1 Corinthians 6:11 – I Can Certainly Sympathize – Bible study

1Corinthians 6:11 Too Good to Go to Heaven – I Can Certainly Sympathize It is with a heavy heart that I preach this message because I am certain that after some of you hear it, you will surely not want to go. Throughout my years of pastoring, I have meet people who do not want to be in the same church as a hypocrite. I have learned over the years that some individuals are so repulsed by hypocrites in the church, that they just cant tolerate being get near them. I can certainly sympathize with you. After all, who would want to spend a whole church service in a room with a professing Christians who claims Jesus, but then says bad words, or lies, or steals, or even worse. I can certainly sympathize with those who dont want to be with those kinds of people. Just imagine, having to sit within, I dont know, forty or fifty feet of that kind of individual. And just suppose that while you were sitting there, listening to the sermon or singing a song, you actually saw a known hypocrite! Why, youd probably be so dramatized that you wouldnt hear the rest of the sermon, and we all know how much that would bother you. Yes, sire. I can certainly sympathize. However, I must confess to some confusion about this malady. I have noticed that many of those same people seem to have no trouble voting for hypocritical politicians, or listening to hypocritical newscasters, or depositing their money in banks run by hypocritical executives, or attending movies featuring hypocritical actors, or even letting a hypocritical doctor treat them. Of course, my ignorance in this matter does not in any way lessen my appreciation of their problem, for I can certainly sympathize with them. In fact, it was this very complaint and my sympathy toward it, that produced this message. If figured, if a person doesnt want to be in a church for one hour with a hypocrite, they probably wouldnt want to be in heaven for eternity with one. So I decided to study the Scriptures to find out just what kind of people are going to be in heaven, and the results are shocking! In truth, I am a little hesitant to preach this message, fearful of the backlash it may cause among those afflicted with this curse; however, having been called to preach the whole counsel of the Word of God, and now knowing the truth, I feel compelled to proclaim it and let the chips fall where they may. So what type of people are going to be in heaven? My study has revealed that I. \#John 8:1-4\ There will be immoral people in heaven. A. \#4\ Here is a woman taken in adulterythe very act. 1. It is interesting how we know about this womans sin. 2. \# 3-4\ A group of sin inspectors caught her! a. Arent you glad that there is someone keeping their eyes open to the sins of others! b. People, who because of their perfections, have developed a "sixth sense" and are now able to pick up on other peoples imperfections. c. Now, this group of concerned citizens sonar was so good, that they were able to find this woman who was not only guilty of adultery, but who was committing this awful act at that very moment. d. We thank God for people with that kind of ability. 3. Hey! You know what just dawned on me. a. Maybe those who can not tolerate hypocrites in the church are on their way to evolving into sin inspectors! 1. After all, they have the same characteristics. 2. Both of them are very sensitive to the sins of others. 3. And both groups seem to keep an eye on others. You know, not wanting to let anyone get away with anything they shouldnt. b. Why, if we could get a few people with this malady in the church, without changing them too much, they might become sin inspectors right here! 4. \#John 8:5\ This esteemed group wanted to exercise the proper penalty on this woman. a. Like any good hunter, they had found this woman’s sins and they wanted their trophy. They wanted her to be dealt with. b. This woman is about to have a bad day. (1) It had to be awfully humiliating to be dragged out in public (2) However, it also turned out to be the best day of her life. (3) If it hadn’t been for the sin inspectors, she probably would never have meet Jesus at all! B. So we have the sin inspectors who found the woman and want her to be punished, but here is where the story gets a little strange. It appears that our Lord wanted this immoral woman to go to heaven! 1. \#John 8:6-9\ He derailed the womans execution. a. \#John 8:6\ He stalled the execution by stooping down and writing on the ground. b. \#John 8:9\ In doing so, He allowed the Spirit of God to convict the prosecutors. c. \#John 8:7\ He actually issued a challenge for a sinless man to come cast the first stone! I really don’t understand what the problem was with that one. I figure all of the sin inspectors had arrived at sinless perfection. d. \#John 8:9\ However, before you know it, the whole committee had disbanded and gone home! 2. \#John 8:11\ Then, Jesus actually forgave the woman of her sin and told her how to be faithful and helpful! C. You know what I think? It is my belief that Jesus compassionate, forgiving, and helpful demeanor ushered this woman into heaven! 1. If you dont want to be in heaven with the immoral, you may want to reconsider this salvation thing. 2. After all, it may actually be that you really are too good to go to a heaven with immoral people. II. \#John 3:1-3\ There will be religious hypocrites in heaven. A. I know that this is going to strike a nerve at the very heart of those who can not tolerate being in church with religious hypocrites, but I feel compelled to point it out anyway. John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. B. Here we have Jesus dealing with a religious hypocrite. 1. How do I know that Nicodemus was a hypocrite? a. Because nobody could keep all of the laws the Jews had! (1) All those lists of things you had to do and couldn’t do! (2) Even if you tried, you’d be bound to mess up sooner or later by accident. b. This man was a teacher or preacher of the Old Testament law. c. If you think the New Testament is difficult to keep, just try keeping the Old Testament! 2. Maybe I need to confess at this point. a. No preacher can perfectly live the life he preaches about! b. Nicodemus couldnt and neither can I. c. Thats right. I confess. I still sin. (1) Sometimes I say things that I shouldnt. (2) Sometimes I do things that I shouldnt. (3) Sometimes I think things that shouldnt. d. Just like Nicodemus, I am a religious hypocrite. C. However, I dont think Jesus minded. 1. \#John 3:4-21\ Jesus deal compassionately with this religious hypocrite! a. Jesus did not throw Nicodemus out of the house. b. Jesus didnt get up and leave. c. (I guess Jesus didnt have the affliction of not being able to be around religious failures and hypocrites.) d. Whats more, Jesus didnt even rebuke Nicodemus for his failures. 2. Instead, Jesus patiently taught him. D. Interestingly, we do not have a record of Nicodemuss immediate response, but apparently, he got into heaven too. 1. Later, after Jesus was crucified, Nicodemus came to Jesus again. John 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 2. You know, I bet Nicodemus is in heaven right now. 3. Whats more, I bet it was because that even though Nicodemus was a religious hypocrite, Jesus loved on him. 4. And you know what else? I bet that Nicodemus still did wrong even after he got saved. III. \#Mark 16:9\ There will be those who have been demon possessed in heaven! Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. A. This woman is mentioned by her full name 12 times in the Bible and is referred to even more than that! 1. Yet, at one time, she had seven different demons inside of her. 2. What wickedness do you suppose this woman committed while in that shape? 3. I will not begin to guess, but one can imagine. B. The record of her exorcism and salvation are not recorded but it is obvious that Jesus was the Source. 1. She followed Jesus around the rest of His life. 2. \#John 20:11\ She alone stood outside His tomb weeping over His bodys disappearance. C. Yet, I am certain that this demon possessed woman will be in heaven! 1. My friend, if you would not want to be around a hypocrite, you certainly would not want to spend eternity with a woman who had been in this kind of shape. 2. My advice is that a person who can not be around a hypocrite for sixty minutes had truly better think long and hard about trusting Jesus Christ as their Savior. 3. It certainly looks like He will let almost anyone into His heaven. IV. \#Luke 23:39-43\ There will be thieves and wicked persons in heaven. Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. A. Matthew and Mark called the two that Jesus was crucified between thieves, but Luke just calls them malefactors which means "evil doers." 1. These two characters were so bad that they were caught and crucified for their wrong doings. 2. \#Luke 23:41\ By their own admission, they were worthy of death. B. Here again, Jesus shows compassion and forgiveness. 1. Jesus actually promised one of them that they would go to paradise with Him! 2. \#Luke 23:43\ It is written in the text! C. Isnt it amazing! 1. Jesus had to know that this man were wicked, and yet, just because He asked for forgiveness. Jesus forgave Him. 2. The really sad thing is that this man died shortly after Jesus died 3. That means he never got the chance to prove to the perfection committee that he was worthy of going to heaven. 4. I suppose it is just as well. a. A man with that kind of background is bound to make a mistake if given enough time. b. In fact, I suppose that about the only way a Christian wouldnt fail Christ is if God just killed him as soon as he got saved. c. When you get right down to it, maybe that is the only solution there is to hypocrites being in the church! d. Just dont have a church at all! V. \#Acts 22:3-5\ There will be a Christian killer in heaven! Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. A. Saul, again by his own testimony, was a Christian hater, persecutor, and murderer. B. Not only did Jesus forgive and use this man in His kingdom, but Jesus actually appeared to Saul after He had ascended into heaven to personally win him! All of this leads me to ask another question. WHO WILL NOT BE IN HEAVEN? VI. \#Matt 22:1-14\ A lengthy parable in which A. \#Matt 22:8-10\ Jesus seems to indicate any low life that wants may go to heaven! B. \#Matt 22:11-13\ But then, one is found without a wedding garment and expelled. 1. May I point out that this may have been a fine, upstanding individual. 2. In fact, no effort is made at all to determine this mans worth. C. The garment is a picture of being clothed in Christs righteousness (His death). 1. Because this man had not come to God trusting in Jesus death, he was not welcomed in heaven. 2. Harlots were. Liars were. Killers were. Alcoholics and drug addicts were. Even hypocrites were! 3. But he was not! You know, I suspect that he was too good to go to heaven! Maybe you are too. Do you really want to go to a heaven like that? A heaven where no matter what you are or have done, Jesus just forgives it and forgets about it? If not, you probably do not want to accept Jesus as your Savior. 1Cor 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.