JESUS IS THE ANSWER FOR EVERY NEED AND HOPE.
Jesus makes us complete or full in every way. In Christ we enjoy all of Heaven’s blessings.
See Ephesians 1:3, it says, praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. See also Colossians 1 : 15 – 20, it says, He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. See Colossians 2:9–10, it says, For in Christ all fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. See also Colossians 1:12–14, it says, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Today, for many people, the word church means a division of Christianity. See 1st Timothy 3 : 15, Paul says, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. This shows that the church is singular, and it is none other than God’s household.
Many men have two or more households, this happens through divorce. It also happens when men move to places for jobs. Did God do something like that, as we moved to the modern age ? He had one family in the past. Does He now have many families? God is not an adulterer that produces separate families. The one Father has one family.
This Father’s saving seed is His word. (Jesus)
Apostle Paul appeals to Timothy to faithfully pass along the pattern of sound teaching. See 2nd Timothy 1:13, (what you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus) The Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
Apostle John in the Book of Revelation addresses seven congregations in the then Asia, beginning with Ephesus. Jesus pictures the struggles they must endure, and also their complete victory. Remember that Jesus promised, “I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” See Matthew 16:18, it says, And I tell you that you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Jesus paves the way by entering death (Hade) defeating it, and rising again.
Revelation, however, rings out a strong warning. Some congregations are healthy, but other congregations are spiritually sick and dying, Jesus warns them to repent, or else be removed. Revelation 3:16, says, So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. What if they fail to repent and Jesus has to expel them? In that case, they are no longer His Churches, even if they claim otherwise. John writes, some sects think they are christian, but are not. These include false « apostles,” Nicolaitans, and those likened to Balaam and Jezebel. See Revelation 2:2–6, it says, I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you : You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Do you love God? Then you need to honor Him as a faithful member of His family.
Do you love truth? Then you want to help the church that is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
Do you love life? Then your Father should be the living God. You need His Son, who overcomes Hades and shares eternal life with His brothers and sisters. He gathers His members and calls them. « God’s household, the church of the living God » This is where you belong or ought to belong. This is the family of God.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS.
(1) Why is Revelation important for our understanding of God’s family?
See Revelation 1:11, “which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Read also Revelation 2:1, “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:”
(2) Which two words does Paul use to speak of God’s family?
See 1st Timothy 3:14–15, “Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
JESUS IS THE ANSWER FOR EVERY NEED AND HOPE.
Jesus makes us complete or full in every way. In Christ we enjoy all of Heaven’s blessings.
See Ephesians 1:3, it says, praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. See also Colossians 1 : 15 – 20, it says, He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. See Colossians 2:9–10, it says, For in Christ all fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. See also Colossians 1:12–14, it says, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Today, for many people, the word church means a division of Christianity. See 1st Timothy 3 : 15, Paul says, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. This shows that the church is singular, and it is none other than God’s household.
Many men have two or more households, this happens through divorce. It also happens when men move to places for jobs. Did God do something like that, as we moved to the modern age ? He had one family in the past. Does He now have many families? God is not an adulterer that produces separate families. The one Father has one family.
This Father’s saving seed is His word. (Jesus)
Apostle Paul appeals to Timothy to faithfully pass along the pattern of sound teaching. See 2nd Timothy 1:13, (what you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus) The Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
Apostle John in the Book of Revelation addresses seven congregations in the then Asia, beginning with Ephesus. Jesus pictures the struggles they must endure, and also their complete victory. Remember that Jesus promised, “I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” See Matthew 16:18, it says, And I tell you that you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Jesus paves the way by entering death (Hade) defeating it, and rising again.
Revelation, however, rings out a strong warning. Some congregations are healthy, but other congregations are spiritually sick and dying, Jesus warns them to repent, or else be removed. Revelation 3:16, says, So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. What if they fail to repent and Jesus has to expel them? In that case, they are no longer His Churches, even if they claim otherwise. John writes, some sects think they are christian, but are not. These include false « apostles,” Nicolaitans, and those likened to Balaam and Jezebel. See Revelation 2:2–6, it says, I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you : You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Do you love God? Then you need to honor Him as a faithful member of His family.
Do you love truth? Then you want to help the church that is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
Do you love life? Then your Father should be the living God. You need His Son, who overcomes Hades and shares eternal life with His brothers and sisters. He gathers His members and calls them. « God’s household, the church of the living God » This is where you belong or ought to belong. This is the family of God.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS.
(1) Why is Revelation important for our understanding of God’s family?
See Revelation 1:11, “which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Read also Revelation 2:1, “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:”
(2) Which two words does Paul use to speak of God’s family?
See 1st Timothy 3:14–15, “Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”