ResponsiveReiding

What is an EVANGELICAL?

March 1st, 2016
In this election year, one cannot read or hear anything about the Presidential hopefuls and their constituents without hearing about the “evangelical” voting block.

Some candidates want to take the label to themselves, in order to identify with this block, and others want to eschew it. It a matter of both guilt by, and vindication by – association.

But if you were ask most people what an Evangelical actually is, my guess is – it would run the gambit from fanatic and bigot, to anyone who is simply not Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, or the member of any other recognized or organized religion.

But the term Evangelical once was both very powerful, and well defined. Powerful most likely, BECAUSE it was well defined. However, in all cultures, words and terms come to be redefined through usage, misusage, and sometimes even deliberate recasting.

So Michael Jackson could sing “I’m Bad, I’m Bad” meaning hot, or cool, or awesome. It’s hard to tell which (or maybe all) since as each of those descriptive words also suffer from cultural morphology.

We as a local, independent Church, call ourselves “Evangelical.” The Evangelical Church of Fairport. The question is – what do WE mean by that? And the second necessary question is – what do other people think when they hear that name?

The term Evangelical has a rich historical heritage. And we consciously take the label upon ourselves. Tho I do begin to wonder if it fails to communicate much of anything positive to those who have no clue as to its meaning, beyond its amorphous cultural distortions.

So what IS an Evangelical? Or maybe better, what ought to define one as an Evangelical? We need to poke around in Church history to get a clear view.

In our search for the earliest mention of someone being referred to as “evangelical”, the honor seems to rest withJohn Wycliffe (1320-1384), often described as the “Morningstar of the Reformation”, and also – doctor evangelicus.

The term gained popularity early in the Lutheran side of the Reformation and spread from therewith the awakening of the Gospel across Europe.

Those men wanting to be identified with the recovery of the gospel in terms of its central doctrine of justification by faith called themselves evangelici viri – evangelical men.

Luther liked and used the expression in German as die Evangelischen.

The direct connection in each case was the idea of the gospel – the “evangel”, or “good news.”

“Evangelical continued to gain popularity, and achieved its widespread use during the 18th century in the revival movement associated with Wesley and Whitefield. (See: John Stott’s excellent little book – Evangelical Truth).

The preamble to the Cambridge Declaration, a modern evangelical statement reads: “In the course of history words change. In our day this has happened to the word “evangelical.” In the past it served as a bond of unity between Christians from a wide diversity of church traditions. Historic evangelicalism was confessional. It embraced the essential truths of Christianity as those were defined by the great ecumenical councils of the church. In addition, evangelicals also shared a common heritage in the “solas” of the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation.”

In John R. W. Stott’s “Evangelical Truth, A Plea for Unity, Integrity and Faithfulness”, he cites J. I. Packer’s “anatomy of evangelicalism” (from his monograph – “The Evangelical Anglican Identity Problem” – 1978″ where he he lays out the foundation in four general claims, and six particular convictions.

The four general claims of historic evangelicalism are:
1. Evangelicalism is PRACTICAL Christianity. A lifestyle of total discipleship to the Lord Christ.
2. It is PURE Christianity. Since you cannot add to the Christian faith without in the end subtracting from it.
3. It is UNITIVE Christianity. Seeking unity through a common commitment to gospel truth.
4. It is RATIONAL Christianity. Over and against the popular preoccupation with mere experience.The six fundamentals would be as follows:1. The supremacy of the Holy Scripture (Because of its unique inspiration)
5. The Majesty of Jesus Christ (the God-man who died as a sacrifice for sin)
6. The Lordship of the Holy Spirit (who exercises a variety of vital ministries)
7. The necessity of conversion (a direct encounter with God effected by God alone – being born again)
8. The priority of evangelism (Witness being an expression of worship)
9. The importance of fellowship (the Church being essentially a living community of believers)To go back to elucidate the 5 great solas of the Reformation which form the substrata of all true evangelicalism – these are: (I’ll quote the affirmations from the Cambridge Declaration)Thesis One: Sola Scriptura / We reaffirm the inerrant Scripture to be the sole source of written divine revelation,which alone can bind the conscience. The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured.We deny that any creed, council or individual may bind a Christian’s conscience, that the Holy Spirit speaks independently of or contrary to what is set forth in the Bible, or that personal spiritual experience can ever be a vehicle of revelation.Thesis Two: Solus Christus / We reaffirm that our salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of the historical Christ alone. His sinless life and substitutionary atonement alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to the Father.We deny that the gospel is preached if Christ’s substitutionary work is not declared and faith in Christ and his work is not solicited.Thesis Three: Sola Gratia / We reaffirm that in salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath by his grace alone. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that brings us to Christ by releasing us from our bondage to sin and raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life.
  We deny that salvation is in any sense a human work. Human methods, techniques or strategies by themselves cannot accomplish this transformation. Faith is not produced by our unregenerated human nature.
  
  Thesis Four: Sola Fide / We reaffirm that justification is by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone. In justification Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us as the only possible satisfaction of God’s perfect justice.
  
  We deny that justification rests on any merit to be found in us, or upon the grounds of an infusion of Christ’s righteousness in us, or that an institution claiming to be a church that denies or condemns sola fide can be recognized as a legitimate church.
  
  Thesis Five: Soli Deo Gloria / We reaffirm that because salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, it is for God’s glory and that we must glorify him always. We must live our entire lives before the face of God, under the authority of God and for his glory alone.
  
  We deny that we can properly glorify God if our worship is confused with entertainment, if we neglect either Law or Gospel in our preaching, or if self-improvement, self-esteem or self-fulfillment are allowed to become alternatives to the gospel.
So it is on these foundation that we continue to call ourselves The Evangelical Church of Fairport

That’s it in a nutshell. Though a whole lot could be cited to differentiate historical evangelicals from fundamentalists and fundamentalism – but that will have to wait for another day.

Let me also recommend D. Martin Lloyd-Jones’ superb little treatment titled: “What is an Evangelical.”

Evangelicalism has deep historical roots and a fairly definitive theological framework.

Historically, these foundational truths are the things that make for being an Evangelical.

But to be an Evangelical in the historical sense, includes the idea that one must also be a Christian. So we need to ask that question as well – What is a Christian?

I believe, if we take the Biblical categories responsibly, we come to see that there a number of things – which no doubt are almost (if not entirely) missing from modern conceptions of what a Christian is. From that Biblical standpoint we can at least say the following:

A Christian is one who believes God exists, and that He created all things.

A Christian is one who believes what God has said is true and orders their lives accordingly.

That God created humanity in His image.

That through rebellion as a race we sinned against God and are lost.

That the world is the way it is because of these things.

A Christian is one who has come to see the reality of their personal guilt and ruin before God, and their need of a Savior.

A Christian is one who has believed that Jesus Christ is the God/man, and that He died on the Cross historically to bear the just punishment for sin due to fallen mankind.

A Christian is one who has personally trusted in Christ’s death at Calvary as their substitute, and God’s only means to be reconciled to Him – through faith in that death.

A Christian is one who is now living their lives in loving gratitude and service to Jesus Christ as their Lord, proclaiming the grace and mercy that saved them, to others.

A Christian is one who is ever moving toward Heaven as their final home and their highest joy in being with God and Christ Jesus eternally.

If these ideas hold true – then when I hear that Evangelicals are supporting some candidates with rabid fervor – I have to ask, by what definition are they indeed – Evangelicals?

Something to ponder.
The 800# Gorilla of 1 Peter 3:18-20

February 28th, 2016

1 Peter Part 14b

The Fellowship of His Suffering

1 Peter 3:13-22

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

Before we even get into the text in detail this morning, it might be good to acknowledge the 800# gorilla in the room.

