Sermon Notes from our Pastors
3. THE MEDIATOR WHO IS COMING BACK FOR ME (September 15, 2024)
What We Believe: Who God Is and What He Has Done
(The Apostles’ Creed: Faith/Belief That Unites Us)
What We Believe: Who God Is and What He Has Done
(The Apostles’ Creed: Faith/Belief That Unites Us)
(I believe) he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead”
Hebrews 4:14-16
“(I believe) he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again” Focus: Jesus’ ascension after his resurrection was to show his disciples that the Son’s place was with the Father. Jesus went back to the Father to facilitate the sending of the Holy Spirit (next week), and to take his position next to his father to continue in his role as the One who pleads on all his siblings’ behalf. But he would come back. For those not prepared it would be judgement; for those waiting for him – his siblings – it radiates hope: all things made new!
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-19 NIV)
Apostles Creed (Ecumenical Version):
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin
Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (universal) church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
“I believe…” reflects a statement of faith. But it is also a statement of hope. Hope in the Christian understanding has to do with certainty, with “fact” (or what you believe as fact); the only difference is that you cannot actually grasp it…yet. It is in the unseen and in the future, but an unseen and future that is very real because it is guaranteed by One who loves us unconditionally. And that’s why you need faith along with that love.
What are these unseen and future certainties that we are guaranteed, that we say “I believe…” to? Three things, very simply “heaven,” “Jesus’ position right now,” and “the guaranteed return of Jesus” and the difference they make to our lives now.
I. The Place for us – Heaven (John14:2b-3a NIV)
“…I am going there to prepare a place for you.. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you…”
A. Heaven is a reality. When Jesus ascended 40 days after Easter, we believe that he ascended to heaven. But heaven is not just a “place” [Philosophically and theologically that is an impossibility. If heaven is a place where God resides, then it has to be bigger than God. But God is bigger than the heavens (1 Kings 8:27)] Heaven is “the endless, self-sustaining life of God…(and the state of humans and angels) as they share the life of God.” [“Growing in Christ” by J.I. Packer] Heaven is a reality as a state of being that we will all be a part of.
B. Heaven is our destiny. Heaven is also our destination, our “true home” that we are bound for. That is why Jesus talks of heaven as a place, as much as we say, “My home is in the presence of my loved one.” And in that sense home becomes a person – the person of God. That’s what we were made for.
II. The Person for us – Jesus, our Mediator, our Intercessor (1 John 2:1 MSG)
“…But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ,
righteous Jesus”
A. Jesus’ presence with the Father is the reason we have the Holy Spirit (John14:16). Jesus knew that his work was not yet done until he went to be with his Father to end the Holy Spirit. While Jesus could be at one place at a time, his presence would be experienced simultaneously by many at the same time now that his work of redemption had made that possible.
“…But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ,
righteous Jesus”
A. Jesus’ presence with the Father is the reason we have the Holy Spirit (John14:16). Jesus knew that his work was not yet done until he went to be with his Father to end the Holy Spirit. While Jesus could be at one place at a time, his presence would be experienced simultaneously by many at the same time now that his work of redemption had made that possible.
B. Jesus is our mediator and intercessor, always. The book of Hebrews brings the beauty of Jesus as our High Priest forever. He mediates between the Father and us children, and he constantly intercedes on our behalf. This is especially meaningful because he is able to understand us completely because of his human life and “therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25)
III. The Promise for us – Jesus’ return for us (Acts 1:11)
“…This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you
have seen him go into heaven”
A. Jesus himself will come for us, the redeemed. The angels and Jesus himself (John14:3) assures us that he himself will return to take his siblings, God’ children, to be where he is. Some think that this happens at the so-called Parousia (Second Coming), others believe it could also mean when a person dies. Why can’t it be both?
“…This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you
have seen him go into heaven”
A. Jesus himself will come for us, the redeemed. The angels and Jesus himself (John14:3) assures us that he himself will return to take his siblings, God’ children, to be where he is. Some think that this happens at the so-called Parousia (Second Coming), others believe it could also mean when a person dies. Why can’t it be both?
B. Jesus’ coming will make all things new, all things right. The promise/guarantee of God is that he will make all things new and make things right in terms of his justice and righteousness: “I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:3-5)
This is the HOPE that binds us together: “heaven,” “Jesus’ position right now with the Father,” and “the
guaranteed return of Jesus.”
How we live out that hope with faith and love will make all the difference!
guaranteed return of Jesus.”
How we live out that hope with faith and love will make all the difference!
