Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Tag: Dead or Alive

All flesh must die

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On December 9, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The sixth chapter of Genesis states that God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt and all flesh was corrupt before him. So God told Noah, it was time for God to put an end to all flesh (every living human, every land animal, and even the birds of the air). Now one may wonder, why did God have to put an end to the other land creatures and the birds of the air? Man’s willful sin and disobedience against God had consequences. Man was made with the Spirit of God to reign within him for he was made a living soul (Genesis 2:7), but with the lust of his flesh, the lust of his eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16), he sinned and had inherited death, becoming corrupt. Man’s corruption was not limited to just mankind and his willful disobedience (sin) brought about a curse. Not only was the ground curse on account of man, but the Bible tells us that against their will, all of creation was subject to God’s curse; to corruption, i.e., to die and decay (Romans 8:20). So in a sense, the do-over of all of God’s land creation was in essence, God’s act of mercy to free the groaning creation from death and decay (Romans 8:22). All flesh must die, so that the corruptible could be made back in the way, God had intended it to be, incorruptible.

Points to ponder:
There is a conflict between our flesh and the Spirit of God that reigns within us (Galatians 5:17). They are at war and the lust of our flesh leads to corruption and condemnation for the wages of sin is death (Romans 8:1). We need to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh but in order to live by the Spirit of God, as holy and righteous creatures, we need to mortify (put to death) the sinful things of the world that lurk within us (Colossians 3:5). If we live by the flesh, we shall die, but if we live by the Spirit, then we must through the Spirit of God, mortify the deeds of the body so that we shall live (Romans 8:13). In other words, all (of our) flesh must die (for the Spirit of God to reign in our life)! Are you dead or alive?

Genesis 6:11-13 (KJV)
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Romans 8:19-22 (NLT)
19. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.
20. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope,
21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
22. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Romans 8:13 (KJV)
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

The condition of life and death

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On May 10, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

In the second chapter of the book of Genesis, the Bible records that the Lord God commanded the man, to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but before the commandment was given, the Lord God told the man that of every tree of the garden, man may freely eat. If man chose to disobey God, the the condition that was stipulated was the man would “surely” die. In other words, the cost to obey God and enjoy all of God’s provisions was nothing (it was free), but the cost of disobeying God was certain (sure) and severe – it would cost man everything (life itself).

Points to ponder:
From this text we can learn that God provides for those whom he commands. So the next time, you think of what God has commanded you to do, make sure to hear the provisions he gives you along with that commandment. Then recognize to obey God is to choose life, but to disobey God is to reject life and choose death. The condition of life and death is in our choice to obey or not obey God. What is your condition? Are you alive? or Are you dead?

Genesis 2:16-17 (KJV)
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Are you dead or alive?

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On April 25, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 2:7 states “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”  This verse indicates that until the breath of life (Holy Spirit) of God was breathed into man, man had a physically lifeless body. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit of God in us that makes us come alive.

Points to ponder:
Are you dead or alive? In other words, do you have the Holy Spirit of God in you? Receive the promise of the Holy Spirit of God through faith (Galatians 3:14) and through faith believe and confess that Jesus is the Son of God, sent to be the Savior of mankind, so that God (the Holy Spirit) can dwell in you (1 John 4:13-15). Only when we do, are we made alive – otherwise we are lifeless! Are you dead or alive?

Genesis 4:7 (KJV)
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

1 John 4:13-15 (KJV)
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

Galatians 3:14 (KJV)
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Jesus is alive, so what?

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On April 1, 2013

In Christian, Easter

We celebrated Easter last Sunday, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death, whereby he victoriously defeated the devil who had the power of death, delivering those who through fear of death were subject to bondage all their lifetime (Hebrews 2:14-15). Easter is therefore a declaration that “Jesus is alive.”

Jesus is alive, so what? is a question that many seek to answer. The answer is given in the Bible and it is recorded in the book to the Romans in chapter 8 verse 11. Romans 8:11 reads “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Points to ponder:
Jesus is alive, so what? you ask and here is my response.
I am alive, because he is alive.
Let the Spirit of God in us live his purpose, in our lives, and through our lives, so that when God gives his testimony of us, he does not have to say what he declared of the church of Sardis, that they had a reputation for being alive, but are dead (Revelation 3:1; NLT).
Are you dead or alive? Jesus is alive, so must we be!

