LIFE IS SHORT
YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN
First Peter 1:23-25
One of the greatest dangers in life is that people only ever see this life as the total of their existence. Jesus made it plain that there is another existence. He claimed to have come from Heaven to be born as a man (Jn. 3:31). He also claimed that He would return to Heaven after His time on earth (Jn 14:2, 4). Therefore, if Christ can be trusted, we can live forever in Heaven after we die.
How To Qualify for the Ultimate holiday
Again if Jesus can be trusted, not everyone is automatically guaranteed entry into Heaven.
1. What is the condition for entry into Heaven? (Jn. 3:3)
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Becoming a Christian means a new beginning. It is a radically different way of living. No longer do we live for ourselves, but now we live for God.
2. What does God do with our past when we accept His salvation? (Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:12; 10:17)
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3. In reality, what do we deserve for our lifestyle of sin? (Jer. 14:10; Isa. 13:11; Romans 6:23)
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4. What was our certain destiny before we surrendered to God? (Rev. 21:8)
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FLOWERS FADE
Christianity is not a fad. It is based on something that is imperishable, living and enduring. No matter much attack the Word of God comes under, it endures. Despite accusations of its ineffectiveness from its enemies, it continues to effectively change lives. The Word of God is truth that endures. Men have from time to time showed their ignorance by claiming to have evidence that God’s Word is inaccurate or merely the concoctions of men, only to be humiliated when new discoveries verified the Word of God’s account. For example, critics claimed that the accounts of Abraham could not be true because the civilisation of that era had no written languages. Then archaeologists discovered what is now known as the Weld Dynastic Prism which detailed Sumerian (Babylonian) history up to ten generations prior to the Flood.
Impression made by a cylinder-seal engraved with a scene representing two figures seated by the side of a sacred tree, or date palm; behind the figure on the left is a serpent. It has been suggested that this scene refers to a Babylonian version of the Temptation of Eve, but no cuneiform text in support of this view is known. This was found in 1922 and dates back to 2000 BC.
5. What is it that is sown into a person’s heart that causes them to be born again? (1Peter 1:23)
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6. Who causes this seed to sprout?
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7. But not all people respond to this seed. What reasons did Jesus give for this? (Mk. 4:14-22)
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Life Is Short
Unfortunately its perhaps only a tragedy where a life is suddenly lost that we are starkly reminded that life is short. None of us are guaranteed even our next heart beat. We must make sure that we have peace with God before we die.
8. What does the psalmist ask God to do for him? (Ps. 39:4; 90:12)
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Mankind has only one hope: to accept God’s Word. There is no other gospel, no other saviour, no other God, that can save. Only the message of Jesus Christ. Peter reminds the believers of this truth by highlighting to them that this is exactly what happened to them. And because this has happened to us, we should have a burden to reach those around us.
Amen.
© 2001 Andrew Corbett, Legana, Tasmania