Embracing Questions: Trusting God in Life and Eternity

 

Summary

Reflecting on the profound questions of life, such as the meaning of existence and the nature of the afterlife, is essential for spiritual growth. It's important to embrace the freedom to ask any question, as this pursuit of truth is a cornerstone of faith. Jesus himself encouraged the pursuit of truth, and asking questions is a vital part of this journey. Today, we delve into questions about the afterlife, a topic that often stirs anxiety and curiosity.

Understanding salvation is crucial. Salvation is not merely an arrangement ensuring a place in heaven; it is a transformative process of redemption and wholeness that begins now and continues into eternity. Trusting in Jesus is not about adhering to a formula but about a personal relationship with Him. This trust extends beyond the afterlife to every aspect of our lives, including our relationships, finances, and purpose. We trust that God, in His goodness, will do the best for each person, even when we don't fully understand their spiritual state at death.

The concept of resurrection is distinct from immortality. While ancient Greeks believed in the immortality of the soul, the biblical view of resurrection involves the redemption of creation, including our bodies. This means that life will not only continue but will be restored and made right. The imagery used in scripture to describe heaven—crowns, harps, gold, and white robes—points to spiritual realities of dignity, permanence, and purity.

Hell, a challenging concept, is often misunderstood. Some believe in annihilation, while others hope for universal salvation. The idea of hell is not something to be wished upon anyone. It represents the ultimate loss of God and all that is good. The decisions we make in life have eternal significance, and rejecting God leads to a diminishment of the soul. Therefore, it's vital to take our spiritual journey seriously, seeking God's help to become the person we are meant to be.

Ultimately, the God we trust with our eternity is the same God we can trust with our daily lives. This assurance allows us to live with hope and purpose, knowing that our questions and struggles are part of a larger journey toward truth and redemption.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Importance of Questions: Embracing questions is essential for spiritual growth. Jesus encourages us to pursue truth, and asking questions is a vital part of this journey. This openness leads to a deeper understanding of faith and life. [01:05]

2. Understanding Salvation: Salvation is not just about securing a place in heaven; it's a transformative process that begins now. Trusting Jesus involves a personal relationship, not just adherence to a formula. This trust extends to all aspects of life. [03:27]

3. Resurrection vs. Immortality: The biblical concept of resurrection involves the redemption of creation, including our bodies. This means life will be restored and made right, not just continue in a disembodied state. [08:08]

4. The Reality of Hell: Hell represents the ultimate loss of God and all that is good. It's a challenging concept, but it underscores the importance of our spiritual journey and the decisions we make in life. [11:26]

5. Trusting God with Eternity and Today: The God we trust with our eternity is the same God we can trust with our daily lives. This assurance allows us to live with hope and purpose, knowing our struggles are part of a larger journey. [12:27]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - The Importance of Questions
- [01:15] - Addressing Curiosities
- [02:11] - Understanding Salvation
- [03:39] - Trusting Jesus Beyond Arrangements
- [05:08] - Trusting God with Life and Death
- [06:05] - The Concept of Resurrection
- [07:47] - Imagery of Heaven
- [08:42] - Understanding Hell
- [10:10] - The Hope of Universal Salvation
- [11:26] - The Consequences of Rejecting God
- [12:12] - Taking Our Spiritual Journey Seriously
- [12:27] - Trusting God with Today and Eternity

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 14:6 - "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
2. Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
3. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 - "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body."

Observation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest is the difference between trusting an arrangement and trusting a person when it comes to salvation? [04:47]
2. How does the sermon describe the biblical concept of resurrection compared to the Greek idea of immortality? [08:08]
3. According to the sermon, what are some of the spiritual realities that the imagery of heaven (crowns, harps, gold, white robes) points to? [07:07]
4. What are the different views on hell mentioned in the sermon, and how do they reflect on the nature of God? [09:05]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of salvation as a transformative process beginning now challenge or affirm your understanding of faith? [03:01]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our daily trust in God is connected to our trust in Him for eternity? [12:27]
3. How might the biblical view of resurrection as the redemption of creation influence one's perspective on life and death? [08:18]
4. What implications does the sermon suggest about the decisions we make in life and their eternal significance? [11:26]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a question about faith or life that you have been hesitant to ask. How can embracing this question lead to spiritual growth? [00:53]
2. Consider your current understanding of salvation. How can you move from trusting in a formula to developing a deeper personal relationship with Jesus? [04:47]
3. How does the idea of resurrection as a restoration of creation impact your view of your own body and the physical world? [08:18]
4. What steps can you take to ensure that your daily life reflects the trust you have in God for your eternity? [12:27]
5. How do you respond to the concept of hell as the ultimate loss of God and all that is good? What changes might you make in your life to align with this understanding? [11:26]
6. Identify an area of your life where you struggle to trust God. What practical steps can you take this week to surrender that area to Him? [05:08]
7. How can you use the imagery of heaven to inspire hope and purpose in your daily life? [07:07]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Questions as a Path to Growth
Reflecting on the profound questions of life, such as the meaning of existence and the nature of the afterlife, is essential for spiritual growth. It's important to embrace the freedom to ask any question, as this pursuit of truth is a cornerstone of faith. Jesus himself encouraged the pursuit of truth, and asking questions is a vital part of this journey. By engaging with these questions, we open ourselves to a deeper understanding of faith and life, allowing us to grow spiritually and draw closer to God. [01:05]

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one question about your faith or life that you have been hesitant to ask? How can you begin to explore this question with God today?


