The Judgment of the Sheep And Goats

Temple Baptist Church - 7-31-2019

Hebrews 9:27-28; Matthew 25:31-46

Introduction:

A.  I have been dealing with the three judgments found in the end time.  Over the past few weeks, we have taken a biblical view of the Judgment Seat of Christ.  The judgment of the works of the believer based upon their merit and motivation.  It is not a judgment of sin as sin was dealt with completely and finally when Christ paid our price.

B.  Tonight, I want to look at the second judgment (chronologically speaking), the Judgment of the Nations.  The chronological order of the judgments are as follows.

1.  The Judgment Seat of Christ takes place at the first part of the Tribulation Period.  The Church is raptured out just prior to the Tribulation Period and are in heaven during its seven years.

2.  The Judgment of the Nations takes place at the end of the Tribulation Period and at the beginning of the Millennial reign of our Lord Jesus Christ on earth.

3.  The Great White Throne Judgment takes place at the end of the Millennium as eternity begins with a New Heaven and a New Earth.

C.  There is much confusion and misinformation concerning this judgment that needs to be biblically straightened out.  Many treat this judgment as the general resurrection of both saved and lost with their eternity depending upon salvation plus works.  Thus, the Armenian view whereas a saved person can still be eternally lost.

D.  Matthew, chapter 25, is the only place that the Judgment of the Nations is mentioned so we have a First Mention, Full Mention, and Last Mention combined.  God says all that He needs to say and all that He is going to say on the subject.

E.  Let us look at this “First, Full, and Final Mention,” as Matthew, chapter 25, is the only mention of this judgment.  Therefore, what is said is both full and sufficient for the believer to understand its relevance.

1.  The Person of the Judgment.  The “Son of man.”  Jesus Christ.

a.  Our Lord will be the Judge at all three of the judgments that we have and will mention. 

b.  The standard by which all judgments are made is the Word of God.  Both:

1)  The Inscribed 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.

2)  The Incarnate Word - 2 Timothy 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Revelation 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

2.  The Period of the Judgment. 

a.  At the end of the Tribulation Period.  “When the Son of man shall come in his glory” – Revelation 1:7; 19:11-16.

b.  At the beginning of the Millennial Reign of Christ. “Then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory” – Isaiah 16:5; Luke 1:32.

c.  The Period Prophesied - Revelation 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.  (In the Rapture of the Church, Christ will come as “a thief in the night.”  Only those redeemed and remaining [alive and remain – 1 Thess. 4:17] will see Him.)

d.  The Period Performed - Revelation 19:11-13  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (At the end of the Tribulation Period during the Battle of Armageddon.  The setting up of the Millennial reign of Christ.)

3.  The Place of the Judgment – “then shall he sit upon the throne of His glory” – On earth.

a.  Christ’s Earthly Throne Prophesied - Isaiah 9:6-7  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  (7)  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

b.  Christ’s Earthly Throne Performed - Luke 1:31-33  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.  (32)  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:  (33)  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

4.  The People of the Judgment.

a.  The Sheep.  These are Saved.  “Come, ye blessed of my Father” – “but the righteous into life eternal.”

1)  Their relationship with Christ, righteous.  These were saved in the Tribulation Period.  They entered in to it without having heard a clear presentation of the gospel and God gives them another chance.  They hear and are saved.

2)  Their relationship with Israel, friends.  Their deep commitment to Christ is shown in their love for Israel, His covenant people.

3)  Their entrance into the Kingdom.  They have not died and the Rapture is past, so they will continue into the Millennial Reign of Christ to rule with Him along with those of us who have either died in Christ or have been Raptured out with Christ.

b.  The Goats.  These are Lost.  “ye cursed, into everlasting fire” – “these shall go away into everlasting punishment.”

1)  Their relationship with Christ, cursed.  These can be broken down into 2 different classes.

a)  Those who had heard the gospel and rejected it prior to the Tribulation Period.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  (11)  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  (12)  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

b)  Those who heard the gospel and rejected it during the Tribulation Period by receiving the Mark of the Beast. 

Revelation 14:9-11  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,  (10)  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:  (11)  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

2)  Their relationship with Israel, unfriendly.  Their lack of commitment to Christ is shown in their lack of love for His covenant people.

