The Grapevine
Number 152                                                                   
September 28, 2007
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15
A Logical Conclusion
by Jack Northart

One of the great criticisms of the Bible is that it instructs believers to follow its instruction by faith. In other words, just blindly accept what it says by reading it and forsake all logic and common sense. This is not true. The Word of God is clear, concise and logical, and anyone with common sense, regardless of intelligence or background, can see the beauty of its exactness and precision. It has the answers to life’s big questions.

II Peter 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

This is a very insightful verse of scripture. The vastness of the knowledge of life is beyond comprehension. Yet, God states in this verse that He has given it to us through the knowledge of His Word. Wow! Drop everything everybody, and let’s take a look at it! But first, we must lay aside our preconceptions and religious beliefs and examine it at its face value.

Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

This is God’s invitation to eternal life and wholeness. There are no pre-qualifications. It is plain and simple instruction. It doesn’t matter if your background is Hindu, Buddhist, Roman Catholic, Muslim, Jewish or anything else; if YOU do what this verse states, it promises that you will be made whole and receive eternal life. Do you HAVE to do what this verse says? No you don’t. Every human being has the freedom of will to choose what they want to believe or not believe. Why wouldn’t anyone want to accept what this verse has to offer? Because they still have a preconceived idea about it, or it doesn’t fit into their little box of beliefs. Logically though, if I want to know the truth about eternal life, I have to start somewhere and this verse makes so much sense. So, what’s the catch? There is no catch.

Verse 11-13
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

There is no charter to be signed; no membership card to carry; no dues or fees to pay, and no denominational head to report to. You don’t have to memorize a creed, or recite a mission statement. There is no special anointing that has to take place before a studio audience. No one has to hear you say anything or hear you confess anything. It is between you and God. It is a plain and simple thing to do. 

You may ask, “So, what happens after I confess Jesus as lord and believe that God raised him from the dead?” It states in these verses that you will be saved. Saved from what?

Romans 5:9
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

We’re saved from the wrath to come, part of which is outlined in the book of Revelation, and other books in the Old Testament.

God performed a perfect and completed work in Jesus Christ. Our salvation is not just about eternity, but is full of benefits in this life. It is now up to us to read the “owner’s manual” and see what all of the special options and features of this new life are all about.

If we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, how will our life conclude?

I Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then 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 shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Verse 13 states that we are to not be ignorant concerning them which are asleep. Here it is referring to believers that have died. Those who have died have fallen asleep, as stated in verse 16, “the dead in Christ shall rise first.”  God has described this so beautifully. Consider this; there is no consciousness in sleep, or a sense of time. If a believer has been dead 50 years or 500 years, it will not matter because the time of their life has stopped, and everyone that has fallen asleep in Christ will wake up at the same time. God describes this further in I Corinthians.

I Corinthians 15:51-52
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment [Greek: atomos], in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The Greek word for “moment,” is the Greek word, atomos.  From this, we get our English word, “atom.” It is the smallest form that can be measured. In the sense of time, when a believer takes his last breath, until Christ’s return, is immeasurable. If has been a thousand years, or two years, it will seem immediate him. This is why God exhorts us not to sorrow, because when a believer falls asleep, his next conscious thought will be Christ’s return.

Verse 53-54
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

The “mortal” are those who are still alive when Christ returns, and the “corruptible” are those who have died before his return. We will all have new bodies that will be unlimited in scope and activity like Jesus Christ’s body was after his resurrection.

Philippians 3:21
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

The knowledge of life and godliness that we have just read has innumerable benefits for anyone who wants it. The logical conclusion is to accept it and enjoy it, and see what else is available for those who believe.

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