The Christian
Notes
Transcript
Instructions - go get bread and drink
Instructions - go get bread and drink
Meet-and-Greet
Meet-and-Greet
How far behind will KC get before coming back to win it all?
(For Caroline: Who will win the FIFA 2022 World Cup?)
Lord’s Supper
Lord’s Supper
CALL UP CAROLINE
CALL UP CAROLINE
Symbols: “for you” … but also for your unsaved friend or relative
Symbols: “for you” … but also for your unsaved friend or relative
Prayer
Prayer
We’re going to pray (individuals or groups)
Pray
For God to break your heart for your neighborhood
For God to reach your neighbors one way or another
For your willingness to be one of the ways
For them to respond by faith to share one day in the Lord’s Supper
If you have kids perhaps spend the time coaching them to pray this way
LS
LS
Bread - broken for you, for your unsaved neighbor
Juice - poured out for you, for your unsaved neighbor
Intro
Intro
Grab: What do Christians do that is uniquely Christian? (Plenty of non-unique things that we do because we are Christian.)
SRV
PV:
Prayer:
Christian Standard Bible Psalm 91
2 I will say concerning the LORD, who is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust:
3 He himself will rescue you from the bird trap,
from the destructive plague.
4 He will cover you with his feathers;
you will take refuge under his wings.
His faithfulness will be a protective shield.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
the arrow that flies by day,
6 the plague that stalks in darkness,
or the pestilence that ravages at noon.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand,
the pestilence will not reach you.
8 You will only see it with your eyes
and witness the punishment of the wicked.
Focus: Christian Living (John 14:18-26)
Focus: Christian Living (John 14:18-26)
Context: Passion Week, Lord’s Supper, Judas, Peter, “where I am going”???, WTL, HS
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
In order to love Jesus more and to see Jesus more, the Christian is governed by Jesus more
Psg: Love (21); See (21); Governed (21, 23-24); this is how
Love (21) - loving Jesus is life, is the great privilege of being alive; to fulfill the greatest command to love the Lord our God with HSMS by loving Jesus; the great joy of being in a relationship with the King of all Kings based on love. How do we get to do this more and more? We love Him now, but we can surely love Him more. What do we do that will help us to love Jesus more?
See (21) - Jesus can reveal more and more of Himself to us; there’s more to Jesus than we’ve seen, and we can in fact see more of Him even before the skies split open and He descends in His full glory; before then we can see more of Him than we do now. What do we do that will help us see Jesus more?
Governed by (21, 23) - see week 2 (Word —> keep); this is the same as saying “obey Jesus” or “obey His commands,” but we have such baggage with the word “obey” that I say it this way just to help us to see it from a different angle; to be governed by Jesus, that His Word and His will govern us; we choose to walk in a way that is governed by Him, not governed by our flesh, not governed by the world, but Him and by His ways.
This is how we will love Jesus more - “the one who keeps My Word is the one who loves Me”; this is how we will see Jesus more - “I will reveal Myself to him”; it’s usually no use to say, “I’m going to love Jesus more” [squint]; but it’s plain as can be - those who are governed by Jesus more will love Jesus more and will see Jesus more.
Truth: ~ learning a language (and loving a culture) via immersion
Many of you have studied a second language, and for some, that second language is English. You study books, listen to audio, watch videos, perhaps take a class, and you learn some of the language. But the best way to learn a language is by immersion. You put yourself in a culture where that language is the primary language - if Russian, you go to Russia; if French, you go to France; if Klingon, you go to a convention; when you’re immersed, then you really learn the language much better and your love for the culture goes to a new level.
This is how obedience - or being governed by Jesus - tends to work. Following the ways of Christ is immersing yourself in the culture of His Kingdom. And by that immersion, you get to know Him better and that greater familiarity breeds a greater love for Him.
ST: New Mexico - JC’s love for the lost
The very first mission trip I ever took, we went to New Mexico to do some work for a missionary who serve various First Nations communities. It was an act of immersion. Our church was really strong in teaching about having a heart for the lost - our coworkers, our neighbors, but in Austin, TX, most people were already somewhat familiar with church and Christianity. But while immersed in a culture that actively worshipped the spirits and invited them to possess them, I saw Jesus’ love for the lost in a whole new way. Some of these groups were openly hostile to Christians, and Jesus died for them. I learned more about Jesus by letting my life be governed more by Jesus. I became more familiar with who Jesus is.
++The Holy Spirit animates us to love Jesus and see more of Him
Psg: JC left but ^orphan (18); (26) F —> HS RE JC to [teach RE?]
(18) Jesus left, but He didn’t leave us as orphans. He was resurrected, and one day He will come again, but in between, He sent us His Spirit.
(26) The Father sent the Spirit in the name of Jesus, and He teaches us and reminds us. But why does He teach us and remind us? What does He teach us and remind us about? What Jesus said, what Jesus told us to do, how Jesus told us to live. So that we would allow our lives to be governed by Jesus. And if our lives are governed by Jesus, then we will love Him more and see Him more.
Truth: He gives us the HS so that we can love Jesus more and see Jesus more.
He wants us to see Jesus more. He wants us to love Jesus more. He wants our lives to be governed by Jesus more. So He sends His Spirit to animate us, and we get the benefit!
ST: When God took away my car, HS taught me —> saw >, loved >
I’ve told the story before of when God took away my car and how I tried to convince Him that I needed that car because I was going to church and going to choir practice, and by golly, “You sure do want me to go to church, don’t you, God?” But the Holy Spirit taught me during that time something about God being my provider and how trustworthy He is, and how He’s able to pull together two unrelated events 700 miles apart at the very last minute. The Holy Spirit worked in a way that I could see Jesus more and therefore love Jesus in ways I hadn’t, yet. But not to love Him because He proved to be very, very convenient in a situation, but because of how awesome He is and how sovereign He is.
Xit: summary of Xn living
Focus: Christ’s Return (Matthew 24:35-51)
Focus: Christ’s Return (Matthew 24:35-51)
Context: Earlier in the week, before the LS, D’s ask, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and the end of the age?”, persecution + tribulation + signs
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus will return, expecting to find people still governed by Him
Psg: (46) blessing for those He finds as good stewards *; are we being gov’d?
(46) Blessing for those He finds being good stewards while He’s away. He gave us some stuff, went away for a while, and is coming back, and when He does, He’s going to assess what we’ve been doing in the meantime with the stuff He gave us. Not just to make sure we’ve been good, but more specifically, what have we been doing with the stuff He gave us - the Gospel, a mission, and our capacities.
In other words, are we really still being governed by Him beyond being good little boys and girls, but that our lives, our families, our vocations are governed by making disciples of all peoples.
Truth: His absence is what defines us as “stewards”
That’s the whole crux of parables like this - He equips us and then leaves for a time. He’s not looking over your shoulder, which means if you chose to, you could do something other than what He equipped you to do, and He won’t immediately smack you upside the head. It’s up to you. Whether or not your life is truly governed by Jesus is up to you. He gave you His Spirit to animate you in this, but it’s still your decision. It’s His absence that allows us to be “stewards” or not.
ST: Leaving kids at home
Have you ever left your kids at home and then come back to find them cleaning their rooms, doing the dishes, and sharing the toys you bought them? Do you expect to? Jesus does. Not that we need to cower in fear, but to be sobered by the fact that when He comes back, He’s coming back with a set of expectations.
Xit: this is also a defn of the Xn life
Focus: Eternal Destiny (John 5:24-29)
Focus: Eternal Destiny (John 5:24-29)
Context: Much earlier in Jesus’ ministry, at one of the Jewish festivals in Jerusalem, healed a paralyzed man on the Sabbath, calling God His Father —> “You think that’s bad, My Father has given all judgment to Me”
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Those in Christ by faith will be resurrected to complete life
Psg: in X by “faith” (24); resurrected (25); complete life (24-26)
“In Christ by faith” (24) - those who hear the Word of JC and believes - believes in the one who sent Him (God the Father), believes that He is the Son of God, believes that He died on the cross to pay for our sin, believes that He rose again on the 3rd day to defeat sin and death, believes that only by believing only in Him can we have His righteousness and enter the Kingdom of God
“Resurrected” (25) - for those people who believe, when Jesus returns, if they have already died, then they will be resurrected, receive a new glorified body, and be with Christ forevermore (and if they are alive when Jesus returns, then their bodies will just be transformed into the new glorified body)
“Complete life” (24-26) - for complete life; not just life that lasts a really long time, but the fullness of life, with complete health, complete joy, a completely healthy soul - everlasting quantity and quality of life
Truth: If life were a substance
If life were a substance, then we had a little bit of it just by being born - we’re alive, we have some life; but then after being born from above by believing in Jesus, now we have a lot more of this substance - we have access to God, we have a spirit made alive, we have a relationship with God through Christ, we have the promise of eternal life, we have healing of various kinds available to us, we are declared righteous and are being made actually righteous; and one day we’ll have gobs of this substance.
ST: David Hoy and Christy Truxaw (video)
Some of you know Cristy Truxaw - she and her husband Dick were a part of this church family for years, but now live in Florida. If you don’t know her, then just know her as Crystal Flanery’s mom. She has one of my favorite stories to tell about another previous long-time member of Grace, David Hoy, who went to be with the Lord several years ago. [video]
Those not in Christ will also be resurrected, but to eternally dying … unless …
Psg: (29) also resurrected; eternally dying; unless …
Also resurrected - It’s not just those who are in Christ that will be resurrected. We all will be, but those who are not in Christ will be judged and thrown into the eternal pit of fire; v. 29 by itself makes it sound like it’s a works-based salvation, but v. 24 already set the stage that this depends only on faith in Christ
Eternally dying - they will not be put to death and then seek to exist; rather, they will have eternal dying; just like those in Christ will be living forever, they will be dying forever, which is far worse than being annihiliated.
Unless - this is hard truth, but it’s truth, and will be true for all those who do not trust Christ … unless they come to faith before they die, as v. 24 says; people you know and love are facing eternally dying unless they put their trust in Christ, which means they face eternally dying unless someone tells them about Jesus so that they have something to believe in
Truth: If life were a substance
If life were a substance, the unsaved have a little bit of it just by being born, but without faith, they were never get more of it, and when they die, even that little bit they do have will be taken away … unless
ST: (Moses; Jonah; Elijah; you?; Rev 9.6 (5th trumpet) = “Eternally dying”
Moses was sick and tired of all the stupid, rebellious stuff Israel was doing, so he begged “God, just kill me now”
Jonah was upset that God showed mercy to the Ninevites, so he begged “God, just kill me now”
Elijah? was harassed so many times that he begged “God, just kill me now”
Perhaps at times you’ve been so miserable that you’ve said the same thing - “God, just kill me now”
cf. Rev 9.6, 5th trumpet, open the pit, locusts and scorpions, not permitted to kill but only to torment , and these people , “In those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.”
Eternally dying is eternally begging, “God, just kill me now” and it never happens … ever
A Christian is Not
A Christian is Not
Xit: Like SB Halftime Show - not a real halftime show if it doesn’t have a drum and bugle corp
A Christian should not be “just like everyone else only saved”
This is a common phrase people say or put on a bumper sticker, and I appreciate the kind of humility they are trying to express, but I hope it’s not true. Believing in Jesus should make you different. Your life should change. You should live by a different set of rules as the world. You might not be a better person than your really nice unsaved neighbor, but you should be a better you than you were.
A Christian is not exempt from discipline
Yes, we have grace from God. Yes, we will escape the great judgment and escape His wrath, but Heb 12:6 says that God disciplines those He loves, just like any loving parent would in order to help their child live a better life.
Christians do not know the day or hour of Christ’s return (but they can still expect it)
Jesus taught this, Paul taught this, John taught this. There will be increasing signs, but we don’t know and people who claim to know are right only if they are lucky. But, we are to live with a constant expectancy that He will return for sure, and it could be really soon. The fact that He’s really going to return should affect how we live now - even if His return ends up being well past our lifetimes.
It’s the fact that we don’t know that allows all Christians throughout time to live basically the same way.
A Christian is not intended to be the final destination of the Gospel (stewardship; “unless”)
The Gospel you received is expected to be the Gospel you share. It’s not just those with the particular gift of evangelism, but everyone single person who has received the Gospel is expected to share the Gospel as part of their lifestyle.
This is the stewardship that Jesus gave us, then went away for a time, and will return to see if our lives have been governed by His Word to make disciples of all people groups.
This is the “unless” - that people we know are facing eternally dying “unless” they believe, which means unless someone is governed by Christ so much as to share Jesus with them.
The Christian has eternal life, so we are best when we are missional
The Christian has eternal life, so we are best when we are missional
Define “missional”
The word “missional” means that we live life with a posture of being on mission - all of us, and that the mission is to be doing what we can to help make disciples.
Confidence in the Gospel
Confidence in the Gospel is not just confidence that we’re going to get there, but confidence that it’s the only message that can save others. We trust that the Gospel itself has it’s own ability to bring salvation so much that we’re willing to just put the Gospel out there clearly and let God do the heavy lifting.
There’s no better way to value salvation than to dread the eternal dying of another even more than they do
We can’t expect people to dread Hell more than we dread it for them. This is a spiritual truth that is clearer to those who have the Spirit. So, because we have the Spirit, we have the burden to dread their eternal dying even more than they do. We can’t let their indifference dissuade us. Of course they have some indifference. Someone who’s life is goverened by Jesus is not indifferent, and may actually care more about their eternal destiny than they do.
Summing up
Summing up
In order to love Jesus and to see more of Jesus, the Christian is governed by Jesus
The Holy Spirit animates us to love Jesus and see more of Him
Jesus will return, expecting to find people still governed by Him
Those in Christ by faith are resurrected to complete life
Those not in Christ are also resurrected, but to eternally dying … unless …
SoF 8, 9, 10
SoF 8, 9, 10
Prayer / GN:
Prayer / GN:
The Good News includes some seriously bad news
But the Good News also includes even better good news
STACK CHAIRS
Pray
Paper on Christian Living
Paper on Christian Living
Article 8
Christian Living
Colby E. Kinser
November 17, 2020
Facilitator: Phil Green
EFCA Gateway
Page BreakWe believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.
Be holy and perfect, because God is holy and perfect (Lv 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7, 26, Mt 5:48; 1 Pe 1:15-16). Anything less means a person falls short of God’s glory (Rm 3:23) and has no excuse to avert God’s devastating wrath (Rm 1:18-20; 2:1). However, every person finds themself exposed (Rm 3:10-20). Therefore, we need to be made complete (Mt 5:17-20, 48; Php 1:6), which results only from God’s ongoing work of God setting us apart for Himself (sanctification, Rm 15:16; 1 Cor 1:2; Heb 2:11) through our faith in Him (Acts 26:18; 2 Th 2:13). Before sanctification can begin, though, we must be declared righteous (justification, Rm 5:16; 1 Cor 6:11). This declaration of our position in Christ is an act of grace by God for those who believe in Jesus as the crucified and resurrected Son of God (Acts 13:39; Rm 3:24, 26, 30; 4:5). Justification insulates us from accusation (Rm 8:33). God will be faithful to make complete all those who are in Christ (Rm 8:28-30; Php 1:6), using even trials to that end (Jms 1:2-4). Therefore, one of the primary goals of ministry is collaborate with God’s work to present each person complete in Christ (Col 1:28). With justification, the guilty are declared righteous by God; with sanctification, the guilty are made righteous by God.
Therefore, to live out one’s faith, a person participates with God's work (Php 2:12-13) to be a doer of the Word, not merely a hearer (Jms 1:22-25), in order to do as Jesus did (Jn 13:15-17), especially by dying to self in order to live for Christ and for His purposes (Lk 9:23; 14:27). This life also includes obedience to the Word of Christ (Jn 8:31; 14:15, 21-24; 15:10-15). Scripture declares religion “worthless” if it doesn’t result in, for example, showing tangible care for the vulnerable (Jms 1:27). Faith without good works is a dead faith (Jms 2:14, 17, 26).
We cannot separate living out our faith from our divine obligation to the exploitable and disenfranchised (Mic 6:8). Such concern is encoded as Law in the shadow of the Decalogue (Exo 22:21—23:9), centered on full devotion to God (Exo 22:28-31). The Church must be concerned with the vulnerable because God is concerned about them (Psa 68:5; 146:9). One example in the Law is God’s command to farmers to leave some harvest for the poor to reap because of who He is (Lv 23:22). Isaiah’s indictment of Israel prominently included their failure to care for the vulnerable (Isa 1:17, 23; 3:14). How Christians treat the disenfranchised reflects how they treat Jesus (Mt 25:31-46). Indeed, the disenfranchised are Jesus’ honored guests (Lk 14:15-24), and His loving concern for a woman disenfranchised by gender, ethnicity, and lifestyle befuddled even His disciples (Jn 4:1-26). Jesus' concern for the marginalized demonstrates the full reach of the Good News we proclaim (Lk 4:18-19).
There is an enemy committed to derail our journey toward completion (1 Pe 5:8), namely Satan, a spiritual being who, along with all demons, engages us in a spiritual fight (Eph 6:12; 2 Cor 10:3-5). His work is to interfere with Christ’s work of completing us (Jn 8:44; 2 Cor 2:11). However, God has equipped us with spiritual weaponry (Eph 6:10-20). One key weapon is the Word of Truth, which exposes our inner thoughts and motives (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12-13). Another key weapon is God’s indwelling Spirit, who is greater than our enemy (1 Jn 4:4) and who persistently advocates to the Father on our behalf (Rom 8:26). A third key weapon is prayer, which Scripture expects to embolden us (Eph 6:18-20) and propel ministry success (Rm 15:31-32; Col 2:2-4; 2 Thess 3:1-2; Php 1:19). Therefore, we pray in Christ’s name because He is the one who gives us access to the Father (Eph 3:12; Heb 4:14-16). Praying in His name also means that we pray in the manner that He would and according to His will (Mt 6:9; Jn 14:13-14; 1 Jn 5:14). If God is for us, who can be against us (Psa 118:6; Rm 8:31; Heb 13:6)?
Paper on Christ’s Return
Paper on Christ’s Return
Article 9
Christ’s Return
Colby E. Kinser
December 15, 2020
Facilitator: Phil Green
EFCA Gateway
Page BreakWe believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
Jesus came to humanity once, and He certainly will do so again (Mt 24:32-35; Acts 1:9-11; Titus 2:13). When He returns, He will fulfill the salvation of those who are in Him (Php 3:20-21; Titus 2:13-14; Heb 9:28), He will complete their transformation into His likeness (1 Jn 3:2), and He will bring them permanently into His presence (Jn 14:3). Also within these events is the “Millennial Kingdom,” a long period of time in human history (perhaps roughly 1000 years) in which believers will come to life and reign with Christ on earth (1 Th 4:13-18; Rv 20:4-6). Eventually, all will be resurrected and judged – those in Christ will enjoy eternal life with Christ, but all others will suffer eternal punishment for their sin (Dan 12:1-3; Mt 25:31-46; 2 Th 1:6-8; Rv 19:11-21; 20:11-15), and then Christ will reign forever in His Kingdom (Lk 1:31-33). But how is the return of Christ related to the resurrection(s) and this Millennial Kingdom?
