Revelation 19:1–10 - During the Engagement
The day of a marriage is a time of tremendous joy. The day of a marriage proposal is also a time of thrilling excitement. But what about the interval of time in between the proposal and the wedding ceremony? What about the period of engagement?
Most people would say that time is somewhat mixed. Yes, there’s joy and anticipation, but also there’s much to be done and many decisions to make, as well as various issues to address and perhaps work through between the couple. There may be frustration, perhaps fears or doubts, and definitely longing for the big day.
The time of engagement is a time of “already” but “not-yet.” The man and woman have already committed to one another, but they have not yet been wed.
Scripture describes the relationship between Christ and His church in terms of marriage. The OT prophet Isaiah, referring to God’s eternal covenant of grace with His people, writes, “Your Maker is your husband…the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer.” Another OT prophet, Hosea, records God’s words of mercy shown to those saved by His grace. God says, “I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.”
Many places in the NT refer to Christ as a groom and His church as His bride – and this helps us understand so much of our experience as believers in the last days. We live during a time of engagement – between the betrothal and the wedding, between when we were born again and when Jesus returns in glory.
And like a person engaged to be married, there’s joy and anticipation, but also many decisions and much to do, issues to work through, and times of frustration, longing, fear and doubt. And as the time goes by, we become increasingly ready for the big day to arrive.
Now, during this time, God’s Word tells us things such as: “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you,” “Do not be anxious about anything,” “Do not worry about tomorrow.” Those are not easy things to do, and God knows that we need reassurance during this time.
This first part of Revelation 19 offers reassurance, and also, a call to endurance during this time of engagement.
Notice the outline prepared for you. During this time of engagement, there will be great difficulty, and many preparations, so we must be sharply focused.
Now, chapter 18 described why Babylon falls – why the world, with all of its seductions and persecutions, is finally destroyed in totality by God on the Last Day. And heaven celebrates. John hears “what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven.” He says this again in verse 6. This is all the saints and angels in heaven rejoicing.
Why do they rejoice? Because God’s final judgment of the world has come. Verse 2, “he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” The residents of heaven are thrilled to see God’s true and just retribution for all wickedness. They say “Hallelujah!” Praise the Lord!
And notice verse 3, “The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” This is reminiscent of what the apostle Peter writes in 2 Peter 3, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” Heaven celebrates because the wait is over. Sin is destroyed.
Now verse 4 mentions two more groups in heaven: the 24 elders and the four living creatures. John saw them in previous visions. “Elder” is our translation of the Greek word “presbuteros,” from which we get the word “presbyterian.” Who are these elders, and why 24?
In the OT, 12 tribes of ancient Israel divided the Promised Land, The sons of Jacob were the original elders of these tribes. And not by coincidence, in the NT, Jesus chose 12 apostles as the first elders of the NT church. Incidentally, that’s further evidence of continuity from OC to NC. More about that later. These 24 elders symbolically represent the foundations of God’s covenant people and therefore they represent the whole church of God from both OT and NT eras – all who are saved by His grace.
What about the four living creatures? The OT prophet Ezekiel had a similar vision of winged creatures in God’s heavenly presence. Ezekiel’s and John’s visions also differ in some ways, and for that reason, this should be understood as symbolic as well. These creatures seem to represent God’s careful and complete watch over all His creatures – four protectors covering north, south, east, and west.
These two groups represent all of heaven and earth – all of creation, even the earth itself. The apostle Paul writes in Romans that because of sin’s effects, “the whole creation has been groaning together.” All creation naturally glorifies God – it still does, of course, but sin has harmed all things. What John sees is all creation’s response to the reversal of that harm. The engagement is over.
Heaven and earth rejoice because of sin’s destruction, but also, because of the church’s deliverance. And I want to address just a few difficulties that plague God’s people in every age.
