Fear of the Lord (2)

Living with an Eternity Mindset

We are going to continue in the talk about Eternity Rewards, but first I want to make sure you understand the two different Judgement seats because it’s important to understand. First is the Great White Judgement Seat found in Rev. 11. There is a lot more information about it than what I will get into, but understand the Great White Throne is for unbelievers.

John 5:24 ESV

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

This is why it’s important to understand the two types of Judgement because if we don’t understand that then we will believe that the bible sets to contradict itself. Here Christ links the judgement to death and life. We as Christians bypass Spiritual death into Life everlasting.

Believers will stand before the Judgment seat of Christ. Here your acts aren’t determining if you will enter Heaven, but rather how you will live out eternity.

Romans 14:10 (ESV)

... For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;

Romans 14:12

Romans 14:12 ESV

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

This is going to be a interesting time for Believers. At one hand

1 John 2:28 ESV

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

We are told to abide in other words to live in and work for God. So that we don’t be ashamed when he comes. The word Shame isn’t a cast into hell shame, but rather a shame on how we squandered that which God gave us. This isn’t condemnation but rather a loss and reward ceremony. The bible tells us

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

But also tells us

1 Corinthians 3:13–15 ESV

13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

At the throne of Christ there will be suffering. You will know what you lost, but there will also be rewards and I want to discuss the rewards that the bible talks about. There may be more, but these are the ones we know.

The first reward is

1. Praise

1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV

5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Commendation boils down to the word praise and approval.

I believe the first thing we will hear

Matthew 25:23 ESV

23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

This is where we will welcomed into the kingdom and given our position within it. Depending on what we do here on Earth determines our position in Heaven. This isn’t to state the people Like Billy Graham will receive more because they had a larger platform. Rather, I believe, that you will be judged based on your specific calling.

2. Position

1 Corinthians 6:2–3 ESV

2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

Paul is talking to the the Corinthian church and their habit of suing people in the secular world. Paul tells us that the quarreling of Christians should be done before a body of believers not in the court of unbelievers. This however, needs two things to be true that Christians lack today 1. A trust in their leadership. I believe with many there is a lack of trust and desire to follow through on the corrections that the leadership passes down. 2. Integrety. Because the church can’t throw you in jail there are no actual consequences. This means that people have to want to do the right thing because it’s right not because there is swift consequences.

But Paul explains that this should happens and then uses examples from what Heaven will be to show what your ability should be currently. He is talking about the New Earth to explain how life should be on this earth. Match this up with the parable of talents—

Luke 19:17–19 ESV

17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’

Your position in Heaven is determined by your behavior here on Earth.

The third one is privliage which we will discuss next week.

3. Privilege