April 27th 2014
Jesus is Alive, But Are You?
Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
He Is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed! Last Sunday this phrase was heard in many churches, and the congregation responded with a hearty He Is Risen, Indeed! My wording may not be exactly as indicated, as the “Is” may have been “Has” or at least some people may have thought of it in this way. Many people who were in attendance may not have responded, as they did not know what the correct response should be. The reason some may not have known is that they do not usually go to a church of their choice, and thus, did not know the correct response. The reason to say “Is” to imply Jesus resurrection, while it happened many years ago, is still a current event!
None of us alive today actually witnessed Jesus death of a cross, or were there to see Jesus after He arose. So like the Apostle Thomas we could be doubters too. Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:28-29) That’s you and me. We are most blessed (happy) because we stood in faith that God’s Word is true - that Jesus is alive – raised from the dead. A person once told me they did not believe that Jesus rose from the dead, yet they considered themselves to be a Christian! You cannot be a Christian and not believe that Jesus rose from the dead!
Paul wrote about the meaning to us today, the followers of Jesus that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then everything about Christianity would be meaningless. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. (1 Corinthians 15:17) But the good news is “He is Alive! The Cross and the Empty Tomb is the ultimate victory of God over the enemy and sin and death.
The hardest part about being a believer, at least for me, is the belief that only those who believe in Jesus can go to heaven. This belief is based on the Bible, and more specifically on what John wrote about what Jesus said. Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:5-7) Jesus statement, “No-one comes to the Father except through me,” which sums it up for me that only those who believe in Jesus and follow Him will be seeing the Father!
This knowledge and the commission we, Jesus followers received, as recorded by Matthew at the end of chapter 28, how then can we not tell someone about the truth of Jesus? Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:16-20)
The work of becoming more Christ-like certainly must include telling someone the account of Jesus’ life and death, and how it has improved your lifestyle. At the start of this commentary a question was posed, “Jesus is Alive, But Are You?” This is of course asking about your salvation, because to be alive, in or through, Jesus Christ means a life that will continue forever, it is not limited to this human lifetime. When we die to this lifetime, our immortal soul will continue to live! The only real question is, Will your eternity be spent with Jesus in heaven, or with Satan in hell. This same is true for every human being living on this earth today. Well in this day in age, it includes all human beings wherever they may be living as some may now be living on a space station too!
Remember too that God sent Jesus into this world to save all those who chose to believe in His one and only Son. Because God so loved the world He sent Jesus to save it, God only sent Jesus! For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18) No other name can save your immortal soul.
Is there someone you should tell that Jesus is alive, He Is Arisen, He Is Risen, Indeed! If you believe this then you are alive, because Jesus is alive! A relationship with Jesus must be personal, but it should never be private!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
He Is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed! Last Sunday this phrase was heard in many churches, and the congregation responded with a hearty He Is Risen, Indeed! My wording may not be exactly as indicated, as the “Is” may have been “Has” or at least some people may have thought of it in this way. Many people who were in attendance may not have responded, as they did not know what the correct response should be. The reason some may not have known is that they do not usually go to a church of their choice, and thus, did not know the correct response. The reason to say “Is” to imply Jesus resurrection, while it happened many years ago, is still a current event!
None of us alive today actually witnessed Jesus death of a cross, or were there to see Jesus after He arose. So like the Apostle Thomas we could be doubters too. Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:28-29) That’s you and me. We are most blessed (happy) because we stood in faith that God’s Word is true - that Jesus is alive – raised from the dead. A person once told me they did not believe that Jesus rose from the dead, yet they considered themselves to be a Christian! You cannot be a Christian and not believe that Jesus rose from the dead!
Paul wrote about the meaning to us today, the followers of Jesus that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then everything about Christianity would be meaningless. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. (1 Corinthians 15:17) But the good news is “He is Alive! The Cross and the Empty Tomb is the ultimate victory of God over the enemy and sin and death.
The hardest part about being a believer, at least for me, is the belief that only those who believe in Jesus can go to heaven. This belief is based on the Bible, and more specifically on what John wrote about what Jesus said. Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:5-7) Jesus statement, “No-one comes to the Father except through me,” which sums it up for me that only those who believe in Jesus and follow Him will be seeing the Father!
This knowledge and the commission we, Jesus followers received, as recorded by Matthew at the end of chapter 28, how then can we not tell someone about the truth of Jesus? Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:16-20)
The work of becoming more Christ-like certainly must include telling someone the account of Jesus’ life and death, and how it has improved your lifestyle. At the start of this commentary a question was posed, “Jesus is Alive, But Are You?” This is of course asking about your salvation, because to be alive, in or through, Jesus Christ means a life that will continue forever, it is not limited to this human lifetime. When we die to this lifetime, our immortal soul will continue to live! The only real question is, Will your eternity be spent with Jesus in heaven, or with Satan in hell. This same is true for every human being living on this earth today. Well in this day in age, it includes all human beings wherever they may be living as some may now be living on a space station too!
Remember too that God sent Jesus into this world to save all those who chose to believe in His one and only Son. Because God so loved the world He sent Jesus to save it, God only sent Jesus! For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18) No other name can save your immortal soul.
Is there someone you should tell that Jesus is alive, He Is Arisen, He Is Risen, Indeed! If you believe this then you are alive, because Jesus is alive! A relationship with Jesus must be personal, but it should never be private!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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