Listen to Rev. Green's Easter Sunday sermon, "Grace and Peace to You" and see the sermon notes. Read on...
The Heritage Pulpit
Sunday, April 15, 2007 - Rev. Henry Green
Rev 1:4-8 - "Grace and Peace to You"
Today, and for the next three Sundays, we will look into the mystery of the Book of Revelation. (4/22 - Rev 5:11-14 - "The Centerpiece of Faith"; 4/29 - Rev 7:9-17 - "A Place Called Heaven"; 5/6 - Rev 21:1-6 - "Making All Things New")
What is it about this book that makes people so crazy? Why do some people think that this book has the answers for all of the things that will happen in the future? What does it say about us that we have such needs? What does it say about our level of Biblical knowledge that we are so easily misled by those with very little understanding of the context of John's day or the circumstances of his writing this book?
I had breakfast with a minister not long ago who said, "You have to preach that the end of the world in coming soon. People need to feel that the end is about to take place, otherwise how would you keep them on the edge of their seat?" This minister is also in a building campaign to put up a large permanent structure for "the generations to come."
If you really believe Jesus is coming back any day now, why waste time and resources to build a structure "for the generations to come?"
Now, Jesus said to Peter, "Do not build a temple for me." The implication for Jesus was that there were quite enough structures and that the end of the world as they knew it was about to come to and end. In other words, Jesus was saying to Peter, "You ain't in Kansas anymore Toto!"
Do not get lost in the metaphors of Revelation. John Calvin did not write a commentary on this book and he even believed that it might have been a mistake to include it in the New Testament. A study of the historical context and an understanding of these metaphors for John's day reveal the reason why it was included. This book is not about predicting the end of time. It is about declaring the eternal victory of a God who transcends time and space. It is about encouraging those under the persecution of Domitian (81-96 C.E.).
The Context of Our Praise - vv. 5b-6
- God in Christ loves us - 1 John 4:7-8
- God in Christ set us free - Sacrifice - Cross
- God in Christ made us a royal house - Church
- God in Christ made us priests - before God to others
The Promise of Hope - v. 7
- God in Christ is coming - Now and then
- Everyone shall see him - There will be no excuses
- There will be sadness and remorse vs. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes! The best example of understanding how it will be for those with sadness and remorse is found in:
- o The passage of John 3 that places the focus on our personal responsibility
- o The contrast between the two thieves on the crosses next to Jesus
- o The passage dealing with the sheep and the goat
The Security of a Present God - v. 8
- As opposed to an absent god - or no god
- God in Christ is eternal - beyond time and space
- We find our security in the personal presence of God
Regeneration - Sanctification - Glorification
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