Paul and a Theology of Martyrdom

As I have previously written, I believe that the Church today desperately needs to recover a "theology of martyrdom." Here is a link to that post.

Recovering a Theology of Martyrdom

In this post I would like to look specifically at the life and writings of the apostle Paul and elaborate on what he has to say about building the kingdom of God in the face of persecution and martyrdom.

The story of Paul begins in the book of Acts with the stoning of Stephen. The men who stoned him laid down their garments at the feet of a man named Saul (Acts 7:57-60). This event sparked a great persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, with Saul as a driving force behind it ( Acts 8:1-3). 

In his zeal to destroy the Church, Saul left for Damascus looking for any Christians that he might arrest and bring back to Jerusalem. It was on this road that he was stopped by Jesus Himself,

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Acts 9:4-6 KJV

This event led to the conversion of Saul, who we also know as Paul. He was led to the house of a man named Judas on Straight street in Damascus where Annanias, who was sent by Jesus, placed his hands on him so that his sight would be restored and he would be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:8-18). In a vision Annanias was told this, about God's calling upon the life of Saul,

"Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."

Acts 9:15-16 KJV 

Previous to this event, as Saul persecuted the Church, he was likely    deeply convicted by the Holy Spirit, by what he witnessed when Stephen was martyred. To kick against the pricks was to resist guidance. Pricks (KJV) or goads were used to guide oxen. If one rebelled against this they were said to "kick against the goads."  According to Robertson's word pictures this became a proverb of that time period to refer to one who was rebellious. It is not a stretch to consider that Saul's rabid drive to stamp out the Church was at least in part, his attempt to shut out the voice of the Holy Spirit. I know from my own life, when I came under conviction, I ran long and hard in the opposite direction, trying to drown out my conscience. 

From the very beginning of Paul's Christian life hardship was a normal part. Indeed, he was to see how much suffering he was to endure for the sake of Christ. Within days of his conversion he openly proclaimed Christ to the Jews in Damascus. As a result, a plot was formed to kill him and he was lowered over the wall to escape this threat (Acts 9:19-25). The man who once persecuted the Church was now persecuted himself.

In 2 Corinthians 11:24-33 we read a list of Paul's physical suffering in his service to Christ. He was beaten, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, faced dangers in his travels, faced hunger and the elements. He endured all of these things for Christ with a willingness that I fear is lacking among many professing Christians today in this country.

As he was on his way back to Jerusalem he sent for the elders from Ephesus to see them one final time. He had this to say to them,

    And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there.

Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

But none of these things move me,neither count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify of the grace of God.

Acts 20:22-24 KJV

And the next chapter records a prophetic word warning Paul that he would be bound and turned over to the Gentiles when he arrived in Jerusalem (Acts 21:19-12). Here is his reply,

     Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and break my heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 21:13 KJV

Look at the boldness and determination in the heart of the apostle. His was a life thoroughly transformed by the Holy Ghost. His focus was on one thing, the completion of his service to God. Nothing else mattered, he would let nothing stand in the way, even willing to die in the process, if it came to that.

He elaborates more on this theme in his epistles to various Churches he established during his time of ministry. By looking at some of these we get a glimpse into his heart, and can see the depth of his commitment to Jesus.

     According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

Philippians 1:20-24 KJV

Paul's unwavering purpose was to magnify Christ in everyway possible. He desired to show Christ to the world by his actions, attitudes, and speech. He had a calling to proclaim Christ to the Gentiles as we saw in Acts 9:15-16. So in life his passion, the mindset that drove him, was to glorify Christ. To remain alive in the flesh was the opportunity to continue pressing on in his desire to make Christ known to others. Yet death, even violent death for the sake of the gospel, was still yet another way to magnify Christ. 

Persecution has a way of encouraging others to become more bold in the faith. Paul brings this out earlier in this epistle. This letter was written to the Church in Philippi while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. He states that the very fact of his imprisonment has become an opportunity for the furtherance of the gospel. Many fellow believers have become confident due to Paul's bonds, and now speak the word boldly, without fear (Philippians 1:12-14).

So to Paul it did not matter if it was by life or by death, only that Christ was magnified. In fact, he states that he would rather depart and be with Christ. That is the ultimate thing for each one of us. Death, for a believer is only the doorway into the presence of Christ. If we know and love Jesus we have nothing to fear. In 2 Corinthians 5:1-9 Paul speaks of groaning for our heavenly bodies, desiring the day when death is swallowed up by life everlasting. He is confident, and willing to be absent from the body (to die) so that he can be in the presence of the Lord.

In the famous passage found in Philippians 3:7-14 where Paul counts all things as loss for the sake of Christ, we read this,

     That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Philippians 3: 10 -11 KJV

Again, we see that the apostle does not shrink from suffering and even death for the sake of Christ. In fact he embraces it. He desires to partake of the sufferings and even the death of Christ. Just as Jesus suffered and died for us, Paul, in his love for Christ is willing to suffer and die for Him as well. Ultimately Paul realized the truth of the resurrection. Physical death in this life was not the end.

We read this in Colossians 1:24,

     Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God.

We, as the body of Christ now take up the mantle so to speak. Just as Jesus suffered afflictions, even to the point of death, now it is our turn as we carry out the mission He left us with. And yet when we suffer persecution for the cause of Christ it is Christ Himself who is persecuted. When Jesus spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus, he asked, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4)

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of he Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

We having the same Spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:7-18 KJV

This passage alone sums up the entire point I am trying to make. The Apostle Paul, as a follower of Christ, we, as followers of Christ, are called to carry on the work of Jesus in our lives. Yes, it is hard work. Persecution is an inevitable result of our visible and active testimony. Why did Jesus ordain that this work should go forward, carried by individuals in fragile, mortal bodies? To show the excellency of the power of God in us! As we die to ourselves in humility, and begin to depend on Christ in our weakness, He becomes strong in us. God has taken what the enemy meant for evil, and turned it into good. This is how Christ continues the work he began. He does it through us, even in the midst of suffering.

Our job is to be faithful in obedience to the great commission, no matter the cost. If we believe, we must speak. And that, will cause a reaction. Like Paul, each one of us must be confident in the truth of the resurrection. Our bodies here are only temporary. They are already wearing out. We are not meant for self preservation, but to be offered up in service to Christ. Whether that ends in martyrdom or not is up to God. Our purpose, like Paul's, is to go, looking at the eternal instead of the temporal. What we face here is minor, compared to the glory of eternity with Jesus. 

For millions of Christ followers down through the centuries persecution and death has been a normal part of serving Jesus. Even today a vast number of Christians suffer and die for their faith. They also consider it normal. 

I recently listened to a radio program where an individual was recounting meeting with some persecuted believers in China. He was asked if he had ever been in prison, to which he replied that he had not. These persecuted believers at first seriously doubted his Christianity. To them it was normal to be persecuted for their faith as well.

Here in America it is kind of unusual. Yes, we have what we call "freedom of religion." We can meet without fear of arrest, and worship whatever we want to worship in freedom. Is this a blessing? Maybe, but I sometimes wonder. If people were more bold with their witness would things change some? I think so. And our freedom today may be gone tomorrow. In fact, the day is coming when there will be no "safe" place to openly proclaim Christ. Will we be willing to shine as lights in a perverse generation when that day comes (Philippians 2:15)?

What we have seen in the life of Paul is an example for us to follow as well,

     For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Philippians 1:29-30 KJV

     

     

 

A Wise Builder In Uncertain Times

Towards the end of His earthly ministry Jesus told a parable of ten virgins. (Matt 25:1-13). The context of this parable is the teaching of Jesus on the end times events leading up to His return. The purpose is to promote watchfulness among His followers.

In this parable we see several things. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. The foolish took their lamps, but no extra oil, while the wise had extra oil along with their lamps.

It is interesting to note that as the bridegroom tarried they all became drowsy and slept. This was true for the wise as well as the foolish virgins.

When the cry went out at midnight, "The bridegroom is coming, go out to meet Him", they woke up and trimmed their lamps. Unfortunately the lamps belonging to the foolish virgins had gone out, and they had no extra oil.  Asking the wise to share oil with them, they were told to go and buy some, as there was not enough to share. 

