Ten years os so ago, I asked the Lord to show me the meaning of a certain passage. What follows will most likely offend some, but I do not offer this to offend, but rather to challenge what I am coming to believe, to prove or disprove, and to see deeper into this perplexing passage. I beg your forgiveness beforehand, as while pursuing this I have inadvertly offended some that I love in Christ.
The passage is found inJohn, where Jesus is talking to Martha before going to the grave of Lazarus. He says that He is the resurrection and the life. He goes on to explain that everyone who believes in Him will live, even if they die. And then He says something which took my breath away, when I really heard what He is saying. He said that everyone who lives and believes in Him shall never die.
As I think about what Jesus is saying here, I see three distinctly different things. I see the life, and I see the two resurrections. Some time earlier, Jesus explained how The Father had given Him life to have in Himself. He said that the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall live. Bear this in mind as we go on, for this is the life. A few words later, Jesus says that a day is coming when those who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, those who did good deeds to a resurrection of life, and those who did evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
We know that there are two resurrections, one to life, and one to eternal judgment. But there is also life in Him, those who live and believe inHim, who shall never die. See why I asked Him to teach me what this means? It turns everything I had been taught, everything I believed, upsidedown.
What I am beginning to see, (but still am not absolutely sure of, but getting there,) is this. Everyone who believes in Jesus will be saved. Everyone. Those who hear His voice will live then, never to die. Those who believe, but do not hear His voice, to live even if they die, in the first resurrection. Those who do not believe, in the second resurrection.
Well, I said it would be different. I pray that we can explore this and find the truth if I am wrong. Some here have much knowledge in the ancient languages, and might see in the words where this is not what is said.
Blessings in His name
The passage is found inJohn, where Jesus is talking to Martha before going to the grave of Lazarus. He says that He is the resurrection and the life. He goes on to explain that everyone who believes in Him will live, even if they die. And then He says something which took my breath away, when I really heard what He is saying. He said that everyone who lives and believes in Him shall never die.
As I think about what Jesus is saying here, I see three distinctly different things. I see the life, and I see the two resurrections. Some time earlier, Jesus explained how The Father had given Him life to have in Himself. He said that the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall live. Bear this in mind as we go on, for this is the life. A few words later, Jesus says that a day is coming when those who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, those who did good deeds to a resurrection of life, and those who did evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
We know that there are two resurrections, one to life, and one to eternal judgment. But there is also life in Him, those who live and believe inHim, who shall never die. See why I asked Him to teach me what this means? It turns everything I had been taught, everything I believed, upsidedown.
What I am beginning to see, (but still am not absolutely sure of, but getting there,) is this. Everyone who believes in Jesus will be saved. Everyone. Those who hear His voice will live then, never to die. Those who believe, but do not hear His voice, to live even if they die, in the first resurrection. Those who do not believe, in the second resurrection.
Well, I said it would be different. I pray that we can explore this and find the truth if I am wrong. Some here have much knowledge in the ancient languages, and might see in the words where this is not what is said.
Blessings in His name