Taking a closer look at Christ's righteousness

Romans 1:17 "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Christ’s righteousness
Jesus Christ the Son has always existed as Fully Divine along with the Father and the Spirit.  When we speak of Christ's Deity in relationship to righteousness, the Son is in and of Himself absolutely righteous. The Son came to this earth and by way of the virgin birth conception became God in human flesh. As the Person of the Son came to express Himself as a human being, His life and conduct were 100% righteous before and with God. Again let me remind the reader of our definition of righteousness: “a life and conduct that is pure, innocent and perfectly pleasing with and before God.” We know from the testimony of scripture that the Savior needed to be without sin, which Jesus alone was and is. (Hebrews 7:24-25; 1 Peter 2:21-22)

If Jesus Christ had not been sinless in His humanity, then He could not had born the curse of the law on sinners’ behalf. (Galatians 3:10-13) Jesus Christ’ lived and died an innocent life. In accordance to the law of God, Jesus Christ was without spot and without sin. (John 1:29; 2 Corinthians 5:21) As Jesus began His earthly ministry, He aimed to demonstrate that as the sinless Savior, He alone could live a life that was perfectly pleasing to God. Jesus' entire time here on earth demonstrated that He in His humanity was and still is in perfect relationship and fellowship with God. 

When He was baptized by John the Baptist in Matthew 3:15, Jesus stated that it was necessary for Him to fulfill all righteousness. Thus the necessary righteousness that alone could please God in terms of purity and innocence was fulfilled by the Person who alone was perfect in His humanity and undiminished in His Deity – namely Jesus Christ. As fully Divine, the Person of the Son is absolutely righteous in the Divine sense - hence possessing God's righteousness. As fully man, Jesus Christ, the Son of God in human flesh, is the only righteousness that God will ever let live with Him throughout eternity.

So then we see God’s righteousness and Christ’s righteousness. The question is: how can anyone else be ever right with God if in fact no one can ever hope to attain the purity, innocence and perfect pleasing life and conduct required by God? Moreover, if the only righteousness deemed acceptable to God is His own righteousness and thus the righteousness of Christ, how then can any sinner have any hope of being deemed acceptable by God? These questions strike at the very core of the Gospel, thus leading us to the third kind of righteousness in the Bible which will be the focus of tommorw's post, namely "credited righteousness".

Understanding God's Righteousness

Romans 1:17 "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Four types of righteousness in the Bible
Having discussed yesterday the definition of righteousness in the Bible, we once again put forth our working definition of this important concept: “a life and conduct that is pure, innocent and perfectly pleasing with and before God.” It is vitally important to grasp the fact that the Bible refers to four main categories or types of righteousness: God's righteousness, Christ's righteousness, Credited righteousness and Practical righteousness. There are of course secondary categories, but for our purposes the four above cover virtually every square inch of the issue. Today's post will consider the first of these.

God’s righteousness
God is His own standard of righteousness, that is to say, He is absolutely pure, innocent and perfectly pleasing in and of Himself in His own life and conduct. Jeremiah 12:1 “Righteous are you, O Lord, when I plead with you; yet let me talk with you about your judgments.” Ezra says of the Lord in Ezra 9:15 “O Lord God of Israel, you are righteous”. Psalm 71:19 states plainly – “Also, your righteousness, O God, is very high. You have done great things.” We read in Matthew 6:33 one of the central statements in Jesus’ sermon on the mount: “Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness”. The achievement of Jesus on the cross demonstrated God’s righteousness, as stated in Romans 3:25 – “whom God set forth as a propitiation (i.e satisfaction) by His blood through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God passed over the sins that were previously committed.”

As we think on righteousness as being central to the character and activity of God Himself, we must necessarily ask how Jesus is related to the righteousness of God? Jesus Christ is asserted repeatedly to be equal to God (Mark 2:7; John 8:58; Hebrews 1:3-4); sharing equally in the very Divine nature with the Father (1 Corinthians 8:6) and the Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20; John 1:1-3; 2 Corinthians 13:14) and being eternally God who came to take upon Himself human flesh. (John 1:14; Romans 9:5). The reason why Jesus, touching His Divinity, can demonstrate the righteousness of God is because He Himself is God. This point is very important, since it leads into the second type of righteousness described in the Bible, which we will look at tomorrow....

