Listening to what Jesus says about the church in our time.

[Arnie Manitoba]

Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Where are the accusers of the truth of the gospel of Christ???? Why not accuse Jesus of preaching a works gospel? Why not reconsider that maybe we are wrong?

Just a couple of personal thoughts about this .....

I notice some translations use the word "deeds" instead of "works". .... In that context maybe Jesus disliked some "deeds" of the Sardis church and was not necessarily talking about typical "Christian works"

One reason I say that is because He mentions ..... " you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes."

Hard to know what "soiled your clothes" means

Another thing to consider is that when Sardis received the letter .... they most likely knew exactly what Jesus was talking about .

We however can only speculate.

Sometimes I wish these passages were more clear.

Arnie

 

[Episkopos]

Just a couple of personal thoughts about this .....

I notice some translations use the word "deeds" instead of "works". .... In that context maybe Jesus disliked some "deeds" of the Sardis church and was not necessarily talking about typical "Christian works"

One reason I say that is because He mentions ..... " you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes."

Hard to know what "soiled your clothes" means

Another thing to consider is that when Sardis received the letter .... they most likely knew exactly what Jesus was talking about .

We however can only speculate.

Sometimes I wish these passages were more clear.

Arnie

You can only understand what Jesus is talking about AFTER you go through the cross experience. Before that you need to have faith and trust God that He will not kill all of you...just kill the parts that cause you to sin thereby soiling your garments.

 

[dragonfly]

I notice some translations use the word "deeds" instead of "works". .... In that context maybe Jesus disliked some "deeds" of the Sardis church and was not necessarily talking about typical "Christian works"

One reason I say that is because He mentions ..... " you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes."

Hard to know what "soiled your clothes" means

Hi Arnie,

There is a verse later in Revelation which gives an answer to 'soiled your clothes'. What it's about is the idea that our robe of righteousness which is pure white when we first receive it, gets soiled in different ways. This would make a good thread topic all by itself. The way I think this works is along the same line as if we don't walk in the light as He is in the light being continuously cleansed from all sin, or, there maybe defilements put upon us through persecution, which also soil our sense of personal integrity in the Lord, which He can wash away.

For me personally, I always think of this in terms of the internal cleansing of the soul which His blood is able to effect, but I can see that a more poetic way of expressing it, is in the picture of robes of righteousness. Here is the other verse:

Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation,

and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ​

This verb in NT Greek for 'washed' has the same meaning as 'laundered'. It may be the only time this word is used in the NT, but you may wish to study that out for yourself. Here's a link to Rev 7 in one online Greek NT - http://studybible.info/interlinear/rev%207.

 

[Episkopos]

The bible is an amazing tool if we would but use it properly. Many here will have an eternity to reflect on the cause of their failing to take the word of God more seriously.

 

[whitestone]

As our pure white robe of covering IS the literal Righteousness of Christ by which we are clothed,
We "soil" our garment by "sinning".

(Jer 12:10) Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

How do we tred underfoot and soil the righteousness of Christ our COVERING? By continuing to sin AFTER being made pure by Christ's death on the cross!

Our White clothing being "soiled" under foot, being made dirty and bloody, guilty of the innocent blood of Jesus! What a horrible state of existence that would be!

(Heb 10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
(Heb 10:27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
(Heb 10:28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
(Heb 10:29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Submitting to Christ in love and asking Him to come and dwell in us and live His Righteous sinless Life in us will prevent this white garment of praise and salvation from being trodden underfoot and soiled :)

Praise Jesus :)

 

[Episkopos]

As our pure white robe of covering IS the literal Righteousness of Christ by which we are clothed,
We "soil" our garment by "sinning".

(Jer 12:10) Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

How do we tred underfoot and soil the righteousness of Christ our COVERING? By continuing to sin AFTER being made pure by Christ's death on the cross!

Our White clothing being "soiled" under foot, being made dirty and bloody, guilty of the innocent blood of Jesus! What a horrible state of existence that would be!

(Heb 10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
(Heb 10:27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
(Heb 10:28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
(Heb 10:29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Submitting to Christ in love and asking Him to come and dwell in us and live His Righteous sinless Life in us will prevent this white garment of praise and salvation from being trodden underfoot and soiled :)

Praise Jesus :)

Amen! God's mercy is best understood as His patience for us to get with the holiness program so to speak...it is not yet too late to turn one's life over to be lived through Christ. His patience is not in His willingness to have US overlook our sins.

 

[Axehead]

So many good threads, so many great posts. You guys really bless me and I wish I had more time to interact with you.

God is indeed calling to anyone that will listen, that it is time to wake up, wake up O Sleeping Virgins.


1Cor 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Paul speaks this to their shame because they SHOULD KNOW THESE THINGS!!!

AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS and SIN NOT!

Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Can the Scriptures be any more clearer than they are?

Axehead

 

[Episkopos]

So many good threads, so many great posts. You guys really bless me and I wish I had more time to interact with you.

God is indeed calling to anyone that will listen, that it is time to wake up, wake up O Sleeping Virgins.


1Cor 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Paul speaks this to their shame because they SHOULD KNOW THESE THINGS!!!

AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS and SIN NOT!

Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Can the Scriptures be any more clearer than they are?

Axehead

Glad you are all here!!!!

They are clearly death to the one that walks according to the flesh. It is an unfortunate situation where so many who walk as sinful men have been somehow led to believe that Jesus covers the sins of the old nature so that they can be so confident in the rewards for holiness...but without the holiness!

The disappointment will only be the greater for it. This is a result of a false religious system that sees numbers as increase and the re-production of more adherents to be like themselves... the prime mission of the church.

Yet God looks for one man to stand in the gap.

I do believe that God is prepating a people for Himself who will become the leaders of the true church in the last times that are quickly coming upon us.

I am overjoyed to see a young man like JohnnyB join the forum...already having such a good understanding and knowledge at his yet tender age. God is raising up future champions of the faith.

Bless the Lord!!!!! Thank God for all who fear His name on this forum. May we all come together into the unity of the Holy Spirit as God sends His conviction into the hearers of the unbelieving on these threads.

Maranatha! He is risen indeed!

 

[Axehead]

Glad you are all here!!!!

They are clearly death to the one that walks according to the flesh. It is an unfortunate situation where so many who walk as sinful men have been somehow led to believe that Jesus covers the sins of the old nature so that they can be so confident in the rewards for holiness...but without the holiness!

The disappointment will only be the greater for it. This is a result of a false religious system that sees numbers as increase and the re-production of more adherents to be like themselves... the prime mission of the church.

Yet God looks for one man to stand in the gap.

I do believe that God is prepating a people for Himself who will become the leaders of the true church in the last times that are quickly coming upon us.

I am overjoyed to see a young man like JohnnyB join the forum...already having such a good understanding and knowledge at his yet tender age. God is raising up future champions of the faith.

Bless the Lord!!!!! Thank God for all who fear His name on this forum. May we all come together into the unity of the Holy Spirit as God sends His conviction into the hearers of the unbelieving on these threads.

Maranatha! He is risen indeed!

I am so blessed, also to find so many that fear His Name and desire to love Him with all their heart. And welcome JohnnyB! Your posts have blessed me. The "young ones" that are currently enjoying "their first love" have much to tell everyone. May they always abide in that love. There is no reason to ever leave it.

I don't try to get anyone to join anything or anyone but Jesus. Join your heart to Him and you will never be disappointed.

The Word for the Healing of the Church is:

"Turn to the Lord with a Whole Heart (ALL YOUR HEART) and don't be joined to anything in your HEART but HIM"

Axehead