Do You Believe This?

Posted on November 11, 2022 by Pete

It’s a question for the ages. One of those questions that’s going to get asked multiple times throughout our lives. The question that, in a sense, overrules all other questions.

Her brother was dead, she was distraught, and for days Jesus had been distant. Now He was there, but now the request was different. No longer was it sufficient for her and her sister to ask the Lord to come quickly because their brother was ill (Jn. 11:3), now the ask had to be, Call on God, Lord, for our brother is dead (Jn. 11:21). But, as Jesus so often is wont to do, before acting He determined to use this terrible moment as a teachable moment. And it centered ultimately on a question.

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

(John 11:23-26 ESV)

Do you believe this?

Isn’t that the question we need to come back to again and again in order to keep on keepin’ on in this weird world? Isn’t that the reset we need to repeat when things get really hard and don’t make sense? Isn’t it the question that punctuates every truth we’re presented, or re-presented, about the awesome nature of God, or the grand scope of the gospel, or the benefits of weakness, or the precious promise of a sin-free, sorrow-free day to come? I’m thinkin’!

Last night, at our class on Union with Christ, we considered the implications of the ascension (Acts 1:1-11). That Jesus right now is bodily somewhere doing something. That “somewhere” is heaven at the right hand of God. That “something” is manifold: He is Sitting (Col. 3:1; Jn. 19:30; Heb. 10:10); He is Reigning (Acts 2:33, 36; 1Pet. 3:22; Rev. 1:5); He is Mediating (Heb. 6:19-20); He is Relating (Heb. 2:17-18, 4:14-16); He is Advocating (Heb. 7:23-25; Rom. 8:26). And yet, while bodily in heaven, He is equally present with us on earth (Matt.28:20b). Because we are “in Him”, while He is living in heavenly realms He is also “in us”, living in and through us (Gal. 2:20). As we talked through the mind-stretching realities and implications of our union with the ascended Christ, bottom line is we were left to answer but one question: Do you believe this?

Run the list of what you know about the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Ponder again the promises of God you’ve highlighted in the word of God. Remind yourself of what’s above even as you deal with what’s below. No matter how long, or how short your list is, at the end of it, it still comes down to one simple, four-word question. Do you believe this?

It’s a question for the ages. A question we can anticipate being confronted with as we enter this day.

Martha models for us the right answer.

She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I believe . . . ” (John 11:27a)

By His grace. For His glory.

Posted in John | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Holy Tension

Posted on November 10, 2022 by Pete

John doesn’t make it easy on us. He doesn’t talk in grey terms but speaks in black and white terms. Yet it feels like a grey area. Holy tension, Batman!

That’s what I’m feeling as I’m chewing on my reading in 1John 3:1-10 this morning.

No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

(1John 3:6-10 ESV)

How clear is that? Pretty clear. You’re a believer? You cannot keep on sinning. Nope, can’t happen. Being born of God and practicing sin are mutually exclusive. End of discussion.

Okay. But what about 1 John?

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. . . If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

(1John 1:8, 10 ESV)

Okay, maybe there’s a difference between “no sin” and “practicing sin.” But when does “some sin” cross the line and become “keeps on sinning?” How much sin is “acceptable” until we are in the “nope, not a believer” category? I’m thinking the answers to those two questions are: 1) it crosses the line when sin becomes unrepented of, unconfessed, and un-cleansed of sin; 2) none — no amount of sin is acceptable sin.

So, if that’s true, and given the weakness of the flesh and the battle that wages each day between the old man in us and the Spirit of God in us, wouldn’t we expect that we’d be frequent flyers to the foot of the cross? That because “God’s seed abides in us” we are so aware of being “tripped up in sin” and so adverse to again being “enslaved by sin” that we cast ourselves upon the finished work of Jesus and the filling power of Jesus to not “keep on sinning”? I’m thinking.

We don’t keep on sinning. And yet we sin. Not a grey matter. A black and white reality. A holy tension.

Thank you, Jesus, for your work on the cross. Thank you, Jesus, for your work in me. Thank you, that the work you’ve begun in me, you are completing in me.

By Your grace. For Your glory.

