Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

The word “new” can be used in a lot of ways. I’m a huge fan of recycled clothes, hitting thrift stores and consignment shops regularly. When I make awesome finds (which I do too often), I have “new” pieces in my wardrobe. This clothing had been purchased and worn by others, but it’s new to me. Maybe you’ve bought a “new car” that was preowned by one or more people—but it’s your new mode of transportation. There are “new-new” cars too, of course, fresh off the factory floor and complete with that new car smell (if you can even find one in today’s whacky world—and if you do, you’ll pay a significant premium over MSRP). For all of these things, we have one word in the English language: new.

Other languages have lots of words to a single English word that helps distinguish meanings and differentiate subtleties. New Testament Greek is a wonderful example of this. We see it with the word “love” parsed out into: eros (passion), philia (friendship), storge (family), and agape (unconditional). Also in the New Testament, we find a word for “new” that is completely different. In fact, it means “completely different in quality or kind.” The Greek word “kainos” is used in some form 44 times to describe “new” throughout the New Testament. One of my very favorite verses in the entire Word of God—2 Corinthians 5:17—uses this word not once, but twice. And the implication is pretty awesome.

First, the definition of this word for new: unprecedented, novel, unheard of; previously non-existent; far different from what they were before; completely new in form or quality.

Upon salvation—our recognition that we’re sinners and our total surrender to Jesus as Lord—we are transformed. Completely. Not reformed, rehabilitated, or reeducated. We’re resuscitated—we were dead and now we’re alive. We don’t turn over a new leaf, we receive new life in Christ. The “old has passed away”—gone.

Secondly, “new things have come”! What are these new things, exactly, that come to everyone who is transformed by the saving grace of Jesus? Theologian James Butler succinctly delineates three specific new things that occur:

1. A change in devotion and interests—a saved person will be devoted to Christ and have interests in spiritual things (like a desire for God’s Word). 
2. A change in demeaner and behavior. Reconciliation with God changes everything—our thinking, our words, and our action. 
3. A change in destiny. This is the greatest and most important change. The eternal destiny of the reconciled soul is heaven. The unreconciled soul is headed for eternity in hell.

For three decades, I attempted to make my life “new”—year by year, week by week, day by day. I worked hard, tried my hardest. I even bargained with God regarding my good/bad list…promising to “do better” next time. But, friend, this effort is impossible on our own—it’s a losing battle because every one of us is wholly unrighteous, fallen. But we can be transformed and made new! And the only “effort” involved is accepting the free gift of God’s grace, salvation through Jesus. When I finally recognized this, everything did indeed change. I was made a new creation, with new devotion, demeaner, and destiny. I finally had peace with God—no more battling against Him. Completely new in form and quality. Not perfect, mind you, but continually growing and maturing in my walk of obedience and holiness. 

What about you? Are you done trying to “renew” your life on your own terms and by your own efforts? You can be made new—a new creation in Christ—right now. Just believe that Jesus paid the price for your sin, exchanging His righteousness for your sin, freeing you from the penalty of death and hell. 

Lord, if there is just one person reading this who is tired of the struggle to “renew” their life, let them turn to You for rebirth…to be recreated as something entirely new and beautiful.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Many (most) of you all reading this probably grew up doing some type of competitive sport or activity—maybe dance, track, tennis, or swimming. For me, it was soccer. I started playing in third grade. Soon I was in a high-level travel league (once the “Boys Club” become “Youth Club”), and the months and years through high school were filled with plenty of blood, sweat, and tears. But there was always that motivational carrot, right? The trophy or medal—the ultimate reward for hard work and dedication.

Over the past 10-15 years, things have shifted in our culture. Gone are the hardcore competitions at youth levels. “First place” has been “re-placed” by “participation awards”. When my two boys played various sports as kids, some leagues didn’t even keep score. Everyone who plays gets a trophy.

But when everyone wins, it’s not a reward anymore…it’s a gift. The prize is no longer earned. It’s given freely, regardless of effort.

Whatever your perspective on this aspect of kids’ sports (and you probably land on one side of the debate or the other), it actually serves as a wonderful analogy for the saving grace of Jesus Christ. See, every world religion—as well as many “Christian” denominations—believe that salvation is to be earned as a reward. If you work hard enough, doing more good than bad stuff, then the “trophy” of heaven is yours! 

