God Dwells with Us

Our church turned 161 today

I’m very excited to preach on this passage. Of all the passages that I’ve studied since being here at Red Brick, this stands out as the one that changed my thinking and deepened my faith the most.

It’s probably become one of, if not my favorite passage of scripture.

In fact, if you’ve been here for the last several messages I’ve preached, you’ll probably have noticed a theme of anticipation of the Lord’s coming.

I hope as we walk through it today, it will bring encouragement to you, that it will hone your purpose of life, and that it will empower you to keep fighting against sin.

it may challenge you to search your heart to see if you truly are a follower of Jesus.

Today we’ll be looking at (what I believe is) the culmination of the whole Bible

…the reason God wrote it all down for us in the first place

…the purpose for the great story of God’s redemption plan for his people

We talk about Creation, Fall, Redemption and Consummation…HERE in these 8 verses is the consummation of all human history.

Let’s look at and focus on 4 words

Summarize the hope of our faith

God has promised this, and we want him to make good on his promise.

4 simple words: God Dwells Among Us

if we expand it out a bit:

God’s inhabiting presence establishes the eternal utopian family we were created for.

God Dwells Among Us

One word of caution:

Revelation 21:1–8 ESV

1 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. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 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. 4 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.” 5 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.” 6 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. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 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.”

IT’s NOT ALL GOOD NEWS!

It’s almost all good news!

Mostly Good News

But not all of it.

Let’s read Revelation 21:1-7

Revelation 21:1–7 ESV

1 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. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 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. 4 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.” 5 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.” 6 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. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

If I were to stop there, I may be tempted to do two things...

I may be tempted to believe that v8 doesn’t exist.

I may be tempted to mistake the essence of eternity.

Now we’ll get back to v8 near the end of this message, and we’ll start with the essence of eternity. We can’t miss it.

It feels so nice to focus on the peace and tranquility of this eternal kingdom and miss that the main point is not the streets of gold, it’s God himself.

God’s inhabiting presence establishes our eternal utopian family.

Revelation 21:1-8

the end of this passage

BUT - I did something that many are tempted to do when reading it a funeral…I didn’t read v8. I didn’t read the BAD NEWS!

Dwelling with the Father is the ultimate fulfillment of your life

Fellowship with the Father means eternal utopia and global identity

the end of this passage

Those who reject the righteous life of God’s children are separated from God in hell

What is the chief end of man?

To ‘glorify God and enjoy him forever’

1. The Ultimate fulfillment of your life is to dwell with the Father.

we say this by saying ‘glorify God and enjoy him forever’

The culmination of human history/the Gospel/the cross IS fellowship with the Father. THE POINT of church and bible reading and prayer is fellowship with the Father.

What is the chief end of man?

To ‘glorify God and enjoy him forever’

The New City Catechism asks “How and why did God create us?

God created us male and female in his own image to know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him.

We are creatures and will remain creatures who worship God forever.

v3 end

God remains as their God. We don’t go into some limbo. Life doesn’t cease after death. We don’t get absorbed into this universal force.

God is God.

Man is still God’s creation designed to glorify him. To make him famous. We don’t add anything to God’s value. We see him and declare that he is as great as he truly is.

It’s like if you experienced something as a kid, but as you grow up that same thing, unchanged, becomes far more meaningful and precious.

This happened to me a lot with hymns I sang as a kid.

***Jesus, I am resting, resting In the joy of what Thou art I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee And Thy beauty fills my soul For by Thy transforming power Thou hast made me whole

Ever lift Thy face upon me, As I work and wait for Thee; Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus Earth's dark shadows flee. Brightness of my Father's glory Sunshine of my Father's face Keep me ever trusting, resting, Fill me with Thy grace

***

I didn’t even know what earth’s dark shadows could be when I was 10. But when you experience deep loss, or incredible pain, or incurable sickness. When something precious is taken from you. When you beg God in tears to save a friend, and God brings you through it, your faith is strengthened, and becomes deeper and thick.

James talks about this that your faith is purified when it is tested…not before.

