ResponsiveReiding

The Announcement – A Christmas Poem

December 24th, 2016

From Luke 2:8–20 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” ¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

The Shepherds trembled helplessly

An Angel broke the night

Appearing in the cloudless sky

All robed in Heaven’s light

What can this be? They said in awe

As to the ground they fell

Fear not! The Angel said in haste

I’ve wondrous news to tell

For on this night in Bethlehem

Is born sweet Heaven’s Babe

‘Tis Christ the Lord, The Savior come

Lost people for to save

You’ll find Him in a manger near

All wrapped in swaddling clothes

In this, the fallen sin-cursed world

Our God, His Son bestows

And just as he had said these words

The Shepherds trembling still

An Angel host of myriads

Surrounded all the hill

And then the sound no man has heard

That only Heaven knows

This choir of Heavenly Messengers

Let Heaven’s music flow

“All glory to our God on high”

They sang with all their might

“And to the earth God’s Peace has come”

“The Child who’s Heaven’s Light”

And so they ran to Bethlehem

To see what they were told

And there they found the Baby

Who by prophets was foretold

In awe and joy returning

They went back to their sheep

But now, in glory praising

God who every promise keeps

And what can we but also do

On this new Christmas Eve?

But trust in all our God has said

Yes, trust Him, and Believe

Let all the skeptics raise their doubts

Let scoffers fling their scorn

To all who’ve seen His face by faith

We KNOW, The Son, was born

Tis not a myth or fairy tale

Tis not the stuff of lore

The sum of all God’s promises

Tis Christ, The Life, the Door

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords

The Savior, God and Man

This Babe born in the manger there

This Jesus – Christ, The Lamb
Jesus, Light of the World: A Christmas Eve Meditation

December 24th, 2016
Jesus

Light of the World

A Christmas Eve Meditation

John 1:1-14

It is not at all surprising that John begins his Gospel with these multiple references to light.

7 Times in these opening 14 vss.

As the beginning of His Gospel parallels the Creation account in Genesis, so we are reminded that at the very beginning of all of God’s ways – His 1^st act of creation was “Let there be light.”

In the symbol laden account of Creation we learn that in creating, God was first and foremost interested in bringing light or understanding – and that, in the highest – understanding of Himself.

Creation is the beginning of God’s glorious self-disclosure.

This is why Psalm 19 begins: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.”

God isn’t just creating as something to do with His spare time – He is crafting the ultimate blessing for the creatures He is about to make in His own image – For what higher blessing can any creature have than to have the capacity to perceive and then truly know the fountain and source of all things?

As Jesus prays in John 17: 3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

So it is in regeneration the first thing He does is bring light to the soul once more.

Light and understanding and His self-disclosure to souls bound in the darkness of sin – shut out from God Himself.

So God begins giving light. And this theme persists in Scripture.

In Ex. 10 – God separates the Egyptians from the Israelites by sending a darkness that could be felt – but there was light in the homes of God’s people.

In the Tabernacle and the Temple there is to be perpetual light burning.

In the Wilderness, God leads the Jews at night as a pillar of fire – light.

In Esther, when the machinations of Haman are completely overthrown, the text says: “The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor^[1]”

Ps. 27:1 begins: “The Lord is the light of my salvation”

And Isaiah’s prophecy of Christ’s incarnation declares: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. ^[2]”

We could cite dozens of places where this theme is visited over and over.

And so John tells us that this idea finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.

And virtually closes his final revelation giving expression to it in Rev. 22:^5 “And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.^[3]”

So it is not a one-off kind of thing to read in this passage: ⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. ⁹The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.^[4]

And here is a very great and wonderful thing to contemplate – That Jesus is the TRUE light, of which all the other “lights” even that of creation itself is but a picture.

And just as the sun gives light to everyone on the planet, So Christ Jesus “gives light to everyone.”

But exactly HOW does He enlighten everyone?

I think C. S. Lewis’ famous statement begins to unpack that some. You will recall he said: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Jesus gives light to everyone – Because in Him, in His person and work we see:
1. All that mankind was created as. All that mankind ought to be.
The light of purpose and meaning comes through understanding how we were created in His image, and for His pleasure.
1. In His person and work we see: All that mankind has fallen from.
1. We see: All that mankind needs to be saved from.
1. All that mankind needs to be restored to.
1. What such a salvation requires. The Cross.
1. What fullness of God is revealed. 2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
1. What both judgement on sin AND the mercy and grace of God look like.
Truly, He is the Light of The World. For in Him we glimpse both the manifest glory of God, and the substance of all reality.
1. In His resurrection, we catch a glimpse of the glory of the Kingdom to come, and that which He has prepared for all those who love His appearing.
Lastly, as we light these candles together, we are reminded that while Jesus is this light in Himself – He also enlists Believers as part and parcel of seeing to it that light goes out to everyman.

So He can tell the Disciples in Matthew 5:14–16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

We share in this as:
1. We are His City – the Place where He rules and reigns.
1. In that we bless others because of how He has blessed us.
1. In that we bless others in such a way, that through our testimony we do so, only BECAUSE we are in Christ – so that the Father is glorified.
^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Es 8:16.

^[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Is 9:2.

^[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Re 22:5.

^[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Jn 1:6–9.
Peace on Earth – A Christmas Sermon

December 18th, 2016
Peace on Earth

Luke 1:1-2:21

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

Luke 2:13–14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

It is these 2 verses I wish to call our attention to most this morning.

They record something most extraordinary.

And whenever God’s Word records the extraordinary, it bears our special scrutiny as one of the ways Our Lord brings emphasis to matters of highest importance.

Miracles for instance are designed for this purpose. If we pay attention only to the miracle itself, and ignore the fact that the miracle is but a vehicle of revealing something of great importance about God Himself – and especially in His revelation of Jesus Christ -we miss the point.

It’s a bit like being so enamored with the calligraphy and penmanship of the Declaration of Independence, that the concepts being communicated are lost altogether.

Such is the case with this text.

This scene is unlike any other in Scripture. But it isn’t the spectacular nature of the scene that holds the highest importance, even though – as we shall see – the spectacle itself is not to be ignored either.

So let’s take a moment to note the scene, and then use it to frame what it is God is saying to us through it.
1. A SHOCKING APPEARANCE.
The overwhelming spectacle of scene this to a few lowly shepherds on a Judean hillside really defies description.

And what an impact it was intended to make.

Here are a few of the least in society. Shepherds were so low on the social scale, they were not even allowed to give testimony in a court of law.

Truly humble and of no account, they are suddenly confronted with an army – and not JUST an army, but an army of thousands of angels in the sky.

And I mean an “army” here. The Greek implies a massive number of angels. Lenski notes: “a multitude of the heavenly host” could more accurately be translated: “A Heavenly army host” – a great number – in the thousands.

And not only that, this was not a silent army.

Just imagine thousands of supernatural beings suddenly appearing to you in the night sky when you are out in the country and virtually alone – and then this army praising God!

For these few moments in time, these shepherds are allowed to see a glimpse of Heaven’s own response to what has just happened – the birth of Jesus Christ.

