladly entertain fools. You tolerate tyranny, extortion, craftiness, arrogance, violence, and insult.”
In verse 20 he specifically mentions them allowing the false teachers to “strike them in the face.” In that culture, being struck in the face was a grievous insult. Perhaps this is why the qualifications for overseers in his first letter to Timothy included “not a striker” or a violent person. Recall too how Jesus was struck in the face during his sham trial before the Sanhedrin.
Paul reminds them that they were tolerating this kind of treatment at the hands of the false teachers. He was appalled that they were allowing their leaders to abuse them physically and spiritually. Paul had never asked the church members to tolerate such behavior from him. While he had been firm in dealing with their sins, he had been gentle and meek among them. His whole ministry was about building people up, not tearing them down.
Not so the Judaizers. They were trying to enslave the Believers to the practice of the Law. This included the confiscation of their property, preying on the weak, and spiritual arrogance and insult. They were demanding, greedy, and deceptive. How unlike our Savior, the model for all ministry and leadership!
In verse 22 he lays out what we might call, his pedigree as a devout Jew. I want you to notice the arrangement of the names. Hebrew represents nationality. Paul was an ethnic Jew. Israelite represents the covenant people of God. Paul was a participant in that covenant. And the seed of Abraham represents the messianic privilege. Though Paul at first had rejected this privilege, he now wholeheartedly embraced it.
If you’re a leader like I am, we are not apostles in the sense that Paul was. But we can certainly see the kinds of leadership today that were being promoted by these false teachers. Leaders who exercise power without accountability. Leaders who use their authority to threaten those who disagree with them. Leaders who are deceitful in their dealings with people and issues that arise in the church. Leaders who use their position as cudgels to enforce submission. These kinds of behavior we must never entertain.
Like the apostle Paul, we must warn those who have fallen under the sway of false teachers. We must, in humility, remind them of our care for them and how we want for them the things that build them up rather than destroy them. And, like Christ, we must be willing to suffer abuse for our kindness and gentleness. We may be perceived as fools, even as Jesus was when He didn’t respond to the threats and abuse of His accusers with malice and vengeance.
Paul possessed every qualification claimed by the false teachers, but he is ashamed of his boasting about those qualifications. Let’s have that same hesitancy in our self-defense.
The Next STAGE (of being a fool for God’s glory) is,
Suffering as a Fool
In this next section of our text Paul moves from asserting his equality with the false teachers to asserting his superiority to them! He says, “are they servants of Christ, I speak as a crazy person, I am more!” To back up his claim, he gives a long list of things he suffered for the cause of Christ. The list isn’t exhaustive, but it is extensive. Notice his emphasis on both the quantity and severity of his troubles compared with the false teachers.
If you read over this list and take time to process what Paul is saying, it seems incredible that one man could endure so much suffering. He talks about how back-breaking labor, trouble and toil were his constant companions. He was severely beaten 5 times with 39 lashes with a leather whip and 3 times he was beaten with a rod. A beating by either of those could be fatal, yet Paul survived them 8 times combined!
Clement of Rome tells us that Paul was imprisoned seven times; we know of only five. He was frequently in danger of physical death. He was stoned and left for dead at Lystra. He was shipwrecked 3 times and was adrift on the water far from land for 24 hours. We know nothing of these because they are all prior to his shipwreck in Acts 27 which occurred much later.
He also faced a multitude of dangers from raging rivers and tribal bandits in Asia Minor. He faced danger from his own countrymen, fellow Jews who bitterly resented his embrace of Jesus as Messiah. He faced danger from Gentiles, like the mob in Ephesus that rioted in support of the silversmiths who thought their livelihood was being threatened. He faced danger in the wilderness, in the sea, and among those who pretended to be his brothers in the faith.
He experienced much weariness of the flesh and spirit, much physical pain, and many sleepless nights. Hunger and thirst were constant companions because food and water were often scarce. His times of fasting were both voluntary and involuntary. He was often cold because he lacked adequate clothing to protect him against the elements. All of this suffering, pain, and hardship must have taken their toll on his physical and mental health. But there was something even more concerning to him.
He tells us what it is in verse 28. “…besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.”Our English translations don’t capture the intensity here. The word-picture is that his deep concern for the church was like of a mob of hostile rioters rushing upon him. Certainly, he knew what that was like in a physical sense, the sense of helplessness and suffocating fear. Here, he is using it in an emotional sense. We know from chapter 2, verse 4, that he suffered attacks of anxiety as he reflected on the challenges facing his people. Paul’s shepherd’s heart is on display for us in this verse.
Paul felt keenly the struggles of those whom he had led to Christ and he suffered with them. With the weak, he became as weak. When a brother or sister was made to stumble Paul was inflamed with grief. This helps us understand his intense feelings against the false teachers. He cared deeply for those under his spiritual care. And he was willing to endure all of this suffering to see Christ formed in them, to see them come to spiritual maturity.
Now, what about you and me? Are we willing to suffer as fools for Christ? Are we willing to endure even just the smallest part of the suffering Paul endured? I remind you that this letter is largely Paul’s defense of his apostolic ministry. As leaders this letter applies specifically to us.
While we may not suffer physically like Paul did, how deep is our love and concern for those God has placed under our spiritual care? Do their successes bring us joy? Do their failures bring grief to our hearts? Are we willing to stand in the gap for our people and protect them from false teachers? Are we willing to take notes and name names? Do we uphold the weak and support those who are stumbling? Are we willing to give of our time and energy to serve our people? Can we endure sleepless nights and long seasons of prayer?
To the world looking on, it seems pointless to live this way. But as Christ’s followers, we must be willing to suffer as fools for His glory.
The Final STAGE (of being a fool for God’s glory) is,
Boasting as a Fool
Paul closes this section of his letter in a unique way. When you and I are tempted to boast, what do we boast about? We magnify our strengths and minimize our weaknesses, don’t we? We highlight our skill set, our successes, or what we’ve accomplished. But Paul doesn’t go that route. He says, “If I must boast, then I will boast about the things that display my weakness.” Who wants to do that, it’s ridiculous. No wonder Paul said he was boasting like a fool.
The list of things Paul suffered seems so outlandish and foolish that he takes a solemn oath that it is completely true. Paul understood that the proof of his apostleship was in the power of Christ who sustained him through great litany of trials and suffering. It wasn’t his personal strength or his greatness that made his ministry so successful.
His opponents boasted about their position, their accomplishments, the multitude of their followers, and their financial success. To them, Paul’s sufferings made him seem contemptible. In their eyes, he was a loser. But Paul understood that the kingdom he was part of operates on different principles. We must understand that too!
In the final verses of our text, Paul mentions his humiliating experience in Damascus. Acts chapter 9 records what happened there. Remember, Paul, acting under the authority of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, was on his way to Damascus to destroy the followers of Jesus whom he greatly despised. He would show them who was the boss, who had the power. But what happened? He met Jesus personally and his life was transformed.
The one who envisioned entering the city in triumph with letters from the high priest ended up fleeing the city several weeks later at night, being left down by the wall in a basket. In essence, he was like the proverbial dog running away with his “tail tucked between his legs.” This experience moved Paul from the ranks of the persecutors to the ranks of the persecuted. It was an indication of the sufferings that would come to him in his service for Christ. And it is in those sufferings that Paul determined he would boast.
Are you willing, like the apostle Paul, to be a fool for God’s glory? We all want people to like us, to think well of us, to hold us in high regard, to think we’re wise. But the teaching of Jesus and the apostles makes it clear that if we follow their example, we’ll most likely be considered foolish. In fact, Paul writes in First Corinthians “that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are…”
The only way we can truly live as a fool for God’s glory is if we, like Paul, believe the Gospel and act upon the eternal rewards promised to us. If we choose the acclaim and approval of the world, we will suffer eternal loss. But if we embrace the foolishness of the cross, we will experience eternal bliss in the presence of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Will you choose to be a fool for God’s glory?
The Reality of the ResurrectionMatthew 28:1-10When God worked out His plan to bring us hope and peace, at the right time, He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. Jesus lived a holy life as a man and then died on the cross shedding His blood for our salvation. In that way, God can now forgive our sins because God said without the shedding of blood there is no remission, or no forgiveness of sin. So, when Jesus shed His blood on the cross for our sins God can now forgive us when we believe on Jesus.
Believing in Jesus means we acknowledge that His sacrifice is the only acceptable payment for our sin and we confess that truth publicly. In that process we become a new creation in Christ. No, we don’t get a new physical body, but we are, as it were, reborn in our spirit. Our old human nature that was controlled by sin is exchanged for a new nature, the nature of God. Through His Holy Spirit our soul and spirit are transformed into His likeness. That changes the way we think and the way we live!
After Jesus died on the cross, He was buried by Joseph of Arimathea in a tomb that Joseph had prepared for himself just outside the city of Jerusalem. It was a tomb hewn out of solid rock. There, with help from his friend, Nicodemus, they buried the body of Jesus according to the customs of their time. But Jesus arose from the dead three days later. Now He is alive.
There is no doubt about it, no one else has risen from the dead like Jesus did. When He was here living among men, He raised several people from the dead, but nobody arose like Jesus did. He arose by His own power! He said to His followers one time, “My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” And He did just that.
His resurrection is a fact of history. We can read about it; we can study it. We can even go to Israel and see that empty tomb. Those in His time knew it was true. They had no doubt or question about it. They knew that He rose from the dead.
And yet, ever since that event people have tried to spread doubts about the resurrection of Jesus. The reality of the resurrection is the foundation of saving faith. The Bible records His resurrection just like it happened in Matthew 28:1-10. I hope you can follow along in your Bible as I read this portion of Scripture.
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In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary to see the tomb.
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And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it.
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His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
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And for fear of him the keepers shook and became like dead men.
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And the angel answered and said unto the women, Do not fear: for I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified.
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He is not here; for he is risen as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
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And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there shall you see him: lo, I have told you.
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And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy; and ran to tell his disciples.
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And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet and worshipped him.
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Then said Jesus unto them, do not be afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
In this account written by Matthew we see the unmistakable EVIDENCES of the reality of the resurrection.
THE OPEN TOMB is the physical evidence of the reality of Christ’s resurrection.
Notice how it all came about. The Bible tells us there was a great earthquake. And the angel of the Lord came down and rolled away the stone. Matthew 27:60 tells us that when Joseph of Arimathea put the body of Jesus into the tomb, he rolled a large stone across the door of that tomb. And then, Pilate sent his officers and soldiers to seal the tomb and to keep a strict watch. Anyone who tampered with that seal would be severely punished. But I believe God used the earthquake to break that seal. It showed how powerless men are in the face of God’s power.
So, now there is an earthquake, and the angel of the Lord comes down and rolls away the stone. The tomb was opened. And by the way, the tomb wasn’t opened so Jesus could get out. The tomb was opened so everyone could see that it was empty!
Look how the Bible describes that angel. His face, his appearance, was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. There were guards standing there, keeping watch over the tomb. When they saw the angel, they were seized with fear and became like dead men. They were paralyzed by fear, overcome by their fear. I guess so; I think I would’ve been too!
So, the first evidence of the reality of the resurrection is the open tomb, physical evidence to the women who came and to those who came after them. The tomb was opened by the act of the angel. And when the angel came down there was a great earthquake.
THE ANGEL’S MESSAGE was the audible evidence that Jesus’ resurrection is real.
Listen to what the angel said: “I know who you’re looking for.” The angel identified that one by describing the one they were seeking. He said, “I know you’re looking for Jesus who was crucified.” There is no question why the women had come to the tomb. They had come to see Jesus. They had come to find Him. They wanted to make sure that He had a proper burial. They wanted to see that His body was treated with proper respect.
Try to imagine their surprise when the angel said, “He is not here.” Jesus is not here; He is risen as He said. Even the elders and the chief priests when they came to Pilate knew that Jesus had said, “After three days I will rise.” Now the angel is bearing witness to that. He said “Come and see where He lay. He is risen as He said.” You can see where He was, but He is not here anymore. All the things they had brought with them for His proper burial were now useless. They didn’t need them anymore.
Then He said, “Go quickly, tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him. Behold I have told you.”
The angel’s message is the second evidence of the reality of the resurrection. Some angels, evil angels, angels that serve Satan, lie. But the angels from heaven, God’s messengers do not lie. The Bible tells us that this was an angel of the Lord that descended from heaven. So, what that angel said is true. The second evidence then is the angel’s message, it was audible evidence.
THE SAVIOUR’S GREETING was joyful evidence of the reality of His resurrection.
So, after the women heard the words of the angel, they went away quickly. They immediately left the tomb with fear and great joy to tell the disciples what they had learned. On their way to tell the disciples the good news, Jesus met them and greeted them.
He greeted them in the Greek, “kerita” translated into English, rejoice, hail, wonderful. He greeted them and they worshipped Him. The Bible tells us they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him. They knew it was Jesus! And no wonder they held onto Him. They had lost Him once; they had watched Him die on the cross. They didn’t want to lose Him again.
The Savior’s greeting must have been a joyous moment for these women. Then He said something else to them: “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee and there they will see me.” Isn’t it interesting that the angel appeared to the women and not the eleven?
The Savior’s greeting is evidence of the reality of the resurrection. These women saw Him, they felt Him, they held Him by the feet, they heard Him speak and they worshipped Him. Now that is strong evidence. This was not a dream, and He was not a ghost. The Savior was therein His resurrected body with His greeting to them.
These evidences should settle for us the reality of the resurrection: the open tomb, the angel’s message, the Savior’s greeting. He is alive. Praise God!
God in the Hands of Angry Sinners
Luke 22:63-23:12
On July 8th, 1741, New England Puritan preacher, Jonathan Edwards, preached his famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” In that sermon, he warned sinners about their precarious position outside of Christ. His text was Deuteronomy 32:35; “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.” At one point in the sermon, he made the following statement.
“The God that holds you over the pit of Hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked; his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times so abominable in his eyes as the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours.”
In spite of the graphic imagery he used, we’re told that Jonathan Edwards followed his normal pattern of preaching. He read the sermon in measured tones with few gestures. Yet the power of his words was so great that he was interrupted multiple times by people in the audience moaning and weeping. They wanted to know how they could escape the judgment Pastor Edwards was describing. Many were converted to Christ that day.
As we reflect on the events leading up to our Lord’s Passion, we turn to Luke 22:63-23:12, the section detailing Jesus’ trials before the Sanhedrin and Pilate. As I studied the text and meditated on the events as they’re recorded, I titled our study “God in the Hands of Angry Sinners.” While this is not a pleasant portion of Scripture, I trust our time in the Word together will be a blessing. Listen now as I read the text, Luke 22:63 through chapter 23:12.
In this text, the true nature of man without God is expressed. The hatred and violence perpetrated against our Savior should cause us to stop and reflect on our own RESPONSES toward Him and the responses of unbelievers today.
The First RESPONSE is,
Blasphemous Cruelty
Luke’s record doesn’t contain all the details surrounding these events. So, it’s helpful to look at what the other Gospel writers add. It seems probable that the initial, nighttime examination of Jesus (which, by the way, was illegal) took place in the home of Caiaphas. It was not an official gathering of the Sanhedrin. Both Matthew and John record the events of our text, in verses 63 to 65, before Peter’s final denial of Christ and the crowing of the rooster.
Let me read from John 18:19 to 23. “The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him, ‘I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed, they know what I said.’ And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” Jesus answered him, ‘If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?’”
It seems that this blow from an unnamed Temple guard officer touched off the blasphemous cruelty outlined in our text. The Jewish leaders who had arrested Jesus with a cohort of Temple guards were committed to Jesus’ destruction. Their actions proved they did not care at all about the safeguards built into their judicial system.
Jewish law mandated three requirements in a criminal proceeding: a public trial, a defense for the accused, and a confirmation of guilt by two or three witnesses. Because the requirement of two or three witnesses was so crucial to a just verdict, the law prescribed a severe penalty for false witnesses. They were to receive the punishment that the accused would’ve received if he had been guilty. In addition, capital offense cases needed to be conducted over a 2-day time span. None of these requirements were upheld in the case of Jesus.
We read in verse 63 that those who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him by beating Him. It was their way of showing their contempt for Him. The word beating refers to blows that bruise and break the skin. So, this was more than a mere slap in the face, as insulting as that would’ve been. Their hatred of Jesus led the religious leaders to ignore the law and it emboldened their followers’ outright cruelty. Some commentators even believe that Caiaphas and the other leaders joined in this abuse.
Not content with the pain inflicted by their physical abuse, Jesus’ tormentors now blindfolded Him. Think about it; if you know you’re going to be struck by someone, seeing that blow coming allows some measure of mental and physical preparation to receive it. But if you can’t see, you have no idea when or where the blow is going to fall. According to John’s record Jesus’ hands were bound, so He was already defenseless from a physical standpoint. This blindfold adds insult to injury; it adds psychological torment to the physical.
After blindfolding Jesus, His tormentors specifically mocked His prophetic powers. As slap after slap and blows of clenched fists rained down on Him, His assailants laughingly tormented Him. “Prophesy; who is it that struck you?” All of this Jesus endures without comment or protest. This is our Savior, our sufferer, our example.
Here we see the nature of man without God in its full horror. This innocent man, whom they could in no wise overcome within the guidelines of the law, now becomes the object of their inner hatred and evildoing. The inhumanity of man toward his fellow human beings is well documented in world history. Let one example suffice: the French Revolution of the 18th century. Our lower nature loves to trample down those we perceive as being better than we are.
Verse 65 tells us that they said many other blasphemous things against Him. We can only imagine what they were, but certainly, earlier comments by the religious leaders give us some clues. In John chapter 8, in a discussion about whether or not the religious leaders were the true children of Abraham, we have these words; “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this;you do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”
There it is out in the open. They were accusing Him of illegitimate birth. One can only imagine the vulgarities they may have come up with relating to this accusation.
In Luke chapter 11 we read these words; “And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Jesus reminded His antagonists about the absurdity of that statement. And He warned them that attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to demons was an unforgivable offense! Yet here they were in our text, reviling and blaspheming Him, heaping up God’s judgment on them.
The Greek grammar used in these verses indicates that this abuse and mockery went on and on. Jesus’ tormentors did not quickly tire of their sadistic pleasure. Knowing human nature as we do, they most likely were hoping for some kind of reaction from Him. Trying to vindicate Himself, pleading for mercy, cursing His tormentors and more were things they would’ve expected Him to do. But Jesus bore all their blasphemous cruelties without a word. That, in itself, may have intensified their hatred and mockery.
One of the sobering truths to be remembered in this whole scene is that Jesus predicted His followers would suffer just as He did. In John 15:20 He said, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” Most of us in the western hemisphere have not suffered this kind of persecution. But we see the potential for it increasing as people increasingly view the truth claims of Scripture to be bigoted and dangerous.
Perhaps, if we, like Jesus, got in the way of evil, we would suffer more blasphemous cruelty from those who oppose Him and His teachings.
The Second REASON is,
Baseless Condemnation
The scene changes now to the early hours of the morning. There is a formal convening of the Sanhedrin; that supposedly august judicial body made up of the most respected and educated men in Judaism. This was done for two main reasons; first, to give the events of the previous night some veneer of legitimacy, and second, to secure a capital sentence from Pilate, the Roman procurator. The other Gospel accounts record how their attempts at a trial were a complete flop.
So, these men, most of whom had already made up their minds about what to do with this troublemaker, brought the bruised and battered Jesus before the group for questioning. Again, their questioning was not designed to get to the truth. Their questioning was designed to trap Jesus and give them a reason to hand Him over to Pilate for execution.
Again, the question is “Are you the Christ?” It was this same question asked in the night session recorded in Matthew 26:63 to 66 that led the High Priest to pronounce Jesus worthy of death. Only then, the High Priest added “Are you the Christ, the Son of God.” Now the question is being asked without that phrase before the officially gathered judicial body. But Jesus knew their hearts and what the eventual outcome of this questioning would be. Notice His response, “If I tell you (in what sense I am the Messiah), you will (absolutely) not believe (that I am who I say I am)”
We must remember that in the thought of the Sanhedrin, the title, Messiah, had a nationalistic, highly political, and earthly meaning. There was no way Jesus could identify Himself with such an understanding. Whenever the multitudes suggested making Him king, He slipped away from them; that was not His purpose. Yet to deny the question totally would be dishonest, so he qualified it by saying they wouldn’t believe the real truth about who He was.
Jesus’ ministry of teaching and healing was dramatic proof that He was the Messiah the prophets had promised. He had healed the lame, restored sight to the blind, cleansed the lepers, and raised the dead. And He had preached the gospel of the kingdom of God. Nothing else He could have done would convince these unbelievers to accept Him for who He was.
Jesus went on to say, “If I also ask you, you will neither answer me nor release me.” Once again, He is referring back to a previous conversation with the Jewish leaders in Luke 20:41-44. Here is part of that conversation. “And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’Therefore, David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”
“To tell them whether he was the Messiah he would have to explain that he was the Messiah in the Scriptural sense; and if he took them into the Scriptures and from these showed them the Messiah he was and asked them if this were not so, they simply would not answer, just as they had refused to answer before this time. Jesus thus briefly and clearly gave the only reply he could give to this question about his being “the Christ,”[1]
But then, so as not to leave any confusion about His identity, Jesus adds the words of verse 69. “Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.” Here, Jesus uses His favorite designation of Himself, Son of Man. It highlights His humanity and avoids the Jewish entanglements and political conceptions of Messiah. It is in His humanity that the Son of Man appears before this Council in deepest humiliation. But His humility will yield for Him a place of power at the right hand of the Father.
With this statement, Jesus points out that the very death that is being plotted as He speaks will be that instrument that will elevate Him to the right hand of His Father. In that position, He will exercise the power of God in judging those who are now judging Him. His words are very similar to those He uttered in response to this question in the earlier nighttime interrogation.
At this reply, the meeting erupts with shouts as they all cry out “YOU! Are you then the Son of God?” There is outrage and incredulity as the bruised, bloodied captive stands before them! Indeed, this question had been asked before; it was the reason they had condemned Him to death. But it must be confirmed before the sentence of death can be legally verified.
Without any hesitation, Jesus affirms the all-decisive question just as He had the night before under oath. He answers them in the common idiom of the day; “You yourselves are saying that I am.” To us the answer may seem evasive; here’s what His listeners heard. “I am the Son of God exactly as you are stating it in your question.” Or as Leon Morris puts it “I would not put it like that, but since you have, I cannot deny it.” His statement is an unqualified affirmation of the fact, and the proof is found in the reaction of the Council.
After hearing Jesus’ words, they concluded that no further witnesses were needed. Further witnesses? They didn’t have any witnesses to begin with because their witnesses didn’t agree. They must have had a twinge of conscience even to mention it! But now, they didn’t need them because they had heard Jesus’ declaration from His own mouth. Luke doesn’t confirm the death penalty; he didn’t need to; they immediately began carrying out their sentence.
So, Jesus suffered their baseless condemnation. He was condemned to death by the Jews, not because this or that lying charge was preferred against him, not on false testimony, but because of his being what he in very truth was: “the Son of God.” It is Jesus himself who here places us at the parting of the ways: we either join these Jews in their verdict that he lied and perjured himself when he declared to them that he was the Son of God; or we join Jesus, “who is the faithful Witness” (Rev. 1:5), and worship him as “the Son of God” in the truth of that name.[2]
And so, the whole multitude of them having risen from their seats, escort Jesus to Pilate’s judgment hall. Wouldn’t it have been enough to send Jesus under guard with a few representatives from the Sanhedrin to make the case before Pilate? Oh no. First, these leaders were very much concerned that the common people would find out what was happening and attempt to snatch Jesus from their grasp.
In addition, they most likely thought that a crowd would make a greater impression on Pilate than just a few individuals. After all, if they were truly bringing before him a dangerous criminal, such a prisoner must be carefully guarded in case he tried to escape.
Arriving at Pilate’s judgment hall, they began to accuse Jesus before him. Again, we flip to John 18:28 to 32 to get the full picture of what is happening here.
“Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.” Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore, the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.”
Notice that in response to Pilate’s question about accusations, the leaders are very evasive. They inform Pilate that if Jesus had not been a lawbreaker, they wouldn’t have brought Him to the judgment hall. You see, Pilate thought they wanted a trial; what they really wanted was for him to carry out the verdict they’d already reached. And he was having no part of it.
So, Pilate put the ball back in their court. He said, “Take him and judge him according to your law.” And then they revealed their true purpose in bringing Him to Pilate. They said, “it is not lawful for us to put any man to death.” Pilate refused to do what they wanted, so they are compelled to take the role of accusers. This brings us back to our text, chapter 23, verse 2.
They address Pilate with the first accusation; “we found this fellow perverting the nation…” Addressing Jesus as “this fellow” was very derogatory and showed their disdain for Him. Their use of the words “we found” implies that they went through the legal procedure of a trial. Perverting the nation means that Jesus was an agitator, disrupting the nation from its peaceful course. These men knew Rome wanted no part of political agitation and they were currying favor by suggesting they had stepped in and squelched the agitation.
The second accusation is that Jesus forbade giving tribute to Caesar. Some of the very same men who earlier asked Jesus about this exact subject may have been in that crowd of accusers. They knew what Jesus had said, and so did the leaders, the ones who had sent them to try to trap Jesus. You can read it in Luke 20:19-26. Jesus clearly told them to render to Caesar the things that belonged to Caesar. The context makes it clear He was telling them to pay their taxes. But though they knew the truth, not one of them spoke up – baseless condemnation.
And then the third accusation; he says he is a Christ-King. The name Christ would’ve meant nothing to Pilate, so the Jewish leaders shrewdly tacked on the word king. “A Christ-king,” one who capitalizes on the Christ-hopes of the Jews and is therefore vastly more dangerous than any ordinary pretender to the throne of Israel would be. Like Herod the Great and men who had only political interests. Pilate and anyone who was slightly acquainted with the Jews knew of this Christ hope of theirs. This charge is made the last, the climax, and throws light on the other two.[3]
But these are completely baseless and are not mentioned at all in either of the two earlier court sessions! The religious leaders are asking for Jesus’ death based on outright lies. But that is the nature of unconverted men who hide behind the façade of religion.
So, Pilate takes the accusations and begins to examine Jesus. According to John’s record of these events, Pilate takes over custody of Jesus from the Temple guard and takes Him into the judgment hall. Since the accusation that Christ was a king was the basis of the other two accusations, it is the only one that Pilate addressed. His question, like that of the Sanhedrin before him, is tinged with disbelief and mockery. “YOU; are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus’ response is almost identical to His response to the Sanhedrin in chapter 22, verse 70; “You yourself are saying that I am.”
But Pilate’s conclusion is that Jesus has done nothing worthy of death. This is the first of five times Pilate declares Jesus’ innocence! He brings Jesus out of the judgment hall and states his conclusion to the crowd. His conclusion is the opposite of the Sanhedrin. But he fails to follow through on his decision. Legally he should have released Jesus and dispersed the crowd, by force if necessary. His failure to do so eventually led to his capitulation to the Jewish leaders.
Immediately the crowd becomes more vehement in their accusations. They accuse Jesus of stirring up sedition in Judea and Galilee and the whole way to Jerusalem. Pilate was quite aware that many of the seditious movements against Rome began in the region of Galilee.
He also knew that Herod Antipas was in Jerusalem for the Passover. Here was a way, he thought, to escape his dilemma and curry favor with Herod. He would “remand” Jesus to Herod’s jurisdiction. But there’s a problem; Pilate had already rendered a verdict. With this decision, Pilate throws legal procedures and safeguards to the wind! The ultimate outcome is no longer in any doubt. This was a thoroughly baseless condemnation.
The Final RESPONSE is,
Biased Condescension
Verse 8 of our text informs us that Herod was delighted to see Jesus. He was also pleased with Pilate’s gesture. He had heard many things about Jesus and had been hoping for a long time to see Him. Part of Herod’s continuing desire to see Jesus was that he hoped Jesus would perform some entertaining miracle in his presence. He regarded the miracles of Jesus as nothing but exhibitions that put on a novel and an astounding show. Kings often entertained their courts and themselves by calling in some expert and having him perform his feats for their delectation. That is what Herod hoped to secure from Jesus at some time. And when he now had Jesus before him, he thought that the hour had come to have his craving satisfied.[4]
But notice, even though Pilate has remanded Jesus to Herod, nothing even remotely like a trial takes place. Unlike Pilate, Herod does not sit on the judgment seat or make any effort to proceed with the legal process. It’s true, he asked Jesus many questions, but they evidently were not of the nature to uncover the truth about who Jesus was. Since Herod was so interested in seeing Jesus perform miracles his questions may have centered more on how Jesus accomplished them; were they real, and if so, how did he do them?
Herod demonstrated a biased condescension toward Jesus. He saw Jesus as a magician, and an entertainer, not as a prophet of God. Jesus knew this and to all of Herod’s ridiculous questions, Jesus answers not a word. Had Herod conducted a trial, I believe Jesus would’ve answered his questions. But Herod was putting on a show for his court and Jesus’ silence showed His scorn for this “fox” and his antics.
When Jesus would not cooperate with Herod’s charade, Herod reveals his true feelings about Jesus. If Jesus would not respond to him as the legal ruler in Galilee, then Herod would treat Him as nothing. Not only would he ignore Jesus’ claims, but he would also openly mock Him. In response to the continuing accusations of the Sanhedrin, who had followed their prisoner to His palace, Herod and his retinue mocked Jesus and gave him a shining robe to wear. The “gorgeous robe” spoken of here is often used to speak of the shining white of angel garments.
When all this mockery is concluded, Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate. Herod was too cunning to accept jurisdiction over Jesus. His earlier superstitious fear of Jesus being a resurrected John the Baptist had long since been dispelled. Furthermore, Jesus had never spoken against him personally, so what did he care about what the Sanhedrin wanted? He had his fun and now Jesus will go back to Pilate.
Our text ends by telling us that Pilate and Herod were made friends on that day. Herod and Pilate have been compared with each other. Both men find Jesus harmless, not in the least dangerous, at most a fanatic. But Herod laughs at Jesus and makes a great joke of him; Pilate is impressed more and more by Jesus, goes to great lengths to set him free, and labors to rid himself of the bloodguilt of his death.[5]
We look at this whole process as historical, which it is. But don’t Jesus’ claims to deity still evoke these responses today? Does not God still allow Himself to be placed in the hands of angry sinners? The blasphemous cruelty meted out to many of our brothers and sisters in Christ in other lands is just one manifestation of the hatred of Christ.
The kind of baseless condemnation that put Jesus on the cross is responsible for the imprisonment and death of many Christians today. They are often accused of being “enemies of the state” when, in reality, they are the model citizens of their communities.
And many times, they are the victims of biased condescension too. They are laughed at, ridiculed, mocked, and regarded as nothing. They are treated as Paul writes in First Corinthians 4:13; “…as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.”
Yes, God allowed Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, to be placed in the hands of angry sinners. He was delivered to death by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of the Father. Yet all those who participated in that heinous crime, including you and me, are held personally responsible for our choices. Our sin nailed Him to the tree in order that the same sin might be atoned for in His vicarious suffering.
For all those who by faith accept that the death of Christ is the only thing that could satisfy God’s wrath against sin, there is forgiveness and eternal life. For those who reject and refuse His offer of salvation and eternal life, they remain sinners in the hands of an angry God. ereHe
[1] Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (pp. 1095–1096). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
[2] Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (p. 1099). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
[3] Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (pp. 1103–1104). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
[4] Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (p. 1109). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
[5] Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (pp. 1112–1113). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
God in the Hands of Angry Sinners
Luke 22:63-23:12
On July 8th, 1741, New England Puritan preacher, Jonathan Edwards, preached his famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” In that sermon, he warned sinners about their precarious position outside of Christ. His text was Deuteronomy 32:35; “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.” At one point in the sermon, he made the following statement.
“The God that holds you over the pit of Hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked; his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times so abominable in his eyes as the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours.”
In spite of the graphic imagery he used, we’re told that Jonathan Edwards followed his normal pattern of preaching. He read the sermon in measured tones with few gestures. Yet the power of his words was so great that he was interrupted multiple times by people in the audience moaning and weeping. They wanted to know how they could escape the judgment Pastor Edwards was describing. Many were converted to Christ that day.
As we reflect on the events leading up to our Lord’s Passion, we turn to Luke 22:63-23:12, the section detailing Jesus’ trials before the Sanhedrin and Pilate. As I studied the text and meditated on the events as they’re recorded, I titled our study “God in the Hands of Angry Sinners.” While this is not a pleasant portion of Scripture, I trust our time in the Word together will be a blessing. Listen now as I read the text, Luke 22:63 through chapter 23:12.
In this text, the true nature of man without God is expressed. The hatred and violence perpetrated against our Savior should cause us to stop and reflect on our own RESPONSES toward Him and the responses of unbelievers today.
The First RESPONSE is,
Blasphemous Cruelty
Luke’s record doesn’t contain all the details surrounding these events. So, it’s helpful to look at what the other Gospel writers add. It seems probable that the initial, nighttime examination of Jesus (which, by the way, was illegal) took place in the home of Caiaphas. It was not an official gathering of the Sanhedrin. Both Matthew and John record the events of our text, in verses 63 to 65, before Peter’s final denial of Christ and the crowing of the rooster.
Let me read from John 18:19 to 23. “The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him, ‘I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed, they know what I said.’ And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” Jesus answered him, ‘If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?’”
It seems that this blow from an unnamed Temple guard officer touched off the blasphemous cruelty outlined in our text. The Jewish leaders who had arrested Jesus with a cohort of Temple guards were committed to Jesus’ destruction. Their actions proved they did not care at all about the safeguards built into their judicial system.
Jewish law mandated three requirements in a criminal proceeding: a public trial, a defense for the accused, and a confirmation of guilt by two or three witnesses. Because the requirement of two or three witnesses was so crucial to a just verdict, the law prescribed a severe penalty for false witnesses. They were to receive the punishment that the accused would’ve received if he had been guilty. In addition, capital offense cases needed to be conducted over a 2-day time span. None of these requirements were upheld in the case of Jesus.
We read in verse 63 that those who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him by beating Him. It was their way of showing their contempt for Him. The word beating refers to blows that bruise and break the skin. So, this was more than a mere slap in the face, as insulting as that would’ve been. Their hatred of Jesus led the religious leaders to ignore the law and it emboldened their followers’ outright cruelty. Some commentators even believe that Caiaphas and the other leaders joined in this abuse.
Not content with the pain inflicted by their physical abuse, Jesus’ tormentors now blindfolded Him. Think about it; if you know you’re going to be struck by someone, seeing that blow coming allows some measure of mental and physical preparation to receive it. But if you can’t see, you have no idea when or where the blow is going to fall. According to John’s record Jesus’ hands were bound, so He was already defenseless from a physical standpoint. This blindfold adds insult to injury; it adds psychological torment to the physical.
After blindfolding Jesus, His tormentors specifically mocked His prophetic powers. As slap after slap and blows of clenched fists rained down on Him, His assailants laughingly tormented Him. “Prophesy; who is it that struck you?” All of this Jesus endures without comment or protest. This is our Savior, our sufferer, our example.
Here we see the nature of man without God in its full horror. This innocent man, whom they could in no wise overcome within the guidelines of the law, now becomes the object of their inner hatred and evildoing. The inhumanity of man toward his fellow human beings is well documented in world history. Let one example suffice: the French Revolution of the 18th century. Our lower nature loves to trample down those we perceive as being better than we are.
Verse 65 tells us that they said many other blasphemous things against Him. We can only imagine what they were, but certainly, earlier comments by the religious leaders give us some clues. In John chapter 8, in a discussion about whether or not the religious leaders were the true children of Abraham, we have these words; “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this;you do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”
There it is out in the open. They were accusing Him of illegitimate birth. One can only imagine the vulgarities they may have come up with relating to this accusation.
In Luke chapter 11 we read these words; “And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Jesus reminded His antagonists about the absurdity of that statement. And He warned them that attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to demons was an unforgivable offense! Yet here they were in our text, reviling and blaspheming Him, heaping up God’s judgment on them.
The Greek grammar used in these verses indicates that this abuse and mockery went on and on. Jesus’ tormentors did not quickly tire of their sadistic pleasure. Knowing human nature as we do, they most likely were hoping for some kind of reaction from Him. Trying to vindicate Himself, pleading for mercy, cursing His tormentors and more were things they would’ve expected Him to do. But Jesus bore all their blasphemous cruelties without a word. That, in itself, may have intensified their hatred and mockery.
One of the sobering truths to be remembered in this whole scene is that Jesus predicted His followers would suffer just as He did. In John 15:20 He said, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” Most of us in the western hemisphere have not suffered this kind of persecution. But we see the potential for it increasing as people increasingly view the truth claims of Scripture to be bigoted and dangerous.
Perhaps, if we, like Jesus, got in the way of evil, we would suffer more blasphemous cruelty from those who oppose Him and His teachings.
The Second REASON is,
Baseless Condemnation
The scene changes now to the early hours of the morning. There is a formal convening of the Sanhedrin; that supposedly august judicial body made up of the most respected and educated men in Judaism. This was done for two main reasons; first, to give the events of the previous night some veneer of legitimacy, and second, to secure a capital sentence from Pilate, the Roman procurator. The other Gospel accounts record how their attempts at a trial were a complete flop.
So, these men, most of whom had already made up their minds about what to do with this troublemaker, brought the bruised and battered Jesus before the group for questioning. Again, their questioning was not designed to get to the truth. Their questioning was designed to trap Jesus and give them a reason to hand Him over to Pilate for execution.
Again, the question is “Are you the Christ?” It was this same question asked in the night session recorded in Matthew 26:63 to 66 that led the High Priest to pronounce Jesus worthy of death. Only then, the High Priest added “Are you the Christ, the Son of God.” Now the question is being asked without that phrase before the officially gathered judicial body. But Jesus knew their hearts and what the eventual outcome of this questioning would be. Notice His response, “If I tell you (in what sense I am the Messiah), you will (absolutely) not believe (that I am who I say I am)”
We must remember that in the thought of the Sanhedrin, the title, Messiah, had a nationalistic, highly political, and earthly meaning. There was no way Jesus could identify Himself with such an understanding. Whenever the multitudes suggested making Him king, He slipped away from them; that was not His purpose. Yet to deny the question totally would be dishonest, so he qualified it by saying they wouldn’t believe the real truth about who He was.
Jesus’ ministry of teaching and healing was dramatic proof that He was the Messiah the prophets had promised. He had healed the lame, restored sight to the blind, cleansed the lepers, and raised the dead. And He had preached the gospel of the kingdom of God. Nothing else He could have done would convince these unbelievers to accept Him for who He was.
Jesus went on to say, “If I also ask you, you will neither answer me nor release me.” Once again, He is referring back to a previous conversation with the Jewish leaders in Luke 20:41-44. Here is part of that conversation. “And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’Therefore, David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”
“To tell them whether he was the Messiah he would have to explain that he was the Messiah in the Scriptural sense; and if he took them into the Scriptures and from these showed them the Messiah he was and asked them if this were not so, they simply would not answer, just as they had refused to answer before this time. Jesus thus briefly and clearly gave the only reply he could give to this question about his being “the Christ,”[1]
But then, so as not to leave any confusion about His identity, Jesus adds the words of verse 69. “Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.” Here, Jesus uses His favorite designation of Himself, Son of Man. It highlights His humanity and avoids the Jewish entanglements and political conceptions of Messiah. It is in His humanity that the Son of Man appears before this Council in deepest humiliation. But His humility will yield for Him a place of power at the right hand of the Father.
With this statement, Jesus points out that the very death that is being plotted as He speaks will be that instrument that will elevate Him to the right hand of His Father. In that position, He will exercise the power of God in judging those who are now judging Him. His words are very similar to those He uttered in response to this question in the earlier nighttime interrogation.
At this reply, the meeting erupts with shouts as they all cry out “YOU! Are you then the Son of God?” There is outrage and incredulity as the bruised, bloodied captive stands before them! Indeed, this question had been asked before; it was the reason they had condemned Him to death. But it must be confirmed before the sentence of death can be legally verified.
Without any hesitation, Jesus affirms the all-decisive question just as He had the night before under oath. He answers them in the common idiom of the day; “You yourselves are saying that I am.” To us the answer may seem evasive; here’s what His listeners heard. “I am the Son of God exactly as you are stating it in your question.” Or as Leon Morris puts it “I would not put it like that, but since you have, I cannot deny it.” His statement is an unqualified affirmation of the fact, and the proof is found in the reaction of the Council.
After hearing Jesus’ words, they concluded that no further witnesses were needed. Further witnesses? They didn’t have any witnesses to begin with because their witnesses didn’t agree. They must have had a twinge of conscience even to mention it! But now, they didn’t need them because they had heard Jesus’ declaration from His own mouth. Luke doesn’t confirm the death penalty; he didn’t need to; they immediately began carrying out their sentence.
So, Jesus suffered their baseless condemnation. He was condemned to death by the Jews, not because this or that lying charge was preferred against him, not on false testimony, but because of his being what he in very truth was: “the Son of God.” It is Jesus himself who here places us at the parting of the ways: we either join these Jews in their verdict that he lied and perjured himself when he declared to them that he was the Son of God; or we join Jesus, “who is the faithful Witness” (Rev. 1:5), and worship him as “the Son of God” in the truth of that name.[2]
And so, the whole multitude of them having risen from their seats, escort Jesus to Pilate’s judgment hall. Wouldn’t it have been enough to send Jesus under guard with a few representatives from the Sanhedrin to make the case before Pilate? Oh no. First, these leaders were very much concerned that the common people would find out what was happening and attempt to snatch Jesus from their grasp.
In addition, they most likely thought that a crowd would make a greater impression on Pilate than just a few individuals. After all, if they were truly bringing before him a dangerous criminal, such a prisoner must be carefully guarded in case he tried to escape.
Arriving at Pilate’s judgment hall, they began to accuse Jesus before him. Again, we flip to John 18:28 to 32 to get the full picture of what is happening here.
“Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.” Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore, the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.”
Notice that in response to Pilate’s question about accusations, the leaders are very evasive. They inform Pilate that if Jesus had not been a lawbreaker, they wouldn’t have brought Him to the judgment hall. You see, Pilate thought they wanted a trial; what they really wanted was for him to carry out the verdict they’d already reached. And he was having no part of it.
So, Pilate put the ball back in their court. He said, “Take him and judge him according to your law.” And then they revealed their true purpose in bringing Him to Pilate. They said, “it is not lawful for us to put any man to death.” Pilate refused to do what they wanted, so they are compelled to take the role of accusers. This brings us back to our text, chapter 23, verse 2.
They address Pilate with the first accusation; “we found this fellow perverting the nation…” Addressing Jesus as “this fellow” was very derogatory and showed their disdain for Him. Their use of the words “we found” implies that they went through the legal procedure of a trial. Perverting the nation means that Jesus was an agitator, disrupting the nation from its peaceful course. These men knew Rome wanted no part of political agitation and they were currying favor by suggesting they had stepped in and squelched the agitation.
The second accusation is that Jesus forbade giving tribute to Caesar. Some of the very same men who earlier asked Jesus about this exact subject may have been in that crowd of accusers. They knew what Jesus had said, and so did the leaders, the ones who had sent them to try to trap Jesus. You can read it in Luke 20:19-26. Jesus clearly told them to render to Caesar the things that belonged to Caesar. The context makes it clear He was telling them to pay their taxes. But though they knew the truth, not one of them spoke up – baseless condemnation.
And then the third accusation; he says he is a Christ-King. The name Christ would’ve meant nothing to Pilate, so the Jewish leaders shrewdly tacked on the word king. “A Christ-king,” one who capitalizes on the Christ-hopes of the Jews and is therefore vastly more dangerous than any ordinary pretender to the throne of Israel would be. Like Herod the Great and men who had only political interests. Pilate and anyone who was slightly acquainted with the Jews knew of this Christ hope of theirs. This charge is made the last, the climax, and throws light on the other two.[3]
But these are completely baseless and are not mentioned at all in either of the two earlier court sessions! The religious leaders are asking for Jesus’ death based on outright lies. But that is the nature of unconverted men who hide behind the façade of religion.
So, Pilate takes the accusations and begins to examine Jesus. According to John’s record of these events, Pilate takes over custody of Jesus from the Temple guard and takes Him into the judgment hall. Since the accusation that Christ was a king was the basis of the other two accusations, it is the only one that Pilate addressed. His question, like that of the Sanhedrin before him, is tinged with disbelief and mockery. “YOU; are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus’ response is almost identical to His response to the Sanhedrin in chapter 22, verse 70; “You yourself are saying that I am.”
But Pilate’s conclusion is that Jesus has done nothing worthy of death. This is the first of five times Pilate declares Jesus’ innocence! He brings Jesus out of the judgment hall and states his conclusion to the crowd. His conclusion is the opposite of the Sanhedrin. But he fails to follow through on his decision. Legally he should have released Jesus and dispersed the crowd, by force if necessary. His failure to do so eventually led to his capitulation to the Jewish leaders.
Immediately the crowd becomes more vehement in their accusations. They accuse Jesus of stirring up sedition in Judea and Galilee and the whole way to Jerusalem. Pilate was quite aware that many of the seditious movements against Rome began in the region of Galilee.
He also knew that Herod Antipas was in Jerusalem for the Passover. Here was a way, he thought, to escape his dilemma and curry favor with Herod. He would “remand” Jesus to Herod’s jurisdiction. But there’s a problem; Pilate had already rendered a verdict. With this decision, Pilate throws legal procedures and safeguards to the wind! The ultimate outcome is no longer in any doubt. This was a thoroughly baseless condemnation.
The Final RESPONSE is,
Biased Condescension
Verse 8 of our text informs us that Herod was delighted to see Jesus. He was also pleased with Pilate’s gesture. He had heard many things about Jesus and had been hoping for a long time to see Him. Part of Herod’s continuing desire to see Jesus was that he hoped Jesus would perform some entertaining miracle in his presence. He regarded the miracles of Jesus as nothing but exhibitions that put on a novel and an astounding show. Kings often entertained their courts and themselves by calling in some expert and having him perform his feats for their delectation. That is what Herod hoped to secure from Jesus at some time. And when he now had Jesus before him, he thought that the hour had come to have his craving satisfied.[4]
But notice, even though Pilate has remanded Jesus to Herod, nothing even remotely like a trial takes place. Unlike Pilate, Herod does not sit on the judgment seat or make any effort to proceed with the legal process. It’s true, he asked Jesus many questions, but they evidently were not of the nature to uncover the truth about who Jesus was. Since Herod was so interested in seeing Jesus perform miracles his questions may have centered more on how Jesus accomplished them; were they real, and if so, how did he do them?
Herod demonstrated a biased condescension toward Jesus. He saw Jesus as a magician, and an entertainer, not as a prophet of God. Jesus knew this and to all of Herod’s ridiculous questions, Jesus answers not a word. Had Herod conducted a trial, I believe Jesus would’ve answered his questions. But Herod was putting on a show for his court and Jesus’ silence showed His scorn for this “fox” and his antics.
When Jesus would not cooperate with Herod’s charade, Herod reveals his true feelings about Jesus. If Jesus would not respond to him as the legal ruler in Galilee, then Herod would treat Him as nothing. Not only would he ignore Jesus’ claims, but he would also openly mock Him. In response to the continuing accusations of the Sanhedrin, who had followed their prisoner to His palace, Herod and his retinue mocked Jesus and gave him a shining robe to wear. The “gorgeous robe” spoken of here is often used to speak of the shining white of angel garments.
When all this mockery is concluded, Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate. Herod was too cunning to accept jurisdiction over Jesus. His earlier superstitious fear of Jesus being a resurrected John the Baptist had long since been dispelled. Furthermore, Jesus had never spoken against him personally, so what did he care about what the Sanhedrin wanted? He had his fun and now Jesus will go back to Pilate.
Our text ends by telling us that Pilate and Herod were made friends on that day. Herod and Pilate have been compared with each other. Both men find Jesus harmless, not in the least dangerous, at most a fanatic. But Herod laughs at Jesus and makes a great joke of him; Pilate is impressed more and more by Jesus, goes to great lengths to set him free, and labors to rid himself of the bloodguilt of his death.[5]
We look at this whole process as historical, which it is. But don’t Jesus’ claims to deity still evoke these responses today? Does not God still allow Himself to be placed in the hands of angry sinners? The blasphemous cruelty meted out to many of our brothers and sisters in Christ in other lands is just one manifestation of the hatred of Christ.
