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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

1 Peter 1:1-2:10 - The Living Source of Grace in 1 Peter 1:1-2:10



1 Peter 5:12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 

For the past several weeks we have been periodically looking at grace through the lens of the life of the Apostle Peter.  We first noted on August 16, 2013 a testimony of grace through an overview of Jesus' calling and installation of Peter as a disciple and apostle in the Gospels and Acts.  Next on August 17 we looked at God's healing of the man at the Beautiful gate through Peter's ministry to him in Acts 3:1-10, entitling that post "Peter - the miraculous nature of grace".  In July 29th post we noted Peter as an illustration of a ministry of grace by way of his sermon on the aforementioned miracle in Acts 3:11-4:4.  Through the calling, preaching and ministry of the Apostle Peter, we saw grace as a testimony, a miracle and a ministry.  


In today's post we once again look into the life of the Apostle Peter through his actual writings.  Of interest today is Peter's message of grace in 1 Peter as we consider the Living Source of grace as being God Himself in 1 Peter 1:1-2:10.  

Identifying the main verse, outline and theme of 1 Peter
Main verse of 1 Peter
From the opening statement above, we know that without a doubt grace is from God, through God and to God.  As Peter writes in what I would consider to be the chief verse of his first epistle, 1 Peter 5:12 - "Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of GodStand firm in it!"  

The main outline of 1 Peter
This one verse gives to us a two-fold outline by which we can understand 1 Peter: namely when he is speaking of "the true grace of God", He is speaking of God being the Living Source of grace in 1 Peter 1-2.  Likewise when he then states about the need to "stand firm in it!", he is dealing with the practical living out of such grace in 1 Peter 3-5.   

The main theme of 1 Peter: Living Grace for the Christian Life
From what we can tell of the whole message of 1 Peter, it is none other than the Living Grace for the Christian life.  Robert Leighton, the great Bible commentator (1611-1684) writes these words concerning the theme of grace in 1 Peter: "The grace of God in the heart of man, is a tender plant in a strange, unkindly soil; and therefore cannot well prosper and grow, without much care and pains, and that of a skillful hand, and which hath the art of cherishing it.  For this end hath God given the constant ministry of the word to His church, not only for the first work of conversion, but also for confirming and increasing of his grace in the hearts of his children." 1

God the Living Source of Grace - 1 Peter 1:1-2:10
1 Peter 1:1-2 gives us a compact outline of 1 Peter 1:1-2:10 - "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens,scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure."  These Christians were scattered and spread throughout the wide and roaming domains of the ancient Roman world.  They needed encouragement and comfort - Peter had the message: Living Grace for the Christian life.  As you can see in 1 Peter 1:2, the Triune God is identified as The Living source of such grace.  Grace is God doing for you what you otherwise could never do for yourself.  Note how 1 Peter 1-2 unfolds the Triune God as being the Living Source of Grace:

The Father Eternally planned Living Grace
1 Peter 1:3-9
As Peter notes in 1 Peter 1:2, God's grace originated in eternity by the foreknowledge of the Father as He planned it and communicated it in the shared glory He has always had with the Spirit and the Son.  This agreed upon effort between the Father, Son and Spirit is what theologians call "The Covenant of Redemption" and is spelled out more fully in passages such as Ephesians 1:4-12 and Hebrews 13:20.  The Father eternally planned Living grace for Christian living. 

The Holy Spirit Effectively applies Living grace 1 Peter 1:10-16; 22-25
Peter then writes in 1 Peter 1:2 about the "sanctifying work of the Spirit".  The work in question refers to the Spirit's effort to convict, call and set apart sinners loved by the Father to position them to repent, believe and be saved from their sins. (Acts 3:19) By applying living grace at saving faith, the Spirit effectively applies to believers the graces of justification, adoption unto sonship and forgiveness. (Romans 3:24-5:5; 8:16-17)  In other places in scripture, the sanctifying work of the Spirit speaks of the process by which the Spirit is making the believer more like Jesus as the believer gives themselves to the scripture, prayer and regular time with God's people. (John 17:17; Ephesians 4:12-13; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 10:24-25).  So God the Father Eternally planned Living Grace, the Spirit Effectively applies living grace and the Son embodies living grace.

