Imagine Heaven - Part 2

EVERYTHING NEW

What happens after you die?

So what is heaven like?

What you can see on earth foreshadows the beauty of what you can’t yet see in heaven.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.  And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”  And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.  All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”  Revelation 21:1-8 NLT

There’s a tension... 
   *Life is a mixture of exceptional beauty & deep dissatisfaction. 
    *Eternity separates the two
    *Our experience becomes pure.

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.  It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever. Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.” “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.” I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”  Revelation 22:1-9 NLT

In the meantime - What should you do? You have a choice: you can find fault or you can find grace. 

For what area of your life will you need to look harder to find grace?

Imagine Heaven - Part 1

Confessions Of A Pastor

Most people have a better plan for their next vacation than they do for eternity.

Five Misconceptions About Heaven:
1. It's only sort of real...
2. It's boring...if church is boring than heaven must be really boring.
3. What you read about in the Bible is mostly metaphor...
4. You can't know that much about heaven...
5. I would be more interested in heaven if someone came back from the dead and told me about it.

This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord.  I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows.  Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do knowthat I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.  2 Corinthians 12:1-4 NLT

Near death experiences show common conditions & characteristics:
* clinical death
* third person vantage point
* dark tunnel
* bright light
* welcoming committee
* city of light
* being of light
* threshold
* return to earth

But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?”  What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first.  And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting.  1 Corinthians 15:35-37 NLT

It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.  Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.  They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.  1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NLT

What you believe about heaven changes the way you live on earth.

Too Good To Be True - Part 6

COMMISSIONED FOR GRACE

The church is most appealing when the message of grace is most apparent.

If the people aren't following, it's because someone's not leading.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8 NLT

If the church is God’s primary vehicle for dispensing the message of grace, then the local church is clearly not for church people. It’s for everybody.

While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Acts 15:1 NLT

He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith.  So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?  Acts 15:9-10 NLT 

We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”  Acts 15:11 NLT  

Peter knew that if you start shaving layers off of grace or adding things to grace, it’s no longer grace. 

“And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Acts 15:19 NLT

The church should not make it difficult for people who are turning to God.

Grace was saved.

Grace plus anything is anything but grace.

God's grace is for people people.

A community of grace

The church has been assigned the task of exposing the world to the grace of God. This is our responsibility. There is no plan B. We are it.

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!  Luke 15:1-2 NLT

We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’” Luke 15:32 NLT

God celebrates, first & foremost, restored relationships.  In God's story, you are the focus of a celebration - not what you've done - You!

Too Good To Be True - Part 5

SAVED BY GRACE

"The scandalous mathematics of grace"

Fortunately, the kingdom of God does not operate according to the principles of fairness.

Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him.  When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.  Luke 23:32-33 NLT  

The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”  Luke 23:35 NLT  

They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”  Luke 23:37 NLT

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”  Luke 23:39 NLT

But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”  Luke 23:40-41 NLT

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”  Luke 23:42 NLT

Jesus trumped justice and decided to be extravagantly unfair.

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  Luke 23:43 NLT

Grace = better than fair

We fall short of our own expectations; we don’t need religion to tell us that we really aren’t all that good.

Christ’s death and resurrection signaled to the world that the kingdom of God isn't reserved for good people but for forgiven people.

Grace = far better than fair

Too Good To Be True - Part 4

FILLED BY GRACE

How much sand would someone have to consume in order to quench their thirst?

He had to go through Samaria on the way.  John 4:4NLT 

Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”   John 4:7NLT 

The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”  “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?  And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”    John 4:9-15NLT

Jesus knew that he had to dredge up all the old so that it could be replaced once and for all.

“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet.  So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”   John 4:19-20NLT

It’s always easier to talk about theology than our pain.

The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”  John 4:25-26 NLT

“Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”  John 4:29 NLT

Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!”  John 4:39 NLT

"In-spite-of-grace"

Nothing had changed, but she had changed. 

God's response to the thirsty soul is grace.

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

God's grace is the life of Jesus flowing through believers to sustain them through things that will not or cannot change.

A declaration of thirst is an invitation for God to quench your thirst.

Heavenly Father, I cannot ________________ but You can.

Too Good To Be True - Part 3

"Good Enough"

There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee.  After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”  John 3:1-2NLT

This Messiah had something bigger in mind. He came to liberate the whole world.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  John 3:3 NLT

Born “again”? This was new. And it wasn’t what Nicodemus came to talk about.

“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.  John 3:4-9 NLT

Now I see, but how could I have missed this?

But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?  No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.  John 3:12-13 NLT

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.  John 3:14-15 NLT

There was nothing in Nicodemus’s theology that allowed for an executed Messiah.

Jesus equated belief or trust with eternal life.

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.  Isaiah 53:5 NLT

Forgiveness and eternal life are not attained through the Law. Forgiveness requires a payment.

Faith in and love for Jesus led him to do something Jesus’ closest followers lacked the courage to do.

The law wasn’t enough; he needed grace.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.   God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.  John 3:16-17 NLT

Eternal life isn’t a reward for good people;  it’s God’s gift to forgiven people.

Homework:  Are you good enough?

Too Good To Be True - Part 2

ACCEPTED BY GRACE

People who were nothing like Jesus, liked Jesus.

Jesus liked people who were nothing like him.

"Follow Me"

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14 NLT

Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”  Matthew 9:2 NLT

Jesus said what only God can say & then did what only God could do.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.  Matthew 9:9 NLT

The story of Jesus is the story of God drawing near to those who have been pulled away by sin and pushed away by the self-righteous.

The Messiah's ancestry was tainted with non-Jews.  

There was no point in hiding the flawed humanity of Jesus' ancestry - that was the main point.

The self-righteous chased sinners away & the sinner's shame kept them running.

Jesus was not uncomfortable surrounded by those who most needed the bridge back to God that only grace could provide.

But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”  Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”  Matt. 9:11-13 NLT

I have not come to call those who think they are good but those who know they are not.

Uncomfortable truth:  grace is inviting to the unrighteous and threatening to the self-righteous.

Grace is not earned; it is offered.

You can't be good enough; you don't have to be.

Jesus = grace personified

Homework:  To which side of the isle do I tend to lean?

Too Good To Be True - Part 1

IN THE BEGINNING, GRACE

Why did God create anything?

God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.  Gen. 1:25 NLT

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them.   Gen. 1:26-27

Grace is never just enough. 

Grace is always more than enough.

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” Gen. 2:18 NLT

In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  Gen. 1:27 NLT

But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”  Gen. 2:16-17 NLT

God’s expressions of grace were innumerable, His requirements were minimal.

Grace in its purest form can have no strings attached.

We severely underestimate the impact of sin.

Sin led to shame. Shame led to blame.

Adam blamed God for his troubles, and mankind has been blaming God ever since.

Disobedience has consequences, obedience leads to freedom.

From the very beginning God has responded to the sin of humanity with...amazing grace.

Jesus endured the affliction of evil and suffered the penalty of death that Adam was promised and we all deserve.

Jesus = Grace personified