When we live with God, we will experience something of the same thing, realizing that we didn’t have the full understanding of his love and forgiveness. In glory, situations in our earthly life that were difficult or confusing come into focus because we are with the one who ordained them all.

Now, before the new creation, we glorify God by obeying him and enjoying him.

Our work, done in thankfulness to God glorifies him.

our parenting, done for the purpose of raising children who love God, glorifies him

Everything you do in life, done in obedience to God’s commands glorifies God.

But our sin is constant and often subtle.

Our motives often mixed even in our most admirable deeds.

So often our lives are plagued with lust, or covetousness, discontent, complaining, laziness, disobedience, lying, etc...

We Christians hate that.

We hate that we can’t stop sinning. We long for the day that our fellowship with God isn’t interrupted by our pettiness.

That day is coming.

Jesus promised in that we don’t have to worry whether or not this will happen. Or whether it’s actually possible that we can be with God. We don’t have to worry whether there is enough room or that each of us will have a place there.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

This is what we ought to be longing for as Christians,

yes, the streets of gold and the perfect life will be great, but what we really ought to want is the thing which will fully satisfy our hearts: to fellowship with God. To live with him.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.

48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

If there is someone here who has little desire to be close to God. That the idea of living with God forever in a sinless place he rules and reigns, and we live as his happy subjects, if that idea doesn’t appeal to you, then you don’t want Christianity. You don’t want the promise of the Gospel.

The promise of the Gospel is that your sins, which are separating you from God will be forgiven on the basis of Jesus’ death on the cross. And that whoever believes in Jesus will have their sins taken away…cast into the deepest sea…put out of the mind of God…and that we can live with God forever based on Christ’s merit and not our own.

That is the gospel.

And if you want to accept the gospel, you simply pray to God

God, I want to be close to you, but you can’t be close to my sin. But I know that Jesus died on the cross in my place and took the punishment that I deserve. So please forgive me for my sin, take me as your child, and help me to live a life that pleases you.

And God always answers that prayer…and immediately saves you.

Those who are saved, enjoy this fellowship with God, which inaugurates 2 things, an eternal sinless utopia and a global identity for God’s people.

you don't want to be close to him....

(1. the Ultimate purpose of your life is to dwell with the Father)

2. Fellowship with the Father means eternal utopia and global identity

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Eternal Utopia

v4 Comprehensive comfort

No more sorrow

no more death (almost)

no more pain

These things will NOT EXIST…they won’t just stop momentarily. For God’s children, they will be a memory of the past. Something we once knew, but has become completely extinct.

HOW? It’s hard to imagine this world without all that.

v5 because he’s making all things new

this life is SO new, that for the rest of eternity, NO ONE will be sad.

v6a It is done! (the NLT translates it “ It is finished” to echo back to Jesus’ words on the cross.)

But the word Christ uses on the cross (τελέω teleo)- it is finished - has a clear sense of completion. Something has run its course to the end.

Whereas the word used here (γινομαι ginomai) - has a sense of beginning. Uses the same root as GENESIS - Done with the old, but birthing something new -

“It is done” means it has ended…but has just begun anew

That’s why this is beautiful harmony with God being the Alpha and Omega (the first and last letters in Greek) the beginning and the end

....and the beginning.

This NEW creation remakes everything that was tainted by sin. The beauty we see in nature is just a shadow of the beauty to come. We’ll be able to cultivate and explore God’s world with global unity and peace, with no egos or selfishness to get in the way. No oppression of the poor, no starvation, no pollution, no disease. No need for medicine or bandaids. It will be what God intended the original world to be.

God’s inhabiting presence inaugurates this sinless, sorrow-less, painless kingdom.

And

He also gives all its residents a distinct identity…or rather, all its residence become residents because of they have been named by God.

Identity

v3 identity as God’s people(s)

some translations say People”S” as in all the people groups of the world

Remember, God exists as the centerpiece of the universe of God’s creation, and mankind receives a special name: the people of God

The family of God - v7

they are part of God’s family. Not simply part of God’s creation, but beloved and blessed.

his family (children)

They receive an inheritance…a birthright…that only comes to true children. They receive the springs of living water.

