| (Copyright 08-30-2025) by Rod Reynolds (Wentzville, Missouri) |
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| Dear Friends and Brethren, Even when we face sickness and death, God is aware of our plight, and if we maintain godly faith, we are safely in his hands. Scripture tells us, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:27-28). Jesus said, “For as the Father raises the dead and makes alive, even so the Son of man makes alive whomever He will. For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son, so that all should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes on Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they who hear shall live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has given to the Son to have life within Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man. Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:21-29, Green’s Modern King James Version). In verse 24, “shall not come into condemnation” is translated in some versions, such as the New King James Version, “judgment,” but the correct translation is in this instance “condemnation.” In verse 29, the last verse in the quoted passage, the phrase “resurrection of condemnation,” should be “…judgment,” not “condemnation,” and it is so translated in a number of translations. The Greek word in the passage from John translated, “judgment” or “condemnation” is krisis, a noun which can be rendered variously according to the context. It can be rendered “judgment,” implying a process leading to a decision, or “condemnation,” implying a decision to condemn. But the judgment does not necessarily have to be condemnation, it can be forgiveness leading to salvation, as implied in the context of the Scriptures quoted above. Peter makes it clear that the first to be judged in terms of eternal salvation are those who are converted in this age, the Church of God. “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (I Peter 4:17). But if we are and remain faithful to God and his word, salvation is assured. For others, the final judgment, at least for most of them, will await a future age, after they are resurrected from the dead. In the sermon I have edited and posted for this Sabbath, “What is Death?” I explain what death is according to Scripture. Many, vast multitudes, have been deceived by false teachings that death is not really a cessation of life, but that the dead continue to live a conscious existence somewhere else, such as either heaven, hell or purgatory as many Churches claiming to be “Christian” teach. Others believe that when a person dies, his life is over, and there is no remedy, no future, no resurrection to life. It’s important that you understand what the truth is about this matter, and it’s encouraging that God has a plan for mankind that is far more merciful and just than many imagine. In Christian love, Rod Reynolds Editor’s Note: We do not listen to video links or read print material that is linked to items we print, so we may or may not agree with those links. We only look at print material that is sent to us for print. Laura Lee ————————————————————————————- Reprinted with permission from: Messenger Church of God https://www.cogmessenger.org/ ————————————————————————————- |
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