The Why and the Way to Preserve Yourself for Christ

The Roman Emperor Nero executed the apostles Peter and Paul in approximately 67 A.D. In that same period, a riot born out of religious differences, broke out between the Jews and the Greeks, in the Israeli city of Caesarea. It has been referred to as the ‘Great Revolt,’ because as the riot spread, the Jews rebelled against Roman rule as well.

The Jews had defeated a Roman Garrison in a surprise attack. In response, Nero dispatched his general, Vespasian, to lead 60,000 soldiers into the city, to brutally crush the resistance in 68 A.D.

Subsequently, the apostle John moved Mary (the mother of Jesus), to the city of Ephesus – where it is thought that he was a revered elder in the church.

In 70 A.D., the Romans laid siege to the city of Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple, exactly when Jesus prophesied that they would, (see Mt. 24:2), and invaded the Israeli city of Masada as well. The historian Josephus recorded that over one million Jews were killed, and 97,000 were enslaved. Other Jews fled to other areas around the Mediterranean region.

Leaping ahead in time to the rule of the Roman Emperor Domitian, (81 – 96 A.D.), we again find a growing prevalence of Christian persecution. At approximately the same period, the apostle John writes his Gospel, as well as three letters that would become the biblical books of 1, 2, and 3 John.

Because 2 John and 3 John carry many of the same themes as 1 John, and primarily deal with caring for traveling Christian evangelizers in the home, I am going to focus primarily on the theologically rich 1 John.

John addresses this letter to the churches surrounding Ephesus, for the purpose of reassuring them of Christ’s return – especially to congregants who were leaving the church because they were losing their faith. He reminded them that the only way to have a relationship with God is to have one with Jesus.

He also warns them of the danger of false teachers and how to remedy that by laying down a foundation for godly living – consisting of faith, obedience, and love. John begins by revealing the nature of the Father-Son relationship, and our place within it:

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him.

And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 Jn. 1:1 – 3. NLT

John is saying that Jesus is the living Word of life and that He was present with His Father when everything in the universe was created.

He is also stating that he was in the actual physical presence of Christ and wants to convey to them what he has learned directly from Him, so that they too would lay hold of their salvation gift.

Next, the apostle speaks to the great purpose of God as expressed in Christ:

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 1 Jn. 1:5 NLT

John also reveals how we too can get a hold of that light:

So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 Jn. 1:6, 7. NLT

The Gnostics (false teachers at this time), claimed to be without sin, that they were unaccountable for their actions of the flesh.

We are walking in the light when we live in a Christ-like manner, (one that passes the scrutiny of our Creator because of Christ’s blood-induced transformation in us). Subsequently, we can reflect our godliness outwards to others in a manner that creates loving relationship.

You cannot underestimate the importance of God’s forgiveness through His Son, because our very nature is in perpetual need of it, right up until the day our spirit rises from this earth:

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. 1 Jn. 8 – 10. NLT

First, this is a second dig at the Gnostics because of their claim to be sinless, to have evolved beyond needing salvation.

John is pointing out that throughout our lives we need to confess and repent for every new sin. We all fall from time to time. Thank God that in Christ we have an Advocate (one who supports us) and a Propitiator as well (who restores our favor with Jehovah):

…if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins – and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 1 Jn. 2:1, 2. NLT

What is our part in this exchange of God’s free gift of salvation?

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.

But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 Jn. 2:3 – 6. NLT

Jesus Himself told us that the way we demonstrate our love for Him and His Father, is by keeping their commandments to the best of our ability, (see Jn 14:21 & 23). As we do that we are walking like Christ – walking in light and love:

Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.

If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in the in darkness. Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.

But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness. 1 Jn. 2:8 – 11. NLT

Love and hate cannot coexist. Godly love transcends the hateful ways of the world; and we must practice that love, to be part of the separated remnant that is God’s children:

Do not love this world or the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.

These are not from the Father but are from the world. 1 Jn. 2:15, 16. NLT

There it is – the three-pronged root of all our problems: ‘lust of the flesh’ (placing the will of the body above the heart of God); ‘lust of the eyes’ (focusing on forbidden fruit and coveting the possessions of others); and the ‘pride of life’ (putting oneself before God).

