Heaven

Q: What does the Bible say about heaven?

The Bible describes heaven as a place of perfect rest and unbroken happiness for those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Heaven, as described in Revelation 21, is depicted as the eternal home of the redeemed where there is no sin, sorrow, or suffering. It is a prepared place for a prepared people, one that embodies perfect peace and joy, free from the burdens of this life. In heaven, the faithful will experience eternal communion with God, their conflicts will cease, and they will enjoy the fullness of their salvation. It is a place where God will wipe away all tears and where former pains will no longer exist, confirming that heaven is truly a promise of eternal bliss for the elect.

Q: How do we know the doctrine of the Book of Life is true?

The doctrine of the Book of Life is affirmed in scripture, indicating that God has chosen from eternity those who will be saved. The Book of Life is a biblical concept that underscores God's sovereign election. Revelation 13:8 and 20:12 provide a scriptural basis for understanding that names have been inscribed in this book from the foundation of the world. This Book symbolizes the divine foreknowledge and plan of salvation, where God has recorded the names of those He has chosen for eternal life. This doctrine reassures believers of their secure standing before God, stemming from His grace and purpose, as evidenced by the transformative work of salvation in their lives.

Q: Why is it important to know who will not enter heaven?

Understanding who will not enter heaven highlights the holiness of God and the need for true repentance and faith in Christ. The scripture warns that nothing that defiles or is abominable can enter heaven (Revelation 21:27). This serves to reinforce the holiness of God and the necessity for believers to examine their lives in the light of scripture. Knowing who will not enter heaven prompts an urgent self-assessment regarding one's spiritual state and relationship with Christ. It emphasizes the importance of true faith, repentance, and reliance on Christ's righteousness rather than personal merit. Recognizing these criteria encourages individuals to seek heartfelt transformation and a genuine commitment to holiness.

Q: What makes heaven a place of happiness?

Heaven is a place of happiness because it is free from sin, sorrow, and suffering, where God's presence brings eternal joy. Heaven is characterized as a realm where all former pains and sorrows are absent (Revelation 21:4). It is a place where God Himself provides light and joy, ensuring that there is no conflict or evil. This perfect environment leads to unbroken happiness for the redeemed, as they will experience the fullness of God's love and presence. The joy of heaven springs from the assurance of eternal life with God, where believers will be free from the trials and tribulations that plague them in this world. In heaven, the faithful will celebrate their salvation forever, magnifying the grace that has brought them to this glorious state.

Q: What is the character of those who will inhabit heaven?

Those who inhabit heaven are characterized as true believers, with names written in the Book of Life, marked by holiness and repentance. The inhabitants of heaven are described as those whose names are inscribed in the Book of Life, indicating their election and salvation by God's grace (Revelation 21:27). True believers exhibit a genuine repentance characterized by a recognition of their sinfulness and a deep trust in Christ's redemptive work. This transformation manifests in a heart inclined towards holiness and the things of God. The faithful, though they may falter, are marked by a continuous pursuit of righteousness, demonstrating a life that has been fundamentally changed by the grace of God. Their existence in heaven reflects the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan, where they dwell in perfect communion with Him.

I'd like you to turn back if
you would this morning to the book of the revelation chapter
21 I'd like to read beginning with verse
22 and read down through the 27th verse verse 22 through 27
and I saw no temple therein For the Lord God Almighty and
the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the
sun, neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did
lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations
of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it, and
the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not
be shut at all by day, for there shall be no night there. And
they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it,
and there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth,
neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they which
are written in the Lamb's book of life. My text this morning
primarily is verse 27. Verse 27, let me read it one
more time, "...and there shall in no wise enter into it anything
that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh
a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." Brethren and sisters in the Lord
this morning, I think that there can be no question about the
place that's described in our text, in our text here this morning. I believe it's heaven itself,
that holy city, the New Jerusalem, which is yet to be revealed.
Now, this morning, I would dwell a little, if you'd permit me
to, on that canyon that God has promised to them that love Him. It's a glorious thing to be able
to look up, brethren, and I hope this morning that we're enabled
by the Spirit of God to do that in this meeting, to look up,
because I believe if we're enabled to look up toward that eternity
that God has prepared for His people, God has prepared for
those that love Him, I believe indeed the burdens of this life
will become a great deal lighter. So may the Lord enable us to
do that this morning. It's the best wish of my heart
that we may all go to heaven when we depart this life. That
is the wish of my heart. Now, the old songwriter, he said
this, on Jordan's stormy banks I stand and cast a wishful eye
to Canaan's fair and happy land where my possessions lie. He said, I'm bound for the promised
land, I'm bound for the promised land, Oh who will come and go
with me? I'm bound for the promised land."
Now brother, sister, do not you all hope to go to heaven yourselves? Is it not in your heart to want
to go to be yonder with the Lord Jesus Christ, to dwell there
with Him throughout eternity? I do not believe that there is
one in our midst this morning I'm sure there's not one here
who does not wish to be happy in eternity. I think that every
one of you after this life would like to be happy. If there's
a life to come, you'd certainly like to be happy in that life. But what are your hopes for heaven
founded? What is the basis of your confidence
this morning that you're going to enter into this city that
is described in Revelation chapter 21? Heaven is indeed a prepared
place They that dwell there are all of one character. The entrance
into this is only by one door, and we must keep this in our
memory. The entrance into this city is but by one door, beloved. And then, too, I'd like to say
that in the Word of God I read of two sorts of hope. Two sorts
of hope. There's a good hope described
in the Bible, and there's a bad hope described in the Bible. There's a true hope, and there's
also a false hope. There's a living hope, and there's
a dead hope spoken of. And then the hope of the righteous,
and the hope of the wicked, and the hope of the believer, and
the hope of the hypocrite. And I read of some who have hope
through grace, a hope that maketh not ashamed, and of others who
have no hope, and are without God in the world. Brethren, we
must remember these things, because we recognize that there's many
in this world that are deceived this morning, and they have not
the true hope of the gospel in their breast. Listen, surely
it were a wise and prudent thing and a safe thing to find out
what the Bible has to say to us this morning on this subject,
to discover whether your confidence is indeed well-founded. And to this end, this morning,
I bring this message, I bring this text before you today. Now, there are three things in
this text that I'll be talking about this morning. And number
one, there's a mention here of the place itself. And I believe
that place to be heaven. And then secondly, we're told
of the character of those who will not, certainly will not,
be there. And then thirdly, we're told
who alone will be there in this heavenly city, the New Jerusalem. And may God the Holy Spirit this
morning incline us to examine our hearts Today, while we yet
have the time before that great day comes when the unconverted
shall be past all hope and the saints past all fear. May the
Lord bring us to that place. First of all, let me talk about
the place itself. Heaven as we find it described
here in our text. There is indeed such a place
as heaven. Now, no truth to me is more certain
in the whole of the scripture than this, that there remaineth
a rest unto the people of God. The earth, my friend, is not
our rest. It cannot be. This earth is not
our final rest. It cannot be, I say. There is
not a man or woman breathing who ever found it to be so. This earth is not our final rest. You build your happiness on earth
if you're so disposed. You choose anything that you
think that would make your life enjoyable. Choose money if you
would. Choose houses and lands, education,
health, and beauty, honor, and friends. My friend, take everything
that your mind can picture to itself, or your eye can desire. Take all, and yet I tell you
this morning, you will find no rest in any of it. Now in a few
short years, if you were disposed to give your heart to those things,
I'm sure this morning that your heart's confession would be,
it is all hollow, it is empty, and it's unsatisfying, it's all
weariness and disappointment, it's all vanity and vexation
of spirit. Now I know that you would feel
a hunger and a famine in your soul and a leanness and you'd
feel baredness of soul if you're disposed to give yourself to
the things of this life and to the things of this world to satisfy
you. And you would testify to the
truth this earth is not a rest. It is not, beloved, because sin
and rest, God has ordained that they be not compatible. And sin
and rest will never be compatible, and it will never add up, my
friend, to eternal bliss and blessing. And how faithful is
that saying, if in this life only we have hope, we are of
all men indeed most miserable. This life is so full of trouble
and sorrow and care, of worry and labor and toil, this life
of losses and bereavements, of partings and separations, of
mourning and woe, of sickness and pain, this life of which
even Elijah got so tired that he requested that he might die.
Would we not be crushed to the very earth with misery if this
were all and nothing beyond? If I thought that there was nothing
for me beyond the dark, cold, silent, lonely grave, I should
indeed say it would have been better for us if we had never
been born, never had come into this world. But thanks being
to God, this life is not all. There is something beyond. There
is a place called heaven that God has prepared for the redeemed
family, for the elect of God. I know and am persuaded that
there's a glorious rest just beyond the tomb for the Lord's
living family. This earth is only the training
school for eternity, the grave but a stepping stone and halfway
house to heaven. We have the assurance that these
poor bodies shall rise again, this corruptible shall put on
the incorruption and this mortal immortality and be with the Savior,
the Redeemer forever and ever. It shall come to pass, beloved.
Yes, heaven is true and it is no lie. It is no lie. Now, I'm
not more certain of my own existence than I am of this, that there
remaineth, there does remain a rest to the people of God. Well, brethren, what sort of
place shall heaven be? What sort of place shall this
be? Before we pass on and consider its inhabitants, let us just
pause an instant and think on this. What sort of place shall
heaven be? Well, heaven shall be a place,
number one, of perfect rest and peace. Perfect rest and peace. They that dwell there have no
more conflict with the world, the flesh, and the devil. because
all of their warfare is accomplished, their fight is fought, and it's
all over. They have no more conflict in
that place. There they can lay aside the
armor of God and say to the sword of the Spirit, rest and be still,
because they shall need it no more. Now they need watch no
longer, for they have no spiritual enemies to fear in that blessed
and fair land. They pray no more, for they have
no evil to pray against. They do not have to pray against
sin, because there shall be no sin in that place. There the
wicked must cease from troubling, their sin and temptation are
forever shut out, and the devil is forever barred from the gates
of that city. O Christian, you take comfort
this morning, and surely there shall be indeed a blessed rest
for the people of God, for their faith shall be swallowed up in
sight, and hope in certainty, and prayer and praise and sorrow
in joy. Now is the school time, the season
of the lesson and the rod. Then will be the eternal holiday
for the people of God. Now we must endure hardness and
press on, faint yet pursuing. Then we shall sit down at ease,
for the Canaanites shall be expelled forever from the land. Now we
are tossed upon a stormy sea, then we shall be safe in the
harbor at last. Now we must needs bear the cross,
but then we shall receive the crown. Now we are journeying
through the wilderness, but then, my friend, this morning, let
me say, we shall be at home. The people of God shall be at
home. Well, brothers and sisters, the
scripture says, blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, for
they rest from their labor." Surely that witness is true.
But note again, heaven shall be a place of perfect and unbroken
happiness. Listen to verse 4 of this chapter. Brother Chet read it to us a
while ago, but listen to it. And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow,
nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former
things are all passed away. The former things are all passed
away. Brethren, think. of an eternal
habitation wherein to which and in which there is no sorrow.
Think of it. There shall be no sorrow in that
place. I'm talking about heaven being
a place of unbroken happiness and joy. Now listen to me. Who
is there here below that is not acquainted with this business
of sorrow? I think that everybody here this
morning is acquainted with it. It came in with the thorns and
the thistles at Adam's fall. It is the bitter cup that all
must drink. It is before us and behind us. It's on the right
and the left. It is mingled with the very air,
brethren, that we breathe. I'm talking about sorrow. I'm
talking about sorrow in this world. Our bodies are wracked
with pain often and we have sorrow. Worldly goods just take wings
and fly away, and we have sorrow, do we not? We are encompassed
with difficulties and troubles, and we have sorrow. We are separated
from those that we love, and we have sorrow. Those on whom
our hearts' affections are set go down to the grave, and they
leave us alone, and we have sorrow. And then, too, we find our own
hearts frail and full of corruption, and that brings sorrow to our
hearts. We see those who are near and
dear to us, we see them refusing to walk with God in this life,
and that brings sorrow and despair to such an eternity as this. Shame on us if we murmur and
complain and turn back with such a heaven as this before our eyes. These sayings are faithful and
true, not any of them shall fail. Every one of them shall surely
come to pass. I believe this morning that most
of us, that most of us I say, do not have the view of heaven
and we don't have the conviction of it that we ought to have.
I think that too many of us are occupied with those things that
are going on around us. Things that we've talked about
here this morning, things that we've described, our condition
here below. But we are not looking, as we
ought intently, to that place where all of these former things
will have passed away and all things shall be made new by our
God there in heaven. Now then, surely, brethren, it's
worth a little pain It's worth a little labor. It's worth a
little toil. If only we may have the lowest
place in the kingdom of God. It's worth a little bit of suffering
and a little toil and a little bit of hardship in this life.
But if we could just simply get our eyes off all this and place
them on heaven above and believe what the Word of God says, believe
the testimony of Scripture about heaven to come, then I believe
that our burden would be a great deal lighter in this life. Well,
then we've heard of heaven, we've talked about heaven, but all
shall not enter into heaven. We're told here in the text,
neither whatsoever worketh abomination. It says that there shall no wise
enter into it anything that defileth. Neither whatsoever worketh abomination
or maketh a lie. Now then, this brings me to the
second point of our message this morning. And who are these that
shall not enter there? Well, the Scripture certainly
tells us here this morning, and all we're talking about in heaven
is not going there. There's a barrier that is here
erected. And this barrier, my friend,
this is sad and painful to say, but the line here is not drawn
by me or the Baptist. This line is drawn by God Himself. And He just simply says that
there's not going to be anything entering into this blessed place
that we've been describing to you this morning, that defiling.
Anything that defileth. Now listen to me this morning.
Nothing that defileth can enter the gates of that city. The eye
of God that sees all will not allow anything to enter into
that city that defileth. No person who defiles. No fallen
spirit or sinful man can enter the gates of that city. And as
no person, so no tendency. I want you to listen to what
I've got to say here. No tendency, no leaning, no inclination or
will to sin can gain admission to the gates of this holy city. No wish, no desire, no hunger
towards that which is unclean shall ever be found in this perfect
city of God. nor even a thought of evil can
be conceived there, much less a sinful act performed in that
city. Nothing shall ever be done within
those gates of Pearl contrary to the holy law of God. Nothing
ever be imagined in that city that is in opposition to perfect
and spotless holiness. The term anything that defileth
includes even an idea It includes a memory. It includes a thought
of evil. Thoughts that flip through the
mind as birds through the air that never roost or build a nest. It will never happen there. It
is a perfect place. It is a pure environment. Nothing that defileth will enter
in. But again, neither whatsoever
worketh abomination. Now this means that all who practice
those things, those sins of life, which God has pronounced abominable,
and take pleasure in them and countenance those who practice
them, will not enter into heaven. No homosexual or lesbian shall
enter into the gates of that city they cannot get through
because the eye of God is holy and the eye of God sees all.
God is omniscient. He sees all. He's omnipresent. God's everywhere. He knows everything.
And God sees all. And they're allowed, these people
are in some of the churches of our land in these days. Some
are even allowed in the pulpits. But my friend, there shall never
be one in the church of the firstborn. No, never! Never shall there
be one in heaven above. And notice that no untruth can
enter. Neither whatsoever maketh a lie. Verse 8. I want you to listen
to verse 8 of the 21st chapter here of the book of Revelation.
But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers,
and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all, and all
ours, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire
and brimstone, which is the second death, all ours. Now hear me
out. Nothing can enter heaven which
is not real. Nothing can enter heaven which
is nothing erroneous. Nothing mistaken, conceited,
hollow, professional, pretentious, unsubstantial can be smuggled
through the gates. Only truth can dwell with the
God of truth. Now this takes in the case of
the hypocrite. These false professors, these
that are lip servants, they say they know God, but in works they
deny Him. They're like barren fig trees
and they're all leaves and no fruit. I'm talking about hypocrites.
Those who profess to know God but in truth they do not know
Him. They're not acquainted with the
God of the Bible, the thrice holy God of the Bible. They're
not in Christ and their sins are not forgiven but they're
just simply pretending that they are the people of God. They're
just going along as it were for the ride. They're like tinkling
cymbals. They're all sound, but they're
hollow, empty, and they're without substance. They have an aim to
live, but they're dead. They have a form of godliness
without the power thereof. And they say much, and they do
little. Their religion is all public, not private. Plenty abroad, but none at home. Plenty without, but none within. Plenty in the tongue, but none
in the heart where it matters. There shall be no lie, my friend,
in or into heaven. No lie. Now in short, none that
is yet in a state of nature when they die will enter into the
gates of this city. None who are unconverted, none
unregenerate, none who has not come to Jesus Christ in saving
faith, none shall enter to heaven. Now there is in all of us a lusting
after evil of some sort or other. We read this text and every one
of us are challenged in our hearts to say, and we question ourselves,
will we enter into that city? Is there nothing defiling about
us? Is there nothing abominable about us? Are we truthful always? Are we
always truthful? And so we're made to consider
our own state You put us in the right place under certain conditions
and the flesh, even the flesh of the most sanctified child
of God on earth, will long for forbidden things. We could weep
our eyes out when we discover what a palate for pleasurable
sin that our own nature still retains. Yes, a longing for the
very sin of which we most bitterly repent and from which we long
to be delivered. I'm talking about those who profess
to be children of God. And yet we recognize, and this
brings me to the last point, and there's some things here
that I want us to consider, who will be the occupants of that
city? Who really is going to heaven? Who really shall dwell in heaven
above with a pure and holy God? Who really is going to enter
into the gates of that city? Now then it says, but they which
are written in the Lamb's book of life. We told you who wasn't
going to heaven. Now I tell you who are going
to heaven. There is a book. There is a book
and it's called here the book of life. And this book is a prepared
book from all eternity. I want you to get by it. It's
a prepared book, prepared from all eternity, which God the Father
keeps sealed. It is the book of His election.
Of that book, man knows nothing. That book is chained to the throne
of God. And man knows nothing except
this blessed truth that there is such a book. That's all we
know. We just know that there is such
a book because the word of God says so turn back to revelation
13 and look at verse 8 revelation chapter 13 and verse 8 And all
that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not
written in the book of the life of the lamb slain from the foundation
of the world now turn to revelation chapter 20 and Revelation chapter
20 and look if you will at verse 12. And I saw the dead small
and great stand before God and the books were opened and another
book was opened which is the book of life. And the dead were
judged out of those things which were written in the books according
to their works. And then verse 15 that Brother
Chet read this morning. And whosoever was not found written
in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Turn back
if you will to the 17th chapter of the book of the Revelation
here. And I want you to notice verse 8. Revelation 17 and verse
8, the beast that thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend
out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition and they that
dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were not written
in the book of life from the foundation of the world when
they behold the beast that was and is not and yet is. We believe
that the sovereign God from all eternity set his love and affection
upon his people, that God chose his people in Jesus Christ, that
they and they alone should be holy and without blame before
him in love, that they and they alone would have gospel provision
made for them and that they would have right standing given to
them in order that they might be able to enter in unto His
presence as those who are without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Now this verse here that we read
last, Revelation 17 and 8, teaches us that this writing, that the
names inscribed in this book, that they were inscribed in this
book from the foundation of the world. Who are these? I do not
know who they are, but there are some things I know about
these people and I do know something about their character. I'd like
for you to turn with me to the book of Philippians chapter 4,
the book of Philippians chapter 4, and listen to verse 3. This
is a very interesting verse. And I entreat thee also, true
yokefella, help those women which labor with me in the gospel,
with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers whose names
are in the book of life. whose names are in the Book of
