We Are Dead To The World And The World Is Dead To Us!
Galatians 6:14b “by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Galatians 6:14b : The Dual Crucifixion
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
In this devotional we will be looking at the glorious message found in Gals 6:14-15…
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” (Galatians 6:14-15 KJV)
Our devotionals will be looking at:
- Glorying In The Cross (Gal 6:14a)
- The Dual Crucifixion (Gal 6:14b)
- Circumcision To No Avail (Gal 6:15a)
- A New Creature (Gal 6:15b)
In each of these devotionals our prevailing topic will be the sufficiency of Christ and the insufficiency of man to bring about the transformation of an individual’s life.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Galatians 6:14b “by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
Please keep in mind, the main theme of this section of Scripture involves answering the question, who is to be given the credit for a life that has been transformed from guilt and the slavery of sin, to forgiveness and service to Christ.
One aspect of the transformation that takes place at salvation involves our relationship to the world…
by whom the world is crucified unto me,
This aspect of our transformation in Christ involves us living a new life of service to Christ…
When Christ graciously intervenes into our lives and grants us salvation, the world is “crucified unto” us. In other words, at salvation the sinful appeals of this world no longer have the same appeal and control over us, we are no longer enslaved by them. Although they still exist, their power over us has been done away.
In that sense they are put to death (“crucified”). Much like a master that dies no longer controls his slaves. With the death of the master the slave is released from their bondage allowing them to serve another.
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:11-14)
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” (Romans 6:22)
and I unto the world.”
This aspect of our transformation in Christ involves us dying to the dominance of this world’s influences…
As we have seen at our salvation, our relationship to the world is like a slave whose Master has died, leaving him free to serve another. Likewise, at salvation, it is as if we are looked upon as dead to the influences of this world.
These sinful influences of this world speak of the areas of this world that appeal to our sinful natures. They are described in 1 John 2:15-17 as “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”. All three were at work when Eve was tempted in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:6)…
| The Appeal Of The World | Description | The Garden Temptation |
| “The lust of the flesh” | That which appeals to desires linked to our physical bodies | “the tree was good for food” |
| “The lust of the eyes” | That which appeals to our physical eyesight | “it was pleasant to the eyes” |
| “The pride of life” | That which appeals to man’s feelings of superiority or self sufficiency | “desired to make one wise” |
These temptations resulted in Eve’s sin which led to Adam’s sin and the fall of all mankind.
Once saved, we are now dead to these sinful influences. It is like a slave who has died and is no longer controlled by his master’s commands.
Summary Of Our Study
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2)
Please note that based upon this passage, Paul makes it plain that although the Christian is now “dead to sin” it is still possible for the Christian to continue in it. Just because sin no longer controls us and dominates us, it still exists and can be willingly submitted to by the Christian.
Although the Christian is “dead” to sin’s dominance and control, he can still willingly choose to obey his former master. Paul says that although it is possible for the Christian to choose to sin, God forbids it.… “God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
If we are no longer under sins bondage and control, why would we now willing choose to sin? After all Christ has done for us by delivering us from sin’s bondage, why would we ever now choose to obey sin? Sadly, this is the choice each and every one of us make every day. No Christian lives a perfect life following salvation, all of us from time to time choose to submit to our former master. How sad. How important Paul’s warning is for each one of us!
May we all remember that we are dead to the dominance of sin and now living new lives for Christ. However, it is still possible for us to willingly choose to obey our old master, sin. As those who are given a transformed life in Christ, may we not choose to sin and disobey the One who has done so much for us.
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Is The Cross Of Christ The Only Source of our Boasting?
Galatians 6:14a “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
“The Deliverance Of Creation 2”
One of the many wonderful truths involving the Christian’s eternity with Christ concerns the deliverance of God’s physical creation from the pain and decay of sin. What a blessing it is to know that, not only will our bodies be completely delivered from the effects of sin, but so too, the physical creation of God…
“Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:21-23)
Let’s take a few moments to look at what the Bible teaches concerning the future deliverance of creation from the effects and presence of sin.
THE SCRIPTURES:
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;” (2 Peter 3:10-15)
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:18-23)
THE STUDY:
The main texts of our study will be Romans 8:18-23 (where we find the basic principle of creation’s deliverance from sin affirmed) and 2 Peter 3:10-15 (where we find the creation’s deliverance described in detail)…
Now let’s take a look at the PROCESS behind the renovation of this heaven and earth from 2 Peter 3:10-15. Peter now presents to us teaching on the same event as was spoken of by the Apostle Paul, the deliverance of this heaven and earth from sin, its effects and its presence…
10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Once again, we see that the timeframe for the deliverance of creation is shared with that of the glorification of our bodies. Both take place when Christ comes as a “thief” (at His second coming – 1 Thess 5:1-10, Matt 24:36-41).
The removal of sin’s effects and presence from this creation is described with several different terms:
- “pass away” – to cease to be. In other words, their sinful condition will no longer exist. They will “cease to be” what they once were because they will be changed. Just as the Christian’s fleshly, sinful body will no longer exist when it enters into its glorified condition.
- “melt” – dissolved, loosened, stripped away. Creation will be “stripped” much like damaged, worn, finish is stripped from old furniture during the renovation process.
- “burned up” – to be burned to the ground. Much like a forest fire burns all to the ground producing fertile soil for the regrowth to begin.
Please note that NONE of these terms dictates a new creative act must take place. Each term can easily describe a renovation process Keep in mind, the heavens and earth will not be totally destroyed with new ones created in their place. Contrary to this false teaching, the Bible is plain that the appearance of the new heavens and earth is the result of the RENOVATION of the old not their total destruction. They will be “changed” much like restoring used garments…
“And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.” (Hebrews 1:10-12)
11) [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,
12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Because we know that the Lord will prepare for us an eternal dwelling place wholly separated from sin, should we not seek to rid ourselves of sin while yet on this earth?
Here, in these verses, we find two terms for this act of renovation…
- “dissolved” – this is the same term as “melt” in above verse.
- “melt” – this is a term that means “to liquefy”. Perhaps this is the most important term of them all.
We are told that through the use of fire and extreme heat the Lord will “melt” the components that make up His creation. This melting will be used by the Lord to reform (reshape) the heavens and earth, while using its original components…
- This reminds us that the earth was covered with water as a part of the original creation process (Genesis 1:1-2)
- Also this reminds us of the world-wide flood that was God’s judgment of sin that resulted in a similar, yet incomplete cleansing of the earth…
“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (2 Peter 3:5-7)
13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Although we are told that the heavens and earth will “pass away”, “melt”, “be burned up”, and “dissolved” we know that, based upon His promises to us, He will reform these into a “new” heavens and earth. These will then be the containers of “righteousness” with the Lord and His people forever inhabiting them.
It is very important to notice the description “new”. The Greek language has two terms that are translated “new” in the New Testament:
- “neos” which means “new” in relation to age and time.
This word means “young” or coming later in time. This word carries the idea of a child compared to an adult, or a new place of employment that follows the previous place of employment.
- “kainos” which means “new” in relation to quality or condition.
It means “fresh”, “youthful” or “renewed”. In speaks of the idea of a “fresh” coat of paint or the “restoration” of an antique car.
