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Why can believers have hope even in adversity? Listen to this message to understand that biblical hope is a confident expectation based on God's promises and our eternal destiny. Hear why God allows trials in the believer's life and how endurance produces spiritual maturity. See the connection between hope, perseverance, and the Judgment Seat of Christ. Find out why living in light of eternity changes how we face suffering.
Explore the powerful and often misunderstood parables at the end of the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24–25. In this discussion, Brother George and guest Peter Lynch examine the parables of the Faithful and Evil Servant, the Ten Virgins, the Talents, and the Sheep and the Goats. Discover how these teachings relate to judgment, obedience, salvation, rewards, and preparedness for Christ's return. Learn surprising facts about Judgment Day as well as future prophetic events the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the Judgment Seat of Christ, and the Great White Throne Judgment. There is much more to these fascinating parables than you thought! #OlivetDiscourse #FaithfulandEvilServant #TenVirgins #TheTalents #SheepandtheGoats #Judgment #JudgmentDay Bible Made Easy Podcast: Bible based lessons through the lens of God's eternal love for humanity and His desire to reconcile all things to Himself. Peter Lynch Channel https://youtube.com/@peterlynchchannel?si=vot9t6FsDtPTKnCi Endtime Timeline Poster https://www.thebiblemadeeasypodcast.com/endtime-timeline
The Great White Throne Judgment: The Final, Dreadful, and Eternal Reckoning of the Wicked Dead In the majestic and awe-inspiring closing visions of the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John, carried along by the powerful inspiration of the Holy Spirit, beholds a series of breathtaking scenes that unveil the final consummation of all things and the eternal destiny of every soul. Following the glorious thousand-year reign of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the earth, after the last desperate and futile rebellion of Satan, and after the complete and utter defeat of Gog and Magog with fire from heaven, the divine spotlight turns with solemn intensity upon the most terrifying and irreversible event in all of human history: the Great White Throne Judgment. This is the ultimate, final, and most dreadful courtroom of the entire universe, where every single soul that has ever died in unbelief, impenitence, and open rebellion against the living God will be supernaturally raised from the dead, solemnly examined with perfect scrutiny, and eternally sentenced according to the flawless, unerring, and infinitely holy justice of Almighty God. Revelation 20:11-15 stands as one of the most sobering, heart-shaking, conscience-piercing, and fear-inducing passages in all of Holy Scripture, a passage that should cause every reader to tremble and every unrepentant sinner to flee without delay to the mercy of the cross. The full text of this profoundly solemn and eternally weighty passage, as given in the inspired and infallible Word of God, reads as follows in its complete and unbroken form: “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. 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. 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” This tightly woven, divinely inspired passage forms a self-contained and climactic unit that brings the entire millennial section of the Book of Revelation to its dreadful, everlasting, and irreversible close. It follows immediately after the final casting of Satan, the devil, into the lake of fire where he will be tormented day and night forever and ever. It stands just before the glorious and radiant unveiling of the new heavens and the new earth in which righteousness dwells. The context is saturated with absolute finality, divine justice, and the irreversible nature of eternity. The redeemed saints of all ages have already participated joyfully in the blessed first resurrection and have reigned triumphantly with Christ for a full thousand years. Those who now appear trembling before the throne are precisely “the rest of the dead” who “lived not again until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:5). The old creation, stained and cursed by sin, is even now dissolving before our eyes, and every unsaved soul must now give a full, terrifying, and inescapable account before the burning, all-seeing holiness of Almighty God. Let us now carefully, reverently, and thoroughly exposit this passage verse by verse, drawing out its rich and multifaceted meaning through the original Greek language where it adds vivid force and eternal impact, through the surrounding biblical context, and through the weighty, soul-stirring eternal truths it so powerfully proclaims to every generation. The Scene (Revelation 20:11) “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.” The apostle John begins this vision with the majestic and familiar apocalyptic declaration “And I saw” (Kai eidon), words that immediately signal the introduction of a fresh, breathtaking, overwhelming, and panoramic heavenly vision that seizes both the apostle's enraptured gaze and our own hearts with a profound sense of holy dread and reverent awe. What suddenly bursts upon his enraptured sight is nothing less than the supreme, final, and most glorious tribunal of the entire created universe: “a great white throne” (thronon megan leukon). This throne is described as megan—vast beyond all human imagination or comprehension, majestic in unrivaled dignity and splendor, and clothed with overwhelming, absolute, and unchallenged sovereign authority. It towers infinitely and eternally above every earthly court of law, every royal palace, and every seat of human government or power that has ever existed. It is leukon—brilliantly, purely, dazzlingly, and radiantly white—symbolizing in the most vivid way possible the spotless, unapproachable, and infinite holiness together with the flawless, unblemished, and perfect righteousness of God Himself. No shadow of injustice, no whisper of partiality or favoritism, no trace of corruption or bribery can ever approach, touch, or stain its gloriously radiant surface. It glows and pulses with the blazing, consuming purity of the One who is eternally “light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Seated in awesome, majestic, and terrifying splendor upon this throne is “him that sat on it” (ton kathemenon ep' autou). Though not explicitly named in this particular verse, the consistent, harmonious voice of all Holy Scripture clearly identifies this enthroned and sovereign Judge as the Lord Jesus Christ Himself—the very One to whom the Father has committed all judgment without exception (John 5:22, 27). It is the same pierced and crucified Savior who once hung in agony upon the cross as the meek and lowly Lamb of God, now appearing in indescribable glory and power as the exalted Lion of the tribe of Judah and the righteous, eternal Judge of all the earth (Acts 17:31). From His glorious and unveiled face—“from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away” (ephugen ho ouranos kai he ge apo tou prosopou autou)—the entire created cosmos recoils in utter panic-stricken terror and helpless flight. The powerful Greek verb ephugen paints a vivid, dramatic picture of frantic, desperate, and uncontrollable flight, as though the whole vast universe is fleeing away like a terrified servant before the blazing anger and consuming holiness of its rightful Master. The material heavens and earth, which have groaned and travailed together in pain for long ages under the heavy curse and bondage of sin (Romans 8:22), simply cannot endure or withstand the unveiled, searing, and infinite holiness of the incarnate Son of God. “And there was found no place for them” (kai topos ouch heurethe autois). No towering mountain can hide the guilty. No vast ocean can swallow them up or conceal their shame. No dark cavern, no remote corner of the universe, and no hiding place anywhere offers the slightest refuge or shelter. The old creation completely and obediently dissolves in trembling submission to make way for the new heavens and the new earth, soon to be revealed in all their pristine and eternal glory. Behold this scene in all its terrifying majesty and cosmic grandeur: the Judge's holy countenance shines with such consuming, blinding splendor that the very stars vanish from the sky, the mountains melt like wax before the fire, and the fabric of the universe itself flees away in helpless panic. There is absolutely no escape, no delay, and no hiding place anywhere for the guilty. This is the awe-inspiring, universe-shaking, cosmic backdrop against which the final judgment