Theology of Land

Theology of the Land

1 Corinthians 15:25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

I. The Problem

Scripture does not present the intermediate state as our true hope or true comfort. In fact, over and again Scripture tells us that it is not ok that Grandmom died. It is not ok that her body is separated from her soul and in the ground. It is not ok that we are apart.

Revelation 6:9 And when He broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (c.f. 2 Corinthians 5:2-5)

Simply put, Scripture does not say that the state after death offers no comfort. Only that it is incomplete. In other words we are to find comfort and hope in the state after death- but not satisfaction. There is still something wrong. There is still something incomplete. There is still something broken. And if we stop there, we fail to grasp the true nature, extent, and power of the salvation that God has given us in Christ. Which brings us to the point of this sermon, which is, the earthiness of eternity

II. The Earthiness of Eternity

A] God’s promises about our future and about eternity directly involve this earth

Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of God who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

~The story and future of this creation is directly tied to our own

2 Peter 3:13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Matthew 6:10 ‘Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

B] Notice then how central the notions of land and a home are to God’s covenant promise. Throughout Scripture creation is our inheritance.

Genesis 17:8 “And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”  (Rom 11:29)

~However please note: this whole notion of a land and of a home does not end with the Old Testament. Rather, the New Testament underscores the truly lavish nature of its extent.

Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

III. So what’s the point?

1. First, we need to understand the enormity of the salvation that Christ accomplished. Christ came to reclaim the whole of existence (body and soul; relationships and society; heavens and earth)

Romans 8:19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

2. Second, we need a faithful approach to this life- our hope does not turn us away from the earth but back towards it (it is our future). Likewise, our hope does not diminish the importance of the here and now. Rather, it underscores it. As such, the certainty of our hope bids us to make use of this life in light of its future and what has been promised

Genesis 2:15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and to guard it.

3. Third, we need to make a faithful confession and proclamation of our inheritance and hope

Hebrews 11:13 All these died in faith, not receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the land. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.