We can rise above that dastardly root:

And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 Jn. 2:17 NLT

It is something that we must do, because our adversary is rising up against us at full steam:

Children, it is the last hour [the end of this age]; just as you heard that the antichrist is coming [the one who will oppose Christ and attempt to replace Him], even now many antichrists (false teachers) have appeared, which confirms our belief that it is the last hour. 1 Jn. 2:18 AMP

Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. 1 Jn. 2:22 CSB

For many deceivers [heretics, posing as Christians] have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge and confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh (bodily form). This [person, the kind who does this] is the deceiver and the antichrist [that is the antagonist of Christ]. 2 Jn. 1:7 AMP

No one who denies the Son has the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well. 1 Jn. 2:23 CSB

Anyone who runs ahead and does not remain in the doctrine of Christ [that is, one who is not content with what He taught], does not have God; but the one who continues to remain in the teaching [of Christ does have God], he has both the Father and the Son.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching [but diminishes or adds to the doctrine of Christ], do not receive or welcome him into your house, and do not give him a greeting or any encouragement… 2 Jn. 9, 10. AMP

…do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God.

But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here. 1 Jn 4:1 – 3. NLT

Every one of this group of Scriptures contain a slight against the Gnostics of that time; yet the presence of the ‘antichrists’ exist in present time as well.

The spiritual battle is on! The ‘end times’ began the moment that Jesus ascended into heaven, and they are steadily advancing towards their termination.

Our times are populated with a plethora of false teachers: people who are wittingly or unwittingly doing the devil’s work. These are antichrists due to the nature of their behavior – different from the Antichrist, whom we shall meet shortly in the book of Revelation, who, has already begun his work in the spirit through his antichrists.

The urgency to embrace Christ is in this moment, to have God at your back:

…you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 Jn. 4:4 NLT

Jesus trumps Satan every time!

…remain in him so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1 Jn. 2:28 CSB

Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children, because they don’t know him. 1 Jn. 2:29, 3:1. NLT

The children of God consist of those who do their best to emulate His Son and have faith that their righteousness is completed in Christ.

Those who are choosing to remain in the ways of the world, will not be a part of these children who reside in God’s grace. That’s why we continue in our quest to fill Jehovah’s Kingdom – doing our best to overcome the ignorant and self-destructive ways of the obstinate, with our message of hope.

We, as children of God, are even now being divinely prepared (transformed), for our date with destiny – when our risen spirits are housed in incorruptible, glorified bodies, in the image of Christ:

…we are [even here and] now children of God, and it is not yet made clear what we will be [after His coming]. We know that when He comes and is revealed, we will [as His children] be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is [in all His glory]. 1 Jn. 3:2 AMP

Until that time, we must retain our righteous vigil. How? Through confession, repentance, and faith in the cleansing blood of Christ:

…all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin.

But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. 1 Jn. 3:3 – 6. NLT

John is saying that Christ came to wipe our ‘sin slate’ clean – past, present, and future; so that when, (despite our best efforts), we do slip up, Jesus’ journey to the cross will wipe away the stain (after our confession and repentance), and restore us with His righteousness, that is provided through His Father’s grace. So, in effect, their sins do not stick, and in a manner of speaking, cannot sin.

Unfortunately, this grace does not apply to the willful sinner, who has no regards for the consequences:

But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.

Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 1 Jn. 3:8, 9. NLT

The darkness hates the light, which is also reflected in the hate that the world has for the children of God:

So don’t be surprised…if the world hates you. If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life.

But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates brother of sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them. 1 Jn. 3:13 – 15. NLT

The hallmark of Christian living is acting out of love:

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion – how can God’s love be in that person? …let’s not merely say that we love each other, let us show the truth by our actions. 1 Jn. 3:16 – 18. NLT

…if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. And this is the commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 1 Jn. 3:21 – 23. NLT

…let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

God showed us how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love – not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 Jn. 4:7 – 10. NLT

And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. 1 Jn. 4:17 – 19. NLT

If you know God, you know love. You have love flowing in and out of you because God loved you first; and He is still sending that love to you, through His Son. You are a mirror of God’s love in this world. Because of that, you won’t have to tremble along with those who have denied Christ on the day of judgment.

As a child of God, that day will be one of celebration!

Goodnight and God bless.

Building Better Americans 106

Since 1798, doomsayers have said that overpopulation of the planet would lead to starvation. It turns out to be a false premise.

Christ’s Greatest Warrior Soldiered on until His Last Breath

At approximately the same time that the apostle Peter wrote his last epistle, (see Encouraging Spiritual Growth in the Face of Resistance), the apostle Paul penned his as well – now known as the book of 2 Timothy

We find Paul arrested and imprisoned in Rome again, now awaiting imminent execution. And just as it happened when Jesus was arrested, many lukewarm believers abandoned Paul’s side in his final hours as well.

