Scripture: John 14:6
Jesus declares: He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father except through Me.
I. Abundant Life Is In Christ
I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. (John 10:10b)
A. This Life Transforms Us
a new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:17)
- changed from glory to glory into the image of Christ
1. Brings about changes
- Woman at the well (John 4): From one of unworthiness and condemnation, she became the first woman evangelist.
Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. (John 4:28-30)
2. Births new desires
- The Apostle Paul: From a persecutor of Christians to a preacher of the Gospel.
At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 9:20-22)
B. This Life Empowers Us
1. Rejoice In The Midst Of Hardship
- Remember Jesus’ promise in John 16:33 - “… in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
- Rejoice, the battle cry of Christians (Phil 4:4)
- Paul & the first century Christians lived out this truth
2. Be At Peace In Every Challenge
- Jesus is our Prince of Peace and our All-Sufficient Lord
- He lives in us and cares for us
II. Eternal Life Is In Christ
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12)
- Those who receive Christ will never experience a second, spiritual death.
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power. (Rev 20:6)
A. No Fear Of Death
1. The Believer Is Resurrected At Death
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)
2. The Believer Inherits Blessings At Death
- A home in heaven to enjoy God’s Presence forever
We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Cor 5:8)
- A new body - immortal and incorruptible fit for heaven
This body that decays must be changed into a body that cannot decay. This mortal body must be changed into a body that will live forever. (1 Cor 15:53)
B. No Fear Of Judgement
We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Cor 5:10)
At the Judgment Seat of Christ, God is not judging our sins but rewarding us on:
- how faithfully we had served Christ,
- how well we had obeyed the Great Commission
- how victorious we were over sin
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)
