The Biblical importance & basis of church membership

1 Timothy 1:1-4 "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesusaccording to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith:Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 As I urged you upon my departure forMacedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention tomyths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather thanfurthering the administration of God which is by faith."

Introduction:

As I was beginning to read the New Testament book of 1 Timothy the other day, the thought struck me: why was Paul was so concerned about young Timothy working to establish the leadership and church at Ephesus? Whenever we consider the New Testament letters of 1 & Timothy and Titus, they are commonly called "The Pastoral Epistles". In-as-much as these three books of the Bible are addressed to pastors (Timothy and Titus), their instructions apply equally to the person in the church pew. But now back to our question: Why did Paul urge Timothy to stay at Ephesus? In looking at the main verse of 1 Timothy 3:15, wherein Paul expresses his reasons for writing the letter, namely to instruct the people as to how they ought to conduct themselves in the church of the living God, we find the answer: because he wanted a church membership that would express a stronger form of Christianity. 

Point of Application:

As you read what Paul would write in the book of 1 Timothy, you discover that one of the central concerns he had was to ensure that both the leadership and membership of the local church were unified and Christ-focused against the rising tide of doctrinal and cultural opposition. The key thought to understanding the God-ordained means of building a stronger Christianity is by considering the Biblical concept of church membership. Thus we will consider the following main point of application for today: Church membership is necessary for a stronger Christianity in our local churches and outside in the world. In what specific ways does God use the Biblical concept of church membership to underscore a stronger Christianity? Three answers emerge from looking through 1 Timothy 1:1-11:

1. Stronger Christian Faith 1:1-4 

2. Stronger Christian Living 1:5-7 

3. Stronger Christian Witness 1:8-11

Before we get to these three important reasons for church membership, we first of all need to establish how Biblical church membership is, and what it entails.

How we know church membership is Biblical, and not just a man-made idea

Before we go any further, I think it is important to demonstrate the concept of church membership as a Biblical concept lying at the heart of the larger Biblical teaching about the local church. Frankly if church membership is nothing more than a traditional concept or man-made convention, then what we are advocating for in this post is a waste of time. However it does not take long to see how Biblical the notion of church membership is. For example, as early as Acts 2:41, we see the early church keeping records of how many people were converted and baptized on the Day of Pentecost following the Apostle's Peter's preaching. We again see in Acts 4:4 a record of 5,000 additional souls added to the roles at Jerusalem, bringing the total church membership at that first church to at least 8,000 souls! The early church taught the concept of regenerate church membership: namely that people must be born again by grace through faith, followed by believer's baptism, resulting in their being initiated into the membership and life of the local church body.

Practical difficulties that can arise when church membership is not practiced

In the 30 years I have been a born-again Christian, I had occasion to attend churches where church membership was not practiced. The belief was that all someone had to be was a born-again believer. The confusion that resulted from this well-meaning practice was a lessening in value of other such practices as believer's baptism and the inability to exercise church disciple in needed. (see Matthew 18) Why abandon a practice that is so Biblical for convenience's sake? God's ordained means of maintaining the Christ-centered focus of His church must ever be retained if the church hopes to be Biblical.

More explicit proof of church membership being taught in the New Testament

Contrary to the practice of non-church membership, we discover that this language of "member" or "membership" is used explicitly in the New Testament. 1 Corinthians 12:12 states: "For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ." We must not confuse the word "membership" with the modern day idea of "membership' at a gym or "membership" at an organization like Sam's Club or at a Country Club. Rather the idea of membership is a highly organic one, referring to the inter-dependence we see in the various parts of a human body. 

Baptist preacher Dr. O.S Hawkins gives this insight into how life in the local church is all about relationships: "Let me hasten to add there are only three relationships in life... . There is the outward relationship we have with those at church, at work, in the home or in the social arena. There is that inward relationship we have with ourselves. And there is that upward relationship we have with God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. The wise pastor realizes that we will never be properly related to each other until we are properly related to ourselves and this does not happen until will come into relationship with Jesus Christ so that we find our self-worth in Him and translate it to those around us." (Pastor's Primer, page 118, GuideStone 2006)

In scanning through the rest of the New Testament, the concept of church membership is undeniable. God in the Person of the Holy Spirit Sovereignly leads and places each church member in the local church as He sees fit. (1 Corinthians 12:12, 18, 20) The concept of church unity is practically and most properly expressed in church membership (1 Corinthians 12:20). Achieving Jesus' command to love one another and to submit to one another is best done through church membership. (John 13:34; 1 Corinthians 12:23-27)

Closing thoughts

In short, church membership's cry is twofold: We need Jesus and we need one another! To see elsewhere this concept of church membership in the New Testament, we only need to look at the opening salutations of Paul's letters to the churches (to the saints at Rome, to the saints at Corinth, to the churches of Galatia, and so on). Indeed, the church the world over is spoken of in the New Testament, composed of all truly redeemed and born-again people of God duly chosen and called by God and His Spirit. (1 Peter 1:1-2; Ephesians 2:20) However the vast majority of passages on the church have to do with the church local. As we have already seen, the most Biblical way to conceive of the local church and in how God uses it to strengthen Christianity in the world over is by considering church membership. As we noted today: Church membership is necessary for a stronger Christianity in our local churches and outside in the world. 

More tomorrow....

Shock and Awe - Hell & heaven

Hebrews 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment

Revelation 14:13 "And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

Note: The reader can access a ten-minute podcast of this post at the podcast site: http://gcrpodcast.wordpress.com/2014/10/24/podcast-shock-and-awe-hell-and-heaven/

Introduction:
Nearly three quarters of Americans believe in Heaven and Hell, but just one half of one percent think they're headed for Hell, according to a new poll reported recently by The Los Angeles Times. By contrast, almost two thirds are confident they're headed for Heaven. I invite the reader to click first on the following link, which features a simulation of every person being born or dying on earth in real time: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/a-real-time-map-of-births-and-deaths/280609/ 

There is an event that for either this blogger or you the reader or someone you know that could happen when you least expect.  The next big thing to which I refer is: "Death, Hell or Heaven".  There is only One way in which you can be sure you're ready for when that "next big thing" may occur - that of course is by grace through faith alone trusting in Christ alone.

Main Point of Application:
What we can say about Heaven and Hell is that Heaven is accompanied by awe and Hell is quite shocking. Two men will aid us in understanding these realities so that you can be sure you are ready once it happens to you. The first man is the rich man in Luke 16 and the second man will be the thief on the cross in Luke 23.  In looking at both of these men, we can note two general truths Hell and Heaven and our main point of application: Hell is shocking and Heaven is awesome.

So let us note the first man, the rich man in Luke 16, and see how he portrays....

Hell is shocking. Luke 16:19-31
All who are born into this world are described as having been born in Adam, in sin and in death. (Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:19) One preacher has illustrated this by noting that man's birth is like a dot, with an arrow proceeding infinitely ahead of him, representing the fact that he is an everlasting soul. (.--------------------------------------->)
All human beings are born once in Adam and if they remain in Adam they will die twice: physically and then be judged to live eternally separated from God in the final Great White Throne Judgment in what Revelation 20:14 calls "The Second Death". 

The Rich man in Luke 16:19-31 was undoubtedly born, and lived as we see in Luke 16:25. Then like every man, the Rich Man died as seen in Luke 16:22. That Rich man had been born, lived and now died physically. Where did he go? His living state on this earth was done, and now the intermediate state of his soul began. The Bible says that this Rich man, in Hades (or Hell) lifted up his eyes in torments.  We can see by his experience why Hell is a shocking place:

1. Shocking to see who goes to Hell. Lk 16:14, 19-23
The reader must understand that for Jesus' listeners, this would had been a shocking development. The Rich man would had been the last guy you would had expected to end up in Hell. Rich people were often thought to had done the right things in the sight of God and man to obtain their level of wealth. Earlier in Luke 16:14 even the Pharisees, the self-righteous religionists of their day, were noted for their opulence. Nevertheless Jesus' teaching is quite clear, the Rich man had been born, lived  and died in his sins. Sadly a person don't have to do one thing to die and go to hell.  This rich man had his heaven on earth and did not want God in his life. Some people are going to end up in Hell that we would never expect, but notice also...

2. Shocking to see no repentance in Hell. Luke 16:24
The rich man was in agony in the flames. He wanted comfort, like he had in his living state here on earth. (Luke 16:19) Like the people who will be under the wrath of God on this earth in the great tribulation recorded in Revelation 16:9,11,21, the Rich Man evidences no repentance, only rebellion against God.

3. Shocking what is remembered in Hell Luke 16:30
Father Abraham reminds the rich man: "remember during your life". The rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus to "his father's house, for he has five brothers". The rich man's perpective on Lazarus as the "begger at his gate" had not changed. In hell, the person refuses to change. Ironically, the rich man is now the beggar and Lazarus is in comfort. (Luke 16:25)

4. Shocking what people's opinions are in Hell. Luke 16:30
According to Luke 16:29-30, after father Abraham tells this rich man that his brothers have the law and the prophets to guide them to the saving knowledge that will spare them from the flames, the Rich man flatly says: "No Father Abraham." A person in hell is still convinced they have a better way and plan. Sadly, whatever state an unbeliever leaves this world, they will continue in a downward and increasingly inward spiral of sinfulness and opposition to the Lord and His book.

Hebrews 9:27 tells us that it is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment. We've noted that the Rich man had been born once, lived, and died a physical death, ending up in hell to await judgment.  The second death will occur according to Revelation 20:14-15 when death and hades, that is to say every unbeliever whose name had never been recorded in the Lamb's book of life, is cast into the lake of fire.  But now let us turn to another man, the thief on the cross, who represents....

Heaven is Awesome
The scene is Golgotha in Luke 23:39-43. As is often the case in Biblical discussions about death, heaven and hell, we can be surprised to learn who ends up in both places. For this thief on the cross, he would had been the last guy you would expect to end up in heaven. To go to hell, there is sadly nothing you have to do. To claim neutrality on the issue of salvation and Jesus Christ is to declare your rejection of Him. (John 3:36) However in order to get to heaven, there is nothing you can do to contribute. Heaven is an awesome place as seen in the following thoughts:

1. Heaven's King is met at the cross & the Word. Luke 23:38-42

2. Heavenly kingdom is entered by the New Birth Luke 23:43; John 3:1-5; Hebrews 12:22-24

3. Heavenly power accompanies the Christian hear on earth. Hebrews 12:1-2

4. Heavenly home with Jesus is our reward. John 14:1-3

5. He was regarded justified. Luke 23:43 

Clearly the Holy Spirit was doing a work of grace on this man's heart, for he experienced what Jesus had described in John 3:3 as the New birth. He was born again by the Spirit of God because of God's Sovereign Spirit working forth for him to act and embrace Jesus Christ by faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9) 

Thus like that thief, you have to be born physically and then spiritually in order to be assured that when you die physically, you will be "absent from the body but present with the Lord". (2 Corinthians 5:6) The promise to all true Christians is that when they die right now, blessings will attend them (Revelation 14:13); a rich entryway will be supplied (2 Peter 1:11-12) and Jesus Himself will be there to receive them. (Acts 7:55)

This is the shock and awe of Hell and Heaven. Would it be that you escape the shock of Hell and be ready through faith in Christ for the awesomeness of Heaven with Him. 

P4 - Seeing Eternity beyond this life - 2 Peter 3

2 Peter 1:3 "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

Introduction and review
The last several posts have been dedicated to understanding why it is we see the scriptures teaching about the eternal destinies of Heaven and Hell. To deny the eternal realities of heaven and hell requires us then to also deny the realities of moral absolutes and thus requires us to either diminish our view of God or to deny the Biblical revelation of God altogether. 

Today we will wrap up our study about seeing eternity beyond this life in 2 Peter. This little letter of Peter's is quite significant in understanding how we see eternity beyond this life. Far from portraying Heaven and Hell as abstract ideas that do not concern us in this life, Peter clearly draws the connecting points between how we relate to the God of eternity in this life and our eternal destination in the next life. We have looked so far at the following points:

1. Physical and spiritual life are rooted in God. 2 Peter 1:3-9

2. Eternity in Heaven follows from your relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:10-12

3. Eternity in Hell results from your final rejection of God. 2 Peter 2:1-2,10,15; 3:16

Today we consider the desire of God for anyone reading this post..

Eternity with you is the desire of God. 2 Peter 3:9, 10-12
How do we know that God grieves over anyone choosing to go to Hell? 2 Peter 3:9 tells us the answer - "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." God's desire would be for every person on planet earth to respond to the call of salvation. 1 Timothy 2:4  "who desires all men to be saved and tocome to the knowledge of the truth." Now how is it that God's desire for all to be saved does not conflict with other scriptures that teach His Sovereign choice of some unto salvation? (Eph 1:4-5; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 2:9-10) No one knows the answer to that question. 

What we do know for certain is this: that God in no way, no how sends anyone to Hell. Jesus died for all men to give them the opportunity to hear the Gospel and to either respond to it or reject it. He died for His people, His sheep, so that they could have all the benefits of salvation applied to them upon their response of faith to His Gospel call. 1 Timothy 4:10 tells us - "For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers."

If God did not genuinely desire all men to avoid the terrors of Hell, then the Gospel would not be extended to them as a legitimate offer. For those who by grace through faith respond to His call, they are recipients of His mercy and grace. For others who choose to remain in their lost condition, they will, sadly, become recipients of His Justice in hell for all eternity. 2 Peter 3:10-13 has Peter making the final appeal for his readers to be sure they are ready for eternity. 

Closing thoughts
It is so vitally important how you respond to eternity not only in this life, but also to make sure you are ready for it. There is an eternity beyond this life. As we have labored these past several days in 2 Peter, we have noted the following about Seeing Eternity beyond this life:

1. Physical and spiritual life are rooted in God. 2 Peter 1:3-9

2. Eternity in Heaven follows from your relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:10-12

3. Eternity in Hell results from your final rejection of God. 2 Peter 2:1-2,10,15; 

4. Eternity with you is the desire of God. 2 Peter 3:9, 10-12

P3 Seeing Eternity Beyond this Life - Hell follows from final rejection of God in this life - 2 Peter 2-3

2 Peter 1:3 "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

Introduction 

Today I want us to continue delving further into the actual argument of Peter in his 2nd letter. This little letter of Peter's is quite significant in understanding how we see eternity beyond this life. Far from portraying Heaven and Hell as abstract ideas that do not concern us in this life, Peter clearly draws the connecting points between how we relate to the God of eternity in this life and our eternal destination in the next life. Yesterday we sketched out the first two main points of eternity beyond this life as we find it in 2 Peter. 

1. Physical and spiritual life are resourced in God. 2 Peter 1:3-9

2. Eternity in Heaven follows from your relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:10-12

Today we continue on into 2 Peter by noting the next point about seeing eternity beyond this life....

Eternity in Hell follows from final rejection of God in this life. 

If we necessarily believe that there is such a thing as universal standards of right and wrong, and if we believe there are associated consequences that have to do with justice, then what we have evidence for is a Divine law Giver. Many people today struggle with the concept of eternal punishment or feel uncomfortable at the thought (this writer included). As hard of a struggle we may have with the Biblical teaching on eternal punishment, that nonetheless does not take away the true reality of Hell and eternal punishment. The Bible clearly teaches it, with Jesus being the Chiefest Teacher of the reality of eternal hell. Hell is mentioned nearly 100 times in the scripture, with Jesus speaking on the subject nearly 20 times. As a matter of fact, Jesus speaks more on Hell than finances, the cross and even the subject of not judging. In-as-much as Jesus so often spoke on the topic of loving one's enemies and God Himself, He dedicated equal amounts of time warning people about the terrors and realities of Hell. 

Frankly for the Christian church to neglect the Bible's teaching on Hell is to commit two major errors: not being loving to those who are perishing in their sins without Jesus and not being faithful to God's truth like the Prophets, Jesus and the Apostles were. 

