Christ Church

They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To (Wise Master Builder) (Living Stone Reformed Church)
Christ Church on October 3, 2025
Read Full Article

Ben Zornes

Roll Call (Wise Master Builder) (Living Stone Reformed Church)

Christ Church on

INTRODUCTION

It’s been quipped that passages like this have all the whimsy of curling up by the fire to read a phone book. While such passages might be a bit tedious for us, they are inspired words all the same. Thus, we shouldn’t be surprised that the Living Word is profitable for us even unfrequented corners of Scripture.

THE TEXT

Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city […]

Ezra 2:1ff

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

Ezra here provides us a detailed register of the returning exiles. An almost identical list will also show up again when we come to Nehemiah 7. In verses 1-2 we’re provided with the list of the eleven principle leaders of this first wave of returning saints, with Zerubbabel, the heir to David, being the principal leader along with the high priest Jeshua. If you know your Biblical symbolism, it is a bit odd to find just eleven leaders; it’s possible that this is meant to be a reminder that Israel has been broken apart. This return is wonderful, but it is incomplete.

Verses 3-35 record the families of not only returning “Judahites” but also other Israelites. Verses 36-39 records the priestly families who returned, then in verses 40-42 we find that the number of returning Levites was considerably few. Verses 43-54 reckons the families of the Nethinim, followed in verses 55-58 by the number of Solomon’s servants, the descendants of Canaanites which David and Solomon had subjugated to be bond-servants of the royal house (1 Ki. 9:20-22).

In verses 59-63, we learn there is a whole group, including some priests that had lost their genealogical pedigree. Thus, they could no longer fulfill their temple service, or receive their share of the offerings. This was not an instance of racial exclusivism. As we’ll see a few other times in Ezra/Nehemiah, the corrupted priesthood was a real moral problem that confronted the returning exiles (Ez. 10:18-44, Neh. 13:23-30).

The total returning remnant was 42,360 (v64), along with 7,337 servants, an additional 200 singers (v65), and considerable numbers of beasts of burden (v66-67). Upon arriving in Jerusalem, several of the chieftains made generous donations, according to their ability, to the project (vv68-69). Exile had, evidently, treated them surprisingly well. As one Bible teacher remarked on this display of wealth, “when the Jews get into business, it’s not easy for them to go back.” The chapter concludes with this remnant beginning the hard work of resettling their towns and villages (v70).

THE REMNANT

This chapter is more than just a rigid recitation of a population record. We see here that despite grievous sins which led to Israel’s exile, God in His mercy always preserves a remnant of the church. Here are some wonderful remarks by Jonathan Edwards on this glorious doctrine: “When the enemies of the church have done their utmost, and seem to have gained their point; when they have overthrown the church, so that its being is scarcely visible, but is like a living root hid under ground; there is in it a secret life that will cause it to flourish again, and to take root downward, and bear fruit upward.” The church is all too often reduced to a small number of faithful saints, but in God’s perfect timing and by means of this faithful remnant great revivals are brought about (2 Ki. 19:30).

Now, there are a few interesting tidbits here regarding this iteration of the remnant. We find that only 123 of those who belong to David’s hometown of Bethlehem returned, which confirms the prophet Micah’s description of Bethlehem as one of the smaller villages of Judah, but from which would come the King of all kings (Cf. Mic. 5:2, Mat. 2:6).

The prophet Jeremiah was from Anathoth of Benjamin (Jer. 1:1, 29:27). Jeremiah had been threatened with death by his own kinsmen for prophesying against Judah and Jerusalem; for this persecution, God promised to bring complete desolation upon the men of Anathoth (Jer. 11:21-23). But in this list we find a small group of exiles who trace their lineage back to Anathoth. How do we reconcile this with God’s promise to not leave a remnant of the men of Anathoth?

It is not mental gymnastics to affirm both that God in His justice wiped out those men of Anathoth entirely, and that God in His mercy spared some. In Adam all die, and yet only sons of Adam will be in heaven. God’s justice will not spare one wicked man, and His mercy will not overlook one of the elect. This is a glorious doctrine of comfort. God will judge the world, and God will save the world. There will ever be a remnant, and one day––in a glorious paradox––the remnant shall be an innumerable host.

SACRIFICIAL GIVING

These returning exiles had not only left the comfort of Babylon, but when they arrived they also contributed generously to the work itself. They weren’t free-loaders. They weren’t idle or lazy. They contributed, as they were able, millions of dollars worth of gold and silver to the project. One of the trademarks of a true revival is this sort of sacrificial courage and generosity. The work of rebuilding is not for the faint of heart. It is not for the stingy. It is not for those who like to keep their furniture clean. There are often charlatans trying to grift off of such generosity. However, we shouldn’t overlook that generous giving to the work of the Lord––in tithes, offerings, supporting faithful ministries and missionaries––is a hallmark of God being at work in His people. Your wealth is God’s. You are to understand your tithes and offerings as a confession of that truth.

POLLUTED PRIESTS AND UNLIKELY SAINTS

Some scholars see Ezra’s vendetta against the impurity of these priests as evidence of a growing racial vain-glory amongst the Jews. That certainly does develop later on as we see in the time of Christ. But that is not what Ezra and Nehemiah are up to. Here is one reason why: amongst these returning Jews are the Nethinim, faithful servants of tabernacle and temple. Think of them as the janitors of the church. If there was a racial vain-glory amongst this remnant it would have been more likely found by excluding these “devoted ones” who were not Hebrews by kinship.

The Nethinims, mentioned here, were more than likely the descendants of the Gibeonites (Jos. 9:27). Saul had persecuted the Gibeonites in a fervor of faux religious zeal (2 Samuel 21:1–6). It was David who discerned that by God’s providence, the Gibeonites had been covenantally joined to house of the Lord, and Saul had grievously wronged them in a hot-headed frenzy. David had restored the Nethinim to their work in temple service (Ezra 8:20). God did not reward the Gibeonites’ shrewd deception with death. He instead showered them with the kindness of being servants in His house.

Another set of unlikely saints found here. Amongst these returning saints are the descendants of the rebel Korah (Ez. 2:42). Korah was discontent with his role in Moses’ Israel. God brought him low, destroying him; but once again we find that some of his descendants who survived were tasked with being porters of the temple. Not only that but some of them composed Psalms which we sing to this day: “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness (Psa 84:10).”

ZEAL FOR GOD’S HOUSE

So then, true zeal is not loss of self-control. It can look like faithful record keeping. It can look like excluding the self-righteous and prideful, and welcoming the humble repentant sinners. Saul thought he could please God with a hot-headed racial purity project. Some of the priests thought it didn’t matter that they had married idolatrous and unbelieving foreign wives. Their lineage was sufficient, they thought. But God desires a faithful people. As God stirs his people to rebuild the House of the Lord, we find Jews and Gentiles working hand in hand. While hot-headed purists and apathetic idolators find themselves put out (Cf. Mt. 8:11-12). This list of saints should put you in mind of two things. First, God raises up faithful saints from unfaithful fathers. Second, God expels unfaithful sons of faithful fathers. The question for you is: is your name listed amongst the faithful?

Read Full Article

Reading History Rightly (Wise Master Builder) (Living Stone Reformed Church)

Christ Church on

INTRODUCTION

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of assembling a piece of IKEA furniture, you know the challenge of making sure you get each piece in the right spot. There’s no room for imagination when it comes to the parts. You would be indignant if someone had purposefully wrongly labeled all the parts. Unbelieving man has imagined that he can infallibly interpret the story of the world, with no regard for how the Author of the story has structured the story. This is like assembling the furniture with all the pieces mislabelled.

THE TEXT

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he  hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. […] Ezra 1:1ff

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

Around 100 years prior to Cyrus’ birth, Isaiah had foretold that a king named Cyrus would bring about the restoration of Jerusalem (Is. 44:28). Ezra begins by rooting his record of the Jews’ restoration to Jerusalem in the prophecy of Jeremiah 29:10. The Lord who stirred up the nations against Jerusalem for her idolatries, now stirs up the spirit of Cyrus to shepherd God’s people back to their inheritance (v1). The Cyrus Cylinder is an artifact, discovered in the late 1800s, which is a proclamation promising support for restoring the temples of the peoples which Persia had conquered. This is a wonderful corroboration of the Biblical record found here in our text. God had given Cyrus the nations, and now God stirs Cyrus to be the means of fulfilling the promised restoration of the Lord’s house (v2). Cyrus welcomes the Jews to commence this project of rebuilding the house of the Lord God of Israel (v3). He also sends out a fundraising letter, particularly to the remnant, to contribute to the project by way of free will offerings of silver, gold, goods, and beasts (v4). There are echoes here of the Hebrews’ plundering of Egypt in Exodus.