Note how wonderfully “wasteful” God is in blessing people. He did not give this revelation to artists and poets and those of high culture who could “properly” appreciate it. No. He “wasted” it on lowly shepherds. The way He “wastes” salvation on the chief of sinners.

At this moment, it is as though Heaven itself is so jubilant, so overcome with joy and anticipation at the wonder of the God/man being born into the world through this virgin – fulfilling the purpose and plan of God in the salvation of lost men – that the angels cannot contain themselves, and it spills over into the earthly realm.

Oh if we only grasped what they did at that moment.

Saying “Merry Christmas” wouldn’t be a social nicety, but an enraptured plea for the world to join in that which so delights those who are daily in the unveiled presence of God – that they cannot contain themselves.

Christ has come! And God is being given glory in the Heavens, as never before in all of history.

Heaven is overflowing, gushing, dancing with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

For the Son of God has come to earth, to give Himself a ransom for the lost sons and daughters of Adam.

Mercy and grace and love have reached their highest apex.

And it is all wrapped up in this Babe in Bethlehem.

All this, while we run about in our lives, and worry about getting the right gift, using the right wrapping paper, and giving and perhaps receiving things we imagine give joy. When Joy Himself has come.

What a magnificent scene this must have been.

Add to this the peculiarity of it even if considered in the natural.

When an army suddenly appears, it doesn’t sing. It doesn’t bring good news. It doesn’t comfort. It shows up to fight and to conquer and to bring destruction.

How absolutely contrary then this is to all normal reason.

A PEACE army.

An army that seeks to conquer through its message and not its might.

An army whose power rests not in swords or tanks or guns or missiles or bombs, but in a declaration of the love and goodness and goodwill of God toward His cosmic enemies.

This was a shocking appearance indeed.

2. A TRANSCENDENT ANNOUNCEMENT.

The announcement is 2-fold.

1^st. They were announcing that glory is being given to God right now – in the highest places – in Heaven itself. It is as if they said: “We want you to know what is happening in Heaven right now. The Heavens are erupting.”

Angles are bursting with joy.

God is revealing Himself in heretofore unseen or unimagined wonder.

These angels who stand daily in the manifest presence of the Living God – whatever that must be like, are at this moment – so moved outside of themselves, and are sent to show us how Heaven views this event.

This, whether or not anyone on earth understands it even in the slightest.

One commentator noted: “This phrase, Glory to God in the highest”: means “The Heavens are glorifying God right now because of the sending of the Christ-child. Because of this pouring out of peace in the giving of the Prince of Peace.”

2^nd, Is the announcement that peace has come among men, because God is pleased to extend it to them.

It is not extorted from Him, but freely given.

The One who can bless with the free blessings of God has come – and all who will, may receive.

Bishop Lightfoot says: “It is the revelation of the glory of God, and that, in the highest – that He has good will toward men, which will result in peace on earth in the person and work of Jesus. God’s glory is seen by us in its highest manifestation in His mercy toward guilty sinners, and grace in bestowing free salvation upon us in Christ. And this thought – causes the very angelic host to burst out in unrestrained praise!”

“¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Now if this is their message, then what a responsibility we have to soak it in and try to grasp it.

And we must ask ourselves, what then is this PEACE He brings?

Why is peace the announcement, and what of it?

The mind immediately recalls passages like Isaiah 9:6–7 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

The child, this baby who was born – is none other than this Prince of Peace prophesied so many centuries before.

But in what way? How does that work? What does that look like?

1^st. It is the announcement of a Temporary peace with all mankind during the Gospel age.

That God, the judge of all the earth, instead of coming to judge us all in our sins, has elected first to announce a day, a season, an epoch of GRACE! The Gospel age was inaugurated that night.

So glorious and amazing is this day of Gospel grace, that when mankind commits its most heinous act of cosmic sin in the crucifying of Jesus Christ the Lord of all – still even then, the Gospel is to be preached for the salvation of lost souls.

So it is Jesus will tell His disciples: Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Indeed, even after He is risen He reiterates this point to them: Mark 16:15–16 “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

The day of grace has extended to this very moment in time – but it will not remain forever.

And as this portion of Mark reports – “whoever does not believe WILL be condemned.”

But today there still remains an opportunity for everyone within the sound of the Gospel, whether here or anywhere else it is preached today.

Jesus Christ has come. God in flesh dwelt among us. And He gave His life in satisfying the wrath of God against human sin – that all who put their trust in Him might be forgiven, born again and reconciled to the Father.

This announcement is the declaration of that peace to all who will lay down their arms against the government and rights of God to rule them in Christ – and come to Him for mercy and forgiveness.

Today is the day of grace – do not squander it! Run to Him today!

2^nd. It is the announcement that Jesus alone is the One who can bring peace with God through His atoning work on the cross, for all who believe.

So it is Isaiah writes in another place 53:5–6 “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

How can we find peace with God when we have been at war with Him over who has the right of supremacy over our lives?

Only if One can atone for our treason, and reconcile us to Him.

So Jesus will tell us of His own ministry in Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,”

3^rd. It is an announcement of peace in the creation of and bringing together a people of peace who are to live at peace with all men if at all possible, and who are proclaimers of peace to those who are still God’s enemies in their self-government.

No neighbor of a Christian should ever fear that the Christian will harm or take advantage of them. We are called to manifest the peace of God in the world.

No family member ought ever to fear that a Christian will bring unnecessary pain or chaos or hardship in their household – for we are of Christ’s household and we are at peace with Him and He with us.

No nation should ever fear Christians invading them to conquer, subjugate or exploit them. We live to manifest the Prince of Peace and remain content with His provision – not needing to covet anyone else’s land or property.

Christian employees ought to be the most productive, loyal and trustworthy.

The separation and division that sin brought from the first moment of the Fall in the Garden until today is to be counteracted and healed by those whose breach with God has been healed in the forgiveness of sins and free grace.

4^th. Because the Prince of Peace rules – the Believer can live in perfect peace over the providences of life.

1 Corinthians 2:12 “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

The old Puritan John Flavel writes: O then, why is my heart disquieted, because it cannot sometimes discern the way of the Lord, and see the connection and dependence of his providential dispensations? Why art thou so perplexed, O my soul, at the confusions and disorders that are in the world! I know that goodness and wisdom sits at the stern: and though the vessel of the church be tossed and distressed in times of trouble, yet it shall not perish. Is it not enough for me that God hath condescended so far for my satisfaction, as to shew me plainly the ultimate and general issue of all these mysterious providences? Unless I be able to take the height of every particular, shall I presume to call the God of heaven to account? Must he render a reason of his ways, and give an account of his matters to such a worm as I am? Be silent (O my soul) before the Lord, subscribe to his wisdom, and submit to his will whatsoever he doth. However it be, yet God is good to Israel; the event will manifest it to be all over a design of love. I know not how to reconcile them to each other, or many of them to the promise; yet are they all harmonious betwixt themselves, and the certain means of accomplishing the promises. O what a favour is this, that in the midst of the greatest confusions in the world, God hath given such abundant security to his people, that it shall be well with them.”

5^th. Something else for the Believer is the peace Christ affords us in our consciences, since Christ cleanses them from their sin.

