Revelation 21
Appearance of the New Jerusalemverses 1-2
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth
for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away
and there was no more sea
And I John saw the holy city – new Jerusalem
coming down from God out of heaven
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband
Great voice announcementverses 3-4
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying
BEHOLD – the tabernacle of God is with men
and HE will dwell with them – and they shall be HIS people
and God HIMSELF shall be with them
and be their God
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes
and there shall be no more death – sorrow – crying
neither shall there be any more pain
for the former things are passed away
God speaksverses 5-8
And HE that sat on the throne said
BEHOLD – I make all things new
And HE said to me
Write – FOR these words are true and faithful
And HE said to me – It is done
I am Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end
I will give to him that is athirst of the fountain of the
water of life freely
He that overcomes shall inherit all things
and I will be his God – and he shall be MY son
BUT the fearful – unbelieving – abominable – murderers
whoremongers – sorcerers – idolaters – all liars
shall have their part in the lake which burns
with fire and brimstone
which is the second death
Angel transports John to see New Jerusalemverse 9
And there came to me one of the seven angels which had the
seven vials full of the seven last plagues
and talked with me – saying
Come hither – I will show you the bride
the Lamb’s wife
Description of New Jerusalem: Externalverses 10-14
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain
and showed me that great city – the holy Jerusalem
descending out of heaven from God – having the glory of God
and her light was like unto a stone most precious
even like a jasper stone – clear as crystal
and had a wall great and high – and had twelve gates
and at the gates twelve angels – and names written thereon
which are the names of the twelve tribes of the
children of Israel – on the EAST three gates
on the NORTH three gates
on the SOUTH three gates
on the WEST three gates
and the wall of the city had twelve foundations
and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb
Description of New Jerusalem: Measurementverses 15-17
And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city
and the gates thereof – and the wall thereof
And the city lies foursquare – and the length is as large as the breadth
and he measured the city with the reed
twelve thousand furlongs [1400 miles]
the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal
And he measured the wall thereof – an hundred and forty and four cubits
according to the measure of a man – that is – of an angel
Description of New Jerusalem: Foundationverses 18-20
And the building of the wall of it was of jasper
and the city was pure gold – like unto clear glass
And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with
all manner of precious stones
The first foundation was jasper / second – sapphire / third – a chalcedony
fourth – an emerald / fifth – sardonyx / sixth – sardius
seventh – chrysolite / eighth – beryl / ninth – topaz
tenth – a chrysoprasus / eleventh – a jacinth
twelfth – an amethyst
Description of New Jerusalem: Gates & Streetverse 21
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls
every several gate was of one pearl
and the street of the city was pure gold
as it were transparent glass
Description of New Jerusalem: Templeverse 22
And I saw no temple therein
for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb
are the temple of it
Description of New Jerusalem: Lightingverses 23-25
And the city had no need of the sun – neither of the moon
to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it
and the Lamb is the light thereof
And the nations of them which are saved shall
walk in the light of it and the kings of the earth
do bring their glory and honor into it
And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day
for there shall be no night there
Description of New Jerusalem: Residentsverses 26-27
And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it
and there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles
neither whatsoever works abomination or makes a lie
but they which are written in the
Lamb’s book of life
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (2090 “prepared” [hetoimazo] means make ready, provide, get everything ready, or make preparations)
DEVOTION: We are given a revelation into what is going to happen for eternity. We have gone through the Tribulation time period with only those who are believers entering into the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ. The Millennium ends with a group who follow Satan to war against believers but they are defeated by fire from heaven. Now we come to the creation of a New Heaven and a New Earth that is cleansed of all sin. There are no rejecters of Jesus Christ at this time in these two locations.
These two “new” creations are accompanied by a New Jerusalem or Holy City. This will be the dwelling place of all the saints of God. This will include the Old Testament saints, New Testament saints and Tribulation saints.
However, the New Testament saints are described as the bride of Christ in the New Testament. The Old Testament saints are described as “friends of the bridegroom.” The Tribulation saints are going to be working close to Jesus Christ throughout eternity.
The rooms or mansions that Jesus Christ promised to prepare for the New Testament saints are going to be in the New Jerusalem. Each believer will have a mansion.