The postmillennial view states that the gospel mission of the Church will gradually overcome the world (Mt 13:31-32; 28:18-20) and then Jesus will return and establish the eternal state. The “millennium” is a glorious period of the Church’s influence, and believers are “reigning with Christ” in that He reigns from heaven while they reign on earth. The amillennial view states that the Millennial Kingdom is not a physical kingdom on earth but that believers who have died are currently “reigning” with Christ during the Church Age. Jesus will return to judge humanity and bring the eternal state. The premillennial view states that Jesus will return to collect believers living and dead, reign on earth with them for the Millennial Kingdom, then resurrect the rest for judgment and then usher in the eternal state. This author holds the last view, believing that, consistent with biblical apocalyptic literature, the events in Revelation refer to actual events.
Within the premillennial view, there are three main views as to the timing of Jesus collecting His church (the “rapture”; 1 Th 4:13-18), especially with respect to the prophesied seven-year tribulation (Mt 24:21-22, 29; Mk 13.19-25). The pretribulation view says He will rapture the Church before the tribulation (cf. 1 Th 1:10; 5:9), the posttribulation views says the Church will endure the full tribulation and then be raptured, and the midtribuation view says the Church will endure half of the tribulation before it is raptured. This author holds the last view primarily because of the passages that indicate the Church will endure some tribulation (Mt 24:22; Mk 13:20; Lk 21:12-28) and the manifold references to a 3 ½ year period prior to a significant eschatological event (Dan 7:25; 9:24-27; 12:7-12; Rv 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5).
Christ will come at a time yet unknown (Mt 24:36-44; 25:13; Mk 13:32-33; Lk 12:40; 1 Th 5:2; 1 Tim 6:14-15), but will be preceded by some signs to alert us (Dan 7:25; 9:24-27; 12:7-12; Mt 24:1-17; 29-35; Mk 13:1-23, 21-27; Lk 21:5-28; 1 Jn 2:18; 2 Th 2:1-10; Rv 11:2-3; 12:6; 12:14; 13:5). His return will be personal and bodily (Mt 24:30; 26:64; Acts 1:11; Php 3:20-21; 1 Th 4:15-17; 1 Pe 1:7, 13; 4:13; 5:4; Rv 1:7) and therefore highly visible, unmistakable, and glorious (Mt 24:27, 30-31; Mk 13:24-26; Rv 1:7).
Jesus directs His followers to be constantly expecting His return (Mt 24:42-51; Lk 12:40; Rm 13:11-14; 1 Th 5:1-11; 2 Th 2:3; Jas 5:8-9; 2 Pe 3:10-14; Rv 3:3; 22:7, 12), alertly postured for Him to return at any moment (Rm 13:11-14). This watchful disposition includes an indefatigable hope for His full reign (Php 3:20; Titus 2:13; Mt 24:35-42; Mk 8:35-38; Jn 14:1-3; Acts 1:6-11; 1 Jn 3:2) and trust that it will come regardless of all indications otherwise (Eph 1:14; 2 Pe 1:4). This period calls for patience (Jas 5:7-8), endurance (2 Thess 1:6-8; 1 Jn 2:28), eagerness (Php 3:20; 1 Cor 16:22; 2 Tim 4:8; Heb 9:28), clearheaded thinking (Mt 24:5; 1 Pet 4:7), faithfulness (Mt 24:45-51; 25:14-30; Lk 18:8; 1 Th 5:6), godly living (Titus 2:14; 1 Jn 3:1-3; 2 Pe 3:8-13), and urgent witness (Mt 24:14; 28:19). Even our perpetual celebration of the Lord’s Supper declares His death until He returns (1 Cor 11:26). Come, Lord Jesus! (Rv 22:20).
Paper on Eternal Destiny
Paper on Eternal Destiny
Article 10
Response and Eternal Destiny
Colby E. Kinser
January 17, 2020
Facilitator: Phil Green
EFCA Gateway
Page BreakWe believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.
