2 John - 2007.02.24

"I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father." — II John 4

We live in a day when it has become increasingly fashionable to deny the existence of absolute truth. The disease has infected many within the ranks of the visible church, professing Christianity. The fact is, without absolute truth— what one evangelical writer called "true truth," Christianity loses both authority and power. Truth is the environment of Christian faith, and if it becomes fuzzy around the edges, we cannot walk in truth with any confidence or consistency. When a thinking person contemplates this issue, he is moved, like Pontius Pilate when he was trying the Lord Jesus, to ask, "What is truth [John 18:38]?"

Scripture answers this question in two specific ways. The first is doctrinal, the second is personal. You are undoubtedly familiar with both. Praying for the sanctification and preservation of His disciples, Jesus said to His Father, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth [Jn 17:17]." Doctrinal truth is the word of God. Whatever scripture sets forth as principle is more inflexible than Gibraltar. To depart from it is not merely to court disaster, but to assure it. This is the reason why great nations have fallen and great civilizations have perished; to deny or defy God's truth is to destroy the foundation which is essential to survival.

The second aspect of "true Truth" is personal. Jesus said, "I am the… Truth [John 14:6]." Jesus Christ is Truth personified. That which agrees with Him is true; that which does not is false, and ultimately, a lie. Doctrinal truth is the word of God— written; Personal Truth is the Word of God— living. And the two are in perfect correspondence.

A Christian is one who agrees with the truth, the truth of God's word. Already indicted by His law, as having violated His truth, the sinner accepts the truth about himself as expressed in the gospel (e.g., "I have sinned and come short of the glory of God") and believes the truth that "God is love," and has "sent His Son (Who IS the Truth) to be the Savior of the world." On the strength of those convictions, he abandons the hopeless philosophies of men and builds his hope on the reliability of the written and living Word of God.

It is important, at this point, to remember that truth, by definition, does not change. If what was regarded as true yesterday proves not to be true today, then it was not true. Thus it is written of the Lord Jesus Christ that He is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever [Heb. 13:8]," which agrees with the declaration of God the Father, "I am the Lord, I change not… [Mal. 3:6]." The significance of this is that, whether within the visible church or outside of it, we cannot successfully redefine God or alter His principles without having abandoned Truth. So rigid is this principle that the "apostle of love" declares with respect to the truth written, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God… If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds [II John 9-11]."

Love cannot compromise Truth. The apostle's joy was in finding believers who not only knew the truth (v.1), but who were "walking in truth [v.4]." That means they were in agreement with the written word of God and conditioned by it, and in fellowship with Jesus Christ. This is not just a Sunday morning event, but a daily lifestyle. When there is agreement in heart with the word of God written and Living, we will not attain perfection, but we will acknowledge the truth of His word when it reproves us, and repent. And we will so highly value the fellowship of His son that when we step out of the Sonshine, we will despise the shadows and quickly seek restoration.

"And this is love, that we walk after His commandments [v.6a]."

That is the way of TRUTH.

For HIS praise,

"Pastor" Frasier

James 5 - 2007.02.17

"Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." — James 5:8

"Life is not fair," someone said. And how true that can be! Injustice is endemic in this fallen human race. Too often, it seems, bad people prosper and the righteous come up short. Even the Psalmist said, "… I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked… Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches [Ps. 73:3,12]."

Such a conclusion is, of course, the result of walking by sight, and not by faith; it is a complaint rising out of the short view, as to both time and scope. Subsequently the psalmist remarks, "When I thought to know (i.e., to understand) it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end [Ps. 73:16-17]."

Probably most of us have had occasions of perplexity when trying to make sense out of some of life's circumstances. James, in the context preceding our verse, has been marking the injustices suffered by the working poor at the hands of their wealthy superiors. Turning f rom his indictment of the rich landholders, he seeks to encourage their victims, and in the process offers a threefold counsel that every believer will do well to take to heart.

His first injunction is simply, "be patient." that is, bear up. Patience, here, is stedfastness under pressure. When the going gets tough, and especially if the time is long, the temptation for many is to give up. The word from God is, bear up. As on of my bible institute profs used to say, "Keep on keeping on." In similar vein, the writer to the Hebrews remarks, "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise [Heb. 10:35,36]."

In addition James counsels, "stablish your hearts." That is, firm up. When the prophet Elijah had become exhausted and depressed because of the oppression of the wicked Jezebel, he fled into the wilderness and prayed that he might die. "And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God [I Kings 19:5-8]." Nourished by the Angel of Jehovah (Christ), he was strengthened for the long road which lay before him. God calls us not merely to endure, but to be reinforced for the journey of faith in an alien world. That reinforcement comes through fellowship with—feeding upon—the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him [John 6:56]." We "establish our hearts" through fellowship with Him, feeding upon Him, deriving our strength from Him. "It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein [Heb. 13:9]." In this "present evil world," if we are to persevere in the pursuit of the will of God, we must be "nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine [I Tim. 4:6b]," and we will neglect the word of God to our peril.

Finally the apostle encourages, "The coming of the Lord draweth night." That is a reminder to the beleaguered Christian to look up. The Savior said, "If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again… " Throughout his life the believer is to pursue his journey "looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith." He is coming again, and when He comes, He will rectify all wrongs and reward all those who have been faithful to Him.

