Peace in Christ.
So what does “perishing” mean?
“Perishing” or in the Greek “apollumi” = to destroy fully (reflexively to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively: - destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.
Whosoever believes INTO Jesus should not perish… die/lose… but have eternal life.
But what is being “lost” here if we do NOT believe INTO Jesus (having His life being made manifest in our outer mortal flesh)?
We are losing our mortal bodies and our souls under the wrath of God and this losing takes place in this earth. We readily see the wrath of God being revealed from Heaven upon all people as all are perishing away to the grave. They die of various things but the end result is the same. They die mortally from this earth.
Pro 11:31 KJV
(31) Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
Jesus uses the same word “apollumi” in Luke 13 showing us how to think of “perishing” in relation to being cut off from this earth.
Except we change our minds (repent), we shall all likewise perish. Our mortal bodies shall be removed from this earth because of sin just as those 18 people whom the tower of Siloam fell on. We shall likewise die mortally in our sins.
Jesus was not talking about the “afterlife”. This is NOT about burning in an eternal hell after we die. This is about our mortal bodies here in this earth being cut off because of sin. The wages of the sin is death….death to our mortal bodies from this earth.
Luk 13:1-5 KJV
(1) There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
(2) And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
(3) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
(4) Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
(5) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish
Then Jesus tells us this parable how we are cut down if we do not produce the fruit of the Spirit. If we have His Spirit indwelling in us, we must use the Spirit to slay the sin in our lives so that we are not cut down from this earth. We must bring forth good fruit.
Luk 13:6-9 KJV
(6) He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
(7) Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
(8) And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
(9) And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Our MORTAL (which means “subject to death”) bodies shall be made ALIVE now in this earth by His Spirit that indwells if we through the Spirit do kill/slay/mortify the deeds of the body. We shall LIVE in the here-and-now.
Rom 8:11-13 KJV
(11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
(12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
This is about living NOW in this mortal body. If we continue to live after the flesh, we shall die mortally from this earth without His eternal life being made manifest. We must produce the fruit of the Spirit.
(13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
We must CRUCIFY the flesh….the wrath, envy, strife, etc….with the affections and lusts. We can have the indwelling of the Spirit within us but NOT WALK in it.
Gal 5:24-25 KJV
(24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
(25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
If we walk….continuously sowing …in the Spirit, we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. If we live after the flesh (while having the Spirit indwelling in us), we shall die mortally. The Spirit and the flesh are contrary against each other.
Gal 5:16-17 KJV
(16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
(17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
We can’t have it both ways. Either make the tree good or make it bad.
The LORD has said that His Holy Spirit will not always strive with man for that he also flesh….that is, man strives with the Spirit of God within him by fulfilling the lust of the flesh. Man has an end….the wages of the sin is death…death to the mortal body if he cannot walk with the Spirit.
Gen 6:3 KJV
(3) And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
But the longsuffering of our God ...His patience with us….is our salvation. He is not willing that anyone PERISH (same word here “apollumi”) but come to repentance…to changing one’s mind.
He is patient with those who are striving in the flesh with His Spirit within them....but His patience has a limit.
2Pe 3:9 KJV
(9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But if the good news of Christ is hid, it is hid to those who are “lost” or PERISHING (apollumi).
The good news of eternal life now is not being preached by those many false prophets who are only preaching to get their earthly needs met. They have no understanding of the good news as they are for-hire preachers who are only thinking about their earthly necessities being met by preaching. the good news is hid from their understanding as a result.
Unfortunately, many are being deceived by them and are going down the broad way that leads to their mortal destruction from this earth.
2Co 4:2-5
(2) But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
(3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost (PERISHING):
(4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
(5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
The Savior Jesus Christ has abolished death….rendering it idle in the here and now. He has brought life and immortality to light through the good news. This is for us NOW as salvation is NOW….not later in the “afterlife”. But this is hid to those who are perishing. They cannot see nor receive it as they do not receive the love of the Truth.
If we do not believe in His testimony, we remain under the wrath of God and mortally perish from this earth. They remain in death and their mortal bodies will die in their sins.
Joh 3:36 KJV
(36) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
2Ti 1:9-10 KJV
(9) Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
(10) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
We are saved through Him from the wrath of God that comes upon all people.
But we are saved by His life…as the eternal life of Jesus shall be made manifest in our outer mortal flesh which renders death idle in the here-and-now.
Rom 5:8-10 KJV
(8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
(10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
So what does “perishing” mean?
