Truth Matters

 

 “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

(2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 ESV)

 

One thing that is clear is that there is both truth and error. There is both truth and falsehood. Although this is often rebuffed by a society which tells us that truth is relative, there is no denying it.

 

Even those who deny the truth make this clear as they flip reality on its head, painting the truth as falsehood. What God calls good, they call evil. What Scripture calls sinful, they call good. And they condemn those who hold to the truth, given to us by God.

 

They do so, however, to their own harm. As we see in the passage above, truth matters. The love of the truth, Paul says, effects salvation. The love of truth leads to salvation.

 

The rejection of the truth, however, does just the opposite. The refusal of the truth leads to judgment. It leads to condemnation.

 

The refusal of truth leads to our deception. It leads us to believe a lie. And this is the work of the enemy. It’s the work of Satan.

 

The means used by Satan is that of deceit. He is the father of lies, Jesus told the Jews in John chapter 8. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, because he is a liar.

 

Yet, even though this is true, it’s not as though they are duped. It’s not as though they are fooled or conned. We know this because it’s not their deception that leads them to refuse the truth. It’s their refusal of the truth that leads to their deception.

 

Because they refuse the truth, because they refuse to love the truth, God sends to them a strong delusion. And he does so that they might believe what is false. He does so that they might be condemned.

 

Therefore, they cannot blame God for the judgment they receive. Nor can they blame the enemy, and his tactics of delusion. They can blame only themselves.

 

They perish, you see, because of their own guilt. God gives them over to the very evil they have chosen. And they, in turn, receive the penalty they are due.

Overwhelmed by Tradition

 

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.””

(Luke 2:8-11 ESV)

 

The Christmas season is something that we all enjoy. And there are different aspects that appeal to each of us. Many of us, for example, enjoy the music. Many of us enjoy the decorations. Many of us enjoy cooking and baking. Many of us enjoy gathering with family and friends. Many of us enjoy buying and giving gifts to our friends and loved ones. Many of us enjoy watching Christmas movies. And many of us simply enjoy it all.

 

While there are many fun aspects of our holiday celebration, it often becomes overwhelming. All of these traditions, which are supposed to be fun and relaxing, turn into a chore. And this leaves us stressed out and tense.

 

We lose our enjoyment of the season. And, worse yet, we forget what our celebration is all about. It gets moved to the back burner while we focus on all of these peripheral activities.

 

We tend to think that, apart from these traditions, the holiday is ruined. We tend to think that, apart from these traditions, it loses its meaning. We tend to think that, apart from these traditions, Christmas is boring and bland.

 

We fail to recognize that, even if these traditions were completely stripped away, Christmas would remain. We can take away the decorating. We can take away the cooking and baking. We can take away the Christmas parties. We can take away the mandated and forced family time. We can take away the buying and giving of gifts. And, when we do so, the meaning of the day is left unchanged.

 

In fact, we may find it more enjoyable rather than less. We may find that removing the stress brought on by all of these traditions makes the day even more meaningful. We may find that a more relaxed holiday celebration is more pleasant and profound.

 

As we’re reminded in the passage above, Christmas is about Jesus. It’s about his coming into the world. It’s about his birth, and the blessing this is. It’s about the gift of God given to each and every one of us.

 

It was the message of the Savior’s birth that was proclaimed by the angels. It was the announcement of his birth that is good news of great joy. It was the news of his birth that excited the shepherds so that they went in search of him.

 

It’s this, you see, that gives meaning to the day. It’s this that makes the holiday. And it’s this that we celebrate.

 

All of these other things, all of the traditions in which we take part, are meant to point us to Jesus. They are meant to focus our attention on him. They are not meant as a distraction from that which is truly important.

 

As I say this, I’m not encouraging a stripped-down version of Christmas. I’m not encouraging you to leave all of your traditions behind. What I’m saying is that, if the traditions are taking away from our celebration of the holiday, perhaps it’s best that we let them go, at least some of them.  Perhaps we let some of them go for only this year. Perhaps it’s best to let them go and to focus on what the day is truly about.

Faithful in the Face of Deception

 

“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”

(2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 ESV)

 

The return of Christ is something to which we all look forward. In fact, this is a part of our celebration of Advent. As the saints of old looked forward to Jesus’ first coming, we look forward to his second.

 

We look forward to it because of the blessing it will be. We look forward to it as it marks the end of this age. And we look forward to it as it means the end of sin and death.

