Amazingly How Scripture Ties Together

     It is the most amazing thing to me how the Bible all ties together. 66 books by 40 authors over a couple thousand years, through 5 countries and three languages yet it all ties together. 

This 2 Corinthians 4:14 passage stuck in my head recently while reading it in context it brought me to such clarity of how much Christ did for us. Just as God raised Jesus (Paul's exhortation to the Jews and Gentiles in the synagogue at Antioch, Acts 13:34), so we believing in Jesus will be raised together with Jesus,  1Thessalonians 4:16-18 . 

Then reading at the end of Paul's exhortation  he says referring to what the prophets said  "for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you". Habbakkuk hundreds of years before Jesus was ever born predicted his resurrection. People in the old and new testament have been raised but they did not conquer death, only Jesus was raised and is seated at the right hand of God in glory. Only Jesus death and resurrection conquered death. It gives me the peace of God to be assured of such a great hope to be raised with Jesus and my loved ones at the last trumpet call on the last day. 

At the end of that same passage it says "would never believe even if someone told you". Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus says similar "they will not be convinced even if someone raises from the dead"Luke 16:31. Jesus knows our hearts and that we are born enemies of God and need His free gift of salvation given to us by his grace and faith in Him.

I hope you will find strength, comfort, hope, peace and the joy of your salvation as you are encouraged with these passages. God Bless

2 Corinthians 4:13-15New International Version (NIV)

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18New International Version (NIV)

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Acts 13:26-41

26 “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him,they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.

32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:

“‘You are my son;
    today I have become your father.’

34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,

“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’

35 So it is also stated elsewhere:

“‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’

36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:

41 “‘Look, you scoffers,
    wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
    that you would never believe,
    even if someone told you.’”

Habakkuk 1:5New International Version (NIV)

The Lord’s Answer

5 “Look at the nations and watch—
    and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
    that you would not believe,
    even if you were told.

The Rich Man and Lazarus    Luke 16:19-31

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

³¹ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”