As He Is So Also Are We

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Pete

It’s one of those “in the shadow” verses. A verse which, at least in my experience, more often than not is eclipsed by the better known verse which follows it. So often, I can be in such a rush to get to the “money verse” and glory in it that I gloss over it’s lesser known predecessor and miss the glory it emits. Not this morning. Rather than chewing afresh on 1John 4:18, “perfect love casts out fear”, I’m savoring more of a first-time taste from a truth statement in the verse before it.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world.

(1John 4:16-17 ESV)

Let me see if I can summarize what’s running through my head . . .

This section of John’s first letter, 1John 4:7-21, deals with a command to obey: “let us love one another” (v.7) . . . “whoever loves God must also love his brother” (v. 21). But, at the heart of getting this “to do” done, it’s less about a discipline and more about a dynamic. God is love (v.7). That love was manifest in God sending His Son so that we might have new life through the Son (v.9). If then, God is love and God loves with such redeeming grace, and we live through Him by the Spirit He has given us (v.13), then it is only logical that we will be marked by the love of God, as well (v.11). Thus, loving the brothers and sisters comes not just from a determined action on our part, but just as much, if not more, from a determined abiding on God’s part.

. . . if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us.

(1John 4:12b ESV)

It’s a dynamic more than a determination. And, says John, it is the confidence we have for the day of judgment — our love for one another is the evidence of the reality of God abiding in us and we in Him. And how is that possible?

. . . because as He is so also are we in this world.

At first I read that and thought it was a call to action statement. That when we act just like Jesus acts then we can have confidence on the day of judgment. But it doesn’t say that. Rather, it says, as He IS so also ARE we.

Okay, so let the brainstorming and meditating begin. How IS Jesus? So ARE we.

He is perfect. So are we, in Him. He is righteous. Us too, His righteousness credited to our account (Rom. 4:22-25). He is in heaven, raised in power. Yup, that goes for us as well, as we’ve been raised up and seated with Him in heavenly places (Eph. 1:20, 2:6). He is the beloved Son of God. Behold what manner of love that we should be called children of God; “and so we are” (1Jn. 3:1). And the list goes on, if we’ll take some time and chew on it a bit.

As He is so also are we. That’s our confidence. That’s the essence of God abiding in us and us abiding in Him. That’s the source for loving others as ourselves. Loving others simply manifests that abiding reality. And that abiding reality becomes the motivating reason for us to want to love as we’ve been loved.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

(1John 4:11 ESV)

To be sure, the flesh gets in the way far too often, and the world continually tries to conform us to its image, but that’s what the cross is about. Thank God for the cross! While we have such a standing, we are still undergoing our sanctification. And in the process of being made more like Jesus, we wear a well-worn path to the place of forgiveness and cleansing. But at the end of the day, the day of judgment, our confidence lies not in how well we did, but in the reality that as He is so also are we.

Because of His abundant grace. All for His everlasting glory.

Posted in 1John | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Cost of Christ as King

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Pete

Seeing is believing. And many, when they saw Lazarus walk out of the tomb — grave clothes and all, having been buried for four days — “believed in Him” (Jn. 11:45). They believed in Jesus. They believed that this Raiser-From-The-Dead must be who He claimed to be, “the resurrection and the life”, and that whoever believed in Him, “though he die, yet shall he live” (Jn. 11:25). They believed that the One who commanded “Lazarus, come out”, was the Messiah. They believed He was the hope of the nations. Yes, John writes, many believed.

So, the irony never ceases to amaze me that, because Jesus irrefutably raised a man from the dead, the council of chief priests and Pharisees knew that now they must put Jesus to death. Huh? First, seems pretty unjust to sentence someone to death because they have just given the gift of life to another. But even more head-scratching, wouldn’t it have occurred to them that someone who has power over death might just have power over His own death? That even if He laid down His own life at their hands, that He’d also have the power to take it up again? I’m thinkin’. Jesus said as much (Jn. 10:17-18).

But the council was, in a sense, believing too. The evidence was mounting that Jesus just might be the Messiah. That Jesus could, in fact, be the King. But they weren’t ready, willing, or able to accept the cost of Christ as King.

So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this Man performs many signs. If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

(John 11:47-48 ESV)

If Jesus really was the Messiah it was going to mess up the comfortable gig these guys had secured with those governing the land.

For if He was the Messiah, and He was to be the King, and He was actually modeling what the kingdom was gonna look like on earth — not a kingdom of pomp and power, but of peace and persuasion; not a kingdom of turning the tables on one’s enemies, but of loving them; not a kingdom of ruling through governmental structures but of reigning through redeemed hearts; not a kingdom marked by climbing the structures of power in order to reign, but of serving others in order to be ranked among the greatest in the kingdom — if this was the sort of kingdom Jesus was going to lead, then, “Count us out!” said the council.

They weren’t prepared to upset the apple cart with the Romans, even if Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise. They weren’t prepared to let go of their position of power and privilege within their nation, even if the kingdom of heaven had come. They were willing to be religious, but only in so far as it secured their place and comfort in the land in which they lived. The cost of Christ as King was more than they were prepared to entertain.

But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”

(John 11:49-50 ESV)

For them, maintaining their status quo with the culture was of more importance than declaring all out allegiance to such a King. Better to work towards maintaining a favorable disposition from Caesar and those in power then accepting the consequences of being ambassadors of another place under the rule of another Prince.

[Jesus] began to say to His disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees . . . ”

(Luke 12:1b ESV)

Our hope lies not in being on the right side of the governing authorities. Our hope lies solely in the Man who raises the dead to life.

“Do you believe this?”

She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

(John 11:26b-27 ESV)

Because of grace. For His glory.

Posted in John | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

We Should Love One Another

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Pete

I know I should probably open my bible in the morning before I open my laptop, but that’s not my morning routine. Get up, get a coffee, flip open the laptop and check out the latest headlines on my news feed, open my bible, open my reading app, proceed to engage with the living word of God. That’s how I roll most mornings.

So, something I read in my bible this morning is providing a filter for what greeted me this morning on my screen — a blue and red line with a big blue and red number on either side indicating a standing against that magic number 270. But the numbers that come to mind as read in 1 John aren’t the numbers above the line, it’s the small numbers below the line, the popular vote. It’s a tight-race, a real barn burner. Gonna be a photo finish, looks like. Right now there’s half the votes (and a smidgen) on the blue side and, essentially, half the votes on the red. And you know that there are believers –real believers convinced before God they have stewarded their vote properly — on both sides. So, with that in mind, I’m chewing on these words:

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. . . We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

(1John 3:11, 14-16 ESV)

Doesn’t matter what side of the line we’re on, what color we’re painted by the world, at some point, when a call’s been made, the church on this side needs to look over at the church on the other side and ask itself, What do I see? How should I react? What should it look like going forward?

The message that we have heard from before democracy was even a thing, or before any ideological positions became so entrenched, is that we should love another. To not do so is to abide in death, to live as though we were never born again.

I don’t need to agree with my brother or sister, but I do need to love them. Not just with obligatory phileo love, brotherly love, but with all-in, give myself wholly agape love, sacrificial love. With a love modeled after the One who laid down His life for us. So, regardless of what end of the spectrum I position myself, I need to look to the other end, love my brother, be ready to lay down my life for my sister.

The world’s not gonna do that after this election. If we follow it’s lead, not only will we be part of what I fear will be a serious problem, but we’ll deny our claim that the kingdom of heaven transcends the kingdom of men. What’s more we’ll dim our light that is so needed in this dark place. We’ll cover up our saltiness in a land that not only needs preservation, but someone to model what flavorful life, life to the full, really looks like.

We should love one another . . . we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers . . .

Regardless of what color the world paints us. Regardless of who wins or loses.

We should love one another. It’s the message modeled on the cross of Christ. It’s the message we’ve heard from the beginning. It’s the message that, if we’ll believe it, will serve us well unto the end.

Tangible evidence before a lost world of the impact of His abundant grace.

Tested and proven true by our King for God’s eternal glory.

Posted in 1John | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

And So We Are

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Pete

Identity. Much discussion these days on our identity.

For many, over the past several weeks the focus has been whether there’s an (R) or a (D) after someone’s name. People so labeled by partisan politics that to attach a letter to someone is to attach a list of attributes to them that we “know” must be true about them — what they believe, how they’ll behave, the degree to which they should be trusted (or even respected). Leave politics and we’ve found other other ways to identify one another these days, such as masks or no masks, or where we stand on even uttering a three-word phrase like “Black Lives Matter.” Not to mention a culture increasingly bought into identity based on sexual or gender preference. What’s an ambassador for the kingdom to do? How do we navigate these crazy times when we know that the ultimate identifier which binds us all, rather than divides, is the Imago Dei — that all bear the image of the God who created them?

