Jesus Describes Overcomers as Possessing Life the Way God Designed It to Be
February 22,2012
By John Barnett
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One of the things I love about the Lord is that He always saves the best for last. Unlike the world whose joys run out and fade, God’s path that shines brighter each day we walk iy (Pr. 4:18).
Just like when Jesus turned the water into wine, all the guests said that the best had been saved for the last. Just like the promise to those who stay close to the Lord in Psalm 92, our God is the God who gives better and better joys so that those at the end surpass all others. As we turn to Rev. 3:21-22 we find that once again, our God has saved the best for last.
Jesus ends His letters to the churches in these two verses; and there again He states an incredible, “best for last” promise. The promise is given to those He calls overcomers. Overcomers possess the life that God designed to belong to His children.
The promise in v. 21 is part of a string of seven precious promises, all to overcomers, and all at the end of each letter. Each of us in Christ are reminded about what God has designed for us: real life, life that way God designed it to be.
As we look at v. 21 the most obvious question must be: “who exactly are these overcomers?” In each of the six other letters (cf. 2:11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21) this promise is given to all true belivers. It is not a promise to a special class of super-Christians, who attain a higher level of life; but as John has previously told us: it is a promise to all of us in Christ.
All True Believers Are Overcomers
Listen to the Apostle John as he wrote to the early church:
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4–5, NKJV).
All Christians, and every true believer is an overcomer. In Christ, by God’s grace and power, we all have overcome the destroying, enslaving power of the world’s evil system. Paul explained overcomers in Romans 12 as those who resist the world.
Romans 12:21 (NKJV) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Truly regenerated overcomers, are given seven precious promises: the privilege of eating from the tree of life (2:7), the crown of life (2:10), protection from the second death (2:11), the hidden manna (2:17), a white stone with a new name written on it (2:17), authority to rule the nations (2:26–27), the morning star (2:28), white garments, symbolizing purity and holiness (3:5), the honor of having Christ confess their names before God the Father and the holy angels in heaven (3:5), to be made a pillar in God’s temple (3:12), and to have written on them the name of God, of the new Jerusalem, and of Christ (3:12).
Jesus summarizes what He had already promised us, that is captured in His words written down in the Gospel by John. Do you remember how often Jesus talked about “Life the Way God Designed it to Be”?
Overcomers Possess Life the Way God Designed It to Be
For a moment go back with me and listen to Jesus as He spoke in the Gospel by John about real life. The lost who heard Him and did not receive Him, never understood or experienced life as Jesus described it, and God designed it.
Here is what eternal, endless, abundant life from above looks like in Christ's words:
John 1:43: A Life of Following Christ
John 3:36: A Life of Presently Possessing Eternal Life
John 4:13-14: A Life that Never runs dry or Goes empty
John 5:24: A Life that Never has to Fear a Bad Ending
John 6:57: A Life that Feeds on Christ
John 7:38: A Life that Becomes a Mighty Fountain of Endless Life
John 8:12, 36: A Life Never trapped in Darkness, but Freed
John 10:10, 28: A Life Abundant & Secure
So Jesus clearly states that He has come to give the life that God designed for us, that we turned from in Adam, and that He would purchase for us on the Cross. That endless, abundant life is what all who come simply by faith can have endlessly at this moment.
Please listen as we hear the final words, of the final letter to the seven churches. It is contains an amazing promise that is also applied by Jesus to each of us to hear and respond to this today.
Revelation 3:21-22 (NKJV) "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”
The last message Jesus has for us today is His wonderful plan. He has spelled out what He wants us to be like. He has detailed how He by His grace will enable us to live! Today Jesus is here.
Our Lord Jesus Christ came to give so much. Have you received what Jesus came to give every one of His own born again children? There are seven wonderful promises we have as Christ's children, they are in these two chapters of Christ's personal epistles to His church. They are:
TRUE BELIEVERS:
GET AN ABUNDANT LIFE, LIKE GOD DESIGNED IT TO BE
Revelation 2:7 (NKJV) “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’
• Endless Life: We have the infinite life in paradise, lost in the Garden, regained by faith in Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. John 3:16 (NKJV) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
• Overflowing Life: A Life that overflows our inner being. John 7:38 (NKJV) "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
• An Abundant Life: The extraordinary life that only God gives. John 10:10 (NKJV) "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
[“abundantly” is translated from perissos: exceeding some number or measure or rank or need, over and above, more than is necessary, superadded, exceeding abundantly, supremely something further, more, much more than all, more plainly, superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon, pre-eminence, superiority, advantage, more eminent, more remarkable, more excellent]
TRUE BELIEVERS:
POSSESS AN INDESTRUCTIBLE LIFE
Revelation 2:11 (NKJV) “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’
• We are secure from any physical adversary. John 10:28-29"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand." (NKJV)
• We are secure from any spiritual adversary: Romans 8:38-39 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (NKJV)
TRUE BELIEVERS:
ENJOY AN INEXAUSTIBLY SUPPLIED, FULLY SATISFIED LIVES
Revelation 2:17 (NKJV)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’
• Jesus promises that all our spiritual needs are met: John 6:35 "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (KJV)
• Jesus promises that all our spiritual desires are fulfilled: John 14:13-14 "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (NIV)
TRUE BELIEVERS:
HAVE THE BEST FUTURE IMAGINABLE
Revelation 2:26-29
• As true believers we have an inexpressible future. Revelation 2:26-27 “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— 27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;"
• As true believers we have a bright and glorious future. Revelation 2:28-29 “and I will give him the morning star. 29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
We will reign with Christ over the earth. I do not know what each of our specific duties will be, but we will have authority. Speaking about those who will be in heaven, Revelation 22:5 says, “They shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever.”
What’s that? Jesus is our light, life, and hope in the dark and gloom. We can’t lose, because we’ve already won. We’re on the winning team with Christ.
• As true believers God will reward us with unmeasureable treasures. Mark 10:29-30 "So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time -- houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions -- and in the age to come, eternal life." (NKJV)
TRUE BELIEVERS:
TRUE BELIEVERS RECEIVE A COMPLETELY SECURE LIFE
Revelation 3:5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
Note a three-fold promise. God gives true believers the best possible security, a triple-layered promise. WE have Christ as Our Garment, Our Advocate and Our Relative:
First, we are given Christ as our garment! v. 5a “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment;"
Romans 13:14 "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfill] the lusts [thereof]." (KJV)
WHITE REPRESENTS CELESTIAL LIFE: “White” is always the color of Heaven. The redeemed of the Great Tribulation are seen wearing robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb (7:14), then we join them arrayed in white robes (19:14), following our Savior on a white horse; and finally He is seated as Judge of the Universe on the great white throne (20:11). Count Nikolaus Von Zinzendorf (1700-1760) sang of this celestial joy and promise in his great hymn: Jesus Thy Blood & Righteousness:
Jesus, thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are my glorious dress:
‘Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With joy shall I lift up my head.
Bold shall I stand in thy great day,
For who ought to my charge shall lay?
Fully absolved through these I am--
From sin and fear, from guilt and shame
Lord, I believe they precious blood--
Which at the mercy seat of God,
Forever doth for sinners plead--
For me, e’en for my soul, was shed.
Lord, I believe were sinners more
Than sands upon the ocean shore,
Thou hast for all, a ransom paid,
For all a full atonement made.
Second, we are promised Christ as our advocate! v. 5b “He that overcometh, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life,
Hebrews 7:24-25 "But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (NKJV)
Kept in the book means a secure salvation. Can you lose your salvation? No, clearly this passage agrees with the rest of God’s Word, and says no! In Sardis the King could blot a citizen out of the registry of citizens if he did not like them. But not in Kingdom of God. We will never be blotted out is what Jesus promises.
