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“In Jesus’ first coming, Jesus’ goal was to inaugurate the New Covenant, which was a fulfillment and perfection of the Old Covenant. In the Old Covenant—also knows as the covenant of works—believers did not have the divine resources of a new heart and the Holy Spirit. They also only had shadows of the true things of Christ. All of their biblical rites, ceremonies, and feasts pointed to Christ, and have their culmination and completion in Him…”
“‘Advent’ refers to the coming of Christ. There are two advents: Jesus coming to earth as a child, and Jesus’ return to judge the living and the dead. Originally, the Jews were very much anticipating the first coming of the Messiah, who would usher them into a new age. Most (if not all) of them thought that the events of the first and the second coming were going to happen at once, which would include an overthrow of their Roman oppressors. Many Jews did not anticipate that the Messiah would die on their behalf, or that He would die for the sins of the world…”
“All sorts of perverse and wicked activities happened before idols, and some professing believers in Thyatira were regularly engaging in those things. Perhaps the worst part was that the elders and practicing members of this church were giving a blind eye to the life and conduct of some of its members. Sadly, many professing churches often do the same thing today. Rather than calling out the evil, and seeking for those practicing such evil to repent, many view the life and conduct of professing believers as their own business, which then allows evil to penetrate and invade the regular life of the church. Because the church in Thyatira was not willing to call out evil, the whole church bore the blame and responsibility for what they knowingly permitted.”
“At the root of the problem was the toleration of false doctrine and practice. So, those who want to claim that doctrine does not matter, and that we should simply “tolerate” other allegedly Christian viewpoints in our churches, actively oppose Christ, who personally holds such people as those who are in open rebellion to Him. What we need to realize is that every false teaching comes with a false corresponding practice. This cannot be avoided, since one’s doctrine determines one’s practice. Hence, Jesus said to such people, “Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth” (verse 16).”
“The reason why Christ gave the church in Smyrna a glowing commendation is because they hold the desires and purposes of God over their desires for comfort and wealth. They were not willing to compromise—compromise which would demonstrate that they view those other things as greater than God. So, since they chose to follow God—even when it meant living in poverty and in tribulation—they therefore are said to possess great riches: true riches in Christ that are eternal and of infinitely greater value than what they gave up. They chose to give up worldly pleasures—pleasures that only last for a season—to gain true riches in Christ. These riches are inherently rooted in one being faithful to God above all, even when that faithfulness leads to poverty and suffering. They did not lose sight of their first love.”
“How can the church in Ephesus be commendable in doctrine and practice, but forsake their first love? The condition of the heart is the key to this love. It is very-well possible to hold to both good doctrine and practice and still be corrupt in heart…Jesus is addressing the whole church, which is a mixture of true and false believers. The false do not (and cannot) love Christ with their hearts, but can only practice good doctrine and practice without the love of Christ. This difference may be largely imperceptible to many, but there is always that distinction to be made in any church. So, the proper response of the saved is not apathy or thinking, ‘Because I am saved I don’t really need to change or repent,’ but, ‘Lord, save me from myself that I may return to you.’ The truly saved will turn from his evil ways. He will remember, repent, and do the works, showing a whole heart for the love of Christ. Don’t let apathy or laziness get in your way. Do not think that this message is not for you. It is. Rather than being self-deceived, repent and turn to Christ.”
“The humble and low Christ—who came in the form of a servant—is now the exalted and glorified Christ, showing His true form to all. For Jesus to place His right hand upon John showed His favour upon him, even with all of His great majesty and glory. Such are we in Christ. In Christ, we have nothing to be afraid of. Yes, we are to fear the Lord (reverence and awe towards careful obedience to Him), but not be afraid of Him (as if we lack Christ’s righteousness and God’s grace in salvation, which was designed to fit us for the glory of Christ)…the majestic glory of God in Christ—His presence with us—is what defines us as the distinct people of God. Without God’s presence, we are nothing, and so we are to live to Him in everything—giving up all so as to gain Christ as our most precious and treasured possession. All else can die a thousand deaths, as we kill all in us that opposes this end.”
“This is Christ in His true and exalted form. He retains a perfect humanity, and, in His humanity, remembers and can relate to our weaknesses. Yet, for who He is, we are taking Him very lightly if we do not see principally His great glory, purity, holiness, and hatred of sin, all of which are an expression of His great love for the church to make us fit for relating to Him intimately and closely, even while being in otherwise unapproachable glory.”
“The common compromise of many in the Western churches (and even the world) betrays a lack of partnership in the tribulation of our time—tribulation that is happening at all times and in all places, and not somewhere merely beyond us. We would so often want the easy way out, or simply go along with cultural conventions and mores. In fact, there are some senses in which apparent or possible prosperity produces the most potent temptation to compromise, but we must be vigilant and recognize the enemy in this! Either we are partners in the tribulation happening to all the saints, or we are no saints…”
