Sermons
March 8th, 2023 by Pastor Solley012223AM Everlasting and Eternal
Sub. Everlasting, eternal
Theme: Everlasting judgment or eternal life.
Text: Jude 21
“Everlasting and Eternal” Jude 21
Introduction
The book of Jude is a very timely book in that it speaks to a great many things that we see today. All of the Word of God, Genesis through Revelation is relevant for us today, but there are certain passages that seem to speak to this present day. Jude writes of the apostasy of our day, of the false teachers of our day, of those who would pervert the Word of God as we see today and of those who would make merchandise of the Word of God. Jude is a very timely book. But Jude also uses two terms that step out of time.
I. Jude writes of everlasting judgment and eternal life: Jude 6-7 , 21 Both words, everlasting and eternal, are translated from the same Greek word and both mean the same thing. But the way they are used here in the book of Jude point to very different things.
A. One, everlasting, points to judgment: Jude 6-7 One could isolate verse six and claim that this judgment is for angels along. – Jude 6 But that changes in verse seven. – Jude 7 – Angels did not occupy Sodom and Gomorrah, people did. This is a judgment, an everlasting judgment that includes mankind.
B. One, eternal, points to life: Jude 21 Something very different than what we find in verse six and seven of Jude.
II. Why tow terms, meaning the same thing, pointing in different directions? Because God wants man to know, wants us to know, that we are eternal beings and we will leave this life one day and step into another. Man is eternal, not in the way God is that we have no beginning, but in that we will never cease to exist. We all have a beginning and we will not cease to exist.
A. As soon as our heart stops in this world we step into eternity, we step into another: We continue on after death the same person we are right now. There will be of course changes but we continue on after our hearts stop beating in this world.
1. Will it be a step into everlasting judgment? Jude 6-7
2. Or will it be a step into eternal life: Jude 21
B. I want to look this morning at everlasting judgment and eternal life: Each one of us without exception is headed to one or the other and none of us kn ow when we will take that step from this life to the other.
PROP: If your heart would stop during the course of this day which eternity would you step into, judgment or life?
Body
I. Man has adopted some strange ideas about everlasting judgment, about hell: When the Bible speaks of everlasting judgment in our text it is speaking about hell. – Jude 6-7 – Note the fire. – Jude 7- Sodom and Gomorrah were burnt up with fire and while that fire eventually died down and went out the fire of hell will not.
A. Most of the ideas brought about by the minds of men are aimed at keeping one from confronting the reality of hell: Hell is real but man would rather not confront hell at all and so…
1. Some deny the existence of hell: They want to believe in heaven and deny that there is a hell. Yet I find both in the same context.
Jude 6-7 , 21 So if I want to believe what the Bible says about eternal life then I must accept what the Bible says about everlasting judgment. How could I believe one and deny the other. The Bible is true or it is not and it speaks of both heaven and hell.
2. Some believe that if they are religious then can avoid hell: What of religion? – Luke 18:10-14 – The religious man is hell bound.
3. Some believe good works and good intention will allow them to avoid hell: Titus 3:5 All of the best works and all of the best intentions will still leave one bound for hell.
4. Some deny the sin nature we are born with: But the Bible is very clear about that. Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Our sin nature leaves us hell bound.
5. Some claim they are not that bad? How bad does one need to be? The Bible says that even liars will have their part in the lake of Fire. Even the smallest of sins reveals our sin natures.
6. Some say that hell will be a place they will renew friendships: But the Bible is clear that hell is a place of outer darkness where man will suffer alone. How can it be dark in a flame? Those in hell right now have the answer.
7. Some believe that a loving God would never condemn anyone to hell? They forget it is their sin that has condemned them and a loving God sent His Son into this world to save us from condemnation.
8. Man has some very strange ideas about hell and if you have adopted any of the above you are wrong:
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B. But the strangest idea of man is that hell will not be that bad: After all, how bad can hell really be? That thinking come from the way we have experienced and deal with pain in this world. All of us have experienced and deal with pain to one degree or another.
1. For most of us we experience pain and it passes, or we learn to live with pain, or we have means to deal with pain: Think for a moment of physical pain you have experienced or deal with.
a. I have had broken bones as many of you have. They hurt but the pain now is only a memory.
b. I deal with some chronic pain many of you do and while it brings limitations I have learned to live with it for now.
c. And I take medications as many of you do to alleviate pain.
