Baptist Catechism 32-33

Q. 32. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us, by His Holy Spirit. (John 3:5,6; Titus 3:5,6)

Q. 33. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. (Eph. 2:8; 3:17)

Scripture Reading: Titus 3:1–11

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” (Titus 3:1–11, ESV)

*****

Q. 32. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us, by His Holy Spirit. (John 3:5,6; Titus 3:5,6)

Question 32 asks,  How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?  Answer:  We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.

Notice a few things about this question and answer.

One, notice that the phrase, ​​“of the redemption purchased by Christ”, is in the past tense.  Jesus Christ purchased our redemption long ago.  The accomplishment of our redemption by Jesus Christ is not ongoing.  When Jesus said, “It is finished” immediately before he died on the cross, he meant it (see John 19:30).  And what was finished?  Well, the accomplishment of the redemption of the elect was finished.  The work that God the Father gave Christ the Son to do was finished.  Christ actively obeyed God’s law, he passively suffered during the whole of his life, and he laid down his life as a sacrifice for the sins of many.  When Christ breathed his last, the work of redemption was finished.  

Two, notice that the phrase, “We are made partakers”, is in the present tense.  The question is, how do the elect of God living throughout history come to benefit from the redemption Christ earned so long ago? Please understand, the elect of God are not born saved or justified.  No, even the elect are born in sin.  At some point, they must be saved.  At some point, they must have the redemption purchased by Christ applied or given to them.  This transition from being not saved to saved is what Paul the Apostle describes in Ephesians 2:1-10.  He wrote to Christians living in the city of Ephesus saying, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind…”  Notice the past tense.  These people who were Christians when Paul wrote his letter were not always Christians. They were not always saved.  They were not always God’s beloved children.  Quoting the text again:  “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” So you can see, at some point in time, a great transition occurred in these people.  They were dead in their sins, and then they were made alive.  They were children of wrath, and then they were adopted as God’s beloved children.  What happened to these people to bring about this change?  Well, that is the question addressed in Baptist Catechism 32-34.

The third thing to notice about Baptist Catechism 32 is that it says, We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.  So here is your answer.  How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?  It is by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit. There are a few things to notice about this little phrase.

One, notice that the work of the application of redemption is attributed (or appropriated) to the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit, the third person (or subsistence) of the Triune God (remember Baptist Catechism 8 & 9), applies it to us by effectually calling us. 

Can you see, then, that our redemption is the work of the Triune God?  Truly, all of the works of God are one.  But certain works may be attributed to particular persons within the Godhead.  We may say that the Father sent forth the Son to accomplish the redemption of the elect (see John 3:16, John 17, and Galatians 4:4).  And we may say that the Father and Son have sent forth the Spirit to apply the redemption that Christ has earned to God’s elect living in every time and place. 

Many texts speak of this.  In John 16:7-10 Jesus speaks about sending the promised Holy Spirit after his ascension to the right hand of the Father.  We see the fulfillment of this throughout the Book of Acts.  And in Titus 3:5-6, which is listed as a proof text in our catechism, we are told that “[God] saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior…” (Titus 3:5–6, ESV).  That passage is clear, isn’t it?  When Paul says that “[God] saved us”,  he is here referring, not to the accomplishment of our redemption by Christ, but to the application of this redemption to us.  “He saved us”, Paul says, “not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…”  So, if we have faith in Christ, we came to be saved, not because of good works or obedience, but by God’s mercy and grace.  And how was this salvation applied?  Paul says it was “by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom [God] poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior…” As I have said, our salvation is Trinitarian.  God the Father sent the Son to accomplish our redemption.  And God the Father and Son send the Holy Spirit to apply the redemption that Christ has earned to God’s elect at just the right time. 

