Left Curl Lesson 52 Right Curl

Question

What hope does everlasting life hold for us?

Answer

It reminds us that this present fallen world is not all there is; soon we will live with and enjoy God forever in the new city, in the new heaven and the new earth, where we will be fully and forever freed from all sin and will inhabit renewed, resurrection bodies in a renewed, restored creation.

Scripture

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

—Revelation 21:1–4 (ESV)
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Commentary

“Scripture begins with the original creation of the universe and ends in its last chapters with the creation of a new universe. And in between, the perspective is overshadowed by this Alpha and Omega, this Beginning and End. The first outspoken expression of this is God’s word in Isaiah 65: ‘Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth’ (v.17). Then Jesus himself spoke of the palingenesia, literally ‘the new birth,’ but translated by the NIV ‘the renewal of all things’ (Matt. 19:28). In the rest of the New Testament the three major apostolic authors (Paul, Peter, and John) all allude to the same theme. Paul writes that the whole creation will one day be liberated from its bondage to pain and decay (Rom. 8:18–25). Peter prophesies that the present heavens will be replaced by a new heaven and earth, which will be the home of righteousness and peace (2 Pet. 3:7–13). Next, John writes that he saw the same replacement, together with the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God (Rev. 21:1–2). And in the same chapter John writes that the kings of the earth and the nations will bring their glory into the city, though ‘nothing impure will ever enter into it’ (Rev. 21:27). We need to be cautious in our interpretation of these verses, but they seem to mean that human culture will not all be destroyed but, once purged of every taint of evil, will be preserved to beautify the New Jerusalem. To sum up, just as in the resurrection of the body, so in the renewal of the universe, the old will not all be destroyed but will be transformed. This is our living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Footnote

John Stott (1921–2011). An English Anglican preacher who for many years served as rector of All Souls Church in London, Stott was one of the principal framers of the Lausanne Covenant (1974). His numerous books include The Cross of Christ.

Attribution

From Through the Bible, Through the Year: Daily Reflections from Genesis to Revelation (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006), 285.

Further Reading

“Heaven” in A Faith to Live By, by Donald Macleod.

Song

Video

Prayer

Adult

“And now to Him who purchased the church with his own blood, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, and exercises a tender care over the weakest and meanest of his flock;—to Him…do I now desire to devote my strength, my life, my all; to be employed how, and as long, as his unerring wisdom shall direct and appoint. And the Lord grant! that I may obtain mercy to be found faithful…. And as it is in Him I desire to be found, at the last, the universal audit; so it is in his name I humbly go forth…. Oh my God! my adored Redeemer! my infinite, eternal All! Let my own soul…be ever precious in thy sight! And grant, that after the exercise of much fervent, mutual love, and the enjoyment of many spiritual comforts, in these thy lower courts; we may finally arrive at those blissful regions, where love is perfect, and joy perpetual; where hymns of holy wonder, and songs of devoutest praise, shall be our uninterrupted and everlasting employ! Amen and Amen.”

Footnote

Abraham Booth (1734–1806). An English Baptist minister, Booth served as pastor of Prescot Street Church in Whitechapel, London for 35 years as well as founding what is now Regents Park College for ministerial training in Oxford. He is most known for his work The Reign of Grace.

Attribution

From “Confession of Faith” in Works of Abraham Booth: Late Pastor of the Baptist Church, Volume 1 (London: Button, 1813), xxxvi–xxxvii.

Child

Infinite, eternal, redeemer God, who purchased the church with your own blood, we want to devote our strength, our life, our all to you. Our God and our adored Redeemer, we thank you for our eternal hope—that we will live with you and enjoy you forever. We praise you for the new city where love will be perfect, where we will sing hymns and songs of praise to you, and where your glory will be our uninterrupted and everlasting joy! Amen.

Attribution

Derived and adapted from Abraham Booth’s prayer in “Confession of Faith” in Works of Abraham Booth: Late Pastor of the Baptist Church, Volume 1 (London: Button, 1813), xxxvi–xxxvii.

“And now to Him who purchased the church with his own blood, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, and exercises a tender care over the weakest and meanest of his flock;—to Him…do I now desire to devote my strength, my life, my all; to be employed how, and as long, as his unerring wisdom shall direct and appoint. And the Lord grant! that I may obtain mercy to be found faithful…. And as it is in Him I desire to be found, at the last, the universal audit; so it is in his name I humbly go forth…. Oh my God! my adored Redeemer! my infinite, eternal All! Let my own soul…be ever precious in thy sight! And grant, that after the exercise of much fervent, mutual love, and the enjoyment of many spiritual comforts, in these thy lower courts; we may finally arrive at those blissful regions, where love is perfect, and joy perpetual; where hymns of holy wonder, and songs of devoutest praise, shall be our uninterrupted and everlasting employ! Amen and Amen.”

Footnote

Abraham Booth (1734–1806). An English Baptist minister, Booth served as pastor of Prescot Street Church in Whitechapel, London for 35 years as well as founding what is now Regents Park College for ministerial training in Oxford. He is most known for his work The Reign of Grace.

Attribution

From “Confession of Faith” in Works of Abraham Booth: Late Pastor of the Baptist Church, Volume 1 (London: Button, 1813), xxxvi–xxxvii.

Infinite, eternal, redeemer God, who purchased the church with your own blood, we want to devote our strength, our life, our all to you. Our God and our adored Redeemer, we thank you for our eternal hope—that we will live with you and enjoy you forever. We praise you for the new city where love will be perfect, where we will sing hymns and songs of praise to you, and where your glory will be our uninterrupted and everlasting joy! Amen.

Attribution

Derived and adapted from Abraham Booth’s prayer in “Confession of Faith” in Works of Abraham Booth: Late Pastor of the Baptist Church, Volume 1 (London: Button, 1813), xxxvi–xxxvii.