The story is told of a painting, hanging in a gallery, that was mystifying to the viewers, who could make no sense of it. One day the artist was in the audience, who when he saw the perplexity of the crowd, stepped up to the painting and with his brush placed a single red dot on the painting and said, "look there." When the observers focused on the red dot, suddenly everything became clear and the painting could be understood. Jesus is coming again. His return should be our focal point and that will bring order to our otherwise chaotic view of life.

"Bear up," "firm up," "look up." — for your redemption draweth nigh.

"When He comes, our glorious King, all His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we'll sing: Hallelujah, what a Savior!"

For HIS praise and our perseverance,

"Pastor" Frasier

James 4 - 2007.02.10

"But He giveth more grace, wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." — James 4:6

Pride is the original sin. It was by appealing to pride that Satan lured Eve into direct disobedience to God and, of course, it was the sin that transformed Satan himself from an Angel of light into the prince of darkness. Pride, in fact, is the great motivator in this world's economy: "be more," have more, do more.

Satan, discontent with his divinely created glory, aspired to "be like the most High." Adam, at Satan's suggestion, would "be as god." King of the world, Adam was not content to enjoy his God-given position under Divine administration and authority, but deemed himself worthy of more, capable of more. Pride is that sense of self-importance that creates envy and independence, and drives competition and antagonism when we "don't get what we deserve," or suffer what we are sure we do not deserve.

As another has pointed out, pride tops the list of the seven sins God hates, and it has astonishing company: "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren [Prov. 6:16-19]." The emphasis continues; "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord… [Prov. 16:5]," and, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud [Prov. 16:18-19]."

It is pride that keeps the unsaved from seeking the Lord. Seeing themselves as sufficient unto themselves, they have no need of, nor desire for God. David put it this way: "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts [Ps. 10:4]." Assured of their own righteousness and self sufficiency, they despise the gospel and the God Who offers salvation to the lost, and go their "own way" to destruction.

It is regrettable, but true, that the sin of pride, which sponsors other sins, is not confined to the unsaved. Study the history of Israel, that great object lesson for New Testament believers, and note how pride removed her from divine favor, and accounts for much of the misery she suffers even to this day. Our churches today are far too often the victims of pride; sometimes in the pulpit, no less often in the pew. A pastor friend of mine quotes often Proverbs 13:10, "Only by pride cometh contention… [Prov. 13:10]," and it is true. The strife that has brought many a church to ruin is the result of pride in the hearts of those who should be emulating the One "Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant… and humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross [Phil. 2:6-7]." Those who ought to be seeking the salvation of the world are, instead, supplying it with "excuses" for not believing the gospel. (cf. Rom. 2:24)

"Grace" is not given to the proud; they are resisting God, and He is resisting them. There are professing Christians reading this today who need to humble themselves "under the mighty hand of God," and make room for His grace to restore them to usefulness in the kingdom of God. And there are unconverted souls who may read this today who need to recognize their spiritual bankruptcy and trust the Savior for the grace of life. Each needs to remember that "God gives grace to the humble."

"A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit."
[Prov. 29:23]."

It may not seem so now, but remember; the last chapter has yet to be written!

For our eternal good,

"Pastor" Frasier

James 3 - 2007.02.03

"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." —James 3:8

To all appearances it was a typical Sunday morning service. The church was of familiar design, with a row of pews on either side of a central aisle. The "sanctuary," (as we call it!) was well filled, and all sang the same hymns of worship and praise, and participated in the ritual and routine of the service. The fact was, however, that it was a house divided. Those who sat on the left would not speak to those on the right, and those who chose to sit on the right did so because they would have no fellowship with those on the left. The same lips that sang praises to God were prepared to devour their fellow worshippers. (See Jas. 3:9) That was long ago and far away, but the tragedy enacted that morning is re-staged in one way or another, in many a church to this day. Such scenarios are ignited and inflamed by the master instrument of strife and division, the tongue.

No passage in scripture is more devastating in its indictment of the careless tongue than this third chapter of James. And nothing should move us to a more careful and sober consideration of how we use this most remarkable instrument among our members, unless it be the words of the Savior on the same subject: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned [Matt.. 12:34-37]. These words are a stunning reminder that God will hold us accountable for how we use our tongues. While the teaching of James deals with the instrument and its fruit, the words of the Savior trace the problems of the tongue to their root—the heart. Ultimately, our tongues betray the true condition of our hearts.

There is, however, a significant difference between the two passages. The Lord Jesus was speaking to the natural man, in his unconverted state. James was addressing professing Christians who, in the use of their tongues were behaving like the unsaved. When the "strife of tongues" wounds and divides the family, or the family of God, it is clear, as James uncompromisingly declares, that the devil is at work where the Spirit of God should be in control. James had earlier said, "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain [1:26]."

The apostle Paul indicts the widows who "learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not [I Tim. 5:13]." The apostle Peter exhorts, "He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile [I Pet. 3:10]." Proverbs condemn the backbiting tongue (25:23), the lying tongue (26:28) and the flattering tongue (28:23), among others, and in contrast declares, "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles [Prov. 21:23]."

What does your tongue contribute to harmony in your home, or in your congregation? This is not an idle question. It is of paramount importance; first, because of its bearing on the welfare of others, then because of its impact on the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, and finally because of its import on your own life as one accountable to the Lord. Think of it: "But I say unto you, every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned [Mt. 12:36-37]." Were we to take those words as seriously as we ought, we would purpose, like the Psalmist, "I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle… [Ps. 39:1]."

Indeed, "the tongue can no man tame," but the things that are impossible with men are possible with God. HE can tame your tongue— if you'll let Him!

For our learning,

"Pastor" Frasier