BS-16
Lesson Point – Heaven; is there such a place?
A comment to start with; without our bible as our reference to tell us of God, of heaven, of hell, of angels and other various heavenly things; how would mankind know if they exist? It has to be by FAITH that we believe these things exist. SO… 2 Timothy 3:16 tell us what?
WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE SAY?
Scripture is God breathed
Scripture references are at the bottom of this study.
Question – 1. If there is a heaven does the God of creation dwell there? __. If so, is there a document or book that mentions a place called heaven? _____.
If you answered Yes to the two questions you must be thinking of the Holy Bible.
Question – 2. Since there is a Holy Bible; what other things does it teach? _____.
Answer – Everything that the CREATOR wants mankind to know.
Question – 3. Does the Holy Bible tell mankind how that they can get to heaven?
Answer – Yes. Let’s check out what it says is required. John 3:3, Ephesians 8:9-10.
Question – 4. If your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds [sins] will you make it?
Answer – No; good or bad is not what scripture teaches as the way to heaven. The old covenant was to a certain degree quite legalistic; the words ‘you shall’ and ‘shall not’ OR ‘do’ or ‘do not’ were used for the children of Israel to follow.
Question – 5. If I want to go to heaven what is my path to get there? Is there some magic formula that gets you or me there and not the other place?
Answer – There is no scientific formula but scripture provides a path or standard to help. For instance; LOVE covers a multitude of sin. A comment; there is Godly love and there is philia love; strive to have Godly love [Agape]. Without a love from within & conviction, a person cannot take the next step. It is, Repentance. It is also in the formula; also the TRUST in Jesus factor must be included in the formula. It is a change from an old nature way of thinking and acting to a new nature, it is like making a U-turn in life; you want to be different person now than what you were like prior to choosing Jesus as your Lord & Savior. This is called a spiritual Birth. Another Question. Have you had a spiritual birth?
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A Note: Every man or women who has ever taken a breath of oxygen has at one time or another fallen a notch or two below the standard our creator, God, has as HIS guideline for mankind to follow. So, what is the Holy Bible standard that mankind needs to meet to spend eternity in heaven? What does scripture teach? Most everyone has an opinion about what it takes to spend eternity in heaven.
1st – Let’s establish that scripture, indeed, tells that ALL of us have sinned.
Romans 3:23 is one verse we can read: “for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The context of this group of verses goes into ‘Justification by Faith’ in Christ. Verses 21 – 28 is the context of the love that God has for the sinner. So, since we are ALL sinners by definition; what is needed for our atonement?
The word Justification is a mammoth word for the person wanting to spend eternity in heaven. Think of it as though God is not declaring you or I guilty for our sins; God is the one who will declare us right with HIM once we put our TRUST in Christ. Romans 5:18 is a verse, a bullet, giving us hope that God provided the way. We become not-guilty or a forgiven person because of the act of one person. [God the Son provides the justification. It kind of means that we are judged ‘just’ as though we had never sinned.]
Imagine that you are standing in court and about to be sentenced. Father God is the Judge and you are standing before HIM. Just before HE pronounces you ‘guilty’ your legal counselor speaks. He uses words something like, “Your honor, I took the place for this persons sin. The blood I shed was the atonement needed when this person put their TRUST in me as their substitute; that act of Faith renders them as ‘not guilty’. Next, your counselor [Jesus] turns to you and comments, “enter into the portal of heaven and prepare for the wedding feast, which is yet to come.” WOW.
Again, what does scripture tell us? Opinions don’t count but only what the Lord has written for ALL mankind to read and follow.
QUESTION – 6. Where is heaven? It is in the 3rd heaven if you know where that is at. The 1st heaven is our atmosphere, the 2nd heaven is the Steller heaven; where our Galaxy is at; planets and stars. The 3rd is someplace that scientific man has not figured out yet. Just a few of the Holy men of old put a description to it as God gave them a vision. Revelation 21 gives a brief description but the context of the chapter tells me, the reader, that God is preparing a Newer Heaven where ALL of those who have repented and put their TRUST in Jesus will dwell. FEW will spend eternity in Heaven and MANY will be in the other place. [Matthew 7:13-14].
Comment. What about you? Have you put you TRUST in Jesus; have you made that U-turn in life and repented; are you one of the few who will spend eternity in Heaven?
Question – 7. Wouldn’t you like to spend eternity in heaven? Since scripture uses the word FEW have made reservation already, wouldn’t you like to make yours? Once the last breath is taken and your heart stops beating, your eternity is sealed; you can only make that CHOICE while you are living. Many will miss out on the blessings of heaven because they put their TRUST in the things of secular mankind’s philosophy. The Lord has provided a way for ALL of mankind to spend eternity in heaven. Do like I did in 1972; accept Jesus as your Savior, he’s your atonement for sin, and then make that spiritual U-turn in life.
Is heaven in your future or do you need to make that U-turn?
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2 Timothy 3:16. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
Romans 5:18. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.
John 3:3. Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” [The 2nd birth is a spiritual birth.]
Ephesians 2:8-9. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Romans 3:23. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Matthew 7:13-14. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. [Few will enter Heaven.]
Romans 3:27-28. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. [The LAW was unattainable; it was/is the Moral BENCHMARK but because of sin not ATTAINABLE by mankind; God provided a NEW Covenant; it is FAITH in Christ. IF mankind could have attained it on our own thru good work, we could boast or brag about it.]
Only a few, the Christian, enters through the portal of HEAVEN.
DG