The Message That Gives Life: The Message That Gives Life: Genesis through Revelation Genesis through Revelation

Stephen R. Lewis, Ph.D.Stephen R. Lewis, Ph.D.PresidentPresident

Rocky Mountain Bible CollegeRocky Mountain Bible CollegeRocky Mountain SeminaryRocky Mountain Seminary

The Golden Rule of The Golden Rule of InterpretationInterpretation

““When the plain sense of When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, Scripture makes common sense,

seek no other sense; seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at therefore, take every word at

its primary, its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning ordinary, usual, literal meaning

unless the facts of the unless the facts of the immediate context, immediate context,

studied in the light of related studied in the light of related passages passages

and axiomatic and fundamental and axiomatic and fundamental truths, truths,

indicate clearly otherwise.”indicate clearly otherwise.”[David L. Cooper][David L. Cooper]

The Gospel--The Greatest Message that The Gospel--The Greatest Message that Gives LifeGives Life

It is wise that when we share the Gospel/the Message It is wise that when we share the Gospel/the Message that Gives Everlasting Life to remember these three that Gives Everlasting Life to remember these three

things: things:

1) It (the Message) is always about Him (who He is 1) It (the Message) is always about Him (who He is and what He has done and and what He has done and notnot about us); about us);

2) It is always simple enough for a child to understand; 2) It is always simple enough for a child to understand; and and

3) It must be consistent from Genesis through 3) It must be consistent from Genesis through Revelation.Revelation.

When Adam and Eve ate of fruit from the forbidden When Adam and Eve ate of fruit from the forbidden tree in the Garden, God did not declare them tree in the Garden, God did not declare them

““sinnerssinners”” (although they were and we are); God (although they were and we are); God declared them declared them ““DEADDEAD..”” The result is that every The result is that every human being is estranged from God--"alienated human being is estranged from God--"alienated

from the life of God." Ephesians 4:18. from the life of God." Ephesians 4:18.

Therefore, what man has needed since that time is not Therefore, what man has needed since that time is not only their sins forgiven [think about someone who has only their sins forgiven [think about someone who has been shot and killed—even though they may remove been shot and killed—even though they may remove the bullet (the cause of his death) he still needs life.], the bullet (the cause of his death) he still needs life.],

but more importantly, they have needed but more importantly, they have needed ““LIFELIFE----Everlasting Life.Everlasting Life.””[At the Great White Throne [At the Great White Throne

Judgment, the lost are judged and cast into the Lake of Judgment, the lost are judged and cast into the Lake of Fire. Why? Because their Names are Not Written in Fire. Why? Because their Names are Not Written in

the Lambthe Lamb’’s Book of LIFE (Revelation 20:15). s Book of LIFE (Revelation 20:15). Unbelief is the Unbelief is the causecause for the unsaved not having for the unsaved not having everlasting life. Not having everlasting life is the everlasting life. Not having everlasting life is the reasonreason they are condemned to the Lake of Fire] they are condemned to the Lake of Fire]

At the cross the righteous justice of God was satisfied At the cross the righteous justice of God was satisfied for all humanity (2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; for all humanity (2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 Timothy 2:5-6;

1 Peter 2:24). Jesus Christ is the Propitiation for the 1 Peter 2:24). Jesus Christ is the Propitiation for the Sins of the Whole World (Isaiah 53:6; John 1:29; 2 Sins of the Whole World (Isaiah 53:6; John 1:29; 2

Corinthians 5:19; Hebrews 9:26—10:10; 1 John 2:2). Corinthians 5:19; Hebrews 9:26—10:10; 1 John 2:2). It is by Grace alone, through Faith/Believe/Trust It is by Grace alone, through Faith/Believe/Trust

alone, in Jesus Christalone, in Jesus Christ (based on His Death and (based on His Death and Resurrection) Resurrection) alone that we receive the free gift of alone that we receive the free gift of everlasting life everlasting life (the remedy for everlasting Death). (the remedy for everlasting Death).

Therefore, the person comes to God through believing Therefore, the person comes to God through believing in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ in His role as Mediator in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ in His role as Mediator

bestows everlasting life on the believer, thus bestows everlasting life on the believer, thus introducing him/her to God. God in response accepts introducing him/her to God. God in response accepts

the believing person and pronounces him/her the believing person and pronounces him/her JustifiedJustified. .

LifeLife

NeedNeed

The Promise The Promise (Who?)(Who?)

Genesis 3:15Genesis 3:15Genesis 4:1Genesis 4:1

Genesis 12:1-3, 7Genesis 12:1-3, 7Genesis 22:15-18Genesis 22:15-18

Isaiah 9:6-7Isaiah 9:6-7Isaiah 11:1-2Isaiah 11:1-2

Isaiah 53Isaiah 53

LIFELIFE (Everlasting (Everlasting Life)Life)

John 3:16John 3:16

The Lamb that was Slain before the The Lamb that was Slain before the Foundation of the World (Titus 1:2; Foundation of the World (Titus 1:2;

Revelation 13:8)Revelation 13:8)

The Promised The Promised One = Jesus One = Jesus

ChristChrist

Therefore, the person comes to God through believing in Jesus Therefore, the person comes to God through believing in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ in His role as Mediator bestows Christ. Jesus Christ in His role as Mediator bestows everlasting life on the believer, thus introducing him/her to everlasting life on the believer, thus introducing him/her to God. God in response accepts the believing person and God. God in response accepts the believing person and pronounces him/her justified. The Issue is believing in Jesus pronounces him/her justified. The Issue is believing in Jesus Christ for the Free gift of Everlasting Life based on Jesus Christ for the Free gift of Everlasting Life based on Jesus Christ’s Death and ResurrectionChrist’s Death and Resurrection.. [[““Jesus is the Christ, the Son of GodJesus is the Christ, the Son of God”” (cf. John 20:30-31) as the only One who can give the free gift of Everlasting (cf. John 20:30-31) as the only One who can give the free gift of Everlasting Life to those who believe/trust/place their faith in Him alone. This can only be a Life to those who believe/trust/place their faith in Him alone. This can only be a legitimate offer if He is the Lord God. legitimate offer if He is the Lord God. ““. . .no other kind of savior can save . . .no other kind of savior can save except a God-Man. Deity and humanity must be combined in order to provide a except a God-Man. Deity and humanity must be combined in order to provide a satisfactory salvation...He must be God in order that that death be effective for satisfactory salvation...He must be God in order that that death be effective for an infinite number of persons.an infinite number of persons.””(Balancing the Christian Life p. 175)](Balancing the Christian Life p. 175)]

The Great White Throne JudgmentThe Great White Throne Judgment—Why cast into the Lake of Fire? —Why cast into the Lake of Fire?

Because their Names are Not Written Because their Names are Not Written in the in the Lamb’s Book of LIFE Lamb’s Book of LIFE

(Revelation 20:15)(Revelation 20:15) Unbelief is the cause for the unsaved not having everlasting life. Not

having everlasting life is the reason they are condemned to the Lake of Fire.

Jesus Christ is the Propitiation for the Sins of the Jesus Christ is the Propitiation for the Sins of the Whole World (Isaiah 53:6; John 1:29; 2 Corinthians Whole World (Isaiah 53:6; John 1:29; 2 Corinthians

5:19; Hebrews 9:26—10:10; 1 John 2:2)5:19; Hebrews 9:26—10:10; 1 John 2:2)

© Stephen R. Lewis, Ph.D.© Stephen R. Lewis, Ph.D.

The Message That Gives The Message That Gives Life: Genesis through Life: Genesis through

RevelationRevelation

Sin*Sin*

*When Adam and Eve ate of fruit from the *When Adam and Eve ate of fruit from the forbidden tree in the Garden, God did not forbidden tree in the Garden, God did not

declare them declare them ““sinners” (although they were sinners” (although they were and we are); God declared them “DEAD.” and we are); God declared them “DEAD.” What man has needed since that time is not What man has needed since that time is not

only their sins forgiven, but more only their sins forgiven, but more importantly, they have needed “LIFE--importantly, they have needed “LIFE--

Everlasting Life.”Everlasting Life.”[Think about someone who has been shot [Think about someone who has been shot and killed—even though they may remove and killed—even though they may remove the bullet (the cause of his death) he still the bullet (the cause of his death) he still

needs life.]needs life.]

At the cross the righteous At the cross the righteous justice of God was satisfied for justice of God was satisfied for

all humanity (2 Corinthians all humanity (2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 Peter 5:19; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 Peter

2:24)2:24)Death**Death**

**The result is that every **The result is that every human being is estranged human being is estranged

from God— from God— ““alienated from alienated from the life of God.the life of God.”” Ephesians Ephesians

4:18)4:18)

The Free Gift of Everlasting The Free Gift of Everlasting Life[Salvation/Justification] has Life[Salvation/Justification] has

always been by Grace alone, always been by Grace alone, through Faith alone, based upon through Faith alone, based upon the finished work of Jesus Christ the finished work of Jesus Christ

alone—throughout all alone—throughout all dispensations. No one has ever dispensations. No one has ever

been saved any other way!been saved any other way!

Saving faith (believing) is Saving faith (believing) is being persuaded that, based on being persuaded that, based on

His finished work (death & His finished work (death & resurrection), Jesus Christ resurrection), Jesus Christ

delivers from condemnation delivers from condemnation and guarantees everlasting life and guarantees everlasting life

to all who simply believe in to all who simply believe in Him.Him.

Concluding Principles:Concluding Principles:

Our salvation Our salvation (past, present, future)(past, present, future) is is protected by the power of God.protected by the power of God.

If you have believed in Jesus Christ If you have believed in Jesus Christ for everlasting life, you for everlasting life, you havehave

everlasting life.everlasting life.

We We shouldshould persevere in our faith and persevere in our faith and good works, but it is not necessary for good works, but it is not necessary for

everlasting life.everlasting life.