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[Table of Contents] [Previous] |
Arthur Pigdon Seeds of the Spirit (2001) |
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Paul believed in personal discipline. Writing to the church at Corinth he said, 'I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified'. (1 Corinthians 9:27) Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit. So Paul urges Timothy, and us, to train ourselves to be godly, i. e., exercise personal discipline and pattern our life on the ideals God has set before us. Unbelievers generally follow the ideals of pleasure and possessions but the Christian strives towards godliness. This not only has rewards in the life to come, it also has rewards in this life. Nothing gives such a feeling of personal fulfilment as a life lived with the approval and blessing of God. To be at one with ourselves and at peace with God is something worth striving for. Jesus knew this inner peace. He said to his disciples at the close of his ministry, 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.' (John 14:27) To attain this peace we must be godly and to be godly we must submit to the discipline of Jesus, our master. The word 'disciple' means one who lives by the discipline laid down by a master. For the true believer this is not a burdensome duty but a joy. It is not achieved by iron will power but by serving the One we love. It is total freedom. |
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Notice that it is the love of money, not money itself that is the problem. Jesus spoke of 'the deceitfulness of riches'. There is a lure about acquiring possessions that some find hard to resist. Jesus saw money and possessions as a direct competitor for love of God and he stated bluntly, 'You cannot serve both God and money.' (Matthew 6:24) Gambling of all kinds has increased its hold over our Australian community and this has a direct relationship to a loss of faith, as shown by the decline in church attendance. Jesus urges us to seek first the kingdom of God and he promises that we will not lack the basic needs of life. Money is often a test of the genuineness of our discipleship. Jesus said, 'If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?' (Luke 16:11) In God's eyes we do not really own anything, we are only stewards, accountable to God for the use we make of the money we have acquired. God plans to entrust us with much greater power in the future life, but this will only be given to those who have proved themselves trustworthy in this life. How do your present desires stand up to the command, 'You shall not covet'? (Exodus 20:17) |
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Here is the essential core of the gospel. Death has been overcome and immortality made possible by Jesus Christ, who is rightly called our Saviour. No wonder the Christian message is called a gospel--good news. Death is our greatest enemy. We grow to love life, developing attachments and affection for people, places and possessions, then death comes and snatches us away. All our planning ends in nothing. It is here that the resurrection of Jesus places a solid foundation under the promise of continuing life beyond the grave. Jesus was very positive in his promise of eternal life for his disciples. He came to bring us abundant life. But it is important to realise that this life is inseparable from Christ himself. It is not a ticket to heaven. John states the matter very plainly 'God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.' (1 John 5:11-12) To 'have the Son of God' means to believe his claims and become his disciple. We become immortal by our union with Christ. Jesus said, 'Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.' (John 5:21) |
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This text is for ministers, missionaries, lay preachers, study group leaders and all who instruct children. They are to see themselves as God's workmen, his staff, who are answerable to him, and, only in a secondary sense, answerable to those who pay their salary. Some day they must present themselves to God to give an account of their work, so in all that they do they need to seek God's approval. A large part of their work is instructing others in the Christian faith so they must take great care that they understand the scriptures themselves and faithfully teach them without alteration. Great harm has been done to the cause of Christ by Christian teachers who distort or deny the truth they profess to teach. Paul names two such false teachers. In Galatians 1:6-9 he uses strong language about those who pervert the gospel message. See also Acts 20:26-31, where Paul predicts that false teachers will arise. Error becomes institutionalised, so that we can grow up learning false teaching believing it to be God's revealed truth. The scriptures must become the test of all doctrine. The sin of the Pharisees was that they taught traditional beliefs that contradicted the word of God. Unfortunately this still happens. |
