AN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE JUDGMENT

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Christians are well aware that the judgment looms in their future.

 

B.   Many who are not Christians know the Bible teaches a day of judgment is coming.

 

C.   When we get to the judgment, we will stand before God as individuals. 

 

D.   Perhaps we would be wise to take some time to develop our “Understanding about the Judgment.”

 

I.             THE POSSIBILITY:  Is there really going to be a judgment?

 

A.   Jesus taught that a day of judgment is coming (John 12:48).

 

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:  the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

 

B.   Paul taught that the judgment is just as sure as the resurrection of Jesus Christ (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.

 

II.           IT’S PERSONAL:  Will God judge me?

 

A.   Before him shall be gathered all nations (Matt. 25:31-32)

 

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  and before him shall be gathered all nations:  and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats.

 

B.   Every one of us (Rom. 14:12)

 

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 

C.   We must all appear (2 Cor. 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.

 

III.         THE PRECEPT:  What will be the standard of judgment?

 

A.   Jesus said it will be His word (John 12:48).

 

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:  the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

 

B.   Paul noted that judgment will be according to his gospel (Rom. 2:16).

 

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

C.   The books will be opened (Rev. 20:12).

 

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:  and another book was opened, which is the book of life:  and the dead were judged out of those things written in the books.

 

IV.         THE PROGNOSIS:  How will I measure up?

 

A.   Will you be weighed in the balances and found wanting? (Dan. 5:27; Matt. 25:26)

 

TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and found wanting.

 

B.   Or, will you find the Lord pleased with your life? (Matt. 25:21, 23)

 

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant…

 

V.           THE PUNISHMENT:  Will God really punish the disobedient?

 

A.   The one talent man (Matt. 25:30)

 

Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:  there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

B.   Those on the left hand in judgment (Matt. 25:41)

 

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

 

C.   The lake of fire for those not found in the book of life (Rev. 20:15)

 

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

VI.         THE PRETEXT:  What will be my reason for failing to conform to God’s will?

 

A.   Not enough preparation (Matt. 25:3)

 

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them.

 

B.   Laziness (Matt. 25:26)

 

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant…

 

C.   Failed to serve others (Matt. 25:44-45)

 

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, or a thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I saw unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

 

D.   Lack of knowledge (Luke 12:48)

 

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes…

 

E.   See also Luke 14:16-24

 

VII.       THE PROPOSAL:  What do I need to do to get ready?

 

A.   Obey the gospel? (2 Thess. 1:7-9)

 

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.

 

B.   Use my talents? (Matt. 25:20-21)

 

And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents:  behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:  thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:  enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 

C.   Be faithful? (Matt. 25:23)

 

He lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant…

 

D.   Serve others? (Matt. Matt. 25:34-36)

 

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat:  I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink:  I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  naked, and ye clothed me:  I was sick, and ye visited me:  I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

 

E.   Bear fruit? (John 15:5-6)

 

I am the vine, ye are the branches.  He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

 

F.    Rid my life of sin? (Ps. 1:5-6)

 

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous:  but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

 

G.   Clean up my private life? (Eccl. 12:14; Rom. 2:16)

 

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

 

H.   Forgive others? (Matt. 6:14-15)

 

For if ye forgive me their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Dear readers, the judgment is coming (Heb. 9:27).

 

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

 

B.   That day will be serious, sobering, and significant.

 

C.   We will each hear one of two sentences.

1.    “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34).

2.    “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41).