Tag Archives: Heaven

THE ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

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THE ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, GREENDALE, INDIANA Jack Cottrell – August 11, 2019         Isaiah 61:10 – “I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” INTRODUCTION.  Are you ready for the Judgment Day?         A.    “Being ready” often means, “Are you appropriately dressed?”         B.    Being ready for the Judgment Day requires us to be wearing … Continue reading →

Saved by Grace #2 — SAVED BY GRACE, NOT BY LAW

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Think of heaven (just for the purpose of this illustration) as a gigantic city enclosed by an impenetrable and unscalable wall. You can see this city from afar, and you desperately want to enter into it. Your life is a journey toward it. As you begin to get closer to this heavenly city, you can see that there are two gates that allow entry through the wall. Soon you can see that each gate has a large sign above it. Over one gate the sign says “LAW,” and over the other the sign says “GRACE.” And then you understand. Theoretically … Continue reading →

WHAT IS JOY? A CHRISTMAS MEDITATION

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During our recent Christmas season I noticed many references to JOY. Exactly what is “joy,” and why is it so closely connected with Christmas? We note first of all that on the night of Jesus’ birth, the angel of God said to the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10, ESV). My favorite Christmas song begins, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” For Christians, this joy is not limited to the nativity season. As children, many of us sang year-round: “I have the joy, joy, joy, joy — down in … Continue reading →

A TRIBUTE TO SAM GONZALEZ

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ABOUT MY FRIEND AND FELLOW-LABORER IN CHRIST, SAMUEL GONZALEZ (1949-2013) By JACK COTTRELL JULY 31, 2013 [The following is the tribute I was privileged to give at the memorial service for Sam Gonzalez, one of the founders of the Yucatan Peninsula Christian Mission, who died on May 31, 2013 at the age of 63.] In one of his newsletters, Brother Sam quoted Jeremiah 48:10: “A curse on him who is lax in doing the LORD’s work!” Then he said, “With this verse in mind we want to start the year making plans for serving the Lord to the most of … Continue reading →

What About Rewards in Heaven?

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What About Rewards in Heaven? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Friday, July 2, 2010 at 1:16pm QUESTION: The Bible teaches we are not saved BY our works, but saved FOR good works (Eph. 2:9-10). We do not earn our salvation; rather, we are to view heaven itself as a gift and not as a reward. But since we will be judged according to what we have done (2 Cor. 5:10), will there not be differing rewards? And would it not thus be proper to say we EARN such rewards? What is the nature of these rewards? ANSWER: You are correct … Continue reading →

Did Jesus Go to Hell To Pay for Our Sins?

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Did Jesus Go to Hell To Pay for Our Sins? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 3:37pm QUESTION: Recently I heard a man say, “Jesus went to hell so you wouldn’t have to.” Where does this idea come from? Didn’t Jesus imply that he was going to Paradise when he died (Luke 23:43)? Does it not border on blasphemy to say that Jesus went to hell to pay for our sins? His atoning blood is what paid for our sins, not His suffering three days in hell “so we wouldn’t have to.” Have you heard of … Continue reading →

Will There Be Sexual Activity in Heaven?

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Will There Be Sexual Activity in Heaven? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 8:00pm QUERY: I have a question about whether or not there will be sex in Heaven. I really DO honestly wonder about it. One friend cited C.S. Lewis. What is your opinion on the subject? ANSWER: I have dealt with this subject briefly in my book, “The Faith Once for All,” in chapter 32, “Heaven” (on pp. 567-68). I understand our final heaven, our eternal abode, to be the new heavens and the new earth of 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1, where … Continue reading →

Does Jesus Have “the Same Body” from Birth Throughout Eternity?

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Does Jesus Have “the Same Body” from Birth Throughout Eternity? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 10:45am AN INTERESTING QUERY: I was just reading a Christmas message by Leith Anderson, and I’m not completely sure about it. He says, “Never think that [Christ’s] body was only for the one generation from Bethlehem’s manger to Calvary’s cross. This was permanent. God became human forever. . . . It was the same body that ascended up into heaven and is there now. It is the same body that the Bible predicts, and Jesus promises, will come back to … Continue reading →

Did Jesus Go to Hell When He Died (1 Pet. 3:18-19)?

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Did Jesus Go to Hell When He Died (1 Pet. 3:18-19)? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Sunday, November 8, 2009 at 3:29pm I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF INQUIRIES about 1 Peter 3:18ff., which says: “He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago.” What does this mean? Did Jesus somehow “go to hell” after he died on the cross? If so, is this part of his atoning work? Or does it mean that he went and preached to … Continue reading →

Heb. 6:4-8 and “Once Saved, Always Saved”

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Heb. 6:4-8 and “Once Saved, Always Saved” by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 10:03am A RECENT QUERY: “We are doing a study in Hebrews and this week chapter 6 rears its ugly head regarding eternal security. I know that I have at least 2 with a strong calvinistic background in my class, and we will be addressing the ‘once saved, always saved’ problem. Any thoughts?” MY REPLY: In my book, “The Faith Once for All,” I have a whole chapter on the subject of assurance of salvation (ch. 21). In this chapter I give a strong … Continue reading →