Introduction: The Sadducees plot to present Jesus with "the unanswerable question." He uses this as an occasion to show that God is, indeed, the God of the living. This provides great comfort to Christians and great incentive to those who are not Christians to obey the gospel. Not only is our God alive; we have eternal life in Christ. (Note: Text promotes understanding that the Bible teaches by Divine implication or, as some state it, necessary inference.)

I. God is the God of the living, as evidenced by Creation.

A. Physical life stems from God.

B. Evolution is wrong on the origin of life.

C. Even the universe is personified - Ps. 19:1; 148:1ff.

D. Life reflects a living God, not inorganic matter.

E. Life sprang into existence "in the beginning" (Gen. 1:1), not after eons of non-life, through inorganic chemistry.

II. God is the God of the living, as evidenced by spiritual life.

A. There is more to man than physical life (Gen. 2:7).

B. The "whole of man" is connected to his relation ship to God (Eccl. 12:13).

C. Man is a spiritual being in a physical body. The body may decay but that which is the "persona" of man continues.

D. The eternity of man's existence is an awesome reality.

1. Death is not a cessation of existence.

2. Death is a separation of the body and spirit (Jas. 2:26). Note: It is the body that dies, not the spirit.

E. "You" will exist eternally, either in heaven or hell.

F. Sin and death, though constant in our history, is not the purpose of our existence. God created man to live. Sin and death are aberrant behavior, a defiling of our likeness to God.

III. God is the God of the living, as evidenced by eternal life.

A. Jesus came to restore that which we lost through sin: life (John 10:10). Note: usual error on this passage.

B. This life is reflective of his being (John 1:4).

C. This life is conditional, based upon faith (John 3:36, 3:16).

D. This life speaks of both quality and eternity (1 Jn. 5:10-13).

E. It is life snatched from death: a rebirth (Jn. 3:1ff).

1 . The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6.23, 3:23).

2. Death requires blood for atonement (Lev. 17.10-11).

3. God provided the sacrifice (Gen. 22:9-14; Rom. 3.21-26).

4. Life is in Christ (John 20:30,31).

Conclusion: The wonderful continuity of faith: we serve the same God as did Abraham. We have the same life. We will live in the same city (Heb. 11:13-16). Are you living in Christ (Heb. 10:31)?

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 5, p. 146
March 3, 1988