The Judgement of God

(Rev 20:11-15) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. -12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. -13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. -14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. -15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Our subject this morning is The Judgement of God - Because God is a God of mercy and His great love has been shed abroad, many tend to forget that He also is a God of Judgement and Justice. You will answer to God for the way that you choose to live in this world and for the attitude that you keep toward Him. Every one is judged according to their works. (Isa 30:18) And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. As we study this subject today, you should be able to understand that your God is aware of not only all the things that you do, but also why you do them and that He judges you according to your works. You will see by the Bible that you stand in the presence of almighty God and He holds you accountable for your decisions and actions. You will give account to God whether you want to or not. God does the judging Himself. There is no opportunity to change your way of life after death.

The first point that we want you to understand is that everyone will give an account to God whether they want to or not. (Isa 45:23) I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

(Rom 14:11) For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. This is God's word and there is no way to avoid it. Every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess to God. Think about that! You will Bow, I will bow, your family will bow, your friends will bow, your enemies will bow. This is one great event that no one escapes. You will confess, I will confess, every one will confess. What manner of persons ought we to be knowing that our lives become an open book before the God of the universe?

You are judged by God according to your works. You are not judged according to your beliefs. You are not judged according to your church. You are not judged according to your family. You are not judged according to your country. But, you are judged according to your works. Think of the meaning of this expression. God says you are judged according to your works. Somehow people get the idea that they can live any way they want and that God will overlook it because faith is all that is needed. But, just because Satan appears to be an angel does not make him one. He is still the devil and there is a place prepared for him called hell. (2 Cor 11:14-15) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. -15. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

In chapters two and three of Revelation where Jesus was addressing the spiritual needs of the churches, he used the expression - I know thy works. Seven letters are recorded here to seven different churches identifying seven different spiritual needs. And to each church, Jesus, reminded them that He was aware of their works. His emphasis on their works shows us the importance of our works. To say and do not is a very empty, hollow testimony. Your Lord is looking for servants that say and do the right things and He is judging you accordingly. He is aware of your works. He knows what you love. He knows what things are of value to you. He knows the extent of your faith. He knows the extent of your patience and courage. He knows your obedience to the Holy Spirit. He knows the extent of your living a holy life. He knows your spiritual temperature whether you are on fire for God, lukewarm, or cold. He is completely aware of your spiritual condition and He offers you the chance to repent today. If you will repent and do the right works, He will receive you into His fold. He will cleanse you, protect you, strengthen you, encourage you, and guide you into a holy, godly, life. The choice is yours and your works do follow your life whether they be good or whether they be evil.

As surely as Jesus knew the works of the seven churches, so He knows your works today. And, as He wrote to them, He speaks to you today in the hope that you will come to your senses and start on the path of good works that are acceptable to Him. (Mat 12:25) And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: (Luke 6:8) But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. Jesus also knows your thoughts. He knows what you are thinking and why you are thinking it. Nothing is hidden from Him. All things are open and naked before God. You live in the presence of God and that is a great blessing.

Our text tells us that you are judged according to your works out of those things which were written in the books. Also Daniel tells us in (Dan 7:9-10) I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. -10. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. The judgment was set, the books are opened. What books are we talking about? Jesus told us in (John 12:47-49) And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. -48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. -49. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And so we can see that we are judged by the Word of God. Jesus often referred to the scriptures that are recorded in the Old Testament and the New Testament is the history and teachings of Jesus. (Mat 24:35) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Jesus says that we are judged by those words. Therefore, the books referred to in Daniel and Revelation must mean the books of the Bible. You are judged according to the things written in those books.

Knowing this you have opportunity to have your case judged now. That is the plan of salvation. You realize that you have transgressed against the law of God. Then you go to God and put yourself on His mercy. He hears your confession and repentance and forgives you your transgressions. Those transgressions will never come up against you again as long as you continue to live for God. (Ezek 33:14-16) Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; -15. If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. -16. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. Thank God for this day of salvation that we now live in. Today, if you will turn from your sin, confess and repent of it, you can enjoy the mercy of God and avoid a terrible judgment in the future.

At the same time if you fail to continue to do that which is lawful and right, God will forget your righteousness. (Ezek 33:13) When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. This is the Word of God that all people are judged by. This is not my idea or the theology of some, but it is the Word of God. Heaven and earth will pass away but the word of God will stand forever. It is the sure thing that will judge every man. (Mat 24:35) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. God's judgment comes to us through His Word. It is this process of preaching God's Word in the Church that keeps us under the judgment of God. We live in a time when many do not faithfully preach the judgment of God and as a result they are being rejected by God. (Isa 1:21-27) How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. -22. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: -23. Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. -24. Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: -25. And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: -26. And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. -27. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. As a minister of God, I have a great responsibility to preach the judgment of God. If I fail to do that God will hold me accountable. It is an understanding of God's judgment that gives you the opportunity to choose to live right. Consider the instruction in (Isa 58:1) Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. This is God's instructions to the preachers. We are to cry aloud. We are to show you your sins. We are not here to make excuse for you or to pamper you into thinking that your sin is OK. No! We are to cry aloud and show you your transgressions of God's law for it is God's law that you are judged by.

The Word of God is very powerful in judging you. (Heb 4:12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Because of this ability of God's Word we spend our time and energy to preach it, teach it, study it, and understand it. This is the emphasis of our congregation - to help every one understand the Word of God. It is powerful enough to completely change a persons life form one of sin to one of righteousness. It is powerful enough to transform your life. If you will learn it, study it, listen to it, respect it, and give it place in your heart it will make a new creature out of you. It will show you every place that you are right and it will show you every place that you are wrong. It will judge you and give you opportunity to do the right thing now here in this life.

There are a number of reasons that people give for being ignorant of God's Word. We see in (Isa 29:11-14) And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: -12. And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. -13. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: -14. Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. So you can see that it is your heart that God is judging. If you really love God and want to learn His Word, you can. I have a friend that never went to school beyond third grade. He never learned to read or to write. If he needs to fill out a form, he will take it home and have his wife or children do it for him. He cannot read the newspaper. Yet, he is one of the most knowledgeable men concerning the Bible that I have ever known. He can read the Bible very well and he knows it from one end to the other. How is this possible? He became converted many years ago and in his heart he wanted to learn about God and to please God. So he began to study and to learn and has never quit. After all it is God's Word that will judge you. Should you not know as much about it as possible?

We see in (Rev 5:1-11) And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. -2. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? -3. And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. -4. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. -5. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. -6. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. -7. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. -8. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. -9. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; -10. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. -11. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; If the Bible seems to you to be a book that is sealed, then come to the one that opens the seals - Jesus. He will open your understanding and you will know what he desires you to do. Take advantage of this opportunity while you can for the time comes when there will be no more chance for repentance.

(Rev 22:10-17) And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. -11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. -12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. -13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. -14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. -15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. -16. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. -17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The Judgement of God - We have seen that Because God is a God of mercy and His great love has been shed abroad, many tend to forget that He also is a God of Judgement and Justice. Remember that you will answer to God for the way that you choose to live in this world and for the attitude that you keep toward Him. Every one is judged according to their works. for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. As we studied this subject today, you should now be able to understand that your God is aware of not only all the things that you do, but also why you do them and that He judges you according to your works. You have seen by the Bible that you stand in the presence of almighty God and He holds you accountable for your decisions and actions. You will give account to God whether you want to or not. God does the judging Himself. There is no opportunity to change your way of life after death.