Author: Art Davison

IMMORTALITY–1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-57

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“IMMORTALITY”
I Corinthians 15:51-57
Introduction:
The word immortality is the opposite of mortality which means death. So immortality means deathlessness or endless existence. When we speak of the immortality of the soul we mean that the soul of man will continue to exist thoughout the endless ages of eternity.
The doctrine of the immortality of the soul is taught in both the Old and New Testaments.

I. THE IMMORTALITY IS BRIEFLY TAUGHT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
A. Job spoke of seeing the Lord in his flesh after his body is destroyed, Job 19:26, “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:”
B. Ezekiel told of the continued existence of the Egyptians leader, Ezekiel 32:21, “The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.”
C. Daniel spoke of the resurrection of man, Daniel 12:2, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

II. THE IMMORTALITY IS TAUGHT THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT
A. While the expression “immortality of the soul” does not appear in the Scriptures, eternal or everlasting life is asserted over and over, John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
B. The description found in Revelation 21 makes it clear that those who go to heaven will continue their blessed existence forever.
1. God will dwell among men in the new earth, Revelation 21:3, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”
2. The reason for death is removed in the new earth, Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
C. The Seventh Day Adventist say that the wicked dead are annihilated, however, Jesus said in Mark 9:47-48, “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48- Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
1. Jesus said that some would go into eternal punishment while others would receive eternal life, Matthew 25:46, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
2. In Luke 16 Jesus told of the rich man who died and went to Hell, Luke 16:23-24, “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24- And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”
C. Now we deal with another aspect of immortality: Death.
1. Death means separation.
a. The death of a Christian means separation from the body, 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
b. For the sinner death means separation from God, Matthew 25:41, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”
2. Paul tells us that Christ has abolished death and brought life and immortality, 2 Timothy 1:10, “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”
a. Jesus is the source of life, John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
b. Jesus is the source of immortality, 1 Timothy 6:16, “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”

CONCLUSION

HELL–MARK 9:47

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HELL
Mark 9:47

Introduction:

Recently some religious leaders have declared that Hell is not a literal place, but rather the sufferings that one goes through on this earth. These folks do not believe the Bible as the Word of God. We will see in this study that they have made Jesus Christ to be a liar by denying the doctrine of Hell as taught in the Bible.
There are two words translated hell in the Bible:
Hades (sheol in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament) and Gehenna. Hades and Sheol are the place of the dead implying a place of punishment. Gehenna is literally translated “Hell fire” and is rightly translated “Hell.”
I. THE FACT OF HELL

A. Hell is the most reasonable thing in the world.
1. Some people object to the doctrine of Hell as taught in the New Testament.
2. It is an absolute necessity.
a. No one objects to the fact that our government needs jails and prisons to control lawbreakers.
b. However, man will object to God having a place for His lawbreakers and those who reject His Son, Jesus Christ.
B. Hell is not only reasonable, but it is Scriptural.
1. The New Testament plainly teaches the doctrine of the punishment of the wicked in Hell, Revelation 20:14, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
2. The primary reason we believe the doctrine of Hell is because the Scripture teaches it.
3. The word “gehenna” is found in the New Testament 12 times and 11 of those times it came from the lips of Jesus Himself:
a. Matthew 5:22, “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
b. Matthew 5:29, “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”
c. Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
d. Matthew 18:9, “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”
e. Matthew 23:15, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”
f. Matthew 23:33, “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”
g. Mark 9:43, “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:”
h. Mark 9:47, “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:”
i. Luke 12:5, “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.”
j. James 3:6, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”

II. THE NATURE OF HELL
A. Hell is everlasting punishment, Matthew 25:46, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
B. Hell is the expression of the wrath of God, Romans 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”
1. Hell is everlasting fire, Matthew 25:41, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”
2. Hell is eternal separation from God, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
3. It is outer darkness, Matthew 8:12, “But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
4. It is the second death, Revelation 20:14, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

CONCLUSION

The duration of Hell is an awful thing to contemplate. It is eternal, everlasting, without end. Many think that “war is hell,” or that “the only hell is the hell we experience here on earth.” There is nothing on earth that can be compared to the Hell of the Bible. It is a terrible thing and there is no need to go there for Jesus has paid the price for our sins on the Cross of Calvary. Faith in Jesus Christ as Savior resolves the problem.

HEAVEN–PSALM 11:4,

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HEAVEN
Psalms 11:4, “The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.”

Introduction:

The word “heaven” appears throughout the Bible. In fact the Bible speaks of three heavens. The first is the atmosphere above us where birds fly and we see the clouds, etc. The second heaven is where the stars and the moon are. The third heaven is the one we are interested in today. It is the where the throne of God is and the Son of God is there at His right hand. It is the future dwelling place of all those that know Jesus Christ as their Savior.

I.    HEAVEN IS A PLACE
A. Heaven is a prepared place, John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3- And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
B. Heaven is a place for those that love God,
1. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, Matthew 25:41, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”
2. Heaven is prepare for God’s people, 1 Corinthians 2:9, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
C. Heaven is a better country, Hebrews 11:16, “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
1. There will be some things absent from Heaven:
a. There shall be no more curse, Revelation 22:3, “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:”
b. There shall be no night there, Revelation 22:5, And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”
c. There will be no tears, no death, no sorrow, no crying, nor pain, Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
d. There will be no sin in heaven, Galatians 5:21, “Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
2. There will be some wonderful things in Heaven:
a. We shall see our Savior face to face there, Revelation 22:3-4, “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4- And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.”
b. The New Jerusalem is there, Revelation 21:2, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
1) The promised city, Hebrews 11:10, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
2) The residence of the redeemed, Revelation 21:3, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

II. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HEAVEN
A. Heaven is paradise, Luke 23:43, “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
B. Heaven is a holy place, Psalms 68:5, “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.”
C. Heaven is a place of great beauty, Revelation 21:2, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
D. Heaven is a place of purity, Revelation 21:27, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
E. Heaven is a place of Glory, John 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
F. Heaven is a place of great joy, Jude 24, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”
G. Heaven is where we will see our Savior in His glorified body, 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

CONCLUSION

GRACE–EPHESIANS 1:7

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GRACE
Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”


Introduction:
The Grace of God is a vast subject and one of the great doctrines of the Word of God.
Most men think of themselves as SELF-MADE men, however, for every Christian God is to be thanked. Every believer is a GRACE-MADE man or woman. Paul writes in Romans 1:8, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.” Also in Romans 6:17, “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”
An old Puritan once cried out, “Oh, where had I been if I had not spied out Christ?” Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

I. GOD’S LOVING FAVOR TO THE UNDESERVING
A. Grace is not the sinners due, Romans 3:9-12, “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10- As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11- There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12- They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
B. Grace and Love are essentially the same.
1. Love has no limit or law such as grace has, 1 John 3:1, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” “Love may exist between equals, or it may rise to those above us, or flow down to those in any way beneath us.” — Alexander Whyte
2. But grace, from its nature, has ONLY ONE DIRECTION it can take. Grace always FLOWS DOWN to the sinner, Ephesians 2:5, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

II. HOW TO BETTER UNDERSTAND GRACE
A. It is contrasted with LAW in its origin and nature, John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
1. It is the nature of the law to make demands, — it is the nature of grace to BESTOW BLESSINGS, Psalms 84:11, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
2. The law condemns the best man, — grace SAVES the WORST man, Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
3. The law says, “do and live,” — Grace says, “BELIEVE and LIVE,” Acts 16:31, “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
4. The law curses, —- Grace redeems from the curse, Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”
B. Grace is contrasted with sin.
1. Sin reigns unto death, — grace reigns unto eternal life, Romans 5:21, “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
a. Sin gets its damning power from the law, 1 Corinthians 15:56, “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.”
b. Grace robs sin of its damning power by giving Christ for the satisfaction of the law, 1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2. The one and only source of real danger is from violated law, — Christ satisfied the law, Romans 8:2, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

III. GRACE IN THE TRINITY
A. The Father is the SOURCE of all Grace, Galatians 4:4-5, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5- To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
B. The Son is the CHANNEL of grace, John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
1. Christ rejecters need not think that they will be the beneficiaries of God’s grace, for His work reconciled Grace and Justice, Psalm 85:10, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
2. John Bunyan’s thoughts: “O Thou Son of the Blessed! Grace stripped Thee of Thy glory; grace brought Thee down from heaven; grace made Thee bear such burdens of sin, such burdens of curse as are unspeakable; grace was in Thy heart; grace came bubbling from Thy bleeding side; grace was in Thy tears; grace was in Thy prayers; grace streamed from Thy thorn crowned brow! Grace came forth with the nails that pierced Thee, with the thorns that pricked Thee! Oh, here the unsearchable riches of grace! Grace to make sinners happy! Grace to make angels wonder! Grace to make devils astonished!”
C. The Holy Spirit is the Administrator of Grace, John 6:45, 63, “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 63- It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” “Without the gracious operation of the Holy Spirit in conversion no sinner would ever become a beneficiary of grace. He takes of the things of Christ and gives them to the sinner.” —C. D. Cole.

CONCLUSION

GOD, OUR FATHER–COLOSSIANS 1:2

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GOD, OUR FATHER
Colossians 1:2
Colossians 1:2, “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”


Introduction:

This is an interesting theme. The world has their opinion about who the sons of God might be, but their opinion does not agree with what the Scriptures teach.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God and has a very unique relationship with God the Father that is different from that of the believer in Jesus Christ. Consider the following.

I. GOD IS PRESENTED AS FATHER TO ISRAEL

A. God’s care for Israel is spoken of as being a fatherly relation, Deuteronomy 8:5, “Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.”

1. God’s fatherly relationship with Israel is seen in the reason why He corrected them, Proverbs 3:12, “For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”

2. His concern was that of a father, Jeremiah 31:9, “They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.”

B. Since God was caring for them as a father He demanded of them obedience as sons, Malachi 1:6, “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?”

C. However, God is presented in a more restrictive view in Scripture, that of the SPIRITUAL FATHER rather than a national father, Psalm 103:12, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” The word “pitieth” means: to love, love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate, have tender affection.

1. Here the Lord refers to His “jewels” or His “special treasure,” Malachi 3:17, “And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”

2. This “special treasure” is made of up of those who are God’s sons by faith in Jesus Christ, Exodus 19:5-6, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

3. This is His “peculiar” people, Deuteronomy 26:18, “And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;”

II. GOD IS FATHER TO THE GENTILES WHO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR

A. Jesus Christ had a peculiar relationship with God the Father that is different from that of the Believer, Romans 15:6, “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1. Christ standing with the Father is unique, intimate and unparalleled, Matthew 11:27, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”

2. Jesus Christ is the great “I AM,” John 8:58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

3. Jesus and the Father are one, John 10:30, 38, “I and my Father are one. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”

4. Jesus came from the Father, John 16:28, “I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.”

B. This is a different relationship than that mentioned in Romans 1:7, “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

1. Our relationship with God our Father is by faith in His Son, John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

2. Christ’s relationship with the Father is that of “the only begotten of the Father,” John 1:14,“And the Word was made 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.”

III. THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN

A. This is the philosophy of the world today.

B. The Apostle Paul refutes this in Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

C. No one is a child of God unless he believes in Jesus Christ as his Savior, John 8:42-43, “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.”

D. If God is not our Father then Satan is, John 8:44-45, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.”