Lived in God's Grace

 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

(Acts 1:8 ESV)

 

As believers in Jesus, we know that we are recipients of God’s grace. We know, in fact, that we can receive his blessing only by grace. It is not something that we earn.

 

We know and believe that we are forgiven because of Jesus.  We know and believe that we are saved because of Jesus.  We know and believe that, because he died on cross and rose from the grave, these blessings are available to all mankind.

 

They are given to us by the grace of God. They’re, in other words, a free gift that God bestows upon us. And they are received by us through faith.

 

Yet, although we understand this when it comes to our forgiveness and salvation, we think very differently when it comes to the life of faith. Although forgiveness and salvation are gifts of God’s grace, we tend to think that the Christian life is lived in our own strength. We tend to think that we live in it by our own effort.

 

We tend to think that any change in character is achieved by our own willpower. We tend to believe that others are blessed by our effort in serving them. And we believe that the gospel is proclaimed and disciples are made as we force ourselves out of our comfort zone to do so.

 

However, if the Christian life is dependent upon our effort, it is doomed to fail. If character reformation is dependent upon our willpower, we will absolutely remain unchanged. And if ministry is dependent upon our own strength and resources, it’s all in vain.

 

As we enter into the season of Pentecost, we’re reminded that all of life, as a Christian, is lived in God’s grace. We’re reminded that no aspect of our life is dependent upon our effort. Our forgiveness and salvation, our repentance, along with our service of both God and man, result only from the grace of God.

 

We’re reminded of this in the above passage. As Jesus left his followers to ascend into heaven, they asked him if, at that time, he would restore the kingdom to Israel. They wanted to know if, at that time, he would bring about the fulness of his blessing. And he told them that it’s not for them to know the times or the seasons fixed by the Father.

 

They, however, would receive power when the Holy Spirit had come upon them. And they would be his witnesses. They would be his witnesses right there in Jerusalem. And they would be his witnesses to the end of the earth.

 

Again, if this great work was dependent upon them, it would easily overwhelm them. It would be absolutely hopeless. But the good news is that it was not dependent upon them.

 

They would receive power from the Holy Spirit. He, in other words, would enable this work. It was by his strength that this seemingly impossible task would be carried out.

 

The same is true today. And this is a great comfort to us. It’s a comfort as we do not have to muster up the strength and willpower to carry it out. It’s a free gift that the Spirit of God will accomplish in and through us.

 

We must not hinder his work in our life, of course. But the victories will result from his power. They will result only by the grace of God, which he freely lavishes upon us.

The Undoing of Death

 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.”

(Revelation 22:1-3 ESV)

When Adam and Eve fell, when they sinned in the garden by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God declared that they would die. This was the punishment incurred by their sin. They didn’t die, however, right away.

But God did remove them from the Garden of Eden. And, in this way, he denied them access to the tree of life. He denied them access that they might not eat of this tree and live forever.

Ever since that time, man has endured the consequence of his sin. He’s faced suffering and death. And we’ve all witnessed and been touched by this reality.

The other consequence of sin we face is that of hell. This, Scripture refers to as the second death. It refers to an eternity of suffering away from the presence and the blessing of God.

God, however, was not content to leave us in this state. From the time of the fall, God gave the promise of a Savior. And that Savior, of course, was Jesus.

Jesus was born into the world in the natural way, although he was not conceived by man. Being conceived by the Spirit of God, he did not bear a sinful nature, as do you and I. He lived the perfect life that you and I are unable to live. He, then, gave his life on the cross. He died on the cross, paying the penalty of our sin. And he rose from the grave, that we might be justified.

As the punishment of our sin has been paid, the consequence of sin will soon become a thing of the past. We see this in the passage above. When Jesus returns, and when the new heavens and earth come to be, our access to life will be restored.

We see the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, through the middle of the street of the city. The Father and the Son, then, are the source of this river of life. And, as it flows through the city, we will all have access to its life-giving waters.

In the same way, on either side of the river, will be the tree of life. And this describes not only a single tree, but an entire forest. The tree of life will grow abundantly and the fruit of this tree will be always available.

The leaves of the tree, we’re told, are for the healing of the nations. They restore the nations. All people will have access to this wondrous blessing.

No longer will anything be accursed, we are told. As sin is a thing of the past, so too will be its consequences. And we will live forever in God’s blessing.

Willing to Hear?

 

“At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

John 10:22-30 ESV

 

Among those who do not believe the gospel, a number of reasons for their lack of faith are given. Many, for example, insist that Jesus was not clear regarding his identity. They tell us that he was not clear when it came to his description of himself and his purpose.

 

This is really nothing new. We see the same excuse made above, as Jesus talked to the Jews during the Feast of Dedication. They stated that he was keeping them in suspense, that he was making them to doubt. And what they wanted to know is if Jesus is, in fact, the Christ.

 

Jesus responded to them, telling them that he had told them. It was plain to them in the things that he said and did. Yet, they did not believe.

 

We see, in the words of Jesus, that the problem was not with him. Their lack of understanding did not result from a problem with his communication skills. Nor did it result from a secretive or a mysterious nature that he possessed.

 

The problem was with them. They did not believe, Jesus said, because they were not among his sheep. They did not believe, because they were not his sheep. They did not believe, in other words, because they were not his people.

 

In saying this, Jesus was not indicating that some are chosen for salvation while others are not. He’s not suggesting that some are chosen to believe, while others are not. It’s not as if some have the inherent ability to hear and follow him, while others do not.

 

In our sinful state, none of us are inclined to hear or to follow him. In our sinful state, none of us possess the ability to understand him. In our sinful state, none of us have the ability to believe in him. Faith itself is a gift that is given to us.

 

He’s laying before them, rather, the difference between those who believe in him and those who do not. Those who are his sheep hear his voice. Those who are his sheep listen to his voice. Those who are his sheep receive what he says to them.

 

It’s these, then, who are known by Jesus. It’s these who follow him. And it’s to these that he gives eternal life.

 

The fault, then, for their lack of understanding was their own. The fault for their lack of faith was their own. It was their unwillingness to listen that stood in the way. It was their stubborn refusal to hear that stood in the way.

 

And the same, you see, remains true today. Jesus has made clear to us who he is and what he has done. But will we hear?

 

Jesus’ sheep, his people, his followers, hear his voice. They listen to his words. They understand what he has taught. And they comprehend the testimony offered to them by his actions. They are known by him, and they follow him.

 

 

 

Unintentional Sin

 “If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity. He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven.”

Leviticus 5:17‭-‬18 ESV

Although we’re quick to acknowledge that we’re far from perfect, and although we’ll readily admit that we are, indeed, sinful, we do all we can to deny our guilt. We do all that we can to excuse it. And we do all that we can to explain it away.

We do this in many ways. One place it is seen, however, is in the realm of unintentional sin. It is seen in the area of inadvertent sin. 

If a sin was committed without forethought, we do not feel that we are guilty. If a sin was not committed deliberately, we do not feel that we are at fault. If a sin was committed unknowingly, or if a sin was committed without malice, we do not feel culpable.

In that case, we expect to be let off the hook. In that case, we expect to be given the benefit of the doubt. In that case, we expect to be exempted from any type of punishment.

It’s clear, however, that society holds us guilty for unintentional sin. We can see this as we look at the crime of homicide. And we need look only at the class of homicide defined as manslaughter.

When a person is convicted of manslaughter, it’s acknowledged that he did not purposely take a life. It’s acknowledged that his crime was not premeditated. By means of carelessness, however, he is guilty of taking a life.

A person found guilty of such a crime is also sentenced. He receives the due punishment of his crime. And, although his punishment may be less severe than that of another, who is guilty of first or second degree murder, he is punished nonetheless.

This is true not only in the eyes of society. It’s true also in the eyes of God. Scripture is clear that an unintentional failure is sin. It’s clear that wrongdoing, committed without malice, is still sin. And Scripture is clear that any such wrongdoing makes us guilty in the eyes of God. 

And not only are we guilty. Any such sin makes us deserving of punishment. And for such a sin, atonement must be made.

We see this in the above passage. We are told that, if a sin is committed unknowingly, and our guilt becomes clear to us only after the fact, we bear iniquity. And, in the case of Old Testament Israel, a sacrifice had to be offered.

The same, you see, is also true of us. Even a sin committed unknowingly renders us guilty. We are held accountable for even a sin committed unintentionally. This, in no way, excuses or justifies our sin.

It is a sin that needs to be confessed. It is a sin of which we must repent. And it is a sin for which we must seek forgiveness.

