Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October 16
Friday


THE DEFEAT
OF DEATH

READ:
1 Thess. 4:15-18
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Thanks be to God,
who gives us the
victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ.
__1 Corinthians 15:57
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Christian faith ought to make a difference in how we live from day to day. But the final test of our trust in the gospel is how we react in the face of death. When we attend a memorial service for a departed friend who loved the Lord Jesus, we gather to honor a believer whose stalwart trust has richly blessed the lives of those who knew him. The words spoken are more an expression of praise to God than a tribute to an admired fellow pilgrim. The service is a God-glorifying testimony to our Savior's victory over death and the grave (1 Cor. 15:54-57).

How different from the funeral service of Charles Bradlaugh, a belligerent British atheist. Writer Arthur Porritt recalls: "No prayer was said at the grave. Indeed, not a single word was uttered. The remains, placed in a light coffin, were lowered into the earth in a quite unceremonious fashion as if carrion were being hustled out of sight....I came away heart-frozen. It only then dawned on me that loss of faith in the continuity of human personality after death gives death an appalling victory."

Christians, however, believe in a face-to-face fellowship with our Lord after death and the eventual resurrection of our bodies (1 Cor. 15:42-55; 1 Thess, 4:15-18). Does your faith rejoice in victory over death? __Vernon Grounds
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``````````From earth's wide bounds and ocean's farthest coast,```````
``````````Through gates of pearl stream in the countless host,````````
````````````````Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost--```````````
`````````````````````Alleluia! Alleluia! __How```````````````````
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Because christ is alive, we too shall live.

************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18******

15 For this we say to you
by the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive and
remain until the coming of
the Lord will by no means
precede those who are
asleep. 16 For the Lord
Himself will descend from
heaven with a shout, with
the voice of an archangel,
and with the trumpet of
God. And the dead in Christ
will rise first. 17 Then we
who are alive and remain
shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always
be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one
another with these words.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

This passage in 1 Thessalonians is a great source of comfort for
those who have had loved ones die who were believers in Christ.
When Jesus returns for His church, the dead will be raised and then
the living will rejoin them to be with Christ forever (vv. 13-17).
__DENNIS FISHER

[Lani]

Hey Cimi Sis,

Because christ is alive, we too shall live.

Thank you Jesus!

Thanks for continuing to share sis!!

Peace and Luv in Christ,

Lani

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