United Together in Love
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
SUBJECT: Heaven
TITLE: Rejoice in Eternity
PROPOSITION: In eternity we will be united together in love 1) because God is love and we will love one another, 2) because it is God’s desire that we be united together, 3) because we will have a perfect desire to belong with God.
OBJECTIVE: Each listener should be able to state at least one reason why we can rejoice in eternity.
AIM: To motivate all to live faithfully so as to one day be in eternity with God.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: 1 Peter 4:13 “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
2. About the Text:
1) Peter was writing to Christians who were being persecuted.
2) He tells them to rejoice in this because they were partaking of Christ’s sufferings.
3) They rejoiced, not because of the pain and anguish which they were bearing.
4) They rejoiced because they were laying up treasures in heaven.
5) Their ultimate joy would be realized when Christ returned.
6) They would be glad with exceeding joy.
3. Jesus said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11).
1) Today we have the words of Christ to guide our lives.
2) These words provide joy for us while we live in this life.
3) They provide joy because the creator knows what will bring us joy in this life.
4) But there is a greater joy for which all Christians look.
5) Jesus speaks of this joy as well.
6) This is the full joy that comes only as a result of having lived a life in faithful service to Christ.
7) This is the joy that we ultimately find in eternity.
4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: In eternity we will be united together in love . . .
I. Because God is love and we will love one another.
1. 1 John 4:7, 8 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
2. 1 John 4:16 “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
3. All of the sin that prevents us from loving one another as we should will be removed so that we can love one another perfectly.
4. Paul said that these three things remain: “And now abides faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
II. Because it is God’s desire that we all be united together.
1. This is the eternal purpose (Ephesians 3:11).
2. “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Col.3:14).
3. Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
III. Because we will have a perfect desire to belong to God.
1. God is going to heal us from all of our imperfections.
2. We will see the face of God.
3. His name will be in our foreheads indicating to whom we belong.
4. God’s light will reign supreme over all things.
5. “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:1-5).
CONCLUSION:
1. So we rejoice in eternity because we will be united together in love . . .
2. Invitation