Look For New Heavens and Earth
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
10/20/2013 PM
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Text:
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II Peter 3:13,14
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Psalters: |
255, 94, 206, 30 |
- What is promised.
- “New heavens and a new earth.”
- God promised a wonderful creation when Jesus comes again: Isa. 65:17; I Cor. 2:9; Mt. 19:28; Rom. 8:17-23; Rev. 21
- The old world will be changed and made “new,” in the sense of renewing or reviving, bringing to greater life.
- The idea is that the creation remains heaven and earth, but its glory and richness of life are so much more.
- The refining fire will purge the present creation of all the effects of sin: no more curse.
- “Wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
- The only dwellers of the new creation are those god declared to be righteous merely of grace in Christ.
- There will be no unrighteous there, nor will the righteous do any more unrighteousness.
- “Righteousness” means that we are justified and that we will be dwelling with God (Rev. 21:3).
- Everything will be peace and fullness of joy.
- This new creation we are to anticipate: “look for” (13,14).
- This refers to the attitude of believers.
- Our attention is on the new creation; we will not be consumed with fear about the persecution under anti-christ.
- We are even anxious for that day, praying it will come quickly.
- This attitude will reveal itself in our being “diligent that we may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”
- This is the consciousness of having peace because God reconciled us to Himself.
- There is an exerting of oneself, an endeavoring, to answer our natural fears with a quietness.
- The fruit of our justification is forgiveness of sin and peace with God.