New Life in Believing

 

John 20: 19-31

Revelation 1:4-8

We all know the story of doubting Thomas. He really got a bad reputation due to his questioning. However, when you see Christ’s loving response to him by presenting himself to him and telling him to feel his nail prints and side, you see that Christ doesn’t chastise him for his doubt. What I think is the most beautiful thing to come from this story is not just Thomas’ belief but when Christ says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Jesus is talking to us many, many, many generations later. How did we come to believe? We did so by hearing the story of salvation as recorded in the Gospels. John 20:31 ends by saying that these things are written so we can come to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and through this belief, we will have life in his name.

Revelation 1:4-8 talks about the eternal God who is, who was – has always been and who is to come. God says I am the Alpha and Omega. These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, so God is saying I am the beginning and the end. Yet the eternal God has always been and always will be.

Jesus is said to be the faithful witness of God. He did so with his life on earth. With his resurrection he was the first born of the dead and is now ruler of all kings on earth. Praise forever and forever is given to Christ who loved us so much he freed us from our sins by his blood on the cross. He has also made us to be a kingdom serving his God and father. We not only have eternal life after death, but we are part of a new life on earth – part of God’s kingdom.

This is the life in his name. The word Christian is used for those who believe in Christ. A new life on earth and in heaven is what we receive from believing. Truly blessed are we.

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