THE HORROR OF THE HERETIC

The focus of 2 Peter 2 is the features of false teachers. If the Devil cannot beat the church, he will join the church. His best weapon is to place a man in the pulpit as a pied piper to lead the people to their doom. Often, such preachers seem solid and sound, but inside they are hollow and rotting—as a tree destined to fall. Their crash not only destroys them, but those who have gathered under their branches.  The horror of the heretic is not only experienced by him, but by those he influences.  How does this happen?

There is REFORMATION.  “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning,” (v. 20). The sad reality is that you can have a knowledge of the Lord and Savior intellectually and even emotionally without knowing the Lord and Savior personally. We see this often in people who will make a profession of faith and yet do not have a possession of faith as there is no perseverance in faith. This not only happens to people in the pew, but preachers in the pulpit!  They exhibited behavior that attested to salvation at first. But it is reformation and not regeneration. The outside conduct was clean while the inside character was still corrupt. Jesus described such hypocritical religious leaders in his day as “white-washed tombs,” beautiful outwardly, but inside there was death. Eventually, such become entangled again in the world and are overcome by it.

There is then REGRESSION.  “For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them,” (v. 21).  They had facts in their head, but without faith in their heart. The doctrinal facts about Jesus are essential, but are not enough. They can stir the  feelings but unless they move us to submission—to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior—there is no salvation. Eventually, these depart from the faith. Today it is called, “deconstruction.”  We have heard of notable preachers who have departed from the faith. 

Peter illustrates it this way: “But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’” (v. 22‬‬).  Dogs and pigs behave as they do because of what they are. You can take a dog to the most exquisite cafe and he will still consume what he regurgitates. You can wash and perfume a pig, but it will roll in the mud at first opportunity. Without regeneration there is eventually regression.

The horror of the heretic is the end—and that is RETRIBUTION. Peter states it, “the latter end is worse for them than the beginning,” (v. 20), and stresses, “For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them,” (v. 21). The ultimate horror of the heretic is hell—something he no longer believes in. It often begins with him avoiding the topic in his sermons, and moves to questioning it in his heart, to denying it in his unbelief. When he discovers the reality of God’s wrath it will be too late. The gravity of that judgement will be immense as it not only is in measure of his own apostasy, but increases in intensity due to those he has dragged down to hell with him!

God help us—help me—to not have such an end, but rather have the testimony of the Apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Tim.‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭8‬‬).

Peter once wavered. He denied the Lord three times!  Yet, he did not stay there. He fell in the mud, but got up and cleaned up!  He repented because he was regenerated. If you are struggling, listening to seductive false teaching, then cast yourself in brokenness upon the Lord. Trust in Him! Believe His Word.

Without question, the greatest evangelist of the last century was Billy Graham. Yet, his grandson, Will, recounted that it almost did not happen.

He wrote, 

“a very good friend and contemporary of my grandfather’s, a man named Charles Templeton, had begun challenging my granddaddy’s way of thinking. Mr. Templeton, who had preached with Youth For Christ as well, had gone on to study at Princeton, where he began to believe that the Bible was flawed and that academia – not Jesus – was the answer to life’s problems. He tried to convince my grandfather that his way of thinking was outdated and the Bible couldn’t be trusted….

One night at Forest Home, he walked out into the woods and set his Bible on a stump – more an altar than a pulpit – and he cried out: ‘O God! There are many things in this book I do not understand. There are many problems with it for which I have no solution. There are many seeming contradictions. There are some areas in it that do not seem to correlate with modern science. I can’t answer some of the philosophical and psychological questions Chuck and others are raising.’

And then, my grandfather fell to his knees and the Holy Spirit moved in him as he said, “Father, I am going to accept this as Thy Word—by faith! I’m going to allow faith to go beyond my intellectual questions and doubts, and I will believe this to be Your inspired Word!’

My granddaddy wrote in his autobiography that as he stood up his eyes stung with tears, but he felt the power and presence of God in a way he hadn’t in months. “A major bridge had been crossed,” he said.