The Son embodies Living Grace.  1 Peter 1:18-21; 2:1-10
Peter writes on in 1 Peter 1:2 "to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure."  Jesus Christ is identified in the New Testament as the embodiment of Grace, being that He is God in human flesh. (John 1:14; Titus 2:11)  1 Peter 1:18-21 and 2:1-10 reveals the details of the Son's act and accomplishment of Living Grace in salvation.  

More tomorrow.........

Endnotes:
1. Robert Leighton. Commentary on First Peter. Reprinted by Kregel. 1972. Page 9

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Marks of an unhealthy Christianity, and how to cure it



3 John 9 "I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say."

As you turn to the book of 3 John, the main point of John's short little letter is to define and evaluate a healthy Christianity.  In 3 John 1-8 we discover the following marks of a healthy Christian faith:


1. Sound Faith.                          3 John 1-2

2. Strongly Committed Faith.   3 John 3-4
3. Sharing Faith.                        3 John 5-8

Gaius is the main individual to whom John wrote.  His Christian faith bore these telltale signs of a healthy Christian faith.  The book of 3 John features three individuals that fit into two categories: Gaius and Demetrius in verse 12 fit under the category of healthy Christianity, while villain of the book, Diotrophes, classifies under the heading: "unhealthy Christianity".  In fact from reading John's remarks about Diotrophes and his exhortation in 3 John 11, there is no doubt that Diotrophes evidenced unhealthy Christian faith or perhaps even lack thereof.  With that said, let us look at what marks an unhealthy Christian faith.


1. Resistant Faith. 3 John 9

3 John 9 reads - "I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say."  Resistance in spiritual matters can range from a Christian operating in some level of known resistance to biblical instruction to flat out unbelief.  Resistance to God's truth at any level is dangerous.  The problem with Diotrophes was that he "loved to be first among them". 

It is interesting to note in the Gospels, Jesus' own disciples evidenced this first trait of unhealthy Christian faith.  When Jesus began to predict something about His impending crucifixion, a dispute would break out among His followers about "who was to be the greatest or first." Whenever you read passages such as Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 9:34, 10:35-45 and Luke 22:24-27, the same argument raises its ugly head.  


What is the source of resistant faith? Self. Self is that power or principle in the remnants of sin that asserts when it wants, how it wants and what it wants.  Self is always behind resistant faith.  So then what is it that self resists? The cross.  Jesus said in passages such as Luke 9:23-24 that if anyone does not deny himself and take up his cross daily, that person cannot  be a follower of Jesus Christ.  Unhealthy Christianity will embrace moral reform and civic duty - as long as self is out front and center.  This is why the cross must ever be at the center of the Christian life.  A resistant faith is the opposite of the sharing aspect of healthy Christianity we find in 3 John 5-8.  Let us now notice a second trait of unhealthy Christianity......


2. Rebellious Faith.  3 John 10

3 John 10 describes Diotrophes as not only resistant, but rebellious - "For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church."  Diotrophes evidently was a leader of this small band of Christians who had come to assert himself over the flock.  He was a brash and overbearing leader with a bully pulpit who resisted apostolic authority and lacked a missionary heart.  In another one of John's writings we read of such a rebellious faith in John 3:20 "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."  

An unhealthy Christianity that is in a state of rebellion will resist and rebel against God's word and God's messenger.  Often those who are in such a state may very well be using the mask of religion and have a religious spirit attached to their activities.  Such an attitude must be corrected, otherwise no progress can be made for the kingdom and soon other Christians can be affected. (compare Hebrews 12:15).  So we have seen that unhealthy Christian faith is resistant and rebellious, but now lets notice a third trait....


