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ASSURANCE

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  (Hebrews 11:1)

The Bible provides the most succinct definition of Christian faith and it comes in two parts.  This post will look at the first part and for that it is necessary to understand the word ‘assurance’ (for the second part, please see subsequent post, ‘conviction’).

Faith in Jesus is the condition he himself sets for deliverance from death.  Speaking before the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus says to his sister Martha:

‘I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live… (John 11:25)

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Posted on by christianwordsblog

LUKEWARM

‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.’  (Revelation 3:15-16)

The revelation given to John mostly concerns the Last Days, in Greek ἔσχᾰτος eschatos, but not only does that cover the end of history and the world, it also includes present age.  To this end, it begins with Jesus’ assessment of the state of his Church.  While his audit names the major centres of the burgeoning faith in Asia Minor (Anatolian Peninsula), some suggest that each church also represents the complete Church over time; thus the last, Laodicea, conveys the state of today’s Church.  Be that as it may, Jesus’ rebuke of tepidity is stark and not a little startling.  

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