Event vrs Process Justification

Is that a QUOTE from me??

Hint: Try actually quoting the thing you are trying to debate.

You know - do something substantive - SHOW your work. QUOTE the point in question instead of making wild claims about what I have not said.

Try fact - not fiction. You treat your own factless-ranting AS IF it was Bible or a quote of me. And you even duped DHK into believing that you were "saying something" using such 'tactics'.

Try a more honorable method sir.

In Christ,

Bob

 

Bob,
Romans 5:1 says that I am already justified with God. That is the foundational reason that I presently have peace with him--because sometime in the past I, by faith, put my trust in him, and was legally justified by God, through the meritorious work of Christ. Christ paide the penalty for my sins. Because of my faith in that work, God saw fit to justify my before Him. That state of justification can never be revoked.

You gave two references, but only the chapters, so I am not sure what you are referring to. One is in Ezekiel 28, so I am prone to dismiss that one entirely for we are not under law but under grace.
The other is in Matthew 18. What in Matthew 18 would revoke a state of justification. Nothing that I can see.

When my son was born into my family Statistics Canada recorded his birth, and we have a birth certificate verifying that he is our son. The records are also on file with the government. If he chooses to change his name the records will always be in my possession that he is my son. The government records will always show those records too. No matter what he does, God's record of his DNA will always show that he is my son. Run away as he will, he cannot change this vital statistic that he is my son.
What God has ordained on earth, so he has in heaven. When I was born again, I was born into God's family. God will never disown me. Run as I will I cannot be disowned by God. I may change my name, but God will chastise me. He will never disown me. He will discipline me and make me feel miserable, but he will never disown me. I will always be his child. There is nothig I can do to disinherit the gift of eternal life that he has given. If that were true then God would be found to be a liar, and eternal life would no longer be eternal but only termporal. I have never yet understood how those who don't believe in OSAS can blatantly change the defintion of "eternal," thus calling God a liar. He never said "temporal" life. He said eternal life, and shall not perish. That is pretty clear in my books. And they aren't even my books! It is God's Book that that is written in. (John 10:27-29)
DHK

 

Bob, I don't think Adam and Eve or the fallen angel Lucifer are good examples, OK, I know they are not good examples. Before Christ shed His blood things were different in the universe. Once the Son of God came to live and die and be resurrected we have an opportunity that was not available before. That is to BE HOLY AS GOD IS HOLY. I know I mentioned that concept on the other thread. That statement has nothing to do with our works. It is not to live a Holy life because any obeying or works will fall way short of God's Holiness. No, we have the full Holiness of God when we place our trust in Christ. At that moment we are engulfed or covered in God's Holiness for truely being Holy can only come from Christ, not anything we can do.

I realize DHK said about the same thing above and Lloyd has talked in depth about imputtedness (is that a word??) but I wanted to throw my own post in as well.

In Christ,
Brian

 

Thanks Lloyd, that is very true. I just can't believe how many people miss that simple fact. We can't possibly do anything to get or keep salvation, because salvation/Heaven/God/Christ all are "Perfect", are Fully Holy in every way. To think we could DO enough to get or even retain perfection just does not make sense to me. My heart goes out to Bob, DT, mman, bmerr because they are good people and mean well, they are just missing an important truth. I believe they are genuine in their faith, they just are looking through the lenses of different glasses then us. Our are clear theirs are foggy (he he) yet praise God they are wearing the glasses of faith.

In Christ,
Brian

 

Why is it an "important truth"?

Many of my brothers and sisters in Christ at the church I use to attend felt that this topic wasn't important. It was to each their own and let's not talk about it, keep the peace you know?

Here it is in a condensed nut shell. Once I wasn't sure about OSAS so I strived to keep favor with Jesus Christ. For ten years I failed and failed and failed and failed some more. My love for Jesus faded more and more because I could not live the way He "required" me to live. I was left with frustration and worthless works because the focus was always on myself. I had to do it! Me, me, me, me! The works I was doing was really done to favor ME at the pearly gates!

Here was my bottom line conclusion and I voiced this with God in prayer. Why do you, LORD, tell me to do things I cannot do? One night I cried out from my heart to God and said "I CANNOT DO IT"! It was after that night that God began to pick me up and dust me off. Within two weeks two fellow brothers in Christ showed up at my door and persuaded me to return once again to the Bible and read what it says concerning my salvation.

Now I have peace with God. The frustration is gone. I now have time to do good works for Jesus. In His name, not mine. Before my time was spent on doing good works for myself, earning credits towards my judgment, hoping I would have enough to get or stay saved.

God needed to prove to me I could not do it because He saw me trying so hard to justify myself. Now it comes easier to serve Jesus. I still fail some but it seems to only be enough to keep me humble. God doesn't want me to fail and sin and I am sure He could totally prevent it if He so desired. But if I were perfect I wouldn't feel I needed Him nor would I feel I must serve Him and lean on Him for my every need.

So why is it so important?

Without OSAS I was self-righteous, self-serving, and frustrated with God.

With OSAS I am humbled, serving others, and have peace with God.

When you know that Jesus saves the saved no matter what, then you are free indeed to serve with a pure heart. If God sees your heart and your motives are self-preservation, I would say by experience that you are in for a hard life. I say God will see to it that He gives no glory to you that He has ordained solely to Jesus Christ.

Jesus alone saves and preserves! Accept this and get to work serving others rather than working on your own self-righteousness. Let Jesus bare that burden. I am sure He deserves all the glory in this matter. Afterall, I don't think anyone has beared the cross that He took, have you? Let Jesus be the Savior and you just be the doer of good deeds! If you stop worrying about your salvation maybe you can build up some good deeds before it is to late. Anything you do in your heart that is seen on your part as justifying yourself before God will be burned in the refining fire. So stop with the self-justifying and get to work serving humanity!

YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED! It's a done deal! Now get to work serving your Lord!

End of rant. Sorry there wasn't any scripture given. Just wanted to give some life application. Scripture doesn't have any meaning unless it can be seen in the lives of people. It wasn't given just for etertainment reading!

God Bless!

 

Steaver, thank you so much for the heart felt "real" post. I think we sometimes lose the realness of eachother on boards like this. Your post was a great application of a great truth!!

In Christ,
Brian

 

That is true. And that is the "common ground" that both OSAS and non-OSAS agree to .

Though Lloyd struggles with that concept to know end between his ranting-fits.

AND both sides agree that it is BECAUSE of our justification that we presently HAVE peace with God.

Just as I can read in Genesis 1-2 that it is BECAUSE Adam and Eve were created PERFECT, and HOLY and SINLESS that they had peace and fellowship with God -- right up until chapter 3 vs 4.

To continually go BACK and say "YES but BECAUSE Adam was created PERFECT and SINLESS he had FELLOWSHIP with God -- in fact PERFECT fellowship" does nothing to later UNDO Gen 3:4.

As Lloyd has already observed - he has many texts of scripture to refute when it comes to this subject.

Indeed - agreed - in Christ you received forgiveness of sin and peace with God.

This is why the Matt 18 teaching on "forgiveness revoked" is so instructive and significant to the saints.

ONLY THEY stand forgiven and justified and have the BASIS for giving others that Mat 18 asserts.

ONLY THEY have something to lose by way of forgiveness past -- the lost ARE ALREADY unforgiven.

This point can not be more obvious.

Actually - Ezek 18. This is the infallible Word of God showing us the SAME teaching on "forgiveness revoked" that we find in the NT in Matt 18 as taught by Christ,

Well then you have a huge problem because the NT saints continually refernce the OT text authorotatively as the infallible Word of God (see 2 Peter 1).

But I see why you would want to treat that text of scripture as "no longer truth". Its just that you will have to take scissors to the NT text of Matt 18 and even then you would not be "through" cleansing scripture of that point.

What is it about Justification that makes you suppose that FORGIVENESS of sins is OPTIONAL?

Nothing from what I can see - and therein is your obvious problem with Matt 18

And as the NT states - Adam was created "the son of God".

But your point is correct - God loves the lost -- indeed he even weeps over the lost. As we found with Ephraim -- His OWN CHOSEN people of the OT - Israel - He weeps over their loss.

In Christ,

Bob

 

Well - they are certainly "inconvenient" examples if one is tied to OSAS "anyway" -- I will grant you that.

But simply stating that OSAS is unhappy with them - is not really "news" for today -- wouldn't you agree?

God did not "love as much" back then ??

Do you have text that shows the unchanging God of Mal 4 did not love in that sinless holy environment?

In the NT Gospel accounts - Adam is called "the son of God" in terms of his family origin. Do you deny that as well?

The point is - Adam was "really lost" and "really needed salvation" and God "really saved him" because -- HE LOVED HIM!

"God SO LOVED -- that HE GAVE".

Nothing in scripture says that God STARTED LOVING ADAM when Adam became wicked and sinful.

The pagan greek concept of that is that God was APPEASED by the death of HIS Son - and SO out of that APPEASEMENT decided to start LOVING mankind and not treating us as merely the lost wicked - as before.

But the BIBLE TEACHING is that "GOD SO LOVED that HE GAVE". In other words it was the UNCHANGING God that shows His UNCHANGING love from the START as the CAUSE for the Gospel and the death of Christ.

Instead of Christ coming here and CAUSING God to LOVE us -- it is God LOVING us from Creation's very start - that CAUSES Him to GIVE us Christ!

That Hebrew concept of Atonement is entirely opposed to the Greak pagan concept of appeasing dieties and causing them to CHANGE in their views of humanity.

Brian - thanks for sharing.

IN Christ,

Bob

 

Hi Bob, I don't think it matters so much the words used as long as the concept is understood. The point I was making is that those in Christ are as Holy as God is Holy. Why?, because we are covered by God's very own Holiness. It is like God has the very best coat that could ever be made. No coat is even close to being as comfortable and warm. When we come to Christ he gives us the same coat as He is wearing to wear. We have equal warmth and comfort because it is the same exact coat as He has. The whole appeasement argument I don't even have to think about. The death of Jesus should not be seen as the same as the death of bulls and goats, OT sacrifices appeased, but Jesus' blood and our trust in Him, covers and wipes away the sin as it was never there. We are not seen by God as sinners who are forgiven but will need further sacrifice, no; we are seen by God as permanently cleansed. Adam and Eve did not have that priviledge though they were created without sin. Christ now continually makes intercession for us, it is an onging act that does not require any continued act from us. The intercession does not need to be activated by us. If it did we would be in trouble because way to often we would neglect to turn on the switch. Think that through once because I know what you are thinking. Why do we need intercession if we are cleansed for ever and ever. While we wear this flesh we will sin, and fail. Paul makes that painfully clear in Romans when he discusses the "flesh" thrououghly. God views us as forever clean because the blood of Christ(continuing intercession) keeps cleansing us and keeping us clean. It is like a great wax job where the water just runs off the car. Our sins just do not stain us anymore and therefore we are clean. That is Grace, Mercy, and Love to the highest possible degree.

Anyway, Bob, it seems as though you are OK with "working" to hold on to your salvation. It seems to me if we HAVE to show works to keep our eternal life then Christianity becomes just another religon that forces the person to do something to get to Heaven. The beauty of the Christian faith is that it is set apart from all other belief systems because getting to Heaven is not based on us and what we do but based on God and what he did. To believe one HAS to SHOW WORKS to keep salvation means that we would have to work our way to Heaven. I want my Christianity to be distinct among the beliefs that are in the world. Your way, Christianity just joins the crowd.

Also, Back a couple posts I mentioned a couple more flaws in your Matt. 18 example, which you cling to like it is a canteen of water in the dessert. Please address my points. Thanks much!! and take care.

In Christian Love and Concern,
Brian

 

That is true. And that is the "common ground" that both OSAS and non-OSAS agree to .

Though Lloyd struggles with that concept to know end between his ranting-fits.

AND both sides agree that it is BECAUSE of our justification that we presently HAVE peace with God.

Just as I can read in Genesis 1-2 that it is BECAUSE Adam and Eve were created PERFECT, and HOLY and SINLESS that they had peace and fellowship with God -- right up until chapter 3 vs 4.

To continually go BACK and say "YES but BECAUSE Adam was created PERFECT and SINLESS he had FELLOWSHIP with God -- in fact PERFECT fellowship" does nothing to later UNDO Gen 3:4.</font>[/QUOTE]When sin entered into the world so did death.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

"In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

It never says that when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit that they would receive eternal damnation. It says that they would. Paul clarifies it saying that they (as well as us) at that point and time became sinners (not necessarily that Adam and Eve received eternal damnation. I do not believe that anyone can say with dogmatic authority that Adam and Eve received Eternal damnnation in the day that they ate the forbidden fruit. On this point hinges (to some extent) OSAS. What happened here? It is evident on both sides that physical death entered into the world. We suppose (and rightly so) that hadd they eaten of the tree of life that they would have lived forever. But eating of the forbidden fruit took away that opportunity. It also gave them "spiritual death."
What is this spiritual death." I do not believe God took away their salvation. I believe that their fellowship with God was broken. God still sought after them as His children, and they were. Thus it was their fellowship that was broken, not that they were condemned to Hell. They didn't need to be saved. They needed to have their fellowship restored to God (1John 1:9) BTW, !John 1:9 is applicable to Christians only.
What did God do for them to restore their fellowship?

Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

This was the first animal sacrifice where the blood of an animal was shed. Blood was shed to made an atonement for their sin. The coats of skin were not necessary because of the climate or other similar reasons. They were necessary because an animal had to be slain, and blood had to be shed.

"Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sins."
--Thus their fellowship with God, (not their salvation) was restored. They never lost their salvation. Salvation was forever. They had eternal life. It was God's gift to them. They wouldn't lose it. Here again we see OSAS.

quote]Indeed - agreed - in Christ you received forgiveness of sin and peace with God.

