Reconciliation - An exposition of Colossians 1:18-22

(I gave this message at Pines Baptist Church in Pembroke Pines Florida on June 22, 2014.)

We live in a "pluralistic" society. Just look around the sanctuary! A pluralistic society is a society where people of different cultures, religious and ethnic backgrounds and social class live together, preferably in an atmosphere of mutual respect, harmony and cooperation.

When it comes to religion, America has historically been the envy of the world with regard to religious freedom. For over two hundred years now it has stood as the quintessential example of a nation that constitutionally guarantees its citizens freedom of religion. An individual is free to exercise his or her religious beliefs as long as it does not violate the law of the land.

Unfortunately that has begun to change in recent years as the Federal government, in particular, has tried to force Christians and Christian institutions to violate their conscience and core beliefs in subservience to mandates of the state.

With regard to the Gospel, "pluralism" has taken on new meaning. As Dr. John Stott pointed out over ten years ago,

"Pluralism is not just the recognition that there is a plurality of faiths in the world today. That is an obvious fact. No, pluralism is itself an ideology. It affirms the independent validity of all faiths."  ("Why Don't The Listen," C.T. 09/2003, p. 50)

This has implications for our understanding of the gospel and evangelism. Stott, continues, this kind of pluralism "therefore rejects as arrogant and wholly unacceptable every attempt to convert anybody (let alone everybody) to our opinions."

Dr. Stott cites the book The Myth of God Incarnate edited by John Hicks in 1977, a symposium in which a group of contributing theologians, "asks whether the idea of the incarnate God is not another of those patristic doctrines which need to be criticized and interpreted afresh in the modern world." In other words they embraced T.S. Eliot's words, "Christianity is always adapting itself into something which can be believed."

Ten years later, another book The Myth of Christian Uniqueness: Toward a Pluralistic Theology of Religions was published. In it the contributors moved "from insistence on the superiority or finality of Christ and Christianity towards a recognition of the independent validity of other religious approaches." In other words they have crossed the Rubicon of Biblical orthodoxy moving from the exclusivity of Christ and Christianity to a pluralism, that apparently acknowledges the validity of all religions. In other words, Christianity has no corner on the truth.

Against this backdrop of religious pluralism let me begin with a question. Is the historic, biblical message of salvation through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ on the cross the only way man can be reconciled to God?

Perhaps some, including the theologians just cited, would question or deny the premise of that question and prefer to ask, "Is there even a need for man to be reconciled to God?" You see, my question presumes that man in some way is at odds with God. Man's relationship with God is broken in some way compromised.

The Apostle Paul answers both of these questions in the text before us this morning. Three weeks ago, in our message, "The Supremacy of Jesus Christ," we looked at the Apostle Paul's case for the Deity of Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ the Creator in Colossians 1:15-20.

In verse 18, which we skipped over, the discussion moves from Jesus Christ and creation, to Jesus Christ and the Church, and then in verses 19 and following, reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ. Before we consider reconciliation briefly note three things in verse 18 about Christ and the church.

First, Paul says Christ "is the head of the body, the church." In other words, He has supreme authority over the church. Bishop Nicholson,  (Oneness with Christ 81)

"Jesus Christ is the sovereign Lord of all creation, and as such He does and will govern for the benefit of His Church; but additionally, He is the Head of it as His own body; the seat of its life, the source of its activity, the center of its unity, the inspiring, ruling, guiding, sustaining power of its spiritual being and blessedness. Thus His relation to the Church is the exact parallel of that which He sustains to the universe."

In other words, He is preeminent over the Church as He is preeminent over all of creation. If you are born again this morning, you are a member of body of Jesus Christ, the church, of which He is the head. In other words, you are organically connected to Jesus Christ. He is therefore your Sovereign and Master, and as you remain connected to Him, He is the very source of your spiritual life.

Secondly, Paul says, verse 18, "He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead." Implicit in that statement is the incarnation of Jesus Christ. He became a man, a claim rejected by John Hicks and company as we just noted. As God in the flesh he died a physical death on a Roman cross.

As "the firstborn from the dead." Paul makes the explicit claim that Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected from the grave never to taste death again. A harbinger of what awaits every believer and member of His body.

Thirdly, still in verse 18, he writes, "that in everything he might be preeminent" or have "first place" (NASB). As we noted several weeks ago, first place in creation, and now first place in the church and therefore first place in our lives as members of His body.

Now previously we looked carefully at the Deity of Jesus Christ. Notice that verses 19 and 20 are one sentence. In other words, the deity of Christ is linked with His work of reconciliation. As we will see, if Jesus Christ were not both God and man, He could not have been our Savior reconciling us to God.

This morning, before looking at God's provision for reconciliation I want to look at verse 21, noting that the need for reconciliation implies a broken relationship. Verse 21 says, "And you were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds," That's pretty direct. No mincing of words here.

It identifies man's need for reconciliation. Paul is describing the condition of the Colossian Christians before they were reconciled to God. He had earlier described what had taken place at their conversion. In chapter one, verses 13 and 14, "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."

A 2013 Harris Poll found that a healthy majority or 74% of Americans believe in God. The question verse 21 would raise is, do the 74% that believe in God see themselves as the God they believe in sees them? My guess is that most people don't stay awake at night concerned with their need to be reconciled to God. As Leon Morris writes (New Bible Dictionary 1077) "Man, left to himself is content to let bygones be bygones. He is not particularly worried by his sin. Certainly he feels no hostility to God on account of is sin. The barrier arises because God demands holiness in man."

In other words, we are unaware that from God's perspective, without Christ we are alienated from God we are enemies of God and our lives are characterized by evil behavior. The New English Bible captures the thought so well, "Formerly you were yourselves estranged from God; you were his enemies in heart and mind, and your deeds were evil."

That is the universal condition of every person -- a broken relationship with God therefore in need of reconciliation. To be alienated from God is to be separated from God. It's the opposite of intimacy. It is the opposite of friendship. It is not a picture of two parties at peace with each other. Hostile in mind. We are enemies; at heart adversaries of God; in rebellion towards God. And Paul says our actions are consistent  with that heart condition, "your deeds were evil."

Paul painted a similar picture when writing the Ephesian church. He described their pre-conversion condition as follows, (Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV)

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience -- in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."

That description should trouble us. Leon Morris, has described it this way,

"The Bible tells us bluntly that sinners are 'enemies' of God...An enemy is not someone who comes a little short of being a friend. He is altogether opposed. The New Testament pictures God in vigorous opposition to everything that is evil."

You see, it is our sin that alienates us from God. Here's the problem. God's holiness and our sin are incompatible. R. A. Finlayson explains,

"Holiness may be said to be the distinctive overall attribute of God. The outshining of all that God is. It is his holiness that particularly sets him apart from all His creation -- for he only is holy --and that renders Him unapproachable in all His perfection."

You see, apart from Christ we are in dire straits. We're in trouble! Our only hope is reconciliation to God.

Notice secondly, God's provision of reconciliation, verses 20-22,

"and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him."

We've seen our need for reconciliation. Let's make sure we understand what it means to be "reconciled." Leon Morris writes (NBD 1077),

"Christ died to put away our sin. In this way He dealt with the enmity [or deep rooted hatred] between man and God. He put it out of the way. He made the way wide open for men to come back to God. It is this which is described by the term 'reconciliation.'"

I want you to notice six things about reconciliation this morning. First of all we are reconciled Romans 6:23. In other words, because of our sin we deserve death.

A holy God must punish sin. A holy God would no longer be just if he were to overlook sin. As a just judge he must pass judgment on the guilty. The penalty for sin, death must be paid. That's what the cross is all about. It served only one purpose for the Romans. It was an instrument of death. So Paul said, God made peace, verse 20, "by the blood of his cross."

You see, peace with God comes at a price, the shedding of blood. This principle was taught way back in Old Testament times. Leviticus 17:11, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it for you on the altar (of sacrifice) to make atonement for your souls for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life." The writer to the Hebrews echoed this truth,  (9:22 ESV) "Indeed under the law almost everything is purified with blood and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin."

And so in the Old Testament God instituted the sacrificial system of shedding the blood of animals. This was a type that pointed forward to the perfect, once for all, sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Playwright George Bernard Shaw, in his attack upon the Book of Common Prayer, wrote, "It is saturated with the ancient and to me quite infernal superstition of atonement by blood sacrifice, which I believe Christianity must completely get rid of, if it is to survive among thoughtful people."

Paul anticipated Mr. Shaw's response when he wrote, the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:23-24 ESV) "for Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly [or foolishness] to Gentiles, but to those who are

called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

Friends, what has been your response to the cross.? Have you belittled it like Bernard Shaw? Are you ignoring it? Or have you embraced it as your only hope for reconciliation to God?

But notice secondly that we are reconciled through a substitutionary act. Here's the amazing truth of the Gospel. We've already seen our need for reconciliation verse 21, we are "alienated" from God, "hostile in mind," "doing evil deeds." In spite of that God took the initiative and reconciled us, His enemies, to himself by becoming our substitute as He died in our place, paying the penalty for our sin on the cross. To some, this might sound to good to be true. That's why the gospel is called "Good News"!

Paul Van Gorder writes the following of a wagon train as it journeyed West, "One day, after months on the trail, the weary travelers came to the top of a high hill. There they were met by a terrifying sight! A great wall of fire had engulfed the prairie and was racing in their direction. Death seemed inevitable. Then the leader of the expedition quickly turned and rode his horse to the rear of the caravan. With deliberate haste he ignited the dry grass behind them. The same wind that was blowing the advancing blaze toward them also began fanning the new fire away from them. Within minutes the wagons could be driven onto the burned-out area.

As the heat and smoke became more intense, a little girl cried out, 'Are you sure we're safe?' 'Oh, yes,' said the wagonmaster, 'we're safe because we're standing where the fire has been.'"Friends, Jesus bore the penalty for our sin. When we put our trust in Him, we stand where the fire has been."

Thirdly, we are reconciled through the sinless God - Man, verse 22. In verse 19, Paul emphasizes the Deity of Christ in relation to His work of reconciliation, while in verse 22, Paul emphasizes the humanity of Christ in relation to His work of reconciliation.

Just as we could not have been reconciled to God without the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ could have never died a substitutionary death in our place without sharing in our humanity. As the God-Man, He lived a sinless perfect life. The writer to the Hebrews, (4:15 ESV) because He was a human like us "...we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."

Years ago I read this story, "The keeper of a large zoo was overseeing his men as they fed the animals and reptiles. Suddenly an assistant let out a shriek. Rushing to his side, the superintendent saw that a rattlesnake, roused from its winter sleep, had sunk his fangs deep into the man's flesh. Immediately he grasped the victim's arm and began sucking the venom from the wound, spitting it on the ground. His action saved the attendant's life. The newspaper account of the incident stated that if the zoo keeper's teeth had been decayed or he had a sore in his mouth he would have been killed by the poison."