It’s true that God is Holy and cannot tolerate anything but perfection in His presence. And since we’re all sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), hard work and great effort are indeed necessary to bridge that chasm between our unrighteousness and His righteousness—the Justice of God demands it. A price of blood, sweat, and tears must be paid for the ultimate Prize of heaven.

But, friend, it’s already been paid, the work has been done. God, in His kindness toward us, made a way of reconciliation with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:4-9). Salvation is a gift—not a reward! We do not (cannot) earn it, no matter hard we work. We can never do enough to be Holy enough to stand in God’s presence. But we don’t have to! By His tears, sweat, and Blood, Jesus accomplished what we could not, covering our every sin (past, present, and future) with His righteousness. All we have to do is participate! 

If you’ve been tirelessly working to justify yourself to our Holy God, you can rest now. Accept the gift of salvation through grace (getting what we don’t deserve) by faith alone. Just acknowledge your sin, turn away from it, and surrender to Jesus…and the prize of heaven is yours.    

Lord, thank You for the great gift of salvation—that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8), paying the price we could never pay for the riches of heaven.

It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:26

“Justice” is an easily defined word: “the maintenance or administration of what is just, especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments” (Merriam-Webster). However, in our culture today, justice is a convoluted, upside-down, and often hollow concept. Harmful criminals are allowed to run free (wreaking pain and destruction) and harmless citizens are fired, canceled, and locked up for living life according to their Constitutional rights or God’s Word. Plus, there are plenty of “________ justice” terms out there as well. But, whenever you add a modifier to “justice”, it automatically becomes the very definition of “injustice”—let that sink in.

God, however, is always perfectly Just (Deuteronomy 32:4). And, unlike our earthly judges at every level, there is no corruption or skewed morality or political leanings with Him. And because He is also perfectly Righteous and Holy, requiring perfect holiness in His presence, there are no misdemeanors or felonies or plea bargains. Every one of us—no matter how “good” we believe ourselves to be—is guilty (Romans 3:23). And the sentence for us all is the same: death (Romans 6:23). No fines, community service, or jail time.

But God, however, is also Merciful, not wanting anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:36; 1 Timothy 2:4). So, here’s where we are: (1) God is perfectly Just—requiring justice, the “merited punishment” for our sin; (2) In His mercy He doesn’t want anyone’s sentence to be executed; and (3) we’re all guilty and unable to pay the penalty for our sin. At first glance, it seems like a hopeless scenario.

What’s the answer? It’s another form of our word of the day: Justification (the act of proving or showing something to be right or just). And this is one of the most beautiful, amazing, mind-blowing concepts in the Bible. 

Imagine you were in a courtroom, standing in front of a judge. You’ve been convicted of a terrible crime, and you are anxiously awaiting your sentencing. But you know you’re guilty and deserve whatever is coming to you. Instead of handing down your punishment, though, the judge stands up to tell you that someone else—your victim, in fact—has chosen to pay the price for your crime. He’s been put to death already, so you’re completely free to walk away—as if you never did anything wrong. Justice has been served, but you are justified.

Can you picture the scene? Friend, this is what Jesus Christ has done for us. He came to earth, fully Man and fully God, to live a perfect, holy life—a life we could never live. And then He hung on a cross, paying the penalty for our sin—a sentence we deserve but could never pay ourselves. Then Jesus rose from the dead, victorious, making the way for us to stand in front of our Holy God in perfect righteousness. Justice has been served, but you and I are justified.

It’s the awesome picture of mercy and grace: Mercy is not getting what we deserve (eternal separation from God—hell), and Grace is getting what we don’t deserve (eternal heaven with God). All we have to do is confess our crime (sin) and accept that Someone else paid our penalty—free of charge (no good works or law-following needed). Friend, will you acknowledge God’s justice and choose today to be justified in Christ?

Lord, thank You for your patience and mercy. Thank you that because of Jesus, You look at me “just-as-if-I’d” never sinned.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Matthew 5:13

What do you prefer—chips or candy? Popcorn or cake? Doritos or Nestle Toll House? In other words, would you gravitate toward something salty or something sweet? This is always an interesting insight into someone’s preferences, and it’s often used as a big group icebreaker question. Regardless, there seems to be a definitive response every time.

When we look at the elements themselves—salt and sugar—we discover unique attributes of both. Salt is used to preserve food, as well as bringing out flavors. Salt also makes us thirsty. Sugar, interestingly, is also used to preserve some foods…and, of course, it makes food sweet.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He called His followers to be salt of the earth. What does that mean exactly? We are to influence the world—unbelievers—by adding the flavor of holiness. We’re to represent the Lord, His will, and His ways to others. We’re also to preserve His Word in a time when the enemy is working diligently (in and out of the Church) to water it down, make it seem irrelevant, and use it to divide. And we’re to make others thirsty for God—when they see our joy and experience our grace and mercy, they should want what we have.

