December 4, 2020 – I'm Following Jesus

King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Friday, December 04, 2020
Chapters: I Corinthians 15-16
Message: By The Grace of God

Hello My Friend,

I have been giving the Gospel since I dedicated my life to Christ in 2006, started my ministry in 2008, and been reading the Bible through since 2007. I get up just about every morning between four and five o’clock in the morning to spend time with God, and have been writing these devotions since 2008. I am a Sunday School teacher, choir member, children’s church and nursery worker, and I am not bragging on myself. In fact, I have nothing to brag about at all because I am the biggest sinner of all, the chiefest of sinners. Who am I bragging on? Jesus Christ. Without Christ, none of this would even be a factor in my life, and as much as I fail in my flesh now, I do not want to know where I would be if Christ was not in it. I am who I am today only by the grace of God, and by my faith in accepting Jesus Christ as my Saviour. The Gospel we preach is nothing any “religion” or “religious figure” can compare to, in fact, there is only one Gospel to accept for our salvation and that is Christ.

[1 Corinthians 15:1-4,9-10 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet 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 which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.]

[But by the grace of God I am what I am:] Never forget that we are who we are only by the grace of God. We can do none of the work of Christ if it were not for the grace of God. And let me tell you, we are the least qualified to do anything for Jesus, but He chooses us anyway. Why? Because of our faith. We believe that Christ not only died to save us from our sins, but that He was buried, and three days later arose from the dead to break the curse of death that was passed down to all of us though Adam, our earthly father. I Corinthians 15 gives the clearest message of the Gospel all in one chapter, reminding us that all of it, Christ’s sinless death, His burial, and resurrection three days later, was necessary so that we too would be released from the curse. If all we do is believe that He died to save us and nothing else, then we are not saved, we must also believe in His resurrection. And if we are still working our way to salvation after we believe that He died for us, then why did He die? Think about it, Jesus gave His life so that we would no longer be bound to the Law.

[1 Corinthians 15:12-18 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.]

[Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.] Do you understand what this means? In all my years reading the Bible through, this is the first time I picked up on it. These fools that love to tell you that believers that were here before Christ’s passion did not look to the same cross that we look to today must not believe in this verse. If they did not have faith that Christ was going to the cross they too would have been in hell just like we who must believe that He has gone to the cross, [Acts 3:22-23 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.]

Paul is being sarcastic here, he is saying, “What are you basing your faith on if you believe there is no resurrection? Are you just going to live it up because you are going to die?” You cannot change or alter one line from the Gospel, if you do not believe that Jesus is sinless, was born of a virgin, and that He arose three days later, then your faith is in vain, and Christ is not in you. Yes, life is vapor, we are not guaranteed tomorrow, all we have is today, and if we are not saved before we take our last breath on earth we will not be a part of the Kingdom of God or the resurrection. It is through the curse from Adam that we all die, but it is through our faith in Christ that we are made alive.

[1 Corinthians 15:22-26 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.]

[Christ the firstfruits;] Jesus is the first one to resurrect from the dead after His passion, and there were other believers who resurrected also. [Matthew 27:50-53 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.]

[afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.] That would be all of us today, and all believers who died before Christ returns. All believers who died, and this goes all the way back to Adam, will resurrect. [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.]

[Then cometh the end,] These are those who are not saved, they are the ones who will stand before Jesus for judgment before Satan gets his judgment, [Revelation 20:12-15 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.]

[The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.] There will come a day when there will be no more death, in fact, there will be no more pain, sorrow, sickness, or sin for all believers. Our bodies will not only resurrect, they will become new, immortal, in fact, [1 Corinthians 15:50-54 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.]

[that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;] This is the same thing that Jesus said in so many words when He told Nicodemus that we must be born again, [John 3:3-7 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.]

What a glorious day it will be when our bodies will awaken from our sleep to receive our spiritual bodies. Death is Satan, and he is going to be destroyed one day, along with the Antichrist, false prophets, unbelievers, and anyone who has not called on Christ to save them. Paul encourages us to stay in church, give tithe, keep preaching the Gospel, and our eye out for Christ’s return at all times.

[1 Corinthians 16:1-2,13-14,22-23 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 14 Let all your things be done with charity. 22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. 23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.]

[let him be Anathema Maranatha.] Anathema; accursed to damnation (hell), Maranatha; our Lord is coming. What Paul is saying is that, Our Lord is coming, and those whom have rejected Him will receive damnation. It is simple to be saved from this, just admit you are a sinner, believe in the Gospel, and confess that you need Christ to save you. Jesus gave His life for all, but it will only be those who believe in Him that will be saved from damnation, [John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 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.]

Today’s Prayer: God, I run into people trying to alter my faith, they tempt me, try me, doubt me, but I know the truth. Lord, keep me in Your Word, never let me cease from praying, help me to learn and never cease to teach Your truths so I can withstand what is actually Satan’s attempt to keep me from telling others. Lead me and guide me, give me Your power, wisdom, mercy, and above all Your grace to get through each day, keep me hopeful, joyful, and steadfast in the Gospel of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is my Lord and Saviour and alive in me. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://readytofollow.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus Missions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/welcome/
I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readytofollowJesus/