John 3:16 Perish Or Eternal Life Series

Note: The resource I used was from John 3:16 by Max Lucado. Max does a great job in chapter 10-12 in describing Heaven & Hell. Worth reading.

Title: Perish and Everlasting Life Outline

Theme:

Text: John 3:16

Joh 3:16 "For God (the creator of all the universe) so loved (was not absent from this world, but had compassion for this world, common trait of Christ) the world (more than a physical place but a sinful people Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.) that He gave (He “God” took action) His only begotten Son (the greatest sacrifice that God could have given, His true love), that whoever (this is any person, not limited to) believes (this is bigger than a saying but it is our action) in Him (“no other name written in heaven whereby man can be saved”

Contrasts of Heaven and Hell

Similarities

Eternal

Heaven – everlasting life

Hell

“ever-lasting destruction” (2 Thess. 1:9)

“They will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt. 25:46 RSV).

Physical Place

Heaven – In the Heavens but also on Earth (New Jerusalem)

Hell – Center of the Earth – Outside

Everyone is where they are suppose to and want to be

Heaven

Hell

Once there, they don’t want to leave. The hearts of damned fools never soften; their minds never change. “Men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory” (Rev. 16:9 NKJV). Contrary to the idea that hell prompts remorse, it doesn’t. It intensifies blasphemy.

Remember the rich man in torment? He could see heaven but didn’t request a transfer. He wanted Lazarus to descend to him. Why not ask if he could join Lazarus? The rich man complained of thirst, not of injustice. He wanted water for the body, not water for the soul. Even the longing for God is a gift from God, and where there is no more of God’s goodness, there is no longing for him. Though every knee shall bow before God and every tongue confess his preeminence (Rom. 14:11), the hard-hearted will do so stubbornly and without worship. There will be no atheists in hell (Phil. 2:10–11), but there will be no God-seekers either.

Differences

No Sin

Heaven

“Nothing impure will ever enter [heaven], nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” Revelation 21:27

“The wolf will live with the lamb” (Isa. 11:6). “God will wipe away every tear . . . there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying . . . for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4 NKJV).

Hell – Sin has its full reign

Assignments

Heaven

Yes, you will have assignments in heaven. God gave Adam and Eve garden responsibilities. “Let them have dominion” (Gen.1:26 NKJV). He mantled the couple with leadership over “the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (v. 26 NKJV). Adam was placed in the garden “to tend and keep it” (2:15 NKJV).

Adam and his descendants will do it again. “[God’s] servants shall serve Him” (Rev. 22:3 NKJV). What is service if not responsible activity? Those who are faithful over a few things will rule over many (Matt. 25:21).

You might oversee the orbit of a distant planetary system . . .design a mural in the new city . . . monitor the expansion of a new species of plants or animals. “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isa. 9:7 NKJV). God’s new world will be marked by increase. Increased planets? Colors? Music? Seems likely. What does a creator do but create?

Hell

Perfection

Heaven

Heaven is a perfect place of perfected people with our perfect Lord. “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Rom. 11:33 NKJV).

Hell – selfishness

Life or Death

Heaven – Life

Jesus offers zoe, the Greek word for “life as God has it.”1 Whereas bios, its sibling term, is life extensive, zoe is life intensive. Jesus talks less about life’s duration and more about its quality, vitality, energy, and fulfillment. What the new mate, sports car, or unexpected check could never do, Christ says, “I can.” You’ll love how he achieves it. He reconnects your soul with God.

What God gave Adam and Eve, he entrusted to you and me. A soul. “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7 NKJV).