Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 “Corruption, The Certainty of Death, & the Afterlife” or “Observation’s About Humanity”
Intro: Last Time: The Backdrop is God’s Sov: What about Humanity?
- The problem of the world? Wars, Greed, Economic Woes, Crime, Death.
- Nations are made up of individuals. Individuals are the problem.
- The sinful heart and therefore the will of man.
- The problem is that humanity thinks we have the answers. The problem thinks it itself is the solution.
- Ted Wise “I went into the palace looking for the price on the throne but I discovered only the rat in the basement.”
- GK Chesterton: The Times: What is wrong with the world today? I am.
- Michael Jackson: Im starting with the man in the mirror.
- Our best efforts fall so short. We can’t make things right.
Vs 16: I Saw “Under the Sun”
- What passes for “Justice” is wickedness.
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- Solomon sees the corruption and incompleteness of our best attempts at justice.
- Some get to little, some get to much, some get let go.
- What passes as “Righteousness” was even wickedness. Solomon saw
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- The ridiculousness of religious, external, righteousness.
- We do this to this day. We like external fakeness more than internal holiness.
- Slaves of tradition. We confuse holiness with keeping tradition.
- Tradition is more important than bible to so many people.
Vs 17: I Said “In my Heart”
- God will judge the righteous and the wicked.
- All people are included under those to headings.
- Every matter and every work will be judged.
- God will bring justice!! Does this not warm your heart?
Vs 18: I Said “In my Heart” Man is a mere Beast
- With all this mess. God is testing us.
- So humans will see that we are beast.
- One job of mine as a parent will be to show him or her they are not the point of life.
- The probelem thinks “It is the solution”. Nope
Vs 19-20 Beasts that Die Like All other Beasts
- All animals die. All humans die.
- You and your dog have something in common. Death.
- Dust to dust. Created from dirt to dirt we will return.
- All without exception will die.
21-22 I Saw: Solomon’s Questions/Our Questions
- What happens when we the beast dies?
- Who can tell us what is next?
- Questions the bibles asks the bible answers.
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- Ecc 12:7
- Solomon had truthful questions and truth.
Hell: What does the bible say?
- Underdevelped understanding of the afterlife. Unfolding revelation.
- Rev 21:8 Cowardly, faithless, detestable, murders, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, liars. Hell will be filled with sinners.
- List from Driscoll
- Lk 16:Rich man and Lazarus
Heaven: Eternal Falicity of the Saints
- Ps 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
- Rev 22:3-5
Are you in Adam or In Christ?
- Adam: All about our work. All about our performance. All about our “Faith” All about us……..
- In Christ: All about Jesus and his work.
Vs 22: Only those who rest in Jesus work can rightly experiance work in life.
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