Does God really judge people?

 

Copyright © 2015 HarperCollins Christian Publishing.  http://www.reverendfun.com/toon/20030826/

 

The Judgment of the Dead

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. ¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)

⁶ He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. ⁷ Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. ⁸ But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 21:6-8)

Unrepentant heart - Rejects Jesus

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. (Romans 2:5-8)

But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. (John 12:48) 

Light or Darkness

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3: 16-21)

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. (Romans 1: 18-25)

The Faithful Remnant

Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.

“On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. (Malachi 3:16-18)

See https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Book-Of-Life

Faith and Actions Working Together

James asks, 'What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?...But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.... Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did....As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." (James 2:14,18-19, 21-22, 6)  

Acknowledging Christ

Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33)

Forgiveness

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.  (Matthew 6: 14-15)

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:1-3)

Known by their fruit

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:16-20)

God's Love is Patient

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. (2 Peter 3:9-15)

See also 

https://gracevalley.org/sermon/is-your-name-written-in-the-lambs-book-of-life/ 

https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-18-why-people-reject-christ-john-319-21

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/what-about-those-who-have-never-heard/

https://www.gty.org/library/bibleqnas-library/QA0326/a-punishment-worse-than-sodom-and-gomorrah

 

The Church of the Everlasting Christ vs. the church of right now

 http://www.kingshouse.org/category/false-doctrine/

The United States and many of western nations are considered 'Christian'.  But does that label still have meaning?  The U.S. was founded on a belief in God but that foundation has been shaken.  While the Christian Church is growing in many parts of the world, a majority of Americans do not truly understand the fundamentals of Christianity.  There are many confusing viewpoints, some with a hint of truth.  These false ideas are dangerous because they lead people astray and besmirch the true Church of Christ Jesus.

Legalism - doing the right thing to save yourself

In Jesus' day, the leaders of the temple were more concerned with following laws and appearing righteous than caring for people.  Later, the Catholic church distorted Jesus' teaching, uplifting Catholic traditions over Biblical truth.  Catholics believe baptism (not faith) starts the justification process, continued through good works.  (https://www.gracechurch.org/about/distinctives/roman-catholicism)  

Other hopefuls have a vague idea of God and heaven based primarily on television.  They see God as the eternal scorekeeper.  If your pluses outweigh your minuses, you make it to heaven.  

Jesus warned many times against doing the right thing for the wrong reason.  He is the way to salvation--belief in Jesus as the son of God sent to die in our place. (John 3:16, John 14:6)

Universalism - do what feels right to you

Another trend today is universalism or spiritualism.  This purports that we should look internally to find truth, there is no set truth for everyone.  There are many paths to God/Enlightenment/Heaven.  There is no hell nor Satan.  There is no danger of eternal damnation, but instead people should look for the good in everyone.  This has superficial appeal of inclusiveness.  This viewpoint seeks to discredit Christianity as old-fashioned, stuffy, self-righteous and judgemental.  The Anti-Christ will be a universalist, seeking to unify the world for peace while hypocritically persecuting Christians for their 'intolerance.'  Eventually the Anti-Christ will require all to worship him.

In Romans 3, Paul discusses God's authority to judge us and shows how God's law reveals our sin; vs 20 'Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.' and vs 23-24 'for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.'

Note that as Christians, it is not our job to judge others and put them down, but to point to God's righteousness and loving grace. 

False Teaching 

False prophets add their own philosophies to the Word of God, claiming to have divine inspiration.  RLDS, Christian Scientist, cult leaders all slander Christian ideals.  Mormans add additional teachings, denigrate the Holy Trinity and Jesus Christ.  Jehovah's Witness distort the truth of the Bible by changing it (The New World Translation.)  Christian Science claims that false beliefs cause sin and disease--Man is not matter but part of the divine mind.  These distortions of the truth can easily confuse someone without a solid trust and knowledge of the Word of God.

Buy a ticket to heaven 

Others espouse the Bible and outwardly believe in Jesus and do the right things, yet still fall short of true salvation.

"Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"(Matt 7: 22-23)

The problem is that these type of people were just checking the boxes, seeking a 'just in case' eternal insurance policy, or trying to sneak through at the last minute.  They claim to know Jesus, but never had a change of heart.  Perhaps they never truly repented, never gave over control to Jesus.  Perhaps they sought honor, fame or wealth for themselves over God's glory.

Jesus said that judge not, lest you be judged...We will be forgiven in the same way we forgive others.  For those who proclaim His name before men, He will proclaim them before His Father in Heaven.

James asks, 'What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?...But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.... Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did....As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." (James 2:14,18-19, 21-22, 6)  

The belief in God and Jesus by the demons does not save them; they harbor unrepentant pride.  Abraham showed his faith in God through his actions.  He did not withhold his son as God commanded because he believed God's promise to protect his family.  James knew that if we do not act according to God's commands, we do not truly believe that he is in charge, loves us, and will work everything for our good!

True Church - Followers of Jesus Christ

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  (Matt 7: 13-14)

Jesus says that you will know them by their fruit-- 'Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.' (Matt 7:19)  We are to make progress for God's Kingdom.  Do not hide your talent but invest it for a heavenly harvest!

Followers of Christ believe Jesus is the son of God, that He died in our place and rose again and reigns in heaven.  Followers repent of their sins (turn away from them.)  Does that mean Christians never make a mistake?  No, but the pattern of their lives is righteousness.  This happens when they allow the Holy Spirit to change them and guide them--to break-down 'strongholds' like pride, selfishness, addiction and materialism.  

