Revelation 21:1-8
“Sin Ruins...But God Renews”
Introduction:
1. Every once in a while we get a vivid look at the true character of sin and Satan.
2. Sin mutilates everything that is good...that’s the down side.
3. God is in the renewing, restoring, resurrecting business.
4. These two contrasts could not be seen more vividly than in Rev. 21:1-8:
I. SIN DECAYS FOUNDATIONS...GOD DEVELOPS FOUNDATIONS 21:1,2
II. SIN DEPRIVES FELLOWSHIP...GOD DESIRES FELLOWSHIP 21:3
III. SIN DEFLATES FULFILLMENT...GOD DELIVERS FULFILLMENT 21:4,5
IV. SIN DESTROYS FOREVER...GOD DELIGHTS FOREVER 21:6-8
Are you choosing to sin? Sin has destroyed, but God can restore...
I. SIN DECAYS FOUNDATIONS...GOD DEVELOPS FOUNDATIONS 21:1,2
A. The New Is Established 1
(Rom. 8:20-22)
(II Pt. 3:5,6)
New… is not neos…new in time, but fresh, new in quality.
*Sin soiled the old earth…graves dot its soil…deep, dark, rejection of
God…war.
*God develops an earth whose sod will never be cut by a grave, never
saturated with human blood.
B. The New Is Exquisite 2
1. The Placement
2. The Preparation
*Sin Decays Foundations…marriage vows…home
(divorce)…relationships
*God Develops Foundations…marriage…the
home…relationships
Are you choosing to sin? Sin has destroyed, but God can restore...
II. SIN DEPRIVES FELLOWSHIP...GOD DESIRES FELLOWSHIP 21:3
A. The Dwelling Place
(Lev. 26:11,12)
God will dwell with man forever.
B. The Dwelling People
*The lost are without God, without Christ, without hope.
*The saved are with Him for all eternity.
C. The Dwelling Presence
*Those with resurrected bodies can enjoy the company of God.
*Sin Deprives Fellowship…with God and with others.
*God Desires Fellowship…with us (Rev. 3:20)…our fellowship with
others.
Are you choosing to sin? Sin has destroyed, but God can restore...
III. SIN DEFLATES FULFILLMENT...GOD DELIVERS FULFILLMENT
21:4,5
A. The Desperation 4a
(Rom. 5:12)
*There are tears in sin.
*There is death in sin.
*There is sorrow in sin.
*There is crying (seems different from ‘tears’)…broken hearts in sin.
*There is pain in sin.
God delivers fulfillment…no more…
B. The Departure 4b-5
*Those hurtful things associated with earth are replaced.
*I will make all things new…It is done!
*Faithful and true…you can bank on it!
*Sin Deflates Fulfillment (that which we desire to attain or accomplish)
*God Delivers Fulfillment…
Are you choosing to sin? Sin has destroyed, but God can restore...
IV. SIN DESTROYS FOREVER...GOD DELIGHTS FOREVER 21:6-8
A. It Is A Satisfying Place 6,7
1. The Reservoir…fountain of water of life…
2. The Resources…inherit all things…no want!
3. The Relationship…’his son’
‘He that overcometh’ (12:11…by the blood of the Lamb)
B. It Is A Safe Place 8
*It is not the act of sin, but the practice of sin.
*(I Cor 6:9-11..and such were some of you; Gal. 5:19-21…list of the
works of the flesh and those who practice as a habit…shall not enter
the kingdom of heaven; I John 3:7-9…those who practice sin are none
of His)
*Sin Destroys Forever…
*God Delights Forever…
Everything that sin ruins, God has the power to restores!!