WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.379 Wrapping up our session with prayer. So let me begin with prayer this morning. 00:00:05.600 --> 00:00:16.260 Father, we thank you for the hope of the redemption of our bodies and our glorification with you when you return. 00:00:16.260 --> 00:00:23.679 We thank you that, Lord, you not only bless us and take care of us and provide for us in the present age, 00:00:23.719 --> 00:00:26.480 but we thank you that you have promised us eternal life through Christ. 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:31.019 And we pray that our hope for the future would impact how we live in the present today. 00:00:31.719 --> 00:00:34.120 Help us as we consider these topics. 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:38.340 Pray that this would be a fruitful session this morning as we conclude this class. 00:00:38.420 --> 00:00:39.939 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 00:00:41.219 --> 00:00:48.820 All right. So the topic today is the hope of glory, the future of our bodies, gender, and sexuality. 00:00:49.000 --> 00:00:52.179 These are our three topics that we've looked at in this class this fall. 00:00:52.700 --> 00:00:54.659 Why God made us with bodies. 00:00:54.659 --> 00:00:56.599 Right. He didn't make us just like the angels. 00:00:57.259 --> 00:01:03.479 You know, the angels, you know, are spiritual beings and sometimes will appear in bodies, but don't seem to have bodies. 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:07.359 But God made us with bodies to reflect his glory. 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:18.259 And he made us male and female to reflect the, in some ways, to reflect the relationships within the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, 00:01:18.260 --> 00:01:22.580 being in relationship with one another and with human beings. 00:01:22.580 --> 00:01:30.560 He made us male and female to reflect that sort of difference and unity, obviously. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:35.760 And also one aspect of God making us male and female is that's how human beings reproduce. 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:44.820 Right. That's how we fulfill the commission to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, which is sort of what we saw in Genesis. 00:01:44.819 --> 00:01:48.279 And that's a good thing. 00:01:48.419 --> 00:01:49.500 That's part of God's creation. 00:01:50.579 --> 00:01:59.280 And obviously it's intended to be fulfilled in the marriage of male and female and in raising children for God's glory. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:04.299 But what we're looking at today is where is this all going? 00:02:04.579 --> 00:02:19.439 Right. We've looked at some of we've also looked at some of the sort of distortions, how are our how we sort of use our bodies and and experience our being male and female or our sexuality, 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:29.159 how we how we can use those things in ways that don't glorify and honor God and some of the challenges and temptations and just difficult things that we face in this fall. 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:33.079 And the world. So we've looked at homosexuality. We've looked at transgender identity. 00:02:33.079 --> 00:02:35.439 We've looked at pornography. We've looked at sexual assault. 00:02:36.060 --> 00:02:40.359 But I don't want to end this class on sort of one of these heavy and difficult topics. 00:02:40.500 --> 00:02:45.120 I want to end this class where the Bible ends, which is with our eternal hope. 00:02:45.859 --> 00:02:51.840 So I hope you've got a handout and there are handouts at the front from the last two weeks. 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:59.039 If you have missed one of those and their handouts from this week, if you don't have a handout, they're right here and somebody will make sure you get them. 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:09.180 All right. So as believers in Christ, what is our future hope and how does for our bodies, gender and sexuality, how does this hope for eternity make a difference for us today? 00:03:09.659 --> 00:03:16.460 So I want to go back to the first. I made three points in the first lesson, which you've probably all forgotten. 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:20.759 Right. But about our bodies and our gender and our sexuality all being created by God. 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:24.519 So I want to rehearse those and then talk about where that's going in the future. 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:29.060 So in the beginning, God created us with bodies and called them good. 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:32.340 I feel like I'm getting an echo. 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:33.300 So I'm going to turn that down. 00:03:33.780 --> 00:03:41.820 In the end, our physical bodies will be resurrected, raised from the dead and liberated from their bondage to decay. 00:03:42.640 --> 00:03:44.140 So where do we see this? 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:47.980 Romans 8, right, this wonderful chapter about our Christian hope. 00:03:47.979 --> 00:03:53.359 Paul says we know the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 00:03:54.299 --> 00:03:58.599 And not only the creation, but we ourselves who have the first fruits of the spirit. 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:05.819 Right. We've come to experience the Holy Spirit who's been sort of given to us as a deposit, sort of with a promise of more to come. 00:04:05.819 --> 00:04:14.019 We also groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:16.319 For in this hope, we were saved. 00:04:17.060 --> 00:04:21.939 Right. Paul saying when we were saved, when we were brought into relationship with Jesus Christ, 00:04:22.019 --> 00:04:29.199 we're given this hope that one day our bodies will be fully and finally redeemed and freed from their bondage to decay. 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:32.600 Now, but we might ask, like, what's that going to look like? 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:38.660 Like, right, what's it going to look like for us to have a resurrected body in the new creation? 00:04:39.300 --> 00:04:39.480 Right. 00:04:41.340 --> 00:04:43.080 And there's a mystery to that. 00:04:43.520 --> 00:04:49.120 You know, in several places, Paul insists that we can't imagine how glorious that's going to be. 00:04:49.220 --> 00:04:55.040 Right. No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor the heart of man imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. 00:04:55.740 --> 00:04:58.379 But, Paul says, we do have a little clue. 00:04:58.379 --> 00:05:05.879 Paul insists it's not going to be something that's completely disconnected from our present existence. 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:12.480 Right. So, Paul uses an analogy in 1 Corinthians 15 of a seed that grows into a tree. 00:05:13.459 --> 00:05:20.279 Right. Now, when you look at a seed, how many of you can look at a seed and then imagine what the tree is going to look like? 00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:22.959 Well, no, you can only do that if you've seen the tree. 00:05:23.179 --> 00:05:23.419 Right. 00:05:24.419 --> 00:05:32.939 You can only do that if you're a gardener and you know what kind of seed you're dealing with and you've got that little, you know, picture on the front of the packet of seeds. 00:05:33.359 --> 00:05:34.159 And you know what is. 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:36.339 But that's cheating. 00:05:36.579 --> 00:05:36.979 Right. 00:05:37.699 --> 00:05:42.599 If you just had the seed, if somebody gave you a seed and said, this is going to grow into a beautiful tree. 00:05:42.600 --> 00:05:45.780 Can you imagine, just by looking at that seed, what it is? 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:46.879 No. 00:05:47.640 --> 00:05:49.140 But, let me ask you this. 00:05:50.200 --> 00:05:53.379 Does that tree grow out of that little seed? 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:54.920 Yes. 00:05:55.640 --> 00:05:56.080 Right. 00:05:57.100 --> 00:06:01.580 There's the analogy Paul's giving us between our present bodies and our future resurrection bodies. 00:06:02.140 --> 00:06:05.680 So, Paul's saying, we can't imagine what the tree is going to look like. 00:06:06.700 --> 00:06:09.080 But, we're living in that seed. 00:06:09.079 --> 00:06:13.439 We're walking around with it every single day and carrying it around with us wherever you go. 00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:14.579 Right. 00:06:15.579 --> 00:06:17.060 That's our present bodies. 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:24.979 And God's going to sort of take out of our present bodies when we, through, right, what does the seed have to do? 00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:26.479 The seed has to fall into the ground and die. 00:06:26.939 --> 00:06:27.319 Right. 00:06:27.379 --> 00:06:28.419 In order to produce a tree. 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:29.459 Right. 00:06:29.539 --> 00:06:35.659 So, it's only, again, through when we die and are raised with Christ or when Christ comes again. 00:06:36.219 --> 00:06:37.620 You know, if that happens before we die. 00:06:37.620 --> 00:06:37.699 Okay. 00:06:40.019 --> 00:06:43.259 And that will, then, Christ will raise us from the dead. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:43.519 Right. 00:06:43.579 --> 00:06:48.439 So, he will take our present bodies and make it into our future bodies. 