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A school of thought has sometimes been popular in churches that states that the role of the gospel is to permeate society, like leaven in bread, until it so transforms society that the kingdom of God is ushered in. The Bible teaches the opposite view, namely that evil will climax in the last days of the Christian era. Jesus predicted that a time of worldwide trouble and conflict would precede his return. In this chapter Paul details the character of end-time unbelievers and it is a picture of human depravity--a selfish, unloving, violent society. We have witnessed a steady decline of moral and ethical standards in the second half of the twentieth century and Paul's list is a reasonably accurate description of many in today's society. It seems as if evil has almost reached its full flowering. Jesus called Satan the prince of this world. He reigns over many of our citizens and the stage appears to be set for the rise of that personification of Satan, the Antichrist. Jesus gave us a word of encouragement saying, 'When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.' (Luke 21:28) So we should not be fearful or depressed and despairing because Jesus is waiting in the wings ready to return at the right moment. |
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The word 'scripture' has a specific meaning. It means a sacred book, especially the Bible. When the gospels and the writings of the apostles became available they were regarded as authoritative documents for Christians with the same authority as the Old Testament. They became scripture. They were said to be inspired, or more literally 'God-breathed'. In Greek, as in Hebrew, the same word is used for 'wind', 'breath' and 'spirit'. Hebrews 1:1-2 states that God spoke through the prophets and through Jesus. Paul tells us that he was given a personal revelation from God. (Galatians 1:11-12) So the Old Testament and the New Testament are the written record of God's revelation to man. Peter states the apostles' view of scripture very plainly in 2 Peter 1:20-21. 'No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.' When we read the Bible we find that it has an inherent authority that speaks to our hearts and changes our lives. It becomes the word of God to us personally. |
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We are reminded here that it is by the grace of God that salvation has been offered to all people. But God's grace and forgiveness is offered on one condition, namely that we forsake any sinful ways. We must say 'no' to ungodliness and worldly passions and live self-controlled, upright and godly lives. Repentance is an indispensable condition for forgiveness and eternal life. The whole purpose of Jesus' coming was to rid the world of wickedness. God is holy and he demands holiness in his people. He wants people who are 'eager to do what is good'. If we love goodness and hate evil our heart is right and we are acceptable to God. If Romans 7:14-25 is our experience we can take heart because it is the common experience of many. It represents a pre-conversion experience but it should not be the experience of anyone who truly loves God. We cannot wear the name of Christ and serve the devil. The Lord Jesus Christ wants 'a people that are his very own'. He has given us his Spirit and he is making us a people after his own heart. We are to be his 'bride' (Revelation 21:2), to love and serve him alone. |
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This delightful letter to Philemon shows the transforming effect of the gospel on the practice of slavery. The early Christians did not try to change the structure of society but to change individuals. The principles of justice, human dignity and value, inherent in the gospel, were incompatible with slavery and finally led to its extinction. The gospel brings both master and slave to the same level. It exalts the slave to be a son of God making him a brother, equal to his master in God's sight. Paul speaks of Onesimus as a dear brother and urges Philemon to see him now as 'a brother in the Lord'. This letter is also a model of courtesy. Paul respects Philemon's rights and, even though he would have liked to have retained Onesimus, he would not do so without Philemon's consent. He offers to pay anything Onesimus owes his master. We should never presume on another's generosity. Another item worth noting is that Paul sends his greetings to 'the church that meets in your home'. The early church had no buildings. They met in homes or probably hired halls. Would the church reach more people if we had more home groups? Have we isolated ourselves from the community by our church buildings and institutional religion? |
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The whole of our Christian faith is dependent on the belief that God has revealed his will to us. Judaism and Christianity are not man-made religions--they came into being as the result of God's revelation of himself. God's self-revelation has been gradual and progressive, his most complete revelation has been through his Son, Jesus Christ. Note verse 3 where Jesus is said to be 'the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being'. The church does not teach much about angels but the Bible makes frequent mention of them. In verse 14 they are said to be ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation. This chapter affirms that Jesus was in the beginning with God and was the agent of creation. It also declares that God has appointed him heir of all things. But the essential truth in this text is that God has spoken to us by his Son. The words of Jesus are the words of God to us. Jesus declared, 'My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.' (John 7:16) If we fail to heed the words of Jesus we will be neglecting our only opportunity for eternal life for God has no other message for us except through his Son. |
