This short chapter makes the point right up front that it is possible to know that you are going to heaven. This we call "assurance of salvation." and it is a joyous truth.
I can say with certainty that I have expereinced this daily since the day I accepted Jesus Christ. Since I was raised as a Catholic, I never had any assurance of salvation. Catholics don't realize this truth. I was hopeful that I would somehow make it, but never CERTAIN.
But on May 6, 1973, I gave my life to Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of God came in. I could not explain the Biblical reasons for it, but somehow I KNEW that I was assured of Heaven. I later learned that it was the Spirit that was bearing witness to my spirit about my sonship. I later learned that I "had the witness in myself."
This is a great question to ask an unbeliever..."are you CERTAIN that you are going to heaven?"
I hope all that read this blog can say that they KNOW they are going to heaven.
I am totally looking forward to moving through this book.
We need everyone to post. If you are behind, don't try to catch up, just join the discussion at Chapter 4 with the rest of us. We want to hear from you.
Love to all.
Dad
Monday, November 26, 2007
Chapter 3 - Our Default Destination
Well, my apologies for taking so long to get to this posting. It is not due to lack of interest, but merely due to a busy schedule.
I thought this chapter on hell was good. It needs to be part of any discussion of heaven. So many people just believe that they are going to heaven because they think they are good enough. I don't think most people believe in a real hell. This is tragic. I also have observed that many pastors are hesitant to preach on hell. Not a popular topic, to be sure, but very necessary.
I have a couple of observations from the chapter.
First, Alcorn has done a great job giving the Biblical perspective on hell. If there is no hell, then what did Jesus die to save us from?
Rather than repeat many of Alcorn's excellent points, I would like to contribute a couple of additional thoughts.
I believe hell is a literal place and it is a place of literal burning. Many people have tried to make hell into some ethereal place where the torment is the mental anguish of separation from God. This certainly is true, but the greater anguish is going to be the intense flames on a resurrected (but not glorified) body. Remember that Jesus said that all will be resurrected, some to eternal life, some to eternal damnation. I think that a person who is in the anguish of a raging hot inferno will not be concerned about the mental regret of separation from God's love. He will be screaming in pain. "Wailing and gnashing of teeth."
This last week, Matt and I were asked to help Grandpa Stewart with his "burn pile." This was a big pile of waste twigs and logs that were piled high and set on fire to dispose of them. It turned into a raging bonfire with flames 20 feet high. We needed to toss branches around the edge into the center to make sure everything got burned. The heat was so intense that we could not even stand to go near the flames. It was incredibly HOT. The thought occurred to me that if I were to fall into this flame, the pain would be unimaginably intense. Such is going to be the pain of the flames in hell. It is real flame, real heat, real burning. Screaming, writhing in pain...never ending. Sober to contemplate.
Such is the nature of sin and its just punishment.
Alcorn makes a good point on page 25 that I want to comment on. "In the Bible, Jesus says more than anyone else about hell." This is correct. I have often heard a similar statement which is , however, incorrect. Some have said that Jesus said more about hell than He did about heaven. Not so. The Kingdom of Heaven was Jesus' favorite subject. How do I know? I actually counted the passages. Heaven wins over hell in frequency. I am so glad.
For me, as a believer, I need to seriously consider the horror of what I have been saved from, then rejoice in what has become my eternal destiny (by the grace of God).
Love to all , Dad
I thought this chapter on hell was good. It needs to be part of any discussion of heaven. So many people just believe that they are going to heaven because they think they are good enough. I don't think most people believe in a real hell. This is tragic. I also have observed that many pastors are hesitant to preach on hell. Not a popular topic, to be sure, but very necessary.
I have a couple of observations from the chapter.
First, Alcorn has done a great job giving the Biblical perspective on hell. If there is no hell, then what did Jesus die to save us from?
Rather than repeat many of Alcorn's excellent points, I would like to contribute a couple of additional thoughts.
I believe hell is a literal place and it is a place of literal burning. Many people have tried to make hell into some ethereal place where the torment is the mental anguish of separation from God. This certainly is true, but the greater anguish is going to be the intense flames on a resurrected (but not glorified) body. Remember that Jesus said that all will be resurrected, some to eternal life, some to eternal damnation. I think that a person who is in the anguish of a raging hot inferno will not be concerned about the mental regret of separation from God's love. He will be screaming in pain. "Wailing and gnashing of teeth."
This last week, Matt and I were asked to help Grandpa Stewart with his "burn pile." This was a big pile of waste twigs and logs that were piled high and set on fire to dispose of them. It turned into a raging bonfire with flames 20 feet high. We needed to toss branches around the edge into the center to make sure everything got burned. The heat was so intense that we could not even stand to go near the flames. It was incredibly HOT. The thought occurred to me that if I were to fall into this flame, the pain would be unimaginably intense. Such is going to be the pain of the flames in hell. It is real flame, real heat, real burning. Screaming, writhing in pain...never ending. Sober to contemplate.
Such is the nature of sin and its just punishment.
Alcorn makes a good point on page 25 that I want to comment on. "In the Bible, Jesus says more than anyone else about hell." This is correct. I have often heard a similar statement which is , however, incorrect. Some have said that Jesus said more about hell than He did about heaven. Not so. The Kingdom of Heaven was Jesus' favorite subject. How do I know? I actually counted the passages. Heaven wins over hell in frequency. I am so glad.
