A PURIFIED PEOPLE

 

Sin separates us from God. This is a problem that we cannot solve. The distance between a Holy God and a sinful humanity is a chasm so vast we cannot cross. Since we are all sinners, we are all condemned. It is impossible to purify myself. That would be like trying to wash my hands in muddy water. Yet, God does not lower His standard. His demand is, “Be holy, for I am holy,” (1 Peter 1:16). 

God did what we could never do, for God can do the impossible. There was REDEMPTION.  Enslaved by sin, God came in human flesh—Jesus Christ the Son—to free us, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,” (1 Peter 1:18). By His blood, payment was made to purchase us. “What can wash away my sins?” That is the question, the hymn writer posed, and went on to answer, “Nothing, but the blood of Jesus!”  This was God’s one and only predetermined plan—that in the crucifixion of Christ, the penalty for sin has been paid, and in His resurrection, the confirmation of His work has been sealed. “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God,” (1 Peter 1:19-21). 

A miracle takes place—REGENERATION.  We are no longer, slaves, but sons—no more sinners, but saints, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:23-25). The seed of the Gospel is sown into the soil of the soul, and those who receive it are regenerated—born again of the Spirit working through the Scripture He has inspired. 

The evidence of being redeemed and regenerated is in RIGHTEOUSNESS. Having positional righteousness through redemption and potential righteousness through regeneration, there will be progressive righteousness in sanctification. This is not the root of salvation, but the fruit of salvation. 

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear…

 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,”  (1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭17, 22). 

As God’s children, we bear His image, and this should be an increasing reality more and more. We must choose to think properly, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind,” take this seriously, “be sober,” and trust fully, “and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  From start to finish, salvation is all of grace. Yet, He does not do the work apart from us, but in us as we rely on God and apply His grace by a will surrendered to Him.  The Holy God is marked by truth and love, so that as His children we will exhibit obedience to the truth and pure and passionate love for the family of God.

The people of God are a purified people—not perfect yet, but progressing toward it. John stated it, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬-‭3‬‬)

BAD NEWS; GOOD NEWS

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
— ‭‭John‬ ‭14:6‬‬

Our spiritual condition is a bad news, good news scenario. The bad news is that we are sinners separated from God—a universal condition that we are born in and throughout a lifetime of rebellious choices become entrenched in. Our final destination on that path is hell. Where is the good news?  It is this—God did not leave us in that state without remedy. We can be born again!  That second birth enables us to be in a right relationship with God and repentance brings us to right choices on a path that ends in heaven.

Without Christ, you are lost.  We are wandering farther and farther from God and closer and closer to the Abyss. That’s the bad news.  The good news is Christ is the Way.  Jesus came to be the bridge across the great divide between us and Holy God.

Without Christ, you are deceived.  That’s the bad news.  Our minds are twisted by error. The good news is Christ is the Truth.  His life that He demonstrated and the lessons that He declared revealed the truth about God and His ways.

Without Christ, you are dead in sin.  You are not merely sick, but dead, and dead people cannot fix themselves. That’s the bad news.  The good news is Christ is the Life.  He possesses resurrection power and by His Spirit will summon you through the Word of God to life.

If you have come to Christ, then rejoice and give Him praise. It was not because of anything good you have done, but the good in Him. That’s grace!

If you have not come to Him, will you hear His voice, and respond to His call today?

JESUS IS THE LIFE OF REGENERATION

 “I am the…life…”  (John 14:6).

Apart from Christ, the Bible describes us as dead in trespasses and sins. We are the walking dead.  Our bodies degrade and decay—we die physically.  Even worse, there is the second death—the Lake of Fire—eternal death, for those who reject Christ.

That is why we must be born again—regenerated and becoming a new creation in Christ!  Jesus is the source of life. It comes through a personal relationship with Christ where we receive Him by faith.

Jesus is not only the source, but the substance of life.  Paul put it this way, “For to me to live is Christ...” (Phil.1:21). The Christian life is Christ living in me—not just a changed life, but an exchanged life. Paul described it in Galatians 2:20,  “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
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Jesus is the source, substance and the sum of life.  When it’s all been said and done, all life is summed up in Jesus—to live eternally with Him.  That’s why Paul could say, “For to me to live is Christ, AND TO DIE IS GAIN.”  [Phil.1:21, emphasis added].

See how Jesus put it, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3).

Here is the promise of eternal life “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” (John‬ ‭14:18-20‬)

THE VITALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”(Acts 1:8) The Holy Spirit vitalizes and revitalizes us—He gives us life and that abundantly.  He revives us when we are drained.  Consider how His vitality is experienced:

• REGENERATING. “Jesus answered, “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’” (John 3:5-8)  The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, draws us to Christ, and imparts life.  This is where spiritual life begins.

• BAPTIZING. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Cor.12:13)  The baptism of the Holy Spirit—giving us a real connection with God—began at Pentecost and that special relationship is for all believers.  You don’t seek the baptism—it’s yours.  The moment you are regenerated, you are immersed into Christ and Christ implanted in you!

• SEALING. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (2 Cor.1:20-22)  See the Trinity at work in assuring our salvation?  The Spirit seals us—marking us as belonging to Christ.  He is the guarantee of heaven to come—the downpayment on our full possession of a home in glory.
 
• FILLING. “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,” (Eph.5:18).  This is a command to obey and a promise to claim.  It is coming under His control.  As drunkenness dominates a person and alters everything about them, so being intoxicated with God brings us under the Spirit’s dominion and impacts all about us—how we think, see, walk, talk, feel and act.

• EQUIPPING. “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:” (1 Cor.12:1).  The Holy Spirit has given us all the gifts we need to do all God wants us to do.  He is the source of successful spiritual service.

The Spirit is life—eternal life—energizing and equipping us.

GOD THE FATHER: The Life-giver of His Children

“You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John‬ ‭8:41-44‬)

Fathers are fathers because they produce children.  God gives spiritual life to all those who are His spiritual children.

There is the mistaken notion that everyone is a child of God.  In the limited sense of God being the Creator, and all humans being made in His image, that is so.  But, specifically, Jesus says here that not all have God as their spiritual father.  He says that the devil was the father of the Pharisees.

By virtue of our first physical birth we are sinners—lost and under the wrath of God.  Our spiritual daddy is the Devil—sinful and hellbound. What we must have is a second spiritual birth that makes us sons of God—saved and heavenbound.  We will abide at home with our father forever. Whose your daddy?

Have you had that new birth?  It comes as we turn from our sins and trust in the Savior. We respond to the gracious activity of God and the drawing of the Spirit.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
‭‭(John‬ ‭1:12-13‬)

God the Father is the life-giver of His children.

THE HEART OF OUR PROBLEM

The religious police of Christ’s day—the Pharisees—were intent on enforcing their legalistic standards of ceremonial washings and purifications. While, I am sure Jesus has no issue with personal hygiene, and that washing your hands and bathing are commendable practice, He tells us there are more crucial spiritual concerns.

He begins with an exclamation.  “When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, ‘Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.’” (Matthew 15:10-11). The response of the Pharisees was fast and furious, “Then His disciples came and said to Him, ‘Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?’” (v.12).  They knew that God had forbidden, under the Mosaic covenant, for certain things to go into your mouth, so how can you reconcile the two?

Jesus offers an example. “But He answered and said, ‘Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.’” (v.13-14). The religious leaders were not wheat, but weeds.  Consider, the parable of the wheat and the tares in Matt.13:24-30. Someone may claim to be God’s son—even have some outward indications—and yet, truly be Satan’s spawn. The Pharisees were ceremonially clean, but morally corrupt.  They, were as those, “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Tim.3:5a). Worse still, they were blind guides leading blind people.  How ludicrous!  There are many voices today that claim to speak for God.  We better be discerning.   

Peter wasn’t. He was confused. “Then Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’” (v.15).  At least he turned to the right source for clarification. 

Jesus gives the explanation. ‘So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.’” (v.16-20). For example, if a Jew ate pork, since God had forbidden it, the issue was not the food in his mouth, but the filth in his heart—he was rebelling against God.  Later, when God said that we were free to eat bacon, to do so would no longer be rebellion—and I’m glad!

The truth is that the heart of our problem is the problem of our heart.  Before there are outward actions, there is an inward disposition. It is not religion we need, for it can only change the surface.  What we must have is regeneration, for only God can change the soul.

THE HEART OF THE MATTER

“The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.

A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

The wise in heart will be called prudent, And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:1, 5, 9, 21, 23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Your heart is important.  It is the organ that enables the rest of you to go on living as it pumps blood that feeds the other organs.  When I go for a physical, the doctor listens to my heart, takes my blood pressure, checks my pulse rate, and does an EKG.  Recently, I went to the emergency room, thinking I was having a heart attack.  It turned out to be an infection around my heart—painful, but one from which I recovered quickly. Still, it got my attention!

In Scripture, the heart is seen as even more than that—going beyond the organ that pumps blood, and being the seat of our thoughts, emotions, motives, and actions. It is the core of our being.  The heart of the matter is  a matter of the heart. If we are not healthy there, then we are not healthy at all—physically and spiritually.  Five times in Proverbs 16, Solomon references the heart.

1.  OUR HEART IS THE SEAT OF OUR INTENTIONS (v.1). Sadly, left to ourselves, even the best of our intentions is misguided because, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jer.17:9). The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.  From this foul well arises foolish speech.  Yet, God is sovereign, and able to transform both heart and speech, if we cast ourselves on His grace.

2.  GOD REJECTS THE PROUD IN HEART (v.5). Those who are proud in heart do not think they need God.  They seek the glory that only belongs to Him.  This shuts off the supply of grace.  “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6; 1 Pet.5:5). On which side of that issue do you want to be?

3.  FOLLOWING YOUR HEART IS A DANGEROUS THING (v.9). “Follow your heart,” is the misguided advice we hear from the culture.  Since our sinful heart beckons us to appease the flesh, we become like rats following the Pied Piper to our doom. The wise submit to a Sovereign God who has infinite knowledge and power.

