Identification of the Godly # 2

Identification of the Godly # 2

It is the Spirit's holy presence and gracious operations which make all the difference, not only to the regenerate but also to the unregenerate. There are His general operations, as well as particular - the former being His work upon the many, while the latter is His quickening work within only a few. Even the ungodly who attend services where the power of an ungrieved Spirit is felt, are at lest sobered and awed, many moved unto a reformation of life, and not a few to make a profession and unite with God's people; and if their profession is to be credited, their walk must be orderly. But in a day when the Spirit is "quenched," His powerful operations more or less cease, and then the whole tone of things is rapidly lowered, and professors with a disorderly walk can still maintain their standing; nevertheless, they are much more easily recognized! There is no good reason why any child of God should be mistaken about empty professors. He has but to measure them, as he should himself also, by the unerring standard of God's Word.

In it, the Lord has plainly described His people by many different "marks," by which they may be identified. We will look at one now which is less known and about which far less is written and said than about many others. "Yes, and all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). Observe how searching that assertion is: Not "some" but "ALL"; not "may" but "SHALL suffer persecution," if they will (are determined) to "live godly." What is godly living? It is giving God His due place in our hearts and lives. It is to spurn the customs of this world, to lean not unto our own understanding - but to have our character and conduct formed and regulated to please God in all things. It is for the graces of faith, hope and love to be constantly exercised upon Him - so that they bring forth their appropriate fruits.

Now those who will "live godly" - all of them who do so, "shall suffer persecution." They have always done so, and they always will in this world. Godly Abel was persecuted by Cain, Isaac was persecuted by Ishmael, David was persecuted by Saul, the prophets were persecuted by the apostates, Christ was persecuted by the Jews. And both Scripture and history show that persecution has always come most from nominal saints, from the professing Christian world!

True, there are various degrees of persecution: From the sneer and cold shoulder, to being dis-fellowshiped by the church; from being dubbed "puritanical," to being placed in the stocks.

So also persecution takes different forms: As it exists in the heart, issues from the tongue, or by actions; but generally, it is done under the cloak of religion.

Now, a professing Christian may escape "persecution" by merely compromising. But he will not call it that; rather, does he say, "he is avoiding extremes," "acting prudently," etc. But real Christians refuse to trim their sails; and therefore, they will, do, and must - suffer persecution. Reader, if you are not being persecuted in some form or other - you are not entitled to regard yourself as living a godly life.

There are those who believe that "persecution" in a more pronounced form is soon to be the lot of Christendom. Personally, we emphatically dissent. Most certainly what is known as "organized Christianity" is not on the eve of being persecuted as in earlier ages. Why are we so dogmatic? Because satan is the author of persecution, and he will not stir up opposition against the "churches" as they now are. He is only too well-pleased to leave them alone in their heterodoxy or dead formality! There is far too little godliness prevailing in them today to cause satan any uneasiness! The strong man armed has full possession of the hearts of windy professors; and therefore, he lets them rest in a false peace. But if the Spirit should again work in an unmistakable manner - outside in "the wilderness" - then the devil would rage and stir up his ecclesiastical agents to do everything in their power to put a stop to it. But he is still opposing godly livers, and by his opposition, we may identify them.

"When a strong man armed keeps his palace, his goods are in peace" (Luke 11:21). The "strong man" here is satan, as the context shows. His "palace" has a double reference: Individually, it signifies the sinner's heart, in which the devil resides and rules. Collectively, it is an apostate Christendom, where he presides as "god" of the religious world (2 Cor. 4:4). His "goods" are the faculties of the individual soul and his deluded victims in the corporate company. But what we would specially observe, is that satan preserves his goods "in peace." There is no ceaseless conflict within the one whom satan "keeps," but rather, the sleep of death. So in his "synagogue" (Rev. 2:9), he keeps its members at peace with each other. It is the saints - those who are determined by grace to "live godly" - that are the objects of his malice, and against whom he stirs up persecution, using when he can, professing Christians as his instruments.

Above, we virtually covered the ground intended; but after pondering the same, we feel there are one or two points rather in need of clarification and amplification. For example, the presence of so many nominal Christians among the regenerate, and the task of distinguishing the one from the other. It is true that in every age, there have been a large number of empty professors; yet for the most part, they were easily recognized - by those who measured their outward conduct by the rules of Scripture.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 3)