12 posts tagged “eternal life”

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LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Corinthians

JARS OF CLAY

[15]

Read 2 Corinthians 4-5

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

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In this letter Paul encourages the Corinthian church to endure in their trials. He said of himself and his companions, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.” (2 Corinthians 1:8b-9a)

Though they themselves were “jars of clay”, he said, they endured because of the all surpassing power of God. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day...” (2 Corinthians 4:16)

In view of eternity and what Christ accomplished for us on the cross, Paul reminds them, “...he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” ( 2 Corinthians 5:15)
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Lord, I will probably never face the kind of opposition that Paul and the early church had to face, but I know that there are Christians throughout the world who are being persecuted. Lord, show your all-surpassing power to them, and help me to remember that I too have access to this power in my life through your Holy Spirit.
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But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us... 2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV
1 comment Tags: power, resurrection, jars of clay, eternal life, renewal, new life

NO MORE DEATH

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Corinthians

[14]

Read 1 Corinthians 15

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:22, 26 NIV

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One thing we all have to face is the reality of death. No matter how healthy we are, eventually it will catch up with us. By receiving the free gift Christ has purchased, we have the promise of eternal life, but we will see physical death in this body – unless of course, He returns in our lifetime.


Paul writes, Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (15:51-52)
 
He assures us as believers, that when we die, we will immediately enter His presence clothed with immortality, never to see death again. For when the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."(15:54)

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Lord, thank you for the promise that death is not the end. I will see my loved ones who are already in Heaven and will spend eternity praising You for all You have done for us in this life and the one to come.
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Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV
NO

1 comment Tags: victory, eternal life, ressurection

THE SPIRIT WITHIN

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Romans

Read Romans 8:1-27

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. Romans 8:9 NIV

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Paul has presented the dilemma of our struggle with sin – and its solution through the sacrifice of Jesus. We still, however, must live with the presence of sin and in a physical sense we will one day face death, unless Jesus returns in our lifetime. So Paul goes on to say, “...if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. (8:10) –so what is our ultimate hope? “...And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” (8:11)

We not only stand as righteous before God because of the death of Jesus, we also have the hope of eternal life because of His resurrection. This life begins today with the Spirit who dwells within us. “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children ." (8:15–16)
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Thank you, Father that I am your child and I do not need to fear death. I thank you also for the abundant life you have promised us through your indwelling Holy Spirit. No matter what my circumstances are from day to day, I can be secure in your love for me.
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And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. Romans 8:27 NIV
Post a comment Tags: death, fear, secure, sin, holy spirit, eternal life

Disappointment

     Recently I have had conversations with friends and family who have experienced disappointment this past year. We also have had some expectations that have not been realized in regard to our business and personal financial plans.

 As I meditate on this, I expect these upcoming years may bring financial disappointment for many people around us. Since we have already been experiencing some of that, I am praying that God will give insight as to how He will use it to encourage other people.

I did a search for the word disappoint in my PC Study Bible and this was what came up:

Romans 5:1-5 NIV
     Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 

     Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

     As I understand this passage, the experiences in our lives are for a purpose, and at the end of the day, we will not be disappointed but rather filled with the love of God for others. If indeed, God pours out His love into our hearts through His Holy Spirit, we can face what comes with joy, knowing that we have a better hope.

6 comments Tags: hope, disappointment, fear, economy, anxiety, endurance, eternal life, perseverance …

THE PASSOVER LAMB

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THE LAST SUPPER

Read Luke 22:1-23

            Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."  Luke 22:7-8 NKJV

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            The feast of the Passover celebrated the day when God delivered the Jews from Egypt. The blood of the lamb was placed on the doorposts in the sign of a cross. The wine of the Passover feast represented the blood. On this occasion Jesus said, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." (22:20) Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world and give eternal life to all who believe.

 

            The time had come for Jesus to fulfill the prophesy given at this last supper. Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. (22:15) Jesus knew He would suffer, He knew who would betray Him and He knew who would be with Him in His kingdom. 

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            Lord, thank you for laying down your life so that we could live eternally in Your presence. One day we will see You face to face and bow down in worship and praise for all You have done for us.

