"And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. And when they saw Him, they were amazed: and His mother said unto Him, Son, why hast thou dealt with us in this way? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And He said unto them, did you not know that I must be about My Fathers business?" Luke 2:47-49. 

When we read the whole context beginning at Luke 2:40-52, we find that the child Jesus was not lost at all, but had gone into the temple of His Father. Having the grace of God upon Him, and great wisdom, He had three great objects, as a twelve year old boy, He must accomplish.

First, as a twelve-year-old boy, no one would give Him credit as having any knowledge of God’s Word. No doubt, His peers scoffed at Him to begin with, thinking Him to be foolish coming into the temple questioning the Doctors of Religion. His mother and Father knew not what the will of God in the life of this twelve year old boy was, They, and the Doctors had a right to be amazed. Little did they know that this boy was sent from Heaven, He knew all about God’s plan. Take note:

“ And He said to them, did you not know that I must be about my Fathers business.”

This was the first chapter in Him being exposed as the Son of God, and at twelve years old, he enjoyed God’s grace, and God gave Him wisdom. After He was above thirty years of age, He said,  “THEREFORE be ye imitators of God, as beloved children,” Eph. 5:1.

Most parents think that a 10 or 12-year-old boy is not mature enough to know what side of his head to part his hair on! Well, Jesus proved that to be wrong.

Secondly, Jesus had a plan, his courage before these Doctors proved this. By asking questions, he has figured out the unsound doctrines of the Pharisees and Scribes, thus He for three days were asking them questions, perhaps some that they dared not to answer, He also begin to get a mind set on the Sadducees, and what they believed. Now in Mark 6:1-2, again the people were astonished with His teaching, and saying, where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom? Again, he was about His Father’s business.

And Third, this young boy, had a mission to accomplish for His Father, and regardless of the cost He would accomplish what He was sent from Heaven to do.

Every step of the way, beginning in the temple at twelve years old, He was to be an example to every person on the face of the earth. That is why the Apostle Paul could say to the Corinthians 11:1, “ Be ye imitators of me as also I am of Christ.” This statement confirms that Jesus was a model, a model to be imitated. As Jesus grew into manhood, His daily life was such that His light shined brightly, that others could see the way, and He asked that we so let our “ light shine that others might see our good deeds and glorify God,” Matt. 5:16.

Little is known in regards to the life of Jesus, after He departs from the temple until John comes preaching in the wilderness saying, “ Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, for this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet saying, The Voice Of One Crying In The Wilderness, Make Ready The Way Of The Lord, Make His Paths Straight,” Matt. 3:2-3.

“Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John to be baptized by Him,” “And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the Heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and Behold, a voice out of the Heavens, saying, This Is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” Matt. 3:13-17.

And now, the baptism, especially in this fashion was an example for others to follow.

As Jesus saw the Spirit of God descending upon Him, this also was a part of the example of baptism, this example is confirmed in John 3:1-5. 

TAKE NOTE:

It is very important that we go back to Luke 2:46-52, the boy in question, was not lost, simply because he could not be found in the caravan, since He was not in the caravan, there was only one place He could be. Back in Jerusalem in the temple He was found after three days, what business did He have in the temple, the Scripture informs us that He was listening to the Doctors of Judaism, as they discussed their re-written laws in regards to God’s will. Him being with God from the point of God’s beginning, Proverbs 8:22-30, He knew what the will of God was, He was there when God planned the scheme of Redemption, and salvation, God was the planner, the Son of God was the creator, Col. 1:14-19. This young boy was asking questions that the Doctors were astonished at. With the wisdom and grace that He possessed at this time, He was perhaps questioning them in regards to Resurrection, Redemption, and the after life, as well as the promised Messiah. I say this simply because after His baptism, He began to preach, and now the same Doctors were asking Him these questions, and trying to trap Him, but He was always prepared with an answer. “ He was always about His Fathers business.”

THINGS TO ASK ABOUT, AND ANSWER.

How many Bible storybooks have you ever seen teaching this subject?

How many times have you heard Church teachers teach this subject to children?

How many times have you invited someone to go fishing with you, and that person gave you this reply, “ I must be about my Fathers business?

Would it give creditability to the Father, if Christians used this phrase seriously, and say,

“I must be about my Fathers business.”