This is why the Matt 18 teaching on "forgiveness revoked" is so instructive and significant to the saints.

ONLY THEY stand forgiven and justified and have the BASIS for giving others that Mat 18 asserts.

ONLY THEY have something to lose by way of forgiveness past -- the lost ARE ALREADY unforgiven.

This point can not be more obvious.[/quote]
Matthew 18:21-22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
--This is speaking of forgiving your erring brother. It is not speaking of salvation. Notice Peter says: how often shall I forgive "my brother?" There is nothing about salvation here.
--Remember I asked you for a specific reference in Mat.18. You didn't give any.

Immediately after this, look what Jesus says in verse 23:
Matthew 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

"Therefore" He is illustrating what he has already taught Peter in verse 21 and 22. It is a parable where one spiritual truth is taught and not everything can be taken in direct comparison. A parable normally emphasizing one spiritual truth. And Jesus was emphasizing the spiritual truth that he just finished teaching Peter. It had nothing to do with salvation, but simply forgiving your brother.

Matthew 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
--The lesson is that we are to have compassion and be forgiving to others. This is what the Lord was trying to get across to Peter.

Matthew 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
--It is a parable. Not everything can be taken so literally, especially verse 34. Jesus was driving home this truth. Have compassion on thy fellowservant, lest God deal with you in some kind of chastisement--not loss of salvation. It does not teach that. It is a parable that teaches one basic truth as all parables do. Be careful about reading into parables things that they do not teach. Jesus, by means of a parable (illustration or story) drives home one basic truth to Peter: how many times shall I forgive my brother? Jesus answers: As many times as he sins against you. And then proceeds to illustrate it with this parable, not only forgive him, but forgive him in a compassionate way. That is the point of this parable. It does not deal with salvation. Deal with the context before you draw unwanted and unmerited conclusions.

Again, I am not given an exact reference, so I will go back and read the chapter and only assume what you are referring to.

Ezekiel 18:15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,
--As I previously mentioned this chapter has nothing to do with us today. It is direct to the "house of Israel. This verse gives the context. Certainly it is inspired and part of the Word of God, as you say. So is the lie that the serpent told Eve: "Thou shalt not surely die." Will you believe that as well? For Scripture to be inspired simply means that it is accurately recorded by God. It does not mean that it is all applicable to us. There are many lies that are recorded in the Bible. I just showed you one of them.

This is a passage of Scripture directly given to the "house of Israel." It speaks of the sons and daughters of Israel. Why are you twisting it to try to make it applicable to us today?

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
--This is a good application of the curse in the garden of Eden. The soul that sinneth it shall die. Sin entered into the world because of Adam's sin. We all have a sin nature. We all sin. And we all will die as a result of it. But it was a truth that was being emphasized to the house of Israel.

Ezekiel 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
--This is another truth about God's love. God does't want to see death. He is a God of love. But in this verse it points out his justice. Because of his justice many will die both a physical and a spiritual death. Therefore repentance is necessary. But again these truths are being emphasized to the house of Israel. You must take your theology from the New Testament to make it valid.

Everything has its context. You fail to take things in its context as I just pointed out to you. The Bible also says in Psalm 14:1 "There is no God." Will you take that out of its context too?

I just gave you an exposition of Mat.18. There is nothing in that chapter about justification at all. I don't know what you are talking about. How does "How often shall I forgive my brother? relate to justification? It doesn't.

Who said Adam was lost? Not the Bible? Only some aberrant theology.
Who said Ephraim was lost? Not the Bible? Only some aberrant theology.
Who said my son was lost, or not my son? Only someone who doesn't know what he is talking about.
DHK

 

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And as the NT states - Adam was created "the son of God".

But your point is correct - God loves the lost -- indeed he even weeps over the lost. As we found with Ephraim -- His OWN CHOSEN people of the OT - Israel - He weeps over their loss.
In Christ,
Bob
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well this will be fun. Many thanks to DHK.

GOD says Adam was lost and ALL humanity with Him - so ALL (including Adam) need to be SAVED --

The ENTIRE POINT of Romans 5 and the two Adams is that we inherited the SAME STATE that the first Adam FELL into.

To adopt the aberrant view that Adam NEVER FELL - never NEEDED to be saved from the second DEATH - HELL - or was NEVER under that condemnation is to rail against Romans 5.

-------------------------------

Read more Bible and less "Hank".

In Christ,

Bob

 

Since you found so little use for the warning of Christ in Matt 18 "SO shall My Father DO TO EACH OF YOU" as Christ speaks TO HIS OWN about the REAL issue of forgiveness revoked (the CORE of the story HE tells in Matt 18)... I thought we would actually LOOK at the text -

Lets deal with "the obvious" points made IN The text of Matt 18.

#1. The forgiveness shown OTHERS was to be based on the real forgiveness ALREADY received from God.

#2. The REAL forgiveness received from God was regarding the unpayable DEBT that each one owes to God. The debt of sin.

#3. NO one can be SAVED but UNFORGIVEN.

#4. THIS IS an illustration of "THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" according to Christ.

#5. This is the SAME instruction we see in Matt 6 in the Lord's prayer "FORGIVE us our debts AS WE forgive others".

#6. The DEBT OWED to the King of kings is RETURNED back to the one who OWED the debt as "payment due" and they are put into torment paying that huge debt of sin! This pay-your-own-debt-of-sin idea is never called "The saved relationship with God" in all of scripture.

#7. Christ says to his own followers "So shall My Heavenly Father do to EACH ONE OF YOU IF you do not forgive...". Christ makes the same point that He made in Matt 6 "For IF YOU do not FORGIVE... then neither will..."

Matt 18 is a clear, irrefutable and obvious case of "forgiveness REVOKED".

The response of those what believe in OSAS will often list reasons why this story "should not be in scripture" (as it were) -- but they never actually address the devastating "details" in Matt 18 regarding OSAS.

That is instructive.

==========================================================

Matthew 18
21 Then Peter came and said to Him, ""Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?''
22 Jesus said to him, ""I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.


Matt 18:23-35 Forgiveness revoked – as opposed to blaming God for not “preserving us”.

Here we see that the Kingdom of Heaven is the context – and the servant “owes” in that eternal reality – a debt that is far greater than he and all his substance could ever repay. He is judged as owing the debt and payment is demanded.

So it is for all of humanity – the law points to the debt owed (Romans 6) the “Wages of Sin is death.” And Rev 20 – 21 tells us that this is in fact the suffering and torment of the 2nd death – eternal.

Though the slave undervalues his own debt and over-values his own ability to “repay” – the Lord has mercy on him anyway and “Forgives the Debt” – full and complete forgiveness in the scenario regarding “the Kingdom of Heaven”. This is key to the Arminian point.

But (as Christ points out in His model prayer of Matt 6) those who Are forgiven are under obligation to forgive others.

Here the case of “the Forgiven” slave is that HE is “unwilling” to show forgiveness to others even though he HAS been forgiven.

Exercising his free-will he is “Unwilling” to give to others that SAME sense of mercy and compassion that HAS been shown him by his Lord.

The Lord does not show any reservation about the full and complete forgiveness that HE gave to His servant.

Here is the direct appeal to the same Point we see Christ making in Matt 6 “Forgive us OUR debts AS WE forgive our debtors” and then adds “For if you do NOT forgive others then…” well you know what He said.

Clearly – “forgiveness revoked” with FULL payment made now – by the slave!
.

Here many shout “OH NO He will NOT!”. They think that “once forgiven ALWAYS forgiven” applies even to those in rebellion. (A good 4-point Calvinist POV by the way).

Here Christ charges that the point is valid for Christians. He argues that WE have been forgiven by our heavenly Father – and that HE will revoke Our forgiveness just as we see in this story and just as Christ claimed in Matt 6 If “we” do not persevere in showing the Same kind regard for forgiving our brothers.

Rather than God blaming Himself for our lack of perseverance or God claiming that HE failed to preserve us – HE charges that WE are under obligation to obey as He directs or be faced with “forgiveness revoked” just as it is really described in this chapter.


Is God our Master? –

Ephesians 6:9
And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

Colossians 4:1
[ Fellow Workers ] Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.


Was Christ wrong to cast the People of God in the role of “servants”??
Galatians 1:10
For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Colossians 4:7
As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.
1 Timothy 4:6
[ A Good Minister's Discipline ] In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.
2 Timothy 2:24
The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
2 Timothy 2:23-25 (in Context) 2 Timothy 2 (Whole Chapter)
Titus 1:1
[ Salutation ] Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,
James 1:1
[ Testing Your Faith ] James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.
2 Peter 1:1
[ Growth in Christian Virtue ] Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
2 Peter 1:1-3 (in Context) 2 Peter 1 (Whole Chapter)
Jude 1:1
[ The Warnings of History to the Ungodly ] Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

Revelation 1:1
[ The Revelation of Jesus Christ ] The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John

Revelation 6:11
And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

Revelation 15:3
And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, " Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty;Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!
Revelation 15:2-4 (in Context) Revelation 15 (Whole Chapter)
Revelation 19:10
Then I fell at his feet to worship him But he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Revelation 22:3
There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;
Revelation 22:6
And he said to me, " These words are faithful and true"; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.

Revelation 22:9
But he said to me, "Do not do that I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God."

What is the “Kingdom of Heaven” mentioned in Matt 18:23? Is it really the “Gospel”?

"Kingdom of heaven" is a specific reference to the Gospel. (Notice that in MAtt 3:2 and 4:17 Christ and John are both preaching about the Kingdom of heaven.) In fact it is called "The Gospel of the Kingdom" Matt 4:23 the same chapter that we find Christ taking up the message of John the Baptizer - Matt 4:17 from Matt 3:2.

In the Gospel of Matthew it is that same "Gospel of the kingdom" that has to be preached into all the world AND THEN shall the end come Matt 24.

In ALL of Matt - the phrase "Kingdom of heaven" refers to the Gospel, to heaven, to eternal spiritual reality in God's kingdom.

Christ speaks of "entering the Kingdom" of heaven is future (at the 2nd coming) Matt 5:20 7:21 but in a sense it is also at the point of conversion - Matt 23:13.
So then "forgiveness" in the "Kingdom of heaven" is "granted by our great King" whom we serve. (As Paul points out his own servanthood to Christ - repeatedly).

It is out of that Gospel-based forgiveness first given to us that we forgive others.

This is the ONLY basis for our goodness to others in "the kingdom of heaven" because we are not "naturally good" as sinful humans apart from the new birth and Christ dwelling IN us by faith.

 

The parable of the wedding garment

The parable of the wedding garment opens before us a lesson of the highest consequence. By the marriage is represented the union of humanity with divinity; the wedding garment represents the character which all must possess who shall be accounted fit guests for the wedding.

In this parable, as in that of the great supper, are illustrated the gospel invitation, its rejection by the Jewish people, and the call of mercy to the Gentiles. But on the part of those who reject the invitation, this parable brings to view a deeper insult and a more dreadful punishment. The call to the feast is a king's invitation. It proceeds from one who is vested with power to command. It confers high honor. Yet the honor is unappreciated. The king's authority is despised. While the householder's invitation was regarded with indifference, the king's is met with insult and murder. They treated his servants with scorn, despitefully using them and slaying them.

The householder, on seeing his invitation slighted, declared that none of the men who are bidden should taste of his supper. But for those who had done despite to the king, more than exclusion from his presence and his table is decreed. "He sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city."

In both parables the feast is provided with guests, but the second shows that there is a preparation to be made by all who attend the feast. Those who neglect this preparation are cast out. "The king came in to see the guests," and "saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment; and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

The call to the feast had been given by Christ's disciples. Our Lord had sent out the twelve and afterward the seventy, proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand, and calling upon men to repent and believe the gospel. But the call was not heeded. Those who are bidden to the feast did not come. The servants were sent out later to say, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage." This was the message borne to the Jewish nation after the crucifixion of Christ; but the nation that claimed to be God's peculiar people rejected the gospel brought to them in the power of the Holy Spirit. Many did this in the most scornful manner. Others were so exasperated by the offer of salvation, the offer of pardon for rejecting the Lord of glory, that they turned upon the bearers of the message. There was "a great persecution." Acts 8:1. Many both of men and women were thrust into prison, and some of the Lord's messengers, as Stephen and James, were put to death.

Thus the Jewish people sealed their rejection of God's mercy. The result was foretold by Christ in the parable. The king "sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city." The judgment pronounced came upon the Jews in the destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of the nation.

The third call to the feast represents the giving of the gospel to the Gentiles. The king said, "The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage."

The king's servants who went out into the highways "gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good." It was a mixed company. Some of them had no more real regard for the giver of the feast than had the ones who rejected the call. The class first bidden could not afford, they thought, to sacrifice any worldly advantage for the sake of attending the king's banquet. And of those who accepted the invitation, there were some who thought only of benefiting themselves. They came to share the provisions of the feast, but had no desire to honor the king.

When the king came in to view the guests, the real character of all was revealed. For every guest at the feast there had been provided a wedding garment. This garment was a gift from the king. By wearing it the guests showed their respect for the giver of the feast. But one man was clothed in his common citizen dress. He had refused to make the preparation required by the king. The garment provided for him at great cost he disdained to wear. Thus he insulted his lord. To the king's demand, "How camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?" he could answer nothing. He was self-condemned. Then the king said, "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness."

By the king's examination of the guests at the feast is represented a work of judgment. The guests at the gospel feast are those who profess to serve God, those whose names are written in the book of life. But not all who profess to be Christians are true disciples. Before the final reward is given, it must be decided who are fitted to share the inheritance of the righteous. This decision must be made prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven; for when He comes, His reward is with Him, "to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22:12. Before His coming, then, the character of every man's work will have been determined, and to every one of Christ's followers the reward will have been apportioned according to his deeds.

It is while men are still dwelling upon the earth that the work of investigative judgment takes place in the courts of heaven. The lives of all His professed followers pass in review before God. All are examined according to the record of the books of heaven, and according to his deeds the destiny of each is forever fixed.

By the wedding garment in the parable is represented the pure, spotless character which Christ's true followers will possess. To the church it is given "that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white," "not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." Eph. 5:27. The fine linen, says the Scripture, "is the righteousness of saints." Rev. 19:8. It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.

The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents when they were placed by God in holy Eden. They lived in perfect conformity to the will of God. All the strength of their affections was given to their heavenly Father. A beautiful soft light, the light of God, enshrouded the holy pair. This robe of light was a symbol of their spiritual garments of heavenly innocence. Had they remained true to God it would ever have continued to enshroud them. But when sin entered, they severed their connection with God, and the light that had encircled them departed. Naked and ashamed, they tried to supply the place of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for a covering.
This is what the transgressors of God's law have done ever since the day of Adam and Eve's disobedience. They have sewed together fig leaves to cover the nakedness caused by transgression. They have worn the garments of their own devising, by works of their own they have tried to cover their sins, and make themselves acceptable with God.

But this they can never do. Nothing can man devise to supply the place of his lost robe of innocence. No fig-leaf garment, no worldly citizen dress, can be worn by those who sit down with Christ and angels at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God's presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul. "I counsel thee," He says, "to buy of Me . . . white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear." Rev. 3:18.

This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. "All our righteousness are as filthy rags." Isa. 64:6. Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God "was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin." Sin is defined to be "the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:5, 4. But Christ was obedient to every requirement of the law. He said of Himself, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart." Ps. 40:8. When on earth, He said to His disciples, "I have kept My Father's commandments." John 15:10. By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God's commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.

The guests at the marriage feast were inspected by the king. Only those were accepted who had obeyed his requirements and put on the wedding garment. So it is with the guests at the gospel feast. All must pass the scrutiny of the great King, and only those are received who have put on the robe of Christ's righteousness.

Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine.

It is not enough for us to believe that Jesus is not an impostor, and that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. We may believe that the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and yet we may not through faith make Him our personal Saviour. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. "He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us." "Hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments." 1 John 3:24; 2:3. This is the genuine evidence of conversion. Whatever our profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of righteousness.

The truth is to be planted in the heart. It is to control the mind and regulate the affections. The whole character must be stamped with the divine utterances. Every jot and tittle of the word of God is to be brought into the daily practice.

He who becomes a partaker of the divine nature will be in harmony with God's great standard of righteousness, His holy law. This is the rule by which God measures the actions of men. This will be the test of character in the judgment.

There are many who claim that by the death of Christ the law was abrogated; but in this they contradict Christ's own words, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. . . . Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law." Matt. 5:17, 18. It was to atone for man's transgression of the law that Christ laid down His life. Could the law have been changed or set aside, then Christ need not have died. By His life on earth He honored the law of God. By His death He established it. He gave His life as a sacrifice, not to destroy God's law, not to create a lower standard, but that justice might be maintained, that the law might be shown to be immutable, that it might stand fast forever.

Satan had claimed that it was impossible for man to obey God's commandments; and in our own strength it is true that we cannot obey them. But Christ came in the form of humanity, and by His perfect obedience He proved that humanity and divinity combined can obey every one of God's precepts.

"As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." John 1:12. This power is not in the human agent. It is the power of God. When a soul receives Christ, he receives power to live the life of Christ.

God requires perfection of His children. His law is a transcript of His own character, and it is the standard of all character. This infinite standard is presented to all that there may be no mistake in regard to the kind of people whom God will have to compose His kingdom. The life of Christ on earth was a perfect expression of God's law, and when those who claim to be children of God become Christlike in character, they will be obedient to God's commandments. Then the Lord can trust them to be of the number who shall compose the family of heaven. Clothed in the glorious apparel of Christ's righteousness, they have a place at the King's feast. They have a right to join the blood-washed throng.

The man who came to the feast without a wedding garment represents the condition of many in our world today. They profess to be Christians, and lay claim to the blessings and privileges of the gospel; yet they feel no need of a transformation of character. They have never felt true repentance for sin. They do not realize their need of Christ or exercise faith in Him. They have not overcome their hereditary or cultivated tendencies to wrongdoing. Yet they think that they are good enough in themselves, and they rest upon their own merits instead of trusting in Christ. Hearers of the word, they come to the banquet, but they have not put on the robe of Christ's righteousness.

