1 John 1 - 2011.07.30

REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,…” I John 1:1-3a

As a young believer I recall attending a Christian concert where a talented gospel singer billed as “the Swedish Nightingale” was featured. Except for the memory of a beautiful voice, I recall only one song she rendered, which carried the line, “I was there when it happened, and I ought to know.” It was sung as a personal testimony to the reality of her conversion experience. (Curiously, an internet search indicates that the song was more recently popularized by Johnny Cash, but in no way was his rendering comparable to what I heard years ago.)

In our nugget for today the apostle John gives emphasis to the personal nature of the gospel record; “That which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon (contemplated), and our hands have handled…we declare unto you.” What he bears witness to is not founded upon fiction or imagination, but upon tangible reality, real life experience that resulted in some remarkable conclusions regarding the person and work of the man Christ Jesus.

Given John’s assertion, it is worth noting that it is reinforced by others who were “there when it happened.” Peter, for example, declares, “…we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount [II Pet. 1:16-18].” And Paul, though not an “eyewitness” in the ordinary sense, affirms a similar assurance based on his personal encounter with the risen Christ when he says, “Last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time,” in the process confirming the witness of a number of others who were “there when it happened.” (See I Cor 15:3-8ff) In addition, of course, we have the testimony of the other three evangelists who, if they were not all associates of Christ while He was here on earth, were intimately acquainted with others who were.

Living as we do so far removed from the event itself, and confronted by skepticism and overt denial of the gospel record, it behooves us to think again of the great historical ground upon which our faith rests. We may also note in passing that these all observed not only the uniqueness of the person of Jesus, but also the drama of His death and resurrection, the great seal upon the deity of Christ. It was what these saw, heard, studied and touched that drove them to their conclusion as to who He is and from whence and why He came.

These have either passed on verifiable truth or we have the greatest collection of liars—or lunatics—in history. If you are ever tempted to doubt the gospel, remember John’s implication: “I was there when it happened, and I ought to know!”

There is another emphasis in this chapter, however, which we should not overlook. If, in fact, this is what we believe, then the same kind of veracity should be evident in our testimony. Faith in the “Word of Life” brings us into fellowship (communion) with God the Father and with His Son, in whom there is “no darkness at all.” Darkness is John’s synonym for sin; all that is contrary to the mind and heart of God. If we have a verifiable Christian experience we will, then, be found “walking in the light.” The Savior Himself said, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life [John 8:12].” And later the apostle asks the rhetorical question, “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness [II Cor. 6:14]?” The two are mutually incompatible.

This hell bound world of scoffers needs desperately to see in us tangible evidence of the salvation Christ came to provide. We profess that we have fellowship with God the Father and the Son. Let us prove it by walking in the light “If you were “there when it happened,” it ought to show!

For HIS glory and our goodI John 2,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Peter 3 - 2011.07.23

WHAT OUGHT [WE] TO BE?

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” — II Peter 3:11-14

Given the state of the world, both the reachable world around us and the world at large, brought to our attention day by day by the dubious benefit of the media, we are often tempted to perplexity, if not doubt, by reason of God’s seeming indifference to all that is taking place. Like David, long ago and in a much simpler time, we may be crying, “Lord, how long wilt Thou look on…Thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence…” (Psalm 35:17, 22).

Under such circumstances our nugget for today and the remarkable chapter from which it is taken are invaluable. First, the trends that trouble us are clearly predicted (v.3-5a). Second, assurance is given: “The day of the Lord will come…,” but on God’s timetable, not ours (v. 8-10a). Third, God’s seeming indifference springs, in fact, from His mercy toward both the unsaved world and the sluggish church (v. 9).

Years ago I heard this last verse paraphrased, “He is giving us (i.e., the church) time to get the gospel out.” The commission was given to the church to “preach the gospel to every creature,” and the Savior once said, “…This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come [Mt. 24:14].” As we long for the return of Christ as, for us, an escape from “this present evil world,” we need to keep in mind that it will be an awful day for those who know not the Lord. God in His mercy to them extends the day of opportunity, as He did for 120 years before the great flood of Noah’s day.