We may at times try to ignore our consciences, through activity, drugs, alcohol, whatever – but because of the perfect work of Christ – the man or woman who is in Christ Jesus can be freed from the sting of their conscience because the penalty for their sin has been paid – and the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to their account in faith.

So the Writer to the Hebrews notes: Hebrews 9:14 “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

John Newton once wrote:

The worst of all diseases, is light – compared with sin

On every part it seizes, but rages most – within

Tis palsy, poison, fever, and madness – all combined

And none but a Believer – the least relief can find

But oh the peace that belongs to those born again by the Spirit of Christ.

6^th. Contrary to the whole World – Christ brings peace with death for the Believer, for it is no longer the terror of final judgment, but the entrance into a fuller reality of Christ’s kingdom.

For the promise, indeed the absolute ASSURANCE of the resurrection, because of Christ’s own resurrection, lets the Believer sing with Paul 1 Corinthians 15:54–57 “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” ⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

7^th. It is the announcement that there will one day be Peace with all of creation in the new heavens and the new earth.

2 Peter 3:13 “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

The eventual, absolute end of all sin and strife.

Perfect peace for all eternity in the presence of our God and King.

On top of all the other things John records will NOT be there in the New Heavens and the New Earth, like pain, suffering, tears, mourning, etc. – he adds this by revelation: Revelation 21:1 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.”

In the ancient world, the sea was always representative of that which dark, dangerous, mysterious, unstable, tumultuous and fearful.

But the first thing John notes will NOT be there – there will be no more sea.

Nothing but perfect, eternal, blissful, unbroken and all consuming peace.

Because we will at last be in the bosom of the Prince of Peace Himself – Jesus the Risen Christ.

Luke 2:13–14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Savior, Sovereign, Shepherd – A Christmas Sermon

December 11th, 2016
Jesus Christ

Savior, Sovereign and Shepherd

Matthew 1:1-2:6

THE AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

Passages like the one we just had read for us – at least the 1^st 17 vss., are often skimmed over quite quickly, if read at all.

I want to argue this morning that running too quickly over genealogies is a mistake.

Yes, on the surface they seem boring.

But God is not a God of the superfluous.

If He has seen to it by His Spirit to inspire the original authors to include such lists, we ought not be quick to dismiss them without careful consideration.

I hope to give us a taste of that today.

But before we get there, I want us to notice 3 ways in which the person and work of this Baby born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago is identified in this passage and take note of what astounding good news it is to all who hear.

The narrative portion of this passage begins in vs. 18 of Ch. 1, and it is worth our time to look at the details a bit.

Matthew 1:18–23 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
1. SAVIOR: And here is the 1^st designation that is given to Jesus, even before He is born: SAVIOR. “you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
He was to be given a most unextraordinary family name – Jesus or Joshua was extremely common in Israel at the time He was born.

This is because He was to be identified with the common man, even though He was the very Son of God!

As the genealogy shows, Jesus was part of a family line that was quite diverse, but He was in the flesh – the flesh only being considered – truly just one of us.

He was to save those of whom He was a part – His People!

But as common as this name itself was in Israel at the time – He was to be the utmost fulfillment of it.
1. C. Ryle: “The name Jesus means “Saviour.” It is the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament. It is given to our Lord because “He saves His people from their sins.” This is His special office. He saves them from the guilt of sin, by washing them in His own atoning blood. He saves them from the dominion of sin, by putting in their hearts the sanctifying Spirit. He saves them from the presence of sin, when He takes them out of this world to rest with Him. He will save them from all the consequences of sin, when He shall give them a glorious body at the last day. Blessed and holy are Christ’s people! From sorrow, cross, and conflict they are not saved. But they are saved from sin for evermore. They are cleansed from guilt by Christ’s blood. They are made meet for heaven by Christ’s Spirit. This is salvation. He who cleaves to sin is not yet saved.^[1]”
To see Him only as a Teacher, an Example, a Wise Man, a Religious figure, a Sage or a Prophet or a Miracle worker – we miss His primary reason for becoming incarnate – He came to be a Savior!

To save His people from their sins!

And the great question each of us must answer is – are we His people?

Will we acknowledge we are the lost, the sinful, the rebellious, the condemned and unclean so that He might be our Savior and we might be His people?

Luke 5:29–32 “And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. ³⁰ And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” ³¹ And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ³² I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

The implication is clear: Would you know God?

Would you know salvation?

You must know your absolute and utter need of Him.

You must know your sin, your dreaded condition. You must hear the call, and respond in faith.

Nothing else will do.

If you have no need of Him, neither will you have Him at all.

He only saves sinners.

He only redeems lost men.

He only raises the dead and heals the sick.

Those who know nothing of their need, can know little or nothing at all of Him.

The angel told Joseph – You will call His name Jesus – for He will save His people from their sins.

And so the narrative continues: Matthew 1:22–25 “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ²³ “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). ²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”

Chapter 2 changes the scene: Matthew 2:1–2 “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

And it is here we encounter Jesus’ 2^nd designation: KING, or

2. SOVEREIGN: Where is He who has been born “King of the Jews.”

Now because our culture has been so permeated by the idea of elected heads of state, or even in England, say of “Constitutional Monarchs” – we have little appreciation for what it meant in those days for someone to reign as King.

Kings were not figureheads. Kings had absolute rights of rule over those under them.

It is true that under the yoke of Roman oppression, Kings like Herod mentioned here, were somewhat constrained – but that was not typical throughout history.

When one became King – they ruled with absolute and unchallenged authority – and did so at the expression of their most fleeting and often wicked whims.

Kings were absolute dictators and despots.

And as we were contemplating last Sunday night around the communion table, the Passover sacrifice was to be fully consumed and none left over until the next day; so Jesus must be taken in all of His person and offices – Prophet, Priest & King – so here, as Savior, but also Sovereign!

We begin to see how this unfolds in John 3.

On the heels of Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus where He tells the Pharisee that he must be born again or he cannot see the Kingdom of God – a dispute arises with some of John’s disciples over purification rights.

At that point, John starts to tell his followers, they need to listen to Jesus now. And Jesus Himself goes on to say about Himself:

John 3:31–36 “He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. ³² He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. ³³ Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. ³⁴ For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. ³⁶ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Did you catch that last part?

The one who believes in The Son has eternal life – BUT – “WHOEVER DOES NOT OBEY THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE, BUT THE WRATH OF GOD REMAINS ON HIM.”

Wow!

The ultimate life issue hangs not only on what one believes, but whether or not we OBEY The Son!

God has made Him Lord of all. Has “given all things into His hand” (v35)

And this is of the utmost importance – for if you are not reconciled to Christ so as to look to obey Him as your sovereign and Lord, then in fact you are still in your trespasses and sins, and still under the wrath of God!

Now is the time to flee to Him as your Savior, and to bend the knee to Him as your King with His absolute right of rule over you – soul, body and mind,

In fact, He calls you to Himself this very moment in the preaching of this sermon.

