Image
image
image
image


Outline and Audio Sermons:
Dr. Walter D. Huyck Jr. D.Min.

www.thischristianjourney.com

How To Use This Outline

 

Know What You Believe

Heaven

Mark 12.18-27

More Resources On Heaven and Hell


 

[What do you believe about Heaven?  When asked this question, where does your mind go?  What are you thinking?  For most of us, when we are asked about heaven, our thoughts run first to the consideration of whether there really is life after death.  We wonder if it really could be that there is some kind of existence after this physical life is over.  Our initial thoughts may not lead us to actually consider whether there is a literal place called heaven.]

[Many people, when considering the reality of heaven are drawn to books written by people who claim to have been there; life after death experiences and testimonies.  In reading such accounts we hear about the tunnel leading to a light and then a sense of bliss.  Some of these accounts quote the Bible and seem to support those things written in the Bible.  Many of these accounts seem to contradict the Bible.  But how do we know for sure that these people, regardless of who they are, really had an out of body experience?  When people read these accounts they are often enamored by testimony of the account, but how do we really know if what they experienced was truly real?  Could it be that they, in the lack of oxygen to their brain, just imagined the whole thing?]

[Actually there is no real way to test and trust the accounts of these people.  Are they sincere in their witness?  Surly they are.  But sincerity can often be misunderstood and misinterpreted.  What people need is a witness that is trustworthy and substantiated.  They need a witnessed that they know they can trust.]

[The only such witness available to mankind is that of the Bible.  Why is the Bible a witness that can be trusted?  Because the Bible has proven itself trustworthy in its content and record through time and events.  The things that the Bible records have been substantiated by multitudes of extra biblical witnesses.  For instance,]

  • [There is eyewitness Support for the Bible.  The things recorded in the Bible are not the testimony of one or two men who had some kind of vision.  The biblical record is the compilation of the testimony of eyewitnesses in the presence of other eyewitnesses.  The Bible reads,]

[1 John 1:1-3 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. ]

[2 Peter 1:16 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.]

[Hence, the biblical penmen, in many cases, wrote those things that they had heard and seen in the presence of other eyewitnesses.  These multitudes of other eyewitnesses substantiated the testimony they declared.  But there are some who still question the reliability of these eyewitnesses, especially after the expanse of time that has passed since their death.  But their witness, while powerful, is not the only substantive support for the Bible.]

  • [There is Archeological Support for the Bible. The existence of Kind David had been denied by many historical authorities for many generations, because no archeological evidence supported the existence of King David until a few decades ago.  Not too long ago a stella was found that irrefutably established the historical reality of King David.  A stella is an inscribed stone found in an archeological dig.[1]  Hence, this discovery irrefutably supports the historical facts contained in the Bible.  There are multitudes of such archeological and historical support for the Bible and those things it records.]

[In comparison, not too long ago I read an article that examined whether or not there was any Archaeological support for the events recorded in the Book of Mormon.  In this article Mike Licona addressed professors in the Archeology department at Brigham Young University (A Mormon Owned University) and they testified that there is no archeological evidence to support the claims of the Book of Mormon.[2]]

[But the eyewitness accounts and archeological record are not the only supports available for the Bible.]

  • [There is Historical Support for the Bible.  The empirical historical record, or the history books of ages gone by, substantiates the historical record recorded in the text of the Bible.  It seems with each passing day, as ancient historical records are discovered and evaluated that there is an amazing correlation between the Biblical record and other historical records.  Even the supernatural events of the Bible, the most well known being that of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, finds mention and some form of support in multiple extra biblical historical records.]

[All of this is pointed out in order to reveal that there is a Historically Supported, Archeologically Strengthened written record that flows from multiple Eyewitnesses who were supported by other eyewitnesses that reveals much about heaven and eternity to come.  This record and its support are only found in the Bible.]

[We can trust the testimony of the Bible because its testimony concerning other things has proven trustworthy and substantiated.]

[Your Choices About Eternity To Come – You can listen to, and place your trust in, someone one who has no better chance of being right about their spiritual insights and thoughts concerning eternity than any other human being.  Or, you can place your trust in the testimony of a supernatural revelation that is supported by multiple eyewitness accounts, numerous ancient historical records, and multitudes of archeological evidence.  The fact of the proven reliability of the Biblical record concerning those things that can be measured lends strength and support to those things it records that we cannot measure.]

[As for me, and many of my Christian friends we choose the Bible.  How about you?]

So what does the Bible teach about Heaven?

A.     The Fact Of Heaven (vs 26-27; 2 Pet 3.9) [– And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. – Is heaven real?  In our text the Sadducees have approached Jesus with a question about the resurrection of the dead.  The Sadducees were like many in our day, they did not believe in spiritual beings like Angels and Demons, they did not believe in life after death, they did not believe in a heaven or hell, they believed that when you die that your life is just over.  You are done.  So they had developed this seemly simple and real life situation and presented as a question to any one who claimed to believe in an after life.  They supposed that their question was the trump card for any kind of resurrection or after life.  They did not think that their was any reasonable answer for their question.  But Jesus simply and plainly put their presumption to rest.  Jesus clearly declared that there is an after life and that there is a place called heaven.]

In the Bible, Jesus said,

1.       Heaven is a Spiritual Place (John 14.1-3; 2 Cor 5.8) [- John 14:1-3 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. - Heaven is a real physical place.  According to our Lord Jesus Christ He has gone to prepare a place for us.  A place he will take all who are His to at some time in the future.  In the Bible we clearly discover that God refers to heaven as a real physical place.  Just as:] 

·        [Your home is a place.]

·        [A jail is a place.]

·         [Your city is a place.]

·        [Mount Moriah is a place] 

[Heaven brings a number of scriptural references to mind.  In these references we discover a spiritual sense for heaven and a physical sense for heaven.  Without a doubt the Bible neatly brings these two senses together to form our biblical understanding of the eternal place called heaven.] 

[While the Bible speaks of the spiritual sense of Heaven we clearly understand that scripture speaks of this place as a real place.  In our text Jesus spoke of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as being alive and present; but their bodies are dead and long ago decayed.  So how does this work out in the Bible?] 

[There is the presence of the Lord, yet this is a place] 

[2 Corinthians 5:8  . . .  to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. ]

[We know that when a person dies their physical body is left here to corrupt and decay.  Someone might ask, “If their physical body is here on earth then how can they be physically with the Lord?  The Bible reveals that,] 

[1 Corinthians 15:39-44 39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. ]

[The Bible often speaks of people in their trichotic being (trichotomy); having a body, soul, and spirit.  When we die our life does not just end, we go on into eternity as our soul and spirit is separated for our body.  If you are a born again Christian then your eternal being goes into the presence of the Lord, or what we like to refer to as heaven.  If you are lost, not born again, then the Bible reveals that your eternal being goes immediately into hell or torments.] 

[Your transition to heaven or hell is immediate.  There is no delay or comatose state.  When you close your eyes in this mortal life, you open your immortal eyes in eternity to come.] 

[Jesus, when he told the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man said,] 

[Luke 16:22-23 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.]

[Your eternal home, whether heaven or hell, will be yours immediately upon your transition into your immortal state.  When your mortal body dies, your immortal soul and spirit steps through the door to eternity and you will step instantaneously into your eternal abode.  For God’s children their abode is the comfort and glory of heaven, referred to as everlasting life (John 3.16).  For the rebellious their eternal abode will be the torments of Hell, referred to as the second death (Rev 20.11-15).]

2.      Heaven will be Physical Place (Rev 21.1-7; 20.11-15) - [There is the Resurrection to come – The Bible reveals that one day there will be a physical resurrection.  The saved or just will be physically resurrected, for these saints the Bible reveals,]

[Revelation 21:1-7 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. ]

[Glory To God, Heaven, which is a real spiritual place will one day be a real physical and immortal place, according to God’s Word.  The saints of all time will one day be given their bodies back, only now they will be immortal and perfect and they will dwell on the New Heaven and New Earth in the very presence of God for all eternity to come.]

[For the lost and undone, there will be a physical resurrection to come as well.  The Bible states,

[Revelation 20:11-15 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire].

[The real conscious spiritual Heaven will become a real conscious physical Heaven, which will be a place of eternal contentment and joy.  The real conscious spiritual Hell will become a real conscious physical Hell, which will be a place of eternal torment, suffering, and shame.]

[Some might say, “I don’t believe that preacher, therefore it cannot be!”  I tell you on the authority of the historically, and archeologically, and supernaturally substantiated Word of God that it is so and your belief or disbelief changes nothing.  Heaven and Hell are physical real places.  The eternal souls of all mankind from the beginning of time who have died and left this mortal plane are either in heaven or hell right now as I preach]

[D.L. Moody said, “My heaven is a solid heaven.  After the resurrection has come, you will have a resurrection foot and something to tread on; a resurrection eye and colors and substances to see with it, a resurrection ear and voices and music to regale it, a resurrection heart and to satisfy it. I have no patience with your transcendental, gelatinous, gaseous heaven.”] 

[Where does God want you to be? ]  

[2 Peter 3:9 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.]

[How do you step out of Hell and into Heaven?]

[Romans 10:13 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.]

