Abel’s Excellent Sacrifice

Hebrews 11:4

So, why should we remember people of faith who lived in the past? What made the faith of these people extraordinary? (Hebrews 11:4–8) Well, to recall the people of faith from history links them with our own reality and affords us hope, inspiration and guidance. Since these were real people and faith proved effective for them as they worked through their challenges, trusting God is a legitimate approach to coping with the perplexing realities we face today. From them we learn that lazar-focused confidence in God and His ways will ultimately win.

Their faith is extraordinary because it proved effective even in the face of death. Trusting the Word of the Lord enabled them all to please God despite their contemporary challenges and difficulties (Hebrews 11). Believing God gave them courage to face life-threatening dangers and persecutions. Furthermore, we are assured God takes special pleasure in those who continue to live by faith, but not those who draw back in doubt and unbelief (Heb. 10:38-39). The difficult times help us understand how firm our faith in God truly is. Challenges also have a way of weeding out the pretenders and insincere persons resulting in a purer brand of Christianity.

Though life is punctuated with serious challenges, confidence in Christ is never misplaced. Faithful responses enable us to continue obediently to ultimately triumph in our difficulties. Even when faced with mortal danger, forsaking Christ is not an option; we must insist on faithfully living by faith.

In Hebrews 11:4, we see a believer of real courage and commitment—Abel.

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Verse 4 of Hebrews 11, mentions Abel the second son of Adam and Eve and the first son of promise. He was the first person to be killed for the cause of Christ. The awful fact is this heinous act was committed by his older brother Cain. The big brother who should have been looking out for his younger sibling maliciously struck him down in death! With ‘brothers’ like Cain, who needs enemies…right?

Abel speaks to believers today as the first martyr for the faith. His essential message is be faithful to the “excellent sacrifice” even unto death. To enlarge further Abel is still saying trust the offering God provides, approach God only through blood sacrifice, and worship God His way—in truth. He stands first in line of what would eventually become a long and incredible line of believers who suffered unbelievable persecutions at the hands of religionists and hardened atheist. The histories of America, China, Russia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe all bare testimony to this reality. Beloved, this is sometimes how people of “real faith” are treated. Recall the account from Genesis,

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? (Genesis 4:1-9, KJV)

Cain insisted upon approaching God with his own method and sacrifices, but God rejected it while accepting Abel’s blood sacrifice. Furthermore, when God prompted Cain to make the correction he refused. He rejected God’s counsel and finally killed his righteous brother who approached God by faith.

Religionists have persecuted the righteous since the beginning of time. This was the constant experience of Israel, the early churches were persecuted by Jewish and Roman authorities, the true Christians were persecuted during the Inquisitions and the Counter-Reformation, and believers all over the Middle East and parts of Africa are met with violent opposition from Muslims and terrorist groups. The death toll mounts and hundreds are being killed on a regular basis while the United Nations stands by impotently. Thousands are fleeing their countries seeking refuge in sympathetic nations….

Abel’s Excellent Sacrifice Pleases God (Heb. 11:4).

With such pressures, the temptation to forsake Christ for personal safety and survival seems plausible. After all our survival instinct is very strong…. As we reason through such challenges we may find ourselves inclined to compromise our commitment to the “excellent sacrifice.” By faith we must hold on to the truth that God is pleased with the “excellent sacrifice” and this warrants a steadfast faith free of any acquiescence! So, what can we learn from Abel that we may be faithful also? Let’s examine…    

His Parents

Cain and Abel were brothers and Adam and Eve were their parents. They were taught by God on how to make an “excellent sacrifice”. The interesting thing here in Hebrews 11, is that they are not mentioned at all. The first couple is bypassed with no mention of their faith. In the Garden of Eden during the Fall of Man, Eve believed the Devil and failed to trust what God had said. As a result, she was deceived, and Adam sinned with his eyes wide open. I personally believed they were saved by faith in the “excellent sacrifice” God himself provided for them. You see, to provide coats of skin to cover their shame, God killed an animal—blood was shed and atonement was provided. Adam and Eve accepted the God-provided sacrifice and blood atonement and thus were saved (Gen. 3). Though the first parents taught this blood sacrifice to their boys, the lesson only resonated with Abel.

As parents we have an incredible duty to pass our faith on to the next generation. I do not subscribe to the modern notion of letting children figure out for themselves what they should believe. Parents have an obligation to God to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the great truths about God, and faithfulness to worship and service through a local church to their children. Our young people need leadership in these matters.

Note thoughtfully what Paul says to Timothy about the importance of home-based discipleship and child training.

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2Tim. 3:12-17, KJV)

Timothy’s mother and grandmother took responsible actions to ensure he was exposed to God’s life transforming truth. They started when Timothy was very young and consistently shaped his thoughts, values, and beliefs throughout his formative years. They knew their times were evil and occasional exposure to spiritual things was inadequate. They knew frequent, regular, and meaningful instructions from the Word of God was essential to raising godly children for Christ. This is the work of faithful parents who decidedly respect the “excellent sacrifice.”

His Person

Abel took the lesson to heart and faithfully employed this method of worship and sacrifice—approaching Holy God through blood sacrifice. Perhaps he received additional revelation from God to reinforce his conviction that sinful humanity can only approach God through shed blood—the excellent sacrifice. While I cannot be dogmatic on this point, I can freely assert He believed in this approach alone and would not deviate. He was faithful to the “excellent sacrifice” that is pleasing to God. At some point his parent’s faith became his—he personally embraced the truth and intentionally walked in it. He knew God, explored life with God, worshiped the Lord, and willingly yielded to God’s eternal principle of living by faith—approaching God through blood sacrifice. He did not need someone monitoring him to ensure he did what he was supposed to. No, Abel owned faith in Jehovah in a deepening and personal way.

You may review Genesis 4:1–10, to grasp the background for this thought in Hebrews. Also bear in mind that this perfect and singular sacrifice is a major point of the Book of Hebrews’ thesis (Heb. 9:1-28). According to Abel, salvation is purely by the grace of God through faith in His provision for our sin problem. Human works, efforts, and performance cannot merit salvation.

Beloved, Jesus is the only way; I know many people say differently claiming there are many paths to God. I must stand beside faithful Abel and say, they are wrong. Jesus is the only Way, Truth, and Life, and not even one single individual can approach God, the Father, except through Him, His Cross, and His resurrection (John 14:6). I know other religions claim that they have the truth and claim exclusivity. Beloved, it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that distinguishes it from all other world religions. No other religion or ‘faith’ on the planet makes such an extraordinary claim. Investigate the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and you too will agree that Jesus is the only Way to God.

Abel was a man of faith; he believed God and was faithful to the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Though he did not actually understand the New Testament Gospel, he was well exercised in the principles of justification before God through faith, accepting God-provided atonement, grace as the means of redemption, one way to approach holy God—blood sacrifice, and righteousness imputed and imparted by faith. The tenants of ‘The Faith’ are timeless and enduring and they will never change. They transcend dispensational periods because they reflect how God operates. Abel was faithful to these principles and sealed his testimony with his very life.  

Our Lord Jesus, the glorious Lamb, says to His churches, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10, KJV) Be faithful unto death, Beloved.

Was Adam a Real Person?

GEN. 1:26-28; ROM. 5:12-21; 1COR. 15:22, 45

SUBJECT: THE BIBLE VERSUS EVOLUTION

THEME: if our Christian foundation, specifically the biblical account of our origin, can be undermined by evolutionary teaching, then all other convictions, beliefs and doctrines stand suspect and are reduced to myths and mere fantasy.

INTRODUCTION:

So, was Adam a historical figure or an outdated spiritual symbol for humanity from a past era?

The theory of evolution has dominated our society for about a century, especially in our educational institutions. The media has been most influential in promoting the “fact” of organic evolution with some television programs and magazine editorial sections loyally devoted to the evolutionary viewpoint. Usually this indoctrination is obvious and insistent, but even when it is more subtle, it is nevertheless unmistakably effective.

Our current social and moral problems are largely a result of the humanistic philosophy which has been spawned by evolutionary thinking. The so-called “new morality” we are presently witnessing is actually “no morality,” the inevitable result of the atheistic, evolutionary philosophy. Indeed, there are virtually no areas of thought and life today which have remained untarnished by the effects of this popular viewpoint. (Cloud, D.)

Consider this thought from Huse,

Evolution has been universally accepted as fact while at the same time Biblical creationism has been generally discarded as an antiquated belief of a former age. Organized Christianity has spent the past century or so retreating and compromising before the onslaughts of the evolutionists. Consequently, the faith of many Bible-believing Christians has been seriously affected and countless sincere people have been deceived.—Scott M. Huse

My basic purpose in this article is three-fold:

        — First, to expose some of the fallacies of the theory of organic macro-evolution

        — Secondly, to present scientific evidence for Biblical creationism  

        — Thirdly, to prove that evolution and Biblical creationism are mutually exclusive and cannot be reconciled

LESSON:

I.  The Significance of a Historical Adam in The Bible

ADAM (red) is portrayed as the first man (Ge. 2-3). A number of New Testament references support this idea: Rom. 5:14; 1 Cor. 15:22, 45; 1 Tim. 2:13.

It is clear that the Apostles considered Adam to be a historical man, not merely a symbolic figure. “Adam is probably so called either from the red earth of which he was formed, or from the blush or flesh-tint of the human countenance” (Treasury).

A. TO DENY ADAM AND EVE AS HISTORICAL PERSONS IS TO DENY THE BIBLE.

   1.  Adam and Eve Are Mentioned 34 Times in the Bible.

   2.  Adam and Eve Are Mentioned in at Least Four Books of the Old Testament (Ge. 2- 4; De. 32:8; 1 Ch. 1:1; and Job 31:33).

   3.   Adam and Eve Are Mentioned in at Least five books of the New Testament (Lk. 3:38; Ro. 5:12, 14; 1 Co. 11:3; 15:22; 1 Co. 15:45; 1 Ti. 2:13-14; and Jude 14).

   4.  No One Who Believes the Bible Is the Infallible Word of God Can Doubt That Adam and Eve Were Created as the First Human Beings by a Special Act of God.

B. THE FIRST FIVE CHAPTERS OF THE BIBLE ARE WRITTEN AS HISTORY.  

   1.  THERE IS NOTHING IN THE RECORD TO INDICATE THAT IT IS TO BE INTERPRETED NON-LITERALLY, AS POETIC OR SYMBOLIC.

   2.  When the Bible uses symbolism, it plainly distinguishes that it is such, and it gives the keys for interpreting the symbols.

For example we can see this in Revelation. In chapter 17; John describes a woman sitting on a beast, and he plainly tells us that this is a mystery and he gives the interpretation of the symbolic language in the passage itself (vv. 7-18). The same is also apparent in the Kingdom Parables chapter 13 of Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus gives us the parable in verses 3-9 and then He gives the keys to interpreting this parable and the others in verses 18-23 of the same chapter. 

