By Hazel Holland
This scene of the vision of Jesus stands out in stark contrast to the picture of “Jesus” painted by Ellen White—a Jesus who smiles or frowns in response to our keeping or breaking the law. Jesus is smiling at us and laughing with us because He is telling us that we have been freed from carrying that burden of old covenant law. The verdict of “righteous” and “holy” has already been decided in Heaven because our High Priest of the new covenant has interceded for us.
Instead of being filled with fear over this pronouncement that I heard, we should be filled with exuberant joy. For the One who chose us to be holy and blameless in His sight is able to make us holy in His sight. The apostle Paul reminds us: “…He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel” (Colossians 1:22-23). The hope held out in the gospel is a glorious hope. It is our only hope!
Listen to the words of encouragement that Paul writes in his letter to the church in Thessalonica. He urges them to be brave and not give up their faith in Jesus Christ as a result of the persecution they were receiving. “May God Himself, the God of peace sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)!
He will do it. He is faithful to keep His word. What was spoken to the church at Thessalonica is being spoken again to the body of Christ today.... He will purify and sanctify us, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). The good works that He has prepared for us are not works of the law, but works of faith. For the just (those who have been justified) shall live by faith. “Whatever is not of faith is sin” (Hebrews 11:6). “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “the righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17).
Clearly, from first to last our righteousness is found in Jesus Christ alone. “By one sacrifice,” God has already made us perfect forever in Jesus Christ. By faith in His finished work we are justified. At the same time that we are justified, we are being made holy—sanctified (Hebrews 10:14). By faith in Him we are complete. ♥
"He who is holy, let him be holy still." Revelation 22:11
These words, spoken by the angel to John, were never designed to bring terror to our hearts as believers. In fact, just the opposite is true. John’s prophetic visions were designed to bring hope and encouragement to the early Christians who were suffering severe persecution for their faith. Not only was the book of Revelation given for their day but also its message is relevant to every generation. It is especially applicable to our day because the end of all things is at hand.
In the same way, this scene in the vision that I received was not given in order to create fear in our hearts, but to bring peace. For as Jesus Christ stood there smiling at me, I was filled with reverent awe and unspeakable joy. There was no fear intended in His pronouncement: “… Let him who is holy be holy still”, because His perfect love casts out all fear. There was no fear in me, because I knew that I was in Him. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (I John 4:18). How can I fear the One who has already taken all my sins upon Himself? Such love defies human reasoning.
This scene of the vision of Jesus stands out in stark contrast to the picture of “Jesus” painted by Ellen White—a Jesus who smiles or frowns in response to our keeping or breaking the law. Jesus is smiling at us and laughing with us because He is telling us that we have been freed from carrying that burden of old covenant law. The verdict of “righteous” and “holy” has already been decided in Heaven because our High Priest of the new covenant has interceded for us.
Instead of being filled with fear over this pronouncement that I heard, we should be filled with exuberant joy. For the One who chose us to be holy and blameless in His sight is able to make us holy in His sight. The apostle Paul reminds us: “…He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel” (Colossians 1:22-23). The hope held out in the gospel is a glorious hope. It is our only hope!
Listen to the words of encouragement that Paul writes in his letter to the church in Thessalonica. He urges them to be brave and not give up their faith in Jesus Christ as a result of the persecution they were receiving. “May God Himself, the God of peace sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)!
He will do it. He is faithful to keep His word. What was spoken to the church at Thessalonica is being spoken again to the body of Christ today.... He will purify and sanctify us, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). The good works that He has prepared for us are not works of the law, but works of faith. For the just (those who have been justified) shall live by faith. “Whatever is not of faith is sin” (Hebrews 11:6). “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “the righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17).
Clearly, from first to last our righteousness is found in Jesus Christ alone. “By one sacrifice,” God has already made us perfect forever in Jesus Christ. By faith in His finished work we are justified. At the same time that we are justified, we are being made holy—sanctified (Hebrews 10:14). By faith in Him we are complete. ♥
+IMG_1567.JPG)
+IMG_1172.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment