2 Corinthians 5 verses 1 – 10
What is happening to the church throughout the tribulation period lasting a total of 7 years? The church has been lifted out. What terrible activities will take place during this time of 7 years? The church is in the presence of the Saviour – giving an account. That is what Paul is saying in verse 10 – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad.” There are 3 judgments mentioned but not a general judgment as there is no such a thing as a general judgment.
3 judgments – first of all Matthew 25 verse 31. At this particular point we are looking at the rapture has already taken place and the church is in the presence of Christ. The 7 years of tribulation on earth have finished. The Lord is now back again standing on the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives is divided in 2 as found in Zechariah. Jesus will now set up the 1000 year reign. Before that 1000 years he will have the judgment of the nations. Verse 31 shows that in to this kingdom he is taking those who are saved. That is one of the judgments.
In Revelation 20 verse 7 we now see the Lord is talking about the judgment after the 1000 years when Satan will be set free. During the 1000 years reign he will be bound. It will be a time of peace, no fighting on earth. After that 1000 year period Satan will be released from prison. We see in verse 11 after the 1000 years he sets up another judgment. That is for those who have died in sin. They are now called before God of heaven, not for second opportunity but judgment upon them.
In 2 Corinthians 5 we see a third judgment called the Bema Judgment. Same judgment found in Romans 14. We have looked at the rapture now we come to the review of the church. Romans 14 verse 12 everyone of us shall give an account of ourselves. Purpose is to review our service and labour from the day saved unto this particular day. The sin of the believer has been dealt with at the cross of Calvary. “It is appointed unto man once to die but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9 verse 27) That judgment was taken care of at Calvary. He died on Calvary to reconcile us back to God again. From the moment you are saved you are saved from sins but now you have to give an account of life you lived for him until now. 1 Corinthians 3 our work and service can be divided into 6 categories. Verse 10 Paul laid the foundation in the city of Corinth when He preached the gospel of Christ. He laid the foundation of the building – whose responsibility was it to build upon it – gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and stubble? Whenever you stand before God at the judgment your work will be tested. What happens when set before fire – it burns up and there is nothing left. This is only going to be our works or deeds reviewed here, in other words how we build our lives – on the Lord Jesus. From the moment we trust him, from that point have we built on it? We have got to give an account. What am I really building into his work is what we need to ask, will it stand the test of eternity? The man of the parables who had given his servants talents he wanted to see it built upon. There were those who worked well, 5 talents were doubled to 10 talents. One person, well he still loved his master, but he said “I was so afraid I would fail that I went and dug a hole and buried the talent you gave me. Here it is I have kept good care of it until now.” The master looked at it and said “such a slothful servant, what a wicked servant I gave you that talent and you could have gave it to the bankers and have at least doubled it.” You have nothing. When the Lord says to you and I “what about the gift I gave you, did you use it to the best of your ability?” Will you say “I didn’t like to do very much because I felt I couldn’t do it, I thought others would be critical of me.” You will give an account before God. Every work of the child of God’s shall be made manifest, even that which is hidden will be made manifest on that day. “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink inn my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you he shall not lose his reward.”(Mark 9 verse 41) Even a cup of cold water in that day will not be forgotten about. Review of the work. Paul said in Thessalonians “What a day of rejoicing that will be when I see you standing around the throne of God and I know I have had a part of you being there.” Our gifts, talents will be reviewed. Have we identified the gifts God has given us to use? We must use them in different ways and means. All will be reviewed. The great evangelist D L Moody and Spurgeon will stand at this judgment. Those men preached to thousands and tens of thousands will be there but others who have had the opportunity to speak just a word in the ear will also be there to give an account of whatever gift has been given to you and used for him. The service you have done for the Lord is what we are talking about.
Not only a review but a reward. We are going to be rewarded on that day when the Lord takes a look at the work done. There will be a reward for it. In 2 Timothy we read of Onesiphorus. Pau said there were those who had deserted him and he talks about them first. They had turned away from the Lord. Paul is commending Onesiphorus for his worth. 2 Timothy 1 verse 16 “Onesiphorus oft refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.” This means he encouraged Paul. It is great to be an encourager. To be able to say to some soul “come on keep going”. That is what this man did for Paul. Paul says “the Lord grant unto him that he might find mercy of the Lord in that day and in “how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus. There are those who have taken from this passage the idea of praying for the dead. They assume Onesiphorus is dead and therefore this gives the doctrine of praying for the dead. Paul was not saying that. He was commending this man for his service. Maybe Onesiphorushe will be there just before us on that day of reward. Matthew 10 verse 41 “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.”. In other words get behind people who are trying to reach people for Christ. Even the smallest snippet of service will be recounted. We have something to give today and it is not going unnoticed. It is wonderful that the Lord can keep such great accounts. There is a crown of life and a crown of righteousness. These are the rewards available on the judgment day. There is also n incorruptible crown, the shepherds crown and the soul winners crown. Why not begin today to make sure on the Bema Judgment Day there will be great reward for you and I. The Lord has promised and he will do it. Let us strive for that crown on that particular day.