Had their been the slightest defect in Jesus, His death would have been worthless. Even one moral imperfection, His death would have accomplished nothing.

Fourthly, notice that God's loving initiative brings reconciliation, verses. 19-20. Henry Bosch, writes of the following incident,

"In sixteenth century England, Oliver Cromwell ordered that a soldier be shot for his crimes at the ringing of the evening bell. But that night at the fateful hour, no sound came from the belfry. The girl who was to be married to the condemned man had climbed up into the tower and had clung to the great clapper of the bell to prevent it from striking. Brought before Cromwell to give an account of her actions, she only wept  and showed him her bruised and bleeding hands. Cromwell was greatly impressed, and he said, 'Your lover is alive because of your sacrifice. He will not be shot.'"

As imperfect as that illustration is, in the same way it was the love of God that set in motion and accomplished our reconciliation. This passage implicitly portrays God as the initiator of our reconciliation. And He was motivated by love. Paul explained it this way to the church in Rome. (Romans 5:6-11 ESV)

"For while we were still weak, at the time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."

Number five. Notice the reconciliation of creation, verse 20. In verse 15 we saw that Jesus Christ is supreme over creation. In verse 16 we saw that He was the agent of creation. In verse 17 that He pre-existed creation and preserves and sustains creation.
Here, Jesus Christ takes all of creation and reconciles it to himself. Even creation awaits its freedom from the curse of sin.

Again, the Apostle Paul explains, Romans 5:20-21 (ESV).

"For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."

Number six. Lastly, the result of reconciliation, our justification, verse 22, "he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him."

Paul is speaking of our justification. When we confess our sin and repent of our sin and trust in Jesus' death and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sin, God will regenerate us by the power of His Holy Spirit, delivering us from the power of sin. He will give us a new heart.

Paul put it this way, 2 Corinthians 5:17  (ESV), "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold the new has come."

But He will also deliver us from the penalty of our sin. That is, He will justify us, declaring us righteous in His sight because our sin has been put to Christ's account and we stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Again Paul, 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV), "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." That's what justification means. Someone has defined it this way, "The act whereby a holy and just God declares the unjust and guilty sinner to be righteous or just in his sight, having imputed to them the righteousness of Jesus Christ."

You see when we are justified a legal transaction takes place in the Court of heaven. Our sin is put to Christ's account, it is imputed to Him. And His righteousness is put to our account or imputed to us. Therefore God can justify us declaring us righteous in His sight, because as Paul wrote, we are "clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ."

Lastly, there is an alternative to reconciliation. Implicit in this passage and stated explicitly in others, there is an alternative to being reconciled to God. For example, Paul spoke of the consequence of rejecting the gospel in 2 Thessalonians 1:5a, 7-10 (ESV),

"This is the evidence of the righteous judgment of God...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed."

The consistent message of the Bible is that the alternative to reconciliation with God is the reality of facing the judgment or wrath of God. Admittedly this is not popular today in the culture and even to some in the church. In his classic book, Knowing God, J.I. Packer writes,

"The modern habit throughout the Christian church is to play this subject down. Those who still believe in the wrath of God (not all do) say little about it; perhaps they do not think much about it. To an age which has unashamedly sold itself to the gods of greed, pride, sex and self-will, the church mumbles on about God's kindness, but says virtually nothing about his judgment." If that was an accurate statement in 1993 it is even more true today. Earlier in this message we dealt with the term religious "pluralism" referring to an ideology that "affirms the independent validity of all faiths." In other words Jesus Christ is not unique in His person or work. It's a denial of His claim. "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me." Dr. Stott points out (CT Stott) we must reject religious pluralism because,

"we are committed to the uniqueness of Jesus (he has no competitors) and his finality (he has no successors). It is not the uniqueness of 'Christianity' as a system that we defend, but the uniqueness of Christ. He is unique in his incarnation (which is quite different from the ahistorical and plural 'avatar' of Hinduism); in his atonement (dying once for all for our sins); in his resurrection (breaking the power of death); and in his gift of the Spirit (to indwell and transform us). So, because in no other person but Jesus of Nazareth did God first become human (in his birth), then conquer death (in his resurrection) and then enter his people (by his Spirit), he is uniquely able to save sinners. Nobody else has his qualifications."

Many today are attempting to reach God in their own way, ignoring the claims of Christ. The English explorer William Perry took his crew to the Arctic Ocean to chart the far north. He calculated the team's position using the stars. Then they began the dangerous and exhausting trek north, hour after hour. They stopped to check their position hoping they had made progress. What they found was not what they had expected. Though they had been traveling north they found they were further south than when they began their trek north. They double-checked their readings. Then they realized they were trying to make progress while walking on an ice flow. The ice flow was moving south faster than they were walking north.

Could that be where some of you are today in your spiritual journey? You think you're making progress but you're on an ice flow that is moving in the wrong direction. In other words you have misplaced your trust.

Jesus used a similar illustration as he concluded his message, bringing his audience to a place of decision as recorded in Matthew 7:24-27. He said,

"Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had the foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, and the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash."

What is your house built on this morning? The rock Jesus Christ or the sand of your own choosing? Your soul hangs in the balance. Are you trekking on the solid ground of God's truth that you've heard this morning or walking on an ice flow that is taking you in the wrong direction?

If you are apart from Christ this morning, As Paul said "God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20)

© James P McGarvey All Rights Reserved

False Teachers - An Exposition of 2 Peter 2:1-22

 (I gave this message at Pines Baptist Church in Pembroke Pines on July 27, 2014. You can listen to the same message given at Riverside Church on July 20, 2014 here .)

Peter begins verse one of chapter two with the transitional word "but," indicating a contrast between what he has just written, at the close of chapter one, and what follows in chapter two.

In chapter one Peter reminded his readers of several things. He reminded them that they had become partakers of the divine nature through a work of God's grace. He reminded them of the importance of spiritual growth. He reminds them to "be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election."

As chapter one comes to a close he points out that our Christian life and experience is grounded in God's revelation of Himself in the person of Jesus Christ and in the written Word. Peter writes, "we did not follow cleverly devised myths." Rather, he makes the case for the historicity of Jesus Christ and the authenticity and authority of the Scriptures.

He insists on the reliability of the Scriptures because they were not "produced by the will of man, but men spoke as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." Then comes the contrast, chapter two, verse one, he writes,

"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you."

And so chapter two begins with a warning regarding false teachers. When I first began to study this second chapter, I was taken back at what I observed with regard to Peter's description of the false teachers of his day. I realized the characteristics he identifies very accurately describe false teachers of our day.

In other words, his warning regarding false teachers is as relevant in the 21st century as it was in the first century. It's as though he was writing to a 21st century church audience. Which of course, we know, in a manner of speaking he was!

In this chapter, Peter does not focus as much on the content of the false teacher's teaching as with what is perhaps, even more valuable to us, the characteristics that identify false teachers. He does not provide us with a compendium of their teaching as much as the distinguishing features or marks of false teachers.

Pastor John McArthur, speaking of chapter two, says

"...this is the core of the letter. The letter is a warning about false teachers and their teaching and here in this middle chapter of these three brief chapters he describes the false teachers. He wants us to know what they look like. He wants us to know what they act like. He wants us to know what they talk like. He wants us to know how they function and operate."

So notice first of all, nine characteristics or distinguishing marks of a false teacher. Now understand that all nine characteristics are not necessarily found in every false teacher.

First of all, note their place of work. Their sphere of influence, if you will. While this might surprise some of us, Peter is writing to Christians. He says they are at work "among you" verse one, "there will be false teachers among you."

I have a small commentary from my Dad's library, entitled "The General Epistles" by Charles Eerdman, a commentary on the books of James, 1,2 Peter, 1,2,3 John and Jude. 2 Peter is one of the "general" epistles, that is a letter not written to a specific church  like the book of Ephesians written to the church at Ephesus, or the book of Romans Paul's letter to the church at Rome, but to a broader or undisclosed audience.

Though Peter writes to a wider audience "the among you," still refers to the church as opposed to the world at large. The sobering warning here, is that the church is the workplace of the false teacher. The environment in which false teachers operate! That's not to say there are not false teachers in the world. It is saturated with them. But here Peter is determined to instruct us regarding the false teachers operative in the church of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, notice their method, the method of their work. Again verse one, they "secretly bring in destructive heresies." In other words, the false teacher does not announce his presence. He doesn’t parade around the church with a name tag identifying himself as a false teacher. On the contrary, the modus operandi of the false teacher is one of subtlety, secrecy and deceit. Very similar to Jude's warning, with regard to false teachers, in verse 4 of his letter, "For certain people have crept in unnoticed," or "certain men...have secretly slipped in among you." (NIV)

They're like a stealth bomber designed to remain unseen, undetected by the enemy.
These false teachers fail the test of full disclosure. They are experts at cover-up and concealment. Perhaps Peter had Jesus' warning in mind, Matthew 7:15,

"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."

The false prophet is a master of disguise. He is not what he appears to be. The wolf masquerading in sheep's clothing is not inwardly what he appears to be outwardly. Therein lies the danger to the unsuspecting. And it is interesting that Jesus says the false prophet is clothed in sheep's clothing. Sheep are harmless and helpless animals. Whereas a wolf is a natural predator of sheep. A natural enemy of sheep.

And a ravenous wolf is a vicious wolf. He is a danger and threat to the safety and very life of the sheep. Do you see the seriousness found in the imagery Jesus uses here?

Similarly, in his second letter to the Corinthians the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:14, 15a described false teachers this way.

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguise’s himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness."

Did you get that? Disguised as an apostle of Christ? Disguised as "servants of righteousness?" Yes, they follow the lead of Satan who disguises himself as an "angel of light."

You see a false teacher merely imitates his father. Jesus said as much when he said, in John 8:44. "the devil...has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Here's the point Jesus, Peter and Paul are making. False teachers never come to us as false teachers. They are masters of deception, wolves in sheep's clothing. They appear to be men of God. They appear to be men of the Gospel, even disguised as "apostles of Christ," "servants of righteousness." They associate with the people of God, and are comfortable in the house of God. They don't come as servants of Satan, but as servants of God just as Satan disguises himself as an angel of light! In reality they are agents of Satan on a mission to destroy the lives of men and women and the work of the Gospel. We cannot take their threat lightly.

Thirdly, notice the nature of their message. Still in verse one, "they secretly bring in destructive heresies." The word "destructive" means damnation. Heresy doesn't bring life. It destroys your faith. It brings death and destruction. In verse 17, Peter says of the false teachers, "These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm."' The value of a spring is that is satisfies your thirst. False teaching will leave your soul thirsty and the clouds you look to for a refreshing rain will be blown away leaving you spiritually dry and barren.

The word heresy comes from a verb that means to choose. As William Barclay points out, originally it meant, "a line of belief and action a man had chosen for himself." 
(W. Barclay) It has also been translated by the word "opinion." Someone pointed out that it came to mean "a self-designed religious opinion" or "chosen beliefs" (NBC)

That's what heresy is. It's not based on transcendent or revealed truth. It's an opinion someone has chosen to embrace. In contrast, writing of his ministry, chapter one, verse 16, Peter declared that,

"...we did not follow cleverly devised myths [or invented stories - NIV] when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

So a false teacher is someone who chooses for himself what he will believe without regard for Biblical truth.

Fourthly, their denial of Lordship, verse one, "denying the Master who bought 

them." This is, perhaps, the defining characteristic of false teachers. It is the root of all that characterizes them. They deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Remember the words of Jesus, Mark 10:45. "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Simply stated Jesus Christ died a substitutionary death. He purchased our freedom by shedding His blood on the cross. The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death." We have

forgiveness of sin, freedom from the penalty of sin, and freedom from the power of sin for one reason and one alone. He purchased our freedom when He shed his blood. He paid the ransom that set us free from the curse of the law.

And by that ransom He has a claim to be Master and Lord. Paul explained it this way to the Corinthians, in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

"Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." This is the theological basis for the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the life of the believer.

The word translated "master" or "Lord" is the word despotyn, from which we get our word "despot." A despot is a ruler who has unlimited power and absolute authority. As Master or Lord, Jesus Christ has the right and the claim to absolute control of the
believer's life.

False teachers, are "denying" present tense, that is, they are continually denying "the sovereign Lord who bought them" writes Peter.

As someone has pointed out, denying, means to say no. It means to be unwilling. It means to refuse. It's a strong word, to say no to." (J McArthur)

In verse ten Peter notes that they "despise authority." At this point Peter is saying you can identify a false teacher by their denial of Christ's lordship in their personal lives. In other words, they refuse to submit themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They are accountable to no one but themselves.

And as we will see in a moment this has considerable moral and ethical implications and consequences. You see, a false teacher might be orthodox in his doctrine, that is, say the right things, use the language of the church, even proclaim the gospel while not living in personal submission to the Lordship of Christ. And that will eventually come to light in their personal conduct.

Number five, notice, their success verse two. "And many will follow their sensuality."
There are two things I want to point out from this statement, the size of their following and the reason for their popularity. Their success or popularity is measured by the number of those following them. "Many will follow them." False teachers have large followings. That defines their success. It speaks of their popularity.

The fact that they are successful should not surprise us. Perhaps Peter is echoing the words of Jesus. Again Matthew seven, just prior to his warning about wolves in sheep clothing Jesus he says, Matthew 7:13,

"Enter the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

The way that leads to hell has a wide gate and it's an easy way. And many enter 
the wide gate. In contrast, the way that leads to eternal life, has a narrow gate and the way is hard, and few find it.

What does Jesus mean, by a "narrow gate?" Salvation is through Jesus alone. On another occasion, Jesus said, John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." That is Jesus' unambiguous truth claim. Peter understood the exclusivity of Jesus' claim. He boldly proclaimed to the religious authorities who had arrested him (Acts 4:12) "...there is salvation in no one else for here is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

What does the "hard" way look like? Again, Jesus' words, Luke 9:23,24 "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up is cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."

Do you see the Lordship of Christ in those words? Elsewhere, Jesus, speaking of the end of the age, said, Matthew 24:9,10,

"...you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away... And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray." Sobering words!

Do you see the direct relationship between persecution and the many who fall away and follow false prophets? Especially in this day with the popularity and proliferation of mega churches and media driven ministries, please remember that size or numbers have never been the test of sound teaching or Biblical orthodoxy.

The success of the church has never been measured by size, prominence, prestige or power. God's people have always been a remnant, a minority. You have just heard the words of Jesus to that effect.

Please do not misunderstand me at this point. I am not saying or even insinuating that
there is a relationship between mega churches and false teachers. I'm simply pointing out the obvious truth of this text with regard to false teachers. They have a great following. Both Jesus and Peter are clear on that point.

This should dispel any notion in the church that bigger is always better. This is the principle I take away from Peter at this point, with regard to the "many" that follow false teachers. If there is a large following be sure you know why there is a large following. It might be because the Word of God is preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. Or as Peter suggests there might be another reason.

Characteristic number six, given to sensuality, verses two, ten and fourteen. "And many will follow their sensuality," verse two. That is, the sensuality of the false teachers. "Sensuality" is also translated "licentiousness," or "lasciviousness" (Analytical) or "shameful immorality" (NLT).

Michael Green says it is, "a strong word for reckless and hardened immorality." William Barclay, "The word...describes the attitude of the man who is lost to shame and cares for the judgment of neither man nor God."

Peter paints a very troubling portrait in this regard, adding in verse ten, that false teachers are "those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion" or "those who 
follow their own twisted sexual desire" (NLT). There is even the suggestion in the Greek here of sodomy.

In verse 12, Peter says false teachers are "like irrational animals, creatures of instinct." An animal cannot think. He is not a rational being. An animal is governed by instinct, not reason. Similarly, Peter says the false teacher responds instinctively in passion and self indulgence. William Barclay writes, "The evil men are like brute beasts, slaves of their animal instincts."

Verse 13, "They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you." Then in verse 14, "They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin." According to a lexicon, (A&G) literally this is how the text reads, "eyes that are full of an adulteress, in other words, always looking for a woman with whom to commit adultery." Peter continues, they are "insatiable for sin," or "they never stop sinning" (NIV).

Again, John McArthur, "It's not their theology that unmasks them it is their morality that unmasks them."

