Faithfulness

But Christ was faithful as a Son over His house - whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.

Hebrews 3:6 NASB 

In my previous post I examined what true saving faith consists of. It is more than a head knowledge, and more than agreeing with some biblical facts about Jesus. True saving faith is a faith that moves us to obey Christ. We become those who follow Him in a loving submission to His will for our lives. 

This faith is expressed in a loyalty to Jesus. It's not a matter of doing some good things, but a faithful, ongoing lifestyle. Habakkuk 2:4 defines faith as faithfulness. To paraphrase it we could say, "The just shall live by their faithfulness." 

To continue with this topic I would like to look at a passage in Hebrews that expresses the same concept of ongoing faithfulness and how it is a vital part of saving faith.

     Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME." For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest , but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. 

Hebrews 3:12-19 NASB

The first point I would like to make is that unbelief and disobedience are used interchangeably in this passage. We read how God had led the people out of Egypt, yet they sinned and fell in the wilderness. 

The story of the exodus should give us warning. They saw the miracles and power of God. They experienced His presence with them along the way. They were at Mount Sinai when God descended in fire and the mountain quaked. They should have believed right? 

Hebrews 4:2 tells us that they had the good news preached to them, just like we have. The problem was that they did not unite faith with what they heard. Those who had heard the good news of the promised land failed to enter in because of disobedience (Hebrews 4:6).

Those who were disobedient failed to enter in because of their unbelief. This is the exact opposite of faith. Faith and obedience are two sides of the same "coin," while disobedience and unbelief are the two sides of a "coin" as well. 

My second point is this. True saving faith is ongoing. One may stumble, but he or she will get back up and press on. The text we have looked at admonishes us to hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end. One well known Christian author wrote that once you have received Jesus you are eternally secure. Every sin, past present and future is now forgiven. He goes on to say that even if you fall away into a sin such as drunkenness or even apostatize and become an atheist, you are still secure in Christ. 

But look at the example we have here in Hebrews. We are to encourage one another daily so that we do not fall into unbelief as ancient Israel did. Faithfulness is a lifetime thing. Our allegiance to Jesus Christ is not something to try for a while, but we are still good if we quit. That is not faithfulness, but fickleness. 

It doesn't matter what side of the eternal security debate you fall into. A true Christian will live a consistent life of obedience to Christ. An individual who does not must question the validity of their faith.

 

Saving Faith

Salvation, God's gracious gift, comes to us through faith (Ephesians 2:8). This is something that I would assume most of us who claim to be Christians believe. John 3:16 is a verse that we hold dear. It speaks of God's love for a sinning world; a love that sent Jesus to earth to die for our sins, so that whoever believes in Him could be set free from death, and have eternal life. 

Our definition of faith then becomes vital. If we miss this, we miss it all. And tragically I fear that a large number of Christians have indeed adhered to and propagated a faulty definition of saving faith.

Countless gospel tracts have been distributed, sermons preached, and altar calls given that instruct the sinner to only believe. The belief required involves something to the effect of believing that Jesus is the Son of God, or believing that He died on the cross and rose again. While these facts are indeed true, and belief in them is important, is that enough?

Is it sufficient to mentally assent to some facts about Jesus?

You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe and shudder.

James 2:19 NASB

Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!"

Mark 1:23-24 NASB

I am quite certain that none of us would consider these "believing demons" to be Christians. But yet it leaves us with a point to grapple with. The demons believe! That is, they are very much aware of Jesus, and who He is. They believe it, they know it to be true.

There is also emphasis placed upon works. Instructions are often given to individuals seeking salvation to cease from their works and place their trust in Christ's perfect righteousness. Now there is truth to this. Any attempt to earn our salvation by our good works is futile. Christ was our perfect sacrifice, and there is no amount of good works that we can do to earn our way to heaven. Unfortunately people are led to believe that good works have nothing to do with our salvation, that although it's fine to do good things, and God desires us to do good works, an absence of good deeds has no bearing on our salvation. As a result faith and works are pitted against each other, and for many, there is no real effort put forth when it comes to living a sanctified lifestyle. 

The issue goes much deeper than a mere assent to some biblical truths about Jesus and and His death and resurrection. That kind of faith is not only inferior, it is also misplaced. What I have described is often referred to as "easy believism" or "cheap grace." It is taught by many popular pastors and Bible teachers. 

