Sermon Title: The Ultimate Goal of Christian Welcome – Preparing to meet Christ before He returns.
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
In the weeks past we have established that:
The Fulfillment of Christian Welcome is when both Christ and Church come together
and only then, is all - truly well. (Ref: Revelation 22:20)
In fact, the essential purpose of our existence as a church – along with our ministry and missional expressions – is so that we may participate in the work of the Holy Spirit in evangelism and discipleship; that people around us may be truly born-again and enfolded into body of Christ to meet with King Jesus when He returns.
However, no one knows when Christ will return. (Ref: Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32)
So, what happens to us when our end comes before Christ returns?
In a world separated between believers of Christ and non-believers, this question must be deeply pertinent to both groups of people.
To this, we must therefore ask:
(i) What happens to believers who die before Christ’s return? What follows next?
(ii) What happens to unbelievers who die before Christ’s return? What follows next?
(i) What happens to believers who die before Christ’s return? What follows next?
The PAOC Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths 5.8.1 helpfully explains:
At death the souls of believers pass immediately into the presence of Christ, and these remain in constant bliss until the resurrection of the glorified body.
In other words:
When believers die, we immediately enter the presence of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and remain with Him in constant rest and peace - till He returns to the world; which is when the rapture happens. (Ref: I Corinthians 15:51-52, I Thessalonians 4:13-18 – More on the rapture next week!)
When we die, we will immediately enter the Presence of Christ!
Wow.
Do you believe?
The Apostle Paul certainly did.
He believed that he would be at home with the Lord when his soul left his body.
“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)
Because his life was lived all for Christ, dying simply meant that he was going to gain Christ – by being with Him.
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
And he remains conflicted – infinitely desiring to be with Christ; but also knowing that his time and ministry will only conclude in God’s time.
“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” (Philippians 1:23-24)
In this, every Christian must firmly grasp and live in the reality that:
When believers die, we immediately enter the presence of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and remain with Him in constant rest and peace - till He returns to the world; which is when the rapture happens.
Ultimately, even though the divine state of rest and peace with Christ is that which we must desire; it must be for the Kingdom of God that we must ultimately yearn for – where our bodies will be redeemed imperishable, eternal and spiritual.
In Romans 8:22-23, the Apostle Paul directs our ultimate joy beyond heaven to the inbreaking of God’s Kingdom where we will receive redemption for our bodies.
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:22-23 – Emphasis mine)
That our lives are given solely to Christ assures us that we do have the first-fruits of the Spirit – belonging utterly to God; living completely for Him; and waiting constantly upon the Lord –for His glorious appearing and return.
For when that happens, our bodies are redeemed.
No longer will we have a physical body; we will be given a spiritual body – a body that can be seen and touched.
What that looks like - would be exactly how our Lord Jesus was after His Resurrection. (Ref: John 20:11-29)
Though we still don’t know what that body looks like, but what we do know is that the spiritual body is real.
Why?
Every apostle of Jesus saw Him; and some even touched Him.
And after that, more than 500 people witnessed Christ after His Resurrection. (Ref: 1 Corinthians 15:3-9)
These people were all witness to the reality of this spiritual body - the eternal, imperishable and glorious body that we will receive when Christ returns.
The Apostle Paul further explains in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44:
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.
The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
To Paul, the prove that there is a spiritual body is simply established in the fact that there is a natural body.
Believe.
You will live with Him; only if you have died with Christ and are born again – through faith in His Salvation and hope in His Kingdom.
There must be no uncertainty about what happens after believers die.
Our place is with Christ; and we will return when He does.
This is the blessed destiny every Christian must utterly know about, believe in and live for.
Alas, the destiny for the unbeliever cannot be more terrifying and tragic.
(ii) What happens to unbelievers who die before Christ’s return? What follows next?
And that day of days will come for them when they are raised physically from the dead, their souls given a body and there and then, they will find themselves before the Lord Jesus Christ to be judged with the certainty of the second and final death. (Ref: 2 Corinthians 5:10)
That’s right.
Even unbelievers will be resurrected in the body for the sole purpose of the judgment for the unjust – people deemed unjust for the simple fact that they have chosen to be unsaved and remain unredeemed.
No unbeliever escapes the consciousness, eventuality and finality of condemnation.
Revelation 20:11-15 details this tragic and eventual reality.
“11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it.
The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.
Another book was opened, which is the book of life.
The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.
The lake of fire is the second death.
15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Are you confident that your name is found in the book of life?
What is the fundamental requirement for your name to be found in the book of life?
It is to believe in Jesus Christ who alone is the Resurrection and the Life.
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
Believe in Jesus!
Be like Jesus! Live for Jesus!
