The Community of Heaven 2 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?

2 Corinthians 5:1-5 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.

2 Corinthians 5:1-5 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

The Importance of Heaven And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 1 Cor. 15:19 … If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 1 Cor. 15:32 a large majority of Americans (79%) agreed with the statement “every person has a soul that will live forever, either in God’s presence or absence.” October 21, 2003 Barna Update How well-acquainted are you with your Eternal Destination?

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18 What Will Heaven Be Like? Last Week… –Anything but boring! –God’s Eternal Plan! –A new body! You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalms 16:11 “We will not be spirits without bodies!” 2 Cor. 5:3

But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13 What Will Heaven Be Like? Last Week… Not a Place: the Kingdom of God –“New Heavens and Earth”

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.” Revelation 21:5 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 2 Peter 3:12

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

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

What Will Heaven Be Like? Last Week… Not a Place: the Kingdom of God The Centerpiece: the New Jerusalem –Architected by Jesus Christ “In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2

What Will Heaven Be Like? Last Week… Not a Place: the Kingdom of God The Centerpiece: the New Jerusalem –Architected by Jesus Christ –The Throne of God! And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them… Rev. 21:3

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

MASSIVE! The city wall was broad and high… When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. Rev 21:16 “In My Father's house are many dwelling places… John 14:2

BEAUTIFUL! Rev. 21:18-21 The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.

What Will Heaven Be Like? Last Week… Not a Place: the Kingdom of God The Centerpiece: the New Jerusalem A Community of Real Fellowship! –Permanent Reunion! –A Hall of Fame! –And a myriad of God’s other creatures! We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 2 Corinthians 4:14

What Will Heaven Be Like? Last Week… Not a Place: the Kingdom of God The Centerpiece: the New Jerusalem A Community of Real Fellowship! Creative Accomplishments! –Talents Galore! –Work Suited to Your Gifting and Tastes! –Expressive! –Productivity that Lasts! –Shared Among the Community! The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ… Romans 8:16-17 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’” Matthew 25:23

Implications 1. We groan! 5:2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling 5:4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8:19 He has planted eternity in the human heart… Ecclesiastes 3:11 “Creatures are not created with a desire for something that doesn’t exist. “Creatures are not created with a desire for something that doesn’t exist.” C.S.Lewis

Implications 1. We groan! 2. Live by Faith! Everything we know about heaven comes from God’s revealed Word… So FUEL IT! 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight… So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God… 2 Peter 3:12 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, Titus 2:13 so Christ…shall appear a second time for salvation…to those who eagerly await Him. Hebrews 9:28 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 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 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…” CS Lewis

Implications 1. We groan! 2. Live by Faith! 3. Pleasing God Matters! 5:9 Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Not the judgment day…

The Bema Seat at Corinth The “Bema” seat of Christ c.f. 1 Cor. 3:10-15 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:20-21

Implications 1. We groan! 2. Live by Faith! 3. Pleasing God Matters! 4. Eager to share about it! 5:11 Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men… 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, so that all may live…