THE STUBBORNNESS OF SINFULNESS

Trumpets of terror will sound in the future time of tribulation coming on the earth. When the Lamb opens the seventh seal, seven trumpet judgments are unleashed. The first four are described in Revelation 8. The fifth and sixth are presented in chapter 9. The final three are so terrible as to be called, “woe.” Indeed, when the angel sounds the seventh trumpet, seven bowls of wrath will be poured out on the earth as that final woe, (Rev. 16). 

Of all the horrors pictured here, I don’t know that anything is worse than what we are told in Revelation 9:20-21, “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”

This is the stubbornness of sinfulness!  Despite the torment and terror that generation of rebels against God will experience, they will still not bow to Christ. The pain of the plagues will lead them to curse God in fury and not to call upon Him for forgiveness. They had rather remain in their sin, than repent and be saved. Such is the utter depravity of the human heart. 

Recently, I was in the hospital after surgery and in such intense pain—unlike any I have experienced—so that I was screaming. I was unashamedly calling on the Lord to deliver me, and thankfully He did!  But, that is the inclination of a regenerate heart—a repentant and contrite one. But, for the wicked, they seethe with rage and are fixed in rebellion.

Certainly, to die without Christ is to die without hope. The heart-breaking tragedy, however, is that some—as those described in Revelation 9–have already fixed their fate. They are sinners today, they will be sinners tomorrow, and even when cast into Hell, they will seethe with stubborn sinfulness and rage against God. For Hell is defined as not only a place of sorrow, where there is weeping, but a place of anger, where there is gnashing of teeth.

There is urgency to our evangelism. The longer sinners rebel and reject the Gospel, they may come to the place where it is not that God would not save them, but their hearts are so hardened that they will not repent.

I think of Paul’s witness to the Roman governor, Felix and his wife, Drusilla, as the Apostle was on trial. “And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’ ” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭24‬:‭24‬-‭25‬‬).  Though under conviction for his sin, Felix refused to repent, and so far as we know his procrastination would bring him to perdition!

Let us call people to decision!  I realize it is not our task to emotionally manipulate someone to mouth a prayer they do not mean from a heart that has not surrendered to Christ. But, neither is it right that we should not call people to salvation today, for tomorrow may never come, and even if it does, the conviction they feel tomorrow may not be as intense as what is known today. 

The Word of God that is preached this Lord’s Day will have an effect. Its power will either draw sinners who will receive it, or drive them farther away, if they reject it.

Later, when Paul would appear before King Agrippa, and a new governor, Festus, we have this account of Paul’s urgency and the king’s intransigency. “But he said, ‘I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.’ Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’ And Paul said, ‘I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.’ ” (Acts‬ ‭26‬:‭25‬-‭29‬‬)

To be almost saved is to be altogether lost!

DOCTRINAL CONVICTIONS

The church at Antioch, featured in Acts 11:19-15:41, has always been a shining example to me for what a New Testament church needs to be. I have preached numerous messages about this. One series I have looks at “The Model Missionary Church,” from Acts 11:19-21; “The Model Church Member,” in Acts 11:22-26; “The Model Church Leader,” in Acts 11:27-30. So, is it any wonder that the title of Jeff Iorg’s book called, “The Case for Antioch: A Biblical Model for a Transformational Church,” captured my attention? In chapter six, he states that one of the marks of this model church is “Doctrinal Convictions.” Here is how Iorg begins:

Doctrine can be a polarizing word. It sounds dry and boring to some, divisive and legalistic to others. Churches sometimes soften their doctrinal positions, or at least mute their intensity, to lessen this tension and become more attractive to unbelievers. That effort, though well intended, is a misapplication of Paul’s example of becoming “all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:22). Flexibility in missionary lifestyle doesn’t equal and must not include compromising doctrinal integrity, especially truth about the gospel. In Antioch, Paul broke new ground in contextualizing the gospel’s presentation but without compromising its message. On the contrary, he undertook extreme measures to defend its purity. Jesus taught a clear gospel. Paul and other New Testament writers articulated its theological nuances as well as its implications for daily living. Healthy churches uphold the gospel and its discipleship demands for believers. Transformational churches stand for truth rather than dilute the message and explain away its requirements for holy living. (pp. 98-99, Kindle edition).

He goes on to note that at Antioch, they established hills “to die on.” These were fundamentals of the faith worth fighting for, and yet there were other matters of preference, instead of principles, that should not divide the church. This was codified in a major church business meeting in Acts 15. The outcome of that was an explosive evangelistic expansion into Gentile territory. Our message must be defended, but methodology can be debated, and that way the mission is not distracted. The old axiom is: “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”

Saying this is one thing, and doing it another matter. Just read the New Testament! You will see the application of this principle quite challenging. Yet, it, it must be done. Here is how we try to work it out in the churches I serve in the Haywood Baptist Association.

We have essentials that are stated in The Baptist Faith and Message 2000.  To be part of our association requires these be affirmed. Sadly, during my time serving in the role of Mission Strategist, we have had to remove one of our churches that would not align with this doctrine. We will be united in these essentials. There is no room for debate.

But, within that there are non-essentials where we call for liberty. For example, we have pastors and churches that while agreeing that salvation is solely by grace through faith in Christ, differ on exactly how that salvation comes, some holding to traditional Baptist evangelism methods and others defending a Reformed view. All of our pastors and churches believe that Christ is literally coming the second time, judging the world, and that in eternity there will be a heaven for the saved and a hell for the sinners.  Yet, there are varied views on how this will work out. It makes for some interesting debates in Pastor’s Conference, and especially around the lunch table following. 

That calls for charity—for Christian love among the brethren. I will not compromise my views on soteriology (the doctrine of salvation) in my preaching and teaching. I am not a Calvinist, but I can work with, love, and support those who are, so long as they believe, “Jesus saves!”  Nor will I personally bend in my eschatology (the doctrine of last things), as I am a dispensationalist who believes in the rapture of the church and the return of Christ to reign for a thousand years on earth. We have preachers and churches who see the way the end times works out differently, yet I can embrace them and encourage them so long as they affirm, “Jesus is coming again!”

This can be messy. It was in the first century and it still is in the twenty-first century. But, we cannot compromise our core convictions. Sound doctrine must be embraced and taught in our churches. When “love” becomes an excuse to tolerate anything and everything in beliefs and behavior it is not truly love. It is liberalism and licentiousness. We must also guard against legalism where we make mountains out of molehills and turn our personal preferences into dogma. 

