Q&A: Suffering Persecution

QIf we are not suffering in our Christian lives, are we living as we should according to Christ (2 Tim. 3:12)?

◉   ◉   ◉
AThis verse is very specific. I would take it exactly how it appears. The statement is intended to warn the believer that if he or she lives godly in Christ Jesus, you are guaranteed to suffer persecution. Here is the text:
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12
The question assumes the use of this verse backwards to say that if you are not suffering persecution, you aren’t living godly. I agree with the principle, and I think it is true. However, I would caution using reverse logic with scripture. This probably isn’t one, but there are other cases where this could get us into trouble. It is a good practice to always use scripture “with the grain”; i.e. in the same direction as the context in which we find it.
 
What is persecution? Persecution is “ill-treatment because of a belief or background”. It could be social, political, physical, or even religious. However, the verse is not specific on the frequency of persecution, or on what type. While the godly in Christ Jesus will definitely suffer persecution, in lands like the United States it may not be physical or political persecution. But this world’s system is against the Lord, and if we want to live godly, we will experience some kind of suffering due to opposition.
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” John 15:18-20

In general, we don’t want to use persecution as the measure of our faithfulness to Christ. We want Him to be our object, and we want to focus on serving Him. We should never forget what the world is, and that we are crucified to it. We should expect to suffer, because if we live godly in Christ Jesus, God tells us that persecution is unavoidable.

God’s Eternal Purpose

“That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.” Ephesians 1:10

Whom does God’s Purpose center around? Christ.

What is God’s Purpose? This verse has often been named the “key” to the whole Bible. In vv.8-9 Paul prefaces this section by saying that God has given us “all wisdom and intelligence, having made known to us the mystery of His will”; in other words, this secret of His will is the key to all spiritual intelligence. What follows in v.10 is “the mystery of His will”; i.e. the reason – previously unknown but now revealed – for everything God has done and will do. From the creation of the universe, the rise and fall of empires, down to the trials of life, God’s great purpose behind it all is to glorify His Son and to make Him the head over all things, a place that He will share with the Church! Many times we get the idea that the blessing of man is God’s central purpose. It certainly is one of His purposes, but not the chief one. The Church will be infinitely blessed, but in association with the Lord Jesus Christ. When our eyes are opened to see His chief purpose – to glorify Christ – then our focus is directed away from man, away from ourselves, to the Lord Jesus Christ. In this manner we come to have God’s viewpoint.

When will it be accomplished? This verse also tells us when this purpose will be accomplished. It will be accomplished in the “dispensation (administration, or economy) of the fullness of times”. We then must ask, what is an administration? Similar to how the administration of a United States President differs depending on what is happening on the world stage, so God’s dispensations have been successively revealed down through the centuries to the present day. For example, God dealt with Israel under the Law in a very different way from His dealings with the Church under grace. In each of the successive dispensations, man has proven his total and complete depravity. Ultimately, Christ will come personally back to this world to set everything right, and usher in His own dispensation. This will be the final dispensation, that of “the fullness of times.” This dispensation is called in Rev. 20, the “thousand years” or in Latin, “Millennium”.

Where will it be accomplished? In two spheres: (1) in heaven, and (2) on earth. The center of the heavenly sphere will be the Church, reigning with Christ, sharing in all things that He will possess. The center of the earthly sphere will be the purged and restored Nation of Israel, under the leadership of the Messiah, at the head of all other nations. Christ is the exalted pinnacle of both spheres of glory, as (1) Head to the Church and (2) the King of Israel, and King of Nations.

How will it be accomplished? God will accomplish His purpose by “gathering together in one all things”. This means that God will concentrate under Christ the rule of all things. God is ordering all things “after the counsel of His own will.” One by one, the pieces will fall into place, and this magnificent scheme will be accomplished for men and angels to behold! The steps God will take to accomplish this purpose are given to us in scripture as prophetic events.

Why has God chosen to do this? The answer lies in v.9, “according to the good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself;” i.e. this great plan has originated from the very heart of God.

Please contact me with and questions or suggestions!

Q&A: Sinners or Wicked Persons?

QAre the sinners in Mark 2:15-17 different from “wicked people” put away from the fellowship of the assembly?
◉   ◉   ◉

AThe short answer to this question is “yes”. There is a difference between the “publicans and sinners” in Mark 2 and the “wicked person” in 1 Corinthians 5. Let’s examine each passage.

Difference Between Mark 2 and 1 Corinthians 5

“And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his [Levi’s] house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mark 2:15-17

“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Corinthians 5:11-13

It is clear from Mark 2 that these ones the Lord was eating with were “sinners” in need of repentance. That is, they were unsaved persons being sought by the Savior. The scribes and Pharisees were accusing the Lord of being guilty by association with these persons. The Lord has instructed us to be fishers of men, and so it is right and proper for us to draw alongside sinners and present the gospel to them. However, we do need to beware of defilement, which we will speak more about later. In 1 Corinthians 5, the individuals to be put out were those whose lives had become characterized by unrepented sin. The important difference to notice here is that it says “if any man be called a brother be a …” It is a very marked distinction from looking at what comes previously in verses 9-10. Paul had instructed them not to keep company “altogether with the fornicators of this world” it would not have been feasible for them to continue life on earth, “for then must ye needs go out of the world.” Therefore, we can see that Paul is emphasizing their being at least professing Christians who are fornicators, etc. that must be put away.

However, we must remember that the “publicans and sinners” that Jesus ate with were seeking His company. They were those who had the stigma of sin on them because of their background. We never read of the Lord Jesus having unrestricted fellowship with a person going on in sin. Neither should we. We are permitted to keep company with unbelievers only when necessary, and we are to show love to the world, but we are not to be friends with the world. “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

Excuses for the Assembly to not Judge Evil

Paul goes on to say, “do not ye judge them that are within?” and “therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” God puts the responsibility to put away wicked persons squarely at the feet of the local assembly. The Corinthians were actually responsible to make the judgment themselves but had been slow to do it, so Paul had “judged already.” They were “not to company” with the wicked person. Paul says, “no, not to eat.” That is, don’t socialize with them, not even for a meal. Some people take a legal approach to this and will do any and everything with the excommunicated person except eat with them. But the intention is clear. Once a person has been put away, contact should be limited.

There is no excuse for the assembly to not judge sin, although we are often guilty of it. Some people try to use the passage in Mark 2 to say that because the Lord was associating with wicked persons, we can too. Jesus ate with them for the purpose of bringing them to repentance. The Lord’s eating with publicans and sinners in no way absolves the assembly’s responsibility to judge evil.

But what about Judas? Another argument some might raise is that the Lord broke bread (instituted His supper) with Judas, an unbeliever and a betrayer. If Jesus broke bread with Judas, why is it such a problem for the assembly to associate with wicked persons? If we read carefully, it says in John 13 that Satan entered into Judas after supper when he had received the sop. It was after the Passover supper that Judas slipped out into the night. Therefore, we can see that Judas was absent when the Lord, “supper being ended“, took break, etc.

If the Lord did it, why can’t I?

Is the fact of what Jesus did in Mark 2 licence for us to be unconcerned about evil associations, especially when we are giving the gospel? No. It flies in the face of many New Testament exhortations. There is a difference between Jesus and the Christian. The Lord Jesus was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26). He did not have a sin nature. He could not be “tempted by evil things” (James 1:13). Not only was His Divine nature sinless, but His humanity was sinless as well, demonstrated in the forty days of temptation in the wilderness. But we Christians do a sinful nature (Rom. 7). We need to “flee fornication” (1 Cor. 6:18). We need to “make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Rom. 13:14).