What I mean by that, is that we need to think just a bit about the unique statements Peter makes in vss. 19-20:

1 Peter 3:18–20 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.”

What in the world is going on here?

Some of you will remember our series in the book of Daniel.

In that series, we talked about dealing with certain portions of Scripture which are difficult to understand – in that case, Biblical Prophecy. What needs untangled.

And you will recall that we set out a little grid for dealing with difficult passages.

We consider obscure passages in 3 ways. We major on:

1. What is CERTAIN in the passage.

We treat carefully –

2. What may be REASONABLE to infer.

And for the most part, we avoid camping on –

3. What is SPECULATIVE.

We noted then, as we need to do with today’s passage, to be sure we major on what is CERTAIN above all else.

There may be some reasonable inferences we can draw, but we do not base any doctrine upon them.

And, there may be ideas which we might speculate upon, but once again, we do not want to base our conclusions on those ideas – but focus upon what is certain.

Why do I bring that up here?

Because, as one commentary I consulted on vss. 18-20 noted: There are no less than 18 major interpretations of what precisely is meant here. (Holman Bible Commentary)

So we have a real need to tread lightly.

It is obvious we cannot treat all 18 of those possible interpretations today, but let me lay out the 4 most prominent, and why I personally hold to one particular view – while leaving the door slightly open to one other.

At the same time, let me add that should you disagree with me in some of the particulars in the precise interpretation here, I’ll not wrestle you to the mat over it, as long as we all confine ourselves to keeping the CERTAIN points in view.

So difficult are these several verses that Martin Luther wrote, “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.”^{^[1]}

Tom Schreiner – James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Professor of Biblical Theology (1997); Associate Dean of the School of Theology @ SBTS in Louisville KY helps us greatly here summarizing top 4 interpretations.

This passage is speaking of:

VIEW 1: Christ’s Spirit preaching through Noah in days before the Flood.

VIEW 2: Jesus, after death and before resurrection, preaching to the OT saints in Hades, and leading them to Heaven.

VIEW 3: Jesus, after death and before resurrection, preaching to those who perished in Noah’s Flood, offering them a 2^nd chance.

VIEW 4: Jesus’ proclamation of His victory over the evil angels who co-habited with human women precipitating the Flood, and who are imprisoned forever in Hell. Maybe before resurrection, or after.

I must acknowledge here that the 4^th seems to be most common today among conservative scholars.

The truth is, there are problems with each of the views here – mine included. Either on grammatical grounds, or a mixture of grammar, or in comparison with the rest of Scripture, and in the immediate context.

View #2 Seems to be ruled out because it is based on a view of Hades as a double compartmented abode of the dead, the righteous on one side and the wicked on the other.

But a careful study of how the words Hades and Hell are used in the OT demonstrate that this dual compartmented view comes from Pagan thought and not Bible teaching and fails at the outset.

View #3 Seems ruled out due to unambiguous Scripture statements such as: Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, The idea of a 2^nd chance at salvation after death is not only not taught in the balance of Scripture, it is flat out denied.

View #4 In my estimation fails on 4 main fronts – tho as I said, it is the most common view today. While it offers the most in-depth grammatical solutions to the passage:

a. I believe it fails to follow Peter’s logic as carefully as it should leading up to this point.

b. It relies heavily on the extra-Biblical book of Enoch – which in my opinion falls into the category of Jewish myth.

c. It relies on a view of angelology which I believe Scripture does not support.

d. It presupposes Peter’s readers would have a working knowledge of this extra-Biblical material to draw from, take to be truth, and know how to apply it even though it is only mentioned in passing.

I think that stretches credibility a bit farther than I can go.

If you would like to discuss that in more detail, in a way I simply cannot this morning – then perhaps we can arrange a Wednesday night to do so.

In short – regarding this 4^th view, we have no Biblical data supporting the idea that angels even CAN co-habit with human humans. At that, the Bible says they neither marry nor are given in marriage (Luke 20:35), and do not appear to be a race which propagates itself, but each are individual creations.

The idea that the offspring of such unions were the “Nephelim” of Gen. 6:4, seems disproved by the fact that Nephelim still exist after the Flood (Numb. 13:33) – which would create so many other exegetical problems as to be (in my opinion) impossible to overcome.

That said, this 4^th view is held by many whom I would gladly sit under the feet of to learn. They are both godly and scholars in the highest degree, so I do not take their view lightly, even if I take issue with it.

So where does that leave us? With View #1. It seems most likely to me, that Peter is saying that the same Spirit which raised Christ from the dead, was active even back in Noah’s Day, preaching through Noah for 120 years – and that the example of Noah laboring so is to be an encouragement to Believers now.

That said, let’s get back to the start of this text and try to work it through.

Vs. 17 – You as one of Christ’s elect are suffering – so why is it “better” to suffer for righteousness if that should be God’s will?

Why does the Believer have SUCH hope, that our sufferings are “better” than those that our neighbors endure?

In short, because, above all else – we have the promise of not only suffering with like and with Jesus, but of also being raised with Him.

Our union with Him in our being born again is more than just a nice notion – It is a most powerful and living reality – Something we even taste a bit of now – Colossians 3:1 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

So, 1 Peter 3:14 “even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled”

What then can we take away from these portions in terms of what we can be certain of?

5 Great Certainties:

A. SUFFERING IS NOT SHAMEFUL: Because Christ also suffered under God’s will, this is nothing to be ashamed of should it happen – since it was even part and parcel of how Christ came as our substitute to die in our place.

In the culture where Peter’s first readers lived, humility in the face of adversity was NOT considered a positive trait. In fact, is was downright shameful.

Jesus’ willingness to go to the Cross without putting up a good fight would have been seen as gutless and the mark of an exceedingly weak character. The same would have attached itself to those who followed in Christ’s steps the way Peter is calling for.

But Peter is urging his readers – and us: Do not let the World make you ashamed of suffering for His name’s sake. Peter is building to a point he will reiterate in the next chapter: 1 Peter 4:12–16 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

B. SUFFERING BRINGS EVANGELISTIC OPPORTUNITY: As Christ suffered “to bring us to God” – so too, as we’ve seen already in the whole argument up until now, HOW we suffer for His name in this present world, is a powerful apologetic to bring make Christ known in this present darkness, and to see them brought to saving faith.

2:5 – Our Priesthood in this present world

2:9 – The Proclamation of His excellencies

2:12 – Testimony to the persecutors which will be verified on the last day

2:15 – Putting to silence the ignorance of foolish people

3:1 – In winning the lost

C. SUFFERING FOR BELIEVERS ALWAYS TERMINATES FINALLY IN RESURRECTION: Should our suffering even bring us to death – remember that resurrection through the Spirit of Christ is ours.

The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.)

The very same Spirit which raised Christ will raise us, and this same Spirit has always proclaimed forgiveness and deliverance from God’s judgement, even all the way back to the dark, dark days of Noah – days darker even than our own.

D. DISCOURAGEMENT NEED NOT SPOIL YOUR SUFFERING: If so few as only 8 responded to the preaching of the Gospel in face of coming judgment in Noah’s Day – do NOT be discouraged if you do not see many come to Christ as a result of your witness of suffering righteously for His sake.

Whatever else may be going on in these verses as regards preaching to the spirits in prison who did not obey in Noah’s time – whether the preaching referred to is the Spirit of Christ preaching through Noah then, or Jesus proclaiming to those imprisoned spirits after His death –

FEW LISTENED. And that is never reason to be discouraged, or to stop being those who endure suffering in this present age – in a way that makes the Spirit of Christ evident to our detractors.

Don’t lose heart!

We are about the business of fulfilling God’s eternal plan in Christ Jesus.

