The Judgements of God.

Transcription

1 1 The Judgements of God. Introduction. This will probably be amongst the most controversial articles that we at Mayim Chayim will put out; as it seems to fly in the face of that accepted Christian understanding that those who do not accept Jesus into their hearts as Saviour - [Before They Die,] are unequivocally Hell-bound because of a judgement that is already pre-set! Nevertheless the whole matter is much wider in concept than this simple understanding suggests. Moreover, we challenge the understanding that to have our sins forgiven is All we have need of, in order to please God. Rather: - we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2: 10. [The three parables recorded within Matthew 25 will also illustrate this; as could others.] What Is a Judgement? Methinks it is often perceived that the nature of a judgement is primarily that of passing down a sentence. I sentence you to prison etc.. Yet wouldn t the concept of - Assessment, or a time of assessment, often be an applicable description of a judgement? Consider 1Corinthians 11: 31: if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgement. Paul [Sha ul,] when writing to those at Philippi says: Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, [judged] children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world Phil 2: It s worth noting that when the time came for Yeshua to be baptised, HE said that it was fitting to fulfil ALL Righteousness. Matthew 3: 15. That was His judgement! It is clear from this that we have to assess, judge ourselves, [if we are believers] as to the quality of our Walk. And seek His grace and Enabling, so as to bring joy to the heart of our Father. Peter / Kefa, presents to us the following consideration [sorry, Judgement]:- it is to this you were called; because Christ also suffered on your behalf, leaving you an example so that you should follow in His steps. 1 Peter 1: 21. [Often it is necessary to resist and thus upset, this world s spiritual masters; and their human tools.] Whilst the immediate context of that entire paragraph has to do with suffering; a Walk in the manner of Yeshua s own lifestyle, is likely to visit suffering upon anyone, anywhere. Nevertheless, such a lifestyle will also bring a reward; for there is plenty of scriptural evidence that it is God s clearly revealed judgement / assessment, that He desires us become like YESHUA! Children of God! A New Humanity! Many may have to make a choice, considering such as: - Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10: 28. If we balk at potential or actual suffering coming because of our relationship with Him, we may end up in a worse situation. Separation from HIM! The Purpose of the Judgement. When God breathed His Life into humanity there in the Garden of Eden; they were given great opportunities; but also a prohibition relating to Forbidden Fruit! It could be said, that they were On Probation! They could have gone on to achieve probably amazing things; yet they broke God s taboo! They were thus forbidden access to the greatest wonder of all The Tree of Life, through being untrustworthy! We are born effected by, their sin and state. Moreover, if our more recent ancestors have been involved in occultism or other specifically forbidden practices, then the effects of these, may cause even further grief.

2 We were and are judged and found wanting. Moreover, since then, humanity has raped and pillaged the planet entrusted to us; in effect proving ourselves not worthy of God s further attention. Despite this, the Eternal One has retained a people for Himself, into whom, One who was the Complete Expression of Himself was born. Whereas the created 1st son of God [Adam] didn t live in obedience with His Creator, The One who came as Yeshua / Salvation, to be our Saviour Did! So, God s judgement on our condition is now: - For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15: Please consider again: - Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, [judged] children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life Philippians 2 12:16 However, if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10: I understand the scriptures to be revealing to us, not only a Hope of Resurrection Wonderful in itself; but also that there is An Enabling NOW; so that we can increasingly become Like our Saviour; rather than be as dogs who continually return to their vomit! Please take note of the emphasis contained in - in Christ all will be made alive. [Especially, as when one makes something, a Process is usually involved. We are to however, to be participatory, not passive, in all this!] Although we are undeserving, God is still desirous that we Return to Him and More than that, That we Learn to Walk in His Light! Words penned by the apostle John show us this:. just as Moses lifted high the serpent in the Desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, in order that every one who trusts in Him may have the Life of the Ages." [Eternal Life] For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have the Life of Ages. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who trusts in Him does not come up for judgement. He who does not trust has already received sentence, because he has not his trust resting on the name of God's only Son. And this is the test by which men are judged--the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness more than they loved the Light, because their deeds were wicked. For every wrongdoer hates the light, and does not come to the light, for fear his actions should be exposed and condemned. But he who does what is honest and right comes to the light, in order that his actions may be plainly shown to have been done in God. John 3: WNT. Now I want you, to see one of the most amazing scriptures in the whole of the Bible. Because Salvation gave us another insight related to the above, within John 9: Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?" Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. Hell-fire [The 2nd Death] is not automatic for the unsaved. Consider; is Torment OR the 2nd death, even appropriate for the Blinded and/or the totally ignorant? We read within John chapter 3, a statement that God s 2