4.  WE CAN BECOME WISE IN HEART THROUGH LEARNING GOD’S WORD (v.21). The whole point of the Proverbs (and indeed all of Scripture) is to direct us to truth and away from deception.  This is what we experience, when we receive Christ who is, “The way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6a). Our minds can be renewed.  We can have a new heart—and a sweet vocabulary rather than a poisoned one.

5. OUR SPEECH REVEALS WHAT IS IN OUR HEART (v.23). Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke‬ ‭6:45‬). Listen to someone long enough and you will know whether they have a depraved heart or a regenerate one.

How is your heart?

WASTED WORDS

“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Proverbs‬ ‭9:7-9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

There was a pastor who became an undertaker. When they asked him why, he answered, “Now, when I straighten them out, they stay straight!”  I can sympathize.  The truth is, however, that we don’t have to straighten everyone out.  That is the work of the Spirit.  You cannot make a blind man see or a deaf woman hear.  Yet, we may be the personality type who insists on trying.

Jesus put it this way, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” (Matt.‭7:6‬). Sometimes, it is best to let sleeping dogs lie.  The scoffer is not one who needs more information.  They have already heard the truth and have rejected it—militantly and stridently.

Some preachers would have been better being pugilists.  They continually climb into the ring with their verbal fists up.  Saying the right thing, the wrong way, the wrong time, to the wrong person, is still wrong. Often, the root of our relentless stream of rebuke is a motive to be right.  We may be more concerned to win an argument than to win a soul—a point of pride.

Christ’s counsel was, “And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” (‭Luke‬ ‭9:5‬). Words are worth too much to waste.  Go on to the next person—they might listen.  Instruct the wise and they will become more wise and love you—even if you rebuke them.

There are times we must stand up and speak to the scoffers.  It is not so much about them as reinforcing our own convictions and to let the weak and wavering who are listening to them know that they need not be swayed by their folly.  May God give us discernment to know when to speak up and when to shut up.  Words are worth too much to waste.  Sow Gospel seed on receptive soil if you can, and do not cast it on rocks intentionally.  Opportunity is fleeting.

Regeneration is a supernatural work.  If I can talk someone into believing something, someone else can talk them out. There is a place for apologetics, but there is also a time to say our piece and move on. The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit (1 Cor.2:14). It is foolishness to them.  God does use the power of the Gospel we share to do a miracle, but in the final analysis, a miracle is what it takes—not our brilliance and eloquence.

WILL YOU STILL NOT BE MADE CLEAN?

Read Jeremiah 13:18-27

If we do not humble ourselves, then God will humble us.  We can bow our knee to God willingly or God can bring us to our knees forcibly.  We can be broken before God in contrition or be broken by God in correction.  This is the warning God gave to Judah through Jeremiah.

He began with a message to the leaders of Jerusalem—the king and queen mother—for they had failed to shepherd the people spiritually and the result is they would see the people suffer physically.  As a woman conceiving, carrying, and birthing a baby, they would see the process James describes, “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (1:15).  

The people of Jerusalem had committed spiritual adultery against the Lord as unfaithful idolaters.  Their morally lewd practices and shameful acts arose from the worship of promiscuous, pagan deities whose temples essentially housed an orgy. Since they wanted such nakedness, God would pull their skirts over their heads, exposing them to the Babylonian conquerors who would strip them bare and shackle them in bondage.  Away to Babylon they would be taken, to a place flooded with idols, since that was the kind of worship they set their hearts on.  God would gorge them with it, until they could bear no more.

The reality is they could not cleanse themselves.  Lest we sit in self-righteous judgment on those Jews, we had best look in the mirror of God’s holy law and understand our hearts are likewise depraved.  As an Ethiopian cannot change the color of his skin and a leopard cannot exchange his spots for the stripes of a tiger, we cannot change our sinful nature.  It is who we are.  

That’s why Jesus told Nicodemus—an extremely committed religionist—that he had to be born again—to gain a new nature (see John 3).  Christ said that none get to heaven otherwise.  It is not reformation of our old nature, but regeneration bringing a new nature that saves us and fits us for heaven.  Only the blood of Christ can cleanse us from sin.  God must make us clean.  Apart from that He will say, “Woe to you....  Will you still not be MADE clean?” (Emphasis added)

OUR COMMON FAITH

To Titus, a true son in our common faith….  (Titus 1:4a)

Paul, in greeting his young protégé, Titus, uses the expression, “our common faith.”  He does not mean by that, of course, that faith in Christ is a common thing, in the sense of being ordinary and cheap, like finding sand on the floor at a beach house.  No, our salvation is uncommonly wonderful!  Several elements that the Apostle mentions in this first chapter of Titus compel us to be in awe of amazing grace.  What Paul means is that this faith is something that all believers have in common.  It does not matter the country of our birth, the color of our skin, the number of our years, the size of our bank account, the amount of our education, the gender of our sex, or any other category that people put us in—we all have the same salvation—our common faith.  