May the Holy Spirit guide us through the Holy Scriptures to steadfastly hold to doctrinal convictions!

VENGEANCE AND VINDICATION

At the time John was given the Revelation, he was in exile on Patmos. Intense persecution from pagan Rome was seeking to eradicate Christianity from the earth. The old Apostle had lost all his fellow Apostles, one by one to martyrdom. It would be easy to despair, save Christ came with a Word of hope, to let him know there would ultimately be vengeance and vindication for the church. While it may still seem to us that the other side is winning, may we be reminded that victory is assured!  Let us consider this as we examine Revelation 8:1-6.

It begins with THE SEAL, “When He opened the seventh seal,” (8:1a). Earlier, John had seen a seven-sealed scroll, (5:1). This symbolized the title-deed to the universe. Search was made for someone worthy to possess that title-deed and open the scrolls, and no angel above, nor man on earth, neither the dead or demon below was worthy, (5:2-3). John wept in despair. But John was told not to cry, and brushing the tears from his eyes, he saw the worthy Lion of Judah, who was also the Lamb of God, take the scroll from His Father’s hand. Jesus, the Son of God, is declared the only One worthy to take the scroll and open the seals, (5:4-7).  A great worship celebration rises in anticipation of the consummation of history in Christ’s victory, (5:8-14). 

Chapter six pictures the Lamb opening the seals of the scroll, and under each seal a judgment is unleashed on a Christ-rejecting world. They did not want Jesus then, they do not want Him now, but never forget that He is Sovereign and in giving them what they crave they will find condemnation.

When we arrive at chapter seven there comes THE SILENCE, “there was silence in heaven for about half an hour,” (8:1b). No strumming of harps, no singing of praise, no shouts of worship, no shuffling of angels’ feet as heard in chapter 7. This silence speaks louder than words—a sacred pause in the judgments that fell in chapter six. It is a moment to catch our breath for the opening of the seventh and final seal. The Judge has come into the courtroom.  All gathered there are silent.  The condemned await the pronouncing of the sentence.

Contemplate THE SIGNIFICANCE.

“And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.” (8‬:‭1‬-‭6‬‬).

Beneath the seventh seal, there are seven trumpets that will sound, and each trumpet blast brings a judgment.  Four of those trumpet judgments are described in this chapter.  Trumpet one sounds—hail and fire destroy one third of earth’s vegetation, (v. 7).  Trumpet two sounds—what may well be an asteroid strikes the sea with the force of a nuclear explosion and tidal waves decimate the ships and the shoreline, (v. 8-9).  The third trumpet sounds—a comet with poisonous gas or a meteor with radioactive matter disintegrates on entering the atmosphere, poisoning a third of the fresh water, (v. 10-11).  The fourth trumpet sounds—smoke from the fires and dust from the impacts upon earth—fills the skies with a third of the light dimmed by the cloud, (v. 12-13).

You do not want to hear those trumpets of doom.  You want to hear the trumpet of deliverance, (1 Thess.4:16-17)!  We must appeal to sinners to come to Christ—to flee to Him for salvation!  There is an urgency to sharing the Gospel globally, for there is rapidly approaching a day when judgment will be fixed and final. 

The prayers of the saints are mentioned as sacred incense in 5:8. We are reminded that our prayers are stored up—not forgotten and left unanswered. Specifically, the prayers of the persecuted through the ages—the cry for justice will in God’s time be answered.  

“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” (6‬:‭9‬-‭11‬‬).

We see in chapter 8 and the opening of the seventh seal and the sounding of the trumpets that those prayers for vengeance and vindication will be answered, (8:3-6).

OUR BLESSED HOPE!

Whatever problems you have had in your past, or struggles you have in the present, know this—a child of God has a glorious future—our blessed hope!  We see this in Revelation 7. Specifically, I understand these verses point to those who come to Christ in the future Great Tribulation, but spiritually these promises apply to all God’s people. 

There is the promise of SALVATION, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” (v. 14). Apart from Christ, there is no hope. We cannot wash away the stain of our sins by the sprinkling of water, or the sacraments we observe, or the self-effort in religion we exert. Only the blood of Christ can cleanse us. Yet, Hallelujah, His blood does wash us, and we shall stand before a Holy God in white robes!

Further, we find the promise of SERVICE, “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them,” (v. 15).  When I was a child and heard preachers speak of Heaven, it seemed that all we would do is float around on a cloud, strumming a harp, and that seemed rather boring. Yet, heaven will be a place where we will employ the gifts God has given us, unencumbered by the toil and travail of thorns and thistles. It will be service without sweat! 

The promise of SATISFACTION, “They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat,” (v. 16).  This world is under the curse of sin, and so there is hunger, thirst, and  a scorching sun—paradise has become more like perdition. Nothing this world offers brings lasting satisfaction. Yet, there is coming a day when the curse is reversed. God’s people will be blessed with continual provision, and thus perpetual satisfaction!

The promise of SERENITY“for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (v. 17‬‬). What a beautiful picture of peace! These words remind us of Psalm 23, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” (v. 1-2).

In this fallen creation, we sometimes enjoy an oasis in the desert, but before long we find ourselves once more in the valley of the shadow of death. The tears flow like a river as we face the death of loved ones, and our own demise. Heartaches and disappointments abound. Yet, our hope is in knowing that God will personally wipe away our tears when we reach the glory of eternity! Suffering and sorrow will be supplanted by serenity!

What a blessed hope!  Press on weary pilgrim; the Celestial City awaits! “And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever,” (Ps. 23:6b).

ANOINTED AS ANTIOCH

The Gospel had come to the Gentiles. The power of the Holy Spirit led to breakthrough in the city of Antioch. In his book, “The Case for Antioch,” by Jeff Iorg, he presents the first characteristic of a transformational church as being spiritual power, using Antioch as the model, (pp. 42-59, Kindle edition). He points out that “three specific references to the Holy Spirit,” are stated in Acts 11:24, 28, and 13:2-4.  I would say that the Spirit’s work is summarized in Acts 11:21 with this: “the hand of the Lord was with them.”

The church was birthed at Pentecost by the coming of the Spirit in life-giving power. The book of Acts is not so much the Acts of the Apostles, as it is the Acts of the Holy Spirit (using the Apostles, of course). Then, as the church followed the Spirit’s direction and experienced the Spirit’s dynamic, we see a global move of God unleashed that has changed the course of history for eternity!

The reality is that, “All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down,” as the old hymn says—calling us to pray as the people of God for such a Divine encounter. If the hand of the Lord is not with us, then ZERO of eternal significance will be accomplished. Maybe we get kudos here and are recognized in the denominational press, but Jesus said, “for without  Me you can do NOTHING,” (John 15:5b, emphasis added).

Our world does not need what human hands can accomplish in the energy of the flesh. All that will transform lives is a church where the hand of the Lord is at work in the power of the Spirit!  Certainly, He will work through us—we are the Body of Christ—but it will not be by human ability, but heavenly anointing that life-giving and life-changing results are seen. Let us seek with all our heart that in our preaching of the Word, our assembling for worship, and our going out in witness to be anointed as Antioch.

FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran preacher in Germany during Hitler’s reign of terror. In his book, “The Cost of Discipleship,” he wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”  By this, he echoed the words of Christ, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me,” (Matt. 16:24). It is a spiritual principle. Every believer must die to himself and live for Christ. But, it can also be a literal experience.  It was for Bonhoeffer, whom the Nazis imprisoned and executed on April 9, 1945 as a martyr for Christ. 

We are called to be “faithful until death,”  and the Lord promises, “I will give you the crown of life,” (Rev. 2:10). The testimony of many saints through the ages has been sealed with their own blood. It was true in the first century. It is happening in the twenty-first century. Believers are being slaughtered by the Marxists in Asia and Muslims in Africa. 

We have enjoyed a season of peace and protection in the West, but that may end at some point soon. In fact, Revelation 6:9-11 speaks of a future period of intense persecution that is coming to the world.

Note that there are two reasons stated for their martyrdom. 

THEY WILL BE MARTYRS FOR THE TRUTH,”slain for the word of God.”  Satan, the father of lies, hates the Truth. Through the ages and in this future time, those who have courageously preached the truth of Scripture have found themselves attacked and even slain in an attempt to silence them. But, the Word of God is indestructible. Our Lord declared, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” So, may every preacher stand tall and stay true to the Word of God, whatever the cost!

THEY WILL BE MARTYRS FOR THEIR TESTIMONY, “slain…for the testimony which they held.”  These tenaciously hold on to their testimony under the threat of death. The world despises those who give absolute allegiance to Christ as Lord. The testimony of our salvation—that Christ is the Only Way, the Only Truth, and the Only Life—incites the fury of those who hate Jesus and His people. Let all the people of God be unwavering in their witness. Though most will reject it, some will receive it. 

Remember the words of the old hymn, “The way of the cross leads home.”

THE LION WHO IS THE LAMB

Do not miss the forest for the trees!  That expression reminds us that we can become so absorbed with details as to miss the big picture. That often happens when we study the last book of the Bible, getting bogged down in the details and forget it is, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” (1:1). In chapter five, we are reminded that He is the Lion who is the Lamb.

Consider, THE TITLE, (v. 1-2). We see a scroll. This is the title deed to the universe. It rests in the right hand of the Lord of Glory—our Father and our God. Who would be worthy to take that from His hand?

Note, THE TEARS, (v. 3-4). We hear the sorrow. “No one was found worthy,” Not an angel in heaven, a man on earth, or the dead under ground. This world is full of sorrow—the result of the curse of sin and death. Mere mortals are incapable of putting it right. Man broke it, but cannot fix it. Is there then no hope?

Observe, THE TRIUMPH, (v. 5-7). There is a Savior!  He is the Lion, (v. 5)—the LORD Jesus who is worthy!  In Him, the Old Covenant is fulfilled—all the promises made to Abraham and David. The focus is on His Sovereignty. He is the Lamb, (v. 6-7)—the Lord JESUS who is worthy! In Him, the New Covenant is provided—all the penalty of sin has been paid by His body and blood given for us. The focus is on His sacrifice. The Son rightfully takes the title deed from the Father, attested to by the Spirit, “the seven Spirits of God,” speaking of the Spirit’s perfection.  Salvation is the work of the Triune God!

Hear, THE TESTIMONY, (v. 8-14). There is a song. Twenty four elders, representing all God’s redeemed—the children of Israel in the twelve tribes and the church of God in the twelve apostles—offer worship to the Lion who is the Lamb. He is the answer to our prayers, (v. 8) and the object of our praise, (v. 9-14). The halls of heaven resound with this mighty melody. He alone is worthy of our worship!  

Let us begin warming up for that glorious time to come, as we gather with the Lord’s people in the Lord’s house on the Lord’s Day to sing the Lord’s praise!

YOU ARE WORTHY, O LORD!

God alone is worthy of our praise. Heaven abounds with His worship. He is the Creator of all and the existence of all creation is not only by Him, but for Him. The Lord is the originator of all things and the object of all thanksgiving.

God alone is worthy to receive GLORY. Glory is the very essence of His being and the vocal expression of our blessing of Him. He is altogether glorious.

God alone is worthy to receive HONOR. He is the Most High and merits our highest praise. He is above all. 

God alone is worthy to receive POWER. Omnipotence is the theological term. God is all-powerful, for so the word means. He is the Almighty.

Our worship will be the order of eternity. So, on earth we are to rehearse for that heavenly chorus that we will join someday!  I pray that you reflect on God’s glory, honor, and power today, then on the Lord’s Day assemble with God’s people in His house to give Him the worship He desires and deserves. Thus, you will get a foretaste of Heaven!

THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST: FACT OR FABLE?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundational truth of the Christian faith.  Take that away, and nothing else matters.  Listen to Paul’s words in 1 Cor.15:13-19.  

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”

Can we really believe that Christ arose?  The resurrection of Christ—is it fact or fable?  Here is some evidence to consider from a physician’s account in Luke 24:1-12. 

Fact #1: THE STONE WAS REMOVED. “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. (v. 1-2). 

This is important for several reasons.  First, it was a massive stone, guarded by armed soldiers, (cf. Matt.27:62-28:4, 11-15).  Secondly, it was not removed to let Jesus out, but the witnesses in, (cf. Mark 16:2-5).  One theory the skeptics put forth is that Jesus only appeared to be dead, and after being in the tomb, revived and came out.  Right…He fooled the professional executioners, who stuck a spear right into His heart.  Without medical attention, He not only survived burial, but got well.  Then He rolled the stone away and escaped the guards.  It is far easier to believe the truth of the resurrection than that kind of nonsense!

