WHAT R.I.P. MEANS TO A CHRISTIAN

WHAT R.I.P. MEANS TO A CHRISTIAN

(Synopsis of the message preached at the memorial service in honor of bro. Rodolfo U. Tacuycuy; September 18, 2021)

Air of gloom is felt when we come across RIP, because of its association with death–man’s greatest fear. Yet Christ came to this world to save people from that fear (Heb. 2:14, 15). Man usually fears the unknown and the unconquered, but our Saviour “hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (II Tim. 1:10). Being in Christ should have given us a new outlook on death and attach new meaning to R.I.P. –

REST IN PEACE. Not all who died rest in peace, because not all have lived in peace. “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked” (Isa. 48:22). The world’s peace is not the same peace that Christ gives. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). The “peace of God passes all understanding” (Phil. 4:6, 7). Perfect peace is reserved for the godly, a blessing for the faithful. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isa. 26:3). “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). Resting in peace is a promise for those who die laboring in the Lord. “…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” (Rev. 14:13). “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (I Cor. 15:58).

REPLENISHED IN PROFIT. Becoming and remaining a Christian, could incur us some loss: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phil. 3:7, 8). The losses in being a Christian are too insignificant compared to its profits. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (I Tim. 6:6, 7). “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (I Tim. 4:8). “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” (Matt. 19:29). Dying is gain only if we have lived for Christ. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. … I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account (Phil. 1:21-24). To die without Christ is a terrible loss (Matt. 16:25, 26).

REFRESHED IN PARADISE. Because of the sin of the first Adam, man lost access to the tree of life (Gen. 3:23, 24). The tree of life would have given man immortality. On the day that Adam ate of the forbidden fruit, he was driven out of paradise, losing access to the tree of life. Thus, on that day, he began to die. “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:17). But because of the sacrifice of the last Adam, man regained access to the tree of life in Paradise. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Rev. 2:7). Christ gave us a glimpse of Paradise, where the departed righteous are being comforted. “But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish’” (Luke 16:25). Paul was allowed to have a taste of Paradise, in the third heaven (II Cor. 12:1-5).

RAISED IN POWER. The resurrection of Christ is the climax of the gospel story. It is the culmination of the Scriptures’ prophecies (Luke 24:46). The resurrection is the hub and the hope of the Christian faith. Read I Corinthians 15–the Great Resurrection chapter. Without it, the whole Christian system falls. “For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied" (I Cor. 15:16-19). It makes the Christian faith stand out from all other faiths. “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust (Acts 24:15). Attaining to the reality of this hope motivates us to be Christ-like: “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead (Phil. 3:10, 11). The resurrected body will be the extreme opposite of our frail, sickly and dying body. “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power” (I Cor. 15:42, 43).

REWARD IS PERPETUAL. It is in God’s attribute of justice to reward faithfulness. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Heb. 6:10). God’s reward system does not do away with man’s self-worth. It is commensurate to one’s fight to the finish. “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (II Tim. 4:6-8). The “crown of righteousness” is God’s recognition of one’s righteous living, lived in accordance with the gospel wherein is revealed His righteousness (Rom. 1:17). It is promised not only to Paul, but to all that long and prepare for Christ’s return. That crown of victory is incorruptible (I Cor. 9:25). It is life eternal reserved for those who: remain faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10), remain steadfast under trial (Jas. 1:12), and serve others the way they would serve the Lord (Matt. 25:34-46). ~PULPIT POUNDS® by Gideon C. Rodriguez 

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GOSPEL INVITATION: 1. Hear the Gospel (Jn. 6:44; Rm. 10:14-17). 2. Believe in Christ (Mk. 16:16; Ac. 16:30, 31). 3. Repent of sins (Lk. 24:47; Ac. 3:19). 4. Confess faith in Christ (Mt. 10:32, 33; Rm. 10:9, 10). 5. Be baptized for the remission of sins (Mk. 16:16; Ac. 2:38), then be added to the Lord’s church (Ac. 2:47). The erring Christian must repent (Ac. 8:24; II Cor. 7:10) and be restored to the church (Gal. 6:1).