This morning, as I hover over the opening verses of 1John 3, I think part of the answer to how we work through identity with others in this world is to never lose sight of our own identity as believers. To know who we are.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

(1John 3:1 ESV)

And so we are. Those are the words I’m chewing on this morning.

Called the children of God because WE ARE the children of God.

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

(Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

(Romans 8:15-16 ESV)

Sons and daughters of God. That’s our identity. But our identity isn’t intended to primarily reflect everything about us. Who we are is meant to display something wonderful about God. As my favorite rendering of 1John 3:1 puts it:

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us . . .

What manner of love. What foreign kind of active affection. What unfathomable measure and quality of goodwill and benevolence. Sacrificial. Unconditional. Immutable. Eternal.

As we grasp who we are we plumb the depths of a transcendent love. We begin a lifelong exploration to comprehend a love that “surpasses knowledge” and is able to fill us “with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:17-19).

Now we’re ready to engage an identity-confused world. Looking past the world’s labels and identifications, we can see the imprint of our beloved Father on every lost, confused, and broken soul. Knowing what it is to be loved with such manner of love, we’re compelled to share that love in hopes that God, in His kindness, would lead others to repentance also.

Children of God.

And so we are.

By His grace. For His glory.

Posted in 1John | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Whole Lotta’ Abidin’ Goin’ On

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Pete

Nope! The world’s no simpler this morning than it was last night when I went lights out. Surprise! Not surprised.

So grateful on mornings like this for a Rock and sure foundation. So appreciate an unfailing place of stability. So benefit from having my mind set on things above and not on things that are on earth. That Rock is the Son of God. The foundation is the word of God. And reminded this morning by John how it all works.

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He made to us —  eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie —  just as it has taught you, abide in Him.

(1John 2:24-27 ESV)

Complexity, confusion, and chaos in John’s day, too. A spirit of “antichrist” seeking to deceive, insidious more so because it was sourced from those “who went out from us” (2:19). What’s a good Christian to do? What’s a sincere follower to think? “But,” says John, “you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge” (2:20). And that’s the secret sauce — we all have knowledge and, we all have an anointing. What we know to be true brought to mind and amplified by the indwelling of the One we know to be true.

So, let there be a whole lotta’ abidin’ goin’ on! What you’ve heard and known since re-birth abiding in you. And when that happens you will be abiding in the Father and the Son.

And how does it happen? What’s the supernatural dynamic at play? The Spirit, who you were given and sealed with at re-birth, abiding in you. Bringing to mind what you know of your God and the good news of the gospel. Renewing confidence in a sovereign God, in a loving Father, in a reigning Son, and in a glorious promise.

And when what we know abides in us by the Spirit abiding in us, then we will abide in the Son and in the Father. So, concludes John, just do it!

. . . just as it has taught you, abide in Him.

Pretty simple? I’m thinkin’. Pretty awesome? You know it.

Time for me to put on my broken record . . . How we need to be people of the Word.

We have been granted everything we need to “become partakers of the divine nature” and to escape “the corruption that is in world because of sinful desire” (2Pet. 1:4). Ours is to tap into it. Ours is to nurture it. To become skilled in it so that our “powers of discernment” are “trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:14).

Don’t need to wait for a special day, available very day. Don’t need to wait to go to a special place, we can access it anyplace. The Book, a quiet moment, and cue the Anointing that abides in you. A passage read, a thought chewed on, a prayer offered up, and voila! what you have heard from the beginning abides in you. And then, be still and know that you are abiding in Him. Simple. Not easy, necessarily, but simple.

Let the anointing fall. Let what we have heard abide in us. And then, abide in Him.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

(John 15:5 ESV)

A whole lotta’ abidin’ goin’ on!

Through His word. By His Spirit.

According to His grace. All for His glory.