(From an article by Will Graham, https://billygraham.org.uk/p/the-tree-stump-prayer-when-billy-graham-overcame-doubt/)

THE SUCCESSFUL SOUL-WINNER

 

If we are faithful to share the Gospel, the Lord will make us fruitful in it. Here is the promise of Proverbs 11:30:

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, 
And he who wins souls is wise.”

Every believer is commissioned to be a witness for Christ, (cf. Matt. 28:18-20). Pastors are to set the standard in that we are commanded to be soul-winners, as we “do the work of an evangelist,” (2 Tim. 4:5c). To neglect to do that is to fail to, “fulfill your ministry,” (2 Tim. 4:5d). 

1 Peter 3:15 tells us three characteristics of a successful soul-winner.

First, we need A SANCTIFIED DEVOTION, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.”  We have been set apart for God—to be used by Him. He has purchased us with the blood of Christ. We belong to Him and that gives Him the right to command our conduct. Thus, I am either soul-winning or I am sinning!  Our devotion to Him leads us to reach out to those made in His image. We love our Father and out of that we love our fellowmen who are created in His image. 

Second, we need A SWIFT DECLARATION, “and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.”  We are to always be ready—praying for and searching for opportunity to share the life-changing power of the Gospel. We are to demonstrate that transformative dynamic every day. People must see the difference in us, if we are to be used to make a difference in them. I must exude hope, so that they express questions to me concerning that hope—and wonder how they may have it. 

We live in a world desperate for hope. People are looking for it and failing to find it in what the world offers. They should see it in us. The Spirit of God will open doors, if we are looking for them. Then, we are ready with a Gospel defense. The Greek word for “defense” is apologia, from which we get our term “apologetics,” meaning a reasoned explanation of the Gospel. People are looking for answers and we are to have them on the ready.

Third, we need A SUBMISSIVE DISPOSITION, “with meekness and fear.”  We are not to come across as arrogant. We have answers, but are not to be “a know-it-all.”  Only God is the “know-it-all,” in being “omniscient,” as theologians refer to this Divine attribute. Humility makes us a channel through which God’s grace can flow into and out of to others. “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble,’”(James‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬‬). Only the amazing grace of God can save sinners like we are and is required for us to lead other wretches like us to Christ. It has been well-said that evangelism is “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” Our disposition is one of submission to God, “fear,” and respect for others, “meekness,” as we are in reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit to make us successful soul-winners.

LEADERS—LEAD!

 

Jared Wilson lists four components of Gospel-driven ministry—the first one being, decisiveness. Here is what he has to say:

Decisiveness 

Pastors overly concerned about their own protection or reputation will  grow passive over time. The “bull in a china shop” pastor is not your only  alternative, however. Gospel confidence, as discussed previously, rightly  leads to leaders taking initiative. When you know who you are in Christ  and adequately meditate on your union with him (and thus your security  in him), you will be bold to take appropriate leadership steps. 

No one else is called to do this for your church. If you consistently let  those who are  not in leadership positions take initiative, they become the  real leaders, not you. Do not be afraid to be decisive. Pray much. Mull  things over, consult with others, research, then think, and think, and  think. But passivity is part of the original sin. Avoid analysis paralysis, and  don’t always be afraid of making mistakes. You’re going to make them,  even if  you take forever to do so. If your church has affirmed your calling  to lead, then lead. The grace of Christ frees you to operate with  boldness.

— Gospel-Driven Ministry: An Introduction to the Calling and Work of a Pastor by Jared C. Wilson

If you would like to read more, follow this link:

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HOW GOD PURIFIES A PEOPLE

Men, God works “through the word of God which lives and abides forever…Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you,” (1 Pet. 1:23b, 25b). Trust God and His Word. Preach the Gospel. Some seed will fall on hard soil and have no impact. Other seed will seem potentially received as people are moved emotionally or respond superficially only to fall away. But, some will respond fruitfully and their lives be changed for eternity. Let us preach the Gospel, confident in its power!

A PURIFIED PEOPLE

Sin separates us from God. This is a problem that we cannot solve. The distance between a Holy God and a sinful humanity is a chasm so vast we cannot cross. Since we are all sinners, we are all condemned. It is impossible to purify myself. That would be like trying to wash my hands in muddy water. Yet, God does not lower His standard. His demand is, “Be holy, for I am holy,” (1 Peter 1:16). 