All that having been noted, our nugget focuses on how we as believers are to behave ourselves while the night shadows are drawing nigh. The first emphasis is on the futility of living for the world. “All these things shall be dissolved.” In another place God alerts us, “The world passeth away and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever [I John 2:17].” For all our professed disenchantment with the age, it is incredibly easy to become distracted from God and the things of God by “the things of this world.” not one of which will survive the coming judgment. When we go out we will take nothing with us for which we have lived and labored. All will be “burned up” but our spiritual investment.

“What manner of persons,” then,”ought [we] to be?”

First, we ought to be wholly holy. Elsewhere we are exhorted, “Exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable in all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come [I Tim. 4:7-8].” As we used to hear from time to time, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Toward that end we should maintain our confidence in the return of Christ. The scoffers will say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” Believers must guard against that ungodly skepticism. We are warned again and again in scripture to be patient in our waiting for the coming of the Lord and that expectation should condition our values and our behavior. Israel, given the promise of a coming Messiah, grew weary of waiting and wandered away from the principles and practices God had commanded them to follow. “But when the fulness of the time was come [when the time was right] God sent forth his Son…to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons [Gal. 4:4-5].” And when the time is right, He will come again!

We are further assured that the God who made all things is going to make all things new, hence let us live with faith that “the best is yet to be.” Time, in its best state, will pale to insignificance when we behold the glories of eternity. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him [I Cor. 2:9].” Perspective is everything in the walk of faith.

Finally, from that perspective we should “be diligent that [we] may be found of Him,” when He comes, “in peace, without spot, and blameless.” “True hearted, whole hearted, faithful and loyal,” wrote the poet. This should characterize us as believers in Christ, living in anticipation of His return and “the things that shall be hereafter.” Half hearted “Christianity” will not see us through. Let us so live that when He appears “we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming [I John 2:28].”

For readiness of heart,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Peter 2 - 2011.07.16

THE UPLOOK IS BETTER THAN THE OUTLOOK

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” — II Peter 2:1-2

Those who have lived to become old have seen many changes in the moral and spiritual realm; changes that can bring dismay, perplexity and apprehension. We have seen spiritual values deteriorate in the community and even in the churches. The word of God has been increasingly marginalized in our contemporary culture and our values, if we have any, are arbitrary and insecure. Those who have high standards, especially those drawn upon the scriptures are often the subject of ridicule, if not persecution. While the USA has never been a Christian nation (there is no such entity, and never has been) its foundation incorporated many values drawn from the scriptures and suited to our well-being that are being relentlessly attacked and replaced with liberal and licentious notions that loom as a gathering cloud of judgment on our horizon.

In fact, if we are at all familiar with the prophetic aspect of New Testament scripture, this should not surprise us. Rather than threaten our confidence in the word of God, it should reinforce it, for things that are happening today confirm the extraordinary insight of faithful men of God thousands of years ago. Our “nugget” for today, and the whole chapter from which it is taken, indeed, the whole epistle in which it is found, is a case in point.

Scripture anticipates the proliferation of false prophets and false teachers over time. The thinking of many believers, I fear, tends to limit this prediction to heresy within the church. In fact, it is much broader than that. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the apostle Peter notes “there were false prophets among the people,” meaning the people of God in the Old Testament dispensation. Remember that, while there were those who perverted the faith and order revealed through faithful men of old, and men who would teach error for a price, there also plagued the nation of Israel the false prophets of pagan religion and philosophies. The “prophets of Baal” serve as an example. The Spirit of God anticipates their denial of Christ (anti-christian) setting themselves up for judgment.

