The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
...
I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the ending,
saith the Lord,
which is,
and which was,
and which is to come,
the Almighty.
*
Grace be unto you
and peace
from him
which is
and which was
and which is to come.
(((The similarities right there within such a short bit of writing does what? Usually we call such repetativeness redundant and any writer worth their salt would have deleted such reiteration as unnecessary use of words. Change things up we say; learn how to say the same thing in a new way so it doesn't come off as repetative. But here in the Bible we know for a fact that the writers of this holy book got it right the first time with no need for an editors sharp pen to run through any lines and make little notations to change things up a bit. These are God's words to man through the Holy Spirit inspiring them to write and if these are holy words we read they are being written for a reason. If there is any repetition it's there for a reason as well, there to show emphasis perhaps? There to indicate important knowledge that we shouldn't overlook. The Bible isn't a novel, the Bible is unique and the message it holds for any who reads it is unique.
Reading the beginning of Revelation and these words- which is, which was, which is to come, we can find again further along--
Rev. {4:8} '...saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.'
There is no mistaking the importance of this is there? The fulness glorified in those words is amazing. The Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the ending. Through it ALL the Lord is present, in all stages- past, present, and future. Never was there a time and never will there be a time without the Lord living in it, never. People tend to read the Bible as if it's OLD news, or confusing and complicated and for those interested in such things. People look for the spectacular all over the place. People thrive watching movies, reading books, all about the supernatural and one of the supernatural beings that fascinates them is the vampire who can supposedly live forever and ever. The idea of a being living hundreds of centuries, thousands of years is just incredible and secretly people wish they were able to live that long- that they could be one of these beings with this power over death in life, not power over death and living on another plane of existence either right off or at some future time. The wondrous idea of being able to live among finite creatures holds an allure that has captured the imagination of many people and it's no wonder- Satan's lie way back in the garden of Eden was what? Gen. {3:4} 'And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.'
Power over death. Satan has His own brand of life and he offers the allure of living forever in any way that pleases man so long as man doesn't believe in living forever through Jesus' Christ. Did God lie when He told Adam and Eve they would die? No. We are living proof of that fact and yet Satan would use all the tricks He can to get us to believe that we can live forever without God.
Satan was a created being. Satan can not lay hold of the claim that he is from the beginning, yet he would have people think he is. He wants people to believe that he is God. That they too can be God. It's no joke. There are a lot of people searching for inner power and laying claim to their lives and finding empowerment from themselves. In fact there are a whole slew of people who will try and convince you that you are the captain of your own ship, the ruler of your own destiny, the power over a good life is in your own hands. The stress on self is the same lie satan used at the start. Gen. {3:5} 'For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.' Do you hear the lies? Yet that same lie is being spouted today and embraced as something wonderful. People want to be as gods. People want to believe they have a godly power.
Truthfully, while we get all caught up in the fantasy and lies of satan, while he projects his evin into every facet of our lives, when we find a certain hope or wish fulfillment from reading of beings that live forever we are showing that we do have a need for such hope in our lives- only Satan has twisted it and pulled it down to the the level of man as men exist full of sin-- the very opposite of the truth.
There is a being who 'was, is, and is to come', God.
There will never be a time without God. Never. He is all.
He is the beginning and the end, there is nothing before and nothing after God.
We can struggle to find understanding and bring God down to our level and we can even pretend we are gods ourselves, but realizing that as creatures of the Creator we will never be the Creator ourselves is paramount. There is no shame in a son wanting to be like his father, but there is shame in the son wanting to be the father as if the father never was, as if the father isn't, and as if the father will no longer be. If you want to be like your father that's a good thing if you are embracing the good qualities of your father. But if you want to push your father aside and take his place, that's not so good. Usurping the life of another is never right. Creatures trying to usurp the Creator is completely wrong. If I'm told to be like someone, it's not the same as being told to take over that person's life.
Satan full of pride wanted to take over the Creator's position. He didn't want to be like God, he wanted to be God, the same as God without any distinction. And failing at that he wants us to believe we can obtain that position. He wants us to desire to have control over ourselves in place of us allowing God to control us. He's twisted things around perfectly.))))
...
I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the ending,
saith the Lord,
which is,
and which was,
and which is to come,
the Almighty.
(((No other can make this claim. We can know this wonderful, amazing, Alpha, Omega, which was, which is, and is to come. We can cling to Him and the promises we find in Him knowing there is no other like Him nor will there ever be. We will always have had a beginning that includes many before ourselves, we will never be the Was at the beginning no matter what we believe. Some can embrace Satan's lies and most will, but by the grace of God I pray I'm not among them; that my Creator, my Redeemer, my God will always be first and foremost in all that I am and all that I do, it's only by His great mercy and love that this can be and I cling to Him through the Holy Spirit, hoping and praying in His everlasting, ever-existing love!
Amen.))))
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Every Eye Shall See Him
*******
Revelation
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
Amen.
...
'Behold,
he cometh with clouds'
(((Look! Look!
Behold- Dictionary Meaning - verb, intransitive - Used in the imperative for the purpose of calling attention.
Attention! Look at this! Jesus comes with clouds! - Imagery. The Bible uses imagery. The Bible uses mysteries and words that may mean one thing will mean another especially in prophecy. The Bible interprets itself though. It's not some master puzzle without a master key. The key is within the puzzle itself. When we talk of Jesus coming with clouds it is true that perhaps He will be in the clouds, on the clouds, clouds those vaporous puffs and wisps, the angry full dark gray bodies of pure moisture are all at Jesus' command. So sure, the imagery of Jesus standing upon a cloud using it as a magic carpet of sorts is possible, but so too is this- Matthew {25:31} 'When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him...' Angels! We know Jesus will return and call His people to Him while He's in the air with ALL the holy angels, perhaps they're all upon the misty clouds but truly they do not need to rest upon vapors, do they? Clouds and angels, just the image of Jesus returning is amazing! This next bit is amazing too...))))
'and every eye shall see him.'
(((The eyes of people awake? The eyes of people on one location upon the earth? The eyes of a few? The eyes of only His chosen people? No, no, no, and no.
EVERY eye shall see him! EVERY!
every (èv´rê) adjective
Constituting each and all members of a group without exception.
EVERY eye shall see him! How will this be possible with the whole round earth thing where daylight shines upon only one side at a time? A mystery for sure and one that I hope and pray I'm alive in Jesus to see!
Get this though- not only every eye of the living but read on...))))
'and they also which pierced him'
(((Wait! Does this mean what I think it means? Who pierced Jesus? Who killed Him? Some might argue and could be right, that we all played our part in His death with our sins. Our sins killed Jesus because He died to save us from our sins, all of us. He wouldn't have died if we'd not sinned. So even if the arguing person chooses that scenario that we ALL killed Him, we all pierced Him that just reinforces the fact that every eye shall see Him doesn't it? It does. It could also be stressing the point that those who are dead- those who actually physically pierced His hands, His feet, His side will be brought to life just to see Him return triumphant. Mysteries.))))
...
'and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.
Even so,
Amen.'
(((ALL kindreds...
kindred (kîn´drîd) noun
1.A group of related persons, as a clan or tribe.
2.(used with a pl. verb). A person's relatives; kinfolk.
adjective
1. Of the same ancestry or family: kindred clans.
2. Having a similar or related origin, nature, or character: kindred emotions.
All kindreds, all of the earth... shall wail?! Wait! Jesus has returned and everyone is wailing?! How can that be. We know that God's chosen people who are waiting for His return should be happy, they should be rejoicing so how can everyone wail? It doesn't mean EVERYONE on earth does it? But... read this...
John {17:14} 'I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. {17:15} I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. {17:16} They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. {17:17} Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. {17:18} As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.'
'THEY ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD'
1 John {2:15} 'Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. {2:16} For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. {2:17} And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.'
Is it possible all kindreds of the earth are those who claim the earth as their own; those who love this world and live for this world and not the world to come? Those who aren't God's are this world's they are ruled by the lust of the flesh, the eyes, by pride of life. All those who have put their hopes and dreams, their love into this world's existence counting on the things this world has to offer for their happiness will be sorely disappointed when Jesus returns, won't they? When they realize that it's all true, that Jesus, the Son of God is real and all His promises are real. There will be wailing and I imagine quite a lot of wailing.))))
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we be with Him now and forever!
Amen!
Revelation
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
Amen.
...
'Behold,
he cometh with clouds'
(((Look! Look!
Behold- Dictionary Meaning - verb, intransitive - Used in the imperative for the purpose of calling attention.
Attention! Look at this! Jesus comes with clouds! - Imagery. The Bible uses imagery. The Bible uses mysteries and words that may mean one thing will mean another especially in prophecy. The Bible interprets itself though. It's not some master puzzle without a master key. The key is within the puzzle itself. When we talk of Jesus coming with clouds it is true that perhaps He will be in the clouds, on the clouds, clouds those vaporous puffs and wisps, the angry full dark gray bodies of pure moisture are all at Jesus' command. So sure, the imagery of Jesus standing upon a cloud using it as a magic carpet of sorts is possible, but so too is this- Matthew {25:31} 'When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him...' Angels! We know Jesus will return and call His people to Him while He's in the air with ALL the holy angels, perhaps they're all upon the misty clouds but truly they do not need to rest upon vapors, do they? Clouds and angels, just the image of Jesus returning is amazing! This next bit is amazing too...))))
'and every eye shall see him.'
(((The eyes of people awake? The eyes of people on one location upon the earth? The eyes of a few? The eyes of only His chosen people? No, no, no, and no.
EVERY eye shall see him! EVERY!
every (èv´rê) adjective
Constituting each and all members of a group without exception.
EVERY eye shall see him! How will this be possible with the whole round earth thing where daylight shines upon only one side at a time? A mystery for sure and one that I hope and pray I'm alive in Jesus to see!
Get this though- not only every eye of the living but read on...))))
'and they also which pierced him'
(((Wait! Does this mean what I think it means? Who pierced Jesus? Who killed Him? Some might argue and could be right, that we all played our part in His death with our sins. Our sins killed Jesus because He died to save us from our sins, all of us. He wouldn't have died if we'd not sinned. So even if the arguing person chooses that scenario that we ALL killed Him, we all pierced Him that just reinforces the fact that every eye shall see Him doesn't it? It does. It could also be stressing the point that those who are dead- those who actually physically pierced His hands, His feet, His side will be brought to life just to see Him return triumphant. Mysteries.))))
...
'and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.
Even so,
Amen.'
(((ALL kindreds...
kindred (kîn´drîd) noun
1.A group of related persons, as a clan or tribe.
2.(used with a pl. verb). A person's relatives; kinfolk.
adjective
1. Of the same ancestry or family: kindred clans.
2. Having a similar or related origin, nature, or character: kindred emotions.
All kindreds, all of the earth... shall wail?! Wait! Jesus has returned and everyone is wailing?! How can that be. We know that God's chosen people who are waiting for His return should be happy, they should be rejoicing so how can everyone wail? It doesn't mean EVERYONE on earth does it? But... read this...
John {17:14} 'I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. {17:15} I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. {17:16} They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. {17:17} Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. {17:18} As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.'
'THEY ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD'
1 John {2:15} 'Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. {2:16} For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. {2:17} And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.'
Is it possible all kindreds of the earth are those who claim the earth as their own; those who love this world and live for this world and not the world to come? Those who aren't God's are this world's they are ruled by the lust of the flesh, the eyes, by pride of life. All those who have put their hopes and dreams, their love into this world's existence counting on the things this world has to offer for their happiness will be sorely disappointed when Jesus returns, won't they? When they realize that it's all true, that Jesus, the Son of God is real and all His promises are real. There will be wailing and I imagine quite a lot of wailing.))))
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we be with Him now and forever!
Amen!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
John to the seven churches
John to the seven churches
(((Seven churches. Biblically the number seven is used many, many times. It was used in the beginning of the Bible- God made the world and all that was in it in seven days. God made the seventh day a memorial for eternity. Our lives are still influenced by the seven day week and will be forever.
'The first pages of the Bible explain how God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This seventh day became the Jewish day of rest, the sabbath, Saturday.
Extra-biblical locations sometimes mentioned as the birthplace of the 7-day week include: Babylon, Persia, and several others. The week was known in Rome before the advent of Christianity. -- http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/week.html#anchor-origin'
With seven denoting in a sense completeness - of perfection it truly is perfect for indicating the beginning and the end of the prophecy.
Sevens in the Bible
Seven days of creation
Genesis 1
Seven days for Noah to fill the Ark
Genesis 7:4-10
Seven years Jacob serves for each wife
Genesis 28:18-20; 29:27-30
Seven good and seven famine years in Egypt
Genesis 41
Seven days the waters turn to blood
Exodus 7:25
Seven lamps of the Menorah
Exodus 25:37
Seven feasts of Israel
Leviticus 23
Seven years of the sabbatical year
Leviticus 25:4
Seven times seven to the jubilee year
Leviticus 25:8
Seven priests with seven trumpets circle Jericho seven times
Joshua 6
Solomon spent seven years building the temple
1 Kings 6:38
Daniel’s seventy sevens prophecy
Daniel 9:24-27
Seventy years in Babylonian exile
Jeremiah 25:11-12
Seven loaves fed the 4,000, seven baskets are leftover
Matthew 15:32-39
Seven deacons in the early church
Acts 6:5
Seven miracles in the gospel of John
John
Seven discourses in the gospel of John
John
Seven “I am” statements in the gospel of John
John
Paul sent letters to seven different churches
Paul’s epistles
Seven churches in Revelation
Revelation 2,3
Seven promises, seals, trumpets, angels, plagues, bowls etc
Revelation
Seven promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Genesis
Seven miracles on the Sabbath
Gospels
Seven sayings of Jesus from the cross
Gospels
Seven appearances of angels
Gospels and Acts
Seven elements of the armor of God
Ephesians 6:14-18
http://www.windmillministries.org/frames/CH27-3A.htm
Yes, the number seven is a number of completeness and we can easily understand that while Christ chose to give God's Revelation through His angel to John to go to seven churches it would be a message for all time as well. The fulness of history from that point on. Seriously, the revelation would be complete and that means a revelation for all of God's servants through time. The blessing given to all who read, hear, and keep the words within are for all- for you and for me. The blessings were for those living in that time as well. Knowing this we have to read these words and pray for a clear understanding to be blessed with all that we need to hear and keep.))))
...