God did what we could never do, for God can do the impossible. There was REDEMPTION.  Enslaved by sin, God came in human flesh—Jesus Christ the Son—to free us, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,” (1 Peter 1:18). By His blood, payment was made to purchase us. “What can wash away my sins?” That is the question, the hymn writer posed, and went on to answer, “Nothing, but the blood of Jesus!”  This was God’s one and only predetermined plan—that in the crucifixion of Christ, the penalty for sin has been paid, and in His resurrection, the confirmation of His work has been sealed. “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God,” (1 Peter 1:19-21). 

A miracle takes place—REGENERATION.  We are no longer, slaves, but sons—no more sinners, but saints, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:23-25). The seed of the Gospel is sown into the soil of the soul, and those who receive it are regenerated—born again of the Spirit working through the Scripture He has inspired. 

The evidence of being redeemed and regenerated is in RIGHTEOUSNESS. Having positional righteousness through redemption and potential righteousness through regeneration, there will be progressive righteousness in sanctification. This is not the root of salvation, but the fruit of salvation. 

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear…

 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,”  (1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭17, 22). 

As God’s children, we bear His image, and this should be an increasing reality more and more. We must choose to think properly, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind,” take this seriously, “be sober,” and trust fully, “and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  From start to finish, salvation is all of grace. Yet, He does not do the work apart from us, but in us as we rely on God and apply His grace by a will surrendered to Him.  The Holy God is marked by truth and love, so that as His children we will exhibit obedience to the truth and pure and passionate love for the family of God.

The people of God are a purified people—not perfect yet, but progressing toward it. John stated it, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬-‭3‬‬)

MAKE DISCIPLES

As pastors we are where we are because someone discipled us. I was a young Christian, when Dale Fisher—our student pastor—took me and two other men, including my brother-in-law, John Crayton, and discipled us.  This was a formative time. In the fifty years that have followed, I have sought to do likewise. This is at the core of the Great Commission our Lord assigned us. Jared Wilson hits this same note:

It is important for pastors to prioritize those more mature in their faith, under the assumption that newer believers can benefit from discipling relationships with those just a bit further along than them. Ideally, anyone who’s been a Christian for more than a couple of years should be capable of working with a new believer to go through a book on sound doctrine or the spiritual disciplines or discuss parts of Scripture. But more mature believers need one further along than themselves to speak into their lives. Typically, those qualified in church leadership are among the few who fit that bill. In your eagerness to shepherd new believers along their spiritual journey, don’t neglect more established Christians who could benefit from your time. They will likely slip through the cracks. 

At the same time, if you can manage it, discipling a new or immature believer can be an extremely rewarding experience for both of you. In your case, it can be refreshing and encouraging to see the faith with new eyes. The eagerness and wonder of new believers can supply great energy for seasoned pastors and add a special relatability and intuition to their preaching. 

In some cases, you may want to meet with more than one man for discipleship at a time, perhaps in twos or threes, or even in a men’s discipleship group. Aside from preaching, this was my favorite part of pastoral ministry. In my last church, I met one-on-one with two men about once a month. One was a more immature believer, and the other was more mature and a potential elder candidate. My approach with each was different. But I also led a men’s discipleship group twice a month on Monday nights. In that venue, we had about twelve men going through book discussions and having confessional conversations. These were my discipling priorities, and the fruit was in these men’s ability both to love their neighbors well and to disciple other men accordingly.” (Gospel-Driven Ministry, p. 152, Kindle edition)

A PROPHETIC MINISTRY

 

Churches are often listed as non-profit organizations. Sadly, many have become “non-prophet” organizations. Can we find a prophet in the pulpit? James 5:10 exhorts, “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.” 

First, a word of clarification. Many times we think of a prophet as a foretelling the future, when the emphasis in Scripture is “forth-telling” the truth. In both the Old Testament and New Testament, we find those who unveiled God’s program for the end of the age.  These were a select few who were gifted for a specific season. Yet, much of what the prophets proclaimed confronted the contemporary spiritual state of the people. The preacher has a prophetic ministry in this sense today—not to reveal new truth, but to apply the already revealed truth to our age. 

