New Creation
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· 18 viewsThe one who continues to make all things new continues to be trustworthy and true.
Notes
Transcript
September 13, 2020
Dominant Thought: The one who continues to make all things new continues to be trustworthy and true.
Objectives:
My listeners will see that God’s story is moving to a culmination in a new heaven and new earth.
My listeners will be motivated to faithfulness because of God’s authority.
My listeners will write down something in response to their experience with God’s Word today.
Most stories have a beginning and an end. However, Eugene Peterson reminds us, “The biblical story began, quite logically, with a beginning. Now it draws to an end, not quite so logically, also with a beginning” (Reversed Thunder, p. 169).
It is similar to what C.S Lewis writes in the last book of his Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle, “All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: Now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”
As we seek to establish a new normal, let’s dive into the last book of the Bible that highlights the new creation of God. Our text is Revelation 21.5. To gain some context, let’s read Revelation 21.1-8.
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
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 water without cost from the spring of the water of life.
Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
In Revelation 21, we have a picture of a new creation. As we conclude our series, New Normal, we have chosen the theme, New Creation. In Revelation 21.5, we hear the voice from the throne, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
Christopher Wright has a helpful way to tell the story of the Bible with simple symbols. We have talked about these ymbols in the past, but I want to review them again. First, the Bible starts with creation (Genesis 1-2) which we can draw with a down arrow. Second, we draw an “X” to remind us of the sin of Adam and Eve and all who follow in their steps (Genesis 3-11). Third, we draw a horizontal arrow that reminds us of God’s promise to Abraham to bless him and that all the nations would be blessed through him (Genesis - Malachi). Fourth, we draw a cross to remind us of the good news of Jesus and his story of love, truth, power, sacrifice, resurrection, and ascension as told in the four gospels (Matthew-John). Fifth, we draw another horizontal arrow similar to the one that represented the promise of Abraham to bless the nations. Now the church is on mission with the Holy Spirit to disciple the nations (Acts 2-Revelation). Finally, we draw a down arrow that highlights the message of new creation in Revelation 21-22. That’s the story of the Bible in a nutshell.
As we look at our theme verse of Revelation 21.5, I want to answer two questions: Who is speaking? and What is saying?
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Question One: Who is speaking? The short answer, “He who was seated on the throne.” In Revelation, the one seated on the throne describes God Almighty.
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,
the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
God is on the throne and is the one who lives forever and ever. He created all things.
The image of throne is important in the book of Revelation. It is found 47 times in 22 chapters. The Apostle John writes to Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire. Did the Romans have a reference point for a throne? Yes, Caesar. Many of the Roman emperors were also called gods.
In Revelation, John writes to remind the Christians who is really on the throne. It is a very politically divisive statement. In this politically divided culture of America, please remember who is really in charge. It is the one who is on the throne, who lives forever, and creates all things.
The difference between the ones on the thrones of power whether in Rome or America or any other government in time and our God who is on the throne is in Rev. 21.2-3. The new creation is described as a beautiful bride prepared for her husband where God dwells with His people. Heaven is not so much a place as a people. There’s a relationship between God and His people that will be beautifully intimate. That is something no other religion can promise.
Question Two: What is He saying? In Revelation 21.5, God makes two statements and issues a command. First statement, “I am making everything new.” The command is, “Write this down.” The second statement is “These words are trustworthy and true.”
First statement, “I am making all things new.” As we go up to the first verses of Revelation 21, we read that John saw a “new” heaven, a “new” earth, and a “New” Jerusalem. For more background on the promise of a new creation, you can go back to Isaiah 65.17-25.
All of these words for “new” are the same word that described the fresh wineskins that we studied a couple of weeks ago. This word for new means fresh or never been used.
The verb is “making.” It is a present ongoing action. It is continuous. God continues to make all things new or fresh.
Eugene Peterson again writes, “The sin-ruined creation of Genesis is restored in the sacrifice-renewed creation of Revelation” (Reversed Thunder, p. 169).
Notice what is not there in the new creation. In Rev. 21.4, we find that God will wipe away tears. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. There will be no more funerals or hospitals or jails. That’s part of the old order where we find ourselves.
God goes on in Revelation 21.8, to state what else will not be in the new creation: the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and all liars. If you don’t want pain, death, and mourning, then those who continue to inflict pain, death, and sadness will not be present.
Someone has said recently that the problem with American Christianity is that we want the kingdom of God without the King. We want the benefits of the kingdom, but we want to be on the throne.
After declaring that He is making all things new, God gives a command to John to “Write this down.” Many people probably wish that John had disobeyed God because the book of Revelation is very confusing. I’m grateful for the message of Revelation and the hope that it gives to people in challenging times.
Throughout Revelation, God wants His people to pay attention to what John has written down.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
People can receive a blessing simply by reading this book. Obedience is expected.
“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”
One of the reasons to write down this message is to remember it and to share it with others.
This week, I ran across a green pocket notebook with the word “memorandum” imprinted on it. I think it was my grandmother’s. Nothing was written down in this notebook, but I can still remember my grandmother keeping track of her day’s activities in those notebooks at the kitchen table. Sometimes, she’d write down her blood sugar numbers. She’d comment about the weather. Then, she’d write down her activities. She wrote it down to remember.
I’ve been listening to the book Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. The story of Louis Zamperini’s experiences in World War II. Much of the material from that book came from letters that were exchanged between family and soldiers in the war.
If God were to give you a command to “Write this down.” What would you write down? Maybe he would want you to write down one of these verses from Revelation to study and meditate. Maybe he’d want you to write down a prayer as a response to God’s word today. Maybe he’d want you to write a letter to encourage someone in their journey of faith. Would you write something down today before you go to bed? Follow God’s lead and you won’t go wrong.
After God gives the command to John to write down this message, he declares, “these words are trustworthy and true.” The angel near the throne repeats these words to John in the next chapter.
The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
We live in a world with lots of messages swirling around. We have information and misinformation spinning around us. We have lots of experts weighing in with their opinions. It is really challenging to know what information is accurate and correct.
God wants to remind people where the truth is found. It is found in Him and His words. We have testimony of generations of followers of Jesus. Many in John’s generation would die for their faith. Who would die for a lie? Even John was on the island of Patmos living in exile because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. He endured hardship for the gospel because He knew who writes the New Normal. He knew that God is making a new creation. He trusted in the one who is trustworthy and true.
In Revelation 19, we have another picture of one who is trustworthy and true.
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.
His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
The same words that describe God’s message as trustworthy and true describe this rider on a white horse who appears to be Jesus. Jesus comes as a conquering hero. For those who are with Him, victory is theirs.
The ones who are victorious will inherit the new creation.
Dominant Thought: The one who continues to make all things new continues to be trustworthy and true.
5 Day Devotional Guide on Revelation 21-22
Dominant Thought: The one who continues to make all things new continues to be trustworthy and true.
You may want to refer to the sermon notes for further discussion. Take a moment to read the assigned Scripture and then reflect or discuss the questions. Customize this outline to your situation. Here are some questions to ask from the Discovery Bible Method:
What are you thankful for today or this week?
What challenges are you facing?
Have 2 or 3 people read the scripture out loud.
Can you summarize this passage in your own words?
What did you discover about God from this passage?
What have you learned about people from this passage?
How are you going to obey this passage? (What is your “I will” statement?)
With whom are you going to share what you have learned?
Based on this passage, what can we pray about?
Day 1: Revelation 21.1-8
Day 2: Revelation 21.9-14
Day 3: Revelation 21.15-21
Day 4: Revelation 21.22-27
Day 5: Revelation 22.1-7