The second note of emphasis here is that “many shall follow their pernicious (“shameful” - NIV) ways.” The moral deviation and doctrinal perversion will draw a crowd ready and willing to scoff at the Word of the Lord, both written and in Person. We are seeing that trend on the ascendency in our culture today, promoted by a multitude and endorsed by legislatures. The false teachers and those who endorse and promote them are found in the halls of congress and in the temples of “learning” and pseudo science, as well as the more obvious dens of iniquity.

In consequence scripture predicts, “the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” It is coming to pass, and will gain impetus as time progresses—because the bible says so! Already biblical Christianity is deemed a hindrance to “progress.” How remarkable the insight of the apostle who said, “…the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables [II Tim. 4:3-4].” This trend in society is aided and abetted by false teachers within the churches who compromise the truth and collaborate with the ungodly in what has become “cultural Christianity.” These “promise liberty” (v. 19), i.e. freedom from the restraints of scripture, but are “themselves slaves of depravity.” (NIV)

While it is surely disheartening to see a nation that has been so highly favored with the knowledge of “the way of righteousness” readying itself for judgment, it should not be surprising. And it need not bring doubt, but reinforce our assurance that God knows what He is talking about and can, indeed, see the end from the beginning. Rather than cast doubts about the uniqueness and authority of scripture, it should have just the opposite effect.

While it remains true that there has never been a Christian nation, in the ordinary sense of that word, scripture affirms the existence of a mystical nation that permeates all the nations. Built upon the foundation of the written and Living Word of God, “…ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy [I Pet. 2:9-10].” And in the midst of this “crooked and perverse nation,” in which we now live, we are admonished to “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul,” and “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God [Col. 1:10].”

Accept the challenge, and “look up, for your redemption draweth nigh!” The outlook is grim but the “uplook” is great!!

Take heart and trust God,

"Pastor" Frasier

2 Peter 1 - 2011.07.09

FRUIT FOR HIS GLORY

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — II Peter 1:5-8

On a certain occasion the Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit… [John 15:16a].” He has made an investment in the believer that merits a return, and it should be our desire to fulfill that potential.

There is a touching story in the Old Testament that illustrates the point. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, a great prototype of the Lord Jesus Christ, was married, but had no children. She developed a passion for realizing her God given design of motherhood, moving first to “bitterness of soul,” and then to ernest and unrelenting prayer. “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life [I Sam. 1:10-11].”

As it is in the nature of woman to bear children, so it is in the nature of saving faith to bring forth “fruit” to the glory of God. Faith is not passive, but active. Yet, that activity is not automatic. The apostle urges his hearers to “give diligence” to fulfilling faith’s potential. The English dictionary defines diligence as “careful and persistent work or effort.” It takes no effort but faith on our part to become a Christian, but it requires relentless effort, born of genuine passion and prayer, to manifest that new life in Christ in our daily walk. A reminder: we are not saved by good works, but we are saved “unto good works,” as is abundantly evident throughout the New Testament.

The potential of faith, the areas in which it may be expanded, is illustrated in the exhortation that follows, which seems to represent faith as a kind of spiritual cornucopia out of which an abundance of good things may flow. The first is “virtue.” Virtue is simply, moral goodness. That moral goodness is, of course, as defined by the word of God. The writer Proverbs asks, “Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above above rubies.” (Prov. 31:10) A careful study of this nobility will indicate in greater detail the significance of the term. One has referred to it as “internal godly worth.”

Virtue should be the first evidence of genuine Christian faith. The second, here, is “knowledge.” This is not mere expansion of the intellect, but its significance is suggested in the last verse of this epistle, “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The apostle Paul exhibits this passion when writing to the Philippians he says, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord [Phil. 3:8a],” and again, “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection…[v.10].” The knowledge of Christ surpasses all other knowledge and is the key to right understanding of everything else we know. It is a proper extension of faith.

