"United in the Passion" Sermon: I Peter 3:18-22

"United in the Passion"
[I Peter 3:18-22]
September 2, 2007 Second Reformed Church

We remember that Peter was writing to Christians on the run -- Christians that the Emperor Nero had condemned to death. Peter was writing to encourage these Christians -- to let them know that their faith was not in vain -- that they should stand fast in their confession of Jesus as the Only Savior, no matter what came their way.

And it was likely that some of them would meet their death at the hands of Rome. But Peter told them not to worry -- that suffering for Christ, even unto death, was a gracious thing in the eyes of God. Therefore, he told them that they were not to do evil or suffer for evil, but recognize that each person has an authority over him, and Christ is the authority over all. So, Christians ought to live like the holy people we were called out to be, doing good, that God would be glorified by our lives, our confession, and our deaths.

In this morning's Scripture, we see that Christ is righteous and did not think it too much to suffer for the Glory of God and for the good of the unrighteous -- our good. Peter tells us that Christ, the Holy One, suffered once, in life and death. Because Jesus is Holy, He only needed to suffer once for all of the sins of everyone who would ever believe in Him. And He suffered this willingly, to the Glory of the Father and to bring us back to the Father, even though it meant He was put to death in the flesh.

So, Peter asks those Christians on the run, and he asks us this morning: if our Holy God was willing to suffer for unrighteous sinners like us, if Jesus Who had never done anything wrong, Who committed no sin, willingly gave Himself up to die for we who sin again and again, shall we not also be ready and willing to suffer for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

At this time in history, we have it easy in the United States. But there are countries in the world now where Christians are put to death for confessing Christ. Let us pray that they will continue to stand strong in their confession; let us pray that when the day comes, we will be willing to lose job, home, family, even our lives that we might confess that there is no salvation except through Jesus Christ Alone.

Peter explains that though Christ was put to death in the flesh, He remained alive in the spirit. What spirit is he talking about? He cannot be talking about Jesus' Spirit or Soul, because he goes on to say that this spirit preached to those in Noah's day. Peter must be referring, in verse eighteen, to the Holy Spirit, Who inhabits Jesus, just as He inhabits us.

So, Peter tells us that the Holy Spirit witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Peter's day, and in our day, in the same way that He did in the days of Noah. In the days of Noah, there was gross wickedness over the whole earth, and the Holy Spirit witnessed, as Peter puts it, "to the spirits in prison." Now, who is this?

We know that everyone is born a slave to sin, so, here, we may understand Peter to be referring to all the people of Noah's day. People who were slaves to sin, imprisoned by sin, unrighteous, and continuing in their unrighteousness and disobedience. So, there was a witness to salvation in the Savior Who was to come, even in the days of Noah, and in these days, we know that this Savior is Jesus -- we have a fuller understanding of the Gospel. Still, it is the same Gospel that is presented to the spirits in prison in 2007 as it was in the days of Noah.

But God is not patient forever, and He will not be patient with this generation forever. And here, Peter draws a parallel between Noah and Jesus: We remember that God called Noah to build the Ark and to call all the people of the world to repentance and to save two and seven of every unclean and clean animal, respectively. So Noah built the Ark, and he preached the Gospel, and he collected the animals -- and what happened? The humans -- the spirits in prison -- mocked Noah, they didn't believe his Gospel, they didn't believe the judgment was coming. And Noah entered the Ark with his family, eight persons in total, and every other human being drown.

Likewise, Jesus came to preach the Gospel, to call the world to repentance, and to save the elect. Christ came, He lived, He preached, and the response of most of the world is to mock Him and deny Him, to not believe His Gospel, and not believe that the judgment is coming. So Jesus was put to death and entered into the Ark of His tomb, bringing with Him all those across time who had and would believe in Him Alone for salvation.

Then Peter tells us that the eight in the days of Noah were brought to safety -- or salvation -- through the water. And in Peter's day -- and our's -- baptism saves us. And the Roman Catholics and the Nazarenes, and certain other denominations say, "Aha! If a person is baptized, he's saved, no matter what he believes."

But that cannot be: if salvation is a matter of the work of baptism, then we save ourselves, or the minister saves us, or the parents save us. No, Peter cannot be saying what the text sounds like it is saying.

It will help us to remember why Paul said a Christian cannot persist unrepentantly in sin: "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4).

Paul is saying that we are united in the passion of Christ. Just as Christ actually suffered and died and was buried. In baptism, we symbolically die and are buried. But just as it is not the Jesus' Actual Death and Burial that caused His Resurrection, so our symbolic death and burial does not cause our resurrection to new life in Christ, and, one day, to life in the Kingdom in all its fulness.

Jesus died for our sins and was buried, so we would die to sin, and we are symbolically buried in baptism. But we are united in Christ, and we are saved in Christ, through His Work, not our work. We are saved through His suffering, death, and burial, not through our baptism. Baptism reminds us of the Work of Christ, and in the believer, it seals that Work and Christ's Promises to us, so we know that we have been raised and will rise from the dead on that final day.

And we have confidence in that truth, because Jesus ascended to the heaven and is seated at the Right Hand of God. That is, Jesus ascended back to His Throne in Heaven and received back the fullness of His Glory as the Son, that He had put aside in the Incarnation (Philippians 2:6). After Jesus ascended, He again received the glory that was due Him as the Son of God.

And Peter brings this encouragement full circle, reminding us that Jesus is the Authority above all authorities, "with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him."

In our Scripture, then, we see Peter encouraging these Christians to stand for the Gospel and not deny their confession for several reasons: first, Jesus is Holy and suffered for the sins of the unholy -- us -- to make us right with God. Second, the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we find in the Scripture is the same Gospel that was preached since the beginning, and even in the days of Noah; there is One Gospel and One Salvation in Jesus Christ Alone. And thirdly, Christ's Work, His Passion, saves us and unites us with us -- and we symbolically remember Christ's Word and meet with Him in the sacrament of baptism.

We also meet with Jesus, Himself, spiritually, as we receive the bread and the cup in the Lord's Supper. Jesus is present with us, giving us His Grace as we receive the elements. So, let us prepare to meet Him in the sacrament, and let us not be "ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16b).

Let us pray:
Almighty Savior, we ask for Your Grace to stand firm in our confession of Your Gospel. Open our mouths to confess that there is no other Savior but You Alone. Make us a glory to You in all that we do, even if we suffer. Give us courage and persevere us for Your Glory. For it is in Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.

Puritan Wisdom

On I Peter 3:8-9 --

"For Unity in Religion, though Errors be many, yet there's but one Truth, which every one must know, believe, and walk in Salvation: Other foundation besides Christ there's none; all that believe in him shall be saved, as they that miss of him, building beside the foundation, fall to the ground, shall be ashamed and confounded; We were all created in the Truth, but since the fall become prone to error; Christ is the Truth, the Way, and the Life, and this we are to buy; that is contained in the Scriptures, for which we are to teach: Some foolishly imagine, that every one shall be saved by his own devotion, but its life eternal to know God, and Christ Jesus whom he hath sent."

-- John Rogers 415-416.

A Reminder

The Membership Class and "The Blazing Center" will NOT meet this Saturday; D.V., we will resume on September 8th at 3:30 PM.

We do intend to have our adult Sunday School this Sunday at 9 AM.

See you then!

September Sermons

D.V., I will preach:

9/2/07 Communion I Peter 3:18-22 "United in the Passion"
9/9/07 I Peter 4:1-6 "Mortification & Vivification"
9/16/07 I Peter 4:7-11 "The End is Near"
9/23/07 I Peter 4:12-19 "Blessed Insults"
9/30/07 I Peter 5:1-5 "A Word to Ministers"

Puritan Wisdom

On I Peter 2:25 --

"Every Natural man is like a beast, who is therefore in Scripture to several sorts of beasts, for one ill quality or another; as to Dogs, for their malicious barking and biting at them they live with; to Wolves, for their greedy devouring of the poor; to Lyons, for their cruel tyranny; to fat fat Bulls, for their proud abuse of their prosperity; to Hogs, for their rude and irreverent base esteeming of Spiritual things, as the Word and Sacraments, and Gods Ministers; to Foxes (as Herod)for their craft; so to Horses and Mules for their ignorance and unruliness; yes, sometimes the beasts are preferred before them to shame them, and sometimes they are sent to school to them: nay, all Gods Creatures are more serviceable then Man, they obey God in their kind, and abide in their first estate; the Sun, Moon and Stars obey God in their courses, the huge Sea rageth, and is calm at his bidding; if he commanded it to stand as a wall, it doth so, to let Israel go through, and will return again upon the same warrant and drown Pharaoh; if God bid the Whale to swallow Jonah, and cast him up again, it obeys him in both; if he forbid the Lyons to touch Daniel, they stir not, though very hungry, as the fire did not burn the three Children, &c. But man, that should be best of all, and for whom all were made, as he for God, yet walk stubbornly and rebelliously, omitting what's required of him, and doing what's again and again prohibited: therefore God calls all Creatures to witness again man; yea, they are many times to set themselves against us (as when the heavens become as brass, and the earth as iron, &c.) and to groan because of us, as being weary of doing any further service to such as we are."

-- John Rogers, 378.

