Believers
(Embracing the Truth)
Justified by the Death & Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Embedded Files
Step1: Bible Reading to Meditate
Step1: Bible Reading to Meditate
A Man Born Blind Receives Sight: John 9
9 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.
Disciples Understanding
2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus Compassion
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I[a] must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Blind Man's Faith Test: - Blindly Believed
6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.
Neighbor's Curiosity
8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was [b]blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”
9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, [c]“He is like him.”
He said, “I am he.”
10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
Blind Man's 1st Witness: Jesus as Man
11 He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to [d]the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”
12 Then they said to him, “Where is He?”
He said, “I do not know.”
The Pharisees struggle in Embracing the Truth
13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”
16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not [e]keep the Sabbath.”
Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.
17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?”
Blind Man's 2nd Witness: Jesus as Prophet
He said, “He is a prophet.”
The Pharisees struggle in Embracing the Truth
18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”
Blind Man's Parent's Fear
20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
The Pharisees struggle in Embracing the Truth
24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”
25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”
27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”
28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”
Blind Man's 3rd Witness: Jesus - Came from God
30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
Blind Man's Trial
34 They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they [f]cast him out.
Blind Man and Son of God - Experience
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of [g]God?”
36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”
37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”
38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.
True Vision and True Blindness - Faith
39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”
41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
Fear vs Faith
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[c] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”
53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Conviction vs Repentance
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector: Luke 19:1-10
19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Understanding vs Embracing
The Death of Lazarus: John 11:1-45
11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha's Understanding:
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
Martha's Unbelief:
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Challenges in Embracing the Truth
Discovering Truth vs Embracing Truth
Challenge: We may know facts about God intellectually but fail to surrender our lives fully to Him.
Reflection: Knowledge without obedience is incomplete; embracing truth requires surrender and personal transformation.
Key Verse: John 8:32 – “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The truth about Jesus must be lived, not just known.
Believing Facts about Jesus vs Believing in Him
Challenge: Accepting who Jesus is as a historical or theological fact vs trusting Him personally for salvation.
Reflection: Faith goes beyond intellectual assent; it requires reliance and trust in Jesus for eternal life.
Key Verse: John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Doubts vs Assurance
Challenge: Wrestling with questions while trying to maintain confidence in God.
Reflection: Doubts do not nullify faith; through questioning and wrestling, faith matures.
Key Verse: Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons... will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Grace vs Truth
Challenge: Accepting grace superficially vs understanding the depth and demands of God’s truth.
Reflection: Grace without truth risks complacency; genuine grace transforms life.
Key Verse: John 1:17 – “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Fear vs Faith
Challenge: Responding to uncertainty, trials, or the unknown.
Reflection: Faith acts as an antidote to fear; trusting God in trials produces courage.
Key Verse: Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
God’s Sovereignty vs Man’s Responsibility
Challenge: Reconciling God’s complete control over the universe with our accountability for choices.
Reflection: God orchestrates events, yet we are called to act responsibly within His plan.
Key Verse: Philippians 2:12-13 – “...work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
Justification vs Sanctification
Challenge: Instantaneous declaration of righteousness vs the lifelong journey of holiness.
Reflection: Justification is a gift; sanctification is a process of growing to reflect God’s character.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:11 – “...but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Receiving Holy Spirit vs Empowerment of Holy Spirit
Challenge: Indwelling of the Spirit at salvation vs active empowerment for ministry and witness.
Reflection: God’s presence in us is different from His power through us to fulfill His work.
Key Verse: Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Fruits of Spirit vs Gifts of Spirit
Challenge: Developing Christlike character vs exercising spiritual abilities.
Reflection: Gifts without character can harm; character without gifts may limit ministry impact.
Key Verses: Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 – “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them... All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”
Faith vs Hope
Challenge: Trusting God now vs looking forward to His promises in the future.
Reflection: Faith anchors hope; hope sustains faith through trials.
Key Verse: Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Original Sin vs Ongoing Sin
Challenge: Recognizing inherited sin vs daily struggles with temptation and sin.
Reflection: Confession and repentance are essential for spiritual growth.
Key Verse: 1 John 1:8-9 – “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Confession vs Repentance
Challenge: Saying sorry vs genuinely turning from sin.
Reflection: True confession produces repentance; repentance leads to transformation.
Key Verse: Acts 3:19 – “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
Salvation is Instant vs Ongoing
Challenge: Receiving justification at one moment vs lifelong growth in sanctification.
Reflection: Justification is a starting point; sanctification is an ongoing journey of becoming like Christ.
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Attending Church vs Being Church
Challenge: Focusing only on physical attendance vs living out faith in community.
Reflection: Church is more than a building; it is a living body where believers serve, support, and grow together.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:27 – “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
Worship vs Singing Hymns
Challenge: Expressing devotion through songs vs engaging in heartfelt worship.
Reflection: True worship transcends singing; it is surrender, praise, and adoration from the heart.
Key Verse: John 4:24 – “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Stand vs State of Faith
Challenge: Maintaining firm belief in trials vs living daily in ongoing faith.
Reflection: Faith is both a stance in the midst of challenges and a constant posture of the heart.
Key Verse: Ephesians 6:13 – “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Righteousness vs Holiness
Challenge: Being declared right before God vs living a set-apart, holy life.
Reflection: Justification is a declaration; holiness is the practical outworking of God’s work in us.
Key Verse: 1 Peter 1:16 – “For it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
Peace with Others vs Love Others
Challenge: Seeking harmony vs demonstrating sacrificial, active love.
Reflection: Striving for peace is necessary, but love often requires action, forgiveness, and sacrifice.
Key Verse: Romans 12:18 – “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Mercy vs Justice
Challenge: Balancing God’s compassion with His righteousness.
Reflection: God is both merciful and just; believers are called to reflect both in how they live and act.
Key Verse: Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Freedom vs Obedience
Challenge: Experiencing liberty in Christ vs submitting to God’s moral guidance.
Reflection: True freedom is found not in lawlessness but in obedience to God’s Word.
Key Verse: Galatians 5:13 – “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
Providence vs Prayer
Challenge: Trusting God’s plan while actively interceding in prayer.
Reflection: God is sovereign, but He invites our participation through prayer in His work in the world.
Key Verse: Matthew 6:10 – “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Faith vs Works
Challenge: Believing God vs demonstrating faith through actions.
Reflection: Works are the evidence of faith; they are not the basis of salvation but the fruit of a living faith.
Key Verse: James 2:17 – “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Love vs Discipline
Challenge: Showing grace while maintaining boundaries and accountability.
Reflection: Love sometimes requires correction; discipline protects, guides, and strengthens character.
Key Verse: Hebrews 12:6 – “Because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Hope vs Patience
Challenge: Longing for God’s promises while enduring delays or trials.
Reflection: Patience sustains hope, and enduring trials strengthens trust in God’s timing.
Key Verse: Romans 8:25 – “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
Light vs Darkness
Challenge: Living according to God’s truth while confronting sin and evil.
Reflection: Believers walk in the light of God’s truth but must remain vigilant against darkness.
Key Verse: 1 John 1:7 – “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
Eternity vs Present Life
Challenge: Focusing on eternal hope while fulfilling present responsibilities faithfully.
Reflection: Faith balances the future with faithful living today, prioritizing God’s kingdom over earthly distractions.
Key Verse: Colossians 3:2 – “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
John's Test for Believers
Faith in the Incarnate Son of God: I John 5
5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Concluding Affirmations
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
Paul's Test for Believers
The Resurrection of Christ: I Corinthians 15
15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
The Resurrection of the Dead
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.”[c] Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
“Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.”[d]
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”[e] 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.
The Resurrection Body
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”[f]; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we[g] bear the image of the heavenly man.
50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[h]
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”[i]
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Believer's Doctrinal Challenge
In today’s world, many believers confess faith in Christ yet wrestle with a clear understanding of the relationship between justification and sanctification. While Scripture presents these truths as distinct yet inseparable aspects of salvation, misunderstandings often arise. Sadly, many fall into one of three distortions: believing that justification alone is sufficient without the pursuit of sanctification, trusting traditions as a means of justification, or reversing the biblical order by treating sanctification as the path to justification. Each of these errors, though common, undermines the fullness of the gospel and weakens the believer’s walk with God.
1. Justification is enough and sanctification is not required.
Error: This doctrine suggests that once a person is justified (declared righteous through faith in Christ), there is no need for sanctification (the ongoing process of being made holy). It can lead to antinomianism—living as though God’s moral law no longer matters.
Biblical Correction:
Justification and sanctification are distinct but inseparable.
Hebrews 12:14: “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
James 2:17: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
True justification always produces the fruit of sanctification.
2. Traditions lead to justification.
Error: This is the belief that keeping human traditions, rituals, or religious customs can justify us before God. It reduces justification to works or legalism.
Biblical Correction:
Galatians 2:16: “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.”
Jesus Himself warned against elevating traditions above God’s Word (Mark 7:8–9).
Justification is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone—never through traditions or human rules.
3. Sanctification eventually leads to justification.
Error: This teaches that our holy living will eventually earn or secure our justification. This reverses the biblical order. It places sanctification (our works) before justification (God’s declaration).
Biblical Correction:
Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God.”
Justification is the foundation; sanctification is the result.
Works and holy living are evidence of justification, not the cause.
True Doctrine:
Justification = God’s declaration that we are righteous because of Christ’s finished work.
Sanctification = God’s ongoing work in us to make us holy, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The order is crucial: Justification → Sanctification → Glorification.
True Sign of Embracing the Truth: Spiritual Revelation to Worship God
Jesus’ Paradox Explained:
He declares that He came so that “those who do not see may see” — meaning those who humbly admit their lack of understanding can receive spiritual insight.
And that “those who see may be made blind” — referring to those who believe they already know everything, whose pride blinds them from truth.
Two Kinds of People in the Story:
The Humble (Spiritually Blind Who Admit It):
Acknowledge their need for God.
Are open to learning and believing in Jesus.
Like the healed man, they receive true spiritual sight through faith.
The Proud (Those Who Claim to See):
Represented by the Pharisees.
Refuse to admit their need for spiritual help.
Their pride and self-righteousness make them spiritually blind.
The Pharisees’ Question:
When they ask, “Are we blind also?” they misunderstand Jesus’ meaning, thinking only of physical blindness instead of spiritual blindness.
Jesus’ Response (v. 41):
“If you were blind, you would have no sin.” → If they admitted their ignorance and sought truth, they could be forgiven.
“But now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” → Because they claim to understand while rejecting the truth, their guilt remains.
Spiritual Insight:
True blindness is not the inability to see, but the refusal to admit one’s blindness.
Humility opens the door to revelation; pride shuts it.
Lesson:
Self-righteousness blocks spiritual vision.
Humility and dependence on God bring true sight — the ability to recognize who Jesus truly is and to live in His truth.
Step2: Sermons to Meditate
Biblical Tests of True Faith - Paul Washer
Charle's New Master - Rohit Kurien
What does Spirit Filled Life Look Like - Vlad Savchuk
Galatiionism - Rohit Kurien
Step 3. Assessment to Think deep and Examine
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