God says that the blood of the lamb is to be placed over the door and on its sides so that he will cover you (Exodus 12:23)...
Is salvation a collective thing or is it individual? How many people can fit through the door that is described in Exodus 12:23?
God's door to safety has limits, it has tolerances... How do you know if you are within Jesus' tolerance level so that his blood is covering you?
Those outside of God's tolerance level will not find life - Exodus 12:23.
Those within God's tolerance level do not have to be perfect as long as they choose to stay covered. God's grace covers them while within the parameters of "his" limits.
Jesus says "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14
What are God's limits? You know them by understanding his definition of what a saint is because saints are the object of God's grace.
Here is how the book of Revelation defines a saint:
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Now here is how the testimony of Jesus is defined for Rev 12:17 above...
Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The definition of a saint is also the definition of God's limits.
A saint is someone that keeps the commandments of God, and the faith and testimony of Jesus.
What is the testimony of Jesus? "...the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
What are the commandments of God?
1. Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.
So how do you stay covered by the blood of Jesus under the narrow door and stay within the tolerance of God?
1. Keep the commandments of God (because they are your guide and it shows God you love him -- 1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.)
2. Have faith in Jesus the forgiver of sins (because no one comes to the Father but through the Son)
3. Have the testimony of Jesus (because studying and knowing prophecy in the correct context will cause the believer to shape their thoughts and behaviors to be well suited for the times ahead)
This sounds like Holiness teaching. It is not only a stretch to find a scripture to support a non-Biblical teaching but is also a means by which one can measure their "holiness" by saying that one may or may not be covered by the blood at any time in their Christian life depending on something that the Bible is not teaching.
Exodus 12:23 has nothing to do with being covered by the blood. The markings on the door with blood represent the points from which Jesus left blood on the cross. The cross that bore our redeeming Savior is represented by the door posts as well as the top of the door. The idea that Christians are coverd by the blood of Jesus is also a non-Biblical belief and teaching.
Whats more, the teaching does not follow any line of logic or reasoning that can be supported by other Scripture or New Testament references. There are no verses in the KJV NT that have the words covered and blood in them. This is a mythical and unfounded belief and a teaching that has no Biblical support.
God's door to safety has limits, it has tolerances... How do you know if you are within Jesus' tolerance level so that his blood is covering you? There are no limits to the saving love of God and no limits to our ability to know His love. Jesus never established "tolerance levels" of any kind and the door in Exodus 12:23 does not represent tolerences of any kind.
Those within God's tolerance level do not have to be perfect as long as they choose to stay covered. God's grace covers them while within the parameters of "his" limits. If we are saved by grace then the grace cannot be lifted from us, unless you are going to believe that our salvation can be lost and found. It is not our choice to stay "covered" for two reasons. First, as I said, there is nothing in the NT that says we are covered. Secondly, we are not the ones who made the choice. Jesus said, Joh_15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
"So how do you stay covered by the blood of Jesus under the narrow door and stay within the tolerance of God
1. Keep the commandments of God (because they are your guide and it shows God you love him -- 1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.)
2. Have faith in Jesus the forgiver of sins (because no one comes to the Father but through the Son)
3. Have the testimony of Jesus (because studying and knowing prophecy in the correct context will cause the believer to shape their thoughts and behaviors to be well suited for the times ahead)
Just plain bad doctrine. According to the new Testament Jesus died to redeem all creation to the Father. Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Now that the blood is shed it cannot be "un-shed" In this case if you are going to believe that Christians are covered by the blood of Jesus then they either are or they are not. It is not possible for a Christian to be sure they "stay covered" any more than they can be sure they stay "saved". However, if you believe that a Christian can lose their salvation then you might believe they have to be sure they stay "covered". Unfortunately, there is no Scripture or New Testament passage that would support the idea of the loss of one's salvation. If God is a God that does not change his mind then once He decided to pay the price to redeem us He cannot decide to un-redeem us. The price for our redemption has been paid and will not need to be paid again because there is no one to pay anymore.
"3. Have the testimony of Jesus (because studying and knowing prophecy in the correct context will cause the believer to shape their thoughts and behaviors to be well suited for the times ahead)" This may be a true statement in your parenthetic but it is not what this verse is about. In the contest of the passage the angel is stating that he is a creature, an equal in office, though not in nature; and as an angel and messenger of God, has the testimony of Jesus, a charge to be a witness for Him and to testify concerning Him, and John, as an apostle, having the Spirit of prophecy, had the same testimony to give; and therefore they are brethren and fellow-servants in the declaration of the testimony Jesus.� It has nothing to do with studying and knowing prophecy that is found in either the Scriptures, the teachings of Jesus or the New Testament.
By this kind of teaching, an unnecessary burden is placed upon the hearers and possible believers of such teachings that they need not bear. This teaching makes Christians responsible for making sure they stay covered by the blood, and in the grace of God even though their salvation is by grace, a gift from God, and is a result of the one time payment by the death of Jesus on the cross to redeem them to God. Furthermore, you are making them responsible for knowing and understanding all prophecies in the Bible so they can be prepared for the coming hard times that are prophesied therein. Christians are to be busy declaring the testimony of Jesus because they have been given the spirit of prophecy. By doing so, their faith sill carry them through any tribulations they may face in the future.
I will spare you a counterargument since I am convinced in advanced that neither of us will be persuaded. Thank you for your explanation. I cannot agree with it.
The life is in the Blood (Leviticus 17:11) and what is seen on the doorposts of the heart represents the life that lives in the inside of the heart.
If the life of Jesus is in the inside of the heart, this life is then pumped to the rest of the body allowing the testimony of Jesus to be seen to the rest of the world coming from the person with "the life of Jesus in their heart" as THEIR testimony!
The result of this being fulfilled caused John who spent every day for 3.5 years with Jesus start to worship one of his fellow saints who had been transformed so much into the image and likeness of Jesus, John thought he was looking at Jesus........ This is the testimony we are to aim for.
Shared ~ The result of this being fulfilled caused John who spent every day for 3.5 years with Jesus start to worship one of his fellow saints who had been transformed so much into the image and likeness of Jesus, John thought he was looking at Jesus
*** I understand we as Christians are to strive for perfection in Christ as we are created in the Image of GOD and I am aware the apostles lived and walked with Jesus for 3.5 years...can you please clarify what fellow saint John was caused to worshipping that looked like Jesus ???...Thanx in advance...XO
"I understand we as Christians are to strive for perfection in Christ as we are created in the Image of GOD and I am aware the apostles lived and walked with Jesus for 3.5 years...can you please clarify what fellow saint John was caused to worshipping that looked like Jesus ???...Thanx in advance...XO"
I say,
Although already quoted I will highlight in uppercase the relevant words
Re.22:8 AND I JOHN SAW THESE THINGS, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I FELL DOWN TO WORSHIP BEFORE THE FEET OF THE ANGEL WHICH SHEWED ME THESE THINGS.
9 Then saith he unto me, SEE THOU DO IT NOT: FOR I AM THY FELLOWSERVANT, AND OF THY BRETHREN THE PROPHETS, AND OF THEM WHICH KEEP THE SAYINGS OF THIS BOOK: worship God.
Being as it is rather clear it was a "fellow servant" I cannot help but think you are troubled by the word "angel"?
In these verses John is appearing in heaven where through the resurrection "our soul" appears as our messenger a.k.a. angel to be "measured" (judged) for better or for worse. What John is seeing is someone whose name is not given who has already been resurrected and is now appearing in the same righteousness as Jesus does.
Here are some other verses that support this. First from Jesus
Mark 12:25
For when THEY SHALL RISE FROM THE DEAD, THEY NEITHER MARRY, NOR ARE GIVEN IN MARRIAGE; BUT ARE AS THE ANGELS WHICH ARE IN HEAVEN.
When Jesus warned the rich man who was going to die that night what did Jesus say about how this man would be held accountable in the next life for his actions in this life?
Luke 12:20
But God said unto him, THOU FOOL, THIS NIGHT THY SOUL SHALL BE REQUIRED OF THEE: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
In Revelations where once again appearing in heaven (resurrection) we see the measure of the angel of a man
Revelation 21:17
And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF A MAN, THAT IS, OF THE ANGEL.
Which "fellow man" of John was John looking at the Bible does not say........ However it should be plain to see it was the angelic representative of someone who had been a man on earth before being resurrected unto "honor and glory".
Yes...I understand now and thank you for pointing that out again...I had to go back and reread it again...I missed that in Dmaxs post...God Bless you for your patience...its refreshing...xo