The word “new” in this passage is “kainos” (and every NT passage where we find new heavens and earth mentioned) clearly revealing the heavens and earth are “new” in the sense they are reinvigorated, or refreshed as the result of their renovation. It CANNOT mean they are new in the sense they are young and come after the old heavens and earth. Again, this helps us to see that the New Heavens and New Earth are the same Heavens and Earth which we are experiencing now, simply reformed and renovated to remove all traces of sin.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
Now Peter gets to the practical application of all these things…
14) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15) And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
For those who have trusted in Christ.
14) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
As believers, we all look forward to the appearance of the New Heavens and New Earth and our entrance into it. Because of this wonderful future awaiting us, let us be certain of our standing before Him. Let us not “miss out” on this wonderful eternity, simply because we are lax in our self-appraisal of our spiritual condition.
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:10-11)
For those who have never trusted in Christ.
15) And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
For those who have never trusted in Christ, please remember, the delay of His second coming (which includes the end of mankind’s opportunity for salvation and the appearance of this New Heavens and New Earth), is because He is a long-suffering Lord who is giving ample time for the lost to come to a saving knowledge of Him. Please turn from your sins and come to Christ before it is too late…
“And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:”
(Romans 2:3-6)
If you have any questions concerning the way of salvation please feel free to visit or call a Bible teaching church in your area. They will be happy to speak to you about the Lord Jesus and the salvation He graciously gives.
Please visit the “Settled In Heaven Ministries” homepage – http://www.settledinheaven.org
To see this lesson taught on video please go to my Video Blog at http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
If you have any questions concerning this blog, or if you have a subject you would like discussed, please feel free to email me at settledinheaven@gmail.com. I will answer all emails via my blog, email, or both.
Galatians 6:14a : Glorying In The Cross
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
In this devotional we will be looking at the glorious message found in Gals 6:14-15…
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” (Galatians 6:14-15 KJV)
Our devotionals will be looking at:
- Glorying In The Cross (Gal 6:14a)
- The Dual Crucifixion (Gal 6:14b)
- Circumcision To No Avail (Gal 6:15a)
- A New Creature (Gal 6:15b)
In each of these devotionals our prevailing topic will be the sufficiency of Christ and the insufficiency of man to bring about the transformation of an individual’s life.
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Galatians 6:14a “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Please keep in mind, the main theme of this section of Scripture involves answering the question, who is to be given the credit for a life that has been transformed from guilt and the slavery of sin, to forgiveness and service to Christ.
Keeping this in mind our look at this text begins with:
“But God forbid that I should glory”
In this text, the word translated “forbid” simply means “to not begin”; while the word translated “glory” means “to boast” or “to exalt”.
Paul tells us that God does not want us to begin to boast about possessing a changed life if our boasting points to anyone, or anything other than…
“save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”
…the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus Christ and His work on the cross, is the only source of a truly transformed life.
Summary Of Our Study
Folks, if the Lord’s saving grace has been shown to us, we cannot take any of the credit for that change. No matter how much willpower we may have, no matter how great an inward desire for change we may possess, apart from the intervention of the Lord in our life, all our efforts for genuine change is to no avail.
Without Christ, we are much like the leopard, or the Ethiopian that, try as they might, they can never bring about true, lasting change in their lives…
Jeremiah 13:23 KJV – “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.”
If we are saved, we can look back over our lives and see a distinct, lasting, change that has taken place in our life. Our greatest need is to recognize that this change has only come to pass through the gracious work of Christ which was applied to our lives through His personal intervention.
Once we recognize His indispensable role in our lives, may we praise and honor Him as the Great Redeemer, as the Poet who has brought into existence the wonderful poem that makes up our lives….
“For we are his workmanship (“poem”), created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Are You Prepared To Meet Your God?
Amos 4:12 KJV
“Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Precious Human Life #6: Prepare To Meet Thy God
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
This is part of a series that is looking at the preciousness of life and the need for a more serious examination of the Scriptural validity of taking a human life under any circumstance. Folks, our world has devalued the taking of human life to the point the loss of human life is “no big deal” and “JUST a part of the world in which we live.”
By God’s grace, as we continue through this series, my prayer is that the Lord would open all of our spiritual eyes and come to a more complete realization of the great value of human life. Also, we need to carefully consider the results of our actions, and the circumstances surrounding the taking of human life, making sure that in each situation, the taking of life is Biblically justifiable and absolutely necessary.
Our devotional series will contain six daily devotions, all of which will emphasize the wondrous nature of the human creation and the loss inflicted upon mankind when a human life is taken from their midst…
- Thou Shalt Not Kill (Exo 20:13)
- The Glory and Honor Of Man (Psa 8:4-6)
- God’s Image & Likeness (Gen 1:26-27)
- Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psa 139:14-16)
- The Minister and Witness Of These Things (Acts 26:16-17)
- Prepare To Meet Thy God (Amos 4:12)
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Prepare To Meet Thy God (Amos 4:12, Eccl 9:10, Isa 38:18-19, 55:6, Eph 5:15-17)
Amos 4:12 KJV – “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV – “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
Isaiah 38:18-19 KJV – “For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.”
Isaiah 55:6 KJV – “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”
Ephesians 5:15-17 KJV – “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
In Amos 4:12, We find the Lord speaking to the nation of Israel after explaining to them their sinful condition. The Lord commands them to “Prepare to meet thy God”. In other words, the Lord was encouraging the Jews recognize their sinful condition, turn from their sins and place their faith in the coming Messiah.
In a very real way, the command given to the nation of Israel applies to us in today’s time as well. All of fallen mankind, regardless of race or nationality, are to prepare to meet their God through recognition of their sin, turning from those sins, and placing their faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who came to the earth and died on the cross to pay the price for the sins of His people.
When are we to prepare to meet our God? Now, while we still have life within us. At our physical death, our opportunity to be prepared will come to an end, and we will enter eternity. That is why the Bible emphasizes the need to live our physical lives to prepare to enter into our Lord’s presence, after death all opportunities for salvation and faithful service will come to an end (Eph 5:15-17). And this is why Ecclesiastes tells us to do all we can, while we can, to the best of our ability. It will be too late to come to Christ or serve Him following our death (Eccl 9:10). Even the Old Testament prophet Isaiah understood this truth (Isaiah 38:18-19).
Folks when the physical life of a person is taken from them, all their hope of salvation and their future service for Christ is forever lost. From a totally human perspective, the taking of life can rob a person of their future salvation or service to our Lord.
Please keep in mind: We know that the Lord is a sovereign Lord who will bring to salvation those whom He has chosen to save from eternity past. He will keep each and every one of His elect alive until He calls them to Himself and grants them eternal life and forgiveness. From a divine perspective, when a person dies in a lost state it is proof they were never one of God’s elect.
However, when we are looking at an issue concerning man’s responsibility, we are required to look at things from a human viewpoint. For example, from God’s standpoint, any sin that is committed is a part of His sovereign plan for mankind. If it wasn’t a part of His plan, He would not allow the sin to take place.
