Category: Eternal Judgment

The Wrath of the Lamb

 

 

 

 

 

When Jesus stood before the illegal Jewish court on the eve of his crucifixion, the Jewish leaders asked him a very important question. The testimony of corrupt witnesses had not been able to pin a crime on Jesus; so, they needed him to incriminate himself. Up to this point, our Lord had been strangely silent in the face of his accusers, like a lamb going to slaughter (Isaiah 53:7), but, when they asked Jesus if he were indeed the messianic king of Israel, he deliberately gave his accusers more than they needed to put him to death. It was a tremendously important moment in the history of the world and shows beyond doubt that Jesus deliberately chose to be crucified, just as he said he would. (John 10:17-18)

On the brink of his execution, Jesus announced that he will one day come again in glory as the divine Son of Man to execute God’s judgment on his accusers and the entire the world.

Below is Jesus’ response, as recorded by Matthew.

Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 63  But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64  Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65  Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66  What is your verdict?” “Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!” Matthew 26:62-66 (NLT)

This was not the first time Jesus said such things. Earlier he taught his disciples about the coming end of all things, saying:

And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31  And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. Matthew 24:30-31 (NLT)

This Son of Man, Jesus, certainly will come in the future as promised and as God’s representative to judge everyone who ever lived. He will thereafter rule over all creation. Jesus knew that he was and is this person, and he had enough faith that God would raise him from the dead that he sealed his execution by announcing it publicly while on trial. He gave them what they wanted because his first responsibility to his heavenly Father was to offer himself as the Lamb of God. He first died for our sins, but he will one day come again in glory for all the earth to behold in awe.

When the slain Lamb returns as the divine Son of Man, those who refused to come under his rule will encounter what the Bible calls the wrath of the Lamb.

To me this sounds contradictory, but that is only because we associate lambs with passivity and helplessness. In Jesus’ case, nothing could be further from the truth. Although he willingly laid down his life for his sheep in lamb-like fashion, this act of loving and courageous obedience to his Father should not be taken as weakness. No one took his life from him: he laid it down and subsequently powerfully rose from the dead, appeared to his disciples, ascended into heaven, and now sits at his Father’s right hand of power and authority, waiting for the time when he will return in great glory to rescue his faithful and bring terrible judgment on those who spurn his rule.

John the Apostle, in his Revelation of Christ, wrote:

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12  saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5:11-12 (ESV)

The slain Lamb is the only one worthy to execute the judgments of God against God’s enemies.

That is because he is the Son of Man, the God-Man, who lived and died as a human in perfect sync with God’s Spirit and will and who rose again to reign as the Lord of Lords. His Lordship and his role as Judge harmonize perfectly. His judgments carry all the authority of God and will carry out God’s perfect wrath against sinful and rebellious people who live in animosity against God.

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13  and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14  The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15  Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16  calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17  for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:12-17 (ESV)

When Jesus told the Jewish court that he was and is the Son of Man, little did they realize that he prophesied that one day they would stand before him in his court on the Last Day.

Those people who ruthlessly sentenced him to die a blasphemer’s death will face the wrath of the Lamb they slaughtered. How about you? Have you made peace with God’s Lamb? Today we have an amazingly gracious and merciful opportunity to acknowledge Jesus and all he did for us. We can receive the forgiveness he offers and life he gives.

Will you bow your knee to him today and receive his blessings? Don’t be among those who will face his wrath because they refused his generous offer.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for dying in my place as God’s Lamb. I receive forgiveness for my many sins and the eternal life you give. I surrender my life to you and your purposes. I acknowledge that you are Lord of Lords and declare my allegiance to you. Help me to be your bold witness and invite others to take advantage of your gracious offer of reconciliation while there is still time. Amen.

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“And the Books Were Opened…” – A Preview of the Last Judgment

 

 

 

 

 

Everything as we know it now will come to an end one day. Everything in this world upon which people pin their hopes will eventually cease to be. According to the Bible, even the earth and heavens will “wear out like a garment” and pass away. (Psalm 102:25-26, Isaiah 51:6, Hebrews 1:10-12) In their place will be something new and amazing. But until that day arrives, the only thing we can count on is that eventually, when our physical lives are complete, we will die, and, after that, what? The Bible provides some very specific answers, which will determine whether you look forward to that day with hope or dread.