 

We recall, however, that his coming will be unexpected. No one knows the day nor the hour of his return. And, prior to his coming, life will seem quite ordinary. Prior to his coming, life will simply continue on as normal.

 

But one thing we know for certain is that, before he comes, the rebellion will take place. And the word from which this is translated refers to an apostasy. It refers to a departure from God, or a rebellion against God.

 

Before Jesus returns, the man of lawlessness will also be revealed. And this is the man who is referred to, elsewhere in the New Testament, as the antichrist. We’re told that he opposes and exalts himself against every god or object of worship. And we’re told that he will take his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

 

The identity of this man has always been a source of great speculation. Luther believed him to be the pope. And throughout history, there have been many who have committed acts of great evil.

 

There has also been a great deal of speculation regarding how this will all unfold. As he sets himself up in the temple, some think of a rebuilt Jewish temple. And others say that he will set himself up in the Church.

 

This, however, is something about which we need not speculate. Knowing the Lord, and trusting the Lord, this man of lawlessness will be recognizable. His identity will be plain as he sets himself up against, or even alongside, the Lord.

 

The key for us as we await the return of Christ, the key for us as we anticipate the return of Christ, is to remain faithful. We must keep our eyes fixed upon him and him alone. We must trust in the One revealed to us in the Word. And, in this way, we will not be deceived.

 

But we must be prepared. We must know that, as the end approaches, this is going to happen. We can, therefore, expect it. We can watch for it. And we can do so with hope. We can do so knowing that, as this takes place, the Lord’s return is drawing near.

Responding to False Predictions

 

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.”

(2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 ESV)

 

As believers, we know the promise of Christ, that he will return. And this is something that we anticipate. It’s something to which we look forward.

 

The reason for this is clear. We all look forward to the day when we will live in the presence of Christ. And we look forward to spending eternity with him in a place that is free from sin and its consequences.

 

Although I am considered old by the standards set by my children, most do not yet consider me advanced in age. However, over the course of my life, I can’t count the number of times that a prediction of the end has been made. And I’m sure there are countless others of which I am unaware.

 

There are those who’ve tried to pinpoint the time of Jesus’ return. There are those who’ve said that he’s already returned, implying that we missed it. And there are those who create excitement, not by pointing to a certain timeframe, but to certain events that are happening in the world around us.

 

Every time this happens, Christians get jumpy. As they hear these predictions, they get worked up. They get scared and excited, believing the claims that are made.

 

This is so normal that I’ve been questioned by other believers because I’m not jumpy. I’ve been criticized because I’m not worked up. And I’ve been doubted because I’m not scared or excited in the face of these claims.

 

This, however, is how we’re called to respond to such predictions. We’re called to be calm. And we’re called to be steady.

 

As we look at the above passage, Paul warned the believers at Thessalonica that these types of things would happen. He referred to a spirit, a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from him and his companions, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. And the implication is that these statements are untrue.

 

It’s suggested that they result from false prophecy. They result from deceiving spirits. Or they result from a misunderstanding of prophecy.

 

Not only did he warn them that this would happen. He also instructed them about how they’re to respond. And he told them that they’re not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed when they heard these reports.

 

It’s clear that, as we continue to await the return of Jesus, these predictions will continue to be made. They will not cease. And, for this reason, we must respond to them according to Paul’s instruction.

 

Instead of getting jumpy, we must not be quickly shaken in mind. Instead of getting worked up, we must remain calm. And instead of getting scared or excited, we must not be alarmed.

 

Although we know he will return, we do not fear that we’ll somehow miss out. Although we look forward to his coming, we do not believe every prediction or “prophecy” that tries to pinpoint this event. And we do not mistakenly believe that our failure to jump on the bandwagon indicates a lack of faithfulness on our part.

Deemed Worthy

 

“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

(2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 ESV)

 

Our tendency is to think that we must become worthy of salvation. Our tendency is to think that we must become worthy of God’s calling. And, in our mind, our effort is the means by which this happens.

 

We believe that we become worthy by trying harder. And we do so by trying to be more faithful when it comes to worship. We do so by trying to read our Bible on a regular basis. We do so by trying to improve our prayer life. We do so by trying to be more diligent with serving in the church and helping others.

 

We also tend to count ourselves worthy. We deem ourselves worthy. We judge ourselves worthy. And, again, we do so based on these efforts.

