Sermon Series: “Questioning the Faith”
Sermon #3 “Question about Heaven #2”
Text: I Corinthians 3:9-15
OPENING JOKE: “The Pastor and the Bus Driver” After the preacher died and went to heaven, he noticed that the church bus driver had been given a higher place than he had. “I don’t understand,” he complained to St. Peter. “I devoted my entire life to my congregation.” “Our policy is to reward results,” explained St. Peter. “Now what happened , Reverend, whenever you gave a sermon?” The minister admitted that some in the congregation fell asleep. “Exactly, “ said St. Peter. “And when people rode in this man’s bus, they not only stayed awake, they prayed.” (Ray Heit, in Reader’s Digest)
INTRODUCTION: We continue our series on ‘Questioning the Faith’ this evening.
Last week we discussed the question of “Will we know people in Heaven?” I indicated that the Scripture apparently says, “Yes”.
Tonight we will answer another question concerning Heaven.
QUESTION: I have heard Heaven mentioned as having different levels (i.e. 1st Heaven, 2nd Heaven, 3rd Heaven). Are there levels of Heaven?
This is a good question, and it has more than one answer, because it is a complex question.
I believe what we should do is first go to the scripture that uses the phrase ‘third heaven’ and indicate what this means before we continue.
II Corinthians 12:2 “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows-such a one was caught up to the third heaven.”
It is indicative that if Heaven has a ‘third level’ that it must also have a first and second – so what does this mean?
This is actually a scientific point of view on Heaven
(1) The first level of heaven is the earth’s atmosphere
a. i.e. of clouds
b. Genesis 8:2 “The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were also stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained.”
c. Deuteronomy 11:11 “but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven,”
(2) The second level of heaven is interstellar space
a. i.e. of stars
b. Genesis 15:5 “Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."”
c. Psalm 8:3 “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,”
(3) The third level of heaven is God’s presence
a. i.e. God’s abode
b. I Kings 8:30 “And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.”
c. Psalm 123:1 “Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens.”
Basically, to understand this verse we must be willing to concede that God’s abode is outside our understanding of space.
Because this is the case, the word ‘Heaven’ is often used interchangeably between our atmosphere, interstellar space and God’s abode (the Heaven of Heavens)
To help ensure that there would be no question concerning his meaning Paul said, ‘Third Heaven’ to indicate exactly what he meant in this passage: The presence of God
But this, though it is good trivia and exegesis of this verse, does not really get to the heart of the question.
When people begin discussing ‘levels of heaven’, the usual question is, “Is heaven going to be better for some than it is for others?”
Some argue that Heaven is the same for everyone, while others say that the better you are here the better heaven will be for you
Illustration: “Christian Sects Differ on Heaven” Because the Jehovah’s Witnesses misinterpret Revelation, they believe that only 144,000 of them will be going to the ‘true’ heaven, while the rest will be in different levels of heaven, which are good, but not as good as the ‘true’ heaven.
So what is the answer?
Of course, we must go to God’s Word for an answer to this question, the best answer being our text for tonight I Corinthians 3:9-15
I Corinthians 3: 10 “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.”
• There is but one foundation for salvation: The Lord Jesus Christ
• Paul says here that he has laid that foundation down for others to build on, meaning that he led them to faith in Christ
I Corinthians 3:12 “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.”
• Gold, silver and precious stones indicate heavenly works, good works, God honoring deeds – Dedicated spiritual service to the Lord
• Wood, hay and stubble indicate inferior works, because these are inferior materials – Shallow activities with no real value
• “The Day” refers to the ‘Bema’ or ‘judgment seat of Christ’ where believer’s works will be judged – you will see later that this is not the judgment for salvation, but the judgment for rewards
• “Revealed by fire” This is the fire of God’s discernment, which will sort each work whether it be a good work, or an inferior one.
I Corinthians 3:13 “If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.”
• This reward is not heaven, because this is not the judgment for salvation
• The rewards will be discussed later
I Corinthians 3:15 “If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
• If the reward was heaven, then it would be impossible for Him to suffer loss yet still be saved
• Because everyone who is being discussed in this passage has a foundation in Christ – their salvation is secure in Him (3:10)
• “So as through fire” indicates that the person whose works are not worthy of reward will enter heaven ‘by the skin of his teeth’
So does this indicate that some believers will receive a ‘better heaven’ than others? No, but there will be different rewards given to those who worked for God on this earth in dedicated service to Him.
What rewards?
The Bible talks of five crowns that the believer can achieve:
I. The Incorruptible Crown
a. I Corinthians 9:25 “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”
b. Also known as ‘The Victor’s Crown’
c. This is reserved for those who are disciplined and who “keep their body in subjection” (I Corinthians 9:27)
i. Basically I take this to mean those who have purged themselves from the inducements and pleasures of this world, like the Apostles did
ii. This resulting in a profitable service to the Lord Jesus Christ
II. The Crown of Life
a. Revelation 2:10 “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
b. Also called “The Martyr’s Crown” or the “Sufferer’s Crown”
c. This will be a rectification of all of the injustices served to Christians in this life
i. Those who have ‘suffered much’ will be given this crown
ii. This is also a special reward for those who have died for their faith in Christ
III. The Crown of Glory
a. I Peter 5:2-4 “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
b. Also called “The Shepherds Crown” or “Elder’s Crown”
i. This is a crown for those who have given their lives to the teaching of the Word of God
ii. All those who willingly study and faithfully proclaim God’s Word will receive this crown
IV. The Crown of Righteousness
a. II Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
b. This indicates a special crown for those who have allowed Christ’s return to have a special impact on their life
i. This impact has created within them a longing for His return
ii. This longing should be within every believer
V. The Crown of Rejoicing
a. I Thessalonians 2:19-20 “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.”
b. Also known as the “Soul Winner’s Crown”
c. This verse basically says, “What is our crown? You being there with us in Heaven”
i. This may not be a specific crown, as none of these may be actual crowns, but this represents the recognition of knowing that we are responsible for sharing Christ with someone who made it to Heaven
ii. Think of the inexpressible joy of knowing that someone you witnessed to, you taught in Sunday school, of you shared your testimony with was in Heaven
d. There would be no better reward!
CONCLUSION: The overarching point of tonight’s message is simple: We will not be saved by our works, but our works will still be judged.
They will not save us, nor secure us a place in heaven –
But they shall be looked at by the King of Kings at His judgment seat
Does this mean Heaven will be better for a person who is sporting a head full of crowns? I don’t believe so – but I do believe this:
I believe that immediately after receiving our crowns we will place them at the feet of Jesus
I believe this because of what John saw in His vision from Jesus in Revelation
Revelation 4:10 “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne”
Quote: Gold crowns will afford nothing in a place where the streets are paved with gold – but to be able to lay my crown at the feet of Jesus, symbolizing my life of dedication to Him will be a much richer experience than anything I could ever dream
So tonight, I ask you Christians – are you laying up for yourselves ‘treasures in Heaven’ as Christ commanded?
If you’re not, don’t you think you ought to start?
(Let us pray)