What Is in the Books?

As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.10  A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. Daniel 7:9-10 (ESV)

Daniel the prophet was given this vision of the coming Day of the Lord, when God will judge all people who ever lived. This heavenly courtroom scene is both majestic and terrible. The Judge is Someone called the Ancient of Days, whose presence creates awe and dread. Is there anything here on earth can prepare us for what that day will be like?

“And the books were opened.” If you are like me, I would like to know what are those books? Is there something in them about you and me? God gave John the apostle a similar vision, when he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos for his bold testimony and faith in Jesus the Messiah. Here is his written record of that experience.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14  Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15 (ESV)

According to this and other Bible passages, the books that will be opened before the Ancient of Days contain a written record of how each of us lived here on earth during the time allotted to us.

This will include, according to Jesus, not only what we did, but also what we said. (Matthew 12:36) Our utterances are what we might consider to be verbal deeds. And according to the Bible, even our thoughts and intentions will be made known, which makes this an even more horrifying spectacle. (Hebrews 4:12, Ecclesiastes 12:14) None of us desires our worst thoughts to be made public, but that is what is going to happen. Imagine a book that contains all the thoughts, words, and deeds we ever had or did!

By what Standard Will We Be Judged?

Another question we might ask ourselves is by what standard our thoughts, words, and deeds will be measured? Will we be compared to other people from our socio-economic group who lived about the same time as we, or will we be graded against all people who ever lived? Will we only be scored against others from our own religious grouping, or against all other world religions? Will we be graded “on a curve,” which would allow most of us to pass, despite our poor showing? But what if some, as is often the case, did so well that the normal curve no longer applies? What if someone made a perfect score? And what if we did not even believe that there was such a person as the Ancient of Days? Will we get a do over?

The Bible makes it clear that God has given us his standard for judging people. It is called the Law, which revealed to people God’s holiness and what he expects of us.

The Ten Commandments are the bare essence of this standard. When we consider our lives in light of these commands, some of us might think we will come away pretty well at the Last Judgment. Most of us have never murdered anyone, right? That is, unless abortion is murder, or, as Jesus taught, being angry with someone is tantamount to committing murder. (Matthew 5:22) What if hatred or harboring a grudge and wishing ill on another is in the same category as murder? Jesus taught that God looks at the thoughts and intents of the heart, not just what we had the nerve to perform.

What about adultery? Can we say that most people have never committed adultery? Once upon a time perhaps, but probably not today. Adultery, like murder, under the Law was punishable by death. It is an extremely serious offense in God’s eyes, which are the only eyes that will matter at the Last Judgment. Jesus raised the bar even higher when he told his followers that, if we lust after another person in our hearts, we are guilty of adultery. (Matthew 5:28) Does this mean that lustful thoughts are worthy of death? I guess we will find out soon enough.

What Is this Thing Called “Sin?”

Paul wrote that “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) God created us to live in harmony and dependence upon him. We sin when we choose go our own way in disobedience to his clear commands and when we live without consideration or reference to God. It’s not just when we do “bad things” like murder. It is when we do the most evil thing of all – forsake God.

Sin began in the Garden of Eden and has been passed down genetically and spiritually to each of their descendants. As a result we have all taken up the torch and run with it, spreading sin and rebellion against God to the far corners of the earth.

Every single human being who has ever lived a self-directed life apart from God deserves death. We have all fallen short of God’s glorious standard of right living.

We may not like this standard, but it is the one by which we will be judged by the Ancient of Days on that Day.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (ESV)

Who Is the Ancient of Days?

The Bible teaches that he is none other than the One Jesus called his Father, the Creator God. Jesus is the “only begotten” Son of the Father, the eternal Logos, through whom the Father created all things. Jesus, the Logos, became a human being, lived a perfect life of union and submission to his Father, died sacrificially for our sins, and rose again as Lord of Lords. Jesus prophesied that in the future he will return as the glorious Son of Man, Ancient of Days’ representative, to carry out judgment.

…And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:63-64 (ESV)

The future Judge of all people was sentenced to death when he affirmed his true identity. That will make for an interesting scene someday when his accusers stand before him and these words are brought up as testimony against them!

Jesus, the Perfect Man, the Son of God, the Lamb who was slain to take away our sins, the Risen Lord of glory, is the only person worthy to judge the rest of us.

He lived, breathed, walked, talked, and thought as a man, but without sin. He blew the curve right out of the water. He ruined our chances for being compared to other miserable sinners at that last tribunal.

We will be judged against Christ’s perfection and obedience. We have absolutely no chance of being found righteous.

Before his ascension, Jesus told us that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him by this Father. (Matthew 28:18) He also spoke these words:

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20  For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21  For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22  For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, John 5:19-22 (NKJV)

Jesus is the standard by which every person will be judged. He is the one who scored 100% on the course of life. He ruined the curve for everyone else, but he also made a way for us to skip the test.

Is There Any Way Out?

The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23  that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25  “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26  For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27  And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28  Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29  and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. John 5:22-29 (ESV)

As you already know, or probably surmised, we do have hope. Otherwise, I would not waste my time writing this article. Jesus made a way for us to get exempted from the final exam! Jesus, the Righteous Judge, died in our place so that can be spared from having the sword of God’s judgment fall upon us. Jesus, the Perfect One, took our sin and punishment upon himself, so that we might walk free from the condemnation and fear of judgment which we so richly deserve.

Those who place their faith in this Savior King will stand before the Judgment Seat, too, but our names will be found written in another book called the Lamb’s Book of Life.

The Lamb’s Book of Life

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23  And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24  By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25  and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26  They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27  But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:22-27 (ESV)

The Lamb’s Book of Life is a most intriguing book! The names of those who have put their trust in Christ and who loyally follow him are written there. If our names are in that book, we do not have to worry about being condemned for our sins and failings.

That is really good news, since all of his fall short of God’s standard! How do we get our names enrolled there? Sign me up! What is intensely interesting is that the Bible says that our names were written there before the earth was founded.

"The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. Revelation 17:8 (NASB)

This amazing statement agrees with Paul’s teaching in his letter to the church in Ephesus.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5  he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6 (ESV)

Our God is so loving, merciful, and great that he set in motion his plan to redeem a people to himself before he even created the world! Jesus did not come as a makeshift plan or a mid-course correction. God’s amazing mind saw and planned it all beforehand. What a great God we serve!

In the course of time, you and I were born and received our chance to play our parts on the grand stage called life. During our time on planet earth, God’s Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, reviving our spiritually dead condition, drawing our hearts toward God, and opening us to want to know more about Jesus. If you have any pull at all toward God and his Son, Jesus, it is because the Holy Spirit is at work in you. Otherwise, you still would be hostile to the gospel message and would not waste your time with it. If you are still reading, you are still interested, which makes me confident that the Holy Spirit is at work in you.

Jesus said:

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38  For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39  And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:37-40 (ESV)

If we come to Christ, it means we were drawn. If the Spirit draws us, it is because the Father has already known, loved, and chosen us to be the undeserving recipients of his love. If we come, Jesus will receive us. Our part is to respond to God’s drawing by choosing to come to Christ, to open our hearts to him, and to believe in Him. The Holy Spirit guides the process from start to finish, but we must cooperate. No matter where you are in this process of being drawn, you can turn to God right now and tell him you want to keep going. God expects us to be active participants, not passive onlookers.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, I understand now that you have been drawing me to Christ. Please keep working in me. I surrender my life into your hands. Jesus, I want to know you and believe it you. I open my heart to you. Come into my life. Forgive my sins. I receive the eternal life you promise. Open my eyes, ears, and heart to know you and your truth. Amen.

Your Eternal Destiny Hangs in the Balance

The final outcome for those who trust in Christ is completely the reverse of what it will be like for those who refuse his generous offer. Those who refuse to believe and do not have their names written in the book of life will suffer what the Bible calls the second death.

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14-15 (ESV)

But those who do choose to trust and serve the Messiah King will be ushered into a glorious eternity in God’s loving presence.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4 (ESV)

Embracing Hope

Jesus is the Hope of all people. The Bible says that the hope of those who trust in him is his coming again in glory to raise the dead and judge the nations.

Again, Isaiah says, “There will be a root from Jesse. He will rise to rule the nations, and he will give the nations hope.” Romans 15:12 (GW)

Hopeless people do desperate things, but people who have hope live in the light of that hope. Those who have put their trust in Jesus will live as people of hope.

In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13  But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:12-13 (NLT) 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5  who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7  so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8  Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9  obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV)

Today you have the opportunity to make sure you are on the right side of things on the Last Day. Make the most of it! If you have never asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, what are you waiting for? If you are already a follower of Christ, rededicate yourself to his service. See you on that day!

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Basic Doctrines of Christ: Should I Be Rewarded for Serving God?

 

 

 

 

 

Over the years I have heard many say that they are not looking to be rewarded for serving God, as if that were a very noble thing to say. There is only one problem, however: it directly opposes Jesus’ teachings on the matter. Our Lord made a very big deal of how important it is for God’s people to live in a way that will gain the maximum reward from God.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)

People will sacrifice for what they treasure.

We learn from Jesus and other biblical authors that earning heavenly reward comes at a dear price. Jesus taught in the passage above that the pursuit of worldly wealth and heavenly riches can be at odds. Every day people make the choice to run after one or the other.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:24 (ESV)

If we make the choice to forego pursuing the thing that is most attractive to the great majority of people, it stands to reason that there must be something even better being offered by God.

Surely he is not asking us to deny ourselves in this life just for the fun of it.

Paul the apostle was a man who willingly gave up worldly wealth, prestige, and power to follow Christ. What motivated him?

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11  that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:8-11 (ESV)

Paul received such a clear revelation of Christ that it propelled him to a lifetime of costly service. He suffered intensely and was finally martyred, but to him it was all worth it.

Our willingness to deny ourselves in the pursuit of Christ and his kingdom indicates how much we believe that the reward being offered is worth it.

Likewise, our unwillingness to sacrifice in the here and now for what is promised in eternity means we probably do not even believe it is true. Either that or we don’t care. I am not sure which is worse.

Jesus taught his followers, and I hope that includes you, that we should choose to do things because of the attached reward.

He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13  But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14  and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:12-14 (ESV)

Jesus not only taught this principle: he lived by it. As he approached his crucifixion, he weighed the price he was about to pay with the reward that lay ahead in heaven.

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)

Everyday we should weigh the cost of serving God against the joy of our heavenly reward.

Every time we choose between immediate gratification and what God promises those who love and serve him, we please God and become spiritually richer. Otherwise, we are danger of becoming like the rich fool who lost everything. (Luke 12:21)

Only those who have faith will be able to choose well.

Paul wrote that those who choose worldly gratification are serving another god.

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18  For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20  But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21  who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:17-21 (ESV)

There is an intense battle associated with the choice to live for heavenly reward.

Over the years people have demonstrated whether or not God’s promises mean more to them than immediate gratification. It goes all the way back to Genesis. A clear example of this is found in the history of Jacob and Esau. According to the Bible, when Esau was hungry he traded his birthright for a bowl of lentil soup, and it cost him eternally.

Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17  You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears. Hebrews 12:16-17 (NLT)

But when we do choose for God, Jesus promises a sure and lasting reward.

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30  who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 (ESV)

The apostle Peter, who heard Jesus say these words, took it to heart and lived accordingly.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you... 1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)

Should we be rewarded for serving God? Yes, according to Jesus. Even though our ability to serve God comes through grace, a free gift from God, our choice to serve him is so valuable to God that he celebrates it with pouring out even more blessings upon us.

We cannot overestimate how much God appreciates people who lay down their lives in service to him.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you gave yourself away at great cost to yourself to bring many people into Father God’s family. I am one of those who have benefited from your sacrifice. Help me to value you so much that I am willing to sacrifice my own desires and advantages whenever they run at cross purposes with your will for my life. Help me to believe that your promise of eternal reward is true so that I always have the proper perspective. Help me to love you and others so much that sacrifice comes more easily. At the end of my life, let me be one of those who hears you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Amen.

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Basic Doctrines of Christ: Should I Fear Eternal Judgment?

 

 

 

 

 

Next to receiving a visit from the Grim Reaper, perhaps the most feared future event for many people is the prospect of facing God after death. Perhaps a majority of us realize that we have failed to live up to God’s standards of righteousness and wonder what he will have to say to us. Many, however, do not believe that God will judge people at all. They hold that God loves people too much to condemn anyone and will benevolently give everyone a “pass.” Such a view has God brushing aside all injustice in the name of love and admitting all to eternal bliss, even those who took pleasure in evil and hurting others. Some do not believe there is a God at all. Materialists think that death is the quite literally the end. What does the Bible have to say?

Does Justice Matter to God?

I know a man who insists that God will never judge or condemn anyone; yet, I have seen this person become very angry over a perceived injustice. Something in him hates when someone is treated unfairly. What gives? Can we have it both ways? Can we believe that a loving God does not really care about injustice, when we care greatly?

The truth is that if God is not just, he is not good.

No amount of love and forbearance can simply overlook crimes against humanity. Very imperfect humans expect more from other humans. Either God is just or he is not good and loving. Can he be both?

The Bible says that God loves justice. It is part of his nature.

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. Deuteronomy 32:4 (ESV)

God’s justice, which is part of his goodness and character, is a blessing for us and poses a huge problem. Injustice is rooted in the human condition. Despite the fact that we universally hate injustice, we are guilty perpetrators of the same.

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2  We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Romans 2:1-2 (ESV)

God is good and we are not. God is just and we are not. Therefore, we have a problem. We hate injustice, but we don’t want to have to face up to our own sins and failures. Ultimately, we will answer to God for our own participation in injustice and evil.

Jesus, the Judge

Jesus taught his disciples that he has been given authority to judge all people.

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26  For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27  And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28  Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29  and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. John 5:25-29 (ESV)

No one I know has died and come back to life and has the tee shirt; so, any purported knowledge we have about what happens after physical death has to come from another source. Jesus the Lord is the only One who died and rose again, without ever dying again. According to the Bible, he was pre-existent before coming to planet earth (John 1:1), at which time he took upon himself the human condition, in fulfillment of promises made to Abraham (Genesis 22:18) and King David (2 Samuel 7:12-13). Fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah (Isaiah 53:4-6) and John the Baptist (John 1:29), he gave up his life as a sacrifice for sins. Three days later, he rose again, having been vindicated by God. Forty days after that he ascended into heaven, where he now rules as Lord of Lords. (Acts 2:32-36) The Bible says that, at the appointed time, he will return to judge the living and the dead.

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. Acts 10:42 (ESV)

Jesus’ voluntary sacrificial death can only be understood in light of God’s justice.

Mankind in general and each of us individually owed God a debt of justice against sin that we were completely unable to pay. Bankrupt people cannot pay off creditors. Jesus, who lived in complete submission to his heavenly Father, was the only one with enough spiritual “credit” (righteousness) who could pay the debt, which he did at great cost to himself. In recognition for his incredible act of love and obedience, God the Father elevated Jesus to the highest rank in the universe – Lord of Lords. (Philippians 2:5-11)

Jesus is now the One whose right and privilege it is one day to judge all people in God the Father’s behalf, in order to finally set things right in the universe with respect to justice.

The Gospel of Justice and Judgment

Paul preached these words to onlookers while he stood in the middle of the Areopagus in Athens, Greece.

“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31  For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31 (NLT)

The announcement that Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead is integral to the gospel message.

Jesus is not the leader of some “feel good” religion, in which we all try to discover our own truth. Rather, he is a very real person, who lived, died, came alive again, and still lives in a glorious body, waiting in heaven until the appointed time for his return, when he will raise the dead and judge all people according to their works. (John 5:19-29)

The Apostle Peter said that Jesus actually instructed his followers to focus on this part of the Gospel message.

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43  To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Acts 10:42-43 (ESV)

Jesus, the only One who really knows what will take place after we die, made it abundantly clear that every person will be judged by him. Jesus has the right to judge mankind because he chose to absorb God’s judgment against humanity on our behalf. All who declare their allegiance to Christ the Lord and believe in his atoning sacrifice are made right with God.

Those who spurn this generous offer condemn themselves to endure God’s just judgment against such arrogant rebellion. They judge themselves to be “unworthy of eternal life.” (Acts 13:46)

Now What?