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We are urged to pay careful attention to what we have heard. This is an echo of Jesus own words when he said, 'Take heed how you hear.' If there is only one Creator, and only one God, then there is only one who can confer forgiveness and eternal life. It is no wonder that Peter said, 'There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.' (Acts 4:12) Christians have been called arrogant because they say that salvation is only through Jesus Christ but that is what scripture says and so that is the message we must preach. The uniqueness and divinity of Christ is an offence to those who believe that one religion is as good as another and all are different ways to God. Verse 4 reminds us that God confirmed Jesus' claims by signs, wonders and miracles. Verse 9 tells us that it was the death of Jesus that was all-important for our salvation. 'He suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.' To bypass the crucifixion of the Son of God and seek salvation through some other way is to scorn the love of God and imply that Jesus' death was unnecessary. Many people do not deliberately reject Jesus--they just drift, never making a decision, and so miss salvation. |
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The book of Hebrews was written for Jewish people who, prior to trusting in Jesus, worshipped God according to the law of Moses, in which the priests had an important role. Once a year the high priest entered the holy of holies with the blood of the sacrifice to make atonement for the sins of the people. Jesus replaced this Jewish sacrifice, shedding his own blood, which was effective for all time, thus abolishing the need for repeated animal sacrifices. But it is his new role of High Priest in which he comes into God's presence on behalf of sinners that is important here. He is able to represent God to us because he knows the Father, and he is able to represent us to God because he has lived as one of us. He was tempted and suffered so he understands our temptations and struggles. Chapter 4:14-16 should be read in conjunction with this text to explain more fully Jesus' priestly role. He is an advocate before God on our behalf. It is wonderful to know that he sympathises with our weaknesses, so we can come to Jesus with confidence knowing that he will show mercy and strengthen us by his grace when we are tempted. It would be helpful to read also the wonderful passage from Romans 8:31-39. |
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At the beginning, the church was composed entirely of Jews who accepted Jesus as the promised Messiah. The Jewish religious leaders trade a determined effort to win them back to Judaism and in some cases were successful. Hebrews was written to stop this drift back to Judaism. Hence the strong warning against apostasy. We are reminded that we 'share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the confidence we had at first'. (verse 14) Chapter 6:4-11 strongly emphasises the danger and the consequences of going back on the faith we once held. It would be helpful to read 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 in association with this text. It reminds us that faith is not faith if it does not continue through times of adversity and testing. Some have put their hope in the view that once we are 'saved' we are saved forever. Scripture does not support this, as the texts above show. Faith is not faith unless it continues to the end. Real faith can endure persecution and even martyrdom. The Israelites who were led out of Egypt by Moses are compared to those who begin the Christian journey but do not continue. They fall by the wayside because of unbelief. If we hold firmly to faith in Christ we will continue to the end. |
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Sometimes we emphasise the divine nature of Jesus to such an extent that we overlook the fact that he was a man, subject to many human temptations and limitations. He had to learn obedience. He could have been disobedient but he said, 'I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.' (John 5:30) Paul tells us that 'even Christ did not please himself'. (Romans 15:3) He was totally submissive to the Father. In Gethsemane Jesus appears to have shrunk from what he knew to be God's will for him, but there also his obedience was total. Obedience to the will of the Father brought suffering but he accepted that as the Father's mission for him. Hebrews 12:7-13 could be read in support of this text. Jesus did not live in an ivory tower: he was born in a stable, became a refugee to Egypt while still a baby, was tempted by Satan, suffered the criticism of religious leaders, was arrested, tried, mocked, scourged and crucified. He learned obedience the hard way. 'God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.' (Hebrews 12:10) We should not grumble or ask why when difficulties arise but accept the circumstances as an opportunity for spiritual growth. |
