Life Transforming Final Words*

      The final or last words of a person are given great weight. Many reports of the final words spoken by atheists or the unrepentant are powerful in their regret and fear.

     The final words of men of God in scripture are, on the other hand, life transforming in their glory. Stephen, who was stoned for His faith in Jesus Christ, said: "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God....Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." (Acts 7:54-60, excerpt). The last words of Stephen's revelation and forgiveness remain powerful today and forever.

     Peter wrote to the believers in Christ: "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil...but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil...and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye...But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear...For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit..." (1 Pet. 3:8-21, excerpt).

     The final words of Peter speak the Gospel that Jesus died for our sins and rose again to restore our fellowship with God. Are we also prepared to give a reason for our faith whenever and wherever asked?

     Paul also wrote of unity and the peace of God: "For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth...Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." (2 Cor. 13:8-11). 

     His final words were to bring us to perfection, urging us to live in and to show the peace of God.

     Paul sends final words to the Church at Ephesus, writing: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Eph. 6:10-11). The devil is real, and God has provided His armor to us in order to withstand the devil's attacks against us. We don't battle with flesh and blood, but "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." That armor of God includes: our loins girded with truth, the breastplate of (God's) righteousness, our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and praying always. (v. 13-18).

     To the Philippians, Paul wrote: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord...For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Phil. 3:1-3, excerpt). The circumcision of the heart brings us into the presence of God in the same manner as the rent veil of the temple allowed open access to the Holy of Holies and the presence of God. This is the worship of the Spirit, not the flesh.

     Paul continued in his words to this church: "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." He repeated again that we are always to pray, attaining the peace of God in knowing that God hears our prayers. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure...lovely...of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Paul encouraged this church to follow his example in what they practice, "and the peace of God shall be with you." (Phil. 4:6-9).

     All four Gospel accounts give us some of the final words that Jesus spoke or prayed.

     In Matthew 28, Jesus gives His disciples, some of whom had doubted His resurrection, the Great Commission, saying: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (age)." (v. 16-20). 

     There are some groups that deny the existence of the Trinity. Here, Jesus testifies to the truth of its existence.

     In the Gospel of Mark, the words of Jesus as He appeared to the disciples, including those who had doubted reports of His resurrection, and told them to go into all the world, as He said above. Here, however, Jesus revealed the miraculous signs of His authority that would follow believers as they preached: "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mk. 16:14-18).

     In the Gospel of Luke, the risen Jesus again confronts the unbelief of His disciples, and begins to explain to them, opening their understanding, of how Moses, the Psalms and the prophets of scripture told how Christ would have to suffer and give His life so that others could enter into His glory, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with the power from on high." (Lk. 24:25-49, excerpt).

     The only written scriptures that existed at that time with which Jesus could open their understanding was what we call the "Old Testament." Yet, as Jesus explained, the knowledge of Him and His divine mission to bring salvation through His suffering, death and resurrection are written of in the Old Testament scriptures. Not only is His First Coming revealed in these scriptures, but even His Second Coming, or Return, is prophesied in them. He also told them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of God to them - the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which is also prophesied in the Old Testament.

     In the Gospel of John, Jesus' final prayer for His disciples is that they would become part of the Father as they are part of Him - that they would be unified as one with the Godhead and also with each other. In this unity with the Father and the Son, they would also receive the same glory as Jesus had, and be with Him. Jesus said in His prayer that He had delivered the words to the disciples that the Father had given Him to deliver. God's word is truth, Jesus said, and the disciples had been sanctified in that truth.  However, Jesus' prayer went beyond His immediate disciples and included those who would later come to believe in Him through the words of His disciples. That includes all of us who have followed in belief. (Jn. 17:1-26, excerpt).

     In John 20, Jesus confronts His disciple, Thomas, who had claimed that he would not believe the report that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he saw and put his own hands in the wounds that Christ had suffered. Jesus appeared in order to answer Thomas' unbelief and all others' as well. He suddenly appeared in the midst of the disciples who were hiding behind locked doors and windows, and said to them, "Peace be unto you." He then said to Thomas: "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because you hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (Jn. 20:27-31).

     Here, Jesus' last words contain a blessing spoken over us - those who believe in Him without having seen Him with our eyes. Some have seen an image of Him as shown by the image that was left upon the Shroud of Turin, which carries the specific details of His suffering, death, and resurrection.

     God is not willing any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 7/19/26 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, which is evidence of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling, written by Dr. Stevenson, is available on Amazon.