Ministry of the Believers
July 6, 2024Growing up in God
July 6, 2024
Introduction to today’s class –
Bible Doctrines are important for more than just the obvious reason of needing to know God’s word for the sake of knowing scripture.
Theologians know scripture – but do they KNOW HIM?
The bible even says that Satan knows some of the Word of God – does that benefit him at all?
It benefits you as a Christian so that as it becomes part of you and who you are – you are able to go through life and accomplish all that you have to accomplish. The Word of God equips you and prepares you for what you will need in this world and the world to come. The bible calls this equipping “Perfecting”
Ephesians 4:12
King James Version
12: For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ
The greek word here once again as we previously talked about is kat ar tis mos – to be fit or prepared fully, completely furnished, equipped.
This is the last lesson on Bible Doctrines – we will be starting a new class next week. This is lesson 11 – Judgments –
Now before we get into this too much I wanted to just touch base on the thoughts that most Christians have about Judgment.
There are ministers today – big names that I could mention that teach that there is no judgment day coming.
Then of course there are others that teach only about judgment day.
This is why bible doctrines are important to know. Without knowing the word of God you may not know what someone is telling you is wrong or not.
Now we will be talking about the various types of judgments mentioned in the bible – but we need to just briefly touch on this point.
If there is no judgment from God then that means that there is no hell, if there is no hell then there is no need for salvation, if there is no need for salvation then Jesus did not have to die for our sins.
Yet let us say that again but in reverse… we know there was a thing called sin, that is a basic bible doctrine, we know Jesus had to die to give us salvation, that is also a basic bible doctrine, Salvation through Jesus and accepting God’s free gift of a new life – saves us from Hell, and so on… yet this is something that is taught incorrectly from several pulpits. There is a day of Judgment coming and there is a place called Hell. Thank God there is also a place called Heaven.
- This doctrine is the belief that Jesus will sit as judge over the entire world and every man woman at the end of the age.
- Acts 17:31
King James Version (KJV)
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
- It is called eternal Judgment because the sentences pronounced will not be changed.
- Three Judgments of the Bible
- The Cross – 2 Corinthians 5:21
King James Version (KJV)
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 Peter 2:24
King James Version (KJV)
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Talks of the Judgment of sin on the Cross
- The Judgment Seat of Christ
2 Corinthians 5:10
King James Version (KJV)
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.
We must all appear at the judgment seat of Christ, after the rapture during the time of the tribulation on earth.
- 1 Corinthians 3:11-15
King James Version (KJV)
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.
We understand that Good works are those not done in the name of Jesus.
Example –
- Great White Throne of Judgment – Revelation 20:1-5
King James Version (KJV)
20 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
This judgment is only for unbelievers because all the righteous will have already been judged by this time according to verse 4 and 5.
What about those people that have never heard the Gospel?
What about those men and women in the far off distant land that no one has gone to yet to teach the gospel to the people there? Is God going to judge them too?
Let me tell you a few stories I have heard.
When Keller was young, Anne Sullivan introduced her to Phillips Brooks, who then shared the gospel message of Jesus Christ with her. Keller is famous for stating:
“ I always knew He was there, but I didn’t know His name! “
Someone that was deaf and blind – said she always knew God was there – all she learned when she heard the Gospel was His name. Someone without any external senses was able to know that there was a God and the Gospel only confirmed it with her.
Missionary Story – Missionary traveled to speak in some far of land that he felt God was calling him to – at the open air meeting he heard a disturbance in the crowd at the very back as he was teaching. The translator told him to ignore it and keep teaching but eventually the noise grew too great to keep going and the missionary called the man to the front and the translator asked the man why he was causing such a racket… the man told them that – all his life he knew that there was a God that loved him – and now today he knows the name of that God.
Jesus – Mosques – Some time ago Pastor James brought a muslim woman into the bible class and said she was going to talk about islam and then we could ask a few questions of her before she left. Most were shocked, a few were outraged and I was puzzled knowing that there was something else behind what was going on… She tells the stories of friends and relatives from many muslim countries that people, men and women are getting visions of a man crucified on a cross, and dreams and visions of Jesus that are told their whole life – that Jesus was just a profit – now this is happening so often that there are for some time now – Jesus mosques where the bible is read and studied openly – and people are hearing about the plan of Salvation for the first time. I know of several in Jordan and there are people that are coming out of the false religions of the world because so many of them are having this experience.
Psalm 19
King James Version (KJV)
19 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
