The
Bible Prayer Line – Bible Lesson
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Bible Lesson: Conversations With
Jesus: Blessed, Or Cursed, Saved Or Lost.
Bible Text:
Luke
16:13-31 NLT
(The
Pharisees)
13
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the
other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot
serve God and be enslaved to money.”
14
The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and
scoffed at Him.
15
Then He said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but
God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the
sight of God.
16
“Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the
prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of
God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in.
17
But that doesn’t mean that the law has lost its force. It is easier
for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of
God’s law to be overturned.
18
“For example, a man who divorces his wife and marries someone else
commits adultery. And anyone who marries a woman divorced from her
husband commits adultery.”
(The
Rich Man and Lazarus)
19
Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly
clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.
20
At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.
21
As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table,
the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
22
“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit
beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and
was buried,
23
and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw
Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
Luke
16:22,23 KJV
22
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the
angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham
afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24
“The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send
Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my
tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
25
“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your
lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So
now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.
26
And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross
over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’
27
“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send
him to my father’s home.
28
For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t
end up in this place of torment.’
29
“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your
brothers can read what they wrote.’
30
“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is
sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and
turn to God.’
31
“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the
prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the
dead.’”
Two stories, one of the Pharisees, and the other of the rich man, and
Lazarus.
The Pharisees, dearly loved money, as did the rich man, our Savior,
says so, but He warned them...
Luke
16:13 KJV
“...Ye
cannot serve God and mammon (money
NLT).”
One of the first things we see in these contrasting stories is the
absolute fact that, rank or station, whatever it may be, can never
save us!
The Pharisees were lost, as was the rich man.
Ephesians
2:8,9 KJV
8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is The Gift Of God:
9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Titus
3:5
Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to
His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing
of The Holy Ghost;
In appearance, the Pharisees considered themselves “holy men,”
deserving greatest respect and admiration.
The rich man, considered himself above any bum, like Lazarus, sending
him, only the swept up crumbs from his table.
Deuteronomy
10:17 NLT
“For
The Lord your God is The God of gods and Lord of lords. He is The
Great God, The Mighty And Awesome God, who shows no partiality and
cannot be bribed.
Acts
10:34 KJV
Then
Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is
no respecter of persons:
Romans
2:11 NLT
For
God does not show favoritism.
I
Peter 1:17 NLT
And
remember that The Heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites.
He will Judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must
live in reverent fear of Him during your time here as “temporary
residents.”
It is also interesting to note, that they all considered
themselves, “to be in the kingdom, or saved!”
The Pharisees supposedly were doing God's work, the Jewish rich man,
because of his heritage ...
Luke
16:24 KJV
And
he (the rich man)
cried and said, Father Abraham...” Making
Abraham his spiritual father, and he his son, but, such was “not,”
the case at all!
Concerning
the rich man and Lazarus; here are some excerpts taken from The Bible
Prayer Line blog:
Perhaps no other Bible story is so
pregnant with meaning as this one.
All kinds of questions may arise from reading this simple story:
*Does adherence to poverty, bring with it righteousness, and worldly riches damnation?
All kinds of questions may arise from reading this simple story:
*Does adherence to poverty, bring with it righteousness, and worldly riches damnation?
*Is there life after death?
*Is there such a thing as “Future Compensation?”
*Is there such a thing a “purgatory,” where through suffering, lost souls, “seek the things of
God?”
*Is the eternal body, (In spirit or body form,) much different than the earthly one?
*Is there a judgment after death?
*Does God really send people to hell, a place of eternal torment?
*Is there such a thing as “Future Compensation?”
*Is there such a thing a “purgatory,” where through suffering, lost souls, “seek the things of
God?”
*Is the eternal body, (In spirit or body form,) much different than the earthly one?
*Is there a judgment after death?
*Does God really send people to hell, a place of eternal torment?
*Is there repentance and faith in
hell?
*Etc. etc. etc. etc.......
It would seemingly appear that Lazarus had no display of righteousness, and that he was saved merely because of his poverty.
*Etc. etc. etc. etc.......
It would seemingly appear that Lazarus had no display of righteousness, and that he was saved merely because of his poverty.
Will a vow of poverty, surely send us
to heaven?
This pastor has heard, ministers with
doctorate degrees merely pass Lazarus into paradise, because of
his poverty, what an absolute absurdity!
Nothing could be any further from The Truth!
Luke 16:20 KJV
“And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus*,...”
Lazarus-Greek: Lazaros (Lad-zar-os): Hebrew: Lazarus i.e. Elazar.
Elazar-Hebrew: Elazar (El-aw-zawr): God is (my) helper.
Lazarus' Godly parents gave their son,
a name to live by, and that name was Lazarus “God is my
helper!”
Lazarus, was a Godly, man who believed in and served the God of his parents, Lazarus believed in and followed the commandments of God.
Mark 12:28-33 KJV
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He (The Lord Jesus.) had answered them well, asked Him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love The Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto Him, Well, Master, thou hast said The Truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but He:
33 And to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Lazarus, was a Godly, man who believed in and served the God of his parents, Lazarus believed in and followed the commandments of God.
Mark 12:28-33 KJV
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He (The Lord Jesus.) had answered them well, asked Him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love The Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto Him, Well, Master, thou hast said The Truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but He:
33 And to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Lazarus, believed this, as a Jewish man, the rich man, surely would have known these two commandments of God!
Lazarus, believed in the mercy of God.
Lazarus, believed that, “God was his helper!”
All these facts, “are,” without any doubt clearly seen in this story.
Did poverty save Lazarus, absolutely not, it was his “faith,” that saved him!
Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Galatians 3:6,7 KJV
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
One is not saved and transported into heaven, based upon his poverty, or his wealth.
One is transported to heaven based upon his faith (Since Calvary, in the finished work of Jesus Christ), and obedience to that faith!
What was the sin of the Rich Man?
Assumed Entrance Into The Kingdom
Of God:
Because of his Jewish heritage, he
assumed entrance into the Kingdom
Of God.
John 1:12,13 NLT
12 But to all who believed Him and
accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.
13 They are reborn—not with
a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth
that comes from God.
Gluttony, And Luxury:
Luke 16:19 NLT
Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.
Philippians 3:18,19 KJV
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Philippians 3:18,19 NLT
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
Luke 16:19 NLT
Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.
Philippians 3:18,19 KJV
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Philippians 3:18,19 NLT
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
Despising The Poor:
The rich man's
offering to the poor, were the scraps from his table.
Proverbs 14:31 KJV
He that oppresseth the poor
reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoreth Him hath mercy on the
poor.
Proverbs 21:13 KJV
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry
of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
James 1:27 KJV
Pure and genuine religion in the
sight of God The Father means caring for orphans and widows in their
distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
I John 3:17,18 KJV
17 But whoso hath this world's good,
and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of
compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not
love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Selfishness:
Luke 16:23,24 KJV
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
The rich man, was used to servants that did his bidding, in hell he found that this luxury was gone.
Besides that, water cannot, by reason of its design, exist in fire.
Luke 16:23,24 KJV
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
The rich man, was used to servants that did his bidding, in hell he found that this luxury was gone.
Besides that, water cannot, by reason of its design, exist in fire.
Matthew 25:41-46 KJV
41 Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not.
44 Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into Life eternal.
That there is an after, “eternal-life,” this story of Christ attests!
Poor, but Godly Lazarus, was carried to paradise, the “selfish rich man into hell.
Hebrews 9:27 KJV
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
41 Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not.
44 Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into Life eternal.
That there is an after, “eternal-life,” this story of Christ attests!
Poor, but Godly Lazarus, was carried to paradise, the “selfish rich man into hell.
Hebrews 9:27 KJV
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
How many deaths, reincarnations?
Anathema!
Such teachings falsely teach endless reincarnations, of self improvement. False, says the Word of God.
What shall we say then, of the rich man's gaining faith in hell, to the extent of caring for his five brothers!
Luke 16:27-31
27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Dear friend, have you ever wondered if it had been us in the garden of Eden, instead of Adam and Eve, would you have been deceived?
Think long and hard, before going on.
How many would gladly say of themselves, “not I!”
Really?
Friend if we say such a thing as that, we confess that we do not as of yet fully understand, the depths of our wiley, enemy, Satan.
Are we subject to deception? Could the enemy be so slick, so cunning as to deceive us?
We are an enlightened people, we are a scientific and cultured people. True our ancestors, were susceptible to the enemies wiles, because they were “not,” as an enlightened people. They did not have the Bible. They were not an educated people, and the more.
