Lately, I've been thinking about how there is sin in heaven. (We know this because heaven is where Satan rebelled from.) This challenges the sacred cow I was raised with as 'heaven' is to be desired for it's lack of problems, e.g., I went to Vacation Destination X and it was heaven.
Technically speaking...sin (as with Satan) do not exist in heaven--that is in the presence of God, but are the fallen--thus actually outside of heaven. Meaning, they/we the fallen were even "
in Christ" before the foundation of the world for which He came to die for, we fell, and were in need of rescue by the grace of God. As such, we are first "
the dead in Christ" with all who were born into the world and died before salvation came; and yet we who were and are born after salvation came, are "
the living in Christ", those "
apart of the first resurrection" having "
passed from death to life" and thus are called "
we who are alive and remain" in the world until the times are fulfilled.
Profound. What verse says that?
As truth is revealed "
here a little, there a little", pieces are to be found in a variety of places in the scriptures, but this is pretty good:
Hebrews 10:1-10
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’ ”
8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.