The Endurance of Jesus Christ - by Pastor Doug Riggs
by John Mark on 07/03/24
This
message was originally recorded October 11, 2015.
My
notes:
Where
is the church? "The church is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ." It isn't in a locality on earth; neither is it something you go
to or attend. Doug did a series on What is the Church - the first one produced
in video format that goes into this. The church is the body of Christ and we
who are a part of the church are members of His body and members one of
another. It's organic - not spatial.
Doug
explains the definition of 'faith' as that which includes the idea it is
"fully stretched out in expectation. 'Hope' has as its undergirding
'faith', but its faith fully stretched with expectation... He (Jesus) is the
source of that which inspires the hope in our perseverance, our manly
endurance."
When
it comes to waiting, Doug tells us "There's something in the soul when it
has to wait. It reveals where we are." Here Doug mentions "Joni's
testimony", referring to Joni Eareckson Tada. Waiting involves pressure,
"And nobody likes pressure because it involves suffering, obviously."
Speaking
of the full salvation we are to possess, "The rapture of the church has to
be something that is possessed. The territory that represents gaining that
possession is blocked by principalities and powers. They have to be displaced
in order for this final salvation to be attained. The rapture will hinge upon
the certain degree and measure of principalities and powers being displaced in
the second heavens." This is all about spiritual warfare, conquest,
overcoming, and the church dealing with those who occupy the second heavens
which represent where our inheritance is - the place of ruling and reigning
with Christ - and doing so is making a way for Christ to return. John the
Baptist made a way for Jesus to come to Earth in His 1st Advent; we, the church,
must make a way for Him to come for us in what we term the rapture, the
culmination of full (final) salvation. "The waiting and the perseverance
is all associated with and connected and related to His coming. We're called to
gain possession of our Lord Jesus Christ." We don't achieve any of this
simply 'getting saved' believing in Jesus and ignoring the fact there's an
inheritance to be fought for and won. Sanctification is "a framework for
gaining possession of final salvation."
"The
entering in to the rule and reign of God, and what it means to be in the future
rule and reign of Christ is progressive. We have to pass out of one man into
another." It is not automatic when we are born into God's family; it takes
time, effort, suffering and endurance to grow up into sonship. We all start out
as babes in Christ - then little children... young men... fathers. Our
spiritual growth is progressive. Only when we reach maturity are we given the
sandals, robe and ring, the authority to administer the Father's business.
"This suffering is that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of
God." This is not pertaining to initial salvation, but sanctification
resulting in final salvation.
"The
enemy's desire is to destroy us; but God uses the enemy to sanctify us;
probably the best tool, the most effective tool God has to sanctify saints,
Satan himself." - "The Lord is faithful and He will strengthen and He
will protect you from the evil one. So, no matter what the threats are, we can
fulfill our assignment and not be concerned about what the threats are from the
evil one; and there are many."
Doug
expounds on Isaiah 53. Though he doesn't go into this, I wanted to address a
Roman Catholic error that places extreme value and worship of the physical
blood of Jesus. Scriptures point out that life is in the blood, and Jesus
poured out His life unto death. For those who enjoy singing "There is a
Fountain", there is no 'fountain of blood'. "There is a fountain
filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins" is not true, nor are
sinners "plunged beneath that flood". Neither did "the dying
thief" rejoiced "to see that fountain in his day". It is the
life (also referred to as soul and soul life) of the Son of Man that was poured
out unto death. The Roman soldier who pierced Jesus' side did so after His
death, so it wasn't that which saves us, but Jesus pouring out His soul unto
death. Isaiah 53:12 says, "He poured out Himself to death".
"Himself" is the word nep?eš,
literally translated soul, self, life, soul life. Transubstantiation
erroneously teaches that the grape juice mystically transforms into Jesus' physical
blood during Mass, similar to our communion table. The cup represents the
blood, but never becomes the blood.
We've
heard in so many ways about our soul being governed by the desires of our
bodies, or us living out from our soul. In that context it is negative - not
what we want to do when we've been purchased by the blood of Christ. We want to
put to death our soul life and live a spirit filled, spirit led life instead.
However, the soul of Jesus was not corrupted by sin as our souls are. His soul
was and is perfect. As His soul was brought to maturity, being dependent on
Heavenly Father drawing on the Holy Spirit given Him without measure, learning
obedience through suffering, He became the sinless offering that paid our sin
debt. He poured out His soul life unto death - a pure and undefiled soul
governed by His Spirit, out from the power of God.
Another
adjustment to consider is the passage in Luke that speaks of Jesus coming to
cast fire on the earth. Instead of understanding that to apply to Pentecost and
the 'tongues of fire' that appeared over the disciples, it will be "to purge the earth - to
cleanse the earth for His 1,000 year reign." "Fire is always
judgment; fire always consumes." We see that happening during the day of
the Lord, the 7-year tribulation.
As
this message is about the endurance of Jesus Christ, we see the entire Godhead
is involved in the incarnation and life of Jesus as the Son of God, Son of Man.
"As God - He empties Himself; as Man - He humbles Himself. The cross is in
God... The nature and character of that which defines that cross historically
is in the Persons of the Godhead."
Resource
mentioned: in the shadow of the cross by
Glenn M. Penner
https://bit.ly/4ez3ALY
Link
to audio: https://dougriggs.s3.amazonaws.com/Assemblies/10-11-15+sunday+assembly.mp3
Maranatha!
John Mark
...hereby committing this unto the
providential care of the enthroned Head of the Church; whose Name is
blessed forevermore, Yeshua Mashiach - Jesus Christ!