The kind of baseless condemnation that put Jesus on the cross is responsible for the imprisonment and death of many Christians today. They are often accused of being “enemies of the state” when, in reality, they are the model citizens of their communities.
And many times, they are the victims of biased condescension too. They are laughed at, ridiculed, mocked, and regarded as nothing. They are treated as Paul writes in First Corinthians 4:13; “…as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.”
Yes, God allowed Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, to be placed in the hands of angry sinners. He was delivered to death by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of the Father. Yet all those who participated in that heinous crime, including you and me, are held personally responsible for our choices. Our sin nailed Him to the tree in order that the same sin might be atoned for in His vicarious suffering.
For all those who by faith accept that the death of Christ is the only thing that could satisfy God’s wrath against sin, there is forgiveness and eternal life. For those who reject and refuse His offer of salvation and eternal life, they remain sinners in the hands of an angry God. ereHe
[1] Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (pp. 1095–1096). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
[2] Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (p. 1099). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
[3] Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (pp. 1103–1104). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
[4] Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (p. 1109). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
[5] Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (pp. 1112–1113). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
A Godly Leader’s Judgment
II Corinthians 11:7-15
Has anyone ever said to you, “Stop judging me!” In Matthew chapter 7 Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Is Jesus forbidding you and me to exercise judgment in any circumstance? What is Jesus actually saying to us?
The word, judgment, has multiple definitions, but one is foundational; it is to decide or to discern. You and I exercise judgment hundreds of times every day. Every time we face a choice, we must weigh the options and decide. That is judging. It is making a distinction between two things. Hopefully, for Christ-followers, it is a distinction between good and best rather than good and evil. Jesus isn’t forbidding that kind of judgment.
A judge in his official capacity renders a verdict. He has weighed, or judged, the evidence and is now ready to pronounce the sentence. That sentence is a judgment. So, judgment, in this case, is both a process and an act. Obviously, Jesus wasn’t forbidding this kind of judgment either.
In some copies of the Scripture, the word judgment in Matthew 7 has a footnote that points to the words condemn or condemnation.We get our English word, critic, from the Greek krino. We can quickly see from the context, that Jesus isn’t forbidding all kinds of judgment. He is forbidding unfair or unjust criticism. The illustration of the speck and the log in one’s eye clearly shows that. Later on in the chapter, Jesus calls us to beware of false prophets. We heed that command by making judgments about the fruit produced by their lives.
As I said earlier, we make many judgments every day. Some of them carry consequences that affect only us, but some affect many people. Whether I wear a red shirt or a blue one affects only me. Whether I choose to speed through a traffic light changing from yellow to red or stoppping, can have life-altering consequences for myself and others.
In our study last week from the opening verses of Second Corinthians chapter 11, we learned that jealousy can be a good thing. In fact, it can be godly. In today’s teaching, we’ll learn how judgment can also be positive and godly.
Remember, as we begin, that the basic definition of judgment is to discern or decide. So, as I read today’s text, look for the actions that show us how Paul exercised judgment. Our text is Second Corinthians 11:7 to 15. Listen carefully because this is God’s Word to us.
Leaders at every level face many situations where discernment is needed. This text highlights for us several ACTIONS that showcase a godly leader’s judgment.
Keep in mind that the context here is Paul continuing to defend his apostolic ministry from his critics. Even though we don’t have the accusations of his critics written out for us, we can discern what they were by reading what Paul wrote in this letter. In addition, although Paul was a leader, we can apply the actions he takes in this text to the situations we face. So, there is plenty here for us to learn and benefit from regardless of our position.
The First ACTION (that showcases a godly leader’s judgment) is,
They Serve Selflessly
Evidently, Paul refused to accept financial support from the church in Corinth. The question is, why? After all, in his first letter, he spent one whole chapter, chapter 9, on the importance of the church caring for and supporting the needs of their leaders. He reminded them from Scripture and from common sense that the laborer is worthy of payment for his services. And Jesus had commanded that those who labor in the Gospel should live of the Gospel.
So, why did Paul judge that it would be unwise to accept support in this setting? He said, “have I committed a sin by abasing myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the Gospel to you without charge?” Some in Corinth saw Paul’s practice of a trade, tentmaking, as being something humiliating for an apostle or church leader. But was it a sin?
We know there were false teachers in the church in Corinth. Their followers became factions within the church. Some of them were accusing Paul of not following his own teaching. “Practice what you preach! Do you think we don’t have the financial means to take care of you? You offend us with your lack of confidence.” Others accused him of making a gain for himself through his tent-making trade. His disinterest in their support was just a camouflage for his greed!
But what was Paul’s goal in this situation? Was there a reason why he was setting aside his right to be supported? Think about some of the tensions that existed in this church and in their relationship with Paul. His goal was to remove anything from his relationship with the Believers in Corinth that could be the basis of an accusation of impropriety.
As we’ve seen before, Paul uses sarcasm and hyperbole when writing in response to his critics. In verse 8 he says, “I robbed other churches…” Was Paul wearing a mask and carrying a dagger to force others to hand over their money? Not really! He makes the point that he accepted from other churches more than their fair share of his support because “I don’t want to be burdensome to you…” In fact, he said, “I will continue this practice.”
Paul had every right to expect support from the Corinthians. Making tents in order to provide for his needs took the time he could’ve spent sharing the Gospel or teaching. But because of his understanding of the situation at Corinth, he judged, he discerned, he decided that the best course of action was to exercise a spirit of selflessness and forego what was rightfully his.
A godly leader, or any godly person, for that matter, will understand this action of serving selflessly. We need to weigh each situation in light of the circumstances and the facts on the ground. It takes wisdom and discernment to make the best possible choice for everyone involved. Like Paul, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us in our desire to serve selflessly for His glory and the good of others.
The Next ACTION (that showcases a godly leader’s judgment) is,
They Love Deeply
To introduce this point, Paul asks another question. “Is it because I don’t love you that I have made this decision not to burden you with my support?” Absolutely not! God is my witness that I love you deeply. He understands my motives.
In Second Corinthians 2:4, Paul wrote about his anguish and tears as proof of his deep love for them. In 6:11 he wrote “O Corinthians!We have spoken openly to you; our heart is wide open.” In other words, Paul hadn’t hidden anything from them. He had made himself vulnerable to them by baring his heart. He longed to see them come to maturity in Christ so that the Gospel would be spread and embraced by those around them.
Paul had poured his life into this group of people for a year and a half. He must have had many close relationships there. Imagine the pain of having those whom he loved so deeply turn around and question his motives. Only those who love deeply know the pain that results when that love is either rejected or unreturned. There are few things more painful than having others assign wrong motives to your expressions of genuine love.
But notice what Paul said in verse 12. “What I am doing, I will continue to do. That will cut out or undermine THE accusation of monetary gain from the other complaints being lodged against me.” Evidently, there were those in Corinth who caught eagerly at any pretext for disparaging Paul and his ministry. By not accepting financial support from them, Paul cut off at least one of those complaints. His desire was that, ultimately, his motives and the motives of his critics in Corinth would become clear to all who looked on.
If you’re in leadership then you know there are always those who are looking for occasions to criticize what you do, what you don’t do, or how you do it. Loving your critics deeply with the love of Jesus is the only antidote to discouragement, cynicism, and defeat. Like Paul, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
No one loved more deeply than Jesus. Paul embraced that love and extended it to others. Let us commit to doing the same in our judgment of others. Serving selflessly and loving deeply will lead us logically to the final action.
The Final ACTION (that showcases a godly leader’s judgment) is,
They Warn Specifically
We live in a time where it’s considered “unloving” confront sin, to expose error or identify false teachers. But if leaders are serious about protecting those under their authority and responsibility, they must call out false teachers and false doctrine. As godly leaders, we need to exercise careful judgment without being harsh and vindictive, but we also must be specific enough so people know what we’re talking about.
Paul says his critics in Corinth are pseudo-apostles. The prefix pseudo means false or counterfeit. They claimed the title but lacked the calling or the authority. In addition, they were deceitful workers. Paul’s description comes from an old word that means to ensnare. And if you remember what was going on in Corinth, these false teachers were attempting to ensnare people so they could add them to their faction. There are many false teachers like this today.
Some years ago, I was walking in the woods on a narrow path. I was moving slowly, looking for wildlife. At one point, something caused me to look down at my feet, and there was a snare. It wasn’t going to do me any harm, I was too big. But someone has set that snare for a reason, most likely hoping to catch a bobcat.
That snare was nearly invisible. It blended in so well that if you didn’t know it was there, you’d walk right by it. Whoever placed the snare was using their knowledge of the animal’s habits to their advantage. Finding a place where the quarry passes regularly works to the advantage of the one setting the snare.
Another advantage is knowing the habits or weaknesses of your quarry. Some animals prefer certain foods. Some are captivated by shiny things. Some are very suspicious. Some are more active at night. All of this knowledge is useful for success. These false teachers in Corinth were using their knowledge of people’s weaknesses to ensnare them in their trap.
Further, they were masquerading as apostles. A masquerade is a disguise, it’s a false face or clothing that hides the real person. Native Americans from the plains had a saying about people like this; “all hat - no cattle.” A more modern term is “wanna-be.” So, these false teachers were passing themselves off as something they really were not.
And Paul says, that really shouldn’t surprise us. Satan himself, the prince of darkness, masquerades as an angel of light. The prince of darkness clothes himself in the garb of light in an attempt to deceive the saints! As you may recall, Satan even quoted Scripture to Jesus during the temptation in the wilderness. True to form, Satan twisted it for his purposes, but to the naïve or unsuspecting, he might have been able to pass it off. We see a lot of this today.
So then, it shouldn’t seem strange that Satan’s servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. I’ve said it before in this series of teachings and I’ll say it again because it’s so important; just because someone quotes Scripture doesn’t prove they’re a genuine Christ-follower! The twisting of Scripture to deceive people is a primary tactic of Satan and the false teachers he inspires. And it is rampant today.
Paul’s description reveals the depths of his feelings about the conduct of these leaders in Corinth. Some would accuse him of being judgmental, unloving, or harsh. But if you notice, Paul sticks to the facts. He doesn’t attack personalities, physical appearance or intellectual ability like the false teachers did toward him. He simply but urgently warns the church in Corinth to beware of these false apostles and their false teaching.
Today, more than ever, we need godly leaders who are able to serve selflessly, love deeply, and warn specifically. As was true for Paul, so today, this kind of leadership won’t always be appreciated. But it is necessary.
I close with the words of the apostle Paul to the Ephesian elders from Acts 20:28 to 32 from the English Standard Version. “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
A Leader’s Godly Jealousy
II Corinthians 11:1-6
Jealousy is a powerful emotion or passion. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 27:4, “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?” Think about that. Anger and fury are violent emotions that often lead to bodily harm, but Solomon says jealousy is worse.
Just what is jealousy? Often, we use it as a synonym for envy. But they’re not the same. Envy usually has to do with something we want that someone else has. It could be their wealth, something they own, a skill they possess, a relationship they enjoy, or maybe even their physical attractiveness. Envy and covetousness are closely related.
On the other hand, jealousy has more to do with us trying to protect what is ours. Cain was jealous of Abel because God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s. Leah and Rachel were jealous of each other and of Jacob’s affection and attention. Joseph’s brothers were jealous of their father’s special love for their younger brother. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were jealous of the crowds that thronged around Him. In each case, the jealous ones saw their opponents as trying to take from them what was, in their minds, rightfully theirs.
Normally, when we hear the word jealousy, we immediately have a negative reaction to it. And rightly so. But did you know that jealousy can also be a good thing? Interestingly enough, it is in the Bible that we find this word used in a positive sense.
In a variety of Old Testament Scriptures, we see the jealousy of God for the hearts of His people. In Deuteronomy 5:9 God states his reason why He prohibited the children of Israel from making any image to worship. He said “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me…?
And why was God jealous? The central meaning of the Hebrew word, quana [quinna],relates to jealousy in the context of marriage. Because marriage causes two people to become one flesh, adultery is a severing of the body – a form of murder. That’s why, in the Old Testament, the penalty for adultery was death. God depicts Himself as Israel’s husband, so idolatry is spiritual adultery and merits death. God was jealous in His love for His people, and He judged them harshly when they left him for other lovers. And yet, through all their unfaithfulness, He still loved them. This is amply illustrated in the book of Hosea.
But God loved the children of Israel perfectly and He desired their love in return. His love for them wasn’t based on their goodness or greatness; instead, it was based on His love for them and the promises He had sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God wanted them to be a people uniquely His, just as a husband or wife wants their spouse to be uniquely theirs. It is a special relationship to be shared with no others.
In the text for our consideration, Second Corinthians 11:1 to 6, we will see the positive usage of this word. So, listen carefully as I read the text, and then we will discuss it under the title, “A Leader’s Godly Jealousy.”
This text shows us the necessary RESPONSES of a godly leader when his people are being lured into unfaithfulness.
The First RESPONSE (of a leader’s godly jealousy) is,
He Defends the Purity of His Motives
In chapter ten, after a lengthy discussion on giving, Paul resumed the defense of his apostolic ministry. It’s not something he’s comfortable with but he feels forced into it by his critics. We must read between the lines somewhat to discover exactly what his detractors were accusing him of. It is important for us to understand that Paul isn’t defending himself for his own sake, but for the sake of the pure Gospel of Christ.
Paul opens the chapter by begging his readers to indulge him a little in his foolishness. What foolishness? The foolishness is his word for boasting, actually a recitation of the facts, in order to vindicate his apostolic authority to those at Corinth.
The primary motivation for Paul’s ministry in Corinth wasn’t his ego. It wasn’t his desire for the praise of men or earthly fame. It wasn’t to protect his reputation. His motivating desire was to present the Corinthian church to Christ as an undefiled virgin. So he says, “I am jealous for you with a jealousy God inspires [in me].” This is the positive meaning of jealousy I talked about in my opening comments. It includes the idea of being zealous, to have a warmth of feeling toward someone. Paul had a deep and fervent love for Christ and for the church at Corinth.
He uses imagery, common in the Jewish practice of that time, of the friend of the bridegroom. He shares the bridegroom’s jealousy for the purity of the bride. Today, it may be a father guarding the purity of his daughter. When John the Baptist was being questioned about who he was he said, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled.” Paul was taking that role. Unlike his accusers, he wasn’t in Corinth to steal the bride but to protect her and to help her remain pure and faithful to her bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Further, Paul says “I have espoused you, or betrothed, or promised you to one husband.” In a sense, Paul was the matchmaker, he was the one who had brought the Corinthians and Christ together. The word espoused or promised is harmodzo, a fitting together. It is used in Greek classic literature of a carpenter’s work. It is also used for arranging music or tuning an instrument, or fitting clothing or armor. It describes something well-planned and well-fitted.
Later, in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for herto make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” That was Paul’s motivation for his godly jealousy over the church at Corinth, a pure and radiant bride for Christ!
This is an important point for all who are in positions of spiritual leadership today. Our primary motive for ministry must NOT be the desire to protect our position or our reputation or anything else. Instead, our primary motivation must be to present the church as a holy and blameless bride to the Lord Jesus! That is what we will give an account for.
That will only be successful if we pay careful attention to this next response.
The Next RESPONSE (of a leader’s godly jealousy) is,
He Defends the Purity of His Message
Paul was deeply concerned about this rival teacher in Corinth who was preaching another Jesus which Paul hadn’t preached. He was promoting another spirit other than the Holy Spirit of God. He was proclaiming a different gospel than the one Paul embraced.
In verse 4, in the KJV, the translators use the word other 3 times. The NKJV uses other for the first occasion, and different, for the final two. This may not seem like a big deal to us, but there are two different words used in the original text. They are allos and heteros. Let me explain because this is important to our understanding of this text.
When Paul spoke of another Jesus [allos], it wasn’t necessarily a different kind of Jesus, just another one, an addition. But any claim of another denies the uniqueness of Jesus’ identity. There can only be ONE true Jesus.
Then, Paul mentions another Spirit and another gospel. Here, the word is heteros. This word is different from allos in that it signifies something of a different kind. Heteros denies the similarity of the nature of the Spirit and the similarity of the nature of the Gospel.
This prominent teacher in Corinth was teaching about a Spirit and a gospel that were qualitatively different, different in kind than the Spirit and Gospel Paul preached. In Acts 4:12, in Peter’s address to the Sanhedrin, he proclaims Jesus as the chief cornerstone and says, “Nor is there salvation in any other [allos] (we could say, another), for there is no other heteros name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
In verse 3, Paul expresses his fear that the Corinthians would be completely deceived just as Mother Eve had been deceived by the craftiness of the serpent. This deception would be introduced through their thought processes. Their thought processes would be impacted by the false teaching that was being promoted. Paul was concerned that their spiritual perception would become clouded, and they would be led astray from the simplicity they had in Christ.
Remember, there were two main sources of false teaching in Corinth. The Judaizers were the most well-known. They embraced Christ but also demanded adherence to some parts of the Mosaic Law. The other group was the Docetists. They were largely influenced by Greek philosophy and denied the humanity of Jesus as well as His bodily resurrection. Both of these groups rejected the simplicity of the Gospel.
Deception and false teaching are rampant in our world today. Anyone with a smartphone can promote their twisted interpretations of Scripture on a plethora of media platforms; YouTube, TikTok, Spotify, etc., etc. Teachers with a lot of charisma, good storytellers, and those who claim special revelation directly from God all vie for the hearts and minds of viewers and listeners.
The apostle Peter, writing about the end of the age, mentioned these kinds of false teachers. “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.” They twist not just the difficult parts, but ALL the Scriptures!
Godly leaders must jealously guard those under their spiritual care by defending the purity of their message. It is Christ, and Christ alone, who saves and keeps us. We must remind our people of the truth in I Thessalonians 5:12 and 13. “And we urge you, brethren, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.” You know very little, if anything, about the teacher you watch or listen to online. Be careful, check things out!
The Final RESPONSE (of a leader’s godly jealousy) is,
He Defends the Purity of His Ministry
In the opening verse of this text, Paul asked the Believers in Corinth to tolerate his foolish boasting about his ministry. In verse 5, he sarcastically reminds them that he is not inferior in any way to the “greatest apostles.” He isn’t referring to the genuine apostles, but to the false apostles who had so much influence in Corinth.
Paul is indignant that those whom he had brought to Christ would compare him in a disparaging way with other supposed super-apostles. I don’t see any self-assertion or self-promotion in Paul’s words, just grief at the evil consequences of his detractors. With an utter sense of distaste, Paul is forced to speak the simple truth. No one else had been as zealous or energetic in the proclamation of the Gospel. And he was appointed directly by God and Jesus to be the apostle to the Gentiles.
Paul admits that he doesn’t have the rhetorical skills of a man like Apollos. He was, in the eyes of his critics, rude (idiotes) and unlearned in speech. His discourse didn’t follow the rules of art or craft. But whatever Paul may have supposedly lacked in speaking ability, he more than made up for with conviction and emotion. These resulted from his intimate acquaintance with Christ Himself. Paul knew the things of Christ from personal experience and he willingly and selflessly made those things plain to whoever would listen. He had freely and fully opened his heart and his life to the church in Corinth. He hid nothing and held nothing back from them.
If you’re a leader, then you probably know what it’s like to be attacked by others. It goes with the territory. You may also know what it's like to be disrespected, to be compared unfavorably with some nationally known teacher or media personality. In those cases, your calling from the Lord as well as your own record of integrity and faithfulness should be the basis for your defense.
If you’re a leader, I urge you to follow these responses when you see your people being lured into unfaithfulness. Don’t shrink back from defending the purity of your motives, your message, and your ministry. But don’t do it with pride and arrogance, do it with humility and modesty. Make sure your people know you have their best interests in mind.
If you’re not a leader, try to imagine what it’s like to fill that role. Think about how you talk about your leaders to others. Think about the weight of responsibility they carry, remembering the words of Hebrews 13:17. “Obey those who [lead] you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
May God grant you and me the grace we need to be faithful to Him in these last days!
What Do You Boast In?
II Corinthians 10:7-18
In Philippians 2:5 to 8 we read, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider [His equality with God something to be held on to], but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
None of us can fully imagine what it meant for Jesus to humble Himself. He exchanged His state of heavenly perfection with its divine privileges for the form of a human being and took on the characteristics of an obedient servant. He did it willingly, motivated by His love for you and me. It’s this mindset that we’re to adopt in our relationships with each other.
As I’m sure you know, the mindset of humility is not natural. No, we are all infected with the same sin that got Satan kicked out of heaven – pride. God hates it, He resists it, and he will judge those who embrace it! Why, because, at its root, pride is an attempt to place ourselves on the throne instead of God.
The Scriptures inform us that pride often leads to boasting. Boasting is “a statement expressing excessive pride in ourselves, praising ourselves extravagantly in speech.” James cautions us not to boast about what we hope to achieve because our human existence is so tenuous that it’s compared to water vapor! We must admit we don’t know what tomorrow will bring and we don’t even have a promise that we’ll be here tomorrow.
So, is all boasting wrong? Stay with me because we will answer that question from our Scripture text today. The text is Second Corinthians 10:7 to 18. This is the Word of God to us.
As we read Paul’s writings, they reveal to us a godly man with a humble spirit. Repeatedly he urges followers of Christ to protect, promote, and pursue a spirit of humility. But in this section of verses I just read, Paul uses the word, boast, 13 times. It seems clear that he felt compelled to defend his apostolic authority to his critics. He does so with the greatest reluctance.
To answer the question, “what do you boast in” we will look at three STANDARDS of judging that Paul highlights in this text.
The First STANDARD of Judging is,
By Appearance
We’ve all used this standard and we know how inaccurate it can be. Most of us have at one time or another made a judgment about a person or situation based solely on appearances, and later come to regret that decision. To my shame, I’ve done it too often.
The opening phrase of verse seven can be taken two possible ways; “are you looking only at appearances?” Or “you are looking only at appearances.” The unstated implication is that they should be looking deeper, looking beneath just the surface. As we work through this text, we’ll see how the rebellious faction at Corinth was guilty of judging by appearances.
I find it interesting, and also in character, that Paul doesn’t question his opponent’s claim to belong to Christ. He restricts himself to his own calling. He didn’t say, “if you were genuine followers of Christ, you wouldn’t be speaking this way about me.” He didn’t go there. Remember, back in verse one of this chapter Paul implores his readers with the meekness and gentleness of Christ. His response is an important example for us as we deal with difficult situations.
The Judaizers at Corinth had persuaded themselves that they belonged to Christ by virtue of their appearance. If they had paid closer attention to their own Hebrew Scriptures, they would’ve recalled First Samuel 16:7, where God told Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Their criticism of Paul was that his physical appearance is weak and his rhetoric amounts to nothing. In a sense, Paul had already admitted this when he wrote in his first letter, “my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” Paul was human, he had feelings, so this criticism must have stung. No one likes to have their physical appearance or intellect denigrated publicly.
As I reflected on verse 10, I saw similarities between the Corinthians’ description of Paul and the description of Christ in Isaiah 53:2, “He has no [stately] form or splendor; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. Earlier, in chapter 42:2, Isaiah wrote of Jesus’ speech, “He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.” For both Jesus and Paul, the power of their words wasn’t in their physical appearance, their rhetoric, or their oratory skills – it was in the authority with which they spoke.
And yet, Paul didn’t use his apostolic authority as a cudgel to beat people into submission. Look at verse 8. Paul writes “even if I should boast about belonging to Christ and about the authority He has given to me, I will do it for your edification and not for your destruction. I will never be ashamed of my boast in Christ.” If Paul were to focus on appearances, as his critics did, he would’ve responded much differently to them.
In fact, he could have had harsh words for the ringleader in Corinth, but he refuses to name him and shame him. And Paul reassures his critics that when he was with them, his acts were precisely the same as the recommendations and commands in his letters. When someone judges by appearances, the outcome is often character assassination. Paul wasn’t going there.
But he also wants to avoid the trap that is being set for him. Look at verse 12. There is both wordplay and sarcasm in this verse. First, Paul says “we dare not classify ourselves…” The idea here is “to judge among, to judge one as worthy to be numbered among [the group]. He continues, “we dare not compare ourselves with those who commend themselves…” The meaning of this second phrase is to combine or decide, or to “pair and compare.”
Paul sarcastically implies that the Judaizers set themselves up as the standard of orthodoxy and then boasted of the same. They measured themselves by [or within] themselves. Naturally, they always measured up to the standard, while Paul never does. They had a mutual admiration society! Paul says that people who function in this way are without understanding. In other words, they are oblivious to the picture their lives present to those watching them.
If you and I are honest with ourselves, we must admit to the same tendency to judge by appearances. I believe this tendency is universal to humanity. We often think that our beliefs and practices are the standards by which all other people should be measured. But is that really the case? If we refuse to look outside of our “group,” and learn from other genuine Believers, then we too are without understanding as Paul writes.
The bottom line is if you want to boast about something, don’t boast in appearances. God has a higher standard of judgment than that.
The Next STANDARD of Judging is,
By Achievement
Most of us have used this standard too. We hesitate to admit to boasting, but we do try to make sure people notice our accomplishments or our skill set. Achievements in business, sports, academia and even ministry often become the basis for prideful boasting. Many of these entities I mentioned have associations that make achievements and excellence a high priority; public recognition and acclaim are part of the reward.
Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not opposed to excellence and achievement in our service to the Lord. But I do oppose using pride as motivation. As humans, we’re very susceptible to pride and if we indulge in it, it will destroy us. As Believers, we are called to excel and achieve because we serve Christ. Any good that results from what we do is because He is working in us.
Paul says in verse 13, “we will not boast about the things in which we have no experience. We will confine ourselves to the sphere of influence God has apportioned to us, a sphere that reaches even to you.” Paul and his team were the first to bring the Gospel to Macedonia and Achaia. So, he was not going outside of his jurisdiction by shepherding the church at Corinth.
The same can’t be said for the Judaizers. These teachers were from Jerusalem and had invaded Paul’s sphere of service. They were attempting to occupy the ground that he had won successfully for the Lord and the church. I don’t think Paul would’ve objected if these men had come behind him with supporting counsel and confirming testimony. Instead, they were trying to undermine what he had done.
In these verses, Paul speaks of territory as being marked out with a “measuring rod.” The imagery is that of surveying a district and assigning different parcels of ground to different people. He saw how God “allotted” a certain region to him and he was content to function in that place. In much of our world today, the goal of many people is to strive always for bigger and better. We see this in the mega-church movement with its celebrity leaders. In their minds, size proves success and achievement. Paul had the desire to see the Gospel go everywhere but he understood the importance of God’s boundaries. So, his boasting of his labor in Corinth was not boasting beyond measure.
In this text, there is one achievement I see that Paul greatly longed to see become reality. It’s in verse 15. He wanted the Corinthian Believers to reach a level of maturity in Christ that would demand less of his time and attention. He wanted them to grow spiritually to the point where they could address and solve their own internal issues with the power of the Holy Spirit. In turn, that would give him greater freedom to preach in areas where the Gospel hadn’t yet gone. And they would have been able, legitimately, to boast about what the Lord was doing among them. As a minister of the Gospel that’s an achievement I long to see as well.
The Final STANDARD of Judging is,
By Assignment
Paul wanted to preach the Gospel in regions beyond Corinth, even to Rome, but he wouldn’t intrude into the sphere of someone else’s ministry. “…another man’s line of things” is the same as the word previously translated as rule. He would, as we might say, “stay in his own lane.” Paul wasn’t going to boast about the work already done on another person’s territory.
And then in verse 17, Paul escapes the oppressive, negative subject of the earlier verses and moves into the freeing, positive subject of standing, ultimately, in God’s presence. He quotes Jeremiah chapter nine; “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches;but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me…”
Why is this so important? Well, look at the final verse. “For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.” Self-promotion and self-approval are meaningless in the long run. True servants of God present the facts as they are and then allow God to sort out the details and the rewards. And Jesus said, “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”
If you are a Christ-follower, then you have an assignment from the Lord. While we proclaim the same message, your assignment isn’t the same as mine, nor is mine the same as yours. But both of them are equally important. I don’t want to waste my time trying to take your assignment because I’m probably not qualified for it.
When you and I stand before our King, whether we were tall or short, handsome, homely, slim, or stout, outward appearances like that won’t mean a thing. No matter how we try to put ourselves in a good light, to cultivate a culturally acceptable appearance, it won’t matter. He knows who we really are because He knows what’s in our hearts.
The same is true for our fleshly achievements. We can have trophies, we can have accolades, we can have the honor of our peers, and we can have the praise of men, but those things will all pass away. What I want, and I trust you do too, is the approval and commendation of my King. His approval is worth more than anything the world can offer to you and me now.
And finally, like Paul, I want to understand what my assignment is and then do it, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to the best of my ability.
So, I end with the same question I asked at the beginning, “What do you boast in?”
Missed Part 1 of "Who Is Jesus?" Find it here!
Who Is Jesus? : Part 2
Isaiah 9:6-7
The Next CHARACTERISTIC (that helps us understand who Jesus is) is,
His Empathy - Wonderful Counselor
In this section of our text, the prophet gives several names to this child who is to be born. The first is Wonderful Counselor. The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament has this to say about the word, wonderful, as used in our text. “[Most commonly, the word - wonderful] refers to the acts of God, designating either cosmic wonders or historical achievements on behalf of Israel. [It] refers to things that are unusual, beyond human capabilities... a miracle so abnormal as to be unexplainable except as showing God’s care or retribution.” We could therefore call Jesus, Miraculous Counselor.
Every counselor needs to have a source of counsel, a reservoir of wisdom to draw from when he or she counsels others. What wellspring of wisdom and experience does the Wonderful Counselor draw from? First, He draws from His omniscience as God the Son. He knows all things! But He also draws from His intimate knowledge of having walked this earth in human flesh! He knows what you’re going through because He’s already experienced it. Physical pain, he’s been there. Social injustice, he’s been there too. Rejection and ridicule, He’s familiar with that. False accusations, same story? Yet unlike human counselors, His counsel is always right.
When you’re going through a trial and it seems like everyone has forsaken you, where do you turn? I hope it is to the Lord Jesus, to that counselor whose understanding and empathy far surpass anything your fellow men can offer. That’s how the Psalmist David saw God again and again; as the only one who could comfort him in his sorrow, sustain him in his suffering, and empower him in his weakness.
I’m not suggesting human counselors are never needed. But I’m suggesting that too often we seek counsel from others when God’s Word has the counsel we need. Too often we don’t like the counsel we receive from the Bible. We want relief from our struggles, but only on our terms. I’ve heard some Christian counselors, in specific situations, give counsel contrary to the Word of God; how tragic! I assure you, there will be no positive, lasting results from that kind of counsel.
But Jesus isn’t like that. His counsel is always just what’s needed and never contradicts His Word or His character. He always has His glory and our best interest as motivation. He’ll never steer us in a direction that will lead us away from Him. Even when we experience discipline from Him it is given in love and compassion. As the Son of God and the Son of Man He is uniquely qualified and equipped to be our Wonderful Counselor.
The Next CHARACTERISTIC is,
His Sovereignty - Mighty God
In Jesus, according to Colossians 2:9 and 10 “...dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And [we] are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power...” This verse, and many others, clearly reveal the oneness that exists between God and Jesus. In His own testimony, Jesus said, “I and my Father are one.” It doesn’t get any clearer than that!
Paul, writing in Colossians chapter one, reminds us that “For by him [Jesus] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things [hold together].”
If I create something I have the right of ownership. Since nothing exists that wasn’t created by Jesus, He has the divine right of ownership and control. Every other power, in heaven or on earth, is subject to Him. Even demonic powers are limited by his authority.
Jesus demonstrated His sovereignty numerous times during His earthly ministry. He calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee; He healed the lepers, gave sight to the blind, enabled the dumb to speak, healed the cripples, cast out demons, and restored the dead to life. No situation was beyond the realm and power of His control. He reminded Pilate that he could exercise no more power than what was permitted by God. He told the disciples that He could have called twelve legions of angels to deliver Him from suffering and death, but He didn’t. He chose to submit to the will of His Father.
Because of His obedience, “God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” that’s Philippians 2:9 and 10.
Notice the multiple uses of the word every in these verses. His name is above every name, none can match it. Every knee will ultimately bow in recognition of His sovereignty; either now or later. Every tongue, willing or unwilling, will sooner or later confess that He is Master. There are no exceptions!
What a privilege God gives to all who receive His Son, the Mighty God. John reminds us that “as many as believed on Him, to them he gave the right, to become the sons of God.” And the resources of that Mighty God are available to you and me!
The Next CHARACTERISTIC is,
His Eternality - Everlasting Father
This characteristic is extremely difficult for us to grasp; all our knowledge is directly related to time. All we can say about eternity is that it’s endless. But by using the word, endless, we’ve introduced a time/space concept. The word, end, proposes the idea of measurement. Yet there cannot be only one end. If one end exists, there has to be another end somewhere. So, it is impossible to define eternity in a simple way that satisfies our intellect.
But our difficulty in understanding the concept doesn’t take away from its reality. Here, I quote my mentor, Dr. J. Otis Yoder. “Our basic difficulty lies in the fact that eternal is outside of our existence, bound as we are by time and our mortality. Once we are released from our mortality, we will experience the reality of the eternal. Therefore, within our present frame of time, the best we can do is to accept the concept of eternal--by faith.”
The apostle John highlights the eternality of Christ in the opening verses of his Gospel. His words, “in the beginning...” do not refer to the beginning of Christ, but rather the beginning of time marked by the creation of the material universe. You see, “in the beginning, the Word was...”, that is, He pre-existed. John is declaring the eternal pre-existence of Christ [the Word]. John further states that Christ was with God, and in reality, He was God!
The second idea contained in this name is, Father. I don’t know what images the word father evokes in your mind. Some of that depends on your personal experiences with your earthly father. Sadly, many young people today, growing up in single-parent households headed by a mother, have no concept of fatherhood. We fathers have a tremendous responsibility to model for our children the character of our Heavenly Father, even in our imperfections.
In my experience, the word, father, immediately awakens certain memories of my childhood. Memories of my dad kneeling in prayer each day; playing softball with us in the farm pasture; memories of how hard he worked to provide for our needs; memories of how, twice, he rescued me from almost certain death. And though I know he needed to discipline me numerous times, there is only one time that I can actually recall the circumstances. My experiences gave me a concept of the fatherhood of God that included things like authority, responsibility, love, security, discipline, provision, commitment, and acceptance.
My dad has departed this world. I miss him, but I have the wonderful consolation of Jesus as my everlasting father, one who can never be taken away from me. And even if you did not have an earthly father worthy of emulation, you can have an everlasting father who will love you and care for you. His name is Jesus. He will never fail you, disappoint you, or walk out of your life. He is faithful, true, and steadfast! But He will also call you to account for your disobedience and discipline you as His child.
The Final CHARACTERISTIC is,
His Tranquility - Prince of Peace
It seems to me this name is purposely reserved until the end of the list. It is the crowning characteristic of all the others. Prince of peace–what do you picture in your mind as you repeat those words–prince of peace? I think of royalty, a prince is next in line for the throne. Yet prince can also mean the head person or one who is at the top of his profession–like Charles Spurgeon was referred to as “the prince of preachers.”
And then there’s the word, peace. The Hebrew word is, shalom. It is a word rich and full of meaning. It speaks of provision, safety, happiness, health, of favor, and more. Jesus is certainly the provider of all those things. But when I think of peace in the context of Jesus’ ministry, I think of the peace of mind and spirit that comes from knowing that my sins are forgiven; there’s nothing in my life that hinders fellowship with Him or others.
I recall my childhood and the early prompting of the Holy Spirit to abandon my sinful ways and surrender my will to Jesus. I remember my struggle with a load of guilt. I wanted relief, but I also wanted to run my own life, and be free to make my own decisions. I well remember the tremendous peace that flooded over me when I finally surrendered my will to His will.
And you know, that’s not the last time I’ve experienced that peace. As a follower of Christ, I can always tell when I’ve sinned. I lose that peace of knowing I’m in His will and favor. Many times, when that happens, I humble myself immediately, repent of my sin, claim the forgiveness Jesus offers, and the peace is restored. But other times, to my shame, I’ve resisted conviction, ignored the prompting of the Spirit, and carried the guilt for days, weeks, and even months. But oh, the relief when I finally humble myself and find cleansing, forgiveness, and - - peace!
The world you and I live in is filled with turmoil. What a glorious reality to have the assurance of peace, regardless of our circumstances. Just before Jesus went to the cross, he spoke about this peace to His disciples. In John 14:27, He said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Praise God! Jesus, the Prince of Peace, provides us a peace that goes far beyond what the world gives. To the world, peace is simply the absence of strife. But the peace that Christ gives is a peace that surpasses our human intellect. The peace Jesus offers is not dependent on our circumstances. It is the settled assurance that God is in control of my life, and He is working out His plan through my circumstances. And because of that, I can be at peace. I can rest in the assurance that what He is doing in my life will eventually bring me to a better understanding of what peace really is.
So, who is Jesus? He is God incarnate in human flesh whose kingdom exists in the hearts of all who receive Him by faith. He is the Wonderful Counselor who can fully empathize with us in our struggles because He was tempted in every way just like we are. He is the Mighty God, the one who controls all things by the word of His power, and the one who limits all other powers.
He is the Everlasting Father, existing in eternity past and on into eternity future. He is a father who will never leave or forsake His children. And, He is the Prince of Peace, the one who will ultimately usher in a worldwide peace that will restore creation to its original state where mankind and the animals will live in peaceful coexistence. But that will only happen after God has punished the rebellious, the unbelieving, and the wicked during the Great Tribulation!
You can be a part of Jesus’ reign of peace, now and in the future time. But you must prepare today. You must acknowledge Jesus as God’s Son NOW. Contrary to the Jesus portrayed in the He Gets Us campaign, He is not just a good moral example for us to follow. He is the only One who can forgive sin and make us acceptable in the sight of His Father.
Because of that you must voluntarily bow before Him in surrender and worship NOW. If you refuse, someday you will be forced to do it against your will; but then, it will be too late. Instead of an eternity of peace and tranquility, you will have an eternity of torment and regret. I have shown you from the Scripture the answer to this question; “Who Is Jesus?” Now I urge you to receive the Son of God as your Savior and Lord - TODAY!
Find Part 2 here!
Who Is Jesus?
Isaiah 9:6-7
He began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life.
He ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water.
He was weary, yet He is our rest. He paid tribute, yet He is the King.
He was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons.
He wept, yet He wipes away our tears.
He was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeemed the world.
He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd.
He died, yet by His death He destroyed the power of death.
Gregory of Nazianzus, 381 ADWhat a wonderful synopsis of the life and ministry of Jesus. Those words were penned by Gregory of Nazianzus in the year 381 AD. Evangelist Billy Sunday said, “There are two hundred and fifty‑six names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express.”
How true! The names given to Jesus in the pages of the Holy Scripture reveal various facets of His character and ministry, and that’s why there’s great value in studying those names.
Today, there is increasing confusion about who Jesus is. Jesus warned us that as we approach the end of the age, deception will increase, and many false Christs will arise. The Chosen is a popular TV drama series supposedly depicting Jesus in a new and fresh way. In the words of Dallas Jenkins, the creator of the series, “When you read the scriptures, you don't get the emotional connection, the backstory, you don't get the historical and cultural context quite as much, and you don't get the human context.”
He goes on, “You should read the scriptures, 100 percent, no question about it. But when that's all you do, sometimes you can miss out on the perspective of the cultural and historical surroundings of who Jesus was and what He was doing. And then you kind of miss out on the identification with those who knew Him. You can't fully identify with Jesus…”. He is saying Christ cannot be fully known from reading the Bible. You really need theatrically artistic renderings to bypass your mind to get to your heart. This is a terrifyingly high view of the media and an insultingly low view of Divine revelation. In addition, Jenkins has stated publicly that Mormons and Christians worship the same Jesus. That is deeply troubling and inaccurate.
In addition, you may have heard of the 100-million-dollar ad campaign that launched this year across the United States with the title He Gets Us. Its stated goal is “[to help] rescue Jesus’ reputation from the “damage” done by His followers. While I certainly agree that some who profess to be followers of Christ have damaged His reputation, the remedy isn’t in presenting a Jesus who is biblically unrecognizable. The Jesus of this campaign, He Gets Us, is nothing more than an inspiring human who relates to our problems and cares a whole lot about a culturally palatable version of social justice.
In light of all this, where can we turn to find the answer to our question, “Who is Jesus? Today, we turn to one of the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures, the prophet Isaiah. In chapter nine of his book, Isaiah received a pre-incarnation description of Jesus from God the Father. Verses six and seven will be the focus of our study, but I’ll begin reading verse one. Listen as I read Isaiah 9:1-7.
The historical setting of this prophecy is found in Second Kings 15:27-31. If we condense those verses into one sentence we could say, “The region of Galilee, which suffered tremendously during the initial Assyrian invasion of 743 BC, would become a glorious place because it would become the center of Jesus’ earthly ministry.”
In this prophecy, God revealed to Isaiah numerous CHARACTERISTICS of the coming Christ. We examine these characteristics to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?”
The First CHARACTERISTIC is,
His Humanity - A Child
Verse six begins, “for unto us a child is born...” This establishes the characteristic of His humanity. Without this, He wouldn’t have been able to identify with us. Hebrews 4:15 reminds us we have a high priest who is able to be “touched with the feeling of our infirmities…” because He was tempted in every way like we are, yet He did not sin.
In Isaiah 7:14, we have the promise that Jesus would be born of THE virgin. The Hebrew word, almah is preceded by the definite article. This indicates a specific virgin selected by God in His foreknowledge, the Virgin Mary. Jesus’ birth by Mary affirms his humanity. Her miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit affirms His deity. The fact that He was a historical person can hardly be denied by anyone willing to honestly evaluate the evidence.
Dr. Ron Rhodes reminds us that “by becoming a man, Jesus did not cease being God. The incarnation of Christ did not involve the subtraction of deity, but the addition of humanity. He had two natures (divine and human) conjoined in one person.”
Philippians 2:6 to 8 remind us that, “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (English Standard Version)
John reminds us that “the Word became flesh and dwelled among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.” What a wonderful reality that “...we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” In His humanity, He tasted death so that we might experience eternal life.
The coming of the Son of Man would fulfill the promise God made to Eve, way back in the Garden of Eden. He promised that the seed of the woman, that’s a physical descendant, would bruise or crush the head of the serpent. Jesus was and is the seed of the woman.
He came as a helpless infant, the baby of a humble, godly woman, Mary. Joseph was His adoptive father. His earthly beginning went largely unnoticed in the halls of power, but his birth would change the course of history. Truly, He was and is, Immanuel, God with us.
The Second CHARACTERISTIC is,
His Identity - A Son
“...unto us a Son is given.” Being a son gives identity and privilege. My sons have an identity and privileges that belong to no one else. Jesus, as the only begotten Son of God, has a unique identity and privilege. The angel informed Mary that, among other names, Jesus would be called the Son of the Highest and the Son of God.
In Jewish culture, the firstborn son became the principal heir. He received the inheritance; but he was responsible to be a spiritual leader, to carry on the faith in the family line. Jesus was unique as a son in that He was Mary’s firstborn, AND the only begotten Son of God. In that regard, the Hebrew writer says that God “Has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds...”
As the Son of God, Jesus most often referred to Himself as the Son of Man. He used this title in the context of His Jewish culture. According to Dr. Brad Young, “...the people listening to him already knew something about this mysterious figure from Jewish apocalyptic teachings. Jesus employed the most powerful designation for the future deliverer which could have been used by any teacher. When the church fathers thought that the expression ‘Son of man’ referred to the humanity of Jesus, they missed the deeper significance of the designation in ancient Jewish apocalyptic writings. The term was an elevated way of referring to the messianic task. Jesus used this expression when He spoke about the final judgment.”
By referring to Himself as the Son of Man, Jesus was stating not only His humanity but also His deity. This fact becomes clear when we see the vitriolic reaction of the Pharisees to this term. Recall too, how at the trial of Jesus, the High Priest, Caiaphas, responded to Jesus’ statement; “Hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.” This was a clear reference to Daniel 7:13. “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven!” And by this statement, He was condemned to death!
As the Son of Man Jesus has made it possible for us to become the sons of God! The writer of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers. Hallelujah!
The Next CHARACTERISTIC is,
His Regency - A Government
“...the government shall be upon his shoulder...” Here is the announcement of kingship and a kingdom. What government is God revealing to the prophet, Isaiah? Remember the angel, Gabriel, told Mary that the Lord God would give to her son, Jesus, “the throne of his father, David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever...” He was a physical descendant of David’s royal family line. God had promised David in II Samuel 7 that there would always be one of his descendants to sit on the throne. The throne and the kingdom were established forever by the decree of God Almighty!
We must remember that Jesus, our Messiah, was born into the Jewish race. The promise is that He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. That promise has never been rescinded! We know that Jesus came to His own people, but the majority did NOT receive Him because they were looking for a political king, someone to free them from bondage to the Romans. Because of this rejection, the kingdom was expanded and we as Gentiles were grafted in; we were given the opportunity to become the spiritual children of Israel by faith.
The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day were not wrong in believing that the Messiah would one day set up an earthly kingdom, their timing was just wrong. At His first coming, the government Jesus came to set up was not an earthly one, but rather a kingdom that rules and functions in the hearts of all who receive Him. He will indeed, one day, rule over all the kingdoms of the earth, but that is for a time yet to come.
In prophetic scriptures, there are often events that have multiple fulfillments. We see this here in our text. The prophets prophesied what God revealed to them, but they generally couldn’t see the time gap between Christ’s first advent and the time when He will usher in the peaceable kingdom described in Isaiah chapters 11 and 65. We have a different vantage point than they did!
Isaiah states the government will be upon His shoulder. The shoulder is a place of strength where a load or burden is carried. It is used as a symbol of authority. But the shoulder is also a place of refuge. Where does a frightened or crying child put their face? On the parent’s shoulder! It is a place of comfort and security. Jesus exercises both facets in His government; authority and compassion.
Today, the government established by Jesus is peopled by those who voluntarily meet its requirements for citizenship and salvation through faith in His atoning blood. But a time is coming when ALL mankind will bow before Him, and every tongue will confess Him as Lord. You can choose today when you will bow to his regency; now or later.
Join me next time for the conclusion of this teaching. Listen to Part 2 here!
Engaging in Spiritual Warfare
II Corinthians 10:1-6
A pastor friend of mine and his wife were visiting the country of Nigeria. They had gone to bed for the night and were sound asleep. All of a sudden, his wife cried out; someone or something was shaking her bed. So, they turned on the lights to see if they could see what was happening. But there was nothing under the bed and nothing attached to it that could make it shake. So, they went back to bed.
But it wasn’t long before the same thing happened again! This time, my friend said he thought about the possibility of an attack by a demonic spirit. So, taking his very frightened wife in his arms he prayed and asked God to rebuke the evil spirits in the name of Jesus and through the power of His shed blood. After the prayer, there was no unusual manifestation or anything like that. So, they went back to bed and slept peacefully for the remainder of the night.
Spiritual warfare is a controversial subject within Christendom today. There are generally two main responses to the topic. One is under-emphasis, and the other is over-emphasis.
Some people don’t believe there’s anything to it. “It’s all a figment of your imagination,” they say. So, they ignore it, even though the Scriptures plainly talk about it. There are others who blame every sin, every conflict, every problem, and every sickness on demons. And they’re convinced those demons need to be cast out. What is really needed is some biblical balance.
We know from the Gospels that Jesus cast out demons. But those events don’t make up the majority of the record. He healed many people of sicknesses, opened blind eyes, and cured leprosy. In most of those cases, there’s no mention at all of demons or evil spirits. Many of the ailments Jesus cured were simply the effects of living in a world affected by sin.
But spiritual warfare isn’t only about the things I’ve already mentioned. It’s dealing with wrong thoughts and words, whether our own or the ones others speak about us. It’s about dealing with temptations that arise out of our fleshly desires. It’s about controlling our thought processes. It’s about learning how to handle criticism in a Christ-like way.
