For His Glory

Eph. 1:4-6, 11-14

Theme: God’s motivation for saving us is His glory; therefore, as genuine servants we proclaim Him, praise Him, and glorify Him! 

Introduction:

What is God’s glory? When used of God in Scripture, glory refers to His opinion (what He thinks of himself) and reputation (what others think about him), all pointing to His fame or honor or praise. At times glory has a deeper meaning indicating God’s very Person—His essential Being.

  

When Moses made the request of God, “Show me thy glory” (Ex 33:18), he was not speaking of the light-cloud, which he had already seen, but he was seeking a special manifestation of God which would leave nothing to be desired (John 14:8). Moses had a craving to come to grips with God as he is in himself. In reply, God emphasized his goodness (Ex 33:19). We too must understand that God’s glory is not limited to some outward sign that only appeals to our senses, but instead glory expresses His inherent majesty—characteristic awesomeness and innate splendor, whether invisible or through visible symbols.

   

Glory then refers to the deep-down essential worth of God, His overwhelming majesty, His moral beauty, His marvelous excellences, His perfect nature—righteousness, holiness, mercy, truth, goodness, love, and grace!

So, Why did God Save Us?

Beloved, ultimately our salvation is “to the praise of His glory.” God’s marvelous plan for His people involves a magnificent finale—He will be the focal point of our continual praise. The intended goal and inevitable result of all God’s gracious actions toward us is that He should be magnified and glorified forever. In appreciation for your salvation, do you glorify God? Do you live to praise Him?

Lesson:

God Saves Us to Bring Himself Glory

Ephes. 1:12-14, That we [Christians] should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. [13] In whom ye [Believers] also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, [14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

A.     LIVING FOR GOD’S GLORY IS THE SUPREME PURPOSE OF OUR REDEMPTION (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14).

               1. All of these riches, spiritual blessings, come to us by God’s grace and for His glory. Did you notice that after each of the main sections in Ephesians 1:4–14, Paul stated the purpose behind these gracious gifts? (Wiersbe)

                    a. God the Father has chosen us, adopted us, and accepted us! But why? “To the praise of the glory of His grace” (Eph. 1:6). Paul’s thoughts on the grace of God for electing us and then in predestining us to be His sons, explodes into this refrain that is at once an exclamation, an explanation, and an exhortation. (McDonald)

                          i. It is an exclamation—a holy gasp at the transcendent glories of such grace. Such treatment is superior, matchless, unequalled, and excellent! Nobody treats me like God does!

                          ii. It is an explanation that the object and the result of all God’s gracious dealings with us is His own glory. Eternal adoration is due to Him for such matchless favor.  

                      iii. Finally, it is an exhortation. Paul is saying, “Let us praise Him for His glorious grace”. (McDonald)

                    b. God the Son has redeemed us, forgiven us, revealed God’s will to us, and made us part of God’s inheritance! But why?  “That we should be to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:12). The Lord Jesus purchased and set us free by paying the redemption price of His own blood. We are forgiven and God has released us from the condemnation of the Law strictly on account of faith in the Cross of Christ. He has included us in the sacred secret of Christ and His churches. Our inheritance includes God himself, our redemption hope—a new glorious body, eternal rewards, our heavenly home, and all genuine believers will enjoy being heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17; 1Cor. 3:21-23).

                    c. God the Spirit has sealed us and become the guarantee of our future in Heaven! But why? “Unto the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:14).  The Spirit marks us as God's own possession and guarantees our salvation.

               2. We often have the idea that God saves sinners mainly because He pities them, or wants to rescue them from eternal judgment, but God’s main purpose is that He might be glorified. His creation reveals His wisdom and power, but His church reveals His love and grace. You cannot deserve or earn these spiritual riches; you can only receive them by grace, through faith. –Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary

               3. God saved you and me for “the praise of his glory!” That is, we are trophies of the grace of God, exhibiting what He can do with such unlikely raw materials, and thus bringing glory to Him. We are to be glowing examples to others of God’s love and mercy at work in and through a human life. We are verbal and living expressions of praise to God for His gracious work in our lives! Do you praise Him often for what He is doing in you, or are you too busy stealing His praise, credit, and honor for yourself?

Beloved, the ultimate result of redemption is the same—“to the praise of His glory.” God’s marvelous plan for His people will reach a glorious consummation, and He will be the object of continual praise. Three times in this chapter Paul has reminded us that the intended goal and inevitable result of all God’s actions is that He should be magnified and glorified. Before we go any farther, let us do it! (MacDonald, W. (1995))

    Great God of wonders! All Thy ways

    Display Thine attributes divine;

    But the bright glories of Thy grace

    Above Thine other wonders shine:

    Who is a pard’ning God like Thee?

    Or who has grace so rich and free?

B.     LIVING FOR GOD’S GLORY MEANS MORE THEN MERELY GOING TO HEAVEN.

People seem to think that the only reason for salvation is so that a person might go to Heaven when she or he dies. This is likely because salvation was presented to them in these familiar terms.

         1.  Heaven and Eternal Life are Parts of God’s Redemption Plan for us, but That Is Not the Sole Reason for Our Salvation. (Jn. 3:14-17, 35; 1Jn. 5:11-13)

         2.  We Are Saved So That We Might live as “Redeemed” Servants who Bring God Glory (Eph. 1:14). 1 Peter 1:18-19,  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

              a. “Redeemed” Implies That We Once Were in Bondage or Slavery to Evil and Sin. We were slaves to sinful attitudes and actions! We had no choice or power to become free or do any different!

              b. But, We Have Been Purchased— Set Free and Rescued from Sin So That We Might Live a Life of Righteous Service to the Glory of God. 1Cor. 6:19-20, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

  

If God’s only purpose for our salvation was so that we might go to Heaven, He would be doing each of us a great favor by saving us and then immediately slaying us. No, His plan involves Believers living free of sins enslavement and power and free to serve God unimpeded by any obligations to sin. We now live to glorify Him in how we use our bodies and the attitudes we display or project. Sinful attitudes or anger, bitterness, negativity, and worry must give way to love, joy, righteousness, and peace!

