Scriptural Principles:

LIFE PRINCIPLES NOTES | LP080518

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To me, the most exciting part of a space shuttle launch is
the countdown. When I hear ten, nine, eight . . . , I know that
soon the craft will launch into the sky with a blaze of fire and a
cloud of smoke. Do you realize that there is a countdown on the
life of every person? Each moment, you are one second closer to
an unavoidable appointment with God. There are no second
chances once we
The Misunderstanding Regarding our Predestined
Appointment
Many people have an inadequate conception of salvation. They
willingly receive the blessings of being Gods children, but reject
the responsibilities that come with that privilege. Eternal security
is not a license to take life easy after we are saved. God
reconciled us to Himself, sealed us forever with the Holy Spirit,
and
prepared a home in heaven for us. But His plan for our lives
includes more than merely attending church, participating in the
service, and giving financially on occasion. Although we were
saved by grace, we were created for good works (Eph. 2:8-9). The
Lord will hold us accountable for how we spent our time and our
resources. Each believer is to use his or her spiritual gifts in
service to Him (Gen. 2:15).
A second common problem is an inaccurate perspective of our
responsibility to the Lord. Getting into heaven is by grace alone.
But as believers, we will have to give an account of our lives and
the choices we made. Jesus told a parable about three servants
who were entrusted with money to invest and grow.Whether they
were given much or little, their master expected them to earn
more.When one servant hid the money, he was severely chastised
and lost even the small amount he had been given (Matt. 25:1529). From Gods perspective, it is a serious thing to squander or
be a poor steward of your gifts and talents (Rom. 14:10-11).
The Certainty of our Predestined Appointment

There are two specific judgments mentioned in the Bible. The first
is the judgment seat of Christ. Here, believers will be evaluated
according to their deeds. Paul wrote, We must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be
recompensed . . . according to what he has done, whether good or
bad (2 Cor. 5:10). This is a judgment of rewards, not punishment.
Summary:
take our last breath. We must all stand before the judgment seat
of Christ one day to give an account of our thoughts and actions.
If you were to die tomorrow, are you prepared to stand before
Almighty God?
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A I encourage you to yield control of your life to God on a daily
basis. Seek to please Him with your friendships, at your job, with
your family, and in your leisure time. Faithfully place the Lord at
the center of your life. When our predestined
appointment comes, may you and I hear Him say, Well done,
good and faithful servants.
Although we enter heaven through grace alone, salvation is
merely the first step in pleasing God. As followers of Jesus Christ,
we will one day have to give an account for the choices we made
in life. Since none of us are guaranteed
tomorrow, those who are wise will take steps now to prepare to
stand before the Lord on the day of judgment.
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The second is the great white throne judgment. All people will be
judged on the basis of how they responded to Christ (Revelation
20:11-15). This is a judgment of condemnation or acceptance.
The people whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life will
be separated from God for eternity. In contrast, those who
accepted the Fathers free gift of salvation will enter the presence
of the Lord to be
with Him forever.
The Place of This PredestinedAppointment
In 2 Corinthians 5:9, the phrase judgment seat is taken from
one Greek word, bema. During the time of Christ, this word could

refer to the platform on which a ruler or judge decided if a person

was guilty of a crime. But because of Pauls many references to
athletic competitions elsewhere in the New Testament, he
likely had in mind its use in Greek sports. If the winner of a
particular contest had followed the rules of competition, he was
honored at the bema. There he was crowned with a laurel wreath,
a symbol of victory. This judgment will occur in heaven. Jesus
Christ will hear each of us give an account of the way we
lived our lives. Will that take all of eternity? No. He will judge us
all individually, but simultaneously. Just as the Lord can hear the
prayers of believers all over the world, and yet speak individually
to each one of us, He can handle the judgment of billions of
people all at once. Since Jesus is omniscient, He will even be able
to take into account our weaknesses and other disadvantages.
The Preparation for This Predestined Meeting
First, receive Christ as your personal Savior. If you have not done
so already, ask Him to forgive you of your sins and yield your life
to Him. Jesus died on a cross to pay your sin debt in full. Those
who dont take this important first step will be separated from
Him for eternity. Second, re-evaluate your lifestyle. No one can
tell you if you are on the right track to earning heavenly rewards.
You could be living a godly, righteous life filled with genuine love,
peace, happiness, and selflessness. Or your life might appear holy
to others but be insincere or hypocritical. If you honestly take
stock of your motivation and actions, however, the Holy Spirit will
bring any problems to light. Ask yourself, What is at the center of
my life? What do I think about the most? Is Jesus Christ in the
midst of my conversations, my motives, my conduct, and my
thoughts?
Third, reconsider your priorities. Is your primary goal in life to
please the Lord? Or has pleasure, certain friendships, your career,
or financial success become your focus? Paul wrote, Therefore,
we have as our ambition, whether at home [with the Lord] or
absent to be pleasing to Him (2 Cor. 5:9). Check your motives to
be sure that something other than God is not consuming your
attention and energy.