Posted in 1John | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Abide In Him

Posted on November 9, 2022 by Pete

Hmm . . . I guess John was listening.

Ask me about “abiding” and John 15 comes to mind first as the go to passage. There, Jesus talks of a vine (aka Him) and branches (aka His followers) and the importance of the branch abiding in the vine if the branch is gonna be what the branch was made to be and bear fruit.

But this morning, as I read in 1 John, there’s more about abiding. I guess John was listening.

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. . . 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. And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming.

(1John 2:24, 27-28 ESV)

Whole lot of abiding going on. The word heard from the beginning abiding in us — the written word and, I’m thinking, the living Word. The anointing of the Spirit received from Jesus abiding in us. And it’s through what we’ve been taught, through what we know to be true, that we abide in Him. We abide in the Son AND in the Father. We abide so that when He appears at His coming again, we’ll be “ready to receive Him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses” (MSG).

Abide. Remain. Lean in. Don’t depart. Hang on for dear life. Don’t let go.

Jesus in us. Us in Jesus.

Until He comes again.

Abide in Him.

Jesus said it, John heard it. Jesus said it, John believed it. Jesus said it, John made every effort to do it.

Me too? Yeah.

By His grace. For His glory.

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

Everyone, Listen Up!

Posted on November 7, 2022 by Pete

It didn’t matter whether they were young in the faith, seasoned in the faith, or actively contending for the faith, John says to each, “I am writing to you.”

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake.
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

(1John 2:12-14 ESV)

Sometimes I spin my wheels on these verses trying to get clear on the why of the repetition, the what of the differentiation, and the who of the application. But this morning, what hits me is that John is writing to everyone. No one’s excluded because they’re just new to this stuff. No one is given a pass because they’ve walked in the way for decades. Nor is anyone exempted because they’re overcomers with the battle scars to prove it. To each and to all, says John, “I write to you,” because they all needed to hear it and heed it.

And if I look at the immediate context before and after these verses, beyond whatever else John wants all believers to know, he wants them to know a couple of things about loving. What to love. What not to love.

Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

(1John 2:10 ESV)

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.

(1John 2:15)

Everyone, love your brother in Christ. Love your sister in Christ. It’s the evidence of abiding in light. It’s the visible outworking of the inner reality of living in relationship with the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit.

Everyone, don’t love the ways of this world or the stuff in it. “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle” (CSB) is what the world seeks to exploit. Don’t buy into it. Don’t feed on it. Don’t pursue it. Don’t give yourself to it. That’s not the Father’s love. That’s not the way of life and life abundantly (Jn. 10:10), for “the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1Jn. 2:17).

Everyone — all you who have fellowship with one another as you fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (1Jn. 1:3) — listen up!

I can major on the minors of trying to slice and dice the nuances of who John is writing to or, I can have ears to hear what John is saying to everyone. So this morning, I’m chewing on the latter and not fretting about the former.

Love one another. Don’t love the world.

Yes, Lord.

By Your grace. For Your glory.

Posted in 1John | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

Posted on November 2, 2022 by Pete

Wrapping up 2Peter 3 this morning. And if there’s anything to take away from this passage, it’s that we should be waiting.

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

(2Peter 3:11-14 ESV)

Waiting, waiting, waiting. It’s repetition peels as a great bell; Bong, Bong, Bong.

If Jesus is coming again — and He is — we should be waiting.

Not passively waiting, as if we’ve taken our number and then scroll through our phones while we wait in line for someone to call us up next. Not skeptically waiting, as in “I’ll wait and see” if what the Word says is gonna happen will in fact happen. But expectantly waiting. Like a kid waits for Christmas morning. Counting down the days. Watching for every change around the house that says the morning is getting nearer. Aware of every gift that mysteriously shows up under the tree as an indicator it’s gonna be soon. Leaning in. Watching and waiting in eager anticipation.

Waiting that spurs into action rather than lulls into complacency.

Waiting with confidence that what has been promised is nigh to being presented.

Waiting that impacts how we think, how we chose to live, and how we want to be found on that day when we stand before Jesus.

Patiently waiting? Yes. But also purposefully waiting.

Peter says, “The day of the Lord will come” (3:10).

I can’t wait!