The Good News (“gospel”) of Jesus Christ is that He died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day to appear to many witnesses, all according to Scripture (1 Cor 15:3-5). When Jesus died for our sins, the Father diverted His wrath for our sin onto Him, His own son (Jn 3:36; Rm 5:9; 1 Thess 5:9). His resurrection proved His claims to have power over sin and death (Act 2:23-27; 13:32-35; Rm 4:25; 1 Cor 15:54-55; 1 Tim 3:16; 1 Pe 3:18-22). One can personally appropriate this victory (i.e., “receive” Jesus, Jn 1:12) by believing that Jesus is the Son of God (1 Jn 5:10) and in His efficacious work on the Cross (Jn 6:29; 8:24; Act 16:31; Rm 10:14-15; 1 Cor 15:3-4, 11; 1 Jn 5:9-12), a trust that includes confessing one’s sin and repenting (i.e., turning away from it, and turning one’s life toward Christ; Mk 1:15; Lk 24:47; Act 2:37-38; 3:19). There are no other means to attain blessed, eternal life in the Kingdom of God (Jn 14:1-4, 6; 20:31; Eph 1:3-14; Act 4:12).
Between a believer’s physical death and the eternal state with a new, glorified body (1 Cor 15:35-58) is an anomalous disembodied state of conscious awareness. Those in Christ will be with Him (Lk 23:43; Php 1:23) and will be able to worship, communicate, and even anticipate the future (Rv 6:10). When Jesus returns, they will be resurrected to their eternal state in the “new heaven and new earth” that He will bring (Isa 65:17; 66:22; 2 Pe 3:13; Rv 21:1-3), centered on worshiping Him in holiness (Rv 21; 22:3-4), with the complete absence of any curse (Rv 22:3) or suffering (Rv 21:4), plus abundance (Rv 21:6, 21; 22:2), beauty (Rv 21:11, 18-21), blessedness (Jn 5:25-29), relational harmony (Isa 11:6; 65:25), and fruitful labor (Isa 65:21; Rv 22:5) -- all of this for eternity (Hb 12:26-27). This existence will be earthbound (Rv 21:1-2) and corporeal (Lk 22:18; 1 Cor 15:35-58; Rv 19:9). For the new heaven and new earth to arrive, some claim that the current earth will be completely destroyed and replaced (2 Pe 3:10; Hb 1:11-12; Rv 20:11; 21:1), while others claim the current earth will successfully and completely be renewed (Rv 21:5; Col 1:20), as by a cleansing fire (2 Pe 3:10). This author is undecided between the two but leans toward something analogous to the resurrection (2 Cor 5:17), with both continuity and discontinuity between the temporal and eternal bodies (Rm 8:19-21; 1 Cor 15:35-58).
Non-believers, whose names are not in the book of Life (Rv 20:15), spend the intermediate period in Hades (which itself is later thrown into the lake of fire for eternity, Rv 20:12-15). They will be conscious (Lk 16:19-31), as are those in Christ in their intermediate state. Then they will one day be raised from the dead (Dan 12:2) and their lifetime of deeds judged (Rv 20:12). They will suffer conscious, eternal punishment for their sin (Mt 25:46; Lk 16:26; Jn 5:25-29; 2 Th 1:9; Rv 14:11; 21:8; 22:15) in Hell, which is pictured as an eternal lake of fire (Rv 20:14-15), where they will suffer a kind of dying that never ends. They will be completely without the presence of Christ, but their punishment is more than just passive. All who will be thrown into Hell will deserve to be (Rm 3:23; 6:23).
What of those who never hear the name of Jesus? God sovereignly chose our times and places (Act 17:22-34). Therefore, He is responsible for the revelation each person receives, and He holds people accountable for whatever revelation He gives them (Rm 1:18-23; Act 17:30-31). Abraham, who never heard the name of Jesus, serves as an example of faith even in the New Testament because he believed what God revealed to him (Rm 4; Jas 2:23-24). People like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and David will be in the eternal city, but by the same means as for Christians (Jn 14:6) – by the blood of Jesus that paid for their sins, with God imputing the righteousness of Christ on them by means of their faith.