Remember what we have already noted. These are false teachers who look like, act like and in many instances speak like men of God, but all the while are master's of disguise, not being inwardly what they appear to be outwardly.

Peter continues, still in verse 14, "They entice unsteady souls." Here's the tragedy. Not only does this immoral behavior characterize the false teacher, but it directly impacts the "many" that follow the false teacher. The many follow their sensuality.

One pastor put it this way, "Why will they be so popular? Why will so many follow them? Because they can have Christ and they can have sin." (J McArthur)

The Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:3, wrote the young pastor Timothy, "...people will not endure 'sound' teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves, teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

False teachers pander to the desires of their audience. You see, a church can grow in numbers because the audience hears what they want to hear, a message that suits "their own passions." Or, it can grow because of the transforming power of the Gospel, proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit. It can grow because its message and methods appeal to the sensual, worldly visceral nature of man, or because the truth and grace of the gospel are taught without compromise in dependence upon the Spirit of God rather than appealing to the passions and self indulgence of the audience.

As Michael Green points out, "purely emotional religion leads, often enough, to immorality…."

This inevitably leads us to the seventh characteristic. Notice, they shame the cause of Christ, verse two, "and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed." William Barclay translates it this way, "And many will follow the way of their blatant immoralities and through them the true way will be brought into disrepute."

The ministry of false teachers inevitably undermines the gospel witness of the church. It defames the cause of Christ. This is one of the reasons for their impending judgment we will note in a moment.

The eighth characteristic is perhaps one of the most prevalent in our day; their motive is greed, verse three, "And in their greed they will exploit you with false words." Here Peter discloses the underlying motive of the false teacher. If a denial of the Lordship of Christ, is the defining characteristic, of the false teacher, greed is the defining motive.

The Greek word translated greed is made up of two words; the word for "more" and the verb "to have." It means, "the desire to have more" (Barclay). As William Barclay points out, it can represent an honorable desire. But here, he writes, it "...comes to mean the desire to possess that which a man has no right to desire, still less to take." He continues, "So it can mean covetous desire for money and for other people's goods; lustful desire for someone's person; unholy ambition for prestige and power."

In verse 14, Peter adds, "They have hearts trained in greed." The word translated trained" (the verb "gumnazo") is the same word used of an athlete training 
for competition. Here it is used of one who trains his mind in this matter of greed for what belongs to others. In other words their greed is intentional. In fact they work at it.

Again, William Barclay, "These people have actually trained their minds to concentrate on nothing but the forbidden desire. They have deliberately fought the conscience until they have destroyed it; they have deliberately struggled with their finer feelings until they have strangled them."

Back to verse three, Peter says, "in their greed they will exploit you." The Greek word translated "exploit" (emporeuomai) literally means "to make merchandise of." We get our word emporium from it. An emporium is a place of trade, a commercial center. Edwin Blum, "religion will be commercialized--they will 'buy and sell,' ...and exploit people." he writes. To put is simply, they're after your money and the power, prestige

notoriety and prominence that accompany their success!

The communication technology available today has provided false teachers with incredible media exposure through which to exploit their audience in this regard.

Notice the method used to exploit the audience. Still in verse three, Peter says, they use false words" or "phony arguments" (Green) Literally it reads, "with fabricated words." The word "fabricated" or "false" is the Greek word "plastois" from which we get our word "plastic." It comes from the verb "to mold"  (Vine) and is used metaphorically here of something that you make up, in other words, it's not genuine or real.

Some of you remember when a chrome bumper or trim on a car, was actually made of chrome. Now it's made of plastic molded to look like chrome. It's fake chrome. That's what the word means. Merriam Webster, the adjective "plastic" means, "capable of being made into different shapes."

You see, false teachers go for your wallet with phony words, plastic words. With something they've made up. Quite simply, they manipulate their audience with lies!
They distort the truth to get your money.

Two weeks ago, The Christian Post reported that a pastor and self proclaimed "popular television personality" emailed a newsletter to ministry supporters soliciting a donation of $229. The pastor wrote, quote,

"I feel strongly that a seed of $229 in accordance with 1 Chronicles 22:9 is 
a breakthrough seed for the month of July. It's a turnaround, God ordained, 
demon slaying, abundance bringing seed." The pastor continued, "Not only will this seed defeat your enemies, but I believe it will bring about an unexpected abundance of miracles. Do not hesitate to follow a prophetic instruction."

The recipients of the email were offered a three part teaching series and a book in return for the $229. However, the Post reported that, "If recipients of the…newsletter 

are unable to 'produce' the 1 Chronicles-inspired 'seed' or 'offering' then they are told, 'get a seed of $31 or more for the 31 days of July and 1 Chronicles 22:9 (22+9=31).'"

On June 26 of this year an Atlanta newspaper published an article naming eight pastors  whose net worth was 200 times greater than the people who lived in their local communities. The net worth of the eight pastors ranged from 5 to 50 million dollars; the size of their congregations from 15 to 40 thousand. Two of them preach in countries where over half of the population survives on two dollars a day. One pastor's annual salary was reported to be $900,000 and he lives in a ten thousand square foot Beverly Hills mansion while most of his congregation are reportedly from an impoverished part of the city where the annual medium income is just under 28 thousand dollars. "In their greed they will exploit you."

The ninth characteristic. They prey upon the weak. Peter says, the false teachers "entice unsteady souls," verse 14. They "lure to their ruin" (NEB), "they seduce the unstable" (NIV). The word "entice" comes from the world of fishing. It literally means "to catch with bait." Remember that bait always hides the hook. In other words, while the bait is effective in enticing the victim it hides the danger from the victim. And those at risk are described by Peter as "unsteady souls."

