Eeyore's News and View

The Judgment Seat of Christ and it's importance

Modern day Christianity seems rather quick to criticize the wicked state of the world. Yet, we frequently fail to acknowledge that many of the world’s woes have begun from within the church. For this reason, the Apostle Peter admonishes the people of God that true judgment must begin at our own doorstep.

I Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Since God no longer dwells in buildings made with hands, we must begin the judgment where He dwells today. He dwells within each and every believer and we must begin judgment from within. However, false teachings have aided carnal Christians by helping them ignore the truth.

A false premise taught in many churches today says that the worst thing that can happen to a Christian at the Judgment Seat of Christ is simply the loss of rewards. This teaching is perpetrated upon the church because of the misunderstanding of the following passage.

I Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 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.

Notice that the Christian will either receive a reward or suffer loss. But to say that this is the only outcome would contradict the very well known doctrine of sowing and reaping.

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Preachers that teach that our loss of rewards is the extent of our suffering at the Judgment Seat of Christ are mocking God and are deceived by the Devil. Since sowing to the Spirit will reap life everlasting in the next life….sowing to the flesh will reap something in the next life too — corruption. What will be the loss spoken of in the previous passage? There are many Christians that think they are getting away with their sin because they continue in it for so long. Sin has a consequence attached to it and we cannot determine what the outcome will be.

The verse says that one that sows to the flesh shall "of" the flesh reap corruption! It does not say that they will necessarily reap the full corruption "in" the flesh. Those that sow to the Spirit shall …reap life everlasting. When does the Christian reap life everlasting? Of course, in heaven (if we faint not)! When will the faint Christian reap the corruption of the flesh? At the Judgment Seat of Christ. Preachers that teach that we need only be concerned with losing our rewards are making a mockery of God and are deceived.

In order to understand this truth more fully, the first thing we need to identify is the difference between standing and state. A Christian’s standing is unalterable; his state is ever changing. A saved person is destined for heaven which is a reflection of their standing and a result of their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. On the other hand, a Christian’s state is ever changing — as a result of their walk (either obediently or disobediently). For instance, a Christian can never be condemned to hell. But this does not mean that no condemnation can come upon a Christian’s life.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The verse promises no condemnation for the Christian who walks after the Spirit. But the same verse implies that there is condemnation if the individual determines to walk after the flesh. The condemnation has nothing to do with the standing of the Christian, but everything to do with his state. Just because our standing is guaranteed does not mean that we will not have to give an account of how we have lived following salvation.

Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 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.

What are we going to have to confess before God? What are we going to have to give an account of? Following are five areas that we will give an account.

1. We will give account of every word we speak.

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Christians will give an account for every idle (useless) word spoken. We fail to appreciate how powerful our words are and how wicked our tongue (James 3:5-6) Christians should learn how to "hold their tongue." To many times we speak without thinking; we complain without considering; we discuss without knowing. We are going to give an account for every idle word we speak. We should think about what we say and consider the effects of what we say before we speak.

2. We will give an account of our lives lived.

I Timothy 5:24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. 25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

How does a Christian have their sins go "before to judgment" and why do some men’s sins follow after? The verse also says that the good works of some are manifest beforehand for others to see, but when God reveals everything at the judgment, nothing will be hid. Again we must consider the difference between our standing and state. There is no condemnation in your standing — you cannot lose your salvation; however, there is condemnation in your state.

3. We will give an account of our stewardship.

Luke 16:1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

Who are the stewards today? It can only be Christians. Paul tells us: Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (I Corinthians 4:2). This is the only usage of the word required in all of the Church Age epistles. God gives us one requirement today…faithfulness! Faithfulness covers every aspect of the Christian’s life — church attendance, giving, praying, witnessing, etc. Faithfulness covers every aspect of the Christian walk. God does not have to say a lot — He expresses volumes in simple truths.

What type of steward are you? Are you a good steward of the mystery. Are you a good steward of the word of God? Are you a good steward of men’s souls? We fail to grasp the eternal consequences of our actions. We do not fear the day when we will stand in judgment.

