ETERNAL LIFE
May
17
Written by:
5/17/2011 12:00 AM
ETERNAL LIFE
May 22, 2011
(John 3:14 NIV) Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, (John 3:15 NIV) that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Eternal life is one of the more important topics in the New Testament. It is mentioned 42 times in the NIV version of the Bible in English and 43 times in the Japanese version of the bible we use in this church. The word eternal life does not appear in the Old Testament. From the above verses we know that Jesus had to be lifted up on the cross to die for the sins of mankind. From the 15th and 16th verses we know that all that believe in Jesus have eternal life. In this message I will discuss some important points concerning eternal life.
During the time of Jesus` ministry on earth eternal life was obviously a very important topic. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke record the story of a man that came up to Jesus and asked what he must do to get eternal life. Let`s look at the conversation between Jesus and the man. (Mat 19:16 NIV) Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" (Mat 19:17 NIV) "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." (Mat 19:18 NIV) "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, (Mat 19:19 NIV) honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Mat 19:20 NIV) "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" (Mat 19:21 NIV) Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Mat 19:22 NIV) When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus quoted the last 6 of the 10 commandments. Those commandments concern our relationship with other people. The first four concern our relationship with God. The man said he had kept the six commandments Jesus quoted. However, the man realized he still lacked something as he said, "What do I still lack?" The man`s lack probably concerned the first commandment. (Exo 20:3 NIV) "You shall have no other gods before me. Why? The man obviously loved his wealth more than God.
Many times over the years I have considered the reply that Jesus gave to the man. What if God asked me to give all that I had to the poor or for some other cause? I heard stories about people that gave away all their wealth and then went to the mission fields. I wondered if I would sell everything if God asked me. Would I be able to truly trust God with my future? Or would I tell God I could not afford to do what he asked as I needed my wealth for my future. Would I be like the wealthy young man and walk away sad? Well, the day came over four years ago when Jesus asked us to sell almost everything we had! Deciding to give up the things we had and sell what we could was not difficult. However, carrying out the plan Jesus gave us was difficult. We have no regrets. My wife and I love God more than anything we have and trust God for our future.
The Gospel of John is the Gospel that says the most about eternal life. Let’s take a closer look at some of the passages in John. From John 3:15-16 we know that everyone that believes in Jesus Christ has eternal life. To believe means to receive. (John 1:12 NIV) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- Only those that believe in Jesus will have eternal life. (John 3:36 NIV) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." We came to Japan almost 22 years ago to bring the good news or the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Japan. Everyone does not receive eternal life when they die. If they did there would have been no reason for us to come to Japan. Only those that believe the Gospel receive eternal life. Our life`s work is to help as many people as possible in Japan to receive eternal life. However, we cannot make anyone believe the Gospel. Choosing to believe or not believe the Gospel is the most important decision anyone makes in this life.
The following scriptures help us to understand what the Bible says about eternal life:
(John 5:24 NIV) "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. Believing in Jesus is the most important thing we can do in this life.
(John 6:27 NIV) Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." Eternal life only comes through faith in Jesus.
(John 6:40 NIV) For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." God`s will is that everyone will receive eternal life.
(John 10:27 NIV) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:28 NIV) I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. Eternal life is the world`s greatest life insurance. You cannot but it. It is free. Eternal life can only be obtained by faith in Jesus.
(Rom 6:23 NIV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The greatest gift we can receive is eternal life. The best part is that it is free. You cannot buy it. Eternal life can only be obtained by faith in Jesus. With most life insurance someone else is the beneficiary after you die. With eternal life you are the beneficiary!
(1 Tim 6:12 NIV) Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Timothy received eternal life when he made his confession of faith. It is important for people that want to become Christians to make a confession of faith. (Rom 10:9 NIV) That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom 10:10 NIV) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
(1 John 5:11 NIV) And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:12 NIV) He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:13 NIV) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. If we do not have Jesus we do not have eternal life.
(Jude 1:21 NIV) Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. This is God`s great promise for all believers in Jesus Christ.
In closing it would be good if you consider your life. Imagine that you have been told by doctors that you have only a short time to live. You probably would think about your life very carefully. There may be things about God`s great creation that you have especially loved. Maybe you enjoyed walking along the seashore or looking into the starry sky at night. Maybe you enjoyed traveling to see beautiful scenery in Japan or other countries. One day all of God`s creation will pass away. Yet, those that have eternal life will live. God will create a new heaven and a new earth. For all that have eternal life the best is yet to come.
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3;50;THE THIEF ON THE CROSS;
THE THIEF ON THE CROSS
May 1, 2011
(Luke 23:39 NIV) One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" (Luke 23:40 NIV) But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? (Luke 23:41 NIV) We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." (Luke 23:42 NIV) Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." (Luke 23:43 NIV) Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Many amazing things happened when Jesus was crucified on the cross. Darkness came over all the land for three hours just before Jesus died. What happened right after Jesus died is described in Mat. 27:51-53. (Mat 27:51 NIV) At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. (Mat 27:52 NIV) The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. (Mat 27:53 NIV) They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the Centurion and others that were guarding Jesus saw what happened they were terrified and declared surely Jesus was the Son of God. However, for this message I would like to consider the criminal on the cross next to Jesus. The conversation between the criminal and Jesus is recorded at the beginning of this message.
Jesus was being mocked by the crowd that had gathered for the crucification. Even the criminal on one side of Jesus was mocking Jesus. To the disciples it must have looked like all hope had been lost. Their leader, Jesus, was being crucified. They had hoped he would redeem Israel. Jesus had told the disciples that he would be crucified and raised from the dead in three days, but they had not really understood what Jesus had told them. However, one of the criminals on the cross next to Jesus demonstrated amazing faith. Why? (1) He feared God. (2.) He knew Jesus had done nothing wrong. (4.) He knew he and the other criminal deserved to die for their sins. (5.) He asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus went to his kingdom. The fifth point is probably the most amazing.
The criminal knew Jesus was going to his Kindgom. That was truly amazing. Even as the criminal was dying on the cross he had the faith to believe Jesus was going to his Kingdom. The criminal had great faith! The criminal acknowledged he had lived a sinful life, but he looked in faith to the only one who could save him and cried out "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42 NIV). Jesus assured the criminal that he would be in paradise with Jesus. (Luke 23:43 NIV) Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
The word paradise is used two other times in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul talks about a man that was caught up to Paradise in 2 Corinthians. (2 Cor 12:2 NIV) I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. (2 Cor 12:3 NIV) And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows-- (2 Cor 12:4 NIV) was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. The man was most likely Paul. Paradise is also mentioned in the Book of Revelation. (Rev 2:7 NIV) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Jesus declared the criminal was going to paradise. Paradise most likely refers to Heaven. The criminal was saved from an eternity separated from God. We do not know when the criminal was saved, but it was probably when he was on his cross. In the Gospel of Matthew and Mark both of the criminals were insulting Jesus. However, we know the Gospel of Luke that one of the criminals acknowledged he was a sinner and called out to Jesus. It may not seem fair that a person can call out at the end of his life and be saved, but we are saved by God`s mercy and not by anything we have done.
There is a final point we should consider concerning the criminals on the cross. They were both sinners, but we too are sinners. (Rom 3:23 NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, We deserve to die like the criminals on the cross for our sins. (Rom 6:23 NIV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The good news is that Jesus died for sinners. When we believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins we receive the free gift of eternal life.