Today marks the holy week of Easter in celebration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ the Son of God who was and is the living Word of God, has always been with God the Father and the Holy Spirit of God. Together they form the Triune God “Father, Son, & Holy Spirit”. They have always existed even before the consummation of time itself, time created for our benefit and to give reference to our short existence in this life before our spirits reach judgment and eternity.In the beginning was the Word (Jesus Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John the baptist bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” (John 1:1-15)
So you see God became a man and became the punishment for man’s original sin ransoming back man’s eternal soul from the clutches of hell for those that believe and abide in him. If we abide in him and are filled with the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead will raise us as well with Him in paradise. Make no foolish mistake about, there is no way to God but through Jesus Christ, all other seemingly good paths all lead to destruction. In wrestling with that truth remember that God’s judgment is far better then our arguments and that all we need be worry about our own abiding in Christ rather then being concerned over arguing the why’s and how‘s of other beliefs.
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”(John 14: 5/Matthew 7:14/Romans 10:9)
So this life in this body is a very short stay and a testing ground for our belief in Christ and our relationship with God, the evidence of which is his Holy Spirit in and upon our lives evident by our fruit of obedience or disobedience toward Gods laws. One or the other there is no in-between and there is no other way, that is the truth and worth repeating regardless of whether or not the gospel of truth is welcome or accepted. After this life every unbeliever great and small will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and will want a 2nd chance but it will be too late.
For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “ As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. (Romans 14:9-12)
Just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are "eagerly waiting" for him. (Hebrews 9:27-29)
Jesus knew he was going to die for all the people present, past and future that know and please God. Christ knew this mortal life is nothing compared to eternity where most will be lost and separated, and only a few in comparison will be joined with him in paradise. So besides dieing for the sins of those that love him, he also rose again from the grave and ascended to heaven to prepare a wonderful place for each of us that truly believe.
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:2-3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVDmNoe5ndc
In closing let me say that It was recently discovered that my wife Carol has metastasized cancer and as her husband (flesh of her flesh) God is gracious using me to bring the gospel of truth to her and it has been blessing to see him love her through me. I can do all things for her and on her behalf through Christ who strengthens me. Through Christ and His Holy Spirit I pray for her desired salvation, I pray for her eternal spirit & soul, and I pray for her healing. Of the future I know only one thing, that she will be in Gods hands today or 20 years from now and that God will be faithful to preserve what I have requested and committed to him on behalf of my wife.
Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a Christian man has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her. And if a Christian woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him. For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy.
(1 Corinthians 7:12-14)
