Why are we doing all of these things, for what purpose?
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That is a good question, because many christians really believe, that they have to do it, in order to make it to heaven.
Why did I draw the picture illustration below, and to have you focus on heavenly things so far away from this earth?
Why We Should Think About the Future World. Jesus has brought heaven to view, and presents its glory to our eyes in order that eternity may not be dropped out of our reckoning.[1]
With eternal realities in view we will habitually cultivate thoughts of the presence of God. This will be a shield against the incoming of the enemy; it will give strength and assurance, and lift the soul above fear….Jesus comes to present the advantages and beautiful imagery of the heavenly, that the attractions of heaven shall become familiar to the thoughts, and memory's hall be hung with pictures of celestial and eternal loveliness....[2]
The great Teacher gives man a view of the future world. He brings it, with its attractive possessions, within the range of his vision. . . . If He can fasten the mind upon the future life and its blessedness, in comparison with the temporal concerns of this world, the striking contrast is deeply impressed upon the mind, absorbing the heart and soul and the whole being.[3]
Will the real gospel, please stand up??? Click on the PDF below to see the Illustration!!
Adobe Acrobat document [459.0 KB]
On the pop-up illustration, I have identified (gospel #1) and (gospel #2) as to where the believer is actually [doing towards] Sanctification.
The one who stands nearest to Christ will be he who on earth has drunk most deeply of the spirit of His self-sacrificing love....love that moves the disciple, as it moved our Lord, to give all, to live and labor and sacrifice, even unto death, for the saving of humanity.[4]
In both gospels ( #1 & #2 ), Justification is a result of what Christ has done, which is our Title to heaven.
The real difference is “WHY” the believer is doing Sanctification?
In our investigation of the first of these two gospels, we will discover that they are both opposites of each other, and only one can be true while the other one will be a counterfeit.
Read both gospels and see if you can determine which one is the truth and which one is the counterfeit.
Under gospel 1: Notice that the man is still on earth, working his way to heaven!
He has to keep his justified state, through sanctification, being very careful not to fall. Christ knows how hard it is, for you to believe, that you can stop sinning before Jesus comes back.
So He came to this earth, with the same flesh that you had, and showed you that it was possible to live a perfect, sinless, life. Now that you have Jesus as your example, {is Jesus our example?} Well then, you need to do it; If you want to goto heaven.
That is why under (gospel #1), both arrows of Justification & Sanctification, are still on this earth, working towards the “Entrance to Heaven.”
Under gospel 2: Notice that the man is not on this earth, working towards sanctification, but rather he is ALREADY in heaven!!
Eph 2 (v. 4) But God, who is rich in mercy.... (v. 5) ....made us alive together with Christ.... (v. 6) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus....
Col 3 (v. 1) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is.... (v. 2) set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Phil 2 (v. 5) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
Phil 3 (v. 20) For our citizenship is in heaven ( NKJV ).... and....(v. 20) For our conversation is in heaven ( KJV )
So Sanctification, begins in heaven, not on this Earth!!
I sought earnestly to carry the minds of those present from the things of this world to the things of eternity. I sought to impress them with the thought that those who are saved, must now prepare for the heavenly mansions by washing their robes, and making them white in the blood of the Lamb.[5]
Justification, by what Christ has done, gives the christian an entrance to heaven; So now “the man,” can find his rightful placement among the redeemed in heaven, through the reward of persevering efforts at character development (striving to be more like Jesus).
You see, in God’s kingdom, the higher the reward, the more you will have the privilege of serving others. Christ washed the feet of his disciples in service to them.
John 13 (v. 1) Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come.... (v. 2) And supper being ended.... (v. 4) rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. (v. 5) After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
Christ was establishing a kingdom on different principles. He called men, not to authority, but to service, the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak. Power, position, talent, education, placed their possessor under the greater obligation to serve his fellows.[6]
Matt 23 (v. 11) But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. (v. 12) And whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
This stage of sanctification, is where the man receives his reward, it is not just an entrance to heaven, but where you will spend the rest of eternity. Now this is where sanctification begins, it begins in heaven.
Notice as you go higher along the arrow, on the illustration, you become closer to Christ and your level of responsibilities increase in proportion to your character development and your level of maturity among the saints in heaven.
But the highest that you can go, is to be one of the 144,000 next to the throne of Christ, at the top of the page on the illustration.
On the next webpage, we will look a little deeper into WHY we are doing all of these things?
References:
1. The Signs of the Times (4 Apr 1895).
2. Last Day Events, p.284, par.1
3. Our High Calling, p.285-286
4. The Desire of Ages, p.549, par.3
5. The Review and Herald (23 Feb 1905), par.5
6. The Desire of Ages, p.550, par.3
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