Dear Doves,

 

What is it that Jesus is selling us in:

 

Revelation 3:18

"I counsel you to BUY from me 'gold' refined in the fire so you can become rich; and 'white clothes' to wear so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and 'salve' to put on your eyes so you can see."

 

We know that 'salvation is a FREE gift' from God given us by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross; so what is it that Jesus wants us to 'buy' from him, and how does he want us to 'pay' Him for it? Does anyone have any ideas?

 

Come Lord Jesus!

 

Bruce Warner

 

Hey Bruce,

 

I believe that the answer is found here:

 

Isaiah 55

 1.  Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
 2.  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
 3.  Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

 

These who are left behind after the rapture are those who failed to do what the Philadelphia saints did for which they are rewarded with escaping the tribulation.

 

Revelation 3:8

and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

 

 10.  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
 11.  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

 

In other words you have kept the word that Jesus endured for you and paid your way into right standing with God. You already have obtained what He is offering to the left behind ones who may have done other things and had works, but failed to do this most important thing of obtaining His promises to give you the kingdom. Much like the Israelites who failed to enter the Promised Land, even though they all were saved out of Egypt. In a word unbelief or lack of faith in what God promised. Making it necessary for Him to have to appeal to them again after the rapture, during the tribulation.

 

1 Peter 1: 

7.  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 

2 Peter 1

 1.  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
 2.  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
 3.  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
 4.  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
 5.  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
 6.  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
 7.  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
 8.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 9.  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (These are Christians)
 10.  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (Why the need to make your election sure if it can never be lost?)
 11.  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

Barry Amundsen