Church family,
As I reflect on the events of this past week, I greet you with the greeting of Paul to the Galatians:
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father (Gal. 1:3-4).
If there was ever a reminder that we live in a “present evil age,” it is what has occurred in recent days: a school shooting in Colorado that wounded two students, the released footage of an innocent woman inexplicably murdered on public transportation, and the brutal murder of a fellow follower of Christ and outspoken proclaimer of the Gospel, Charlie Kirk.
Having spoken with many of you in person and hearing from even more online, I see the spiritual burden on your hearts. More importantly, Christ, our Great High Priest, sees it too (Heb. 4:15). He sees your tears. He hears your cries. He knows your heartache. Because Christ, as a Great High Priest, grieves with us, He also calls those who bear His name as a “royal priesthood” to mourn with those who mourn (Rom. 12:15).
With that in mind, as we prepare for worship tomorrow morning, may we find grace and peace together by reflecting in Christ on these two biblical truths:
1. We Live in a World That is at Enmity with Christ
Nothing concerning the Gospel is neutral. One cannot be partially open to Christ or partially closed to Him (1 Jn. 2:15-16). There are only those who love Him and those who hate Him (Mt. 12:30). Jesus warned His disciples that this would be the case. He said:
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (Jn. 15:18-19)
Likewise, James wrote that anyone who is friends with the world is at enmity with God (Jas. 4:4). As this week has reminded us, we not only live in a fallen world, but a world opposed to Christ. In response, let’s not hate the world, but instead live as strangers of this world, putting our heart and treasure in the world to come, faithfully loving God and our neighbor in hope of His return (Mt. 6:21; Heb. 11:13-16). Walking wisely and making good use of the time, because as Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “…the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16).
2. We Live in a World that Has Been Conquered by Christ
Even though this world is at enmity with Christ, it has also been conquered by Him. Jesus Himself assured His disciples of this after warning them of the world’s hate. He said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). How has Christ overcome the world? By conquering sin and death (Col. 2:14-15). Christ took the Father’s wrath for our sin on His body, satisfying the Father’s righteous judgment against us (Rom. 5:9; 1 Pet. 2:24). Christ also physically rose on the third day, a firstfruits of the physical resurrection that all creation and Christ-followers will someday experience (Rom. 8:22-23; 1 Cor. 15:20). This connection between the Cross and conquering the world is made by Paul to the Colossians: “By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Col. 2:14-15).
No matter how evil the days may seem, Christians can rest in the fact that because Christ has died for sin on the Cross and overcome sin and death at the grave, evil is now conquered. Christ is victorious (1 Cor. 15:54-57; Heb. 2:14-15). The good news of the Gospel is about something good that has already happened—not just something good we hope might happen. All atrocities on planet earth are merely the death rattles of a foe that has been defeated by Christ’s sacrifice and will soon be eliminated by His judgment. The hope of Christ’s return is as sure as the reality of His resurrection. In that, we can live by faith as Christ’s ambassadors in this conquered world (2 Cor. 5:18-20; Phil. 3:20).
Conclusion:
In light of all this, how should God’s people respond? Once again, Scripture provides the answer. In his final days, before his own execution, the Apostle Paul left Timothy with warnings and instructions on how to live amidst evil days. In 2 Timothy, Paul gave Timothy this warning:
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Tim. 3:12-13).
He then followed his warning with this instruction:
“I 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, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
My prayer is that we all will move forward in this present evil age with the grace and peace found only in the Gospel work of Jesus Christ. I also pray that we will proclaim the Word in all areas of our lives. Lastly, I pray that amid this struggle, we will all, by God’s grace, stay sober-minded, endure suffering, and live a life that fulfills the ministry Christ has called us to.
I look forward to worshipping alongside you all tomorrow on the Lord’s Day. Stay faithful.
Resting in Him,
-Stephen Angliss
