Ben Zornes, Author at Ben Zornes

Hard Law, Hot Gospel 2 | How Dare You

by Ben Zornes · Feb 21, 2025

Introduction

In this chapter we have two splendors. On one hand we have a hero of the faith, contending, almost entirely alone against error and as a result keeping the early church from sliding into a grievous error. The reason he does so is because of the greater splendor, that of the Gospel of justification by faith alone.

The Text

Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. […]
Galatians 2:1ff

Summary of the Text

Remember that Paul swore before God as to the veracity of his record (1:20). So we must either believe him, or accuse him of falsehood. Now, he has related one trip to Jerusalem in Galatians 1:18-20 which corresponds to Acts 9:26-30, here in our text (Galatians 2:1-10) he relates another trip to Jerusalem, which I believe must be the famine relief trip recorded in Acts 11:27-30, 12:25. This famine was foretold by prophetic vision (Acts 11:28), which is what Paul seems to be referring to in Gal. 2:2 when he says they went up “by revelation”. It is important for the arguments which Paul will make later that we note here that if this was written after the Jerusalem council to the Northern Galatians, then Paul’s sworn record is false for failing to cite the visit to Jerusalem for that vitally important council.

So then, the visit to Jerusalem for famine relief was without fanfare, lest Paul’s mission get gummed up with unnecessary disputes (v2). Titus, a Greek, was with Paul on this trip, but was not compelled to be circumcised (v3). But there was clear pressure, from false brethren, to subject Titus (and therefore all Gentile believers) to this rite (vv4-5). But after conferring with Peter, James, and John, those apostles gave the right hand of fellowship confirming that the ministry to the uncircumcised really had been given with heavenly might unto Paul and as the ministry to the circumcision was proper to Peter (vv6-9). The only stipulation was that Paul remember the poor, which Paul was only too happy to oblige (v10).

The dangerous error which was troubling the Galatians was spreading, and Paul relates an intriguing episode between him and Peter. Peter came up to Antioch, and was happy to dine with Gentiles (Cf. Mk. 7), that is until some of James’ colleagues from Jerusalem arrived. Peter, because he was afraid, withdrew from table fellowship with Gentiles. This act was so pregnant with meaning that even Barnabas was led astray (vv11-13, Cf. Acts 15:39). Paul publicly rebuked Peter’s hypocrisy, and is, of course, committing his public rebuke to the public record (v14). Paul’s rebuke was this, “How dare you freely act as a Gentile one moment, and then browbeat the Gentiles to adopt Jewish manners the very next!”

Paul then transitions from timeline to theology. The Jews of all people, unlike the sinful heathens, ought to know that from top to bottom we are justified not by our works of righteousness but by the faith of Christ (vv15-16, Hab. 2:4, Ps. 143:2). Christ’s coming had really changed the cosmos. Jews who would be justified by Christ must first recognize that they are categorically kin with Gentiles: sinners (Rom. 3:9, 2:15). But this arrangement doesn’t make Christ a minister of sin (v17). Paul didn’t preach a Gospel of gluing the shattered tablets of stone back together, only to break them again (v18); rather, the Gospel is that by faith in Christ we die to the law, and live to God (v19). The law was put in place in order to kill the old man, in order to bring to life a new man. Nevertheless, this union with Christ is only made possible by His crucifixion, which we are joined to by faith alone; for righteousness is only found in Christ’s death (vv20-21).

Pillars of a New Temple

The old Jerusalem was being replaced by a new Jerusalem. A new temple, with a chief cornerstone had been established, and the pillars of Herod’s temple had been supplanted by living apostolic pillars. Therefore, it would be like trying to time travel backward through time to go back to law-keeping as if nothing had been altered. This new temple had apostolic pillars, carved from Jewish marble, but it also had living stones cut from a Gentile quarry. Paul relates that the Gospel he had been preaching from his conversion was completely in line with the Gospel which the other apostles preached. It was not at all at odds. It was as Isaiah had foretold, the mountain of the Lord (the temple) would be exalted over all the earth, with Gentiles streaming into it, being incorporated into the service of it, and it being made a house of prayer for all nations (Is. 2:2, 56:6-7).

