Sovereign Grace of God - Blessed and Dead

SOVEREIGN GRACE OF GOD Concerning 'The Gospel' LORD JESUS CHRIST Grounded In Biblical Truth
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Revelation 14:13 "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."

Some might find it strange that these two words, "Blessed and Dead" are found in the same statement. After all, doesn’t Blessed mean Happy? And isn’t death in this world as a curse? The answer to both questions is yes.

Blessed does mean happy and death is in this world as a curse, as the penalty for sin. Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" How then do we reconcile these two words? In the rest of the statement "In the Lord" "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord"

Not everyone who dies is "Blessed." The Lord Jesus Christ told some of His day: "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." Our text declares: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord."

This phrase "in the Lord" is a very important statement. Let me make a few comments upon it.

Who is meant by the Lord? In Rev. 17:14 "the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings:" The Lord is also called the Lamb of God. John the Baptist pointed him out with these words: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." The Lord is the Lord Jesus Christ- He who is the Eternal Son of God who was made flesh. He who is the ancient of days became the infant of days. The apostle Paul said; "Great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh." (I Tim.3:16). "Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." (I Tim.6:14-16).

It is easy to see now why this phrase "in the Lord" is so important. All of God’s blessings for men are found "in the Lord."

1. That they were blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" He mentions three of these spiritual blessings in the next three verses and the thing to notice is that they are each IN THE LORD: They were chosen in Him (Christ) before the foundation of the world, In love they were predestinated to the adoption of children in Him (Jesus Christ), and they are accepted in Him (the beloved).

2. That they were redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins," The Word of God makes it clear that there is no remission of sins without the shedding of blood. The Lord Jesus Christ died a voluntary death, a vicarious death and a victorious death.

3. That they are brought to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a time when they shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live. It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. "I know whom I have believed" Salvation, eternal life is knowing Him, trusting Him, faith in Him.

"Happy day, Happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away." "For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God."

4. That they persevere in the Lord. "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."

Our text tells us that "they rest from their labours and their works do follow them." They serve the Lord. The fact that their works follow them tells us that they are not looking to their works, they are looking to the perfect, finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, but they do serve Him.

5. That their death is precious in the sight of the Lord. Psa 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." When a believer dies, he doesn’t really die, he just changes residences : "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." The believer is escorted into the presence of God by the holy angels, and what a happy place that is. A place where no sickness, no sorrow, no tears, and no separation shall ever enter. A place where The Lord, the Lamb of God is the center and all are praising and worshipping Him.

Lincoln Wood Baptist Church
11803 Adel - Houston, Texas 77067
Pastor David F. Pledger - Telephone:281-440-0623