Heaven (part 3)

False Views of Heaven and the Confusion About the Afterlife

Our Father in heaven we thank you this morning for all that you give us for all that you graciously provide and for your word most of all for your son Jesus Christ father we Praise you that he has secured for those who believe in him the promises of heaven.

Lord as we look into what your word says about Heaven and what it doesn't say about heaven. I just pray that you'd bless this time and give us a clearer view Not only of heaven, but of the gospel and of what it means to belong to you in Christ's name we pray.

Amen. You know, there are I think fewer subjects few subjects. That people talk about at all that are more confused than heaven. I've told the story before but a friend of mine was murdered Years ago.

Rather unusual circumstance because you know, you expect police officers sometimes to die in the line of duty. This wasn't in the line of duty. This is what we would call in worldly circle circles a love triangle.

The estranged husband shows up the boyfriend girlfriend are moving into a home together and the estranged husband shoots my friend the boyfriend Who dies and John was a very popular guy and big funeral and afterwards.

His girlfriend Told everybody well, it's okay because John is now an angel. Even a couple weeks ago. I was talking after the funeral of Steve Nelson's father was talking to a nominal Catholic and And was relating about how Steve's father had died and and Yet Steve was expecting his second grandchild and This nominal Catholic said well when God takes one angel he sends another.

What does that mean? People are confused why because I think it's because they want to be confused they want To I. We all deal with death in one way or another and what we want to believe is that everyone Goes to a better place you hear that at some funerals.

Well, we know one thing. He or she's in a better place. How do we know that? We need to go to the scripture. We need to go to the scripture we're looking at various aspects of heaven and Really kind of giving a preamble to heaven before we get into walking the Pathways of heaven as it were and I wanted to spend a little time this morning talking about a few More false views in depth.

One is universalism. The other one is annihilationism, and then we're going to look at Purgatory because I think it's only fitting that we get to purgatory before we get to heaven. I just want to see if you're awake.

Thank you. All right. So we're on page 10 of what promises to be hundreds of pages. I don't know how long it's gonna be but how is heaven and misrepresented or false ways of arriving in heaven as Reward for all this idea that you know, John is now an angel when God takes one angel.

He sends another. It's just like we're all on our path to heaven and nothing Struck me as more kind of missing the entire point than universalism. In fact pastor Mike and I've kind of expanded on his Thesis he said years ago the more use in the title of a church the worse it is and the example he used to give Was the United Unitarians for unity?

So I thought well, how many how many more could I put in there United Unitarity? Unitarians for unity in union with universalists. I think that's probably a little bit worse. The more use you have the worse things get.

This is a quote from a Unitarian Universalist Forest Church, you're missing a comma which I added with my trusty pen. His name is Forest Church. Some people have trouble believing in a God who looks into any eye, but theirs.

First of all, what in the world does that mean? Others have trouble believing in a God they cannot see. So they create them with their own hands. Or their own hearts or their own minds. But that none of us can look directly into God's eyes certainly doesn't mean God isn't there mysterious unknowable gazing into perhaps even out from ours.

Gazing through the windows of the Cathedral of the world. People go to this. I'm just I. Where do you what do you you know? What was interesting to me before I leave the Unitarian Universalists? I was on their web page and looking at what they believe, you know looking for some really great quote about what happens after death.

Well, the problem is you can be a Unitarian Universalist and believe that you're a Christian or a Buddhist or a Hindu or an Atheist you can describe yourself as a pagan. You can describe yourself as someone who believes in the Holiness of the planet Earth.

I mean they're just anything. But they're all united. The key to Unitarian Universalism is everybody's on their own path. Which just made me think you know, there is a way that seems right to a man and its end is heaven.

No, it's in this death if you look down at Roman numeral three there it says true universalism. What do I mean by true universalism? That's a good question. What do you mean by true universalism? Just the within the Christian worldview, let's just say.

This is from Wikipedia. Christian Universalists claimed their beliefs were the most common interpretation of Christianity in early Christianity. And by the way, I always kind of whenever I read that I always take a pause.

And the reason I always take a pause is because a lot of people claim that. People claim that Gnosticism Was the most common version of or interpretation of Christianity and early Christianity. I don't really care what anybody says the most common interpretation of Christianity was an early Christianity.

I care what the Bible says a substantial minority of Christians from a diversity of Denominations and traditions appear to believe the tenets of this belief system such as the reality of an afterlife listen without the existence of an eternal hell.

So then I asked the question how can a Christian be a universalist? How can a Christian be a universalist? What's that? Well one way would be if they're not actually Christians would be correct if you don't actually believe the Bible.

Let me just say and I'm going to couch this very carefully. I believe that our minions are Christians. But there is a Desire among Arminians to protect God to protect his reputation from being unjust.

Because if God doesn't give us a free will then how can he hold us accountable? And in that same way, I think some people who Probably are not Christians, but the whole idea of universalism is to protect God from this idea of being what?

What mean vindictive. How can God? Punish somebody forever. What kind of a loving God would do that? Well a holy God would be right. Wouldn't it be better if he just beat us with a few stripes, and then let us into heaven forever.

It's kind of the idea Christian universalism experienced a revival in the Protestant Reformation. Due to the end of the hegemony. There's a big word your 25 cent word for the day. What does that mean?

Influence the overwhelming influence of the Roman Catholic Church over Western Christianity. The Anabaptists and the Moravians were two early Protestant groups in which the teaching of universal reconciliation was common.

Universal reconciliation. Common theme and we're going to look at that first. They note in John 12 32. Let's look at John 12 32. And really what I think we're going to see this morning. We talk all the time about.

All the time pastor Mike is teaching a class about it now called hermeneutics. Hermeneutics the art and science the principles of the art and science of interpreting the Bible. And we're going to see how if you don't have proper hermeneutics it matters.

This isn't some you know. Theological studious. Serious, you know academic only issue what you believe about the Bible. How you study the Bible the principles you use to interpret the Bible? Impacts how you view everything and if your goal when you read the Bible is to see God is love and that's all God is.

Then you're going to take things differently. You're going to interpret the Bible incorrectly. Who has John 12 32? Go ahead Chris. Okay, so Jesus talking says he will draw all men to himself. If he's lifted up.

Well, there you go. That's done done deal. He's gonna draw all men to himself. All men are going to become followers of Christ. See what Kistemacher says. Jesus promises to draw all men to himself this all men emphasis on all men.

That little phrase there is in the given context which places Greeks next to Jews and Must mean men from every nation. That idea is found in the fourth gospel John again and again. Salvation is not dependent upon blood or race in John 1 13.

Jesus is the Savior not only of Jews, but also for Samaritans. Hence, he is the Savior of the world when he talks to the woman at the well and that goes on. He has other sheep which are not of this fold.

Which always makes me Smile at least a little bit because that's how the Mormons justify The idea that Jesus came to North America, but I digress Those Those others being from the Gentile world in John 10 16.

Moving on to page 11. He will not die for the Jewish nation only. But that he may also gather into one. The children of God who are scattered abroad in John 11 51 in brief. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

John 129. Jesus will draw all men to himself when he is lifted from the earth. This being lifted up is explained in connection with John 3 14 meaning or by means of his crucifixion resurrection Ascension and coronation.

Jesus attracts to himself ie to abiding faith in himself all of God's elect from every age climb which is interesting climate and Nation and from every every part of the world. In other words what he's saying He draws them by means of his word and spirit.

This activity of the Spirit is the reward for the sons being lifted up. What Jesus says all men? Will be attracted to him. One of two things has to be true either all men meaning universally are going to come to him and believe or Well, I guess there are many possibilities all men could come to him and reject him.

All sorts of men could come to him and believe. All sorts of men could come to him and reject him or You know he was wrong altogether. So out of those five. You know you have to sort of sort through the Context which is what we want to do and the idea that All men are going to be drawn to him.

Does that hold up? Yeah, you would have to ignore everything else to really draw that kind of conclusion Charlie. You know those poor women yeah, I mean you could do that the Ultimately the the issue is you know I mean think about all the things that Jesus said if his entire ministry I mean just to paint a broad brush as we go through these Individual supports alleged supports for universalism if the goal and The sure goal because in universalism everybody's going to heaven.

So if the sure goal the end of it is for all people to go to heaven then my question would be Why would Jesus ever say repent? Why would he ever say that what's the point? He could he could say a lot of things, but you know basically his message should be don't sweat it I've done everything don't worry about a thing don't worry about your soul.

You know live I mean, it's the exact opposite of when he talked about the man who Filled up he gave the parable the man who filled up all his barns and then tore him down so he could build bigger ones.

And he said you fool. You know this very night your soul will be demanded of you. It's the very opposite of that why talk about the soul, what's the point if everyone is going to heaven then? There is no concern, but as Pam was saying this Contradicts everything else that he taught.

Another point that will come up later in an article by J. I Packer is ultimately if you look at one particular verse, and you think you understand it and. And then the weight of all other scripture seems to contradict that.

Then there are two possibilities one is that your original? Understanding was wrong and the other one is that scripture contradicts itself so if you rule out the idea that scripture contradicts itself.

You're left with. I haven't figured this thing out yet, and I need to go back and study more. So if you look at John 12 32 and you say well that all men are going to go to heaven because Jesus said. Then you don't you haven't understood correctly in the first place.

I mean think about some of the things he said even in John. When he when he was talking to the Jews and he said what that you are of your father. He didn't say great things about them. You know before Abraham was I I am and if you guys Love me.

You know like Abraham. Did you'd be okay? And that's he constantly confronted them and called them to repentance not to. You know a life of don't worry about things. I've got everything under control completely wrong just.

It really is I said Jesus. Which is if exegesis is the draw out of the text which is what we try to do when we preach when you study. And you're trying to get principles out of the text you want to understand the text rightly exegesis is Placing something into the text.

So when I said you know. Basically what these people do universalist do is they kind of put on their God is too nice to send anybody to hell. Glasses and then they start looking for verses to support that second one.

In Christ notice the language again in Christ all will be made alive. Let's look at first Corinthians 15 22. And what's the theme of first Corinthians 15 by the way while we're turning there? Resurrection.

Over and over again Paul talks about the centrality of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Basic theme being without the resurrection no hope it is the most important event in History not the birth of Jesus the resurrection of Jesus.

First Corinthians 15 22. Go ahead and read that for as in Adam all die. So also in Christ all will be made alive. Now is it true is part a true that all men Suffer the death brought on by Adam. What is the death brought on by Adam?

Spiritual spiritual death separation from God, but also what. Physical death. So also in Christ all will be made alive. Does that mean that we're all going to heaven. Look at verse 20? Okay? Let's look at verse 20.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead the firstfruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. He goes on to say but each in his own order in verse 23 Christ the firstfruits after those who are a Christ at his coming then the end and that he has a polish.

He must reign. The last enemy will be abolished at his death. Hmm when all things are subjected to himself to do otherwise, well, I think it is interesting though when you get to 29 otherwise. What will those do who are baptized for the dead on and on it goes?

I mean, what what is the significance of? The resurrection. And All that Paul is teaching. Invert or in chapter 15 about the resurrection the centrality of it without which we would have no hope is he?

Talking to believers or unbelievers He's writing to the Church of Corinth one would presume that most of them were believers. Look what prior says here Paul's language in verses 21 and 22. Suggests at first reading that in the same way all men will be made alive with Christ and through Christ.

But even in these few verses the all at the end of verse 22 is qualified by the two phrases. Those who have fallen asleep in Christ in verse 18 and those who belong to Christ in verse 23. So there are clearly exceptions to the second pattern.

Ie those who do not belong to Christ and those who have fallen asleep without being in Christ. What is falling asleep, by the way? Died. Moreover in several parts of 1st Corinthians Paul has referred to those who are perishing.

Be difficult for anybody to perish under a universal scheme. We conclude therefore that the main point of Paul's parallelism between Adam and Christ as in Romans 5 is that like Adam Christ is the progenitor or the forefather the forerunner the first of A new race of a race of a new humanity.

The resurrection marks the beginning of this new creation. Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren if anyone is in Christ He is a new creation. So this idea that all will be made alive. Well, there is a truth to that, right?

All men are going to die physically and then they all will be made Alive does that mean that they're going to get to heaven? No life for all men. Let's look at Romans 5 18 and 19. And who has that Romans Bruce?

Okay, so how do we like that as a suggestion for universalism haven't pasted some of.

MacArthur's comments from his commentary and then I come out. Guido, right?

It Guido points out the phrase in Christ and says, you know all these phrases. And all these contexts suggest that the necessity of being in Christ. However as a Universalist if I were one, I would say something like well all men are in Christ.

That's the point. Jesus is the only way but he opened the way for all and All will tread the pathway to heaven Bruce. Yeah, I haven't read the universalist interpretation. It would be quite interesting.

I Mean, how do you do that? Many are on the road to destruction. Well, you know. But Jesus takes them off that road. I don't know what they'd say. I Don't really know but you know as Guido was even saying if we think about the whole arguments of Romans leading up to that He's talked about the universal Condemnation.

Do everyone.

Daniel good.

Romans Daniel points out in Romans 5 1 it says having been justified by faith. Therefore if there is no faith there can be no justification and without justification Without that is being declared righteous by God.

There can be no heaven. So I yeah, I think Romans 5 would be a very problematic passage again many passages in number 4 That Jesus is the Savior of all men or variations on that theme, that's why I lumped them all together.

I saw them all listed separately, but I mean basically these are all the problem passages and it's interesting because those who want to say that the Death of Christ is applied Universally really have similar arguments to those who want to say that it's available Universally, it's you know, the only difference is Whether it is actually applicable to everyone or not.

Let's look at 1st Timothy 4 10. Yes, Becky. Yeah. Well, well except well Becky asked a good question. And so I'll ask you If they're going to say that all men are going to go to heaven Then why would Jesus have to die at all from a universalist standpoint?

To keep justice intact because there's still this sin problem and they would acknowledge that The sin has to be paid for so they would say well Yeah, sin has to be paid for and Jesus paid for all of it for everyone for all time with his death.

No, no further requirements. Pam I have to take a breath because that's pretty that's pretty good because what what is it? What Pam just said is in essence this that if Christ died For all sin for all time so that everyone gets to heaven then by our continued existence on this planet God is actually kind of the agent of sin.

He's allowing it to continue when he doesn't need to. You just go. That's pretty harsh. Yeah, I mean that that without that's a bit of a problem for a universalist I would think First Timothy 4 10 who has that go ahead Casey, but I want to tackle that.

Let me just read from the authorized version Paul is obviously Not teaching universalism. Well, obviously, okay that all people will be saved in the spiritual and eternal sense. Since the rest of Scripture clearly teaches that God will not save everyone Most will reject him and spend eternity in hell as we've spent a little time talking about yet the Greek word Translated especially must mean that all gods or all people enjoy God's salvation in some way like those who believe enjoy his salvation and MacArthur goes on to explain that it is in a in a temporal sense that Unbelievers get some spillover benefits as it were from The the death of Christ He's a savior of all men there is a some kind of a benefit to all men via the death of Christ and you could even look at it in this way that Christianity Broadly speaking has had a positive impact in the world certainly if we looked at our Constitution some of the common laws some of the things that we Benefit from that are direct results of Christianity so we could say that Daniel God certainly is gracious and that he doesn't wipe out men Women children as soon as they sin very true.

And I think Even here if we think about it just in in the terms of universalist terms here who is the savior of all men. If he really is the savior of all men. Well, then the second Phrase here, especially of believers.

It has what meaning exactly if we're all going to heaven every single one of us. Even those who don't believe. It has no meaning. Zero has zero impact. Pam. Mm-hmm. Yeah common grace certainly is is true kind of I mean, I think I think the bottom line here is I mean we could just pick this apart for it is for this we labor and strive because we have fixed our hope on The Living God.

Well, who is that? Who is the we? Well, he's writing to Timothy. So he's talking about Paul and Timothy who are believers. We have fixed our hope on the Living God who is the savior of all men. And so I I think it's I mean that's a difficult passage, but there there are and I think Daniel is really down the right road because he certainly is Capable of wiping us all out and could.

But he there's a particular grace to believers and that is a that is a difficult passage. But if we take it again to mean universal Universalism then the second part as I said is rendered absolutely meaningless.

It means nothing first Peter 318. That's the flood. Yes, Bruce.

Mm-hmm. Okay, right. Yeah, Peggy says but they're dead and they can't walk to the physician.

Yeah, I mean there has to be think it. I mean if we get nothing else out of this there has to be a a I'll use this word a quantitative difference between the all men that he's the savior of all men and Especially those who believe.

Well in what sense? If it really means that Jesus Christ has saved all men Then there is no especially if it is as Bruce said that he has died and that he is in some sense available to all men then it would Be of particular benefit to the Christians.

Guido. Did you have some? Okay. No. No, and I think that goes along with what I'm saying that there has to be a quanta. You know if we said particularly the believers well in what sense. You know if it's in other words if universalism is the correct interpretation of that then there is no particular sense in which believers would be a beneficiary of the death of Christ.

Charlie right. No, I think that's good, too.

Charlie says, you know, we may like everybody at BBC and If we have a special affection for our spouses or our children. Is that wrong, you know, so I mean if. But again just looking at it from a universalist perspective I don't think this solves any problems for them.

If you say that he's a savior of all men. Well if Paul just stopped right there.

You'd have an argument, but he doesn't. He continues on Charlie a lot of teaching on hell.

And we're gonna talk about that if we get tacked done talking about heaven, but the whole idea that there is No hell again. I just say it is an unbiblical concept and what they're really trying to do is protect God's image, you know, this is his kind of.

They're acting as if they are his advertising company and they're going to spare him, you know. Let's just let God spoke for himself he knows what he is Doing. Let's just turn the page and look at first Peter 4 6 for me.

It's turning the page for you. It might not be. For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead That though they are judged in the flesh as men they will they may live in the Spirit According to the will of God so they they say that this is a universalist passage to that it indicates that there's some kind of a A hope even to those maybe who are Dead That though they are judged in the flesh as men they will live they may live in the Spirit according to the will of God.

Again, there's no warrant for that. This is tied to a completely separate historical event and. And I would I would say that there are a number of. There are a number of interpretations on this is difficult passage.

Did a paper in seminary on this? I mean, it does it reflect. Does it go back to the flood and the pre all these other things, but here's the key again. Does it really teach that? Jesus died for all that all Will go to heaven and there is nothing in this passage that would suggest that let's just kind of move on here.

If we're going to have hell then the idea of Jesus as the Savior of all men is problematic. Number five. God no longer counts men's sins against them. Look at 2nd Corinthians 5 19 and who has that? Casey.

Okay, he's reconciling the world to himself everyone in the world and he's not counting their trespasses against them. I think this is the easiest one so far. Why is that because of the context? Just flip back a little bit.

Look at verse 14 for the love of Christ controls us. Believers this Church of Corinth and Paul. Having concluded this that one died for all therefore all died really. One died for all. Jesus died for all people everywhere for all times.

Therefore all died in what sense? Not in the spiritual sense. Not in the physical sense right. As a result of Jesus's death all men experience physical death false. All men experience Spiritual death false.

So when in what sense let's keep reading verse 15 and he died for all so that They who live might no longer live for themselves. But for him who died and rose again on their behalf. Listen the ones he died there is a difference in their life.