The first is shame. It’s a heavy thing to live under the weight of regret, to endure the pain of embarrassment, and to be humiliated because of mistakes. Shame is a powerful thing. It drives us to all sorts of things to rid ourselves of it. Do you carry shame? Do you know the sting of shame? The saints and angels sing in celebration on that day, because there is no more shame.
Another difficulty we endure is tied to shame, that that’s legalism. Legalism is often wrongly thought to simply mean “adding works to faith for salvation.” The assumption is that if you believe salvation is by faith in Christ alone, you’re not a legalist. But legalism is more than that. Dr. Sinclair Ferguson states that legalism is “separating the law of God from the character of God.”
This has been a problem in the created order almost from the beginning. In the garden of Eden, the Serpent deceived the first man and woman by slandering God. He accused God of not being good, of not having the man and woman’s best in mind. Satan attacked the loving character of God, so that God’s command sounded negative and restricting. Does the moral law of God ever feel that way to you? Negative and restricting?
Does it ever seem like God’s law keeps you from the good life you could be living? Does it ever seem like God’s commands keep you from doing what you want to do? That’s legalism. Maybe that describes some times in your life and not others.
But there’s another trap laid by legalism. Dr. Ferguson points out that when the Serpent said to Eve, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’,” He was casting doubt on God's goodness. But Eve replied, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
God did not say they could not touch the tree. And in light of this, Dr. Ferguson notes, “Now it might be wise or it might not be wise to touch the tree, but that’s exactly the kind of thing that the Pharisees said, isn’t it? God has given us these rules, and in order to make sure that you keep these rules, we’re going to add one more rule.” We naturally add to the moral law of God all the time.
What are these additional rules that you must keep – the ones that aren’t laid down in Scripture, but you fear God will not bless you if you break them? We fashion these laws, or we learn them from others. We impose them on ourselves and we impose them on others. That’s legalism too. It destroys our joy and our peace; it destroys our relationships. It harms the church.
The saints and angels sing in celebration because on the Last Day, there is no more legalism.
And a third plague that harms and haunts the people of God is related to the other two, and that’s fear. Old-fashioned, easy-to-identify dread. Fear of the future, fear of the past, fear of the present. How will my life turn out? How will my kids turn out? How will I pay this bill? Will my dreams come true? What harm may come to me or those I love? What will happen to this country? What will happen in this world? Will God bless me? Is God pleased with me? Will I ruin my life? Have I ruined things? Is there hope for me?
The saints and angels sing in celebration because on the Last Day, there is no more fear.
The proposal is joyous. The wedding is joyous. But during this time of engagement, there will be great difficulty. For sure, there will be many good times. God is gracious; He’s at work in our lives. He’s bringing His good will to pass. But the effects of sin are real and vast, and heaven will rejoice when sin is gone for good.
In these next verses, the celebration continues. Again John hears “what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven.” Again, this is all the saints and angels in heaven rejoicing. It’s a thunderous sound! And they “rejoice and exult” and give God glory for a certain reason. For a certain event. Verse 7, “for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready.”
How should we understand this marriage? Theologian Louis Berkhof can help us. Berkhof was a Dutch-American Bible Scholar and teacher; he passed away about 60 years ago. His Systematic Theology is standard reading in the Reformed and Presbyterian world. And Berkhof points out that the Hebrew custom of marriage mirrors these stages of Christ and His church.
In Jewish tradition, first was the betrothal. Betrothal was much like our marriage proposals today, but betrothal was much more binding. A betrothed man and woman were legally husband and wife. Then there was a time of preparation “in between” at the end of which the groom would return to receive his bride, which was followed by a great wedding feast.
In Luke 15, Jesus says that there is joy in heaven when a sinner repents. When a person is born again and betrothed to Christ, it’s a wonderful moment! That sinner is saved – they are now eternally secure in Jesus. And one day, they will be with Christ, either on the day they die or the day of His return, whichever comes first. And though a person’s death may be tragic or untimely, ultimately – ultimately – that is a wonderful moment as well, because heaven receives another saint to glory.
However, in between – before the marriage and the feast, there is much to be done. Paul told the believers at the church in Philippi, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” What is that good work? It’s God’s divine act of making us more and more like Jesus Christ.
Look at verse [8]. Heaven and earth rejoice because, “his bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” Remember, the bride is the true church. Bible scholar William Hendriksen writes, “The fine linen symbolizes her righteous acts, her sanctified character. Her deeds have been washed in the blood of Christ. Remember, however, that this righteousness is ‘given [or granted] to her by God’s sovereign grace.”
By grace, we mature as disciples of Jesus Christ during this time of engagement. And God gets the glory. In Ephesians 2, Paul says, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
During this time of engagement, there will be many preparations. God is doing a good work in and among us. He’s preparing us for the great wedding day. He’s always with His people and He has a good plan for us. He’s so powerful that He can and does work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called by Him.
God is leading His people. We can be comforted knowing that when we are led by God’s Spirit and guided by His providence, He leads us with knowledge that He has which we lack. This is why later on it looks as if we knew things that we actually didn’t know. If you are in Christ, God is preparing you for that great marriage feast to come.
So, there’s a lot going on during this time of engagement. But notice this final exchange between John and the angel in this vision. Verse [9] And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” [10] Then I fell down at his feet to worship him.” John is so thrilled by what he sees and understands – and he’s no doubt so relieved that he falls down in reverence.
John fears the Lord, as verse 5 says. He has a reverent awe of God. But the angel corrects him. “He said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” Makes sense. But then John records a fascinating statement. It’s a statement so concise, but it requires some explanation. In response to this instruction to worship God, John adds, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” What does that mean?
Well, the testimony of Jesus is “who He is and what He's done.” It’s His whole saving work – foretold in the OT and fulfilled in the NT. So what is “the spirit of prophecy?” Well, John was a prophet. He testified to who Christ is and what He had done. And as Bible scholar Greg Beale puts it, John was “part of a narrower class of NT prophets and apostles who continue the OT prophetic office.”
In other words, John was one these are the men through whom God gave us the prophecy that is the OT and NT – all of Scripture – the whole Bible. And the “spirit” of the OT and NT is the testimony of Jesus. Which is to say, the whole Bible is about and points to Jesus Christ. Only through Him can anyone truly know and worship God. This is what the angel tells John. Look to Christ, because who He and what He’s done is the message of the whole Bible.
During this time of engagement, there will be great difficulty, and many preparations, so we must be sharply focused. And the object of our focus could not be more clearly stated than it is right here. Our focus must be the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ can relieve your shame. Christ can dismantle your legalism. Christ can dispel your fear. The whole Bible – from Genesis to Revelation – tells you about Him. Not just the Gospels. This is why and who we can confidently say that, at this church, we preach Christ from all of Scripture. Every book of the Bible, every chapter, testifies to who Jesus is and what He does for His people.
So I want to give you a statement to think about and you might even write it down. From the OT to the NT, discontinuity is the exception; continuity is the rule. I believe that is at the heart of what John states here in verse 10.
Now, when God’s people expands from one nation to every nation, there is a shift. Some things changed. In ancient Israel, outsiders were welcomed in if they had faith. With the Great Commission, Jesus began to send us out. No more civil laws under one nation. When Christ died and rose again, some aspects of worship changed. No more sacrifices, no more blood. No more ceremonial laws of cleanliness for worship.
But the moral law of God has never changed, nor has the way a person is saved. And neither has the focus of God’s people. OT, NT, we have always been called to focus on the grace and love of God. NC believers see in full what OC believers were shown only in part.
The apostle Paul references OT rituals and customs in the book of Colossians 2. He writes, “let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” And Paul says that in Jesus, ”the whole fullness of [God] dwells bodily.”
As we go to the Lord’s table this morning, Jesus has made the point for us. During this time of engagement we must be sharply focused – on Him. Is Christ your focus? Or has your focus drifted to some other thing. Whatever it is, if it is not Christ, I assure you that it will pass away. But there is such richness and life to be found in Jesus Christ. Will you look to Him today?
