Judgment Day, is it real? Do I have anything to fear? Is there anything that I can do to prepare for this day?
[powerpress]
Preparing for the Judgment Seat of Christ
2 Corinthians 5:9-11; Matthew 24:36
Second coming likened to Days of Noah – Noah’s Ark — People were going about their own business while Noah is preparing for judgment.
People are getting married, planning events, pursuing their own goals – Just like society now.
All of a sudden judgment hits/Only people inside of the Ark are saved
Ark a type of Christ
– Definition of Salvation – Rescued or saved from danger
-Sticking with the Noah Comparison, want to highlight again that Noah was preparing for the Day of Judgment, he knew the wrath that was coming.
This brings us to our text in 2 Corinthians 5:11 because Noah understood the wrath to comes.
2 Corinthians 5:11: Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men.
KJV Said knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.
What is his message to persuade man? Verse 20 of this Chapter-
Be reconciled to Good through Christ
– This is the message that Paul proclaimed from synagogue to synagogue, in the public square, from house to house – Be reconciled to God.
Acts 17:31: ”…..He has fixed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness through a man (Christ)
– Paul being well aware of the judgment seat and so were the Corinthians, that is how they met.
Describe Acts 18:12 – he was dragged to the judgment seat on many occasions, of Christ, said that he makes it his aim to be pleasing to God.
– Let’s be clear, Paul is not advocating a work based righteousness.
Romans 3:20: “by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in His sight”
Ephesians 2:8 also tells us: “By grace are you saved through faith and not of yourself, it is the gift of God”
But we must also beware to not receive the grace of God in Vain – 2 Corinthians 6:1
In 1 Peter 2:9 – the scripture said that we are: a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people that we may proclaim or publish the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light
Excellencies = Greek Arete (Ar-et-ay)
We proclaim his excellencies by:
- Sharing the Gospel
- Our righteousness lifestyle
- In our occupation, abilities.
We will be judge by these things…..OBEDIENCE MATTERS, FAITFULNESS MATTERS.
Our Works will be examined-1 Corinthians 3:8-15
1. The judgement seat of Christ in light of our relationships
– My wife and I are reading a book by Francis and Lisa Chan – You, Me, and Forever.
Wife and Husband prepare each other for the Judgment seat and Eternity.
My wife will have to stand before the judgment seat of Christ; men your wife, ladies, your husband, children…….and you cannot stand in their place.
So the best thing that we can do is prepare them for that day? Husbands have you ever thought about this? Mother’s you ever thought about preparing your children for the judgment seat?
Noah prepared his family……..and they were all saved and I am sure that he had hecklers, people that did not get why he was building a Ark. The world is not going to understand us but that is okay.
– How do we prepare them?
- We tell them about Jesus.
- We instruct them in the way of righteousness
- We encourage them to obedience and faithfulness to the Lord.
Why do we do this? Because we love them and we want them to receive reward, we want them to hear, “well done thou good and faithful servant”
2. The judgment seat of Christ in light of Discipleship
I am going to read you a couple of verse from Paul’s letters to the church in Thessalonica, Philippi, and Corinth.
2 Corinthians 1:14: “…on the Day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you”
Philippians 2:15-16: ….shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20: For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.
Before the Lord, Paul’s boast would be in the people that he discipled, his spiritual children. For example Timothy was considered Paul’s son in the faith.
RC Sproul: “ Christ coming is presented as the time when the outcome of our works of faith is disclosed, Paul’s joy and crown at that day will be his beloved spiritual children, those converted under his ministry”
When we come into the church, we receive spiritual fathers – Pastor, elders
Guess what, they watch over your soul, said the writer of Hebrews 13:17
In my Baptist church they have a motherboard.
And as we go out to make disciples we receive spiritual children.
I like how Paul likens his discipleship relationship in Galatians 4:19 “My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you.
______________________________
© The Bridge
Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by The Bridge.
Follow Us!