Last, renew your commitment to godly living and faithful service

on a daily basis. Begin each day by giving control of your life to
Jesus Christ. Allow Him to work through you to touch the lives of
others. Each morning, decide to live that day for Him in every
area of your life. If you will do this consistently, God will give you
satisfaction and peace, use you to impact the lives of others, and
prepare you for your predestined appointment with Him.
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If you have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal
Savior, you are
forever sealed as a child of God. Salvationand entrance into
heavenis irrevocable. Does that mean you now have a license to
live your life any way you please? Absolutely not. The Bible
teaches that every believer will have to stand before the Lord and
give an account of his or her works. If our deeds were
Who is the Judge?
It may surprise you to learn that Jesus Christ will judge the world.
John 5:23 says, The Father . . . has given all judgment to the
Son. (See also Matthew 28:18.) During our earthly lives, we
relate to Jesus primarily as our Shepherd, Lord, and Savior. But at
the end of time, His role will change. As judge, He will examine,
purify, and reward Christians. All believers will stand before the
Lord at the judgment seat of Christ to be evaluated based on
what we have done (2 Cor. 5:10). I believe this means that God
will reward us for our good deeds and ask us to account for those
that were worthless. The judgment seat of Christ must be
distinguished from the great white throne, where all humanity will
be judged based on whether or not they accepted Gods gift of
salvation.
The Character of the Judge
Jesus will be a just and righteous judge. When people criticize you
and me, they often wrongly accuse or condemn us, in part
because they cant know our motives, our hearts, or the complete
situation. But our Lord knows all things and is entirely fair (John
2:24-25). I believe He will judge us on the basis of three things:
(1) How much truth have we heard and understood? (2) What
gifts, talents, and skills

did we have? (3) What did we do with the opportunities God gave
us? Christ will also be an impartial and perfect judge (1 Peter
1:17). Jesus can have compassion
for our human weaknesses because He walked the earth as a
man. Although He was sinless, the Lord experienced human
emotions and temptation (Heb. 4:15). His justice is so flawless
that we will agree with His assessment of our life and character.
worthy, we will be rewarded. If they were worthless, we will
experience regret and sorrow for the years we wasted. Will you be
ready to stand before the King of Kings on the day of judgment?
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H your remaining days. If you have never accepted
Jesus gift of salvation, you must start by giving
your life to Him.
At the judgment seat of Christ, our works
will be evaluated with absolute fairness. Begin
living for the Lord today. I am confident that the
righteous Judge will reward your obedience
more generously than you can imagine.
LIFE PRINCIPLES NOTES | LP080525
Have worldly concerns and pressures distracted
you from eternal priorities? Have they stolen
your passion for doing the Fathers will? God
desires to renew your perspective and restore
your wholehearted devotion to Him. Humble
yourself before the Lord and submit to pursuing
His goals rather than your own. Even if you
feel that you have wasted your life to this point,
determine to serve the Lord faithfully with
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Misconceptions about the Judgment
The judgment seat of Christ is not a time for public shame or
discipline. There is no condemnation for believers (John 5:24;
Rom. 8:1).Also, this judgment involves only the individual and
God.We wont observe the evaluation of other people and wonder
why they were rewarded more than we were. Neither will we
listen to the sins of others and feel shocked at their disobedience.