Perhaps you have played with Christianity – thinking you can be fine with God if you just subscribe to Christian truth and own a Christian Church as your Church, the Bible as your holy book and have Christian friends or relatives – but beloved, if you are still just being “A Christian” and not submitted to the Kingship of Jesus Christ in your life – you are still lost, outside the faith and standing every moment in danger of your eternal soul being lost!

As Savior He has declared an amnesty, full and free forgiveness for all and provided an actual atonement for all of your sin in His blood on the Cross – but He calls to you to be reconciled to Him as your Savior AND your King – and promises He WILL receive you when you repent and come to Him for mercy.

Will you? Today? This hour, this moment? Will you confess your sin and call upon Him to be saved and to be master of your Life?

Oh do it! Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. The door is open, the call has been given and He calls, even more, He commands you to come to Him that you might be saved. Obey Him that you might be saved from the wrath of God coming upon the whole world.

SAVIOR was the designation from the Angel.

SOVEREIGN was who the Wise Men sought.

But our narrative is not over yet.

Matthew 2:3–6 “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ⁶ “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

And here is the 3^rd designation given to us, in the prophecy cited from Micah 5:2 about Bethlehem – that from that tiny and humble village would come a ruler who will SHEPHERD God’s people, Israel.

3. SHEPHERD: What a sweet and tender and blessed designation this is.

Our Shepherd. How the Scripture uses that picture to open up for us in so many places just how deeply He cares for His own, and protects and provides for us.

So David can cry in Psalm 28:8–9 “The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. ⁹ Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.”

How Isaiah 40:11 notes: “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”

Ezekiel 34:15 has God declaring: “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God.”

And then Jesus Himself takes up the theme in John 10:7–17 “So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.”

SAVIOR SOVEREIGN SHEPHERD

Can these be any more blessed ways of understanding who this Christ is who was born in that lowly manger in the little town of Bethlehem so long ago?

But what does all of that have to do with that long list of strange names at the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel? What’s the point?

Just this – in that list there are Kings and Scoundrels

Notables and Nobodies

Men & Women

Jews & Gentiles

Those who were faithful and many who were faithless

There’s a Prostitute

Nomads, Warriors, Prophets, Farmers, Statesmen, ordinary Joes

Those who lived in ease

Those who lived in poverty

Those who accomplished much

Those who left nothing behind but their names

The shunned and the accepted

The steadfast and the mercurial

The creative and the dull

Intellectuals and uneducated commoners

Christ Jesus came in the likeness and the lineage of fallen, broken, sin-cursed humankind.

So it is there are none who cannot be touched by Him, nor reconciled to the Father through Him.

This Savior can save anyone – even me, even you.

This Sovereign reigns over all and expects to be obeyed.

And this Shepherd, will guide, protect, provide for, keep and bring home all who are His – safe to their heavenly home.

This is the miracle of the incarnation.

This, is Christmas.

^[1] J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1860), 6.
To be, or not to be – A Buzz-kill. Thoughts on Christian Cuevas and The Voice

December 9th, 2016

Christian Cuevas on The Voice

Like many, I’ve been alerted to the recent semifinal performance of [The] Voice contestant Christian Cuevas. He sang the popular worship song, ‘To Worship You I live.”

And let me start off by affirming both Christian’s undeniable talent, and what I assume is his sincere desire to see his God glorified in the singing of a worship song in such a public venue. I do not question his motives for a moment.

But I do feel the need to address the wisdom of that choice, given the context of the show – The Voice – itself, and of the greater problem I see in present day popular Christianity. That of a seeming inability to keep some necessary and fitting distinctions as per places like Leviticus 10:10 “You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean.”

In the text just cited, the statement is being enjoined upon the Levitical Priesthood, and is spoken especially in connection with the Priests being careful to abstain from wine or strong drink when performing their duties. Why? Because there is something inherently evil in wine or strong drink? No. God condemns neither when used in their proper place and with proper constraints. The concern is one of protecting the faculty of clear judgment and discerning thinking. A principle which I believe applies here, even though intoxicants are not in play. It is the issue of sound judgement, and being able to distinguish between holy and common, clean and unclean.

Now let me note that to distinguish between holy and common does not necessarily mean that everything that is not “holy” in the sense of being specifically set aside for God’s use is sinful. Rather, there are things which belong to Him alone, and are not to be treated as “common” or for everyday use.

Two examples of this would be the special anointing oil the priests were to formulate and use only in ceremonies commanded by God, and, the special blend of incense to be burned on the golden altar by the curtain separating the holy place from the holy of holies. Both of these are addressed in Exodus 30. Both of these invite being cut off from God’s people should one take those formulae and compound the substances for personal use. Some things belong to God alone.

I would argue, worship is one of those things.

In other words, making worship of the living God an act of performance art, and that, for the entertainment of the unbelieving world, would appear to me to take what is holy, and ‘commonize’ or profane it. And I am uncomfortable with that.

Now if I haven’t offended some of you enough already, let me take this one step further.

The absolutely benign lyrics of the song chosen aside (there is nothing in the lyrics that has any reference to who or what is being worshipped or why – making it perfectly appropriate for any lover or idolater to use with equal ease) – the context here is what makes such a profound difference.

Christian, again, no doubt every inch sincere in his motivations (I don’t know but love calls me to assume so) in fact completely contradicted the intent of the song, by the use of it within that venue.

How so?

Because the message ‘To worship You I live’, is being sung, to advance his own career and win a contest. It is to use God’s name (though His name is conspicuously absent) to further his own desires to be performer. It is trading on the name of Christ for personal advancement. It is blending the sacred anointing oil, to wear as perfume. Intentionally? I’m sure not. But in practice. Indeed.

Note, there is nothing wrong with a Believer (which I assume Christian is) wanting to have a music career. Go for it! We need solid Christians in every stratum of society and the arts. And I am all in favor of his wanting to bear testimony to his God when and where he can. These are good things. But in this use – what belongs to God exclusively – worship, is co-opted both for the entertainment of the world, and the advancement of one’s career.

I do not condemn Mr. Cuevas in his action. But I do plead with the Church, to reckon with how we have turned ‘worship’ into performance art – which is no longer His and His alone, but is more of a consumer commodity. And ask us to rethink that trend.

How is it that our Christian culture, has produced this sad state of affairs?

Perhaps, just perhaps, we’ve been intoxicated by the spirit of the age in such a way, that even we, His royal priesthood, can no longer distinguish between the holy and the common, the clean and unclean. And we are called to just such a thing.
As I was reading today – A thought from Deuteronomy 14

November 29th, 2016

Deuteronomy 15:1–6 (ESV)

¹ “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. ² And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the Lord’s release has been proclaimed. ³ Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release. ⁴ But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess— ⁵ if only you will strictly obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today. ⁶ For the Lord your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.

There is wisdom here regarding forgiveness of all kinds. When the offender is a brother or sister in Christ – at some time, whether there has been full satisfaction or not, forgiveness ought to be extended. We may even perhaps see a shadow of Church discipline here, in that those who are “foreigners” do not get the benefit of such a release. Not that we are prevented from it, but it is not demanded by God as it is of our brethren. Those now counted as outside the Body of Christ due to their unrepentance, do not enjoy the very same benefit of those to whom we are joined by one Spirit. Yet the overall tenor is to be generous in our forgiveness. Time may need to be a factor. Some wounds are deep indeed – and may need a large swath of time to heal. But we must let time in fact be taken into account. If you have a brother or sister in the Lord, and the days have been long without forgiveness between you, consider a “seventh year.” Set a termination point. And even if it is not settled – forgive. That we might show the love of Christ He has shown to us.
The Extent of the Atonement by David Allen: A Review

November 28th, 2016

The Book I wanted to write – but BETTER!

