Tag: Liberty

The Blessed Hope

On By TimIn Freedom, Grace, Titus 02Leave a comment

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, righteously, and in godliness in this present world,

Titus 2:11–12

Did you ever consider… Why does the culture hate Jesus?

Look at the text. The grace of God has appeared to all humans, not just to Christians or the elect. This grace comes to all.

With the grace comes the instruction to deny ungodliness and worldly desires. Those two run together. All one has to do is find a recording of those who choose to stand up for godliness in the public square. There are plenty of Insta reels and TikToks that show this. The easy thing to discern is that people hate the reminder.

Oh, they like the idea of a loving God, sort of like a rich grandpa that does things for them and others. They say they are like Him, loving, generous, and caring for others. But listen very closely to what they say. It is difficult to not engage for more than a few minutes and see the myopic selfishness.

The biblical principle is that one becomes like the god they worship.

Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they cannot speak;
eyes, but they cannot see;
they have ears, but they cannot hear;
noses, but they cannot smell;
they have hands, but they cannot feel;
feet, but they cannot walk;
neither can they speak with their throat.
Those who make them are like them;
so is everyone who trusts in them.

Psalm 115:4–8

People imagine for themselves what they think their god is like. They hate that He has told the world Who He is and what He is like. I mean, He is like no other; there is nothing comparable. Remember the one who would usurp the Most High and said, “I will be like God.” He even used the idea that God was holding something out from Eve. Her desire for the forbidden fruit was to satisfy her own selfishness.

With rampant selfishness, I would say that is the epitome of worldliness. In fact, in the King James Bible, desires is rendered as lusts. Lusts, meaning living to primarily seek to satisfy one’s own innate selfish desires without regard to anyone or anything else. At the start, it appears almost innocent, but when mature… It is a deep, deep craving.

But God made me this way!

No, He did not. He did not make you to be a slave unto death.

Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil; neither does He tempt anyone. But each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then, when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and when sin is finished, it brings forth death.

James 1:13–15

What Paul says to Titus is that the grace of God that comes to all rubs hard against those unwilling to heed. I mean, it is painful. Think of what it would be like to rub 60-grit sandpaper on your skin.

But… Who wants to give up the fun of hook-ups?

Well, ignorance is the doorway when temptations like these come. Giving oneself to this kind of hedonism then becomes the gateway to addiction.

Who wants to turn away from the euphoria of being out of control on substances?

Again, ignorance serves as a doorway to experimentation. This is another way to give in to decadence. Where does experimentation cross over to addiction?

We can do whatever it is we want with free will… Right?

Yes, Jesus gives freedom at the cross. Licentiousness is not freedom. Hedonism does come with risk of real personal harm. Abusing substances and sexual licentiousness is not just behavioral. These involve biology, physiology, and emotions. They are deeply spiritual, too. All of this means these can bind the body, leading to addiction. There are also soul ties to consider.

Addiction brings trauma. Trauma is a gateway for demonization. The other less consider problem with addiction is that it gives way to arrogance, eventually searing the conscience.

This drives the overwhelming wave to transmute humanity. All of the special rights demands tend to transmutation, too. It is to mar the image of God that all humans bear.

But who cares?

This is where caution is needed. To think that is symptomatic of the arrogance that comes in this delusion. Thank God we Christians are not like that… Right?

Stop and think. This how this comes at people in so many ways.

What about being first in line, fastest, or the best in contests?

Ouch! Liberty is not found in licentiousness, or even becoming someone great. It is not found in satisfying the soul with the decadence and delicacies of this world. They simply cannot. Liberty is a free gift from Jesus that points us to Him.

as we await the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all lawlessness and purify for Himself a special people, zealous of good works.

Titus 2:13–14

When one chooses to live for Jesus, there are no risks. There is no losing, or really even being last. There is no condemnation in death. There is no fear or downside to righteousness. The promise is the Blessed Hope. That is, to be present with Jesus, whether by death or His glorious appearing to whisk His Own beloved home.

