Repent from the Tolerance of Sin | Revelation 2:18-39

Repent from the Tolerance of Sin | Revelation 2:18-39

Christopher M. Karpus

Repent from the Tolerance of Sin (Apathy towards Sin)

By Chris Karpus

Revelation 2:18-39

To the Church in Thyatira (the idolatrous church)

a. Each church was literal in existence (Asia Minor in modern day Turkey)

Ephesus had abandoned their first love

Smyrna was not admonished, but they were facing tribulation

Pergamum had people holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans

Thyatira, today’s letter, is tolerating Jezebel

- Many commercial guilds in Thyatira…like trade unions…more than any other Roman province – Industrialized city known for their commercial trade…purple dye…Lydia, from the book of Acts

Acts 16 – refers to Lydia, a seller of purple cloth, from Thyatira.

b. Each church represents spiritual issues relevant to Christians today

1. Verses 18-19

-Jesus refers to Himself as the “Son of God”

-whose eyes are fire - Jesus’ searching gaze from which nothing escapes

Whose feet are like burnished bronze – seems to point to Jesus’ absolute purity

- They had the deeds that Ephesus had, but had the love that Ephesus lacked

- Jesus recognized their love and faith, service and perseverance…

- He even noted that they were doing even more than when they started

2. Verses 20-21

-Jesus faults the church of Thyatira for tolerating this “Jezebel” whom He gave time to repent

(Jezebel – daughter of Ethbael, king of the Sidonians

She worshiped the baals and ashiras, and led King Ahab (the King of Israel) to do the same

2 Kings 9:34 “that cursed woman”

As a punishment for her wickedness, she was eventually pushed out a window, trampled by horses and eaten by dogs)

We are told 2 things about this Jezebel in Thyatira: (other than not repenting)

1. She calls herself a profit

2. She is teaching Jesus’ servants to practice sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols

Eating food sacrificed to idols…dinner with the guild…sacrificed to Zeus

Jesus told Thyatira that they were allowing someone like that to influence their people – why do you tolerate her?

-Could be a reference to the process of church discipline back in Matthew 18:15-18

- She did not repent even though she was given time to do so

- Jesus is now faulting the church for continuing to tolerate her….so if they had gone through the process, it seems that He is saying that she should have been excluded by now

- Jesus said that they had love, BUT it seems their love was undiscerning and blindly affirming

- They tolerated false teaching and immoral behavior – two things God is fiercely intolerant of

- Jesus didn’t pat them on the back for being open minded, welcoming and affirming, he chastised them basically for being blind and undiscerning

- Tolerance – a buzz word in our culture

- There is a good kind of tolerance, but Christians cannot be tolerant of ALL things because God is not tolerant of all things.

- -Our culture says that love = unconditional affirmation. That is not the way God loves.

- We cannot give unqualified, unconditional affirmation to every belief and behavior.

- Parents should understand this. – you see your kid playing in the middle of a busy street, you don’t respond with “who am I to judge”?

- -We are called to love what God loves and hate what God hates

- -(Love what God loves) That’s where Ephesus failed

- (Hate what God hates – where Pergamum and Thyatira failed

3. “Jezebel”, in this case is most likely a specific person, but metaphorically, what “Jezebel’s” does the modern western church tolerate?

a. Racism

Jemar Tisby, in his book “How to Fight Racism” makes a tough statement for the white evangelicals in our country: “…everyone is either fighting racism or supporting it”.