00:06:48.540 --> 00:06:52.980 So, Paul says what, I won't read this whole verse, but it's in 1 Corinthians 15. 00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:57.939 What you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel. 00:06:57.939 --> 00:07:01.279 But God gives it a body as he has chosen. 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:03.680 So, it is with the resurrection of the dead. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:05.920 What is sown is perishable. 00:07:06.019 --> 00:07:07.660 What is raised is imperishable. 00:07:07.780 --> 00:07:09.000 It is sown in dishonor. 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:10.259 It is raised in glory. 00:07:10.699 --> 00:07:11.840 It is sown in weakness. 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:13.060 It is raised in power. 00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:15.079 It is sown a natural body. 00:07:15.139 --> 00:07:16.519 It is raised a spiritual body. 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:19.220 That last one is a hard one to translate. 00:07:19.980 --> 00:07:24.240 But, basically, it starts with what we experience in our bodies today. 00:07:24.400 --> 00:07:29.760 And it's then the sort of fully spirit-filled, empowered, resurrected body. 00:07:30.320 --> 00:07:30.480 Okay. 00:07:31.280 --> 00:07:33.040 Doesn't mean it's not really going to be a body at all. 00:07:33.840 --> 00:07:35.800 Now, how do we know this is going to happen? 00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:36.740 Right. 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:40.980 How can we be confident that God is actually going to give us a resurrection body? 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:46.439 Well, one reason we can be confident is because Jesus Christ has already been resurrected. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:47.879 Right. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:52.480 And so, the New Testament says we can look back on what happened to Jesus 2,000 years ago 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:59.519 and see a little picture of what he promises will happen to each of us who are united with him through faith. 00:08:00.340 --> 00:08:03.540 So, Paul says we can have confidence that this is going to happen, 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:06.019 even though we don't know exactly what it's going to look like, 00:08:06.019 --> 00:08:08.699 even though we can't imagine what it's going to be like. 00:08:09.039 --> 00:08:13.819 But we can look back and say, God raised Jesus from the dead. 00:08:14.479 --> 00:08:18.099 And God promises that God will raise us from the dead, 00:08:18.419 --> 00:08:21.060 just as he raised Jesus from the dead 2,000 years ago. 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:25.799 So, if you think about the resurrection body of Christ, 00:08:26.219 --> 00:08:30.539 it's, again, both, you know, a real physical body, right? 00:08:30.599 --> 00:08:31.479 He eats food. 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:34.759 He drinks, you know, he eats and drinks with his disciples. 00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:37.439 You know, he touches them. 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:38.840 He has wounds. 00:08:39.460 --> 00:08:42.559 Interestingly, he still bears the scars of his crucifixion. 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:46.259 So, it's a real body. 00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:47.559 He says, I'm not just a ghost. 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:49.079 I'm not just floating around here. 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:52.100 You know, I'm not just appearing to you and then vanishing. 00:08:52.100 --> 00:08:57.500 Although, on the other hand, he does appear and then van, right? 00:08:57.720 --> 00:09:00.600 On the other hand, right, his body can go through. 00:09:01.060 --> 00:09:06.960 His body is not limited by all the things that limit our bodies now, right? 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:09.600 He's able to go through the locked door and appear in the room. 00:09:10.139 --> 00:09:11.940 And they're like, how did you get here? 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:12.680 Right? 00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:14.740 Ah! 00:09:15.060 --> 00:09:15.500 You know, right? 00:09:15.500 --> 00:09:16.320 They're shocked. 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:17.820 And then he's like, touch me. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:18.360 I'm real. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:20.759 Right? 00:09:21.139 --> 00:09:23.019 So, you can't put it all together. 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:26.059 Again, there's both continuity and discontinuity, right? 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:29.419 There's something that's like, it's the same. 00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:35.379 It is, Christ was raised from the dead. 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:38.399 The same body that was crucified and laid in the tomb was raised from the dead. 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:48.919 But, it's a new and resurrected and glorious body that isn't subject to the limitations that we currently experience. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:56.699 So, Philippians says, the Lord Jesus Christ will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body. 00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:59.399 Again, our body is going to be made like his. 00:10:00.279 --> 00:10:02.639 And we have a glimpse of that now. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:08.720 And I think that this future hope of the resurrection of our bodies is one of the reasons, not the only reason, 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:13.279 but one of the reasons why Paul encourages us and urges us over and over, 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:16.919 offer your bodies to Jesus Christ as a living sacrifice day by day. 00:10:17.439 --> 00:10:26.919 Because we are carrying around that seed that God one day is going to make into a glorious and beautiful tree that will bear fruit for eternity. 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:27.500 Right? 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:33.179 You know, we're carrying around sort of the seed of that future resurrection body. 00:10:33.379 --> 00:10:36.940 And so, Paul's saying, let's live in light of what we're going to be in the future. 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:38.740 What we're going to be eternally. 00:10:39.340 --> 00:10:39.500 Right? 00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:42.480 Don't live in light of, you know, what God has saved you from. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:43.259 You know? 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:46.779 Like, don't just keep dragging around all your sin and corruption with you. 00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:47.399 Right? 00:10:47.659 --> 00:10:48.980 Paul's like, leave that behind. 00:10:49.460 --> 00:10:49.679 Right? 00:10:49.799 --> 00:10:50.720 Lean into the future. 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:54.620 Live into what God is preparing you for. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:56.039 All right. 00:10:56.179 --> 00:10:57.000 Second point. 00:10:58.220 --> 00:11:02.060 In the beginning, God created us as gendered beings, male and female, in his image. 00:11:02.139 --> 00:11:06.340 Again, we said that nine weeks ago, the first week of the class. 00:11:07.179 --> 00:11:13.240 In the end, there's every indication that we will continue to bear God's image as male and female creatures, 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:16.060 in our redeemed and glorified masculinity and femininity. 00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:25.119 Now, Christ said, in Matthew 22, it also comes up in Mark and Luke, same passage, repeated in three gospels. 00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:30.839 He says, in the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven. 00:11:31.819 --> 00:11:38.639 And some Christians have heard that, and they have argued on the basis of that verse that when Jesus comes again, 00:11:38.699 --> 00:11:40.819 we will no longer be male and female at all. 00:11:40.820 --> 00:11:43.360 But that's not what Christ says. 00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:49.620 And that's not what this passage is teaching. 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:54.500 He simply says, we will not get married, and we'll get to that more on what that means in the third point. 00:11:55.440 --> 00:12:00.680 And even today, just because someone is not married does not mean that they are not male or female. 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:01.420 Right? 00:12:01.540 --> 00:12:02.560 It's actually really important. 00:12:02.780 --> 00:12:05.280 Like, you are fully male or female, whether you are married or not. 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:06.000 Right? 00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:17.019 And we will be fully male and female in the new creation, regardless of marriage. 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:22.480 So, there are several reasons, possibly, to believe that we'll continue to be male or female. 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:22.919 Right? 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:24.559 God made us from the beginning male and female. 00:12:24.699 --> 00:12:29.740 If God's intention was not going to be carried through into the age to come, presumably, Jesus would have indicated this. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:35.740 There's no indication of any significant change in Christ's appearance in this regard after his resurrection. 00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:41.440 And, again, the idea of the bodily resurrection implies we'll retain some of our present human traits, 00:12:41.659 --> 00:12:46.940 and our maleness or femaleness is one of the most deeply rooted aspects of our present humanity. 00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:52.920 So, even in the early church, this question came up, and I've included a quote from Jerome, 00:12:53.060 --> 00:13:00.960 who is an early church father, who affirms that we will be male and female in the age to come. 00:13:02.020 --> 00:13:10.160 But I think, also, one thing we can look forward to is that our masculinity and femininity in the new creation 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:16.879 will be purified from all distortions, healed from all wounds, and liberated from all false images. 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:17.419 Right? 00:13:17.439 --> 00:13:22.779 Often we have sort of false self-images, false images of what we should be, false images of what we are. 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:23.480 Right? 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:29.480 Just distorted self-concepts that are often sort of wounds that we carry with us. 00:13:30.199 --> 00:13:35.480 And God has promised, and often that's connected to being male or female in one respect or another. 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:39.699 And God promises that he will free us from all those things. 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:47.919 And we'll be able to receive and enjoy our resurrected bodies as true gifts from God in every respect. 00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:59.579 So, I've included a quote that's a little hard to follow at times, but I'll read some of it. 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:06.279 The glorification of the body will reveal the definitive meaning of what he's referring to. 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:10.699 It'll reveal the definitive meaning of how God made us in his image as male and female. 00:14:12.319 --> 00:14:12.600 Right? 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:16.620 Our maleness and femaleness is meant to be a distinctive sign of the created person in the visible world, 00:14:16.699 --> 00:14:21.539 a means for communication between persons, an authentic expression of truth and love. 00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:29.279 So, basically, we'll be freed to be all of who God has made us to be. 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:38.059 And I think an interesting point in this regard is that the Bible uses both male and female imagery to describe our relationship to God, 00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:40.299 or describe us in relationship to God. 00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:45.399 So, the church, both now and in the age to come, is described as the bride of Christ. 00:14:45.959 --> 00:14:54.559 And so, sort of corporately, we relate to Christ as a wife to a husband. 00:14:55.479 --> 00:14:58.519 But believers, now and eternally, are also called sons of God. 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:04.100 Sometimes, in some translations, that's just translated children, because it does refer to both men and women. 00:15:04.699 --> 00:15:16.579 But it's using a male image from the ancient world, because the sons would receive the inheritance from their father. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:24.819 And so, both of these are sort of images that help us understand who we are in Christ. 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:30.379 So, I think what I want to say here is that both men and women, through Christ, can appreciate, 00:15:31.040 --> 00:15:35.860 and in one sense, even participate, sort of metaphorically, in the best of what both sexes embody. 00:15:38.300 --> 00:15:44.320 Another way to put this is, if you think about the divine and human natures of Christ, right? 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:47.820 Again, this is another one of these sort of mysterious and wonderful things, right? 00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:49.900 Jesus is both fully divine and fully human. 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:56.179 And those natures are not just sort of, like, confused with each other. 00:15:57.819 --> 00:16:01.079 But they're not divided and sort of kept separate from each other. 00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:04.340 But no, they're distinct and yet united in his person. 00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:10.919 So, that's actually what an early church council called the Council of Chalcedon was trying to work out. 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:16.299 And they said, they basically said, Jesus is fully divine and fully human. 00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:20.679 Sort of, yes, a divine nature and a human nature, but they're united in his one person. 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:28.159 And I think that that's sort of a picture of humanity as a whole being male and female. 00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:32.879 And sort of God's purpose that male and female are, 00:16:33.579 --> 00:16:39.919 we're able to sort of appreciate and enjoy all the gifts that God has given to us, right? 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:47.339 As a man, I can appreciate and for all eternity, I can appreciate and enjoy that God has made me male. 00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:51.979 And I can appreciate and enjoy what it means that God has made, you know, many of his children female. 00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:54.959 And just the goodness of that, right? 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:55.879 There's a harmony there. 00:16:55.979 --> 00:16:58.839 There's a unity, sort of distinctness and unity. 00:16:59.079 --> 00:17:00.559 We're united in fellowship through Christ. 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:06.319 I think there's some mystery here, but I'm doing the best I can to sort of give, 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:09.859 I think, what the Bible offers us as our future hope. 00:17:10.120 --> 00:17:10.400 All right. 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:11.279 Third point. 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:15.860 Again, we've talked about our bodies, gender, sexuality. 00:17:16.120 --> 00:17:20.580 In the beginning, God created us as sexual beings and blessed the sexual union of husband and wife. 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:29.440 In the end, our sexuality will be fulfilled when we, as the bride of Christ, enjoy unbroken face-to-face union with Christ. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:30.759 All right. 00:17:30.800 --> 00:17:33.800 Christ says in the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage. 00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:45.879 And I think those words are clear enough, though, you know, they sometimes sort of surprise us because sometimes we think of marriage as so integral to, 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:53.460 we can idealize marriage and think of it as so important to, like, a happy, fulfilled Christian life. 00:17:53.659 --> 00:17:53.919 Right? 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.859 I really want to get married. 00:17:54.859 --> 00:17:57.000 That's sort of, like, central for many of us. 00:17:58.500 --> 00:18:07.519 But Christ says that, you know, marriage is a good gift in this life for many people, not for everyone, 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:11.619 and sexual union within that context of marriage. 00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:16.619 But in the new creation, marriage and sexual union will no longer be necessary for three primary reasons. 00:18:17.379 --> 00:18:22.679 First of all, procreation or bearing children will no longer be necessary. 00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:29.599 That's one of the reasons why God gave marriage to the human race in the beginning, is for the raising of children. 00:18:30.239 --> 00:18:30.339 Right? 00:18:30.659 --> 00:18:38.859 So marriage should never be completely disconnected from that calling. 00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:45.379 But procreation will no longer be necessary because death will be no more, on the one hand, 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:50.199 and because the fullness, what Paul calls the fullness of the Gentiles, the fullness of the nations, 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:55.719 or what John in Revelation calls a great multitude that no one could number from all tribes and peoples and languages, 00:18:55.879 --> 00:18:58.259 will have been brought into God's eternal kingdom. 00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:58.639 Right? 00:18:58.639 --> 00:19:03.839 In the beginning, God said, be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, and that commission will have been fulfilled. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:09.379 And so the new creation will be full of people. 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:10.339 Right? 