Puritan Wisdom

On I Peter 2:7-8 --

"The duty of Ministers is to divide the Word aright, and give every man his Pardon, not speaking confusedly to all alike. The Word is a fan, that will make two heaps where is found but one, laying the chaff and corn each by itself: It sets down certain notes and marks to know one from another, the Regenerate or Believers, from the unregenerate, and unbelievers these must be observed by the Minister, that every man may see his face as in a glass, and know himself in what state he stands, that none may be deceived, but such as willingly deceive themselves; that they be Believers may know it, and walk chearfully, and give glory to God by a life answerable; and they that be contrary may know it, to humble them, or leave them without excuse: Thus did John the Baptist, our Savior, and his Apostles: And thus set down in the Word, and preached by Gods faithful Ministers, is a certain foregoer of their righteous Sentence, which Christ himself shall give at that last day to the good and bad. Those that now the Ministers of God according to the Word pronounce to be Believers and penitent persons, they shall be found such, and have the reward of Believers on the right hand: Those on the contrary, that they shall thus mark out for unbelievers, shall then by found such, and have their reward accordingly; for that which is loosed or bound on Earth, is loosed or bound in Heaven."

-- John Rogers, 224.

Puritan Wisdom

On I Peter 2:4-5 --

"[This] Condemns the Blasphemous Sacrifice of the Mass, where (as the Papists says) Christ is by the Priest offered daily on the Altar a propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of the quick and the dead: This is to overthrow Christs Cross.

"But though there be and end of all legal Sacrifices and Propitiatory, yet there are Evangelical and Gratulatory; and though those Priests that offered blood and beasts be at an end, yet are there Priests still remaining in the Church of God, which the Apostle mentions, lest the Jews should think the former times better than these; thereupon objecting, Have we no Sacrifices now to offer to God? he answereth. We have, though not of the same kinde: We have no Propitiatory Sacrifices (the date of them being out, and which yet were not taken away by men, but by him who ordained them but till this time, who yet is not inconstant in changing them, as having done away with sin through the Sacrifice of his Son, of whom the others were onely the types and shadows) but Sacrifices of thanksgiving we have, and that for the mercy of God in Christ, and all other blessings flowing from thence: This is no small honor and privilege. It was an hope under the Law to be Priests, few were admitted to the Office, they represented Christ, they went near and offered Sacrifice, the people standing afar off; so is it now to be a Spiritual Priest, so to have the honor to come near to God with comfort and boldness."

-- John Rogers, 206-207.

Puritan Wisdom

On I Peter 2:1-3 --

"That ye may grow thereby.] The end of our desiring after the Word, of our Hearing, Reading, Meditating, Conferring thereof, is not that we might get some knowledge to tip our tongues with, and make ourselves the better thought of in some companies, as some do, or that we may be able to discourse, haply cavail against it, but that it may work effectually in our hearts, to humble us, to work in us true Faith and Repentance, and being wrought, may be increased and set forward more and more, and hereat we should aim at all times; when we read a Chapter, or hear a Sermon, we must come with this minde, that we may be the better thereby: For the Word is ordained and is apt and able not onely to convert, and beget us, but also to nourish us, that we may grow up from strength to strength."

-- John Rodgers, 191.

Mark Your Calendars

While the pastor is on vacation, our Saturday study and Sunday School will not meet. D.V., Sunday School will resume on Sunday, September 2nd at 9 AM -- we are in I Samuel, chapter 16. Elders, plan to meet with potential new members at 10 AM on Sunday, September 2nd. Our viewing and discussion of "The Blazing Center" will continue on Saturday, September 8th at 3:30 PM.

"Do Good" Sermon: I Peter 3:8-17

"Do Good"
[I Peter 3:8-17]
August 12, 2007 Second Reformed Church

For the past two weeks, we have looked at Peter's explanation of authority -- of how every human being has authority over them, and how every human being is required by God to submit to the authority that is over them. We remember what Paul wrote, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment" (Romans 13:1-2). And we saw that there is only one exception to this: we are not to obey those in authority over us if they require us to do something that is against the clear Word of God.

Peter explained this to the first century Christians, because they were on the run: Nero and his armies were hunting them down, and he was going to have them put to death when they were captured, unless they renounced Jesus. So, Peter tells these Christians, and us, to obey the laws of the government and all those in authority over us, both physically and spiritually, understanding that Christ is the highest authority, and all must answer to and obey Him.

Peter explained to the Christians who were on the run from Nero that they were right to run from him and his sinful desire to murder them. They were also right to refuse to renounce Jesus -- they were right to suffer and even be put to death for doing what is right, for proclaiming that there is no salvation except through Jesus Christ Alone.

In this morning's Scripture, Peter goes through a number of correlating things that Christians should be and do. Since Jesus is the highest authority, and all authority comes from Him, and we answer to Him first and foremost, then these things ought also be true of us, as Christians.

We ought to be of one mind. And understand, as we have seen elsewhere, that does not mean that we should be clones or that we should forget about those things that are different about us. Peter is saying that we ought to be united in the essentials of the faith. We must be one in mind about Who Jesus is and what He has done and how one may be saved from the Wrath of God. There are many, many things which, though they may be important, they are not essential. There are issues which are related to salvation and there are issues which are not. For example: shall we use guitars in worship? That is not an issue which affects our salvation. Some may believe it is good to use guitars, some may believe it is not. Each ought to know why they believe one way or another, but having a guitar in worship or not having a guitar in worship is not a salvific issue.

Other things are salvific issues -- these things we are to be of one mind about -- these things are necessary for salvation. For example: The doctrine that states that Jesus is 100% human and 100% God at the same time is a necessary, salvific doctrine. All Christians must believe that, we must be united on that. Belief in that teaching affects our salvation.

Now, if we are united -- of one mind -- in all those doctrines -- teachings -- that do matter for salvation, and we are willing to allow Christians to have reasoned differences of opinion on non-salvific issues -- on things that don't affect our salvation, then we ought to all be able to work together in the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Christians who are Reformed and Baptist and Methodist and Congregational and Pentecostal ought all be able to and indeed work together to proclaim salvation in Jesus Alone. While we have differences -- important differences, and reasons for those differences -- we can and ought to work together in proclaiming the Gospel and doing those good works that flow from the Gospel.

Are we right in believing that a Presbyterian-style government is the most biblical? Yes, we believe we are, but this is not an issue that affects our salvation. Therefore, are we right to join together with the Congregational Church in Irvington, which has a Congregational-style government, and feed the poor together in Jesus’ Name? Yes, we are.

In fact, Peter says that all Christians of every stripe are to be sympathetic, brotherly loving, tenderhearted, and humble. All Christians, no matter what denomination we are a part of -- and denominations are good -- but, no matter what denomination we are part of -- we ought to care for each other, we ought to encourage the other communities of faith -- other Christians -- to be of one mind with us in the essentials of the faith, to work together for the good of all and the proclamation of the Gospel, to refrain from doing those things which put a bad light on Jesus.

Peter says we are not to repay evil with evil or reviling with reviling. We are not to act like the world; we are not to desire our "piece of flesh." We are not to seek vengeance, but we are to have a different mind and a different way of life. Paul wrote, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2).

How do we accomplish this? How do we keep from evil? How do we transform our minds? Let us begin by regularly attending worship and participating in the life of the church. Let us receive the sacraments. Let us listen to the Word of God and obey Him in all things. Let us pray that we would learn to love each other more, that our faith would be strengthened and deepened. Let us pray for each other -- that we would learn what is good and true and live it out. Let us pray for good for each other. Let us pray that we would seek after holiness and become holy in fact. Let us remember what Christ did to save us. Let us remember our sin and God’s Wrath against it. All these things will help us to keep from evil. If we spend our time and effort on these things, we may well keep from evil.

Positively, Peter says that we are to bless. We are to bless each other and all people. Jesus said, "You have heard it 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 of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You must therefore be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:43-48).

Understand, it is good to bless those we love, to do good for those we love, but it is also our duty and to our advantage to bless those who we don't love, even those who persecute us, even those who seek to kill us. If we do what is good and right, even praying for those who hate us, how will we be seen? Crazy? Perhaps. But when people claim all kinds of false and evil things about us, they won't be believed, and perhaps, even those who hate us will come to believe in Christ.

Peter quotes from Psalm 34 to tell us that if we desire to live a good life, a life that we will love, we will learn to restrain our tongues from evil, we will turn away from all evil. If we want to live a good life, a life that we love, we will not worry about ourselves and making sure that everyone knows that so-and-so wronged us. We will spend our energy seeking the good of others, seeking to direct others to good -- what might happen, if, instead of complaining about people who annoy us, instead of seeking ways to annoy them back, what if we spent time trying to lovingly support those who annoy us, tenderly showing them that they are appreciated, guiding them in better, more congenial ways of living?

Now, let's be honest: restraining evil and doing good is not always easy. Seeking good for others and peace for all is not easy. Peter says that we ought to run after peace with others. Understand the connection Peter is making -- he is writing to people who are running for their very lives -- if they slow down or give up, they will be put to death. Peter says that they -- and we -- ought to pursue good and peace with the same effort, day in and day out, week after week, month after month, with no end in sight. Why? If it's simply to be a moral person, then let's throw in the towel and get what we can out of this life. Let's eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die. But, if we seek to do good, because we know God and His Only Salvation, Jesus -- if our efforts are directed in thanksgiving for what Jesus has done for us and in a desire now to live for Him in all things and in all ways. Then, it's worthwhile; we can live like that.

Peter tells us to remember that God is watching us; God is seeing whether we are following after the righteousness that has been credited to us in Christ. He is watching to see if we are striving to live the holy life that we have been called to. Understand, our salvation is not based on our works, but we are called to good works once we have been saved by Jesus Alone.

Let us also understand that we are not alone: God hears our prayers; Christ is interceding for us before the Father, and God the Holy Spirit lives in us to teach and guide us. We cannot be what God has called us to be, but we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us.

