Paul’s Footsteps #166

Footsteps #166

So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” NLT (2 Cor.5:9-10)

To many in our diverse, tolerant, subjective, and relativistic culture, judgment seems crude, self-righteous, hateful, and proud. But that is only because our society rejects the notion of moral absolutes or accountability to a creator God. If God is even acknowledged to exist, He is seen as a celestial Santa Claus. However, if God is who He says He is in Scripture, then judgment is inevitable. Among Bible-believing Christians, few have difficulty accepting the judgment of the wicked. We see it as Biblical and necessary. The prosperity of the wicked in this life is evident for all to see. With Paul’s understanding of the Old Testament Sanctuary system and particularly the Day of Atonement ceremony, he would be well aware that the Old Testament taught that, “judgment begins at the house of God.” (1Pet.4:7). So troubling is this issue of the judgment of believers that many Christians just simply ignore it. For example, Rom.8:1 is a much-loved and often-quote verse: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Or Ps.103:12: “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” These are great verses, and I believe them, but they have led some Christians to assume that sin in their lives is inconsequential, because after all, hasn’t Christ forgiven it all? Yes, Christ has forgiven every sin– past, present, and future. But, forgiveness of sin doesn’t necessarily mean that discipline will not occur or that consequences will be avoided. Remember the words of the prophet Nathan to King David after David confessed to the sins of adultery and murder: (2Sam.12:13-14) “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. (That’s forgiveness). But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.” (That’s consequences). The fact that consequences follow sin like night follows day is a spiritual law built into the very fabric of God’s universe. Remember Gal.6:7? “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” 

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