00:19:10.879 --> 00:19:14.539 It won't just be Adam and Eve at the beginning or a small group. 00:19:14.659 --> 00:19:19.480 It won't just be a tiny group of people in heaven looking around at each other and thinking, 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:21.299 is there anything more than us? 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:21.939 Right? 00:19:22.879 --> 00:19:23.359 No. 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.759 There's going to be a great multitude. 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:25.619 Right? 00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:27.939 From every tribe and nation and tongue. 00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:31.000 And so the creation mandate will have been completed. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:36.559 And so that's one reason why marriage and sexual union will no longer be necessary. 00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:42.039 The second reason is because the longing for intimacy that we pursue in marriage 00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:49.620 and that sort of draws us towards sexual union will be fulfilled in seeing our Savior himself face to face. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:52.420 And I think there's an analogy or sort of a parallel here. 00:19:52.420 --> 00:20:06.600 In the creation story, God put Adam into a deep sleep and he took out of his rib and fashioned it into his bride Eve. 00:20:07.060 --> 00:20:12.220 And Adam wakes up from a deep sleep and he sees Eve and he explodes into poetry. 00:20:12.800 --> 00:20:18.779 And he says, bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, she shall be called woman for she was taken out of man. 00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:24.259 And that word bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh is, it's basically like a marriage vow. 00:20:25.379 --> 00:20:29.339 And he's saying, we belong to each other. 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:31.039 God has put us together. 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:35.680 We're as closely connected as the bone and flesh in my arm. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:40.240 And the only way we could be torn apart from each other would be very, very painful. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.139 Right? 00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:44.759 That's sort of the image of what marriage is meant to be. 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:49.879 That sort of deep union and close-knit union. 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:56.960 So Adam rejoices upon awaking and seeing his bride face to face. 00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:59.799 But what do we have to look forward to? 00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:06.960 The Bible says that one day we will, Christ will awaken us. 00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.740 The dead will be raised. 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:10.779 He'll awaken us. 00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:12.379 And whose face will we see? 00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:16.940 We'll see the face of our bridegroom, of our husband. 00:21:17.760 --> 00:21:17.980 Right? 00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:21.740 The church, the bride, will see the face of Christ. 00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:28.620 And we will be eternally satisfied in seeing him and dwelling with him forever and ever. 00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:32.720 That will be the fulfillment of our longings. 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:34.980 And that will be better. 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:40.100 That will be all that the best of an earthly marriage can embody. 00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:49.579 And all that we long for and hope for in friendships and in family relationships fulfilled. 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:54.940 And truly we can look at Christ and say, he is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. 00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:56.200 Right? 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.519 He became fully human. 00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:58.440 Right? 00:21:58.519 --> 00:22:00.680 He's not just some other kind of being. 00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:01.460 He's our brother. 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:06.080 He has become one with us. 00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:09.600 Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.559 He will dwell with them. 00:22:11.360 --> 00:22:12.480 And they will be his people. 00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:14.480 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.200 And death shall be no more. 00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:19.440 They will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads. 00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:24.600 This will truly be the fulfillment of all our longings for intimacy, companionship, fruitfulness, 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.660 faithfulness, and joy. 00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:28.039 And it will never be taken away from us. 00:22:29.580 --> 00:22:34.840 Finally, the third thing I would say why marriage and sexual union will no longer be necessary 00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:38.140 in the new creation is because all of our human relationships in the new creation will 00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:40.059 be richer and deeper than they are today. 00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:48.200 So you will not feel that you have lost something that you formerly had with your spouse in heaven. 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:54.419 I think that's why we react negatively to Jesus' words is because we hear them and we think, 00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:56.940 we won't marry or be given in marriage? 00:22:57.159 --> 00:23:01.119 Like, man, I'm going to lose like one of the best things I have if you have a good marriage. 00:23:01.399 --> 00:23:01.579 Right? 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:05.039 Or if you're really longing to be married and really want to get married. 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:05.500 Right? 00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:07.539 Right? 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:14.579 So, but all of our human relationships with one another will be richer and deeper than they are today. 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:20.079 On the one hand, we won't be, you know, on the one hand, we won't be as needy. 00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:21.319 Right? 00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:29.200 Sometimes we long for relationships because we're, honestly, because we're idolatrously needy of other human beings. 00:23:29.639 --> 00:23:29.960 Right? 00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:34.139 And that's what's called codependence or whatever, obsessive. 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:34.819 Right? 00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:42.679 You know, we're looking for something in a human relationship that ultimately we're not going to find it 00:23:42.679 --> 00:23:46.220 because we're looking for God and we're looking at a person. 00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:47.539 And it ain't Jesus. 00:23:47.939 --> 00:23:51.179 Jesus is the only person who gives us what God can offer. 00:23:51.439 --> 00:23:51.619 Right? 00:23:51.619 --> 00:24:00.259 So, we won't be as idolatrously needy of other human beings as we can sometimes be now. 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:04.779 On the other hand, we'll be ever more deeply connected to all of our brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:06.459 And there won't be any of the hindrances. 00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:12.299 Think of all the things that hinder us from having unbroken fellowship with one another. 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:15.720 Sometimes it's just geographical distance. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:16.519 Right? 00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:20.099 People live far away and, you know, or busyness. 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:23.159 And so, we don't see each other. 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:26.579 But also, there's baggage from the past. 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.359 There's conflicts. 00:24:27.659 --> 00:24:28.399 There's distrust. 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:29.539 There's misunderstandings. 00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:31.899 There's all kinds of things that are ultimately a result of sin. 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:34.180 And all those things will be removed. 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:43.580 None of those things will hinder us from that kind of close and unbroken fellowship with one another, with other human beings. 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:48.740 We will certainly not feel that we have lost anything that we have previously enjoyed in an earthly marriage. 