“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Pet.3:15

Answer = Defense

1

Saul - 1 Sam.28:3-15 “knew it was Samuel”Luke 16:19-31 - Rich man and Lazarus

Matt. 17:1-8 - Transfiguration of JesusMosesElijah

2

God loves us more than we can love others

God will be happy in heaven

God will be able to make us happy in heaven.

3

Rev. 21:16 “foursquare” 12,000 furlongsCalculated about 2,250,000 sq. milesCube = 3,375,000,000 cubic miles

How much space will we need ?

Omnipotent God will not have a problem

Figurative

4

Time of reformation is now

2 Peter 3:9 “longsuffering” “not willing that any should perish” “all should come to repentance”

“Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Ezekiel 18:23

5

We are created in the image of GodWe will have no end

Sin cannot be tolerated as long as God exists

Hell separates sinners from the righteous.

An eternal heaven demands an eternal hell.

6

Opportunity to be saved - live in heaven

Obedient be saved - disobedient be lost

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

7

Luke 16 - Rich man and Lazarus

Hades - place where souls of men go at deathEccl. 12:7 “spirit shall return unto God”

Hell - eternal place of punishment2 Thes. 1:8-9

8

Rich man and Lazarus - Luke 16:19-31 All aware of their surroundings Memory of the world Abraham said “son remember”

How could there be reward or punishment if we were not conscious ?

9

Matthew 11:21-24 “more tolerable”

Mark 12:38-40 “receive greater damnation”

Luke 12:47-48 “many stripes” “few stripes”

10

Marriage is only for this earth

Rom. 7:2 “as long as he lives”

Mt. 22:29-30 “in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage”

11

Matthew 22:29-30Galatians 3:27-28

1 Cor. 15:38 “But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.”

12

Satan is the tempter - Matt. 4:3“the tempter” 1 Thes. 3:5

Satan will not be in heaven - Matt. 25:41

The absence of the tempter implies there will be no temptation in heaven.

13

2 Pet. 3:13 - Rev. 21:1 “look for new heavens and a new earth”

Not a renovated earthPeter did not say:

“earth be refurbished” “Lord would reign on earth” “anyone would inhabit earth”

13

Matt. 24:35 “heaven and earth will pass away”2 Pet.3:10 earth will be burned up

1 Pet. 1:4 - inheritance reserved in heaven

First heaven and earth - gone

An allusion to heaven

Hell

Eternal -------------------No sorrow or pain -----Joy -----------------------Rest ----------------------City built by God ------Light ---------------------Righteous --------------

--------------------- Eternal--Intense pain/ suffering--------Place of Weeping ---------------------No RestLake of fire & Brimstone-----------Outer Darkness------- Devil & His angels

Sermon by Arthur Pigman

Evans Church of Christ

515 Gibbs Road

Evans, Ga. 30809

706-855-1249

evanscoc@bellsouth.netevanscoc@bellsouth.net

www.evansgachurchofchrist.orgwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org

Sunday Morning December 1, 2013