While they went out to buy more oil, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in to the feast, and the door was shut. It was too late for the foolish virgins who were not prepared 

What can we learn from this parable? As I have recently shared, I believe that the Church is about to be blindsided by end times events. It is as though we are for the most part asleep. In a previous post which can be read here, I elaborate on this briefly. 

Although there are many end times teachers, and just as many end times theories, it seems like for most of us the last days and the return of Jesus Christ are something seen as far down the road. I believe the Church to some degree is asleep. Far too many of us are unconcerned about future events. Perhaps many of us have been burned out by all of the "Left Behind books"  and end times movies that we have been inundated with for the last several decades or so. There has been a lot of hype and a lot of failed date settings, and that just turns people off I'm afraid.

Anyway we find that the wise as well as the foolish both fell asleep as the bridegroom delayed His coming.

There is a day coming upon the whole world as a trap (Luke 21:35). Someday these events will be upon us and we will all be forced out of slumber. Whether or not we have a sufficient supply of oil then will be a matter of spiritual life and death.

One can know all of the end times events, the signs and timelines, but to know these things is no guarantee that one will survive spiritually. We need to cultivate our relationship with Jesus, and we need to be doing that now.

I believe that this is the difference between the wise and foolish virgins referenced in this parable. Oil is used symbolically of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. To be lacking "oil" in this sense when we reach the point of no return in the last days will be tragic. 

A saving relationship with Jesus is more than correct understanding of biblical doctrine. While studying the scriptures and discovering the doctrines found therein is fun and exciting, head knowledge by itself is insufficient. If what we learn does not transform our lives it is all in vain.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.

John 14:15-17 KJV

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself unto him.

John 14:21 KJV

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come into him, and make our abode with him.

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

John 14:23-24 KJV

Here we see it, or rather hear it in the very words of Jesus. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is dependent in a large measure upon our obedience. Don't misunderstand this. This is not about a checklist that we can cross off every time we have obeyed a commandment, as if we can somehow earn the presence of the Holy Spirit. We receive the Spirit by faith, not by the works of the law (Gal 3:1-3, 14), yet salvation is a deliverance from sinning. We must take these words of God to heart as well,

     We are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Acts 5:32

Obedience flows out of our love for Christ. It is the outflow of our faith (Gal 5:6). 

Through a careless, disobedient lifestyle we can grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). Think of the example of Sampson in the Old Testament. He flirted with sin, presuming that his strength would always be there. One day he woke up, only to discover that the LORD had departed from him, and his strength was gone ( see Judges 16:4-20). 

Jesus questioned if He would find faith on the earth at His return (Luke 18:8). He gives this warning in His Olivet discourse,

     "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved."

(Matt 24:12-13)

Days are coming when the deception and treachery will be unparalleled.  The Bible warns of a great falling away in the last days (2 Thess 2:3-12). It will take everything to stand firm in our faith. We do not want to wake up like Sampson, and find out our strength is gone. If it is imperative that we are filled with the Holy Spirit in our lives today, how much more when that day arrives.

I firmly believe that scripture interprets scripture. Earlier in His ministry Jesus spoke of another pair of men (see Matt 7:23-27). One was wise, and the other foolish. They both built houses, the wise man built upon a rock, and the foolish man built his house on sand. When disaster struck we can guess what happened. The wise man's house stood firm, while the house of the foolish man collapsed.

Jesus likened the wise man to one who hears His teaching and puts it into practice, while the foolish man is one who does not obey. We can see by this that obedience to Jesus is foundational to maintaining our relationship with Him. An open channel allows the "oil" of the Spirit to flow through our lives and give light to those around us. Sin in the life of a believer will block this flow, hinder our fellowship, and weaken our faith. Confession and repentance is the way to restoration. 

Keep the channels open. Do not allow disobedience to block the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life. The day will come when there will be no time to "buy" more oil. The bridegroom will come and the door will be shut. When disaster comes will your house stand?

 

 

     

Recovering a Theology of Martyrdom

Here in America we have things pretty easy concerning our freedom to practice our faith. We have easy access to Bibles, Churches on every corner, and the ability to meet in any of those Churches without fear of persecution. While this makes it easier for us to gather to worship freely, and we count it a blessing, it also has it's downside as well.

I believe that after decades, centuries actually, of religious freedom in this country, we have lost a key part of what it means to follow Jesus. In his instructions to Timothy, Paul exhorts him to "Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (2 Tim:2:3) While most of us would agree that persecution and suffering for Jesus is a real thing, I believe that there are those who relegate it to believers in third world countries, or those living under oppressive regimes. Unable to relate to what so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer around the world we envision persecution here as the advancement of "woke" policies or "attacks" on Christmas. The claim that we as Christians are losing our rights, and unless something happens we won't be able to be Christians here in America, has been "shouted from the rooftops" for some time now. But how does this reasoning line up with scripture? 

Persecution is promised.

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

If you were of the world, then the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.

Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also  persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.....

These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling.

They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me."

John 15:19-22, 16:1-3 NASB

As followers of Jesus we are not exempt from persecution and even death for our testimony. Even now,  people throughout the world are suffering greatly for their faith. Of course here we have relative freedom to practice our faith openly with very little threat, but I believe the day is coming when that will change, and we need to get ready now.

Freedom of religion is not something that any laws can guarantee. However we don't need laws to protect our commitment to Jesus either. Absolutely no one can take that away from you. It might cost you something, but you are free to be a Christian anywhere in this world. As Nik Ripken states,

     Believers in persecution remind us of a possible lie inherent in Western Christian cultures. We sometimes thank God that we live in countries where we are "free to worship." It is interesting that public prayers are rarely uttered thanking God that we are "free to witness"! Significantly, witnessing to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has little to do with political freedom. Believers are as free to share Jesus in Saudi Arabia as they are in St. Louis. Believers are as free to share Jesus in Somalia as they are in Kentucky.

     Being a witness for Jesus has little to do with political freedom. On the contrary, our willingness to witness has everything to do with obedience and courage. 

( Nik Ripken

The insanity of Obedience ©2014

P 30)

This should step on toes. We do not have to go looking for persecution, if we are open with our witness, it will naturally come in one form or another. As we read in the verses above, we as believers are hated by the world in the same way the world hates Jesus. How long will that be "restrained" in America? 

What about my rights?

Here in this country we make a big deal about our rights. And to be sure, we have many rights that others do not have. But how far do we go to defend and fight for our rights? 

The call of Jesus is exacting. He says some very hard things. It is not about us at all, but His ultimate purpose for our lives.

     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."

Mark 8:34-35 NASB

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

Luke 14:33 NASB

A transaction is made when we make the decision to follow Christ. Ownership of our lives, our possessions, our plans and purposes, comforts and fears transfer from us and our control, to Christ. We are in a very real sense not our own. We have been bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20).

This is what the lordship of Jesus means. He is now our master, and we are his "bond slaves." This term is used throughout the epistles. Paul understood the concept well. You sold yourself into the service of another for economic survival. You now lived to serve your master. Your personal decisions didn't count for much anymore 

Jesus tells us to deny ourselves and come after Him with our crosses on our backs. This is the same principle explained in another graphic way.

Crucifixion, under the Roman occupation, was a common scene for most people of the time. It would have been a common sight to see beaten and bloodied individuals struggling under the weight of a heavy beam on their way to a excruciating death. These men were "dead men walking." literally, their lives were over. Their plans and purposes, possessions, comforts and fears, meant absolutely nothing to them at this point. They were about to be fastened on a cross, completely helpless, waiting only to die.

Jesus, Himself, experienced the very same thing, and He used this as a metaphor for us to follow Him in "death to ourselves." Our lives, plans, purposes, comforts and fears, are no longer in our control. Jesus is calling the shots at this point. Our lives belong to Him, our job is to follow in obedience, no matter the cost. And for many, the cost of that obedience ends in martyrdom, the ultimate price to follow Jesus.

But what about Paul's appeal to his rights?

