Eternal Choices: The Reality of Heaven, Hell, and Judgment

welcome to Belong, we are so happy that your here

Our number one goal is to help you encounter God

the vision of our Church ,

we want you to encounter Him, when you encounter Him your life changes ,

teach us your ways,

Belong, we love discipleship,,

the world is lacking discipleship,

so what Belong is its a 14 week curriculum and we teach you and disciple you on the foundations of the Faith

so stick with it, we are in week 13

before we start this teaching, i want you to know that

Opening Verse

2 Peter 3:9-15a (NLT) "9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. 11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. 14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. 15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved."

Hell is a real place and Heaven is a real place. Jesus came from Heaven to Earth, making a way for you to be with God in Heaven.

1. Patient God, Sudden Judgment

2 Peter 3:9–10

I want to highlight in our opening verse that God is a Patient God.

He Sits outside of the boundaries of time and He waits Patiently to Judge..

God is His decisions are ETERNAL….

God has never…and will never Go back on His Word.

The bible states that Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word will Never Pass away..

The very universe that we live in will be gone and cease to exist before God word goes void, or changes..

I want you to see the magnitude of what Gods words means to say, because through that you will understand that His patients with us is because once that choice is made, it will never be reversed..

In verse 10 of our opening verse it says that the Day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, and the earth and everything on it will be found deserving of Judgement.

Very Important- His Patience is His Kindness.

This is why we are to understand the urgency of His Return, and EMBRACE SALVATION, because procrastination has terrible consequences

This is why we have BELONG, the Heart of BELONG to see our city saved and discipled.

that is why we are here every week sending people out into the city…. because there is an urgency in seeing souls saved,

its beyond important that we are sharing with others what God has done for us,

sharing the truth of the Gospel with others, Because there is Urgency…there is a great day coming where we will all be Judged..

- Christ as the patient Savior, patiently waiting for souls to come to Him,

2. Hell is a real Place

Biblical Fact - God did not create hell for humanity but for the devil and his demons:

Matthew 25:41 "Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.’"

Satan, previously known as Lucifer sinned against God He was struck down from Heaven

Sin entered the Heart of Lucifer and separated Him from the Presence of God.

Hell was created for Him, and the demonic forces, that revolted against God…

Since the beginning of creation we have been given free will ( the right to choose)

God said do not eat of this tree for if you do, you will surely die,, It wasn’t that the tree was bad, it wasn’t that it was poisonous, it was disobedience to God

Eve was deceived by the serpent, and Adam followed suit and willingly disobeyed God,

This choice of sin cursed the Human race with Sin, And Adam and eve they were then kicked out of the Garden, because sin will separate you from God.

Sin creates a barrier between humanity and God because His holiness demands separation from impurity.

Isaiah 59:2

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."

We are Spirit, Soul & Body from the beginning when God Breathed the breath of Life in the nostrils of Adam,

thats is the same breath has been passed down into every soul and person that is alive today,.

Our bodies will die, but our soul will have a final resting place, a place apart from God,, or a place with God,,

In Scripture Jesus taught about Hell more than He taught about Heaven. Jesus knew, believed, and warned us against the reality of Hell.

Here are 3 Scriptures from Jesus talking about Hell:

Matthew 10:28 “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Hell is a place of destruction of both soul and body.

Matthew 25:46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Hell is eternal (unending) punishment.

Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands.

Hell is unquenchable fire.

Ultimately, hell is separation from God that you cannot overcome.

3. Fear God, Not Men

This is the reality of judgment for those who reject Christ.

Encourage self-reflection in the audience, prompting them to evaluate their relationship with Christ.

It is beyond important that we are fearing God rather than man

These eternal matters eclipse earthly concerns.

I urge you place their trust in Christ for eternal security.

Jesus is both protector and judge, you'll underline the true danger of rejecting Him.

Through placing our trust in Him and surrendering to Him as Lord, we will have eternal security..

For those who have a relationship with Him, He prepares a place for you.

4. Prepare for the Promise

(Jesus Speaking)

John 14:1-7 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

There may be people here where your don’t have a home, or a family,

There is a savior named Jesus who has prepared a place for you,

no more worrying about where your going to fit in, where you belong.

no more worrying who loves you

only one way.. and thats JESUS

This is a BEAUTIFUL PROMISE THAT JESUS IS preparing a place in heaven for His followers,

for those who believe He is Preparing a place for you,

Point to Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life, reinforcing the assurance and peace offered to those who choose Him.

Encourage believers to hold fast to this promise, His word never changes, He is preparing a place for you.

Here are 3 Scriptures from Jesus talking about Heaven:

Matthew 5:12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

There are great rewards in Heaven. Jesus said to “store up treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-21).

Luke 23:43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Heaven is paradise.

John 11:25-26 25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

Heaven is eternal life

In Heaven there are streets of Gold, there are no more tears, there will be no more tempting,

(Paul writes)

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV): “However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.’”

- Apostle Paul is explaining that human wisdom, senses, or natural understanding cannot fully grasp what God has in store

- His plan of salvation, the depth of His love, and the future glory awaiting believers

5. Confess and Conquer

God is Patient with his Judgement because He loves us..

There is a destination for both of us believers and non believers,

Im here to tell you today that you don’t have to live your life and wonder where your going to spend eternity,

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Its only through Jesus, Its only through His willingness to die on the cross that saves us.

Romans 10:9 "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Conclude by focusing on the simplicity and power of confession and belief in Christ as Lord for salvation.

A call to action for unbelievers,

Sinner’s Prayer for Salvation

Heavenly Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus. I confess that I am a sinner in need of Your grace. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, That He died on the cross for my sins, And that He rose again on the third day, conquering death.

I repent of my sins and turn to You. Wash me clean by the blood of Jesus. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, And I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. According to Your Word, I am saved. (Reference: Romans 10:9-10)

Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, So I may walk in Your ways and live for You. Write my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Teach me to follow You every day of my life, And to share the Good News with others.

Thank You, Father, for saving me. Thank You, Jesus, for redeeming me. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for empowering me. I am now a child of God, In Jesus' name, Amen.

- encouragement for believers to appreciate and share their faith. Present Jesus as the Savior who makes eternal life accessible through faith, bolstering confidence and impetus in faith-sharing endeavors.