Dead and Judged Judged Part 1

[Please Note this is an edited reprint of this three part article originally published in August 2005. In the coming weeks we will reprint all three parts. Having presented the need for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and a 'One Verse' Evangelism tool - let us remember 'why' we need to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.]

Friends,
The Bible contains many truths. One is very important. Specifically, after death, comes judgement. The Bible is quite clear about that fact: Everyone faces judgement.
Actually, almost every religion agrees there is a ‘judgement’. Muslims believe Allah will judge. Buddhists and Hindus believe that if they have not found ‘enlightenment’ they will continue the cycle (someone or something has to decide if they have found ‘enlightenment’ - that is a form of judgement). Christians and Jews believe that God will judge them. About the only people in the world that believe there will not be a judgement of some kind are atheists and agnostics. [Regardless of what the media tells us, true atheists and agnostics are a serious minority.]

The Bible tells us everyone faces judgement.
“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” Hebrews 9:27

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 5:10

“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.” Matthew 25:32

“But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” Romans 14:10

[Matthew 25:31-32, Matthew 12:36, Matt. 16:27, Acts 10:42, Romans 2:16, Galatians 6:5, 2 Timothy 4:1, 1 Peter 4:5]

Each of us will stand before Christ and be judged.
There are only two possible outcomes of this judgement: 1. Salvation - eternal communion WITH God. 2. Condemnation - that is permanent separation FROM God.

No matter what religion one believes, there are two possible outcomes from judgement - one ‘good’ and one ‘bad’. Christians, Jews, and Muslims are very specific - Heaven or Hell. It is going to be one or the other.

The question then is, “Which place am I going to?”

We want to believe that we (our loved ones and ourselves) are going to the ‘GOOD’ place. That is what we tell ourselves we are trying to ‘achieve’. The question is can we KNOW which way we are going?


No matter how fast we live our lives, Eternity is a Long, Long time - It would be nice to know where we will spend it!

COMMENTS (from previous posting)
loren said...

Hi David,

As I was reading this, it struck me just how signifiganet it is for us to know, in relation to the judgment, that Jesus died and rose from the dead.

As the firstborn from the dead, Jesus represents all that we really need to understand about the judgment. (I could quote Scriptures for this, but I'm trying to keep the concept open to others besides Chrisians.)

As the firstborn, He is the pattern; in Him is the assurance, if we are joined with Him; through Him is the leadership and the breakthrough itself. Clinging to Him is our life, even through death. And as He reigns we shall reign with Him. Life is not an end, but a new beginning through the One who loved us and gae Himself for us.

Also, a very interesting insight into the karma folks. Lots of people believe things without even knowing it.

Unarmed? Never!

At least one reader says that some of these articles read like a gospel tract. I take that as a compliment. I do not think I have the ‘gift’ of evangelism (Ephesians 4:11). I do think I, as all Christians, have a duty to evangelize (2 Timothy 4:5). We cannot bypass the instructions of the Risen Christ to share the gospel… (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47; John 20:21; Acts 1:8)

One should always be ‘armed’ and ready to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“But I don’t know HOW to share the gospel!” I have heard this sentence more than once. Start with the basics. “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as Your personal savior?” May not be the best way to start a conversation about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Although IT is interesting how it affects telemarketers. Try it and find out.)

Four things we should look at when considering being armed and the ‘how to’ of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The first is God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us to ‘honor God’ in whatever we do. Ephesians 6:18 appears at the end of the listing of the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17). It tells us to pray. Honor God; present yourself and your petition Him in prayer. Romans 1:16 and 2 Timothy 1:7 tell us not to fear, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

The Second is attitude. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.” (Amplified Bible) Notice the ‘attitude’ that Peter instructs us to have, “courteously and respectfully.” In other words, hitting someone over the head with a Bible big enough to choke a mule may not be the best approach.

