I know. "The Promise of Life" is a strange title, right? But consider this...Jesus came why?
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Jesus made a distinction about why He came. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy lives. Jesus came to give life. How do we get that life?
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. (26) And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
We must believe in Him. We must believe He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Do you believe He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God? Look at Romans .
Romans 10:8-13 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): (9) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (11) For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME." (12) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. (13) For "WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED."
As we make this confession and partake of this life He offers upon salvation, we will face resistance. Jesus said while He may have come to bring life and abundantly at that, He did not come to bring peace.
Matthew 10:34-39 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. (35) For I have come to 'SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW'; (36) and 'A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD.' (37) He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (38) And he who does not take his Cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. (39) He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
I think we forget sometimes that Jesus did not come to bring peace. Just believing on Him and living out His word for the world to see causes division among many. He said those that love their father or mother more than Him are not worthy of Him. What does that even mean? We have to love Jesus more than we do anything else in our lives. As children we did everything we could to please our parents, right? We did what they told us to do when they told us to do it, but when we reached the age where we could make our own decisions, many of us became rebellious and began doing what we wanted to do regardless of our parents. We stopped trying to please them and moved into making our own decisions that made us happy. When we choose to believe in the name and person of Jesus Christ, we have choices to make. Yes, we will be saved when we call upon His name, but we have to begin to follow Him. We have to become living sacrifices as we take up our crosses to follow Him. If we cease to live our own lives and live our lives for Him, doing what He did and saying what He said, then we find the life He promised to give us.
The life He offers does not come without obstacles. He said that a man's enemies would be those of His own household. We know that Christianity in today's society is facing persecution. We know that it is seen as intolerant. We know that it is seen as hypocritical in many cases as well. So, what have we done? We have watered down the gospel message to make it a little easier for people to swallow. We forget the rich man that came to Jesus and asked how to get into His kingdom.
Matthew 19:16-22 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" (17) So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." (18) He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " 'YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,' 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,' 'YOU SHALL NOT STEAL,' 'YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,' (19) 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER,' and, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' " (20) The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" (21) Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." (22) But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
The young ruler was not willing to give up his possessions to have the life Jesus promised. What are you willing to give up so you may have the life that Jesus promised? What are you willing to give, to sacrifice, for this life of Christ?
Jesus said to take up our cross and follow Him. Don't we forget what the cross actually was? Today it is a symbol for the sacrifice our Savior made for all. But if we remove symbology and look at actuality for just a moment...the cross was an instrument of death. The sole purpose of the cross is to kill. So, I ask again...what are you willing to give, to sacrifice, for this life of Christ? Can you take up your cross and follow Him and by doing so put to death your old self? The cross required a sacrifice. Jesus made that sacrifice. He knew what the sacrifice would be and He knew how He would suffer before it was completed.
Christmas is the time of the year we have chosen to celebrate His birth. As the time approaches and we celebrate His birth and we share the accounting of His birth in the Bible with our families, just remember...He was born to die. He was born to bear the cross of sacrifice unto death so that we could have life..and have life abundantly and everlasting.
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Jesus made a distinction about why He came. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy lives. Jesus came to give life. How do we get that life?
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. (26) And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
We must believe in Him. We must believe He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Do you believe He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God? Look at Romans .
Romans 10:8-13 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): (9) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (11) For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME." (12) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. (13) For "WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED."
As we make this confession and partake of this life He offers upon salvation, we will face resistance. Jesus said while He may have come to bring life and abundantly at that, He did not come to bring peace.
Matthew 10:34-39 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. (35) For I have come to 'SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW'; (36) and 'A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD.' (37) He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (38) And he who does not take his Cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. (39) He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
I think we forget sometimes that Jesus did not come to bring peace. Just believing on Him and living out His word for the world to see causes division among many. He said those that love their father or mother more than Him are not worthy of Him. What does that even mean? We have to love Jesus more than we do anything else in our lives. As children we did everything we could to please our parents, right? We did what they told us to do when they told us to do it, but when we reached the age where we could make our own decisions, many of us became rebellious and began doing what we wanted to do regardless of our parents. We stopped trying to please them and moved into making our own decisions that made us happy. When we choose to believe in the name and person of Jesus Christ, we have choices to make. Yes, we will be saved when we call upon His name, but we have to begin to follow Him. We have to become living sacrifices as we take up our crosses to follow Him. If we cease to live our own lives and live our lives for Him, doing what He did and saying what He said, then we find the life He promised to give us.
The life He offers does not come without obstacles. He said that a man's enemies would be those of His own household. We know that Christianity in today's society is facing persecution. We know that it is seen as intolerant. We know that it is seen as hypocritical in many cases as well. So, what have we done? We have watered down the gospel message to make it a little easier for people to swallow. We forget the rich man that came to Jesus and asked how to get into His kingdom.
Matthew 19:16-22 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" (17) So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." (18) He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " 'YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,' 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,' 'YOU SHALL NOT STEAL,' 'YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,' (19) 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER,' and, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' " (20) The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" (21) Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." (22) But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
The young ruler was not willing to give up his possessions to have the life Jesus promised. What are you willing to give up so you may have the life that Jesus promised? What are you willing to give, to sacrifice, for this life of Christ?
Jesus said to take up our cross and follow Him. Don't we forget what the cross actually was? Today it is a symbol for the sacrifice our Savior made for all. But if we remove symbology and look at actuality for just a moment...the cross was an instrument of death. The sole purpose of the cross is to kill. So, I ask again...what are you willing to give, to sacrifice, for this life of Christ? Can you take up your cross and follow Him and by doing so put to death your old self? The cross required a sacrifice. Jesus made that sacrifice. He knew what the sacrifice would be and He knew how He would suffer before it was completed.
Christmas is the time of the year we have chosen to celebrate His birth. As the time approaches and we celebrate His birth and we share the accounting of His birth in the Bible with our families, just remember...He was born to die. He was born to bear the cross of sacrifice unto death so that we could have life..and have life abundantly and everlasting.
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