Many people think they simply will explain to God why they didnt
choose to please Him. But we
wont have an opportunity to make excuses or even the desire to
defend our sinful choices.
The Purposes of the Judgment Seat of Christ
To reveal to us the true nature of our heart and life
First Corinthians 4:5 says, Therefore, do not go on passing
judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will
both bring to light the things hidden in darkness and disclose the
motives of mens hearts. Then each mans praise will come to him
from God (emphasis added). The Lord will honor those who
faithfully served Him. Condemnation is reserved for those never
accepted His gift of salvation.
To cleanse us of any unconfessed sin
Suppose you were to die with anger, bitterness, or guilt in your
heart. Would you want to meet God like that? No. Heaven is a
place of holiness, righteousness, purity, and truth. At this
judgment, Christ will reveal to us our sins and cleanse us from the
ones we have harbored. When we understand how much we
needed the Fathers grace, we will love Him even more.
To evaluate the quality of our service to God while on
earth
The Lord is more concerned about the quality of good deeds we
have accomplished than the quantity. Employees who accomplish
little or nothing at work will have to give an account of
themselves to the Lord. Mothers and fathers who neglect to give
their children enough love, attention, and spiritual guidance
can not expect eternal rewards for their parenting. This aspect of
the judgment may cause us to feel sorrow about our wasted
talents and opportunities.
To reward us for our good works
Hebrews 6:10 says, For God is not unjust so as to forget your
work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in
having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. I firmly
believe that God will not forget any good deed that you or I have
done. This promise is not just for pastors or missionaries. Some
of the people who will be rewarded in heaven might never have
received any earthly recognition: faithful prayer warriors, godly

mothers and fathers, as well as devout Christian businessmen and

women. They will be honored for the time they invested in the
lives of others and the work they performed as unto the Lord.
To determine our place of service in His kingdom
Many people have the idea that we will spend eternity
worshipping the Lord in song. While that is certainly one aspect of
our heavenly existence, the Bible tells us that we will also serve
God and reign with Him (Rev. 22:5). How will our heavenly
responsibilities be determined? By how we spent our time on
earth
(Matt. 25:23). This life is a school through which we learn how to
bless our family, our friends, and our community. Thats one
reason why we should actively serve the Lord and generously use
our time and energy for His purposes.
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Almost everyone dreads a final exam.
And theres nothing quite like the sense of relief a student feels
when his or her tests are finished at semesters end. Did you
know that all believers
will face a final evaluation? This examination will assess the
quality of the work weve done for the Lord. The apostle Paul
wrote that although he worked in unity with other Christian
leaders, not in competition with them, his rewards would be based
on his ministry alone.
Gods plan is to reward His followers.
In the Old Testament, we first see evidence of the Lords desire to
bless His followers for their actions. In Genesis 15:1, Abraham
(known then as Abram) is promised a great reward if he will obey
God. The psalmist wrote of the laws of the Lord saying, In
keeping them there is great reward (Ps. 19:11). In the New
Testament, Jesus promises to repay those who are persecuted for
His sake (Matt. 5:10-12). He warns that believers who do their
good deeds in order to win praise from people will receive no
honor from God the Father. The praise they earn on earth is their
full reward. Of course, we shouldnt obey the Lord merely to store
up heavenly treasures. Our motivation should be to show
gratitude and love to the
One who redeemed our lives from sin and restored us to
fellowship with Him.

Gods plan is to reward us individually.

In the early church, some believers followed the apostle Paul
while others preferred the teaching of Apollos, another spiritual
leader. In First Corinthians, Paul explained that there was no need
for competition: I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing
the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who
waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who
plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own
reward according to his own labor (3:6-8). Notice that although
these two leaders worked toward the same goal, Paul knew they
would be rewarded individually. How does this apply to your life?
Believers sometimes think rewards are primarily for those in fulltime Christian service. When lay people attend church, they tend
to believe that the pastor, the choir, and the music minister have
the most important roles. But I believe that faithful church
members who attend services, worship the Lord, and listen to
theWord of God each week will be rewarded for those
Summary: He warned that the worthless deeds believers have
done will be consumed by fire. And immediately after that, Jesus
will reward Christians
for their righteous acts. Are you prepared for the ultimate exam?
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God will reward those who live to please Him. But there will be
consequences for those who dont live for Christ here on earth. If
you arent serving the Lord, ask Him to show you how to get
started. Let Him direct your thoughts and
actions on a day-to-day basis. Then, on the day of that ultimate
exam, you will pass the test and receive eternal rewards.
Are you ready to face the final examination of your deeds? If you
havent accepted Christ, begin by receiving Gods gift of
forgiveness and surrendering your heart to Him. If you have
already decided to follow Jesus, take a few moments to
evaluate your life. Are you serving Him in some fashion? Or do
your days center around your goals, dreams, and pleasures?
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simple acts of obedience. Godly choices, made with the right
motivation, do not go unnoticed by Jesus (1 Cor. 4:5). He will

