Articles
Five Wonderful Things
Five Wonderful Things
John 5:24 – “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life.”
Hearing The Word Of God Is A WONDERFUL PRIVILEGE – “He That Heareth My Word”
What is a privilege? A privilege is a special advantage, immunity, permission, right, or benefit granted to or enjoyed by an individual or group of individuals. Why is hearing the word of God a wonderful privilege? Hearing the word of God is a wonderful privilege because there is a famine in the land of hearing the word of God today (Amos 8:11-12). Why is there a famine in the land today? There is a famine in the land today because:
Everybody who says they are preaching the gospel is not preaching the gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). We have too many individuals who do not want to hear right things and we have too many preachers catering to them and thus, they are preaching smooth things (Isaiah 30:8-10). Many of us have failed to adhere to the advice the apostle Paul gave to the young preacher Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15. Hearing the word of God is a wonderful privilege we must take full advantage of.
Why must we take advantage of this wonderful privilege? We must take advantage of this wonderful privilege because:
God has invested His power to save men from their sins in the gospel, the word of God (Romans 1:16, 1 Peter 1:22-25, & James 1:21). We are going to be judged by His words in the last day. So, hearing His word takes us out of the realm of ignorance into the region of knowledge when we stand before the Lord (John 12:48).
Jesus Christ Is A WONDERFUL PERSON – “Believeth On Him That Sent Me”
Jesus Christ is so wonderful, it was prophesied this is what His name shall be called (Isaiah 9:6). What makes Jesus a wonderful person? Jesus Christ is a wonderful person because:
He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35). He is the Light of the World (John 8:12). He is the Door of the Sheep (John 10:7-9). He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-14). He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25-26). He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:1-6). He is the True Vine (John 15:1-7).
Everlasting Life Is A WONDERFUL POSSESSION – “Hath Everlasting Life”
What is everlasting life? Everlasting life is the never-ending life. Life that last forever, continues, and perpetuates. Everlasting life is the opposite of dying spiritually (Daniel 12:1-2 & John 4:13-14). How does one obtain this wonderful possession? We can obtain everlasting life by forsaking all and following Christ (Matthew 19:27-29). We can obtain everlasting life by believing in Jesus (John 3:36). We can obtain everlasting life by laboring for the Lord (John 6:27-29). We can obtain everlasting life by doing the will of God (John 6:39-40). We can obtain everlasting life by not judging ourselves unworthy of everlasting life (Acts 13:46). We can obtain everlasting life by obeying God from the heart, yielding ourselves as servants of righteousness by not sinning against God, and receiving God’s free gift of eternal life (Romans 6:16-23).
Not Entering Condemnation Is A WONDERFUL PROMISE – “Shall Not Come Into Condemnation”
What is condemnation? Condemnation is when we are declared guilty and/or wrong. Condemnation is God’s final judgment at the end of His time, but also to other judgments on this time side of life. Condemnation comes because of sin and it is always accurate (Luke 23:39-41). How does one fall into condemnation? We fall into condemnation by not believing in Christ and by doing evil (John 3:18-21). We fall into condemnation by walking after the flesh (Romans 8:1). As a result of Christ’s redemption, we, who walk in the Spirit, can be confident God will keep His promise and not condemn us if we hear and believe His holy and divine word (Psalms 34:22). We have an assurance God will take our side against all adversaries (Isaiah 50:7-10).
Moving From Death To Life Is A WONDERFUL PASSAGE – “Is Passed From Death Unto Life”
What is a passage? A passage is a crossing place. By hearing God’s wonderful word, by believing in His wonderful Son, by taking hold of His wonderful possession, and by trusting in His wonderful promise, then and only then are we passed from death to life. We pass from death to life at the point of water baptism (Romans 6:4). This wonderful passage can take us from being carnally minded to being spiritually minded (Romans 8:6). This wonderful passage can take us from hating one another to loving one another (1 John 3:14). This wonderful passage can take us from darkness to the everlasting light of God (Colossians 1:12-13).
In the songs we sing in worship to our God, the Lord’s “wonder” is not limited to just Five Wonderful Things. In Heaven, won’t it be wonderful there? (Revelation 21:4). God’s story of love is wonderful (John 3:16). God’s words of life are wonderful (James 1:21). God’s peace of mind is wonderful (Philippians 4:7). We ought to thank God for the all the things He has blessed us with, which makes us say, “WOW!” Hearing God’s word is a wonderful privilege we are not to take lightly. Jesus Christ is a wonderful person, who died so we can obtain a wonderful possession called everlasting life. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise (2 Peter 3:9), for this reason, we know God is not only a promise keeper, but the guarantee of a wonderful promise. If we remain faithful to God, then condemnation will not be our end, but we will take another passageway. A wonderful passage, which does not take us from bad to worse, but from death to life!
Wonderful, wonderful, Jesus is to me;
Counselor, Prince of Peace, Mighty God is He;
Saving me, keeping me from my sin and shame;
Wonderful is my Redeemer – praise His name! (Isaiah 9:6).
