5:33 Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not take oaths at all – not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, 35 not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 36 Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one. -NET

Jesus’ words hit me extremely hard when I became a believer because of my fascination with lying. I would lie about the smallest things just to see if I could get away with it. To this day I still have those temptations. A white lie here just to make myself look better. a white lie there to get me off the hook for a minor screw up. Sometimes, I even get the temptation to lie simply for the sake of lying. As I got older and more mature in Christ the temptations got less frequent but never the less I am still wrapped in flesh and sin is still a battle. These words are an important reminder for me in my struggle against lying. Not only that, it is a reminder to be a person that others can consistently trust.

In verse 33 Jesus makes reference to Numbers 30:2 which says:

If a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath of binding obligation on himself, he must not break his word, but must do whatever he has promised.

These were the words of Moses and it was a call to stay true to the covenant that the people of Israel made with God. However, like many other teachings, Jesus takes the Old Testament law to another level when he says:

34 But I say to you, do not take oaths at all – not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, 35 not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 36 Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.

Jesus makes it abundantly clear that making oaths should be unnecessary for those that are going to follow him. Remember my admission of being a constant lier when I was younger? Well, even when I was telling the truth people, especially my mother, wouldn’t believe me. I had to swear on everything under the sun to prove my honesty. I would pinky swear, promise on my life, and even cross my heart but Jesus doesn’t want us to live this way. Instead Jesus says:

37 Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one.

If you say yes then you should mean yes. If you say no then you should mean no. This is a command from Christ that all of us should heed. Jesus then heightens his command with the sentence, “More than this is from the evil one.” As Christ followers we are held to a higher standard. This standard is difficult to uphold but we all should strive to take Christ’s words seriously and follow them. And when it comes to this teaching I need to hear it more often than most.

Thanks for reading.

3:8 Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. 9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare. -NET

The people quoting this passage will emphasize the phrase, “because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” When this phrase is isolated it could mean what the Arminian/non-Calvinist wants it to mean. They want us to believe that the atonement of Christ was “unlimited”. The atonement of Christ was for every single person not just for a specific group of people. The problem is this phrase isn’t isolated.

First, we need to recognize that this passage is addressing the second coming of Christ. Peter is highlighting that people were persecuting believers by saying:

‘Where is his promised return? Forever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.’ -2 Peter 3:4

Peter’s response is, “a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day.” That is the main concern that Peter is addressing. The coming of Christ is delayed for a reason. God said that he is coming soon but that doesn’t mean he is coming soon in the way we use the word. Soon could be any finite number to God. When someone quotes this passage we need to make sure the main purpose does not get lost. Now, some may say, “Yes this is about Christ coming back but Peter still said that God wants, ‘all to come to repentance‘.”

My response to that is, “God wants all to come to repentance. But what does ‘all’ mean?” That is the question that needs to be addressed. I have heard many times from preachers who say, “All means all and that’s all all means.” Well…uh…yes…all does mean all but all can be, and most often is, limited. Let me give you an example:

Hey Josh, give me all of those books. 

Josh would never think that I am asking him for every book ever written. “Those” modifies “all” in this example. In the same way “all” in 2 Peter 3 is modified or limited. Lets quote verse 3:9 again:

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Here we see Peter is responding to the question asked by the unbelievers when he says, “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness.” Then, we have Peter limiting the range of all in the next phrase when he says, “but is being patient toward you.” Who is the “you”?

The “you” are also called “dear friends” in verse 8. Peter is addressing believers. The “you” Peter talks about are the elect of God. The point Peter is making is that God wont come back until all of his elect are brought to repentance. “You” modifies both “any” and “all” in verse 9 just like “those” modified “all” in the example I gave earlier. If “you” refers to believers, also known as the elect, then it follows that “any” and “all” would refer to the same thing. Jesus’ return is delayed because he wants every single elect person to come to faith before he returns.

Think about it. If Jesus came back in the time of Peter you and I would never have been born. We would never have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We would not be saved. That is Peter’s point in this passage. Taking into account the argument I made allow me to clarify the passage for you:

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise to return, as some think of slowness, but is patient toward you, because he does not wish for his elect to perish but for all to come to repentance.

I want to emphasize that this is not to trump the Bible, rather, it is to highlight Peter’s point.

Many believe that this passage goes against the Calvinistic teaching of limited atonement but, in reality, this passage affirms it. God has his people all around the world and in every generation. And we should all thank God that he is patient towards us.

