Saving Faith (Part 2)

Introduction

The Politics of Faith

Jonathan (the high priest) received a letter from Demetrius (a king of the Seleucid Empire) in the midst of much political upheaval.

1 Maccabees 10:25–28 (NRSV):

25 So he sent a message to them in the following words:

“King Demetrius to the nation of the Jews, greetings. 26 Since you have kept your agreement with us and have continued your friendship with us, and have not sided with our enemies, we have heard of it and rejoiced. 27 Now continue still to keep faith with us, and we will repay you with good for what you do for us. 28 We will grant you many immunities and give you gifts.”

The Jews were thought to lack pistis because of their religious observance.

3 Maccabees 3:2–4 (NRSV): 2 While these matters were being arranged, a hostile rumor was circulated against the Jewish nation by some who conspired to do them ill, a pretext being given by a report that they hindered others from the observance of their customs. 3 The Jews, however, continued to maintain goodwill and unswerving loyalty toward the dynasty; 4 but because they worshiped God and conducted themselves by his law, they kept their separateness with respect to foods. For this reason they appeared hateful to some;

Josephus uses the word frequently to describe political alliances in his Antiquities.

Josephus

He likewise uses the phrase “repent and believe (pistis) in me”

Our own cultural experiences might lead us to think that “repent” means to turn away from private sins such as adultery, greed, and exploitation. Meanwhile, in Christian circles “believe” is so often linked to Jesus and the forgiveness of sins that it may be hard to weigh what it means in this example featuring Josephus. But Wright’s point is that Josephus was not trying to convince this rebel to turn away from private sins or to “believe” that God can forgive, rather Josephus wanted this man to join him in supporting the Jewish cause—that is, as I would put it, to show allegiance. So, what “repent and believe in me” means for Josephus in this context is “turn away from your present course of action and become loyal to me.”

We are faithful to a King.

Consider the word Christ means “anointed one.”

Jesus is THE King of Kings (Rev. 19:16).

This is the Gospel (Acts 5:42; 2:34-36; 13:32-33).

This is the good news that we respond to in loyalty (Mk. 1:14-15).

Faith and authority are concepts that depend on one another (Lk. 7:8-9).

Saved by Allegiance

So faith is responsive to faith (Rom. 3:21-26; 1:17).

This helps reconcile how faith establishes the law (Rom. 3:27-31).

It gives some clarity between works that save and works that don’t (Rom. 10:4-8).

It intensifies and clarifies some very familiar passages (Rom. 14:23; Gal. 2:20; 1 Tim. 5:8; 2 Tim. 4:7).

Conclusion

My question to you tonight is not “have you heard, believed, repented, confessed, and been baptized.” Though all of those things are good and right and necessary.

My question is, “are you faithful to the King?”

This is a question that can discomfort some but perhaps may bring great comfort to many.