Online Bible Study - The Promise Is to You

THE QUESTION: What will be the end of sin?

WE BELIEVE: Those who believe in Jesus Christ will be sinless in heaven, those who reject Jesus will be cast into hell with their sins.

A STORY:
Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a man who went fishing. He let his net down in a lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, he pulled it up on shore. Then he put the good fish in baskets and threw the bad away. (based on Matthew 13:47-50) At another time, Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a farmer who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. When the wheat grew up, the weeds also appeared. The farmer's servants asked, "Do you want us to pull up the weeds?" "No," he answered, "because while you pull the weeds, you may also root out the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then we will collect the weeds into bundles to be burned and the wheat we will gather into the barn. (based on Matthew 13:24-30)

The problem in both of these stories is the mixture, first of good and bad fish, then of wheat and weeds. Each story ends with a separation. Jesus is telling us that humanity too will some day come to a separation. God will separate those who believe in Jesus from those who reject him. Believers will live with God in glory. They will know only perfection and beauty and joy and happiness. They will see God and they will be together like a happy family. Unbelievers will be away from God in hell. God will reject them because they rejected the salvation He offers in Jesus. They will have darkness and pain and loneliness forever.

GOD SPEAKS...
"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear [Jesus'] voice and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." John 5:28-29

"The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son." John 5:22

God has made Jesus Christ the final judge of the world. On the last day, when this sinful world will come to an end, Jesus Christ will return with all his angels. Every man and woman and child who has ever lived will stand before him. Those who trust in Jesus for salvation will be with Him in the new heaven and the new earth, which will be like this world before sin came. Those who reject Jesus will be rejected. They will go to the punishment that God set aside for the devil and his helpers. Only at this time will the Church be free of hypocrites, people who call themselves Christians but really don't believe. God doesn't want anyone to go to hell. That is why He sent Jesus as the Savior of the world--so we could be with Him in heaven. But God is holy and righteous; He hates sin. Those who cling to their sin will be cast away with it. Those who cling to Jesus in faith will be fully purified from their sin when God raises them to life from the grave.

THIS PART OF OUR LESSON ASKS:

- How is it comforting that Jesus, our future judge, is also our Savior who died for us?

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