“Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies;” John 11:25 AMP

We read today some great words of comfort! Jesus uses two important words in His discourse to the disciples, resurrection and life. Remember the mission of our Lord?

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”

John 10:10 AMP

The word life here is the Greek word Zao signifying that existence which is eternal and perfect in nature. Kittle in His Theological Dictionary of the New Testament describes it this way. “That which has come into the soul, and which is a reflection of the divine.” This Zoea life is the hope of this human existence. Jesus said “…even if he dies (physical death) will live (Zao)! The reality of that fact can be found in the next word is our study today, resurrection! The Bible is clear about the destiny of the unrepentant, unregenerated man.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:23 AMP

The word death there is the Greek word Thanatos referring to the physical death. It in no way implies a cessation of existence! The soul is eternal and will live on after this physical body ceases to function. 

“So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend [those things by which people are led into sin], and all who practice evil [leading others into sin], 42and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger]. 43Then THE RIGHTEOUS [those who seek the will of God] WILL SHINE FORTH [radiating the new life] LIKE THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words.”

Matthew 13:40-43 AMP

““Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons);”

Matthew 25:41 AMP

WOW! Strong words of warning for the reality of the wages of sin!  The good news is that the “gift of eternal life” is available to anyone willing to repent and be saved from the day of this awful and eternal judgement! The book of Hebrews tells us that,

“He went once for all into the Holy Place [the Holy of Holies of heaven, into the presence of God], and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, having obtained and secured eternal redemption [that is, the salvation of all who personally believe in Him as Savior]. 13For if the sprinkling of [ceremonially] defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a [burnt] heifer is sufficient for the cleansing of the body, 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit willingly offered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God? 15For this reason He is the Mediator and Negotiator of a new covenant [that is, an entirely new agreement uniting God and man], so that those who have been called [by God] may receive [the fulfillment of] the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has taken place [as the payment] which redeems them from the sins committed under the obsolete first covenant.” 

Hebrews 9:12-15

My friends, if the wages of sin is death and death could not hold Jesus, that means that He has overcome the clutches of death itself and has now made available to us His righteousness! Clearly God accepted His sacrifice as payment in full of the debt of mankind of Jesus would still be in the grave today! One of my favorite verses is in Hebrews chapter 1,

“…When He [Himself and no other] had [by offering Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for sin] accomplished purification from sins and established our freedom from guilt, He sat down [revealing His completed work] at the right hand of the Majesty on high [revealing His Divine authority],”

Hebrews 1: 3b AMP

I plead with you today to reconcile your sin account with God! It is God’s desire that none should perish but the reality is that. Many will. Take time today to examine your account and be sure it is in the positive and not the negative! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken