6. Eternal Judgement In Hebrews 6:1-3, there is urge to move on to mature teachings and leave the elementary stage. As mentioned in : Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. We are asked to advance unto strong meat and leave the use of milk which is meant for babes (newly born again Christians) as mentioned in 1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: One of the features of the elementary stage mentioned in Hebrews 6 is Eternal Judgement. This means that the call is unto Christians to move on to maturity. The foundation of Eternal Judgement was laid in the Old Testament. Daniel 12:2 Many of those who have already died will live again: some will enjoy eternal life, and some will suffer eternal disgrace.(GNB). Eternal judgement is a judgement that determines one’s portion in terms of the eternanity (unlimited duration) which is to come after this temporary period of time 2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. Let us see what the scriptures say about the Judge and those that will receive the judgement 2Co 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. Joh 5:25-27 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. We can see from the above that the Jesus Christ is the judge and the judgement is for everyone; living or dead (all the race of Adam). Also to be Judged are fallen angels 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 the Judgement The rule of the judgement is based on the standard of God’s law Rom 2:12-16 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. From the above we can see that to the gentiles that have the law written in their hearts (verse 14) and the Jews have the written law. Unto us who are Christians we have got the light (that is Jesus Christ) revealed unto us. Joh 3:19 This is how the judgment works: the light has come into the world, but people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil. Joh 1:4 The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. The judgement is said to be that which will expose secrets and hidden purposes with intent of establishing the reason for the rewards given to each person on the judgement day 1Co 4:5 So you should not pass judgment on anyone before the right time comes. Final judgment must wait until the Lord comes; he will bring to light the dark secrets and expose the hidden purposes of peoples minds. And then all will receive from God the praise they deserve. The Time of the Judgement Heb 9:27 Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God. We can see in the scripture above that there is judgement of the dead after death. The judgement is the last or the one that is called the final judgement which comes after the resurrection of the dead. The dead are said to have been given the verdict (or judged) of what will become their portion at the eternal or final judgement (which is for dead and the living). The final or eternal judgement (universal judgement) is formal with the Judge (Jesus Christ ) pronouncing the judgement; for both the dead (who have received a judgement/verdict which might not be formal as this) and the living. Please note that Hebrew 9:27 mentioned God as the judge. God judges through his son as earlier mentioned. TheJudgement and The Rewards Therein There are rewards of bad or good depending on which one is applicable to each person. I will summarise this in the following scriptures Rev 20:15 Those who did not have their name written in the book of the living were thrown into the lake of fire. The rewards for those that inherit eternal life are based on the assessment of the quality of the works done by individuals to ascertain the ones that measure up to rewards. This further emphasise the intense nature of eternal judgement versus verdict (or judgement)after death 1Co 3:13-15 Every mans work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is. If any mans work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any mans work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. There is eternal life or eternal doom. For sure each us will have one of the portion. My prayer is that the Lord should count us worthy to reign with him (Amen). Please post your comments/contributions on this write up or on the bits that I did not cover. Gbola
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 09:54:12 +0000
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