Church part 3

by Jannie

Eternal [everlasting] Life (Why “Christians” cannot prove Jesus lives!)

Were we initially created by God to live eternally or to die?  How would we get people to glorify God in His Kingdom on earth until He returns?

Again, Gen 3:22 with Rev 2:7; 3:21-23.  And please, refrain from “spiritualizing” [philosophizing and intellectualizing like Gnostics] the physical body.  God clearly intended to have us as triune beings, as a spirit with a soul inside a body.  He is a Triune God, and made us to His image, not like animals [pets, beasts, with only a soul[1] and a body].  God is not stuttering in Heb 13:5, He three times say “I will not…” as a complete assurance from a Father, a Son and a Holy Spirit to a spirit, a soul and a body, that He will not forsake any part of us if we will just trust Him!  He is [agape] Love and will not violate our will.  This is His choice, what is ours?  He will bring those who have lost their bodies [died] back here – to earth – to give them [their] bodies back (1 Thess 4:13-17).  A miracle indeed if you consider to what extend their bodies have perished, with no living cells left!  We that still have our bodies in a living state, is that too much for God to keep alive?  You know Luke 18:27; Phil 4:13; Rom 8:37; and 1 Cor 15:26?  Jn 1? Rom 8?  All right, let’s start again more slowly.

You don’t [have to] die to get eternal Life, Jesus Christ was obedient unto HIS death [as Son of Man] so that through HIS obedience, you might obtain – inherit – LIFE everlasting (Heb 9; Jn 3:16)!

Let us slaughter three ridiculous holy cows right now.  What has confused and darkened many people most on this issue of [immortal, everlasting] Life, is probably the following three misquotes:

(a) Job 1:21. This statement by Job has been popularized by death-preachers, favorably accepted at funerals, claiming – like Job there in despair – that “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away…”.  Why do these thieves (Jn 10:1-10) neglect to continue to Job 35:16; 38:1-2; (33:4) and Job’s own admission that he has spoken in error (Job 42:3,6)?  Amazing!  And why have you been so gullible to fall for those lies and even repeated them in parrot-like fashion (Eph 4:11-24)? The Amplified Bible expands on Job 35:16, saying that Job “uselessly opens his mouth and multiplies words without knowledge[2] drawing the worthless conclusion that the righteous way has no more advantage than the wicked (that will be destroyed)”.  (Brackets mine).

So what happened to Job?  In Job 2:3-7 you see who the instigator is.  Did God say to the devil to target Job (2:3)? No, God said, have you considered [observed] My servant Job [of 1:5] and what is your business with him (Js 1:13-17; 1 Cor 10:13; Gal 6:1 because of Gen 1:26-28 and 1 Jn 3)?  What happened to Job was that Job feared (3:25) which shows a lack of total trust and he revealed Prov 18:20-21 to us.  Job [not God] failed to rule [exercise dominion] over these evil thoughts in his head – not God’s head (Is 54:13-14-17;  2 Cor 10:5[3]).  Job only had to resist the devil [not God] – Js 4:7.  Can you see 1 Pet 5:6-9? For the purpose of this writing, I will not go deeper into Job now, but suffice to note Job’s repentance (Job 42:3-6) and how God immediately applied Is 1:18 (in the very next verse 7 after all the nonsense Job spoke!); note Prov 28:13; Ps 30:5; 103:8-17; etc.  God is good only!