Believe in His Salvation! Believe in His Kingdom!
To make His Kingdom your future reality is to make His Salvation your present reality.
Be alive in Christ and be active in the body of Christ – just as we are called to be His disciples, know that we have each been called to be part of His Body corporately as Victoria Pentecostal Church!
God’s Salvation from sin is also Salvation from the broken and wicked world caused by the sinfulness of Man.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10, the Apostle Paul exhorts us to conscientiously grow in our faith in Christ; in our love for another; to persevere in trusting God in enduring persecutions and trial; but most of all, to “be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God” of which we must be suffering for.
“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.
This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.”(Emphasize mine)
He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.
This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.”
Do you suffer for the Kingdom of God?
If you are a follower of Christ, it must be a constant state of being found fully participating “in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13)
Church, to “be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God” - let us persevere and cultivate faith in God’s Salvation together! Let us persevere and cultivate hope in His Kingdom together!
That is God’s path set out for us – not only to personal salvation alone; but in corporate revival!
Together, let us make Christ and His Kingdom our present, future and eternal reality!
We may be oppressed and even experience our ‘Christian’ rights trampled on; let us be assured that “God is just”; and that He alone will ultimately, “back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. “ (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9)
Know and believe that all this will happen when Christ returns.
Live each day anticipating His Return.
Make the necessary preparations and adjustments and realignment in your lives to realize your divine Kingdom heritage, legacy and destiny.
But know that in the meantime if you were to die before Christ’s return, you will be awakened into His loving and holy Presence.
Fear not the anxieties of life, the troubles of this world, nor the eventuality of death; remain firmly in Christ – for He is with you! He has never left nor forsaken you!
Be the Christian you have always wanted to be – today.
Live utterly for Christ in the assurance that Christ died utterly for you.
Such is the Christian life that we must live together.
For only when we are together in Christ, are we victorious; and can certainly persevere in faithfulness to God through all the persecutions and trials that we must endure!
Our faith, hope, perseverance and hope in God as a church will be the evidence to ourselves - and the world - that GOD’s Judgment is right!
To prepare in hope of God’s Kingdom through faith in His Salvation is to prepare to pass immediately into the Presence of Christ; AND be ever ready to receive Christ when He returns.
And to this core task of the church: which is, to prepare for the ultimate Goal of Christian Welcome; we do so not just for ourselves; but for those around you.
God has placed us in this church for just such a holy purpose; that we would work out our Salvation with trembling and fear together… and in so doing, become witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ by the Power of the Holy Spirit together.
Church, we are each called to be included in the book of life;
And together we are called to invite the world to the saving knowledge and amazing Grace of Jesus Christ.
The Salvation of God through Christ Jesus our Lord is very real;
Eternal life in the Kingdom of God is very real;
Hades, Condemnation and judgment for sins, the wrath of God, and eternal death in the lake of fire is also very real!
As His Church, let us arise.
As His Church, let us always live, love, and work mightily in the Power of the Holy Spirit – that unbelievers will see the glory of God and believe that Christ is the Saviour, the Resurrection and the Life!
Believe – once again - in Jesus! Be born again of water and of the Holy Spirit! (Ref: John 3:5)
Commit your life – once again – to Jesus;
Commit – once again - to serving the Lord through the Church – in bringing the multitudes to His Saving Grace and Endless Mercy!
Commit to seeing Him face to face when you die or when He returns; and experience today, His depth of love through the resoluteness of your faith in His Salvation, and your hope in His Kingdom.
“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Spirit’s profound assurance that “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For You are with me!” (Psalm 23:4)
I anticipate Your return; as much as I anticipate entering Your Presence when I finally breathe my last – for I know that You will awaken me into Your Loving and Holy Presence.
Holy Spirit, empower me – and my church family - to “be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God” together; through conscientious perseverance and the cultivation of our faith in God’s Salvation and hope in His Kingdom together!
I declare that You, Lord Jesus, and Your Kingdom - are my present, future and eternal reality; and that I need no longer fear the anxieties of life; the troubles of this world; nor the eventuality of death because You are with me; You have never left nor forsaken me – and for that, I am eternally grateful.
May our faith, hope, perseverance and hope in God as Your church be the evidence to ourselves - and the world - that Your Judgment is right; that Your Eternal Kingdom is real; just as Your wrath and condemnation is real.
Grant me even greater hope in Your Kingdom through an increasing faith in Your Salvation as I prepare to pass immediately into the Presence of Christ when I die; AND be ever ready to receive Christ when He returns.
May our collective example – as a church – in the assurance of Your Promised Presence in our lives; make us Spirit-empowered witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ – calling and inviting the world to come to Him and receive Salvation.