 

This is true not only of non-believers. It’s true also of those who have heard the gospel many times over. It’s true even of those who confess faith in the message of the gospel.

 

Our sinful nature wants us to believe that we earn it for ourselves. It drives us to depend upon ourselves. It leads us to trust in ourselves rather than Christ. And it leads us to become the judge of that worthiness.

 

However, as we look at the words of Paul, in the above passage, we see that it’s not we who make ourselves worthy. We see that it’s not we who determine ourselves worthy. In fact, we see that it has nothing to do with us at all. We see, rather, that we are made worthy. We see that we are counted worthy.

 

This was Paul’s prayer for the people of the church at Thessalonica. He prayed that God would make them worthy of his calling. He prayed that God would deem them worthy. He prayed that God would fulfill in them every resolve for good. And he prayed that God would fulfill every work of faith by his power.

 

We see in this that Paul counted on God to do it all. He counted on God to make them worthy. He counted on God to judge them worthy. And he counted on God to work both in their will and deed. There was no role in this for them to play.

 

Paul also stated that, as God worked in them and through them, Jesus would be glorified. He would be glorified in them. And he would be glorified in them through the grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

In other words, Jesus would be glorified as God worked in their life. He would be glorified as God himself made them worthy. And he would be glorified as God worked both in them and through them.

 

This, of course, does not mean that we are robots. It doesn’t mean that we’re unable to oppose him and his work. Even though all of this is the work of God, we must not refuse it. We must not resist the Lord as he seeks to work in us.

 

But the credit belongs not to us. It belongs to him alone. It belongs to him alone because, apart from him, we are helpless. Apart from him, we are powerless. And apart from him, we stand condemned.

 

As Paul points out in verse 10, this blessing comes to us as we believe. It comes to us as we look to him in faith. It comes to us not as our work, but as that of God.

Why the Incarnation?

 

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV

 

The Christmas story is one that is known by most everyone. It’s known not only by those who believe in him. It’s known also by those who reject what Scripture says of him.  However, even though believers and unbelievers alike know the story and get caught up in the celebration of Christmas, many objections are raised to its message.

 

One such objection involves the incarnation itself. Besides wondering how it’s possible, some wonder why God had to become man in the first place. They wonder why he took on flesh and lived among his creation.

 

We find the answer to this question in the above passage. The author of Hebrews tells us, first of all, that Jesus became like us. He partook of flesh and blood. And the reason he did this is that he might accomplish our salvation.

 

As most of us know, this was accomplished by Jesus’ death on the cross. In this way, he paid the penalty of our sin. He died on our behalf and satisfied the wrath of God.

 

However, one of the things that stands out as we consider the nature of God is that he cannot die. God is not mortal. He’s immortal, eternal, and unchanging.

 

If he, then, was to pay the penalty of our sin, he had to become man. If he was to die on our behalf, he had to take on flesh. If he was to satisfy the righteous requirement of God’s justice, he had to take on our nature.

 

In this way, by taking on human flesh and dying on the cross, he destroyed the devil. He destroyed the one who accuses us before God. And he delivers us from our slavery to the fear of death.

 

In other words, because of Jesus, we no longer have to live in fear of death. Because he took on flesh, we’re no longer held in bondage by our fear of death. And because he died on our behalf, we know that life eternal is ours.

 

Some will object that none of this was necessary. They tell us that God could have forgiven us apart from Christ’s sacrifice. And they tell us that he could simply overlook our sin. Nothing, however, is further from the truth.

 

Because he is righteous, God cannot allow sin into his presence. Because he is holy, he cannot tolerate wrongdoing. And because he is just, the penalty of our sin has to be paid.

 

By the incarnation, you see, the nature and the character of God were upheld. They were in no way violated. And, at the same time, our salvation was realized.

H - E - Double Hockey Sticks

 

“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”

2 Thessalonians 1:9-10

 

If you talk to people in society today, most seem to believe that they’ll spend eternity in heaven. And this is true not only of believers in Jesus. It’s true of most everyone.

 

Although most people seem to believe in the existence of hell, it’s generally believed that it’s for only the worst offenders. Few seem to believe that they will spend eternity in hell. And if it is acknowledged, it’s usually in done in lighthearted fashion.

