1 Corinthians 15:42-58 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
The Bible Study at the Independent and Assisted Care Living Facility [aka rest home, retirement community, or old folks’ home), which I facilitated every Tuesday morning, was rescheduled to merge with the existing Prayer group. They asked me to start a new series on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ for His church and the Rapture of Believers in the End Times according to the Bible. We began last Tuesday with a a short video, then questions and discussion on of the Apocalypse; the revelation, disclosure, uncover, and reveal of the account that Lord Jesus Christ gave of Himself to the His Church and events that will occur at the end of this age.
The biblical account of the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden well account the introduction of Sin into the world, causing entropy, disease and death; a lost and dying world. It is commonly agreed that nobody is perfect and Romans 3:23 confirms that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Being that all Sin is willful rebellion against the authoritative Commandments, Laws, Statutes of our just and holy Creator God, Romans 6:23a rightfully declares that the wages of sin is death; eternity in Hell.
But, our loving and merciful God provided a plan and path to Salvation. Romans 6:23b proclaims, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Why? 2 Peter 3:9 states that the Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance [Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to our just and holy Creator God, a violation of His holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance, and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life], so He provided a Way. But why? John 3:16-17 announces that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Sadly, not all accept God gift offer.
John 1:9-14 explains that Jesus Christ was the true Light which gives salvation light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the God-rejecting world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 3:16-17 explains the Good News that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. O’ Jesus Christ is coming and this world is going to end, but where we end up is a choice to be made carefully. Are you ready?
Let’s continue this message on the End Times in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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