Posted in John | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Pete

They were choked that He made mud on the Sabbath. Never mind that with that mud He made a man born blind to see, the fact that He spat on the ground and made mud on the Sabbath was enough for them to conclude, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath” (Jn. 9:13-16a). He was a Sabbath working mud-maker — that much they knew. He was also a sight-giving miracle-worker — that they wouldn’t acknowledge. But as Jesus would tell these blind, seeing men, making spit-mud was just a drop in an ocean of grace when compared with what the Good Shepherd planned to do for His sheep.

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

(John 10:10b-11 ESV)

Five times in eight verses Jesus says He lays down His life for the sheep. It is the number one duty of the Good Shepherd. Before He makes them lie down in green pastures or can lead them by still waters; before He can restore their souls or lead them in paths of righteousness; before He drives out the fear of death and comforts them with His rod and staff; the Lord, my Shepherd (Ps. 23) — the Lord, the Good Shepherd — lays down His life for the sheep.

Chew on that again as if for the first time.

If we are part of the flock it is because the Shepherd gave His life for us. Stop there.

I can get so wrapped up in so many other really good and needful things like walking the walk, seeking the kingdom, and being on mission, that sometimes I fail to sit in quiet awe and wonder afresh that Jesus gave His life for sinners. That the Father gave His one and only Son so that lost sheep might be rescued. That Jesus died so that I might have life and have it abundantly.

Christianity 101, I know. But it will be our only plea for eternity, that the Good Shepherd laid down His life for broken, lost, rebellious, wayward sheep like us.

I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. . . For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord.

(John 10:14-15, 17-18a ESV)

Praise God! What a good shepherd!

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Such amazing grace!

To Him be all glory!

Amen?

Posted in John | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Passing Away

Posted on November 2, 2020 by Pete

The verses pop this morning. Maybe not surprising given it’s the eve of an election that I can’t imagine anyone — not even the most politically disinterested — not having their eye upon. Beyond the “who wins” there’s so much speculation about “what happens.” Ideology competes with integrity. People have been dehumanized into parties. Civility increasingly incompatible with being a citizen.

As ambassadors from a different kingdom who, by God’s common grace, have been given a stewardship and are able to participate in the political process in this land, it can be hard to walk the line of being in the world but “not of the world” (Jn. 17:16). How we need wisdom to know how to walk that line. But how we need Spirit provided protection when it comes giving away our hearts.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life — is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

(1John 2:15-17 ESV)

The verses pop not because I fear having fallen in love with the world, but because I see a greater warning of becoming too entwined and dependent upon the world.

According to Paul, love is the greatest of three that “abide”: faith, hope, and love (1Cor. 13:13). Three key human dynamics that remain with us, guiding us during our sojourn home. As Peterson puts it in the Message, three things “to lead us toward that consummation.” John addresses one specifically, the “greatest” one, in his warning here, but I’m thinking that for some there is just as great a danger of being entrapped by the other two.

Do not put your faith in the world or the things in the world. Our trust isn’t in democracy, or a party, or even in a platform where we are convinced we’re right. Instead, we are to trust in the LORD with all our heart. All our heart, not just part of it. No part of our heart’s trust given away to some other “foundation” we might be counting on, for no other foundation stands as a Rock like our foundation. We might steward our vote, but we don’t trust in our vote. In fact, though the issues might seem really clear to us in some respects, we’re not to “lean on your own understanding” but “in all your ways acknowledge Him,” confident that it is God and God alone who will “make straight your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).

Nor are we to put our hope in the world or the things of the world. It is not where our help comes from. Rather our “help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 121:2). We may participate in our political process but the fulfillment of the promise is not dependent upon the political process. Our hope is in the sovereign, unchanging love of the Father and in the finished work of His risen Son and His glorious return. That’s when we’ll truly “win the election.”

This quote from Platt’s short book on how to think about voting comes to mind:

Even if we lose every freedom and protection we have as followers of Jesus in the United States, and even if our government were to become a completely totalitarian regime, we could still live an abundant life as long as we didn’t look to political leaders, platforms, or policies for our ultimate security and satisfaction. We can still have hope, peace, joy, and confidence regardless of what happens in our government.

— Platt, David. Before You Vote: Seven Questions Every Christian Should Ask . DPZ Technology. Kindle Edition.

But it’s this quote from God’s great book that stirs my heart:

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(1Corinthians 13:13 ESV)

These three remain. These three will take us home. And none of them are found in the world, for the world is passing away.

. . . but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

By His grace. For His glory.

