TEXT:
Revelation 2:19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
Law and grace cannot co-exist
Catholicism is a religion of works as it most "religion"
Christianity is relationships and FAITH in what Christ did at the Cross alone
Salvation by works depends on man's capacity to produce them
Salvation by faith depends upon God's ability to perform them
Under works, God stands still and sees what man can and cannot do
Under grace man stands still and RESTS in what God has done!
Galatians outlines this in the story of Hagar and Sarah
Hagar represents works; Sarah represents grace
Abraham's impatience and works brought forth Ishmael
God's grace brought forth Isaac
After Isaac was born (Galatians 4:24) Ishmael persecuted Him "born of the spirit"
As a result the bondwoman had to be "cast out" (4:30)
This is a type of the two natures in the believer and also the two ways of faith - one true and one false
The flesh and works are at "ENMITY" against God - it cannot be improved!
The divine nature brought on by TRUE FAITH is a PUTTING OFF of the OLD ENTERLY!
Man's way is to "IMPROVE" his flesh
Hebrews 11 and Hebrews 12 - Chastisement after true faith
Heb 12:5-6 tell us to reach the life of faith the one who eyes are like a flame of fire MUST PURIFY US THROUGH HIS "BRASS"
James 2:14-26 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:14-22
2:14 - This presents the fact that proper FAITH will always produce proper works "can faith save him" - "Is that faith able to save him?" - God will not recognize that type of Faith.
2:15-16 This type faith that does nothing by it's source is not True Faith; Faith will help the person
2:17-18 - Proper faith will produce proper works; If it doesn't the Holy Spirit calls this type faith "Dead Faith"
2:18 - Some try to divide the too - either All Works, No Faith, All Faith, No Works - Both are false lifeless faith is profitless
2:19 - Simply believing that there is a God is the faith of millions, perhaps billions That is no more than demons believe - they know God exists! Proper Faith is faith that accepts Jesus as One's savior and what He did for us at the Cross - That is "THE FAITH"
2:20 - Faith without works is dead - calls those who believe such "vain" meaning "empty." Empty faith comes from empty hearts and empty heads.
Ephesus - Apostolic church - Ended 100 AD
Smyrna - Martyr church - 100-300 AD - Rome hurled 10 bloody persecutions against the church
Pergamos - State church - 300 AD to 500 AD. Constantine great legalized Christianity making it state religion of Roman Empire - Invasion of paganism into church
Thyatira - Papal church AD 500 - Present. Rome assumed power over church - Pope
Sardis - AD 1500 - Luther - Justification of faith
Philadelphia - Missionary church - AD 1800 to AD 1900s
Laodicea - Present day apostate to rapture
The seven churches were chosen by the Holy Spirit! And portray the entirety of the church age.
Ephesus
Smyrna
Pergamos
Thyatira
Sardis
Philadelphia
Laodicea
Some in this church as wrong as it was continued to love the Lord
The Lord knew who they were - AND their works
"Works mentioned twice, with the last being in a negative sense, meaning they were depending on this instead of Christ and the Cross
Six things to commend Thyatira: 1. Works, 2. Charity, 3. Service, 4. Faith, 5. Patience, 6. Increased works
Catholicism proclaims faith by WORKS
Bible Christianity is FAITH IN CHRISTS and what he did for us at the Cross
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