Let’s bow in prayer.
Most people would say that time is somewhat mixed. Yes, there’s joy and anticipation, but also there’s much to be done and many decisions to make, as well as various issues to address and perhaps work through between the couple. There may be frustration, perhaps fears or doubts, and definitely longing for the big day.
The time of engagement is a time of “already” but “not-yet.” The man and woman have already committed to one another, but they have not yet been wed.
Scripture describes the relationship between Christ and His church in terms of marriage. The OT prophet Isaiah, referring to God’s eternal covenant of grace with His people, writes, “Your Maker is your husband…the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer.” Another OT prophet, Hosea, records God’s words of mercy shown to those saved by His grace. God says, “I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.”
Many places in the NT refer to Christ as a groom and His church as His bride – and this helps us understand so much of our experience as believers in the last days. We live during a time of engagement – between the betrothal and the wedding, between when we were born again and when Jesus returns in glory.
And like a person engaged to be married, there’s joy and anticipation, but also many decisions and much to do, issues to work through, and times of frustration, longing, fear and doubt. And as the time goes by, we become increasingly ready for the big day to arrive.
Now, during this time, God’s Word tells us things such as: “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you,” “Do not be anxious about anything,” “Do not worry about tomorrow.” Those are not easy things to do, and God knows that we need reassurance during this time.
This first part of Revelation 19 offers reassurance, and also, a call to endurance during this time of engagement.
Notice the outline prepared for you. During this time of engagement, there will be great difficulty, and many preparations, so we must be sharply focused.
Now, chapter 18 described why Babylon falls – why the world, with all of its seductions and persecutions, is finally destroyed in totality by God on the Last Day. And heaven celebrates. John hears “what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven.” He says this again in verse 6. This is all the saints and angels in heaven rejoicing.
Why do they rejoice? Because God’s final judgment of the world has come. Verse 2, “he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” The residents of heaven are thrilled to see God’s true and just retribution for all wickedness. They say “Hallelujah!” Praise the Lord!
And notice verse 3, “The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” This is reminiscent of what the apostle Peter writes in 2 Peter 3, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” Heaven celebrates because the wait is over. Sin is destroyed.
Now verse 4 mentions two more groups in heaven: the 24 elders and the four living creatures. John saw them in previous visions. “Elder” is our translation of the Greek word “presbuteros,” from which we get the word “presbyterian.” Who are these elders, and why 24?
In the OT, 12 tribes of ancient Israel divided the Promised Land, The sons of Jacob were the original elders of these tribes. And not by coincidence, in the NT, Jesus chose 12 apostles as the first elders of the NT church. Incidentally, that’s further evidence of continuity from OC to NC. More about that later. These 24 elders symbolically represent the foundations of God’s covenant people and therefore they represent the whole church of God from both OT and NT eras – all who are saved by His grace.
What about the four living creatures? The OT prophet Ezekiel had a similar vision of winged creatures in God’s heavenly presence. Ezekiel’s and John’s visions also differ in some ways, and for that reason, this should be understood as symbolic as well. These creatures seem to represent God’s careful and complete watch over all His creatures – four protectors covering north, south, east, and west.
These two groups represent all of heaven and earth – all of creation, even the earth itself. The apostle Paul writes in Romans that because of sin’s effects, “the whole creation has been groaning together.” All creation naturally glorifies God – it still does, of course, but sin has harmed all things. What John sees is all creation’s response to the reversal of that harm. The engagement is over.
Heaven and earth rejoice because of sin’s destruction, but also, because of the church’s deliverance. And I want to address just a few difficulties that plague God’s people in every age.
The first is shame. It’s a heavy thing to live under the weight of regret, to endure the pain of embarrassment, and to be humiliated because of mistakes. Shame is a powerful thing. It drives us to all sorts of things to rid ourselves of it. Do you carry shame? Do you know the sting of shame? The saints and angels sing in celebration on that day, because there is no more shame.
