Text: Heb. 9:27
By: Bro. Sunny Ogumor
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Judgment is the decision reached on a disputed matter.
In Nigeria today EFCC is the government body bringing people perceived to be corrupt to judgment. They want any perceived corrupt person to give account of his stewardship especially pertaining to Finance. Tell us how you spent Government monies under your care. Was it spent wisely or recklessly? They take the person to court to prove that he or she spent the money wisely to better the life of the people, but if proven otherwise the person faces penalty either a fine or go to jail to surfer for misappropriation of fund under his care. Here the disputed matter is misappropriation of fund under somebody’s care.
In Christianity the disputed matter is the misappropriation of your life. How did you spent the life given to you by God? The way we lived our lives here on earth is very important to God for our salvation. He want us to give account of it when the time come.
We come together every time as a church to hear from the scriptures how God want us to live our lives here on earth, to learn the do and don’ts of God’s word. If the, do and don’ts you have learned since you became a Christian are to be scored over 100, what percentage do you give to yourself? We hear the word but we soon forget or neglect it, this is a big problem. Think of it.
Remember where there is no law there is no transgression.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Meaning we should work while it is day and not forget, for the night cometh when no man can work. After death it is the judgment.
The sentence that will be passed on our actions at the last day (Mt. 25:1-46)….v31-46 This is a description of the last judgment. There is a judgment to come, in which every man shall be sentenced to a state of everlasting happiness, or misery. Christ shall come, not only in the glory of his Father, but in his own glory, as Mediator (somebody helping to end a dispute: somebody who works with both sides in a dispute in an attempt to help them reach an agreement).The good and the bad of today live together in the same house, town, cities, churches, families, and are not always known to each other who is good and who is bad. Such is the weakness of man, but God knows. We will live together until death do us part. The man you like so much as a saint may not be the one God like because of what God Knows about him, so in that day they will be separate forever. Matthew 24:40-41 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Jesus Christ is the great Shepherd. He is our Lord and savior, he will surely distinguish between those that are his, and those that are not. The great union after that is a distinctions between saints and sinners, holy and unholy and will remain forever. The happiness the saints will enjoy is very great but the sinners will be grinding their teeth in the lake of fire. Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Everlasting happiness for the saints, and the saints for everlasting happiness. As is our character today we all like party, dress to match and step out to enjoy and make merry with others. If you want your happiness to continue even when you are out of this body then work for it now.
Time of reckoning: Romans 14:12 So, then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
The business of our lives is not to please ourselves, but to please God. That is true Christianity, which makes Christ all in all. Though Christians are of different strength and capacities, according to the gift, yet we all belong to the Lord, we all are looking and serving, and approving ourselves to Christ. He is Lord of those that are living, to rule them and of those that are dead, to revive them, and raise them up. We should not judge or disregard one another but judge yourself to be right or wrong because we all must give account of ourselves on that day. Let every man search his own heart and life now. It is too late to cry when the head is cut off.
2 Corinthians 5:10 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.
Let us consider the judgment to come and call it the terror of the Lord. Not knowing what terrible vengeance the Lord would execute upon the workers of iniquity. Let our zeal and diligence be for the glory of God and the good of the church. Christ love us that is why we are here today. We were all lost, dead and ruined, slaves to sin, having no power to deliver ourselves, and we should have remained in that miserable state for ever if Christ had not died for us. So a Christian’s life should be devoted to Christ.
If Christianity worth anything, it is worth everything. We cannot merit heaven if we don’t work for it, after that then we are prepared for the promised joy. God will trouble those that trouble his people. The thoughts of this should be terrifying to wicked people, and support righteousness. The Lord Jesus will in that day appear from heaven. He will come in the glory and power of Heaven. This appearance will be terrible to those that do not know God, especially to those who did not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the great crime for those who will not believe the gospel and for those who pretend to believe it, and will not obey it. Though sinners may be long spared, they will be punished at last.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
The judge is Jesus Christ, as mediator. All judgment is committed to him ( Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Some people at Athens believed that after their idols there is another powerful God of whom they have no knowledge so they called Him ‘’THE UNKNOWN GOD”. (They don’t see him). It sounds similar today as there are some who profess Christianity, who are zealous in their devotions like Saul before conversion, yet the great object of their worship is to them like an unknown God. They use all sorts of means in their worship. Christ is coming he will tell them I know you not. Because they refused to change they will surfer for nothing.
The persons to be judged are, (1) the whole race of Adam without a single exception, the dead and the living: 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (2) The fallen angels (2Pe 2:4; 2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
The rule of judgment is the standard of God’s law as revealed to men, the heathen by the law as written on their hearts (Lu 12:47-48; Ro 2:12-16); the Jew who “sinned in the law shall be judged by the law” (Ro 2:12); the Christian enjoying the light of revelation, by the will of God as made known to him (Mt 11:20-24; Joh 3:19). Then the secrets of all hearts will be brought to light (1Co 4:5; Lu 8:17; 12:2-3) to vindicate the justice of the sentence pronounced.
The time of the judgment will be after the resurrection: Re 20:11-1 5, 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (Heb 9:27; And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Ac 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead).
Conclusion:
As the Scriptures present the final judgment it is certain. Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
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