I want to start with a question: How many of you believe that justice is a good thing?
How many of you believe that all injustice, violence and abuse deserve punishment?
Do you know what is the foundation of God’s throne?
Justice is the Foundation of God’s Throne – Psalm 89:14. God is love but He is also just.
Today’s Word is: Justice and Judgment
In our last message I said that the Return of Christ is the most frequently mentioned prophecy in the scriptures. Do you know what is the second most frequently mentioned prophecy in the Bible?
The second most mentioned prophecy is the one about the Judgment Day.
When we think that others need judgment, it doesn’t bother us, but nobody likes to think that our own lives and conduct will be judged also. One day we will all stand before the Court of Christ to give an account of how we have lived on earth.
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this judgment,” Hebrews 9:27
Each of us has two appointments , none of which we can put on our agenda, because we do not know the date for either.
One is the day of our death and the other is the day of our judgment and they will not be the same day.
Therefore, each of us has these two pre-scheduled appointments and a wise person will think and prepare for both.
If you focus on only the first, the day of your death, then you will say: let’s eat, drink and enjoy life because tomorrow we may die.
But if you remember that after death comes the second appointment, it will change the way you live.
“Because God has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. ”” Acts 17:31
Why is judgment necessary?
Because of the “injustice of life”.
Life is not fair at all! Some suffer a lot, others suffer very little!
People do wrong things and get on with no consequences.
David also had this thought – Psalm 73: 3-14
David said: Why do the wicked prosper? Why do people who choose crooked paths lead a good life? Why do bad people die in a happy old age in peace?
David said: I tried to live a pure and right life and suffered because of it. Life is totally unjust.
In this world innocent people are suffering! Look at this world and the amount of injustice there is. Corrupt politicians are ruling so many nations.
THE INJUSTICES OF LIFE DEMANDS THAT ONE DAY JUSTICE IS DONE
There is another reason why there must be a day of Judgment Not only because of the injustices of life, but THE JUSTICE OF GOD DEMANDS IT !
God has written down all the injustice of the wicked – If God never punishes the wicked – he will never be a good God!
That is why there must be a Judgment Day! Because He is a good God!
If God turns a blind eye to all the evil and sin done in the world, we cannot call Him a good God.
God is a good Father, He is King but also upright Judge! His justice demands that day of judgment!
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ” Galatians 6: 7
One day there will be judgement, because everything we sow will reap.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” II Corinthians 5:10
The Bible is very clear that one day there will be an evaluation on how we live and the works we do through our bodies.
Today we’re going to hear about the Judgment Day.
How will it be? Who will be the judge? How to be prepared for it?
In the Bible we find two types of judgments that will be in 2 different locations.
One is called “The Judgment Seat of Christ” which is in 1 Corinthians 3: 9-15. This will be the judgment of all born-again believers who have served the Lord on this earth.
The other Judgment is called “The Great White Throne” (Revelation 20: 11-12), where all who have not been born again and who have not accepted the work of the Cross of Christ will be judged.
Let’s read about the Judgment Seat of Christ
“For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved — even though only as one escaping through the flames. ” 1 Corinthians 3: 9-15
Apostle Paul is saying that after the rapture all believers will be before Jesus at the judgment seat of Christ.
The Greek word used here for “Tribunal” is Bema, which is the word used for the marathon court. In this court, all runners from ancient Greece went up there to receive their crowns and their prizes for having won the marathon.
This court will not decide who will be saved or sentenced. All who show up to this Court will be saved!
We will be there simply to receive our rewards.
How do we know that everyone who is there will be saved?
Because all of those who are there, built their lives on the foundation that is Christ. They all repented of their sins, confessed Jesus as Lord, and built their lives on Christ.
Apostle Paul says that many of these Christians used different materials to build their lives.
“If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ”
1 Corinthians 3:12-13
Everything you are doing in your Christian life will be tested by fire. All your work, your motivations, the reason why you are doing things.
“If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.” 1 Corinthians 3:14
If you built using gold, silver and precious stones, fire will not destroy it, because you were sincere, you had good motivations, you invested your time in the Kingdom of God, you invested your finances and all this fire cannot not burn down, it only purifies!
