Stand Firm: Looking Back to Look Forward

Stephen Nichols

Introduction

The world around us is constantly changing, yet “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). As Christians are pushed toward the margins of a hostile society, we cannot afford to surrender our convictions or to retreat in fear. By God’s grace, we have the truth that this lost world needs. Now is our time to stand with unrelenting devotion to God’s unchanging Word.

Matthew 16:13–18 ESV

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The Mouth of Hell

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Geography

Geography

Caesarea Philippi was located roughly 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee and 40 miles southwest of Damascus. It overlooked the Jordan Valley and was near the base of Mount Hermon, which stood approximately 9,200 feet to the northeast and provided an abundant supply of water to the region. The land appears to have been ideal for vegetation, and the elevation of the city (1,150 feet) made it a strategic military location.

The Gates of Hell

Jesus’ Birth

Matthew 2:1–18 (ESV)

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him,

“In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Paul’s Imprisoned

2 Timothy 4:17–18 ESV

17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Promise of Suffering

1 Peter 4:12–19 ESV

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Martyred Saints and Those Who Persecuted

St. Polycarp: Bishop of Smyrna (AD 69-155)

Polycarp likely lived during the time of some of the 12 apostles and then served as a church leader to the post-apostolic church through the first half of the second century. During his church service, he wrote a letter to the same Philippian church that Paul addressed; he even wrote in the same genre as the New Testament letters, using New Testament texts in the process.

Diocletian b. AD 245 – d. AD 311 • Emperor • Man

Diocletian was born into a lower class home, but joined the army and worked his way up in rank, eventually becoming emporer. He was in charge of many structural reforms in the Roman Empire, creating an efficient bureaucracy, but Rome still declined in its political power. Christians were persecuted during Diocletian’s reign, but it is unknown if he was the cause. Also: Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus

Huss, John (c. 1370–1415)

John Huss was born at Husinec in southern Bohemia. He studied philosophy and theology at the University of Prague with an impressive academic career. His theology was shaped under the influence of the Czech reform movement as represented by Jan Milič of Kroměřǐž (1325–74) and Matthias of Janov (1355–93). Of particular importance for Huss was the thought of John Wyclif, whose writings were circulating in Prague thanks to the Czech students studying at Oxford. Wyclif’s writings aroused a great controversy. Huss agreed with the English Reformer that the historically developed church could not be identified with the true church of Christ. The true church is the ecclesia invisibilis, understood as the coetus electorum. God alone decides who belongs to this true church. The debate over Wyclif’s reforms brought Huss to the very centre of academic life and university policy (in 1409 he was made the rector of the University of Prague).

Huss was even more influential in his role as preacher at the Bethlehem chapel. In his Czech sermons, he contrasted the actual lifestyle of the power-hungry ‘Constantinian Church’ with the biblical vision of the apostolic community of disciples following Jesus, the ‘poor king of the poor’. Huss’s resolute opposition to the indulgence preaching sponsored by the Pope proved the critical turning point in his struggle. In 1412 the Curia placed the city of Prague under the ban because of Huss. He left for southern Bohemia but refused to discontinue his reformatory work and justified his refusal in a solemn appeal to Jesus Christ. Huss engaged in a wide-ranging tour of open-air preaching and met with surprisingly strong support among his people

Luther, Martin (1483–1546).

German Reformer, pastor, theologian, and translator of the Bible. Luther abruptly denounced a vocation as lawyer with a rash vow. Caught in the middle of a summer thunderstorm in 1505, he feared for his life and cried out for St Anne. If she would see him through the storm in safety, he would become a monk. This vow, so typical of medieval piety, set him on a slow but explosive path to reform medieval piety. Later, he would be released from his monastic vows (1518), excommunicated by the pope (1521), and declared an imperial outlaw (1521).

Luther is most well known as the first Reformer. He is the man who on October 31, 1517 hammered The Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church in protest of the monetization of the forgiveness of sins. He is the man who stood before imperial and ecclesial elites at the Diet of Worms (1521) to boldly declare “my conscience is captive to the Word of God” rather than meekly retract his attack on Roman claims of superiority over Scripture (Luther 1958, 112). But these are just two peaks on the long road of reform that Luther embarked on as a pastor, professor, and translator, armed only with the word of God and a tenacious personality.

TENNENT, WILLIAM (c. 1673–1746)

Presbyterian minister and theological educatorBorn probably in Scotland, Tennent was educated at the University of Edinburgh, from which he graduated with the M.A. degree in 1695. For reasons now unknown, he took orders in the Episcopal Church of Ireland, as deacon in 1704 and as priest in 1706. He is said to have acted as chaplain to a nobleman in northern Ireland, but never served an Episcopal parish. In 1718 with his wife, four sons, and a daughter, he emigrated to Philadelphia, where his wife’s cousin James Logan was a prominent Pennsylvania official. In September 1718 he applied for admission as a Presbyterian minister to the Synod of Philadelphia, then in session; and after stating that he had renounced Episcopalianism because of its form of government and Arminian trends in its theology, he was accepted without reordination. Thereafter he served in East Chester, New York (1718–1720), and Bedford, New York (1720–1726); and then he accepted a call to Nashaminy, northeast of Philadelphia, where he labored until his death. There, in 1735 and 1736, he established his Log College, where he trained about a score of capable and dedicated ministers, including his three younger sons, William, John, and Charles, and Samuel Finley, who became president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). Tennent was a teacher of unusual ability, who succeeded in imparting to his students a deep concern for a vital religious faith. The graduates of his Log College became effective exponents of that evangelical revival known as the Great Awakening, which did much to revitalize American Protestantism in the 1730s and 1740s. At the same time, they contributed to the Old Side-New Side schism that divided the Presbyterian Church between 1741 and 1758.

MACHEN, J. GRESHAM (1881–1937)

American Presbyterian apologist, theologian, and educator

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Machen was the son of a prosperous lawyer. His mother came from a prominent family in Georgia, and both parents, who were strong Christians, exerted a deep influence on Machen through most of his life. Machen graduated from Johns Hopkins University and Princeton Theological Seminary. He was greatly influenced by the strong Calvinism of Princeton, especially as held by Benjamin Warfield and Francis Patton. Following his graduation from Princeton in 1905, he studied in Germany at Marburg and Göttingen. At Marburg he was greatly impressed by Professor Wilhelm Herrmann, whose attractive presentation of liberal theology captivated him for a time. However, Machen gradually came to the conviction there was a vast gulf between religious liberalism and orthodox Christianity. The experience affected him profoundly and made him determined to stand firm against religious liberalism.

The Promise

Revelation 1:4–8 (ESV)

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

God is Faithful: We are called to be Faithful

Revelation 2:10 ESV

10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Deuteronomy 7:9 ESV

9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,

Proverbs 20:6 ESV

6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

Lamentations 3:22–23 ESV

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Matthew 25:21 ESV

21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV

3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

Revelation 17:14 ESV

14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

2 Timothy 2:13 ESV

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

Hebrews 10:23 ESV

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Numbers 23:19 ESV

19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Psalm 92:1–2 ESV

1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,