However, although a sin may be allowed by God, when we stand before Him we will never be able to justify that sin by saying “You are to blame, You allowed the sin to take place” or “The sin I committed as done according to your will’. Of course we could not say these things. To blame the Lord for our sin and attempt to make Him the responsible party based upon His sovereign will, is utter blasphemy.
The same holds true for the argument that would say, because the Lord allowed me to kill this lost individual, then it proves the person was not one of God’s elect. Although, from God’s perspective, this may be true; from mankind’s perspective, we can never look at things this way, nor justify our actions based upon them. From our human viewpoint, we cannot know if a lost person is one of God’s elect or not, therefore we can, and will, be held accountable for taking their “chance” of salvation away from them at the point of their death. This is a grave sin indeed. In a sense, from our viewpoint (as mankind who cannot know God’s future sovereign will) we are taking the eternal destiny of an individual into our own hands.
Likewise, how foolish it would be to try to justify the taking of human life based upon the principle that if the Lord did not desire for it to take place then He would not have allowed it. In other words, we can twist the Word to teach that all taking of human life must be pleasing to God… simply because it took place. Both of these attitudes are unscriptural and a blasphemy in God’s sight.
In closing, may we all follow Isaiah’s instructions for us and… “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” (Isaiah 55:6 KJV)
Summary Of Our Study
In these devotionals, we have seen several ramifications of the taking of physical life:
- For mankind to devalue human life is to mock the authority, value and deserved respect that God Himself has placed upon mankind.
- For mankind to devalue human life is to devalue a wonderful picture of the gracious humility, authority and exaltation of Christ that took place at His first coming.
- Man being made by God the “image” (“similitude”) and “likeness” of Him is another reason why the devaluing of human life is such a very sobering act. When a man’s life is taken, an image of God given to mankind is silenced and, in actuality, destroyed.
- We are devaluing that which the Lord has fearfully and wonderfully made and that continually testifies of His greatness. To bring an end to this life is to bring an end to this testimony of God’s greatness.
- Whether they be saved, or potentially a future recipient of salvation, by devaluing and taking away physical life, we are silencing one who may be used of God to accomplish great things in His service.
- The devaluing and taking of human life is, from a human viewpoint, will, be held accountable for taking their “chance” of salvation away from them at the point of their death. This is a grave sin indeed for we are taking the eternal destiny of an individual into our own hands.
May we all come to understand the need to value physical life above all of God’s other creations and do everything in our power to bring an end to the unscriptural devaluing and taking of life that is so common in today’s world…
“But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:”
(Hebrews 2:6-7 KJV)
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
“The Deliverance Of Creation 1”
One of the many wonderful truths involving the Christian’s eternity with Christ concerns the deliverance of God’s physical creation from the pain and decay of sin. What a blessing it is to know that, not only will our bodies be completely delivered from the effects of sin, but so too, the physical creation of God…
“Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:21-23)
Let’s take a few moments to look at what the Bible teaches concerning the future deliverance of creation from the effects and presence of sin.
THE SCRIPTURES:
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;” (2 Peter 3:10-15)
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:18-23)
THE STUDY:
The main texts of our study will be Romans 8:18-23 (where we find the basic principle of creation’s deliverance from sin affirmed) and 2 Peter 3:10-15 (where we find the creation’s deliverance described in detail)…
Let’s begin with Romans 8:18-23 and look at the PRINCIPLE of the renovation of this heaven and earth…
18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Paul reminds us that no matter what opposition may be faced for the cause of Christ, they cannot be compared to the eternal glory that is awaiting the people of God. This eternal glory includes living in the very presence of Christ; the receipt of a glorified body; no longer facing pain, sorrow nor death; and removal from the very presence of sin and it’s effects; to name a few…
“ 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.
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, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:1-5)
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever [in that] which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner [being] an hundred years old shall be accursed.
And they shall build houses, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree [are] the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they [are] the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust [shall be] the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 65:17-25)
{Note: Although these verses are commonly thought of as referring to the 1000 year reign, based upon their context (vs 17), they are clearly referring to our future existence on the New Heavens and New Earth}
22) For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. (Isaiah 66:22)
19) For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20) For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope,
21) Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
All of God’s creation is now waiting anxiously for the glorification of the believer’s body which will usher in “glorious liberty” (deliverance from the influence, effects and presence of sin) of the children of God.
Why is all creation looking forward to the glorification of the believer’s body? Creation’s deliverance from sin will take place in a similar fashion, during the same timeframe, as that of the believer’s glorification:
- Both involve a renovation or a remaking – The believer’s glorification involves the believer’s body being changed (glorified and ushered into God’s presence) at His second coming. (1 Cor 15:51-58). The deliverance of God’s physical creation will involve its renovation and entrance into God’s presence (Heb 1:10-12, Rev 21:1-5)…
- Both involve the same timeframe (Christ’s second coming)- The believer’s glorification will take place as Christ returns in the clouds which will be followed immediately by His wrath falling upon lost mankind culminating in the renovation of the heavens and earth (Mark 13:24-27)…
“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (2 Peter 3:5-7)
22) For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23) And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.
The creation of God is now going through painful times due to sin’s effects. She is groaning due to the pain of the effects of sin. She “travaileth in pain” (ie suffering birth pains) as she is awaiting the “birth” of her coming reforming by God.
Paul compares this to each one of God’s people who, enduring the results of sin, are groaning in pain and eagerly awaiting the receipt of their glorified bodies and the removal of sin’s influence, effects and presence.
All of these blessings are the result of the Lord’s redemptive work on the cross where He has undone the sin and death that has entered the world through Adam (1 Corinthians 15:51-57).
In part two of our two-part series, we will look at the PROCESS behind the renovation of this heaven and earth from 2 Peter 3:10-15.
May the Lord bless you as you study His Word.
Please visit the “Settled In Heaven Ministries” homepage – http://www.settledinheaven.org
All Saved Mankind Is A Minister And Witness Of What Christ Has Done For Them
Acts 26:16-17 KJV – “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,”
For the SIH Devotional On This Subject:
The Precious Human Life #5: The Minister And Witness Of These Things
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
This is part of a series that is looking at the preciousness of life and the need for a more serious examination of the Scriptural validity of taking a human life under any circumstance. Folks, our world has devalued the taking of human life to the point the loss of human life is “no big deal” and “JUST a part of the world in which we live.”
By God’s grace, as we continue through this series, my prayer is that the Lord would open all of our spiritual eyes and come to a more complete realization of the great value of human life. Also, we need to carefully consider the results of our actions, and the circumstances surrounding the taking of human life, making sure that in each situation, the taking of life is Biblically justifiable and absolutely necessary.
Our devotional series will contain six daily devotions, all of which will emphasize the wondrous nature of the human creation and the loss inflicted upon mankind when a human life is taken from their midst…
- Thou Shalt Not Kill (Exo 20:13)
- The Glory and Honor Of Man (Psa 8:4-6)
- God’s Image & Likeness (Gen 1:26-27)
- Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psa 139:14-16)
- The Minister and Witness Of These Things (Acts 26:16-17)
- Prepare To Meet Thy God (Amos 4:12)
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
The Minister and Witness Of These Things (Isaiah 6:8-12, Psalms 66:16, Acts 26:16-17, Romans 10:13-17)
Acts 26:16-17 KJV
“But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,”
Psalms 66:16 KJV
“Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.”
Isaiah 6:8-12 KJV
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.”
Romans 10:13-17 KJV
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Man, A Minister and Witness of The Lord and His Works For Us
In Acts 26:16-17 and Isaiah 6:8-12, we find the call to ministry of Paul and Isaiah respectively. In both instances we see the ministry of these men involved telling others about the Lord and His work that was done on behalf of His people…
To Paul: “to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;”
To Isaiah: “Go, and tell this people,…”
This calling of men to the ministry of the Lord is shared by all men who have come to faith in Christ. Although not all men are called to full-time ministry, all men who are saved are called to share the gospel message with those around them. David, although not called to full time ministry as a minister of the Lord, understood and accepted this great responsibility… “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.”
Folks, this responsibility given to saved mankind is of great importance. Without the proclamation of the gospel message, the lost of this world are without hope with salvation unavailable to them… “…and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? … How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! … So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Folks, every human life that is taken from this earth is one who has, or is potentially one who has been given the responsibility to take the gospel into this world. Whether they be saved, or potentially a future recipient of salvation, by taking away physical life, we are silencing one who may be used of God to accomplish great things in His service.
It is important to note that NONE of us can know whom the Lord will call to salvation. Even the most wicked and vile of mankind can be called to salvation through the call of God. Therefore, even when the life of a lost man is taken, from a strictly human standpoint, we can never know if he would have been saved and what he might have accomplished for Him. The Apostle Paul is the perfect example of this type of individual (Acts 26:1-23).
Please note: I am a firm believer in the sovereignty of God in salvation… He will save those who are chosen and none will be lost (John 6:39). However in matters of this nature, concerning man’s responsibility, we must look at things from man’s vantage point without regard for God’s unknown workings of providence. More about this principle in our next devotional.
In our next devotional, we will be being looking at the preciousness of human life by examining man’s need to “prepare to meet thy God” during our lifetimes on earth.
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
The Creation And Development Of Man In The Womb Glorifies God…
Psalms 139:14-17 KJV
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Precious Human Life #4: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
This is part of a series that is looking at the preciousness of life and the need for a more serious examination of the Scriptural validity of taking a human life under any circumstance. Folks, our world has devalued the taking of human life to the point the loss of human life is “no big deal” and “JUST a part of the world in which we live.”
By God’s grace, as we continue through this series, my prayer is that the Lord would open all of our spiritual eyes and come to a more complete realization of the great value of human life. Also, we need to carefully consider the results of our actions, and the circumstances surrounding the taking of human life, making sure that in each situation, the taking of life is Biblically justifiable and absolutely necessary.
Our devotional series will contain six daily devotions, all of which will emphasize the wondrous nature of the human creation and the loss inflicted upon mankind when a human life is taken from their midst…
- Thou Shalt Not Kill (Exo 20:13)
- The Glory and Honor Of Man (Psa 8:4-6)
- God’s Image & Likeness (Gen 1:26-27)
- Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psa 139:14-16)
- The Minister and Witness Of These Things (Acts 26:16-17)
- Prepare To Meet Thy God (Amos 4:12)
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psalm 139:14-16)
Psalms 139:14-17 KJV
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
Man Is “Fearfully” Made
The manner in which man was created brings both fear and reverence to his Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. The key to understanding this principle is found in the greatness of God. The creation of Man clearly reveals to us the strength, wisdom, authority, and excellence of our God. When we come to see His person and attributes more clearly, it develops a sense of awe (fear and reverence) in our hearts.
Man Is “Wonderfully” Made
The word translated “wonderfully” in this verse is the Hebrew word for “to distinguish”, or “to separate”. The way in which man was made separates him from all other parts of God’s creation and separates the Creator from all the false gods of this world. One of the greatest sources of knowledge about the greatness of our God is found in nature and man, the crowning glory of God’s creation, more clearly reveals God’s greatness than any other part of His creation.
Please notice in the context of our verse, the revelation of God through man’s creation causes man to praise Him for His greatness… “I will praise thee”.
Following the general declaration of the wonders of mankind’s creation, we find a detailed description of the manner in which man was created…
- Although conceived and existing in the womb, the unseen child is under God’s watchcare and His development… “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.”
- God saw and intervened in the life of the child while he was yet developing in the womb…. “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;”
- In God’s book, God had written all the characteristics of the child before any of those characteristics could be seen. God’s book is speaking of the genetic code that came into existence at conception that would then control the child’s development within the womb and the ultimate characteristics that the child would possess… “and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
What an amazing act of God, bringing human life into this world! When we take the life of a human, we are taking a life whose creation testifies to the greatness of our God. We are bringing to a premature end that which the Lord has fearfully and wonderfully made and that is a continual testimony of His greatness. We are, in a sense, trying to undo what the Lord has brought to pass.
In our next devotional, we will be being looking at the preciousness of human life by examining man, who was is the minister and witness of these things.
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Man Reveals God As His Image And Likeness To All Of His Creation!
Genesis 1:26-27 KJV –
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Precious Human Life #3: God’s “Image” and “Likeness”
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
This is part of a series that is looking at the preciousness of life and the need for a more serious examination of the Scriptural validity of taking a human life under any circumstance. Folks, our world has devalued the taking of human life to the point the loss of human life is “no big deal” and “JUST a part of the world in which we live.”
By God’s grace, as we continue through this series, my prayer is that the Lord would open all of our spiritual eyes and come to a more complete realization of the great value of human life. Also, we need to carefully consider the results of our actions, and the circumstances surrounding the taking of human life, making sure that in each situation, the taking of life is Biblically justifiable and absolutely necessary.
Our devotional series will contain six daily devotions, all of which will emphasize the wondrous nature of the human creation and the loss inflicted upon mankind when a human life is taken from their midst…
- Thou Shalt Not Kill (Exo 20:13)
- The Glory and Honor Of Man (Psa 8:4-6)
- God’s Image & Likeness (Gen 1:26-27)
- Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psa 139:14-16)
- The Minister and Witness Of These Things (Acts 26:16-17)
- Prepare To Meet Thy God (Amos 4:12)
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
God’s Image & Likeness (Gen 1:26-27, 5:1, 1 Cor 11:7, James 3:9)
Genesis 1:26-27 KJV –
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Genesis 5:1 KJV –
“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;”
1 Corinthians 11:7 KJV –
“For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.”
James 3:9 KJV –
“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.”
In the above verses, we are told that man was made in God’s “image” and “likeness” and “similitude”. This helps us to understand that man reveals God, His character and His nature.
- Man made in God’s “Image”
In the Old Testament man is said to be made in the “image” of God, the Bible is telling us that man was formed by God as a “resemblance” or a “representative figure”. The New Testament reaffirms this principle when it states that man was made “after the similitude of God”. By “Similitude” is meant “a favorable comparison” or “a similarity”.
Both statements simply teach us that Man resembles God. Man was made to resemble God and therefore, be a representation of God in the midst of God’s creation.
