HAIL & FIRE - a resource for Reformed and Gospel Theology in the works, exhortations, prayers, and apologetics of those who have maintained the Gospel and expounded upon the Scripture as the Eternal Word of God and the sole authority in Christian doctrine.
You shall all be taught of God: "Read the Scriptures as profitable Scriptures with the intention to profit. If you do not read with such a purpose, you read not the Scriptures of God, they become as another book unto you. ... But what are they profitable for? For doctrine, and a divine doctrine, a doctrine of life and happiness. It is the great promise of the new covenant, 'You shall be all taught of God.' The Scriptures can make a man learned and wise, learned to salvation, it is foolishness to the world, 'but the world through wisdom knew not God.' Alas! What then do they know? Is there any besides God? And is there any knowledge besides the knowledge of God? ... The doctrine of Jesus Christ written on the heart is a deep profound learning and the poor, simple, rudest people may, by the Spirit’s teaching, become wiser than their ancients and than their ministers. Oh, it is an excellent point of learning, to know how to be saved. ... If you would seek unto God and seek eyes opened to behold the mystery of the word, you would become wiser than your pastors, you would learn from the Spirit to pray better, you would find the way to heaven better than they can teach you or walk in it." Hugh Binning, "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion"
"To pretend to preach the truth without offending carnal men, is to pretend to be able to do what Jesus Christ could not do." |
HOME > Sermons & Exhortations > Exhortation: What does the Bible say on Death, Resurrection and Life
Exhortation: What does the Bible say on DEATH, RESURRECTION & LIFE
INTRO
From beginning to end, God's Word teaches that we, though born flesh, are spiritual beings, and that we, though born flesh, were intended for a new birth, without which, we remain "but flesh" (John 3:6), neither can we inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50).
This second birth whereby we are 'born again' is a spiritual birth and it is according to the will of God (John 1:13), and it is by the very Spirit of God (John 3:6), and it is unto eternal life (Romans 8). If we remain but flesh and while we remain but flesh we cannot please God: "they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:8), so that Jesus says, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again," John 3:7.
"Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:17-25
"For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." Romans 8:20-21
RECOMMENDED READING:
The Forgiveness of Sins by John Owen
"He suffered men, indeed, to make trial of other ways; and when their insufficiency for the ends men proposed to themselves was manifested, it pleased him to reveal His way. And what are we, that we should contend about it with Him?"
If a man finds that second birth, he finds that life for which he struggles and fights and fears, and if he finds that life, he has and he must come to it by the knowledge of the truth: "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever," 1 Peter 1:23. For, as we are not come to life even in this world by our own will, nor can we prolong life in this world by our own will or strength, but by the power and the will of the Eternal God, so also in that second birth, we struggle in it, even as we are born of it - we struggle for life as God gives that gift of life to us, first to hunger for it, for which he says, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy," (Matthew 5:6-7); then to comprehend it and what it is, that is, that God should delight to show mercy: "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea," Micah 7:18-19; and then to partake in this by faith in him who promised, and to embrace the promise and mercy of God as life itself: "He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour," Proverbs 21:21.
It is the flesh in its blindness that conceives the philosophy that life is here, love is here, beauty and strength are here. For, as flesh, it cannot see that which transcends, nor will it believe in that which transcends though it does see it. They looked into the transfigured face of Stephen (Act 6:15) and yet they did not stop to contemplate that the angelic beauty of his face was of God and according to the power of God, nor did they desire this themselves though they had seen it with their own eyes. They looked
"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 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. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:6-9
"Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God." Proverbs 2:3-5
But, first we are tempted and then we are drawn in by all that the flesh perceives to be good in this life, while yet, all these good things are by the design of God, but an illustration, and only a faint illustration, of that life which exceeds in glory and is eternal and in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1). "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life," 2 Corinthians 5:4. Mortality, or that which is alive and yet is subject to weakness and disease and death, tends, in those who groan under the burden of it and seek that life that is of God and is eternal and full of joy, not to a desire to be unclothed or stripped of itself, for that is not life -- and indeed there
"And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Hebrews 2:13-15
We have the photograph of the child in our hand and yet we do not love the photo or believe it to be the child, but we love the child by which the photo itself, in the absence of the child, is but a hollow memorial, evoking our love and tenderness, although we cannot reach out and touch the child. So also is the desire for life eternal and unfading, we groan in our spirit after that which we know by faith to be ours through Jesus Christ, and yet we wait for the revelation of it. Here in the world, while we perceive not yet that this life is an illustration, we love the illustration of life and beauty and love and wealth and freedom for the seeming reality of them. But the reality we know perfectly well to be but faint and, we may say, false, as false as the photo of the beloved child is not the child. Do you have health? - yet it will fail, and is not the failing of it the very instruction of God toward us who are instructed thereby, that we might know that this life is not life indeed? "LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity," Psalms 39:4-5.
Popular religion teaches us that we are strangers to God, and thus we are. Popular religion teaches us that God is a God far away and not near, and thus, we cry out to God in prayer as if he did not hear us or even know us. We tell him our name as if by introduction, while he is the God who predestined us according to his own will from before the creation of the world. We call him "Father" that we may bring our needs before him and pray his assistance toward us. And all these things we do, while yet, we would not turn to our own fathers who have known us since before our birth, to introduce ourselves to them and beg that they begin to look after us and care for us. Shall he who taught us to pray to him saying, "Our Father," who provided for our very lives, who knows the number of hairs on our heads, who designed the beauty of this flesh, the emotion that we feel toward our loved ones, the fear that we feel in respect to our lives, and the life and health of this body, having created these each as but mortal and frail illustrations, not have prepared for us that which exceeds these and is eternal? "And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?" Psalms 73:11. Yet he says to man, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee," Jeremiah 1:5. And he tells us through his eternal Spirit, "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear," Isaiah 59:1.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil," 1 John 3:1-8.
HAIL & FIRE, 2009
What does the Bible say: "If our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." 2 Corinthians 5
b. dissolved: 'kataluo,' literally, 'loosened down,' that is, destroyed. c. building: although we seem at home in this body, we are yet burdened by it through the disease and death to which it is subject. It is when we are burdened by it in the spiritual sense, that is, because of moral weakness and inclination to sin, that we find the humility and repentance that leads to life. For, it is in humility and repentance, in mourning over sin (Joel 2:12-13), that we begin to seek life in God in whom we have a 'building' prepared for us 'in the heavens,' which is eternal, which is not subject to weakness or dissolution. "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16. d. groan: literally, 'to make in straights,' referring to that prayer that is without words, in grief of soul. "They that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity, all hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water. They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads. They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD." (Ezekiel 7:16-19) e. naked: those who desire God for life and holiness, desire not to be 'unclothed' of life, but to be 'clothed upon' (vs. 4) with life. It is by faith that we perceive and know that life is of God and it is in holiness and truth. f. mortality: 'thnetos,' literally, that which, although it is alive, is subject to weakness, disease, and death. g. swallowed up: 'ependuomai,' literally, to be 'swallowed up,' or 'consumed', in this case, of life. The weakness and mortality of this life is designed to cause us to groan under the burden of it that we might repent and turn to God, desiring that mortality might be swallowed up of a life that is not subject to weakness or to the bondage of mortality. "The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men," Psalms 11:4. h. wrought us: God wrought or 'fashioned' us for this very thing. Let no one say that we are not known to God or that he did not form us individually and by name, and to the end that we should both seek him and obtain that life which we desire, which he prepared for us. i. earnest: the 'pledge' of his very Spirit: "Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my Words unto you," Proverbs 1:23. And we know that we have that Spirit through the understanding we have of God's Word: "He that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the Word, and understandeth it," Matthew 13:23; and the power in us to live in obedience to that Word: "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him," John 14:23. j. always confident: always, 'pantote,' at all times confident or 'of good courage' and 'bold.' This confidence in which we are to be bold, is not that which comes from men's traditions, but that which is placed in the sure promise of God, even the promise of God by faith in the sufficiency of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Hebrews 10:10). This promise only do we have of God and maintain in the bold confidence of eternal life: "God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us," Hebrews 6:17-18. k. we walk by faith, not by sight: we are exhorted in Hebrews 10:35 not to cast away our confidence, "ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Hebrews 10:36); "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him," (Hebrews 10:38). The promise of life is by faith alone according to the power of the Spirit working in us and the measure of faith given us; for by faith we know that God is our Savior and that we are not saved by our own power or will: "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy," Romans 9:16. If we will live, we will live by faith in him who died in our place, in the love of God toward us, who provided salvation as a free gift of grace to us: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9. l. accepted of him: 'euarestos,' pleasing to him. It is our obedience to the Word spoken by Jesus Christ that is given us as the manifestation of the life that is in us by faith (John 8:47; Ephesians 2:10). We have the evidence of grace in us when we walk by the Spirit (Romans 8:5-9), this is the "labor" of righteousness. Thus it is said that we 'labor,' "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God," 2 Corinthians 7:1. m. good or bad: this is the 'good or bad' defined by God and not by