Life. Well, Paul, how do you know that
their names are in the Book of Life? How could you possibly
know? You've never ascended up to the
throne of God. Never have you been allowed to
take that book which is chained to God's throne and open it and
read the names in it. How would you possibly know who
it is whose names are written in the Book of Life? Well, beloved,
I believe it is the character of these that Paul knew, it was
something about them, something about their character, something
about their lives that told the story that before the foundation
of the world God had inscribed in his book their names and that
in time God had visited them and that he'd visited them with
his salvation that God had visited them with regeneration, that
they'd been converted, that they'd been brought out of a state of
death into a state of life, and that they were truly members
of the Lord's living family. Something had happened in their
lives. They were a changed people. And I'd like to say something
about the character of these people. I believe that they're
all true penitents. Either have or will repent before
God. My friend, all those who finally
at last will spend eternity in this pure heaven will have repented
of their sins. They will have broken hearts
over their sins. They will have been convinced
of their own unworthiness in God's sight. They will have felt
themselves to be sinners in the sight of a holy God. They will
have mourned over their sins. They will have hated their sins.
They will have forsaken their sins. their remembrance of their
sin will become of a grievous thing to them and the burden
of their sins will be intolerable unto them. I'm talking about
the character of those whose names are written in the Lamb's
Book of Life. I believe that there is a sense
which all the people of God were saved in eternity past by God's
decree, but I also believe that in time all God's people must
come to an experience in grace. The grace of God must work in
their hearts, their lives. I know nothing about men and
women going to heaven whose hearts have never been broken, who have
never been brought by the withering work of the Spirit to feel their
sinfulness and their wretchedness before God. I know nothing of
that. I believe that these whose names
are written in the book of life, that they will confess that they're
not fit to be saved, that they're the chief of sinners, that they're
unclean before God. Now then, if you turn to 1 Corinthians
chapter 6, turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 6, and look here, here's
some people that this happened to, and I'd like for you to see
it. Just look at this. In verse 9 through 11, the apostle
says, no ye not, that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom
of God, be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such, and
such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the
Spirit of our God. Now then, these are washed in
the blood of the Lamb, they're washed. They're washed and they're
clean everywhere. I'm talking about the people
of God. I'm talking about the redeemed
of the Lord, but not the flesh. Now hear me out. The flesh is
not born again. Now, I wonder if you would turn
with me to the book of 1 Corinthians. Turn to 1 Corinthians, chapter
15, and here's a verse of scripture, my friend, that will explain
to you why it is that you cannot take that old body of yours and
take it into heaven. Your flesh is not born again. Now hear me out. You've still
got the same appetite. for sin that you had before you
were converted. Your appetite for sin is just
as real as your appetite for food. Yes it is, in this body
of flesh. Anyone who says that they have
no appetite for sin is a liar and the truth is not in them.
It is true that the people of God, that they have put off the
old man with these deeds and that they've put on the new man
which is created in righteousness and true holiness. It is true
that they that are Christ have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts thereof. It is true. But it's also desperately
true. Look at verse 50. Now this I
say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God. Neither doth corruption inherit
incorruption. Now the reason why you can't
go into heaven in that old body of yours is because it's sinful. This is flesh and blood. And because it says corruption,
which we are, corruption, which we are by nature, we're full
of sin, born in sin, love sin, practice sin, choose to sin by
nature in this old body. And we see clearly here that
corruption does not inherit incorruption. And that's the purpose of the
grave. Our bodies must go through the sieve of the worms, and then
it must be raised incorruptible out of the grave, and in that
body we shall relive, our redeemed souls shall live with God for
all eternity. But that's the very purpose of
the grave, and we must be aware of that. So trembling saint,
As you begin to feel and you know that there's still these
appetites that you struggle with in your life, that you everyday
are struggling to try to overcome, and you ought to be struggling
to overcome them. And my friend, but remember this,
that your soul has been redeemed and that your body is going into
the grave and it will pass through the sea of the worms and then
out as God calls it forth and it'll be incorruptible, incorruptible
and we shall live in that body. There should be no sorrow, there
should be no tears, no pain, no sickness, all just completely