This was made ready before the foundation of the world. God continues to work HIS plan throughout eternity. HE is omniscient. Nothing surprises HIM.
We have to serve HIM faithfully now to show our love for HIM because of all HE is providing now for us and what HE has planned for us throughout eternity.
Today might be a bad day but it is nothing compared to what is going to happen to those who reject Jesus Christ. Our bad days might last even for a lifetime but not for eternity. Those who reject Jesus Christ will have no mansion made ready for them like we do now. Our mansion is waiting for us in the New Jerusalem that is coming down from heaven at this time.
CHALLENGE: Look to the time when we will meet Christ in the air and return with HIM to reign over this world. Our mansion is ready for us to occupy. It has a sold sign on it right now!!! It is God’s gift to us for eternity!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things area passed away. (1144 “tears” [dakru] means a drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands, or teardrop)
DEVOTION: Things are different now. We experience all of the things that will be wiped away now. There are days when we seem to not be able to stop crying over what is going on in our world. We see things going downhill and wish we could do something about it but it seems like our hands are tied.
We see people we love suffer with many ailments. We see people we love living with pain. We watch as loved ones die. It seems like we have something happening each day that gets our attention regarding how short life really is for those we love.
Our friends have problems we can’t seem to help them solve. We pray and sometimes it seems that God is slow to respond. It would be good if God would allow believers to be healed quicker than those who don’t love HIM.
Each day the prayer requests remind us that we are living in a time period that is not perfect. But there is a day coming when all this will disappear.
God is going to wipe it all away. That is a promise. The Bible even says that they will be “gone forever.”
Isn’t that a great promise to look forward to in our future if we are believers? It should encourage us to keep fighting the good fight HE wants us to fight as we go through our trials and temptations each day.
The Bible always give hope to those who are followers of Jesus Christ. We need to live in that hope and assurance that God keeps HIS promises to us.
CHALLENGE: Share these facts with our family and friends that need to KNOW Jesus personally.
: 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. (5332 “sorcerers” [pharmakeus] means spell-giving potion, a druggist, mixer of magical potions, poisoner, or magician)
DEVOTION: Here we have more of what eternity is going to look like for those who are followers of Jesus Christ. There is going to be a NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH. This is talking about the first heaven not the third heaven. In this new earth there is going to be no temple to worship because the presence of God the Father and God the Son is there and they light up the place. This is where our future mansions are going to be.
This NEW JERUSALEM is going to be 1400 miles sqared. The twelve gates are named after the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve foundation are named after the twelve apostles. There is only one street and it is of GOLD.
All those who are followers of Christ are going to live there in safety. There are no individuals there that are going to cause problems and the gates are never closed because there is no one outside the city that is going to cause problems.
There is a list of individuals that will not be in the city mentioned in this chapter. One of the group of individuals who is not going to be there is called a magician or druggist. This group of individuals are found in our culture. The ones who are given to potions. Today we find people buying these drugs.
These people are thought to be people who used or gave drugs to people for the wrong use. This list is somewhat scary. There are movies being produced today that seem to imply that magic can be good or bad. There are good magicians and bad magicians. The ones talked about here are differently of the evil variety.
These are individuals who want to use their magic for the devil. These are not individuals who just do magic tricks. These are individuals who poison our culture with evil. They worship the devil. They lead silly women astray. They lie to get their way. They don’t believe in Christ.
There is a list here of individual who have bad habits or sins in their lives that they have never confessed. They are individuals who break the Ten Commandments without worrying about it. It includes everyone that lies with all the other sins.
We sometimes think that one sin is greater than another but in God’s sight they all cause people to spend eternity in a place called hell. These individuals are going to go to the lake of fire. They are going to be part of the second death. They are going to be judged at the Great White Throne judgment, which is reserved for all those outside of Christ. Their names are not in the book of life.
Remember that the LORD promises a blessing to those who read this book. We are blessed in that we know the end result of those who reject Christ because we are not one of them. Our responsibility still remains to warn those who are outside of Christ. Did we warn someone today????
CHALLENGE: Even those listed in this verse that confess their sin and turn and follow Christ will be welcomed into heaven. Those who don’t are going to the lake of fire. Help those in your world to understand this. There is ONLY ONE unpardonable sin and that is rejecting Jesus Christ.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. (5092 “honor” [time] means 1 a valuing by which the price is fixed. 1a of the price itself. 1b of the price paid or received for a person or thing bought or sold. 2 honor which belongs or is shown to one. 2a of the honor which one has by reason of rank and state of office which he holds. 2b deference, reverence. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: What is honor? It is defined as giving respect or esteem to someone or something. In college, we were told we had to abide by an “Honor Code” which stated that we would not lie, cheat, or steal. If you were found guilty of one of these violations, the school had the right to discipline or expel you. They expected that the desire for honor would make one want to do what is right.
Likewise, God has exceptional honor because of who He is. If He were to show Himself visibly today, it would be likely that before we would offer Him the place greatest esteem, we would first fall down on our faces at the sight of His glory. We would think it only reasonable to give Him the first place in everything. It would be like inviting royalty or the president to dinner!
There is a time when that which is not honored by the world right now will be honored by the world. When Jesus returns to earth victoriously, He will command all the honor of all the nations, including those who have opposed Him. The value system that the world has will be turned on its head when Christ reappears. What we think of as important or valuable right now will someday be shown not to be of value at all, while the things that we tend to not value will be demonstrated to be of supreme value.
Thus, we need to remember who deserves the honor in our lives. We should start and each day with praise to the LORD for all that He has done, as well as what He is doing in our lives. How our day would change if we started it off by honoring and praising Him first, before we get on with the day.
CHALLENGE: God is the one who deserves all the honor we can give. Make this day a day of praise to Him for who He is. (MW)
: 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (1125 “written” [grapho] means to be or become set down in writing, compose, record, to describe, engrave, or to scratch)
DEVOTION: There is a repetition in all the books of the Bible. Those who reject Jesus Christ are still in their sins. They have never asked for forgiveness. They have not gone to the LORD in repentance from their sin.
They are the ones who enjoy sin for the season of their life here on earth. Some of them “hope” that they will do enough good works to get them into heaven but it isn’t good works that get you into heaven. Remember the only way to heaven is not obeying the Ten Commandments which no one can do. It is not obeying the golden rule because no one without the help for salvation can do it on their own.
The only starting point for any individual is for a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. Then obedience to the Word of God can happen. How does it happen? It happens through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the individual’s life.
Now when you read this verse it doesn’t mean that anyone who has ever lied will not get into heaven. The Bible states that all men are liars. Those without Christ are living in the sin of lying.
Does that mean that believers can get away with lying? NO!! Remember that if a believer is living in the sin of lying God is going to send weakness, sickness and premature death their way. Why does HE send these? It is to cause a believer to repent of that sin with the goal of restoring his fellowship with Jesus Christ.
Every true believer has their name written in the book of life that is opened. Only the individual knows if their life is in tune with the LORD. We are not to condemn people but help them live the life they profess to have in Jesus Christ.
God is the final judge. HE is judging on the basis of what is written in the book of life that recorded the names of believers before the foundation of the world.
It is confusing sometimes to think that God knew before we were born what choice we would make but we still have to realize that we have a choice.
CHALLENGE: Choose wisely!!!
