Jesus and the Russian Judge

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2Tim 4:8).

The Russian Judge

Growing up as a sports fan in the sixties and seventies, I was painfully aware of the infamous “Russian judge” at the Olympics. Back in a previous millennium, Cold War tensions spilled over into athletics.

In just about every event involving an evaluation of a performance, some dude from the Soviet bloc would toss out a ridiculous score ruining the chances of an American athlete. Figure skating. Gymnastics. Ski jumping. Diving. Boxing.

Some red-blooded jock from the good ol’ U. S. of A. would train for four years and deliver the performance of their lives only to see a judge from a communist country ruin any chance of a medal. You could never trust the Russian judge. Ever.

The Ultimate Victory

A couple of thousand years ago, the Apostle Paul knew his eternal fate wasn’t in the hands of some puppet looking to rig the system against him. Despite being on Death Row in a Roman prison, he writes to his spiritual son about ultimate victory.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing” (v8). Unlike certain American Olympians, Paul trusts in the One who will make the call on his performance.

Up Close and Personal

Just like the TV networks like to give us those up-close-and-personal feature stories about these little known competitors in weird Olympic sports, let’s take a closer look at how the man from Tarsus found himself walking the Green Mile as an enemy of the Roman Empire.

Everything changed for Paul one day outside the city Damascus. Back in the day, the apostle previously known as Saul was trying to wipe the followers of Jesus off the face of the Earth (Acts 8:1-3). He was on his way bring the pain on another group of Christ’s disciples when the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter supernaturally mugged him (Acts 9:1-8).

From Murderer to Messenger

The next thing you know, this murderer becomes Jesus’ number one messenger. An assassin becomes an apostle. In case your keeping score at home, that’s exactly the same thing Christ does to you and me. He turns enemies into family members (Rom 5:8-10; Col 1:21-22). Our Savior loves flipping the script by showing off and using “what is foolish in the world to shame the wise” (1Cor 1:27). And by “foolish,” he’s talking about you and me.

Saul the Assassin transforms into Paul the Apostle and dedicates his life to touring the Mediterranean Rim telling everyone about how Jesus has thrown the doors of God’s kingdom open to everyone. This totally freaks out the Jewish leaders who immediately put a contract out on Paul in order to shut him up once and for all.

A Letter from Prison

After a wild and crazy thirty years on tour for the Good News, the apostle finds himself behind bars (2Tim 1:16; 2:9). It’s not the first time but it will certainly be the last. Paul writes to his protege Timothy (2Tim 1:2) who at last report is leading the megachurch in the big port city of Ephesus (1Tim 1:3).

For most of the letter, the author passes the baton of ministry to the young pastor (2Tim 2:1-4:5). He hopes to see Tim one last time (2Tim 4:9, 21). He has lifted the glass of his life and poured himself out in an act of worship to Jesus (2Tim 4:6). It’s Paul’s last call.

At this point, the man from Tarsus transitions from the last drops of his earthly existence to the overflowing goodness of everlasting life with Jesus. He understands clearly that death is only a transition. His life has been a thrill ride. But now someone in the Roman government has sentenced him to die. And you thought you couldn’t trust the Russian judge!

And That’s Not All!

Paul begins talking about what will go down on the other side of eternity when he writes “Henceforth” (v8). Okay, the folks at the ESV decided to use a word we don’t hear much these days unless you’re binge-watching “Downton Abbey.”

It’s the Greek word λοιπος/loipos, which means from now on, in the future, finally, or in addition. The term refers to whatever part of the whole that remains. It’s like those informercial announcers who keep saying, “And that’s not all!” Believe me, this is WAY better than a second ShamWow.

The Keeper of the Crown

The apostle “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness” (v8). What’s next is a crown. A crown that Christ has kept safe until Paul’s arrival. He describes that what the Lord will give him is currently “laid up” (Gr. αποκειμαι/apokeimai). It describes something put away, stored up, reserved for safe keeping. It literally means “separately (Gr. απο-/apo-) laid away (Gr. -κειμαι/-keimai).”

In hockey, the champion wins the coveted Stanley Cup. Most of the time, they display the cup under tight security at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. But as the league is about to crown the new champ, the cup hits the road under the watchful eye of Phil Pritchard, AKA the Keeper of the Cup.

Phil stores the Stanley Cup in its protective case. He wears white gloves anytime he takes it out. Wherever the cup goes, he goes. As its caretaker, he makes sure that Lord Stanley’s legendary trophy is “laid up” for the winning team.

Heavenly Security

It’s the same with the award Paul will receive. God will personally make sure nothing happens to it before the apostle crosses the threshold into eternity. While the Keeper of the Cup does a great job, it’s nothing compared to heavenly security. Not even the British crown jewels get that level of protection!

The apostle is absolutely sure that nothing’s going to happen to the prize God will present to him. It’s safe and sound. Same for every follower of Jesus. He personally ensures its safety. Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.

Not THAT Kind of a Crown

What sort of award awaits us on the other side? According to Paul, it’s “the crown of righteousness” (v8). If you’re like me, when you hear “crown,” you immediately picture a king or queen wearing one of those awesome gold lids covered in jewels. While those are pretty sweet, it doesn’t sound like that’s the kind of crown we’re getting.

The apostle uses the Greek word στεφανοσ/stefanos, which actually describes a wreath. No, he’s NOT saying Jesus is giving you something to hang on your front door during the holidays. This is the award made of leaves given to the winner of an athletic contest back in ancient times.

Crowns, Trophies, Rings, and Medals

Remember the sports analogy the apostle gave us in the previous verse. “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith” (2Tim 4:7). He’s comparing the end of his life lived for Jesus to going the distance and leaving everything on the field. He’s headed to the medal stand.

Long before there were championship trophies, rings, and medals, the winner received a crown of laurel leaves. Did you know that’s where we get our expression “resting on your laurels?” If you’re sitting on the winner’s crown, you’re doing it wrong. But I digress.

Other Crowns in the New Testament

The writers of the New Testament talk a lot about these sort of crowns. First and foremost is the “crown (Gr. στεφανοσ/stefanos) of thorns” Roman soldiers slammed on our Savior’s head as they tortured and mocked Him (Mt 27:29; Mk 15:17; Jn 19:2, 5). The King of Kings wore that crown of ridicule so that we could receive the crown of righteousness.

Paul tells the Corinthians there’s a big difference between a champ’s laurel wreath and what God gives us at the end of our race. While the crown won by race winner will eventually wilt, the prize we receive is “imperishable” (1Cor 9:25).

The apostle wants his friends in Philippi to know that they are “my joy and my crown” (Phil 4:1). He writes pretty much the same thing to the Thessalonians. “For what is our hope or joy or crown (Gr. στεφανοσ/stefanos) of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you” (1Th 2:19). What greater trophy can there be on this side of heaven that people who follow hard after Jesus after He uses you in their lives?

Jesus’ kid brother James says those who hang tough for the faith “will receive the crown (Gr. στεφανοσ/stefanos) of life” (James 1:12). Peter reminds church leaders how Jesus will give each of them “will receive the crown (Gr. στεφανοσ/stefanos) of life” (James 1:12).

And you can’t turn a page in the Book of Revelation without tripping over a crown! There’s “the crown (Gr. στεφανοσ/stefanos) of life” (Rev 2:10). Enemies of Jesus are out to “seize your crown (Gr. στεφανοσ/stefanos)” (Rev 3:10-11). Elders are seen wearing “golden crowns (Gr. στεφανοσ/stefanos)” and later “cast their crowns (Gr. στεφανοσ/stefanos)” to God in worship (Rev 4:4-10).

Championship Hats

Think of the “crown of righteousness” (v8) like the hats handed out to the victorious team after winning the championship. You know, those officially licensed lids you can order online immediately after your favorite club takes the title. It can be yours for just $39.99 plus shipping and handling.

A couple of major differences between a championship caps and the “crown of righteousness” (v8). First of all, the righteous crown is MUCH more expensive. Trust me, it’s WAY out of your budget. You can’t afford it. Second, God is buying it for you.

This Crown Comes with a Cost

The righteous crown is free but certainly not cheap. It cost God the life of His one and only Son. That’s because we don’t get one of these hats because of anything we’ve done. It’s not about our righteousness. It’s all about what Christ did for us that we could never do for ourselves.