Thus, the primary duty of a prophetic ministry is SPEAKING. James said, “My brethren, take the prophets, WHO SPOKE in the name of the Lord, as an example…”[emphasis added]. What good is a preacher who does not proclaim the Word of the Lord?  We are to preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help us God!  We are not entertainers, but expositors. 

As prophets of old, we are to speak with exegetical authority, evangelical urgency, emotional fervency, and eschatological clarity. The prophetic ministry has an authority that is exegetical—that is, it is grounded on the Rock of the eternal Word of God and not the shifting sands of current culture. It has an urgency that is evangelical—a matter of life and death, heaven or hell as we call people to decision. It has a fervency which is expressed emotionally—so there is not a dull recitation, but a passionate proclamation.  Further, there will be a clarity resting in the revealed eschatological program of God for the consummation of the age.

In speaking, we must be prepared for SUFFERING. Again, we consider James 5:10,  “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of SUFFERING...”[emphasis added]. You can be a church celebrity if you engagingly tell the people what they want to hear. Yet, a prophetic ministry will not bring applause from most, as it comforts them with sin and calls them to repentance. 

The Word of God, thus clearly preached will be as popular as scales to a fat person or a mirror to an ugly one! Still, there are some who will purpose to get in shape and enhance their appearance because of the truth of the scales and the mirrors. But, whether people accept it or are angered by it, the preacher is to proclaim it. The prophetic preacher must be prepared for suffering, however, because the mob will rise against him.

Finally, James stresses the need for SUSTAINING. “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and PATIENCE,” [emphasis added]. If the preacher embraces his call to prophetic ministry, he has his eye on eternity. It is not short term success that seeks human applause, but the long goal of faithfulness and fruitfulness that secures heaven’s approval that is our focus. This will sustain us in the suffering that comes from our speaking.

It is easy to quit in the face of angry church members. It is more comfortable to back down and trim the truth to suit the desires of the congregation. It is easy to say, “Woe is me,” when the people arise against our message of, “Woe be to you,” and become bitter and harsh. Yet, we can sustain our calling; the prophets did it and God will enable us.

One of my Fruitland professors, the late William W. Willingham used to encourage us with this song, and I hope it will do so for you.

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God's eternal day.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We're tossed and driven on , no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray'r.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,
We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ. (Esther Kerr Rusthoi)

LEADING YOURSELF

In his excellent book, “Gospel-Driven Ministry,” Jared Wilson stresses that pastors are leaders and effective leadership begins with leading ourselves. 

He writes:

You cannot effectively lead others if you do not conscientiously lead yourself. The pastor who is subject to his week, who routinely has ministry “happen” to him, is not evidencing the fruit of self-control or the spirit of discipline. 

Pastors should take inventory of their weekly schedules. Does it reveal that we say yes (or no) to too much? Does it show that we are disorganized people, always playing catch-up? 

Do you devote time not just to study God’s Word, but to read books—theology, spirituality, history, biography, even fiction and poetry? Do you stretch yourself in your reading, working different mental and emotional muscles? Do you go to conferences or access other resources for pastors that might challenge and inspire you? It’s a cliché, of course, but it’s a cliché because it’s true: leaders are learners. 

In your personal relationships, do you stew, grumble, and internally process to the exclusion of other’s needs to talk and listen? Would your wife or closest friends say you’re great with communication? Do you manage your household well? 

The answers to these questions help reveal the quality of your self-leadership. Even more telling is your commitment to the spiritual disciplines of Bible study, prayer, fasting, service, and generosity. For the same reason we should dismiss the gluttonous preacher who rails against others’ lack of self-control; the pastor who does not show personal discipline and commitment should not expect others to follow his leadership. “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ,” Paul says (1 Cor 11:1 ESV). To be a good leader, one must be a good follower. To be a gospel-driven leader, one must first be an attentive follower of the heart of Jesus. (pp. 147-148, Kindle edition)