Gates of the City

PREFACE

At a time when so much is rapidly happening in the world and everyone is trying to keep up and figure it all out, it is this message that God has put on my heart to share with His people. Because the only two things that ultimately matters is that God so loved the world that He made our redemption and reconciliation possible, and in response to that we are appropriately loving Him back. For with this age coming to its end means the Marriage of the Lamb is at hand; that the King of Glory is coming back for His reward, a glorious church; and He fully expects to be glorified in His saints. However, there will be many on that day who will awaken with overwhelming horror with the realization that they are not standing among the overcomers Jesus is coming for, and in desperation will cry out, “But Lord, Lord, did we not in Your name…?” Don’t be in that group.

“If he would only love me as Christ loves the church…”

Have you ever heard a woman say that about her husband? It is usually in response to her being presented with the scripture which states, “Wives, submit yourselves unto you own husbands, as unto the Lord.” More than once I have heard women state how easier it would be to obey the scripture if only their husband did truly love them like Christ loves the church. It is not undeniable that the biblical admonition concerning wives submitting to their husbands to many has become a huge stumbling block nowadays. So much so, that it has actually become generally dismissed as an outdated thing, the relativity of which was “back in that culture and time,” yet no longer applicable for our present evolved culture.

Now, before I continue, I want to stress that the first portion of this article is a prelude to “how” Christ loved the Church; which will be examined through the light of His letters sent unto the seven churches in Revelation. So, while the primary focus of this article is not about wives needing to submit to their husbands, such must still be mentioned since it is part of the context of this passage of scripture that with equal clarity and simplicity admonishes husbands to love their wives “even as Christ also loved the church.” So, stick with me as we wade through this and a few other passages till we get to where we have a biblical plateau from which we can more thoroughly examine Christ’s love for His church as revealed in His Holy Word.

But first, please take a minute to seriously pray that your heart might be opened up before God, that He may be able to speak to your heart as you read the entirety of this exhortation of scripture. For we all need to humbly acknowledge how this is His word written for His people; given for both our benefit and His glorification in His saints.

Ephesians 5:21 – Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the savior of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; 26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.

At the beginning, along with the title of the article, I mentioned how some wives might express, venting as it were, how easier it would be for them to submit if only their husband would indeed love them like Christ loves the church. But let’s be honest here, this kind of response actually exposes one’s heart; because such a statement for many women is nothing more than a reactionary and feeble excuse defensively given to justify why they aren’t resolutely trying to obey this exhortation specific to wives professing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is important that wives are honest with themselves here, because that’s often what it really is, right? An excuse that says, “I would if he did,” or maybe, “I could if he would?” Furthermore, if submission is mentioned or even lightly alluded to by their husband, some women become exasperated and resentful to their husband; for to even mention submission is too often received as a declaration of sin and condemnation against them.

Nevertheless, this particular instruction for wives does not come from their husband, but from the Holy Scriptures which were given unto us via God’s Holy Spirit. Yet, like the piercing sword of the spirit that exposes the heart and its true intents, this passage has been the cause of division and much contention among many professing Christians. This contention has actually led some to openly accuse Paul of being chauvinistic and an oppressor of women who regarded them as inferior beings. This assault on Paul’s authority as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ has actually been utilized by the adversary to convince some preachers to literally reject the whole of the Pauline Epistles as true Holy Writ given by God. Yet, listen to the words of the Apostle Peter, “Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands… For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husband. Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.” And here again, it must be openly acknowledged how some women will not only become incensed, or sarcastic, but even exasperated at the idea of calling their husband “lord.” Why is that? Perhaps the following verse will shed some light.

Romans 7:8 – But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

Perhaps, the New King James says it clearer for some readers –

 (NKJV) But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all [manner of evil] desire. For apart from the law sin [was] dead.

What Paul is saying is that because flesh is carnal and the law “which was ordained for life, [being] holy, just, and good,” is spiritual. Thus, when confronted by the spiritual, the flesh becomes reactionary and pulls away from the truth contained therein. That should be enough evidence in itself for a woman truly seeking to be a godly wife, who as Peter put it, will so “adorned themselves” out of a true desire to be an heir together with her husband of God’s grace of life.

Titus 2:10 – Not purloining [or keeping back], but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

So, let’s read Peter’s exhortation to wives and husbands as well. But first, let me make just one more observation, which is how the Holy Spirit first speaks to the wives in both Paul and Peter’s epistles, and then He addresses their husbands. Perhaps that was to help the seeking woman see that her role as a wife is first as unto the Lord, and secondly for her husband. For are we not all, whether male or female, first His bride if we are truly His body and church, and whatsoever we do is to be for His glory?

