Category: Bible

One important lesson I learned in seminary relates to how we must be careful not to overestimate our own spiritual ability. A professor and some students and I were talking about how a prominent Christian leader at that time had been vacillating on a hot-button issue in the church instead of taking a firm biblical stand. Though we all lamented this leader’s apparent love for people’s approval over God’s, our professor said to us, “Just remember that boldness is a lot easier when you are not so well-known. The more successful you are, the more you will have to lose in speaking unpopular truth.” I suddenly realized that being a nationally recognized pastor brings levels of temptation and pressure that I simply didn’t face as a seminary student. I also understood that, as much as any pastor wishes for his church and ministry to grow, God is kind not to give a person more than he can handle, even if that means a person ministers his whole life to a small flock of believers in obscurity.

As we consider Sunday’s sermon, we can see a similar principle applies to wealth. Wealth can be useful and is itself a gift from God (Eccl 7:12; 10:19; Prov 3:9-10; 8:12-21). Yet wealth also brings with it a set of temptations and concerns that we would be wise not to rush after. As someone once said: wealth is both a blessing and a test. After all, wealth exerts a kind of gravity on its owner, constantly pulling on its possessor’s heart towards worry about, distraction with, and even worship of mere stuff. And, often, the greater the wealth, the greater the pull. Consider how much God blessed Israel after the conquest of Joshua and how the people soon departed from God to idols for the sake of their own concerns and pleasures (Dt 8:11-14; compare Mk 4:19 and Lk 8:14). Or consider Solomon himself—his heart also drifted to search for ultimate gain in his God-given prosperity and success (Eccl 2:1-11)! Though each of us would like to think that we could manage the temptations of wealth more properly, an appreciation of the deceitfulness of sin and the weakness of our own flesh should give us a more sober outlook.

One very poignant prayer in the Bible, therefore, is Proverbs 30:7-9. If we truly love the Lord and want to beware the deceitfulness of wealth, we should be praying this wisdom also.

Two things I asked of You,
Do not refuse me before I die:
Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?”
Or that I not be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God.

Questions to Consider:
1. Have you ever felt possessions exert a pull on you in your own life? How did you respond?
2. How should the above truths help you in your heart’s fight against envy?
3. Will God ever deny to his children that which is truly good for them (consider Ps 34:10; Mt 7:11; Heb 12:4-11; 2 Cor 12:7-10)?

Since we did not have a sermon this past Sunday, I thought I would share something today on the passage the elders recommended for family study: Matthew 13:1-23 and the Parable of the Sower.

One issue that can confuse modern readers of this parable has to do with whether more than one of the soils represents a genuine disciple of Christ. Certainly the fruit-bearing, good soil is a true Christian, but what about the rocky or thorny soil? After all, these other two soils also received the gospel seed and experienced significant plant growth. Moreover, the plant among thorns is never said to wither, though it remains unproductive. So perhaps one of or both these other two soils represents a genuine but less mature Christian?

The main reason for our confusion is that we no longer live in a society dominated by agriculture. Any ancient farmer could have told us that a plant that grows but does not bear fruit is useless—or even worse than useless for using up the farmer’s ground, time, and energy but yielding no profit (compare Lk 13:6-9)! Non-productive plants would eventually be destroyed; only fruitful and persevering plants are valuable to the farmer. Thus, the only soil that fulfills the purpose of the sower in this parable is the good soil, and the only professing disciple that truly belongs to Jesus is the one who bears the spiritual fruit of a life transformed by the gospel.

Matthew 13:23, “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

Questions to Consider:
1. How specifically does the fruit of the gospel manifest in a true Christian’s life? Will all believers manifest the same fruit?
2. The necessity of spiritual productivity is a clear theme in Christ’s teaching. Can you think of other passages that emphasize this same truth?
3. The Kingdom Parables of Matthew 13 give insight into what following Christ will be like in between his first and second comings. What does the Parable of the Sower teach us to expect in this interim season of sowing the gospel?

