Lesson
9: Whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead
I
believe in God, the Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And
in Jesus Christ, his only son, our lord;
Who
was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born
of the virgin Mary,
Suffered
under Pontius Pilate,
Was
crucified, dead and buried.
He
descended into hell,
And
on the third day he rose again;
He
ascended into heaven,
Where
he is now seated at the right hand of God, the Father, Almighty,
Whence
he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe
in the Holy Spirit,
The
holy, catholic church,
The
communion of saints,
The
forgiveness of sins,
The
resurrection of the body,
And
the life everlasting.
Amen.
Acts 10:42 He
commanded
us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is
appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man
will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he
will render to everyone according to his deeds.
The Four
Last Things
3. Think often on the four last things: on death -- there is nothing
of which we are more sure; on the Judgment Day -- there is nothing
more terrible; on hell -- there is nothing more unbearable; and on
heaven -- there is nothing more joyful. He who thinks on these things
will shun much sin and will be diligent in the way of salvation.
WHENCE
1. From what place. Whence and what art thou?
2. From what source. Whence shall we derive hope? Whence comes this
honor? Whence hath this man this wisdom? Matthew 13.
The Main
Points for This Lesson:
The purpose of this
series of lessons is, using the Apostles' Creed, to teach the
essential teachings of the Christian faith and what it means to
believe them. To state it simply, the goal is to teach what we
believe and what it means to believe it.
The Apostles' Creed
has three main sections. The second section concerns Jesus Christ,
God's only son. In this lesson we will learn about the sixth part of
this second section: “Whence he shall come to judge the living and
the dead.”
After his
resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven and sat down at the right
hand of the God, the Father, Almighty. From that place, and with the
authority of God the Father, Almighty, Jesus will come again with
power and great glory (Matthew 24:30) to judge all men, the living
and the dead (Acts 10:42). God has spoken of the judgment day in many
times and in many ways as recorded in his holy word. Both Jesus and
the apostles spoke of Jesus as the man appointed by God the Father to
judge all men.
All men will be judged; final. Jesus will judge all men. Both those
who have died and those who are still alive at his coming will be
judged. The righteous and the unrighteous will stand before the
Judge. This judgment is final. It is not temporary.
Judged by our work. Jesus will judge all men based on their works, on
their deeds. The great judge will take into account our thoughts and
heart (Matthew 5:27-28), he will judge the words of our mouth
(Matthew 12:36-37), he will render to everyone according to their
deeds (Matthew 16:27). Men's claim to faith will be proved or
disproved by their works (James 2:17; Matthew 7:21-23) as seen by the
Judge who searches the hearts and minds (Jeremiah 17:10; Psalm 7:9).
Only two outcomes. Jesus often spoke of judgment and the coming
judgment day. He spoke of only two outcomes for men at the judgment.
These two outcomes can be summed up by two phrases: “Well done,
good and faithful servant”; and “Depart from me, I never knew
you, you who practiced lawlessness.” Or again: “Come, blessed of
my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world”; and “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal
fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew
25:34,41). In all his teaching on the coming judgment, Jesus did not
speak of a third outcome, he offered no possible middle ground on the
Day of the Lord.
God takes sin seriously. God is patient with us so that all men may
come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Some people take God's patience to
mean that God doesn't care if we walk in the path of sin (Psalm
50:21). The apostle Paul warns the children of God to not be deceived
about this (Galatians 6:7-10). Whatever we sow, we will reap. If we
plant sunflower seeds, we will have sunflowers. If we plant sinful
seeds by walking in sin, we will reap destruction. If we plant
spiritual seeds, by faithfully doing good from the heart, we will
reap eternal life.
Joy and terror. The coming of Jesus Christ to judge all men should be
a joy to the righteous. They will receive the blessed reward of their
labors and sufferings. They will be justified in the sight of all
men, especially before those who persecuted them. At the same time,
the coming judgment should be a terror to those living in sin. Living
for earthly pleasure and bliss, they will be cast out from the
presence of God and from eternal bliss. Yet, God desires all men to
repent. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather
that the wicked would repent and live (Ezekiel 18:23).
What does it mean to
believe this? Those who believe that Christ will come again to judge
the living and the dead will prepare themselves (and those they love)
for the coming judgment, that they may hear “well done” on that
day. They will also persevere in seeking God and doing good, knowing
that God will reward them on that Last Day. Those who believe this
will also warn those living in sin about the coming judgment, that
they may learn to fear the Lord, repent of sin and turn to God.
In his word, through his servants, and his son, God often speaks of
the coming judgment and teaches his people how they may be prepared
for that day, that they may hear “well done.” We must love and
obey God with our whole being, and love our neighbor as ourselves
(Luke 10:25-28). We are exhorted to watch and pray continually, so
that the day of judgment does not come upon us suddenly and find us
unprepared for it. In his love for us, God has taught us in many ways
how to live so that we may be ready at his coming and judgment: fear
God, keep his commandments, seek the Lord, seek righteousness, seek
humility, be merciful to others (showing kindness to those in need),
forgive others (don't hold grudges or anger in your heart), watch and
pray, repent of sin, sow to the spirit (by doing good to others),
love one another (love covers a multitude of sins), be
self-controlled.
Jesus,
along with the apostles and prophets, teaches us that we will be
judged according to our works, according to how we have lived. Does
that mean that we can “earn” eternal life, such that someone
could possibly say that God “owes” them eternal life, or even
that someone could gain eternal life apart from God by their own
works? No. God alone possesses and gives eternal life.
From
the scriptures we understand that God does not give eternal life to
everyone without condition. Rather, we find that God gives eternal
life to those who fully follow the Lord, to those who love him with
all their heart, mind, soul and strength and love their neighbor as
themselves, to those who do the will of the Father in heaven, such
being the children of God and the brothers and sisters of Jesus
Christ.
Suggestions:
Open each lesson
with prayer for the teacher and the students and this class time.
Remind the children
that we are using the Apostles' Creed to teach the essential
teachings of the Christian faith, that is, what we believe and what
it means to believe it. Read through the Apostles' Creed with the
children.
For the purpose of
these lessons, we have broken the creed into twelve parts. Let the
children know that today we will talk about the seventh part: …Whence
he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
Read Matthew
25:31-46. In these verses, Jesus teaches about his coming again to
judge all men. You can ask the children questions related to this
story and the judgment, such as: How did Jesus come? How did he
separate the people? What was the difference between the two groups?
By what measure did Jesus judge them? What do you think the “sheep”
were thinking? What were the “goats” thinking? What was the final
outcome for each group? Was this a joyful day for some and a terrible
day for others? Can you think of anything you might do in this life
if you want the judgment day to be a joyful day for you?
You could talk with
the children about the idea of being ready for the judgment day.
Mention to them the two beatitudes, “Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God,” and “Blessed are the merciful, for they
shall receive mercy.” Ask them if these give some ideas about being
ready for the judgment day.
If you still have
time, you could ask them about the two comings of Jesus Christ. What
is similar about his two comings? (Both were prophesied beforehand;
both were/will be, in one way or another, unexpected.) What are the
differences between his two comings? (He came the first time in
humility and meekness, the second time he will come with power and
great glory; He came first to call men to repentance, the second time
he will come to judge all men.)
Close the lesson
with prayer related to the subject and the students. Pray the Lord's
Prayer together.
Stories:
Matthew 25:31-46
[31] “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the
holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
[32] Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will
separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep
from the goats. [33] He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the
goats on the left. [34] Then the King will tell those on his right
hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world; [35] for I was hungry, and you
gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a
stranger, and you took me in. [36] I was naked, and you clothed me. I
was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’
[37] “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did
we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?
[38] When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked,
and clothe you? [39] When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come
to you?’ [40] “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I
tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my
brothers, you did it to me.’ [41] Then he will say also to those on
the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire
which is prepared for the devil and his angels; [42] for I was
hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you
gave me no drink; [43] I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in;
naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you
didn’t visit me.’ [44] “Then they will also answer, saying,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or
naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’ [45] “Then
he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because
you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it
to me.’ [46] These will go away into eternal punishment, but the
righteous into eternal life.”
Jesus
often spoke of the coming judgment using parables. He does not
present this to us as a parable.
More Stories
and Examples:
Matthew 13:24-30
– This is the parable of the man who sowed good seed in his field.
Then the enemy came and sowed weeds in the same field.
Matthew 13:36-43
– This is the explanation Jesus gave of the above parable.
Matthew 13:47-51
– In this parable, Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like a net.
Mark 13:21-37
– Jesus speaks of his second coming and exhorts us to watch, keep
alert and pray.
Other Verses:
THE DAY OF THE LORD
The
prophets of the Old Testament warned God's people time and again of
the coming of the Day of the Lord, that is, the day of judgment, when
God would judge all men. They spoke of this day to encourage the
righteous to persevere in the way. Perhaps much more, they spoke of
the Day of the Lord to cause the hearts of sinners to fear, and in
that fear of the Lord, to repent of their sins and turn to God. While
this day was described with
fearful and terrible words, yet even the most wicked who turned from
his sin to seek righteousness and humility was given hope. At the
same time, those who, while going on in sin, desired the Day of the
Lord to come, were warned that the Day would be to them darkness
(Amos 5:18-20)
and not the light they expected.
