MILLIONS HAVE COME BACK FROM THE DEAD! The News READ ALL ABOUT IT!

EVERYDAY, somewhere in the world, someone comes back from the         dead.   But what's even more amazing is that these people didn't even know they were dead to begin with.   In fact, for many of them, their "coming back" took place almost simultaneously with the realization that they were dead. Confused?   You're not the first one! In the Gospel of John, as found in the Bible, we read about a man who was also confused when confronted with the idea of coming back from the dead.   His name was Nicodemus.   He was a Pharisee, a religious leader of the Jews, who lived around 30 A.D.   Nicodemus met Jesus Christ, whom at that time was going around and teaching that a person can come back from the dead.   Starting in John, Chapter Three, we pick up the conversation . . . "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.   Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."   John 3:1-3 Nicodemus, confused by the term "born again," made the following statement: "Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" John 3:4 Nicodemus was thinking of a physical rebirth, whereas Jesus was referring to a different kind of birth altogether--He was talking about a spiritual birth.   Jesus went on to explain: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.   Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."   John 3:6-7 The term "born again" is one of the most misunderstood terms heard today.   Many have used it to describe a "revitalizing" of one's life.   However, Jesus Christ, who originated the term, wasn't talking about an emotional revitalization.   He was describing a spiritual enlivening, a coming back from being spiritually dead! But who is SPIRITUALLY DEAD to begin with . . . ?

. . . EVERYONE! Let's start from the beginning.   The Bible says that: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness....   So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."   Gen. 1:26-27 We were originally created in God's image.   That means we both share the same range of emotions, and thus can interact with one another in a relationship.   Contrary to popular thought, God is not some impersonal force.   We are made in his likeness, so if you want to learn how personable God can be, just look in the mirror!    There is, yet, another way in which we resemble God.   God is a trinity, A TRIUNE BEING, one God manifested in three persons.   "the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19).   Thus, man was also created as a triune being, consisting of "spirit and soul and body" (1 Thess. 5:23). The Bible teaches that when God created man He: "formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."   (Gen. 2:7)   The SOUL is us, our personality; it provides "self- awareness."   However, a soul by itself cannot interact with the physical realm. That's why God gave man a BODY with five senses that act as ‘windows’, enabling him to know the world around him.   The body provides "physical- awareness."    However, a soul inside a body is still not enough.   To have a personal relationship with God, man needs a spirit, since, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."   (John 4:24) So, man was also given a SPIRIT to enable him to know God; to perceive the spiritual realm in much the same way that his body enables him to perceive the physical world.   Man's spirit provides "spiritual-awareness."   Thus, everything was in place for a perfect relationship between God and man, until: MAN DIED, SPIRITUALLY! The first man, Adam, and his wife Eve, rebelled against God and died spiritually, therefore losing their spiritual connection with God (Genesis 3:1-24).   This spiritual death has been passed down to every generation (Genesis 5:3; Romans 5:12), causing mankind to grope around in spiritual blindness searching for God.    With only a "physical-awareness" to go by, man tends to need a physical prop to focus on when trying to worship something spiritual.   For instance, the average church goer expects a church to LOOK a certain way: Candles, stain glass, statues, ritual acts, minister wearing a religious robe, etc.   These visual aids help them FEEL

spiritual.   Others will seek a place where they can have an experience through their five senses: Tongues, faith healing, miracles, "feeling the spirit move them," etc. The Buddhist, among others, seek to FEEL a state of nirvana, a peaceful and blissful state, an altered sense of reality . . . We can go on, but the point is, the average person tries to worship God in the flesh, through his five senses.   He has no other choice, he's spiritually dead.   He can't just KNOW God with the same sense of assurance that he knows the world. God is not as REAL to him as the world is.   It requires a spiritual birth to discern the things of God.   The Bible says: "But the natural [spiritually dead] man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."   1 Cor. 2:14 Without this spiritual discernment the Bible is hard to understand.   Its teachings will seem foolish and outdated; difficult to simply accept as written without feeling compelled to have to intellectualize and modify it.   "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.   Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."   1 Cor. 2:11-12 Surely, some may disagree with what they've just read.   But all they have to do is be honest with themselves.   When the religious "atmosphere" of the church is gone, how often do they think about God?   Is He real to them the other six days of the week? The fact that many view religion as something better left for Sundays shows that there is no real relationship with God taking place.   God doesn't exist only on Sundays.   He's alive and well the rest of the time.   He's just as real whether you're sitting in church or sitting on a deserted island. SO, ASK YOURSELF: how real is God to me?   How often do I think about Him? Do I need religious props in order to get religious or can I worship God in the spirit, by myself, in a dark room, without using any of my five senses?   Have I been born again or am I still spiritually dead?   Jesus said, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."   (John 3:7)   The Apostle Paul reminded those who had been born again that: "you hath he quickened [brought back to life], who were dead in trespasses and sins;" Eph. 2:1. Friend, have you come back from the dead? To learn how, read the back [below].

IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE you would go to Heaven?   The Bible says YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13). BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps you from going to Heaven are your sins, because: "...your iniquities [sins] have separated between you and your God," Isaiah 59:2. In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23. SECONDLY, you must realize that there is NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn Heaven: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."   Eph. 2:8-9   Baptism, good deeds, church membership, self-righteousness are all examples of good works that cannot save you, because: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he [Christ] saved us," Titus 3:5. THE ONLY WAY you can get saved is through Jesus Christ.   He said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."   (John 14:6)   THAT'S WHY: "...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."   (Rom. 5:8-9). THEREFORE: You must REPENT (change your mind); admit that you are a Hell deserving sinner and can't save yourself.   And call upon Christ, and Him alone, to save you.   "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [REPENT], and shalt believe in thine heart [TRUST] that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."   Romans 10:9 SEND THE LIGHT P.O. Box 815   Fargo, ND 58107

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