Revelation 1:4a - Grace to you and Peace!

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“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace.” -Revelation 1:4a

In the greeting of Rev 1:4, John writes to the seven churches and opens with a message from God of “Grace to you and Peace.” The seven churches were in Asia, which included Ephesus and those surrounding it. John lived in Ephesus after Paul’s martyrdom in Rome (about 67 AD), and he spent about 30 years overseeing the churches in that general area. John was the last known surviving apostle and was exiled on the small, barren island of Patmos, where Romans often banished criminals. He was exiled “on account of the word of God the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 1:9) indicating he was persecuted for his faith in Christ.  John was on the island when he received the extraordinary visions of the end times, and he wrote about them in a letter to circulate to his seven churches who were also suffering persecution under the reign of Domitian. Both Nero and Domitian demanded emperor worship, and Christians were martyred for not complying. As a result, some of the churches were struggling in spiritual decline.

John opens his greeting immediately with comforting words to the suffering believers that God sends His grace and peace to them. Grace is favor that is undeserved yet poured out from God’s heart of love and kindness. John knew the believers in the seven churches were struggling and he wanted to first tell them that God is with them even in these hard circumstances. In fact, God sends grace to us continually. Grace is God’s love in action in every circumstance of life, and it continues for us today. Everyone has both joy and hardship in life, and God in heaven is smiling, giving grace in every part of our lives for His purposes and our sanctification. Our part is to receive it and believe that is true.

John says God also sends His peace to them. The churches were in strife because believers were threatened with imprisonment (Rev 2:10), and were being attacked for their faith. But John says God sends His peace, which is peace with God Himself. Because believers in Christ are no longer under the war that God has with sin, they have peace with God and are united and safe with Him despite their circumstances. Paul explains in Romans 5:1 that we have peace with God because we have been justified by faith. God’s declaration of righteousness has brought us into a relationship of love with God. 

In the OT, the Hebrew word for peace is shalom which means wholeness or completeness. This type of wholeness was only possible through God, as the Aaronic blessing explains (“…the Lord give you peace.” - Num 6:22-27). In the New Covenant Jesus provides us access to God, who is everything we need for true peace. In Christ, believers are reconciled to God, and all the longings and cravings of life won’t produce true peace or happiness, but in Jesus we have wholeness and true and lasting peace with God. We have everything we need from God to fight sin and live for Him even in the hardest circumstances. Have you trusted in Christ, and do you believe that Jesus is everything for you?

Revelation 1:1-3 - Joy in the Revelation of Jesus Christ! - Revelation 1:1-3

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God's ultimate purpose in the Book of Revelation is to bless us and bring us JOY in knowing the end of the story. When we know there is victory in the end, we are joyful about the future even though we suffer hardships in this life. Often we despair in our circumstances just like many did when they saw Jesus put to death on the cross and thought it was a failure. But we know that the cross is actually victory for us, and the Book of Revelation details how that victory will continue to unfold in the future. Knowing that God is working every detail of life together to bring about that ultimate victory of Christ should encourage us to face trials, trusting that His glory will be revealed.

The Book of Revelation, recorded by the Apostle John while exiled on Patmos, is shaped like a Nike "swoosh." John's greeting and background information and letters to the churches serve as background information. The storyline starts in heaven in chapters 4 and 5, then proceeds downward in judgment until chapter 19, and then quickly returns back up to heaven in glorious victory. We believe the events of Revelation are coming in the future, even though John wrote it in the past. Also, we believe the events are historical and literal and are not just allegories and symbols unless the text explicitly states it's an allegory. Rev 12:1-2 is an example of an allegorical reference in which the word "sign" informs us its allegorical.

The purpose of the book is in the word "revelation" which means to uncover and reveal something to make it known. The revelation of Jesus Christ means the message comes from Jesus Christ Himself, and He wants to show His slaves how the world will end. Jesus wants to give us a glimpse into the future of the world. The book is divine communication from God and is recorded so that we know this is God's word to us. In Rev 1:1, the communication comes first from God, the Father, to Jesus; and then from Jesus to the angel, then from the angel to John (the apostle); and John records it for the church of all ages.

John also states the book is prophecy (1:3), a divine foretelling of the future so that we know the events that will come about and we won't worry when we see these things develop. John's duty in writing it is to testify to the word of God (v2). He is the witness and speaker for Christ and his writing is divinely revealed Scripture by Jesus Himself (2 Ptr 1:19-21). In Rev 1:19. John is commanded to write these things down for us. Our duty in response is to "read", "hear", and "heed" (v3) the things that are written. Reading implies both public and private reading and study, and hearing means listening to what is being said with an open heart. Heed means to keep or obey the things written oy trusting God that it is true and will happen. and to not doubt His word. Our duty is to obey His word and persevere in trusting God despite our circumstances (Rev 22:7). Because God has lovingly revealed His final victory to us, we can serve Him in joyful obedience in our current circumstances!

