Brood of Vipers—Then and Now

Brood of Vipers—Then and Now

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money . . . having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

Those who had a form of godliness were slaves of the sins that are mentioned. That is how they lived. What does it mean to have a form of godliness? It means that they believed in the forgiveness of sins and reckoned they were saved, but they did not want to hear about victory over sin. They denied the power. You are supposed to turn away from such people. Such people are nothing but a brood of vipers. Why do they want to have their sins forgiven if they do not want to have victory over sin? Of course, they want to get to heaven when they die, but they want to enjoy the world while they live. It feels good to have your sins forgiven, but if you want to have victory over sin, you have to deny yourself; therefore people would rather deny the power to gain victory over sin. They call it arrogance and being in bondage to the law.

We live in the last days, and the denial of the power of godliness is so pervasive that you are virtually branded a deceiver if you speak about complete victory. It is the same today as in former days when they wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb because they believed in God’s power to overcome the enemy. Num. 14:6-11. In our days the times are perilous for someone who truly wants to seek God and receive the power so he can live a new life.

One expression that is often heard among religious people is “The work of Calvary,” which is an expression that is not found in the Bible. People say that “the work of Calvary is sufficient.” When they say this, they think of Jesus’ death for us—that Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all sin—in short, they think of the forgiveness of sins. The preaching in our days is, for all practical purposes, concerned only with Jesus’ death on Calvary; but if you read what the apostles spoke and wrote, you will realize that they put the emphasis on Jesus’ resurrection. Peter praises God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Pet. 1:3. What would His death on Calvary have availed us if He had not risen again? The apostle says that then we would still be in our sins. 1 Cor. 15:17. This is a fact in the lives of all those who reckon only with “The work of Calvary” and not with Jesus’ resurrection. They believe in the atonement alright, but not in victory. They continue to live in self-love, love of money, envy, arrogance, etc. No wonder they do not become one as the Father and the Son are one.

Paul reminds us that he was called to be an apostle to proclaim the gospel of God concerning His Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. Rom. 1:1-5. Here we can see what the gospel actually is. It is Jesus’ victory in the flesh of David so that death could not hold Him. What is called “The work of Calvary” in these days is only mentioned indirectly by the apostle; the great thing is His victory in life and His resurrection. Therefore he states further that for this purpose he had received the apostleship to work the obedience to the faith among all nations.

Do you think you can appropriate the death of Christ for yourself without presenting yourself to obedience to Him who was resurrected? You have been deceived if you believe that. The truth is that the majority of the religious world (those who call themselves Christians) have been deceived. They rejoice over the finished work of Calvary without presenting themselves to obedience to Him who finished the work and who lives! Yet the apostle says that He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Heb. 5:9.

If the believers sanctified Jesus as Lord in their hearts, don’t you think that then they would have victory on all fronts—that they would become one? “Wake up in earnest, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.” 1 Cor. 15:34. In our days the times have become much more perilous, and we have to say that only the few have this knowledge of God with the result that they do not sin. You have been thoroughly deceived if you believe you can receive forgiveness for your sins without presenting yourself to obedience. They couldn’t even do that in the old covenant. Moses read from the Book of the Covenant to the people. “And they said, ‘All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.’ And Moses took the blood, [and] sprinkled it on the people . . . .” Ex. 24:7-8.

Here we can see that first they had to be willing to be obedient before they could avail themselves of the blood. Of course you want to be set free from your bad conscience by the blood of Jesus, but that is not possible if you are not willing to be obedient. All those who pray to have their sins forgiven because they are afraid of perdition but who do not hate sin are a brood of vipers. John was in the old covenant when he said to many of them who came to be baptized, confessing their sins: “Brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance . . . .” Matt. 3:6-8. This was John’s message, the one who was to prepare the way for Jesus: Repent! It was also Peter’s message to the people when they asked him what they should do: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38. Jesus was exalted by God to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:31. No one receives forgiveness for his sins unless he repents. Don’t you believe that all those who repent receive strength to stop sinning? Perhaps you want to continue to be among those who deny the power of godliness? Listen now! “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:8-9.

We have to put the lamp on the lampstand and let the light shine for all in the house. Now the time when you can rest in the “finished work” and continue to sin has to come to an end. No one has the forgiveness of sins unless he hates sin, and no one hates sin without getting the victory. In the new covenant there is no reason whatsoever to remain in sin. If someone falls, he has a Mediator; but woe to him if he stays down.

We have to turn away from the brood of vipers in these last days so that the upright can find their way to complete victory over sin, to the joy of salvation, oneness, and fellowship in the light—set free from earthly things and sat in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Just as we with great boldness proclaim to the worst sinner that there is forgiveness to be had because Jesus wiped out the letter of accusation against us by nailing it to the cross, so we must also proclaim victory over sin because Jesus disarmed principalities and powers by making a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them through the cross.

May we stand firm in the deep darkness of the times and be Jesus’ witnesses to these things.