Are you one of our Savior's saints? Do you hope to be? We know this about the saints-
Patience of the saints.
They that keep the Commandments of God.
They that keep the Faith of Jesus.
"Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. " Verse 12.
(The following is from-Three Angels Message of Revelation 14 (J.N. Andrews - 1877)
'THE FAITH OF JESUS
We have already briefly spoken of the commandments of God; a few words should be devoted to the faith of Jesus. This term is used in distinction from the commandments of God.
What, therefore, shall we understand by the "faith of Jesus"?
We think that it cannot refer to a particular degree or kind of faith which the Saviour exercised in the performance of his miracles; for it appears that he wrought these by the power which he had already received from his Father. Matt. 8:2, 3; Mark 1:40, 41; Luke 5:23, 24.
(((Mat 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Mat 8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Mar 1:40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Mar 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
Luk 5:23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
Luk 5:24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. ))))
The world itself was made by him. John 1.
(((Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.))))
He had ample power, therefore, to perform every miracle which he wrought. There is but one other thing to which this term can refer; viz. , the precepts and doctrines of our Lord, as recorded in the New Testament.
Thus, "the faith of the gospel" (Phil. 1:27) must refer to the precepts and doctrines of the gospel.
(((Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel))))
"The faith" to which a multitude of the priests were obedient (Acts 6:7), (((Act 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.))))
which was resisted by Elymas, the sorcerer (Acts 13:8), (((Act 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. )))) which was committed to the apostles for the obedience of all nations (Rom. 1:5) (((Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name)))). Which Paul testifies that he had kept (2 Tim. 4:7) (((2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: )))) , and which is to be earnestly maintained, as once delivered to the saints (Jude 3)(((Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. )))), must refer, we think, to the precepts and doctrines of the everlasting gospel.
That the faith of Jesus is used in this sense in Rev. 2:13,(((Rev 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. )))) we think cannot be denied.
"Thou holdest fast my name, " says Jesus, "and hast not denied my faith. " That this is the sense in which it is used in Rev. 14:12, is further evident from the fact that it is spoken of as being kept in the same manner that the commandments of God are kept
*******
Kept.
Keep.
' Original: τηρέω
- Transliteration: Tereo
- Phonetic: tay-reh'-o
- Definition:
1. to attend to carefully, take care of
a. to guard
b. metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is
c. to observe
d. to reserve: to undergo something
- Origin: from teros (a watch, perhaps akin to G2334)
- TDNT entry: 10:20,1
- Part(s) of speech: Verb
- Strong's'
Keep.
1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we KEEP his commandments.
1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we KEEP his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and KEEP his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we KEEP his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our FAITH.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
1Jn 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
Keep.
"Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. " Verse 12.
Keep the faith of Jesus.
The commandments and faith- go hand in hand.
We are to keep them- the commandments and faith.
We are to --
1. to attend to carefully, take care of
a. to guard
b. metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is
c. to observe
d. to reserve: to undergo something
-- attend to carefully.
--take care of.
--to observe.
Do we?
Do we attend to carefully, do we take care of, do we observe the commandments of God and faith of Jesus?
Can we do this?
Satan would have us believe it is an impossible thing, this keeping of God's commandments and the faith of Jesus. Satan told Eve that God's commands were too restrictive and she succumbed to temptation. We like to imagine if 'WE' were the first parents we wouldn't have listened, but that's just stupid. We don't listen now. We claim to be born again into the Spirit and are alive in Christ, we claim this and yet deny that He can live through us. We deny it and refuse to surrender ourselves to Him, always holding back and clinging to our self serving pursuits. Too restrictive, too hard, we shout out these things in our minds letting them echo over and over until we believe them. Christ in us can do anything! Christ in us, not us in us. You and I will NEVER save ourselves by ourselves, never! Our keeping the commandments to the letter, means nothing without our keeping the faith of Jesus, it's only through the faith of Jesus we can keep the commandments of God. We have to put ourselves in constant contact with our Savior, CONSTANT CONTACT! If we find ourselves pushing Him away so we can indulge in something, we have to realize that something can't be good in any way. We need the constant conviction in our hearts of any and all sin we fall victim to. We need the conviction so we can repent and seek forgiveness, constant forgiveness, never simply accepting the evil in us and our actions!
Faith in Jesus, keeping that faith, believing in all our Savior taught, living as He commands us to live - in Him, with Him ever in the forefront of all we think and do!
By HIS GRACE and LOVE!
All IN HIM!
Patience of the saints.
They that keep the Commandments of God.
They that keep the Faith of Jesus.
"Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. " Verse 12.
(The following is from-Three Angels Message of Revelation 14 (J.N. Andrews - 1877)
'THE FAITH OF JESUS
We have already briefly spoken of the commandments of God; a few words should be devoted to the faith of Jesus. This term is used in distinction from the commandments of God.
What, therefore, shall we understand by the "faith of Jesus"?
We think that it cannot refer to a particular degree or kind of faith which the Saviour exercised in the performance of his miracles; for it appears that he wrought these by the power which he had already received from his Father. Matt. 8:2, 3; Mark 1:40, 41; Luke 5:23, 24.
(((Mat 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Mat 8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Mar 1:40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Mar 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
Luk 5:23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
Luk 5:24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. ))))
The world itself was made by him. John 1.
(((Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.))))
He had ample power, therefore, to perform every miracle which he wrought. There is but one other thing to which this term can refer; viz. , the precepts and doctrines of our Lord, as recorded in the New Testament.
Thus, "the faith of the gospel" (Phil. 1:27) must refer to the precepts and doctrines of the gospel.
(((Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel))))
"The faith" to which a multitude of the priests were obedient (Acts 6:7), (((Act 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.))))
which was resisted by Elymas, the sorcerer (Acts 13:8), (((Act 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. )))) which was committed to the apostles for the obedience of all nations (Rom. 1:5) (((Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name)))). Which Paul testifies that he had kept (2 Tim. 4:7) (((2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: )))) , and which is to be earnestly maintained, as once delivered to the saints (Jude 3)(((Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. )))), must refer, we think, to the precepts and doctrines of the everlasting gospel.
That the faith of Jesus is used in this sense in Rev. 2:13,(((Rev 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. )))) we think cannot be denied.
"Thou holdest fast my name, " says Jesus, "and hast not denied my faith. " That this is the sense in which it is used in Rev. 14:12, is further evident from the fact that it is spoken of as being kept in the same manner that the commandments of God are kept
*******
Kept.
Keep.
' Original: τηρέω
- Transliteration: Tereo
- Phonetic: tay-reh'-o
- Definition:
1. to attend to carefully, take care of
a. to guard
b. metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is
c. to observe
d. to reserve: to undergo something
- Origin: from teros (a watch, perhaps akin to G2334)
- TDNT entry: 10:20,1
- Part(s) of speech: Verb
- Strong's'
Keep.
1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we KEEP his commandments.
1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we KEEP his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and KEEP his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we KEEP his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our FAITH.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
1Jn 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
Keep.
"Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. " Verse 12.
Keep the faith of Jesus.
The commandments and faith- go hand in hand.
We are to keep them- the commandments and faith.
We are to --
1. to attend to carefully, take care of
a. to guard
b. metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is
c. to observe
d. to reserve: to undergo something
-- attend to carefully.
--take care of.
--to observe.
Do we?
Do we attend to carefully, do we take care of, do we observe the commandments of God and faith of Jesus?
Can we do this?
Satan would have us believe it is an impossible thing, this keeping of God's commandments and the faith of Jesus. Satan told Eve that God's commands were too restrictive and she succumbed to temptation. We like to imagine if 'WE' were the first parents we wouldn't have listened, but that's just stupid. We don't listen now. We claim to be born again into the Spirit and are alive in Christ, we claim this and yet deny that He can live through us. We deny it and refuse to surrender ourselves to Him, always holding back and clinging to our self serving pursuits. Too restrictive, too hard, we shout out these things in our minds letting them echo over and over until we believe them. Christ in us can do anything! Christ in us, not us in us. You and I will NEVER save ourselves by ourselves, never! Our keeping the commandments to the letter, means nothing without our keeping the faith of Jesus, it's only through the faith of Jesus we can keep the commandments of God. We have to put ourselves in constant contact with our Savior, CONSTANT CONTACT! If we find ourselves pushing Him away so we can indulge in something, we have to realize that something can't be good in any way. We need the constant conviction in our hearts of any and all sin we fall victim to. We need the conviction so we can repent and seek forgiveness, constant forgiveness, never simply accepting the evil in us and our actions!
Faith in Jesus, keeping that faith, believing in all our Savior taught, living as He commands us to live - in Him, with Him ever in the forefront of all we think and do!
By HIS GRACE and LOVE!
All IN HIM!
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