Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas
Jeremy approaches Bible teaching with a passion for getting the basic doctrines explained so that the individual can understand them and then apply them to circumstances in their life. These basic and important lessons are nestled in a framework of history and progression of revelation from the Bible so the whole of Scripture can be applied to your physical and spiritual life.
Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas
NT Framework - Eternal Scars
Will things that happen now, in this world, in this mortal life be carried forward into eternity? Interstingly, the answer is yes. And that answer is not even in doubt.
More information about Beyond the Walls, including additional resources can be found at www.beyondthewalls-ministry.com
This series included graphics to illustrate what is being taught, if you would like to watch the teachings you can do so on Rumble (https://rumble.com/user/SpokaneBibleChurch) or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtV_KhFVZ_waBcnuywiRKIyEcDkiujRqP).
Jeremy Thomas is the pastor at Spokane Bible Church in Spokane, Washington and a professor at Chafer Theological Seminary. He has been teaching the Bible for over 20 years, always seeking to present its truths in a clear and understandable manner.
Welcome to Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas and our series on the New Testament Framework. Today a smaller, bite-sized piece from the larger lesson. We hope you enjoy it.
Speaker 2:After eight days, his disciples were again inside, inside a house, right, and Thomas was with them this time, and Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and he stood in their midst and he said Peace, be with you. Then he said to Thomas reach here with your finger and see my hands, and reach here your hand and put it in my side and do not be unbelieving, but believing. How does this passage relate to history having eternal importance? Well, what body is Jesus in when he stood there in the house? He's in his resurrection body. So is he still in the same resurrection body right now? Yes, is he going to have this resurrection body when he comes for us at the rapture? Is he going to have this resurrection body at the second coming of Christ, when he comes to earth to rule and reign for a thousand years? Yes, he's going to have the same exact body that was there and thomas reached and touched and saw. Now this body is derived from this history, right, in that the resurrection is a transformation. I mean, his body was laid in the tomb. His mortal body was. It was crucified. It was laid in the tomb, but then it wasn't there on the third day. Right, it was risen, meaning that body was transformed into a resurrection body. So it was the body that was in history. It was now transformed into an immortal condition that is a part of the world to come. Will it be there in the new heaven and new earth Revelation 21 and 22?. Same body, it's not going to change. Are the new heaven and new earth? Revelation 21 and 22. Same body Not going to change. Are the scars going to go away? Where were those scars inflicted In time in history? Or in eternity? In time in history, and they are carried into eternity.
Speaker 2:Look at Revelation, chapter 5. We're pointing out the importance of history and hopefully this will make you realize that your life is important in history. That's where we're going with this. Your life is important in history. What you do in history carries over in some way into eternity. Revelation, chapter 5 and verse 6. This is where you've got the scroll, the seven-sealed scroll, and nobody can open it right. And then someone steps forward. Who can? And we notice in verse 6, I saw, between the throne, with the four living creatures and the elders, a lamb standing, as if slain Standing, as if whatain Standing, as if what Slain. Not standing, so it's alive, but it looks like it's been slain right. In other words, it bears scars. Scars from when? From the crucifixion. Again, when did the crucifixion take place In time in history or in eternity? It took place in time in history and yet here he is standing and John sees him, and he looks like a lamb, as if slain, having carried those wounds from history into this eternity. So history is important.
Speaker 2:Now let's look at our own lives. 2 Corinthians 5, verse 10. Is there anything in the Christian life that relates to this idea that our lives are really important in history? What we do with them, how we spend our time, what we do with our time, what we do with our lives, is that important? 2 Corinthians 5, verse 10. 2 Corinthians 5, verse 10.
Speaker 2:Paul says, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. We call this the Bema right. It's a Greek word that means you go to a judgment seat. It was used in the ancient world for Olympic games or competitions, when the competitors would have a race or whatever their event was, and then they would go and they would stand before the Bema, where the judges were the judges for the contest, and they would then award those who won their events right. This is the type of thing that we will stand at. Viewing the Christian life is like a race that we are running and Paul says elsewhere you run so as to win right. Win what Win prizes? He's talking about rewards.
Speaker 2:So let's read on. So we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ you, me, all of us who are believers in Christ. Why? So that each one of us may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. In other words, then, there's going to Does what we do in history, does it have any effect on eternity? Yeah, because what you do in this life is going to be evaluated at the judgment seat of Christ and rewards will then be given out or not given out, depending on how we lived our Christian lives. So again, is your life important? Is history important? Yes, it is important.
Speaker 2:Some people say well, the only thing that's important in life is believing in Jesus Christ. I believe that is the number one thing that is of greatest importance that a person believe who Jesus Christ is and what he did for them on the cross, and the sole condition for enjoying eternal life is just believe, right, just believe in him. That's not everything, though. Once you become a Christian right. The second biggest thing in life is how you live the Christian life, because once you've believed in Christ, eternity is set. You have everlasting life. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
Speaker 2:But the issue becomes how do we live the Christian life? Because there's also going to be an evaluation, at a payment, at a judgment seat, and rewards will be given out, and those rewards are for eternity. Jesus said it this way. Jesus said it this way store up treasure in heaven, right when moth and rust don't decay, right. So that's talking about what you do now in history having eternal ramifications. So that's an implication of the hypostatic union, because it all starts with Christ. You really get to realize that what he does in time, in history affects eternity and is reflected even in his resurrection body. So your lives are important too, and you know, paul says in Ephesians 5, 15, he says making the most of your time, for the days are evil, making the most of your time because the days are evil. Or the Greek says buy up the time. In other words, don't waste time, because you're only here for a short period of time relative to eternity.
Speaker 1:Thank you for joining us on Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas. If you would like to see the visuals that went along with today's sermon, you can find those on Rumble and on YouTube under Spokane Bible Church. That is where Jeremy is the pastor and teacher. We hope you found today's lesson productive and useful in growing closer to God and walking more obediently with Him. If you found this podcast to be useful and helpful, then please consider rating us in your favorite podcast app, and until next time, we hope you have a blessed and wonderful day.