Thanks for reading.

Related Posts

John 3:16: What Does it Really Mean?

Is God the Author of Sin?

Justification

Change We can Believe In,

and,

Yes We Can,

were constant sayings in Obama’s speeches. These slogans seemed to resonate with folks who were displeased with the Bush administration. These sayings may be nobel phrases in themselves but nothing was more saddening to see, as a Christian, than the “Hope” posters that featured Obama:

Why was this poster so saddening? Because any hope outside of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is worthless. For far too long Christians have relied on the government to provide “hope” to the masses. God calls us to care for the widow, the fatherless, the poor, the needy, the down-and-out, the hurting, and the lost. Instead of doing the leg work ourselves we allowed the government to implement food stamps, unemployment benefits, etc. We, in essence, have placed our hope in a system that has disavowed its duty before God. Last election people chose to place their faith in a man the promised “hope” and “change” instead of the Gospel that provides it.

Romans 5: 1-5 says:

5:1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. 3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance, character, and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. -NET

The Apostle Paul makes it clear that hope comes from Jesus Christ. We have “the hope of God’s glory” because of Jesus’ work on the cross. That work on the cross declares those that believe in Jesus to be righteous. Jesus’ work on the cross brings peace and comfort. Even in the midst of suffering we can have hope in Christ because, unlike the false promises that any human can make, the hope we have in Christ will never disappoint.

We have entered another election year and again we are seeing the promises of hope:

‘This election is also about hope and about change. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to be in the slogan,’ said David Axelrod, Obama’s message guru and senior campaign strategist. -Reuters, “Obama’s slogan: looking to replace Hope and Change”

And even though the Republicans will undoubtedly offer a rejoinder to President Obama’s slogan with another promise of hope; we must not forget where our true hope comes from. Our hope comes from the amazing work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Our hope comes from his resurrection which displayed his power over death. And that hope is surely one that will never disappoint.

Thanks for reading.

Honey we may be through but you’ll never hear me complain. 

He then goes on to sing about his friends in “low places”. Apparently these friends hang out at the bars and get drunk together. Obviously, this song does not highlight Christian values but it does remind me of the first proverb given to us in the book of Proverbs when Solomon writes:

1:10 My child, if sinners try to entice you,

do not consent! 

1:11 If they say, “Come with us!

We will lie in wait to shed blood; 

we will ambush an innocent person capriciously. 

1:12 We will swallow them alive like Sheol,

those full of vigor like those going down to the Pit.

1:13 We will seize all kinds of precious wealth;

we will fill our houses with plunder. 

1:14 Join with us! 

We will all share equally in what we steal.”

1:15 My child, do not go down their way, 

withhold yourself from their path;

1:16 for they are eager to inflict harm, 

and they hasten to shed blood. 

1:17 Surely it is futile to spread a net

in plain sight of any bird, 

1:18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood, 

they ambush their own lives! 

1:19 Such are the ways of all who gain profit unjustly; 

it takes away the life of those who obtain it! -NET

Solomon begins this proverb telling us to be aware of those around us that entice us to sin with them (10). He then goes on to give an example of people planning to kill someone so they can take their wealth (11-14). Many of us are confronted day in and day out with people like this. Growing up I was tempted by people like this and unfortunately I gave in to that temptation. Also, being a former youth minister I saw young people being bombarded with drugs, alcohol, and pornography. Many of their friends were partaking in activities that were not pleasing to God and were not healthy. Granted none of them killed anyone but they were all looking for what the evil people described in this text were after…self-pleasure.

The love of money is the root to all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10) but it is like drinking or porn because it shares the characteristic of  selfishness that is at its foundation. When I drink it makes me feel good. When I look at porn it makes me feel good. When I have money it makes me feel good. “Me” is what these things have in common. However, Solomon wants us to be reminded that focusing “me” isn’t what is best for us.

In verse 15 Solomon warns us to not follow the paths of evil doers. Then he writes something that is very interesting:

17 Surely it is futile to spread a net

in plain sight of any bird, 

18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood, 

they ambush their own lives! 

