Eternal Love - Mark 12:18-27
How do we know when our interpretation of the Scripture is correct? Jesus points back to Scripture to answer. Don't let one verse stand on its own authority, but read it in the whole context of the Bible! That's the basis of sound doctrine.
v18... Sadducees believed there's no resurrection, no afterlife. They exalted the pentateuch over all else, and it's not resurrection-focused. To their thinking, man is largely in charge of his own destiny.
Jesus will respond to their question from the pentateuch!
Sadducees look at marriage as a permanent institution, even in the afterlife.
v24... They're off track because they know neither the scriptures nor the power of God!
Sometimes the most learned people are the most backwards and wrong. The Sadducees' education focused on cherry-picking verses in a limited context.
Jeremiah 22:29... God's word is like fire, like a hammer! Hebrews 4:12: it's sharper than a two-edged sword. If the Bible is true, we can trust it completely! All Scripture is breathed out by God.
How do we ensure we're not being led astray in our reading of Scripture? We use Scripture to interpret Scripture!
2 Timothy 3:16... It's all breathed by God, profitable for teaching. It will tell you who God is! Profitable for reproof. For correction, restoration!
We need God to constantly lead us in the way. We must be complete, and equipped for every good work.
Let the Word beat you up! It'll equip you for every good work. Store his Word in your heart, prepare yourself for reasonable service, so you're ready to serve instantly, in season and out of season.
Your family needs you to be in the Word! Your wife needs a godly husband, your kids need a godly father. Be ready for every good work.
The Sadducees were also ignorant of the power of God over death. Believing in the resurrection is an elementary requirement of Christianity. Our country has been raised without God for generations, and the culture no longer believes in life after death. There's no accountability for sin.
Christ died and rose again, so when we die, we will rise again!
v25... Resurrection is not optional; we WILL rise after death, either to eternal life or eternal judgment.
Marriage is indeed for a lifetime, but not for eternity!
v26-27... He is the God of the living!
Is God's love limited by the grave? No! He's faithful until death, and beyond. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord! His steadfast love endures forever!
1 Corinthians 13... Love is patient, kind... He's describing the love of Jesus for his people.
If you know you're a sinner in need of a savior... His love for you cannot be broken!
You're never closer to your deceased loved ones than when you're worshipping God! There is no death in his presence. Death is just a beginning for the believer!
Romans 8:31... If God is for us, who can be against us? It's God who justifies!
Who can separate us from God's love? Nobody. Nothing.
We are more than conquerors through him! Because he loves us, we live! His love is forever fixed on you! There's no condemnation for you. And because of his love for us, we will love him all the days of our lives!