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This chapter does not have the same importance for Gentile believers as it does for Jews. The priests, and especially the High Priest, were an essential part of Jewish worship. Moses' brother, Aaron, was the first high priest and the office was hereditary. Only Aaron's descendants had the right to hold the office of priests. But before the office was established and Aaron's line selected, Abraham recognised Melchizedek as a priest of God. (Genesis 14:17-20) Melchizedek blessed Abraham in the name of God and Abraham recognised his status by paying him tithes. His priesthood differed from Aaron's in that he did not come from a priestly line and he had no successor. His name literally means 'king of righteousness'. Chapter 7 is devoted to establishing the point that Jesus' priesthood has replaced Aaron's priestly line and follows the earlier model of Melchizedek in that his office is not passed on to others because he lives forever and so needs no successor. The sacrifice that Jesus offered was also superior to the blood of animals. We are sinful and cannot come to God without coming through a priestly mediator. Jesus is the priest that God has appointed; no human priest can act on our behalf. (1 Timothy 2:5) |
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By offering himself as a permanent sacrifice and by replacing the Aaronic priesthood, the former covenant, made through Moses, became obsolete. It is very important to understand that the former covenant God made with Israel at Sinai no longer applies to Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, in these two aspects. The promises God made to Abraham and his descendants still apply (Romans 11:28-29), and the moral requirements of the Ten Commandments are restated in the New Testament. But the animal sacrifices, the priesthood of Aaron and the ritual details of the Mosaic code have been superseded. This matter was discussed and settled by the early church. (See Acts 15.) Salvation is not dependent on the strict observance of Moses' law but is dependent on the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Paul deals with the relationship of law and grace in Romans 3 and Galatians 3. We cannot read the Old Testament and apply it to Christians today. It was a national covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants. Much of the New Testament is unintelligible without the Old Testament but our covenant with God today is based on Jesus Christ. The New Testament is the book of doctrine for believers today. |
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The return of Christ to earth a second time is a well-established New Testament teaching that has always been part of the faith of Christians. Jesus was the first to predict it, the angel at his ascension promised it, and Paul, Peter and John all refer to it in their writings. Christ will come in his role as ruler and as judge. Paul tells us that every knee shall bow acknowledging him as Lord. Some have tried to construct elaborate timetables depicting the order of events associated with his coming but even the most devoted Bible scholars differ in their views. This is placing the emphasis in the wrong place. Jesus placed the emphasis on the importance of being ready for whenever he may come. How can we be ready? Simply by faithfully living as he taught us to live and by being his witnesses in the world. The parable of the ten virgins applies here. Some kept oil in their lamps, but some neglected them and allowed them to go out. A good test of our readiness would be to ask ourselves if we would make any changes if we knew that the Lord was coming tomorrow. If the answer is 'yes' it would be a good idea to make them now. |
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The word 'faith' means reliance or trust. As such it requires an active dependence and decision on our part. God has done so much for us but exercising faith is something he cannot do on our behalf. We have to exercise faith to believe and receive the blessings he has promised. In this chapter we are given a number of examples of people who believed God and acted accordingly. Often they did not see God's promises fulfilled in their lifetime but they continued to believe. Our ability to exercise faith always depends on the character of the person making the statement and the reliability of the messenger. We cannot prove that God exists but all the evidence points that way. It is reasonable that he would want to communicate with people made in his own image. We can trust the words of the Bible, the written record of that communication. If we can trust Jesus and the apostles we can trust the statements in the New Testament. Faith in God and his word is a decision that will influence our whole way of life. When we make a conscious commitment to trust Christ and the Bible our course is set, our heart is at peace and our future assured. |
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The chapter begins with the word 'therefore', which connects it with the heroes of faith of chapter 11 who are an example for us to follow. But the statement 'fix our eyes on Jesus' implies turning our attention from other things and concentrating on Jesus as our example. The word translated 'author' means one who leads by going first. His example encourages us to hold firmly to the way of faith to the end, whatever the distractions and doubts. For Jesus, having faith in God involved the way of the cross. As the latter part of the chapter shows, it could mean hardship for us, but we are to accept whatever life brings and not waver in our faith. We are not to grow weary and lose heart. Immediately Jesus closed the door of the carpenter's shop and stepped out in faith to begin his mission his troubles and temptations began. We are reminded that 'God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness'. Life is like being in a gemstone tumbler where the rough stones are smoothed by being tossed against each other and the abrasive material. We rub against all kinds of people and circumstances as this earth of ours tumbles on its endless journey and God uses these experiences to test our faith and strengthen it. |
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Gautama Buddha correctly identified desire as the source of all sin and evil in the world, but he saw desire itself as evil, and taught that inner peace came through denying all desires. Christianity teaches that all desires are God-given but they must not be allowed to control us--we must control them. To do this we need the help of God's Spirit in our lives. When we live for ourselves we want to express all our desires but when we love God we want his will done in our lives. There is a proper place and time for the expression of all desires but we are not free to fulfil our desires in such a way that the rights of others are infringed. James pictures us being enticed and dragged away from God by our desires, which give birth to sin and finally death. But we are not to face life's temptations in a stoical attitude, rather we are to consider it pure joy whenever we face trials knowing that the testing of our faith develops perseverance. We would be wise to commit ourselves into God's hands at the beginning of each day, invoking his help in every circumstance, for when we go out in our own strength we are vulnerable and may fall prey to Satan. |
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James was a very practical man. He judged people by their behaviour, not their beliefs. He was impatient with those who said they had faith in Christ but did not demonstrate it by their everyday behaviour. He says bluntly that 'faith without works is dead', i. e. it is not faith at all. He challenges them to show that they have faith by their deeds. He reminds them that even the demons believe, but because they do not obey they tremble at the prospect of judgment. There is no conflict between Paul's teaching about being justified by faith in Christ and James' emphasis on deeds. James would agree that good deeds cannot impart eternal life, he is only saying that a declaration of faith in Christ that does not result in obedience is a false declaration. Abraham demonstrated his complete trust in God by offering Isaac as a sacrifice. If he had failed to obey he would have shown that he did not have faith in God when God's command conflicted with his own reason. Faith starts where evidence and reason ends, for until that point we can walk by sight. There will always be a gap between profession and performance, but we must always strive to minimise it. |
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Healing miracles were an important part of Jesus' ministry and also of the apostles. James indicates that it is a ministry also for the elders of a congregation. Paul mentions healing as one of the gifts of the Spirit. There has been a revival of the healing ministry during the twentieth century in association with the renewed experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit. The key to healing in response to prayer is faith. An anointing of the Holy Spirit can be felt and experienced by the senses and when accompanied by praying in the language of the Spirit this often results in a definite increase in faith. James is definite that we will get nothing from God if we doubt (James 1:6-7). Jesus also adds 'does not doubt in his heart'. (Mark 11:23-24) If we can believe, without doubting, we will receive. So here is the hindrance. Most of us can only pray in hope, not in total faith, and so we do not see many healings. But whether a person is healed or not it is good to pray, perhaps with the laying on of hands or the anointing with oil, sharing our love and concern in our prayer, thus committing the person into God's care and leaving the results to him. |
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Peter takes this statement of God's election of Israel (Exodus 19:5-6) and applies it to Gentile believers. It is not that the church has replaced Israel's election but that Gentile believers are now 'grafted into' the Jewish stock. (Romans 11:17) We must never forget that God has chosen the church for a specific mission to the Gentile nations. We are to declare God's praises and make his offer of salvation known to all nations. We are to bring the light of the gospel to the darkness of their unbelief. Consider how privileged we are to be 'a people belonging to God'. (Ephesians 2:12-13) We are no longer lost, wondering what life is all about. We know who we are and where we are going. We are citizens of heaven. This world is not our home, we are 'aliens and strangers' here. Since we are children of a king, a royal priesthood, we are to live before an unbelieving world in such a way that we bring honour to the Lord whose name we wear. (verse 12) In 1 Peter 1:13-16 Peter urges his readers to be holy because God is holy. They are to be self-controlled not conforming to evil desires. There is no higher ideal than to be like God. |