Who get’s this eternal spring? v6

Those who are ‘thirsty for it’

Remember the woman at the well? Jesus told her that he could give her a water that would so fully satisfy her needs that she would never again be thirsty.

She of course, wants this water, only to find out that the water Jesus is offering is this eternal spring that satisfies the soul, not some mystical spring in the middle of the desert.

But you must pay careful attention to who receives the water here:

those who are thirsty for it.

water of life - eternal - free - only to the thirsty

He promises something to the 'thirsty' (which can connect back to the woman at the well...thirst is another way of saying faith. Those that want God...the things of God...the words of God...will receive it.

...thirst is another way of saying faith.

Those that want God…who believe in him...will receive Him.

This free spring of water is an eternal deluge of the presence of God.

Our souls our thirsty, and we tend to fill ourselves up with work, with entertainment, with spending, with houses, with sports, politics, with the stuff of this world…but we must realize that the reason that stuff never satisfies is because we are designed to need the fellowship of God.

We have a “God sized hole” as some have said…that can only be filled with God himself.

That’s what is beautiful about those who are thirsty for God…he not only satisfies them, but he NAMES them.

In the next chapter, 22:4 God promises that all his servants will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads.

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

This is far more significant that a ‘brand’

B

English Standard Version Chapter 3

12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

What is the purpose of a brand? If you’re marking cattle, you’re declaring to the world that this is your permanent property. It distinguishes those animals from any other animal. Only those with the brand belong to you.

asd

Or, maybe you thought of a company logo that brands their products. We just had the NFL draft. All these team choosing players, you’ve got people from all over the country making these announcements of which player will play for which team. As soon as they made each announcement, the players did something. They cheer and cry a little, but then they all put on the hat with their team logo front and center on their forhead.

sd

They NFL does this for a very specific reason, it is now clear to everyone that this player is now part of a very exclusive group of people. It’s very clear what team they are playing for and which teams they are not.

You realize that no one was wearing two hats.

When they were chosen, they put on the hat of their franchise…the one to which they now belong.

When God CHOOSES us and NAMES us, we become part of his family.

So that it is unmistakeable to everyone to whom we belong.

We either belong to God or we don’t. And while it may not be utterly clear now, it will be completely clear when Jesus returns. And anyone who hasn't turned from their sins and trusted in Jesus will not be marked as a child of God.

And for all God’s branded children, this is great news:

an inheritance of blissful paradise with God himself among us.

But remember I said it’s not all good news.

There’s No middle ground…and no second chances.

We either belong to God or we don’t.

And while it may not be perfectly clear now, it will be utterly clear when Jesus returns.

And anyone who hasn't turned from their sins and trusted in Jesus will not be marked as a child of God.

v8 is where we read about those who do not have God’s mark.

Let’s finally read

Revelation 21:8 ESV

8 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.”

God eradicated death…but only for his family. Only for those who love him.

Those who choose who reject the righteous life necessary for fellowship with the Father are eternally separated from the him in Hell A righteous life doesn't earn favor with GodA sinful life does damn - not one-time offenders, but those whose pattern of life is to reject the righteousness of God and pursue the pleasures of sin

Those who choose who reject the righteous life of God’s children are eternally separated from the him in Hell

Those who choose who reject the righteous life necessary for fellowship with the Father are eternally separated from the him in Hell A righteous life doesn't earn favor with GodA sinful life does damn - not one-time offenders, but those whose pattern of life is to reject the righteousness of God and pursue the pleasures of sin

3. Those who choose to reject the righteous life of God’s children are eternally separated from the him in Hell

Those who choose who reject the righteous life necessary for fellowship with the Father are eternally separated from the him in Hell A righteous life doesn't earn favor with GodA sinful life does damn - not one-time offenders, but those whose pattern of life is to reject the righteousness of God and pursue the pleasures of sin

A righteous life doesn't CANNOT earn favor with God

But a single sin against a holy God does damn you

Now this passage is written to churches, to those who claim to believe in the Gospel, who claim to be God’s children.

