Sunday Morning: March 26, 2000
Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:14-15
"For if we believe [present active] that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming [parousi>a, presence] of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep."James 2:19 ". . . the devils [daimonion, fallen sons of God] also believe [present active], and tremble."
Job 1:6 "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them." (They have seen heaven)
WE HAVE NOT SEEN HEAVEN
1 Peter 1:8-9 "Whom having not seen, ye love [present active]; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing [present active], ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
John 20:29 "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed (the resurrection, not for salvation): blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (in the resurrection)."
John 20:31 "But these are written, that ye might believe [present active subjunctive] that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing [present active participle] ye might have life (in the coming age) through his name."
Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
1 Thessalonians 4:14-15 "For if we believe [present active] that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming [parousi>a, presence] of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep."
2 Timothy 2:12-13 "If we suffer [present active, endure], we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13. If we believe [present active] not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." (He will deny those who believe not)
2 Peter 1:16-18 "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming [parousi>a, presence] of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount."
Matthew 17:1-2 "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2. And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light."
Matthew 17:5 "While he yet spake, . . . behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."
1 Corinthians 15:22-23 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming [parousi>a, presence]."
Matthew 25:10-12 "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not."
Matthew 25:14-15 "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey."
Matthew 25:20-21 "And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
Matthew 25:22-23 "He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
Matthew 25:24-26 "Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed:
25. And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed:"
Matthew 25:29-30 "For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Not hell, but an undesirable place.)
Luke 19:16-19 "Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities."
Luke 19:21-22 "For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
Luke 19:24 "And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds."
2 Corinthians 5:9-11 "Wherefore we labour [strive], that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted [well pleasing] of him.
10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11. Knowing therefore the terror [fear] of the Lord, we persuade men; . . ."