We are currently studying the book of Revelation in our evening study time. The messages are online at www.northwoodsbaptist.com
In Revelation 1:9 John writes:
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The phrase "tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience" is very important in understanding what John is writing about in this book. Unfortunately many things are not evident in the English.
In the Greek, the article is before tribulation, and all of the nouns, tribulation, kingdom, and patience are in the same case as the article, indicating that this whole phrase functions as a unit. This means that the tribulation, kingdom and patience cannot be separated in John's (inspired by God) thought. Therefore, it is foreign to John and God Himself that the tribulation and the kingdom could be separated, along with the patience.
Those who separate the tribulation from the kingdom, therefore, twist the Scriptures.
It is also quite important to understand this if you are a professing Christian. If your aim is the kingdom, you should know that you are in the tribulation of which John writes.
John himself identifies himself as a partaker in the tribulation, kingdom and patience, and all those who are in Jesus Christ, are his brothers and companions in all three, tribulation, kingdom and patience.
Do not be deceived by those who separate the tribulation and kingdom. Do not be deceived by those who say the tribulation is yet future. It is now.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
The Spotless Bride being made Spotless
Jesus Christ gave His life to bring to Himself a Spotless Bride, the Church. She is not spotless now, practically speaking, but she is spotless positionally, by justifying faith.
The Cross has a power in the life of those for whom it was planned and accomplished. The faith of God's elect in Jesus Christ, obtains God's righteousness imputed, and the same faith, continued until death or until He comes, obtains God's righteousness practically.
The faith that looks upon Jesus Christ on the Cross and receives salvation, is the same faith which beholds the face of Jesus Christ and is transformed from glory to glory. By beholding the Lord of glory in His Word, the saints of God are being conformed to His image, the image of the Son of God, and are being transformed by the renewing of their mind to approve of God's will, because they behold it in the life of Jesus Christ.
What a thrill to contemplate our position; perfect righteousness of God.
What a thrill to contemplate our transition; to a life filled with the perfect righteousness of God.
All to the praise & glory & honour of Him who gave His life, that we might be made spotless, without blemish, holy, to be presented to Him, the Great Bridegroom.
The Cross has a power in the life of those for whom it was planned and accomplished. The faith of God's elect in Jesus Christ, obtains God's righteousness imputed, and the same faith, continued until death or until He comes, obtains God's righteousness practically.
The faith that looks upon Jesus Christ on the Cross and receives salvation, is the same faith which beholds the face of Jesus Christ and is transformed from glory to glory. By beholding the Lord of glory in His Word, the saints of God are being conformed to His image, the image of the Son of God, and are being transformed by the renewing of their mind to approve of God's will, because they behold it in the life of Jesus Christ.
What a thrill to contemplate our position; perfect righteousness of God.
What a thrill to contemplate our transition; to a life filled with the perfect righteousness of God.
All to the praise & glory & honour of Him who gave His life, that we might be made spotless, without blemish, holy, to be presented to Him, the Great Bridegroom.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
From hearers & doers to judges over God's Word
I recently went away to a Bible Conference & heard great preaching. What made it great preaching? The Bible was preached. It made me think though, about all who talked during the conference, and those who talk in our own Churches.
Are we to judge the preachers, whether they were good, or are we to determine whether the word was preached, and then apply it to our own lives? Ezekiel 33:30-33 gives us an idea of which is our responsibility. If God's messenger brings God's Word, God's people are not to talk about the preacher but about how to live God's Word.
Talking about the preacher, people will quickly find fault and excuse themselves from living and practicing what they heard.
Changes the way preaching ought to be viewed.
Are we to judge the preachers, whether they were good, or are we to determine whether the word was preached, and then apply it to our own lives? Ezekiel 33:30-33 gives us an idea of which is our responsibility. If God's messenger brings God's Word, God's people are not to talk about the preacher but about how to live God's Word.
Talking about the preacher, people will quickly find fault and excuse themselves from living and practicing what they heard.
Changes the way preaching ought to be viewed.
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