4. Those in positions of authority will give an account.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Maybe at the Judgment Seat of Christ there will be those that accuse the Christian because of his lack of service.

5. We will give an account of our witnessing.

Ezekiel 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

God will require us to give an account of our faithfulness in warning the lost of their sinful condition. Can you make the same statement as the Apostle Paul? He made the statement that he was pure from the blood of all men.

Acts 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

The Apostle Paul says that he was pure from the blood of all men. The book of Ezekiel warns us to warn the wicked of his wickedness so that he can change his wicked ways. Pilate tried to wash his hands of the blood that was upon them. We cannot wash the blood off of our hands any more than Pilate could clean himself up.

Maybe when we get to heaven we will be re-introduced to all those that we could have and should have witnessed to and the blood of them will be on our hands and we will attempt to wipe it off on the unspotted garments provided to us because of the blood of Jesus Christ. We are going to have white garments given to us like His. Maybe our sin will pollute our garments.

How do our lives affect the Judgment Seat of Christ? The loss at the judgment seat of Christ may deal with our clothing. Verse 10 in the following passage refers to the Judgment Seat of Christ, but the entire context discusses how a person is clothed.

II Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Verse one discusses our tabernacle in the heavens. Verse two reveals that this tabernacle refers to how we will be clothed. Verse six confidently affirms that while we are absent from the Lord we are clothed with this mortal body. Furthermore, Paul confidently affirms that he is willing to be absent from the body and present with the Lord and because of this fact, he labored (next verse).

9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 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.

Verse 9 says we labour in order to be accepted of him. We are already positionally accepted (our standing). Ephesians drives home this point even further.

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ makes us accepted in the beloved — standing. However, verse 9 is not referring to our standing, but instead refers to our state. The verse is talking about our walk, our work and our life. Verse 10 continues by telling us that we will receive the things done in our bodies!!!

Because of the preachers understanding of the terror of the Lord, we should be warning Christians to live for God. God is not mocked. We are not "getting away with our sin" down here. The Christian says, "But I am forgiven." Yes, praise God you are forgiven. Praise God! I’m forgiven. You’re forgiven! Every Christian is forgiven. But God is not mocked…whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Christians playing fast and loose with the things of God is a big deal. Can you imagine standing before the righteous God of the universe? You will then have a fuller understanding of the meaning of receiving the things done in your body. Shamefully, Christians today are blind and naked to the truth.

Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Nakedness is a shame. We are told that there will be those in heaven ashamed. In our wicked, degenerated form of Christianity, we have Christians that think they are doing so good just because they make it to church on Sunday morning (and maybe that evening and even Wednesday too). There is much more to faithfulness than simply going to church to "punch your card." God is not mocked. We cannot do as we please. To many Christians act as though they have God’s hands tied behind His back because they are saved. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men! All I want to do is persuade you to live for Jesus…live for Jesus…live for Jesus. There is nothing else that matters. Back to the shame of thy nakedness. How many Christians fail to truly understand the importance of diligent Bible study?

II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Apostle Paul will have the privilege of presenting the church (the bride of Christ) to the Lord Jesus Christ. He will present us as a chaste virgin to Him.

II Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

We are the bride of Christ. Because of Paul’s ministry to the church, he is going to present the church to Christ. But notice that at the marriage supper of the Lamb we will come to it dressed in our righteousness.

Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

We are saved by the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:9), but rewarded based on our own righteousness. That means that our standing is determined by the righteousness of Jesus Christ, but our state by our own righteousness. Our work is related to righteousness. The fine linen that will clothe us individually is the righteousness of saints. Revelation chapter 16 talks about keeping the garment.

Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

We have a garment given to us. It is white, clean and beautiful because of what the Lord did for us at the cross of Calvary. Another connection of being ashamed and righteousness is found in First John.

I John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Colossians gives some final clarification concerning the Church. Paul speaks of the presentation of the individual Christian in verse 22, but qualifies his remarks with the word "if" in verse 23.

Colossians 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

IF!!! Paul speaks of warning every man so that he may present every man perfect (complete).

Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Those that claim that Christians need only be concerned with a loss of rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ never consider that the Bible clearly points out that we will receive for the wrong too. What kind of garment will you have (for all eternity)? Or will you be naked? God is not mocked. We are joint-heirs with Christ IF…(Romans 8:17, II Timothy 2:12). We are not JUST going to lose our rewards…we are going to receive something too.

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

The Bible clearly teaches that the Judgment Seat of Christ for an unfaithful Christian is not just a matter of losing rewards. Christians will receive something too. What may that be? My purpose is to warn every believer based on my knowledge of what the Bible says about the terror of the Lord and the fact that God is not mocked. Christian, won’t you make a renew your commitment to Him?
http://www.biblebelievers.com/stauffer/stauffer_judgment-seat.html

Mississippi most religious, Vermont least, survey says
By Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service
WASHINGTON — Want to be almost certain you'll have religious neighbors? Move to Mississippi. Prefer to be in the least religious state? Venture to Vermont.
A new Gallup Poll, based on more than 350,000 interviews, finds that the Magnolia State is the one where the most people — 85% — say yes when asked "Is religion an important part of your daily life?"
Less than half of Vermonters, meanwhile — 42% — answered that same question in the affirmative.
Joining Mississippi in the top "most religious" states are other notches in the Bible Belt: Alabama (82%), South Carolina (80%), Tennessee (79%), Louisiana (78%), and Arkansas (78%).
New England predominates in the top "least religious" states: Following Vermont are New Hampshire (46%), Maine (48%), Massachusetts (48%), Alaska (51%) and Washington (52%).
"Clearly, states in the South in particular, but also some states in the Southwest and Rocky Mountains ... have very religious residents and New England states in particular, coupled with states like Alaska and others, are irreligious," said Frank Newport, editor-in-chief of The Gallup Poll.
The reasons why, however, are far less clear, observers said.
For example, some might attribute the religiosity of Mississippi to the high percentage of African-Americans — long known for being comparatively highly religious — who live there.
"Mississippi is still No. 1, even if we look only at whites," said Newport. "Whites in Mississippi are also very religious."
Overall, Gallup researchers found that 65% of all Americans said religion was important in their daily lives. The total sample of 355,334 U.S. adults, including respondents with land-line telephones and cellular phones, had a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage point. Some states had margins of error as high as plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Newport was surprised that one state — Utah — did not make the "most religious" list, given the state's large Mormon population.
"They apparently have two kinds of people in the state," he said. "They have the very religious and devout Mormon population but it also looks like they have a lot of nonreligious people."
Mark Silk, director of the Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life, said Gallup's findings reflect research conclusions from the upcoming American Religious Identification Survey, which he is working on with other scholars.
"New England is now slightly ahead of the Pacific Northwest in terms of the high rate of unchurched people," said Silk, co-author of One Nation, Divisible: How Regional Religious Differences Shape American Politics.
Although evangelicalism may be making some inroads in Western states like Washington and Oregon, he attributes the predominance of New England states in the "least religious" category more other demographic trends in the Northeast.
"What we are finding ... is a considerable drop in New England in the Catholic population," said Silk, whose center is based in Hartford, Conn.
And it's a matter of them moving away from the church, he said, not the region. "Catholics are holding their own nationwide because of Latino immigration but, relatively speaking, there's little of that in New England."
Silk suspects some Catholics have left the church because of the Catholic sex abuse scandal that first erupted in Boston, which "kind of pushed some sort of relatively loose affiliation Catholics over the edge."
For his part, Newport said Catholics overall no longer are more religious than the average American — when it comes to stating the importance of religion or in attending church services —— but it's hard to specify exactly why New England states figure so prominently in the "least religious" states.
"They're about average and that's a change," he said. "It used to be you'd find Catholics significantly higher. ... I don't know to what degree that would affect what's going on in New England."