Jesus did not call us to be sugar. We are not to only invite others to Him using sweet-tasting morsels—or, worse, entice with cloying syrupiness that sickens. Think of churches today that put on smoke-machine praise performances, affirm all-things-worldly, and assure congregants that wealth and health is one prayer away. Like ingesting too much sugar, such indulgence in so-called “Christianity” will not only make a person sick, it will ultimately lead to death. Sugar may be a temporary preservative, but rot doesn’t take long.

The thing about salt, you see, is that it also purifies and cleanses. These are vital actions for the Church today—not to do the cleansing, but to share the Good News about the One who can. The fallen world is defiled, in need of purification. So are fallen, broken people. We all fall short—all of us. We all sin because we’re all sinners. (We’re not sinners because we sin.) And because we are unrighteous and unholy, we are separated from God—and we can’t work our way back to Him. But Jesus died on the cross, redeeming us from our sin and paying the debt we owe. Jesus cleanses us from all our unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), washing us as pure and white as snow (Isaiah 1:18; Psalm 51:7), so we can stand before God holy and unashamed. 

Another thing about salt is that when used to clean and treat physical ailments, it stings. A lot. Same with being salt to the world. It’s good, useful, helpful, tasty. But sharing Jesus in a world that hates Him—because it does—can cause significant distaste in the hearer. It’s our task, though, to make people thirsty for the Truth that preserves them for eternity.

Lord, may I be salt to our lost world, making them thirsty for the Living Water.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.

Ephesians 1:7-8a

Grace is an amazing concept. It’s defined simply as getting what we don’t deserve. And it’s especially astounding in the context of God’s grace toward us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We don’t deserve it, we can’t earn it. It’s a free gift for the taking. The Apostle Paul talks a lot in all his epistles about grace—he knows it well, after all. The man was overseeing the murder of Christ-followers, only to have his life turned upside down by the very One he was persecuting, becoming a great evangelist—steadfast through beatings, imprisonment, hunger, and ultimate martyrdom. 

His letter to the Ephesians is deep and rich. In fact, we can dive into each verse for hours, relishing in the doctrinal Truths and wading through centuries-old theological debates. But let’s camp out on one sentence from the very first chapter: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us (Ephesians 1:7-8a). Friend, in these 25 words (at least in the NASB it’s 25 words), there is enough encouragement and fodder for joy to lift us out of the darkest slump. 

So, let’s unpack a few of these reassuring points from Paul. First, “In Him we have redemption through His blood.” Now, “in Him” is a book-long study in itself, so we’re going to jump to the overall message of this phrase: In Jesus Christ, we are redeemed—He paid the price to ransom us out of the bondage of sin and rescue us from its penalty. His sacrifice was a Great Exchange of His righteousness for our unrighteousness. And when we accept this gift, through faith, and surrender to Him, our sin debt is paid in full. We are redeemed, transformed, a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Next, we have “the forgiveness of our trespasses.” When we confess and repent, God forgives us. It’s really that simple (1 John 1:9). Upon salvation (acceptance of His free gift), all our sins are paid for—all of them. Yesterday’s, today’s, and tomorrow’s. And once forgiven, God does not bring them up again (Isaiah 43:25, Psalm 103:12)—Satan will and you will, but God won’t. And because we are forgiven, we can (and must) forgive others. How can we not after being forgiven of so much ourselves?

Finally, there’s that last marvelous phrase: “…according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.” God’s grace is not only amazing, it’s extravagant. He lavishes it on us—pours it out without end. We cannot “out-sin” God’s grace (Romans 5:20)! We do not deserve grace…again, that’s inherent to the definition. But He extends it to us—lavishly! Let that sink in. Let this Truth pour over your thirsty soul, refreshing your spirit. 

So, when our enemy, the evil one, is hissing all kinds of lies about us in our ears (because he will), and we feel discouraged, let’s throw these 25 words of God in his face. Bask in your identity in Christ—your redemption, your forgiveness, and His lavish grace.

“Lord, Your grace is amazing—a sweet sound to my soul. Let me not get caught up in the world, my sin, or the lies of the enemy and forget the Truth of who I am in Christ.”