1 Peter3:1 – Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, as long as you do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 7 Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Now, as I mentioned earlier, as this subject matter was impressed upon me today, I was directed to examine Jesus’s love for His church by reviewing His words to the seven churches in Revelation. However, before that, let’s first finish here by quickly reviewing some significant points Paul made concerning Christ’s love for the Church in his Epistle to the Ephesians.

 Christ’s love for His church

Emotional thinkers, who at times have a tendency to be self-centered, tend to view being “loved” as having someone that is eager to give them the things they want, who would always try to make them happy. But in reality, that perspective sharply contrasts with God’s view of love as revealed to us through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:25 – …even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; 26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

In this passage we are given six definite truths worthy of our prayerful consideration; (1) the commitment of Jesus Christ’s love; (2) His purpose or determination; (3) to be accomplished through a specific method or process; (4) His motive; (5) the scope of the labor of His love; and (6) His reasonable expectation.

• The Commitment: “…even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.”

Here we can see that true, godly love is a commitment and not a mere emotion. However, this righteous and godly love, which in some scriptures is referred to as “charity,” will both endure and enjoy a wide range of emotions. For a righteous and godly love can be excited and joyful as well as disappointed and sadden; it can even be provoked to anger, though not easily. Furthermore, love, even God’s love, can be received in vain and thus frustrated to the point of its exhaustion; bringing it to a dangerous crisis point just like God’s sufficient grace which is an extension of God’s love and freely given.

Now, I am sure some won’t understand what I’ve just stated, since this is rarely taught in churches nowadays, but nonetheless is still biblical. Perhaps, this verse of which I am certain most have never heard a sermon preached from will shed some light on godly love being brought to a critical point.

Deuteronomy 28:63 – And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and you shall be plucked from off the land to which you go to possess it.

Many might attempt to dismiss the verse above and its hard message as a no longer relevant part of the Old Covenant by insisting that we are now under the New Covenant. But regardless, old or new, a covenant is a mutual agreement determinedly established upon defined terms and principles. So, let’s compare some of those old and new covenant constraints.

Isaiah 1:18 – Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.

Hebrews 10:28 – He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him that has said, Vengeance belongs unto Me, I will recompense, says the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 12:24 – And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel. 25 See that you refuse not Him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:  29 For our God is a consuming fire.

I have often stated that you can replace the word “love” in most passages of scripture where it is mentioned with the word “commitment” and not do any damage to the spirit of the text.  True commitment is not lawless, but rather adheres to specific guidelines and is made evident in that it will both guard and benefit others; either intellectually, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Is this not how we are to love, even our enemies? Not a love of warm fuzzy emotions, but with an actual commitment that ministers to other’s true needs.

But concerning Christ’s love for His church, we can see in Ephesians that the commitment of His love was absolute, for “He gave Himself for His church.” But we must realize that this act of love, which compelled Jesus to go to the cross for our sins and die in our place, was both carefully choreographed and orchestrated to accomplish a specific desired end. Christ death wasn’t just a grandiose display of love done merely to impress the angels and us, nor to give us artsy ornaments for our necks and church buildings. No, and furthermore, it must be noted that greater than Christ’s love for the church was His love for the Father, which is evident in His following words.

John 10:17 – Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. 18 No man takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.

John 14:31 – But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

• Purpose or determination: “…that He might sanctify and cleanse it [the church]”

It was Jesus intent, yea even the Father’s intent through His Son, to sanctify a people unto Himself. Sanctify simply means to “set apart as holy for God,” which also requires “cleansing.”  Thus, we can see both the purpose and method of sanctification, to set apart and cleanse.

John 17:14 – I have given them Your word… 17 Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth. 18 As You had sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

II Thessalonians 2:13 – But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God from the beginning has chosen you to [obtain] salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

 II Peter 1:2 – Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

• Method or process of cleansing: “…with the washing of water by the word.”

Faith comes by hearing, and that hearing of the word of God. But without FAITHfulness, or belief evident by response showing commitment to truth, God’s word cannot do anything other than define us as sinners who are dead in our trespasses and sins. This is why James states “as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Can a dead body bathe itself? No, yet through a belief which is evident by our response to God’s word releases His Spirit which enables us to both cleanse our hands and purify our hearts and souls.

John 15:3 – Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

John 17:8 – For I have given unto them the words which You gave Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from You and they have believed that You sent Me. 14 I have given them Your word… 17 Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth.

