Blind to the Truth… You Must Be Faithful To the End. 

Rev 3:14-21 

The “Laodicean” church is truly blind to their apostasy. (Rev 3:14-21)

Rev 3:18 "…  18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 

 “Laodicean” church will be the norm condition of the church prior to Christ’s return.

Many (professing church) will come thinking they are headed for heaven… but Jesus will say, “I never knew you, depart from me”. (Mt 7:21-23)

Matt 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' 

They will be completely blind to their true condition (unsaved) until that day.

Him who overcomes… faithful to the end… will be eternally secure in heaven.

See to it that no one takes you captive thru deceptive philosophy/theology. (Col 2:8)

Large majority (90%) of the church are deceived… blind to the truth.

Light (Jesus) has come, but men loved darkness because their deeds are evil. (Jn 3:19)

The “Laodicean” church is spiritually blind… thought they would never admit it.

They actually claim the religious high ground… because they love the sinner.

Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. (Jn 8:34)

Man is a slave to whatever masters him. (2Pet2:19; Rm 6:16)

Christians belong to Christ, but can surrender “ground” to Satan. (Eph 4:27)

When we sin & fail to confess & repent of that sin, we give Satan ground.

May not be possessed, but many are terribly bound /influenced by demons. (Mk 5:8)

Surrendered ground will always lead to deception, wicked behavior, & dishonor to God.

Deceived regarding cheap grace, costless discipleship, need for works for salvation.

If we willingly sin & fail to repent, more of Satan’s hand goes over eyes of our heart.

We should resist Satan, and give him no place. (Ja 4:7; Eph 4:27)

Unlike physical blindness, the spiritually blind person has no clue that they are blind.

Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate & way that leads to destruction. (Mt 7:13)

Many are on the wide way to destruction, but few are on the narrow path to life. (v.14)

Because we don’t see immediate consequences… we therefore assume there won’t be any repercussions to our sowing of sin. Do not be deceived… (Gal 6:7-8)

Gal 6:7-8 God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

You will reap what you sow… harvest may take months or years, but you will reap.

You can be sure your sins will find you out. (Num 32:23)

God will not be mocked… God’s justice will prevail. 

Christ our atonement... He reconciled us to God.

Atonement (At-one-ment): Refers to complete redemptive work of Christ 

His vicarious holy life, His substitutional death, His physical resurrection, and His ascension and exaltation at the Father’s right hand.

Reconciliation requires a payment... made by Christ.

He offered Himself to God as spotless Sacrifice for sin. (Heb 9:14)

Reconciliation has been procured thru cross (Christ became sin for us.) (2Cor 5:19-21)

God’s holiness demanded the atonement; His love provided it. 

Christ came to be our atonement, to “give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:45)

Heart of Gospel:  Christ died for our sins... and... rose again.  (1Cor 15:3-4)

He came to seek and save the lost.  (Lk 19:10)

By being lifted up on the cross, He would draw all men unto Himself. (Jn 12:32-33)

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  (Rom 5:8)

We all were in sin’s prison with no hope of release... Christ paid our ransom. (Heb 9:12)

He set us free from slavery of sin and penalty of eternal death. (Eph 1:7; Col 1:14)

Do not be deceived… what is the extent of the Atonement?

It’s sufficient... potential provision has been made for all mankind. (1Tim 2:6)

“Christ... who gave himself as a ransom for all.” (1Tim 2:6)

Grace of God that brings salvation... to all men.  (Titus 2:11)

He is the propitiation... for the sins of the whole world.  (1Jn 2:2)

The efficiency (effect) is limited to those who accept God’s offer of salvation thru Christ.

Only those who believe in Christ will be saved. (Jn 3:16)

Only those who do receive Him become the sons of God.  (Jn 1:11-12)

Salvation is for those who confess Him as Lord and believe in their heart.  (Rm 10:9)

Christ is Savior of all potentially (1Tim 1:15), of believers alone effectually (1Tim 4:10)

The atonement is limited only by man’s unbelief.

The sufficiency/efficiency of cross is a persuasion level belief.

Christ’s death on cross is what restored man’s relationship to God is a conviction.

Do not be deceived…Did you choose salvation?

Is our salvation determined solely by God, or does free choice play a role?

Christian thinkers have not agreed on the solution to this problem.

Three most common answers:  1. God is primary chooser; 2. We are primary choosers; 3. both God and humans choose without creating a contradiction.

Calvinists:  God chooses and our choice plays no role at all in decision. (Rm 9:15)

Our “choice” was determined (predestined) in advance. (Acts 4:28; Eph 1:5,11)

Arminian or Wesleyan:  God’s choice is based on what He knows we will choose.

God knows in advance who will freely come and He predestines them. (Rm 8:28-29)

Anyone can be saved, it’s a gift offered to all.  (Rev 22:17)

Christ died for all & all may therefore come to Him thru faith in Christ.

Hermeneutics:  Both God & I choose because Bible clearly teaches both.

Exact way these choices interact is a mystery beyond human understanding. (1Cor 2:7)

God elects & predestines who will be saved, & He urges sinners to repent, turn to Him and believe. Somehow, both are true & our choice plays a crucial role.

God is sovereign, and He has in His sovereignty chosen to give you free choice.