 

Among those who do so, it’s sometimes suggested that hell is a party. The implication is that it’s appealing because it means spending eternity having a good time with your friends. It means having a good time with your friends in an atmosphere that is anything but God-pleasing.

 

However, as Paul talks about hell in the passage above, we see clearly that it’s not a good time. We see clearly that it’s not an appealing option. And we’re given a clear picture of who will be there.

 

Just prior to this passage, in verse 8, Paul speaks of those who do not know the Lord and those who do not obey the gospel of Jesus. In this way, Paul describes those who are lost. He describes those without faith in Jesus.

 

In this way, he refers to those who have yet to encounter the gospel, as well as to those who have refused the gospel. After all, we are born into this world in a lost state, and stand condemned from the beginning of life. And to refuse the gospel is to refuse both life and salvation.

 

It’s they, he says, who will suffer the torments of hell. And this punishment is described as that of eternal destruction. However, Paul is not suggesting that these people will be annihilated, or that they’ll cease to exist.

 

He goes on to say that they’ll suffer this destruction away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his might when he comes to be glorified. In other words, they’ll be forever separated from the Lord’s presence. And they’ll be forever separated from his blessings.

 

We see, in verse 8, that this is an act of vengeance on his part. It’s an act of retribution. It’s an act of judgment as these people, who have not received the benefits of Jesus’ atonement, pay the penalty of their sin.

 

It’s clear to us, then, that hell is no joke. It’s not an appealing option for ourselves or for others. And, for this reason, we ought do all that we can to make the gospel known.

Indispensable Doctrine

 

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.”

Titus 2:1 ESV

 

As we look at the church of today, we find that all kinds of things are being taught. We find that there are all kinds of crazy things that are portrayed as Christian teaching. We find that much of what is being passed off as Christian teaching is very different from what we find in Scripture and from that of the historic Christian Church.

 

The same thing was true in the days of Paul. As we look at the end of the first chapter of Titus, Paul points out what some of them were. He refers to Jewish myths and to the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

 

However, as Paul writes to this young pastor, named Titus, he tells him that he is to teach what accords with sound doctrine. He is to teach what was consistent with sound teaching. He is to speak things that are fitting or appropriate to sound doctrine.

 

In the day in which we live, doctrine is thought to be a dirty word. Doctrine is synonymous with dry and boring. It’s also synonymous with dead and lifeless.

 

For this reason, people will choose a church with which to identify and worship based not upon its doctrine. So often, we look instead to the entertainment value.  We look to the emotional response that a church is able to generate.  And we look to the programs that are offered.

 

However, while we go to a church that gives us the “feels,” we receive teaching that contradicts Scripture. While we go to a church that appeals to our taste, we receive teaching that sets itself above Scripture. And while we go to a church that offers the programming we desire, we receive teaching that leads us not to life and salvation, but to death and judgment.

 

No matter the common perception of our day, doctrine is essential. In fact, it should be first and foremost in our consideration when it comes to the church with which we associate. Doctrine literally means “right teaching.” And it should be clear to us why right teaching is so important.

 

Right teaching offers to us what is true. It offers to us a proper explanation of the Word of God. It provides to us the correct understanding of the faith taught to us in Scripture.

 

While it may be possible for us to find a church that appeals to our taste while offering sound doctrine, and while it may be possible for us to find a church that offers right teaching and the programming we desire, a church’s doctrine must always be our main priority. If we’re to make sacrifices, it’s better for us to sacrifice our preferences and desires rather than right teaching. If we’re forced to choose, a church’s doctrine should guide our choice.

Counted Worthy

 

“This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

2 Thessalonians 1:5-8 ESV

 

As we read about the suffering and persecution of the church, whether it be in times past or even today, we consider it to be a horrible thing. And indeed, it is. None of us enjoy the sight of others suffering.  And none of us like the thought of suffering ourselves.

 

This is especially true when the suffering is unjust. It’s especially true when that suffering is undeserved. And it seems clear to us that suffering because of our faith, suffering for what we believe, is certainly undeserved.

 

For this reason, we count ourselves blessed. We feel fortunate that, up to this point, we’ve avoided suffering for our faith. We’re happy to live in a place where, for the most part, the church has been able to freely live out our faith.

 

However, Paul tells the Thessalonians that their faithfulness, in the face of persecution and affliction, is an indication of God’s righteous judgment. It’s evidence of God’s righteous judgment. In other words, it’s an indication that, in God’s righteous judgment, they are worthy of his eternal blessing.

