Justification by faith

 Eyes like a flame of fire Revelation 1:13-16 (ESV): 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. We have already looked at the white hair and the double-edged sword. We have seen the meaning behind the imagery, but we have also seen that this imagery gives us deeper insight into its significance. Jesus' righteousness is like white hair. His word is like a sword. Today we will look at the eyes that are like a flame of fire. First, let this sink in. Suppose you encounter Jesus in this way and these fiery eyes look at you; what would you feel? It might fee...

   The two-edged sword Revelation 1:13-16 (ESV) 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. Last time, we focused on the white hair like wool and snow that we see here. This was more focused on justification and how Jesus stands in our place as a representative. Today, we will focus more on faith itself. What does faith look like? Here we see a two-edged sword coming out of Jesus' mouth. If we were to encounter someone with this, we would not only be startled but also cautious to avoid being struck by such a sword. Paul tells us what this sword ent...

 The White Hair [Revelation 1:12-16 ESV] "12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength." This is how Jesus appeared to John on the island Patmos. Last time I really focussed on giving an introduction to Revelation and I focussed on how we should let the pictures that are presented speak for the meaning here.  When we read this our minds should not just be going off after possible direct meanings, but we should also focus on how this would look an...

   Revelation; justification by faith in verity [By M. L] In these series we will take a look at the book of Revelation. This book often awakens greet interest and rightfuly so.  We, as adventists, have had the privilige of holding to the historical interpretation of Revelation that the Reformers held to. But since we have also had the time to expand this viewpoint the meaning of the book has become clearer and clearer. But in these series we will put this book a very specific context. This will be in the context of the gospel; justification by faith. I intend to make these blogs as short as possible for better readability.  What is the gospel? Justification by faith. God did something for us we could've never done for ourselves. In Christ He made atonement. He died in our place, rose on our behalf and now minsters as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary were He applies the merits of His atonement to the account of those who simply believe. These saints receive ...

Christ is our life  [By M. L] The gospel has always been about laying the glory of men in the dust and exalting the glory of God as our Saviour. It gives no occassion for men to glory for we are justified by the law of faith and not by the law of works. Our own life, even in the holiness of the Spirit, cannot and will never replace the perfect righteousness of Christ who died in our place for our sins.  At creation we were made in the image of God.  [Genesis 1:27 ESV] "27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." This was a great privilege. But even though we were created in his  image,  we never had any divinity or immortality innate in ourselves. We were completely dependent upon God for our life. And even under the old covenant it was clear that without God there was no life: [1 Timothy 6:16 ESV] "16 who (God) alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen o...