eccl. 3:1-2

ECCL. 3:1-2

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• Introduction1. Eccl. 3:1-2 Life & death common to all men

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

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• Introduction2. Busy with life, but death intrudes

Individuals & family circle School, workplace, community circle National tragedies

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• Introduction3. Eccl. 7:1-4 Death teaches lessons about life

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3. Eccl. 7:1-4 Death teaches lessons about life 1 A good name is better than precious ointment;

and the day of death than the day of one's birth. 2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

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• Introduction3. Eccl. 7:1-4 Death teaches lessons about life

How death entered the world A time to live & a time to die Man created for God’s purpose, not our own Is death the end? The hadean world What God wants of us in this life

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I. How Death Entered the World A. God Created Man to Live

Gen. 1:27-28 Man in God’s image

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Gen. 1:27-28 Man in God’s image 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

In God’s image—To Live in Fellowship

With God!

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I. How Death Entered the World A. God Created Man to Live

Gen. 2:7-9 Tree of life in Garden of Eden

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Gen. 2:7-9 Tree of life in Garden of Eden

7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

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I. How Death Entered the World B. Satan Introduced Sin & Death

Gen. 2:16-17 God warned of sin & death

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

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Gen. 3:6-8 Sin brought spiritual death

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Gen. 3:6-8 Sin brought spiritual death

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

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Gen. 3:16-19, 22-24 Sin brought physical hardships & death

16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

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17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

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22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

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Life: gift of God, protected by warning Death: result of Satan’s temptation

& man’s choice—do not blame God!

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II. A Time to Live & A Time to Die A. Struggle to Understand Experiences of Life

Eccl. 3:1-15 Man subject to life’s changes

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1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

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5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

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9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world [eternity] in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

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Eccl. 3:1-15 Man subject to life’s changes 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. 14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

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Eccl. 8:16-17 Mysteries beyond man’s grasp

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Eccl. 8:16-17 Mysteries beyond man’s grasp 16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) 17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

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Eccl. 9:11-12 Puzzling ironies of life

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Eccl. 9:11-12 Puzzling ironies of life 11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

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II. A Time to Live & A Time to Die B. Paradox: Youth & Old Age

Eccl. 11:9-12:7 “Is this really me???”

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Eccl. 11:9-12:7 “Is this really me???” 9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

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Eccl. 11:9-12:7 “Is this really me???” 1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

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Eccl. 11:9-12:7 “Is this really me???” 5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

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II. A Time to Live & A Time to Die C. Life Has Real Meaning & Purpose

Eccl. 12:13-14 “Fear God” & serve Him

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

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III. Man Created for God’s Purpose, Not Our Own A. Purpose of All Things Determined by God

Rev. 4:11 The Creator determines purpose

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

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III. Man Created for God’s Purpose, Not Our Own B. All Things Reflect God’s Wisdom

Rom. 11:33-36 God: origin, agent, purpose

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Rom. 11:33-36 God: origin, agent, purpose 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

OF HIM:Origin of

All Things!

THROUGH HIM:Almighty Agent!

TO HIM:His Purpose

Fulfilled

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III. Man Created for God’s Purpose, Not Our Own C. God Controls Our Existence

Isa. 1:18-20 Man: free moral agent to make choices, but consequences follow

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Isa. 1:18-20 Man: free moral agent to make choices, but consequences follow

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

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III. Man Created for God’s Purpose, Not Our Own C. God Controls Our Existence

Rom. 9:20-21 Foolish to argue with God! 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

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IV. Is Death the End? A. An Ancient Question!

Job 14:1-15 Man dies, does he live again?

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Job 14:1-15 Man dies, does he live again? 1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? 4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. 5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.

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7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. 10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

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Job 14:1-15 Man dies, does he live again?

13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

I do not know when or how,

BUTsomeday, somehow,

God will call the dead!

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IV. Is Death the End? B. Christ Is the Answer!

2 Tim. 1:10 Proclaims life & immortality

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

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Mk. 16:1-7 “He is risen!”

