SONSHIP 2 THE DIFFERENCE

THE DIFFERENCE

The DIFFERENCE between the "run-of-the-mill" Christians and the SONS OF GOD is described in many ways in the Bible.

The MOST OUTSTANDING DIFFERENCE is described in the letters to the SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA.

Each Church was given an INCENTIVE PROMISE "to him that OVERCOMETH".

We are NOT AUTOMATICALLY OVERCOMERS as a result of having been saved by the Blood of Jesus.

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to BUY OF ME (NOT A GIFT) gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be RICH; (toward God) and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed (with acquired righteousness), and [that] the shame of thy nakedness (the lack of it) do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, THAT THOU MAYEST SEE.
II Peter 1:5-10 And beside this, GIVING ALL DILIGENCE, add (NOT A GIFT) to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. FOR IF THESE THINGS (ALL INTERNAL-- NOT EXTERNALS) BE IN YOU, AND ABOUND, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. BUT HE THAT LACKETH THESE THINGS IS BLIND, AND CANNOT SEE AFAR OFF, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, GIVE DILIGENCE to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Abraham, along with the other heroes of faith, could "see afar off" because of the OBEDIENCE OF FAITH.

Hebrews 11:8-13 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a CITY WHICH HATH FOUNDATIONS, whose builder and maker [is] God. (Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.) Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the STARS OF THE SKY IN MULTITUDE (The SPIRITUAL SEED), and as the sand which is by the sea shore (THE NATURAL SEED) innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but HAVING SEEN THEM AFAR OFF, (3,000 YEARS AGO) AND WERE PERSUADED OF [THEM], (KNEW THEY WERE A REALITY) AND EMBRACED [THEM], (A LOVING RELATIONSHIP) AND CONFESSED THAT THEY WERE STRANGERS (NOT CITIZENS) AND PILGRIMS (TRANSIENT) ON THE EARTH.

Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: FOR HE HATH PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY.

The PROPHETIC MEANING of a CITY is that a GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN ACCORDANCE TO ONE LAW, OR GOVERNMENT. It does not indicate a geographical location, nor houses and streets as we know them today.

THAT IS ALSO WHAT IS MEANT BY THE DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW JERUSALEM.

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a BRIDE adorned for her husband.