At the outset, let me say that this tome is a scholarly tour de force by one of the best friends a conscientious Calvinist can find anywhere.

David Allen serves as the dean of the School of Preaching, distinguished professor of preaching, director of the Southwestern Center for Expository Preaching and George W. Truett Chair of Ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He was previously Dean of the School of Theology from 2004-2016. He received the B.A. at Criswell College (1978), Master of Divinity at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1981), and Ph.D. in Humanities with a Major in Linguistics from The University of Texas at Arlington (1987).

And, in the interest of full disclosure, let me state up front that I am a recovering High-Calvinist. Lest that term confuse you, Dr. Allen gives some helpful definitions near the beginning of his massive and vitally important work on the extent of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

The main factions in the debate as he lists them in the introduction (noting also that each have nuances within their camps) are as follows –

Arminianism: Christ suffers for the sins of all mankind with an equal intent to save all people.

Classic/Moderate Calvinism: Christ suffers for the sins of all mankind, but with an unequal intent/will to save all people.

High Calvinism: Christ only suffers for the sins of the elect because of his singular intent.

Hyper-Calvinism: Christ only suffers for the sins of the elect because of his singular intent.

What separates the last two is brought out numerous places within the book, but has mostly to do with the latter rejecting the free offer of the Gospel.

That said – let me plunge in.

Part 1 of the book surveys the extent of the atonement in Church history. It is divided into 4 sections – covering all the major player who may have written on the topic in: 1. The Early & Medieval Era; 2. The Reformation Era; 3. The Post-Reformation Era; and 4. The Modern Era.

Part 2 is comprised of 3 chapters focusing on the extent of the atonement in the Baptist tradition. Once again surveying most of the key writers and preachers on the atonement among: 1. English General and Particular Baptists; 2. North American Baptists; and 3. Southern Baptists. Being a Southern Baptist himself, this is of particular interest to Dr. Allen, but by no means indicates a short shrift of the others.

Part 3 is in 2 parts. First is a detailed critical review of every chapter of the highly acclaimed Crossway volume “From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective.” The 2^nd is a concluding chapter titled: “Why Belief in Unlimited Atonement Matters.”

And let me tell you, that this book soars. It soars conclusively (in my estimation) in securing the reality that an unlimited atonement in extent, NOT application, has been the majority report throughout ecclesiastical history; the majority report among the early Reformers – including Calvin; and was the main expression on the question of the atonement until the encroachment of a strict limitarian view was espoused by Beza, and championed (perhaps) most by John Owen.

The historical evidence is so overwhelming that the Owenic view was not and never has been “The” Reformed view, as to be virtually incontrovertible. Now as Dr. Allen notes, counting noses isn’t how we do sound theology. We go back to the text of Scripture for that. But it does drive us to consider how so many for so long – solidly IN the Reformed tradition, rejected a strict either/or construct (Jesus either died for all OR for the elect) in favor of a both/and construct, speaking to an unlimited atonement when considered in and of itself, with the reality of a particularistic application of it by God’s sovereign choice.

Of particular interest in this line is how the extent of the atonement was the most hotly debated topic at the Synod of Dordt, and how both Dordt’s statements and the Westminster’s were written with a measure of intentional ambiguity to allow for those on both sides of this question to sign them in clear conscience.

All along the way in these chapters, Dr. Allen proves himself to be the consummate myth-buster. Strict limited atonement is THE Reformed position – busted. Amyrault was a heretic – busted. Amyraldianism is nor Reformed – busted. Strict limited atonement came first – busted. All of the Reformers held to strict limited atonement – busted. (You will be shocked to find out just how many of those you thought held to limited atonement – didn’t.) British hypothetical universalism was Amyraldian – busted. So-called 4-point Calvinism is Arminianism – busted. Universal or unlimited atonement must result in universalism – busted! On and on and on.

In fact, my own journey out of being a high Calvinist to becoming a Moderate/Classical Calvinist years ago, was one of being disabused of many of these myths as I went. Myths that when taken in composite can so jade and confuse, as to make you question sound exegesis simply on the force of how all these men can’t be wrong – even when repeating common errors over and over. How I wish I has had access then to “The Extent of the Atonement: A Historical and Critical Review” by Dr. David Allen. But I do now, and so do you.

So as to prevent this review from being as long as the book itself (a hefty 848 pages) let me point out what I think are the key strong points, and offer a suggestion for those who want a quicker handle on it all.

What the book does over and over and over again, is address the principle arguments for a strict limitarian view, both exegetically and logically – and examines how non-limitarians have addressed those same Scripture passages and logic. In the process, by virtue of its unique structure, you get hear dozens of Reformed voices argue against limitarianism. None, surrendering election, or particularization in the application of the atonement. All, in necessary and clarifying context.

Thus there is a constant reminder not to confound the accomplishment of the atonement with its application.

Repeated warnings not to buy into a mere instrinsic sufficiency in the atonement as opposed to extrinsic sufficiency.

Over and over again the negative inference fallacy is exposed, rejected and properly defeated.

The commercial and pecuniary foundation of so much of Owen’s thinking is debunked.

The weight placed by so many on the “distributive” versus universal use of “all” is demythologized and properly contexualized each in its proper place.

The fallacy in Owen’s famous trilemma is exposed and the illogic dismantled.

How the limitarian view severely discounts justification by faith in its proper place and time.

And in every place, the centrality of this to the right preaching of the Gospel take its rightful place front and center.

All this by voice after voice after voice among our Reformed brethren.

Now maybe you are not going to wade through all 848 – pages, and that with some chapters offering in excess of 800 end notes! I hear your cry. Though I bid you to do it anyway, both for your education and your soul.

But if you want the shortcut – here is my recommendation. If you only read the detailed refutation of John Owen’s The Death of Death in Christ, in the section bearing his name, and, the section on David Schrock, you will interact with all of the pertinent Scriptures and arguments from the strict limitarian view, and all of the key corrections in exegesis and logic in showing the error of that view. These two alone are worth the price of the book, and a couple of evenings in deep reading and reflection. They will change you.

David Allen has done an invaluable service to the Body of Christ as a whole, and to Calvinists especially in a critical time in American Christianity. As he said to me in a brief meeting at the recent ETS gathering in San Antonio – (paraphrasing) “I did not write this book against Calvinists, but to make my Calvinist brothers BETTER Calvinists.” That spirit breathes on every page of this book – and spoke to me that way before I ever met the good Doctor.

