Hell

I have just finished a study of Hell – both Hades and Gehenna. You may request a copy of my findings.

The conclusion is so important.

Hades is that place after death for unbelievers – a place described by Jesus Christ as being a place of ‘torments’

Gehenna is that place after final judgement, where fire and brimstone implement the punishment deserved, along with outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth.

What the Lord identified as being the key to avoiding such horrors, is so important:

To know HIM or rather to be known of Him.

            “My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me..

            I give unto them eternal life and they will never perish..” John 10

To not know HIM

He will say  “ I tell you, I do not know  where you have come from. Depart from Me all you workers of evil”    Luke 13:27

And so it was that the Lord from heaven called people, and still calls, to Repent and believe the Gospel, so that they might be saved from eternal punishment and be saved to enjoy His company in heaven. Such was the seriousness of the situation, that He Himself died to rescue humanity from eternal misery.

JRM

The Bible as a light in the way

The Bible is a book. It has many words. It indeed is special, however we do not worship the book.

God’s word is like a light, shining in a dark world. It shows up ourselves as needing to be restored to friendship with God. It also shows the way for that connection to be made.  God is revealed in the life and words of Jesus Christ the Lord.

Jesus Christ  came into to the world and died on the cross to reconcile us back to God. He paid the debt of our sin to gain our forgiveness. Now that He is risen from the dead  and alive in heaven, He wants to be your Lord and your Saviour.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today and you will be saved from condemnation. You will be accepted by God now and forever.

All this can be clarified by reading the section of the Bible called Romans along with John and many other places.

Heaven?

Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ

Don’t store up treasures here on earth where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal.

Store your treasures in heaven where they will never become moth eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves.

Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will be.

Matthew 6 NLT

Listen to the Apostle Paul

Set your sights on things above, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honour and power.

Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things done here on earth. For you died when Christ died and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory!

Colossian 3NLT

When I don't understand

Freedom with liberty

For those who read the Bible verses from Ephesians, I hope that you noticed the repeated encouragement to choose good. The potential for wrong was evident. The opportunity to choose right was encouraged – this is freedom.

In another place , the Christians were tempted to adopt Moses law as their rule of life. But Paul the apostle warned them:

“So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

The law is good, but the adoption of it to please the Lord is a bondage no one has been able to bear. Even to the privileged Jews it was written:

“But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the Law. God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children.  God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts and now you can call God your dear Father.”

Galatians 4.4

This is true freedom with the power to choose good.

This is real freedom to enjoy God.

This is why the Lord Jesus Christ encouraged people to look up and pray:

“Our Father in heaven, honoured be your Name.”

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Freedom flourishing

Freedom functioning fully

"Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbours the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”^[d] Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God."

Bible  -  Ephesians 4

JRM

Freedom in a person

Obtaining freedom

I turn away from the disappointing promises of freedom offered by religion, democracy, socialism etc. Rather I am listening to the quiet voice that has echoed through the last two thousand years:

“The truth will set you free”

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

It is popular to think of all religious prophets intending good and freedom for people. There is some truth is this, but one could study the history of such to see how it has so often failed. Yes I am promoting someone who initiated a new religion. His background was the law of Moses and prophets that followed. But that in itself did not achieve fruitful freedom.

Freedom is in a person.

Two questions must be answered.

1          What is truth?

2          Who is the Son?

The dictionary describes truth as “factual reality”. The word is often used for not being a lie. What then is reality? Many philosophers have pondered this question. One concluded ‘I think therefore I am’ . Well it was the humble teacher from Nazareth who identified reality:

‘to be connected with a transcendent being’ (Transcendent- meaning above all)

Then He made the great claim, not only to be from above, but also to be ‘the way, the truth and the life’.

My summary of truth:

To understand our reality physically and spiritually ,

To understand God as greater, yet interacting with His created beings.

That opens the door to much research, much science, much spiritual enquiry!

Second Question – Who is the Son?

(remembering his claim “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”)

Please note the word used is ‘son’, not child. ‘Child’ implies parenthood, a beginning. ‘Son’ means representation, relationship. This is the very great claim by the angel Gabriel – the babe to be born of Mary would  be the ‘son of the Highest’ (Luke 1)  Jesus affirmed this claim as He stood before the Jewish court and was asked “are you the son of God” – He answered “I am”  Mark 14

It is in Him that true freedom is found. Believing in Him, following Him, listening to Him, knowing Him.................here is true freedom.

Freedom from....................................

 Freedom to ..............................................

The Lord Jesus spoke to the religious Jews and identified their religious bondage as coming from the Devil. Many political  systems and religions promise freedom, but most end up being hijacked by the love power, greed for gain, religious bigotry.

The happy outcome of freedom in Jesus Christ as Lord includes the following:

Freedom to know God in heaven as ‘Father’

Freedom to worship God without fear.

Freedom to depend upon the living God

Freedom to speak for Him

Freedom to connect with others of all nations

Freedom from the fear of man

Freedom to love as God loves

Perhaps I need to take this out of religious terminology and see it in real life!

A follower of The Lord Jesus Christ will be enabled by His Spirit to:-

..be motivated by love in all actions

...be joyful in all situations, trusting God who is greater than all.

....be at peace in mind and heart knowing God is working together for good.

.....freedom to be generous to all sorts of people

......freedom to connect with people of varying thoughts and ambitions.

.......freedom to live and serve after the example of Jesus Christ

.........freedom in marriage, in work

..........freedom to respect and honour others irrespective of nationality, religion, caste,  status or wealth.

.............freedom to be poor or to be rich

In conclusion, I seek to show you that freedom is in a person, not politics or religion or wealth or fame. To know HIM, Jesus Christ the Lord is freedom.

JRM