And, again, let us leave vengeance to God. God will judge in the end. We may not all receive our due on earth, but God is Just and His Justice will be satisfied in the Kingdom. There will be a judgment, and we will all be judged. The only thing that will make any difference on that day is if we have received Jesus Alone as our Savior. If we have, we will survive the judgment and enter into Glory. If we do not, we will be cast with the devil and his angels into the lake of fire.

So, Peter tells us not to be afraid suffering for Christ. If we suffer for Christ and His Righteousness, even if we are put to death -- even if the Roman guard captures us and tortures us and makes us into a torch in Nero's gardens -- if we truly suffer for Christ, we shall be blessed in the end. As Jesus said, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). In other words, the only person anyone should be afraid of is God, and if we have received Christ, we have nothing and no one to fear -- no matter what happens to us.

Instead, Peter tells us that we should "consecrate the Lord Christ in our hearts" -- we ought to hallow Christ; we ought to "make Him holy." Again, let us understand, that we do not make God holy. He does not become more or less holy by what we do or do not do. What is being said here, as in the Lord's Prayer, is that we are to be like mirrors and reflect God’s Holiness back on Him. Practically, that is done in acknowledging and trusting everything that He has said. If we believe that everything He has said is true and if we live it out, then we are consecrating or "hallowing" Him.

Along with that, Peter says that we ought always to have a reason for the hope that is in us. What hope is that? Our hope -- the sure truth that we believe in, which has not been fully realized in history -- that's what "hope" means -- our hope is that Jesus has saved us from sin and death and Hell and the Wrath of God, and we shall enter into His Glory on that final day. Through Jesus Christ and His Work, we have been rescued from our doom and made right with God and will spend eternity with Him. That's our hope; that's the truth that is breaking through right now.

It's not an arrogant hope, but a gentle and awe-filled hope, because it is nothing that we did. We were dead and enslaved to sin. Christ did all the work. Christ deserves all the glory. So, if we suffer, even to death, for His Sake, if that is God’s Will, that's O.K. We can do good for Christ and suffer, because what we know is coming is so much greater that anything we could possibly endure.

Remember who Peter was writing to: he was writing to Christians running for their lives, and he tells them to do good, to focus on Christ, to run hard towards Him, towards His Truth, in obedience to Him, calling on Him, clinging to Him, hoping in Him, being good people and witnesses to Him as they do so. And, if they suffer, and it is God's Will, if it is for God’s Sake, that's O.K.

Let us do the same: let us live lives of unity with our fellow Christians, working together for the good of all and to the glory of Christ. Let us restrain ourselves from evil and bless all people, seek everyone's good, running towards peace with all men with everything that we are. And let us proclaim Christ. Let us show Him to be our Holy God. Let us defend the hope we have in Him. And let us trust Him, knowing that no matter what happens to us, it happens according to the Will of God. So, let us do good.

Let us pray:
Almighty God, for You Alone, we have reason to do good to all, even our enemies. For You Alone, we have reason to accept each other's differences and strive together to make known the essentials of the faith. You are our Reason, our Hope, and our Future. Help us to trust You, knowing that You are our Loving Father and everything comes to us from Your Hand. And may You be glorified in us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Study!

Tomorrow, Saturday, we continue our "The Blazing Center" Study at 3:30 PM and our membership class at 4:30 PM. Please join us as we learn more about our Lord and each other.

"Lord" Sermon: I Peter 3:1-7

"Lord"
[I Peter 3:1-7]
August 5, 2007 Second Reformed Church

Everyone has an authority over them; each one of us has someone in authority over us. The highest authority on the earth, even has an authority over him, our God, Jesus Christ. And we are called to submit to the lords who are over us -- our bosses at our jobs, our leaders in government, and, ultimately, our God.

Last week was saw Peter explain to these Christians on the run, that they still have to do what is good and right, even though they were running for their lives. They were not allowed to "do evil to settle the score." They were not allowed to break the law because they were being wrongly sought after, to be put to death. Peter explained that servants must still obey their masters, except in such things that go against the clear teaching of the Bible, and so all Christians must submit to those in authority over them.

In this morning's Scripture, Peter applies this principle to the relationship between husbands and wives, as he write, "Likewise, wives be subject to your husbands." And I know that this is one of those Scriptures that makes women purse their lips and say, "I submit to no man." This is one of those passages that some say we can skip -- that it doesn't reflect the modern understanding of relations between men and women. Yet, we must ask ourselves, if this is the Word of God, written down by humans, but the Word of God, without error, how can we say that God didn't understand men and women then?

Still, some will say, "But doesn't the Bible say that 'there is no male or female...in Christ'"? And it does, but what is the context that it is said in? Men and women are completely equal and the same -- in the fact that they are both born sinners, damned to hell, with the one and only hope of Salvation in Jesus Alone, and an equal inheritance with Christ. The Bible does not say that there is absolutely no difference between men and women. I hope we have noticed that there is a physical difference between men and women -- a wonderful and good difference. Notice for example, only women have ever given birth. No man has ever given birth. Does that mean that women are superior to men, or that men are inferior to women? No, it simply means they are different. Men and women have different functions in our sex and, as Peter explains, in our calls.

Peter tells us that the husband is to be the head of the home, especially in spiritual matters. The buck is to stop with the husband -- he is ultimately responsible for the household -- and especially with the spiritual instruction and guidance of the household. And we have some who will object, "But my husband is a spiritual moron; he doesn't understand half of what I understand in the Bible." Or, "But my husband isn't even a Christian, how can he be the spiritual head of the home?" And, "So, you're saying I can never disagree with my husband; I can never explain a better way of doing something to him?"

It's true, there are wives who are far more biblically astute than their husbands. And it is true that Christian women find themselves married to non-Christians, though such a thing is certainly not optimal. And Peter answers both of these objects by saying, "Look, you do what is right and good, conduct yourselves in a way that is honoring to your husband and Christ, and if God is willing, your husband may mature. Or, your husband may become a Christian through observing your example."

It is also true that husbands and wives disagree on things and one may have a better understanding or way of doing something -- and there is nothing wrong with that. Husbands and wives ought to work together and help each other and learn from each other. There is nothing wrong with respectfully discussing or disagreeing. However, the biblical principle is that, if, in the end, the husband is insistent on having his way in something that does not contradict the clear teaching of the Scripture, the wife should submit and give the husband the respect and responsibility of his decision.

Then, Peter says that women ought not have their appearance as their primary concern -- and this is true for men, as well. Peter says that women ought to be more than braided hair, gold jewelry, and the latest clothes. Now, there is nothing wrong, in itself, in having a hair style, in wearing jewelry, or in wearing contemporary clothes. But, if we are only as deep as our makeup, there is nothing much to commend us to each other, much less God.

Peter tells us that God is most concerned with the dressing of our souls. We ought to spend at least as much time and effort reading the Scripture and becoming more Christ-like as we do getting dressed, putting on make-up, etc. Think about it: how much time do you take getting ready in the morning? How much time do you spend in the bathroom, in front of the mirror, asking if such and such looks good? Do you spend at least that much time with God and in His Word? If we do not, we are not submitting to our husband, Christ. We are a bride who is more obsessed with ourselves than our Groom!

There is a current advertisement for tuxedos that has the tag line, "While everybody else is looking at her, she will be looking at you." When I heard that, I thought that describes what Peter is saying in this passage: while the world is looking at the Church, at us, Christians, seeing what we do, we ought to be fixed on Christ Are we? I fear, much of the Church isn't looking at Christ as all, but we are holding a mirror in front of ourselves as we walk down the aisle, and we are fawning over ourselves, telling ourselves how wonderful we look -- we have forgotten the Groom that waits at the altar! We have forgotten our First Love; we have dressed for ourselves.

Peter says that we ought not be merely superficial, but we ought to put Christ and the growth of holiness in our soul first. Understand, that doesn't mean we should neglect ourselves and how we look -- the Church is to be beautiful. It is good for a wife to look beautiful and a husband to look handsome, but our greatest and chief beauty is in the decorating of our souls with holy living and service to Jesus.

The holy women of old, like Sarah, who was beautiful physically, and wore jewelry, as well, made themselves beautiful by hoping in God, submitting themselves to the authority and leadership of God and husband, as Sarah submitted to Abraham.

And some will object, "Abraham wasn't always such a great husband and leader." And you would be correct. Husbands are sinners; husbands fail their wives. And wives are sinners; wives fail their husbands. God told Abraham that Sarah would become pregnant, and all the nations would be blessed through him. But Sarah was barren, and she wouldn't wait, and she told Abraham to have a child with Hagar, and Abraham submitted to Sarah and not God, and the result was the birth of Ishmael. And the Arabs and the Jews have fought each other for 4,500 years.

If men submit to God, we are children of Abraham. If wives submit to their husbands, they are children of Sarah.

"So," someone asks, "if my husband is abusive, I should just submit and take it?"

Of course not. Being a spiritual and household leader does not give the husband the right to be a dictator, or to abuse his wife, or to treat her like a slave. Remember, the Bible says that men and women are equal -- but different. Men and women, husbands and wives, we are all equal in God's Eyes in both sin and Salvation, but there are differences between men and women. That is why most men need a women to become complete. That is why most women need a man to become complete. Men and women were created one for the other, to complete each other. We are two equal but different puzzle pieces that fit together into a whole.