Do you know the character of the Giver of Life, are you hearing and listening to His Voice? Read His Word, until you hear His Word, not that of false teachers preaching death.  God is the only Giver of Life, not death!  God is the only Healer, not the destroyer!  And with Him is no shadow of change (Js 1:17; Heb 13:8)!  If your body dies, it perishes, and you have lost [it].  Not gain it, lost it!  Even Job 31:8 ties in with Prov 2:8; Is 28:12; 2 Cor 4:1-7; and so on. Come on, think like a godly person should think, not the ignorant world trapped in self-righteousness and guilt!  You should have conviction, not guilt [condemnation].  What do you suppose does Rom 8:29-35 mean?  And if you wonder how to answer verse 36, go on to 37-39!!  Have you also told [your] little children “Jesus came to take [mommy] away”?  So is Jesus now the angel of death?  Mt 12:35-37; 18:1-6…

And sorry to upset those who stubbornly talk like mindless parrots after men bent on death, but please tell me what God [Jesus] needs your loved one for in heaven?!?  I have heard this often and am utterly astonished that an intelligent “believer” can claim that “Jesus came to take someone because He needs them in heaven more than the loved ones here on earth”!  Now does He really…  Where in your Bible does it say that God needs someone to help Him in heaven?  With what?  (Ps 68:20; 118:8,17; Is 25:8; 29:13-14; 38:18-20 (1 Tim 3:15).  Jesus is quite successful (1 Jn 2:1,2), I think…

(b) Phil 1:21.  Those bent on death [obsessed and overwhelmed by it, planning their whole life around it], will also misquote this popular verse.  Do you realise the context is actually rather summarized in verse 17 (Col 3:1-10,16,17; 2:14,15,20 Amplified; Jn 12:25,26; 15:18,19; remembering the “world” referred to here is the religious Jewish law-world)?  Why not defend Ps 6:5; 68:20; 118:17,18; Prov 8:36; 18:20-21; Dt 30:11-19, to name a few?  Answer Ps 89:48 with Jn 14:6 and Jn 11:26, even 1 Jn 5:16 with Jn 16:9.  Have you ever considered Is 28:11-18?  How is it that people settle for loosing their lives while God is all about everlasting Life?  Do you know that He will bring all saved souls and spirits of the departed back here and give them their bodies again?  You do?  Really?  And you think He does not want you to live until then?  Why do you so eagerly defend to die? Rom 5:12-15; 8:1-4.  Is God about Life or death?  If all your sin is paid for, why die?

If you are bent on reasoning against life ever-lasting, still saying that Paul was saying death is advantageous for man [to leave this planet], at least be logically consistent and make the equal conclusion that Paul implied that a murderer is doing his victims a favour, and suicide is an option, and that the head of a family (representing Christ as the Head of His Church) can kill his family.  No, stop being dull and see that Paul advocates dying to the self like he told the Gnostics (Col 3:1-3).

(c) Heb 9:27.  The word men there, is anthrōpǒs [444] and is from anēr [435], a primary word actually indicating an individual man, a husband!  Look it up in a Greek concordance.  Even just reading the context of Heb 9, you should have noticed that the very next verse (28) states that so it is with Christ, having offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of all once for all…  The judgement then, for all sin, was thus on Him that took it [death] on our behalf!  It is saying that Jesus is the Lamb of God and the only Savior of all that believes this outrageous deed of love!  He had to die so that we can live.  Live for God, don’t pretend to die for Him!  Read His Word.

At any rate, when reading Heb 9:27, have you noticed verses 11-18 in that same chapter?  Check the context with Scriptures like 1 Thess 5:9-11; Rom 5:8-11; Col 1:20; 2 Cor 5:15-21; 2 Tim 2:11-17;  Gal 4:4-12; Mk 1:15; Ps 30:5; and you as Zion (Is 60:14; Mt 5:14) in Ps 102:15-28; 118:17-19…

For a deeper exegeses on this subject of afterlife (Jn 11:25) vs everlasting life (Jn 11:26), see the paper entitled The Testimony” by the author on www.gospel-truth.co.za.

So then, if you know, realize, and believe God [alone] gives Life and that the devil destroys life, and only through deception (Col 2:15), the question is why do Christians [Christ-like, Life-like people] die?  Yes, exactly because of this simple fact, because they believe they must!  They do not believe they can live [remain]!  Carefully and slowly digest 1 Pet 5:8-11 and Js 4:1-10.  Also 1 Jn 5:16 with Jn 16:9; 3:15-16; 11:26 (can you hear yourself in Jn 8:51-55?).  Sobering, is it not?  I hope so.

When God made Adam to His image, and blew His Spirit into man (Gen 1:26; 2:7; Jn 1:1-5,13,14,16), was this spirit eternal or mortal (Jn 4:23,24; Rom 6:9)?  Was man supposed [meant, designed] to die?  If God wants a personal, lasting [meaningful] relationship with man on earth, why let man die?  Was it a design fault overlooked [missed] by God Almighty?  Are we just pets [beasts] or supposed to be like Him?  Do you realize that God gives us grace to receive Life?!!… And why would God then give the bodies back of those saved who had lost theirs?  Some of us will [can] then still remain – 1 Thess 4:13-15; 5:10; 1 Cor 15:51; Ps 118:17; Is 5:18-21; 6:5; 25:8 ( 1 Cor 15:26); 38:15-20; Hab 2:2-4… 1:12…and if you say, like those in Is 28:15, that it is not physical, try Jn 8:51-52; 11:25-26… then carefully reconsider your “perfect” faith in Jesus’ gospel (Mt 19:26; Jn 3:16; Mk 9:23?)…  and consider the paper called “The Testimony” on this website.  Are we all fast asleep?

We were placed on this earth to rule over it and all in and on it (Job 1:7; 2:2) – have dominion!  The devil was placed under man’s feet from the beginning!  Satan has no authority whatsoever over man (Js 4:7) – man gives [allows] him that (illegally, Gen 1:28).  Gen 3:1 compares Satan with animals.  The devil is not who [religion made you] you think he is.  Why let him deceive you to die [lose]?

Jesus would not strip Himself willingly of His Godly power (2 Cor 8:9; Gal 1:4; 1 Tim 2:6) to come to earth (Jn 1:1-5,9-14), pray Mt 6:10, lay down His Life here on earth, sacrifice Himself with His Blood on the cross – on earth – to give us eternal life (Jn 3:16; 11:26; Rom 6:23; 1 Cor 15:45) here on earth, be buried here on earth to offer us a Testament for free (make available what we could/can never do – Heb 9:15-18; Rom 8:1-3) on earth, return resurrected in His glorified body (Jn 20) to earth, then sent the Holy Spirit to indwell His [reborn] people on this earth (Jn 14:26; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4), and promise to return here in this same glorified body, with all those that remain (1 Thess 4:13-18) if He did not intend for us to eternally enjoy life here on earth.  Take Jn 16:1-33; 1 Jn 4:4,17!  Did you see the judgement… He took on His cross as an exchange (Is 53) and the words “in this world”?

God sees ahead [is omniscient, omnipresent, in- and outside time made by Him], therefore He can foresee [provide].  This is to be trusted, but man throughout history has been filled with pride and haughtiness in that he rejects the truth of the origin [Source] of his life and his blessings (including his self-centred intellect, studying and really gratifying only himself).  So God gave us a will, He in His perfect wisdom, made us free moral agents because God is Love.  Love does not manipulate.  Love wants us to love Him back by our own free will [to be true, like Him].  He therefore only chooses those that choose Him.  This is called God’s pre-elect.  An own choice.  And yes, He would like all to find this magnificent eternal life (1 Pet 3:9), but alas…  Do you see why God resist the haughty (1 Pet 5:5)?  The clay vessel so full of himself cannot be used by the Creator what it was meant for.  The vessel is so filled by himself (is “solid”?) that its Maker can not fill it [peacefully in love] with Himself!  So selah  [pause and calmly think about that].  Yes, kill the beast, Jesus came to save you from yourself!  Jesus was mortal (Mt 2), Christ was immortal (Mt 27:50).  Jn 4:13,14; 7:37-41; 6:63.

In Lk 16:19-31 Jesus revealed a few major truths to us:

  1. The name of the “destitute” man was in the Book of Life of the Lamb of God, he is called by his name by the Lord Jesus Christ: Lazarus.  The one who seemed to have trusted in his [own?] wealth (material provision), is not even called by his name.
  2. The self-inflated rich man (v 19) probably had a very impressive funeral ceremony with much good said about him, by mortals.  Lazarus’ body was probably thrown on the refuse dump outside town to be burnt.  But angels (plural) carried Lazarus to the “heaven” side of Hades, while the rich man ended up in the “hell” side of Hades.  Both waiting for Jesus to come…
  3. Note that the rich man still did not repent and acknowledged that Jesus is the Messiah – he wanted to act as saviour (to his brothers still on earth).
  4. No one is allowed to warn anyone on earth out of hell “to accept the other option” because hell is a bad place to end up in.  God is love and therefore seeks an eternal relationship with those that choose to love Him back (trust Him), not opt to be with Him because of fear of “hell”, neither for the self-gratification of any attraction that “heaven” holds for the “self”.  If it is not about the Person, you reject his Light, and you choose darkness.  The Person, not His things!
  5. God is absolutely right in what He foresaw.  This rich man rejected the Messiah [Jesus Christ the Lord], as well as God’s Word, and those who bring God’s Word (v 29,30), even after ending up in “hell”, in utter self-destruction.

Yes, there is a heaven and there is a hell, but do you know what it is for?  What if heaven is all around you [a presently unseen spiritual realm, Heb 12:1), and not beyond the stars somewhere? What if heaven is a “waiting place for those [spirits and souls] whose bodies have died, waiting to be re-united with an immortalized, glorified body here on a “new earth” and a “new heaven”, and you will be next in the blink of an eye, only without dying first – because you have believed Jesus and received an everlasting life?  If the “stars” that was to “fall from heaven” puzzles you, think how far away those suns are, how big they are, and if they can fall [on earth?] and read Judges 5:20; Job 25:5; Gen 26:4; Gal 4:21-31; and oh yes, enjoy Dan 12:3.  Those stars (Mt 23) fell when Jesus paid for all our sin, that is why Paul made the statement [observation] in 1 Cor 1:23; 2:2,5-8! Feel better now?

From Genesis (1-3) to Revelation (21-22), the pattern is clear:  God comes to dwell with man (Jn 1:14.  In Revelation 21 the “city” – the Bride, the Lamb’s wife – comes “down”, out of the realm of the invisible to the visible (Heb 12:1a). We are not going up, we must grow up!  The Bridegroom comes for a mature Bride.  Jesus’ ascension was not geographical but spiritual – He was caught up into the heavenly realm of the Spirit, and He will come again in “like manner” (Acts 1:11).  That is, caught-up into [spiritually transported], not UP into [vertical direction]. The earth is round, where to is “up”?  Think about it!  The apostle Paul was caught up into the third heaven while he was on the earth right next to his horse on the road to Damascus (2 Cor 2:12:2,4); so also the evangelist Philip in Acts 8:39, so John on the isle of Patmos, and Ezekial on the river banks of Babylon.  Note here that the priests next to Ezekial were in captivity.  Is your mind still in captivity?  At His coming He “descends” from the invisible to the visible.  “From above”, not “below” (Jn 3), refers to the higher state, or realm, of heaven [Spirit].  Living saints will welcome and escort their returning, glorified Lord back into our visible realm.

What if hell (at present) has a “waiting place” called Hades, but for those who rejected Jesus [distrusted God]? Gehenna is future (the “second death”, Rev 21:8). You are either born once, and die twice; or is born twice and die – to self – once (Jn 3:3)…  not perish [be dead]…

What is the effect of this punishment?  Js 1:15; Rom 6:23a; Rev 20:9b; Mt 10:28, 2 Pet 3:7b.

Is this punishment complete?  O yes, it is “utterly consumed” – Ps 21:9; Heb 10:27; Rev 20:9.  “Cut off” – Ps 37:2,9,28,34,38; Is 33:12; Rev 2:22.  Perdition or ruin, utterly destroyed  – Heb 10:39; 2 Pet 3:7b; Mt 10:28.

How long will it last?  Do “not be quenched” and “eternal fire” mean “always burn”?  No.  Compare Jer 17:27b with 2 Chron 36:19-21.  That fire is not burning now, but what burned is consumed with everlasting effect or result.   The same can be applied to Mt 25:41; Mk 9:43,48 and Lk 3:17.  The fire will not be able to be extinguished by anything or any one, God will use it to finally and utterly destroy evil and the wicked for all eternity [the result will be eternal, once they have been completely destroyed by unquenchable fire].  The fire will be unquenchable until the fire has burned and destroyed the wicked, then it will never burn again.  It does not seem to be God’s nature to enjoy never-ending punishment (Jer 3:12c; 31:34c[4]; Is 1:18; Heb 8:12), He seems to desire to get rid of wickedness at once – as in the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and so on.  He is slow to anger and quick to forgive.  The past reality of recurring wickedness (due to man’s misused authority [dominion handed to a destroyer out of distrust towards God, rebellion], will be demolished once for all, after Jesus has dealt with it in His final judgement (Jn 5:21-23).  If God gives dominion, He keeps His Word. Christ Jesus came as a Man, see 1 Jn 3:8.

Where and when comes this end to wickedness?

Where?  Mal 4:1,3; Rev 20:11-15; Is 24:21; 1 Cor 15:25; Eph 3:10; 6:12

When?  Acts 17:31; Rev 20:6-12; 2 Pet 3:7-12

Eternal Life, and a life more abundantly

Jesus came to give us a life more abundantly, unfortunately the church mainly preach a death more abundantly!  The church at large has an unscriptural invitation to forever float in “heaven” one day, after death on earth.  Is this the gospel message?  Is this what Jesus and His apostles preached?  No!  Study the Bible carefully and LIVE!  We are supposed to conquer and remain – then He returns[5]!

What does 1 Thess 4:13-18; 5:5,6,9,23-24 say?  Where is your destination (Mt 5:5)?

No wonder most professing Christians are weak, powerless and living in fear, in perpetual self-providing efforts for [false] security, provision, power, pleasure, et cetera.

If you think you “must” die, why fight for health?  Die and go where you want to be.

So why are you shocked?  How big is your God?  Who do you believe – Jesus? Really?

Jesus will return when His Word of eternal Life and peace has been taken to all the nations [peoples] of this earth, that is to say, when they are disciples [followers] of Jesus Christ (not just proselytes, Mt 23:15), but manifested mature sons [children] of God Almighty (Rom 8:11,19-24; Jn 11:26; 2 Tim 1:10; Jn 3:16)!  And this Truth has to be taken first before it can be preached for those to believe (Rom 1:16; 8:14; 10:16-17).

Have you ever thought what the writer of Hebrews meant by Heb 5:11-6:2?  Do you know Rom 10:3,4; 13:14; 2 Pet 1:1b; Heb 10:14; Eph 4:24?  Have you seen (done) this “baby-stuff” like laying on of hands, healing cripples, blind, death, raising the dead [without knowledge of righteousness in Christ – Heb 5:13]?  Do you then not believe the words [promise] of Jesus in Mk 16:17,18? Are you His disciple?  Are you a Christian or merely a religious [church-goer]?  See Jn 17:15-21. Now try to absorb the words of Jesus in scriptures like Jn 14:9-15; 20:21-23.  And?…  Do you believe man saying it was only for “them” [the 12, or 11, disciples]? Then read Jn 17:18,20; Heb 13:8!  Take special note of Heb 4:1-2!  Be afraid to distrust the Word of God – Jesus Christ!

 

Is 1 Jn 5:16 referring to Jn 16:9; 3:16; 14:6; 11:26?  If 1 Jn 3:8b and Heb 10:14; Rev 1:5; Rom 5:12; 8:1-3 is true, why does your body die?  If all your sin is removed by the blood of the Lamb of God, and death is a result of sin, why do you believe your body must still die?? Only because of one sin:  not believing Jesus that He came to annul death and give you everlasting life!  See 1 Cor 15:26, remember 1 Jn 3:8b with Col 2:15… Yes, you are saved (Rom 10:9,10), but that’s not everlasting life (Jn 3:16)!

Try the following for size:  Prov 9:1-5; Jn 6:32-58; Gal 3:8; Gen 14:17-19; 1 Cor 11:23-30; Heb 3; 4:1,2; Ps 119:99,144 (Amp); Prov 16; 18:21; Dt 29:11-15,19; Jn 8:32,36; Ps 102:20, 26-28; 118:17,18; Hab 1:12; Is 28:18; Jn 11:26…  shall we go on?  Perhaps we should read the whole Bible again!  These prophecies were all for an appointed time, those who the Lord would call “Zion” (Is 60:14; Mt 5:140…).  So, do you follow men or our Lord Jesus Christ?

Are you getting it?  Eternal, everlasting life?  Where does it say you [your body] must die?  Heb 9:27?  Try again, read the context (before and aft), Jesus had to die for our sins so we can have everlasting life [2 Tim 2:11; 1 Thess 5:10], here in His kingdom, on earth, until He returns with the other saints to be re-united.  Ps 102:13-28; 118:17,18; Is 28:18; Jn 11:26 – your appointment with death is cancelled in Jesus Christ!  Believe it and live (Rom 8:1-3)!

Jesus died so you might live (Is 53:4,5; 1 Pet 1:23; 2:4; Jn 11:26) until He returns with the other saints from heaven (Rom 14:9; Jn 11:25) surrounding us (Heb 12:1), then they will get their resurrected glorified bodies, and while they will be “taken up” [be amazed, excessively impressed, overwhelmed] with the wonder of that body, your body will be glorified and you will be “taken up”[be overwhelmed, excessively impressed, amazed] with this new body of yours (1 Cor 15:51-58).  Your old body would have been quickened when you believed Jesus (Jn 11:26; 8:52; Rom 8:11; 2 Cor 5:17), but then, with the return of Jesus Christ in His glorified body, will your body will be glorified [glorifying Jesus and the Father with no more sickness or death] as well – you will be able to see and hear what previously were outside the scope of your (immortalized, but still yet to be glorified) body (1 Cor 2:9).  Then Jesus and the Father will show His Oneness, and we will reign with Him on this earth forever in a oneness and everlasting relationship.  Who knows what will happen then (1 Jn 3:2)?

One thing is for sure, whatever that will be like, will be more than we can think of in our wildest dreams (Eph 3:20; Mk 9:23!), because even now we cannot even grasp the life Jesus paid for with His Life and blood – to enjoy on this earth.  I said, on this earth (Mt 5:5).  Man water God’s Word of Life down and defend dead religions[6].  And why do we not grasp it?  Because we believe men and their watered-down doctrines and not the Word of God, the Son of God, Jesus Christ!  Wake up church of Jesus Christ!  It is time to become [be, live as] the Church of Christ Jesus!  It is time to become fit and educated [mature] in His Word (Hos 4:6)!

Stop this nonsense of playing church with rituals, ceremony and tradition once/twice a week.  This “sing-stand-sit-stand-20-minute-message” – baby hoax!  Get real – God is real!  Live in Christ!

Get together (Eph 2:5) and make room for Holy Spirit glory and power!

Leave the emotional self-consciousness, and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth!

