Royal Scrutiny

 

Royal Scrutiny

Psalm 50:8-15

Theme: The revival of our churches begins with a renewal in our worship of God. God’s priority is to restore His people and then return them to heartfelt (spirit) and genuine (truth) worship.

Relevance: the God of astonishing glory demands worship that work. The Christian lives in this tension between rituals and reality! Too often our churches are accused of hypocrisy: “They don’t practice what they preach.” We gather to merely go through the motions of “worship.”  

Introduction:

In Psalm 50 formalism in worship and hypocrisy in living are addressed by God. He is never happy with mere customary habits, religious formalities, ‘spiritual’ observances, ‘Christian’ religious ceremonial practices, or procedures rooted in rites, routines, and stereotypes.

Additionally, we cannot afford to merely “go through the motions.” Away with worship that is formally correct but empty of a heart that is eager to love and praise God. In these verses of Psalm 50, God examines the activities of his people and finds them observing routines while ignoring him.

Message:

    I.          The Royal Judge’s Examination (Ps. 50:8-15).

God’s scrutiny reveals worship, though correct in many regards, it is still formal and ritualistic.

A.   Reflecting on the Worship Israel Offered (Ps. 50:8-13).

1.     God does Not Rebuke them for Continuous Sacrifices and Offerings (v. 8). He affirms their sacrifices: “I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings” (see Ps. 40:6), given in the temple “continually.” Most of them were doing the right things at the correct times consistently. Some people were quite exact about this. 

2.     But God Noticed the Worship Israel Offered was Formal and Ritualistic.

a.      “Formalism refers to a tendency in religious thought and practice to shift focus away from the abstract, the spiritual, the personal, or the ethical principles in a religion and toward the outward forms that embody that religion. Outward forms can refer to: the sacred buildings or shrines in which worship occurs.” -David McCallum

b.     Formal type worship contains structures, set prayers, readings, or rituals. Typically, it is deceptive, prideful, hypocritical, devoid of commitment, it is not heartfelt, or indicative of real spiritual devotion to God.   

c.      The Lord Jesus rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees sharply for their hypocritical worship and pretentious lifestyles in Matt. 23. See Gal. 6:13-15; Lk. 11:37- 54.

3.     God does Not Need Israel’s Sacrifices and Offerings (vs. 9 -11). Truthfully, God does not need the sacrifices, but Israel does.

a.      God refuses to go looking for “a bullock out of thy house” or “goats,” when He owns all the beasts in the “forest” and “the cattle upon a thousand hills” (v. 10). Also, He has a superintending relationship with all “the fowls of the mountains” and “the wild beasts of the field.” Why then if God has vast herds and flocks would He need a single bull or goat?

b.     So, it is ridiculous according to verse 12, that God waits for any sacrifices to be offered to Him for a meal! God does not need Israel to feed Him, a common notion both ancient and modern religions held toward their gods or ancestors. Thus, He mockingly asks: “Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?” (Based on D. Williams, The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 13)

c.      But the trouble was that they thought these rituals completely discharged their obligations to Jehovah. They were like girls who treat their mother indifferently throughout the year, then smother her with chocolates on her birthday! Or like sons who never thank their father for all he does for them, then give him a gift tie on Father’s Day!

d.     So Jehovah protests that while they had loaded His altar with sacrificial animals, they had treated Him personally with cold neglect. As to the technical details of the offerings, His people had been punctilious. But when it came to a warm, personal relationship with the Lord Himself, they were seriously lacking. F. B. Meyer writes:

e.      The Psalm is a severe rebuke of the hypocrite who contents himself with giving a mere outward obedience to the ritual of God’s house, but withholds the love and homage of his heart.^[1]

4.     Sacrifices are not to be offered for God’s sake, but for Israel’s, as a sign of the covenant, as an act of surrender, and as a substitute for sin.

5.     We should treasure Christ Jesus even more because of the New Covenant, His willing surrender, and his complete Sacrifice for our sin. 1 Corinthians 1:29-31, That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

a.      Hebrews 9:12, Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

b.     Hebrews 9:26-28, For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

c.      Hebrews 1:9-10, Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

B.   Reflecting on the Worship God Desires (Ps. 50:14-15).

1.     Offer Thanksgiving (v. 14). True worship is defined in verse 14.

a.      It begins with the heart: “Offer unto God thanksgiving [sacrifice].”

b.     True worship also includes the heartfelt obedience of simple gratitude for His person and blessings.

c.      How may we express gratitude to God?

1.     Begin the day with thanksgiving to God.

2.     Thank Him in your daily and public worship.

3.     Speak of all of His benefits to family, friends and work associates.

4.     Thank Him as you read His Word, especially when he speaks to your heart in an obvious way.

5.     Thank Him for the hard things.

d.      Through the eyes of faith we can look beyond our present-day challenges. Being grateful in our circumstances is an act of faith requiring trusting God.

e.      No gift can ever take the place of simple gratitude. Too often we are like the family that took their queenly mother for granted, then after her death attempted to atone for their thanklessness by dressing her body in a two-thousand-dollar Dior original!^[2]

2.     Pay Vows (vs. 14). Thus “vows” must be paid “unto the Most High.”

a.     A “vow” is any kind of promised gift to God. He is the “Most High,” a title used by Melchizedek, king of Salem, who blesses Abraham (Gen. 14:18). It means “God above all other gods.”

b.     Fulfilled vows includes vows of love, worship, service, and devotion.^[3]

3.     Offer Prayers (v. 15). When worship is from the heart and exhibited in obedience, God promises that His people may “call upon [Him] in the day of trouble.” He will “deliver” them and they will “glorify” Him.

a.      When they were walking in obedience they can call on the Lord in a time of trouble and God promised to deliver them.

b.     This includes both the glory manifested in the rescue itself and the resulting praise from Israel (v. 15).

c.      This is a wonderful insight into the heart of God. He loves to hear His people pray, and He loves to answer those prayers. He cherishes an intimate, tender relationship between His people and Himself.^[4]

4.     A Great Deal of Stuff we do in the Name of worship is not Listed Here!

a.      Ritualistic singing, simply going through the motions, and mindless ‘participation’ in the services should be eliminated. The songs are a part of worship, not just preparation for preaching. Worship centers on God as the focus and not the Bible as the object. Experiences are validated by the Word.

b.     Allowing familiarity and routine to replace spiritual involvement; allowing whatever distractions to steal our attention and concentration. We must be present in the moment in order to worship God.

c.      ‘Praying’ to instruct people instead of praying to God; being more of a judge and inspector instead of a participant and worshiper. Allowing local traditions to trump truth and biblical standards/requirements.  

d.     Don’t use fire, dancing, secular music/songs, pride, irreverence, jealousy, and cynicism as they greatly hinder worship.

 

II.          The Royal Judge’s Explanation.

The Scriptures are abundantly clear that only God deserves true worship, not angels, mere other human beings, or idols (Exodus 20:3, Matthew 4:10). True worship involves the heart—God wants sincere worshipers, not people who just go through the motions…not just external actions (John 4:24, Psalms 51:16-17).

A.    Worship embraces giving our deepest affections and highest praise to God yielding our heart, soul, mind, and bodies to Him. Worship then is an extreme form of love — it’s a type of whole-hearted devoutness. True worship also involves expressions of obedience, praise, honor, adoration, and gratitude offered by regenerate believers who know and love him personally.

B.    As God’s people, we are sometimes guilty of using a “Christian” ritual while we mentally zone-out during a worship service resulting in a hateful form of hypocrisy. “Jesus’ advice to “worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) provides the proper correctives for these faults.”^[5]

C.    Clearly, we need the Lord Jesus in all facets of our lives if we hope to be fruitful and productive—this includes our worship.

1.     John 15:5, I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

2.     Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Again, we must be honest with God about our need for Christ in all facets of life. Forsake pridefulness, self-sufficiency, egotism, self-reliance, and independence.

D.    Beloved, we must view Worship as something we Need and not what God Needs. We cannot afford to miss this application. Too often we think that God needs us. He needs our money, our time, our service, our insight, our strength, and our worship. After all, what would He and His church do without us? This attitude is checked by the Judge in two respects.

First, it presupposes a weak God. But He is the sovereign Mighty God even the LORD! He owns the “cattle upon a thousand hills.” He needs neither us nor our money (Mal. 3:8-12). Second, it expresses too high a view of ourselves. Pride enters in and the proud cannot stand in the presence of the Holy God. “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance …. All nations before Him are as nothing” (Is. 40:15 & 17). (Based on D. Williams, The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 13)

E.     Our Worship must be a Living Sacrifice of heartfelt devotion, loyalty to truth, and obedience to God. The offering of oneself fully and completely to God is what he is after…this is real worship…and this is for our good!

1.     Deut. 6:4-5, Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

2.     Deuteronomy 10:12, And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

3.     Deuteronomy 10:16, Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

4.     John 4:24, God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

5.     Romans 12:1-2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Conclusion:

Again, this is a personal and heartfelt (from the heart) offering indicated by Psalm 50! We are not dealing with a matter of constraint, compulsion, or reluctance (see 2Cor. 9:7). As our capable Judge, God points to the formalism in our worship and hypocrisy in our lives! And in many cases, we are guilty as charged. We now know that worship flows from a heart of love for God…from people who deeply want to please God; there is no motivation to merely do one’s duty or to check the box. We literally cease to operate purely out of a sense of obligation (Matt. 22:37-40). Beloved, worship needs to be our focus! His people must bring sacrifices of thanksgiving from obedient, trusting hearts.^[6]

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 628.

^[2] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 628.

^[3] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 628.

^[4] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 628–629.

^[5] Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 831.

^[6] Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 831.

The Last Great Event of Human History!

It was W. W. Wiersbe who said,

In one sense, the millennial kingdom will sum up" all that God has said about the heart of man during the various periods of history. It will be a reign of law, and yet law will not change man's sinful heart. Man will still revolt against God. The Millennium will be a period of peace and perfect environment, a time when disobedience will be judged swiftly and with justice; and yet in the end the subjects of the King will follow Satan and rebel against the Lord. A perfect environment cannot produce a perfect heart.God is now about to "wrap up" human history One great event remains.”  

 All Sinners are Condemned After the Millennial Age (Rev. 20:11-15).

The time of grace and patience on the behalf of God is over; the time of eternal reckoning has come. God offered salvation, forgiveness, a relationship with Himself, and Heaven to whoever will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for centuries. Too many people simply rejected God's offer and in the final event of human history God will respect their decisions. Every unsaved individual will be examined by God Himself and all will be thoroughly recompensed for their rejection of Jesus Christ and life-long career of sin. Note the words of Dr. H. Willmington,

A test no one will pass. John saw the Judge of the universe seated behind his great white throne, sentencing all the unsaved to the lake of fire forever. Faith in Christ would have placed their names in the "Book of Life," and they would have been saved.— Harold Willmington 

   — After the millennial age, the unsaved are ushered into a gigantic courtroom. Millions of people are there—waiting to see the judgment sessions. All wait in trepidation. Suddenly, off to the right, a huge movie screen lights up and begins to show the entire life works of the wicked. All of the thoughts, motives, and actions of which they are most ashamed shine forth before the assembled crowd.... and a holy God! This is the idea that many have of the final Great White Throne Judgment. But the main question will not be, "What did you do in life?" Rather they will answer for what they did with Jesus. As we have stated in past studies, believers in Jesus share the conviction and joyous hope that Christ will return to earth not only as King, but as Judge, also. This judgment is the climax of them all for all the sinners of all the ages. (MacDonald, W)

   — The final five verses of Revelation 20 introduce the judgment at the end of human history and the beginning of the eternal state.

A.  THE MAJESTIC JUDGE (REV. 20:11).

The sinner, Christ rejecters will have to face the Lord Jesus Christ as Judge and Prosecutor in the Supreme Court of the Universe!

   1. His Court. "A great white throne"

        A. Not Like Modern Courts.

             1. The White Throne Judgment will be nothing like our modem court cases.

             2. At the White Throne, there will be a Judge but no jury, a prosecution but no defense, a sentence but no appeal.

             3. No one will be able to defend himself or accuse God of unrighteousness. What an awesome scene it will be!

        B. It Is a Great Court.

Great because of the issues involved and the sentences issued.

        C. It Is a White Court.

             1. White because of the perfection and purity of the decisions handed down.

             2. This is a judgment throne, elevated, pure, and holy.

         D. It Is a Throne Court.

            1. Nearly 50 times in Revelation there is the mention of a throne. It is not the sight of the previous thrones in heaven nor in the earth.

            2. This court throne is in space beyond the old heaven and the old earth. Like the Judgment Seat of Christ which took place in heaven before the Millennial age, this judgment will also be in a scene other then the earth.

            3. Tills court convenes in space during an indescribable void between the end of the present universe (Rev 20:11) and the creation of the new heaven and earth (Rev 21:1).

   2. His Christ, “an him that sat on it”

       A. The Judge is Jesus Christ.

The Father has committed all judgment to Him (Matt 19:28; Rom. 2:16).

John 5:22-30, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: [23] That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. [24] Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life [25] Verily, verily, 1 say unto you. The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. [26] For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; [27] And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. [28] Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, [29] And shall come forth; they that have done good. unto the resurrection of life; and thev that have done evil. unto the resurrection of damnation. [30] I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I Judge and my judgment is just: because 1 seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Acts 10:42, And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Acts 17:30-31, And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent [31 ] Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness bv that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

While Christ is now seated on the throne in heaven and will be seated on the Davidic throne on earth in the Millennium (Matt. 25:31), this white throne judgment is a special situation.

       B. These Lost Sinners Rejected Christ in Life.

Now they must be judged by Him and face eternal death.

Matthew 7:21-23, Not every one that saith unto me. Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but lie that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day. Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name0 and in thy name have cast out devils9 and in thy name done many wonderful works';' [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

   3. His Countenance, "from whose face the earth and heaven fled away"

We all must admire the grandeur of this image; no one can think on it without being awed by the majesty and glory of the Christ, Great Judge.

          A. John Saw the Contaminated Universe Vanish out of Existence.

1.      Peter described this moment when the universe is "uncreated," going into non-existence.

2 Peter 3:10-13. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, [12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? [13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

2.      The Lord Jesus Also Stated This Very tiling. Matthew 24:35. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (See also Mk. 13:3 1; Lk21:33).

3.      Like the stars, during the rising of the sun, seem to flee to more remote regions, and vanish from view, so also when the Son of God shall appear in his glory to judge lost humanity, the earth and all other worlds shall indeed vanish. "The earth and the heaven fled away" An un-creation shall ensue as the natural world shrinks back with awe at the presence of God the Son! (Compare Ps 18:7-15; 77:16-19; 114:3-5; Hab. 3:6, 10-11). The image expresses, in the most emphatic manner, the idea that they entirely disappeared, and no language could more sublimely represent the majesty of the Judge.

B. Will the Heavens and Earth be Cleansed or Destroyed? The question has been raised as to whether the earth and the starry heavens as they are today will be destroyed at this point in the future or will be simply restored to a new state of purity.

1.      Many Bible passage suggest that the earth and the heavens, as now known, will be destroyed (Matt 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 16:17; 21:33; 2 Peter 3:10-13).

2.      This is confirmed by the opening statement of Revelation 21, "the first heaven and the first earth were passed away."

3.      QUOTE: "The present universe was created like a gigantic clock which is running down, and if left to itself, would ultimately come to a state of complete inactivity. Inasmuch as God created the universe and set it in motion for the purpose of enacting the drama of sin and redemption, it would seem proper to begin anew with a new heaven and a new earth suitable for His eternal purpose and built on a different principle. The new heaven and new earth described in chapter 21 has no similarity to the present earth and heaven." —John Walvoord

4.      His Cause. "And there was no place found for them"

A. This Is Preparation for the Eternal Kingdom of God. There is no place for a contaminated earth, heaven, nor people.

B. The Physical World Is Thus Judged and Eliminated Because They Are Utterly Unfit for a Perfect Universe.

B. THE MASSIVE MULTITUDES JUDGED (REV. 20:12A-13)

1. The Final Judgment of All “the dead”—Unbelievers of All Ages (Matt 10:15; 11:22,24; 12:36,41,42; Luke 10:14; John 12:48; Acts 17:31; 24:25; Rom. 2:5,l6; Heb. 9:27:2 Pet. 2:9; 3:7; Jude 6).

A. The Purpose of Establishing the Great White Throne Is to Judge the Dead.

1. John tells us that the dead, great and small, stood before the throne. Hebrews 9:27, And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

2. From other Scriptures it seems that all the righteous dead have been raised, including Old Testament saints, the dead of the Great Tribulation, and the church saints, the body of Christ (Rev 20:4-5).

B. Thus it May Be Assumed That Verses Rev. 20:11-15 Refer to the Judgment of the Wicked Dead, who according to verse 5 would not be resurrected until after the thousand years and will have no part in what is called "the first resurrection. "

C. Those People Who Are Judged at the Great White Throne Judgment Have Rejected God Throughout History, from Adam's son Cain, who killed his brother, to those who rebelled during the end of the Millennium and are killed at the second coming of Christ. In Revelation 20:12-13 and the previous passages, we see that all who reject God, from the first unbeliever to the last, will stand before Jesus at the Great White Throne.

2. Christ Referred to this Event as the "Resurrection of Damnation" (John 5 29)

A. From Where Do These "Dead" Come? (Rev 20:13)

1. Death will give up the bodies, and

2. Hell-hades (the realm of the spirits of the dead) will give up the spirits.

3. The Seas— There will even be a resurrection of bodies from the sea.

4. No sinner will escape.

B. There Shall Be a Second Resurrection!

1. Do not confuse this judgment at the White Throne with the Judgment Seat of Christ where believers will have their works judged and rewarded.

2. At this judgment, there will be only unbelievers; and there will be no rewards.

3. John described here an awesome scene. Heaven and earth will flee away and no place will be left for sinners to hide! All must face the Judge!

3. They Stand Condemned Before God. “stand before God”

A. The unsaved will be raised and will stand before God's judgment. In a judicial sense as guilty condemned prisoners before the bar of divine justice.                                           

B. There are no living sinners left in the destroyed universe since all sinners were killed and all believers glorified.

C. THE MANNER OF THEIR JUDGMENT (REV. 20:12B-13).

1.      They Will Be Judged By Records. Jesus Christ will judge these unsaved people on the basis of what is written "in the books." What books?

A. The Books of Record. Daniel 7:10, A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened

1. These books record every thought, word, and deed of sinful men—all recorded by divine omniscience (see Dan. 7:10, the verse that is the source of this text).

2. They will provide the evidence for eternal condemnation Rev 18:6,7

3. QUOTE: "The fact that these dead have not been raised before is evidence in itself that they do not have eternal life and that their judgment is a judgment of their works. All final judgments deal with works, whether the works of Christians rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ or the works of the unsaved which are in view here. The question of who is saved is determined not in heaven but in life on earth. What is revealed here is the confirmation of one's destiny by means of God's written records." — John Walvoord

B. "The Book of Life" Will Be There.

1. It will be present containing the names of God's redeemed people (Dan. 12:1; Rev 21:27; note also 13:8; 17:8). Philip. 4:3, And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

2. No unsaved person will have his or her name in the Lamb's Book of Life; only true believers are recorded there. Luke 10:20, Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

3. Perhaps the Lord Jesus will check this record as a last and final act of mercy.

2.      They Will Be Judged By the Word. John 12:48, He that rejecteth me. and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. God's Word will be there. The Word that Christ has spoken, will judge sinners in the last day. Every sinner will be held accountable for the truth he or she has heard h this life.

3.      They Will Be Judge By Their Works, "judged everyman according to their works. "

John 3:17-20, For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned^ already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hatetli the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

A.     Their thoughts (Luke 8:17, Rom. 2:16), words (Matt. 12:37), and actions (Matt. 16 27) will be compared to God's perfect, holy standard (Matt 5:48, 1 Pet 1 15, 16) and will be found wanting (Rom 3:23).

B.     This Also Implies That There Are Degrees of Punishment in Hell (Mark 12:38-40; Luke 12:47, 48; Heb. 10:29). Matthew 10:14-15, And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you. It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

C.     Matthew 11:22, But I say unto you. It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

D.  THE MISERY OF JUDGMENT (REV. 20:14-15).                 

When the judgment is finished, all of the lost will be cast into hell, the lake of fire, the second death. Many people reject the biblical doctrine of hell as being "unchristian," and yet Jesus clearly taught its reality (Matt 18:8; 23:15, 33; 25:46; Mark 9:46). A sentimental kind of humanistic religion will not face the reality of judgment, but they teach a God who loves everyone into heaven and sends no one to hell. This is really one of the biggest lies the devil has ever introduced! Sadly, too many people have believed it.

Hell is a witness to the righteous character of God. He must judge sin. Hell is also a witness to man's responsibility, the fact that he is not a robot or a helpless victim, but a creature able to make choices. God does not merely "send people to hell"; they send themselves by rejecting the Savior God provided (Matt 25:41; John 3:16-21). Hell is also a witness to the awfulness of sin. If we once saw sin as God sees it, we would understand why a place such as hell exists.

In light of Calvary, no lost sinner can condemn God for casting him into hell. God has provided a way of escape, and He has patiently waiting for sinners to repent while believing the Gospel. He will not lower His standards or alter His requirements as they are entirely just. He has ordained that faith in His Son is the only way of salvation. Wisdom is demonstrated when we admit our sinfulness and trust the Savior, Jesus Christ

Conclusion:

Before God can usher in His new heavens and earth, He must finally deal with sin; and this He will do at the Great White Throne. Anyone,...you can escape this terrible judgment by trusting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. By so doing, you never will be a part of the second resurrection or experience the terrors of the second death, the lake of fire.

"He that heareth My Word," said Jesus, "and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment], but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).

Have you trusted Him in order to pass from death unto life?