This is a companion to the thread, “Only the holy and forgiving ones will see Jesus”
In Revelation Chapters 2 and 3 …
Jesus is addressing 7 guardian angels (or human leaders) of 7 different churches.
He gives a different promise to each church, and specifically “to he who overcomes”.
He attaches this statement to each promise to the overcomers … “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
So, His promises are to all members of all churches.
“… all 7 letters are warnings to every church in every age.” (NKJV Study Bible)
Jesus’ promises to those who do their part in being overcomers Ephesus -- The Loveless Church
“To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life,
which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’
Smyrna -- The Persecuted Church
“(If you remain faithful) I will give you the crown of life.”
“He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”
Pergamos -- The Compromising Church
“To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat.
And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written
which no one knows except him who receives it.”
Thyatira -- The Corrupt Church
“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end,
to him I will give power over the nations … as I also have received from My Father
… and I will give him the morning star.”
Sardis -- The Dead Church
“… He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments,
and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life;
but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
Philadelphia -- The Faithful Church
“I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world,
to test those who dwell on the earth”
“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God,
and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of
the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.
And I will write on him My new name.”
Laodiceans -- The Lukewarm Church
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Note: the underlined proves that Jesus is not talking about the overcoming in 1 John 5:1-5. .
Each letter addresses the subject of "works" - "I know thy works" and each letter is addressed to a singular church but closes as a message to all the "churches" and those members who are regenerated with "ears to hear what the Spirit saith."
Many of these obstacles are not individual or personal obstacles but require the action of the church as a majority of members to implement.
1.Ephesus ------
Ephesos
2.Smyrna -------
Izmir
3.Pergamos -----
Bergama
4.Thyatira -----
Akhisar
5.Sardis -------
a tad W of Salihli
6.Philadelphia - Alasehir
7.Laodicea -----
a tad N of Denizli
The promises/blessings are only for those who individually overcome many fleshly and spiritual obstacles.
Of course, the only members with a CHANCE to be overcomers have been born-again.
As with Jesus' parables, the only ones who can benefit are those who have ears to hear the spiritual truth
of the warnings contained in the messages, i.e. those who believe them and act upon them. .
Both are true.
He has overcome the world for us through his own life vicariously and judicially.
However, experientially through progressive sanctification we are either overcoming or being overcome every day.
The difference is between what we have by faith and what we have by faithfulness
John Calvin said "We live a race of repentance."
We continually WORK on our sin problem and do good WORKS." John 1 teaches it is the only way we can know that we are saved.
yes! Jesus death/resurrection has granted to ALl His people the means to live as overcomers, for we are tied into Him and the power of His Spirit, but to actually experience it is what John and Paul wrote about!
Good works may serve as one aspect of assurance but certainly are not sufficient in and of themselves (Mt. 7:22).
Another necessary fruit for assurance is Biblical profession of salvation.
A life that manifests a kind compassionate life may be no better than a good Buhdist life that spends enternity in hell.
we cannot 'work out' our sin problem, for the Cross is the remedy, for God crucified our old selves unto that Cross with Christ, so God solution is to reckon ourselves 'dead' and now alive again in Christ!
We do not clean up the old man , God says kill him off, and live as the new man now in christ!
> Another necessary fruit for assurance is Biblical profession of salvation. A life that manifests a kind compassionate life may be no better than a good Buhdist life that spends enternity in hell.
What does that tell us about God? What would a psychological profiler conclude?
The more accurate question is what does that tell about anyone who would make the inferrence that you do?
Funny, how sinful men always want to blame God for the consequences of their own sins.
The "good" Buhdist is no more "good" than the "good" pharisee or those standing in Matthew 7:22-23.
Indeed, his "good" is outright "pride" and "lying" on display thinking he is as "good" as God as that is precisely what is required to be "good" (Mt. 5:20; 48).