We’re eligible for a “crown of righteousness” (v8) by placing our trust in Jesus. He lived the perfect life of obedience (i.e. righteousness) that I’ve failed to live. He died the brutal death for my sin that I should have died. He rose to a glorious new life that I in no way deserve.

The Great Exchange

Because of the victory He won for us, we receive a championship crown. It’s all part of the most lopsided trade in history. He takes our rebellion and disobedience and gives us His perfection. Martin Luther calls it the Great Exchange. In one of his letters to the Corinthians, Paul says the sinless Son of God actually became our sin so “we might become the righteousness of God” (2Cor 5:21).

Just to be clear, there’s no righteous crown if it were up to you and me. It ain’t happening. We only receive one because of the overwhelming grace of Jesus and His substitutionary life, death, and resurrection on our behalf.

The Righteous Judge

You may be wondering what in the Wide World of Sports this has to do with the infamous Russian judge. So glad you asked. The one who’s in charge of doling out these championship caps is “the Lord, the righteous Judge” (v8). In other words, the Lord Jesus is the person who makes the call. Not some underhanded judge from the eastern bloc.

Aren’t you glad to know that the only One who truly IS righteous decides who gets the righteous crown? There’s no handwringing before the judges post their scores for the performance. No freaking out about money be exchanged under the table. No wondering if you’ll get a legit score.

It’s in the hands of Jesus. Not me. Not you. Not the Russian judge. And that’s a VERY good thing!

YOU Get a Crown! And YOU Get a Crown!

Just to make sure there’s no mistake about who gets one of these crowns, Paul goes out of his way to that it’s “not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing” (v8). It’s like Hat Day at the game. Picture walking through the turnstiles, they tear your ticket and asking you if you love Jesus. “You betcha!” Then they hand you a nifty “crown of righteousness” (v8).

There’s a good bit of debate about whether Paul is talking about Christ’s original incarnation or His long-awaited encore. While I think the apostle is talking about Jesus’ original appearance in Palestine, does it really matter? If you loved Him then, you’ll love seeing Him the next time. If you’re one of His followers and weren’t around before, you’ll love it when He returns.

Whatever the case, it’s going to be like one of those crazy Christmas episodes of “Oprah.” YOU get a crown! And YOU get a crown! And YOU get a crown! Each and every person who loves Jesus will get a spectacular crown of righteousness. Again, it’s not up to the host of a talk show. It’s not up to the Russian judge. It’s up to the Righteous Judge!

Truth for Today

So how do we apply all this? What good do these words in a 2,000-year-old letter from a Roman prison do for me?

First of all, God has your eternal reward in safekeeping until your arrival. Don’t worry about anybody stealing or damaging it before you get there.

Second, I know that my current circumstances or even any future situation have nothing to do with eternal reward. If Paul has this kind of confidence on Rome’s Death Row, I can be confident as well. Diagnosis. Divorce. Unemployment. Bankruptcy. None of them disqualifies a follower of Jesus from receiving their crown.

Third, these championship caps aren’t a limited time offer. They don’t just go to “professional” Christians and other spiritual superstars. Everybody who loves the idea of seeing Jesus gets one of a “crown of righteousness” (v8).

Finally, we can trust in the One who’s giving them out. Jesus is the Righteous Judge. Certainly NOT the Russian judge.

The Holy Ghostwriter

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2Tim 3:16).

It’s pretty common for celebrities and other first time authors to use a ghostwriter. While the big name gets credit for the book, there’s another skilled storyteller behind the scenes doing most of the literary heavy lifting. Let’s get real. Do you really think Kendall and Kylie Jenner became published authors all by themselves? REALLY??

Did you know the human authors of the Bible had a Ghostwriter? Yup. You read that right. But there’s a HUGE difference between what went down with the Kardashians and the people who put pen to parchment to produce God’s Word. You see, there’s no secret Who’s really behind the composition of the scriptures. This Ghostwriter came up with the idea, story line, and even the Hero.

In a letter to his spiritual son, Paul discloses the true identity of the One behind it all. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (v16). Turns out the driving force behind every book of the Bible is none other than the Spirit of God. The apostle should know. He and the Holy Spirit have teamed up to write a huge chunk of what we call the New Testament. Paul would be lost without the Holy Ghostwriter.

A Letter from Prison

You might get the idea that somebody on the receiving end of divine inspiration must be some sort of seminary trained monk, detached from the real world locked away in their ivory tower. Wrong. Paul is in prison (2Tim 1:16; 2:9). Most likely, deep in the dungeon of Rome’s infamous Mamertine Prison. He writes from Death Row (2Tim 4:6-7). What’s labeled 2nd Timothy in our Bibles is actually the last letter from Paul just before his execution.

The apostle furiously fires off what he knows will be his final words with two important purposes. One, to pass the baton of telling people about Jesus to the young pastor in Ephesus (2Tim 2:1-4:5). Two, to beg for one final face-to-face visit from Tim before his last day on this side of eternity (2Tim 4:9, 21). The Holy Ghostwriter encouraging him with every stroke of his pen.

Paul didn’t compose this letter on his laptop before sending them off to his editor and publisher at LifeWay. Instead seeing these words as perfectly typeset on the page of your Bible, picture them in their original form. Hurriedly handwritten on some grimy piece of parchment. Sweat stains. Blood stains. These are the final words from the man God used to not only spread His Good News throughout the Mediterranean Rim but to write much of what we know now as the New Testament.

Paul is reassuring Tim that he can trust God’s Word. He grew up hearing it as a baby back in Lystra (Acts 16:1; 2Tim 1:5). His family stacked the biblical kindling around him so that once God set him on fire, he would burn brightly (2Tim 3:14-15). The more he grows in his understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for him, Tim’s trust deepens. The apostle wants his protege to keep swimming toward the deep end of the pool of the Gospel.

The Creative Constant

It’s at this point that we read some of the most important words found in God’s Word about God’s Word. “All Scripture is breathed out by God” (v16). Not some Scripture. Not certain parts. Not just the Gospels. Not just the red letters. All of it. The fingerprints of the Creator are on every single word of the original manuscripts. All. Scripture.

Think about that for a moment. God has been personally involved in everything from Genesis to Revelation. Approximately 40 human authors wrote 66 documents in three different languages over about 1,600 years. The one creative constant? Almighty God. Specifically, the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Ghostwriter weaves an amazing story about one and only Hero. Jesus. That shouldn’t be any surprise. The Third Person of the Trinity never stops making the Second Person of the Godhead famous (Jn 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-14). The Son of God went out of His way to say that He’s the point of God’s Word (Jn 5:39, 46; Lk 24:27).

The First Graphic Novel

Meanwhile back in 2 Timothy, what does Paul mean when he drops the word “Scripture” (v16)? It’s a Greek word (Gr. γραφη/graphe) that generally describes any writing, drawing, painting, or picture. Something composed or created by hand. It’s where we get our English word “graphic.” Consider the Bible the world’s first and best graphic novel.

Anytime we see one of the human authors use “Scripture (Gr. γραφη/graphe)” in the New Testament, they’re always talking about God’s written Word. Almost every time, the NT writers are referring to the Hebrew Bible or what we call the Old Testament (Lk 4:21; Acts 8:32; Rom 10:11). For folks like Jesus, Paul, and Timothy, it was the ONLY Testament!

The Power of Theo-Pneumatics

But not for long. The Holy Spirit is at His creative best during the First Century. He’s Holy Ghostwriting a boatload of new Scripture. So just how did God get this done? According to Paul, every single bit of God’s Word is “breathed out by God” (v16). This entire phrase is just one word in the original language (Gr. θεοπνευστος/theopneustos). It’s a compound term that literally means “God (Gr. θεο-/theo-) breathed (Gr. -πνευστος/-pneustos).” That’s “theo-” as in theology, the study of God. And “-pneustos” like pneumatic, or air powered. I guess we could say the Holy Ghostwriter uses the power of theo-pneumatics!

Paul’s buddy the Apostle Peter explains it further. “No prophecy of Scripture (Gr. γραφη/graphe) comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2Pet 1:20-21). In other words, some folks will blow a lot of smoke telling you they’ve heard straight from God. It’s nothing but hot air. Only those directly inspired by the Holy Ghostwriter are legit.

Creativity that Takes Your Breath Away

In order to see the amazing creativity of the Third Person of the Godhead over the centuries, we need connect the dots between a couple of Hebrew and Greek words. “Spirit” in Hebrew is ruach. In Greek, it’s πνεθμα/pneuma. Both terms also mean breeze or breath. Remember the roar of the rushing wind at Pentecost when God’s Spirit made His spectacular entrance (Acts 2:2-4)?