I had wanted to write this book every since my own study led me out of strict limitarianism. But I’m glad I didn’t. Because here, it is done so much better. May God be pleased to use it as a much needed corrective in the current swell of interest in Reformed theology. For some, it will give you the permission you’ve been seeking to preach the Gospel the way you know you should have, all along. To the glory of God and the good of His Church.
As I was reading Today

November 28th, 2016

Many of us avoid large swaths of the Old Testament, because they just do not seem relevant to us. But as the Puritan John Flavel noted, the Old Testament serves as the illustration book to the more direct, doctrinal teaching of the New Testament. Seeing the New Testament principles fleshed out in the types, shadows and pictures of the lives and circumstances of God’s people in the OT, gives the Church a ready and uniform set of graphic explanations, that should become so common to us all – that we can readily call them to mind at any time.

One such place is where I was reading this morning in the book of Deuteronomy. I know, you probably haven’t blown the dust off of that one in a LONG time – if ever. But there are rich and valuable lessons there.

Take for instance the following: Deuteronomy 7:17–21 (ESV) ¹⁷ “If you say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I. How can I dispossess them?’ ¹⁸ you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt, ¹⁹ the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out. So will the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. ²⁰ Moreover, the Lord your God will send hornets among them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you are destroyed. ²¹ You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.”

Now the circumstance is evident. This portion is a part of the instructions that God is giving the Children of Israel as they are about to enter the Promised Land. It is a striking parallel to the Believer entering into the fullness of the Christian life, even as Israel’s deliverance from Egypt is a striking parallel to the Believer having been rescued from the slavery of sin to serve Christ.

With that picture in mind – note the instruction and encouragement God provides here. Couched in a necessary warning as well.

One of the mighty weapons in the Believer’s arsenal against indwelling sin, is to get a full orbed picture of just what God did in bringing us to salvation in the first place. Underestimating or forgetting the miraculous deliverance that brought us to justification, makes attacking indwelling sin seem larger and more impossible than it truly is. If He did so much in rescuing us from our sin initially – then what will He do in equipping us to root out and rout indwelling sin? Our sin lies to us and makes us imagine the cost is too great in being rid of it. It is too hard, and undoable. But rest assured, the same power that gave our blind eyes sight, opened our deaf ears and breathed life into our dead souls, is still at work to bring us fully into our inheritance. And as verse 21 indicates we are forbidden to fear ANY indwelling sin as too great to be conquered, or to be in dread of it – we are the Lord’s people. He has given us this land.

Great encouragement indeed!
Sermon notes for 2 Peter Part II

November 27th, 2016
2 Peter Part 2

2 Peter 1:1-3

Called to the Glory of Being Slaves

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

Last time, we noted 3 key things in reading, understanding and applying this short letter of 2^nd Peter:

1. Peter is nearing the end of his ministry – due to his impending martyrdom. 2 Peter 1:14 “since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.”

This would have put Peter in Rome at the beginning of the persecutions of Emperor Nero (37-68 AD) – as most history and tradition agree.

2. Peter’s readers: As in 1 Peter, Jewish & Gentile Believers, banished from Rome to the backwaters of Roman outposts.

1 Peter 1:1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,”

2 Peter 3:1a “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved.”

3. The Driving Concern in Peter’s mind: That he leave them a Memorable Legacy.

Not a legacy wrapped up in remembering HIM well and fondly or in terms of greatness – but that they remember what he taught as the things of highest importance to the Believer in this world – all centered in the knowledge of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:12–15 “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.”

Peter was laboring to see his readers established in Christ in such a way, that they would live for Jesus as Peter had – or better, as Jesus deserves. He wants the utter best for them, not this present world’s mere shadows.

You get a good feel how he understands himself in this regard in his opening sentence: “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.”

Yes, Peter is a sent one – which is what the word APOSTLE means – and specially ordained AS an apostle by Jesus (Mark 3) – but before he is an apostle, he identifies himself as a “slave”.

As one commentator notes: “Peter calls himself a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. The Greek word for servant is literally “slave,” which puts emphasis on being owned by Jesus Christ and being committed to follow and obey him completely.”

Daniel C. Arichea and Howard Hatton, A Handbook on the Letter from Jude and the Second Letter from Peter, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 1993), 64.

It is interesting to note how often even Christians want to be known by a label that gives them some standing among other Christians.

Some want to be teachers, or preachers, or scholars etc. They strive after being recognized as pastors or elders or deacons or some other title. And, as has been true throughout Church history – there have even been those who sought to be called apostles as well – even after Jesus’ 12 and Paul passed off the scene.

But this is not the Spirit of Christ who “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:6–8

Peter’s primary self-identification is “servant” of Jesus Christ. He is an apostle only in as much as he is a servant – a slave.

Slave is WHAT he was. Apostle, merely a role he was assigned.

In other words, he has given himself over to the authority of another.

He has surrendered his personal rights of self-government and self-direction, to serve at the whim of another, and devoted to carrying out his Master’s will above all other things.

Peter does not live in the mindset that he has a life HE wants to live, and now enlists God to help him live out his agenda – but rather he is a surrendered man.

He views himself as no longer belonging to himself, but as truly OWNED by another – even his Lord and Master Jesus Christ.

And we might say that everything else in this letter is informed by this mindset.

So Peter goes on in these opening portions to explore that idea even more.

2 Peter 1:1 “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

I. So here is peter’s 1^st point: SLAVE

Having “obtained” – the word there meaning – having received the gift – of a faith that is equal to that of the apostles themselves – We need to ask: What do we do with that?

How does that fact shape or impact our lives as Believers?

Does that mean we are “apostles” too?

No.

But it does mean we get to be SLAVES as well. A faith that is of equal standing to that of the Apostles.

The equality aspect, the text says, is due to the “righteousness of Christ”. We’re equal in this, because no one brings their own righteousness to the table – but we are all righteous before God because of Jesus’ righteousness imputed to us!

As for apostleship – Jesus appointed only 12 and there are no more to be expected. The special case of Paul being carefully documented in Scripture – and the Church in the aftermath of the death of the Apostles, showing that they received no others as Apostles, and had to guard against those who falsely called themselves apostles from trying to hi-jack the Church. SEE: 2 Corinthians and Revelation 2 as they speak to that problem directly.

But it DOES speak to the “calling” which rests upon every believer in Jesus Christ from that day until our own.

We too are all slaves of Jesus Christ, as we are all partakes of his righteousness.

We too are those who in coming to Him for salvation have surrendered our autonomy to Him as Lord and Master of our lives.

In our recent Presidential election, many analysts have noted (without reference to the suitableness of the candidate) that the election was a repudiation of the elitism that had infected all sides of our political system.

In like manner, the Believer repudiates the Fall in Eden when he or she comes to Christ.

There, Adam and Eve took on an autonomy that sought to dethrone God.

In their rebellion, they said to Him, “you have no right to tell us what is right and what is wrong for us – we will take that right to ourselves.” It was cosmic treason against the God who made them for Himself and for His purposes.

Salvation is at least in part our recognizing of our OWN sinfulness in that rebellion, and seeking – by virtue of Christ’s substitutionary and atoning sacrifice, to reconcile us back to God – to being back into right relationship with Him.

We are to live at His behest, fulfilling His cause and purposes in the world. And above all – as we’ll see in v3 – we have a truly amazing call that is far higher than anything else in life we might imagine.