Romans 8:11 (KJV)
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Hebrews 2:14-15 (KJV)
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Don’t become a blackhole

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On March 18, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The book of Genesis affirms that God made the stars along with the two great lights that he created and set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth. (Genesis 1:16-17). Stars in the sky emit light. The Sun (one of God’s creation) in our Solar System is a star that emits light. In order for a star to be able to emit light, it must first have light within itself, that it can emit. A celestial phenomenon that is related to stars is referred to as the blackhole. This is also referred to as the death of a star. In this phenomenon, the gravitational forces within the star prevents anything from escaping, including light.

The Bible also teaches us that those who serve the Lord God in turning many to righteousness found in Jesus Christ alone, will be like stars for ever and ever and the wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament (Daniel 12:3). So who are the wise? Proverbs 11:30 states that one who winneth souls is wise. So followers of Jesus Christ who believe in him, that are faithful in his great commission of proclaiming the message of reconciliation with God, are like stars that God has recreated (as a new creature) in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are expected to give the LIGHT of the World i.e., Jesus Christ, to the world. In order for us to be a star emitting Jesus, we must first have him within. We must have first believed and received him. Secondly, we must not let the gravitational forces of self and sin make us so self-centered that we prevent anything from escaping us, including Jesus, for in doing so, we become a blackhole.

Points to ponder:
Do you have the Light of the World (Jesus Christ) in your life? In order to have him shine in your life, all you need to do is just believe that he is the Light of God that was sent to shine on darkness.
If you have believed in him, then are you a star shining forth the Light of Christ from your life so that people living in darkness (without Christ and a relationship with God) can see The Light that dispels all darknesses?
Or, are you a blackhole, consumed by self and sin, self-centered, ineffective and dead, even though you are alive (Revelation 3:1)?

Genesis 1:16-18 (KJV)
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

Daniel 12:3 (KJV)
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Proverbs 11:30 (KJV)
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Revelation 3:1 (KJV)
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Why seek ye the living among the dead?

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On April 5, 2010

In Christian, Easter

When visiting the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, I took a picture of what was recreated as the tomb in which Jesus was laid, and what was interesting is that within this tomb, there was a plaque which read “He is not here, He is risen.” We just celebrated Easter in the year of the Lord 2010, and remembered his power over death and the grave (1 Corinthians 15:55-57), and his resurrection from the dead according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), but did you realize that on the first Easter, there was a question that was posed, right in the tomb where Jesus was laid.

The first question that was asked in the tomb where Jesus Christ was laid after his resurrection by angels of God (Luke 24:23) was “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5-6). They further went on to affirm that “He (Jesus) is not here (in the tomb), but is risen”.

The answer to this question is of paramount significance. Within a tomb is dead men’s bones and uncleanliness (Matthew 23:27). When Jesus arose, He arose in His physical body (bones and flesh). This He affirms when He tells the disciples “that a spirit has neither bones nor flesh, as you see me have” (Luke 24:39). Acts 2:27,32 refers to Christ Jesus as the Holy One who was raised by God and He who is Holy is not unclean.

Jesus proclaimed verily that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6); He is the Resurrection and he that believes in Him shall have eternal life, even though he was dead (John 11:25). Jesus is Life!

“Why seek ye the living among the dead?” is akin to asking “What communion can Light have with darkness?” Think about it, when you shine a light in a dark room, that room is no longer dark. The shining light takes over the darkness. So is the case, when Life encounters death, death is consumed. The sting of death is vanquished by the victory of Jesus’ resurrection ( 1 Corinthians 15:55-57) . Just as light and darkness cannot co-exist, Life and death cannot co-exist. You are either dead (not knowing Jesus Christ and God the Father who sent Him) or you are alive (knowing Jesus Christ and God the Father who sent Him) (John 17:3)

And of this we are to be witnesses (Luke 24:48), proclaiming that we don’t have to seek the living (Resurrected Jesus) among the dead (in the tomb), because Jesus is the Holy One of God, resurrected in his body (bones and flesh) and those who believe in Him; the Resurrection; shall have eternal life, i.e., be themselves resurrected from death unto life; unto newness of life. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Revelation 20:6 (KJV)
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

For a related article, see “Living among the dead“

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