   3.  Genesis Ch. 1-5, though, is written as history. Much like other historical passages it conveys some of the details of what actually transpired. Our faith is rooted in real history.

   4.  Gen. 5:5 says that Adam lived 930 years and then died! If Adam only represented mankind, what happened to “mankind” after Adam died! This is obviously a reference to a very real person who literally died.

C. IF ADAM AND EVE WERE NOT HISTORICAL PEOPLE, THE FALL IS A MYTH.

Therefore, Redemption Through the Cross of Christ Is Nonsense. See Romans 5:12-19, for the details and explanation. Paul clearly views Adams as a real person.

D. TO DENY THE HISTORY OF ADAM IS TO DENY JESUS CHRIST.

  1.  Christ’s Genealogy Is Traced from Adam (Lk. 3:23-38).

  2.  Further, the N.T. makes a direct comparison between Christ and Adam (Ro. 5:17; 1 Co. 15:22, 45). Adam was just as real as the Lord Jesus is.

II. Evolution and the Historical Account of Creation in The Bible (Gen. 1 – 3)

A.  THE MEANING OF EVOLUTION.

     — Evolution: The idea that the world and all existing things came into being through a process of gradual change and progression.

     — It has even been said that a person can believe the teaching of evolution and the teaching of the Bible without any serious contradiction. In other words, some say God used evolution as His means of making the world.

     — This, though, is impossible according to Hebrews 11:1-6!

B.  THE CHIEF MOTIVE FOR DENYING THE HISTORY OF ADAM . . . 

IS THE CHALLENGE OF SCIENCE AND THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION, BUT THE BIBLE AND EVOLUTION ARE IN DIRECT CONTRADICTION.

Let me list five of the plain Bible statements which directly contradict the theories of evolution.

         1. Genesis Says God Created the World and Everything in it in Six Literal "Morning and Evening" Days.

                — To read “eons” of time into the six days of creation is to turn language on its head and to make the Bible incapable of being dogmatically interpreted. This is clearly an accommodation of this misguided theory.

               — If the Bible does not mean what it says, there is no way to know what it does mean (Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31). Creation unfolded over a period of six days and no other explanation appreciates what the Scripture undoubtedly states. (Cloud, D.)

         2. Genesis Says All Creation Was Made in a Mature State to Reproduce after its Kind.

              — The statement “after their kind” is found nine times in Genesis chapter one.

              — This is precisely what we observe in the world. Dogs reproduce dogs and frogs reproduce frogs and birds reproduce birds and peanuts reproduce peanuts.

              — This is biblical, but it is strictly contrary to what evolution requires.

         3. Genesis Says Man and Animals Were Distinctly Different Creations.  Gen. 1:24-28

               A.  The animals were made to reproduce after their kind, but man was made in the image of God and made a living soul.

               B.  Man has a spiritual aspect which no animal has. The animals were made to relate to man and to provide his enjoyment and needs.

               C.  Man was made to relate to God, to fellowship with, serve, worship, and glorify Him.

John Leslie wisely noted,

Now, if it has been found impossible—a question which I have put from time to time, but which still waits an answer—if it has been found impossible to change one species of bird into another species of bird, or one kind of animal into another kind of animal, how much more impossible would it have been to have changed an animal into a man? Or if, in other words, the blood or life of one species of animal is so radically different from the blood or life of another kind of animal, how much greater must the difference be between the blood of an animal and that of a man?—John Leslie

         4.  Genesis Says the World Was Created Perfect, Then Fell under Sin and God’s Curse (Gen. 3:11-24). This is consistent with everything we can observe. Everything is winding down. Everything is proceeding from order to chaos. Everything is corrupting. Evolution would require the exact opposite.

        5.   Genesis Says Everything Was Created to Fulfill God’s Purposes, the World and Everything in It, as Well as the Planetary Universe. 

             — Teleology is the study of final causes, of the purposes of nature.

             — It is a fascinating study, because regardless of how minutely one studies the creation, one is struck with a sense of wonder at the brilliant purpose behind every detail.

ILLUSTRATION:  Study the eye, the ear, the leaf, the atom, light, sound, air—everywhere you find purpose and design. That is what one would expect if God created the world precisely as the Bible says He did, but it is not what we would find if evolution were true.

             — If the latter were true we would find incredible chaos and happenstance and haphazardness. We would have a world filled with monsters and  unpredictable madness, part one thing and part another, a fish becoming a bird, a frog becoming a rat, a lizard becoming a bird, partially formed beaks which do not yet have a purpose, partially formed feet, partially formed wings, partially formed eyes, partially formed brains.

             — We would have no fixed absolutes from which and with which to work. We would have no atomic clock because the atom would not be stable. We would have no sure guide across the trackless oceans because the heavenly bodies would be in fluctuation. Praise the Lord that evolution is a lie and the Bible is true. (Cloud, D.)

III. Why We Should Hate Evolution as Lovers of Truth

Popular opinion says the Christian is not supposed to hate anything. The Bible, though, says differently. In Psalm 119:128, we are impressed with these words, “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; AND I HATE EVERY FALSE WAY.”

The godly Psalmist hated those things which were contrary to the inspired Scriptures. A Christian that does not hate sin and error is a Christian who does not love truth and righteousness. One of the things I hate as a Christian is evolution. Why?

    A.  FIRST, WE SHOULD HATE EVOLUTION BECAUSE IT DENIES THE BIBLE.

         — Some make silly statements that there is no proof of contrast between the Bible and evolution, that they can be reconciled.

         — Kitty Ferguson, in The Fire in the Equations published in 1995 by Eerdmans, claims that "one is free to believe that God invented the process of evolution in order to create."

