Works of the Church-going

Rev 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive...

Jesus's identity as the one holding the stars and appearing in white attire is verified. He is the "alpha and omega, the beginning and the ending" as we read in Rev 1:8.  Then "He" was described as Him who was dead and Is alive." Who was resurrected in Scripture? Lazarus, the little girl, maybe others, and of course Jesus. Of those who were resurrected, which of those still live? Only Jesus!

God's Existence as the living Jesus is imperative! Atheists don't believe that God is dead. They believe that God never existed. Hence, God, to them, is foolishness, and Jesus is a fraud. We know from this passage that God Exists: in the beginning, always, and still does Exist. God Is alive! God was "dead" at one time in the sense that his flesh died for a few days. However, God never ever died in totality, for He was always there in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus said:

John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

John the Beloved quoted Jesus therein. Truth was revealed to John of Patmos. It is obvious that John the Beloved and John of Patmos were the same John!  John, wrote the revelation from the Spirit to him.  Jesus said that the Spirit of truth, who is to come, "will show you things to come". The Spirit of truth, will glorify him (holding the stars in his hand), and "shall show him unto you." What Jesus spoke to John occurred in the Revelation of John. John's vision was for us, as the Spirit reveals truth to John to impart to us long after. 

Rev 2:9  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

"Works" are things people do. Works are those things which are in contrast to grace. On the other hand, there are "good" works, and "evil" works. The former are things we do to build-up God, and the latter things people do to build-up themselves. The doctrine of one branch of Christianity - the Reformed Church, believes in sola gratia (by grace alone). That doctrine is that there is nothing men can do to earn salvation. Indeed, it was Jesus who paid the penalty of death. No one but Jesus propitiated his own blood to redeem the lost. However, our duty, is to accept Jesus's propitiation.

Another part of reformed doctrine, is irresistible grace; that whosoever God elects "shall be saved". There is no criteria for election other than God's will. Therefore, in the beginning of time, we were all either candidates for eternal life or eternally damned. That is deterministic; outside the will of anyone. In other words, there is nothing we can do to be saved.

Of course, Jesus did it all. He paid the price to all mankind as a gift. Like any gift, the recipient can either return or use it! God did not die for some but for all mankind:

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

In the beginning, all were elected. That is grace! Scripture says, "whosoever". That's everybody at any time throughout existence. Is there anything which we must "do"? You read it yourself: "believeth in Him". That is belief in God (Qeoj; The Divinity). "Whosoever" is everyone (paj; all). Believing is have faith in God (pisteuo; entrust).  The argument here is that faith is not a work. Indeed, faith itself is a "gift from God, and not of ourselves" (Ephes 2:8). However, "keeping the faith" is up to us! 

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Thus, our good works are imperative, not for salvation, but because of the grace of rebirth. New persons have a new and better character. Rather than do evil, or desire is to do the will of God.  The work of faith then is not regenerative but preservative. Reformed theology's doctrine is "the preservation of the saints". I believe that as well, but that God doesn't preserve apostates, but only those with steadfast faith, or saints (Col 2:5), which credits preserving faith to the Christian. Of course, it is not the Christian who preserves but is willing to work hard to keep the faith. Thus as James said, "faith without works is dead" (Jas 2:20). 

Note that our willingness to work hard is what preserves, not the hard work itself. Thus God does the preserving because the saint wills it!

Jesus knew the works of the Church at Smyrna. Good or bad, Jesus knew what they were doing!

He knew their "tribulation"- the trials and anguish they were going through. Temptation was stressing the Church out it seems. However, we know from context that this persecution will be for all time (more later). Likewise, Jesus knew their poverty. From a material sense, the true Church was never wealthy, and would never be! On the other hand, Jesus said, "but thou art rich". Indeed, those with the gift of eternal life have the only "riches" that matters in the end! Christians weren't meant to prosper from a wealth perspective but spiritually:

Luke 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Thus our riches is in the things of God.

There were some in the Church who blasphemed - vilifying Jesus. That is the unpardonable sin. It seems that they viewed themselves as special, claiming to be Judeans but were the church of Satan.  Therein is a great warning! Christians must be authentic and genuine. Some claimed to be righteous, as the Jews were noted for, but their works were of Satan. You see, the energy of work has direction. It can either be toward gain or loss. Working for wrong reasons is blasphemous. The attitude was, I deserve to be a Christian because of my works! 

Most Christian churches are made up of those with a Judaist-type faith. Because of luck of birth, we claim Christ. In German, that  "product of the times" is called Zeitgeist.  Those are they who are blessed because of the time and place of birth, giving greater opportunity. However,  Zeitgeist can interfere with salvation. Since God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), our race, nationality, religion, wealth, or nothing else matters! What Jesus does honor is repentance. That is us doing - begging for forgiveness. Rather than bragging in the faith of our fathers, we should be seeking faith in Jesus Christ. Pour your faith onto us, we should plead!