2 Corinthians 3:18 ~ The Glory of Jesus Christ

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Gospel Sanctification: Great Gospel Texts that Transform Our Lives

2 Corinthians 3:18 ~ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

The greatest person in the universe is God. He is transcendent, eternal, infinite, self-sufficient, sovereign, just… He is the all-knowing and all-wise being to whom the angels cry out day and night, “Holy, holy, holy!” These holy angels who’ve never sinned and have remained in their perfect created state need to shield their faces from the brilliant radiance of His glory (cf. Isa 6:2). If He were to unleash the fullness of His splendor upon us right now, we would all fall dead instantly (cf. Exo 33:20). So when Paul states in 2 Corinthians 3:18 that believers are able to behold God’s glory, we scratch our heads and wonder what he means. Is it possible for saved sinners to actually see the glory of God?

This verse has transformed my life. I’ve probably read it hundreds of times. But it was only when I studied it and took the time to ponder it, that by God’s grace, the amazing truths packed into this one verse changed everything – truths of God’s glory, faith, sanctification, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray it will grip your heart and light a passion in you for the glory of Christ! Look with me at three profound truths from this single verse.

The first truth is that all believers have access to the glory of God. Paul states, “But we all, with unveiled face.” Earlier in verses 14-16, Paul says that believers have had the veil of their hearts taken away through faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, the very moment we are saved, the veil has been lifted from our eyes so that we can see the glory of God for the first time. And this access to see Him is never impeded, but always available to us as His children (cf. Heb 4:16).

This ought to give our hearts great hope! No matter where we are at, no matter how “stuck” we feel spiritually, no matter if we haven’t seen His glory in a long time, if we belong to Him, we have had the veil removed from our hearts and we can behold His glory once more!

The second truth is that the glory of God is the supernatural source for our spiritual transformation. The grammar of this verse proves this point (Let’s go back to grade school grammar, shall we?). The subject and main verb of this sentence is: “We all… are being transformed.” Then there is a participial phrase that shows how this happens: by “beholding the glory of the Lord.” So how are believers transformed? By beholding the glory of the Lord. But how can we behold it without dying? And where can we go to see it today?

A few verses later in 4:6, Paul describes where the glory of God is revealed… “in the face of Christ.” In other words, the glory of God is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, and specifically, according to 4:4, “the gospel of the glory of Christ.” The Gospel encompasses the great work of Christ in His death and resurrection (cf. 1 Cor 15:1-4). So according to Paul, the glory of God can be clearly seen in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But why is this so? Why does the death and resurrection of Christ reveal God’s glory most clearly? It’s because no other event in human history reveals the love, grace, and mercy of God more than the Cross work of Jesus. John Piper writes…

“All things are created and guided and sustained for the glory of God, which reaches its apex in the glory of His grace, which shines most brightly in the glory of Christ, which comes to focus most clearly in the glory of the Cross.”[1]

Therefore, seeing the beauty and wonder of God’s love and grace for sinners like us through the excruciating, agonizing, shocking death of His beloved Son is the means for our spiritual transformation. Paul says we “behold” it, which simply means we believe it (cf. John 6:40). We trust in it. We walk by faith in “the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Gal 2:20). And when we do, the supernatural power of God through the Holy Spirit changes everything about us – our motives, our desires, our attitudes, our affections, our thoughts, our words and our works (cf. Gal 5:22-23).

This leads us to the third truth… true spiritual transformation takes place from the inside out. The word “transformed” is where we get our English word “metamorphosis.” It speaks of a total and complete change in a person’s fundamental character. It’s change at the deepest level of our being, at the heart. And this internal transformation will inevitably and joyfully lead to obedience to the will of God. There is no room for “cheap grace” or licentious living when we’re dealing with God’s powerful grace.

When we continue to behold the glory of God in the gospel work of Jesus Christ, our hearts are transformed with a profound love for Christ! And this love motivates us to joyfully live for Him, no matter what the cost may be. Just as the forgiven woman in Luke 7 endured the public shame and ridicule at the home of Simon the Pharisee so that she could demonstrate her loving devotion to Jesus Christ (v. 38), our hearts will be willing and longing to do anything in order to please and glorify Jesus!

So there you have it. Yes, we can behold God’s glory today. Not visibly with our eyes, but with the eyes of our hearts. We can see the amazing, everlasting glory of God in the truth of the Cross-work of Jesus Christ. Maybe your Christian life has been on “cruise control” and you’re not sure how to get out of the lukewarm rut you’re in. Maybe you’re suffering under a heavy trial and you’re responses aren’t very godly. Maybe you’re battling a recurring temptation to sin… again. Maybe you’re doubting God’s great love for you because of the weight of sin’s guilt. Whatever the struggle may be, know this truth, that Jesus Christ can bring instant and powerful change to your heart and life.

So run quickly to the resurrected Christ. Gaze into the depths of His sufferings. And think of what He did in order to demonstrate the infinite depths of His love for great sinners like us!

[1]John Piper, “Why Did God Create the World,” Sermon Manuscript from Desiring God (http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/why-did-god-create-the-world), March 21, 2013.