The good news, however, is that Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sin. He paid the penalty of the sins we commit both knowingly and unknowingly. Through Jesus, atonement for all of our sins has been made. And we receive his grace and mercy through faith in him.

Trusting the Testimony

“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

(John 20:29 ESV)

 

Many of us, today, struggle with faith. We find it difficult to believe in Jesus. We find it difficult as we are filled with so many questions and doubts.

 

“If only I could see Jesus,” we tell ourselves, “then I could believe.” “If only I could see one of his miracles,” we say, “then it would be easier.” “If only I could hear his voice, like his disciples,” we exclaim, “then I would have no doubts.”

 

In this way, we are a lot like Thomas. You may recall that he was absent when Jesus first appeared to his disciples. And, when they told him what had taken place, he refused to believe.

 

“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” These were the words of Thomas after hearing their testimony. And these are the words to which Jesus referred when he appeared next.

 

One week later, Jesus appeared to his disciples again, this time while Thomas was present. And he invited Thomas to touch his wounds. He invited Thomas to stop doubting, and to believe.

 

At this point, Thomas exclaimed that Jesus was his Lord and his God. At this point, he confessed faith in Jesus. At this point he believed.

 

Jesus then spoke the words seen above. He pointed out that Thomas had believed because he had seen him. But those who believed without seeing, Jesus said, are blessed.

 

Jesus appeared to his followers for a period of forty days following his resurrection. At that point, he ascended into heaven. And, from that point on, the faith of believers was based not on sight. It was based on the testimony of Jesus’ followers.

 

Those who were there shared with others what they had seen. They shared with others what they had heard. And they shared with others what they had experienced.

 

This is what is meant when Jesus called his disciples to be his witnesses. They were called to bear witness to what they had seen. They were called to testify regarding Jesus, and what he had done.

 

Countless people, since, have received this testimony. They have believed this testimony. And this includes those of us today, who believe. It includes us, as the testimony of the apostles is what makes up the New Testament.

 

John alludes to this in the very next verse. In verse 30, of this chapter, he writes: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

 

The reason, then, for John’s testimony is that we might believe. The reason for his testimony is that we might believe Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God. The reason for his testimony is that, by believing, we might have life in his name. And the same, you see, is true of the other apostles, whose writings make up the New Testament.

 

And we, then, are the recipients of the blessing, referred to by Jesus as he spoke to Thomas. We are those who have believed without seeing. We are those who, unlike Thomas, have been brought to faith without having been there.

 

That being said, this reveals to us, also, the importance of Scripture. It reveals to us why we must faithfully make use of God’s Word. It’s in this way that we receive the testimony of the apostles. It’s in this way that we are brought to faith. And it’s in this way that we are blessed.

The Fulfillment of Scripture

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.”

(John 19:28-29 ESV)

 

Fluids are essential to us. They are essential to our body. We cannot, in fact, live without them.

 

I’m a pastor, and not a doctor or a biologist. And, for this reason, I don’t know the accuracy of this statement. But I’ve always been told that we can live for only a few days without water.

 

This, of course, may depend upon the environment in which we find ourselves. We’ll die faster from dehydration in a desert than we will in a temperature-controlled building. But we all understand that we’ll die faster from dehydration than we will from starvation.

 

For this reason, as Jesus hung on the cross, as he carried out the will of the Father, it’s obvious to us why he would become dehydrated. It’s obvious to us why he would become thirsty. He had been brutally beaten. He had lost a great deal of blood. He was completely exposed. And, hanging on the cross, he had no access to food or water.

 

It’s of little surprise to us, then, that Jesus was thirsty. It’s of little surprise to us that he expressed this need. And there seems to be little, if any, spiritual significance to this statement, made by Jesus from the cross.

 

However, as we read the above passage, something significant stands out. Jesus made this statement, John says, to fulfill the Scripture. Knowing that all was now finished, Jesus made this statement that Scripture might be fulfilled.

 

The term used here, to fulfill Scripture, means to accomplish Scripture or to execute Scripture. It means to complete Scripture, or to make it perfect.

 

Jesus, then, said that he was thirsty to do just that. He said that he was thirsty to complete Scripture. He said that he was thirsty to accomplish what the Scriptures said.

 

Although he does not cite it for us, the Scripture to which John is referring is Psalm 69. In verse 21 of that chapter, we read: “They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.” This was written by King David as he pleaded with God for help, as he pleaded with God for salvation from his enemies.

 

This passage not only shares with us what was going on in the life of David, at that moment in time. It points us forward to Jesus. It points us forward to his suffering at the hands of his enemies. And it points us to his thirst, along with the provision of sour wine, in the face of it.

 

We see, then, that Jesus does this in every way. He accomplishes, he completes, all that Scripture says. Scripture, you see, directs us to Jesus. All of Scripture, both the Old and the New Testaments, point us to Jesus. It’s not merely a book of stories, a book of history, or a book of laws. It’s a book that directs our attention to the Savior of the world that, by believing in him, we might receive salvation.

The Committal

 “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”

(Luke 23:46 ESV)

Most of us like to maintain control of our life. We like to maintain control of our affairs. And we’re unwilling to turn that control over to others unless it’s absolutely necessary.

There are times in life, when we have to do just that. There are times in life when we have to entrust ourselves into the care of others, allowing them to make decisions that can drastically impact our life. And we have to do so for our own good, as well as the good of others.

This is true of us when we are young, while we are under the care of our parents. It’s true of us when we are ill. It’s true also of us as we age, and as our abilities begin to wane. 

As we see in the verse above, this is exactly what Jesus did as he hung on the cross. We find that this is exactly what he did as his life reached its end. We find that, as he was about to die, having completed the purpose for which he’d been sent, he entrusted himself, he entrusted his soul, he entrusted his life, into the hands of God the Father.

He did so in the words of David, from Psalm 31. In fact, he fulfilled the words of David from this Psalm. As David fled from his enemies, he made an appeal to God for help and for salvation. And he entrusted his well-being, he entrusted his spirit, into the hands of God.

We do this with others during their funeral. We have a service for them, called the Committal.  And what we are doing, in this service, is entrusting them into the care of God.

We commit them into the hand of God knowing that we’re powerless to do anything for them. We commit them into the hands of God knowing that we have no say, that we have no authority, when it comes to their eternal destiny. We entrust them into the hands of God, knowing that he, and he alone, determines their fate. We entrust them into the hands of God, knowing that he, and he alone, can give them life. We entrust them into the hands of God, knowing that he, and he alone, can give them salvation.

And, in the same way, we can entrust ourselves, we can entrust our very soul, into the hands of God. We can do so, knowing that we are safe in his care. We can do so knowing that he wants only our good, that he wants only our blessing.  And we can do so knowing his ability, as well as his promise, to provide just that.

This, in fact, is something that we must do, as Christians. And it’s something that we must do not only as we’re facing death. It’s something that we must do each and every day of our lives.  It’s something we must do every moment of every day. 

It’s something we must do as we’re truly powerless over our life. It’s something we must do, recognizing that this power and control is possessed by God alone.  It’s something we must do, recognizing that, in spite of our sin and the punishment we deserve, he is willing to grant us his blessing.

As we do so, even though we hate to cede control of our life, this fills us with peace.  Even though we hate to give up our sense of independence, it gives us a calmness of spirit.  And even though we hate to acknowledge how powerless we truly are, it provides us a sense of tranquility.

It does so because no longer are we fighting a fruitless battle for control.  It does so because no longer are we engaged in a losing battle for independence. And it does so because no longer are we taking part in a war we cannot win for the fate of our soul.

A New Creation

 “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

(2 Corinthians 5:16–17 ESV)

As believers, we know the desire of God, for the salvation of all people. And we know that, in Jesus, God has provided just that. He’s provided for all people the forgiveness of their sins. He’s provided for all people salvation from death and hell. And he’s provided for all people the blessing of everlasting life.

This blessing must be received by faith. It, however, is available to not only a select few, but to all. There is no distinction.

We, however, are prone to making distinctions. We are prone to judging people based upon their past and their present sins. We are prone to determining, in our own mind, who is deserving of these blessings and who is not.

If someone had a rough past, and once lived a life of sin and rebellion, we deem him unworthy. If someone is struggling with a certain sin, right here and right now, we deem him unworthy. And if someone is not growing in faith and holiness as fast as we believe he should be, we deem him unworthy.

We, then, shy away from such people. We fail to share with them the comfort of the gospel. And we regard them as pariahs in the church.

