SCANDALON!
- UnstoppableRevKev
- Sep 30
- 5 min read
📖Scripture:
“...knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, 19not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19
🔎Examination:
Peter reminds the elect that they were ransomed (lytroō, Strong's G3084)—redeemed as from slavery—from "futile ways" (mataios, Strong's G3152, empty, vain) inherited from forefathers. A beautiful Old Testament picture of this concept of “ransomed” is found in the book of Hosea, where at the opening of chapter 3, we read, “Then the LORD said to me, ‘Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.’ So I bought her back…”
Gomer’s promiscuity echoes Ephesians 4:17-18's futility of pagan thinking, universal humanity alienated from God's life-giving presence due to ignorance and hardness of heart (see Rom 1:18-20). The context of 1 Peter builds on impartial judgment (v.17), contrasting fleeting ransom with perishable worldly treasures, silver & gold with the imperishable ransom purchased via Christ's priceless blood (v.19).
This reality produces holiness amid trials (1:6-7), as the saints of Christ are intimately aware of their/our sojourn here as foreigners and exiles. Biblically, human futility traces back to Genesis 3's curse, the vanity of human toil by the sweat of our brow post-fall. This same vanity is seen in the opening verse of Ecclesiastes (1:1-2), where qoheleth (the teacher) deems everything vanity under the sun. This curse is permanently repealed and resolved in and through the spotless Lamb of God, the eternal Son, slain from the foundation of the cosmos (Rev 13:8), the unique God-Man Jesus, the Christ, the Aplha & Omega, who doesn’t simply make (past tense) all things new, but is constantly, perpetually, forever making (present-indicative-active) all things new (Rev 21:5)!
Our new identity in Christ (i.e., baptism), which transcends our biological DNA as depraved heirs (Romans 5:12), irrevocably shifts via supernatural regeneration by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3; Titus 3:5). It gives rise to unwavering devotion, not to a pastor, program, movement, denomination, theological camp, local church, or worldview, but to Christ’s everlasting Body & Bride. We are grafted into “her” as functional members (1 Corinthians 12:12-27), no longer separated, isolated, or entitled consumers of “futile ways” we inherited from Adam. This REALITY refutes every perversion of authentic Christianity, i.e., cults:
Cults like The Salvation Army, with their ever-degrading “social gospel” and sin-affirming attitudes that subvert the GRACE and TRUTH of the gospel, (see Paul Carden's, Christianity, Cults & Religions). Their literal militant hierarchy, claiming to be a “church,” and registered as a “Christian denomination,” but actually locating an actual worship center is virtually impossible. Their real goal is to steal, kill, and destroy via a false gospel that depletes time, energy, and resources from Christ’s actual Body & Bride.
Cults like Bethel, Hillsong, and Elevation peddle hyper-charismatic experiences with an entry point through their music. Walter Martin’s book, The Kingdom of the Cults, critiques the New Apostolic Reformations' (NAR) ties to groups like Bethel and Hillsong, with heretical leaders claiming “new revelations” via vision, dreams, and “rhema words from God” that not only go beyond the closed canon of Scripture (see Revelation 22:18-19), but are in complete contradiction to it.
Cults like the Roman Catholic Church, with its long history of grappling for power, murderous atrocities, and heretical doctrines: venerating Mary as deity, the “mother of God,” and “full of grace.” Praying to saints, a works-based salvation (“do penance” vs. “repent”), the Pope as their “Holy Father,” and extra-biblical texts, traditions, and doctrines, etc.
Cults like Mormonism's (LDS) with works-based exaltation based on Joseph Smith’s plagiarized and schizophrenic ramblings in the Book of Mormon, which teaches adherents achieve LITERAL godhood, denying Eph 2:8-9. Meanwhile, their opening “sales pitch” convinces actual Christians, “We believe The Holy Bible too.”
Cults have even emerged within evangelical Protestant churches via mishandled ministries (e.g., Grief Share, Celebrate Recovery, etc.). While these ministries can be helpful, when not properly led, they keep participants stuck in their grief, hurts, hang-ups, and habits, which produce literal cult members, people still clinging to and defined by something other than FULL IDENTITY in Christ. These programs often cultivate, encourage, and foster dependency to NEW addictions: the program, process, recovery community, belonging, etc., rather than being crucified with Christ and buried with Him in baptism (Gal 2:20) because we were bought/purchased/ransomed at a price (1 Cor 6:20).
Cults of Christian nominalism (identifying as a Christian in “name only,” without living by the tenets of the faith) thrive on doing “good,” being “kind,” and “gracious,” but without those terms being rooted in and defined by God’s WORD. At best, it produces an independent and autonomous worldview, where the "futile ways” inherited persist as passivism, avoiding the saltiness of polarizing divine Gospel of God’s grace (Matthew 5:13). Adherants of nominalism exchange the TRUTH for the lies of political correctness, cultural niceties, thus ignoring the biblical reality of persecution, suffering, and trials that refine our faith via sanctification.
Cults of Christian fideism (overtly reject rationality, science, logic, and reason). God’s WORD is never irrational or illogical; instead, it is supra-rational and supra-logical. Therefore, we don’t prioritize human or worldly rationality, science, logic, and reason, but view all things through and subordinate to the WORD of God. Investigation and questions are healthy and encouraged, not to “deconstruct” our faith, but to bolster it as we see God as glorious Creator in and through the majesty of His creation (Ps 19:1-6)!
Therefore, those truly ransomed by the precious blood of the Lamb (1 Pet 1:18-19) are judged impartially by the Father according to Scripture's objective standard (1 Pet 1:17), our deeds bearing no resemblance to those former ways—whether Islam's dhimmi subjugation, Mormonism's extra-biblical revelations, secular humanism's self-reliant morality and ethics, or worldly philosophies… ALL as Satan's SCANDALON (Col 2:8) that imprisons in chaos, confusion, and violence rather than redeeming depraved humanity in Christ's order, clarity, and peace (Col 3:15; Phil 4:7).
🤺Action:
Inventory inherited futile ways against Scripture (Ephesians 4:22-24): Identify cultural or familial traditions clashing with holiness, like consumer church-hopping, and test if your ransom leads to active Body-building or scattering via nominal volunteerism.
Scrutinize ransom's cost in your life (Psalm 49:7-8): Examine if your salvation is the cheap, perishable, counterfeit variety, or authentic via Christ's blood. Am I giving the best of myself, my firstfruits, to the church rather than parachurch organizations or charity non-profits? This testing reveals the authenticity of true regeneration.
Align deeds with non-futility (Col 3:17) that deliver us not by earning salvation, but from the prison of deadly traps, pits, and SCANDALON, i.e., worldly philosophies (Col 2:8). Consider how you are currently (not previously or future intentions) that are currently building up Christ's Body & Bride unto unity in the GOSPEL—do they edify or erode? This is the objective biblical test of authentic allegiance to either Christ Jesus (the Serpent Crusher) or to the Serpent (Satan) and his lies?
🧠Reflection:
In prayer, ponder the futility from which you were ransomed (or still held captive). Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal lingering lies, heresies, or cult influences that are hindering your understanding of devotion to Christ through devotion to a local church. Renew your commitment to gather, grow, give, and go with Christ to the glory of God the Father!
Click the following link for a short video version of today's post:
Blessings & love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
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