"If A Man Die, Shall He Live Again ?"

 

Is there life after death ?

     The question that has been on the heart and mind of every person from the beginning of time is this:

If a man die, 

shall he live again ?

     The LORD JESUS answered this question when HE said:

     "For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

     This great verse reveals four precious truths from the heart of GOD.

You are loved.

     GOD wants you to know you are loved. The LORD JESUS said, "For GOD so loved the world. . ." You are a part of this world, and GOD loves you.

You are of worth.

     The LORD also wants you to know that you are of worth. You are so dear to GOD that ". . .HE gave HIS only begotten SON. . ." HE gave HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, to pay your sin debt. The Bible teaches us that we are all sinners. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD." - Romans 3:23  And sin must be paid for, "For the wages of sin is death. . ." - Romans 6:23

     The good news is that the LORD JESUS paid our sin debt in full when HE died on the cross. "For HE hath made HIM to be sin for us. . ." - 2nd.Corinthians 5:21  CHRIST's payment for our sin was accepted by GOD. It satisfied GOD's requirement for forgiveness. You may ask, "How can GOD forgive sins ?" HE can do that because of what JESUS did for us.  ". . .While we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us." - Romans 5:8

You can have hope.

     GOD wants you to know that you can have hope. HE said, ". . .that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish. . ."  HE rose from the dead, and HE said, ". . .Because I live, ye shall live also" - John 14:19

You can have purpose.

     GOD wants you to know that you can have purpose in life. HE desires that you "should not perish but have everlasting life."

     The answer to man's searching question is "YES ! There is life after death - eternal life." Everlasting life is ours when we turn to GOD in repentance and faith and receive the LORD JESUS CHRIST as our personal SAVIOR.

     You may ask, "How do I do this ?" The answer is as simple as ABC.

[A]  Acknowledge that you are a sinner, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD." - Romans 3:23

[B]  Believe that the LORD JESUS died for you, for "CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures." - 1st.Corinthians 15:3

[C]  Call upon the LORD to save you, "for whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." - Romans 10:13

     If you would be willing to turn to CHRIST in repentance and faith, pray this simple prayer of salvation or one like it:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me. Come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

     The LORD JESUS said, ". . .I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish. . ." - John 10:28  Everlasting life is ours when we receive CHRIST as our personal SAVIOR.

Now that you're a Christian:

*  Share your new-found faith with your family and friends (Acts 16:31-33).

*  Identify with CHRIST through believer's baptism and become part of a local, Bible-believing church (Acts 2:41, 47).

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." - John 5:24

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

GULF COAST

BAPTIST CHURCH

312 SE 24th. Avenue

Cape Coral, FL  33990

(239) 574-1000

Pastor Tom Sexton

www.GulfCoastBaptistChurch.com

"The LAMB Without Blemish and Without Spot "

 

1st.Peter 1:15-25  "But as HE which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I AM holy. And if ye call on the FATHER, WHO without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of CHRIST, as of a LAMB without blemish and without spot:

WHO verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by HIM do believe in GOD, that raised HIM up from the dead, and gave HIM glory; that your faith and hope might be in GOD. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the SPIRIT unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the WORD of GOD, which liveth and abideth forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the WORD of the LORD endureth forever. And this is the WORD which by the Gospel is preached unto you."

     The ONE WHO bore "our sins in HIS OWN body on the tree" must HIMSELF, be sinless: and, indeed, HE is: "WHO did not sin, neither was guile found in HIS mouth (1st.Peter 2:22-24 pictured above). GOD instructed the Jews that the sacrificial lamb had to be without blemish and without spot so as to rightly picture the sinless ONE WHO was to come. In JESUS CHRIST was no sin (1st.John 3:5). HE was the only person WHO could ever say, "I have no sin. In ME is no sin." If anyone else claims, "I have no sin," he deceives himself, and the truth is not in him (1st.John 1:8,10). The Bible describes CHRIST's sinlessness in unmistakable language:

HE "knew no sin" (2nd.Corinthians 5:21).

HE "did no sin" (1st.Peter 2:22).

HE was "without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).

HE was the "LAMB without blemish and without spot" (vv.18-19).

HE was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (Heb. 7:26).