Zephaniah
1:14-18;2:1-3 [1:14] The great day of Yahweh is near. It
is near, and hurries greatly, the voice of the day of Yahweh. The
mighty man cries there bitterly. [15] That day is a day of wrath,
a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day
of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, [16] a day of
the trumpet and alarm, against the fortified cities, and against the
high battlements. [17] I will bring distress on men, that they
will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against Yahweh,
and their blood will be poured out like dust, and their flesh like
dung. [18] Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to
deliver them in the day of Yahweh’s wrath, but the whole land
will be devoured by the fire of his jealousy; for he will make an
end, yes, a terrible end, of all those who dwell in the land. [2:1]
Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, you nation that has
no shame, [2] before the appointed time when the day passes as the
chaff, before the fierce anger of Yahweh comes on you, before the day
of Yahweh’s anger comes on you. [3]
Seek Yahweh, all you humble of the land, who have kept his
ordinances. Seek righteousness. Seek humility. It may be that you
will be hidden in the day of Yahweh’s anger.
Malachi 4:1-6
[1] “For, behold, the day comes, it burns as a furnace; and
all the proud, and all who work wickedness, will be stubble; and
the day that comes will burn them up,” says Yahweh of Armies,
“that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But to
you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with
healing in its wings. You will go out, and leap like calves of the
stall. [3] You shall tread down the wicked; for they will be
ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make,” says
Yahweh of Armies. [4] “Remember the law of Moses my servant, which
I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and
ordinances. [5] Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the
great and terrible day of Yahweh comes. [6] He will turn the
hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children
to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
COME AGAIN
Acts 1:9-11
[9] When he had said these
things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received
him out of their sight. [10] While they were looking steadfastly into
the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,
[11] who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand
looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you
into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into
the sky.”
1 Thessalonians
4:13-18 [13] But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers,
concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve
like the rest, who have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have
fallen asleep in Jesus. [15] For this we tell you by the word of the
Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the
Lord, will in no way 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 God’s trumpet. The dead in
Christ will rise first, [17] then we who are alive, who are left,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord
in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. [18] Therefore
comfort one another with these words.
Revelation 1:7
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see
him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth
will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
WILL COME SUDDENLY
Matthew 24:23-51
[23] “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’
or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it. [24] For there will arise false
christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and
wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
[25] “Behold, I have told you beforehand. [26] If therefore they
tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out;
‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it. [27] For
as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west,
so will be the coming of the Son of Man. [28] For wherever the
carcass is, there is where the vultures gather together. [29] But
immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be
darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from
the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; [30] and then
the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the
tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. [31]
He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and
they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from
one end of the sky to the other. [32] “Now from the fig tree
learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and
produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near. [33] Even so
you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even
at the doors. [34] Most certainly I tell you, this generation will
not pass away, until all these things are accomplished. [35] Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. [36] But
no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but
my Father only. [37] “As the days of Noah were, so will be the
coming of the Son of Man. [38] For as in those days which were
before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving
in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, [39] and
they didn’t know until the flood came, and took them all away, so
will be the coming of the Son of Man. [40] Then two men will be in
the field: one will be taken and one will be left; [41] two women
grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left. [42]
Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord
comes. [43] But know this, that if the master of the house had
known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have
watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. [44]
Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the
Son of Man will come. [45] “Who then is the faithful and wise
servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their
food in due season? [46] Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds
doing so when he comes. [47] Most certainly I tell you that he will
set him over all that he has. [48] But if that evil servant should
say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ [49] and
begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the
drunkards, [50] the lord of that servant will come in a day when
he doesn’t expect it, and in an hour when he doesn’t know it,
[51] and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the
hypocrites. There is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will
be.
Luke 12:35-48
[35] “Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. [36] Be
like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage
feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to
him. [37] Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find
watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress
himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them. [38]
They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and
finds them so. [39] But know this, that if the master of the house
had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched,
and not allowed his house to be broken into. [40] Therefore be ready
also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect
him.” [41] Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this
parable to us, or to everybody?” [42] The Lord said, “Who then is
the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his
household, to give them their portion of food at the right times?
[43] Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he
comes. [44] Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he
has. [45] But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays
his coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the
maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, [46] then the
lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting
him, and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two,
and place his portion with the unfaithful. [47] That servant, who
knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted,
will be beaten with many stripes, [48] but he who didn’t know, and
did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To
whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom
much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.
