February 26, 2017 – Genesis and John (Gospel and Revelation) – Triumph Over the Tomb

Triumph Over the Tomb

Genesis 14:13-20 – New International Version (NIV)

¹³ A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. ¹⁴ When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. ¹⁵ During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. ¹⁶ He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.

¹⁷ After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

¹⁸ Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, ¹⁹ and he blessed Abram, saying,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    Creator of heaven and earth.
²⁰ And praise be to God Most High,
    who delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

What did the man who had escaped do (verse 13)?

Who was called “the Hebrew” (verse 13)?

How did Abram respond to the report that his relative had been taken captive (verse 14)?

When did Abram divide his men and attack (verse 15)?

How did the attack go (verse 15)?

What did Abram bring back (verse 16)?

Who came out to meet Abram in the Valley of Shaveh (verses 17 and 18)?

In what two ways was Melchizedek described (verse 18)?

How did Melchizedek describe God Most High when he blessed Abram (verse 19)?

Who did Melchizedek give credit to for Abram’s victory (verse 20)?

How did Abram respond to the blessing by Melchizedek (verse 20)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

John 11:32-44 - New International Version (NIV)

³² When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

³³ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ³⁴ “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

³⁵ Jesus wept.

³⁶ Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

³⁷ But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

³⁸ Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ³⁹ “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

⁴⁰ Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

⁴¹ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

⁴³ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

What did Mary believe (verse 32)?

How did the weeping of Mary and the Jews who were with her effect Jesus (verse 33)?

In your opinion, why did Jesus weep (verse 35)?

What did the Jews think when they saw Jesus weeping (verse 36)?

In your opinion, what would saying “could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man kept this man from dying” done Jesus’ reputation (verse 37)?

What was the tomb (verse 38)?

Why was Martha worried about taking away the stone (verse 39)?

How did Jesus respond to Martha’s concerns (verse 40)?

Where did Jesus look when He said “Father, I thank you that you have heard me” (verse 41)?

Why did Jesus say this (verse 42)?

What did Jesus say “in a loud voice” (verse 43)?

Where were the strips of linen and the cloth (verse 44)?

What did Jesus say (verse)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is Abram’s bringing back Lot in Genesis 14:13-20 similar to Jesus going up to the cave with the stone laid across the entrance and calling for Lazarus to come out in John 11:32-44?

Hebrews 7:11-22 - New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. ¹³ He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. ¹⁵ And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, ¹⁶ one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is declared:

“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”

¹⁸ The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless ¹⁹ (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

²⁰ And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, ²¹ but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

“The Lord has sworn
    and will not change his mind:
    ‘You are a priest forever.’”

²² Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

In your opinion, what could not be attained through Levitical priesthood (verse 11)?

What must change when the priesthood is changed (verse 12)?

Where did “no one from that tribe” ever serve (verse 13)?

What tribe, that Moses said nothing about priests in, did our Lord descend from (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what is the difference between one who becomes a priest on the basis of a regulation versus one who becomes a priest “on the basis of the power of an indestructible life” (verse 16)?

What is declared (verse 17)?

Why is the former regulation set aside (verse 18)?

How do we draw near to God (verse 19)?

How did others become priests (verse 20)?

Who made an oath that “you are a priest forever” (verse 21)?

What has Jesus become (verse 22)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does the power and authority that Jesus demonstrated in John 11:32-44 when He called Lazarus from the dead demonstrate the better hope that Paul says in Hebrews 7:11-22 we can have in Jesus, the priest in the order of Melchizedek?

In your opinion, what are some of the similarities between King Melchizedek, who we meet in Genesis 14:13-20, and Jesus, who Paul talks about in Hebrews 7:11-22?

Revelation 5:1-5 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. ² And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” ³ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁴ I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵ Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

What did John see in the “right hand of him who sat on the throne” (verse 1)?

Who ask the question “who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll” (verse 2)?

How many people “in heaven or on earth or under the earth” could open the scroll or look inside (verse 3)?

Why did John weep (verse 4)?

Who told John not to weep (verse 5)?

What has “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” done (verse 5)?

What can “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” do (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does the “power of an indestructible life” that Paul describes in Hebrews 7:11-20 have in common with the triumph that Revelation 5:1-5 says that the “Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” has obtained?

In your opinion, how is Jesus weeping before calling Lazarus from the tomb in John 11:32-44 similar to John weeping because no one could be found to open the scroll in Revelation 5:1-5?

In your opinion, how does the uniqueness of Melchizedek, the priest of God, in Genesis 14:13-20, similar to the uniqueness of “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” in Revelation 5:1-5?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Genesis, John, Hebrews and Revelation help us understand about Jesus triumph in His recovery of those captured by sin and death?

In your opinion, how do these passages help us to be priests, for Jesus, today?                                             

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

February 19, 2017 – Genesis and John (Gospel and Revelation) – An Invitation to the Promised Land

An Invitation to the Promised Land

Genesis 12:1-8 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

² “I will make you into a great nation,
    and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.
³ I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.”

⁴ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. ⁵ He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

⁶ Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. ⁷ The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

⁸ From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.

Where is Abram to go (verse 1)?

What will God make Abram into (verse 2)?

Who will God bless (verse 3)?

In your opinion, how will “all peoples on earth” be blessed through Abram (verse 3)?

How old was Abram when he set out (verse 4)?

Who did Abram take with him (verse 5)?

Who was “in the land” (verse 6)?

How did Abram react when the Lord told him “to your offspring I will give this land” (verse 7)?

What did Abram do after he “pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east” (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

John 14:15-24 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

²² Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

In your opinion, what will we do if we love Jesus (verse 15)?

What will the advocate the Father gives us do (verse 16)?

Why can the world not accept the advocate (verse 17)?

Where will the advocate live and be (verse 17)?

What will Jesus do (verse 18)?

In your opinion, what does Jesus mean when He says “because I live, you also will live” (verse 19)?

When will “you realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (verse 20)?

Who loves Jesus (verse 21)?

What did Judas (not Judas Iscariot) ask (verse 22)?

Where will the Father and Jesus make their home (verse 23)?

Who will not obey Jesus’ teaching (verse 24)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does Abram’s response to God’s command in Genesis 12:1-8 illustrate how we are to respond according to Jesus in John 14:15-24?

Galatians 3:1-14 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. ² I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? ³ Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? ⁴ Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? ⁵ So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? ⁶ So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

⁷ Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. ⁸ Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” ⁹ So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” ¹¹ Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” ¹² The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” ¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

What was portrayed before the eyes of the Galatians (verse 1)?

How many things does Paul want to learn from the Galatians (verse 2)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean when he asks if the Galatians had begun by the means of the Spirit and are trying to finish by means of the flesh (verse 3)?

In your opinion, does God give His Spirit by works of the law or by believing (verse 5)?

Why was righteousness credited to Abraham (verse 6)?

Who are those who have faith (verse 7)?

What did the Scripture foresee (verse 8)?

Who is blessed (verse 9)?

Who is under a curse (verse 10)?

How will the righteous live (verse 11)?

What does the law say (verse 12)?

How did Christ redeem us “from the curse of the law” (verse 13)?

How do we receive the “promise of the Spirit” (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does Paul in Galatians 3:1-14 help us understand about the commands that Jesus tells us we must keep in John 14:15-24?

In your opinion, how does Abram leaving the land that he was familiar with and going to the place that God showed him in Genesis 12:1-8 demonstrate the faith that Paul illustrates in Galatians 3:1-14?

Revelation 22:1-7 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever

⁶ The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

⁷ “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

What did the angel show John (verse 1)?

When does the tree of life yield its fruit (verse 2)?

What are the leaves of the tree of life for (verse 2)?

What is “no longer” (verse 3)?

Where is the throne of God and of the Lamb (verse 3)?

In your opinion, why is it important that God’s servants will see His face (verse 4)?

Why is there no more need for light from a lamp or from the sun (verse 5)?

When will the things take place (verse 6)?

Who is blessed (verse 7)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does Galatians 3:1-14 help us to understand about why there is no curse in the heavenly city as portrayed in Revelation 22:1-7?

In your opinion, how is Jesus’ promise in John 14:15-24 that He and the Father would dwell with those who love Him and obey His teaching fulfilled in Revelation 22:1-7?

In your opinion, how does Abram’s faith leading him to follow God’s instruction and travel to the Promised Land in Genesis 12:1-8 help us understand about how we get to the heavenly city of Revelation 22:1-7?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Genesis, John, Galatians and Revelation help us understand about obedience to Jesus’ commands versus works of the law?

In your opinion, how do these passages help us understand faith and living in the Spirit?                            