But I will.

By His grace. For His glory.

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

Truth-Based Freedom in a Post-Truth Culture

Posted on November 1, 2022 by Pete

Some have said that ours is a post-truth culture. That objective facts (if there really are any) are increasingly giving away to subjective personal belief. That your truth may not be my truth and that, within limits, there needs to be space for all truths. (Doesn’t that sound like a truth). So, as I read the Lord Jesus’ words this morning, they sound somewhat old-fashioned and out-of-sync with our world. Praise God!

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

(John 8:31-32 ESV)

And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. That’s a promise to claim. That’s an anchor to tether yourself to. The truth, even in a post-truth era, brings freedom.

In a day when truth is masked, manipulated, or just plain manufactured, it can be hard to simply trust in what is truly true. But it is the way of Jesus’ disciples. And, it’s possible when His followers abide in His word.

Being anchored to the truth from above helps us trust in committing ourselves to walking in what is true below. Accepting as objective the transcendent realities communicated through God’s word is what filters that which is so often subjective here below. Being skilled in the unchanging “word of righteousness” and having our “powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:13-14) allows us to walk in a humble confidence as we navigate the ever evolving wisdom of this world. Even when we don’t see immediate benefits from walking in truth. That’s the freedom of believing in the God whose word is true.

If doing what we do, standing how we stand, and deciding what we decide is founded on abiding in His word, though we may still get some things wrong, we will be free. Free to walk by faith. Free even to fail. For even when we get it wrong, the blood of Jesus cleanses and restores, and the work of Christ being formed in us continues.

The Son has set us free and we are free indeed (Jn. 8:36). He has asked the Father to sanctify us in the truth, to make us holy in the truth, and He has declared that God’s word is truth (Jn. 17:17). And for those who seek His precepts, who pursue His word as truth, they “walk freely in an open place” (Ps. 119:45 CSB).

Truth-based freedom in a post-truth culture. Who knew?

His disciples.

Amen?

By His grace. For His glory.

Posted in John | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A Sanctuary (A 2018 Rerun)

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Pete

Been a weird week. Been a struggle just to feed on the word in the morning much less try and share a meal. But this morning it’s still quiet and I’m reading in Ezekiel. Captured afresh by the thought of the glory of God departing the temple, departing the city — of God removing Himself from the midst of His people. So, I thought I’d go back in the archives and perhaps share some thoughts from the past on the glory departing. These thoughts from 2018 grabbed me . . . though the glory would depart for a season, God’s grace would be determined for the long haul. Thank God for a sanctuary.

“Elvis has left the building.” That’s the phrase once used at the end of an Elvis Presley concert to indicate that the concert was done–like, really done . . . as in, “It’s over, folks. No more music, tonight.” The people could disperse because the king of rock and roll wasn’t coming back for any more encores.

And reading in Ezekiel this morning there’s a sense of similar finality. The glory had the left the building.

From the house to the threshold (10:4), then out from the threshold to the court (10:18), and finally up from the midst of the once holy city to a mountain to the east (11:22-23), the cloud that once filled the holy of holies, the brightness that once emitted the very presence of God, the glory of God, had, quite literally, left the building.

The glory had departed from their midsts and the people were dispersed. They would be scattered among the nations. The land of their promised possession in ruin, they would be sent away for an extended “timeout” to consider their ways that they might repent of their rebellion. Heavy sigh!

But here’s the thing that I’m chewing on this morning, though the glory had departed, and though they would be the dispersed, yet God would not abandon His people. In fact, they would come to know His glory in a different way, a way not dependent upon a brick and mortar temple, but through a new type of relationship.

“Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.'”

(Ezekiel 11:16)

While in exile, while trying to make it in a foreign land, though far from the holy temple site which was no longer so holy because the glory was gone, the Lord GOD says, “I will be their sanctuary for a while.”

God, through Ezekiel, reaffirmed His promise: “I will gather you from the peoples . . . and give you the land of Israel” (11:17).

God then expanded the promise: I will put a new spirit in them. Give them a new heart, a heart of flesh ready, willing, and able to obey (11:19-20).

And until the full realization of the promise, God says I will be a sanctuary. I will be the temple and I will tabernacle directly with them.

For a little while, though far from home, God’s people would come to know and be satisfied with God’s abiding presence as they waited until the day of their full and complete restoration and return to the land of promise.

The glory had left the building, but the God of glory had not turned His back to His people. He would draw near to His remnant in the place of their sojourning and would be their portion, their protection, and their power. All the while, drawing out their hearts toward Him in obedient worship.

We also are people in a foreign land waiting to go home and know afresh the glory of God in all its fullness. But until then, His abiding presence through His Holy Spirit is our sanctuary, the means by which we encounter the glory, though “in a mirror dimly” (1Cor. 13:12).

What’s more, He is making us part of that sanctuary. As, in Christ, we are “being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22).

Though often, as we look around us, it may seem the glory has left the building, yet within us, through redeemed and regenerated hearts, we can know God as a sanctuary. His glory abiding with us, His glory abiding in us.

By His grace. For His glory.

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

To Whom Shall We Go?

Posted on October 21, 2022 by Pete

Talk of eating His flesh and drinking His blood was too much for some of them. That He claimed to be living bread that came down from heaven was a metaphor with implications they couldn’t stomach. That eternal life with God was somehow bound up in deeply entangling their present life with Him was not something they were prepared to accept. So, writes John,

When many of His disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”

(John 6:60 ESV)

His teaching was expansive. His teaching was exclusive. Therefore, for many, His teaching was offensive.

And so,

After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.

(John 6:66 ESV)

They were happy to follow Him as long as they could get fed by Him (Jn. 6:26). But feed on Him? Believe He had come down from heaven? Trust Him alone as the way to get to heaven? Nope. We’re outta here, they said.

What about the others?

So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that You are the Holy One of God.”

(John 6:67-69 ESV)

Lord, to whom shall we go? Great question to have ready in your back pocket when the going gets tough.

When the way is unclear, when everything seems hard, when the burden seems too heavy to bear, when temptation arises to turn back and look other places for life and sustenance, before walking away it might make sense to intentionally process, “To whom shall we go?”

If we believe that Jesus really is the Holy One of God, then to look to anyone or anything else for eternal life would be to settle for a lesser life. If, by faith, it just makes sense that the One from God could provide directions on how to get to God, then to listen to anyone else would be to trade flourishing for foolishness.

Yeah, at times we may encounter hard stuff, but to whom shall we go?

For, when by faith we commit to follow, we find that His grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in our weakness. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Because when we purpose afresh to go to Him, we realize afresh His promise that He is always with us.

Because of grace. For His glory.

Posted in John | Tagged | Leave a comment

Gentleness and Respect

Posted on October 20, 2022 by Pete

So, it appears I’ll be completing a trilogy of thoughts this morning as I wrap up 1 Peter 3.

A couple of days ago I was challenged by entrusting myself to Him who judges justly (1Pet. 2:23b). About not having to defend myself when I feel like I’m being put on the defensive. About not arguing when I think I have a good argument to make. About being willing to trust God to bring to light what needs to be brought to light — or not. About entrusting myself to “the Shepherd and Overseer” of my soul (1Pet. 2:25b).

Yesterday, it was the reminder that taking such a submissive posture comes with a level of risk. Submitting to someone can work out well when they are “for you”, but if they’re not, well, then it has the potential to go off the rails in some manner. At least your rails. But if placing ourselves under authority is done from the heart (1Pet. 3:4) as unto the Lord (Eph. 5:21), then we gotta believe that in God’s sight it’s “very precious” (1Pet. 3:4b). And that’s really what matters. So, says Peter, do it and do not fear anything that is frightening (1Pet. 3:6b).

In today’s reading, while I’ve been exhorted over the past couple of days to quiet my tongue and submit my spirit, I’m also being exhorted to be prepared to give an answer.

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 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 . . .

(1Peter 3:14-15 ESV)

Recently I read in Ecclesiastes that “for everything there is a season; a time for every matter under heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). Among “everything”, says Solomon, there is a “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:7b). Peter would seem to concur. While these believers in exile were to not sin with their mouth, following the example of Jesus, and while they were to submit as they should, trusting the way of Jesus, they were also to be ready to “make a defense” for the hope that compelled them to act in such a manner — their hope in Jesus. So, says Peter, be ready to speak when it’s time to speak.

