Category Archives: Receiving Immortality

“Whoever follows my instructions will never die.” (John 8:51) This blog is dedicated to the increasing number of dedicated Gospel lovers who obey the words of Jesus.

Don’t let anybody “Talk you to death!”

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According to Jesus: John  5:39 “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” This statement is not addressed to unbelievers but those that profess Jesus Christ. However, his astonishing appraisal of their misguided beliefs is directly opposed to their assumption that they possess eternal life? Eternal life as described by Jesus and stated in the Gospel is a present state of being, an opposing physical reality in which the possessor does not succumb to bodily death (by any means, Luke 10:19). So why do “Christians and born again believers” continue to die? According to Jesus, they are not receiving his Gospel instructions on acquisition of eternal life, “you refuse to come to me.” So if they are not listening to his word in this regard, whom are they listening too? Beware, Don’t let anybody “talk you to death!”

“Give no thought for your life concerning food, drink, and clothing,” or any other worldly commodity (physical need). Do Christians focus their prayers on worldly requests, that even a sinner may obtain through alternate means? Apostle Paul clearly illustrates the blessed ability of applying “Faith in God” to literal situations and circumstances.

Paul declares in Hebrews (New Living Translation, 2007) 11:32 “How much more :do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death.

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half,d and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.”

How many present day Christians use their “Faith in God” to perform life saving miracles, or death-defying acts? Has the application of faith been weakened instead of increasing? According to Paul’s final sentence on faith: “For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.”  Do you suppose we are appointed to do perfect acts of faith that make the episodes of our forefathers pale in comparison? Would overcoming physical death by believing, having faith in, and manifesting Jesus’ word qualify as an astounding feat of faith? Our beloved, great-ancestors of faith would give a standing ovation to anyone who overcame physical death and the grave, by faithfully manifesting and obeying John 8:51.

However, when billions of faithful believers overcome physical death and the grave, literally standing ready for the coming of Christ, what do you suppose the Heavenly Hosts will do? When we do our part and “endure until the end” (Matthew 10:22), the Heavenly Host will fulfill Jesus’ promise: “And he will send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the world–from the farthest ends of the earth” (Mark 13:27, NIV 1984). This gathering of God’s ultimate faithful ones culminates in our direct physical ascension into heaven! Thereby we bodily manifest the perfection which was sought after and willed to us by the Ancestors of Faith, as it is written: “they would not reach perfection without us.” We must complete their journey toward perfection by performing the ultimate act of faith, which is overcoming physical death and the grave. Remembering always to have faith in 1st Corinthians 15:51, “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!”  So, faithfully manifest 1st Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.”  So don’t let anybody, “Talk you to death.”

Don’t let anybody “Talk you to death!”

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John  5:39 “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” This statement is not addressed to unbelievers but those that profess Jesus Christ. However, his astonishing appraisal of their misguided beliefs is directly opposed to their assumption that they possess eternal life? Eternal life as described by Jesus and stated in the Gospel is a present state of being, an opposing physical reality in which the possessor does not succumb to bodily death (by any means, Luke 10:19). So why do “Christians and born again believers” continue to die? According to Jesus, they are not receiving his Gospel instructions on acquisition of eternal life, “you refuse to come to me.” So if they are not listening to his word in this regard, whom are they listening too? Beware, Don’t let anybody “talk you to death!”

“Give no thought for your life concerning food, drink, and clothing,” or any other worldly commodity (physical need). Do Christians focus their prayers on worldly requests, that even a sinner may obtain through alternate means? Apostle Paul clearly illustrates the blessed ability of applying “Faith in God” to literal situations and circumstances.

Paul declares in Hebrews (New Living Translation, 2007) 11:32 “How much more :do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death.

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half,d and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.”

How many present day Christians use their “Faith in God” to perform life saving miracles, or death-defying acts? Has the application of faith been weakened instead of increasing? According to Paul’s final sentence on faith: “For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.”  Do you suppose we are appointed to do perfect acts of faith that make the episodes of our forefathers pale in comparison? Would overcoming physical death by believing, having faith in, and manifesting Jesus’ word qualify as an astounding feat of faith? Our beloved, great-ancestors of faith would give a standing ovation to anyone who overcame physical death and the grave, by faithfully manifesting and obeying John 8:51.

