8 08 Judgement Twp

The Preacher’s Notebook The Paper and Electronic Pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Mineral Springs, NC (Delivered by E-mail and Us Postage Through Subscription as an Extension of the Pulpit Ministry of this Church)

Dr. Terry W . Preslar – PO Box 388 – M ineral Springs, NC 28108 (704)843-3858 – E-Mail: [email protected] Copyright (C) 2007. Terry W. Preslar All rights reserved.

Vol. II

August, 2008

Issue 8

Expository Notes On

“JUDGMENT” Weighed and Found Wanting “Thou art weighed in the balances and found wanting.” (Dan. 5:27) This wicked day is upon us to bring pain to the saint of GOD in almost every way. The “balances” are hanging to weigh the deeds of men and GOD must judge NOW or we will bring ruin on every rank of creation. Elijah, of old said of the people of GOD in that day: “...have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine alters, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” (1 Kings 19:10). Isaiah, with a broken heart cried out in his day: “They are out of the way through strong drink, they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.” It was David the King who said: “The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They kept not the covenant of GOD, and refused to walk in HIS law.” (Psa. 78:9-10) Without a doubt, our GOD “must” balance the scales in the face of this wicked hour of declension. I- Weighed in the balances of deeds against a HOLY GOD – “The SON of Man shall send forth HIS angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.” (Matt. 13:41) “As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity.” (Psa. 125:5) II- Weighed in the balances of the love of pleasures more the love of GOD – “...Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of GOD.” (2 Tim. 3:4) III- Weighed in the balances of the rejected WORD of GOD – “And if any man hear my word, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the words that I have spoken the same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 13:47-48)

Judgment Is Sure “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Heb. 9:27) The Surety of Judgement is undeniable, the Certainty of Judgement is undebatable and the Purity of this Judgement is undoubtable. There is no exoneration from this Judgement. There is no Exception from this Judgement. There is only one hopeful Expiation from this Judgement. (“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12). The status of the race of mankind in lieu of this Judgement is Vital (“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”Rom. 6:23), the state of the race of mankind in line for this Judgement is Visceral (“And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood...” Ezek. 16:6), the standing of the race of mankind in latitude of this Judgement is Void. (“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1 John 5:19). There is no other way in the face of man, who, in all, is wicked, in person having wondered far from the fold-away and has wearied the Holy God with his folly. I- GOD must judge (See the above text – Heb.9:27) A) hidden sin (Rom. 2:16) B) willful sin (Heb. 10:26-27) C) sin against the marriage (Heb. 13:4)

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II. GOD’S judgment is perfect A) based upon the perfect WORD (Psa. 96:13) B) following a perfect PATTERN (Acts 17:31) C) Meted out by a perfect PERSON (John 5:22) III. GOD’S judgment is sure A) PLANNED in eternity (Eccl. 3:17) B) PROVIDED for in Christ (1 Peter 2:24) C) PROPOSED to you in the Gospel (Rev. 3:19) IV. Preparation for judgment is IMPERATIVE S it was not raining before Noah built the Ark A) judgment is SUDDEN (Prov. 2 9:1) “He that being often REPROVED hardeneth his neck, shall SUDDENLY be destroyed, and that with out remedy.” 1- those of the flood (Gen. 6:3, 8) message was given for 120 years. “...often reproved...” 2- those of SODOM (Gen. 19:24-29) message by heavenly visitors. “...often reproved...” 3- those of Pharaoh’s house (Ex. 14:21-29) message by GOD’S man “...often reproved...” B) Judgement is SPECIAL (Prov. 17:11) “AN evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.” 1- a father’s sin is judged (Ex. 20:5) “...the third and forth generation...” S A CRUEL MESSENGER 2- a nation’s sin is judged (Psa. 9:17) “...and all the nations that forget GOD”SA CRUEL MESSENGER 3- a worlds sin is to be judged (Acts 17:30-31) “...HE hath appointed a day in the which HE will judge the world...”SA CRUEL MESSENGER C) judgement is for SIN (Prov. 26:2) “As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.” 1- Hidden sin (Acts 5:3,5) or lying to the H.G. STHE CURSE CAME 2- Covered sin (Gen. 34:15 see v. 25-26 Shechem and Hamor STHE CURSE CAME 3- Pet sin (Matt. 23:24) “...strain at a gnat and swallow a camel...” STHE CURSE CAME