whole and completely well in that city, in that fair city. Now then, these are washed in
the blood of the Lamb. Oh yes, my friend, listen. I
believe that all of these are believers in Christ Jesus. They have obtained like precious
faith. Their names are written in the
Lamb's Book of Life. They found out the excellency
of the work that Jesus did to save them, and they cast on Him
the burden, the entire burden of their souls. All of the weight
of their souls they've cast on Him and they've trusted Him for
full and complete salvation. They've taken Christ for all
in all, their righteousness, their justification, their forgiveness,
their redemption, their sanctification. They've taken Christ for everything. Christ, my friend, there's no
substitute for the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, my friend, you say,
well, what about tears, preacher? Tears are so much wasted salt
water if they're meant to be a bath for sin. There is only
one bath for sin. Oh, as the old song says, there
is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins,
and sinners plunged beneath that blood lose all their guilty stains. Sinners that plunge beneath that
flood, why, they don't have a stain left. They're washed and they're
whole and they're clean before God. Now these may have slipped
and come short in many things in this life, but still the general
bent and bias of their lives since regeneration and conversion
has been toward holiness, more holiness, more holiness. This
has been their heart's desire because God in regeneration has
planted a principle of righteousness in them that has enabled them
to hate their sin and love the things of God and even to loathe
their own flesh. I'm talking about what happened
when they were converted. I'm talking about these people whose
names are written in the last book of life. You find these
kind of people walking around and you can say with Paul, whose
names are in the book of life. Here's a fella got the right
attitude about sin. He knows he's not perfect. He
knows he makes mistakes. He knows he slips and he falls.
But his attitude is right about sin. It's not that we do not
sin. It's having the right attitude
about it that tells the story. It leaks out on us. Our names
are in the Book of Life. Now then, these people love God
and they must live to Him. They cannot live unto themselves,
but unto Him who died and rose again on their behalf. They live
unto Him. They're not selfish any longer
toward themselves. They deny themselves. That's
the message of the cross. Deny yourself. These people deny
themselves. And such is the character of
them that are written in heaven. God will not. He will not. And I want to make this crystal
clear. He will not alter heaven merely to please you. He will
not. You say, well, Preacher, I don't
know that I've had all that experience. I don't know that I've been born
again. I don't know that I've been regenerated by the Spirit.
I don't know that God lives in me. I don't know that I feel
towards sin like I ought to. Well, my friend, remember that
God never will lower the standard. There's a barrier there at that
door. The all-seeing eye of God is there and He sees you through
and through. All things are naked and open
to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. God knows all
about us. and God will never alter heaven. You must love the things of heaven
before your death or else you cannot enter heaven when you
die. You must love the things of heaven before your death.
You must love God before you depart this life or you cannot
enter into that city. Well, worthy is the lamb that
was slain. Blessing and honor and glory
and power be unto the Lamb forever and ever. Amen. Father, we thank
you for the privilege of preaching this morning. Might you use the
message. Edify the saints, build them
up, encourage them, help them to look up. And those who are
without Christ, those who are strangers to the grace of God,
those who are lost, do thou use this message to break their hearts
and to bring them to the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ that
they might trust Him, trust Him with their soul, lay all the
weight of their soul, having no righteousness of their own,
trusting in His eternal purpose of salvation, believing that
He can save them, give their hearts wholly over to Him. Lord, we thank you for these
that we know here and can say Their names are written in the
Book of Life. Thank You for the future that
is promised unto the living family. We thank Thee. We praise Thee.
We have not words to describe the feeling of our hearts toward
Thee, toward what Thou hast done for such an unworthy, unworthy
sinner as we. But we praise Thee the best we
can. We offer thanks in Jesus' name. Amen.

Heaven

What does the Bible say about heaven?

How do we know the doctrine of the Book of Life is true?

Why is it important to know who will not enter heaven?

What makes heaven a place of happiness?

What is the character of those who will inhabit heaven?

Sermon Transcript

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Heaven

What does the Bible say about heaven?

How do we know the doctrine of the Book of Life is true?

Why is it important to know who will not enter heaven?

What makes heaven a place of happiness?

What is the character of those who will inhabit heaven?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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