Tuesday, May 2, 2017

What Makes an Individual a Christian - Part 5c

“Faith in Jesus’ Resurrection”

Words of Christ in red
Verse repetition is healthy; the more you read, the sooner the Word of God becomes like an old friend


FAITH makes an individual a Christian

Ephesians 2:8  “For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

Acts 16:30-31  “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

It is through faith in Jesus Christ one becomes a Christian
It is the result of Jesus’ death that we can be forgiven of sin
Jesus’ resurrection proves His deity and power over life and death

Review:

Faith comes from being exposed to the word of God:

Romans 10:17  “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Biblically, Jesus Christ is the only Way to salvation:

Acts 4:12  “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

One must only believe (faith in action) on Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord for salvation:

Acts 16:30-31  “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

It is through faith people are saved:

Ephesians 2:8  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

Salvation is available for anyone who believes:

John 3:16  “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.”

We can have faith in Jesus’ death for forgiveness of sin:

Ephesians 1:7  “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”


~ Short Study: Faith in Jesus’ Resurrection ~

The Bible clearly states that Jesus died for our sins and that His death was sufficient payment for all mankind’s sins. God accepted his death as payment in full. His death is significant, for without His sacrifice, salvation would not be available to anyone. 

Of other significance is Jesus’ resurrection. Through this divine act, Jesus rose up (literally and physically alive) after being dead for three days. This proves His power over death and life. It proves His deity and omnipotence as well. God, created life therefore He has power to raise it from the dead. 


We can have faith in Jesus’ Resurrection:

John 11:25-26  “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection {power over life and death}, and the life {absolute cause and source of life}: he that believeth in me, though he were dead {may die}, yet shall he live {eternal life}: (26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die1. Believest thou this?

1 “Die” refers to spiritual death

Romans 4:25  “Who was delivered {given up} for {because of} our offenses {sins}, and was raised again for {because of} our justification {declaration of innocence}.”

Romans 8:34  “Who is he that condemneth {judges worthy of punishment}It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession {intercedes} for us.”

Romans 10:9-13  “That if thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” 10 “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” 11 “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed {put to shame}.” 12 “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” 13 “For whosoever {anyone that calls} shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-4  “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel {good news} which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep {hold fast} in memory what {the word} I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain {without cause}. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures {historically and prophetically}:”

1 Corinthians 15:13-21  “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:” 14 “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching in vain {futile; wasted}, and your faith is also in vain {futile; useless}.” 15 “Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.” 16 “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:” 17 “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain {wasted}; ye are yet in your sins.” 18 “Then they also which are fallen asleep {have died} in Christ are perished.” 19 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable {pitiable}.” 20 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept {have died}.” 21 “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.”


~ Expanded Study:  Faith in Jesus’ Death ~

John 11:25-26  “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection {power over life and death}, and the life {absolute cause and source of life}: he that believeth in me, though he were dead {may die}, yet shall he live {eternally}: (26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die1. Believest thou this?

1“Die” refers to spiritual death; separation from God

Satan beguiled Eve and Adam sinned. The result was a broken fellowship with God. Sin came in and brought with it spiritual death. Their hearts had changed. As well, the entire human race is born with Adam’s nature – sinful.

Genesis 3:8  “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day {during evening breeze}: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”

Ephesians 4:18  “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart {hardness of heart}:”

John 5:21  “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth {gives life} them; even so the Son quickeneth {gives life} whom he will.”

John 6:39-40  “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me {Jesus}, that of all {born-again believers} which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” 40 “And this is the will of him {God, my Father} that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 1:4  “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

John 14:6  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way {only way to heaven}, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me {as Saviour}.”

Colossians 1:18  “And he is the head of the body, the church {born-again believers}: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in {among} all things he might have the preeminence {supremacy and authority}.”

Colossians 3:4  “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory {heaven}.”

1 John 1:1-2  “That which was from the beginning {eternity}, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life {Christ Jesus};” 2 “(For the life was manifested {made known}, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)”

1 John 5:10-11  “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” 11 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world {mankind}, that he gave his only begotten {to have born; brought forth} Son, that whosoever believeth {anyone who believes} in him should not perish {eternal punishment}, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16 is called the “most precious verse”

John 3:36  “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth {will stay} on him.”

1 Corinthians 15:22  “For as Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

The physical body will die; the soul is eternal; there is spiritual death that can be overcome by salvation; one not born again (saved) prior to physical death will then suffer the second death – eternal separation from God and everlasting punishment away from His presence.

Revelation 1:17-18  “And when I {Apostle John} saw him {Christ Jesus}, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not: I am the first and the last:” 18 “I am he that liveth, and was dead {physically dead}; behold, I am alive {resurrected; still living} for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell {Hades} and of death.”

Romans 4:25  “Who was delivered {given up} for {because of} our offenses {sins}, and was raised again {from dead to living} for {because of} our justification {acquittal; declaration of innocence}.”

“raised again because of our justification” = the result of Jesus Christ being raised from the dead shows God accepted His death and that the righteousness of Jesus is made available for all mankind

“justification” = act of God in the which men are accepted of God, being found guilt free

Isaiah 53:4-5  “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” 5 “But he was wounded {tormented} for our transgressions {sins; wrongdoing}, he was bruised {crushed} for our iniquities {evils}: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes {bruises; cutting wounds} we are healed {saved}.”