Would Christians be more faithful if they woke up each morning, and say to himself, today? “I must be about my Fathers business?

Jesus having made this statement, is there any record Biblically that He Himself ever   forsook the Sabbath worship, or did He ever teach that forsaking the Sabbath was ok?

Did the Apostle Paul indicate that the Lord was Spiritually present at each assembly?

If this be true, then those who are not gathered with the saints, has missed being with the Lord. For Jesus said, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst,” Matt. 18:20.

Do you think that supporting the Church with your presence is the Will of God?

Can anyone be unfaithful in attendance, and serve at the Lord’s Table?

Would the Church grow if each member was, “About My Fathers business?”

THE TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS

After fasting for forty days and nights, Jesus is at His weakest point, when along comes the Devil to tempt Him, first by saying, “ if you be the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But Jesus answered and said,” It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Jesus did not give in, He did not give up, and He did not give out. So then, Satan carries Jesus into the holy City, “ And stood Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, if you are the Son of God throw yourself down; for it is written, He will give His angels charge concerning You; And on their hands they will bear You up.”

And Jesus replied, “ On the other hand, it is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Again the Devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory, and the Devil said to Him, “ All these I will give you, if you fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to the Devil, be gone Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”    

These temptations of Jesus continually shows us the example that Christians should follow. I suggest that Christians have not followed this example sent from Heaven to us, rather when we are tempted we ask the question, WHY ME LORD, and then we are ready to leave the presence of God. But not the example that God sent from Heaven to us, He endured all that Satan had to offer, and now He is ready to confront the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Scribes, all of which was out to crucify Him, and He was well aware of that, but never did He weaken, never did He give in to them. From Matt. 5:20, throughout the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus confronts the false

Teaching of these sects. He confronts them as is recorded in all four Gospels, in regards to their beliefs concerning, the resurrection, the redemption, salvation, the first and second coming of the Messiah, salvation for the Gentiles, the Sabbath, baptism, and the life after death.

The above articles of Doctrines we will discuss each in order to show why God sent Jesus to earth to challenge improper teaching, and to show what the will of God was, and to bring to our attention that today, God rules. There is no variation, or shifting shadow, James 1:17.                

THE FOUR GOSPELS WERE WRITTEN TO WHOM?

Matthew was a Jew, he wrote to the Jews to convince them that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

Mark was Jew and Greek, he wrote to the Roman world.

Luke was a Jew and Roman, he wrote to the Greek, Romans, and Gentiles.

John was a Jew, he wrote to the universal Church of Christ.

CHRIST SPEAKS TO THE CHURCH.

“There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him”, John 1:9-11.

And Jesus said to them, “ My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work,” John 4:34.

“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me,” John 5:30.

“For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent me,” John 6:38.

“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son, and believes in Him may have eternal life,” John 6:40.

One of the more important request’s that Jesus made soon after His Baptism Is found in Matt. 6:33,” Seek ye first His Kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to You.”

Seeking His kingdom, and His righteousness, has some far reaching RAMIFICATIONS.

Seeking carries with the word, the act of finding, whatever you are seeking, when found lay hold to what you are seeking, in this case it is the Kingdom; and His Righteousness. But how can they seek in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? Rom. 10:14-15. Jesus met all these qualifications, and as a twelve year old boy was about His Father’s business. He was sent to do His Father’s will. The qualifications for us are not different; they are the same; have we like Jesus met those qualifications, or is it a political game that we are playing?

The RAMIFICATIONS of the Kingdom is far greater that we have thus far described, we go back to Rom. 10:8-9, Faith is being preached, confession with the mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised Christ from the dead. For with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. But that is not all, when we look at the instructions given by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:38, we find that Peter’s instructions to those who had heard the Gospel preached, and who had believed, “ Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” But now, further RAMIFICATIONS is in order. Seeking the Kingdom, and acquiring membership in that Kingdom requires: REDEMPTION. For salvation today, in this generation we must believe that Jesus also at His death, purchased us not with silver and gold, but with the precious blood, as of a Lamb unblemished and spotless, the Blood of Christ, 1 Pet. 1:18-19.

The Apostle Paul said, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own. For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body,” 1 Cor. 6:19-20. In keeping with God’s plan, the Next RAMIFICATION is Regeneration. Regeneration comes as the result of all that has gone on before. And the Holy Spirit destroys the old man of sin, when one has been crucified with Christ, we no longer are slaves to sin, Rom. 6:6. The old things have passed away, behold, all things is new. 2 Cor. 5:17.