John to the seven churches
(((Churches- a church Biblically is what? A building? No. The church essentially is God's people, period. It's not a building erected and named. God's people in each of these places are being addressed. We could also say, God's people in each of these times are being addressed. God's people- His church.))))
...
which are in Asia
Grace be unto you
and peace
from him
which is
and which was
and which is to come
(((Grace and peace- this is all God has ever wanted for us, His people, isn't it? His grace to cover their sins, His peace which isn't of this world but a peace in knowing Him and Him knowing us. 'John {14:27} Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you' Grace and peace from HIM which is, which was, and which is to come. God. 'John {17:1} These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee', '{17:9} I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. {17:10} And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.' We are all God's. We are God's- Jesus even said so.))))
...
and from the seven Spirits
which are before his throne
(((From the perfect Spirit- seven the perfect completeness of Spirit. Seven churches- the complete church. Seven Spirits- the complete Spirit.))))
...
And from Jesus Christ
who is the faithful witness
and the first begotten of the dead
and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us
and washed us from our sins in his own blood
And hath made us kings and priests unto God
and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
(((From Jesus Christ. The faithful witness. The first begotten of the dead- the first begotten- Jesus was the first begotten of His kind wasn't He? Think about it. The Son of God. There was no other Son of God that took on humanity. Jesus was the first begotten in the manner He was begotten and yes- the first begotten and the only one by whom the dead - those promised death through sin- will live again. The dead will find life in the first begotten. Jesus truly is the first begotten of the dead- we only find life in Christ.
'The prince of the kings of the earth.' Jesus is the ultimate prince of all the kings. There is no other prince of the kings of the earth but Jesus- He reigns.
'Unto him that loved us.' No other has ever loved us like Jesus- no other!
'and washed us from our sins in his own blood.' Only Jesus the innocent Son of God could cleanse us from our sins by His amazing sacrifice. By His blood we are freed from sin.
'And hath made us kings and priests unto God' We are to serve God as His kings, his priests, we are God's through Jesus!
'And His Father! To him be the Glory! And dominion!
Forever and ever!
Amen.))))
...
Amen.
(((Seven churches. Biblically the number seven is used many, many times. It was used in the beginning of the Bible- God made the world and all that was in it in seven days. God made the seventh day a memorial for eternity. Our lives are still influenced by the seven day week and will be forever.
'The first pages of the Bible explain how God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This seventh day became the Jewish day of rest, the sabbath, Saturday.
Extra-biblical locations sometimes mentioned as the birthplace of the 7-day week include: Babylon, Persia, and several others. The week was known in Rome before the advent of Christianity. -- http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/week.html#anchor-origin'
With seven denoting in a sense completeness - of perfection it truly is perfect for indicating the beginning and the end of the prophecy.
Sevens in the Bible
Seven days of creation
Genesis 1
Seven days for Noah to fill the Ark
Genesis 7:4-10
Seven years Jacob serves for each wife
Genesis 28:18-20; 29:27-30
Seven good and seven famine years in Egypt
Genesis 41
Seven days the waters turn to blood
Exodus 7:25
Seven lamps of the Menorah
Exodus 25:37
Seven feasts of Israel
Leviticus 23
Seven years of the sabbatical year
Leviticus 25:4
Seven times seven to the jubilee year
Leviticus 25:8
Seven priests with seven trumpets circle Jericho seven times
Joshua 6
Solomon spent seven years building the temple
1 Kings 6:38
Daniel’s seventy sevens prophecy
Daniel 9:24-27
Seventy years in Babylonian exile
Jeremiah 25:11-12
Seven loaves fed the 4,000, seven baskets are leftover
Matthew 15:32-39
Seven deacons in the early church
Acts 6:5
Seven miracles in the gospel of John
John
Seven discourses in the gospel of John
John
Seven “I am” statements in the gospel of John
John
Paul sent letters to seven different churches
Paul’s epistles
Seven churches in Revelation
Revelation 2,3
Seven promises, seals, trumpets, angels, plagues, bowls etc
Revelation
Seven promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Genesis
Seven miracles on the Sabbath
Gospels
Seven sayings of Jesus from the cross
Gospels
Seven appearances of angels
Gospels and Acts
Seven elements of the armor of God
Ephesians 6:14-18
http://www.windmillministries.org/frames/CH27-3A.htm
Yes, the number seven is a number of completeness and we can easily understand that while Christ chose to give God's Revelation through His angel to John to go to seven churches it would be a message for all time as well. The fulness of history from that point on. Seriously, the revelation would be complete and that means a revelation for all of God's servants through time. The blessing given to all who read, hear, and keep the words within are for all- for you and for me. The blessings were for those living in that time as well. Knowing this we have to read these words and pray for a clear understanding to be blessed with all that we need to hear and keep.))))
...
John to the seven churches
(((Churches- a church Biblically is what? A building? No. The church essentially is God's people, period. It's not a building erected and named. God's people in each of these places are being addressed. We could also say, God's people in each of these times are being addressed. God's people- His church.))))
...
which are in Asia
Grace be unto you
and peace
from him
which is
and which was
and which is to come
(((Grace and peace- this is all God has ever wanted for us, His people, isn't it? His grace to cover their sins, His peace which isn't of this world but a peace in knowing Him and Him knowing us. 'John {14:27} Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you' Grace and peace from HIM which is, which was, and which is to come. God. 'John {17:1} These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee', '{17:9} I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. {17:10} And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.' We are all God's. We are God's- Jesus even said so.))))
...
and from the seven Spirits
which are before his throne
(((From the perfect Spirit- seven the perfect completeness of Spirit. Seven churches- the complete church. Seven Spirits- the complete Spirit.))))
...
And from Jesus Christ
who is the faithful witness
and the first begotten of the dead
and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us
and washed us from our sins in his own blood
And hath made us kings and priests unto God
and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
(((From Jesus Christ. The faithful witness. The first begotten of the dead- the first begotten- Jesus was the first begotten of His kind wasn't He? Think about it. The Son of God. There was no other Son of God that took on humanity. Jesus was the first begotten in the manner He was begotten and yes- the first begotten and the only one by whom the dead - those promised death through sin- will live again. The dead will find life in the first begotten. Jesus truly is the first begotten of the dead- we only find life in Christ.
'The prince of the kings of the earth.' Jesus is the ultimate prince of all the kings. There is no other prince of the kings of the earth but Jesus- He reigns.
'Unto him that loved us.' No other has ever loved us like Jesus- no other!
'and washed us from our sins in his own blood.' Only Jesus the innocent Son of God could cleanse us from our sins by His amazing sacrifice. By His blood we are freed from sin.
'And hath made us kings and priests unto God' We are to serve God as His kings, his priests, we are God's through Jesus!
'And His Father! To him be the Glory! And dominion!
Forever and ever!
Amen.))))
...
Amen.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Rev. 1:1
Rev. 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ
which God gave unto him
to shew unto his servants
things which must
shortly
come to pass
(((God gave this revelation to Jesus to show to his followers- his servants. --
Servants-
Col. {4:12} Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ
Titus {1:1} Paul, a servant of God
James {1:1} James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
2 Pet.{1:1} Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ
Jude {1:1} Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ
1 Cor.{7:22} For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant
Matthew {20:27} And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: {20:28} Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew {23:11} But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
John {15:20} Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.
(((God gave this revelation to Jesus to show it to His servants, us, we who are reading trying to understand, we who are followers of Christ seeking to serve Him, and to serve others for Him. We are being shown things and these things MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS.
We are being shown things that will come to pass without a doubt. Things that WILL happen. There are certainties in life, a lot of them. There are positives in life. If you mix sugar with water without a doubt that sugar will dissolve. It's a positive. There are things which are positives and nothing can alter them, nothing. We can't hold back time it marches on whether we want it to or not- that's a positive. It's a must. When God says something MUST come to pass it's a certainty, it's a positive, it's inevitable.
So from the time the revelation was given to Jesus by God to give to us, given to the angel by Jesus to give to John, and from the moment John's pen hit the page and the word was sent out to the people, those things written were to come to pass from that moment on.
The revelation came to us shrouded in mystery. We couldn't be told things straight out as if one person was instructing another, things had to be done in cryptic manners so that the message would be pertinent to ALL that would follow- to ALL of Christ's servants throughout time until He returns to take us to Heaven.
The mystery had to be such that it wasn't impossible to comprehend, but that time would unfold it as necessary, preparing all of Christ's servants.
That these things we are to see MUST shortly come to pass means what?
What is shortly to God?
Shortly as opposed to eternity when we're dealing with the end of chances for all of mankind to be Christ's servants is in truth very short. When all those that will be saved are saved and all that will not be saved are not saved, then Jesus will return and the short time from His return to life and to heaven will be over- it's not something to rush even if it has to be short. You might have a short bit of time to accomplish something but you don't have to rush to make the time even shorter.
When we as humans are faced with a chance to save lives in one profession or another- fireman, policeman, coastguard, doctors, etc.. and there are many people needing to be saved all at once- the regret felt when time runs out and many people are left dead because time ran out, is immense. The sorrow is overpowering and the wish that time had just stretched out somehow long enough to save everyone is a wish that is truly felt and yet a wish that cannot come true.
Time will run out for people, for mankind, and yes, all will have had a chance to choose to serve Christ or not, to be counted Jesus' servants or not counted among them. Jesus believes time is short because He would not want to lose one person not one!
Time is the shortest when you run out of it, isn't it?
The Revelation of Jesus Christ
which God gave unto him
to shew unto his servants
things which must
shortly
come to pass
(((God gave this revelation to Jesus to show to his followers- his servants. --
Servants-
Col. {4:12} Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ
Titus {1:1} Paul, a servant of God
James {1:1} James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
2 Pet.{1:1} Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ
Jude {1:1} Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ
1 Cor.{7:22} For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant
Matthew {20:27} And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: {20:28} Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew {23:11} But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
John {15:20} Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.
(((God gave this revelation to Jesus to show it to His servants, us, we who are reading trying to understand, we who are followers of Christ seeking to serve Him, and to serve others for Him. We are being shown things and these things MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS.
We are being shown things that will come to pass without a doubt. Things that WILL happen. There are certainties in life, a lot of them. There are positives in life. If you mix sugar with water without a doubt that sugar will dissolve. It's a positive. There are things which are positives and nothing can alter them, nothing. We can't hold back time it marches on whether we want it to or not- that's a positive. It's a must. When God says something MUST come to pass it's a certainty, it's a positive, it's inevitable.
So from the time the revelation was given to Jesus by God to give to us, given to the angel by Jesus to give to John, and from the moment John's pen hit the page and the word was sent out to the people, those things written were to come to pass from that moment on.
The revelation came to us shrouded in mystery. We couldn't be told things straight out as if one person was instructing another, things had to be done in cryptic manners so that the message would be pertinent to ALL that would follow- to ALL of Christ's servants throughout time until He returns to take us to Heaven.
The mystery had to be such that it wasn't impossible to comprehend, but that time would unfold it as necessary, preparing all of Christ's servants.
That these things we are to see MUST shortly come to pass means what?
What is shortly to God?
Shortly as opposed to eternity when we're dealing with the end of chances for all of mankind to be Christ's servants is in truth very short. When all those that will be saved are saved and all that will not be saved are not saved, then Jesus will return and the short time from His return to life and to heaven will be over- it's not something to rush even if it has to be short. You might have a short bit of time to accomplish something but you don't have to rush to make the time even shorter.
When we as humans are faced with a chance to save lives in one profession or another- fireman, policeman, coastguard, doctors, etc.. and there are many people needing to be saved all at once- the regret felt when time runs out and many people are left dead because time ran out, is immense. The sorrow is overpowering and the wish that time had just stretched out somehow long enough to save everyone is a wish that is truly felt and yet a wish that cannot come true.
Time will run out for people, for mankind, and yes, all will have had a chance to choose to serve Christ or not, to be counted Jesus' servants or not counted among them. Jesus believes time is short because He would not want to lose one person not one!
Time is the shortest when you run out of it, isn't it?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Wrath and Righteousness
Rev. {19:15} And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword,
that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule
them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
(Noah Webster's Dictionary http://refbible.com/w/wrath.htm
1. (a.) Violent anger; vehement exasperation; indignation; rage; fury; ire.
2. (n.) The effects of anger or indignation; the just punishment of an offense or a crime.
3. (a.) See Wroth.
4. (v. t.) To anger; to enrage; -- also used impersonally.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
WRATH, (ANGER)
rath, roth, rath ('aph, from 'anaph, "to snort," "to be angry"; orge, thumos, orgizomai): Designates various degrees of feeling, such as sadness (Psalm 85:4), a frown or turning away of the face in grief or anger (2 Chronicles 26:19 Jeremiah 3:12), indignation (Psalm 38:3), bitterness (Judges 18:25), fury (Esther 1:12), full of anger (Genesis 4:5 John 7:23), snorting mad (Genesis 27:45 Matthew 2:16).
1. Divine Wrath:
Wrath is used with reference to both God and man. When used of God it is to be understood that there is the complete absence of that caprice and unethical quality so prominent in the anger attributed to the gods of the heathen and to man. The divine wrath is to be regarded as the natural expression of the divine nature, which is absolute holiness, manifesting itself against the willful, high-handed, deliberate, inexcusable sin and iniquity of mankind. God's wrath is always regarded in the Scripture as the just, proper, and natural expression of His holiness and righteousness which must always, under all circumstances, and at all costs be maintained. It is therefore a righteous indignation and compatible with the holy and righteous nature of God (Numbers 11:1-10 Deuteronomy 29:27 2 Samuel 6:7 Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 42:25 Jeremiah 44:6 Psalm 79:6). The element of love and compassion is always closely connected with God's anger; if we rightly estimate the divine anger we must unhesitatingly pronounce it to be but the expression and measure of that love (compare Jeremiah 10:24 Ezekiel 23 Amos 3:2).)
***
Rev. {6:16} And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and
hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and
from the wrath of the Lamb: {6:17} For the great day of his
wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Rev. {11:18} And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come,
and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and
that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the
prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name,
small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy
the earth.
Rev. {12:12} Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye
that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of
the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great
wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Rev. {14:8} And
there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is
fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of
the wine of the wrath of her fornication. {14:9} And the
third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any
man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his]
mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev. {14:10} The same shall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out
without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall
be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the
holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb
Rev. {14:19} And the angel thrust in his sickle into the
earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into
the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev. {15:1} And I saw another sign in heaven, great and
marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for
in them is filled up the wrath of God
Rev. {16:19} And the
great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the
nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before
God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness
of his wrath.