Fact #2: THE BODY WAS GONE. “Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus,” (v. 3). The disciples were in no condition to steal the body.  They were terrorized by the events, holed up like scared rabbits.  Then, there was the problem of the stone and the soldiers as we’ve already seen.  Some skeptics suggest that the authorities removed His body, so it couldn’t be stolen.  Had that been the case, and the disciples began to preach the resurrection, all they would have had to do was produce the corpse—case closed and Christianity killed.  But, there was no body!  The tomb was empty and it still is!

Fact #3: THE WOMEN WERE SHOCKED. “And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead?’ “ (v. 4-5).  Still another argument is that the disciples wanted to believe Jesus would be raised from the dead so much that they convinced themselves it was true; the disciples then were delusional, kind of a mass hallucination.  The fact is that none of them expected Him to rise.  The women were going to embalm a body.  They were shocked as any that Christ’s corpse was not there!

Fact # 4: THE TESTIMONY WAS GIVEN. “ ‘He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘ “ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” ‘ And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. (v. 6-10).  The women heard the incredible explanation from the angels that were there, and they eagerly went and told it.  This is significant also.  In those days, women were second-class citizens.  Their testimony carried with it no credibility in a courtroom.  If you were making up a story—some grand conspiracy—as the skeptics will argue, then you would have had men giving the first testimony and not women!  The only way that women would be chosen is because this is what really happened!

Fact #5: THE STORY WAS REJECTED. “And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them,” (v. 11).  The testimony of the women is met with skepticism.  They did not believe it.  They would not have believed it, unless Jesus really met them and rose from the dead (24:33-43).  The first skeptics were the disciples themselves!  Do you recall the reaction of Thomas to the report of the resurrection? 

“Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’ And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ ” (John‬ ‭20‬:‭24‬-‭29‬‬).

Then, weigh the witness of the hateful opponent of Christianity’s witness to the Risen Christ, who was converted to a faithful proponent of the Resurrected Lord. Here is what Paul wrote:

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.” (1 Cor. 15:3-11)  

This is an undeniable transformation of a man who was turned from an antagonist to an apostle, from a persecutor to a preacher. There is no other reasonable explanation for the conversion of Saul the Pharisee to Paul the Apostle except that He met the risen and glorified Christ on the Damascus Road!

As concerning any historical claim—how do we know the reliability of events we ourselves did not observe?  For instance, how do we know there was a real man named Alexander the Great?  How do we know that Columbus sailed to the New World in 1492?  How do we know Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet?  All we have is the testimony of reliable witnesses. Yet, we accept these as facts. So, we can believe the testimony of eyewitnesses, and especially of converted skeptics and haters!

Fact #6:  THE EVENT WAS INVESTIGATED. “But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.” (v. 12). What Peter saw convinced him.  The linen burial cloths were intact—just empty—as though someone had passed right through them!  A grave robber would have torn everything apart.  What a change this produced in Peter—from cowardice to courage.  He was willing to suffer and die for the cause.  People don’t do that for what they know to be a lie.  Nothing can explain this transformation apart from the reality of the resurrection.  

Jesus is still in the life-changing business!  If Jesus did not rise, nothing else matters.  If He did, then everything else the Scriptures claim and command must be taken to heart.  

“ ‘Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.’ ” (Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭30‬-‭31‬‬)

DEAD, BUT NOT DORMANT

“Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior! Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!” So, tomorrow, we will sing and celebrate, “Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes!” 

Yet, what of that in-between time, when His body was sealed in the sepulcher?  Peter tells us that though His crucified body was in a tomb, His spirit was very much alive and active, (1 Pet. 3:18). Christ was dead, but not dormant.

The Bible does not teach, “soul sleep.”  Paul said, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord,” (2 Cor.‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬‬).  Neither was Jesus in a state of unconsciousness between His death and resurrection. 

The Old Testament term for the world of the dead is Sheol and the New Testament word is Hades. According to the story our Lord told of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31, there were two areas where the souls of the dead would dwell: “torment” for the wicked and “Abraham’s bosom” (figurative language for “paradise”). Recall that Jesus promised the dying thief, “today you will be with Me in Paradise,” (Lk. 23:43). Thus, when Jesus died physically, He was alive spiritually—closing His eyes on Calvary, He opened them in Paradise. He was dead, but not dormant.

What did He do during that time?  We know that in Sheol/Hades there is “a great gulf fixed,” so that none can cross over from perdition to paradise or vice versa, (Lk. 16:26), yet they can converse as we hear the rich man in torment crying out to “Father Abraham,” for a drop of water to be brought to him by Lazarus, (Lk. 16:24) and Abraham responds to him with the impossibility of that. They communicate with each other. Jesus was spiritually in paradise with the repentant thief that very day as He promised. He was there and “preached to the spirits in prison,” (1 Pet. 3:19). 

This was not an evangelistic sermon. The decision of where we will spend eternity is made in this lifetime—with no “second chance” after death. It was in this case a proclamation “to the spirits in prison, who were formerly disobedient…in the days of Noah.”  In torment, these fallen demons were locked away in a special prison. Peter would add this in his second epistle, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;” (2:4). The Greek word for “hell” is Tartarus, the name of that special compartment in torment for these wicked demons to be imprisoned. 

Jude speaks of them also, “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;”(Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬‬).

It is my understanding that these demons in some fashion inhabited human form and were used by Satan—the Prince of Demons—to corrupt the human race by sexual relations with human women in Noah’s day, (cf. Gen. 6:1-8). The Serpent had been told after he seduced Adam and Eve in the Garden, “ ‘And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.’ ” (Gen.‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬‬). If the Devil could corrupt “the daughters of men,” (Gen. 6:1), then there would be no seed of woman to crush his head!  It would have worked, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD,” (Gen. 6:8).

Satan persisted in attempts to fully corrupt the nation of Israel and thus no Messiah would be born. Yet, God always had a remnant of believers. Even, when Messiah came, the Devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Yet, Christ remained sinless and on the cross, though the Seed of woman had His heel bruised—the Lord’s suffering and physical death—by that means, crushed the Serpent’s head!

So, Christ descended into the realm of the dead and proclaimed His victory over the Devil and his demonic hordes!

As bad as this sermon was for the imprisoned demons, it was glorious for the people of God in paradise. You see, the Old Testament saints were saved by faith in Christ just like we are—Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and all the redeemed (cf. Heb. 11).  They were saved by looking ahead to Christ’s atoning work on the cross, whereas we look back to it. Those saved in the Old Testament were saved by “the lay-away plan.”  You know how you find a Christmas gift for someone, so you don’t want it reserved. It is put in lay-away, until the price is paid, and then you possess it. So, the Old Testament saints went to paradise, or “Abraham’s bosom,” so to speak, until Christ would pay the price of their redemption. After His resurrection, and His ascension, He would empty that compartment in Hades and take the souls of those Old Testament believers to Heaven and into the presence of the Father. “Therefore He says: ‘When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.’ (Now this, ‘He ascended’—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)” (Eph. ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭10‬‬). 

