There is an "or else" ultimatum that Jesus makes to the Pergamene Christians. If repentance is not forthcoming, Jesus indicates that He will "come quickly, and make war against them,
First, Jesus tells them to "be watching." What are they to be watching? They are not to "be watching" the statistics on the attendance board or their place in the denominational polls. They are to "be watchful" of how Satan can so subtly deceive them into religious practices, rather than living out the life of Jesus Christ. His "coming quickly" does not seem to refer to the second physical advent of Jesus Christ to earth, but rather to His providential action in judgment whereby He will "make war" exercising His divine power and authority against all satanic activities in government, religion or elsewhere.
He lists the two form s do the research do not assume nothing , it;s amazing wash machine of keeping things blurred today ,,their is economical gain in so doing when blurred minds become dependant on others thinking for them ms !!!
It is important to note that it is Jesus who "makes war." Religion often engages in the activism of what they like to call "spiritual warfare," but it is merely humanly activated assault against demons, against government policies, or against social causes such as immorality, pornography, abortion, etc. Such religious activity is usually totally ineffective, if not counter-productive, because they are trying to achieve what only divine power can accomplish. !!!!!! they depend on the works of the flesh self goodism which is idoltry ....
By indicating that He is the One who "has the seven stars" (1:17; 1:20; 2:1; 10:5; 13:16; 20:1,4), Jesus is telling the Christians of Sardis that He is the One who has the authority and is in control. Earlier Jesus had explained to John that "the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches" (1:20). Sometimes the human leadership of a local church concludes that they have the authority and are in control of the church. Religion has this natural tendency to establish hierarchical authority structures, complete with "flow charts" of political authority and administrative responsibility.
In so doing they usually bypass the authority of Christ who is the "head of the Church"(Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18) and fail to submit to His leadership and guidance of His church. Jesus identifies Himself to the Christians at Sardis as the One who knows what is going on, the One who is in control, and the One who intends to complete His work in them.
It is Jesus who "makes war" because He personifies the "sword" of divine power. Christians are to "stand firm" in their faith in Jesus Christ, rather than fighting ineffectively in activistic wars and crusades "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing," and accomplishing nothing.
Christians of every age must be spiritually discerning to "hear what the Spirit says the missing ingediant is being spirit led free from quackery the greek word (goees) gives the idea jay berry word study . The abscenece is become a staggering relality --- ms ..
Life is in Jesus Christ alone. Jesus said "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25); "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6). Paul explained that "for me to live is Christ" (Phil. 1:21); "Christ is our life" (Col. 3:4).
Unless our activity, whether individually or collectively, is the "manifestation of the life of Jesus" (II Cor. 4:10,11), then it is not the expression of life. Activities that are not derived from the life of Jesus Christ are but the expression of "dead works" (Heb. 9:14); they "bring forth death" (James 1:15).
Religious activities may appear to be so "alive" with enthusiasm and excitement, but if they are not activated by the life and character of Jesus Christ Himself by His Spirit, they are a "dead loss." Religion propagates a pseudo-life that appears to be "alive," but is actually dead because it is devoid of the divine life of God in Christ. Lifeless religion is so deceiving because the undiscerning think it is alive, when it is really dead.
The label "Nicolaitans" is etymologically derived from the Greek words nike, meaning "to conquer" or "to be victorious," and laos, meaning "people." Nicolaitan religion "conquers the people." It is but another variation of Balaamite religion, for the name Balaam is derived from two Hebrew words, bala, meaning "to devour" or "to consume," and am, meaning "people." Religion devours and consumes the people. It uses and abuses them. It "eats them alive," swallowing up all that they have in order to appease its insatiable appetite for personal enrichment and institutional advancement. Religion does not seek the highest good of men, but it is men seeking their own personal benefit.
here is an "or else" ultimatum that Jesus makes to the Pergamene Christians. If repentance is not forthcoming, Jesus indicates that He will "come quickly, and make war against them," apparently meaning "against the Balaamite and Nicolaitan religionists."
His "coming quickly" does not seem to refer to the second physical advent of Jesus Christ to earth, but rather to His providential action in judgment whereby He will "make war" exercising His divine power and authority against all satanic activities in government, religion or elsewhere.
It is important to note that it is Jesus who "makes war." Religion often engages in the activism of what they like to call "spiritual warfare," but it is merely humanly activated assault against demons, against government policies, or against social causes such as immorality, pornography, abortion, etc.
Such religious activity is usually toTtally ineffective, if not counter-productive, because they are trying to achieve what only divine power can accomplish. It is Jesus who "makes war" because He personifies the "sword" of divine power. Christians are to "stand firm" in their faith in Jesus Christ, rather than fighting ineffectively in activistic wars and crusades "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing," and accomplishing nothing.
they have no power othe than appearance they are over come only by your willingness to be spirit led,,, is not by relgion that is man talking...
Jesus continues to charge the Christians in Sardis when He says, "I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God" (3:2). We were "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10), and these Christians had some unfinished works. They had disallowed Jesus to do what He wanted to do in their lives and in their assembly They had "quenched the Spirit" (I Thess. 5:19). To thus quench the manifestation of Christ's life and ministry can have serious consequences. Jesus told the parable of the vineyard keeper who did not find fruit on his fig tree, and ordered it to be "cut down" (Luke 13:6-9). God's purpose is to have the fruit of His character to be expressed in the behavior of His people unto His own glory, and the failure to allow for such is a misuse of humanity.
To remedy the situation in the assembly at Sardis, Jesus issues several commands. There are five imperative verbs in verses two and three which command the Sardisians to respond: "be watching, strengthen, remember, keep and repent."amazing not much of that is don today matter infact I doubt any of it;s history is known mostly spoon feeding pop pshsycology!@ guessing . the new norm!
First, Jesus tells them to "be watching." What are they to be watching? They are not to "be watching" the statistics on the attendance board or their place in the denominational polls. They are to "be watchful" of how Satan can so subtly deceive them into religious practices, rather than living out the life of Jesus Christ. Sardis was burriedud their was no subsidy checks !!! or mentality
The end of the compromise came fast one night in both city states.... grace degenerated into religion not a knowing ralationship
This is why \get away from the modern pc spining robert young and jay green etc do a great job defining those intentions ,made many corrections thank goodness.... I like the neb did not water down the verb tenses, by making terms weak or obscure you will see that as you do the work,,, dig deeper than by not assuming
enjoy real info
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