 

Perseverance and faith are tried in the course of persecution. They are proven as persecution is experienced. And, in the case of the Thessalonians, their unshaken faith was evidence of the blessing they were to receive.

 

The same is true, of course, of those who are suffering for our faith today. The same is true of those who remain faithful in the face of persecution today. And the same will be true of us, if we ever find ourselves being persecuted for the sake of the gospel.

 

That being said, the opposite is true of their persecutors. Those who inflicted this misery would suffer on account of it. God considered it just, Paul says, to repay them for what they’ve done.

 

And they will be repaid in the end, at the final judgment. This will take place when Jesus is revealed from heaven with his angels. It will take place when Jesus inflicts vengeance on those who have not received the gospel.

 

In this way, their roles are reversed. In this way, the tables are turned. Those who have been afflicted will find relief, and those who have afflicted the people of God will themselves be afflicted.

 

In this sense, suffering can serve as a blessing for us. As we persevere in the face of suffering and affliction, we’re assured that we are counted worthy of God’s salvation. We’re assured that we will receive the blessing Jesus has promised to all who believe in him.

 

 

Ministry from a Distance

 

 ^“Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.”

2 Thessalonians 1:4 ESV

 

As we seek to serve the Lord, our tendency is to think that we can only do so among those who are nearby. We tend to think that we can only serve the Lord among those who surround us on a day-to-day basis. We tend to think that we can only serve the Lord among our family, our friends, and members of the community in which we live.

 

We also tend to think that we can only do so among those we are directly serving. We tend to think that we can serve the Lord only as we minister to them directly. We tend to think that we can serve the Lord only as we personally interact with people.

 

And we tend to think that we can only do so by intentional activity. We tend to think that we can do so only through active service. We tend to think that we do so by something other than our ordinary, day-to-day, life.

 

However, as we see in the above verse, this is far from the truth. We find that we are able to bless people from a distance. In fact, we find that we’re able to influence people without personal interaction or contact. And we find that we can do so by simply living a life of faithfulness.

 

We see in the words of Paul that the church of Thessalonica was doing just that. They were blessing people as the report of their faith was being made by Paul and his companions. They were blessing others as their faith, in the midst of persecution, was being shared with other congregations.

 

We see that Paul boasted about the believers at Thessalonica. And the reason he did so was because they remained faithful in the face of persecution and affliction. In this way, they became an example to other believers in other cities throughout the world of their day.

 

I’m not suggesting that we, as American Christians, are under the same type of persecution and affliction. However, like the believers in Thessalonica, we can serve as an example to others. By simply living out our faith on a regular basis can influence others in their own life of faith.

 

We can influence others as we live out the vocations assigned to us. We can influence others as we live life as a godly husband or wife, father or mother, son or daughter. We can influence others as we live life as a godly employer or employee, ruler or citizen, elite or commoner.

 

I’m also not suggesting that we should boast in ourselves. I’m not suggesting that we should pridefully hold ourselves up as “super-Christians” before others. However, we should realize that people are watching us, believers and unbelievers alike, as we live our life and serve others with faith in Christ.

The Need to Be Served

 “The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.””

1 Corinthians 12:21 ESV

We hear often about the gifts that God entrusts to the Church. And, most often, the point of these sentiments is that we’re to use our gifts in the service of God and the Church. Yet, while this is, indeed, true, there is yet another lesson for us to take from this reality.

If you’re like me (and from my experience, most of you are), we are more willing to serve others than to allow others to serve us. This flows from our independent nature. It flows from our desire to take care of ourselves. And, for this reason, we’re not often willing to ask for help.

Yet, as we see in the verse above, we need every part of the body. It’s not only about giving help to others. Nor is it exclusively about serving others. It’s also about receiving the help and service of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

This is something of which I’ve been reminded during my recent surgery. There’s a humiliation involved, being completely helpless and at the whim of others. There’s a humiliation in being exposed before others. There’s a humiliation in being unable to even go to the bathroom on your own. There’s a humiliation in needing others to brush your teeth and to even help you roll over in bed. But, at the same time, it’s a blessing to have those who put all of their time and energy into your welfare.

This is what I’ve experienced recently. My surgeon was fantastic. His team was phenomenal. Each nurse who cared for me was caring and compassionate.