In other words…we are either fighting racism or tolerating it

b. Abortion – I may favor pro life political candidates, but if I haven’t promoted a culture of life and compassion, I’m really not doing much by just pulling a red lever.

c. Pornography and sex trafficking

d. Worship songs with bad theology?... Bad doctrine leads to bad lives

e. People who call themselves prophets, and aren’t…

- Some just make political predictions, and never talk about the actual Word of God

3. from Verse 20

…(this Jezebel) who calls herself a prophet

- Jesus addresses the problem of imposters at several points in these letters:

- In Ephesus, he speaks to those who call themselves apostles who are not

- In Smyrna, he speaks to those who say they are Jews who are not

- In Thyatire, He is speaking of a woman who calls herself a prophet…and she is not

+ Fakes cannot fool the One whose eyes are like blazing fire

+ Always hold what so-called prophets say up against the Word of God

Matthew 24:11

11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

+ they will deceive non-believers and Christians…don’t fall for them, even if they say what our itchy ears want to hear.

4. Verse 20:

- She has infiltrated the people of God (probably part of why Jesus calls her a “Jezebel”) and teaches them idolatry and immorality (the rest of the reason she is called Jezebel)

- She is called to repentance and refused.

- Those who belong to Jesus repent of sin. What’s missing is repentance…repent and believe…believe and repent for the remission of sin

- At this point, the church had a responsibility to tell her the truth

- to protect the flock

- Instead, they were tolerating her, and as a result of the church’s failure to act, she was leading the servants of Jesus into sin.

-Tolerance in this case, is not love, it is unfaithfulness to God

- In not directly doing something about the false teaching, the church bears some of the responsibility for the sins provoked by the Jezebels…by tolerating it. Is that the same as approval?

-Is it possible that… Not DOING SOMETHING about RACISM, is implicit approval of racism

…Not DOING SOMETHING about abortion, is implicit approval of abortion

…and so on…

Obviously, we don’t want to hear our Lord and Savior say: “To the church in the United States, I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first…but I hold this against you: you tolerate things I hate.”

5. Verses 21-23:

- Jesus is effectively calling His servants, who are sinning with Jezebel, to repentance

- He is announcing judgement…Jezebel and everyone who sins with her will be judged

- Those who belong to Jesus will repent. Those who do not belong to Jesus will not.

- Those who refuse to repent, identify themselves as Jezebel’s children, and Jesus’ promises them that they will be judged and die

The result of this is…in verse 23

6. Verse 23:

- Basically, it looks like Jesus is addressing everyone who did not follow Jezebel. He is not imposing another burden on them, other than tolerating Jezebel.

- he says to HOLD FAST TO WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL I COME. What they have is the Gospel, and “holding fast” means living it out

- He has also called evil what it is…by saying “satan’s so called deep secrets”

8. Verses 26-29

Jesus is referencing Psalm 2:8-9

Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will break them with a rod of iron[a]; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

If we want to rule with Jesus in the future, we need to be faithful to Him in the present. Remember, in the case of Thyatira, -Tolerance is not love, it is unfaithfulness

Though we are cultural outcasts now, or ridiculed now…we will rule. If we’re not outcasts now because of our faith, or ridiculed now because of our faith, then maybe we look too much like the culture.

David Wells…professor of Theology said – “worldliness is whatever makes sin look normal and righteousness look strange”

Does this mean we are to be intolerant? Of course not. It means we need to treat people the way Jesus treated people. He humbled, showed law to the proud, and He showed grace to the humble

Look at the story of the woman caught in adultery:

John 8:3-11

9. Verse 28

We will receive the Morning Star (Numbers 24…a star will come out of Jacob) – If you overcome, the ultimate gift is Christ Himself.

If you hold fast, you may not get:

The job, or the raise, or the girl or boy, or even your parents and family. You may not get the big house, fair treatment or the promotion. You may not get the political candidate you want in office, great health or appreciation from your family and friends or even the freedom you think you deserve…but if you hold fast…you WILL get the morning Star…you will get Jesus Himself. If He is all we have, understand that He is truly all we need.

Thanks!

Be Prepared To Answer | 1 Peter 3:15-16

Be Prepared To Answer | 1 Peter 3:15-16

Darien Gabriel

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15-16
Title: Be Prepared to Answer

Bottom line: Doing good means always being prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you why you have hope and to do so w/ gentleness, respect, and a clear conscience. That includes your enemies and your persecutors.