With that in mind, it should be no shock at the innovation and innovation when God’s Spirit starts blowing! He was right there hovering over the waters at Creation (Gen 1:2). When Yahweh molded Adam’s body from the dust, He then “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Gen 2:7). One of the ancient worship songs describes how God used a similar method to create the stars and planets. “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host” (Ps 33:6).

Piling up the Godliness

So if God’s Spirit can create an entire universe out of nothing, He can certainly create something in you and me through His Spirit-breathed Word. That’s why Paul says it is so incredibly “profitable” (v16) to us. The apostle uses a word here (Gr. ωφελιμος/ophelimos) that we can translate as beneficial, valuable, or advantageous. It comes from a root word that means to pile up or accumulate. Just check out how the Holy Spirit   can stack huge piles of godliness in Jesus’ followers through Scripture.

Showing Us Truth

First of all, Scripture is of tremendous value “for teaching” (v16). In other words, there’s no better lesson plan for learning about our incredibly giving God. Or as the Message puts it, for “showing us truth” (v16 The Message). Specifically, the truth about who Jesus is and what He has done. He is THE Hero of THE Story! Not just the New Testament but the entire Bible. Don’t believe me? Take it from the Savior Himself (Lk 24:27; Jn 5:39, 45-46). The Holy Ghostwriter has come up with an incredible curriculum!

A Holy Mirror

Next Paul tells us how God’s Word is of great benefit “for reproof” (v16). This is the idea of using facts to prove someone has done wrong. The point here is NOT to embarrass anyone, win an argument, or prove you’re better than somebody. Scripture points out where we fall short of God’s holy standard. Jesus’ kid brother James compares looking into a mirror that reveals all our zits and pimples (James 1:23). It stops us in our tracks and keeps us from doing any further damage.

Back on Track

In order to get us going again, Scripture is awesome “for correction” (v16). The Greek term here is επανορθωσις/epanorthosis. It paints a picture of restoring someone or something to an upright state. God’s Word picks us back up after it knocks us down and points us back in the right direction. Think of SNL’s legendary life coach Matt Foley. “What’s it gonna take to get you…BACK…ON…TRACK?!?!?” According to Paul, the answer is the truth of God.

Living God’s Way

Finally, the Holy Ghostwriter comes alongside human authors to compose Scripture “for training in righteousness” (v16). While we’ll never be perfect on this side of Heaven, God’s Word shows us to live lives of integrity. Or as we read it in The Message, “training us to live God’s way” (v16 The Message). This isn’t just some sort of external behavior modification that lasts no longer than that New Year’s resolution about dropping 20 pounds. Scripture changes us from the inside out. Paul calls it being “transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Rom 12:2).

We can totally trust Scripture because of One behind it all. It has the seal of approval of God’s Spirit as “breathed out by God” (v16). It teaches us about God and the rescue we find in His Son. It exposes our sin and stops us in our tracks. It picks us back up and makes sure we’re headed the right way. It also trains us to shine God’s light and spread His salt. All the credit goes to the Holy Ghostwriter.

Hot Pursuit

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2Tim 2:22).

It seems like everybody is chasing something. Lawyers chase ambulances. Parents chase their kids. Athletes chase a ring. Actors chase an Oscar. Dogs chase cats. Cats chase mice. What are you chasing? Are you chasing your dream career? A big house in the ‘burbs? A sweet ride? A fat 401k?

In his second letter to his spiritual son, the Apostle Paul encourages Timothy to make sure he stops chasing the wrong things and start chasing the right things. “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (v22). It’s time to grow up. Stop the wild goose chase and start the wild God chase. Make it a priority of hanging out with folks whose hearts are focused on Jesus. Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff. We must be in a constant hot pursuit of the things of Jesus!

While Paul encourages Tim to get moving, the apostle isn’t going anywhere. Well, at least not physically. The man from Tarsus writes the young preacher from Death Row in Rome while wearing heavy chains (2Tim 1:16; 2:8). Paul’s race is just about over and he’s leaning toward the finish line (2Tim 4:6-7).

He pleads with his protege to hurry and see him one last time (2Tim 4:9, 21). Just in case he can’t get there in time, his mentor hurriedly scribbles down instructions for how to continue telling people about Jesus and spreading His Gospel (2Tim 2:1-4:5). 2nd Timothy is the very last thing from Paul’s pen. It’s incredibly urgent. It’s powerfully personal.

The apostle tells Tim to “flee youthful passions” (v22). It’s more evidence of the work God has done in the the dude from Lystra who was still just a kid (Acts 16:1). In his first letter to the young buck, Paul encourages him to not let anybody think he’s too wet behind the ears to lead and shepherd the church in Ephesus (1Tim 4:12).

Like so many other talented young leaders, Tim needs a reminder to put the stuff of youth in the rearview mirror. “Flee” (Gr. φευγω/pheugo) means to escape, run away, take flight, seek safety, or quickly disappear. It’s where we get our word “fugitive.” When Jesus chases a truckload of demons into a herd of pigs and they jump off a cliff, “the herdsmen fled (Gr. φευγω/pheugo)” back to town (Mt 8:33).

Paul makes the bigger point that we can’t get locked in the prison of childish activity. Grow up and escape from the juvy joint. We’ve gotta get away from “youthful passions.” Be a fugitive from immature behavior. Be on the lamb from acting like a middle schooler. And the form of the verb is what Greek scholars call present imperative. That simply means it’s a command that never ends. In other words, start escaping and never stop escaping. It’s like Richard Kimball in “The Fugitive.” He had to keep moving because the feds were always one step behind.

Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.

We need to chat just a moment about what Paul is NOT saying. He’s not contradicting Jesus’ encouragement to His followers to have a childlike faith (Mt 18:3-17; Mk 10:13-16; Lk 18:15-17). That’s when we place our simple trust in our awesome and loving Heavenly Dad. He loves your more than you can imagine. He wants His best for you. That’s having the faith of a child. Never lose that.

Instead the apostle is warning his spiritual son Tim and the rest of us that there comes a time to put on our big boy and big girl pants. The bell has rung and it’s time to come in from your eternal play period. You can still play video games if you want but those marathon sessions of Doom need to stop. Guys, quit spending every waking moment away from work on the golf course or in a tree stand. It’s time to come in from recess and be a man. If you’re married, be the husband God has called you to be. If you’re a dad, lead your family. Paul himself knew there came a point when he had to grow up (1Cor 13:11). Stop the wild goose chase. Stop chasing your tail. Stop chasing rainbows.

Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.

So if I’m sprinting from immaturity at top speed, what exactly am I hightailing it toward? Paul is so very glad you asked. “Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (v22). The apostle drops another intense and aggressive term here. “Pursue” (Gr. διωκω/dioko) paints a picture of running after, hunting down, chasing aggressively.

John uses this verb when the religious police “were persecuting (Gr. διωκω/dioko) Jesus” for breaking their manmade Sabbath rules (Jn 5:16). Our Savior repeatedly said that being intensely harassed pursued for following Him is actually a good thing (Mt 5:10-12). Luke uses this same word when describing Saul’s relentless hunt for the followers of Jesus in order to wipe them off the face of the earth (Acts 9:4-5; 22:4-8; 26:11-15).

But you can also turn “pursue (Gr. διωκω/dioko)” around when talking about the non-stop chase of “righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (v22). If you want to hunt something, the season is open and there’s no bag limit. Race after them. Chase after them. Don’t walk, RUN! And like the previous command, this is also in the present tense. That means we are to never stop pursuing. Think of a linebacker who’s always around the ball.

Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.

Let’s take a quick look at the God stuff lineup. First out of the gate is “righteousness” (v22). Ultimately this is being perfect in the eyes of God. You DO realize that’s not happening, right? Not on your own, at least. Take a page out of Abraham’s playbook. He placed his trust in God’s goodness and God “credited to him as righteousness” (Gen 15:4-6; Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6; James 2:23).

While we can’t earn spotless perfection, there’s good news. Or I should say Good News. Jesus gives us what we could never get on our own. Our Heavenly Father allowed His sinless Son to take our sin “so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Cor 5:21). It’s the Gospel of grace in concentrated form. Martin Luther liked to call it the Great Exchange. Even that might be an understatement.