         — That is nonsense. Evolution denies the plain and literal statements of the Bible.

         — Let me list seven of these plain Bible statements which directly contradict the theories of evolution.

How Evolution Differs from the Bible:

         1. The Bible Says God Made the World and All Things Therein in Six Days.

              A.  That these were six normal days by man's reasoning—24-hour days rather than 1,000-year or million-year days—is proven in Genesis chapter one by the repeated use of the phrase “the evening and the morning were the first day.” God would not have chosen this expression if He had not desired to communicate the idea of a normal day.

              B.  Also, in Exodus, the Lord revealed that the days of creation were the same kind of days as those kept by the Israelites for Sabbaths (Ex. 20:8-11; 31:16-17). Genesis and Exodus were written by the same person. He understood what he wrote in each book.

             C.  Evolution, on the other hand, says the present world is the product of millions of years of evolutionary process.

         2. The Bible Says God Made Plants and Animals in Such a Way That They Are Divided into Distinct Categories.

              A.  The dividing lines between “kinds” of animals cannot be crossed.

                   — One kind cannot be successfully interbred with another.

                   — Fish cannot become birds; bats cannot become eagles; dogs cannot become cats.

                   — It is true that there can be crossing over and interbreeding within kinds--one type of dog can be bred with another type of dog. But the major kinds of animals cannot cross over into other kinds (Ge. 1:21, 24, 25).

                   — Evolution teaches that all animals grew from some type of common stock. One kind produced another kind. Fish became land animals; lands animals became birds; and animal became a man.

                

              B.  This is directly opposed to the Bible. It is also contrary to the impassable gulf we observe existing today between animal species.

         3. The Bible Teaches That Man Is Not an Animal. Man Is the Only Creature on Earth Made in God's Image in Order to Have Direct Fellowship with God.

            A.  Man did not grow out of the animal kingdom.

                  — He was created directly by God to rule over the creation and to walk and talk with God (Ge. 1:19-31).

                  — Man was man the very hour he was made by God (Ge. 2:7; 5:1-2).

           

            B.  As soon as man was created, he had the ability to name all the animals of the world (Ge. 2:18-20).

            C.  Man was never an unintelligent animal.

            D.  Evolution, though, teaches that man arose from the animal kingdom, gradually becoming more and more intelligent, civilized, and self-conscious.

         4. The Bible Teaches That Mankind Was Made Perfect and Rebelled Against God.

           A.  Ever since that day, the human race has been growing increasingly more perverse and corrupt.                          

           B.  According to the Bible, man is not evolving, he is devolving (Ge. 1:26-31; 6:5-7; Ec. 7:29; 2 Ti. 3:13).

           C.  Evolution teaches that the human race began as dumb animals and has been growing increasingly better and higher. Please do not confuse clever technological advances and inventions with the improvement of humanities essential nature and behavior.

         5. The Bible Teaches That Man Was Created Intelligent and Inventive.

            A.  Adam’s children, in the very first centuries after creation, knew how to make music, keep cattle, farm, and work with brass and iron (Ge. 4:1-4, 16-22).

            B.  Evolution says it took men thousands or millions of years to learn these things. Also see Gen. 1:26-28, for more evidence of this.

         6. The Bible Teaches That the Origin of the World Must Be Understood by Faith Because the Process Is No Longer Visible (He. 11:3).  Heb. 11:3, says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

Evolutionists, though, are attempting to learn the process or origins through observing present conditions. The process is no longer evident; it cannot be studied because of this. It is possible to make observations about the visible world and its nature, but how it came into existence cannot be observed today.

         7. The Bible Says Divine Interventions Have Altered the State of the World since Creation—Noah’s Flood (2 Pet. 3:3-4). Evolution assumes a process unaltered from without—a closed system. Yet, the Scriptures repeatedly claim marvelous and extraordinary interventions and even judgments from God.

2 Pet 3:3-7, Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  5, For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6, Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7, But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Simply put the world we live in today is vastly different from the original creation because of catastrophic events and divine judgments. We cannot assume the world we live in came about merely by long slow processes of change. Without this kind of insight we assume such ridiculous notions as the Colorado River creating the Grand Canyon over long periods of time.

B.  SECONDLY, WE SHOULD HATE EVOLUTION BECAUSE IT DENIES GOD.

   1.  The God of Evolution Is Certainly NOT the God of the Bible.

The God of the Bible is intimately involved with His creation. He did not make some primordial soup and then invent some strange evolutionary process and stand back and wait for pre-man to slither out of it.  If that is your idea of God, you do not know the God of the Bible.

   2.  The God of the Bible Lovingly Formed Man from the Dust of the Ground and Breathed into Him the Breath of Life So That He Became a Living Soul (Gen. 1-3). The God of the Bible walked and talked with that man from the beginning, and He lovingly and patiently prepared the way for man's salvation after his fall (having prepared it in eternity).

   3.  The God of the Bible Not Only Created the World, He Intimately Sustains the World.

“And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17).

       A.  The God of the Bible is involved with every detail of creation. He says, “I know all the fowls of the mountains” (Psalm 50:11).

       B.  It is God who “visiteth the earth, and waterest it” (Psalm 65:9).

       C.  Jesus said not even a sparrow falls without His knowledge.

       D.  Every detail of creation was designed to bring glory to God. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1). This, friends, is not the strange god of evolution. This is clearly the work of a Creator and Sustainer!