The second thing I want you to notice about this little phrase at he end of Baptist Catechism 32 is the word, “application”.  I have been using this word throughout this lesson.  It would probably be good to define it.  To apply is to implement.  To apply is to administer. Application is the action of putting something into operation.  As has been said,  Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption a long time ago.  What did he earn for us when he died on the cross and rose again?  Among other things, he earned the forgiveness of our sins, our right to be adopted as sons and daughters of God, and life eternal.  The question is, how do these benefits that Christ has earned come to be ours?  They come to be ours when the Holy Spirit of God applies them, that is to say, implements, administers, or puts these benefits into operation.  When does the Spirit do this for God’s elect?  It differs from person to person according to God’s eternal decree.  Some are saved at a very young age.  Some are saved just before they die.  Many are saved somewhere in between.     

Three, notice the word “effectual”.  Effectual means effective. When we say that someone’s work is effectual, we mean that the person gets the job done.  Did Christ the Son get the job done regarding the accomplishment of our redemption?  Yes.  It is finished.  And does the Holy Spirit get the job done regarding the application of the redemption that Christ has earned to the elect? Yes.  Always.  Remember, we are talking about God here and the accomplishment of his eternal decree.  God the Son paid for the sins of all whom the Father gave to him in eternity (see John 17). He finished this work.  His work was perfectly effective.  And God the Holy Spirit has (and will) apply this redemption to every one of God’s elect at the appointed time.  None will be lost (see John 10:25-30)

Question 33:  How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?

Answer:  The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ, in our effectual calling.

Question 33 builds upon question 32.  It asks, How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?  In other words, how does this work?  Answer: The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ, in our effectual calling.

I have three observations to make about this answer.

One, the Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us.  Remember, it is through faith that we are saved.  That is what Ephesians 2:8 says.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith… (Ephesians 2:8, ESV).  Faith in what? Faith in the good news of Jesus Christ.  And faith in whom?  Faith in God and in the Christ he has provided.  But the question we must ask is, where does this faith come from?  How could we, who were by nature dead in our trespasses and sins (see Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:5, Colossians 2:13), ever turn from our sins and to Christ to trust in him?  Here is the answer.  It is the Holy Spirit who works faith in us.  Notice how carefully that phrase is worded? Who believes?  Who is the one who exercises faith?  Does the Holy Spirit believe for us or on our behalf?  No.  It is we who believe.  But it is the Holy Spirit who enables us to do so.  And that is why our catechism says, the Holy Spirit works faith in us.  This is what Ephesians 2:8 goes on to say.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9, ESV).  Faith, that is to say, our trusting in Christ as Lord and Savior, is a gift from God.  Here our catechism is helping us see that it is a gift the Holy Spirit gives.  The Holy Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us.

Two, our catechism teaches that it is by faith that we are united to Christ.  How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?  Answer: The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ…  This little phrase, and thereby uniting us to Christ, helps us to understand how faith can bring salvation to us.   Please hear me, it is not the faith that saves us.  No, it is Jesus Christ, his person and work, that saves us.  But it is by faith that we come to be united to him. 

If you were adrift at sea and a fisherman happened upon you in his boat, drew near to you, threw you a lifeline, pulled you into his boat, and brought you to safety, you would not tell people that it was the lifeline that saved you, would you?  No!  You would tell them the fisherman saved you, for it was the fisherman who spotted you hopeless and helpless in the water.  It was the fisherman who threw the line to you and pulled you to safety.  You would give glory to the fisherman, and not the lifeline.  The lifeline was merely the means by which you came to be united to the fisherman.  And so it is with saving faith.  We are saved through, or by the means of, faith.  But it is not the faith — that is to say, the act of believing — that saves us.  Rather, it is Jesus who saves us.  It is through faith that we come to be united to him.  And we have just learned that faith itself is a gift from God.

The Scriptures speak often about union with Christ.  This concept is often expressed by the phrase “in him” or “in Christ”.  Listen to Romans 8:1:  “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…”  Galatians 3:26 says, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”  Many other Scripture texts could be cited.  The point is that we are saved in Christ Jesus through our Spirit-wrought union with him.  And how do we come to be united to Christ?  It is by faith that we are united to him.  Faith is the hand that reaches out to take ahold of Christ and to cling to him unto salvation.  And faith is a gift from God.

