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¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried
Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.
Scripture of The Day - St. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Escritura del día - San Juan 14,6
Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.
Bibelstelle des Tages - Johannes 14,6
Jesus spricht zu ihm: Ich bin der Weg und die Wahrheit und das Leben; niemand kommt zum Vater, denn durch mich!
Gold Tried in the Fire Purchased from Christ
Counsel from the Lord
In the scripture of Revelation 3:18, Jesus say, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich...." This counsel from the Son of God is given to the church of the Laodicians whose works concerning the kingdom of heaven were neither cold nor hot. Verse 16 says that they were lukewarm. It is made very apparent that lukewarm works are unacceptable to Christ who warns, "So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:16).
The majority of churches today, particularly in the West, might be described as lukewarm when it comes to works related to the kingdom of heaven. Many Christian leaders and their followers profess Christianity, and truly believe the word of God, at least intellectually. However, very few actually stand for what they know is right, according to biblical scripture. A good number of believers in Jesus prefer to please man rather than to please God. Many prefer to be politically correct rather than to make waves; and to blend in rather than to be an odd ball. Such people are not cold enemies against the gospel of Jesus. However, they are not on fire for Christ either.
What is in between cold and hot? Lukewarmness. Such people are among those who are advised by the word of God to buy gold tried in the fire. It's interesting to note that these lukewarm church goers are rich in the riches of the world (Rev. 3:17), which makes them think that they are blessed and in right standing with God.
Spiritual Gold
When Jesus tells the lukewarm to buy from him gold tried in the fire, we know that he is speaking of spiritual gold because of scriptures such as Isaiah 55:1 where God speaks of purchasing from him without money. He speaks of buying things that do not have a price. We read, "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. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and you 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. Incline your ear, and come unto me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you..." (Isaiah 55:1-3).
Gold tried in the fire purchased from Christ also is without price--without a price in terms of the currencies of the world. It does have a spiritual price, however.
What Is Gold Tried in the Fire and How Do You Purchase It?
The answer to the meaning of gold tried in the fire purchased from Christ is found in scriptures such as Revelation 3:18, Isaiah 55:1-3, and 1 Peter 1:7. We read, "...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."
Gold that perishes is the physical, tangible, metal of this present earth. Spiritual gold is your faith in Christ; and every true believer's faith in Jesus will go through a fiery trial during which all that is dross is to be done away with (burned away) to bring forth a finished product of pure gold. God's word says that this spiritual gold tried in the fire is more precious than natural gold that perishes (1 Pet. 1:7). Spiritual truths generally are best understood when compared to natural truths. Gold is always found mixed with dross in nature. It must be put through a fiery process which cleanses away the dross to acquire what truly has great value--the pure gold.
Every man is given a measure of faith (gold) so he can receive Jesus as Savior. Nevertheless, the sin nature, also known as the natural man, is the dross that interferes with a soul's faith coming forth as pure gold just as natural dross interferes with having pure gold from the start. Natural fire burns away natural dross. Spiritual fire burns away spiritual dross.
How do you buy from Jesus gold tried in the fire? What did we read in Isaiah 55:1-3? Verses one and two speak of buying from God without money "things" that don't have a price. Verse three follows with, "Incline your ear, and come unto me, hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you...." Buying from God gold tried in the fire requires:
1. Inclining your ear to his voice
2. Hearing him
3. Going to him
4. Making an everlasting covenant with him (your salvation)
The scripture of 1 Peter 1:4-9 reads, "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. Who are kept by the power of God through FAITH unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations 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: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
To purchase from God gold tried in the fire is not only inclining your ear to the Lord, hearing him, going to him and making an everlasting covenant with him, but also loving, believing, and rejoicing in accordance to 1 Peter 1:4-9.
Recommended Reading:
Moses and the Burning Bush: What Is Scripture Teaching Us? Part I
God's Forgiveness During the Trial of Faith
The Biblical Definition Of Real Faith In God
Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.
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Comments/Comentarios:
Thank you for sharing this passage, it did open for me an understanding of faith that I have not had before. WOW! Thank you so much..You are blessed!
by: Phyllis
Posted on 2021-01-29 08:04:12
Thank you very much, Ms. Phyllis, for taking the time to let us know you found the article helpful in your faith. This, and many other topics are covered in our free Bible studies by Zoom.
by: Heavenly Manna
Posted on 2021-01-30 09:00:26
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