Judgement: Our Destiny Sealed
Notes
Transcript
We conclude our series today.
We have been looking at the fact that Heaven and Hell are real places that God has prepared for the just and the unjust.
Hell is real and eternal whose description makes it a place we do not want to go.
Heaven a real paradise whose description in Revelation 21 lists the things not there — Develop.
Where do you want to go?
Today I want to consider the coming judgment, where God is going to judge everyone according to how they lived in this life.
Growing up judgment was terrifying — develop
The passage for us today is Hebrews 9:23-28
23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these things, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year by year with blood that is not his own.
26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
27 And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment,
28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
Are you ready for the message God has for us today?
Cool let’s dig in!
The Judgment
The Judgment
I want to start with what the author states in verse 27.
27 And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment,
First that word “destined.”
The word is telling us this is a real thing that will take place.
In fact the author is so certain he describes it in the present, as a truth that is continually true!
“Once” — Happening only on one occasion!
The word Judgment — the Greek word is krisis
A determination of right or wrong on legal matters.
Thus in a legal sense a trial.
It comes to us directly into English in the word crisis: an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending
Especially : one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome
The ultimate crisis of humanity is the last judgment, a time of separation.
Described by Jesus in Matthew 25 — Sheep and Goats
This particular destiny that the author of Hebrews is writing about, this judgement, is for everyone!
What is the “Bema” of Christ?
What is the “Bema” of Christ?
Now taking into account what I just said let’s try to see if there is an answer to this question.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.
The word bema is the Greek word translated judgement seat.
Some think that Paul is talking about the time when believers, or Christians will stand before Christ and receive our reward.
Counter to conservative scholars who hold that there is only one judgment not two one for unbelievers and then a bema accounting where believers are rewarded.
For me there is a tension here — Try to develop this thought
There are passages that seem to speak to a reward accounting — like when Paul talks about our crowns
I’m not sure 2 Corinthians 5:10 is one of them — Repeat I’m not sure
One thing that we need to consider is the Biblical and Historical context of this passage.
In the rabbit whole I found myself this week I learned something: There was a bema in Corinth (Show picture).
This bema has appeared in scripture, which also gives it a biblical context.
This is the bema Paul was brought to in Acts 18:12-17
12 But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,
13 saying, “This man is inciting the people to worship God contrary to the law.”
14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or vicious, unscrupulous act, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you;
15 but if there are questions about teaching and persons and your own law, see to it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters.”
16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat.
17 But they all took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. And yet Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.
“Judgment seat” in verse 12, 16, and 17 is the Greek word bema.
The bema in Corinth was a place of judgment not a place of rewards.
This would be how the Corinthians understood this word — Not the athletic stand in games, but the seat before which a person is judged!
In Greek the word bema is the seat of litigation at which a judge is present to issue official decisions.
Evil must be dealt with, so not to be given opportunity in the New Heavens and the New Earth.
N.T. Wright — “Paul is looking forward to how everything will be sorted out. In how this happens Paul speaks of God, Jesus or both.”
In our passage he calls it the bema of Christ.
In our world we see this in the courts.
Judgment being passed by the court or judge resulting in the persons innocence or guilt.
For those who have wrought evil, damage or hurt, or destruction, a condemnation verdict.
Being found guilty the world can return to some sort of balance.
Here Paul is saying again everyone will stand before the judgment seat of Christ — Philippians 2:10-11
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Other Passages on Judgment
Other Passages on Judgment
There are passages that suggest saints will share in judgment — 1 Corinthians 6:2
2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to form the smallest law courts?
All things will eventually be brought to light — 1 Corinthians 4:5-6
5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of human hearts; and then praise will come to each person from God.
6 Now these things, brothers and sisters, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos on your account, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.
In our knowing about judgement and the fact of our involvement does not give us the right to become arrogant about it!
Again this is God’s judgment — Romans 2:16
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.
The bema appears in another passage — Romans 14:10-13
10 But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you regard your brother or sister with contempt? For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God.
11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, to me every knee will bow, And every tongue will give praise to God.”
12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let’s not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this: not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s or sister’s way.
What does Paul mean here by “everyone”?
Two of the passages creating the tension I spoke of earlier:
27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every person according to his deeds.
8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether slave or free.
There in lies the tension.
Here is where I’m at.
I understand that everyone is going to be judged, the believers will stand with Christ as their advocate as they are accused by Satan.
The unbelievers will stand without Christ, they will be their own advocate.
It is possible that part of what will happen for the believers will involve the receipt of rewards.
Here is the great thing, you can completely disagree with me on this, and that is ok.
Guess what no one will know exactly how it will all sort out until we stand before God.
Conclusion
Please stand I want to give one more passage to consider — 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.
15 For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
Where will you be standing at judgment?
Will Jesus be standing with you? Or will you be alone?
Jesus there is just something about that name!
What are you going to do based upon what God has said today?
— Be thinking Altar call?!!!