Be prepared & ready to share with anyone why you have hope.

Open with motto of the Boy Scouts: Be prepared. I tried and gave up after 2 months.

Prepared for tests?

I walked into physics class one year after spring break fresh and rested from no studying. But I wasn’t ready or prepared for the test they handed out unexpectedly (to me) that day. I promptly left to withdraw from the class.

I was ready but not necessarily prepared for my first SAT test. We didn’t study for them back in my day. So taking the test was really a way to answer the question, “Am I ready for college?”

Where is God?

Elie Wiesel was born into a Jewish family in Romania. He was only a teenager when he and his family were rounded up by the Nazis and taken first to Auschwitz, and then to Buchenwald. In his book, Night, he gives a terrifying and intimate account of the increasing horrors he endured – the death of his parents and eight-year-old sister, and the loss of his innocence by barbaric hands.

In the foreword to the book, François Mauriac writes of his encounter with Elie Wiesel: ‘On that most horrible day, even among all those other bad days, when the child witnessed the hanging (yes!) of another child who, he tells us, had the face of a sad angel, he heard someone behind him groan: “For God’s sake, where is God?” And from within me, I heard a voice answer: “Where He is? This is where – hanging here from this gallows.”’

...His words point to the most profound answer to the question, ‘Where is God?’ God is in Christ. He was on the cross bearing our sins in his body. Now the crucified is among his people. Not only has he suffered for you, but he now suffers with you. (Bible in One Year 2020 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 327 • Devotional)

Peter exhorts the early church to be prepared to give an answer for the hope they carried in Christ. He knew, however, that he was writing to a suffering people. The time was one of persecution and opposition. From family, friends, religious institutions, philosophical discussions, employers and, of course, the government.

He wants them to do good (like Titus) but he accounts for their suffering.

We just finished Paul’s letter to Titus where we emphasized the principle that good deeds/works flow from good doctrine taught and lived in a community united in Christ.

Here we see Peter also talking about “doing good.” More specifically, he talks about suffering for doing good.

Thanksgiving is a time when family, food, politics and religion collide for a few hours resulting in a wide range of reactions. Maybe you experienced that this year. 2020 is the year of disruption and as a result we’re all not at our best. Things have been amplified and accelerated—good and bad things. As a result, our cultural norms have changed quickly.

Ex. We now have a cancel culture where people are much quicker to write someone off for something they said even long ago with no second chance.

Ex. We are much more polarized than in the past.

Ex. So much has been politicized too. Your views on race, immigration, borders, guns, marijuana, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, and police move people to make assumptions about you and put you into stereo-typed groups so that they can label you for or against them. Tribes are becoming our new identities.

As a result, people are quicker to condemn, criticize and cancel you. We are often guilty by perceived association whether it’s true or not.

But the biggest one we’re going to be dealing with in the months ahead is where you are religiously.

Like it or not, if you are a Christian who is committed to the Bible in that you believe it and live it and share it, you will be stereo-typed and labeled horrible things. Things that aren’t even true about you. And gradually, as it becomes more socially acceptable, you will be persecuted.

What can you do this about this? I have a few suggestions:

1. Decide who you really are? Where do you really stand? What’s your story? How does it fit in God’s epic story?

2. Prepare yourself and your family for the coming storm; for persecution. We’ve been saying for years it’s coming. COVID accelerated everything. It’s here. Prepare for suffering.

3. Decide how you are going to respond to this personally?

   1. Will you push back? Demand to be understood? For you will be misunderstood. Jesus was and he never once defended himself.

   2. Or will you lean in? Bless instead of curse. Return good to your tormentors? Will you reinforce their stereotypes or will you show them a better story?

4. Do you have hope? What or who is it in? Why? Know the answers to these questions.

The Apostle Peter spoke to early Christians about this very thing in 1 Peter 3:8-22. It is there I believe God led me to this week to share before we head into the Christmas season of sermons. It seems extremely fitting and timely.

Many of us are experiencing a crisis of faith. Do we really believe this Bible is really a word from God? If so, then let’s prepare together. If not, then it will be extremely hard for you to move forward with other believers. This is why people are leaving churches in droves. This is why churches are closing all over America.

Caution for new persecution

“In the first two chapters Peter referred to “all kinds of trials” (1:6), accusations of “doing wrong” (2:12), “the ignorant talk of foolish men” (2:15), and “the pain of unjust suffering” (2:19). All these persecutions seem to have resulted from the natural reactions of a pagan society against Christians who faithfully obeyed Jesus Christ.

Peter then warned that a time of more severe persecution and suffering was close at hand. He cautioned Christians to keep clear consciences when facing injustice, to endure the inevitable suffering with Christlike courage.” (BKC)

I. Overcoming Injustice in the coming days

1 Peter 3:8–12 (BKC): “Peter used both Christ and Noah to illustrate the principle that in times of rising persecution the right response to injustice results in blessing.“

“Finally” introduces a new section.

“Peter now addressed all his readers (all of you) and gave practical principles for living peacefully in a hostile pagan culture. First Peter 3:8–9 is Peter’s exposition of Psalm 34:12–16, which he then quoted (1 Peter 3:10–12). Peter constructed his thoughts around the three exhortations in the psalm.”

A. A Compassionate Conduct - 1 Peter 3:8-12 - 3 practical exhortations from Peter from David:

1. Keep from speaking evil. This includes what you say to someone AND what you type/write to someone via text, email or social media. (10)

2. Turn from evil and do good. (11a) “Turn the other cheek” -Jesus (Matt 5:39)

3. Seek and pursue peace with God and man. (11b) Respond to insult with blessing. Start with what you say then with what you (or refrain from).

B. A Clear Conscience - 1 Peter 3:13-22

“Persecution occurred, however, in spite of believers’ desires to live peacefully and their eagerness to do good. Peter encouraged his readers with the fact that the right response to undeserved suffering results in blessing. He presented the principle in verses 13–17 and provided examples in verses 18–22.”

1. Who is going to hurt you? (13-14) Blessed here means “highly favored”, not feel delighted.

   1. Fear God over men. Isaiah 8:12 (ESV): “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread” (14)

2. Overcoming fear requires us exalting Christ as Lord (15)

   1. Reason = apologia or defense for why you believe what you believe about Christ Jesus.

   2. 1 Peter 3:15 (BKC): As a result Christians should always be prepared (hetoimoi, “ready”; cf. 1:5) to give … the reason (apologian, the “defense” which a defendant makes before a judge; cf. Acts 22:1; 25:16) for their hope in Christ. Such an oral defense should be consistent with one’s “set-apart” conduct.

   3. There’s the posture of prepared.

   4. There’s the work of prepared.

   5. There’s the willingness of prepared.

3. Give your reason in a way that honors Christ. How you do this matters. (16)

   1. Perhaps Peter is recalling how he did not do this when confronted 3 times after Jesus’ arrest. (Mark 14:66-72)

   2. Yet it may be God’s will for you to suffer for doing good. (17)

4. Illustrations on the above principles (18-22)

   1. Jesus is our supreme example. He suffered greatly for doing nothing but good. (Healing, miracles, preaching, serving, and the cross) Great summary: “1 Peter 3:18 (BKC): In verses 18–22 Peter illustrated the principles given in verses 13–17. Once again Christ provided the perfect example. He suffered for doing what was right (2:14). His sinless life provoked the unjust hostilities of evil men. However, He did not fear men but trusted Himself to God. Christ clearly stated His purpose and committed Himself to a course of action. He died in mankind’s place, keeping His conscience clear (cf. 2:23). As a result He received tremendous blessing and reward in His own resurrection and exultation.” (18) Maybe the greatest summary of the gospel in one verse in the Bible.

