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There are two types of judgement that people will face when God decrees it is time. And we will all face one of them.
1. The first judgement is whether people are saved through faith in Jesus or not. And the Bible says that those who have their faith in Jesus have their names recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Those who rejected salvation through Jesus are judged on the basis of their rejection of Jesus, and the rejection of His death and resurrection that would have paid the penalty of their sins.
And because of their rejection of Jesus they do not have their names in the Lamb’s Book of Life and are thrown into hell.
“Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (Revelation 21:27 NLT)
“And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the dead were judged according to what they had done as written in the books [that is, everything done while on earth]. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and Hades (the realm of the dead) surrendered the dead who were in them; and they were judged and sentenced, every one according to their deeds. Then death and Hades [the realm of the dead] were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire [the eternal separation from God]. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, they were hurled into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:12-15 AMP)
2. The other judgement is of Christians, those who are saved through faith in Jesus. This judgement is over what we did as Christians, our work for the Kingdom of God.
You cannot earn salvation by works (our deeds), salvation is by faith in Jesus, His death and resurrection that paid the penalty of their sins.
However, what we then do as Christians in advancing God’s Kingdom is judged.
For example:
a) Were we obedient to God’s teachings as revealed in the Bible?
“If you love Me, obey My commandments.” (John 14:15 NLT)
b) Did, with God’s enabling strength, we try to live holy lives?
“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 NLT)
c) Did we make the most of every opportunity to share our faith and the Gospel – the Good News of salvation with others? In other words, if someone asked about your hope as a believer, were you always be ready to explain it?
“But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15 AMP)
So many Christians, particularly in traditional denominations, but also in many Pentecostal denominations are completely unaware that they will face this judgement of God’s.
Yet it is right there in the Bible:
“Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15 NLT)
Matthew 25:31-46 should serve as a severe warning to us, because either the ‘goats’ had completely rejected Jesus and were ‘unsaved’, or the ‘goats’ were people who were not genuinely saved as their lack of ‘fruit’ and ‘good deeds’ proved.
Will your work for the glory of the Kingdom withstand God’s judgement fire?
Now is the time to do the works of Jesus, to obey His teachings, and to live holy lives.
Now is the time to share your faith.
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