Our common faith is one that is shared by the elect.  Paul writes of, “the faith of God’s elect” (v.1).  We are saved—not because we earned it or deserved it—but because a sovereign God chose us in sheer grace!  All of God’s redeemed were chosen by God before the foundation of the world, “promised before time began,” (v.2).  While we may not fully understand this, we exult in it!  Spurgeon said it this way, “I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards.”

Our common faith is one that is based on the truth.  Paul speaks of, “the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness” (v.1).  God uses His truth to call us to salvation—no exceptions.  Now, we may only understand a few fundamental matters of the Gospel when we come to faith—that we are sinners, that Christ is the Savior who died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead to bring eternal life, and that by faith in Him we can be saved—yet, the Gospel must be heard and we must acknowledge it.  No one is saved apart from the truth.  This makes us clean—godly and not ungodly in our position—and enables us to live a different lifestyle, progressively growing in godliness.

Our common faith is grounded in the immutable (v.2).  Paul speaks of hope, but not in this way:  “Are you saved?  Well, I hope so!”  That is not what Scripture means by hope.  Biblical hope is a confident assurance that what God has promised, God will fulfill.  It rests on the solid foundation of God’s immutable character.  He “cannot lie….”  It is eternal life for it was a promise made by God that is timeless—given before the world began and guarded when this word is no more!  If you could be saved and lose it—that wouldn’t be eternal!

Our common faith is manifested in the Gospel (v.3).  Who was the “preacher” who shared the Gospel with you?  It may have been your parents, it might have been a Sunday School teacher or Vacation Bible School worker, or perhaps a pastor.  All I know is that God uses human instrumentality to bring His witness to any and all who have faith.

Our common faith is evident in our regeneration (v.4).  Paul calls Titus a “true son,” not a pretender—the real deal.  He was born from above.  “Grace, mercy, and peace” came flowing down from the Father through the Son.  

We all have these in common—every child of God!  How uncommonly fantastic is our common faith!

STUMBLING BLOCKS OR STEPPING-STONES

Woe to the world because of offenses!  For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!  (Matthew 18:7)

Are you a stepping-stone or a stumbling block?  God wants His people to be a bridge to help people to reach Him, rather than a barrier to hinder them from coming.  We are a daily advertisement for Christ.  Is the ad appealing?  We can be humble or haughty, holy or hypocritical, helpful or hateful—we will seldom be neutral.  We will be a positive or negative influence.  Jesus presents that sobering reality in Matthew 18.

Our attitude will make a difference in whether we are a stumbling block or stepping-stone.  In verses 1-7, Jesus is speaking about the humble spirit of a small child, as contrasted to the arrogant bully who runs roughshod over people.  We are being like the Savior when we are humble (Phil.2:3-8), but like Satan when we are haughty (Isa.14:12-15).  What is the humility of a child?  They do not worry about appearance.  They are genuine instead of putting up a front.  Children want to help.  They have the soul of a servant.  Then things get messed up.  Ego grows with our girth and physical stature demands social status to match.  Jesus called upon his grownups to become childlike.  Receive little children (v.5), rather than reject them.  Go to work in the church nursery—that is the factory for producing humble servants!  Change some diapers if you doubt it!  The most solemn warning is given to those who cause children to stumble (v.6-7).

We will be stumbling blocks rather than stepping-stones if we allow sinful passions to dominate our deeds, direction, and desires (v.8-14).  Woven into the very fabric of our soul are these dark threads of lust—wicked appetites that demand feeding.  Our world enshrines them, we enthrone them—only to find we become enslaved by them.  Chains of corruption—fetters of filth—wrap themselves around the heart and drag men and women down into hell.  Jesus said that radical surgery was demanded for this heart problem.  Extreme measures must be taken to overcome evil.  He was speaking metaphorically.  Mutilation will not produce holiness.  What Jesus is calling for is repentance—turning from sin by taking the sinner to the cross and turning to Christ by receiving His new life by faith.  The ultimate issue is getting a new heart—and that is salvation (v.8-10).  How many sinners spurn salvation because they have seen preachers and church members living immoral lives while calling others to new life—what a pious fraud!  God is all about seeking lost sheep (v.11-14).  We need a passion for souls, rather than sin.

Bitterness will be another barrier to people receiving our witness (v.15-35).  Grudges grind ugliness into our faces and the corrosive speech that we utter from an unforgiving heart is repulsive.  We dare not herald grace while holding grudges.  A winsome witness, who wins someone to Christ, has experienced the joy of forgiveness, and wants others to know it!  This is the church’s work (v.15-20).  The harsh face of the legalist and haughty tones of their criticism never draw people to Christ.  Bitterness makes you ugly.  It makes your breath reek with condemnation and your eyes bulge with hate.  If we want forgiveness then we must be willing to extend it (v.21-35).  Bitterness erect barriers and grace builds bridges.  Are we stumbling blocks or stepping-stones?