      1. Christ (anointed one) suffered once for sins (fully sufficient sacrifice for all sin)

      2. the righteous for the unrighteous (our substitute)

      3. to bring you to God (to reconcile us to God)

      4. Put to death in the body (cross)

      5. Made alive in the Spirit

   2. Through whom he preached to the spirits in prison (19-20)

      1. Noah kept hammering and preaching to encourage others to repent and believe despite incredible oppositions and hostility. So must we.

      2. Noah feared God over men.

      3. Noah’s reward was salvation for he and his family.

   3. Water (21)

      1. Baptism represents a complete break from the past.

      2. 1 Peter 3:21 (BKC): He exhorted them to have the courage to commit themselves to a course of action by taking a public stand for Christ through baptism. The act of public baptism would “save” them from the temptation to sacrifice their good consciences in order to avoid persecution. For a first-century Christian, baptism meant he was following through on his commitment to Christ, regardless of the consequences.

      3. Baptism doesn’t save you from sin but from a bad conscience.

Notes

WW notes

Preparing for the Best (3:8-17)

Peter is preparing believers for the fiery trials of persecution that were coming. But preparing for the best, not the worst. Hope-filled words!

III. God’s grace in suffering

A. Cultivate Christian Love (8-12)

B. Practice the Lordship of Christ (13-15)

C. Maintain a good conscience (16-17)

Bible in One Year 2020 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 327 • Devotional

Where is God?

Elie Wiesel was born into a Jewish family in Romania. He was only a teenager when he and his family were rounded up by the Nazis and taken first to Auschwitz, and then to Buchenwald. In his book, Night, he gives a terrifying and intimate account of the increasing horrors he endured – the death of his parents and eight-year-old sister, and the loss of his innocence by barbaric hands.

In the foreword to the book, François Mauriac writes of his encounter with Elie Wiesel: ‘On that most horrible day, even among all those other bad days, when the child witnessed the hanging (yes!) of another child who, he tells us, had the face of a sad angel, he heard someone behind him groan: “For God’s sake, where is God?” And from within me, I heard a voice answer: “Where He is? This is where – hanging here from this gallows.”’

François Mauriac goes on, ‘And I, who believe that God is love, what answer was there to give my young interlocutor... What did I say to him? Did I speak to him of that other Jew, this crucified brother who perhaps resembled him and whose cross conquered the world?

‘Did I explain to him that what had been a stumbling block for his faith had become a cornerstone for mine? And that the connection between the cross and human suffering remains, in my view, the key to the unfathomable mystery in which the faith of his childhood was lost... That is what I should have said to the Jewish child. But all I could do was embrace him and weep.’

His words point to the most profound answer to the question, ‘Where is God?’ God is in Christ. He was on the cross bearing our sins in his body. Now the crucified is among his people. Not only has he suffered for you, but he now suffers with you.

In the Old Testament, the tabernacle (and later the temple) was the place where people went to meet with God. This was God’s home as we see in our Old Testament passage for today (Ezekiel 43:5).

The message of our New Testament passage though is that the glory and presence of God is to be found supremely in Jesus. It is at the very moment that Jesus is rejected and crucified that God’s presence among people is finally and fully realised. From that point on there is no need for a physical temple. The only church building the New Testament speaks about is a building made of people (Ephesians 2:20–22), founded and built upon Jesus, the chief cornerstone. The holy temple in the New Testament is one made of ‘living stones’ (1 Peter 2:5) – in other words, people like you and me. This is God’s new home.

Chris & Amy Karpus Share Their Testimony of Miracles God Did

Testimony

Chris & Amy Karpus

Chris & Amy Karpus share about their extraordinary experience of multiple miracles that brought Chris back from cardiac arrest (2x) and a “Brain dead” diagnosis in late July 2020. Just over a month later, Chris shares from the heart and from God’s word lessons learned along the way. Amy shares lessons too but also a lot of the medical details that help us see how miraculous this really was