His Word Today

“The New Testament begins with the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. No part of the Bible is so important as this, and no part is so full and complete. Four distinct Gospels tell us the story of Christ’s doing and dying. Four times over we read the precious account of His works and words. How thankful we ought to be for this! To know Christ is life eternal. To believe in Christ is to have peace with God. To follow Christ is to be a true Christian. To be with Christ will be heaven itself. We can never hear too much about Jesus Christ.” –J.C. Ryle

“Because of the tight relationships among the Synoptic Gospels, the contribution made by any one of them must be evaluated in light of the contribution made by all three. If Matthew suddenly disappeared, much of its material would still be found, more or less intact, in Mark and Luke.”

“But the Synoptic Gospels as a whole make an irreplaceable contribution. Alongside John, they constitute the foundational witness to the person, ministry, teaching, passion, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. Nor are the three Synoptic Gospels to be seen as merely redundant testimony. Each provides its own slant, together providing a kind of stereoscopic depth that would otherwise be almost entirely missing. And at a secondary level, each provides a window onto the life of the church at the time each was written. But this window, it must be insisted, is never transparent: it is at best translucent, and the shadows one sees through it have to be interpreted with some care.” – D.A. Carson & Douglas J. Moo

The Gospel of Matthew is the first Gospel, and book, in the New Testament, or the New Covenant Canon. The Gospel of Matthew contains the greatest amount of Jesus’ ethical teaching than anywhere else in the New Testament. From the earliest days of the church, Matthew’s Gospel has been one of the most widely read and perhaps the most influential of the four Gospels. Therefore, a study of this Gospel is imperative.  

Matthew means “gift of the Lord.” It was the alternative name of Levi, the tax collector (Matt. 9:9-13), who left everything to follow Christ (Luke 5:27–32). Matthew was one of the 12 apostles (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). In his own list of the Twelve, he explicitly called himself a “tax collector” (Matt. 10:1-3). Nowhere else in Scripture is the name Matthew associated with “tax-collector.” The other Gospels always use his former name, Levi, when speaking of his life prior to his conversion.

The canonicity and Matthew’s authorship of this Gospel were unchallenged in the early church. Eusebius (c. A.D. 265–339) said that the early church father Papias spoke of Matthew arranging the oracles of Jesus.

“Among the four Gospels, which are the only indisputable ones in the Church of God under heaven, I have learned by tradition that the first was written by Matthew, who was once a publican, but afterwards an apostle of Jesus Christ, and it was prepared for the converts from Judaism” explains Origen (c. A.D. 185–254) in his Ecclesiastical History, 6:25.

Most biblical scholars claim this Gospel was written at a relatively early date—prior to the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. Some scholars propose a date as early as A.D. 50, but no later than A.D. 100.

“The writer of this Gospel must have used the Gospel of Mark as a source. Assuming that Mark was composed to preserve the oral testimonies of the Apostle Peter in Rome, an appropriate date for Matthew would be between A.D. 64 and A.D. 70,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

I encourage you to begin reading the Gospel of Matthew. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!  

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV)

From the City of Destruction and the carrying of a great and heavy burden to the gates of heaven, this is the scope of the Progress of the Pilgrim. If you have read The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, and read this series of articles, you know that the character known as Christian has made the journey. By grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone, he has arrived at the Celestial City. He is finally home.

Greater than any fascination we may have about the geography of Heaven, the Celestial City, is the fact that God will bring followers of Jesus into His presence. Therein is the joy of heaven; to be in the presence of Jesus our Savior and to no longer contend with presence of one’s sin.  

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3 ESV)

Hope is confident assurance that what God has promised, He will fulfill. This includes the promise and hope of heaven.  

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:3-6 ESV).

Be encouraged that God promised to complete His work in you. This is the work not only of justification and sanctification, but also of glorification (Rom. 8:29-30).  

“From the City of Destruction to the gates of heaven, this is the scope of The Pilgrim’s Progress; and Christian has made the journey. But Bunyan closes with a dramatic warning that a person may be near and yet so far from God’s salvation. Ignorance is self-deluded and at the end of the journey he is bound hand and foot and cast into hell—at the very gate of heaven. May this not be true of us,” warns Dr. Warren Wiersbe.

May a word to the wise be sufficient (Matt. 7:21-23). Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁷ To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” ⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. ⁹ For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you ¹⁰ always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. ¹¹ For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— ¹² that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,^[c] that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. ¹⁴ I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians,^[d] both to the wise and to the foolish. ¹⁵ So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.” (Romans 1:7-15 ESV)

The Delectable Mountains, also known as “Immanuel’s Land.” It is lush country from whose heights one can see many delights and curiosities. It is inhabited by sheep and their shepherds, and from Mount Clear one can see the Celestial City.

