The Christian hope is resurrection. Until that day we are preserved in Christ by the love of God. This hope and love motivates us towards a work of preservation for those who belong to God. 

Observations & Conclusions:

1. God will bring judgment on the ungodly
   Identifying Characteristics:
   1. Ambition: grumblers & faultfinders
   2. Motivation: evil desires
   3. Aim: led to advance self
2. The ungodly have made their way into the church
   Identifying Characteristics:
   1. Ambition: divide
   2. Motivation: natural instincts
   3. Aim: led not the Holy Spirit
3. The Christian epitaph is: “preserved in the love of God”
   1. Build – the mutual growth, health, and establishment of God’s people
   2. Pray – the mutual single-mindedness of a people who follow the Spirit
   3. Wait – the mutual anticipation of the promise of eternal life
4. You are called to the preservation of others
5. God is the one who preserves

Application: 

1. Submit in cooperation with God’s ability
2. Obey God’s commands for the testimony of a life lived in God’s love
3. Give others the opportunity to speak at your funeral as recipients of God’s mercy

Romans 2:5-11

“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.”

2 Corinthians 5:8-10

“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”