Sermon Series Break, Selected Passages
1. What do people say about heaven?
“Nearly three-quarters of all U.S. adults (73%) say they believe in heaven, while a smaller share – but still a majority (62%) – believe in hell. Both figures are similar to what the Center found when it last asked these questions, in 2017.” Pew Research Center. Few Americans Blame God or Say Faith Has Been Shaken Amid Pandemic, Other Tragedies. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/11/23/
What happens after we die? “There is uncertainty among respondents on this question, with one-in-three surveyed Canadians (36%) saying they “don’t know/can’t say”. Another one-in-four (24%) say “they simply stop existing”. This leaves one-in-four (25%) who believe people “go to heaven or some other good place”, while one-in-ten (9%) opt for “somewhere else”. The rest (7%) chose reincarnation as the most likely scenario.” Angus Reid Institute. Three-quarters of Canadians don’t completely dismiss the possibility of life after death. https://angusreid.org/life-after-death/
2. What does the Bible say about heaven?
A.) It is the official residence of God.
“11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” Revelations 7:9-12, NIV.
· A special place where God is openly worshiped by His holy angels regularly.
· God’s glory is declared, and His attributes honoured.
B.) It is the city made for worship of God. Heb. 12:22-23
“22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly. 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.”
· It is a special place where the redeemed will live together with God’s holy angels.
C.) It is the place of greatest joy and complete satisfaction.
“15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of Godand serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the thronewill be their shepherd;‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Revelations 7:15-17, NIV.
3. How do we know that heaven exists?
A.) The Hebrew Tabernacle illustrated heaven.
“8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” Exodus 25:8-9.
· All the furnishings in the Hebrew Tabernacle demonstrated the holiness of God. The Ark of the Covenant exhibited the glorious presence of God.
· These were all copies of what’s in heaven.
“Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.” Hebrews 8:1-2, NIV.
B.) The Ascension of Jesus proves heaven.
“11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11
4. How do we get there?
A.) We only need Jesus to get to heaven.
“16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16, NIV.
B.) We need to receive Jesus to have eternal life in heaven.
“6 I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6, NIV
Friend, have you made that decision to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour? Perhaps this is the right moment for you to take that step of faith and put your trust in the Lord. He promised eternal life for those who will receive Him.
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