I will tell you, part of living soberly is to know who and Whose you are. That is, to think rightly about yourself. Yes, you are beloved. Jesus redeemed Himself a bride, purchased with His blood.

There is that great divide. His blood has stayed death, for all humans are granted liberty. That is the grace of God… That you live after you sin. Without that, nobody would have any opportunity to want to try to live rightly.

But think of those who neglect or even despise that grace. What kind of justification could one use to keep satisfying their own desires while neglecting and despising the work of Jesus?

It is not so much a future great escape by being snatched away from this world. Yes, there is one of those coming. The great escape is available right now. To any who would believe.

And Jesus says, “Sober up!”

Jesus died for you, so that you could live for Him!

Must the Sword Consume Forever?

On By TimIn 2 Samuel 2, SinLeave a comment

Abner called to Joab, “Must the sword consume forever? Do you not understand that a bitter taste will result in the end? How long will you refuse to command the people to withdraw from chasing their brothers?” 2 Samuel 2:26

Saul had perished, and Ish-Bosheth his son arose to the throne to rule Israel. Hod had already chosen the line of David to replace Saul. This would be forever.

The two factions went to war. Abner installed Ish-Bosheth as king and led the Benjamites, and Joab led David’s valiant men. The bloodshed was real. The fighting intense among Israelis… Brothers.

Joab pursued Abner. Abner stopped and his men assembled on a hilltop. This would be the last stand. Abner asks three seeming normal questions.

Must the sword consume forever?

No. The point was that this fighting would destroy all until it was gone. This question also has a practical application. Jesus came just to ensure that the aword, that is death, would not consume forever.

For since death came by man, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward, those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end when He will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He will reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:21–26

Death is the last enemy to be defeated.

Abner continued… Do you not understand that a bitter taste will result in the end?

Yes. There would be bitterness for the families who lost loved ones. Abner would end up with 18 times more casualties more than David. This has echoes back to the previous account where all of Israel pursued and almost wiped out the tribe of Benjamin. All of the tribe of Benjamin would understand the bitterness of the devastating casualties.

Yet as before, this question has a broader scope of application in the answer. Death would consume the entirety of Adam’s race. Death would bring judgment, and all condemned in it.

Jesus has defeated death by giving the gift of eternal life to anyone who wants it. For those who have not availed themselves of this free gift, that bitter taste will come when standing before the judgement of Jesus as an infidel. Knowing He is King and this is regrettably the consequences of your own choice.

As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this comes the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to save those who eagerly wait for Him. Hebrews 9:27–28

It does not have to be that way.

Abner finally asked… How long will you refuse to command the people to withdraw from chasing their brothers?

The questions caused Joab to call off the not-so-civil war.

Abner had just as much culpability in the fight as Joab and his brothers. But Joab was hotly pursuing Abner to avenge the brutal death of Asahel. Joab would not have stopped pursuit of judgment.

Again, the answer has a practicality that transcends the time and place. Joab could have rightly pursued judgment, but to what end?

It could not replace what was already lost. That is the same futility every human has when they understand the perfection required to gain eternal life with God. No amount of obedience can rectify past disobedience.

If you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as sinners. For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point is guilty of breaking the whole law. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not kill.” Now if you do not commit adultery, yet you kill, you have become a lawbreaker. James 2: 8–11

Abner sought mercy from certain death. Joab relented. Just as is necessary for any human to seek mercy from the justice due for sins… Death. Sin pursues, bringing the bitterness of death. God offers mercy from that judgment.

Just as the brother of Jesus wrote… There is another way.

So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For he who has shown no mercy will have judgment without mercy, for mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12–13

Just as we have been granted mercy, we should freely give it to others.

Be like Abner, seek mercy.

Be like Joab, freely give mercy.

Peter’s Direction for Living in Marriage

On By TimIn 1 Peter 03, Daily Walk, Marriage, TemperanceLeave a comment

Peter continues to encourage his readers to live righteously. Yes, that includes living in good moral character. There is an underlying theme in the reason why he says this. He hints at it in 1 Peter 2:9 and says it outright a bit later in verses 12 & 13. It’s for the glorification of God and to make Him known to others

We do it because there are so many who have come before us, laying the foundations for us to live that way. They served us.