At this point, I should remind you of the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace. Who is the head or representative of the Covenant of Works? Adam is.  It is important to remember that all born into this world through the ordinary process of procreation are born in Adam (Christ is the exception. He was born into this world but not in an ordinary way, and therefore, not in Adam).  We are united to Adam as a federal head or representative by birth.  We are born, therefore, into the covenant that Adam represents, namely, the broken Covenant of Works.  Its promised blessings are gone — only its curses remain.  And now I ask you, who is the head or representative of the Covenant of Grace?  Jesus Christ is.  And how do men and women come to be united to Christ and, therefore, brought into the Covenant of Grace to partake of all of its blessings?  It is through faith that we are united to Christ.  And we know that faith is a gift from God.  In just a moment we will learn that faith is made possible only through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.  So, men and women are born in Adam.  The elect of God are reborn in Christ being united to him by faith.

Here is an immensely important question:  who are you united to? Are you united (covenantally speaking) to Adam or Christ?  Again I say, all who are born into this world are born in Adam and into his covenant.  Only by faith do we come to be united to Christ to partake of the blessings of the Covenant of Grace he mediates. Listen to 1 Corinthians 15:21-22:  “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”  As I have said, the question is, who are you in?  Is it Adam or Christ?  All in Adam die. All in Christ shall be made alive. 

How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?  Answer: …by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ, in our effectual calling.

The third thing to notice about this answer is that this work of the Holy Spirit is called effectual calling. You should know that Baptist Catechism 34 asks and answers the question, What is effectual calling? We come to this question next Sunday, Lord willing, so we need not define effectual calling here. 

Conclusion

I’ll remind you of this by way of conclusion. Our salvation is the work of the Triune God. Who has saved us from our sin and misery? God has. God the Father sent to the Son to accomplish our redemption. It is finished. And the Father and Son sent the Spirit to apply the redemption that Christ has earned to the elect at the appointed time. That work is ongoing. Thanks be to God for the marvelous grace he has shown to us in Christ Jesus. May we be found in him on the last day. 

Baptist Catechism 31

Q. 31. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?

A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in His rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. (1 Cor. 15:4; Acts 1:11; Mark 16:19; Acts 17:31)

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5–11, ESV)

*****

1. “Christ’s exaltation consisteth in His rising again from the dead on the third day…”
   1. “He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4, ESV).
2. “In ascending up into heaven…”
   1. “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11, ESV).
3. “In sitting at the right hand of God the Father…”
   1. “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19, ESV).
4. “And in coming to judge the world at the last day.”
   1. “He has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31, ESV).
5. Application
   1. Christ meets all of our needs as he fulfills his offices.
      1. London Baptist Confession 8.10: This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of his prophetical office; and in respect of our alienation from God, and imperfection of the best of our services, we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God; and in respect to our averseness and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom. ( John 1:18; Colossians 1:21; Galatians 5:17; John 16:8; Psalms 110:3; Luke 1:74, 75 )
   2. Christ can identify with our weaknesses given his humiliation.
      1. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15, ESV).
   3. Christ has the power to meet all our needs given his exultation.
      1. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37, ESV).

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 12:1–11

“The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, ‘This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover.” (Exodus 12:1–11, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 12:35-48

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’ Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?’ And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.’” (Luke 12:35–48, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