Using the illustration he speaks about the need to ambush the prey. A bird is not going to fly into a net that they can see. He then flips the illustration upside down when he says, “but these men lie in wait for their own blood.” These evil men aren’t only snuffing out the lives of those they are ambushing but they are destroying their own by engaging in these activities. They will get justice one day because God does not take kindly to those who blatantly go against his law. This is the same for those who pursue lives of sexual immorality or addiction. Sexual immorality hurts others by creating a false sense of love and security in relationships. It hurts the ability of those who engage in it to have full and committed relationships in the future. Addiction brings pain to family members and friends. It tends to instill a me-first mentality because satisfying the addiction becomes more important than the good of those around them.

Solomon is not saying, “Never befriend a sinner.” We all know sinners that are in need of repentance and we can be the vessels that God uses to bring those people to salvation. What Solomon is saying is to be aware of those in your life that attempt to drag you into their selfishness. Be cautious of the relationships you have with those who are in rebellion against a holy and righteous God. Be a light in their life but be careful to not have that witness be snuffed out by poor decisions.

Have friends in low places but be sure you are pulling them up instead of them pulling you down.

Dr. Michael Brown gives a quote from a professor from John Hopkins University in his book “A Queer Thing Happened to America” which says:

Homosexuality is no more a matter of voluntary choice than are left-handedness or color blindness. There is no known method of treatment by which it may be effectively and permanently altered, suppressed, or replaced. Punishment is useless. There is no satisfactory hypothesis, evolutionary or otherwise, as to why this exists in nature’s overall scheme of things. One must simply accept the fact that this does exist, and then, with optimum enlightenment, formulate a policy of what to do about it. -A Queer Thing Happened To America: And what a long, strange trip it’s been (Kindle Locations 4509-4513). BookMasters. Kindle Edition.

Do you agree with this quote? For many people this would be a totally acceptable description of homosexuality. However, Dr. Brown gives us a shocking revelation; this was not a quote about homosexuality. The quote is about pedophilia and ephebophilia. Dr. John Money’s actual quote is this:

Pedophilia and ephebophilia [referring to sexual attraction felt by an adult toward an adolescent] are no more a matter of voluntary choice than are left-handedness or color blindness. There is no known method of treatment by which they may be effectively and permanently altered, suppressed, or replaced. Punishment is useless. There is no satisfactory hypothesis, evolutionary or otherwise, as to why they exist in nature’s overall scheme of things. One must simply accept the fact that they do exist, and then, with optimum enlightenment, formulate a policy of what to do about it. -(Kindle Locations 4520-4524). BookMasters. Kindle Edition.

When I first read this I thought that this was just a coincidence. The argumentation used by homosexuals for their “rights” couldn’t be the same as the argumentation used by pedophiles…I was wrong. Dr. Brown goes on to quote the founder of Johns Hopkins Sexual Disorders Clinic, Prof. Fred Berlin:

It is likely that no one would choose voluntarily to develop a pedophilic sexual orientation. Those with such an orientation have no more decided to have it than have any of us decided as children to be either heterosexual or homosexual. Men with pedophilia get erections when fantasizing about children. Heterosexual men get erections when fantasizing about women. In neither case is that so because the individual in question has somehow decided ahead of time to program his mind to work in such a fashion. Persons with pedophilia have simply not chosen to experience an alternative state of mind. -(Kindle Locations 4540-4544). BookMasters. Kindle Edition.

Does this include pedophiles too?

I am sure that some of you are fuming by now, which is understandable, but I want to remind you again that I am not equating homosexuality with pedophilia. Nor am I calling all homosexuals pedophiles. Instead of getting totally upset, look at the words that Prof. Berlin said and ask if homosexuals use this same argument to justify their practices? They often do. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard a gay person say, “My homosexuality is no more of a choice than my heterosexuality.” Well, Berlin says that it is the same for the pedophile. Should we justify their actions? If a consenting child wants to have sex with a consenting adult should that be wrong? I think most of us would say yes. The only problem is that the homosexual now has no grounds to justify his/her sexual actions. If you are a homosexual or accepting of a homosexual lifestyle then you probably have made the following arguments. If you are not then you probably have heard these:

1) My homosexuality is not a sexual preference but a sexual orientation, just as much as your heterosexuality is not a sexual preference but a sexual orientation.

2) My homosexuality is just as normal as your heterosexuality.

3) Since my behavior is genetically determined and is not a choice, it is intolerant and hateful to suggest that it is wrong. And to call my sexual behavior illegal or immoral, or to refuse to legitimize same-sex relationships, is to be a moral bigot of the highest order.

4) I deeply resent your attempts to identify areas of my upbringing and environment as alleged causes for my homosexuality.

5) I categorically reject the myth that someone can change his or her sexual orientation. Rather, such statements only add to the anguish and suffering of gays and lesbians, and attempts to change us often lead to catastrophic consequences, including depression and suicide. -(Kindle Locations 4564-4573). BookMasters. Kindle Edition.

If you are living a homosexual lifestyle than I am sure that you would agree with most of these arguments. I know that some have renounced the gross statements about homosexuality being genetic, however, the other statements still get used often to morally defend homosexuality. Directly following this Dr. Brown writes these words:

Now, let’s make a slight adjustment in this polemic and put it on the lips of a pederast speaking to a homosexual:

1) My pederasty is not a sexual preference but a sexual orientation, just as much as your homosexuality is not a sexual preference but a sexual orientation.

2) My pederasty is just as normal as your homosexuality.

3) Since my behavior is genetically determined and is not a choice, it is intolerant and hateful to suggest that it is wrong. And to call my sexual behavior illegal or immoral, or to refuse to legitimize adult-child relationships, is to be a moral bigot of the highest order.

4) I deeply resent your attempts to identify areas of my upbringing and environment as alleged causes for my pederasty.

5) I categorically reject the myth that someone can change his or her sexual orientation. Rather, such statements only add to the anguish and suffering of pederasts, and attempts to change us often lead to catastrophic consequences, including depression and suicide. -(Kindle Locations 4574-4585). BookMasters. Kindle Edition.

I hope most of us can see the issue. The issue is that the pederasts and homosexuals use the very same argumentation, yet, most homosexuals would totally reject pederasty. The problem is if they reject pederasty then they have no basis for doing so. If they reject pederasty then they leave their position without any argumentation. If they do accept it then they go against what most people would consider morally wrong. Either way their position is exposed. Well known pederasty advocate (what a gross thing) David Thorstad gave a speech entitled “Pederasty and Homosexuality” at the Semana Cultural Lesbica-Gay event held in Mexico City in 1998. He said:

Our movement today stresses the liberation and empowerment of young people. Instead of pedagogy, democracy. Rather than a Greek love mentor-relationship, the companionship of independent and autonomous individuals. In place of male supremacy, a vision of sexual, economic, and political liberation for all. Freedom is indivisible. The liberation of children, women, boy-lovers, and homosexuals in general, can occur only as complementary facets of the same dream. -(Kindle Locations 4610-4614). BookMasters. Kindle Edition.

For all of you that are partial to the arguments for homosexuality I think you should reconsider them. If you stick to them and reject consensual pederasty then you are limiting the “liberation” for “young people”. You are no worse than the traditional people you call hate-filled because you do not believe that “freedom is indivisible”. You limit the rights of “young people” to have sexual relations with the person that they love. And you do so while holding to the same argumentation. Is this not hypocritical? It seems that way to me.

The truth is that just like pederasty, homosexuality goes against God’s law and God’s creation. Male and female were meant to come together in sexual union. Biology shows us this, History attests to this, and God created it.  I am asking that you reconsider your views and turn to the one that can set you free. As Jesus says in John 8: 34-35:

Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. -ESV

Thanks for reading.

13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate to the side of the river, where we thought there would be a place of prayer, and we sat down and began to speak to the women who had assembled there. 14 A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, a God-fearing woman, listened to us. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, ‘If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.’And she persuaded us.  -NET

This story is a wonderful description of God’s work in salvation. It is important to note that Lydia is described as a “God-fearing woman”. Some point to this and say that she had already believed in God. She chose to place her faith in God and thus was known as “God-fearing”. There are a couple of problems with this understanding.

First, this conclusion does not take into account the common use of the term “God-fearing” in the book of Acts. Luke often referred to Greek people who were partial to the Jewish religion as “God-fearing”. Here is a few instances:

When the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and were persuading them to continue in the grace of God. -Acts 13:43

But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high social standing and the prominent men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their region. -Acts 13:50

Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large group of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. -Acts 17:4

So he was addressing the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogue, and in the marketplace every day those who happened to be there. -Acts 17:17

Then Paul left the synagogue and went to the house of a person named Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God [worshiped God is the same Greek word for God-fearing], whose house was next door to the synagogue. -Acts 18:7

As you can see Luke uses the term “God-fearing” in a specific context. It is always connected to Gentiles who follow Jewish tradition. This needs to be kept in mind when reading this text because it does not mean that Lydia was saved before her heart was opened. It simply meant that she was a Gentile that was receptive to the Jewish witness. Jews in the time after Christ were not saved simply by being Jews. They needed to believe in the Messiah. Paul points this out in Romans 9:6 when he writes:

 It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel

So, if Jews were not saved by being Jews then it would follow that Gentiles that aligned with Jews weren’t saved by aligning themselves with Israel. Just like the Jews they needed a savior and Jesus Christ is that savior.