Rev. {15:7} And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven
angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who
liveth for ever and ever.
{16:1} And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying
to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of
the wrath of God upon the earth
Rev. {18:2} And he cried mightily with
a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen,
and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every
foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
{18:3} For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath
of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have
committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the
earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her
delicacies.
***
People get angry and the majority of the time they believe the anger is righteous. When the blood gets boiling, the emotions start to rise, that feeling of fury fills a person they start to say things they often regret. No one likes when anger is directed towards them, it makes them want to respond in kind. Anger is destructive in so many ways. So many crimes are committed from anger. Is there a righteous anger? Yes, we've all felt it, but then again as already mentioned most people believe their anger is justified, that it's righteous.
I've been guilty many times over of unrighteous anger, an anger I feel that seems to have little cause, no rhyme or reason. I've lashed out at people for no reason other than the anger in me. Anger can be a problem for a lot of people, I know it has been for me.
God's anger is righteous. God's wrath is justified.
Just as we know how it is to have an anger that is righteous- the anger of a mother whose child has been intentionally hurt by another person. The anger of a father whose son is murdered by a mugger, these sorts of anger are righteous. God's anger, God's wrath is righteous.
God offers His love, God offers life eternal through the sacrifice of His Son. God is justified in His anger as all that He has to offer to His own creations is rejected. As His creatures believe they are in fact creators. As His creatures believe they are more worthy than their Creator.
There is a sense o betrayal when someone grooms another person helping them attain a status in life that is wonderful only to have that person turn around and reject the very person who has helped them get where they are, the person who was there every step of the way. This is on a human level. The pain of being rejected by someone you've only loved and wanted what was best for them is immense. It's practically incomprehensible that someone could betray the love given to them. If it's like that on a human to human level, creature to creature level, how much more so is it on a Creator, creature level? Where the perfect Creator loves the imperfect creature, rather than imperfect creature betraying imperfect creature. We know that every human being is capable of deception and betrayal, but God is not capable of betrayal or deception. His love is perfect and since the beginning He has offered that love to us- the imperfect creatures. If we return the love He has for us that's all He desires. Yet time and again He's been rejected, the perfect love is betrayed over and over.
To put an end to all the sin in the world. To put an end to the author of lies, the first betrayer and the deception that he's used to deceive countless numbers of people, to end all evil personified it has to be justifiably destroyed. The wrath of God will fall upon the author of evil personified and all those who have joined hands with that author of evil and rightfully so.
Each of us will be on one side or the other, God's or Evil's. The wrath of God will fall on the evil and destroy it completely. How can we escape that wrath? By the love of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, the Son of the Father who makes it possible for us to join with God and His love.
By His mercy and grace may we cling to Him alone who can save us from the wrath deserved. We can't save ourselves, but we can ask Jesus to save us. Jesus will save us, we have to believe that He will, that the power of salvation is real and found in Jesus. In Christ alone we live and in no other way. Believing in Christ this is all we have to do, believe in His power to save us. Once we believe as a result of that believing we live a life in harmony with that belief. Only then is it a true belief. If I say I believe a person will do something and then act as if I don't think they will do that something, do I really believe? No. If we believe Christ is our Salvation then if that belief is real we will live a life that portrays that belief it's a natural outcome of real belief, of real faith. If we say we believe and yet our life doesn't reflect that at all, then is that belief real? Not that we aren't going to struggle, we are! Real belief does not mean perfection in all you do, it means a life surrendered to God's will, and a life that continuously is given over to God's will.
James {2:17} Even
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. {2:18}
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works:
shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee
my faith by my works. {2:19} Thou believest that there is
one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and
tremble. {2:20} But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith
without works is dead? {2:21} Was not Abraham our father
justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon
the altar? {2:22} Seest thou how faith wrought with his
works, and by works was faith made perfect? {2:23} And
the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed
God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he
was called the Friend of God. {2:24} Ye see then how that
by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. {2:25}
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works,
when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them]
out another way? {2:26} For as the body without the spirit
is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Faith - believing and yet living as if you don't believe - is no good.
Faith- believing and living as if you do believe - is good.
When one believes they live in that belief. And like the one man who wanted Jesus to heal his sick son, Jesus asked if he believed, and the man cried out that he did believe but he didn't stop there... he added... help thou my unbelief!
We are caught up in a world that would have us not live as a result of our belief in Christ. We struggle daily against the principalities and powers, the wickedness that would keep our belief separate from our living reality. That wicked one doesn't care a whit if we believe as long as the belief isn't one that is truly reflected in our lives. In fact the wicked one rejoices when he finds people who will shout loudly of their belief and at the same time they live as if they don't believe at all.
Faith, hope, believing, and living in that reality and letting our lives reflect that belief is salvation through Christ. The natural outcome of a real belief, a real faith is a life lived in that faith. We must pray that Jesus helps our unbelief, we must pray that our belief results in a life that reflects that belief naturally, unfeigned.
By the mercy and grace of Jesus alone it is possible. May the Holy Spirit guide us, live in us, lead us, may the love of Christ be real in us now and always.
Amen.
that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule
them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
(Noah Webster's Dictionary http://refbible.com/w/wrath.htm
1. (a.) Violent anger; vehement exasperation; indignation; rage; fury; ire.
2. (n.) The effects of anger or indignation; the just punishment of an offense or a crime.
3. (a.) See Wroth.
4. (v. t.) To anger; to enrage; -- also used impersonally.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
WRATH, (ANGER)
rath, roth, rath ('aph, from 'anaph, "to snort," "to be angry"; orge, thumos, orgizomai): Designates various degrees of feeling, such as sadness (Psalm 85:4), a frown or turning away of the face in grief or anger (2 Chronicles 26:19 Jeremiah 3:12), indignation (Psalm 38:3), bitterness (Judges 18:25), fury (Esther 1:12), full of anger (Genesis 4:5 John 7:23), snorting mad (Genesis 27:45 Matthew 2:16).
1. Divine Wrath:
Wrath is used with reference to both God and man. When used of God it is to be understood that there is the complete absence of that caprice and unethical quality so prominent in the anger attributed to the gods of the heathen and to man. The divine wrath is to be regarded as the natural expression of the divine nature, which is absolute holiness, manifesting itself against the willful, high-handed, deliberate, inexcusable sin and iniquity of mankind. God's wrath is always regarded in the Scripture as the just, proper, and natural expression of His holiness and righteousness which must always, under all circumstances, and at all costs be maintained. It is therefore a righteous indignation and compatible with the holy and righteous nature of God (Numbers 11:1-10 Deuteronomy 29:27 2 Samuel 6:7 Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 42:25 Jeremiah 44:6 Psalm 79:6). The element of love and compassion is always closely connected with God's anger; if we rightly estimate the divine anger we must unhesitatingly pronounce it to be but the expression and measure of that love (compare Jeremiah 10:24 Ezekiel 23 Amos 3:2).)
***
Rev. {6:16} And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and
hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and
from the wrath of the Lamb: {6:17} For the great day of his
wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Rev. {11:18} And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come,
and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and
that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the
prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name,
small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy
the earth.
