“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11 v 25 - 26 Some questions are more important than others. ‘Will you marry me?’, for example, carries a fair bit more weight than ‘what would you like to have for breakfast?’ But of all the questions that can ever be asked, have ever been asked and will ever be asked there is only one that truly matters. All other questions only affect this life. Let’s say you pick the wrong spouse: it will only affect you until death does part you. But the question Jesus asks in the above verse is not like this. It doesn’t just affect your present life the answer is of eternal importance. All questions end in death except this one. “Do you believe this?” Do you believe that Jesus is who he claimed to be? Do you believe he is the resurrection and the life? Do you believe that if you believe in him you will never die but have eternal life?
Your answer to this question will determine your eternity. And it boils down to this: if you believe you will have eternal life in heaven. If you don’t believe you will have eternal death in hell. So, as you can see we are not dealing with a minor question of trifling importance. This is serious. Without Jesus I’m going to Hell. Without Jesus everyone is going to Hell. Without Jesus you are going to Hell. It gets no more important than this. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3 v 16 – 18 Do you believe this? Jesus highlights the choice that you have. Believe in him and you will have eternal life. But if you don’t believe in him you stand condemned. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” John 3 v 36 Do you believe this? If not can you stand against the wrath of God? “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4 v 12 Do you believe this? Or are you looking for salvation elsewhere? “They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Acts 16 v 31 Do you believe this? Or do you doubt that there is any salvation available for you? “Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13 v 1 – 5 Do you believe this? Or do you think that death will somehow pass you by? Statistically speaking 1 out of 1 people die – do you think you can beat this? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1 v 9 Do you believe this? That Jesus will forgive you yours sins if you confess them to him? “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” Romans 3 v 23 – 26 Do you believe this? Do you believe that you have sinned and fallen short? Do you believe that you can be freely justified through Jesus? “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28 v 6 Do you believe this? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is risen and is now exalted above all? "And being found in appearance as a man, he [Jesus] humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2 v 8 - 11 Do you believe this? Do you believe that Jesus is now King over all and is building himself a church? Do you believe that the day is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue confess? Final thoughts “Do you believe this?” If you answer no then I urge you to heed the warnings of the Bible. In love God warns us that if we do not believe we will go to Hell. In love God provided his Son as a sacrifice for us so that through Jesus we may be saved! “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this? Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11 v 25 - 27
1 Comment
happy easter
24/4/2011 04:39:33 pm
I am not going to Hell, Ben. Noone is. There's nothing more to it.
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