C.     LIVING FOR GOD’S GLORY MEANS WE ARE TO REFLECT THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST.  

2 Peter 1:3-4, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The divine call is our basis for developing holy character and Christ-centered living. It is Christ, the glorious and virtuous Savior, who summons us to lives of “glory and virtue”—moral excellence and deep spiritual strength! Like Paul at His conversion, we have seen the light of Jesus and are forever drawn to His likeness.

       1.  God’s Purpose for Saving Us Is for Each of Us to Reflect His Glorious Character.  Ephes. 5:8-10, For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: [9] (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) [10] Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

That we might be His people on this earth filled with His glorious character because of the divine nature! People doing the kinds of works that Jesus Himself would do if He were walking in our shoes, through our world, during our lifetime. Our lives should move people and provoke them to honestly exclaim, “Praise the Lord!”(Matt. 5:16)

      2.  God Desires to Manifest His Character Through Our Personalities and Giftedness. 1 Cor. 10:31, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

When we allow His Holy Spirit to work in us and through us to the benefit of others, we become vessels of His love in action. We reflect His compassion, love, and mercy to others (2Pet. 1:5-12). And in so doing, we are His witnesses. We bring credit, honor, praise, and glory to Him. People will see and experience our “good works and glorify” our “Father in Heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

D.    LIVING FOR GOD’S GLORY MEANS WE ARE TO SERVE THROUGH CHRIST’S CHURCHES.

Ephes. 3:21, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 

      1.  God Does Not Save Us in Order That We Might Be Part of an Elite Group of “Good People.” He saves us in order that we might reach out to all people with God’s goodness through the ministry of His churches. This glorifies God!

      2.  God Does Not Place Us in Good Churches to Soak up Decades of Good Sermons, Bible Conferences, Prayer Meetings, and Seminars. 

           a. He Puts Us in His Churches So That We Might Be of Good Use to Those Who Are in Need. 

           b. He Places Us in His Churches So That We Might Function as His Body Each of Us Using Our Gifts, Talents, and Skills as the Holy Spirit Directs. There should be an on–going helping of one another, and in the process, experience a refinement of our own spirits, souls, and minds.

           c. This Is an Important Point for Us to Consider Regarding Servanthood. God did not save us simply so that we can say to others, “I'm saved,” that you might fill out a church membership card, or that you might have the assurance that you are going to Heaven one day. These things are good, but He has a purpose for us involving ministry and serving.

     3.  He Saved You in Order That You Might Live Every Hour of Every Day of the Remainder of Your Life in Faithful Service and Obedience to Jesus Christ. Going wherever He leads, saying and doing whatever He prompts you to say and do by His Holy Spirit, and engaging in whatever forms of ministry and service that He calls you to pursue.

     4.  Don’t Just Come to Church, But Join It, and Serve God Through this Church.

This is exactly what Apollos did when he left Ephesus and relocated in Corinth.  He united with that local assembly and he began serving God in that city through that church. Apollos almost immediately took a leadership role in the Church at Corinth as he followed the plan of God (Acts 18:24-28; Acts 19:1).

ILLUSTRATION: A pastor told about a Christian lady who often visited a retirement home near her house. One day she noticed a lonely man sitting, staring at his dinner tray. In a kindly manner she asked, “Is something wrong?”

“Is something wrong!” replied the man in a heavy accent. “Yes, something is wrong! I am a Jew, and I cannot eat this food!”

“What would you like to have?” she asked.

“I would like a bowl of hot soup!”

She went home and prepared the soup and, after getting permission from the office, took it to the man. In succeeding weeks, she often visited him and brought him the kind of food he enjoyed and eventually she led him to faith in Christ. Yes, preparing soup can be a spiritual sacrifice, a good work to the glory of God.—Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary

God’s motivation for saving us is His glory; therefore, as a genuine servant praise Him in light of His excellence, proclaim His glory to others, and live daily to glorify Him!

Because He Loves Us

Ephesians 2:4-5,  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)            

Theme: God’s Motivation for Saving Us is Love. He loves us so that we might love others with a genuine servant’s heart and thus bring glory to Him! 

Introduction:

Have you thought much on the reason God saves us? Some might suggest God saves us primarily to take us to Heaven. Another might offer the idea that God saves us to keep us out of Hell. Many have concluded that God is concerned about humanity and therefore, He devised a plan to save us. Yet, others may have concluded that God saves us because He saw something special in us and deemed salvation a fitting reward.

Actually the Word of God addresses this great question with brilliant clarity. As usual it would be wise to look there before drawing any conclusions about God’s actions and motives. As we discover God’s motivations for saving us, we will also be challenged to adopt those same motives for our treatment of others. As a result, we will not only treat people as God does, but we will do so for the same reasons.

So, Why did God Save Us?

God luxuriously exhibits undeserved kindness to sinners because of “His great love wherewith he loved us.” This type of love seeks our highest good. Since we sinners are spiritually dead toward God, we have no means of proving ourselves worthy to Him. This is what makes God’s love so “great.” (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

Beloved, this is the reason He had compassion upon us. It is not that we had any claims on His favor; the reason God saves is found in Him and not in us! Eternal love led to the gift of our Savior.

Lesson:

God Saves Us Because He Loves Us

1 John 3:16, Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

  

One primary reason that God sent His Son, Jesus, to this world to die for our sins was because He loves us. God forgives us, grants us eternal life, and gives us the gift of His Holy Spirit out of His immeasurable love and grace. This is one of His primary reasons.

1 John 4:9-11, In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. [10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Indeed Christ can to die for our sins. This was a deep and profound expression of giant size love for us. God is motivated by an out-of-this-world kind of love to save sinners like us. There is no room at all for us to brag about our performance to earn salvation; we owe it all to the love and grace of God.

A.     GOD DOES NOT SAVE BY HIS LOVE FOR US.

 Dr. J. Vernon McGee related this following account:

One young fellow who had been attending came up to me. He had on a funny hat with “Love, love, love” written all over it. He had on a funny coat with “Love, love, love” written all over it. He had “Love, love” on his trousers and even on his shoes. I asked, “Why in the world do you have “love” written all over you?” “Man,” he said, “God is love.” “Well,” I said, “I agree with you. Nothing could be truer than that.”
Then he added, “God saves us by His love.” I answered. “I don’t agree with that. God doesn’t save us by His love. Can you give me a verse that says He does?” He scratched his head and thought a while and then admitted he couldn’t think of one. “Well,” he said, “if God doesn’t save us by love, then how does He save us?” I answered, “Very frankly, I’m glad you asked me that question because the Bible says, ‘By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.’ God saves us by His grace.”
Then the boy wanted to know the difference. This is how I explained it to him: “God does love you. Don’t lose sight of that. God loves all of us. But God cannot, on the basis of His love, open the back door of heaven and slip us in under cover of darkness. He can’t let down the bars of heaven at the front door and bring us in because of His love. God is also light. God is the moral ruler of this universe. God is righteousness. He is holy and He is good. That adds up to one thing: God cannot do things that are wrong—that is, wrong according to His own standard. So God couldn’t save us by love. Love had God strapped—we could say it put Him in a bind. He could love without being able to save.
I thought you would quote John 3:16 to me. Let’s look at what that verse says: ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Does it say God so loved the world that He saved the world? No, that’s exactly what it doesn’t say. God so loved this world that He gave His only begotten Son. You see, God couldn’t save the world by love because He goes on to say, ‘that whosoever believeth in him should not perish.’ You and I are going to perish. We’re lost sinners, and God still loves us, but the love of God can’t bring us into heaven. God had to provide a salvation, and He paid the penalty for our sins. Now a God of love can reach out His hands to a lost world and say, ‘If you will believe in My Son, because He died for you—if you will come on that basis—I can save you.’ God doesn’t save us by His love. God saves us by His grace.” –McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary

B.     GOD DOES NOT SAVE BECAUSE OF OUR EFFORTS. (Ephes. 2:8-9)  

Eph 2:8-9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9, Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Rom. 3:20, Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Many believe they can earn salvation by their efforts; they fail to understand that “grace” is God’s free favor towards ill deserving people. Grace involves God reconciling repentant sinners to Him even though we clearly do not deserve such treatment!

   1.  Countless People Seem to Believe That God Saves a Man or Woman Because of the Person’s Good Works, Performance or Service.  There are many serving God so that they will not have to go to Hell.  They are attempting earn an eternal home with God by being religious, attending church, obeying the commandments, or treating others kindly. The truth is nothing could be farther from what God actually said.

         a. There Is No Amount or Any Type of Service That Can Earn Salvation.  Ephes. 2:8-9

         b. How Many Good Works Will Help Us Earn Salvation? The Answer is NONE! We could not even do a “good work” until after we are saved and God begin to work through us!  (See Eph. 2:1 & 10)

  2.  The Gospel is the Message of the Undeserved Goodness and Grace of God.

Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross of Calvary to purchase salvation for you and for me. He did so voluntarily and willingly in obedience to His heavenly Father, who was completely and totally motivated by love when He sought our redemption (See John 3:16; 1Cor. 15:1-4).

C.     GOD DOES NOT SAVE BECAUSE OF OUR POTENTIAL.

Just as a person is not saved because of his past good works, neither is a person saved because he has potential for future good works. Some feel they were saved because of their potential.

      1. God Does Not Save Selectively Based On Our Capacity For Christian Service.

God does not look at one person and say, “You have the potential to be a preacher, so I am going to save you” and then look at another and say, “You aren't worth much, so I won't save you.” No, God is not especially attracted to a certain lady because she has a beautiful singing voice or to a gentleman because he has great mental recall or management skills. 

             a. God’s Gift of Salvation Is Offered Freely to All Who Will Receive It.

Isaiah 55:1, Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  

Rev. 22:17, And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Beloved, receive that Gift today! Take it, it is FREE to you, but it cost God the blood of His only Son. Receive the Gift of eternal life! Again Romans 6:23, says “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This awesome gift becomes yours when you receive it by faith.

             b. God Created Each One of Us with a Unique Set of Talents and Traits That Can Be Employed for His Service as He Wills. But, no person is so good, incredibly special, or talented that God will favor them in salvation over another. 

     2.  Every Person Has Equal Merit in God’s Eyes—NONE; We All Are Unworthy of Salvation.   There is no inherent “goodness” in any person that warrants his or her salvation. No person has the prerogative to stand before God Almighty and say, “I deserve to be saved.”

Rather, we each must confess, “I need to be saved.” Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” All means all. Romans 3:12, They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.   (Also see Matt.  19:17; Mk. 10:18)

Dr. McGee shared the following account,

 A poor woman from the slums of London was invited to go with a group of people for a holiday at the ocean. She had never seen the ocean before, and when she saw it, she burst into tears. Those around her thought it was strange that she should cry when such a lovely holiday had been given her. They asked her, “Why in the world are you crying?” Pointing to the ocean she answered, “This is the only thing I have ever seen that there was enough of.” My friend, God has oceans of love, mercy, and grace. There is enough for you. He saves us by His grace because of His love. –McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary

Beloved, God has enough grace to save you and me! This is precisely what Paul taught in Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”. This gift becomes yours when you receive it by faith. Note what Paul says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Salvation is offered by God as a gift…a gracious gift. You do not pay for your own salvation no more than you pay for your own gift. A gift is given out of love, and it must be received through trust. Beloved, Jesus is not a gag gift!

The same is true with God. He is motivated by His “great love wherewith He loved us” to make available salvation as a free gift to us. In order to receive this gift you simply accept it. The gift is not ours automatically…God does not force this gift on us. You must exercise your faith to accept it. That is you accept the fact that you personally are a sinner, that your sin places you in danger of God’s eternal wrath in hell, and that you can do nothing to rescue yourself. You accept that Jesus Christ is God who became a man to die for our sins as our Deliverer. He was indeed buried and He arose the third day triumphant over death, hell, sin, and the grave. You must accept this risen Savior as your own by faith. Once you do, “the gift of God”—eternal life, forgiveness of sins, a relationship to God, and a home in heaven—becomes yours. Why not receive God’s incredible gift right now?

JESUS: The Substitutionary Sacrifice

GEN. 22:1-14; ROM. 4:24-25

SUBJECT: THE CROSS OF CHRIST

THEME: We can be delivered from the eternal suffering for sin by accepting God’s provision of a substitute and sacrifice, Jesus Christ.  For indeed Christ was delivered for our offenses.

RELEVANCE:  Christ died in our place, bore our sins, paid the penalty due our sins; and all this not by force, but willingly (Jn. 10:17, 18). The blessed truth is that something happened to Christ, and because it happened to Christ, it need not happen to us. Christ died for our sins; we need not die for them if we accept His sacrifice.

INTRODUCTION:

Genesis 22:13, And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

I want you to notice that last phrase, “Abraham…offered him up for a burnt offering in THE STEAD OF HIS SON.” This is a substitution of one in another’s place. Now the word substitute or substitutionary....is not found in the Bible. Although throughout the whole of the Bible it is implied. You cannot read the Bible correctly without seeing it as a book about a substitute. What did Abraham find, when he found the ram, and took Isaac off that altar and laid the ram there instead? He found one to be sacrificed in Isaac’s place. That actually is the definition of a substitute; one to take the place of another. Or as William Evans states: “one life given in the stead of another.” All through the Bible we can find this reoccurring. 

LESSON:

I.  Like Isaac, We All Were Sentenced To Death…by God.

Read Gen. 22:1-3, 9-10, thoughtfully. It was God who required this offering…the Lord issued this sentence of death for Isaac.

A.  ULTIMATELY, EVERY PERSON MUST FACE THE REALITY OF DEATH AND HELL.

I want to make a statement, and I don't want you to reject the rest of the message when I make this statement. I want you to read on till you get the entire account.

I'd like to say, and I'm scripturally correct in saying it, that everybody will go to hell! Everybody everywhere will end up in hell without Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice! 

There is entirely zero hope of escaping hell outside of the Substitute—a Substitute that God provides himself. Now Thank God that He has provided the Substitute! Christ died in our place, bore our sins, paid the penalty due our sins; and all this not by force, but willingly (Jn. 10:17, 18).  The blessed truth is “that something happened to Christ, and because it happened to Christ, it need not happen to us. Christ died for our sins; we need not die for them if we accept His sacrifice.”

Genesis 22:13, And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

  

 B.  THE ISSUE OF HELL AND DEATH HAS TO DO WITH JUSTICE, ORDER, AND FAIRNESS.

1 Peter 3:18, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

That will move me right into the need of a substitute. Why did we have to have such a substitute? Why are we in such a mess today? And why is the world in the shape it's in, that we need a substitute of this magnitude.

   1.  Justice Because Man in Adam Acted Independently of God.

Genesis 2:16-17, And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: [17] But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.   (Rom. 5:12)

         A. When Man Sinned, Justice Had to Be Administrated.

Otherwise the world would have ended there in chaos, and confusion and destruction.

Some of you work in different positions, or labor jobs in your town or city. No doubt some of you work in places of businesses, and you can appreciate this principle. Let's just say, for instance, that you're building a skyscraper in the downtown area, and you have a disagreement with the boss. You know he is the boss. No question in your mind; he signs your paycheck, but you fall out with him.

Then you begin to gossip behind his back, and you begin to rail on him and assassinate his character, and you begin to be lazy and careless on the job. In other words, you don't care what your boss says to do, and you simply are not going to do it. What will happen to the job? Well, you will infect everybody around you, every one you share your frustrations with. And in addition, you will bring that job to a standstill. The point is, judgment and correction must be executed by the person in the position of authority or chaos will ensue in that situation.

This is true among men; it is how the world turns. How much more is it true in relation to God and His government of the world and universe! God gave a holy mandate that man must recognize His absolute authority, and operate under that authority. It is our part to depend upon God, and trust Him for wisdom and knowledge in all good things. The idea that God is “too loving to punish sinners forever in hell,” simply is not true. He demands justice! As a good and perfect Judge, He cannot require anything else

In affect God says to the man—“If you act independently, if you eat of that tree, in the day that you eat thereof ye shall surely die." You and I know the story. Adam ate; Adam died spiritually, and chaos came into this world, and it was not long before they had a murder in the first family. The first recorded crime after the fall is a homicide.