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Writeverse 5
Book of lifeverse 27
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Words of faithful and trueverse 5
Written in Lamb’s book of lifeverse 27
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 2-4, 7, 10, 11, 22, 23
Tabernacle of Godverse 3
HIS peopleverse 3
Wipe away all tearsverse 4
Alpha and Omegaverse 6
Beginning and the endverse 6
Glory of Godverses 11, 23
Lordverse 22
Almightyverse 22
Lord God Almighty= templeverse 22
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God dwells with menverse 3
Sat on throneverse 5
Make all things newverse 5
Lambverses 9, 14, 22, 23, 27
Lamb’s wifeverse 9
Lamb = templeverse 22
Lamb = light of the New Jerusalemverse 23
Lamb’s book of lifeverse 27
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angelsverses 9, 12, 17
One of seven angelsverse 9
seven vials
seven last plagues
show bride = Lamb’s wife
carried John away
showed new Jerusalem
having glory of God
Twelve angelsverse 12
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
No more deathverse 4
No more sorrowverse 4
No more painverse 4
Manverse 17
Nationsverses 24, 26
Kings of the earthverse 24
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Fearfulverse 8
Unbelievingverse 8
Abominableverses 8, 27
Murderersverse 8
Whoremongersverse 8
Sorcerersverse 8
Idolatersverse 8
Liarsverses 8, 27
Defilesverse 27
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Overcomeverse 7
Inheritverse 7
Son verse 7
Savedverse 24
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Twelve gates = named after twelve tribesverses 12-13
Church (New Testament people of God)
Johnverse 2
Church = bride of Christverse 2
Wifeverse 9
Lamb’s brideverse 9
Twelve foundations = twelve apostlesverse 14
Last Things (Future Events)
New heaven and new earthverse 1
First heaven and earth passed away
No more sea
New Jerusalem coming down out of heavenverse 2
bride adorned for husband
God will verse 4
Wipe away tears
No more death
No more sorrow
No more crying
No more pain
All things NEWverse 5
Fountain of the water of lifeverse 6
Lake that burns with fire and brimstoneverse 8
Holy Jerusalemverse 10
Descending out of heaven
second death
New Jerusalem describedverses 10-27
No temple in Jerusalemverse 22
Lord God Almighty and Lamb
are the temple
No sun or moon = glory of God the lightverse 23
No nightverse 2
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QUOTES regarding passage
Verses 24–26 present a remarkable picture of “the nations” and “the kings of the earth” entering the city and bringing their splendor (doxa, “glory,” “honor,” “magnificence”) into it. John sees a vision of social life, bustling with activity. Elsewhere in Revelation, the nations (ethnē) are the pagan, rebellious peoples of the world who trample the Holy City (cf. comments at 11:2; and at 11:18) and who have become drunk with the wine of Babylon, the mother of prostitutes (18:3, 23), and who will also be destroyed by the second coming of Christ (19:15). The same description applies to the kings of the earth. But there is another use of these terms in Revelation. They stand for the peoples of earth who are the servants of Christ, the redeemed nations who follow the Lamb and have resisted the beast and Babylon (1:5; 15:3; 19:16; 2:26; 5:9; 7:9; 12:5). It is this latter group that John describes figuratively as having part in the activity in the Holy City, the kingdom of God. What this may involve regarding the relation of this life to the future kingdom is not stated.
Life in the age to come will certainly involve continuing activities and relationships that will contribute to the glory of the Holy City throughout eternity. Instead of the nations bringing their precious possessions to Babylon, the harlot city, the redeemed nations will bring these offerings to the throne of God (cf. Isa 60:3ff.). So certain is its perpetual light and security that the gates will never be shut for fear of evil by night (v. 25; cf. Isa 60:11). This imagery should not, however, be allegorized as indicating some sort of perpetual invitation to salvation.
One thing is absolutely certain. Nothing impure (koinos, “common,” “profane”) will ever enter the city’s gates (v. 27). By koinos John means ceremonial impurity (cf. at 21:8; 22:15). No idolatrous person may enter. Only those can enter whose names are in “the Lamb’s book of life” and who thus belong to him through redemption (cf. 3:5; 20:12, 15). This should not be taken as implying that in the New Jerusalem there will still be unsaved roaming around outside the city who may now and then enter it by repenting (contra Caird). Instead, the exhortation warns present readers that the only way to participate in the future city is to turn one’s total loyalties to the Lamb now (cf. 21:7). (Johnson, A. F. (1981). Revelation. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 598). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Shall in no wise be shut (οὐ μη κλεισθωσιν [ou mē kleisthōsin]). Double negative with the first aorist passive subjunctive of κλειω [kleiō]. By day (ἡμερας [hēmeras]). Genitive of time. Mentioned alone without νυκτος [nuktos] (by night), “for there shall be no night there” (νυξ γαρ οὐκ ἐσται ἐκει [nux gar ouk estai ekei]). This looks like a continued picture of heaven. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Re 21:25). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
John learned that the gates of the city will never be shut, and because God’s glory will be present continually there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be in the city, and everything that is impure … shameful, or deceitful will be excluded (cf. Rev. 21:8; 22:15). The inhabitants will be only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. It is interesting that in the six references to the book of life in Revelation only this one calls it “the Lamb’s” (cf. 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15).
Though the description of the city does not answer all questions concerning the eternal state, the revelation given to John describes a beautiful and glorious future for all who put their trust in the living God. (Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 987). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 25. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day, &c.] Which does not design the free communication between the living saints on the new earth, and the raised ones in the new heaven, as some have thought, for these shall be together, and make up one body; but rather the universal collection, and free admission of all the saints from all parts into this city; though it seems best to interpret it of the safety of the inhabitants, see Jer. 49:31 who will have no enemy to fear, and therefore need never shut their gates; the beast and false prophet will have been taken, and cast into the lake of fire long ago; ungodly men will be destroyed in the general conflagration, and Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit during the thousand years: for there shall be no night there; this is a reason given why it is before said the gates shall not be shut by day, since it is unusual to shut gates in the day, unless in time of war, because there will be no night in this city, and so no need of ever shutting the gates; the night-time being the season for thieves and robbers, and for enemies to make their incursions, and to surprise: but here will be no night; either literally, times and seasons, as measured by the revolutions of the sun and moon, will be no more, they will not have the use they have; at least this city will stand in no need of them. The Jews say that the world to come will be כולו יום, all day: or mystically and figuratively, there will be no night of spiritual darkness and desertion, of drowsiness, sleepiness, and inactivity, of error and heresy, or of calamity and distress of any kind; all which are sometimes signified by night in Scripture; see Cant. 3:1; Matt. 25:5, 6; Isa. 26:9. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 864). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
21: 22-27 The most glorious feature of the city was not, however, its beautiful architecture. Far more impressive were its rulers, the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb (v. 22). The glory radiating from the two would provide all necessary light. The presence of light (v.24) and absence of night are literal here, but still reminiscent of Johannine theology of purity and sin (Jn 1:4-5, I Jn 1:5-7; 2:8,9). The Godhead dispels all negative influence. The nations were Gentiles who had persevered in resisting the beast and Babylon, finding their joy in serving the Lamb in the new city. The words nothing unclean (v. 27. introduce another set of exclusions (21:6). Unbelievers who lived in habitual sin while on earth would have no part in the new Jerusalem. What should most excite believers about heaven is not its admittedly astounding beauty and bliss. Instead, they should look forward to being with the wonderful Father and the Lamb forever, without sin or physical distance to limit fellowship.
(p. 2026, The Moody Bible Commentary by Faculty of Moody Bible Institute)
In that city there will be no secrets. John says, And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. The gates stand open forever, and in that city will be no darkness at all. Everything is open; there are no secrets. The mystery of God will be over, and everything will be plain to be seen. The light of glory, shining everywhere in that city, will enlighten mankind on the earth. The kings will bring their glory into it. They will bow in homage and acknowledge that the heavens do rule. Their faces turned upward, they will offer the only thing earth can ever give to heaven—glory and honor! The gates are open, suggesting that there will be unhindered communication between heaven and earth. The honor and glory of the kings, the royal representatives of all earth’s peoples, will be brought into the city, and the blessing of God will pour down in return. The era of mystery is over; heaven is visible from earth; and men will live in the full blaze of the glory that shines visibly in the sky.
In that city there will be no sinners. John says, And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. All other cities have been centers of scientific activity, social action, and deliberate sophistication. They have also been great centers of sin. But not this city! Only the saved will enter into it, those whose names are in the Lamb’s book of life, renewed by the Spirit of God, and living in the power of an endless, impeccable life. Sinners will be far removed from the wondrous place, and even if it were possible for them to approach it, they would detest it and would flee from it. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Revelation: An Expository Commentary (Re 21:15–27). Kregel; WORDsearch Corp.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST CENTRAL ?
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Ephesians 1:7
If the Lord Jesus Christ is not crucial, central, vital, and occupying the very center of our meditation and our living, thinking, and praying, we have no right to look for revival. And yet, if you go and talk to many people, even in the church, about religion, you will find that they will talk to you at great length without ever mentioning the Lord Jesus Christ. I am never tired of putting it like this, because it is something that I am so familiar with in my experience as a pastor. People come and talk to me about these things, and I put my question to them. I say, “If you had to die tonight, how would you feel?”
“Oh,” they say, “I believe in God.”
“All right,” I reply, “what will you say when you stand in the presence of God? What are you relying on?”
“Well,” they say, “I have always tried to live a good life, I have done my best, I have tried to do good.”