However, when billions of faithful believers overcome physical death and the grave, literally standing ready for the coming of Christ, what do you suppose the Heavenly Hosts will do? When we do our part and “endure until the end” (Matthew 10:22), the Heavenly Host will fulfill Jesus’ promise: “And he will send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the world–from the farthest ends of the earth” (Mark 13:27, NIV 1984). This gathering of God’s ultimate faithful ones culminates in our direct physical ascension into heaven! Thereby we bodily manifest the perfection which was sought after and willed to us by the Ancestors of Faith, as it is written: “they would not reach perfection without us.” We must complete their journey toward perfection by performing the ultimate act of faith, which is overcoming physical death and the grave. Remembering always to have faith in 1st Corinthians 15:51, “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!”  So, faithfully manifest 1st Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.”  And don’t let anybody, “Talk you to death.”

Cliché vs. Catch Phrase (part 3)

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According to Jesus, eternal life requires us to read the Gospel and follow its instructions (John 8:51). However, the anti-gospel of the world bombards the human mind with cliché sayings that are exactly the opposite of God’s Word. In order to “clear the air”, we will focus on three major clichés that effectively make people live unhappy lives, and eventually die.

1. “We all gotta go sometime?”

How many times have your heard this statement? How many times have you said this statement? How many times have you read it in the Bible? Remember the criteria of a Catch Phrase is its origin in the Bible, conversely a Cliché is not in the Bible. If the phrase “we all gotta go sometime” is in the scriptures please add chapter and verse to this blog, if not we have identified a Cliché, a simple opinion of man. Nevertheless, the same rules apply to Clichés that apply to Catch Phrases, this rule is found in Matthew 4:4 “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Subsequently, we will examine each word contained in the Clichés and Catch Phrases, in order to determine if they instruct towards life or death.

What does “we all gotta go sometime” mean to you? The first word in the sentence is “we.” This word is used to draw you into the outcome of the statement. Whatever the sentence says will happen, will happen to you, if you agree and believe in the “we” part of the sentence. What do “we” supposedly have to do? “All gotta go sometime,” means 100% everybody without exception (all) must physically die, and a person’s death comes by fatal disease, accident, catastrophe, suicide, or murder. So this statement is literally a death sentence, and whoever believes it goes through life expecting physical death at any time, by any means. Moreover, they have no expectation of an alternate ending to their life, do they? Is it possible that the alternate Catch Phrase is “The living end?”

According to Jesus we live by “every Word of God” so every word in the Cliché must be validated as fact in order for the statement to be designated as, “words to live by.” But who lives by a “death sentence? Nevertheless, lets find the antidote to this poisonous Cliché. By finding scriptures that document the fact that everybody does not die, we dispel and invalidate the death sentence Cliché! Furthermore our discovery will establish another path of human life which is physically perpetual, and does not include death and the grave. Keep in mind, if any word of the Cliché is false, the entire sentence is rendered invalid, untrue, and a lie. Let’s examine the 100% inclusive word in the Cliché that attempts to put you into the (death) sentence, that word is “all.”

If one person escapes physical death, the word all is inaccurate because that one is needed to validate the 100% which defines the word “all.”  However, when two people escape physical death the Cliche begins to reek as a falsehood, and a demonic lie. Genesis 5:24 “Enoch was continuously walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him” (New Living Translation, 2007). The chronicles of Enoch record his physical ascension into heaven because of his righteous nature and consistent love of God. Where ever God’s kingdom is, Enoch is there as a living breathing man who escaped physical death thousands of years ago, because of his undying love of God. But remember, one person escaping death constitutes a Cliché inaccuracy, it takes two death beaters to brand “we all gotta go sometime” as an outright lie of demonic origin. So let’s go back into the Bible and give that old death sentence a one two punch, that will knock it out of our vocabulary and out of our conversation forever.

Kings 2:11 “As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.” (New Living Translation, 2007) Wait a minute! First Enoch physically disappears after consistently walking with God every day of his life, and then Elijah is taken up into the sky by some sort of chariot of fire? Oh snap! That makes two documented occurrences of people who “did Not have to go sometime.” The common definition of “go sometime” means to physically die, but Enoch and Elijah avoided physical death by maintaining phenomenal relationships with God. By the accounts of their leaving earth alive (as living humans), the death sentence Cliché of “we all gotta go sometime” is devaluated and debunked.  From this day forward “we all gotta go sometime” is not an acceptable thing to say, because it disagrees with God’s Word that documents two extraordinary men who avoided death completely. However, by acknowledging and combining the fact of physical death with the fact of physical ascension, a new Catch Phrase replaces the Cliché of death. The new Catch Phrase is the expression, “We all have to go somehow!”  Finally, we can choose how we leave earth: Go up, or go down?

2 B continued

 

continued: Cliché vs. Catch Phrase

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To accurately clarify the difference between a cliché and a catch phrase, we will let the Holy Bible be the judge. If a saying can be found in the Bible and it’s meaning promotes everlasting life, it is a catch phrase. If a saying cannot be found in the Bible and it promotes death and mediocrity, it is a cliché. In other words, all Catch Phrases can be found in the Bible (100%), and no Clichés can be found in the Bible (0%). By using this formula you can determine the validity of any conversation by simply looking it up in the Bible, if it’s not there it is a cliché (of human origin). Please use this link to BIBLOS if you need help looking up sayings of interest http://biblos.com/. This site contains a Biblical search engine which pinpoints word and sentence inquiries according to their Bible relevance.If a word or sentence is in the Bible, BIBLOS will locate it an offer it to you in the translation of your choice. Enjoy!

According to Jesus, eternal life requires us to read the Gospel and follow its instructions (John 8:51). However, the anti-gospel of the world bombards the human mind with cliché sayings that are exactly the opposite of God’s Word. In order to “clear the air”, we will focus on three major clichés that effectively make people live unhappy lives, and eventually die.

 1. “We all gotta go sometime?”    2. “Nobody’s perfect?”    3. “We are all in the same boat?”

2B continued…

Cliché vs. Catch Phrase

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According to Jesus, people have the tendency to talk about Christ but not practice the commandments of the Gospel. In the book of Mark chapter 7 verse 7, Jesus sternly warns against this hypocrisy by saying, “Their worship of me is worthless, because they teach human rules as doctrines.” (International Standard Version, 2008)  It is incumbent for true believers to validate their genuineness to Christ by consistently discerning God’s Word from human rules, opinions, and clichés. Moreover, once the distinction is known, believers always choose to obey God rather than man. Apostle Peter exemplified this type of thinking and behavior in Acts 5:29, “But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men.”  He made this statement in the face of certain persecution, to illustrate the importance of being loyal to God’s Word.

The Information Age offers a different challenge to present day true believers. They must discern between the human rhetoric perpetually transmitted on a global scale, and the pure Gospel which Peter proclaimed “must be obeyed.” This process takes place in the human heart, and the individual mind makes the choice. Are the words you treasure just human cliché? Or do you live your life according to the catch phrases of God? Either way the choice is perpetually yours, Cliché  or Catch Phrase, God or man?

2B continued

Maximum faith for the maximum goal, beholding the return of Christ!

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“From faith to faith” (Romans 1:17) admonishes us to exercise our faith by believing in something new, the “deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10)!  Give your body to John 8:51 and have faith in God to make it happen. Don’t physically die, choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19). Don’t expect and have faith in the death of your body, expect to physically greet Jesus when he returns (Matthew 25:1-13). Endure to the end and behold his glory with your own eyes (Mark 13:13). The Holy Spirit will keep your body alive to greet Jesus when he returns (1 Thessalonians 5:19-24). It is God’s pleasure to keep you alive and present you to Jesus, face to face (Jude 1:24-25). Look forward to His coming, don’t look back to the ways, belief, and expectation of death and the grave (Luke 9:62).

