Revelation 1:4-6 (ESV Strong's)
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The Power of the Gospel is in the Persons of the Trinity
We often, when reading a New Testament book, move quickly through the introduction to get to the meat of the writings. If we do so, we might miss some of the best portions of the letter. Such is the case in the above text. It, in truth, tells us who wrote the letter (John) and who it was addressed to (seven churches in Asia ... modern day Turkey). But, it also tell mentions the three Persons of the Trinity and a powerful description of those who are in the faith (in those seven churches, as well as those who would follow in faith). Note:
1. John states that we have “grace” from “him who is and who was and who is to come.” This is God the Father. God provides grace to us and that grace provides the salvation and power in our lives.
2. John also states that grace is from the “seven spirits who are before his throne.” This is the Holy Spirit. The number seven is the number of perfection. There is only one Spirit, but in this case John brings out the Spirt in His perfection as a provided of this grace in our lives.
3. John saves the Son of God for the last, in this introduction. The central theme of the book is Christ. He states, “... and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.” We serve and are empowered by the faithfulness of Christ, who is preeminent in the resurrection and is the sovereign ruler of the universe. We have nothing to fear when we understand the power, position and provision of Christ.
John ends this introduction with the essence of the Gospel:
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Through the love of God, the power of the Spirt and the blood of Christ we have been set free from sin, becomes priests to God and can worship and give glory and dominion to God, via the Son’s blood, forever and ever.
This is why we ought not skip through the introduction. The rest of the book of The Revelation is hung on these truths. We serve an awesome God through the power of the perfect Spirit, via the blood of the sacrificial Son.
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