1. Introduction
   1. This section of Luke’s Gospel is very practical. As you will probably remember, here in Luke 12, Christ delivers a series of teachings to his disciples aimed at the mind and heart. Christ has warned us about the heart-sins of hypocrisy, the fear of man, covetousness (which is idolatry), and anxiety concerning the necessities of life. Each of these passages has been delightful to study and to preach. These texts have benefited me greatly and I pray they have encouraged your hearts too. 
   2.  The older I get, the more clearly I can see the great importance of keeping the mind and heart pure before God. If we hope to honor God with our words and deeds, our minds and hearts must be governed by the word of God and filled with the Spirit of God. To strive to honor God in word and deed, but to neglect the mind and heart, will soon result in hypocrisy. It is from the mind and heart that our behavior naturally flows. A corrupt heart will produce corrupt living. A pure heart will produce holy living.  Some will attempt to honor God in word and deed by sheer willpower alone. Their success will be merely superficial and short-lived. But Christ transforms the lives of his people by first renewing their minds and purifying their hearts. Stated differently, God enables his people to believe upon Christ and obey him by renewing them to the core of their being, by his word and Spirit. If this is how Christ saves and sanctifies his people, we should not be surprised that Christ focused so much attention on the hearts and minds of his disciples. Christ’s desire is that we would walk faithfully and serve him in the world. And so he addresses our hearts. 
   3. Here in Luke 12:35-48, Christ warns us about the heart sins of inattentiveness, slothfulness, and distractedness. To be inattentive is to fail to pay attention to something. To be slothful is to be lazy, inactive, or idle. To be distracted is to lack the ability to concentrate on something because the mind is preoccupied with something else. Followers of Jesus Christ must not be inattentive, slothful, or distracted. Instead, Christ commands us to be like servants who are always dressed for action, awake, alert, watchful, and diligent in the performance of our duties.
   4. This passage is clearly connected to the previous one. In the previous passage, Christ commanded us not to seek what we are to eat and what we are to drink, nor be worried. “For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them”, Christ said. Instead, we are to seek God’s kingdom – Matthew’s gospel adds, and his righteousness (see Matthew 6:33) – and then Christ promises, and these things – that is to say, the necessities of life – will be added to you (see Luke 12:29–31). The meaning is this: Disciples of Jesus are not to live for the things of this world. We are not to make the attainment of food or drink or any other thing the leading concern or driving force of our lives. Instead, we are to seek first the kingdom of God, trusting that God will provide for all our needs as we do. Here in Luke 12:35-48, Christ commands us to maintain this focus. 
   5. What is the Christian to be about? What is the leading concern of our lives to be? We are to seek first the kingdom of God. This means we are to live for the glory of God as we enter God’s kingdom through faith in Christ and strive to honor Christ as king in every aspect of our lives. This means that we are to seek the furtherance of God’s kingdom through the proclamation of the gospel. This means that we are to seek the flourishing of God’s kingdom through the building up of Christ’s church. This is to be the leading concern of every disciple of Jesus. We must beware of slothfulness, inattentiveness, and all that would distract us from this calling.  
2. Exposition of Luke 12:35-48
   1. Please look with me at Luke 12:35-36. Here, Christ issues a command: “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.”
      1. This is an analogy or metaphor for life in God’s kingdom. In Luke 2:31 Christ commanded his disciples to seek God’s kingdom. Here Christ commands his disciples to stay dressed for action. This means that we are to be ready, alert, and about the work that Christ has called us to do. 
      2. The scene that Christ sets is that of a very great household – a large estate, we might say. The master of the house has gone away to a wedding, perhaps his own. And in his house, there are many servants. It is expected that the servants of this great house will not be slothful, distracted, or inattentive, but will remain dressed for action while the master is gone. They will keep their lamps lit so that the house is bright. They will be about the work the master has given them to do so that the house is kept in order. And they will remain faithful in this work until the master returns home, however late it may be. 
      3. How terrible it would be for the master to return home late at night (perhaps with his new bride) to a dark and disorderly house filled with sleeping servants. Can you imagine the master standing in the dark at the door to his estate, knocking, but with no replay? And when he finally enters, he finds his servants groggy from sleep, poorly clothed, and the house in disarray. That master would not be pleased with his servants.
