Title: The Assurance that Believers in Christ Will Never Die
Text:
John 11:20-27 (ESV)
20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.
21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."
23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."
Observation:
When you lose a loved one its hurts; the hurt is deeper when that loved one has been one that you have known her whole life. I was present on the day of her birth, and I was present on the day of her death.
The humanity in us cries out when a loved one dies. We identify with Martha's words, "Lord, if". The pain and loss is real.
However, we must remind ourselves of what we know about death, and the promises and the hope that we have about the status of the soul of those who die in Christ.
John 11:25-26 (ESV)
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
The words of Jesus give us hope and comfort. Victory and comfort for God's people comes when we are able to move from saying "Lord, if" (in verse 21) to "Yes, Lord" (in verse 27).
Prayer:
Father God, my dear Father, I thank You for the words of Jesus that because He lives that those who believe in Him will never die. Father, I am so glad that I can say, "Yes, Lord" to this goodnews. Lord, I thank You for the gift of eternal life.
Lord, I thank You for my sister in Christ; my cousin Marcia who is now living in the land of the living while those of us who mourn her loss are living in the land of the dying. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Because He Lives I Can Face Tomorrow - - Bill Gaither sings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVdEdIDyeaA
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Proverbs 30:5 (ESV)
5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
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