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:55.580 And those who have never married or who have never had sex while on earth will not feel that they have missed out on anything either. 00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:56.759 Right? 00:24:56.840 --> 00:24:59.000 Because we'll all have something far better. 00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:03.900 And every sacrifice made for Christ's sake will be honored and amply rewarded. 00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:10.540 Jesus says, no one who leaves behind house or wife or fields or children. 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:20.680 In other words, no one who forsakes marriage or children or leaves behind property or sort of gives away possessions for the sake of the kingdom of God. 00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:21.140 Right? 00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:31.500 If the path of faithfulness to Jesus for you means never getting married, never having sex, or giving away large amounts of your possessions, 00:25:32.120 --> 00:25:39.759 and being relatively poor compared to what you would be otherwise, or not enjoying, or whatever you have to give up in this life, 00:25:40.080 --> 00:25:42.360 Jesus promises it will be repaid. 00:25:42.359 --> 00:25:45.439 And in fact, it will be more than repaid. 00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:47.639 Because God doesn't just repay. 00:25:48.399 --> 00:25:51.579 God generously gives. 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:52.500 Right? 00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:55.319 He even says a hundred times as much. 00:25:56.819 --> 00:26:07.019 God will make all things new, and there will be plenty of time to enjoy and explore his new creation and to plumb the depths of his infinite splendor, wisdom, and love. 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:10.900 So that's the future hope that we have. 00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:18.359 Let me open it up for some questions on this topic or any of the topics that we have covered in this class. 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:38.559 I know you probably can't answer this definitively, but some people have said that even though we won't be married or parents anymore, 00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:43.379 somehow we're going to know that you're going to be different than Peter and John. 00:26:43.719 --> 00:26:45.479 Do you think that's true? 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:49.960 I think that we'll still be able to recognize each other. 00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:50.380 Right? 00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:53.839 Because that's part of, you know, God didn't make us clones. 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:54.799 Right? 00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:57.319 He didn't just make us on a machine. 00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:58.480 You know? 00:26:59.299 --> 00:27:04.680 It's not like, you know, a bunch of packages of Oreos in the store. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.200 Right? 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:07.819 All right, you're just one more package. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.220 Right? 00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:08.839 No. 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:11.980 Like, God made us distinct and unique human beings. 00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:16.640 So I think we'll retain our sort of distinctive identities in some way or other. 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:16.980 Yes? 00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:23.819 But then other people say, if you have a child that is not a believer and yet there's no tears in heaven, 00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:26.900 the other argument is, no, you're not going to recognize one. 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:29.839 Because then if the other one's not there, then you'll know the other one's not there. 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:34.419 And obviously as a parent you would feel sad, but you're not going to feel sad in heaven. 00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:35.759 So what about that argument? 00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:37.079 Yeah. 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:37.839 So... 00:27:38.439 --> 00:27:39.740 Or your husband. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.299 Right. 00:27:40.599 --> 00:27:45.059 So I think one question is, what about loved ones who are not with Christ for eternity? 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:45.799 Right. 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:57.519 And I think some of us rightly ask, like, how could I fully rejoice with Christ for eternity 00:27:57.519 --> 00:28:01.359 if some of my loved ones are not with Christ for eternity? 00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:01.980 Right. 00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:05.039 And I think that... 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:06.680 I'd say a few things. 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:16.120 One is, you know, you think about the Apostle Paul in Romans, and he says, I pray with tears 00:28:16.120 --> 00:28:20.840 for people who are living apart from Christ. 00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:21.580 Right. 00:28:22.560 --> 00:28:29.360 Like, in this present age, it's right for us to pray and, you know, and be disturbed by 00:28:29.360 --> 00:28:36.620 the possibility that our loved ones could continue to live apart from Christ and 00:28:36.619 --> 00:28:37.839 spend eternity apart from Christ. 00:28:37.939 --> 00:28:38.119 Right. 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:40.379 So that's what motivates Paul to pray. 00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:44.939 That's what motivates Paul to go into all the world and share the gospel and invite people. 00:28:45.159 --> 00:28:49.659 That's what motivates Paul to persevere when people have, you know, treated him wrongly, 00:28:49.939 --> 00:28:51.739 but for the sake of that. 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:57.379 So I think that's... 00:28:57.379 --> 00:29:02.399 I think now, like, in this present age, right, we don't see the end. 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:06.519 We, you know, we don't know who's, you know, who exactly is going to be there and who's 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.440 actually not going to be there. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:07.740 Right. 00:29:07.840 --> 00:29:12.519 And honestly, even when people die, sometimes we're not totally sure. 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.160 Right. 00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.640 We can't... 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:17.980 You know, that only God ultimately knows. 00:29:18.300 --> 00:29:18.519 Right. 00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:23.400 So I think, as for eternity, I think... 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:26.720 I think we... 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.680 I think I'd say two things. 00:29:27.800 --> 00:29:29.400 One is... 00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:37.680 One is, I think we have to ask ourselves, like, you know, Jesus in some places is basically 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:41.900 like, do you love me even more than your closest relatives? 00:29:42.040 --> 00:29:42.259 Right. 00:29:42.540 --> 00:29:42.840 Right? 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:50.460 And, you know, are we loyal to him, like, above all else? 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:51.819 Um... 00:29:51.819 --> 00:30:00.220 And so, like, our greatest joy in heaven is not going to be a big family reunion. 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:00.779 Right? 00:30:00.840 --> 00:30:04.620 Our greatest joy in heaven is going to be being with the Lord and seeing him face to face. 00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:04.840 Right? 00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:05.740 He's the center of heaven. 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:09.860 And if we had everything else in heaven, without him, it wouldn't be heaven. 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.340 Right? 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:15.319 And sometimes we have to ask ourselves, if I had everything else that God promises in heaven, 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:23.179 you know, a new body and, you know, a new creation and a whole bunch of friends, um, but I didn't 00:30:23.179 --> 00:30:26.119 have Jesus, would I be happy to be there? 00:30:26.839 --> 00:30:30.679 And if we think, sure, I'd be happy to be there, then the question is, do I really love 00:30:30.679 --> 00:30:31.059 the Lord? 00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:37.659 Or do I just want some of the benefits? 00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:38.419 Right? 00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:47.039 Um, the other thing is, uh, the picture of hell that the Bible gives us is that we become 00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:48.200 less human and not more. 00:30:49.360 --> 00:30:52.779 Like, we lose the good aspects of our humanity. 00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:53.000 Right? 00:30:53.080 --> 00:30:54.560 There are many things. 00:30:54.900 --> 00:30:59.680 So, Jesus says, when people are on earth, God sustains the righteous and the unrighteous. 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:00.259 Right? 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:06.200 And, you know, he gives health, physical health, and he gives wisdom and mental stability. 00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:10.480 And, right, God gives all kinds of sort of common grace blessings, even to people who 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:13.720 reject him and don't recognize them as coming from him. 00:31:14.580 --> 00:31:22.460 But hell is a place where, or eternity basically means we either recognize the source of all 00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:27.140 those blessings and cling to the source, that is God and Christ, and we experience those, 00:31:27.340 --> 00:31:33.180 you know, life in union with God for all eternity, or we are sort of left to ourselves. 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.200 Right? 00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:36.160 And all those other blessings are removed. 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.200 Right? 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:44.360 And so, all the things that, all the things that would have attracted us to even loved 00:31:44.360 --> 00:31:47.360 ones on earth will not be there in hell. 00:31:47.580 --> 00:31:47.860 Right? 00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:48.759 Right? 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:53.980 That, like, being in hell and looking at someone else, you won't see any of those attractive 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:58.100 things, because those were gifts of God that God gave to them while they were on earth. 00:31:58.099 --> 00:32:06.259 And by rejecting, by finally rejecting Christ and persisting in that unrepentance, God will 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:11.699 take, God will remove those, because those are temporary blessings for earthly life. 00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:25.980 And so there won't be anything left that, if you think of all the things that would make someone admirable and make you want to spend a lot of time with them, none of those will be there. 00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:31.140 And only sin and sort of corruption will be there. 00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:33.920 And that's a scary picture. 00:32:35.140 --> 00:32:35.740 Right? 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.039 Right? 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.079 Right? 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:41.460 That's also a motivation to, like, repent and turn to Christ today, because you don't want to become like that. 00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:42.700 Right? 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:53.359 Like, you know, we don't want to have all of the good things in our life that God has just graciously given to us, taken away, because we haven't truly turned to Christ. 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:55.099 So if you haven't turned to Christ, turn to Christ. 00:32:55.799 --> 00:32:56.159 Right? 00:32:58.119 --> 00:33:05.240 Because then all the good things that he's given us on earth are sort of only a prelude to what we'll have in all eternity. 00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:05.740 Right? 00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:09.119 They're only the beginning instead of sort of the end. 00:33:10.479 --> 00:33:11.639 But that's a hard question. 00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:17.959 And I think, yeah, it's a good question to ask. 00:33:18.639 --> 00:33:19.000 Michelle? 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:34.079 So I guess I have a question about, so I think one of the joys of heaven will be that we will finally see the effects of sin in our lives and corruption of the sin in our lives. 00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:42.740 You know, and we'll be like, oh, wow, I had no idea sin had, you know, dampened my emotions, dampened my physical abilities. 00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:45.359 You know, I think we're going to wake up and go, whoa. 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:51.579 Like, sin was really powerful, and it had super effect on our lives in a way we can't come to it now. 00:33:51.819 --> 00:33:54.139 Because I feel like we don't have the full picture of the garden. 00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:55.759 Like, how did Adam run in the garden? 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:56.479 You know what I mean? 00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:59.759 Like, we have no idea what his physical capabilities were. 00:33:59.939 --> 00:34:00.079 Yeah. 00:34:00.179 --> 00:34:01.779 And they're so degraded at this point. 00:34:01.919 --> 00:34:04.039 And you can go through every aspect of our lives. 00:34:04.419 --> 00:34:10.500 So in some ways, I think heaven is difficult to understand because we don't understand how it was in the garden. 00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:11.259 Yeah. 00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:12.880 Because the picture's not fully there. 00:34:13.140 --> 00:34:13.300 Yeah. 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:20.260 But I can also see that it's difficult because the picture's not really there of heaven to say, well, my hope is in what is to come. 00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:23.940 Because it's not, like, the Bible doesn't really flush it all out. 00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:27.300 So I wondered if you had some pastoral encouragement. 00:34:27.540 --> 00:34:31.940 Like, how do you hope in something that is just so intangible? 00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:33.040 Yeah. 00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:37.219 Both looking back at the garden, but also looking forward to the new garden. 00:34:37.659 --> 00:34:37.900 Yeah. 00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:39.699 Yeah, that's a great question. 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:46.039 How do we, right, how do we sort of fix our hopes on, you know, Paul says fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. 00:34:46.259 --> 00:34:48.840 For what is seen is temporary, for what is unseen is eternal. 00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:50.400 But it's unseen. 00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:53.099 Like, how do I fix my eyes on what I can't see? 00:34:53.099 --> 00:35:03.360 I think one of the ways that God has given to us to do that is he gives us foretastes of heaven in our lives today. 00:35:04.279 --> 00:35:14.659 And maybe it's, you know, sometimes, like, when we're, like, singing a great hymn together upstairs and we can sort of hear everybody singing. 00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:19.440 If you sit toward the front, you can hear the congregation singing, right? 00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:21.299 If you always sit in the back, you won't hear it as much. 00:35:21.859 --> 00:35:25.659 But one of the benefits of sitting toward the front is you actually hear everybody else behind you, and it's sort of cool. 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:37.559 And, but anyway, right, sometimes there's these, there's these experiences that we have of, like, where we're just like, man, it's awesome to worship God. 00:35:38.179 --> 00:35:42.679 Or I love just being in nature and seeing God's creation. 00:35:42.679 --> 00:35:49.739 So, like, I don't do a lot of mountain hiking, but I love doing it when I have the opportunity to do that. 00:35:49.859 --> 00:35:52.579 When our children get a little older, hopefully we'll do a little more. 00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:54.559 If you're able to. 00:35:54.799 --> 00:35:55.619 If I'm able, yeah. 00:35:56.739 --> 00:35:58.480 Hopefully my body lasts that long. 00:35:59.399 --> 00:36:09.480 But, right, when you get to the top of the mountain, right, like, you can sort, when you sort of see one of those, like, when you emerge from the trees and you, like, see the view, right? 00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:09.619 Right. 00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:24.740 Or I think, like, sometimes just, like, having a good meal with a group of friends and having a good conversation for, you know, for an hour or two or a couple of hours late into the evening. 00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:34.619 Like, that's, you know, for me, those are some of the things that I'm like, those are all little pictures of what we can experience in eternity to come. 00:36:34.699 --> 00:36:40.799 So, I think when we, I think one thing we can do is sort of recognize those four tastes of heaven. 00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:54.460 And, you know, those first fruits of the Holy Spirit, you know, when we have this sense of sort of nearness to God in prayer or whatever it might be, you know, and different ones of us might experience it in different ways. 00:36:54.600 --> 00:37:01.980 But to sort of hold on to those things, not hold on to those things and be like, oh, I don't ever want to lose this, you know. 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:04.539 I mean, that's not right. 00:37:04.539 --> 00:37:09.619 Like, that's sort of like somebody who's, like, walks up the mountain and they're, like, constantly, like, taking pictures. 00:37:10.340 --> 00:37:10.699 Right? 00:37:11.860 --> 00:37:13.699 And, like, they're only looking through their phone. 00:37:13.800 --> 00:37:15.239 Like, okay, I've got to get a picture of everything. 00:37:15.340 --> 00:37:16.179 Got to get a picture of everything. 00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:24.380 And you can't even, like, enjoy the experience because you're, like, so fixated on getting pictures which are not going to be nearly as good as the experience itself. 00:37:24.400 --> 00:37:24.679 Right? 00:37:24.679 --> 00:37:29.699 But I think it's, I think what the Bible is saying is, like, see through the experience to the eternal hope. 00:37:29.859 --> 00:37:30.039 Right? 00:37:30.179 --> 00:37:35.139 To the source and the, right, the, where it points us towards. 00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:37.599 So that's one thing. 00:37:38.919 --> 00:37:52.659 I think the other thing is, like, in our longing, is when we're on the other end of life, in the adversities and the unfulfilled longings, is those can be times where we can say, Lord, I'm thankful that I have more than this to live for. 00:37:52.659 --> 00:37:54.960 Like, help me to remember that I really do. 00:37:55.599 --> 00:38:06.379 Like, help me to know that, help me to know that, you know, when I'm barely dragging myself out of bed this morning, that there's something better ahead. 00:38:06.859 --> 00:38:13.460 And even if I can't see what it is, help me to keep plodding along through the wilderness to get there. 00:38:13.460 --> 00:38:20.759 Along those lines, if I can make a point, you know, we are thinking about all this with our human mind. 00:38:20.760 --> 00:38:24.120 So, you know, when we say we can't understand the mind of God, we really can't. 00:38:24.520 --> 00:38:40.240 You know, if we think about just the perfect union between us and God in heaven, you know, when we talk about giving up the marriage, you know, or our children, the relationship, because that's the best of what we can muster up here in a sinful world. 00:38:40.239 --> 00:38:40.639 Right? 00:38:40.799 --> 00:38:50.000 So when that sin is gone, and now you're in perfect union with God, if we can get out of our own way and get out without sin, it's a whole new ballgame. 00:38:50.219 --> 00:38:51.179 And you're with God. 00:38:51.299 --> 00:38:52.239 I mean, it's this... 00:38:53.699 --> 00:38:53.959 Yeah. 00:38:54.039 --> 00:38:55.179 I don't need anything more than that. 00:38:55.219 --> 00:38:56.439 Just the thought of that is enough. 00:38:56.679 --> 00:38:56.879 Yeah. 00:38:57.139 --> 00:38:57.379 Yeah. 00:38:59.259 --> 00:38:59.879 That's right. 00:39:01.719 --> 00:39:02.119 Kelly. 00:39:02.119 --> 00:39:02.799 Yeah. 00:39:04.219 --> 00:39:09.599 Talking about looking forward to heaven and Christ being the ultimate reward, how then do we talk about rewards in heaven? 00:39:09.699 --> 00:39:11.119 That's always been... 00:39:11.119 --> 00:39:12.839 What does that mean exactly? 00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:19.559 I feel like my tradition that comes from never really emphasized that, because we wanted Christ to be everything in heaven, so we're not going to talk about... 00:39:19.559 --> 00:39:22.539 So can you speak a little bit just about rewards and how to think about that well? 00:39:23.039 --> 00:39:23.359 Yeah. 00:39:23.619 --> 00:39:25.319 With sacrifice on earth and that kind of thing? 00:39:25.539 --> 00:39:25.779 Yeah. 00:39:26.079 --> 00:39:26.299 Yeah. 00:39:26.300 --> 00:39:29.920 I mean, I think Jesus does promise. 00:39:32.180 --> 00:39:36.060 You know, Revelation has a picture of, like, the crown that's given to the martyrs. 00:39:36.240 --> 00:39:38.220 It's a picture of, like... 00:39:38.220 --> 00:39:41.140 They're often pictures of sort of reversal, right? 00:39:41.220 --> 00:39:46.700 Like, people who experience shame in this life because of Christ can look forward to receiving honor from Christ in the life to come. 00:39:47.300 --> 00:39:47.480 Right? 00:39:47.480 --> 00:39:55.860 People who experienced sort of deprivation for the sake of Christ can look forward to experiencing fullness and plenty in the life to come. 00:39:56.300 --> 00:40:11.220 So, again, I think it's meant to sort of remind us in our lowest, hardest circumstances on earth, like, there's, you know, there's a promise of something better to come. 00:40:12.820 --> 00:40:15.260 You know, again, like, what are those rewards going to look like? 00:40:16.260 --> 00:40:17.920 I'm not sure we can... 00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:18.520 I'm not sure... 00:40:18.520 --> 00:40:21.920 You know, sometimes people have been, like, oh, you're going to rule... 00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:33.080 Sometimes people have taken some of the language of the parables literally and they're, like, you're going to rule over ten cities in the, you know, age to come if you are faithful with, like, using your money well on earth. 00:40:33.480 --> 00:40:35.440 And I'm, like, it's a parable. 00:40:35.440 --> 00:40:37.440 Like, you know, like... 00:40:38.139 --> 00:40:42.280 And, like, some of us, like, ruling over ten cities, oh, gosh, please, no. 00:40:42.679 --> 00:40:43.500 Like, right? 00:40:43.579 --> 00:40:45.079 But, again, that's our fallen world experience. 00:40:45.320 --> 00:40:56.200 So, the other thing that was helpful to me is a long time ago, John Hinkson said to me, you know, different people will get different rewards in heaven, 00:40:56.199 --> 00:41:02.439 but the people who get the most rewards will all be the most generous and they'll want to share their rewards with everybody else. 00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:07.779 And so there won't ever be any envy because all of us will be, like... 00:41:07.779 --> 00:41:08.619 Because envy is a sin. 00:41:08.839 --> 00:41:10.539 You know, there won't be envy. 00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:12.799 There won't be, like, oh, I've got to keep my reward to myself. 00:41:12.939 --> 00:41:14.739 Oh, he's got a bigger reward than I... 00:41:14.739 --> 00:41:16.199 John's like, but... 00:41:16.719 --> 00:41:23.799 Aren't the most godly people, like, the ones who are, like, all mine is yours because we belong to Christ? 00:41:23.800 --> 00:41:33.100 Like, so that helped me, like, because that sort of solves the problem of, like, different rewards and, like, you know, am I going to be living in, you know, or whatever. 00:41:33.280 --> 00:41:37.640 Somebody's going to be living in a mansion and I'll be living in a shack in heaven and I'll be glad to be in my shack in heaven. 00:41:37.980 --> 00:41:47.820 Like, you know, like, that's, again, like, we got to be, we have to also just remember when we're, like, projecting our present experience onto heaven. 00:41:47.820 --> 00:41:58.160 Like, when we have disappointing pictures of heaven, it's because we're projecting our present experience onto heaven, not because heaven will be disappointing or boring or anything like that. 00:41:59.400 --> 00:41:59.800 Yeah. 00:42:00.400 --> 00:42:03.140 I don't know if I answered your question, but that's the best idea. 00:42:03.139 --> 00:42:03.659 Oh, we do. 00:42:06.460 --> 00:42:13.859 It's funny that you mentioned John because I, in Jess two weeks ago, I said to him, I said, do I get the jewels in my crown? 00:42:14.299 --> 00:42:16.759 And he said, because you asked, you're not going to get it. 00:42:16.940 --> 00:42:18.539 Be careful what you asked for. 00:42:18.539 --> 00:42:28.679 And I, like, struck me, you know, we say, Jess, like you said, you know, we kind of take these things out of context and the mansion on the hill. 00:42:28.840 --> 00:42:30.619 Well, what part of the mansion am I going to live in? 00:42:30.980 --> 00:42:36.340 When the expectation should be being there with Jesus, with the Lord. 00:42:36.779 --> 00:42:36.880 Yeah. 00:42:36.880 --> 00:42:36.940 Yeah. 00:42:36.940 --> 00:42:39.340 And really, I'd be happy with the shack. 00:42:39.340 --> 00:42:50.039 You know, I mean, that's the goal is to be there, not the things that we think of here on earth as being a measure of that reward or something that we deserve. 00:42:50.420 --> 00:42:56.539 And, you know, it's a nice refresher of being childlike again, that anticipation on a birthday. 00:42:56.980 --> 00:42:57.160 Yeah. 00:42:57.160 --> 00:42:59.180 Because you knew you got a birthday gift last year. 00:42:59.620 --> 00:43:05.280 You anticipate when somebody says, you don't know what's coming, you can't see it, but you get excited. 00:43:05.280 --> 00:43:09.620 Because there is that foretaste of, I got a birthday gift that I really enjoyed. 00:43:09.880 --> 00:43:13.360 How much greater will it be when we meet the Lord? 00:43:13.660 --> 00:43:13.860 Yeah. 00:43:13.960 --> 00:43:17.360 It's just nothing we can even comprehend at this point. 00:43:17.720 --> 00:43:17.920 Right. 00:43:18.360 --> 00:43:20.040 But we can get excited for it. 00:43:20.240 --> 00:43:21.140 Yeah, that's right. 00:43:21.460 --> 00:43:22.360 No, that's right. 00:43:24.820 --> 00:43:25.480 That's right. 00:43:25.600 --> 00:43:30.880 And I think that's why there are those metaphors in the Bible, in the parables and in Revelation. 00:43:31.019 --> 00:43:33.060 I mean, in Revelation, there's all these metaphors of jewels. 00:43:33.059 --> 00:43:36.279 Like, no, I'm not into jewels. 00:43:36.820 --> 00:43:38.279 Like, okay? 00:43:38.599 --> 00:43:42.619 Like, you know, that ain't my thing. 00:43:43.079 --> 00:43:49.719 Like, I love my wife and I love the fact that she doesn't wear tons and tons of jewels. 00:43:50.119 --> 00:43:50.340 Anyway. 00:43:51.860 --> 00:43:53.559 But what are the jewels? 00:43:53.900 --> 00:43:54.099 Right? 00:43:54.679 --> 00:44:00.380 They're, you know, you think in the ancient world, they're representations of, like, majesty and glory. 00:44:00.900 --> 00:44:01.179 Right? 00:44:01.179 --> 00:44:06.519 Those were people who were, like, sort of honored in that society. 00:44:07.219 --> 00:44:07.239 Right? 00:44:07.480 --> 00:44:11.199 So, like, why are all the jewels on the walls of heaven? 00:44:11.299 --> 00:44:13.839 It's like, this is the most glorious place. 00:44:14.099 --> 00:44:14.500 Right? 00:44:15.019 --> 00:44:16.500 Nothing will be missing there. 00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:17.299 Right? 00:44:17.339 --> 00:44:19.039 There won't be any drudgery there. 00:44:19.199 --> 00:44:19.379 Right? 00:44:19.779 --> 00:44:22.960 You know, we'll all be able to experience that. 00:44:23.339 --> 00:44:23.559 Right? 00:44:23.739 --> 00:44:24.759 We'll, right? 00:44:24.839 --> 00:44:25.460 That sort of... 00:44:25.460 --> 00:44:32.039 Anyway, I mean, I think there's different images, like, different ones of us will connect with more readily than others. 00:44:32.039 --> 00:44:34.760 But I think saying, like, okay, what's the image talking about? 00:44:35.380 --> 00:44:37.380 And, like, how do we... 00:44:37.380 --> 00:44:42.840 You know, I think the images are there to help us have something to hold on to that connects to our present experience. 00:44:42.840 --> 00:44:47.160 You know, like, all the images of, like, eating a meal together. 00:44:47.320 --> 00:44:47.480 Right? 00:44:47.539 --> 00:44:48.600 Okay, I connect more with that. 00:44:48.740 --> 00:44:48.940 Right? 00:44:49.039 --> 00:44:51.519 Like, a good meal with good people, good friends. 00:44:51.600 --> 00:44:52.519 Like, there we go. 00:44:53.559 --> 00:44:54.220 You know? 00:44:54.519 --> 00:45:00.120 Like, you know, but again, like, each of the images point forward towards something. 00:45:00.119 --> 00:45:08.420 You know, and again, like, some people might be like, yes, like, I really, like, appreciate the exquisiteness of a diamond. 00:45:08.599 --> 00:45:10.099 Like, yeah, it actually is really exquisite. 00:45:10.319 --> 00:45:11.539 Like, you know, and different jewels. 00:45:11.659 --> 00:45:13.759 Like, yes, like, they are really beautiful. 00:45:14.059 --> 00:45:19.799 Like, and there's something about that that points forward to heaven. 00:45:19.880 --> 00:45:22.579 Anyway, so different things all point forward to that. 00:45:24.579 --> 00:45:25.339 Let me... 00:45:25.339 --> 00:45:26.059 Dean, yes. 00:45:26.059 --> 00:45:27.079 I got a question. 00:45:27.259 --> 00:45:35.619 I mean, when we pray in the church and learn that you follow this path, we follow the questions. 00:45:36.460 --> 00:45:40.019 How do you think the emphasis should be on what you're treating on? 00:45:40.139 --> 00:45:44.920 Emphasis on what's to come or your relationship with God right now? 00:45:45.559 --> 00:45:45.820 Yeah. 00:45:45.980 --> 00:45:48.539 Which is more important? 00:45:48.739 --> 00:45:49.920 I think that's a great question. 00:45:49.920 --> 00:46:01.860 I think that our hope for what's to come is supposed to be something that sustains and anchors us and helps us stay focused in the present. 00:46:03.980 --> 00:46:06.059 I mean, obviously, I think we can... 00:46:06.059 --> 00:46:13.920 I think it's a mistake if we only think about what's to come and then, like, walk through the world and sort of, like, are sort of, like... 00:46:13.920 --> 00:46:18.280 Like, I mean, there's a phrase, like, some Christians are so heavenly-minded they're no earthly good. 00:46:18.840 --> 00:46:20.760 Like, okay, I can see that. 00:46:21.820 --> 00:46:26.440 Some Christians are so earthly-minded that they have no hope beyond this life. 00:46:26.440 --> 00:46:35.960 And they, you know, so they're not able to see things in God's perspective because they're only thinking about the present. 00:46:36.539 --> 00:46:43.179 But I think, like, our hope for the future is supposed to be what sort of... 00:46:43.179 --> 00:46:47.200 One of the things that sort of guides us to look to Christ in the present. 00:46:47.199 --> 00:46:50.199 You know, it's sort of like... 00:46:52.199 --> 00:46:56.579 It's sort of like when you're going on a long trip. 00:46:57.599 --> 00:46:59.679 You've got to keep your destination in mind. 00:46:59.879 --> 00:47:02.359 But you've also got to keep your eyes on the road right in front of you. 00:47:03.179 --> 00:47:08.179 So, maybe that's the simplest way to summarize it. 00:47:08.799 --> 00:47:08.960 Right? 00:47:09.980 --> 00:47:11.079 Remember where we're going. 00:47:12.079 --> 00:47:15.719 But also keep your eyes on the next thing God's put in front of us. 00:47:17.199 --> 00:47:17.679 All right. 00:47:17.779 --> 00:47:19.059 Let me close this in prayer. 00:47:19.059 --> 00:47:27.279 I sort of put a closing section of prayer for all the topics that we covered in this class. 00:47:27.779 --> 00:47:29.059 Feel free to... 00:47:29.059 --> 00:47:31.460 We won't go through all that in detail. 00:47:31.619 --> 00:47:32.939 But let me just... 00:47:32.939 --> 00:47:36.500 Let me just pray. 00:47:36.679 --> 00:47:40.679 So, I'm going to begin with one of these traditional prayers for Sunday in Advent. 00:47:41.319 --> 00:47:44.739 And then I'm going to pray for some of the topics in this class. 00:47:44.739 --> 00:47:50.159 And then we'll conclude with another prayer. 00:47:52.439 --> 00:47:56.759 But these are prayers that sort of encourage us to live in light of the future and live in the present. 00:47:56.760 --> 00:48:01.460 Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 00:48:02.460 --> 00:48:07.140 Now, in the time of this mortal life in which your Son, Jesus Christ, came to visit us in great humility, 00:48:07.720 --> 00:48:13.020 that in the last day when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, 00:48:13.080 --> 00:48:20.020 we may rise to life immortal through him who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit as one God now and forever. 00:48:20.019 --> 00:48:24.119 Lord, we thank you for all the topics we've covered in this class. 00:48:24.199 --> 00:48:29.159 We thank you for your wisdom and care in creating our bodies and fashioning us male and female in your image. 00:48:29.739 --> 00:48:35.500 Thank you even for our sexual longings that ultimately reveal our need and desire for you alone. 00:48:36.199 --> 00:48:43.460 We pray for marriages in the church that they would be strengthened by your Spirit's power and by the love of Christ. 00:48:43.460 --> 00:48:51.699 Lord, that we would see Christ in one another through Christian marriages and non-believers would see the power of Christ at work. 00:48:52.220 --> 00:48:58.440 We pray you'd strengthen struggling marriages through the practice of ongoing daily repentance and forgiveness. 00:48:59.460 --> 00:49:05.240 And we pray for single people in the church that they would flourish in friendship, in community, in prayer, in godliness, 00:49:05.240 --> 00:49:09.300 that they would receive their singleness as an honorable calling, 00:49:09.300 --> 00:49:14.400 that they would resist worldly pressures, that they'd bear witness to Christ's efficiency. 00:49:15.200 --> 00:49:18.780 We pray for people in the church who experience same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. 00:49:19.640 --> 00:49:23.560 We pray that they would seek and find their identity in Christ and live according to your design. 00:49:24.220 --> 00:49:28.500 We pray that in surrendering their weakness to you, that they would experience your power for ministry to others. 00:49:28.960 --> 00:49:33.600 And that they would find wise and loving Christian brothers and sisters who are committed to walking alongside them. 00:49:33.599 --> 00:49:39.539 We pray for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer community outside the church. 00:49:39.940 --> 00:49:45.779 We pray for the church to have courage and wisdom and love and endurance in extending hospitality and in walking in distinctive holiness. 00:49:46.500 --> 00:49:52.339 And we pray that many people would come to know Christ from these communities as Savior and Lord and surrender their entire selves to him. 00:49:52.340 --> 00:50:01.260 We pray for those affected by the sin of pornography, that those who are hiding their sin would be exposed and led to repentance for those who are struggling, 00:50:01.940 --> 00:50:06.900 that they would have strength not just to resist temptation but to pursue Christ in new and deeper ways. 00:50:07.059 --> 00:50:12.140 And we pray for those involved in the production of pornography to be rescued from its deceit and corruption. 00:50:12.980 --> 00:50:20.300 We pray for those affected by sexual assault and abuse, for perpetrators to be held to account and led to repentance and prevented from harming others, 00:50:20.300 --> 00:50:28.440 for victims to engage with anger and grief and to draw near to Christ as their merciful and faithful high priest to find healing and sustaining hope. 00:50:28.960 --> 00:50:34.420 Pray for the church to care well for survivors of abuse and be faithful to prevent further sexual misconduct. 00:50:35.000 --> 00:50:40.640 And for all of us, we pray that we may look forward to Christ's return with patient anticipation and hopeful endurance. 00:50:41.360 --> 00:50:46.560 Let's conclude by saying this last prayer together at the bottom of the page. 00:50:46.559 --> 00:50:54.219 O God, who wonderfully created and yet more wonderfully restored the dignity of human nature, 00:50:54.980 --> 00:51:00.920 grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, 00:51:01.440 --> 00:51:07.119 your son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 00:51:07.659 --> 00:51:10.000 one God, forever and ever. Amen.