The Third is opportunity. As discussed in ““The DaVinci Code” VS The Book”, Paul the apostle was an expert at using ‘objects of convenience’ (Acts 17:16-34) to share the Gospel. That is, starting or steering a conversation towards the Gospel of Jesus Christ based on circumstance. (Do NOT misunderstand, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not ‘situational ethics’ or anything other than morally absolute. The discussion is situational.) If one is talking about a movie, use movie topics to direct the conversation, not switch the topic to safety belts in cars. I am not sure I am explaining this well. The point is, try to make use of the circumstance to direct the conversation to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, instead of ‘interjecting’ a foreign topic.
Here is a real world kind of analogy. They say that there are more than a hundred weapons in any given room of any house. Anything can be used as a weapon. We know our ‘weapon’ is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). Start looking around the room, the house, your everyday life to find opportunities (that already exist) to use the weapon. [I have known people to use movies, books, golf, car safety, coffee cups, buying a DVD, a toothbrush, road conditions, food, the weather and others, all as opportunities to steer a conversation to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.] One has to practice the Boy Scout Motto, “Be Prepared”. Opportunities abound, casually, everyday if one looks.

The Fourth dovetails from the third. One can have all the opportunities in the world to share the Gospel. However, if one is ‘unarmed’ it does no good. Part of knowing how to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is knowing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We talked (“The DaVinci Code” VS The Book) about John 14:26 and the Holy Spirit bringing to remembrance the things we know. As stated then, one cannot remember something one has never learned.

One can honor God, pray, have the right attitude, and have abundant opportunities, but if one is still unarmed it is fruitless. So, let us learn the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Navigators [1] teach “one verse evangelism”. I like this approach - it is easier to be always armed. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is in one verse. While John 3:16 is always a good verse, not to mention Ephesians 2:8-9, the question is can we encapsulate the Gospel of Jesus Christ in one verse or passage that is easy to remember and share? (Watch how the verses mentioned ‘fit’ into one verse.)

The answer is Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

For the wages (Payment, Recompense, Reward) [2]

of sin (an offense against religious or moral law; transgression of the law; Romans 3:23)

is Death (,) (the end of life; Hebrews 9:27)

BUT (I love the comma in this verse, followed by the exception conjunction - it is The Hope of 1 Peter 3:15)

the gift (something voluntarily transferred without compensation; cannot be earned by rules, paths, dogmas, etc. ad nauseam; it is free to accept; John 3:16)

of God (as is instigated by God [in mercy] for humankind; Ephesians 2:8-9)

is eternal life (life without termination as opposed to damnation Revelation 20:15)

in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Life comes through Christ. John 14:6, 1 John 5:12)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That is a verse to read, study, memorize, bring to remembrance, and use… While I strongly advocate learning as much scripture as possible, knowing this verse will ensure one is never unarmed to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. [3]

Pray, have the right attitude, use every opportunity, and be armed to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I would have it said of me when I am gone, “That guy drove me nuts - no matter what we talked about we always ended up talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Rather than, “I didn’t even know he was a Christian.”

How about you - are you going to be unarmed again?


[1] "The Navigators" is a non-denominational evangelical Christian organization.

[2] Merriam Webster online dictionary uses Romans 6:23 as an example of the definition of "wage"

[3] The Navigators have a page titled “One Verse Evangelism” where they not only use Romans 6:23, but show a step by step example of how to illustrate it, and use it share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (There is no telling - until we get to heaven - how many people came into the family from the use of this simple, effective tool scribbled on a napkin, pizza box, note pad, or whatever.)

Dead Faith

Cleopas noted in the ‘comments’ of “How Simple Is That”, the unnamed thief is the only person who could literally say, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20a.

Here we talk about the four basics of Christianity, obey, glorify (worship), share the Gospel, and study the scriptures. [*]

Notice that all these things are actions. Obey, glorify, share, study are all verbs they require that we ‘do’ something. Christianity is not couch potato belief. Is your definition of Christianity is dusting off your Bible once a week, sitting for an hour in church? If so, there is a problem.

James 2:26 tells us, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Read that again, “faith without works is dead”.

Do not; do not equate salvation with works. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.

However, the very next verse (10) says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Titus 3:1 & 8,
“Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,” “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”

Matthew 7:15-20, ““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

“And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matthew 3:10

Does that mean one can lose salvation? No. Good works are evidence of life. That is a person that says, “I am a Christian” yet shows no evidence by works may not be truly a Christian.

It is not a judgement made here. God will judge. This is a reminder that the fruit we bear and the works we do know us, and show us to be what we are. Christianity is not a passive proposition. It is an active living relationship.

