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God wants you to be certain of a place in Heaven. You will lose all fear of death as you trust in the Living God.
The Antidote to Death
When Jesus healed a man paralysed for 38 years, Jewish religious leaders responded by plotting to kill Him. Jn. 5:18.
Christ wasn’t religious enough for them, He ‘broke’ their Sabbath, and called God His Father.
In response to their bitter haranguing, the Messiah made this stunning statement, Jn. 5:24 Holy Bible, KJV;
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
This is the answer to spiritual death.
Believing and receiving the word of God brings eternal life.
No spells, potions, incantations, rites, sacraments, ceremonies, or rituals; simply hear, believe, and receive the Living Word of God. You can see why the religious crowd hated Him can’t you? He wiped out their religion with a word.
Genuine faith in Christ is enough: The Living Word of God.
Off Religion’s Treadmill
You will cross over from spiritual death, and receive the Life of God, the instant you simply believe, and receive The LORD Jesus Christ.
Religious people sneer at this, they say it’s too easy. There’s no self-abasement, no penance, no endless praying, no purgatory, and no good works to earn God’s favour.
When somebody asked Christ directly what good work they need to do to please God, He answered, Jn. 6:28 KJV;
This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Wow! Bang go the prayer beads, offerings, sacrifices, incense burning, feeding orphans and widows, and every other ‘merit-making good deed’.
The only ‘good work’ God demands for our complete salvation is to believe in Christ.
That is easy! Even you can do that can’t you?
After Death Comes Judgment
Jesus continued warning those snarling Jews, Jn. 5:28-29 KJV;
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
That’s God talking, pointing out the decisive factor at the Judgment that comes after death.
That is why you must be born again!
If you are born once, you will die twice.
If you are born twice, you will die once.
Receive Christ now, and lose all your fear of death.
You will have complete confidence that, when your heart stops beating, your spirit will leave your body, and be welcomed into Heaven. Not because of anything you have done, but entirely because of what Christ has done for you.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1 Co. 15:26 KJV
In Christ you conquer death, and lose all fear of dying. Look, Heb. 2:14-15 KJV;
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
I’m a witness to you, that is the truth. The instant I received Christ, I knew I had eternal life, and lost all fear of death. And you will too.
No wonder the Holy Spirit writes, 1 Co. 15:54-55 KJV;
Death is swallowed up in victory O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
No Fear in Love
That is why death holds no fear for the Christian. That is why so many valiant Christians were willing, indeed eager, to die for the Gospel rather than renounce Christ.
Reformers like John (Jan) Huss who looked death in the eye and refused to deny Christ even whilst being burned alive at the stake.
As he was being murdered for his faith, Huss (whose name means Goose) mocked his Catholic killers with this Holy Ghost prophecy:
You roast a goose, but within a hundred years you will have a swan who you can neither roast nor boil.
That swan was Martin Luther, whom God raised up to expose Catholic heresy. Luther’s family arms embodied a swan.
Moreover, as Huss’ body burned, he sang a hymn to God so loud it was heard above the crackling of the flames and roar of the crowd.
This kind of courage can only come from the Holy Spirit within.
God will put that same assurance in you when you receive Christ as LORD.
My Faithful Servant
A friend told me of the death of an aged Minister who’d had an abundant soul-winning ministry, and witnessed many amazing miracles. Somebody by his death-bed asked,
Brother, of all the wonderful experiences you’ve had in your long life, which has been the greatest?
The Glory lit the man of God’s face, and with arms raised high he responded,
‘The greatest experience in my life? I haven’t had it yet!’
I haven’t had it yet!
He was looking forward, beyond death, to meeting his LORD face to face.
That is how you overcome death. Rev. 6:8a KJV
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.
Moses led Israel through the Red Sea dry-shod, and his sister Miriam sang by the Holy Ghost, Ex. 15:21 KJV;
Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
God destroyed their enemies and captors, just as He has destroyed yours.
© 06 Colin Melbourne