Cassia
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I was going thru some old studies and I like this this one about individual responsibilty and the nature of Jesus ...
Food for thought on Christ's nature as revealed to the 7 churches
Because it's a revelation to the churches and His last word given, we may do well to examine what He has to say to us, His church:
1) When we, His church are losing that first passion He reveals Himself as one who walks in the midst, judging. He's the unchanging One therefore our commitment to Him should not change either.
2) To those being persecuted He reveals Himself as one who had died and rose again, assuring us in the case of martyrdom.
3) But for those full of heresies He is a two-edged sword of judgement.
4) Where His position has been usurped there is only darkness covering His truth.
5) Some churches are full of death and so to us in that condition the Lord reveals Himself as the bright shining star and the Spirit of life.
6) Those who have brotherly love are considered without blemish, so the Lord opens wide the door of preaching that they might have an enlarged work. Colossians 4:3
7) To the worldly church the Lord reveals Himself as One kept outside the door.
He knows all of our works Revelation 2:2,19; Revelation 3:1,8,15 whether they be good or evil so we all must bear our own responsibility "I know your works".
Some have works but no love, some have both works and love, while some are completely worldly. The sins of one are not imputed to the others in His address. None of the churches are accountable to the others in His final words. All are judged according to their works. Works have nothing to do with salvation
Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5
Christ makes no mention of some of the works of the churches as if they had none. But He knows of their condition. Endurance can be one of the best of works. Revelation 2:9,13
To each condition He states the affliction and His view regarding the works and environment.
He's just in exposing our sins and He's kind in revealing our merits. Thru the many errors and evils He doesn't hide the good works. His praise always comes first before His reprimand, but woe to those who have no praise coming from the Lord!
-He gives praise for loyalty, tribulation, poverty, faithfulness, works, love, faith, diligence, patience, good works, purity, and endurance
Revelation 2:6,9,13,19,24; Revelation 3:8,10
-While His rebukes are for coldness, heresy, fornication, self-exaltation, worldliness, weakness, imperfection, being alive in name but dead in reality, being neither cold nor hot, wretchedness, misery, poverty, blindness, and nakedness
Revelation 2:4,14-15,20; Revelation 3:1-2,15-17
Some are without any rebuke and some are without any praise.
It may be good to see ourselves with His eyes, whether we like to or not, just because we`re told to examine ourselves so as not to be judged. No matter how much the praise all our sins are laid bare before the Lord.
And no matter at what point the fall is, the Lord also commands repentance. Revelation 2:5,16;Revelation 3:3,19
We ought not to consider our good deeds but rather those that are in need of repentance because the Lord`s purpose is to make us over-comers.
"But if not, I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent" Revelation 2:5
"Repent therefore; but if not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war with them with the sword of My mouth" Revelation 2:16
"If therefore you will not watch, I will come as a thief" Revelation 3:3
In repentance help is available! In His last speech to the churches He promises special spiritual blessings!
We can return to our first love!
We can receive a martyrs crown!
We can recover the pure truth!
We can remove idolotry from our midst! We can renew our vigil for His return!
We can have the wide open door and He can fill our lack!
The Lord has grace for us who are willing to receive it! And He promises great rewards to those who do become the over-comers
Revelation 2:7,10,11,17,26-28 Revelation 3:5, 12,21
Reading about the confusion in the churches should make us all the more aware of the confusion in our own churchlife now. We can`t afford to be complacent, so buy the eye salve and the fine linen.
The promises are special rewards from God and the condition to receive them is in over-coming. Don`t confuse this with salvation or perdition.
Salvation is in believing the Lord`s work accomplished, over-coming is drawing upon the Lord`s grace daily to allow His cross and the Spirit to overcome sin, world, flesh and satan.
The glory is in the city to come, so let's forego the pleasures and endure the scorn of this world, and make the attraction being in that yet to come!
Those faithful unto death will not be hurt by the second death, the Lord is calling to those who have ears to hear. We ought to listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, the church.
