CHAPTER 4
DESCRIPTION OF THE BRIDE as she lives in New Jerusalem: She is a jeweled city with all manner of beauty: A SIGHT TO BEHOLD!
The New Living Translation describes her beauty in Revelations 21:9-26, 'Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come with me! I will show you the BRIDE, the wife of the LAMB."
'So he took me in spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. It was filled with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious gem, crystal clear like jasper. Its walls were broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. There were three gates on each side--east, north, south, and west. The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones: And on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.'
'The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, it was in the form of a cube, for its length and width and height; were each 1,400 miles. Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (the angel used a standard human measure).'
'The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve gems: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.'
'The twelve gates were made of pearls--each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.'
'No temple could be seen in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations of the earth will walk in its light, and the rulers of the world will come and bring their glory to it. Its gates never close at the end of day because there is no night.'
'And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing EVIL will be allowed to enter--no one who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty--but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.'
THE SECOND DEATH
In the "Two Trees" section, we discussed how the Devil lost his beauty, jewels, wealth and his position in Heaven at the Throne of God after SIN was found in him. The Devil knows the scriptures. He knows that the saints are the BRIDE of Christ and will sit in the Throne of God with Jesus. He has read how God will bestow great wealth in gold, jewels and indescribable beauty on the Bride. How can we ever again doubt that the Devil is our GREAT ENEMY; or question why he hates the child of God? Now we can understand the reason he keeps trying to torment our every step in order to hinder us from receiving the wonderful things God has prepared for us in His kingdom; and now we can "see" why the saints, throughout the ages, have suffered great persecution with such venom and cruelty at his hands.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:41, about an "everlasting fire" prepared for the Devil and his angels; however, in Revelations 21:8, John tells us there will also be "others" there who do the "work" of the Devil: 'The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the SECOND DEATH.'
The New Living Translation in this verse includes those who reject Christ will also be there, 'But cowards who turn away from Me, and unbelievers and the corrupt, and murderers, and the immoral, and those who practice witchcraft, and idol worshipers, and all liars--their doom is in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This is the SECOND DEATH.'
In the final days after the Rapture, there will be a resurrection of the wicked and the dead, who were not at the marriage supper of the Lamb. They will appear at the GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT to give an account of all the deeds and actions done in their SOUL and BODY while on Earth, which will be declared evil because of THE FALL of ADAM. The defendant will have to give an answer to God for the rejection of God's REDEMPTION PLAN that was provided in the PERFECT SACRIFICE of His Son, Jesus Christ; so that no one has an excuse as to why they are there. God will prepare the wicked SOULS for torment with some sort of body that will have eyes for crying; teeth for gnashing; a tongue craving water and a body feeling pain (Lu.16:24). They will be given a body/spirit suitable for Hell. Jesus says in Luke 13:28, "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Our discussion MUST tell you of the things that will happen to the wicked, but our focus is directed to CHRIST and God's Perfect Plan so that you might BELIEVE and TRUST in Him.
WHO IS "WHOSOEVER WILL"?
Let the headlines read: The PERFECT SACRIFICE of JESUS CHRIST on Calvary abolishes the death sentence on both the Soul and Body of "Whosoever Will"!
JESUS took the full sentence that was upon "Old Adam" when He died on the Cross. He paid it all. By that death, Jesus placed Himself in the position of REDEEMER of all mankind, but limited to WHOSOEVER WILL. Jesus now holds the "mortgage", He put up the "trust money" (guarantor) for our SOUL. He now owns "Old Adam", "lock, stock and barrel". God gave Jesus this power when He accepted His PERFECT SACRIFICE.
Matthew 28:18 Jesus said, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in Earth.’ This scripture does not mean that God gave away ALL His power to Jesus and now God has none and is no more. The giving did not diminish God’s POWER. God is still the Father in the Godhead. It is absurd to think that God’s power can be diminished because He “gives” to His Son. It is “human reasoning” when one thinks he no longer owns something if it is “given away”. I John 2:22 says, ‘He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.’ Jesus came to glorify the Father.
Not only has God given ALL His power to Jesus, he has promised to give us this same power when we receive Jesus sacrifice as our own. This IS the KINGDOM OF GOD, IMMANUEL: God with us, to become a “son” of God.
