Do Not Lose What We Have Gained | 2 John 8

Okay, Beloved, let's go ahead and turn back over to 2 John, the letter of 2 John. I need to make a correction to the sermon title and the verses that we're going to cover today. I'm actually going to focus primarily on verse 8, verse 8 today.

Persevering by Guarding the Truth

So 2 John, verse 8, God's Holy Word says, See to yourselves that you do not lose what we accomplish, but that you may receive a full reward. Amen. So, I got a little ambitious when I submitted the sermon title and the verses, but there was a lot here in this verse, just in this verse alone, in verse 8.

And it is tied to the warnings that He gives us about antichrists and deceivers. And so it's kind of in the middle of that, but it's also adding to it some very important doctrines and things for us to consider today.

And so, the sermon title is actually, Do Not Lose What We Have Gained. Do not lose what we have gained. And you can see by what I mean by verse 8. A lot of this is going to deal with perseverance, right?

To persevere, perseverance. To have resolve or determination to keep going, and to avoid losing progress, our progress or rewards, right? So, that's what a lot of this is dealing with today, and this verse.

So, I want to read verse 8 again with some commentary, so we can dig a little deeper in it. See to yourselves. So that by itself already tells us something, right? Be watchful, sober, and vigilant that you do not lose, that you do not lose.

And the word for lose there is actually, it's a stronger word in the Greek, it's destroy. You do not destroy. It's the same word as Apollyon the destroyer in Revelation 9 -11. So, it's an interesting word.

That you do not lose or destroy what we accomplished. What we accomplished. Other manuscripts say what you all accomplished, plural. But it's talking about accomplished, what we have accomplished or what you accomplished.

Or worked for or labored for. Worked for or labored for. But that you, and remember, most of the you's in this letter are plural, right? It's talking about not just one person, but a church. You all may receive a full reward.

Receive a full reward. So there's a lot here to dig into. Receiving a full reward. Before we dive into the last part of the verse, or the latter part of the verse, I want to focus on see to yourselves.

What he begins with in that verse, see to yourselves. And we've already previously seen that much of the way that we see to ourselves, we guard ourselves, in other words, our life and our doctrine and so on, is by preserving the truth.

It's by preserving the truth. By maintaining the truth, right? Not losing sight or hold of the truth that we know. Or by examining all things. By examining all things. By holding fast to that which is good and true, right?

And by abstaining from every form of evil. Like 1 Thessalonians reveals to us. And that's just, this is a comprehensive seeing to yourselves. He's talking to individuals, so in our lives, but also in our families and in our churches.

So it's more comprehensive than just us as individuals. That's important to recognize. And likewise, let's turn over to 1 Timothy 3. In 1 Timothy 3 verses 14 through 15, we see a related passage that ties into much of this as well.

In 1 Timothy 3 .14. So in this pastoral letter, we find very important words from the Apostle Paul, the God-breathed Apostle Paul's writing here to Timothy. He says, I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you soon.

But in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God. The pillar and support of the truth. Right? And this is talking about the local church.

How you ought to conduct yourself in the household of God, in the local church that you are a part of. The church of the living God, the pillar and support, the buttress of the truth. Fascinating words there.

And you can see there's some overlap with what the Apostle John says as well. Hoping to come to you soon. Like the Apostle John says in the closing of 2 John as well. There's a desire for personal fellowship and interaction.

But also the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. That is how we see to ourselves, beloved. That is how we see to ourselves that we do not lose what we accomplish in part. Because there's a lot that goes into this.

The pillar and support of the truth, the church, begins with God's eternal decree to save some. It begins with God's eternal decree and choice to save some of us sinners. Not all, but some. Right? And sanctifying and working in individual believers and their families as well.

And then, also as individual believers, families are composed of individuals. And then circles outwardly to other spheres. Right? There's a sphere of self. And then there's family. And then there's...

And it goes outward from there. Other groups, church, state, society, so on. Such that we believers and our families then congregate in sound local churches. In part, to be sanctified, but also to preserve the truth.

It is to preserve the truth. To maintain the truth in our own selves, our own lives, in our families, as we have authority in our families, as well as our churches. Our church. Right? And then so on, in society, and so on.

And even further, as the salt of the earth. The salt of the earth and the light of the world. Like Jesus told us, right? Let's turn over to the Gospel of Matthew in chapter 5, verse 13, where Christ speaks to this matter.