“Don’t talk about it, be about it!”

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“Wist ye not that I must be about my father’s business?” (Luke 2:29)

In the book of Luke chapter 2 verses 41-52 the parents of Jesus returned to Jerusalem and found him in the temple studying the scriptures with the elders. When his mother inquired of him regarding the situation, he answered, “Wist ye not that I must be about my father’s business?”  In later years during his Gospel ministry, Jesus empowered believers by endorsing this spiritual blank check, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” (New Living Translation, 2007) Please note the designation “anyone” represents our cue to participate in the works, lifestyle, and power of Jesus Christ. Wherever the Gospel designates whosoever, if a man, or anyone, as the recipient or doer of an action, it is a “blank check” statement that can be generically redeemed. This is where you come in! This is where I come in! The question remains, are you “about your fathers business” the way Jesus was, in the opening scripture? Only you can answer that question. Either way, as long as you have breath in your body, you can pick up that blank check and sign your name in place of “whosoever, or anyone.”

Apostle Paul proclaimed in Ephesians chapter 4, “11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” This passage is a listing of the functions and duties belonging to those “whosoever” cashed in the biblical blank check. What they all have in common is “knowledge,” and that knowledge pertains to things concerning Jesus Christ. However, before the acquisition of knowledge, “we all come to such unity in our faith” is listed as a prerequisite (something we must first accomplish/go through). Jesus simplified the knowledge gaining process, into two distinct tasks and recorded the formula in the book of John chapter 7 verse 17. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (King James Bible, Cambridge Edition) This powerful declaration makes it easy to understand the process of doing is required for obtaining knowledge (according to Jesus).

An example of doing equals knowledge, can be easily understood and agreed upon by examining something that effects us all, eating. Before we eat, someone has to prepare the food. The process of cooking food is an art form that reflects skill, imagination, and individuality. However, no matter how wonderful the cooks may be, their beginnings are the same. I will use myself as an example. When I first started cooking, I would follow a written recipe, word for word, reading aloud as I diligently did what the recipe instructed me to do. When the recipe said, “add two eggs,” I broke open to eggs and added them. When I meticulously followed the recipe, the end result was exactly like the picture in the cookbook. More importantly, the finished item tasted as delicious as it looked. After years of practice, I learned to embellish the recipe, and prepare every meal without reading the cook book. I became a knowledgeable cook, through the process of doing the same thing over and over again. This is exactly what Jesus says, “if anyone will do, they shall know,” and know is the root word of knowledge.   How many things do you know how to do by heart? Whatever they are, the doing always came before the knowing. Nevertheless, after you know how to do things by heart, you are knowledgeable when it comes to that particular subject or task.

Literal Gospel is all about doing what Jesus commanded us to do, and by the process of practicing his word we become knowledgeable in the things of God! Subsequently, I literally “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39). I literally “forgive 70 times 7” (Matthew 18:22). I literally “love my enemies” and I literally “lend hoping for no return” (Luke 6:35). I literally “continue in obeying the Gospel” (John 8:31) because it proves to Christ how much I love him. It is He who commanded me to “keep his sayings” and “do his will” in order to obtain knowledge of him. “Don’t talk about it, be about it,” is the inner-city translation of John 7:17. Along with reading about it, talking about it, singing about it, believing in it, and having faith in it, do it consistently, tenaciously, and faithfully. What is it? John 8:51, “If a man keep my saying he shall never see death.” After all, eternal life is not something to talk about, it is something to do.

 

The Challenge of Your Life?

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“Let God be true and every man a liar!” (Romans 3:4)

Apostle Paul pulled no punches in this stark comparison between the Word of God and the conversations of people. Do you believe this scripture is an essential viewpoint to use when reading The Holy Bible? If so, you are hereby challenged to discover the meaning, worth, and intent, of your physical body according to God’s Word in the Bible. Each passage of scripture illustrates God’s intentions and commandments for your physical body. People often focus on God’s relationship with the spirit of man, and the personality, but these scriptures offer profound proof that God redeems and loves the human body as well as the spirit.

