Until an individual reaches the age of accountability they are deemed innocent. A Jewish boy became an adult when he reached the age of 12. He then had to obey the obligations of the laws. When Jesus was 12 he had a thorough understanding, according to Scripture, of what God required. At that age, he was at the temple hearing and asking questions of the religious teachers. Jesus had determined His unique relationship to God. We assume it was then that Jesus discovered, for sure, who He was. The fact that He was the Son of God; He was a perfect child and obedient to His parents.

How was it that Jesus was able to live a life without sinning? It all starts with love. The more you love and respect someone the more you want to please them. Jesus, as a child, had received the Holy Spirit. He had a special relationship with God and communicated directly. Christ worshipped His Father God. His love and respect for God was so great that He was willing to do whatever God’s will was. Christ had to know the following Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:12 – “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,” This Jesus did.

A person who falls in love and has a tremendous respect for another wants to do whatever it takes to please them. It seems like a person can die out to their self-centeredness, at least temporarily, in order to worship the one they love deeply. What God was asking of the Jews is what we may be willing to do to the one we love. We are willing to love, serve them, and walk in obedience to meet their needs with all of our heart and soul. God knew that love was the motivator that could change man’s motives and behavior. This is why I believed He commanded that we love and worship Him and others as ourselves. Otherwise, man’s carnal instincts would control him and life on earth would be as unbearable as it was prior to the flood.

Romans 6:1 – 7 – “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”

How can we live without sinning? If we follow the two greatest Commandments found in Mark 12:30 – 31 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

We do not have the self-discipline or the love relationship with God that Christ had. But it was His love and compassion that kept Him from sinning. The more we love and worship God, the less we will yield to temptation. The one thing that can block love is self-centeredness. True obedience comes from one’s heart. If we are capable of giving our heart to God we will be set free from sin.

There are estimated millions who have had near death experiences. They were pronounced dead and then came back to life. It is believed that the Apostles John and Paul had a glimpse of the afterlife as well. Steven, the first Christian martyr, received a vision of heaven. He said: “Look I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” The book; “Heaven Is For Real” tells about a four year old having a similar experience. What they tell us is they come back with a different understanding of love and the importance of serving others. They see the two love Commandments in action about how love changes how a person’s perspective of life changes. Maybe if every one of us had a chance to see heaven we would become more disciplined and obedient to God’s will and ways and sin could be controlled. This is why we are told to die out to self. This is not easy. But at least we know it is a heart filled with love than can stop us from sinning.

The reason I am bringing this information to your attention is we as Evangelistic Christians believe an afterlife as described by the Bible is under attack. If these near death people can meet people in heaven who died prior to their birth and return to tell all about them, should they not be believed? There are others who tell of an experience in witnessing hell. One near death experience person came back to life and told his doctor don’t let me die. I must get out of this hospital and get my life right. If an afterlife experience can cause an atheist doctor, who witnessed hell and converted to Christianity, would that help you to believe that there is an afterlife as the Bible teaches?

An afterlife or near death experience tells us they are able to hover over their body below and see and hear what is being done and said. They see a bright light and the end of a tunnel.They relate of being surround by complete peace. They then either meet others who are in heaven or hell. Those visiting hell tell of demons, heat and terrible smells. Those visiting heaven tell of a family and friends reunion. They most often do not want to return. Those who go to hell want to return immediately. An experience like they have had helps them to live without sinning.