In our study of Second Corinthians, we’ve come to chapter ten. In the first six verses of this chapter, Paul writes about engaging in spiritual warfare. However, we must note the context of this teaching. As I mentioned near the beginning of this study, this second letter to the Corinthians is largely Paul’s personal defense of the legitimacy of his ministry and his apostolic authority. There are several chapters in the middle, which we’ve covered, where he addresses other subjects. But here in chapter ten, he returns to the main subject, the defense of his ministry.
Remember, there was a stubborn minority of Judaizers in Corinth who opposed Paul. They resisted his authority. They constantly criticized him and tried to sway other people to join their faction. So, Paul, reluctantly, but forcefully calls them to account. This is a vital portion of Scripture for those in leadership, especially those who lead in the church. With that background in mind, let’s read the text, Second Corinthians 10:1 to 6.
Engaging in spiritual warfare is a demanding task. In this text, we learn several REQUIREMENTS for success in that struggle.
The First REQUIREMENT (for engaging in spiritual warfare) is,
Know Your Position
Paul’s critics in Corinth, mainly the Judaizers, accused him of being a hypocrite, of being two-faced. They said, “You’re really bold in your letters, but when you’re here in person you lack courage.” It’s like they were saying, “you seem like two different people; will the real Paul please stand up.” In verse two they questioned his motives and accused him of walking after the flesh. Of course, they would do that because Paul didn’t focus on keeping the Mosaic law as they did.
But Paul knew who he was and what his position was in Christ. He knew what he had been, and he knew what God had called him to be. And even though they attacked him unjustly, look how he responded. He said, “I entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.” This is so important! Leaders are always targets for criticism. Some of it is deserved, but much of it isn’t. But it is critical that leaders learn how to respond in the meekness and gentleness of Christ. We can only do that if we know what our position is in Christ.
Now, remember that meekness isn’t the same as weakness. Paul’s response to these false accusations was calm and controlled, but it was also forceful. Meekness is not laying down and allowing people to walk all over you. Jesus characterized Himself as meek, but he leveled some blistering rebukes at the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and religious leaders of His day.
Verse two in our English translations is difficult. Here is what I understand it to mean. “I pray that you may not make it necessary for me to show when I am present, that official authoritativeness, (in this case, apostolic) which I am minded to show against those who charge me with unworthy motives.” What is the official authority Paul is talking about? We find it in the opening verse of this second letter to the Corinthians. He wrote that “he was an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God…” He wasn’t self-appointed or even appointed by other men. That gave him unique authority in the church. So, Paul knew his position was established by God and he wasn’t going to back down.
As ministers of the Gospel, many of us, like the apostle Paul, know what it’s like to be attacked unjustly. And no, we’re not apostles. But if we’re convinced that God has called us and put us in the ministry, then we can endure the accusations of our critics just like Paul did. And we stand on the authority of the Word of God and the elders who ordained us.
Knowing who we are in Christ is a requirement if we engage in spiritual warfare.
Another REQUIREMENT (for engaging in spiritual warfare) is,
Know Your Weapons
As I mentioned earlier, Paul’s critics accused him of walking according to the flesh, which is living in a way that pleases natural desires. Paul kind of brushes that accusation aside and says, “yes, it’s true, we do walk in the flesh.” In other words, we live in a physical body in a material environment, a world made up of matter. But there’s a huge difference between walking in the flesh and walking according to the flesh. One is natural life, the other is allowing our flesh, our body, and its desires, to control our choices and our actions.
Paul admits we are in a war but reminds us that we do not fight according to the flesh or in the same ways that wars are fought on a physical battlefield. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, which means “of the flesh.” They are not the weapons of the unregenerate, those who don’t know Christ. Sadly, I fear we too often try to use those kinds of weapons in our battles with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Instead of approaching with meekness and gentleness, we come with a sword and overwhelming force. It would’ve done Paul no good to go to Corinth and start knocking heads together!
So, our weapons are spiritual rather than physical. And Paul says they are mighty, that is, they are empowered by God, for the pulling down of strongholds. There are some unique words used in this phrase. First, “pulling down.” We compare it with its usage in Luke 1:52. This is in the Magnificat, or the song of Mary, during her visit with Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. In response to her being chosen to bear the Christ child, she said, “He has pulled down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.”
The other word is strongholds. This is the only place in the New Testament where this word is used. It may be that Paul was picturing the rock forts on the coast of his native Cilicia. Though they seemed impregnable, they were pulled down by the Romans in their attacks on the Cilician pirates. The strongholds Paul is addressing in this text also need to be torn down.
If the weapons of our warfare are not physical, then the strongholds Paul is talking about aren’t physical either. Look at verse five. “We tear down arguments of human reasoning and every lofty idea that is raised against the knowledge of God.” So, the strongholds that need to be torn down are in our minds and hearts. The false reasonings and imaginations of man’s mind are to be treated as forts to be conquered. And there are plenty of them nowadays!
What are these false reasonings and imaginations of man’s mind? They are ideas that run counter to the truth of God as revealed to us in His Word. In this context, these are particularly false teaching found among those who profess to know God. The false teachers at Corinth were trying to persuade the majority that their way was best.
Their false reasonings included requirements other than faith in Christ for salvation. They taught that “yes, you need Jesus, but you also need to keep the law.” I recently heard a pastor say we are saved by grace through faith, but we keep our salvation by obedience to God’s commands. That statement is not biblically accurate. First Peter 1:5 clearly states that we are “kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” So, we are saved by faith, and we are kept by faith. Our obedience to the commands of Christ is in loving appreciation of the gift of our salvation, and according to John 14:23, it results in a deeper level of intimacy with Jesus and God. “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. “
Further, “we take captive every thought to make it obey Christ.” Paul continues the military metaphor; leading away of captives after storming the stronghold. There are two possible meanings here. One is that we bring our thought processes completely under the control of Christ. We subject our reasonings to God’s truth and decide on that basis whether we are right or wrong. That is a valid understanding and an important one too.
But, given the context, I think what Paul is saying is that his goal is to bring the false teachers to the place their strongholds of human reasoning will be torn down and their minds will be captivated by their obedience to Christ. Paul’s desire is that the false teachers will leave the ruined strongholds of human reasoning and by their obedience to Christ be led captive into the new stronghold of proper belief and practice. This is the essence of intellectual liberty and freedom in Christ.
As Christ-followers our greatest weapon is the truth, but truth is somewhat abstract. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:17 and 18 that the tangible and practical weapons in this war are the Word of God and prayer. I would also add Peter’s words in his first epistle, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” Our testimony is a weapon in this spiritual battle.
Brothers and sisters, if we don’t know our position, if we don’t know what our weapons are, or if we aren’t skilled in using them, we are not prepared to engage in spiritual warfare!
The Final REQUIREMENT (for engaging in spiritual warfare) is,
Know Your Enemy
Sun Tzu was a well-known Chinese general and military strategist who lived several centuries before Christ. He wrote a military manual, The Art of War, that is still studied by military leaders around the world. While the principles or maxims he wrote to deal with physical warfare, many of them can be applied to spiritual warfare too. Like this one.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
How does that fit in the context of Paul’s teaching here? He writes, “We are ready to avenge every act of disobedience when your obedience becomes complete.” It seems to me that Paul is continuing the military metaphor. After most of the rebels in Corinth have surrendered as proof of their obedience to Paul’s teaching, the rebels who remain will be punished.
Paul knew who his enemies were in Corinth. Remember, before his conversion he would have used very similar arguments to try to persuade his opponents. So, this terrain, to use a military term, wasn’t unfamiliar to him. He knew both himself and his enemy and this final verse of our text expresses his confidence in what the final outcome would be.
There are other portions of Scripture that detail for us some of the characteristics and tactics of our enemy, Satan. We should be familiar with those, but not become fixated on understanding every facet of the kingdom of darkness. In fact, we should be more familiar with the tactics used by false teachers to lead people astray so we can refute and defeat them.
One final point in this requirement of knowing your enemy; people are not the enemy, Satan is. He uses people as his tools. Remember when Jesus told the disciples of His impending suffering and death, Peter spoke up and said, “Lord this will never happen to you!” And Jesus said, “’Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’” While it’s important for us to know our enemy, you and I also need to be very careful that we don’t allow ourselves to become tools of the enemy.
In closing, let’s review one more time the requirements for engaging in spiritual warfare. Know your position, who you are in Christ, and what or whom you are responsible for. Know your weapons, become familiar with the Word of God, and prayer. And finally, know your enemy well enough that his tactics won’t surprise you. Above all conduct yourself with the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
The Graces of Giving
II Corinthians 9:1-15
Our Scripture portion today addresses an important subject for every follower of Jesus. It is the subject of Christian stewardship. When Jesus was on earth, He had a lot to say about money and possessions. But statistics reveal that not many churches provide regular or systematic teaching on the subject of stewardship.
Why this lack of teaching? It may be because pastors don’t want to be seen as self-serving. Or it may be because unchurched people have used the worn-out excuse for not attending, “they’re always asking for money.” Or maybe, the members show by their lifestyle choices that their wants come first and if there’s anything left over, they’ll give that to God. And so, many pastors shy away from teaching stewardship. That leaves it up to para-church ministries to fill in the gap on this vital subject.
Ministries that provide biblical, financial counseling give us some interesting glimpses into the finances of Christians. Statistically, 20 percent of church members do 80 percent of the giving. Of those 20 percent, only about 2 or 3 percent actually give a tithe or 10 percent of their income. It seems obvious that there’s a need today for teaching on this subject.
Let us turn to II Corinthians 9:1-15 for our Scripture reading. Here is God’s Word to us.
Here we discover three GRACES of giving that should be every Christian’s experience.
One of the interesting things about this text is, the graces are laid out in verses six and seven, then they’re expanded in the remaining verses. Our title is, “The Graces of Giving.”
The First Grace is,
Give Generously
Paul begins this section of teaching with a very simple analogy, the law of sowing and reaping. In Paul’s day, the seed was scattered by hand, today’s farmers use modern equipment to plant the seeds in the field, but the principle is still the same. The harvest is in direct proportion to the number of seeds planted.
The word translated sparingly in our English Bibles carries the meaning of stingy. If you are stingy when you plant your seed, you will have a poor harvest. But if you sow generously, you will have a bountiful harvest. If you know anything about planting, you know that if the plants are too far apart, the weeds take advantage of that. They’ll grow and choke out the good plants, reducing the harvest. If plants are closer together, as they grow, they’ll shade out the weeds.
Verses eight to eleven of our text expand on this idea of sowing generously. One of the first questions you may ask is how do I know if I’m giving generously? That is a fair question. A basic starting point is a tithe or 10 percent of my income.
Some of you may protest, “that’s the law and we’re no longer under the law.” Let me remind you of something. In Genesis chapter fourteen, Abraham paid tithes long before the law was given! And think about this; under the law, the tithe was an obligation, it was required. Shouldn’t we, under grace, be able to do above what the law required? Jesus Himself taught that principle in the Sermon on the Mount. Grace was given so we could live by a higher standard than simply what the law required!
We could focus our entire message on the principle of the tithe. But for the sake of time, let’s agree that the minimum tithe is ten percent. So, “how do I know if I’m giving generously?” If the tithe is ten percent, giving generously must go beyond that minimum.
I want you to notice verse eight. God is our example of giving. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work...” Can you see the generosity of God toward you? Notice the words, all, and abound. Did God give ten percent, fifteen percent, or 20 percent? God is ABLE to make ALL grace abound. The key word is able. But whether He does or not depends on us. Too often, we don’t give Him the chance to demonstrate His super-abounding grace! One reason we fail to give generously is that we do not understand the generosity of God toward us.
Some people have the mistaken idea that the tithe is God’s, and the rest is mine! But I believe the tithe is to remind us that all we have belongs to God. Paul reminds us in First Corinthians 4:7 that we don’t have anything, except what we’ve received from God. I know that’s a difficult concept for those of us who live in the western world. We take pride in our self-sufficiency, and our ability to take care of ourselves, thank you. I worked hard for it, it’s mine, and no one is going to take it from me!
The Israelites were commanded to tithe in order that, “that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.” That’s Deuteronomy 14:23. The fear of the Lord is something every Christian needs to understand. When we don’t recognize His lordship, then we put our own interests and ideas ahead of His. This leads to a focus on the material, and like the Israelites of old, we fall into idolatry. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” A willingness to give generously demonstrates that you and I understand - everything we have belongs to God.
God is no cheat! He rewards those who serve Him with a pure heart. Jesus Himself gave us the principle in Mark 4:24. The measure we use to give to others, that same measure will be used to give to us. If we want God to bless us, then we need to be generous with others.
There is no law or rule to guide generosity. Rules are for those who want to do the bare minimum. Generosity requires an understanding that God is able to meet my basic needs if I obey Him. Verse ten of our text refers to that. Generosity requires a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. He will guide each Christian to do what He wants.
Let me close our discussion of this first grace of giving by reading the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” My level of generosity, your level of generosity shows where our hearts really are.
Let us strive to develop this grace of giving generously.
The Second Grace is,
Give Purposefully
“Everyone should give as he purposes in his heart.” As believers, our hearts, and our decision-making capabilities, are guided by the Holy Spirit. Purpose shows intention, it demonstrates discipline. Giving haphazardly can lead us to the point where we say, “if we give OK if we don’t give, that’s OK too.” Purpose shows we’ve given careful thought to our giving. And well we should since it is required of us stewards that we be found faithful.
How do we develop this grace of giving purposefully? Notice verse twelve. Paul says the “administration of this gift” supplies the need of the saints. The word administration is diakonia. We get our English word, deacon, from this. The service of this gift supplies a specific need. I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed this or not, but the more information people have about a specific need, the more likely they are to give generously. And that’s the way it should be. We can’t give purposefully if we don’t know what the needs are. Experience shows that a structured plan for giving provides the best results. That’s not to say that spontaneous giving is never suitable, but we must be careful about appeals designed primarily to move our emotions.
Suppose your congregation takes a mission offering for one or more ministries inside or outside the local church. Each time that offering is posted in the bulletin, there are many who contribute; hopefully, many who give their tithe. Now suppose that the week before that offering is received, you have a bulletin insert or some kind of digital announcement explaining some specific needs relating to that ministry. If that is done, I can guarantee you the giving will increase according to the knowledge of specific needs.
People like to give to specific needs. Why? One reason is the results are tangible. They can see the difference their gifts have made. It helps them to connect with the recipient. And it also gives them specific items for which they can praise the Lord! Paul says your purposeful giving motivates many thanksgivings to God! I find it a great joy to know that God has used me to meet a specific need in someone else’s life.
Another aspect of Paul’s command to give purposefully simply acknowledges we have many choices. If you’re like me, your mailbox brings you many appeals for gifts. How do we decide which organizations or ministries to support? What is the purpose of your giving, and what do you want it to accomplish? I believe the Bible outlines some specific purposes for giving.
God established the tithe in the Old Testament for three basic purposes. Those purposes have continuing significance and application for us. First, the tithe was to support the priests and the Levites. The New Testament clearly teaches us that those who “preach the gospel should live of the gospel,” First Corinthians 9:15. That is, they should be supported by the local church to perform the work of the church. This can include the pastor, staff, missionaries, and evangelists.
Second, the tithe was gathered to feed the widows and orphans of the Hebrew society. Paul makes it clear in Galatians 6:10 that we are to do good, especially to those who are part of the household of faith; to care for our own people first. Finally, the tithe was given to feed the non-Jewish poor living in the Hebrew community. The first half of Galatians 6:10 says we are to do good to all mankind. That would be those in the local community, but outside the church.
The biblical principle is--our tithe belongs to our local church. Giving to other ministries should be offerings above that. I also believe we should be extremely careful about donating to secular groups or causes. I have learned the hard way about this. At one time I donated to the National Wildlife Federation and purchased some of their products. That was until I discovered that they supported China’s one-child, forced abortion policy. Many environmental groups, whether focused on animals, wilderness, or whatever, see humans as the problem so they support population control. We need to be careful and do our homework well.
The second grace of giving is, to give purposefully. Be systematic, be disciplined, and be careful.
The Final Grace is,
Give Cheerfully
Paul says in verse seven, each one is to give, not out of distress or sorrowfulness, not by compulsion. Instead, he says, “give cheerfully.” The Greek word for cheerfully is, hilarous! If you go to your dictionary and look up our English word, hilarious, you’ll discover it comes from this Greek word. So, we are to give hilariously!
I realize the word hilarious may bring images of silliness or foolishness. But the Greek word does not convey those ideas. It means to be agreeable toward someone. It means boisterous merriment. It is exuberant, forceful, and contagious like laughter is contagious. When you’re around people who are laughing, if that laughter is appropriate, it’s contagious. That is the way our attitude toward giving should be.
In verses thirteen and fourteen Paul speaks of the effects of cheerful giving. First, God is glorified because this kind of giving can only come from a heart that has been redeemed! Liberality is a characteristic of God. We humans are by nature selfish, and miserly. So giving cheerfully is a mark of transformation at the core of who we are.
According to verse fourteen, cheerful giving motivates prayer and develops relationships. Look at what Paul said. The recipients of your gift pray for you and “long after you.” Those words express an intense desire. Those who receive the gift want you to understand how much they appreciate, not just the gift, but you yourself! When my wife gives me a gift, I appreciate it. But I appreciate her much more than the gift. The gift itself is simply a tangible expression of something intangible; her love for me!
Paul closes this text by saying, “Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.” I believe Paul is referring to the graces of giving as “God’s unspeakable gift.” I quote Adam Clarke. “I conclude, therefore, that it is the work of Christ in the soul, and not Christ himself, that the apostle terms the super-abounding or exceeding great grace, and the unspeakable gift; and Dr. Whitby’s paraphrase may be safely admitted as giving the true sense of the passage. “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift: i.e. this admirable charity (proceeding from the work of Christ in the soul) by which God is so much glorified, the Gospel receives such credit, others are so much benefitted, and you will be by God so plentifully rewarded.” Amen!
Yes, learning the graces of giving will bring unspeakable joy into your life. Let’s ask the Lord to teach us these graces of giving; to give generously, purposefully, and cheerfully. As we obey the Holy Spirit’s direction for our giving we will be laying up treasure in Heaven.
Guidelines for Group Giving
II Corinthians 8:16-24
The Bible is a very practical book, it teaches us how to live well. Reading through its pages we find specific teaching on a wide variety of subjects. That’s not to say that the Bible addresses every possible subject, but it does give us principles that can be applied to every situation you and I face in life.
For example, the Bible doesn’t give us a command, “Thou shalt not play the lottery.” But Proverbs 13:11 warns, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” And First Timothy 6:9 says, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” To me, those verses speak clearly about whether or not I should “play the lottery.”
Deuteronomy 22:8 commanded the children of Israel “When you build a new house, then you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring guilt of bloodshed on your household if anyone falls from it.”
Immediately, someone will say, “that’s Old Testament, we don’t need to follow that anymore.” Not so fast! It’s true that Jesus came to fulfill the Law and we don’t need to build railings around the roof of our house; unless, of course, it’s a flat roof we use as part of our living space. But there’s a larger principle here; it is to show proper care for those around you.
We follow this principle by removing hazards on our property, covering a ditch, or cutting down a dead tree. Most of us carry liability insurance to cover any injuries that someone might incur on our property. We’re concerned about the welfare of others, so we take steps to lessen their risks when they are on our property.
For the past few weeks on The Voice of Hope, we’ve been learning about giving from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. Today’s text is II Corinthians 8:16 to 24. These verses provide details of a gift that was being gathered by the Believers in Asia Minor for the poor and persecuted saints in Jerusalem.
These verses also provide practical guidelines on how a gift of this type should be managed. While this teaching may not seem so practical to our daily lives as Christ-followers, there are important things we can learn as we attempt to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us. I believe these final verses of this chapter apply especially to the recipients of financial gifts, like churches, evangelistic ministries, missionaries, Christian schools, and other Christian organizations.
I’ve titled our study, “Guidelines for Group Giving.” Listen carefully as I read our text, Second Corinthians 8:8 to 16. This is God’s Word to us.
This text gives several important DIRECTIVES that will help us use best practices in group giving.
The First DIRECTIVE is,
Engage Trusted Stewards
When Titus heard from Paul about the needs of the church in Jerusalem, he immediately set out to remind the Corinthians of that need and to receive a gift from them. The last chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians informed them of the need, but they hadn’t done anything yet. Because of his zeal, Titus took it upon himself to go to Corinth to collect their gift.
Titus was accompanied by another brother who was well-known among the churches of that day. We don’t know who that person was, perhaps Luke. But when we get down to verse 22, we discover that another faithful brother has been added to this team. Here is a key principle; administration of a gift like this needs to engage trusted stewards. Having multiple people responsible for the gift is a safety mechanism that protects everyone involved.
Look at some of the words that are used to describe the men on this team: earnest, willing, approved by the churches, gifted administrators, diligent, cooperative, and Christ-glorifying. Those seem like men who could easily gain my confidence. I would call them trusted stewards. But let’s also think about some words that aren’t used to describe them: thrifty, polished, business-minded, or focused on the bottom line. Do you see the difference? These don’t necessarily need to be mutually exclusive, but they often tend to be so.
Too often today, when a church or organization is raising funds for a particular need, they focus on men with this second group of characteristics when the character qualities of the first group should be of greatest priority. Character really does matter.
I think it’s important to notice that, with the exception of Titus, these men weren’t chosen by Paul. They were chosen by the churches. The churches had a vested interest in this process. They chose men who had a track record, who had proven their integrity, men who could be trusted to handle a gift of this size. I’m amazed sometimes at the confidence people place in those they don’t really know. They forget that money tends to have a very corrupting influence.
Paul has no reservations about the character of these messengers. He actually refers to them as apostolos. Now, granted, that is “apostles” in the general sense of “ones being sent,” not those who had seen the Lord face to face. These men were being sent by the churches and were given responsibility for the proper accounting of the funds involved in this project. And they were committed to doing it for the glory of God (verse 23). What a good example for us to follow!
The Next DIRECTIVE (that will help us use best practices in group giving) is,
Avoid the Appearance of Impropriety
This is so important in our day. Notice that Paul had requested the gift for the Jerusalem church, but he had nothing to do with the administration of it. No one would be able to accuse Paul of favoritism, mismanagement, or lining his own pockets. I believe this is a good pattern for us to follow. Pastors of churches shouldn’t have anything to do with the handling of finances in their congregations! That’s the work of deacons or elders. When I see a pastor who handles the church finances, immediately the red flags go up in my mind.
I receive a regular email from an organization called Ministry Watch. They’re a non-profit whose mission is “to restore transparency, accountability, and credibility to the evangelical church, to the end that the world might glorify the God we serve.” Almost every week their emails report on pastors involved in the mismanagement or theft of finances. It’s a blot on the name of Christ and His church! It gives unchurched people a reason to justify their refusal to attend and participate. Jesus said, and I paraphrase Luke 16:11, “those who are unfaithful in handling finances are not to be trusted with the Gospel either.”
One of the reasons for having multiple people involved in a giving project like this is to avoid the appearance of impropriety. This isn’t a matter of not trusting people, it is a matter of protecting them from accusations of unfaithfulness. If you are given responsibility for a project like this, you should immediately insist that others be appointed to help you. They may catch some innocent mistakes you make in the process and spare you from accusations of mismanagement or even the loss of your reputation.
I know of a situation where a church treasurer had almost exclusive control of the church finances. When some questions were raised about the status of funds and the suggestion was made to have an audit of the finances, he became very upset and defensive. He accused the questioners of not trusting him. His defensiveness only aroused greater suspicion and the situation didn’t end well. Oversight of finances is never threatening to someone who is honest.
In the matter of giving, you and I need to avoid the appearance of impropriety at all costs.
The Final DIRECTIVE (that will help us use best practices in group giving) is,
Encourage Generosity
Evidently, the men who were in charge of carrying this gift to Jerusalem were also charged with soliciting in the churches along the way. According to verse 24, they were to be welcomed by the local congregations and to be given the opportunity to share in the need. I know from personal experience that some churches can be very jealous of their finances. Paul was encouraging the churches of Asia Minor to share generously with their needy brothers and sisters in Jerusalem.
In the group of churches that I’m part of we have a procedure for helping individual congregations with financial needs that are bigger than their ability to handle. It involves several steps of vetting and accountability. When those requirements are met, the need is then sent out to all the pastors and deacons who are part of this larger group of churches. Some give out of the church benevolence fund or take a special offering for the need. Others choose not to participate. But our people are encouraged to be generous. Finally, a report of how the need was met is to be submitted by the local church where the need originates.
Many of us know what it’s like to have large medical bills, the losses caused by a house fire, or some other financial burden. What a blessing it is to have the church, the body of Christ, come alongside and help to lift that burden! After you experience something like this, you know what it feels like, and it makes you more willing to share in the needs of others. Because, as Paul stated in the earlier verses of this chapter, the circumstances could easily be reversed someday and the ones in need now will be the givers then.
In the last verse of this chapter, Paul writes, “Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.” The word picture Paul creates here is of a great host watching how the Corinthians will receive and respond to these trusted stewards chosen by the churches to oversee the collection and distribution of this gift. You may already know this, but generosity begets generosity. Paul is using positive peer pressure to motivate generous participation.
As I said at the beginning of this teaching, I believe the directives in this text apply beyond the church, especially in the world of Christian non-profits. But please be aware that the definition of Christian varies widely, so make sure you know what is meant when the organization uses that term.
Do you know how the finances are being used by the charities you support? You should. And that information should be readily available whenever you request it. If you get stonewalled or are given the runaround when you seek information from an organization, that should raise your suspicions. A healthy organization will be eager to answer your questions and provide additional information without delay
Has the organization been a trusted steward of the money donated by others? Do they, or the people who staff them, have a track record of trustworthiness? Do they avoid the appearance of impropriety? What’s the lifestyle of the administration and staff? What do their headquarters look like? Those are all valid questions and concerns.
Once these questions are answered satisfactorily and you believe in the mission of the organization, be generous. And remember, generosity begets generosity. May God bless you as you understand and apply these directives to your giving.
Achieving Excellence in Giving
II Corinthians 8:8-15
Not long ago at Heralds of Hope, we were discussing the importance of our core values as an organization. We currently have seven core values that guide us but it’s hard to remember all of them. So, our Executive Director, Tony High, worked to condense them into just three main items. Then the rest were added as subpoints to those three.
One of our core values is organizational excellence. Under that heading are things like integrity, transparency, and this – “do it well and on time.” Do you find excellence and punctuality a challenge in your personal life? I do. Why is that? These two things are affected by my sense of value. The more important or more valuable something is to me, the more likely I am to strive for excellence and to complete the task on time.
In business, sports, the arts, and other fields many people pursue excellence. In most cases, they do it for financial rewards or public acclaim. As for punctuality, in those circles, if you don’t show up on time you’ll soon be looking elsewhere for work. Other people depend on you to fill your assigned role or place so the whole group can achieve excellence.
When I was a child, my siblings and I would sometimes do a task hurriedly just to check it off our list of chores. My parents would remind us that any job worth doing is worth doing right. They wanted us to learn to do our work well for two reasons. First, we serve the Lord through our work. And second, we find personal satisfaction and fulfillment in a job well done.
Is God satisfied with mediocrity, with our performing a task or rendering service just to say it’s done? No! Under the old covenant, God demanded the best animals as sacrifices and offerings and the finest materials for the Tabernacle construction. In Colossians chapter three, in the new covenant, after listing character qualities we Believers are to put on, Paul twice says, and I paraphrase, “whatever you do in speech or action, do it in the name of Jesus and do it with excellence.” As a Christ-follower no area of my life is exempt from this command.
Last week in our time together, we began a study from Second Corinthians chapters eight and nine on the subject of giving. My teaching from the first seven verses of chapter eight was titled The Heart of Giving. Today’s teaching is taken from the same chapter, but verses eight through fifteen. I’ve titled it, Achieving Excellence in Giving. So, listen as I read our text, Second Corinthians 8:8 to 15. Here is the Word of God to us.
Paul’s instruction provides the STEPS you and I can take to achieve excellence in giving.
The First STEP (in achieving excellence in giving) is,
Find the Pattern
Think about it; if you want to pursue excellence in any field of study or service or production of a product, where do you begin? You begin by finding a pattern to follow. That can be a plan like a blueprint, or it can be a person who is skilled in their field. Solomon wrote that “there is nothing new under the sun.” Very few things today are created from a brand-new idea. Usually, newer things are improvements on items or skills we already have.
So, what about excellence in giving? Where do we find a pattern for that? In our text, Paul points the Corinthian Believers and us to Jesus as the supreme example of excellence in giving.
If you go back to verse one of this chapter, Paul had told the Corinthians that he wanted them to know about the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia. He was talking about the gift they were collecting for the church in Jerusalem. Verse nine of our text begins with a similar phrase, “you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is the gift of our salvation.
Paul goes on to show us the pattern of excellence in giving. “…though he [Jesus] was rich [in every way], yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” Let’s explore this sentence.
Jesus is the Creator of all things according to John 1:3 and other Scripture portions. He is also the sustainer of all things, Hebrews 1:3. In John 10:30 Jesus said, “I and my father are One.” Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. That is the extent of His riches. He is God! He is all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere present, and eternal in existence. He owns everything and ultimately controls everything.
Yet, for our sakes, yours, and mine, He became poor. The classic Scripture passage on this is in Philippians chapter two. Even though He was equal with God, He didn’t insist on holding on to that richness. He could have, that was His right. But He voluntarily emptied Himself of His divine privilege and took on the form of human flesh. Not only that, but he became obedient to His father to the point of death, even the degrading death of the cross. And He did this, not for His brothers, like we’re being instructed here. Instead, He did it for us as His enemies - so that we could become His brothers. What an amazing gift!
Through His poverty, you and I are made rich. We are made heirs of God and heirs together with Christ! What He has becomes ours. If you remember from my previous teaching on the heart of giving, I said that one of the primary motivations that reveal the heart of giving is a dedication to God. That is what we see exemplified in the life of Jesus.
As in verse 5 of this chapter, His was an act of self-devotion. He gave Himself to the Father, to His will and plan. He wasn’t thinking about Himself. He was thinking about you and me and our needs. The Macedonian Believers understood and embraced the gift of God through Jesus. That’s why they could give even beyond their ability to the needy in Jerusalem.
If you and I are serious about achieving excellence in giving, we need to meditate more deeply on the pattern Jesus gave us through His life and ministry. According to First John 3:16 and 17, how we give to others is a test of our love for Christ. “By this we know love because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
How will I ever be able to obey this command to lay down my life for my brother if I’m not even willing to open my heart and hands to meet his financial needs? Too often, I grasp tightly what God has given me thinking it’s mine. I find all kinds of reasons, good logical reasons, even Scriptural ones, I think, for not opening my hands or my wallet to meet the need. I find this text to be deeply convicting.
When you and I give to the needs of our brothers and sisters, we are following Christ’s example. So, the first step to achieving excellence in giving is to find the pattern, Jesus Christ.
The Next STEP (in achieving excellence in giving) is,
Follow the Procedure
Paul wrote in verse eight that he was testing the sincerity of their love by the diligence of others. He was holding up the example of the Macedonian Believers as a pattern for the Corinthians to follow.
Paul was writing to the Corinthian church, challenging them to finish what they, apparently, had begun earlier. It seems that the Corinthians had been the first to commit to raising funds for the church in Jerusalem, but they hadn’t followed through. Paul says, “it will be beneficial for you to finish the work you promised to do.” Why did he say that? So that others would follow their example. Someone once said, “the smallest, good deed is better than the greatest intention.” Paul could have used that phrase here.
He reminded them of their professed desire to begin this collection a year earlier, but they had never moved beyond that. It was still in the intention stage. Having good intentions is the beginning of the process but it’s not the end. One must follow through and carry out those intentions. Paul was urging them to make their “walk match their talk.” They had been quick to pledge and slow to fulfill.
The inaction of the Corinthians reminds me of the story Jesus told in Matthew 21. He said, “A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” The Corinthians were like that second son. They had said they were willing to give, but they hadn’t done it.
One time I was with a group of men, and we were talking about some of the financial needs at Heralds of Hope. One of the men said, “If I had a million dollars, I’d donate it to the ministry.” Another brother quickly spoke up and said, “What about the 20 dollars in your pocket?” You and I may have made a similar statement or had a similar thought at some point. It’s easy to deal with what is theoretical, but harder to deal with our realities.
Paul said their giving was to be based on what they had, not what they didn’t have. Yes, he had challenged the Corinthians with the example of the Macedonians who had given beyond their ability. But he also pointed out that the acceptability of their gift was based on what they had, not what they didn’t have. We can’t give what we don’t have. (You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip).
If you and I want to achieve excellence in giving, we must first find the pattern, which is the example of Jesus, and then follow the procedure, move from intention to action.
The Final STEP (in achieving excellence in giving) is,
Fulfill the Purpose
Look at verses 13 and 14. “For I do not mean that others should be eased, and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.”
Achieving excellence in giving relies, at least in part, on knowing why you’re giving. The purpose, according to the text is equality. This word is used a lot today. But what does it mean?
Strong’s Concordance defines it as “likeness in condition or proportion, by implication, equity.” It is the state of being equal but also includes the element of justice. In Colossians 4:1 Paul wrote, “Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.” He uses the same Greek word in this verse as used here in our text. Greek scholar, Mavin Vincent, points out that this isn’t necessarily equality of condition, but the brotherly equality growing out of Christian relationships.
Paul encourages the Corinthians and us to think about the possibility that roles could someday be reversed. Instead of the givers, we could be the ones in need, relying on our brothers and sisters for aid. It’s helpful to remember the words of Jesus; “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into yourbosom. For*with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”*
I sometimes struggle with how to apply this concept of equality. What does equality look like? It may look like someone is living in poverty when in reality they just have different priorities than I do. I would never buy a new car, but I don’t want to drive a rusty junker either. Someone else may be content to drive a rusty junker even though they could afford something much nicer.
Someone may live in what I would consider substandard housing, but it may be that’s just the way they want it. You’ve probably seen what I’ve seen from time to time, several new, expensive vehicles parked outside a shabby-looking mobile home. My priorities are different than that. So, equality can be somewhat subjective.
When true poverty exists, it isn’t necessarily a reflection of a person's character or motivation, or choices. Things happen beyond our control that can leave us in great need. A personal injury that results in lost employment, a property loss from wind, fire, or rain, a lawsuit, or any number of other situations. Jesus said we will have the poor with us always. I believe that is so we can learn how to achieve excellence in giving.
Paul closes this section by quoting a loose paraphrase of Exodus 16:16 and 17 where Moses was giving the people instructions about gathering manna. “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
Much of the modern church has lost this concept of caring for our brothers and sisters. If a financial need arises, one of the first questions that are asked is, “did they have insurance?” I realize it’s prudent to have some minimum protection for your property and health given that expenses can quickly rise into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. But it is impossible to foresee every situation and cover every contingency.
I commend those churches or groups of churches that have mechanisms or programs in place to assist their brothers and sisters in the event of catastrophic losses. It is encouraging to see the generosity of God’s people in response to human suffering.
Do you want to achieve excellence in giving? This teaching from Second Corinthians chapter eight has given you clear steps to follow in reaching that goal. First, find the pattern, His name is Jesus. Then, follow the procedure, don’t just talk about giving, do it! And give generously from what you have. Finally, fulfill the purpose, give to relieve your brother’s burden knowing that someday, most likely, the circumstances will be reversed.
Together, let’s take these steps that lead us along the path to achieving excellence in giving.
The Heart of Giving
II Corinthians 8:1-7
One of the few things I remember about my grandpa’s garden from when I was a boy is that he raised celery. If you’ve only eaten celery bought in the grocery store, you don’t really know what good celery is. Raising celery the old-fashioned way is labor intensive but it produces a vastly superior taste. And the heart of a fully bleached celery stalk is especially tasty. The heart of a watermelon is also the best part of that fruit.
Sometimes when we talk about an issue or a situation, we ask ourselves, “what’s the heart of the matter?" In other words, what’s the core of the issue or the real reason behind the situation? We’re looking for causes, not just symptoms.
In Luke chapter six Jesus contrasted good men and evil men by saying, “For outof the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” A man’s life gives evidence of what’s really in his heart. Solomon wrote, “Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life.” The NIV says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
In Second Corinthians chapters eight and nine, Paul takes up the subject of giving. The context is a physical need, and the giving is financial. In light of the Scripture I just mentioned, what is the heart of giving? What is it that motivates God’s people to give to the needs of others?
That’s what we want to discover today from our text, II Corinthians 8:1-7. If you can find that text in your copy of the Scripture or on your phone app, I invite you to follow along as I read.
This text highlights several MOTIVATIONS evidenced by the Macedonian Believers that reveal to us the heart of giving.
The First Motivation is,
A Dedication to God
Did you catch what Paul said about the Believers in Macedonia? The reason for their generosity, in spite of their extreme poverty, was– “they first gave themselves to the Lord.” This motivation is at the core of genuine, biblical giving.
Christ-followers are not the only people who give generously. Many of the wealthiest people and families in the world give huge sums of money to their favorite causes. These people are often referred to as being altruistic. That simply means they have an unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others.
Think about the giving of men like Gates and Soros and Bezos, and families like the Rockefellers, the Walmart Waltons, and others. Do they really have unselfish regard for others, a devotion to the welfare of others? Or do they have a specific goal or agenda in mind that motivates their giving? If they do, that isn’t altruism. That’s giving to get something in return or to accomplish what they think is best. Many times they give without regard for how the recipients of the gift feel about it and regardless of the impact it has on them.
Paul’s commendation of the Macedonian Believers emphasizes their devotion to God. We read that these Believers, unlike the wealthy, were giving out of their extreme poverty. They were at the bottom of the economic scale. And yet, they didn’t give grudgingly. No, they did it with overflowing joy!
What about you and me? What about our giving? Are we so dedicated to the Lord that we’re willing to give, even out of what we need? I don’t see this as a command, it is a record of what happened. But it was included in divine revelation for a reason. Much of the Bible is narrative, but we are to learn from what is recorded in it.
In the developed world there are organizations that study giving patterns. In one such study, researchers were challenged to state the results of their survey in 25 words or less. I assume they were surveying professing Christians because their answer was - “giving is down because we don’t love God as much as we love a lot of other stuff.” What does that reveal about our dedication to God?
In 2005 Thomas Cannon died. He was 79 years old. When he was three years old (1929) his father died, and he grew up in a three-room shack without running water or electricity.
As an adult, Thomas worked for the postal service but never made more than $25,000 a year. After retirement, he and his wife lived in poverty. Yet, over the course of his life, he gave away more than $156,000. Was Mr. Cannon a Christ-follower? The newspaper article didn’t give that detail, but very few people, even Believers, are willing to live like him and do what he did.
By giving themselves to God, these Macedonian Believers understood their obligation to care for God’s people. Remember, they had only the Old Testament Scriptures and perhaps a few recorded portions of the teachings of Jesus. But like Zacchaeus, they understood that a changed heart resulted in concern for the wellbeing of others, especially brothers and sisters in Christ.
The first motivation that reveals the heart of giving is a dedication to God.
Another Motivation (that reveals the heart of giving) is,
A Delight in God’s Goodness
Macedonia, at the time Paul was writing this, was being strangled by high taxes and regulations by Rome. Furthermore, we learn from Acts 17:5 and First Thessalonians 2:14 that these Believers were facing serious persecution. We have many brothers and sisters around the world today who find these twin pressures part of their daily experience.
Paul told the Corinthian Believers that their brothers and sisters in Macedonia were going through a severe test. His word choice here refers to the intense heat used in the refining of metals. Peter echoes the idea in his epistle writing of “…the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”
So how could the Macedonian Believers delight in God’s goodness? Not only were they living in poverty, but they were also going through intense persecution. Would you and I be able to delight in God’s goodness in similar circumstances? The answer to that question is found in the first motivation we looked at – dedication to God. They obviously realized two things. First, all they possessed belonged ultimately to God. And second, that what they had gained in receiving the Gospel far outweighed any material loss.
When you think about the most thankful people you know, those who delight the most in God’s goodness, are they the wealthiest people? Are they people who’ve had, what you might call, an easy life?
On one of my trips to Asia, I was invited to the home of a brother who was very active in the Lord’s work. When we arrived at the house, we entered a room that I assumed was just part of the family house. I learned later that this was their entire living quarters. He, his wife, and their son lived in a one-room apartment, about 12 feet by 12 feet. They share a kitchen and bathroom with the other tenants who live on the ground floor. All their earthly possessions, with the exception of the motorcycle, were stored in that room.
And yet this brother displays quiet confidence in God and delights in His goodness. I was blessed to make his acquaintance and deeply challenged by his godly example. I have much to learn from my brothers and sisters in the developing world.
So far, we have two motivations that reveal the heart of giving: a dedication to God and a delight in God’s goodness.
The Final Motivation (that reveals the heart of giving) is,
The Desire to Share
When a person is dedicated to God and delights in His goodness, then, the desire to share with others is a natural response. Paul writes in verse 4 that the Macedonian Believers. “…[implored] us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”
So, even though they were living in poverty, even though they were going through a time of intense persecution, they were begging Paul for the privilege of sharing in this relief offering for the church in Jerusalem. He further says that they went beyond their actual ability and gave more than they could really afford!
Keep in mind that the Jerusalem church was predominately Jewish and didn’t always look with favor on the Gentile churches. Normally, if you or I were treated poorly by someone we wouldn’t be eager to help them in their time of need. But this just reinforces the level at which the Macedonian Believers were dedicated to the Lord. By sharing in the need of their brothers and sisters they were sharing with the Lord Himself.
Four young men, Bible College students, were renting a house together. One Saturday morning an old, bedraggled man knocked on their door. He had a silvery stub of whiskers on his face. His clothes were ragged and torn. His shoes didn’t match. And he carried a wicker basket of “past their prime” vegetables he was trying to sell.
The boys felt sorry for him and bought some of his vegetables. Then he went on his way. But every Saturday after that he appeared at their door with his basket of vegetables. As the boys got to know him better, they began inviting him in to visit before continuing on his rounds.
They learned that he lived just down the street in an old run-down house. They discovered he could play the harmonica, that he loved to play Christian hymns, and that he really loved the Lord. So, every Saturday they’d invite him in, he’d play his harmonica and they’d sing together.
They became good friends, and the boys began looking for ways to help him. One day they collected a bunch of clothes and secretly left them on his doorstep. The following Saturday morning, right in the middle of all their singing, he suddenly stopped and said to them, "God is so good!" And they all agreed, "Yes, God is so good."
He went on, "You know why he is so good?" They said, "Why?" He said, "Because yesterday, when I got up and opened my door, there were boxes full of clothes and shoes and coats and gloves. Yes, God is so good!" And the boys smiled and said, "Yes, God is so good."
He went on, "You know why He is so good?" They answered, "You already told us why. What more?" He said, "Because I found a family who could use those things and I gave them all away." This elderly man, in his poverty, had the desire to share with those less fortunate than him. And he had the joy of being the one God used to meet that need.
As you think about these motivations that reveal the heart of giving, they are simply a mirror of the life of Jesus. His dedication to His Father was such that He could say “I always do those things that please Him.”
His delight in the goodness of His Father is stated clearly in John 17 where He said, “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me;for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the lovewith which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
And finally, Jesus’ dedication to God and His delight in God’s goodness motivated Him to share eternal life with all who will believe in Him. In Ephesians, Paul writes, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
Paul ends this text by urging Titus and the Believers at Corinth to follow through on the commitment they’d made toward the needs of the church in Jerusalem. He complimented them on their abounding faith, speech, knowledge, diligence, and love. And he closed by saying, “now, be diligent in giving too.”
Now you know the motivations at the heart of giving: a dedication to God, a delight in God’s goodness, and a desire to share. Join me in asking God to develop those motivations more fully in our lives.
Heavenly Father, help us to better understand the heart of giving so we can better represent you to our brothers and sisters and to those around us who don’t know you. May our dedication to you, our delight in your goodness, and our desire to share become part of our daily experience. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Contagious Joy
II Corinthians 7:13-16
What is the value of unity in the Body of Christ? And what is the primary response to that unity?
Listen to Psalm 133. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.”
There are two similes in this brief psalm that illustrate the value of unity. But, because these were written in a different time and culture, we may miss the meaning of these.
The details of how the holy anointing oil was compounded are in Exodus chapter 30. You can read them at your leisure. This oil was made from the finest ingredients and was very fragrant. It was used only for anointing the priests and the furnishings of the Tabernacle. Anointing with this oil signified something set apart or holy to the Lord. Its composition and limited use made it very precious. Unity among God’s people is precious; it’s also rare.
The dew of Hermon is completely different from the ordinary dew in North America. It’s a phenomenon peculiar to Palestine and the East. It’s a soft mist that comes from the Mediterranean during the summer when the heat is greatest, and the country is burning up. It is attracted by the coolness of the inland heights, condensed in abundant moisture upon their sides, and creeps down upon the plains, reviving and refreshing every green thing.
It comes first of all to Mount Hermon and helps to keep up its continuous snow cover, and to fill its springs, and feed its cedars, and then it flows down and makes the grain to grow green in the valleys, and the vines to swell out their purple grapes in the vineyards.
These similes involve a blessing—life forevermore. Spiritual life, with its abundant blessings, is signified in the anointing oil, and physical life is sustained by the growth of abundant vegetation. When we experience unity, it involves our whole person, spiritual and physical.
And what is the basis of unity? Jesus, in John 17:17 to 21, points to truth as the basis of unity. He prays we would be sanctified by God’s truth and that will lead to unity. According to Ephesians 4:3, that unity is gifted to Believers by the Holy Spirit, but we are responsible to maintain what has been given to us.
So, what is the primary response of Believers when unity is experienced? That’s what we want to learn from our continuing study from Second Corinthians. We focus in this episode on the final verses of chapter seven. I’ve titled our study, “Contagious Joy.” Here is the Word of God from Second Corinthians 7:13 to 16.
This text outlines the blessed EFFECTS of contagious joy in the lives of Believers and the Church when unity is realized.
The first EFFECT of contagious joy is,
It Invigorates the Spirit
In Romans 12:15 Paul wrote, “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” The context of that verse is the importance of love and unity among Believers. And here in our text, Paul is taking his own advice! He is overjoyed at the joy of Titus.
Paul writes of the refreshment of spirit Titus experienced because the Corinthian Believers responded positively to Paul’s correction. Their genuine repentance, which we looked at in the previous message, restored them to unity in Christ and with each other. That is something to be excited about! And that excitement, that joy is invigorating, it’s lifegiving.
You and I know that when unity is absent, strife and division create tension. Unless the issues causing the tension are resolved that tension remains elevated. It’s spiritually, emotionally, and physically draining. We’ve all experienced what that feels like.
Back in chapter two, verse 4, Paul talks about the anxiety he experienced because of the conflict in the church at Corinth; much affliction, tears, and anguish of heart. Conflict is depressing; it robs us of our joy, and we just wish it would go away. But when conflict is resolved there is comfort and overflowing joy.
Verse 14 of our text informs us that Paul had boasted to Titus that the Corinthian Believers would do the right thing; they would respond to the severe letter Paul sent by Titus’ hand. Imagine yourself in Titus’ position carrying that letter, being the bearer of bad news, so to speak, and wondering how the letter and you would be received. Over and over in your mind, you replay the possible responses of the people you must meet. In fear and trembling you deliver the letter, and wonder of wonders, it is received with meekness and repentance.
I have had some experiences like this in life where the joy was so profound it seemed like my heart would burst. I remember one experience as a young man where I turned on the music in my car and sang at the top of my lungs because of the joy I felt inside. My spirit was so invigorated that I couldn’t keep the joy inside, I had to express it.
I fear, brothers and sisters, that we’re much too hesitant to share our joy. And when we refuse to share it, we may be robbing someone of the encouragement they need right at that moment. Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.” Contagious joy invigorates the spirit; let’s share it for the glory of God.
The next EFFECT of contagious joy is,
It Increases Love
Paul speaks in verse 15 of Titus’ inward affection. In the KJV, this is the same word in Second Corinthians 6:12 translated as bowels. In the Hebrew mind, the bowels, the innermost parts of the human body, were considered to be the place of the tenderest affections. Paul is talking about genuine love.
We know Paul loved the Believers in Corinth. He had planted the church there and spent 18 months discipling them in the ways of the Lord. That love was tested by their squabbling about personalities and their tolerance of open sin in their ranks. That love motivated him to write a severe letter of rebuke that has been lost to us. That very same letter that was delivered by Titus. Genuine love reminds people of their commitments and holds the truth before them like a mirror.
Titus’ love for the Corinthian Believers was growing, it was more abundant than it had been before. Why? Because he remembered their obedience and how they had received the letter of correction from Paul with fear and trembling and how that affected their response to him. As the bearer of the letter, he probably expected their scorn and rejection; but they welcomed him in their genuine repentance.
Paul states in verse 13 that he was filled with exceeding joy because of Titus’ joy. If you think that didn’t increase his love for Titus and for the Corinthian Believers, I think you’ve missed an important point.
In Scripture, the connection between joy and love is unmistakable. Here are Jesus’ words from John 15. “As the Fatherloved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and*that your joy may be full.This is Mycommandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”*
So, I conclude, obedience leads to fullness of joy or contagious joy, and fullness of joy leads to greater love for each other. If you and I are able to genuinely rejoice with those who rejoice, our love for them will deepen.
The final EFFECT of contagious joy is,
It Inspires Confidence
Notice the closing verse of our text. “Therefore, I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.” The bulk of this chapter, from verses six through sixteen, expresses Paul’s joy in the obedience of the Corinthian Believers. That joy gave him the confidence that they would continue to grow in their faith and love.
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he wrote, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…”
The apostle John must’ve had this same confidence because he wrote in his third epistle, verses 2 to 4, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.” Again, we see the connection between truth, obedience, and joy.
Contagious joy inspires confidence, confidence in God, and confidence in other people. That’s because contagious joy can only be experienced by those who know Jesus! Unbelievers can experience happiness, but not contagious joy because they don’t know the source of truth or joy. They haven’t experienced the joy of sins forgiven, the joy of being adopted into God’s family, or the joy of obedience to God’s commands.
The Believers in Corinth, in spite of their spiritual immaturity, were God’s children. When they repented of their self-centeredness and their casual acceptance of sin in their midst, they experienced genuine, God-honoring, contagious joy. You and I can have that same joy – today.
Here one more time is the effects of contagious joy. It invigorates the spirit. So, let’s not be hesitant to share our joy.
Contagious joy also increases love among Believers. If you and I are able to genuinely rejoice with those who rejoice, our love for them will deepen.
And finally, contagious joy inspires confidence in both God and His people as He completes His work of grace in them. Are you experiencing the effects of contagious joy in your life? If not, why not?
Are You a True Believer?
I John 3:1-10
In the past, John 3:16 was one of the most well-known verses in the Bible. But today, the most well-known verse is probably Matthew 7:1; “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”
If you try to live a Biblical lifestyle and believe that’s important for all Believers, you’ll soon be accused of being judgmental. But is it judgmental to point out obvious violations of Biblical commands? Did Jesus mean we can’t hold each other accountable for obedience to His Word?
Not long ago, I was driving on the interstate, and I passed a state trooper who was checking out a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of the road. In a split-second decision, I failed to slow down or move over into the other lane as the law requires. Soon, the lights of a police car were flashing in my rearview mirror. He informed me of my traffic violation and wrote the citation.
Can I accuse the officer of being judgmental? I knew what the law is, and I knew I violated it. I didn’t like the fine, but I deserved it. The law is an objective standard. It says you must slow down or move over for any law enforcement or emergency personnel along the highway.
So, what’s the difference between the objective standard of laws made by men and the objective standard of God’s Word? The only difference I can think of is that God’s standard is always completely just, man’s standard isn’t! And yet people who willingly acknowledge the standards man sets up, ignore the standards God has set up. Go figure!
I believe the Bible gives us clear teaching that enables us to discern between true followers of Christ, and those who are only pretenders. We do need to be careful that our conclusions are never formed out of pride or feelings of superiority. At the same time, Jesus Himself reminds us, “…by their fruit you will recognize them.”
Our Scripture text today is First John 3:1-10. If you can, follow along in your Bible as I read. Here is God’s Word to us.
As we examine this text, I want you to see three EVIDENCES of a true Believer.
The First Evidence is,
A New Identity
If I claim to be a follower of Christ there must be a visible difference between who I was before accepting Christ as Savior and Lord, and who I am now! Second Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
The verb tense indicates this becoming new is something that took place in the past, but the results or effects continue into the present. John says here in our text that, as Christians, we are called the children of God. You were adopted into God’s family at a specific point, your conversion. But there are continuing results and benefits of that adoption. Your life should be changing to identify you more closely as God’s child!
When you become a child of God you bear the name of Christ. It is an identifier of who you are. In addition, our text says that if you are a genuine child of God, then the world will not understand you. What you do and how you act won’t make sense to them. First Corinthians 2:14 says, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Too many Christians today, and too many churches, seem to think it’s their job to prove to the world just the opposite; that Christians really aren’t that different from anyone else.
Now I don’t advocate dressing a certain way or avoiding certain activities just to be different, odd, or weird. There’s no value in that. But, if my obedience to the Word of God makes me different, then so be it!
I can tell you this; if you’re an obedient follower of Christ you will look different, you will talk differently, you will act differently, and you will BE different from those who don’t know Jesus. We’re so afraid of being identified with Christ because it may make us the odd man out, or cause people to give us strange looks. So what! John says, “they won’t understand you because they don’t know Jesus.”
John goes on to say that we are right now, presently, the children of God. In our humanity, frail and broken as we are, we bear the identity of our Father. But if you think the difference between a believer and an unbeliever is great now, just wait until you see what the future looks like.
We don’t know all the details of the eternal state. We don’t know for certain what our visible appearance or bodily composition will be. But we are assured that we will be similar to Christ because we will be able to gaze upon His holy presence without fear. Think about that. We will be so identified with Christ in His absolute purity and holiness that we will be able to gaze openly upon His face. AWESOME!! This kind of intimacy comes only from a relationship, from our identity with Christ.
How do I know this? It says so right here in verse two of our text. And also, in First Corinthians 15:49, “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, weshall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.”
That’s what Jesus did. He came to earth as a man to bear the image of humanity, while at the same time He bore the image of the heavenly. His identity was based on His relationship with the Father. In the original creation, we were made to have intimate fellowship with God. That fellowship was broken by sin, it was repaired at the Cross, and it will be perfectly restored at the resurrection! Only those who find their identity in Christ truly find themselves as God meant them to be. And what a difference that identity makes for all who find it.
Look at verse three. “Everyone who possesses the confident expectation of being in Christ’s presence maintains an outward conduct that demonstrates the reality of inward holiness.” If you truly believe what Jesus taught, and if you understand that this life is not all there is, then, you will live differently than those around you. You will be identified as a child of God, a Christ-follower.
The Second Evidence (of a true Believer) is,
A New Affinity
I believe the keyword of this section is in verse six - abides. It means to stay, to dwell, to remain in a certain place or relationship. It is present, continuous action. It is now and from this point forward. I used the word affinity because it means, an attraction, a desire for something.
Look at what I read, what activities I enjoy, what music I listen to, what kind of people I find fellowship with, and how I spend my money, and that will tell you whether or not I’m a genuine follower of Christ. A true Believer is identified by the things he or she is attracted to. I will have the desire to do those things which please Jesus, and so will you.
John prefaces this new affinity by pointing out the nature of sin. Sin is, violating God’s holy standard. Prior to becoming a follower of Christ our natural attraction was to sin and self. We had no choice; we were slaves to sin, and we couldn’t help ourselves. But John reminds us that Christ came to take away, our sins. He alone was qualified to do that because He was sinless. Jesus was the perfect embodiment of holiness, the perfect representation of His Father.
This new affinity, this new desire, changes the way we look at life. Jesus said of Himself, “I only do those things which please the Father.” Can you say that? I can’t honestly make that statement. It’s my goal, but in practice, I fall short. I try, by God’s grace, and the power of His Holy Spirit in me to choose what’s right. And I don’t obey God’s commands in order to earn His approval. I already have that, based on my acceptance of what Jesus did for me at the Cross. But I obey His commands because I love Him. I want to make Him happy to call me His child.
I don’t understand how some people think. Take any genuine love relationship, whether it’s a dating couple, a husband and wife, or a parent and child. Those involved in genuine love relationships will do whatever it takes to please the other person. They’ll be courteous, kind, gentle, and protective; you name it. There is an attraction there, an affinity, and they are doing whatever they can to build the relationship. You say that’s normal, and I agree.
So, why is it that when Christians strive to obey the Bible and live to please Jesus and their Heavenly Father they’re labeled fanatics by other professing Christians? Isn’t this relationship with Jesus the only one that will really last beyond this earthly life? Shouldn’t this relationship take priority over all the others in our lives?
John reminds us that anyone who sins habitually, as a lifestyle, is not experiencing Christ’s presence and does not know who He is. Such a person doesn’t have an attraction, or an affinity for Christ because there is no relationship. In addition, he reminds us that anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ but does not lead a righteous life, is a fake, a phony. In verse seven he says very emphatically, “My dear children in the Lord, let no person, no, not even one, mislead you and take you astray: the one who practices righteousness is righteous because Christ is in him.”
What are your desires? What kinds of things attract you? If you’re a genuine Believer, you have an affinity for God and the Word. You desire those things that please Him.
The Final Evidence (of a true Believer) is,
A New Personality
Webster defines personality as “the organization of an individual’s distinguishing character traits, attitudes, or habits.” Every human being has a personality. Your personality is based largely on your inward character. Who you really are at the core will determine how you respond to the external forces that press upon you through life’s experiences.
Our text points out one undeniable fact; there are only two options. Either you’re a child of God and practice habitual righteousness, or you’re a child of the devil and practice habitual sin. Too many people today want to try and find a middle road. They want to be identified with Christ to escape eternal punishment, but they also want to identify with the world and all its temporary pleasures. I must tell you, there is no middle road. You can’t have it both ways.
John points out that anyone who has been “born of God” does not sin habitually because the seed (or nature) of God is in him. It is the Divine nature, the inherent holiness of God Himself imparted to the Believer. He has a new core! It is out of this core that all his decisions are made. In John 7:37 Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
The old nature is not totally eradicated, but neither is it in control! If the old nature was totally eradicated, we wouldn’t need Paul’s counsel in Second Corinthians10:5, “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
We can obey this command because the nature of Christ has transformed our character and given us a new personality. He is now on the throne of our lives, and we walk in step with Him as he enables us to become in practice what we already are in position. And what a blessed walk it is. Not always easy or pleasant, but always blessed.
And so, John says the children of God are identified by their inability to sin habitually. The opposite is also true; the children of the devil are identified by their inability to practice righteousness habitually. Someone might try to say, “but I’m a victim of my circumstances.” Oh no, look at verse eight of our text. “Christ appeared on earth for the purpose of demolishing and destroying the deeds of the devil.” You’re not a victim, you’re not powerless, and you’re not without hope, because Christ came! He broke sin’s power at Calvary and broke death’s power at the resurrection. And you can have a new nature, His Divine nature. And you can have victory!
Our text closes with a final observation and proof of the Divine nature. “Anyone who doesn’t habitually practice righteousness doesn’t have the Divine nature, therefore, he does not love others.” Genuine love for others is only possible if we have received the Divine nature.
As I close let’s review the evidences of a true Believer. I call you to examine your life even as I examine mine. Are there evidences to support your claim of being a Christian? Does your identity hold up under scrutiny, does mine?
And what about your affinity? What do you desire most? What kind of people are in your closest circle of friends? Remember, we’re commanded not to be judgmental, but we are commanded to be discerning. And if we ever needed to exercise that discernment it’s today.
Does Jesus live in you? Is He in control of your life and the choices you make? Does your personality reflect His presence? Do you demonstrate the evidences of a true Believer?
Joyful Thanksgiving
Psalm 95:1-11
It was October of 1942 and Captain Eddie Rickenbacker was on a mission in a B‑17 to deliver an important message to General Douglas MacArthur in New Guinea. But somewhere over the South Pacific the B-17 became lost. Fuel ran dangerously low, so the men ditched their plane in the ocean, hurling them into the most harrowing adventure of their lives.
For nearly a month Captain Eddie and his companions fought the water, the weather, and the scorching sun. They spent many sleepless nights recoiling as giant sharks rammed their rafts.
But the greatest enemy they faced was starvation. Eight days out, their rations were gone. It would take a miracle to sustain them. And then... a miracle occurred. Captain Eddie's own words describe what happened. "Cherry," that was B‑ 17 pilot, William Cherry, "read the service that afternoon, and we finished with a prayer for deliverance and a hymn of praise. There was some talk, but it tapered off in the oppressive heat. With my hat pulled down over my eyes to keep out some of the glare, I dozed off."
"Then, something landed on my head. I knew that it was a sea gull. I don't know how I knew; I just knew. Everyone else knew too. No one said a word but peering out from under my hat brim without moving my head, I could see the expression on their faces. They were staring at that gull. The gull meant food...if I could catch it."
And the rest, as they say, is history. Captain Eddie caught the gull. Its flesh was eaten. Its innards were used for bait to catch fish. The survivors were sustained, and their hopes renewed because a lone sea gull, uncharacteristically hundreds of miles from land, offered itself as a sacrifice. By now you know that Captain Eddie and his crew were rescued.
But what you didn’t know is that he never forgot. It was gratitude that prompted the old man to visit an old broken pier on the eastern coast of Florida. Every Friday night, until his death in 1973, he would return, walking slowly and slightly stooped with a large bucket of shrimp. His bucket filled with shrimp was to feed the gulls...to remember that one which, on a day long past gave itself without a struggle to sustain life...like manna in the wilderness.
If someone would ask you, “what’s the most distinguishing characteristic of a follower of Christ,” what would you say? Would it be love, faithfulness, obedience, or something else? I believe love is the most distinguishing characteristic of a Christian because Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” But there are some other qualities that follow closely behind love. And we want to look more closely at one of those qualities today, the quality of gratefulness.
A grateful spirit should be one of the defining characteristics of a Christian. When we realize who we are outside of Christ, and who we are in Christ, the only logical result will be a life of gratefulness.
Our text today is Psalm 95. If you’re in a position where you can get your Bible and follow along, I invite you to do that as we look at this Psalm together. That’s Psalm 95. I’ve titled the message, “A Joyful Thanksgiving.”
Read Psalm 95
This Psalm highlights three BLESSINGS that should call us to joyful thanksgiving.
The First Blessing that should call us to joyful thanksgiving is,
The BLESSING of Salvation
The psalmist begins by inviting us to praise the Lord as the “rock of our salvation.” Our salvation is the greatest blessing we have from God. But how is God the “rock” of our salvation? This imagery is common in the Psalms. The Hebrew word translated here as rock, literally means a cliff or an outcropping of rock. It is solid, immoveable, and permanent.
Figuratively, the word rock means refuge. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” Psalm 46:1. When David was fleeing from his pursuers, the cliffs and crags were a refuge, a place of protection. They provided places where he and his men could hide. The cliffs gave them a natural advantage over their enemies because they had the high ground. What does that mean to us as we meditate on the blessing of our salvation?
It means that the author of our salvation is secure, He is steadfast, He is unchanging. If this were not the case, we would have continual anxiety. We wouldn’t have assurance because the foundation of our salvation could shift under our feet. But God isn’t like that. He is solid immovable, and permanent. Our salvation is secure in Him; praise God!
The Hebrew word for salvation is yesha. It speaks of liberty, deliverance, prosperity. Under the first covenant, God promised His people deliverance and prosperity if they obeyed His laws. Under the new covenant, established by Christ, salvation sets us free from our sin, delivers us from the power of sin and provides a prosperity that far surpasses anything material. Let’s think about these aspects of our salvation.
First, deliverance from sin. Do you remember when you said yes to the call of God’s Holy Spirit in your life for salvation? The indescribable feeling of being cleansed from sin, the load of guilt being lifted, the peace that flooded your soul? You had the wonderful assurance that you had been adopted into God’s family and all the promises of His Word became yours in that moment! You had exchanged masters. Before, you were a slave of yourself and the devil, now you are a slave of Jesus Christ.
And as a follower of Jesus, not only have you been cleansed from sin, but the power of sin is broken in your life. Now, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you can say NO to the desires of your flesh. You can say No to the temptations the devil brings to you. You couldn’t consistently do that before. That reality should make you and me very thankful!
Then there’s the concept of prosperity. I feel sorry for people who preach a “health and wealth gospel.” They encourage others to pursue a relationship with God who will provide them with wealth, health, and an easy life. Not only is that contrary to the whole tenor of the New Testament, but it gets people’s focus on things that only last for time. The greatest prosperity for the Believer is in the future, in eternity. Our prosperity is found in the promises of God.
Listen to what the Apostle Peter wrote. “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to glory and virtue: by which have been given unto us exceedingly great and precious promises: that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” That’s real prosperity! I’m a sharer of the divine nature, I’m an heir with Jesus Christ of all that belongs to our Father. And so are you if you are a Christ-follower.
Do you see why David urges us to get excited about our salvation? In verse two of our text, he says we should come quickly before the face of God with our thanksgiving. Quickly doesn’t mean suddenly or carelessly; it’s the idea of being quick to realize the source of our blessings and acknowledge Him. Our thanksgiving is a declaration of praise, a confession of God’s character and His works. It should be our daily experience. Twice in these two verses he urges us to make a joyful noise to the Lord. Our praise should be enthusiastic, exuberant. We should be excited about the blessing of our salvation.
The Second Blessing that should call us to joyful thanksgiving is,
The BLESSING of Creation
In verses three through five, we’re reminded of the greatness of God in creation. Here, the psalmist clearly states the supremacy of the LORD, Jehovah. He is the Great God, none of the gods of the heathen can compare with Him. “In His hand are the deep places of the earth.” Even the things in nature that are not visible to our eye are under God’s control. His outstretched hand maintains the delicate balance of our universe, and of our planet.
“The heights of the mountains are His also.” This phrase takes me back to verse one where the psalmist talks about God as a rock. When I look at a mountain, I see strength, stability, permanence. When Jesus wanted an illustration of something that was humanly impossible, he said, “Truly I say unto you, That whoever shall say unto this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatever he says.” That statement astonished the disciples.
The Psalmist goes on, “the sea is his, and he made it.” I can never stand on the seashore without a sense of awe. Looking out into the distance to the point where the water meets the sky, hearing the thunderous crash of the waves against the rocks, and thinking of the teeming life beneath the surface, all contribute to my sense of smallness and the wonder of God’s greatness.
Finally, he says, “his hands formed the dry land.” Like a potter at the wheel, molding and shaping the clay, that is the picture given here of God’s creative ability. The marvels of the earth we live on are too numerous to mention. But they are proof of God’s existence. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen.”
When was the last time you thanked God for the marvels of his creation? Psalm 19 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.” When was the last time you stood enthralled by a beautiful sunrise or sunset? When was the last time you went outside at night and looked up into the heavens at the numberless stars and remembered that God has a name for every one of them? And then remembered that you are much more important than a star in God’s sight. Have you ever thanked God for the endless cycle of the seasons and the regularity of day and night? All these and so much more should call forth praise and thanksgiving from the people of God.
The Final Blessing that should call us to joyful thanksgiving is,
The BLESSING of Relation
In verse six, we are invited again to come into God’s presence, this time to prostrate ourselves before the Lord in worship. Why? Because He is our maker. He is the one who has created us in His likeness and image. He gives to us the very breath of life. Everything we are and everything we have is a result of His blessing. As I think about those things, that’s reason enough to be joyfully thankful. But there’s more, so much more.
Notice verse seven. “He is our God; and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.” These words don’t just speak of provision; they speak of relationship, they are personal. I can’t think of anything greater than our personal relationship with God the Father that should call us to joyful thanksgiving. To think that the sovereign God, the One who created all things and sustains all things, the One who is absolutely holy and just in all He does, would desire a relationship with you and me? He lives within our hearts! Ponder that, it’s astounding!
And beyond that, realize this; any successful human relationships we enjoy are a result of our relationship with God through Christ. You cannot truly love someone unless you have accepted and experienced the love of God in a personal way. My wife and I talk about this occasionally. It’s only because of God’s work of grace in our hearts that we’ve had a wonderful marriage of more than 40 years. Without Him, we’d be selfish, proud, and wanting our own way. No, we’re not perfect, but because He lives in our hearts by His Holy Spirit, and because we love Him and strive to walk in obedience to the principles of His Word, we can experience the blessings He intended in our relationship. You can apply those same principles to any relationship. If you love God and follow His Word, your relationships will be successful; not easy, but successful.
We can’t leave this text without mentioning the warning given in the final verses. This warning makes up about one-third of the psalm. And you’ll notice that it is addressed to those who are God’s people. Within every one of us is the possibility of turning away from the Lord.
The psalmist says, “do not harden your heart...” That will only happen if you refuse to give God His rightful place in your life. If you do not worship Him, if you are not thankful to Him for all His blessings, your heart will become hardened. Romans 1:20 warns us of this very thing. Please, don’t go down that road.
You know, a life characterized by thankfulness is a life of contentment, a life that will be at rest. A grateful spirit rejoices in what God has provided. It frees us from the constant longing and struggle for more, more, more. The Scriptures remind us that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” Contentment and thankfulness are closely related.
It is my prayer that as you reflect on the blessings of salvation, creation, and relation, your heart will swell with joyful thanksgiving to God. And not only at this special time of year, but every day, you will thank God for His marvelous blessings.
Love the Truth
II Thessalonians 2:8-17
What is truth? That was the question Pilate asked Jesus at His trial. How would you define truth? I once heard a definition I really like. Truth is, “Reality from God’s point of view. The title of our study today is, “Love the Truth,” and our text is Second Thessalonians 2:8 to 17.
I read about a pastor who starts each confirmation class with a jar full of beans. He asks his students to guess how many beans are in the jar and writes down their estimates. Then, alongside those estimates, he helps them make another list: their favorite songs. When the lists are complete, he tells them the actual number of beans in the jar. The whole class looks over their guesses, to see who was closest to being right. The pastor then turns to the list of favorite songs. He asks, “And which one of these is closest to being right?” Immediately, the students protest that there is no “right answer”; a person’s favorite song is purely a matter of taste.
This pastor, who holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Notre Dame then asks his students, “When you decide what to believe in terms of your faith, is that more like guessing the number of beans, or more like choosing your favorite song?” Always, from old as well as young, he gets the same answer: Choosing one’s faith is more like choosing a favorite song.
So, this pastor was asked, “After they say that do you confirm them?” He smiled and said, “First I try to argue them out of it.”
I don’t support the pastor’s actions, but that illustration helps us understand where most people are today with respect to truth. Winston Churchill once said, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing has happened.” That’s our culture with regard to truth. Sadly, it has also infected many of those professing Christianity.
According to George Barna’s surveys, only about 20% of those who identify as “born-again” agree that there is such a thing as absolute truth, less than a quarter! So, it’s not surprising that 60% of that same group agree that “Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and others all pray to the same God, even though they use different names for that God.”
Have you ever been in a setting where the Bible is being studied and this question is asked, “What does this passage mean to you?” Is that a good question? Really, what the passage means to ME may be irrelevant, erroneous, or something worse. The real question is, “What does the passage mean?” You and I won’t be judged on the basis of what we think the text means, but on what it actually means! This is a critical distinction if we want to develop a love for the truth.
Second Thessalonians 2:8-17 gives us details of certain end-time events – but that’s not where our focus will be. Our focus will be on learning how to love the truth and how to avoid those things that hinder us from doing that. Because verse 8 speaks of a character who is introduced earlier in the text, I’m taking the liberty to read the entire chapter. So, listen as I read Second Thessalonians 2:1-17.
This text reveals RESPONSES to the truth that affect the degree to which we love the truth.
The First RESPONSE is,
Reject the Truth
I won’t spend much time here because I assume most of you are listening because you want to better understand the truth, not reject it. But it’s important for us to understand how highly intelligent people can be taken in by such outrageous lies. The early part of this chapter speaks of “The Man of Sin,” the Antichrist. He succeeds, through his smooth speech, false miracles, and military power, to make followers of the vast majority on earth. And we wonder, “How can he be so successful?”
Let’s zero in on what I believe is a key phrase in verse 10; “...because they received not the love of the truth...” Now, remember our earlier question? “What does this phrase mean?” The word, receive, as used here, means to receive favorably, to embrace, to make one’s own. Our text says that those who refuse to receive the truth and embrace it will be deceived.
Many of you are aware that there are different Greek words for love. Interestingly, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to use the word, agape, to refer to this love of truth.
Kenneth Wuest says, “[Agape] speaks of that love which springs from an awakened sense of value in an object which causes one to prize the object loved. It expresses the love of [approval], of esteem, as over against the love of pure delight, which is [phileo]. It [agape] springsfrom a [comprehension] of the preciousness of the object loved. It derives its impulse more from the notion of prizing than liking.”
Paul says those who are perishing do so because of their gullibility, and their gullibility is caused by the fact that they don’t love truth. They don’t understand the value and preciousness of truth. They don’t embrace truth and make it the rule for their life and conduct.
Romans 1:28 speaks of God giving people over to a reprobate mind. The process of reprobation in that chapter begins back in verse 18. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold [or suppress] the truth in unrighteousness...” So, not only do these deceived ones fail to prize the truth, but they also suppress it from being proclaimed. Because of this, God will allow them to be so deluded they will believe “THE LIE.” That is, they will embrace Antichrist.
Because the rejection of truth is so prevalent in our culture, pressure is building on all genuine Christ-followers to keep their biblical convictions to themselves! Let’s beware of those who reject the truth of God’s Word! That rejection affects every decision and action.
The Second RESPONSE is,
Believe the Truth
My mentor, Bro. J. Otis Yoder related a conversation he had with a college student who said to him, “I can’t believe.” To which Bro. Yoder responded, “No, what you’re really saying is ‘I will not believe.”’ No one can truthfully say, “I cannot believe.” Belief is an act of the will!
Now, look at verse 13. In contrast to those who reject the truth, God chooses to save those who BELIEVE the truth! This belief according to Thayer’s Greek Dictionary is, “...conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things. Generally, it includes the idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it.”
Belief is not mere mental assent. James spoke of that kind of belief. “You believe there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe and tremble.” The biblical understanding of belief is the acceptance of truth with a corresponding change in life. Pastor Justin Lonas says, “Being a follower of Christ is a much more significant and costly endeavor than simply ‘being saved;’ it is a calling to the abundant life in Him.” It leads us to a deeper understanding of the value of truth and how that value transforms our lives. How is your belief in truth transforming your life?
Those who genuinely accept the truth cannot promote a “cheap grace” or a gospel of “easy believe-ism.” The truth of the Gospel isn’t difficult to understand. But it is hard to act upon because it calls us to abandon our lives to the control of God. That’s the cost of discipleship.
The Gospel calls upon us to accept by faith things we cannot reason out in our minds. That doesn’t mean the Gospel is illogical, it just means the Gospel transcends human logic and understanding. Belief in God’s Word is not a blind leap of faith into the dark! It is the reasoned assurance that because God has revealed Himself to mankind in a multitude of ways, He is able to arrange the circumstances of my life in a way that glorifies Him. In the process, He brings me to my fullest potential as one made in His image. Belief is synonymous with trust.
The Next RESPONSE is,
Retain the Truth
Our belief in the truth secures for us the glory of Christ. That’s what Paul says in verse 14. This amazing gift is part of our salvation. In verse 15,Paul exhorts us to take active measures to retain the truth. There are numerous Scriptures that warn us about the possibility of our drifting from the truth or letting it slip away.
He says we are to “be constantly standing firm,” to persevere. It is an active process, not an event. This is necessary especially in our day. There’s a constant barrage of rhetoric from all sides that only the bigoted and egotistical claim to know the absolute truth. We have statements like, “Live and let live. God accepts people just the way they are.” That last statement is true with regard to salvation, but not with regard to discipleship. God wants to change all of us into the likeness of Christ!
And then Paul says that we should hold tenaciously to the traditions [ohhh, bad word] we have been taught. I realize traditions can be negative as well as positive. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their traditions that negated God’s commands. But let’s not overreact to the word traditions! In this text, it simply means a recognized body of teaching.
Paul gives expanded teaching on this in II Timothy 1:13. (I have a whole sermon on verses 13 and 14 but let me share just a few things from it.) Let’s do a little word study. Paul tells Timothy to hold fast to the “form of sound words.” This is a very interesting phrase, with practical applications in our day. The Greek word translated into the English word, form, is only used twice in the New Testament, both times by Paul. In First Timothy 1:16 it is translated as pattern.
The word, form, is made up of the Greek prefix, hupo, meaning “under,” and the noun, tupos. Wuest’s Word Studies says that the noun tupos means “a blow”; it was used for the beat of a horse’s hooves; the impression left by a seal, the effect of a blow or pressure, an engraved mark, a pattern. It also speaks of a pattern by which one can maintain the sameness of a thing.
Wuest goes on to say “Paul exhorts Timothy to hold fast the pattern of the sound words committed to him. That is, he is to hold to the doctrinal phraseology [tradition] he received from the great apostle. Particular words are to be retained and used so that the doctrinal statements of the truth may remain accurate and a norm for future teachers and preachers. This is vitally connected with the doctrine of verbal inspiration which holds that the Bible writers wrote down God chosen words, the truth given by revelation.”
If we hope to retain the truth, we can’t ignore the doctrine of verbal, plenary inspiration. This simply means the inspiration extends to the very words themselves (verbal) and that the inspiration extends to all parts of Scripture and all subject matters of Scripture (plenary). It doesn’t mean that God mechanically dictated the words of the Bible, but that the words express the thoughts God intended, and being correctly interpreted, are free from errors of fact, doctrine, or judgment.
Let’s be careful not to “dumb down” the Word of God in our attempts to make it more understandable. We must retain keywords and concepts that show our love for the truth and our desire to guard and keep it.
The Final RESPONSE is,
Rest in the Truth
Look at the final verses of this chapter, “everlasting consolation, good hope through grace, and comfort.” What a glorious rest belongs to you and me if we love the truth! Several years ago, when my wife, Joyce, was diagnosed with cancer, the truth of God’s Word took on new meaning for us. I can tell you in all honesty that we did not have one sleepless night of worry and anxiety. Did we have questions? Sure. Was there uncertainty? Of course. We didn’t know where this journey would take us. But we rested confidently in the multitude of God’s promises.
Some of you listening to me have had very difficult experiences in your lives. Maybe you’re in the middle of one right now. You know exactly how much the love of the truth means to you. You’ve probably said what I’ve sometimes said in response to human suffering. “I don’t see how unbelievers make it through life without the power of God’s presence and His promises.” The love of the truth is an anchor in the storms of life. I identify with the songwriter, “And the cables passed from His heart to mine, can defy the blast through strength Divine.”
The wonderful thing about resting in truth is, if we learn to do it now, we can experience it throughout all eternity! Jesus said “Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls,” Matthew 11:28 and 29. That soul rest is present and future.
I urge you, don’t reject the truth; it is the only thing that can set you free. Believe the truth. Test it; try it, practice it and you’ll find it trustworthy. Make it your goal to retain truth; to guard it carefully and pass it on to others in the way it’s been passed on to you. And finally, rest in the truth. God’s promises are sure and secure. He will, according to Philippians 1:6, bring to completion that good work He has begun in you.
Learn to love the truth and respond to it in these positive ways. If you do this, you can be confident in the promise of Jesus; “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
The 2019 edition of this sermon can be found here. https://heraldsofhope.org/the-voice-of-hope/love-the-truth
The Fruits of Deception
Genesis 3:8-21
In last week’s teaching, we looked at three basic sources of deception: our humanity (the lust of the flesh), our prosperity (the lust of the eyes), and our philosophy (the pride of life). We’re warned in I John 2:16 and 17 that these things are not of the Father but pertain to the world and are only temporary. The body with its desires will pass away, but those who do the will of the Father will abide forever. The warning is clear.
But what if we don’t heed this warning? What will happen? What if we just gratify the flesh a little bit? What are the consequences, or the fruit, of our being deceived? How can we discern whether or not we’re being deceived? Is there such a thing as minor deception? Is this something we can pass off lightly, thinking it’s no big deal?
Today we want to examine “The Fruits of Deception.” Under normal conditions, seeds that are planted will bring a harvest. And as you well know, the reaping is always proportionately greater than the sowing. While many people understand and benefit from this principle in the world of nature, somehow, they fail to see that it works in the choices we make in life. I suppose that blindness is a form of deception.
As I think about the fruits of deception, as they’re outlined in the Scriptures, I can think of no better place to begin than at the beginning; the beginning of the human race, that is.
If you can, turn in your Bible to Genesis 3:8-21 and listen carefully as I read.
Together, let’s observe some of the FRUITS of deception revealed in this text.
The First Fruit of Deception is,
Alienation from God
When Adam and Eve were deceived, immediately, there was alienation and separation from God. Instead of the intimate, personal relationship they had with God, now, there was fear and hostility. Trust had been violated. Now it seemed God was “out to get them.” So, they hid.
The alienation we experience is more subtle. When we refuse the truth, we begin to believe the devil’s lies. There’s a growing distance in our relationship with God. And the process is deceptive, as we’re reminded by Jesus’ message to the church of Laodicea in Revelation three. It can appear like, and we can think that everything is OK, but in reality, we are far from God.
One significant effect of this alienation from God is the tendency to focus on externals. Notice Adam and Eve’s response when they experienced guilt. Did they attempt to remedy the alienation at the spirit level, at the core of who they were? No, they dressed up the outside. They took fig leaves and sewed them together in order to cover the effects of their alienation. But God saw right through their outward appearance to the condition of their hearts.
This is a fruit of deception that we must be wary of. If we emphasize the holiness of life and separation from the world (and we should) we must be on our guard that we don’t attempt to cover alienation from God with the respectable “fig leaves” of a pious outward appearance.
Lest you think that I have a negative view of biblical separation I assure you that I do not. Jesus made it clear that our loving obedience is the key to an intimate relationship with Him. We cannot claim to keep his commandments if we do not make practical applications to daily living.
After Adam and Eve sinned, they were banished from the presence of God, never again to enjoy intimacy with God in their physical lifetime. We can only imagine the magnitude of their loss. We have no further record in the Scripture of God communicating directly with Adam. Sin had broken the relationship and left them only with a promise; that God would someday provide a way for that relationship to be restored. As children of God, we are the beneficiaries of that promise, realized in Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can remove both the source and the effects of our alienation from God.
It is significant that all three of the sources of deception we mentioned in our previous teaching came together in the sin of our first parents. More accurately, it was Eve who was deceived, Adam transgressed willfully. Eve saw that the tree was good for food, a natural, but fleshly appetite. She noticed that it was pleasant to look at, the appeal to the eyes, the lack of contentment with that which she already had. And she believed Satan’s lie, his philosophy that it would make her wise. Eve was in a perfect environment and yet was deceived. Each source of deception brought with it, its own fruits.
The Second Fruit of Deception is,
Estranged From Each Other
Deception not only affects our relationship with God, but it also affects our human relationships too. Because of their sin, Adam and Eve’s relationship was changed. They lost their intimacy with God and their intimacy with each other. The relationship they enjoyed before was perfectly balanced by the equality of each one. How do we know that? Because part of the curse was that Eve would be controlled by her desire for her husband.
Adam now had the desire to rule over his wife. She would be in a position of subjection. His newly acquired sinful nature would lead to selfishness and a desire to exploit his position. We already know he blamed his wife for their predicament. Now, God had to give specific instructions in His Word in order to protect women from being exploited by men! That’s why we need verses like Colossians 3:19, “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”
The sources of deception we looked at can have a tremendous impact on the marriage relationship. God has given men a natural attraction to a woman’s beauty. The deception of the lust of the flesh predisposes us to a lack of self-control in thought and action. We have a continual battle to maintain purity. Like Job, we must make “a covenant with our eyes.”
God has given women a desire for security, for a man who will be a leader. If your husband is weak in this area, the tendency can be for you to criticize him, privately, and God forbid, publicly. Somehow you have the idea that you can shame him into doing a better job. That will not work; it is a deception of the enemy.
The deceptions arising from the lust of the flesh bring fruit in the lives of our children too. Was Cain’s bitterness a reaction to the failure of his parents? Abel had an altogether different response. It is both unfair and unscriptural to hold parents responsible for the wrong choices of their adult children, but our sins definitely affect our children. We have the biblical examples of Eli, Samuel, David, and others to remind us of these deceptions.
If we fall prey to these deceptions in our homes, they will bring consequences to our local churches. The older I get, the more I’m convinced that many problems the church faces are problems that should have been resolved in the home. Far too many fathers exercise authoritarian control rather than loving leadership and set up a problem for church leadership.
Mothers can undermine the leadership of their husbands by questioning their judgment to the children and those outside the home. Children can use the weaknesses and failures of their parents to excuse their own disobedience of God’s Word. And the church suffers.
Moving on, what are the fruits of the lust of the eyes, what I referenced earlier as our prosperity? This deception has tremendous implications for our relationships. Adam and Eve had everything; except one tree they could not eat from. And what did Satan use to get them? Discontent, the feeling that they were missing something they should have.
If a father falls for the deception of prosperity in any of its forms, it will have a huge impact on his marriage and family. As men, God has given us a responsibility to provide for the needs of our families. But too often we major on providing for physical needs. We’re warned about this error in Psalm 127:2.
Many men try to satisfy the emotional needs of their wives and children by providing things when what is really needed is time together. Many selfishly pursue their own agenda and then try to salve their consciences by spending generously on their families. Many a wife would gladly be willing to live with less stuff and have a husband who takes time to listen and tries his best to understand her needs. Many a young person is willing to do the same if they could just have some of their dad’s time and attention.
We come to our final point, the fruits of the wrong philosophy; “the pride of life.” Remember, we said that philosophy is the foundation for what we believe and how we communicate that belief so others can understand it. All the information we receive passes through this filter, and we decide how it fits in relation to our lives. If our foundational beliefs are not grounded with confidence in God’s Word, we cannot have a truly biblical worldview.
The Bible warns us over and over to avoid or reject false philosophies because of their spiritual danger. The root of deception in philosophy lies in Satan’s question to Eve, “Did God really say that?” An unwillingness to accept the truth, as God has revealed it to us in His Word and by His Spirit, will lead us to build our lives on false premises, and unstable foundations. That’s why it is so important that we apply a proper hermeneutic in our handling of God’s Word.
Don’t let that big word, hermeneutic, scare you. It simply means the methods and principles of interpretation we use to guide our study of the Bible. The fruits of deception in this area are evident all across the church today. We don’t have time to look at all the false doctrines and questionable practices that come from the wrong philosophy but suffice it to say, that the mishandling of Scripture is responsible for the vast majority. I appreciate so much the words of the late J. B. Smith, who said with reference to understanding the Bible; “When the literal sense makes sense, seek no other sense. Any other sense is usually nonsense.”
All of us, especially ministers of the Gospel, have a solemn duty to be careful handlers of the Word. II Timothy 2:15 reminds us, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” And Paul reminds us in II Corinthians 4:1 and 2, not to be” handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” I remember well the words of my mentor, J. Otis Yoder, “A text without a context is a pretext.”
We dare not be among those who choose a particular lifestyle and then choose a variety of isolated Scripture verses to support it. Rather, we must go to the Word with a prayerful attitude, receptive hearts, and a spirit of willing obedience.
Because of the deception of false philosophies in our day, we must be extremely vigilant about accepting things that have the name “Christian” associated with them. I fear we are much too gullible. We need a healthy skepticism of new and novel interpretations of Scripture. We must learn how to think critically and teach our children to do the same. Their natural tendency to question everything drives us back to the Word for answers. Our children need that kind of guidance from us.
In conclusion, we’ve looked at only some of the fruits of deception; they are many and we see their effects all around us. Perhaps we’ve even experienced some of them ourselves. But we can avoid experiencing many of these if we will daily commit ourselves to the control of the Holy Spirit and instant obedience to His prompting. We must be people of the Book. In our “instant” everything age, there is no substitute for the regular reading of the Bible and times of serious study and meditation. As we cultivate these disciplines, we will be better equipped to detect and avoid the deceptions all around us.
I hope and pray the Lord has challenged you through our study of His Word together. If God has revealed the fruits of deception in your life, or if you see yourself headed down that path, cry out to God in repentance. Share your struggle with another brother or sister and make yourself accountable to the body of Christ for a change of direction in your life. God will reward a humble and obedient spirit. Remember, the fruits of deception will be a bitter harvest.
The 2018 edition of this sermon can be found here. https://heraldsofhope.org/the-voice-of-hope/the-fruits-of-deception/
Sources of Deception
James 4:1-10
A source is a point of origin, of initiation. A stream has a source, and we understand that as its beginning. When we hear a news report, or we’re seeking information on a certain subject we talk about “going to the source.” By that we mean, going to the person who is closest to the report or the one with the most accurate and reliable information.
Deception is defined as “the act of deceiving; the fact or condition of being deceived.” It is the process by which you and I are led to believe things that are not true. They may appear to be true, legitimate, or even honorable, but they’re not.
So, sources of deception are things someone uses to lead you and me to believe what isn’t true. Today there are many devices Satan uses to promote deception, but there are only a few basic sources of deception. We could spend the next half hour talking about some of those devices. The problem is, we’d probably miss the specific devices that influence you.
If we focus on the tools or devices Satan uses, we will only deal with the symptoms. Instead, I want you to join me in looking at the sources of deception, so we can recognize them no matter how they present themselves to us.
If you can, open your Bible to James chapter four. I’ll begin reading verse one and read through verse ten. Let’s Read James 4:1-10.
In our text, James reveals three foundational SOURCES of deception.
The First Source of Deception is,
Our Humanity
Verses one through three establish a very basic truth. Our fleshly appetites are the source of much evil. The words, lust, pleasure, desire, and consume express the drive of our passions and they lead to covetousness, strife, war, and murder. The evidence of this reality begins in the Garden of Eden. The Biblical terminology for this is “the lust of the flesh,” I John 2:16. Our fallen humanity has one overarching desire - to gratify itself.
But how can that lead to deception? Think of someone you know who once walked with Christ, but no longer does. Or someone who professes to know Christ, but their lifestyle continues to move them farther and farther from God’s commands. What caused them to start down that path? Many people take their first step away from God because they want to fulfill a fleshly appetite or desire. They set their heart on something they cannot legitimately have.
It often begins with a legitimate appetite that God designed to be fulfilled within clear limits. But our flesh doesn’t want limits, it wants gratification! Think of Mother Eve, free to eat from every tree in the Garden except one! What does she do? I picture her walking around the forbidden tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, looking at it, and saying, “my that looks like it would be good to eat.” That’s the beginning of deception; we believe the lie that looking won’t hurt.
Paul says in First Corinthians 9:27; “But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Just prior to this he used a boxing metaphor and spoke of giving his flesh, knock-out punches! This battle with our humanity is not a game; it is a deadly serious business because eternity is at stake.
Years ago, I worked in a large manufacturing plant and there was an attractive young lady who worked there. My job responsibilities took me past her area on a regular basis. One day I realized I was making extra trips through the factory just to look at her; that’s called lust. I was like Mother Eve circling the tree. I realized in my spirit that I was heading down a path where I really did not want to go. My knock-out punch to those desires was to deliberately take a different way to avoid passing the area where she worked.
I share that to illustrate how our humanity, our flesh, can be a major area of deception. We are at war with our carnal desires that are aroused by our physical appetites. Name any physical appetite you want and if you are not on your guard, Satan will use it against you.
Our experience proves that our morality dictates our theology. That’s why many professing Christians reject portions of God’s Word. If the Scripture is true, they’ll need to change their lifestyle. What we accept or reject in the area of our morality will have an impact on our theology. And our morality is affected by the things we allow into our minds.
When Mother Eve was confronted with her sin, she blamed the serpent. But we can’t use the excuse, “the devil made me do it.” We are fully responsible for our choices and to deny that reality will lead us down the path to self-deception.
You and I must continually be on guard against allowing the desires of our flesh to be in control of our lives. I find that a daily battle. We must remember that our humanity and our physical appetites are one of the lines of attack Satan has against us.
The Next Source of Deception is,
Our Prosperity
Take a look at verse four. “Whoever wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.” A friend of the world! To be a friend means having a fondness for something or someone. There is a relationship, there are feelings of affection.
The “world” as it’s used here refers to the world system and its way of doing things. The outstanding feature of an unbeliever’s worldview is - the material part of life is all that matters! That belief motivates the goal to accumulate. The goal to accumulate often become exclusive of all other goals. Jesus and the apostles spoke about “the deceitfulness of riches.”
Are people who live in poverty safe from deception? First Timothy 6:9 says, “Those who want to be rich fall into a snare…” Satan wants to deceive all mankind. But like an experienced angler, he is smart enough to know which lure to put on the hook. Again, going back to I John 2:16, I believe this source is “the lust of the eyes.” Isn’t it true that Satan often uses our eyes to begin the process of deception? That’s what he used with Mother Eve!
James wants us to understand the seriousness of this source of deception, so he begins with words that grab our attention. Remember, James is writing to Christians. Adulterers and adulteresses! Whoa! That makes you sit up and take notice, doesn’t it? What is an adulterer or an adulteress? Isn’t it someone who has left their first love? Isn’t it someone who is deceived into believing that what they don’t have is better than what they do have? James uses these words in a figurative sense to show the error of a Christian identifying with a materialistic worldview. True satisfaction is found in wanting what we have, not having what we want.
What is so deceptive about prosperity? Prosperity creates an illusion of security and satisfaction. Jesus said to the church at Laodicea, “Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing...” That’s what they thought about themselves. But, Jesus said, “[you] don’t know that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked...” They had been deceived! They thought they were well cared for, they thought they had it all together when in reality they were in poverty!
In Matthew 13:22, Jesus spoke about the deceitfulness of riches. “…the deceitfulness of riches, choke the Word [strangle the truth] and the person becomes unfruitful.” This is a process. Here a little compromise, there a little compromise, and slowly, imperceptibly, the eyes of our understanding are blinded, and the thorns grow up and choke out our fruitfulness.
But the Holy Spirit longs jealously for our total devotion, just like a husband or wife longs for the devotion of their spouse. We are part of the body of Christ, the Church, His Bride. In I Corinthians 6:15 and 16, Paul says, “Don’t you know that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. What? Don’t you know that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? For two, says he, shall be one flesh.” I know the context of these verses is a warning against immorality, but remember, James characterizes our friendship with the world as adultery!
One of the deceptions of prosperity is the development of an ungrateful spirit. When we grow accustomed to having the things we want, when we want them, it’s easy to think we deserve them. If we have that attitude, we will not be thankful. We must realize that all that we have, and all that we are, is only because of God’s mercy. Then we will be grateful for the smallest of His gifts.
If you and I are not genuinely grateful for the things God has given to us, we will not reverence Him; we will not glorify Him as we should. We will become vain in our imaginations and suppose that our might, our power, and our ability have gotten us these things. And our hearts will be lifted up in pride.
Pride is a deception that comes as the by-product of an ungrateful spirit. James mentions it here in verse six. He says God resists the proud. And incidentally, the verb tense is, that God’s resisting of the proud is a continuous action that is taking place right now.
The Word of God is clear, prosperity, prosperity and the pride that so often accompanies it is a very dangerous source of deception.
The Final Source is,
Our Philosophy
Philosophy is simply, for our purposes, the words, and concepts we use to express our fundamental beliefs. It’s the foundation for what we believe and how we communicate our core values so others can understand them. We can express this in one word: our worldview.
The Bible teaches us that the “pride of life” is dangerous because it leads to self-deception. This is often the most difficult one for us to pick out. Even though we’re warned in I Corinthians 10:12 against thinking we’re above temptation (or deception), we all have the tendency to fall into this trap. This is part of our battle with deception. Our minds become the battleground between God and Satan. By using our fleshly desires, Satan appeals to our minds and our rational thought processes.
Truth is perceived primarily with our spirit, not our mind. God appeals to our spirit by His Spirit. Satan works in our minds. Paul notes this conflict between mind and spirit in Romans 8:5-9. “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So, then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.” And in verse 16 of this same chapter he says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, [not our mind] that we are the children of God...”
Two phrases in our text remind me of the deception that comes through the wrong philosophy. First, we are instructed to “resist the devil.” He is the source of the wrong philosophy. It got him kicked out of heaven. He said, “I will be like God.”
Today, many set their human understanding above God’s divine revelation. They say the Bible only contains the Word of God. So, they decide what the Word of God is and what isn’t. In essence, they’re saying, “we will be like God, we will decide for ourselves what truth is.”
The second phrase is in verse eight, “purify your hearts, you double-minded.” The literal meaning is to be “two-spirited.” It is to vacillate between two opposing points of view, to be unstable. To attempt to embrace truth as defined by God’s Word and at the same time embrace man’s ideas. Those who embrace the philosophy of “theistic evolution” give evidence of double-mindedness. They attempt to reconcile two opposing philosophies regarding creation.
Why? Some want man’s approval. For others, it’s a misguided attempt to reach out to those who reject Scripture. The thinking that, maybe if we see things from their perspective, they’ll reciprocate. But is that the way it works? Hardly! What people don’t realize is that when you call into question the accuracy of a portion of God’s Word you call into question the whole scope of revelation. If we cannot accept the Genesis account of creation as accurate and literal, what other parts of the Bible are inaccurate?
When people embrace philosophies that undermine the clear teaching of God’s Word, they give a clear indication of the direction they’re headed. Without the Word, there is no clear standard of behavior, and obedience is no longer important. Truth becomes what I want it to be and I’m free to set my own standard of behavior. We’ve all seen where that mindset leads.
As we close, I can’t leave you on a negative note. How can we avoid these sources of deception? James gives us the prescription here in our text. First, “Submit to God.” Recognize God’s authority and power and place yourself in subjection to Him. Then he says, “Draw near to God.” I was so blessed when I first discovered the word picture here! The words translated, draw near literally mean “to squeeze in the bend of the arm.” I call that a hug. A hug implies a relationship. The greatest insurance against deception is a growing relationship with the Master.
There are several further counsels. Exercise a spirit of repentance. Be willing to admit when you’ve erred or when you’ve strayed from the truth. Be humble, be approachable. None of us is immune to deception. There is tremendous value in brotherhood, in being a part of a group that will hold us accountable. A group that will chase us down and take hold of us and says, “We love you too much to let you go down that path.”
Here then are the basic sources of deception, our humanity, our prosperity, and our philosophy. The protection we need from deception is truth. So, let each of us renew our commitment to accepting, practicing, and understanding the truth. That will go a long way in helping us identify the sources of deception, and to avoid them.
The 2018 edition of this sermon can be found here. https://heraldsofhope.org/the-voice-of-hope/the-sources-of-deception/
The Pursuit of Holiness : Part 2
II Corinthians 6:11-7:1
Paul begins this section with an emphatic command, “Stop becoming unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” The idea here is to become “mixed up” with them. Incidentally, the prohibition against using an ox and a donkey in the same yoke, Deuteronomy 22:10, is bookended by the prohibition of mixing seeds in the garden and two different fibers in a garment. I think that helps us understand better the idea of becoming too “mixed” with unbelievers. In the context of what was happening at Corinth, there were the factions in the church as well as the surrounding pagan idolatry.
To illustrate further what he means, Paul asks several rhetorical questions. Rhetorical questions are often used in the context of persuasive arguments in order to confront people and make them think. And they are often asked in such a way that the answer is clearly known, and the questioner isn’t really asking for a verbal response.
The first one is “what fellowship [or participation] does righteousness have with lawlessness?” Or we could ask it this way, “what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common?” They are opposites, they have nothing in common. The nature of Christ, which we have as His followers, is righteousness. The nature of Satan and unbelievers is lawlessness.
Next, “what communion does light have with darkness?” Or “what do light, and darkness have in common?” Here, the word is koinonia. This same word is used in First Corinthians 10:16 in the context of “the communion of the blood of Christ.” It is a sharing, a fellowship, a partnership. Light and darkness share no mutual characteristics.
And “what accord does Christ have with Belial?” The question is what harmony (symphonesis) exists between Christ and Belial? Belial is the transliteration of the Hebrew word for worthlessness and is applied to Satan. They have nothing in common, they can’t be harmonized. They are the heads of opposing forces and kingdoms.
Further, “what part does a believer have with an unbeliever?” What portion or share does a believer have with someone who actively disbelieves? A disbeliever attaches no value to Christ. An unbeliever may see Jesus as a good man, a teacher, and a moral model. Not so with a disbeliever, he is antagonistic toward Christ.
And finally, “what agreement has the temple of God with idols?” The idea here is a unity of composition, being made up of similar things. Of course, that’s ridiculous, the temple of God and idols have nothing in common!
You and I, as followers of Christ, are the temple of the living God! Paul cites Leviticus 26:11 and 12, “I will set Mytabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you.I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” Remember, in the context of the old covenant God lived and walked among His people.
Now, God’s Holy Spirit resides in the heart of every believer. This is one of the major differences that resulted from Jesus’ fulfillment of the new covenant. And this reality of the Spirit dwelling in us is prominent in all of Paul’s writings.
Perhaps you noticed as we worked through this list of questions that they’re all very similar. They are, but there are subtle shades of difference in the meanings. Remember, I said earlier that rhetorical questions are designed to pique people’s curiosity and intellect, to make them think. The ability to think is essential to our developing a measure of discernment.
What Paul wrote here informs us that the same thing was happening in Corinth. There is a great need today for Christ-followers to develop and exercise discernment. Truth and error are mixed together so subtly and because people are not grounded in the truth and in their faith, they are easily deceived into alliances with unbelievers.
One current example of this is the “Black Lives Matter” movement. Every genuine Christ-follower I know believes that black lives matter. We mourn for the millions of black babies who have been aborted in the past five decades, and for the majority of African American children growing up in homes without a father present.
We believe in equal opportunity and justice under the law. We acknowledge that racism has existed in the past, and still does exist in the hearts of those who don’t know Jesus. And we lament that. We also acknowledge in the past we’ve struggled to really hear from our black brothers and sisters and to identify with the challenges that are unique to them. We need to listen more carefully and sympathetically and be willing to help in whatever way we can.
But we can’t embrace the “Black Lives Matter” movement because it is based on creating animosity and division among people of different races. We’ve seen the violence that has resulted from the movement, especially in some of our inner cities, and much of that violence has affected other people of color. We’ve seen the horrendous rate of black-on-black crime ignored by this movement because it doesn’t fit the narrative of racism and police brutality.
Another example of alliances with unbelievers is the MAGA movement; “Make America Great Again.” While we may agree with some of its stated goals, the rhetoric used is often divisive. It denigrates and ridicules its opponents. Jesus teaches us to love those who disagree with us. God’s kingdom will not be established through political or military power, in spite of what some false teachers proclaim. So, we reject identification with this movement because it also mixes truth and error, and it focuses on things that are temporary rather than eternal.
Brothers and sisters, I fear we are much too easily swept along by popular movements. Most of these will NOT aid us in the pursuit of holiness. Whether they’re social, political, or even religious we must exercise discernment by comparing the beliefs and actions of these entities with the unchanging truth of Scripture and the realization that God’s Spirit lives in us. We take Him with us wherever we go!
The Final MEASURE (you and I can take to aid us in our pursuit of holiness) is,
The Measure of Separation
Here are the facts; we are the people of God, His presence lives in us, and the unequal yoke is forbidden. Therefore, we are to separate ourselves from the disbelievers and refuse to touch what is unclean. Paul is obviously alluding to the Old Testament law whereby someone touching that was unclean becomes defiled. The one who was defiled then had to go through the process of cleansing.
Paul’s use of the word “touch” implies a sense of intimacy and identification. Think of the many miracles of Jesus that involved touch. The word literally means to contact or attach or fasten oneself to something. When I meet someone for the first time, I usually shake their hand. That’s a very loose “touch” connection. When I am comfortable with another person and know them well, I may give them a hug. That’s a deeper connection. In the context of marital intimacy, I touch my wife in ways I would never touch another person. We have become one flesh.
God says, “if you and I refuse to touch what is unclean, He will receive us, and He will take us into His favor. I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters.” Here’s the intimacy and identification we want and need - with the Lord Almighty.
As I was meditating on these concepts of clean and unclean, and how they relate to biblical separation and the pursuit of holiness, my mind went to Haggai 2:11 to 14. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Now, ask the priests concerning the law, saying,“If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?”’ “Then the priests answered and said, “No.” And Haggai said, “If one who is unclean because of a dead body touch any of these, will it be unclean?” So, the priests answered and said, “It shall be unclean.” Then Haggai answered and said, “‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.’”
What’s the point here? Follow me carefully. The touch of something holy on something unclean or unholy doesn’t make the unclean thing holy. But…when something clean or holy touches what is unholy or defiled, what was clean becomes unclean or unholy. This concept has some far-reaching implications for us. I certainly don’t have this all figured out, but I suspect I often pass over these concepts too lightly.
How often have professing Christ-followers embraced the unclean things of the world thinking that because they themselves are clean, that makes the unclean thing they’ve chosen become clean? How often has the Church tried to use the unholy methods of the world to attract crowds, increase attendance, and build bigger facilities? I think these are questions we need to consider seriously, not just brush off.
Unfortunately, many times when we pastors/teachers expound on the need for personal holiness, we’re accused of promoting a works-based salvation. That’s a misperception. All we’re saying is that if your salvation is genuine if you truly have the nature of Christ in you, you will live differently than unbelievers. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” And later, in verse 21, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him andmanifest Myself to him.” So, Jesus and Paul both echo the words of the Old Testament prophets about the requirements for God to live among or within His people.
In the closing verse of our text, chapter seven, verse one, Paul writes, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from [every kind of] defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” In other words, having the promises of a relationship with the Lord Almighty, let’s cooperate with Him in the process of bringing our practical holiness into line with our positional holiness in Christ.
The word Paul uses for cleanse is katharidzo. We get our English word, catharsis, from this. It is a purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension. A. T. Robertson says this particular form of the Greek word is used only one other place in the New Testament, John 15:2. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit Hetakes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes [katharidzo], that it may bearmore fruit.”
This cleansing process, this pruning process, isn’t passive and it isn’t painless. The command to cleanse ourselves is given as an imperative. God through the apostle Paul isn’t calling us to merely negative goodness, that is, to withdraw from what is evil. Instead, he is calling us to pursue aggressive and progressive holiness.
That pursuit of holiness is accompanied by a desire to put away everything that defiles us, whether inwardly, in the spirit, or outwardly in our bodies. Because of the way God made you and me, the spirit, soul, and body are all intertwined. To defile one is to defile the whole.
As we wrap up this teaching, let’s review the several important MEASURES you and I can take to aid us in our pursuit of holiness. First is the measure of openness, the understanding that our pursuit of holiness will not be successful without the accountability provided by our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Next, the measure of discernment. Without it, our pursuit of holiness will be stymied because we will have trouble making distinctions between what is good and what is evil. And finally, our measure of separation from things that defile will help us to move forward in our pursuit of holiness.
I close with these words from Peter’s second epistle. “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us [so many] exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
May God grant you and me the desire and power to pursue our growth in holiness with diligence and determination.
The Paradox of Ministry : Part 2
II Corinthians 6:1-10
Are you protected? You may be asking, “protected from what?” The initial question is somewhat open-ended, it can be answered in quite a few different ways. Some people may be asking whether or not your property is protected by insurance for physical damage. Or maybe it’s liability insurance to protect you from a potential lawsuit if someone is injured on your property. As human beings, we try to protect the things that are valuable to us.
Here’s another question; “does the Gospel need to be protected?” What do you think? One way to get at the answer is to ask more questions, right? Here are a couple; if the Gospel needs to be protected, how does that happen; what must the Gospel be protected from? And another, “isn’t it God’s responsibility to protect the Gospel?”
By now I hope you’re thinking seriously about this question. And, as we continue our study in Second Corinthians, we’ll discover the answer to this question. So, let me read the text again. After I do that, we’ll review just a bit and then continue with our study. The text is Second Corinthians 6:1 to 10.
As we began this study previously on The Voice of Hope, I said that in this text, Paul lists four PERSPECTIVES that help us understand “The Paradox of Ministry.”
The first perspective we looked at was the perspective of privilege. And I asked this question; Do you understand the dignity of your work? For the Christian, all work that’s done well, except what the scriptures prohibit, has eternal value. You and I are in a cooperative effort with the sovereign God, the Creator, and Sustainer of all things! Do we truly appreciate that the way we should? I am sure I don’t. I need to grasp that more deeply.
The second perspective to help us understand the paradox of ministry was the privilege of passion. Paul’s passion was for the pure word of God. As followers of Christ and reconcilers with Him, we need that same passion. Our passion as ministers, as servants of the Lord, is to plead with people to leave spiritual infancy and grow to maturity. And that takes pleading, it takes repetition, it takes patience. Sometimes it looks like we’re getting nowhere with people; they seem to take two steps forward and three steps back. But we need to press on and not give up.
So, we have the perspective of privilege and the perspective of passion to help us understand the paradox of ministry.
The Next Perspective (to help us understand the paradox of ministry) is,
The Perspective of Protection
Here’s where we get into the idea of the Gospel needing protection. Verse three tells us what the Gospel needs to be protected from. Look at what Paul wrote. “We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.”
This statement in the original language contains a double negative. In English, that makes a positive. Not so in Greek. We could translate it this way, “Giving absolutely NO offense or stumbling block in anything lest the ministry of the Gospel be faulted.” Did you catch that? It’s not stated directly, but here’s what I understand Paul to be saying; the Gospel needs to be protected by the reputation of the proclaimers.
We know the Gospel carries its own offensiveness. The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe in the Gospel. They love their iniquity, and they hate the light because their evil deeds are exposed. Their minds, controlled by their false philosophies and their fleshly desires, can’t understand spiritual truth, according to First Corinthians 2:14.
But woe to those who cause unnecessary offense through their obnoxious behavior. Romans 2:24 is a terrible indictment against the people of Israel who had been given the law of God. Paul was writing about the need for both Jews and Gentiles to exercise faith in Jesus for salvation. He wrote, “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written.” In other words, the Gentiles looked at the Jewish people, especially the religious leaders, and saw how they manipulated God’s commands for personal and financial advantage.
So, here in our text, Paul says he wants to live in such a way that no one could refuse the Gospel because the messenger was offensive. You and I should want to live in that same way too. What is the most frequent response when people are asked why they haven’t become a Christian? “Because the church is full of hypocrites.” Now, I realize, many people are looking for excuses to justify their sin, but we ought to live in such a way that their accusation is false.
We’re told that Mark Twain rejected the Gospel because of the hypocrisy of some of the deacons in the church he attended as a boy. Their pious words on Sunday weren’t backed up by righteous living during the week. To be sure, that excuse won’t be sufficient on Judgment Day, but remember, Jesus pronounced woe on those who cause any of the “little ones” to stumble.
We live in an era where too many prominent Christian leaders have chosen to bring disgrace on the Church and on the name of Christ by their personal moral failures. And the world loves that. The news media gloats over it. But the apostle Peter tells us, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”
Paul was very much concerned about how his ministry was perceived. Not because he had a big ego, but because he didn’t want anything he did to hinder the Gospel. In fact, in First Corinthians 9:24 to 27, Paul wrote, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate [self-controlled] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore, I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus, I fight not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
The imagery Paul uses is from the arena. He put his body through rigorous discipline just like an athlete in training. When his body said, “quit,” his spirit said, “keep going.” He didn’t let his feelings dictate what he should or shouldn’t do. He did all he could to protect his personal reputation and, in that way, protect the Gospel.
What about you and me; how well are we protecting the Gospel? Are we being careful in the things we choose not to do? What about being careful about the things we choose to do? Paul not only didn’t want to give unnecessary offense, but he also wanted to be commended to the Corinthians. The greatest gift you and I can give to others, outside the Gospel, is our personal virtue. Godly character protects the proclamation of the Gospel.
The Final Perspective (to help us understand the paradox of ministry) is,
The Perspective of Paradox
In verses four through ten of our text you see all these things that Paul experienced. These were the basis of his commendation to the Corinthians. It is a tremendous list of both the positive and the negative. And here’s the paradox. Satan’s desire is to use those hard things we experience in life to discourage us, to make us think our work isn’t worth all the trouble. But if we hold fast to our faith in God and His sovereignty, we grow stronger and more determined to be faithful to our calling.
Do you remember what Joseph said to his brothers after their father died? His brothers said to each other, “now that dad is dead, perhaps Joseph will hate us, and pay us back for all the evil we did to him.” In fact, they even put words in the mouth of their dead father! They came to Joseph and fell on their faces and said, “‘Behold, we are your servants.’ Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.’”
Look at the list of things Paul mentions in these remaining verses of our text. They are divided into three groups. The first group of things is “in” [key word] ten different settings or experiences. The second group is “by” [key word] twelve different actions. And the third group is “as,” or like, [key word] six contrasts. And every one of the things on this list carries a story that can be filled in by Paul’s experiences as an ambassador of the Gospel.
Most, if not all, of the things on Paul’s list of “in” things or experiences, were forced upon him by other people. Riots, beatings, imprisonment, afflictions, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and hunger were all perpetrated by those who rejected the Gospel. Who is willing to endure such things for something you really don’t believe in? Paul did all this for Christ and for the Church. He maintains these are proofs of the authenticity of his ministry. Would you and I be willing to endure similar things for the sake of the Gospel, for the building up of the brotherhood?
Then notice the 12 different actions, the “by” things in verses six through eight. Things like purity, patience, kindness, and love, are a list very similar to the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 and 23. When Paul mentions the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, he’s referring to a fully equipped soldier. Generally, the right hand held the offensive weapons, and the left hand held the shield. Paul gave a detailed listing of the armor and weapons in Ephesians chapter six. Are you and I allowing the Holy Spirit to develop these fruits of the Spirit in our lives so we can be more effective ambassadors for Christ?
And then, finally, we have the “as or like” contrasts at the end of verse eight and through verse ten. Paul was ignored by his accusers because he lacked the credentials they put so much value on. Yet he was recognized, well known, and loved by those who really mattered. Many times, he was covered by the shadow of death, but he continued to live life to the fullest.
He was beaten, but not to the point of death; he was often sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; he lived with poverty, but enriched multitudes by his ministry; he owned little to nothing and yet considered himself a wealthy man. All these sacrifices he gladly made so that no one could charge him with being unfaithful to his calling. His greatest fear was the possibility that “after he had preached to others, he himself would be disqualified,” I Corinthians 9:27.
In many parts of the world, our brothers and sisters experience the paradox of ministry very much like the apostle Paul did. Here in the West, not so much. Why is that? Sure, some of it has to do with the foundations of western civilization being based on the historic Judeo-Christian values of religious freedom, private property ownership, and more. But it’s not all because of that. I believe part of it has to do with the level of comfort we expect or demand in daily living.
Paul was willing to embrace Jesus’ teaching of being content with food and clothing. I know, we need those things, and we need housing and transportation too. But do we need expensive cars, RVs, boats, motorcycles, four-wheelers, vacation homes, and more? You see, the more comfortable we make our lives, the more we enjoy the temporary pleasures of life, and the harder we’re going to find it to endure discomfort and hardship.
I’m not suggesting you become a hermit or a monk. I’m just asking you, and myself, to think seriously about the choices we’re making for the sake of the Gospel. Paul’s life was characterized by many hardships and trials, and yet he was filled with joy. Why? Because his goal was to know Christ and make Him known. He knew there was a crown of righteousness reserved, waiting for him in heaven. As an ambassador for Christ, there’s a crown waiting for you, too.
Can you see the paradox of ministry in these perspectives? Do you grasp the privilege that you and I have to work with Christ and have His Spirit live in us? Does that realization give you a passion to see that the Gospel isn’t proclaimed in vain? Are you striving to live in a way that protects the Gospel, that eliminates or minimizes things that might cause others to reject the message? And are you able to live with the paradox of ministry, the honor and dishonor, the patience in tribulation, and the rejoicing in sorrow?As you reflect on these perspectives, do you see yourself as being rich or poor?
In conclusion, here are the words of Jesus in Mark 8:34 to 38. “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
May God help us to recognize and embrace the paradox of ministry.
The Paradox of Ministry
II Corinthians 6:1-10
What do you think about this statement; “the only constant in life is change?” Is that true? Has that been your experience? This is what we call a paradox. A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is often true. In the example I mentioned, we have the words constant and change. We see those words by themselves as opposite, and yet, we must admit the statement is true.
Here’s another example of a paradox, one that’s very relevant to our day. “Social media disconnects us from each other.” The word social implies that media is bringing people together. But scientific studies and our own experiences show us that it actually does the opposite. Social media actually disconnects us from genuine relationships. Most of us know what it’s like to sit in a group of people at a family gathering or in someone’s living room, and most, or all, of the people who are there are looking at their phones instead of talking to each other.
Even the Bible contains paradoxes. One that immediately comes to mind is in Matthew chapter 20. Here, the mother of James and John asked Jesus if her boys could sit on either side of Him in His kingdom. Jesus’ answer reveals the paradox. “Whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant.” In our minds, great and servant are opposites, and we know which one we prefer. There are many others, but you get the idea.
In our continuing study of Second Corinthians Paul discusses what I’m calling “The Paradox of Ministry.” At first thought, you may not be able to see it. But as we examine the Scripture together, I think it will become clear to you. Our text is Second Corinthians 6:1 to 10.
But before we read that, I think it’s appropriate to give a bit of a refresher on the background of the situation that Paul is speaking into. Acts chapter 18 records Paul’s initial efforts in planting the church in Corinth and we learn that he spent a year-and-a-half there. After he moved on from there, several groups or factions formed around various leaders and began quarreling among themselves. Evidently, Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians didn’t clear up the controversies and the situation continued to get worse.
One thing we learned in previous studies is the deep love that Paul had for the Corinthian Believers. He had poured 18+ months of his life into this congregation and developed many close relationships with the people. And yet, there were those there who were accusing him of being a false teacher, of being an evangelist for hire and other ridiculous things. Because of this, we noted that the last several chapters we’ve studied in this letter are actually Paul’s defense of his apostolic ministry. Our text today seems like the concluding section of that defense.
Someone has said, “it isn’t unusual for the preacher to be the most loved man and the most hated man in his community.” To the ones who hear him and believe what he teaches, he’s a friend, a spiritual father, and a mentor. But to those who don’t believe him, he’s the voice of irritation and conviction, a troublemaker, someone who is accused of being bigoted and hateful because he proclaims God’s unchanging Word.
This isn’t surprising because the faithful pastor/teacher represents Jesus Christ. And we know how the people around Jesus treated Him when He was here on earth. There’s probably no person who was ever more loved or hated than Jesus. And He warned us that we, as His followers, can expect the same intensity of feeling toward us. As we reflect on the opening verses of Second Corinthians chapter six, we come face to face with this paradox of ministry.
In our study just prior to this one we were discussing the ministry of reconciliation that is entrusted to us as followers of Christ. We are called to be His ambassadors. That gives us the responsibility to communicate His message, the Gospel, to the world. The gospel is literally, the Good News, but not everyone sees it that way. So, those who hear us will be divided into two categories; those who believe the Gospel and those who don’t believe. We will experience the love of some and the hatred of others. This is the paradox of ministry.
Now, let’s read the text, Second Corinthians 6:1 to 10, and further discuss this paradox.
In this text, Paul lists four PERSPECTIVES that help us understand “The Paradox of Ministry.”
(We will look at just the first two today.)
The First Perspective (to help us understand the paradox of ministry) is,
The Perspective of Privilege
Regardless of how you serve in Christ’s kingdom, whether you’re a pastor/teacher or a janitor, or a homemaker, or whatever, do you count it a privilege to be an ambassador for Christ? In some ways, being in the role of pastor/teacher can multiply the paradox, but can you see the paradoxical nature of your position in this text? In the latter verses of our text, there’s a lot of pain, a lot of disappointment, a lot of hostility, and a lot of accusation – much of it false. But there’s tremendous joy and blessing here too. So, if you and I don’t understand the great privilege that ministry is, we will be overcome by all the negativity that accompanies it.
Notice with me how Paul begins this text; “we are coworkers with Him,” that is, with Christ. You and I really need to take some time to meditate on what that means; “coworkers with Christ.” Because if we miss the significance of this, we’ll miss the most important perspective. Do you understand the dignity of your work? For the Christian, all work that’s done well, except what the scriptures prohibit by command or principle, has eternal value. You and I are in a cooperative effort with the sovereign God, the Creator, and Sustainer of all things! Do we truly appreciate that the way we should? I am sure I don’t. I need to grasp that more deeply.
Wouldn’t that change our perspective about our work? In my experience, I’m like James and John wanting the seats of power next to Jesus. I’m often more concerned about what I can get than I am concerned about what I can give. Do you find it that way too? The cause of Christ suffers because we don’t understand the tremendous privilege it is to be coworkers with Him.
Sometimes, we look at people who have privileged positions in life and we envy them. Maybe they’re physically beautiful or handsome. Maybe they’re extremely well educated, or naturally gifted in a certain area. Or maybe they’re in a position where our friendship with them can provide benefits for us. But all of those supposed advantages are nothing to be compared with the privilege of being a coworker with Christ!
I think if you and I could really get ahold of this perspective, it would change the way we do life! If you take the final verses of chapter five and connect them with verse one of our text it’s powerful. Verse 19 says, “God was in Christ reconciling the world and He has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation.” And then verse 20, “We are ambassadors for Christ, but it is God entreating through us.”
So, God wants to use you and me as the channel through which the message of reconciliation is proclaimed to the world. When we experience reconciliation with God, personally, we will have a desire to share that message of hope and joy, and peace with others. If we don’t have that desire, we need to do some serious thinking about our relationship with Him.
Paul never lost sight of the privilege of proclaiming the message of reconciliation. God was working through him for His glory, that’s God’s glory. I believe Paul worked diligently regardless of the response. I base that on what he wrote in chapter two, verses 15 and 16. “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.” You and I can’t control how people respond to the message, but we can proclaim it faithfully. The transformation is up to God and His Holy Spirit.
But we must understand the perspective of privilege, the privilege to work with God in reconciling people to Himself.
The Next Perspective (to help us understand the paradox of ministry) is,
The Perspective of Passion
This perspective is closely related to the first one. When you and I realize that we are in a cooperative effort with the sovereign God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, how can we not be passionate about what we’re doing?
Paul was passionate in his love for the Corinthian Believers. He said, “I urge you; I beseech you, not to receive the grace of God in vain.” There were false teachers in Corinth attempting to lead the people astray. There were people there who accused Paul of being a false teacher. But Paul says, “like God we are pleading with you, be reconciled to God.”
The word Paul uses is parakaleo. It’s as though he’s saying, “together, God and I are coming to you, we’re putting our arm around your shoulder, and we’re begging you, we’re entreating you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” Why is Paul so intense and so insistent?
He quotes Isaiah 49:8 from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. “In an acceptable time, I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Paul takes this Old Testament messianic prophecy and applies it to their situation. And then he adds, “Behold now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation.” None of us know if we’ll be alive tomorrow. We don’t know when our physical life will end. That gives an urgency, a passion to proclaiming the ministry of reconciliation.
If you remember in our previous study from chapter five, verse 20, Paul said “we implore you, we beg you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” And we noted that the force of the language was, “DO IT NOW!” Sometimes, at home, when we boys were less than enthusiastic about our work, my dad would say, “let’s get moving, we don’t have all day.” He was trying to help us see the urgency of the time and put a little passion into our work.
As God’s ambassadors, you and I need to learn how to become pleaders, and how to become exhorters. Our passion is to see people embrace the grace of God and grow in it! The apostle Peter closed his second epistle with these words, “But grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” We have way too many professing Christians who come to faith in Christ and never grow in Him. If we had a child like that we’d be concerned, we’d be going to the doctor pretty quickly. But too often, we just ignore Believers whose spiritual growth is stunted.
The writer of Hebrews stated it this way: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles [or sayings] of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.But solid food belongs to those who are [mature], that is, those who by reason of [practice] have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
So, our passion as ministers, and servants of the Lord, is to plead with people to leave spiritual infancy and grow to maturity in the Lord. And that takes pleading, it takes repetition, it takes patience. Sometimes it looks like we’re getting nowhere with people; they seem to take two steps forward and three steps back. And we may think our work is all in vain. I’m sure Paul felt that way about the church in Corinth. They were like a bunch of squabbling toddlers.
Paul’s passion was for the pure word of God. As followers of Christ and reconcilers with Him, we need that same passion. You know, human nature hasn’t changed at all since the sin of our first parents. Every so often people come along with some supposedly “new understanding” of Scripture. But if you do a little bit of digging, you find out they’ve just recycled an old heresy; gave it a new name, and dressed it in different clothes.
In Corinth, the Judaizers were saying, “yes, you need Jesus, but you also need to keep the Law. That way you’ll be acceptable to God.” Paul said, “No, no.” In fact, he asked the Galatians, who were facing the same heresy, “Are you so foolish having begun by the Spirit are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Paul’s passion was that the grace that the Believers in Corinth had received would not be in vain, it would not be to no purpose. That would be a tragedy for both them and him. And it would be a tragedy for those we work with too.
And so, the minister of God must continually be alert to error, he must continually take people back to the Scripture. He must warn them not to let their latest experiences dictate their theology, but rather let their theology dictate their experiences. He must be a bit like a hound on the trail of a rabbit; he must keep focused on the pursuit of righteousness; for himself and those who hear him. But let me quickly say, his passion won’t always be appreciated. That’s part of the paradox of ministry.
If you and I are going to be coworkers with God, if we are going to be passionate about the grace of God not being in vain, then it’s time for us to get to work. Paul wouldn’t settle for anything less than the grace of God achieving its purpose. We shouldn’t either. So, he pleads as God does - with a crisis mentality, with a sense of urgency. Don’t let the grace of God be in vain.
Sure, there are going to be difficult times. There’ll be times of disappointment and heartbreak, as we plead with people against the grain of trends. We can’t choose for them. But we have to be faithful. We need to embrace the privilege and the passion as part of the paradox of the ministry of reconciliation.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
II Corinthians 5:17-21
In the mid-1970s, David Berkowitz went on a shooting rampage in New York City that spanned several years. At one of the crime scenes, he left a letter signed, “Son of Sam.” Berkowitz claimed the motive for the killings was Sam, a demonic spirit in his neighbor’s black Labrador.
Berkowitz was arrested on August 10, 1977. When police searched his apartment, they found it a jumbled mess, with Satanic graffiti on the walls. They also found detailed diaries that noted hundreds of fires he claimed to have set throughout New York City.
In May of 1978, he pled guilty to six counts of murder and received six consecutive life sentences. However, his plea agreement made him eligible for parole after twenty-five years.
Then, in 1987, David Berkowitz met Jesus and his life was transformed. No longer is he “Son of Sam,” now he is “Son of Hope.” Though he has a parole hearing every two years, he has consistently asked not to be released. Though forbidden access to a computer, David, through a local church, has established an online ministry ariseandshine.org where you can read his testimony and writings. He also is active in ministry inside the prison where he’s incarcerated.
Most of us can’t identify with David’s experience. But just like him, we either were or are all estranged from God and in need of reconciliation. And that’s the focus of our study today from Second Corinthians 5:17 to 21, “The Ministry of Reconciliation.”
Listen now as I read the Holy Spirit-inspired words of the apostle Paul.
This text explains the several foundational TRUTHS that help us understand the process and effects of the ministry of reconciliation.
The First TRUTH (about the ministry of reconciliation) is,
It is Initiated by God
Paul opens this text by further explaining what we talked about in our previous study; how the love of God transforms and controls us. When we come to know Christ by experience and not just intellectually, we become a new creation. We’ll talk more about that later and about the impact it has on our lives.
It is critical that we understand the process of reconciliation; it begins with God, not man. Paul says that this new creation with all its effects has come “from God who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ…” When Paul speaks of being reconciled that automatically means there’s been an estrangement, a break in the relationship. When we were still in our sins, we were God’s enemies, our relationship was broken, and we were hostile to Him. But it wasn’t His fault; it was ours. God doesn’t have a need for reconciliation, but we do. And He is in the great business of reconciling us to Himself.
Our English word, reconcile, comes from the Greek katalasso. In literature outside the Scriptures, it was used of exchanging coins. The exchange of coins implies a transaction and so does reconciliation. The coins represent a store of value that is being exchanged for something the purchaser values. This isn’t a perfect analogy, but if I understand that a particular tool will help me do my work, especially if it will help with both quality and productivity, I will exchange the money I have earned for that tool. I earned the money to make my purchase by providing something of value to other people.
God saw in you and me something He valued and something He wanted. And He was willing to exchange something that was of value to Him in order to make the exchange possible. It is crucial for us to understand that whether reconciliation takes place between God and mankind or between human beings, it ALWAYS comes at a price! The price God was willing to pay to reconcile us to Himself was the life of His own Son.
Normally, in a transaction, each party must agree to the terms. If not, it doesn’t happen. But in providing for our reconciliation, God, through Jesus, initiated the process without waiting to see if we would agree to the terms. God’s justice had to be satisfied, and sin had to be punished, but His love motivated Him to give His own Son to propitiate or satisfy that sense of justice. He acted unilaterally (without our help) in Christ to provide the gift of reconciliation for us.
Paul’s distinctive use of the word katalasso helps us understand the theological aspect of Christ and His work. As I said earlier, God is the subject of the action of reconciliation. This concept is unlike anything in non-Christian thought. All other religions rely on the actions of human beings to initiate reconciling or appeasing.
I have seen this firsthand in Asia in the Buddhist and Hindu temples and shrines. Sacrifices must be offered to appease their grotesque gods and goddesses in order to gain favor or forestall their disfavor. In Islam, the only guaranteed entrance into Paradise is by martyrdom through jihad. Good works are vital but if you don’t do enough, you won’t make it into Paradise. Even many people in the western world mistakenly believe that God will accept them because, based on their daily lifestyle choices, they’re “not that bad.”
Our actions as humans, including even repentance and confession of sins, do not initiate the work of reconciliation to which God responds. Instead, it is the work of God to which we respond. Jesus, Himself said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day,” John 6:44. Notice in our text that it is only after Paul affirms that God has reconciled us to Himself (verse 18), that he asks us as his readers to “be reconciled to God,” (verse 20).
The Next TRUTH (about the ministry of reconciliation) is,
It is Provided through Christ
Verse 19 continues Paul’s explanation by reminding us how God, through Christ, was in the process of reconciling the people of the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them. And to be clear, this work of reconciliation, though it was planned before Creation, began immediately after the sin of our first parents in the Garden of Eden.
Even the Old Testament scriptures teach that salvation is by grace through faith. The Law was inadequate to secure salvation by works. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” As I read those words, I picture in my mind the High Priest laying his hands on the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement and confessing the sins of the people, and then the goat being sent out into the wilderness bearing those sins.
Reconciliation is closely related to justification and leads directly to the mention of God’s righteousness later in our text. In Romans 5:9 and 10, the words reconciled and justified are used almost synonymously. “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” What Jesus did for us by his death stands to our credit. There is nothing you and I can add to it!
Paul’s message of reconciliation in light of justification, is first of all, expressed negatively in verse 19 of our text. God doesn’t count or reckon our sins against us. He uses the same verb in Romans 4: 3 through 8 using verses from the Old Testament to support the idea that justification comes about when God doesn’t count the iniquities of men against them but counts them as righteous because of their faith in Him.
To see Paul’s positive expression of reconciliation we drop down to the final verse of our test, verse 21. “He made Him who knew no sin a sin-offering for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” A different way of saying this would be “God treated as sin the One who knew no sin.” I understand the statement about Jesus knew no sin to mean that Jesus was conscious of His own sinlessness. He didn’t commit sin; He had no personal acquaintance with it. This obviously makes Him more than a mere man. And it also helps explain some of the trauma Jesus experienced as our sin-bearer.
It is through our faith in this act of Christ that you and I actually take on the righteousness of Christ, just as Christ took on our sin. This reconciliation ends the enmity, the hostility, between God and human beings. Through the reconciliation effected by our justification in Christ, we have peace with God, according to Romans 5:1.
These truths are crucial to our understanding of the ministry of reconciliation; it is initiated by God and provided through Christ. But that’s not the end. The message of reconciliation must be proclaimed and received. This leads us to the final truth about the ministry of reconciliation.
The Final TRUTH (about the ministry of reconciliation) is,
It is Committed to Believers
Paul begins this text by reminding us of what happens when “knowing Christ after the flesh” passes away. When we learn to know Christ in truth, we become a new creation. The old “way,” of seeing Jesus as a mere man, has passed away. Behold, what is new has come and remains! In addition to seeing Jesus in a new way, we also see our fellowmen in a new way. We no longer see them through the lenses of class, race, status, wealth, or power. This is essential because we have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation according to verse 18.
Because we have been reconciled to God through Jesus, the task of winning the unreconciled to God is committed to us. It is a ministry marked by (our) reconciliation that consists of reconciliation (of others). It is a high and holy calling, but it isn’t an easy one. That’s because the unreconciled, the guilty ones, are the hardest to win over for Christ. Many times, they have no sense of their need for reconciliation.
So, we are called to be ambassadors for Christ. What is an ambassador and what does he do? The word Paul uses here for ambassador is an old word that refers, first of all, to an old man, and then later to the title of an ambassador as we understand the role today. To me, that implies that an ambassador must have some life experience.
Most of you have heard the Latin term persona non grata. It means you’re not welcome. When a diplomat or an ambassador from one country to another is declared persona non grata, his or her diplomatic immunity is removed, and he is usually expelled from the country. His service is no longer acceptable. Since you and I are ambassadors for Christ, we must be persona grata with both countries. We must be accepted and welcomed by the one we represent and the one to which we go.
Ambassadors don’t speak for themselves. That is, they don’t make policy and diplomatic decisions on their own. They speak for the leadership of the country they represent. As ambassadors for Christ, we don’t have our own message or speak on our own authority; we speak for Christ on His authority. We proclaim His message. It is “be reconciled to God…and do it NOW!” There is an urgency to the message. Those without reconciliation are at risk of facing the full measure of God’s wrath because they have rejected His provision.
This ministry of reconciliation has been entrusted to you and me as followers of Jesus. How are we doing with that entrustment? Remember the parable of the talents in Matthew 25? The servants received differing amounts. Each was given responsibility in line with his ability. How we steward this ministry of reconciliation is what will be evaluated at the bema, the judgment seat of Christ that Paul mentions back in verse 10 of this chapter. How much of what we’re doing will endure the test of fire?
Are we pursuing our own agenda, our own pleasures, our own goals, or are we faithfully representing Christ to the people around us? When Paul talks in verse 19 about God in Christ reconciling the world to Him, the world refers to the human beings that populate our globe. They are the ones who need the message of reconciliation that you and I have.
No, our task will not be an easy one. The price Jesus paid for our reconciliation is our model. Of course, we can never duplicate what He did, but we are called to pursue a life of serving rather than being served. The more deeply we understand what God through Christ has done for us, the greater will be our desire to share that life-transforming messages with others. How are you embracing the ministry of reconciliation?
The Constraint of Love
II Corinthians 5:11-16
Elijah Cadman was born in England in 1843. He was the youngest of five children and his father died when he was three years old. Six-year-old Elijah was small for his age, and he began to work as a chimney sweep. He continued that job until he was 13. Already, at age 6, Cadman was often drunk, and by the time he was 17 he "fought like a devil and drank like a fish."
When he was 21, Cadman became a Christian after listening to a street preacher. After his conversion, he spent his spare time as a Methodist lay preacher. Because he was illiterate, Cadman hired a boy to read the Bible to him and he memorized large sections of it. He was 22 years old when his young wife taught him to read and write.
In 1876, he sold his house and chimney-sweep business and took his wife and children to London, where he joined William Booth's, The Christian Mission, the forerunner of today’s Salvation Army. In 1876 Cadman was appointed to the East London Christian Mission Station, where he visited the slums during the day and preached in the streets at night.
Elijah Cadman didn’t put his confidence in himself but in God. And as a result, he became one of the great preachers in the early days of the Salvation Army. Cadman's own words were, "Come and hear Elijah Cadman, the sober chimney sweep as he gives an account of his own drinkin' experience. Come and hear him! Come and hear him!" God was able to use the witness of this man to bring many others from self-centeredness and sin into a life of freedom, because of his transformed life.
But what about you? Has God transformed your life and given you a desire to see others transformed through your testimony?
In our continuing study of Second Corinthians, we’ve come to chapter five, and verses eleven to sixteen. I’ve titled our study “The Constraint of Love.” Please listen carefully to the Word of God, Second Corinthians 5:11 to 16.
Paul’s teaching illuminates the several WAYS in which “The Constraint of Love” transforms our lives and our ministry to others.
I chose the title, “The Constraint of Love” because it comes right out of our text. But let me clarify the idea that’s conveyed by the word, constraint. We normally think of a constraint as being a restriction, or maybe an act that is compelled by force. But the word, as Paul used it, is the idea that the love of Christ literally holds us together. William Mounce puts it this way, “the love of Christ controls us.” So, keep that understanding in mind as we move through our text.
The First WAY (the love of Christ constrains us) is,
It Transforms our Motives
Have you ever had someone question your motives for doing something? There have been times in my life when people have questioned my motives for the choices I made. Some of them said very hurtful things about me, things that weren’t true. One of the reasons they did that was because they didn’t have all the facts. They made assumptions that led to wrong conclusions!
There were people in the church at Corinth who questioned Paul’s sincerity in preaching the Gospel. In fact, he takes several chapters of this letter to answer the accusations against him. The text doesn’t tell us what those accusations were, but we can gather what they were from Paul’s responses.
One of those accusations had to do with his motives. Paul’s response was classic, “we stand open before God.” In other words, Paul was saying, “we have nothing to hide.” After all, I am going to appear before the bema, the judgment seat of Christ, verse 10, to receive a reward for what I’ve done. Because I love Christ, because I worship and serve Him, He knows my motives and my works, and He will determine whether or not they’re worthy of reward. My motives are controlled by His love.
Paul begins our text by stating, “since we know the fear of the Lord, we attempt to persuade others…” He seems to have a dual purpose in this statement. Certainly, he wants to convince people to embrace the Gospel. But he also wants to convince his critics that his motives for ministry are pure. Incidentally, his fear of the Lord isn’t the terror of an unbeliever, but reverence for this awe-inspiring event of standing before the judgment seat of Christ.
You know, there’s no better way to silence your critics than to live a life above reproach. I believe Paul wanted to live in such a way that even those who criticized him could see the transparency of his motives.
Not all of the people in Corinth were critical of Paul. He had his supporters there too. He told them, “I’m not reintroducing myself to you, but I am giving you the material you can use when you face my critics. You need to have something to say to the Gnostics and Judaizers when they start bragging about their supposed superiority. They are more concerned about appearance than substance. I want you to be able to boast (in a good way) on our behalf.
Verse 13 implies that some of Paul’s critics thought he was crazy! We know the Roman governor, Festus, thought so. He told Paul in Acts 26:24, “you are out of your mind; your much learning has made you insane!” Isn’t it true that people often accuse those they don’t like of being a bit “off” in the head? When someone else’s spiritual maturity or godly character eclipse ours, we’re often tempted to find a way to criticize or find fault with them.
Our natural motivation in life is selfish; we want to use our gifts, our skills, our time, and our finances to benefit ourselves. But if we love Jesus, and His love controls us, that will transform our motives. We will stand in awe of what He’s done for us, and we will want others to experience that transformation too.
The Next WAY (the love of Christ constrains us) is,
It Transforms Our Message
Our world is filled with mixed messaging. There are so many voices calling for our attention. It’s easy to be distracted and lose our way. Paul says that the love of Christ keeps us from falling apart or getting off track, regardless of the circumstances we face, or the task assigned to us by Jesus. Verses 15 and 16 are very concise presentations of the Gospel. And they are the basis of this whole concept of being constrained by love.
Paul was amazed at God’s love. He told Timothy that “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violently arrogant man . . . but Christ Jesus came into the world in order to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” In other words, Paul’s thought was that if Jesus can save me, He can save anybody! Ever since Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, and understood that Jesus loved him, it transformed his message—from hate to love.
The central tenet in Paul’s theology and Christology was “one died for all.” The word “for” is used in the sense of substitution. We could say “in the place of.” Caiaphas used it this way after the resurrection of Lazarus. He said, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for (in the place of) the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” Christ died so the rest of us will not have to die.
When Jesus died, all humanity, of which He was the representative Head, died potentially with Him to sin and selfishness. Please note that I said they died potentially. But the very next verse, verse 15, clearly states that transformation, new life, only happens to those who enter into Christ’s death with Him.
How does this entering into Christ take place? It is by faith, faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ for our salvation. Recall what Paul wrote in verse seven of this chapter, “we walk by faith and not by appearance.” It’s not enough to know about Jesus or to even live a morally upright life. No, if Jesus, died for all, that means all of us were dead, verse fourteen. But when we enter into Him, we are made alive.
And how does that affect those who enter into Christ by faith? They no longer live selfishly: instead, they live for Him who died for them and rose again! Do my daily choices reflect that statement? Do yours? Is your love for Jesus the glue that holds you together, does it control your thoughts and your actions?
One of the issues Paul had with his critics in Corinth was their focus on outward appearances. The Judaizers and Gnostics were jockeying for power and prestige, they wanted the praise of men. They wanted people to think they were really spiritual. But Paul was concerned about heart change. He knew that if the heart was changed if people were controlled by the love of Christ, it would transform both their motives and their message.
The Final WAY (love of Christ constrains us) is,
It Transforms Our Ministry
Look at verse sixteen. “Because of Christ’s love, we no longer regard anyone according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, yet now we regard Him in that way no longer.” What does that actually mean, and how can it transform our ministry?
Let’s begin with the second part of the sentence. Paul once regarded Christ according to the flesh. In other words, he saw Jesus as a mere man, an impostor, someone claiming to be equal to God. His knowledge of the Old Testament law motivated him to do all he could to stamp out this myth, this heresy. His actions demonstrated what he thought of Jesus. That included destroying those who were followers of the Way.
After his personal encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul no longer regarded or viewed Jesus in that way. He was totally convinced that his earlier perceptions and actions were wrong. In his letter to the Galatians, he wrote, “And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” The love of Christ transformed his ministry.
So, from the time Paul understood that Christ’s death was for him, it changed the way he looked at people. He refused to recognize race, status, class, or any other way the world uses to identify and categorize people. These were the very distinctions that were so important to some of the people in Corinth. Now that his heart and mind and life were controlled by the love of Jesus, he saw every person through the lens of Christ’s love.
Do you and I see people through the lens of Christ’s love? Do race, class, status, wealth, and power mean nothing to us when we look at people? I’m not denying that certain people have an advantage in relating to others of similar backgrounds and experiences. I think that’s a given. But the point is, that we should see all people of equal value because they are made in God’s image and Jesus died for them too.
From the world’s perspective, I live in a community where we have a whole range of people, from the wealthy to those on welfare. We have those who dress professionally and those who show up at Dollar General in their pajamas. We have those with purple hair and extensive tattoos, and those who disdain those cultural expressions. I assume it’s the same way where you live. We must remember they are ALL people Jesus loves and people that we, as Christ-followers, are called to love too.
So, is the love of Christ controlling you? Has it transformed your motives? Are you wanting the things that Jesus wants? Is your life transparent before Jesus and others? Can people rejoice and glorify God by what He is doing through your life?
And then, what about your message? Have you embraced the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the only acceptable payment for your sins? Has that transformed your life message; not just what you say, but how you live? Are you learning to live for the good of others instead of just yourself?
And finally, has the Gospel transformed your ministry; has it changed the way you look at people? Are you able to see people through the eyes of Jesus rather than the standards of your culture? Our world is desperately in need of the love of Jesus. When we are constrained or controlled by His love, people will see it and want what we have. May God bless you as you grow in the constraint of love.
Looking for a New Home
II Corinthians 5:1-10
When our children were younger, there was a neighboring church in our community that hosted an annual “father/son campout.” We were part of it for several years and we always enjoyed it. Everyone, except for a few, slept in tents.
We’ll never forget the one weekend because it rained most of the time. Some of you know that water and tents don’t go well together. Unless you spend a lot of money, your tent isn’t truly waterproof. I remember getting half-awake in the night because it felt like my feet were wet. Sure enough, the tent was on a bit of a slope and the low side had filled up with water. My sleeping bag and the sleeping bags of my boys were all soaked at the bottom.
And because it rained most of the weekend, there was no time for them to dry out properly. That was miserable. I recall being so ready for that weekend to be over. I wanted to sleep in a soft, comfortable, dry place. I wanted to go HOME!
But you know, many people across the world today have been forced out of their homes. Wars, famine, failed governments, and religious persecution has caused millions of people to look for a new home. Property has been confiscated or destroyed. Family members have been lost, and those who suffer see no future in staying. So, they go looking for a new home.
Are you thinking about looking for a new home? You should be. Why do I say that? Because I’m thinking long-term, beyond this life and our earthly existence. If you’re a follower of Christ, then this world isn’t your home; it’s just a temporary place to live.
And that’s what we want to consider today as we look together at Second Corinthians and the first ten verses of chapter five. I invite you to join our study, “Looking for a New Home.” Listen now as I read Second Corinthians 5:1-10.
In this text, Paul outlines for us the STEPS in the process of “Looking for a New Home.”
The First STEP in looking for a new home is,
In the Market
I’ve only moved a few times in my life, but the first step was always a recognition of need. Going from renting to owning, a growing family, a change of job, or relocating to a different community are all reasons for needing a new home. Whether you’re looking to rent or buy, you have to be “in the market.” In other words, you begin to check out what is available.
In our text, Paul relates this idea of “being in the market” to our focus, as Christ-followers on what is unseen. In chapter four, verse eighteen he writes, “while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” This is the context for Paul’s teaching.
He begins by reminding us that our current dwelling is only temporary. It’s actually quite fragile. He calls it a tent. Most of us have seen actual tent cities, or at least pictures of them. Homelessness in our inner cities or refugee camps is often the setting for large numbers of tents. They’re not made to be long-lasting or semi-permanent. They’re easily damaged by wind, fire, or water. Eventually, they’re going to wear out and need replacement.
This is true of our bodies too. In talking about this tent that is our current dwelling, the KJV uses the word dissolved. NKJV uses the word destroyed. But the word is actually quite appropriate for the collapsing or taking down of a tent. So, Paul says “we know that if our earthly house, the tent we dwell in is taken down…” Now really, there’s no if about it. At some point, our earthly tent will be unneeded. We will be in the market for a new home.
But let’s go on. If and when that earthly tent of our body is taken down, “a building proceeding from God we have, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” That wording may seem a bit awkward, but it conveys the concept accurately.
I believe Mark 14:58 helps us better understand this terminology. These words are recorded as part of Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin. “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’” So, one temple, one tent, was going to be destroyed, and another one was going to be built without hands. What is that house built without hands? I believe it is the resurrection body we will receive - just like the one our Lord has.
When you study the original wording of this text you immediately learn that the building or house God has for us is much more substantial than the present tent we live in! The tent is temporary, it will one day collapse and be no longer needed. But look at the upgrade; a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And notice, Paul says, “we have…” present tense.
How can it be that Paul speaks of something still in the future for us as something we already have? I’m not currently living in a resurrection body, are you? Here’s the point; our union with Christ makes this building an actual possession even though we don’t yet live in it. Remember, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen,” Hebrews 11:1.
And why are we in the market for a new home? Paul writes, “in this tent we are groaning, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling.” Here, Paul mixes the metaphors of building and clothing – not such a stretch for a tentmaker, right? We want to put on our heavenly dwelling place like a piece of clothing. The word, longing, indicates not just a desire but an intense craving. Our union with Christ should create in us a longing to be in His presence.
Paul’s statement in verse three reflects the culture in which he was writing and needs some explanation. In the Greek worldview, to be naked meant to become a disembodied spirit. Paul explains that our groaning in this earthly tent is not a desire to be “unclothed,” to become a spirit without a body, but rather to be clothed with our new body. The reason is, that we want what is mortal, what is perishable, to be swallowed up by life.
When Paul writes of the mortal being swallowed up by life, my mind immediately goes to First Corinthians 15. His use of katapino means to drink down in one gulp. The change will be instantaneous. Here are his words. “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
There are hints in this text that the apostles regarded the coming of the Lord as imminent. In their minds, it was possible that they wouldn’t die. Part of the groaning in our earthly tent is our natural fear of death. This isn’t the fear of the unbelieving; just the fear about how the process will unfold for us personally. If death was going to deprive Paul of a body, he would rather have this new being come down on him while he was still alive. It would be like putting on a new garment, and that new garment would swallow up the old one.
So, I ask you, “are you in the market for a new home?” If your focus in life is on the unseen, then you realize that everything you can see or touch is only temporary, including your physical body. And depending on your age, you have a greater or lesser awareness of the inevitable collapse of your earthly tent. But don’t despair, because you already own, by faith, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
The Next STEP in looking for a new home is,
Under Contract
You’ve taken the first step in looking for a new home; you’re in the market. Now what? When you find a place you like, you’re ready to sign a contract, right? As a Christ-follower, the contract for your new home is already signed and guaranteed. Why do I say that?
Look at verse five. “Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” The KJV uses the words “hath wrought.” That’s past tense, isn’t it? Remember, I said earlier we are possessors of our new home by faith.
And the one who has prepared us for this very purpose, this new form of existence in a new home, is God. He wrote the contract, and He gave us His Spirit as a pledge, a down payment, a guarantee, that it will be fulfilled. Now, I know, we don’t normally refer to our salvation, our relationship with the Lord, as a contract; it’s a covenant. But it is an agreement.
Romans 10:9-13 says, “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Those are the requirements of the covenant, confess with your mouth and believe with your heart. When you meet those, God meets His; He saves you!
Because of this assurance, we are confident that, as long as we are “at home” among our own people (that is, among those physically alive) we are “away from home” where the Lord is. It can’t be any other way. First Corinthians 15:50 assures us, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.”
This doesn’t mean we have no connection or contact with God; we do. We have prayer, the Word, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. But Paul had, and so should you and I, heavenly homesickness, a strong yearning to be with the Lord.
Earlier in First Corinthians chapter 15, Paul wrote, “There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so, it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.”
This confidence that Paul expressed and that we have comes because we walk by faith and not by appearance. In other words, our faith rests on the actual appearance of the heavenly things that are promised to us.
The Final STEP in looking for a new home is,
Preparing to Move
I have friends who recently bought what was, for them, a new home. But the previous occupants had just “up and left,” leaving behind spoiled food in the refrigerator, and junk throughout the house and garage. Not only that, but the place was also incredibly dirty.
Most people I know aren’t like that. In the days leading up to the move, they don’t trash the place. And when they’re ready to move, they pack up all their stuff and give the home they’re leaving a decent cleaning. They may not shampoo carpets or wash walls, but they don’t leave the place looking like a pigpen, either.
Paul says in verse 9, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” As we await the timing of the move to our final home, like Paul, we should make it our goal to live a life that honors God. Paul’s use of the word aim isn’t proud or egotistical. It comes from a Greek word that means “to love what is honorable.” Paul’s whole life and ministry demonstrate to us that it is right to strive for excellence, set spiritual goals, and strive to make everything we do honorable before God.
The motivation for this goal is that we will all appear before the bema, the judgment seat of Christ. Corinth had a bema, a raised platform where the athletes of that day’s Olympics were crowned for their victories. So, Paul’s audience immediately knew what Paul was talking about. The focus here isn’t so much on judgment, but on rewards.
This is certainly not the judgment of the wicked. And it isn’t the judgment of our sins because Christ already took care of those on the cross. In fact, the words used here don’t refer to moral good or moral evil. Instead, Paul is comparing what is worthwhile and eternally valuable with that which is useless. In First Corinthians 3 he talks about two kinds of works: gold, silver, and precious stones. Then he lists wood, hay, and stubble, and says that all of these will be tested by fire. What endures is worthwhile, lasting, and eternal. What burns is lost.
As Believers, God doesn’t expect us to forego the enjoyment of wholesome, earthly things. But we should use those things in a way that glorifies Him and points others toward Him. We ought to spend the bulk of our energy and time on things that have eternal value.
Are you looking for a new home? Or are you satisfied with the “tent” you’re living in? You can dress it up, remodel it, and reinforce it but it’s still temporary. Or do you have an intense desire, a craving to move to your new home?
Is your new, eternal home under contract? Are you remembering that the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life is the down payment or guarantee of the fulfillment of that contract? Are you living by faith, confident in the ultimate appearance of the heavenly things promised to you?
And finally, are you preparing to move? Is it your highest goal to live in a way that is well-pleasing to your Master? If so, you can be confident in the rewards that await you as a faithful servant of the Lord.
Dying to Live
II Corinthians 4:13-18
What do you want out of life? Happiness, security, acceptance, pleasure, comfort? What about meaning and purpose? And if you want those things, what are you doing to get them? Is it even possible to get them? How do you go about getting what you want?
Isn’t it true that most people try to acquire the things I mentioned by pursuing something tangible? In other words, they try to achieve happiness, security, or whatever, through money or possessions. Recently, I heard a pastor say, “A lot of our fulfillment and satisfaction in life comes from what we expect.” So, if I expect that a Lamborghini or a yacht will bring me happiness or acceptance with a certain group of people, I will make it my goal to eventually own one of those.
I don’t want a Lamborghini or a yacht, nor could I afford one, but in the past, there have been things I wanted because I thought they would make me happier. But guess what? It’s an illusion; it doesn’t work out that way. I finally got what I thought I wanted and – meh – it was a letdown. I have a feeling you know what I’m talking about. Why is that?
As I was thinking about these questions, I was reminded that all the major religions of the world call their adherents, their followers, to something outside of the physical world.
Islam calls its followers to jihad, the willingness to lay down one’s physical life for promised eternal benefits in the afterlife. Hinduism and Buddhism call their adherents toward nirvana, “a state in which the mind, enlightened as to the illusory nature of the self, transcends all suffering, and attains peace.” Judaism and Christianity promise eternal rewards for surrender to God’s will and obedience to His commands.
So, one thing that all these religions agree on is, that true fulfillment isn’t found in this earthly life. They all have elements of death and rebirth. And while all of them may contain some elements of truth, it’s obvious that not all of them can be ultimately true. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father [God] except through me,” John 14:6. And He is the only one who showed us how the process of “Dying to Live” works.
That’s our subject for today, “Dying to Live.” Our text is Second Corinthians 4:13 to 18.
Before we get into the text before us, allow me to comment on the title, “Dying to Live.” This concept is critical to our understanding of what it means to be a Christ-follower. Jesus, in speaking about His own death, said, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
When we put a seed of whatever kind in the ground, we have faith that life will come forth from that seed. But first, that seed must die. We can’t observe what is happening to that seed in the ground, but we confidently expect it to produce a new life. Jesus used this illustration, one His audience understood completely to explain His death, burial, and resurrection. And, as the followers of Jesus, you and I must likewise experience this reality of dying to live.
In this text, Paul lists the ELEMENTS that enable us to grasp the paradox of “Dying to Live.”
The First ELEMENT is,
Faith
What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance [or realization] of things hoped for, theevidence [or confidence] of things not seen.”
I introduce this point by reading several verses from Psalm 116. We don’t know who wrote this psalm, but whoever it was, he was in deep trouble. He spoke about the cords of death binding him as a prisoner, and the distress of the grave grabbing hold of him. But listen to his testimony. “For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord In the land of the living. I believed; therefore, I spoke…”
Paul is quoting the psalmist here in verse 13 of our text. Paul says he has the same Spirit of faith as expressed by the psalmist. That faith empowers him to believe and speak in the midst of his troubles. What you see in Psalm 116 and in Paul’s testimony is that both are confident in God’s ability to deliver them.
Paul specifically states that his faith rests in knowing the God who raised up the Lord Jesus from death. How did Paul know that? He wasn’t there when Jesus appeared to His disciples. He never met Jesus on earth. And remember, I said in an earlier message that knowing, as Paul uses it, isn’t simply intellectual, it’s experiential. He knew it was real because it changed his life! And if you’re faith is genuine it has changed your life too.
The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is our assurance that we too shall be raised up with Him. And not only that, but Paul also says that the same God who raised Jesus will present us together. “Present us together, where, how, when? Jude 24 and 25 tell us. “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and forever. Amen.”
Did you catch that? Paul, and all genuine followers of Christ, will be [future tense] presented faultless, in Christ, in the presence of the Heavenly Father. We embrace that future promise in faith. Why? Because both God and Christ have proven themselves worthy of our trust.
Paul’s faith extends to the realization that everything that happens to him is for the benefit of those to whom he’s writing, in this case, the Corinthians. Romans 8:28 is most likely Paul’s most well-known statement on this principle. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Apart from faith, this verse makes no sense. Most times we can’t see the good being produced by trials.
But part of that “working for good” that Paul mentions is grace. Grace is the divine gift of spiritual energy that motivates our labor, our suffering, and our triumph. The sufferings that you and I experience for Christ promote the spiritual life and growth of the Church. In turn, that spiritual life causes others to thank God. That thanksgiving increases and overflows as the number of disciples grow. It is a cyclical process that is self-perpetuating.
Learning how to die in order that we might live is impossible without faith. Faith takes us beyond the visible, beyond the tangible, into the realm of the spiritual.
The Next ELEMENT (that enables us to grasp the paradox of dying to live) is,
Perseverance
Notice what Paul says in verse sixteen. Because of the mercy of God (chapter 4, verse 1), and because of the sovereignty of God and His divine purposes (verse 15), we don’t lose heart, we persevere. Why? Because we have learned that the daily dying of our physical bodies is set in contrast to our growth in grace.
As I approach my middle 60s, I understand this concept much better than I did as a 20-something. My physical body shows signs that it’s beginning to wear out. But by God’s grace, I find my inner man, the spiritual part of my being is being renewed. Just as the wearing out of the body is progressive, so is the renewing of the spiritual.
Now, notice what Paul says, “For our momentary lightness of affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” Look at the contrasts here: the moment versus the eternal, lightness versus weight, and temporary affliction versus eternal glory. Let’s unpack this a bit.
After all that Paul has suffered physically and emotionally, including his rejection by some in Corinth, he talks about the momentary lightness of his affliction. That’s amazing!
Paul understood that his afflictions or sufferings were temporary, but they were functioning much like a natural law. Take gravity for example; unless another law of physics is applied to overcome it, gravity always functions in the same way. Paul had faith that his perseverance in suffering for Christ would, just like a law of nature, inevitably result in his glorification. In fact, he says the glory that results from patient endurance of suffering would far exceed the temporary pain of that suffering.
And not all suffering comes from outside of us; some of it is self-inflicted. We have our own weaknesses and fleshly desires that cause us pain. We must learn, like Paul did, to obey Christ’s command to take up our cross daily and follow Him. That is often painful for us because of our selfishness and the strength of our desires. But we must persevere, we must not give up even in the face of temporary defeat.
When Paul describes the weight of the glory being produced in us, the original text actually uses the word hyperbole and then repeats it. You recognize that don’t you? We use hyperbole for the effect of exaggeration. The original word literally means “a throwing beyond, excess, or superiority.” One writer put it this way, “this glory is exceedingly unto excess.” So, this glory being produced in us surpasses anything we can imagine.
Why is perseverance important in dying to live? Well, go back to the illustration of the seed being put into the ground. If you interrupt the process prematurely, no fruit is produced. If we fail to persevere in faith through the trials of life, there will be no surpassing glory for us.
The Final ELEMENT (that enables us to grasp the paradox of dying to live) is,
Focus
The reason why Paul can refer to his sufferings as light and momentary is found in the final verse of our text. He explains that we can view the trials and reverses in life as momentary “because we are not gazing at or focusing on visible things, but on the invisible.”
Remember, I said at the beginning of my teaching that our tendency is to seek happiness, fulfillment, security, and more by accumulating tangible things, things we can see and touch. But Paul says, “no, the way to fulfillment is to focus on things that are invisible.” But how do you see and focus on things that are invisible?
In Romans 1:20 Paul wrote, “For since the creation of the world [God’s] invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead [or deity] …” So, the visible things in the created world point us to the knowledge of God, even though He is invisible. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “All that I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.”
What then is your focus in life? Your answer to this question will determine whether or not you understand the concept of dying to live. Here’s what I understand Paul to be saying. Those who focus (the word is skopeo) on the visible and temporary things of life will miss the invisible and eternal things of God. At the end of life, they will be disappointed because the visible things they focused on will all vanish. Poof, they’ll be gone; incinerated.
Now notice the invisible things are not like that. Paul says they are eternal. It is so important for us to understand that eternity isn’t a mere extension of or greater quantity of time. Eternity is qualitatively different from our current experience. The "things that are eternal" exist as much now as they will ever do. We are as much living in eternity now as we ever shall be. The difference will be that we shall then see Him who is now unseen and realize the things which now are only visible to the eye of faith.
So, if you and I focus on the things that are invisible, if we fix our gaze on them, and make them the goal of our life, those things cannot be taken from us. Hebrews 11:27 illustrates this element of focus in the life of Moses. “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”
Notice with me how concisely this verse contains all the elements that help us grasp the paradox of dying to live. By faith, Moses left Egypt. What did he have to go on? What was the basis of his faith? It was the ability to see the invisible. By faith, he endured or persevered. Forty years on the barren terrain of the wilderness! Accepting the reproach of Christ as being of greater worth than all the riches of Egypt! Why? Because he was focused on Him who is invisible.
I hope and pray that our time in the Word has given you a greater understanding of this paradox of dying to live. What a tremendous encouragement to know Him who is invisible. I close with these words written by the apostle Paul in Romans 8:18. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
So, I encourage you, to exercise your faith, demonstrate your perseverance, and sharpen your focus. As you do these things, you will be dying to live.
Jars Of Clay
II Corinthians 4:7-12
In 1947, a Bedouin boy was herding his goats in the Judean wilderness along the northwest shore of the Dead Sea. One of his goats strayed from the flock so, naturally, he went after it. As he searched for the goat, he absentmindedly tossed a stone into one of the caves that dotted the sea cliffs in the area. When the stone disappeared into the dark mouth of the cave, it was immediately followed by the sound of breaking pottery.
Boys are curious; ask me how I know. So, he had to find out what had made that unusual noise. The rock had hit a ceramic pot containing scrolls made of both papyrus and leather. I’m sure he had no idea of the impact his accidental discovery would have on the world.
While we don’t know all the details of his discovery, we know these ancient documents today as The Qumran Scrolls, or The Dead Sea Scrolls. When they were discovered, they were already nearly twenty centuries old. Eventually, they lead archeologists to numerous other caves in the Qumran area. Those caves contained tens of thousands of manuscript fragments.
The Dead Sea Scrolls give us confidence in the reliability of the Old Testament manuscripts because the differences between the previous manuscripts and those found in Qumran were so small. It’s a blessing to see how God preserved His Word down through the centuries, protecting it from extinction and guarding it against error.
I thought about The Dead Sea Scrolls because of the text before us today. In Second Corinthians 4:7, Paul writes, “but we have this treasure in earthen vessels…” What is Paul talking about? What is the treasure, and who, or what, are the earthen vessels?
I hope you can stay with me as we explore the answers to those questions and more in our continuing study from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. Our study is titled Jars of Clay. So, listen as I read the text, Second Corinthians 4:7 to 12.
Paul’s teaching informs us of the WAYS God reveals Jesus to the world through “Jars of Clay.”
The first WAY God reveals Jesus to the world through jars of clay is,
Treasure in Unlikely Containers
As I said earlier, I’m sure that Bedouin shepherd boy had no idea of the incredible value of the contents of that random, old, broken clay pot. Most scholars credit the ancient Essenes with the preservation of these precious documents. You would think that something of such value would be stored in a more durable container, like bronze, or stone. But the Essenes knew the climate of the region and concluded that putting these valuable documents in these clay pots would be the best way to preserve them for a long, long time. And history proved them right.
As we reflect on these verses, let’s remember we’re in the section of this letter where Paul is defending his ministry in response to his critics. The sufferings he experienced, and his own personal weaknesses didn’t show the failure of his ministry, but rather, they proved the validity of his ministry.
Paul wrote that “we have this treasure in earthen vessels [or clay pots].” What treasure is Paul talking about? If you go back to the preceding verse, he talks about “…the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (If you want to learn more about this phrase in verse six, I urge you to listen to my teaching just before this session.) That light of the knowledge of God is the Gospel, the Good News; and that’s the treasure we Christ-followers carry in our frail bodies, our clay pots.
Let’s think about clay pots for a moment. Clay pots in Paul’s day were kind of like plastic containers are for us today. They were cheap and they were available in all sizes. Clay pots were used for all kinds of things; some honorable, some not so honorable. But when a clay pot was damaged, it wasn’t repaired, it was thrown away. As a result, broken pottery is something that’s found in great abundance in archeological excavations.
Have you ever wondered why God in His absolute sovereignty chose to rely on flawed human beings like you and me to communicate His message to the world? We’re fearful, we’re selfish, we’re inconsistent in our devotion to Him, and yet He loves us and graciously uses us as part of His plan to bring His light to the world. Why?
Well, the end of verse seven tells us. It says “…so that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not of us.” If you and I were good, if we were full of courage, if we were unselfish, etcetera, etcetera, we wouldn’t need God. People would celebrate our goodness and would honor us. So, the very fact of our brokenness highlights the power of God. We KNOW, and so do those around us, that we don’t have the power to transform our own lives, much less the lives of others. God chooses to use us in spite of all our faults and failures so that any good that comes from our lives is attributed to Him, not to us.
I don’t believe Paul was disparaging the human body by his analogy with clay pots. He was only contrasting the relative insignificance of the container bearing the light with the surpassing beauty and worth of the Light.
What a privilege that God would place His glorious message in such unlikely containers.
The next WAY God reveals Jesus to the world through jars of clay is,
Trouble for Despised Containers
In the forward of his book, Inside Out, Larry Crabb wrote: “Modern Christianity, in a dramatic reversal of its biblical form, promises to relieve the pain of living in a fallen world. The message, whether it’s from fundamentalists requiring us to live by a favored set of rules or from charismatics urging deeper surrender to the Spirit’s power, is too often the same: The promise of bliss is for NOW! Complete satisfaction can be ours this side of heaven....”
But look at what Paul wrote. In verses eight and nine he uses a series of present, passive, participles to paint a vivid picture of his experiences in ministry. The grammar reveals that these include things that happened to him in the past, things that are happening at the moment, and things he anticipates happening in the future.
It isn’t a comforting list, but it agrees with his words to young Timothy, “…all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” And Paul is only echoing the words of Jesus, who told His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” John 16:33.
Paul says, and I paraphrase, “we are hard pressed on every side, like grapes in the winepress, but we are not crushed. We are bewildered and see no way out, but we’re not driven to the point of despair. We are pursued by our enemies, but not forsaken or left in their power. We are struck down by our pursuers, yet we are not killed.”
And, furthermore, Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians, “Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.” Does that sound like “your best life now?”
As I meditated on Paul’s words, my mind went back to one of the early Anabaptists, Dirk Willems, whose experiences illustrate so well what Paul wrote. The year was 1569 and Dirk was a faithful follower of Jesus in Holland. Like many of his Anabaptist peers, he was wanted by the state church for his heretical views.
When the authorities came to arrest him, he fled, and he was hotly pursued. In the course of his escape, he crossed a lightly frozen body of water at considerable peril. The man who was chasing him attempted to cross the same ice, but part way across broke through.
Now, Dirk faced a dilemma. What should he do? When he realized that his unconverted pursuer was in danger of losing his life, and entering a Christless eternity, Dirk turned around and helped his pursuer to safety. The rescued man pled with the authorities to release Dirk, but they refused. After severe imprisonment and great trials, he suffered a slow death at a lingering fire kindled by the state church authorities.
Now, you might be ready to disagree with me using Dirk Willems as an example because he did lose his life. But what about the words of Jesus in Matthew 16:25? “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Dirk lost his physical life, but he gained eternal life which he can never lose.
As despised jars of clay bearing the light of the Gospel, the Scriptures, and the experiences of the saints of all ages, assure us that in this world we will have trouble and sorrow. But one day, these despised containers will be recreated in the likeness of our Savior and our sorrow will give way to the ultimate joy.
The final WAY God reveals Jesus to the world through jars of clay is,
Transition for Expendable Containers
Paul makes it clear that our bodies are constantly exposed to the same putting to death that Jesus suffered. His suffering was the result of attacks against Christ. Those who hate Jesus take out their vengeance on those who represent Him. That’s what Paul means by “…always carrying about in [our] body the dying of the Lord Jesus…”
If I understand Paul correctly in verse eleven, he wore his sufferings as a badge of his loyalty to Christ. He realized that these sufferings were a channel for the light of the power of Christ to be revealed. That’s why he wrote, “…for we who live are constantly being handed over to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”
Being handed over to death is the same language used in Matthew 27:2 where the religious leaders handed Jesus over to Pilate. But this parallel with Christ’s death is offset by the parallel with Christ’s triumph – life through resurrection. The more we die to self, the more clearly Jesus is seen. We echo the words of John the Baptist; “He must increase, I must decrease.”
Few of us have suffered like the apostle Paul, but we all go through hard things in life. Let’s not forget that our earthly containers are expendable, they will wear out, and will ultimately return to the dust from which they were taken. The goal of our lives must be that Jesus is revealed through our unlikely, despised, and expendable containers.
As I close, think about your own experiences, and be encouraged by this story.
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One pot had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect. The perfect pot was always full at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, but the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years, this went on every day, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master’s house.
As you might imagine, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old, cracked pot, and in his compassion, he said, "As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." That day, as they went up the hill, the old, cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wildflowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.
But at the master’s house, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its contents. So, it apologized again for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other side?
I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all damaged jars of clay. But if we allow Him to do His work, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father’s table and to show His beauty and glory to the world around us.
But the god of this age is also a mindset or a worldview. It includes the ideals, opinions, goals, and hopes of the majority of the people in any given culture or people group. It influences their philosophy of life, their religion, their education, the things they buy, and the places they go. If you were to sum it all up, the god of this age focuses mostly on the here and now, not eternity. The truth of God’s Word contradicts what they want to do, so they refuse to believe it.
It is through this world system that Satan blinds people. Think back to an Old Testament example of this – Pharaoh. His worldview, his system of belief, was centered around false gods. In Exodus 5:2 he said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”
This is the view of humankind in our natural state; we do not know the Lord. We are sinners and without a godly influence, we will naturally follow the desires of the flesh. The entire world system caters to these desires. It tells us to pursue our wants and our cravings, but then it blinds us to the heartache and pain that results from such a lifestyle.
That was Pharaoh, and through the first five plagues, he hardened his heart against God and God’s messenger, Moses. But when you get to the sixth plague, the text says that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. So, this blindness becomes self-perpetuating. It’s like God says, “you want to be blind? OK, I’ll help you be blind.” And God uses that blindness to display His power.
Now I want to make a couple of things perfectly clear. First, God is fully sovereign. Satan functions under the authority of God and Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “all authority is given to me in heaven and on earth…” So, Satan can only do what God permits – think Job, for example. Second, God has revealed Himself to all people everywhere through His creation. They make the choice to not believe in Him and Paul says in another place they are without excuse.
But think about how different your life would be if you’d been raised in a nation or a family that embraced Buddhism or Hinduism, or Islam. All your childhood you were taught to worship and serve those gods. That belief in a false religious system makes you blind to the reality of the true God. Satan wants to preserve that blindness.
In light of this, I’ve often asked people to pray for our Bible teaching programs, especially as they go out over the airwaves and the internet in English and 22 other languages. I’ve asked people to pray that the Spirit of God would remove the blindness from the spiritual eyes of the listeners. I’ve asked them to pray that God would push back Satan and his forces of darkness that are blinding the minds of listeners so that when they hear the Gospel, they can exercise the will to believe.
We know that God isn’t willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, Second Peter 3:9. He desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, First Timothy 2:4. So, to pray and ask God to remove this spiritual blindness from people’s minds and hearts is certainly within His will and we can do it with confidence.
Just like a person who is physically blind can’t see light, these people can’t see the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ. They’re oblivious to it. And you know something, even religious people can be blind to the light of the Gospel. You might recall when Jesus healed a blind man. The record is in John chapter nine, and I encourage you to read that account for yourself. But at the very end of the chapter, the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked him a question. They said, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore, your sin remains.” They were religious, but they were spiritually blind.
Like many today they couldn’t see the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who was and is the image of the God they actually claimed to worship. Satan had blinded their minds through their unbelief – and their embrace of his system; a system that’s described in the first part of verse two as dishonest and deceitful.
That spiritual blindness and Satanic system later characterized the church under Constantine, right up to the time of the Reformation and beyond. Millions were kept in darkness both intellectually and spiritually so they could be more easily controlled by religious authorities. Instead of bringing people into the glorious liberty of the Gospel, they enslaved them to false systems controlled by a state church. We are still suffering the effects of that today.
What about you, my friend? Have you discovered the glorious Gospel of Christ? Are you walking in the light and freedom He gives to those who love and obey Him? Or do you persist in your unbelief? If you harden your heart against the truth, you may reach a point where God will allow that process to accelerate, and He may actually help it along. If you think that’s not possible, read Romans chapter one.
I know people, and perhaps you do too, who once embraced the truth and made that the guide of their lives. But as life went on, they began to make a long series of what, in their minds, were little compromises. And today they embrace and celebrate the very things God’s Word calls an abomination. Slowly but surely, their unbelief lowered a veil of darkness across their hearts and minds and today I fear for their eternal destiny.
There is yet one more fact that helps us better understand the light of the Gospel.
The Final FACT is,
It Will be Radiated in Darkness
This is inevitable. When light appears, darkness immediately begins to recede. Not only that but the deeper the darkness, the greater effect the light has. If you light a candle at dusk, its rays are hardly noticed. But light that same candle in the dark of midnight, and it lights up the whole room!
When our children were small, we visited a coal mine in Ashland, Pennsylvania. It was no longer a working mine but had been preserved as a tourist attraction. We rode a small electric train down a well-lighted sloping shaft until we were deep underground. Then we left the train and walked to the spot where miners had actually performed their dangerous and dirty work, digging out the coal by hand labor.
After visiting the work-face of the mine, we returned to the train for our trip back to the surface. Once everyone was onboard the train something unexpected happened. The lights went off! In reality, the lights were turned off. Talk about darkness! I put my finger on my nose and couldn’t see it. Imagine how much light just a single match would’ve made in that pitch-black tunnel. Of course, they turned the lights back on and we made it safely to the surface. But I will never forget how oppressive that darkness felt.
In introducing this fact of the Gospel to us Paul goes back to Genesis to the creation account. He says that the very same God who commanded the light to shine out of the pre-creation darkness is the one who has now shined His light into the deep darkness of our sinful hearts. And He did that to give us the illumination that comes from knowing the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. There’s a lot of truth in that sentence from verse six, so let’s look deeper.
God has shined in our hearts. In my earlier illustration from the coal mine, those early miners wore a carbide lamp on their heads when they went into the mine so they could see where they were going. You and I, who follow Christ, carry, in our hearts, a light that’s kindled by the Spirit of God because He lives in us. And we also have the Word of God as described by David in Psalm 119:105 being, “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Light is always revealing; it shows us things that were previously hidden. And darkness can never overpower the light. John points this out in the opening verses of his gospel. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not [overcome] it.”
Without the light of the knowledge of God, His glory is hidden from us, we can’t see it. And it’s this knowledge of God that Satan attempts to blind us to. Notice the similar wording in verses four and six, the glorious Gospel and the glory of God. Satan knows that if we embrace the knowledge of God our lives will be gloriously transformed. Incidentally, knowledge here is not mere intellect, knowing about something; instead, it is the knowledge of experience.
And this glory of God is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ. The face is our primary form of identity, it is how we recognize each other. Our face shows who we are and how we are feeling. To see, with our spiritual eyes, the face of Jesus Christ is to see God. And when we see Him, our lives are flooded with light! We become reflectors of His glory and we need not cover our face as Moses did, because the glory we reflect is a growing and advancing glory!
Because of God’s glorious light flooding our hearts, we proclaim or herald His message, not our own. It’s not about us, it’s all about Him. As Paul mentioned in chapter three, verses five and six, without Christ, we are totally inadequate to be His messengers. But we are His servants and servants to each other as members of the Body of Christ.
And notice our message, “Christ Jesus as Lord.” This truth is central to the Gospel but is often minimized or ignored. What does it mean to have Jesus as Lord of my life? It means that He is in charge; He gives direction and I joyfully and willingly submit to His lordship.
Let me conclude with some familiar verses of Scripture. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority [that makes Him, Lord] has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you [that’s His lordship]; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
As you and I are going, as we are baptizing, as we are teaching, the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ is being radiated through our lives into the darkness of our world. And that light is illuminating the spiritual darkness in various people groups all over the world and many are being called out to be disciples of Jesus.
What is your response to the light of the Gospel? Is your mind still veiled by unbelief? Or has the glorious light of Jesus Christ shined in your heart? He wants to shine His light through you to a world lost in deep darkness.
The Light of the Gospel: Part 1
II Corinthians 4:1-6
When I was a child, I was afraid of the dark; I was scared of the “boogie man.” I remember not wanting to be the first one to go up the stairs to my bedroom at night. Some of that fear probably stemmed from the scare tactics of my siblings. But even without their teasing, I believe we’re born with a sense of discomfort with darkness.
Depending on which translation of the Scriptures you use, the word darkness appears somewhere between 150 and 200 times throughout the text. And other forms of the word dark occur multiple times as well.
Darkness is a symbol of confusion and chaos. The opening verses of Genesis tell us, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on [or covered] the face of the deep.” This darkness describes a planet characterized by waste and emptiness. Darkness, in the Scriptures, often implies the absence of God’s presence. To be separated from God is to be in darkness.
Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:19 that men love darkness rather than light, because of their evil actions. You and I know that the vast majority of crimes are committed under the cover of darkness because it provides concealment and anonymity.
Darkness is the domain of Satan, our adversary. In Colossians 1, Paul writes, “[God] has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Notice the contrast here; delivered from the power of darkness into the light of the kingdom of Jesus. I hope and pray you have experienced that deliverance from darkness to light.
As we continue our study in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, we come to the opening verses of chapter four. I’ve titled our study, “The Light of the Gospel.” Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote things that will help us better understand various aspects of the Gospel. So, let me read the text, Second Corinthians 4:1 to 6.
This text illuminates several FACTS that help us better understand “The Light of the Gospel.”
The First FACT (to help us better understand the light of the Gospel) is,
It Must Be Proclaimed in Truth
Immediately, you might ask, “can the Gospel be proclaimed in falsehood?” Yes, it can, or there’d be no reason for what follows from Paul’s pen. And we’ll get into that shortly.
But notice the word, therefore, at the beginning of our text. Whenever we see that word, we should look back at the preceding verses for the larger context and connection. In this case, the larger context is chapter three. Some of the themes of chapter three were: God enabling Paul, and all Believers for that matter, to be competent or able ministers of the new covenant; the contrast between the old and new covenants, death, and life; and the power of the new covenant effected in us by the life-transforming power of the Spirit of God.
So, Paul affirms that the mercy of God is the basis for the ministry we’ve been given. Our job isn’t simply to lay God's high standards on people, as Moses did, but to provide God's grace to them as the Holy Spirit's agents. Yes, people do need to understand the requirements of the Law, but then we offer them a way to meet those requirements in Jesus Christ. And our knowledge of what we truly deserve as sinners makes us earnest and sincere in carrying out the ministry committed to us.
It’s also by the mercy of God that we’re being changed from glory to glory, and that enables us to face hardship and trial without losing heart. If anyone would be tempted to lose heart in the face of trials, it was Paul. It seems he was always in some distress! When we get to chapter eleven, he has a whole list of things he suffered for the sake of the Gospel.
Now, let’s zero in on Paul’s emphasis on the Gospel being proclaimed in truth. And he begins by talking about the truth being mishandled.
Several years ago, someone gave me a book they wanted me to read. I was a little hesitant to accept it because I didn’t know anything about the author, and it was a thick book. Besides, I always have a pile of books I’m waiting to read. But I took it and started to read. I barely opened the book when I came across a strange sentence. I don’t have it word-for-word, but it was basically this; “if you don’t use the King James Version of the Bible, then the ideas and processes in this book won’t work.” I was like, “what’s up with this?”
I have nothing against the KJV. I’ve used it for years and still appreciate it as a solid translation. But it struck me as an odd way to introduce a book. In fact, I almost stopped reading right there, but I wanted to be fair to the one who gave me the book, so I kept going. I didn’t have to read very much further to see exactly what the author was doing.
He was proof-texting, and no, that’s not like texting on your phone. He was mishandling the Word of God by taking verses out of their context and attempting to make them say what he wanted them to say. In other words, he started with an idea, really it was an agenda, and then he gathered a variety of verses of Scripture to try to prove his point. Rather than allowing the Scripture to speak for itself, he was forcing an interpretation into the text. That’s proof-texting.
Let me give you an example. There’s a very prominent idea in western Christianity that God wants you to be healthy, financially successful, and enjoying your best life, from a physical standpoint, right now. Unfortunately, this false teaching has been exported to other parts of the world. People who espouse this teaching point to the words of Jesus in places like John 14:13 and 14. “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
These false teachers emphasize the last sentence. “If you ask ANYTHING in my name, I will do it.” So, if you want a Mercedes Benz, ask God. If you want an 8,000-square-foot mansion with a heated pool, ask God. If you want to be healed from cancer, ask God. He says you can ask for anything. But let me ask you something. If God gives a person those symbols of wealth and status who’s going to get the glory, God? Hardly!
Notice what Jesus actually says in verse 13. The goal of our asking for things in His name is – wait for it – so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. The context of John 14 focuses on our heavenly home, not the things of earth. It focuses on His presence with us and His provision of peace in a troubled world. The goal of Jesus is our best life in eternity because our “now” time here is so short. He warned us about loving the world and the things the world offers. Those things lead to spiritual ruin.
Paul says that he and his fellow workers have disowned this kind of disgraceful behavior. You and I need to make the same commitment! Earlier, in the last verse of chapter two, he said, “we are not like many who corrupt the word of God…” Evidently, there were false teachers in Corinth, just like there are today, who corrupt the truth of the Word for some personal advantage. He said we reject hidden practices belonging to the category of disgraceful conduct!
In Second Timothy 2:15 Paul wrote, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The idea is, “cutting it straight” not tampering with the meaning of Scripture to suit your own ends. When Paul wrote about handling the word of God deceitfully, his readers understood he was using an analogy of diluting wine with water or of making coins of base metals and then plating them with gold and passing them off as genuine.
Instead of this trickery and deceit, look at Paul’s method. “But by manifestation [or showing] of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” This revealing or showing of the truth is in direct opposition to the hidden things of shame. In other words, Paul writes, “we have nothing to hide.” That’s a wonderful way to live! And notice, he ties this truthfulness back to the beginning of chapter three and the need for letters of commendation. A man’s truthfulness and sincerity are the greatest commendations he can have. Richard Lenski says, "He who is not honest with himself will not be overly honest with the Word."[1]
Note also that Paul wasn’t appealing to any of the partisan spirits that existed in Corinth. Nor was he appealing to any particular prejudices of his audience, but he was appealing to their conscience in the sight of God. When the conscience is informed by the Word of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit, it becomes a reliable guide.
So, do you understand that the Gospel must be proclaimed in truth? This applies to the message and the messenger. In recent years, how many pastors and Bible teachers have carried on what looked like an effective ministry, all the while having a major moral failure in their lives? And I make that statement very much aware that I too face the same kind of temptations they do. One writer put it this way, “our only safety is in instant and courageous defiance to all the powers of darkness.”
Speaking of the powers of darkness leads us to the next fact that helps us better understand the light of the Gospel.
The Next FACT is,
It Can be Veiled by Unbelief
Paul talks about this in verses 3 and 4. Here again, he goes back to his earlier statements about the veil of blindness on the minds of those who were reading the Old Testament in the synagogues. And according to Isaiah the prophet, this darkness is self-inflicted. “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ “Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed.”
Further, Paul states that if the Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. Their refusal to believe cuts them off from the light of the Gospel. And what is the reason for this unbelief that keeps people in spiritual darkness? The minds of those who are perishing have been blinded by the god of this age. Is the god of this age a person, a mindset, or both?
I believe there’s solid biblical evidence that this is a reference to Satan. In places like John 12:31 and 14:30, Jesus uses similar language to refer to him. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul writes, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Remember too, that in the temptation of Jesus, Satan claimed the right to rule the kingdoms of the world, and Jesus didn’t refute that assertion.
But the god of this age is also a mindset or a worldview. It includes the ideals, opinions, goals, and hopes of the majority of the people in any given culture or people group. It influences their philosophy of life, their religion, their education, the things they buy, and the places they go. If you were to sum it all up, the god of this age focuses mostly on the here and now, not eternity. The truth of God’s Word contradicts what they want to do, so they refuse to believe it.
It is through this world system that Satan blinds people. Think back to an Old Testament example of this – Pharaoh. His worldview, his system of belief, was centered around false gods. In Exodus 5:2 he said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”
This is the view of humankind in our natural state; we do not know the Lord. We are sinners and without a godly influence, we will naturally follow the desires of the flesh. The entire world system caters to these desires. It tells us to pursue our wants and our cravings, but then it blinds us to the heartache and pain that results from such a lifestyle.
That was Pharaoh, and through the first five plagues, he hardened his heart against God and God’s messenger, Moses. But when you get to the sixth plague, the text says that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. So, this blindness becomes self-perpetuating. It’s like God says, “you want to be blind? OK, I’ll help you be blind.” And God uses that blindness to display His power.
Now I want to make a couple of things perfectly clear. First, God is fully sovereign. Satan functions under the authority of God and Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “all authority is given to me in heaven and on earth…” So, Satan can only do what God permits – think Job, for example. Second, God has revealed Himself to all people everywhere through His creation. They make the choice to not believe in Him and Paul says in another place they are without excuse.
But think about how different your life would be if you’d been raised in a nation or a family that embraced Buddhism or Hinduism, or Islam. All your childhood you were taught to worship and serve those gods. That belief in a false religious system makes you blind to the reality of the true God. Satan wants to preserve that blindness.
In light of this, I’ve often asked people to pray for our Bible teaching programs, especially as they go out over the airwaves and the internet in English and 22 other languages. I’ve asked people to pray that the Spirit of God would remove the blindness from the spiritual eyes of the listeners. I’ve asked them to pray that God would push back Satan and his forces of darkness that are blinding the minds of listeners so that when they hear the Gospel, they can exercise the will to believe.
We know that God isn’t willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, Second Peter 3:9. He desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, First Timothy 2:4. So, to pray and ask God to remove this spiritual blindness from people’s minds and hearts is certainly within His will and we can do it with confidence.
Just like a person who is physically blind can’t see light, these people can’t see the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ. They’re oblivious to it. And you know something, even religious people can be blind to the light of the Gospel. You might recall when Jesus healed a blind man. The record is in John chapter nine, and I encourage you to read that account for yourself. But at the very end of the chapter, the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked him a question. They said, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore, your sin remains.” They were religious, but they were spiritually blind.
Like many today they couldn’t see the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who was and is the image of the God they actually claimed to worship. Satan had blinded their minds through their unbelief – and their embrace of his system; a system that’s described in the first part of verse two as dishonest and deceitful.
That spiritual blindness and Satanic system later characterized the church under Constantine, right up to the time of the Reformation and beyond. Millions were kept in darkness both intellectually and spiritually so they could be more easily controlled by religious authorities. Instead of bringing people into the glorious liberty of the Gospel, they enslaved them to false systems controlled by a state church. We are still suffering the effects of that today.
What about you, my friend? Have you discovered the glorious Gospel of Christ? Are you walking in the light and freedom He gives to those who love and obey Him? Or do you persist in your unbelief? If you harden your heart against the truth, you may reach a point where God will allow that process to accelerate, and He may actually help it along. If you think that’s not possible, read Romans chapter one.
I know people, and perhaps you do too, who once embraced the truth and made that the guide of their lives. But as life went on, they began to make a long series of what, in their minds, were little compromises. And today they embrace and celebrate the very things God’s Word calls an abomination. Slowly but surely, their unbelief lowered a veil of darkness across their hearts and minds and today I fear for their eternal destiny.
There is yet one more fact that helps us better understand the light of the Gospel.
The Final FACT is,
It Will be Radiated in Darkness
This is inevitable. When light appears, darkness immediately begins to recede. Not only that but the deeper the darkness, the greater effect the light has. If you light a candle at dusk, its rays are hardly noticed. But light that same candle in the dark of midnight, and it lights up the whole room!
When our children were small, we visited a coal mine in Ashland, Pennsylvania. It was no longer a working mine but had been preserved as a tourist attraction. We rode a small electric train down a well-lighted sloping shaft until we were deep underground. Then we left the train and walked to the spot where miners had actually performed their dangerous and dirty work, digging out the coal by hand labor.
After visiting the work-face of the mine, we returned to the train for our trip back to the surface. Once everyone was onboard the train something unexpected happened. The lights went off! In reality, the lights were turned off. Talk about darkness! I put my finger on my nose and couldn’t see it. Imagine how much light just a single match would’ve made in that pitch-black tunnel. Of course, they turned the lights back on and we made it safely to the surface. But I will never forget how oppressive that darkness felt.
In introducing this fact of the Gospel to us Paul goes back to Genesis to the creation account. He says that the very same God who commanded the light to shine out of the pre-creation darkness is the one who has now shined His light into the deep darkness of our sinful hearts. And He did that to give us the illumination that comes from knowing the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. There’s a lot of truth in that sentence from verse six, so let’s look deeper.
God has shined in our hearts. In my earlier illustration from the coal mine, those early miners wore a carbide lamp on their heads when they went into the mine so they could see where they were going. You and I, who follow Christ, carry, in our hearts, a light that’s kindled by the Spirit of God because He lives in us. And we also have the Word of God as described by David in Psalm 119:105 being, “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Light is always revealing; it shows us things that were previously hidden. And darkness can never overpower the light. John points this out in the opening verses of his gospel. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not [overcome] it.”
Without the light of the knowledge of God, His glory is hidden from us, we can’t see it. And it’s this knowledge of God that Satan attempts to blind us to. Notice the similar wording in verses four and six, the glorious Gospel and the glory of God. Satan knows that if we embrace the knowledge of God our lives will be gloriously transformed. Incidentally, knowledge here is not mere intellect, knowing about something; instead, it is the knowledge of experience.
And this glory of God is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ. The face is our primary form of identity, it is how we recognize each other. Our face shows who we are and how we are feeling. To see, with our spiritual eyes, the face of Jesus Christ is to see God. And when we see Him, our lives are flooded with light! We become reflectors of His glory and we need not cover our face as Moses did, because the glory we reflect is a growing and advancing glory!
Because of God’s glorious light flooding our hearts, we proclaim or herald His message, not our own. It’s not about us, it’s all about Him. As Paul mentioned in chapter three, verses five and six, without Christ, we are totally inadequate to be His messengers. But we are His servants and servants to each other as members of the Body of Christ.
And notice our message, “Christ Jesus as Lord.” This truth is central to the Gospel but is often minimized or ignored. What does it mean to have Jesus as Lord of my life? It means that He is in charge; He gives direction and I joyfully and willingly submit to His lordship.
Let me conclude with some familiar verses of Scripture. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority [that makes Him, Lord] has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you [that’s His lordship]; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
As you and I are going, as we are baptizing, as we are teaching, the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ is being radiated through our lives into the darkness of our world. And that light is illuminating the spiritual darkness in various people groups all over the world and many are being called out to be disciples of Jesus.
What is your response to the light of the Gospel? Is your mind still veiled by unbelief? Or has the glorious light of Jesus Christ shined in your heart? He wants to shine His light through you to a world lost in deep darkness.
[1] Lenski, Richard C. H. The Interpretation of St. Paul's First and Second Epistles to the Corinthians. p. 995
The Glory That Excels
II Corinthians 3:7-18
If you’re a married man, think back to when you were dating. Back then, you gave compliments to your girlfriend for her neatness, her quiet spirit, her cooking skills, or some other quality. When was the last time you gave your wife a compliment in any of those areas?