I want to say a word more here about the nature of the Christian’s “slavery” to Christ.

People can be slaves by virtue of any number of wretched things.

As we saw in our own Antebellum America, there can be a slavery which demeans mankind. That degrades and abases him.

Sources say that even today, the modern slave trade is a 35 billion dollar a year industry – where people are treated as chattel and less than human, to satisfy the wicked desires of others for labor, sexual gratification and other things. Globally, as many as 49 million people are enslaved under this abominable corruption today.

And then there is the slavery of sin itself. Peter will speak more about this directly in chapter 2 where he says of the False Teachers that: “These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” 2 Peter 2:17–19

We can be slaves of ignorance. Not knowing the truth keeps people bound in all sorts of ways.

So Paul warns in Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

But there are kinds of slavery that in fact, are the very root of blessing!

Like when 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us we can bring every thought captive to obey Christ – so that we are freed from minds that obsess on foolishness, fear, lust, greed, pride, envy, or just run away with us so as to rob us of peace and trust in Christ Jesus.

There is the slavery of AWE. Where we have seen that which is so transcendent and beautiful and glorious, that we are spoiled for the world – so that its temporary and shallow glitter is no longer binding – but frees us to think on Christ and glories unimaginable.

And there is above all the slavery of LOVE. When one’s heart is so drawn out by love for another, that no other kind of chain or fetter could ever bind us so tightly. And that is a slavery of utter and complete freedom and joy – for we are bound to that which blesses and satisfies and delights and causes us to flourish and grow.

This is Peter’s slavery to Christ.

This is the slavery Peter wants his readers to enter fully into.

To give up the slavery to one’s own sinful passions, to be slaves of the Christ who loves us so, that He gave His own blood to purchase us, that He might bless us for all eternity in ways we have not even begun to fathom.

To give up our foolish grip on self – to have the glory of the Triune God in all of His unfathomable wonder.

II. Peter’s 2^nd point then is: KNOWLEDGE “2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”

KNOWLEDGE

That we might not just “get saved” and that’s it – but that grace and peace grow and continue in our lives. That grace and peace be MULTIPLIED.

That we come to know more and more how wondrously we are favored and loved and desired and provided for by the God of all in Christ Jesus.

So 1 Corinthians 2:9 reminds us: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

III. Peter’s 3^rd point: “3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,”

GRANTED This must be done by virtue of God’s own power – not our own.

That we have been granted by God – ALREADY – all that is needed to enter into this life as it is being described here.

That the work of Christ on the cross did all that is necessary for our justification – for our reconciliation to – and right standing with – God the Father – through the sacrifice of His own blood for our sins.

But in addition to that – He ascended into Heaven that He might send His own Spirit to indwell us and empower us for all these things.

That we are not saved from sin, and left to our own devices to grow and live out life – but are partakes of more than we ever imagined.

This is why Peter will keep hammering the idea that everything is wrapped up in the knowledge of Jesus Christ – in understanding all Jesus has done for us, and laying hold of it in experience.

IV. Peter’s 4^th point: 2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

All of this is wrapped up in our “CALLING”.

Godliness: “In the Greek world this virtue pointed to appropriate relationships toward the authorities in one’s life: the gods, dead ancestors, and family/parents. Or, as Foerster puts it, “In addition to the gods, relatives, rulers, judges, oaths, the law, and the good may all be objects; enjoying divine protection, they must be respected and upheld.”

Peter H. Davids, The Letters of 2 Peter and Jude, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2006), 181.

The life we have been called to in Christ, which is embodied in godliness.

His divine power has not granted to us the ability to fix our cars, make more money, get better jobs or “succeed” in life the way the World counts success.

But it HAS granted us the ability to live the CHRISTIAN life, and that – for the glory of God in the hope of Heaven.

The misreading of this so as to make “life” here mean whatever kind of life I may choose to live – is wretchedly awry.

He has called us to His own glory and excellence – to live empowered by the Spirit in carrying out the wishes, commands and purposes of God in this world, and NOT to enable me to carry out my personal desires.

He doesn’t serve my purposes, but rather, in salvation, I am brought back into line with His eternal purposes.

What does this look like? It looks like becoming a partaker of the divine nature, so as to escape the corruption of the world, centered in sinful desire! Nothing else!

In other words, becoming more and more like Christ.

To bear the image of His own glory and excellence without distortion or diminishment.

The question to ask then- when my resources for facing life and living godly in this upside-down world seem scant is: Where am I lacking in my knowledge of Him? Intellectually and experientially?
1. Do I understand the love that sought me? Even in the lowest parts of Hell?
2. Do I understand the love that bought me at the cost of His eternal blood and glory?
3. Do I understand WHO it was that did all of this?
4. Do I understand what it truly means to be reconciled and adopted?
5. Do I understand the reality of His gift of the indwelling Spirit?
6. Do I truly grasp the promise of what lies ahead?
7. Do I live as though I am called to glory and excellence, therefore seeking Him for those ends above all?
This beloved is the wonder, the privilege, the glory – granted exclusively to the servants, the SLAVES of Jesus Christ.

Oh how we settle for so little – seeking God to give us the stuff of this life – when He has prepared for us the stuff of His own eternal glory.

Believing that and living like that – this is what the Bible calls living by faith.

Now, may we begin to enter into it.
Sermon Notes for Introduction to 2 Peter: Parting Words

November 16th, 2016
PARTING WORDS

A Study in 2 Peter

Part 1

Introduction & Overview

The last words of people when they are about to die have always been of great interest to me.

They tell you so much about what the person considers truly important.

Such things can be as shockingly bankrupt as they might be blindly oblivious or stunningly blessed.

Sometimes death comes unexpectedly and the last words of those who die in such a manner are often extraordinarily mundane.

Others, who are aware of what is about to take place, demonstrate either their true grasp of it, or their unwillingness to face it and retreat to simply ignoring it.

Tallulah Bankhead, actress of a previous generation simply said: “Codeine…Bourbon” – and perished as she had lived. A slave to those substances.

Vittoria Accoramboni – a famous Italian noblewoman of the 16^th century – had her husband murdered so she could marry another. Being murdered herself at the age of 28 blasphemously said: “Jesus, I pardon you.” As though God was responsible for her sin and its wages.

Queen Victoria reported that her husband, Prince Albert said: “I have had wealth, rank and power, but if this were all I had, how wretched I should be.” And a few minutes later uttered: “Rock of Ages, cleft for me. Let me hide myself in thee.”

John Bell, the last person executed in Britain under the age of 16, hanged at the age of 14 for murdering a 13 year old boy for 9 shillings – had a sudden moment of clarity: “Lord have mercy on us. All people be warned by me.”

Aubrey Vincent Beardsley a 19^th century artist who was mostly known for his obscene and sexually graphic art. Dying at the age of 25 of tuberculosis sent a note to his publisher that had the heading: “Jesus is our Lord & Judge.” And in it he wrote: “I implore you to destroy all copies of Lysistrata – by all that is holy – all obscene drawings.”

Think of the unaware words of famous surgeon John Abernathy who simply cried out: “Is there anybody in the room?”

Compare then last words of Joseph Bellamy, friend and student of Jonathan Edwards. Someone asked him as he lay dying, “If God should send you to Hell, what would you do there?” And he replied: “I will tell them forever that Jesus is precious.”

I can tell you that out of the hundreds I’ve read, I’ve never come across ones like:

I prayed too much.

I gave up too many sins.

I studied my Bible too much.

I worshipped God far too often.

I loved Christ and His people too much.

Such sentiments never appear. Never. And it does not take much thought to figure out why not.

Peter, like a good father to his children, under the direction of the Spirit is putting forth his last words to them in this letter.

Before we begin to unpack some of that, it might be helpful to go back and get a feel for Peter’s situation as he wrote – and the situation of those he was writing to.
1. Situation of Peter – about to be martyred. 2 Peter 1:14 “since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.”
This would have put Peter in Rome as the beginning of the persecutions of Nero – as most history and tradition agree.

2. Situation of his readers: As in 1 Peter, Jewish & Gentile Believers, banished from Rome to the backwaters of Roman outposts.

1 Peter 1:1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,”

2 Peter 3:1a “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved.”

3. Driving Concern in Peter’s mind: That he leave them a Memorable Legacy.

Which legacy is not wrapped up in being sure they remember HIM well and fondly or in terms of greatness – but that they remember what he taught as the things of highest importance to the Believer in this world – all centered in the knowledge of the person and work of Jesus.

2 Peter 1:12–15 “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.”

So, he then organizes his thoughts around three things: And the chapters follow that outline fairly closely with just a smidge of overlap in places.

Chap. 1 / The Foundation of the Believer’s Life and Thought.

2 Peter 1:1 “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:”

Position Provision Program

Drawing from his first letter, he is adamant once again to help the Believer establish in their own hearts and minds who they really are in Christ Jesus. A true, Biblical Christian identity.

Then, he focuses upon what God has provided for us to live out this identity in a fallen and variously hostile world. All wrapped up in the supreme gift of Christ to the Church in His resurrection – that of the Holy Spirit.

And lastly, that we keep in mind that God has a plan, a program for the ages that He is carrying out. Life is not just some random, pointless existence. God is moving all of human history toward a specific end, and only the one born again by the Spirit of Christ gets to live in that reality.

This infuses every experience in life, every decision and life circumstance with meaning and potential to impact our eternal existence.

Chap. 2 / A Forewarning of the most Formidable Challenge they will face.

2 Peter 2:1 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”

This warning is twofold:
1. A warning against false teachers, and,
2. A warning against the doctrines they espouse.
It is common today to hear people say “I don’t want to hear about or learn doctrine, just give me Jesus or the Bible.”

While that sounds spiritual, it is in fact quite naïve.

Doctrine, is nothing more than what the Bible teaches, and certainly nothing less.

And each of us HAS, whether we identify it as such or not – a “doctrine” of Jesus Christ: Who He was and is and what He came for, accomplished and rose again to do. And what that means for the future.

Chap. 3 / A look at the Future they are to be Living and Striving for.

This too is 2-fold:
1. Future glory for the saints as motivation for how we live here and now.
2. Future judgment for all of those outside of Christ.
2 Peter 3:1–4 “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

That this present existence will in fact come to an end. Christ will return. This age will give way to the new heaven and the new earth as prophesied.

The world will not just spin endlessly as it does now, and no one will simply cease to exist – but how and where and under what conditions we will spend eternity is fused together with how we lived here and now, most especially in relation to Jesus Christ as King.

By means of a practical application, we might well ask ourselves what it is we are leaving those who come behind us?

Both our own children and/or grandchildren, and the generations of the Church who will follow us should the Lord delay His return.

To you parents and grandparents here – what will you leave your heirs with?

What will you have passed on to them?

Will that be simply material?

If spiritual, what will that look like?

What will they take away from having lived with you and watched you and listened to you as vital and important?

Not what you SAID was important, but what you actually demonstrated by your commitment of time and money and pursuit.

What captured your fondest attention?

Did you give them any sense of what is worth pursuing and why?

Have you told them why you lived as you live, and how you made the decisions you made?

What will your legacy be?

And will it be useful for the state of their everlasting souls?

I am so grateful that I can look to the example of my own Mom & Dad in this regard.

Oh, they were deeply flawed people – broken and marred by sin as all the rest of us.

But the way they lived demonstrated to us that they had spiritual priorities that were to inform and direct everything else in life – in terms of serving the Christ who had saved them from their sins by His substitutionary death.

They prayed – because they believed that as God’s adopted children, Father God heard.

They read and studied and loved Gods Word because it was to them – God’s Word.

They challenged sin in their lives because they wanted to be delivered from it as is commensurate with why they had been saved.

They wanted to live as the saying is Coram Deo – before the face of God.

And they lived anticipating Christ’s return, or going to be with Him in death.

This is the legacy they left us as their children.

The same legacy I trust I am leaving for my own daughter and grandchildren.

And all of you!

Not a legacy of religious perfectionism, but of the pursuit of holiness out of gratitude for salvation and the desire to live in concert with Christ’s goal of freeing me to be conformed to His image.

The lyrics to Steve Green’s song ”Find us Faithful” come to mind.

We’re pilgrims on the journey

Of the narrow road

And those who’ve gone before us line the way

Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary

Their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses

Let us run the race not only for the prize

But as those who’ve gone before us

Let us leave to those behind us

The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone

And our children sift through all we’ve left behind

May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover

Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

CHORUS: Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

May the fire of our devotion light their way

May the footprints that we leave

Lead them to believe

And the lives we live inspire them to obey

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

But the real force of this example is in how Peter emulates and brings attention to how it is Christ Jesus has provided for us.

This is the heritage of the Christian. This is the wonder that Christ has secured for us.

He has opened our eyes through the Gospel to our lost condition apart from Christ.

His Word has informed us of how God created us for Himself, and how sin came and ruined mankind, separating us from the source of both physical and everlasting life – leaving the human race under the awful judgment of God.

How Jesus, God in human flesh came, and died for our sin on the cross of Calvary – taking the just wrath of God against us upon Himself, that we might be reconciled to the Father, forgiven of our sin and guilt, and made new creations in Him.

And promises that all who trust in His atoning sacrifice may be born again, adopted in the very family of God, and have everlasting life.

A life that begins even now, living out the eternal plans and purpose of the One who created us for Himself – as 2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence”

Beloved – what a heritage we have been left!

Look how Jesus prepared for us in appointing Apostles to found and build the Church…

Sending His Spirit to indwell us and empower us…

Opening the door to the Father throne in unfettered prayer…

Providing other Believers to walk with us…

Preserving His Word that we might know His heart and mind every step of the way…

Now, may we leave that same glorious Gospel to those who follow us – not in word only, but in lives lived in the these things being the central and absolute essentials of living in God’s reality in this universe.

This is Peter’s emphasis. Seeing all that has been provided for us, ought to impact us in powerful ways.

Since we are IN Christ, BY Christ, let us be occupied with His person and work until we are at last one WITH Christ in glory.

2 Peter 3:11–13 “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

2 Peter 3:17–18 “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”