Come, Lord Jesus – I am ready to meet You face to face.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our Coming King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
In the weeks past we have established that:
The Fulfillment of Christian Welcome is when both Christ and Church come together
and only then, is all - truly well. (Ref: Revelation 22:20)
In fact, the essential purpose of our existence as a church – along with our ministry and missional expressions – is so that we may participate in the work of the Holy Spirit in evangelism and discipleship; that people around us may be truly born-again and enfolded into body of Christ to meet with King Jesus when He returns.
However, no one knows when Christ will return. (Ref: Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32)
So, what happens to us when our end comes before Christ returns?
In a world separated between believers of Christ and non-believers, this question must be deeply pertinent to both groups of people.
To this, we must therefore ask:
(i) What happens to believers who die before Christ’s return? What follows next?
(ii) What happens to unbelievers who die before Christ’s return? What follows next?
(i) What happens to believers who die before Christ’s return? What follows next?
The PAOC Statement of Fundamental and Essential Truths 5.8.1 helpfully explains:
At death the souls of believers pass immediately into the presence of Christ, and these remain in constant bliss until the resurrection of the glorified body.
In other words:
When believers die, we immediately enter the presence of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and remain with Him in constant rest and peace - till He returns to the world; which is when the rapture happens. (Ref: I Corinthians 15:51-52, I Thessalonians 4:13-18 – More on the rapture next week!)
When we die, we will immediately enter the Presence of Christ!
Wow.
Do you believe?
The Apostle Paul certainly did.
He believed that he would be at home with the Lord when his soul left his body.
“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)
Because his life was lived all for Christ, dying simply meant that he was going to gain Christ – by being with Him.
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
And he remains conflicted – infinitely desiring to be with Christ; but also knowing that his time and ministry will only conclude in God’s time.
“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” (Philippians 1:23-24)
In this, every Christian must firmly grasp and live in the reality that:
When believers die, we immediately enter the presence of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and remain with Him in constant rest and peace - till He returns to the world; which is when the rapture happens.
Ultimately, even though the divine state of rest and peace with Christ is that which we must desire; it must be for the Kingdom of God that we must ultimately yearn for – where our bodies will be redeemed imperishable, eternal and spiritual.
In Romans 8:22-23, the Apostle Paul directs our ultimate joy beyond heaven to the inbreaking of God’s Kingdom where we will receive redemption for our bodies.
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:22-23 – Emphasis mine)
That our lives are given solely to Christ assures us that we do have the first-fruits of the Spirit – belonging utterly to God; living completely for Him; and waiting constantly upon the Lord –for His glorious appearing and return.
For when that happens, our bodies are redeemed.
No longer will we have a physical body; we will be given a spiritual body – a body that can be seen and touched.
What that looks like - would be exactly how our Lord Jesus was after His Resurrection. (Ref: John 20:11-29)
Though we still don’t know what that body looks like, but what we do know is that the spiritual body is real.
Why?
Every apostle of Jesus saw Him; and some even touched Him.
And after that, more than 500 people witnessed Christ after His Resurrection. (Ref: 1 Corinthians 15:3-9)
These people were all witness to the reality of this spiritual body - the eternal, imperishable and glorious body that we will receive when Christ returns.
The Apostle Paul further explains in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44:
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.
The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
To Paul, the prove that there is a spiritual body is simply established in the fact that there is a natural body.
Believe.
You will live with Him; only if you have died with Christ and are born again – through faith in His Salvation and hope in His Kingdom.
There must be no uncertainty about what happens after believers die.
Our place is with Christ; and we will return when He does.
This is the blessed destiny every Christian must utterly know about, believe in and live for.
Alas, the destiny for the unbeliever cannot be more terrifying and tragic.
(ii) What happens to unbelievers who die before Christ’s return? What follows next?
And that day of days will come for them when they are raised physically from the dead, their souls given a body and there and then, they will find themselves before the Lord Jesus Christ to be judged with the certainty of the second and final death. (Ref: 2 Corinthians 5:10)
That’s right.
Even unbelievers will be resurrected in the body for the sole purpose of the judgment for the unjust – people deemed unjust for the simple fact that they have chosen to be unsaved and remain unredeemed.
No unbeliever escapes the consciousness, eventuality and finality of condemnation.
Revelation 20:11-15 details this tragic and eventual reality.
“11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it.
The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.
Another book was opened, which is the book of life.
The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.
The lake of fire is the second death.
15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Are you confident that your name is found in the book of life?
What is the fundamental requirement for your name to be found in the book of life?
It is to believe in Jesus Christ who alone is the Resurrection and the Life.
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
Believe in Jesus!
Be like Jesus! Live for Jesus!
Believe in His Salvation! Believe in His Kingdom!
