Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel FL
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Christs Return

Waiting…
Kurt Steinbrueck
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Waiting…

    Waiting...

    “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” – Titus 2:11-14

    Jesus came and died for us.

    Yeah!

    He’s coming again.

    Yeah!

    So, what do we do in the meantime?

    According to Titus 2:11-14, we renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope. We could also add the Great Commission to make disciples of all people. These two things aren’t separate, though. It’s impossible to make disciples, baptizing and teaching all that God has commanded while living a godless life. Living a self-controlled, upright, and godly life is part of our witness.

    “But it’s so hard, pastor!”

    Thankfully, God doesn’t leave it just to us to do. Christ’s appearance and salvation “train[s] us to do it. Moreover, Jesus sends us His Spirit who wills and works this within us.

    “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” – Philippians 2:13

    “Yet, I still struggle with sin, pastor!”

    Yes, so do I. Paul addresses that in Romans 7. 

    “So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.” – Romans 7:21-23

    Paul wants to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life, but he keeps finding himself doing the opposite because his sinful nature still lives within Him.

    So, where does that leave us?

    It leaves us back where we started, Christ’s appearing and bringing salvation. We try to follow God’s will and commands and pray for Him to work in our lives. When we do, we praise the Lord for what He is doing in our lives. When we fall, we are reminded that our sinful nature is still at work in our bodies and we, once again, fall before the cross in repentance. However, we do not despair. Though it, at times, seems hopeless, it never is because our hope is always in Christ, alone…or as Paul sums up Romans 7…

    “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!“

    Heavenly Father,

    As I await Jesus’ return, work in my life to will and to do good works for Your purposes. When I fail, lead me back to the cross and remind me that whether I do good works or give in to sin, my hope is always in Jesus Christ, alone.

    Amen.

    In Christ’s Service,

    Pastor Kurt

    You Ought To Live Holy Lives
    Kurt Steinbrueck
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    You Ought To Live Holy Lives

      You Ought To Live Holy Lives

      “The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.” – 2 Peter 3:10-11

      How good are you at living a holy life?

      Passages like today’s can be tricky. This is from the NIV Bible and it makes it sound like, “You better live holy and godly lives because Jesus is coming again with fire and judgment!” In a way that is what it’s saying, but not necessarily in the way many people would hear it. So, what does it mean?

      Let’s look at the context and another translation to help us understand.

      Surrounding Context
      Before we get to the meaning, let’s first take a look at the surrounding context. At the beginning of the chapter, God (through Peter) warns the readers (who are assumed to be Christians) that in the end days there will be scoffers who say, “Where is the promise of his coming?” In other words, “Do you REALLY believe Jesus is coming again? It’s been so long. Can’t you see it’s all myths and fairytales?”

      Then God says not to be deceived by those scoffers. Jesus is definitely coming…and coming with fire. After which, God explains why Jesus hasn’t come, yet:

      “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:8-9

      So, God is being patient so more people will be saved.

      Does He mean so that more people will start living right?

      No!

      “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:22-23

      and

      “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Romans 3:28

      So, what then?

      Keep reading. Though, I’m going to switch to the ESV because the phrasing is different and more in line with most translations.

      “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” – 2 Peter 3:10-13

      We are waiting according to His promise, not only His promise of His return but His promise of holiness and righteousness according to faith, not by works of the Law.

      So, Yes, live holy and godly lives, lives of faith which trust in the promises of Jesus for our righteousness and salvation.

      Dear Jesus,

      Many people around me don’t believe that You are returning. Some don’t believe You ever lived. Protect me from the scoffers. Keep me firmly in the faith, trusting Your promises. May my life be holy and godly by Your hand according to Your promise and may my works reflect the holy and godly person You have made me.

      Amen.

      In Christ’s Service,

      Pastor Kurt