The Bible has a lot to say about speech, even speech offered in worship and service to God. In the Sunday sermon, I mentioned a few cross-references to Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 but had to leave out many more. Therefore, I wanted to share with you some of the other references that go really well with what we heard. I hope that these will help you appreciate Solomon’s teaching even more.

James 1:19-22, This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

Proverbs 20:25, It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”
And after the vows to make inquiry.

1 Timothy 5:22, Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.

Leviticus 5:4-6, Or if a person swears thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, in whatever matter a man may speak thoughtlessly with an oath, and it is hidden from him, and then he comes to know it, he will be guilty in one of these. So it shall be when he becomes guilty in one of these, that he shall confess that in which he has sinned. He shall also bring his guilt offering to the Lord for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin.

Ecclesiastes 10:12-14, Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him; the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness. Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?

James 4:13-17, Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Acts 5:1-5, But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.

Questions to Consider:
1. Should Christians always add “if the Lord wills” to statements about the future? How do we hear the writers of Scripture speak? Compare, for example, Acts 18:21; 1 Cor 4:19; Rom 15:22-29; 1 Cor 16:5-9; 2 Cor 13:1-3; and Heb 13:23.
2. We Christians are called to be bold in declaring the exclusive gospel, confronting unrepentant sin, and upholding true doctrine. So how should the principles of carefulness and humility still affect us in these tasks?
3. Does your speech—even your religious speech—reflect a sober and sincere humility?

As we continue to hear God’s warning against false teachers from 2 Peter, it’s important for us to keep in mind what a false teacher actually is. A false teacher is not merely someone who proclaims something false or in error, for, under such a broad definition, all of us growing Christians would qualify as false teachers at some point in our lives! Rather, a false teacher is someone who, by his message or by his lifestyle, contradicts the core teaching about Christ and his salvation. In other words, if someone teaches a false gospel or proclaims the true gospel but actually lives a life enslaved to sin, he is the kind of hell-bound herald that Peter furiously condemns and warns us against.

We need to appreciate this definition of “false teacher” so that we do not inadvertently treat as enemies of Christ those who actually belong to him and his church. Our Lord himself established an amazing principle of charity toward fellow Christ-followers in Mark 9:38-41,

John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.”

This exchange is fascinating because Jesus affirms as on his side—and his people’s side—someone who is probably in error. We don’t know much about this traveling exorcist, but he would seem to be in the wrong for not following Jesus more closely. The disciples, therefore, felt justified in closing down this exorcist’s entire ministry. But Jesus rebuked the disciples for this, affirmed this man as his own follower, and confirmed that such will receive reward from Christ for even the smallest acts of ministry to God’s people.

This demeanor of looking to regard as friend in Christ rather than condemn as enemy plays out elsewhere in the NT. Consider how differently Paul treats the Corinthian church, full of division, sin struggles, and even aberrant theology, and the Galatian church. Paul opens his letter to the Corinthians full of thanks for them to God, even as Paul seeks to instruct and reprove (1 Cor 1:4-10). But Paul gives no thanks for the Galatians, rather expresses great alarm and warning over their apparent abandonment of the true gospel (Gal 1:6-9; 3:1-4). Consider also the difference Paul articulates between true brethren whose unprofitable works will be burnt up and false brethren who themselves will be destroyed by God for attempting to destroy God’s church (1 Cor 3:9-17).

To be sure, Christ’s friends can still propagate dangerous errors and become involved in unprofitable causes, and God’s people must remain ready to vigorously contend for the truth and bring brethren back (e.g. Gal 2:11-14; James 5:19-20). But let us not go overboard and regard as enemies those who Christ has made our friends, even our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Questions to Consider:
1. How does Mk 9:40 harmonize with Mt 12:30?
2. Considering today’s many controversies in the church, who that you disagree with is still on your side in Christ?
3. Have you been regarding true brethren as enemies? Conversely, have you been treating some of Christ’s enemies as your allies (compare 2 Cor 6:14-18)?