C.  THIRDLY, WE SHOULD HATE EVOLUTION BECAUSE IT DENIES SALVATION.

    1.  If Genesis 1-3 is Not Literal History, the Rest of the Bible, the Doctrine of Christ and Salvation are Fairy Tales—because these are based on a supposition that these were real historical events.

    2.  The Lord Jesus Christ Referred to the Creation of Woman and the Institution of Marriage (Matthew 19:8). He views these as real history. He spoke of them as real events and activities that truly took place. Adam and Eve were real people to the Lord Jesus and they should be perceived as such by us today.

    3.  Paul Said That Sin Entered the World Through One Man, Adam (Romans 5:12-14). Paul said Adam was first formed, then Eve, and Eve was deceived (1 Timothy 2:13, 14).

    4.  There Is Not a Hint Anywhere in the Bible That Genesis 1-3 Is Not Literal History.

    5.  Man Was Created in God’s Image on the Sixth Day of Creation and Placed in the Garden of Eden as the Master of the World. Man was given a commandment not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The man and the woman disobeyed; they sinned; they fell. They were judged by God and evicted from the Garden and condemned to toil and to suffer and to die. But they were also given the offer of salvation through the Atonement which would be provided for them by God’s own Son. If Genesis 1-3 is not literal history, there was no fall. If there was no fall, salvation is a myth. Yet, the Lord Jesus died for our sins precisely as the Scriptures predicted He would!

    6.  I Hate Evolution, but I Love the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION:

If our Christian foundation, specifically the biblical account of our origin, can be undermined by evolutionary teaching, then all other convictions, beliefs and doctrines stand suspect and are reduced to myths and mere fantasy.

The irony of this whole situation is that the very concept of organic macro-evolution is completely absurd and impossible. It is absolutely astonishing that an idea which is so devoid of any legitimate scientific evidence could have attained a position of such prestige in the name of science.

Biblical creationism, however, has recently been revived and is gathering impressive momentum. Literally thousands of distinguished scientists are rejecting evolution in favor of creationism. Many states are considering including creationism in the science curricula, and numerous lectures and debates have been hosted on university campuses to clarify these matters.

Yes, Adam was a real man, and when we get to Heaven we will meet Him there. Our Bible is absolutely true in every degree. Trust it, believe it, walk in its precepts, and build your life on this solid foundation. Yes, we (every single one of us) are accountable to a Living God of Creation! As a fellow creature, I know He will hold us accountable for the life and opportunities He gave to each of us. 

The Indestructible!

PS. 12:6-7; 33:11; 100:5

                                                                                   

On numerous occasions, Satan has attempted to remove the Bible from the face of the earth. There have been brazen decrees by godless individuals, religious groups, and atheistic governments endeavoring to ban, burn, and banish the Word of God.  Throughout history scornful critics have done their best to discredit and nullify the Scriptures. Yet, the Bible has endured!

This is important because in the final analysis, the same Bible claiming to be perfectly inspired also claims to be providentially preserved. Our Lord inspired the Scriptures, that is He moved certain individuals to write down His revelations, truths, and words for the benefit of His people. What these penmen wrote is the very perfect mind of Almighty God and it was free of any errors in its recording and teachings. God also promised repeatedly that He would guard the Scriptures in their purity and perpetuity. God Himself would ensure the Scriptures survive on earth for our continual usage. Our faith in this is not based on common sense (though it is sensible to believe that if God gave a perfect Bible He would preserve that very Bible); our faith is based on the promises of the God that cannot lie.

Today we will discover that the perfectly inspired Word of God has also been completely preserved for all generations. We will also endeavor to set forth God’s clear testimony and express will regarding the continuation/endurance of the pure Word of God.  In doing this, we will establish the biblical teaching of an indestructible Bible and boldly declare that God has keep his promise to play the role of Preserver of his holy book. I believe it is vital for each Christian to come to the conclusion that we do have a complete and perfect Bible today.

       

This teaching that God has preserved his Word pure through the ages is a clear biblical statement. The same God that perfectly inspired the Scriptures has promised to perfectly preserve the Scriptures—not merely its teachings, but its very words. If inspiration was perfect but preservation is only general, this entire issue is foolish. To argue for an inspired Bible which no longer exists is empty and meaningless. Except we have a divinely preserve Bible we have nothing at all! The whole doctrine of inspiration becomes totally meaningless if we fail to grasp the doctrine of preservation. Let’s take a closer look at the associated issues.

LESSON:

I. THE MODERN ISSUES REGARDING THE DOCTRINE OF PRESERVATION.

Ps. 12:6-7, The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Ps. 33:11, The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

   A.  MANY BELIEVE IN INSPIRATION BUT NOT PRESERVATION.

Many evangelical and even fundamental men write volumes defining and defending what the Bible says about its own inspiration, but they are strangely silent on what the same Bible says about preservation. They take the position of faith in regard to inspiration but retreat to the position of skepticism in regard to preservation. Many have struggled and failed to believe God on this point.  Yet, the scriptures are extremely clear about this matter of God preserving His Word.

Ps. 100:5, For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Ps. 111:7-8, The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

Jack Moorman, in his excellent manual “Forever Settled,” states the solution to this problem plainly: "A far better principle is given in Ro. 14:23--`Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.' If I cannot by faith take the Bible in my hand and say this is the preserved Word of God, then it is sin. If we do not approach the study of how we got our Bible from the standpoint of faith, then it is sin. If I cannot believe what God says about the preservation of His Word, then I cannot believe what He says about its inspiration either--all is sin."

   B.  MANY BELIEVE THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE A PRESERVED BIBLE TODAY.

Many Christians use the expression, "I believe in the divine, verbal, plenary, and inerrant inspiration of the original Scriptures," -a true statement, to be sure.