3. Rotten Faith.  3 John 11

John issues this warning to his readers in light of Diotrophes actions in verse 11 "Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God."  My grandma always used to say: "it takes one rotten apple to ruin the whole barrel".  What John says here in verse 11 matches with what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”  

Steps to curing an unhealthy Christian faith

2 Peter 1:4-11 gives us the perfect prescription to curing the resistant, rebellious and rotten effects of an unhealthy faith. I will close out today's post with that text:
"For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control,perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and inyour brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you."

Monday, July 29, 2013

Peter - A Ministry of grace



Acts 3:16 And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Introduction In a post on July 10 we had looked at "Peter - a testimony of grace". Then on July 16 we picked up another episode in Peter's life in the healing of the lame man in Acts 3:1-10, identifying that miracle as illustrating the miraculous nature of grace.  We saw how God used the Apostle Peter in that miracle, and made some observations concerning how grace is truly miraculous.  Peter's testimony of grace started our periodic study of his life.  Having already investigated the miracle of grace in Acts 3:1-10, we see it explained by Peter in a sermon in Acts 3:11-19.  That sermon highlights what we are calling in today's post: Peter - a ministry of grace.  In today's post I want us to consider what is entailed in a ministry of grace from Peter's second sermon in Acts 3:11-19.

1. Grace of the Savior.  Acts 3:11-18, 20-21
Acts 3:16, quoted at the beginning of this post, demonstrates Peter's constant efforts to point all glory to Jesus Christ.  The ministry of grace will always point beyond itself to Jesus Christ, since He is grace personified as well as its source. (John 1:14; Titus 2:11)

2. Grace of the Scriptures. Acts 3:18, 21-26
Peter did not explain the miracle by his opinion or experience.  Rather Peter appealed to the scriptures.  Scripture was divinely revealed by God to men.  Peter appeals to material from Genesis in Acts 3:13 and 3:25 and the accounts of Jesus' life that would eventually make their way into the Gospel accounts.  The four Gospels had not yet been composed at the time of Peter's sermon. Peter's recounting of Jesus' life proves that the Gospel's are reliable records of what really happened, since Peter's sermon occurred less than a year from when Jesus ascended into heaven.  Peter also makes passing reference to the prophets of the Old Testament and Moses' statements from Deuteronomy 18:15,18 in Acts 3:22. Whenever a ministry is appealing to scripture, it is recognizing that it in and of itself, human creativity is insufficient when it comes to dealing with people's souls.  

3. Grace of the Spirit. Acts 3:19
A ministry of grace will rely upon the Savior, the source of grace and the scriptures, God's verbal expression of grace.  Acts 3:19 demonstrates a third grace in a ministry of grace - the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit Himself is the Agent of the times of refreshing spoken of in Acts 3:19, as seen in an earlier passage, Acts 2:38 - "Peter said to them, “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."  Other scriptures speak of the Person of the Holy Spirit bringing forth the refreshing ministry of grace in this current New Covenant era in which we live. (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Hebrews 9:14) 

4. Grace of salvation. Acts 3:19-26; 4:4
A ministry of grace is characterized by the grace of the Savior, scripture, the Spirit and fourthly, salvation.  Salvation is grounded in the person and work of Jesus Christ.  That's the Person of grace.  Salvation occurs only in connection with the scriptures, the power of grace.  Salvation can only be brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit, the Agent of grace. Thus whenever these people heard Peter's sermon, what were the results? Consider Acts 4:4 "But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand."

May you and I dear believer be about doing the ministry of grace to which the Lord has called us.  

Sunday, July 28, 2013

P3 - Jesus wants a courageous church - Revelation 2:8-11












Revelation 2:10 "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." 

Introduction & review
In the letter to the church of Smyrna, we have discovered that Jesus Christ wants a courageous church from the following two thoughts:

1. Courageous faith comes from Jesus Christ. Revelation 2:8

2. Courageous faith is strengthened by trials. Revelation 2:9-10a

In today's post we will consider a third thought from this text that reveals how Jesus wants courageous faith among His people and churches, namely that courageous faith feeds on the scripture. 

Courageous Faith Feeds on the Scripture. Revelation 2:10b-11
You would think this could go without saying concerning the Bible being the believer's source and food for daily living.  Though many Christian's will tell you that they believe the Bible to be God's word, statistics tell us that only 16% of people in our churches read their Bible's daily.  Jesus states to this church in Revelation 2:10b-11 "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death."

How else can you and I hear what the Spirit is saying to us individually and as a church unless by the scriptures? 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." God affirms His will through the Bible and  confirms it through people, circumstances and peace of the heart.  Unless your emotions or mind have been exposed consistently to the scripture, you will not hear God speaking to you.  The Holy Spirit in you gives you the ears to hear what He is saying in and through the scripture.  Unless you and I are going to the book, we won't hear. 

To prove how scripture feeds a faith in need of courage, let me list for you some scriptures that equip you to face fear head on:

1. Deuteronomy 20:1 “When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you."

2. Jeremiah 1:7-8 "But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go,
And all that I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord."


3. Isaiah 43:1-2 But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.

4. John 14:1 Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me."

5. John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

When you realize that this is only a sample of the more than 200 scriptures that speak on the subject of "not being afraid" and urging you to have courageous faith, you understand how rich you truly are.  Jesus told the Smyrnan church in Revelation 2:9a ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)".  What did Jesus mean by that? When you put your treasure in heaven above and not here below, you will have an unending supply of spiritual wealth despite the poverty of circumstances. (Matthew 6:19-20)  It is often the poor of this world that God has so chosen to make rich in faith in Him. (James 2:5)  You and I spend so much time trying to fill the poverty of our sense of need with things that we usually neglect that only book that can sustain - the Bible, and the only person that can suffice - Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: Courageous faith always goes back to Jesus 
When you consider the courageous faith that we as Christians and as a church are being called to have, three things are learned from Revelation 2:8-11.  First, the Smyrna church was given such faith from Jesus Christ, since He is the source of it.  Secondly, as the Smyrnans were told, they would be tested.  Courageous faith is strengthened by trials and testing.  Then thirdly, courageous faith feeds on the scriptures, as we saw particularly today.  

Saturday, July 27, 2013

P2 Jesus wants a courageous church - Revelation 2:8-11



Revelation 2:10 "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." 

Introduction & review
As we have mentioned in times past, Jesus is addressing these seven churches to communicate among other things, what He wants His church in every place to be. Jesus' message to Ephesus had to do with Him wanting her to be a more loving church, since she had left her "first love."  In the letter to the church of Smyrna, we will discover that Jesus Christ wants a courageous church.  Yesterday we suggested the following about the courageous faith Jesus desires among His saints and churches in Revelation 2:8-11:

1. Courageous faith comes from Jesus Christ. Revelation 2:8-9
Jesus begins this letter with these words in Revelation 2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this".
Now the titles that Jesus uses for Himself in each of these seven letters are repeats of seven such titles we find in Revelation 1.  This particular title in Revelation 2:8 is first mentioned in Revelation 1:16-17 - "When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying,Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades."   

When Jesus states this particular title, He says it in a context of comfort and encouragement to the beloved Apostle.  Overwhelmed by the full and unveiled Deity of Jesus Christ, John falls at the feet of Jesus as a dead man, much like Isaiah in Isaiah 6 who became "undone" in God's presence or Daniel in the presence of the Pre-incarnate Christ in Daniel 10:8-9.  All three prophets could not stand in the presence of Christ's infinite being.  The Pre-incarnate Christ sent an angel to both Isaiah and Daniel to give reassurance of to not be afraid.  In Revelation 1:16-17 we see the glorified Christ Himself comfort His apostle with the same types of words: "do not be afraid."  Undoubtedly Christ's identifying name to John back in Revelation 1:16-17 is used to communicate this first fact about courageous faith - that Jesus Christ Himself is the source of it. 

The name "Smyrna" is closely related to the spice "myrrh".   The spice was used to describe the heavenly bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ in Psalm 45:8.  Myrrh was one of the three spices brought by the wisemen to the infant Christ in Luke 2:11 and it was used in Christ's burial in John 19:39.  Further study of the spice reveals that the way in which the aroma was released was by the crushing of the spice.  As Dr. John Walvoord notes about this point: "The fragrance of Christ as the bridegroom is thus represented typically by the myrrh."1  How fitting that the sweet aroma of Jesus Christ be released by courageous faith supplied by Jesus in the midst of crushing circumstances.  


When you draw courageous faith from Jesus Christ, you are spiritually rich regardless of the poverty of circumstances
So Jesus Christ is the source of courageous faith as seen in Revelation 2:8. As you read on into this shortest of the seven letters, we find these words in Revelation 2:9 "I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” This church was experiencing physical poverty due to her commitment to not give into the pagan culture and intense pressure to conform or die.  The Smyrnan Christians would had been prohibited to participate in many of the city services and functions due to their allegiance to Christ.  However Jesus tells them “but you are rich”.  In our English text we have “parenthesis” drawn around those words to set them apart from the rest of the sentence. In the parenthesis of God’s grace, we are in the world but not of it.  The Bible speaks about how the true believer in Jesus Christ has riches untold even though they be impoverished and that they are to lay their treasures up in heaven, since wherever your treasure is their your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-20, 10:28-31; 2 Corinthians 6:10; James 2:5)

No doubt about it, the church at Smyrna was to undergo severe trial.  She would be "crushed" but not destroyed.  Jesus often reminds his people of how He is the source of courageous faith.  John 14:1 Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me."  Or how about John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

2. Courageous faith is strengthened in trials. Revelation 2:9-10a
Revelation 2:10 states: "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days."  As Christians in America in the 21st century, we operate under the mistaken assumption that growth and godliness can occur apart from testing and trial.  As you read this letter to Smyrna, the question arises as to why they had to undergo further suffering if they had proven themselves faithful already.

In the Bible we find over 250 passages that deal with the subject of suffering and testing.  Often people assume that the reason they are going through a trial is due to some unconfessed sin.  In studying the over 250 verses on suffering, here is what you discover concerning God's purposes behind it:

a. 30 of the passages on suffering deal with God using it  to advance His Kingdom
b. 79 passages have to do with correcting behavior or heart motives.
c. 145 passages have to do with purifying or strengthening of faith

In other words, roughly 2 out of three passages in the Bible that deal with suffering or trial have God using it for reinforcing the Christian's faith.  Even in those other passages that are corrective, the correction is not destructive but constructive.  So when you think about it, every single time God is putting you to the test, He is doing it for your good and for His glory. God will permit trials into you life to strengthen your faith - i.e storms  of strengthening. (2 Corinthians 4:18)  At times God will permit testings to purify you in areas you're already doing well in - i.e storms of purification. (1 Peter 1:6-7) Lastly, God will allow storms to enter into your life that will for instance stir up affection for Christ and people that had maybe gone cold or was in need of added passion - i.e storms of correction. (Romans 5:3-4) 

Truly courageous faith cannot be courageous faith unless it is given the opportunity to either shut down or persevere.  Courage is forged in the heat of testing.  As Job states in Job 23:10 “But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold."


More tomorrow...........

Endnotes:
1. John Walvoord. The Revelation of Jesus Christ - A Commentary. Moody Press. 1966. Page 60. 

Friday, July 26, 2013

P1 Jesus wants a courageous church - Revelation 2:8-11



Revelation 2:6 "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

The testimony of the martyrdom of Polycarp, a leader at the church of Smyrna
History records the story of the persecutions of Christians that would occur at the city of Smyrna some fifty years after the Apostle John had written the Book of Revelation to Smyrna and the other six churches.  The Apostle John had a student or disciple by the name of Polycarp who was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ.  Polycarp lived to be 86 years of age before being burned at the stake for his faith.  We read below a little bit of his final words of courageous faith from the record of his martyrdom entitled: "The Martyrdom of Holy Polycarp - the Church of Smyrna": "Then, the proconsul urging him, and saying, "Swear, and I will set thee at liberty, reproach Christ;" Polycarp declared, "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?"And when the proconsul yet again pressed him, and said, "Swear by the fortune of Cæsar," he answered, "Since thou art vainly urgent that, as thou sayest, I should swear by the fortune of Cæsar, and pretendest not to know who and what I am, hear me declare with boldness, I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn what the doctrines of Christianity are, appoint me a day, and thou shalt hear them."

