FT 1 Peter 1:1&2

FT-052812

1Pe 1:1-2 

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,  (2)  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

How and Why!

According to and In!

For and For!

“Foreknowledge” = prognosis > how it’s gonna go, what’s gonna happen –

Not a “best guess,” or a “I knew that!” but a determination based upon the truths known.

And who knows those truths better than God.

It is used to denote the foreordained fellowship of God with the objects of His saving power.

And can God know something He does not bring about?

Can a quark be or do without His will?

“For obedience,” = submission – putting one’s self under the authority of –

Useless without the means – the Spirit

“sanctification” duhhhhhh

Actually:  “by the sanctifying work of the Spirit”, or, “set apart by the Spirit.”

Sanctification – both the case and the effect  - (it’s a noun here)

1) consecration, purification

2) the effect of consecration

2a) sanctification of heart and life

Who, what and how we are – and WE ARE – and WILL BE

“May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”

And how not – or why not?

Hold it – it’s yours – fully. 

Finger Thinking 052412

“We are like trees, which, though alive, cannot put forth their leaves and fruit without the influence of the sun.  They are alive in winter as well as in summer; but how different is their appearance in those different seasons.”  John Newton

Have you ever felt as though the Lord was “far from you?”  Have you had times when He seemed silent if not disinterested?  Has prayer ever seemed like you were yelling down a dry cistern?

We all have these times and we need to learn that they are, though uncomfortable, normal.  Though they may be symptomatic of some sin or temptation that is not always the case.  For us to expect our affections (feelings) to always, in every situation, to be elevated is to set ourselves up for disappointment.

Though God is never far from any of us, He is not always perceptible.  Though our affections may be low this is not necessarily a reflection on our spiritual state.  We have, and are bombarded with solicitation to, put more value on our feelings than on the truth.  This is perhaps one of the saddest facts of our Christian experience.

It is sad because we have come to expect if not demand that our affections be enlivened as a sign of our relationship to Him.  In seeking to meet this expectation we have brought into our walks certain methods and means that the world supposes to be of benefit and value.  Worship, whether communal or private has become more entertainment than, well, worship.

When we expect to have our affections lifted in worship then our affections become to focus of our worship.  We seek to meet our desires and not discover His.  We seek to get something and not give.  In other words we come selfishly seeking Him to provide us with what we think we need to have a true worship experience.  As I said, we are the focus of our worship.

Many times I have had brothers and sisters  rave about a worship time only to discover that their enthusiasms was due to what they experienced.  I have simple test.  When this happens I ask them what about the service was so special.  What I get in return in a commentary on how it made them feel.  I them ask them the points of the sermon.  I get some vague response, again focused on their feelings.

Almost exclusively they communicate that a “good” worship experience is one from which they leave uplifted and excited.  Rare indeed is the comment that they left humbled and convicted.  This too is sad, very sad.

I know, much has been written about “consumer Christianity,” and I refer you to the works of A.W. Tozer and/or Oz Guinness for a clear explanation.  But the fact that we approach worship focused on our expectations as opposed to His makes the point.  Very few contemporary believers are willing to tolerate a plain, simple and biblical worship service.

It is not a call for Revival that is needed.  Rather is it a call for Repentance.  We must repent – deeply – the synthesis of the word and the world in our worship.  Israel we continually chastised and disciplined for exactly what the church is doing today.  Mixing the word and the world is mixing the worship of the one true and holy God with the worship or idols – specifically the “self.”  This is plainly seen in the church’s preoccupation with social and cultural issues instead of growing in righteousness.  Personal holiness has taken a backseat to personal preference.

In this self-serving approach to worship a funny thing happened.  A lot of people (unbelievers) who would never have entertained the idea of going to church suddenly found that church had changed into something they could attend.  Some may well have come to salvation but many more simply found a place where they could exercise what I call “inspired unbelief.”

Let me ask you this:  How is it possible for an unbeliever to attend a service worshiping a God they don’t believe in and feel uplifted?  How is it possible for an unbeliever to attend a worship service and feel like they belong?  How is it possible for an unbeliever to gather with believers and feel a “part” of the fellowship?