3 judgement is on all who Do not come to the LIGHT. Who do not TRUST in Him! Now please get this; Yeshua had just then, given sight to a blind man. This man had been Unaware of so much Until he had been given sight! Do you get the analogy? The human race has been BLINDED by the enemy of our souls. God does not hold us culpable whilst we are in this state. But if HE enables us to see; and we then turn away ----! What God Is interested in, is whether we positively respond to what HE reveals to us. Not our religious affiliations or mannerisms. He is a judge But also a Fair One! Scripture has shown that all mankind are the prisoners of sin, in order that the promised blessing, which depends on faith in Jesus Christ, may be given to those who believe. Galatians 3: 22 Now; Yeshua came as a new or 2 nd Adam! [Moreover, as such, He represents what Israel must; and Will Become!] As God said: - Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." Exodus 19: 5-6 And in accordance with His foreknowledge of some of us, [where relevant,] we read: -. we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called ; and these whom He called, He also justified ; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8: WHEN our eyes are OPENED, Then it is our Day of / for salvation. Then, we can come and ask for that Royal Pardon that is available to those who desire it. We are all under sentence of eternal death until our eyes are opened and we repent and receive / realise a transformation of heart! [And our understanding is, that this must apply in an age to come, if; such an opportunity is not granted in this life. For, Yeshua said: No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day John 6:44] 3 The Vision and Mercy within the Judgement. As I indicated before, there was a judgement made concerning us, right at the very beginning of our history, when our earliest ancestors did not pass their test. Yet, we can read of some of their descendants who did! Abel, Noah, Abraham etc. However these, did Not have the capacity to reverse that initial wrong done, thus setting the rest of us free from the curse of sin; which is Death! But Praise Him, One was sent to us Who Could! The One who was and is the Fullness of God, dwelling in flesh! When the time came, Salvation was born amongst us. No other was pure enough to pay the price of sin; but as we can read within Revelation 5: 5-6; HE Was! one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping ; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals." And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. He, Yeshua / Salvation; overcame the temptations of the world, the tempter and His own flesh, and now it is God s judgement, not that we just believe in Him; but rather that we can increasingly, become Like our BIG Brother! We must not return to our previous vomit! For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge His people." Hebrews 10: We are all under sentence of eternal death until our eyes are opened and we repent, and realise a transformation of heart! Be aware too; Believers are being judged Now!

4 4 if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? 1Pet. 4:16-18.man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment! Hebrews 9:27 The question is What is counted as the time of my death? When my heart stops beating, or; when it is washed by HIS Blood and Transformed by HIS Life? Is that Adamic [Satanic] nature within me, being crucified? That is what the Lord desires, and He will bring this about within His people. being dissatisfied with His people, God says, "`There are days coming,' says the Lord, `When I will establish with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new Covenant-- a Covenant unlike the one which I made with their forefathers on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out from the land of Egypt; for they would not remain faithful to that.' `So I turned from them,' says the Lord. `But this is the Covenant that I will covenant with the house of Israel after those days,' says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds and will write them upon their hearts. And I will indeed be their God and they shall be My People. Hebrews 8: 8-10 WNT. Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself. 'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. 'These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." Exodus 19: 3-6 There will probably be some reading this that will hate the idea of being so subservient! Nevertheless, of you, will I ask a question. What is the most rewarding To be adopted by the Creator of the universe, or to become Nothing, because of pride? The Messiah redeemed us from the curse pronounced in the Torah by becoming cursed on our behalf; for the Tanakh says, "Everyone who hangs from a stake comes under a curse." Yeshua the Messiah did this so that in union with him the Gentiles might receive the blessing announced to Avraham, so that through trusting and being faithful, we might receive what was promised, namely, the Spirit. Galatians 3: CJB Initially, Paul / Sha ul was speaking concerning His own people. Nevertheless he expands this; because, Yeshua the 2 nd Adam - He who came as Salvation, HE, can free all of humanity from the curse of Eternal death, and give us access [once again] to The Tree of Life! - His Nature! This is God s Judgement. It is also, His Purpose! Within Ephesians 2, Sha ul is asking the believers at Ephesus to remember that they: - were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [BUT NOW are] no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household verses 12 &19. God s judgement / purpose remains that His Covenant Israelite peoples come to know Him Fully; but also, that many, many others, Share their Walk! Are you Too, willing to Walk in Covenant relationship? Sha ul encourages those who currently, belong to HIM to: - Think about how kind God is! Also think about how firm he is! He was hard on those who stopped following him. But he is kind to you. So you must continue to live in his kindness. If you don't, you also will be cut off. If the people of Israel do not continue in their unbelief, they will again be joined to the tree. God is able to join them to the tree again. After all, weren't you cut from a wild olive tree? Weren't you joined to an olive tree that was taken care of? And wasn't that the opposite of how things should be done? How much more easily will the natural branches be joined to their own olive tree! Romans11: NIRV.

5 5 according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. Acts 24: [Please forgive a word of caution. Most of the Bible relates to Israel, one way or another. And so therefore do most promises made within it. If we are adopted into His family as illustrated within Romans 11 then; we too are entitled to ask, that we may benefit from promises made; but hopefully Without being presumptuous!]. now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, And My God is My strength ), He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel ; I will Also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth." Isaiah 49: 5-6.man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment! Hebrews 9: 27 And God will make that assessment as to whether we have sought to put our sinful nature to death! "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give accounting for it in the Day of Judgment. "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matt. 12: What we Believe is what we act on. What we prepare for. Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law. Prov. 29:18 Whose word do we trust in and Reverence? Whose words do we echo; share with others? Consider Thomas! Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20: 29 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. Revel. 20: 6 Remember Yeshua s words from Matthew 10: 28! Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy [not torment] both soul and body in hell. Looking at this, it seems that there can be more than One type of unbeliever who could experience this 2nd and final death! Best, if we Heed those words: - work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose... Joy unspeakable, is no more automatic than hell-fire! 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.' Revel. 2: 7 I quoted for you, only the first of the Promises to Overcomers given within Revelation 2 & 3; there are six more. There, the Almighty One / Yeshua, has made a judgement that He will Bless those who are Overcomers. We d best not be lazy in this endeavour therefore! We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 1 John 4: 16-17