assess the works of individuals within a congregation rather than

evaluating the fellowship as a whole.
Gods plan is for us to build a life worthy of reward.
Every lasting structure must have a well-constructed foundation. I
can remember the president of my seminary saying, If you are
going to build a chicken coop, you dont need much foundation.
But if you are going to build something worthy that lasts, you
need a firm foundation. Here in Atlanta, long before a new high
rise reaches up to the sky, its steel and concrete pilings are
placed deep into the ground. As believers, our lives rest on the
rock of salvation: No man can lay a foundation other than the
one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11).
Believers build on this groundwork using two types of materials.
The first is composed of deeds worthy of reward. Paul compares
them to gold, silver, and precious stone because these
substances hold their value over time and are unlikely to rot or
wear out. They represent actions that are part of a godly Christian
life, such as helping a person in need, spending time with the
Father, supporting missionaries, and sharing your faith. The other
type of building material symbolizes worthless deeds. Paul calls
them wood, hay, and stubble. These materials have little lasting
value and can easily be destroyed by fire, insects, and decay.
They represent good works done with impure motives, wasted
opportunities to serve the Lord, and sinful acts.
Gods plan is to test our works.
Notice that our deeds, not our salvation, will be tested at the
judgment seat of Christ. Our redemption is a free gift from God,
purchased by the precious blood of Jesus which He shed at
Calvary. But what have we done with our lives after trusting Him?
At the judgment seat of Christ, the Son of God who has eyes
like a flame of fire will examine us (Rev. 2:18). This imagery
describes the Lords gaze, which penetrates to the very core of
who we are. Nothing is hidden from His sight. At that time, our
worthless deeds will be instantly destroyed. First Corinthians 3:15
says, If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but

he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. We will all have

to give an account to God of the choices we made.When you and I
look into Jesus
eyes, we will not have any argument, excuse, or defense. His
judgment will be perfectly fair. Our evaluation will be based on
three factors: (1) How much truth did we know? (2) What gifts,
training, and skills did we have? (3) What did we do with the
opportunities God gave us? An individual who lives for the present
is making a foolish choice. Christians who think they can coast
through life will have to account for the talents and opportunities
they wasted. A lifetime is but a moment compared to the time
believers will spend with the Lord in paradise.Wise men and
women prepare for eternity by living their entire lives with
heavenly priorities in mind.
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In this series, weve been talking about the judgment seat
of Christwhere our Lord will evaluate the life of every
believer. We can take comfort in the fact that each person will be
examined based on his or her works, not on how that individual
compares to others and their achievements. This judgment,
however, includes more than just an assessment of what weve
done. It also will be a time when Christ will reward us for the godly
choices we made in life. Even the smallest Summary: good deed
will not escape His evaluation.The honors
He gives at this time will include various rewards for godly living,
including a number of crowns for faithful service.
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Countdown to Judgment
Part 4: Our Eternal Rewards
What is the nature of our rewards?
The apostle Paul wrote that He who plants and he who waters
are one; but each will receive hisown reward according to his own
labor (1 Cor. 3:8). Although we work with other believers toward
common goals, Christ will reward us individually for our obedience
to Him. Jesus will honor us for every righteous act if we did it with
the right motivation. No good deed goes unnoticed by the Lord,
even an act
as seemingly insignificant as giving someone a drink of water
(Matt. 10:42).

