Lesson 19.
WHAT OUR TIMES REQUIRE OF US AS CHRISTIANS

... men who understood the times ( 1 Chronicles 12:32)

   In the New Testament the Lord Jesus Christ rebuked the Jewish people of his day for not recognising the times (Matthew 16:13; Luke 19:44). All ages have their dangers for Christians and each age needs Christians who recognise those dangers. If the bugle gives an indistinct sound who will get ready for the battle? (1 Corinthians 14:8).
   

1. The times in which we live require us to maintain the entire truth of Christianity and the authority of the Bible as God's Word

   
   It is come to be taken for granted by many persons, that Christianity is not even a subject for enquiry; but that it is now, at length, discovered to be fictitious. Accordingly they treat it as if, in the present age, this was an agreed point among all people of discernment, and nothing remained but to set it up as a subject of mirth and ridicule, as it were by way of reprisals for its having so long interrupted the pleasures of the world. (From the Introduction to Bishop Butler's Analogy of Religion)
   In newspapers, magazines, books, lectures and sometimes even sermons, writers and speakers are still making war against the foundations of Christianity. Philosophers, and scientists constantly tell us that no educated person can believe a supernatural religion, or the entire Bible, or the possibility of miracles. Such truths as the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the personality of the Holy Spirit, the existence of the devil and the reality of heaven and hell are, by many, thought of as rubbish. And all this is done so cleverly that weak Christians can be influenced by it.
   Such unbelief should not surprise us. Ever since the time of Adam and Eve the devil has worked unceasingly, tempting people not to believe in God (Luke 18:8; 2 Timothy 3:13; 2 Peter 3:3). But as I tell you not to be surprised at so much unbelief, I urge you not to be shaken in mind by it. Christianity will survive all the attacks by clever unbelievers. When such sceptics have done all that they can, we must not forget the three great facts that cannot be explained away.

a)        The first is the fact of Jesus Christ himself.

If Christianity is not true, and not from God, how do these sceptics explain Jesus Christ?
How do they explain his appearance in human history?
How do they explain that, without force or bribery, he has left such a marked impression upon the world?
How is it there has been no one like him from the beginning of human history?
Nothing can explain him, except what the Bible says of him.

b)        The second fact is the Bible itself.

How is it that this book is what it is?
How is it that a book apparently written by a few Jews in a remote part of the earth, at greatly different periods of history and without authors knowing each other, still exists because of its own merit ; a book so deep, so simple, so wise, so free from defects.
This can only be explained if the book is supernatural and from God.

c)        The third fact is the effect which Christianity has had upon the world.

If Christianity is merely a human invention, and not God's word, how is it that it has made such a difference to the state of human kind?
How else can sceptics explain the moral difference in the condition of humanity before and after its coming?
How do we explain the differences between the countries where Christianity has been present, and those where it has not?
Only the fact that Christianity brings the knowledge of God's truth and holiness to us, can explain its impact upon the world.

2. The times in which we live require from us firm and clear ideas of Christian doctrines

I cannot keep silent about my fears that our religion can be as much damaged by carelessness within the church about matters of doctrine, as from without by sceptics and unbelievers. Many who say they are Christians seem very uncertain about what is right and wrong doctrine. They are easily influenced by clever preachers or by new and attractive ideas. The only certain thing about such people is that they dislike being certain about Bible truths!

These people are living in a kind of spiritual mist, in which they see nothing clearly. The danger is that they will drift to their graves without any comfort or hope from their religion. And the explanation of this condition is not hard to find. The human heart is naturally blind to the beauties of spiritual religion, and is not interested in searching after religious truth. We like to be thought as very tolerant, and easygoing. And the result is that we tend to favour being less than distinct in our beliefs.    I do implore all who read these words to beware of this undecided state of mind in religion. The victories of Christianity have always been won by clear doctrinal theology. We must teach people clearly of Christ's death and what it means, we must teach the ruinous nature of sin, of justification by faith, of regeneration by the Spirit, of the need to repent and give themselves to Christ. This is the sort of distinctive teaching which God has honoured with success through the centuries.

   
   3. The times in which we live require from us a higher standard of personal holiness and an increased attention to practical religion in daily life
   
   Since the days of the Reformation' there has never been so much failure to follow a high standard of Christian living as now. The way to a higher standard of holiness is not difficult to find. Some may even smile at my simplicity. We need to examine more closely the ten commandments of God. We need to examine much more closely the Sermon on the Mount spoken by Jesus. We need to read more carefully the second half of many of Paul's epistles.
   A common complaint in these days is of a lack of power in modern Christianity. I believe the reason for this is the lower standard of life which is so prevalent among many Christian believers. The Holy Spirit sees that and is grieved; the world around us sees it and despises us. We need more men and women who are walking with God as did the saints of Bible days! Where is our self-denial, our separation from worldly things, and refusal to seek extravagant luxury? Let us set ourselves much higher standards of holy living.
   
   
   4. The times in which we live require from us a steady perseverance in getting good for our souls
   
   Let us never forget that whatever we may do in the way of public religious activity, it must be accompanied by private religious practice. It is not that I want to see a decrease in public acts of religion, but I do want to see an increase in private acts of religion;religious activity between each believer and God. The times require of us all more attention to our private devotions.
   
   a) Let us pray more earnestly in private. When believers fail to be Christlike in public it is because they had long before neglected their private devotions.
   
   b) Let us give more attention to our Bible reading. Ignorance of Scripture truth will lead to many mistakes in our thinking and make us an easy prey for the devil.
   
   c) Let us cultivate the habit of private meditation. We need time to sit quietly and take stock of our spiritual condition, to have communion with God and to think about Bible truths. Spiritual prosperity depends immensely upon our private devotions. Go into your room and shut the door is a saying of Jesus much neglected these days (Matthew 6:6).
   

Can I leave you with some questions now? For example, do you see the particular dangers of the time in which you live? And in the light of them, are you making sure that you do those things which will be for the good of your soul? Beware of indecision about doctrinal truth in the name of liberality and tolerance. Be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure is the advice Peter gave to believers who lived in a time when there were many false teachers troubling the churches (2 Peter 1:10).

And lastly, in view of the spiritual dangers of the time in which you are living, are you doing all that you can for the spiritual good of the souls of others? There is much to be done, so use every opportunity that you can of evangelizing others. Remember that God often works with the humblest of his servants. Be determined not to go to heaven alone!

   
The Reformation. The Reformation of the sixteenth century was an historical movement when believers broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and made Scripture the only standard for their beliefs and practices.