The Coming Kingdom of Christ - Part 3
Let’s continue our discussion on, Are you prepared for who is coming? What is coming? and Have you made your reservations?
Last week we discussed the who was coming and found out that Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth.
You may ask, why is Jesus coming back?
To retrieve His bride, the church. No, not the Baptist, Catholics, Word of Faith, Hindus, Buddhist, Evangelicals, Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, etc. Only the true church made up of those that truly accept Him as Lord and Savior.
Who are they? They are the whosoever will.
The question isn’t, is Jesus coming back? The real question is, when He does return, will He come back as your Savior or your judge and executioner?
Some may say, Judge, really?
Well, yes, Judge. Listen to what Jesus said to a group of religious people during His time here on earth. 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. John 5:24-29
The dead who hear Jesus’ voice in verse 25 are the dead in trespasses and sins. Notice how definitive Jesus speaks of this event. He says the day IS coming and NOW IS, ALL will hear His voice but only those who hear (and respond) will live (receive eternal life). This is called the effectual calling of God the Father. The Father calls and gives the ones that respond to the Son as a love gift. The Son gives them everlasting life while the Holy Spirit seals (keeps and protects) them until the Son comes back to retrieve His bride, the church (the true believers in Jesus not a denomination or religion).
37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:37-40
Next, we note that in verse 27 that Jesus claims to have authority to execute judgment, that is to say, He is the judge. In verse 28, Jesus states the day is coming but NOT NOW, that ALL who are in the graves will hear His voice. This is the bodily resurrection of everyone that have ever lived.
These are two separate events. First, those that have done good will go to heaven.
Done good?
Yes, they confessed to God that they are wretched wicked filthy sinners worthy of hell but sought forgiveness by believing that Jesus Christ death, burial, and resurrection was sufficient payment for their sins. On that basis alone which the Bible calls faith, God placed all their sins upon Christ as if Jesus committed all their sins and gave them Jesus’ righteousness which is equal to God's (because He is the Son of God) and the only ticket to heaven.
Second, those who have done evil, who are already condemned will be casted into the lake of fire, which is the real hell.
Done evil? Already condemned? C'mon man!
Yes, all of us are born into this group but only those who refuse to confess their sins and believe in Jesus remain in this condemned condition. Unfortunately, the Bible states that most people will fall into this category.
Why? Because they don’t believe that their behavior is bad enough to send them to hell. They believe that one must be really bad like Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Jim Jones, a serial killer, child rapist, etc., but not your everyday ordinary people who goes to church, give money for “good” causes, are nice, kind, considerate, good family people, don’t do too many bad things.
The problem with this belief is that God doesn’t allow anyone into heaven because of good or bad behavior. That’s not the criterion. They either forgot, don’t understand, or don't know that we are all BORN sinners, enemies of God, and children of the devil. We inherited this sinful condition from our father, Adam, the first man who purposely sinned against God.
10 As it is written: “There is NONE righteous, no, NOT ONE; 11 There is NONE who understands; There is NONE who seeks after God. 12 They have ALL turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is NONE WHO DOES GOOD, no, NOT ONE.” 13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:10-18
5 Surely, I was SINFUL AT BIRTH, sinful from the time my mother CONCEIVED ME. Psalms 51:5
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way, death CAME UPON ALL people, because ALL SINNED. Romans 5:12
You may say, well, I’m not a sinner! And you can’t say that I am.
I didn’t say you were a sinner; God did.
Do you want to know how I know that you are a sinner? Can you die? Only sinners die.
23 For the WAGES of SIN IS DEATH, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
If you can die my friend, then you are a sinner. Even babies die.
So, what’s the criteria for getting into heaven without believing in Jesus Christ?
Sinless perfection in everything, perfect holiness and perfect righteousness equal to God’s. Not some other man or woman, so there is no need to compare yourself to anyone else. This mean that your perfect holiness and righteousness must be from everlasting to everlasting and you were not born a sinner, which we just proved from the Bible that we were all born sinners.
God explains this in the book of Job.
6 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm: 7 “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
1. 8“Would you discredit my justice?
2. Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
3. 9 Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his?
4. 10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
5. and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
6. 11 Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low,
7. 12 look at all who are proud and humble them,
8. crush the wicked where they stand.
9. 13 Bury them all in the dust together;
10. shroud their faces in the grave.
If you can do all the things above, God says to you:
11. 14 Then I myself (God) will admit to you that your own right hand can save you. Job 40:6-14
If you cannot do those things, then my friend, you require a Savior. Fortunately, Jesus is still available today. Confess that you are a wretched sinner, confess that you cannot save yourself, ask God to forgive your sin, ask Jesus to save you, be willing to obey God’s word – the Bible. Not me, not some preacher, not some church or religion but God’s word. Follow a good Bible preacher as he follows God’s word.
This topic and more are discussed in my book, Predestined to Hell? Why would a God of Love Consign People to Hell FOREVER? Available now on Amazon.
Visit my website kevinjmadison.com for additional resources and sign up for updates. I will also be starting a blog on the website next week, with a weekend Q&A session.
By the grace of God, next week we will discuss what does the Bible mean by “eternal life” and define what it means to be “born again”. What exactly happens during the “born again process”.
Until next week my friends. Take Care.