CHRISTIAN 4
CHRISTIAN 4
The word observe in Mt 28:18 means to obey, fulfil a duty. If Christians are to teach new converts how important it is to obey God's word they must first obey it themselves. Christ's command to Christians is to "go ye". Ye is plural, thus it is incumbent upon every Christian - not only those in public ministry as so many think - to go and preach the gospel, win souls to Christ and advance God's Kingdom in the earth. Teach in Mt 28:19 (KJV), means literally "make disciples". The clear command to Christians is that every one of them has to go forth and preach the gospel, make disciples, baptise them and teach them that they in turn must do likewise (CP Jn 15:16, 26-27; Ac 1:8 with Ro 10:13-15, 17; Col 1:3-6; 1Pe 2:9). Knowing that the gospel saves is not something Christians can keep to themselves. It must be shared with the unsaved (CP Mt 5:14-16; Mk 4:21-25; Lu 8:16-18). Jesus admonishes Christians here to put into practice what they hear. They have not been given the light of Divine Truth to keep to themselves. It must be proclaimed to all who will listen. Those who do not share it fail God's grace and will forfeit their salvation, which we also learned earlier in our study of both the parables of the Talents and the Pounds (CP 1Jn 3:16-18).
This is yet another way Christians can fail God's grace and forfeit their salvation. Those who profess to love their fellow Christians must not only express that love in words but also in deeds. Christians are only deluding themselves thinking they are saved if they have the wherewithal, but do not meet the needs of their brothers and sisters in Christ who are wanting (CP Jas 2:14-26). The only faith that can save is that demonstrated by works out of Christians' love for God and for each other. Notwithstanding that they profess to love God, it avails Christians nothing if they do not unconditionally and self-sacrificially help other Christians in need (CP Ga 6:9-10). Christians prove their love for God by the expression of their love for each other and their obedience to God's word (CP 2Pe 1:7). Those living for God and loving the brethren unconditionally and self-sacrificially can rest assured in the knowledge that they are saved and will have their prayers answered (CP Psa 34:15; Pr 15:29; Jn 15:7; Ro 13:8-10; 1Jn 3:19-24; 4:16-21; 5:11-15).
We will bring this study to a close here, fittingly with Christ's final words to Christians concerning their salvation in His letters to the seven churches in Asia, in Revelation (CP Rev 1:9-11, 19). The significance of these churches is that while they were actual churches which existed at that time, they are also representative of all churches in all ages (CP Rev 2:1-7; 2:8-11; 2:12-17; 2:18-29; 3:1-6; 3:7-13; 3:14-22). The Spiritual condition of these churches is representative of the Spiritual condition of all local churches throughout the church age. These letters are to be interpreted as not only applying for that generation of Christians, but as having an ongoing application for all generations, including ours. Remember that churches are individual Christians formed into a body whom God holds individually responsible for their salvation (CP Mt 6:19-20; Lu 13:23-27; Jn 6:27; Php 2:12; 1Ti 6:17-19; 2Pe 1:5-11; Jude 1:3). Christ's letters to the seven churches is a warning to every individual Christian which they must heed or fail God's grace and forfeit their salvation.
Christians must continually examine their beliefs and activities and ensure they conform to what Christ expects of His church (CP 2Cor 13:5). In His letters to the seven churches Jesus has undertaken to save only those Christians who repent and overcome the evil in their midst. He underlines the consequences of disobedience and spiritual neglect and concludes each letter with an imperative to all who have ears to hear, to listen to what the Spirit is saying to them.
(CP Rev 2:1-7). In His letter to the church of Ephesus here, Jesus is warning Christians in all ages of church history that moral purity, zeal for the truth, and disciplined service is no substitute for the love for Christ which the Christians at Ephesus had forsaken. Unless they repent, Jesus will remove the church from its place in God's eternal Kingdom. This teaches that Christians in whom love for Christ and obedience to His word is not preeminent, fail God's grace and will forfeit their salvation (Cp 2:8-11). Here Jesus warns Christians that they are called to suffer persecution for His sake, but to remain steadfast in faith and He will give them a "crown of life" - the reward of ever-lasting life with Jesus (CP 2:12-17). In this letter to the church in Pergramos, Jesus warns Christians that although they may still believe in Him and not deny their faith in spite of persecution, any compromise with teaching that promotes idolatry or immorality - the doctrine of Balaam - means failing God's grace and forfeiting salvation. The two-edged sword in V 12 here symbolises God's word, which either cuts away sin from churches and individual Christians, or it cuts away churches and individual Christians from the Kingdom, in judgement. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's word (CP He 4:12-13).
Although Christians may abound in good works, love, service, faith and patient endurance, it will count for nothing toward their salvation if they compromise God's word in any way and engage in heathen practices (CP Rev 2:18-29). The word fornication in V 20 is used metaphorically of Spiritual adultery - Christians involved in worldly pursuits. That woman Jezebel symbolises the seduction of Christians from the truth by false teachers in the church. Eating meat sacrificed to idols violates the principle of strong Christians being sensitive to weaker Christian's needs. This symbolises Christians being more concerned about their own self-indulgent pleasures and pursuits than the needs of fellow Christians (CP Ro 14:1-2, 13-15, 21; 1Cor 6:12; 8:4-13; 10:13-24).
Christ clearly warns Christians against taking their salvation or their faith for granted in his next letter, to the church at Sardis (CP Rev 3:1-6). "… I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life" clearly proves that Christians can fail God's grace and forfeit their salvation. Only the names of those who strictly conform to God's word remain in the Book and are saved. The rest are blotted out (CP Psa 139:13-16; Dan 12:1; Php 4:6; Rev 21:27 with Ex 32:31-34; Psa 69:28; 109:13; Rev 20:11-15). Knowing that their names are already in the Book of Life should be incentive enough for Christians to continually examine themselves and ensure that they are not blotted out.