By Dean Dwyer for
Harbinger's Daily
At present, there are two words that I hear a lot amongst likeminded believers: remnant church. Quite simply, a remnant is something that forms part of a larger portion, usually thought of in the negative sense. In other words, remnants may be looked upon as scraps. For instance, remnant food from a meal may be destined for the rubbish bin. Remnant material from making garments may also be considered worthless and therefore discarded.
But to God, those He considers “remnants” are assigned a high value indeed, since He sets them aside to undertake His high and holy calling. Likewise, the remnant church may be hated by the world and disliked by Laodicean-era churches, but God has a distinct purpose for them.
Naturally, the concept of a remnant does not only apply to the modern church. The Scriptures speak much of God’s work through faithful remnants, usually referring to a small group that is able to withstand the persecutions and temptations of the world and remain truly faithful to the one and only God.
The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words makes this helpful comment: “The doctrine of the remnant underlines the Old Testament teaching of faith. It is not mere physical birth that brought a personal relationship with God. Those who were born within the covenant still needed to respond personally to God and to demonstrate an Abraham-like trust by their response to God’s Word.”
Very early in the book of Isaiah, as God outlines the wickedness and rebellion of Judah, we read this in chapter 1, verse 9: “Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah.”
Even in the midst of His judgement, God showed mercy to His people. Some would survive the judgement and restoration would follow through His work in the remnant.
This is also a concept Paul referred to in Romans 9:27-29 when he points to a small remnant that would survive the Tribulation Period and enter into the Millennial Kingdom: “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.”
We also see the principle of a remnant play out in the life of Elijah. After escaping from Jezebel, he has an exchange with God wherein he claims to be a remnant of one.
Continue:
Harbinger's Daily
At present, there are two words that I hear a lot amongst likeminded believers: remnant church. Quite simply, a remnant is something that forms part of a larger portion, usually thought of in the negative sense. In other words, remnants may be looked upon as scraps. For instance, remnant food from a meal may be destined for the rubbish bin. Remnant material from making garments may also be considered worthless and therefore discarded.
But to God, those He considers “remnants” are assigned a high value indeed, since He sets them aside to undertake His high and holy calling. Likewise, the remnant church may be hated by the world and disliked by Laodicean-era churches, but God has a distinct purpose for them.
Naturally, the concept of a remnant does not only apply to the modern church. The Scriptures speak much of God’s work through faithful remnants, usually referring to a small group that is able to withstand the persecutions and temptations of the world and remain truly faithful to the one and only God.
The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words makes this helpful comment: “The doctrine of the remnant underlines the Old Testament teaching of faith. It is not mere physical birth that brought a personal relationship with God. Those who were born within the covenant still needed to respond personally to God and to demonstrate an Abraham-like trust by their response to God’s Word.”
Very early in the book of Isaiah, as God outlines the wickedness and rebellion of Judah, we read this in chapter 1, verse 9: “Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah.”
Even in the midst of His judgement, God showed mercy to His people. Some would survive the judgement and restoration would follow through His work in the remnant.
This is also a concept Paul referred to in Romans 9:27-29 when he points to a small remnant that would survive the Tribulation Period and enter into the Millennial Kingdom: “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.”
We also see the principle of a remnant play out in the life of Elijah. After escaping from Jezebel, he has an exchange with God wherein he claims to be a remnant of one.
Continue:
