Part 14 – What It Means To Prepare for the 2nd Coming of Our Lord & Savior, Jesus
As of this 21st Century civilization, The Righteous people of God should be aware of the awesome growth in the population of disciples or followers of God. Most probably, not all accounted for in a census may be considered genuine believers. Raw data shows there are about 2.4 billion Christians and 1.8 billion Muslims accounting for the members of God’s chosen people from the branch of Abraham, father of all nations. All in all, 4.2 billion account for over 57% of world population. But no one knows except God who among those 4.2 billion are true disciples who strive to follow only God’s Righteousness.
I included Muslims for three major reasons, namely, (1) they believe their roots are also from Abraham, (2) they believe in Jesus Christ (however limited their understanding might be about the Son of God made flesh), and (3) their Quran contains God’s Righteousness also in written Words of God.
Preparing for the 2nd Coming of Our Savior will mean purification of an entire body of believers in Almighty God, by educating members about Words of God and how they ought to be practiced.
In the inspired teachings of St. Paul, he said:
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 English Standard Version (ESV)
One Body with Many Members
“12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”
John 6:63 New King James Version (NKJV)
“63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
The common good identified in the bible ( 1 Corinthians 12:7) concerns a huge population of Godly men and women waiting for salvation. Are the people aware of that Definite Chief Aim which is known as Eternal Life ? Do most followers understand the meaning and implications of the term “Eternal Life”. Having participated in biblical discussions online, I learned that even those fond of learning more about the bible think of this terminology as merely concerning the spiritual part of Man. Some think a follower must first die before having Eternal Life. In other words, there are those who understand it as a condition belonging only to a future after the body dies.
What did Apostle John say about Eternal Life which does not match what some present day followers believe ?
John 17:3 English Standard Version
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Thus, Eternal Life also concerns our present bodies and souls. But it is not limited only to the present. For all genuine disciples or believers of Almighty God, preparing for the 2nd coming of The Savior naturally means nourishing a present Eternal Life with Words of God for the mind and heart (soul), body, and spirit.
This raises other topics for enlightenment. Can most believers distinguish between “soul” and “spirit” ? And what is the difference between “spirit” and Spirit ? For in biblical discussions, even those who have been immersed in years of studies were found to be confused and arguing about definitions of soul, spirit, and Spirit. It would be difficult to comprehend some of the Words of God found in the bible if definitions are not clear. Why is the soul considered as Man’s heart and mind ? What gets corrupted: soul or spirit or both ? How will Man be judged — by his/her spirit or by his/her soul ? What happens to the soul and spirit of Man when the body dies ?