.
Food for thought on Christ's nature as revealed to the 7 churches
Because it's a revelation to the churches and His last word given, we may do well to examine what He has to say to us, His church:
1) When we, His church are losing that first passion He reveals Himself as one who walks in the midst, judging. He's the unchanging One therefore our commitment to Him should not change either.
2) To those being persecuted He reveals Himself as one who had died and rose again, assuring us in the case of martyrdom.
3) But for those full of heresies He is a two-edged sword of judgement.
4) Where His position has been usurped there is only darkness covering His truth.
5) Some churches are full of death and so to us in that condition the Lord reveals Himself as the bright shining star and the Spirit of life.
6) Those who have brotherly love are considered without blemish, so the Lord opens wide the door of preaching that they might have an enlarged work. Colossians 4:3
7) To the worldly church the Lord reveals Himself as One kept outside the door.
He knows all of our works Revelation 2:2,19; Revelation 3:1,8,15 whether they be good or evil so we all must bear our own responsibility "I know your works".
Some have works but no love, some have both works and love, while some are completely worldly. The sins of one are not imputed to the others in His address. None of the churches are accountable to the others in His final words. All are judged according to their works. Works have nothing to do with salvation
Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5
Christ makes no mention of some of the works of the churches as if they had none. But He knows of their condition. Endurance can be one of the best of works. Revelation 2:9,13
To each condition He states the affliction and His view regarding the works and environment.
He's just in exposing our sins and He's kind in revealing our merits. Thru the many errors and evils He doesn't hide the good works. His praise always comes first before His reprimand, but woe to those who have no praise coming from the Lord!
-He gives praise for loyalty, tribulation, poverty, faithfulness, works, love, faith, diligence, patience, good works, purity, and endurance
Revelation 2:6,9,13,19,24; Revelation 3:8,10
-While His rebukes are for coldness, heresy, fornication, self-exaltation, worldliness, weakness, imperfection, being alive in name but dead in reality, being neither cold nor hot, wretchedness, misery, poverty, blindness, and nakedness
Revelation 2:4,14-15,20; Revelation 3:1-2,15-17
Some are without any rebuke and some are without any praise.
It may be good to see ourselves with His eyes, whether we like to or not, just because we`re told to examine ourselves so as not to be judged. No matter how much the praise all our sins are laid bare before the Lord.
And no matter at what point the fall is, the Lord also commands repentance. Revelation 2:5,16;Revelation 3:3,19
We ought not to consider our good deeds but rather those that are in need of repentance because the Lord`s purpose is to make us over-comers.
"But if not, I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent" Revelation 2:5
"Repent therefore; but if not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war with them with the sword of My mouth" Revelation 2:16
"If therefore you will not watch, I will come as a thief" Revelation 3:3
In repentance help is available! In His last speech to the churches He promises special spiritual blessings!
We can return to our first love!
We can receive a martyrs crown!
We can recover the pure truth!
We can remove idolotry from our midst! We can renew our vigil for His return!
We can have the wide open door and He can fill our lack!
The Lord has grace for us who are willing to receive it! And He promises great rewards to those who do become the over-comers
Revelation 2:7,10,11,17,26-28 Revelation 3:5, 12,21
Reading about the confusion in the churches should make us all the more aware of the confusion in our own churchlife now. We can`t afford to be complacent, so buy the eye salve and the fine linen.
The promises are special rewards from God and the condition to receive them is in over-coming. Don`t confuse this with salvation or perdition.
Salvation is in believing the Lord`s work accomplished, over-coming is drawing upon the Lord`s grace daily to allow His cross and the Spirit to overcome sin, world, flesh and satan.
The glory is in the city to come, so let's forego the pleasures and endure the scorn of this world, and make the attraction being in that yet to come!
Those faithful unto death will not be hurt by the second death, the Lord is calling to those who have ears to hear. We ought to listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, the church.
.