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

February 12, 2017 – Genesis and John (Gospel and Revelation) – Destruction of Flesh / Salvation of Spirit

Destruction of Flesh / Salvation of Spirit

Genesis 6:5-14 – New International Version (NIV)

⁵ The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. ⁶ The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. ⁷ So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” ⁸ But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

⁹ This is the account of Noah and his family.

Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. ¹⁰ Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.

¹¹ Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. ¹² God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. ¹³ So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. ¹⁴ So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.

Who saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth (verse 5)?

What was “only evil all the time” (verse 5)?

Whose heart was “deeply troubled” (verse 6)?

Why was the Lord going to “wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created” (verse 7)?

In your opinion, why did Noah find “favor in the eyes of the Lord” (verse 8)?

How is Noah described (verse 9)?

Who are Shem, Ham and Japheth (verse 10)?

What was the earth full of (verse 11)?

Why had the earth become corrupt (verse 12)?

Who is going to destroy the people and the earth (verse 13)?

What was Noah supposed to make (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

John 12:24-36 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

³⁰ Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. ³¹ Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. ³² And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ³³ He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

³⁴ The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. ³⁶ Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

What must happen to a kernel of wheat to produce many seeds (verse 24)?

Who will lose their life (verse 25)?

Who will keep their life (verse 25)?

Where will Jesus’ servants be (verse 26)?

Who will the Father honor (verse 26)?

Whose soul was troubled (verse 27)?

In your opinion, what did the voice from heaven mean by saying “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again” (verse 28)?

How did the crowd hear the voice (verse 29)?

Who did the voice benefit (verse 30)?

What is it time for (verse 31)?

Who will be driven out (verse 31)?

What will happen when Jesus is lifted from the earth (verse 32)?

Why did the crowd think the Messiah would “remain forever” (verse 34)?

What do people who walk in the dark not know (verse 35)?

How do you become “children of light” (verse 36)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what are the differences between the judgment of Noah’s time in Genesis 6:5-14 and the judgment that Jesus is talking about in John 12:24-36?

1 Corinthians 5 1:1-11 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. ² And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? ³ For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. ⁴ So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, ⁵ hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

⁶ Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? ⁷ Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. ⁸ Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

⁹ I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— ¹⁰ not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. ¹¹ But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

What kind of sexual immorality is reported to be among the Corinthians (verse 1)?

In your opinion, why would the Corinthians have been proud about this sexual immorality (verse 2)?

How is Paul with the Corinthians (verse 3)?

What has Paul already done (verse 3)?

When are the Corinthians supposed to act (verses 4 and 5)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean by “the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord” (verse 5)?

What does a little yeast do to the whole batch of dough (verse 6)?

How can the Corinthians become a “new unleavened batch” (verse 7)?

What has happened to Christ (verse 7)?

How is the old bread leavened (verse 8)?

What is the unleavened bread (verse 8)?

What kind of people did Paul tell the Corinthians not to associate with (verse 9)?

What would the Corinthians have to do to not associate with people of the world who are immoral (verse 10)?

What kind of immoral people does Paul tell the Corinthians not to associate with (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does 1 Corinthians 5:1-11 teach us about the hour that as troubling Jesus in John 12:24-36?

In your opinion, what is similar about the world of Noah in Genesis 6:5-14 and the world of the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 5:1-11; and what is very different?

Revelation 21:6-8 – New International Version (NIV)

⁶ He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. ⁷ Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. ⁸ But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

In your opinion, what is done (verse 6)?

What will Jesus give to the thirsty (verse 6)?

Who will Jesus’ children be (verse 7)?

Where will “the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars” be consigned to (verse 8)?

What is the “second death” (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how can Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:1-11 hope that the person who is sexually immoral might be victorious and escape the second death that Jesus reveals to John in Revelation 21:6-8 as the destination of the sexually immoral?

In your opinion, how does Revelation 21:6-8 help us understand those who Jesus says in John 12:24-36 love their life and will lose it and those who hate their life and will “keep it for eternal life”?

In your opinion, what is the difference between the ones who are corrupted and about to be destroyed in Genesis 6:5-14 and those who are given water from the spring of life and are victorious in Revelation 21:6-8?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Genesis, John, 1 Corinthians and Revelation help us understand about the sin in the world and about how our spirits may be saved in the “day of the Lord”?

In your opinion, how do these passages help us understand what Jesus meant when He said “unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds”?     

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)