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            And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  Luke 22:19 NKJV

Post a comment Tags: passover, jews, eternal life, foreknowledge, fulfilled prophecy, feast of unleavened bread, this is my body, remembrance of me …

THE TRINITY

[44]

EQUAL WITH GOD

Read John 5:1–23

Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:18 NKJV

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This passage in John is one of the strongest proofs that Jesus claimed to be one with the Father. The reason they wanted to kill Him was that He claimed equality with God. He not only said He was able to give life — He demonstrated it by raising people from the dead, and eventually rising from the dead Himself.
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Men and women come to our doors today claiming that they believe in Jesus, but not in the Trinity. They cannot honestly believe in the Jesus of the Bible, without making Him a liar, because He claimed deity for Himself. He was more than a good teacher - He was and is God.
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Lord, help me to give a confident and kind answer to those who come to my door with a false teaching about Jesus. Perhaps some day one of them will be searching for the real Jesus.
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For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it . . . that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. John 5:21, 23 NIV
Post a comment Tags: life, jesus, believe, trinity, confident, eternal life, kind, crucifixion …

LIFE AFTER DEATH

[36]

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS

Read:  Luke 16:19-31

            "I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment."  Luke 16:27-28 NKJV

 

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            Jesus taught in this powerful story of life after death, that the circumstances of this life–wealth or poverty–are of little consequence in comparison to our eternal destiny. The rich man in Hell was concerned that someone would tell his brothers how to avoid this "place of torment." Abraham's answer that the man's brothers would not be convinced, "though one rise from the dead" was prophetic of what was about to happen. Jesus did rise from the dead and the Pharisees still did not believe.

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            It is not pleasant to consider the reality of eternal punishment. When people are still alive there is always the potential that they will hear the message and believe. But after death, there is no more hope. Lord, help us to remember this and realize the urgency of getting the message out to unbelievers. Bless our efforts in supporting our church and missions and telling others about the gospel.

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            He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'"   Luke 16:31 NKJV

Post a comment Tags: hope, jesus, hell, believe, evangelism, eternal life, moses, urgency …

ONE THING YOU LACK

THE RICH YOUNG RULER

Read  Mark 10:17–22

            As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Mark 10:17 NIV

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            The first error that this young man made, was in assuming that eternal life was something he could earn by doing something "good."  He put Jesus into the same category as himself, by calling Him a "good teacher.”  Jesus reminded him that the only really good or righteous One is God. Jesus, the Son of God, was able to fulfill the law perfectly, but this young man could not.

 

           Jesus looked at him and loved him. "one thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. (10:21–22) ."  He wasn't quite willing to be that good!

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            Lord, only You know what keeps people from coming to You in faith. We cannot know men's hearts, so it is by the Holy Spirit that men and women will see their need of salvation.  Just help us to be faithful in sharing our faith with others–trusting You for the results.

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            Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"  …The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."  Mark 10:23, 26-27 NIV

Post a comment Tags: disappointment, trust, salvation, perfectionism, wealth, eternal life, kingdom of heaven, good works …

DISTRACTIONS

MARY AND MARTHA

Read Luke 10:38–42

            But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Luke 10:40 NIV

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            No woman can read this story without feeling a bit sorry for Martha. We all have our Martha moments when we are hurrying about to get life together. But as I read this, I remember that the apostle John said, "Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." (John 11:5)

 

           The most important part of this story is that Mary's part would never be taken away from her. That "one thing" also belonged to Martha, in spite of her troubled spirit - her relationship with Jesus. Shortly after this, Jesus would be crucified. Every moment spent at Jesus feet would be treasured on that day.

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            Lord, I am so thankful that I too have that "one thing" that will not be taken from me. I praise You that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39  NKJV)

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            "…Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:41–42 NKJV

Post a comment Tags: depression, housework, anxiety, relationship, sibling rivalry, worry, eternal life, eternal security …

WHAT MUST I DO?

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Read: Luke 10:25–37 

          But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Luke 10:29 NKJV

 

 

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                        On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (10:25) His error was in thinking he could earn eternal life by doing something. So Jesus, knowing his heart, asked him what the law said about it. The lawyer replied, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (10:27) If the lawyer had been able to do this first commandment, he would not have needed a Savior. The story of the Good Samaritan illustrated that no one could keep the law perfectly–only God's perfect Son.

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            Thank You Lord, that the burden of keeping the law was removed from our shoulders and carried to the cross. Help us, like the Good Samaritan, to notice when someone has a need we can supply. May we show our love by serving You and other people.

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            "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" Luke 10:36 NKJV

Post a comment Tags: neighbor, eternal life, love the lord, who is my neighbor?