There will be different degrees of rewards because God gives each

of us different opportunities. For instance, the Bible mentions
specific honors in heaven for a righteous man and a prophet
(Matt. 10:41). Those who are given greater opportunities are
called to pay a higher price in terms of increased sacrifices and
responsibilities. For instance, one who lays down his life because
of persecution
will receive a great reward (Matt. 5:11-12). Is it possible to earn
no reward at all for a good deed? Absolutely. For instance, if
someones intent was to impress others and receive the praise of
others, that person will forfeit Gods blessings because of his or
her impure motivation (Matt. 6:1-6). One caution: godly lives
arent always rewarded here on earth. Be careful not to place your
hope in
material, temporal things when God has promised us eternal,
heavenly honors for our righteous choices.
What rewards might we recieve?
The satisfaction of hearing Jesus say, Well done. To some
people, this doesnt sound like much of a reward. But imagine if
you had performed a heroic act, and the president flew to your
town to congratulate you at a special ceremony. You would
probably be honored and gratified that such a high-ranking official
acknowledged your efforts. Now picture how much awe you will
feel when Christ
Himselfthe King of Kings and the Lord of Lordspraises you for
a job well done (Matt. 25:23).
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Is my life counting for the kingdom? Am I being obedient to follow
what the Lord has asked me to do? Am I making a difference in
anyones life? When we meet Jesus, it will be too late to earn
spiritual honors for our choices on earth. My
prayer is that you will evaluate your life and begin living today
with His final judgmentand heavenly rewardsin mind.
I started this series by comparing the countdown of the space
shuttle to time ticking away towards the final judgment. Every
moment that passes brings you one step closer to the day when
you will stand before Christ. Are you ready to give the

Ruler of the universe an account of your life? Spend some time

alonewithGod and ask yourself questions such as these: Am I
living righteously?
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The privilege of meeting those whom we were influential
in leading to Him. This reward will be given to those who are a
part of someone elses conversion, whether their role is small or
great. For example, every time you support missionaries
financially or pray for the success of their ministries, you earn
heavenly rewards.
Our assigned position of service in eternity. If we have
faithfully handled the tasks God gave us on earth, He will give us
positions of authority in His eternal kingdom (Rev. 22:5). This is
one reason why its important not to be slothful or lazy. The Lord
will judge us based on three criteria: 1) How much truth
did we know? 2) What talents, skills, and opportunities did we
have? 3) What did we do with the opportunities God provided?
Our eternal, undisturbed, complete intimacy with Christ. In
eternity, our fellowship with Jesus will depend to some extent on
how we lived while on earth. Intimacy between a husband and a
wife is nothing compared to the awesome spiritual closeness a
believer can enjoy with our holy God. The more we are conformed
to the image of Jesus during our earthly lives, the less our
intimacy with Him will be hinderedboth now and in heaven
(Rom. 8:29).
The capacity to show forth the glory of Christ.What does
this phrase mean? The glory of God is the radiance of His
holiness, His love, and His power. Once weve been purified by the
judgment, we will share that glory to some degree, although we
will never be equal to the Lord.
The Types of Crowns
In addition to the rewards listed above, the Bible mentions the
crowns we can win as a result of faithful service on earth.

The crown of victory or the incorruptible crown:Most of us

should receive this reward. It is given to those who do not give up
in the face difficulties, hardships, and trials (1 Cor. 9:25).
The crown of rejoicing: Believers who share their faith with
others earn the right to rejoice over those whom they led to the
Savior (1 Thess. 2:18-20).
The crown of righteousness: Christians who have lived a godly
life, longing for the Lords return, will receive this one (2 Tim.
4:8).Although they still sin on occasion, they are quick to confess
and restore their fellowship with God (1 John 1:9).
The crown of life: Not only do trials allow us the opportunity to
grow spiritually and experience more of Gods comfort, we will
one day be honored for persevering through them (James 1:12).
The crown of glory: This reward is reserved for faithful pastors
who shepherd their flocks well, resist the temptation to please
men instead of the Lord, and dont compromise the truth of Gods
Word (1 Peter 5:4).
What is the final destiny of these crowns? We will cast them at the
feet of Jesus (Rev. 4:10-11). Through the power of the Holy Spirit,
Christ equipped us to perform good deeds. Thats why He
deserves all the glory and honornot us.