He was dead, but not dormant!

THE OPEN DOOR

Philadelphia—the name signifies, “the city of brotherly love.” How appropriate then for a church to be birthed there, for love for our Father and for our fellowman is the Great Commandment to Christ’s followers. Out of that flows the church’s commitment to the Great Commission—to reach the lost, baptize them into the fellowship, and disciple them. This church at Philadelphia is pictured as “the church of the open door.”  Christ holds the key and has unlocked the door to evangelism. 

We must seize the opportunity while the door is open. There are three mandates for a missionary church. These are the featured in Revelation 3:8 where Jesus declared. “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”

First, we must have A POWER THAT IS SUFFICIENT. “I know your works…you have a little strength.”  From the human perspective, this congregation would not seem impressive. The numbers of people, financial resources, and community influence was minimal. These are often ways we gauge a church’s impact from a human perspective. Yet, what we have here is a heavenly perspective. Jesus says, “I know your works,” and commends them for being a great church as He gauges it. That is the only evaluation that matters! 

An old song says, “Little is much when God is in it.” A shepherd’s staff surrendered to the Lord could be used to part the Red Sea. 300 warriors obedient to God could route an enormous army camped against them. A stone in a slingshot hurled by a young lad could bring a giant to the ground. A pot of oil could be poured out over and over to be used to pay the debt a widow owed. Five loaves and two fish placed in the hands of Jesus could feed 5000. An old rugged cross where Jesus gave all would be the means of redemption. Twelve common men sold out to Christ would turn the world upside down!

Second, we must have A PERSEVERANCE THAT IS EVIDENT. “I know your works…for you…have kept My word.”  Our responsibility is faithfulness and God’s is to produce fruitfulness. We sow the seed and the Lord of the Harvest brings in the crop. Let us not consider what the world wants in order to shape our appeal to them and thereby miss what God requires—obedience to the truth, that is, faithfulness to the Word. An open door that welcomes all sinners to hear the Gospel must never be an open door to allow false doctrine and compromised morality to invade the church. We are to seek the stray sheep, not build a barn for goats. We say to anyone and everyone, “Come,” but to those who would be saved, “Repent!”

The Risen Lord would specifically commend them, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”  Because they would keep steadfast, God would keep them secure. Their perseverance would bring their preservation.

Third, we must have A PROFESSION THAT IS DEFINITE. “I know your works…for you…have not denied my name.”  The missionary church is not about publishing its fame, but proclaiming Christ’s name. “ ‘Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved,’ ” (Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬‬). The faithful church is not one to promote the messenger, the music, or the ministries, but to preach the Master!

The name of Jesus is the great dividing line—the difference between heaven and hell. It will be an open door to those who will be saved and an offensive name to those who are to be damned.  The church of the open door preaches that name and lets the chips fall where they may!

The letter closes with this appeal:

“ ‘Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. ‘ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘  ” (Rev. 3:11-13). 

Are we listening?

CHRIST’S LAST WORD TO HIS CHURCH

In Revelation 2-3, we have seven messages to seven churches. These churches were real people in real places with real potentials and real problems. Yet, in these we have vital lessons for all churches of all locations and for all time.

Each one begins similarly, “To the angel of the church…” and ends with, “He who has an ear, let Him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  The Greek word translated, “angel,” literally means, “messenger,” and most often refers in the Bible to a heavenly messenger—a celestial being. While that is possible here, nowhere else in Scripture do we read of a specific angel assigned to a local church. Instead, I think it more likely as descriptive of a human messenger—the shepherd of that local flock. The first eyes to look on the letter would be the one responsible to proclaim it to the congregation. 

What a great opportunity!  The pastor has the privilege of hearing from God that He might speak for God. Yet, this is also a grave responsibility! We are not only in a privileged, but a pivotal position as God’s representatives. Pastor, you are an angel—don’t act like a devil!  One day we will stand before the Lord and be judged accordingly.

In each letter, the Lord identifies Himself in a specific way according to the particular needs of that local congregation. “I know your works,” is the declaration of Christ to each church. What ultimately matters is not what the congregation thinks of itself, nor what the community thinks of the church, but what Christ knows about that local assembly. He knows it all—nothing is hidden to His eyes, “like a flame of fire,” (2:18). The Lord commends the church for the good He discerns (and there is some good in all but one—Laodecia, the lukewarm church that nauseated Him).  The Lord confronts the church for the problems He detects (and there is some in all but two—Smyrna, the persecuted church that was faithful to Him—purified by fiery trials and Philadelphia, the missionary church—the church of the open door). There is the promise of a particular reward for each church that would hear and heed the message.

Those local churches were comprised of individual members. Should even one respond in faith and obedience, there is the promise of reward. Surely, the pastor is the first one who needs to submit to the authority of Christ in His church. If He will submit and then share the Word, as members one by one do likewise, then there is hope for the Lord’s blessing on that fellowship. 

“He who has an ear, let Him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  We are called to “overcome,” the world, the flesh, and the devil. God gives us His Scripture to guide us and His Spirit to empower us through faith and obedience.

Preacher, it starts with you. God has placed you and your congregation strategically to make a difference for Him in this time and place. Will you?

THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

I have heard the last book of the Bible referred to as “Revelations.”  They mean that it is a book filled with various revelations concerning the end times. Certainly, there are those, but that is not the name, nor the theme of the book. It is “Revelation,” singular and the focus is on a Person, Jesus Christ. Hear the author himself, as he begins the book:

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,” (v. ‭1‬‬).

It is easy to become obsessed with the Antichrist, and miss the One in the Scriptural spotlight, Jesus Christ!  From start to finish, the Spirit of God moved John, the servant of God, to point to the Son of God.

The Apostle was overwhelmed by this manifestation of the Master, “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.’” (1‬:‭17‬-‭18‬‬).

From the lips of the Lord we hear of HIS ETERNITY, “I am the First and the Last.”  There has never been a time that He was not, nor will there ever be a time that He will not be. The Second Person of the Trinity is eternal and uncreated, without beginning or ending. He transcends time and is in control of it, rather than being subjected to it.  

