Hi Mike,
I just don’t think we should call overcomers the “remnant”.
Some thoughts:
Christians are certainly called to be overcomers and to be the light of the world.
The church is very special to God.
1 Pet. 2:9 – But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
I cannot think of any scripture that refers to the church as a “remnant”.
There was a “remnant” in the Israel of the Old Testament.
But the Israel of the Old Testament was founded on the Old Covenant that could not make anyone perfect.
The kingdom of Israel failed, and the Lord removed them from His sight (2 Kings 17:6-23)
The kingdom of Judah also failed, and the Lord also removed them from His sight (2 Kings 23:26-27).
But the Lord kept a remnant for His purpose.
Isa. 10:22 – For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, A remnant of them will return; The destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
Rom. 9:27-29 – Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.
Rom. 11:5-6 – Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
(My comment: At Paul’s time)
The remnant of Old Israel was brought into the New Covenant of grace.
The New Covenant is eternal, perfect, faultless, and unbreakable.
With the New Covenant, a New Israel came into being, which expanded to include Gentile believers.
Rom. 9:6-8 – For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
Gal. 4:28 – And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.
Gal. 3:28-29 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Eph. 2:11-16 – Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision " by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands-- remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
It is no longer about reduction but expansion and increase.
This command stands:
Matt. 28:18-20 – And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
There is a great multitude in view.
Rev. 7:9-10 – After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Overcomers are not a “remnant”.
Overcomers are “a kind of firstfruits (James 1:18)”.
The Lord said through the prophet Habakkuk:
Hab. 2:14 – "For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.”
Blessings
_________________ Jade
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