Posted in 1John | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Man Standing in the Breach (A 2014 Rerun)

Posted on October 29, 2020 by Pete

Hovering over what has come to be for me one of the most inspiring, prophetic utterances of the LORD God in all of Ezekiel’s writings. Here’s some thoughts from six years ago which try to express the wonder, awe, and love for the Man standing in the breach.

There had been a systematic failure. The infrastructure had completely broken down. No component functioning as it should. No part unaffected by the disease. Though God would seek, He would not find . . . though He would desire, He would be disappointed . . . though He would ask, the answer always came back, “No!” Amidst this total meltdown there was no one to stand in the breach.

Reading in Ezekiel 22 this morning. And as God continues to move the prophet to indict His people for their rebellion and spiritual adultery, He does so by taking survey of the personnel He had put in place to lead the people. He calls to account the pillars of the community who had been given to protect the people. And as He does, it becomes clear that sin has infiltrated “the whole lump” resulting in a catastrophic failure of the entire community.

The prophets had entered into conspiracy (22:25, 28). With false visions they peddled their prophecies for profit. Like lions tearing into their prey, they bankrupted people, both literally and spiritually, with their divined lies.

The priests had assaulted the law, profaning things that were intended to be holy. Those who were set apart to bring the offerings of the people to God, and the God of the offerings to the people, now made no distinction between the holy and the common . . . no separation between the clean and unclean . . . no difference between the Sabbath and any other day (22:26).

And the princes, those of kingly and noble lines, those intended to lead after the manner of the King of Heaven, had become like wolves. Motivated solely by personal gain, dishonestly they led people into increasingly pagan practices for their own financial advantage. Like wolves tearing into their prey, they shed blood and destroyed lives that they might live the good life (22:27).

Thus, as goes the leadership, so go the people. The people were themselves marked by injustice. They practiced extortion and committed robbery. They oppressed the poor and needy. They took advantage of the stranger (22:29).

And God looks upon the apple of His eye . . . the people He had delivered with Mighty hand and outstretched arm . . . and He laments . . .

And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.

(Ezekiel 22:30 ESV)

And I can’t help but thank God this morning for the One who is, even now, standing in the breach.

He is the Prophet . . . the living Word of God. Having come to earth, He revealed all the Father had shown Him. Having departed earth, He sent His Spirit to bring illumination and revelation that mere men might know the deep things of God and His kingdom.

He is the great High Priest. Having once for all offered Himself as the final sacrifice of atonement, He now is at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ever interceding for those who have, by faith, entrusted their souls to His care.

And He is the Prince. The Prince of Peace, the King of Kings. Having come not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many, He is now ready, willing, and able to battle the enemy’s forces. Ready to lead His own in triumphant victory. Coming soon to assume the throne which is rightfully His.

Jesus the Christ. Prophet . . . Priest . . . and King. The Man standing in the breach.

To Him be all glory and praise, now and forevermore. Amen!

Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Stir It Up!

Posted on October 26, 2020 by Pete

They’re the only two times this particular Greek word is found in the Bible, yet I think it applies to all of Scriptures. It’s Peter’s specific reason for writing his letters but I’d make the case that, when all is said and done, it’s the reason we all should read all of the Bible. To stir it up!

I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, . . . 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, . . .

(2Peter 1:13, 3:1 ESV)

Came across the phrase this morning and remembered that it caught my attention the first time I read it a few days ago. Peter wrote his letters to these believers to stir them up by way of reminder.

A number of translations render the original word as stir up. Others use wake up or stimulate. And Peterson in The Message, never satisfied to use just a few words when many will do, tries to capture the meaning here with “keeping you alert” and holding “your minds in a state of undistracted attention.”

More than just wake up, the original has the sense of arousing fully. Apparently the word can be used in the context of agitating the waves of the sea to rise. The idea of taking something that was inert and rendering it active. Stirring it up, in other words.

And while Peter specifically says he wrote his letters to stir up his readers, isn’t that the purpose of all of Scripture? Shouldn’t that be our aim when we open the pages of holy writ? To be aroused to action by way of remembrance? I’m thinkin’ . . .

My morning readings need to be more than just a check-the-box exercise, they need to exercise me. Exercise my mind, stir my soul, and awaken my spirit. Marking my bible isn’t the end game, having my bible mark me is what I should be seeking. I’m reading not to just accumulate more facts and data but to arouse increased faith and Spirit-enabled determination to serve the kingdom. I read not as a habit that starts my day off right, but I read to be reminded, to be put under remembrance, which then primes the pump for living water to flow from me. You get the idea.