This is a persuasion-level belief.  Strongly held...(It has divided the church for years)

Do not be deceived… what is saving faith?  (Ja 2:14-26)

It is by grace you have been saved through faith... not works.  (Eph 2:8-9)

Yet those who are saved by grace learn that God has work for them to do. (2:10)

God does His part which is grace… reconciling us to Himself thru Christ.

To be saved, we must do our part, which is faith (responding to His initiative)

Is faith merely mental assent, or is saving faith also active trust, & obedience? (Ja 2:26)

It is obedient faith. (Rom 1:5; 16:26; 1Pet 1:2)

Saving faith includes full surrender to Jesus as Lord… that He might be formed in us. 

Is biblical idea of repentance contained within saving faith?  

When I turn from what I was trusting (self), & begin to trust God, that’s repentance.

Conviction: We are saved by faith, not as a result of our good works.

Conviction: Faith that saves always transforms. (Ja 2:26) Examine yourself... 2Cor 13:5.

The prodigal had to get up out of the pig pen and return home to be saved.

Saving faith means to obey Him and live for Him. To accept His ways as our ways. His teaching as the guide for our lives. To attach ourselves to His holy person, live or die forever.  He must be first last and all.  No other relationship in your life can compare to Him.  All other relationships are determined and conditioned by our relationship with Him.  To have an attachment to Christ that is revolutionary, complete, and exclusive.

Jesus said the world will know His disciples by their fruit. (Mt 7:16-20; Jn 15:5,8)

If we claim fellowship with Christ but walk in darkness… we lie. (1Jn 1:6)

Many who claim to be His followers are not fruit bearers… they’re deceived. (Lk 8:11-15)

If anyone loves the world, the love of Father is not in him. (1Jn 2:15)

If Word remains in you, Son & Father will remain in you & you’ll have eternal life. (2:24)

No one who is born of God will continue to sin… if so, he is not a child of God. (3:7-10)

Are you truly converted, or did you join a religious group.

Eternal security… if its God’s choice, can you lose your salvation?

Do not be deceived… What is eternal security? 

He who has the Son, has life… written so you may know you have eternal life. (1Jn 5:11)

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation… the new has come. (2Cor 5:17)

If we walk in the light… we are purified of all our sin. (1Jn 1:6-7)

We know we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. (1Jn 2:3)

This is how we know we are in Him: whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (1Jn 2:6)

Evil patterns of life are inconsistent with Christian transformation. NT writers were convinced that Christians would heed these warnings & resist Satan. (Ja 4:7; 1Pet 5:8-9)

Yet NT contains numerous warnings (e.g. 1Cor 10:1-12; Heb 2:1-3; 3:12-19; 6:1-8; 10:26-31; Ja 5:19-20) that hard-hearted final rejection of God’s call to holiness, & rejection of His Son has severe, eternal consequences. After having known the joy of His love & salvation, a hard-hearted rejection of His grace seems unthinkable. Considering the everlasting arms that shield & hold us, such apostasy seems almost impossible. But God has never violated our free will… we can choose to walk away from His grace… otherwise, it’s not grace.

Today, many claim salvation that don’t measure up to transformed life (2Cor 5:17) that always accompanies those who are saved. Don’t need security, but self exam. (2Cor 13:5)

Every true Believer (authentic Christian living is part of true belief) can be secure in their salvation based on wonderful promises of a faithful & all-powerful God who saves us.

In the midst of the world’s temptations & traumas, only God’s love, grace, & power are the basis for a Christian’s security.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the hinge point of Christian faith…as we identify with the ultimate power of Christ in the resurrection, we too shall experience the effective meaning of security of the believer. (1Cor 15:20-28)

Much of what is going on in the church in America are not believers falling away, but only professing believers departing a faith they never really belonged to. (1Jn 2:19)

If you are faithful to the end, you are eternally saved & secure. (Rev 2&3; 1Jn 2:19)

Being confident (secure) in this… He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil 1:6)

May your whole spirit, soul, & body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord… the one who calls you is faithful & He will do it. (1Thes 5:23-24)

Examine yourself... are you in the faith?  (2Cor 13:5)

How is your life different from a non-believer?

Has there been change?  Are you making progress?  (2Cor 5:17)

If your daily life doesn’t reflect what you say you believe... examine yourself.

What about you... who do you say I am?  (Mt 16:15)

The cross must be central, or the church becomes deceived. (Lk 9:23-24)

Most churches are not teaching the cross, so defeat & fruitlessness is normal.

Both the cross of Christ, & our personal cross of discipleship.

Keep your eyes on Jesus… who endured the cross. (Heb 12:1-2)

Man’s plans are to save society, God’s plan is to save men out of society.

Self-denial, godly living, self-surrender to Christ are opposed to men’s view of Church.

We have treasure in earthen vessels, that the power of God is manifested in us. (2Cor 4:7)

It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. (Gal 2:20)

I will boast in my weakness that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2Cor 12:9)

Christian life is not difficult, it’s impossible… power for victorious living comes from God

Holy Spirit will lead to your cross, full surrender. & dependence on Christ. (Lk 9:23-24)

Real strength of church lies in its devotion to God, death to self, & crucifixion to world .

Personal holiness of members is only true measure of strength of a church.

Not # of members, or money, or influence, but holiness (Christlike) is its strength.

H Spirit is transforming them by renewing their minds. (Rm 12:2)

Satan has successfully sowed tares among the wheat. (Mt 13:39)

The cross is an offense, dependence is an offense, suffering is an offense.

                                                                                                              11-04-07