ALlOW me to share something that is not preached in Churches on this day, yet, it is the very FOUNDATION of this DAY we celebrate called Easter, the RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST from the dead, becoming the firstborn among many brethren (to follow).
I am teaching this today. Pastor is going to use part of this as well. He had never heard this before either relating to EASTER SUNDAY so it is TRUTH that has been simply overlooked.
Here we go.
We start in JOHN chapter 3 with JESUS CHRIST speaking:
Starting in verse 10.
10 Jesus answered and said unto him,Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
IN these verses, JESUS is speaking to NICODEMUS, a religious leader in Israel, a Pharisee who came to see JESUS at night because he did not want to be seen in daytime by others of his sect.
Nicodemus wanted to know what HE MUST DO in order to have eternal life. JESUS told him "YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN".
Nicodemus did not understand what that meant and so Jesus expounded to him what he means. He must be born of the SPIRIT (HOLY SPIRIT) Human FLESH or human works and endeavors are NOT GOING to gain anyone entrance to HEAVEN when your BODY dies. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh:that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. (verse 6) Being born again is a matter of FAITH, not DOING ANYTHING. It is BELIEF in Jesus Christ alone. NOTHING YOU or I have ever done. WE DO NOT DESERVE Heaven. GOD has NO COMMUNION or fellowship with DARKNESS, SIN, Depravity, and every one of us is in that condition.
SO, Jesus goes on to explain to Nicodemus that what HE is telling him about is HEAVENLY THINGS, where ALL TRUTH comes from. SPIRITUAL things, including the CONDITION of YOUR HEART have nothing to do with earthly works of the flesh.
JESUS then states categorically that :THAT WHICH IS OF THE FLESH IS FLESH and THAT which is of the SPIRIT is SPIRIT" There is nothing in common between the two.
The SPIRIT is that thing inside YOU that is WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU THINK, Your personality, Your decision maker...
THAT is YOUR ETERNAL SPIRIT and IT LIVES FOREVER.
Verse 13 goes on with our Lord stating that HE CAME DOWN from Heaven because HE DWELLS in HEAVEN. He came down and has full authority to be able to SPEAK of HEAVENLY things because HE RULES and REINS in HEAVEN. He can speak with AUTHORITY on ALL THINGS, especially anything pertaining to HEAVEN.
Jesus proceeds to say in verse 14 that even as MOSES lifted up the serpent (on the pole) in the WILDERNESS so MUST HE BE LIFTED UP (upon a ROMAN CROSS).......
SO here, JESUS CHRIST foretells in John chapter 3 that HE WILL BE LIFTED UP on a CROSS.
and so that came to pass.
Moving on to John 3:15 - 17
The GREATEST TRUTH ever told to ANYONE.
John 3: 15 - 17
"15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Notice in verses 15 and 16 that WHOSOEVER that BELIEVES IN HIM shall NOT PERISH (into everlasting hell fire) but HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE in HEAVEN WITH HIM !!!!!
Notice verse 16 CLOSELY.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD that He GAVE HIS SON
MAY I say to you friends, that EASTER is not just about JESUS CHRIST conquering the GRAVE and DEATH but about the LOVE OF GOD GIVING HIS ONLY SON so that all of mankind through FAITH and BELIEF in HIS SON JESUS might have a home in HEAVEN with HIM for all eternity.
The reason? Look in verse 17
God did not send JESUS into the world to condemn it. (it was full of sin and condemned itself already)
HE SENT HIS ONLY SON into the WORLD to SAVE US from our own SINS we have committed against HIM. HE PROVIDED a SCAPEGOAT . A KINSMAN REDEEMER. ONE WHO PAID our SIN PENALTY AND DEBT on OUR BEHALF.
JESUS PAID my ACCOUNT in FULL FOREVER and HE paid YOUR accounts in FULL also.
FOR GOD SO LOVED the WORLD that HE GAVE HIS SON....
He gave everything.
May I ask, WHAT have YOU given??????
WHAT have you done with the SON of GOD???? HAVE you kept HIM still in the grave? Have you just ignored HIM?
My hope and desire would be that ALL would GIVE THEMSELVES to HIM who left Heaven's Glory and Throne, and WILLINGLY OBEYED the FATHER, even unto that horrible torturous CROSS for YOU and I to be able to obtain PARDON from our SIN DEBT and ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN forever to sing praises to HIM and Worship the ONE who loved us so much that HE GAVE all He could give......
WHAT will you do with Jesus this DAY?
I hope many will worship HIM as the Risen Savior who is YOUR LORD as He is MINE. There is nothing good in me. I am rotten to the very core. BUT HE CHANGED ME and LOVES and REINS in ME and THROUGH ME.
I am looking forward to going HOME to be with HIM one day. My older brother ion law did that a few years ago. He was Vietnam Vet as well.
On HIS death bed he asked (do you hear the music? It is so beautiful. Can you hear the singing? So beautiful" and then HE went to where the MUSIC was. He was transported in a moment into the presence of JESUS, who rose from the dead on the third day according to the scriptures.
MAY you find salvation in HIM this day if you have not yet already is my desire and prayer for you!
God Bless you all this Lord's Day....
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