The Delectable Mountains depict and explain the encouragement, knowledge, experience, watchfulness and sincerity of the church. The church are the followers of Christ. They are disciples of Jesus. This includes both pastors and parishioners. Both clergy and congregation.

It is within the regular gatherings of the church that each member is encouraged in their daily walk, given knowledge from God’s Word to discern truth from error, to be mutually strengthened by shared experiences in order to comfort one another, to provide careful watchfulness in order to guard the young and weak from evil and wrong, and to sincerely acknowledge and confess our sins while at the same time seeking to make things right.

The relationship between a church’s leaders and the congregation is a special one. It can be and is the source of great blessing and encouragement. It is one which the Apostle Paul and the Church in Rome were well acquainted. Paul loved them and they him, even though at the time of his writing a letter to the church, he had yet to personally meet them. Amazing.

First of all, what are the characteristics of a church which does not necessarily indicate whether it is biblically healthy? You may be amazed.

To begin with, money. A church’s great and abundant financial budget, resources and income does not mean it is biblical or healthy. In fact, Jesus praised the church in Smyrna, which was known for being persecuted and poor (Revelation 2:8-11). While financially poor, they were spiritually rich. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:10 in describing in part the marks of a healthy church and ministry, “as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing, yet possessing all things.”

Pastors and church leaders are grateful for the faithful giving of God’s people here, and the ministries conducted because of people’s faithfulness. However, money and financial resources, while good, does not mean a church is biblical or healthy.

Additionally, size, or the lack thereof, does not necessarily mean a church is biblically healthy or unhealthy. Bigger is not necessarily better. As my friend and colleague Pastor Randy Smith says, “Bigger and better may be very American, but it isn’t very biblical.”

Many would point in objection that the Book of Acts records the number of souls saved as numbering in the thousands. (Acts 2:41, 47). However, this was the church at large, and not a church in particular. The numbering indicated what God was sovereignly doing in saving souls to become members of the universal church, and not necessarily a mandate for a particular church to focus on becoming numerically bigger. Large churches may not necessarily be alive and healthy, and small churches are not necessarily dying or dead.

Finally, popularity. If a church is enjoying widespread popularity among the culture or even the community, this does mean that it is biblically healthy. The question remains, why is it popular? Is it popular because it serves good coffee, possesses high energy music, and ministers to people who ride Harley Davidson Motorcycles? No offense to those who ride Harley Davidson Motorcycles.

While these examples are not necessarily wrong in and of themselves, they do not biblically indicate whether a church is, or is not, healthy. In fact, the Bible says in James 4:4 that friendship with the world is to make oneself an enemy of God.

Then what are the indicators a church is biblically healthy? What then are the characteristics which make for a biblical atmosphere within the church for encouragement and blessing, which could be likened to Delectable (delicious, appetizing, delightful and appealing) Mountains?

More to come. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. ⁸ We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰ always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. ¹¹ For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹² So death is at work in us, but life in you.

¹³ Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, ¹⁴ knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. ¹⁵ For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-18 ESV)

First, the believer in Christ must meditate upon the promises of God in His Word to guard from doubt and despair (2 Cor. 4:1-6). Second, there must be complete trust in the character of God (2 Cor. 7-18). This trust in the Lord is actively pursued by the following disciplines.

First, believers in Christ are to look beyond the physical to the spiritual (2 Cor. 4:7-9. When in the circumstances of suffering, there is rejoicing in Jesus Christ.

Second, believers in Christ are to look beyond the temporal to the eternal (2 Cor. 4:10-14). While in the circumstances of dying, there is true living in Jesus Christ.

Third, believers in Christ are to look beyond the visible to the invisible (2 Cor. 4:15-18). While in the midst of the temporal, eternity is in view in Jesus Christ.

Are you going through a time of doubt or despair? Have you become a prisoner of these enemies of God and the Gospel? If you are a Christian, the wonderful truth is that you already have in your possession all that is necessary for your deliverance.

Has the enemy tried to get you to doubt the truth of God’s Word? Have you sometimes been easily persuaded that the Scriptures cannot be trusted? As we seek to live the Christian life in a fallen world and in the midst of an increasingly pagan society, the enemy will do all that he can to breed doubt about the trustworthiness of God and His Word. Do not listen! God’s promises remain true.

Has the enemy tried to get you to doubt the reality of your own salvation? Has he tried to persuade you that you are a failure, that you will never be able truly to live a Christian life and that you are a terrible sinner? Has he even tried to persuade you that you are not a Christian at all? Do not listen! God’s promises remain true.

Has the enemy tried to breed despair in your heart? Has he tried to convince you that your Christian hope is a fantasy and that this world is all that there is? Has he tried to persuade you that Christianity is just one religion among hundreds of others and that it is not true? Has he tried to persuade you that Jesus Christ was just a man, like other men, and that he was not the Son of God? Has he tried to get you to the point where you despair of knowing anything for sure? Do not listen! God’s promises remain true.

There will come a day when the enemies of God, including doubt and despair, are utterly destroyed by God (as we see later in Pilgrim’s Progress when Doubting-Castle is torn down and Giant Despair is killed and then beheaded), but in the meantime we are in the midst of a battle.

Stand firm, then, learning from the experiences of Christian and Hopeful. In the first place, we must not be led off the narrow road that we are called to walk. In the second place, when doubt and despair would seek to imprison us, we must escape from these enemies by using the key that all believers have, the promises of God.

Have a blessed day in Christ.

Soli deo Gloria!

“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:1-6 ESV)

Many believers in Christ encounter doubt and despair in living and serving the Lord. What counsel does the Holy Spirit provide in the Scriptures? The Apostle Paul provides some needful direction in his second letter to the Corinthian church.  

First, the believer in Christ must think correctly by reading and meditating upon the Word of God. By doing so, God protects them from doubt and despair. “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.” (2 Corinthians 4:1 ESV).

Second, believers in Christ do not distort the Word of God because of their circumstances. They seek to rightly interpret the Scriptures (2 Tim. 2:15). They do not ignore doubt and despair caused by difficult circumstances. They evaluate them in light of God’s Word. “But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:2 ESV).

Third, believers in Christ realize that the unconverted do not understand the Scriptures. This is because in their unconverted condition, they lack the Holy Spirit. They exist in spiritual darkness (I John 1:1-7). “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 4:3 ESV).

Fourth, believers in Christ understand that enemies of the Gospel are blinded by the believer’s great enemy; the devil. “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV)

Fifth, believers in Christ, as His servants, seek to glorify God whatever their circumstances. “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:5-6 ESV)

May each of us be encouraged and strengthened by God’s Word when we encounter doubt and despair. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

Have you experienced doubt and despair as a believer in Christ? Many have!

Hymn writer Johnson Oatman Jr (1856-1926) understood this condition and resolved to overcome it as he followed Christ. He wrote:

1 I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining ev’ry day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Refrain:
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith, on heaven’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

2 My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground. [Refrain]

At one point in their pilgrimage, Christian and his companion Hopeful stepped aside from the true Way into By-Path Meadow because it looked easier and seemed to be going in the same direction as the Way. They realized their mistake and began the journey back towards the Way. As they traveled, they slept one night on the grounds of a castle. However, it turned out that this was Doubting-Castle, owned by Giant Despair. When the giant found them, he threw them into his dark and nasty dungeon, and they suffered terribly.

As pilgrims traveling through this life following Jesus (I Peter 1:1-2) we face spiritual conflicts from the world (I John 2:15-17), our own sinful desires (Romans 7; Col. 3:1-11) and the devil (Ephesians 6:10-20). As we face this threefold battleground, it is easy to become discouraged by doubt and despair.

Doubt is not trusting. It is not committed to live for God, to not acknowledge dependence upon God and to not worship the One, True God of the Bible in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Doubt is uncertainty and having a lack of conviction for what you believe and to what and whom you are committed.

Despair is a lack of confidence in God. It is no longer having confidence in what God has promised in His Word. It is hopelessness, disheartenment, discouragement and desperation because of circumstances and situations. Doubt and despair can occur at any time if we are not watchful. Doubt and despair can occur because of any situation if we are not careful to rest in the truth from God.

As Christians of conviction, we must continue to fight for our biblical liberty in Christ. Yet, in the final analysis, we must always remember that ultimately we fight not against men but against the spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12). Ultimately, we fight on our knees, praying for all who are in authority over us (1 Tim. 2:2).

In this world, we are citizens of our nations, but ultimately we are citizens of Christ’s kingdom. As such, we can pray for national leaders even when we must vote against them (I Tim. 2:1-3). We pray for the persecuted and for our persecutors. We love our enemies while praying for their defeat—their coming to the end of themselves in repentance and faith (Matt. 5:44; Rom. 12:13; 1 Cor. 4:12–13).

In the face of persecution, we must not lose hope. We must not fear our enemies but fear the Lord as we stand our ground in the battle. Jesus told us we would be persecuted, but He also told us He has overcome the world (Matt. 5:10–12; John 16:33).

