The hope of heaven (3 things)

• 1^st – A new body… vs.  1-10
• 1^st – Our old tent is wearing out… vs. 1-4
  • This tent/body we live in is not our ‘permanent home’ – it grows old and wears out…
    • But we know that when it ‘folds up’ – we have a building (a true home) in heaven…
    • A building not made with hands – but an eternal body made by God!
    • Paul describes dying/receiving our new body with the analogy of ‘changing clothes’…
    • The idea is that our bodies are not who we are – any more than our clothing is…
    • Our bodies are simply a ‘home’ for our eternal spirit to live in – for a short time…
    • When we die we ‘change clothing’ – and put on our eternal body!
  • Because our physical – sinful – corrupt bodies cannot inherit eternal life…
    • Our bodies weren’t designed to live forever – they weren’t meant to go to heaven…
    • But God has a new body – a MUCH better one – prepared for each one of us…
    • I like the idea of a tent – tents are not permanent – our bodies are only temporary
    • One day the Holy Spirit will give us new bodies – meant and designed for eternity!

• While in this body – we groan (sometimes literally)…
  • As we get old we start to slow down / aches and pains / wrinkles and grey hair…
  • Aging is God’s grace – as you look in the mirror and see you body getting old…
  • It is God’s way of telling saying ‘you have an expiration date’…
  • If you never aged – just one day died – there would be no warning to prepare…
  • You are going to see Jesus soon – aging is God’s way to get us ready!
  • We get tired of this old achy body – it makes us long for the new model…
• Not that we want to die – we want to live forever…
  • We are looking forward to the day when we will get our perfect body…
  • When you get home from a long day of work – your clothes are dirty / stink…
  • You can not wait to get out of those old stinky clothes – into something new…
  • In the same way we want to get out of these old stinky bodies – and get the new…
  • I John 3:2 – “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”
  • When we are resurrected we will be just j Jesus – when He was resurrected…
  • There will be no more pain / no more sickness / no more tears – Revelation 21:4
  • And this is just the LITTLE we know about our resurrected bodies…
  • FAR GREATER than anything we have now – beyond what we can imagine!

• 2^nd – The guarantee of the Spirit… vs. 5-8
  • How do we know for sure that we will receive a new body…
    • God has given a ‘down payment’ – a promise – to guarantee us the hope of new life!
    • Ephesians 1:14 – “The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people…”
    • If you buy property – but don’t yet have the money – you leave a deposit…
    • It is the guarantee that you will for sure be back to finish what you started…
    • Jesus bought and paid for us with the cross – I Corinthians 6:20
    • And He has gave us His Holy Spirit – as a ‘down payment’…
    • It’s His guarantee He will one day bring us to heaven – give us our new body!
  • Therefore we are always confident…
    • While we are in this body – we are absent from the presence of the Lord…
    • But when we are absent from this body – we will be in the presence of the Lord!
    • When we take our last breath here on earth – we will open our eyes and see Jesus!
    • We are confident of this because we walk by faith – and not by sight…
    • In other words – there is nothing we can see that will prove heaven is real…
    • But we can be confident – in spite of what we see – because we walk by faith!
    • We take the time to learn God’s Word – and learn about our hope of eternal life…
    • We trust in God’s Word – and hearing the Word gives us faith – Romans 10:17
• 3^rd – Bema seat of Christ… vs. 9-10
  • Whether here or in heaven – it is our aim to please God…
    • We want to take the time we have here to serve and please the Lord…
    • Because one day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ…
  • Every man will have to one day stand before Christ – White throne / Bema seat…
    • Stand before Christ to receive a reward…
      • Those who have faith in Christ will stand before the ‘judgment seat’…
      • The judgment seat – Bema seat – not speaking of the judgment of sin…
      • But the rewarding seat – where awards were given to athletes at the Olympics
      • The Olympic games began in Greece – it was well know event in Paul’s day…
      • Every two years the Isthmus games were held in the city of Corinth…
      • Those who competed had to train hard in order to win a laurel (leaf) crown…
      • In the same way we as believers need to train – work hard to please the Lord…
      • Living for Jesus is a daily choice – it takes work and commitment on our part…
      • We choose to take the time to get into God’s Word – set-aside time to pray…
      • We make the time to attend Bible studies – grow in our faith…
      • We need to avoid those temptations in life that would distract us…
      • Not so we can earn a laurel crown – but a crown that is eternal…
      • To one day stand before the father in heaven and hear the words
      • ‘Well done good and faithful servant – enter into the Joy of your Lord…’
    • Stand before Christ in judgment…
      • Those who reject the message of the Gospel will stand before the White throne…
      • Revelation 20:11-12 – “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it…  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God…”
      • All will stand before the throne of God to be judged for the works of their lives
      • There will be two sets of books opened – ‘The books’ and the Book of Life
      • If your name isn’t found written in the Book of Life – the Books are opened…
      • You are then judged according to your works – written in The Books…
      • Every thing you do – every word you say – every thought you think…
      • Not to see if you will go to heaven or hell – but to show you why you go to hell…
  • Knowing the terror of the Lord – we preach Jesus…
    • Knowing that all men will have to one day stand before Jesus – no exceptions…
    • And knowing they will either stand to be rewarded / or judged…
    • We constantly preach the message of the Gospel – so they might be saved!
    • We don’t share Jesus out of some sense of obligation – or for some reward…
    • We share cause of the real danger of Hell – the destination for any who reject Jesus
    • Hell is not temporary – hell is the 2^nd death – eternal separation from God…
      
