~
Both Destinations Are For Eternity ~
Two
Roads Lead To Two Eternal Destinies
~ Jesus said, “Enter by the
narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad
is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by
it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,
and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Two
Eternal Destinies Contrasted
~ “Just as through one man sin
entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(For until the law sin
was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to
Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the
transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died,
much more the grace of God and the gift
by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came
through the one who sinned. For the
judgment which came from one offense resulted
in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned
through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift
of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ)” (Romans
5:12-17).
“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may
have the right to the tree of life,
and may enter through the gates into the city.
But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers
and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie” (Revelation 22:14-15).
Eternal
Glory For Believers
~ “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen,
and settle you. To Him be the glory and
the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1
Peter 5:10-11).
“Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect,
that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This is a faithful saying: for if we died with
Him, we shall also live with Him. If we
endure, we shall also reign with Him. If
we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we
are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:10-13).
Eternal
Torment For Unbelievers
~ “If your hand causes you to
sin, cut it off. It is better for you to
enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—where
‘The worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it
off. It is better for you to enter life
lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—where
‘The worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it
out. It is better for you to enter the
kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—where ‘The worm does not die and
the fire is not quenched’” (Mark
9:43-48).
“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it
is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of
you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the
churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations
that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God,
that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also
suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those
who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord
Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and
on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall
be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from
the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His
saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony
among you was believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10).
~
Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
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