On Being Ashamed
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes….” (Romans 1: 16)
Needed in the Christian community today is good old fashioned HOLY BOLDNESS.
Cowering influences in our culture have unfortunately been very effective in muting many Christians into cultural conformity. With the salt and light taken out of culture the saving and illuminating influences are absent. Without their positive influence removed moral decay is unrestrained and rampant.
One of Satan’s most effective tools in quieting the voice of Christians is intimidation. No one likes to be criticized, put down, or falsely accused, so in order to avoid such acid many Christians have become silent. This leaves our culture without morality having representatives.
Jesus has always had His faithful remnant. These are loyalists who are true to Him while all around others falter. Their numbers have been dramatically diminished in recent times. The means in doing this is a tactic being used by numerous progressive groups. It is shame. Those who are still not ashamed have this charge brought against even more hostily.
If you oppose Woke extremism you are bigoted and should be ashamed.
If you oppose sex other than between husband and wife you are a prude and should be ashamed.
If you are opposed to transgender procedures you are narrow-minded and should be ashamed.
If you oppose critical race theory you are a racist and should be ashamed.
If you don’t support the LGBTQ agenda you are homophobic and should be ashamed.
Expect to be shamed if you stand for morality. The shield from shame is a quote from the Old Testament Book of Habakkuk found in the New Testament Book of Romans 1: 17, “The just shall live by faith.” It takes faith in the power of the gospel to stand when all around others are falling.
Confidence in the power of the gospel is the sure antidote for improper shame. The conviction that gospel truth is the basis of moral conduct results in holy boldness.
Not only is the power of the gospel essential unto salvation of individual souls, it is also effective in the salvation of a culture from moral decay.
Paul did not look on those who opposed him with disdain, but he felt obligated to them. “I am under obligation [I am debtor] both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.” (Romans 1: 14) There is an obligation to help opponents come to the truth. Stand and having done all, stand.
How Is Your Love Life? Part Three
Galatians 5: 19 – 26
The definitive Greek language has several words translated love. Two are “eros” and “philos.”
Eros was used to speak of love that we know as physical attraction between persons on a sexual level. We get our word “erotic” from their word. How would it sounds to say “I erotic you?”
“Philos,” was the Greek word for a kind of love which we describe by friendship or brotherly love. It is warm affection apart from any sexual attraction.
Only when we love Jesus with a love that is self-sacrificing (agape) for His welfare can we get eros and philos working right.
Tragedy of tragedy is that in our society an attempt is made to define all love by the definition of eros, that is, sensual, fleshly love. For that reason it is inconceivable that brotherly love can exist without sexual involvement. Or, that self-sacrificing love can be expressed without expecting some sexual favor in return.
To better understand the meaning of true Biblical love, consider how the word agape is used in the Scripture.
Try substituting some of the meanings of eros in John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world…that He felt so romantic about it…that He got a tingling sensation down His spine…that He had a friendly spirit of tolerance and brotherhood toward it no matter what it believed….”
The text says He loved so much that He did something, “He gave His only begotten Son.” Love is an act of willful, self-sacrificing for the good of another.
When Christ told us to love our enemies, He was not urging us to have a warm, wonderful, happy relationship with them. That may be impossible. He was appealing to His followers to engage in acts of self-sacrificing service in order to win them. It means to give without expecting in return.
This is the kind of self-sacrificing love in Christ’s name that can reach hardened hearts and win them to Christ. Remember our objective is not to win friends for ourselves, but to win followers of Christ.
Jesus’ simple command requires greater strength than any of us naturally possess – it requires the Holy Spirit, the Helper.”
Resolve to let the Helper help you to love in Jesus’ name. Sing it, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.” Let others experience it when in your company.
Simon Peter
“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. They immediately left their nets and followed Him”
(Matthew 4:18 – 20).
Jesus Christ called a complex diverse group to follow Him. Each had a unique personality. Based on the interaction recorded in the Scriptures Simon Peter must have been one of, if not the most outspoken one. He was a blithe bold believer who took a stand and spoke out on many things. He was reprimanded by Christ and reprimanded Christ. He was bold enough to draw a sword against a contingency of Roman soldiers and cowardly enough to recoil when confronted by a single young woman. His visibility makes him one of the most familiar apostles.
A first grader had listened attentively as the teacher told of the men Christ called to follow Him. The teacher then asked, “What were the men who followed Christ called?” After a momentary pause one little enthusiast put his hand eagerly. When called upon to tell what the men were called the child said, “They were called recycles!” We might call them transformed apostles but that is Greek for “recycles.” That is what all of us are.