THE BEHAVIOR OF BELIEF

By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.   (1 John 4:13)

“We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.”  That is what Martin Luther said—and it is true to the Word of God.  This is the behavior of belief.  Real faith yields tangible results.  It is like the wind in the sense that you cannot see it, but you will surely see its effects.  John, in his first epistle, writes to expose the false converts that had infiltrated the church and to assure those who were truly saved.  John speaks much of a new birth—a spiritual birth that occurs when one comes to Christ.  The Holy Spirit regenerates us and comes to abide in us.  When the God of the universe takes up residence, there will be evidence! 

God is true and so His children believe the truth (1 John 4:1-6).  While we know that genuine faith goes beyond believing a set of doctrines, nevertheless it is foundational to know and trust a fundamental set of truths.  This rubs many Americans the wrong way.  They want to be free to believe what they want.  You can be a citizen of America and believe—or disbelieve—as you wish, but you cannot be a child of God and do so!  The faith that saves has Christ as its object.  We must be sure it is the real Jesus—the Christ revealed in Scripture—and not some Jesus of our own imagination.  That is idolatry, and no false god can be the basis of true salvation.  Do not follow the world by seeking to be politically correct, but be led of the Spirit to be theologically correct.  John warns us to be discerning, and not swallow everything we hear (v.1).  Apply the Jesus test (v.2-3), for every false religion misses it here.  That is the spirit of Antichrist, and those who have the Spirit of Christ will not subscribe to such.  Orthodox beliefs of themselves will not get you into heaven, but you won’t get in without them either.  The child of God is a warrior who overcomes false thinking (v.4).  We spurn the company of the deceived and find shelter in the church (v.5-6), “the pillar and ground of the truth.”  (1 Tim.3:15)

God is love and those who have His Spirit in them behave in a loving manner (1 John 4:7-21).  There is this balance of truth and love.  Without love, truth becomes rigid and harsh—that is legalism.  Love without truth becomes soft and spineless—that is liberalism.  What God produces is the Biblical balance.  Thus far, in this chapter, John has stressed the truth side of salvation, and now he will bring the love dimension front and center.  Love is the very essence of God’s being.  Like Father, like son—the love He has will be reproduced in His children (v.7-10).  The cross is God’s graphic demonstration of His love for us.  Since God loved us by giving His all for our benefit, then we ought to give of ourselves to the welfare of others—and that is real love (v.11-21).  Our objective in love is to be a blessing to others, but that does not mean we are not blessed as well.  Love casts out fear.  It gives assurance that we have saving faith.

God is light and God is love.  Those who know Him have the same qualities—believing the light of truth and behaving with the love of God.

THE PROOF OF OUR PROFESSION

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  (1 John 1:6)

Talk is cheap.  I can claim to be Superman.  You would want to see me fly.  Around seventy percent of the American population claims to be Christian.  Where is the evidence?  Would the culture be in moral freefall if that were truly the case?  Let me be more direct.  Is there proof you can present that makes your profession of faith credible?

John’s intent in writing this first letter is so we can know for certain we are prepared to meet God.  He sums his purpose up in 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

True Christianity is not a mere set of beliefs someone subscribes to, but a Person that we believe in—and His name is Jesus Christ.  John opens the first chapter by pointing to Him and calls Him, “the Word of life” (v.1).  Real conversion rests on a genuine connection with Christ—for He is the source of eternal life.  As the Word, He has communicated God to us, disclosing the plan of salvation.  There is no salvation apart from Him.  Although we live in an age of “tolerance” and political correctness, which dogmatically asserts there are no moral absolutes, Scripture emphatically declares that Jesus is the only way to heaven.  It is not a religion that saves—it is a relationship with Christ that is required.

Why won’t religion work?  Why can’t we get sprinkled as a baby, confirmed as a teen, or baptized as an adult?  Isn’t joining a church and trying to be good, good enough?  John says the problem is this, “God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.”  (v.5)  God is inexpressibly holy and infinitely righteous, demanding moral perfection for those who would be in His heaven.  Who among us can claim that?  Even in the best person you have ever met, there is some darkness—so how can we be in right standing with God?

When by God’s gracious intervention, and the Holy Spirit’s call, we repent—turn from walking the path of darkness to the path of light (v.6-7)—the orientation of our life is changed—something so radical as to be described as a new birth.  It is unthinkable that such a work of God within us would not produce an effect in our lifestyle.  Only Christ can save us.  We are not saved because we decide to “clean up our act.”  The stain of sin is too dark and deep.  The blood of Christ alone can cleanse us.  The evidence that His blood has cleansed us, however, will be seen in holy living.

Does this mean that one who comes to Christ is perfect?  As to our position in Christ, we are accepted in Him, but as to our practice, it is progressive, and we will stumble at times.  Even so, provision is made for cleansing (v.9) and the child of God will want that fellowship restored. God is faithful and just to forgive us of all sin, but we must confess—the word means to agree—acknowledging our need and receiving Christ.  Do you have this new life?  If not I beg you—come to Christ today!