Christians often differentiate the terms “mercy” and “grace” in the following way: “mercy” is not receiving the bad that we do deserve and “grace” is receiving the good that we we do not deserve. While this distinction is adequate, the biblical Hebrew and Greek terms actually have broader and even overlapping meanings: “mercy” is simply “compassion” or “strong feelings,” especially for those suffering or in trouble; while “grace” simply means “favor.” When it comes to God, his mercy and grace are without regard to merit but instead according to his own character. God innately is merciful and gracious, thus he has compassion and favor on those who do not deserve it (Ex 34:6).

But on whom does God pour out his mercy and grace? All God’s creatures experience his compassion and favor to a certain extent (e.g. Acts 14:15-17), but God’s mercy and grace are especially reserved for those God has chosen for Himself in Christ (Jn 1:14; Rom 9:15-29). These are the ones whom God moves to respond to Christ’s gospel by faith and repentance and who will, therefore, experience God’s abundant kindnesses forever (Eph 1:3-14; 2:4-10). While the salvation call is given to all with a guarantee of compassion and pardon to those who respond (Mt 11:28-30; Isa 55:6-7), only those whom God Himself draws will actually turn and come to enjoy his lovingkindness (Jn 6:44; Lk 14:16-24).

If you’re in Christ, then, understand that you are the object of God’s unending mercy and grace! But do you believe this? Are you confident in this?

Considering the state of our country, many are praying for God’s mercy, especially on his church. But will God show us mercy? The words of A. W. Tozer in his The Knowledge of the Holy are very insightful here. These come from his chapter on the mercy of God:

“Kyrie eleison! Christe eleison! [Greek for ‘Lord have mercy! Christ have mercy!’]” the Church has pleaded through the centuries; but if I mistake not I hear in the voice of her pleading a note of sadness and despair. Her plaintive cry, so often repeated in that tone of resigned dejection, compels one to infer that she is praying for a boon she never actually expects to receive. She may go on dutifully to sing of the greatness of God and to recite the creed times beyond number, but her plea for mercy sounds like a forlorn hope and no more, as if mercy were a heavenly gift to be longed for but never really enjoyed.

We may plead for mercy for a lifetime in unbelief, and at the end of our days be still no more than sadly hopeful that we shall somewhere, sometime, receive it. This is to starve to death just outside the banquet hall in which we have been warmly invited. Or we may, if we will, lay hold on the mercy of God by faith, enter the hall, and sit down with the bold and avid souls who will not allow diffidence and unbelief to keep them from the feast of fat things prepared for them.

Questions to Consider:
1. Are you in Christ and experiencing his grace and mercy? Might God be drawing you today to repent and believe?
2. As a Christian, when you pray for God’s mercy, do you expect that you will receive it?
3. How should we respond when God shows us mercy that is painful? Consider James 1:2-4, Heb 12:1-13, Ps 119:65-72, and Lam 3:19-38.

Thank you for continuing to think through and pray about these words of exhortation. In part 1, I directed you to beware the demonic, spirit-targeting conspiracy more than any human conspiracy. In part 2, I identified two satanic pitfalls in our day that we must carefully avoid: shallow discernment and prideful isolation. In this third and final part, I want to discuss the tragic consequences of failing to guard against the great conspiracy in faithful community. Where we begin to see the below fruit in our lives or in our church, we need to repent and take loving action:

1. Self-Righteous Obsession

Without faithful companions to keep our thinking in check and to protect us from pride, we easily fall into unhealthy obsession. A piece of worldly wisdom, an acceptable biblical conviction or application (of many), or even a true Bible teaching out of balance with the rest of Scripture becomes to us something like a prophetic commission from God. Thus, what is essentially a human cause becomes our consuming drive. Our cause (and it could be saving America from Communism, establishing social justice, or exercising freedom from masks) dominates our lives: our reading, our thinking, our speech, and our time. And we prepare for war with flesh and blood (compare Eph 6:12).

We convince ourselves that our human cause is God’s cause. We therefore create in our minds a new faith and a new standard of righteousness not found in Scripture and use this self-made standard to judge others. For example, being pro-President Trump (or anti-Trump) is not only an opinion, it is righteousness. Or getting the Covid vaccine (or refusing to get the vaccine) is not a possible choice, it is sin. Though certainly there are biblical principles that touch each of the contemporary issues I’ve raised in these two paragraphs, none of these issues deserve our devotion or call for self-righteous judgment. And we do need to be able to have reasonable and loving conversations about these issues while applying the principles of Rom 14:1-15:13, 1 Cor 8:1-10:33; and Phil 2:1-30. Remember, opinions and convictions are not evil, but they are when we elevate them to the level of God’s standard.