These scriptures require the reader to take God’s Word at face value, without human interpretation  or opinion. That is why the opening scripture says, “let every man be a liar!” Holding to the principle  that God’s Word is true, you will discover an amazing revelation which concerns every person who reads this blog. Your physical body is precious in God’s sight, and everlasting life is a physical miracle which is obtainable now, today, and immediately! Would you rather live instead of die? Would you like to save the lives of your children, family, and friends? I hope so, because according to God’s Word, the act of physical death is not the doorway to heaven! Nobody goes to The Kingdom of Heaven to be with Jesus at the moment of death because Jesus is alive! Death is a curse not a cure. Death is still the wages of sin (Romans 6:23), and no lie of mankind can change that fact. Nevertheless, death can be overcome, outwitted, outsmarted, and totally avoided, here and now, forevermore!

1st Thessalonians 4:17 proclaims,  “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” This group of people are the righteous believers who are alive on the earth when Jesus returns. Please note that they leave this earth by physical ascension not death and the grave. They are physically risen into heaven and escape the curse of death completely. This puts a whole new spin on the spiritual song, “When the saints go marching in” (literally on their feet). The question is, Do you prefer ascension over the grave? If so, this list of scriptures will ultimately introduce you to an escalated focus of faith that can only be described as, “The Challenge of Your Life.” Enjoy!

CHALLENGE OF YOUR LIFE 

  1. 1. John 8:51 (Do this to avoid death completely!)
  2. Ephesians 5:29-32 (Your flesh and bones belong to Jesus.)
  3. Proverbs 12:26-28 (No physical death when you get this right.)
  4. Ezekiel 18:31-32 (God hates death, and commands you to reverse course and live.)
  5. Hebrews 7:15-16 (Death can’t touch your body, bones, or blood.)
  6. Hebrews 10:16-22 (Jesus gave you power to live endlessly.)
  7. Isaiah 40:1-5 (God’s kingdom is for flesh and bone people.)
  8. Jeremiah 32:27 (God proclaims his dominion over your body.)
  9. Proverbs 4:20-23 (God gives His word for the benefit of your flesh.)
  10. 1st Corinthians 6:19-20 (God owns your body forever, so live eternally.)
  11. Romans 12:1-2 (Give God your living body, not a dead corpse.)
  12. John 17:1-3 (When you really know God, your flesh is eternal.)
  13. 1st John 2:14-17 (You can be “out of this world” and stay here too!)
  14. Ephesians 2:19-22 (God is eternal and your body is His everlasting home.)
  15. 1st Thessalonians 5:19-24 (God keeps your body alive to meet Jesus at the second coming.)
  16. 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 (This group of people is eternal now!)
  17. Luke 21:34-36 (Jesus said, beating death is not easy, but you can do it.)
  18. 1st Timothy 6:12 (Beat death by fighting faithfully, and living day by day.)
  19. Romans 8:11-23 (God says your body is your coupon for eternal life.)
  20. John 12:50 (Living forever is God’s commandment for you to accomplish!)

2B continued

“Abundant Life” according to Jesus?

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“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

How many times have Christians heard this scripture used during a sermon? The subsequent meaning of “abundant life” as explained by the preacher usually consist of financial blessings, or the expectation of a monetary windfall. Suppose Jesus’ definition of “abundant life” did not include wealth, money, or secular riches? By closely examining the entire Gospel of Christ, we are able to construct a picture of what Jesus meant by abundant life. Remembering always the Lord’s admonition, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” (Proverbs 29:18) So be of good cheer, the true definition is explained throughout the Gospel,  and needs no interpretation. Are you ready to “see what he’s saying?” 