To make His Kingdom your future reality is to make His Salvation your present reality.
Be alive in Christ and be active in the body of Christ – just as we are called to be His disciples, know that we have each been called to be part of His Body corporately as Victoria Pentecostal Church!
God’s Salvation from sin is also Salvation from the broken and wicked world caused by the sinfulness of Man.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10, the Apostle Paul exhorts us to conscientiously grow in our faith in Christ; in our love for another; to persevere in trusting God in enduring persecutions and trial; but most of all, to “be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God” of which we must be suffering for.
“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.
This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.”(Emphasize mine)
He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.
This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.”
Do you suffer for the Kingdom of God?
If you are a follower of Christ, it must be a constant state of being found fully participating “in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13)
Church, to “be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God” - let us persevere and cultivate faith in God’s Salvation together! Let us persevere and cultivate hope in His Kingdom together!
That is God’s path set out for us – not only to personal salvation alone; but in corporate revival!
Together, let us make Christ and His Kingdom our present, future and eternal reality!
We may be oppressed and even experience our ‘Christian’ rights trampled on; let us be assured that “God is just”; and that He alone will ultimately, “back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. “ (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9)
Know and believe that all this will happen when Christ returns.
Live each day anticipating His Return.
Make the necessary preparations and adjustments and realignment in your lives to realize your divine Kingdom heritage, legacy and destiny.
But know that in the meantime if you were to die before Christ’s return, you will be awakened into His loving and holy Presence.
Fear not the anxieties of life, the troubles of this world, nor the eventuality of death; remain firmly in Christ – for He is with you! He has never left nor forsaken you!
Be the Christian you have always wanted to be – today.
Live utterly for Christ in the assurance that Christ died utterly for you.
Such is the Christian life that we must live together.
For only when we are together in Christ, are we victorious; and can certainly persevere in faithfulness to God through all the persecutions and trials that we must endure!
Our faith, hope, perseverance and hope in God as a church will be the evidence to ourselves - and the world - that GOD’s Judgment is right!
To prepare in hope of God’s Kingdom through faith in His Salvation is to prepare to pass immediately into the Presence of Christ; AND be ever ready to receive Christ when He returns.
And to this core task of the church: which is, to prepare for the ultimate Goal of Christian Welcome; we do so not just for ourselves; but for those around you.
God has placed us in this church for just such a holy purpose; that we would work out our Salvation with trembling and fear together… and in so doing, become witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ by the Power of the Holy Spirit together.
Church, we are each called to be included in the book of life;
And together we are called to invite the world to the saving knowledge and amazing Grace of Jesus Christ.
The Salvation of God through Christ Jesus our Lord is very real;
Eternal life in the Kingdom of God is very real;
Hades, Condemnation and judgment for sins, the wrath of God, and eternal death in the lake of fire is also very real!
As His Church, let us arise.
As His Church, let us always live, love, and work mightily in the Power of the Holy Spirit – that unbelievers will see the glory of God and believe that Christ is the Saviour, the Resurrection and the Life!
Believe – once again - in Jesus! Be born again of water and of the Holy Spirit! (Ref: John 3:5)
Commit your life – once again – to Jesus;
Commit – once again - to serving the Lord through the Church – in bringing the multitudes to His Saving Grace and Endless Mercy!
Commit to seeing Him face to face when you die or when He returns; and experience today, His depth of love through the resoluteness of your faith in His Salvation, and your hope in His Kingdom.
“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Spirit’s profound assurance that “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For You are with me!” (Psalm 23:4)
I anticipate Your return; as much as I anticipate entering Your Presence when I finally breathe my last – for I know that You will awaken me into Your Loving and Holy Presence.
Holy Spirit, empower me – and my church family - to “be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God” together; through conscientious perseverance and the cultivation of our faith in God’s Salvation and hope in His Kingdom together!
I declare that You, Lord Jesus, and Your Kingdom - are my present, future and eternal reality; and that I need no longer fear the anxieties of life; the troubles of this world; nor the eventuality of death because You are with me; You have never left nor forsaken me – and for that, I am eternally grateful.
May our faith, hope, perseverance and hope in God as Your church be the evidence to ourselves - and the world - that Your Judgment is right; that Your Eternal Kingdom is real; just as Your wrath and condemnation is real.
Grant me even greater hope in Your Kingdom through an increasing faith in Your Salvation as I prepare to pass immediately into the Presence of Christ when I die; AND be ever ready to receive Christ when He returns.
May our collective example – as a church – in the assurance of Your Promised Presence in our lives; make us Spirit-empowered witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ – calling and inviting the world to come to Him and receive Salvation.
Come, Lord Jesus – I am ready to meet You face to face.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our Coming King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.