Michael Green comments, "They were easily toppled over because they had not planted their feet firmly enough in Christ. That is why the false teachers represented such a danger to them."

Verse 18, "they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error." They go after those young in their faith. Those still learning to walk like a toddler still unsure of their footing and balance.

Do you see why Peter emphasized spiritual growth in chapter one? Remember, he wrote verse 10, "if you practice these qualities you will never fall."

Well, how will God deal with these false teachers? Note the promise of their judgment. You'll remember that Jesus was very straightforward regarding the outcome of those who choose the wrong gate. It led to destruction - to hell.

Likewise Peter warns of the destruction that awaits the false teachers. In verses 4-9, Peter gives us three reasons for the judgment of false teachers. He cites three historical precedents. The judgment of angels who sinned, verse 4; the great flood of Noah's day, verse 5; and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, verse 6-8. He describes the certainty of what God will do in the future based on what He has done in the past. He says, "If God did not spare the sinning angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell,"verse 4; "if God did not spare the ancient world" in Noah's day but "brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly," verse 5; If God turned the "the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes," and "condemned them to extinction," verse 6 "then the Lords knows how to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment," verse 9. Verse 6, what he did to Sodom and Gomorrah is "an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly," he writes.

Peter's words are graphic, even brutal and ruthless. These false teachers, verse 
12, "like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed...will also be destroyed in their destruction."

If you wonder why Peter uses such forceful language, remember he writes as a pastor, a shepherd attempting to protect his flock from predatory, ravenous wolves intent on their destruction.

In closing, a concluding challenge. You don't have to be a false teacher to heed Peter's words. Remember Jesus' warning about false prophets who come to us as wolves in sheep's clothing in Matthew 7:15? Jesus goes on to explain how you recognize false prophets, verse 16, "You will recognize them by their fruits." That's essentially what chapter two is all about. Peter has exposed the fruit of false teachers. But then Jesus continued with these sobering words, verses 7:21-23,

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."

This conversation fits perfectly with what Peter teaches in chapter two! Jesus could very well be talking about false teachers here. But I'm sure it has application beyond false teachers. It certainly is a warning to those who are presumptuous in their faith. In fact, the depth of deception underlying the presumption Jesus identifies here is frightening.

Here's the danger of deception. If you are deceived, you do not realize that you are deceived. And the danger of presumption is that you think you have something that you don't have. In other words, presumption of salvation is a form of deception that should concern each of us. That is why assurance of salvation is one of the reason why spiritual growth matters. Peter made it an issue back in 1:10-11, when he wrote, "brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling, and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you entrance into the eternal kingdom."

I hope you see the urgency of Peter's words in light of Jesus' warning. If you are a professing Christian and do not have assurance of your salvation Jesus and Peter's words should be an incentive to, as Peter wrote, "confirm you calling and election."

If you don't know Jesus Christ this morning, Jesus' and Peter's words place you in a perilous place spiritually. Not only are you vulnerable to the deception of false teachers, as described by Peter, but your soul is in jeopardy with regard to eternity. Jesus words, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness" are serious words, which we cannot afford to take lightly.

Do you know Jesus Christ? You've heard the gospel this morning. He came to serve and give His life a ransom for many. Are you one of the "many"?

In Peters' first sermon (Acts 2:21) he quoted the prophet Joel who wrote, "everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." If the Lord is speaking to your heart this morning, call out to Him for salvation, and He will save you!

© James P McGarvey All Rights Reserved      

False Teachers

On Sunday, July 20, 2014, I preached a message entitled "False Teachers," from 2 Peter 2:1-22 at Riverside Church in North Lauderdale. Peter identifies nine characteristics of false teachers. Here is a portion of what I said in dealing with characteristic number six, false teachers are given to sensuality, "And many will follow their sensuality," verse 2.

"Sensuality" is also translated "licentiousness," or "lasciviousness" or "shameful immorality" NLT.

…Peter paints a very troubling portrait in this regard, adding in verse 10 that false teachers are "those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion" or "those who follow their own twisted sexual desire" NLT.

...Then in verse 14, "They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin."
...Peter continues, still in verse 14, "They entice unsteady souls." Here's the tragedy. Not only does this immoral behavior characterize the false teacher, but it directly impacts the "many" that follow the false teacher. The many follow their sensuality.

...The Apostle Paul warned (2 Timothy 4:3) the young pastor Timothy,
"...people will not endure 'sound' teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves, teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

False teachers pander to the desires of their audience. You see, a church can grow in numbers because the audience hears what they want to hear,
a message that suits "their own passions," or it can grow because of the transforming power of the Gospel, proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit.

It can grow because its message and methods appeal to the sensual, worldly visceral nature of man, or because the truth and grace of the gospel are taught without compromise in dependence upon the Spirit of God rather than appealing to the passions and self indulgence of the audience. As Michael Green points out, 'purely emotional religion leads, often enough, to immorality…'"

You can listen online or download the message at the Riverside Church link here.

The Anatomy of Temptation - Understanding and Overcoming Temptation

This message was given on May 25, 2014 at First Baptist Church of Oakland Park  Florida from the text James 1:13-18.

"Power to Endure and Mature - Understanding & Responding to Trials" on YouTube

My message, "Power to Endure and Mature - Understanding & Responding to Trials," an exposition of James 1:1-8,12, given at First Baptist Church of Oakland Park Florida on May 18, 2014 on YouTube.

