Month: November 2010

Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
1 Thessalonians 1:4

I could hardly believe the verse above when I read it, so I read it again. I checked it out in the original language, and the KJV translation stood firm. The apostle had just said to the Thessalonians, “I’m certain you’re saved.  You are the elect of God!” What could be such strong evidence of salvation that Paul could make such a statement? Well, we don’t have to wonder because the chapter spells it out for us. The following ten items evidence regeneration in the life of an individual:

1) Working faith (v. 3) – This reveals true faith as Jm 2:17-20 tells us; in contrast, “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” When we read the list of past possessors of faith in Heb 11, we find that faith to be active. “Abel offered” (v. 4), “Noah…prepared” (v. 7), and “Abraham…went out” (v. 8). Notice in the each of these situations, true faith was evidenced by the action!

2) Loving labor (v. 3) – There are many that will labor, doing so tirelessly, but with what motive do they labor? Many do so only for their own gain. They are incapable of serving as instructed in Gal 5:13: “…by love serve one another.” True love manifests itself in the giving of ourselves unselfishly for the brethren. This pattern follows the example of Christ (1 Jn 3:16). 1 Jn 3:17-19 says loving in deed and truth evidences that we are really of the Truth!

3) Hopeful patience (v. 3) – These don’t give up, but patiently press on because of hope in the Lord! The labor in our last point doesn’t wear out according to Rom 2:7 because there is a hope beyond this life! These don’t wear out over time because there is a patience in this hope in the Lord. They have no doubt that the Lord will save. If things get tough, there is a calm assurance that the Lord will not forsake. They have hope, so they are patient, not anxious. As in Is 40:30-31, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” True hope in the Lord produces patience!

4) Effectual preaching (v. 5) – One thing we are assured of concerning those hungering and thirsting after righteousness is that they shall be filled (Mt 5:6). The apostle had assurance of their election because of the preaching done among them. It was powerful, Spirit-led, and in assurance (or “entire confidence”). Paul said, “I knew God was feeding you through me! The time I spent among you was one in which I was clearly led by the Spirit and confident in what God would have me to say.” Not just once, but repeatedly among them, the preaching was powerful. True belief among the congregation prompts a mighty work in the pulpit. The opposite is also true according to Mt 13:58 where the Lord in his own country “did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Paul said that wasn’t the case in Thessalonica, but the word was effectual (1 Th 2:13).

5) Godly imitators (v. 6) – They followed the pattern of godly men and so were in fact following the Lord. Paul said in 1 Co 11:1: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” The Thessalonians were looking for others obedient to God and were imitators of them per 1 Th 2:14. Who do you pattern yourself after? Who do you want to be like? Is it the famous, the talented, the wise men of the earth? Are you driven by a desire to be recognized as they are? Do you copy their style, their mannerisms, etc., or are you more interested in being like that humble, lowly saint you see serving God with no desire for anyone to notice? Are you patterning yourself after those that are in Christ’s pattern set forth in Ph 2:7 as He “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant”? The evidence of being a son is that you are an imitator of the Father (Jn 5:19)! We can’t say it in the perfection that Christ could, but in one sense, though imperfect, when people see us, they should see the Father!

6) Joyous affliction (v. 6) – This characteristic doesn’t come from Adam!! We’re not talking about short-lived and easy affliction. It’s described as “much,” yet their joy was steadfast. There were no stony-ground hearers who “when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” (Mt 13:21) Just being afflicted was evidence of spiritual life (2 Ti 3:12), but the fact that they rejoiced in it was especially revealing of their hearts! There’s something different about a person that will pray and sing praises to God after being beaten and thrown into prison. (Ac 16:23-26) like Paul and Silas. After being beaten and forbidden to preach Christ, the apostles rejoiced they were deemed worthy to suffer shame for Christ’s name (Ac 5:41). The believer can rejoice in affliction because of the privilege to suffer for Christ and because of the effect if will have in his life (Jm 1:2-3)!

7) Living examples (v. 7) – The natural result of point 5 (imitating godly men), is that we become examples for others to follow. There’s an issue if we don’t progress to this point. The Hebrews are rebuked in Heb 5:12 for only being students (followers) and not teachers (examples). Paul told the Corinthians that they were living epistles known and read of all men (2 Co 3:2). For a true believer, the word not only gets into his head but also his manner of life. The fact that others were looking to them as a pattern reveals growth and maturity, which is the evidence of healthy spiritual life (Eph 4:12-15).

8) Outward confession ( v. 8 ) – True salvation isn’t only a heart experience. It begins inwardly but progresses outwardly (Rom 10:10-11). Paul didn’t have to tell others of the Thessalonians’ faith. The word of God was like a geyser rushing out of them! When your heart is fixed on something, your mouth will declare it (“out of abundance of heart the mouth speaketh” Mt 12:34). I used to be grieved in my early Christian walk because music was such a fresh part of my past that I’d end up talking to people about it. I’d leave and think, “Where was Christ in all of that?” But in the midst of this study, a friend of over a year called me to say he had just found out I used to play in bands. He knew nothing about me except that I was a Christian! Wow! Thank you, Lord. I can see progress, but I want to be more like Christ. If your path intersected His, you were going to hear the word!

