April 30th 2017
Do You Believe Jesus Really Arose From The Dead?
John 14:1-2 (NIV)
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
Everything that is recorded about Jesus before the “fact” that He arose from the dead, does NOT signify that He is the Savior of the World! He was born, and every member of mankind was born. Other religious leaders lived on this earth, some of them even are reported to have lead sinless lives. Some other members of mankind have amassed many followers, who try to conduct their lives according to the rules established by this worldly leader. All such leaders died and left behind many followers. However, none of these worldly leaders rose from the dead! Only Jesus really rose from the dead–many eye witnesses saw Jesus and talked to Him. Many of them even touched Jesus, and they knew it was Him, and He was alive again!
Now all people can know that Jesus, and only Jesus, can be the Savior of the world! Of course, if you do believe that Jesus is the one and only Savior of the world, then there is other evidence which further indicates that Jesus is in fact the Son of God, and the Son of Man. Jesus is also the only member of mankind, since the creation of Adam, that did not have an earthly human father. Paul wrote about how the sin of Adam brought death into this world, which then required a Savior to come into the world to pay the price of atonement for sins through the perfect sacrifice on that cross. This then allowed the forgiveness of sins through the grace attained by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)
Paul went on to further define this requirement of needing a Savior to cover over the sins of mankind. So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:45-47). So while Adam was made by God from the dust of this earth, His Son Jesus had to come to this earth to be the special offering needed to cover over the sins of mankind. Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians about this holy plan to relieve mankind from this stain of sin. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 3:3-5)
Paul then wrote to the church in Rome about this great love God the Father had for mankind that required Jesus’ death to cover mankind’s sins. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8). It is true we do not have to get our life in shape before we can become followers of Jesus! In fact it is not possible for us to get our lives headed the right way without Jesus leading us in this task of self-improvement, as we must first become a new creation, by being awarded salvation through grace!
This plan became obvious to those of us who are disciples of Jesus, and it was kicked off by the announcement by the angel(s) at the tomb of Jesus. When they announced, He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. (Matthew 28:6). John wrote the prayer Jesus prayed about His disciples, both those alive at the time and those of us whom are overcoming this world today. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (John 17:25-26). Is the love of Jesus motivating you enough to cause you to be working toward becoming more Christ-like every day? Are you trying to stay on that narrow path that leads you to Jesus Christ? Do you believe that Jesus is really indwelling you, as He has indicated, when He said, “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them!"
Jesus is the Creator, Redeemer, The Way, and the Savior of the world, and as such Jesus is the leader of the only true church on this world. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Colossians 1:18). There is no other member of mankind that can lead you into eternity, as Jesus is the only one who ever returned from the dead and arose victorious over the grave. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. (Ephesians 4:4-7)
Followers of Jesus have Jesus interceding for them directly in heaven. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:34). All followers of Jesus Christ have been assured of going to heaven when they pass from this life. Then it appears there are rewards too, which may be gained by acts of righteousness which we commit while still living on this earth. Jesus warns us to be careful about doing good deeds while still living on this earth. If we do them through a prideful attitude, we will not gain any reward for doing them as we will receive honor while still living on this earth, therefore, there would be no reward coming to us in the next life!
Jesus told His disciples, "Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Jesus told them to avoid doing good deeds to attract attention to yourself, but instead to do them in privacy, and in connection to God in a personal way! This is to be done” so that your giving may be in secret. When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. When you fast maintain a good personal appearance, “so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:1, 4a, 6a, 18)
Jesus is interceding for you now, and He is also preparing a place for you, your own room awaits you in heaven. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. All you need to do is trust in Jesus!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
John 14:1-2 (NIV)
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
Everything that is recorded about Jesus before the “fact” that He arose from the dead, does NOT signify that He is the Savior of the World! He was born, and every member of mankind was born. Other religious leaders lived on this earth, some of them even are reported to have lead sinless lives. Some other members of mankind have amassed many followers, who try to conduct their lives according to the rules established by this worldly leader. All such leaders died and left behind many followers. However, none of these worldly leaders rose from the dead! Only Jesus really rose from the dead–many eye witnesses saw Jesus and talked to Him. Many of them even touched Jesus, and they knew it was Him, and He was alive again!
Now all people can know that Jesus, and only Jesus, can be the Savior of the world! Of course, if you do believe that Jesus is the one and only Savior of the world, then there is other evidence which further indicates that Jesus is in fact the Son of God, and the Son of Man. Jesus is also the only member of mankind, since the creation of Adam, that did not have an earthly human father. Paul wrote about how the sin of Adam brought death into this world, which then required a Savior to come into the world to pay the price of atonement for sins through the perfect sacrifice on that cross. This then allowed the forgiveness of sins through the grace attained by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)
Paul went on to further define this requirement of needing a Savior to cover over the sins of mankind. So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:45-47). So while Adam was made by God from the dust of this earth, His Son Jesus had to come to this earth to be the special offering needed to cover over the sins of mankind. Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians about this holy plan to relieve mankind from this stain of sin. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 3:3-5)
Paul then wrote to the church in Rome about this great love God the Father had for mankind that required Jesus’ death to cover mankind’s sins. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8). It is true we do not have to get our life in shape before we can become followers of Jesus! In fact it is not possible for us to get our lives headed the right way without Jesus leading us in this task of self-improvement, as we must first become a new creation, by being awarded salvation through grace!
This plan became obvious to those of us who are disciples of Jesus, and it was kicked off by the announcement by the angel(s) at the tomb of Jesus. When they announced, He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. (Matthew 28:6). John wrote the prayer Jesus prayed about His disciples, both those alive at the time and those of us whom are overcoming this world today. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (John 17:25-26). Is the love of Jesus motivating you enough to cause you to be working toward becoming more Christ-like every day? Are you trying to stay on that narrow path that leads you to Jesus Christ? Do you believe that Jesus is really indwelling you, as He has indicated, when He said, “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them!"
Jesus is the Creator, Redeemer, The Way, and the Savior of the world, and as such Jesus is the leader of the only true church on this world. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Colossians 1:18). There is no other member of mankind that can lead you into eternity, as Jesus is the only one who ever returned from the dead and arose victorious over the grave. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. (Ephesians 4:4-7)
Followers of Jesus have Jesus interceding for them directly in heaven. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:34). All followers of Jesus Christ have been assured of going to heaven when they pass from this life. Then it appears there are rewards too, which may be gained by acts of righteousness which we commit while still living on this earth. Jesus warns us to be careful about doing good deeds while still living on this earth. If we do them through a prideful attitude, we will not gain any reward for doing them as we will receive honor while still living on this earth, therefore, there would be no reward coming to us in the next life!
Jesus told His disciples, "Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Jesus told them to avoid doing good deeds to attract attention to yourself, but instead to do them in privacy, and in connection to God in a personal way! This is to be done” so that your giving may be in secret. When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. When you fast maintain a good personal appearance, “so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:1, 4a, 6a, 18)
Jesus is interceding for you now, and He is also preparing a place for you, your own room awaits you in heaven. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. All you need to do is trust in Jesus!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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