Yet, that Eternal Word became flesh and dwelt among us. So, He next speaks of HIS HUMANITY, “I am He who lives, and was dead.”  There was a moment is history when Christ took on humanity. The Infinite became an infant. The Son of God became the Son of Man that the sons of men might become the sons of God. The Sinless One hung on the cross and died as our Substitute, fully paying the price for our sins. 

But, that was not the end of Him or that would be the end of hope, as the Lord declares HIS VICTORY, “behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.” The grave could not hold Him. Death could not defeat Him. “Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes!”  Because He lives, He can give those who trust in Him, life beyond death—victory over our “last enemy,” (1 Cor. 15:26).

The Risen Lord affirms HIS SOVEREIGNTY, “I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”  If you hold the keys, you have authority. He rules over the realm of the world of the dead, “Hades,” and even “Death,” itself, sitting above it. Christ is no more subject to death, but sovereign over it—and indeed over all. Our Lord is guiding all things to fulfilling His goal and for His glory. Hallelujah to the Lamb that was slain and the Lion who will reign!

THREE TYPES OF CHURCH PEOPLE IN THIRD JOHN

Church members have great potential and also can cause grave problems. Some are to be commended and others confronted. John does both in his third letter. 

Those commended serve as bookends to the one confronted. So, the Apostle commences and concludes the epistle on a positive note. The middle section pulls no punches in exposing a problem person in the congregation.

First, he describes GAIUS THE GENEROUS, (v. 1-8). Old John loved this man. He prayed for him to prosper materially and physically in measure as he did spiritually. He knew Gaius would be a good steward of his time, talent, and treasure, for Gaius had demonstrated his love for the Lord and support of the needy. John rejoiced in how Gaius was walking in the truth. He knew that when missionaries came to the church, Gaius would support them in their work. Such church people are a great joy to their pastor!  I have known many such generous souls across the years that God blessed in order for them to be a blessing. 

But, secondly, John turns to DIOTREPHES THE DOMINATOR, (v. 9-11). He was a “church boss,” a member who acted as a mobster. He sought the preeminent position of power. He wanted in the spotlight. His attitude was like that of some members I have known, “I was here when the preacher came and I will be here when he leaves—and if he doesn’t watch out, he will be gone sooner than later!”  Such are troublemakers who like to throw their weight around. They have a venomous tongue and spout “malicious words.” Such must be called out or they will do great harm to the Gospel work. Sadly, the Devil has these planted in many churches. 

Thirdly, the Apostle ends with a glowing word about DEMETRIUS THE DEVOUT, (v. 12-14). Those who knew him were quick to laud him. If you took the plumb-line of Scripture and placed it beside Demetrius, you would see how straight he was doctrinally and morally!  John was delighted in such devotion. As discouraging as a Diotrephes can be, a Demetrius is heartening. People like this fuel the pastors fire to go serve the Lord. They serve as deacons, teach Bible studies, care for children, prepare the building for the worship service, greet the newcomers, collect the offering, and on and on we might go. They are often unsung heroes who shun the spotlight, but the Lord is taking note and their reward waits in glory!

Thank God, that having pastored churches for around a half century, I have had the joy of seeing many generous and devoted souls like Gaius and Demetrius. I will admit I have been wounded by a few seeking domination, but when they demanded that I leave, so far they were the ones who eventually left!  So, preacher remember that those who are for you are usually more than those against you. Supremely, since God is for you, who can be against you?  If Diotrephes has his way and runs you off, shake the dust off your feet, and move on to your next assignment! Jesus—the only perfect Preacher was rejected, so we must not think we can please everyone!

LOVE, TRUTH, AND JOY

John was an old man—the last of the Twelve—who writes 2 John, this small, but substantive letter.  Was it literally written to a sister in Christ, or a church using symbolic language?  That debate will be for another time—for now, we recognize that it is eternal truth for us!  Three themes dominate the text: love, truth, and joy. 

We begin with LOVE, as John does. Love is used four times, (v. 1, 3, 5-6). In the first two, there is a connection to truth. Indeed, in the last two, there is the implication of truth, as love is spoken of as being commanded. Love and truth walk hand in hand. Love without truth is a toxic empathy—not really love. It is tolerating the intolerable, condoning the sinful, even celebrating the evil. It is tantamount to giving someone a pat on the back on their way to hell! Love cares enough to confront with truth, yet ever with a heart of compassion. I have never forgotten what John Maxwell said, “People do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” You can have a mouth full of theological propositions, but a heart empty of real compassion. 

So, we move on to TRUTH. Truth is mentioned five times, (v. 1 [twice], v. 2-4).  We may add a term synonymous with Gospel truth, and that is “doctrine,” referenced three times (twice in v. 9 and once in v. 10). In addition, the core of the letter is a call to confront error, (v. 7-11). While we must be reminded that love without truth is toxic empathy, truth without love is cruel brutality. We must, however, equip our people to discern deception and reject it. It is not nit-picking about peripheral matters where genuine Christians may disagree, but it is holding to courageous convictions concerning the core of Christianity. John speaks particularly of the doctrine of Christ. Every cult and false religion denies the incarnation—the Only Begotten Son of God, fully God and fully man—and the only Way, the sole Truth, and the unique source of Life. We are to do all we can to defeat such deception by wielding the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God!

Finally, John stresses JOY. Joy is referenced twice—once as “rejoiced,” (v. 4) and then as “joy,” in v. 12. Joy is the result of seeing the children of God walking in truth and love. Walking suggests progress—advancing in the things of God. Disciples have not arrived at perfection yet, for that awaits Heaven, but there ought to be progression in sanctification. Truth does not have to be taught with a scowl on the face and a growl in the voice. Doctrine ought to be declared with delight!  While, what I am sharing with you online I pray is helpful, there is nothing like being personally in the house of God with the people of God to hear the word of God as we engage in the worship of God for the glory of God!  John’s joy would be fully experienced as he saw his brothers and sisters face to face. May this be our reality on this Lord’s Day!

If you attend a liberal church where a false love is promoted to the exclusion of truth, get out as fast as you can!  Should you attend a legalistic church where truth is used to beat people down instead of lifting them up, find another church. If you attend a lifeless church, where it seems more like a funeral home than a joyful celebration, pray for revival to come, and if it does not, then go where you can rejoice in the Risen Lord! 

There are three other words that should claim our attention in John’s greeting: “Grace, mercy, and peace…from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ,” (v. 3). The bottom line is this: our capacity to express God’s love, to expound God’s truth, and to experience His joy springs from a genuine experience of salvation. Grace is receiving what we do not deserve—eternal life; mercy is not getting what we do deserve—no condemnation, being forgiven; peace is what results from these—peace with the Father through the Son!

POWER IN PRAYER

Concerning prayer, when all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done. How many sermons have we heard about prayer? Have many studies have we done about prayer?  These are of value to be sure. Yet, as James warned us, we must be “doers of the Word and not hearers only,” (James 1:22). John states three principles in 1 John 5:14-15 that must be practiced to experience power in prayer.

First, we must ASK, “that if we ASK anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ASK, we know that we have the petitions that we have ASKED of Him.” [emphasis added]. James also told us, “you do not have because you do not ask,” (James 4:2c). Unasked prayers are unanswered prayers. Sin is at its depraved heart about the ego. We see in center of sin the letter, “I.”  When we pray, we are not informing God of that which He does not know.  Rather, we are admitting that we know we need Him and cannot handle things on our own. He is God and we are not. As a preacher, I have found it easier to speak to men about God than to speak to God about men. But, my preaching will be without power if I do not seek Him.

Second, we must ABIDE, “that if we ask anything according to HIS WILL, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions we asked of Him.” [emphasis added]. Abiding in the will of God—being in submission to it—brings power in prayer. We are linked to Christ and can ask anything for we only want what He wills. Surely, John recalled these words from the lips of Jesus, ‬‬“If you ABIDE in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you,” (John‬ ‭15‬:‭7‬‬, emphasis added). The will of God is expressed in the Word of God—a Book of “exceedingly great and precious promises,” (2 Pet 1:4). As we abide in that Word so it abides in us, then we find ourselves abiding in Christ and in His will, which far from limiting our prayers, liberates our prayers to ask for absolutely anything. 

Third, we must ANTICIPATE, “Now this is the CONFIDENCE that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if WE KNOW that He hears us, whatever we ask, WE KNOW that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”  Our anticipation is to receive an answer. Faith is the foundation on which powerful praying rests. Our confidence in God’s power to answer and purpose for answering flips the switch that unleashes the energy of Omnipotence! Man says, “I will believe it when I see it,” but God responds, “You’ll see it when you believe it!” Our Lord—who cannot lie—stated it, “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive,” (‭‭Matt.‬ ‭21‬:‭22‬‬). I suspect that one day when I stand before the Lord, I will be disappointed in knowing that I did not ask God for too much, but too little. He has limitless power, but my experience of that will be limited by my unbelief. Some of the most shocking words in Scripture are these: “Now [Jesus] could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.” (Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬-‭6‬). 

May we fervently and faithfully ask, abide, and anticipate power in prayer!  

PREACHING PROPHETIC PASSAGES: ITS NECESSITY AND URGENCY

Preachers may tend to avoid preaching about prophecy due to its difficulty and potential for controversy. Yet, Scripture itself calls us to preaching prophetic passages as a necessity and with urgency. 

Concerning the coming of Christ and the consummation of the age there are often three major views: 

1) Premillennialism—that says Christ will return and then set up a thousand year reign on earth;

2) Postmillennialism—that says the church will win the world to Christ and then He will return and receive His kingdom;

3) Amillennialism—that says the prophetic passages are symbolic and Christ will return with a general resurrection and judgment bringing the eternal state. 

Someone has suggested a fourth—panmillennialism: it will all “pan” out in the end!  I would say that is the worst of the views. It is a wish-washy approach to the significant number of prophetic passages that demand to be preached. Peter would have forcefully confronted such thinking. One third of his second epistle is devoted to the subject, and brings the climax of all the Apostle wanted to say to us. 

Preaching prophetic passages is A CALL TO REMEMBRANCE, (2 Pet. 3:1-7). The old fisherman speaks to this purpose when he says, “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,” (v. 1‬-‭2‬‬).  We dare not forget that Christ is coming!  That fact will compel us to live for eternity and with urgency. Sure, there will be “scoffers,” (v. 3-4) who “willfully forget” how God judged the world in Noah’s day, (v. 5-7). Jesus said that the end of the age would be marked by a return to such corruption and chaos with condemnation to come. “But, as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be,” (Matt. 24:37). Our Lord warned against the complacency where people go on their lives as though there is not a day of reckoning.  

“For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matt.‬ ‭24‬:‭38‬-‭44‬‬).

God forbid that preachers fail to call people to remembrance! That is spiritual malpractice!

Further, preaching prophetic passages is A CALL TO REPENTANCE, (2 Pet. 3:8-9). The certainty and gravity of judgment on this world should compel us to preach with urgency and fervency. It is not for us to try to set dates. Jesus said that none would know the day or hour of His return—a time appointed by His Sovereign Father. As an eternal Being, God’s calendar is not the same as mortal man’s. We think a thousand years is a long span of time, whereas God considers it as a mere fleeting day. We do not know the precise time Christ will return, but we do know that time is imminent, and could be today. Every man of God must realize that his next sermon could be his final one!  It could also be the last one the congregation will hear. The clarion call to come to Christ in repentance must be issued.

I think of Ezekiel—appointed as a watchman on the wall—to sound a warning of judgment to come. The sobering words to the spiritual sentry is that failure to do so means that judgment falls, but to the man who does not alert the people, God says, “his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand,” (Ezek. 33:6b). We cannot make people repent, but we must call them to repentance!

Then, we preach prophetic passages as A CALL TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, (1 Pet. 3:10-18). Prophetic preaching is a call to sinners to repent, but also a call to saints for righteousness.  

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Pet.‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭13‬‬).

Since God is going to purge the earth of sin and establish an eternal kingdom where “righteousness dwells,” then we, as His people, are to begin to prepare for it, “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,” (v. 11). Indeed, in a proper response to that day of destiny, by looking forward to it, we can be “hastening the coming of the day of God,” (v. 12). Now, we do not speed things up from God’s perspective, but from man’s. How? In this sense—God knows who the final soul is that will be won to faith to complete the Bride of Christ. When that one is won then the Bridegroom will return to claim His Bride who has made herself ready for Him!  Is it not amazing that the next person you lead to Christ could be that one? This should spur us on in soul-winning!

Perhaps you have heard the expression, “they are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.”  The truth is that those who are most properly heavenly minded do the most earthy good!  Peter ends his writing by calling us to be “looking forward to these things,” that we may “be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”  

Preaching prophetic passages is immensely practical:

“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. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Pet.‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬-‭18‬‬)

VICTORY IN JESUS

The old Gospel song declares our “Victory in Jesus.”  Paul promised, “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us,” (Rom. 8:37). Now, Peter proclaims the triumph of our faith in Christ and the means by which we secure it in 1 Pet. 5:8-11. 

