That Blessed Hope

“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness13. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.14 — 2nd Peter 3:13-14

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,11 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;12 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;13 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.14 — Titus 2:12-14

The Last Judgement — Rogier van der Weydun, Public Domain Image

“But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:13 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — 2nd Thessalonians 2:13-14

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.2 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.3 — 1st John 3:2-3

The return of Christ is supposed to encourage us and motivate us toward sanctification and good works. We do not earn our salvation, we do not perform any good work to pay off our debt to God, but rather because we know we are his children, we desire to live after his example out of love and respect. In each of these four passages that speak of the anticipation of Christ’s return, the urge to sanctify ourselves and live in godliness and peace among men is inseparable from our saving faith.

Many Christians tend to get caught up with wild speculations about “the Tribulation” and the timing of the “rapture.” End-times hysteria has been documented as far back as 500 A.D. People sell everything they own and abandon their lives in order to participate in an ecstatic ritual that always end in humiliation when the sun rises the next day and the world is exactly as it was.

The Last Judgement — Michelangelo, Public Domain Image

Jesus said to his disciples before ascending back up to heaven, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power. (Acts 1:7)” Period. Full stop.

Whatever your eschatology, it should not take its cues from Hollywood, mega-church televangelists, the ancient Mayans, or the Pope of Rome. It should be from a sober and humble study of the scriptures. Sola scriptura.

Selah.

Biblical Self-Defense

And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones, and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. — Esther 8:10-12

In the book of Esther, enemies of the protagonists Mordechai and Esther have deceived the king into making a decree to genocide all Jews in his empire. God of course works all things together for good to them that love God and are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28), so the plot is exposed in the nick of time and the king reverses the decree and has the conspirators executed. Of course there are still many enemies throughout the realm just waiting for chance to appease their bloodlust, so not only does the king reverse the decree but empowers the Jews to arm themselves and form a sort of militia to stand against any who may not have received the decree in time and come to attack the Jews either by ignorance or malice.

Esther Before Ahusuerus - Artemisia Ghentileschi, Public Domain Image

This idea that Christians should always be pacifists without exception is not harmonious with the full body of scripture. Esther 8, Genesis 14:14-16, and David’s career as a young man before he was crowned king, are all chock full of instances of lawful self-defense and just warfare. Christian pacifists base their argument largely on the beatitudes of Matthew 5, “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.39 But the context of Matthew 5 has nothing to do with civil government or the responsibility of rulers, judges, and families to protect the vulnerable, it is speaking only of one’s personal and interpersonal behavior. Of course we as Christians should be merciful to others who wrong us and turn the other cheek. But in matters of government and the legal system, the Law is very clear, “And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot (Deuteronomy 19:21).”

Romans 12 says, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.17 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.18” The apostle Paul writes this knowing that there will be times when it is not possible to live peaceably with all men. There will be times of treachery, persecution, and violence. We must use wisdom and discernment from the entire counsel of scripture to ascertain if God is to be most glorified by our martyrdom or by our miraculous deliverance from the unreasonable and wicked of this world.

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil (2nd Thessalonians 3:1-3).”

This is not a call to arms per se, but a call to wisdom, to search the scriptures daily for answers as to how to best apply the word of God to our lives in these last days.

Selah.

Lively Stones

“And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” — Matthew 3:9

Photo by Kameron Kincade via Unsplash

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building…” -1st Corinthians 3:9

“…As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby2: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious3. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,4 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.5” — 1st Peter 2:2-5

Photo by Artem Kniaz via Unsplash

Selah.