Which Judgment Will You Be In?

Which Judgment Will You Be In?

Text: Psalm 1:1–6

1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Introduction:

* To distill all the verses of Psalms chapter one down to one thought that we can carry away with us this morning, would be this one thought:

“In the end, God will bless the righteous person and God will curse the ungodly person.”

* Now I want you to understand this morning, that according to the Bible no one is righteous on their own.

* Jesus makes it very plain that in the eyes of God, no man is righteous, or good. Listen to the words of Jesus when someone used the word good in connection with a man:

Matthew 19:16–17 (KJV 1900)

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God…

* Isaiah tells us that in God’s eyes if you were to take all the righteousness, or goodness, of every man that ever lived, and stacked it all together, in one pile, in the eyes of God it would be like a pile of filthy rags!

Isaiah 64:6–7 (KJV 1900)

6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;

And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, That stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: For thou hast hid thy face from us, And hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

* The Apostle Paul lather quoted Isaiah in the book of Romans and no doubt what the prophet Isaiah meant when he said that no man is good or Righteous:

Romans 3:10–19 (KJV 1900)

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

* The apostle Paul here tells us that the very reason that God gave us this Bible with all the laws and commandments that we find in it, is to stop our mouths and make us realize that the whole world is guilty before God and is ready to be judged by a Holy God that will accept nothing but perfection.

* God is a perfectionist when it comes to sin. God sill judge every person according to His Holy standard of Goodness and righteousness.

* I want you to know this morning that righteousness can only come from God. God is the source of goodness or righteousness, because there is no other righteousness but God’s.

* So you say brother Woody, then would it be right for God to expect us to be perfectly righteous, when at the same time He tells us that we are hopelessly bad and unrighteous?

* Well this answer is no. It would not be right! That, my friend, is why God has arranged to give you righteousness by His son.

* Would it be fair for God to Judge us according to a perfect standard? Why sure! Did you do the crime? Have you sinned against a Holy God? Yes.

* Ok then. That is what we call Justice. What we need this morning is mercy. Not fairness, not justice. We need the mercy of a kind and good Judge.

* The prophet David knew all this. David’s sins are all sprawled out in the pages of the Bible for everyone to see, but David had confidence in the mercy of God.

* Listen to the words of the prophet David concerning his sins:

Psalm 32:1–2 (KJV 1900)

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity,

* Now, I have said all that to say this. Psalms chapter one is about How God blesses the man who loves and obeys the Bible-

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.

In contrast to, the ungodly person, one who does not love and obey the Bible.

* Now that is the meaning of Psalms chapter one.

* Want to expound on one verse in particular this morning because it contains a truth that we desperately need.

* This truth will be a source of great peace those of us who have been saved.

* This truth will cause the person who forgets God and the Bible to live in great worry and fear of Judgment day.

* Look with me at verse five this morning:

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

I. We find here a great principle. God will not Judge with those who are saved with those who are saved.

* The Bible teaches that there are two separate resurrections from the dead, and there are two separate Judgments.

* Many times, in the past, a king would also act as a judge, much like how Jesus will be King of the Kingdom of God, but yet He will also be the one who judges the world.

John 5:22 (KJV 1900)

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

John 5:25–29 (KJV 1900)

25 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. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

* Now in the past, many times when a ruler were acting as the king, he would sit upon one throne, and when he was acting in the capacity of a judge, he would sit upon another throne.

* And it is recorded in the Bible- There will be two resurections, two judgments and tow thrones.

II. The Judgment seat of Christ.

* Let’s take a look at the first resurrection, throne, and judgment.

* The first resurrection is the resurrection of all those who are saved.

* This resurrection takes place immediately after the great battle of Armageddon and just before the saved enter into the Millennial Reign of Jesus.

* At the judgment that takes place at the first resurrection, the Bible says that Jesus will be seated at the throne called the judgment seat of Christ. We find the scene in Revelation chapter 20.

* I am going to back up and read a little of Revelation chapter 19 as well to show you the timing of the first resurrection and its following judgment.

Revelation 19:19–20:6 (KJV 1900)

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

20 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

* What do we know about this judgment?

* This judgment is referenced many time in the Bible:

2 Corinthians 5:9–11 (KJV 1900)

9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

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.

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;

Romans 14:10–12 (KJV 1900)

‎10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 (KJV 1900)

But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

A. It will be a time when our service for Christ will be judged.

* I want you to understand that at this Judgment will will not be judged for our sins. The judgment and punishment for our sins have already taken place. This took place as Jesus took our place and was Judged by God as He took upon himself all of our sins.

* This judgment seat was compare by the apostle Paul to the “Bema Seat” where after the great Olympic games, a judge would sit upon a throne called the “Bema Seat.”

* There was no question of life or death at this judgment, but the Judge would hand out crowns to those who had been victorious in the games.

* This judge also had the authority to disqualify the runners and take away their rewards.

Running to receive the crown:

1 Corinthians 9:22–27

‎22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

‎24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

2 Timothy 2:1–6

‎Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

* By this, the apostle Paul gives us a picture of what the Judgment seat of Christ will be like.

B. It will be a time of great loss.

* On this Day of Judgment for the believer, God will judge all our works after that we have been saved.

* He says that fire, which always speaks of Judgment and purification in the Scriptures, will determine whether our works and motives are worthy to remain.

* The motives of our hearts will be judged by Christ for the works that we have done for Him.

* I don’t know about you, but I find this life hard. I don’t want to lose my rewards for living for the Lord down here in this body.

C. It will be a time of Great reward:

* This saved people of God who are Judge at this Bema Seat of Christ are the people to who Jesus will say the words found in Matthey 25:34:

34 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:

Revelation 22:12 (KJV 1900)

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV 1900)

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

III. The Great White throne.

* This resurrection and judgment will take place immediately after the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 20:11–15 (KJV 1900)

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 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 which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 14:10–13 (KJV 1900)

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night,

who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

* In the first resurrection and judgment that follows we saw Jesus judge his people with grace and mercy.

* Oh, they were still judged for what they had done after that they were saved, but what was found not pleasing to God in their lives was burned away as a loss. Everyone in this judgment was dealt with in mercy and their works were rewarded.

* The second death and resurrection resulting in the second judgment will be a judgment with no grace and no mercy.

* You say why Brother Woody? This doesn’t seem fair to me!

* Oh my friend this judgment is more than fair and it is also just.

* Mercy and Grace, and the forgiveness of sins was freely offered, in the person of Jesus Christ. There will be no mercy at this second judgment, only justice. Grace, mercy and the forgiveness of sin was turned down by those in the second resurrection and judgment.

Conclusion:

* Now I come to the conclusion of the sermon this morning. What can we draw from what we have learned about the two resurrections and judgments this morning?

1). If you accept the Grace of God in the person of Jesus Christ you can be in the first resurrection and be judged with mercy and receive forgiveness.

2). -If you don’t take the two resurrections seriously…

-If you wait to long until its too late…

-If you think you are good enough with out Christ…

-If you simple refuse to come to Jesus and believe on Him for salvation…

Then you will be judged without mercy and be cast into an eternal lake of fire.

* I urge you to examine your heart this morning and make sure you have been saved.

* If there is any doubt, don’t take any chances, come forward and I will show you how you can be saved this morning.