E. CHRIST RULES AND REIGNS OVER ALL EVIL SPIRITS. HE IS VICTOR!

As Tom Schreiner notes – who takes VIEW #4 by the way: Believers should not become intimidated in suffering but continue to sanctify Christ as Lord because the suffering of Christ was also the means by which he was exalted. Just as suffering was the pathway to exaltation for Christ, so also suffering is the prelude to glory for believers…the emphasis on Christ’s victory reminds believers that the troubles of the present time are temporary, that victory is sure because Christ has triumphed over evil powers. The theme of the text therefore is not the imitation of Christ, contrary to some scholars,²⁶⁵ but his victory over evil.^{^[2]}

All of this is wrapped up in this one great reality – That Jesus Christ has been raised up from the dead, and so will all of those who are His with Him, when He comes.

Paul summarizes Peter’s thought here, in Ephesians 1:15–23 (ESV) For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might ²⁰ that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

^{^[1]} Schreiner, Thomas R. 2003. 1, 2 Peter, Jude. . Vol. 37. (The New American Commentary). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

^{^[2]} Schreiner, Thomas R. 2003. 1, 2 Peter, Jude. . Vol. 37. (The New American Commentary). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
An Observation, and a Prayer – From Proverbs 28:1

February 28th, 2016

The Heavenly Father is patient, and does not chasten without warnings and reproofs. But when those warnings and reproofs are repeatedly rejected, He does finally move. In those times, His action is swift, and decisive. Better to hear these rebukes and learn, to confess and repent. To take whatever measures we need to. For when He is forced to act like this, we seldom emerge without permanent damage. Proverbs 28:14

How far is too far when testing the patience of God? No one knows. That is the point. Some take God’s patience as a sign He is simply pleased with them as is. Others think it simply impossible to provoke Him. The wise man knows “the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience…is meant to lead you to repentance” (Rom. 2:4).

So what has God been dealing with you about, that you continue to put off? Don’t wait until it is too late.

Heavenly Father, grant me a repentant heart. Grant US repentant hearts. Nothing is so wicked as confessing our sin and seeking forgiveness, but not turning from it. It is how every form of idolatry works – just go through the ritual, but no real change is expected or needed. Father, I want my heart to hate the sin that is in me as you do – and love your holiness as you do. I want to want other things – to have sinful things appear as wicked and heinous as they really are, and to see and be attracted to the beauty of holiness as you really are. I plead with you Father – do not leave me as I am. I am so easily fooled and deceived by my own sin. Let me truly walk in the love, light and wisdom that is ours in Christ. Grant me your gift of true repentance from my sins.
Sermon Notes for 1 Peter 1:13-22 / The 3 R’s of Encouragement

February 23rd, 2016
1 Peter Part 14a

The 3-R’s of Encouragement

1 Peter 3:13-22

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

Peter, having brought his main thought thus far in this letter to the fore in 3:9 – 1 Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”

And, as having the self-identity of God’s “elect exiles, shown us how the principle can be lived out in 3 contexts:

With Governments

In Work Environments

In the Home

And, having exhorted us on how to encourage and support one another in the Body of Christ when trials, tribulations and persecutions for the name of Christ come our way –

Peter now goes on to give us some powerful, useful and practical tools to encourage and equip us.

This is what occupies the text from 3:13-3:22.

We can only unpack the beginning of those this morning, in vss. 13-17

The 3-R’s of Encouragement
1. 13-14 / Redefining HARM: As Citizens of Christ’s Kingdom.
2. 15a / Realigning our UNDERSTANDING: How the universe works under Christ’s Lordship.
3. 15b-17 / Remembering our MISSION: As Christ’s Emissaries in the world.
1. 13-14 / Redefining HARM: As Citizens of Christ’s Kingdom.
1 Peter 3:13–14 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

1. Note first, that some may indeed harm us, even when we do good. This is reality, and to be expected.

We ought not be too surprised if in this fallen world we suffer some injustice.

Wasn’t Jesus’ crucifixion the single most unjust act ever committed by human hands?

Should it shock us then if we are treated wrongly at times?

This is sin’s unmasked face. It is grotesque, ugly and fearsome.

2. But note secondly that God does not define harm as we so often do.

Identical words can mean different things to different people in different contexts.

Bee in one’s bonnet

Here: Something’s bothering them

England: A bug inside their car hood

A pebble in my boot

Here: Something in my shoe

England: A stone in the truck of their car

Here, Peter echoes Jesus’ words from Luke 21:16–18 “You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. ¹⁷ You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish. “

Harm in this life can be but physical and emotional, and at that, temporary.

Compared to eternal spiritual harm, such is nothing.

Oh to keep that balance in our hearts when tested in this way.

This reminds us of Jonah’s prayer in the belly of the fish in Jonah 2.

Jonah 2:1–2 “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, ² saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.”

How does a prayer of thanksgiving fit at this point? Alive, but in the belly of this fish?

Because, he IS alive, when in fact he was deserving of and preserved from the Hell from which there is no return.

Yes it is hot.

Yes it is smelly.

Yes it is dark and uncomfortable and the future is uncertain – but it is not eternal separation from God and under His undiluted wrath.

ANYTHING is better than that.

When one has been so close to utter destruction, being saved by only an inch, is cause for celebration.

Note 3^rd, that as Citizens of Christ’s Kingdom, He has promised that irrespective of the “harm” the World may think to do to us, it will in NO WISE diminish our blessedness.

In fact, part of the redemptive work of Christ on our behalf, is to so govern His people, that evil perpetrated against us by the World or the Devil, is actually utilized for our good!

Now the correct balance on this is important.

For the Believer, evil does not cease to BE evil.

But such is God’s sovereignty, that one and the same event can have evil intent by one party, and yet good intent from our God.

This was the pronouncement of Joseph in Gen. Genesis 50:15–20 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” ¹⁶ So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ¹⁷ ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. ¹⁸ His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” ¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Joseph does not deny their evil motives, nor baptize their actions as though they actually did a good thing.

He acknowledges their evil intent – but notes God’s own GOOD intent in the very same event.

Much like Acts 2:22–23 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— ²³ this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”

They are not commended for having accomplished God’s will in Christ’s crucifixion, but in fact are condemned for their wickedness.

Or as in Mark 14 when Jesus us speaking of Judas’ betrayal: Mark 14:21 “For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Because God provided salvation through the shed blood of Jesus, does not vindicate Judas from His vile treachery.

We do not pronounce evil good and good evil in recognizing Christ’s redemptive work in making our sufferings the source of blessings for us.

But we DO glory in that such is both His power and love toward those who believe.
1. 15a / Realigning our UNDERSTANDING: How the universe works under Christ’s Lordship.
1 Peter 3:15a “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,”

a. Jesus Christ is Lord of ALL!

The one who loves us with the infinite love of God.

The One who came to die in our place, bearing the full wrath of God upon human sin for the salvation of all who believe.

He is Lord, not others nor the circumstances.

b. This Jesus who loves us with infinite love and gave His very life for us – HE IS LORD!

He is not a disinterested bystander.

Christ actively rules in His universe. There is no such thing as chance or randomness.

Caesar is not Lord – nor any government or ruler.

Circumstances are not Lord.

Christ is Lord of all.

Isaiah 40:12–31 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? ¹³ Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? ¹⁴ Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? ¹⁵ Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. ¹⁶ Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. ¹⁷ All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness. ¹⁸ To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him? ¹⁹ An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains. ²⁰ He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move. ²¹ Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? ²² It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; ²³ who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. ²⁴ Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. ²⁵ To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. ²⁶ Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. ²⁷ Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? ²⁸ Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. ²⁹ He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. ³⁰ Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; ³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

c. He is holy. And as ontologically holy, He cannot sin against us but can only act for our good;

and let those considerations govern our thoughts and attitudes, rather than whose hands it is we suffer directly from.
1. 15b-17 / Remembering our MISSION: As Christ’s Emissaries in the world.
1 Peter 3:15b–17 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Thirdly we note, this response to such treatment, is so counter-intuitive to normal human responses that it will evoke wonder from those who observe it in us.

I know that this verse is often cited generically as a reference to apologetics, but Peter’s statement here is specific to Christians suffering.

That in our suffering – and most especially in our being persecuted for living for Christ in this fallen world – that our hope in Christ in it all – is so profound and evident, that observers are compelled to find our why we are not hopeless and hapless but content, at peace, fearless and rejoicing!

This then serves as a means to redeem that suffering and make it a means whereby the Gospel is preached and Christ it put forward before men.

This is the hope that is so remarkable, men cannot help but wonder where it comes from.
Note lastly – that we make our response to them not as though defiant and self-triumphant, but with gentleness and respect.

Their being put to shame for treating us badly is not to be a means of revenge for us, but a means of showing God’s grace and mercy for the sake of their souls.

Proverbs 24:17–18 “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, ¹⁸ lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.”

I worry at just how counter scriptural it is, and how unlike the Spirit of Christ it is, when I hear self-confessed Christians dancing on the ruined reputations and lives of those who have opposed us.

Think in terms of the present political context, and how much venom by supposed Christians gets spewed at candidates we dislike, and especially if some dirt from their past comes out or they get defeated.

Why we do not hate them any more than we fear them, and maintain our joy and hope and peace – is to be expressed with GENTELNESS and RESPECT!

How far popular American Christianity has fallen from this kind of thinking and acting!

Now who but our wondrous God would have put forth such a pattern to follow? Oh what a glorious God we serve!

So HOW, are we to live this supernatural life that Peter has reminded us we are called to in a dark and hostile world?

First and foremost, by mastering the 3-R’s:
1. 13-14 / Redefining HARM: As Citizens of Christ’s Kingdom.
2. 15a / Realigning our UNDERSTANDING: How the universe works under Christ’s Lordship.
3. 15b-17 / Remembering our MISSION: As Christ’s Emissaries in the world.
Sermon Notes for 1 Peter – Part 13 / Finally

February 14th, 2016

1 Peter Part 13

“Finally, all of you”

1 Peter 2:13-3:12

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

3:8 – Finally, all of you

The United States is a nation built upon Rights.

From the advent of the Magna Carta in 1215 – Signed by King John in Great Britain, down to our own Declaration of Independence from British rule – personal and human rights have been at the center of how we think about ourselves in relationship to governments, institutions, businesses, and even in personal relationships.

Peter’s letter finds its way to its first audience with mixed realities regarding rights – especially those of the individual toward the then ruling power of Rome.

No doubt those Jewish Christians who were exiled from Rome in AD 49 when the Emperor Claudius expelled all the Jews – were Peter’s main audience.

Sometimes in these expulsions, the Emperor would create little colonies of the exiles, giving them at the same time some Roman “rights” and even in some cases full Roman Citizenship.

But as imposed foreign transplants – there due to religious persecution – the locals looked on them with suspicion and hostility on both fronts. Both the political imposition AND their unique religious identity as Believing Jews.

They were truly people without a country or a people, in place where they would be consistently harassed by their neighbors on several fronts. Elect Exiles as per 1:1

How were they to live? Peter writes to tell them.

It is no wonder then that one writer noted that in former Yugoslavia and Muslim Indonesia, 1 Peter is the most popular book among Christians.

And I believe it is an essential book for American Christians to ground themselves in as we see the tide of public and even government opinion edging us ever closer to a similar circumstance in this nation.

Peter’s first readers could no doubt, in some instances try to stand on their “rights.”

And that may be our first response as well.

But Peter is interested in teaching them about something much higher than their (or our) “rights” in society.

He wants them to begin to live above human rights, and to live instead in Divine Privilege.

And that, is a horse of such a completely different color, as to maybe not even be a horse at all!

As Scott McKnight writes: “Peter intends his readers to understand who they are before God so that they can be who they are in society.”^{^[1]}

As you might suspect by the word “FINALLY”, Peter is about to summarize his points thus far in this letter.

By addressing “all of you” – he is moving from the particular applications we’ve seen so far:

How the Believer relates to and interacts with hostile secular government and leaders –

How the Believer relates to and interacts with hostile secular masters or employers –

How the Believer relates to and interacts with a hostile unbelieving spouse –

How the Believer relates to and interacts with a believing spouse –

All in the context of being both God’s elect people – and citizens of Christ’s Kingdom, while also being exiles due to religious persecution as part of this fallen world and its institutions.

Suffering by Believers in this fallen world is to be expected, and not viewed as something irregular or inexplicable.

Peter is one with his Master Jesus in this: John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus told His disciples – and by extension, Believers in every age – that our peace is to be found in Him – in being reconciled to the Father by Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice.

And also, that having changed sides in the cosmic conflict, we will now suffer tribulation in this world.

But not to capitulate to the World – because He has overcome it – and is leading us to live as He did! Above the world and its so-called “rights”.

The summary statement Peter builds this next section on is found in vs. 9 “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”

This is the main concept he has been driving at thus far.

The world lives on rights. The Christian, as a citizen of the Kingdom, lives more on his or her divine privileges in Christ – than rights.

The idea here is: For the sake of manifesting Christ’s kingdom in this present age, do not stand on your rights, but take up the privilege of living as an agent of Christ right now, in the presence of this dark and fallen world.

So the instructions is NOT:

1. Just grit your teeth and bear it.

2. Just be the bigger person. Condescending.

3. It is – and this is ESSENTIAL – for the sake of manifesting the life of Christ right here and now, respond not only in a lack of retaliation or retort, but actually BLESS the other.

Do that which is making evident the Spirit of Christ right in the very midst of evil – whether they perceive it as such or not.

BECAUSE – you were called to suffer like this, and to respond like this, that you may also obtain the blessing that comes from God alone.

To act this way not for the sake of manipulation, but solely because this is what our Heavenly Father has called us to. THIS, is living in stupendous privilege.

To do it with Worldly Governments.

With Worldly employers.

If in such a circumstance, with an Unbelieving Spouse.

And in the home with a Believing spouse.

In the Church and everywhere else.

Wow!

Now, to respond in KIND to hostility of any sort, is NATURAL.

We have no better examples of this than in the famed antagonism between Winston Churchill & Lady Astor

At one gathering, Lady Astor, bugged (as she seemed to perpetually be) by Churchill remarked: “Winston, you are very drunk.”

To which he promptly retorted: “And you are very ugly, but in the morning, I will sober!”

At another gathering, Lady Astor was heard to say to Churchill: “If you were my husband, I should poison your coffee!”

To which he replied: “And if I were your husband, I would drink it!”

We laugh at those and even find a certain sense of satisfaction in the cleverness and the fittingness of those exchanges.

No one got hurt. And, as we just noted – it is NATURAL.

But then there are those who even when insulted, just let it bounce off and offer no reply.

And, to refrain from a negative response is NOBLE.

But Peter takes us to a much higher place yet – to actually seek to BLESS in response. THIS, is nothing less than supernatural.

And again – not in the abstract – just to be “good people” – but to seize upon the opportunity to display the life and Spirit of Christ smack dab in the middle of the darkness that produces the hostility.

To do it intentionally as Citizens and Agents of Christ’s Kingdom, in a foreign land.

But Peter is also a realist. He knows not all of us will get to this place very quickly, and even then, there will be lapses no doubt.

And so we have his opening instruction in this portion:

Vs. 8 – “Finally, all of you”

1. Have unity of mind. It would seem here the unity of mind to be had is that which has been given above.

We know this is NOT absolute UNIFORMITY of thought in every case:

See: Rom. 14 / Eating meats & Sabbath keeping. 1 Cor. 8 – Food offered to idols. Mode of baptism, wine or grape juice, etc. etc.

As Christians, all of us need to have the same concept of God’s order and response to sinful treatment, for the cause of Christ in the world.

Or, as vs. 9 summarizes the entire portion: Do not repay evil for evil; nor reviling for reviling; but instead – bless – for in such a mindset, is contained your own blessing. Even as Ps. 34 says. BE OF THIS MIND – ALL OF YOU.

This is the unity of mind he is appealing to here.

2. Sympathy. While seeking that unity of perspective, do not fail to sympathize with those suffering.

Don’t throw out platitudes in suffering like “it’s the Lord’s will, so just endure” – SYMPATHIZE! And especially when they are struggling to truly grasp this extraordinary way of living.

After all – this is how Christ deals with us in our trials: Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

3. Brotherly love. Cultivate a deeper and connected concern for those who cannot navigate these waters of duality as easily as others.

In a family, no one gets left behind – but there is labor to help.

4. A Tender heart. A. Toward failing Christians in this regard – Those who fail need our compassion, not our censure. There is a difference between weakness and rebellion. We do not shoot our wounded, but help them back to safety to be restored, and then strengthened to fight another day.

Toward the persecutors, who are so bound in their sin that they resist the very manifestation of the Spirit of God among them, and are lost and in desperate need of a Savior!

A Humble Mind. A. OK – so YOU get it. Be grateful you’ve been given grace for it, and do not then wave it as though a personal accomplishment before others. Recognize grace.

Humble toward those still bound in their sins. You have not accomplished salvation – it was a gift bestowed upon you. Be humble in your interactions with your tormentors. If not for the grace of God, you would be doing the very same thing if not worse.

And WHY again is this to be our approach?

Because this is our CALLING!

1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

It is a high and holy calling. To live above the rights of this world, by living in the privileges of the Kingdom of Christ.

Which, as we have noted all along – can be done only as we rely on the indwelling Spirit of Christ – to live the righteousness of Christ out through us.

As George MacDonald so eloquently prayed:

Haste to me, Lord, when this fool-heart of mine

Begins to gnaw itself with selfish craving;

Or, like a foul thing scarcely worth the saving,

Swoln up with wrath, desireth vengeance fine.

Haste, Lord, to help, when reason favours wrong;

Haste when thy soul, the high-born thing divine,

Is torn by passion’s raving, maniac throng.

^{^[1]} Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
A Lord’s Supper Poem

February 7th, 2016

We lift your high and holy name

God robed in flesh, to earth you came

And drank up all our guilt and shame

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

Who walked the Father’s steps each day

And spoke the words He gave to say

What e’re the cost in love obeyed

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

You died in bearing our disgrace

Upon the Cross you took our place

The Father’s wrath you full embraced

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

They laid you in a borrowed tomb

And gave you up to Death’s dark doom

In death you took the sinner’s room

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

Our debt, full paid, you rose again

And conquered death for fallen men

For all who’s hope on Thee depends

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

Ascending back from whence you came

You took your throne to rule and reign

And sent your Spirit for our gain

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

And now we wait your soon return

Your Spirit’s fire within us burns

As Bride for Groom, our soul’s do yearn

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

Christ Jesus, Lord and Reigning King

Around this table gathering

We do as you have asked – this thing

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour
A Lord’s Table Meditation

February 7th, 2016

A Communion Meditation for 2/7/2016

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Twice, in Vss. 24 & 25 – Paul records Jesus’ own emphasis in what it is He desired in our coming to this table – “Do this in remembrance of ME.”

Communion confronts the NOETIC effects of sin – Keeping spiritual realities before the mind as lenses that color everything, is a desperate need for the Believer.

Knowing our weakness in this regard, Jesus condescends to provide a truly potent, powerful gift in the Table set here today.

Note the focus here: “In remembrance of ME”

In remembrance of the person and work of Jesus.

It is not a remembrance of abstract theological truths.

It is the remembrance of Him.

Remember – His Person: That He is very God and very man. God incarnate.

WHO we remember here isn’t just some philosopher or sage. Not some mere miracle worker or wise teacher – He is the Lord of the universe, come in human flesh.

We must never let our minds let forget either His infinite deity, nor His humble humanity.

Remember – His Life. Everything He said and did, was done in perfect righteousness and obedience to God the Father – and the means whereby perfect righteousness is imputed to all who trust in Him.

Born in Bethlehem, He lived a life aimed directly at the cross of Calvary where He would die so the sinful sons and daughters of Adam.

He lived, that we might live. He lived, with every intent to die for us as much as He lived for us. Manifesting the Father in every word, every action, every attitude, every decision and every breath.

John 14:8–9 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

He lived, that we might know the reality of “God with us.”

Remember – His death: As He Himself would tell us “John 10:17–18 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

His death was not a tragic accident.

His body was “broken” – His blood was “shed”.

It was at once the pinnacle of the revelation human sin – that given a chance we would kill God – the most holy and innocent of all.

And, it was the pinnacle of the revelation of God’s mercy and saving grace, as He gives His own Son, the sacrifice for human sin, and our substitute, that we might know justice against sin is carried out, while at the same time, those who believe in Him as their sin-bearer – might have forgiveness and cleansing from every and all guilt!

There was no other death ever like His. Nor will there ever be another.

For in it, He fully satisfied the Father for us, and took the holy wrath of God against us.

Remember – His burial: Ignominious. Humble. In someone else’s tomb.

And not a pageant, but a real death and a real burial.

Truly dead for us. Not swooning, or fainting or faking.

Wrapped by fearful, doubting hands.

Buried with no recorded anticipation by others of His resurrection, even though He Himself had prophesied it.

Taking the full of our guilt and shame to the full of its conclusion – the grave. For all sin leads to death. And our sin led to His death.

Remember – His resurrection: – Justification

Romans 4:24c–25 “Jesus our Lord, ²⁵ who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”

Remember – His Ascension: – Pentecost

The “one Body” He has made of all who believe in Him by the giving of His indwelling Spirit.

Ruling until all of His enemies are put under His feet.

Remember His promised return: – 1 Cor. 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

That we are a gathering of Believers, obeying in anticipation of His return.

Remember – His Person:

Remember – His Life.

Remember – His death:

Remember – His burial:

Remember – His resurrection:

Remember – His Ascension:

Remember His promised return:

In remembering Him – we are specifically NOT remembering OURSELVES

Our sin

Our righteousness

Our worthiness or unworthiness

All is focused upon Him!

We lift your high and holy name

God robed in flesh, to earth you came

And drank up all our guilt and shame

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

Who walked the Father’s steps each day

And spoke the words He gave to say

What e’re the cost in love obeyed

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

You died in bearing our disgrace

Upon the Cross you took our place

The Father’s wrath you full embraced

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

They laid you in a borrowed tomb

And gave you up to Death’s dark doom

In death you took the sinner’s room

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

Our debt, full paid, you rose again

And conquered death for fallen men

For all who’s hope on Thee depends

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

Ascending back from whence you came

You took your throne to rule and reign

And sent your Spirit for our gain

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

And now we wait your soon return

Your Spirit’s fire within us burns

As Bride for Groom, our soul’s do yearn

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour

Christ Jesus, Lord and Reigning King

Around this table gathering

We do as you have asked – this thing

In the broken bread

and the blood red cup

We remember you this hour
Likewise, Husbands – 1 Peter 3:7 Sermon Notes (Part 12)

January 31st, 2016
1 Peter Part 12

Likewise, husbands

1 Peter 2:13-3:7

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE HAD HERE

3:7 – Likewise, husbands

Before we even begin today, by way of keeping a proper perspective, let me remind you that what Peter has written here has nothing to do with HOW one BECOMES a Christian.

Nor is this instruction given so that we be good little obedient Christians – in the abstract – because God likes nice people.

One becomes a Christian only by comprehending their sinfulness, and need of Jesus Christ and His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice to reconcile them to God the Father. To be born again by the Spirit of God. To repent of their former sins and rebellion against His Lordship over us, and to look to Jesus as our sin-bearer, that we might be forgiven and restored and recover living according to the purpose for which we were originally made.

And then, The Triune God invites us into the unfolding and accomplishing of His plans and purposes in the world through Christians revealing Christ in their testimony and lives.

That’s why passages like these are so important. They bring us back to a life of mission – living for Christ’s own sake. Such lives don’t save us from God’s wrath, they are lived in light of having BEEN saved from His wrath – through faith in Jesus Christ.

As we saw last week, the word “LIKEWISE” clues us in to a series of connected thoughts.

1^st – 2:13-17: “Be subject FOR THE LORD’S sake to every human institution” – in this case, governments. Even HOSTILE governments.

2^nd – 2:18-25: “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect” – Employers, owners, those in another position of authority.

3^rd – 3:1-6: “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands” – Just like in the previous 2, not responding sinfully to THEIR sin.

“For the Lord’s sake” 2:13 – Because you are set where you are for the accomplishing of God’s purposes and plans.

Now 4^th – “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way” – taking into account God’s purposes, plans and providences.
1. Likewise – Interesting how it applies here. It appears, mostly in terms of “understanding.”
A big shift has occurred.

Up until now, each of the exhortations has applied to those who are UNDER authorities and how to relate to them.

But addressing the husband here, Peter shifts to one who is IN a position of authority, at least in the household.

The point being that even though you are the one in authority here, you still LIKEWISE need to understand how to interact, and especially with one who is “weaker” – Others without your power of position.

Likewise may also include the idea that the wife mentioned here is not a Christian, just as in the portion above addressing a Christian woman with an unbelieving husband.

The reference to the wife as coheir of the gracious gift of life may at first glance seem to prohibit an understanding that she is not a Christian. However, the hōs kai (3:7) may be read “as even a coheir.” This would then indicate that the husband is to treat his wife as if she were a sister in Christ.^{^[1]}

In either case – whether the wife is believing or not, the basic instruction remains the same.
1. Understanding.
The question we must ask is: What does it mean to live with our wives in an “understanding” way? How does that apply to the home?

The text itself, beginning back in 3:12 indicates at least 5 things.

A Godly man in Christ, needs to keep in mind – in discharging his role of authority in the home:

1. God’s arrangement – Understanding how God’s arrangement works in the home, as well as in each of the examples so far beginning in 1:1 – Elect Exiles.

We best serve others as we serve the God who is behind it all. What are His purposes, plans and providences?

2. Weakness – Understanding that the woman is not as physically strong as the man. The word here is most used in terms of physical weakness.

So what? 1. She can be more easily intimidated

Can be bullied

The husband must exercise his leadership in such a way that he never bullies or ESPECIALLY – physically intimidates his wife.

No wife should EVER be in fear of the physical strength of her husband. EVER!
1. She would have a much harder time if alone – So he must be given to her protection / provision
3. Wife’s sinfulness DUALITY – Understanding that she is possessed of the same contradictions as ourselves. Simul justice et peccator / Simultaneously saint and sinner.

Remember how we saw last week this reality in Abraham? A prophet. God’s man. The “father of all who believe” (Rom. 4:11) and yet at times cowardly and weak in character.

She is neither more sinful than you, nor less. But needs patience and consideration for her sinfulness. So that a husband can never demand more righteousness from her than he demands from himself.

Think of how patient you are with your own lack of spiritual growth and sanctification – and cut her at least that much slack, if not more!

We’ll discuss possibly why, more in a minute.

4. Wife’s status as co-heir – Understanding that she is not a spiritual inferior before God, but in every way an equal. As much a co-heir with Christ as you yourself are.

If Christ can accuse Paul on the road to Damascus of persecuting HIM, while Paul persecutes the Church – then husbands, keep in mind that you cannot mistreat your wife without also mistreating Christ Himself. And He does not stand idly by at such things.

5. Interruption of prayers – Understanding that our own relationship with Christ is greatly impacted by how we treat others – and ESPECIALLY our wives.

As the Psalmist notes in Ps. 66: ⁶ Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. ¹⁷ I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. ¹⁸ If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. ¹⁹ But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. ²⁰ Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! ^{^[2]}

It is a wise thing here men, to consider whether or not your own prayer life has become ineffectual, due to the fact that you are not dwelling with your wife in an understanding way – chafing against God’s providences in your relationship, that she pushes your sin buttons right where they need to be addressed;

that you have bullied or intimidated or even physically threatened her so that she does not feel safe around you;

that you are impatient with her sinful failings;

and that you have not honored her rightly as a true spiritual equal and co-heir with Christ.

And then you wonder why God does not seem to hear when you pray about other matters.

This might be the very crucial area which needs to be directly and immediately addressed!

But we have not done our work in this text until we see how all of this paints a wonderful picture of how it is Christ relates to us as His Bride.

How Christ dwells with His Bride The Church in an UNDERSTANDING way.

How He is ever mindful of The Father’s plans and purposes for us. And He ALWAYS acted and acts in accordance with that.

He gives all to redeem us from our sin, and to gently, lovingly and ceaselessly help us put on the character of the Holy Spirit in growing in His own likeness.

He knows well our weaknesses, and He never yells, never bullies, never castigates, never humiliates. He remembers our frame that we are but dust. (Ps. 103:14)

He is aware we can be bullied by the World and by Satan and He comes along side to strengthen, comfort and encourage.

He knows how defenseless we are apart from His watchful care.

He sees us as His own co-heirs. Destined to have all that is His as our own. And He delights in it.

He remains an intercessor for us, and is heard by the Father on our behalf at all times. Romans 8:34 ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Because He is for us, and with us, and loving us, His prayers are informed by that love and commitment and are never hindered because of some failure on His part.

And what an extraordinary ministry then, such a husband has in the home.

That a wife is to never feel threatened by her husband any more than the Church is threatened by Christ.

That a Wife is never rejected by her husband due to her remaining sin, any more than the Bride of Christ is rejected because of her remaining sin – but is accepted and cherished fully.

That the husband always has his wife’s best interest before the Lord – even as Christ had the Church’s best interest before the Father always at the fore.

That the husband sees himself as a leader in the home – with someone who is his spiritual equal!

How Christ elevates His Bride to be a co-heir with Him and to be in position and power and possession of all that is His.

And the wife can be assured that irrespective of anything else, her husband will be pleading God’s goodness and grace and blessing on her as a primary labor of love in their relationship – even as Christ has risen and ever intercedes for His Bride.

He will never just pray ABOUT her, but FOR her!

In fact, Christ fulfills ALL of what we have seen so far.

In the incarnation, He instigates NO rebellion against the pagan, idolatrous, corrupt and oppressive Roman government – “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are His.” (Matt. 22:21)

Even when persecuted, falsely accused, unjustly condemned and brutally and illegally crucified – He does nothing to foment revolution or rebellion.

And when He comes, He does not rebel or try to overthrow the Synagogues, the Temple or the Priesthood – though riddled with corruption, heresy and false religion.

His habit (as per Luke 4:16 ) is to attend Synagogue, and not to create separate house churches to follow Him.

At the great feasts, He honors the high holy days and does His teaching IN the Temple as much as outside of it. And He tells His disciples (Matt. 23:1-3) “whatever the priests tell you to do, do it, for they sit in Moses seat.” He establishes their authority and position, and never tries to depose one of them nor incentivize His followers to do so.

In the home, He never disturbs the order, but is subject to His parents though they are fallen and sinful, and He the very righteousness of God, and the Creator of His own parents. (Luke 2:51) “He went down with them and was subject to them” the Gospel record attests.

Do you imagine Mary and Joseph were perfect parents? Forget it! But He remained under their authority and interacted righteously with them, even in their unrighteousness.

And then at last – as we have already seen – as Husband to His Bride the Church.

Husbands, Christ calls you to be the husband in your home, that He is to His Church – that His purposes, plans and providences may be utterly and completely fulfilled.

That your wife, above all others, can taste of the goodness, patience, grace, forgiveness, gentleness and care of God in Christ – THOUGH YOU.

Oh, how we need to be filled with the Spirit of Christ!

^{^[1]} Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

^{^[2]} 2001. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
1 Peter part 11 – Likewise, wives, be subject: It’s not What you Think

January 29th, 2016
1 Peter part 11

Likewise, wives, be subject: It’s not What you Think

1 Peter 2:13-3:6

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

Before we jump directly into our text – which is 1 Peter 3:1-6, there are 2 things worth noting to assist us in keeping on track, and both interpreting and applying this text.

In so doing, these 2 things are useful in all of our Bible study, not just this passage.

1. You no doubt noticed that the reading we had just had done for us – began back in ch. 2:13.

CONNECTING THOUGHTS: The word “LIKEWISE” in 3:1 is your clue. It is an appeal to what has come immediately before.

And what came immediately before were 2 examples of how Christians are to relate to secular and unsympathetic authorities: 13-17 was couched in being sure these persecuted Christian were still able to “honor the emperor” (17).

18 – 25 Had to do with Christian servants (or slaves or employees) relating to their masters – even unjust masters.

Learning to suffer injustice without retaliation or rebellion.

And the goal of this instruction was ultimately – evangelistic. Making the contrary-to-the-world Spirit of Christ highly visible.

In both, the same principle was being articulated: As God’s royal priesthood in this world, we are NEVER to respond sinfully, to sin inflicted upon us.

Injustice never gives us leave to act out of order.

Now, coming to the home and understanding God’s arrangement in the household, the same principle holds true.

Someone else acting sinfully or poorly, can never be the Believer’s excuse for breaking God’s order or acting sinfully in return.

We are to be above that.

We’ll unpack that more precisely in a moment.

2. PERSONAL APPLICATION: The second thing we need to remind ourselves of in good Bible study – is that it is an abuse of the Word, to see how passages apply to others, without considering how they apply to ourselves first.

As we saw in looking at Proverbs 31 – it is a common problem in the Church for men to look at a passage like this one and rub some woman’s nose in it and say “See, this is what you ought to be living up to!”

Or, a wife can do the same with the passage that follows.

In each of these cases, our sinfulness is revealed in how we read the Word to enforce it respecting others, rather than see what it is saying to me in MY sin and circumstance.

So, if you come away from your study of the Word armed with things to impose upon others, rather than humbled by how YOUR sin has been exposed and needs dealt with in Christ – you are abusing the Bible.

With those 2 things in mind then, let’s look at the text.

V1 – “LIKEWISE” – Just as none of us are to respond sinfully to our government, even in its corruption; nor perhaps our masters or employers, even in their corruption, so Christian wives, LIKEWISE, learn not to respond sinfully to your husbands, even when they sin.

Peter insists this applies even if that husband is NOT a Christian – which is most likely what is meant by the phrase “even if some do not obey the Word.”

Do not use your husband’s sins or shortcomings, nor his status as an unbeliever – as an excuse to respond in sinful ways, or as an indication they have abdicated their role in this home before God, because they fail to execute it well.

What is interesting – is what Peter says in vss. 5–6 “For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.”

His citation of Sarah is really interesting here. Mainly, because the only place in Scripture that Sarah called Abraham “Lord”, was in her heart, in Genesis 18:12.

So one wonders, whatever might Peter mean?

It was in my own study at this point that I went back to build a bit of a biographical sketch of Sarah to try and get a handle on Peter’s thought.

And what we find, is a fascinating study, which sheds some real light on understanding what the Holy Spirit is driving home in her example.

Gen. 11:30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no child: She was no stranger to disappointment perhaps frustration and lack of fulfillment.

Gen. 11:31 In a patriarchal society, she was removed from the familiarity of her upbringing and the wealth and cosmopolitan atmosphere of Ur, was moved to a foreign place, and then suffered the loss of her father-in-law.

Gen. 12 – Sarai is uprooted once again, this time from a place of apparent prosperity to an unknown place in Canaan. Abram is 75 at this point.

Gen. 12:10 – Now they face famine, and have to move again – this time to Egypt.

Gen. 12:11-20 – Sarai is victim to Abram’s fearful interactions with the Egyptians which finds her abducted by the Egyptians and in the middle of a hot mess until God delivers them.

Gen. 13:1 – On the move again, Abram moves them to the Negeb. A quasi-desert region known for little rainfall and arid conditions.

Gen. 13 – The Negeb appears to be unsuitable to sustain the large amount of livestock Abram had accrued, so he moves them yet again back to Bethel where he had previously built and altar to the Lord.

Gen. 13 – Once back in Bethel, family strife breaks out between Abram and Lot. Lot leaves and goes to live near Sodom, and Abram stays and settles where he is. Sarai is further isolated from her family. And in 17, Abram moves yet again to the “Oaks of Mamre” near Hebron.

Gen. 14 – Life is not all roses. The 5 Kings war breaks out and Lot and all his are abducted and carried off. Sarai sits by while Abram takes 318 men from his household and pulls off a daring rescue of Lot and all the others abducted. Immediately after, Abram is met by Melchizedek. The strange contradiction of Abraham’s courage at chasing down 5 kings and their armies with only 318 men, yet his inability to stand between Sarai and Hagar is highlighted.

Gen. 15 – At their advanced ages, Abram is promised to have a son of his own as an heir, even tho Sarai is once again termed “barren.”

Gen. 16 – After 10 years of God’s promise of a son not happening, Sarai – perhaps broken hearted at her own ability to conceive and not wanting to see her husband not have the son he so desperately wanted – suggests that maybe a surrogate is the way to go. She puts forward Hagar her handmaid as the candidate.

Gen. 16 – Instead of solving the problem, it generates even more. Hagar begins to imagine herself as more primary to Abram than Sarai, and caught between them – Abram wishing to protect Sarai’s status in the household, tells her that even tho Hagar may have borne the child, Sarai is STILL the mistress of the household and Hagar is STILL under her authority and in weakness, dumps the whole mess back in Sarai’s lap.

Gen.16 – After Hagar’s attempt at running away – Sarai receives her back into the household along with Ishmael. This had to have been hard, as well as an extraordinarily painful reminder both of her infertility, and of her animus against Hagar due to her own decision to give Hagar to Abraham in the first place.

Gen. 17 – Sarah endures the situation for 13 years with no hope of anything changing, barring a miracle.

Gen 17 – Sarah’s name is changed – and she is incredulous at the prophecy of her still having a child.

Gen. 19 – Sarah calls Abraham “Lord” in her heart.

Gen. 19 – Sarah witnesses the supernatural destruction of Sodom.

Gen. 20 – Abraham is on the move again – this time to Gerar. And once again Sarah is victim to Abraham’s cowardice and drawn into his deception of Abimelech.