First, consider THE REALITY OF OUR FOE,  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8). The Devil is not a fairy tale. Satan is real, and we best face this fact so as to be ready to fight.

This calls for seriousness. “Be sober,” Peter says. It is not a game. This world is a battleground, not a playground. We have an adversary on the prowl who is ready to pounce, and we must take this seriously. 

There must then be watchfulness. “Be vigilant,” is the command.  In the jungle of this world, Satan is a lion stalking his prey. Suddenly, he roars that he may paralyze us with fear. He will devour us, if we are not alert to the danger.

Second, observe THE RESISTANCE OF OUR FAITH.  “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world,” (1 Pet. 5:9). Faith is the antidote to fear. These are mutually exclusive.

This summons us to steadfastness. “Resist him, steadfast in the faith.”  Rather than turn our back and run, we take a stand and resist. When Paul described our spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-20, he stressed that we are to stand our ground—the ground already secured for us by the victory of Jesus in His crucifixion and resurrection. One notes there is no armor for the back!  We are to face the foe. You cannot outrun the roaring lion, but you can outgun him! Faith is the victory that overcomes the world, (cf. 1 Jn. 5:4). 

Yet, there is also the fact of suffering as Peter stated, “knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” We can win, but that doesn’t mean there will be no wounds. We long for final victory, ultimate conquest, but that is secured when Christ returns. In this hostile world, suffering is a realty for the soldiers of the cross. But what the devil means for evil, God means for good—the fiery trials that refine our faith, as we find in the next section.

Third, note THE RELIANCE ON OUR FATHER, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Pet. ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭11‬‬). While we are no match for Satan, he is no match for our Father. It is in reliance on the Lord that victory is assured.

We have the promise of grace, as He is, “the God of all grace.”  There is grace for every need. God’s resources come to those in reliance. Martin Luther put it this way in his hymn:

1 A mighty fortress is our God,

a bulwark never failing;

our helper he, amid the flood

of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe

does seek to work us woe;

his craft and power are great,

and armed with cruel hate,

on earth is not his equal.

2 Did we in our own strength confide,
 our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.

You ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is he;

Lord Sabaoth his name,

from age to age the same;

and he must win the battle.

3 And though this world, with devils filled,

should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear, for God has willed

his truth to triumph through us.

The prince of darkness grim,

we tremble not for him;

his rage we can endure,

for lo! his doom is sure;

one little word shall fell him.

4 That Word above all earthly powers

no thanks to them abideth;

the Spirit and the gifts are ours

through him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go,

this mortal life also;

the body they may kill:

God's truth abideth still;

his kingdom is forever!

This grace leads to glory.  “[God] called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  It is all about the glory of God and one day we shall enter that glory—to abide in it. Paul echoed this when he wrote, “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,” (Rom.‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬‬). These sufferings will purify us as gold and temper us as steel in the fire.

“To Him be the glory and the dominion direct and ever. Amen.”

TO THE GLORY OF GOD

God is most glorious and He is above all things to receive glory. In 1 Peter 4:7-11, the Apostle focuses on how can do all things to the glory of God. 

There is to be intentional URGENCY. “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.”  (1 Pet. 4:7)

I am reminded of the words of missionary C. T. Studd, 

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; 

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Writing as a man in his seventies, who has been active in church work for nearly half a century, I can attest to the rapidity with which life races by. There is no rewind button. Every precious second that ticks by, with a significant amount spent in sleep and basic necessities, will never be reclaimed. Time is too precious to waste or as we say, “killing time.” Instead our days are to be devoted to the glory of God, as those who must stand before Christ and give account. 

Human history is linear and not circular. There was a starting point in creation and there will be a finishing point of consummation. Those who glorify God best live as though Christ might return today—for He may! 

This leads us to seriousness—“therefore be serious.”  It doesn’t mean we shuffle along with a long face as in a funeral, but rather that we run purposefully with joyful anticipation of a wedding with Christ our Bridegroom.  That is important. If you have ever been around a woman preparing for marriage, you know they take the wedding seriously!

This further inspires supplication—“watchful in your prayers.”  Those who glorify God most are those who spend time in His presence. As we gaze into His glorious face, we reflect that glory when we leave the private place of Divine communion and journey to the public place of human connection.  

There is to be loving FERVENCY, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” (1 Pet. 4:8-9)

While we ought to say to others, “I love you,” it is imperative that we show others we love them. True love is a fire exhibited fervently. As God is nauseated by lukewarmness, He desires that we “have fervent love for one another.”  

Such love is marked by humility. “Love will cover a multitude of sins.” We are to humbly forgive and not assert our own rights. We are not about exposing the flaws of others, instead humbly confessing our own failings. As Jesus said, 

And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do  not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to  your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye”; and look,  a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank  from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the  speck from your brother’s eye. (Matt. ‭7‬:‭3‬-‭5‬‬)

Peter tells us such love is also exhibited by hospitality. “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”  An open heart and open arms lead to an open door. How we entertain one another in our home ought to be with gladness and not a grumbling.  It is something we want to do and not just we have to do—a delight and not a duty.  

There is to be gracious MINISTRY. 

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as  good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks,  let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him  do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God  may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory  and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭10-‭11‬‬)

Every church member is to be a minister. All the Father’s children are gifted children. Being born again of the Spirit, each of us has at least one spiritual gift. These are not for show, but for service. 

Every church pastor is to be teacher  “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.”  The preacher has a particular ministry of speaking the Word of God—not his opinions, but God’s oracles.

There is a sacred stewardship. “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”  As mentioned previously, a day of accounting is coming. Paul put it this way, 

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious  stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for  the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the  fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work  which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If  anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be  saved, yet so as through fire.  (1 Cor. ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭15‬‬)

There is a supernatural supply. “If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies.” Christian ministry is a human impossibility. If we do it, then we can claim credit for it. If God does it through us, then He gets the glory. That is the way it works. The secret is to abide in Christ. Read John 15 where our Lord reminds us that He is the Vine and we are the branches. If a branch is not connected to the vine it cannot bear fruit. Now, we may think our service is something, but Christ says it is nothing—that is, of no eternal significance unless done in supernatural reliance.

When there is intentional urgency, loving fervency, and gracious ministry, here is the result: “that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”