From Paul’s conversion (near Jerusalem), his visit with Peter in Jerusalem after three years in Arabia, and then his private conference with Peter and James 14 years later he had been preaching this Gospel of the coming of Israel’s Messiah, the Resurrection, and therefore the blessing of deliverance from sin for all nations. Paul insists that the other apostles “added nothing” to Paul’s Gospel (2:6). In other words, those who wanted Gentiles to submit to the law-keeping (as represented in the sign of circumcision) were missing the central glory of the Gospel.

The Judaizers, not unlike many modern apparently well-meaning charlatans, likely presented themselves as discipleship gurus. They came with an ethos of “we’re here to help.” But though they appeared to be putting training wheels on the discipleship of Gentiles, they were in fact removing the bike chain, popping the tires, and cutting the brake cords. It was the Judaizers, and those who were swayed by their arguments––Peter in particular––who were not “walking uprightly according to the truth of the gospel”. They moved, not Paul; and most certainly not the Gospel.

We can turn into Judaizers in our personal relationships. This is particularly true when it comes to parenting. Instead of the baseline being the Gospel truths which we confess our children are partakers of when we bring them to the waters of baptism, we treat them as if they must run the gauntlet of good behavior in order to earn our favor. This is not to say that your home should be like a lawless frontier town. Rather, your relationships, especially with your children should front load the Gospel. As you discipline your children, do not neglect to discipline in the context of their being partakers of Christ’s death and resurrection which they are united to in their baptism.

The Faith of Christ

This portion of Scripture is a priceless cask of the finest wine. You do not find right standing before God by keeping the law. Rather, your faith must be in the faith of Christ. This is a curious phrase that is used twice here (2:15, 20), and once in the next chapter (3:22). Paul will flesh this out more as he goes on, but the sword-point of His argument is that it is by Christ’s perfect righteousness, including His faith in all of God’s promises, by which you are justified. Of old, God had made great promises to His people; Jesus Christ believed all these with a perfect faith and received the inheritance that came along with that faith.

So the Gospel, as always, is the glory of glories. Sin is the transgression of the law. Yet God assures you that all of it, the very worst of it, the sin that you committed willfully, with eyes wide open and heart hardened, is entirely forgiven if you come by faith to Christ. We often want to rush in and add stipulations about living righteously and obediently. Paul will soon explain what the Christian’s life looks like, and it is certainly not marked by continuing in sin. But the scandalous glory of the Gospel is in this: you are crucified with Christ. That means if you look in faith to Christ, your sins, every damn one, is forgiven.

Charge & Benediction

The Gospel really is liberation from the stifling guilt and shame of your sin, it really is liberty. It really is a new life. It really is the foundation. Being justified freely by His grace is not an entry level course that you must pass in order to get to the more complicated secrets of life. This is the pure gift of God’s grace to you, to your children, and those who are afar off. The Gospel is the atmosphere that makes every other aspect of life possible. So, be zealous for it.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26

Other Sermons in this series

Hard Law, Hot Gospel 1 | Any Other Gospel

by Ben Zornes · Feb 13, 2025

Introduction

Apathy is like wearing concrete boots while swimming. Yet, all too often we are tempted to skate along and ignore complacency and indifference. We say things like, “the honeymoon is over” to justify marital apathy; or “we’ve always done it this way” to justify corporate bloat; or “don’t rock the boat” in order to maintain some status quo. This epistle is Paul being an apostolic burr in the saddle, pebble in the boot, and pain in the neck. In so doing, he kept not only the Galatians, but the early church as a whole from apathetically drifting back into business as usual.

The Text

Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. […]
Galatians 1:1ff

Summary of the Text

Before we begin expositing the black and white letters of this epistle, we should take notice of the colorful context of this letter. Other than the synoptic Gospels, this letter from Paul to the Galatians is one of the earliest NT writings (~AD48). As we shall see, this fact proves to be pivotal in locking the door against a dangerous error that was threatening the early church. But this was not only from Paul, it was from Paul “and all the brethren” (v2), to the churches (plural) of Galatia. This helps us decide between two theories regarding the timing of this letter. The Northern Galatian theory argues that this was written to the Gauls located in what is now central Turkey; these were Celtic peoples, who were spread across Europe at the time. Paul eventually visited the northern Galatians (Acts 16:6; 18:5). The Southern Galatian theory is that Paul wrote to the Roman province of Galatia which consisted of four primary cities which we know Paul visited in his early mission trips: Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:14), Iconium (Acts 13:51), Lystra, and Derbe (Acts 14:6, 20 – 21). Given the content, not to mention the heat, of Paul’s letter we are left with a strong case for this being written in the lead up to the Jerusalem Counsel (Acts 15) not after.

Paul begins by asserting the nature of his apostleship (v1). He greets them with grace and peace, and briefly states the Gospel: Jesus (whom the Father had raised from the dead) gave Himself for our sins (Cf. Is. 53:6), to deliver us from the “present evil age”, by the Father’s will, and this all leads us to glorify God (vv3-5). Instead of pleasant thanksgiving for the Galatians, Paul begins with a deep grievance. And no wonder! The Galatians have drifted from the Gospel which he had taught them, into a graceless Gospel (v6). This took place because the Galatians were troubled by some who had perverted the Gospel (v7). Paul pronounces a double anathema on angelic or human teachers of this mangled Gospel (vv8-9).

This is very personal, not academic, for Paul. Other than Acts we learn more about Paul’s biography from this section of Galatians than anywhere else. This is important because Paul wants to impress upon the Galatians that Christ’s coming was apocalyptic, and Paul had personally experienced the potency of the revelation of Jesus Christ. None of what Paul has done was by man or for man, because this Gospel was from God and for God’s glory (vv10-12).

Beginning in 1:13, Paul launches into a lengthy personal history which continues through most of chapter 2 as well. Paul had been a zealous hall monitor for the laws of the Pharisees and was infamous for his seething persecution of the disciples of Christ and profiting from his persecutions (vv13-14). Elsewhere he describes himself as a blasphemer (1 Tim. 1:13). Central to Paul’s Gospel is the sovereign will of God to deliver such wicked sinners from their sin. Paul explains that by God’s grace the Son was revealed to him, and this was foreordained by God even when Paul was in his mother’s womb (vv15-16a, Cf. Is. 49:1). God kindly did this so that Paul would bring news of Christ’s deliverance from this present evil age to the heathen (v16). After Paul’s conversion, he didn’t enroll at Jerusalem Apostolic Seminary. This will be important to the argument that Paul concludes in chapter 2. Rather, he went into Arabia, presumably to pray and study (v 17; Cf. 2 Cor. 12:2-4). Three years later, he visited with Peter & James in Jerusalem for 15 days, but didn’t spend time with any of the other apostles (vv18-19).

Paul avows the truth of all this (v20); he didn’t linger in Judea, going instead to Gentile regions. The Judaean Christians knew that their former persecutor was now preaching the Gospel he’d attempted to destroy, though they hadn’t met him personally these Jewish believers glorified God because of him (vv21-24).

The Gospel is Personal

It might seem incongruous to us why Paul stresses his personal history in making his argument against the Judaizers. The work which Paul has been set apart for, from his mother’s womb, is not a merely human venture. The accusation which Paul is answering here is whether the mission to the Gentiles was just a cute side-hobby, while law observance was the main game, or whether the calling of the Gentiles to Christ (apart from law-keeping) was central to what Christ had accomplished. We could easily mistake Paul’s concern about establishing his apostolic office as some sort of territorial turf war. This is not why Paul is arguing. His apostleship is tied up with ancient promises which God, through Christ, has now made good.

We see this in Paul’s two allusions to Isaiah. First, consider his allusion to Isaiah 53:6. The sheep had strayed, every last one; so the Lord offers up His anointed servant as the sacrifice. He gave himself for us. Faithful OT saints believed that God would inaugurate the last times and would do so with two clear signs. The first would be the coming of the Messiah, the Lord’s servant and true King of Israel (Cf. Gen. 49:1, Num 24:17, Is. 40-66). The second sign would be that of the resurrection (Job 19:25). As Paul makes his argument throughout this epistle, these articles of ancient faith must be kept in mind. Jesus’ coming was the breaking through of God’s new creation work, and this of course was manifestly vindicated by Jesus’ own resurrection.

So then, Paul’s insistence on tracing his apostolic calling is not off topic from his main argument, nor is it a pious flex. If God’s new creation work had really burst into this world, then Paul’s Damascus road conversion is not off topic. The Risen Christ in His ascended glory had revealed himself to this blaspheming murderer to convert him and then task him to go with the glad tidings of the new creation to the Gentiles. This ties in with the second allusion that Paul makes to Isaiah and his description of the Messiah’s mission (Is. 49:1). Isaiah says Messiah would gather Israel’s wandering sheep and then shine with Gospel light upon the Gentiles. So Paul’s Damascus conversion and thus his commission from Christ to reach the Gentiles really was on topic.

The Gospel is Potent

This Gospel is also potent. It is potent personally. But the personal potency of the Gospel is in force because of the transformation that took place in the order of things when Christ arose. Christ’s resurrection was the Galatian’s deliverance from the present evil world. The world had been governed by demons (Cf. Gal. 1:8), hard law was needful to restrain the raving of depraved man. But since Christ had come, the old order was passing away and along with it the dominion of devils. Thus, a return to the Law (which is the primary issue Paul will deal with) is to turn away from the potency of Christ’s life, to the impotency of dead flesh. To return to the law would be to return to business as usual. But with Christ’s coming it was no longer business as usual. All things were being made new.

Charge & Benediction

Our church’s vision statement is “All of Christ, for all of life.” There are two things to realize about that statement. First, it is big enough to encompass absolutely everything, and secondly, you must not exclude yourself from this glorious new creation work which Christ has brought about. Don’t coast along in your faith wherever the current takes you. Instead, lay hold of Christ, all of Christ, for all the days of your life. The current of this world will try to take you away from the Gospel, do not be swept away.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21

How to Complain

by Ben Zornes · Feb 4, 2025

Let me start with an understatement. Life is full of difficulties. The central difficulty we face is that of our own transgressions. But even leaving out sin, there are the difficulties of living in a world marred by sin. Difficulties in relationships, finances, politics, and on and on we could go.

If we liken our hearts to machinery, these difficulties are like built up pressure. Faulty machinery will inevitably lead to failure causing all that pressurized material to come spilling out as molten lava. The complaints, excuses, and selfish demands spew out in every direction, scalding everyone nearby. Some people’s machinery is so poorly maintained that all the complaints just ooze out continuously. Others try to keep it stowed away for respectability’s sake, but eventually it all explodes anyway. Difficulties build up, and the complaints come out either as seeping sludge, or explosive magma.

Now, let me say something surprising. You should complain. The pressure of your complaints cannot be kept inside. How your complain, however, must be completely unlike how the surrounding Christless culture complains. Your complaints are to be released through the valve of thankful and faith-filled prayer. Consider the Psalmist’s example: I poured out my complaint before [the LORD]; I shewed before him my trouble (Ps. 142:2). The unbelieving man doesn’t know where to direct the built up pressure, while the believer brings absolutely everything to God in praise, prayer, and petition.

The Lamb of God did not go to cross whining and fussing, spilling out bile upon all around Him. Rather, He went complacently, entrusting all the weight of His difficulties to the Father. Not only is He our example in this, He is also the only way for you to deal righteously with Your complaints. Cast all your cares upon Him, leave them there, and then give thanks. For Christ gives to you this everlasting bread of comfort, and this sweet wine of relief.

So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…

Loud Worship

by Ben Zornes · Feb 3, 2025

One of the primary adjectives which should modify our worship of the Triune God is loud. Our worship should be loud. Consider these verses:

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise (Psa 98:4).

Shout unto God with the voice of triumph (Psa 47:1b).

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee (Isa 12:6).

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem (Zep 3:14).

[…] The people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. (Ezr 3:13b)

A distinguishing mark of Christian worship is that it isn’t silent. We serve God with songs of praise and shouts of joy. The bold proclamation of God’s Word is central to our worship. The pronunciation of God’s covenant blessings upon us conclude our services. All of this is noisy by design.