It is easy to focus on verses such as Ephesians 2:8-10 
    

      For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

This passage affirms the truth that God's salvation comes to us as an act of His grace. We don't deserve it, neither can we achieve it by our own efforts. and it also affirms that God has created us to live a righteous and obedient life for Him. But for many the emphasis is on the grace and faith without works, and the good works that should follow are an afterthought.

Compare this passage found in James with the one quoted above,

     Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

James 2:17-24

Instead of standing in opposition to each other, faith and works are part of the same process. What begins as a belief culminates in obedience. As it states in Galatians 5:6, faith expresses itself through love. Works done out of obedience to Christ are not an "afterthought," but an essential part of our faith in Him. If we love Him, we will obey Him (John 14:23-24).

Jesus calls us to follow Him. Nowhere in the Bible do we find a place where absolute submission to His will is a good idea, but optional. But that is what we so often hear taught. I remember sitting in a service once where the pastor proclaimed that you can accept Jesus as Savior, and decide later if you want Jesus to be Lord. There are those who teach that "Lordship salvation" is a heresy. They claim that it involves "works" and negates faith. 

In Romans we read about the faith we are to profess.

     But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart" - that is the word of faith which we are preaching, that is if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

Romans 10:8-11 NASB

This involves more than a mental assent to some facts about Jesus. It is a surrender from the heart to the rule of Jesus Christ over one's life. To confess something is to express our agreement with that thing. If we believe that Jesus has been vindicated, all of His claims and teachings validated by His resurrection from the dead, and He is therefore now the living Lord, we are faced with two things. Do we put it off as some nice but unnecessary step to take in our Christian journey, or do we fall to our knees in humble submission? Jesus agrees with Paul, or to properly put it, Paul is in agreement with the words of Jesus.

     And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with  the holy angels.

Mark 8:34-38 NASB

We are starting to see what true saving faith consists of. In Romans 1:17 Paul, quoting from Habakkuk 2:4 states that the righteous man shall live by faith. It is important to understand the definition of faith here. The Hebrew word translated faith in Habakkuk 2:4 speaks of fidelity, faithfulness, a loyalty to the one you have faith in. This is so much more than a mere head knowledge, or a profession to save oneself from hell, whithout a change of lifestyle. The one who puts their faith in Jesus as Lord, is faithful to Jesus as Lord. It is a submission of ourselves, a commitment of all that we have and are, to Him and His service. 

As we have seen faith finds it's fulfilment in obedience. We read this in Hebrews 5:8-10,

     Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

And again we see salvation linked with a faithful walk in holiness described in 1 John 1:5-7,

     This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin

Our faith must work itself out in our actions if it is a real saving faith. If our commitment to Jesus is not whole hearted, and we are not faithfully following Him with loving obedience, then we must question if our faith is real at all.

     

 

The Timing of the Marriage Supper

Popular dispensational theology teaches that the Church is taken up to heaven prior to the start of what is known as the great tribulation. Immediately, the marriage supper of the Lamb takes place in heaven, while those who have been left behind go through the horrors of the tribulation.

It would do us well to look into this a bit deeper however, as the Bible has much to say on this subject, and it doesn't align with what many of us have been taught.

I would like to examine two passages found in the book of Isaiah, along with a few other passages to provide clarity. Both of these portions of scripture pertain to the time of Israel's ultimate deliverance at the return of their Messiah, Jesus Christ. 

2. In that day the branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the adornment of the survivors of Israel.

3. It will come about that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy- everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem.

4. When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgement and the spirit of burning,

5. then the LORD will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy.

6. There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.

Isaiah 4:2-6 NASB

This prophecy is foretelling the day of Israel's national salvation. At the return of Christ they will recognize Him and go through a time of deep sorrow and repentance (Zechariah 13:10-13:1).

The great tribulation has brought the nation to its knees so to speak, and those who have survived will find grace poured out, their sins washed away, and in the words of Paul the apostle, "So all Israel will be saved." (See Romans 11:25-27 for context).

But there is more. We see mention of a cloud by day, and a flaming fire by night over all who are assembled in the area of Mount Zion. Remember the significance of the cloud and pillar of fire leading the people out of Egypt, and through the wilderness? God's presence went with the people in the cloud and in the fire.