2. Bitter Division

Once caught up in a self-righteous crusade, we begin to damage the unity of Christ’s church. We no longer feel able to tolerate opposing views as we now believe our opponents are evil and dangerous. Only we have the saving truth. We therefore find ourselves constantly trying to promote our cause in the church and convert new followers to it, distracting our brethren from the holy simplicity of following Christ (2 Cor 11:2-3). Soon, battle lines are drawn up in the church: those for the cause and those against. Each side becomes increasingly suspicious and resentful of the other. Eventually, people will not listen to or fellowship with each other anymore and genuinely begin to hate each other—brethren for whom Christ died (Rom 14:13)!

Considering the spiritual challenge of our day, I can imagine the apostle Paul speaking to us a slightly altered version of 1 Cor 1:11-13: “I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Trump,” or “I of masks,” or “I of MacArthur,” or “I of Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Trump was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Covid vaccines?” None of these persons or issues are worth a pseudo-holy war in the church. It is a demonic scheme against believers not only to become caught up in a struggle of flesh and blood but also to bring that struggle into the church.

3. Compromised Witness

Christ fundamentally called the church to be making disciples, turning people away from devotion to the things of the world to God himself (Mt 28:19-20; 1 Thess 1:9). Yet not only do the above self-righteous obsession and bitter division distract from this goal, they actually contradict it. When believers are caught up in fleshly war and more interested in enlisting others into a human cause instead of Christ’s cause, what will visitors to the church think? To apply 1 Cor 14:23 to today’s situation: will they not look at this confused preoccupation and conclude that we are mad? But if we are instead united in declaring God’s good truth and not judging opinions but welcoming and showing tolerance to one another, might not an unbeliever instead be convicted by all and proclaim—especially considering our country’s many divisions: “God is certainly among you!” (1 Cor 14:24-25)?

Sadly, Satan has apparently succeeded in convincing much of the professing American church that outright sin is justified if the cause is important enough. We (and I speak of American Christians generally, here) speak hatefully and demeaningly of opposing politicians and their supporters, are unconcerned whether the gossipy “news” we imbibe and spread is actually slander (Prov 16:22; Eph 4:31), and even participate in and defend a violent riot targeting our nation’s leaders. What happened to living as good citizens in subjection to the authorities set up by God and quietly attending to our own business (Rom 13:1-10; 1 Thess 4:10)? What happened to living as strangers and exiles on the earth waiting in holiness for the lasting city of God (Heb 11:13-16)? What happened to being disciples of Jesus known by our love (Jn 13:35)? We would do well to remember our Lord’s words to a would-be disciple wanting to secure an earthly inheritance, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God” (Lk 9:60).

Conclusion

Brethren, the stakes are very high right now, but not in the way that most people think. Rather than being chiefly concerned about our health, our rights, or our government, we need to be concerned about our spirits. The demonic conspiracy is at work against the church; are we falling into their trap? Or are we standing firm together, determined to overcome any evil we see around us with good (Rom 12:21)? Even as we talk and help each other think through some of today’s issues, are we still overwhelmingly concerned with Christ’s kingdom and looking forward to its establishment?

As difficult as our circumstances are and as dangerous as the demonic conspiracy is, let us also remember that there is another plan at work in our days, not for evil, but for good (Rom 8:28). Our holy God reigns! And he laughs at the rebellious peoples, nations, and even demons that rage against him (Psalm 2:1-12). Christ is our shelter in the storm, and he will continue to build and preserve his church so that the gates of Hades do not prevail (Mt 16:18). In our dire spiritual struggle, the victory has already been assured by our Captain (1 Cor 15:57). And this should give us courage, hope, and joy! But we must still go out to the battle and fight the good fight of faith. So let’s do this together; God is with us! Let us no longer be distracted with lesser, pointless melees, but instead give sin, despair, and the evil ones no quarter.

