Our Hope In This Present Age
Forgiveness
Matt 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke 24:46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 2: 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Eph 1: 7 In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
1 John 1: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Forgiveness of sins is for now. We receive it the moment we believe in Christ, and whenever we truly repent of our sins. However, it is also for the future, especially for the day of judgment. It enables us to face the day of judgment with confidence:
2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
1 John 4: 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Adoption as God’s Sons
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
Romans 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Galatians 4:1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.
2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.
4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,
5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Scripture teaches that as believers in Christ we have already become God's children. This means we can approach God as 'Father' as Jesus taught us in the Lord's prayer, and be assured of God's love, support and provision for us. But it also has a future dimension. When Jesus comes back, we will receive an inheritance, and whether we are male or female, we will all be treated as sons. (In the Old Testament, daughters received a lesser inheritance).
Belonging to Jesus
Romans 1:6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
Romans 7:1 Do you not know, brothers--for I am speaking to men who know the law--that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives?
2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.
3 So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.
4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.
Romans 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
It is wonderful to know that we belong to Christ. Notice in Romans 7 that this belonging is in the context of marriage. We belong to Jesus as his betrothed whom he is coming back to claim as his bride. And just as we long to have an intimate relationship with Christ, so he also longs for an intimate relationship with us. Just as it is a bit strange for female believers to think of themselves as sons of God, so it is also a bit strange for male believers to think of themselves as Christ's bride. At Christ's wedding (Rev 19:7), our marriage to him will obviously not be consummated in a sexual way. But we will enjoy an intimate and loving relationship with him.
Although it is much overlooked, our status as Christ's betrothed is part of what we celebrate when we take communion. For further information, see:
The Traditional Jewish Wedding
I have copied and pasted this article below, in the section entitled 'The Church as the Bride of Christ'.
Messianic Jewish custom & Holy Communion
Behold, the Bridegroom Comes
Relationship
Christianity is more than just a religion. It is essentially about having a relationship with God through Jesus. Jesus said:
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Eternal life starts the moment you truly believe and ask Jesus to come into your life and save you. It's not just about living forever after you die. It's about knowing God through Jesus from the moment you believe. It's about relationship. And not a distant relationship, but an intimate one.
John 17:20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:
23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
This verse is often quoted, for obvious reasons, to encourage unity between Christians. Perhaps I could describe that as 'horizontal unity'. There are many other verses in the Bible that speak of the importance of that. However in this passage, what Jesus is primarily talking about is unity between believers and himself, what I might describe as 'vertical unity'. Jesus envisages an intimate bond of unity between himself and believers, like the intimacy that exists between him and the father. And so the relationship that exists between Jesus and the Father is extended to us. In this relationship, we belong to Jesus as his betrothed, and to God as his adopted sons. We may therefore address God as Father, as Jesus taught us in the Lord's prayer.
Matthew 6:9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...
Heaven when we die
Luke 23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The above verse describe Jesus' response to the repentant thief who hung upon a cross next to him. It illustrates that it is never too late to turn to Jesus in repentance and faith, that there is nothing complicated about doing so, and that there is no time like now. If you are reading this and have never done that, I urge you to do so. Like I said, there is nothing complicated about putting your faith in Jesus. All you need to do is talk to him, admitting that you are sorry for the wrong things you have done, and that you believe in him. When I came to faith, my friend led me in a simple prayer that went something like this:
'Jesus, I am sorry for all the wrong things I have done. I believe in you, that you are the Son of God and that you died for me because you love me. Please come into my life and help me to follow you for the rest of my life. I give myself to you.'
The bible gives us the assurance that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13). Whatever words you pray exactly to do that, if you call out to him sincerely, you can be confident that Jesus accepts you, just as he did with the repentant thief, and that you when you die you will be with him in Paradise. If you've just taken that step, it's really important that you now find some other Christians and tell them that you are a new Christian. Don't try to live the Christian life on your own, but get involved with a local church and attend regularly. They will encourage you and help you to continue in your new found faith.