9) New creation (v. 9) – Some turn to God but not away from idols. That’s not regeneration! Regeneration is a new creature or creation wherein old things have passed away and all has become new (2 Co 5:17)! The one looking back isn’t fit for the kingdom (Lk 9:62). Jesus said in Lk 14:33, you must forsake all you have to be His disciple. The Thessalonians did, and they never looked back!

10) Waiting pilgrims (v. 10) – The idea conveyed here is one of not simply waiting but a longing for the Lord Jesus. The Interlinear Bible translates it as, “eagerly to await His Son”. They were as Paul in Ph 1:23 as he desired to depart and be with Christ. They were like the faithful in Heb 11:16 who didn’t feel at home here but were seeking a better, heavenly country. Rev 22:20 expresses the cry of their hearts for when the Lord says, “Surely I come quickly,” they promptly reply, “Amen! Even so, come Lord Jesus!”

If these things be in us, it leaves little doubt of our election. So, are they in us? “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” (2 Cor 13:5) If Christ is in us, we will be stamped out in His pattern. “…give diligence to make your calling and election sure…” (2 Pet 1:10)

Jamie

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Matthew 12:43-45

The imagery here suggests that an unclean spirit feels most comfortable and at home inside an individual.  When the spirit exits the man, he is said to go through “dry” places.  The word “dry” here means “waterless”.  So, to be outside a body for a spirit is like us being thirsty.  We’re not going to stay in that state for long if we can help it.  Likewise, a spirit is looking for a home and, if he can help it, will not abide long outside a person.  I don’t know that I’ve ever really thought about evil spirits like this before, roaming around looking for someone to enter because there they are most comfortable, but this roaming and seeking out is well in line with what we read about Satan.  When God asks him in Job 1:7 what he’d been up to, Satan’s reply is “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”  We get this sense of restlessness from his statement.  We also read in 1 Pet 5:8 that the devil “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”  So, the evil spirit is restless outside the body.  He doesn’t enjoy the experience, and if he can’t find another place to dwell, he’ll be back.  This thought goes well with the first description of this man when the spirit returns.

Upon the spirits return, the man is said to be “empty.”  There’s more to this word than meets the eye.  It is translated “ye may give yourselves” in 1 Co 7:5, and the context of this verse shows you something about the word.  The phrase just before it explains that this act is only “for a time.”  As husband or wife, you are not to deprive the other of yourself unless you are in agreement “for a time” so that you might give yourself more fully to God.  The point is that it is a temporary state because to be otherwise would make you easy prey for the devil to tempt you.  It is not a permanent experience, but a temporary one.  Strong’s Concordance defines “empty” as: “to take a holiday, that is, be at leisure for (by implication devote oneself wholly to); figuratively to be vacant (of a house).”  The point is that this word “empty” conveys the idea of a temporary state.  When you take a holiday, it doesn’t last, does it?  So, the Greek shows clearly that the state of this man was only temporary.  A man cannot continue in such a state!  Such a place is too welcoming to evil spirits!

What caused the spirit to leave in the first place?  We don’t really know from this account.  We’ve considered the restlessness of evil spirits walking about as Satan does.  I see no reason why “wicked” in Is 57:20-21 doesn’t apply to wicked men and spirits.  They have no rest or peace.  Perhaps in his restlessness, he left the man for a time.  Also, it could be an act of God directly or by means of the gospel being preached that cast him out.  We find the word of God having such an effect in 2 Pet 2:20, but it is a temporary liberation.  We also find earlier in our chapter the Lord directly casting the spirit out in Mt 12:22.  You know, we have no evidence that the Lord saved everyone He healed!  There are times it certainly seems that He did both, but other times, like with the nine lepers that didn’t return to the Lord, it would seem that He only healed them physically.  Perhaps part of the point to this story by our Lord is to warn the man that He’s cast the demon out of that he’s not home free now.  We see such a warning to the impotent man healed in Jn 5:14.  To paraphrase, “Be careful how you walk from here on; things could be worse than they were before!”  How the spirit leaves is not so much the issue as how the individual responds when the spirit leaves.  Now that the demon’s gone, what will you do?

We see a proper response in Lk 8:38.  What does this man want?  He wants to be with the Lord!  He’s not excited to have his family back; the Lord has to tell Him to go home.  And, whatever the Lord tells him to do, he does it.  He has a desire for the Lord and an obedient heart!  Those both evidence salvation.  We find no such activity after the spirit leaves the man in our account.  Have you heard the truth and had the sense enough to understand it?  You have a responsibility to perform Is 55:6-7.  Seek Him now while there is time and opportunity!  When you have the awareness that comes from the spirit being gone, you’d better seek the Lord while He may be found!  Better run to Jesus while you have the sense to do so!  And, the Lord explains the type of seeking we’re talking about just before he gives this account.  We find diligent seeking in Mt 12:42.  The queen desired the wisdom of Solomon so much she travelled around 1400 miles across deserts and mountains—about a six month one-way journey.  Our fervency in seeking the Lord of glory should be far greater!

This demon should not have found an empty house upon his return.  The man should have asked God to fill him with His Spirit.  There shouldn’t have been a vacancy!  In Luke’s account of this same event (Lk 11:24-26), guess what the Lord says just a few verses earlier?  This story is presented in the context of what the Lord says in v. 13, namely, God will give His Spirit to those that ask Him!  The sinner needs to know that God says if you don’t have His Spirit dwelling in you, it’s your own fault!  God is true to His word.  If you never know this God, there’s no one else to blame but yourself because God says in v. 9: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Hollywood has given many a skewed view of demon possession.  We think a person’s head has to spin around for them to have a devil.  The reality is that the unbeliever is possessed by the devil at any given time at the devil’s leisure (2 Tim 2:26).  Once saved, this is no longer possible because the strongest man now lives in you! (Lk 11:20-22 cmp 1 Jn 4:4)  And this is a permanent state for He’s promised to never leave nor forsake us! (Heb 13:5) Jn 14:23 says those that love God and obey him will not be left empty.  The Father and Son will take up residence in that person!

Let’s consider the next description we have of this man.  He is “swept”.  This word means “to brush off”, so it conveys the idea of cleaning.  What it does not convey, however, is the idea of truly being clean.  When we get through eating dinner at home, we’ll sweep the floor under and around the table, but most of the time if you don’t get a mop out or at least a wet paper towel and spot clean some of the areas, your foot’s going to stick to the floor!  It’s like telling one of the kids to go put a new shirt on after they’ve been eating spaghetti, and they brush it off saying, “Look!  It’s clean!”  Brushing off doesn’t deeply clean anything especially if it’s really dirty.  Let me tell you something.  We’re really dirty!  Our sins are compared to scarlet in Is 1:18 which we know to be a color achieved by double-dying the garment.  Your sins are double-dyed!  We don’t need to be swept; we need to be washed!  And we don’t have any cleaning agent that will remove this double-dye.  Only God can take that scarlet clothing and make it white as snow!  Only the cleansing power of the blood of the lamb can remove the stain!  We are clothed in Christ’s righteousness, and man can’t match this level of clean!  Look at how Christ appears in Mk 9:3.  Only God can achieve that level of clean!  David acknowledges this in his prayer to God in Ps 51:7: “wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow!”

What about the word “garnished”.  It’s not a bad word.  In fact, it’s most often “adorned” and refers to the adorning of the woman in a way that is proper.  In fact, it is descriptive of the church in Rev 21:2, 9-10.  It signifies “to decorate” and is literally “to put in proper order”.  That’s a good thing considering 1 Co 14:40 says “Let all things be done decently and in order.”  So “swept” has to do with the level of clean while “garnished” has to do with making things look nice and orderly.  Sweeping is an attempt to clean that which is filthy while garnishing is putting things where they ought to go and may also convey sprucing things up.

This is the mark many of today’s churches are shooting for!  I was reading a sermon by a man the other day that preached just after World War I.  He was already seeing then how man in his enlightenment was modifying the message of the gospel to eliminate the supernatural.  We were becoming too smart to believe in something you can’t see!  So the mark was increasingly not holiness but morality.  The goal was to be good, decent people.  That’s not the message of the gospel.  The gospel message is that there is none good but God!  What He requires of all who enter into the kingdom of God is to be holy as He is holy!  That can only be if Christ has become sin for us and we have been made the righteousness of God in Him!  The group that another pastor sees most churches catering to today are VNPs—Very Nice People.  Christ was never accused of catering to nice people, but He was condemned for associating with publicans and sinners!  The gospel is for such!  These are the ones the Great Physician entered the world to save!

This man in Mt 12 had turned into a VNP.  Jesus condemned the Pharisees for this very thing a few verses earlier in v. 33-35.  God said He’d rather we be hot or cold, but He despised lukewarmness.  Either be good or evil!  The Pharisees had good (hot) coming out of their mouths with evil (cold) in their hearts, making warm.  We can’t do what needs to be done.  Man in his effort to crawl out of this hole on his own can at best be lukewarm!  We can’t overcome the evil spirit; only the stronger man can.

Salvation is not a cleaning up of our act!  It’s not the grandpa effect where because we’re getting older we have to change our language and be a little more respectable!  It’s not just sweeping and putting up new curtains.  It’s not a renovation.  Salvation is bulldozing the old place and starting from scratch!  It’s a new creation!  Per Rom 8:13, the Spirit’s work in us is not to simply clean up the deeds of this flesh, but to kill them!  No human effort will get us there as Jonah found out (Jon 2:7-9).  Don’t believe their lies and practice their instructions in vain.  Man make himself clean.  “Salvation is of the Lord!”

Jamie