Life
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Eternal life is a condition of life now, and for all eternity. It is not just heaven, though that is our home.
It is freedom from the guilt of sin, and the power of sin. It is Christ’s life (His will and character) being lived out in our life now, and for eternity.
Moses, in his last message to Israel, stressed to them where their blessings came from: the Lord thy God. He is called life, because by loving and obeying Him, they have what true life consists of: love, duty, honor, and blessings. These are in Him, and no where else.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days:…”
Even in Old Testament times, under the law, many found that nearness to the Lord, was where true happiness lies.
Psalm 36:7, 9 “How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.
For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.”
Proverbs 8:35 “For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord.”
Near God, there is life, light, and favor.
All that makes life worth living, is in God.
Luke 12:15 “And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
When Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth, He warned men that the “abundance of things” which we possess do not make real life.
We can make them the focus of our lives, and be hindered from entering into real life; or we can find our lives in Him.
Mark 10:24 “…But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”
When we are born of our parents, we are given time. Our heart beats and pumps blood to all the parts of our body, and we are set on a path of growth and development.
When we are born again, by the Holy Spirit of God, by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9); but by the marvelous working of His power within us (Titus 3:5-7): The same heart beats within us, and the same blood flows through our veins; but the motive of our life is changed.
We are, in fact, given life….Christ’s life within us.
John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they may know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent.”
John 1:4 “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
Eternal Life is a condition of life. For us, it begins the moment we are born again, and never ends.
It fills the time we have here on earth with joy, and peace in believing.
It fills our days with fellowship with Christ.
It gives us purpose, and a duty to fulfill.
It makes us enjoy the days we have here, and look forward to the everlasting, beyond.
Are there trials, and troubles? Yes, for we are still learning and growing in grace; we are still in the world of woe.
(I am a cancer survivor. There is pain, there is worry, there is the questions which plague us: Why me? But up against all of these; There is Jesus, the King. He conquerors all.
I may have my cancer come back. But I will not die until He says, “Come up hither.”
With Jesus, it is not a bandage; it is life….real life which is in us, now; and forever)
And it is overcoming life; which is what we are to do: Overcome by faith.
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
This “good cheer” here, is boldness. We are to boldly trust Jesus.
Boldly live the life He has for us.
Boldly speak His Word.
And (mostly) boldly hang on to Him, who is our life….though the whole world pulls against us.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 