The various lists of apostles varies but the same one is always listed first and the same one last. Peter is always listed first and Judas Iscariot last.
Affectionately known as “the Big Fisherman,” Paul called him, along with James and John, “pillars” of the church (Galatians 2: 9).
John Chrysostom (347 – 407 A.D.) said Peter was “the mouthpiece of the apostles … the leader of the apostolic chorus — the pillar of the church, the basis of faith, the foundation of our confession (You are the Christ), the World-wide Fisherman who brought our race heavenward from the abyss of error.” (“The Twelve Christ Chose,” Smith).
Peter was one of the members of the inner circle that often had special moments with Christ. He was:
I. DARING
When Judas brought the cadre of Roman soldiers to the Garden of Gethsamene to arrest Christ it was Peter who drew a sword and attempted to defend Christ (John 18: 10).
Christ had previously told the apostles they should each purchase sword “Then He said to them, ‘But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one'” (Luke 22:36).
Why would Christ tell them to purchase swords and then rebuke Peter for using his. The Greek word translated “sword” is MACHAIRA. It was a short bladed dagger like knife. Such was an essential possession of all men. It was not a weapon for fighting, but for preparing food, cutting food, and various utilitarian purposes. Telling them to purchase such a “sword” would be like a scout master telling troop members to bring along their Swiss Army Knife on their camping trip. There was nothing warlike about having such a sword. It was Peter’s improper use of it that Christ condemned.
It is probably a stretch of the imagination to conceive of Christ saying that night in Gethsamene, “Peter, put that thing away. I am suppose to die tomorrow on a cross, but if you keep that up we will all be killed tonight in a street fight.”
Peter’s act was a brave impulsive but improper one.
Our zeal for our Lord must be tempered and timely.
In the upper room on the eve of Christ’s crucifixion Peter had boldly asserted that even if all the others deserted Him he, Peter, would not (Matthew 26: 33 – 35). Christ forewarned Peter as to how imminent his betrayal would be. He told him that before the cock would crow three times he would betray Him.
II. DEFLATEABLE
After Christ’s arrest Peter followed the contingency to the house of the high priest and waited around a fire in the outer courtyard. A young woman who had seen Peter with Christ identified him as a follower of Christ (Matthew 26: 58 – 75).
Three times she identified him and three times he denied Christ.
The third betrayal was followed immediately by the crowing of the cock. Peter was deflated.
Those of us who all too often feel like failures can relate. Thank the Lord the story doesn’t end there.
III. DIRECT
Peter revealed many attitudes that prevail in our time. He once asked Christ: “Then Peter answered and said to Him, ‘See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?'” (Matthew 19:27).
Transliterated, “What is in for me?”
Later when the mother of James and John asked Christ to let her boys sit on his right and left Peter was one of the ten that was highly indignant about it. They were upset that their little Jewish mothers let her beat them to asking the same question.
What is in if for me? The pay off is two fold.
One, the joy of being with the Lord and doing His will. Inherent in it is the reward. We need to remember that. The pay off is in the process.
Secondly, the pay off is deferred. The pay may not be much but the benefits are eternal.
IV. DECLARATIVE
Christ asked His apostles who they thought Him to be. Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
This factual revelation gave Christ occasion to declare the foundation of the church He was to build: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
V. DEVOTED
Peter was the first apostle at the tomb of the resurrected Christ (Luke 24: 12). What he saw transformed his life and started a wave of transitions that changed history. The empty tomb filled Simon with zeal.
VI. DEDICATED
Jesus, the resurrected Lord, said, “But go, tell His disciples; and Peter; that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you” (Mark 16:7).
Some think Peter was giving up in despair when he said, “I am going fishing.” What he meant was in light of Christ saying He was going to be in Galilee I am going where Christ is.
There on the shores of the sea Peter saw the resurrected Lord whom he had denied. Three times Christ asked him if he loved Him. Simon’s responses revealed a dedication that thrust him into a life time of spreading the good news.
Later Peter wrote two books contained in our Bible bearing his name: I and II Peter. Therein he appeals: “by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins” (II Peter 1: 4 – 9).
Christ had said of Peter he would be called “the Rock.” In this passage Peter reveals the process by which sand is turned into a rock.
Peter became a fearless leader, filled with courage born of a faith in Christ and an awareness of His presence in every time of need.
