The Big Story: Restoration
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
Restoration
Restoration
Recap:
God creates the world and human because he desires to have relationship with a people whom he loves
These people sin and the curse of sin which is death enters the narrative.
This separates God from his people
But God still makes a way to be in relationship with his people despite sin
Then God sends his son to defeat sin with Jesus death on the cross, sin will no longer stand in the way of God having relationship with his people.
But, the world is still full of sin and the consequences of that sin being pain and suffering.
But see the story doesn’t end here.
We left off last week with Jesus ascending into heaven and the people of God receive the Holy Spirit.
But see, Jesus before he goes, he promises he’s going to return. And when he returns he will usher in restoration for the people of God.
Let’s pray.
We are going to be in revelation today.
And it can feel like revelation is the elephant in the room. Its the book that is complicated, hard to understand, confusing.
People think revelation is supposed to tell us exactly when Jesus is going to come back.
Thats not the right way to look at revelation.
Its not a book that tells...
Revelation tells of the vision that the apostle John, the one who wrote the book of John, recieved from God while he was in exile on the island of Patmos.
John was the last of the apostles left alive. See all the rest had been killed. We don’t know for sure on all of these but here is the general rundown.
Paul - Beheaded
Peter - Crucified… Upside Down
Andrew - Crucified
Thomas - said to have been speared by four soldiers
Phillip - We don’t know how exactly, but what we do know is it was “cruel”
Matthew - was stabbed to death in etheopia
Bartholomew and Simon the zealot - historians cant decide which of several terrible ways they were killed
James was stoned and then clubbed to death
Finally, Mattias was burned to death
So at this point in history, the leaders of the Church are being killed left and right for their faith in Jesus and being a Christian is one of the most dangerous things you can be. The bible uses the word persecution and this is what they are talking about. This persecution like you are on the verge of being killed every moment of everyday for your faith.
So this is the context in which John writes the book of revelation. He is the last living apostle, he’s sitting on an island where he has been exiled, and he’s writing to Seven churches specifically but really to all the churches. Churches that are experiencing persecution and being pulled left and right into sinful practices. Y’all it was hard to be a Christian back then.
But God gives John a vision, a vision of Jesus’ return. Of Jesus coming back and saving His people for eternity. See the book of Revelation is supposed to give hope. Its a book of hope, saying things may look dim now, but the time is coming when the Lord will make all things new.
We are going to be looking at Revelation 21 specifically if you would turn there and we are going to break this down.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
Prior to this in Revelation a ton happens that we don’t have time to get into, but on the most basic level, Jesus comes back kicks satan in the you know what sending him to you know where and here we see the creation of a new heaven and a new earth.
When here it refers to the heavens and the earth just think of all that God created.
So God creation that was tainted by sin, the heavens and earth are being replaced with a new heaven and a new earth that are completely free of sin.
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
This verse is referring to the people of God, Gods people.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
Then we have God, dwelling with his people.
Recap God dwelling with his people in scripture
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Guys this is a very real, real, reality for you. If you are in Christ there will come a day when there will be no more tears, no sadness, no pain, no death, no struggle, no earthly problems.
These things will pass away.
He is making all things new.
Next we see verses that are in stark comparison to one another.
And 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 from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
For those of you who are in Christ, God will be your father and you will be his son, covered by the grace and blood of Jesus Christ.
But… for those who are not in Christ
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
See if you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ you are a sinner who needs a savior.
Rope illustration:
All you think about is this part, but what about all of this?
Some of y’all are Christians and you need to know in the depth of your trials that this life is not it, he will wipe away every tear and he will make all things new.
And you need to think are you living for this part? Why would you do that when the Bible says how you live during this part determines how you will live for the rest.
If you have not repented of your sin and turned to faith in Christ then this is all you get. This is it. You can live and enjoy all of this but then as Revelations 21:8, I tell you this cause I love you.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
And the Bible teaches that
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is all true. And what I love is the comparison we see
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
You too can be washed in the blood of Jesus. Sanctified by faith in Him.
Here’s my question for today: