BELIEVE IN HIM AND DON’T PERISH
Tuesday – October 23, 2018, Cheshvan 14, 5779
Greetings and welcome back to this faith building Bible Study from the Book of John. The featured picture is of donkey’s we had on the ranch in Texas. They were a lot of fun and the little one’s are very cute but they are completely useless. It is hard to even give them away. They supposedly will protect the cattle from dogs and cayotes, I think they mainly protect the donkeys. Now let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text reading it aloud.
John 3:13-16 (KJV)
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Yesterday I left off with a wonderful and interesting discussion of Bible Numerology. Today let’s pick up with verse fifteen. The first thing we see is that salvation is open to all, to whosoever believeth. The word “believeth” in our text has its root in faith, so we are talking about Bible faith in Christ Jesus. Having faith in Him has to do with who He is, His name, and His Word (all the same thing). Just as who we are and our name cannot be separated from us neither can it be from Him. There are gradations of faith mentioned in Scripture but our goal is to develop our faith to be exactly like that of Jesus in the earth. Ladies and gentlemen, we have the very faith of God. He designed us to do all that Jesus did in the earth and even greater things. Of course, as Jesus said I can do nothing of myself it is the Father who does the works and so it is with us. Nothing is impossible to us with the God kind of faith. Let us press in everyday, forsaking the ways of the world and fully embracing he ways of God. Let’s take a moment and think about the word “perish” in our Bible Text. The use of the word “perish” here has to do with eternity in Hell. This word in general refers to the curse, to stealing, killing, and destroying in our lives. Even Christians can give the enemy entrance into their lives and perish with physical death (still going to Heaven) or have other ravages of stealing, killing, and destroying in their lives. Verse fifteen ends by telling us that faith in Him, in the name above all names, will result in our being turned from eternal death to eternal life. Keep in mind that spiritual death does not mean one no longer exists or has a loss of consciousness, quite to the contrary one is very much in existence and very conscious. Remember Lazarus and the rich man?
Luke 16:22-24 (KJV)
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 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.
This man in Hell is very conscious with fully intact memory and sensory perception. He is not asking for physical water which is useless to the spirit man, he is asking to again hear the Word of God. Abraham responds to the rich man telling him that his family (just as he did) has Moses and the Prophets (Word of God). Faith in Christ Jesus brings salvation giving us the same life as our Heavenly Father, abundant life beyond human language description eternally.
This brings us to perhaps the most oft quoted Scripture in all of the Bible, John 3:16. This wonderful verse start off with the magnificent phrase “For God so loved the world”. God did not have a warm and fuzzy feeling towards us or think we were just so cute we needed a savior like a dog at the pound. No, no, no, He had made man in His own image and likeness, we have the DNA of God, we are created as God’s very own children and so He is redeeming His own. The moment man sinned God made a way to redeem His precious family and that would be by the precious blood of the Son of God, in effect He Himself would pay the price!
1 Peter 1:19-20 (KJV)
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
The world represents lost mankind. I am going back to the meaning of love, God’s love (agape). Love, God’s love which we have, is obedience to Scripture, Blood Covenant, and a selflessness. Remember love is a two-way street, God first loved us and by that exercise of love (God doing what He said He would do) we were given the capacity to love Him (1 John 4:19).
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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