"The Sanctity of the Unborn" on YouTube

My message, "The Sanctity of the Unborn," given at First Baptist Church of Oakland Park Florida on May 18, 2014 on YouTube.

You may view fifty seven PowerPoint slides that accompany this message via Microsoft OneDrive at here.

Remember the Triangle

(I had the privilege to officiate the wedding of my son Christopher and his wife Paola on Sunday (May 11) in Winter Haven. Here is the message I brought, followed by a blessing I was asked to give Christopher on behalf of his mother and I. Paola's parent's, Drs. Roberto and Lyvan Cabrera each gave a blessing to Paola later in the ceremony.)

Think of marriage as a triangle. A triangle with two equal sides connected at the top, like an isosceles or equilateral triangle you studied in your sophomore geometry class.

Jesus Christ is at the apex, the top of the triangle, while you, Christopher, the husband and you, Paola, the wife, are in the two corners at the base of the triangle.

Both of you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, pictured by the two sides of the triangle connected at the top. At the same time you live in relationship with each other, pictured by the two corners connected by the base of the triangle.

Let me make three applications from this illustration. First of all, Jesus Christ is the key to fulfillment in your marriage. Therefore, make Christ the head of your marriage. In other words, let Christ be your first love.

For years I have been praying a very specific payer for my children with regard to their future spouse. "Lord may they find their fulfillment first and foremost inYou."

Why have I been praying that prayer? Because it is from our relationship with Christ that every other need or desire in life will be met. Our love relationship with Christ will ultimately shape every desire, ambition or hope we ever have.

And I believe that one of the reasons we have seen the hand of God bring the two of you together, is because both of you have put your relationship with Christ ahead of your desire for each other.

But today is the beginning of a new life, life in the triangle! And just as in the courting or dating years, there is the temptation to find fulfillment in another person than the Lord, that same temptation can follow you into marriage.

Please don'tmisunderstand me. You should and will find fulfillment in each other. That is built into God's design for marriage.  After all, after creating Adam the Lord said, "It is not good for the man to bealone." In other words, the Lord recognized as far as Adam was concerned someone was missing! The Lord continued, "I will make a helper suitable for him."  (Genesis 2:18) And He created Eve from Adam's rib. And the Genesis account says, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become one flesh."

That's the beauty of marriage. You become one flesh, sharing an intimacy that is not just physical but emotional, and spiritual - the bonding of two people into one. And of course that will bring fulfillment to your marriage relationship.

Back to the triangle. Notice secondly, as each of you move up the sides of the triangle, growing closer and closer to the Lord, you inevitably will grow closer to each other. The distance between you narrows. As you find fulfillment in the Lord, you will find greater and greater fulfillment in each other.

That being said, even in marriage, there will be the temptation to seek your fulfillmentin Paola or in Christopher rather than Christ. Remember the triangle. Jesus Christ remains at the top of the triangle, seeking to have first place in your lives, yes, even before your spouse.

And here's why that's so important. Inevitably there will be occasions, or even seasons of your life together, where the road gets rough, times when you respond in sin to each other rather than with the gospel.

When your spouse disappoints you, when you feel he or she has failed you, remember life in the triangle. When your fulfillment is in Christ your joy will not depend on your spouse treating you right. Your fulfillment in Christ will allow you to love them and forgive them even in their sinful treatment of you. 

Back to the triangle one last time. Thirdly, the closer you draw to Christ, the more you become like Christ. I'm sure you understand why this can be so valuable in marriage. Just a few weeks ago, Pastor Brian Brookins said, "Eventually you know your spouse in a way you don't want to."

So growing in Christlikeness will bring God's grace into your marriage perhaps when you are most aware of your own sin and selfishness.

The Apostle Paul put it this way, writing to the believers in Galatia, "I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you." (Galatians4:19 ESV) or "until Christ is fully developed in you..." (NLT).

What does that look like? I think part of the answer is found in the next chapter, verse twenty-two. As you think ahead to your life as husband and wife, and the challenges that will invariably come your way, listen to what Christ wants to form in you.

"..the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Notice it is the fruit of the Spirit, Spirit with a capital "S." This is what Christ grows in our lives as we yield to His Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is perhaps the greatest gift God can give to a husband and wife.

Remember the triangle. The closer you come to Christ you will find fulfillment in Christ and each other. The closer you come to Christ the closer you come to each other. And the closer you come to Christ the more you become like Christ. May these three truths enrich your marriage. Remember the triangle. 

I have been asked to bring a word of blessing to Christopher from his mother and I.

Christopher, as you join Paola in marriage today, a new home is being formed. And as you take your position as the head of this home, I want to bless you with these words from King Solomon, as recorded in Proverbs 3:1-12.

A numberof years ago I encouraged you to memorize these verses. I know of no other passage in Scripture that covers as many contingencies of life as these verses do. Each instruction is followed by a promise that can be applied to most every challenge you will face in your new life as a husband and head of your home.

Instruction regarding God's Word in your life, "My son, do not forget my teaching, butkeep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

Instruction regarding your character, "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."

Instruction regarding your relationship to the Lord, "Trust in the Lord with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."

Instruction regarding your relationship with sin, the flesh and the world, "Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and shun evil." Paul told Timothy to flee - run from youthful lust. "This will bring health to your body andnourishment to your bones."

Instruction regarding your material possessions, "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing,and your vats will brim over with new wine."

And finally, instruction on how to respond to the Lord's discipline, "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in."

We love you son. Lord, fill Christopher with your Holy Spirit. May He walk humbly before You and his wife Paola.