RELIGIOUS STATES

Following is Gallup's entire list of states, in order of what percentage of respondents said religion is "an important part" of their daily lives:

• Mississippi: 85%
• Alabama: 82%
• South Carolina: 80%
• Tennessee: 79%
• Louisiana: 78%
• Arkansas: 78%
• Georgia: 76%
• North Carolina: 76%
• Oklahoma: 75%
• Kentucky: 74%
• Texas: 74%
• West Virginia: 71%
• Kansas: 70%
• Utah: 69%
• Missouri: 68%
• Virginia: 68%
• South Dakota: 68%
• North Dakota: 68%
• Indiana: 68%
• Nebraska: 67%
• New Mexico: 66%
• Pennsylvania: 65%
• Florida: 65%
• Maryland: 65%
• Ohio: 65%
• Iowa: 64%
• Minnesota: 64%
• Illinois: 64%
• Michigan: 64%
• Delaware: 61%
• Wisconsin: 61%
• District of Columbia: 61%
• Idaho: 61%
• Arizona: 61%
• New Jersey: 60%
• Wyoming: 58%
• Colorado: 57%
• Hawaii: 57%
• California: 57%
• Montana: 56%
• New York: 56%
• Connecticut: 55%
• Nevada: 54%
• Rhode Island: 53%
• Oregon: 53%
• Washington: 52%
• Alaska: 51%
• Massachusetts: 48%
• Maine: 48%
• New Hampshire: 46%
• Vermont: 42%
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-01-29-faith-state-survey_N.htm

NBC trashes pro-life ad featuring Obama
Network refuses to run Catholic commercial during Super Bowl
By Chelsea Schilling
© 2009 WorldNetDaily
NBC has rejected a pro-life ad that celebrates President Barack Obama's mother's decision not to abort the first black American president for its Super Bowl lineup – even though the video has skyrocketed in popularity with almost 750,000 hits on YouTube.
The commercial, sponsored by the pro-life Catholic group Fidelis and its CatholicVote website, begins with an ultrasound image of a baby moving in his mother's womb.
"This child's future is a broken home," it says.
"He will be abandoned by his father."
"His single mother will struggle to raise him."
"Despite the hardships, he will endure," the ad states. "This child will become the first African American president."
It features a photo of President Obama and concludes, "Life. Imagine the potential."
The organization website states that it launched its "Life: Imagine the Potential" campaign "to reach Americans who are either indifferent, or who have not yet thought about the great potential of every human life."
President Obama's agenda regarding "reproductive choice" is posted on the White House website. It states, Obama "has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Adminstration."
However, an NBC representative said the network is not interested in the commercial.
After days of discussion, the representative told Fidelis that NBC and the NFL will not run commercials involving "political advocacy or issues," Fidelis said in a statement today.
The video has become increasingly popular since it first ran on Black Entertainment Television in Chicago on Inauguration Day.
Fidelis President Brian Burch told the Washington Times that NBC was working with the company to purchase a commercial package in the nation's top 10 markets and four additional cities at the cost of $1.5 million to $1.8 million.
"We put out the call to our members and large pro-life benefactors who told us they would put up significant dollars to make this happen," Burch said. "I was told the ad was approved and then there were a number of attorneys working on it."
But he said NBC later reversed its decision.
"Then I was told they didn't want to run political or advocacy ads," Burch told the Times.
He claims that while NBC told his organization it would not allow advocacy ads, the network told PETA something entirely different when it rejected the group's sexually explicit commercial showing women having intimate moments with vegetables.
"There's no doubt that PETA is an advocacy group," Burch said in his statement. "NBC rejected PETA's ad for another reason altogether."
An e-mail posted on PETA's website from Victoria Morgan, vice president of advertising standards for NBC Universal, said: "The PETA spot submitted to Advertising Standards depicts a level of sexuality exceeding our standards."
Morgan provided "edits that need to be made" before the spot could be finalized to run during the Super Bowl.
"NBC claims it doesn't allow advocacy ads, but that's not true," Burch said. "They were willing to air an ad by PETA if they would simply tone down the sexual suggestiveness. Our ad is far less provocative, and hardly controversial by comparison."
He said, unlike the salacious PETA commercial, the pro-life ad is clean and has a positive message.
"There is nothing objectionable in this positive, life-affirming advertisement," Burch said. "We show a beautiful ultrasound, something NBC's parent company GE has done for years. We congratulate Barack Obama on becoming the first African-American President. And we simply ask people to imagine the potential of every human life."
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=87440