Philadelphia is imperfect—but it is God’s state of things. The word is its authority, not the church. It is Christ’s word against ecclesiastical pretension; His name against infidelity. The former has authority; the latter, its value to the overcomer’s heart.
Not a trace of Redemption in the Fathers; or historical Christianity. Irenaeus of all the Fathers held the true divinity of Christ. Justyn. Martyr, who died for Him, said that it was impossible for the supreme God to become a man!
The first of “the Fathers” was about A.D. 140! John. (1 John gives me “From the beginning,” i.e., of Christianity. A.D. 140 won’t do for me!
The testing of man, from innocence to the cross, was not to try if he were a sinner; but if he were a reclaimable One!