          B.  Christ Willingly Received Our Punishment That We Might Be Free.

1 Peter 3:18, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

This is truly wonderful news for us all! You do not have to go to hell in person, or by yourself; you can go in the person of a Substitute—Jesus Christ. When I began thinking about this, my, how it caused my heart to warm in praise to God! I never will have to go to hell! I will never, never, never have to go there, because Jesus has taken that suffering and punishment for me. Yes, we are guilty of sin and deserve hell, but Jesus voluntarily took our penalty upon Himself at Calvary.

   2.  Justice Because There Is No Forgiveness Without Blood Sacrifice.

Hebrews 9:22, And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

       A.  Essential.  It is universally true that sin never has been, and never will be forgiven, except in connection with, and in virtue of the shedding of blood. There is not the slightest evidence that any man has ever been pardoned except through blood shed for the remission of sins.

This theme appears in the Bible from cover to cover. When Cain and Abel made sacrificial offerings to God, the offering that was accepted by God was the blood sacrifice of a lamb (See Gen. 4:2–5).

The sacrifices that atoned for sin under the Law of Moses were blood sacrifices. In like manner, the blood of Jesus shed on the cross of Calvary is the sacrificial, substitutionary, all-sufficient atonement that takes away our sins. These concepts are important to our understanding of the forgiveness made available to us through the death of Jesus Christ.

In the divine arrangement there is no principle better established than this, that all sin which is forgiven is remitted through the blood of the atonement; a principle which has never been departed from hitherto, and which never will be. It follows, therefore:

          1.  That no sinner can hope for forgiveness except through the blood of Christ.

          2.  That if people are ever saved they must be willing to rely on the merits of that blood sacrifice.

          3.  That all people are on a level in regard to salvation, since all are to be saved in the same way. 

          4.  That there will be only one song in heaven-the song of redeeming love.

       B.  Sacrificial. Jesus gave His life on the cross as a sacrifice. He WAS NOT put to death by the Romans or the Jewish leaders. While Jesus did have human murderers that day, He actually fulfilled the ancient plan of God that day on Calvary.

           1.  Jesus Voluntarily Gave His Own Life as a Sacrifice. 

On the contrary, Jesus appeared in history to “put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:26).  He was not forced, but He willing sacrificed Himself. Therefore, God is not unfair or unjust for condemning His Son to bear the sins of mankind.

           2.  Jesus Literally Submitted to God’s Plan.

Jesus gave His life, as an act of His own will conforming to the Father's will, as the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8). Before there was a need for salvation, God already had a plan to deal with sin!

       C.  Substitutionary. Jesus took our place on the cross. He died in your place and in my place and in the place of everyone you know (1 Pet. 3:18). The penalty for sin is death. And we are all sinners. Unless One who was pure and righteous took our place and suffered the penalty for our sin, we would have to bear that penalty ourselves. The apostle Paul explained this in Romans 3:10–19. Jesus willingly suffered and died in the stead of absolutely undeserving guilty humanity everywhere. He suffered our hell for us all that day.

C.  EVERY PERSON IS HELPLESS TO ESCAPE THIS DEATH IN THEIR STRENGTH.

Romans 5:6, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Man could cover his own sins personally only if he suffer eternally the penalty of death in the Lake of Fire.  Man could never do this and be saved too. Since man could not save himself, God stepped into a hopeless situation and provided a substitute in Jesus Christ who provided the eternal satisfaction for sins demands. We literally were “without strength!” There is nothing we can do to escape hell and deserve heaven! We have no such strength.

  1. This Basic Concept Was Illustrated Back Some 4,000 Years Ago, in the Sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham.    Gen. 22:9

  2. Most of Us Put Ourselves in the Position of Power and Immediately Enter Into Abraham’s Struggle to Obey God’s Command.  But, have you ever pictured yourself in the position of Isaac in this situation?

ILLUSTRATION:            "Hanoi Hilton" movie.

         Major Fischer (composite of actual prisoners?) had been imprisoned since his helicopter malfunctioned just over DMZ.  During the Vietnam War.

         At Christmas dinner, winter of 1969, he was asked to give a sermonette to the other men.

         He told them:

         "When I was young, at religious school, I remember a great deal was made of Abraham and Isaac...

         How God ordered Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his only son, his beloved child.

         Abraham stood with a knife in his hand and wrestled within himself to decide whether to believe, trust God, or to deny him.

         And I suppose that most of us identified with Abraham, wondering how we would use our ability of free choice if THAT was us.

         Well, since I've been in here I've had time to think about Isaac.

         Helpless, tied up on an altar, an audience to what might become his own death.

APPLICATION: Every person must view themselves as without strength to deliver themselves from the death penalty. Beloved, there is entirely nothing we can do to rescue ourselves from the ultimate penalty for sin—death. We must accept God’s provision and substitute—Jesus Christ our ram in the bush. (Gen. 22:13-14)

II. The Doctrine Of Salvation Through A Substitute Is Taught Throughout The Bible.  Genesis 22:13-14, And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. [14] And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

A.  THE COMMENCEMENT.  The Beginning of the Bible.

You see, this great teaching of a substitute or substitutionary suffering begins in the very first book of the Bible. The Old Testament is full of illustrations of substitution.

The Illustration of Salvation by Substitution in Gen. 3:21

Gen 3:21, Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

We have the Gospel, the Plan of Redemption through Substitutionary Sacrifice in Embryo Form:

   1.  The Plan Involves The Grace of God

   2.  The Plan Involves The Shedding of Blood

   3.  The Plan Involves a Covering with Righteousness

   4.  The Plan Involves a Substitutionary Sacrifice (innocent blood)

   5.  The Plan Involves Acceptance of God’s Salvation by Faith

B.  THE CONTINUATION.  The Central Focus of the Bible.

    1.  The Passover Lamb.  Ex. 12 & 13

Thank God that substitution is preached all through the Bible, from the Garden of Eden to Golgotha's brow. You will follow a trail of blood for every little lamb that gave it's life as the LORD passed over at midnight in the land of Egypt, and God saw the blood over the door and on the sides of the doorposts, as God had told them, “When I see the blood, I'll pass over you.” And there inside each one of those little houses, the Egyptians were dying at midnight, but the Hebrews were safe under the blood, eating that lamb.