And ladies, your man was number one. You complimented him on his spiritual leadership, you admired his physical strength, and you thanked him for the courtesy and respect he showed you. Have you complimented him in any of these areas recently?
No, this isn’t a sermon on marriage. So, why do I ask you those questions? To prove that the more familiar we are with something the less likely we are to appreciate it.
Is it dangerous to become accustomed to the things that we use every day? Yes and no. The problem arises when we become so familiar with things of the Lord, that we lose our wonder, our awe, and our appreciation for them. We don’t verbalize it. We don’t say, “I’m just not very much impressed with that anymore.” But what do our lives reveal?
If you and I would’ve lived under the Old Covenant, we would be amazed at the revelation of God in Jesus. Imagine living under the law. It told you what you could and couldn’t do but it gave you no internal power to obey. Think about the annual reminders of your sin on the Day of Atonement and knowing you could never keep the law well enough to be accepted by God.
Then, think about the freedom you received in the coming of the Savior. Think about the joy, hope, and peace rising from within you because now there's a power that makes it possible for you to live above the law. Think of the newness, the excitement, the desire to tell everyone about this new way of living.
Go with me to II Corinthians 3. In this text, Paul talks about two things, the glory of the old covenant and the glory of the new. And he clearly demonstrates that the glory of the new covenant is "The Glory That Excels.” Listen as I read II Corinthians 3:4-18.
Let’s observe three CONTRASTS that demonstrate “The Glory That Excels.”
I. The Contrast of Letter and Spirit
Paul says God has made us able ministers or competent servants of the new covenant. That competency, that ability doesn’t come from studying the parchments or from technical analysis of the writings. Rather, it comes from the presence of God’s spirit in us.
The text informs us that the letter kills! The word means to kill outright or figuratively, to destroy. Recall how Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for “straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.” They were so intent on covering every possible angle of interpretation and application that they missed the spirit of the law. That’s why they condemned Jesus for healing someone on the Sabbath day! Theirs was a joyless, legalistic, dot the "I" and cross the "T" obedience. Instead of seeing the law as pointing to Christ, they saw the law as an end in itself.
You probably know people who seem to have all the outward signs of knowing God's Word but have no joy of the Lord radiating from their lives. They need to take Ken Davis’ advice to “lighten up, and live!” To these folks, following the Lord is a duty to be endured, not a voluntary submission to be enjoyed. That’s a danger we all need to guard against!
The contrast is - the spirit gives life! His mind, will, and emotions are transformed. There’s no longer a reliance on performance for acceptance. Now, our acceptance with God is based on a glorious relationship with Jesus Christ. And the Holy Spirit revitalizes you and me from the inside out. That affects all we are and do!
Obedience is no longer given grudgingly in response to the threat of punishment. I don’t obey because I’m afraid I’ll get caught, that’s law, that’s letter. There’s no freedom in that. Because we now obey the law for conscience’s sake, we can actually live above the law.
Does this new freedom always make it easy to obey? Not necessarily. I’ve had to wrestle with these issues, and you probably have too. How do I obey the command to be separate from the world, and yet recognize that if I isolate myself, that robs me of opportunities to impact others?
If you have the Spirit of God in you, obedience is no longer a duty to be endured but rather a joy to be explored. There’s a tremendous sense of freedom! The spirit gives us the “want to,” because now we are “partakers of the Divine nature.” Think about that, God, the Creator of the universe and Lord of all, lives in you in the person of His Holy Spirit. No longer is obedience enforced from the outside, it is motivated from within. Love is the motivation because we know God loves us and we want to experience the very best He has for us.
Jesus’ coming unlocked the chains of bondage to the law and freed us to live in the spirit! Hallelujah. Truly the Spirit provides a glory that excels!
II. The Contrast of Receding and Advancing Glory
The glory of the old covenant was a receding glory. Glory was present, but it was a glory that began to fade as soon as it was revealed. Moses covered his face because the people could not look at the glory of God reflected on his face after he’d been in God’s presence.
Recall Moses going up on Mt. Sinai to receive the Law. Exodus 19:16-19 tells us the glory of God descended on the mountain with thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud, with the sound of the trumpet, with fire and smoke, and the whole mountain shook at the presence of the Lord. God’s glory was revealed in this awesome display of power. It struck fear into the hearts of the people. They told Moses, “You go talk with God, we’re afraid of Him.”
When Moses came down from the mountain, he veiled his face because the people saw the reflection of God’s glory in his face and were afraid to come near him. But Paul reminds us that another reason for Moses’ veiled face was that this glory was receding.
Not only was the glory receding from Moses’ face, but the glory of the law was receding from the moment it was given. It brought only condemnation. While it laid out God’s demands for acceptance it also made clear that no human could ever meet those demands. That’s why Paul refers to the Law of Moses as “a ministry of death.” That was true in more ways than one. It was attended by the death of thousands upon thousands of animal sacrifices to cover man’s sin.
What was the glory of the old covenant? It revealed the glory of God in his holiness, and, through the sacrifices, gave mankind a way to be accepted by God. The blood of the sacrifices covered the sins of the people. But it was a system that needed replacement if there was ever to be a hope of meeting the righteous demands of the law. There had to be something better.
There was and is - the ministry of the spirit. Paul’s argument is; if the law, written in stone was glorious, even though it could not change the heart motivation, how much more glorious is the ministry of the spirit which revitalizes the understanding and results in a changed life?
Christ’s coming was the beginning of a new era. From the angel’s announcement to Mary right on through His earthly ministry culminating in the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, the glory became increasingly evident. He promised the disciples that the Spirit would come and glorify Him, adding additional rays of glory. The Spirit came and the glory grew brighter.
Today, every time another person is brought into the family of God more glory is added. Every time we say yes to the Spirit and no to the flesh, the glory increases. And it will continue to increase until the redeemed of all ages gather around the throne of God in heaven to bask in His glory for all eternity. What an awesome reality!
So, the contrast is between the fading glory of the Mosaic Law and the advancing glory that characterizes the new covenant. The coming of Christ was the beginning of this advancing glory. It is surely a glory that excels.
III. The Contrast of Condemnation and Justification
Here is the major contrast that demonstrates the glory that excels. The law is referred to as the ministry of condemnation. Condemnation is judgment; it means to receive an adverse sentence. It means to be pronounced guilty as charged; to suffer the sentence of punishment for your misdeeds. Yet the law, the ministry of condemnation, had a certain glory about it in revealing the holiness of God and his righteous standard.
On the other hand, you have the ministry of righteousness or justification. The definition of justification is not, “just as if I had not sinned.” That’s acquittal, a not guilty verdict. We can’t have that because we are all guilty. Justification is pardon; it is an act of grace. Someone else has taken my sentence and paid the penalty. We are pronounced righteous by virtue of our acceptance of Christ’s righteousness. His righteousness transforms us! No wonder Paul says the law had no glory in comparison to the justification offered in Christ! No one in their right mind would choose condemnation over justification. This is the glory that excels!
This is what we celebrate every year at Christmas. The glory of God revealed in Jesus Christ. John 1:14 says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Hebrews 1:3 speaks of Jesus as “the brightness of (the Father’s) glory and the express image of his person.” And Jesus, in John 17, repeatedly refers to His glory and asks the Father to bring those who follow him into greater glory. Paul says in the final verse of this chapter that we gaze openly on the glory of the Lord and are transformed into the same image!
The glory revealed on Mt. Sinai was a fading glory because it didn’t touch the hearts of men. It gave them rules and regulations to follow but gave no transforming power. Because of that, it was a ministry of condemnation. Imagine the frustration of being told to keep the law and being told at the same time that it’s impossible to do it. No wonder Job cried out for someone to go between him and God, to show him how to be accepted by God.
The glory that was revealed at Bethlehem was altogether different. Emmanuel came, “God with us.” The glory displayed in the night sky to the watching shepherds is an advancing glory. That glory grew with the coming of the wise men. It expanded with the revelation of John the Baptist. It was revealed in a short burst on the Mount of Transfiguration. It shook the earth and raised the dead at the crucifixion. The empty tomb and the ascension added more rays, and it took a quantum leap forward with the coming of the Holy Spirit.
It is a glory that continues to grow with each new addition to the family of God as people from every tribe and tongue embrace the glory of the cross. It is a glory that begins as a small spark in our lives and grows and grows until ultimately, we are perfected in His image.
These contrasts demonstrate so clearly the glory that excels. I hope the Lord has been able to use what I’ve said to stimulate your thinking. I hope you have a renewed appreciation for the glory that excels. I pray that your joy in Jesus will be greater because of these truths we’ve meditated on this morning.
Let’s review those contrasts one final time. First, is the contrast of the letter and the spirit. Which one are you living by? Then, the contrast of receding glory and advancing glory. As you look at your own life is it bringing more glory to God each day? And finally, the contrast between condemnation and justification. Is the glory of justification evident in your life? Are you being changed from glory into glory as you behold the face of Jesus?
Let the Lord search your heart as you reflect on those questions.
Living Letters
II Corinthians 3:1-6
When was the last time you received a handwritten letter? Has it been so long ago you can’t remember? Never? Letter writing is a dying art in our digital age.
If you’ve ever received a handwritten letter, you know how special it makes you feel. I’ve received emails and texts that encouraged and blessed me, but not in the same way a handwritten letter does. Maybe I’m showing my age by that statement. That’s probably true. All I can say is, if you’ve never received a handwritten letter, you won’t know what I’m talking about.
In my mind, there’s a personal investment in a handwritten letter that’s missing in electronic forms of communication. When someone takes the time to sit down and put pen to paper, it says something about the value they place on the person they’re writing to. And a personal letter encapsulates the personality and character of the writer.
Aren’t you glad that God revealed His Word to holy men of old as the apostle Peter tells us? Aren’t you glad that as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit, they wrote down His message? And so, today, you and I have before us the Word of God in written form. And the apostle Paul tells us this Word of God is given for our benefit and to equip us for every good work.
So then, we turn our attention to the Word of God again today to discover some of that benefit and to see how it equips us to better serve the Lord. Our text is Second Corinthians 3:1 to 6. Listen carefully as I read and see if you can pick out the benefits we receive from letters.
“Living Letters” is the subject of our text, and today we want to explore the VALUE we give and receive through those letters.
The First VALUE of Living Letters is,
They Provide Information
That’s pretty simple, right? Why else do you write a letter? You have ideas you want to communicate to the person or persons receiving the letter. When my wife and I were dating, there were a couple of times when we were separated by distance for several weeks. So, we wrote letters to each other. We still have them, and occasionally we’ll get them out and reread them. It was the way we communicated our interest in each other and our growing love story.
Before we dive into the teaching from this text, let’s consider some background here. Paul is writing to the Corinthian church and, as we learned earlier, he’s defending his apostolic authority. Evidently, there were those at Corinth who were questioning his authority.
Paul talks about letters of commendation, or recommendation. I understand this was a common practice of that day. One example is Acts 18:27, where the Ephesian elders wrote a letter of recommendation for Apollos to carry with him to Achaia. So, a letter of recommendation said that the bearer of the letter was trustworthy and should be treated accordingly.
Today, we might call this a referral letter. If you leave your job on good terms with your employer, you can ask for a referral letter--a letter of recommendation. In it, he tells your prospective employer what your strengths and weakness are and how you’ll be an asset in your new workplace. It would seem weird to write your own referral letter, but Paul does it because he feels forced into it by his critics.
Paul’s critics wondered where his letters of recommendation were. It’s believed that some of the false teachers in Corinth actually forged letters from the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. They did that so they would have standing in the church.
Paul asks the Corinthians “do I need letters of recommendation for you to accept me? Or do you need to provide letters of recommendation for me to other churches? No, of course not. You yourselves are our letter of recommendation. You’re written on our hearts!” Remember, Paul and his team had spent 18 months in Corinth.
In other words, Paul was saying “if you want a letter of recommendation, just look at the impact of our ministry in Corinth! The existence of the church is proof of our divinely sanctioned and faithful ministry.” Changed lives are a powerful living letter of recommendation.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Your life is the only Bible some people will ever read.” Many will never pick up a printed copy of the Scripture, but they will notice its truth being lived out in your life! Has anyone ever asked you what’s different about you? I had a man ask me one time, “What’s different about you, you look so peaceful?” Those kinds of questions open the door for us to share about what Christ has done in us and for us.
Your life is a living letter. What kind of information does it give to those who observe your lifestyle choices and the way your respond to the circumstances of daily living?
Another VALUE of Living Letters is,
They Provide Explanation
The opening of a letter often starts with an overview of the main idea. Then, later in the letter, that idea is explained in more detail. That applies more to business letters than personal ones. At any rate, Paul takes time to enlarge on what he means by calling the Corinthian Believers living letters. He says, “you are a letter of Christ written by the Spirit of God through our ministry.”
Let’s unpack that a bit. The Holy Spirit, through the ministry of Paul and his team, brought about a transformation in the lives of the Corinthian converts. That transformation was undeniable, living proof that documented the work of Christ in their lives! And you know something, it still works that way today. If we are genuinely converted, we can’t hide the results. People will see the difference.
The reason this is true is that, as Paul says, the Spirit of God writes the person and character of Christ on our hearts. When something is written on our heart, that means we have a conviction or belief that is based on our inward experience. The truth engages our conscience and is empowered by the Holy Spirit; it enables us to make godly choices.
He contrasts the Mosaic Law, which was written or engraved on tablets of stone, with the law of Christ which is written or engraved on our hearts. And it’s interesting that when Paul says the Spirit of God has written on our hearts, the grammar indicates that this writing is the finished result of a previous action. At the point in time when we allow the Holy Spirit by faith to engrave the work of Christ on our hearts, we become a letter of Christ to the world around us. We become, in the words of Second Corinthians 5:17, a new creation in Christ.
The Mosaic Law was engraved on stone by the finger of God. It revealed the requirements He put in place for His people to approach Him in His holiness. But according to the biblical record, that engraving didn’t make it from the stone tablets to the hearts of the people. Because it was an external law it only exposed sin, it didn’t have the power to bring about life change. Why? because of the weakness of our sinful flesh, our sinful human nature, according to Romans 8:3.
Now, the Corinthians whose lives had been transformed by the power of Christ became, as it were, an engraving to those around them. The indelible imprint of Christ was on them, and people could see it.
Notice verse 4, “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.” Paul is appealing to the Corinthian Believers through his confidence in Christ. In spite of their weaknesses and divisions, there was evidence of Christ’s presence in them. As their spiritual father, he is deeply concerned about their spiritual well-being, but he realizes that ultimately, the person and power of Christ will bring about life change.
We too need to remember that all Believers are on a journey. We’re not all at the same level of maturity. Just because someone is immature doesn’t mean they’re not a Believer. We need to learn to be patient with them just as others were patient with us.
Does your life letter give an explanation to the world of what has happened inside you through Jesus?
A Final VALUE of Living Letters is,
They Provide Affirmation
A few years ago, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to write several letters to people who had a major impact on my life as a young man. I thanked them for the time and energy they invested in my life and for their patience with me in my immaturity.
Some of them sent a written reply. But I learned later, through the grapevine as we say, that one of those who didn’t respond in writing received my letter at a time of much discouragement. Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.” My letter encouraged them and affirmed the value of their ministry. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians was meant to do that for them too.
When I study the Scriptures, I keep a lookout for things that are emphasized by repetition. In just three verses, Paul uses the same word, or a variation of it, four times! You’ll find it in chapter two, verse sixteen, and here in our text, verses five and six. KJV translates it as sufficient, sufficiency, or able. Bill Mounce, a Greek scholar whom I’ve learned to appreciate, translates it as adequate or adequacy. It includes the idea of being able or competent.
For any minister of the Gospel, or any Believer, for that matter, our confidence shouldn’t rest in our adequacy for the task of being a living letter. If you and I feel like we’re sufficient to serve the Lord with our talents and abilities, we only kidding ourselves.
It reminds me that J. Oswald Sanders, a godly man, and former director of Overseas Missionary Fellowship, once wrote about a position he desired. As he contemplated lobbying for the position, at one point, while he was walking through the city of Auckland, New Zealand, part of a verse of Scripture from the prophet Jeremiah came to his mind, "And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them…"
Sanders later said, "The words came to me just as though it was God speaking. There were crowds all around me, and no one else heard the voice, but I heard it all right!" He said, "I believe that was a real turning point in my service to the Lord." As a result, he never sought the position, but later it was opened for him, in God's timing. It is much better for us to wait for God’s timing in expanding our area of service because His call and timing bring affirmation to us.
So, our sufficiency, or ability, our competence is from God! You and I don’t have the power to bring about life change, only God can do that. So, Paul says that God made us, (in the context, that’s the apostles), but it includes you and me, sufficient or competent ministers of a new covenant that was inaugurated by Jesus Christ. What does that mean? It means that God has equipped you and me for the work of sharing the Gospel. As we acknowledge Him and serve under His inspiration, He makes our service fruitful in His kingdom.
And then, notice how Paul contrasts the letter and the spirit. He says the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. If you had a choice of which of those you would serve and promote, which one would you choose? I know, that’s kind of a silly question.
The old covenant was a covenant of externals and only served to remind those under it that they could never live up to it. It made heavy demands but provided no inner power to live in obedience. It commanded and imposed punishment for disobedience, often death; but it gave no power or encouragement to obey. That’s the record of what we call the Old Testament.
In contrast, the new covenant is a living force. Instead of attempting to suppress sinful behavior through the threat of punishment, it brings about change within us. That change sets us free from the controlling passions of his flesh. It provides both the desire and the power to live in obedience to Christ, the One who sets us free. And in that way, it gives life, abundant life!
Have you experienced the reality of the new covenant? Has your life been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit living in you? If so, then you are a living letter bringing the information, explanation, and affirmation of the abundant life to those who are watching you. May God continue to write your living letter for His glory!
Diffusing the Aroma of Christ
II Corinthians 2:12-17
Most of you have heard of “essential oils.” These oils are compounds that are derived or extracted from plants, especially herbs, and then they’re mixed with a carrier oil to make them usable. Essential oils are used in aromatherapy or applied topically to the skin. While there are some outlandish claims about what essential oils can do for you, there clearly are some positive physiological effects.
One way to use these oils is to have a diffuser. While diffusers work in different ways, the goal is the same; to spread the aroma of the oil into the air where it can be inhaled. The National Institutes of Health reports that “Inhaling the aromas from essential oils can stimulate areas of your limbic system, which is a part of your brain that plays a role in emotions, behaviors, sense of smell, and long-term memory.” The limbic system also plays a role in controlling several unconscious physiological functions, like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
What would you think if I told you that the Scriptures talk about you and me as followers of Christ being diffusers of His fragrance or aroma? Not sure? Well, they do. And that’s what we want to explore in our study today, “Diffusing the Aroma of Christ.” Our text is Second Corinthians 2:12 to 17. Listen to these words of Holy Scripture.
This portion of Scripture reveals to us the SETTINGS in which we’re called to diffuse the aroma of Christ.
The First SETTING (in which we diffuse the aroma of Christ) is,
In Anxious Expectation
One thing we know about the apostle Paul is that he was “all in” for Jesus. In his service for Christ, there was no hardship or struggle he was unwilling to endure, even to the point of death. We also know that he cared deeply for the brothers and sisters in the church at Corinth. But he was human, and like us, he got tired, annoyed, frustrated, and discouraged.
We find him in the opening verses of our text in an almost disabling state of anxiety. Here he is in Troas with an open door of ministry in front of him. This was a door that, according to Acts 16, had previously been closed to him. You would think he would be overjoyed at the opportunity to walk through that door, but he wasn’t. We know he entered that open door and began to work, but he was so overcome by his anxiety about what was happening in Corinth, that he left for Macedonia in search of Titus.
I’m blessed by how the Scriptures show us the humanity of biblical characters. We can learn from their successes and their failures. We tend to think of the apostle Paul as super-spiritual, perhaps even superhuman, but that’s not accurate. James says of the prophet Elijah, “he was a man with a nature just like ours…” Those same words apply to Paul. And in this case, he allowed his anxiety to get the best of him. It may have robbed him of a more effective ministry opportunity in Troas. And we’ll learn shortly that his anxiety was really unnecessary.
A man received a phone call one evening that his son had been in a car accident and was being transported by ambulance to the hospital. Before he and his wife rushed out the door, they took time to pray. They asked God to help them demonstrate the peace of Christ to all who were involved in the situation. He reminded his wife that if they “went to pieces” in this difficult time, they would demonstrate that they really didn’t trust Christ after all. They’d be no different than those without faith in Jesus. They wanted to diffuse the aroma of Christ even in the midst of their anxiety and care for their son.
When my wife, Joyce, received her cancer diagnosis, obviously, we were deeply concerned. But we had confidence that God knew about this before we did, and we wanted Him to be glorified in our response. We wanted the aroma of Christ to be diffused from our lives. Joyce, especially, touched many people through this experience through her cheerful attitude and her trust in God. And she continues to do that as she praises God for her recovery and good health.
How do you deal with the pressures and concerns you experience in life? Are you like Paul in this instance, allowing your anxiety to distract you from the work at hand, constraining the aroma of Christ? Or are you able to spread that aroma even in the midst of anxious expectation?
Another SETTING (in which we diffuse the aroma of Christ) is,
In Joyful Celebration
Verse fourteen shows us the potential for explosive change in human emotions. From anxiousness, the restlessness of spirit, and despair to exuberant joy and gratitude. What made the difference? According to chapter five, verse seven, Paul received a good report from Titus about the Believers in Corinth. That report transformed his whole outlook.
So, in spite of all Paul’s worry and stress, God’s work was continuing unhindered in the church at Corinth. I believe that’s the motivation for this outburst of praise. It sprang from Paul's deep-seated conviction that God's work in and through him, regardless of the appearance of a setback, was proceeding triumphantly. This belief is one of the great emphases of this epistle. Jesus Christ is, without exception, continuing to advance His work. He is building His church, and the gates of hell are not prevailing against it. You and I need to remember that too!
It’s interesting to note that Paul here begins a long digression about the glory of the Christian ministry that doesn’t end until the beginning of chapter seven. By Christian ministry, I mean, he talks about the work of a minister of the Gospel. While we don’t all serve in positions of church leadership, every disciple of Christ is a minister, or servant, of the Gospel. So, the things Paul writes about apply to you and me, regardless of our position.
I like the way the English Standard Version translates verse fourteen. “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
Paul’s readers would’ve immediately understood the word picture he was drawing. They were familiar with a Roman victory parade. The victorious general returning from conquest, entered the city in a special chariot. He was preceded by the captives and spoils taken in war. He was followed by his troops and proceeded along the sacred way to the Capitol, where he offered sacrifices in the temple of Jupiter. As the procession made its way through the streets, the priests of Jupiter carried burning censers, leaving fragrant clouds of incense to float over the throng of spectators. Try to imagine the sights, the sounds, the smells.
He was accompanied in his chariot by his young children, and sometimes by close friends, while behind him stood a slave, holding over his head a jeweled crown. The body of the infantry brought up the rear, their spears adorned with laurel, the symbol of victory. They shouted “triumph!” and sang hymns in praise of either the gods or their leader.
On occasions like this, temples were all thrown open, garlands of flowers decorated every shrine, and incense smoked on every altar. The victor and his adoring followers were greeted with clouds of fragrant perfume.
Paul describes himself and the other subjects of Christ's grace under the figure of this triumphal pomp, in which they are led as trophies of the Redeemer’s conquest. But we haven’t been conquered by force, we’ve been conquered by love. As God leads his servants as prisoners of war in a victory parade, He spreads the knowledge of Christ everywhere through them. In Roman victory processions, the prisoners would be dejected and embittered, but for those of us who have been conquered by Christ’s love, we’re not dejected, but jubilant! And so, from Paul's lips comes overflowing thanksgiving to God, his captor.
The original construction of the sentence shows that the knowledge of Christ is symbolized as an odor that communicates its nature and effectiveness through the work of the apostles. Today, it is through you and me, as Christ-followers, that God spreads or diffuses the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ everywhere! Our character and our work should exude that pleasant aroma.
Whether you’re at Wal-Mart, the DMV, your local hardware store, or an auto repair shop, the people you interact with should experience the aroma of Christ. Are you courteous and friendly, with a ready smile for those you meet? How you respond to an irritating neighbor, driver, or disgruntled fellow employee should spread the fragrance of Jesus. Can you ignore rudeness or being taken advantage of and still respond as Jesus would? Taking time to serve the helpless, the weak, and the downcast spreads the aroma of Jesus to a world that is so desperately in need of Him.
But not everyone will respond positively to the aroma of Christ. To some, we will become an odor of "death leading to death." I understand this to mean from the death of Christ, that the apostles preached in the gospel, to the eternal death of those who reject it. I firmly believe that one reason for the tremendous rage we see in some parts of our culture is because people are engaging in lifestyle choices, they instinctively know are sinful. And when they are confronted by the aroma of Christ in a righteous person, it reminds them of the truth written on their hearts and their failure to suppress the truth.
Others will respond positively to the fragrance of Christ, and they will receive life. "Life leading to life" probably means from the resurrection of Christ that is preached in the gospel, to the eternal life of those who believe. Their life will be transformed, and the aroma of Christ will spread wider and wider. Our job is to spread the fragrance of Christ freely and let the responses with God.
Is your life diffusing the aroma of Christ in a joyful celebration? Or are you more like the conquered Roman captives, dejected, hopeless, forlorn? To be a genuine Christ-follower requires full surrender, but He promised us that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
The Final SETTING (in which we diffuse the aroma of Christ) is,
In Sincere Proclamation
In verse sixteen, Paul asks the rhetorical question, “who is sufficient for these things?” The obvious answer is that none of us, in ourselves, are sufficient. We don’t have what it takes. But someone must preach the Gospel and God has called you and me, in spite of our imperfections, to take up the task.
Paul makes a bold but necessary statement in verse seventeen. He says “we are not like those who are ‘peddlers’ [or we could say hucksters] of God’s Word…” The imagery here is of wine dealers who were notoriously corrupt in their business dealings. They did things like add water to the wine to increase the amount they could sell. Or they would mix new wine with old, and then sell it as old at a higher price.
Paul is accusing the false teachers at Corinth of doing similar things with the Gospel, diluting it, or twisting it for the sake of popularity or financial gain. He reminds his readers that “we,” the apostles, are not like that. Evidently, some in Corinth were preaching for profit, so Paul steadfastly refused to take any financial support from the Corinthian church so he couldn’t be accused of being a preacher for hire.
Today, there is continual pressure in our world to make the Gospel more ‘palatable’ to both Believers and unbelievers, to dilute the hard sayings of Jesus. To preach a gospel that requires nothing of those who profess to follow Jesus. To change the aroma of Christ.
Some have succumbed to that pressure, promoting the Gospel as an escape mechanism from eternal punishment, but requiring no corresponding life change. No “denying oneself, taking up the cross, and following.” Others, preach a view of God as a benevolent grandfather handing out an unlimited supply of candy to his grandchildren with no thought for their long-term health or wellbeing. I fear that many who embrace these diluted forms of the Gospel will realize too late that they’ve embraced a false gospel that leads only to death.
But look at how Paul closes this chapter. He has a very solemn view of his relationship with God. He was a minister commissioned by God, he was responsible to God, and he was empowered by Christ. While we don’t have the visibility or position like the apostle Paul did, you and I have a similar relationship with our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. We have a responsibility to spread the aroma of Christ through the sincere proclamation of His truth.
So, how is it with you? First, are you one of Christ’s captives? If you haven’t put your faith and trust in Jesus for your salvation, then what I’ve shared with you probably makes no sense. If you are a Christ-follower, are you diffusing the aroma of Christ to those around you?
Are you allowing your anxieties to hinder the spread of that aroma? You know, our worry, our anxiety, does nothing to change the situation. All it does is hinder us from fulfilling God’s purpose for us in a difficult time. Paul’s anxiety over the Corinthian’s response to his correction didn’t change anything. All it did was temporarily rob him of his joy and effectiveness. The same thing happens to you and me.
Are you diffusing the aroma of Christ in a joyful celebration? Having been conquered by Christ’s love, are you part of the triumphal procession of the saints of all ages? Is your life spreading the fragrance of Christ throughout your sphere of influence?
And finally, are you diffusing the aroma of Christ in your sincere proclamation of the Gospel. Are you and I, like the apostle Paul, “not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes?” May God enable us by His grace to diffuse the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
The Heart of a Godly Leader
II Corinthians 1:23-2:11
As we begin our time in the Word today, I have a question for you. What qualities do you think are necessary for a person to exercise godly leadership? A few of the things I think of are integrity, fairness, humility, and the ability to listen well. I’m sure you could add to that list.
I believe people today are looking for leaders who are authentic; leaders who admit their own imperfections, weaknesses, and failures. They want leaders who can identify with them in their struggles, not someone who portrays themselves as some superhero who “has it all together.” I think this is especially true with leadership in the Church.
And since we’re studying God’s Word together, and it gives us practical instruction for Christian living, we will focus this time on “The Heart of a Godly Leader.” Maybe your first reaction to that title is, “well, I’m not a leader so this doesn’t apply to me.” Not so fast! The qualities we’ll be looking at are important for all Christ-followers, not just those with official titles or positions in the Church. So, I urge you to listen and make an application to your own life.
Our text today is Second Corinthians 1:23 through 2:11. As we begin, here’s just a reminder of the setting. One reason Paul wrote this letter was to defend his apostolic authority to a rebellious minority in the Corinthian church. Another reason was to strengthen the faithful Believers there. For these reasons, Paul’s letter becomes deeply personal as he shares experiences and information that verify his apostolic authority.
So, listen now as I read the text, Second Corinthians 1:23 through 2:11.
In this text, Paul demonstrates the QUALITIES that show us “The Heart of a Godly Leader.” As Christ-followers, you and I are challenged to develop these qualities regardless of our position.
The First QUALITY (that shows the heart of a godly leader) is,
He Thinks Carefully
Paul is dealing with some significant issues in his position as an elder or overseer of the church at Corinth. He planted this church but he’s no longer active in the daily leadership. From his first letter, we know the church was divided into groups based on the leaders they followed. Some chose Paul, some Apollos, some Peter, and others.
Paul could have gone to Corinth in person and used his apostolic authority to correct the situation. But he didn’t. Why not? Because he took time to think carefully about the impact of his choices. He wanted the best way to handle the situation. Often, I find that my initial responses to a situation aren’t the best way to handle it. A wise, godly leader looks for the optimum timing and method in dealing with difficult issues.
This is especially true with false accusations. When we’re falsely accused, we want to vindicate ourselves, to set the record straight. I know this from personal experience. I’ve written letters and emails that I’ve never sent. Why? Because after I “vented my spleen,” as we say, I realized that I was more concerned about my reputation than the well-being of the accuser. And in some cases, the accusation is so absurd it doesn’t merit a reply. A godly leader knows the value of a thoughtful response instead of a knee-jerk reaction.
Paul responds to his critics by telling them exactly why he chose not to visit them. Note the use of the judicial oath as he calls God as a witness to his integrity. After thinking it over carefully, he chose not to visit them because he understood the power of his personal presence. There is implied power behind Paul’s restraint. He had apostolic authority given to him by Jesus and could have used it rather forcefully to correct this group with their divided loyalties.
Paul reminds the Corinthians that he’s not interested in domineering control over their faith. Instead, he emphasizes their standing in Christ and the joy being produced in their lives. This theme of joy is woven throughout this text. Even with all their problems, the Corinthians were still Believers who were being kept by the power of God through faith. And Paul was appealing to them on this basis.
Paul tells his readers that after careful thought, he determined the best course of action was writing a letter rather than visiting in person. He said he made that decision for the good of everyone involved. He knew that a personal visit would bring sorrow to the church because of the “hard things” (sin) he would need to deal with among them.
He asks in verse 2, “if, by my coming, I make you sorry, who then will be left to make me glad? It will only be those whom I have made sorry.” The implied question is, “how is that going to work?” Here, the ‘I’ is emphatic. There were lots of others at Corinth causing trouble. Paul doesn’t want to be counted among them. If this congregation needed discipline and rebuke, how could they be a source of joy to him? Here, Paul takes time to think carefully about the impact of his words.
He didn’t want to be the source of sorrow for those who were the potential source of his joy. His letter seems to be an attempt to deal with the issues from a distance so that when he finally does visit them, the issues will be resolved, and their mutual joy can flourish. Generally, when discipline is needed, personal contact is the best way to deal with it. But not always. Paul’s willingness to think carefully about the situation and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading assured him of the best possible outcome.
The gist of these opening verses (1:24-2:3) is that Paul’s own joy is bound up in the spiritual prosperity of the Church at Corinth. He would receive joy through their faith and obedience. His careful thinking about how to address the situation shows us one quality of the heart of a godly leader.
All of us are engaged daily in relationships with other people. Thinking carefully before we respond to tensions and differences is a mark of wisdom and godliness.
Another QUALITY (that shows the heart of a godly leader) is,
He Loves Deeply
As I mentioned earlier, this second letter to the Corinthians is deeply personal. In verse 4, Paul shares his struggle in finding the best way to relate to them. The language he uses describes intense emotions. His first letter was written with many tears and with many anxious moments about how it would be received. Paul’s word choice describing his anguish of heart suggests the idea of choking or squeezing; something like a panic attack.
But Paul didn’t want these intense emotions to grieve his readers. He wanted them to see his emotions as proof of his deep and abiding love for them. In his first letter, he had admonished them on what do to in the case of the man who was involved in an incestuous relationship. He may be revisiting that situation in verse five, but his language is very delicate. It’s also possible that he’s referring to the ringleader of the anti-Paul party in Corinth. In either case, he doesn’t name the offender or the offense.
The whole church was grieved and injured by this man’s sin. But Paul wants to avoid undue pain to the church members or the offender by using language that’s too severe. He acknowledges the offender’s guilt, but he doesn’t want to add to their sorrow. I confess, that sometimes in situations like this, I take an ungodly delight in the public shame of those caught in their sins. That’s what the Pharisees did when they brought the adulterous woman to Jesus. But Paul wasn’t like that. Even in the process of correction, he loves the Corinthians deeply. I need God’s grace to love my brothers and sisters like that, especially the erring ones.
This erring brother, regardless of his identity, was disciplined by the majority of members of the congregation. And as I understand Jesus’ teaching in Matthew chapter 18, that’s the way it is supposed to be done. The responsibility for discipline rests primarily on the congregation. Church leaders may guide the process, but they don’t make the final decision. Paul says the sentence was sufficient and that it achieved the desired effect. In other words, it brought the offender to repentance. How do we know that’s true?
Well, if this wasn’t the case, Paul’s next counsel would’ve been different. Evidently, there were some in the group who struggled to forgive this brother. Paul encourages them not to cause more pain by “holding him at arm’s length.” Instead, he tells them to forgive him, comfort him, and encourage him. Yes, he was set aside for a time (perhaps excommunicated), but now he needs to be restored lest he is so discouraged that he gives up. Paul doesn’t want this brother to drown in his sorrows. He implores the Believers to restore this man to full fellowship as a confirmation of their love for him and proof of their obedience to his spiritual authority.
As I studied this quality of loving deeply, I was made aware of how much room I have to grow, especially in the context of correction and discipline in the church. Paul’s deep love for the Corinthians shows us another quality of the heart of a godly leader. It is a quality that all of us should strive to develop. So, a godly leader thinks carefully and loves deeply.
The Final QUALITY (that shows the heart of a godly leader) is,
He Forgives Graciously
As we move to verse ten, the original text begins with a common conjunction that isn’t in our English translations. It seems Paul is contrasting his test of their obedience, in verse 9, with his willingness to recognize their decision regarding the offending brother.
Paul recognizes the authority of the gathered body to carry out discipline, even though they may not have followed his instructions exactly. A wise and godly leader doesn’t demand that everything be done exactly as he says it should be. He is willing to compromise on the details of the process in order to reach the right outcome. His main concern is that the repentant person is welcomed and fully restored to the community of Believers.
Paul reminds them that “what I also have pardoned, if I have pardoned anything (I have pardoned it) for your sakes." There seems to be an intentional vagueness to this verse. This may be his attempt to avoid wounded feelings. Cases of church discipline can be notoriously difficult to navigate. So, Paul just says “I have accepted your decision for your sakes.” He forgave the offending brother for their sake, and he forgave them for not explicitly following his instructions in the process.
Again, we see the heart of a godly leader wanting the very best for his people. The gathered Body represents the “presence of Christ,” according to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew chapter eighteen. And even though Paul wasn’t present with them in body, he was present with them in the Spirit, looking on at what they were doing.
Paul then closes with a warning to the Corinthian Believers that you and I should take seriously. To withhold forgiveness in the face of genuine repentance is to give Satan, our adversary, an opportunity to bring division and destruction into the Body of Christ.
Part of forgiving graciously is to find the balance between justice and mercy. Paul implies that if the sentence against the offender is too severe, it could result in permanent loss to the body. He warns us to beware of Satan’s schemes. One of Satan’s chief schemes is “divide and conquer.” Sadly, he is able to do this in a variety of ways. One way he uses is people’s ignorance of their spiritual gifting.
Someone with the gift of mercy and someone with the gift of prophecy may want to reach the same goal, but they’re going to approach that goal from almost opposite directions. Without an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their gifts, they will see each other as being on opposing teams rather than on the same team. Satan will do all he can to foster those misunderstandings. We must resist him with all of the strength we have in Christ!
I have observed many church struggles from a distance and a few from personal involvement. Many times, leadership, by not demonstrating these qualities we’ve looked at, has compounded the problem. That’s unfortunate. Knee-jerk reactions, more concern for appearance rather than substance, and an unwillingness to forgive never lead to a godly result.
But it doesn’t mean the issue can’t be resolved. It does mean that leaders need to humbly admit their failures. And it also means that those who aren’t in leadership need to develop and embrace these qualities, especially in relation to their leaders. I know that can be hard, but if we refuse to do that, Satan surely will get an advantage over us.
I urge you to take some time for a personal evaluation of these qualities in your life regardless of your position, especially if you’re a leader.
Do you take time to think carefully about the situation at hand? Do you weigh the impact of your words carefully? Someone recently counseled me to be more thoughtful about how my comments affect those around me.
Do you love others deeply? Or are you more concerned about yourself and what people think of you? Do people know that, in spite of some failures, you really have their best interests in your heart? Do you weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice?
And finally, do you forgive graciously? Jesus told us that offenses are inevitable, they will happen. But how do you respond? Are you able to fully forgive those who offend you? Are you willing to compromise the process in order to maintain principle? Are you willing to accept the decision of the congregation as valid, even though your plans weren’t followed to the letter?
Can you see how important these qualities are in the heart of a godly leader? Most of us have no problem seeing that. Our challenge is to see how important these qualities are in our lives, and then to act accordingly. May God grant us the desire and power to think carefully, love deeply, and forgive graciously.
Established in Christ
II Corinthians 1:15-22
A well-known Scottish poet wrote this maxim in one of his poems; “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” You don’t need to live very many years until you know how true that statement is. But this reality isn’t something unique to those who follow Christ; it affects all humanity. So, how do we respond when our plans fail?
One response is fatalism, the belief that events are fixed in advance so that we’re powerless to change them. Taken to its extreme it leads to discouragement, despair, and even suicide. Another response to unfulfilled plans is to recognize there is a sovereign God who rules in the affairs of humanity. As His followers, we make our plans based on the best knowledge we have of His will for us. But even as we make those plans, we acknowledge that we can’t see the whole picture like He does. When the plans change, we can still acknowledge His goodness.
A wise leader once put it this way; “I have lived, sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men! And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?” He then implored his fellow leaders to seek God’s face in regular times of prayer.
Sometimes, when plans fail, those who were unable to fulfill them are accused of being indecisive, uncommitted, or uncaring. But it’s never wise to reach those conclusions without all the facts. It’s possible they have legitimate reasons why they couldn’t fulfill those plans.
In our text from Second Corinthians 1:15 to 22, the apostle Paul defends himself from accusations by his critics in Corinth. As we work our way through this text, we’ll see how this defense of his actions illustrates how we too can be “Established in Christ.” So, listen as I read Second Corinthians 1:15 to 22.
As Paul explains his change of plans to the Corinthian Believers, he reveals to them and us the WAYS that we are “Established in Christ.”
The First WAY (that we are established in Christ) is,
According to God’s Plans
Paul begins this section by referring to his previous statements about his confidence in God, his confidence in the Corinthian Believers, and his confidence in the testimony of his conscience. God had delivered him from what appeared to be certain death (verse 10). The church at Corinth had played a part in his deliverance through their prayers. And Paul’s own conduct and communication with the Believers were sincere and transparent.
Paul states in verses fifteen and sixteen that he wanted to visit the Corinthians again. He knew and loved these people. Remember, he had planted the church at Corinth and developed lasting relationships among the members. He now wanted to renew those relationships. He also knew about some of the challenges the church was facing. As a wise leader, he wanted to address them in person. So, he made plans to visit.
His intention was to visit Corinth on his way from Ephesus to Macedonia and then stop with them again on his return trip so they could help him get to Jerusalem. He referred to this as a second benefit for them. We don’t know why those plans changed. But the anti-Paul party in Corinth criticized him for this change of plans. They accused him of being flippant and vacillating.
But when you look at how closely Paul followed God’s plans in other places, it’s hard to make this charge stick. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were planning to minister the word in Asia Minor, but the Holy Spirit prevented them from doing that. Instead, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia asking him to come and preach to them. Paul sensed this as God’s leading and immediately they set off for Macedonia. That was a major change of plans, but not because Paul was indecisive, cowardly, or uncaring.
Paul responds to these charges with an indignant negative! He asks, “Was I a ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ man, not knowing my own mind, or not keeping to my decisions, when I thought I did know it?” He then reminds his readers that he made his plans based on his understanding of God’s will. Hopefully, you and I do that too, but sometimes our conclusions are mistaken, and other times God changes our plans.
I remember so well, as a young man, a time when God changed my plans in a very significant way. And some who didn’t know the details of those changes made very hurtful comments about my character and the reasons for the change of plans. Unlike Paul, I didn’t defend myself because I knew the charges to be false. And looking back, I have the confidence that I made the right decision. In situations like this, you and I need much wisdom to know if it’s a time to speak or a time to be quiet.
Have you ever wondered what God is doing when He changes your plans? I have. Like Paul, I’ve made plans for something that, according to Scripture, is completely in line with God’s will, but the plans don’t work out. I’ve often asked, “Lord, why didn’t this work out?” Sometimes I find out the answer, but many times I don’t. I’m learning to trust that God knows best.
Let’s not be like that minority in Corinth that criticized Paul’s character because his plans didn’t work out. Let’s give people the benefit of the doubt and treat them the way we want to be treated when our plans change. And remember, as we faithfully follow God’s plans we become more firmly established in Christ. The writer of Proverbs concurs with these familiar words; “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
The Next WAY (that we are established in Christ) is,
According to God’s Promises
To strengthen his personal defense, Paul appeals to the example of Jesus. Paul’s entire life and being were devoted to the service and proclamation of Christ, the one who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The charge of insincerity and instability is simply ridiculous.
He reminded the Corinthians that the Christ who was preached to them by him, and Silas, and Timothy, was not a yes and no man, wavering back and forth between two positions. Jesus was a consistent “YES” man. He said what He meant, and He meant what He said!
Paul further reminds his readers they hadn’t experienced Christ in a way that was uncertain or unsatisfying. Jesus’ own words were “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” And He proved the accuracy of all that was written about Him and His work of redemption.
John MacArthur asserts that: “the firmness of Paul’s statement, and his use of Jesus’ full title, (the Son of God, Jesus Christ) indicates that the person and work of Christ were under attack from false teachers at Corinth. The proof of his truthfulness with them was the truthful Gospel which he faithfully preached.”[1]
Paul writes in verse 20, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” What does Paul mean by this statement? Simply that all the promises given by God are made possible and fulfilled in Jesus to the glory of God the Father. This was the Gospel Paul proclaimed.
I understand that it was common among the meetings of the early church to proclaim the “Amen” in unison to affirm the truthfulness of what had just been spoken. Isn’t it strange then, that some of those same people would be distrustful of the man who had brought them the Good News and taught them to use this term? If there is a charge of inconsistency, it seems to lie more with the Corinthians than with Paul.
Yes, the promises of God establish us in Christ. I often think of Peter’s words in his second epistle; “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Through Paul’s ministry, Christ was proclaimed as the “yes” of all God’s promises so that the Father would be glorified. The Incarnation, the Son of God taking on human flesh, was tangible evidence of all God’s promises being fulfilled; past, present, and future.
Have you experienced the “yes” of God’s promises? Are you using them to chart your course through life? Are those promises directing your steps like they did for the apostle Paul? Can you appeal to God’s promises to validate His message through you? His promises are absolutely true, and through the trustworthiness of those promises, we are established in Christ.
The Final WAY (that we are established in Christ) is,
According to God’s Presence
Here again, are the final verses of our text to refresh your memory. “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
I follow Paul’s argument this way; you accuse me of being unfaithful to my promises because God changed my plans. But the Gospel I brought to you in Corinth was based on the unchanging Word of God and resulted in transformed lives. Furthermore, God has authenticated my ministry by giving me, and all of you who truly follow Him, the seal of the Holy Spirit. So, your charge of me being unsettled and fickle flies in the face of what God has done and continues to do, both in me and in all those who embrace His call to discipleship.
Here, Paul makes the ultimate appeal to being established in Christ. First, he refers to the anointing; that is, God’s people being endowed with gifts by the Holy Spirit for the work of ministry. Next, he states that God has sealed us; that is, He has set His mark of approval and ownership on us confirming that we belong to Him.
And finally, He has bestowed on us the Spirit Himself as the down payment of our eternal inheritance. We all know that a down payment is a legally binding promise or pledge that the entire amount will eventually be realized. The Spirit Himself is God’s pledge of the fulfillment of our future glory with Christ.
Have you received the anointing of the Holy Spirit? No, that doesn’t necessarily mean speaking in tongues – although it could! It means having the fruit of the Spirit in your life: love, joy, peace, patience, and so on. And it means using the spiritual gifts God has given you to build up His church. Some of you may think it’s not important to know your spiritual gift. But I believe that knowing the strengths and weaknesses of our gifts helps us to know when to step forward and serve or step back and let others exercise their strengths.
Do you have the witness of the Holy Spirit in your spirit that you belong to God, as Paul mentions in Romans 8:14 to 16? Are you led by the Spirit of God as you walk through daily life, finding victory over the desires of your flesh? Are you confident in the security of your future based on the down payment or guarantee that you have received?
As Christ-followers there will always be those who criticize us, even from within the Church. But if you and I are truly committed to Christ and following His will, we can live with confidence. That doesn’t mean we won’t make mistakes or that we’ll never need to ask forgiveness. But it does mean that the accusations of others don’t need to cripple us or deter us from the plans Christ has for us.
Can you see the evidence of God’s plans, His promises, and His presence in your life? If so, these confirm that you are established in Christ.
[1] The MacArthur Bible Commentary, p. 1618
Delivered from Death
II Corinthians 1:8-14
Back in the late 1970s, I still lived at home with my parents. It was the day before Christmas, and my dad and I had made a trip to a local store to pick up some last-minute items. I remember that as we were driving home, the roads were snow-covered.
About a mile or two from home we were rounding a curve when I looked ahead and saw another car coming toward me and it was across the center line. I immediately began to slow down and edge my way toward the shoulder of the road. But we were crossing a small stream and the guardrails left almost no room to get off the road.
When the oncoming driver saw us, she panicked and applied the brakes. Those of you who live in snow country know exactly what happened without me saying more. When the driver applied the brakes, she lost control of the car and it headed straight for us. If she had just left off the accelerator and gently steered to the right, I think she could’ve avoided hitting us.
By that time, I had come to a complete stop, just inches from the guardrail. There was nothing else to do but sit and wait for the impact. There was a loud crash and the jolt of the impact. The hood of the car flew up, blocking our vision. Fortunately, my dad and I weren’t seriously injured. The other driver wasn’t either, but I think she was treated for shock.
It’s amazing! Something like this, that unfolds in just a few seconds, can seem to take a long time. My point is, that there was absolutely nothing I could do to avoid it.
Have you faced circumstances beyond your control? Situations where it seemed to you there was no way out? Perhaps it looked so hopeless that you despaired of any positive outcome. When you reach that point, it can be so hard to remember the promises of God.