“Perishing” or in the Greek “apollumi” = to destroy fully (reflexively to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively: - destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.
Whosoever believes INTO Jesus should not perish… die/lose… but have eternal life.
But what is being “lost” here if we do NOT believe INTO Jesus (having His life being made manifest in our outer mortal flesh)?
We are losing our mortal bodies and our souls under the wrath of God and this losing takes place in this earth. We readily see the wrath of God being revealed from Heaven upon all people as all are perishing away to the grave. They die of various things but the end result is the same. They die mortally from this earth.
Pro 11:31 KJV
(31) Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
Jesus uses the same word “apollumi” in Luke 13 showing us how to think of “perishing” in relation to being cut off from this earth.
Except we change our minds (repent), we shall all likewise perish. Our mortal bodies shall be removed from this earth because of sin just as those 18 people whom the tower of Siloam fell on. We shall likewise die mortally in our sins.
Jesus was not talking about the “afterlife”. This is NOT about burning in an eternal hell after we die. This is about our mortal bodies here in this earth being cut off because of sin. The wages of the sin is death….death to our mortal bodies from this earth.
Luk 13:1-5 KJV
(1) There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
(2) And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
(3) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
(4) Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
(5) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish
Then Jesus tells us this parable how we are cut down if we do not produce the fruit of the Spirit. If we have His Spirit indwelling in us, we must use the Spirit to slay the sin in our lives so that we are not cut down from this earth. We must bring forth good fruit.
Luk 13:6-9 KJV
(6) He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
(7) Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
(8) And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
(9) And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Our MORTAL (which means “subject to death”) bodies shall be made ALIVE now in this earth by His Spirit that indwells if we through the Spirit do kill/slay/mortify the deeds of the body. We shall LIVE in the here-and-now.
Rom 8:11-13 KJV
(11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
(12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
This is about living NOW in this mortal body. If we continue to live after the flesh, we shall die mortally from this earth without His eternal life being made manifest. We must produce the fruit of the Spirit.
(13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
We must CRUCIFY the flesh….the wrath, envy, strife, etc….with the affections and lusts. We can have the indwelling of the Spirit within us but NOT WALK in it.
Gal 5:24-25 KJV
(24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
(25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
If we walk….continuously sowing …in the Spirit, we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. If we live after the flesh (while having the Spirit indwelling in us), we shall die mortally. The Spirit and the flesh are contrary against each other.
Gal 5:16-17 KJV
(16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
(17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
We can’t have it both ways. Either make the tree good or make it bad.
The LORD has said that His Holy Spirit will not always strive with man for that he also flesh….that is, man strives with the Spirit of God within him by fulfilling the lust of the flesh. Man has an end….the wages of the sin is death…death to the mortal body if he cannot walk with the Spirit.
Gen 6:3 KJV
(3) And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
But the longsuffering of our God ...His patience with us….is our salvation. He is not willing that anyone PERISH (same word here “apollumi”) but come to repentance…to changing one’s mind.
He is patient with those who are striving in the flesh with His Spirit within them....but His patience has a limit.
2Pe 3:9 KJV
(9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But if the good news of Christ is hid, it is hid to those who are “lost” or PERISHING (apollumi).
The good news of eternal life now is not being preached by those many false prophets who are only preaching to get their earthly needs met. They have no understanding of the good news as they are for-hire preachers who are only thinking about their earthly necessities being met by preaching. the good news is hid from their understanding as a result.
Unfortunately, many are being deceived by them and are going down the broad way that leads to their mortal destruction from this earth.
2Co 4:2-5
(2) But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
(3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost (PERISHING):
(4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
(5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
The Savior Jesus Christ has abolished death….rendering it idle in the here and now. He has brought life and immortality to light through the good news. This is for us NOW as salvation is NOW….not later in the “afterlife”. But this is hid to those who are perishing. They cannot see nor receive it as they do not receive the love of the Truth.
If we do not believe in His testimony, we remain under the wrath of God and mortally perish from this earth. They remain in death and their mortal bodies will die in their sins.
Joh 3:36 KJV
(36) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
2Ti 1:9-10 KJV
(9) Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
(10) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
We are saved through Him from the wrath of God that comes upon all people.
But we are saved by His life…as the eternal life of Jesus shall be made manifest in our outer mortal flesh which renders death idle in the here-and-now.
Rom 5:8-10 KJV
(8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
(10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.