Before adorning a new garment, it is necessary to take off the old. By the process of elimination, let us first examine what is not abundant life according to Jesus. By reading Jesus’ encounters in Matthew 19:16, we find a man asking for abundant life; “And, behold, one came and said to him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Please note this request was for abundant life that never ends. Do you suppose “eternal life” could be the maximum measure of an abundant life? I suppose so, do you? Nevertheless, Jesus granted the man’s request for eternal life, by giving him a task to fulfill, a stipulation as it were. Astoundingly, the requirement to receive the most abundant life of all (eternal life), called for the man to rid himself of all money, wealth, and secular riches! Chapter 19 of Matthew says, “21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. ” Do you suppose Jesus meant what he said? If the man got rid of his riches would Jesus give him the most abundant life of all, eternal life? The meaning of abundant life according to Jesus is exactly the opposite of financial blessings or monetary windfalls. Jesus said, “if you have it, get rid of it!” He did not say, “in a few days hence you will receive a bundle of cash.” Abundant life is not money, at least “according to Jesus”! Do you agree?

As always, we use the scriptures to define and explain the scriptures. By consistently using this process we are assured that our understanding of God’s word is untainted by human opinion. In the book of Luke, Jesus profoundly states the composition of abundant life does not include money or possessions! “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (KJV, Luke 12:15) If you have a modern translation Bible it says, ” Then he said, Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” (New Living Translation, 2007) Subsequently, since life is not measured by “how much you own,” abundant life is abundantly not measured by “how much you own.” Wow, I get the picture! Do you see what Jesus is saying? With all of my heart, I hope so. 

Now that scripture upon scripture has defined what abundant life is not, let us discover what abundant life is, “according to Jesus.” The man who asked Jesus for eternal life in Matthew 19:16, was immediately granted his request. Jesus gave him the coordinates of this super abundant life in Matthew 19:17. “And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Jesus told the man he could receive abundant life/eternal life by fulfilling one task, “keep the commandments.” As strange as it may seem, here is where you come in! Do you suppose eternal life is the abundant life described in our opening scripture?  “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) If so, you and I can seize the opportunity for eternal life/abundant life which the young man declined, if we just “keep the commandments.” We know the how of abundant life, which is “keep the commandments.” We know the why of abundant life, which is “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” To complete the puzzle, get the picture, see what Jesus is saying, we must biblically discover the who, what, and where of abundant life “according to Jesus”

Who is the recipient of eternal life, “according to Jesus”?

In the primary header, Jesus proclaims, “they” are the recipients of abundant/eternal life, but who they are is not clearly defined. By searching the Gospel for the identity of who receives  eternal life, we find the unmistakable fingerprint, the spiritual DNA match, of who is eternal. John 8:51 (KJV) describes the who they are in an exact description which says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying he shall never see death.” The New Living Translation (2007) states John 8:51 thusly, “I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!” Do you suppose “never see death and never die” are ways to describe eternal/abundant life? Notwithstanding, the New Living Translation perfectly identifies who receives abundant life by saying, “who obeys my teaching.”  This identification of who receives abundant life (according to Jesus) is both specific and generic. Specific, because he, she, and they obey the Gospel of Christ consistently, which fulfills Jesus’ stipulation. Generic, because obeying the Gospel is something anyone and everyone can do, with “all their heart, mind, soul, and strength” (Luke 10:27). Subsequently, you, I, and anyone can be the who, as long as we obey the Gospel we receive the abundant/eternal life (according to Jesus). Please excuse my grammar, but, “who is me”. Please excuse my grammar again, I hope and pray, “who is you.”

 What shall I do to have eternal life, “according to Jesus”?

In one of the preceding paragraphs it is said, “you and I can seize the opportunity for eternal life/abundant life which the young man declined, if we just keep the commandments.” This refers to the young man Jesus encountered in Matthew 19:16-17 who was unable to keep a specific commandment regarding disbursal of his earthly fortune. That young man received one direct commandment from Jesus, and with a heart of disobedience, turned  away from Christ to resume his worldly lifestyle. However, in this dispensation we have the entire Gospel of Christ to obey in order to receive eternal/abundant life (John 8:51). What must we do in order to succeed where the rich young ruler  failed? How about obeying the Gospel commandment which specifically orders us to live forever? Our biblical protocol is to let scripture define scripture, being consistent in our regimen requires a supporting and defining scripture for John 8:51. Overall, Jesus’ stipulation to “keep my sayings” and “obey my teachings” requires perfect submission to the doctrine of the Gospel. In laymen’s terms, if Jesus said it, do it.

