Christian Living

Charge in Faith

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
12/14/21
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“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)

 The times before us are, as I steal from another’s words. The best of times and the worst of times. Charles Dickens may have been speaking about the English and the French problems, but it is a problem between our Creator and us. Even as I believe the times we become far worse than we can imagine before they become better, I still see these times as the most exciting to live. My father lived each day of his life expecting the Lord’s return. He should have, and as we also for the Bible tells us, the Lord will come as a thief in the night. The Bible also tells us the days will be as in the time of Noah. You can read of those days in Genesis 6-10. The world had become thoroughly corrupt, and God could only find one family living a godly life, Noah and his family.

I do not believe the Church will ever dwindle to one family, but it will most certainly decrease. It is not a cause of worry for the Church body or myself, as the Lord has proven He can do mighty work with a few faithful believers. Faith, the size of a mustard seed, can move the mountains in our life, and our lives with only that small faith can still change the world. I accept the possibility that the world’s corruptible state is mostly the blame of the Church body. We have been apathetic in our faith and complacent in the course the world has gone. If we had only loved the Lord enough to follow His commands faithfully, there would be so much more spiritual fruit about us now. I believe personally, and for all who share the world with me where there is the breath of life, there is hope for humanity’s souls. We cannot stop the Day of Judgment, but we can assure that many more will not have to face it alone without Christ, their advocate.

The Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy was because the young pastor was having difficulties with the Church, and Paul wrote the letter to instruct him and encourage him in his ministry. Paul’s second letter to Timothy would be a good read today for any Church member to absorb. I read this letter last week and came across an interesting verse to share today. “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

To die with Him is always a possibility today. In the early Church, it was probably from the Jewish leaders who had rejected Jesus as the Christ or the Roman government that feared insurrection. To die for Christ is always a fact in this world but dying for Christ is a part of our conversion to follow Christ. All have corrupted flesh, a gift from the fall to sin in the Garden of Eden. We all are born in sin, and at an early age, we will become sinful in our living. Therefore, all fall short of the glory of God, which is righteousness, and none will see the Kingdom of God without perfect righteousness. Thus, the need for a Savior.

When Jesus went to the cross, He died in the flesh and rose with a glorified Spiritual body. When one accepts what Jesus did and trusts His blood as the atonement for their sin, they can receive salvation. Their corrupted flesh has been nailed to the cross with Jesus. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

On the Day of Pentecost, the crowds asked Peter what they must do to be saved. Peter’s answer “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) A repentant soul that is baptized is buried with Christ in death. As Jesus rose from the grave, those baptized in the Spirit will rise. “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection.” (Romans 6:4-5)

Our Lord told us that the world would hate those who follow Him, as they did when He was in the world. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” (John 15:19) We are to endure their persecutions and mockery, as they have been blinded from the truth by evil desires in their hearts. A believer has the confidence of the Holy Spirit within them, who testifies that they are God’s children. God’s children wilt not suffer the second death and will reign with Him. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:16-17)

Every day, even if we do not realize it, there is an opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus to all who have an ear willing to hear. Those who see the difference in our life in Him will question why. Our reasonable service to our Lord is to tell them of the great things He has done in our lives. We cannot deny Him or His truth before humanity. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:33) We live in this world for a short time and must fulfill that responsibility. We have a greater responsibility as citizens of His Kingdom in the world and share the way to all who are attracted. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

God’s grace saves us because He is merciful towards us. Our faith in His Word justifies the salvation we have received. Faith is easy to claim but hard to express in daily life. Abiding in the Lord requires action with our faith. We are called to do good deeds the Lord has prepared for us to accomplish. (Ephesians 2:10) In faith, we achieve the work by faith and the joy it brings into life. “But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)

Towards the end of Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he gave the young pastor a charge befitting to every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is critical for us and those we can influence for the Lord. Nothing compares to the spiritual world, either in life or in death. No one of good conscience with proper morals cannot speak the truth that awaits beyond death’s door for the lost orphans of this world. “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:1-2)

We live in the worst of times, yet it is best to do a meaningful ministry for the spiritually blind and lame facing an eternity without the love, mercy, and grace of God the Father. None deserves what the believer will receive, and none should suffer what the unbelieving will receive. The difference in their destiny could be a word of truth we plant in their heart, and our God will do the rest. “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8)

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, February 10, 2021