Regardless of whether we ever die as martyrs for our faith, we are all witnesses of Christ. Though our enemies may imprison us, shun us, despise us, or kill us, they can never really hurt us. For we conquer by dying—humbly dying to self that we may, under any persecution our Lord sovereignly allows, boldly proclaim Christ and Him crucified. And when we are persecuted for Christ’s sake, not for being obnoxious, we can count ourselves blessed.

“Christians are not so much in danger when they are persecuted as when they are admired,” explained Pastor Charles H. Spurgeon.

Meditate today upon 2 Corinthians 4:1-18. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁵ “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15–17 (ESV)

Vanity Fair, is defined as the “vain and frivolous way of life especially in large cities,” and the “place or scene of vulgarity or empty, idle amusement and frivolity.” It is behavior and activities that are trivial; unimportant, silly and foolish). Vanity Fair represents the world in all its gaudiness, allurement and seduction. It offers merchandise of all kinds; some innocent enough in themselves but designed to misdirect the affections away from the believer in Christ’s love for God and love for His kingdom.

Vanity Fair is also defined as futility, conceit and a desire to be admired for one’s attainments and accomplishments. This behavior is displayed, in part, by immature athletes, self-absorbed actors and self-made social media celebrities.

Christian and Faithful were bad-mouthed and heckled. As pilgrims who marched to the beat of a different drummer, Christian and Faithful looked, dressed, and spoke differently; something to which the townsfolk took great exception. It is interesting that it was, in particular, their speech that caused such offense.

Speaking of holy things always offends, but it had been such holy conversation from poor women in Bedford, England that were the means to bring young John Bunyan to repentance. Consequently, in Bunyan’s story, Christian and Faithful are taken, beaten, and incarcerated; something Bunyan, of course, knew only too well.

They are eventually charged with disturbing the peace of the city by their lack of conformity to the standards of Vanity Fair. Bunyan’s choice of names here is deliciously instructive: Mr. Hate-Good is the Judge, and jurors who include such characters as Mr. Malice, Mr. Love-lust, Mr. Live-loose, Mr. High-mind, Mr. Cruelty, and Mr. Hate-light! If such charges were brought against us, would there be sufficient evidence to convict?

Vanity Fair, or the hostile world system, is under the dominion of Satan (John 5:19; 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). The world is his sphere of influence. In much the same way, the spirit of the antichrist which is coming, is even now, already in the world (I John 4:3) along with many false prophets who have gone out into the world (I John 4:1). Vanity Fair, the world, is an all-inclusive term for all those who belong to the kingdom of darkness and have not been born of God (John 3:1-8; Titus 3:1-5).

The world does not understand the children of God (I John 5:19), just as the world did not, and does not, understand Jesus Christ (I John 3:1-2). Vanity Fair does not understand nor know God the Father (John 17:25).

Therefore, the church and Vanity Fair are in sharp contrast. Biblically, they ought to be. They are two distinct groups. They are two separate groups. The church is under the dominion of God, knows God and is born of God. The other is under the dominion of Satan, who stands condemned (John 12:31; 16:11).

Of which kingdom do we belong? Of which sphere of influence, the church or Vanity Fair, do you belong and are most comfortable?

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁵ “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15–17 (ESV)

“When John Bunyan was a young man, he visited the great fair held a Stourbridge. The Moot Hall, still standing in Bunyan’s hometown in Elstow, was also the scene of much buying and selling in Bunyan’s day. Vanity Fair represents the world and all its activities—the vanity or emptiness of the human life—apart from God. The merchandise offered at the fair includes all the things that unconverted people live for. Since Satan is the god and prince of this world, he is the originator and the director of Vanity Fair, explains Dr. Warren Wiersbe.  

Christian, in Bunyan’s allegory, is both a pilgrim on a road-trip to heaven and a warrior in conflict with temptations from within (indwelling sin) and without (the fallen world and the devil). It is a principle that God teaches Christian early in the journey that every believer in Christ can expect to be both fascinated by, and drawn towards, the world. The world refers to the fallen world system which hates God and His followers. (John 15:18-25).

What is meant by the phrase or title Vanity Fair? Vanity Fair, is defined as the “vain and frivolous way of life especially in large cities,” and the “place or scene of vulgarity or empty, idle amusement and frivolity.” It is behavior and activities that are trivial; unimportant, silly and foolish). Vanity Fair represents the world in all its gaudiness, allurement and seduction. It offers merchandise of all kinds; some innocent enough in themselves but designed to misdirect the affections away from the believer in Christ’s love for God and love for His kingdom.

