Life and Death - 260103

Hello, I'm Clive Nash, welcome to Let God Speak.

The longer I live, the more I am impressed with the brevity of life.

While this could make one pessimistic, for many Christians it only emphasises a message

of hope of the future eternal life.

Here at 3ABN we are in the business of sharing the good news of salvation through faith in

Jesus Christ.

With that thought in mind, I refer to something that the writer of the Bible letter Hebrew

said, and that statement, through his death Jesus destroyed the devil who had the power

of death.

Today we plan to talk about living for Jesus Christ.

We'll touch on witnessing for him, regardless of the consequences.

In a moment our panel will dig into the topic for today, life and death.

Well, on our panel today we have Gail Fong and John Cosmer, good to have you with us today.

I'm looking forward to our discussion.

We've had some good discussions in the past and I'm sure today will be no exception.

But before we begin, let's take time to pray.

Our wonderful God, we thank you that Jesus has the power of life.

We thank you that he is our Savior.

And we pray that as we study this topic today of life and death, that your Holy Spirit will

guide not only our minds here on the panel, but also all of those who will be listening

or watching.

And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Amen.

Gail, in Philippians chapter 1 and verse 16, Paul refers to my chains.

Do you think he was discouraged by being imprisoned?

Well, I just read a little further in chapter 1 of Philippians chapter 1 verse 19.

He says, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and

the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

So this is not the first time that Paul had suffered for the gospel.

And if we just go to 2 Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 23 to 27, we read there about

his suffering and he says, are they ministers of Christ?

I speak as a fool, so this is Paul speaking.

I am more in labors more abundant in stripes above measure in prisons more frequently in

deaths often.

From the Jew five times I receive 40 stripes minus one, three times I was beaten with rods.

Once I was stoned three times I was shipwrecked a night and a day I have been in the deep.

In journeys often in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen,

in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils

in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often,

in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

So we see here that he really suffered, but he was ever hopeful and just turning back

to Philippians chapter 1 and verse 20.

According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but

with all boldnesses always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body whether by life

or by death.

So regardless of whether he lived or died, Paul only wanted Christ to be magnified and

his primary concern was really for all the churches.

It's interesting because he was persecuted, but he used to be a persecutor, he wasn't

a John, and as he went in his missionary journeys establishing Christian congregations, how did

he feel about the churches that he set up?

What was the relationship like in his mind?

Your possible was an individual who was a pastor and he also was an evangelist, but what

was in his heart is expressed here in 1 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 14.

I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you and deep

down in his heart.

He was the father of his church members, and when you go to verse 15, for though you

might have 10,000 instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers for in Christ

Jesus, I have forgotten you through the gospel.

And so to him, the Corinthians, he was the father figure and he treated them as his children.

And interestingly enough, he did exactly the same for the people in Thessalonica, to

Thessalonians, which is a real tongue twister.

He in chapter 2 and verse 11 and 12 says, for as you know how we exhorted and comforted

and charged every one of you as the father does his own children, that you would walk

worthy of God who called you into your own kingdom and glory.

And so Paul was very much a father figure to the converts that were made at that time.

Okay.

Yes, like a spiritual father.

Now I know I've used that same term myself with people that I've led to Christ.

In, I'm going to have a look at 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 15, at least the first

part of that verse, anyway, a second Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 15, it said, I will very

gladly spend and be spent for your souls.

So, and now it's really good, he was reflecting the attitude of Jesus here, wasn't he?

He's up to leave, so just reading following on from that second Corinthians chapter 8 and

verse 9, the Bible says, for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though

he was rich yet for your sakes, he became poor, that you through his poverty might become

rich.

So, the privations and sufferings of Paul, they really can't be compared with the life

and death of Jesus, because Jesus was the king of glory and still is, and he is adored

by countless angels, and he lived among us, he suffered at the hands of those whom he

created, and yet he gave his all, so that we may have the gift of eternal life.

And as Paul puts it, at the very end of that verse, through his poverty might become

rich.

John, one would have thought that by being a Christian, everyone would like you, you

are leading a good life, but it wasn't the case for Paul, and is it the case for Christians

today?

In some cases, yes, a good example of that is Mother Teresa, where she was respected by

all those that have heard about what she was doing.

However, it is also true that not everybody agrees with you as a Christian, and so Paul

warned Timothy, who was a young minister to the churches of his day, and here in 2nd

Timothy chapter 3, and verse 12, Paul says to him, yes, and all who desire to live godly

in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

And so, if there are people who don't like what you're saying, and you're a good example

to them, they are the ones who will persecute you, because they don't like the fact that

they have been told there is another way to live.

And so, the young man Timothy, he was here too being treated by Paul as one of his children.

And so he led not only church members, but he also led other pastors who were younger

and of less experienced than what he had, and one commentator writing on this verse.

She said, why is it then that persecution seems in a great degree to slumber?

The only reason is that the church has conformed to the world's standard, and therefore awakens

no opposition.

Now, not even somebody who's the believer suffer, but a consistent Christian life can

be a rebuke to non-Christians, and how true that is.

I'm looking at 2nd Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 3, and Paul says here, for though

we walk in the flesh, now this phrase walking in the flesh goes, what would Paul mean by

that?

You don't need thoughts on that?

It's like ordinary human life.

We, without the spirit, we are in a spiritual battle, though, and not a physical war.

And just reading there in 2nd Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 4 to 6, and the Bible reads,

for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strong

holes, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge

of God, bringing every thought into the captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready

to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

So we see a little earlier in this chapter that 2 of the Christian weapons that are mentioned

in 2nd Corinthians chapter 10, 1, now I pull myself and pleading with you by the meekness

and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent and bold

towards you.

So we see that the meekness and the gentleness of Christ is what would be seen in his believers,

and Satan is a master at using spiritual weapons against Christians, and probably all think

of many, but they can include the lure of materialism or the tearing that we tear, one another

down by criticism, or being betrayed by those we might have thought that we could trust.

So the devil has lots of weapons to discourage us in his armoury, but the positive side of

this is what Paul says, that we have weapons to pull down the strong holes of evil, and

we shouldn't boast about Satan's power, but unduly because he's conquered, and Jesus

is all powerful, so Jesus has won the victory, praise the Lord, and the devil is defeated,

so our weapons are the fruit of the spirit, and God's word, the Bible.

John, many of our viewers will be familiar with the imagery and innovations, we talked

about the whole armour of God, and what about some of these weapons mentioned there, they

are some for going on the attacks and some for defending, what do you think, yeah?

Well that is true, and some are both, and the armour that God wants the Christian to be in

is truth, it has to be true. Righteousness, we have the gospel of peace, we have faith,

we have salvation, and the sort of the spirit, now that is very much attack.

And so we can share the Bible with interested people, but it's the Holy Spirit who has

to do the work in their hearts, just as he has done in our own hearts, and so it becomes

the armour of God.

Now Gal, there's a very succinct statement that Paul makes to the church at Philippi.

Philippians chapter 1 and verse 21, for me to live is Christ, and to die is gained, what

do you mean to vote, living is Christ, what to live is Christ, what do you say?

Yeah, that was his new life, wasn't it?

So Paul no doubt meant living the Christ-like life, loving to share the gospel of Jesus Christ

as a Messiah and as a Savior and our Redeemer and coming King, and in 1 Corinthians chapter

2 and verse 2 says, for I determine, this is Paul, not to know anything among you, except

Jesus Christ and him crucified, so, spending a little quote there from Andrew's study

Bible, it says, the cross of Jesus is the central message of the Christian faith, and

to Paul's and the believers very being.

Having met Jesus face to face on the Damascus road, Paul, he was changed forever, he was

never the same again, and he's in personal encounter with the Savior and the world.

We know it transformed his focus, and he went from being a persecutor to a preacher of

righteousness, and he just wanted to magnify Christ.

Yeah, and I'm sure many of our viewers and listeners could testify to the transforming

power of Christ in their own lives, how they've gone from one extreme to the other from

being desperately wicked, to having completely transformed lives.

And I've seen this in people's lives that I've been in touch with.

In the second part of that verse in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 21, he says, and to die is

gained. John, did Paul want to die for Christ?

My guess is that as a man, he didn't want to die, but as a Christian, he could foresee

what was happening, and the people would eventually put him to death.

And of course, that was done in round about 8e67.

And here, the late Blanco's clear word paraphrase says, if I am released, it will be to the

glory of Christ.

If I receive the dead sentence, it also will be to the glory of Christ and even more so.

And the word martyr comes from a basic translation of witness.

So he would regard his death and the way in which he died as a witness for Christ.

So when Paul said to die is to gain, did he see, this is a tricky one, Dave Gale, did

he see that this was an immediate passport to paradise to die as gain?

Well, let's see what he said again.

And we'll just go to the scriptures to Philippians chapter 1 and verse 23.

And the Bible reads, for I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and

be with Christ, which is far better.

So many have interpreted to depart or break camp as one translator puts it as having a

soul that goes to heaven to be with Christ, but just sharing a quote from the word biblical

commentary on this, on this verse.

And it notes, now the reason for his, that's Paul's longing to depart, did not lie in

the desire for immortality, such as the ancient Greeks had, Paul did not yearn simply for

a state in which his soul would live on.

The idea of a disembodied soul was actually intolerable to him.

So Paul referred, as Jesus did to death, actually as a sleep.

And just reading in the book of John, maybe familiar with this verse in John 11 and verse

11, and the Bible reads, these things he said, after that he said to them, our friend Lazarus

sleeps, but I go that I may awake him out of sleep, that I may wake him up.

So imagine what it would have been like for Lazarus to be called back to this sinful

world, if he had already ascended into paradise for days before, it doesn't matter.

You can imagine saying, hey, why don't you read me back to this awful world, I was having

a wonderful time, but in fact, he was sleeping in the grave, as Jesus said there.

Now did Paul consistently project this idea of death as a sleep John?

This is the subject that I love and Paul is a very strong on it, and here he says in

first Corinthians chapter 15, and it explains exactly the answer to your question.

This Corinthians chapter 15, starting with verse 51, behold, I tell you a mystery, and

I'm reading from the New King James version here, behold, I tell you a mystery, we shall

not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the

last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and

we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must

put on immortality. And so Paul was very clear on this, that beyond his persecution would

come the resurrection. And he says the same, very similar to the Thessalonians, we've talked

about both of those churches again today and here in chapter 4 of 1st Thessalonians chapter

4, verse 13 to 18, but I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who

are fallen asleep. Notice here he talks about death as a sleep, yes. Lest you sorrow as others

who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring

with him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord that we who

are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede or go before those

who are asleep. And as a result, verse 16, for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with

the shout, with the voice of an archangel, the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise

first. And we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to

meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall always be with the Lord. And he talks about death as a sleep

from which Jesus will raise us. And then of course give us the eternal life at his second hour.

Yeah, he was quite consistent and that wasn't he? Very. And go that was pull at peace with the

idea of dying or, you know, would he rather live for the sake of his churches?

Well, Paul gives us a thought on that in that sentence in Philippians chapter 1 and verse 24.

It's written with the Bible reads, never the less to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

So just as long as Jesus had a work for Paul to do, he was very happy to live and do that work.

And by doing that, such as the church at Philippi, as well as all the churches that they would

benefit from his sphere of influence, from Paul's influence and ministry. And this is our whole

here. Thanks, John. John Paul moves on in this chapter of one of Philippians to another concept.

And that is of unity. And can you comment on that too?

Yes. In Philippians chapter 1 and verse 27,

only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ so that whether I come and see you

or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit with one mind

striving together for the gospel, for the face of the gospel. And this is where Paul was very

approach appreciative of unity within the church. And of course that is what Christ had prayed for

in John chapter 17. So that's why you see one spirit, one mind, and he uses the word together.

And Paul wrote of being of conduct worthy of the gospel. Have you got any idea what that would look

like? Well, we probably have to go to the Bible. And we're one of the greatest examples there is

in Matthew chapter 5 where the sermon on the mouth be attitudes. And we've got there where

practice is such as being weak, hungering for righteousness, having purity of heart,

being peacemakers, bearing with persecution. And Jesus also expounded on the commandments because

it's not just outwardly, it's inwardly as well. And so it shows it is the attitude of the heart

that matters to God. And so he expounded on such things as anger. If you're angry with someone in

your heart, it's like you've murdered them or adultery. If you lust after a person, then it's as

if you have committed the act as well. So conduct worthy of the gospel involves complete transformation

of our hearts, which can only happen with surrendering our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. So the outward

acts will reflect inward, the inward qualities of the Christian. And we see that so conduct worthy

of the gospel will change our hearts. And yes, we want to change tart. We need it. And only Christ

can give it. Now this subject of unity, John, does this unity bring discredit to to Jesus?

Absolutely. In a book called Steps to Christ, there's a very beautiful comment here.

If the love of God is in the heart, it will be manifested in the life. The sweet saver of Christ

will surround us and our influence will elevate and bless. And so here the love of Christ in our

hearts will unite people. And they'll become a real blessing to those that are around them.

It's interesting that at Listeria, Paul was stoned and left for dead. But Paul and Barnumus went on

to encourage them, believe it is, they said, we must, through many tribulations, enter the kingdom of

God. This experience was obviously on Paul's mind when he wrote to Timothy. Wasn't it John?

Very much so because in 2 Timothy chapter 3, verse 10 and 11, it says, but you have carefully

followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, long love, perseverance,

persecutions, afflictions, and so he reminds Timothy that this persecution for the gospel

can happen. And of course, in the Old Testament, we have Job. And if there's any man who knew about

suffering, it was Job. And it's interesting. Underserved suffering, wasn't it?

Very much so. And in the Hebrew, Job is the first book.

In the Hebrew scriptures. In the Hebrew scriptures. And here God knows that dealing with persecution

is something that we need an answer to. Yeah, I love appreciate it our discussion today, John and

Gail. I guess today we're Gail Fong and John Cosmire and my name is Clive Nash. You know,

you and I may not be called upon to die for our faith, but suffering comes in various forms,

perhaps it's being ostracized by our families. And some of our viewers or listeners would have

experienced that themselves, I'm sure. And maybe it's being just something like being a bit

little. Whatever the case may be, God will give us strength for every test. You know, when I was in

Prague in the Czech Republic, I saw a painting in a church there that made a real impact on me.

It was portraying Peter being crucified upside down. And he was, you know, I've never seen

that in any other church being that painting there. Like that's the depiction. And he didn't want

to be crucified the same way as his Lord. He thought that that would be too much of an honor for

him to be crucified in the same way as Jesus. The example of heroes of faith from the past still

speak to us today. Let us be united in serving Jesus Christ no matter what the cost may be.

Well, we're glad you joined us today on Lead Cards Peak. If you're blessed by this program,

why not tell your friends? Remember all powers programs plus teachers know it's available on our

website, 3abinestrayer.org.au or you can email us and the addresses on the screen. God bless,

until next time.

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