      4. Clearly, Christ is the master of the house in this metaphor. Christ is the master of God’s house. He is the King of God’s kingdom. He is the Lord of the church, which is where the eternal kingdom of God is manifest on earth today. The household is the church, therefore, and Christ is the master and Lord of his church. 
      5. And clearly, the servants of this great house represent Jesus’ disciples.
         1. To follow Jesus, one must turn from their sins, trust in him, and confess him as Lord (see Romans 10:9).
         2. Those who follow Jesus are to live as servants of God and Christ (see 1 Peter 2:16). 
         3. Given this teaching, it is not surprising that the apostles of Christ often referred to themselves as servants of Christ.
            1. “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,” (Titus 1:1, ESV)
            2. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.” (James 1:1, ESV)
            3. “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:” (2 Peter 1:1, ESV)
            4. “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:” (Jude 1, ESV)
            5. “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John…” (Revelation 1:1, ESV)
         4. Following Christ requires one to be a servant in Christ’s house, that is to say, in Christ’s kingdom and church. Here Christ commands his disciples to:
            1. “Stay dressed for action…”
               1. A more literal translation of the Greek would be let your loins be girded. In the days of Christ people wore long flowing robes. When there was physical work to be done, the robes would be tied up to allow the person to move around more freely. 
               2. When Christ commands us to stay dressed for action he means that we are to live with our hearts and minds being continuously prepared to do the work that God has called us to do as citizens of his kingdom and servants within his household. 
               3. One of the first things we do each morning is get dressed. What you put on will be determined by what you plan to do. If you plan to work in the yard, you will put on a certain kind of clothing. If you plan to go into the office, you will dress more professionally. The point is that we dress ourselves daily, and this always involves being mindful of the work to be done on that day.
               4. Christ is here commanding us to do the same thing spiritually. As his disciples, we are to clothe ourselves mentally, emotionally, and volitionally to be about the work that God has called us to do. We are citizens of his eternal kingdom and servants within his household and we are to stay perpetually dressed for action. 
               5. Stated negatively, we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted, slothful, or inattentive. 
               6. And oh, how easy it is to be distracted, brothers and sisters. How easy it is for us to be drawn away from our devotion to Christ being tempted by our own desire for ease and pleasure or by some shiny thing in the world. As disciples of Christ, we must stay dressed for action…
               7. Paul the Apostle was concerned for the believers in his day. He write to the Corinthians, saying, “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3, ESV)
               8. And so, in another place, Paul commanded Christians to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:11–13, ESV)
               9. And how is it that we stay dressed for action? It is through prayer. Paul, after listing the piece of the Christian’s armor in Ephesians 6, says, “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18, ESV). It is through prayer that we daily put on the spiritual armor that God has provided for us. It is through prayer that we stay dressed for action. 
            2. Christ also commands that we keep our lamps burning.
               1. This must symbolize the light of the Word of God and the light of a life lived in obedience to the Word of God. 
               2. Christ’s house is to be well-lit. And where does this light come from? God is the source of all light. His word is a light to our feet (see Psalm 119:105). It is by the light of God’s word that Christ’s house, the church, is to be ordered. It is by the light of God’s word that we are to walk personally. And it is the light of God’s word that we are to share with the world.     
               3. “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,” Christ commands. 
            3. And then he says, “…be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast…”
               1. The word feast is not in the Greek. A more literal translation would be wedding or wedding hall. How are we to live as disciples of Christ? Like men, or women, who are waiting for their master to come home from a wedding. 
               2. This must be a reference to the second coming of Christ. These last days, which span from the resurrection of Christ from the dead on to his second coming (see Acts 2:17, 2 Timothy 3:1, Hebrews 1:2, James 3:5, 2 Peter 3:3), may be compared to a wedding, for in these last days Christ, the bridegroom, is calling his elect bride, the church, to himself from every tongue, tribe, and nation. When all of the elect are gathered in, being called to repentance and faith, Christ will return, and then there will be the consummation and the marriage supper of the Lamb (see Revelation 19:6-9). Disciples of Christ must live with a sense of anticipation and readiness as if waiting for Christ’s return.       