In the Gospel of Matthew. I believe this is a Sermon on the Mount. Matthew chapter 5, verse 13. Our Lord Jesus says, Amen. So there's a lot more to this. There's a lot more to this that the Apostle is speaking to.

Because it leads into many other aspects of not just our own lives, but in those around us, our neighbors, and our society, our church. The earth. The earth. The world. Like Christ says. And much of that deals with preserving what we have obtained and accomplished.

Which is, in part, the doctrine of Christ. Right? The true doctrine of Christ. Not the false doctrine of Antichrist, deceivers. But the true doctrine of Christ and of eternal life, of the Gospel, and so on.

The Word of God. Very important to keep in mind in this passage. And so now that that's established, this brings us to another part of the verse here. See to yourselves that you do not lose what we accomplish, but that you may receive a full reward.

The Loss and Reward of Christian Service

That you may receive a full reward. So this brings us to a question that you all might have thought about. Does this loss and reward, because it's talking about both, right? That you not lose what we or you accomplish, and that you may gain a full reward.

So does this loss and reward refer primarily to an immediate context in this life, or is it a future context in the next life that is to come? Or is it both? Maybe it's both, right? That is an important question that we have to ask ourselves and answer.

So the Net Bible here has a helpful explanatory note that says, the things we have worked for probably refers to the pastoral and missionary efforts undertaken by the recipients of the letter, the church, that the Apostle John is writing to, in their own community and in surrounding communities or areas.

This work would be lost if the opponents, that is the Antichrist deceivers, deceivers and Antichrist, with their false teaching are allowed to proselytize or to evangelize unopposed in the same areas and thus lead many in the church astray, right?

That's what the Apostle John repeatedly warns against, including in this letter. And F .F. Bruce similarly expands on this and says that to pay attention to such deceivers and follow them on the path of error would involve the waste of all their Christian service hitherto and the loss of the fruit properly accruing from it, right?

And it's talking about, because it says if you do not have this doctrine of Christ, you do not have God at all. So if you are led astray by these false teachers, it shows that you do not have God to begin with.

So, but if on the other hand, rejecting the enticement or temptation of their error, they maintained, see that word? Maintained the teaching of Christ, which they had heard from the beginning and continued the work they had been doing thus far, they would be paid or receive their reward in full.

This exhortation echoes much that is taught in other New Testament writings, right? So take careful note of that. Take careful note of that. And by contrast, however, the Antichrist deceivers themselves are blinded by their own deception.

And they fail to grasp the reality that unless Yahweh himself watches the city or builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Right? They labor in vain who build it. Unless Yahweh watches the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.

It is in vain that you rise up early, that you sit out late, O you who eat the bread of painful labors, for in this manner he gives sleep to his beloved. That's Psalm 127. So these Antichrists and deceivers fail to grasp the reality of God's eternal vengeance.

Of God's eternal vengeance. Let's turn over to 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 to see more about that. 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. There's varying degrees of loss. Varying degrees of loss that Scripture speaks to.

The ultimate loss is the loss of life, right? An eternal death and condemnation. And that is what the false Antichrist deceivers, that is the loss that they face. The ultimate loss of fellowship with God and his people in the life to come.

So 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 5. The Apostle Paul writes and says,. This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment, so that you, that is the Thessalonian church in particular, but also believers in general, including us, will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

That's going back earlier to verse 4. Since it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you. Right? Wow. It is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you. Those who afflict you.

And to give rest to you who are afflicted, and to us as well at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven. With his mighty angels in flaming fire, executing vengeance on those who do not know God, and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Strong words. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his might, when he comes to be glorified in his saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed.

For our witness to you was believed. Amen. These are some strong words of warning to those who do not believe, who do not know God, and who do not obey the gospel of the Lord. By believing it, by believing it, which is what the antichrist deceivers rejected about Jesus being the Christ, and coming in the flesh in his incarnation, in order to suffer, bleed, and die, live a perfect life as a man, and pay the ultimate punishment of wrath from God that we deserve.

Right? That's what this is all about. That's what this is all about, beloved. Now, what is this reward? What is this reward that this letter refers to? Because if you look this up, you'll actually find that there's a lot of discussion and debate over rewards for believers.