Then as we descend from this holy hill of Lord’s Day worship, returning to our vocations, our worship is to be marked by obedience to the Word. Even in quiet meditation our thoughts are to tune themselves to the Words of Scripture. The world was made by the resonant command of the Voice of God. The covenant on Sinai was a marvel precisely because God’s Voice thundered out His law. The Lord Jesus commanded us to go into all the world as Ambassadors with a message of His good news.

In sum, I compel you, in accordance with the teaching of Scripture and the faithful example of the saints of old: worship the Lord with your outdoor voice. Make a ruckus. Let your “Amens” in affirmation of God’s good promises thunder like the war drums of a marching legion.

Hard Law & Sweet Gospel

by Ben Zornes · Jan 28, 2025

By God’s good design, this table confronts you with the severity of sin and the sweetness of the Gospel. Like the Israelites of old, standing upon the twin mountains of blessings and curses, we stand here to say “amen” to the covenant terms which God has kindly made with us.

Upon this table is hard law. “Cursed be the man that obeys not the words of this covenant (Jer. 11:3).” You see here that sin deserves death. The paycheck that comes along with toiling in the fields of sin is death. Signified upon this table is the torn body of Jesus, and the blood he spilt upon Golgotha’s tree. He died, and did so joyfully, because we all had sinned, and had done so with a twisted gladness.

Set before you is the severity of God towards sin. He hates your sin so much, that He sent His Son to die for you. You don’t taste the sweet wine of the Gospel’s salvation without having tasted the bitter cup of the Law’s condemnation. “Be holy, for I the Lord your God, am holy” echoes in our ears, even as we see the dingy gray of our own pathetic efforts at holiness, and the soiled garments of our sin. As one poet put it, “When legal fears shook me, I trembled to die; No refuge, no safety in self could I see.”

The heavy word of the Law ought not to be despised. For it is followed by the easy burden of the Gospel Word: come unto me, all ye who are weary and heavily burdened, for I will give you rest. Simultaneously, here is a meal of rest. Wine well aged. Bread well baked. A table of true leisure, rest, and welcome. Truly, the severity of the Law makes the sweetness of the Gospel deeper and richer.

So come in faith and welcome to King Jesus…

A Nagging Wife

by Ben Zornes · Jan 27, 2025

A common concern amongst godly and conscientious wives is that of becoming the nagging wife described in Proverbs. You know, the one whose husband would rather dwell on the rooftop than endure her constant dripping. This proverb, however, isn’t a pretense for a husband to justify his abdication simply because he feels nagged. Emotional weakness, whether in husband or wife, should never be set in charge.

A wife isn’t nagging when she humbly reminds her husband of his duties, whether great–as in providing for the family–or small –as in, “Honey, you forgot to take the trash out.” The sin of nagging Solomon describes is one that slowly but surely, drip by drip, deliberately erodes her commitment to respect her husband. She nips, critiques, challenges, and subverts his authority. In her resentment a desire has arisen for a hollowed out & effeminate husband she can steer without honoring. Put bluntly, she nags in order to turn her husband into a circus sideshow, making him a bearded lady.

Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba, sets a striking counter-example. In 1 Kings 1, she confronts David for his apathy in failing to name a successor to his throne. She comes to David, bows in honor to him, speaks plainly and wisely to him, and warns him of the danger he is putting her and Solomon in if he fails to act. This is certainly not a nagging wife; this is a wife worth more than rubies.

A godly wife seeks her husband’s good all the days of her life. She endeavors to be unto him a crown of honor. In being a helper to her husband, she imitates the duties of the church to Christ. In short, a nagging wife is one who delights in resenting her husband for his various faults; while a godly wife faithfully bestows admiration and respect in all she says and does.

A Fortified City

by Ben Zornes · Jan 22, 2025

Introduction

John Bunyan, in his book Holy War, once typified our personal battle against sin, the devil, and the world as a warfare against a city. He took the various attributes of both the body and soul and represented them as a city besieged by an array of threats. I want to attempt something similar, but applied to the life and work of the church. As is commonly said, the story of Scripture began in a garden, but it will end in a garden city that fills the whole earth.