CHANGED FOREVER!

 

that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.  (1 Peter 4:2)

I love to sing, “What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought, since Jesus came into my heart….”  He has changed my direction here and my destination hereafter.  Although that process is ongoing, it is relentless—I am not who I used to be and can never be again—forever changed.

There is A DISPOSITION THAT IS SETTLED (v.1).  Peter has been talking about how Christ suffered for us in doing the will of God (3:17-18). This is an encouragement to each of us to be willing to suffer in following His example.  Peter uses a military term as we prepare for battle.  Our weapons are spiritual in nature and the battlefield is the mind.  If we are willing to deny self and die to sin in following Christ, we are done with the lifestyle of sin.  That is repentance.

There is also A DIRECTION THAT IS SET (v.2).  The reorientation of our lives is from a direction set by fleshly impulse to one set according to the will of God.  Our life will be directed by the lust of the flesh or the lordship of the Father.  We can seek our own will or God’s will.  Sin occurs whenever I rebel against the will of God.  That means I have established my self as my own god—and that is idolatry.  This is how we were before salvation, but if we are truly saved this can no longer be the case. 

There is further A DIMENSION THAT IS SPENT (v.3).  The Christian has come to realize that this world is utterly bankrupt—it is fool’s gold.  The currency of our time was once spent for wicked pleasures and now it will be exchanged for eternal pursuits.  Peter was writing to converted pagans radically altered by Christ!  A Christian’s life is no longer dominated by the evils mentioned here.  Peter says, “Enough of that!”

There will be A DIFFERENCE THAT IS SEEN (v.4).  At first people are surprised at the change in us and then they scorn the change in us.  Better to be scorned than ignored.  So many claim to be Christians and they are chameleons instead!  The world will call you a holy roller!  They will brand you a fanatic.  In my day, they mocked you as a “Jesus freak!” 

There is then A DETERMINATION THAT IS SURE (v.5).  “It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment.”  It is inescapable. We must prepare to meet God.  Either the account is settled when we die because the Eternal Son paid it or we will be settling up for all eternity—a debt we cannot pay.  The problem we have isn’t just the sins we commit or we might eventually pay for them.  The problem is the sinner we are—and without the new birth we can never become anything different.  That’s why we risk ridicule and rejection to warn the wicked!

We have A DELIVERANCE THAT IS SECURED  (v.6) What’s the worst that could be done to you?  Someone kill you?  Then you would enter the greatest life there is!  Peter paid that price. Your whole outlook about life is changed.

Can you honestly sing, “What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought, since Jesus came into my heart”?  Christ will change you today if you ask; He will change you forever!

GROW UP

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (James 1:18)

When we are saved we have a new birth into the family of God.  No child of God is born fully grown.  We shouldn’t expect that, but, we ought to expect Christians to grow.  Something is very wrong when you see a Christian who was saved years ago and they are still sucking on a pacifier, self-centered, demanding, and a cry baby!  One indispensable need for growth to occur is nourishment from the Word of God. 1 Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn babies, thirst for the pure milk of the word so that by it you may grow in your salvation.” (ISV).  Let’s explore what James has to say on this subject in chapter one.

 James calls for ILLUMINATION: Growing in Comprehension (v.18-20).  Illumination is the work of the Spirit of God opening our minds to understand the Word of God.  He alone enables us to understand spiritual truth--shining the light upon our thinking, lest we remain in spiritual darkness.  James in verse 18 focuses on how the Word brings us into salvation.  In God’s will He called us.  By His Word He birthed us.  To be remade in His image He regenerated us.  This regeneration is brought to pass by the Spirit and the Scripture.  This gives us the capacity to comprehend spiritual truth.  When babies are born they instinctively hunger.  Knowing what the Bible teaches is not enough, but we must start there.  So, we are born again--we have a hunger.  Yet, why do many Christians fail to mature?  Verses 19-20 can help us.  As a young Christian, I was swift to speak and slow to hear--and that is counterproductive to spiritual growth.  You can’t teach someone who knows it all!

Beyond illumination, there is IMPLANTATION: Growing in Conviction (v.21).  The Word of God is implanted in us at salvation.  Then we are to receive it--to chew on it--to digest it, so that biblical convictions are formed.  The Scripture renews our mind--causing us to think God’s thoughts after Him.  Still after thousands of Sunday School lessons and sermons we may find that our minds are shaped more by Oprah than Obadiah and more by Dr. Phil than Dr. Luke!  The problem is that we have not received the Word with a hungry heart.  We must stop eating the Devil’s junk food (v.21a).  That spoils our appetite.  We must come to the Word in a spirit of submission.  D.L. Moody said,  “Either this Book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this Book.”  James compares the Word to a mirror.  We may wish to ignore what we might see, but that won't help us.

