When I was a teenager, I had finally reached that age where I could get my drivers license. As many new drivers experience, I found my new freedom exhilarating and exciting. I remember my father telling me not to get in a wreck or hit anyone. Needless to say my focus was limited. I'm sure many of you can relate to this. However, that lack of focus was soon hit with a dose of reality.
While out enjoying my freedom, I unknowingly passed a police car hidden from my sight and only realized it when I saw his flashing lights behind me. Imagine my fear of coming to know I had done something wrong. My first thought was being put in a jail cell. Needless to say, with the ticket in hand, I was made to understand that laws were created to protect me and to protect others.
A month later, I was to appear in court to face the judge to account for my transgression. Scared to death, as I stood before the judge, I was asked how do you plea? Deep down, I wanted to say that I was innocent, but I knew I was guilty. Acknowledging my guilt, the judge assessed me a fine to pay for breaking the law. A fine that I could not have paid if not for the help of my parents.
Do you realize that one day we will all face the judge (God) at the last judgment?
Acts 17:31 says; For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man (Jesus Christ) he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Let's look at a few common laws we break...Question: How many lies have you told in your life? What do you call someone who lies to you? (A Liar)...Have you ever stolen anything, for example, a pen from work? What do you call someone who steals from you? (A Thief)...Have you ever used God's name in vain? For example, in a curse word? Do you realize that's called blasphemy, which is punishable by death? These are just a few of everyday examples of breaking the laws of God. Little white lies, the taking of a 5-cent pen, the use of God's name in vain, or, in my case, speeding over the posted speed limit....all of these are examples of us breaking the law; all of these will require us to pay a fine...
When we stand before God, we will find that no one can go through life without breaking the laws God has set before us in the Ten Commandments. All of us will have to pay the fine. In the bible, the fines imposed on us are called wages.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Here we see that any time we sin, even if it seems tiny and insignificant to us, it’s punishable by death. If I compare my sin to your sin, it may seem trivial, but to God, they’ll both receive the wage and penalty of death. Each of us gets our just reward. As I write this, I’m thinking about the sin in my life and the fear I feel of disappointing God.
Looking at the second half of Romans 6:23, we see the word BUT…. "The gift of God is eternal life, in Christ Jesus our Lord." You see, Jesus, who entered this world through the virgin birth of Mary as a sinless man (He was not born in sin), lived a perfect life without ever sinning. Yet, He stood before a judge, Pontius Pilate, and was convicted without ever breaking the law. For that, He was put to death on the cross…Imagine if you were standing before Pontius Pilate, completely innocent….would you think it's fair to receive the death penalty? It may surprise you that Jesus knew He would be beaten, and bloodied and made to carry His own cross up a mountain. Ultimately being nailed and hung from that cross. It may surprise you even more, when you realize He did it willingly.
Jesus is God in human form, and at any point, He could have avoided all of this if not for His purpose of coming into the world, that purpose was not to judge the world, but to save the world. That means you and me.
John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Deep down inside, we all know we sin; no one can deny it, not even those who feel they're a product of their upbringing or environment. No one is innocent. Not Christians and not those who reject Jesus Christ. There is however a difference in how they will be judged.
Romans 6:23 “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ...Jesus came and died for our sins, sins that come with a fine that we can not pay. Jesus sacrificed his life and blood to pay the fine for all of our sins. No sin is unforgivable except one. At our appointed time of judgment, we will either stand alone before God indicating we rejected Jesus sacrifice or we will stand before God with Jesus at our side. God will determine the wages for our sins. We, representing ourselves, cannot pay the fine… but if we have a relationship with Jesus, He will represent us because he has already paid that fine by shedding his blood on the cross.
You have to ask yourself when that Judgement day comes, will you stand alone to account for your sins or will Jesus stand there with you as proof that all of your sins have been forgiven?
John 5:24 NKJV “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life".
Matthew 12:31 NKJV "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven of men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven of men."
What is the blasphemy against the spirit? The rejection of Jesus Christ!
Most of us experience every day struggles. It's much like climbing a mountain? If one more struggle hits us our life could be over?
It's clear, without Jesus, we have no hope. We cannot live our lives without sinning…The fact is, Jesus can come at any minute and take us away from the sin of this world and from the pain of everyday life. If we don't make that choice we will be left behind in a world that no longer has anyone that believes. Every bad thing that you can imagine will take place. God will judge the world for rejecting him. Death will take priority and only a few will survive. If you reject Christ and his gift of salvation, you will have committed the unpardonable sin. And the wages for that sin will have to be paid.
John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life".
God's word tells us that those who sincerely believe in him shall not come into judgment. To avoid any confusion, this is directly referring to the judgment of death. When you sincerely believe in Jesus, that he was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, sacrificed himself and was nailed to a cross for all of our sins, died, was buried, and rose again on the third day, and now sits on God's right hand side, your judgment will be different. We will not be put to death for our sins on earth, God forgives all of those sins and rewards us for our faithfulness.
Romans 8:1 There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Our judgment is completely focused on what we have done after we sincerely accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. For this, every Christian will receive rewards and leadership appointments.
In my journey as a Christian, I've heard others Christians say, " we shouldn't be doing things to get rewards. However, the bible clearly states we should seek the rewards that are for us in heaven and not rewards here on earth.
Matt 6:19-21 NIV
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
1st Corinthians 3:13-15
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.
What this means is there are rewards in heaven to which we are able to obtain, however, our motives are examined. If our motives are self serving then that will be revealed and we will not obtain the reward(s) available.
There are two ways that we as Christians will receive these rewards.
1. By doing good works after your salvation confession. (All of your sins are forgiven and you are given a clean slate.)
2. By giving to the kingdom of God. (Tithing and or giving your time to spreading the gospel.)
1st Timothy 6:17-19 NAS
17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Hebrews 13:16 NIV
16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
There are many ways to give and many ways to share. Contrary to what many pastors are teaching (Prosperity Gospel) Tithing is not the only way to give. This teaching has played a huge part in people leaving the faith or not believing in Jesus' and his sacrifice on the cross. These wolves in sheep's clothing have no interest in you other than guilting you into giving every last penny you have. Prosperity gospel continues to destroy lives and the body of Christ, the church. However, it is biblical to tithe 10% of any income and or contributing in other ways to honor God's' kingdom and the strengthening of the church. A great example: Giving food to your local church pantry. God will bless you and the church. Cont. in Part 2...
The Court Date