- Man made in God’s “Likeness”
The Bible goes further and helps us to understand the way in which man resembles God in the midst of creation. “Likeness” comes from a Hebrew word that means “to be shaped like”, “to be a model of”. God formed, shaped, or modeled, man after Himself. Mankind was meant to be a model of God in the midst of His creation. Much like looking at a model reflects truths about the subject of the original, so too man reveals much about the God who made all creation.
In what ways is man a model of God? Man resembles God (as a model of God) in many, many ways. A few of these include:
- Man has three parts (body, soul, and spirit) this mirrors the three persons of the Godhead.
- Man is an everlasting being (one who will never go out of existence), God is also eternal (having no beginning and no ending).
- Man is possesses and exercises delegated dominion over creation, God holds the ultimate dominion over all creation
- Man is a moral being capable of understanding and choosing right and wrong. God is the Supreme moral being, Who developed and produced the perfect standard of morality based upon his very being.
- Man if saved, at the receipt of the “new man”, exhibits righteousness and holiness following the character of the perfectly righteous and holy God.
I am sure there exists many other ways that the being of man models truths about God. The revelation of God found in mankind’s model of God far excels any the revelation of God that we might find in other parts of nature.
Please note, based on the above list, that even a very wicked man can, in many ways, present truths about God to the world. EVERY human life is precious and valuable as a model of truths concerning God to the world. There is no excuse for the dismissive taking of human life simply because the one who is killed was a “bad man” or “a trouble maker”.
Certainly, death is an appropriate punishment for grave sins that are specifically listed in the Bible, however then it is to be done under the authority of the human government following an exhaustive investigation and ample proof of the guilt of the one being put to death. Just because a man is found to be an habitual law breaker does it give the executive branches of government, or other groups, or individuals, the allowance to take life without the proper Biblical prerequisites.
Man being made by God the “image” (“similitude”) and “likeness” of Him is another reason why the taking of human life is such a very sobering act. When a man’s life is taken, an image of God given to mankind is silenced and, in actuality, destroyed.
The casual taking of physical life can be an act of rebellion against the Lord, and a reflection of mankind’s attitudes towards the Lord (His person and His characteristics). In some cases, men are reminded (through man’s existence) about a God that they hate. It can be much like looking at a picture of one that is hated. What is a natural response to seeing the picture of the hated one? Simply taking the picture and breaking it.
These are all reasons why the taking of human life is defined as a very grave in God’s eyes and is one of the very few sins that are punishable by death in the Bible…
Genesis 9:6 KJV – “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”
In our next devotional, we will be being looking at the preciousness of human life by examining man, who was fearfully and wonderfully made by God.
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Man Is God’s Crowning Achievement Among All Creation….
Psalms 8:4-6 KJV –
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Precious Human Life #2: The “glory” and “honor” of man
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
This is part of a series that is looking at the preciousness of life and the need for a more serious examination of the Scriptural validity of taking a human life under any circumstance. Folks, our world has devalued the taking of human life to the point the loss of human life is “no big deal” and “JUST a part of the world in which we live.”
By God’s grace, as we continue through this series, my prayer is that the Lord would open all of our spiritual eyes and come to a more complete realization of the great value of human life. Also, we need to carefully consider the results of our actions, and the circumstances surrounding the taking of human life, making sure that in each situation, the taking of life is Biblically justifiable and absolutely necessary.
Our devotional series will contain six daily devotions, all of which will emphasize the wondrous nature of the human creation and the loss inflicted upon mankind when a human life is taken from their midst…
- Thou Shalt Not Kill (Exo 20:13)
- The Glory and Honor Of Man (Psa 8:4-6)
- God’s Image & Likeness (Gen 1:26-27)
- Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psa 139:14-16)
- The Minister and Witness Of These Things (Acts 26:16-17)
- Prepare To Meet Thy God (Amos 4:12)
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
“The Glory and Honor Of Man” (Psa 8:4-6, Heb 2:6-8)
Psalms 8:4-6 KJV –
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:”
Hebrews 2:6-8 KJV (Quoted from Psalm 8:4-6) –
“But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”
In the above Psalm, and its quotation in Hebrews, we find the members of mankind being described as being “crowned…with glory and honor”. This teaches us much about the very nature of man and the blessed position the Lord has granted to them.
- Man Crowned With “Glory”
The word “glory”, in the Psalms passage, is translated from a Hebrew word meaning “admiration”, “respect”, or “esteem”. In the Hebrews passage, the Greek word for “glory” holds the same meaning and is often translated by the word “dignity”.
“Glory” speaks of the attitude towards man that is held by the other parts of God’s creation.
“thou… didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”
Man has been placed in a wonderfully blessed position among all of God’s creation. Although he is placed in a position slightly lower than the angels (the angels are under the direct authority of God, answering to Him and receiving commands from Him), man is given authority to rule over the others parts of God’s creation. A perfect form of this authority was given to man in the Garden (Gen 1:28-30, Gen 2:19-20). Man possessed absolute dominion over the creation of God, receiving honor and respect from creation itself….
But this perfect dominion became tainted due to the entrance of sin in the world (Gen 3:17-19). Man still possesses dominion over the world, but now must suffer from acts of rebellion and disobedience to his rule. Now animals attack man, now weeds grow hindering the growth of man’s crops, and now nature sends forth floods, tornado, earthquakes etc. that are not under the control of man.
- Man Crowned With “Honor”
The word “honor” is translated from a Hebrew word that means “beauty”, “magnificence”, “comeliness” or “majesty”. In the Hebrews passage the word “honor” means basically the same and is commonly translated “value”, “price”.
“Honor” speaks of man’s value.
Man, has been given great worth by God. The Lord sovereignly chose to give Himself to redeem mankind from their sin (Titus 2:11-14), instead of simply destroying man and recreating a new type of being. He did not die for the angels, for animals, for trees, nor rocks. He died for man, and man alone, setting man apart from all the other parts of His creation.
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Although mankind does not deserve the great value bestowed upon him, nonetheless the Lord chose to graciously place that value upon him (1 Peter 2:9).
- How Does The Loss Of Human Life Affect Mankind?
Please notice, in both the man’s glory and honor, man is said to be “crowned” by these. A kingly crown is an outward representation of authority possessed by, and honor due to the wearer. When the Lord granting to man their undeserved glory and honor, it was as if He was placing a crown upon man’s head, granting to him great authority and a position that deserved to be honored by all His creation. Based upon God’s gracious bestowal of respect and value upon man, man deserves dignity and respect from, not only the inanimate and animal parts of His creation, but mankind itself.
Folks, we are to honor and respect all human life, no matter what color of skin, no matter what language is spoken, no matter what citizenship is claimed, no matter what position is held in society, no matter what amount of wealth is possessed, and finally, no matter what beliefs are held. Human life is human life and is precious in the eyes of God. For mankind to devalue human life is to mock the authority, value and deserved respect that God Himself has placed upon mankind.
Also, keep in mind these same verses we have looked at are also a clear prophecy of Christ, His first coming, and His exaltation by His Father.
Mankind, in the authority they have been given, in their position below angels, yet above all other parts of creation, and in their exaltation by God, all are living representations of God/man Christ. When Christ came to the earth the first time, He was made lower than the angels, He possessed dominion over nature, and was exalted by God following His ascension. All of these are truths about Christ that can be seen in the glory and honor that God has graciously placed upon all of mankind. For mankind to devalue human life is to devalue a wonderful picture of the gracious humility, authority and exaltation of Christ that took place at His first coming.
May we all come to recognize the wonderful gift of human life that world has been given, and the tremendous loss that is sustained when that same life is taken from our midst.
In our next devotional, we will be being looking at the preciousness of human life by examining man, who was created in God’s image and likeness.
Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Human Life Has Become An Expendable Commodity…
James 2:11 KJV – “For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.”
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Precious Human Life #1: “Thou shalt not kill”
INTRODUCTION TO OUR SERIES:
The taking of precious human life, whether justified or not, is a very important action that should never be taken lightly. Yet sadly in today’s society, human life seems to be becoming an expendable commodity, where life is taken very quickly without much, if any, consideration of the severity of the action about to be performed.
Just turn on the news and you will see beheadings; snipers being honored for killing enemies of war; drone attacks killing their targets and innocent bystanders; putting criminals to death by capital punishment; policemen killing armed and unarmed citizens during attempted arrests; the taking of lives of many innocent men, women and children during mass slayings in schools, theaters etc; the daily taking of life while yet in the womb; acts of ethnic cleansing, etc etc etc. The list is seemingly endless.
Please understand, I am not saying all the above are acts of murder, nor am I saying all the acts above are justifiable killings. As a matter of fact, on purpose, I tried to mix what I believe are both types of killings together on purpose. That is because this devotional series is not meant to define what is and isn’t justifiable killings. To do so, would take away from the intent and subject of the series
{For the record: I personally believe that the Bible teaches the existence of both murder and, with very specific limitations, justifiable killings. In my mind, based on my studies justifiable killings would include self-defense, defense of family, governmental punishment for wrongdoing, loss of life due to accidents, and wars to stop the abuse of others.
Unfortunately I believe many of the wars we enter into are not justifiable. They are motivated by political or economic motives and not sincerely being started out of a heart of love wanting to help those who are abused and mistreated. We go to war in places where we have “national interests”, while we allow abuse and killings to take place in other countries that are labeled as containing “no national interests” without lifting a finger to help the abused and murdered. These things ought not so to be.
This is all I am going to say on this subject for this series. The detailed study on this subject is for a later time. The last thing I want during this series is to get sidetracked with debates about what is and isn’t justifiable killing. In my experience, normally more heat than light comes from this type of debate and it will take our attention off the subject of this devotion series.}
This series is about emphasizing the preciousness of ALL human life and the impact of taking ANY human life, REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES surrounding the act. Because of the great impact of the killing of man upon mankind, we are to very seriously, carefully use the revelation of Scripture consider our actions before any life is taken. And yet, in today’s time it seems to be taken so easily, without due consideration to what is actually taking place when a life is taken.
The Bible clearly presents the need to realize that the taking of any human life, without regard to the circumstances of the killing, is a very weighty act that holds eternal repercussions, not only for the one killed but for mankind and society as a whole. The basis of this teaching is found in the wondrous nature, purpose and need of mankind.
Our devotional series will contain six daily devotions, all of which will emphasize the wondrous nature of the human creation and the loss inflicted upon mankind when a human life is taken from their midst…
1. Thou Shalt Not Kill (Exo 20:13)
2. The Glory and Honor Of Man (Psa 8:4-6)
3. God’s Image & Likeness (Gen 1:26-27)
4. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psa 139:14-16)
5. The Minister and Witness Of These Things (Acts 26:16-17)
6. Prepare To Meet Thy God (Amos 4:12)
TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
“Thou Shalt Not Kill” (Exo 20:13, James 2:11, 1 John 3:12-15)
In both OT and NT, we find the clear prohibition to the purposeful taking of human life for unjustifiable reasons (aka murder):
1. MURDER CLEARLY PROHIBITED…
Exodus 20:13 KJV – “Thou shalt not kill.”
2. MURDER IS DEFINED AS TRANSGRESSING (VIOLATING, STEPPING OVER THE BOUNDS OF) THE LAW OF GOD…
James 2:11 KJV – “For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.”
3. HATRED OF HEART LEADING TO MURDER, AND THE ACT OF MURDER ITSELF, SHOWS A MAN TO BE WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT, ALIENATED FROM CHRIST, AND LACKING ETERNAL LIFE…
1 John 3:12-15 KJV – “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
Folks based upon these three texts, and many others found throughout the Bible, we need to see that MURDER IS PROHIBITED BY GOD and is such a heinous act that it is the mark of an unregenerate man. These principles alone cry out for us to seriously consider our actions before we choose to willfully take the life of any other human being, our physical brother, based upon our creation….
Malachi 2:10 KJV – “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?”
May we all come to understand the devastating effects of taking human life and the need for an intense detailed examination of the Scripture for every circumstance where the willful taking of physical life is a possibility.
In our next devotional, we will be being looking at the preciousness of human life by examining man, who is given glory and honor by God.
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The Reign Of The Saints
In Revelation 5:8-9, we find the 4 beasts and the 24 elders (symbols of the people of God) praising the Lamb (Jesus Christ) for His great work on their behalf…
“And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
Then, in the very next verse, they praise Christ for the blessings they receive through His work …
“And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
Here, we read of the saints being given two positions of great authority (“Kings and Priests”) allowing them to “reign on the earth”. What does this promise involve? Or put another way, In what way do the saints of God reign as Kings and Priests upon the earth? This is the question we will be answering in this Bible study.
THE SCRIPTURES:
Daniel 7:15-22; Daniel 7:26-27; Matthew 19:27-30; Matthew 24:45-51; Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 12:42-48; Luke 19:11-27; Luke 22:24-30; 1 Corinthians 6:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:11-13; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4-5; Revelation 2:26-27; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 4:4; Revelation 5:8-10; Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 20:4-5; Revelation 22:3-5
THE STUDY:
When we speak of the saints reigning, we are describing several different types of dominion that are granted to the redeemed of God. The following is a description of these types of dominion by subject in outline, form. What follows the outline is a listing of many of the Bible texts which teach these areas of dominion with a brief summary of each event listed in chronological order (when possible).
Dominion Over The Nations – The Saints God-Given Authority Involves the saint exercising great authority over the powers of darkness IN THIS PRESENT WORLD and in THE WORLD TO COME:
A) Saints are given DOMINION IN THIS PRESENT WORLD (the existing heaven and earth):
(1) This dominion involves the ability to overcome the control of our sinful flesh and powers of darkness in this present world. This is why the saints are described as “Victors over the world” or “Overcomers”.
(2) This dominion is displayed by the saints’ sharing of victory at Armageddon – the saints accompanying Christ at final defeat of lost mankind in this present world at Christ’s second coming
B) Saints are promised to receive DOMINION IN THE WORLD TO COME (the New Heavens and New Earth) in which we will live eternally:
(1) This dominion will be a reward for the saint’s faithfulness – The future dominion of the saints is given as a reward for victorious living now. This dominion involves dominion over the nations, and dominion over the New Heavens and New Earth…
(a) Dominion Over The World By Judgment – this will take place as the saints share in the final judgment of the wicked men and angels, both Jew and Gentile, both OT and NT lost mankind. This will be the ultimate defeat of the powers of darkness in the world to come lasting for eternity.