Gen. 21 – Isaac is born, and once again animosity between Sarah and Hagar explodes – and once again Abraham shows his weak character in failing to deal with it.

Gen. 22 – The Scripture is strangely silent on Sarah’s experience of Abraham’s attempted sacrifice of Isaac. But we cannot imagine no impact on her at all.

Gen. 23 – Sarah dies at Hebron – after yet another move by Abraham.

Virtually never having true roots to put down in one place.

Living with the wonder AND the contradiction of Abraham’s faith and obedience to God on the one hand, and his weakness and fearfulness on the other.

Yet he is her husband. And she sticks with him through it all.

And Peter would hint – without fear and giving in to inner churning all the time.

What a wonder indeed!

Peter’s point? A Believing wife ought to submit to an unbelieving husband, the same way she would submit to a believing husband.

How many a gal has thought if I could just get a godly husband, what heaven that would be!

And by invoking Sarah & Abraham – Peter demonstrates that godly men, even prophets like Abraham, can also be real jerks at times!

And the fact they ARE jerks, doesn’t dissolve the order in the home God has ordained.

So how IS a wife to respond well in such circumstances? 3:1 SUBMIT

What EXACTLY does it mean to be “SUBJECT” to your husband? That is the $50,000 question.

This “subjection” is located in 3 things principally: 3 couplets.

1. V2 – “RESPECTFUL and PURE conduct.

RESPECTFUL – Not throwing off the order God proscribes for the home.

“In Greco-Roman society it was expected that the wife would have no friends of her own and would worship the gods of her husband (Plutarch, Advice §19).”^{^[1]}

Not using his failing as an excuse to usurp his rightful place, and being careful to protect his reputation and standing in society.

Going along as far as she possibly can – without violating her conscience before God.

PURE / UPRIGHT / CHASTE – Not looking to someone or something else for what is lacking in your man. Faithful to the marriage covenant.

And to do that in a…

2. V 4 – GENTLE and QUIET spirit. Maintaining an inward repose that rests in Christ’s sovereignty and prevents division and conflict.

Sarah was not afraid to speak her mind or face Abraham when she needed to. BUT – apparently, she did not do so in a panic. She could do it calmly, clearly, and not being driven by inward agitation.

From the rest of the context it appears that this gentle and quiet spirit is located mainly in a lack of fretfulness, which often spills over into nagging, manipulating, etc. Not being frightened by frightening things. That is a tall order, and a very high call.

Note that in 3:15 – these very same 2 things, respect and quietness are applied to ALL Christians – men AND women undergoing difficulty at the hands of those who are not respectable.

And so continuing…

3. V 6 – DOING GOOD and being UNAFRAID. Continuing to be Christ-like in responses, and TRUSTING the LORD, more than the circumstance or your husband.

2 Questions:

1. Why would a Believing Wife SUBMIT to an Unbelieving husband?

V 3 – That “they may be won”.

“Peter’s concern that Christian wives continue to submit to their own husbands not only shields Christianity from the accusation that it is a social evil but is also clearly motivated by evangelistic intent. The unbelieving husband observes virtues in the wife’s good demeanor that are motivated by her relationship with Christ, virtues not inferior to those motivated by Greek moral philosophy. Observing this, the man himself may be won to Christ “without words,” for in that culture it is shameful for the wife to presume to instruct her husband (which may also be a concern in 1 Tim. 2:11–12). Here is a situation where silence is the more effective means of communication.^{^[2]}”

HOW would a Believing wife SUBMIT to an Unbelieving husband?
1. V2 – “RESPECTFUL and PURE conduct.
2. V 4 – GENTLE and QUIET spirit.
3. V 6 – DOING GOOD and being UNAFRAID.
Why these three?

Because submission has more to do with submitting to God’s PLANS, PURPOSES and PROVIDENCE, than it does to submitting to a person.

How much more in a marriage where both are Believers?

“Witness the power and position a Believing woman has because of Christ. [the husband] also sees in this affirmation that his wife’s or slave’s submission is motivated no longer by the expectations of Roman society or the principles of Greek moral philosophy but instead by the authority and example of the crucified and resurrected Christ.^{^[3]}”

The Christian wife takes up this challenge in being subject to her husband NOT so that men look or feel better. She does it because she is on a mission.

To an unsaved husband, to be the means of his conversion.

To the saved husband, she is in partnership with him to manifest Jesus Christ in this fallen world so as to see many brought to Christ.

She is serving God faithfully and powerfully in a ministry of reconciliation.

Seeing men and women they come into contact with, brought to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ through Spirit filled living, above culturally dominated living.

This, is ministry!

And as always, we need to point you back to what it is Christ won for Believers when H rose from the dead and ascended on high.

i.e. – The sent, and indwelling Holy Spirit.

Such a ministry can only be undertaken by walking in constant, conscious, deliberate dependence upon the Spirit of God.

^{^[1]} Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

^{^[2]} Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

^{^[3]} Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
There are books, and there are BOOKS!

January 26th, 2016
There are books, and then there are BOOKS.

There are books that inform, or entertain or simply distract.

And then there are books that are insightful, informative, analytical, instructive, myth-busting, world-view shaping, broad and important.

One such book (of very few that fits into the latter category) is Vishal Mangalwadi’s “The Book That Made Your World: How The Bible Created The Soul of Western Civilization.”

From part 1: “The West without it’s Soul: From Bach to Cobain” – to chapter 20: “The Future: Must the Sun set on the West?” – you will be drawn into an understanding of Western Culture, how it was formed, where it is now, what is wrong and how we can get back on track.

Mangalwadi’s breadth of comprehension of key factors, depth of analysis, and unashamed defense of the Bible as essential to Humanity’s true progress is breathtaking, readable, digestible, challenging and encouraging.

Vishal Mangalwadi is an Indian scholar, philosopher, thinker and Christian. His background in Indian culture, experiencing the influences of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam and Biblically informed Christianity quit him to analyze civil, social, political and spiritual matters from a number of clarifying perspectives.

And yes, I am struggling through a fit of adjectival overload in trying to be brief, informative and compelling in one fell swoop! It ain’t easy! Feel my pain.

Let me try to convince you to buy and read this book by stating only 5 of what I believe are its most compelling features in bullet points, instead of writing a review that would rival Mangalwadi’s book in length.
1. It is VERY readable. The Dr. unpacks deep and broad subjects with extraordinary accessibility. No one need fear it. Yes, he will delve deeply into political theory, sociology, philosophy, religion, psychology and even music – but you will never think you’ve been force fed from fire hose or made to contort your brain to accommodate the influx.
2. It is INTERESTING. Some of the subjects he addresses so deftly, are frankly ones I would not spend much time on separately, for fear of ossifying my brain and my mind. But he takes you there with ease, and uses a verbal machete in chopping out the weeds.
3. It is BROAD. Global history. Intellectual Movements. Key historical figures and events. Philosophical schools of thought. Various worldviews and their inevitable consequences. Biblical correctives. Reality from God’s point of view. Humanity. Science. Love. This book is an education unto itself – an entire self-contained curriculum.
4. It is DE-MYTHOLOGIZING. As educational systems come under the sway of various worldviews, history get re-written, misunderstood, and its worst features repeated. Truth clears the sticky, inky residue of such misinformation away to let the Light shine in illuminating what was lost in the darkness.
5. It is CHRIST centered and BIBLE BASED. Mangalwadi is no mere theorist, nor narrow fundamentalist. He sees facts, comprehends them cohesively, and analyzes them Biblically. And he never gets himself, or you, lost along the way.
For me, I plan to get a few groups going where we are reading this book and discussing its contents together.

If you are not a reader – please try this one any way. It will draw you in.

If you are a reader – add it to the top of important books to be read this year. You WILL thank me.