Emmanuel Evangelical Church Chippenham

From 22^nd June 2006:

In this session we will consider what we will be like in the new creation.

Background

We have seen that scripture is very clear that ‘heaven’ is a real place with a physical reality from where God rules. (Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 6:9; 1 Peter 3:22; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9-11; Acts 7:55-56; John 14:1-3)

It’s clear that there will be a new creation in which we will continue to exist and act. (Romans 8:19-21; Hebrews 1:11-12; Hebrews 12:26-27; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 21:1)

What will we be like in the new creation?

To answer this question, let’s start at the beginning:

1. How did God describe the first creation, prior to the fall, in Genesis 1:31?

2. What command did God give to ‘man’ in that very first chapter of Genesis?

3. Quoting Psalm 8, Hebrews 2 (especially verse 8)  tells us that something different is to be expected.

4. What do the ‘activites’ that are declared to take place suggest about things that will be done there (i.e. will it really be ‘timeless’ or will there be a sequence of events)? e.g. Revelation 19:9; Revelation 21:21-26

5. How should all of this information affect what we do now? Matthew 6:19-21; 2 Peter 3:11-13