               3. This could also be interpreted with our own personal deaths in view. It could be that Christ returns while we are alive. We live being ready for his return. It is more likely that Christ will come to us personally to call us home through death. We must be ready for that too.  
            4. Whether Christ comes to us in his  second coming or to call us home through death, we must be ready so that we, like good and faithful servants in his house,  “may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.”
   2. “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.” (Luke 12:37, ESV)
      1. To be blessed is to be truly happy in the Lord. Do you wish to be blessed now and for eternity? Then die to yourself and live as Christ’s servant! 
      2. What Christ says in the second half of verse 37 is truly shocking. Here it again: Truly, I say to you, he [that is to say, the master] will dress himself for service and have them [that is to say, the servants] recline at table, and he [the master] will come and serve them [the servants].”
         1. Who has ever heard of such a thing? What kind of master is this who, after arriving home late at night, will dress himself with the garb of a servant, command his servants to recline at the table, and insist on serving them? This sort of behavior is unheard of! But this is precisely the kind of master we have. Christ is a King who serves his servants. He humbled himself to lay down his life for us and our salvation. He was raised to glory and ascended to the Father’s right hand where he serves us still and our great prophet, priest, and king, the only mediator between God and man. And when he returns, he will serve us still as he welcomes us into his eternal home and ours, wipes away every tear from our eyes and preserves us in glory forever and ever.    
         2. The servant-hearted nature of Christ the King was displayed beautifully when he, on the night he was betrayed, rose from supper as he observed the last Passover with his disciples, “laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (John 13:4–5, ESV). As you probably know, Peter objected. Christ the King spoke to Peter, saying, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” (John 13:8, ESV). Paradoxically, Christ the King is also Christ the suffering servant.  
      3. In verses 38-39, the metaphor changes. There we read, “If he [that is, the master] comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!”
         1. The meaning here is that the servants must be diligent. The master might delay a long time and come home very late at night. Indeed, for those of us who live 2,000 years after the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, it might seem like the master is delayed and the night is growing old. Nevertheless, we must remain alert and vigilant, knowing that to the Lord a thousand years is as one day and one day is as a thousand years (see 2 Peter 3:8-13).  
      4. Christ goes on to say, “But know this, that if the master of the house, had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:39–40, ESV)
         1. The meaning is clear. Instead of allowing the fact that we do not know the hour of Christ’s return to lull us into a sense of sleepy complacency, we must be all the more vigilant. As the Scriptures say elsewhere, Christ will return like a thief in the night.  As Paul says, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1–6, ESV)
   3. In verse 41, Peter, the leader of the Apostles, asks a good question. “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” (Luke 12:41, ESV)
      1. It must be remembered that there were twelve apostles. Around them were seventy (or seventy-two) others who followed Jesus closely. And around the seventy, there was a very great multitude. 
      2. So then, Peter’s question was, is this teaching for us, the twelve apostles, only, or is this for all who follow after you?
      3. Jesus’ answer begins in verse 42: “And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.’” (Luke 12:42–44, ESV)
         1. At first, it might appear that Christ ignored Peter’s question. In fact, he answered Peter’s question carefully and wisely. Instead of taking one of the two options that Peter gave him, saying, it is for you, or, it is for all, Jesus distinguishes between the ordinary servants in the master’s house and the servants who are managers within the master’s house.
         2. So then, Jesus’ answer to Peter’s question was, this teaching is for all my disciples. All my disciples are servants in my house who must remain dressed for action and keep their lamps burning. But in my house, there are also servants whom I have appointed as managers. You, apostles, are the managers. Later, I will appoint elders to oversee, rule, and manage the affairs of my house. While all of my servants are expected to stay dressed for action and keep their lamps burning, a special responsibility falls on my servants whom I appoint as managers.
         3. “Who then is the faithful and wise manager whom his master will set over his household,” Jesus asks. This is a reference to a servant whom Christ appoints to oversee the affairs of his household, that is to say, the church. 
         4. And what is the responsibility of the manager? One, the manager is to oversee the house. Two, the manager is to see to it that the other servants are fed and cared for.
         5. As I have said, this is a reference to the apostles, and later, the elders who would be appointed to serve within Christ’s church as managers, stewards, or overseers. In the Greek, the common word for servant is δοῦλος. The Greek word translated as manager is οἰκονόμος.
            1. This is the word that Paul uses to describe himself as an apostle in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, saying, “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards [οἰκονόμους] of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards [οἰκονόμοις] that they be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:1–2, ESV)
            2. In Titus 1:7, elders or overseers are also called stewards. “For an overseer, as God’s steward [οἰκονόμον], must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain…” (Titus 1:7, ESV).
         6. The point is that while all of Jesus’ disciples are servants in his house who are called to remain dressed for action, a special obligation and responsibility falls on those servants of Christ who are appointed as managers, stewards, or overseers within Christ’s church – first the apostles, and later, the elders (see Titus 1:5). 
      4. Christ says that the managers who are found faithful will be rewarded. But then he issues a warning, saying, “But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.” (Luke 12:45–46, ESV)
         1. Here is a sober warning delivered to those who serve as pastors, elders, or overseers within Christ’s church. Pastors are to servants of Christ who have been appointed by Christ to serve the other servants of Christ. This authority must not be used for selfish gain. This authority must not be abused. Those who abuse the authority given to them by Christ will be judged harshly by Christ when he returns.
            1. This is what James was referring to when he said, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1, ESV)
            2. And this is why Peter wrote to the elders of the churches, saying, “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” (1 Peter 5:2–4, ESV)
      5. In verses 47-48, Christ offers a word of clarification. “And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” (Luke 12:47–48, ESV)
         1. There is a great difference, dear brothers and sisters, between acting foolishly and sinfully out of ignorance and acting foolishly and sinfully while knowing better. 
         2. I have met many Christians (and some pastors) who are not as faithful to the Lord as they should be, but for them, it is a matter of ignorance. God and Christ look at that very differently from a situation in which the person knows better and yet disobeys. So should we. 
         3. Everyone to whom much is given, of him much will be required, Christ says. That is a sobering statement. It reminds the parable of talents that Christ told, as recorded in Matthew 25:14ff. The servant who was given five talents (a sum of money) earned five more, and the servant who was given two talents earned two more. When they reported to their master they both received the same reply: “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” (Matthew 25:21, ESV). But the servant who was given one talent buried it in the ground. “His master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (Matthew 25:26–30, ESV).
3. Conclusion
   1. Dear brothers and sisters, how will the master of God’s house find you when he calls you home through death or when he returns on the last day to judge and make all things new? Will he find you awake, dressed for action with your lamps burning, and about the work that he has called you to do? Or will he find you sleepy and slothful, inattentive, and distracted by the cares and concerns of this world? 
   2. It is very easy to be distracted, friends. If we are not careful, even good things can draw us away from our devotion to Christ and his kingdom. But we must seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, trusting that the good things of this life will be added to us (see Luke 12:31, Matthew 6:33).
   3. So, in each arena of our lives, let us “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:11, ESV). Let us “Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” (Psalm 100:2, ESV). 
   4. Dear friends, it does not matter what your particular calling is. Are you male or female, rich or poor, old or young, married or single? Let us serve the Lord and seek his kingdom first. Are you are member of Christ church or a minister? It does not matter. What matters is that we are found faithful in Christ’s kingdom.   
   5. Each of us must trust in Christ and honor him as king. We must have him as Lord of our minds and hearts as we seek to obey his commandments in private and in public. As Paul says, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (Romans 12:9–13, ESV)
   6. And as it pertains to life in the church, we must seek to build it up according to our gifts and callings. As Paul says, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6–8, ESV). 
   7. When Christ calls us home through death or when he returns, may he find us dressed for action with our lamps burning. And may we be blessed to hear him say, “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” (Matthew 25:21, ESV).