In today’s world, it is not popular or politically correct to announce that Jesus will come again to judge people, assigning them either to eternal blessedness or eternal damnation. This generation has largely rejected God and his truth. They demand tolerance for their sins and cannot imagine that God is so intolerant! People who reject the gospel ask what right do we have to think that Jesus is the only Way to God? Nevertheless, that is the clear teaching of Jesus in the Bible (John 14:6) and is part of the gospel message. If Jesus is who the Bible says he is, there is no other way to God, no other way to escape condemnation at the last judgment. He is the only One who took our just condemnation upon himself so we don’t have to endure hearing God consign us to hell.

Gospel means “good news,” and there cannot be any really great news unless something really bad is hanging over us.

Most of us are familiar with the photos taken at the announcement that the second World War had ended. Joyous celebrations erupted. People rejoiced exuberantly because of how bad that war had been. It is only when we understand our predicament of having to face a holy God’s justice as sinners that we appreciate the good news that Jesus already did it for us.

One of the main deceptions of Satan is to convince people that they have no need of what Jesus came to provide for us.

The siren song of Satan is “I’m okay and you’re okay. Don’t worry. Be happy. When you die, your existence is over. Don’t fret yourself about it.” Reality is that this life is our opportunity to learn to trust God. Use it or lose it. If we reject God’s offer of salvation through Christ, there will be hell to pay. After all, it’s what we sinners deserve anyway. No one goes to damnation without choosing it. To reject the gospel is to choose to face God’s wrath against sin and end up in the lake of fire for eternity. This is a no brainer.

The Bible says that, as a result of sin, people come into this world without God and without hope. (Ephesians 2:12-13) It says that we are dead in sin and enemies of God. (Romans 5:6-11) Jesus said that eternal suffering awaits those who reject his message. (John 8:23-24 and Mark 9:43) Paul declared that the future for such people will be an eternity separated from God’s presence. (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10) I don’t know about you, but that all sounds very bad indeed. Are we truly able to dismiss such dire warnings with a wave of the hand, affirming that we do not believe in God or the afterlife? Some do just that, but what we believe will not alter what is actually true.

Many at one time believed that the world was flat, but their certainty about that matter did not for one instant make it so. I would rather believe one person who circumnavigated the globe than ten thousand who merely theorized about it. I choose to believe the one Man who actually rose from the dead, rather than any number of those who have not yet died.

One day we will all know first hand whether or not the Bible is right when it speaks about the coming judgment! Then it will be too late. Now we have a chance to escape.

The Only Way to Escape the Coming Judgment

But, if we do accept that all people will eventually stand before God, what are our prospects at this last judgment? Jesus taught his followers that those who put their faith and allegiance in him will not be condemned.

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. 25  “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 26  The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. 27  And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. 28  Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, 29  and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. John 5:24-29 (NLT)

Putting our faith and allegiance in Jesus will give us a “pass” from ever being condemned for the bad things we have done! Imagine that! How can that be? It’s really very simple: he already underwent judgment on our behalf. He stood before Pilate as an innocent man, but was condemned to die. The just One died in place of those who actually deserved to die, thus winning our release from condemnation. Debts cannot be justly paid twice.

The logic is inescapable, but it requires that we lay aside any notion of our own worthiness before God, which should not be too difficult for any honest person. Once we grasp just how bad we are, we will be overjoyed to accept God’s provision of his innocent Lamb, who died to take away the sins of the world.

Prayer

God, please forgive me for arrogantly dismissing your judgment that I am a hopeless sinner. I recognize that, without your help, I am lost forever because I can never repay the debt of injustice I owe you. I ask you to forgive me on the basis of what Jesus accomplished through his death on my behalf. I receive all the blessings he won for me. I accept your eternal life and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Thank you for restoring me to a right relationship with you and making me your child. Thank you for setting me free from the things that previously enslaved me. Thank you for delivering me from ever being condemned for my sins. Now, help me to live the remainder of my life in your service. I recognize that Jesus is the Lord of Lords and Coming Judge, to whom I owe all my life and allegiance. Amen.

If you prayed the above, I encourage you to join a Bible believing local church where you can be baptized in water and continue your journey as a follower of Christ and fisher of men. If you live in the Alamance County, NC area, we invite you to connect with LifeNet. Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus.
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