There are three instances recorded in scripture where Paul mentions his rights as a Roman citizen. People bring these up on occasion as a justification of the need to fight for our rights as American Christians.

In Acts 16:16-39 Paul and Silas are beaten and thrown into prison, without a trial, for casting a demon out of a slave girl in the Roman province of Philippi. It was unlawful to beat an uncondemned Roman Citizen. The next day when they were about to be released, Paul made the magistrates aware of this, causing some consternation among them. They no doubt were afraid that it might come back on them.

In Acts 22:24-30 Paul again appeals to his Roman citizenship when he is about to be scourged to find out why a mob had broken out against him. He then brought up the fact that it was unlawful to beat an uncondemned Roman citizen. Once it was determined that he was indeed a Roman citizen he was immediately untied, and again, the commander was afraid of what might happen as a result.

The third instance is Paul's appeal to appear before Caesar (Acts 25:1-10). Wishing to appease the Jews, the Roman governor Festus asked Paul if he would stand trial before him in Jerusalem. Paul, knowing it was all a sham, appealed to stand before Caesar in Rome, where he ought to be tried as a Roman citizen. 

What we can draw from these passages is that there may be times when it is okay to take advantage of  certain rights conferred on one by the government. For example prayer in school. As far as I know, prayer is allowed in school as long as a teacher is not leading a class in prayer. What if a teacher was simply praying over his or her lunch, by themselves, and the school board threatened disciplinary action? Would it be alright to remind them that prayer in this instance is not a prohibited action? I would think this would be fine, and might put the issue to rest.

However, the belief  that we as Christians are called to fight for our rights cannot be found in the New Testament teachings. There were plenty of instances in the life and ministry of the apostle Paul where he did suffer wrong and did not pursue recourse. That night in the Philippian jail Paul and Silas were singing and praising God in spite of the beating they had just received. I find it hard to believe that they were planning to turn in those responsible for breaking the  Roman law that forbid beating an uncondemned citizen.

Jesus is the example of the opposite. He taught and lived humility. His message was one of forgiveness and turning the other cheek. Going the extra mile demanded a lot of grace from a people living under Roman occupation. And the mandate to make disciples in every nation is a huge undertaking itself. There is no time or energy to be spent on things that detract from that mission. While it may be fine to take advantage of freedoms we have, we have no guarantee that we will have those freedoms tomorrow. When that day comes our mission still remains the same, only now the consequences change. We are better off preparing now for when that time comes, than occupying our time and energy in a battle to maintain our rights.

Martyrdom has a purpose.

It has been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. This is a true statement, that can be proven by history. 

Stephen is the first recorded martyr for Christ in the New Testament. The man holding the cloaks of those throwing the stones was named Saul. This began a severe persecution that scattered the believers throughout the known world. Saul was driven by his zeal, and was relentless in his pursuit of Christians. When he was divinely stopped on the road to Damascus we read that he had been kicking against the goads. In other words, something happened when he witnessed Stephen's death that haunted him on the inside. The conviction of the Holy Spirit was getting the best of him.  (Acts 7:54-8:1, 26:9-18). Saul, also known as Paul was saved and went on to be incredibly used by God in the establishment of His Kingdom.

Reformation history records the terrible persecution and death that the Anabaptist Christians suffered for their faith. The missionaries they sent out were quickly arrested, tortured, and killed in the most inhuman ways, only to be just as quickly replaced with more. They spread the gospel to hungry people desperate for the truth, with little regard for their own comfort. It was indeed a movement fueled by persecution, that could not be stopped. I recommend getting a copy of the Martyrs Mirror, which chronicles the suffering and martyrdom of these courageous people.

Or how about the five missionaries who were killed in 1956 trying to make contact with the Waodani tribesmen, a fierce, unreached people deep in the jungles of Ecuador. While the world might think that this was a tragic waste of life, it turned out quite the opposite. In a unforseen twist of events, the widows and families of these men ended up forgiving, befriending, and living among the very same people who had killed their husbands. People were saved, a Church was planted. A people group who were for all practical purposes unreachable, were brought to Christ as a result. The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church.

What Satan means for evil God can turn around for good. In fact God's kingdom can be referred to as an "upside down kingdom" as it operates on opposite principles than that of the world. While the world looks at suffering and death as a defeat, it is in reality a victory for those who follow Jesus.

     And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Revelation 12:11 NASB

Consider the words of Jesus found in John 12:23-26,

     And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.

If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Jesus is the ultimate example for us. By His death and resurrection He has truly born much fruit. He speaks in no uncertain terms. We must follow Him, even unto death. If our bearing fruit means martyrdom we dare not shrink back. If we seek to preserve our lives we will lose them in the end. Self preservation stands in opposition to the greater purpose of God. 

What is a martyr?

The Greek word translated witness, or witnesses is Martus. It is found 34 times in the King James New Testament. This word is used of people who give witness or testimony of something. A variant of the word, martureo is in verb form, to give testimony of something, and the word marturia refers to the testimony itself. This is where our word martyr comes from

While this testimony, or witness can be that of anything, it was often used in the witness of one's faith in Christ, the resurrected Lord. This witness often led to the death of the one giving this testimony of the truth of the gospel.

And when the blood of your witness (martus) Stephen was being shed....

Acts 21:20

And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness (martus), the first born of the dead, and the ruler of the Kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood...

Rev 1:5

I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness (martus), My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Rev 2:13

And I will grant authority to my two witnesses (martus), and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

Rev 11:3

And when they have finished their testimony (marturia), the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.

Rev 11:7

And I saw a woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses (martus) of Jesus. When I saw her I wondered greatly.

Rev 17:6

And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony (marturia) of Jesus and because of the word of God...

Rev 20:4

Robertson's word pictures state that by the third century this word, martus, had become synonymous with one who had paid for their witness with their lives.

History is filled with countless numbers of individuals who have paid the ultimate price for the testimony of Jesus. Even today there are thousands of Christians living in countries where persecution and martyrdom are everyday occurrences. Just because we live in a country where there is relative safety to be a Christian does not necessarily make us exempt. The New Testament teaches that persecution is a normal reaction of a hostile world to the testimony of Christ. Ultimately the time is coming when the world will face the greatest crisis it has ever seen. There will be no holding back the tide of evil when that day comes. Are we prepared for what is to come? Will you be a faithful martus?

Counting the cost.

"Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

Many false prophets will arise and mislead many.

Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."

Matthew 24:9-13 NASB

Have we as Christians over the years made it too easy? Instead of a deep soul searching leading to a unwavering repentance, and commitment to follow Christ, we now can just slip up a hand with no one looking. I do not wish to offend anyone, but Jesus Himself sets a very hard standard for those who would follow Him. The reformation era Anabaptist Christians knew what the narrow gate meant (Matt 7:13-14). In reference to the terrible suffering they faced for their witness, they said that their skin was torn off as they went through the narrow gate 

Denying ourselves, taking up our crosses, living lives completely sold out to Jesus at all cost, following Him even in death, are the standards of the gospel. Yes, salvation is a free gift. You will not earn it by giving your body to be burned (see 1 Cor 13:3). But faith in Christ is more than believing things. It is living out the reality of what we believe. And if we believe that Jesus died and is now the risen Lord and calls us to follow Him, we must follow Him on His terms or not follow Him at all.

In Luke 14:25-34 Jesus repeats the demands required to be a disciple. He demands our allegiance over all other relationships. He calls on us to count the cost. We must be aware of what it means and what it requires to follow Him. He gives two examples. A man building a tower will calculate his expenses before he begins. If he does not, and he runs out of money after he has begun, he faces humiliation. Or a king going to war better be sure that he actually has the manpower to win. If not he better seek peace instead. 

It is imperative that we also count the cost. A man may begin to build a house and not be able to finish, but that is nothing compared to a person starting out to follow Jesus but falling away when unexpected difficulties arise. Now is the time to think long and hard about what it means to follow Jesus; about what He requires, and what it might cost us. Persecution is not a fun, uplifting subject to talk about, but it is a very real part of being a Christian. It is better to know what may come and be prepared beforehand, then to be taken by surprise and give up.