The apostle Paul faced numerous situations where he despaired of life itself. In our continuing study of his second letter to the Corinthians, we’ll look at one of those situations and how the apostle responded. I’ve titled today’s teaching, “Delivered from Death,” and it’s taken from Second Corinthians 1:8 to 14. Listen now as I read these words from Holy Scripture.
In these verses, we see the several MEANS by which we are delivered from death to live with confidence.
The First MEANS (by which we are delivered from death) is,
By Divine Intervention
In our previous study from verses three through seven, Paul reminded his readers that God’s comfort was sufficient for any trouble or affliction they would face. To drive home the point, he shares a personal experience with them.
He refers to something that happened to him in Asia. He isn’t specific, so we don’t really know what he was referring to, but perhaps the Corinthians did. Maybe it was the mob in Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquilla risking their lives for his, or the death threats that led to his hasty departure from Ephesus. At any rate, these weren’t just mild irritations!
The word-picture here is of something pressed out of measure, a crushing burden, unable to be carried under normal circumstances. It was so heavy, so grievous, that Paul even despaired of his life! The Greek word literally means “no passage.” Paul saw no way out! And even though this experience was in the past, it was still very real in Paul’s mind. Perhaps, like me, you’ve relived an experience like that again and again.
But then, look what happened. Just as Paul had written in the earlier verses, God showed up! Even though Paul’s tribulation seemed like a death sentence, God intervened. That intervention spared Paul’s life and taught him a valuable lesson. It is a lesson you and I need to learn as well. It is this, that God allows us to experience seemingly impossible situations, to teach us that our intellect, our possessions, our status, and our connections to important people are all inadequate. Like Paul, we need to learn to trust completely in God. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to meet our needs in times of crisis.
Divine intervention spared Paul’s life in this traumatic situation. But it did more than that. Look what he says in verse 10. We trust in God “who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us…” Did you catch that? Paul says God delivered us in the past, He’s delivering us now, and He will deliver us in the future. What a statement of triumph and confidence! And you can have that confidence too.
I know some people who have experienced very hard things in life. Some of them have become angry, disillusioned, and bitter. But that wasn’t Paul. Others I know have clung to God throughout their disappointment and heartache, and they have come through the furnace of affliction with a powerful life witness for Jesus. Like Paul, they understood that God intervened so He would be glorified and that their suffering would encourage others.
Are you going through a severe trial? Have you almost given up hope that change is possible? Have you allowed God to intervene in the situation or are you still trying to muddle through on your own strength? God wants to bring you to the point of complete dependence on Him. He wants you to understand that His power alone is sufficient to meet your need. He wants you to come to the place where you have complete confidence in Him.
And remember, your trial may not end as the one Paul mentions here. Eventually, he gave his life for the sake of the Gospel. Yet, even in that, he trusted God completely. He knew that divine intervention was a means to being delivered from death.
The Second MEANS (by which we are delivered from death) is,
By Human Intercession
Notice the next thing that Paul wrote. He said God delivered us, [now listen] “you also helping together in prayer for us…” So, Paul relied completely on God, but he also recognized the role of God’s people in prayer.
Intercessory prayer is crucial to the expression of God’s power and sovereign purpose. Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote,
“More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice
Rise like a fountain for me night and day.
For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.”
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, “Morte d'Arthur” When you and I engage in intercessory prayer we often have no idea of the result. But hopefully, we have enough experience with it that we will continue to pray even when God seems silent. When Paul was going through his extreme trial, it may be that the Corinthian Believers didn’t know anything about it. But because they had him on their hearts, because they loved him as a brother in Christ, they were interceding for him before the throne of God.
The result of this intercession is “that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.” Here, Paul uses picturesque language; “that out of many upturned faces (in intercession), thanks may be given to God by many on our behalf.” The “gift” Paul refers to must be the precious gift of deliverance from the impossible situation he had faced. And because the Corinthians engaged in intercessory prayer, they also shared in the joy of Paul’s deliverance. If you have never experienced the joy of being part of an answer to someone’s prayer, you’re really missing something!
The goal of prayer is not to change God’s plans. It is rather to see Him glorified in those plans and thank Him for them. We can be confident that God’s sovereign plans will be accomplished, balanced by the faithful prayers of His people.
Like the Corinthian Believers, we may not know the dangers faced by those we love. But we can be confident that God hears our intercession on their behalf. And we can be confident that one of the means of being delivered from death, physical or spiritual, is human intercession.
The Final MEANS (by which we are delivered from death) is,
By Confident Expression
Perhaps you’re wondering what I mean by that. Paul writes in verse 12 about the testimony of his conscience. Paul testified in Acts 24:16 that he always did his best to maintain “…a conscience without offense toward God and men.” Paul knew what it meant to have a clear conscience. Do you have that same confident expression, the testimony of a clear conscience? But how does that become a means of deliverance from death? Hold on, we’ll get there.
Paul states that part of maintaining a clear conscience is to live a holy life in godly sincerity. Holiness and godly sincerity aren’t intrinsic to us, that is, they’re not something we possess within ourselves, but they are gifts from God. Paul recognized that.
He also reminded the Corinthians that his teaching wasn’t conducted in the power of fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God. And it was this grace that was the motivation for his lifestyle choices—his conduct. In other words, Paul told the Corinthians that his lifestyle was lived in accordance with what he taught. It was a confident expression of what he believed. Remember, Paul had spent 18 months in Corinth, much longer than many other places where he planted churches. So, the Corinthians had ample opportunity to observe his conduct.
And then further, Paul gave a confident expression throughout his communication. Some in Corinth had accused him of being deceptive, self-serving, etc. But Paul reiterates that his writings to the Corinthian church were consistent with what he taught in person. He hadn’t hidden anything from them, he didn’t communicate with double meanings, and he had no secret agenda.
Now, back to the question, “how does confident expression deliver from death?” We’ve already noted that death can be physical or spiritual. Let me summarize Paul’s motives as he expresses them here. First, he said my life is open to inspection. I have nothing to hide and that allows me to have a clear conscience.
Second, I lived a life of purity and holiness which you observed when I was with you. I didn’t teach you one thing and then live by another standard. And finally, I lived among you with transparent sincerity. What you saw is what I was and am.
These three aspects of conscience, conduct, and communication will play a key role in deliverance from death. A guilty conscience causes one to be secretive and dishonest. It also causes harshness in judging the sins of others. Ungodly conduct hastens spiritual death in us and also impacts those who are looking to us for a godly example. Inconsistent communication brings confusion, charges of favoritism, and strife. I urge you to ponder these things and make an application to your own life.
Paul closes this section by reminding the Corinthians of their mutual rejoicing with him. He knew that some of the Believers in Corinth had embraced Christ and the teaching Paul had given them. He encouraged them to look forward to the day when that mutual appreciation would be expressed in the presence of the Lord Jesus.
My friend, have you discovered the means by which you can be delivered from death to live with confidence? Whether that death is physical or spiritual it can only be avoided by divine intervention. Jesus intervened in rescuing Paul from the peril of physical death. And maybe He’s done that for you too. But you and I must understand how much more important it is to be delivered from spiritual death.
And what about human intercession? Do you believe in the power of prayer? Have you experienced it personally? Have your prayers resulted in divine intervention in the lives of others? You and I may not know the impact of our prayers on this side of eternity. But they enable us to tap into the power of God to bring deliverance from death. As Tennyson said, “more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”
And finally, is your confident expression delivering yourself and others from death? Is your conscience clear, is your conduct in harmony with what Scripture teaches, and is your communication consistent and trustworthy? If so, you can be sure that these means will deliver you and those around you from death.
How should a leader function? In this recording from our Strategic Partner Breakfast, Delbert Hoover offers several insights on how to serve as a leader.
Abraham—A Model Father
Genesis 22:1-19
'Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that strayed away in the parable Jesus told.
A grown‑up sheep that had gone astray from the ninety and nine in the fold.
Out on the hillside, out in the cold, 'twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought.
And back to the flock, safe into the fold, 'twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.
And why for the sheep should we earnestly long and as earnestly hope and pray?
Because there is danger, if they go wrong, they will lead the lambs astray.
For the lambs will follow the sheep, you know, wherever the sheep may stray.
When the sheep go wrong, it will not be long till the lambs are as wrong as they.
And so, with the sheep we earnestly plead, for the sake of the lambs today;
If the sheep are lost, what terrible cost some of the lambs will have to pay!
- Unknown
You know, there are a lot of lambs that are paying a high price because many of the sheep have gone astray! As we look into God’s Word today, I pray the Holy Spirit will challenge, convict, encourage and change the sheep; in this case, every father or father-to-be listening today.
To accomplish that goal, we turn our attention to Genesis chapter twenty-two. I’ve titled the message, “Abraham, A Model Father.” I remind you, that Abraham was not a perfect father, but he was a model father. Now I will read Genesis 22:1-19
From our text, I highlight several WAYS in which Abraham was a model father.
The First WAY is,
Abraham Acted on God’s Command
I marvel every time I read this account, at Abraham’s obedience. Many people who read this account are perplexed, “How could a loving God, who had already expressly forbidden Abraham’s forefather, Noah, against the taking of innocent human life, now ask Abraham to take the life of his son?” In our way of thinking it’s a most unreasonable command!
All the promises God made to Abraham were wrapped up in the life of Isaac. Notice how specific God is with his commands; they pierce to the very heart of Abraham. “Take now your son, you only son, Isaac, whom you love...” Wouldn’t it have been enough to say, “Take your son to the land of Moriah, and there sacrifice him to me?” But no, God makes it deeply personal.
The word, only, in the Hebrew, means united, or beloved. Isaac was deeply loved by his father for several reasons. First, recall the circumstances of his birth. He was an absolute miracle baby! Beyond that, in Isaac were united all the promises of God. The promise of a seed, of descendants without number, the promise of a land, and of a descendant who would bless all nations. To what avail were all these if Isaac should die now, childless? God reminds Abraham that Isaac is his only beloved son. Further, he speaks his name, Isaac, which means, “he laughs.” But this is no time for laughter! And then God clinches it by saying, “the one whom you love.” It’s like twisting a knife in the very heart of Abraham.
But what does Abraham do? We have no record of any questions, no hesitation, no accusation, no rationalization. Abraham gets up early the next morning, makes the needed preparations to fulfill God’s command, and sets off for Moriah. He doesn’t even know exactly where he’s going to perform this unthinkable deed, just the general area!
Dads, what would be your response to a command like this? You see, Abraham is not the only one to face this test. Yes, his circumstances were unique, but this test is one that you and I and every Christian father must face! Will we obey God or our own inclinations?
Most likely, God will never ask you to lay your son or daughter on a literal altar of stone. But He may ask you to sacrifice your prestige or your reputation with your peers for their spiritual wellbeing. He may ask you to give up your current career, so you have more time to develop godly character in your sons and daughters. God may ask you to give up your plans for your child, so they can be free to fulfill His plans. God needed to be sure that Abraham’s faith was grounded in Him, not in Isaac’s ability to fulfill the promises.
I believe that Abraham understood what every father needs to understand. The children God gives to us are His, not ours. As their Creator, He has the right to do with them and their lives whatever He chooses. Without this understanding, we will wrestle with unfulfilled expectations, broken dreams, and shattered hopes. Abraham had enough faith in God to trust Him implicitly. That’s what enabled him to obey God without having answers to the questions that most surely crowded his mind. As fathers, we too need that same kind of faith that leads to obedience.
The Second WAY (Abraham was a model father) is,
Abraham Anticipated God’s Provision
Notice that not only was Abraham obedient to God’s command to go, but he made specific and thorough preparations for this sacrifice. He took the wood, the fuel for the fire. He took the coals of fire to ignite the wood. And he took the knife he would need to kill the sacrifice. Abraham accepted the fact that a sacrifice would take place, so he prepared accordingly.
Verse three tells us that he took two servants with him: why? I believe it was so they could be witnesses. These young men were surely aware from Abraham’s preparations that there was going to be a sacrifice, but there was no appropriate animal accompanying them. Yet he said to them in verse five that he and Isaac would go, worship the Lord, and return to them again. Abraham could make this statement in all sincerity because he was so sure of God’s provision.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” So, Abraham went to Mt. Moriah with the assurance that either, he would slay Isaac and God would raise him up, or God would provide an animal substitute. Abraham didn’t know how the details of this were going to play out, but he had confidence that God knew what He was doing.
What about us, fathers? Do you and I have the confidence that God knows what He’s doing when our daughter lays aside a financially lucrative position to fulfill God’s calling as a homemaker or embraces singleness so she can better serve on a mission field? Do we have the settled assurance that God will take care of her and provide for her needs? Do we accept God’s plan when our son is called to pastoral ministry, and we hoped he would take over the family business? Are we able to trust God with our most cherished possessions, our children, and the dreams we have for them?
Too many of us as dads are focused on making our children financially successful in life. We ought to be more deeply concerned that they are developing spiritually and morally with excellent character. We need to focus more on the promise of Jesus in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (necessities for physical life) shall be added to you.” Can our sons and daughters observe our lives and see how God provides for those who obey Him? Are we willing to do what God asks, even though it looks extremely risky or foolish on the face of it?
When God called us to Heralds of Hope in 1994, Joyce and I had four children. I was leaving behind a good-paying job, a job I enjoyed immensely. I knew that my salary in this ministry would not be comparable to the wages from my previous employment. We also were open to the possibility that God would bless our marriage with additional children, which He did. How was all this going to work out?
My former employer even asked me how much I was going to be paid in this new position. All I told him was, “much less than I’ve been making here.” Then he asked me, “How are you going to make it financially?” I said, “you know, when I came to work for you, I took a substantial reduction in pay. And my family never went hungry, never went without adequate clothing or shelter. I believe that the God who provided for us in the past will provide for us in the future!” And you know, that is exactly what God did.
I do not share that to lift up myself. I share that so you can bless God with me. Fathers, I assure you, we can trust God. Let’s show our children the reality of our faith by anticipating God’s provision for all our needs.
The Next WAY is,
Abraham Addressed Isaac’s Concern
Many Bible scholars believe Isaac was more than a boy when these events took place. He very likely was a grown man. Yet we have no record that he questioned the decision of his father. For three days, Abraham and Isaac had traveled together. From the brief details that are given, we can deduce at least some of the thoughts that must have passed through the minds of these two men, father, and son. Isaac addresses his father with tones of love and respect, “my father.” And Abraham responds with, “Here am I, my son.” Then the fateful question; “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
Do you know what many fathers do with this kind of question? Some say, “well, don’t worry about it, everything will work out.” Others might say, “I’m not going to answer your question because that’s for me to worry about. "And others may just act like they didn’t hear the question. None of those is a proper response to a legitimate question.
I want you to notice something very interesting. Isaac asked a question relating to the present, “where is the lamb?” I don’t believe the possibility crossed Isaac’s mind that he was to be the sacrifice. For three days of traveling with his father, he must have pondered this question. He couldn’t arrive at any satisfactory answer, so he asks his father. Imagine Abraham’s thoughts.
Abraham answered Isaac’s inquiry about present things, by referring to something in the future. “God will provide himself a lamb...” Abraham, at this point, does not know where the lamb is. But he is sure that God will provide one. Faith sees what is invisible to the human eye.
This response is a marvelous example for us fathers. He answers Isaac’s question, by directing his attention to God, we must learn how to address the immediate concerns of our children by pointing them to God, the heavenly Father. We must help them understand that, in reality, God is the only one who can meet their needs. We need to cultivate the ability to see the deeper, underlying issues in the questions of our children, and then help them to address those issues from a biblical perspective. We must never ignore their sincere concerns.
The Final WAY is,
Abraham Acquired God’s Approval
Abraham obeys God’s command. He gets the altar ready, binds Isaac and lays him on the altar, and raises the knife. At the very moment, he is prepared to plunge the knife into his son, God stops him by calling his name! And then He adds, “now I know that you fear God...” Didn’t God know that before? Of course, he did, but Abraham authenticated it by his obedience.
I’m reminded of what the Hebrew writer said about Jesus, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him...” Jesus’ suffering authenticated His obedience; it proved it was real!
Abraham’s obedience and his anticipation of God’s provision are now amply rewarded. In response to God’s call, he lowers the knife, turns to look behind him and there’s a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. This is the answer to Isaac’s question, and it becomes the substitute for him. Can you imagine the profound effect this whole incident must have had on Isaac? To see his father’s unflinching obedience to a command that seemed absolutely crazy.
Who got the blessing? Oh yes, Abraham did, to be sure! But it was really Isaac, and all his descendants, and you and me, who have received the benefits of Abraham’s obedience. Through his seed, Jesus Christ, we have received the blessing. He offered Himself to the Father as our substitute, He died in our place.
In closing, notice verse nineteen. Abraham and Isaac returned to the two young men who waited with the donkey, and together they went home to Beersheba. Abraham kept his promise to these two young men. They were witnesses to the truthfulness of Abraham’s word.
Fathers, does your obedience to God’s commands authenticate your faith? If God rated your obedience in comparison with Abraham’s, how would you measure up? Are you willing to step out in obedience even when you can’t see what the end result will be? Do your children know that Dad will obey the commands of Christ no matter what it may cost?
And do you anticipate God’s provision? Can you move ahead with confidence even when you can’t yet see how God is going to provide for the need? Have your children experienced the joy of seeing God meet your needs supernaturally?
Dad, are you willing to honestly address the concerns of your children? Are you pointing them to Jesus as the only one who can meet their deepest needs? Are you using the temporal things of life to teach eternal lessons?
Finally, are you and your family reaping the rewards of God’s approval? Is the world being blessed because of your commitment to Christ? Abraham is truly a model father. By God’s grace, let’s make it our goal to incorporate these ways into our lives.
Have you ever wondered why you pursued a "great idea"? Perhaps your plans simply are not working out as you expected. Roy Herr offers some insight in this recording from our Strategic Partnership Breakfast event. Enjoy!
What’s Your Comfort Level?
II Cor. 1:3-7
As human beings we find comfort in a variety of things and experiences in life. Comfort can be physical, like relaxing in an easy chair at the end of a hard day’s work or finding that just right mattress for each night’s rest. It can also be emotional, a state of contentment and wellbeing. We’ve all heard the expression, “comfort foods,” particular food items that leave us feeling uniquely satisfied. It’s a combination of the physical and emotional.
Comfort can also be finding oneself in a situation where there are more knowns than unknowns. All of us have felt that tightness in our stomach or an increase in our heart rate when we’re in a new and unfamiliar situation. Those are signs that we’re beyond our comfort level. That’s why we often talk about the comforts of home. Home is predictable, it is known to us. The room layouts, the furnishings, the habits, and rhythms of life with our families are all familiar.
But what about comfort on a spiritual level? What does that look like? If you are a born-again follower of Jesus, think back to the time when the Spirit of God was drawing you to Himself. What did you feel as you were confronted by your sinfulness and by your inability to measure up to God’s righteous standard for living?
I remember the spiritual struggle in my own heart that resulted in physical discomfort. As I wrestled with admitting that I was an incurable sinner in need of a Savior, my chest felt tight, my palms were sweaty, and my heartrate increased. And when I finally yielded to the calling of the Holy Spirit, a feeling of incredible peace and comfort came over me. Maybe your experience was similar to mine. That’s really not surprising, is it? After all, Jesus, in John 14:16 referred to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter.
The apostle Paul opens his second letter to the Corinthians with an emphasis on comfort, but not just any kind of comfort. In these five short verses he uses the same Greek word 10 times! It is translated into two different English words, comfort, and consolation. I hope you’ll join me in our study from Second Corinthians chapter one titled, “What’s Your Comfort Level?” Listen now as I read that Scripture text, Second Corinthians 1:3 to 7.
In this text, we observe several LEVELS of comfort and how each one impacts our life and relationships.
The First Comfort LEVEL is,
The Source of Comfort
As I said in the introduction, we all like comfort. But really, where does genuine comfort come from and why is it important for us to find the answer to that question? It’s important because until we find the source of genuine comfort, we’ll keep trying things that fail to provide what we’re looking for. It was Augustine who said, “…our heart is restless until we find our rest in You.” Restlessness is tension, it’s the opposite of comfort. Augustine believed, and rightly so, that true comfort can only be found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Paul begins his letter by blessing, or eulogizing, God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. He refers to God as the Father of mercies. In this, he borrowed from a synagogue prayer that called for God to treat the sinful individual with kindness, love, and tenderness. In his sin of numbering the people in Second Samuel 24, David was given a choice of his punishment. He understood the need to cast himself on the mercy of God. He said, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”
You and I know God as the Father of mercies in His provision of Jesus Christ for our salvation. Paul wrote in Titus 3:4 to 7, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” It is only God’s mercy that spares us from eternal judgment.
Paul expands this blessing by identifying God as the source of ALL comfort or consolation; not just some comfort, but all of it. This is the earliest passage in the New Testament where this word comfort is applied to God. Numerous Old Testament verses refer to the comfort provided by God. In Isaiah 66:13, God says, “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” No one can give earthly comfort quite like a mother can, and they get their ability from God. Paul blesses God as the ultimate comfort giver.
The Greek word here translated comfort or consolation is paraklesis and is related to the familiar word paraclete, the one who comes along side to help. This is the word Jesus used when He promised the disciples another Comforter - in the person of the Holy Spirit, John 14:16 and John 16:7. This “other” comforter that Jesus promised would be another comforter of the same kind that Jesus was. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and His oneness with the Father and the Son enable Him to comfort and console us like no human being can.
You and I may equate comfort with ease, but as we continue through the text and this entire book, we’ll see that God’s comfort is more about bringing encouragement, strength, and boldness to help us through our difficulty and hardship. We can be assured that God’s encouraging comfort always exceeds our discouragement and distress.
Have you found God to be the source of your comfort? If not, you’ll be frustrated until you do.
The Next Comfort LEVEL is,
The School of Comfort
School is a place where learning is supposed to happen; not indoctrination but education, training in how to think and reason. Paul reminds his readers that the events of life are educational as well.
He states, matter-of-factly, that God comforts us in all our tribulation. In Paul’s life there was always something or someone who was attempting to weaken him, restrict or confine his ministry, or even take his life. But Paul was confident in God’s ability to comfort, strengthen, and sustain him.
Tribulation refers to crushing pressures, opposition from Satan and the world around us. The word is related to the crushing of grapes in a winepress. In chapter four of this same letter Paul revisits this analogy, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair…” This ability to bear up under extreme pressure is possible only through the mercy and comfort of God.
Why does God provide this comfort? First of all, because He loves us and wants our experiences to draw us closer to Him. But secondly, and perhaps just as important, He wants to school us or teach us how to comfort others. That’s what the text says. So, comfort from God isn’t an end in itself. The purpose of being comforted is so that we can turn around and give comfort to others. If we don’t experience the comfort of God in our own lives, how will we know how to extend comfort to others?
Think about Paul’s own experience. On the road to Damascus, God had humbled his proud heart and convicted him of persecuting Jesus. But Ananias was sent to him by God to comfort, encourage, and strengthen him. Similarly, God had convicted the members of the Corinthian church for their rebellion against Paul’s apostolic authority. Now, God was sending a message through Paul that would strengthen and encourage them.
All of us have been through hard experiences, like dealing with cancer or some other devastating disease. For others it’s broken relationships with a spouse or family. Sadly, many have suffered hurt in their church families, even to the point of abuse. We mustn’t minimize any of these kinds of experiences, but we must realize that God expects us to learn from them and then use what we learn to comfort and encourage those who are going through those hard things right now. Personal experience of God’s comfort is necessary before we can pass it on to others.
Sadly, too many of us in western Christianity have bought into the idea that following Christ should make our lives easier. That mindset is contrary to the entire Scripture and especially the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. In Colossians 1:24 Paul makes an interesting statement. He writes, “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church…”
What does Paul mean by his statement about filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ? One thing he cannot mean is that Christ’s suffering for our salvation was not sufficient. That conclusion would fly in the face of many other portions of Scripture.
The word Paul uses here is never used of the things Christ suffered on our behalf to secure our reconciliation. It refers to the trials and tribulations that Jesus went through during His earthly ministry and to the same kinds of trials that all true followers of His will experience. Hebrews 5:8 states it this way. “…though He was a Son, yet He learned [was schooled in or experienced] obedience by the things which He suffered.” And because He suffered, He is able to be our faithful and merciful High Priest.
Are you looking at the hard experiences of your life as an opportunity to grow and learn? What lessons have you learned from the painful experiences of life that God wants you to use to equip and encourage others?
The Final Comfort LEVEL is,
The Scope of Comfort
In verse six, Paul assures his readers that scope or extent of God’s comfort reaches beyond time and on into eternity. This is so important for us to understand because it gives greater meaning and purpose to our suffering. Without this eternal perspective, our suffering can seem to be at best, a distraction, and at worst, pointless. But we have God’s promise that “...for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”
Paul reminded them that his affliction should be a means of comfort to them and a strengthening of their salvation. This, in turn, will empower them to endure similar experiences. The salvation Paul speaks of isn’t a reference to our acceptance of the gift at our initial conversion, but rather, the current process of our salvation being fleshed out, and then the culmination of our entire experience with Christ when we meet Him face to face.
Paul reminds us that our focus ought not to be on suffering or comfort. Instead, we should see every experience as moving us along the upward pathway of spiritual maturity, equipping us to help a brother or sister now going through a similar experience to what we’ve been through. So, whether one suffers or is comforted, the goal is the same, encouragement to flesh out the reality of your salvation.
Paul reminds us in Romans 8:17 that if we expect to be glorified with Jesus, we will first need to suffer with Him! And Peter counsels us to “…rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad, with exceeding joy.” Did you catch that? Peter connects the extent of our sufferings with the depth of our joy!
Finally, Paul reminds the Corinthian Believers that he is steadfast in his hope for them. In other words, he isn’t being pushed back and forth by his feelings. He is firmly convinced that as they endure suffering or comfort from an eternal perspective, it will have the desired effect in their lives. I can think of people I know in whose lives I’ve seen this process working out so clearly. And they are a blessing!
It’s important to understand that the biblical concept of hope is different than our common use of the word. Often, when we speak of hope, we’re talking about things within the realm of what’s possible. That kind of hope is often disappointing because circumstances don’t work out the way we want them to.
The biblical concept contains the idea of assurance, waiting with confidence, expectation, and patience. In another place, Paul speaks of this hope as a “hope that does not disappoint.” This ultimate hope is captured in these words from Psalm 16. “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” What more could anyone want?
So, I ask the question again, “what is your comfort level?” Have you found the source of comfort by entering into a relationship with the God of ALL comfort? Remember, if you haven’t, you’re not going to find what you’re looking for. There is no genuine comfort outside Him.
If God is your Father, then you are currently enrolled in the school of comfort. Are you chaffing at the suffering you experience, hoping to escape the classroom, or do you believe that God is using it to teach you valuable life lessons? Are you seeing your difficulties as opportunities to learn how to comfort and bless those around you?
And finally, do you understand the scope of comfort? Are you aware of the fact that everything that happens to you is part of the process of working out your salvation? And have you embraced the hope through Christ that will never disappoint you? I pray this teaching will raise your comfort level and bring you much joy in the Lord!
This episode of the Voice of Hope Podcast is a bit different from our normal Bible Study material. We had the opportunity to present a number of businessperson’s breakfasts in April 2022. We felt this material was applicable to business, church, and other organizations. The presentations were recorded and are presented here for your learning.
In this presentation Doug Ramer offers insight in finding, leading, and developing the right people for your organization. It is about a lot more than money. Enjoy!
Rightly Dividing the Word
II Corinthians 1:1-2
When Heralds of Hope began its Bible teaching ministry more than 50 years ago, the defining feature of that teaching was exposition. One of our core values as an organization is “a focus on the expository teaching of Scripture.” But what does that mean?
I’ve discovered that not many people have a good grasp of what expository Bible teaching is. I’ve heard people say, “it’s going through the Bible chapter by chapter and verse by verse.” Well, I’ve listened to some teaching like that, and it definitely wasn’t expository. It was more like a boring, dry, random series of comments about seemingly unrelated verses.
In fact, I read a statement from a well-known megachurch pastor who said, quote, “guys that preach verse-by-verse through books of the Bible– that is just cheating. It’s cheating because that would be easy, first of all. That isn’t how you grow people.” I don’t have time to unpack that statement, except to say that he doesn’t understand what expository preaching and teaching is.
The heart of expository preaching and teaching is this; a commitment to preach the text. This commitment is rooted in the biblical assertion of Second Timothy 3:16 that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, for correction, for reproof, and for training in righteousness.” So, the pastor/teacher who wants to speak for God must use God’s Word as the basis for his teaching.
It can be a bit difficult to nail down a consensus on what expository preaching and teaching looks like. Here’s how men like Alistair Begg, Haddon Robinson, and Bryan Chappel define expository preaching. Begg defines expository preaching as, “Unfolding the text of Scripture in such a way that it makes contact with the listener’s world while exalting Christ and confronting them with the need for action.” 1
Robinson says, “The communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through him to the hearers.” [1]
And finally, here’s Brian Chappel’s definition. ““The main idea of the sermon (the topic), the divisions of that idea (the main points), and the development of those divisions (the sub-points) all come from truths the text itself contains. No significant portion of the text is ignored. In other words, expositors willingly stay within the boundaries of a text (and its relevant context) and do not leave until they have surveyed its entirety with their listeners.” [2]
So, how do you know if a sermon is an expository one? Here are some questions to help you. Is the text accurately interpreted, with consideration given to both its immediate and broader biblical contexts? Are the main point of the sermon and its sub-points derived from the text? Does the sermon’s application come from the text and is the text being brought to bear on the congregation?
You see, an expositor doesn’t merely preach from a text or on a text. An expositor preaches the text. These three essentials mark an expository sermon, and these three questions will let you know when, in fact, the Word has been preached.
Hopefully, you’ll see how this works itself out as we begin a new series of study. Let’s begin.
Whenever we want to interpret a document, it is essential that we understand the historical background of that document. For example, Charles Dickens writings are set in 19th century Victorian era of England. If you don’t have any knowledge of the cultural and societal happenings of that era, there are many things you won’t understand, and most likely, his writings won’t make much sense to you.
The importance of understanding historical background is especially true with our interpretation of the Bible. The culture in which the Bible was written is very different from our culture today. If we don’t have some understanding of the cultural practices existing when the Bible was written, we can very easily end up with a wrong interpretation. It was also written in languages unfamiliar to us. Because of this, some people say the Bible is out of date, it’s irrelevant to us today. But that’s not true. Although the outward, cultural scenes have changed, the universal principles remain and apply to us today.
The significance of understanding the historical background is determined by the extent to which a text deals with the specific problems of a particular situation. For example, in Acts 6 we have the situation of Greek-speaking Jewish widows in Jerusalem being neglected in the church’s distribution of resources. To properly understand the passage, we need to know some historical background.
This factor of understanding historical background plays a larger role in the interpretation of some books of the New Testament than it does in others. Knowing the cultural and historical background of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians is very important to our understanding them and making proper application to our lives today.
There are several questions we must ask ourselves when we study any portion of Scripture. When was this document written? What did the author intend to communicate? How would have his original audience understood what he wrote? What is different about the time of the writing than today; what is the same? What timeless principles are involved? What is the application to our day? These are all questions we’ll attempt to answer as we begin a study of Second Corinthians.
So let me read the opening verses of First Corinthians chapter one as part of the introduction to this study.
Corinth was a prominent city in the first century. It was a Roman colony and the capital of the Roman province Achaia (uh-KI-uh). It was located in Greece on an isthmus, a narrow strip of land between the Aegean and Ionian Seas. This location was strategic - picture the hub and spokes of a wheel - and that made it important both militarily and commercially.
Many merchant seamen of the day preferred to ship their cargoes across the isthmus, rather than sail the long, hazardous voyage around the tip of Greece. Most cargo was offloaded, carted across the isthmus, and then reloaded on to different ships. Some smaller ships were simply dragged, fully loaded, across the isthmus on an improvised wooden tramway.
Because of its location, Corinth was a cosmopolitan city. People of many different nationalities either lived there permanently or were passing through in their travels to other parts of the region. We’ll discover in our study that this diversity became a challenge to the formation of a thriving church.
Corinth was a prosperous city and was also known for its immorality. Because of its bad reputation, a new Greek word was coined, which meant “to live immorally like a Corinthian.” Commentator Leon Morris described this important city as “intellectually alert, materially prosperous, and morally corrupt.”[3] Keep that sentence stored away in your memory!
Imagine, in that setting, a church being birthed. All churches, even today, reflect to some extent, the society in which they exist. The church in Corinth existed in a grossly sinful atmosphere that affected them, and it led to some of the issues addressed in Paul’s letters.
Aphrodite was a goddess of Phoenician origin. Her temple was here in Corinth. Hundreds of priestesses served there, but they were nothing more than ritual prostitutes! So, idolatry and immorality were closely linked together. There were also other idol temples popular among the people. These temples played a significant role in both the economic and social life of the community. One issue that arose in the Corinthian church directly from this fact was the discussion of whether a Believer should or shouldn’t eat meat that had been offered to idols.
Acts 18 records Paul’s ministry in Corinth during his second missionary journey. Paul came to Corinth from Athens, which was about 45 miles away. We understand that Paul wasn’t anticipating a very warm welcome in Corinth. His experience in the neighboring cities caused him to approach Corinth “in fear and in much trembling,” according to First Corinthians 2:3.
In Corinth he met Aquila and Priscilla and worked with them in the tentmaking trade. Paul used the income from making tents to preach the gospel. That way he didn’t need to rely on support from others. So, he worked all week and then preached in the synagogue every Sabbath. When the majority of Jews rejected his teaching, Paul left the synagogue and began teaching in the house of Justus, next door. I’m sure that irritated the Jewish leaders. His ministry resulted in the salvation of Jews and Gentiles, so the church in Corinth was made up of both. And Paul ministered in Corinth for about a year and a half.
During Paul’s time in Corinth, opposition began to grow. The unbelieving Jews in the city brought charges against Paul before the Roman proconsul, Gallio. But Gallio refused to get involved in a religious dispute. Paul stayed a bit longer but eventually moved on to Ephesus. He remained in contact with the Corinthian church through letters and personal representatives, sending them warnings and instruction.
Paul’s letters to the Corinthians make up his largest body of work directed to an individual congregation. These two letters address specific problem areas in Corinth that, unfortunately, are still within the church today. Human nature hasn’t changed since the fall of our first parents in Eden.
After Paul planted the church there and moved on, various groups or factions began quarreling among themselves. These factions formed around various leaders like Paul, Apollos, and other unnamed personalities. This was reported to Paul by the people of Chloe (I guess they were a faction too), and he also received some questions sent by the church. His counsel and his answers form the letter we know as First Corinthians.
Evidently, that first letter didn’t clear up the issues in Corinth and the situation continued to get worse. So, Paul made what he referred to as “a painful visit” to them. After this visit, which didn’t seem to have the desired effect, he returned to Ephesus and wrote what we now know to be Second Corinthians somewhere around AD 55 or 56.
There appear to be several reasons for Paul’s writing of this second letter. One of primary reasons was to defend his apostolic authority to a rebellious minority in the Corinthian church. They accused him of taking too much authority on himself. Because of this, his letter becomes deeply personal as he shares experiences and information that verified his apostolic authority.
Another reason was to strengthen the faithful Believers there, who, thankfully, were the majority. Finally, he urged them to exercise generosity toward other Believers as an expression of Christlikeness. The overarching theme of the letter seems to be the relationship between suffering and the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.
So then, I’ve titled this series, “Jars of Clay – Suffering, Submission, and Sanctification.” I hope you can join me each week as we explore the book of Second Corinthians.
[1] Haddon W. Robinson, Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1980), 21.
[2] Bryan Chapell, Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005), 131.
[3] The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians (“The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries” Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1958), p. 17.
This episode of the Voice of Hope Podcast is a bit different from our normal Bible Study material. We had the opportunity to present a number of businessperson’s breakfasts in April 2022.
In this presentation Mr. Byler takes an in-depth look at what integrity means in life and business. Enjoy!
Transcript:
Enduring integrity—what’s integrity? In order to talk about it, I had to know exactly what it was, and it is: adherence to moral or ethical principles; or the second meaning was: the state of being whole, entire, undiminished; to preserve the integrity of an empire, for example.
So I looked at that, and I was stumped because integrity, by definition, means enduring. Like, stated in the negative: if it does not endure, it does not have integrity. So I wasn’t sure how to talk about enduring integrity, because if it has integrity, it’s enduring, and so it seemed to be the end, but the second part, the pitfalls of success, that’s something I can bite into.
Understanding Success and Integrity
But in order to understand that, we have to see what success is, and a key difference between success and integrity is that your success and my success might look really different, but integrity looks the same to everyone. And the reason is, success is when I reach my goal.
So, let’s say I want to hike 10 miles before 9 am. So, if I go out and I hiked 9 miles, 10 miles, for 9 am, I reached my goal; I’ve had success. But, if my goal was to shoot a turkey before 9 am, and I just hike around for 10 miles, I have I’ve accomplished the same thing, but have not reached my goals, and so, therefore, I’ve not had success. So, success really has a lot to do with the person that is is experiencing the success or lack of it.
You know, if I say that I like a song, that tells you something about me, tells you what I like, tells you what’s inside me. But if I say, “This is a good song,” then that means that it is quality, it is good according to some standard, has nothing to do with me.
So that’s a difference between “I like it” and “it is good,” and success and integrity are the same way. So goals have to do with me, what I want out of life, while integrity has to do with a set standard. So success is defined by me. Integrity is defined by absolutes or God. So, I think it could have been called enduring success.
So, if success is reaching my goals, I’m assuming that this group has healthy goals, because success in reaching the wrong goals might be worse than not actually having goals, because you wind up where you don’t want to be. But did you know that winners and losers both want the same thing, and yet only winners reach their goals?
Five F’s of a Healthy Life
Now I’m part of a business peer group. And, there we learned that there’s five parts to a healthy life, it’s: faith, family, finance, fitness, and friendship. So, in order to have a healthy life, all five of those need to be in place. Because if I have a goal that doesn’t encompass all of those, I’ll probably wind up not being happy.
Because if we look at failure in success—let’s say that I have a goal of having 10 million dollars. And so, what if I reach my goal? I have success, but I lost my family, and I lost my health in the meantime. How happy am I going to be? And if I lose, you know, my faith, that’s another one of the F’s. But lose my family my faith—how likely is it that I’ll plunge into despair and lose my fitness? I’ll overeat and self-indulge, and if I die of a heart attack alone and godless, but I reached my goal of a net worth, I’ve had success, right? But it wasn’t a good goal, so that’s a pitfall of success.
So if any of the five F’s are missing, we have not won on a personal level.
Business Failure
Now, business failure—there’s so many ways to fail. If you ever went deer hunting, you know what I’m talking about. There’s one spot where you want to hit, and then there’s a lot of space all around, and somehow, it’s easy to find those other spaces.
And, you know, business life is a lot the same way. There’s a lot of ways to fail, and I’m sure we’ve all seen businesses fail. But there’s two that I was very close to that I’d like to tell you about briefly.
The Leading Business
The first was a business that had been prospering. It was growing by leaps and bounds; it was really pretty much a leader in the industry. And back in ’97, I think he had $1.3 million in net profit. Back then, that was pretty serious money. These days, it’s still a lot, but not as much. But it wasn’t just one year; it was on the heels of other good years.
So he was doing really good, a lot of profits, and yet he failed. And by failing, I mean, he went out of business. So what happened? See, he ran a negative business. He won through threats and force. His employees didn’t like him. They didn’t like each other.
His vendors didn’t like him. His customers didn’t like him, but he was so big and strong that he overpowered everyone—until he stumbled. And then everyone was happy to take a bite out of them. And 10,000 little bites is enough to slow even the fastest, and he went down.
He had stood on everyone that was around him, and no one pitied him as he went from business owner, to being an employee, and kind of a crummy employee. So yeah, the goodwill is—economic goodwill is an invisible asset. It doesn’t show up on balance sheets, and it can’t be purchased; it has to be earned.
Lesson: Goodwill
Basically, all the excess value of a company, the stuff that isn’t property, equipment, and inventory, goes into goodwill. It’s the company’s reputation for quality, consistency, value, customer service, things like that. The trick to economic goodwill is to understand that there’s this invisible asset that can play a huge role in profits. Like, Coca-Cola is able to charge more for carbonated water than oil companies can charge for gasoline.
I mean, that’s goodwill. It doesn’t make economic sense unless you understand the value of the brand, the value of the relationship it has with its customers. And it’s the same story for like Harley Davidson, Tiffany’s, Hershey, companies like that. Those companies that have great relationships with their customers. And these powerful brands—it’s largely due to the goodwill that’s on their balance sheets that is invisible to everyone else.
So, companies that have the ability to grow their earnings over time without spending as much money on hard assets are considered capital-efficient, and the ability to be capital-efficient is tied to goodwill. So if you understand that concept, you have a huge advantage over other businesses.
The Booming Business
Now, the second business I would like to tell you about was ‘riding on a rocket ship.’ They were doing so good. In 2008, most of the shed industry took the big hit. A lot of builders that we were delivering for lost 50- 75% of their sales. But not this company, they grew 300% that year.
They were just doing so many things right. Had the charisma, the talent, the energy. You could just feel it when you looked at their brochures, when you showed up at their place, and they were growing by leaps and bounds, and then the payments started coming in slower, and then they stopped entirely, and then they filed for bankruptcy.
So what on earth happened? Well, there were a lot of things, as there always is, but I was close enough to see a couple items that other people might not have.
See, there was two brothers in partnership, and, as long as they were getting along well, they have a lot of energy to pour into the business, it is really doing good, but then they started butting heads, and it got pretty serious, serious enough that they only communicated through their attorneys, and they’re in business together. And the more their focus was on fighting each other, the less their focus was on serving their customers. And it wasn’t like, just, one day, everything changed.
It was just a little by little. And so to them, it was less obvious to someone that was watching because it’s, you know—those little changes show up more to people who haven’t seen you in a while.
Like, to me, there’s never one day that I went to comb myself, and like, poof, there was my hair. It was just, a little left, a little over time, but people that haven’t seen me for 20 years, they see a difference. I’m used to it. So that’s how it was for them.
But the employees, you know, as the bosses fought, the employees got a little worse, and the better ones started leaving, and what had worked just didn’t work quite the same, and the focus wasn’t on business, and the rocket ship crashed to earth, and I personally believe it was because of the two brothers fighting.
Lesson: Teamwork
So it’s teamwork. Have you ever heard the phrase, “He isn’t pulling his weight?” Where that comes from is a horse and a wheeled cart. A horse can pull its body weight over long distances, so a good horse can pull his weight. So, like a 2,000-pound horse can pull a 2,000-pound cart.
And so, if you have that—so you’d hook two horses together, you would think that you have two 2,000-pound horses. Each can pull his weight, so you should be able to pull 4,000 pounds. It makes sense, right? You just hook more of them together. But it’s actually not true.
Two horses working together can pull three times the weight of a single horse. So instead of four thousand pounds, a good team, or just simply two horses hooked together, can pull six thousand pounds. But if you have a match team that has worked together for a while, [they] could do even more; they can pull eight thousand pounds.
So that’s called synergy. It’s when the combination of the parts are greater than each individual part added together. It’s a beautiful thing, at least when it’s working for you. But when it’s working against you, it’s just as true. A team of horses that’s fighting is going to get less done than one horse working by itself in peace.
So a team of brothers who worked together for a long time and knew each other very well, if they start fighting, you know, you would know just the trigger points to say just to tick them off, and it got worse. Or how about a husband-wife in disagreement? It’s a big deal, teamwork, synergy.
Either you benefit, or you suffer, but nobody goes without it. So, in business success, the five F’s might be a little different, but they’re still similar.
A Rich Mindset
A rich mindset tries to build relationships based on trust, shared values, and mutual respect. People with a rich mindset help others and cultivate relationships, not expecting anything in return.
A poor mindset thinks, “I scratch your back. Now, you scratch mine.” And you know, when you get into a relationship like that, somebody does you a favor, but he’s expecting something to return, and that’s fair, right? But when you just give, it feels very different.
It’s a mindset.
The Giving Business
Now there’s an older fellow I know, a shed builder from Lancaster County, who had his brother-in-law for an employee, and right in the busy time of the year, his brother-in-law told him that he’d like to quit, and he’d like to start building sheds, and he took his son with him, who was also an employee.
So it was a tough blow, right in the busy time, and left a big hole. It was a struggle to keep after orders. Did it feel good to him? He says, “No, not at all, kind of felt bad.” And then, three years later, the brother-in-law’s shop burned.
And this prior boss, my friend, told him that they’re welcome to use his shop at night to build sheds, because they’re not using it at night anyhow. And it is really interesting seeing that. But how’s that for a rich mindset? Giving without expecting anything in return, and to someone who didn’t deserve it. But, by the way, the friend, that the business that my friend has, that the one who lost the employee, that business has prospered like very few in Lancaster county. And just this last winter, 20 years later now, the brother-in-law decided he had enough, he wants to shut down, and my friend bought his property and business. And I mean—it’s a mindset thing—has its rewards.
Developing People
So Andrew Carnegie was a steel miller from Pittsburgh. He was one of the wealthiest men ever. Right now, Elon Musk is making news because he bought Twitter; he’s the world’s richest man. But I think Andrew Carnegie, when he sold his business, I think he got what would be the equivalent now 450 billion, something like that. So he was pretty rich. But this [example] was before he sold his business.
I’m not sure on the exact ratio, but I think it was about half of the world’s millionaires or maybe half of the US’s millionaires were working for him as employees. That’s a dramatic compilation of wealthy people, and somebody asks him, “Mr. Carnegie. How on earth did you hire 43 millionaires?” And he smiled a little he said, “Well, none of them were millionaires when I hired them. And then the reporter asked, “What did you do to develop them to the point where you could pay them enough money that they became millionaires?” And Carnegie taught a big lesson with a couple of words, and he said that you develop people exactly like you’d mine gold.
See, when you go to a gold mine, you move tons and tons of dirt to find an ounce of gold, but you don’t go in there looking for the dirt. You go in looking for the gold. Yeah, I mean, it’s so easy for me to see the dirt, but I’ve been to gold mines, and I see, you know, it’s two grams, two grams a ton, three grams a ton.
That’s a good ratio, but a gram is so little, and they’re running a ton of ore through. So in a gold mine, you’re dealing with a whole lot more dirt than, you know, the people that I associate with. It’s more the other ratio, where they have a lot of gold and just a tiny bit of dirt.
But it’s easy for me to focus on that dirt.
Strategy: Peer Groups
So, another part of being in business—you know, this is not a sales pitch for a mastermind group or business peer group, but it’s very valuable. Andrew Carnegie was part of a mastermind group, and it had a lot to do with his success. I mean, you look at the most successful people, whatever it is.
You know, if you look at a runner, a lot of times, they’re part of running groups. So if you’re not a part of one, I would encourage you to join one. It just makes life so much easier. Even my wife has a group that she meets with every month. It winds up being a background program that operates while we’re at work, and it just makes a lot of things easier.
Strategy: Personal Development
So, in summary, remember that only strong people can build strong communities. It’s like if people get married—if you have a really wounded person, who gets married, the marriage is going to struggle.
And so, if we want a strong community, if we want strong businesses, we need to be strong people, and we need to do what it takes to have health. And that health comes from having the five F’s balanced faith, family, fitness, finance, and friendship. The chain always breaks at the weakest link.
Looking Forward
So what is it that you need to focus on today? There’s many parts to a business, but it’s hard to prosper without personal health, goodwill, teamwork, the abundance mindset, and the ability to mine gold in others. So there’s a big difference.
You know, you hear this thing about: you want to hit the target. But when you shoot a gun, when I shoot a gun—the guns that I have, I shoot, and it’s done. Wherever I was pointing is where we hit. But see, in life, we’re guided missiles. God allows course correction. So, if we see we’re off course, we can correct; and it’s not over the moment that we fire the gun.
So there’s a business peer group that I’m a part of, and I have some brochures along; if anyone’s interested, I’d be happy to pass those out.
Best wishes as everyone finds success—whatever that looks like for you, and thanks for allowing me to share.