Before we move into the coaching to
the churches in the book of Revelation I believe there are some principles that
need to be highlighted for us to be armed in dealing with its instruction with grander
intent.
There is a key that unlocks the
forgiveness of God, which by now should be very obvious to all; He is the Lord
Jesus Christ. However there is correct manner in which we will enter true son-ship
with our names penned in the book of life. REPENTANCE for our sinful actions is
the pivot in Christ; it is what will separate the goats from the sheep, the figs
from thistles and the grapes from the thornbushes. "Enter by
the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to
destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads
to life, and those who find it are few. "Beware
of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are
ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.
Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased
tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear
bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and
thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:13-20) - A Christian’s conduct will
prove their substance.
The trials and the failures through our lives
have a purpose which is to teach us our dependency upon God and the finished
work of the cross. The law is a schoolmaster which exposes our frailties in the
flesh and clarifies that we are incapable of attaining to God’s standards.
This we have already established through varying posts and by the Word of God.
We need the injection of the Holy Spirit into our lives to be amongst the
number who bring about fruit worthy of son-ship. As children of God we can loose
our way along our journey, it’s imperative that we be shown the errors of our
way and we find repentant when God’s shines His light into those areas of our
lives. This is what proves true son-ship; “… How can we who died to sin still
live in it?” (Romans 6:2) – Christ has
broken the bondage of sin for every true believer when we walk in the spirit
and not the flesh.
If
the shoe fits then we must consciously slip into it, if we are clear on all
matters we will have peace with God and then it is our responsibility to press
on as good stewards. Our intention must be to live a life of holiness. Here is
a great encouragement and yet it has a warning attached to it; “The Lord is not
slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any
should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day
of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a
roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth
and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are
thus to be dissolved, what
sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness.”
(2Peter 3:9-11)
Observe
I. “That what men count slackness is truly long-suffering, and
that to us-ward; it is giving more time to his own people, whom he
has chosen before the foundation of the world, many of whom are not as yet
converted; and those who are in a state of grace and favour with God are to advance in knowledge and
holiness, and in the exercise of faith and patience, to abound in good works,
doing and suffering what they are called to, that they may bring glory to God,
and improve in a meetness for heaven; for God is not willing that any of these
should perish, but that all of them should come to repentance. Here observe, 1.
Repentance is
absolutely necessary in order to salvation. Except we repent, we shall
perish.
The
apostle, having instructed them in the doctrine of Christ's second coming,
Takes occasion thence to exhort them to
purity and godliness in their whole conversation: all the truths which are revealed in
scripture should be improved for our advancement in practical godliness: this
is the effect that knowledge must produce, or we are never the better for it. If you know these things, happy
are you if you do them. Seeing all these things must be dissolved, how holy should we be,
that are assured of it, departing from and dying to sin, that has so corrupted
and defiled all the visible creation that there is an absolute need of its
dissolution! All that was made for man's use is subject to vanity by man's sin:
and if the sin of man has
brought the visible heavens, and the elements and earth, under a curse, from
which they cannot be freed without being dissolved, what an abominable evil is
sin, and how much to be hated by us!” (Matthew
Henry)
There
was a time in my Christian life that these truths eluded me and all because I
was looking to accommodate sin in my life with the excuse that I was but a man.
God has mercifully begun to repair those tares to my life and I am forever
thankful that He was willing to show me the wood from the trees. Did you know
that one of the fruits of repentance is “revenge”? We are call to find grace
and take revenge on those sinful traits that once dominated our lives prior to
salvation. This is the call for the Christian.
“For
godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the
sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye
sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what
vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in
this matter.” (2Corinthians 7:10-11) – We need to ask ourselves are we amongst the
numbers who are clear in these matters? If not then there is work to be done
and repentance is on the cards. Work through them one by one and ask God to
pour out His mercy with a resolve of seeking out His grace to appropriate the
above and it will be well with our souls. We have all been called to a life of
holiness.
Signing off
Tyrone
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