The damning answer is that we have forsaken the truth for the sake of the self.  

Consider the words of Oz Guinness:

All of the tools and insights of modernity are dangerous, but not when they are overtly hostile to Christianity, because people say, “That’s hostile! That’s against us. I don’t like that.” And we resist it. They are the most insidious when they are beneficial.  I often use the little illustration: One hundred years ago if you wanted to start a new church, you would have consulted with others in the fellowship, and you would have prayed and asked the Lord to guide. Today, you can just run your demographic statistics through, use your telemarketing, and within three months you can have a booming church. Without realizing it, there is no need for God, and that’s the danger. If the church is not growing, we will use marketing. If we are not helping people, we will use psychology.

Or A.W. Tozer

To be specific, the self-sins are self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love and a host of others like them. They dwell too deep within us and are too much a part of our natures to come to our attention till the light of God is focused upon them. The grosser manifestations of these sins–egotism, exhibitionism, self-promotion–are strangely tolerated in Christian leaders, even in circles of impeccable orthodoxy.

They are so much in evidence as actually, for many people, to become identified with the gospel. I trust it is not a cynical observation to say that they appear these days to be a requisite for popularity in some sections of the church visible. Promoting self under the guise of promoting Christ is currently so common as to excite little notice….

Repentance not Revival is what is needed.  The Body of Christ must – must, where she has succumbed to the seduction of the world, confess that sin and repent.  Where “self’ has been and is being exalted to the detriment of biblical truth and order she must confess her sin and strip herself of every iota of the world’s trappings.

We have – much like the church at Laodicea, become unwilling to be hot or cold, unwilling to get off the fence.  We are unwilling to identify sins of the church as much as we are unwilling to identify the sins in the church.  

I have to admit that it was perhaps with good intentions that the church began to become sensitive to the needs, desires and comfort of the unbeliever.  Compassion is a good thing.  But worship is not evangelism.  What can we call it when an unbeliever is deceived into thinking they are a believer and stands in a worship service praising a God they do not know with their focus on their “self?”

When truth – the whole council of God – is tailored to suit the affections of unbelievers is ceases to be truth.  Without the truth, there is not freedom from sin, no hope of salvation.

Once there were men and women who would publically stand for the truth, even die for it.  Once biblical doctrine formed the boundaries and expectations that defined the church. 

Oz Guinness:

If you're always changing the faith, eventually you have some new, trendy faith. It's no longer the faith of our fathers and mothers. There's a real break in continuity. This brings with it a loss of identity. Eventually people are believing things that have little decisive Christian content. What are they really believing? It's just the world's beliefs dressed up.

So what does all this have to do with our affections (feeling) concerning god’s presence?  A tree needs the sun and the rain but a tree has to have roots planted in good soil.  The soil is essential.  You may grow tomatoes in the air but you’ll never grow an oak tree.

When you “feel” God is far from you it is the truth of His word you must trust in.  He has not moved, you just, for whatever reason (and you need to investigate it) feel He has.

But – and this isn’t easy to write; It may well be that God is far from you ; that the god you seek and serve is not the God of scripture but rather a poor, sad facsimile.  It may be that the salvation you “experienced” was merely an experience.  It may be that you have been deceived and surrendered to the gospel of the self and not the Gospel of the Savior.

Paul warns Titus:

Tit 1:9-16  He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.  (10)  For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.  (11)  They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.  (12)  One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."  (13)  This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,  (14)  not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.  (15)  To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.  (16)  They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Here a line is drawn.  Here a commission is given.  Here the duty of every believer and especially those in leadership is made plain.  When Oh, God and who Dear Lord will obey.

When, for the sake of truth and God’s glory, do we begin to graciously but firmly begin to call into question the teachings of those who pervert, twist and/or abandon the biblical truth?  Yes, there are areas where opinions may vary but there are more where they may not.

You are either His or not.  You are either a sheep or a goat.  Will we sit back and allow false teachers or (and I’m being generous here) brothers and sisters in error to continue to deceive believers and unbelievers concerning the truth.

I am filled with sorrow because I really believe that those who do hold to sound biblical doctrine, those who do worship the God of scriptures are willing to sit back, preach to the choir and allow this deception to go unchallenged.  I call it being smug in the truth as well as being heartless for the erring and lost.