The Apostle Peter relates to us some certain realities about hell in 2 Peter 2 & 3:

1. Final rejection of God is why people go to Hell. Let it be plainly stated: God does not send anyone to Hell nor predestine people to such. People go to Hell because they persisted in their free and final rejection of Jesus Christ in the Gospel. Notice 2 Peter 2:1, how the false teachers are condemned because of their "denying the Master who bought them". Jesus died on the cross for humanity in a general way, especially believers. (1 Tim 4:10) No one who dies and goes to Hell can say that they were excluded from Jesus' dying on the cross for them. He died for all men to hold off the wrath of God long enough to give people a chance to hear the Gospel and to respond to the call of salvation. Notice elsewhere in 2 Peter 2 how we see other people following the rejection of Christ in 2 Peter 2:2. 2 Peter 2:15 describes unbelievers who are on their way to Hell in this life as "forsaking the right way" and in 2 Peter 2:21 as those who "turn away".  Here is the scariest thing of all dear friend, especially for readers who may be reading this post today, you do not know when your final rejection may be. You have heard what Jesus has done for you many times over and have rejected Him as many times. How long will God hold out for you? As the scripture says: "it is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27) Final rejection of Jesus Christ is why people go to hell. But now notice a second truth about Eternal Hell following from rejection of God in this life...

Finality of Hell as an eternal place for those who reject God in this life. 

Peter describes just how real Hell now and the later Lake of Fire is and will be in eternity for those who reject Jesus Christ. Hell is a place of swift destruction (2 Peter 2:1); punishment (2:9); black darkness (2:17); fire (2 Peter 3:7) and wrath (3:12). When you read the account of the Rich man in Luke 16, there is no return, no rescue and no relief. No one who dies comes back as a re-incarnated person or thing in this life. Hell is final once a person passes from this life to the next. 

The sad thing is that in order for you to go to Hell, you don't have to do anything. All who are born into this world are described in scripture as being "in Adam" and "sons of rebellion". John 3:36 says the wrath of God is already sentenced for everyone born into this world and who are conscious and understanding. Unless you by grace through faith enter "into Christ", you cannot escape the judgment of God. 

Tomorrow we will consider one final point on seeing eternity beyond this life...

P2 - Seeing Eternity Beyond this life - The realities of a Christian Relationship and Heaven - 2 Peter 1

2 Peter 1:3 "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

Introduction 

Today I want us to begin delving further into the actual argument of Peter in his 2nd letter. This little letter of Peter's is quite significant in understanding how we see eternity beyond this life. Far from portraying Heaven and Hell as abstract ideas that do not concern us in this life, Peter clearly draws the connecting points between how we relate to the God of eternity in this life and our eternal destination in the next life. We will sketch out the first two main points of eternity beyond this life as we find it in 2 Peter. 

1. Physical and spiritual life are rooted in God. 2 Peter 1:3-9

2. Eternity in Heaven follows from your relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:10-12

Physical and spiritual life are rooted in God. 2 Peter 1:3-9 

We will comment briefly on this first thought, being that it leads us straight to the main point of these posts: seeing eternity beyond this life. As Peter begins his short letter, he first of all talks about how all physical life and spiritual life are resourced in God. After making a remark about how God's Divine  power supplies everything we need for both life and godliness in verse 3, we then see these words in 2 Peter 1:4 "For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." The question we could inert at this point would be: "who then lives the Christian life?" It sounds like here that it is the Lord Himself living the life through us. However we discover a second and equally correct answer in 2 Peter 1:5-9, namely that we are the ones responsibile to live the life through Him. Peter instructs us to "add" to our faith. Without a doubt we are saved by grace alone through faith alone, however following conversion, our faith must never be alone. 2 Peter 1:5-9 is but an expansion of passages such as Galatians 2:20 and this verse in Philippians 2:12-13 "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." All physical life and spiritual life are resourced in God. He is the One who called everything into existence and it is He who calls forth the Christian life in to existence. (2 Corinthians 4:6) 2 Peter 1:5-9 summarizes what the Christian life ought to be like in this world, but now how about what lies beyond this world? This is Peter's next point....

Eternity in Heaven follows from your relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:10-12

Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:10-12 "Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will neverstumble; 11 for in this way the entrance intothe eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you." If you will recall, the existence of God is the reason why we have moral absolutes in this world. Moral laws of any kind include the notion of consequences. Moral absolutes, being rooted in the Eternal God Himself, are by nature not just confined to this world. Thus it follows then that consequences, as they relate to God, exist both in this life and in the next. How we are related to God in the here and now will determined where we spend eternity. As Peter spells out the believer's relationship with God, the wonderful promise of a Heavenly destination is promised to those who are in right relationship with Him. We can note two realities spoken of by Peter in these verses that pertain to what he has to say about heaven and the child of God.

First we see the reality of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:1, 10.  That relationship includes in its description God's loving choice of each believer in eternity, or what the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 calls God's elective purpose of grace. That elective purpose of grace stands behind the call issued forth by the Holy Spirit in the Gospel to believe, repent and be saved. (see Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9) So we could say then that a relationship with God is grounded in His Sovereign choice, followed by the Spirit's call. God's choice and call is spelled out in 2 Peter 1:10 and urged upon Peter's readers as to what they need to be making certain of in their lives. Then we see a third component necessary for a relationship with God, namely a specific response of faith in Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:1 is after all addressed to those who have "received a same precious faith as ours". It is at the moment of saving faith in the new birth that one's relationship begins with God. God's Sovereignty and human responsibility in salvation are not in contradiction with one another, but function together as a total definition of the reality of a relationship with God. 

Second we see the reality of heaven, the eternal destination of a person in relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:11

Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:11 "for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you." When you have been brought into relationship with God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the reality of heaven itself is your destination. Whenever we survey this verses and others, we note several truths about the reality of heaven. 

a. Place called Heaven. Here we see Peter making mention of an "entrance" and Jesus in John 14:1-3 states He is going to prepare a "place". 

b. Prepared place for believers. Peter here in 1:11 notes how it will be a place "abundantly supplied" and Jesus echoes this to his disciples in John 14 by the words "I go to prepare a place for you."

c. Richly prepared place for believers. Notice, Peter does not just say "supplied" but "abundantly supplied" in 1:11. Jesus notes in John 14 how in His Father's house are many rooms or as the KJV puts it, mansions. Revelation 21-22 describes the even greater reality of the New Heavens as containing streets of gold, gemstone foundations and endless supply of God's glorious light.

d. Jesus richly prepares the place called Heaven for believers. Into whose Kingdom is this heavenly entrance? Jesus' of course! He told the thief on the cross; "today you will be with me in paradise". Wherever Jesus is, heaven is. As a little girl on an airplane flight responded to her grandmother one time who told the little girl: "look out the window Suzy, the clouds look like heaven". The little girl simply said: "But where is Jesus?" Just as a wedding would not be a wedding without a bride and a groom, Heaven would not be heaven without our heavenly bridegroom. Will there be streets of gold to tread - yes! Will there be dwelling places or mansions? Absolutely! But what makes Heaven Heaven is Jesus Himself. All who make it to Heaven can take no credit. All credit goes to Jesus Christ and the Father's purposes of grace and the Spirit's calling of them to believe and be saved. 

P1 Seeing Eternity beyond this life - 2 Peter

2 Peter 1:3 "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence."

Introduction and review
Yesterday's post attempted to connect the dots between absolute moral standards, The Existence of The Divine Moral Lawgiver and the Eternal realities of Heaven and Hell. 2 Peter has been the launching point of our discussion over the last two posts. We ended yesterday with the following logic:

1. Moral standards includes definitions of right and wrong, justice and injustice and their associated consequences 

2. Universal Moral Standards point to The Eternal Moral Law Giver Who Defines Right and Wrong both in this life and eternity

3. Universal Moral Standards also point to The Eternal Moral Law Giver Who is the Standard of Justice and Injustice both in this life and eternity

4. Hence the associated consequences play out in both this life and eternity. 

That last statement of course points to why it is we see the scriptures teaching about the eternal destinies of Heaven and Hell. To deny the eternal realities of heaven and hell requires us then to also deny the realities of moral absolutes and thus requires us to either diminish our view of God or to deny the Biblical revelation of God altogether. 

Today I want us to begin delving further into the actual argument of Peter in his 2nd letter. This little letter of Peter's is quite significant in understanding how we see eternity beyond this life. Peter clearly draws the connecting points between how we relate to the God of eternity in this life and our eternal destination in the next life. We will sketch out Peter's main points today and then look at them in more detail tomorrow.

