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“Life From an Eternal Perspective”. Prioritizing our lives with an Eternal Perspective Faith With an Eternal Perspective Growing Spiritually with an Eternal Perspective Viewing Our Marriages From an Eternal Perspective Homes With an Eternal Perspective
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“Life From an Eternal Perspective” • Prioritizing our lives with an Eternal Perspective • Faith With an Eternal Perspective • Growing Spiritually with an Eternal Perspective • Viewing Our Marriages From an Eternal Perspective • Homes With an Eternal Perspective • Passing the Torch: An Eternal Perspective • Serving God From the Eternal Perspective
As a Thief in the Night! • But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10 NKJV) • The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV)
How the Rich Man’s Brothers Were to Avoid Hell: • "But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'" (Luke 16:31 NKJV)
How Beautiful Heaven Must Be! • Jesus called it His “Father’s House” (Jn. 14:2) • “Paradise” (Lk. 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7) • An “Eternal Kingdom” (2 Pet. 1:11) • A “Better Country” (Heb. 11:14, 16) • A place where the righteous “reign with Christ” (2 Tim. 2:12) • Where we will enjoy “rest” (Heb. 4:10, 11)
How Beautiful Heaven Must Be! • A place of “life everlasting” (Dan. 12:2; Mat. 25:46) where we can’t “die anymore” (Lk. 20:36) • A place where “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away” is reserved for us (1 Pet. 1:4) • A place where we will enjoy “eternal glory” (1 Pet. 5:10) • A place where “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Rev. 21:4)
How Horrifying Hell Must Be! • Jesus likened it to a place known as the Valley of Hinnom • A place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:12) • So painful that its inhabitants “gnawed their tongues because of the pain.” (Revelation 16:10) • The rich man “cried” out and begged for mercy saying, “have mercy on me” (Lk. 16:24-25) • A place filled with brimstone producing choking smoke (Rev. 14:11; 19:20) • A place without rest (Rev. 14:11) • A place filled with “blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 1:13)
How Horrifying Hell Must Be! • A place where “their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched” (Isa. 66:24). Its inhabitants never cease burning and maggots consume you eternally! • A place of inescapable imprisonment (Am. 9:2; Lk. 16:26; 1 Pet. 3:19) • With wretched people as companions (Mat. 13:41-42; Rev. 16:11; 22:10-11) • A place with plenty of room for you: “Hell and Destruction are never full…” (Proverbs 27:20 ) • You are there of your own doing: “…they were judged, each one according to his works...” (Revelation 20:13-14) • Odds are, you or those you know may end up there (Lk. 13:24)! (This is why this is such an important issue to discuss!)
Hell: Who Goes There? Evil people (1 Pet. 4:17-18) Those Who Lose Focus of Righteousness (Mat. 5:29-30) The Uncompassionate (Mat. 25:31-46) • Fornicators (Prov. 5:5; 7:27; 9:18) Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, the covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners (1 Cor. 6:9-11) Sorcerers, the sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters and whoever loves and practices a lie (Rev. 22:15) the…unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, …shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone…” (Rev. 21:8) Worldly (Lk. 13:3, 5) • Hypocrites: (Isa. 33:14) The Backslidden (1 Pet. 4:17-19)
Hell: Who Goes There? (A Few Surprises!) “The Cowardly” (Rev. 21:8) “Those Who Would Not Confess Christ” (Mat. 10:32-33) “All Liars” (Rev. 21:8) • “The Strong & Mighty” (Isa. 32:21) Those who have a false sense of security (Isa. 28:15, 18) The Indifferent (Mat. 23:37-39; Mat. 24:11-13; Rev. 3:1-3) Careless speakers (Mat. 5:22; Jas. 3:6) The Religious (Man-Made Mat. 23:15; Mat. 7:22-23)
Hell is ETERNAL! • (“aionios”, ahee-o'-nee-os) which means “perpetual, eternal, forever, everlasting” • "And these will go away into everlasting punishment (Gk. “aionios” - MDM), but the righteous into eternal life (Gk. “aionios” - MDM)." (Matthew 25:46) • God is an “everlasting (Gk. “aionios” - MDM) God” (Rom. 16:26) • The Spirit is an “Eternal (Gk. “aionios” - MDM) Spirit” (Heb. 9:14) • Conclusion: Everlasting punishment will last as long as eternal life, the Eternal Father & the Eternal Spirit!
What Must I Do To Go To Hell? • ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! • For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17) • …the Lord Jesus …in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
FEAR HELL! • "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! (Luke 12:5)
Have Worldly Standards of Success Become Your Goal? • Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets. (Luke 6:26 NKJV)
Christians With an Eternal Perspective Are Different (In Most Every Way!) • Is your speech different from the world? • neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. (Ephesians 5:4 NKJV) • “scurrility, buffoonery, ridicule, or what tends to expose another to contempt.” - Adam Clarke • In other words, “that kind of talk which… senseless, stupid, foolish; which is not fitted to instruct, edify, profit--the idle chit-chat which is so common in the world.” – Albert Barnes
Christians With an Eternal Perspective Are Different (In Most Every Way!) • Is your speech different from the world? • Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. (Acts 8:4 NKJV) • Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (Colossians 4:6 NKJV)
Christians With an Eternal Perspective Are Different (In Most Every Way!) • Is your dress different from the world? • Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. (1 Peter 3:3-4 NKJV)
Christians With an Eternal Perspective Are Different (In Most Every Way!) • Do you spend your money differently from the world? • "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? (Luke 9:25 NKJV) • Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:1-2 NKJV)
Christians With an Eternal Perspective Are Different (In Most Every Way!) • Do you have a reputation as a do-gooder? • Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10 NKJV)
Christians With an Eternal Perspective Are Different (In Most Every Way!) • Do you spend your time differently? • Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. (Psalms 55:17 NKJV) • Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7 NKJV)
Christians With an Eternal Perspective Are Different (In Most Every Way!) • Do you spend your time differently? • And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformedby the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 NKJV) • Transformed: From the Gk. “metamorphoo”
Living With an Eternal Perspective • "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV)
Eternal Focus On Those Lost • “…there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” (Lk. 15:7) • "…there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10) • Son: The father rejoiced saying, “…this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15:24-25)
Eternal Focus On Those Lost • And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, (Hebrews 5:9 NKJV) • that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, (Philippians 1:10 NKJV) • Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, (1 Timothy 1:5 NKJV)
Hear The Word of God (Mat. 7:24-27) Believe in Jesus (Mark 16:15-16) Live Faithfully ‘Till Death Colossians 1:22-23 Revelation 2:10 Repent of Your Sins (Luke 13:5) Confess With Your Mouth - (James 5:16) Be Baptized (1 Peter 3:21)
“Life From an Eternal Perspective” • Prioritizing our lives with an Eternal Perspective • Faith With an Eternal Perspective • Growing Spiritually with an Eternal Perspective • Viewing Our Marriages From an Eternal Perspective • Homes With an Eternal Perspective • Passing the Torch: An Eternal Perspective • Serving God From the Eternal Perspective