Post by iris89 on Feb 7, 2006 10:47:49 GMT -5
Discourse on the Ransom Provided by Christ and Why Necessary:
INTRODUCTION:
Many know that salvation can only come through Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as his Father (YHWH) has appointed him the only mediator between God (YHWH) and man as testified to at to at 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (The Webster Bible); And this is further affirmed at Ephesians 3:11-12, "for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father." (American Standard Version,(ASV). He is the only savior, apart from him there is no other as shown by John 4:42, "and they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world." (ASV); And affirmed at Titus 1:4, "to Tite, most dereworthe sone bi the comyn feith, grace and pees of God the fadir, and of Crist Jhesu, oure sauyour." (Wycliffe-One of the first English Bibles). However, before he could become our savior, a ransom had to be paid. Why so?
THE NEED OF A RANSOM:
Let's let the Bible explain why there was a need for a ransom to be paid before any of mankind could be saved. The Bible shows at Romans 5:12, "Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (The Webster Bible); And it is shown that all men have sinned, and this is testified to at Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (The Webster Bible). In other words all of mankind is under inherited sin as shown by Psalms 51:5, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me." (ASV); Therefore, Psalms 49:7-9 shows, "None `of them' can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him; 8(For the redemption of their life is costly, And it faileth for ever;) 9 That he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption." (ASV)
GOD (YHWH) HIMSELF MADE PROVISION FOR A RANSOM:
Since God (YHWH) could not break his own law of like for like, he provided for a ransome for all obedient mankind as testified to at 1 John 4:14, "And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son `to be' the Saviour of the world." (ASV); And affirmed at Matthew 1:20-21, "But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins." (ASV).
His making provisions to provide a ransom in the form of his only begotten son was an expression of his love for mankind as shown by John 3:16-17, "
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him." (ASV); And affirmed at 1 John 4:9-10, "Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son `to be' the propitiation for our sins." (ASV); And at Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (ASV).
PRICE PAID FOR RELEASE FROM BONDAGE TO SIN AND DEATH - THE RANSOM:
Jesus (Yeshua) came to give his life as a ransom as testified to at Matthew 20:28, "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (The Webster Bible); And at 1 John 3:5, "And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin." (ASV); And at Romans 3:24, "being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" (ASV); And at Hebrews 2:14-15, "Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (ASV).
Jesus' (Yeshua's) human life was represented by his blood being poured out onto death as a ransom as shown at John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep." (ASV); And at 1 Peter 1:18-19, "knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, `even the blood' of Christ:" (ASV); And at Ephesians 1:7, "in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace," (ASV); And at Revelation 5:9, "And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood `men' of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation," (ASV).
CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS AS A SACRIFICE ON MAN'S BEHALF, HE WAS SINLESS:
That he was sinless and thus could serve as a sacrifice for our sins was shown at Hebrews 7:26 and 9:25-26, "For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;" and "nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own; 26 else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."(ASV); And at 1 Peter 2:22, "who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:" (ASV); And at 1 John 4:10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son `to be' the propitiation for our sins."
Since Jesus (Yeshua) was sinless, his life could provide the ransom price for the perfect human life Adam lost and which he could have passed along by inheritance to his children as shown by 1 Timothy 2:5-6, "For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, `himself' man, Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony `to be borne' in its own times;" And at Phillipians 2:7-8, "but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient `even' unto death, yea, the death of the cross." (ASV); And at 1 Corinthians 15:22, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (ASV).
After his resurrection by his Father (YHWH), a distinct spiritual being, Christ presented the value of his sacrifice to his Father (YHWH) in heaven as shown at Hebrews 9:11-12 & 24, "But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,
12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption." And "For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:" (ASV); And at Romans 8:34, "who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (ASV); And at Ephesians 5:2, "and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell." (ASV).
THE PURPOSE AND THE BENEFITS OF THE RANSOM:
Jesus (Yeshua) gave up his life for us as foretold at Isaiah 53:12, "portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (ASV); And at Hebrews 2:9, "But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, `even' Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every `man'." (ASV); And at Galacians 1:4, "who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:" (ASV).