There's a lot of discussion about it, and about several aspects of rewards, such as the duration of the rewards, or the nature of the rewards, or even the degrees of the rewards, the basis of rewards, the criteria for receiving rewards as believers.

There's a lot that goes into this. Notice also in verse 8 of 2 John, that they had not yet received the reward. Right? They had not yet received it. It was still in the future. And not only that, but that it was a full reward.

Right? It's a full reward. So what does that mean? What does that mean? That seems to indicate that it refers to a full reward in heaven. Right? Because it's in the future. And it's a full reward. This brings me to a public service announcement for today.

And that is that there is such a thing as gaining rewards and losing rewards as believers. Right? Gaining rewards and losing them as believers. And when the Bible refers to the rewards of believers, they are often eternal rewards.

They are often eternal rewards. And it's obviously eternal rewards are experienced or enjoyed primarily in heaven. Right? That's where eternal life is fully experienced. Even though we have it now, it's not realized fully until we have eternal life in heaven.

Along with our glorified resurrected bodies. And rewards from God can also be, but on the other hand, rewards from God can also be received and enjoyed both in this life and in the next. In this life and in the next.

Right? So that's another important distinction to keep in mind. And to help us understand that better, let's turn over to the Gospel of Mark in chapter 10. The Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, verse 28. There is an important teaching here.

Very important teaching that Christ illustrates, reveals to us in this Gospel, well, in many of the Gospels, but this one in particular has a very full account of it. Now, verse 28, Mark 10. Peter began to say to him, to Christ, Behold, we have left everything and followed you.

And Jesus said, Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sister or mother or father or children or farms for my sake and for the Gospel's sake, except one who will receive 100 times as much now in the present age.

Now. Houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions and in the age to come, eternal life. Amen. And in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last and the last first.

So even in the present age, God rewards his people. Much of the sacrifice, the persecution, the loss that they endure for the sake of God and of the Gospel. God rewards us. Even in this life. And it's not.

Obviously, it's not talking about what these false prosperity heretics and preachers preach, right? Like Joel Osteen and Benny Hinn and all these. Antichrist. It's talking about it's not talking about so much material things like cars or money or stuff like that.

It's talking about receiving blessings. The blessings primarily, first and foremost, of God and his people, the church, right? That's where we receive brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers. It's the fellowship of the church of God.

That is where we primarily receive the means of grace and the truth. Even though there is some material benefit or blessing that we receive from the Lord. Every good and perfect gift comes from above, right?

From the father of lights. But we have to be careful not to turn God into some kind of ATM machine, right? Because that's not what this is about. This is within the context of persecution. For the sake of the gospel and of God, the name of God.

So, but in this age and in the age to come. Notice, however, that the reward in the age to come is eternal life, which all believers have, right? We all receive eternal life as believers. Now, the Bible further distinguishes the kind of evaluation that believers receive.

Rewards for Ministers and the Testing of Their Work

So there is an evaluation of believers and an evaluation of ministers, right? There's a distinction made there and a different kind of evaluation. Of believers and of ministers, pastors, teachers, elders who will receive a stricter judgment.

Like James 3 says, right? There is a distinction there that we have to make carefully. And to that end, let's turn to a very important passage in 1st Corinthians chapter 3. 1st Corinthians chapter 3, in verses 6 and on.

1st Corinthians chapter 3, beginning in verse 6. I, Paul, the apostle, planted. Apollos watered. But God was causing the growth. God caused the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything.

But God who causes the growth. God who causes the growth. Notice he says that twice. There's an emphatic restatement there. God gets the credit. God gets the glory. God causes the growth, ultimately. Though he uses means to get there.

His people and on. Now, however, he who plants and he who waters are one. Notice this. But each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. Ah, okay. So now this is very clearly pointing us to something in the future.

Eschatological. Will receive. Similar language to what the apostle John says in 2nd John. For we. Verse 9. For we. We. Apostles. Ministers. Are God's fellow workers. But you. The recipients of the letter.

You believers are God's field. The building of God. Right. There's a distinction there. According to the grace of God, which was given to me like a wise master. I laid a foundation. And another is building on it.

But each man. Each man. Again, this primarily refers to the worker. Right. Not so much the field, but the worker. The workers, the apostles, the ministers, and so on. Must be careful how he builds on it.

The one who is working to build the church of God. Right. But each man. Right. So verse 11. For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is already laid. Which is Jesus Christ. The ultimate builder of the church.

On this rock, I will build my church. But he uses men. Believers to get there. If anyone builds on the foundation. With gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw. Each man's work will become evident.

For the day. That is the day of the Lord will indicate. Indicated because it is revealed with fire. And the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. So there's a quality of work that will be rewarded accordingly.

If any man's work. Which he has built. On it remains. In other words, passes through the fire and remains. He will receive a reward. Accordingly. If any man's work is burned up, however. He will suffer loss.

A loss of reward. For the work that he did. But he himself will be saved. Yet so as through fire. Right? He will suffer loss. Yet he himself will be saved. Yet so as through fire. Now. Right off the bat.

It's important to clarify that this is not talking about. This is not about purgatory. Right? This is not talking about purgatory or limbo. Or something else. This is not. This is not. Also. Not about the judgment of the legal status of believers.

Right? It's not talking about whether believers are going to be judged. So that they can be allowed into heaven or not. That's not what this is about. It is a judgment of sorts. But it's a judgment of works.

It's an evaluation of works. To see which ones will be rewarded. And which ones will not be rewarded. Right? That's a very different kind of thing. That we cannot confuse or conflate. Because if we are not careful, this can lead to a false gospel.

And a false understanding of the final judgment. And this is what many false teachings and teachers promote and claim. This is about an award ceremony. That believers will participate in when Christ returns.

That's what this is primarily about. Keep that in mind. Because the Bible does teach that everyone, including believers. Shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Right? For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

That each one may receive the things done in the body. According to what he has done. Whether good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord. We persuade men. But we are well known to God. That was Romans 14, 12 and 2 Corinthians 5, 10 through 11.

However, since believers are already justified. Regenerated and adopted by God. And will be resurrected and glorified by Christ. Upon his return. Prior to the final judgment. Right? They will not face God and Christ as judges.

We believers do not face Christ and God as a judge. But as a loving, indulgent father and gracious advocate. Like 1 John says. Chapter 2 says, right? That's the key difference. Not to see if they're worthy of entering heaven.

Because we already have eternal life. Amen? He who believes shall not perish. But shall have eternal life. It's already ours to claim. It's just not there until we get there. We don't fully receive it until we get there.

Rather it is about being rewarded for our good works. That's what this is about. So. Notice also how verse 15 in Corinthians here. Correlates with 2 John 9. There's a there's a correlate. It complements 2 John verse 9.

Because those justified believers who suffer loss. They may have taught or promoted certain errors. Right? But these errors are not antichrist false teachings. That go too far beyond the range or the limit.

Or the boundary that cannot be crossed. Right? That does not abide in the teaching of Christ. Such that it results in not having God at all. Right? So there's an acceptable amount of error. Or kind of error.

That even ministers or pastors primarily can teach. But that doesn't condemn them per se. It simply means that they will not receive a reward for teaching that error. Or that falsehood. Because nobody gets it all right.

Nobody gets everything right. Right? But God will only reward that which is in according with the truth. With the doctrine of Christ. So even they are still saved with eternal life. Yet so as through fire.

Regardless of their errors and shortcomings. As are we all. Amen? We all sin and fall short. We all sin and fall short. Yet nevertheless God's grace is greater than all our sin. We cannot lose sight of that balance that scripture teaches us.

We cannot lose sight of that. And I like what Gordon Clark expounds here. In this regarding Corinthians. That he says the rewards here are not said to be merited by the hard labor. Alone. It's not just by the hard labor.

But it's for we after we have done all that is commanded. We are still unprofitable servants. But grace apportions the rewards to the work. It's still on the basis of grace. Of God's grace. And God still gets the glory.

Amen? God gets the glory. God's. It is God's gracious rewards for good works. Rightly understood. Rightly understood. We have to have a biblically balanced doctrine of rewards. Because it also relies on several other doctrines.

Foundational doctrines and primary doctrines. Right? It's an outworking of other doctrines. And a false view of rewards can stem from false views of primary doctrines. Such as the doctrine of man. The doctrine of salvation.

The doctrine of the last judgment. All of that colors your perspective of rewards. Now that being said. Let's turn over to the gospel of Luke. Chapter 17. The gospel of Luke chapter 17. There's a lot of good stuff in the gospels that our Lord speaks to.