“Judgement” “I must work the works of HIM that sent me, while it is day the night cometh when no man can work.” (John 9:4) The subject of judgement is not one well liked. No one is ever in a good mood to hear of the judgement GOD has in store for him. However; this is needed today in the modern pulpit. Judgement seems; on the surface, to be very simple, but a study of this subject will show that the BIBLE teaches 5 different judgements. Here CHRIST spoke of three spiritual truths: I- Life on earth (Day) II- Death on earth (Night) III- After death-judgement (Heb. 9:27) – This is an appointment that all WILL surely keep. It will be kept by each in one or another of FIVE different “place-time” events. Here five Judgements Taught in the Bible truths: I- Judgement of the sin of the Believer (Rom. 8:1-2) “...the law of the spirit of life in CHRIST JESUS hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” A) the time-near 33 A.D. B) the place-Mt. Calvary C) the reason-the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) SEE John 19:30 “...it is finished...” (also Isa. 53:5-6) “...and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” II- Judgement of believers as to works (2 Cor.5:10) “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of CHRIST; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, weather it be good or bad. A) the time-after the RAPTURE (1 Thes. 4:16-17) “...the dead in CHRIST shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up...” (Matt. 16:27) “For the SON OF MAN shall come in the glory of HIS FATHER with HIS angels; and then HE shall reward every man according to his works B) based on works (1 Cor. 9:24) “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. C) the results of this judgement 1-one may suffer LOSS: (1 Cor. 3:15) “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved;...” 2-one may receive a CROWN: (2 Tim. 4:8) III- The judgement of the Jews- the time of Jacob’s trouble Daniel’s seventieth Week (Dan. 9:27) [See Dan. 12:1] “...and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time...”

