"Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. (John 12:31) For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (I John 3:8) Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)
As we studied in the previous lesson, Jesus knew exactly why He came and what His purpose was. (see THE GOSPEL: Jesus Came for "This Hour", for a Specific Purpose) ...Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (I Peter 2:21, 24) ...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, ... But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ... Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.(I Corinthians 15:3-4, 20, 24-26)
The ruler of this world is the devil, and the power he has is fear of death. This world is obsessed with living forever! "Baby boomers heading into what used to be called retirement age... 'seeking to keep the dreaded signs of aging at bay,' will push the U.S. market for anti-aging products from about $80 billion now to more than $114 billion by 2015." Nothing is wrong with taking care of our bodies and helping them function at the optimum ability for as long as possible. "People should be healthy and strong well into 100 to 120 years of age," Robert Goldman, a doctor of osteopathic medicine. (read the article here) But, none of this will stop anyone from dying, and many of these people have a fear of death. To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2) And through faith in Christ Jesus, He has released those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage; the bondage of "calorie restriction, human growth hormone, wrinkle filler, botox, liposuction, eyelid surgery," etc. etc. etc. (read Associated Press article here)
But most importantly Jesus has released us from the bondage of "What happens to us when we die? And where do we go when we die?" Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (I John 5:1-5, 11-12)
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die. The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” (John 12:32-34) Jesus is the Son of God, as God confirmed by saying, “You are My Son" But Jesus is also the Son of Man. He was born of a woman, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) God determined that One like us, but perfect would be the final sacrifice for sin, not the animals that the priests had been commanded to use as sacrifices up to this point, because “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me." [Jesus said, Psalm 40:6-8] (Hebrews 10:5)
Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. (John 12:35-36) The devil's desire is to keep us in darkness through fear of death, in bondage. But Christ Jesus death on the cross not only released us, but also enlightened us. If the devil could make us believe his lies over God's Truth, we would never accept Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord. We would always believe we were not good enough, or we had done too much wrong and evil, that God couldn't possibly forgive us, or in order to deal with our guilt and shame, we just deny there is a God. But ...the devil, ... He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (John 8:44; see THE GOSPEL: Who's Your Father? Only One Gives an Inheritance)
We, ALL of us, started out the same way; ...the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth;... (Genesis 8:21) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, [Genesis 3] and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. (Romans 5:12, 15-16) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, [the devil] among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ ... (Ephesians 2:1-5)
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (II Corinthians 4:1-6) AMEN
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