Friend if you thought that the rich man was contrite for his five brothers, than you were deceived!
(Take some time here for personal reflection, too often we race from one thought to another!)
Oh, how some would love to murder The Word Of God!
Second Chance Religion / don't make it in this life....well, make it then in the next!
Anathema.
Such teachings falsely teach endless reincarnations, of self improvement. False, says the Word of God.
What shall we say then, of the rich man's gaining faith in hell, to the extent of caring for his five brothers!
Luke 16:27-31
27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Dear friend, have you ever wondered if it had been us in the garden of Eden, instead of Adam and Eve, would you have been deceived?
Think long and hard, before going on.
How many would gladly say of themselves, “not I!”
Really?
Friend if we say such a thing as that, we confess that we do not as of yet fully understand, the depths of our wiley, enemy, Satan.
Are we subject to deception? Could the enemy be so slick, so cunning as to deceive us?
We are an enlightened people, we are a scientific and cultured people. True our ancestors, were susceptible to the enemies wiles, because they were “not,” as an enlightened people. They did not have the Bible. They were not an educated people, and the more.
Friend if you thought that the rich man was contrite for his five brothers, than you were deceived!
(Take some time here for personal reflection, too often we race from one thought to another!)
Oh, how some would love to murder The Word Of God!
Second Chance Religion / don't make it in this life....well, make it then in the next!
Anathema.
What is The Truth?
The Truth is that not one soul who has ever gone to hell, has ever, no matter what the torment for rejecting God, has ever changed one scintilla, nor could they ever!
The rich man was a, gluttonous, selfish man.
In hell he is forever, the same, sealed so by his "life-time" of choices, that he alone made.
The Truth is that not one soul who has ever gone to hell, has ever, no matter what the torment for rejecting God, has ever changed one scintilla, nor could they ever!
The rich man was a, gluttonous, selfish man.
In hell he is forever, the same, sealed so by his "life-time" of choices, that he alone made.
Revelation 22:11 KJV
He that is unjust, let him be unjust
still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that
is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let
him be holy still.
When
he protested his five brothers coming to hell, it was “Not,”
because of their coming to torment, that bothered him, but it
was because of his
own “additional,” torment, that
it would be, because of their coming!
(Can the torments of hell, increase? According to this story of the
Lord Jesus, yes!)
And they would come, because of he being the eldest son, they would no doubt follow his example to their own graves. Once there, they would, time without end, curse him, for the sinful example he had left them.
The selfish rich man, was selfishly looking out for himself, as he had done all through life. His only concern was himself.
Oh the deception of sin!
Selah
There are those today, who think they can be the master of worldly things, that they so love, to use them according to their own likings, what ever that may be.
Danger, danger, those who do so, walk on the very precipice of the pit.
Satan, the enemy of our souls is a master of deception!
I John 2:15-17 KJV
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Our Lord's Warning: (Three times Jesus warns.)
Mark 9:44:43-48 KJV (Our Lord is speaking symbolically.)
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Men who feed on the baser things of life, and who refuse to “die to self, and it's earthly lusts of the flesh,” stay worm (larva) like forever.
Philippians 4:8 KJV (God's People)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think (Feed) on these things.
Romans 6:3-14 KJV (God's People)
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
4 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.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection:
6 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.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him.
10 For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
II Corinthians 3:18 KJV (God's People)
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by The Spirit Of The Lord.
Those who refuse to “feed on the things of God,” and who refuse to “die to self, and its lustful desires, forever seal their eternal fate as a worm, feeding on the base things of the world. Forever “self-condemned,” to a world of base, sinful things.
Never to die to self, is never to have metamorphosis, always the worm, never to know the freedom, and “higher-life” that the butterfly knows.
Never to know the joy of the heavens.
The Place Of Safety:
Psalm 91:1,2 KJV
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.
The only place of safety is with the Lord Jesus.
How close must you be to Him?
You must be close enough to be in His shadow!
Question:
Will the spiritual body, that we have after this life, be much different?Answer:
Yes.
As this story gladly submits:
Men and women will be able to withstand “joys, perhaps beyond, what we can withstand in this life!
And they would come, because of he being the eldest son, they would no doubt follow his example to their own graves. Once there, they would, time without end, curse him, for the sinful example he had left them.