If we cannot or will not call those who claim to be our brothers and sisters in Christ to repent of their compromise – what validity do we have with the unbeliever?  If, within the circle of so-called-Christianity there are none standing for the truth and opposing its perversion then what does that say to the unbeliever about our commitment to and faith in the truth.

Yes, I know – doctrine divides – but if they are not of us then there is nothing to divide.  Oh yes, let just let them go to hell feeling real good about themselves.

There are those who are false believers (for whatever reason) – do they not need to know?  Will we smirk in our little enclaves of truth at all those silly people sucked into the twisted truths of the likes of Joel Osteen and Beth Moore?  What does that say about us?  What does that say about our faith?  What does that say about the truth?

Dr. David helped me through a conundrum by pointing out that, “There are and have been lots of guys named Jesus, but there is only one Lord and Redeemed.”  Well, a lot of folks have placed their faith is a guy named Jesus – but this Jesus they believe in does not appear to be the one who was Lord and Savior.

Enough – I’ve exceeded my limit and begin to digress.  But it breaks my heart to consider thousands who may think themselves believers who are merely deceived and hence their state is in question.

From an oldie

If I know you poorly then I will love you poorly.  If my knowledge of you is sketchy then my loving you will be sketchy.  If you hide parts of you then you shouldn't take offense when I step on them.  If you conceal a need don't complain that it isn't being met.  Unlike the Redeemer who loves us all utterly well, we can only love each other to the extent we know how and knowing how means needing to know - you.  MS

051312 - Finger Thinking

Disclaimer?:  In know I’ve taken the verse out of context but I was touched by its broader application.  Also, I may be venting some spleen here as well.  So I ask your indulgence.  It has been a tough couple of weeks and I have been humbled by the clear reminder that the battle in my heart needs much more attention than it has received.  I also despair at the fact that the “church(????)” has, in my view, been distracted from being what we are called to be and doing what we are called to do – and has  chosen to fight the fight of faith not with the Gospel, not by the guidance and power of the Spirit, not in and by the grace of God – BUT by taking up and using all the weapons and methods of the world, the flesh and the devil.  If we play by their rules we will lose by their rules –

1Co 14:8  And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?

I was reading in 1 Cor. And this verse really struck me.  Actually the whole passage on tongues did but this one verse in particular grabbed me.

I listen to radio stations that have some Christian and some pseudo-Christian content.  There are a lot of shows out there – some good – some not so much.  But what really struck me was that very few of them (the ones with teaching or preaching) provide a distinct sound.

When I was taking homiletics we had it banged into our heads that if your lesson or sermon did not conclude with a, “There for we (must, may, need, should, can),” some imperative that was clear and succinct then we had failed our hearers cruelly.  As my prof.’ said, “If you don’t give them a therefore – they won’t understand what they are there for.”

This is what I find over and over again as I listen to these preachers and pundits.  No – “therefore.”  The “bugle blast” is indistinct – just noise and the people are left to wonder.  When this happens enough, the people cease to hear.

Pro 11:14  Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

“guidance”:  taḥbulāh: counsel, advice.

There is no mystery as to how we are to live – think – feel – act.  Scripture is quite clear – painfully so.  But when one is directive, when one teaches in the imperative one is more often than not declared a legalist and one who has violated grace.  So, the flock is left to fend for itself – and they fall victims to the pits, poisons and predators.

The issue of whether or not one can lose their salvation is peripheral to this missive although in the course of talking it through some folks go there.  I will only ask, “Who saved me?”  Once you identify the “who” does not the discussion of His effectiveness and faithfulness make any argument mute?

Confident in His work of redemption we are to walk in His Way not our own or that of anyone else.  We are to expect ourselves to be focused on and energized His service.  How do we do this without direction?  How do we battle our sin and our flesh if they are not offered for our attention? 

Not to pile-on but what are we to make of the following?

1Ti_4:6  In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.

1Ti_6:3  If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

2Ti_4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

Tit_1:9  holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

Tit_2:1  But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.

Paul writes to believers concerning what they are to be focused on, or may fail to focus on.  It is translated “doctrine” but really it is simply the “teachings” of the faith.  This we need to hear again and again – clearly and plainly.  All right “doctrine” is dogma but all “dogma” is not necessarily doctrine.  Dogma describes those tenets of the faith (belief/action) by which it may be determined who is or is not of the faith.  All right “doctrine” is dogma but all “dogma” is not necessarily doctrine.

The Gospel does not cease to apply to an individual simply because they have come to faith in Christ.  It is not a new truth they enter into – it is the truth.  A believer has no less a need for Christ than the most profligate sinner – and perhaps the believers have even more need.  That need is the need to be constantly reminded what they are called from and what they are called to and what their state is.  They are called from darkness into light and they are simply redeemed sinners.  Though sin can no longer control or characterize their lives, how much sin does one need to be called a sinner?

That leads me to ask, “Where are we (believers) confronted with our sins?”  Certainly I don’t find that in the plethora of talking heads on Christian radio.  It seems that we have come to a place where believers (although certainly redeemed) are not as accountable for their sins as unbelievers.

Where is the call for believers to repent and forsake their sin?  Is it no longer needed?  How arrogant for us, as believers, to assume that we need not be deeply concerned and convicted of our sin regardless of how long we have been His!  It is much more comfortable to point to the speck than deal with the log.  Where is the guilt?  Where is the conviction?  Where is the deep and consuming humility that recognition of our sinfulness should provoke?  Where is that acknowledgment of guilt?

As we have seen, we will go to any extreme to oppose any recognition of a committed union between two homosexuals but where is the demand that adultery be made a crime?  We will also verbally assault and vilify women seeking abortion claiming that that we do so because, “Jesus loves their unborn child.”  Does He not also love the woman?  Is she not worthy of our love and concern and care?

Rom 2:17-24  But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God  (18)  and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;  (19)  and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,  (20)  an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--  (21)  you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?  (22)  You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?  (23)  You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.  (24)  For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

Take out the word “Jew” here and substitute “believer,” or “Christian.”  Does not the shoe fit?  Has our arrogance and ignorance grown to the point that we do not recognize how these words apply to all those who call upon Christ?  Are we not guilty of invoking the blasphemy of the name of God by our attitudes as well as actions?  How can we suppose we will be faithful and yet ignore the stink and perverseness of how we live out our faith and how we relate to our neighbor and our enemies?

Let us consider:

Rom 2:17-24  But if you call yourself a Jew (Christian) and rely on the law (grace of God) and boast in God  (18)  and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law (scriptures);  (19)  and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,  (20)  an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law (scriptures/Gospel) the embodiment of knowledge and truth--  (21)  you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?  (22)  You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (take and gain by the same methods as the unbeliever)  (23)  You who boast in the law (grace) dishonor God by breaking the law.  (24)  For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles (unbelievers) because of you."

I’ve said it before friends, “The world is going to hell in a hand-basket – and it is supposed to.”  It is NOT our duty to make society conform to our faith.  It is our duty to stand in our faith regardless of society.  When did being a believer come to be defined by what one stands against instead of who on stands with?  In the Gospels we are taught that the Jews had no regard – even ill-regard – for the Samaritans.  It seems we have created a whole host of “Samaritans,” for whom we have little regard and no love at all.

Perhaps (PERHAPS) living in a democracy has warped our view of our place in the world.  Perhaps, because the opportunity is available, we believe it is our duty to impose and enforce our beliefs upon others.  Perhaps we have somehow gotten the idea that “we” are to save the world, to redeem it from its sin and make it a fit place for the King of Kings to return to.  Perhaps we need to look back at our own history when the “church’s” policy was, “convert or die.”  That certainly worked out well – NOT!

Instead of a light that beckons we have become a light that blinds and burns.  He is a blinding light; we are no more than candles or at best lamps.  We are to burn faithfully and graciously.  