Hebrews 9:28  “So Christ was once {finished} offered to bear the sins of many {entire human race}; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

Speaks of His resurrection and His return

1 Peter 3:18  “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins {paid in full on the cross}, the just {innocent; sinless} for the unjust {guilty; sinful}, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened {made alive} by the Spirit {Holy Spirit}:”

1 Corinthians 15:17  “And if Christ be not raised {resurrected}, your faith is vain {wasted}; ye are yet in your sins {lost; spiritually dead}.”

2 Corinthians 5:15  “And that he died for all {everyone}, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again {resurrected from dead}.”

1 Peter 1:21  “Who by him {Jesus} do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave {brought him into the presence of God} him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”

Romans 8:34  “Who is he that condemneth {judge worthy of punishment}It is Christ that died {violent death}, yea, rather, that is risen {lives} again, who is even at the right hand {honorable and authoritative place} of God, who also maketh intercession {intercedes} for us.”

Psalm 110:1  “The LORD {Lord God} said unto my Lord {Lord Jesus}, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies {anti-Christ; unsaved, unbelievers} thy footstool.”

Mark 16:19  “So then after the Lord {Jesus Christ} had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven {ascended}, and sat on the right hand of God.”

Speaking of Christ’s ascension; He could not have ascended without first being resurrected from the dead

Hebrews 7:25  “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost {evermore} that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession {intercede} for them.”

Hebrews 9:24  “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures {examples} of the true {real one}; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:”

Hebrews 4:14-15 “Seeing then that we have a great high priest {Jesus Christ}, that is passed into the heavens {ascended}, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast {firmly to} our profession.”

1 John 2:1  “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

Written to the born-again believers; Jesus is our living Advocate in Heaven

Romans 10:9-13  “That if thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” 10 “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” 11 “For the scripture saith, Whosoever1 believeth on him shall not be ashamed {put to shame}.” 12 “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” 13 “For whosoever {anyone that calls} shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

1Whosoever requires responsibility on the person’s behalf to believe (put faith in); it is important to trust Christ for your salvation; also to have faith in His resurrection for if He was yet dead there would be no salvation

Romans 14:9  “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived {lives again}, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.”

Ephesians 2:4-7  “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith {with which} he loved us,” 5 “Even when we were dead in sins {spiritually dead; lost}, hath quickened {made us alive} us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved;) {by whose grace}” 6 “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” 7 “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Speaking to those who are born-again believers

1 Timothy 2:5  “For there is one God, and one mediator {peacemaker} between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

Because He lives, He remains the Mediator

1 Corinthians 15:1-4  “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel {good news} which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;” 2 “By which also ye are saved {born again}, if ye keep {hold fast} in memory what {the word} I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain {without cause}.” 3 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures {historically and prophetically};” 4 “And that he was buried {physically dead}, and that he rose {resurrected} again the third day {third day after dying} according to the scriptures:”

Galatians 1:11-12  “But I certify {validate} you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man {man-made}.” 12 “For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Romans 5:2  “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

2 Corinthians 1:24  “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.”

1 Corinthians 11:2  “Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.”

God’s Word is God’s Word and should not be added to or taken away from; otherwise, those guilty of changing God’s Word’s are accursed

Galatians 1:8-9  “But though we, or an angel from above, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” 9 “As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

Genesis 3:15  “And I will put enmity {related to the word “enemy”} between thee {Satan} and the woman, and between thy seed {Satan’s people} and her seed {God’s people}; it {He; Christ} shall bruise {crush} thy {Satan’s} head, and thou shalt bruise his {Christ’s} heel {Christ being bruised on the cross}.”

Isaiah 53:5  “But he was wounded {pierced through} for our transgressions {sins}he was bruised {utterly crushed} for our iniquities {evils}: the chastisement {punishment} of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes {cutting wounds} we are healed {made spiritually whole}.”

1 Peter 2:24  “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree {cross}, that we, being dead to sins {spiritually dead; lost}, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes {cuttings wounds} ye were healed.”

Psalm 16:1-11  “Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.” 2 “O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;” 3 “But to the saints {born-again Christians} that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.” 4 “Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.” 5 “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.” 6 “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage {beautiful possessions}.” 7 “I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.” 8 “ I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” 9 “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.” 10 “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” 11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Psalm 110:1  “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

Isaiah 53:10  “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”

Hosea 6:2  “After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.”

1 Corinthians 15:13-21  “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:” 14 “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching in vain {futile; wasted}, and your faith is also in vain {futile; useless}.” 15 “Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God {against God}; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.” 16 “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:” 17 “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain {wasted}; ye are yet in your sins.” 18 “Then they also which are fallen asleep {have died} in Christ are perished.” 19 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable {pitiable}.” 20 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept {have died}.” 21 “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.”

1 Thessalonians 4:14  “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep {die} in Jesus will God bring with him.”

Acts 2:24  “Who God hath raised up {brought back to life}, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.”

Romans 4:25  “Who was delivered {given up} for our offences {sins}, and was raised again for our justification.”

1 Peter 1:3  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

Acts 26:23  “That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead {resurrect}, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.”

John 11:25  “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

Ezekiel 18:4  “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

It was necessary for Jesus to die to make salvation possible
It was necessary for Jesus to resurrect from the dead so that we too can be resurrected and have faith in His resurrection in that He lives
The soul captive to spiritual death will suffer the second death; however, the soul that places personal faith in Jesus Christ will live

“QUIZ”

1. What must one do to be saved?
2. What happened during the Resurrection?
3. Where is Christ Jesus now?
4. What did Jesus mean when He said He is the resurrection?
5. What did Jesus mean when He said He is the life?
6. What happens if a person is not saved when they die?
7. What does the Resurrection prove?
8. What does “being dead in sins” mean?
9. Are you born again?
10. Who is the intercessor?