"Husbands." Peter tells husbands that they are to understand their wives. They are not to run roughshod over their feelings and opinions as though they were worthless or day-laborers to be dismissed. Husbands are to respect and honor their wives, as Christ glories in the Church. The husband is to teach, support, protect, and encourage the wife in all that she is, just as Christ spurs on the Church.

Because, women are "the weaker vessel." And that does not mean that women are less than men. It does not mean that women are inferior to their husbands. It means that husbands are responsible for the safety, security, and maturity of their wives. Men carry the responsibility of their wives and their households. Paul writes, "For Adam was formed first, then Eve, and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor" (I Timothy 2:13-14). Hear this: Adam received the greater guilt. Eve did not submit to Adam, and she was deceived into sinning. But Adam put aside his very call to be lord of his home, and rather than pulls Eve back from the fire, he consciously disobeyed God and followed after her in sin.

Thus, "wives, be subject to your husbands." And husbands, be subject to Christ. Wives, do not be merely superficial, but make you souls beautiful. Men, do likewise. Become daughters of Sarah and sons of Abraham. Husbands take the responsibility of your call in serving and leading and teaching and protecting your families.

And remember men and women, husbands and wives are co-heirs in the grace of life. We are equally heirs with Christ if we have believed in Him Alone for our salvation. If we are Christians, we will live in relationships that reflect our call to be husbands and wives, women and men. We will understand and live out our equality while glorying and supporting each other in our differences in sex and call.

And, if we do those things -- if men will be men and women will be women, our prayers will not be hindered. What is Peter saying? Peter is saying that sin hinders prayer, and it is a sin for a wife to try to be the husband or for the husband to try to be the wife. We are equal, but different, with different roles, that reflect the relationship between Christ and His Church.

So, we come this morning, men and women, before our Lord, at this table. We come before Him, the Church subjecting herself to Christ. And the world looks on and sees us submitting ourselves to Him and His Rule over this, His Household. Whom do you see? When we come to the table -- do you see me? Do you see those serving the elements? Do you look in the mirror at yourself? Or do you see Jesus Christ?

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, we come before You in humility, subjecting and submitting ourselves to You, because You are the Holy Lord Jesus. We come together, equally sinners, forgiven only by You, and we gather at this table to meet You. Give us Your Grace, that we each might mature in You, living out the call You have put on our lives, that You would been seen and glorified by all. For it is in Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.

In Memorium

Please keep the Petersen family in your prayers. Rev. F. Scott Petersen, pastor of Fairfield Reformed Church, blogger at Ars Theologica, a dear friend, and the man who presided at my ordination, was received into the glory of his God and Father yesterday, August 4, 2007. Service will be held at Fairfield Reformed Church, 360 Fairfield Rd., Fairfield, NJ 07004 on Tuesday the 7th at 11AM. In lieu of flowers, financial donations may be sent to the church for the family to help pay for Scott's medical bills.

Come and Study!

Today at 3:30 PM, D.V., we will begin our study of The Blazing Center: The Soul-Satisfying Supremacy of God in All Things -- a Rev. Dr. John Piper video series and discussion. And at 4:30 PM, D.V., we will continue our membership class. Come for one or both! See you there!

August Sermons

D.V., I will preach:

8/5/07 Communion I Peter 3:1-7 "Lord"
8/12/07 I Peter 3:8-17 "Do Good"
8/19/07 Guest preacher: George Gutierrez
8/26/07 Guest preacher: Walter Howard

Join us at 10:30AM for worship!

Puritan Wisdom

On I Peter 1:23 --

"What is it to be born again; Its to be made new creatures, to be cast in a new mold, to have the corrupt Image of Sin, which we have by Nature (and wherein we are all conceived and born) put off throughout, and the contrary good one, wherein we were at the first created, put on, to have the understanding enlightened with distinct knowledge of God, the heart bowed to the obedience of God, &c., new thoughts, desires, speeches, actions: In the new Creature all things must become new; Thus its done to all that were elect before the foundation of the world: They are changed up and down, from a good state by Creation, to a bad in Adam; from thence to a good one in Christ, by grace here in expectation of glory hereafter: For the wicked, they are changed from good to bad, and they remain the same (but still worse and worse) for ever; we should give God thanks that made us so good at first, be humbled to see our base and woful state now, and seeing there is help, never to be quiet till we recover our first condition."

– John Rogers, 159-160.

"Enduring Injustice in Trust" Sermon: I Peter 2:18-25

"Enduring Injustice in Trust"
[I Peter 2:18-25]
July 29, 2007 Second Reformed Church

Why should we do what is right?

Last week, we saw Peter explain to Christian running from Nero and his armies, that they ought to do what is right according to the Word of God, no matter what their situation is and no matter what the outcome may be. Why? Because, in then end, when Christians do what is morally good and right, according to the Word of God, God will be glorified through our acts and the responses of those who observe us.

We may do what is good and right for a variety of reasons, but our first and the ultimate reason for doing what is good and right is that God might be glorified. The Psalmist wrote, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" (Psalm 115:1). The Word of God clearly tells us that everything that is, all that we are, everything we do, our motivation, and our life's purpose, is found in glorifying God.

Now, remember, the people Peter was writing to were under a death sentence for being Christians. They expected Jesus' Promise of suffering to come upon them. They didn't believe in the false health and wealth gospel that is so popular in the United States. They understood that the troops were coming, that Nero wanted them dead, and if serving Christ meant that they would be put to death for His Sake, then, to God be the glory.

This was not some sort of fatalism, remember, they were on the run. They did not want to be killed, Christians should not want to suffer or be put to death. However, we should want whatever brings the greatest glory to God. And, for some, that will mean suffering and death.

Peter goes on in this morning's Scripture to specifically address how Christians ought to live to the glory of God. He begins by addressing servants, and he has in mind both those who serve in their occupation and all Christians, since we all serve someone; we all have authority over us, even if we are self-employed.

Peter writes, "Servants, be subject to your master in all respectful fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the crooked" (my translation).

Peter says, first, we are right to submit to those in authority over us and do what is right, whether or not the people we work for are good people. We should do what is good and right, we ought to work to the best of our ability, no matter what those in authority over us are like. It ought not affect the kind of work we do if those in authority over us are good, honest people, or if they are evil, dishonest people. We should live and work as Paul wrote, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23-24).

We are to be a people who do what is good and right and submit to those in authority over us. Yet, we are ultimately to do what is good and right and submit to those in authority over us, because we are ultimately working for the Lord. We are representing Him in our work, in all that we do. When we are tempted to do what is less than good and right and submissive, we need to keep before us that we are showing the worth of Jesus in the way that we live and work. If you're willing to do less that your best, take short cuts that make your work less than it could be, what you're saying is, "Jesus is not worth my best."

And someone may object, "But isn't it glorifying to Christ if I do something to get back at my dishonest boss? Isn't it right for me to use whatever means necessary to get what I deserve from my cheating boss? He steals and cheats his customers, so aren't I right in stealing and cheating him?"

It is not for us to bring that sort of "justice" on those in authority over us; we are not to do wrong to get back at bad people. "Two wrongs don't make a right." We've heard that expression. It's likely that we have been "servants" to people we didn't think deserve us, more than to those we thought were wonderful, righteous people. How should we respond to those in authority over us who do wrong?

Well, we have seen that we should not do wrong to "make things even." We should not say, "he doesn't pay me what I'm worth, so I will take a longer lunch that I am allowed, I will take a stapler, or a box of paperclips, whatever." Christians are to live for the Lord and do all things for Him and for His Glory. We ought strive for holiness in all that we do, that Jesus might be known as glorious.

What if our superior wants us to do what is wrong or bad? We are never to do what is wrong, even if our job depends on it. We are representatives of Jesus. We ought politely, humbly explain that we must do what our God says is good and right to do. We cannot purposely shortchange customers. We cannot purposely pass off foreign coins in people's change. We can't charge an hour and a half for a half hour job. We must be honest. Even if it means our job, or our life. In some countries, people are put to death for confessing Jesus. These Christians Peter was writing to would have been put to death when they were found. Would you and I deny Christ if our option was deny Him and live, or hold fast to our confession and die?

What if our superior is murdering people, kidnaping people, or doing some other heinous act? In such severe cases, we ought to examine our consciences, and, if we are sure, then we should inform the proper authorities. But that is, Lord willing, a very rare case.

Peter continues saying that we, Christians, are to endure suffering in trust. "For this is a gracious thing, if being mindful of God one endures unjust suffering" (my translation).

"For what do you merit if you do wrong and endure being beaten for it? But if you do good and you endure suffering, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God" (my translation).

Peter says, if we do what is wrong and we are punished for it, well, we deserve it. Patiently suffering for a crime we did commit is not something to brag about, there is no merit in it. We ought to be ashamed of our crimes, our sins. We are not rewarded for suffering for our sins.

However, if we are punished for doing what is right, and we endure our punishment, it is a gracious act, it is an acceptable work, to God, a glory to Him. It has no bearing on our salvation if we suffer for doing good -- we do not merit salvation for unjust suffering. But we bring glory to our Savior if we endure suffering for doing what is good and right.

And someone may object, "You mean we should never defend ourselves? We should never say that what is being said of us is untrue?" No, we should offer a defense; we ought to show that we have done what is good and right and we have not done anything worthy of punishment. However, if the final judgment is against us, we ought to endure it in trust. If we are ultimately brought before the Supreme Court, and we defend ourselves, and we have done no wrong, but we are still found guilty, we ought to endure our suffering, trusting in God and His Justice. We are not called to lie and confess to a crime we didn't commit, but there may be times when we are forced to suffer for a crime we didn't commit. In those cases when we are wrongly accused and have lost our defense, we ought to endure suffering in trust, just as we endure suffering in trust when we suffer for doing what is good and right, according to the Word of God.

We are not to look for suffering, or desire suffering, nor are we to enjoy suffering when it comes. And I dare say, suffering, being wrongly accused, or even for the good, for the sake of Christ, is not appealing. Still, we ought to prepare ourselves for it, and understand that should the day come, we must stand for Christ against His accusers, and we must enduring suffering for Him in trust.

There are bills before our government that would make it a hate crime for a minister to say any sexual act is sinful. It is likely, even if these don't pass, that the day will come when preaching the clear Word of God will be a criminal offense. Those ministers who actually believe the Bible will have to chose on that day if they are willing to submit to Jesus and possibly suffer unjustly for the good, or if they will find an escape in denying parts of the Scripture. It is likely that the day will come when I will be confronted with the option of risking jail for preaching what God has said, and I pray, and I ask you to pray for me, and I will pray for you, that if the day comes, in this country, when Christians are hunted down and jailed -- killed -- that we will stand firm, confessing salvation in Jesus Alone and doing those things that are good and right, submitting to our God and Savior.

Peter says we ought to be like Christ in all things, trusting justice to God: "For to this you have been called, because Christ experienced it on your behalf, leaving you an example that you would follow in his steps, who committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth, who was reviled, but did not retaliate when he suffered, nor did he threaten, but delivered himself up to him who judges justly. Who himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, who heals you by his bleeding wounds" (my translation).

Isaiah puts it this way: "Who has believed what they heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth, like a lamb to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and their was no deceit in his mouth.

"Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring: he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted as righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him as portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors" (Isaiah 53).

God has called us as Christians to do what is good and right at all times to the glory of God, no matter what the outcome is for us.

God has called us as Christians to submit to those in authority over us, to serve them as though we were serving the Lord, no matter whether those in authority are good or evil.

God has called us to be like Christ in all things, even in suffering unjustly. Are you and I willing to suffer injustice in trust that our God is faithful and is doing all things to His Glory and for the good of those who love Him?

"For you were led away like sheep, but now you have turned around to the Shepherd and Overseer of your being" (my translation).

Shall we submit to our Good Shepherd and do all that the Overseer of our being commands?

Let us pray: Good and Faithful God, we admit that we get angry when those in authority over us do what is wrong. We ask that our anger does not become an occasion for sin. Keep us from doing what is wrong in response to those in authority over us doing wrong. Keep us living and becoming more like You, so that when our hour comes, and we suffer injustice, we might suffer as You did, trusting our selves in all things to You and Your Justice. Be glorified in our lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Free Book Friday

If you are a minister or a seminary student, you should check out Free Book Friday at www.pastorbookshelf.com/blog/free-book-friday -- as well as their other links and info. This week, they are giving away a copy of Randy Newman's book Questioning Evangelism. I'm in the running!

The Membership Class Continues

Join us today at 4:30 PM as we continue our membership class. We will be looking at what the Reformed Church in America is -- looking at our history, government, and liturgy. Next week, D.V., we will jump head-long into doctrine!

Free Book Friday

Once again, check out Free Book Friday at PastorBookshelf. www.pastorbookshelf.com/blog/free-book-friday. This week, they are giving away a copy of Craig A. Evans' Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospel. Certainly an important topic -- I hope I win again -- like I did last week -- what a wonderful surprise!

"That God May Be Glorified" Sermon: I Peter 2:11-17

"That God May Be Glorified"
[I Peter 2:11-17]
July 22, 2007 Second Reformed Church

When you were growing up, what was your biggest temptation? When you visited your grandparents, or your cousins, where was the temptation, what were you most likely to get into that you shouldn't? When you were alone, or on a class trip, or in some position where no one would ever find out what you had done, what was it that pulled at you?

My father's mother always put out a bowl of hard candies, right in front of us kids, and we weren't supposed to touch them. Some of them had nuts, or a gooey filling, or a liquid, but we weren't allowed to touch any of them. Until there came a point when we were offered one candy, and then we were allowed to choose one. And then, at some point, the adults would leave the room, and the candy would start crying out, "Try me! You didn't try this kind yet!"

What was it for you? Was it candy? Pretty glass or ceramic objects? Chasing after the family pet? As you got older, and your temptation advanced, did you pocket money that was lying around? Did you sneak a drink from the liquor cabinet? Did you sneak off with a boy or girl...? Where does your weakness lie today?

Peter was writing to Christian on the run. He told them to stand strong in their faith, because they and we have a living hope -- that Jesus Alone is our God and Savior and all that He has promised will come to pass. And now, He calls us to holy living, as a response to the salvation we have received, we are to live out the Law of God, doing good works that show to Whom we belong. We are, after all, founded and sustained on the Cornerstone of Jesus Christ: it is by Him that we stand and will survive from this life and into the fullness of the Kingdom. Because we are God's chosen people, and we have been set apart for Him and His Work.

In this morning's Scripture, Peter reminds Christians that we are exiles, sojourners, strangers, visitors in this fallen world. Perhaps we need to hear that more that Peter's original audience -- Christians who were on the run, in foreign lands, among foreign people -- they understood that they were strangers in a strange land. How about us? Do we understand that we are just passing through this fallen world? Do we understand that this world, broken and sinful, is not our home? Do we understand that we have been chosen and are now being prepared to enter into the fullness of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ -- a Kingdom of perfection and ever-Christward Glory? Do we understand that the brokenness and sin and fallenness and everything that is wrong and sorrowful will fall away, and the creation will be restored, and all of God's people will be perfected and made holy, like Jesus, and then we shall enter into the Kingdom for all of eternity? Do we understand? Do we at least glimpse where we are headed?

So, now, in this life, we are strangers, visitors, exiles, sojourners. John Bunyan, who wrote one of the most famous novels in the history of humanity, Pilgrim's Progress, says that we are pilgrims. (And if you have never read John Bunyan's novel, get a copy and read it. There are few novels that are so worthy of being read.) Perhaps we don't understand the word "pilgrim" very well these days -- a pilgrim is a traveler, especially someone who is traveling to a religious site.

The commentator, John Rogers, writes that there are at least ten distinctives of a pilgrim (Rogers, 293-298). There are at least ten characteristics of a person who is traveling from one place to another. If you have ever gone on a trip, you might consider if these are true of you. Or, if you want to think about the trip you are on now, from this home to your heavenly home, see if these are true for you.

John Rogers says, first, that pilgrims don't adopt the fashions of the countries they are passing through. An American traveling to Russia, with a stop-over in England, will not suddenly change his eating habits and eat fish and chip and warm beer. He might try such a meal, but he won't adopt it as his way of eating. And Australian, who stops over in Utah on the way to Japan, will not marry six women, because Utah is largely Mormon and many Mormons believe in polygamy. You and I do not have to take on the habits, the likes and dislikes, and we certainly ought not take on, the sins of those places we are just passing through, like this fallen world.

Second, pilgrims only bring what's necessary for the trip. When we pack our suitcases to go somewhere, we don't take everything we own with us. Not everything is necessary. Not everything is profitable to bring. We ought not grow too attached to the stuff of this world, because we cannot take any of it with us into the Kingdom. We ought to pare down and gather to ourselves those things that are useful and enjoyable for the trip, but avoid becoming obsessed with amassing stuff that we can't take with us.

And, thirdly, pilgrims take what is profitable. Again, we might well bring enough clothes for a cruise, for example, but it would not be profitable to bring a set of spare tires.

There is a delicate balance to be maintained between what is available to us, what is good for us, and what is necessary for us -- and those lists won't be the same for each of us. We all have needs and abilities that make certain things more necessary for some than others. But, certainly, as Americans, most of us will have more than we need -- things that are unprofitable. For example, if you have a closet full of clothes that you haven't worn in the past year, they are not profitable for you, but they might better be donated to those who need clothes.

Fourth, a pilgrim travels towards the country he is headed for. Someone who wants to go to Canada from the United States will not go by way of Mexico. Someone who desires to reach the Kingdom of God, will not continue to go back to sin. Sin ought to become less and less a part of our lives. We ought to spend less and less time turning back, when we ought to be going forward. And understand this, if you are more disturbed with your sin today that you have been in the past, that is a good thing. It shows that you are making progress in the right direction.

Fifth, a pilgrim will ask for directions -- even male pilgrims will ask for directions. If we want to know how to get to the Kingdom, we will study our Bibles, attend worship and our adult studies. We will ask other Christians for help and understanding and guidance.

Sixth, we won't waste time. How much time do we waste, because, "we deserve a break today"? How much time do you spend watching the idiot box? How much time do you spend complaining and not doing anything? How often do we get bored? I had a friend of mine get in touch with me this week and tell me that he was bored. I told him that I didn't understand what he meant -- I told him that he must be using the wrong word -- maybe he was tired, or frustrated, or angry, but how can we, especially, as Christians, how can we get bored when there is so much to do? How can we spend so much time doing nothing useful? Understand, I am not saying that the television is sinful, or that we ought never enjoy ourselves -- we should. What I am saying is that Americans spend too much time doing nothing -- wasting time -- and we dare not do that as pilgrims.

Seventh, a pilgrim enjoys his traveling companions. We ought to enjoy those we are traveling with, wether it be on vacation, or some other trip, or on our journey to the Kingdom. We will be very displeased to arrive at our destination with people we have never learned to enjoy. Will we like every Christian, agree with everything with every Christian, we will desire to be with every Christian all the time? No. But, if we are all saved by Jesus, one people, chosen by him, being made into His Holy Temple, we had better find a way to enjoy each others' company.

Eighth, a pilgrim carries his own burden. Now, if you know the novel, Pilgrim's Progress, you will remember that Pilgrim's burden falls off at one point, and it was a good thing. In the novel, Bunyan is writing about our sin being taken from us. That is not what Rogers is writing about. Rogers is saying that each of us has been given work to do, a burden, and we are to do it. There is no welfare system in the Kingdom. Each of us has been given all that we need, by God, to accomplish what He has given us to do, and we are to do it.

Ninth, a pilgrim longs for home. You and I as Christians ought to long for God's Kingdom. We ought to look forward to that day when all sin and sorrow will be whiped away and we will enter into Glory. If you don't long for where we're headed, then why are you bothering? A Christian longs to be with Jesus, so his eyes are fixed on Him and His Coming Kingdom.

And tenth, a pilgrim's excitement grows as he gets closer to home. Our excitement ought to grow, day be day, as we journey closer and closer to our heavenly home. Does it make you happy to know that today you are closer to the Kingdom than you were yesterday? Does it fill you with joy to know that we are one day closer to Jesus' Soon Coming Return?

Peter tells the Christians of the first century, and us, that the flesh, sin, and the devil want us to turn back and give in to him. He wants us to be bad pilgrims, bad examples to the world. He wants us to fall, and when we do, he will stand over us and laugh and tell us that we never belonged to Jesus. But the devil is a liar, and he is the father of lies. We must resist him, and turn to Jesus, especially when we are alone, or in the dark, or feeling down, in those times when we are feeling self-pity and as though no one will notice or care that we sin. Then, we must run back to Jesus, cry out to Jesus, "Lord, help me; Lord, have mercy on me." And He will.

Peter says we are to keep our conduct morally good, even among non-Christians. We are to do what is good and right and honoring to God always and no matter who we are with, but especially in the presence of non-Christians. Why? So that on the day of visitation God might be glorified. That is, that when these come to belief, they might understand what we did, why we have lived the way we have, and glorify God because of it.

Usually we don't know what our influence is in this life, and whether it is good or bad, but once in awhile, we might find out. In high school, I was in band, and a few years ago, I happened to run into a fellow in NYC who had been in band with me, and he told me that he was glad to see me and he wanted me to know that he finally understood the things I had said in high school and the way I had acted -- he had received Christ as his Savior. (Unfortunately, I could give you negative examples, too.)

Peter says that for the sake of Jesus Christ and His Gospel, we ought to obey everyone who is put in authority over us, because God has sent them to punish evil and reward good. And we may remember that Paul says the same thing in Romans 13. But I hope someone is thinking, "Wait a minute, these Christians are being hunted by Nero's armies. Nero was the authority over them, and he wanted to kill them. How could they submit to the authority over them?" And the answer is this, we are to obey those in authority over us except for such cases where they require us to do something that goes against the clear teaching of God. So, Nero said that Christians were to be put to death. God did not require them to turn themselves in to be slaughtered. No, they rightly ran and hid and escaped Nero, because Nero was acting against the clear teaching of God in this case: he wanted to murder Christians, which is a sin. However, Christians, we may think that our current tax laws are abominable, but since they do not go against the clear teaching of the Scripture, we ought pay them. (Now, I understand that the Amish and others will argue the point, but none of you are Amish, so pay your taxes.)

Peter also says that we are to enjoy our freedom in Christ, but we ought not make it an opportunity to sin. We may drink, but we ought not get drunk. We may eat, but we ought not be gluttons. We may own stuff, but we ought to be greedy or covetous. Do we understand?

As strangers in this world of sin, as people who are just passing through, proclaiming salvation in Jesus Alone as we travel to the Kingdom, we are to be a different people, a people who do what is good and right and pleasing in God's eyes. We are to love each other. We are to obey the civil law except when it goes against the clear teaching of the Scripture. And if we do these things, others will notice, and they may come to belief, and God will surely be glorified. And that is the chief end for which everything exists and occurs.

So, let us pray:
Almighty God, we thank You for making us Yours out of all the people of the earth. We ask that You would restrain us from our sin and cause us to do those good works that You have set before us as we travel through this life and into the fullness of Your Kingdom. May You be pleased and glorified to let others notice our good works and know that they are done because You Alone are our God and Savior. Keep us from sin when we are alone, when it is easy, and when no one seems to care. Make us examples for Your Sake and to Your Glory. For it is in this that we find our joy. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Membership Class Begins

If you would like to join Second Reformed Church, or just want to know what we're about, or want to review who we are -- you are welcome to our class, starting this Saturday the 21st at 4:30 PM. The class will run for four weeks or so, depending on the response and issues that come up. Plan to attend, and bring your questions.

Free Book Friday

Check out Free Book Friday at Pastor Bookshelf. www.pastorbookshelf.com.blogspot/free-book-friday/
This week, they are offering a copy of Wayne Grudem's Evangelical Feminism: A New Path to Liberalism?

"Who Are You?" Sermon: I Peter 2:9-10

"Who Are You?"
[I Peter 2:9-10]
July 15, 2007 Second Reformed Church

Who are you?

Last week, we saw Peter explain to us and the Christians on the run from Nero's army that we are the Church. We are built upon the Foundation and the Cornerstone of Jesus Christ. Upon His Deity and His Salvation Alone, we find our security, our strength, our purpose, our life together. There is no other foundation but the Foundation of Jesus Christ Who is laid down for all of His people, to support and carry and sustain us.

And Peter explained that those Who reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ Alone, those who will not have Him for their Foundation and Cornerstone, these stumble and fall and are even crushed under Him, just as they were destined to do. There are some who will never believe, and that is part of God's Plan, and they shall be lost under the weight of the Glory of Jesus Christ, and they shall suffer eternally because of their sin.

"But." Peter calls on the Christians -- on you and me -- to remember who we are: we are the Church. We have received Jesus Alone as our Salvation, as our Cornerstone, as our Foundation. We are being built into that holy temple of God. He is the Head of our Body and we are being made in all things into Jesus.

"Remember who you are." Peter tells Christians that they way we respond and live is different from the way the rest of the world responds and reacts. Do you know who you are this morning, and does it make a difference?

First, Peter said that we, Christians, are a chosen people. We are the eklecton -- the elect. God chose out of all humanity, some who would believe in Him as His people, a people that He chose for Himself. Not all people are saved; God has chosen to save some out of all of Adam's race. We saw last week that the Gospel is not fair, in this sense: if the Gospel were fair, then we would all perish in our sins, but God has chosen, instead, to save some. God decided to show His Greatness by saving some from His Wrath, instead, giving up His Own Son to suffer for our sins and crediting us with His Son's Perfect Obedience.

And we ask, "Can we know that we are members of the elect? Can we know that we are some of those that God has chosen to be His people?" In Peter's second letter, he tells his readers -- and all Christians -- "therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure" (II Peter 1:10a). Yes, we can be sure, and we ought to have a surety among us based on the Word of God. So what shall we look for? Have you made a sincere confession of belief in Jesus Christ Alone for your salvation? Have you confessed your sins to Him and asked for forgiveness? Have you received forgiveness, the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit, and the crediting of Jesus' Life to your account? Do you receive the sacraments? Do you strive to obey God's Word? Do you love your fellow Christians? Do you strive after sanctification -- do you strive for holiness? If these things are true of you, you are a Christian. You are a member of the elect, God's chosen people.

Second, we are a royal priesthood. We are not simply a class of people set apart for life-long work in the temple, but we are a people who are, ourselves, the Temple of God, and we have been set apart to carry out God's Will in any and every area of our lives. No matter what you or I do, we are called to be priests, people who come before God on our own behalf and on the behalf of others, to pray and offer up sacrifices. Of course, we don't offer up blood sacrifices any more. Jesus once and forever sealed the ritual of blood sacrifices when He sacrificed Himself on the cross. We, then, offer up the sacrifices of selflessness -- being willing to go and do anything that God calls us to do, and also, we offer up the sacrifice of thanksgiving -- at all times and in all places, lifting hands and heart and mind and voice, praising God for Who He is and what He has done.

Third, we are a holy nation. We are not merely members of a biological nation that God has called. We are not merely elect persons, who individually make up the people of God, but we are a nation, throughout many nations. We are a people who, together, strive for holiness, work together for holiness, rely on each other for strength, encouragement, and discipline. And together, we strive for unity. And let us understand that Peter is not saying that we should throw away everything that we disagree on. Peter would not say to the modern church, just give up denominations, settle for the lowest common denominator. No, Jesus said, "[Father,] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, they might be one even as we are one. I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world" (Matthew 24:20-24).

Does Jesus mean -- does Peter say -- that we are one in music, in denomination, in liturgy, in hymnal, in translation of the Bible, etc.? No, Jesus and Peter say we are to be one in this: we are to be one in the knowledge of the Glory of Jesus and one in seeing Him in His Glory -- and, of course, in the response of giving Him glory.

A Jewish friend of mine and I were talking about Jesus, and he said he had no problem with Jesus. He was another rabbi, trying to understand and apply God's Word. And we continued to talk, he stopped me and said, "You don't really believe that Jesus is God, do you?" And I said, "Yes, that's Christianity!" Amongst all the variety of Christians, we are united in this: Our God Jesus is Glorious and deserves all glory. Our unity is based on Jesus and His Glory, nothing more, nothing less. We can and should work together in other areas, but Jesus Alone makes us a holy nation.

