The Church art Six

THE CHURCH PART SIX

In lesson five we discovered our position in God’s outline for church development. Revelation 3: 7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

They that ‘overcometh,’ holding fast to the addicts of the last reformation of the church and their faith in God will receive God’s promise to His children. Great love is the key to power to stick tight. The Corinthians erred in seeking after “spiritual gifts” as proof of favor before God.

1 St. Corinthians Chapter 13 Charity (Great Love) is much to be preferred over the gifts on which the Corinthians prided themselves as possessing. It is questionable as to just exactly how they perceived eternity but they realized there was an eternal state around Jesus. They saw more clearly as they matured in the Gospel; so do we. Our new born state as Christians, and possible current state, is a state of childhood. Growing into the future will result in the enter into spiritual adulthood; so to speak. We grow out of the flesh into the spirit guided state of learning. (Romans 9:8) “That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." 

1 John 3:10 “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. Luke 20:36  "Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.”

In our church period, there is a mingling of true believers holding fast and a playful bunch that is initiating the last period; Laodicean. First we must become as a little child but become mature.  (1 Corinthians 13:11) “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” This marks the difference between earth and heaven; saved and condemned. Narrow view like unto the confused notions of things children have when compared with some adults. In our second birth we must grow in Grace. There is darkness and some confusion as new Christians struggle to see more light. It comes by faith and faith by hearing the word of God. All things are dark and confused now, compared with what they will be hereafter. (1 Corinthians 13:12) “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

We can only view as by the looking of poorly refined glass of old, but in eternity our knowledge will be free from all obscurity and error. Only the brightness of the light of heaven will reveal the face of God unto us. Some who we see today and many more unseen, will walk in the disastrous days of God’s wrath. The true church is almost full. We are seeing the last of the righteous church and looking into that which is coming. We must not loose faith and hope. These truth’s of God are Spiritually inspired and recorded. and assents thereto, relying on the Divine Redeemer. Maturity in God’s Word develops faith and hope that acts on future happiness, and waits for that, But in heaven, faith will be swallowed up in victorious actual sight, and hope in enjoyment. There is no room to believe and hope, when we see and enjoy. But there, love will be made perfect. There we shall perfectly love God. And there we shall perfectly love one another. Blessed state! how much surpassing the best below! “God is love,” (1 John 4:8,16). Where God is to be seen as he is, and face to face, there charity is in its greatest height; there only will it be perfected. It is not uncommon that we have to see to believe. Natural things may be believed no other way. But, walking by faith, not seeing, is the mark of a true Christian. Accept God’s offer of eternal life on faith; now! If not, soon there will come an accounting as children are made adults in the Spirit. Don’t wait to SEE. Luke 17:23 “And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.(Revelation 2:17) “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 3:14) 11 “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name...” Know God, know peace. Amen. 03-03-2020 BLL