Some Things God Wants Us to Remember
—Revelation 1:5-7

The purpose of this lesson is to remind us of five wonderful things that are true of our Lord Jesus Christ. These five things are stated in Revelation 1:5-7.

1 He is Lord (Revelation 1:5).

John gives three titles to Jesus...

• The Faithful witness (cf John 5:30-36)
• The First born from the dead (cf Hebrews 6:19-20 Colossians 1:15,18)
• The Prince of kings (cf 1Timothy 1:17, 1Timothy 6:15)

When Thomas saw Jesus after Jesus had risen from the dead, he confessed what he now believed Jesus to be. Thomas said, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28).

2 He loves us (Revelation 1:5).

No matter how bad things get for us, we always have this most basic truth to cling to. We can say, "Christ loves me". Nothing and nobody can take this away from us, though we be stripped of every lesser thing. On the other hand, no matter how good things get, it all means nothing if we forget the best thing of all, "Christ loves me".

We must never hurt Christ by forgetting his love for us. Have you ever loved someone and made huge sacrifices for that person, only to have him or her later reject you and turn away from you? It hurts. The love of Christ is reflected in his death on the cross. He loved us so much that he laid down his life for us. Shall we forget this and turn away from him?

God gave his Son for us. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). This is something we should never forget.

Jesus gave his life for sinners. "God demonstrates his own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Furthermore, Jesus died not only for those who were sinners at the time, but for those who had sinned long ago and for those who would be sinners in the future. How great is his love!

Christ instituted his remembrance Supper. Knowing how easy it is for us to forget his love and his death, he gave us a simple memorial, the Lord’s Supper (1Corinthians 11:23-30).

This simple ceremony of remembrance on the first day of every week represents things "of first importance" (1Corinthians 15:1-4). Let us be faithful to this memorial of his love —lest we forget.

3 He washed us in his own blood (Revelation 1:5).

Later in Revelation John describes a vision in which he sees a multitude all clothed in white robes. He is told, "They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9,14). This imagery is so startling that it should be easy for us to keep in mind.

The forgiveness of our sins is our most treasured gift. Have you every poked around in an old dusty box and found a gift that a friend gave you long ago and which you had forgotten all about? That gift was not greatly treasured by you, else you would not have forgotten it.

Remember when we first "obeyed from the heart that form of teaching" of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:17). We, as it were, died with Christ; the old person we used to be was buried with him, and a new "born again" person was raised in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).

Through baptism, the form or pattern, we came "into his death" and his blood was applied to us then. We should never forget that beginning, even though we must grow spiritually far beyond it.

When people are baptized, they do well to write down an account of what they have done, why they did it, and how they feel about it. People often forget what was in their heart when they first obeyed. If they have their own account of it, they can go back and read it and remember it the better.

4 He made us to be kings and priests (Revelation 1:6).

We are "a holy priesthood" (1Pet 2:5). Peter expands on that by telling us that we are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own special people" (1Peter 2:5-9).

That's who we are, and we must never forget who we are. Next time you feel like a nobody on the bottom rung of the ladder, just remind yourself that you are a royal priest of God. People may not recognize you as that, you may not even "feel" like you are that. But that's the reality. That's what you are, if you have obeyed the Lord Jesus.

5 He is coming again in the clouds (Revelation 1:7).

Christ is coming again in the clouds and every eye shall see him.

• Angels announced that he would come again (Acts 1:9-11)
• The Bible promises that he will appear the second time (Hebrews 9:26-28 1Thessalonians 4:16)
• The closing words of the Bible contain this promise (Revelation 22:20)
• Jesus himself said that he has gone to prepare a place for his people, and will come again to receive them to himself (John 14:1-3).

Remember his promise. Secure it in your heart. "And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall no longer be any death. There shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain. The former things have passed away... 'Behold I am making all things new'..." (Revelation 21:1-7). Every time you look up at the clouds remember that one day you will see Jesus and fly home with him.

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Webservant Ron Graham

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