Questions to Consider:
1. Are you seeing the negative fruit described above in your life? Where do you need to repent? And how can you also lovingly and gently direct erring brethren back to simple devotion to Christ?
2. Why does a changing political situation not really change the church’s mission?
3. Are you confident in Christ through these difficult circumstances? Why or why not?

In part 1 of my exhortation, I discussed how, in these days, we believers face a demonic conspiracy far greater than any human conspiracy. This bigger conspiracy is not ultimately concerned with destroying our governments or harming our bodies but with leading our spirits into distraction, division, and despair. But we should not be ignorant of the devil’s schemes (2 Cor 2:11) but instead determine to stand firm together by the power and promises of Christ (Eph 6:10-13).

Though certainly the evil one has many schemes at work today, there are two that are proving particularly dangerous now and for which we must remain on special alert:

1. Shallow Discernment

The Misinformation Age is upon us in full force, with fake news and unstated agendas touching all our media. In such a confusing environment, we are tempted to make simplifying, black-and-white judgments: “these information sources and people are completely trustworthy, while these other information sources and people are completely untrustworthy.” And we might do this with election news, racism claims, and Covid-19 recommendations.

But such a judgment is foolish, as making sure to hear multiple sides of an issue is basic biblical wisdom (Prov 18:17). Certainly, some counselor “companions” are better than others (Prov 13:20), but not everything the “untrustworthy” sources say is false, and not everything the “trustworthy” sources say is true. Even good men—including Christian leaders with generally sound doctrine—can be mistaken and misinformed, and some good men turn out not to be. Consider that Satan disguises both himself and his servants as “angels of light” (2 Cor 11:12-15) and that his false teachers are promised to deceive many (2 Pet 2:1-3).

Furthermore, there is no such thing as “unbiased” news; it’s just news biased in a different direction! But rather than concluding that reality is ultimately unknowable or uncritically accepting information from only certain “trustworthy” sources, we must try to account for biases in all truth claims around us and subject every assertion we hear to what God reliably says in his word.

2. Prideful Isolation

Obviously, practicing the kind of discernment recommended above is difficult, which is why we were not meant to do so alone. To protect ourselves from being led astray by any source (even our own minds!), we must purpose to abide in a faithful community of fellow interpreters (Heb 3:12-14). That is, we must humbly make our conclusions about life and the Bible accountable to the assessment of our brethren in a solid local church. Where we find ourselves believing and thinking very differently than our faithful community, we should beware, for such is the pattern of one going dangerously astray (James 5:19-20).

One of the saddest experiences of my Christian life has been observing someone who is no longer teachable. He (or she) becomes so sure of a certain view that no can dissuade him—even if the view is wrong and self-destructive! This can happen due to a supposed experience of divine revelation, due to devotion to only one or a few teachers, or even due to educational training and personal study. A person becomes puffed up in his thinking, like Diotrephes in 3 John, not only unwilling to accept correction but also separating from and regarding with contempt and hostility those who do not take the same view (3 John 1:9-10).

Tragically, today’s social media algorithms and search engine optimizations contribute to this kind of proud un-teachableness. Our technology constantly retrieves for us what it thinks we want to see and hear (and what will generate engagement and clicks for advertisers). We therefore easily find ourselves in an online echo chamber of our own viewpoint, which not only solidifies our own exalted opinions but also often makes them more extreme. All this is, of course, by design—demonic design. We cannot fall for this scheme and allow ourselves to become isolated and arrogant. We need to guard each other’s thinking in humble community.

What will be the consequences if we do not beware the above two schemes? I’ll talk about those consequences in my third post.

2 Corinthians 11:2-3, For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

Questions to Consider:
1. How can believers also end up with shallow discernment when it comes to Christian teaching? And how does the Bible show us the need to be both charitable and guarded? Consider and compare 1 Cor 1:4, 10 and Gal 1:6, 3:1; Gal 1:8 and 1 Cor 5:11; Mark 9:38-41 and Gal 2:11-14.
2. What might be the biases and blind spots in your information sources/teachers?
3. Would you say you humbly make your thinking accountable to your faithful community? Why or why not?