of all the wicked dead will now unfold in solemn and eternal detail. The Subjects (Revelation 20:12) “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.” With the majestic, terrifying, and holy scene now vividly established, the apostle John solemnly describes the vast multitude of those who must appear before this awesome throne: “the dead, small and great” (tous nekrous tous megalous kai tous mikrous). This innumerable host includes every single human being who has ever lived and died without Christ—from the mightiest emperors, renowned philosophers, and world conquerors of history to the poorest peasants, nameless slaves, and long-forgotten souls in obscure corners of the earth. The term nekrous powerfully and solemnly underscores their former dreadful and hopeless condition: they were spiritually dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1), and physically dead and decaying in the grave. Now they are resurrected—not unto glorious and eternal life, but solely and exclusively to stand condemned and trembling before the righteous Judge. They “stand before God” (hestanda enopion tou theou) in solemn, trembling, and inescapable accountability. They do not sit as honored guests or relaxed observers; they stand as helpless, guilty defendants before the bar of infinite holiness and perfect justice. All earthly distinctions, privileges, and ranks vanish instantly: kings and beggars, the rich and the poor, the famous and the obscure—all stand equally naked, exposed, and without a single defense. Then the books are dramatically and solemnly opened: “the books were opened” (kai biblia eneochthesan). These are the perfect, unerring, and exhaustive records of God's infinite omniscience—containing every single thought, every idle word, every secret deed, every hidden motive, every act of open rebellion, and every neglected opportunity for repentance. Nothing is lost in the mists of time, forgotten, exaggerated, or diminished by even the slightest degree. “And another book was opened, which is the book of life” (kai allo biblion eneochthe, ho estin tes zoes). This is the precious, blood-bought Lamb's Book of Life, the eternal and unchangeable roll call of all who have been redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb (Revelation 13:8; 21:27). The dead “were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (ek ton gegrammenon en tois bibliois kata ta erga auton). For the unredeemed, their own accumulated works rise up as silent but utterly damning witnesses against them, proving beyond any shadow of doubt the universal guilt declared throughout Scripture: “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). The Significance (Revelation 20:13-14) “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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” The resurrection is total, universal, complete, and absolutely inescapable. “The sea gave up the dead which were in it” (kai edoken he thalassa tous nekrous tous en aute)—even those whose bodies were lost in the darkest ocean depths, shipwrecked, or dissolved into nothingness over centuries are raised whole, intact, and fully conscious. “Death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them” (kai ho thanatos kai ho hades edokan tous nekrous tous en autois). Death releases the bodies it has claimed; Hades surrenders the disembodied spirits it has held in waiting. Every single prisoner is freed without exception for this final, terrifying accounting. “They were judged every man according to their works” (ekrithesan hekastos kata ta erga auton)—a perfectly personal, individual, thorough, and unanswerably just judgment. Then comes the climactic declaration of finality and eternal victory: “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” (kai ho thanatos kai ho hades eblethesan eis ten limnen tou pyros. Houtos ho thanatos ho deuteros estin). Here we must clearly, carefully, and biblically distinguish the First Resurrection from the Second Death if we are to grasp the full weight and significance of this moment. The First Resurrection, described in detail earlier in this same chapter, is the glorious and blessed rising of all the righteous saints of every age: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6). These blessed and holy ones rise to glorious life, priestly service, and triumphant reigning with Christ, enjoying complete and eternal immunity from all judgment and condemnation. The Second Death, however, is the lake of fire itself—the final, conscious, unending, and irreversible torment and eternal separation from the presence of God for all who die without Christ. It is not annihilation, cessation of existence, or temporary punishment. Scripture repeatedly describes those confined there as being “tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10; see also Revelation 14:11 and Mark 9:44-48). The first death is physical, temporary, and universal; the second death is spiritual, eternal, conscious, and reserved only for the impenitent. Those who share by faith in the First Resurrection escape the Second Death forever because the Lord Jesus Christ has already borne their full judgment and condemnation in His own body on the tree. Those who reject Him will experience both deaths in their fullest, most horrifying measure. How infinitely, eternally, and gloriously better it is to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ—the Bema Seat described in 2 Corinthians 5:10—than to stand condemned before this Great White Throne of terrifying justice! At the Bema Seat, believers, already washed in the atoning blood and forever accepted in the Beloved, have their works examined only for the purpose of rewards and commendation, never for condemnation or loss of salvation. Christ has fully and completely borne our judgment at Calvary: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). We may lose certain rewards through unfaithfulness, yet we ourselves are saved “so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15). At the Great White Throne there is no Advocate, no covering blood of the Lamb, and no possibility of mercy—only the damning books of works and the horrifying, eternal absence of one's name from the Book of Life. The Sentence (Revelation 20:15) “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” The sentence falls with devastating, irreversible, and terrifying finality and simplicity: “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (ei tis ouch heurethe en te biblo tes zoes gegrammenos eblethe eis ten limnen tou pyros). No appeal is possible. No second chance is granted. No mitigation or end is ever offered. The lake of fire—originally prepared for the devil and his fallen angels (Matthew 25:41)—becomes the everlasting, conscious abode of every soul whose name is missing from the Lamb's Book of Life. All human works, however outwardly impressive or religious in human eyes, prove utterly powerless to save or deliver on that day. Conclusion and Appeal Dear friend, the blazing, inescapable reality of the Great White Throne Judgment should cause every heart to tremble with godly fear, every conscience to awaken, and every soul still outside of Christ to flee without a moment's delay to the only place of safety—the cross of Calvary. To every sinner still living in unbelief and rebellion: Come now! Do not delay another heartbeat or take another breath without settling this eternal matter. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). Repent of your sins with genuine sorrow and place your full, trusting faith in the finished work of the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. His precious, sin-cleansing blood can write your name in the Lamb's Book of Life this very moment, delivering you forever from this throne of terror and granting you a joyful place in the blessed first resurrection and the eternal joys of the redeemed. To every true believer already resting in Christ: Live with holy urgency, eternity burning brightly in your soul, and a passionate desire to please your Lord. Be ready to meet your Savior at any instant, whether by death or by His glorious return. Serve Him with wholehearted devotion, faithfulness, and love so that when you stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ you may hear His glorious “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21) and receive a full and abundant reward. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42). May the solemn, weighty, and eternal truths of this passage stir us all to fervent prayer, pure and separated living, compassionate love for the lost, and bold, urgent gospel witness until Jesus returns in power and great glory. To the Lamb upon the throne, our blessed Savior and coming Judge, be all honor, praise, dominion, and glory forever and ever. Amen.
