34.w. “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.”

 

Matthew 22:29  But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.

 Job 19:25-27    For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,  whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

 Psalms 16:9-11    Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.  For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.  You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

 Isaiah 26:19    Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.

 Jeremiah 32:17    ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

 Genesis 18:14    Is anything too hard for the LORD?

 Acts 26:8    Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

 Mark 12:27   He is not God of the dead, but of the living.

In this world, death takes away one after another, and so ends all earthly hopes, joys, sorrows, and connections. How wretched are those who look for nothing better beyond the grave! If a person does not understand scripture they will not understand even less of faith in the Power of God. It is possible for a person to have much Bible knowledge, yet not fundamentally know the Scriptures. The Sadducees denied supernatural truths such as the existence of angelic beings and the bodily resurrection. They had a fundamental doubt about the power of God to do beyond what they could measure and understand in the material world; many today are like the Sadducees in this respect.

“If you knew the power of God, you would know that God is able to raise the dead…If you knew the Scriptures, you would know that God will raise the dead.” (Poole)

Know this, God will raise the dead, some to eternal life and some to eternal torment. To know Jesus Christ and have a relationship with Him, having faith in Him, relying on Him, trusting Him, following Him, obeying Him, is much different than knowing of Him and putting your trust in the knowledge of Him rather than knowing Him. Resurrection from the dead will happen just as eternal judgment will happen. Having a knowing relationship with Jesus Christ assures the promise of eternal life just as not knowing or having a relationship with Him promises eternal torment. A person intentionally chooses to have this trusting and reliant relationship with Jesus or not. This choice will result in your eternal destiny. Every person is without excuse for the whole and entire Word of God proclaims this from beginning to end.

15.n. “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

John 5:19  So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Mark 16:16    Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Romans 10:13    For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

1 John 5:11-13   And this is the testimony, that God gave 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.  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

Death is the country where every Christless soul lives. The man who knows not God lives a dying life or a living death, but he who believes in the Son of God passes over from the empire of death to the empire of life.” (Clarke)  I recently heard of a person saying “Pro-choice” (abortion) is a God-given right.  He has given us the freedom to choose and that makes it ok to be “Pro-choice.”  Part of this is true – God does give us free will to choose.  The free will choice to believe or not to believe.  The free will choice to right rather than wrong.  The free will choice to speak the truth or lies.  The free will choice to give generously or take greedily.  The free will choice to love or hate.  The free will choice to hope or fear.  The free will choice to believe in Jesus Christ or not.  Our free-will choices throughout life have consequences on this side of the grave.  But there is one free will choice that will have eternal consequences.  When the free-will choice is made to deny and reject Jesus Christ the consequence is eternal torment forever and ever.  God gave us free-will to choose belief in Jesus Christ.  Essentially, will you use this free will to choose eternity in heave through Jesus Christ or eternity in hell with Satan and the multitudes of other people who have made and died in their free will choice?

Call and I will answer

Psalms 91:14  “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.  When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Romans 8:28     And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

James 1:12     Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

James 2:5    Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

Galatians 4:9     But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

John 12:43     for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Jeremiah 33:3     Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Isaiah 58:9    Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

Acts 18:9     And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent  for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

John 12:26     If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

2 Corinthians 1:9     Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him,” “Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;”  “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” We have great promises from God.  Call to Me and I will answer is one not to forget.   Sometimes all we want is an answer, to know that God will respond means we can wait in peace for His reply.  Waiting in perfect peace is an attribute grown in faith, through trust, reliance, hope, and understanding knowledge of God.  Being in the presence of God, through faith, will eliminate anxiousness as we await God’s perfect response.