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In this letter Peter refers several times to the question of responding to injustice. Here he deals with the ill-treatment of slaves by cruel masters. He says that there is no virtue if people accept a beating because it is deserved--they should also endure a beating if it is undeserved. Christians can endure injustice patiently because they are 'conscious of God'. By this Peter means that they are aware that God sees the injustice and will avenge it far more effectively than they can. Paul gives the same advice in Romans 12:17-21. This way of responding to the hurts of life is novel and totally foreign to the way unbelievers react. In verses 21-23 Peter cites Jesus as our example. He mentions it again in 3:9, saying that we should return blessing for insult. God's way is not to seek vengeance but to extend forgiveness. Jesus first taught this attitude in his Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5:43-48) The Christian attitude is to be one of positive goodness towards others irrespective of their attitude to us. This breaks the vicious cycle of payback and racial and family vendettas that often continue for centuries. God continues to love us and provide for us, even if we deny him or curse him. He is our example. |
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Peter wrote this letter just prior to his death, aware that he must soon leave his fellow believers, and he was anxious to confirm their faith. He reminds them that their faith does not rest on 'cleverly invented stories' but on the testimony of eyewitnesses. He refers to the voice he heard at the transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17) declaring that Jesus was the Son of God. In addition, he says, we have the word of the prophets. Their references to the promised Messiah matched the life of Jesus in so many ways. But above all, he says, we have scripture, which is not the prophet's own ideas. (See 1 Peter 1:10-12.) Prophecy comes only by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, who imparts truths to the prophet's mind that he could not otherwise know. The prophet's role was to speak them out to the people. The Bible is the written record of these revelations. For Peter, scripture was the Old Testament. The life and teachings of Jesus in the gospels and the writings of the Spirit-filled apostles are the record of God's revelation through Christ and these also have become scripture for us. Scripture is the written record of what 'men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit'. |
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Today we celebrate the birth of a king. At Jesus' birth the wise men from the east asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?' At his death Pilate wrote, 'This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.' Micah's prophecy foresaw a king who would not use his high office for self-aggrandisement, for he would behave like a shepherd to his people, and not to Israel only for in his shepherd parable Jesus said, 'I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also.' (John 10:16) As we celebrate the birth of Jesus the king we are joined by believers of every race and language in a worldwide celebration. Neither was his kingdom to be an earthly one, for he said, 'My kingdom is not of this world.' When human history reaches its dramatic end and Satan is destroyed, Jesus will emerge as the supreme ruler with the title 'King of Kings and Lord of Lords'. Today, those who are wise pay homage to Jesus and bring him gifts, not of gold, incense and myrrh, but the gift of their lives, offering him all their talents and human potential. He is the shepherd king and he needs us to co-operate with him as under-shepherds to care for people, ministering to human need as he ministered while on earth. |
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The apostle John regarded love as the test of a Christian. The personality of the New Testament writers comes through in their writings. Mark mostly reported outward things such as events, miracles and happenings. John deals more with the inner life of thought and feelings and presents love as the mark of a Christian, just as Jesus had done. Love is the evidence of the presence of God's Spirit in our lives. John tells us that love comes from God. He also says, 'God is love,' and, 'If we love one another, God lives in us.' We do not have in ourselves the ability to love as God loves. Paul says that 'God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us'. (Romans 5:5) How do we bring the wonderful love of God down into our human hearts? By inviting Jesus Christ into our life so that the very nature of God expresses itself through us. When we obey the first commandment, to love God with all our heart, the second command, to love our neighbour as ourself automatically follows. (See 1 John 5:1-2.) Without a doubt the greatest need in the world today is for caring, compassionate, forgiving love--the kind of love God has for the whole of sinful and wayward humanity. |
