Luke 24:1-53The Resurrection, Appearance and

Ascension

March 27, 2016First Baptist ChurchJackson, Mississippi

USA

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What’s the number one thing?

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The Glory of God!

1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

March Memory Verse

Isaiah 6:8 ESV8 And I heard the voice of the Lord

saying, “Whom, shall I send, and who

will go before Us?” Then I said, “Here I

am! Send me.”

Three ways to schedule your appointment:1. Online - Click "Schedule a Portrait Session".2. Meet with a scheduler in Fellowship Hall East on

Sundays in April (8:30–9:00 am; 10:00–10:30 am; 11:30–noon.

3. Call the Church Office at 601-949-1969, Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–5:00 pm.

• You will be asked to leave a message, and someone will return your call to schedule your appointment day and time.

Contact: L. Lavon Gray at lgray@fbcj.org Presented by the FBCJ Orchestra.The pricing is $20 for tickets bought at the church; $20 + $1/per ticket convenience fee if purchased online. Seating is general admission.

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Sunday

Acts 4:1-13Courageous

April 3, 2016First Baptist ChurchJackson, Mississippi

USA

What is the only man-made thing in Heaven (now and forever)?

Luke 24:39-40 NIV39 “Look at My hands and My feet. It is I myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

40 When he had said this, he showed them His hands and feet.

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Isaiah 49:16a NASB16 “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;”

Psalm 40:5 ESV5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God,

your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;none can compare with you!

I will proclaim and tell of them,yet they are more than can be told.

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Luke 23Jesus is tried, crucified and buried.

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Luke 23:52 ESV52 This man (Joseph of Arimathea) went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

Luke 23:55-56 ESV55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

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TodayLuke 24:1-12

Luke 24:1-12 ESVThe Resurrection1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?

6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered His words,

9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,

11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Luke 24:1-12 ESV

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Jon CoursonSan Diego, California

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Luke 24:1 ESV1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.

The last ones at the Cross are now the first ones at the tomb. • When Joseph of Arimathea placed the body

of Jesus in his tomb, there would not have been time for a complete embalming because Passover would begin at sunset.

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Consequently, these women were now coming to complete the task. • All of the Gospel writers tell us that they

came early—always a good time to come to the Lord.

"They that seek Me early shall find Me," the Lord declares (Proverbs 8:17).

Truly, those who seek the Lord early—early in life, early in a situation, early every day—will uniquely find Him.

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After a grandfather lost his treasured watchduring a family gathering, he called his grandchildren together and told them he'd pay $25 to the one who found it.

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This sent the kids on a mad scramble—running and screaming and turning over every rock.

But the four-year-old grandson just sat and watched his brothers and cousins all come back empty-handed.

The next morning at breakfast he handed his grandfather the watch.

"How did you find it?" asked the puzzled old man.

"I just got up real early and listened for the ticking," replied his clever grandson.

There is so much noise and commotion going on all around us that sometimes it's hard to hear the Lord in the middle of the day.

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The time to hear Him is early in the morning—just as these women did.

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Luke 24:2-4 ESV2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.

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Because the other Gospel writers tell us these men were angels, Luke's account implies that angels actually appear to men as men.

These women saw two men, yes, they were shining—but they appeared as mennonetheless.

Therefore, when we get to Heaven, we will be amazed by how much contact we had with angelic beings without even realizing it.

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"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers," the writer of Hebrews reminds us, "for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (Hebrews 13:2).

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Luke 24:5 ESV5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?

People still seek Jesus among the dead.

“He was a great Example,” they say, “a powerful Role Model, the Master Teacher.”

“Study His life and see what He had to say about that matter” - they say.

They study Him philosophically but they treat Him as though He's dead and we as believers can fall into that error as well.

As we gather together to worship Him today, Jesus is here, He truly is!

We're not talking about the thoughts of Jesus or the teachings of Jesus or the memory of Jesus.

He said: "Whenever two or three are gathered in My Name, I will be in the midst of them,"(Matthew 18:20).

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When we begin to grasp this, the way we worship, study, and pray is affected.

Luke 24:6-8 ESV6 “He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered His words.

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The fact that the angels said, "Don't you remember how Jesus told you He would be crucified and rise again the third day?" indicates that the angels were listening when Jesus said these words to His disciples.

Peter tells us that the angels long to look into the things taught and spoken of concerning Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:12).

Why?

Because they are not saved like we are - they're not sinners, rescued by the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore, the way they understand that their King and Master is a God of incredible mercyand incalculable love is by watching you and me.

"Wow, how could our God love her? How could our God be so patient with a guy like that?" they say.

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And it makes them worship Him all the more.

Luke 24:9-10 ESV9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,

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Augustine was right when he called Mary Magdalene "the apostles' apostle" since she, indeed, was the first one to share the Gospelwith the disciples.

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Luke 24:11 ESV 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

Although these women were speaking the absolute truth, because it seemed impossible to believe, the disciples dismissed their report as idle tales—or, literally, "babbling that comes from a fevered and insane mind."

As a result, they spent longer in the darkness of despair than was necessary.

Wise is the man who takes serious the "babblings" of the lady in his life—for therein often lies great truth that will shine light in his darkness.

Luke 24:12 ESV12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

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After initially thinking the women had lost their minds, John 20:3 tells us Peter and John ran to the tomb to check out their story.

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Peter had sinned incredibly against Christ—yet John keeps his arm around Peter and stays close to him.

That's the kind of Biblical Christianity we need today—people who will say even to the one who has erred greatly, "I'm still with you. I'm not going to walk away from you or turn my back on you."

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How the church needs more Johns!

Notice the word "clothes" is plural. The implication from the Greek text is that there was more than just one piece of cloth used to encase the body of Christ.

This makes us suspect the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin.

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We doubt its authenticity not simply on the basis of this text, but also due to the way the Lord works.

Although the brass serpent Moses had been instructed to make was to be an illustration of Jesus on the Cross, the people had begun to worship the serpent itself.

When revival came to Israel during the reign of Hezekiah, it is no wonder he broke the brass serpent into pieces, calling it "Nehushtan," or "thing of brass" (2 Kings 18:4).

Because man has a craving for something tangible and touchable, his tendency is to worship and idolize relics; but because the Father's purpose is to move us into the realm of the spiritual and eternal, He wants us to walk by faith not by sight.

Luke 24:13-15 ESVOn the Road to Emmaus

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.

As these two travelers are talking about Jesus, guess Who shows up right in their midst? The risen Lord!

Don't you love talking with brothers and sistersabout the Lord?

Something more than just an intellectualexchange transpires.

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These two didn't have answers, they were just talking about Jesus —and He joined them.

Luke 24:16-19a ESV16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.

18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, “Are you the only visitor to who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19a And He said to them, “What things?”

Luke 24:16-19a ESV

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Did Jesus not know?

Of course He knew!

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Sometimes we think, “The Lord already knows what's going on. Why pray?”

But every parent knows the answer.

When your child has something to share with you, even though you already know the story or the facts, you love to hear it from him.

So, too, Jesus would say to you today, "Talk to Me—about that trouble at work, about that feeling in your heart.

I already know all about it, but I want to hear it from you."

In talking over the events that had transpired in Jerusalem, the two on the road to Emmaus will find themselves convicted by their own words.

As they start talking to the Lord, they will inadvertently give all sorts of reasons for why they shouldn't have been sad, shouldn't have been weak in faith.

This is the beauty of prayer.

Read the Psalms, and you'll find the psalmist often pouring out complaints to the Lord.

But by the time the Psalmist works through it, about ten verses later—he ends by giving praiseto the Lord.

When I talk things over with the Lord and recount the situation to Him, suddenly I begin to see I'm wrong.

Here I thought I had this case or this reason to be upset; yet as I begin to recount the tale to the Lord, my own words convict me.

Luke 24:19b-26 ESV19b And said to Him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man Who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.

21 But we had hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find His body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive.

24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see.” 25 And He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?”

Luke 24:19b-26 ESV

"Don't you see it, guys? The apostles went to the tomb and it was empty. The women had a message from the angels. All of these things are happening. You should be excited and full of expectation. Instead, you're sad, depressed, and slow of heart. The word from the angel, the witness of the apostle, the emptiness of the tomb should stimulate in youhope and interest. Instead, you're just trudging to Emmaus, sharing your sadness."

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No wonder Jesus lovingly but pointedly called them fools.

Luke 24:27 ESV27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

As you teach the Bible to others, your job is to look for Jesus in every part of the Word.

Focus on Him, look for Him, speak of Him every time you teach.

Do you think Jesus was carrying scrolls of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms under His arm?

Of course not!

He was quoting Scripture from memory and from His heart.

Sometimes you might think, I don't need to study the Word because I've already studied it, I already know it.

Do you?

Can you walk along the road and discuss Genesis 37-50, Ezekiel 44, Luke 21-24, Romans 5-8?

Until you're at that place, you need to be where the Bible is taught (hearing) consistently and be reading, studying, memorizing and meditatingon God’s Word.

Luke 24:28 ESV28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if He were going farther,

Always the perfect Gentleman, Jesus does not impose Himself, but would have kept going.

Jesus will never burst in to your situation.

He'll walk with you, but won't force Himself on you.

He'll stay with you as long as you want Him to, He'll go with you as far as you want Him to—but He won't break in and make you listen to Him, learn of Him, or be with Him.

Luke 24:29-32 ESV29 but they urged Him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So He went in to stay with them.

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30 When He was at table with them, He took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.

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31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And He vanished from their sight.

32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts (heart) burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?”

Luke 24:29-32 ESV

The travelers were won by the Word.

No longer slow of heart, they are on fire in their hearts simply through hearing the Scripture.

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of hearing and studying and meditating on the Scriptures.

Not only were the travelers won by the Word of God, but they were one.

"Did not our heart burn within us?" they exclaimed.

So, too, we have one heart because we're in the Word together, listening to the Lord together.

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Being with the Lord together, we are one.

Luke 24:33-34 ESV33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

In 1 Corinthians 15:5, Paul mentions the fact that before the Lord appeared to the others, He appeared first to Peter.

Where, when, and how we don't know.

It was a personal meeting, a private meeting in

which Jesus had a special session with Peter to affirm His love.

If you feel like you've blown it completely, the Lord will seek you out first and foremost and meet you uniquely.

That's not a sentimental thought.

That's a fact based upon the ministry of the Resurrected Lord.

Luke 24:35-40 ESV35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus Himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”

37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See My handsand My feet, that it is I Myself. Touch Me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

Luke 24:35-40 ESV

The only thing man-made in Heaven are the nail prints in the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.

Why do they remain?

Two reasons....

First, to identify Himself.

It was the nail prints that showed an unbelieving Thomas not only the reality of His Resurrection, but the depth of His love.

Second, to identify with us.

Life is painful.

Hurts, pains, and problems abound.

So often, we find ourselves tempted to think we can't stand it any longer or handle it anymore.

But then we hear Jesus say, "When you think you can't handle it, look at My hands and be reminded that I know the pain you're feeling, the pressure you're facing. When you think you can't stand anymore, look at My feet and be reminded that I understand."

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This is the point the writer of Hebrews makes when he writes, “For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help thosewho are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18 ESV)

If Jesus loves me enough to die in my place and bear nail prints for eternity, why am I going through what I'm going through right now? You might be wondering. If I'm really in His hand, if I'm really on His heart, why is my businesscollapsing or my body falling apart? Why aren't things working out the way I thought they would at this point in my life? If He really loves me, why am I being scarred?

Again, two reasons....

First, that we might identify with Him.

Paul said, "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..." and Christians say, "Amen! I want to know You, Lord, and the power of Your resurrection." But then Paul went on to add, "...and the fellowship of His suffering." (See Philippians 3:10)

A unique intimacy is the result of suffering with someone.

The people with whom you are closest are not those with whom you laugh, but those with whom you cry.

Therefore, the Father says, "If you want to really know Me, it requires the fellowship of suffering."

Second, we suffer not only that we might identify with Him, but in order to identify with others.

The teaching of present-day American Christianity that says that God wants His children to be healthy and wealthy, that those who walk in faith should never have problemsflies in the face of the early church and the teachings of the apostles.

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It flies in the face of the martyrs on every continent of every age who knew nothing of such a so-called prosperity gospel.

Shipwrecked on the island of Malta, Paul gathered sticks to build a fire to warm the drenched soldiers and prisoners.

When a poisonous snake fastened itself to Paul's hand, the villagers thought Paul must have been a murderer to deserve such a fate.

So they watched him and waited for him to swell up and die.

But Scripture records that, although he was smitten by the same serpent that had killed others on the island, Paul shook it off. And then they thought he was a god (Acts 28).

When will people listen to what you have to say about Christ Jesus?

When, although you've been smitten by the same serpents that smite them, you shake it off and go on.

When your business goes bankrupt, when your health fails, when problems mount, unbelievers expect you to swell up or fall down, to no longer love God or walk with the Lord.

But when, like Paul, you shake off the snake and keep praising God, the islanders take notice.

The cynics and skeptics who live on your street and work in your office are not waiting to see how rich you can get.

What they are waiting to see is what you do when the serpent strikes, when pain comes, when things get tough.

Will you swell up and fall down, or will you keep on?

Such are the results of suffering.

Luke 24:41 ESV41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”

("I want to share a meal with you," Jesus said -and He still says that.)

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"I stand at the door of your heart and knock," He says. "If any man open the door, I'll come in and enjoy a meal with him. I'll have fellowship with him" (Rev 3:20).

Luke 24:42-45 ESV42 They gave Him a piece of broiled fish (and honey), 43 and He took it and ate before them.

44 Then He said to them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

Luke 24:42-45 ESV

Verse 45 should be clearly marked in our Bibles.

“Oh, Lord, open my understanding, that I might indeed understand Your Word.”

Luke 24:46-48 ESV46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day risefrom the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things.

Notice Jesus doesn't call His disciples defense attorneys or judges, lawyers or juries.

He calls them witnesses.

We often think we have to argue with people, debate against people, present persuasive cases to people.

The Lord doesn't call us to any of that.

He simply says, "Share with people what you've seen. Share with people what you've found. Share with people what I have done in and for you."

Witnessing is a total joy when you simply share with people that which blesses you.

If you have an answer to prayer or an insight into the Word, share it with those around you as if they're already saved.

That way there will be a lot less arguing and a lot more sharing.

Share with those around you whatever you're learning, whatever you're experiencing.

Be faithful in being a witness, and leave the rest to the Lord.

Luke 24:49 ESV49 And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

What is the promise of the Father?

It is the Person and power of the Holy Ghost.

John 14:26 ESV26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Lord is alive, gang.

Moment by moment, not only will He put on your heart the things He wants you to do and say and be, but He'll give you the power to carry them out perfectly (Philippians 2:13).

When He says, "Write the letter," write the letter.

When He says, "Take a break and worship Me for five minutes," do it.

When He says to "go into your son's room, lay your hands on him while he sleeps, and bind the work of the enemy on his life," do just that.

When He says, "Bring your wife red roses," don't bring her marigolds.

Don't make the New Testament the Old Covenant.

Respond to the Spirit's leading moment by moment and your walk will be transformed.

Luke 24:50-52a The Ascension

50 Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands He blessed them. 51 While He blessed them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven. 52a And they worshiped Him

The last act of Jesus after His resurrection was to bless.

The first act of the believers after His ascension was to worship.

People often think worship is the means of getting blessed.

Wrong!

True worship, however, is simply responding to what God has already done for us.

Luke 24:52b-53 ESV 52b and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

The Gospel of Luke began in the temple with Zacharias unable to say a word because he didn't believe what he was told.

It ends in the temple with people believing, rejoicing, singing, and worshiping.

We are the temple!

Part of our numbers are like Zacharias—not saying a word because they don't believe that the Lord really is with them right now and desires to bless them just as they are.

So they leave in silence.

Others, however, do believe.

Because of His Word, they believe that the Lord loves them and lives inside of them.

They believe the Lord has forgiven them and will walk beside them.

As a result, they go their way rejoicing, worshiping, and praising Him.

In every session, the choice is ours whether to slink out silently or to leave rejoicing; whether to be slow of heart, or to listen to the One traveling alongside us.

May God give us the grace today to believe that Jesus is alive, is with us, and is truly for us!

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Jon Courson's Application Commentary New Testament.

The Plan of Hope & Salvation

John 3:16 NKJV16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 14:6 NKJV6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Romans 3:23 NKJV23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23a NKJV23 For the wages of sin is death,

• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died

in this life to pay the penalty for our sins. • The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second

death explained in Revelation 21:8.

Revelation 21:8 NKJV8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Romans 6:23 NKJV23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 NKJV8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Revelation 21:7 NKJV7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how become an overcomer.

Romans 10:9-10 NKJV9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 NKJV13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

If you have questions or would like to know more, Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/