Lesson 1837

(Lesson 1837)(10-28-16) John 5:25-32

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true."

In today's lesson, Jesus relates that it is not Jesus the human man who has the power to grant eternal life, but rather it is God the Father, borne in His only begotten human Son that grants eternal life.

In verses twenty eight and twenty nine, Jesus said, "the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

The ONLY way anyone can be righteous (or good) enough to be resurrected unto life, is to have the perfection of Jesus Christ imputed into him/her by the power of God through faith in that same Jesus Christ, the sacrifice for the perfect remitter of all sin. The "good" works we actually do while on earth have nothing to do with whether or not we are resurrected to eternal live. Neither will the bad things we do condemn us from eternal life. Earthly sin won't even be counted against those who believe in Jesus Christ because through the imputed righteousness of that same Jesus Christ, our sins are "justified" (Look up the definition of the word justified).

Paul explained this concept very eloquently in his letter to the Jews in Rome, "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that JUSTIFIETH the ungodly, HIS FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God IMPUTETH RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHOUT WORKS, Saying, Blessed are they whose INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN, and WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord WILL NOT IMPUTE SIN." (Romans 4:3-8 in part.) "Therefore being JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5:1-9)

Hereby, those of us who believe in Jesus Christ, having our sins JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, should have NO fear of condemnation, EVER.~