Reading BeMature and started a https://www.wordgo.org/ study on James this week. Later this year we plan on having a religious talk about the afterlife at my work. The panel will include Muslim, Jewish, and Christian views and burial rituals. I'll be the panelist for the Christian view.
The dot (this life) and the line (eternity).
- Poetic statements in the Bible refer to this life is referred to as a vapor, a shadow, and refers to the afterlife in terms of extreme horror (hell) or incompatible glory (heaven).
- Weirsbe says, "Every orthodox statement of faith ends with a statement about the return of Jesus Christ and the final judgment. Not all Christians agree as to the details of these future events, but the certainty of them none denies. Nor would any deny the importance of a final judgment. Both Jesus (John 5:24) and Paul (Rom 8:1) assured us that Christian believers will never be judged for their sins, but our works will be judged and rewarded (Rom 14:10-13; 2 Cor 5:9-10).
- Our words will be judged (James 2:3, Matt 12:36), our words come from our hearts (Matt 12:34-37) and Jesus gave warnings about this (Matt 5:21-26, 33-37; 7:1-5, 21-23).
- Our deeds will be judged (Col 3:22-25), God remembers our sins no more (Jer 31:34; Heb 10:17) but our sins affect our character and works. We cannot sin lightly and serve faithfully. God forgives our sins when we confess them to Him, but He cannot change their consequences.
- Our attitudes will be judged (James 2:13). Two contrasting attitudes; showing mercy to others or refusing to show mercy. If we are merciful toward others, God can be merciful toward us. We don't earn mercy by showing mercy, mercy is like grace - it can only be given. A gift can be given without love, but you can't love without giving.
Many receive the Gospel with Joy - "emotional response" of rocky soil, iniquity leads to trespass. Omission then suppression then doing wrong. Being "pulled over by the law" makes you realize the trespass is real. At the final judgment, we'll all be "pulled over" and God will judge us all.
- Salvation in Jesus Christ has a beginning compared to Child Birth in John 3, it's painful when giving birth, but we glory in the new life. It worth it to let the old sinful person die and receive new life in Christ. God wants us to continue in a relationship with him, to abide in him as a branch abides to a vine (John 15).
If you were to die of a heart attack right now and be face to face Jesus would he recognize you as part of his body? Would he feel you without looking and say "I am his and he is mine." or like many others will he say, "away from worker of inequity - I never knew you." Here's the good news, you can Debug your heart, don't make mistakes permanent.
The dot (this life) and the line (eternity).
- Poetic statements in the Bible refer to this life is referred to as a vapor, a shadow, and refers to the afterlife in terms of extreme horror (hell) or incompatible glory (heaven).
- Weirsbe says, "Every orthodox statement of faith ends with a statement about the return of Jesus Christ and the final judgment. Not all Christians agree as to the details of these future events, but the certainty of them none denies. Nor would any deny the importance of a final judgment. Both Jesus (John 5:24) and Paul (Rom 8:1) assured us that Christian believers will never be judged for their sins, but our works will be judged and rewarded (Rom 14:10-13; 2 Cor 5:9-10).
- Our words will be judged (James 2:3, Matt 12:36), our words come from our hearts (Matt 12:34-37) and Jesus gave warnings about this (Matt 5:21-26, 33-37; 7:1-5, 21-23).
- Our deeds will be judged (Col 3:22-25), God remembers our sins no more (Jer 31:34; Heb 10:17) but our sins affect our character and works. We cannot sin lightly and serve faithfully. God forgives our sins when we confess them to Him, but He cannot change their consequences.
- Our attitudes will be judged (James 2:13). Two contrasting attitudes; showing mercy to others or refusing to show mercy. If we are merciful toward others, God can be merciful toward us. We don't earn mercy by showing mercy, mercy is like grace - it can only be given. A gift can be given without love, but you can't love without giving.
Many receive the Gospel with Joy - "emotional response" of rocky soil, iniquity leads to trespass. Omission then suppression then doing wrong. Being "pulled over by the law" makes you realize the trespass is real. At the final judgment, we'll all be "pulled over" and God will judge us all.
- Salvation in Jesus Christ has a beginning compared to Child Birth in John 3, it's painful when giving birth, but we glory in the new life. It worth it to let the old sinful person die and receive new life in Christ. God wants us to continue in a relationship with him, to abide in him as a branch abides to a vine (John 15).
If you were to die of a heart attack right now and be face to face Jesus would he recognize you as part of his body? Would he feel you without looking and say "I am his and he is mine." or like many others will he say, "away from worker of inequity - I never knew you." Here's the good news, you can Debug your heart, don't make mistakes permanent.
- "In view of God's mercy, offer yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Don't conform to this godless world but be transformed by the renewing of you mind. Then you'll be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Rom 12:1-2)"
- Ephesians 4:23-24 and Colossians 3:10 says, "...let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy." and "put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator."
- Heb 4:12 says, "the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]...penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Ephesians 5:10,17 says, "Test and prove what pleases the Lord" and Don't be foolish but understand what the Lord's will is"
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