RANSOM PERMITTED FORGIVENESS OF SINS:
That Jesus (Yeshua) was the one who would take away sins was testified to at John 1:29, "On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!" (ASV); And at Ephesians 1:7, "in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace," (ASV); And at 1 John 1:7, "but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (ASV); And at 1 John 2:1, "My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world." (ASV); And at Revelation 7:9-10 & 14, "After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of `all' tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 and they cry with a great voice, saying, Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb" and "And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (ASV).
RECONCILIATION TO GOD (YHWH):
Jesus (Yeshua) was first with respect to being the first of God's (YHWH's) children that God (YHWH) caused to be created and the first to be resurrected as testified to at Colossians 1:18-20, "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it was the good pleasure `of the Father' that in him should all the fulness dwell; 20 and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, `I say', whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens." (ASV); And at 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, "But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation." (ASV); And at Romans 5:10, "For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;" (ASV).
This makes possible the general resurrection for mankind with opportunity for eternal life as affirmed at Hebrews 9:26-28, "else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this `cometh' judgment; 28 so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation." (ASV); And at John 5:26-29, For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself: 27 and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment." (ASV); And at Romans 14:9, "For to this end Christ died and lived `again', that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living." (ASV); And at Acts 24:15, "having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust." (ASV).
EFFECTS OF SIN REMOVED DURING CHRIST 1,000 YEAR RULE:
During the thousand year rule of Christ, the effects of sin on the earth will be removed as foretold at Revelation 21:2-4, "made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, `and be' their God: 4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away." (ASV).
This will pave the way for everlasting life for those who manifest faith and obedience as testified to at John 3:16 & 36, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life." And "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." (ASV); And at Hebrews 5:9, "and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;" (ASV).
WE MUST HAVE APPRECIATION FOR THE RANSOM AND CHANGE OUR COURSE OF LIFE ACCORDINGLY:
We must show appreciation for Jesus' (Yeshua's) ransome sacrifice as shown at Hebrews 9:14, "how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (ASV); And at Revelation 7:14-15, "And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God; and they serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them." (ASV); And at Titus 2:13-14, "looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works." (ASV); And at 1 Corinthians 6:20, "for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body." (ASV); 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again." (ASV); And at 1 John 4:11, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (ASV).
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
INTRODUCTION:
Many know that salvation can only come through Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as his Father (YHWH) has appointed him the only mediator between God (YHWH) and man as testified to at to at 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (The Webster Bible); And this is further affirmed at Ephesians 3:11-12, "for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father." (American Standard Version,(ASV). He is the only savior, apart from him there is no other as shown by John 4:42, "and they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world." (ASV); And affirmed at Titus 1:4, "to Tite, most dereworthe sone bi the comyn feith, grace and pees of God the fadir, and of Crist Jhesu, oure sauyour." (Wycliffe-One of the first English Bibles). However, before he could become our savior, a ransom had to be paid. Why so?
THE NEED OF A RANSOM:
Let's let the Bible explain why there was a need for a ransom to be paid before any of mankind could be saved. The Bible shows at Romans 5:12, "Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (The Webster Bible); And it is shown that all men have sinned, and this is testified to at Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (The Webster Bible). In other words all of mankind is under inherited sin as shown by Psalms 51:5, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me." (ASV); Therefore, Psalms 49:7-9 shows, "None `of them' can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him; 8(For the redemption of their life is costly, And it faileth for ever;) 9 That he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption." (ASV)
GOD (YHWH) HIMSELF MADE PROVISION FOR A RANSOM:
Since God (YHWH) could not break his own law of like for like, he provided for a ransome for all obedient mankind as testified to at 1 John 4:14, "And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son `to be' the Saviour of the world." (ASV); And affirmed at Matthew 1:20-21, "But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins." (ASV).
His making provisions to provide a ransom in the form of his only begotten son was an expression of his love for mankind as shown by John 3:16-17, "
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him." (ASV); And affirmed at 1 John 4:9-10, "Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son `to be' the propitiation for our sins." (ASV); And at Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (ASV).
PRICE PAID FOR RELEASE FROM BONDAGE TO SIN AND DEATH - THE RANSOM:
Jesus (Yeshua) came to give his life as a ransom as testified to at Matthew 20:28, "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (The Webster Bible); And at 1 John 3:5, "And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin." (ASV); And at Romans 3:24, "being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" (ASV); And at Hebrews 2:14-15, "Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (ASV).