 Php_1:27  Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Php_4:5  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

Col_4:6  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Mat 5:16  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

What would it be like brothers and sisters if we expended as much time, money and effort equipping the saints for works of service as we do opposing the world, the flesh and devil by their own means?  What would it be like if we poured as much energy into the study and understanding of God’s Word as we do in studying the lies of Satan?  What would it be like if we spent as much time and energy in sincere prayer for the lost as we do opposing and condemning them?  What would it be like if we spent as much energy and effort examining ourselves as we do examining our culture and others?

I am convicted that we need take Matthew 5:16 and Romans 2:24 as matters toward which no amount of focus and energy is too much.  We are doing either one or the other and I fear which one dominates.  If men are to blaspheme God let it be because of their lostness not because of His people.  If men are to reject God let it be in the clear light of His grace and not because they are threaten, vilified and attacked by His people.  

There, I’ve blown my bugle – I hope clearly. 

Competition? Christlikeness

COMPETITION

I have a hard time finding any place in the life of the believer for competition.  Perhaps it’s due to a very warped understanding on my part – and I’m open to that.  But in my experience, although we couch it in “nice” double-speak, competition is about beating another person or team.

Yes, I understand that competition is a test of skills and abilities as well as strategy and teamwork but, at least in my experience, there is that underlying drive to defeat – beat – conquer – crush the other person or team.  I was raised to compete, to win, to crush my opponent utterly.  It wasn’t about being first – it was about be the only.

My first experience with competition was against my dad.  He was a fencer – and pretty good.  When I was around six or seven he decided to toughen me up and make a competitor by making me fence with him.  He was about 6 foot 3 or so and in pretty good shape.  I was about 3.5 feet tall and relatively round.

I can still remember those painful and humiliating sessions.  I still have the scar in the back of my throat where he “accidentally” stabbed me.  I can still feel the pain of being swatted with a foil.  See, in his view one was only a winner if one’s opponent was – well – destroyed and humiliated.

I was fortunate in that we left him when I was still salvageable.  But when we moved back to the US everyone said I had to play football (I was a little taller and not so round).  I had never seen American football.  I had played “soccer” which is a game of skill, strategy and finesse.  Football simply looked stupid to me.  I could not conceive of how it could be “fun.”  Still don’t.

Well I played football but I wasn’t much into “killing the quarterback,” or stuffing the running back.”  I wasn’t into hurting people much at all.

Then I got jumped by a group of toughs from my high-school and something snapped.  I challenged all of them to meet me and get in a single file and I offered to fight them one at a time.  Of course I had some back-up in the form of some friends of my older sister just to keep it fair.

They never showed and things really changed for me at school.  Then I got into power-lifting.  I loved it – my competition was gravity and muscle failure.  I went at it whole-heartedly.  I began to look like a power-lift and people around me changed.

There was something gratifying about being able to intimidate people just by being there.  It was the polar opposite from what my dad had made me feel.  Something snapped again.  I was going to be a winner – no matter what.

It all came to a head years later on the Racquet-ball court.  A friend of mine and I were playing and he started to rag on me (he was very very good).  Something snapped.  I quit wanting to win and started wanting to destroy.  Well, to make a long story short, we both left the court bloody and bruised.  I never played Racquet-ball “competitively” again.

Actually I never did anything competitive that put me in direct contact with another human being.  I just didn’t trust myself.  I have “competed” in a lot of things but they are things in which I can focus on beating myself – improving my skills without any comparison to others.

When I was shooting competitively it was a struggle.  Some folks just have to rag on others by chest thumping and crowing.  It got to the point to where I was tempted to get a “Match Disqualification” right at the first shooting stage.  This would allow me to shoot the match without worrying about my “score” in relationship to others.  But I gave it up when the economy went south and it got too expensive.

How do you teach competition without that element of what I can only see as “enemy identification?”  We talk in terms of beating, crushing, defeating, etc. the other competitor(s).  They have to go down!  

Here’s the question.  How do we, as followers of the Prince of Peace, handle competition?  In thinking about kids and the instilling of an adversarial attitude towards those we compete against it concerns me greatly.  We want to be (and our kids to be) winners, but how do we do it without designating those we compete against as “the enemy?”  How do we keep ourselves (and our kids) from the typical rage and anger used to motivate “winners?”  Why is our “best” only good when we “beat” another?

I think of Eric Liddell and am amazed.