I’m reading the second letter Peter has written so that I would be stirred up by way of reminder. It should be why I read all of Scripture, inspired and preserved by the Spirit of God to renew my mind, transform my life, and stimulate me to service.

Stirred up by God’s grace. Stirred up for God’s glory.

Short thought this morning as my time’s divided between being stirred up and playing with grandkids you have awaken way too early. Quarantine’s over, I’m free to move about the province. On the road the next few days. Gonna keep stirring it up . . . not sure how much time I’ll find to keep writing it down.

Posted in 2Peter | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Those Who Are Barely Escaping

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Pete

Had to laugh at the following meme: “I never thought the comment ‘I wouldn’t touch him/her with a 6 foot pole’ would become a national policy, but here we are.” Makes me think about the number of ways our vocabulary has been modified by the season of these past several months (as in, “The buttons on my jeans have started social distancing from each other” — who knew what social distancing was back in January?). And what of the identifiers, “people at risk,” or “high risk groups?” A whole new awareness of factors that sets someone apart as more susceptible to potentially lethal complications of the virus.

This morning I’m noodling on another “high risk group” at risk of succumbing to a different kind of deadly disease, a group most likely to be found in the church. I’m chewing on the dangers faced by those who are barely escaping.

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. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

(2Peter 2:18-20 ESV)

Great “proof passage” for those who teach we can be “unsaved.” But, if you tether your anchor to what I consider to be the overwhelming teaching in Scripture that the Son loses none of those who the Father has given Him (Jn. 6:37-40), then you need to noodle on this and interpret it in light of that truth. And I think a clue is found in the phrase, those who are barely escaping. (Full disclosure, that phrase is not found in all translations. Depends on which original texts the translators use. But I’m an ESV reader therefore I try to be an ESV interpreter).

There’s no mystery as to who “they” are who speak “loud boasts of folly”, those who seek to appeal to “sensual passions” and “entice” others to follow them. They are the “false teachers among you” Peter identifies at the beginning of the chapter (2:1). The question really is who are those who have “escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” but again become “entangled in them”? I think it’s those who have barely escaped. And I don’t think they are disciples of Christ.

Barely escaping isn’t the sort of language used to describe the believer elsewhere. Born again (Jn. 3:3, 1Pet. 1:3, 1:23), new creation (2Cor. 5:17), given life abundantly (Jn. 10:10), no condemnation (Rom. 8:1), saved to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25) — those are the terms which describe someone who has been “called out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1Pet. 2:9) and have been “delivered . . . from the domain of darkness and transferred . . . to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col. 1:13).

So, who are these barely escaping people? Who is this high risk group who are in our churches? The people at risk who have a knowledge of our Lord and Savior, have escaped the world’s defilements, but are susceptible to being enticed by false teaching and entangled and overcome in sin? I’m thinking they are the people who, while knowing the commandments, and know about Christ, have never actually been converted and have a living relationship with Christ. They’re “Christian” enough to embrace a higher moral standard but have never entered into a real relationship with the Savior. When you ask them about their relationship with Christ they respond with what they do and have few words to describe Who they know. Good morals, but in danger of being corrupted by bad company (1Cor. 15:33).

Having grown up in the church (perhaps a seeker-friendly church) on a diet of “moralistic therapeutic deism,” they know enough to be good and “escape the defilements of the world” but they haven’t been transformed by the gospel. Haven’t been confronted with the darkness of their sin. Haven’t confessed their sin, acknowledged their bankruptcy, and responded to the cross’s atoning work with a whole-hearted desire to live in submission to the Cross-bearer. They’ve escaped the world’s defilement, but they are those who are barely escaping. As such, they’re a high-risk people for false teaching, worldly entanglement, and being overcome by the enemy. And, I fear, many are in the pews beside us on a Sunday morning.

How our churches need to preach the gospel, the full gospel. How we need to pray for those who are barely escaping and call them to full-surrender to Christ. They are our “people at risk.” We need to care for them and call them to the cross.

That they might know the fullness of His grace. That they might walk in faithfulness for His glory.

Posted in 2Peter | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment