The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 8:24,
"I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins."
In another discussion with the Pharisees, Jesus made it very clear what the options in life are. This life has its purpose and the single overriding purpose Jesus proclaimed is finding our way to embracing him in faith: believing in him.
Here in this passage Jesus expresses the flip side of the gospel message. Our term, "gospel" comes from a Greek word that means "good news", used some 76 times in the Greek New Testament. (Our english translations use the term "gospel" over 90+ times depending on the translation).
We might say, what Jesus told the Pharisees here is the "bad news". The good news is that Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for all of our sins and that we can have eternal life together with him - heaven bound - if we put our faith and trust in him. The bad news is exactly what Jesus says in John 8:24. We will die an eternal death "if you do not believe that I am he" (the Son of God).
There is good news and there is bad news. It all revolves around what we do with Jesus Christ.
"I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins."
In another discussion with the Pharisees, Jesus made it very clear what the options in life are. This life has its purpose and the single overriding purpose Jesus proclaimed is finding our way to embracing him in faith: believing in him.
Here in this passage Jesus expresses the flip side of the gospel message. Our term, "gospel" comes from a Greek word that means "good news", used some 76 times in the Greek New Testament. (Our english translations use the term "gospel" over 90+ times depending on the translation).
We might say, what Jesus told the Pharisees here is the "bad news". The good news is that Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for all of our sins and that we can have eternal life together with him - heaven bound - if we put our faith and trust in him. The bad news is exactly what Jesus says in John 8:24. We will die an eternal death "if you do not believe that I am he" (the Son of God).
There is good news and there is bad news. It all revolves around what we do with Jesus Christ.
If we are an atheist, if we don't believe in Jesus Christ, we will die an eternal death. If we are agnostic and claim we don't know for sure about him, we will die an eternal death. Only if we embrace Jesus Christ in full-throated faith do we enter into heaven when we leave this life.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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