Others, too, testified of our SAVIOR's perfect character and flawless life. Pilate, who reluctantly permitted JESUS to be crucified, declared, "I find no fault in this man" (Luke 23:4). Pilate's wife noted that HE was a "just man" (Matthew 27:19). The Centurion at Golgotha said, "Certainly this was a righteous man" (Luke 23:41). Even Judas admitted, "I have betrayed innocent blood" (Matthew 27:4). JESUS once challenged HIS enemies, "Which of you convinceth ME of sin ?" (John 8:46). Not one could prove HIM guilty. When examined from any angle, our LORD's life and character were immaculate, spotlessly clean. We who are sinfully imperfect should be ever thankful that the ONE WHO advocates for us before the FATHER is "JESUS CHRIST the RIGHTEOUS" (1st.John 2:1). GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.   www.featoday.org

" The Great White Throne ! "

 

Revelation 20:11-15  "And I saw a great white throne, and HIM that sat on it, from WHOSE face the Earth and the Heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before GOD; and the books were opened: and another book was opened which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and Death and Hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And Death and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire."

     One of the most majestic and, at the same time, the most terrible passages in all of Scripture is the one found in today's text. It is the scene of the Great White Throne judgement of all who died without trusting in GOD's message and offer of salvation. At that time, they are brought before JEHOVAH in order to learn their degree of eternal punishment. This is the judgment of the lost dead, and it follows the glorious millennial reign of the LORD JESUS CHRIST as KING over the whole Earth. The vast throng of all the lost dead of ages past are gathered before JESUS CHRIST, the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE of the Earth. Having rejected the blood of the LAMB (1st.Peter 1:18-19 pictured above) they are now facing "the wrath of the LAMB" (v.15; and Revelation 6:16 also pictured above), for HE it is WHO sits upon the throne with all judgment committed unto HIM by GOD the FATHER (John 5:22 pictured below, 26-27).

     Death, Hades, and the sea give up the dead who are in them, and these resurrected unbelievers are then consigned to the "Lake of Fire" (vv.13-14), which John says "is the second death." From this death is no deliverance. The "Book of Life" is opened so that it is without dispute whether one's name is written therein. Additionally, "the books" are opened in which are recorded all the deeds that every unbeliever has ever done; their punishment in the Lake of Fire will be according to what is written in those books. Two things immediately capture our attention as we contemplate the fate of these doomed souls. First, we should make certain that we, ourselves have believed the Gospel and put our trust solely in JESUS so we are safe "IN CHRIST" (Romans 8:1 pictured below). Second, we should be burdened to be faithful witnesses so that others may hear and be saved. JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide

Used  with permission.   www.featoday.org

" Murphy's Law ! "

 

2nd.Peter 1:1-8  "Simon Peter, a servant and an Apostle of JESUS CHRIST, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of GOD and our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of GOD, and of JESUS our LORD. According as HIS divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of HIM that has called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

     Murphy's Law is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." Some people have modified it to: "If something can go wrong, it will. If it can't go wrong, it's going to go wrong anyway." Too often, Pastors have this mentality when it comes to ministry. Preach or teach a message on eternal security to comfort fearful saints of GOD, and someone may accuse you of believing and teaching that one is free to live as he or she pleases. Declare that salvation is by grace through faith alone, and some will think that they may then keep on sinning to take advantage of GOD's grace -- the very thinking Paul corrects in Romans 6:1-11.

     The Apostle Peter gives us, through GOD's WORD, a beautiful balance in handling seemingly paradoxical truths as he deals with GOD's sovereignty while also setting forth man's freedom and responsibility. From the opening verses of today's text we find that salvation is the work of GOD from start to finish: The LORD calls us, implants the divine nature with us, and gives us power in "all things" (vv.1-5). Peter then shifts his focus to the believer, exhorting him to live a righteous life. Not only does the LORD save us by HIS grace through faith alone, but HE then directs us to follow HIM in an obedient walk that is summed up in verses five to seven: "Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."  Why ?  "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our LORD JESUS CHRIST" (v.8). JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

" I Must Tell You This ! "

 

   I KNOW SOMETHING SO WONDERFUL that I must tell you ! It is so vital that it may change your entire future as it did mine. In fact, the decision you make about it will affect you both in this life and in death.

   Let me emphasize that this message is absolutely true, because GOD said it. When GOD makes a promise, you can rest upon it, because HIS promises can never fail. GOD will not make you believe this message, that is your choice, but HE will hold you responsible for having heard it.

