Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Revelation 3:15-22

"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

This passage is purely Restorative and not Evangelical.
Christ is restoring those who have fallen into disfellowship with Him by their lack of faith in Christ Jesus alone for their righteousness. There are three dotrines that are taught here: Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification. As Justification is rather than believers to come to a point in their life that they view their work as righteous or as having any standing on their own, they should remind themselves continually of the Gospel of Christ.
As Christ continues to knock on the believers hearts, so to he disciplines those He loves. The purpose is for them to be Christ like and for them to trust in Him alone. As believers repent from sin, and turn back to God through Christ, the fellowship is restored.
It is by this fellowship continually that Christians are being glorified. There is a Corporate Personality here where believers will become like Christ.

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