But, We DO NOT HAVE the original Scriptures in our possession, and likely never will! So, making such a statement without qualification can be rather convenient. Believing in the inspiration of the originals frees preachers, teachers, and professors to “correct” the Bible when it suits their purposes. (R. J. Sargent)

II. THE HISTORICAL TRIUMPH OF THE INDESTRUCTIBLE BIBLE.

Ps. 100:5, For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

God, through the Psalmist, declares His truth will endure for the benefit of all generations. While this is a rather general declaration because the term “truth” is employed, it is vital that we understand that truth is couched in thoughts, terms, and even words.

Dr. H. L. Willmington, a conservative theologian, wrote,

The story is told of a visitor who toured a blacksmith shop. Viewing heaps of discarded hammers but only one huge anvil, he asked: “How often do you replace your anvil?” With a smile the owner replied, “Never! It is the anvil that wears out the hammers, you know!”So it is with the Word of God. The hammers of persecution, ridicule, higher criticism, liberalism, and atheism have for centuries pounded out their vicious blows upon the divine anvil, but all to no avail. There they lie, in rusting piles, while the mighty anvil of the Scriptures stands unbroken, unshaken, and unchipped.   

     A.  ITS INDESTRUCTIBILITY IN SPITE OF POLITICAL PERSECUTIONS (from the Roman Emperors).

In A.D. 303, Emperor Diocletian thought he had destroyed every hated Bible. After many tireless years of ruthless slaughter and destruction, he erected a column of victory over the embers of a burned Bible. The title on the column read: "Extinct is the Name of Christian." Twenty years later, the new Emperor Constantine offered a reward for any remaining Bibles. Within twenty-four hours no less than fifty copies were brought out of hiding and presented to the king.

     B.  ITS INDESTRUCTIBILITY IN SPITE OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTIONS.

         1.  As Seen Through the Persecutions by Roman Catholic Popes.

Almost without exception, the early popes opposed the reading and translating of the Bible. In 1199, Pope Innocent III ordered the burning of all Bibles.

         2.  As Seen Through the Persecutions Leveled Against John Wycliffe and William Tyndale.

Of all the heroes in church history, no two other names are so closely associated with the Word of God as the names of Wycliffe and Tyndale. The very mention of these two men was no doubt sufficient to turn the devil livid with rage. It is therefore no surprise to read of the vicious attacks leveled against them.

    C.  ITS INDESTRUCTIBILITY IN SPITE OF PHILOSOPHICAL PERSECUTION.

Here several cases come to mind:

           1.  Voltaire.  He once said, "Another century and there will be not a Bible on the earth." The century is gone, and the circulation of the Bible is one of the marvels of the age. After he died, his old printing press and the very house where he lived was purchased by the Geneva Bible Society and made a depot for Bibles.

On December 24, 1933, the British Government bought the Codex Sinaiticus from the Russians for half a million dollars. On that same day, a first edition of Voltaire's work sold for eleven cents in Paris bookshops.

          2.  Thomas Paine. He once said, "I have gone through the Bible as a man would go through a forest with an axe to fell trees. I have cut down tree after tree; here they lie. They will never grow again." Tom Paine thought he had demolished the Bible, but since he crawled into a drunkard's grave in 1809, the Bible has leaped forward as never before.

          3.  Joseph Stalin. This bloody butcher took over all of Russia at the death of Lenin in the late twenties. From this point on until his death in the fifties, Stalin instituted a “ban the Bible” purge from the U.S.S.R. such as had never been witnessed before. This miserable man literally attempted to wipe the Word of God and the God of the Word from the Russian minds. Did he succeed? A recent poll taken in Russia shows that today more people than ever believe in God and his Word.

Today we have learned that the perfectly inspired Word of God has also been completely preserved for all generations. We have also set forth God’s clear testimony and express will regarding the continuation/ endurance of the pure Word of God.  We have established the biblical doctrine of Scripture preservation.  Resultantly, we have boldly declared that God is keeping his promise as “preserver” of his holy book. Every Christian then should come to the conclusion that we do have a complete and perfect Bible today.

The Last Great Event of Human History!

It was W. W. Wiersbe who said,

In one sense, the millennial kingdom will sum up" all that God has said about the heart of man during the various periods of history. It will be a reign of law, and yet law will not change man's sinful heart. Man will still revolt against God. The Millennium will be a period of peace and perfect environment, a time when disobedience will be judged swiftly and with justice; and yet in the end the subjects of the King will follow Satan and rebel against the Lord. A perfect environment cannot produce a perfect heart.God is now about to "wrap up" human history One great event remains.”  

 All Sinners are Condemned After the Millennial Age (Rev. 20:11-15).

The time of grace and patience on the behalf of God is over; the time of eternal reckoning has come. God offered salvation, forgiveness, a relationship with Himself, and Heaven to whoever will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for centuries. Too many people simply rejected God's offer and in the final event of human history God will respect their decisions. Every unsaved individual will be examined by God Himself and all will be thoroughly recompensed for their rejection of Jesus Christ and life-long career of sin. Note the words of Dr. H. Willmington,

A test no one will pass. John saw the Judge of the universe seated behind his great white throne, sentencing all the unsaved to the lake of fire forever. Faith in Christ would have placed their names in the "Book of Life," and they would have been saved.— Harold Willmington 

   — After the millennial age, the unsaved are ushered into a gigantic courtroom. Millions of people are there—waiting to see the judgment sessions. All wait in trepidation. Suddenly, off to the right, a huge movie screen lights up and begins to show the entire life works of the wicked. All of the thoughts, motives, and actions of which they are most ashamed shine forth before the assembled crowd.... and a holy God! This is the idea that many have of the final Great White Throne Judgment. But the main question will not be, "What did you do in life?" Rather they will answer for what they did with Jesus. As we have stated in past studies, believers in Jesus share the conviction and joyous hope that Christ will return to earth not only as King, but as Judge, also. This judgment is the climax of them all for all the sinners of all the ages. (MacDonald, W)

   — The final five verses of Revelation 20 introduce the judgment at the end of human history and the beginning of the eternal state.

