Eternity

Eternity Declaration: ● ● ● ● ● My eyes are on Jesus My heart is tuned to His Spirit My ears are listening to His voice My mind will believe what He says My voice will declare the truth of His word Today, we are continuing our series, “Asking For A Friend”. In this series we will answer your questions regarding the church, God, faith, theology or anything else that comes up! Here are a few questions that we will discuss today: Is heaven and hell real, is Jesus the only way to heaven, and how can I be sure that I’m saved? **(Show Graphic) As a reminder, you can write your questions and drop them in the baskets or you can send them to me via email. What happens when we die? Is Heaven & Hell Real? Many believe that heaven is the eternal home of the righteous after death and that hell is the eternal home of the unrighteous dead. But, I think to answer this we must first come to an understanding of what the people in Jesus day believed. There are a few terms that I’ve seen people get a bit hung up on. Sheol - initially just meant place of the dead. Later specific to wicked dead. Hades - NT version, influenced by greeks Gehenna - literally meaning “the valley of hinnom” it was where children were sacrificed by fire to idols. Lake of fire - mentioned in Revelation, specifically 20:14-15 we see death and hades specified and thrown into the lake of fire. Paradise (we see this interchanged with heaven in places) Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22,23) So, you can see that the people believed that you went somewhere after death, waiting to be sent to paradise or torment. Let’s look at a few scriptures that tell us what to expect. Luke 23:43 (NIV) 43Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 2 Corinthians 5:1–10 (NIV) 1For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when 4 we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in 7 8 the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. The Judgement Seat of Christ Hebrews 9:27 (NIV) 27Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV) Both believers and unbelievers are standing before the throne of judgment is evident also from the fact that two sets of books are opened: “the books” and “the book of life.” The “books” that are opened contain the record of everything that every unbeliever has ever done or said. God will bring justice to bear upon them in perfect harmony with the deeds they have committed. Believers in Jesus Christ will be judged, not to determine who enters God’s kingdom and who is excluded, but a judgment to determine the rewards that God will bestow on all of us for the works we have performed for the glory of Christ. Is Jesus The Only Way To Heaven? John 14:1–6 (NIV) 1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You 5 know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus spoke of Himself as the only way to heaven in several places besides John 14:6. Here we see Him at the “gate”! Matthew 7:21–23 (NIV) 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ We must believe in Him John 3:13–15 (NIV) 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” He’s the Gate John 10:7–10 (NIV) 7Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. He’s the Resurrection and Life John 11:25–26 (NIV) 25 Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Acts 4:12 (NIV) 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” How Can I Be Sure That I’m Saved? – We usually measure this by something we’ve done. I encourage you to have faith in what he’s done. Then choose to walk in relationship with him daily. Ephesians 2:8(NIV) 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— – Do you believe in Jesus and accept Him as Lord/Master? – Do you follow Jesus seeking to obey Him? 1 John 2:3–6 (NIV) 3 4 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is 5 not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made 6 complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. – Do you repent and confess your sins to Him? 1 John 1:9–10 (NIV) 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and 10 purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. – Is the fruit of sanctification(holiness) evident in your life? – Do you love God and your neighbor? 1 John 3:14–15 (NIV) 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. If we have faith in Him, we can falter in these areas but know that He sustains us! It’s to be received by faith! He saves us and He keeps us as we abide in Him. (John 15) Philippians 1:6 (NIV) 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. A Faith That Perseveres Hebrews 10:19–25 (NIV) 19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us 21 through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the 22 house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us 25 consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Closing For our last question today, I felt it would be good to end with: Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Romans 3:10–18 (NIV) 10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who 12 understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of 14 15 vipers is on their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16ruin and misery mark their ways, 17and the way of peace they do not know.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Do you see a description of good people in the verses above? There is no one who is good. Romans 6:23 (NIV) 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. I often flip this question to: I thank God that He allows good things to happen to bad people! We didn’t get what we deserve, when we walk with Him we get what He deserves all the blessings, co-heirs with Him. Sonship!! Jesus taught us to pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. (Mt 6:9-13) “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though he were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Let us proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and that the kingdom of heaven is truly at hand/it’s here and now!