America has been duped by a vast and nefarious conspiracy. This conspiracy has infiltrated our government, our scientific establishment, and even our church. No, I’m not talking about a racism, Covid-19, media, or election conspiracy. The conspiracy I’m talking about is much bigger. In fact, for those with the eyes to see, this malicious conspiracy is revealed right in the Bible.

Ephesians 6:12, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Yes, brethren, unknown to the whole world, a powerful demonic conspiracy is currently at work. Scripture calls Satan “the god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4), “the prince of the power of the air,” and even “the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Eph 2:2). Along with his demonic potentates, he secretly presides over an evil world system so that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 Jn 5:19; Mt 4:8-9).

And what is Satan’s aim in his devilish rule? Not the overturning of democracy in various places (as Satan is quite happy to use one failing form of human government as another), but two goals much more significant: the spiritual blindness of unbelievers to the gospel (2 Cor 4:4; Mt 13:19) and the spiritual stumbling and ruin of the saints. When the Bible talks about Satan’s schemes against God’s people, the Bible warns that Satan is chiefly concerned with destroying the spiritual health, joy, and usefulness of Christ’s disciples (Eph 6:10-17; 2 Tim 2:26; 2 Cor 2:10-11). Even in persecution and suffering, Satan’s ultimate goal is not the destruction of our bodies but the compromise and despair of our souls (1 Pet 5:8-10; Job 1-2).

So let us not be naïve, brethren. What we see happening around us right now is not random evil or mere human escalation of partisan rhetoric; it is part of a literally diabolical plot to discourage, divide, and destroy God’s church. We must not fall for it. Rather, we are to do as Paul urges the Ephesians to do in Eph 6:10-20: put on the panoply of God, form up in a battle line to face the spiritual onslaught, and stand firm together by the power of God in Christ.

For what schemes of Satan must we be on particular alert in these days? I will discuss two schemes in my next post.

Questions to Consider:
1. Do you believe the greatest danger facing us right now is physical or spiritual? How would the Bible answer?
2. Every difficulty can either drive us to God or away from God (and to or away from God’s church). Which way are these circumstances driving you?
3. We may be tempted now not only to despair over our country but also to despair over the situation in the church. But how does this play right into the hands of the devil? What promises would God have us believe instead as we take up the shield of faith?

In the Sunday sermon, I mentioned how the typical American apology for wrongdoing falls far short of a true expression of repentance. However, now that we’ve seen again what repentance is from the Bible, we actually have a new model for our apologies. While not every part of the following needs to be said every time we seek reconciliation, these should still characterize our expressions of repentance to others when we sin.

1. Confession
Be honest and clear with a person about what you did and why it was wrong. Don’t be vague (e.g. “Sorry for what I did”); be specific (e.g. “I’m sorry for speaking to you in an angry and hateful way”). Confess not only your actions but also the evil thoughts and beliefs that led to those actions (e.g. “I was being proud and selfish. I excused my behavior by telling myself that I deserved my way after a long day”). Do not give excuses for your sin, even if others provoked you. Be clear with the person that you know that your sin was totally unjustified.

2. Sorrow
Along with your confession, communicate how understanding the nature of your sin has affected you emotionally. Declare your sorrow for what you’ve done, not simply because you feel guilty or dislike the consequences, but because you recognize how evil your acts have been before God and others (e.g. “I am truly grieved over what I have done in dishonoring my gracious Lord Christ and you who God gave to me as a companion”). Express also your hatred for sin and your zeal to set circumstances right.

3. Commitment
Having shown that you know and feel your sin for what it is, communicate your firm commitment to turn from your sin and follow Christ. Tell the person you sinned against that you are going to walk a new way, both now and in the future (e.g. “I am committed to turning from this sin. I will no longer treat you like this, but will instead love and speak graciously with you as Christ has called me to do and as I truly desire to do”). You are not promising perfection but a fundamentally new direction. You may slip into the same sin again in the future, but it should be an anomaly and not the pattern since you have had a fundamental change of heart.