Blessed are the persecuted.

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the Prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:10-12 NASB

Therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgement so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His angels in flaming fire,

dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and be marvelled at among all who have believed - for our testimony to you was believed.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-10 NASB

Believe it or not, there is a reason to rejoice in the midst of suffering persecution. It is a sign that we are not of this evil world, but are citizens of a heavenly kingdom. We are to rejoice and be glad because our reward is great if we endure.

This can be compared to childbirth. The labor is hard and painful, but the birth of a child is the goal. Countless numbers of women have endured the pain of labor because they are looking forward to the end; the birth of a child. To them it is worth it all.

To be martyred is only a gateway into the presence of Jesus. The pain is only temporary. 

     For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NASB

In Revelation 7:9-17 we read of a great multitude from every tongue, tribe and nation standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They have come out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes in His blood.

     "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His Tabernacle over them.

They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;

for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Revelation 7:15-17 NASB

All that they have suffered will pale in comparison as they dwell in the very presence of God. All of the pain and suffering will be gone, every tear will be wiped away by God Himself. They will live in His presence for eternity, as opposed to those who have rejected Him in this life.

Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgement was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and in their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years 

Revelation 20:4 NASB

No one likes the idea of suffering. The idea of a great tribulation is a terrifying thought. Yet it must come before the return of Christ. As believers we must keep that in focus. To give up, to deny Christ in the face of death is to lose it all. 

So what do we do now?

It is hard to write out a checklist of everything we must do to prepare for possible martyrdom. No one knows how they will react until the moment arrives. We can be like Peter and make rash declarations of our willingness to die for Jesus only to fail miserably in the end.

To be sure we must count the cost and commit ourselves to following Jesus. Now is the time to cultivate our faith. If we cannot grow now while we have so much freedom how can we expect to stand when the evil day comes? 

Our love for Jesus must be unwavering. What parent wouldn't risk running into a burning house to rescue a missing child? In the same way, our love for Christ compels us to live and die for Him. To love Him is to long to be with Him. Unless you or I are alive and remain at His return, death is the doorway into His presence. And during the final great tribulation, martyrdom will be the primary way out. Pray now, be filled with His Spirit continually, and trust Him to give you what you need when you need it.

A common verse about peace is found in Isaiah 26:3.

     The steadfast of mind you will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.

It is interesting to note that the surrounding chapters are prophetic. It is talking about what is referred to as the great tribulation. God is able to give us peace, even in the midst of the severest trouble.

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 NASB

This is a hard subject. People do not like to talk about these things. I'm often misunderstood. I do not wish for persecution, I'm not hoping it comes, but only trying to prepare people for the day it does. The Bible is quite clear on this subject, and it is only a matter of time when here in the West we also will experience what so many have already experienced. Will our generation be the ones? If not we must prepare the next one.

      

     

     

Will We be Ready?

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and stand before the Son of man.

                             Luke 21:34-36 KJV

Dark days are coming upon the earth. At some point in time, maybe sooner than we think, biblical prophecy will unfold, and the events of the final seven years of this age will occur. I believe multitudes of professing Christians will be caught by surprise. They will not be ready. 

I have noticed a lack of teaching on these subjects lately. I haven't heard any sermons geared towards preparing people for Earth's final days. These are things Christians are not talking about. One pastor that I recently had a casual conversation with admitted that he didn't know what he believed about the end times. He hadn't really looked into it. I have heard others share the same concerns. They have also noticed a strange silence in their churches as well. 

It's not as though there is a lack of end times information. Vast numbers of books have been written on the subject, the Internet is filled with videos and websites, some good, and others not so good. There are plenty of teachers out there promoting their version of how the last days will play out, and no doubt people are tuning in to see what they have to say. However, when I step into church, I'm not hearing conversations, I'm not hearing sermons, about world events that will someday be upon us.

 I believe we have been set up for failure. On the one hand there is the popular teaching that we will not be here when all hell breaks loose. The main thing is to make sure you are ready for the rapture. The rest, as concerns us as Christians, isn't anything that will affect us.

The other teaching, one, more common than I realized, is that there will be no actual end times tribulation. All of the last days events foretold in biblical prophecy are symbolic, an apocalyptic portrayal of the battle between good and evil. All we as Christians need to do is wait for Jesus to someday come. While persecution has been a real thing all along, an end times Antichrist orchestrating great tribulation is only symbolic. Again, why worry?

What if we are wrong? What if there is indeed a day coming when the events that so many  have spiritualized away into nothingness actually come to pass, and we as a Church are still here, contrary to popular belief?

I don't mean to offend anyone who may hold to any of these teachings. I understand that prophecy is not easy to understand, and a wide range of views are held by Christians throughout the world. I also understand that there are committed Christians who are looking into these things with the same interest and concern that I have. Therefore I am speaking in general terms when I voice my concerns. My intent is not to create heated debate between brothers and sisters, nor is it to belittle the beliefs of others. I write this out of a concern for the Church. I read the scriptures and see hard times coming, and a great falling away from the faith occuring at the same time. 

Speaking of the return of Christ to gather his elect, we read of a great falling away that will occur first, along with the revealing of the "Man of sin" who we know as the Antichrist (2 Thess 2:1-4). This passage that has commonly been used to teach a prettrib rapture event actually teaches quite the opposite. Before Jesus returns to gather His faithful, many professing Christianity, instead of being raptured, will actually apostasize from the faith. This verse is clear, Christians will see the revealing of the Antichrist, and many will not make it. This affirms the words of Jesus, who foretold that the "love of many will grow cold." He admonishes us that one must "endure to the end to be saved" (Matt 24:11-12).

This is what is so tragic. How can we be better prepared to face the future? And if we never live to experience these events, how can we ensure that the future generation who will, is adequately equipped to stand for Jesus during Earth's greatest trial?

I have a few thoughts that I will briefly share. I will put them down here, and perhaps go deeper into them in future posts. 

1. We must recapture the "Maranatha" cry.

The early Church looked for and longed for the return of Christ. It was not so much that they wanted to escape trials and trouble, but they had such an incredible love for Jesus Himself. I fear that many today have entrenched themselves into the affairs of this life. They have made a good life for themselves, and seek to keep up that standard. Like a child who spoils his appetite by eating a cookie before supper, many of us have got it so good here (at least here in America) that we no longer long for eternity with Jesus. We may give the idea of the return of Jesus some fleeting thoughts, but it is not a deep aching reality for a lot of us. We are too content here. At the close of his life the apostle Paul said this,

     Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:8 KJV).

Are we numbered with those who "eagerly await Him" (Hebrews 9:28)?

2. We must recover a theology of martyrdom and suffering.

The early Church suffered intense persecution, yet they turned their world upside down for the cause of Christ. To identify with Jesus, to be baptized into His death, took on a literal meaning for them. Countless others have paid the ultimate price for their devotion to Christ down through the centuries. Jesus Himself calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. To save our lives is to lose our lives, while to lose our lives for His sake and the gospel's is to save them in the end (Mark 8:34-35).

We live in a time where we consider it persecution when the cashier at Walmart won't wish us a Merry Christmas. How will we make it when this verse is a reality,

     And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Rev 12:11 KJV emphasis mine).

Martyrdom will be the primary way out of the great tribulation (see Rev 6:9-11, 7:9-17). Are we ready?

3. We need solid biblical teaching on the end times.

The Apostle Paul spent three weeks in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-4). During this time souls were saved and a Church was planted. Paul was forced to leave because of persecution. However, in that three week period this group of "baby" Christians were soundly taught enough to thrive in the midst of suffering themselves (1Thess 1:14). They were also taught about the last days (1Thess 5:1-11, 2 Thess 2:5). Can you imagine a class for new converts today, where the main topic is a deep dive into eschatology? Could it be that this enabled them to endure the suffering that they faced? 

Instead of running from prophecy because it is hard to understand, or scary to talk about, we must dig into it, learn it, and pass it on to others. The book of Revelation is perhaps the most misunderstood and therefore neglected book of the Bible. Yet we read this,

     Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (Rev 1:3 NASB).