If you built on the foundation with wood, hay and straw, what do you think will happen when the fire proves your works?
It everything burns down and there will be nothing left.
The apostle Paul says that for some who will appear before Jesus, their work will be completely destroyed. There will be nothing left, only the foundation that is Jesus, and the foundation that is Jesus will be enough to save this person.
“If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet it will be saved — even though only as one escaping through the flames.” 1 Corinthians 3:15
In this text it says that our works will be proved! But the Bible says that we are saved not by works, but by faith!
We are saved by faith and not by works! Ephesians 2: 8-9
Salvation is free but everything else that comes after our salvation will be settling of accounts.
You are not saved by doing good works, but you will be rewarded for all your works before God.
Many on the day of Christ’s judgment will weep with regret for not investing their lives in the Kingdom of God.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ” Colossians 3: 23-24
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6: 9
““ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! ’” Matthew 25:21
The Bible says that God will call some christians : good and faithful servants and others He will call bad and lazy servants.
How do you want to be called by God?
Every investment you have made in the Kingdom of God, will be rewarded.
You who have invested in people, visiting people, preaching the gospel, making disciples, investing your finances, being faithful in your tithe and offerings, God will reward you.
Everything we do, all we say and think will be put to the test before Jesus, because He sees everything and knows everything.
There is another Judgment in the Bible, which is the “Great White Throne”
“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. 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.
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. ”
Revelation 20:11,12, 15
This is the final judgment after the Great Tribulation. However, remember that the dead in Christ rose first (1 Thessalonians 4: 16,17), the living who were prepared were raptured and are already with the Lord.
In this judgment will be everyone who did not participate in the first resurrection, those who were not raptured and all of these will be judged according to their works.
“Those whose names were not found in the book of life were thrown into the lake of fire. ” Revelation 20:15
Justice is the basis of God’s throne and if God does not punish the wicked, He will never be a just God! That is why there must be the Day of Judgment.
God will do justice and judge the wicked who walked in disobedience to his law and his word.
The only chance for you to escape this judgment is if your name is written in the book of life!
Many christians began serving Jesus in the past, were in love with Jesus, but today you no longer love Him as once before.
The Bible says that the Christian life is like a race, a marathon and only those who reach the end of the race will receive the prize
Jesus said, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
Matthew 24:13
You need to be faithful to God until the very last minute of your life!
Jesus said: “ Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. ” Revelation 3:11
Jesus said, if you don’t keep watch, you could lose your crown!
Say it with me: I will keep my crown and no one will take it away from me.
The good news I have for you is:
Jesus was condemned in your place, Jesus paid the price of your condemnation, Jesus died and went to hell because of you, to pay your debt and to free you from eternal condemnation.
Your only chance of not being condemned at this trial is living for Christ while alive.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” Romans 6:23
My sin and your sin can lead to death, it can lead to eternal death and eternal condemnation but God has eternal life for you
What will happen to true Christians on Judgment Day?
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8: 1
Jesus will be the judge on the day of Judgment, it will not be God (Father) it will be Jesus and Jesus will say: Father there is no condemnation for this one! For he served me and was faithful to me!
“Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.” II John 1: 8
It is not enough to start well, you have to finish well! Many have turned away from God, many are in their homes and do not want to be involved in the work of God. Be careful ! Don’t let coldness take over your heart. Because that day is approaching!
The Rapture is very close, I believe that I will be alive and I will see this happen. If I die, there is no problem because I will participate in the same way and I will be raptured.
This encounter is not far off for you, whether in the Rapture or in death, we will be in His presence! Amen?
Live for this day! Live for Him!
Everything you achieve in this earth : goods, cars, houses, money, will have no value in eternity, live for your eternal and complete reward!
Live for His glory until the time when the trumpet will sound and you are called to be in his presence.
Today is the day for you to fix yourself before God. Maybe you are away from God, living a life of sin, maybe you are not even prepared to die or face the Final Judgment.
God loves you, He has good plans for your life and He is calling you to live for him and with him!
Do you accept this invitation?
May the Lord bless and keep you.