He looks into your heart, what you think and then do [as a result, not for results]

– the singing is for you.  Sing, but for joy!  It is His amazing grace and love for us!  Accept Him!

Stop the show, the self-convincing efforts to sooth your conscience!

His kingdom is not for achievers, it is for believers.  He already made you holy – He is your holiness!  He is your righteousness.  He glorified those in Christ (Rom 8:29-31)!!!

Stop putting up a show, and live His Word every moment of every day – rule!  Prophecy!

Bear fruit – speak HIS Word!  Prophecy!  Then can those that hear believe Jesus’ Words!

Get His Word [incorruptible seed] inside of you, not faint theories and deficient faith of men!

Get Christ inside of you and go out of dead buildings and be His church [His living Body]!

Let saints gather, not hypocrites and singing and kissing play-actors in self-declarations of their unbelief – 2 Cor 4:18; Heb 10:38; 11:1!

Know His name (Is 52:6; 9:6; Ez 18:32; Jn 10:27,28)!!!

Know His will!  Don’t be lazy, ponder these scriptures!

Have you thought about Is 28:7b-18?

God’s goodness and true gospel message is so easy to understand, that you need help to misunderstand it.  Yes, so who are people listening to?  Jesus is abundantly clear, yet even today (about 2 000 years on), this “church” of Jesus Christ better wake up and start shaking the world.

But God is the Source of righteousness, and therefore practice what He preaches, and is therefore cleaning His own house [Body, 1 Cor 6:19-20] first before we [the church of Jesus Christ!] can clean [the thoughts of] the world.  Resist the devil [twisted, evil thoughts, lies], not the Spirit of God!

No one can be more hopeless than those who resist the Spirit of God.

And what about the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:2)?

Remember what we discussed in part one, namely that a House/church/City system can only be valid with spiritually matured Christians – Eph 4:12-15!  It is imperative that we are in unity in Jesus Christ – the Way, Truth, Life – alone (Jn 17:15-26; 8:32,36; 14:6,20-27; 15:1-14.  See Rom 10:17 and Acts 17:11; 2 Tim 3:14-17; 4:1-5).

And, by the way, if you thought that the enemy of God is the devil, read your Bible again!  Note Col 2:15 and note the plural “enemies” in both Heb 1:13 and Heb 10:13.  The people that God is supposed to dwell [continuously remain] in, but betray Him with teachings of man instead of following His precepts [teachings, being His disciple at His feet], are the enemies of God (1 Jn 2:4 Ampl) – and this, my friend, is none other than the current [many “denominations” of] “Church” the masses of religious people across the world have come to be complacent in and defend fervently today!!!

1 Thess 5:23 – Be blessed and empowered and free in abundant Life in Jesus name… until He returns!…  If you shout “God help us”, consider again Eph 1:3; 2 Pet 1:3; Heb 13:5…

There is to my mind, only one way to absolutely prove [to the world] that the Spirit of our beloved Lord Jesus lives [in us], and that is to remain [alive, until He returns].

But, alas, is this too much for us who keep on professing to proclaim, “There is more!”…

Amen

[1] The soul is self-centred, i.e. the mind [intellect, reasoning], emotion, and will.  Spirit is God-conscious.

[2] Eph 4:12-15; 2 Pet 1:5; Rom 10:1-11…

[3] Yes, Job was “B.C.”, but you only have to recall Jn 1:1-4; 14:7-11,24,31 to get the idea [Truth].

[4] Does this mean Jews are saved without accepting Jesus has come as the Messiah?  NO! Since Jn 3:16; the requirement is Jn 14:6.  Hear Jesus in Mt 21:42-43 and test them with [to] 1 Jn 4:1-4 (Heb 8:13; Acts 10:34).

[5] Heb 1:13 with 1 Cor 15:26; 1 Jn 3:2.  Read it openly for what it says, not with death in mind, but Life!…

[6] For more on this subject of immortality/everlasting life, read “The Testimony” by the same author.