We need solid teaching based upon what the Bible actually says about the events surrounding the last days and the return of Christ. There is way more found throughout both Testaments than most of us realize. From the Prophets to Revelation an end times scenario unfolds. It is here that we learn why the events will unfold the way they do, who are the nations involved, where will the "Beast" come from, and at what point will Jesus return to establish His kingdom. 

There is a lot of prophecy teaching out there, some of it is sound, but so much of it is mere speculation. It must line up with the word of God. Beware of those who have to spiritualize things away to hold to a particular doctrine. Yes there are symbols found in prophecy, but these symbols represent real things. If something can be taken literally, then take it literally. Wading through so much of the stuff out there is like navigating a minefield. It will explode in the end, and take many adherents with it I'm afraid.

We are warned throughout scripture to avoid deception, especially as it concerns those who will go through the last days. We must know and understand the truth. There is no more time to remain ignorant of these things. The Church cannot afford to remain in the dark,

     But you brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober (1 Thess 5:4-6 NASB).

Paul wrote this to the Thessalonian Church. He knew that they had an understanding that went beyond a mere head knowledge, but had entered their hearts. Can we say the same today? 

There are many more things I could say here, but this must suffice for now. Perhaps, God willing, I can expand on this in future posts. There is a day coming when Jesus will return, but before He comes there will be tribulation. If we are the generation to see all of these things come to pass will we be ready?

Betrayed by Your Speech.

33 "Either make the tree good and it's fruit good, or make the tree bad and it's fruit bad; for the tree is known by it's fruit.

34 "You brood of vipers, how can you bring evil speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

35 "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.

36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgement.

37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matt 12:33-37 NASB)

Jesus, in His rebuke of the Pharisees, sets forth an important principle which is just as valid for us today as it was for the people in Jesus' day. We can claim to be godly, to even be a Christian, but the truth of our salvation will be ultimately be shown by our actions. In this case it is our speech which either confirms or denies our faith. 

What Jesus says here is true. A tree is known by the fruit it produces. Years ago we had an apple tree that produced wormy apples. We tried various things to fix this, but after a few years we cut it down and started over with a couple of new ones. It was an infested tree; it was no good, and the bad fruit was the proof.

Consider two individuals who both claim to be Christians. One of them speaks kindly of others, does not tell dirty jokes and use foul language. He avoids slandering others and is always truthful. The other one curses, is vulgar, and quite often seeks to make others look bad, even if he has to lie to do it. Whose faith is real? According to Jesus the mouth speaks out of the overflow of the heart. An evil person cannot speak what is good. It is sobering to consider that our words either justify or condemn us.

In his letter to the Ephesians the apostle Paul writes this,

29  Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

30  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed for the day of redemption.

31  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice.

32  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you. ( Ephesians 4:29-32 NASB)

We must guard our mouths! Our purpose is to build others up, not tear them down. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we speak out in anger or hatred, or when we slander someone else. Of course there are times when we need to be honest with someone who is in error, or perhaps has fallen into sin, but we must be careful to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) instead of in a judgemental way. The point is to give grace to those to whom we are speaking with.

So much of what we hear in everyday talk is evil. From dirty jokes and profanity laced tirades to juicy gossip and outright slander, what we are hearing tends to drag us down. I know it often grieves me, and the passage above affirms that it grieves the Holy Spirit. I understand that the world talks like this, this is what Jesus said comes out of their hearts. But to hear this from a professing Christian should not be. Let us all be careful to guard our hearts, and then our speech will be right also. One day we will answer for it.

    

The Marks of a Christian: Obedience

In the last several posts I have discussed several different marks or characteristics that identify one as a Christian. I identified love, true repentance, and faith in Christ, as indispensable qualities found in the lives of those who are born again. In this post I would like to look at  righteous living, a life of consistent obedience. I admit there is some overlap between these individual points, but I believe it is important to turn these things around in our minds and look at them from various aspects, to gain a thorough understanding of what it means to be a Christian.

We see a relationship between repentance, submission to Christ, and a faith that finds its expression in loving obedience. All of these points are necessary parts of the whole Christian life.

     And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 

     The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 

     but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 

     the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:3-6 NASB)

That is pretty simple to understand. If we know Christ in a salvific way, if we have a relationship with Him, we will keep His commandments. The one who abides in Christ will walk in the same way Jesus walked. This is what a disciple, or one who follows Jesus does. As it states above, one who claims to know Jesus, who says that they are a Christian, yet they live in disobedience, is a liar. That is not my statement, it is taken right out of this scripture passage. 

Again we read this,

     Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. 

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

     Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 

     And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 

     No one who abides in Him sins;  no one who sins has seen Him or known Him.

     Little children, let no one decieve you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;

     the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

     No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in Him; and he cannot sin because He is born of God.

     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.

     For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 

(1 John 3:2-11 NASB)

As children of God, we have a hope of an eternity with Jesus. When He appears we will be transformed. The cares and burdens of this life will be over. Every tear will be wiped away. As Christians we should long to see Jesus, the one we love and follow (2 Timothy 4:8). This being the case, a true child of God purifies themselves now in this lifetime in preparation of the day we see Jesus face to face.

Like a bride dressed in beautiful white dress gets ready to meet her groom, a Christian keeps themselves from spiritual defilement. Anything that would bring shame on that day we meet Jesus must go (see 1 John 2:28). 

Jesus came to take away sins. Not only did He provide an atonement for sin, but He also destroyed the power sin holds over our lives. We don't have to sin if we are in Christ. An inner transformation has taken place in one who has been born again. The Holy Spirit abides within us, the power behind the New Covenant ( Jeremiah 31:33). He whom the Son sets free is free indeed (John 8:36). This is why John can say that no one born of God sins. He is not implying some form of sinless perfection, but a consistent obedience as opposed to habitual sin. The Greek construction of these verses is speaking of an ongoing practice of either sin, or righteousness. A Christian may fail under temptation, but he will get up and confess that sin and keep moving forward with Christ. On the other hand, someone who claims to be a Christian but shows no real life change has no real assurance of their salvation at all. You are known by your fruits. The children of God and the children of the devil are known by how they live. That is the proof of whom you follow. 

If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. (1John 2:29)

The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. (1 John 3:24)

This is not something we do to earn our salvation. No amount of obedience or righteous acts will ever tip the scales in our favor. As I have previously written, this obedience flows out of our salvation in Christ. When we turn from our sinful lives and embrace the call to follow Jesus we will, by His grace and strength, obey Him. Righteousness is much more than being right with God, it is also doing what is right as well. If our repentance is real and our commitment to follow Christ is real, then our obedience will be real as well. It will be selfless, an outflow of love for God, and our fellow man.

The Marks of a Christian: Faith

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NASB)

My previous post dealt with the idea of repentance. In short, repentance is a change from one course of life to another. Something is the driving force behind this change. Biblical repentance is a change of mind and action brought about by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. In repentance then, we turn from our unbelief and sin to submission to God. 

This is where faith comes in. Theologians differ on the question of what comes first: repentance or faith?

Regardless of what their opinions might be, they are basically two sides of the same coin. Again, we turn from sin to God. If one is not moved by a godly sorrow to confess and renounce sin and self it is impossible to exercise faith in Christ. Jesus died to set us free from a sinful lifestyle. Discipleship demands His Lordship over our lives. This we embrace in and by faith. To believe in Jesus is to follow Jesus. It cannot be anything less.

In the above verse we read that we cannot please God apart from faith. If you do not believe in His existence you will see no need to submit to or obey Him. You will not seek after Him.

This seeking after God is vital. A half hearted pursuit is no pursuit at all. Jeremiah called Israel back to God during their captivity in Babylon. He prophesied this,

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:12-13 NASB)

This is just as pertinent to us today as it was to Israel in the days of her captivity. It's all or nothing. Do we kind of want God, or are we all in? Are we committed with all of our heart, or is our allegiance divided?

To seek God in the sense of these verses is to seek Him. We often seek God in prayer to meet a need, but what we see here not that. God Himself is the object of our seeking. We must believe that He rewards those who, as the KJV puts it, diligently seek Him. Our reward is the presence of God in our lives. A relationship with Him is what we must be after. And it involves the whole heart, a sincere passion to know and have God.