Finally, we are promised Christ as our relative! v. 5c "but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
• Jesus promises we are adopted: Romans 8:17 "and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (NKJV)
• Jesus promises we will be confessed: Revelation 3:5 “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
What an unbelievable promise! Jesus with His nail scarred hands outstretched, welcomes us through the door of death, walks with us through the dark valley and welcomes us to Glory.
But not as the fluttering host that slips away, no, He walks by us down the golden streets. He leads us up the broad main street beside the River of the water of life. All around us the saints of all the ages look on in wonder as again Jesus leads one of His precious blood bought brothers and sisters, up to meet their Father in Heaven.
Then, on the Throne in blazing light, with a river of fire flowing out before Him, and billions of angels standing around Him: the Ancient of Days looks upon His Beloved Son walking toward Him.
And there, holding the hand of Jesus, we hear Him call us by our new name, the one He gave us, our name; and standing there before the throne, God will hear Jesus present us by name as His beloved and precious one.
• Jesus promises we will be clothed. Then what indescribable joy to hear our Father say, “Bring the best robe and put it on him.” Think of it, a robe of white, bright as the day, pure as the light! When the Lord Jesus was transfigured on the mount, something happened not only to His countenance, something happened also to His clothes. His raiment became white as the light. What a reward for faithfulness, to have a robe like that draped around the shoulders and to be invited to walk the shining ways of glory in light transfigured clothes. Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
TRUE BELIEVERS:
GET TO ENJOY THE WONDERS OF THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION TRIP
Revelation 3:12 (NKJV) "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name."
There are some incredible elements that stand out in our Heavenly destination with Christ. To the earthquake wary citizens of Philadelphia, weak and insecure at time, Jesus makes five indescribable promises:
1. I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, that means permanence
2. and he shall go out no more. that means tranquility
3. And I will write on him the name of My God that means eternity
4. and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. that means security
5. And I will write on him My new name. that means personal access
True believers are promised permanence: because we are pillars; and tranquility: because we are secure:
John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if [it were] not [so,] I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, [there] you may be also." (NKJV)
Lost your treasures on earth to disasters, lost your loves ones to death, lost your dreams to unexpected changes? Jesus says, the best is yet to come.
True believers are promised eternity, security, and access. God writes His Name on us. He signs us as belonging to Him, we have a new name, we are special to Him. We are a love gift from the Father to the Son!
John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."/ (NKJV)
TRUE BELIEVERS:
EXPERIENCE GENUINE INTIMACY WITH GOD
Revelation 3:21 (NKJV) "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
• Jesus promises that we will get to enjoy true intimacy with our God. John 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." (NKJV)
• Jesus explains to us that intimacy is a person. John 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (NKJV)
• Jesus assures us that intimacy is permanent. Revelation 21:7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son." (NKJV)
Jesus Saved the Best for Last
Jesus ends His letters to the churches in these two verses; and there again He states an incredible, “best for last” promise. The promise is given to those He calls overcomers. Overcomers possess the life that God designed to belong to His children.
Truly regenerated overcomers, are given seven precious promises: the privilege of eating from the tree of life (2:7), the crown of life (2:10), protection from the second death (2:11), the hidden manna (2:17), a white stone with a new name written on it (2:17), authority to rule the nations (2:26–27), the morning star (2:28), white garments, symbolizing purity and holiness (3:5), the honor of having Christ confess their names before God the Father and the holy angels in heaven (3:5), to be made a pillar in God’s temple (3:12), and to have written on them the name of God, of the new Jerusalem, and of Christ (3:12).
Who is an overcomer? You are, if you are:
• A person who has trusted Christ to overcome the penalty of sin at the cross.
• If you, each day are seeing God help you overcome the power of sin
Is that you?
If not yet, why not open the door of your life to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
But, the handle of salvation is on your side lost friend.
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