RAMIFICATIONS OF REDEMPTION AND RESURRECTION UNDER THE LAW

We have already stated that Christ was sent to accomplish God’s will, and to accomplish it as He, Christ heard it from the Father, This was accomplished by His teaching, by questions he would ask, in order to cause the person to learn by answering the proper questions. Christ was to teach by the life He lived. And so, by being born under the law, living under the law, being subject to the law, and His death under the law, His Priority under the law was first, to use the law as a school master to bring the rebellious Jews to the Gospel. And Second, Was to redeem the departed Spirits from bondage in Hades, where they were being held by Satan, from Adam And Eve to the Cross. In order to accomplish Redemption of those held in bondage Rom. 8:18-22. Christ must put into action God’s plan to remove Satan from earth as its Prince, and Administrator

Jesus is now busy about His Father’s will, when He begins to teach that which follows: John 12:31, “ Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out.” John 14:30,” I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. “ And concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged, John 16:11.” For sure Jesus is all about the Father’s business here. The one who practices sin is of the Devil; for the Devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the Devil. The one called the “ Teacher” is doing overtime. The Holy Spirit speaks in Rom. 16:20, and says, “ And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet,”

DAVID SPEAKS OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS.

Now comes the day that God has planned throughout the ages for His prophecy of Genesis 3:15 to be fulfilled, the day when Christ would redeem the righteous with His blood, the day when Christ would bruise Satan on the head as God had foretold. This is the day that David spoke of Christ. “ Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They open wide their mouth at Me, as a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out as water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it is melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue cleaves to My jaws; And Thou dost lay me in the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me; A band of evil doers has encompassed Me; They pierced My hands and My feet. I can count all My bones. They look, they stare at Me; they divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.”

Ps. 9:17, “The wicked will return to Sheol.” Ps. 14:7, “O that the salvation would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores His captive people.” Ps. 16:3 “ As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the majestic ones.” Ps. 30:3,” O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol; thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.” Ps. 71:20,  “Thou hast shown me many troubles and distresses, Wilt revive me again, and wilt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.”

The way has now been prepared for Heb. 2:14, “Since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had power of death that is, the Devil.” Praise God, the prophecy made by God in Gen. 3:15 is here fulfilled. Christ met the demands of ransom, His Blood, His Life! But little did Satan know that God would raise up Christ victorious. So, the demise of Satan is here seen.

THE NEXT RAMIFICATION IS RESURRECTION, AND THE AFTER LIFE.

And so, we ask the question, if those who were held in bondage by Satan were released from his power, and they were set free because the ransom price had been paid by Christ, what happened to these righteous spirits? You will find the answer to this question if you first go to Isa. 26:13-19, “Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is as the dew of the dawn, and the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.” Hosea 6:1-3, “ He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day.”

By the way, was not Christ raised up on the third day? Consult Matt. 27:51-53, “And the veil of the temple were torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook and the rocks were split. And the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming out of the tombs after His Resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.”

Now if you want to carry this farther, then I suggest, you look at Rev. 14:1-5, and for further proof, I suggest that you notice that these five verses were written in past tense, already happened at the time of writing.

Then I would suggest you read carefully 1 Cor. 15:1-23, and see that Paul clearly states that if Christ has not been raised, the dead who has fallen asleep in Christ has not been raised, and our preaching is in vain.

You cannot have redemption with having a resurrection, and that is a fact. Following Heb. 2:14, where the death of Christ was the ransom price to Satan for the release of the righteous, where his power over death was destroyed, the Apostle continues the sentence in Heb. 2:15, and in regards to those who had been set free says, “And might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Take note, that the same Apostle said to the Ephesians 4:8-10, “Therefore it says, when He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” Are these not the first fruits of Rev. 14:1-5? Ps. 68:18, “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captive thy captives.”

“ When He ascended on High”, Eph. 4:8. “Thou hast ascended on high”, Ps, 68:18. There is but one reasonable conclusion to where Christ ascended to, and that is to “HEAVEN.” Does the Bible mention any other place where He ascended? Does not Acts 1:11 not say that Christ was taken up into Heaven; twice the verse uses the word “HEAVEN.” Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created Heaven and earth.” Therefore, Heaven was created for the abode of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and all the host of angels. But, when the angels sinned, and were cast out of Heaven, where was their destination? The apostle Peter informs us that the place was called “hell.”

