God has appointed a day in which the world will be judged
No matter what you believe when it comes to a Bible Based religion, of this one thing we can all be sure: there is a day coming when God will judge all the world in righteousness and according to what we have or have not done.
Acts 17:31
31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
So of this we can be sure a day is coming when all will be judged but we also know that judgement must first begin at the house of God ie. With the True Believers of God
1Peter 4:17
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Judgement will be the first thing that happens after the rising of the dead at Christ’s return
When will Christ return you say? Well the Bible says we are do not know the hour or day BUT that does not mean we don’t know the year or month he may return and we have several significant prophecies all culminating this year 2024 around the first month of the Jewish calendar year Nissan (this is the first month of the year in the Jewish Calendar with Tishrei being the 7th month and Adar being the 12 month)
There is a lot to know about these significant prophecies.
But what we know from the Bible is that the day of Christ’s return will be expected by the believers we will not be caught unaware of this joyous event.
The Day of our Lord Comes 1 Thessalonians 5
1Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
Judgement will change our lives hopefully for good ie. Immortality and a role to play in establishing God’s Kingdom on Earth.
Whatever we think, Judgement after baptism is the next most important event in our lives
All fleshly pursuits at this time will fade rapidly into total and utter insignificance.
We may well look back in dismay at why we wasted so much of our time???
If we find time a precious commodity now, it will on reflection seem an awful lot more precious then.
How we use our time now to prepare will have a significant bearing on this most important event in our lives as True Sons and Daughters of God
Okay, so what is Judgement all about
First and fore mostly we must consider the subject of Judgement, from God’s perspective.
It is about rewarding those who truly seek HIM and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Judgement is but a small spec in the process of the purpose of Yahweh with each one of His true believers.
He is perfectly aware of all our faults. He knows each one of us, better than we know ourselves, and despite this, HE is still abundantly willing to save each one of US!
The Evidence of this is clearly seen in the great lengths to which He has gone to SAVE US!
Consider just for a moment God’s LOVE for US
God and Christ “LOVES” us with an unbreakable love.
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be fore us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
Romans 8:37-39…
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?… 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So should we “fear” Judgement?
Ephesians 1:11 – foreordained by God (appointed beforehand)
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
Philippians 1:6
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
In view of this, should we in any way look to Judgement with fear in our hearts?
There should be no fear as we look and wait for Judgement, rather there should only be JOY!
OUR DAY OF JUDGEMENT IS COMING!
1 John 4:17-18
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
“Herein is our love made perfect…” ie. This is a test, a gauge for our “love” of God and His Son
“…that we may have boldness in the day of judgment …”
WHY? “…because as he is, so are we in this world.”
- Everything that God wants we want, Everything that Christ wants and stands for we want!
“…as he is, so are we in this world.”
What Process will Judgement Take?
The Judgement of God is not like this world with a judge and jury process!
Dr John Thomas, a great Bible Student suggests that judgement could last up to 2yrs – eg. A type of Israel of old at Sinai who were encamped at Sinai for 2 years?
Some have suggested we might be judged in Family groups or Ecclesial groups etc… “sheep vs goats”
On the other hand it maybe that it will be just like Israel of Old, who went through two years of testing at SINAI – during which the weak or unworthy were removed. Israel of old met with God on the plains of Sinai.
Exodus 19:17 “And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.”
“Now all these things happened unto them by way of example and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.” (1Cor 10:11)
Will Judgement be at Sinai after the type of Israel of Old?
Well, all the prophecies that speak of Christ and the Saints coming to intervene in the Battle of Armageddon all refer to Christ and the Saints coming from Sinai.
So, what will we think of it? – especially having grown up in today’s environment with all this worlds “leeks and garlic”?
What conditions can we expect at Sinai? – NO – 5 star hotels!
DESOLATE – RUGGED – HOT – DUSTY – SANDY – CROWDED
Compare Israel – only lasted 45 days before the whole congregation was murmuring!
Israel’s complaints:
- Water ( 3 days) “the people murmured” Ex 15:22-24
- Food (45 days) “the whole congregation murmured” Ex 16:1-4
- Water (50-55 days) “the people strove” Ex 17:1-3
Within 55 days “they be almost ready to stone us” said Moses
What makes us think we are so different?
All will be required to appearing before Christ
Romans 14:10-12
“…for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
What will Christ’s Judgement Seat be like?
“seat” gr. Bema sig. a step, a raised place. Then a tribune (raised area, stand, or throne) to speak from in a public assembly.
Sinai is a raised place?
(eg. Matthew 25:31-34 gathered before Christ as sheep and goats)
Our appearing before Christ
2Cor 5:10 says that we will “all be made manifest”
Romans 14:11 – what will we “confess”
“confess” Gr. exomologeo sig. To confess or better to profess in the sense of acknowledging something openly and joyfully = RV shall “give praise” (“confess” comes from Catholicism)
What will we confess or profess openly and joyfully in this day?
Isaiah 45:18, 21-25
18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else…
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear
What shall we “profess” ?
What shall we “profess” – RV “Only in Yahweh…is there righteousness and strength!” “Yahweh alone saves us by HIS GRACE.
Romans 14:12 – “every one of us shall give account of himself”
“account” Gr. logos sig. a word uttered embodying conception or idea of what someone has said.
Now remember its not a judge and jury process.
I suggest that Paul might well just be referring to what he has said in quoting Isaiah 45.
The two books of Judgement – the role of the Elohim
- A Book of the Life – A record of our lives – sins blotted out.
- The Book of Life – The names written.
What account shall we give?
If we were to give an “account” of ourselves what can we possibly say?
SEE Job’s account of himself Job 42:6 & 8
Vs5 “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Vs8 “…for I will accept his prayer”
The lesson for us is that salvation is the free gift of Yahweh “by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the free gift of God”
The one thing we can do is to ‘repent’
But we can’t even claim our repentance was our doing!
In Rom 2:4 Paul says that it is “…the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.”
No “flesh should glory in the presence of God”
So it is that;
“God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: THAT NO FLESH SHOULD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE.“
So what account can we give – the answer is given to us by JOB
Our only “account” that we can give is like Job.
“Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes”
We are unworthy and unprofitable servants, all righteousness belongs to Yahweh alone, but he “imputeth it to us through His spirit WORD dwelling within us”.
So we ask in Paul’s words “who / what can be against us?” = Human pride eg. Job
HUMAN “INIQUITY” is such that some will think they can justify themselves and Christ has warned us of the futility in this.
Matthew 7:21-23…
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
David also warns of this in Psalm 36:11 “let not the foot of pride come against me…”
Our preparation today is vital! What does Yahweh require of US?
Micah 6:8
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Yahweh require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God”
“to do justly” Heb. Mishpat sig. judgement, justice, that which is just
“to love mercy” Heb. Chesed sig. kindness and loving-kindness
“to walk humbly with our God” – allowing His “spirit / hand of the potter” to work within us.
Christ is our Example…
Christ is our example of this – we remember him once more this morning!
GOD IS ABUNDANTLY WILLING THAT WE SHOULD BE SAVED !
CHRIST IS WILLING TO SAVE US TO THE “UTTERMOST” !
ARE WE AS WILLING TO BE SAVED ?
As we prepare for our Lord’s coming let us rejoice without fear, having confidence that
“as he is, even so are we in this world.”
Learn below all about God’s Kingdom on Earth
