BELIEVE #8

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HUMAN DESTINY 

Heart for the Series:
1.  We believe IN Jesus and we believe ABOUT Jesus
2. We believe TOGETHER as a local body of believers

ARTICLE X — STATEMENT OF FAITH
“We believe and accept the following statements as essentials for the unity and practice of the members of this church:”

7. HUMAN DESTINY 
(Matthew 25:46; John 3:16; 5:24; 10:28-29; Romans 9:22-24;  II Corinthians 5:8, I Thessalonians 1:9-10; 4:13-18;  II Thessalonians 1:7-10; Jude 23-24; Revelation 20:11-15)

“We believe in the eternal life of all believers in a new heaven and a new earth, and that upon physical death, they go immediately to be with Christ in heaven awaiting their future bodily resurrection at the second coming of Christ, and in the resurrection of all unbelievers to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment of God from which they will be cast into eternal fire and everlasting punishment.”

We believe in unity three TRUTHS
regarding Human Destiny:

Truth #1: “We believe in the eternal life of all believers in a new heaven and a new earth,” 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24 ESV

For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 ESV

Save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy. Jude 23-24 ESV 

Truth #2: “And that upon physical death, they go immediately to be with Christ in heaven awaiting their future bodily resurrection at the second coming of Christ,” 

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 ESV

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV 

Truth #3: “And in the resurrection of all unbelievers to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment of God from which they will be cast into eternal fire and everlasting punishment.”

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46 ESV

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? Romans 9:22-24 ESV

and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 ESV

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15 ESV 

Bonus Truth: If you are in Christ, the Shepherd knows your NAME. 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:1-3 ESV

“When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:4-5 ESV

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:7-9 ESV 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11 ESV 

“He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” John 10:12-13 ESV

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15 ESV 

“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” John 10:16 ESV 

“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John 10:17-18 ESV

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30 ESV

7. HUMAN DESTINY 
(Matthew 25:46; John 3:16; 5:24; 10:28-29; Romans 9:22-24;  II Corinthians 5:8, I Thessalonians 1:9-10; 4:13-18;  II Thessalonians 1:7-10; Jude 23-24; Revelation 20:11-15)

“We believe in the eternal life of all believers in a new heaven and a new earth, and that upon physical death, they go immediately to be with Christ in heaven awaiting their future bodily resurrection at the second coming of Christ, and in the resurrection of all unbelievers to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment of God from which they will be cast into eternal fire and everlasting punishment.”

Goals for the Series:
1. Increase DIALOGUE about these essential statements of our faith in Jesus Christ
2. Increase UNITY as a local body of believers in Jesus Christ