This message challenges believers to live with eternity in mind. While salvation is a free gift received by grace through faith, eternal rewards are given according to our faithfulness, obedience, and works after salvation. Scripture teaches that every believer will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, not for condemnation, but for evaluation. The choices we make, the way we serve, and how faithfully we follow Christ all have eternal significance. The question is not whether we are saved, but whether we will stand before Christ rewarded or regretful. Every work will be tested, every motive revealed, and eternity will show what truly mattered.
Pastor Jeremiah Gabbard | 1Cor. 3:11-15
Exploring the Connection Between Matthew 19, the Book of Psalms, and Isaiah 19 For Bible in Ten – By DH – 19th May 2026 Yesterday we completed Matthew 19. Nineteen according to E W Bullinger is “a combination of 10 and 9, and would denote the perfection of Divine order connected with judgment.” During our episodes through Matthew 19, we already learned how “..the words of Chapter 19 span all the dispensations of time.” CG . In Matthew 19 Jesus brought judgments which referenced creation, the law, the insufficiency of human merit, faith and grace, and looking forward to the millennial kingdom. As we will see in this bonus episode we can also find these references in Psalms. Isaiah 19 also adds a sharper prophetic focus. It lends support to the judgment theme. According to BibleHub “It presents a two-fold prophecy against Egypt, revealing not only a looming divine judgment but also an ultimate transformation and redemption. This dual-nature prophecy exemplifies the complexity of God's plans for nations and His sovereignty over all things.” In Matthew 19 every false confidence is judged: confidence in legal argument, in religious achievement, in wealth, in status, and confidence in the flesh. In the end, the chapter points to Christ alone. Consider the following seven sections which trace Matthew 19 as a historical sweep: from creation order and marriage, through law and human hardness, into grace, kingdom promise, final judgment, and the believer's reward before Christ. Innocence and Creation When answering the Pharisees' question about breaking up marriage, Jesus does not begin His answer with Moses. He goes further back. He goes to creation: “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female?” Psalms has many Creation references too: “The heavens are telling of the glory of God…” Psalm 19:1 “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made…” Psalm 33:6 “How many are Your works, LORD! In wisdom You have made them all…” Psalm 104:24 To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His faithfulness is everlasting; 6 To Him who spread out the earth above the waters, For His faithfulness is everlasting; 7 To Him who made the great lights, For His faithfulness is everlasting: 8 The sun to rule by day, For His faithfulness is everlasting, 9 The moon and stars to rule by night, For His faithfulness is everlasting. Psalm 136:5–9 3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light! 4 Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens! 5 They are to praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created. Psalm 148:3–5 The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, The world, and those who live in it. 2 For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers. Psalm 24:1–2 You visit the earth and cause it to overflow; You greatly enrich it; The stream of God is full of water; You prepare their grain, for so You prepare the earth. 10 You water its furrows abundantly, You settle its ridges, You soften it with showers, You bless its growth. 11 You have crowned the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with fatness. 12 The pastures of the wilderness drip, And the hills encircle themselves with rejoicing. 13 The meadows are clothed with flocks And the valleys are covered with grain; They shout for joy, yes, they sing Psalm 65:9–13 Man was created for ordered life beneath the Lord. Marriage belongs to that created order. It was established by God at the beginning and Psalm 128 references it in verse 3. “Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house…” Psalm 128:3 Law and the Hardness of Heart The Pharisees then press the matter further: “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” Jesus answers: “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” The law could regulate certain consequences of sin, but it could not cure the heart of man. Moses' allowance was not the original ideal. It was an accommodation because of hardness of heart. Psalm 1, Psalm 19, and Psalm 119 all uphold the goodness of the law. The law is not evil. The commandments of the Lord are righteous. The word of God is pure, true, and desirable. But Psalms also makes clear that man himself is the problem. Psalm 14:3 says: “They have all turned aside, together they are corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one. ” Psalm 143 says: “And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For no person living is righteous in Your sight.” verse 2. Psalm 51 gives the heart of the issue. David does not merely need external correction. He cries: “Create in me a clean heart, God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me..” verse 10. The law highlights sin in man but cannot correct man's fallen state. Psalms illuminates this powerfully. Psalm 49 says: “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” That is the heart of the matter. Man cannot redeem himself. Wealth cannot ransom the soul. Moral seriousness cannot purchase eternal life. Psalm 62 warns: “If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” Grace through Faith After this, children are brought to Jesus so that He might place His hands on them and pray. Psalm 131 verse 2 says: “I have certainly soothed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child resting against his mother, My soul within me is like a weaned child.” That is the spirit of Matthew 19. The kingdom is not entered through self-confident legal achievement, but through humble dependence. Psalm 8 also says: “From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have established strength Because of Your enemies, To do away with the enemy and the revengeful.” Jesus later cites this psalm in Matthew 21. The children, the weak, the dependent, and the seemingly insignificant often perceive what a more mature mind misses. The disciples wrongly rebuke the children. Jesus corrects them. The Lord is near to the humble, the broken, the dependent, and the trusting. The children become a living illustration of the kind of faith that enters the kingdom. The Royal and Millennial Hope Peter then asks what will be given to the disciples, since they have left all and followed Jesus. Jesus answers: “You who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” This moves Matthew 19 forward to the millennial kingdom. Psalm 2 presents the Lord's Anointed as King: “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.” Psalm 72 looks forward to the righteous reign of the King, marked by justice, peace, dominion, and blessing. Psalm 89 recalls the Davidic covenant and the certainty of God's promises. Psalm 110 presents the Messiah seated at the right hand of God until His enemies are made His footstool. Psalm 122 says: “For thrones are set there for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.” The Dispensational Sweep of Matthew 19 The chapter begins with creation order: male and female, marriage, and God's original design. It moves to law: Moses, divorce, hardness of heart, and the insufficiency of legal accommodation. It then displays grace: the children come to Christ with nothing, and Jesus receives them. It exposes human inability: the rich young ruler cannot obtain life through personal merit, morality, or wealth. It reveals divine possibility: with man salvation is impossible, but with God all things are possible. It then looks forward to the millennial kingdom: the apostles will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Isaiah 19 and The Great White Throne Judgment At the Great White Throne, all false confidence is finally exposed. Only those who are in Christ have a righteousness that can stand before God. Isaiah 19 gives a searching picture of Egypt brought under the judgment of the LORD. Egypt's idols tremble. Her wisdom fails. Her princes become fools. Her counsellors are unable to give true guidance. The nation that once appeared ancient, powerful, wealthy, and secure is shown to be helpless before God. This is a stark picture of misplaced confidence. Matthew 19 teaches the same spiritual lesson. Do not trust law-performance, wealth, status, fleshly advantage, religious seriousness, or human ability. With men this is impossible. The rich young ruler appears clothed in morality, youth, wealth, and religious seriousness. But when Christ presses the true demand of perfection, the man is exposed. His confidence cannot save him. His possessions have his heart. He goes away sorrowful. He is like Egypt in Isaiah 19. What seemed wise, strong, and secure is brought to nothing before the LORD. This points forward to the Great White Throne Judgment, where every person outside of Christ will stand fully exposed before God. The books will be opened. No earthly confidence will remain. No religious appearance will cover the soul. No wealth, status, morality, wisdom, or human achievement can answer the demands of divine righteousness. Isaiah 19 shows the collapse of national confidence before the LORD. Matthew 19 shows the collapse of personal confidence before Christ. The Great White Throne shows the final collapse of every confidence outside of God's saving righteousness. Matthew 19 and the Judgment of the believer Matthew 19 ends with the judgment: “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” In the 19th book of the Bible, Psalms repeatedly shows divine reversal. The proud are brought low. The humble are lifted up. The wicked may flourish temporarily, but they do not endure. The righteous may suffer for a time, but they are finally vindicated. Psalm 37 says the meek shall inherit the earth. Psalm 73 shows the prosperous brought to nothing. Psalm 113 says the Lord raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy out of the ash heap. Psalm 118 speaks of the rejected stone becoming the chief cornerstone. Isaiah 19 dramatizes the same reversal negatively. Those who seemed powerful and reliable, Egypt and Cush, are exposed in shame. Their apparent strength becomes humiliation. So Matthew 19 teaches that the judgment of believers will expose the true value of a life. Some things that looked great on earth will be shown to be small. Some sacrifices that looked foolish or unnoticed will be openly rewarded by Christ. Life Application At the Judgment Seat of Christ, the question is not, “Are you saved?” No. The believer's condemnation has already been dealt with in Christ. The question is rather: “How have you as a saved person followed, served, sacrificed, and valued Christ?” Let us not measure our life only by what we keep now, but by what Christ will count then. Lord God, thank You that salvation does not rest upon our merit, wealth, strength, or status. Thank You that what is impossible with man is possible with You. Help us come as children, trust in Christ, and await the kingdom You have promised. For your glory! Amen.
Most Christians never stop to ask this question:What if the reason there's no spiritual power in your life… is because you're still living like a “mere human” instead of God's temple?In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul confronts a church full of saved people who were still acting spiritually immature—divided by pride, obsessed with status, comparing ministries, and building their lives with “wood, hay, and stubble” that won't survive the fire of God's judgment.This message exposes the dangerous difference between being truly saved… and actually spiritually mature.Are you building your life on Christ—or on reputation, personalities, human wisdom, and worldly success?Paul takes us from spiritual babyhood to the staggering reality that believers are the very Temple of God. The Spirit of God dwells in His people. That changes everything.In this sermon:• The signs of spiritual immaturity• Why envy, division, and comparison reveal carnality• The danger of idolizing Christian leaders• What “wood, hay, and stubble” look like today• Why some Christian works will burn at the Judgment Seat of Christ• What it means to be God's holy temple• Why worldly wisdom is destroying modern Christianity• How to stop chasing status and start living from sonship in ChristThe world tells you to build a name for yourself.Christ calls you to surrender to His Spirit and become a vessel for His glory.If the fire of God tested your life tonight… what would remain?
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on May 3, 2026) As we began to see yesterday, the world’s concept of the “judgment seat of Christ” In Romans 14:10 is generally inaccurate. This judgment seat is NOT a place of eternal judgment, but a place of daily, timely judgment for the child of God. When we...
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on May 3, 2026) In the sermon today, we are taking a little trip down a “rabbit trail” found in our series on the Book of Romans. In Romans 14:10, we read about the “judgment seat of Christ.” What is this “judgment seat”? Is it a place where the...
What is the Lamb's Book of Life and is it the same or different from the Book of Life? Listen to this message to hear the details of the Lamb's Book of Life and the meaning of being "blotted out of it." Hear a number of views about that and one that explains it as a figure of speech called a litotes. Be challenged to be an overcomer and receive praise and rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Revelation 20:11-15 11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Introduction: The Reality We Often Avoid The Certainty of Judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10) The Nature of Judgment: Justice and Truth (Revelation 20:11–12) Salvation Is Secure (Revelation 20:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21) Works Still Matter (2 Corinthians 5:10) Grace and Responsibility (Ephesians 2:8-10) Application: How We Must Live 1. Live Responsibly 2. Serve Faithfully 3. Examine Carefully
Pastor Herman Haupu www.faithfamilymaui.com
Pastor Jeremiah Gabbard | 1Cor. 3:13-15
Forgiveness... and consequences! Yesterday we began to look at the paradox of God's free gift of salvation, and rewards for "good conduct." Rewards or losses, I should say. Today we'll take a look at what's at stake at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Our sins are forgiven, truly - with no asterisk. But that doesn't mean that overcomers and the overcome will get the same rewards. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS05052026_0.mp3Scripture References: Revelation 2&3
What we do today, matters. If we know for sure that we are saved by grace through faith apart from our works, then we own a priceless truth. But the devil can still use that truth against us! He tries to persuade Christians that because their conduct can't save them, therefore God doesn't care what they do. It sounds silly when you say it out loud, but many believers have been snared in that half-baked theology. So today Jim will take us to the Judgment Seat of Christ. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS05042026_0.mp3Scripture References: Revelation 2&3
The weekly Sunday morning sermon delivered by Rev. James Wiles Mark 14:53-65“And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'” Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.”1. They were guilty in their convocation.2. They were guilty in their confrontation.3. They were guilty in their condemnation. www.huntsmbc.com
Get the notes!Should We Reject Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses? A Deep Dive into 2 JohnIn the modern church, “love” is often redefined as the absence of boundaries. However, the Apostle John—the “Apostle of Love”—provides a strikingly different perspective in his second epistle. If you have ever wondered how to biblically handle visits from groups like the Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons, or if you want to deepen your understanding of the dual nature of Christ, our latest teaching resource is for you.The Core of the Message: The God-ManThe Second Epistle of John is a compact yet explosive “booster” letter. Its primary focus is the Incarnation—the non-negotiable truth that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man.As explored in our analytical exegesis, the early church faced heretics known as Docetists who accepted Jesus' divinity but rejected His physical body. John's warning is clear: to reject the flesh of Christ is to reject the sacrifice of Christ. Without the body, there is no blood; without the blood, there is no atonement.Walking in Truth and LoveJohn identifies that true Christian fellowship is not based on emotion, but on abiding in the truth. This teaching breaks down:The Definition of Truth: Moving beyond subjective feelings to the codified apostolic doctrine.The Test of Fellowship: Why hospitality has biblical boundaries when the Gospel is at stake.The Participator Principle: Understanding why wishing success to a false teacher makes one a “partaker in their evil deeds.”A Vital Distinction: Rewards vs. SalvationOne of the most profound sections of this study focuses on 2 John 8. We examine the vital distinction between losing one's eternal security (which is guaranteed in Christ) and losing a “full reward” at the Judgment Seat of Christ due to doctrinal error or unfaithfulness.Unlock the Full Study PackageTo help you master this epistle and teach it to others, we have packaged our complete analytical research into a professional, publication-style digital product.What's inside the 2 John Study Bundle?Comprehensive Lesson Outline: A detailed, alphanumeric hierarchy of the entire book.Teacher & Student Guides: Ready-to-use resources for classrooms or small groups, complete with instructional objectives.Master Class Bible Study: A deep-dive lesson focusing on the “non-negotiables” of the Christian faith.Complete Quiz & Answer Key: 10 publication-style questions with detailed theological rationales to ensure mastery of the material.Whether you are a pastor preparing a sermon series, a small group leader, or a student of the Word seeking discernment, this package provides the exegetical tools you need to stand firm in the apostolic faith.[Explore the 2 John Product Page Here]Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Michael is back with Zach and Russ to reflect on week 3 of the Afterlife series. Specially reactions to the thought of meeting God one day and giving an account. The judgment seat of Christ — what is our reaction to this, how do we process, and what should this mean moving forward?It's an honest, deep and powerful conversation.Subscribe to get the latest videos and live worship:https://www.youtube.com/xchurch Connect with X Church Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/theXchurch.ohInstagram | https://www.instagram.com/theX_church/ Helping people get on the path to God. This is the vision of X Church, led by Pastor Tim Moore and based in South East Columbus, OH _ Stay Connected Website: www.thex.church#theXchurch
Know your destiny in God's plan before death and judgment. You have two appointments you cannot avoid—death and judgment. The issue is whether you understand God's plan for your life and your eternal future before you get there. This episode explains how your personal destiny begins with salvation and develops through spiritual growth. • The difference between the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Great White Throne • Why salvation is a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ • How to develop your personal destiny through God's Word • The role of the filling of the Holy Spirit in spiritual growth • How priorities determine whether you fulfill God's planRequest book: Christian Problem Solving⬇Download Transcript: https://rhem.pub/1079-transcript
Rightly dividing Scripture, Luca Welch shows the Judgment Seat of Christ is not a fearful reckoning of sins, but an open declaration of righteousness in Christ.
Scripture reveals that believers will face the Judgment Seat of Christ, also called the Bema Seat, which is different from the Great White Throne Judgment for unbelievers. This evaluation focuses on our motives and faithful service rather than determining salvation. God will examine whether our works were done for His glory or personal recognition, testing them like fire tests gold versus wood and hay. Five heavenly crowns await faithful believers: the Imperishable Crown for endurance, the Crown of Rejoicing for maintaining joy, the Crown of Righteousness for eagerly anticipating Christ's return, the Crown of Glory for faithful leadership, and the Crown of Life for enduring persecution. These crowns represent our eternal inheritance that we will ultimately present back to Jesus at the marriage supper of the Lamb.Thank you for joining us at NorthRidge Church! For more information please visit us online at http://www.northridgethomaston.com.
Eyes on Eternity Pt. 3What you do for Jesus now directly impacts the rewards you receive forever.2 Corinthians 5:10Romans 4:5-8Matthew 6:1-6Revelation 4:9-111 Corinthians 9:24-251 Peter 5:41 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NLT)Matthew 10:41-42
Send a textWhat happens when you reread your past after grace breaks in? We start with a jarring moment: a former rock frontman, once convinced his songs gave voice to pain, discovers he'd been preaching despair, drugs, and self-harm. That confession opens a candid exploration of sin's strategy—how it starts small, earns our loyalty, and ends as a master—alongside the surprising hope the gospel offers when identity shifts from sin to Christ.We move through raw stories of addiction's tunnel vision and the way “private” choices ripple through families and friends. Then we press into Scripture with care: the difference between breaking man's law and offending God, why spiritual words require the Spirit, and how Moses choosing reproach over Egypt still reads like freedom. The heart of the conversation centers on identity and assurance. If believers are said to “not sin,” what does that mean when we still fail? We unpack union with Christ, imputed righteousness, and why there's no condemnation for those who belong to him—without letting holiness fall off the map.The group tackles the Judgment Seat and the often-misread passage on wood, hay, and stubble. We clarify what it means to build on the foundation of Jesus with work that lasts, how motives are tested, and why rewards don't undermine grace. Along the way, we challenge both cheap assurance and anxious striving: salvation is secure, and stewardship still matters. By the end, you'll have a clearer grasp of how sin's lie of hopelessness is broken, why identity in Christ changes how we act and speak, and how to pursue a life that endures the fire with joy.If this conversation gave you language for your own story, share it with a friend, subscribe for new episodes, and leave a review to help others find the show.RISE RADIOEach week we discuss some of the most important issues we face in our society today.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!
Worked hard, did everything right — and walked away unnoticed? God saw every bit of it. And He's keeping record.In this episode, Pastor Roderick Webster concludes the employer/employee passage in Ephesians 6 (KJV) with a word that encourages every faithful worker — and holds every employer accountable.Why God is the ultimate bookkeeper at your workplaceWhat the Judgment Seat of Christ means for daily workHow Galatians 6:7 applies to the office, the job site, and the boardroomWhy threatening and mistreating workers is forbidden in ScriptureWhat mutual respect between employers and employees looks like biblicallyWhy good employees are a gift worth cherishing and rewarding
Read OnlineJesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36What is mercy? How is the Father in Heaven merciful? Suppose someone lived a life contrary to God's will. When that person dies and stands before the Judgment Seat of God, will God, in His mercy, say, “That's okay, you can enter Heaven even though you do not deserve it”? Or in our lives, if someone is living an openly sinful lifestyle that is objectively contrary to God's moral law, should we say, “If living that way makes you happy, then I'm happy for you”? Neither of these depicts authentic mercy.After telling us, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful,” Jesus defines what He means. First, He tells us what not to do: “Stop judging…Stop condemning.” God, and God alone, has the authority to judge and condemn. We do not. Therefore, when we judge and condemn another, we usurp God's authority. Only God sees the heart; therefore, only God can judge a person.However, the command to “Stop judging” and “Stop condemning” must be exercised from two perspectives. On the one hand, we ought not to judge a person as a sinner deserving condemnation. On the other hand, we ought not to declare a person morally righteous, especially when someone's actions contradict God's revealed law. So what are we to do? We limit our judgment to the objective moral actions that God has revealed, leaving it to God to condemn or exonerate the heart. This will free us from anger and enable us to express authentic love.For example, if two people live as husband and wife even though they are not married, we should look for an opportunity to express our hope that they enter into marriage rather than continue living together while unmarried. This is not a condemnation of their souls but a proclamation of God's objective moral law. It's the Gospel, and we must speak it with kindness, patience, and clarity. Furthermore, if we express to these same individuals that we are somehow happy for them and support their living arrangement, we are also wrongly judging them to be in God's good graces, which is just as sinful on our part. Hence, not judging and not condemning means we focus on the objective action, not the heart. This can be difficult, especially with those closest to us, but it is essential in practicing true mercy.What Jesus says next is even more challenging: “Forgive” and “give.” As an added motivation, Jesus explains that we will only be forgiven when we forgive others, and good gifts will be given to us only when we give. Forgiveness and generosity are acts of great mercy. To forgive is to offer pardon to one who has committed some sin against us. Though we never know a person's heart and, therefore, their culpability for an action, there are plenty of times when an offense is committed against us. In this case, there is only one appropriate response: forgive and give kindness, compassion, and mercy. We must never hold a grudge, remain angry, sulk over an injury, or hold a sin against another. Never.The challenge is that human reason alone cannot fully comprehend this. We need divine revelation and God's grace to inform our minds and hearts that this is the right thing to do. By drawing closer to Christ in prayer and the sacraments, we can grow in this supernatural mercy, allowing His grace to transform our hearts. Reflect today on this true meaning of mercy. Beg for God's mercy in your life in superabundance. As you do, choose to offer mercy to others to the same extent that you ask for God's mercy. Give generously, exceeding what your human reason alone comprehends, and God will pour His mercy upon you in the same incomprehensible way.My merciful Lord, there are many times when I judge another, hold a grudge, and am stingy with mercy. Please give me Your Heart so that I can overcome my failures and give of myself with supernatural virtue. I want to be like You, my God. Help me show mercy in superabundance. Jesus, I trust in You.Image via Adobe StockSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.
Now is the time to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.The Book of Revelation is relevant to today's world.Perilous times are upon us, marked by moral decay and spiritual warfare.There is a difference between tribulation and God's wrath.Believers will face the Judgment Seat of Christ for their actions.The Great White Throne Judgment awaits those who do not believe.Deception is rampant in the world today, as prophesied in scripture.The rapture could happen at any moment, urging immediate action.Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord.We must focus on the things above and share the love of Christ.
A clear understanding of history can provide the foundation for a clear understanding of prophecy. Even so, the Apostle Paul, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, takes his readers from history (the Olympic Games) to prophecy (the judgment seat of Christ). In so doing he is taking them from the known (in their experience) to the unknown (in his explanation). Join us as we examine the nature of rewards at the judgment seat of Christ. .
Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates will respond to a question about 1 John 1:9. Will confessed sin be brought up at the Judgment Seat of Christ? What about unconfessed sin? What will be judged at this judgment? Thanks for listening & never miss an episode of the
Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr are answering a question about believers being judged by God. What about our bad works or deeds? Do they not denote or imply sin or sins? If Jesus has already taken the judgment for believers' sins, how does this work at the Judgment
A weekly class at OAG taught by Chaplain Lou Parker.** Edited to remove personal information shared in the class and extended pauses **Title: Prelude to Paradise: Satan Bound, Free Will Tested, Judgment RevealedSummary: God temporarily removes Satan to prove that humanity's sin problem is rooted in the human heart, clarifying free will, final judgment, and the eternal distinction between salvation and condemnation.Approximate Lesson Outline:00:00 - Prelude to Paradise03:20 - Satan Bound and the Power of God's Seal06:45 - No More Excuses: Sin Without the Devil10:15 - Free Will, Not Robots14:10 - The Great White Throne Judgment18:45 - Two Resurrections Explained22:10 - Judgment Seat of Christ vs Final Judgment26:15 - Rewards, Crowns, and Eternal Accountability29:10 - New Heaven, New Earth, Final Hope
Jerod asks John to back up his take on the Judgment Seat of Christ. What is it? Who is it for? And perhaps most interesting: when is it? Scriptures referenced include 2nd Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:10, and a whole host of others. John also gives some of his back story on coming to understand Philippians 3:11 and Jerod tries to pick up a little latin.Program: Biblically SpeakingAired: November 15, 2014
Let's review four differences between work and jobs. First, your job may employ none of your gifts; your work employs all your gifts. Second, your job will inevitably result in income; your work may never result in income. Third, there is always someone else who can do your job; there is never anyone else who can do your work. And fourth, your job may sometimes produce frustration; your work will most often produce fruit. But now, let’s consider two other differences in your job and your work. Your job will end in retirement; your work will not end until death. Jobs come to an end. Either you retire, walk away from the job, or the job is eliminated. If your self-worth is linked to your job, then the loss or end of a job can be devastating, and it is to many people. Work, however, has no termination age. There’s no 65-year cut-off point for your work. Retirement from work is retirement from life, and it is not scheduled by men but by God. Your work may and most likely will take some turns and changes as you progress through life. But I think of elderly Christians who are no longer physically able to do many of the things they did for the Lord earlier in their lives. Their work has changed, and now they are marvelous prayer warriors, doing the most important of all work. Your work may never become your job; your job could never replace your work. Many think the ultimate in life would be to have a job that becomes our work, so what we do every day to enable us to earn a living is the same thing God has called us to do and gifted us to do for his glory. But let me tell you, that rarely happens, and that's because it doesn’t fit into God’s plan for reaching the world. He’s left us in this world to be his salt and light, and that means we need to mingle in the marketplace where the people are. That means we need jobs to get us in there, so we can do the work God has called us to do, in many cases. Most of us will find it necessary to continue committing large portions of our lives to a job that does not fully define or fulfill us. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be successful at our work. Our jobs and our work don’t have to be in competition. In fact, when we’re in right relationship with God’s plan for our lives, they will not be in competition. Now, you may be thinking, “You mean, I can’t expect to find a job I really love?” No, that’s not what I mean. If we’re smart, we’ll educate ourselves and do everything we can to match our jobs with our talents and strengths, so that they are not working against our gifts. For example, my last business job was to make training presentations. Not only do I enjoy making presentations, but in the process of doing my job, I was trained to do my work better. I enjoyed my job, though I would not have voluntarily done it if there was not a need to make money. However, that job was a tool in God’s hands to prepare me for my work and to touch other lives I would never have touched otherwise. And then the other great truth of Scripture is when we are walking with Jesus, everything we do can be done for his glory. No matter what job we have, as Christians we can do it to God’s glory, and it becomes meaningful and purposeful. I think of one of my listeners who used to work in a large bakery, doing rather repetitive work, which could be described as unchallenging and unfulfilling. But this woman viewed her place of employment as her Jerusalem where she was to take God’s good news. And God gave her incredible opportunities to witness to many people, including executives in the company. I never knew her to complain about the lack of fulfillment in her job, though I’m sure there were days she got bored with the routine. She went to work each morning to see what exciting thing God would do through her that day, and she didn’t occupy her mind with the mundaneness of the job itself. You can know fulfillment amid a routine job if you know Jesus, and you’re doing your work for his glory. We are in a win-win situation when we know Jesus. He gives us meaningful work, and then he says even our jobs, which are not our work, can be done to his glory if our attitude is right. Either way—whether you’re doing your job or your work, you are working for Jesus, and it counts for eternity. Now, if you understand the difference between your job and your work, then lots of puzzles start to clear up for you. Your ultimate objectives should be: To achieve harmony between your job and your work. That’s going to take different forms for different people. But isn’t it great and wonderful to know it doesn’t matter whether we’re gifted for some great job success. We are gifted for success in our work, and if we do the work God has called us to do, we will be successful in his eyes. To do as much work as possible while doing your job. Our challenge is to know what our work is and then prioritize our lives so we have time to do our work. And is that ever a challenge! Please keep in your mind the ever-present vision of standing before Jesus to give an account of how you’ve used your time here on earth. If you get so involved in your job or anything else so you don’t do your work, you will be very embarrassed when accounting time comes. We’re told in 1 Corinthians 3 our work will be shown for what it is at the Day of Judgment. And we will have wood, hay, or straw, or we’ll have gold, silver, and costly stones. Then the fire at the Judgment Seat will reveal the quality of our work. Now, wood, hay, and stubble take up a lot more space than gold, silver, and costly stones, right? And we get fooled sometimes by volume. If I had a million dollars I could buy a bunch of wood, hay, and straw, and it would take up space. But if I brought a million dollars of gold, silver, and costly stones, I could hold them in my hand or at most a small bag. You might not notice it, and it wouldn’t take up much room. If we don’t understand the difference, we might opt for the wood, hay, and straw because it looks bigger. But that stuff burns fast when you strike a match to it, whereas the gold, silver, and costly stones will survive any fire you put them through. Do you get the picture here? Sometimes, with poor earthly eyesight, we spend our lives doing things that burn up. They look important here because they take up space and time. But in eternity, they are worthless. It is super important to get the priorities of our lives in line with God's word and do the important things, not just the urgent ones. We must look for ways for our jobs to encompass more of our work. Recognizing we spend a large portion of our lives at our jobs, of necessity, and knowing only our work counts for eternity, we need to find ways to incorporate our work into our job. That might mean looking for another job—one that maybe doesn’t pay as much—in order to have more time for our work or to do our work with our job. Here are some good things to consider when evaluating whether you’re in the right job: A good job is one that: plays to your personal strengths. Look for a job that uses your gifts and allows you to polish and perfect your gifts. meets a legitimate need. Even though our jobs are earth-bound, there are jobs which certainly meet legitimate needs, and those are more satisfying than others. There are simply some jobs Christians should not hold, because they don’t contribute to any good in our society. doesn’t compromise your core values or biblical principles. finances your lifestyle and your work. allows you to contribute to ministry. Many people are called by God to jobs so they have money to contribute to ministry. You may have the gift of giving and therefore your job is important to your work. gives you a platform for credible witness. This is one major reason we have jobs, because it gets our feet in the doors where otherwise we would never go. provides contact with people you can impact. People are the most important thing to God. There's a song written by Steve Green, and the words are right on. He wrote, “People need the Lord, at the end of broken dreams, he's the open door. We are called to take his light to a world where wrong seems right. They must hear the words of life only we can share. People need the Lord. When will we realize that people need the Lord.” Wherever your job takes you, there are people. And since no one is in your life by accident, people are in your life to give you an opportunity in some way—brief or small as it may be—to tell them you have found what they are unconsciously looking for—Jesus. That's one way the job you have can be transformed into the work God has given you to do. Just introduce people to Jesus. I hope these thoughts on your job versus your work have been thought provoking for you. I think we could see some significant attitude changes toward our jobs if every Christian had this clear worldview.
As a Christian, do you limit yourself by not delegating your essential thinking to others? Do you know the Bible to command the essentials of God's love, salvation, and making disciples? Or do you get tied up with opaque theories and theologies that obscure the simple yet profound purposes of God? Join Kevin as we take a look at the topic of limits and the inappropriate delegation of thinking! // Download this episode's Application & Action questions and PDF transcript at whitestone.org.
Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Philippe Sterling are continuing a short series about Eschatology with teaching about The Judgment Seat of Christ. Why is this judgment seat soimportant for believers? What are five motivations to serve Christ in the coming year? Please listen to this and every episode of
Pastor Caleb J. Kinney Sunday School 12/28/25
• God starts the church at Pentecost. • The church on earth is united with the ascended, seated Lord Jesus in Heaven. • The mission of the church is to make disciples of Christ. • The church has spiritual enemies and will suffer from the attack of Satan. • God will protect the church from Israel's Tribulation. • God will evaluate the church's performance at the Judgment Seat of Christ. • The church will return to earth with Jesus to start the Kingdom. What is the difference between a believer and a disciple in the Church Age? Listen to this lesson to understand the ways that God's plan for the Church Age differs from His plan for Israel. See that in the Church Age all believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, their Helper. Find out that Church Age believers are to grow to spiritual maturity by studying God's Word and walking by means of the Holy Spirit and that the Church Age ends when believers are taken to Heaven to escape the Tribulation. Understand that after being evaluated at the Judgment Seat of Christ they will return with Christ to earth and have roles in the Kingdom. Click for information about the DBM Israel 2026 Tour.
In this message, Pastor Brandon walks through Matthew 7:7 to 29 and explains how Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with a sobering reality. There are only two paths, two gates, two trees, two fruits, two teachers, two prophets, two voices, and two foundations. Every person must choose. Jesus contrasts true discipleship with counterfeit spirituality and warns that outward religion without inward obedience will collapse when judgment comes. This passage not only warns unbelievers about salvation, it also calls believers to choose obedience, discernment, and a life built on God's standard rather than the world's. Jesus invites His followers to enter the narrow gate, walk the difficult road of discipleship, reject false teaching, and build their lives on the solid rock of His Word. Pastor Brandon also shows how these contrasts fit into the broader Kingdom program. The narrow way leads to life and future reward, while the broad way leads to loss, destruction, and a wasted life at the Judgment Seat of Messiah. Learn to ask, seek, and knock. Enter the narrow gate. Examine the fruit. Listen to the true Shepherd. Build your life on the rock and avoid the collapse of a life built on sand. Watch now and let the words of Jesus guide your choices in these last days.
In this message, Pastor Brandon walks through Matthew 7:7 to 29 and explains how Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with a sobering reality. There are only two paths, two gates, two trees, two fruits, two teachers, two prophets, two voices, and two foundations. Every person must choose. Jesus contrasts true discipleship with counterfeit spirituality and warns that outward religion without inward obedience will collapse when judgment comes. This passage not only warns unbelievers about salvation, it also calls believers to choose obedience, discernment, and a life built on God's standard rather than the world's. Jesus invites His followers to enter the narrow gate, walk the difficult road of discipleship, reject false teaching, and build their lives on the solid rock of His Word. Pastor Brandon also shows how these contrasts fit into the broader Kingdom program. The narrow way leads to life and future reward, while the broad way leads to loss, destruction, and a wasted life at the Judgment Seat of Messiah. Learn to ask, seek, and knock. Enter the narrow gate. Examine the fruit. Listen to the true Shepherd. Build your life on the rock and avoid the collapse of a life built on sand. Watch now and let the words of Jesus guide your choices in these last days.
Read Online“And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” Luke 21:28This passage above concludes a series of teachings by Jesus on the suffering and persecution that will come in this world. But His teachings conclude with this line above, which offers great hope in anticipation of Jesus' return in glory. This passage speaks of the prophetic vision of Daniel (Daniel 7:13–14) that terrified Daniel when he saw it. He witnessed the great persecution to come, as well as the destruction of all evil that will accompany the return of the Son of Man.When you think about both the final coming of Christ as well as your own future death, what comes to mind? If you were informed by an angel that tomorrow would be that day, the day that the Son of Man would return in all His splendor and glory to bring about an end to this world and to issue forth His judgment upon it, how would you react? Would you be terrified? Overjoyed? Hopeful? Confused? Perhaps a little of each of these reactions would be present. Of this time, Jesus said that “nations would be in dismay” and that “People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming into the world.” So what is your reaction to this promised day of our Lord?Those who “die of fright” are clearly those who will experience this day completely unprepared. Meeting the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Savior of the World and the Eternal Judge when you are completely unprepared should be frightful. Imagine, for example, that you were hosting a large dinner party and you got your days mixed up. The day arrived and you weren't expecting anyone until the following week, but the guests started to arrive in great numbers. Imagine your anxiety and embarrassment. Such an experience would be nothing compared to being unprepared for the judgment of Christ when we stand before Him at the time of our death and then at the Final Judgment at the end of the world.The good news is that on that day, for those who are truly prepared through a life of faith and selfless service of God's will, they are told to “stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” If you do all you can to prepare for that day, then it will be a day in which you anticipate with the utmost hope and excitement. You will indeed be able to stand erect, turn your eyes to the coming Judge of All, and receive the eternal reward that He so deeply desires to bestow. But this will be your experience only if you are truly ready for that day through a life lived in complete imitation of Christ.Reflect, today, upon that final day. Imagine every person ever created standing before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Every sin and every virtue will be made manifest on that day. The minds and hearts of all will be seen in the light as they are revealed to all by God. And those who have lived lives of fidelity will rejoice as they see God's justice and His mercy unite as His judgments are issued forth. If this day is one that frightens you, consider the reasons why. If you do not look forward to this definitive moment in time, then perhaps you need to ponder more deeply those things you need to do so as to be fully prepared. Prepare yourself today. Do not wait. Our Lord could return at any time. Do not be caught off guard. My eternal Judge, You promise to return to earth at a definitive moment in time to bring about the fullness of justice. May I always be prepared for that day through a life lived in union with You and Your holy will. I pray for that day to come quickly, dear Lord, and that all Your children will be ready to meet You when You come. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: © José Luiz Bernardes RibeiroSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr are answering a question relating to good works and 1 Corinthians 3:15. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, will all believers have at least some good works? Will some have zero good works? What gets consumed by the fire and what lasts?
In this message, Pastor Brandon breaks down Jesus' powerful teaching in Matthew 6:1–18 — exposing the difference between doing the right thing for the wrong reason and living for the audience of One. Jesus warned that even good spiritual disciplines — giving, praying, and fasting — can be corrupted by pride when our goal is to be seen by men. The question isn't just what we do for God… it's why we do it. When you give in secret, pray sincerely, and fast privately, Jesus promises that “your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” It's not about religious performance — it's about pure motives, private devotion, and eternal reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Discover how to: ✅ Guard your heart from hypocrisy ✅ Develop a private devotional life that pleases God ✅ Trade human applause for heavenly reward