The same is true of all of you, as well. Your care for me has been amazing. Even though I’m not quick to ask for help, you have stepped up to the plate. The prayers lifted up on my behalf are greatly appreciated. The meals delivered to my home have been both delicious and a great blessing. The expressions of concern and offers of help have clearly demonstrated the love you have for me.

We can go to extremes on either side of this equation. We can become overly dependent upon others. We can become lazy and unwilling to do for ourselves. Or, of course, we can become hyper-independent, refusing the help of others. And we must take care to do neither.

But, the simple fact of the matter is that I need all of you. As much as it’s my call to serve you, I also need to be served by you. And it’s a great blessing to receive this service.

The ministry of the Church is not dependent on one person. It’s dependent on all of us. And my hope and prayer is that each of us will not only serve one another, gladly and willingly. My hope and prayer is that we’ll also receive the blessings offered to us by the body of Christ.

Made Clean

“What God has made clean, do not call common.”

Acts 10:15

According to the mindset of the Jews, they were the people of God while the Gentiles were not. They were clean, while the Gentiles were unclean. And, for this reason, the Jews looked down upon the Gentiles and generally limited their contact with them.

This mindset persisted even after the death and resurrection of Jesus. It persisted as the early church began to carry out the Great Commission, proclaiming the gospel in Jerusalem, as well as throughout Judea and Samaria. They continued to believe that the gospel was for their people alone. They continued to believe that, if they were to have access to the gospel, the Gentiles must first become Jews.

However, early on, God began to make clear that the gospel was not only for some, but for all. He made clear to Peter that he was to visit the home of a Gentile who had summoned him, desiring to hear the message of salvation. And Peter shared with all who had gathered the lesson that God had revealed to him, seen in the words above.

God had taught Peter that he was not to call common, that he was not to call unclean, what God had made clean. And, even though the Gentiles had been unclean, this was no longer true of them. It was no longer true of them because Christ had made them clean.

Jesus had made them clean by his death on the cross. He had made them clean by his resurrection from the grave. As we read in 1 John 2:2, Jesus served as the propitiation, or as the atoning sacrifice, for the sin of the whole world. And, for this reason, they were not to be denied the gospel.

Much like the Jews, we often consider certain groups of people unclean. We consider them to be undesirable. And, for this reason, we avoid them and deny them the gospel.

It could be those of a particular race or culture. It could be those of a certain political mindset. It could be those guilty of a certain set of sins. It could be those of a particular class. It could be those with certain disabilities. It could be those of all sorts of distinctions.

As we, then, seek to carry out the Great Commission, we too must learn this lesson. We must not call common, or unclean, that which God has made clean. We must realize that, just as Jesus has made us clean by his sacrifice, so too have all others. And, for this reason, we must not deny them the gospel. 

Growing in Love

 

“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.”

2 Thessalonians 1:1-3 ESV

 

It’s clear from Scripture that the desire of God is that we should love one another. We’re called to love our neighbor as ourselves. We’re called to love the stranger, or the alien, who lives among us as we love ourselves. We’re called to love one another as Christ has loved us. And we’re called to love even our enemies.

 

We know this and, although we try our best to carry it out, we continually fall short. And, as we see this reality, our primary response is simply to try harder. Our primary response is self-motivation or even group-motivation.

 

The problem with this is that, because of our sinful nature, love does not come natural to us. Even among those for whom it seems love should be natural, it’s very difficult. And when it comes to those who hate us, it’s impossible.

 

How, then, do we grow in this area of our life? How do we grow in love for one another? The answer to this is implied in the above passage.

 

Paul gives thanks to God for the Thessalonians because their faith was growing abundantly. In addition to this, he says, their love for one another was growing. And it seems clear that there’s a correlation between the two.

 

As they grew in faith, they grew in love. And the same is true for each of us. As we grow in faith, our love for one another naturally grows along with it.

 

This follows naturally because, as we trust in Christ, our heart is conformed to his own. As we trust in Christ, good works naturally follow. And these works are empowered by the Spirit of God.

 

We see this, for example, as we look at Galatians 5. Love, we see, is a fruit of the Spirit. In other words, it’s empowered by the Spirit of God.

 

Growing in love, then, is not something that we can produce by our own strength or effort. It’s, rather, something that’s produced by God through faith in Jesus. In short, as we grow in faith, so too will we grow in love.