Day 2: Salvation as a Transformative Journey
Understanding salvation is crucial. Salvation is not merely an arrangement ensuring a place in heaven; it is a transformative process of redemption and wholeness that begins now and continues into eternity. Trusting in Jesus is not about adhering to a formula but about a personal relationship with Him. This trust extends beyond the afterlife to every aspect of our lives, including our relationships, finances, and purpose. We trust that God, in His goodness, will do the best for each person, even when we don't fully understand their spiritual state at death. [03:27]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to experience the transformative power of salvation today? How can you invite Jesus into this area to begin the process of change?


Day 3: Resurrection and the Redemption of Creation
The concept of resurrection is distinct from immortality. While ancient Greeks believed in the immortality of the soul, the biblical view of resurrection involves the redemption of creation, including our bodies. This means that life will not only continue but will be restored and made right. The imagery used in scripture to describe heaven—crowns, harps, gold, and white robes—points to spiritual realities of dignity, permanence, and purity. [08:08]

"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (Romans 8:19-21, ESV)

Reflection: How does the promise of resurrection and the redemption of creation impact your view of the world today? What steps can you take to live in anticipation of this future reality?


Day 4: Understanding the Reality of Hell
Hell, a challenging concept, is often misunderstood. Some believe in annihilation, while others hope for universal salvation. The idea of hell is not something to be wished upon anyone. It represents the ultimate loss of God and all that is good. The decisions we make in life have eternal significance, and rejecting God leads to a diminishment of the soul. Therefore, it's vital to take our spiritual journey seriously, seeking God's help to become the person we are meant to be. [11:26]

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28, ESV)

Reflection: What decisions are you making today that have eternal significance? How can you align your choices with God's will to ensure you are on the right spiritual path?


Day 5: Trusting God with Eternity and Today
Ultimately, the God we trust with our eternity is the same God we can trust with our daily lives. This assurance allows us to live with hope and purpose, knowing that our questions and struggles are part of a larger journey toward truth and redemption. By trusting God with both our eternal future and our present circumstances, we can find peace and direction in every aspect of life. [12:27]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your daily life where you struggle to trust God? How can you begin to surrender this area to Him and trust in His plan for you?

Quotes

"To be able to freely ask absolutely any question is fundamental to flourishing and wise people have always understood that that's part of many many traditions. Unfortunately, sometimes in communities of faith, people feel like to be a person of faith you're supposed to not ask questions but actually there's no other way to pursue truth." [00:34:52]

"How can I know that I'm saved as one that often creates a lot of anxiety for folks, and it's very important to understand what is that word saved means and it does not simply mean that I have made an arrangement that ensures that I'm in the heaven-bound category after I die. To be saved means to be redeemed to be reclaimed to be made whole to be forgiven." [02:47:36]

"Being saved is something that we trust God for, and you might think about it like this: oftentimes, at least in a lot of traditions in American religion, we think about being saved as a matter of trusting in a certain arrangement as long as I believe the right things in an arrangement in what was done on my behalf." [03:34:32]

"What we're invited to do is to trust Jesus. Now of course part of what that means is I trust him with my life beyond this death, and I trust him with the forgiveness of my sins, but I trust him with everything else as well. I trust him with how I approach finances and anger and my relationships with other people and how do I have purpose in my life." [04:54:32]

"God is the kind of person who can be trusted with my life and my eternity and when I ask him to forgive me based on Jesus's love that is revealed most fully on the cross and to give me life beyond death which is captured in the resurrection then I trust God will do that." [05:47:44]

"The imagery is pointing to spiritual reality but it does it in a way that uses imagery that's not literal so C.S. Lewis writes about this. There's imagery that's used to describe heaven that will involve crowns or harps or gold or white robes and the idea is that music is there because we associate music with ecstasy." [06:38:56]

"Resurrection means not just that life will go on but what's wrong will be set right. God loves what he created including bodies and so he will resurrect and redeem and save from corruption bodies and that's what we have to look forward to it's not just immortality souls wandering around in heaven." [07:58:48]

"Some folks John Stott who's a great thinker and Christian believed that souls would be annihilated upon death if people did not know and live surrender to God and that's been one understanding other great Christians George McDonald believe that in the end all would be saved and there will be these really intriguing passages in scriptures." [08:51:12]

"God is the hope of every person and I love what Andy Stanley said somebody asked him about a book by Rob Bell where Rob may in that book be indicating his own belief in universalism the idea that everybody will be saved and Andy's comment on that was well I sure hope that's true." [09:37:40]

"To reject God and to reject the good is to become very small Thomas Aquinas said there was kind of a scale of value that the greatest value for human beings is union with the God who created all that is and is a glorious being beyond our imagining and then the excellence in spirit that would be required for such a union." [11:03:36]

"The ultimate badness the ultimate loss for a human being is the loss of that the loss of God and the loss of all that is good and we cannot even understand what would happen to a soul if it were to reject all that is good which is what hell would be if you look at a hopeless addict there may be a little picture of it." [11:23:44]

"I ought to take my soul very seriously, I ought to take that question of what kind of person am I becoming very seriously for this life and the next and then ask God for his help and trust that he will do the best he can, so there are a few thoughts about the most important questions around what comes after this life." [12:03:20]

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Transcript
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