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.”
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.
1 Kings 19:10 says: “And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
Yet, God gently corrects him in verse 18 of the same chapter: “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
So, what we see is that there was a remnant in the Old Testament, there will be a remnant at the end of the age and there is a remnant today. Such a view is not defeatist, it is biblical.
Furthermore, it provides a proper foundation upon which we are able to view this present moment in history, particularly in relation to the church. After all, there is a great deal parading under the guise of biblical Christianity that is certainly not biblical or of Christ. As it was, is, and will be, only a remnant seeks to live out their faith in a biblical, holy and meaningful way.
1 comment:
Those who lived high and mighty he knocked off their high horse.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
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