The future of the believer who takes God at His word; John 15:8-9.

Title: The future of the believer who takes God at His word; John 15:8-9.

 

We have noted all last week that the mature believer will be called as an expert witness to the righteousness, justice, and matchless grace of God.

 

Not only does this honor God’s character through the believer’s life, but the believer also receives his escrow blessings in time and also eternity. This brings maximum glory to God.

 

We quickly noted the escrow blessings for eternity at the end of Friday nights class, so I will review them once again in light of our doctrine, for this is one of the most important doctrines to fully comprehend in the life of the CA believer.

 

REV 2:7

To him who overcomes,

“overcomes” - present active participle of nikao [nikao] = to conquer or to carry off to victory, which is from the root word nike [nike - nee’-kay] = victory.

 

REV 2:7 To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.'

 

REV 2:11 He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.'

 

REV 2:17 To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna [exclusive access to the New Jerusalem], and I will give him a white stone [vote of approval as a result of testing in time for approval], and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'

 

REV 2:26 'And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; 

 

REV 2:27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father;

 

REV 2:28 and I will give him the morning star.

 

REV 3:5 'He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name [new name] from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.

 

REV 3:12 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God [New Jerusalem museum of history], and he will not go out from it anymore [this history will never change]; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.

 

REV 3:21 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

 

We documented these awards in 6 categories and now we will document them chronologically.

 

These awards will become operational during three different periods:

 

1. At the Evaluation Tribunal of Christ: Eight become operational immediately.

a. The crown of liferighteousness.

b. The new name of aristocracy.

c. The most noble order of the Morning Star.

 

d. The uniform of glory.

e. His new title written into the Book of Life.

f. Presentation at court.

g. Achievements sculpted on a stela in the Temple.

h. A coat of arms.

 

2. The Millennium: The application of the winner’s new status of chivalry and execution of his royal authority will occur in the millennial reign of Christ.

 

a. Authority to rule a Gentile nation.

b. Membership in the General Assembly of the millennial United Nations as part of the Lord’s cabinet.

 

3. The New Jerusalem: Certain privileges and honors which are unique to the eternal state will become operational in the New Jerusalem.

 

a. The privilege to eat from the tree of life.

b. The honor of holding eternal membership in the Paradise Club of God.

c. The honor of exclusive access to the New Jerusalem.

d. Membership in the General Assembly of the new earth’s United Nations as part of the Lord’s cabinet.

 

The expert witness receives his escrow blessings in time and in eternity by which he brings maximum glory to God.

 

Why don’t all believers receive these blessings even though they were given to them in eternity past?

 

We again see a contrast between teleios and nepios:

 

 “mature” - adjective teleios [teleios] = mature, complete, lacking nothing necessary for completeness.

 

 “babes” - adjective nepios [nepios] = childish, untaught, unskilled, immature.

 

1 Cor 2:6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature [teleios]; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;

 

1 Cor 2:7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory;

 

1 Cor 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes [nepios] in Christ.

 

1 Cor 3:2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,

 

1 Cor 3:3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

 

1 Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it.

 

1 Cor 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 

1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

 

1 Cor 3:13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.

 

1 Cor 3:14 If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward.

 

1 Cor 3:15 If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.

 

He shall suffer loss because these rewards were already given to him in eternity past. EPH 1:3-4 who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world

 

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

 

1 Peter 1:4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

 

1 Peter 1:5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 

1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

 

1 Peter 1:7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

 

 “proof” - noun dokimion [dokimion] = to test for the purpose of approval or to test for the purpose of revealing achieved skills.

 

Satan’s temptations or tests or cross-examinations are always represented with the word peirazo which refers to testing for the purpose of defeating under pressure.

 

1 Cor 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.

 

1 Peter 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

 

1 Peter 1:9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

 

 “outcome” - telos [telos] = ultimate destiny. Salvation is faith alone in Christ alone, but your ultimate destiny is to receive all of your escrow blessings. This is the normal Christian way of life.

 

This is why your new name can be erased from the book of life. This in no way implies loss of salvation, but loss of aristocratic title that comes to the winner. Why is it erased? God put it there in eternity past, but if a believer rejects the plan of God, chooses not to mature and enter the conflict as an expert witness, that new name is lost.

 

“It is said that Napoleon, while looking at some papers, let slip the bridle of his horse, which reared so that the Emperor was in danger. A corporal of the grenadiers leaped forward and caught the bridle, bringing the horse under control. Napoleon saluted the corporal and said, “Thank you, Captain.” “Of what company, Sire?” asked the corporal. “Of my guards,” replied Napoleon. The young corporal picked up his musket, hurled it aside and walked across the field toward the Emperor’s staff, tearing off his corporal’s stripes as he went. When he took his place among the officers, they asked him what he was doing. He replied that he was a captain of the guards. “By whose order?” queried one of them. “The Emperor’s order,” he replied.”

 

“The incident may never have taken place, but the truth involved is supreme. God si read to do a great deal for you, if you are ready to take Him at His word. A man of less faith might have picked up his musket, and stepped back into the ranks and boasted for the rest of his life that Napoleon had called him captain. This describes the difference between the Christian of little faith who has a head knowledge of the position and titles which the Lord has given each believer in Christ, and the Christian of applied faith, who takes God at His word and enters into the blessing of His plan for their lives.” (Barnhouse, Timeless Illustrations for Preachers and Teachers)

 

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.