John 1:12-13 tells us the POWER of receiving Jesus as Savior: ‘But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’
The New Living Translation says of John 1:12-13, ‘But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth comes from God.’
The New Living Translation in Philippians 2:6 explains the process, ‘Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the GLORY OF GOD, the Father.
The REDEMPTION Jesus bought on the cross took away the “curse” on the SOUL and BODY of “Old Adam” and ushered into mankind THE KINGDOM OF GOD. There is only one stipulation; "Old Adam" has to CALL ON THE NAME OF JESUS for salvation. The SPIRIT OF GOD will not abide where He is not welcome.
WHO IS THAT AT MY DOOR?
Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. The Father desires that all men repent and receive the PERFECT SACRIFICE of His SON: HIS BLOOD shed on CALVARY. Hebrews 9:22 says, 'Almost all things are by the LAW purged with BLOOD; and without shedding of BLOOD, is no remission.'
JESUS has already redeemed your soul on the cross, but in order to complete the transaction (Offer of Redemption), you must first "sign the papers". All who reject Jesus and His Sacrifice reject the "Offer of Payment" to satisfy their SIN DEBT, and they remain under the DEATH SENTENCE. THE DEBT has to be paid. Who will pay it? If Jesus is rejected, then you will be required to pay at the day of JUDGMENT. The offer of PAID IN FULL only applies to WHOSOEVER WILL accept the offer by having FAITH in the PAYOR of the payment: JESUS CHRIST. Jesus wants to GIVE you the KINGDOM of GOD and to RESTORE what was lost in Adam. He wants to live with you through the HOLY SPIRIT dwelling within your spirit (SOUL).
You might ask, "What should I do to accept the offer?"
Romans 10:9-11,"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the HEART man believeth unto RIGHTEOUSNESS; and with the MOUTH confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, 'Whosoever believeth on HIM shall not be ashamed.'
In this verse, God is telling us that we can receive a PARDON for our SIN and forgiveness for our trespasses if we believe in the PERFECT SACRIFICE that He has provided. Upon our confession that we believe in Jesus Christ, then GOD SAVES US. AMAZING GRACE!
Repeat this PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, I believe you are the SON OF GOD and sent by GOD to REDEEM MY SOUL by your death on the cross in my stead. I accept YOUR SACRIFICE as my own and turn my HEART, MIND AND SOUL to you for REDEMPTION. I repent of my sins and ask your forgiveness for YOUR NAME'S SAKE. I SURRENDER MY LIFE to you from this day forth for as long as I live. Thank you for saving my SOUL. Teach me YOUR WAY and I will walk therein. Amen and Amen.
CONGRATULATIONS! You have just entered ETERNAL LIFE and have been given a new identity: BORN AGAIN. Now your SOUL is pure and holy just as Adam’s was in the garden before he sinned. Jesus only lives in a HOLY place that is undefiled. He has cleansed your SOUL and His HOLY SPIRIT lives there. You have just received the 1st REDEMPTION, the redemption of the SOUL.
1ST REDEMPTION SCRIPTURES
Jesus died for our sins. Ephesians 1:7, ‘In WHOM we have REDEMPTION through His BLOOD, the FORGIVENESS of sins, according to the riches of HIS GRACE.’
Colossians 1:14, ‘In WHOM we have REDEMPTION through HIS BLOOD, even the FORGIVENESS of sins.’
NOW WHAT?
"What does God require us to do AFTER we are BORN AGAIN?" you may ask.
God requires “what” He has always required, OBEDIENCE in right CHOICES in our daily walk with Him. Joshua 24:15 declares, 'CHOOSE you this day, whom ye will serve'. God provided the PERFECT SACRIFICE in HIS SON, but we must receive it in FAITH and OBEDIENCE, by repenting and renouncing our personal sins and accepting JESUS CHRIST to live in our spirit (soul) and temple (body) for ALL the days of our life.
We must completely SURRENDER our former life to God and purpose to let Jesus’ RIGHTEOUSNESS live within us. All our righteous deeds cannot make us RIGHTEOUS, however, we must NOT think as some, who claim to have the RIGHTEOUSNESS of CHRIST, yet they live for the Devil in their daily living with no evidence of a relationship with Christ. Jesus makes it very clear that His Followers will love Him and will OBEY GOD. John 14:15 Jesus says, "If ye love Me, KEEP my commandments."
God will reward us for our righteous deeds, but Salvation cannot be bought. It must be IMPUTED to us through the BLOOD SACRIFICE of Jesus. God wants the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ to shine through the BORN AGAIN. It is a FAITH and TRUST walk, led by the HOLY SPIRIT, to a life of RIGHTEOUSNESS in CHRIST JESUS so that we may be called a "Righteous" person.
EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE CHRIST
I John 2:3-6 'And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the TRUTH is not in him. But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the LOVE OF GOD perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to WALK, even as HE WALKED.'
The New Living Translation says of I John 3:7-8, 'Dear children, don't let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it is because they are righteous, even as Christ is RIGHTEOUS. But when people KEEP ON SINNING, it shows they belong to the Devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the SON OF GOD came to destroy these works of the Devil.'
MEASURE OF FAITH
Our FAITH is in Christ, who will keep us from falling from the GRACE of GOD.
The Apostle Paul says in the New Living Translation in II Timothy 1:12, 'For I know the ONE in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to GUARD what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return.'
The "key" to VICTORY IN CHRIST is FAITH. Every attack of the Devil that the BORN AGAIN experiences is an attack against his FAITH in Christ. Even the Devil understands, if he can cause the BORN AGAIN to lose FAITH in God's Plan, then he has the battle won. The BORN AGAIN must keep his FAITH, no matter how small it may appear to him.
Romans 12:3 tells us, 'God hath dealt to every man the MEASURE OF FAITH.' How much is a MEASURE? Let's use a 4-ft yardstick as our measurement. Have you ever heard of a 4-ft yardstick? As you know, a yard is only 3 feet, so if we assume we can only have faith UP to 3 feet, we may falsely assume the fourth foot to not be relevant. Our "yardstick" is 4 ft; that is our measurement and anywhere we want to measure on that yardstick is relevant because it is our measurement. It may only be one foot that we want to measure, but it is still in the measurement. FAITH can be compared to this 4 ft yardstick: anywhere on that measurement is FAITH. God sees our little FAITH as well as our big FAITH. It is not in the amount of FAITH we see in ourselves, it is IN WHOM we put our most feeble or great FAITH: IN THE PERFECT SACRIFICE, JESUS CHRIST, the SON of GOD.
'Without FAITH, it is impossible to please Him: For he that cometh to God must BELIEVE that HE IS, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' Hebrews 11:6.
WHAT A CHANGE
God gave us the KINGDOM OF GOD in His Son, Jesus Christ, and has sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to live in our spirit and to completely CHANGE us by bringing about a NEW BIRTH in us.
God said in Ezekiel 36:26, 27, 'A NEW HEART also will I give you, and a NEW SPIRIT will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. AND, I will put MY SPIRIT within you, and CAUSE YOU to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.' KJV This is the promise to those who accept God's Sacrifice. He will LIVE within his spirit (SOUL) and change his heart and mind (BODY), so that he may live a righteous life in Christ.
The sixth chapter of Romans explains the FREEDOM the BORN AGAIN has in CHRIST from the power of SIN. Romans 6:4, We, 'WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE'. Romans 6:22 says, 'But now being made FREE FROM SIN, and become servants to God, ye have your FRUIT unto holiness, and the end EVERLASTING LIFE.'
LOVE ESSENTIAL IN CHRIST
I John 3:11-24 explains how we must have LOVE for others. Verse 14 tells us, 'We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we LOVE the brethren. He that loveth NOT his brother, abideth in death.'
THE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS of JESUS - Matthew 22:37-40
In The New Living Translation Jesus said, "You must LOVE the Lord your God with ALL your HEART, ALL your SOUL, and ALL your MIND. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'LOVE your NEIGHBOR as yourself.' All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
Only the LOVE of CHRIST can fulfill these scriptures. Ephesians 3:17-20 says, 'That Christ may dwell in your HEARTS by FAITH; that ye, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breath, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the LOVE of CHRIST, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the POWER that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.'
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