MP3 Audio

Ephesians 3:15 – Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

I. Introduction:

A. The purpose of this message is to relate how close heaven is to us who are believers.

1. Sometimes I think heaven is a long way off.

2. I must remember that heaven is only a heart beat away.

3. Something like another dimension, that exists right alongside us, but we cannot enter that dimension except through death.

B. Saints are like a separated family.

1. My parents live in Arkansas, so we are physically separated from each other, but they are still my parents.

2. Some church members are absent, but they are still members of IBC.

3. Believers that are passed on to heaven are still in the family of God, just as I am in the family.

4. We are simply separated from each other.

5. We do not know the details of our existence, but that doesn’t mean we are not well acquainted with each other and care for each other deeply.

II. How are we one family if we are separated from each other?

A. Our names are all written in the same family register.

1. Our heavenly Father elected us all to eternal salvation.

2. Our names were all written at the same "time" – before time began.

B. We are all one family in the covenant of grace.

1. Every nation, and every tribe on earth will be represented in heaven.

a. See Revelation 5:9 – quoted below.

b. Revelation 14:6 – During the tribulation period, a continual gospel message to all.

2. All were sinners, but all were saved by the eternal grace of God.

C. We are all sealed to God with the same seal.

1. Revelation 5:9 - And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

2. Ephesians 1:10,11 - That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

3. Ephesians 1:13 - In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

D. We are all born of the same Father.

1. John 6:44 – No man can come to Christ, except the Father draws him.

2. John 8:44 – Some are of their father (the devil), while others are of their father (God).

3. John 8:47 – People in Jesus day heard him preach and were drawn to God, just as we today, hear the gospel message, and are drawn to God.

E. The nature of all regenerated persons is the same.

1. We were all lost, now we are all saved.

2. We all have a dual nature, which memory of that sinful nature will not be wiped out until eternity begins – Revelation 21:4.

3. I Corinthians 13:13 – We walk by faith. They walk by sight.

F. We are all partakers of the divine love.

1. God loved us all before the foundations of the world, not after we were born and he saw some good in us.

2. None deserved or earned the love of God.

G. We are all heirs of the same promises.

H. We are all members of the same body.

1. Maybe not of the church local church, but all the saved are members of the body of Christ – the family of God.

2. One of these days, the churches of this world will be assembled in heaven, then we will truly see we are all members of the body of Christ.

III. There is an inseparableness in this family.

A. See our text: there is one family – the whole family, not two families.

B. Death does not separate us, except in time.

1. A brother is still a brother, even if he is dead.

2. A parent is still a parent, even if he is dead.

3. A spouse is still a spouse, even if they are dead.

4. A child is still a child, even if they are dead.

C. Space keeps us from our family in heaven, but does not separate the family from us, or us from the family.

D. Sin does not separate us, because we are all made nigh to Christ by the blood of Jesus.

E. Errors or failures do not separate us, because those things do not separate us from our earthly families.

F. Sorrow cannot separate us, even though we have plenty of sorrow.

1. Romans 8:35 – Who can separate us from the love of God?

2. We all go through sorrow, but God is very present with us through our joys and sorrows.

IV. More proof that saints in heaven and earth are one family.

A. Our service is the same.

1. We are all to glorify God.

B. Our prayers are the same.

1. The prayers of the dead might not have been answered in their lifetime, but that does not mean their prayers are dead.

a. Consider Greg Crittenden, who attended services here this morning.

b. He was probably in his early 40’s and was raised in church, his dad being a Baptist minister.

c. But he thought his dad forced him to go to church, and he said when he got older, he would not go to services, so he didn’t.

d. Now he is coming, and says he will come again.

e. Do you suppose the prayers of his parents are being answered?

f. I do not know if his parents are dead or alive, but that is not really important – those prayers will be answered.

2. We, who are living, continually pray that God would bless with grace upon our unworthiness.

C. Our testimony is the same.

1. Jesus saves, and Jesus keeps.

2. His grace is all sufficient.

D. Our praise is the same.

1. We glorify God for our salvation, service, and righteousness.

2. We never glorify ourselves or the men God used to guide us.

V. The future of our family.

A. One of these days, the entire family will all be together.

1. People die all the time, and all believers go to heaven, where all believers go.

2. We will be united together because of God’s great grace upon us.