The liberty of Christian living is not asserting our own needs but meekly seeking to fulfill the needs of others. Peter continues to develop this pattern of encouragement to those who are married.

Likewise you wives, be submissive to your own husbands, so that if any do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, as they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

1 Peter 3:1–2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It is easy to see how most will use this to admonish the wife to be submissive to her own husband. It’s there and that is the proper order.

Shame on the Man Who is Disobedient to the Word of God!

In such a marriage, a wife is called to serve him any way that his heart may be turned.

I am so thankful to God that I have a wife who did this very thing. When we married she wasn’t a believer, and I didn’t live out my faith. She did convert and became a believer. It was at that time that I watched her. Her own reverence for God was the encouragement for me, time and again, to return to God. (She still does that. I marvel at her gift for building relationships.)

Do not let your adorning be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine clothing.

1 Peter 3:3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Peter isn’t forbidding jewelry, a fine hair treatment, or fine clothing. He is attempting to show how not to use these as ways to win your man’s heart.

Again, Peter’s attention is toward the wives; this is also for us husbands. God is going to show you what is most important in the marriage relationship.

Nurture the Inner Beauty

But let it be the hidden nature of the heart, that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

1 Peter 3:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The hidden incorruptible nature of the heart is where the Spirit is. These are the inner treasures from the Holy Spirit. From which flushes out the fruit that Paul details.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control; against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22–23 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Peter’s underlying theme is this idea of self-control. That is, not asserting self and your needs, but seeking to honor and fulfill the needs of others even if yours aren’t met.

For in this manner, in the old times, the holy women, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You are her children as long as you do right and are not afraid with any terror.

1 Peter 3:5–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Peter is pointing to Sarah, who put up with the folly of Abraham. She did as he asked, even if it were wrong. In so doing, she was freed from the accountability of the wrongdoing, as Abraham has the responsibility. He is the “lord” of the house.

Not Afraid

A woman ought not to have to live with a man that she is afraid of. That isn’t submission, that’s terror. (If you are a woman and find yourself in such a situation, get out to safety, please!)

Sobering Words for Husbands

Likewise, you husbands, live considerately with your wives, giving honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they too are also heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Personally, I see this entire portion of Peter’s epistle as more of an instruction to husbands and prospective husbands. Peter says to live considerately with your wife. Knowing that she isn’t as strong as you. You don’t get to bully, control, and/or degrade her into submission like Artaxerxes did with his wife Vashti. Your wife is a child of the Most High if she is saved. Even if not, she is someone else’s daughter and an image-bearer of God. Treat her with that honor. There’s a reason why.

Your Prayers Won’t be Hindered!

Good night, Nurse Nickel!

If you’re a married man, here is the secret to maintaining an effectual prayer life. Honor your wife!

She isn’t your trophy. She isn’t your possession. She isn’t your servant to be commanded. She isn’t someone to bully. She isn’t someone to degrade in front of others.

She is graciously loaned to you by your Heavenly Father as a helper. We husbands need help because, more often than not, we’re really boys. Serve her! Bless her!

Live as Servants of God

On By TimIn 1 Peter 02, Daily Walk, SanctificationLeave a comment

Dearly beloved, I implore you as aliens and refugees, abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.

1 Peter 2:11 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Now comes the practical application again. This echoes Peter’s introduction to this epistle where he calls his audience pilgrims or refugees. We are taking temporary shelter in this world, its economies, and this fleshly body. Because we are made of the corrupt dust of this earth, and Adam ate of the fruit that corrupted our bodies, this body is only a temporary dwelling.

Therefore, in light of the sojourning, we ought to abstain from those things of the flesh. He outlined them at the beginning of this chapter: wickedness, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking. These wage war against the soul, the immortal part of us. The fruit of such things leads to destruction and will not last.

If Peter is telling us to abstain from these, we are wholly capable. Though not in and of ourselves, but because of He Who lives in us. There are plenty of admonitions to put this stuff away from us. One of those is from Paul.

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outbursts, and blasphemies, with all malice, be taken away from you. And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31–32 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He gives us the opposite things to embrace and put on. Note how outwardly focused they are. These behaviors only exist when there is another person for whom we do them. Peter gives us an example; look at how Peter addresses those who He is speaking to as ‘dearly beloved.’

Live your lives honorably among the Gentiles, so that though they speak against you as evildoers, they shall see your good works and thereby glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 2:12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

As royal priests, part of our service to God is praise. It is good to praise God. What better way is there to praise God by not doing the works of the flesh?

This is the idea Peter is addressing. The way we behave makes others take notice. The unbelievers are going to mock and scoff. That is for sure. But they will surely notice the way we comport ourselves.

There is a greater purpose in mind, though, by acting rightly. It is to bring glory to God. It does it in real-time, yet there is a future time at the end of the age, when how you act will glorify God. It will be attested to by those who perish.

Response to Established Authority

Submit yourselves to every human authority for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to the king, as supreme, or to governors, as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and to praise those who do right. For it is the will of God that by doing right you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

1 Peter 2:13–15 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Part of the abstention from the lusts of the flesh includes submission to every human authority. It’s not just some. We cannot pick and choose. I didn’t make that up, either.

Peter is going to give us many examples. Here, he begins with those who govern. We are to be law-abiding citizens. It’s not some legalistic idea, either. I think that thought enters the conversation as a coping mechanism. It is an escape from the cognitive dissonance that comes from the warring flesh with the soul. We need to be wary of using such things.

When we look for loopholes and escapes, it isn’t right. It is part of fleshly lusts. It certainly isn’t submission. And it doesn’t glorify God at all.

We do have freedom, but Peter is going to speak on that in a bit.

Peter is speaking of a particular authority here, government. He is saying that the governments are sent by God. That would include some we’d rather deny (for those of us in the US, Presidents Obama and Trump.) I know, it’s shocking. But we are told to submit to the authorities. It’s not just by Peter.

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey them, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, but gentle, showing all humility toward everyone.

Titus 3:1–2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Submission to authority is part of being ready for every good work. If we cannot submit, we cannot do good things. It’s a simple enough concept.

Humility and submission work together. There isn’t one without the other. It can clearly be said that to vaunt oneself is not to be in submission. Contention isn’t submission nor humility either. (The idea of contention is more to think in terms of being discourteous.)

The one that gets most of us, though, is speaking evil of no one. How tempting is it to talk unseemly about folks in secret?

Doing the Right Thing has Rewards

First, it can silence accusers.

Jesus did that for us when He chose to submit to God and go to the cross. That is most important. Peter tells us that doing right silences the ignorance of foolish people. When we do right, there are none who can bring a bad report—even one founded in ignorance.

Live Free

As free people, do not use your liberty as a covering for evil, but live as servants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

1 Peter 2:16–17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We have awesome liberty in Jesus Christ. Paul said it this way.

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things edify

1 Corinthians 10:23 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Sometimes in our freedom, we do choose to do something self-serving that is evil or causes evil. We might give an excuse, “God will forgive.” That is clearly wrong. Usually, evil comes as a result of serving self. Such things we do in our freedom cause irreparable harm to those around us. It ought not to be so.

Paul connects our liberty to circumspection. That is, we need to be concerned more so with those around us than our own selves. If we are serving others before ourselves, there is very little chance for those actions to be considered evil.

Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

1 Corinthians 10:24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

That is how we are to use our liberty, to serve others. By so doing, we serve God. We honor all. We love our brothers and sisters. This brings honor to God and those who govern us.

We can seek our own desires, having that liberty. There is no honor in that. There is no reward. There is no glory to God.

Let us look first to fulfill the needs of those around us. That way, nothing bad can be said about us.