In Exodus we read of the giving of the law at Mount Sinai. We again see the presence of God descend upon the Mount in fire and cloud (Exodus 19:18). In Exodus 24:1-18 the people affirm the covenant that God has made with them. Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Elihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up and saw God. They ate and drank with Him before Moses ascended the Mountain to receive the stone tablets of the law.

15. Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.

16.The glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 

17. And to the eyes of the sons of Isreal the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top.

18. Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Exodus 24:15-18 NASB

The making of this covenant was a betrothal between the LORD and the nation of Israel. When we read the verses where God accused His wayward people of spiritual adultery, it was more than a metaphor for Idolatry, in a very unique sense, Idolatry is indeed adultery.

 We read in Hosea of God's sorrow over His adulterous bride. He says He is no longer Israel's husband, and they are no longer His bride (Hosea 2:2), yet we see God's yearning to heal and restore as well when He states that He cannot give them up, but will bring them back ( Hosea 11:8-12). We have this promise found in Hosea 2:19-20,

      

19. "I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in loving kindness and in compassion,

20. And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD.

Just as we saw in the above passage in Isaiah, the context of this chapter in Hosea pertains to the restoration of Israel after the tribulation. They will go through the valley of Achor (trouble) and find hope (Hosea 2:24-23). Tribulation comes first, then the marriage.

Isaiah chapters 24-27 once again set the context for the next few verses I will quote. Again the theme is Israel's ultimate deliverance following the great tribulation. Chapter 24 speaks of the Earth's devastation prior to the Lord ruling in Mount Zion. What follows is a song of praise. This is where we read of a future feast.

6. The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain;

7. A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, and refined aged wine.

8. And on this mountain He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 25:6-8 NASB

 This is speaking of the same event. The people are gathered at Mount Zion where Jesus has had come to set up His kingdom. Israel has turned from their unbelief and has experienced the grace of God. They have been restored, and now it is time for the marriage supper. 

Back in Isaiah 4:5 we read of a canopy over all who are assembled there. In Hebrew this is referred to as a "chûppâh". Traditional Jewish weddings to this day are performed under a chûppâh or canopy. For those familiar with the musical "Fiddler on the roof," remember the scene where Hodel is waiting for the train with her Father, Tevye? She is on her way to Siberia where Perchik has been sent to prison. When Tevye expresses his concert about her upcoming marriage to Perchik she assured him that "there will be a canopy."

The readers of this prophecy would have caught the allusion to a marriage and wedding feast in these passages. The idea of the marriage supper of the Lamb is not a New Testament idea, it has its beginning in the Old. It is quite possible that Jesus had this in mind when He made this statement,

"I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."

Matt 8:11 NIV

He makes this statement after seeing the faith of a Roman centurion, foretelling the inclusion of the Gentiles into the kingdom as well. Likewise the apostle Paul declared that Gentile believers will be grafted in to the same root (Romans 11:13-17). 

Indeed, we are one body, Jew and Gentile believers in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:12-16). Writing to Gentile believers in Corinth, Paul has this to say,

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.

2 Corinthians 11:2

There are not two brides, but one. A teaching propagated by the Scofield study Bible states that Israel is the bride of Jehovah, while the Church is the bride of Christ. There is no confirmation of such an idea found in scripture. To believe this you must either destroy the unity of the Trinity, in effect making multiple Gods, or else make God a polygamist. I choose to do neither.

When Jesus returns, He is coming for one bride and partaking in one wedding feast.

7. "Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."

8. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

9. Then he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb,' " And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."

Revelation 19:7-9 NASB

This announcement is made immediately before heaven opens and Jesus returns. The tribulation is over, the antichrist and the armies assembled with him are about to be destroyed at the coming of Christ.

There are four points I would like to make after considering all of these passages of scripture.

1. The marriage supper does not take place in heaven. The passages we looked at all show the opposite. The supper will be celebrated on the earth.

2. The marriage supper does not occur prior to the great tribulation. The passages we have studied all point to a post tribulation event. Jesus returns at the end of the final time of "Jacob's trouble" and Israel is redeemed as a nation. Then the marriage supper occurs.

3. The Church does not celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven while Israel suffers under the scourge of the antichrist on the earth. There is only one bride of Christ, and only one marriage supper. 

4. When one contemplates all of this it becomes plain that the pre-trib rapture theology is in error. Scripture abundantly proves the opposite to be true instead. It is far better to know the truth and prepare ourselves for what is coming than to be be caught by surprise when what we have been taught is proven to be false.

