1600-5 Church

REVELATION 3:1-6
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world. and lose his own soul?”
(Mk.8:36).
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and breth-
ren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear
his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sit-
teth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he
hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him” (Lk.14:26-
29).
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be re-
vealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide
which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall
suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Cor.3:13-15).

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(3:4-6) Overcomers—Promises: there is the promise to the overcomers. Note: there is a promise to those who do not
defile themselves as well as to the overcomers.
1. There are those who had not defiled themselves. This means there were a few faithful believers in the church. They
had not defiled, dirtied, or spotted their lives with the worldliness of the day. They had kept themselves “unspotted from the
world” (Jas.1:27). They were not activity centered nor program centered, but Christ centered. They did not use the church...
• as a religious salve for their conscience
• as a social activity
• as a place for fellowship alone
• as a place for social and business contacts
• as a place to build their public image
• as a place to provide activities for the family
The faithful believers kept themselves pure. They focused upon Jesus Christ and His purpose: they were still growing spi-
ritually and reaching out to share Christ with a needful world.
Note the promise: the faithful and pure believer “walks with Christ in white.” This means...
• that the faithful believer walks day by day in the presence of Christ and has the presence of Christ looking
after and taking care of him—keeping him pure (white).
• that the faithful believer walks day by day and moment by moment in open confession before Christ,
that he keeps himself clean by constantly confessing all sin and having Christ forgive his sins. Christ keeps
him clean (white).
• that the faithful believer walks in victory and purity with Christ forever and ever.
Note that the faithful and pure believer receives this promise because he is worthy. Christ is ever so pleased that the be-
liever focuses upon Him, his Lord; therefore, Christ loves him with a very special love and counts the believer worthy.
2. There are the overcomers. Three promises are made to the believer who keeps his spirit alive, the believer who fo-
cuses upon Jesus Christ and His spiritual purposes for the church.
a. The overcomer will be clothed in white. This is the garment of righteousness and purity, of perfection that
shall be given to the believer when he enters heaven. The believer is given this garment of righteousness
and purity...
• because he trusted the righteousness of Christ.
• because he followed Christ by living a righteous life.

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on
a wedding garment” (Mt.22:11).
“But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him;
and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet” (Lk.15:22).
“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon
all them that believe: for there is no difference” (Ro.3:22).
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor.5:21).
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot
out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and
before his angels” (Rev.3:5).
“I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and
white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not
appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (Rev.3:18).
“And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw
four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads
crowns of gold” (Rev.4:4).
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all
nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the
Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands” (Rev.7:9).
“And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:
for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (Rev.19:8).
“And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness”
(Gen.15:6).
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