There Remain Christ's Afflictions and God's Rest

2007-04-21 20:23

The door to God's rest remains opened until the afflictions of putting off the flesh, the remaining afflictions of Christ, is finished in his body, which is the church. The Bible says about the remaining afflictions of Christ, "Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church." (Colossians 1:24).

If the number of those who finish the remaining afflictions of Christ, the whole burnt offering of the body, is completed and they enter God's rest, then the door to the eternal rest of God will immediately be closed. Therefore, the promise of entering the eternal rest of God still stands. The Bible warns, "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it." (Hebrews 4:1).

The Bible also says, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12). And also, "how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." (Hebrews 2:3-4).

This is the end of salvation: Christ's people who with Christ finish the remaining afflictions of Christ through faith in Christ Jesus will enter God's rest and rest with Christ in God forever. The prophet said about it, "He shall enter into peace; They shall rest in their beds, Each one walking in his uprightness." (Isaiah 57:2).

The Bible says about the holy people who put off the flesh, "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess." (Hebrews 3:1).

Therefore, God works with Christ until the remaining afflictions of Christ is finished. It is written, "Jesus said to them, 'My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.'" (John 5:17).

However, there are holy brothers who have entered God's rest and have rested from his own work as God did from His. The Bible says about it, "for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his." (Hebrews 4:10). And also, the Bible comforts us, "Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed." (Revelation 6:11).

There is a farmer's rest for the wheat gathered into his barn, and there is the farmer's work for the wheat left to be gathered. Therefore, the Bible says, "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God." (Hebrews 4:9).

The Bible warns of those who don't know the remaining afflictions of Christ and remaining rest of God, "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all." (Luke 17:26-29).

The Bible also says about the day when the door to God's rest is closed, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." (2 Peter 3:9-13).

However, the Bible says to us who participate in the remaining afflictions of Christ, "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." (Jude 1:24-25).

Before the door to God's rest is closed, we all have to... Thank you, Lord.