In response to this summons from a pagan king, a group of Jewish leaders arise, namely, chief fathers of Judah and Benjamin, along with a few priests and Levites. These families were themselves “stirred up” in their spirit by the Lord (v5). Those willing to pioneer the work back in Jerusalem were strengthened by the support of those who decided to stay put (v6). While we might be tempted to look down on those who remained behind, God was laying the groundwork, even in this, for the construction of His house which would fill all the world (Eph. 2:21).

Cyrus commanded that the temple vessels be taken from the treasuries of the gods, where Nebuchadnezzar had stored them, and give them to this contingent of Jews, led by Sheshbazzar (vv7-11). Ezra is clearly fond for detail, and his thoroughness is on display here in recording all that was recovered. Sheshbazzar is very likely the Babylonian name for Zerubbabel, the heir of David’s throne. We learn in the next chapter that Zerubbabel led this first wave of returning Jews (2:2). Ezra invites us to see that in mysterious ways God is moving.

POTENTATE OF TIME

In that wonderful hymn Crown Him With Many Crowns we find a wonderful title for God: the Potentate of time. Ezra and Nehemiah show us this truth quite clearly. The stage is being set for the NT. The scribal tradition of Ezra brought out the best (Paul) and the worst (Pharisaical pride) in Israel. We also see that those Jews who remained in their various settlements prepared the ground for the seed of the Gospel to be cast by the Apostles. The Magi who brought gifts to the Christ child had learned of the star which would hail the birth of the Messiah King from these exiled Jews. Matthew informs us that Zerubbabel is one of the ancestors of Christ (Mt. 1:13). Isaiah foretold Cyrus’ magnanimous work to rebuild God’s house. Jeremiah too foresaw God’s hand upon the steering wheel of world events.

God really is sovereign over all the movements of humanity. History is not the incoherent ravings of a lunatic. History is the display of God’s purposes continually being brought to pass. This is lesson we persistently forget to our peril. So then, if we are to read our own moment in history rightly it must be by beginning with this fact. God is the potentate of time. He is the Lord of History. He is the emperor over every circumstance. Generations come and go. Each getting a short sentence in this epic story. In our pride we presume we can finish the entire story ourselves. But as CS Lewis pointed out “A story is precisely the sort of thing that cannot be understood till you have heard the whole of it.” To read history rightly requires you to live by faith in the God of history. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Rom. 8:28).

STIRRED UP

In this first wave of rebuilding Jerusalem, we see God stirring up both a pagan king and His own people. God had shaken the entire world through the various conquests of Assyria and Babylon and now the Persians. But because God is governs history, He also governs the men in history. He stirs up men to accomplish his purposes. From our perspective this looks messy. He stirs up great men and small men. He stirs up His people. He raises up kings and brings them low. To us the world is a sea full of billows and waves. From heaven, that sea is calm and clear as crystal. Here on earth wicked men seem to go unchecked, unhindered, unimpeded. The Word, however, assures us that the Lord will avenge His elect speedily. God is at work in history to make all things brilliantly shine with the glory of the Lord Jesus who died to redeem us from the wreckage which sin brought into this world.

THE WORK BEFORE US

Consider the work which God stirred up His people to do. It was hard work. The sieges had left the city in wreckage. The exiles had become rather prosperous in their new home, and uprooting was a significant sacrifice. The poor had been left to suffer in Jerusalem, so the returning exiles would have to labor to care for these impoverished saints. The economy of Jerusalem was in shambles. The culture disorganized. The city itself a crater. The worship of Jehovah was neglected. Every sphere of life in Jerusalem––religious, political, economic––was about as bad as it could get. Yet God had purposed to build His Kingdom of Heaven here on earth, and He would not be thwarted. Thus, God moves in quite unexpected ways to bring His purposes to pass. A pagan king nurtures God’s people and sets them to work building God’s house.

We are at a similar moment. God has been shaking our nation, in order that only that which is unshakable may remain. As God’s people, we must be prepared to follow the mysterious movements of God as He stirs the events of history. This is a summons to be ready to rise up and build. It is a summons to plead with Jehovah to move upon the hearts of our civilization magistrates, from President to Mayor, to defend the Church of Christ. It is a summons to  devote yourself and your family, with sacrificial courage, to build the house of the Lord.

Read Full Article

The Raging Lions Will Go Hungry (The Living Stone) (Living Stone Reformed Church)

Christ Church on

INTRODUCTION

Flocks tend to bolt and scatter when danger comes. As the church faces danger, fearful lions, alluring temptations, how does God guard His flock? He takes away their fear, and gives them peace.

THE TEXT

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. […] 1 Peter 5:1ff

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

The saints have just been instructed to prepare for persecution by entrusting themselves entirely to God (4:19). Peter now turns to exhort his fellow elders. Peter is not only a witness of Christ’s sufferings, but is also a partaker of the coming revelation of Christ’s glorious vindication (v1). Peter gives a job description for these elders, which can be summarized as shepherding God’s flock, in imitation of the chief Shepherd (vv2-4). Such elders can expect the reward of an amaranth crown (v4b).

Peter has frequently used the word “likewise”. The duties proper to each office (wife and husband, elders and young men) are all to be undertaken in conformity to the example of Christ. Our duties to each other are done in the light of Christ, and with Christ’s example in mind. Young men, then, are to submit to their elders (v5a). All the saints are to don the apron of servant-like humility, bearing in mind Solomon’s proverb about how God will treat the proud and the humble (v5b, Cf. Pro. 3:34). Peter returns to the Psalter to exhort the New Israel to not fret because of evildoers; rather, in humility cast all their cares upon the God who tenderly cares for them (vv6-7, Cf. Ps. 37:5).

Peter now summarizes his entire letter with a final punchy exhortation (vv8-11). The devil, in the form of a ravening lion, is prowling around looking for saints to devour. This danger demands sobriety and vigilance (v8), along with steadfast resistance (v9). The saints should remember that the afflictions of some saints are shared by all the brethren across the world (v9). We all face tribulations of varying severities. All the sufferings which await these saints are sent from the hand of the God of all grace. This God has called them unto eternal glory by Jesus Christ, and though there be a “little while” of suffering, this God of all grace will use those sufferings to make the saint perfect, established, strong, and immovable (v10). This deserves a fervent doxology: all glory and dominion be unto our God (v11).

Silvanus is the one who will deliver this letter. Silas’ presence here actually closes an interesting NT loop. Paul had written his letter to the saints of Galatia in the run up the Jerusalem council (~AD49). Paul had first visited the Roman province of Galatia (Acts 13:14, 51, 14:6, 20-21), after the ruling of the Jerusalem council (Acts 15); Paul and Silas take the news of that decision to both regions known as Galatia (Acts 16:6; 18:5). Remember that Paul detailed to these Galatian saints his rebuke of Peter for drawing away from the Gentiles due to his fear of the judaizers (Gal. 2:11-13). Now Peter sends Silas with this letter telling these Gentiles––the sort he had once drawn away from––that they, though Gentiles, stand with him in the true grace of God (v12). The church in Babylon (Rome), also numbered as the elect (1:1), sends their greetings; along with Mark, whose Gospel (~AD42-45) was already in circulation amongst the Gentile believers (v13). Mentioning Mark also calls to mind Jesus’ prophecy of great judgement coming, which Peter has been preparing these saints for (Cf. Mk. 13). Lastly, the saints are summoned to be warm and affectionate to each other. The shalom of Israel’s God rests upon all who are in Christ Jesus (v14).

THE ELDER’S JOB DESCRIPTION

When a ship goes through stormy seas, the captain must be found at the helm. When a lion is prowling near the flock, the shepherd must remain alert. We are provided with a snapshot of the elder (who he is), his duties (what he does), and his demeanor (how he does it). The elder has two primary duties: to feed (pastor/shepherd) and oversee (episkopos). He leads the flock to verdant pastures and still waters, he foresees dangers, and keeps his eyes out for wandering sheep. Both duties demand true sacrifice of the shepherd himself.

Thus, Peter explains three ways in which these two overarching duties are to be done. First, an elder should be willing to serve, not forced to serve just to be a warm body to fill a seat. Second, he should be eager in the work, not coaxed with cash. Third, his leadership should not be marked by bossiness, but by modeling Christ-like sacrificial authority. Notice those qualifications: gladness to serve, generosity in that service, and exemplary Christ-likeness. He ought to be the sort of leader that people say, “I want to be like him.” An elder need not be perfect, of course, but he is not lazy, he is not stingy, and he is not a bossy-pants.

There are a few more interesting ecclesiastical tidbit. Peter does not identify his office as a superior one, but as an equal one to these elders’ office. Presbyteros often refers to age, but is not restricted to it as we see in the instance of Timothy. It also hearkens back to Jethro’s advice to Moses as Israel was first constituted in the wilderness (Ex. 18). We find here two identifiable lists which constitute the local congregation: the list of who the elders are that the flock is to follow, and a list of the flock which the elders are tasked to oversee. This text provides us a clear argument for why we ought to elect qualified men to the office of presbyter, as well as why church membership is vital in order for the shepherds to know which sheep they are supposed to give God an accounting of!

The lesson here is that elders must lead by example. Peter himself gives the church a wonderful example of this. Only a year or two after making these exhortations Peter was crucified upside down by Nero. Peter could have fled. He could have, once more, denied the Lord. But the new birth truly made this fisherman from Galilee a rock. This is what elders are to be like.

STARVING LIONS

Nero would dress in animal skins and attack prisoners who were bound to stakes. He would do incredibly vile and obscene things to these prisoners. He was a prowling lion. This is how Peter paints Satan. Nero is a devilish beast. As Nero hunted for victims of his sadistic desires, the devil hunts to devour your soul. How can a saint be devoured? The primary way in which a saint is devoured is when they forsake the faith; when they try to escape the sufferings by renouncing Christ. The saints resist their adversary the devil (and his human henchman like Nero) by remaining steadfast in their faith in Christ (5:9), even if it means torture and death.

Once more Peter shows that the Psalms should be on our tongue as we prepare to suffer. In Psalm 17, as well as elsewhere, the wicked are likened to lions. Although Satan prowls around like a hungry lion (1 Pt. 5:8), the saint knows that the Lord shall take tender care of him. It is Satan, and his young lions, which will go hungry (Ps. 34:10). By steadfast faith in Christ, when faced with temptation and persecution, the lions are starved.

WHAT UNIFORM YOU WEARING

We are a new Israel. With that comes a uniform. We saw this back in chapter 2, and we see it again here. What uniform does the saint wear? Not the fig leaves of self-preserving fear, but the apron of service. The priests of old were identified by their priestly garments, garments which indicated that they were preoccupied with service to Yahweh.

This has not fundamentally changed. When the elder humbly rebukes the straying member, when the mother calmly talks the toddler down from a tantrum, when a husband gently corrects his wife, when a slave cheerfully does his master’s bidding, when the citizen obeys the lawful ordinances of his nation the glory of Christ is displayed. The new Israel is summoned to service, and the uniform is humility. You will be called to go through sufferings and slander, but if you persevere by faith you shall also partake of the glory of a crown which does not fade away. A crown of life. A crown for victors.

Read Full Article

Armed & Dangerous (The Living Stone) (Living Stone Reformed Church)

Christ Church on

INTRODUCTION

A real temptation for Christians is to think that in order to overcome temptation or to refute some atheist that what they need is more information. Of course, we are to be diligent students of the Word. But remember what Peter said earlier in his letter about being like newborn babies desiring milk. In the face of both temptation and persecution, your greatest weapon is to return to the simplicity of the Gospel.

THE TEXT

1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. […] 1Peter 4:1ff

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

The saints are to live in the reality that by their baptism, they are intimately joined to all of Christ’s redeeming work, particularly his ascension (2:18-22). This is what arms the saint in their battle with the flesh (v1). Baptism isn’t a way to “tap out” of this earthly sojourn; but it does equip you to live out your days according to the will of God and not the lusts of men (v2). These saints had once walked according to the will of the Gentiles (strikingly Peter includes himself); this way of life is marked by by “lust off the leash” (v3). Now, however, the saints have become strange to their old friends, and all sorts of slanderous things are laid to their charge (v4). Though Christians are maligned by evil men, Peter reminds them that these men will one day stand before the ascended Christ to give an account of themselves (v5). These glad tidings (glad for the righteous, at least), have been heralded even to the dead (v6, 2:19), so that no man may claim an exception from Christ’s judgement on the quick and the dead.

The end of the old world is upon these Christians. Peter exhorts them how to behave themselves in light of the looming judgement which was coming. The immediate application of these words is to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70. However, by extension we may apply this to all saints since then as we await the final judgement. How should saints behave in the shadows of looming judgement? Don’t be drunk. Pray like a midnight sentinel. Be fervent in love for each other, quick to cover each others sins in love (vv7-8, Pro. 10:12). Make room in your home for displaced Christians, without complaining (v9). God has poured out innumerable gifts upon His people and they are to use those gifts in service to each other and for the glory of God through Jesus Christ (vv10-11).

A fiery trial is coming, and so the saints shouldn’t be caught flatfooted by this trial, which is intended to prove them (v12). Instead, when the trial comes, they are to rejoice. Why? Because they are so joined with Christ that like His sufferings led to his glory, their sufferings will result in their receiving exceeding joy (v13). Being reproached for the name of Christ is not cause for distress, it is cause for celebration; for the spirit of glory rests on Christ’s people (v14, Cf. Is. 11:2). Evil men rejected the Living Stone, and now, as their judgement draws nigh, they heap up their faults by persecuting the followers of the Living Stone (v14b). Peter reaffirms the Christian’s duty to observe the Law of Moses regarding things like murder, theft, false witness, and adultery (v15). They should not be ashamed if they suffer due to being enlisted in the army of Christ, but should glorify God that this is evidence of their close union with Christ (v16). Judgement is coming. Christ has marked those who are His, so those who have not obeyed the Gospel of God should tremble (vv17-18). As the saints pass through the fiery judgement, they must say with Christ, “Into thine hand I commit my spirit” (v19, Cf. Ps. 31:5).

STICKS & STONES

A feature of the persecution of the righteous is the potency of slanderous names and mockery. Peter has called to mind the wicked men of Noah’s day, and how they troubled him as he patiently built the ark and preached righteousness. Ahab called Elijah the troubler of Israel. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 summarizes how the wicked regularly reproached the righteous. However the name Christian arose, it soon became a name that bore a death sentence. Christians were accused of all manner of vile practices. Cannibals. Atheists. Sorcerers. Inbreeds. Traitors. Throughout Church history, wicked men have labelled faithful Christians with insulting and slanderous labels. John Wycliffe’s followers, because they devoted themselves to prayer, were ridiculed as Lollards (probably from the Dutch for mumblers). Evangelical. Puritan. Jesus Freaks. Kirkers. Such name-calling has a strong potency. It can make people flinch and lean away from what they ought to be loyal to.

On the other side, we are warned to not take the accusations of our enemies as a license to lawlessness. Just because they call you a horse thief doesn’t mean you should saddle up. This can be seen in recent years as the radical left amped up their accusations towards Christians of being Nazis, racists, and White Supremacists. Sadly, like a slow drip wears down rock, many Christians were worn down and have gradually allowed those once slanderous titles to actually be true about them. This is not an insignificant or uncommon temptation to Christians under pressure. Satan tempts us by starving us through persecution, and then seducing us through sweet poison.

Rather, we are instructed here to arm ourselves. This passage is plain with what our weaponry is: the same mind as Christ had. By faith in Christ, by baptism, you bear His name because you are joined with Him. Think of all the aspersions cast upon Him. What was Christ’s mindset in facing both the slander and the sufferings? Christ knew that God’s power is perfected in weakness.  The Stone must be rejected by the builders, before it became the cornerstone of the Lord’s temple. Glory comes through suffering. A crown awaited Him on the far side of the cross. Peter wants you to arm yourself with the knowledge that your baptism unites you to Christ. To endeavor to skirt suffering through compromise or cowardice or through retaliation is to live contrary to your baptism. Remember, Peter is equipping you to endure your trials through faith, not escape your trials.

DEFIANT REJOICING

The lusts of the flesh really do entice us with joy. In fact, you’ll notice that part of the pressure put upon these Christians is that they had left the lifestyle of carnal indulgence, and this brought about the slander. Sinners never want to be alone in their sin. Come with us. Share in our guilt. Wicked men think that somehow if everyone does some sinful thing that it waters down the guilt. No. It does’t work that way. That just shows that beyond simply having poor impulse control, you also have all the leadership qualities of a singular wildebeest running with the stampeding herd.

But what we are presented with here is a summons to defiant rejoicing. Faced with temptations to leave righteousness and go back to the life of lust, Peter admonishes you to arm yourself with your baptism, your union with Christ. Faced with fiery persecutions, Peter tells you to think about how you are now wonderfully joined with Jesus. All of Jesus.

Peter frames this is in superlative terms. Exceeding joy. The Spirit of Glory resting upon you. Glory. Happiness. This is because the glad tidings of Christ plants you in the deep soil of His everlasting joy in His own sufferings and glory. Your sin is entirely forgiven. Your persecutors will soon face the wrath of the Lamb. Your prayers will soon give way to eternal praise. Your pain will melt into pleasures evermore.

Read Full Article