Homecoming - Part 3 [Notes]

September 25th, 2022

Many learned the children’s song “Heaven is a Wonderful Place” in Sunday school. The song begins, “Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace. I want to see my Father’s face. Yes! Heaven is a wonderful place.” Although the song is simple, it captures a remarkable truth. The most wonderful aspect of heaven will be seeing the face of the One who loves us so much. But this is only the beginning...

Today's Takeaway // The One who came from heaven is the only One who can take us to heaven.

Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true."
– Revelation 21:3-5 (CSB)

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
– Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB)

God looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.
– Psalm 53:2-3 (CSB)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
– Romans 3:23 (CSB)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
– Romans 6:23 (CSB)

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
– John 3:16 (NIV)

No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
– John 3:13 (CSB)

He (Jesus) is the “Ladder” between heaven and earth with access to both realms. He “descended” in the Incarnation and “ascended” in the Ascension.
– E.A. Blum, The Bible Knowledge Commentary

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.
– 1 Timothy 2:5 (CSB)

The One who comes from above is above all. The One who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The One who comes from heaven is above all.
– John 3:31 (CSB)

The One who came from heaven is the only One who can take us to heaven.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
– John 14:6 (CSB)

The One who came from heaven is the only One who can take us to heaven.

Who is Jesus?

My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
– John 10:27-30 (CSB)

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But you," He asked them, "who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus responded, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven."
– Matthew 16:13-17 (CSB)

The One who came from heaven is the only One who can take us to heaven.

Who is Jesus?
What did Jesus accomplish on the cross?

He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth; when He was insulted, He did not insult in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten but entrusted Himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By His wounds, you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
– 1 Peter 1:22-25 (CSB)

He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
– Colossians 2:14 (HCSB)

The One who came from heaven is the only One who can take us to heaven.

Who is Jesus?
What did Jesus accomplish on the cross? Sin debt paid in full.
Why did God send Jesus to die on the cross?

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
– John 3:16 (NIV)

But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
– Romans 5:8 (CSB)

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
– Ephesians 5:1-2 (CSB)

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.
– Ephesians 5:25 (CSB)

This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
– 1 John 3:16 (CSB)

God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His one and only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice, for our sins.
– 1 John 4:9-10 (CSB)

The One who came from heaven is the only One who can take us to heaven.

Who is Jesus?
What did Jesus accomplish on the cross?
Why did God send Jesus to die on the cross?
How can we make sure we end up in heaven?

"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"
– John 11:25-26 (CSB)

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
– John 3:16 (NIV)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
– Romans 1:16 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
– Romans 10:9 (CSB)

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
– 1 John 5:11-13 (CSB)

Discussion Questions //

Pastor Josh shared his story of a close call in his uncle’s swimming pool. Share about a time when you needed urgent help or some kind of rescue (i.e. broken down car, needed a tow truck to come).
Read and discuss each of the main four points from today’s message. Feel free to look up some or all of the verses.

“The One who came from heaven is the only One who can take us to heaven.”

Who is Jesus? // Matthew 1:18-25, John 10:27-30
What did Jesus accomplish on the cross? // 1 Pet. 1:22-25, Colossians 2:14
Why did God send Jesus to die on the cross? // John 3:16, 1 John 3:16, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:9-10
How can we make sure we end up in heaven? // Romans 10:9, 1 John 5:11-13

What is one practical way that you can apply this message and discussion to your life this week?
Close in prayer.

Worship Setlist //

Gone / 1,000 Names / Same God / O What a Miracle / God Really Loves Us

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Posted in Notes
Posted in homecoming, heaven, eternal life, salvation