I Peter 1:22 – Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever.

• Motive: “That He might present it to Himself a glorious church…”

Surely, the ultimate force behind Christ’s motivation to endure the cross was His love for the Father; for faith works by love. But in the sense of achieving a goal, His motive was to attain for Himself a glorious bride. However, to complete all this requires the submission of the bride of Christ which both permits and enables Him to be unto her a refiner and sanctifier. For only when the people of God yield to His Spirit of Truth can He bring them to that place of having an unfeigned love for Him and each other.

Matthew 23:37 – O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, yet you would not!

Psalms 78:36 – Nevertheless, they did flatter Him with their mouth, and they lied unto Him with their tongues. 37 For their heart was not right with Him, neither were they steadfast in His covenant. 38 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath. 39 For He remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passes away, and cometh not again. 40 How oft did they provoke Him in the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert!  41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

Our salvation, the work of our sanctification, even our becoming “a glorious church,” is built upon the sole foundation stone of atonement; that by Jesus’s death and the shedding of His blood, we have a propitiation for our sins whereby we can be forgiven. But, though he clearly laid out this foundation, the Apostle Paul firmly admonishes all would-be teachers to take heed how they would build thereon.

I Corinthians 3:9 – For we are laborers together with God: you are God’s husbandry, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now at this point, some learned readers might be tempted to jump ahead, feeling they know all this already. But please, stay with me here. For again, while Paul laid the foundation, which is the only foundation for a saving faith; which is Jesus Christ crucified for our sins, we must not ignore the importance what was built thereupon. For three days later, Jesus Christ was resurrected alive “for our justification.”

Romans 3:24 – Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past [no longer presently being exercised], through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Romans 4:25 – Who [that is, Jesus] was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

Now the verse above is important because it presents two absolute truths. First, Jesus was delivered to judgment for the penalty of our sins; and second, He was quickened by the Spirit and rose again for our justification. Now some might conclude that the final result of His judgment, death and resurrection is a packaged done deal; that simply since He died we’re forgiven, and simply because He rose from the dead we’re also justified. However, that is not what the verse is stating. Rather, we are being informed as to why He died, and why He was raised from the dead. For our forgiveness and justification, though inseparable, are still two distinct functions in the life of a believer working towards their glorification in Christ. Otherwise, there would be no necessity of the Spirit correlating forgiveness to Jesus’s judgment and justification to His resurrection.

Romans 5:8 – But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him [Who now forever lives]. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His [resurrected and Spirit] life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the [foundation of] atonement.

I Corinthians 15:17 – And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins.

Hebrews 5:8 – Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; 9 And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

So, what does this have to do with our being His “glorious church?” Everything. It is not God’s desire to merely forgive us, but to totally transform us. That we might no longer be wretched men, who like Paul attested he was when he was yet but a Pharisee and persecutor of Jesus Christ and those that believed in Him. For consider Paul’s testimony in Romans Chapter 7 where he states “I am carnal, sold under sin” and “for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that I do.” Is he not writing specifically here “to them that know the law,” his Jewish brothers who were maintaining a confidence in the law? Does he not ask them “who shall deliver me from the body of this death” and then declares “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord?”

Paul continues expounding upon his freedom from his previous “body of this death” in Chapter 8 of Romans. Paul straightway declares boldly that “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from [both] the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Are we therefore to believe after those words that the Apostle Paul was still a “wretched” man? He has just confidently declared his freedom from the law of sin and death, and that by the resurrected life of Christ he has now been enabled to obediently walk after the Spirit without condemnation? If so, then why does Paul state when defending himself before the high priest, Ananias, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day?” Does this sound like a wretched man? Or later when he is taken before the governor Felix and he declares “herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men,” does that sound like a wretched man? Paul clearly declares “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Now wives, think of your walk with your husbands, is it flesh or is it spirit? Husbands, remember that you too are part of the Bride of Christ; so, is your walk in the flesh or the spirit? For walking after the Spirit equals no condemnation, which equals justification. For the foundation of our justification rests in Christ’s death in obedience to the Father; yet the procuring of our justification comes to us via His Resurrected Spirit. Again, Jesus was delivered for our offenses, yet raised for our justification. With these truths, and what Jesus told the disciples before He was crucified, we can discover why and how His resurrection works toward our justification.

John 16:7 – …I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. 8 And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see Me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. 14 He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore, did I say that He shall take of Mine and shall show it unto you.

