Christ Himself on His Throne can be
found worthy to know who has their
name written in the Book of Life and
who does not.
Yet even greater still, we read in verse
5 of the 3rd Chapter of Revelation, it
was recorded:
"... and I will not erase his name from
the book of life ...." [NASB]
The believers who were not found walking
worthily of His Name became at risk of
having their names erased from the Book
of Life. Few people at Sardis walked
worthily by not soiling their garments.
What made their garments soiled? A clue
was made when we read in verse 2:
"I have not found your deeds completed
in the sight of My God."
Sort of depressing how a believer lost
it all because deeds were not completed.
I'd not want to get an incomplete grade
from Jesus. It would certainly not end
well.
Jesus Christ completed His deeds of saving
humanity by His death on the Cross without
ever committing any sin against His Heavenly
Father.
He said, 'It Is Finished' and then gave His
last breath as the Son of Man in the Land
of the Living. This is the standard by which
all followers shall evaluate their progress;
lay down their life, pick up their cross
and follow Him.
The issue for Christ focused on His
declaration: "... but you are dead; wake
up and strengthen what remains ...."
(verse 1 & 2)
How can believers be dead and somehow
suddenly decide to wake up? I believe it
has to center on the choices of each one
to wrap their Sinful Flesh's Band around
their inner 'strong-man' so as to tie-up
and thereby overcome their own fleshly
members within themselves.
Mark 3:27 NIV
"In fact, no one can enter a
strong man's house and carry
off his possessions unless he
first ties up the strong man.
Then he can rob his house."
The word, can, refers to Strong's
G1410 - dynamai = to be able to do something
by virtue of one's own ability and resources
or by circumstances, permsission; capable
Our strongest abilities, our most competitive
capabilities, and even our inner strengths all
must be forced to surrender to the Lordship of
Christ Jesus. We must overcome our own house.
Matthew 25:15 NASB
"To one he gave five talents,
to another, two, and to another,
one, each according to his own
ability; and he went on his
journey."
The phrase, 'to his own ability' are two
Greek words:
(1) Strong's G2398 - idios = pertaining to
one's self, one's own, belonging to one's
own private self
(2) Strong's G1411 - dynamis = strength,
ability, inherent power residing, influence
arising from excellence of soul; a thing
by virtue of its nature, puts forth own
power
I believe the gift of salvation is the
door to freedom. However, it requires
each of us to put the deeds of our
fleshly members to death by wrapping
the Band around our own strengths and
capabilities in order to become free
from the things that so easily entangles
and binds us to our internal tug of war.
In this manner we work out our salvation
with fear and trembling even hating our
garments of soiled or sinful flesh.
ps: can't you see the sense of humor by
the LORD using the word G2398 i.e., idios
as pertaining to our own private inward self;
ironically funny.