B.     The Fellowship Of Heaven (vs 26-27) [– Who will be there? – And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. – I believe it was DL Moody who wrote in his book on Heaven that the older he got the more his thoughts about Heaven changed for him.  When he was younger his thoughts about heaven focused on the streets of gold and the jeweled walls.  But now, as he grows older, his thoughts about heaven focus more on those who have preceded him into that glorious place.]

[In the real physical place called heaven there are hosts of redeemed individuals.  The Bible reveals,]

1.      The Multitudes in Heaven (vs 26-27; Heb 12.1-2, 22-24; Rev 19.1,6) [– There will be multitudes in that glorious city of Gold.  In the Bible we discover,]

[Hebrews 12:1-2 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.]

[The Cloud of Witnesses - These verses point to the masses who have endured the Christian life and struggle before us.  We have seen them run the race before for us, they have been our example for how we ought live out our Christian lives.  These heroes of the faith are already there in that place we call Heaven.  I think of Adrian Rogers, RG Lee, Curtis Hudson, Billy Sunday, and DL Moody to name just a few.  But I also think of those who were less known by our world but whom I knew Pastor Thomas Ewing, and Pastor Sutton who personal touched my Christian life.  These and many untold multitudes are already there in that place.  Then there is,]

[Hebrews 12:22-24 22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.]

[The General Assembly of the Church – All who have ever called out to the Lord Jesus Christ to be their personal Lord and Savior will be in that place called Heaven.  My Grandfather’s and Grandmother’s are in that glorious place.  I think of a mother and father who stood tragically by the bed side of their son as he died from a hideous and painful disease, who after their son exhaled his last mortal breath were assured that their son was immediately in the presence of our Lord.  Why?  Because just weeks earlier they were present when their son accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.]

[I am reminded on the one hand that, ]

[ Matthew 7:14  . . .  narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. ]

[ But on the other hand I am reminded of the Apostle John’s words when he wrote,]

[Revelation 19:1 1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: ]

[Revelation 19:6 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.]

[In our text Jesus made specific reference to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Men, who in Jesus’ culture, had been dead for an incredibly long period of time.  Yet, the Lord Jesus Christ, who left His throne in a physical Heaven to come as our incarnate Savior, openly declared that they were very much alive in that incredible place.]

[They are there already and there will be multitudes in that place we call heaven!  What about you, are you one of those who will be there?]

2.      The Membership of Heaven (Heb 12.23) [– The next critical question now arises before us.  What must one do to find an entrance into this real place we call Heaven? How does one get on heaven’s rolls?  Is your name written on heavens rolls?  We earlier read,]

[Hebrews 12:23 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, ]

[The same God who, in his sovereignty, created all things, and then authoritatively provided a supported written Word that reveals the truths we need to know about Heaven and Hell.  This same God has also provided the truth’s you and I need to know for us to find an entrance into this place called heaven.]

[You must,]

[Admit that you are a sinner (Rom 3.23)]

[Acknowledge that you have earned you way to hell (Rom 6.23) – God does not throw anyone into hell we earn our way into the hell.  God does not want anyone to go to hell.]

[Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary’s Cross for your sins, was dead and buried and the third day physically rose form the grave (Rom 10.9-10)]

[Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior (Rom 10.9-10,13; Rev 3.20)]

[If you will call out to the Lord Jesus Christ, then the prepared place called Heaven can become your eternal home.]

C.     The Folly Of Heaven (vs 24,27)  [– What do you think about heaven?]

[Mark 12:24 24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?]

[Mark 12:27 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. ]

[It is very important that we hear what Jesus is telling these Sadducees in this passage.  They have made a fatal error.]  In this life you can have,

1.      Foolish Minds (Rom 1.20) [– The error made by the Sadducees was simply that they did not know the Scriptures (vs 24).  Jesus did not refer them to some newly written doctrine or text.  Jesus told them they needed to know their Bible, the same Bible Jesus was raised with, the same Bible you and I hold in our hands.  The Old Testament contained in our Bible is the same Bible Jesus was raised with.]

[How incredibly foolish it is to have the Word of God in your home and even in your hand and then ignore it.  Many will stand before God on judgment day and will try to claim that they just did not know, but God says,]

[Romans 1:20 20 . . .  that they are without excuse:]

2.      Fulfilled Minds [- Will you respond to the Word of God?  Have you heard God’s warnings about Hell and His testimony about Heaven?  Have you heard God’s plea that you might choose eternal life?  The only way you will find fulfillment in this life and confidence in the face of eternity to come is to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.  Are you a Child of the King?  Are you a citizen of Heaven?]

 

 


[1] If you have trouble accessing the web resources quoted contact www.thischristianjourney.com for copies of these articles. http://www.thischristianjourney.com/ThisChristianJourney/GeneralPages/Historical_king_david.htm

[2] http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27018

 

 Home Page  -  Accept Jesus Now! -  Email


image
image