Rev. {12:12} Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye
that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of
the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great
wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Rev. {14:8} And
there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is
fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of
the wine of the wrath of her fornication. {14:9} And the
third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any
man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his]
mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev. {14:10} The same shall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out
without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall
be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the
holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb
Rev. {14:19} And the angel thrust in his sickle into the
earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into
the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev. {15:1} And I saw another sign in heaven, great and
marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for
in them is filled up the wrath of God
Rev. {16:19} And the
great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the
nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before
God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness
of his wrath.
Rev. {15:7} And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven
angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who
liveth for ever and ever.
{16:1} And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying
to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of
the wrath of God upon the earth
Rev. {18:2} And he cried mightily with
a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen,
and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every
foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
{18:3} For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath
of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have
committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the
earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her
delicacies.
***
People get angry and the majority of the time they believe the anger is righteous. When the blood gets boiling, the emotions start to rise, that feeling of fury fills a person they start to say things they often regret. No one likes when anger is directed towards them, it makes them want to respond in kind. Anger is destructive in so many ways. So many crimes are committed from anger. Is there a righteous anger? Yes, we've all felt it, but then again as already mentioned most people believe their anger is justified, that it's righteous.
I've been guilty many times over of unrighteous anger, an anger I feel that seems to have little cause, no rhyme or reason. I've lashed out at people for no reason other than the anger in me. Anger can be a problem for a lot of people, I know it has been for me.
God's anger is righteous. God's wrath is justified.
Just as we know how it is to have an anger that is righteous- the anger of a mother whose child has been intentionally hurt by another person. The anger of a father whose son is murdered by a mugger, these sorts of anger are righteous. God's anger, God's wrath is righteous.
God offers His love, God offers life eternal through the sacrifice of His Son. God is justified in His anger as all that He has to offer to His own creations is rejected. As His creatures believe they are in fact creators. As His creatures believe they are more worthy than their Creator.
There is a sense o betrayal when someone grooms another person helping them attain a status in life that is wonderful only to have that person turn around and reject the very person who has helped them get where they are, the person who was there every step of the way. This is on a human level. The pain of being rejected by someone you've only loved and wanted what was best for them is immense. It's practically incomprehensible that someone could betray the love given to them. If it's like that on a human to human level, creature to creature level, how much more so is it on a Creator, creature level? Where the perfect Creator loves the imperfect creature, rather than imperfect creature betraying imperfect creature. We know that every human being is capable of deception and betrayal, but God is not capable of betrayal or deception. His love is perfect and since the beginning He has offered that love to us- the imperfect creatures. If we return the love He has for us that's all He desires. Yet time and again He's been rejected, the perfect love is betrayed over and over.
To put an end to all the sin in the world. To put an end to the author of lies, the first betrayer and the deception that he's used to deceive countless numbers of people, to end all evil personified it has to be justifiably destroyed. The wrath of God will fall upon the author of evil personified and all those who have joined hands with that author of evil and rightfully so.
Each of us will be on one side or the other, God's or Evil's. The wrath of God will fall on the evil and destroy it completely. How can we escape that wrath? By the love of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, the Son of the Father who makes it possible for us to join with God and His love.
By His mercy and grace may we cling to Him alone who can save us from the wrath deserved. We can't save ourselves, but we can ask Jesus to save us. Jesus will save us, we have to believe that He will, that the power of salvation is real and found in Jesus. In Christ alone we live and in no other way. Believing in Christ this is all we have to do, believe in His power to save us. Once we believe as a result of that believing we live a life in harmony with that belief. Only then is it a true belief. If I say I believe a person will do something and then act as if I don't think they will do that something, do I really believe? No. If we believe Christ is our Salvation then if that belief is real we will live a life that portrays that belief it's a natural outcome of real belief, of real faith. If we say we believe and yet our life doesn't reflect that at all, then is that belief real? Not that we aren't going to struggle, we are! Real belief does not mean perfection in all you do, it means a life surrendered to God's will, and a life that continuously is given over to God's will.
James {2:17} Even
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. {2:18}
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works:
shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee
my faith by my works. {2:19} Thou believest that there is
one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and
tremble. {2:20} But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith
without works is dead? {2:21} Was not Abraham our father
justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon
the altar? {2:22} Seest thou how faith wrought with his
works, and by works was faith made perfect? {2:23} And
the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed
God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he
was called the Friend of God. {2:24} Ye see then how that
by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. {2:25}
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works,
when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them]
out another way? {2:26} For as the body without the spirit
is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Faith - believing and yet living as if you don't believe - is no good.
Faith- believing and living as if you do believe - is good.
When one believes they live in that belief. And like the one man who wanted Jesus to heal his sick son, Jesus asked if he believed, and the man cried out that he did believe but he didn't stop there... he added... help thou my unbelief!
We are caught up in a world that would have us not live as a result of our belief in Christ. We struggle daily against the principalities and powers, the wickedness that would keep our belief separate from our living reality. That wicked one doesn't care a whit if we believe as long as the belief isn't one that is truly reflected in our lives. In fact the wicked one rejoices when he finds people who will shout loudly of their belief and at the same time they live as if they don't believe at all.
Faith, hope, believing, and living in that reality and letting our lives reflect that belief is salvation through Christ. The natural outcome of a real belief, a real faith is a life lived in that faith. We must pray that Jesus helps our unbelief, we must pray that our belief results in a life that reflects that belief naturally, unfeigned.
By the mercy and grace of Jesus alone it is possible. May the Holy Spirit guide us, live in us, lead us, may the love of Christ be real in us now and always.
Amen.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Faith, Hope, Love
Luke {17:20} And when he was demanded of the Pharisees,
when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them
and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation
{17:21} Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for,
behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
{17:22} And he
said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall
desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall
not see [it. ]{17:23} And they shall say to you, See here; or,
see there: go not after [them,] nor follow [them.]
{17:24}
For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one [part]
under heaven, shineth unto the other [part] under heaven; so
shall also the Son of man be in his day.
{17:25} But first
must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this
generation.
{17:26} And as it was in the days of Noe, so
shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. {17:27} They
did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in
marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the
flood came, and destroyed them all. {17:28} Likewise also
as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they
bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; {17:29} But
the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and
brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. {17:30}
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is
revealed. {17:31} In that day, he which shall be upon the
housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down
to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise
not return back. {17:32} Remember Lot’s wife.
Luke {21:34} And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time
your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come
upon you unawares. {21:35} For as a snare shall it come on
all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. {21:36}
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be
accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come
to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
John {14:15} If ye love me, keep my commandments. {14:16}
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; {14:17}
[Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know
him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. {14:18}
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
{14:19} Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more;
but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. {14:20} At
that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in
me, and I in you. {14:21} He that hath my commandments,
and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth
me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and
will manifest myself to him. {14:22} Judas saith unto him,
not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself
unto us, and not unto the world? {14:23} Jesus answered
and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my
words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto
him, and make our abode with him. {14:24} He that loveth
me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear
is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. {14:25} These
things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you.
{14:26} But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you
all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you. {14:27} Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give
I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.