Faith is more than an intellectual knowledge of God. Many individuals have a head knowledge of biblical things.They believe historical facts about Jesus, but that's as far as they go. That is not faith. Faith is a confident belief in God that moves us into action. A person who has a firm conviction that Jesus indeed has died for him or her, and has been raised from the dead and sits at the right hand of God, will embrace the Lordship of Christ over their lives and yield to Him in loving obedience. 

Jesus said that those who love him will obey Him (John 14:21-24). Faith expresses itself in love (Gal 5:6), so if we are not obedient to the words of Christ our faith is dead. James tells us that faith without works is a dead faith (James 2:14-26). It is useless.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Col 2:6-7 ESV)

So, just as we began in faith, we are to continue our walk with Christ in the same way. We are to grow and become established in the faith. Christ is to be our lives, the one we live for on a daily basis. This is what faith is. A vibrant and growing faith is a mark of a Christian.

The Marks of a Christian: Repentance

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10 NASB)

This passage mentions two kinds of sorrow. Godly sorrow, and worldly sorrow. One leads to salvation, while the other leads to death. It is vital that we understand the difference between the two. Our salvation depends upon it. 

Jesus exhorts us to enter by the narrow gate. This is a narrow path that few find, while the majority find and travel upon the broad path to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). I'm afraid many miss the narrow gate because of an insincere repentance.

Our text above mentions the sorrow of the world. Two things come to mind when I think about this.

1. The sorrow at being caught 

2. The dread of punishment 

Many individuals who have come to "repentance" are sorry because they were caught in some type of sin. Their sin might have been hidden from everyone around them, and now it has come to light, bringing perhaps shame or embarrassment. This type of person now has a change of mind about their sin. They give it up because it has come to light, but they would never have stopped if they still could have gotten away with it. They are not really sorry, they just want to save face.

Then there are those who fear the consequences of their sin. Perhaps their sin might lead to jail time, or a divorce. Of course all sin leads to eternal separation from God, ultimately spent in torment. That should strike fear in all of our hearts. But to give up our sin to avoid prison, avoid divorce, or even avoid eternal torment in the lake of fire is a selfish repentance that does not touch upon the hurt and offence our sin has brought upon God, and the individual we have sinned against. 

Think about it. You have been caught shoplifting. It's embarrassing, you are afraid of going to jail, so you give your word that you will never do it again. Deep inside however you are not sorry about your crime, and you would still do it if you could get away with it. Is that real sorrow? Is this true repentance? 

Or you feel guilty about sin in your life. You know you are a sinner, and you know that someday you must give an account to God for your sin. You know hell awaits you and you are terrified. Understand, it is wise to know and understand that sin has consequences, and that should cause us to think about sin and our standing before God. However, if our motivation for repentance is the avoidance of punishment we fall short. How does it sound when we tell God we are sorry for our sin, and we will now obey Him, when deep inside we are not concerned as much about God's honor and our offense against Him, as we are about avoiding punishment?

A man says some mean things to his wife. She is very hurt, and now things are strained in their relationship. After a few painful days he goes out and buys some flowers and a nice necklace. He gives her these things with an abstract apology hoping that somehow things will smooth over and go back to how they were. He has only made things worse. Now his wife feels deeper pain, a wedge is driven deeper into the separation between them. 

This is worldly sorrow. Trying to fix things and patch things up between man and God without a heartfelt grief over our sin because it is sin. Worldly sorrow actually leaves God out, we only want Him for what He can do for us. There is no sorrow for what we have done to Him. This kind of repentance is selfish, it still leaves us on the throne. We might give up something sinful, and pick up some moral habits, but it is all for us and our well being, not for the honor of God.

To confess our sin (1 John 1:9) is to agree with God about our sin. Daniel confessed his sin and the national sin of Israel while they were held captive in Babylon,

     "We have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly, and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. Moreover, we have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land. Righteousness belongs to you, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day -to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. (Daniel 9:5-7)

Daniel takes God's side in the matter. As does Ezra (Ezra 9:4-15). The Jews had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, but now it was discovered that they had began to intermarry with the foreigners living among them, in violation of God's command. Ezra was ashamed. He confesses that they had been given into captivity justly, on account of their sin, yet now God had shown them mercy in allowing a remnant to return to rebuild the temple. Now they had fallen into sin once again. He is grieved, not because they were caught, he prays, not to avoid punishment, but he confesses the unfaithfulness of his people to God because it was a grievous offense against a holy, yet gracious God.

This is what godly sorrow looks like. This sorrow at sinning against God causes us to be ashamed of ourselves, our sin, and admit we deserve the penalty due us for our sin. We must take God's side against us, and see ourselves and our sin as He does.

Repentance is a change of mind. This is not a fickle change of mind such as what may be produced by a worldly type of sorrow, but a change of mind brought about by a view of ourselves through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. When we see sin for what it is we will give it up.

Repentance also carries with it the idea of restitution. A thief will return what he has taken, a wrong will be righted as far as possible. Restoration between God and man is not possible without an honest attempt at restoration between the offender and the party offended. In other words, a thief who does not restore what he has taken is a thief still. One who will not go to an offended brother with a sincere confession shows that he has not yet experienced that godly sorrow that leads to repentance. Sadly, many relationships are never truly mended because true restoration has never been attempted. Often people go on like nothing has happened, but deep inside a disconnect remains.

Repentance is a turning point. We turn from sin to obedience. It carries the idea of surrender and commitment. We give up our right to control our lives, and in an act of faith we transfer control to God. In the next post I would like to look at another mark of a Christian, which is faith.

The Marks of a Christian: Love

A Christian is an individual who has been transformed from the inside out. An inner change has taken place that works itself out visibly in the life and actions of one who has experienced regeneration by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4). Anyone in Christ is a new creation. The old way of life is gone, and a new way has now begun (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

Scripture sets forth certain identifying characteristics of the believer that must be present if the new birth has taken place. While it is true that a Christian has not immediately "arrived," we should be consistently maturing in our faith. Our lives must show the evidence of the reality of our salvation.

Jesus commands us to love one another, just as He has loved us. By this, all men will know that we are His disciples (John 13:34-35). In fact, this goes beyond a mere command that we externally obey, but is an outflow of the very nature of God Himself, who has given us spiritual rebirth.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1John 4:7-8 NASB).

So here we have a litmus test. Our love for others is proof of our relationship with God. Therefore it is important to define love; to understand what is required if we are to love others, and to determine who we are expected to love. 

While the term love is used in various ways in everyday thought and conversation, what I want to look at is the sacrificial love that is portrayed throughout the scriptures. This is the kind of love that should mark the life of a believer.

In Romans 13:8-10 we read this,

     Owe nothing to anyone except to live one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, "You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does not wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Jesus puts it simply as treating others in the same way you would want them to treat you (Luke 6:31). We would not want to be wronged by someone, therefore, love forbids us to wrong another human being.

We have a description of love's attributes in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7,

     Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

By this we see that arrogance and self seeking do not belong in a Christian's life. Love is patient, puts up with a lot, and looks for the best in others. Love upholds the truth. This is in opposition to the way the world operates. 

In Romans 1:29-31 we read of a list of grievous sins. Envy, murder and strife, deceit, malice, gossip and slander, arrogance, those who hate God, those who disobey their parents, the unloving and unmerciful. We can look at murder or hating God and recognize those things as wicked indeed. But how about gossip or slander? This list of sins are in a passage of Scripture dealing with a people who have been given over to a depraved mind. Gossip is just as evil, just as unloving as murder or sexual sin in the eyes of God. Yet how easy it is to pass on that story, or to slander someone. Again, treat others the same way you would have them treat you. Love does no wrong to a neighbor.

Love looks out for the best interest of another. Love sees a need that it can meet, and then does it. In James 2:15-16 we are warned that it is not enough to give our best regards to someone in need, we must meet that need if we are able. We must go beyond words to actual deeds for our love to be real (1John 3:17-18).