- not one-time offenders, but those whose pattern of life is to reject the righteousness of God and pursue the pleasures of sin

What God is saying, is that your life choices do not match your profession. Your life is characterized by being

cowardly - those who don’t remain faithful to Jesus

faithless - you really aren’t convinced God’s message is true

detestable - you revel in the crude and profane

murderers - you refuse to value human life

sexually immoral - God’s guidelines for marriage don’t apply to you

sorcerers - you indulge in the demonic and mystic powers of darkness

idolaters - trust in created things rather than the creator

liars - you are regularly loose with the truth to protect your reputation or agenda

liars -

God says to us: if these characterize your life, if you choose sin in a regular and habitual way, then your life doesn’t match that of a child of God.

If you regularly choose to reject the righteous life and pursue the pleasures of sin, then you have no inheritance with God…you are cast away from him forever.

You see in v7 (and )

who receives the inheritance?

the one who conquers - who does not succumb to the pressures of temptation…who does not forsake Jesus or his church…who’s life is modeled after the life of Christ.

Not perfect…but always repenting

This means you cannot just make a decision as a kid, or just be baptized and assume that ‘you’re in’, that you can just live your life however you want.

No, if you truly are a child of God and not just an imposter, you will remain faithful to Christ. He is the Lord of your life, not a weekend club.

I want to be clear: you absolutely cannot earn all or even a small portion of your salvation, and it’s not your good works that KEEP yourself saved. True faith always produces works...

so what is the price of salvation?

v6 how many good works does the water of life cost?

How many Sunday services? How many prayers? How much bible reading? How much money given to the church?

NONE

ZERO

It is TRULY FREE - it is given without payment.

It would be in insult to try to pay for this gift.

God’s own Son died in your place, and you think the life of Jesus Christ is worth only a few good deeds?…even a lifetime of charity?

We can only be saved by accepting Christ’s free gift.

And when we realize, that God the father, loved us so much that while we were still sinners, still his enemies, he sacrificed the life of his one and only Son, so that he can reconcile us to himself...

Our response should be humble thanks and obedience.

And if you think, wow, I’m not good enough to be God’s child, you forget God’s grace is free to the greatest sinner.

God’s love is far greater than any sin you could ever commit.

So hate your sin, and trust that Jesus will forgive you.

Come to Jesus. Run to him…and run away from sin.

Be near him in your daily Bible reading and prayer.

Be near to him in your car as you listen to Christian music.

Be near to him when you’re outside surrounded by his beauty...

And see him as the God he is:

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love...

Ready to forgive all who come to him in repentance, again and again and again ready to forgive.

But he’s HOLY, and unable be near those who have not accepted Christ’s death as the payment for their sin.

You see, the purpose of your life is to dwell with God.

One day, if you’ve turned from your sin and trusted in Jesus, you will be with God as his child with His name on your forehead.

But if you’ve never made the decision to follow Jesus, if Christianity has been a hobby for you, or even simply a religion, but not a personal choice to trust in Jesus, I implore you, even today, to talk to someone about your eternal destiny. It’s a matter of life and death.

Our hearts long for the utopian family that God promised us.

But our hearts really long for God himself.

So let’s bring this back around.

Think of it this way,

How many of you have close family members that live more than 5 hours away? None of you are making that trip every week, right?

For instance, my inlaws are here this week from Michigan, about 7 hrs away. Now, we know that they came to see the gorgeous stillman valley bins ! Or the world-famous Cardinal Cafe?

As nice as this area is, my in-laws didn’t come to see the sites, they came to see us. Grandchildren are an amazing motivator.

It should be the same with us and the eternal kingdom. We’re going there to be with God.

HE IS the destination.

Heaven isn’t heaven without God.

So let’s bring this back around.