Fourth, He has made us a people for His own possession. As Bob Dylan sings, we're the "Property of Jesus." You and I were created, bought, redeemed, ransomed -- by Jesus Christ. And we ought, therefore, to be a people who are focused on Jesus. We ought to be Christ-centered, doing all to His Glory, as Paul wrote, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (I Corinthians 10:31). We ought to stand out as a people who are not living for ourselves and our things, but for Jesus and His Gospel. Our first and last thought should be, "How will this reflect on Jesus and His Salvation?" Non-Christians ought to be able to look to us and see a people of honesty, integrity, love, and peace, because our life, our death, our past, our future, and our present, are all the Lord's -- by Christ, for Christ, to the glory of Jesus Christ. It's not enough to stand out because you're strange or because you're talented; you should stand out because you are who you are and do what you do for Jesus.

Fifth, we have been called out of the darkness and into his marvelous light. Let us understand, every single human being since Adam, with the exception of Jesus, was, is, and will be born dead, in darkness, a slave to sin. Every single person since Adam, with the exception of Jesus, was, is, and will be born in need of Salvation -- every one needs Jesus. And we are born dead -- remember what Paul said, "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of the world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience -- among whom we all once lived in the passions of the flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind" (Ephesians 2:1-3).

But God has called us -- His people -- out of that darkness, through Jesus Christ, into His Glorious Light. Paul wrote, "be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:9b-14).

God, through Jesus, forgave our sins, raised us from the dead, gave us His inheritance, and is strengthening us in holiness!

So, sixth, we are God's people. What can that mean to us knowing all these things, but that we are thankful and lead lives of thankfulness? Everything we have and everything we are is from God, a gift, and the only appropriate response is to be thankful, and to treat others as we have been treated, first and foremost, desiring that they hear and know and believe this Gospel of Jesus Christ Alone. Is that your desire? Are you thankful? Are you thankful enough to want others to know this Jesus and become His people as well? Are you thankful enough to live in a way that reflects His Glory -- in a way that seeks His Glory first?

Peter reminds us again, seventh, that we have received mercy. We deserved justice, but God gave us mercy. Mercy is a gift. God owed us nothing but wrath, and He gave us mercy. His Son stood in our place, that we might stand with Him before His Father.

We have been freed from hell and slavery to sin. We have been made the people of God, receiving mercy and all good gifts. We are priests, a nation, holy. We are His. And out of His great generosity, He has given us all of this and more --

Why? That we might widely report His Excellencies.

Peter tells us that at least one reason God has done all of this for us is so we will tell others about what He has done. God wants us to praise Him and glorify Him before others. He wants us to let others know that our life and future is in Jesus, by Jesus, and for Jesus. He wants us to give all glory to Him in all things at all times.

We live in an age and a country where the average person is sure that he deserves better than this. Are you ready and willing and able to let him know that we certainly don't deserve this -- this is not justice -- this is mercy? Are you ready, willing, and able to explain that our deliverance to a better life than this is only through our Glorious Savior, Jesus?

This week, when you meet up with your friends and acquaintances, and they tell you that this is wrong and that is wrong, let them know what is right with you. Let them know that you always have a reason to give thanks -- that you serve a God Who is always worthy of being Glorified. Invite them to come to worship with you next week. Let them know that we are not perfect and we didn’t save ourselves, but our Jesus is Perfect, and He Alone is our Salvation. He is the One Who makes us who we are. Jesus gives us Christians our identity. Tell them to come -- not for you, not for the people, not for the building, not for the choir, or the preaching -- tell them to come to meet Jesus.

Let us pray:
Almighty God and Savior, we thank You for Peter's letters, for the knowledge that, even on the run and at the risk of their lives, Christians stood for You and confessed You, because You Alone are Salvation and worthy of glory. Let us understand that our identity is to be found in You, and draw others into Your sanctuary because You are Glorious and Worthy. And may our joy be full in You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

"The Chosen Cornerstone" Sermon: I Peter 2:4-8

"The Chosen Cornerstone"
[I Peter 2:4-8]
July 8, 2007 Second Reformed Church

If you are a Christian, if you have believed in Jesus Alone for your salvation, you are a part of the Church. What does that mean?

We come to the Lord this morning because we have tasted Him and known that He is Good. This Man, Jesus, is the One God, the Only Savior, our Hope in the days of trial and in the days of peace. This Man, Jesus, was sent from God, but rejected by men, still He is the Man that God chose and sent -- He is precious to our God.

John put it this way: "[Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him" (John 1:10-11). Yet, at His Baptism, we remember that the heavens opened and a dove descended upon Him, and a voice cried out, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

The Holy Trinity chose the Son to Incarnate as the Person of Jesus, to live, suffer, and die, and rise again, that we might taste of Him -- that we might receive Him and believe and glorify Him. Jesus' Work on earth pleased His Father, and we are the fruit of His Work -- His people, the Church.

Peter tells us that Jesus is a Living Stone. Unlike the stones on the ground or the stones of the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus is a Living Stone. When Jesus asked Peter Who Peter and the apostles believed He is, Peter answered, "'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.' And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:16-18).

When Jesus said He would build His church "upon this rock,"” He was indicating Peter's confession that Jesus is Divine -- He is God. Jesus is the Living Stone on which the Church is built. Jesus is the Cornerstone, the Chief Stone, the Foundation, the Stone on which the rest of the Church rests and has its support.

Peter explains that all true believers are also living stones -- we are the stones which are laid upon the Cornerstone and built up into the Church. We are placed, one upon another, one next to another, across time and space, to build the One Church of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Foundation, the Holy Spirit is the mortar Who joins us together, to the glory of the Father.

Our stability, our security, our longevity is based on the Stone, Jesus, Who is the First Placed. Since He is God, our Victorious Salvation, we have comfort and security in Him, in knowing that the Church does not stand or fall by us and our feeble efforts, but it is Jesus Who bears us up. We exist and we are sustained by Jesus and for Jesus. And He is making us into a spiritual house -- Jesus is maturing us, perfecting us, making us fit stones for the house of God. Why? To serve as a holy priesthood and to offer up spiritual sacrifices.

Through Jesus Christ, we are being made a holy priesthood. What does that mean? It means that we are made holy through Jesus, and we can now approach the Father, and even enter into the throne room of God with boldness. We can come before our God and Father and call upon Him and rely on Him knowing that He is our Father and He loves us.

What comfort is this? That we have been made right with God the Father through the Son, so He is forever receiving us as His own, loving us, and keeping us, and, as we already heard, the gates of hell cannot prevail against us. We are safe in our Father.

Our response to this ought to be that we offer up spiritual sacrifices, we bear fruit, as Paul says. We do not offer up the blood of animals anymore, because the Blood of God's Son has been offered up and it eternally satisfies for those who believe -- throughout time and space. Jesus' Blood has covered and redeemed and ransomed every one that will ever come to belief. Every sin that each believer ever commits has already been paid for. So it is not a sacrifice of blood, or a sacrifice of merit, that we offer up, but a sacrifice of thanks. We offer up sacrifices that reflect what has occurred to us spiritually.

We offer up our whole being -- heart, soul, mind, and strength -- in love and dedication to God, that we would keep our whole selves well and dedicated in all things to God. Part of our sacrifice of thanksgiving and love is to care for our selves and to do those things which are pleasing and bring glory to God. We do not do those things which corrupt ourselves and take away from the glory of God.

We offer up our abilities to the service of God. We offer up our blessings to the service of God. We offer up our mercy. God has given us more than we need so we might offer back part of everything that He has given to us, in every area of life,. We offer up our bodies to purity, we offer up our thoughts to those things that are good, we offer up our abilities for God's use -- helping around the property, leading the prayer of confession, providing for coffee hour, praying for each other and for those who have not believed on Jesus, and other ways.

But what surety do we have that these things are true? How can we be sure that Jesus is our Sure Foundation? Just as we have quoted the words of Peter, Peter quotes the words of Isaiah, "Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone chosen [and] precious, and whoever believes on him will not be put to shame" (Isaiah 28:16). Just as we have quoted Peter and said, "just as it is written," so Peter quotes Isaiah saying, "just as it is written," and that would mean nothing, if these were merely human authors and merely human books. But this is the Word of God, without error and without contradiction. It can be trusted in its entirety, and its authority is that of the Almighty God Who created everything that is.

And this same God who prophesied of the coming of Jesus through the prophet Isaiah and spoke of the prophecy's fulfillment through the apostle Peter, in which He makes this promise to us, "whoever believes on him will not be put to shame." What is He saying? Does God mean that we will never suffer, that we will never be embarrassed? Of course not. What God is promising is that He will preserve us; since our salvation is entirely based and sustained on Jesus, Who is God Himself, noone who truly believes in Jesus Alone for salvation can possibly be lost.

Can we sin? Yes. Can we fall away for a time? Yes. Can we be wrong on this issue or that? Yes. But can we remove ourselves from the Church once we have been sealed in? No. Can we remove our branch from the vine once we have been grafted in? No. Can we pry God's Hand open and leave Him? No. We have neither the ability to save ourselves, nor to frustrate God’s Salvation. If Jesus has saved you, you are saved for eternity

But there are some who will always reject Him. There are some who will never receive Jesus. There are some who will always find Jesus an offense. There are some of whom the prophet speaks: "'The stone that the builders rejected, this has become the chief cornerstone'" and "'a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.'" They stumble [because] they disobey the word, as they were destined." These will not have Him for their Cornerstone and Foundation. They desire to stand on their own. They believe they can earn enough merit to stand before the Holy and Awesome God and withstand His Fire. They stumble and fall, and they shall never rise. And this was God's Plan -- they fulfill the destiny God set before them.