Out of the knowledge of Christ we are to learn “temperance” or self control. It is the knowledge of Christ eventuating in the government of the will by His Spirit, thus conditioning our conduct. “Patience” follows; it is the power to endure under pressure of various kinds. Jesus said, for example, “Ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved [Matt. 10:22],” where endureth is the same word as patience. When faith is pursued with diligence it will eventuate in stedfastness to the end. and “godliness” in character. Godliness is, perhaps, self defining. It is God-like-ness; character and conduct flowing from faith in God and attributed to Him.

Godliness will be manifested in brotherly kindness. In a great verse we are admonished, “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you [Eph. 4:32].” That is the substance of brotherly kindness and is realized in faith growing to maturity. And finally, all is to emerge in “charity,” which is unconditional love. That is the character of the love of God.

Simple faith in Christ, developed to its full potential, reaches its zenith in Christ like love. And it is here that the Holy Spirit assures us we will “neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. When God gave Hannah her “man child,” she gratefully gave him back to the Lord “all the days of his life.” May we grow our faith in such a way that we, too, will have something of His own doing to give back as “fruit” for His glory!

For our good and His glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

1 Peter 5 - 2011.07.02

THE GOD OF ALL GRACE

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” — I Peter 5:10-11

The Lord Jesus Christ advised His disciples, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” He made no suggestion that the life of the believer would be trouble free this side of heaven. No sooner than the church was born did the truth of His statement begin to be evident. There were assaults from within and without. Paul and Peter, among others, confronted false teachers who would have scattered the flock, and the church suffered persecution at the hands of opponents to the truth that threatened the faith of many. In addressing the problems the apostles consistently did two things. They reminded believers that at the root of every adversity is the “adversary the devil.” And, they directed suffering saints to God Himself as the resource essential to sustained faith in the face of the various trials we may face. The battle is essentially spiritual in nature and only spiritual resources will be sufficient to achieve victory when we are under attack, whether individually or corporately. That is the general context of the details of this epistle, and out of it emerges this encouraging “nugget.”

Observe first how God is characterized: He is “the God of all grace.” His grace is the source of our salvation and the secret of its security. The word “grace” has a variety of meaning, but its general signification will be apprehended by most true believers. Grace, may I suggest, is that quality in the divine nature that motivates God to restrain His wrath, reveal His love, redeem the lost and render the saved able to endure unto the end.

His grace is a cornucopia of blessings. Because of His grace He is also the God of “patience and consolation,” or perseverance and encouragement, enabling us to persevere in faith in the face of life’s challenges. He is “the God of hope,” a hope that is “stedfast and sure, anchored” in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is “the God of peace,” imparting peace to those who seek Him in time of trouble. And He is “the God of all comfort” when life threatens to become intolerable, or heartbreak enters in.

God’s grace is the reason for our hope. It is not because of our goodness, but out of His grace that we are saved. He took the initiative and “called us” out of darkness into His marvelous light, and sustains us from day to day. Grace has established not only our beginning, but the end. He has called us not in a probationary way, but to a sure destiny—”unto His eternal glory;” “to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven“ for us.

And, His grace is the ground of our assurance and the source of our victory over all that the “adversary” may direct our way. It is His grace that will “perfect” us, that is, bring the work to completion. We are sometimes discouraged not so much by the problems we face, but by the evidence of our own frailty and fickleness. How wonderful to know that His grace is able to secure not only the destiny, but the journey: to establish us, keeping us from falling; to strengthen us, for His strength is made perfect in weakness; to settle us in quietness and confidence when we face unsettling circumstances along life’s way.

Nevertheless we must not take that grace for granted, but make application for its realization in our lives by prayer and supplication. Well said the poet, “Oh, to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be; let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.” “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed.”

This little gem of truth reminds us that our redemption, from start to finish, is all of grace, the grace of the God of all grace. And it should give rise in our hearts to the benediction of the apostle here, “To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

“Praise is comely for the upright!”

For the assurance of faith,

"Pastor" Frasier