We make distinctions in other ways, as well. We make distinctions in terms of appearance and dress. We make distinctions in terms of a person’s education level. We make distinctions in terms of his wealth. We make distinctions in terms of his speech. We make distinctions in terms of his race. And we make distinctions in terms of his culture.

As we look at the verses preceding the passage above, we find that people did the same with Paul. They judged him by worldly rather than godly standards. They judged him based on their outward impression of him rather than his heart and faith.

Paul even points out that he and his companions once did this with Christ himself. They looked at him according to the flesh. They looked at him in terms of worldly standards.

As we look at the passage above, we find that this is wrong. We find that it makes us guilty. We find that, in this way, we fail to display the heart of God.

Paul says that he no longer regarded anyone according to the flesh. This means that he no longer regarded them according to a worldly point of view. He, rather, regarded them according to the gospel. He regarded them according to God’s point of view.

He, then, lays out that view for us. If anyone is in Christ, he says, he is a new creation. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature.

In Christ, we have been made new. In Christ, we have been given a new life. And as his faithful, we must regard both ourselves and others as such.

Sheep

 

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

(Philippians 3:17-21 ESV)

 

Although we claim that we’re our own person, although we like to believe that we are free-thinkers, and although we insist that we make our own decisions and do things our own way, the opposite tends to be true. Even though we hate to admit it, we are sheep. Even though we hate to acknowledge it, we tend to follow the crowd. We tend to do exactly what everyone else is doing.

 

We wear what everyone else is wearing, and we’re critical of anything that doesn’t match the trending style. We watch the shows and the movies that everyone else is watching. We listen to the music to which everyone else is listening. We talk like those around us. And, of course, we think like those who surround us.

 

Whether this is done knowingly or unknowingly, this is the case. We are not the unique people that we believe ourselves to be. And we are not the rebels, we’re not the nonconformists, that we believe ourselves to be.

 

While this can certainly be a bad thing, if we’re following the wrong crowd, it can also be a positive thing. It depends upon the company we keep and the role models that we admire. If we’re looking to the right people, and following their example, it can be a great blessing.

 

This is why, in the above passage, Paul encouraged the people to imitate him. This is why he encouraged them to keep their eye on those who walk according to the example seen in him and his companions. As they followed the example of Paul, and as they emulated the faith of Paul, they would remain on the right course.

 

I realize that a statement like this may seem arrogant on the surface. It may seem that he’s holding himself up before others in a prideful way. And, for this reason, we’d be uncomfortable making a statement such as this.

 

We must realize, however, that Paul is not claiming perfection. Nor is he claiming to be sinless. He is, however, an example of the very faith he was proclaiming to others.

 

His focus, you see, was not on himself. Nor was it upon his obedience. His focus was on the cross of Christ. This was his source of comfort and assurance. And it was this to which he directed others.

 

For this reason, it’s people like this, it’s people like Paul, that we should emulate. We should imitate those who look only to the cross of Christ. We should seek to live like those who trust in Christ, and in Christ alone, for the salvation he provides.

 

And, in the same way, as we trust in Christ, we are that example for others. Although we must never think too highly of ourselves, we must realize that our hope in Christ is a model for those who surround us. As we walk through life, with our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can reveal to others what a life of faith looks like.

The Lord of Peace

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESV)

Peace is something that we all crave. It’s something that we all desire. It’s something for which we all long.

However, that being said, it is also something that seems elusive. It’s something that seems distant. And it’s something that seems impossible to obtain.

As we live life in this world, it seems anything but peaceful. We hear about conflict between nations of the world. There is conflict on the political front. There is conflict in our community. There is conflict in our churches. And there is conflict in our families.

As we seek out this peace, our tendency is to think that it’s something that is ours to obtain. We believe that, if we include certain people in our life, we can have peace. We believe that, if we exclude others from our life, we can have peace. We believe that, if we place ourselves in the right environment, we can have peace. Or we believe that, if we work the right job, we will have peace.

We, then, do all that we can to grab hold of it. We do all that we can to obtain it. We do all that we can to place ourselves in a position where we will have this peace. We do so even if it means violating God’s law.

We fail to realize that the Lord alone is the source of our peace. We fail to realize that it’s he who can bestow this peace. And we fail to realize that, for this reason, we can have peace regardless of how our outward circumstances may seem.

In the above passage, Paul refers to Jesus as the Lord of peace. This tells us that he is the God of peace. He is the author of peace. We, therefore, can look to him for this gift of peace. He, in fact, is the only source of peace.

And this is what Paul wishes for the believers at Thessalonica. He asks that the Lord will give to them peace at all times and in every way. He asks that the Lord will give them a perpetual peace that will remain with them in every circumstance in which they might find themselves.

This is something we can have because the peace that Jesus gives to us is not subjective, but objective. It’s not simply a feeling of peace that can pass away when our circumstances become difficult. It is a real, outward reality. It’s not dependent upon our circumstances nor our emotions. It’s dependent only upon Jesus and what he’s done for us.

Although we were God’s enemies, we are no more. Although we were dead in our trespasses, we are no more. Although we were once far off, we are no more. By his sacrifice, he has made peace for us. He has obtained peace for us. And he has granted to us this peace, which is received through faith in him.

Judge Not?

^“If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 ESV)

 

The greatest of modern virtues is that you shall not judge. We’re reminded of this on a daily basis. And even though this belief is completely ripped out of the context in which Scripture presents it, we go along with this in the church.

 

What I mean is that little, if any, correction is offered by the church. Even if we preach the Word of God rightly, we offer little in the way of personal application. We are unwilling to address the sin in which our members live.

 

I’m not suggesting that we should make knowledge of their sin public. Nor am I suggesting that a spectacle be made of their wrongdoing. However, we turn a blind eye to it and ignore it.

 

By our silence, we give our tacit approval to their actions. We tell them that their lifestyle is acceptable before God. And we tell them that no confession, repentance, or forgiveness is necessary.

 

We see, in the passage above, Paul’s instruction for such an occurrence. And we must note that he is not addressing our dealing with unbelievers. He’s addressing our interaction with those who confess faith in Christ.

 

He says that if anyone does not obey the instruction given in this letter, we’re to take note of him. If anyone does not obey the instruction given in this letter, we’re to have nothing to do with him. We are not to associate with him or to have company with him.

 

However, even though we are to use this measure, we’re not to regard him as an enemy. We’re not to consider him as one whom we are against. We’re, rather, to warn him as a brother.

 

In other words, we are seeking not his harm, but his blessing. We are seeking not vengeance, but the salvation of his soul. We are seeking not his punishment, but his repentance.

 

This is not a lone passage where this teaching is presented. We see it throughout Scripture. And not only is it seen in the Old Testament, where we might feel that we can dismiss it as an outdated law. We see it also in the New.

 

We see this, for example, in 1 Corinthians 5:11, which says: “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”

 

There is a right way to go about this, of course. It’s to be done not in a spirit of condemnation, but one of love. However, Scripture is clear that this tool is to be used as we seek the salvation of souls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Face of Weariness

 

“As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:13 ESV)

 

As we live the Christian life, we sometimes become tired. We become tired as we witness the evil taking place in the world around us. We become tired as we deal with the sin of those who surround us. We become tired as we’re confronted by the ire of the unbelievers in our midst. We become tired as we deal with conflict and strife in the church. We become tired as we deal with our own struggle with sin. And we become tired as it seems to us that our efforts are futile.

 

Our natural response, in this fatigue, is to give up. Our natural response is to stop trying. Our natural response is to, at best, do nothing. And our natural response, at worst, is to live, behave, and believe like those among whom we abide.

 

Throughout the book of 2 Thessalonians, Paul had been talking to this congregation about the return of Christ. He talked about the Lord’s judgment. He talked about false prophecies and false christs. The talked about the man of lawlessness, and the disruption he’ll bring to the world. And he talked about those who confess faith in Christ while living a life of idleness.

 

As we read these words, it’s easy for us to understand how the Thessalonians may have grown tired. It’s easy to understand why they might want to give up. But in light of these truths, and in light of these circumstances, Paul called on them to press on.

 

He told them that they were not to grow weary in doing good. They’re not to tire of doing that which is good. In other words, they were to continue in their service of the Lord. No matter how things may have seemed, they were to continue to live as they had been called.

 

The same message speaks to us, today, right where we find ourselves. Rather than losing all hope and giving up, we’re to press on. We’re to continue living as we have been called. We are to continue in our service of the Lord, and we are to continue loving our neighbor, no matter how fruitless it may seem.

