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Tag: Words of eternal life

The Assuring Christ :: Today shalt thou be with me in paradise

Each of the seven sayings from the Cross gives us a glimpse into the nature of Jesus Christ. In the second saying, when Jesus, tells the malefactor (criminal) who had acknowledged and addressed Jesus as Lord and King (Luke 23:42), that he will be with Jesus in paradise that day, we see Jesus Christ – the Assurer of his presence in paradise.

The prophet Isaiah had prophesied of the assuring Christ centuries earlier, when he recorded that Jesus would be numbered with the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12). On the Cross, we see condemned like the other malefactors (Luke 23:39-40), this prophetic saying comes true.

Points to ponder:
Amidst this condemnation that Christ suffered, as a criminal, though he had committed no crime, Jesus speaks words of eternal life (John 6:68), words of assurance – a blessed assurance, that the one who is condemned in the eyes of man is not condemned in the eyes of God, because he who had recognized Jesus a good man, having done nothing wrong (Luke 23:41), realized and recognized that Jesus the good man was indeed God-man and that Jesus was Lord and King, who will come again in his kingdom (Luke 23:42). The criminal’s request was to be remembered for he said “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom”, but Christ Jesus responded in a manner of speaking, that there would be no need for remembrance, because that criminal was going to be with Christ that very day.

Notice how, Jesus did not condemn or remind him of the criminal’s sinful past, which by earthly standards deserved excruciating death. Instead, Jesus focused on the criminal’s saintly future – a future with Christ himself. This gives hope – hope to the vilest of sinners (of whom I am chief) and does not preclude anyone out of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The criminal died that day, yet he lived for whoever believes in Jesus, though he shall die, yet shall he live (John 11:25-26).

Also note, how the criminal’s request talks about “Jesus’ kingdom” not the kingdom of man. Jesus taught his disciples to pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth. Yet many a times, we in our human fallibilities and carnal desires seek to establish our own kingdoms. Like the criminal, we must ask for God’s kingdom to come and not our own. His will, not our will be done.

And to all, who like the criminal, recognize Jesus, not solely as a good man, but as God-man, the only man in whom the fullness of God dwells (Colossians 1:19), as the Lord and as a King whose kingdom will come, Jesus is the assuring Christ with whom we shall all be, in paradise.

Is Jesus The Assuring Christ to you? In other words, have you believed in him and accepted him as Lord and King of your life?

Luke 23:39-43 (KJV)
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Isaiah 53:12 (KJV)
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

John 11:25-26 (KJV)
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Everlasting kingdoms

One of Reuben’s (our beloved six year old son) favorite song is “Me without You” by TobyMac and a line in the song goes as “I’d be building my kingdom just to watch it fade away” expressing the temporary and futile state of our aspirations and efforts in the absence of God.

The chorus of the song “All in Life” by Gospel singer Carman goes as follows:
“… kingdoms come and kingdoms go
but through the Word of God, I know
when all in life is done and past
only what is done for Christ will last”

When we DO ALL that God commands us to do, we end up working in his kingdom business instead of trying to establish our very own and that Kingdom is one that last forever (Revelation 11:15; Luke 1:33) – one that is indestructible and indomitable (Daniel 2:44)

Points to ponder:
God’s promise to Solomon was “if you do all the things that I have commanded you, then I will establish your throne of your kingdom for ever.” In doing all things that God commands us to do, we can be assured of the Kingdom of God within us (Luke 17:21) to last forever. Only in Christ Jesus can all things last forever, for only in him is found eternal life (John 6:68; John 17:3).

When ALL in life is DONE and past , only what is DONE for Christ will last. There is no partial work with God.
Are you/me DOING ALL for Jesus Christ, as God has commanded us to?

1 Kings 9:3-5 (KJV)
And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:
Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.

Daniel 2:44 (KJV)
44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Professional Speaking :: Jesus The Ventriloquist

A ventriloquist projects his or her voice in such a way that the sound seems to come from someone else. In this regard, would we be able to consider Jesus to be an Ventriloquist? Jesus said, that the words he speaks are not his own, but of God the Father who sent him (John 12:49-50). These words (commands) leads to eternal life.

Points to ponder:
The words of God the Father which leads to eternal life was spoken by Jesus The Ventriloquist. Can we also speaks the words that lead to eternal life (the gospel of Jesus Christ) just like Jesus The Ventriloquist. 

John 12:49 (KJV)
49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Professional Speaking :: Jesus The Teacher

A teacher is one who instructs and imparts knowledge. It is said that “Experience” is a good teacher and there is no doubt about that, but would we be able to consider Jesus to be a Teacher?

The Bible answers this question. In fact, Jesus was called a “Teacher from God” by Nicodemus, who was himself a ruler of the Jews and master (teacher) of Israel, for Nicodemus recognized that what Jesus taught was not of any man, but of God (John 3:2). The Bible tells us that God (Jesus) will instruct us in the ways that we should go (Psalm 32:8) and Jesus’ disciple, Simon Peter recognized that Jesus held the words of eternal life (John 6:68). In other words, Jesus is the only one who can impart the True knowledge of eternal life (Salvation), which is to know God the Father, the only true God and Jesus, the Teacher whom God had sent (John 17:3). And when you shall know this truth (taught by Jesus through his word), This Truth shall make you free of any bondage, that keeps you from eternal life.

Points to ponder:
Jesus is The Teacher from God who teaches us the way of eternal life. Are you/I as students willing to listen and learn from Jesus The Teacher? Where else can we go? (nowhere) for it is Only Jesus who holds the words of eternal life.

John 3:1-2 (KJV)
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

John 6:68-69 (KJV)
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

John 17:3  (KJV)
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

A sinner magnet

Luke 15:1 records the parable of the lost sheep. It states that the publicans (tax collectors) and sinners drew near unto Jesus in order to hear him. This led to those who were self-righteous to murmur that “Jesus communed with sinners.” At this juncture, Jesus narrates the parable of the lost sheep to imply that the “never-giving up” God would go after even the one sinner who is lost as would a good Shepherd after a sheep that is lost.

And hidden in this account is the fact that publicans and sinners were attracted (drew near) to Jesus. They came near Him in order to hear Him. What was it that they wanted to hear? Jesus was recognized to be teacher from God for His words were accompanied by miracles (John 3:2). The disciple of Christ correctly recognized that solely in Christ were words of eternal life; words that assured hope for the hopeless (John 6:68). He did not condemn anyone, evidence of which we see in His encounter with the adulteress woman, as He expressed this vocally, stating “I do not condemn thee, go and sin no more. Sinners came to Christ as they could hear only from Him words that could save and sanctify them. Jesus was a sinner magnet!

Points to ponder:
1. Do those who don’t know Christ Jesus (the lost sheep) draw near to us to hear us, as they did with Jesus?
2. Do we have the words of eternal life i.e., the Gospel of Jesus that condemns no one who puts their trust in Him and gives hope to the hopeless?
3. Are you and I a sinner magnet? Jesus was one!

Luke 15:1 (KJV)
1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

John 8:10-11 (KJV)
10
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

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