In fact, consider this; Christians are the only people in the world that are alive!
“...even when we were dead in trespasses (sin), made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” Ephesians 2:5 [Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; 1 Cor 15:56; James 1:15]

We should act like it.

What greater of evidence of life is there than performing C.P.R. on the dead by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ?







[*] John 2:5; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 1:16; Acts 17:11

How Simple Is That?

[This is an edit of an article originally Posted Monday 26 September 2005, titled: “What Was His Name? or How Simple Is That?]

‘Learned’ people, in religious circles, like to throw around 'big' words. Words like justification, sanctification, imputed, imparted, dogma, doctrine, and propitiation are just a few… That is fine, but these words often confuse. Sometimes when these types of conversations start, one feels like “a hog looking at a wrist watch”.

It gets murky quickly. The ‘gospel made simple’ becomes a confusingly litany of do and do not. [†] After re-reading this quote, “Any clear presentation of the gospel of grace would include the following in some measure:” followed by a list of twelve ‘necessary’ requirements. The ‘response’ to the gospel is a list of nine evidentiary requirements. In other words, to ‘present the gospel’ requires twelve elements - someone responding to the gospel would require nine elements of ‘evidence’. I decided to ‘re-post’ this (edited) article.

I am a K.I.S.S. person. K.I.S.S. is the acronym Keep It Simple I am Stupid. So let us K.I.S.S. this whole salvation ‘thing’, (with its 12 & 9 requirements) with a little Bible history lesson.

What was the name of the first person to die a ‘believer’? Who was it that first died believing that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and only through His crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection, one could receive salvation instead of being condemned and sent to hell?

Many people will say, “That is easy, it was Steven in Acts 7:60-8:2.” Um, wrong, Steven was the first recorded martyr, that is the first person executed for believing it, and teaching it. However, he was not the first one to die believing.

No, the first ‘believer’ to die was a thief. We do not even know his name. The Bible does not record his name… Just that he was the first.

Who was he and why is he important to us?

When Jesus was crucified (hung on a cross), He was crucified with two other men. The Bible tells us that they were thieves (convicted criminals). We read ‘their story’ in Luke 23:39-43.

One of the thieves reviled and mocked Jesus.

The other did not, in Luke 23:40-41, he defends Jesus, “But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”

He goes on in verse 42, “Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

This in the simplest terms is the ‘gospel of salvation’!

Was this some kind of ‘special’ salvation (as some religions claim)? Alternatively, was this the entire ‘gospel’ message in the K.I.S.S. format?

This is the K.I.S.S. ‘gospel’.

Let us look the ‘elements’ of the thief’s declaration.
The thief admitted that he deserved to be condemned, that he deserved to die for his own crimes (vs. 40 & 41).
The thief recognized Jesus’ was blameless (vs. 41).
The thief recognized that Jesus was ‘his’ master by using the title ‘Lord’ (vs. 42).
The thief recognized Jesus was more than just a man and in fact ‘The King’ (which meant The Messiah) (vs. 42).
The thief asked to be ‘remembered’ (vs. 42).

The thief admitted that he was getting ‘what he deserved’. The thief ‘knew’ because of his own actions, there was nothing but a guilty verdict and death. The thief ‘knew’ that the only way ‘out’ of his condemnation was Jesus Christ. That is, nothing the thief could do was worth anything, only Jesus’ actions could save him.

How did Jesus Christ answer this thief?

“And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”” Luke 23:43.

Jesus Christ saved the thief. This unnamed thief was the first person to die ‘believing’ the ‘whole’ “gospel of Jesus Christ the power of God for salvation”. He was the first ‘Christian’ to die. Ephesians 2:8-9, tells us it is not of ourselves, it is a gift. Jesus Christ did not ‘owe’ the thief anything; He gave the thief a place in ‘Paradise’.

That is the Promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ - believe and you will be saved!

This unnamed thief is important to us because his ‘profession and belief’ is the definition of salvation made simple.

It really is that simple…


[†] 2 Corinthians 11:3 reminds us that the gospel is simple. Here is simple - the entire “gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation” in one verse: Romans 6:23. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” WE deserve death, God is willing to gift us eternal life, the way is through Christ.

Again, it really is that simple…