 

If we, then, are to grow in love, we must grow in faith. And, once again, this is not something that we accomplish. It’s not something that’s attained by our own efforts. We grow in faith as God works in us by his Word and Spirit.

Made Holy

 

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23-28 ESV

 

As Christians, we know and believe that we are saved by the grace of God alone. We know and believe that this grace is received through faith in Christ alone. And we know and believe that our efforts play absolutely no role whatsoever in our salvation.

 

However, when it comes to sanctification, we tend to believe something very different. We tend to believe that, even if God has a hand in it, we are responsible for our sanctification. We tend to believe that, ultimately, we are sanctified by our own effort.

 

Just to be clear, to sanctify something means to make it sacred. It means to make something holy. And sanctification is the process by which we are made sacred. It’s the process by with we are made holy.

 

While it’s true that we can reject the work of God in our life, while it’s true that we can cast-off this blessing by ongoing sin and unrepentance, we are sanctified in the same way that we are justified. We are sanctified in the very same way we are saved. Sanctification is the work of God alone.

 

We see this in the above passage. As Paul is concluding his first epistle to the Thessalonian church, he offers to them a blessing. And it’s clear, in this blessing, that God is the source of our holiness.

 

He didn’t instruct them to sanctify themselves. Nor did he tell them that they played a role in their sanctification. He simply blesses them, saying: “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely…” And, afterwards, he offers to them this assurance: “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”

 

This stands in agreement with the rest of Scripture, which is clear about our sinful condition and our inability to please God. It stands in agreement with the rest of Scripture, which tells us that the good we do results from the work and power of God in our life. It stands in agreement with the rest of Scripture, which assures us that every blessing comes only from the hand of God.

 

So, just as we trust not in ourselves for salvation, may we refrain from trusting in ourselves for our sanctification. Let’s, rather, look to the Lord who accomplishes this both in us and for us. Let’s trust that, as he continually works within us by his Word and Spirit, he will make us holy.

 

Balance

 “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:19-22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In the Christian Church today, some tend to believe that, once we’re saved, there’s no need to worry. We don’t need to worry, they tell us, because we cannot fall away from the Lord. We cannot lose our salvation. And this often becomes a false sense of comfort.

There are also those who are quick to accept anything and everything as though it were from God. They listen to any and every preacher and teacher, accepting everything they say. They never question anyone or anything.

As with everything, there is a balance to the Christian life. There is the possibility of going to one of two extremes. And we must take care to do neither.

We see this reflected in the above passage. As he’s concluding his first letter to the believers at Thessalonica, Paul tells them that they must not quench the Spirit. They must not put out the Spirit. And clearly, if he’s warning them against this, it’s a real possibility.

It’s by the Spirit of God that we are brought to faith in Jesus. It’s he who works in us, through the Word of God, establishing us in faith. And he also is responsible for the fruit of faith seen in our lives.

If we, then, quench the Spirit, we refuse his work. And this puts us in a dangerous place. It puts us in a place where our faith cannot be sustained.

Paul also told the believers that they were not to despise prophecies. Prophets, of course, are those who convey the Word of God to the people. So, to put a positive spin on it, he’s encouraging the people to receive the words that the Lord is speaking to them.

Again, it is possible for us to despise prophecies. It’s possible for us to refuse the Word of God. But, once again, this leaves us in a dangerous place.

It’s dangerous because it's by the Word of God that we become aware of our sin. It’s by the Word of God that we learn of Jesus. And it’s by the Word of God that we receive the hope of the gospel. Without this, we cannot and will not be saved.

However, on the other hand, Paul warned the people to test everything. In other words, they weren’t to blindly receive everything that was fed to them. They were to put it to the test. They were to prove it, ensuring it was genuine.

We’re warned over and over in Scripture against false prophets. We’re warned of false teachers who will come into our midst. And this is what makes this testing necessary.

Paul then called on his readers to hold fast to what is good and to abstain from what is evil. So, they’re to receive that which is clearly from the Lord, and they were to reject that which wasn’t. They were to cling to that which was from God and dispose of that which wasn’t.

Because God is holy, righteous, and good, because God is all-knowing, he cannot and will not contradict himself. We must, then, test any message or teaching that is given to us with the Word of God we’ve already received. We must ensure that it’s consistent with the Word of God.

In this way, we find that balance. We don’t take God’s blessings for granted, relying on a false assurance. But, at the same time, we’re not blindly accepting anything and everything as though it were from God.