I've Got a Mansion?
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 11 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Does the Bible teach that we all get mansions one day in heaven?
Does anyone have a KJV or NKJV translation? Can you read John 14:1-2
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
This is the only time the word “mansions” appears in the KJV or the NKJV.
What word do the modern translations use?
Parallel
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?
place to stay n. — a hospitable area (within a house or building) where a person can remain for a period of time.
② a place in which one stays, dwelling(-place), room, abode
Why did the KJV translators use the word “Mansions” instead of rooms or dwelling place?
What do normal English speakers in our culture today understand the word “Mansions” to mean?
Is this the definition most readers of the KJV or NKJV will give to this word in John 14:2?
Has this effected our theology at all?
I'm satisfied with just a cottage below
A little silver and a little gold
But in that city where the ransomed will shine
I want a gold one that's silver lined
… I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold
What meaning of “mansions” did Ira F. Stanphill have when he wrote this song?
So why did the KJV translators use this word? Were they being inaccurate?
Oxford English Dictionary: “Each of a number of separate dwelling places or apartments in a large house, group of buildings, etc. Also in extended use. Now usually archaic as a translation of, or in allusion to, John 14:2
This was the meaning of the word “mansions” 400 years ago. Back then it mean dwelling places or rooms. But, the problem is that language changes. That is not the way “mansions” is used today.
This is a great reason why it is so wonderful that we have many good modern translations today. The problem with the word “mansions” is what Mark Ward calls “False Friends.”
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
This is a perfect example of a false friend. Do you know what the word mansion means? Yes. Most English speaking people know the word mansions. What is the problem then? Because they think they know what the word mansions means they never pause or take the time to figure out what it actually means.
Example: Do you know the following words?
Deliquescent: Adjective: Becoming liquid, or having a tendency to become liquid.
Loquacious: Adjective: Tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
Penumbra: Noun: The partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object.
What do you do when you stumble upon a word you know you don’t know? You take the time and look it up, and discover the meaning.
Mansion: Noun: a large, impressive house.
Because you think you know the definition of the word mansion, you never do what? You never even stop and take the time and look it up to discover what the Bible actually says.
Does this impact our theology?
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
What is the meaning historically associated with John 14:2 and the incorrect idea of the word mansions?
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?
How does the meaning of the verse change when we put the intended word, or translation, in its place? What simple truth is Jesus trying to communicate?
“Fear not. There is room enough in heaven.” —J.C. Ryle
Jesus did not promise us mansions! Actually, what he promises us is infinitely better!
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?
What does it mean that Jesus promised to go to prepare a place for you?
I used to think that Jesus went up to heaven and started building mansions for everyone. It was weird to me to think that Jesus returns to the splendor of heaven only to put his carpentry skills to use.
So what does it mean? If Jesus is comforting the disciples by telling them there are many rooms, that there is room enough in heaven, then in what way did Jesus prepare a place for them?
“It is not that [Jesus] arrives on the scene [in heaven] and then begins to prepare the place; rather, in the context of Johannine theology, it is the going itself, via the cross and resurrection, that prepares the place for Jesus’ disciples.”—D.A. Carson, Pillar NT Commentaries
“And if he takes such trouble, all to prepare a place for his own, it is inconceivable that the rest should not follow: I will come back and take you with me that you also may be where I am.” —D.A. Carson, Pillar NT Commentaries
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.
This is so much better than a mansion! My hope is not a large impressive house one day. My hope is to be with Jesus! I will one day live for ever with Jesus! I know this because Jesus has already prepared the way for me, by means of his death and resurrection. And since he has taken so much effort to prepare the way already, I can be sure that he will come again and will take me to Himself, so that where Jesus is I may be also!
Eternal fellowship with Jesus my Savior is better than any mansion- even if it is lined with silver and gold!
The dwelling place of men will be with God!
We do have wonderful hymns that express this exact theology. In fact we sang one this morning.
O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And show the path that brings us nigh.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Jesus has already made safe the way that leads on high, He has already shown us the path that brings us nigh. What a cause for rejoicing!
4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
Thomas as well did not immediately understand what Jesus was talking about, and he didn’t get caught up on the word mansions!
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
There are many rooms in God’s House. Jesus has already prepared a place for you. He has already made a way for us to go and dwell with God forever.
The dwelling place of man shall be with God, and one day, when God makes a new heaven and a new earth, the dwelling place of God will be with men.
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.”
3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
In that day, truly the ransomed will shine, for Christ will be our light. And we will reign with God and with the Lamb forever and ever.
We also have good hymns that speak of this theology as well (although we have a lot of bad ones too).
This is my Father’s world;
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world;
The battle is not done.
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied
And earth and heaven be one.
There is coming a day, when God will make the earth and the heavens NEW, without the curse of sin. And on that day, the New Jerusalem will come down out of heaven to the new earth, God’s dwelling place will be with us, and heaven and earth will be one. What a glorious day! What a hope! What joy we have to look forward to! Not a mansion, but a dwelling place in the Father’s house. Though millions have come there is still room for one, there is room at the cross for you. And there is room in heaven. You can dwell with Jesus forever and ever. Amen!