From illumination and implantation, we come to INCARNATION: Growing in Conformity (v.22-27).  The aim isn’t just to know the truth and believe the truth, but to be shaped by it into the image of Christ.  The Word was made flesh in the incarnation, and it happens to us, when God's truth transforms us (v.23-24).  How quickly we walk away from the mirror on Sunday morning and forget what we’ve seen!  Growth demands that one "looks" and “continues," staying in front of the mirror until we are fixed.  This changes our conversation (v.26), compassion (v.27a), and consecration (v.27b) and marks a maturing faith.  Grow up!

REAL SALVATION

not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit….  (Titus 3:5)

Is your salvation real?  Can your claim stand the scrutiny of eternity?  It is a most important issue.  That some salvation professions are spurious is evident.  Jesus, for instance spoke of tares sown among the wheat—those who appeared much like converts, but were counterfeits (Matt.13:24-30).  They would be virtually indistinguishable—particularly, at first.  The end of the age would bring the great separation.  I went through all the motions when I was young—prayed the prayer, walked the aisle, submitted to baptism, attended the church, but I was lost!  When I hit those teenage years what I was on the inside, manifested itself on the outside.  Still, all that time, I was going to church, and believed in my head all that the Bible said.  Indeed, there were times I trembled in fear for the possibility of being consigned to hell.  Thankfully, my life here and my destiny hereafter was changed at the age of eighteen.  Paul tells us what real salvation is in the third chapter of Titus.

It involves real REPENTANCE (v.3).  Real salvation begins by seeing ourselves the way we truly are—sinners condemned before a holy God.  This brings conviction, confession, and conversion.  Repentance is a change of mind leading to a change of direction.  Paul speaks of how we were.  If the way we were is still the way we are, there is no repentance!

This repentance leads to real RECEPTION (v.4).  Not only do we see ourselves as we are, but we see Jesus as He is—the kind and loving Savior sent by God.  A drowning man is desperate for someone to save him—and when we know we are sinking deep in sin, then we are eager to extend a hand of faith to Jesus whose nail-scarred hand reaches down to us!  John tell us that to receive Jesus is to be really saved (John 1:12-13).

Repentance and reception leads to real REGENERATION (v.5-6).  Did you notice in the previous reference in John’s Gospel that it is set in context of the new birth?  Paul echoes that here.  Our first generation is physical—the result of the flesh—and accordingly we are sinners by nature and this is reinforced by deliberate choice.  The regeneration is spiritual—the renewal of the Spirit—and we become saints by virtue of our new nature and that reinforced by godly conduct.  It isn’t that we sinners, “clean up our act,” rather that God washes us—from the inside out!  God gives grace to persevere if it is real salvation.  We stay true to Him—and if we stray, He will chasten us—but, should we walk away forever, we only show we were never regenerate (see 1 John 2:19).

This repentance from sin, reception of the Savior, and regeneration in the Spirit is our response to real REDEMPTION (v.7).  I do not want you to miss the point—our righteous actions are the fruit of real salvation, and not the root of it!  Even the faith to believe is a gift from God.  It is all of grace that we are redeemed.  Christ did for us what we could never do for ourselves!  Becoming a child of God, grants us an inheritance in heaven from our Father God.  This is the real hope we have of eternal life with Him.

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”  (John 8:12)

One tremendous theme threads its way through the Gospel of John—the deity of Christ.  John wants us to know Jesus is more than a carpenter, greater than even the greatest of men, that He is indeed the Son of God.  Three wonderful words are woven into the text—light, life, and love.  Each one describes the essence of the Father and the Son.  Seven supernatural signs are selected by the writer to stress Christ’s deity.  Then, we have seven sublime statements where Jesus used the phrase, “I am,” which the Jews understood as the name of God, as He revealed Himself to Moses—thus, Jesus was claiming to be God Incarnate.  One of those statements is, “I am the light of the world.”

First, we consider THE LIGHT AS IT WAS REVEALED.  The purpose of light is to reveal—to shine out and to show up a thing.  Christ shines out the person of God.  When He claims to be the Light, He claims to be God.  Is He a liar, lunatic, or Lord?  Those are the only options.  He is either a deceiver, delusional or Deity.  John was an eyewitness to His glory revealed on the Mt. of Transfiguration.  Paul saw that Light and said He is the image of the invisible God (Col.1:15), and Hebrews 1:3 speaks of, “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person….”  Christ shows up the path to God.  As the glory cloud led the Israelites through the wilderness, so Christ is the Light of the world to guide us to God (see 2 Cor.4:6).

Next, we note THE LIGHT AS IT WAS RECEIVED.  Consider the context.  As the Kingdom of God is branded by brightness, the kingdom of Satan is dominated by darkness.  The previous verses tell the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery, but the light of Christ shone upon her and changed her life forever.  In the next chapter, we read of a man blind from birth.  That is the spiritual condition of all in this world by virtue of their physical birth who need a spiritual birth to open their eyes to the light of truth and life (see John 1:4-13).  When the blind man received Christ, he became a new person.  Christ can break the bondage of darkness in your life and bring you into new life in Him!  It is the dawn of a new day.

