Jesus Christ: Are you prepared for your meeting with Him?
Every one of us should realize that the day is coming when we’ll all have to face Him and give an account of ourselves. Scripture is quite clear on this, and I assure you that this is reliable information. If you’re hoping things are otherwise, that is only wishful thinking. YOU ARE going to have to face Him! For one, the apostle Paul brings this subject up and quotes from what the prophet Isaiah wrote about it.
Isaiah 45:22-23
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. [Emphasis added]
It is in Paul’s letter to the Romans where we read about OUR time of judgment and evaluation as members of what is called the Body of Christ.
Romans 14:11-12
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. [Emphasis added]
Have you seriously given some thought to this? If you haven’t, wouldn’t it be in your best interests to do so now? You may get to live a long life, but that time frame is nothing in comparison to all eternity that’s beyond that. You’ve probably heard this before, but life is short. Even if you’re young now, old age, if you get to live that long, will be here for you quickly. The older you get the quicker it seems that time passes. I believe every elderly person you know will verify that for you. If you’re already elderly, you should know this by your own experience regarding what I’m saying. The time of your judgment is quickly approaching.
We find in the Bible that there will be times of judgment for both the saved and the unsaved, both believers and unbelievers. They’ll all stand before Him in a resurrection body.
John 5:28-29
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. [Emphasis added]
This “good” that’s under discussion here is to do with following God’s directions on how to be saved. Where will you be in this? In both cases, for the saved and the unsaved, it is all a matter of choice. It will be about the attitude you had about the provision God made for your salvation. Either you accepted it or rejected it. For those who reject it, there’s this “resurrection of damnation” while on the other hand there’s this “resurrection of life” that Jesus spoke of in the time of His earthly ministry. Again, in either case, you’ll have a body in which to experience everlasting torment or in a body where you’ll experience everlasting blessing. What will it be for you? Even as I write this, you’re now bound for one or the other. If you want to be sure you’re bound for the blessing, you must simply accept by faith the provision God made for you.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he [God’s the Father] hath made him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
It is through this righteousness God will freely give you that you can qualify for this. This is definitely not something you can earn or deserve through any good works you might do.
Romans 3:21-23
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
We all must have this perfect righteousness that He provides.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [Emphasis added]
This is all a matter of grace, not our own personal works of righteousness.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
There was a time in the past when people had to manifest their faith for salvation by their works.
James 2:17-20
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? [Emphasis added]
Just believing in God and doing works of righteousness are no longer what is required for salvation in our time. Our apostle, the apostle Paul, tells us something quite different as to what God expects of us now. Note carefully what he says about all this. He was the first one commissioned to tell us about this.
Romans 11:13
13 For I [Paul] speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [Emphasis added]
It is THIS that is now required of us—
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
It is in this work of Christ that we must place our faith for salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you [Unlike Peter’s and what had gone before], which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
Now that what Christ accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection, it is THIS work that we must rely on as the sole basis for our salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
You’ll find numerous other articles on this website where I discuss all this. That is because there are so many people today who are relying on their own works or what was Peter’s gospel instead of Paul’s as the basis for their salvation. Paul once made a special trip to Jerusalem to explain this new setup to Peter and the eleven other apostles.
Galatians 2:7-9
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me [Paul] toward the Gentiles:)
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me [Paul], they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen [the Gentiles], and they unto the circumcision [Israel]. [Emphasis added]
Most of Christendom is so confused today that many even claim Paul went to Jerusalem to get correct teaching from Peter and the others. But the Scriptures tell us something entirely different.
Galatians 2:1-2
1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. [Emphasis added]
He at first disclosed this privately with the apostles because he knew there would be controversy about it, even as there still is today.
Why I bring all this up is because if you’ve not accepted this gospel that was first given to Paul, you are not saved. And if that’s the case, you’re going to end up at this last judgment called the Great White Throne judgment which is for the unsaved only. And everyone who is at that judgment ends up in the Lake of Fire to be tormented forever.
Revelation 20:15
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. [Emphasis added]
The whole emphasis of that judgment will be works, not sins because they were all judged and paid for at the cross of Christ.
Again, 2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
The subject of sin is not mentioned at that judgment. It will be the unbelievers’ works that will there be evaluated and found to be inadequate to provide them with salvation.
Revelation 20:12-13
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. [Emphasis added]
But hopefully you won’t be at this judgment; you’ll be at what is called the Judgment Seat of Christ, the one that is for us as believers. This judgment will be about rewards we’ll get to enjoy forever in Heaven. We’re qualifying for those things now by the works we do as expressions of our obedience and our love for our Savior. This will be a time of joy and celebration over those rewards. There are several texts that speak of this coming time.
2 Corinthians 5:10
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. [Emphasis added]
The apostle Paul spoke of rewards that await him.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. [Emphasis added]
Because of what we know about these things, we’re motivated to tell others about this, wanting only the best for them too.
2 Corinthians 5:11
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. [Emphasis added]
As we just noted, this event where our rewards will be determined is called the Judgment Seat of Christ. This important event needs to be explained to believers in every generation.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
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. [Emphasis added]
As believers in this which is spoken of as the Judgment Seat of Christ, we’ll all have our time there.
Again, 2 Corinthians 5:10-11
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; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. [Emphasis added]
So, where will you be in all this? At which judgment will you make an appearance? Because of the importance of all this, you’ll find numerous other articles about this on this website. I hope you’ll invest some time at each of them. Here are links to some of them—
Judgment: Who will be at the last one?
Hell: Are there degrees of punishment?
Hell: Are there people there for whom Christ died?
Hell: How can a loving God send people there?
Hell: What does the apostle Paul teach about it?
Hell: Will the suffering last forever?
Works: Are we blessed because of our production of them?
Rewards: For what will God wish to reward you in eternity?
Heaven: What do we need to know about it?
God: Does believing in Him qualify you for Heaven?
You’ll certainly never be able to honestly say you weren’t warned.