Paul tells us we should also be in hot pursuit of “faith” (v22). This isn’t just the random belief that good stuff is going to happen. It’s trusting in who Jesus is and what He has done. I place my faith in the fact that the Lord lived the perfect life I’ve failed to live. He died the substitutionary death for my sin I should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life I don’t deserve. We chase faith by diving into the deep end of the pool of the Gospel. It doesn’t just get us into God’s kingdom. It’s what keeps us there too!

Number three in the pursuit of God stuff is “love” (v22). One of the megathemes of Scripture is that this sort of “love” (Gr. αγαπη/agape) is anything but a warm and fuzzy for someone. This is love in action. Love that’s demonstrated. Love that’s expressed. It’s a love that does. Love with hands and feet.

This kind of love is at the very core of God’s personality (1Jn 3:8, 16). We put love into action because we’ve been loved in the very same way.  God loved us first when we were totally unlovable (Jn 3:16; 1Jn 3:19). That means we’re to also love the unlovable. Jesus demonstrated it for us practically time and time again. He did it when He rolled up His supernatural sleeves and washed the disciples’ filthy feet (Jn 13:1-20).

Christ said that our love for each other will be signal to the world that we’re His followers (Jn 13:34). I don’t know about you but this would be a great place to start. Stop throwing fellow believers under the bus and start loving on them where they are. I have a sneaking suspicion our neighbors would wonder what got into us.

Batting cleanup in the God stuff lineup is “peace” (v22). The peace Paul’s describing is a whole lot more than just the lack of fighting and war. Let’s just say, that’s a GREAT place to start! If you’ve got a beef with someone, take a long, hard look at what’s behind it. Step one: stop fighting. Step two: forgive. Step three: attempt reconciliation.

But anytime we see the writers of the Bible talking about peace, they’re pointing to the Hebrew word “shalom” used in the Old Testament. Shalom is the unspoiled and perfect rhythm of life. It’s when the world is humming on all cylinders. There’s just one BIG problem. Our sin jacked up the engine of God’s flawless creation. He gives us His gracious Gospel not just as a tuneup and an oil change. It’s a NEW CAR! (Read that again using your game show announcer voice.) Let’s do everything we can to seek His peace in everything we do. Let’s face it, everyone loves that new peace smell.

Want to know what to pursue? Try this Fantastic Four. Righteousness. Faith. Love. Peace. Chase these and you’re doing what Jesus commands. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Mt 6:33).

Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.

Paul gives Tim and his readers one last and very important tip. Don’t chase these things by yourself. Get yourself a posse and do it “along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart” (v22). While Jesus comes to save each one of us individually, we need to remember that faith is a team sport. We need each other. I need you. You need me. Collectively we’re His body. His hands. His feet. His heart. We can’t do it alone. Intentionally associate with people who love Jesus with all that they are.

If you’re a fan of racing you know that competitors always go faster when they run together. Race cars go faster when they draft. The pack of cyclists in the peloton can collectively chase down a breakaway leader. It’s the same with following Jesus. Don’t chase Him alone. Intentionally get together with others “who call on the Lord with a pure heart” (v22).

Run away from kid stuff and run toward God stuff.

Hot Pursuit

“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1Tim 6:11).

A police cruiser races down the interstate with siren blaring and blue lights flashing. A linebacker sprints toward the ballcarrier breaking down the field. A hungry cheetah flies across the savannah toward its prey. Each one of them totally focused. Each one undistracted. Each one in hot pursuit.

In this letter to the young pastor of the Ephesian church, Paul encourages Timothy to stop chasing stuff that tears you down and start chasing stuff that builds you up! “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (v11). Quit wasting your time with things that waste your life. Start chasing after things that really matter. Put the hammer down! Be in hot pursuit!

Getting the church of Ephesus back on track is priority one for Pastor Tim. A team of spiritual con artists weaseled their way into the congregation and done all sorts of damage (1Tim 1:3-7; 4:1-3). Paul did what he could to straighten things out at this once proud church, kicking two of the ringleaders to the curb (1Tim 1:20). Now on divine assignment up the road in Macedonia, he’s handed the keys to his protege Timothy (1Tim 1:3). A key to getting the church out of the ditch and back on the road is for Tim to be personally in hot pursuit of the things of God.

It’s at this point that Paul gets personal. “But as for you, O man of God” (v11). I’m talking to you, Tim. Yes, you. Not the entire church. Just you. Y. O. U. It’s as if the apostle wants his spiritual son to look him in right the eyes and pay full attention. By the way, the phrase “man of God” only appears twice in the entire New Testament. Both are by Paul and both are in his letters to Tim. In the sequel to this epistle, the apostle writes how God personally inspires Scripture so “that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (1Tim 3:16-17). There are times in our relationships when we need someone’s total attention. Are you listening? I mean REALLY listening? Get it. Got it. Good.

Step one is to stop doing stuff that does damage. “Flee these things” (v11). Paul uses a a Greek word (Gr. pheugo) which means to quickly escape danger, run away, or take flight to seek safety. An angel tipped off Jesus’ dad Joe that King Herod had put a hit on his Son and told the carpenter to “flee (Gr. pheugo) to Egypt until I tell you” (Mt 2:13). Remember when Christ chased the demons out two dudes living in the graveyard and puts them in a herd of pigs and how the pig farmers “fled (Gr. pheugo)” and beat feet for the village (Mt 8:33)? 

Just what exactly are “these things” we’re to escape? A quick review. “Conceit” and “an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth” (1Tim 6:4-5). It’s thinking that religion is a get-rich-quick scheme (1Tim 6:5). Specifically, it’s “the love of money” which causes all sorts of human root rot and can draw people further away from Jesus (1Tim 6:10).

A follower of Jesus makes sure to put all of this garbage in his rearview mirror. When folks in Corinth thought they could play fast and loose with their libidos, Paul told them, “Flee (Gr. pheugo) sexual immorality” (1Cor 6:18). Can we talk? We can’t simply manage our destructive desires. I can’t store my harmful habits in the closet, use them occasionally and expect to truly grow in Christ. I can’t play footsie with sin. I’ve got hate it, kill it, and run from it…as fast as my little tootsies will carry me! Take a lesson from Joseph. When his boss’ desperate housewife put the move on him, he hightailed it out of the house in his tighty whities (Gen 39:12). Now THAT’S what I call some serious fleeing!

Now that your sprinting from sin, you need a target. Don’t just run randomly away from what ruins you. “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (v11). Paul doesn’t tell Tim to swing by a few of these good things when he gets a chance. The apostle commands him to do it in a New York minute. He uses the Greek verb dioko, which paints a picture of someone press forward quickly, or running after something with great intensity. It’s a chase with the purpose of catching. The relentlessly hunt for an object. 

Writers of the NT actually use this word in a negative sense more often than not. As a matter of fact, it’s how the apostle formerly known as Saul described his search-and-destroy mission for the followers of Jesus. “I persecuted (Gr. dioko) this Way to death” (Acts 22:4). When the resurrected Jesus blindsided the man from Tarsus outside of Damascus, He wanted to know, “Saul, Saul, what are you persecuting (Gr. dioko) Me?” (Acts 22:7). Paul told King Agrippa he hunted down disciples anywhere and everywhere and “persecuted (Gr. dioko) them even to foreign cities” (Acts 26:11). He was in hot pursuit of Christ’s disciples.

Instead, let’s relentlessly run after “righteousness, godliness, faith, steadfastness, gentleness” (v11). 

So the question is, am I pursuing the things of God with the same veracity and intensity as Saul hunted and hounded first century Christians? Am I willing to let nothing get in my way in order to obtain the stuff on this list? Like a defensive end rushing the passer on third and long, it’s time to pin your ears back. Don’t worry about a screen pass. Don’t concern yourself with the draw. Just get to the QB with great prejudice. Cut it loose. Nothing else matters. Or as Paul told his friends in Philippi, “I press on (Gr. dioko) toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14). Let’s be in hot pursuit of our Savior!

Let’s take a quick look at our targets. “Righteousness” (v11) is doing what is right to both God and people. It places an emphasis on action. Next up is “godliness” (v11), a word Paul uses a grand total of eight times in this little letter alone. It’s a compound word that literally means “good worship.” It describes our reverence for God expressed in our behavior. We’re to follow hard after “faith” (v11). This is placing total trust in Jesus alone as the source of salvation. He lived the perfect life I should have lived, died the death I should have died, and rose to new life I don’t deserve. It’s what Luther called “The Great Exchange.” Our rebellion and defiance for His perfection and obedience (2Cor 5:21).

Paul calls us to run hard after “love” (v11). This isn’t just a warm fuzzy feeling but actual sacrificial love-in-action. Remember, love is a verb. Let’s sprint hard toward “steadfastness” (v11). This is hanging tough when things get hard. When the going gets tough, the tough IN CHRIST get going. God gives us the power to stand strong in tough times. Last but certainly not least is “gentleness” (v11). This is more than simply not being a grouch. We’re to pursue  composure, a calm disposition, and a soothing manner. Ancient writers used this term to describe taming wild animals. As followers of Jesus, we’re not to throw gasoline on the fire. Instead, He calls us to be firehoses of His grace and peace.

Pretty simple actually. Step one, quit jacking around with the things that jack you up. Come on. You know what they are. Is it a TV show? A website? An app? A substance? A person? Lace up your sneakers and run like the wind out of there! Now make a beeline for best God has for you. Be rapidly intentional. This is certainly no trivial pursuit. Stop chasing stuff that tears you down and start chasing stuff that builds you up! Picture yourself as a cop on a high speed chase. A linebacker bearing down on a running back. A big cat about to pounce on its prey. Let’s be in hot pursuit!

Fruit Filling

“So that you may approve what is excellent, and so pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:10-11).

I’m pretty sure there’s not a sweet treat out there that’s not made even more tasty with fruit filling. Donuts. Pies. Cupcakes. And who doesn’t love the steaming glory of a pop-tart fresh out of the toaster?!? Cherry. Strawberry. Raspberry. It really doesn’t matter to me. The Apostle Paul tells his friends back in Philippi that there’s nothing better in a follower of Jesus than fruit filling. Specifically, the fruit of righteousness. When we place our trust in Christ, He promises to load us with His holy goodness. 

We can’t let all this talk of baked goods and desserts distract us from the reality of Paul’s situation. He’s been behind bars about 4 years. He’s spent the last 2 yeas in Rome waiting for Caesar to hear his appeal (Acts 25:10-12; 26:32; 28:19, 30). Not that 21st century prisons are any pleasure cruise, but what the apostle faced was more like a dungeon. It’s the kind of experience that would leave the best of us filled with bitterness and bile. Not Paul. This former Pharisee once so full of himself is now filled to overflowing with the joy of Jesus. 

The apostle opens his letter to the church in Philippi with a full paragraph of prayer. He lets them know that he’s always thanking Jesus for them and the memories of their crazy days together (Phil 1:3-5). How crazy were they? Check out Dr. Luke’s account over in Acts 16:12-40. He’s constantly telling the Lord how grateful he is that they’re all on Team Grace (Phil 1:7). Paul prays that God will cause the folks in Philippi to not only love more but love smart (Phil 1:9). And he knows it’s a stone cold, lead pipe lock that what Jesus has begun in them, He will finish (Phil 1:6).

The man from Tarsus prays that God gives his friends the wisdom so “that you may approve what is excellent” (v10). You can also translate the original text here as “discover what is best.” This is coming to see life through the lenses of Jesus. We see what’s truly important to God. We see what breaks His heart. In a letter to the church in Rome, Paul tells his readers that this happens when God renews our minds when we read His word. When we do that we will “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2). In essence, God gives us a mind transplant. I’m pretty sure this is nothing like those whacky scenes from those sci-fi movies where they put goofy metal hats on two people and they swap personalities. But I digress. But what it does mean is we’ll begin to see and interpret life as Jesus sees it. The folks who produced the NLT like to translate this verse in Philippians like this: “For I want you to understand what really matters” (v10 NLT). Allow God to show us how He sees the world. Then we discover what’s best. Then we’ll understand what really matters.

When that happens, Paul says God will continue to do His amazing work of making us “pure and blameless” (v10). This is certainly great news for somebody like me. Somedays my life is filled with nothing but spin. I’m constantly telling half truths and white lies in an effort to get people to like and respect me. I’m continually stumbling and failing in my attempts to live up to the ridiculous image I’ve tried to create. But Paul says that can stop, right here and right now. Jesus is going to make me “pure and blameless” (v10). No more lying. No more double dealing. No more spin. No more stumbling. No more guilt. 

While I can’t circle a specific date on the calendar, the apostle says that I can take it to the bank that it will happen on “the day of Christ” (v10). He’s already mentioned that spectacular day earlier in his letter (Phil 1:6). He’s talking about Jesus jaw dropping encore. That’s the day the resurrected Son of God returns to the stage and come to our ultimate rescue. Good wins. Evil loses. Jesus literally brings heaven to earth. I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready (that might have something to do with the fact that I’m writing on a Monday morning!). 

One other amazing blessing of His Second Coming is the fact that each of His followers will be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (v11). Paul uses the Greek verb plero’o, which means to complete, fill to the top, and liberally supply. And the grammar here tells us that we don’t do the filling. We’re on the receiving end. Jesus fills us to overflowing. To the brim. He tops off the tank. All we have to do is be ready. The best way for me to prep for being filled by Jesus is stop being so full of myself. I’ve been told many times that I’m full of it. Actually, what I’m full of is me. I need to drain that tank and allow Jesus fill me.

Paul tells us that God is filling us with the “fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (v11). Just what is this delicious fruit filling? Jesus told His posse that He’ll handle the fruit production if we just stay connected and close to Him (Jn 15:4-5). The apostle writes to the disciples in Colossae that God will cause an incredible fruit harvest in their lives as they come to know Jesus more and more (Col 1:6, 10). We’ll recognize this as what Paul calls Spirit fruit. That’s “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). That’s the kind of fruit God fills in you and me when we’re connected to Christ. 

Once we’re chockfull of this wonderful “fruit of righteousness,” God gets the applause. This happens “to the praise and glory of God” (v11). I know this may not be what you want to hear but you and I are not the point. The spotlight and standing ovation is reserved for God alone. He’s the One doing the work. He’s the One doing the filling. He’s the One doing the heavy lifting. We’re simply the one being filled. Rightfully, the Fruit Filler is the One gets the praise. 

Courtroom Drama

“so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7)

This is an open-and-shut case. A slam dunk. The accused doesn’t have an alibi and doesn’t have a chance. The DA has a stack of evidence that reaches the ceiling. The sentence of capital punishment is a done deal. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the judge pounds his gavel and makes a startling announcement. “Innocent!” And if that’s not crazy enough, he lets everyone know that the former defendant is not only coming to live at his house but will inherit his estate. Wow! Talk about courtroom drama!! Bet you never saw anything like that on “Perry Mason.” There’s no way Scott Turow or John Grisham ever included that crazy scene in one of their novels. You can be sure this will never happen on Court TV. But that’s exactly the scene Paul paints for Titus. From defendant to heir. From no hope to eternal hope. 

From the Greek mainland in Nicopolis (Titus 3:12), Paul writes critical instructions to his man Titus on the island of Crete. The amazing message of God’s Gospel has flooded this Mediterranean island. There are followers of Jesus everywhere. They need someone to select leaders for their local churches (Titus 1:5). They need someone to shut down the false teachers that are stirring up trouble (Titus 1:10-11). They need someone to set up a self-sustaining system of telling new believers what it means to trust in Jesus (Titus 2:1-10). A big part of that instruction is trying to wrap our heads around salvation. We know the “what.” That’s our rescue (Titus 3:5). We know the “Who.” That’s the Trinity (Titus 3:4-6). We know the “how.” That’s regeneration and renewal (Titus 3:5). Finally we learn the “why.” 

We see that when Paul writes “so that” (v7). This is the little Greek word hina, which means in order that, for the purpose of, or with the result being. As we take a look at the what, who, and how of our rescue, we come to the why. Here’s the reason God has gone to all the trouble of saving, washing, regenerating, renewing us. Before we get there, we run across this very important phrase describing how we’re “being justified by His grace” (v7). This isn’t the end game. It’s just a fantastic way of summing up the miraculous courtroom drama the universe has just witnessed.

This idea of being justified is actually a judicial term. It’s not just a declaration that the accused is not guilty. It’s more than letting the world know that the defendant is innocent. Some folks like to say that being justified is “just as if I had never sinned.” Is that part of it? You betcha. Is that all of it. Not even close!! For a judge to justify someone, his honor is also declaring that the accused is absolutely and always perfect. Not just innocent of all charges but a perfect citizen that’s never even broken the speed limit. That’s what it means to be justified.

So what’s the deal here? How in the name of Atticus Finch can we be justified? We already know that our own goodness falls short of God’s standard. Remember, God came to our rescue “not because of works done by us in righteousness” (Titus 3:5). As a matter of fact, we’re headed in the wrong direction when it comes to our righteousness. We’re like a bad offense in football that starts at first and ten and then faces third and a mile. We’re all guilty of the charges before we ever walk into the courtroom. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:23-24). There it is! Or better yet, there HE is!! Jesus gets radically and personally involved in my case. It’s only because of His perfection and righteousness that I have a snowball’s chance of getting off.

Before Jesus saved my eternal bacon, my relationship with God was completely broken and dysfunctional. Just a few verses back, Paul made it clear that we used to be fools, rebels, dupes, slaves, bullies, and haters (Titus 3:3). If that’s not bad enough, we were terrorists and rebels against God’s kingdom. We shook our fists at His authority. The apostle reminds his friends in Rome about how “we were enemies” of God (Rom 5:10). But something ridiculous happened right in the middle of our rebellion, “we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Rom 5:10). Despite my revolt, “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). God doesn’t just declare my innocence despite my obvious rebellion, He goes so far as to say that I was always on His side of this war. It’s like going from being tried for war crimes and ultimately given the Congressional Medal of Honor. It just makes no sense. The only reason this happens is because of what Jesus has done for me that I could never do for myself. He exchanges His perfect life for rebellion. He dies the execution for my sin that I should have died. He rises to a spectacular new life that I absolutely don’t deserve. 

The Righteous Judge announces His jaw-dropping verdict, but He’s not done. He goes on to say that He’s done this so that “we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (v7). You and I don’t just walk out of the courtroom as the result of this amazing ruling, we’re now included in the greatest inheritance the universe has ever seen. In other words, we move from criminal court down the courthouse hall to probate court. And there’s absolutely no doubt about whether or not we’ll be in the will. The moment God scribbled our names in the Lamb’s Book of Life, He also listed us as heirs to His eternal estate. The Bible overflows with this idea of divine inheritance. When we place our trust in what Jesus has done for us, we have an already obtained a limitless eternal inheritance that we certainly don’t deserve (Eph 1:11). Romans 8 isn’t just one of the summits of Scripture, it’s also a great look at the amazing benefits of being adopted kids of the King.

A huge chunk of our inheritance from God is “the hope of eternal life” (v7). Back in the opening lines of this little letter, Paul lets Titus know that the “hope of eternal life” for Jesus’ followers is a big reason he’s writing. This hope isn’t some cross-your-fingers-and-hope-for-the-best deal. It’s a take-it-to-the-bank-lead-pipe-lock deal. This hope is a confident expectation. Remember, you and I are in the will when we placed our trust in Jesus. We can be absolutely certain of life eternal. Jesus says that those who reject God’s offer do not pass go and head straight for “eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Mt 25:46). And we don’t have to tap our toes and twiddle our thumbs waiting for this everlasting life to kick in. It starts NOW! Jesus says, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). God’s overflowing, overwhelming eternal life starts right now. Right. Now. Grab your towel and dive into the deep end of the pool of His grace. Right. Now. 

Meanwhile, the courtroom is still in chaos. The world has never witnessed anything like what’s just happened. From slam dunk guilty to innocent heir! Now THAT’S the kind of courtroom drama that occurs when grace gets involved!!

If God part four

“And if He rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his should over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard)” (v7-8).

For all the great heroes who come to the rescue, none comes close to the greatest Hero of them all. God. Not Superman. Sorry Batman. Jack Bauer? No way. Peter lets us know in no uncertain terms that when the chips are down and clock is ticking, the Lord is at His best. He flips back to Genesis once again to remind us of the day God saved Lot’s bacon. The apostle wants his readers understand that no matter how dark the situation, God will come to the rescue. When the going gets tough, God gets going.

This is the fourth example Pete’s pulled from the Bible’s first book to assure first century believers that God has not left them swinging in the breeze. God dealt with the fallen angels (Gen 6:1-6; 2Pet 2:4). He flushed worldwide wickedness with the Great Flood (Gen 6:8-13; 2Pet 2:5). He rained down His hot wrath on the terrible twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:23-28; 2Pet 2:6). Last but certainly not least, He came to Lot’s rescue just before the mushroom cloud rose (Gen 19:1-22, 29; 2Pet 2:7). Since He snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in these four situations, we can count on Him to do it again. Specifically, Pete’s recipients can take heart that God will handle this team of spiritual hucksters who have infiltrated His church (2Pet 2:1-3). God to the rescue! 

The former fisherman reminds us once again that God is THE Hero of the story. In this case, “He rescued righteous Lot” (v7). He use the Greek verb (Gr. ruomai) that means to save or bring someone out of severe and acute danger. It literally means to pull toward oneself. The Lord reached down and yanked Lot out of danger just in the nick of time. And that’s exactly how it went down. In Genesis 19:1-25, Yahweh sends a pair of angels on a divine rescue mission to Sodom and Gomorrah. When Lot balks at leaving, these messengers “seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city” (Gen 19:16). As the ultimate Hero, God comes to the rescue!

Pete describes our man Lot as a “righteous” dude. So just how righteous is Abraham’s nephew? Well, he was far from perfect. Lot offered up his own daughters to be raped when the exceedingly horny Sodomites pounded on his door and demanded he give them the two angels (Gen 19:4-8). And after God rescued him, this knucklehead let his daughters get him so wasted they could sleep with him (Gen 19:31-34). Not exactly the poster child of perfection. So just what made Lot righteous? Just like his uncle Abraham, “he believed in the LORD, and He counted it to him as righteousness” (Gen 15:4). Lot didn’t rely on his own goodness but the overwhelming goodness of God. Or as the Apostle Paul would write a few centuries later, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And it is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8). God gives us His sinless perfection when we trust in who He is and what He does. It’s what Luther calls the “Great Exchange” (2Cor 5:21). God didn’t rescue Lot because Lot was so wonderful. God rescued Lot because Lot trusted in God’s goodness.

If God part two

“If He did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly” (v5).

I love movies where the good guys win and the bad guys lose. The shining knight slays the dragon. I especially love the flicks where there’s absolutely no hope and suddenly, out of nowhere, our hero busts onto the scene to save the day and thwart evil just in the nick of time. That’s when the cavalry rides over the hill. That’s when Han Solo roars to the rescue in the Millennium Falcon. No matter how great things look for the bad guys, good wins. Evil is thwarted. 

Peter continues his four part example from Genesis to reassure his readers that God will most certainly take care of a team of false teachers who have infiltrated local churches (2:1-3). He gives four case studies from the opening book of the Bible to calm everybody down. God took care of the fallen angels (Gen 6:1-6; 2Pet 2:4). He flushed worldwide wickedness with the Great Flood (Gen 6:8-13; 2Pet 2:5). He rained down His hot wrath on the terrible twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:23-28; 2Pet 2:6). He came to Lot’s rescue just before the mushroom cloud rose (Gen 19:1-22, 29; 2Pet 2:7). The apostle uses this OT Bible study to let us know God will win and evil will lose. Yeah, these spiritual hucksters may get away with their con for a while. But in the end, Yahweh will have His way. 

The former fisherman flips back to the opening chapters of Genesis for his second case study. For the second time, he says “if.” That’s probably better read as “since.” There’s nothing “iffy” about the big flood. A lot of folks question the truth of the biblical deluge. Maybe you’re one of them. I used to be on that team too. One thing is for certain. Jesus believed it happened (Lk 17:27). And if the One who predicted His own crucifixion and resurrection said the flood is real, then I’m going with what He says. It’s not IF there was a flood. It’s SINCE there was a flood!

Pete makes it clear that God “did not spare the ancient world” (v5). The writer of Genesis lets us know that it took no time for humans to completely jack up God’s perfectly crafted creation. It’s almost the blink of biblical eye from the day Adam and Eve fell for the lies of a demonic snake until “the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth (Gen 6:6). God didn’t just need to eliminate a few bad apples. He had to wipe the slate clean. He had to hit restart. And He was going to do that with a flood.

In one of the spectacular examples of grace in the OT, God reaches out and “preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness” (v5). God didn’t save Noah because he was such hot stuff. He wasn’t some Lone Righteous Ranger in a wicked world. Just before He handpicks Noah, God’s heart breaks over the people He created that must all be wiped out (Gen 6:5-6). Notice the sequence of events in Genesis. God doesn’t make Noah his number one draft pick because he’s clearly the best player available. No, it’s the other way around. Because “Noah found favor in the eyes of God” (Gen 6:8), he then is described as “a righteous man, blameless in his generation” (Gen 6:9). God’s grace radically transforms Noah. He becomes a “preacher of righteousness (v4).” And let’s be VERY clear about just who’s righteousness he’s telling everyone about. Noah is NOT saying, “Hey, look at me! Check out MY incredible goodness!” No, he’s announcing to the world the goodness, perfection and holiness of the One who showered him with descending one-way love. 

God places Noah and his family under the waterfall of His grace. In the meantime, God punishes evil. “He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly” (v5). Pete uses the Greek word kataklusmos. It’s the source for our term “cataclysm.” It describes complete and total inundation. There wasn’t just some localized flash flooding. God totally soaked the entire planet. Global catastrophe. Utter devastation. He flushed the toilet of evil. The apostle makes the point that if God can handle an entire world full of sinners, a few spiritual snake oil salesmen will be a piece of cake. The Good Guy wins. Evil is thwarted.

Pete Writes a Sequel

“Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (v1).

Peter doesn’t crank out Scripture like his buddy Paul. Between Paul and Dr. Luke, they’ve got most of the NT covered (15 books and possibly also Hebrews). There are three documents that have his fingerprints. Pete has written one other letter with his name on it. Most smart dudes believe “Mark” is his biography of Jesus written through Barnabas’ nephew. This is his third. At some point just before his death, Pete dusts off his pen one more time. This time he’ll write with no other help (outside of the Holy Spirit, of course). He revealed the help he got from Silas in the first edition of his divinely inspired franchise (1Pet 5:12). What’s the reason for this followup? A speed read of 2 Peter tells you that some false teachers have infiltrated the churches who received his previous correspondence. They must be stopped now. They must be shut down and kicked out immediately. That’s why Pete needs to write right now.

Some folks make a big stink that Pete refers to himself as “Simeon Peter” this time around. It’s not exactly the first time it’s happened. Luke is one of the most accurate historians around and he calls him by that name back in his sequel (Acts 15:14). And don’t miss the importance of that scene in Acts. This is a meeting of the early church’s leadership team as they try to sort out what to do about Jesus’ conversion of more and more non-Jews. Chances are this would be the heavy hitters of the faith. And Pete was fresh off trips to Samaria and Caesarea Maritima where he saw with his own eyes Gentiles converted to faith in Christ. 

Just in case you’re not entirely sure of this dude’s identity, the author gives you a quick glance at his resume. “A servant and apostle of Jesus Christ” (v1). Pete makes it clear who’s his boss. He serves the resurrected Rabbi. He writes with both humility (“servant”) and authority (“apostle”). As a matter of fact, he has the guts to claim he’s an “apostle.” This is the Greek word apostolos. It describes someone who has the same authority and privileges as the one who sent them. In the Greco-Roman world, when you talked to someone’s apostle, it was just like you were talking with the person they worked for. This is no casual claim. Not something you’d just throw around to impress folks at a party. He’s letting us know that he’s not just any Peter. He’s THAT Peter. Peter the fisherman. Peter the disciple. Peter the leader of the Twelve. Peter, the one turned his back on his Savior not once, but three times. Peter, the one the risen Jesus restored during a walk on the beach. Peter the preacher who saw God convert 3,000 people at the end of his first ever sermon. Yeah, THAT Peter. Pete THE Apostle.

Now that we have the introduction of the author confirmed, who’s on the receiving end? Who’s Pete writing to? “To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (v1). The apostle writes to folks who are equal in their standing before God. He let them know about his apostolic ID, but he wants them to know that he’s no spiritual superstar. Did he walk with Jesus? Sure. Has Jesus given him authority? No question about it. But Pete needs a Savior just like everybody else. He makes it clear that just because he’s a capital “A” Apostle, he’s just as desperate as they are. For any of us in authority, this is a powerful reminder to not get cocky. Stop copping an attitude. Don’t look down on other believers. You need a Savior just like everybody else. 

From a very practical sense, Pete wrote to these same folks in his first letter (2Pet 3:1). The address on the previous note listed the recipients as Jewish Christians “in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1Pet 1:1). For those of us without a detailed knowledge of first century geography, that’s the northern part of modern day Turkey. In that first epistle, he encouraged them to hang onto Jesus in the midst of some nasty persecution and abuse. First time around, they were on the attack from the outside. This time, it’s from the inside. Some spiritual hucksters have infiltrated their ranks (2Pet 2:1).

Pete reminds them that they “have obtained a faith” (v1). The apostle uses a rather funky verb here. It’s the verb lagchano, which means to receive or be chosen specifically to get something. In Luke’s Gospel, the priest Zechariah “was chosen by lot (lagchano) to enter the temple of the Lord” (Lk 1:9). The former fisherman wants his readers to know that they had absolutely nothing do in gaining their faith. They were chosen to receive it. They were selected to receive it. They were handpicked to receive it. Their faith is a direct result of God’s grace. We only have our faith in our possession because God handed it to us. Actually, other translations (NASB, NIV, NRS) use the word “received.” The NLT reads that this is a “faith given to us by Jesus Christ.” 

In football, the quarterback throws to his open receiver. The truly great QBs are able to thread the needle with tremendous accuracy. They’re able to drop a touch pass into the hands of the most stone-fingered wide out. In this case, Jesus is able to get the ball of faith into our hands despite the fact that we’re covered by the lockdown cornerback of our own sin and rebellion. He got us the ball even though we never made it off the line of scrimmage. Forget Montana. Brady? Not even close. Don’t even bring up Manning. Jesus’ ability to ensure the reception of our faith makes these Pro Bowlers look like peewees. 

The apostle lets us know the process of just how this faith landed in our hot little hands. It’s “ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (v1). God demands perfection. “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (Lev 11:44-45; 1Pet 1:16). There’s just one tiny problem. You and I are jacked up from the moment we’re born. We have a sin nature. We can’t do it. Not even for five minutes. So we desperately need outside intervention. That’s where Jesus comes in. He willingly takes our steaming pile of sin and gives us His perfect righteousness. “For our sake He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Cor 5:21). Luther called it the Great Exchange. Our filth for Jesus’ perfection. Mark Driscoll sums it up this way. Jesus lived the perfect life that I failed to live. He died the death for my sin that I should have died. He rose to a glorious new life that I don’t deserve. When I trust in what Jesus has done for me (that I could NEVER do for myself!), He hands me His righteousness.

Pete writes with incredible humility. He’s a servant. He’s willing to humble himself for our benefit and the glory of God. He’s an apostle. He has put his agenda to the side in order to be one of the handpicked reps of Jesus. He understands that his faith is no better than anyone else. He’s just a beggar that’s figured out where to get the bread. And that bread is the Living Bread that we can only receive from Jesus. 

Buckle Up

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (Eph 6:14).

Just as Q tells James Bond about his latest gadget for the next assignment, Paul begins describing the individual pieces of this amazing weapon system.  He identifies each component and lets us know why it’s critical in battle.  “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (v14).  The first two pieces are the truth belt and purity flak jacket.  We already know our enemy.  Satan and his toadies (Eph 6:11-12).  Next, we know this isn’t going to be traditional warfare.  Instead, the devil and his troops will use terrorist tactics, ambushes and sneak attacks.  And we know that this is going to be violent, hand-to-hand combat.  So the apostle gets specific as he pulls each piece of gear off the rack and tells us what it will do.

Once again, Paul pounds it through our heads what our posture will be in battle.  “Stand” (v14).  Once again we see the Greek verb histemi.  It means to stand after taking position, stand firm and hold one’s ground.  This is the third time in four verses Paul uses this word.  When you include its kissing cousin “withstand” (Gr. anthistemi) from the last verse, this is the fourth time.  He’s clearly making a point.  A BIG point.  

Hang in there.  Hold your position.  Don’t give up your spot.  Stand your ground.  In just about every sport, coaches want their players in what they call the ready position.  Feet shoulder width apart.  Knees bent.  Butt down.  Hands out.  Head up.  Think of basketball player in a defensive stance ready to shutdown his opponent.  A linebacker crouching just before the snap.  A third baseman getting low at the hot corner.  Stand.  Get ready.  The attack is coming.  For the Ephesians, the heresy that did damage down the road in Colossae is headed their way.  For you and me, the question about a spiritual attack isn’t if but when.  Don’t get caught daydreaming.  And when it comes, hang in there.  Stand your ground.  In the strength of God, hold your position.  That’s only possible because of the sweet suit of armor He’s given us.

MacArthur says God’s armor is essential for spiritual warfare.  “Whether confronting Satan’s efforts to distrust God, forsaking obedience, producing doctrinal confusion and falsehood, hindering service to God, bringing division, serving God in the flesh, living hypocritically, being worldly, or in any other way reject biblical obedience, this armor is our defense.”  This set of gear isn’t just for special situations.  It’s to use 24-7-365.  We’re suited up and ready to go ‘round the clock.  Don’t forget to put it all on either.  This is “the whole armor of God” (Eph 6:11, 13).  We need it all.  Not using the complete set creates spots of vulnerability for our enemy.  There’s a reason for all of it.  OK, let’s take a look at these amazing individual components.  Sorry, Q.  But this is a whole lot better than anything your boys have cooked up in the lab for 007.

The first thing we see is “the belt of truth” (v14).  The belt pulls everything together.  In the first century, the warrior’s belt would tighten all loose clothing before going into battle.  It keeps all other parts tight so they don’t get in our way in battle.  There’s no saggy, baggy pants for this soldier.  Tightening your belt allows you to move quickly.  Just ask the Israelites before they beat feet out of Egypt (Ex 12:11).  Seems that the writer of Hebrews tells us something similar.  Before we run the marathon of faith, “let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely” (Heb 12:1).  God’s truth belt takes care of that.  Put it on and buckle up.

This particular belt pulls together all the spiritual loose ends in the truth of God.  And since Jesus refers to Himself as the personification of truth (Jn 14:6), this is His belt.  Seven hundred years before Christ was born, Isaiah predicted that Messiah would be wearing it.  “Righteousness shall be the belt of His waist, and faithfulness the belt of His loins” (Is 11:5).  Jesus said that to be one of His followers is to always be ready.  “Stay dressed for action” (Lk 12:35).  Put it on and buckle up.

Next up is “the breastplate of righteousness” (v14).  Think of a flak jacket or piece of body armor that protects your torso.  It guards your vital organs including your heart.  Solomon warned his son to protect your heart at all costs (Prov 4:23).  Just as a wound to the chest or abdomen was almost always fatal in the first century, a wound to our spiritual heart is spiritually deadly.  My heart must remain soft.  Soft to God’s guidance.  Soft to the people around me.  Once again, Isaiah had a clear view of what Messiah would be wearing.  “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head” (Is 59:17).  Paul told the folks in Thessalonica that as believers we need that very same body armor (1Th 5:8).  Go ahead.  Strap it on.  Put it on and buckle up.

Don’t miss the point of what you’re putting on.  Or should I say WHO you’re putting on.  This is the belt of the truth about Jesus.  This is the body armor of His righteousness.  We’re putting on Christ.  This is Paul’s VERY practical way of reminding us that when we place our faith in who Jesus is and what He’s done, we are in Christ.  He uses this idea in way or another at least 28 times in this letter to the Ephesians.  We already have everything we’ll ever need in Jesus.  The apostle knows that when we understand who we are and what we have in Christ, we’re geared up and ready for anything.  But only when we trust in what He’s done that we could never do.  Jesus lived the perfect life that I completely failed at living.  He died the brutal death for my sin that I most certainly should have died.  He rose to a breathtaking new life that in no way do I deserve.  There was an amazing trade that bloody Friday at Golgotha.  “For our sake He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him (Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God” (2Cor 5:17).  Luther calls this the Great Exchange.  Jesus gives us His righteousness.  Jesus gives us His truth.  

Go ahead.  Strap them on.  And get ready.  Put them on and buckle up.

Supernatural Photosynthesis

For the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true (Eph 5:9).

Plants love light.  They don’t just like it.  They LOVE it!  And that’s because of that very cool process God came up with that we call photosynthesis.  This is when a plant converts nutrients and light into energy.  Ultimately photosynthesis produces a fruit.  Here in his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul describes the supernatural photosynthesis that God uses to produce fruit in the followers of Jesus.  “For the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true” (v9).  When the light of Christ shines in and on His followers, it produces fruit.  This process results in goodness, righteousness and truth.

Let’s back up one verse to get a better look at what’s going on here.  The apostle talks about the “before and after” of the believer.  “At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord” (Eph 5:8).  I used to be in the dark.  No light.  And no light means no growth.  No growth means no fruit.  But my situation has changed.  Radically.  Now I’m in the bright light of God.  It’s not something I’ve done.  It’s something Jesus has done in me.  And it’s a fact.  It’s a truth.  It’s a reality.  We simply need to remember that truth and then “walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8).  Walking as God’s kids in His light produces certain results.  Goodness.  Righteousness.  Truth.  That’s the amazing effect of divine photosynthesis.

Paul’s describing what it looks like to walk in the light as God’s children.  Your Bible probably has this verse wrapped by parentheses.  It’s almost like he’s stopped writing and is looking at you in the eye to tell you exactly what he means.  He uses the Greek word for  “fruit,” which is karpos.  It means an outcome, result, effect, consequence, reaped harvest or the produce of agriculture.  Think apple.  Orange.  Grapes.  Banana.  Tomato.  Potato.  Corn.  Wheat.  Healthy plants produce healthy fruit.  It’s the natural result of photosynthesis.

So what’s the consequence of God’s light on our lives?  The apostle lists three different kinds of fruit hanging on the vine.  “All that is good and right and true” (v9).  Let’s reach up and pluck the first one.  It’s agathosune.  We’re talking about goodness, excellence and kindness.  But we’re not simply talking about doing something that’s decent and average quality.  This good is the good that only God accomplishes.  A young successful power broker once asked Jesus, “What good deed must I do to have eternal life?” (Mt 19:16).  The radical Rabbi/Carpenter stopped this dude in his tracks by letting him know, “There is only One who is good” (Mt 19:17).  Only God is good.  True good can only come from the one true God.  The only way we can truly do godly good is when God is doing good in us and through us.  That requires His light.  And that’s supernatural photosynthesis.

The second piece of produce on the plant is what Paul calls “right” (Gr. dikaiosune).  This is integrity, righteousness and purity of life.  Correctness of thinking, feeling and acting.  In a very broad sense, this is the state of humanity as we ought to be.  Think of it as the condition that God requires from us.  And that standard is complete, total and perpetual perfection.  Think of a pitcher who pitches perfect games his entire career!  Only when we keep and maintain that impossible caliber can we be sure of salvation (Mt 5:20).  But here’s the amazing thing.  God not only sets this impossible standard but He keeps it for us.  Jesus lived that impossibly perfect life that I miserably failed to live.  He died the brutal death on a cross for my sin that I should have died.  He rose to a spectacular new life that I don’t deserve.  In a letter to his buddies in Corinth, Paul wrote, “For our sake He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Cor 5:21).  We trust in who Jesus is and what He’s done and as a result we receive His righteousness and perfection.  His right becomes our right.  This is God’s dynamic power to put us in a right relationship with Himself.  And that’s supernatural photosynthesis.

Take a look back at the branch and you’ll see a third fruit hanging there.  It’s what is “true” (Gr. aletheia).  This word describes what is objectively true in any situation.  Truth.  The way things actually are.  What is real.  What is legit.  God’s message can be trusted as the absolute truth (2Th 2:12).  Take it to the bank.  Lead pipe lock.  Jesus didn’t just say that He spoke the truth but that He is the personification of it.  “I am the Way, the Truth (Gr. aletheia) and the Life” (Jn 14:6).  The result of the Light of the World shining on and through my life is produces His truth.  Isn’t this supernatural photosynthesis a pretty cool deal?    

The “fruit of light” (v9) is a lot like another variety of divine produce, the “fruit of the Spirit.”  “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23).  I would say that this fruit produced by God’s Spirit is “good and right and true” (v9), wouldn’t you?  It comes as a result of hanging out with Jesus, or as He says, “Abide in Me” (Jn 15:1-11).  He’s the vine.  We’re the branches.  He’s the One responsible for producing fruit.  All we need to do is stay attached.  Stay close.  Abide.  Let His light shine on you.  Let His light shine in you.  Let His light shine through you.  When we do, then supernatural photosynthesis occurs.  

So what do you think?  Do you agree with me or am I way off base?  Drop a comment below and let's chat.