Good Works, Grace, and Human Humility

That we've seen today. And much more. But here's a key passage as well. The gospel of Luke. Luke chapter 17 verse 7. And on. Christ speaks to us and says. But which of you, having a slave, plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in the field.

Come immediately and sit down to eat. But he will not say to him, prepare something for me to eat. And clothing yourself properly, serve me while I eat and drink. And afterward you may eat and drink. Is he grateful to the slave because he did the things which were commanded?

In this way. You also. When you do all the things which are commanded of you. Say we are unworthy slaves. We have done only that which we ought to have done. Wow. So that's a very important lesson. That Christ teaches us.

Don't expect in other words. A reward. In that sense of. For what you ought to have done. For what God commands us to do. Right. That is our spiritual worship like. Romans also says. That's what you're supposed to do anyway.

Even when we have done all that we have. Supposed to have done. We are but unworthy servants and slaves. So this beloved. Radically contradicts. The dangerous false doctrines. Of indulgences and of exalted views of man.

And his so-called capabilities and goodness. From many religious. Traditions. Including Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. And others. Even those. Who are. Evangelicals. Who believe that man has free will.

To choose to do good or not good. And much of these issues. Are what sparked the Protestant Reformation. That's what Luther wrote his 95 theses. About. It was about indulgences primarily. And is. The most explosive debate of the Reformation which was.

Which was Luther's debate. With Erasmus. About the freedom. Or bondage of the will. Of man. How good are we and how free are we to really choose. The right thing or not. The Protestant faith in general.

And the reform faith in particular. Beloved has. The most biblical and accurate doctrine of man. And of man's will. Of believers and unbelievers. And their respective abilities to perform. To perform good works in the first place.

I've quoted. These sections before. Because I really appreciate how. The 39 articles. Of religion. Of the Anglican Church. In article 14. It has a section precisely about this very thing. That's called the works of super irrigation.

Works of super irrigation. The concept of voluntary works besides. Over and above. God's commandments. Which are sometimes called. Works of super irrigation. That's by the Roman Catholic Church state.

Cannot be taught without arrogance and impiety. That's what it ultimately boils down to. By them. Men declare. Not only that they render to God. Their proper duty. As if they could fulfill all of it in the first place.

But that they actually do more than their duty. More than what is actually required of God. That's the arrogant and impious part. But Christ says. So also when you have done everything you were told to do.

Should say. We are but unworthy servants. So that's the reality. That Christ. Speaks to us. In these matters. Beloved. That's a false. Inflated self. Of. Form of self-righteousness. It doesn't exist.

We must rebuke these false antichrist. Teachings and deceptions. Because they make. Men delusional. Into thinking. That they are better than they really are. And it reveals an utter lack of self-awareness.

Of a true knowledge of self. And of our sin. We don't stop sinning until we. Until. God. Takes us home in heaven. Or until he returns to glorify. To glorify us with the resurrected bodies. Right. Our sin is ever before us.

So there's never a sense in which we. Perform everything that God commands. In the first place. And God. Not only that. But God despises. These prideful delusions. He despises them. Because you say I am rich.

And have become wealthy. And have need of nothing. And you do not know that you are wretched. And pitiful. And poor. And blind. And naked. No self-awareness whatsoever. I advise you to buy from me. Gold refined by fire.

So that you may become rich. And white garments. So that you may clothe yourself. And that the shame of your nakedness. Will not be manifested. And eyesalve. To anoint your eyes. So that you may see clearly.

Right. Revelation 3. Now. I want to close out with this here. As we tie it back to 2 John. Verse 8. Because. And there's a commentary here. By Craig. A scholar named Craig Blomberg. And he has this to say.

The Full Reward and Distinctions in the New Jerusalem

2 John. 2 John. Warns. Against losing. What you have worked for. Right. 2 John. Verse 8. So that you. Or more probably we. May be rewarded fully. Right. Receive a full reward. The better textual reading.

According to Blomberg. Is we. By itself. Cautions against the doctrine of individual rewards. John is anticipating. The same reward. As the Ephesian Christians. But even if you be accepted and interpreted.

As distributive. Rather than collective. Plural. Which is also less likely according to him. So he's saying that there's no distinction of the reward. That believers receive. That believers do not receive greater or lesser rewards.

That's what he's rejecting. The reward in context can be nothing other. Than seeing the work of the ministry. At Ephesus. Endure against false Gnostic teachers. Antichrist deceivers. Right. From several anger.

From several angles. The same conclusion recurs again and again. There is no unambiguous. New Testament. Doctrine of varying eternal rewards. For believers. So. He makes a strong claim there. But that really strongly contradicts.

What we just saw in 1st Corinthians 3. Right. It completely contradicts that. That teaching in 1st Corinthians chapter 3. Not only. Not only that. But. This also. Sharply. Disconnects. Our earthly actions in this life.

From the eternal consequences. That they carry in the next life. Right. Because. Seeing the work of the ministry. At Ephesus. Endure against false. Gnostic teachers. That itself has eternal consequences.

That itself has eternal consequences. And benefits and rewards. Why is that? Because. The preservation of the truth. Against these antichrist false teachers. And deceivers. Leads. More people to come to the knowledge.

Of the truth. And to abide in the doctrine of Christ. So. We cannot detach. Our earthly actions in this life. And the eternal. Ramifications that they carry. In the next life. And the benefits and the rewards for those.

Actions. And. The preservation of the truth in this life. Very important not to lose sight of that. Now. I want us to consider this. This. This final passage here. In Revelation 21. Turn with me to the end of the Bible.

In Revelation 21. Verse 12. Very important things to. Rightly understand. Concerning rewards. And the full reward that we receive. There is a difference and distinction. That the Bible makes that God makes.

Not just with. The passages that we've seen. There are several others but. Here in Revelation chapter 21. Verse 12. The apostle is. Explaining what he sees. Heaven it. Or the heavenly Jerusalem. Had a great.

And high wall. It had 12 gates and at those gates. 12 angels. And names. Have been written. On those gates. Which are the names of the 12 tribes. Of the sons of Israel. Right. So even in heaven. There are there are gates.

Named after. The earthly tribe. Of the nation of Israel. Notice that. Permanently forever. The gates surrounding the heavenly city. All have a name. After the earthly tribes of. The nation of Israel. Not only that.

But I'll raise you one in verse 14. Look at verse 14 with me. And the wall of the city. Had 12 foundation stones. And on them. Were the 12 names of who? The 12. Apostles. Of the lamb. Of Christ. On. The foundation stones.

Of the wall of the city. Of Jerusalem. There were the names of the 12. Apostles. Wow. Talk about a distinction there. Are everybody else's names. Going to be written on these foundation stones. No. The only names.

That are found there. Are the names of the 12. Apostles of the lamb. And none else. None else. There's a clear distinction there. And this imagery honors. The unique. Foundational role of the apostles.

In Christ's church. Which is built on the foundation. Of the apostles and prophets. Right. Ephesians 2. Christ himself being the cornerstone. And the primary builder. But he uses means. Right. God always uses means.

Almost always uses means. And including means to build the church. The apostles and prophets. And the other workers. That come afterwards. Right. The pastors and teachers and evangelists and so on. And it reveals a broader distinction.

In God's united people. There is the old testament saints. Associated with the 12 tribes of Israel. And the new testament believers. Right. Associated with the apostolic church. They both belong to the one city.

Yet their historical roles. In the covenants. And in history. Are eternally acknowledged. Nonetheless. They are still acknowledged. Not only that. Not only that. That's something to chew on. And to meditate on.

Right beloved. But not only that. Forever oh Yahweh. Your word stands firm in heaven. That's psalm 119 .89. Right. Forever your word. Oh Yahweh. Stands firm in heaven. So think about that. In the bible.

We see several other people. And their stories. Are told. In the word of God. And this includes. All the individual names. And stories of God's people. Right. Adam and Eve and Moses and Abraham. Isaac and Jacob.

All of these different names and people. That are contained in God's word. They are a part of God's word. And these names. Are also forever settled. In heaven. Because God's word is forever settled in heaven.

Right. So even then there's a kind of distinction there. Even the woman caught in adultery. The woman who. Washed Christ's feet. With her tears. And a perfume. Bathed Christ with perfume. All of these different individual believers.

Are highlighted in scripture. And they are forever. Settled in the word of God in heaven. Fascinating to think about. And to that end beloved. I want to. I want to seal the deal here. With. A very excellent.