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A.W. Pink wrote in 1933, "Make sure of the eternal interest of thy soul in the hands of Jesus Christ..."
That one little line stopped me in my reading and I went to prayer. Of course Philippians 2:12 came to mind, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
Note the parts I highlighted: obedience is a necessity to working out your salvation. Now of course this does not mean work FOR your salvation, but work it out, by submitting yourself to God, examining yourself whether ye be in the faith, letting the Holy Spirit try you and examine you as Psalm 139 proclaims to do. Search me and try me O LORD, see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Revelation 3:20 would also apply here, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
This is to the lukewarm Laodicean church, who have shut Christ out by their worldliness and self sufficiency "rich and increased in goods, and in need of nothing," they think.
This footnote in Chapel Libraries edition of Jonathan Edwards "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" says
"seeking and knocking – Some believe that salvation comes from praying a prayer, walking an aisle, “inviting” Christ to come in, or something else that they can decide to do. Revelation 3:20 is sometimes used this way: “I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” But this verse refers to fellowship of believers with Christ, not salvation of a lost sinner (see context). The key in salvation is to “repent and believe” (Mat 21:32; Mar 1:15; Act 19:4) and to call upon the name of the Lord to ask Him to save (Joh 1:12-13; Rom 10:13)."
I agree here. While most certainly many in a Laodicean type church probably aren't saved, this call is to the church in general: as it is written, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches"
Pay close attention to verse 10 in the following passage. Then go back and meditate on this whole passage, because these are things that are part of working out our own salvation. 1 Corinthians 13 also.
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
That one little line stopped me in my reading and I went to prayer. Of course Philippians 2:12 came to mind, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
Note the parts I highlighted: obedience is a necessity to working out your salvation. Now of course this does not mean work FOR your salvation, but work it out, by submitting yourself to God, examining yourself whether ye be in the faith, letting the Holy Spirit try you and examine you as Psalm 139 proclaims to do. Search me and try me O LORD, see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Revelation 3:20 would also apply here, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
This is to the lukewarm Laodicean church, who have shut Christ out by their worldliness and self sufficiency "rich and increased in goods, and in need of nothing," they think.
This footnote in Chapel Libraries edition of Jonathan Edwards "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" says
"seeking and knocking – Some believe that salvation comes from praying a prayer, walking an aisle, “inviting” Christ to come in, or something else that they can decide to do. Revelation 3:20 is sometimes used this way: “I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” But this verse refers to fellowship of believers with Christ, not salvation of a lost sinner (see context). The key in salvation is to “repent and believe” (Mat 21:32; Mar 1:15; Act 19:4) and to call upon the name of the Lord to ask Him to save (Joh 1:12-13; Rom 10:13)."
I agree here. While most certainly many in a Laodicean type church probably aren't saved, this call is to the church in general: as it is written, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches"
Pay close attention to verse 10 in the following passage. Then go back and meditate on this whole passage, because these are things that are part of working out our own salvation. 1 Corinthians 13 also.
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
