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A Pastor's Sermons to Make Sure Biblical Mercy
- Leave Them Terrified By Final Judgment “PEPARE TO MEET THY GOD” – Amos 4:12
“The Great and Terrible Day of the LORD” – Joel 2:31 “KNOWING THEREFORE THE TERROR OF THE LORD” – 2 Cor. 5:11 “our God, The Great, The Mighty, and The Terrible God” – Neh. 9:32 “The Day of the LORD is Great and very Terrible; and who can abide it?” – Joel 2:11 |
Many Golden Chains: The Golden Chains Throughout History The PURPOSE & INTENT for Salvation NT Intercessions & NT Repentances Called - Elect - Chosen - Foreknown "Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen" The Marriage & The Called, Chosen, and Faithful The Epistles: A Commentary, Echo, and Practical Application of the Parables of Jesus Christ A Pastor's Sermons to Make Sure Biblical Mercy |
Final judgment should be prepared for! Its sudden arrival is just like the visitations of God’s judgment in former generations in the OT. We, in the NT, walk in a Covenant of partially fulfilled promises, like as former Covenants, and side by side, the promises are also the forewarning that the partially fulfilled prophetic woes of the OT are still to come in a consummation in the end of the world. These woes will be experienced then, and they are preached to God’s NT people just like their former, partially fulfilled, types were preached in the OT. Thus in the NT, the Christian people are called to prepare to meet their God, and not just any meeting, but to be judged by God according to how He finds them on the day of this meeting, which is the same context of relationship of OT “visitations” (God in the ways of man). But sadly, men do not prepare for this Day, because they fancy themselves possessors of the promises under the lens of God in the ways of God – but God explicitly says He will judge men according to the realm of human comprehension and understanding – God in the ways of man – ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS.
Men DO NOT get to the Judgment Seat and hear that they are denied heaven because of election without reference to anything that is on our own comprehensible plane of understanding of the righteous justice executed in God’s judgment. It is written, they are "judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works" (Rev. 19:12). Again it is said, "they were judged every man according to their works" (Rev. 19:13).
God is, dear reader, even to His dearest, a Judge according to a man's works. This attribute of FEAR is taught to the NT Christians as something to be ever-remembered about God. "And if ye call on the Father, Who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear" (1 Peter 1:17). Again it is written that God is no respecter of persons. Even elect persons who didn't make their election sure by deed and fruit (2 Peter 1:4-15). Even promise-laden persons who are under the “forevers” and “nevers” of God's own oath and word. In this aspect and spectrum of God's Judgment, God is making the point to men that their deeds must line up with their faith - and in this way, they will be declared righteous inheritors of that which they were born again for. This is as Abraham was "justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar" (Jas. 2:21). By this instance, he passed the trial of his faith (Heb. 11:17-19), and God, Who examined him as if He didn't know his heart (Gen. 22:1), then rested assured that Abraham was worthy of the Covenant of salvation (Gen. 22:12, 16-18), and likewise, Abraham became assured of his inheritance of it (Heb. 6:13-20). What is God pointing to in all of this? OBEDIENCE and WORKS are important to Him!
Men DO NOT get to the Judgment Seat and hear that they are denied heaven because of election without reference to anything that is on our own comprehensible plane of understanding of the righteous justice executed in God’s judgment. It is written, they are "judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works" (Rev. 19:12). Again it is said, "they were judged every man according to their works" (Rev. 19:13).
God is, dear reader, even to His dearest, a Judge according to a man's works. This attribute of FEAR is taught to the NT Christians as something to be ever-remembered about God. "And if ye call on the Father, Who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear" (1 Peter 1:17). Again it is written that God is no respecter of persons. Even elect persons who didn't make their election sure by deed and fruit (2 Peter 1:4-15). Even promise-laden persons who are under the “forevers” and “nevers” of God's own oath and word. In this aspect and spectrum of God's Judgment, God is making the point to men that their deeds must line up with their faith - and in this way, they will be declared righteous inheritors of that which they were born again for. This is as Abraham was "justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar" (Jas. 2:21). By this instance, he passed the trial of his faith (Heb. 11:17-19), and God, Who examined him as if He didn't know his heart (Gen. 22:1), then rested assured that Abraham was worthy of the Covenant of salvation (Gen. 22:12, 16-18), and likewise, Abraham became assured of his inheritance of it (Heb. 6:13-20). What is God pointing to in all of this? OBEDIENCE and WORKS are important to Him!
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"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:21-26)
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“The scripture was fulfilled” (Jas. 2:23). Note: there is a distinction between deeds of the law, which subvert and nullify faith (dead works; see Rom. 3:20), and those deeds of the Spirit & faith in obedience to the voice of God (living works; see Rev. 3:26), the latter perfects faith rather than destroys it, saves a man rather than damns him, establishes grace and righteousness by deed rather than standing in opposition to saving grace.