For me, as a believer, I need to seriously consider the horror of what I have been saved from, then rejoice in what has become my eternal destiny (by the grace of God).
Love to all , Dad
Destination: Known (Chapter 4)
Let me first start off by saying that I am happy to be done with the introductory chapters. While I have found them to be good reminders, I think we can all agree that the bulk of the book is what caused us to start this book discussion. Additionally, I know first hand that things have been hectic lately, and may continue with Christmas, but I hope we can all find time to discuss the chapters.
With that said, I have only a few observations concerning Chapter 4. Not long ago, a friend's friend roommate passed away suddenly. A lot was mentioned about how nice a boy he was and many believed that he was in Heaven. Only problem was he never made a profession of faith. Many people I talk to and/or work with have this nonassuring hope that they will be good enough to get into heaven. But the Bible is very clear that the problem of sin must be dealt with. "If we want to be forgiven, we must recognize and repent of our sins" (page 34). Those who think they are "christians" and live trying to earn just enough points to get into Heaven have not surrendered control of their life to Jesus and will not find themselves in Heaven.
One other point that I appreciated was Alcorn's emphasis on church participation. Many people have been turned away from the church for far too many reasons. Alcorn reminded us that the church is a hospital for sinners and not a "showcase for saints". All true believers need to be involved in a local Christ-centered church where God's Word is preached for the benefit of all human, imperfect, and needy sinners. The only way to fight false doctrine in our lives is to expose ourselves to Godly leaders found in the church and ultimately surrender control to Jesus.
With that said, I have only a few observations concerning Chapter 4. Not long ago, a friend's friend roommate passed away suddenly. A lot was mentioned about how nice a boy he was and many believed that he was in Heaven. Only problem was he never made a profession of faith. Many people I talk to and/or work with have this nonassuring hope that they will be good enough to get into heaven. But the Bible is very clear that the problem of sin must be dealt with. "If we want to be forgiven, we must recognize and repent of our sins" (page 34). Those who think they are "christians" and live trying to earn just enough points to get into Heaven have not surrendered control of their life to Jesus and will not find themselves in Heaven.
One other point that I appreciated was Alcorn's emphasis on church participation. Many people have been turned away from the church for far too many reasons. Alcorn reminded us that the church is a hospital for sinners and not a "showcase for saints". All true believers need to be involved in a local Christ-centered church where God's Word is preached for the benefit of all human, imperfect, and needy sinners. The only way to fight false doctrine in our lives is to expose ourselves to Godly leaders found in the church and ultimately surrender control to Jesus.
THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND-FOLLOWER OF JESUS OR NOT.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The Best (and Worst) of Life...But a Glimpse
Sadly, it has been a while since I "witnessed" in the traditional sense. By traditional, I mean meeting a complete stranger and sharing the gospel with him. By God's grace, I have had many opportunities to have spiritual discussions with people at work and even had the joy of watching some come to Jesus. But it is sobering to think that most people I see HOPE they can get into Heaven. The fact is that everyone thinks about death. Especially in the wake of the California fires, people directly and indirectly affected take stock of their lives and where they might go when they reach the end of the line. What a ministry opportunity I waste when someone starts small talk in line at the grocery store! "Yeah, it's terrible", I might fumble around to say to this 'weirdo' who doesn't know me but started talking to me. How about saying, "Really makes you think about what's important. Do you feel comfortable about where you will go when you die?" Chapter 3 was a good reminder to me that I should not hold onto the knowledge of Heaven that I will read in this book and Scripture for myself, but proclaim it to those around me. The world's default destination should first break my heart and then lead me to doorsteps. But it MUST break my heart FIRST. Only then can I talk to unbelievers about the realities of Hell with pure motives and a clean heart - not trying to pound it into their heads. I appreciated how Randy Alcorn stated it would be unloving to not share with others the reality of Hell. I do think that there is a general caution today not to offend people so we shy away from Hell. The gospel must be at the forefront of our minds and mouths but the warning of Hell for those who reject the gospel must also be present.
With that said, I also appreciated the 'eternal non-life' description of Hell. Taken from 2 Thess. 1:9, Alcorn stated that community, friendship, and God Himself would be absent from Hell. There will be no company for the miserable! What also struck me was "For Christians, this present life is the closest they will come to Hell. For unbelievers, it is the closest they will come to Heaven". What a crazy thought. It is encouraging for us as we live in the presence of prevailing sin and deception, but it is awful for those who know nothing of Jesus Christ and His love that drove Him to Hell for those who would believe.
I pray that we will be more faithful to speak about Jesus and warn against Hell to those around us.
With that said, I also appreciated the 'eternal non-life' description of Hell. Taken from 2 Thess. 1:9, Alcorn stated that community, friendship, and God Himself would be absent from Hell. There will be no company for the miserable! What also struck me was "For Christians, this present life is the closest they will come to Hell. For unbelievers, it is the closest they will come to Heaven". What a crazy thought. It is encouraging for us as we live in the presence of prevailing sin and deception, but it is awful for those who know nothing of Jesus Christ and His love that drove Him to Hell for those who would believe.
I pray that we will be more faithful to speak about Jesus and warn against Hell to those around us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)