Whatever is written in the Gospel is not just my belief, but my lifestyle, my character, my mindset, my hopes, aspirations  and expectations. In other words, I am the physical manifestation of the Gospel. This new creature is described by apostle Paul thusly, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (New International Version, 1984). Paul’s profound declaration describes a creature that abides by the Gospel of Christ, because it is inhabited by the Spirit (attitude, personality) of Christ. These new creatures know what Christ knows, behave how Christ behaves, and obey the commandments that Christ obeys. Understanding this correlation is essentially what I must do in order to obey the Gospel commandment that corresponds to John 8:51. That corresponding commandment is John 12:50, “And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” How many people don’t realize the fact that everlasting life is the commandment of Christ recorded in John 12:50, and not a reward received after death? How many people have been doing what Christ commanded in this regard? To answer the question, “what must I do to have eternal life? I must simply obey his commandments, including John 8:51 & John 12:50, thusly live without ceasing. That’s what, “according to Jesus”!

“Where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3)

Discovering where eternal life is “according to Jesus” proves to be just as astounding as every miracle he performed. The excerpt of John 14:3 in the header reads like this in its entirety, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Jesus made this promise to his disciples and believers to illustrate the continuance of our physical relationship with the Lord. Christendom is founded upon three related principles. The first is, everything in scripture concerning Jesus Christ is true. The second, Jesus Christ is physically alive and sits in majesty in Heaven.The third, Jesus is coming back to earth and will collect his people when he returns. Because Christians hold these truths as evidence through their faith in Christ, the where of eternal life is understandable to them as a group (“the body of Christ”).

Jesus said, “where I am there ye may be also” (John 14:3). Why did Jesus say may instead of can? Because may is a word that gives permission, and the word can denotes ability. Every believer has the ability to be where Jesus is because he was crucified to give us that right. However, since his physical departure into Heaven, everything is done by faith in Christ and his Word (The Gospel). To realize where eternal life is, I must faithfully believe where Jesus is. Then I must activate the permission he gave me to be with him when he said, “ye may be also.”

Jesus is physically alive, he does not reside in the netherworld of disembodied souls. Christians of every denomination, shout to the heavens, “We serve a risen savior!” Subsequently, Jesus Christ is in this dimension that we call life, the universe, the cosmos, existence, the land of DNA. Moreover, when Jesus arose from the grave he scolded a particular disciple for not believing the fact that Jesus was physically alive. In the book of John chapter 20 it is recorded, “27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Every believer of Jesus’ physical Resurrection and ascension is blessed because of their faith in God’s Word (according to Jesus).

Where is Jesus? Right here, but in another part of the physical universe, and believers have permission to be with him forever. Because Jesus is in this dimension of existence, believers know by faith, that there are eternal beings living in our universal atmosphere. But where do you and I come into this picture of physical immortality? Jesus made it easy for us by one simple commandment, “Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22) These are the instructions of Jesus for all believers who desire to accomplish what the world would call impossible. Moreover, once a person “has faith in God” through obedience to the Gospel, God reveals the location of eternal life (aka abundant life). Zechariah 4:6 exclaims, “So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. Simply put, physical manifestation of eternal life, becoming immortal, overcoming physical death, is accomplished by abiding in God’s Spirit for that exact, specific, reason and purpose.

Where is God’s Spirit? Jesus did not only format a protocol for receiving God’s Spirit into your heart, he also put God’s Spirit in your hands, so that civilization could use it to its fullest capacity. In order for people to effectively apply God’s Spirit to life’s circumstances, Jesus made the Spirit visible to the naked eye. In John 6:63 Jesus gives the Spirit of God to all of us, in no uncertain terms. “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (New Living Translation, 2007) According to Jesus eternal life is given by The Spirit. According to Jesus the words that he spoke are The Spirit and life. Subsequently, Life eternal is in the Gospel, those sentences and paragraphs which are written in red, in your Bible. The question is, where do you stand in regards to abiding in the Gospel? Do you know the Gospel by heart? More importantly, do you do the Gospel with all of your heart?