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Jude 24-25

This beautiful doxology (declaration of praise) from Jude’s letter is packed with awesome Facts—qualities of our amazing God, realities about our salvation, and certainties regarding creation. And, as is true about all of God’s Word, these two little verses could be studied for weeks on end, each phrase unveiling deeper understanding and bringing us closer to the Lord. 

But let’s do a flyover, of sorts, to glean some insight and be encouraged. Every concept in these verses can send on us a spirit-filling scavenger hunt, of sorts, so hopefully you’ll be navigating around your Bible while you read. [Side note: Whenever you read a Christian blog, hear a podcast, or watch a sermon, I hope you are holding up those messaging against the plumbline of God’s Word. As the rest of Jude’s letter warns, there are a LOT of heretics and false teachers out there, so we must be diligent about testing what we hear—and not just go with what tickles our ears (2 Timothy 4:3).] 

First, and foremost, He is able. God is omnipotent—all-powerful. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we are reminded about the Lord’s power and ability. Nothing is too difficult for the Lord (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:27; Ephesians 3:20), and, with Him, all things are possible (Job 42:2; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37).

God is able to do anything, but what is Jude talking about specifically here? Point 1: God’s ability to keep us from stumbling. As we walk through this world—in it but not of it—it’s easy to trip over the cultural trends, false teachers, and lies of the enemy. But through prayer, study of God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, God can keep us walking steady. 

Point 2: God’s ability to make us stand in the presence of God, blameless and with great joy. This is truly astounding. Friend, we are all sinners—no one is righteous. But when we accept the gift of salvation, the Great Exchange, we trade our unrighteousness for the righteousness of Jesus. He paid the penalty for our sin, taking on the shame and wrath we deserved, so when God looks at us, we’re forgiven, faultless, blameless. And there is immense joy in this Truth. (The joy of our salvation is another blog altogether, but I highly recommend a Bible search on this!)

Jude then goes on to praise God by calling out several of His attributes: glory, majesty, dominion, and authority. Again, what a deep dive we could do! But suffice it to say, God is great—He is the greatest. He created everything, owns everything, and has control and authority over everything. And everyone. And we must submit to Him and His Word—that’s why He gave us His Word, so we’d know Him and His will for our lives. And understand who’s in control.

Finally, we see the mic drop: the eternality of God. “In the beginning, God…” (Genesis 1:1). He is the Alpha and Omega—first and last (Revelation 1:8). God has always been, is now, and forever will be. And, friend, you can bask in his glory forever. Just turn to Jesus and accept His amazing grace.

Lord, You are great and awesome—nothing and no one else is worthy of our praise. I am thankful to rest in this Truth, knowing You are in control…and You win.

Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I get up; You understand my thought from far away. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, Lord, You know it all. You have encircled me behind and in front, And placed Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot comprehend it.

Psalm 139:1-6

Do you ever feel unknown? Not in the “I wish I was famous” sort of way. Or even the “I need 1000 likes” in the pursuit of social media notoriety (or infamy, as in today’s culture). I mean those days (weeks, months, years) that, despite your friendships, co-workers, church community—even the family members living in your house—you just feel alone. It’s like no one cares about you, no one wonders how you are doing. You go about your busy (perhaps frenetic) day, interacting with people, but there’s an odd sense of disconnectedness…a feeling that no one knows you.

We could talk for pages about the psychology behind this phenomenon. Or unpeel emotional baggage to uncover points of historical trauma that could lead to these intense feelings of loneliness despite not really being alone. But let’s not.

Instead, let’s jump right to a reality, shall we? The deep truth is that this detachment, loneliness, “unknownness” is a ploy of the enemy. The devil, tempter, ruler of this world, the accuser—Satan—loves it when we experience this! Just like the prowling lion to which he is often compared, he wants us isolated so he can attack. You’ve seen those nature shows, where that lone antelope falls behind the pack, the perfect prey to be devoured by the crouching lion. That’s exactly what this is like. 

But it’s a lie.

You see, friend, you (and I) are never alone—and you are not unknown. Our Sovereign, omniscient, omnipresent God knows you. He created you in your mother’s womb, knitting every precious part together (Psalm 139:15-16). He is always with you and will never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5). He knows you, when you sit and when you stand. He knows your thoughts and your words—even before they’re spoken. His hand is upon you, and it’s impossible to grasp how high His thoughts are above ours. When it seems you’re surrounded by darkness, to Him everything’s in the light. We cannot run from His presence—even when we want to have a “nobody loves me” pity party. He is always there (Psalms 139:1-12).