A.  THE MAJESTIC JUDGE (REV. 20:11).

The sinner, Christ rejecters will have to face the Lord Jesus Christ as Judge and Prosecutor in the Supreme Court of the Universe!

   1. His Court. "A great white throne"

        A. Not Like Modern Courts.

             1. The White Throne Judgment will be nothing like our modem court cases.

             2. At the White Throne, there will be a Judge but no jury, a prosecution but no defense, a sentence but no appeal.

             3. No one will be able to defend himself or accuse God of unrighteousness. What an awesome scene it will be!

        B. It Is a Great Court.

Great because of the issues involved and the sentences issued.

        C. It Is a White Court.

             1. White because of the perfection and purity of the decisions handed down.

             2. This is a judgment throne, elevated, pure, and holy.

         D. It Is a Throne Court.

            1. Nearly 50 times in Revelation there is the mention of a throne. It is not the sight of the previous thrones in heaven nor in the earth.

            2. This court throne is in space beyond the old heaven and the old earth. Like the Judgment Seat of Christ which took place in heaven before the Millennial age, this judgment will also be in a scene other then the earth.

            3. Tills court convenes in space during an indescribable void between the end of the present universe (Rev 20:11) and the creation of the new heaven and earth (Rev 21:1).

   2. His Christ, “an him that sat on it”

       A. The Judge is Jesus Christ.

The Father has committed all judgment to Him (Matt 19:28; Rom. 2:16).

John 5:22-30, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: [23] That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. [24] Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life [25] Verily, verily, 1 say unto you. 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. [26] For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; [27] And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. [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 thev that have done evil. unto the resurrection of damnation. [30] I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I Judge and my judgment is just: because 1 seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Acts 10:42, And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Acts 17:30-31, And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent [31 ] Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness bv that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

While Christ is now seated on the throne in heaven and will be seated on the Davidic throne on earth in the Millennium (Matt. 25:31), this white throne judgment is a special situation.

       B. These Lost Sinners Rejected Christ in Life.

Now they must be judged by Him and face eternal death.

Matthew 7:21-23, Not every one that saith unto me. Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but lie that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day. Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name0 and in thy name have cast out devils9 and in thy name done many wonderful works';' [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

   3. His Countenance, "from whose face the earth and heaven fled away"

We all must admire the grandeur of this image; no one can think on it without being awed by the majesty and glory of the Christ, Great Judge.

          A. John Saw the Contaminated Universe Vanish out of Existence.

1.      Peter described this moment when the universe is "uncreated," going into non-existence.

2 Peter 3:10-13. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, [12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? [13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

2.      The Lord Jesus Also Stated This Very tiling. Matthew 24:35. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (See also Mk. 13:3 1; Lk21:33).

3.      Like the stars, during the rising of the sun, seem to flee to more remote regions, and vanish from view, so also when the Son of God shall appear in his glory to judge lost humanity, the earth and all other worlds shall indeed vanish. "The earth and the heaven fled away" An un-creation shall ensue as the natural world shrinks back with awe at the presence of God the Son! (Compare Ps 18:7-15; 77:16-19; 114:3-5; Hab. 3:6, 10-11). The image expresses, in the most emphatic manner, the idea that they entirely disappeared, and no language could more sublimely represent the majesty of the Judge.

B. Will the Heavens and Earth be Cleansed or Destroyed? The question has been raised as to whether the earth and the starry heavens as they are today will be destroyed at this point in the future or will be simply restored to a new state of purity.

1.      Many Bible passage suggest that the earth and the heavens, as now known, will be destroyed (Matt 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 16:17; 21:33; 2 Peter 3:10-13).

2.      This is confirmed by the opening statement of Revelation 21, "the first heaven and the first earth were passed away."

3.      QUOTE: "The present universe was created like a gigantic clock which is running down, and if left to itself, would ultimately come to a state of complete inactivity. Inasmuch as God created the universe and set it in motion for the purpose of enacting the drama of sin and redemption, it would seem proper to begin anew with a new heaven and a new earth suitable for His eternal purpose and built on a different principle. The new heaven and new earth described in chapter 21 has no similarity to the present earth and heaven." —John Walvoord

4.      His Cause. "And there was no place found for them"

A. This Is Preparation for the Eternal Kingdom of God. There is no place for a contaminated earth, heaven, nor people.

B. The Physical World Is Thus Judged and Eliminated Because They Are Utterly Unfit for a Perfect Universe.

B. THE MASSIVE MULTITUDES JUDGED (REV. 20:12A-13)

1. The Final Judgment of All “the dead”—Unbelievers of All Ages (Matt 10:15; 11:22,24; 12:36,41,42; Luke 10:14; John 12:48; Acts 17:31; 24:25; Rom. 2:5,l6; Heb. 9:27:2 Pet. 2:9; 3:7; Jude 6).