Yet Christ’s greatest warrior that he is, Paul soldiers on, writing his last letter to his faithful disciple and co-worker in the Gospel, Timothy, encouraging him to continue to fight the good fight of faith:

Timothy, I thank God for you – the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. I long to see you again…And I will be filled with joy… 2 Tim. 1:3, 4. NLT

I remember your genuine faith…and I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God has given you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

…With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time – to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 2 Tim. 1:5 – 10. NLT

Jehovah has placed those gifts within each one of us – to assist us in advancing His kingdom, by leading others to salvation through Christ. It is our most precious duty as children of God. So, what do we need to bring to the table?

Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me – a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you. 2 Tim. 1:13, 14. NLT

Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these things these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass then on to others. 2 Tim. 2:1, 2.

Paul is telling us to preserve God’s word in its purity and continue to ask the Holy Spirit for deeper revelation of that word, so that we may both perceive it and share it with others with the utmost clarity, so that the hearers can go and do likewise.

Our task is a godly and sacrificial one that supersedes the opposition within the world:

Endure suffering along with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them…Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things. 2 Tim. 2:3, 4 & 7. NLT

The apostle then tells Timothy that regardless of one’s personal circumstances and / or appearances, the power of the word of God will always accomplish His will:

Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal.

But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. 2 Tim. 2:8 – 10. NLT

We have the power of Jehovah God in us, to overcome anything that the world hurls our way. God, through Christ, strengthens us with a guarantee that we were spiritually reborn when we accepted Christ as out Savior. Our heavenly calling is to proliferate that Gospel assurance, amid worldly resistance and joyfully claim our eternal reward.

There is no hope for those who deny the Son of God. Yet, we rest in peace, in God’s acceptance, because of our faith in Christ. So, within that same heavenly calling that we have, is the urgency to share the ‘why’ of our serenity with as many of the unsaved as we can, by living out Christ’s example:

If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him.

If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them. 2 Tim. 2:11 – 14. NLT

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. 2 Tim. 2:15, 16. NLT

What else can we do?

…God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The LORD knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil.”

In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used on special occasions, and the cheap ones for everyday use.

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 2 Tim. 2:19-21. NLT

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 2 Tim. 2:22 NLT

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts and they will learn the truth.

Then they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. 2 Tim. 2:24 – 26. NLT

Paul is saying that we need to be intimately familiar with the accurate meanings of Jehovah’s word (through the Holy Spirit), so that we are always prepared to engage in conversation rich in the Gospel salvation for the ears of the hearer.

With that as our prime focus, we can rise above the petty and meaningless drivel that passes itself off as viable discourse in this world. To do that, the Gospel must come from the mouths of those who have separated themselves spiritually from the ways of that same sphere.

Finally, we must bring the Good News with gentleness instead of violence, peacefully disarming resistance with love…

We are beacons of light for Christ, uncovering the darkness. This task will grow increasing vital as time passes – when scoffers and deniers turn increasingly to the base desires of their flesh:

…in the last days there will be difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.

They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 2 Tim. 3:1 – 5. NLT

Looks a lot like the ‘last days’ are our ‘present days,’ yes? Nevertheless, we must soldier on in faith because the ‘cold new world’ will be increasingly hostile towards the followers of Jesus:

Yes…everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and imposters will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. 2 Tim. 3:12, 13. NLT

Yet, we must still be walking clarions of the Gospel, giving the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to illuminate its gift of eternal life:

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Tim. 3:16 NLT

Paul then gives Timothy the urgency of his charge as his final commission:

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom. Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 2 Tim. 4:1 – 4. NLT

Jehovah wants all His children to be soldiering to the end, gathering souls for their salvation while there are still people out their willing to receive the Good News.

That is the greatest show of love that we can make towards others – presenting them with the opportunity to receive endless love…

Now, near the very end of his breath, Paul pours out his exemplary life for His Christ, with no regrets. How many of us can make the same claim?

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me – the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return.

And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 2 Tim. 4:7, 8. NLT

Inspiring to be sure.

Epilogue

Church tradition tells us that after the apostles Peter and Paul finished their final letters, the Roman emperor Nero had them executed.

We can be everlastingly grateful that Jehovah sent these two powerful soldiers to deliver the Gospel with such clarity, conviction, and boldness – in defiance even of the devil himself.

Now, there is only one apostolic soldier of Love left standing. To be continued…