Coming Like a Thief

"But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will 

Matt 24:43-44 NASB

Jesus exhorts us to be alert and ready for His appearing. While it is true that we do not know the day or hour of His coming, this statement does not stand alone by itself. Jesus has just finished foretelling the signs and events leading up to His return, so we must take this passage as a whole. We have been given distinct things to watch for. His coming will be unexpected for many, but those who are awake and watching will be ready as they see the signs fulfilled.

Now as to the times and epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not if night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 NASB

In a similar fashion Paul admonishes his readers to be on the alert as well. While the return of Christ will be a sudden unexpected event for many, those who are alert and watching will not be caught unaware. 

We see two groups listed in this passage. Those who are of the light and day, and those who are of darkness and the night. From this we can see that the unsaved world will be taken by surprise when Jesus appears in judgement. They will not be ready, all of the signs of His soon appearance will go largely unoticed. Just like the people in the days of Noah were oblivious to what was about to occur, so too, those who are living in darkness will be caught by surprise.

Those who are of the light, the faithful, will be alert and ready. They will see the signs, and know that Christ is about to come. They will be ready to meet Him. 

So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

Revelation 3:3-4 NASB

 Revelation records for us many events and signs that will occur prior to the thief-like appearance of Jesus Christ. Their are seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls of judgement that all culminate together at the final moment when the sky splits and Christ returns in power and glory. The last warning we read in relation to His sudden appearance is found in the context of the gathering of the armies for the battle of Armageddon.

 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and it dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. ("Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, do that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.") And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon

Revelation 16:12-16 NASB

Any Christian alive at this point in history has lived through the most intense three and one half years of time. They have witnessed the signs that have occured over the previous seven years and are looking up because their redemption is drawing near. 

Take note of the fact that this is not an event that happens before the tribulation! Popular dispensational theology teaches that Jesus comes like a thief to gather the saints in a secret rapture, removing them from the earth before the tribulation begins. What we have just read contradicts this erroneous teaching. As the armies of the world are gathering for the final battle, the warning still stands. Jesus has not yet come like a thief, we must remain vigilant.

The rest of the world will be eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage. They have taken the mark. They can buy and sell. No one is persecuting them, in fact, they worship the beast that is persecuting Christians. They will cheer as the antichrist invades Israel. Yes, as these events all unfold they will be caught by surprise when Jesus unexpectedly appears. By the time dread overtakes them it will be too late.

"But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Luke 21:28 NASB

What things are Jesus referring to? The events leading up to His return. The things He has just mentioned in the previous verses (Luke 21:10-27).

"Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all  those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Luke 21:34-36 NASB

We must be prayerfully alert. Our strength comes from God. Many do not expect to see these days. They believe that they will be long gone, taken up when Jesus comes like a thief to rapture them. But here we see that we must have the strength to endure, to hold fast without giving in, as the events of the last days unfold around us. Our focus must be on Christ, we must look up expectantly, waiting for His sudden appearance. How tragic for one to be this close, only to give up under pressure.

True Saltiness

25. Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them,

26. "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.

27. "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

28. 'Or which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?

29. "Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,

30. saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 

31. "Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

32. "Or else, while the other is still fat away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

33. "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.

34. "Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?

35. "It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Luke 14:25-35 NASB

Over the last few years there has been a lot of talk of "engaging the culture", of being salt and light. However, a lot of what we have been seeing has very little to do with being salt and light compared with the expectations of the one we are supposed to be following, Jesus.

Context is important. When we read the words of Jesus stressing the importance of saltiness we must consider the whole passage if we want to understand just what Jesus is teaching.

From this passage we see several things or requirements that Jesus sets down as conditions for those who would follow Him.

1. Our allegiance to Jesus must surpass all other relationships. Family must not stand in the way of our obedience to Christ. In fact our very lives are no longer our own to live as we please. In actuality our allegiance belongs to Christ alone, no one else.

2. If we are to follow Jesus we must be willing to follow Him even unto death. A disciple is called to deny himself, take up his cross and follow the Lord (see Mark 8:34-35). As stated above, we are not our own. Our plans and purposes in this life must be put aside for the greater plans and purposes of Christ. That is self denial. 

