(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)
There are limitations to what a teacher can expect from his students. Homework should not be too time-consuming, and exams should not be too difficult. One thing a teacher can expect though, is that students will pay attention in class.
In the course of life, we encounter limitations of a different kind. Some limitations are urgent and require our immediate attention. These usually involve physical needs.
Such limitations will not, however, be part of life in the next world.3 As John notes in...
...which is finally to have...
The first change Paul characterizes as visual. Currently, what we see is both indirect, as in a mirror, and indistinct, as in a poorly polished mirror. Subsequently, what we see will be direct and distinct, as when "face to face" with someone. Who is the 'someone' Paul has in mind? ... Listen this phrase in other passages.7
The less common Greek word, which adds a prefix, elevating the term so it means "to know fully," and it appears only 44 times in the New Testament. It covers extraordinary cognitive awareness, again, such as knowing a fact or a person.12 Gospel writers use this term to describe a spiritual awareness that goes beyond the superficial. Mark records that...
This future ability is not omniscience, the attribute God alone possesses that enables Him to know everything.13 What the apostle describes, however, is a significant advance over what we now have, an improvement of our current intellectual ability that Paul designates with an enhanced word.
No matter how much education a person has, his knowledge of things is quite minimal. For all my years in school, I could only focus on a sliver of knowledge. (My dissertation was on a single vowel of the Hebrew alphabet—250 pages. If any of you is having trouble sleeping, I may have a remedy.) Even if Linda had let me continue in school (and for another degree I could have done the rest of the vowels), that sliver of knowledge would not have gotten much bigger, certainly not compared to what God has in store.
This does not mean you will know everything there is to know. As I said, only God knows everything.14 It may mean, though, that your resurrection body will include both extended physical longevity as well as expanded mental capacity. In any case, what you will know then is much more than you know now, because...
In the midst of a discussion about love, Paul mentions The Foremost Comprehension, which is finally having the perception of God, made possible because you will encounter Him and because He will enhance you.
Having considered The Foremost Comprehension, we will look next at The Foremost Compassion, which is embodied in the personality of God, in Exod 34:6-7.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
A college professor had the mysterious habit of removing a tennis ball from his jacket pocket as he walked into the lecture hail each morning. He would set it on the corner of the podium before his lecture and put it back in his pocket after the lecture. No one understood why he did this, until one day a student fell asleep during the class. The professor didn't miss a word of his lecture while he walked over to the podium, picked up the tennis ball, and threw it, hitting the sleeping student squarely on top of the head. The next day, the professor walked into the room, reached into his jacket...and removed a baseball.... No one fell asleep in his class for the rest of the semester.There are limitations to what a teacher can expect from his students.
In the course of life, we encounter limitations of a different kind. Some limitations are urgent and require our immediate attention. These usually involve physical needs.
- When we are weary, we need rest (like the student).
- When we are hungry, we need food.
- When we encounter a question we cannot answer, we realize the limit to our knowledge.
- When he was weary, he needed rest.
- When he was hungry, he needed food.
- When he encountered a question he could not answer, he realized the limit to his knowledge!2
Such limitations will not, however, be part of life in the next world.3 As John notes in...
Rev 21:4b There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.The Bible includes some details about the afterlife, not as many as we would like, but what it does say is certainly encouraging.
- We will not grow weary, because, as the author of Hebrews writes...
Heb 4:9 [The afterlife is called] a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;
- We will not get hungry, because, as the apostle John reveals...4
Rev 7:16a Never again will [we] hunger; never again will [we] thirst.
- We will also not be ignorant, because, as the apostle Paul writes, we will possess...
...which is finally to have...
- The perception of God (1 Cor 13:12) Please turn to...
There was in the first century a common assumption that life continues with little change. People live and die, but that cycle includes no real progress.6 Paul cautions his readers against adopting that assumption. In the midst of addressing a very different subject, the importance of love, Paul takes a brief excursus and contrasts two periods: the present state in this life, which he calls "now," with the subsequent state in the life hereafter, which he calls "then." This is to remind his readers that the conditions they currently experience will not continue indefinitely. In fact, there is significant change ahead that will affect two areas.1 Cor 13:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
The first change Paul characterizes as visual. Currently, what we see is both indirect, as in a mirror, and indistinct, as in a poorly polished mirror. Subsequently, what we see will be direct and distinct, as when "face to face" with someone. Who is the 'someone' Paul has in mind? ... Listen this phrase in other passages.7
Gen 32:30 ...Jacob [said], "I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."
Exod 33:1 la The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.
Deut 5:4 The LORD spoke to [Israel] face to face out of the fire on the mountain.This is, of course, a figure of speech8 God made clear that an actual meeting with Him would not be healthy.9 He told Moses, "[N]o one may see me and live" (Exod 33:20b). Still, this will be a possibility for some people in the future.
- David said, "upright men will see his face" (Ps 11:7b).
- Jesus said, "the pure in heart...will see God" (Matt 5:8).
- John said, "we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2b).10
1. Your future will include an encounter with Him.The second change Paul characterizes as intellectual. Currently, what we know is quite limited. The common Greek word that means "to know" appears 222 times in the New Testament. It covers ordinary cognitive awareness, such as knowing a fact or a person. The apostle John uses it both ways.11
1 John 5:20a We know [the fact] that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know [the person] him who is true.Paul uses it in 1 Cor 13:12 to describe our present intellectual state: "Now I know in part."
The less common Greek word, which adds a prefix, elevating the term so it means "to know fully," and it appears only 44 times in the New Testament. It covers extraordinary cognitive awareness, again, such as knowing a fact or a person.12 Gospel writers use this term to describe a spiritual awareness that goes beyond the superficial. Mark records that...
Mark 2:8a ...Jesus knew in his spirit...what [some religious leaders] were thinking in their hearts....
Matt 11:27b [Jesus said:] No one knows [intimately] the Son except the Father, and no one knows [intimately] the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.Paul uses the same augmented form in 1 Cor 13:12 to describe our future, augmented intellectual state: "Then I shall know fully."
This future ability is not omniscience, the attribute God alone possesses that enables Him to know everything.13 What the apostle describes, however, is a significant advance over what we now have, an improvement of our current intellectual ability that Paul designates with an enhanced word.
No matter how much education a person has, his knowledge of things is quite minimal. For all my years in school, I could only focus on a sliver of knowledge. (My dissertation was on a single vowel of the Hebrew alphabet—250 pages. If any of you is having trouble sleeping, I may have a remedy.) Even if Linda had let me continue in school (and for another degree I could have done the rest of the vowels), that sliver of knowledge would not have gotten much bigger, certainly not compared to what God has in store.
This does not mean you will know everything there is to know. As I said, only God knows everything.14 It may mean, though, that your resurrection body will include both extended physical longevity as well as expanded mental capacity. In any case, what you will know then is much more than you know now, because...
2. Your future will include an enhancement by Him.God does not have to show Himself to you, and He has no need to upgrade you, but He will do both simply because He loves you. John says, "since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:11), and Paul tells us how in this same chapter. Does this describe how you relate to other believers? ...Is there one element you need to improve?
1 Cor 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8a Love never fails.Because God loves you, you have a glorious future. Because God loves you, you must love one another.
In the midst of a discussion about love, Paul mentions The Foremost Comprehension, which is finally having the perception of God, made possible because you will encounter Him and because He will enhance you.
Having considered The Foremost Comprehension, we will look next at The Foremost Compassion, which is embodied in the personality of God, in Exod 34:6-7.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted)
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