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Note that although John wrote this book its opening words are, 'The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.' Most of the imagery of the book is symbolic and cannot be interpreted with certainty, but its principal message is that, while evil continues, reaching a climax at the close of the age, good will triumph and Christ will reign and destroy evil forever. The use of the three tenses, past, present and future in verses 4 and 8 expresses the eternal nature of God. The emphasis is on the living Christ who has conquered death, and now lives forever. He stands in the midst of his church, represented by seven golden lampstands. The churches are not the light, they are only lampstands that hold the light, which is Christ himself. Christ knows what is going on in the churches and he both praises and rebukes them. Jesus declares that he has the keys of death and Hades (the grave). Keys represent ownership and control. Thus the book opens with Christ risen, enthroned and the head of his body, the church, which is continuing his mission on earth. He triumphantly declares, 'Behold I am alive for ever and ever!' |
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Holman Hunt has brought this verse to our attention by his famous painting. What a picture--the Lord of the universe standing outside a human heart, knocking, not forcing his control over our life, but patiently waiting for us to open the door and invite him in. This is love at its best, wanting to help, yet respecting our freedom of independence. It is even more surprising that this invitation is addressed to believers, to a church that has become lukewarm. Jesus says, 'Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.' There is a frequent emphasis in these letters in Revelation on those who overcome. Anyone can start a project but success only comes to those who overcome and continue to the end. Jesus promises, 'To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.' In Holman Hunt's picture the door has no handle or latch on the outside. It can only be opened from the inside. Jesus has the keys of death and Hades but he does not have the key to our life. He has entrusted that to us. We must decide if we will invite him in. |
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Here we are given a prophetic view of the moment when Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, opens the scroll unveiling God's plan for the future. He is pictured as a slain lamb, worthy to open the scroll because he redeemed people from every tribe, language and nation and made them his priests to reign on the earth. In Revelation 7 we have a symbolic number of persons from every tribe of Israel and a great multitude of people from every tribe, nation and language who have been redeemed by Christ. They are clothed in white, symbolic of purity, and they praise God and the lamb saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God . . . and to the Lamb.' (7:10) Perhaps the great chorus 'Worthy is the Lamb' in Handel's Messiah was prophetically composed with this dramatic moment in mind. In verses 13-17 we have a poetic description of the redeemed ones in heaven. The Lamb is depicted as their shepherd who leads them to streams of living water and God wipes away every tear from their eyes, indicating that their time of hardship and sorrow is over and they are in the security of God's care for evermore. This is a symbolic revelation of the future given to John by Jesus Christ for the encouragement of persecuted Christians. |
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Babylon here represents society that has rejected God. Chapters 18-20 depict the final stage of this godless society, which ends with great violence, burning and destruction. Human society never rises again. It is the end of civilization. Satan and his agents, called the beast and the false prophet, are destroyed and evil is banished forever. Then follows the final judgment, called the judgment of the 'great white throne'. Everybody is judged 'according to what he had done'. Those whose names are in God's 'Book of life' are spared. Death is no more. The present world order ceases to exist. The language here, as throughout Revelation, is highly figurative and it would be a misrepresentation to take it all literally. The truth behind it is real, and while we understand the main message clearly enough, it is unwise to try to relate every symbol to something in human experience. It is sufficient for us to know that the future is in God's hands, that in his own time he will bring history to a close and banish evil forever. Read again Peter's comment on this coming day when Satan and his followers are destroyed. (2 Peter 3:10-13) |
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With evil destroyed, God is joined with his people in a love bond for eternity. The figure of a bride aptly describes those who love God and look forward to living in his presence. God's people are also called the new Jerusalem, for a city is first people and only in a secondary sense buildings. A loud voice from God's throne announces, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people . . . he will wipe away every tear from their eyes.' (verses 3-4) Jesus says, 'Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to every one according to what he has done . . . Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life.' (22:12-14) The Bible closes with one of the most beautiful invitations imaginable. 'The Spirit and the bride [the believers] say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.' (22:17) What more could a loving heavenly Father do to assure everyone that they are welcome to share in his eternal kingdom. If anyone misses what God has planned it will be because they chose not to accept his offer. |
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Arthur Pigdon Seeds of the Spirit (2001) |
| Copyright © 1997, 2001 by Arthur Pigdon |