3)  Their entrance into everlasting punishment instead of the Kingdom.

The Romans Doxology

Temple Baptist Church - 7-28-2019

Romans 16:24-27

Introduction:

A.  As we finish the Book of Romans, we find Paul’s:

1.  Encouragement – Grace in verse 24.

2.  Exhortation – Gospel in verses 25-26.

3.  Exaltation – Glory in verse 27.

B.  I want to take a short look at the importance of the ending of the Book of Romans.

1.  Encouragement in Grace.  Verse 24.

a.  Paul knew the predicament that these Roman believers were in.  In the First Century, Rome ruled most of the known world and ruled with great cruelty.

b.  I have a list of the Roman Caesars who ruled in the first century.

1)  Augustus 29 BC-14 AD (The Birth of Christ.)

2)  Tiberius 14 AD-37 AD  (The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ.)

3)  Caligula 37 AD-41 AD  #1 on the Cruelty List of Caesars(The Acts of the Apostles: the great persecution of Rome and Saul of Tarsus.)

4)  Claudius 41 AD-54 AD (The Caesar unto who Paul appealed.)

5)  Nero 54 AD-68 AD  #5 on the Cruelty List of Caesars  (The Caesar to whom Paul appeared and was martyred.)

6)  Vespasian 69 AD-79 AD (The Caesar who had Jerusalem destroyed under Titus in 70 AD)

7)  Titus 79 AD-81 AD  (The Roman General who destroyed Jerusalem who became a national hero and eventually Caesar of Rome.)

8)  Domitian 81 AD-96 AD  (The Caesar under which John the Beloved was boiled in oil and exiled on the Isle of Patmos.)

9)  Nerva 96 AD-98 AD

10)  Trajan 98 AD-117 AD

c.  We are familiar with three of these 10 Caesars:

1)  Augustus Caesar – decreed that all the world be taxed around the birth of Christ.

2)  Claudius Caesar – chapters 11, 18 when there was a great dearth or famine throughout the world.

3)  Titus Caesar – under the rule of Vespasian, destroyed Jerusalem to the ground and, as a national hero, was elevated to Caesar 9 years later.

4)  Nero Caesar – the Caesar during Paul’s later years and listed as the 5th on the Cruelty List of first century Caesars.

d.  Nero Caesar:  Nero was Caesar when Paul wrote the Book of Romans as well as the year Paul was martyred.

1)  Cared nothing for the welfare of his people, much less dispersed Jews and Christians.

2)  Nero had his own mother executed along with anyone whom he believed could not be trusted.

3)  Nero reigned 15 years and, though he did not fiddle while Rome burned, he did blame the fire on Christians whom he greatly persecuted.

4)  Nero arrested, impaled, and burned to death as torches Christians.  As they burned, they lighted Nero’s gardens in Domus Aurea.  He is said to have breathed in the stench of burning flesh and laughed.

5)  It was under Nero’s reign that the Apostle Paul was executed by beheading.

6)  Nero had his grave dug while repeatedly saying, “What an artist dies within me!”

7)  Nero stabbed himself in the throat and bled to death.

8)  Many scholars believed Nero to be the Great Beast whose number was six hundred and sixty six.

e.  Through these terrible years, God’s Grace would be both available and sufficient.

1)  It is Sovereign Grace.  “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Grace begins and ends with God!

2)  It is Saving Grace.  “For by grace are ye saved!”

3)  It is Sustaining Grace.  “Grace to help in time of need.”

4)  It is Satisfying Grace.  “My grace is sufficient!”

2.  The Exhortation of the Gospel.  Verse 25-26.

a.  Paul began the Roman Epistle with the importance and power of the gospel.

b.  Romans 1:15-17  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  (16)  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  (17)  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

c.  Though greatly persecuted, along with Paul the Roman believers were debtors to their “Jerusalem.”

d.  They were never to forget that it was the gospel that bought their eternal salvation and EVERY CREATURE NEEDS A PREACHER.

3.  The Exaltation of The Glory of God.  Verse 26-27.

a.  The Wisdom of God’s Word Published.  “made manifest … by the scriptures.”

b.  The Wisdom of God’s Person.  “To God only wise.”

c.  The Wisdom of God’s Plan. “through Jesus Christ.”

Jude 25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Thorns Or Roses?

Temple Baptist Church - 7-28-2019

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Introduction:

A.  There is much controversy about what Paul’s “thorn” was.

1.  Some believe that it was a physical suffering because of his eyesight - Galatians 4:15  Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

Galatians 6:11  Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

2.  Some believe that it was a spiritual suffering because of his persecution. – 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

3.  Some believe that it was a mental suffering because of his past - 1 Corinthians 15:9  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Galatians 1:13  For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

4.  I believe that the Bible is clear within the context that it was a personal devil that followed him with the power to attack Paul in some way – “the messenger of Satan to buffet me.”  (Messenger in the Bible is a reference to an angel.  “Messenger of Satan” is a reference to an evil or fallen angel.  As the Lord lifted the “hedge” in the life of Job, He also lifted the “hedge” in the life of Paul.)

B.  Regardless of your position on the subject, we all realize that life is full of hard spots.

1. There is the possibility of complaining to God.  Everybody loves the “rose,” but nobody likes a thorn!  Life has more “thorns” than “roses.”  Paul did not enjoy suffering any more than we do.  Even our Lord asked that the cup be removed from Him in the Garden of Gethsemane!

a)  Paul’s initial reaction to the thorn:  “besought…thrice”  Verse 8

1)  His prayer was rightly directed – to God and not to man.

2)  His prayer was earnestly directed – thrice.

3)  His prayer was specifically directed – this thing…it.

b)  Paul’s ultimate reaction to the thorn:  “gloried…took pleasure”  Verse 9-10

1)  The thorn brought glory to Paul’s God.

2)  The thorn brought the power of God in Paul’s life.

2.  There is the possibility of thanking God.  Paul thanked God for the thorn.  It is easy to give thanks for roses but not for the thorns!

C.  God’s answer to Paul’s prayer was:

1.  Unexpected – God answered contrary to Paul’s request.

2.  Purposed – our faith must surpass our feelings.  “A thorn is the stem upon which the flower of divine glory is to bloom!”

3.  Assuring – it was for Paul’s good (Romans 8:28) and for God’s Glory (Galatians 6:14).

D.  Paul’s reaction to the “thorn.”

1.  He Gloried in the “thorn.”  (To ascribe honor!  He gloried in what the Lord was doing.)

2.  He took Pleasure in the “thorn.”  (To think good or to be pleased!)

3.  I wonder how we would react to the “thorn?”

1 Peter 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 4:12-13  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  (13)  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

E.  I believe that the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, allows us to see into the personal lives of some of God’s greatest men.

James 5:17  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

1.  God’s men had problems like everyone else.  Some, God removed while others, God allows to remain.

2.  God’s men were men of like passions as we are.  Ups and downs in life.

3.  God’s men often had problems of their own making.  Paul’s was the potential of glorying in self.  MANY OF MY PROBLEMS ARE SELF INFLICTED!

4.  What is my problem this morning; what is my thorn?  What is yours?

F.  Paul thanked God for the “thorn?”

THE DIVINE RESULTS OF THORNS IN YOUR LIFE

1.  Thorns Teach Us To Lean Upon Christ – Philippians 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

2.  Thorns Teach Us That God Is Greater Than Our Problems – 1 John 4:4   Ye are of  God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.  (Not God over came them, but we overcome them through grace and strength.)

1 John 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Romans 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerorsthrough him that loved us.

Ephesians 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

3.  Thorns Teach Us About God’s Sufficient Grace – 2 Corinthians 12:9a And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

4.  Thorns Teach Us That God’s Strength Comes At The end Of Ours – Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

2 Corinthians 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

5.  Thorns Teach Us To Praise God In The Bad Times – 1 Thessalonians 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Ephesians 5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Job 1:21  And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

6.  Thorns Teach Us About God’s Power To Do God’s Will – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

7.  Thorns Teach Us To Appreciate The Roses!

Conclusion:  A man once said, “How beautiful the rose that blossoms out of a stem of thorns!”