The Text

Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.
Psalm 87:3

City Walls

The church is not an amorphous entity with indefinite boundaries. The liberal wants the walls of the city of God to be all-encompassing. The hidebound legalist wants the city walls to be just big enough for the handful of people they agree with…for now. But the Bible defines for us where the city walls are for the Church.

These walls require us to look at them as they are at present and then look in faith to when they will encompass the whole world. Jeremiah describes what will one day be true of the entire globe: “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more (Jer 31:34).” The liberal wants the city walls to be universal right now; the purist wants to hold off on any expansion plans until the final trump shall sound.

City walls are essential. They serve two functions: keeping in and keeping out. That wonderful line from Tolkien comes to mind, “I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.” Walls surround the citizens so they know where they belong. Within these walls is your home.

The walls of this city are the Word and Sacraments. Or to put it another way, we dwell in Christ. Not the Christ of our imagination, but the Lord Jesus who came in the flesh and was revealed to us as the prophets of old had foretold and the Apostles faithfully declared. The Apostle John uses the language of a dwelling place: “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit (1Jo 4:13).” The walls of this city are Christ. His Word and His signs. Those who have heard His Word and received it by faith dwell in Him, for He places His covenant sign of water upon them, and He feeds them with Himself. We dwell in Him, while He dwells in us. Where is the Church? Well the church is where the pure Word of Christ is.

But the secondary function of a city’s walls reveals something which is offensive to many. The walls keep out. Our culture is drunk on the cheap wine of inclusion. The walls of the Gospel of Christ make it plain that the only salvation to be found is within the walls of this City, which is Christ, and the signs of citizenship. Throughout the story of the Church’s history, these walls of God’s commandments surround God’s people, and expel the enemies of these divine truths (Deu. 6:16-18, Acts 20:29, 1 Co. 5:11). Again, liberal theologians want to shave the city walls down, they want the positive vibes of select passages of Scripture to be statues scattered throughout the City. But they do not want high walls of hard truths regarding sin, God’s sovereignty, man’s powerlessness to save himself, and so on. The want Scripture as ornamentation along with other so-called sacred texts. But Scripture will not be bent to the will of man’s vanity. There are only two types of people, and Scripture bears this out in a number of different figures: sheep and goats, wheat and tares, elect and reprobate, sons of God and sons of the devil.

However, one temptation we face is to mistake the lesser walls within the cities which mark out the different neighborhoods as the city walls themselves. The city walls are not our confessions of faith, or our books of procedures, or denominational lines. The City walls are the Word of Christ, and those who trust in Him as He is proclaimed in Scripture find refuge within those everlasting bulwarks of His righteousness. This is what Jesus teaches when He said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out (Jhn 6:37).”

City Gates

After the erection of city walls, the next most important feature of city fortifications is the gate. In the ancient world, the gate functioned as the gathering place, the market place, and most obviously, the access point. A city gate is where it is most vulnerable. It can have impressive walls, but if the gate is compromised the city will be overrun by its enemies.

Continuing our analogy, for those who enter by faith, the gate is baptism. For those who prove to be enemies of the cross of Christ, the gates are church discipline. The WCF describes the stages of church discipline this way: admonition, suspension from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for a season; and by excommunication from the Church (WCF XXX.4). This follows the pattern Jesus laid out in Matthew 18. We also see an OT example of this principle acted out by Nehemiah breaking up the Sabbath market which had shown up in Jerusalem’s gates.

Those who come through the gate of baptism are not the exact same group of those who will dwell forever in the City of God when it’s full glory is revealed. This is what we commonly refer to as the visible vs invisible church; or another term would be the historic and eschatological church. Too often believers recognize the significance of the church’s duty to welcome new saints (whether in infancy or in conversion) through the gates of baptism, but neglect that the church is also tasked with expelling false sons and barring the gates to apostates. There will be those who weep outside the city gates for all eternity gnashing their teeth, clawing out their eyes, and despairing. Some of those will have been baptized at one point, and their everlasting despair will be all the worse for having tasted the goodness of the Lord, only to fall away, hearing His words of judgement, “Depart from me, for I never knew you.”

