REASON #38
According to the Apostle John in John 3:36 ‘He that believes the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abides on him.’
Let’s recall that many of Jesus disciples were first disciples of John the Baptizer. In this passage, John the Baptizer is speaking. He is saying that those who believe Jesus have everlasting life, but those who reject him will not see everlasting life but rather the wrath of God Almighty.
To not have life is to be dead, not eternally alive in another place.
Why did Jesus come in the first place, if not to rescue mankind from the result of sin which is permanent death? Even in the so-called ‘Old Testament’ he promised this.
Notice Isaiah 49:22-26 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
23 And kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: they shall bow down to you with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet; and you shall know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? 25 But thus says the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contends with you, and I will save your children.
26 And I will feed them that oppress you with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am your Savior and your Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.’
But one may say ‘Well, I’m not Jewish, so this promise is not for me.’ Listen to the Apostle Paul in Romans 2:28-29 ‘For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.’
I may be more Jewish than I thought. It is spiritual in nature and spiritually discerned.
Notice 1 Corinthians 10:9-12: ‘Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur (grumble), as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
May we all take action on his words!