2. So how bad can hell really be?
ILL. This is a rat trap and it works…Sprung on my hand it is going to hurt…But now every moment that passes the pain lessons…After it is removed the pain lessons more and more…Soon that pain will only be a memory…
C. But the pain of everlasting judgment is different: Jude 6-7 Those who were cast into hell about 4,000 years ago are still there, the pain is just as intense, it is real pain that they are experiencing and it will be an everlasting pain. – Jude 6-7
1. That is why hell is no joking matter:
2. That is why God warns over and over again about hell:
3. That is why God is not willing that any perish: 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
4. That is why Jesus went to the cross: To save us from that terrible place.
5. Hell is a place of everlasting torment: Luke 16:22-24 We do not know how much time passes between verse 23 and 24 but we do know that man is still in torments. The everlasting judgment has not ceased, he has not gotten used to the pain, he is tormented.
D. Man has adopted some strange ideas about everlasting judgment, about hell: None of them true. Hell is real.
II. Then we have eternal life: Jude 21 The distance between these two, everlasting judgment and eternal life, is vast but the gulf is not difficult to span. On this side of the grave the gulf between everlasting judgment and eternal life is not difficult to span.
A. Eternal life is offered freely through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ: Everlasting judgment is something man earns because of sin, eternal life is a free gift through Jesus Christ. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
1. This gift of life, of eternal life is for all who will trust in Jesus Christ as their personal savior: 1 John 5:11-13
2. This gift is free for all who will believer and receive: Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
B. There are certain things one must do in order to receive this free gift: Just as there are certain things we must do to receive other free gifts. Even gifts that are free require action on our part.
ILL. I attended a birthday party yesterday and there were gifts presented but they did have to be received and did have to be opened.
1. We must acknowledge sin and that we are sinners: No need of salvation unless one knows they are a sinner in need.
2. There must be confession to God: To acknowledge sin is not enough, there must be confession.
3. There must be repentance, a turn from sin: Repentance is still a part of salvation. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Man wants to drop repentance but God still demands it.
4. There must be complete faith and trust in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone: Rom 10:9-10
5. Jesus Christ did the work, secured the gift of eternal life, we then need to believe and receive that gift:
C. Then we have eternal life:
III. Much more comes with that gift than just salvation from sin and deliverance from hell although that is enough: That salvation is more than we deserve but more comes with the gift of eternal life.
A. We also receive and eternal inheritance: Heb 9:15 An inheritance is something left to us, something waiting for us after one dies. Jesus is the one who died, we are His child by the new birth, and now there is an inheritance waiting.
1. Now there is a mansion being prepared that is a part of this inheritance:
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2. Now there are crowns waiting in heaven that are a part of this inheritance:
3. Now there is a place of service in His coming kingdom that is a part of this inheritance:
4. We have an eternal inheritance that comes with eternal life: This inheritance that is waiting will never fade away.
B. We also receive and eternal consolation: 2 Thess 2:16 To be consoled is to be comforted.
1. There is a great deal of sorrow in this world that we must deal with: Natural things of life that bring great sorrow and cause us to shed many tears. Some things so hard to deal with and some things we may never fully get over. A great deal of sorrow in this world.
2. One day all the tears will forever be whipped away:
3. One day the former things will be gone forever:
4. One day all questions we have will be forgotten:
5. We also have eternal consolation:
C. We also receive eternal glory: 1 Peter 5:10 As far as the world is concerned, as far as the lost are concerned, there is no glory in being a Christian in this world. There is glory coming dear friend.
1. The Christian is mocked now, we will stand in glory with Jesus:
2. The Christian is ridiculed now, we will stand in glory with Jesus:
3. We also receive eternal glory:
D. We will walk forever in an eternal kingdom: 2 Peter 1:11 To know that nothing we receive in and through Jesus Christ will ever fade away, His is an eternal kingdom.
1. Our mansion never in need of repair:
2. Our crowns never tarnish:
3. No tears forever more:
4. A glory that never fades:
5. We receive and will walk in an eternal kingdom:
E. We receive eternal life and so much more when we trust Jesus Christ as our savior:
IV. What have you done with Jesus Christ? Is it everlasting judgment or eternal life waiting for you? The distance between the two is great but the gulf in this world not difficult to span.
Conclusion
I. Man has adopted some strange ideas about everlasting judgment, about hell: When the Bible speaks of everlasting judgment in our text it is speaking about hell. – Jude 6-7 – Note the fire. – Jude 7- Sodom and Gomorrah were burnt up with fire and while that fire eventually died down and went out the fire of hell will not.
II. Then we have eternal life: Jude 21 The distance between these two, everlasting judgment and eternal life, is vast but the gulf is not difficult to span. On this side of the grave the gulf between everlasting judgment and eternal life is not difficult to span.
III. Much more comes with that gift than just salvation from sin and deliverance from hell although that is enough: That salvation is more than we deserve but more comes with the gift of eternal life.
IV. What have you done with Jesus Christ? Is it everlasting judgment or eternal life waiting for you? The distance between the two is great but the gulf in this world not difficult to span.