Luke 17:20-37
[20] Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,
he answered them, “The Kingdom of God doesn’t come with
observation; [21] neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look,
there!’ for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.” [22] He
said to the disciples, “The days will come, when you will desire to
see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. [23]
They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t
go away, nor follow after them, [24] for as the lightning, when it
flashes out of the one part under the sky, shines to the other part
under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day. [25] But
first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
[26] As it was in the days of Noah, even so will it be also in the
days of the Son of Man. [27] They ate, they drank, they married, they
were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the
ship, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. [28] Likewise, even
as it was in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they
sold, they planted, they built; [29] but in the day that Lot went out
from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky, and destroyed
them all. [30] It will be the same way in the day that the Son of
Man is revealed. [31] In that day, he who will be on the
housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take
them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back. [32]
Remember Lot’s wife! [33] Whoever seeks to save his life loses it,
but whoever loses his life preserves it. [34] I tell you, in that
night there will be two people in one bed. The one will be taken, and
the other will be left. [35] There will be two grinding grain
together. One will be taken, and the other will be left.” [36] “Two
will be in the field: the one taken, and the other left.” [37]
They, answering, asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them,
“Where the body is, there will the vultures also be gathered
together.”
1 Thessalonians
5:1-11 [1] But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,
you have no need that anything be written to you. [2] For you
yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in
the night. [3] For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,”
then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a
pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape. [4] But you,
brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like
a thief. [5] You are all children of light, and children of the day.
We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness, [6] so then let’s
not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober. [7] For
those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are
drunk in the night. [8] But let us, since we belong to the day, be
sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a
helmet, the hope of salvation. [9] For God didn’t appoint us to
wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ, [10] who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we
should live together with him. [11] Therefore exhort one another, and
build each other up, even as you also do.
2 Peter 3:7-14
[7] But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word
have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of
judgment and destruction of ungodly men. [8] But don’t forget this
one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand
years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slow
concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with
us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance. [10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in
the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great
noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the
earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. [11] Therefore
since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of
people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, [12] looking
for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will
cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt
with fervent heat? [13] But, according to his promise, we look for
new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. [14]
Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be
diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his
sight.
JUDGE THE LIVING AND
THE DEAD
John 5:22-30
[22] For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to
the Son, [23] that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the
Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who
sent him. [24] “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word,
and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come
into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. [25] Most
certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will
hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. [26] For
as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to
have life in himself. [27] He also gave him authority to execute
judgment, because he is a son of man. [28] Don’t marvel at this,
for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear
his voice, [29] and will come out; those who have done good, to the
resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the
resurrection of judgment. [30] I can of myself do nothing. As I
hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek
my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
Acts 10:34-43
[34] Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God
doesn’t show favoritism; [35] but in every nation he who fears him
and works righteousness is acceptable to him. [36] The word which he
sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus
Christ—he is Lord of all— [37] you yourselves know what happened,
which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee,
after the baptism which John preached; [38] even Jesus of Nazareth,
how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went
about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for
God was with him. [39] We are witnesses of everything he did both in
the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed,
hanging him on a tree. [40] God raised him up the third day, and gave
him to be revealed, [41] not to all the people, but to witnesses who
were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he
rose from the dead. [42] He commanded us to preach to the people and
to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of
the living and the dead. [43] All the prophets testify about him,
that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive
remission of sins.”
Romans 14:7-12
[7] For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. [8]
For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the
Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord’s. [9] For to
this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of
both the dead and the living. [10] But you, why do you judge your
brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we
will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [11] For it is
written, “‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘to me every knee will
bow. Every tongue will confess to God.’” [12] So then each one of
us will give account of himself to God.
2 Timothy
4:1-2,7-8 [1] I command you therefore before God and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing
and his Kingdom: [2] preach the word; be urgent in season and out
of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and
teaching. [7] I have fought the good fight. I have finished the
course. I have kept the faith. [8] From now on, there is stored up
for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also
to all those who have loved his appearing.
1 Peter 4:1-5
[1] Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm
yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in
the flesh has ceased from sin; [2] that you no longer should live
the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the
will of God. [3] For we have spent enough of our past time doing
the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts,
drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries. [4]
They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same
excess of riot, blaspheming: [5] who will give account to him who
is ready to judge the living and the dead.
WILL JUDGE US BASED
ON OUR WORKS, OUR DEEDS
Psalm 62:12
Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, for you reward every
man according to his work.
Proverbs 24:11-12
[11] Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back
those who are staggering to the slaughter! [12] If you say, “Behold,
we didn’t know this”; doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider
it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not
render to every man according to his work?