 

We are to do so knowing that it is never truly fruitless. We are to do so, bearing in mind the encouragement that he gave to the church of Corinth in 1 Corinthians 15:58, where he says: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

 

Serving the Lord is never empty. It’s never meaningless. No matter how things may seem, God is faithful to do his work, and he is faithful to work through us, that his purpose might be accomplished.

Boundaries

 

“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 ESV)

 

We often debate, when it comes to political discourse, how to handle public welfare. We often debate to whom this help should be given, and in what instances. And we often debate to what extent it should be given.

 

In the above passage, however, this issue is discussed not as a matter of politics, but as a matter of church life. And, in this statement, Paul is very clear. As Christians, we are expected to work.

 

When I say this, of course, I’m not referring exclusively to work outside of the home. I’m referring to work in all of its forms. I’m referring to work as it is carried out in our typical vocations.

 

A stay-at-home parent, as a case in point, is not considered idle because she fails to work outside of the home. She would, however, be considered idle if she fails to carry out the duties of her vocation. She would be considered idle if she fails to care for her home, her children, and her husband.

 

Paul also does not expect those to work who are incapable of doing so. He calls upon the church to care for older widows. And generosity for those in need is clearly encouraged.

 

However, as we see above, Paul calls on Christians to disassociate from those, who profess faith in Christ, who are idle. He calls on us to keep away from those who are lazy. He calls on us to withdraw from those who are slothful or sluggish. And he calls on us to remove ourselves from those who, while they are unwilling to work, continually involve themselves in the affairs of others.

 

This type of lifestyle, he says, is not in accord with the tradition that he and his followers had passed on to them. He then holds himself up as an example. Even though he had a right to the support of the congregation, he worked hard while he was among them that he might not be a burden on them.

 

He also gave to them the command that, if anyone was not willing to work, he was not to eat. He did not permit those who were unwilling to work to receive such help. He did not allow them to, in this way, prey on the generosity of their brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

He commanded and encouraged such persons to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. He commanded them to work quietly and to eat their own bread. He encouraged them to work in a quiet fashion and to earn the food they ate.

 

As Christians, following through with this command feels anything but graceful. In fact, it may feel harsh and critical in nature. It, however, is a form of discipline. It’s a call to repentance. It’s a way of revealing to the idle the sinfulness of their inaction that they might receive the mercy of Christ.

Our Source of Confidence

 

“And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:4-5 ESV)

 

We’re often skeptical of people. We doubt them. And we do so for good reason. We do so, knowing that no one is perfect.

 

This is true of us, even as Christians. We know and believe that we are a sinful people. We know and believe that we are born in sin. And, for this reason, we are cynical. We are distrustful of others.

 

And, based on our experience, we may feel that we have good reason for this cynicism. We may feel that we have good reason for our lack of trust in others. After all, even those who love us most have failed us time and again.

 

However, our confidence in others is not dependent upon them. It’s not dependent upon their reliability. Nor is it dependent upon our past experience.

 

We see this in the above passage. Paul had been asking for the prayers of the believers at Thessalonica. He desired that they would pray for him and his ministry. And he went on to express a confidence in them.

 

He’s confident that they were doing the things he’d commanded. And he was confident that they would do the things he’d commanded. However, the basis of that confidence was not them. The basis of that confidence was the Lord.

 

“And we have confidence in the Lord about you,” he writes. It’s clear, then, that his confidence was not in them. His confidence was in the Lord.

 

And this makes complete sense. Even though people are imperfect, God is perfect. Even though they are fallible, God is infallible. And even though they are weak, God is strong. Although we have little, if any, reason to be confident in others, we have every reason to be confident in the Lord.

 

He knew that they were keeping his commands not because of any goodness or strength on their part, but because of the Lord and his work in their lives and hearts. And he knew that they would keep his commands in the days ahead, not because of any intrinsic holiness or piety, but because of the Lord and the strength he would provide.

 

Based on this, he blesses them, asking that the Lord would direct their hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. He asks that the Lord will direct them into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.  He asks that the Lord would direct their hearts into God’s love and Christ’s endurance.

 

This is also the reason that we can be confident in others. We can be confident in them because of the Lord. We can be confident in them because of his ongoing work in their life.