A man carried his cross on the way to a certain death. At that moment he was as good as dead. He had no plan or purpose from that point on. Only one thing was certain, he was going to die. Jesus is painting a picture here of an individual whose only purpose in life or death was to serve Him. 

3. It is vital that we count the cost. How many people who profess to be  Christians have actually sat down and seriously considered the weight of passages like these? You know, denying self, following Jesus at all cost, including family relationships, and even the inclusion of all our possessions? I fear many start out without realizing the true cost and commitment involved in being a disciple of Jesus Christ. And what is the result of this? There are many false Christians out there, Christians in name only, and this is what is so tragic.

To be able to "engage the culture" with any degree of success we must be like Jesus in our speech and actions. The world is not fooled by a Christian who lives, talks and behaves in the same way they do. To live a life that is drastically different from the life Christ has shown us by example, will negatively impact the very world we are trying to engage. In fact it will repel them.

In His sermon on the mount Jesus stresses the importance of brokeness, humility, a hunger for righteousness, showing mercy, heart purity, being a peace maker, and a willingness to suffer persecution for one's faith. Again, this is the context leading up to another statement concerning our being salt and light (Matthew 5:2-16).

How much selfish behavior, pride, anger and division do we see Jesus allowing us if we are to be effective in reaching the world with the gospel?  

Our being salt depends upon these things set forth by Jesus in His sermon on the mount. There is a correlation between our conformity to Christ and our ability to be salt to a lost world. If the salt has lost its taste it has become useless. A Christian's testimony ruined will turn others away from the savior. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

A Coming Kingdom

There is an eschatological system that is not as popular today as it once was, but yet is adhered to, at least in some form, by many today. Post-millenialism in its simplest form is the idea that things will get better and better in the world, ultimately paving the way for Jesus to come back to reign over an already "Christian" world.

There are some who hold to this theology who believe that it is the mission of the Church to "christianize" the nations. While it is absolutely true that Jesus has given us a mandate to make disciples of all nations, it is also true that the world will be in its most sinful state at the time of His return. In fact, His second coming is what ultimately puts an end to sin. So therefore we are not making the world a place worthy of Jesus' return, but He returns to restore all things back to His original intention.

There have been several attempts throughout history to create a Christian utopia. Individuals have founded communities where the rule is more like a theocracy than anything else. The idea again being the formation of God's kingdom on the earth, where Jesus can ultimately return to and rule. None of these endeavors have been successful. Each and every attempt has ended in failure. Why? 

As I stated previously, Jesus is not returning to a Christian city or nation, (there is actually no such thing), He will return to a wicked world to make things right. 

So let's take a look at a few passages of scripture that shed some light on the condition of this present world, and the coming kingdom that Jesus Christ will one day set up.

As mentioned above, there is no such thing as a Christian nation. I know this might seem strange for many to read, but it is true nonetheless. Some nations may base their laws on some biblical values; they may have many moral principles they attempt to adhere to, but that in and of itself does not make a person, much less an entire nation "Christian."

To the contrary we read this,

We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

1 John 5:19 NASB 

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NASB

We see from these two passages that the world is under the rule of the evil one, or Satan. Does this mean that God has no power or control over the events that occur, or that He has no sovereignty over this world?

 Absolutely not. God is indeed sovereign over His creation. Scripture abundantly shows this to be true. However Satan has been allowed control of this world, as is shown in the account of Jesus' temptation.

And He led him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, "I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed to over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, it shall be all Yours." Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'"

Luke 4:5-8 NASB

Satan gained this control through the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden. They had been given this authority by God (Genesis 1:27-28), but lost it to Satan when they yielded to his temptation and died spiritually (see Genesis 3). 

All of this might seem hopeless, but it is not. We read of a coming day when this world will come under the absolute authority of Jesus once again. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a succession of kingdoms which would ultimately be destroyed at the second coming of Christ (see Daniel 2:31-45).

Speaking of the final wicked empire that this world will see,  we read this,

"In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy."

Daniel 2:44-45 NASB

A few chapters later Daniel has a vision that pertains to the same events at the end of this age (see Daniel 7:1-28).

"I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven, one like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed."

Daniel 7:13-14 NASB

'As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and a half a time. But the court will sit for judgement, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.'

Daniel 7:24-27 NASB

We don't see the world get better and better until Jesus returns. Instead we see a point in time when evil has reached its final limit and Jesus steps in to put an end to it. 

Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were voices in heaven saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."

Revelation 11:15 NASB

The truth is we as followers of Jesus are in, but not of this world (John 17:17). Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). We remain in this world as ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20). Just as an ambassador in a foreign land represents the country that sent him, we also represent the kingdom that sent us: the kingdom of heaven.

I write all of this to show what biblical prophecy teaches. We are not the ones to set up an earthly kingdom for Jesus to return to. Our job is not to form a "Christian" nation and rule over others no matter how noble and right that may sound. We are to make disciples until Jesus returns. He will set up His kingdom, and then, and and only then, we will reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12, Rev 20:6).

Test Yourselves

Test Yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you- unless indeed you fail the test?

2 Corinthians 13:5 NASB

Not everyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ is truly following Him. God has seen fit to include this warning in the scriptures to cause us to examine ourselves and consider if our Christianity is real or not. 

It is easy to claim to be a Christian. We can fool others, and even ourselves, but when our attitudes and actions are placed alongside the "plumb line" of God's standard the truth is plain to see.

... But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

2 Corinthians 10:12

I will not attempt to make an exhaustive list, but I will put down some key points to look at as we determine the reality of our faith.

1. True faith results in action.

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

James 2:17 NASB

Faith is much more than agreeing with some biblical facts about Jesus. An individual who believes in the biblical sense of the word places their confidence in Christ to take full control of their very lives. They commit to follow and obey in all things. To say that I believe Jesus died and rose for me, therefore I am a Christian, while my life remains identical to the atheist's who lives next door, is a denial of truth. Is your faith accompanied with the proof that it is real?

2. Are we purifying our lives in anticipation of Christ's return?

And everyone who has this hope fixed upon Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 

1 John 3:3 NASB

In the same way that a bride adorns herself for her wedding day; for the moment that her groom will see her enter the sanctuary, a Christian looks to the day that he or she will see Jesus face to face. A believer does not want to be ashamed of standing before Jesus in soiled garments.

Christ gave Himself up for the purpose of sanctifying the Church. Through the "washing of the word" we are being cleansed so that someday we will stand before Him without spot or wrinkle ( Ephesians 5:25-27). In response we keep ourselves pure through obedience to His word (Psalm 119:9).

3. A lifestyle of sin, or one of righteousness?

In 1 John 3:4-10 we see two lifestyles placed before us. One is marked by the consistent practice of sin. That individual resembles the devil who has sinned from the beginning. The other is a life marked by the practice of righteousness. A person who consistently does what is right and pleasing in the sight of God resembles Christ who is righteous. 

The difference between the two is the new birth. A change has taken place in the life of one who has surrendered their lives to Jesus, who has come to destroy the devil's work.

By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious; anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother 

1 John 3:10 NASB

4. Are you fulfilling the law?

One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"

And He said to him, " ' You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the prophets."

Matthew 22:36-40 NASB 

God never intended the Law to be a checklist. It's not something where we can open our Bibles to the first page and mark off each command as we find them and obey them. God wants our love. We are called to love Him first and foremost of all. 

To love God is to be passionate about Him. It means we desire His plans and purposes to be fulfilled in the earth, even at great cost to us. If we love God we will make the advancement of His kingdom our priority in life (Matt 6:33). We will avoid the things that compromise and distract us from that mission. An individual who claims to love Him will obey Him. How can we say we love God if we are disobedient? That is a contradiction, it is impossible to love Him while we thwart His plans and purposes, His will, to be done in and through us. 

Likewise, we are called to love one another. Jesus makes it simple for us. We are to treat others in the same way we wish them to treat us (Matthew 7:12). Love is the fulfillment of the Law. When we love someone we will not do things that harm that person. All of the commandments find their fulfillment in us when we "love our neighbor as ourselves" (Romans 13:8-10). 

James warns us against breaking this royal law of love. In a letter where he confronts favoritism in the Church, he states that this particular sin is a violation of the law. In fact, he likens this particular sin to murder. How we treat our fellow man matters to God. Judgement without mercy will be shown to the unmerciful (see James 2:2-12). Do you love God first and foremost of all? Do you treat others in the same way you would like them to treat you? The two commandments are bound up in each other. You can't keep one and break the other. It doesn't work that way.

I could go on with many more points, but these are sufficient to make the point. Search the word, test yourself. How does your Christianity line up with the scriptural standard?