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Mk. 16:1-7 “He is risen!” 1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

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Mk. 16:1-7 “He is risen!” 5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

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1 Cor. 15:51-58 “We shall all be changed”

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51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, 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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

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54 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. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

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57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

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V. The Hadean World A. Spirits of Dead Await Resurrection & Judgment

Heb. 9:27 Death & judgment certain

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

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Gen. 49:33-50:2 Jacob’s spirit separated from his body at death

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Gen. 49:33-50:2 Jacob’s spirit separated from his body at death

33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people. 50:1 And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.

His spirit joinedhis forefathers

in hades—his body was buried

much later in Canaan

Jehovah’s Witnesses

deny the soul survives

the death of the body—

claim Jacob “was gathered”

means buried

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Matt. 22:23-33 Jesus argued the spirit survives the death of the body

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23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

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29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

Abraham,Isaac,

& Jacob Still AliveIn Hades

In Moses’ Time(Ex. 3:6)

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Lk. 16:22-23 Spirits of Lazarus & rich man alive in hades

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

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2 Cor. 5:6-9 Spirits of faithful dead go to the Lord in hades without their bodies

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2 Cor. 5:6-9 Spirits of faithful dead go to the Lord without their bodies

6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

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V. The Hadean World B. Jesus to Empty the Hadean World on the Resurrection & Judgment Day

Jn. 5:28-29 All the dead to hear his voice 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

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2 Cor. 5:10 Jesus to judge all men

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body,according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

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Rev. 1:18 Christ’s authority over hades

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell [hades] and of death.

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VI. What God Wants of Us in This Life A. Obey His Commands

Eccl. 12:13 Our purpose: fear & obey God

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

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VI. What God Wants of Us in This Life B. Hate Evil & Love Good

Amos 5:14-15, 24 Choose what is right

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Amos 5:14-15, 24 Choose what is right

14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. 15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

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VI. What God Wants of Us in This Life C. Walk Humbly with God

Mic. 6:6-8 Worship useless without godly attitude & life

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Mic. 6:6-8 Worship useless without godly attitude & life

6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

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VI. What God Wants of Us in This Life D. Love God & Fellowman

Matt. 22:36-40 Foundation for all God teaches and commands

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Matt. 22:36-40 Foundation for all God teaches and commands

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

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VI. What God Wants of Us in This Life E. Seek His Wisdom in Struggles of Life

Ps. 90:9-12 Seek God’s wisdom: our days few, His anger against sin great

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Ps. 90:9-12 Seek God’s wisdom: our days few, His anger against sin great

9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

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VI. What God Wants of Us in This Life E. Seek His Wisdom in Struggles of Life

Ja. 1:2-5 Seek God’s wisdom to overcome life’s trials

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Ja. 1:2-5 Seek God’s wisdom to overcome life’s trials

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

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VI. What God Wants of Us in This Life F. Obey the Gospel & Be Saved from Past Sins

1 Tim. 2:3-6 God opens doors for the lost to hear the true gospel

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1 Tim. 2:3-6 God opens doors for the lost to hear the true gospel

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

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2 Pet. 3:9 God wants all to repent & be saved

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

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Jn. 3:16 Christ died for sins of all men

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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Jn. 3:16 Sinners must believe in Christ

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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Acts 17:30 Sinners must repent

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

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Rom. 10:9 Sinners must confess Christ 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.

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Mk. 16:16 Sinners must submit to baptism 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

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Acts 8:22 Backsliders must repent & pray

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

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• Invitation1. Eccl. 3:1-2 Life & death common to all men

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

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• Invitation2. Busy with life, but death intrudes

Individuals & family circle School, workplace, community circle National tragedies

84

• Invitation3. Eccl. 7:1-4 Death teaches lessons about life

How death entered the world A time to live & a time to die Man created for God’s purpose, not our own Is death the end? The hadean world What God wants of us in this life

eccl. 3:1-2

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