Isn’t that comforting? When we feel like no one sees a hurt, recognizes a wrong against us, or acknowledges an accomplishment, we can rest in the fact that Someone does. Not only does He know, He cares—and He loves us with a deeper and greater love than we could ever comprehended. So, if you’re feeling unknown today, just read God’s Word to discover the Truth and dispel the lies of your great adversary. And if you don’t know where to begin, just open to Psalm 139. And know that you are known.

Lord, I am grateful that You know me. I never need to feel alone or unloved, because Your love wraps around me. 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2

As I was throwing on my sweats and a t-shirt for the 623rd day in a row working from home this morning, my mind flashed back to a thing many of you may never have heard of: Casual Friday. It was instituted probably in the early 90s (maybe the late 80s?), and it was a concession on the part of employers to relax the wardrobe rules of the business for the last day of the workweek. For some companies, it meant women could wear slacks (versus a dress/skirt) and men could wear khakis and a polo shirt or button down. Other business—the forward-thinking ones—actually allowed jeans. It was quite shocking at the time. I remember going up the elevator at my downtown Richmond office building where there were several financial firms. The big joke with them was that on Casual Friday they got to wear the tie of their choice. (There’s something to be said for that workplace standard, but that’s another conversation for another time.)

Anyway, this mental trip through the past got me thinking about the spiritual parallel to Casual Friday. 

See, upon becoming believers, we are made new creations—the old passes away (2 Corinthians 5:17). We’re no longer slaves to sin, but we become servants of the Lord (Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:23-24). Once saved, we are called be holy, as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), representing the Kingdom to which we are now citizens (Philippians 3:20). We are to hold up every thought, word, and action to the Truth of the Bible. We have a new standard by which to live.

If you’re a Christian, there may be quite a contrast between your standards before and after surrendering to Jesus. (There sure is for me.) And, although the above-noted attributes are to be our benchmark, we are all still living in a fallen body and walking through a fallen world. So, we’re not going to always be holy…but we need to always be walking in the direction of holiness and obedience. 

So, where does the whole “Casual Friday” thing come in? Well, just as employers loosened their standards for workwear once a week, we have to ask ourselves a similar question: Are there days or circumstances where we choose to talk or act below the standard that has been set for us in God’s Word? Maybe it’s around the conference table (real or virtual), when the blue jokes start flying—and you laugh right along. Perhaps, when Friday night rolls around, you go out for a few too many drinks with the girls (or guys). It could be the Netflix or HBO show you binge watch over the weekend—you know, the one with all that gratuitous casual sex. You get the point.

Friend, God has not allowed for Casual Friday—or any other casual day of the week. He does not wink at sin, no matter how “small” we think it is. (He doesn’t say, “Hey, that’s cool to sleep with your boyfriend—I know you’re in love.” Sorry, nope.) God’s standard is non-adjustable and non-negotiable, regardless of how “cultural irrelevant you think it is. 

Again, I’m not saying we won’t sin. We will. But the longer we walk with the Lord, the quicker we’ll recognize that sin, repent, and keep going in the right direction. And don’t misunderstand—we don’t maintain God’s standards to keep on His good side or check off the right boxes. We keep God’s standards because we love Him. And bringing Him joy is our joy.

Thank you, Lord, for Your standards, clearly spoken in Your Word, and the true freedom it brings. 

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

2 Timothy 4:18

I know the following idea flies in the face of political correctness and modern feminism (although, does “feminism” exist anymore since “gender is a social construct” and no one can actually define what a woman is?). But, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a great love story?

There are the classics made popular in the 1950s by Walt Disney, like Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty. And there are the originals upon which most “classics” are based, like Beauty and the Beast, published in 1740, but inspired by a second-century tale from ancient Greece. Of course, there’s my favorite (and, if you haven’t seen it or read it yet, it will be yours too once you do): The Princess Bride.

These greats generally have a common theme: someone is in distress (usually a “damsel” of some sort), and then someone (typically a Prince) fights the good fight to rescue her. 

But did you know that all the great fairy tales like these are mere shadows of THE ONE TRUE LOVE STORY. This original love story was written in eternity past, with the stage being set for thousands of years—from Creation until the first cries of the Prince’s arrival on the scene. 

You see, this Greatest Story Ever Told, shows how all of humanity was in utter distress until our Prince (the Prince of Peace, Lord of lords, King of Kings) made a way of rescue for us. Before being saved, we wander through life—lost and broken—searching for that soul-level reunion pined for by every human. Meanwhile, Prince Jesus has fought and won the battle against our great enemies (sin and death), and He stands victorious awaiting that reunion with us. 

Can you see it? Friend, this is why fairy tales resonate so deeply with people (women and men alike)! We have a deep, visceral need for rescue—a God-shaped hole in need of filling. But that need will never be satisfied by an earthly relationship or drugs or alcohol or shopping. This rescue is only successful when we grab the hand of the Great Rescuer, Jesus. And when we do, He will sweep us off our feet and make us His Bride. Then, when our time on this earth is done, we’ll go to His Kingdom to live eternally…literally, happily ever after. 

Jesus, You are The Knight in Shining Armor—our great Rescuer. I pray that just one person reading this will reach out and accept Your hand by faith, welcoming Your Victory for their life.

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed…ungodly persons who turn the grace of God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Jude 4

Licentious is not a word that’s used often (if ever) anymore. But it is a stellar word, full of accurate meaning in today’s culture. So, how can it be defined? Simply put, it is to be lawless, impious, given to unrestrained sin and gross immorality. It’s an arrogance to do what you please, when you please, even though it may offend others—and offend God. An easy way to remember it is to think of those awesome James Bond movies through the decades. (This makes me wonder, who is your favorite Bond?) Anyway, James Bond has the moniker of 007—he has a “license to kill”…and this is similar to how we can think of licentiousness: It is a license to offend God—a license to sin. 

Back when Jude (and Jesus, and Peter, and Luke, and Paul, and John) were talking about false teachers/teaching coming into the Church, there was a spiritual movement called Gnosticism that was permeating culture and infiltrating the young Christian movement. Basically, Gnosticism was a combination of Jewish, pagan, and some Christian beliefs, all muddled together with one primary teaching: Your spiritual life is all that matters; flesh is meaningless, so you can do whatever you want with your body to satisfy your physical desires—it doesn’t affect your “holiness” in any way. In other words, the good Gnostic would say, “I can do whatever I want with my body!”

Hmm. Sounds remotely familiar.

The first-century Church (and every century since) has been called to influence the hedonistic culture of that day, to spread the Good News of the gospel and the transformative power of the God’s grace through Jesus Christ. And the Church, despite the Gnostics and the pagan cultures around at that time, was turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6)! 

Today’s culture, if you haven’t noticed, is also licentious. And activities that not so long ago were hidden and done in secret when no one was looking—generally agreed to be “bad” or “unacceptable” or even “sinful”—are now done in the light. They’ve been normalized. Beyond that, they have also become celebrated. Most disturbing, many of these activities are becoming engrained into our legal systems, mandated even. Whether or not it conflicts with religious/moral beliefs, they must be accepted, affirmed, and venerated. And if you don’t, if you stand on the Truth of God’s Word, the name-calling begins. You are a hater, bigot, oppressor, etc., and you very well might get kicked out of school, lose your job, or go to jail for doing (or even saying) the “wrong” thing. You must go along with the latest riotous crowd, or else.

The issue for believers today, however, is not just what is happening in the culture, the degradation and licentiousness—and the resulting reaping of what’s been sown for the past decades. While that’s important to acknowledge, it’s more vital to recognize that the culture is influencing and infiltrating the Church more than the Church is influencing the culture. The church has established an anti-biblical bond with the culture, and this is a huge problem.

A recent study conducted by George Barna (released May 2022) is terrifying. Across denominations and pastoral roles in the American Christian church, just 37% of pastors hold a Biblical worldview. In other words, nearly two-thirds of church pastors do not believe or behave in alignment with God’s Word. Despite the warnings given us in the Bible—from Jesus and His disciples and the epistle writers—licentiousness has crept in. And it’s taken over. 

So, as followers of Jesus, we must be on guard in our churches and with those pastors/teachers we listen to. We must know God’s Word for ourselves, so we can test what we’re hearing. If we don’t know the Truth, our ears will get itchy (2 Timothy 4:3) and we’ll be easy prey for the wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). When the world around us embraces a license to sin, we need to stand firm on the Truth and be ready to defend our faith. And when that licentiousness results in pain, depression, and despair for those partaking in it, let’s be at the ready to give a reason for our hope: the love, forgiveness, and saving grace of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:15).

Lord, Your Truth will stand amid false teaching and cultural darkness—help me to stand firm on it and proclaim the Gospel as the only Hope for this lost world.