The Community of Heaven 2 Corinthians 5:1-11 One day soon, every Christian in this room will move...

The The CommunityCommunity of Heaven of Heaven

2 Corinthians 5:1-112 Corinthians 5:1-11

One day soon, every Christian in this room will move into a new home: heaven.

How well-acquainted are you with your Eternal Destination?


For we know that when this earthly tent we live For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.himself and not by human hands.

We grow weary in our present bodies, and we We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.we will not be spirits without bodies.


While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.life.

God himself has prepared us for this, and as a God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

The Importance of HeavenThe Importance of Heaven

And if our hope in Christ is only for this And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. anyone in the world. 1 Cor. 15:19 1 Cor. 15:19

… … If the dead are not raised, let us eat If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.and drink, for tomorrow we die. 1 Cor. 1 Cor. 15:3215:32

a large majority of Americans (79%) a large majority of Americans (79%) agreed with the statement “every agreed with the statement “every person has a soul that will live forever, person has a soul that will live forever, either in God’s presence or absence.” either in God’s presence or absence.” October 21, 2003 Barna Update October 21, 2003 Barna Update http://www.barna.orgHow well-acquainted are you How well-acquainted are you

with your Eternal Destination?with your Eternal Destination?

““I consider that the sufferings of this I consider that the sufferings of this present time are present time are not worthynot worthy to be to be compared with the glory that is to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” revealed to us.” Romans 8:18 Romans 8:18

What Will Heaven Be Like?What Will Heaven Be Like?

Last Week…Last Week…– Anything but boring!Anything but boring!– God’s God’s Eternal Plan!Eternal Plan!– A new body!A new body!

You will make known to me the path of You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures Your right hand there are pleasures forever.forever. Psalms 16:11 Psalms 16:11

““We will We will notnot be spirits without bodies!” be spirits without bodies!” 2 Cor. 5:32 Cor. 5:3

But according to His promise we are But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. earth, in which righteousness dwells.

2 Peter 3:13 2 Peter 3:13


Last Week…Last Week…

Not a Place: the Not a Place: the Kingdom of GodKingdom of God– ““New Heavens and Earth”New Heavens and Earth”

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am I am making everything newmaking everything new!” And then he !” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”you is trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5 Revelation 21:5

looking forward to the day of God and looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. away in the flames. 2 Peter 3:12 2 Peter 3:12

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, first heaven and the first earth passed away, and and there is no longer any seathere is no longer any sea. . Revelation 21:1Revelation 21:1

Then he showed me Then he showed me a river of the water of a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, life, clear as crystal, coming from the coming from the throne of God and of throne of God and of the Lamb, the Lamb, Revelation 22:1Revelation 22:1



Not a Place: the Not a Place: the Kingdom of GodKingdom of God

The Centerpiece: The Centerpiece: the New Jerusalemthe New Jerusalem– Architected by Jesus ChristArchitected by Jesus Christ

““In My Father's house are many In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for would have told you; for I go to prepare I go to prepare a place for youa place for you.” .” John 14:2 John 14:2




The Centerpiece: The Centerpiece: the New Jerusalemthe New Jerusalem– Architected by Jesus ChristArchitected by Jesus Christ– The Throne of God!The Throne of God!

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them… be among them… Rev. 21:3 Rev. 21:3

GLORIOUS!GLORIOUS!

So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and God. It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal… as clear as crystal… Rev 21:10-12Rev 21:10-12

MASSIVE!MASSIVE!

The city wall was broad and high… When he The city wall was broad and high… When he measured it, he found it was a square, as measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. width and height were each 1,400 miles. Rev 21:16 Rev 21:16

““In My Father's house are many In My Father's house are many dwelling places… dwelling places… John 14:2 John 14:2

BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL! Rev. 21:18-21Rev. 21:18-21

The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. as clear as glass.

The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. clear as glass.




The Centerpiece: The Centerpiece: the New Jerusalemthe New Jerusalem

A Community of A Community of Real Fellowship!Real Fellowship!– Permanent Reunion!Permanent Reunion!– A Hall of Fame!A Hall of Fame!– And a myriad of God’s other creatures!And a myriad of God’s other creatures!We know that God, who raised the Lord We know that God, who raised the Lord

Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with and present us to himself together with you. you. 2 Corinthians 4:142 Corinthians 4:14




The Centerpiece: The Centerpiece: the New Jerusalemthe New Jerusalem

A Community of Real Fellowship!A Community of Real Fellowship!

Creative Accomplishments!Creative Accomplishments!– Talents Galore!Talents Galore!– Work Suited to Your Gifting and Tastes!Work Suited to Your Gifting and Tastes!– Expressive!Expressive!– Productivity that Lasts!Productivity that Lasts!– Shared Among the Community!Shared Among the Community!

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ… heirs with Christ… Romans 8:16-17Romans 8:16-17

"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’” the joy of your master.’” Matthew 25:23 Matthew 25:23

ImplicationsImplications1. We groan!1. We groan!

5:2 Meanwhile 5:2 Meanwhile we groanwe groan, longing to be clothed , longing to be clothed with our dwellingwith our dwelling

5:4 For indeed while we are in this tent, 5:4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we we groangroan, being burdened, because we do not , being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.up by life.

For the anxious longing of the creation For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. sons of God. Romans 8:19Romans 8:19

He has planted eternity in the human heart… He has planted eternity in the human heart… Ecclesiastes 3:11Ecclesiastes 3:11

““Creatures are not created with a desire for Creatures are not created with a desire for something that doesn’t exist.something that doesn’t exist.” C.S.Lewis

ImplicationsImplications1.1. We groan!We groan!

2.2. Live by Faith!Live by Faith!Everything we know about heaven Everything we know about heaven comes from God’s revealed Word…comes from God’s revealed Word…

So So FUEL IT!FUEL IT!

5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight…5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight…So faith So faith comescomes from hearing, and hearing by from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 Romans 10:17

looking for and hastening the coming of looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God… 2 Peter 3:12the day of God… 2 Peter 3:12looking for the blessed hope and the looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, and Savior, Christ Jesus, Titus 2:13 Titus 2:13

so Christ…shall appear a second time for so Christ…shall appear a second time for salvation…to those who eagerly await Him. salvation…to those who eagerly await Him. Hebrews 9:28 Hebrews 9:28

May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. done on earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10Matthew 6:10

… not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

Maranatha! 1 Corinthians 16:22

““I must keep alive the desire for my true country… I must never let it I must keep alive the desire for my true country… I must never let it get snowed-under or turned-aside. I must make it the main object and get snowed-under or turned-aside. I must make it the main object and press on…and call upon as many others as possible do the same…”press on…and call upon as many others as possible do the same…” CS Lewis CS Lewis


2.2. Live by Faith!Live by Faith!

3.3. Pleasing God Pleasing God Matters!Matters!

5:9 Therefore also we have as our 5:9 Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, ambition, whether at home or absent, to to be pleasing to Himbe pleasing to Him, whether we are at , whether we are at home in the body or away from it.home in the body or away from it.

10 For we must all appear before the 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.whether good or bad.Not the judgment Not the judgment

day… day…

The Bema Seat at CorinthThe Bema Seat at Corinth

The “Bema” The “Bema” seat of Christ seat of Christ c.f. c.f. 1 Cor. 3:10-151 Cor. 3:10-15

"But store up for yourselves treasures in "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; in or steal;

for where your treasure is, there your for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. heart will be also. Matthew 6:20-21 Matthew 6:20-21


2.2. Live by Faith!Live by Faith!

3.3. Pleasing God Pleasing God Matters!Matters!

4.4. Eager to share about it!Eager to share about it!5:11 Therefore knowing the fear of 5:11 Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, the Lord, we persuade menwe persuade men……

5:14 For the love of Christ controls 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one us, having concluded this, that one died for all, so that all may live…died for all, so that all may live…

The Community of Heaven 2 Corinthians 5:1-11 One day soon, every Christian in this room will move...

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