   It is a very personal message, something you must decide. You must say either, "I will" or "I will not." Here is the message. It is an exact quotation from GOD's WORD, the Holy Bible:

"For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life."   John 3:16

   Did you ever hear such wonderful words ? Think for a moment what they say. They reveal three marvelous facts.

[]  First, "GOD so loved the world" ! Since you are in the world, HE loved you. If that doesn't astonish you, remember, that when GOD loved you, HE loved a sinner ! The Bible says in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD;". If you are honest, you will agree.

    Although GOD loves you, HE still hates your sin. Since GOD is Holy, HE must make a holy way of saving sinners. Otherwise, the sinner must pay for his own sins, and that would mean spending eternity in a Devil's Hell. "And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire." Revelation 20:15

[]  The Second great fact is, "HE gave HIS only begotten SON" ! GOD loved you so much, that HE sent HIS SON to earth to become a man and die on the cross of Calvary, so that you might be saved. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . .For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures: and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" 1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4

    You see, someone must pay the penalty of sin, either you or a sinless substitute. GOD gave HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, to be your sinless substitute. HE shed HIS blood so that your sins might be put away, so that you might have eternal life.

[]  And now the Third tremendous fact is, "Whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life" ! Think of it ! GOD gives eternal life to those who believe in JESUS CHRIST. The SAVIOR has "finished" the work. HE has died. HE has risen from the grave, and HE has gone back into Heaven. Now your part is to believe in HIM.

    This simply means that you must agree that you are a sinner, realize that CHRIST has paid the "full" penalty for your sins, and then receive HIM as your personal LORD and SAVIOR.

   This is the message which I had to tell you. Now you must make a decision. Will you turn to GOD from your sin (repentance) and accept JESUS, or will you reject HIM ? Will you believe on HIM, or refuse HIM ? Think of it once again:

"For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life."  John 3:16

   Your time on Earth is very short, but your decision for CHRIST lasts for all eternity. Will you receive JESUS CHRIST as your personal LORD and SAVIOR and be confident of everlasting life ? You may ask, "How can I receive GOD's promise of eternal life ?"

ACKNOWLEDGE that you are a sinner, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD" (Romans 3:23).

BELIEVE that the LORD JESUS died for you, for "CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1st.Corinthians 15:3).

CALL upon the LORD to save you, "for whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).

   If you would be willing to turn to CHRIST in repentance and faith, pray this simple prayer or one like it, of salvation"

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me. Come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

   The LORD JESUS said, ". . . I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish. . ." (John 10:28).  Everlasting life is ours when we receive CHRIST as our personal SAVIOR.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" GOD's Message to You ! "

 

After being a Preacher for over 30 years, I've heard and preached many messages. But, you will never hear a greater message than the one contained in this post - GOD's Message to you.

THE BIBLE DECLARES . . .

1.  ALL HAVE SINNED

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD;" Romans 3:23

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it ?" Jeremiah 17:9

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on HIM the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6

THE BIBLE DECLARES . . .

2.  SIN's PENALTY

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of GOD is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD." Romans 6:23

"And Death and Hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death." Revelation 20:14

THE BIBLE DECLARES . . .

3.  SIN's PENALTY WAS PAID

"But GOD commendeth HIS love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us." Romans 5:8

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved . . . For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" 1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4

"For CHRIST also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that HE might bring us to GOD, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (made alive) by the SPIRIT:" 1st.Peter 3:18

THE BIBLE DECLARES . . .

4.  WE MUST REPENT (turn to GOD from sin)

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." 2nd.Corinthians 7:10

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and HE will have mercy upon him; and to our GOD, for HE will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 55:7

If we are truly sorry for our sins and willing

to turn to GOD from them, we can be saved.

THE BIBLE DECLARES . . . 

5.  WE MUST RECEIVE CHRIST

"But as many as received HIM, to them gave HE power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on HIS name." John 1:12

We need to exercise our faith by receiving JESUS as our LORD and SAVIOR. Repentance and faith are both necessary for salvation.

THE BIBLE DECLARES . . .

6.  YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY, IF YOU WANT TO BE 

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD has raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation . . . For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved."  Romans 10:9-10,13

GOD LOVES YOU AND WANTS

YOU TO EXPERIENCE PEACE

WITH HIM.

I hope you noticed the caption at the top of the post "GOD's Message to You." Scripture is GOD's WORD -- HIS message is to us -- and not our theory. I pray that after reading these six thoughts from GOD's WORD that you believe the message GOD has given to you. HE gives free pardon of sin, and a "know-so" salvation. You don't have to hope that GOD will save you, or hope that someday you will go to Heaven. The Bible says in 1st.John 5:13,  "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the SON of GOD; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the SON of GOD."

Do you know where you're going when you die ?

You may ask,  "How can I receive GOD's forgiveness and HIS promise of eternal life ?"

Acknowledge that you are a sinner, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD"  (Romans 3:23)

Believe that the LORD JESUS died for you, for "CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures"  (1st.Corinthians 15:3)

Call upon the LORD to save you, "for whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved"  (Romans 10:13)

If you would be willing to turn to CHRIST in repentance and faith, pray this simple prayer or one like it for salvation:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me, come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN

The LORD JESUS said,  ". . . I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish. . ."  (John 10:28)  Everlasting life is ours when we receive CHRIST as our personal SAVIOR.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" Magnifying CHRIST ! "

 

Philippians 1:18-21  "What then ? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, CHRIST is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the SPIRIT of JESUS CHRIST, according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also CHRIST shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is CHRIST, and to die is gain."

     The Apostle Paul's greatest desire was to magnify the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Neither his present circumstance (prison) nor the prospect of more difficult testing's or even death lessened his sincere desire that "CHRIST shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death" (v.20). Is our desire like that of Paul's, or have we been caught up in the spirit of the world today that seeks to exalt and magnify self, churches, men, and movements ? Furthermore, we also hear much about the need for Christians to develop more "self-esteem," but we ought to follow the scriptural example as set forth by John the Baptist: "HE must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30 pictured above). Every believer, as a member of CHRIST's body, the church, should naturally give the HEAD of the body, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the preeminence in all things (Colossians 1:16-18 pictured below).

     We magnify CHRIST when we lift HIM up before the unbelieving world as the LAMB of GOD WHO died for all, the only SAVIOR from sin. We magnify CHRIST when, through our words and actions, we elevate HIM in the sight of all men. We magnify CHRIST when those whose lives we touch praise the LORD and not us. We magnify CHRIST when we exalt HIM rather than our Pastor, our church, our denomination or ourselves. We all can magnify JESUS CHRIST if we will follow the simple exhortation given in Romans 12:1-2 (see picture below).

Only by yielding ourselves to the LORD rather than conforming to the world can CHRIST be magnified in us; furthermore, we learn how to magnify CHRIST by renewing our minds through the faithful study of -- and obedience to -- GOD's Holy WORD. May we purpose to bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of CHRIST" (2nd.Corinthians 10:5). MHR

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.   www.featoday.org

" Verily, Verily . . . "

 

John 5:24  "Verily, verily (or Truly, truly), I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD and believes on HIM that sent ME, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

     Do you know that a person can be almost saved, yet entirely lost, like King Agrippa of old: "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" (Acts 26:28 pictured above) ? He may have spoken that statement harshly, jokingly, sarcastically, or seriously. Regardless of the attitude that brought about his response, Agrippa heard the message of salvation from the Apostle Paul's mouth and had the opportunity that anyone has -- to believe.

     Today's text is a wonderful statement JESUS made bearing out this truth of opportunity that is open to all:  "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (v.24). When a verse begins with a double "verily," you need to watch for a great packet of truth; all such verses are in John's Gospel. On 25 occasions, JESUS used this solemn form of address, as though HE were saying, PAY ATTENTION TO THIS ! What I am about to say is important !

    We find three very precious truths presented in this verse:

1)  The believer has a new possession -- everlasting life. This is not just eternal existence but the life of GOD with eternal blessedness (John 3:16).

2)  The Christian has a new provision -- "shall not come into condemnation [judgment]." Why ? It is because the judgment has passed judicially: JESUS dealt with our sins on the cross.

3)  The child of GOD has a new position -- "passed from death unto life." For we who have believed, GOD  "delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of HIS dear SON" (Colossians 1:13 pictured above). The saint is justified in the person of his SUBSTITUTE:  the risen CHRIST. JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.   www.featoday.org