Can You Lose Your Salvation: Does Revelation 3:11 Say You Can?

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which 

thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar 

in the temple of my God, and he shall go no 

more out: and I will write upon him the 

name of my God, which is new Jerusalem, 

which cometh down out of heaven from my God: 

and I will write upon him my new name. He that 

hath an ear, let him hear what the 

Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:11-13 

     What is this crown that can be taken away if a Christian does not hold fast to that which they have received? Does this mean that a person can lose their salvation. Some say yes, others say no; what are we to believe? All answers to our questions can be answered by Scripture: but we must do the work to find the answer, God will lead you if you take the time to do the study. 

     Removing the use for our physical crown of the head we then turn to the use for the word "crown." Blessing were placed upon Joseph and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren (Genesis 49:26). Who was separated from his brethren? Joseph! The crown was called holy and placed upon the miter and on the border of the cover of the tent tabernacle. When the miter was placed on high priest the "holy crown" was placed on him as the LORD commanded to Moses (Leviticus 8:9). The crown was called the crown of anointing oil God (Leviticus 21:9). When Job gave an answer to Bildad the Shuhite saying that the words of Biladid were vexing his soul shouting that God hath overthrown him and tha" his cries were not being heard and that God hath stripped from him his gory, and taken the crown from his head (Job 19:9). Isaiah expands for us what the crown is the symbol of the crown: "In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, into the residue of His people" (Isaiah 28:5). The sinners will see your righteousness and you will be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name: "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God" (Isaiah 62:3: read vs. 2). God's people had become a reproach to God and: (The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned" (Lamentations 5:16). Speaking to the Israelites God that He had given to them: "And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head" (Exekiel 16:12). But as so often happens when a person or a Church, a denomination thinks so highly of being a crown of glory they fall away: "But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouedst out they fornications on every one that passed by; his it was" (Ezekiel 16:15). Paul now gives to us what it means to have a "crown" not just any crown but an incorruptible crown while sinners obtain a corruptible crown: "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (1Corinthians 9:25). An Authentic Christian is a joy to others and are a crown of joy to them: "Therefore, my Brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved" (Philippians 4:1). Our crown is to be a crown of rejoicing and our hope as you consider the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ: "For what is our hop, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming" (1Thessalonians 5:19)? Do you know that you have a crown just waiting for you? Paul in writing to Timothy gives us the answer: "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them that also that love His appearing" (2Timothy 4:8). Jesus in Revelation tells us to hold fast and if you do: "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him" (James 1:12). Jesus is coming and when He does He will give to you a crown of glory: "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1Peter 5:4). Our study of Revelation in chapter two speaks to us that we will, if "faithful unto death, receive a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). 

       If you remain faithful nothing, no one, can take away your righteousness in Jesus Christ. By faithfulness you will receive a crown of life, not lose your salvation but will eternally be righteous. Not faith in faith, not faith in anything other than Jesus Christ will you remain righteous. You can wear that crown of righteousness now even in the face of temptation and if you fall, you can receive repentance and if you do not return to that sin. God will judge us so we must overcome and we can, not by just our own power, which we must exercise, but by assistance of the Holy Spirit that indwells. Think on this: Your name will be written and the words are that you are a son of God, adopted, for sure, but nonetheless, a son, a daughter of God, a pillar in the temple of God. You will reside forever in the city of God, the New Jerusalem. 

     Fear not, you will not lose your salvation, but you could lose your witness for Jesus Christ and you will have to answer for your failure but God is merciful to those who have truly become Authentic Christians knowing as humans in this life we are susceptible to failure but He has come to be in you so you can run from temptations, and you have Him to guide you through trials. You are a child of God: live it!

The LORD shall judge the people:

     judge me, O LORD, according

to my righteousness, and according

     to mine integrity that is in me.

                         Psalm 6:8

You can now be a crown of righteousness

Richard L. Crumb

"What Is This Key Of David?

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; 

These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, 

He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, 

and no man shutteth;, and no may openeth; 

I know thy works: behold, I have set before 

thee an open door, and no man can shut it: 

for thou has a little strength, and hast kept

 my word, and hast not denied My name.

 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue 

of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, 

but do lie; behold, I will make them to come 

and worship before thy feet, and to know 

that I have loved thee. 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.

Revelation 3:7-10 

      We all know the name "Philadelphia" which is the joining of two Greek words, one of the word is used for love of a friend, and the other for brother, so brotherly love. Unlike English where we use the word "love" for just about anything we like, the Greeks defined "Love" so that there is no confusion. What about the "key of David?" This phrase is used twice in the Bible: 1. "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and not shall open" (Isaiah 22:22). 2. In Revelation 3:7, being discussed in this blog. To what does this key refer? This phrase refers to possessing legitimate authority, and in the case of David it referred to his authority to rule Israel. Israel was a holy nation set aside for His purpose. The Key of David does not refer to a physical throne or to a physical nation. Israel is the woman in Revelation chapter twelve who goes from being the nation that gave birth to Jesus Christ to a spiritual nation whose offspring keep the commandments of God and testifies about Jesus Christ as the Savior and this testimony is the spirit of prophesy (Revelation 19:10). Israel became the single nation promised to Abraham and then when Jesus comes to earth the world becomes the kingdom of God and of His Messiah (Revelation 11:15-18; Daniel 1:9-14). The Key of David means the right to rule Israel and now it means more than that for the physical nation of Israel is not a spiritual nation who are Christians, Authentic Christians. Now this Key of David given to Christians is the key that unlocks Scripture so that we can understand the writings of King David. God has opened the Scriptures to His children if they would only take the time to study His word. God will not implant that which is not first planted (Garbage in; garbage out) or (nothing in; nothing out). Some teach that God will give a vision or a word even if that vision is not supported by Scripture or to be recalled from memory. This is never taught in Scripture, and if this was true why then have a Bible for God would just put into the mind whatever He so desired. But God has not done this for He has revealed all that we need to know in His written word. 

     The word "worship" is not altogether a poor translation, but the word "προσκυήσωσιν" is the joining of two Greek words: 1.προσ: this can mean "towards," or "pertaining to," and 2.κυήσωσιν" meaning "dog," and metaphorically it means ungodly men exercising immoral ways. The use of "dog" is that a dog licks a hand and when those two words are conjoined, the meaning is that of bowing to do homage to another and homage means respect, so to give respect or even reverence a formal acknowledgement in giving acknowledgment of the worth of another. We will and should now give homage, reverence, worship towards Jesus Christ who holds the Key of David and give to you and me the right to use that key for our understanding and use and the world will have to acknowledge you an Authentic Christian and will know that you love the Savior Jesus Christ. It is Jesus Christ that will keep you from temptation. No, he will not shut the door to you if you are going to do that which is contrary to Jesus, but He will for He is God, He is the Holy Spirit, He is the Father, He is the Godhead to bring to you that which you have implanted into you mind so that you can withstand temptation. You must use your will. 

     Jesus commends the Church at Philadelphia for their endurance even though they were a "little power" yet they kept the word of Jesus. How can you keep that which you do not have, you cannot. Your power to succeed in your fight against temptation, the culture of this world, false doctrines, and other trials is found in only one place: Jesus Christ. I cannot now see Jesus, can you? NO! How can I see Him now? Through the word of God, through the Scriptures preserved throughout the ages so that you can see Jesus, you can live according to the commands of God. How great is our God? You cannot measure His greatness, but you can know His greatness. It is in His word and is in you by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. You have the power now: use it!

The LORD will perfect that which 

     concerneth me: thy mercy, 

O LORD, endureth for ever: 

    forsake not the works of 

Thine own hands.

      Psalm 138:8

You have the Key of David: Use it!

Richard L. Crumb

 

Learning What It Means To Be An Overcomer And The Blessing Of An Overcomer

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; 

These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits 

of God and the seven stars: I know thy works, 

that thou hast a name that thou livest, 

and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen

 the things which remain, that are ready to die: 

for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 

Revelation 3:1-2

     The city of Sardis lies close to the Aegean Sea, near Thyatira, and Ephesus, Philadelphia and others in what is now Turkey. This letter to that Church speaks of them having a form of Christianity but not the reality of Christianity and what they had was about to die. These people were living as thou they had true Christianity but their works belie their belief. While they believed that their works were of God, they were not and what they did have, what they did know of the truth, needed to be strengthened. The Church at Sardis needed to examine what they believed to ensure that they were not being misled. Jesus spoke to them that He was coming and those who did hold to the truth needed to wake up and teach repentance: "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shat not know what hour I will come upon thee" (Revelation 3:3). 

     Repentance is what is needed for anyone who desires to be an Authentic Christian, and have Authentic belief in God. Without repentance there can not be salvation. PERIOD! There are those, too many of them, that hold fast to a creed, or liturgy, or sacraments, or ordinances as thou by holding fast to them they are doing the work of God. Jesus Christ finds fault with false doctrines and ungodly inconsistent practices and rebukes those who are holding onto them as though this is what is required to be saved. The praise that a person receives from Jesus Christ is often when Jesus praises faith in Him. Jesus rewards patience, and even works when they are done truly with Him, not for Him, your labor of love, perseverance on these He bestows high commendation. 

    This must be noticed: Jesus in any epistle that He dwells upon Church government,or ceremonies, nor does He give doctrine, liturgies, forms, or baptism, or even the Lord's Supper, or apostolical succession. I wrote about this in an earlier blog but feel that this must be understood fully for there are many believers that think and preach that those things are of paramount importance. Was this happening in Sardis, was this their works leading to death? Those things have some importance but are not the highest important and they can have great blessing if taught as they should be and practiced as they should be. 

     Sardis had problems and yet there were some who were holding fast to the faith and that which was taught from the beginning: "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy" (Revelation 3:4). Would that not be great if that would be said of you? Yes! This requires that you be an overcomer and if an overcomer this promise is yours: "He hath overcometh, he same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 3:5-6). 

     An overcomer in Jesus Christ is assured that their name will never be blotted out of the Book of Life. An overcomer will be wearing a garment of white denoting that they are no longer under sin. Jesus makes intercession eternally for you. Are you hearing this? Not just with your ears, but with your mind, and are you confessing Him as He confesses to the Father for you?  

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.

                        Isaiah 33:3

 Overcomers receive praise and blessing 

Richard L. Crumb