We Still Won’t Know Everything
God alone is omniscient. When we die, we’ll see things far more clearly, and we’ll know much more than we know now. But we’ll never know everything.
In heaven we’ll be flawless, but not knowing everything isn’t a flaw. It’s part of being finite. Righteous angels don’t know everything, and they long to know more . They’re flawless but finite. We should expect to long for greater knowledge, as angels do. And we’ll spend eternity gaining the greater knowledge we’ll seek.
Will We Know Each Other In Heaven
This is one of the most frequently asked questions about heaven. I would like to share an answer given by a Bible teacher of another generation – a man named William Pettingill. He said, “We may be sure that we shall not know less in heaven than we know here.”
In proof he quotes 1 Corinthians 13:12, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” How does God know us? Answer: He knows us completely, intimately, thoroughly, inside and out, with nothing hidden but everything seen as it really is . When we get to heaven we’ll know each other as God knows us because all the imperfections of this life will be removed. In this life sin causes us to cover ourselves-not just physically but emotionally and spiritually. But when sin is finally lifted from us, then we can be ourselves with no shame, no pain, no embarrassment, and no covering up.
Dr. Pettingill concludes that in heaven we will know every person in heaven and all of them will be friends and loved ones to us.
In his very helpful book on heaven, W.A. Criswell makes the additional point that individual personality survives into eternity. I’ll be the same person then that I am now-only with all the imperfections and limitations of sin finally removed. This is a wonderful thought-that the essence of who we are will remain throughout eternity-yet vastly improved by God’s grace.
Believers Can Face Death Without Fear
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:Death is swallowed up in victory.O death, where is your victory?O death, where is your sting?For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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What Is Heaven Like According To The Bible
We shall see the Lord face-to-face. The fact that our all-knowing, all-powerful Creator will dwell with us and we shall know him in an even more intimate way should be sufficient for the true Christian to rest assured that they will be satisfied there.
- Jessica MillerChristianity.com Contributing Writer
- 202019 Aug
When people try to imagine heaven, they sometimes picture ethereal images like angels loafing on clouds or chubby cherubs strumming on harps. In order to be motivated to live for the values of heaven, maintaining a biblical mindset about eternal realities is important.
But maintaining this perspective is difficult when we are bombarded with numerous misconceptions about heaven in popular culture. Here are three of the most common ideas about heaven and what the Bible says about them.
The Inescapable Problem Of Sin
Since Adam and Eve and the Fall, every human being has been born with a sinful nature.;Our instincts are not toward goodness but are toward sin.;We may think we are good, compared to others, but we are not holy.;
If we look at the story of Israel in the Old Testament, we each see a parallel to the endless struggle in our own life:;obeying God, disobeying God; clinging to God, rejecting God.;Eventually, we all backslide into sin.;No one can meet God’s standard of holiness to get into heaven.
In Old Testament times, God addressed this problem of sin by commanding the Hebrews to sacrifice animals to atone for their sins:
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for ones life.”
The sacrificial system involving the desert tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem was never meant to be a permanent solution to humanity’s sin.;All of the Bible points to a Messiah, a coming Savior promised by God to deal with the problem of sin once and for all.
“When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” ;;
God’s great plan of salvation is based not on people being good because they can never be good enough but on the atoning death of Jesus Christ.
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How Good Is Good Enough
The Bible, God’s inspired Word, has much to say about humanity’s so-called “goodness.”
“Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. No one is goodexcept God alone.”
Goodness, according to most people, is being better than murderers, rapists, drug dealers and robbers. Giving to charity and being polite may be some people’s idea of goodness.;They recognize their flaws but think, on the whole, they’re pretty decent human beings.
God, on the other hand, is not just good.;God is holy.;Throughout the Bible, we are reminded of his absolute sinlessness.;He is incapable of breaking his laws, the Ten Commandments.;In the book of Leviticus, holiness is mentioned 152 times.;God’s standard to get into heaven, then, is not goodness, but holiness, complete freedom from sin.
What Does The Bible Say About Which Day Of The Week Is The Sabbath Rest For Christiansshould You Rest On Saturday Or Sundaydoes A Christian Even Need To Keep The 4th Commandmentdoes It Make Any Difference Which Day Of The Week You Observe
What does the Bible say?“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” “these”“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ” great“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets“commandments”all of them. literally spirit. “Thou shall not kill” “Thou shall not commit adultery” “rest”
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Facts About Heaven That Will Surprise You
by Randy Alcorn on Monday, February 29, 2016 at 3:02 PM
In heaven, we’ll embrace God’s holiness and justice. God will be our source of joy. But will we miss things from earth? Will we become angels? Will we work? Author Randy Alcorn answers some of the common questions we all have about heaven.
When I anticipate my first glimpse of heaven, I remember the first time I went snorkeling.
I saw countless fish of every shape, size; and color. Just when I thought I’d seen the most beautiful fish, along came one even more striking. Etched in my memory is the sound of a gasp going through my snorkel as my eyes were opened to a breathtaking underwater world.
As believers,;I imagine our first glimpse of heaven will cause us to gasp in a similar waywith;amazement and delight. That first gasp will likely be followed by many more as we continually encounter new sights in that endlessly wonderful place.
Though most of us are in no hurry to get to our final destination, we all have questions about it. After in-depth study of the Scriptures, here are;some of the most frequently asked questions.
Will I Go To Heaven
The Bible verses we have quoted in this article make it clear that when a person dies, he or she is unconscious. Death is like sleep. But many people believe that good people go to heaven when they die. In fact, every year thousands of people ask search engines: Will I go to heaven?
The above scriptures answer that question indirectly. They collectively tell us about the mental state of the dead and use an analogy that doesnt match the common idea about heaven. Most churches dont teach that people go to heaven to sleep for eternity.
There is no scripture that says we will go heaven when we die.
In fact, Jesus Christthe highest authority we could consult on the topicsaid in John 3:13: No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
The apostle Peter reinforced Jesus Christs teaching in his famous Pentecost sermon, which he delivered seven weeks after Jesus resurrection from the dead: Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. For David did not ascend into the heavens .
To learn more about the Bibles teaching about heaven, read our article Is Heaven Real? What Is Heaven?
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You Get To Heaven By Trusting In Jesus
God did something about our situation and our destination of the lake of fire. God wouldnt be a just Judge if He didnt uphold justice. But in His love, He did something so that He can save as many people as possible from going there. He wants everyone to be saved .
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:16-17
The most important point in the Bible about getting to heaven or being saved is that you have to trust in Jesus. John 3:16 is possibly the most well-known verse in the entire Bible.
John 3:16 means that God shows His love to the world in this way: He sent His only Son, Jesus. If you believe in Jesus, God will rescue you and you will have eternal life. You will not perish as a result of the penalty of sin. Youll be saved from your final destination, the lake of fire.
Jesus came to seek and to save the lost . Jesus saves you by dying in your place. He became your substitute by dying on a cross. He became the sacrifice for your sin to pay the penalty. Jesus died so you can have eternal life.
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.
The Bible says that you need to repent and believe in the gospel, the Good News of Jesus.
Bible Verses On The Future Resurrection Of The Dead
Here are other Bible verses that reiterate the truth that the dead will be resurrected at a future time. These can provide comfort when we are dealing with the death of a loved one.
- Jesus Christ speaking: This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day .
- Jesus Christ speaking: Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forththose who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation .
- The apostle Paul writing: Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changedin a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed .
- Samuels mother, Hannah, in one of her prayers: The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up .
- Isaiah prophesying: Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead .
And later there will be another resurrection of those who in their lifetime had not been called to be followers of Jesus Christ.
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Bible Verses About Rich Man Entering Heaven
Some people think the Bible says the rich cannot enter Heaven, which is false. Its just hard for them to enter Heaven. The rich and wealthy might think I dont need Jesus I have money. They could be filled with pride, greed, selfishness, and more which will stop them from entering. Christians can indeed be rich and go to Heaven, but you must never trust in riches. All Christians especially the rich have a duty to help provide for the poor and be willing to share with others.
James 2:26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. I want to add as well that many of us in;America are considered rich. You might be middle class in America, but in a country like Haiti or Zimbabwe you would be rich. Stop trying to buy the newest stuff and instead readjust your giving. Set your eyes on Christ. The rich unbeliever says I dont need to pray in trials I have a savings account. A Christian says I have nothing, but Christ and we know there is not enough money in the world to help us.
Most rich people love money more than Christ. Money is holding them back.
Command to the rich
Money can make people stingy and selfish.
6. Romans 2:8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
It is very easy for the rich to make money dishonestly.
Never accepting Jesus: They trust in their riches
Idolatry: Riches is their God
Theyre of the world: Living for worldly things
You Dont Get To Heaven By Being A Good Person
A common misconception is that you get to heaven by being a good person. You dont go to heaven if your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds. The Bible is very clear that this is not the case. No one would be good enough to earn heaven.
God doesnt grade on a curve when it comes to getting to heaven.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Eph. 2:8-9
Eph. 2:8-9 explains that you are saved by grace, through faith.;
- Grace means that we get to heaven by Gods gracious, free gift, not because we earned it.
Faith means that you get to heaven by believing in God and His way. Its based on something that He did, not something that you did.
- Faith is trusting in God and what He did and not in yourself or something you did.
Its not a result of works. This means that you dont get to heaven based on your good or bad deeds in this life. That no one may boast means that you cant take credit for it. You cant get to the pearly gates and say: Peter, let me in because Ive been a good person!
Note: This is not in the Bible. Peter is not at a pearly gate waiting for you. Even if he happens to be, the point is, you wont be able to take credit for getting into heaven by your good deeds.
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