Thursday, August 8, 2013

We Are Either Slaves Of Death or Righteousness

As I read what Jesus says to the church in Thyatira, I am acutely aware of the seriousness of continuing in sin. I am reminded what Paul said:

  • "15What, then, does this mean?j Should we go on sinning because we are not under Law but under grace? Of course not! 16Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" Romans 6 ISV
The death Paul is talking about cannot be the death of the body, as the righteous do not have to fear leaving their bodies. The two choices given are either "death" or "obedience, which leads to righteousness".


Revelation 2 ISV

18“To the messengerh of the church in Thyatira, write:
‘The Son of God, whose eyes are like flaming fire and whose feet are like glowing bronze, says this:
  • 19I know what you’ve been doing—your love, faithfulness,i service, and endurance—and that your last actions are greater than the first. 
  • 20But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and who teaches and leads my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 
  • 21I gave her time to repent, but she refused to repent of her immorality. 
  • 22Look! I am going to strike her with illness.j 
  • Those who commit adultery with her will also suffer greatly, unless they repent from acting like her. 
  • 23I will strike her children dead. 
  • Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. 
  • I will reward each of you as your actions deserve.

24‘But as for the rest of you in Thyatira—you who do not hold to this teaching and who have not learned what some people call the deep things of Satan—I won’t burden you with anything else. 25Just hold on to what you have until I come. 26To the person who conquers and continues to do what I’ve commandedk to the end, I will give authority over the nations.
27‘He will rule them with an iron scepter;
shattering them like clay pots.’l
28‘Just as I have received authority from my Father, I will also give him the morning star.
29‘Let everyonem listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.’”


No comments:

Post a Comment