Be Faithful Until Death

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10b)

What does it mean to be faithful?

1) The whole of and the context of Revelation 2:10 and until death. a) Background of Smyrna, and the other churches b) Explain context of heavy persecution by Jews c) Some of the Christians would literally die for the faith d) Until death, therefore, meant more than living for Jesus to a nice old age and dying. 2) But what does it mean to be faithful? a) Is it simply being in all the services of the church? (Heb. 10:25) b) Is it simply being doctrinally sound or morally good? c) Is it being somewhat involved in the actives of the church? d) Just what does it mean to be faithful? 3) This lesson will consider: a) The responsibility of the heart in being faithful to God b) The Importance of doctrine/teaching in being faithful c) The role of moral purity in being faithful to God d) The importance of being active in the kingdom e) The need of being faithful during trials of faith

Be Faithful Until Death

BODY: I. The Basis of Being Faithful is the Heart (Proverbs 4:23) A. Deut. 6:4 ff; John 14:15 B. Proverbs 3:5-6 mans wisdom versus Gods wisdom
C. Romans 10:8-10 conviction D. Romans 6:16-17 the heart and obedience E. Matt. 15:8-9 F. Matt. 12:33-35 the mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart G. Heb. 3: 12-13 - The heart can cause one to depart from the living God II. The Need of Being Faithful in Doctrine/Teaching Acts 2:42 G. 2 Tim. 3:16-4:4 H. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth (I Tim. 3:15) I. The Scriptures warn of: 1. False teachers I Tim. 4:1-2; Matt 7:15 2. False teaching I John 4:1 & 6 3. The price is eternal damnation! Cf. 2 Jn. 9 & I Jn. 5:12 III. The Need of Moral Purity in Being Faithful to God A. I Pet. 2:11-12 B. Col. 3:1ff C. Eph. 5:25-27 D. Gal. 5:19ff E. 2 Pet. 3:14

Be Faithful Until Death

IV. The need to be Active in the Work of the Church A. Heb. 10:25 we must assemble with the church B. Eph. 2:10 C. James 2:20 D. John 15:5-6 (Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, brother?) E. Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:59-60 V. The Need of Being Faithful in Trials of Faith consider the context
A. Our text: that you may be tested and you shall have tribulation B. Trials of faith come by various means:

1. Rejection frompeers, family, close friends, co-workers 2. 2. Internal struggles to just keep the faith (James 1:2ff.)
C. Heb. 12:1 ff Conclusion: Consider Moses in all of this: Hebrews 11:24-27

Be Faithful Until Death