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royal servants youth ministry |
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| submit a question | QUESTIONS | |
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What God's Word has
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by Jesse Long |
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When God first created the world, His intention was to have continual fellowship with us for all eternity. The world that God created was in perfect harmony and there was no conflict, pain, or death. However, when God created mankind, He lovingly gave us our own free will to choose whether or not we wanted to live for Him. In the middle of the Garden of Eden, God placed two trees, the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Tree of Life could be enjoyed with God’s full blessing but the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was to be left alone. When the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, decided to rebel against God and eat of the forbidden tree, fellowship was broken between mankind and our Maker. Romans 5:12 describes this fact when it says, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. As a result of sin, we all inherit the promised judgment of God, which is death. Romans 6:23 says, “…the wages of sin is death…” This death is not only death of our physical body but also a spiritual death as well which results in eternal separation from God in Hell. Death, however, does not need to be feared because God made a way for us to be saved from it. It says in John 3:16 that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” You see, we all will die physically but Jesus came to live a perfect life and die in our place to pay the penalty for our sin in our place. This does not mean that all will be saved. Again, God gives us the freedom to choose. The second half of that verse says, “whoever believes in Him…will have everlasting life.” Hebrews 2:14-15 says, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” It is clear that all will die physically. Hebrews 9:27-28 says, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” So we see that it is the final judgment from which Christ will save us. It is clear in scripture that all will appear at this final judgment after physical death. Acts 24:15 says, “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” Those that have not accepted Christ’s sacrifice for their sins will be eternally separated from God as Matthew 25:46 says: “And these will go away into everlasting punishment…” but the rest of the verse says: “…but the righteous into eternal life.” And we know that heaven will be a wonderful place. The apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:23: “For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.” So Christians can actually look forward to what death will bring. On the other hand, death for those that have not accepted Christ as their Savior have much to fear in death. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 says, “…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” Don’t go another day living in fear of death. 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 says, “So when this corruptible (our physical bodies) has put on incorruption (our new heavenly bodies), and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Claim Christ’s victory over sin for yourself today!! back to questions |
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