2 Tim. {4:8} Henceforth there is
laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me
only, but unto all them also that love his appearing
2 Tim. {1:12} For the which cause I also suffer these things:
nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have
believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that
which I have committed unto him against that day. {1:13}
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of
me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. {1:14} That
good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the
Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
1Thess. {5:1} But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have
no need that I write unto you. {5:2} For yourselves know
perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the
night. {5:3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then
sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a
woman with child; and they shall not escape. {5:4} But ye,
brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake
you as a thief. {5:5} Ye are all the children of light, and the
children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
{5:6} Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us
watch and be sober. {5:7} For they that sleep sleep in the
night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
{5:8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the
breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of
salvation. {5:9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but
to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, {5:10} Who
died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live
together with him. {5:11} Wherefore comfort yourselves
together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
2 Thess {1:3} We are bound to thank God always for you,
brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth
exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward
each other aboundeth; {1:4} So that we ourselves glory in
you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all
your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: {1:5}
[Which is] a manifest token of the righteous judgment of
God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of
God, for which ye also suffer: {1:6} Seeing [it is] a
righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them
that trouble you; {1:7} And to you who are troubled rest
with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven
with his mighty angels, {1:8} In flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: {1:9} Who shall be
punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of
the Lord, and from the glory of his power; {1:10} When he
shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in
all them that believe (because our testimony among you was
believed) in that day. {1:11} Wherefore also we pray
always for you, that our God would count you worthy of
[this] calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of [his]
goodness, and the work of faith with power: {1:12} That the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and
ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
2 Thess. {2:1} Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto
him, {2:2} That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be
troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from
us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. {2:3} Let no man
deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come,]
except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin
be revealed, the son of perdition; {2:4} Who opposeth and
exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
shewing himself that he is God. {2:5} Remember ye not,
that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? {2:6}
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be
revealed in his time. {2:7} For the mystery of iniquity doth
already work: only he who now letteth [will let,] until he be
taken out of the way. {2:8} And then shall that Wicked be
revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of
his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming: {2:9} [Even him,] whose coming is after the
working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders, {2:10} And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11}
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that
they should believe a lie: {2:12} That they all might be
damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior may we be found believing in the Truth, believing in all Jesus is, holding fast His ways. Deception will reign and deception by its very nature is something subtle and believable. The only way we won't be deceived is by holding fast to Jesus Christ and the truth He has revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. Let a love of the truth be in us, by the grace of God. We must believe, we must have hope and faith, love of Christ by Him, through Him, all Him!
Amen.
when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them
and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation
{17:21} Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for,
behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
{17:22} And he
said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall
desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall
not see [it. ]{17:23} And they shall say to you, See here; or,
see there: go not after [them,] nor follow [them.]
{17:24}
For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one [part]
under heaven, shineth unto the other [part] under heaven; so
shall also the Son of man be in his day.
{17:25} But first
must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this
generation.
{17:26} And as it was in the days of Noe, so
shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. {17:27} They
did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in
marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the
flood came, and destroyed them all. {17:28} Likewise also
as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they
bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; {17:29} But
the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and
brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. {17:30}
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is
revealed. {17:31} In that day, he which shall be upon the
housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down
to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise
not return back. {17:32} Remember Lot’s wife.
Luke {21:34} And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time
your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come
upon you unawares. {21:35} For as a snare shall it come on
all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. {21:36}
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be
accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come
to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
John {14:15} If ye love me, keep my commandments. {14:16}
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; {14:17}
[Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know
him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. {14:18}
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
{14:19} Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more;
but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. {14:20} At
that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in
me, and I in you. {14:21} He that hath my commandments,
and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth
me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and
will manifest myself to him. {14:22} Judas saith unto him,
not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself
unto us, and not unto the world? {14:23} Jesus answered
and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my
words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto
him, and make our abode with him. {14:24} He that loveth
me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear
is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. {14:25} These
things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you.
{14:26} But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you
all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you. {14:27} Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give
I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.
2 Tim. {4:8} Henceforth there is
laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me
only, but unto all them also that love his appearing
2 Tim. {1:12} For the which cause I also suffer these things:
nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have
believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that
which I have committed unto him against that day. {1:13}
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of
me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. {1:14} That
good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the
Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
1Thess. {5:1} But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have
no need that I write unto you. {5:2} For yourselves know
perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the
night. {5:3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then
sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a
woman with child; and they shall not escape. {5:4} But ye,
brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake
you as a thief. {5:5} Ye are all the children of light, and the
children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
{5:6} Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us
watch and be sober. {5:7} For they that sleep sleep in the
night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
{5:8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the
breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of
salvation. {5:9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but
to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, {5:10} Who
died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live
together with him. {5:11} Wherefore comfort yourselves
together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
2 Thess {1:3} We are bound to thank God always for you,
brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth
exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward
each other aboundeth; {1:4} So that we ourselves glory in
you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all
your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: {1:5}
[Which is] a manifest token of the righteous judgment of
God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of
God, for which ye also suffer: {1:6} Seeing [it is] a
righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them
that trouble you; {1:7} And to you who are troubled rest
with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven
with his mighty angels, {1:8} In flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: {1:9} Who shall be
punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of
the Lord, and from the glory of his power; {1:10} When he
shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in
all them that believe (because our testimony among you was
believed) in that day. {1:11} Wherefore also we pray
always for you, that our God would count you worthy of
[this] calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of [his]
goodness, and the work of faith with power: {1:12} That the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and
ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
2 Thess. {2:1} Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto
him, {2:2} That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be
troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from
us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. {2:3} Let no man
deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come,]
except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin
be revealed, the son of perdition; {2:4} Who opposeth and
exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
shewing himself that he is God. {2:5} Remember ye not,
that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? {2:6}
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be
revealed in his time. {2:7} For the mystery of iniquity doth
already work: only he who now letteth [will let,] until he be
taken out of the way. {2:8} And then shall that Wicked be
revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of
his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming: {2:9} [Even him,] whose coming is after the
working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders, {2:10} And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11}
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that
they should believe a lie: {2:12} That they all might be
damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior may we be found believing in the Truth, believing in all Jesus is, holding fast His ways. Deception will reign and deception by its very nature is something subtle and believable. The only way we won't be deceived is by holding fast to Jesus Christ and the truth He has revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. Let a love of the truth be in us, by the grace of God. We must believe, we must have hope and faith, love of Christ by Him, through Him, all Him!
Amen.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Earnestly Contend!
Jude {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.
The common salvation.
Salvation in Jesus Christ and no other.
Salvation through faith in Jesus.
Salvation given to us by the sacrfice of Jesus on the cross.
Salvation undeserved.
Forgiven of sins repented of.
Forgiven of a life carnal.
Forgiven and awakened to the Spiritual.
All through faith.
Can you have salvation without faith?
No.
Jude advises- or rather exhorts- that we should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
The saints.
Who in the Bible are the saints?
~~
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SAINTS
sants: In the King James Version 3 words are thus rendered:
(1) qadhosh (in Daniel the same root occurs several times in its Aramaic form, qaddish);
(2) chacidh, and
(3) hagioi.
Of these words (2) has in general the meaning of righteousness or goodness, while (1) and (3) have the meaning of consecration and divine claim and ownership. They are not primarily words of character, like chacidh, but express a relation to God as being set apart for His own. Wherever qadhosh refers to angels, the rendering "holy one" or "holy ones" has been substituted in the Revised Version (British and American) for the King James Version "saint" or "saints," which is the case also in Psalm 106:16 margin (compare 34:9), and in 1 Samuel 2:9, as the translation of chacidh.
