Msg #1431 Only The Son Descended and Ascended

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

At Lazarus's tomb, before the miracle of his resurrection, the prayer that Jesus made was for our benefit not his. "That they", said he, and we, "might believe that (God, the Father) hast sent me." (John 11:41, 42) Believing in Jesus, descending from heaven, as the Messiah, the Christ, is the substance of salvation. You will not be quickened without it. John closes his written gospel witness, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and the believing ye might have life through his name." Three "verily, verily" statements, (in Greek they are "Amen, Amen" statements) made in chapter 5 emphasize this truth about everlasting life and the resurrection of the dead. Verily, verily, I say unto you, 1) the Son can do nothing of himself,.... 2) He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,... and 3) The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (vr 19, 24 and 25) This lecture is on the Son's ability to "quicken whom he will", (vr21) and has its crowning illustration in the resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus mentions to Nicodemus that the "Son of man" must come down from heaven and ascend back heaven. (John 3:13) Paul includes, in his dissertation on salvation, the necessary belief that the Son must descend and ascend. (Rom 10:6,7) One cannot be saved without the doctrine of the trinity and the belief that Jesus is the Christ."For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12)

An Essay for week #31 08/03/2014

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs140803.mp3