THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE – 18 The Loophole
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). KJV
Loved ones, in our Spiritual battle with evil we thank God for granting us a “loophole.” A newspaper advertisement for an evangelistic crusade in a major city used this theme: "YOU ARE BORN, YOU SUFFER, YOU DIE. FORTUNATELY, THERE IS A LOOPHOLE."
This theme captures so much of the frustration of so many. No amount of enjoyment, escape, and dissipation can quieten the ever-present thought, "You are going to die." The loophole is man's hope and is simple, even as easy as knowing the difference between "one" and "two."
The Bible teaches there are TWO births. Jesus tells us that there are two ways of being born. One is physical — flesh gives birth to flesh (John 3:6). The natural birth has come to all; we cannot deny or escape it.
Yet, Jesus told Nicodemus of another birth, "3 …Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… 5 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, 5).
We are born once without choice. We are born the second time of our own accord through obedience to the word of God (cf. Luke 6:46; Galatians 3:26-27).
The Bible teaches there are TWO deaths to die. All will die physically. This is inevitable since man can lengthen life, but he cannot escape dying. How sad when a soul leaves a body (James 2:26; Ecclesiastes 12:7). The body is prepared, put in a casket, and buried in the ground.
There is, however, something worse than this. There is a death to be feared far more than this physical death. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).
The eternal, conscious suffering of the souls of the wicked is called the second death. A wise person can choose not to go there through his obedience to the faith (cf. Romans 1:5; 10:17; 16:26; Acts 2:38).
The Bible teaches there are TWO resurrections. Jesus clearly taught of a coming resurrection of all men from the dead: "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28). TWO resurrections!
Just as all die (Hebrews 9:27), so all will be raised. This event also is without our choice. Again, Jesus taught of another resurrection: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live" (John 5:25).
This is not a resurrection of physical dead ones. Those dead in sin can choose to hear the voice of Jesus and allow Christ to live in Him (Galatians 2:20). This living involves a resurrection from the grave of baptism (Romans 6:3-4). This resurrection is one which mankind chooses through obedience to the word of God (cf. Matthews 7:21; Mark 16:16).
What is the loophole? The loophole is to go beyond what naturally happens. We are born without choice, we die without choice, and we will be raised without choice.
However, if we choose to be born again by being raised again into Christ, we will die only physically. Someone said, "He who is born once will die twice. He that is born twice will die only once." Our constant prayer is for you to not miss this loophole.
Shared with you by Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA. The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. He is in control, so trust Him. We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35).