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A) the time-the tribulation (2 Thes. 2:3-12) “...for this cause GOD shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie:” B) place-the vicinity of Jerusalem (Rev. 11:2) “...and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” **this is 3 and ½ years; but the whole Earth is involved in the TRIBULATION C) the result-the purge of Israel and the final conversion of Israel 1-the purge (Rev. 7:4-8) 2-the conversion (Zec. 12:10) IV- The judgement of the Nations (Matt. 25:32-46) A) time -the REVELATION of CHRIST (Matt.25:31) “When the SON OF MAN shall come in HIS GLORY...” (compare this with Matt. 16:27"...the GLORY of HIS FATHER...”) B) place -the THRONE of HIS GLORY (Matt. 25:31) “...then shall HE sit upon the throne of HIS GLORY:” C) the reason -their treatment or HIS “brethren” (Matt. 25:40) D) result -the judgement of “THE SHEEP and THE GOATS” (Matt. 25:32) V- The last of the judgements is that of the Wicked Dead (Rev. 20:7, 11-15) – This short chapter of 15 verses tells more than any other text of this dreadful event. I will not attempt to improve on this treatment. Only would I say what is said by Paul in Eph.3:14 “For this cause I bow my knee unto the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST...” There is a very interesting function of judgement found in Heb. 9:22. This verse speaks to the need of each person for the purging of a soul (1 Cor. 5:6-7) “...Purge out the old leaven..” If an individual will not judge himself GOD has a system to do this needed thing in the life of the believer. The verse in Heb.9:22 says “...almost all things are by the law purged with blood:” The statement of “almost all” is a very puzzling one. After all are not all the sins of the saint under the blood. YES; I say a thousand times YES! However; we are talking about the process of “PURGING” and not “REDEMPTION”. Redemption is one of three processes which GOD works on and in the saint. Look carefully at the list: I- Redemptive Judgement (the Mercy Seat is seen here) S the COST of REDEMPTION is emphasized in this case S (Eph. 1:7 “..According to the riches of HIS grace:...” S also see 1 Peter 1:18-19) A) The COST is GOD’S blood (Acts 20:28) “...the church of GOD, which he hath purchased with HIS own blood.” B) No COST is spared (Rom. 8:32) “HE that spared not HIS own SON, but delivered HIM up for us all...” C) The PURCHASE is a lasting one (Heb.9:12) “...having obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION for US This judgement is seen met absolutely in the CROSS (John 19:30 “...it is finished:...”) II- Instructive Judgement (the Laver is seen here) S the LESSON LEARNED emphasized in this case S (John 17:17 “Sanctify them through THY truth: THY word is truth.”; Psa. 119:9 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanses his way? by taking heed thereto according to THY word.”) A) Obedience -the key to GOD’S blessings in instruction (1 Sam. 15:22) “...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice..” B) Surrender -the method of GOD’S instruction (Matt. 7:21) “...he that doeth the will of MY FATHER...” C) Determination -the need for Spiritual instruction (1 Cor. 2:2) “For I determined not to know any thing among you save JESUS CHRIST, and HIM crucified.” (see also Dan. 1:8 “...purposed in his heart...”) III- Punitive Judgement (the Brazen alter is seen here) S the SIN COMMITTED is emphasized in this case S (1 Peter 4:19) “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of GOD commit the keeping of their souls to HIM in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” A) Suffering because OF sin (Micah 6:13) “Therefore also will I make the sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate BECAUSE OF THY SINS.” B) Responsibility FOR sin (Rom. 14:12) “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to GOD.” 1-the LOST (Luke 12:20) 2-the SAVED (1 Peter 4:4-5) C) Finality TO sin (2 Peter 2:9) “The LORD knoweth how... to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished:” [see also 2 Peter 3:7] The reader is referred again to the statement in Heb. 9:22 – “...almost all things are by the law purged with blood.” This is seen now in light of the past outlined list of judgement. Now I run the risk of repeating myself by restating the case: There are some things from which there is no painless recoverer except by the fire of PUNITIVE JUDGEMENT. See for example the passage in Num. 31:23. It states the method of purification when the “men of war” returned from battle. Before the spoil of battle could be used and the solders could be fit for service again, there was a purification to be done. This included: I- FIRE – punitive judgement (Num. 31:21-23) “...This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses; ...Everything that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean:...” II- WATER – instructive judgement (Num. 31:24) “And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye

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shall be clean, and afterward ye shall come into the camp.” III- BLOOD – redemptive judgement (Heb. 9:12) “...but by HIS own blood HE entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

What Are the Offenses Which must Be Judged by Fire? I. Sin against the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:31) “...shall not be forgiven unto men.” II. Sin against the LIGHT (Heb. 10:26-27) “...sin wilfully...there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgement and FIERY indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” III. Presumptuous sins (Psa. 19:13; Num. 15:30-31) “...his iniquity shall be upon him.” King David is the example for this principal at work in a nation and an individual’s life (1 Chron. 21:1-30) In this story we see the coming to an end of a long line of sin which included adultery, murder, deception, worldliness and now this “numbering of the people”, which now brings “...Satan...up against Israel...” (vs. 1) There is a time when the offender reaches the place of GOD’S intolerance (vs. 7). And he is driven to a place of either repentance or rebellion (vs. 8). David, having reached this point, now repents and seeks GOD’S speedy judgement (vs. 9-13). In this portion of the passage, GOD gives David three options: #1) three years of famine; #2) three months to be “destroyed before thy foes”; #3) three days of the “sword of the LORD.” GOD gave these three options as we see them in other words: 1-three years in the hands of nature (Famine); 2-three months in the hands of foes (Destroyed by foes); 3-three days in the hands of GOD (A FATHER’S mercy) When the disobedient child is chastened by his earthly father, the best thing for him to do is to run to his feet “...he shall not die. “(Prov. 23:13) So David chose three days in GOD’S hands. (1 Chron. 21:13) “...let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are HIS mercies:...” So the child of GOD who becomes defiled by sin need not only seek GOD’S forgiveness through the sufficient blood of CHRIST and the washing of the WATER by the word; but, also he must agree with GOD on the FIRE of purging to fit him for service as soon as possible. A servant is a steward and a steward must give account of his doings. (Matt. 25:26) “...I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed”

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