       A.  The Passover Lamb Died Instead of Israel’s Firstborns.

The slaying of the animals (instead of the Israelites’ firstborn sons, v. 12:13) and the sprinkling of blood prefigured the substitutionary death of Christ. He is “Christ our Passover is sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7), “a Lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19; cf. John 1:29). His own sacrifice is the means whereby individual believers escape the horrors of spiritual death in hell. They had their shoes on their feet, their staff in their hand, their bags packed on their back, and they were ready to leave Egypt, because a substitute had given his life that they might get out of there free.

        B.  The Lord Jesus Died in the Stead of Sinful Humanity.

The sprinkled blood on the Israelites’ houses provided protection from death when God destroyed the Egyptian firstborn. From the verb, pass over comes the noun that designates the feast, the Passover. As the blood of an animal was the means of deliverance and of escaping death, so Christ’s blood is the means of redemption for believers (Rom. 5:9; Eph. 1:7).

Romans 5:9, Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Ephes. 1:7, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

    2.  The Lamb of God.  John 1:29

You'll find that the Four Gospels are the reality of substitution, as John said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.” And then follow that dear Lamb of God—God's own Passover—until you come to Calvary, and you'll follow him there where he dies as humanity’s substitute. And then in the Epistles you'll find the explanation of substitution—the who, the how, the what, the where and the why.

C.  THE CONSUMMATION.  The Climax and Closing of the Bible.

Then you come to the book of The Revelation, the closing section of the Bible, the consummation of all things, and you will find the coronation of the substitute. I love the book of The Revelation.

Yes, you will find Jesus, the great Substitute there: Rev. 5:6-14

Rev. 5:6, And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Rev. 5:8,  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints. 9,  And they sung a new song, saying, thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.

11,  And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thou sands of thousands, Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And then he said, All that were in the sea, every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing and honour and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 

14, And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth forever and ever.  (Revelation 5)

I am saying the consummation will crescendo to climax in an august coronation. It will be the coronation of divine substitute that Abraham laid hold of on Mount Moriah and placed on that altar picturing Calvary. Beloved, God will crown Jesus one of that grand occasion, and I will be there to bow down before those blessed nail-pierced feet of my Substitute. And because he's already taken my punishment, I stand here today free, declared innocent before a Holy God-Judge, and justice has still had her way.

And likewise we could go all through the Bible to preach on a divine substitute appointed that humanity might not have to face what we all must face otherwise.

The truth of Jesus as our Substitute is stated repeatedly in our Bible. The following are a few New Testament Scriptures you may be familiar with, about our substitute. You'll find substitution in --

Romans 4:25, Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

Romans 5:6, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:8, But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

II Corinthians 5:21, For he hath made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

I Peter 2:24, Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.

Galatians 3:13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.

I Peter 3:18, For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the spirit."

You cannot escape the great teaching in the Bible that God provided a substitute. I like what Abraham told Isaac. Isaac looked around, and probably would have said, “Papa, we've got everything we need for a burnt offering; we've got the fire; we've got the wood; we've got the knife, BUT WHERE IS THE LAMB?” We need a SUBSTITUTE Papa….” And I love the answer that Abraham gave him. He said, “God will provide himself a lamb.” That could not have been truer, because beloved, God did indeed provide Himself. Jesus, God the Son, is the very Substitute who laid aside his glorious privileges in heaven, and came down to earth as a man among us, to give his life in payment for you and for me. That Substitute is none other, but God himself.

CONCLUSION:

The work that Jesus did was definitive. We no longer need to offer blood sacrifices in acknowledgment of our sin. We need only have faith in Jesus Christ and accept what He has done on our behalf. The writer of Hebrews says that God took away the first means of blood sacrifice that He might establish the second means, the sacrifice of Jesus. The sacrifice of Jesus was the only one necessary. The phrase that is used is a powerful one: “once for all” (Heb. 10:10).

What Jesus did on the cross, He never needs to do again, and neither does anyone else ever have to suffer and die as He did. He is the sacrificial, substitutionary, all-sufficient atonement for all sin.

   

1.  Come Trust the Lamb of God Today as Your Personal Substitutionary Sacrifice. The key idea of the entire passage is summarized in the name Abraham gave to the place: Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord will provide (or, “seen”; v. 14). The explanation is, on the mountain of the Lord it will be provided (or, “seen,”), v. 14; cf. v. 8).  The mount upon which we see God’s greatest provision of a substitute is Calvary and this time the Son is Jesus Christ! By faith receive Him as your personal Substitute and Provision.

2.  Celebrate Eternal Life in Christ Now.  You and I who are saved can begin today to rejoice, celebrate, and praise God for our substitutionary sacrifice, through our worship, praises, prayers, and lifestyle.   

3.  Like Abraham We Should Have an Obedient Fear of God. Through this test of Abraham’s faith God brought to light how Abraham would hold nothing back and that he did in fact fear God. To fear God means to reverence Him as sovereign, trust Him implicitly, and obey Him without question. A true worshiper of God holds nothing back from God but obediently gives Him what He asks, trusting that He will provide.  This is the basis of a truth often repeated in the Old Testament: the Lord was to be worshiped in His holy mountain by the nation. Three times a year all the men [of Israel] were to appear, ‘be seen’ before the Sovereign Lord to worship Him, bringing their offerings and sacrifices (Ex. 23:17; Deut. 16:16). The Lord would see the needs of those who came before Him, and would meet their needs. Thus in providing for them He would be “seen.” Beloved, at Calvary we see how God provided our Substitute in Jesus Christ.

                                                                                    

Heaven on My Mind

John 3:16; 14:1-6

The security of our salvation and the hope of heaven are the Lord’s encouragements to help us through the many challenges we face. These truths possess great power to encourage us believers even when facing death.

                                                                       

Today I hope to encourage you to look to God and His Word daily to find the encouragements you need. Every child of God ought to know this to inform our anticipations of Heaven. In addition, spiritual and emotional strength is gained to continue under the stresses and strains we all must face. By looking forward to the joys of Heaven, God ministers grace deep within.

The Lord Jesus gave Himself to encouraging the heavy and discouraged heart as He does in John 14.  His exact words are “Let not your heart be troubled." Note that even the best of God's people may be at times in a discouraged and distrustful mood. But, Jesus takes delight in comforting his saints and lightening the burden of a heavy heart.  This is the same Jesus who also said, “Come unto me, ... and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28).  Clearly comfort and encouragement awaits us in Jesus Christ, the great Comforter.

I also think it is worth mentioning that Jesus did not use idle words to encourage with, but solid biblical promises to stimulate our faith. “Believe in God, believe also in me.” (Jn. 14:1) is His apt counsel. Yes, faith is required. Jesus invites us to have confidence in Him. There must be faith in God, who has provided an eternal home for his children in Heaven. Beloved, there is great comfort in the thought of the Fatherhood of God and our heavenly mansions awaiting us.

There must be faith in Christ, who, as the Mediator, will realize what the Father has promised. The belief that brings comfort to us is not merely accepting theological truths, but actual trust in a Person— Christ Himself who is distinguished by love, faithfulness, and power.  Thus we can trust Him because we KNOW that He loves us, certainly He is always faithful, and He has the power and ability to address any challenge we face.

 

Throughout the New Testament we have numerous references to our heavenly home and to eternal life.  Even so, a significant number of Christians struggle and are discouraged about their spiritual state and about their future. They question whether they are truly saved. They wonder if they will go to Heaven when they die.  Or they simply lost sight of the blessed realities of eternity because they are bombarded with the painful realities of today.  Often we miss the awe of the sweet by and by because we are so focused on the nasty now and now. So, let’s take a minute to consider four encouraging realities about our eternal heavenly home.

   1.  Heaven is a Place Prepared for Believers.

Jesus wanted His disciples to be assured that they would have a heavenly home. He comforted them by saying this in John 14:1-6. Jesus' words show that the way to eternal life, though unseen, is secure -- as secure as your trust in Jesus. He has already prepared the way to eternal life. The only issue that may still be unsettled is your willingness to believe.

            A.  Jesus Is Preparing Places in Heaven for Us.

There are few verses in Scripture that describe eternal life, but these few verses are rich with promises. Here Jesus says, "I go and prepare a place for you," and "I will come again, and receive you unto myself." We can look forward to eternal life because Jesus has promised it to all who believe in him. Although the details of eternity are unknown, we need not fear, because Jesus is preparing for us and will spend eternity with us.

Jesus not only is preparing a heavenly home for us, but He has provided the means for us to enter into that home. As sure as our salvation is the surety of heaven!

            B.  We will Fellowship with One Another.

Christ designed the Christian life for fellowship.  Here on earth, stuck in imperfection, we do not experience that full fellowship much of the time.

                   1.  Bible teacher J. Vernon McGee used to say, “To live above with saints we love, oh, that will be glory. To live below with saints we know, well, that's another story.” And so it is. Fellowship down here is imperfect and often broken. But up there, not so. It will be perfect and whole.

                   2.  Have you ever been in a quiet, intimate conversation and felt you were experiencing something special? That sense of bonding with the people will be with us in Heaven, I believe. And much, much more.

                   3.  In the New Testament, Paul speaks of the resurrection of the dead in the plural: Dead and living believers will be raised together, sharing in this marvelous event (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). So we will be reunited with our believing loved ones who died before us.  Even our praise to God in heaven will be done together (Revelation 5:11–13). There will be great feasts (Matthew 8:11), a wonderful wedding ceremony (Revelation 19:7–9), glorious worship experiences (Revelation 5:11-14; 19:1–8). It will be all for one and one for all!

   2.  Heaven is a Glorious Dwelling Place With God.

And what a glorious place our heavenly home is going to be! John described it as a place where all things will be made new and where there will be no more sorrow, suffering, or pain. We will live in the everlasting presence of God (Rev. 21:3–5).

         A.  It Isn't What, but WHO Is in Heaven That Matters.

Rev. 4:1-2,  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. [2] And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

               1.  We will Receive a Full View of God’s Glory.

Chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation record glimpses into OUR Father’s and Christ's glory.  Here we see into the throne room of Heaven. God is on the throne and orchestrating all the events that John records. The world is not spinning out of control; the God of creation will carry out his plans as Christ initiates the final battle with the forces of evil. John shows us Heaven before showing us earth so that we will not be frightened by future events.

              2.  We Will Delight in Eternal Fellowship With God in Heaven.

Beyond the heartening and stupefying size and beauty of Heaven, it is more important to understand that in Heaven we will enjoy eternal fellowship with God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (three, yet one). Also, we will reign over the universe as vice-regents of Jesus, and we will have eternal fellowship with the rest of God's people from all nations and all periods of history.

              3.  We will Worship God.

                     a. I know what it's like to be bored in church.

As a four- or five-year-old child, I remember being scolded by my grandmother because I had found an empty pew all to myself, where I had lain down and then crawled, twisted, squirmed, and banged my shoes against the mahogany pews. Instead of “behaving” and paying attention in church, I made a general distraction of myself. I have never done that again, on the outside, but on the inside, I have done it many times. The most recent time was not long ago!  So I realize that it will not make heaven sound too appealing to some of us to say that the first thing we will do there is worship God. 

                     b. On the other hand, have you ever been in a terrific worship service, where everything was special and meaningful, for you and others?  Oh, what a grand and moving experience! It is one of life's great joys to be in a good church and stand alongside thousands of others who feel like you do about the great songs of Jesus and our faith. In such times we worship deeply. We are filled with gratitude to God. We are certainly not bored.

                     c. Now, transfer your thoughts to Heaven.

There are millions upon millions of voices. Each one is more beautiful than any voice on earth has ever been. The triune God is there. You are surrounded with beauty that makes the Swiss Alps look like a land fill. All the people sing with deeper conviction and meaning than you have ever heard on earth.  Why . . . its enough to come unglued in there!

         B.  It Is the Absence of Bad, and the Presence of Good!

Rev. 21:3-5, And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. [4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. [5] And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  

                1.  Heaven is more than the absence of bad. Heaven is the beginning of unlimited, unending joy. It is the presence of righteousness and goodness and peace. Heaven is the presence of the triune God. It is the beginning of a life too wonderful even to be imagined in this world.

                2.  To those for whom life is easy, to those who are too young, or have not suffered much, or who are still pinning their hopes for complete happiness on this life, to those who are comfortable in this world, heaven probably seems distant, irrelevant, possibly even foreboding.

                3.  That is the way it seemed to me for so many years. Youth rarely looks forward to heaven. It is too far away, and youth has its hopes attached to something more immediate. But as we grow older, as we realize that the best this world has to offer is not enough, when we finally give up on this world as that which will ever be put right, then Heaven becomes the great hope indeed, the single focus, the Great Expectation that keeps us stable, steadfast, and faithful in this life, while taking joy from the next.

                4.  If there is a Hell, there must also be a Heaven. If Hell is so terrible, then Heaven must be so wonderful. If Hell is everlasting destruction, then Heaven is everlasting life.

    3.  Heaven is a Place that is Free of Confusion.

1 Cor. 13:12, For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

          A.  We Will Have More Answers and Less Confusion.

Heaven is a place where we are going to be totally known, and where we will have a more complete understanding of God, ourselves, and our relationship with Him.

It will be a place where there is no doubt, no confusion, no misunderstanding, no estrangement, and no mis–communication (1 Cor. 13:12)!  As you think on these verses, be encouraged about the home that will one day be yours … forever!

          B.  Often Confusion Is Inspired by Sufferings!

If you have ever really suffered … if you have ever known heartache, or loneliness, or pain … if you have ever been crushed with remorse over sins committed and longed never to sin again … if you have ever come to realize that this world will never satisfy the deepest longings of your heart … then “heaven” ought to be one of the most wonderful words in the human vocabulary.

Heaven. The home of the heart's deepest longings. The end of all suffering, all sorrow, all mourning, and all pain. The end of sin.

           C.  Our Questions and Curiosity Will be Satisfied Then!

                 1.  Vance Havner, a blessed old preacher of a previous generation, once said, “I'm homesick for heaven. It's the hope of heaven that has kept me alive this long.”

                 2.  Another time, he said, “There are a lot of questions the Bible doesn't answer about the Hereafter. But I think one reason is illustrated by the story of a boy sitting down to a bowl of spinach when there's a chocolate cake at the end of the table. He's going to have a rough time eating that spinach when his eyes are on the cake. And if the Lord had explained everything to us about what's ours to come, I think we'd have a rough time with our spinach down here.”  And so it is.

                 3.  The Bible says that there is a Heaven, and it gives some indication of what it is, but it doesn't come close to satisfying our curiosity. However, we can be encouraged and enriched by discovering what the Bible does tell us about that great place. To answer the questions we have about Heaven, we can look at specific Scripture passages and do a little educated speculating as well.

    4.  Heaven is a Place of Eternal Reign With Christ.

Rev. 22:4-5, And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. [5] And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

           A.  We will Reign with Jesus.

If you can't get your kids to clean up their bedrooms, if you get nervous, if there are more than three people present when you speak, if you have trouble just getting to work on time, then you can't imagine reigning with Christ in Heaven. But it will happen. When you get your new body, it will come with capacities never imagined on earth. Same with your mind. [Christ] “ Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.  ” (Philippians 3:21).

           B.  We Don't Know All What it Means to Reign with Christ, but We Have Some Hints. 

It will be with a new body and a new mind that will be perfectly capable of it.  I believe the most humble and totally non-assertive saints will have a great opportunity to rain with Christ. And we will do a fine job of it. We may well rule over saints who were politicians or presidents of large companies, but who were careless about their devotion to Christ.

           C.  Yes, What Christ Inherits We Inherit (Romans 8:16–17).

As He was raised up into heavenly places, so we are raised up into heavenly places, to be seated with Him (Ephesians 2:6–7). In Revelation 22:5, we read that we shall be “and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

God has a wonderful future planned for the true believer in Christ Jesus. It is a future that shouldn't be missed! Those who are elderly and those who are seriously ill are among those who especially need to hear the encouraging word of eternal life and a heavenly home. Be quick to share God's Word with all who are suffering or who may be near death.

Beloved, I recommend looking to God and His Word to find the daily encouragements you need. As believers, we can look forward to Heaven! As we do so, we will gain spiritual and emotional strength for the challenges of today. By looking forward to the joys of a future in Heaven, we experience power to continue on for God’s glory in His grace.