Another difficulty we endure is tied to shame, that that’s legalism. Legalism is often wrongly thought to simply mean “adding works to faith for salvation.” The assumption is that if you believe salvation is by faith in Christ alone, you’re not a legalist. But legalism is more than that. Dr. Sinclair Ferguson states that legalism is “separating the law of God from the character of God.”
This has been a problem in the created order almost from the beginning. In the garden of Eden, the Serpent deceived the first man and woman by slandering God. He accused God of not being good, of not having the man and woman’s best in mind. Satan attacked the loving character of God, so that God’s command sounded negative and restricting. Does the moral law of God ever feel that way to you? Negative and restricting?
Does it ever seem like God’s law keeps you from the good life you could be living? Does it ever seem like God’s commands keep you from doing what you want to do? That’s legalism. Maybe that describes some times in your life and not others.
But there’s another trap laid by legalism. Dr. Ferguson points out that when the Serpent said to Eve, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’,” He was casting doubt on God's goodness. But Eve replied, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
God did not say they could not touch the tree. And in light of this, Dr. Ferguson notes, “Now it might be wise or it might not be wise to touch the tree, but that’s exactly the kind of thing that the Pharisees said, isn’t it? God has given us these rules, and in order to make sure that you keep these rules, we’re going to add one more rule.” We naturally add to the moral law of God all the time.
What are these additional rules that you must keep – the ones that aren’t laid down in Scripture, but you fear God will not bless you if you break them? We fashion these laws, or we learn them from others. We impose them on ourselves and we impose them on others. That’s legalism too. It destroys our joy and our peace; it destroys our relationships. It harms the church.
The saints and angels sing in celebration because on the Last Day, there is no more legalism.
And a third plague that harms and haunts the people of God is related to the other two, and that’s fear. Old-fashioned, easy-to-identify dread. Fear of the future, fear of the past, fear of the present. How will my life turn out? How will my kids turn out? How will I pay this bill? Will my dreams come true? What harm may come to me or those I love? What will happen to this country? What will happen in this world? Will God bless me? Is God pleased with me? Will I ruin my life? Have I ruined things? Is there hope for me?
The saints and angels sing in celebration because on the Last Day, there is no more fear.
The proposal is joyous. The wedding is joyous. But during this time of engagement, there will be great difficulty. For sure, there will be many good times. God is gracious; He’s at work in our lives. He’s bringing His good will to pass. But the effects of sin are real and vast, and heaven will rejoice when sin is gone for good.
In these next verses, the celebration continues. Again John hears “what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven.” Again, this is all the saints and angels in heaven rejoicing. It’s a thunderous sound! And they “rejoice and exult” and give God glory for a certain reason. For a certain event. Verse 7, “for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready.”
How should we understand this marriage? Theologian Louis Berkhof can help us. Berkhof was a Dutch-American Bible Scholar and teacher; he passed away about 60 years ago. His Systematic Theology is standard reading in the Reformed and Presbyterian world. And Berkhof points out that the Hebrew custom of marriage mirrors these stages of Christ and His church.
In Jewish tradition, first was the betrothal. Betrothal was much like our marriage proposals today, but betrothal was much more binding. A betrothed man and woman were legally husband and wife. Then there was a time of preparation “in between” at the end of which the groom would return to receive his bride, which was followed by a great wedding feast.
In Luke 15, Jesus says that there is joy in heaven when a sinner repents. When a person is born again and betrothed to Christ, it’s a wonderful moment! That sinner is saved – they are now eternally secure in Jesus. And one day, they will be with Christ, either on the day they die or the day of His return, whichever comes first. And though a person’s death may be tragic or untimely, ultimately – ultimately – that is a wonderful moment as well, because heaven receives another saint to glory.
However, in between – before the marriage and the feast, there is much to be done. Paul told the believers at the church in Philippi, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” What is that good work? It’s God’s divine act of making us more and more like Jesus Christ.