And we read this and wonder if it is fair? And brothers and sisters, it is not fair. The Gospel is not fair. Salvation in Jesus Alone is not fair. If God were fair, not one of us would ever receive Jesus. If God were fair, God would allow us to reap the Hell of our sins that we deserve. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

"What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory -- even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, '"Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not my beloved I will call 'beloved.' And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called sons of the living God" (Romans 9:22-26).

If you believe in Jesus Alone for Your Salvation, Jesus is your Cornerstone, your Foundation, just as He is of the whole Church. Jesus Alone is my Salvation, He Alone is my Cornerstone and Foundation. My Salvation is not based on my works at all -- I am saved by the Mercy of Jesus Alone, by the Grace of Jesus Alone, through the gift of faith alone, in accordance with the Holy Bible Alone, and to the Glory of God Alone. Can you say the same?

If you can, then we are the Church. And we are eternally secure and safe in Jesus.

So, let us live out this truth by worshiping our Chosen Cornerstone, Jesus, alone. Let us tell others that He Alone is Salvation. Let us live lives of holiness, giving of ourselves -- everything we have and are -- just as Jesus gave His Whole Self that we might be saved, and may it all be to the glory of God.

Let us pray:
Almighty God, we have doubted that Jesus is strong enough to support and save us, much less the whole Church. Forgive us for doubting You. Stir up fresh fires of the Holy Spirit within us, building our trust in You and our whole-hearted reliance on You for all things, both as individuals and as the Church. Let us understand that we are Your Church, and You will accomplish Your Will through us, and Your Will will not be frustrated. Increase our love of holiness and cause us to live lives of love, generosity, compassion, and Christ-reliance. For we only stand by You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

July Sermons

Oops, I forgot this post -- D.V., I will preach:

7/1/07 Communion I Peter 2:1-3 "Taste the Lord"
7/8/07 I Peter 2:4-8 "The Chosen Cornerstone"
7/15/07 I Peter 2:9-10 "Who Are You?"
7/22/07 I Peter 2:11-17 "That God Might Be Glorified"
7/29/07 I Peter 2:18-25 "Endure Injustice in Trust"

Puritan Wisdom

As the Sabbath draws nigh, some thoughts on I Peter 2:18-19 --

"Learn we then not to listen to nor believe all we hear; even Elijah will be accused for a troubler of Israel, and the yong Prophet called a mad fellow, and that Micaiah never prophesied good, and that Jeremiah raves, and its not meet that he should live, Paul a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition, and now adays, the true servants of God, good Christians, called of some Hereticks, of others Puritans, Factious, Proud, Singular, Shismatics, worse than Papists, &c. And may they not be good servants of God for all this? You shall have Elimas's ready to buz in yong Gentlemens and ignorant persons ears, that begin to set on religion, O these Puritans are the vilest persons in the world, even the name of Hugenot in France was not enough to help one on to his death! But such take heed, believe not all, its malice speaks: So take heed we believe not all we hear of particular Ministers, and Christians, some slandred one way, some another: Is this a new trick, or rather is it not the old course of Satan to raise such things to hinder men, if he could, from profiting by their Ministers, or set men off their profession of Religion? Its more to be wondred that he raises not up ten to one; therefore never condemn them in your hearts, till you have tryed them: Do them that equity, ere you believe it, ere you report it, ask and expect, if they have so carried themselves as they have deserved to be wel thought of before: Is it not therefore a grievous thing, that even such profess the same truth, and that have also good things in them, having an ill report of their Neighbor Christian, shall be too ready to believe it, and report it to another; but I hope, faith be, it is not true, and so he tells it to another, and so it encreaseth like a Snow-ball, who should rather have stopt it, when he heard it first, and have used means to have come to the truth."

-- John Rogers, 131.

Puritan Wisdom

Answering the question "What is sin?" with I Peter 1:18-19 --

"What is this but to make light account of Christs blood? A treading under foot? An accounting of it an unholy thing? A despising of the Spirit of grace? Yes, if even Gods Children did so weigh this unspeakable as they should be the more afraid to offend than there are: This also should awaken those that know no part in their Reception, that they have the greatest matter in the world to seek. Such should never be quiet, till they find themselves discharged. So without this, there's no such thing but eternal destruction, they shall have to bear their own burthen."

– John Rogers, 128.

"Taste the Lord" Sermon: I Peter 2:1-3

"Taste the Lord"
[I Peter 2:1-3]
July 1, 2007 Second Reformed Church

"Therefore."

I was a member of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship while I was in college, and one of the things that has always stuck with me, that was said during one of our Bible studies, was "When you encounter a 'therefore' in the text, ask 'what is the therefore there for?'"

Peter begins the second chapter of his letter saying "therefore" -- since, because, what?

Therefore, since we have heard the Good News of Salvation in Jesus Alone.

Therefore, since we have been ransomed by the Precious Blood of Jesus.

Therefore, since we see that love is an outgrowth of holiness.

Therefore, since our souls are purified by obedience to the truth.

Therefore, since our hearts are purified by our birth of imperishable seed.

Therefore, we read in this morning’s Scripture, live differently.
Since all of these things are true of a Christian, therefore, we ought to find at least six things about us that are different from the common person on the street.

First, Peter says that we are to put aside hatefulness or malice. We ought not to act sadistically. We ought not to enjoy others' suffering. We ought not to desire others to suffer.

When Hussein's right hand man was killed in a bombing some months ago, I read an article about how a Christian ought to respond to this man's death. The hateful or malicious person would delight in his death, he would rejoice and hope that he died slowly in agony.

Peter -- and the author of this article -- says that we cannot be like that. Peter first said this to Christians who were on the run, being hunted by Nero, and the implication is that they, as Christians, ought not to desire ill to befall Nero. Ought they have desired him to stop, to repent, to believe in Christ? Yes. They ought to have virtuous thoughts towards him, and not ill. A Christian desires God’s Good for all.

Second, Peter says that we are to put aside deceit. We are to deal honestly with all people. We are to do everything we can to present the facts of the matter, in conversation, in business, etc. We ought not distort the facts to our gain or to others' loss.

There is mention several times in the Scripture of unjust weights and measures. We are not to take advantage of others, but provide our the best and truest work. We ought not to cheat on our taxes, at work, etc.

I was discussing taxes with a group of ministers, and we agreed that the tax code for ministers is unjust. And then, one by one, they admitted that they cheat on their taxes to balance the injustice. We are called to submit to the authorities over us and be honest with them, even when they abuse their power. We may not lie, but we are to be known for our truthfulness.

Third, a more specific issue of truth and falsehood, Peter says we are not to be hypocrites. Instead, we are to stand for the truth, no matter what the cost is to us.

It would have been easy for Christians, confronted by Nero's men to pretend not to be Christians to save their skin. But Peter tells them and he tells us, no, we must boldly stand for the truth, and especially the Truth of Salvation in Jesus Christ Alone. We cannot be witnesses to the Truth, if we are known to be hypocrites.

Fourth, Peter says we are to put away envy.

There is no place in the Christian life for looking at others and believing that we are more deserving and should have what they have. Again, if one is on the run, being hunted like an animal, it would be easy to say, "God, I am the Christian here, and I am living like an animal, I deserve to have the nice house and family that the pagans have."

You and I do not deserve such things; we're told that we deserve God's Wrath. Americans like to talk about all the rights we have, but what rights do we have before the Living God? What fools are we to come into His Presence and claim that God ought give to us what He gave to another, because we deserve it?

No, we are to be satisfied in God's Provision of our needs. Paul wrote, "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:12-13).

In other words, we ought to be a people who trust God for our needs, no matter what state we are in, because God is trustworthy.

Fifth, we are to put away bearing false witness and slander. We ought not to give each other up, even to save our lives. We ought not to shift blame to others. We ought not to make others look worse than they are. We ought not outright lie about another person.

Instead, we are to love. And, as we have seen before, that means that we are to do everything we can to make each others' lives better, especially in the things of God. We are to build each other up, swallow our pride, and seek others' benefit.

And sixth, we are to be a people who desire the Word of God, rather than neglect it. And Peter says that we ought to desire the pure milk of the Word of God, by that, he means that we ought, first, desire to know the basic, foundation truths of the faith, and from there, we can build.

So, this actually has two parts: we ought to desire God's Word. We ought to have a passion for it. Does it ever occur to you during the day, "I want to spend some time reading my Bible." If you're a Christian, it should, there should -- be an ever growing desire to read the Bible and understand it. Do we desire God's Word?

And then, we ought to understand the basic, foundational things first, so we can build and understand more from there. You see, if we don't have the foundation set, the things we add on to it will eventually fall apart and come crashing down. For example, if we don't believe that Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden as our representative and condemned every human being thenceforth, except for Jesus, to be born inclined towards sin and fit for eternity in Hell, then the Incarnation of Jesus, His Life and Death and Resurrection, are meaningless.

Peter says that these things will be the case for you if you have tasted that the Lord is good. Peter is quoting Psalm 34:

"I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name together

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

"Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction shall slay the wicked, and those who hate righteousness will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned" (Psalm 34).

Let us pray:
Almighty God, as You have saved us, we have tasted of You and seen that You are good. Cause us to live lives of virtue, truth, honesty, love, trust, and satisfaction. Make us a peculiar people for Your Glory. As we receive the bread and the cup this morning, we ask that Your Grace would be given to us that we might continue to become like Your Son. And may the world come to know You through our strange witness. For it is in Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.