sermon from August 15st

Shadows of the Heavenly in our Earthly Things

Romans 1:20-25

Rev. Tim Yates

I. See life as full of shadows of heavenly realities

A. Old Covenant-->New Covenant Gospel Hebrews 8:5; 10:1; 12:22-24

B. Created things are shadows of God's eternal power and divine nature Romans 1:20

C. Earthly marriage is shadow of heavenly relationship btw Christ & church Ezekial 16; Ephesians 5:23-33

D. Earthly family is a shadow of God the Father & God the Son, with Christians as adopted children in his family Galatians 4:4-7

D. Cautions: shadow does not mean that our world is an illusion or suffering is not real, but that earthly "stuff" is preparatory of something morally & permanently better

II. Repent of your worship of earthly shadows

A. Both true & distorted shadows (true=Hebrews 10:1; distorted=Rom 1:25-28; Acts 17:24-31)

B. What is shadow worship? = using something for my purposes rather than God's, not seeing God reflected in it, not using according to commands, contra Rom 11:36, = believing in, loving, or hoping in the earthly shadow (1 Sam 4:3-11 power of ark of covenant worshiped; 2 Kings 18:4 power of the bronze serpent worshiped; Acts 8:18-24 Simon offers money for power of Holy Spirit; 1 Tim 6:17-19 hope in money rather than God the source of money)

C. Tests for discerning shadow worship

III. Enjoy true earthly shadows as temporary gifts leading you to know God and the eternal heavenly realities

A. Family, marriage, sexuality, money, food

B. C.S. Lewis Weight of Glory

C. Glorify God and give him thanks Rom 1:21; 1 Tim 4:3-5

IV. Witness in the world by reforming distorted earthly shadows

A. Levels of reform (in order): individual, family, church, society

B. Family, marriage, sexuality, care for weak, money

V. Endure suffering in hope that the shadows of good things will actually come (Hebrews 10:1; 6:10-12; 11:13-16; 12:1-13; 1 Peter; 2 Corinthians)

Listen to the sermon online