Comfort for the Bereaving Family and Friends of Auntie Aurea A. Pasamba (May 16, 2021)
13But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen [b]asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who [c]sleep in Jesus.
15For 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 [d]asleep. 16For 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. 17Then 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. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words. {1 Thessalonians 13}
As long as there is hope, until they resist the Holy Spirit to their eternal ruin, men are guarded by heavenly intelligences. {Prayer by EGW page 255 paragraph 3}
Why do we die? Because of sin. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
The first death should not be scary. The second death is scary.
- "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28
- "The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death." Revelation 2:11
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28
For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Ecclesiastes 9:5
When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Psalm 146:4
Why Jesus has not yet come?
- The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24
But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:13-14
But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10
6For when we were still without strength, [d]in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11
But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more Romans 5:20
"What must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30
- 31So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
- 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
- 33And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
- 34Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18
Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1
1 Corinthians 6:9Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [b]homosexuals, nor [c]sodomites, 10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
- 11And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were [d]sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
How to overcome sins?
- Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith... Hebrews 12:2
- Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. Matthew 26:41
- Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11
- I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13
- 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Provebs 3:5-6
- Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials 2 Peter 2:9
Glorify God in what we live and what we die for
- Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
- This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” John 21:19
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3