“But nevertheless you have sinned, haven’t you?”
“Oh yes, I have sinned.”
“So,” I ask, “what do you do about your sin? What will you say to God, in the presence of God, about your sin?”
“Well,” they say, “I believe God is a God of love.”
“And how does that help you?”
“Well,” they say, “I believe that if I acknowledge my sin to God and then ask Him to forgive me, He does forgive me, and I am relying upon that.”
The point I am making is that they do not even mention the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They seem to think that they can go to God directly without the Lord Jesus Christ at all. There is a great deal of so-called Christianity that is quite Christ-less.
A Thought to Ponder
If the Lord Jesus Christ is not occupying the very center of our meditation, we have no right to look for revival. (From Revival, pp. 45-46, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Solomon’s fame spreads throughout the world.
INSIGHT
To understand the significance of Solomon’s wealth, power, and wisdom, we must go back to Deuteronomy 28, where God outlined the consequences for Israel’s obedience and disobedience. During the latter part of David’s reign and the early part of Solomon’s reign, Israel follows the Lord in righteousness for a longer period of time than any other. The results are a greater blessing than at any other time in Israel’s history.
It is a glaring and tragic reality that shortly after Solomon’s reign, Israel follows her kings in unrighteousness, and the curses in Deuteronomy begin to come about. The welfare of Israel is always related to her righteousness.
(Quiet Walk)
They looked down at the faded photograph, then up at me, then over at my father, then back at me, then back at my father. Their eyes were as wide as the proverbial saucers. “Dad, you look just like Papa when he was young!” My father and I grinned because this was something we’d known for a long time, but it wasn’t until recently that my children came to the same realization. While my father and I are different people, in a very real sense to see me is to see my father as a younger man: tall, lanky frame; full head of dark hair; prominent nose; and rather large ears. No, I am not my father, but I am most definitely my father’s son.
A follower of Jesus named Philip once asked, “Lord, show us the Father” (John 14:8). And while it wasn’t the first time Jesus had indicated as much, His response was still cause for pause: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (v. 9). Unlike the physical resemblances between my father and me, what Jesus says here is revolutionary: “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?” (v. 10). His very essence and character were the same as His Father’s.
In that moment Jesus was being straightforward with His beloved disciples and us: If you want to know what God is like, look at Me. (by John Blasé, Our Daily Bread)
That Ye Might Believe
“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:30-31)
The gospel of John is the one book of the Bible specifically written with the purpose of leading people to Jesus Christ and salvation. It is structured around seven specially selected miracles of creation, or “signs” (John 2:11; 4:53-54; 5:9; 6:13-14; 6:19-21; 9:6-7; 11:43-45), each requiring supernatural power as well as knowledge. The book also contains many affirmations of His deity (there are seven great “I am” statements) and many exhortations to believe on Him (e.g., John 3:16) interspersed around the seven signs. Finally, there is the detailed description of the last supper, the crucifixion, and the resurrection, climaxed by the glorious affirmation of faith by doubting Thomas, and then our text stating the purpose of the entire book.
If we are to be effective witnesses for Christ, we can do no better than follow this same procedure. It is most significant that this begins with a strong emphasis on the special creation of all things, with an exposition showing that Christ Himself is the Creator (John 1:1-14). The judicious use of Christian evidences (e.g., the miracles) demonstrating the truth of His many claims of deity, climaxed by the overwhelming proofs of His own bodily resurrection (John 20:1-29), all interwoven with an uncompromising emphasis on the inerrant authority of Scripture (e.g., John 5:39-47; 10:34-36) and a clear exposition of His substitutionary death and the necessity of personal faith in Him for salvation (especially John 3:1-18), all combine to make the most effective way of bringing people to an intelligent, well-grounded decision to receive Christ as Savior and Lord.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
We are not offered a spiritual smorgasbord where we pick and choose what we want and where we ant to serve. Rather the gifts are determined by the sovereignty of God and are assigned based upon HIS design for the congregation. (v. 18) ..
As leaders of the church, we need to assist people in discovering the ministry that God has called them to and provide them opportunities to exercise their gifts for the benefit of the whole congregation.
(p. .140, (Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
Racism in any form is never okay and should NEVER be tolerated.
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