Yet, he says, do it with all gentleness and respect.

Gentleness and reverence, is how the NASB renders it. Meekness and fear, according to the NKJV.

The word translated respect most often has the idea of fear, dread, or terror. So, it could mean that in our giving an answer we are to be gentle towards men out of a reverent fear of God. But, given the full range of how the word is translated in the NT, it also seems within the realm of likely possibility that it is being used to convey a reverence, or respect, towards those before whom one is making their defense.

Bottom line for this guy this morning? When being prepared to make a defense, be prepared to not be defensive. When being prepared to make the argument, be prepared not to argue. Instead, when asked, be prepared to give an answer with gentleness and respect toward those you are addressing out of obedience to the One you are serving.

When asked, make the case, but be prepared to do it with meekness. Relay what’s true, but do it with respect and reverence.

Trust the One who justifies. Submit to others out of reverence for Christ. Be prepared to speak the truth, but with all gentleness and respect. A good set of takeaways from the last three mornings. More than I can muster on my own, I fear. But I’m not on my own. The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal. 2:20b).

Gentleness and respect.

By His grace. For His glory.

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

The Risk of Submitting

Posted on October 19, 2022 by Pete

Chew on it a bit, and you realize what a huge ask Peter was making. Just as were all the believers Peter was writing to, these ladies, by the very nature of their confession of faith and determination to follow Jesus, were becoming increasingly out of step with a prevailing culture that was becoming increasingly hostile toward their faith. Then, put them in a home with an unbelieving husband? It’s not a stretch to imagine the hostility from outside their tents fueled a palpable tension within their tents. So, what’s a wife to do?

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. . . . For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

(1Peter 3:1, 5-6 ESV)

Be subject. Submit. With today’s cultural sensibilities those words are like fingernails on a chalkboard. In an age of expressive individualism, we yield to no one but ourselves.

But for the church, for disciples of Christ, I think there’s something instructive here. Not in a “complementarian” vs. “egalitarian” sense. But in a broader sense. Something for everyone who bears the name of Christ. For, as Paul would instruct the Ephesian believers, all those who follow Jesus are to be “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph. 5:21).

So, here’s the takeaway I’m taking away this morning. That in order to submit to others as Jesus would have us do; we are not to be afraid of the potential consequences of submitting.

Do not fear anything that is frightening. That, it seems to me, is a key command to get hold of when it comes to submitting as we should.

In Peter’s context, I think it’s about first century wives doing what first century wives ought to do as they display the beauty of “the hidden person of the heart” with a gentle and quiet spirit (1Pet. 3:4) in the hope that their unbelieving husband might be “won without a word” by their conduct. It’s about taking the risk of submitting to an unbelieving husband amidst a hostile culture for the sake of the gospel. Thus, with eternity-impacting goals in mind, not fearing anything that is frightening.

Same for me. Submission is risky business. Aligning myself under the will of another can go south pretty quickly if the “another” is other than in a similar posture of willing submission to me. Christian subjection isn’t about putting myself under someone’s control because they deserve it but because my Lord desires it. In fact, if they’re battling the flesh as much as I am, chances are at some point they could take advantage of someone else’s submissive spirit. So, for me too, it’s risky business to submit to another. But I too am commanded, do not fear anything that is frightening.

How can we not fear anything that is frightening? By submitting to others because we submit to Christ. For the love of Christ casts out all fear (1Jn. 4:18).

As I learned years ago through the Love and Respect seminars, my submission to another is possible when I look over their shoulder and I see Jesus standing behind them and purpose, by His enabling, to submit to Him. My subjection to another is motivated by my subjection to Jesus. I place myself under another because I’ve put my trust in Jesus. I take the risk because I believe in the Redeemer who loved me and gave Himself for me. So, I act without fearing anything that is frightening.

Easier said than done? Yeah, I’m thinking. But I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Php. 4:13) by the power of Him who lives in me (Gal. 2:20).

Willing to take the risk of submitting because it’s a way of responding to the love of the Savior.

Only by His grace. Only for His glory.

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