Pearl of Great Price *******

, so this statement is directed at those who claim to be God’s children.not one-time offenders, but those whose pattern of life is to reject the righteousness of God and pursue the pleasures of sin

The New Earth won’t be the new earth without God there.

He is coming back for us.

It’s coming.

God himself will be with us.

And if you don’t make other plans I hope you’ll join us on coronation day at the 5th tree back as you face the throne on the right side of the river.

and we’ll celebrate this together, the crowning of our Messiah, our Christ, the Lord Jesus.

Matt 5

Matchless Pearl

Years ago, an American missionary to India, David Morse, was good friends with a pearl diver named Rambhau. They had spent many hours together and on many occasions the missionary had shared the good news of Christ, but to no avail. His Indian friend always objected, “Your religion is too easy. Perhaps I am proud, but I believe that I must work for my place in heaven.”

The missionary would always respond by explaining that God’s salvation may only be accepted, but never earned, but Rambhau could not see it. He was getting old and he planned to make a pilgrimage by traveling 900 miles to Delhi on his knees. The missionary pled with him and argued that it would do him no good when he stood before God, but the old man was insistent. He said, “The suffering will be sweet, for it will purchase heaven for me.”

A week before he was to leave, Rambhau stopped by the missionary’s home. He brought with him a small strongbox. His eyes misted up as he told Morse that he once had a son. He had never mentioned this before, because it was too painful for him. His son had been the best pearl diver in that part of India. One day as he was diving, he saw the perfect pearl. He went for it, but he had been under water for too long. He got the pearl, but lost his life.

Now, Rambhau opened the box and showed Morse the pearl. He gasped at the rare beauty of it. It was huge. Then Rambhau explained, “You are my best friend and I am going away, never to return. I want to give it to you. It is my most precious possession.”

Suddenly, a thought came to the missionary. He said, “Rambhau, this is a wonderful, amazing pearl. Let me buy it from you. I will give you $10,000 for it.”

Rambhau was stunned. “What do you mean?”

“Okay, I’ll give you $15,000 or whatever it takes. I’ll work all my life to pay for it if I have to.”

“My friend,” said Rambhau, obviously offended, “this pearl is beyond all price. No man in the entire world has money enough to pay what this pearl is worth to me. A million dollars would not buy it. I will not sell it to you. You may only have it as a gift.”

“No, Rambhau,” said Morse. “I cannot accept that. As much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way. Perhaps I am proud, but that is too easy. I must pay for it or work for it.”

The old pearl diver was stunned into silence. Finally, he said, “Don’t you see? My only son gave his life to get this pearl, and I wouldn’t sell it for any amount of money. It is worth the life blood of my son. But, I will give it too you. Just accept it as a token of my love for you, my friend.”

Now the missionary was choked and could not speak for a moment. Then, gripping his friend’s hand, he said, “Rambhau, don’t you see? That is just what you have been saying to God!”

The diver looked long and searchingly at the missionary and slowly he began to understand.

“God offers salvation to you as a free gift. It is so great and priceless that no one can possibly pay Him back. It cost Him the life of His own Son. No man can be good enough to earn it or deserve it, because we all have sinned against Him. All you can do is accept it as His loving gift to you.”

As the tears flowed down his cheeks, Rambhau said, “I see it now. I have believed in the doctrine of Jesus for two years, but I could not believe that His salvation was free. Now I understand. Some things are too priceless to be bought or earned. I will accept His free gift of salvation.”

English Standard Version Chapter 7

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

v7 - a bit confusing why not the one who has faith? ,

Those who choose who reject the righteous life necessary for fellowship with the Father are eternally separated from the him in Hell A righteous life doesn't earn favor with GodA sinful life does damn - not one-time offenders, but those whose pattern of life is to reject the righteousness of God and pursue the pleasures of sin

He's echoing back to his previous warnings to Ephesus and Smyrna that you can't leave your first love, you must repent, you must be faithful through tribulation unto death. The one who perseveres through the temptations and trials of life.

v8 may need a bit more explanation of why cowards are in there. I assume because the cowards don't persevere.