Back Story

       Some time back I watched a “gender reveal” for the expected  child to a couple in our church. Her husband, the baby’s father, marched out to his tractor and started it up. Suddenly the exhaust stacks belched plumes of pink smoke. That was quite the reveal to everyone that witnessed it!

 

“John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne.” Revelation 1:4

 

Who is being revealed in this verse?

What two attributes reveal Christ’s character?

 The One Person of the Triune God

       Overview of the Verse

       In Revelation 1:1 we learn that this book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. In other words its purpose is to reveal Jesus. In verse four we see the beginning of the revealing of Jesus Christ. We learn that He gives grace and peace to the church, then we learn that He is, was, and is to come. Next, we learn that this book is from the seven spirits of God.

       The conjunction “and” is used regularly as a connector that joins things that are equal. It is like in the equation 1+2=3. We learn early on that 1+2 and 3 are simply two ways of expressing the same thing as are 3+0 and 1+1+1.

       So, when this verse tells us that He is the one which is, and which was, and which is to come; and the revelation is also from the seven spirits of God, God is talking about two ways of manifesting the same person.

       Finally, in verse 8 we learn that the One who is, which was, and which is to come is the Almighty, and in verse God reaffirms that His name is Jesus. So we find out that the Almighty, the Spirit, and Jesus are all the same person.

 

Jesus Is Revealed Through Grace and Peace

       As we read the succeeding verses, we find that God reveals Himself to His people through grace and peace that come through Jesus Christ.

Grace

 

Initial Grace

       We receive grace by faith according to Ephesians 2:8 (By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God).

 

Continued Grace

       Furthermore, God promises “grace upon (heaped upon) grace according to John 1:16: “His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace,”

Peace

Initial Peace

       God gives us peace with God, when we believe in the death of Jesus Christ as the complete payment for our sins according to Romans 5:1. (“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”)

 Continued Peace

       We earn the peace of God according to Philippians 4:7. When we continue in the Christian life “The peace of God…shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Bringing It All Together

       So, God gives salvation by grace as a gift to all who believe in Jesus Christ without works. But grace also teaches us.    And God gives us peace with Him when we believe, as well. However, continued peace of mind and heart come when God rewards us for our obedience and effort.

Dr. Jerry Lloyd