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment.” Jude 6, “And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.”

Jesus placed great emphasis upon mankind being prepared for the resurrection to life eternal. He also places great emphasis upon eternal punishment for the sinner. In Matt. 25:34, He bids a welcome to those who are blessed of the Father, come and enjoy the Kingdom of Heaven prepared from the foundation of the world. But notice what he says to the wicked, “ Then He will also say to those on His left, depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.

LET’S ASK THE QUESTION:  HELL WHAT IS IT?

I believe that Christ was really about His Father’s business, it Would appear that man being resurrected to Heaven to live in eternal peace, was a priority teaching, and Christ did not fail to place emphasis upon the resurrection of life. Christ made several statements in the Gospel of John that He came to do the Father’s will; He went the last mile to be about His Father’s business.

The Father’s will was that Christ make known the creation of Heaven for the righteous, and the creation of the lake of fire for the wicked.

Christ made sure that after His death, that God would send the Holy Spirit to guide, to lead, and to teach the disciples, to bring to their remembrance all things that Christ had taught them. And now in the absence of Christ the Father’s business would continue. The business was to save souls from the lake of fire. John 16:13, “But when He the spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and he will disclose to you what is to come.”

While attempting an argument from scripture on the subject of punishment after death, no pretense to superior learning is made; but taking the common English Bible, along with the Greek text, I have sought to discover the plain, obvious meaning of the text before me. Such meaning as an intelligent reader, seeking the truth, would naturally gather from a careful study. To the scriptures alone do I look for the truth concerning a future state. I have no confidence in any opinion based upon anything else. For those who have served Christ there is in store the never-ending blessedness of Heaven, but to those who have rejected Him the door is forever shut.

God separates the righteous from the wicked. This is the spirit and benefit of all His redemptive work, and of Hid entire administration over men.  The sheep is separated from the goats, Matt. 25:32, the tares from the wheat Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43. The net and fish. Believers are saved and unbelievers are damned, Mark 16:16.

Our headline, Hell what is it? And What Shall Come After Death?

I have gone through the teaching of Justin Martyr during the year’s 100- 165, on the above subject, Irenaeus, Minucius Felix, Tertullian, Cyprian, Lactantius, Clement of Alexandria, Origin. And I find different opinions. But when I study the following Scriptures, we will know what “HELL” IS. —Matt. 5:22, 30, the hell of fire. A lake of Fire, Rev. 20:15. A bottomless Pit, Rev. 20: 1. A horrible Tempest, Ps. 11:6. A devouring Fire, Isa. 33:14. A place of Sorrows Ps, 18:5. Where they Wail, Matt, 13:42. A place of Weeping, Matt. 8:12. A furnace of Fire, Matt. 13:41-42. A place of Torment, Luke 16:23. Everlasting Burning, Isa. 33:14. A place of filthiness, Rev. 22:10-11. Where they curse God, Rev. 16:11. Everlasting destruction, 2 Thess. 1:9. A place of outer darkness, Matt. 25:30. Where they have no Rest, Luke 16:27. A place where they can never Repent, Matt. 12:32. A place where they scream for mercy, Luke 16:24. A place of everlasting Punishment, Matt. 25:46. A place where they gnaw their tongues, Rev. 16:10. A place prepared for the Devil and his angels, Matt. 25:41. A place where they scream for one drop of water, Luke 16:24. A place where they will be tormented with brimstone, Rev. 14:10.A place where there are dogs, sorcerers and whoremongers, Rev. 22:15. Where they drink the wine of the wrath of God, Rev. 14:10. Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched Mark 9:48

OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE.

After the study of Ramifications which led us into a study of Life after Death, I DENY, that the teaching of “Conditionalism,” “Purgatory,” “Equality salvation for all men,” “Annihilation,”  “Fatalism,” “literalism,” “Universalism,” is not a Biblical inspired Doctrine. The above Paragraph with all the scripture in place will prove beyond any doubt that these Doctrines are false. These Doctrines are nothing more than a religious trap. The Lake of Fire is real, and it is for the unbeliever!