Nevertheless, these city gates are not feeble cardboard. Baptism is not a gate from Wish.com or Temu. Baptism is a mighty gate, which really does mark the entrance out of the world and into the church. It does something. And if John’s vision is any indication, these gates are not only strong but they are beautiful. Your baptism really is a strong glory; therefore to apostatize, to walk out of those gates in high handed rebellion is a also a shameful horror.

City Storehouse

The Word of God makes provision for the propagation and continuation of the Church. It does this in a few ways. First, the life of the Christian family, dwelling within the walls of Christendom fill the Heavenly Jerusalem with the next generation of worshippers. This is the family’s primary task: to raise up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Mal. 2:15). Godly men, as Solomon teaches, make every effort to provide for future generations: A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children (Pro 13:22a). This should be taken in both the material and spiritual sense.

Additionally, we see numerous instances of generational thinking. The Patriarchs blessing their sons. Moses handing things off to Joshua. David commissioning Solomon to build the temple. Paul telling Timothy to “commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also (2 Tim. 2:12).” The city of God has a storehouse which faithful saints are to fill with the treasures of wisdom, the legacy of applying the Bible to all contexts of human life, and David’s burnished shields and spears of joyful Psalm-singing.

Where one generation neglects to fill the storehouse with good things, the following generation is poorly positioned to weather a siege by the enemies of error, sin, and compromise. Judah’s King Asa provides a sad example of this (2 Chr. 16). He once plundered the treasury of the temple to pay the pagan Syrian king to go to war with his brethren in Israel; this significantly weakened Judah. Asa’s own health reflects this weakened state, as he ends his days with diseased feet, unable to go forth to plant his feet in conquest. All because he grew fearful of his circumstances, and instead of walking by faith decided to empty the storehouse for a foolish project.

City Fortifications

One of the besetting follies of conquerers is to think that once peace is established the work is done. Many a victory has turned into a rout because the would be victors became drunk on the spoil. The armor of God includes the need to have our feet shod with the Gospel of peace. This implies that the peace envisioned by the Gospel is not insular, retreat-ist, or communal.

Rather, once peace has been established the city must begin to think about expanding its footprint. This, like Israel of old, will be done bit by bit. While Christendom largely expanded North and West from Israel, we must not forget that there have been Christian churches found which date back to the 700s as far Northeast as Beijing. Missionaries have shed their blood in far off frontiers, and while their bones have long since been turned to dust, the blood they shed for the Gospel is a seed which will, in future centuries be turned into a glorious Gospel harvest bringing in once pagan nations into the newly expanded city walls of Christ’s global governance.

The Gospel Word, while we have been comparing it to city walls, is likened in Scripture to leaven expanding a lump of dough, or a mustard seed growing into a glorious tree, or a small stone turning into a global mountain. The City Walls are intended to be expanded to encompass the entire world. The universalist wants to tear down the walls in order to pretend that that somehow fulfills the Great Commission…tada no walls, now everyone is in the city! No, the walls must never be torn down, but they are to be steadily expanded by faithful application to every new hill, each new valley, each river and sea. This is the church’s mission until all nations are blessed by dwelling in the Word of Christ, and by Christ’s Word dwelling richly in them.

Conclusion

Walls, gates, storehouse, and fortifications for future expansion. That is the life the Church. The Word begets us and defines where the City is. The gates welcome repentant sinners into the life of the Glorious City of our God. The storehouses must be continually filled with the virtues of grace, the blessings of faithfulness, and the foresight for generational prosperity. The citizens must not rest until every hill and distant island is circumferenced by the strong walls of Christ our Lord. Indeed, glorious things of thee are spoken, oh city of our God.

Charge & Benediction

Where have you despised the city walls of God’s Word? What enemies have you invited to camp outside the gates, and have you left the gates open, even if just a sliver, inviting various enemies to invade? Are you diligently filling up the storehouse for your children’s children? Have you grown apathetic towards the task of discipling all the nations? Well then…by grace, get to work.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:14