Jeremiah 17:10
I, Yahweh, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every
man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
[see also Jeremiah 32:19]
Matthew 7:1-2
[1] “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. [2] For with
whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with
whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:21-23
[21] Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter
into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who
is in heaven. [22] Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord,
didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and
in your name do many mighty works?’ [23] Then I will tell them, ‘I
never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his
angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his
deeds.
Romans 2:5-10
[5] But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are
treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and
of the righteous judgment of God; [6] who “will pay back to
everyone according to their works:” [7] to those who by
patience in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and
incorruptibility, eternal life; [8] but to those who are
self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,
will be wrath and indignation, [9] oppression and anguish, on
every soul of man who works evil, to the Jew first, and also to
the Greek. [10] But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who
works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 2:13-16
[13] For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous
before God, but the doers of the law will be justified [14] (for
when Gentiles who don’t have the law do by nature the things of the
law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, [15] in that
they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their
conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves
accusing or else excusing them) [16] in the day when God will
judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians
5:9-10 [9] Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or
absent, to be well pleasing to him. [10] For we must all be
revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may
receive the things in the body, according to what he has done,
whether good or bad.
Revelation 2:23
I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know
that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to
each one of you according to your deeds.
Revelation
20:11-15 [11] I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it,
from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found
no place for them. [12] I saw the dead, the great and the small,
standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was
opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the
things which were written in the books, according to their works.
[13] The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up
the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to
his works. [14] Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of
fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. [15] If anyone
was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake
of fire.
Revelation
22:12-14 [12] “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to
repay to each man according to his work. [13] I am the Alpha and
the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. [14]
Blessed are those who do his commandments,* that they may have the
right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the
city. [*NU reads “wash their robes” instead of “do his
commandments”.]
JUDGE US BASED ON...
Matthew 12:36-37
[36] I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will
give account of it in the day of judgment. [37] For by your words
you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
1 Corinthians
6:9-10 [9] Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not
inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived. Neither the
sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male
prostitutes, nor homosexuals, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit the
Kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21
[19] Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are:
adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, [20] idolatry,
sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries,
divisions, heresies, [21] envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and
things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also
forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit
the Kingdom of God.
2 Thessalonians
1:6-10 [6] Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay
affliction to those who afflict you, [7] and to give relief to you
who are afflicted with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from
heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, [8] giving
vengeance to those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t
obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus, [9] who will pay the
penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the
glory of his might, [10] when he comes to be glorified in his saints,
and to be admired among all those who have believed (because our
testimony to you was believed) in that day.
PREPARE FOR THE
COMING JUDGMENT
Ecclesiastes
12:13-14 [13] This is the end of the matter. All has been heard.
Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the
whole duty of man. [14] For God will bring every work into judgment,
with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
Zephaniah 2:1-3
[1] Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, you nation that
has no shame, [2] before the appointed time when the day passes as
the chaff, before the fierce anger of Yahweh comes on you, before the
day of Yahweh’s anger comes on you. [3] Seek Yahweh, all you
humble of the land, who have kept his ordinances. Seek
righteousness. Seek humility. It may be that you will be
hidden in the day of Yahweh’s anger.
Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew
6:14-15 [14] “For if you forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if
you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses.
Mark 13:33-37
[33] Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when
the time is. [34] “It is like a man, traveling to another country,
having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to
each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.
[35] Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the
house is coming, whether at
evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the
morning; [36] lest coming suddenly he might find you
sleeping. [37] What
I tell you, I tell all: Watch.”
Luke 21:34-36
[34] “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with
carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will
come on you suddenly. [35] For it will come like a snare on all
those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. [36] Therefore be
watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to
escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son
of Man.”
Acts 17:30-31
[30] The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he
commands that all people everywhere should repent, [31]
because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in
righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given
assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”
Galatians 6:7-10
[7] Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man
sows, that he will also reap. [8] For he who sows to his own
flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to
the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. [9] Let us not be
weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t
give up. [10] So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is
good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the
household of the faith.
1 Timothy 4:16
Pay attention to yourself, and to your teaching. Continue in
these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those
who hear you.
Hebrews 4:11-14
[11] Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest,
lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. [12] For the
word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged
sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both
joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions
of the heart. [13] There is no creature that is hidden from his
sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of
him to whom we must give an account. [14] Having then a great
high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of
God, let us hold tightly to our confession.
James 2:13
For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy.
Mercy triumphs over judgment.
1 Peter 4:7-8
[7] But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind,
self-controlled, and sober in prayer. [8] And above
all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love
covers a multitude of sins.
Revelation 3:2-3
[2] Wake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to
throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my
God. [3] Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep
it, and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will
come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you.
