Life #5 - Two Life Promises (1 of 2)

Ko`olau 2011

Jesus declared himself to be the resurrection and the life (John 11:25 NIV). Based upon that declaration, he gave two life promises:

The First is for Christians who die: “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;” (John 11:25 NIV).

When Jesus died, he “gave up the ghost”, ĕkpnĕō (ek-pneh’-o), breathed out his spirit (Mark 15:37 KJV; Matthew 27:50). Afterward, his spirit proclaimed victory to other spirits (1 Peter 3:19). Even the dead had the good news announced to them “that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (1 Peter 4:6). On the third day his body resurrected.

Our departed loved ones also ĕkpnĕō, breathed out their spirits. And, like Jesus, their spirits live on even after their bodies die. Our own experiences validate this truth. Haven’t we at one time or other felt the spirits of our loved ones close by, with us, or surrounding us? Jesus said God is the God of the living not of the dead (Luke 20:38). Their spirits live because the Spirit is life (John 6:63).

Especially encouraging is that the spirits of our loved ones know to whom they belong—and so they return to a generous God who gave them the first breath of life (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Genesis 2:7).

Their spirits live because Jesus kept his promise—he is their Life! And at the last day, when their bodies rise again, he will also be their Resurrection.

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible and Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.