4. Fruit
You will help yourself and the one you’ve sinned against have greater confidence in your repentance if you can also articulate initial fruit of repentance. Consider the example of Zacchaeus, who demonstrated his turning of heart by declaring the practical changes he was making in his life (Lk 19:8). You’ll want to speak similarly. This fruit will vary depending on the situation but can include: 1.) restitution for sins committed, 2.) new discipleship and accountability relationships; 3.) new reading, learning, and memorizing of Scripture; 4.) new prayer time; 5.) new participation in the ministries of the church; 6.) new times and modes of practical service for the one you sinned against; and 7.) the removal of bad influences and sources of distraction and temptation from your life.

Having sought to express and demonstrate true repentance, you should conclude by asking for the person’s forgiveness (their no longer holding your sin against you). If they grant it, great! If not, entreat them to do so that your relationship can begin to be mended. Restoration of relationships is not always instant, even after forgiveness. Rebuilding trust takes time, but forgiveness allows that rebuilding to start. Also, know that you must be committed to following through on your repentance regardless of whether the other person responds righteously or not. Though you long for harmonious relationships, your first priority is your relationship with God.

Romans 12:18, If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Questions to Consider:
1. One could easily go through the form of the above apology without a truly repentant heart, but why would this only do greater harm to the strained relationship?
2. Expressing repentance in the above way is a very humbling activity, but why should faith in Christ cause us to embrace humbling ourselves?
3. To whom do you need to express true repentance and seek reconciliation? Consider the urgency you need for this (Mt 5:23-26; 1 Pt 3:7).

In the Sunday sermon, we heard the Lord teach us from Ecclesiastes about the simple wisdom of companionship. Life can be a painful and frustrating journey, but it is better together. But what about when companions themselves are the source of pain and frustration? What about when someone you love isn’t there for you or sins against you? How should “better together” play out when friends fail?

First, you should not be surprised when a friend fails because you yourself are beset by weakness (Eccl 7:20-22). None of us are perfect companions and so should not expect our companions to be perfect. Instead we should be patient, compassionate, and full of mercy toward others, just as we would wants others to be with us (Mt 7:12; Col 3:12-14).

Second, you must remember that the hard work of nurturing a relationship is worth it. Yes, you will sometimes have to endure the sinful behavior or the contrary thinking and desires of your companion. But when you overcome evil with good (Rm 12:19-21), when you welcome for the Lord’s sake those who think differently than you (Rom 15:7), and when you take interest in the interests of others alongside and above your own interests (Phil 2:3-4), the frequent result is a more holy companion and a stronger and more fulfilling relationship. There is a general principle of sowing and reaping in relationships (Gal 6:6-10). Persevere in love with your failing companions and both you and they will be blessed.

Third, you must find your ultimate satisfaction not in human relationships but in a loving relationship with Christ. A saving relationship with the Lord Jesus is described in many ways in the Bible, but one of those ways is friend (Lk 5:20; 12:4; Jn 15:13-15). Because he is both God and man, Jesus Christ is our greatest friend. As a true friend, he always loves us and cares for us—even to the point of dying for us (Jn 15:9)! Furthermore, he is always with us and desires for us to be together with him in his kingdom (Mt 28:20; Jn 14:1-3). To have such companionship with the Son of God himself—when we were only rebellious dust—ought to fill our souls with joy and enable us to love others even when they fail (Eph 3:14-19; 4:32; 5:1-2).

In the end, if Christ is the only friend we ever have in life, he would be enough. But the Son of God has seen fit to also give us the gift of other human companions. Let us therefore enjoy God’s gift and give him thanks even when our friends fail.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

Questions to Consider:
1. Have you come to know Christ as friend by repentance and faith, or is God still your enemy?
2. Not all companions can be chosen (e.g. family), but the Bible has much to say about the need for choosing wise and godly companions. Do your companions encourage your walk with God or discourage it?
3. How does the prospect of gaining new friends in Christ play a role in evangelism? Consider Luke 16:9 and its context.