It’s Week 4 of this series, The Other Side, and this week we are continuing our conversation about Heaven. Specifically, we are answering some of the significant questions people have about Heaven. These are questions like, "What will our bodies be like in Heaven?", "Will we recognize people in Heaven?", and “Will we be bored in Heaven?” In our Bible study today, we will turn to Scripture to answer some of the common questions people ask when considering Heaven.
If you could have lunch with one person from the Bible in Heaven, who would it be and why?
1. Read 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. Compare our Earthly bodies with the new, Heavenly bodies we will receive in Heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44
It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
2. Read 2 Corinthians 4:14-15. What was Paul’s expectation for his relationship with the church in Corinth regarding Jesus’ return and eternity in Heaven with Him?
2 Corinthians 4:14-15
We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.
3. Read 1 Corinthians 2:9. What does this passage of Scripture reveal about eternity in Heaven?
1st Corinthians 2:9
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.
4. Read Psalm 84:10. Summarize the Psalmist’s feelings about being in God’s presence in this passage of Scripture.
Psalm 84:10
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
1. Based on the Scripture you studied today, what will our bodies be like in Heaven?
2. What does Scripture reveal about relationships with other followers of Christ in Heaven? (For example, will we recognize each other?)
3. What proof do you have that Heaven will be anything but boring based on the Scripture you read today?
Look back at the Scripture you read today. Pick a verse from one of those passages of Scripture to memorize. Share that verse with your group and why you selected that verse. Let the verse you chose to memorize be a reminder to you of the joy awaiting every follower of Christ in Heaven one day.
Just before He took His last breath as He was crucified on the cross, Jesus said the words, “It is finished.” The word that we translate as “It is finished” was a common term in Jesus’ day, meaning "paid in full." You see, by coming to earth, living a perfect life, being crucified on the cross, and rising from the dead, Jesus paid the sin debt that we owed a holy God. Because He paid the full price for our sins, we can spend eternity in Heaven with Him forever. For the next few moments, we will delve into Scripture together to understand just how Jesus paid our sin debt in full on the cross and what that means for us today.
In order to understand the truth that Jesus paid our sin debt in full, we first need to understand the debt we owe. You see, our sin has grave consequences. Take a look at the Scripture below to understand the consequences that result from our sin.
1. Read Romans 6:20-23.
Romans 6:20-23
When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. How do we see the impact of our sin in our world today?
3. How does Paul describe the predicament that humans are in because of sin?
4. What is the payment (or consequence) that we owe as a result of sin?
It is clear that we owed a great debt for our sins that we could not pay on our own. We needed hope. We needed a Savior. At just the right time, Jesus came and paid the debt we could not pay so that we could experience life. Take a few moments to read about Jesus' payment on our behalf.
1. Read 1 Peter 2:21-25.
1 Peter 2:21-25
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.
2. Compare our lives before knowing Jesus and after knowing Him.
3. How did Jesus meet the requirements to pay the price for our sins that we could not pay?
4. What is the result of Jesus’ payment for our sins if we believe in Him?
Jesus died on the cross for our sins and paid the price that we owed a holy God for a purpose. He came to give us life. The life He came to give us is not just eternal life in the future, although that would have been more than enough. He came to give us life here and now, too. Take a look at what Scripture teaches about living in light of Jesus’ sacrifice and payment for our sins.
1. Read 1 John 2:1-8.
1 John 2:1-8
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. 8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.
2. What is our position in Christ because of what Jesus has done?
3. How are we to live in light of what Jesus has done?
4. Why are following Jesus and obeying Him intricately connected?
Because of Jesus, we are made right before God when we stand before Him. After placing our faith in Him and receiving eternal life, we are called to obey Him. Is there an area of your life where you need to take a step of obedience? Share that with your group. After everyone has shared, pray together. Ask God to give each one of you the courage to take steps of obedience today.
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