A. The Purpose of Establishing the Great White Throne Is to Judge the Dead.

1. John tells us that the dead, great and small, stood before the throne. Hebrews 9:27, And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

2. From other Scriptures it seems that all the righteous dead have been raised, including Old Testament saints, the dead of the Great Tribulation, and the church saints, the body of Christ (Rev 20:4-5).

B. Thus it May Be Assumed That Verses Rev. 20:11-15 Refer to the Judgment of the Wicked Dead, who according to verse 5 would not be resurrected until after the thousand years and will have no part in what is called "the first resurrection. "

C. Those People Who Are Judged at the Great White Throne Judgment Have Rejected God Throughout History, from Adam's son Cain, who killed his brother, to those who rebelled during the end of the Millennium and are killed at the second coming of Christ. In Revelation 20:12-13 and the previous passages, we see that all who reject God, from the first unbeliever to the last, will stand before Jesus at the Great White Throne.

2. Christ Referred to this Event as the "Resurrection of Damnation" (John 5 29)

A. From Where Do These "Dead" Come? (Rev 20:13)

1. Death will give up the bodies, and

2. Hell-hades (the realm of the spirits of the dead) will give up the spirits.

3. The Seas— There will even be a resurrection of bodies from the sea.

4. No sinner will escape.

B. There Shall Be a Second Resurrection!

1. Do not confuse this judgment at the White Throne with the Judgment Seat of Christ where believers will have their works judged and rewarded.

2. At this judgment, there will be only unbelievers; and there will be no rewards.

3. John described here an awesome scene. Heaven and earth will flee away and no place will be left for sinners to hide! All must face the Judge!

3. They Stand Condemned Before God. “stand before God”

A. The unsaved will be raised and will stand before God's judgment. In a judicial sense as guilty condemned prisoners before the bar of divine justice.                                           

B. There are no living sinners left in the destroyed universe since all sinners were killed and all believers glorified.

C. THE MANNER OF THEIR JUDGMENT (REV. 20:12B-13).

1.      They Will Be Judged By Records. Jesus Christ will judge these unsaved people on the basis of what is written "in the books." What books?

A. The Books of Record. Daniel 7:10, A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened

1. These books record every thought, word, and deed of sinful men—all recorded by divine omniscience (see Dan. 7:10, the verse that is the source of this text).

2. They will provide the evidence for eternal condemnation Rev 18:6,7

3. QUOTE: "The fact that these dead have not been raised before is evidence in itself that they do not have eternal life and that their judgment is a judgment of their works. All final judgments deal with works, whether the works of Christians rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ or the works of the unsaved which are in view here. The question of who is saved is determined not in heaven but in life on earth. What is revealed here is the confirmation of one's destiny by means of God's written records." — John Walvoord

B. "The Book of Life" Will Be There.

1. It will be present containing the names of God's redeemed people (Dan. 12:1; Rev 21:27; note also 13:8; 17:8). Philip. 4:3, And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

2. No unsaved person will have his or her name in the Lamb's Book of Life; only true believers are recorded there. Luke 10:20, Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

3. Perhaps the Lord Jesus will check this record as a last and final act of mercy.

2.      They Will Be Judged By the Word. John 12:48, He that rejecteth me. and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. God's Word will be there. The Word that Christ has spoken, will judge sinners in the last day. Every sinner will be held accountable for the truth he or she has heard h this life.

3.      They Will Be Judge By Their Works, "judged everyman according to their works. "

John 3:17-20, For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned^ already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hatetli the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

A.     Their thoughts (Luke 8:17, Rom. 2:16), words (Matt. 12:37), and actions (Matt. 16 27) will be compared to God's perfect, holy standard (Matt 5:48, 1 Pet 1 15, 16) and will be found wanting (Rom 3:23).

B.     This Also Implies That There Are Degrees of Punishment in Hell (Mark 12:38-40; Luke 12:47, 48; Heb. 10:29). Matthew 10:14-15, And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you. It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

C.     Matthew 11:22, But I say unto you. It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

D.  THE MISERY OF JUDGMENT (REV. 20:14-15).                 

When the judgment is finished, all of the lost will be cast into hell, the lake of fire, the second death. Many people reject the biblical doctrine of hell as being "unchristian," and yet Jesus clearly taught its reality (Matt 18:8; 23:15, 33; 25:46; Mark 9:46). A sentimental kind of humanistic religion will not face the reality of judgment, but they teach a God who loves everyone into heaven and sends no one to hell. This is really one of the biggest lies the devil has ever introduced! Sadly, too many people have believed it.

Hell is a witness to the righteous character of God. He must judge sin. Hell is also a witness to man's responsibility, the fact that he is not a robot or a helpless victim, but a creature able to make choices. God does not merely "send people to hell"; they send themselves by rejecting the Savior God provided (Matt 25:41; John 3:16-21). Hell is also a witness to the awfulness of sin. If we once saw sin as God sees it, we would understand why a place such as hell exists.

In light of Calvary, no lost sinner can condemn God for casting him into hell. God has provided a way of escape, and He has patiently waiting for sinners to repent while believing the Gospel. He will not lower His standards or alter His requirements as they are entirely just. He has ordained that faith in His Son is the only way of salvation. Wisdom is demonstrated when we admit our sinfulness and trust the Savior, Jesus Christ

Conclusion:

Before God can usher in His new heavens and earth, He must finally deal with sin; and this He will do at the Great White Throne. Anyone,...you can escape this terrible judgment by trusting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. By so doing, you never will be a part of the second resurrection or experience the terrors of the second death, the lake of fire.

"He that heareth My Word," said Jesus, "and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment], but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).

Have you trusted Him in order to pass from death unto life?