3 judgments – first of all Matthew 25 verse 31. At this particular point we are looking at the rapture has already taken place and the church is in the presence of Christ. The 7 years of tribulation on earth have finished. The Lord is now back again standing on the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives is divided in 2 as found in Zechariah. Jesus will now set up the 1000 year reign. Before that 1000 years he will have the judgment of the nations. Verse 31 shows that in to this kingdom he is taking those who are saved. That is one of the judgments.
In Revelation 20 verse 7 we now see the Lord is talking about the judgment after the 1000 years when Satan will be set free. During the 1000 years reign he will be bound. It will be a time of peace, no fighting on earth. After that 1000 year period Satan will be released from prison. We see in verse 11 after the 1000 years he sets up another judgment. That is for those who have died in sin. They are now called before God of heaven, not for second opportunity but judgment upon them.
In 2 Corinthians 5 we see a third judgment called the Bema Judgment. Same judgment found in Romans 14. We have looked at the rapture now we come to the review of the church. Romans 14 verse 12 everyone of us shall give an account of ourselves. Purpose is to review our service and labour from the day saved unto this particular day. The sin of the believer has been dealt with at the cross of Calvary. “It is appointed unto man once to die but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9 verse 27) That judgment was taken care of at Calvary. He died on Calvary to reconcile us back to God again. From the moment you are saved you are saved from sins but now you have to give an account of life you lived for him until now. 1 Corinthians 3 our work and service can be divided into 6 categories. Verse 10 Paul laid the foundation in the city of Corinth when He preached the gospel of Christ. He laid the foundation of the building – whose responsibility was it to build upon it – gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and stubble? Whenever you stand before God at the judgment your work will be tested. What happens when set before fire – it burns up and there is nothing left. This is only going to be our works or deeds reviewed here, in other words how we build our lives – on the Lord Jesus. From the moment we trust him, from that point have we built on it? We have got to give an account. What am I really building into his work is what we need to ask, will it stand the test of eternity? The man of the parables who had given his servants talents he wanted to see it built upon. There were those who worked well, 5 talents were doubled to 10 talents. One person, well he still loved his master, but he said “I was so afraid I would fail that I went and dug a hole and buried the talent you gave me. Here it is I have kept good care of it until now.” The master looked at it and said “such a slothful servant, what a wicked servant I gave you that talent and you could have gave it to the bankers and have at least doubled it.” You have nothing. When the Lord says to you and I “what about the gift I gave you, did you use it to the best of your ability?” Will you say “I didn’t like to do very much because I felt I couldn’t do it, I thought others would be critical of me.” You will give an account before God. Every work of the child of God’s shall be made manifest, even that which is hidden will be made manifest on that day. “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink inn my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you he shall not lose his reward.”(Mark 9 verse 41) Even a cup of cold water in that day will not be forgotten about. Review of the work. Paul said in Thessalonians “What a day of rejoicing that will be when I see you standing around the throne of God and I know I have had a part of you being there.” Our gifts, talents will be reviewed. Have we identified the gifts God has given us to use? We must use them in different ways and means. All will be reviewed. The great evangelist D L Moody and Spurgeon will stand at this judgment. Those men preached to thousands and tens of thousands will be there but others who have had the opportunity to speak just a word in the ear will also be there to give an account of whatever gift has been given to you and used for him. The service you have done for the Lord is what we are talking about.
Not only a review but a reward. We are going to be rewarded on that day when the Lord takes a look at the work done. There will be a reward for it. In 2 Timothy we read of Onesiphorus. Pau said there were those who had deserted him and he talks about them first. They had turned away from the Lord. Paul is commending Onesiphorus for his worth. 2 Timothy 1 verse 16 “Onesiphorus oft refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.” This means he encouraged Paul. It is great to be an encourager. To be able to say to some soul “come on keep going”. That is what this man did for Paul. Paul says “the Lord grant unto him that he might find mercy of the Lord in that day and in “how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus. There are those who have taken from this passage the idea of praying for the dead. They assume Onesiphorus is dead and therefore this gives the doctrine of praying for the dead. Paul was not saying that. He was commending this man for his service. Maybe Onesiphorushe will be there just before us on that day of reward. Matthew 10 verse 41 “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.”. In other words get behind people who are trying to reach people for Christ. Even the smallest snippet of service will be recounted. We have something to give today and it is not going unnoticed. It is wonderful that the Lord can keep such great accounts. There is a crown of life and a crown of righteousness. These are the rewards available on the judgment day. There is also n incorruptible crown, the shepherds crown and the soul winners crown. Why not begin today to make sure on the Bema Judgment Day there will be great reward for you and I. The Lord has promised and he will do it. Let us strive for that crown on that particular day.
No comments:
Post a Comment