Bible Study - Language of Faith (6) - Eternal Life - Revelation 21:1-8; 22-1-5 - April 5, 2020

Bible Study - Language of Faith (6) – Eternal Life – April 5, 2020

This is the sixth and final lesson in this series entitled “Holy Vocabulary: 

Unpacking the Language of Faith.”

Our focus scripture is Revelation 21:1-8; 22:1-5.

We can live forever in the presence of GOD.

Our study has led us through a number of Spiritually important steps:

-         Holy

-         Lost

-         Salvation

-         Faith

-         Sanctified

-         And this study on Eternal Life

Eternal life cannot be earned, it is a gift from GOD. In Isaiah 64:6a “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness’s are as filthy rags;” (KJV) Our very best deeds, intentions, actions, sacrifices, any effort we make as a person to win favor with GOD is “filthy.” There is only one way to eternal life and that is through faith in JESUS. GOD demands and requires “righteousness” and there is only one source of “righteousness” and that is from GOD through faith in JESUS.

Let’s consider 2 Corinthians 5:18-20:

¹⁸ Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. ¹⁹ That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God.” ²¹ He made the one who did not know sin to be sin^[e] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

GOD reconciled those who have placed their faith in JESUS to Himself. How did HE accomplish reconciliation? Read Romans Chapter 5.

Also, consider the words of JESUS in John 5:24:

²⁴ “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

Any person who places his or her faith in JESUS has, at the instant of salvation, eternal life! How can that be? The person who places his or her faith in JESUS is Spiritually born into the family of GOD. Once a person is Spiritually born into GOD’S family, he or she will never be Spiritually unborn. Eternal life means just that.

Do you recall 1 Corinthians 3:15:

¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

The Apostle Paul addressed the Spiritual life of a Spiritually born-again person. He or she builds with materials upon the solid foundation of faith in JESUS. The person can build upon that foundation using many materials such as gold, silver, precious stones or wood, straw or stubble.

As a Spiritually born-again believer, GOD never takes away our right to choose, thus we go through life doing our own thing or serving GOD as directed by the Holy Spirit or our human spirit or nature (wood, straw, stubble). Guess what, when the flame is put to the things that will burn, they are going to be consumed by the fire. Yet, we know that the things we use to build are not combustible and will survive the flames – gold, silver and precious stones.

Gold is our reflection of CHRIST as we serve.

Silver is our salvation and the salvation of others in which we have been involved that leads them to a saving knowledge of JESUS.

Precious stones are our knowledge of GOD/JESUS as we study the Bible, build the right relationship with GOD/JESUS through life’s journey by putting into action what we are learning.

So, what does all of this lead us too?

The Apostle John wrote in First John 5:13 - ¹³ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

The Book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John while he was banished to the Island of Patmos by the Emperor Domitian in about 95 AD.

Let’s read Revelation 1:9-19:

⁹ I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. ¹⁰ On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, ¹¹ which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

¹² I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,^[d] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴ The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. ¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

¹⁹ “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. ²⁰ The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels^[e] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

John being a disciple of JESUS knew what JESUS looked like in HIS resurrected body but he had never seen JESUS in HIS full Glory, which had been restored to HIM. Why do I write this?

In John 17:1-5: JESUS was praying to GOD The Father:

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Why did JESUS subject Himself to all that HE suffered? It was because HE loved you from before the foundation of the world as recorded in Ephesians 1:4 - ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love

HE chose you, have you chosen HIM through faith in JESUS?

If so, as we read on, this is what awaits you, as a born-again believer in JESUS, if not you are not a born-again believer in JESUS, this is what you will miss. The choice is yours to make – How do you choose?

Keep in mind what is written in 1 Corinthians 2:9:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”^[b]—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—

Consider Isaiah 64:4 - From ancient times no one has heard,
no one has listened to,
no eye has seen any God except you
who acts on behalf of the one who waits for him.

What awaits those who have placed their faith in JESUS? Let’s explore!

Let’s read Revelation 21:1-5:

The New Creation

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

³ Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:^[a] Look, God’s dwelling^[b] is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples,^[c] and God himself will be with them and will be their God.^[d] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things^[e] have passed away.

⁵ Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words^[f] are faithful and true.” 

Faith in JESUS not only changes you Spiritually at the instant of salvation, made you a citizen of GOD’S Kingdom but restored eternal life to you that GOD originally intended for all the offspring of Adam and Eve before they sinned. But what else is GOD planning for those Spiritually born into HIS Family? Verse 2 “² I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem.”

In the Old Testament, Genesis 14:17-20 it tells of Abram visiting Salem and meeting with the king-priest Melchizedek. Many years later David captured Salem and made it the capital and renamed it Jerusalem. (Hebrews 7:1-28 and Psalm 110:4 Copied at the end). When JESUS returns to earth the “city of peace” will live up to its name because the “Prince of Peace” will reign forever as King. (Isaiah 9:6)

GOD gives us insight, just as HE has given us insight to HIS redemptive plan which begins in the Old Testament and is fulfilled in the New Testament. Not only does GOD restore eternal life to all who believe in JESUS but HE has made a New Earth where Christians will dwell eternally.

What will the new earth be like? It will be beyond human imagination. As GOD’S Children, we will never be separated from GOD. There will be no tears, no death, no pain, no sorrow, no grief, no disease, no broken hearts, no abuse and the list go on and on.

How can this be? It is because of the redemptive power of JESUS. HE not only made it possible for every person who places his or her faith in JESUS to be redeemed from eternal death but also HE redeemed all of nature - “because the previous things^[e] have passed away.

⁵ Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words^[f] are faithful and true.” 

The Apostle Paul wrote about nature being redeemed in Romans 8:18-25:

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope ²¹ that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. ²³ Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the first fruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

Truly eye has not seen or ear heard or the human mind conceived of the things GOD has in store for HIS Children. Please do not miss this.

“It is done!” When was it done?

Let’s read Revelation 21:6-8:

⁶ Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. ⁷ The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his (her) God, and he will be my son (daughter). ⁸ But the cowards, faithless,^[g] detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

GOD’S redemptive plan was completed by JESUS, GOD’S Only SON, Who came to earth born a human, was tempted in all ways as humans are tempted, yet without sin. JESUS gave HIS perfect physical life by the shedding of HIS blood that all who place their faith in HIM will have eternal life through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth.

GOD indwells every born-again Christian with HIS presence via the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the living water that quenches the Spiritual thirst of Christians, is their assurance, teacher, guide, enlightens and so much more.

God makes known the fate of those who do not place their faith in JESUS. Their destination is “the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Folks this is Hell and not a place to spend eternity. But you do not have to. Place your faith in JESUS.  

Let’s read Revelation 22:1-5:

The Source of Life

22 Then he showed me the river^[a] of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the city’s main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, ³ and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever.

The Key is that GOD/JESUS is the source. We as humans cannot live long without water and neither can we live without GOD/JESUS flowing through our lives. JESUS told the woman at the well as recorded in John 4 - ⁷ A woman of Samaria came to draw water.

“Give me a drink,” Jesus said to her, ⁸ because his disciples had gone into town to buy food.

⁹ “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” she asked him. For Jews do not associate with^[d] Samaritans.^[e]

¹⁰ Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask him, and he would give you living water.”

¹¹ “Sir,” said the woman, “you don’t even have a bucket, and the well is deep. So where do you get this ‘living water’? ¹² You aren’t greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and livestock.”

¹³ Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. ¹⁴ But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well^[f] of water springing up in him for eternal life.”

¹⁵ “Sir,” the woman said to him, “give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and come here to draw water.”

Have you tasted the living water that only comes through faith in JESUS?

The only tree mentioned in Heaven is the tree of life. The option to sin has been removed because sin has been settled.

Moses wanted to see GOD as recorded in Exodus 33:18-23 - ¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.”

¹⁹ He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” ²⁰ But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.” ²¹ The Lord said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, ²² and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”

In eternity, we will see the face of GOD; HIS name will always be on our minds and HIS presence will provide all the light that is needed. We will reign forever. Reign implies that there will be something for us to reign over.

Eternal life is just that; never ending joy with purpose. Blessings!!!

Hebrews 7:1-28 and Psalm 110:4:

7 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings, ² and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means king of righteousness, then also, king of Salem, meaning king of peace. ³ Without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

⁴ Now consider how great this man was: even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the plunder to him. ⁵ The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers and sisters—though they have also descended from Abraham. ⁶ But one without this^[a] lineage collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. ⁷ Without a doubt, the inferior is blessed by the superior. ⁸ In the one case, men who will die receive a tenth, but in the other case, Scripture testifies that he lives. ⁹ And in a sense Levi himself, who receives a tenth, has paid a tenth through Abraham, ¹⁰ for he was still within his ancestor^[b] when Melchizedek met him.

A Superior Priesthood

¹¹ Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron? ¹² For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. ¹³ For the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar. ¹⁴ Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests.

¹⁵ And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, ¹⁶ who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical^[c] descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it has been testified:

You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.^[d]

¹⁸ So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable ¹⁹ (for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

²⁰ None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, ²¹ but he became a priest with an oath made by the one who said to him:

The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever.”^[e]

²² Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.

²³ Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. ²⁴ But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. ²⁵ Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.

²⁶ For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. ²⁷ He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. ²⁸ For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.

Footnotes:

a.     7:6 Lit their

b.    7:10 Lit still in his father’s loins

c.     7:16 Or fleshly

d.    7:17 Ps 110:4

e.    7:21 Ps 110:4

Psalm 110:4 - The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back:
“You are a priest forever
according to the pattern of Melchizedek.”

JESUS did not inherit HIS Priesthood based upon human lineage under the Law but under GOD’S Love, Design and Grace for mankind - Perfection.