Jesus Laid down His Life to Have Eternal Life

2005-01-03 16:51

Our Lord Jesus went before us, laying down his life to have eternal life. He is the way and the truth and the life for all people in the world. I praise the Lord Jesus. Amen.

It was right that the God of truth let him put on the life of flesh to lead all people to eternal life. Therefore, it is written, "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God." (1 John 4:2). And again, "Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist." (2 John 1:7).

The way to eternal life would have never opened for those who are born in the flesh unless he was sent in the same flesh as that of men. It is written, "For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17).

He is the son of David, the son of Abraham. Born of the seed of David, he was made like men. He was in fear of death because he was a man. But he died first and opened the way through which those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death could be set free. It is written, "Then he said to them, 'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.'" (Matthew 26:38).

His authority to lay down his life to have eternal life was given from God who sent him as a man. It is written, "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." (John 10:17-18).

The Bible clearly says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5). And also, "it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." (1 Corinthians 15:44).

This is the will of God: God wants those who all their lives are held in slavery of sin to lay their lives down with Christ and be saved to eternal life. He wants them to be set free from sin and to come to a knowledge of the truth. It is written, "...God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-4).

The Bible says about it, "'Then I said, Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll--I have come to do your will, O God.' First he said, 'Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them' (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, 'Here I am, I have come to do your will.' He sets aside the first to establish the second." (Hebrews 10:7-9).

Our Lord Jesus was sent in a false man and opened the way through which we can put off the false man. That is the way of the cross. It is written, "let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: 'That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.'" (Romans 3:4).

The Lord Jesus himself, who went through the way before us, said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6). And also, the Truth says, "by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body." (Hebrews 10:20).

The Lord himself, full of grace and truth, said before Pontius Pilate, "In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37). He testified to the truth that we must lay down our lives to have eternal life.

Having heard this wondrous testimony, Pilate asked, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). Likewise, those who now belong to the world cannot know what the truth is.

However, everyone on the side of truth listens to the voice of the truth. It is written, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27).

All the children of the truth who listen to the voice of the truth and follow the truth will put off their lives through the truth and live forever in their Father's house with Christ Jesus who fulfilled the will of God. Amen. Thank you, Lord.

Brother of the End, Kim Yun-gu.