On the sundial on the square in the city of Cologne, France, an inscription reads,
"Of all these hours, fear only one - the hour of judgment."
Many people are not concerned about that final hour. Many people scorn it. Many doubt it. Some claim to believe in the final day of judgment but try to minimize it by claiming that it is only an experience in this present life. Some even say that this coming judgment is only death itself.
Judgment is a biblical truth
Solomon taught it (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
David taught it (Psalms 96:13)
Jesus taught it (Matthew 11:21-24)
Paul taught it (Acts 24:25; Romans 14:15; Hebrews 9:27)
John taught it (Revelation 20:11,12)
Christ Himself will be the judge (John 5:22; Matthew 25:31-33; 2 Corinthians 5:10)
Christ will NOT judge us by:
...our sincerity (Acts 26:9)
Sincerity is a great attribute to possess, but it is not God's standard for judging us....our feelings (Acts 18:25)
Feelings are often misleading. Only feeling right in matters of religion is the standard by which we will be judged....man's religion (Matthew 15:9)
Many "religious" people are lost and will be lost on the day of judgment. It takes more than just being affiliated with a religion....man's morals (Acts 10:2,22)
Many say, "I live a good moral life, (so I will be saved)." Some have even said, "I live a more decent life than most Christians I know," implying that God will compare their life to a Christian's life and find them acceptable by comparison. While it is true that moral decency is requires of us, we need to remember that this is not the final standard that will judge us.What then will be our judge? Christ will judge us and God's word will be the standard of judgment (John 12:48; Romans 2:6; Revelation 20:12; Matthew 12:36,37)
On that great day many surprises are sure to take place
The certainty of that day.
Many who had rejected the day completely will be surprised to see that it is a reality.That all will be present (Romans 14:10)
The well-known Billy Graham has been known to say, "On the judgment day, don't expect to see me there, because I won't be present. Yes, it is a common view that the "saved" will not even appear before the great judgment seat of Christ on that day.That sins will be revealed.
Many hope this would not be the case and would like to avoid the thought of such, yet it will occur - sins that have not been rightly dealt with in God's eyes will be revealed.That some will be lost who felt they were saved (Matthew 7:21).
As noted previously, it takes more than "feeling" a sense of salvation.That some will be saved whom others felt would be lost.
A common example of this error is the fact that so many in the religious world feel that babies come into this world guilty of sin, and hence will be lost. How erroneous an idea in light of the scriptures.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Psalms 96:13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Matthew 11:21-24
21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Romans 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Revelation 20:11,12
11 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.John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Matthew 25:31-33
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.2 Corinthians 5:10 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.
Acts 26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts 18:25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Acts 10:2,22
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.John 12:48 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.
Romans 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Matthew 12:36,37
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.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.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