How could we walk after the Spirit of Truth if Jesus (who is the Truth) had not risen from the dead? But since Jesus did rise from the dead, He sent His Spirit specifically to lead those who would follow Him into all truth. Therefore, if we walk after His Spirit by obediently following, are we not walking and living as did Jesus Christ?

John 5:19 – Then answered Jesus and said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do: for whatsoever things He does, these also the Son does likewise.”

As Christians, we are called to walk even as Christ walked, yet we can only do so by the empowering of His Spirit abiding within us. Therefore, if we are so doing His will, who then can condemn us? For it is He that justifies us in what we do because of our FAITHfulness; yet He could not place His resurrected empowering Spirit within us without the foundation of our atonement purchased through His death.

Romans 8:9 – But you [the true Christian following Christ] are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead [or will die and be replaced] because of sin; but the spirit is [alive] life [*and will be clothed with a new body with immortality] because of righteousness.  11 But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [empower] your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you.  12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, [but debtors] not to the flesh, to live after the flesh, [but debtors to His Spirit within us]. 13 For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you [being a debtor unto Christ] through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.

* (RSV) Romans 8:10 – But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness.

* II Corinthians 5:1 – For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle [our body] were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we [our spirit] shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

*I Corinthians 15:47 – The first man [Adam] is of the earth, earthy: the second man [Jesus] is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

*I Corinthians 15:52 – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Thus, for us to become His “glorious church,” it is both a necessity and Christ’s desire that we are transformed and renewed in our minds so that in this life we might become partakers of the divine nature revealed to us through His incarnation.

John 1:14 – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

I Peter 1:21 – Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently.

II Peter 1:3 – According as His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the [faithful] acknowledgment of Him that has called us to glory and virtue:  4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by them you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

However, we can only be so changed by yielding to and walking after the Spirit of Christ; only then can He cause the fullness of His stature to be formed in us if we faithfully walk according to the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. This is the call to be “overcomers” that Jesus admonished the believers of the seven churches in Revelation to become, and in so doing inherit all the promises given therein.

• Scope or extent: “…not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing…”

Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:  7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of my grace 8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness [holiness; divine nature], which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

• Expectation: “…but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

The glorious news of the Gospel is that God gave us His Son that we might be forgiven and freed from our sins, thus suitable for the indwelling of His Holy Spirit to teach, lead, and enable us in the understanding and execution of His will, that the very divine nature of His Son might be formed in us. For there is no other way for us to be holy even as He is holy.

Ephesians 4:13 – Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

 “Unity of the faith”; works of righteousness, to fruit unto holiness, to unity with God and all other holy beings. All only through Jesus Christ’s atonement and Spirit working within us to bring us unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

I Peter 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you… 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as He which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be you holy for I am holy.

We must be holy, because God is holy. But this holiness is not just imputed holiness such as that which was attributed to inanimate objects like the utensils used in priestly duties within the tabernacle and temple. No, this holiness is the virtue of the Spirit that is to grow in our lives via our labor of love and faithful obedience to our Saviour. Now before reacting to all this sounding like salvation by works, read the following passage.

Romans 6:16 – Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, His servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

The evidence of the resurrected Christ’s Spirit working in us is that we having been “made free from sin” have “become servants to God” and thus have “fruit unto holiness;” the end of which is “everlasting life.” This is the reason why Jesus warned His disciples that “except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Their righteousness was not yielded His Spirit, nor their fruit unto holiness, for “they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and [were therefore] going about to establish their own righteousness, having not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

Yet for us who believe, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believe” because He being the Lamb of God became our propitiation and the securer of our atonement, that He might dwell in us by His Spirit; not just so we can be forgiven, but that we could become justified and partakers of His very nature.

II Peter 1:3 – According as His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the earnest expectation of Jesus Christ for all wives and husbands; for this is His earnest expectation for His Bride, that she should be “holy and without blemish.”  Then shall it be said of them, “These are they that feared Him and faithfully served Him. These are the overcomers. These are the holy people of God.”

Revelation 21:3 – 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. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 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. 6 And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.

Malachi 3:16 – Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. 17 And they shall be Mine, said the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that served him. 18 Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that served God and him that served Him not.

God’s people need to redeem the time and settle it in their hearts to be the living sacrifices that God’s called us to. We are not our own, we have been bought with a price so that we can literally be the Children of God and partake of all His divine virtues. So whether we are wives, husbands, daughters, sons, servants, masters, bond or free, let us serve our Redeemer acceptably. The Lamb deserves His full reward.

Live for the King!

Note: I am working on the letters to the seven churches and I hope to post soon. Stay blessable, on fire, and unburnable.