Sadly, we find THE LIGHT AS IT WAS REJECTED.  So many reject the Light because of an obstinate darkness (John 8:13-19).  The darkness of unbelief is a stubborn thing (v.23-24).  At last, these who spurned the Light and sought the darkness committed the sin for which there is no forgiveness (8:48).  Christ offered Himself as their King, and they would cry, “We have no king but Caesar!” (19:15).  Jesus demonstrated the credibility of His claims by the miracles He performed, but they attributed it to the power of Satan.  Their obstinate darkness would take them into outer darkness.  That is how Jesus described hell—a dark pit of torment where the light of life is shut off—a second death; a place where the light of love is shut out—away from God’s gracious presence.

None have to go there.  The hymn beckons, “Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee....”  Have you?  Will you?

THE HOPE OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST: A Past Conversion

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

When we come to the Lord’s Table, and take the elements in our hands, we are directed to look back to the source of our hope.  Some 2,000 years ago a real Man hung on an actual cross and suffered a literal death and ushered in an eternal salvation!  Therefore, twice Paul records in this text these words that Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” 

We are to never forget what Jesus did for us on a hill called Calvary!  He made it possible for us to be reconciled to God.  Engrave Him on your heart!

As we personally receive Christ we are converted—from saints to sinners.  It is always good to remember where God has brought us from—or where without Him we might have been.  Some of us have been as I was, spending years manifesting the depravity of the heart—the fruit of sin within in full display by our actions.  So, as I look back I see I was rotten to the core, and how everything changed when He saved me!  Others were converted as children, and may have never exhibited the same sinful deeds to the same degree, and yet were just as evil in heart as the vilest sinner.  The fruit may not have developed, but the root contained all the latent wickedness that destines one for hell just as much as an obvious sinner.  But, in Christ, we are made new and changed from the inside out.

No wonder we all who have a past conversion can sing with enthusiasm and conviction:

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.” (John Newton)

CREATED FOR HOPE: REGENERATION

“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.” (Genesis 3:15 NKJV)

The generation of human life began with God making a man in His own image—molding him from the mud and breathing life into Adam.  Before the day was done, a woman was fashioned to perfectly complement him, as the Lord created Eve.  They were blessed of God and given an incredible purpose.  They were created for hope.

Then, the catastrophic choice was made one day.  The one forbidden fruit was sampled.  Their rebellion brought the curse.  Immediately generation surrendered to degeneration.  Decay and death supplanted life.  Hope was shattered.

But, into this darkness there burst a ray of light.  The serpent will have his head crushed.  The Seed of the woman—singular and particular—will do the job.  He is the Seed—Jesus the One and Only.  He would be the Seed of the woman—what an unusual expression!  Typically we would think of the seed as being of man, and the egg of a woman.  The miracle of the incarnation is implied here—that the Crusher of the serpent would be born without a human father, and indeed He was—Christ, the virgin born Son of God.  Satan’s demise, however, would not be without pain for Him—His heel bruised on Calvary—the agonies of the cross where the serpent’s deadly venom of sin would surge through the sinless One’s veins for the first and last time!

In this messianic prophecy hope is found.  No sooner than sin entered than a Savior was announced.  “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Rom.5:20b). That which the first Adam lost will be restored by the last Adam—for that is also the title of Jesus Christ, magnifying His founding of a new creation.  Consider Paul’s words:

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.  But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.  And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned.  For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.  For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)  Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.  Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Romans 5:12-21)

And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.  ‎However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.  ‎The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.  As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.  ‎And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. (1 Corinthians 15:45-49)

There is assured the reverse of the curse!  Hope will rise like a phoenix from the ashes!

Regeneration brings the hope of BEING LIKE JESUS.  The image of God, marred by sin is restored.  Having a new birth means that we are being shaped into the likeness of Christ.

There is also the settled hope of REIGNING WITH JESUS.  We were created for dominion, but allowed the usurper, Satan, to take authority over this fallen world—but, not absolutely.  Those who receive Jesus are assured they will reign with Jesus.  Christ will come and take dominion and His bride will be at His side.

Hope comes as we are UNITED IN JESUS.  We are reconciled to God and each other.  Sin built a barrier, but the Savior built a bridge!  The connection with God that was broken is re-established.  Not only that, the sin that separates us from each other is overcome.  Nowhere is this more demonstrable than in a Christian home, where a wife can submit in love to her husband’s leadership as the Son is equal with God and yet submissive to the Father, and a husband can sacrifice in love for his wife’s welfare as Christ did for the church.

Hope restores our productivity as we are FRUITFUL FOR JESUS.  We can reproduce “after our kind” and that is the spiritual progeny we bring into the world.  The seed of the Gospel produces the fruit of salvation by the work of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit works through believers that He indwells.  A new spiritual race of descendants from the last Adam is begotten.  Heaven will be populated with these saints!

You must be born again—that’s where hope is found.  If you are born of the first Adam only, you are still a sinner and under the curse—without God and without hope.  But, to receive Christ by faith and repentance is to be regenerate and born of the last Adam—spiritually—into God’s forever family.

Here is the promise:

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.  Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”  Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” (Rev.21:1-5)