1. Judging Israel – Saints will judge Israel (who rejected Messiah and crucified Him) during judgment of the lost. Israel is a representative of all lost mankind due to their rebellion and rejection of Christ.
2. Judging Angels – Saints will also judge the fallen angels (demons) including Satan, himself at this final judgment of the lost.
(b) Dominion over New Heavens and New Earth – Reign on NH & NE in Christ’s presence will stretch from the 1000 year reign into eternity. This will take place from the creation of the NH and NE throughout eternity. This includes both phases of the eternal state (the 1000 yr reign and the finalized eternal kingdom of God)…
1. 1000 Yr Reign – Beginning Of Christ’s reign on NH NE. As believers are judged they receive authority over NHNE during this time period
2. Eternal Kingdom – This is the ultimate proof of the saint’s victory over this sinful world. Their dominion over the world symbolizing the renewal of the Garden of Eden on the New Earth.
Scripture References For Above Outline:
Dominion Over The Nations
1. The Lord blesses those who are truly saved (overcomers) with dominion over the powers of darkness of this world….
Revelation 2:26-27 KJV “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”
Note: “The nations” are referring to lost mankind (as part of the powers of darkness of this world). In this text, we are given representations of the two types of dominion possessed by saved mankind (dominion in this world and dominion in the world to come).
The phrase “rule with rod of iron” points us to the overcomers dominion over the powers of darkness in this world. This victory finds its completion at the Battle of Armageddon which is the last historic event that takes place on this present evil world.
The phrase “power over the nations” speaks of the dominion which the saints will possess in the future in the New world to come. This phrase speaks of the judgment of lost mankind at the final judgment and consignment to the Lake of Fire. This judgment is the ultimate, eternal defeat of the powers of darkness for eternity.
The Dominion Given To Saints NOW: “Overcomers”
1. The ability to escape the dominion of sin (context – false teaching) based upon power of indwelling Spirit…
1 John 4:4 KJV “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
2. Access to Godly power overcoming the dominion of sin (Satan, antichrist spirit, powers of darkness, our flesh) which is received through saving faith (resulting in Spirit indwelling)…
1 John 5:4-5 KJV “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
3. The Saints had overcome the dominion of sin (shown by thrones) and were now in Christ’s presence following their death …
Revelation 4:4 KJV “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.”
Victory At Armegeddon
1. The Lord, accompanied by His saints, returns to the earth and gains the final victory over the lost kingdoms of this current world…
Revelation 19:11-21 KJV “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”
Note: The victory at Armageddon is an outward display of the authority given to the saints as Overcomers.
The Dominion Given To The Saints As A Reward For Faithfulness
1. Faithfulness of true believers will result in rewards and blessings of rulership at the believer’s judgment…
Matthew 24:45-51 KJV “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:14-30 KJV “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
2. The truly saved servant was faithful – he was rewarded with rulership. The lost servant was unfaithful and cast into hell.…
Luke 12:42-48 KJV “And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”
Note: Of those who were lost the greater the knowledge (responsibility) the greater the punishment. (Teaches us that levels of hell exist based upon amount of knowledge and willful rejection of truth)
Luke 19:11-27 KJV “And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.”
Note: Those who are lost servants, who fear Lord as being unjust and hard will have their knowledge of God and hypocritical service made useless and they will be empty handed at day of judgment. The lost, who are outwardly rebellious and immoral, face immediate rejection by God as well.
Dominion Over New Heavens and New Earth
1. Saints, those who are redeemed through blood of Christ, are given authority to rule and enter God’s presence. Both types of dominion will be clearly seen as the saints enter eternity with the Lord, ruling over the New Creation and entering into His presence for an eternity.
Revelation 5:8-10 KJV “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
1000 Year Reign
1. This marks the first part of Christ’s eternal reign on the New Heavens and New Earth (immediately following the appearance of the NH & NE following Armageddon) At this point in time the saints are judged and they are given reign over NH and NE for eternity (restoration of Garden of Eden before fall).
Revelation 20:4-5 KJV “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”
2. This time periods runs from the 1000 Year Reign throughout Eternity
2 Timothy 2:11-13 KJV “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”
Revelation 3:21 KJV To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Judging The World
1. Saints will judge lost world (fallen world) during final judgment of lost…
1 Corinthians 6:1-3 KJV “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”
2. This judgment also involves fallen angels (including Satan) as well as lost mankind…
1 Corinthians 6:1-3 KJV “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”
Note: saints will judge fallen angels during GWTH (Jude 1:6) (Satan included?) Saints, as Overcomers were given authority over demons during Bible days pictured saints holding authority over demons (John 12:31). Likewise, angels ministering to believers is a sign of man’s authority over angels as well.
3. A part of this judgment involves the nation of Israel (those who rejected and crucified Christ) picturing all lost mankind.
Matthew 19:27-30 KJV “Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”
Note: “The regeneration” is speaking of the reformation of the Heavens and Earth resulting in the New Heavens and New Earth. The Lord is reigning upon the earth with His saints at this time.
Luke 22:24-30 KJV “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Eternal Kingdom
1. Saints given “the kingdom” beginning with the end of Armegeddon (appearance of NH and NE) into 1000 yr to GWTH to Eternity
Daniel 7:15-22 KJV “I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”
Daniel 7:26-27 KJV “But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”
2. The eternal, perfect, dominion over the New Heavens and New Earth. This is tantamount to the blessings of the Garden of Eden restored to mankind. The curse of sin being totally undone…
Revelation 22:1-5 KJV “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”
May the Lord bless you as you seek His truth.
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Revelation 21:-22: Summary
SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER:
In the remaining portion of Revelation, we will be looking at the contents of the sealed book. This book will reveal what the saints have awaiting them in eternity with Christ. The contents of the sealed book will be revealed to us in chapters 19-22. This will bring to completion our study of the Revelation.
A very basic outline of the remaining chapters of Revelation includes:
- Rev 19 – What immediately precedes eternity with the Lord? (background to eternity with the Lord)
- Rev 20 – The opening stage of eternity with the Lord (1000 year reign – a time of judgment)
- Rev 21 – The subsequent stage of eternity with the Lord pictured as a great city
- Rev 22 – The subsequent stage of eternity with the Lord pictured as Eden restored
SUMMARY OF EACH DIVISION OF CHAPTER:
I. New Jerusalem On The New Earth (Rev 21:1-11)
John now turns our attention to a description of the renovated heavens and earth. John tells us this heaven and earth is “new” which tells us that it is different, changed from the heaven and earth with which we are familiar. This new world no longer has “seas”. The sea in the Bible represents unrest and chaos of lost mankind. This new world will no longer feel the presence of the lost, nor will it experience the unrest and upheaval of sin upon it.
John sees a heavenly city descend to this New Earth. This city is the dwelling place of God come down to the earth. It symbolizes God’s presence being given to the saints to enjoy Him eternally. This city is said to be very beautiful, like a bride that is prepared for marriage.