Followers seek to know God more by reading the Bible and praying.  They seek to fellowship with other believers, help those in need and share the gospel (the good news of Jesus).  They are characterized by fruits of the spirit like love, joy, forgiveness and peace.

*****

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"  (Matt 25:34-40)

 

Signs of the End Times

 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/expert-says-meteor-could-wipe-6447901

Warnings

In a previous post, 'Are you ready for the Big Day?' I referenced Jesus' parable of the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom so long they fall asleep. (Matthew 25)  The virgins represent the people waiting for the coming of the Messiah.  When the bridegroom did come, only some virgins were ready with their lamps. Many of Jesus' teachings deal with the topic-- 'The kingdom of heaven is like' or 'will be like.'

Jesus and other prophets devoted many teachings to the coming of God's Kingdom and the final judgement.  Over and over they warn that we must make sure we are ready.  Note some serious warnings in Matthew 24:36-51, starting with 'No one knows the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the father.'  Jesus says that it will be like Noah and the flood, when people had no idea anything was happening until they were swept away.  Verse 42 warns 'Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.'  

Then he warns of a servant whose master is away.  The servant should always do right so that whenever the master comes back, he will be discovered doing good.  But if he is wicked he thinks he can do as he likes because the master is away.  Then the master will unexpectedly return and 'will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

These are just some of the warnings that we are to stay obedient and in relationship with God (faithfully praying, reading the Bible, doing good works, and telling the gospel.)  They certainly make me take notice!

 

Signs  

See Matthew 24 and Luke 21

Picture this, the disciples are admiring the temple, 'Oh how beautiful, and strong!  Surely it will last forever!' when Jesus ruins the moment saying that it will be completely destroyed.  Of course they want to know when it will happen and what to watch for.  Jesus obliges by explaining what will come:

1) Fall of Jerusalem (occurred in A.D. 70)

2) False prophets and messiahs perform great signs and miracles to deceive many

3) Wars

4) Natural Disasters - 'beginning of birth pains.'

5) Persecution, imprisonment, martyrdom of Christians

6) Betrayal, falling away from the faith, hatred and wickedness

7) Gospel preached to all nations

8) Aberrations with the sun, moon and stars

So is the end 'near?'  Are we living in the end times?  All of these signs have occurred repeatedly except the last two.  Bryant Wright answers:

"Absolutely...yet current events are not the main reason.  What may surprise you is how long we have been in the end times.  When Peter stood to preach on the very first day of Pentecost, he explained what was happening through the lens of Scripture.  He quotes the prophet Joel (Joel 2:29) when he writes 'And it shall be in the last days,' God says, 'That I will pour forth of my spirit on all mankind' (Acts 2:17).  God's Word is clear.  We are living in the last days.  The end times are here!" (The Stage is Set, Wright, Bryant 2017)

https://www.christianbook.com/stage-israel-times-christs-ultimate-victory/bryant-wright/9780801019517/pd/019510

The author means that because the world received the Holy Spirit, that means that the end times have begun.  So then why has it been over two millennia and we have not seen Jesus return?  Remember that God experiences time differently than us (2 Peter 3:8), each person faces individual judgement when they die, and Israel would fall in a few decades.  Therefore, it makes sense that Jesus would want everyone to be ready.

Pastor Wright's book is an insightful study of the end times.  He is able to explore this topic without being discouraging, advocating faith in Jesus throughout the hardships Jesus foresaw.

 ******

Immediately after the distress of those days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky. and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn.  They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and glory.  And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.  Matthew 24: 29-31

The Great Commission

 http://www.firebreathingchristian.com/archives/3687

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:16-20)

Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit, saying, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Peter boldly explained to the crowd who Jesus was, the foretold Messiah....

"Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:38-47)

 ******

Peter sets a great example of witnessing.  Jesus had proclaimed that he would be the stone on which his church was built!  It is amazing to see his boldness now!  Remember that on the night of Jesus trial, he had thrice denied knowing Christ for fear of being accused with Jesus.  After Jesus was dead, Peter and the others were hiding in a locked room.  Only the women were brave enough to go out to the tomb on Sunday to prepare the body!  Where were the men to help with the heavy stone?  But when he heard their story of the empty tomb, Peter rushes out to see for himself.  Then later after fishing they see Jesus on the beach.  Peter is so excited he jumps in the water to swim for Jesus!  

Peter demonstrates the transformation that can happen in a heart that Jesus claims.  He was just a simple, uneducated fisherman.  But in the end, he was not afraid to stand up in the temple courts and declare Jesus the Messiah.  He did not fear what others would say or do to him, and he was put in prison.  His concern was for God's Kingdom, leading the first Christian Church.

******

Dear Father in Heaven, you are so good!  Please give us a double portion of your spirit.  Help us to be bold like Peter!  Open our eyes to the multitude of angels surrounding the enemy.  Give us perspective to see the vast eternity spread out before us, worshiping in the beauty of your light and love!  

Therefore let us courageously stand up for Christ.  Yes!  I am a believer!  It does matter what we do!  There is such a thing as right and wrong, and the truth is in God.  We acknowledge that all things were made by you and controlled by you.  Let us be witnesses to the awesome forgiveness and love that changes our lives.  Thank you God for your strength in us!  Amen.