Ultimately love is self sacrificing. Jesus states, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13). Jesus loved us all the way to the cross. This stands as the ultimate example of sacrificial giving. John repeats this theme in 1John 3:16,

     We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

I think that the weight of these words is lost on most of us in the west. We haven't really experienced persecution for our faith like Christians in other countries have. History is filled with the stories of martyrs who have counted the cost and literally laid down their lives for their brothers and sisters in Christ. I believe that as the age closes upon us that many of us will be faced with this possibility as well. In the meantime however, the sacrifice is as great as the need that confronts us. That is the biblical portrayal of love.

So who are we to love? Are some people exempt from this requirement to love one another? For starters, Jesus has this to say, "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." (Luke 6:32)

If we stop there, and only love our little circle of friends and family, we fall woefully short of God's purpose for our lives. Even the worst of sinners are capable of loving a few friends or family members. That by itself cannot differentiate us from the world. It is not a sign of a true disciple. Of course we should love those around us whom we consider as friends or family (see Ephesians 5:25-28, 1Timothy 5:8) but there is more to love than that. 

We have already looked at verses pertaining to the love of the brethren, but here is one more,

     We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He do does not love abides in death. (1JOHN 3:14 NASB)

In this context the brethren are fellow believers. As followers of Christ we should love each other deeply. We are all members of His body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). As such, we are too be fervent in our love for one another (1Peter 4:8). As Christians we are called to serve one another, to look out for each other, to meet any needs a fellow believers may have. As Christians we are to be kind, compassionate, humble, gentle and patient with one another. Quick to forgive, and eager to preserve unity within the body (Colossians 3:12-14). 

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons if your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

(Matthew 5:43-45 NASB)

Jesus confronts what must have been a common belief in His day. "While the law commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves, we still have the right to hate our enemies." That would be convenient for most, and it is easy to see how an unsaved individual could apply this reasoning to their lives. However Jesus came to shake up the religious hypocrisy of the day. What was applicable two thousand years ago is just as applicable today. We are not exempt from loving those who we consider our enemies. On the contrary, we are called to meet their needs as well.

"But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:20-21 NASB)

We are called to be different from the world. The kingdom of God operates in a complety different way than that if this world. Where the world is quick to judge, condemn and hate, Christ calls us to love and forgive. History records instances of Christians who have practiced loving their enemies and doing good to their persecutors.

Make sure your motives are pure. Many Christians look at "heaping burning coals" on the heads of their enemies as a "divine way of getting revenge." If I do something nice for my enemy it will get under his skin and drive him crazy. That is not love, but a subtle way of getting some revenge. In ancient times people who needed fire would go around with a container looking for coal. A kind neighbor would place burning coals in this basket which was carried upon the head of the needy individual. This was a blessing to a person in need. This is what Paul has in mind in this passage.

Jesus was confronted by a teacher of the law who wanted to know what he should do to receive eternal life (see Luke 10:30-37). When asked by Jesus what the law said, the man answered, "You shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 

Jesus told the man that he answered correctly, and then told him to do this, and he will live. Now comes the tricky question, "Who is my neighbor?"

Jesus answers this with a parable that hit right at the root of ethnic division. I'm sure this was as shocking to His listeners as was His command to love our enemies. You see, the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans (John 4:9). They were despised by the Jews, and no doubt, the feelings were mutual.

A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers and left half dead. A priest came along, crossed the road to avoid this man and walked on. Likewise, a levite did the same. A Samaritan was the one who stopped, bandaged up the man and brought him to an inn for help. This Samaritan, who was despised by the Jews, was the one who had compassion, who went out of his way to save this man's life at his own expense. This is the kind of love we are called to exhibit.

Love knows no ethnic or racial boundaries. It goes beyond economic and social class. James rebuked individuals within the church who were despising the poor among them while catering to the rich. This was a violation of the royal law to live your neighbor as yourself (James 2:1-13). 

It is interesting how James uses the commandment prohibiting murder as an example in this passage. Is he implying that the partiality taking place in this congregation was akin to murder? Jesus would think so. He warns that murder begins in the heart. You may not actually kill your brother, but unchecked anger is just as evil in God's sight. In 1John 3:15 we read that Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

These are sobering words. As I stated above, love is a natural outflowing of God's divine nature through us as believers. As people who have been renewed by the Holy Spirit we now have a new nature. I would like to clarify however that we must walk in this new nature. Our cooperation with the leading of the Spirit is necessary if we are to see love flow out of our lives toward others. In this world we will find ourselves in situations where our patience is tested. We will come across individuals who are hard to love. We must continue to put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, always ready to forgive, and love, which binds all of these things together (Colossians 3:12-14).

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Part 8, God Vindicated).

29. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

30. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

31. (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

                   Deuteronomy 4:29-31KJV

God is a covenant keeping God. He swore an oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concerning a piece of land that they and their descendants were to possess. The land was given to them with no strings attached. However, covenant obedience is required to remain in the land, as I wrote in my first post in this series. You can read it here.

This proves to be a dilemma of sorts. God is bound by a solemn oath made to the patriarchs, yet how can a nation expect blessing if they turn from Him? And so, He has warned them that if they are disobedient, they will be driven off the land, and scattered throughout the nations.

We encounter this in the affair of the golden calf. The LORD desired to destroy the people after they made a golden calf to worship. However, Moses stood in the gap on behalf of Israel. His plea was based upon two points.

1. What would the Egyptians think of God, who brought Israel out of the land of slavery with great power only to slay them in the desert ( Exodus 32:11-12).

2. Remember the covenant that you made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses tells the LORD that He swore by Himself that He would multiply them like the stars of heaven, and give them the land as an eternal inheritance (Exodus 32:13).

God relented and did not destroy them as a nation. Yet, about three thousand were killed that day on account of their sin. God is holy, and as such, He will not let sin go unpunished (Exodus 32:26-35).

This was the dilemma that Habakkuk faced. He understood that God was holy, and the rampant sin of the nation had to be punished. One gets the idea that God's honor is at stake if He just lets sin go. Yet when Habakkuk realizes that God's answer to Judah's sin is the Babylonian captivity, he struggles at first with the idea that a nation "more wicked than they were" could be used as a tool of divine judgement ( Habakkuk 1:1-17). Yet we see Habakkuk submit to God's sovereign will regardless of what may come. He understood that God's honor must be upheld no matter the cost (Habakkuk 3:16-19).

Daniel, in his intercession for his captive people, takes God's side against the nation (Daniel 9:4-29). He recognizes that they have sinned and deserve all of the evil that has befallen them. He recognizes the absolute justice in God's dealings with them, and can only plead for mercy. Again, he also recognizes that God's honor is at stake if Jerusalem as well as the people are not restored, as they are now a reproach before the nations in their desolation (Daniel 9:26).

And finally the apostle Paul agonized over the "scandal" of fallen Israel. The people who had been given the adoption, the glory, the covenants, and the law, the patriarchs, and ultimately Jesus Christ, had fallen into apostasy. Here in Romans 9-11 we read of his great burden over his lost brethren; of their partial hardening; the branches being broken off, yet when we reach the end of these chapters we see that the broken branches will be grafted back in, and all Israel will be saved. 

Paul makes it clear that it is Israel in question here. Many scholars throughout history have symbolized Israel or Jacob to refer to the "Church", and Zion to refer to heaven. This is inaccurate however. Throughout scripture, Israel refers to three things: Jacob, who is also known as Israel (Gen 32:28), the ethnic people of Israel, and the land of Israel. Zion is used biblically to refer to the land of Israel, and more specifically as a reference to a hill in Jerusalem, and  Jerusalem itself. When these terms get interchanged with the Church or heaven it becomes hard to make sense of a lot of prophecy. Promises made to, and events foretold pertaining to Israel are thought to belong to the Gentile Church, causing a lot of misunderstanding and confusion within the body of Christ.

Paul speaks of the great sorrow he feels for the lost condition of his brethren, the people of his own race (Romans 9:1-4). He has ethnic Israel in view in this treatise that covers the next several chapters. Many theologians use this section of Romans as a proof text for their views on election and predestination. However, they miss the point that God's corporate election of Israel is what is in view here. Ironically many who champion the doctrine of predestination replace Israel with the Church. This is not what Paul has in mind however.

He asks the rhetorical question, "Has God cast away His people?" To which he immediately answers, "God forbid. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew." (Romans 11:1-2).

He goes on to state that he himself is an example of God's grace, and even now there is an election of grace. In other words there are Jews being saved even up to the present time. Yet scripture is not content with a few saved here and there, but looks forward to the day when Israel as a nation has a day of national repentance as they "look upon Him whom they pierced" (see Zechariah 12:10-13:1).

Paul asks another rhetorical question, "Have they stumbled so that they should fall?" And the answer is once again, "God forbid" (Romans 11:11).

Through their fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles, but God is not done with Israel. They are referred to as branches that are broken off because of unbelief, but yet if they turn from their unbelief God is able to graft them back into the root again (Romans 11:16-24).

25. For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery - so that you will not be wise in your own estimation- that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 

26. and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

   "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB."

27. "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."

28. From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;

29. for the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.

                      Romans 11:25-29 NASB

Paul refers to this as a mystery, yet something that we must, and can understand. As I wrote previously, we are now living in what is commonly called the Church age. For almost two thousand years now the majority of individuals who follow Christ have been Gentiles. However, we read here that at a certain point in time, that will be it. Then Corporate Israel, as a nation, will be saved. The blinders will come off, and they will recognize Jesus as their Messiah and turn to Him in repentance. Notice here that one of the purpose statements in Daniel's prophecy is mentioned: to make an end of sin. 

We read this in Isaiah 59:20-21,

"A redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declares the LORD 

"As for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring," says the LORD, "From now and forever."

This is the entry of Israel as a nation into the new covenant. The Spirit has been poured out upon them never to depart again. In Jeremiah 31:31-37 we read of this covenant initially made with the whole house of Israel. The day would come when they enter into it and receive the Spirit of the LORD to enable them to walk in obedience to Him. In language that holds God to deliver this nation as His people forever, we read that only if the fixed order of the sun, moon, and stars cease, and the heavens above, and the depths of the earth below can be measured, will Israel cease to be a nation before Him. Then and only then will He cast all of them off for what they have done (see Jeremiah 31:35-37).

As I have stated before, if God cannot fulfill His word concerning the salvation of Israel, and their permanent dwelling in the land promised to their forefathers, can we be sure of our salvation? I don't mean to be flippant here at all. God, who cannot lie, has made some promises concerning Israel. As a holy and trustworthy God, He must, and will fulfill His word.

The Bible is filled with these promises of restoration. I always say "By the mouth of two or three witnesses let a matter be established." 

God will act to vindicate the holiness of His great name. We read in Ezekiel,

22. "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the LORD GOD, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.

23. " I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD," declares the LORD GOD, "When I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.

24. "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.

25. "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from your idols.

Ok

26. "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

28. "You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God."

                         Ezekiel 36:22-28 NASB

 Notice the language of the new covenant in this passage of Scripture. The new heart and spirit; God's Spirit living within, causing obedience to His laws. Notice how this ties in with the land. Now walking within covenant faithfulness to God, they return to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The great "scandal" is over. God has been vindicated in the sight of the nations. On the one hand, he did not totally destroy a nation as Moses feared would happen when they made the golden calf. He was concerned that the Egyptians would take notice that God brought a people out of bondage only to destroy them in the wilderness. And God was true to His covenant promise concerning Israel's status as His people, and their right to dwell permanently in their land. Any controversy over the land of Israel will be ended in that day. 

They will live in the land forever, and not only that, but the LORD Himself will live in their midst, vindicated in the sight of all the nations.

25. "They will live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons and their sons' sons, forever; and David My servant will be their prince forever.

26. "I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever.

27. "My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.

28. "And the nations will know that am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever."

                          Ezekiel 37:25-28 NASB

All of these passages that I have quoted are all speaking of prophetic events yet to come. While on the one hand the new covenant was inaugurated by Jesus during His last passover supper the night before His arrest and crucifixion, corporate Israel has not entered into it yet. As Paul stated in the above passage, a partial hardening is now in effect until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. To be sure, there have been many Jews saved throughout history, even many now today, but their day of national salvation is yet to come. 

Ezekiel 38 -39 describe the invasion of a Middle Eastern and North African coalition led by an individual referred to as "Gog." This is the Antichrist's invasion of Israel three and one half years into a covenant he has confirmed with many ( Daniel 9:27). After a time of intense tribulation, this individual is destroyed at what is referred to as the battle of Armageddon. This is the context of Ezekiel 39 where we read this,

21. "And I will set My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgement which I have executed and My hand which I have laid on them.

22. "And the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God from that day onward 

23. "The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity because they acted treacherously against Me, and I hid My face from them; so I gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and all of them fell by the sword.

24. "According to their uncleaness and according to their transgressions I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them."

25. Therefore thus says the LORD GOD, "Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name.

26. "They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid.

27. "When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations.

28. "Then they will know that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer.

29. "I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel," declares the LORD GOD."

                          Ezekiel 39:22-29 NASB

At this present time Israel is living in the land given them by God. After nearly two thousand years they returned from the nations where they had been scattered by the Romans in 70 AD, and then again in 135 AD. But it is obvious that they are not living securely in the land at this time in history. Ezekiel 38:8-12 mentions a period of time when Israel will live in security without walls or gates. You can't say that is true right now. This initial security that leaves them "defenseless" is a result of a covenant that is broken by the Antichrist whose armies cover the land like a cloud  (Ezekiel 38:16). So there is one more great scattering to come before Israel's final restoration. The passage quoted above refers to the peace and security that Israel finally receives after the destruction of the "beast." There will be one final regathering of the nation back to their own land. This time the nation is turned back to the Lord their God. They have looked upon the one they have pierced and mourned for Him. They have had their national day of atonement, and have made their peace with God (Zechariah 12:1-14). A fountain of cleansing has been opened up for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Zechariah 13:1), and the iniquity of the land has been removed in one day (Zechariah 3:8-9). They have experienced the new birth, the receiving of a new heart and Spirit.

As Gentile believers, we have had access to that very same fountain of cleansing by the offering of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins. However, this verse makes it very specific in its application to ethnic Israel. We must not make it symbolic and therefore confuse the meaning. Once again, Israel means Israel; Jerusalem means Jerusalem, and here the house of David is referring to corporate Israel, and not the predominantly Gentile Church. There are many who get this wrong. Again as Paul admonishes in Romans 11:25, "I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery-so that you will not be wise in your own estimation- that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in..."

"Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God. 

"Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins."

                                         Isaiah 40:1-2

We read in Isaiah 60:1-22 of a glorious time yet to come when Jesus will reign from Jerusalem,

1. "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 

2. "For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and his glory will appear upon you.

3. "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."

                              Isaiah 60:1-3 NASB

This will be the ultimate security. The world will experience peace; the wolf will lay down with the lamb as nations beat their swords into pruning shears (Isaiah 2:4-1-5, 11:6-10). 

The ultimate answer to the anguished pleading of Daniel can be summed up in Isaiah 60:18-22,

18. "Violence wii not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.

19. "No longer will you have the sun for light by day, nor for brightness will the moon give you light; but you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, and your God for your glory.

20. "Your sun will no longer set, nor will your moon wane; for you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be over.

21. "Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified.

22. "The smallest one will become a clan, and the least one a mighty nation. I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time."

Here we find the fulfillment of Daniel's seventy week prophecy. It covers the rebuilding of Jerusalem in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, the arrival of the Messiah and His crucifixion, a long period of wars and desolations up to to the present time. We are now waiting for a covenant that perhaps recognizes Israel's right to live in their land, and allowing them to build a temple and begin the daily sacrifice. This is something that has not occured since 70 AD. Then comes the abomination of desolation which begins a time of tribulation unlike anything that has ever happened before. This will lead up to the return of Christ, the salvation of Israel as a nation, their regathering to the land of promise, and usher in the final Jubilee, as we enter the millenial age.