The Reality of our Future Experience

Title: The Reality of our Future Experience

Title: The Reality of our Future Experience

Text:

Series: Let's be a Christ-centered Church

Introductory thoughts:

The question arises, If there is to be no eating nor sex, will there be any pleasure in heaven? It should be understood that the experiences of heaven will far surpass anything experienced here. Paul

Erickson, Millard J.. Christian Theology (p. 1131). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

1. Question: How real is the believer's future experience, and why does this matter? (v. 35)

A surreal future existence almost posits a ghostly type of existence which seems to sensual/experiential creatures to be less real. Two resulting responses to this:

(1) Since the future is less real, then it's not as important...this leads to another, potentially destructive way of thinking

(2) Since the future is less real, I better enjoy what I can while I can

But if the resurrection is just as real or more real than our current existence then:

(1) We are looking forward to a tremendously important time - and we would prepare for it, as if we were preparing for a wedding day ceremony.

(2) We would know that a greater joy awaits us in the days ahead, so we would not feel as if we needed to maximize our personal pleasure now, as if there were not opportunity for pleasure/joy in the future.

2. People believe certain things because of what they experience in nature (v. 36 - 41)

#1) People take for granted that what is planted will not be the same body that comes forth / People assume that God gives it a different body (v. 36 - 38)

#2) People take for granted that there are different bodies with different splendor (v. 39 - 41)

People assume that God gives it a different body

There are so many things that we take for granted or assume without really thinking of the what they might imply:

Why is it that oxygen is required for life?

How can a baby go from living in a womb to breath air with lungs?

How is it that the same substance oxygen can be that which makes fires live and lack of it cause fires to die?

If oxygen is so necessary, how can something as glorious as the moon and stars exist where there is no oxygen?

Is it possible that we take a lot of granted and don’t realize the implications?....RIGHT INTO NEXT POINT...

Paul has no intention of explaining how the resurrection happens but wishes only to make the case that it can happen.

Garland, David E

3. Since people believe in transformative changes in nature, isn't it possible that there could be a bodily transformation? (v. 42 - 44b)

Paul has no intention of explaining how the resurrection happens but wishes only to make the case that it can happen. - Garland, David E

Garland, David E

Two ways to see these verses - as relating to prior verses or relating to later verses:

(i) The sowing of the body is the corpse being put into the ground

(ii) The sowing of the body is the making of a human body

4. There is both a natural body and a spiritual BODY, and this is confirmed in Jesus Christ (v. 44c - 49)

(i) The first Adam () =

living soul (v. 45)

natural (v. 46)

earthy (v. 47) = see [Federal head]

(ii) The last Adam

a life-giving spirit (v. 45), , , )

spiritual (v. 46)

heaven (v. 47) - , , , , , , ,

Conclusion:

Why does all of this matter to the believer now?

(1) Don’t live for your retirement, but live out your retirement as if you are preparing for a greater phase of life in the future.

(2) Don’t believe that lies that our world tells us, “You better enjoy it while you can...”

You better enjoy it while you’re young...

You better do it while you can...

The experience that awaits those who are truly Christ’s exceeds anything we could possibly imagine here upon this earth:

It is an experience that surpasses seeing your first born son born

It is an experience that surpasses your wedding day

It is an experience that surpasses the joy of spending time with your grandchildren

It is an experience that will make playing sports look like we are playing with paper airplanes.

So because this is true:

Live your life now like the future is more real than you could possibly imagine:

Unbeliever, the future is real, and you must repent...

Christian:

The temporal pleasure of wasting all of your waking moments playing a game on your device shows that the immediate moment is what you are living for...

The temporal pleasure of a morning TV routine to the neglect of what matters most shows that immediate, momentary entertainment is what you are living for.

This means that some of you may have to say “NO” to your children, to your grandchildren, and even to your great grandchildren - so that the knowledge of God might spread.

You are saying NO because you believe in the reality of the future experience.