The remainder of document details Polycarp's voluntary journey to the stake.. Despite the efforts of his executioners to burn him, the fire encircled his body in the shape of a circle or a sail of a ship. 
You can read the account in full at http://christianbookshelf.org/smyrna/the_martyrdom_of_the_holy_polycarp/index.html.

Now the reason I chose to begin today's blog with this scene is due to what we will be reading in Revelation 2:8-11:
1. Polycarp had been a direct pupil of the Apostle John, the author of the Book of Revelation

2. Polycarp was a bishop at the church of Smyrna, the church we will be looking at today

3. Polycarp's testimony is a prime example of courageous faith, something of which Jesus was urging the Smyrnan church to be in Revelation 2:8-11

4. Courageous faith is what Jesus desires for His church and believers today as we here in America face increasing pressure to conform to a mold and set of convictions that are anti-Christian, worldly and at odds with Biblical truth.

Smyrna - the beautiful city with an ugly reputation
As you study Jesus' letter to the church at Smyrna, you are reading the shortest epistle or letter to any church in the Bible.  Out of all the seven churches addressed in Revelation, only Smyrna and Philadelphia were commended.  As a city, Smyrna was among the most beautiful of all the cities of Asia minor. Located some 35 miles North of Ephesus, the first church addressed in Revelation 2:1-7, Smyrna had become a major stronghold for Roman culture and influence. It is the only city of the seven still in existence today, renamed Izmir in modern Turkey and being the third largest city of that country.  

Concerning Smyrna's description in John's day, W.A Criswell writes these words in his commentary: "The streets were wide and straight and spacious.  The most famous of the streets was called the golden street. It ran from the sea, where the great temple of Cybele (the goddess of nature) was built, straight through the entire length of the city to Mount Pagos, on the summit of which was the great temple Zeus."1 Dr. Criswell later writes: "In that ancient day the Romans looked upon Smyrna as being the queen and glory of all Asia."Despite the city being beautiful on the outside, the relentless persecution of Christians, among which Polycarp is most noted, gave Smyrna an ugly reputation.  

Jesus wants a courageous church
It is in places such as Smyrna that Christ raises up His church to be salt and light.  Dr. John Walvoord in his commentary writes: "The problem of human suffering raised in the message to the church at Smyrna has occupied the minds of men through the centuries.  For those of the Christian faith it is not difficult to understand why the ungodly should suffer. The question remaining, however, is why the godly should suffer as in the case of the Smyrna church."3  It is in light of these questions that we aim to understand Jesus' exhortations and encouragements to this church.  

As we have mentioned in times past, Jesus is addressing these seven churches to communicate among other things, what He wants His church in every place to be. Jesus' message to Ephesus had to do with Him wanting her to be a more loving church, since she had left her "first love."  In the letter to the church of Smyrna, we will discover that Jesus Christ wants a courageous church.  As we look at Revelation 2:8-11, we can note the following truths about the courageous faith Jesus desires among His saints and churches:

1. Courageous faith comes from Jesus Christ. Revelation 2:8

2. Courageous faith is strengthened in trials. Revelation 2:9-10a

3. Courageous faith feeds from the scriptures. Revelation 2:10b-11

More tomorrow....

Endnotes: 
1. W.A Criswell. Expository Sermons on Revelation. Zondervan. Volume 2. Page 20

2. W.A Criswell. Expository Sermons on Revelation. Zondervan. Volume 2. Page 20

3. John Walvoord. The Revelation of Jesus Christ - A Commentary. Moody Press. Chicago. Page 63