What is righteousness? Why is it important?

Romans 1:17 "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

What is righteousness?

Today’s post is going to survey what the Bible has to teach about the concept of “righteousness”. When Paul refers to "it" in verse 17, he is referring to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that he mentions in Romans 1:16. When it comes to understanding the Gospel or “Good News”, the idea of “righteousness” lies at the core of its meaning. Romans 1:17 expresses most clearly the centrality of righteousness in the Gospel: “For in it (the Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “the just shall live by faith”. So what is meant by this term “righteousness”. The most common Hebrew word behind the English word translated “righteousness” in the Old Testament is defined by one Hebrew scholar as: “a thing examined and found to be in order, right; a person found to be unobjectionable, morally upright, innocent.” In the New Testament, the most common Greek word behind the English word “righteousness” deals not only with the state of something or someone before God, but also their conduct and deeds.

In attempting to define the word righteousness, we can offer the following basic definition: “a life and conduct that is pure, innocent and perfectly pleasing with and before God.” The proposed definition of righteousness touches upon three interrelated truths that pertain to the Gospel of salvation and the character of God Himself. 

First, to say that one is righteous in terms of purity deals with the spiritual and moral dimension of one’s life before and with God. Righteousness is what properly describes God Himself, since God is without sin, cannot lie and thus cannot tolerate the sight of sin in His sight. (Habakkuk 1:13; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18)

Secondly, when we say that righteousness or a righteous life is one that is innocent, we are speaking of a life that is without guilt and accusation in the eyes of the law of God. To be righteous before and with God means to be legally “right” and thus innocent before His sight.(Hebrews 7:26) 

In addition to righteousness having to do with moral and legal purity and innocence before and with God, the third element of our definition touches upon the relational dimension of righteousness. God in and of Himself is righteous because He in and of Himself relates perfectly and pleasingly as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When someone is righteous in God’s sight in the relational sense, they are acceptable in His sight and are deemed an adopted son or daughter. (Genesis 15:6; 17:1; Job 1:8; Romans 4:3).

This introductory discussion today has aimed to offer a definition of righteousness in general. With regards to how a person is deemed righteous in God's sight, as well as what type of righteousness is involved in salvation, before and after, we will take the next several posts to consider the different types of righteousness discussed in the Bible. 

More tomorrow....

The God of all comfort for those in need of comforting

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."

The God of all comfort

As I write this post today, I am in the midst of a time of my life where I am grieving over the loss of my dad. Anytime I speak of my dad or any other saint of God who has went on to be with the Lord, I refer to them in present tense, rather than past tense terms. Such a choice reminds me and communicates to others that those who depart this world in death, in Jesus, are still very much alive in their spirit/soul in Heaven. My father is enjoying the glory of the Lord while eagerly awaiting the time of resurrection at the Lord's return, wherein he will be reunited with his physically, glorified, resurrected body. 

Admittedly, the pain of grief is a reality that recedes and proceeds like the tides. There are moments that feel absolutely crushing, and then the "tide" will go back out. It is in those moments that I turn to such passages as 2 Corinthians 1:3-5. 

The words we read here in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 describe the God of scripture and of every person who has by grace through faith placed their trust in Jesus Christ. Jesus as the Divine Son came to earth to become God in human flesh. As the Incarnate Son, He visibly explained and expressed the reality of the invisible, unseen First Person of the Trinity - The Heavenly Father. Who is this Person, the Father? What is He like. For me, as a man who is without his earthly father, such questions have become freshly and highly important in a seasons such as this. 

Whenever we read such scriptures as 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, we discover the power of the Father manifest in situations that are much like my own - situations and times of intense pain, and sorrow.  In this season of my life, I believe there is unlimited power and Grace already made available by the Father to Christians due to the fact He has sent unto them the Holy Spirit in His Son's name. Paul describes this activity of the Father on the believer's behalf as His activity of being  "The God of all comfort". Hence in today's post I want to list out in short order this particular comforting ministry of the Heavenly Father to His people. I pray you the reader will find this helpful, as I know it aids me greatly in a time where the comfort of God is the only comfort that can suffice:

1. God's comfort is a blessed comfort

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ....". When God chooses to bless His people, He is manifesting the overflow of His power and presence in their life. The blessing of God is the favor of God and thus every Christian already has the power of God at their disposal. Thus I can say with this verse that I am blessed by God because of His favor on my life. His favor is made possible by Jesus' once for all death, burial and resurrection. As the believer's advocate, Jesus the Son has ascended and is seated at the right hand of the Father and because of His constant pleadings, the blessed comfort of the Father is distributed by His Spirit in the Christian's life. Notice the second thing about the Father's comforting ministry....

2. God's comfort is a tender comfort

Again we turn to 2 Corinthians 1:3b "the Father of mercies and God of all comfort." The word translated "mercies" is a rarer word in the Greek language of the New Testament. The word speaks of tender, personalized, compassionate mercies, much as a parent consoling a weeping child. Lamentations 3:22-25 states - The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him." Think of how God the Father has new mercies available every day of the Christian's life. He knew the day of my father's death for instance, and He had grace and tender mercies already available to be used by my family and me. God's comfort is a tender, personal comfort. It is crafted and custom fitted to each saint and each situation that the saint finds himself or herself experiencing. Others may ask: "I don't see how so-and-so is able to do what they are doing with all they have going on.". The only answer to be given is: "The comfort of the Father". 

God's grace and comfort exceeds the need of the moment. His comfort is there, we just need to avail ourselves, step into it and walk it out. In some cases, the comforts of the Father spoken of here carry us. So the comfort of God is blessed and tender comfort, now notice thirdly...

3. God's comfort is an empathetic comfort. 

Consider 2 Corinthians 1:4 "who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." Let me be candid - I now know and understand what it is like to lose someone close, someone cherished. To empathize literally means to have the ability to step inside the shoes of that person and identify with their plight. Sympathy, though similar, is one step removed in that we can theoretically, emotionally and by analogy identify with that person. However empathy has that added extra dimension of "I have experienced what that other person has experienced." 

I know that as I walk with the Father through this time in my life, and He with me, there will be the healing that comes to the wound inflicted by death. Only the resurrection power of the Son can remedy the laceration administered by the cold, hard steel of death's sword. As the Spirit of God works internally in my heart, there will come forth, I'm sure, empathy, experience and ability to be used by Him in ministering to others. 

The Father's purposes are not thwarted by death. There are others that need to be embraced by the Father of Heavenly lights with whom there is no variation nor shifting of shadow. (James 1:17) That day or those moments will come and have already begun as even now, God brings other hurting people my way. God's comfort is blessed, personal and empathetic. However without this last trait of the Father's comfort, the first three characteristics would not be possible, namely...

4. God's comfort is experienced through Christ

2 Corinthians 1:5 states "For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." When I was a younger man, I would read this verse and quite honestly, it puzzled me. I had understood of course that Jesus had already suffered once-and-for-all for sin, the just for the unjust. (1 Peter 3:18) Yet I wondered to what degree Jesus could still be experiencing suffering in His exalted, ascended state?

Now please track with me for a moment. The achievement of redemption for His people is a one-time event, never to be repeated. However we must not forget that Jesus Christ retained His human nature when He ascended into heaven. By still remaining man, the Son is connected to the humanity of the people of God by the Person of the Spirit of God. Moreover, being that the Person of the Son is ever fully Divine, He is able to experience by the same Person of the Spirit the experiences of His people here on earth as He intercedes with the Person of the Father with whom is  co-equal. When Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after His resurrection, He did not go with the idea of spending the next 2,000 years being unaffected and untouched by the pains and sorrows of His people. 

The anguish and sorrow experienced by all Christians - whether the death of a loved one, the pain of sickness, the brokenness of relationships or martyrdom, is fully experienced by Jesus, even now, as he ever lives to intercede. Jesus Christ as both fully human and fully Divine, chooses to experience with every generation of His church their sorrows, their tears, their triumphs and their agonies. Hebrews 7:25 states - "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." 

Because of Jesus Christ, the comforts of the Father are administered directly to each Christian in the measure they need. Without the Mediator, Jesus Christ, no man could be saved and no saint could be comforted. 

Closing thoughts

The aim of today's post was to point our attention to the God of all comfort. Even though the primary Person of the Father is in view, we discovered that the Person of the Son and the Person of the Holy Spirit are also included when we speak of the One God of all comfort. We saw four truths about the comfort of the Father to His people:

1. God's comfort is a blessed comfort 

2. God's comfort is a tender comfort

3. God's comfort is an empathetic comfort. 

4. God's comfort is experienced through Christ

God's provisions, your needs

Deuteronomy 25:1-3 “If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, ² then it shall be if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall then make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of stripes according to his guilt. ³ He may beat him forty times but no more, so that he does not beat him with many more stripes than these and your brother is not degraded in your eyes.

In today's blog we want to look at a principle I find frequently throughout the Old and New Testament: "God's provision before the need".1 

How is it that God provides before the need?  How was it that He provided for His people, Israel, back in the Old Testament concerning their needs? Furthermore, how do the provisions recorded in passages such as Deuteronomy 25-26 reveal the greatest need of mankind: salvation?  To answer these questions, I want to first of all list mankind's three ultimate needs, followed by the specific provisions for specific needs in Deuteronomy 25-26, with a final section showing how God was going to meet man's ultimate need through His ultimate provision - Jesus Christ. 

Mankind's Ultimate Needs
The Bible tells us of three ultimate needs for everyone born into this world:
1. Payment for sin.  Romans 3:23, 6:23
2. Personal Savior. Matthew 1:21, 1 Timothy 1:15
3. Promise of resurrection. Job 14:14; Heb 2:14

Specific Provisions  in Deuteronomy 25-26
Now just tuck those ultimate needs in the back of your mind, because in a moment we will return to them.  In Deuteronomy 25 we want to highlight three provisions God was prescribing for His people.  These laws may appear random and irrelevant, however all scripture is Divinely inspired and is profitable. (2 Timothy 3:16). 

The first provision is a legal provision (Deuteronomy 25:1-4).  The need was going to be for a justice system in the promised land once the Jews crossed over after Moses' death.  How would they know how to punish offenders, and what standards would they use to exercise justice?  God spells that out by not allowing criminals to be beaten with more than 40 lashes (one of the chief punishments in the ancient world).

The second provision was a relational provision (Deuteronomy 25:5-10).  Lets say you were a woman who had not born a child for your husband. Suddenly he dies, leaving you a widow.  In a culture where carrying on a person's name meant everything, God prescribed that the nearest male relative to the dead husband marry the widow to carry on the dead man's bloodline.  The Book of Ruth illustrates this prescription most clearly, with Ruth the Moabitess losing her first husband, and later on being wedded to that man's nearest of kin - Boaz.  This relational provision, spoken of elsewhere in the Old Testament, is what we call "The Kinsman Redeemer".  Such a provision ensured the continuation of a man's name and bloodline, as well as ensuring the widow provision and protection.

The third provision is a promise provision, found in Deuteronomy 26:1-11.  God had promised Abraham and his descendants the land of Canaan as an inheritance.  Once Moses died, those descendants would cross the Jordon River under Joshua's leadership into the promised land.  In order to demonstrate to themselves and to others that they were heirs to God's promise, God prescribed the "law of the first-fruit".  Simply put, whatever crops they grew, the first stalks of corn or wheat would be brought to the priest at the temple.  After rehearsing the redemptive account of God's delivery of their ancestors out of Egypt, the people would have proof from that "first-fruit" of God coming through on His redemption of them, and that better days for them were to come. 

So with these legal, relational and promise provisions, the Jews would be ready for their new lives in the promised land.  Understand that these provisions were granted by God before the people entered into the promised land.  This pattern of God's provision before the need also revealed God's plan of salvation through provisions to meet man's ultimate needs.

God's provisions meet the ultimate needs of man
Man's first ultimate need is payment for sin.  Whenever you read that legal provision in Deuteronomy 25:1-3, do not dismiss it as a random law.  Its purpose was to be in place and to point to what Jesus would do in meeting the need for payment of sin.  Jesus was flogged in preparation for the cross.  Isaiah 53:5 predicts - "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed." 2 

Man's second ultimate need is a Personal Savior.  God prescribed a personal provision ensuring the continuation of man's bloodline by means of his near of kind marrying his widow.  The book of Ruth illustrates Deuteronomy 25:5-10 most wonderful with the story of Boaz' redemption of Ruth and his loving marriage to her.  The outcome?  Read the end of Ruth and you will find a genealogy leading to King David! What's the big deal?3  God's provision of an immediate need in Deuteronomy 25:5-10 prepared to meet the ultimate need of sinners - the Personal Savior. 

Now what about man's third ultimate need - Promise of  resurrection? Will death have the final word? Men like Job in Job 14:14 ask the perennial question: "if a man dies, can he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes." Recall how God had made a provision of promise for His people in Deuteronomy 26:1-11 by way of the "first fruits".  They could testify God's promises to them both then and for the future were true and real because of the evidence of crops.  For the Christian, how can it be determined that the Bible is true and Christ is who He said He is? Furthermore, what tells the sinner that the salvation being offered to them is genuine, life-giving hope? Twice in 1 Corinthians 15:20,23 we are given the answer: Christ's resurrection from the dead is His first-fruit, evidence for the promise of resurrection and eternal life.  Moreover, Christians themselves are termed "first-fruits" or "previews" of better things to come in Christ. (Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 16:15; James 1:18; Revelation 14:4).

Conclusion
God's provisions of these laws give us language whereby we can understand and appreciate the New Testament provisions of payment for sin, Personal Savior and Promised resurrection.  For every New Testament doctrine there is at least one, concrete Old Testament parallel.  Without Jesus Christ, the Bible would be another religious book.  However because of Christ, the New Testament in the Old is enfolded, and the Old Testament in the New is unfolded.  Scripture is God's Living Book!   It is God's Word, period! May you and I see that God indeed provides before the need arises. 

Endnotes_____________
1. Whenever you read through sections like Deuteronomy, you have to keep in mind that Moses was preaching a series of three sermons and a final set of instructions to a new generation of Israelites. Moses was in the final month of his 120 year lifespan, making one final appeal to the people of God before his death and their entryway into the promised land.  Deuteronomy's many laws, instructions and historical references may on first glance appear irrelevant to the 21st century saint. However whenever we see the verses of the Old Testament as pointing the way to Jesus Christ, rich gems can be mined. 

2. Isaiah wrote those words 700 years after Deuteronomy 25:3 and 700 years before Christ's flogging recorded in Matthew 27:26. Coincidence? Hardly! Christ received injustice at the hands of wicked men to satisfy the justice of God. (Acts 2:24; Romans 5:6-10)

3. Matthew 1:1-17 gives us the full bloodline of the Savior, starting with Abraham, down through people like Boaz and Ruth, through David to Christ Himself.

The appeal of Heavenly glory

Revelation 22:16-17 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost."

Introduction & Review
These past several days have been devoted to unfolding the Eternal Heavenly Glory that we find in Revelation 21-22.  In many ways as I write these posts, I feel like I am trying to describe the Grand Canyon by way of a simple post-card! Nevertheless the scriptures are sufficient and alone are the reliable source for grasping these truths by faith.1  Dr. Wayne Grudem has listed the following observations about the passages we have been exploring:

1. Heaven is a place, not  a state of mind

2. The physical creation will be renewed and we will continue to exist and act in it.

3. Our resurrection bodies will be part of the renewed creation

4. The New creation will not be 'timeless' but will include an unending succession of moments

5. The doctrine of the New creation provides a great motivation for storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth

6. The New Creation will be a place of great beauty and abundance and joy in the presence of God.1

We have thus far seen the description of  everything that will be included (and not included) in the New Heavens and Earth, as well as how the New Jerusalem will be superior to the current place called "heaven" or "the third heaven". We also have looked at the details of the New Heavenly city of New Jerusalem and have commented on how it relates to us today.  In today's post we want to see how The Triune God appeals to sinners to come by grace through faith so as to occupy this future place.


Final Invitation to Eternal Heavenly Glory 22:6-21

As we consider this final invitation by God in the Bible, we can note that the visions given to John by Jesus have concluded.  Like a great evangelist, Jesus is drawing in the net and extending an invitation. We can see a three fold movement of this final invitation, with each part featuring a prophetic statement of appeal made by Jesus Himself.

A. Appeal to heed the invitation 22:6-9
In this first part of the invitation, Jesus is stating that every word that has been written in the Apocalypse is true and worthy of acceptation.  Those who read and hear the book being read, taught or preached need to be sure they heed its words. Perhaps one  of the finest statements of the Bible's inerrancy ("every word is true) and infallibility ("and faithful", incapable of failure) is made here in by Jesus in Revelation 22:6. Clearly this is an invitation that must be heeded, but also notice...

B. Warning to those who refuse the invitation 22:10-13
The wording of the Revelation 22:11 is worth noting: "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”  This part of the invitation is being communicated to those who refuse to pay heed and who choose to remain where they're at.

Throughout the prophetic scriptures we see God executing the worst form of judgment imaginable - giving people exactly what they want! This way of communication is what I call "let them alone" language. Passages such as Jeremiah 15:1-2; Ezekiel 3:27 and Daniel 12:3 uses such sentiments to communicate to unrepentant sinners: if you're going to be a sinner, be a good one, for whatsoever a man sows, thus will he reap! (compare Galatians 6:7)

Romans 1:24-28 is perhaps one of the clearest New Testament references that features this style of communication.  After giving sinful man the light of general revelation and being gracious with him, when man continues to reject God's efforts in common grace, the worse form of judgment is to hand mankind over to his base desires. We may wonder why Jesus would use this form of communication in this final invitation of Revelation.  In short, it is to escalate the urgency of the appeal.  There is no such thing as apathy.  Either people will remain as they are and perish (which would be their own fault) or respond to the appeal of Jesus (which can only be credit to the Spirit's drawing grace). So what happens if there is a listener or reader who says: "wait a minute, I don't want to keep doing wrong, being filthy and risk remaining in my sins, I want to be made right with God through Jesus Christ!" What does Jesus have to say to such persons? Notice the final part of this grand invitation...  

C. Blessing for those who welcome the invitation 22:14-21

Notice how in this final part of the appeal, Jesus, the church and the Spirit Himself are all present.  Truly the point is made- lest the Spirit is at work in the sinner's heart, there will be no response, no faith, no repentance. The final verse of Revelation 22 speaks: "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen". Grace is what draws us, persuades us to genuinely express faith and repentance and keeps us in Jesus. For all who by grace through faith respond to this final invitation, it is a blessed and glorious salvation that is received!

Endnotes
1. Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology. Zonndervan. Pages 1159-1164

Endnotes:

1. No silly books on the market today that feature visions and post-mortem scenes of people who have gone to heaven and come back can ever replace, supplement or even complement the scriptures. 

Touring the future Heavenly city

Revelation 21:9-10 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” The New Jerusalem
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

Personal Note: Yesterday I flew home to my family after having buried my father's body last week. My dad is very much alive in the presence of Jesus. When Jesus returns, there will be a catching up of all the saints and my dad's soul/spirit will be reunited with a transformed, glorified resurrected body. As I think on the promises of scripture, I think about the city of God so often spoken of in the Bible. Revelation 21-22 gives the reader the most detailed description of that future heavenly home. If you have trusted in Christ as Savior and Lord, then what follows ought to thrill your heart. If you haven't trusted in Jesus as Savior and Lord, call upon Him and acknowledge your sin and separation from God, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 16:31) Why is what I just wrote so important? Because I would like to see you have the thrill that my dad, myself and other Christians have in knowing their ultimate destination - the future heavenly city! Check it out below!

Introduction & Review
In yesterday's post we listed some observations about the New Heaven's and New Earth.  We first of all noted 15 things that will be absent in the Eternal Heavenly Glory of Revelation 21-22.  Next we considered how the New Heavens and Earth are described by a theme of "better than", noting that in comparison to Genesis 3, God's aim is to have a "better than paradise".  These thoughts led us to the third consideration of how the New Heaven will be better than the current third heaven where believers go to now to be with the Lord.  We chose to pick up with today's post in further explaining how the New Heavens and Earth, particularly - the New Jerusalem, aid us in seeing just how glorious the Eternal heavenly Glory will be.

Pausing and reflecting on how the promise of heaven keeps our faith firmly planted in the ground
One morning I had occasion to share the text of Colossians 3:1-3 with some people: "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." This text can be equally used in practically applying the truths of the current heaven and the New heavens and earth described here in Revelation 21-22.  Reflecting upon both yields the same fruit - assurance, hope, encouragement and strength for the journey. 

Dr. John Piper notes concerning how Jesus functions as the anchor for the soul in Heaven in Hebrews 6:18-20 - "Now here is the burning question for me. Is the anchor of my soul as firmly attached to my soul as it is to the altar of God? In other words is the picture here of an anchor with its hook and chain bound unbreakably to the altar of God in the holy of holies so that nothing could loose it from that end, but with the rope just hanging out of heaven in the air? Is the only point of this text to say "Take hold of the loose end of this rope and you will have safety and firmness and assurance?" Piper later writes: "When he says in verse 19 that we have an "anchor of the soul" I think he means that the anchor is firmly anchored in heaven, and the anchor is firmly attached to the Christian's soul."1

The City whose builder and maker is God
We know from other scriptures that the concept of Heaven being likened unto a city is found throughout the Biblical authors.  According to Hebrews 11:9-10, Abraham the patriarch had been in search of it through faith.  We as Christians are already designated a citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem above. (Galatians 4:26; Philippians 3:20) Presumably these references are talking about the "third heaven" where believers in the Lord go when they die in Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:5-6; 12:4). Jesus then told his disciples in John 14:1-3 that He is going away to "prepare a place" which we can presume to be the grand city described in Revelation 21 and 22. 2   Evidently by being with Jesus through His Kingdom age (compare Revelation 20:1-6), where He is, we will be, and thus the whole point of Revelation 21-22 is to demonstrate that God in Christ with His people has come to tabernacle, and thus Heaven will characterize earth and earth's physical nature will characterize Heaven in the Eternal glory of these chapters. 

A quick tour of the New Jerusalem
We first of all note it is a Heavenly city. (Revelation 21:10-11) This is most likely the same city spoken of by Jesus in John 14:1-3. As a heavenly city is secondly a costly city, composed of solid diamond gemstones (Revelation 21:12) and other costly materials such as gems and transparent gold. (21:15-20) Thirdly it is a promised city, as seen by the names of the patriarchs and apostles inscribed on its gates and foundations. (Revelation 21:13-14)

The fourth thing we can note about this city is its size: 1500 miles in each direction, with the same length characterizing its height.  Quite literally this is a cube that is the size of North America or most of Europe.  The height of this city has led many sound interpreters to conclude that the city may be composed of multiple stories and levels. To wonder if there would be enough space to live, some rough calculations yield that if the New Jerusalem, with all of its levels being a mile of distance from top to bottom (and this 1500 levels high) had tracts of space laid out for 8 billion people, each person would easily have 250 acres! What we must realize of course is that God is a big God and that the whole point of large proportions in any of His creations is to display His glory. (Compare Psalm 19:1-6) So in being a heavenly, costly and promised city that is quite grand in scope, we can notice yet another trait, fifthly that this city is a God-centered city. (21:22-25) In as much as its studded gemstones and unfathomable beauty describe the New Jerusalem, without God as the light and the Lamb as the light, this city would never shine, would never be precious and would never be grand. We can note yet another trait, number six, that this city will be a life giving city. (22:1-5) Notice how this city has a healing tree, a river of life and unending light.

So let us quickly review what we have noticed thus far about the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21:9-22:5
1. Heavenly City
2. Costly City
3. Promised City
4. Large city
5. God-centered City
6. Living City


But now understand dear friend, John has been shown this glorious New heavens and earth with the glorious new Jerusalem, however right now that city is unoccupied.  Henceforth there is one last trait we must notice that will be true of this city, namely that God and the Lamb desire it to be an occupied city.  All those chosen in grace and so inclined to receive the free offer of such grace by faith will be in that city. Is that you? Are you a believer in Jesus Christ? If you haven't trusted in Jesus, please do so today!

Tomorrow we will consider the grand appeal to come and be a present citizen and future occupant of Eternal Heavenly Glory.

Endnotes:
1. http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/hope-anchored-in-heaven

2. Often in our songs of praise and even in our doctrines we tend to blend the truths of the third Heaven and the Jerusalem found here in Revelation 21:10-27 & 22:1-5. Clearly there are many similarities, however there are some differences to note as well.