But what exactly is Paradise? It is clear in Luke 23:43 that Jesus used it to describe the present Heaven, the place a believer goes to now if they die.
When Jesus appeared to John in Revelation he gave John messages for seven churches, and in his message to the church at Ephesus, he once again used the word paradise:
Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Association of Paradise with the tree of life reminds us of the Garden of Eden, the paradise on Earth in which God placed Adam and Eve. But at the end of Revelation, John sees a vision of the New Jerusalem, the New Heavenly city which is revealed at the end of the age, and it also contains the tree of life:
Revelation 22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
This heavenly city is the place where believers will live after Jesus comes back. It is the New Heaven that the Bible speaks of after the first heaven (the present heaven ) has passed away (Rev 21:1 & 2Pet3:13).
Paul also used the word Paradise to describe the present Heaven:
2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.
3 And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--
4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.
Paul is describing his unusual experience of being caught up temporarily to heaven. For reasons of modesty, he describes the experience as though it was of someone he knew, but in verse 7 it becomes clear he is talking about himself. In verse 3, he also describes this place as 'the third heaven'.
Just imagine what it must have been like to be given an exclusive guided tour of heaven! Later, when Paul was chained in a Roman dungeon, facing his impending trial and possible execution, he contemplates the possible outcomes:
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Once you've had a glimpse of paradise, I can imagine life here on Earth seeming rather second rate. There is much to enjoy in this life. But the bible gives us great assurance of heaven when we die.
By this point, it might seem that the subject of heaven or paradise has become rather more complicated than you imagined. For the word paradise is used of Eden which existed in the past, also of the present heaven where believers go now when they die, and also of the future heaven which will be our eternal home after Jesus comes back. And if the present heaven is the 'third heaven' what are the other two? And where is the present heaven?
There are many more questions worth looking at on the subject of heaven, and what happens when we die. Although I dip briefly into the topic here, it is one I intend to explore in more depth. But first it is helpful to understand the events that will take place between now and when the New Heaven is revealed.
Matt 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke 24:46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 2: 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Eph 1: 7 In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
1 John 1: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Forgiveness of sins is for now. We receive it the moment we believe in Christ, and whenever we truly repent of our sins. However, it is also for the future, especially for the day of judgment. It enables us to face the day of judgment with confidence:
2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
1 John 4: 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Adoption as God’s Sons
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
Romans 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Galatians 4:1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.
2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.
4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,
5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Scripture teaches that as believers in Christ we have already become God's children. This means we can approach God as 'Father' as Jesus taught us in the Lord's prayer, and be assured of God's love, support and provision for us. But it also has a future dimension. When Jesus comes back, we will receive an inheritance, and whether we are male or female, we will all be treated as sons. (In the Old Testament, daughters received a lesser inheritance).
Belonging to Jesus
Romans 1:6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
Romans 7:1 Do you not know, brothers--for I am speaking to men who know the law--that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives?
2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.
3 So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.
4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.
Romans 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
It is wonderful to know that we belong to Christ. Notice in Romans 7 that this belonging is in the context of marriage. We belong to Jesus as his betrothed whom he is coming back to claim as his bride. And just as we long to have an intimate relationship with Christ, so he also longs for an intimate relationship with us. Just as it is a bit strange for female believers to think of themselves as sons of God, so it is also a bit strange for male believers to think of themselves as Christ's bride. At Christ's wedding (Rev 19:7), our marriage to him will obviously not be consummated in a sexual way. But we will enjoy an intimate and loving relationship with him.
Although it is much overlooked, our status as Christ's betrothed is part of what we celebrate when we take communion. For further information, see:
The Traditional Jewish Wedding
I have copied and pasted this article below, in the section entitled 'The Church as the Bride of Christ'.
Messianic Jewish custom & Holy Communion
Behold, the Bridegroom Comes
Relationship
Christianity is more than just a religion. It is essentially about having a relationship with God through Jesus. Jesus said:
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Eternal life starts the moment you truly believe and ask Jesus to come into your life and save you. It's not just about living forever after you die. It's about knowing God through Jesus from the moment you believe. It's about relationship. And not a distant relationship, but an intimate one.
John 17:20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:
23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
This verse is often quoted, for obvious reasons, to encourage unity between Christians. Perhaps I could describe that as 'horizontal unity'. There are many other verses in the Bible that speak of the importance of that. However in this passage, what Jesus is primarily talking about is unity between believers and himself, what I might describe as 'vertical unity'. Jesus envisages an intimate bond of unity between himself and believers, like the intimacy that exists between him and the father. And so the relationship that exists between Jesus and the Father is extended to us. In this relationship, we belong to Jesus as his betrothed, and to God as his adopted sons. We may therefore address God as Father, as Jesus taught us in the Lord's prayer.
Matthew 6:9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...
Heaven when we die
Luke 23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The above verse describe Jesus' response to the repentant thief who hung upon a cross next to him. It illustrates that it is never too late to turn to Jesus in repentance and faith, that there is nothing complicated about doing so, and that there is no time like now. If you are reading this and have never done that, I urge you to do so. Like I said, there is nothing complicated about putting your faith in Jesus. All you need to do is talk to him, admitting that you are sorry for the wrong things you have done, and that you believe in him. When I came to faith, my friend led me in a simple prayer that went something like this:
'Jesus, I am sorry for all the wrong things I have done. I believe in you, that you are the Son of God and that you died for me because you love me. Please come into my life and help me to follow you for the rest of my life. I give myself to you.'
The bible gives us the assurance that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13). Whatever words you pray exactly to do that, if you call out to him sincerely, you can be confident that Jesus accepts you, just as he did with the repentant thief, and that you when you die you will be with him in Paradise. If you've just taken that step, it's really important that you now find some other Christians and tell them that you are a new Christian. Don't try to live the Christian life on your own, but get involved with a local church and attend regularly. They will encourage you and help you to continue in your new found faith.
But what exactly is Paradise? It is clear in Luke 23:43 that Jesus used it to describe the present Heaven, the place a believer goes to now if they die.
When Jesus appeared to John in Revelation he gave John messages for seven churches, and in his message to the church at Ephesus, he once again used the word paradise:
Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Association of Paradise with the tree of life reminds us of the Garden of Eden, the paradise on Earth in which God placed Adam and Eve. But at the end of Revelation, John sees a vision of the New Jerusalem, the New Heavenly city which is revealed at the end of the age, and it also contains the tree of life:
Revelation 22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
This heavenly city is the place where believers will live after Jesus comes back. It is the New Heaven that the Bible speaks of after the first heaven (the present heaven ) has passed away (Rev 21:1 & 2Pet3:13).
Paul also used the word Paradise to describe the present Heaven:
2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.
3 And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--
4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.
Paul is describing his unusual experience of being caught up temporarily to heaven. For reasons of modesty, he describes the experience as though it was of someone he knew, but in verse 7 it becomes clear he is talking about himself. In verse 3, he also describes this place as 'the third heaven'.
Just imagine what it must have been like to be given an exclusive guided tour of heaven! Later, when Paul was chained in a Roman dungeon, facing his impending trial and possible execution, he contemplates the possible outcomes:
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Once you've had a glimpse of paradise, I can imagine life here on Earth seeming rather second rate. There is much to enjoy in this life. But the bible gives us great assurance of heaven when we die.
By this point, it might seem that the subject of heaven or paradise has become rather more complicated than you imagined. For the word paradise is used of Eden which existed in the past, also of the present heaven where believers go now when they die, and also of the future heaven which will be our eternal home after Jesus comes back. And if the present heaven is the 'third heaven' what are the other two? And where is the present heaven?
There are many more questions worth looking at on the subject of heaven, and what happens when we die. Although I dip briefly into the topic here, it is one I intend to explore in more depth. But first it is helpful to understand the events that will take place between now and when the New Heaven is revealed.