Vanity Fair is also defined as futility, conceit and a desire to be admired for one’s attainments and accomplishments. This behavior is displayed, in part, by immature athletes, self-absorbed actors and self-made social media celebrities.

Believers are the special targets of the Vanity Fair’s hostility. Though “Beelzebub, Apollyon and their Legions” are involved in the allurement of Vanity Fair, they are not center stage here. Rather, the focus is upon the fallen world and its enticements.

Those who refuse to conform to the pattern of this world can expect to be taunted and ridiculed. The believer in Christ can also expect to be disgusted by and attacked when all the world’s offers are spurned. “Hell hath no fury…,” in this case, “like the world scorned.” Jesus said to his disciples “If they (Vanity Fair or the world) persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20).

How does Vanity Fair entice you? What allurements of the fallen, sinful world do you battle? We will continue our examination of Vanity Fair when next we meet.

Soli deo Gloria!

“In the Valley of Humiliation poor Christian faced great difficulty, for he had gone only a short distance before he saw a devilish creature named Apollyon coming across the field to meet him.” – John Bunyan

^12 “And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. ¹³ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” (2 Corinthians 11:12–15 (ESV)

Martin Luther said that Christians face three enemies: —the world, the flesh, and the devil. Obviously, these foes are interrelated.

First, our flesh. This refers to the remaining tendency in our lives to sin (Romans 7:13-25; Eph. 4:17-24; Col. 3:1-11).

Second, the fallen world. It is the world system that sets itself in opposition to Christ. In itself, the world was originally very good (Genesis 1-2), but in the fall of Adam, it was set against its Creator. It hates Jesus because of His testimony about its fallen system of pride and ungodliness, and thus it gains the capacity to hate all who are united to Christ (John 7:1-9; John 15:18-25; I John 2:15-17).

Thirdly, there is the devil himself. It is to this fallen angel that we give our specific attention today.

These three enemies are interrelated, we can still examine them separately. Our battle to grow in holiness is a supernatural one, and it involves defeating the devil as well as the world and the flesh.

In the modern Western culture, the devil, or Satan, is largely understood as a myth. Many people deny the existence of a personal being known as the devil; even many people who profess the name of Christ. It has not always been this way. Our forefathers in the faith were acutely aware of the power and presence of Satan.

Martin Luther, for example, spoke regularly of his encounters with the Prince of Lies. Luther struggled with bouts of Anfechtungen—extreme depression—and he even spoke of being able to see the devil and throw his inkpot at him. Today, many people think the devil is little more than a historical curiosity. He is viewed as a being invented to explain certain phenomena, but not a supernatural creature in his own right.

Luther was at the forefront of the greatest revival of truth since the apostolic age; The Protestant Reformation. Therefore, it is unsurprising that Satan might focus his attention on the great German Reformer. It is interesting to note that Martin Luther wrote one of the most enduring hymns of the church; A Mighty Fortress is Our God.

For the rest of us, perhaps the devil isn’t all that interested. However, we should not take that to mean that we will not be called upon to defeat demonic forces as they wage war on our own lives. There is a legion of demons who exist to influence the world for ill and lead God’s people astray (Mark 5:1–20). Jesus Himself frequently dealt with evil spirits. To ignore them is to be unprepared for the spiritual battles that we must fight.

There are two extremes believers in Christ must avoid. The first is to look for the devil, or one of his demonic angels, under every rock, nook and cranny. The fallen world and our remaining sinful flesh can entice us to disobedience against God without demonic assistance. The second would be to ignore the devil all together and pretend he does not exist.

Believers in Christ must know how the devil presents himself if we are to combat him. As the following passages indicate, we should not necessarily expect our spiritual enemies to look overtly evil. Satan is the master trickster who often disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV)

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7 ESV)

“Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” (2 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV)

“I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.” (Acts 20:29-31 ESV)

In many cases, evil does not look all that disgusting to us. The devil draws us in by offering things to us that look good; not by broadcasting it loud and clear that we are being tempted to do what is wrong. Wise Christians train their powers of discernment by the Word of God. We seek to know God’s thoughts so that we might recognize the devil when he comes in the guise of an angel of light.

Because the Son of God came to destroy the devil, we need not fear him. We also need not wonder too much if the devil is behind specific temptations that confronts us. What we should do is become fully grounded in God’s Word. As we grow in our knowledge of Scripture, our discernment improves, and we find it easier to identify as sinister things that might at first glance appear to be good. Let us train our minds by the Word of God.

I encourage you to read and meditate upon Ephesians 6:10-20. Have a God honoring day.

Soli deo Gloria!