The second thing is more of a question than a point. If it is true that Lydia was regenerate before hearing Paul’s words then why in the world would God need to open her heart so she could hear what Paul was saying? It would make no sense for Luke to write that God opened her heart if it was not to salvation because afterward Luke writes that Lydia and her household were baptized (verse 15). The Bible is clear that people were to be baptized after they had heard the Word of God and had turned to the Lord in salvation.

This need for open ears and hearts was seen clearly in the teachings of Jesus Christ. John 8:46-47 says:

‘Who among you can prove me guilty of any sin? If I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? The one who belongs to God listens and responds to God’s words. You don’t listen and respond, because you don’t belong to God’

Notice what Jesus is saying. Jesus gives a clear answer to why the religious Jewish people in front of him didn’t believe. They didn’t believe because they couldn’t believe. Only the people who belong to God can believe and Jesus makes it clear that the ones in front of him were not God’s.

We all need a heart transformation. We cannot force God to change the hearts of those around us but, like Paul, we can be instruments that God uses to bring forth true repentance. Only God can save. Only God can set us free. Only God can bring the dead to life. Jesus’ words in John 5:25 say it perfectly:

‘I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming – and is now here – when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live’.

Thanks for reading.

I do not appreciate the imagery this documentary uses with the dead people because that simply stirs up emotions but this video does raise some interesting questions.

#1 As a Christian is it okay to train soldiers to bypass their moral decision-making through “reflexive fire training” to more effectively kill an enemy?

#2 Is there a contradiction between the U.S. military chants, “What is the spirit of the bayonet? Kill, kill, kill without mercy,” and, “What makes the green grass grow? Blood, blood, blood makes the green grass grow,” with Jesus words, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matt. 5:44)?

These are questions worth wrestling over. I encourage responses below from all sides of the fence as long as they are respectful and encourage dialogue.

Thanks for reading.

I went to a church service that featured a special speaker named Dr. Cecil Todd. The service focused on awakening America. This is truly a nobel cause because America definitely needs another great awakening. Even with that nobel end in mind there were many things that troubled me. None was worse than mixing in “God Bless America” in with the worship music. I know for some this would not be a problem but for me it is. Allow me to share my reasoning.

This countries morals are crumbling under our feet. We have killed more human beings through abortion than Hitler did through the Holocaust. Not only that, it is legal in our society. Yet, we have the audacity to ask God for his blessing on our nation.

We live in a country that is bending to the wills of homosexuals who want to redefine marriage. In California the 9th Circuit Court overturned the votes of Californians for Prop 8. In case you didn’t know, the 9th Circuit is made up of three judges. A three judge court overturned the votes of the majority of Californians. Yet, we have the audacity to sing “God Bless America”.

We live in a country that will take down the Ten Commandments in public places. Just today The Christian Post had an article about the Freedom From Religion Foundation asking the town of Newland, North Carolina to take down the Ten Commandments in their town hall. Here is what the FFRF said about it:

However, Patrick C. Elliott, the group’s staff attorney, claimed the display of the Ten Commandments is ‘a blatant violation of the constitution.’

‘Putting the Ten Commandments up permanently in a town hall like this is unconstitutional and I think the court is going to agree with that’.

The FFRF also says:

‘the history of Western civilization shows us that most social and moral progress has been brought about by persons free from religion’.

We live in a country that endorses the killing of humans through abortion. We live in a country that endorses gay marriages which go against God’s institution of marriage. We live in a country that takes down the Ten Commandments because they are ” a blatant violation of the constitution.” Yet, we sing “God Bless America”.

Ladies and gentlemen of the faith it is time to get on our knees and ask for God’s mercy not his blessings. We live in a country that has been blessed with the truth of Christ and we, as a nation, have turned away from that truth. We need to start being more like Abraham in the midst of Sodom and Gomorrah when he pleads with God for his mercy in Genesis 18 instead of asking for God’s blessing as we are blatantly going against his commands.

I pray for another great awakening and the mercy of God on this nation.