The unbeliever has no future; they face the second death, which is eternal separation from God, Revelation 20: 1:15. They will die twice. There is a little rhyme: born once die twice, born twice die once. Jesus said, “except a man be born again he will never see the Kingdom of God”. There is one physical death and there is a spiritual death [eternal separation from God if never born again].
The believer has a future: A home in heaven, John 14: 1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
There is much written, the Word of God, to the believer about their future in heaven. There is the promise of rewards and the warning about suffering loss, 1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The promise land to the children of Israel is not a picture of heaven but a reward for enduring the trials and being an overcomer in the journey from the Red Sea. That Generation failed to believe God and go on and died in the wilderness, Num 14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. Num 14:2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! Num 14:3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? Num 14:4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
Even though they repented God did not allow them to go on, and here is why: e.g. Numbers 14:5-28. The dividing line is at the age of 20 and up would die in the wilderness, Num 14:29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Num 14:30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. [ i.e. 31-38]
After learning their fate they repented but God did not allow them to go on, Num 14:39 And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly. Num 14:40 And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned. Num 14:41 And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper. Num 14:42 Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.
We are living in this the church age and therefore have opportunity to effect a positive change for our end. Hebrews 2:1-4 is the first of the five exhortations to the believer. Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;? He is speaking to us in the Church age. He is warning the believer in the church not to neglect our great salvation. The importance of this doctrine is seen in the seven letters to the seven churches. In every letter he encourages the believer to know Christ in the power of His resurrection as our Living Saviour. And there is a promise made to the overcomer in every letter
So great Salvation is the complete salvation we have in Christ Jesus. The Word says, “We are complete in Him....” Colossians 2:10. The same meaning that Paul was saying to Timothy, 2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
In a lifetime, the believer will experience complete salvation through faith in Christ. We have been saved: e.g. Ephesians 2:5, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved. Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
We are being saved, e.g. 1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
We will one day experience the reality of this so great Salvation that we have believe. Speaking of angels being ministering spirits Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
1] We are to grow up in Christ, Eph 4:15
.] no longer tossed about as children, v14
.] we are to learn of Christ, v20-21
.] be renewed in the spirit [our spirit] of your mind, v23, renew means to renovate – make new = young again. You would not renovate your house with the same old material that was in it. He is telling you here to fill your life with the new, v24. Your spirit belongs to the LORD as well as your body, 1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
.] Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, v30-32. You should know when you have grieved Him. Romans 8:14
2] We are Children of Light, 5:8, 1 John 1:7
.] We should possess the fruits of the Spirit. 5:9-17
.We are to be filled with the Spirit, 5:18-21
3] The Home is a picture of Christ and the Church, 5:22-33
.] The wife is to submit unto her own husband, v22
.] The husband is the head of the wife, v23
Turning to his instructions, Paul says wives are to be subject to their own husbands
Before we look at what Paul is asking a wife to do, let’s take note of what he didn’t ask
Paul said a wife is to be subject to her own husband, not to all men
Paul is not calling for male dominance in every area of society
His only concern is for the relationship between a married couple
So a Christian woman may aspire to any opportunity that life offer
Biblical Christianity puts no limits on a Christian woman’s authority save two things:
First, scripture commands that a woman may not assume leadership over men in the Church
Second, a wife may not assume leadership over her own husband
Specifically, Paul instructs wives to be subject to their own husbands as to the Lord
The Greek word for subject is a military term meaning under the authority of another
It describes a voluntary subjection to a higher authority
Like a soldier enlisting in the military, he willingly subjects himself to the authority of his superiors. He entered willingly, but once in the role he becomes obligated to submit
A husband is the authority figure in the home
God has appointed a husband to rule over his family in all matters, and wives are to respect and support that authority
In a healthy marriage, a godly husband and wife will partner together in making decisions and running the household. But he has the final decision.
But we all know that sooner or later differences of opinion are inevitable in every marriage
A wife’s preference concerning some matter will conflict with her husband’s counsel. In that case she is to submit to her own husband.
Conclusion: 1 Peter 3:1-7
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