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GOD’S FELLOWSHIP I. COMPLIMENTARY TEXTS 1. God’s dwelling is with men 1). Hebrews 12:18-24 - You have come to -- the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. 2). Ephesians 2:19-22 - God’s dwelling with men, the temple, on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. 2. 1 Peter 2:18-25 - Suffering for the name of Christ has its reward. 3. 1 John 5:4 - We overcome through our faith in Jesus Christ 4. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 - Our inheritance is sure because we are children of God. II. MAIN THEME - Fellowship with God - God’s
dwelling is with men 1. Textual study of Revelation 21 and related texts from Revelation 1). John sees a new heaven and earth, and New Jerusalem coming down - verses 1-2; 3:12 2). God promised to live with men, and to end death, pain and sorrow - verses 3-7; 2:7;22:1-5 3). The wicked will not live with God; their part is in the lake of fire - verse 8; 19:20; 20:10,14-15; 22:19. 4). The Lamb’s wife, New Jerusalem, is described - verses 2, 9-21; 3:12 5). There is no temple there, because God and the Lamb are its temple and light - verses 22-27; 22:5. 2. Related topics with texts from other books of the Bible 1). God’s people are the bride of Christ, the Lambs wife - Ephesians 5:23-32; Isaiah 52:1-9; 62:1-5, 11-12; Rev 3:12; 2). The City of God described - Hebrews 11:10; Isaiah 54:1-14; Revelation 21:9-21. a. It is beautiful and valuable, made of gold and precious stones; note the similarities to the breastplate worn by Aaron engraved with the names of the children of Israel - Exodus 28; 1 Peter 2:18-19. b. It is a place of safety, protected by twelve gates and with walls 144 cubits thick (12 times 12) -Twelve signifies God’s design and perfection, thus New Jerusalem is a city perfectly protected by God. Nothing that harms can enter there - Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 8:31-39. c. It is built on twelve foundations - Isaiah 28:16; 1 Cor 3:10-12; Eph 2:20. d. There is room for everyone; twelve thousand furlongs (1377 miles) cube (2.6 billion cubic miles) - Rev 21:6; John 14:2; and its gates are always open - Matt 11:28. e. God the Father and His son are its light; think of how this relates to God’s people and the gospel -Rev 1:20; Num 8:2-4; Psalms 119:105; Isa 60:18-22; John 1:4-12; 2 Cor 4:4-6; I Jn 2:8-10 3). Only those who are holy and pure can enter there - Rev 21:27; 14:4-5; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21. a. Those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ - 1 Peter 1:19, 22-23; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14. b. Those who are faithful - Rev 2:10; 1 Cor 15:1-2; Heb 3:6; 1 John 5:4. III. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS 1. We should recognize and thank God for the great blessings God gives us in Christ during this life in the church. God blesses us abundantly - John 10:10; Eph 3:20-21. 2. Because we see that nothing impure can enter the Holy City, we need to pursue diligently the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ - 1 Peter 1:13-25; Rom 3:22; Eph 4:24-32; Phil 3:9; 1 Tim 6:11-14; I Jn 3:7-10. 3. We need to build our lives on the glorious foundation given by God - Eph 4:10-16; 1 Cor 3:9-17. 4. We need to understand the reward of suffering, that it prepares us for eternal blessings - 1 Peter 2:18-25; James 1:2-4. 5. We need to remember that God is with us as we live in Jesus Christ, and therefore the special relationship we have with the Father and the Son should help us to live holy lives - 2 Cor 6:14-18. IV. MEMORY VERSE - Revelation 21:3 |