Where is eternal life, henceforth known as “abundant life”, according to Jesus (John 10:10)? Eternal life is in The Gospel of Christ, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words (The Gospel in red) will not pass away.” (Mark 13:31) Moreover, eternal life is The Gospel of Christ, since it is the doctrine which Jesus proclaimed is eternal (“shall not pass away”). The question you must answer is where are you in relation to The Gospel? Is it in you, and you in it? If so you have an eternal entity living inside of your physical body. Do you live in it? In other words do you live according to the commandments of The Gospel within you? “And I know that His commandment is life everlasting” (John 12:50); “Truly,truly, I tell you, if a person obeys the Gospel they will never die.” (John 8:51). When you abide in The Gospel (through obedience) and The Gospel abides in you (knowing the words by heart) you are immortal here and now just like Jesus and The Heavenly Father. According to Jesus in the book of John chapter 17:22 “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” This perfect love and oneness is manifested in your physical eternal transformation, and everlasting state of being, welcome to the flock of immortals who have overcome physical death!

ACCORDING TO JESUS                                                                                                                  (John 10:28)                                                                                                                                          “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish”

Manifesting John 8:51 in the flesh!

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What did the apostle Paul mean when he said, “we shall not all sleep?” (1st Corinthians 15:51)

The process of using the scriptures to define the scriptures is an excellent way to avoid the tides of human opinion. In the book of Acts a disciple named Stephen was stoned to death. The biblical description of his physical demise reads as follows;  Acts 7:59 “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” 

Physical death is described as “fell asleep” in this biblical account of Stephen’s death by stoning. In 1st Corinthians, Paul confirms the description of death in regards to born-again believers as falling asleep. (1st Corinthians Chapter 15, New International Version 1984)  verses: “16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man; the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”

This testimony makes it perfectly clear that the term sleep denotes physical death. Conversely, by using scriptures to define scriptures, the opening statement quoted from apostle Paul, “we shall not all sleep,” simply means everybody is not going to die. Subsequently, the old cliche’ of “everybody has to go sometime” is not biblically accurate, and could be determined as a derogatory lie. What do you suppose? Nevertheless,  the challenge remains, how does one become a member of the group which “shall not sleep?” 

Note:

Throughout the New Testament the death of born-again believers is described as “falling asleep.” In subsequent posts we will explore the reason for this new designation of death in regards to those who belong to Christ.

I challenge you to “physically” live and never die, just like me!

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A wise man once said, “What good is it to have everything you want and then you die?” Does that sound familiar? More importantly, can you agree with that statement? If so, it is very likely that you will be victorious in “The Challenge of Your Life.” Welcome to Literal Gospel, hosted by Elders Rod and Geneva.  We literally do not want you to die, because someone has already died in your place.

The opening quote is located in the Bible @ Matthew 16:26. This profound statement does not require religious belief, only good common sense and a honest heart. Other variations of this statement read; “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (New Living Translation, 2007); “What good will it do for people to win the whole world and lose their lives? Or what will a person give in exchange for life?” (God’s Word Translation, 1995). No matter how it is said, what can you do about it? How can people not lose their lives?

Suppose physical longevity required more than good nutrition and exercise? I owe it to myself to investigate whatever elements are necessary to sustain my body for as long as possible. Literal Gospel is a collaborative site where everyone can share their views on the value of life, and feel free to share questions and answers on the subject that touches us all. Staying alive!

The Gospel is literally filled with profound statements which have perplexed civilization since the days of antiquity until the present. Without a doubt, the ability to discern the difference between parables and commandments in the scriptures, is a matter of life or death. Simply put, the missing element in obtaining physical longevity, is the ability to understand the instruction manual of life aka The Bible.

Jesus Christ lived a life adorned with miracles and astounding events. He clearly states that the power of living life without death is hidden within the words he left behind. Do you suppose this power is the key to physical immortality, here and now? What does John 8:51 mean to you? Since Jesus never lied or exaggerated,  do you suppose he meant what he said in John 8:51 literally? We do!