Biblical Sobriety

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” –1 Peter 5:8

Peter commanded all Christians to be sober. The reasoning that he gave for this command was that as a body we have a common adversary, an opponent who seeks to do us great harm. Our adversary is the devil, the serpent of old, who was a liar and a murderer from the beginning.

We live in an era when many who identify with the church are living as outright pagans, who must therefore be headed to eternal punishment (cf. 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Eph. 5:5-6). This helps us see that many are not living their lives with sobriety, examining themselves and their church in the light of the Word of God. Very few are living with an alert eye to the teaching of the Word of God, to understand what God declares to be true about sin, grace, and salvation.

May I beg you, then—if you call yourself a Christian—be sober! Awaken to the danger of the world around you! Peter wrote to those in the churches, to warn them that an enemy was prowling about the camp in order to destroy souls. Our enemy is subtle and deceitful, and would as happily lull you into false confidence of salvation as he would have you blatantly apostatize. If he can not get your soul, he will at least aim to destroy your joy in the Lord.

In any case, be sober! This applies to every Christian and it applies in special ways to theological students. Students of theology are in a position to gain knowledge that may merely puff up their self-estimation—the very truth that should humble them may instead make them proud of their erudition. In everything, then, examine the Bible to understand the character of God and examine your response in light of the Bible. Be sober! Be alert!

--Dean of Admissions