When We All Get To Heaven
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
As we have mentioned several times during this series, the book of 1 John is all about fellowship. And tonight, with these verses I just read, I want to say that one of these days, we are going to be moving our fellowship right on up to Heaven!
I’m thankful for the promise that one day, we are going to see Jesus and be with Him forever in Heaven!
The sad thing is many Christians live outside the reality of what we have, who we belong to, and what is in store for us!
When we do not live daily for Jesus we are consumed with the things of this world, we are distracted from our mission, and we are discouraged in our living. Because we do not have a daily walk with the Lord Jesus we forfeit blessings, we struggle for joy, and we long for peace.
Jesus said, “I am come that ye might have life and have it more abundantly.”
Many Christians are like the little kindergarten student named Randy. Randy went off to school with a 10 cent coin in his pocket to buy a carton of milk to go with his lunch. When he came home that afternoon, his mother asked if he had purchased the milk. The little boy said, “No,” as he burst into tears. “The milk was 5 cents and I only had a dime.”
Many Christians live so defeated and discouraged because they do not realize what they have. As children of God we have some benefits that effect us here and now and there and then.
There are three things tonight I want us to think about from these verses...
I-What We Are
I-What We Are
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Having just mentioned being born of Him, John speaks in amazement about this manner of love that makes us children of God. He wants us to behold it – that is, look at it and study it intently.
Bestowed upon us speaks many things. First, it speaks of the measure of God’s love to us. Secondly, it speaks of the manner of God’s giving of love; bestowed has the idea of a one-sided giving, instead of a return for something earned.
John marveled that God would make poor, wretched, and miserable sinners the children of God. We were once children of wrath, but now we are called the children of God. Is the fact that we are children of God a reality to you in your daily living?
It has never dawned on some of us that we are children of God. Owning a Bible does not make us a child of God, being a member of the church does not make us a child of God, partaking of the Lord’s Supper does not make us a child of God.
Only by the new birth can we come into the family of God. When we have truly trusted Jesus we experience the reality of being in the family of God. God has so loved us that He has adopted us and made us the children of God. We did not choose God, but God chose us and made His love real and tangible to us.
The result of God’s love is that we are called the children of God. The transaction has been made, we have been conveyed into the family of God.
“Sons of God” is not simply a high-sounding name that we bear; it is a reality! We are God’s children! We do not expect the world to understand this thrilling relationship, because it does not even understand God. Only a person who knows God through Christ can fully appreciate what it means to be called a child of God.
We not only see what we are, but in verse 2, we find out...
II-What We Shall Be
II-What We Shall Be
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
The reference here, of course, is to the time of Christ’s coming for His church. This was mentioned in 1 John 2:28 as an incentive for holy living, and now it is repeated.
God’s love for us does not stop with the new birth. It continues throughout our lives and takes us right up to the return of Jesus Christ! When our Lord appears, all true believers will see Him and will become like Him!
We are going to receive a body just like our Lords. When we see Jesus we will be changed and this flesh will take on immortality.
Our new bodies will not wear out, our teeth will never fall out, our hair will never recede.
We will never need contacts or glasses to improve our vision.
We’ll not need makeup or nice clothes to improve our looks.
We will not be overweight, we will not have heart trouble, high blood pressure, headaches will be a thing of the past.
We will not be susceptible to cancer or disease, and we will not grow tired and irritable.
When Jesus comes again we will receive a body like our Lord’s.
John Phillips wrote, “It will be a spiritual body subject to higher laws and with greater powers than these natural bodies we have right now. It will be incorruptible, immortal, invincible, just like the resurrection body of the Lord. Our new body will never grow old, never get sick, never know the touch and taint of temptation and sin.”
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
This will truly be shouting time for the believer. We cannot begin to imagine the joy we shall experience when we meet the Lord in the air, clothed in a new, glorified body. (I know Paul confirms that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I am convinced the saved enter the very presence of the Lord when they leave this earth in death.) However, this will be a glorious time as the redeemed by grace meet the Lord, united in the air.
We shall behold the One who bled and died for our sin. We will be eternally free from the presence of sin, Satan, and the hindrances of this life. What a day, glorious day, that will be!
In 1898, Carrie Breck wrote:
Face to face with Christ, my Savior,
Face to face—what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ who died for me?
Only faintly now I see Him,
With the darkened veil between,
But a blessed day is coming,
When His glory shall be seen.
Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!
Let’s look on and see...
III-What We Should Be
III-What We Should Be
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
John told us in this verse 1 what we ARE … “sons of God.” In verse 2, he told us what we SHALL BE … “like Him.” In this third verse, the apostle tells us what we SHOULD BE … “pure.”
The fact that we are children of God and that the Lord is going to appear or come back for us should be a motivation for us to keep ourselves pure before the Lord.
Those who are born again in Christ, walking in fellowship with Him, cannot sin and enjoy it. Children are chastised for sin, and we are called to heed the guidance of the Spirit. As the Spirit guides, we are to follow, seeking a life of purity!
Warren Wiersbe told a story about a group of teenagers who were enjoying a party, and someone suggested that they go to a certain restaurant for a good time. “I’d rather you took me home,” Jan said to her date. “My parents don’t approve of that place.”
“Are you afraid your father will hurt you?” one of the girls asked sarcastically. Jan replied, “No, I’m not afraid my father will hurt me, but I am afraid I might hurt him.”
This young lady understood the principle of purity that a true child of God should understand.
Those who have experienced the love of God, should have no desire to sin against that love.
Conclusion
Conclusion
It is a great blessing to be a child of God. The Bible teaches us that as children of God we receive the blessing of His love and we will one day receive a body like our Lord’s. Does the coming of Jesus have a purifying effect on your life? Are you living a pure and holy life as we wait on Jesus? Are you a child of God? Have you been born into the family of God?
Eternity awaits, but apart from Christ, it will be just as dreadful for those who have denied Christ as it is joyful for those who have received Him. Where do you stand today? If the Lord were to call for the church right now, are you certain you would meet Him in the air, accepted as one of the family? If not, seek Him while He may be found. Come as the Lord leads you today!