John describes God’s relationship with His people in this wondrous city. God will be with them, they will learn of Him, worship Him, and serve Him. John also tells us that the results of sin will be done away. There will be no more crying, sorrow, or pain.
God promises to make an entirely new type of existence for His people. It will be like nothing we have experienced on earth. This is a promise that we can rely upon. We can know with certainty that this wonderful eternal existence awaits the people of God.
The Lord then extends an invitation for all of mankind to come to Him and enjoy these blessings that await His people. Those who come to Him will be victorious overcomers in this sinful world, they will inherit these eternal blessings and will enter into a family relationship with Him as the children of God. However, those who reject this invitation and choose to remain in their sinfulness will face a horrible eternity of separation from God and torment in the Lake of Fire.
John is invited to come and see the bride that has prepared to join her husband in marriage and live eternally with Him. This bride is the wondrous city that now awaits His presence and the presence of His people. John is taken to a high mountain that overlooks this glorious city. He sees God’s glory enlightening the city as a clear Jasper stone which is symbolic of the Lord holiness and sinlessness.
This entire vision emphasizes the changed eternal world and the many eternal joys that await the people of God as they dwell in this city.
II. The Walls And Gates Of New Jerusalem (Rev 21:12-21)
After John’s look at the basics appearance of New Jerusalem, he then turns our attention to the city’s gates and walls. John sees the believer’s security and deliverance from sin symbolized by high walls that surround the city. There walls are used to keep out sin, its effects, and those who commit them.
John sees 12 gates, the entryways to the city, which are equally divided on the four sides of the walls (N,S,E,W) showing us that the redeemed will come from all corners of the globe (every nation, language, family). They will included believers from both the OT and NT (12 Tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles). The 12 angels standing at the gates, symbolize the messengers of God who proclaim the gospel message, the key to finding entrance into the gates. Each gate was made of a pearl which is representative of God’s wisdom, the truths of His Word, the good news of Christ.
John sees the 12 foundations of the walls having the names of the 12 apostles, whose proclamation of the truths about the Christ laid the foundation for this place of security and peace for God’s people. These foundations are decorated with many precious stones which give forth light similar to that of a rainbow. This speaks of the Lord’s faithfulness to his promises in making and giving access to this city for His people.
An angel sent from the Lord is seen measuring the city, which symbolizes the Lord’s ownership and control over this eternal city. The city is a 12,000 furlong cube showing us it is perfect, separated for the use of God and His people, and sinless.
The wall itself is made of jasper which is symbolic of preciousness and purity, while the city is of gold which speaks of God’s kingly rule. The gold was of transparent, pure gold symbolic of holiness.
III. New Jerusalem: The Presence Of God and The Glory of Eden Restored (Rev 21:22-22:5)
John’s vision of the city continues with John centering on the presence of God Himself within the city. He could not see a temple because none was needed. Christ’s presence will be the center of worship as well as a living display of His person and works. Christ’s glory, which exists due to His presence, lightens the entire city which eliminates the need for the sun and moon. The Lord will be present with His people.
The inhabitants of the city, those who are saved by God’s grace, will be given 24 / 7 access to the city. There is no need for the gates to be shut because the lost will not be found on the New Earth, they will be consigned to the Lake of Fire for an eternity. Sin, and the doers of it, will be totally excluded from the city.
John attention is then drawn to “the river of water of life” that he sees flowing from the throne of God. This speaks of the work of Christ which gives to men eternal life. This river finds it origin IN the counsels and workings of the Lord and brings men TO eternal life and an intimate relationship with the Lord.
John sees the tree of life in the midst of the city, reminding us of a restored, sinless, Garden of Eden. God’s people are given eternal access to this tree, symbolizing the eternal life that is possessed by the saints. It bears 12 types of fruit which symbolize the completeness of eternal life that God has brought to man. Nothing more is needed for the saints to dwell eternally with their Lord. The leaves of the tree supply that which is needed to “heal” the nations. This speaks of the total eradication of sin and its effects upon mankind. Once again this symbolizes a Garden of Eden type of existence that has been restored to mankind. Instead of a curse and separation from God (the condition of mankind in the old garden), the saints in this New Garden will be blessed with no curse, and enjoy the presence of God eternally.
The glory of God will enlighten this new Garden and the saints of God will exercise perfect dominion over it, just as in the old garden before the fall of mankind.
IV. Conclusion to The Book Of Revelation (Rev 22:6-21)
The conclusion to the book of Revelation is also the conclusion to the entire Bible. Please keep in mind, it is believed by most that the book of Revelation is the last book inspired by God and is also placed as the last book in the Biblical text. Because of this, the conclusion found in the book of Revelation concludes not only the book itself, but also the entire body of inspired writings that God gave to mankind.
A part of God’s conclusion is to remind John of the faithfulness and truthfulness of His inspired writings. He also reminds John of His soon coming and the need to keep the cling to and protect His Word, following its dictates. This is the basic way in which we are to prepare for His soon coming. Christ is the beginning and ending of all things. We should not be surprised He is the One that will bring an end to this sinful world and create a New World in which we will live.
John, being overwhelmed by this experience, begins to worship the angel that has delivered this message to him. The angel responds by reminding him that worship belongs to God alone. The angel is simply a servant of God doing His will, much like John and other saints who have come before him. The angel then emphasizes John’s need to share this message with others. It was not meant to be kept private, but was to be distributed to all who are willing to hear these words.
The Angel delivers sobering words to John. Those who choose to ignore these words, and continue to live a life of sin, let them be. John has done all he can for their welfare, they now are responsible to choose to follow Christ.
Likewise with those who are saved, if he chooses righteousness based upon the completed Word, let him continue on in righteousness with righteous living. Why? Nothing new will be revealed from God. He can fully commit to Christ’s righteousness and righteous living because he now knows that Revelation brings all of God’s Word to completion nothing more will be said that would change his mind or reveal he has made a mistake in choosing Christ.
John is told of the distinct difference between the end of the lost and the saved. The lost will be kept from the glories of the city and the presence of God. The saved will enjoy eternal bliss in the presence of God, Jesus, Himself, has said these things, He will bring them to pass.
Christ then offers and invitation for men to come to Him. It is an invitation that is to be delivered by the saints and applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit of God. It is an invitation that is issued to anyone who hears the invitation and is willing to follow it. they are to freely partake of the work of Christ which will bring to them salvation from sins and a wonderful, eternal inheritance from Him.
In closing, the Lord issues a warning to all who would change the inspired Word of God. If they add or take from it, they have proven they are lost and destined to face God’s plagues. By willfully changing God’s Word, they are clearly shown as being lost, in a state of rebellion against Christ, and under the bondage of sin. No one who is truly saved would ever willfully choose to change the Word of God that has wrought salvation in his soul.
The final two verses of the book of Revelation (and the Bible) are a fitting conclusion to our study of the book of Revelation….
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Nothing more needs to be said.
WHAT’S COMING NEXT IN THIS SERIES?:
This concludes our study of the book of Revelation. May we all apply the message of this book to our minds, heart and lives.
Thank you for joining with me in this study.
May the Lord bless us as we seek to see Jesus in the pages of the book of Revelation.
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