us. Jesus said, "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matthew 9:13). We know that it is not the religious or those who appear righteous in the eyes of men who are just, it is not in many prayers or beads or traditions that men are purified, but in repentance and faith toward God. Thus 'sinners' are often found just before the righteous (Matthew 21:28-32), for sin itself under the condemnation of the law leads them the quicker to repentance. And for this very cause the law was given: "The law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound," Romans 5:20-21. "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith," Galatians 3:24. The single sin that condemns a man is the sin of unbelief whereby faith and the gift of grace are disbelieved and God distrusted and made a liar (1 John 1:8-10; Mark 3:28-30). But through faith we are forgiven all things: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow," Isaiah 1:18. And again, "He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea," Micah 7:19. We judge men by the deeds they do and yet all men sin (Gal 3:22) and we are all altogether worthy of judgment (Rom 3:10); but the judgment of God is according to faith in the promise of life in Jesus Christ who paid the debt in our place: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast," Ephesians 2:8-9. We know that we are the children of promise if we "do by nature the things contained in the law," for, we "show the work of the law written in our hearts" (Romans 2:13-16), and if we do that which is pleasing to God, it is God who "subdues our iniquities." Our works, either good or bad, are the evidences of who we are, whether we are yet of faith or not: "Let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil," 1 John 3:7-8. n. in your consciences: many of the things that human nature embraces as 'good' in this life are the very things for which the wrath of God comes: "fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience," Colossians 3:5-6. Knowing then the wrath of God, the terror ('phobos') or dread of God moves us to persuade others to faith, and, as "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God," Romans 10:17, we speak the truth of the Gospel even against the errors of religion and of religious tradition. We speak even as we have received mercy, commending our words to every man's conscience, as Jesus said, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear," Matthew 11:15, and, as the Apostle says, "seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost," 2 Corinthians 4:1-3. We speak, as commending the truth of the Gospel to the conscience of every man, knowing that he who is able to hear will indeed hear and he will be saved. o. if one died for all, then were all dead: here is the very promise of the Gospel, so that he who receives this in faith knows the truth of life and death and of sin and of redemption. It is for sinners that Christ died, being "made sin for us" (vs 21), and in that he died in our place even while we were yet sinners, he reconciled us to God, by which reconciliation we are accounted dead to sin in him: "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ," Romans 6:6-11. And again, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life," Romans 6:3-4. The power of the new birth in us is according to the very power by which Christ was resurrected from the dead, so that we, who believe him to be alive from the dead, ought also to be enlivened ourselves and freed from the bondage of sin to a "newness of life," even according to the power that raised Christ from the dead. "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power," 1 Corinthians 4:20. Let us not say with some that the patience of grace is in spilled milk, but let us seek God in righteousness and holiness until we see in truth that the law of God is written upon our hearts and in our minds, directing and enlightening us, so that we may know in truth that we are alive from the dead and heirs of eternal life together with him. It is not for us to deny the abundant grace of God toward us in the Gospel or to consider this too great a gift to be true or possible, for, as we live and breathe, we do so by him and in him: "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, 'For we are also his offspring,'" Acts 17:28. Let us not then turn from grace, as if it were a more humble religion, to make out our own salvation, as if we could give somewhat to God for our sins. We take this life in full and to the measure that we find before us to enjoy, to keep, to embrace life and to prolong it, and yet this is the gift of God toward us in this world and in this flesh. How much more ought we to seek the full measure of the gift of life eternal by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Let us not by a pretense of humility, in the vain tradition that religion teaches, deny the abundance of grace and mercy which God prepared for us, who prepared our salvation himself and eternal life as a gift of grace by faith in him: "And (the Lord) saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him," Isaiah 59:16. Shall we disdain this, even the witness of God by the Spirit, that we should turn to tradition and offer our own works of religion for the salvation of our souls: "They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: for the redemption of their soul is precious," Psalms 49:6-8. If we take life here in the abundance that we can obtain it and if we so desire to keep it unto eternal life, let us embrace by faith the promise of God in Jesus Christ who redeemed us by his own death, for the promise is singular and it is in Jesus Christ. He alone is that redemption that is "precious," and he alone is the Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5-6) - to the absolute exclusion of all others, and it is through him that we are called by God: "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall be all taught of God.' Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me," John 6:45. It is Jesus Christ that was appointed to save us and not we to save ourselves or others, and we, who place our trust in him, are saved "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," 1 Peter 1:19-21. The work of redemption is so singular a work that whoever entrusts himself to any other way, whoever trusts in works of religion or in a righteousness that is established in the self through works, is he who is yet an alien to grace: "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith," Galatians 5:4-5. We must embrace the promise by faith through which we are made partakers in Christ's death, through which we, being accounted dead in him, are also made alive according to that life that is eternal in him. p. after the flesh: this is a reference to the spiritual life that is in any person, so that we know others as either of the faith of Christ or not, as believing or as yet unbelieving. Even so, Christ, who was then known in the same flesh, is no more known in the flesh, but is known according to the Spirit that is in us and by the Word of truth. q. he is a new creature: it is not, as is so often preached, in word alone or in a profession of faith alone, or in a mere choice of Christ or for Christ, that salvation and life are found, but in a newness of life in the inner man that is only experienced as an enlivening or an enlightening and an empowering according to holiness: "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life," Romans 6:3-4. r. not imputing their trespasses unto them: our reconciliation consists not in a religious tradition that teaches us to do 'penance' or to offer prayers or any other works in reparation for sin or in satisfaction toward an unquantifiable debt that is held against us - this is not the Gospel that is revealed by Jesus Christ. Those who follow such a religion are never and cannot ever be sure of the measure of their personal debt of sin or of the value of those things offered against it. If this were revealed by Jesus Christ as the Gospel way and the plan of our redemption, then we might all gamble upon the same; but God, who revealed to us the Word of truth in Jesus Christ and the grace of salvation through Christ, shows of himself the terms of our salvation by way of a promise of life through the death of one in our place, that is, through Jesus Christ. It is by faith in Jesus Christ and the sufficiency of his death that God, who promised, and God, who alone is to be feared and who alone will judge us according to that Gospel (Romans 2:16), prepared a sacrifice so abundantly sufficient to the satisfaction of our debt, that our sins and trespasses are not imputed to us. God's way and our salvation is not in part only that we might share some portion of the burden, nor are we able to pay the lease part of our debt for sin, but "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree:' that the blessing of Abraham might come on the nations through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto," Galatians 3:13-15, and Gal 3:17, this covenant was confirmed by the death of Jesus Christ. If then we know that we are dead to sin in Christ, as verse 14 says, "If one died for all, then were all dead," how then shall God require more of us in payment for sin, who have died already in Christ for sin? "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment," Hebrews 9:27, so that Jesus also died only once, neither is he offered again for sin - although this is taught in the Catholic religion - "For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many," Hebrews 9:26-28. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death," Romans 8:1-2. s. be ye reconciled to God: that is, cease to be at variance, be reconciled, believe the truth of the Gospel and be saved, for that which is in contradiction to the Gospel is in contradiction to Christ and to God, neither can he who opposes the truth and the grace of the Gospel be saved or inherit eternal life. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life," Romans 5:8-10. t. he hath made him to be sin for us: so complete is the work of salvation that God wrought in Christ for us that it is said that he "made him to be sin for us," even for every man."If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin ('pases hamartias,' every or the whole of every offense)," 1 John 1:7. "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." Hebrews 9:11-15. What does the Bible say: "If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." Romans 8:10 Romans 8:1-39 KJV 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25. But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36. As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. What does the Bible say: "When he shall appear, we shall be like him." 1 John 3:2 1 John 3:1-3 KJV 1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. What does the Bible say: "How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?" 1 Corinthians 15 1Corinthians 15:35-57 KJV 35. But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36. Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37. And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38. But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. What does the Bible say: "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:4 Colossians 3:1-17 KJV 1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6. For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7. In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14.And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15.And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
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"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim 3:16-17 KJV
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