Monday, March 31, 2008

Lesson 10: We can worship Jesus on earth and in heaven.

Here is the last lesson I wrote for the children's musical.

Lesson 10: We can worship Jesus on earth and in heaven.
References: John 3:16-18, Romans 6:23a, 2 Peter 3:13, Romans 6:23b, Revelation5:11-13

John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” God sent Jesus to the world. The world was lost and dying in sin because people chose not to follow after God. Adam and Eve were the first sinners and ever since then all people have sinned. Sin leads to death. Romans 6:23a says, “For the wages of sin is death”. But God is rich in mercy and love for His people. He did not want for us to die in our sins, so He provided a perfect sacrifice for our sins and that was Jesus Christ. If we believe in Jesus and follow Him in obedience, then we will not die, but will live forever with Him in the new heavens and the new earth. 2 Peter 3:13 tells us that is our hope, and what we are waiting for, “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” If we believe, then one day we will live with God in a new heaven and a new earth that will be perfect - the way God planned it to be. As it also says in John, God did not send Jesus to condemn the world, but to save it. The way we are to be saved is through faith, in believing that Jesus is God’s Son and that He came to take away the punishment of our sins. This is the gift that God offers, the gift of eternal live (life that never ends). In Romans 6:23b it says, “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Those who do not believe will be punished and condemned as it says in John; but for those who do believe they will not be condemned. They will live forever with Jesus! That is why Jesus is worthy of our worship and praise. He paid a great price to save us. He gave up His life so that we could live.

We praise Jesus now while we are on the earth, but we will also praise Him in the new heavens and the new earth with the rest of His believers. In Revelation5:11-13 it says, “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” These praises are about Jesus. He is worthy of our praise because He was killed for our sins. He was forsaken by God because when He died He took our sins upon Him. Then He rose again and ascended to where He is seated next to God in heaven. All this happened so that we could believe in Jesus and be God’s children forever. Jesus has the power to overcome all things, and He has, even death. This is what God’s amazing love is about.

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