Jesus' (Yeshua's) human life was represented by his blood being poured out onto death as a ransom as shown at John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep." (ASV); And at 1 Peter 1:18-19, "knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, `even the blood' of Christ:" (ASV); And at Ephesians 1:7, "in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace," (ASV); And at Revelation 5:9, "And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood `men' of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation," (ASV).
CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS AS A SACRIFICE ON MAN'S BEHALF, HE WAS SINLESS:
That he was sinless and thus could serve as a sacrifice for our sins was shown at Hebrews 7:26 and 9:25-26, "For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;" and "nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own; 26 else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."(ASV); And at 1 Peter 2:22, "who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:" (ASV); And at 1 John 4:10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son `to be' the propitiation for our sins."
Since Jesus (Yeshua) was sinless, his life could provide the ransom price for the perfect human life Adam lost and which he could have passed along by inheritance to his children as shown by 1 Timothy 2:5-6, "For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, `himself' man, Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony `to be borne' in its own times;" And at Phillipians 2:7-8, "but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient `even' unto death, yea, the death of the cross." (ASV); And at 1 Corinthians 15:22, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (ASV).
After his resurrection by his Father (YHWH), a distinct spiritual being, Christ presented the value of his sacrifice to his Father (YHWH) in heaven as shown at Hebrews 9:11-12 & 24, "But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,
12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption." And "For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:" (ASV); And at Romans 8:34, "who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (ASV); And at Ephesians 5:2, "and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell." (ASV).
THE PURPOSE AND THE BENEFITS OF THE RANSOM:
Jesus (Yeshua) gave up his life for us as foretold at Isaiah 53:12, "portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (ASV); And at Hebrews 2:9, "But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, `even' Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every `man'." (ASV); And at Galacians 1:4, "who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:" (ASV).
RANSOM PERMITTED FORGIVENESS OF SINS:
That Jesus (Yeshua) was the one who would take away sins was testified to at John 1:29, "On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!" (ASV); And at Ephesians 1:7, "in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace," (ASV); And at 1 John 1:7, "but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (ASV); And at 1 John 2:1, "My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world." (ASV); And at Revelation 7:9-10 & 14, "After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of `all' tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 and they cry with a great voice, saying, Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb" and "And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (ASV).
RECONCILIATION TO GOD (YHWH):
Jesus (Yeshua) was first with respect to being the first of God's (YHWH's) children that God (YHWH) caused to be created and the first to be resurrected as testified to at Colossians 1:18-20, "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it was the good pleasure `of the Father' that in him should all the fulness dwell; 20 and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, `I say', whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens." (ASV); And at 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, "But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation." (ASV); And at Romans 5:10, "For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;" (ASV).
This makes possible the general resurrection for mankind with opportunity for eternal life as affirmed at Hebrews 9:26-28, "else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this `cometh' judgment; 28 so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation." (ASV); And at John 5:26-29, For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself: 27 and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment." (ASV); And at Romans 14:9, "For to this end Christ died and lived `again', that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living." (ASV); And at Acts 24:15, "having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust." (ASV).
EFFECTS OF SIN REMOVED DURING CHRIST 1,000 YEAR RULE:
During the thousand year rule of Christ, the effects of sin on the earth will be removed as foretold at Revelation 21:2-4, "made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, `and be' their God: 4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away." (ASV).
This will pave the way for everlasting life for those who manifest faith and obedience as testified to at John 3:16 & 36, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life." And "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." (ASV); And at Hebrews 5:9, "and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;" (ASV).
WE MUST HAVE APPRECIATION FOR THE RANSOM AND CHANGE OUR COURSE OF LIFE ACCORDINGLY:
We must show appreciation for Jesus' (Yeshua's) ransome sacrifice as shown at Hebrews 9:14, "how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (ASV); And at Revelation 7:14-15, "And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God; and they serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them." (ASV); And at Titus 2:13-14, "looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works." (ASV); And at 1 Corinthians 6:20, "for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body." (ASV); 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again." (ASV); And at 1 John 4:11, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (ASV).
Your Friend in Christ Iris89