Paul describes it right here and he died for all so that all who live Spiritually might no longer live for themselves. But for him who died and rose again on their behalf. This isn't universalism. There's no universalism in this passage.

This is very specific language. Jesus Christ died for those who then live a life as a Christian. He was resurrected for those who are new look at verse 17. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature.

Just as Guido was saying earlier, it's that in Christ language. You are not the same person anymore. The old things passed away. Oh why? Behold new things have come. If you're a universalist you have to look at this and just go well that must talk about heaven.

Even though there's no heavenly language here now all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. And again, if you look at verse 20 and 21.

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were making an appeal through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ be reconciled to God. Why beg people if they've already been reconciled if everyone's already reconciled and.

Then the great accounting verse he made him God the Father made Jesus Christ the Son. Who knew no sin who never sinned to be sin on our behalf? So that we might become the righteousness of God in him not so that we could just continue on in our same life.

Paul's very explicit those who are Christians have been transformed into new creatures. Those who are in Christ do not have the same life. Look at what MacArthur says. God no longer counts men's sins against them.

He says just as the many died in verse 15 refers inclusively to all men. So life to all men here reveres refers Exclusively to those who trust in Christ. This verse does not teach universalism as some have contended through the centuries.

It is abundantly clear from other parts of this epistle. Including the two verses of this chapter. The first two verses of this chapter the salvation comes only to those who have faith in Jesus Christ.

And he goes on Adams Adams disobedience caused him and his descendants to be made sinner by nature and Constitution in the same way. But with the exact opposite effect Christ's obedience Causes those who believe in him to be made Righteous by nature and Constitution.

All right, one last one. Psalm 30 verse 5. Again, I thought this I'll go ahead and read this. I Thought this was pretty weak when you just look at the context just base of principles. For his anger talking about God's anger is but for a moment.

His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may last for the night, but a shot of joy comes in the morning. And they say well, you know, God's only gonna be angry for a short period of time and then he's going to love everybody forever.

Listen what Boyce said? I mean this it this is an expositional common commentary. So he's not right on This particular verse dissecting it but listen when he says I must add a warning before I go on. It is true that for the people of God the sufferings of this life are minimized.

Even if their misery should be great here for reasons known only to God. They will be more than compensated for hereafter. This is not true for unbelievers for them. It is exactly the opposite for those who go on their own way now.

There may be times many times of temporary rejoicing the world has its pleasures. Even the very wicked may have an occasional moment of heaven here on earth. But their portion hereafter will be hell. In fact, even if they go through hell now as they sometimes say they do that hell will be heaven.

Compared with the judgment yet to come think about that. You know people complain about how difficult this life can be apart from Christ eternity will be far worse infinitely worse. And again, if we look at the context here of Psalm 30.

Just look at verse 4 sing praise to the Lord you his godly ones and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment. How do you get universalism out of that sing praise to the Lord you his godly ones?

You can't get universalism out of that. It's just taking a line completely out of its context. Look at verse 7. Oh Lord by your favor. You have made my mountain to stand strong. You hid your face. I was dismayed.

He's talking about a momentary chastisement. Then verse 8 to you. Oh Lord. I called unto the Lord. I made supplication. What profit there is there in my blood if I go down to the pits? What profit is there in my suffering if I then go to Some place other than heaven will the dust praise you will it declare your faithfulness?

No. No, no, no. That's just again bad hermeneutics. None of these verses support Universalism and that is the key the idea and we know this I mean there. What would be the point of the Great Commission?

There's I mean most of scripture could be thrown away with thrown away done away with you know I just merged him away thrown away with. Most of scripture could be done away with if all there was was heaven if everyone was going to heaven.

What would be the point? God could just say well Adam and Eve made a mistake. I'm gonna forgive their mistake. Everybody's gonna go to heaven. Why didn't he do that even if he had to send his son then what would be the point of the rest of it?

This really ultimately makes no sense and really undermines not only scripture, but if I believe. Think about this Christian as you're here this morning if you think that everyone is going to heaven. What's the urgency of evangelism if you have loved ones?