Many who call themselves Christians are mere human moralists. They have refused the gift which alone could enable them to honor Christ by representing Him to the world. The work of the Holy Spirit is to them a strange work. They are not doers of the world. The heavenly principles that distinguish those who are one with Christ from those who are one with the world have become almost indistinguishable. The professed followers of Christ are no longer a separate and peculiar people. The line of demarcation is indistinct. The people are subordinating themselves to the world, to its practices, its customs, its selfishness. The church has gone over to the world in transgression of the law, when the world should have come over to the church in obedience to the law. Daily the church is being converted to the world.

All these expect to be saved by Christ's death, while they refuse to live His self-sacrificing life. They extol the riches of free grace, and attempt to cover themselves with an appearance of righteousness, hoping to screen their defects of character; but their efforts will be of no avail in the day of God.

The righteousness of Christ will not cover one cherished sin. A man may be a law-breaker in heart; yet if he commits no outward act of transgression, he may be regarded by the world as possessing great integrity. But God's law looks into the secrets of the heart. Every act is judged by the motives that prompt it. Only that which is in accord with the principles of God's law will stand in the judgment.

God is love. He has shown that love in the gift of Christ. When "He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life," He withheld nothing from His purchased possession. (John 3:16.) He gave all heaven, from which we may draw strength and efficiency, that we be not repulsed or overcome by our great adversary. But the love of God does not lead Him to excuse sin. He did not excuse it in Satan; He did not excuse it in Adam or in Cain; nor will He excuse it in any other of the children of men. He will not connive at our sins or overlook our defects of character. He expects us to overcome in His name.

Those who reject the gift of Christ's righteousness are rejecting the attributes of character which would constitute them the sons and daughters of God. They are rejecting that which alone could give them a fitness for a place at the marriage feast.

In the parable, when the king inquired, "How camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?" the man was speechless. So it will be in the great judgment day. Men may now excuse their defects of character, but in that day they will offer no excuse.

The professed churches of Christ in this generation are exalted to the highest privileges. The Lord has been revealed to us in ever-increasing light. Our privileges are far greater than were the privileges of God's ancient people. We have not only the great light committed to Israel, but we have the increased evidence of the great salvation brought to us through Christ. That which was type and symbol to the Jews is reality to us. They had the Old Testament history; we have that and the New Testament also. We have the assurance of a Saviour who has come, a Saviour who has been crucified, who has risen, and over the rent sepulcher of Joseph has proclaimed, "I am the resurrection and the life." In our knowledge of Christ and His love the kingdom of God is placed in the midst of us. Christ is revealed to us in sermons and chanted to us in songs. The spiritual banquet is set before us in rich abundance. The wedding garment, provided at infinite cost, is freely offered to every soul. By the messengers of God are presented to us the righteousness of Christ, justification by faith, the exceeding great and precious promises of God's word, free access to the Father by Christ, the comfort of the Spirit, the well-grounded assurance of eternal life in the kingdom of God. What could God do for us that He has not done in providing the great supper, the heavenly banquet?

In heaven it is said by the ministering angels: The ministry which we have been commissioned to perform we have done. We pressed back the army of evil angels. We sent brightness and light into the souls of men, quickening their memory of the love of God expressed in Jesus. We attracted their eyes to the cross of Christ. Their hearts were deeply moved by a sense of the sin that crucified the Son of God. They were convicted. They saw the steps to be taken in conversion; they felt the power of the gospel; their hearts were made tender as they saw the sweetness of the love of God. They beheld the beauty of the character of Christ. But with the many it was all in vain. They would not surrender their own habits and character. They would not put off the garments of earth in order to be clothed with the robe of heaven. Their hearts were given to covetousness. They loved the associations of the world more than they loved their God.

Solemn will be the day of final decision. In prophetic vision the apostle John describes it: "I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Rev. 20:11, 12.

Sad will be the retrospect in that day when men stand face to face with eternity. The whole life will present itself just as it has been. The world's pleasures, riches, and honors will not then seem so important. Men will then see that the righteousness they despised is alone of value. They will see that they have fashioned their characters under the deceptive allurements of Satan. The garments they have chosen are the badge of their allegiance to the first great apostate. Then they will see the results of their choice. They will have a knowledge of what it means to transgress the commandments of God.
There will be no future probation in which to prepare for eternity. It is in this life that we are to put on the robe of Christ's righteousness. This is our only opportunity to form characters for the home which Christ has made ready for those who obey His commandments.

The days of our probation are fast closing. The end is near. To us the warning is given, "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." Luke 21:34. Beware lest it find you unready. Take heed lest you be found at the King's feast without a wedding garment.

"In such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." "Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." Matt. 24:44; Rev. 16:15.

 

Claudia,
I don't read your post. It is too long. Neither do you give credit from whence it came. I believe you just copied and pasted, which is plagiarism, correct? Please give sources for your information, better yet post your own ideas.
DHK