Wednesday, September 4, 2024

September 4th - After Death Comes the Resurrection

“I have come as Light into the world...I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world..." (John 12:47)

From the mouth of Christ Jesus Himself comes the truth that He did not come to judge but to save the world. He also told the world that it is God's commandment to give eternal life. 

“...the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life...” (vs 49-50)

God intends to resurrect humanity from death and give them eternal life. 

When? 

The context of John Chapter 12 is about death and resurrection. Jesus had showed the world His power to raise the dead when He resurrected His friend Lazarus. But the final proof would be the power of God to raise Jesus from His own death! So Jesus declares...

“Now judgment is upon this world (death); now the ruler of this world (death) will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth (resurrected), will draw ALL MEN to Myself.” (vs 31-32)

The enemy of humanity has always been death. Yet God will not only abolish death, but Jesus His Son will return to resurrect the dead and give humanity eternal life in a transformed body which cannot die! 

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise." (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

"...the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable…DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:52,55). 

This is good news and it is for ALL humanity, not just for a few. 

"For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified." (1 Corinthians 15:22)

"This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior Who wills all humanity to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time. (1 Timothy 2:3-6)

"...it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of believers." (1 Timothy 4:10).

 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone." (Titus 2:11) 

This glorious salvation of all was kept a secret from humanity until revealed to the Apostle Paul...

"...this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this secret, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things." (Ephesians 3:1-5)

"...the glorious riches of this secret among the nations, which is: Christ among you, the expectation of glory we are announcing, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we should be presenting every man mature in Christ Jesus." (Colossians 1:27-28)

Sadly, the gospel of the salvation of ALL is still a secret among institutional religions. Yet, our only hope remains to be resurrected from the dead by Jesus - and the Bible says he will do just that when He returns from heaven to earth!

"...we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body." (Philippians 3:20)

December 23rd - Merry Christmas Israel!

"For a Boy, He is born to us; a Son, He is given to us, and the Chieftainship shall come to be on His shoulder, and one shall call His ...