While hagioi occurs more frequently in the New Testament than does qadhosh in the Old Testament, yet both are applied with practical uniformity to the company of God's people rather than to any individual. Perhaps the rendering "saints" cannot be improved, but it is necessary for the ordinary reader constantly to guard against the idea that New Testament saintship was in any way a result of personal character, and consequently that it implied approval of moral attainment already made. Such a rendering as "consecrate ones," for example, would bring out more clearly the relation to God which is involved, but, besides the fact that it is not a happy translation, it might lead to other errors, for it is not easy to remember that consecration-the setting apart of the individual as one of the company whom God has in a peculiar way as His own-springs not from man, but from God Himself, and that consequently it is in no way something optional, and admits of no degrees of progress, but, on the contrary, is from the beginning absolute duty. It should also be noted that while, as has been said, to be a saint is not directly and primarily to be good but to be set apart by God as His own, yet the godly and holy character ought inevitably and immediately to result. When God consecrates and claims moral beings for Himself and His service, He demands that they should go on to be fit for and worthy of the relation in which He has placed them, and so we read of certain actions as performed "worthily of the saints" (Romans 16:2) and as such "as becometh saints" (Ephesians 5:3). The thought of the holy character of the "saints," which is now so common as almost completely to obscure the real thought of the New Testament writers, already lay in their thinking very close to their conception of saintship as consecration by God to be His own.
David Foster Estes
http://eastonsbibledictionary.com/saints.htm
~
Those set apart by God, holy ones of God.
'...earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.'
Earnestly contending
earnest (ûr´nîst) adjective
1. Marked by or showing deep sincerity or seriousness: an earnest gesture of goodwill.
2. Of an important or weighty nature; grave. See synonyms
contend (ken-tènd´) verb
contended, contending, contends verb, intransitive
1. To strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle: armies contending for control of strategic territory; had to contend with long lines at the airport.
2. To compete, as in a race; vie.
3. To strive in controversy or debate; dispute
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
We should seriously strive against difficulties for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Don't throw up the old that's works and we're not saved by works, it said nothing about works. If I labor at something and expect a wage in return then I'm expecting my work to reward me. If I'm striving seriously against anything that would make it difficult for me to have faith does that result in a work? No. If we expect faith to just magically appear maybe we're wrong. Think about it. We are saved by grace through faith, faith is believing, hoping in the unseen. So much in life tries to rip our faith from us. So much tries to take our beliefs away on the basis of not being seen. Mere flights of fancy, of imagination, and nothing more we are told. Yes, we have to earnestly contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints. We do. We can't let anything rip our faith away from us without it we're lost and because faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen, because faith is believing in that unseen hope we have to pray always- Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief! Because doubts will creep in and tear us down. Doubts will rise up and tell us how unworthy we are and urge us to give up hope, to give up believing we can ever hope. It's the doubt we are in contending against, it's the principalities, the powers that are unseen that rail at us constantly and get us to believe in them and not cling to the faith that was once delivered to the saints.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ now and forever may we earnestly contend for that same faith delivered to the saints and hold fast to that faith.
Amen!
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.
The common salvation.
Salvation in Jesus Christ and no other.
Salvation through faith in Jesus.
Salvation given to us by the sacrfice of Jesus on the cross.
Salvation undeserved.
Forgiven of sins repented of.
Forgiven of a life carnal.
Forgiven and awakened to the Spiritual.
All through faith.
Can you have salvation without faith?
No.
Jude advises- or rather exhorts- that we should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
The saints.
Who in the Bible are the saints?
~~
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SAINTS
sants: In the King James Version 3 words are thus rendered:
(1) qadhosh (in Daniel the same root occurs several times in its Aramaic form, qaddish);
(2) chacidh, and
(3) hagioi.
Of these words (2) has in general the meaning of righteousness or goodness, while (1) and (3) have the meaning of consecration and divine claim and ownership. They are not primarily words of character, like chacidh, but express a relation to God as being set apart for His own. Wherever qadhosh refers to angels, the rendering "holy one" or "holy ones" has been substituted in the Revised Version (British and American) for the King James Version "saint" or "saints," which is the case also in Psalm 106:16 margin (compare 34:9), and in 1 Samuel 2:9, as the translation of chacidh.
While hagioi occurs more frequently in the New Testament than does qadhosh in the Old Testament, yet both are applied with practical uniformity to the company of God's people rather than to any individual. Perhaps the rendering "saints" cannot be improved, but it is necessary for the ordinary reader constantly to guard against the idea that New Testament saintship was in any way a result of personal character, and consequently that it implied approval of moral attainment already made. Such a rendering as "consecrate ones," for example, would bring out more clearly the relation to God which is involved, but, besides the fact that it is not a happy translation, it might lead to other errors, for it is not easy to remember that consecration-the setting apart of the individual as one of the company whom God has in a peculiar way as His own-springs not from man, but from God Himself, and that consequently it is in no way something optional, and admits of no degrees of progress, but, on the contrary, is from the beginning absolute duty. It should also be noted that while, as has been said, to be a saint is not directly and primarily to be good but to be set apart by God as His own, yet the godly and holy character ought inevitably and immediately to result. When God consecrates and claims moral beings for Himself and His service, He demands that they should go on to be fit for and worthy of the relation in which He has placed them, and so we read of certain actions as performed "worthily of the saints" (Romans 16:2) and as such "as becometh saints" (Ephesians 5:3). The thought of the holy character of the "saints," which is now so common as almost completely to obscure the real thought of the New Testament writers, already lay in their thinking very close to their conception of saintship as consecration by God to be His own.
David Foster Estes
http://eastonsbibledictionary.com/saints.htm
~
Those set apart by God, holy ones of God.
'...earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.'
Earnestly contending
earnest (ûr´nîst) adjective
1. Marked by or showing deep sincerity or seriousness: an earnest gesture of goodwill.
2. Of an important or weighty nature; grave. See synonyms
contend (ken-tènd´) verb
contended, contending, contends verb, intransitive
1. To strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle: armies contending for control of strategic territory; had to contend with long lines at the airport.
2. To compete, as in a race; vie.
3. To strive in controversy or debate; dispute
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
We should seriously strive against difficulties for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Don't throw up the old that's works and we're not saved by works, it said nothing about works. If I labor at something and expect a wage in return then I'm expecting my work to reward me. If I'm striving seriously against anything that would make it difficult for me to have faith does that result in a work? No. If we expect faith to just magically appear maybe we're wrong. Think about it. We are saved by grace through faith, faith is believing, hoping in the unseen. So much in life tries to rip our faith from us. So much tries to take our beliefs away on the basis of not being seen. Mere flights of fancy, of imagination, and nothing more we are told. Yes, we have to earnestly contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints. We do. We can't let anything rip our faith away from us without it we're lost and because faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen, because faith is believing in that unseen hope we have to pray always- Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief! Because doubts will creep in and tear us down. Doubts will rise up and tell us how unworthy we are and urge us to give up hope, to give up believing we can ever hope. It's the doubt we are in contending against, it's the principalities, the powers that are unseen that rail at us constantly and get us to believe in them and not cling to the faith that was once delivered to the saints.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ now and forever may we earnestly contend for that same faith delivered to the saints and hold fast to that faith.
Amen!
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