The selfish rich man, was selfishly looking out for himself, as he had done all through life. His only concern was himself.
Oh the deception of sin!
Selah
There are those today, who think they can be the master of worldly things, that they so love, to use them according to their own likings, what ever that may be.
Danger, danger, those who do so, walk on the very precipice of the pit.
Satan, the enemy of our souls is a master of deception!
I John 2:15-17 KJV
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Our Lord's Warning: (Three times Jesus warns.)
Mark 9:44:43-48 KJV (Our Lord is speaking symbolically.)
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Men who feed on the baser things of life, and who refuse to “die to self, and it's earthly lusts of the flesh,” stay worm (larva) like forever.
Philippians 4:8 KJV (God's People)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think (Feed) on these things.
Romans 6:3-14 KJV (God's People)
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
4 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.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection:
6 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.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him.
10 For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
II Corinthians 3:18 KJV (God's People)
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by The Spirit Of The Lord.
Those who refuse to “feed on the things of God,” and who refuse to “die to self, and its lustful desires, forever seal their eternal fate as a worm, feeding on the base things of the world. Forever “self-condemned,” to a world of base, sinful things.
Never to die to self, is never to have metamorphosis, always the worm, never to know the freedom, and “higher-life” that the butterfly knows.
Never to know the joy of the heavens.
The Place Of Safety:
Psalm 91:1,2 KJV
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.
The only place of safety is with the Lord Jesus.
How close must you be to Him?
You must be close enough to be in His shadow!
Question:
Will the spiritual body, that we have after this life, be much different?Answer:
Yes.
As this story gladly submits:
Men and women will be able to withstand “joys, perhaps beyond, what we can withstand in this life!
John
16:12 KJV
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Men and women will be able to withstand “fire, sorrow and torments beyond, what we could withstand in this life!
And again....
Luke 16:22,23 KJV
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
How could the rich man, now in hell, see Lazarus and Abraham, in paradise, seeing how they were afar off, a great gulf, between them?
He could, because the senses of immortal man are heightened, becoming much more acute than they were while alive on earth, in the flesh.
What a misnomer, God sends people to hell!
The God of love sends no one to hell!
Men, that go there, have decided themselves that, that is where they long to be!
Ezekiel 18:23 KJV
Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.
Proverbs 8:35,36 KJV
35 For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of The LORD.
36 But he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate Me love death.
Another point to be made from this story, is that in the next life there are “rewards,” for what has been accomplished in this one.
Judgment and torment for the sinner, glory and crowns for the believer see.....
Rewards For The Christian
Rewards For Faithful Believers
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Men and women will be able to withstand “fire, sorrow and torments beyond, what we could withstand in this life!
And again....
Luke 16:22,23 KJV
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
How could the rich man, now in hell, see Lazarus and Abraham, in paradise, seeing how they were afar off, a great gulf, between them?
He could, because the senses of immortal man are heightened, becoming much more acute than they were while alive on earth, in the flesh.
What a misnomer, God sends people to hell!
The God of love sends no one to hell!
Men, that go there, have decided themselves that, that is where they long to be!
Ezekiel 18:23 KJV
Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.
Proverbs 8:35,36 KJV
35 For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of The LORD.
36 But he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate Me love death.
Another point to be made from this story, is that in the next life there are “rewards,” for what has been accomplished in this one.
Judgment and torment for the sinner, glory and crowns for the believer see.....
Rewards For The Christian
Rewards For Faithful Believers
Almost
Persuaded
“Almost persuaded” now to believe;
“Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say,
“Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day
On Thee I’ll call.”
“Almost persuaded,” come, come today;
“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here,
Angels are ling’ring near,
Prayers rise from hearts so dear;
O wand’rer, come!
“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!
“Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail;
“Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail—
“Almost,” but lost!
Author: Philip P. Bliss
Hear the music, copy this URL, and paste it in a new web browser, and
hit enter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkTHPbMzhGU
Prayer:
Isaiah
45:21,22,25 KJV
21 "...there is no God else
beside Me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside Me.
22 Look unto Me, and be ye saved,
all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
25 I, even I, am He that blotteth
out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy
sins.
Isaiah 55:6 KJV
Seek ye The Lord while He may be
found, call ye upon Him while He is near:
