The Power of a Positive No!

As most Bible students understand, Peter and Paul did not always agree with each other over methods of communicating the gospel. At one point they had a public disagreement in which one verbally chastised the other for being hypocritical. Nevertheless, in terms of believing and living the message of their beloved Master, they were in perfect agreement.

After describing the fiery destruction of earthly things at the end of human history Peter posed this rhetorical question : "What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" 2 Peter 3:11. To his own query he gave a very short answer: "Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." verse 14.

When Paul wrote on the same subject elsewhere in the Bible, he used language very similar in tone but longer in context. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Titus 2:11-14.

We may be slightly confused by the convoluted series of phrases that Paul strings into this long, long sentence, but take a look at what he is saying. There can be no question about the meaning of his words. This masterpiece statement is probably the most complete description of God's ideal for His people to be found in the entire Bible. Paul somehow manages to touch on most of the great Christian lifestyle doctrines which should characterize the true church today.

Look closely at the principles so marvelously interlaced in those few verses:

1. "Redeemed from all iniquity"

2. "Purify unto himself a peculiar people"

3. "Zealous of good works"

4. "Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts"

5. "Looking for that blessed hope"

In these words are found the doctrines of true sanctification and total victory over "all iniquity." Like Peter he boldly declares the possibility of being without spot and blameless, but he also identifies the overcoming group as standing forth in peculiar contrast to all others around them. Their zeal in the "good works" of obedience would mark them as God's special people.

Furthermore, Paul wrote that the grace which brings salvation would teach the faithful saints to look for the blessed hope of Christ's coming. They would be living in joyful expectancy of the soon advent of Jesus. This end-time church would separate from the indulgent life-style of the carnal majority and "deny ungodliness and worldly lusts." In this he was again in perfect accord with the burden of his fellow disciple Peter, who described the "manner of persons we ought to be in all holy conversation (life-style) and godliness."

How interesting it is that both of these close companions of Jesus made such strong statements about being different from the world. Unfortunately, their doctrine of self-denial and separation has been rejected by the modern church as a manifestation of legalism. As a reaction to this most tragic misconception, most pulpits today are sending forth a "soft" love message about justification, forgiveness, and acceptance and have largely eliminated references to obedience, law, or lifestyle. Any mention of standards of conduct or behavior is immediately dismissed as judgmental and unloving.