In the end, the Book of Life’s account of election will not be mentioned alone, nor other means of salvation which are apart from works; God will be focused upon the works of sinners and saints! By this standard alone God will separate them (Matt. 25:31-46, Matt. 7:24-27). This was the terror of Paul. He knew that his works were evidences of the genuineness of his faith. Therefore Paul resolved, "wherefore we labour!" "WHEREFORE WE LABOUR," Paul says, for what? "That whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him", and that is, before the Judgment Seat of Christ Who judgeth according to the labour of every man’s deeds. Consider carefully the whole passage:
In the end, the Book of Life’s account of election will not be mentioned alone, nor other means of salvation which are apart from works; God will be focused upon the works of sinners and saints! By this standard alone God will separate them (Matt. 25:31-46, Matt. 7:24-27). This was the terror of Paul. He knew that his works were evidences of the genuineness of his faith. Therefore Paul resolved, "wherefore we labour!" "WHEREFORE WE LABOUR," Paul says, for what? "That whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him", and that is, before the Judgment Seat of Christ Who judgeth according to the labour of every man’s deeds. Consider carefully the whole passage:
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We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. WHEREFORE WE LABOUR, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. 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. Knowing therefore THE TERROR OF THE LORD, we persuade men..." (2 Cor. 5:8-11)
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Do you know this terror of Judgment Day which energized Paul? Even the apostle Paul, a far more holy and beloved of a man than we! This judgment of God is biblical, historical, and richly stated - (Ps. 62:12, Isa. 3:10-11, Jer. 17:10, 32:19, Ezek. 18:30). God wants men to know that He will not be mocked, as if He would allow men and women to go to heaven by some other means than that which vindicates His righteousness in choosing them, and so, by their works, walk, deeds, and conversation, they are rewarded an entrance in heaven. God would have men know that He purposes, for His glory, that He would be worshipped according to an understandable righteousness…in other words, that we would worship God "with the understanding also”, so that in the case that we are saved or condemned, we are facing a judgment which is an evident representation of our works (1 Cor. 14:14-15). "For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to His works" (Matt. 16:27). Men of God need to be conscious of the reality that Christ DOES, right now, presently, stand in the midst of a regenerate congregation of saints to judge and respond to men's works, and as the judgment is on earth which goes before Final Judgment, so is Final Judgment. Christ Jesus wants "all the Churches" to know this for sure, forgetting it not: "And I will kill her children with death; and all the Churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works" (Rev. 2:23).
If we disbelieve this, we are mocking God. This is what the unbiblical misappropriation of Calvinistic election has done to men when they remove themselves from the consequences of their works, when they relate to God without respect to their works! This is a deception that the Lord repeatedly warns against, saying, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Gal. 6:7-8). Thus, rightly minded before the comprehensible righteousness of God, Who will judge man according to His works, men do understand their condemnation and salvation, and therefore they must set themselves in earnest to prepare themselves to be ready, though they are presently regenerated – making their calling and election sure, even though they are the elect. "And, BEHOLD, I come quickly; and my reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Rev. 22:12)
Did you hear that? What you sow, that you shall reap! God wants us to understand this, and anything else is utter mockery (Gal. 6:7-8, Hos. 10:12, 8:7). "The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward" (Proverbs 11:18). Concerning what you DO, God will love or hate you (Prov. 6:17-19). God will be famous to repay and perfectly remember all sinners’ sins, whatsoever they are (Psalm 137:7, 2 Thess. 1:6). Sinners will therefore confess, "as I have done, so God hath requited me" (Judges 1:7). "For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head" (Obadiah 15). This judgment of God according to works "is a righteous thing" (2 Thess. 1:6); therefore judgment according to works is called "The Righteous Judgment of God" (Rom. 2:5). This is altogether for the heathen and the righteous (2 Cor. 5:8-11). Those who have come speaking another thing are the "mockers" who have come "in the last time," which is now (Jude 18). Don’t let anything, not even your understanding of sovereign, elective, irresistible grace, cause you to take your mind off of your deeds, for concerning these God will judge your faith at Final Judgment. Is Calvinism your deceiver by taking your mind off of a biblical understanding of works righteousness, so leaving you unprepared for the Final Judgment?
If we disbelieve this, we are mocking God. This is what the unbiblical misappropriation of Calvinistic election has done to men when they remove themselves from the consequences of their works, when they relate to God without respect to their works! This is a deception that the Lord repeatedly warns against, saying, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Gal. 6:7-8). Thus, rightly minded before the comprehensible righteousness of God, Who will judge man according to His works, men do understand their condemnation and salvation, and therefore they must set themselves in earnest to prepare themselves to be ready, though they are presently regenerated – making their calling and election sure, even though they are the elect. "And, BEHOLD, I come quickly; and my reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Rev. 22:12)
Did you hear that? What you sow, that you shall reap! God wants us to understand this, and anything else is utter mockery (Gal. 6:7-8, Hos. 10:12, 8:7). "The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward" (Proverbs 11:18). Concerning what you DO, God will love or hate you (Prov. 6:17-19). God will be famous to repay and perfectly remember all sinners’ sins, whatsoever they are (Psalm 137:7, 2 Thess. 1:6). Sinners will therefore confess, "as I have done, so God hath requited me" (Judges 1:7). "For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head" (Obadiah 15). This judgment of God according to works "is a righteous thing" (2 Thess. 1:6); therefore judgment according to works is called "The Righteous Judgment of God" (Rom. 2:5). This is altogether for the heathen and the righteous (2 Cor. 5:8-11). Those who have come speaking another thing are the "mockers" who have come "in the last time," which is now (Jude 18). Don’t let anything, not even your understanding of sovereign, elective, irresistible grace, cause you to take your mind off of your deeds, for concerning these God will judge your faith at Final Judgment. Is Calvinism your deceiver by taking your mind off of a biblical understanding of works righteousness, so leaving you unprepared for the Final Judgment?
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"Let no man deceive you with vain words" (Eph. 5:6).
"Be not deceived" (1 Cor. 6:9-10). "Let no man deceive you" (1 John 3:7). "deceiveth his own heart" (Jas. 1:26, Matt. 12:36-37). "Be not deceived" (1 Cor. 15:33). |