As this study progressed, it became apparent that this is a very deep subject. Probably will not be able to cover it all in this thread. But here is a start.
The bible teaches us that we must believe on Jesus to have eternal life. This is not simply believing that Jesus existed. It is a progression not just a single step. On the other hand the one who takes the first step has been given life.
Joh 11:22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
Martha had just told Jesus that her brother would not have died if he had been there.
Joh 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Joh 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Jesus said her brother would rise and Martha responded that she knew he would be resurrected at the last day (judgement day).
Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Jesus responds that we are dead, spiritually, and if one will believe he will live. He did not say here that he would live forever, just that he would live.
Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Now Jesus says that one who is alive and believeth in me shall live forever. Then he said 'Do you believe this?'
Joh 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
At this moment Martha became alive because she believed Jesus was the Son of God.
Step # 1 - We must believe that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh in order to become alive.
Step #2 - Once we are alive and believe, then we have eternal life.
How do we do that?
Step #3 - Make it a point to learn about Jesus so that we may be obedient. (This will be a work of faith, because we will not be given a reason we are to do it, only that the scripture says so) (It is not a work of the Law)
a. Repent (turn away from) of your sins so that they may be forgiven before we face
judgement day.
b. Be baptized for the remission (forgiveness) of those sins.
1Ti 5:24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they
follow after.
We must be cleansed of our past sins.
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the
second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell
whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
c. Receive the gift of God, which is eternal life. This part is a promise from God.
d. Being born again of the water and the Spirit (God) can be compared to our natural birth.
Which is we didn't start walking immediately, we crawled first. We didn't have enough
knowledge to know how to talk, so we had to learn first. We can expect to be a little wild in
our toddler stage, as we learn what we can do and what we can't. We go through the
rebellious stage when we question authority. Finally we reach adult stage and now we can
really learn about our Savior and his love for us.
At this point there is too much to teach in this thread. We must study God's word, as He puts the desire in our hearts to do so.
This is a subject matter for those who want to please God and has been presented based on scripture.
c.
The bible teaches us that we must believe on Jesus to have eternal life. This is not simply believing that Jesus existed. It is a progression not just a single step. On the other hand the one who takes the first step has been given life.
Joh 11:22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
Martha had just told Jesus that her brother would not have died if he had been there.
Joh 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Joh 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Jesus said her brother would rise and Martha responded that she knew he would be resurrected at the last day (judgement day).
Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Jesus responds that we are dead, spiritually, and if one will believe he will live. He did not say here that he would live forever, just that he would live.
Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Now Jesus says that one who is alive and believeth in me shall live forever. Then he said 'Do you believe this?'
Joh 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
At this moment Martha became alive because she believed Jesus was the Son of God.
Step # 1 - We must believe that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh in order to become alive.
Step #2 - Once we are alive and believe, then we have eternal life.
How do we do that?
Step #3 - Make it a point to learn about Jesus so that we may be obedient. (This will be a work of faith, because we will not be given a reason we are to do it, only that the scripture says so) (It is not a work of the Law)
a. Repent (turn away from) of your sins so that they may be forgiven before we face
judgement day.
b. Be baptized for the remission (forgiveness) of those sins.
1Ti 5:24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they
follow after.
We must be cleansed of our past sins.
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the
second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell
whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
c. Receive the gift of God, which is eternal life. This part is a promise from God.
d. Being born again of the water and the Spirit (God) can be compared to our natural birth.
Which is we didn't start walking immediately, we crawled first. We didn't have enough
knowledge to know how to talk, so we had to learn first. We can expect to be a little wild in
our toddler stage, as we learn what we can do and what we can't. We go through the
rebellious stage when we question authority. Finally we reach adult stage and now we can
really learn about our Savior and his love for us.
At this point there is too much to teach in this thread. We must study God's word, as He puts the desire in our hearts to do so.
This is a subject matter for those who want to please God and has been presented based on scripture.
c.
