Saturday, October 27, 2012

NEVER DIE



John 11:25-26Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

As our small group home Bible Study come to the conclusion of our series on the gospel of Jesus Christ, we also came to the conclusion that this salvation from sin is a matter of life and death. Either dead in sin or alive in Christ today and where we will spend eternity with either torment in hell or rejoicing in heaven forever. Our choice. The wages of sin is death. Our Creator Father, the living God, sent  His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sins. He died in our place. He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures(1 Corinthians 15:3-6). Christ is alive. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand God of the Father, making intercession for the Believers (Romans 8:34), until we come home to be with the Lord (John 14:1-4). And they shall never die. Do you believe this?

1 Corinthians 15:12-18 “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.”

The Bible teaches that our Savior, our blessed Redeemer Jesus died as an atoning sacrifice for our sins then rose from the dead on the third day according to the scriptures, and therefore there is a resurrection from the dead for all who are in Christ. Psalm 89:48What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?” If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead after promising to do so, what does that make Jesus Christ? If Jesus were not raised from the dead, where are you and I in our sins? We have God’s Word. John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. We know the gospel. Are we going to trust, believe and rely on the Bible or mortal man?  
Romans 10:9-13 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
You will never die. Do you believe this? What will we do with Jesus?

Revelation 20:6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ.”


In Christ, Brian

8 comments:

Ken said...

Hi Brian,
Awesome post. Jesus went to the cross and paid for our sins. We broke God's law, Christ paid the penalty on our behalf. If Jesus did not die and raise from the dead, then we still have a sin problem to deal with. It is impossible for us to pay our sin debt, so everyone would be condemned. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Ken

Aritha V. said...

Thank you Brian, for this open blog!

Alice said...

I feared death very much until I found my savior. What a wonderful thing to know that we are in His care.

Brian Ray Todd said...

Thanks Ken for your comment. Most people have at least heard of Jesus Christ, but a huge percentage have never heard the gospel message and know Christ. As you so rightly state, the implications of this TRUTH has immediate life quality and eternal life consequences. Do you see a sense of urgency today in this life essential matter on both the part of the churched and the unchurched? If my neighbor house is on fire while they were asleep and I had a fire truck in my driveway, what would I be if I said: "I have what can save them, but I don't want to offend them by pushing my beliefs that they are going to die on them." Makes you think. What is loving your neighbor and the Truth of the gospel worth?

Brian Ray Todd said...

Jedidja, So great to to have you drop by, all the way from the Netherlands. You are so right, that Christianity must be open and honest. 2 Peter 1:16
says: For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. The object is "let the TRUTH be known." John 3:16, John 8:31-32 & John 14:6-7 answers the question of the Way to freedom from the bondage of sin and death and the Way to Heaven. So glad to see you and your wonderful comment on being "open".

Brian Ray Todd said...

"until I found my savior" - Ma, as usual, you hit the nail on the head. So many, and we started there too, know of Jesus, do not "know" Jesus the Savior of the world. Once we truly "know" who He is really is: who sent Him and why, what He did and why, what is the Truth and who is the Truth - then we have the real foundational trust and belief that transforms fear into peace in Christ. Thank you for your wisdom that you share always.

child of God said...

Where would we be without Jesus? Lost, I say, lost.
My heart is very down this morning. I went to a post from someone I am praying for and she posted that she is headed off to Medjugorje to see Mary the mother of Jesus. My heart is breaking just knowing this mother and her family are running after a false god and seeking blessings and favour.

These times are so dark and I just don't know how our Lord can bare to see His creation run after false gods.

There is nothing without Jesus and His amazing sacrifice for us. He deserves all of the glory and praise and worship. It was His blood that was spilled for us and only through Him can we be saved and healed.

Great word brother, great word!
<><

Brian Ray Todd said...

Child of God, In John 3:3 says Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The flip side is true also, that they cannot see the result of sin, an empty life and eternal damnation after, either. We don't realize that we are a lost and dying generation, don't think that we need saved, and look for happiness in people, places and things as our purpose and priority. But the temporal can never satisfy the eternal, and only our Sovereign Creator can change our heart and eternal home. The problem lies in lovingly getting the lost in sin to see that they are lost in sin and going hell that is destructing in their life now and destruction after this life, but also that God provide a Way, a Truth and a Life in Christ Jesus for their forgiveness, salvation, a blessed life immediately and eternal blessings to come. That there is an urgent need in their life that is a reality that they do not see yet. We need to both bring the message of the gospel, and be the message of the gospel lived out daily in our lives that other who do not know the Lord may have the redemptive work of the Holy Spirit touch their heart and turn on the light in their darkness to open their eyes to the Truth. Salvation is at the foot of the Cross for them, and available to all who believe. Thank you for your compassion for others and your passion for the Lord. Blessings.