Notes of Faith July 22, 2024
Life Eternal
Jesus said to [Martha], “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” John 11:25-26
In Mark 2 we find Jesus performing a physical miracle (healing) in order to prove His authority to perform a spiritual miracle (forgiveness). Healing is visible while forgiveness is invisible. So He performed a visible healing to convince His doubters that His invisible act of forgiveness was just as genuine (verses 1-12). He did something similar when His friend Lazarus died.
Before raising Lazarus from the dead—a physical miracle—Jesus told Lazarus’s sister Martha a spiritual truth: Even though one dies physically, he will live forever spiritually through faith in Christ. Jesus’ authority to make such a claim could have been questioned before He brought Lazarus back to life—but not after. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, His authority to say that the one who believes in Him shall never die was established.
Eventually, Lazarus died again physically but not spiritually. And Jesus’ own resurrection ensures that all who believe in Him shall live eternally. Thank Him today for His resurrection that authorizes your resurrection and eternal life.
Eternal life does not begin with death; it begins with faith.
Samuel Shoemaker
1 Cor 15:50-57
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Eternal life is not some ghostly spiritual existence but just like the resurrected Christ Jesus, we who believe in Him will be physically resurrected to eternal life, never to die again, healthy and capable of many things that we cannot understand in this earthly life. Eternal life is a gift that God has planned for those who belong to Him. Let us live a life pleasing to God for His many gifts to us…salvation, redemption, glorification, eternal life, and many more!
Pastor Dale