1. Physical and spiritual life are rooted in God.  2 Peter 1:3-9 

2. Eternity in Heaven follows from your relationship with God. 2 Peter 1:10-12

3. Eternity in Hell results from your final rejection of God. 2 Peter 2:1-2,10,15; 3:16

4. Eternity with you is the desire of God. 2 Peter 3:9, 10-12

More tomorrow.....

Morality, The Moral Law Giver and Eternity beyond this life

2 Peter 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Introduction and review:

Yesterday we considered how moral absolutes point the way to demonstrating the reality and existence of God. We also noted that in such a "Moral Argument" for the existence of God, we are affirming two fundamental truths: that our universe is a physical reality that includes moral absolutes (i.e a moral universe) and that the same God who made the universe is the Law Giver of those absolutes. 2 Peter 1:3a was a launching point for the discussion since Peter points out that God's Divine power is responsible for giving everything that is needed for physical and spiritual life. 

Today's post is continuing on from where we ended yesterday. We want to go further in taking what we learned about the moral argument for God's existence and showing how morality not only points to the Moral Law Giver, but also in establishing the existence of the Moral law giver, this necessarily leads to the teaching of an eternity beyond this life. 

Connecting the dots between morality, the Moral Law-Giver and Eternality beyond this life

The Apostle Peter in 2 Peter 1:3-11 draws a very important connection to God the Moral Law giver/Redeemer and the salvation that comes from Him (2 Peter 1:3-4) and the eternal destinies of believers in Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:11) and unbelievers (2 Peter 2:2,17,20). Elsewhere in the scriptures, particular Paul's writings, we see a similar line of reasoning in Romans 2:

1. The Eternal Moral Law giver/Redeemer. Romans 2:1-4

2. Moral absolutes from the Lawgiver revealed in the human heart. Romans 2:12-15 (note verse 15)

3. Eternal consequences for people based upon their relationship to the Eternal Lawgiver/Redeemer. Romans 2:5-11

Both Apostles Peter and Paul agree that there is a line connecting the moral absolutes we see in this world to the God Who made them to the eternal destiny of human beings who go to heaven or hell. 

To flesh this thought out further, Christian Apologist Dr. Norman Geisler's summary of C.S Lewis' moral argument for the existence of God is worth noting:

1. There must be a universal moral law, or else: (a) Moral disagreements would make no sense, as we all assume they do. (b) All moral criticisms would be meaningless (e.g the Nazis were wrong). (c) It is unnessary to keep promises or treaties, as well all assume that it is. (d) We would not make excuses for breaking the moral law, as well all do.

2. But a univesal moral law requires a universal Moral Law Giver, since the Source of it: (a) Gives moral commands (as law givers do). (b) Is interested in our behavior (as law givers are)

3. Further, this Universal Moral Law Giver must be absolutely good: (a) Otherwise all moral effort would be absolutely futile in the long run, since we would be sacrificing our lives for what is not ulitmatley right. (b) the source of all good must be absolutely good, since the standard of all good must be completely good. 

4. Therefore there must be an absolutely Good Moral Lawgiver.

The implications of connecting the dots between moral absolutes, God and eternity beyond this life

The implications from these verses are that since their are universal moral standards pointing the to the existence of a moral lawgiver; and since moral standards in general include the idea of consequences; then it stands to reason there would be eternal consequences dealt out on the basis of how one is related to the Righteous Law Giver. 

To put it in a logical sequence of statements:

1. Moral standards includes definitions of right and wrong, justice and injustice and their associated consequences 

2. Universal Moral Standards point to The Eternal Moral Law Giver Who Defines Right and Wrong both in this life and eternity

3. Universal Moral Standards also point to The Eternal Moral Law Giver Who is the Standard of Justice and Injustice both in this life and eternity

4. Hence the associated consequences play out in both this life and eternity. 

That last statement of course points to why it is we see the scriptures teaching about the eternal destinies of Heaven and Hell. To deny the eternal realities of heaven and hell requires us then to also deny the realities of moral absolutes and thus requires us to either diminish our view of God or to deny the Biblical revelation of God altogether. 

More tomorrow....