The faith of Peter, tradition tells us, propelled him into France and England preaching the good news. Tradition further holds that Peter was condemned by Nero to be crucified. He said he was not worthy to die as his Lord and asked that he be crucified upside down. He was rock solid.
How Is Your Love Life? Part Two
Galatians 5: 19 – 26
Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35).
Our culture is one noted for synthetics, substitutes, and simulations. When anything of value is made, immediately someone will copy it. It is the most common form of flattery. One common characteristic of the fakes is they never meet the standards of the genuine.
Our Lord said “love.” Many of His followers took Him at His word and did it. The impact and influence was so dramatic that the world tried to copy it. Hoping for the same fulfilling result offered by genuine love, the world has come up even more empty as a result of fake love.
Love such as Christ spoke of is revealed to be a product of a Holy Spirit-filled life. In Galatians 5:22 we are given a list of the “fruit” of the Spirit. Upon first looking at the passage, it appears there is an improper verb tense used. The word “fruit” is singular, but the result is plural. This is easily understood when we understand the meaning of what the Greek word translated “fruit” means to our modern mind. It was the word “karpos” which can be translated “harvest.” The time of harvest is still called the fruit season in some areas. In this light the writer was saying “The things the Holy Spirit harvests in a believer’s life are….”
What follows is a bumper crop of what a life that is obedient to Jesus results in, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Standing forth as the first on the list is what energizes all others … love. It is the trademark of a Spirit filled life. It has to be expressed because love is a very, an active verb, meaning it is something that you do. To say you love a person or institution and not show it is an oxymoron.
Consider this Greek word translated “love” in comparison with the others.
“Agape” is the Greek word translated “love.” We have one word love for a variety of emotions, acts, and attitudes. The definitive Greek language has several.
Another is “eros.” They used this word to speak of love that we know as physical attraction between persons on a sexual level. Their word for that emotion was not related to what was meant by agape. We get our word “erotic” from their word. How would it sounds to say “I erotic you?”
“Philos,” was the Greek word for a kind of love which we describe by friendship or brotherly love. It is warm affection apart from any sexual attraction at all.
Agape is the Greek word most often translated love” in the Bible. The word emerged in the Bible era meaning “the ultimate willful act of self-sacrificing for the welfare of someone else.” Agape kind of love is Calvary’s love. The proto-type of agape is the love Christ showed us. We ought so to love one another.
How Is Your Love Life? Part One
Galatians 5: 19 – 26
Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35).
Our culture is one noted for synthetics, substitutes, and simulations. When anything of value is made, immediately someone will copy it. It is the most common form of flattery. One common characteristic of the fakes is they never meet the standards of the genuine.
Our Lord said “love.” Many of His followers took Him at His word and did it. The impact and influence was so dramatic that the world tried to copy it. Hoping for the same fulfilling result offered by genuine love, the world has come up even more empty as a result of fake love.
Love such as Christ spoke of is revealed to be a product of a Holy Spirit-filled life. In Galatians 5:22 we are given a list of the “fruit” of the Spirit. Upon first looking at the passage, it appears there is an improper verb tense used. The word “fruit” is singular, but the result is plural. This is easily understood when we understand the meaning of what the Greek word translated “fruit” means to our modern mind. It was the word “karpos” which can be translated “harvest.” The time of harvest is still called the fruit season in some areas. In this light the writer was saying “The things the Holy Spirit harvests in a believer’s life are….”
What follows is a bumper crop of what a life that is obedient to Jesus results in, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Standing forth as the first on the list is what energizes all others … love. It is the trademark of a Spirit filled life. It has to be expressed because love is a verb, an active verb, meaning it is something that you do. To say you love a person or institution and not show it is an oxymoron.
Consider this Greek word translated “love” in comparison with the others.
“Agape” is the Greek word translated “love.” We have one word, love for a variety of emotions, acts, and attitudes. The definitive Greek language has several.
Another is “eros.” They used this word to speak of love that we know as physical attraction between persons on a sexual level. Their word for that emotion was not related to what was meant by agape. We get our word “erotic” from their word. How would it sounds to say “I erotic you?”
“Philos,” was the Greek word for a kind of love which we describe by friendship or brotherly love. It is warm affection apart from any sexual attraction at all.
“Agape” is the Greek word most often translated as love in the Bible. The word emerged in the Bible era meaning “the ultimate willful act of self-sacrificing for the welfare of someone else.” Agape kind of love is Calvary’s love. The proto-type of agape is the love Christ showed us. We ought to love one another.