Look at verse [8]. Heaven and earth rejoice because, “his bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” Remember, the bride is the true church. Bible scholar William Hendriksen writes, “The fine linen symbolizes her righteous acts, her sanctified character. Her deeds have been washed in the blood of Christ. Remember, however, that this righteousness is ‘given [or granted] to her by God’s sovereign grace.”
By grace, we mature as disciples of Jesus Christ during this time of engagement. And God gets the glory. In Ephesians 2, Paul says, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
During this time of engagement, there will be many preparations. God is doing a good work in and among us. He’s preparing us for the great wedding day. He’s always with His people and He has a good plan for us. He’s so powerful that He can and does work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called by Him.
God is leading His people. We can be comforted knowing that when we are led by God’s Spirit and guided by His providence, He leads us with knowledge that He has which we lack. This is why later on it looks as if we knew things that we actually didn’t know. If you are in Christ, God is preparing you for that great marriage feast to come.
So, there’s a lot going on during this time of engagement. But notice this final exchange between John and the angel in this vision. Verse [9] And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” [10] Then I fell down at his feet to worship him.” John is so thrilled by what he sees and understands – and he’s no doubt so relieved that he falls down in reverence.
John fears the Lord, as verse 5 says. He has a reverent awe of God. But the angel corrects him. “He said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” Makes sense. But then John records a fascinating statement. It’s a statement so concise, but it requires some explanation. In response to this instruction to worship God, John adds, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” What does that mean?
Well, the testimony of Jesus is “who He is and what He's done.” It’s His whole saving work – foretold in the OT and fulfilled in the NT. So what is “the spirit of prophecy?” Well, John was a prophet. He testified to who Christ is and what He had done. And as Bible scholar Greg Beale puts it, John was “part of a narrower class of NT prophets and apostles who continue the OT prophetic office.”
In other words, John was one these are the men through whom God gave us the prophecy that is the OT and NT – all of Scripture – the whole Bible. And the “spirit” of the OT and NT is the testimony of Jesus. Which is to say, the whole Bible is about and points to Jesus Christ. Only through Him can anyone truly know and worship God. This is what the angel tells John. Look to Christ, because who He and what He’s done is the message of the whole Bible.
During this time of engagement, there will be great difficulty, and many preparations, so we must be sharply focused. And the object of our focus could not be more clearly stated than it is right here. Our focus must be the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ can relieve your shame. Christ can dismantle your legalism. Christ can dispel your fear. The whole Bible – from Genesis to Revelation – tells you about Him. Not just the Gospels. This is why and who we can confidently say that, at this church, we preach Christ from all of Scripture. Every book of the Bible, every chapter, testifies to who Jesus is and what He does for His people.
So I want to give you a statement to think about and you might even write it down. From the OT to the NT, discontinuity is the exception; continuity is the rule. I believe that is at the heart of what John states here in verse 10.
Now, when God’s people expands from one nation to every nation, there is a shift. Some things changed. In ancient Israel, outsiders were welcomed in if they had faith. With the Great Commission, Jesus began to send us out. No more civil laws under one nation. When Christ died and rose again, some aspects of worship changed. No more sacrifices, no more blood. No more ceremonial laws of cleanliness for worship.
But the moral law of God has never changed, nor has the way a person is saved. And neither has the focus of God’s people. OT, NT, we have always been called to focus on the grace and love of God. NC believers see in full what OC believers were shown only in part.
The apostle Paul references OT rituals and customs in the book of Colossians 2. He writes, “let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” And Paul says that in Jesus, ”the whole fullness of [God] dwells bodily.”
As we go to the Lord’s table this morning, Jesus has made the point for us. During this time of engagement we must be sharply focused – on Him. Is Christ your focus? Or has your focus drifted to some other thing. Whatever it is, if it is not Christ, I assure you that it will pass away. But there is such richness and life to be found in Jesus Christ. Will you look to Him today?
Let’s bow in prayer.
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