• 2^nd – All in love… vs.  11-15
  • Paul was not trying to brag…
    • He was not trying to impress the church with all his knowledge – understanding…
    • He wanted the saints in Corinth to have an answer to give to the false teachers…
    • Those who boasted they had ‘amazing’ ministries – but their hearts were not sincere…
    • Those who even accused Paul of being crazy – trying to discredit him…
    • That is why we take the time to teach multiple Bible studies every week…
    • We are not trying to impress anyone – we want you to understand God’s Word…
    • I Peter 3:15 – “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.”
    • When we are sold out for God – people may very well accuse us of being crazy…
    • But we want to be able to give them an answer – tell them about Jesus!
  • All Paul did – He did because of the Love of Christ…
    • Jesus LOVED us so much He died on the cross to save us from our sin…
    • When we believed in Jesus – we also died – to our old sinful nature…
    • He has given us a new life not to live for ourselves – but to live to please God…
    • I Corinthians 6:20 – “You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
    • Our lives are no longer ours to live as we choose – we have been purchased…
    • We are called to glorify Jesus with our body and with our spirit!

• 3^rd – Ambassadors for Christ… vs.  16-21
  • A new creation in Christ… vs. 16-17
    • Do not judge a book by its cover…
      • Paul had learned not to judge a person by their outward appearance…
      • He had once thought of Jesus as just a man – and fought against His disciples…
      • He had persecuted the church – Acts 9 – until he met Jesus on the road…
      • Then he understood Jesus was FAR MORE than a man – He was God Almighty!
    • We are a new creation…
      • In the same way we are not to judge each other by outwards appearances…

Sent out to tell our neighbor across the street – your friends at school…

Perhaps we have a reputation – maybe we come from a questionable family…

Or perhaps we have made decisions in our past – that define us to this day…

Jesus tells us we are NEW CREATIONS in Him

We are no longer defined by our past – where we came from – what we’ve done…

We are now simply defined by our Father in heaven – the righteousness of Christ!

Ministry of reconciliation… vs. 18-21

God has restored our relationship through Jesus…

Where we were separated from God because of our sin – destined for hell…

Jesus came as a man – ‘in the flesh’ as it were – yet lived a perfect sinless life…

Jesus did what no one else could– fulfill the righteous requirement of God’s Law…

Then Jesus – the only perfect man – paid the price for our sin – Romans 6:23

Then came the great mysteries of the ages – God gave us Jesus’ righteousness!

In Jesus we have lived a perfect life – we have fulfilled the requirement of the Law…

Now when God looks down on us – He does not see our sinful mistakes/flaws…

He instead sees the perfect life of His Son Jesus – He sees us as perfect/flawless!

God has committed to us – the Word of reconciliation…

We are Christ’s ambassadors – His representative to a lost world…

We go out pleading with the world on Jesus’ behalf – be reconciled to God!

The picture is that of an ambassador – we speak for God to the world…

Sent out to share the Good News – the hope of salvation through Jesus!