The most momentous act ever
A most singular, amazing act by Jesus was accomplished after He was crucified. Jesus abolished death. Imagine that.
Jesus was murdered on the cross, buried in a tomb guarded by Roman soldiers — but He rose up from the dead 3 days later. Up from the grave He arose – by His own power!
Nobody – not the Romans nor Satan… could keep Him in a grave. Jesus conquered death.
PIC by Pete.Garcia at rev310.net
I fear no evil
What He did was the most momentous act accomplished on our behalf. Jesus abolished death.
“Jesus, who abolished death
and brought life
and immortality to light
through the gospel….” verse 10
– 2 Timothy 1:8-10
verse 8 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.”
Christians need not fear death. Jesus promised immortality after death. Jesus is the One who promised:
In the same vein (Google it), Jesus said, be not afraid of mere humans who can merely kill the body, and after that… nothing! But instead, Jesus emphasized: greatly fear Him who has the power to save or condemn your soul.
Which are you
– one who Jesus saved,
or one who Jesus condemns?
PIC: Shane Lee and his son. Are saying “Follow Jesus!”
Death holds no power over us, cannot keep us dead, does not take us to Hell, and will forever be a thing of the past when Jesus resurrects the dead in Christ and raptures those yet alive on earth when He returns.
Jesus will rescue us soon from the wrath to come
Who can abolish death!?
Can any “other gods” abolish death? Don’t believe their baseless claims.
The prophet Elijah mocked the god’s of Baal because they could not even bring down fire on their own sacrifice (1 Kings 18:25-29). False gods obviously cannot abolish death.
1 Kings 18:27 English Standard Version
And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god.
Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself,
or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”
Option: See 1 Kings 18:27 in all English translations
Basically Elijah can be heard calling out to Baal:
HELLO. I can’t hear you!!
Maybe it’s because
you are merely idols: deaf, dumb, and blind!
– made with wood or stones!
– and don’t really exist anyways!
If they are not mere idols, then these gods of the nations are actually created beings, angels, heavenly creatures created by God. Since God created them, we can be sure that God is more powerful. And since the Holy Spirit of God resides in all His followers – we have a more powerful standing with God than they.
They are powerful, but
merely God’s fallen angels
against whom we struggle…
“against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places”
– Ephesians 6:12
The “gods” of the universe cannot abolish death. But Jesus actually did! It is already done! Jesus abolished death. I cannot be ashamed of believing that! Jesus is more powerful than all who oppose Him.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ
Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel….” – 2 Timothy 1:8-10 NASB
Jesus was able to actually, and forever, abolish death:
10 “…is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel….” – 2 Timothy 1:10 KJV
Destined to become immortals
We now are mortal beings in this temp world – with death just around the corner. We will most definitely die. Right?
But Christ changes everything about death — for those who accept Him as Lord and Savior. We are destined to become immortal.
Jesus said, “I give them eternal life”
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at [the sound of] the last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [who believed in Christ] will be raised imperishable, and we will be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed].
53 For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us that is capable of dying] must put on immortality [which is freedom from death].
– 1 Corinthians 15:52-53
We have hope
We have this hope within us that the life to come will be imperishable – in Heaven, with everything that is good, with Jesus the Godman!
1 Corinthians 15:42
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;
1 Corinthians 9:25
Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
Followers of Jesus have been “saved” and “called” to Himself, NOT because we are so great and worthy (quite the opposite)… but because He has “His own purpose and grace” for us:
“…who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity”
– 2 Timothy 1:9
I am absolutely convinced, “beyond any doubt”, that I am secure in Christ. I know I sin – a lot, actually. But the Bible tells me that my salvation is not based on my ability to stay free from sin! Jesus saved me, not on the basis of what I can do, but on His ability.
He has my back – now and forever throughout eternity. How about you?
Even though real and powerful “principalities” exist around us, they are fallen angels in another dimension of space and time, and they are not capable of undoing my salvation in Jesus! (Romans 8:38-39) Hallelujah!
38 For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
– Romans 8:38-39 AMP version
FOR MORE:
Quiz time: What was the most momentous act ever? Who has power over life and death? Only Jesus! He has abolished death and He is the One that gives eternal life.
___________
The Godman Jesus Said “Follow Me”
Salvation in Christ is beyond huge
Promises God makes about your salvation
Jesus saves and Jesus condemns
Excerpt: Which are you – one who Jesus saved, or one who Jesus condemns?
Passing on through to the other side
Even if you die, you will live
Oh haunting fear of death – be gone
Excerpt: Satan is seeking to devour clueless travelers. Are you a weak prey for him to devour, or a strong warrior who knows his defenses?
See: Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; 1 John 4:4.
Being a Temp in our temporary tent
Jesus will rescue us soon from the Wrath to come
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