Revelation Day 53 - Each of Us Will Give an Account
DAY 53
Each of Us Will Give an Account
Romans 14:10-13
The old confession of faith shared by Christians everywhere, the Apostles’ Creed, says, “Jesus Christ shall return to judge the living and the dead.” Revelation 19-20 are clear that we will be judged and the judge is none other than Jesus himself.
Today’s Scripture reading is from Romans to prove that our promised judgment is not isolated to one part of the Bible. It’s everywhere. In Romans 14, Paul confronted an argument about a practice he considered non-essential to the Christian life. Because of that, we should not judge one another for it. He reminded the Romans - and us - “each of us will give an account to God.”
Yesterday we talked about two facts related to our future judgment. Today we talk about the other three facts we can find in Revelation 19-20.
First, judgment sends us to heaven or hell. Don’t assume you know what “heaven” or “hell” mean based on pop culture or even a literal reading of Scripture (including Revelation!). Don’t assume “heaven” means clouds and golden streets. Don’t assume “hell” means literal fire and fork-tongued demons tormenting you.
Heaven means being with God. Hell means being separated from God. Heaven really is joy. Hell really is agony. Behind all the imagery, Revelation’s point is simple: we either go to be with God or we go away from God.
Second, judgment is final. There’s no appeals court. No re-dos.
Finally, we’re judged “according to our works.” Rev. 20 says that twice, and other places in Scripture say it, too.
Does that mean our good deeds are weighed on a scale against our bad deeds like Islam teaches? No, God’s looking at the whole of our life together. Yes, we are justified, or made right with God, by our faith in Jesus Christ. But was this faith genuine? Did we truly trust Jesus with our lives enough to let him change us from the inside out with the help of his Holy Spirit? Galatians 5:6 says, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Looking at my entire life, can God see my faith growing more and more of that expressive love?
Theologian Tom Oden put it this way: “Final judgment focuses upon whether one has been responsive or not to the gifts of God…The judgment finally comes down to whether one has or has not responded trustingly to God’s grace.” If we’ve never heard of Jesus, God will judge us fairly based on what we did with what we knew. If we’ve heard the gospel, trusted Jesus Christ to save us, and realigned our lives with his help, we’ll be fine.
Believe it or not, we can be sure we are children of God, ready to pass to God’s judgment. We can be sure without being anxious or arrogant. Rev. 19-20 want us to be sure of God’s goodwill toward us, sure that those who trust Jesus with their lives will pass final judgment.
REFLECT
In your own words, what does it mean to be judged “according to our works?”
PRAY
Lord, final judgment is a sobering thought. I don’t want to be arrogant about passing the judgment. I also don’t want to be anxious about whether or not I’ll pass. Instead, help me to have assurance of salvation because of my faith in Jesus and the comforting presence of your Spirit. Amen.
Each of Us Will Give an Account
Romans 14:10-13
The old confession of faith shared by Christians everywhere, the Apostles’ Creed, says, “Jesus Christ shall return to judge the living and the dead.” Revelation 19-20 are clear that we will be judged and the judge is none other than Jesus himself.
Today’s Scripture reading is from Romans to prove that our promised judgment is not isolated to one part of the Bible. It’s everywhere. In Romans 14, Paul confronted an argument about a practice he considered non-essential to the Christian life. Because of that, we should not judge one another for it. He reminded the Romans - and us - “each of us will give an account to God.”
Yesterday we talked about two facts related to our future judgment. Today we talk about the other three facts we can find in Revelation 19-20.
First, judgment sends us to heaven or hell. Don’t assume you know what “heaven” or “hell” mean based on pop culture or even a literal reading of Scripture (including Revelation!). Don’t assume “heaven” means clouds and golden streets. Don’t assume “hell” means literal fire and fork-tongued demons tormenting you.
Heaven means being with God. Hell means being separated from God. Heaven really is joy. Hell really is agony. Behind all the imagery, Revelation’s point is simple: we either go to be with God or we go away from God.
Second, judgment is final. There’s no appeals court. No re-dos.
Finally, we’re judged “according to our works.” Rev. 20 says that twice, and other places in Scripture say it, too.
Does that mean our good deeds are weighed on a scale against our bad deeds like Islam teaches? No, God’s looking at the whole of our life together. Yes, we are justified, or made right with God, by our faith in Jesus Christ. But was this faith genuine? Did we truly trust Jesus with our lives enough to let him change us from the inside out with the help of his Holy Spirit? Galatians 5:6 says, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Looking at my entire life, can God see my faith growing more and more of that expressive love?
Theologian Tom Oden put it this way: “Final judgment focuses upon whether one has been responsive or not to the gifts of God…The judgment finally comes down to whether one has or has not responded trustingly to God’s grace.” If we’ve never heard of Jesus, God will judge us fairly based on what we did with what we knew. If we’ve heard the gospel, trusted Jesus Christ to save us, and realigned our lives with his help, we’ll be fine.
Believe it or not, we can be sure we are children of God, ready to pass to God’s judgment. We can be sure without being anxious or arrogant. Rev. 19-20 want us to be sure of God’s goodwill toward us, sure that those who trust Jesus with their lives will pass final judgment.
REFLECT
In your own words, what does it mean to be judged “according to our works?”
PRAY
Lord, final judgment is a sobering thought. I don’t want to be arrogant about passing the judgment. I also don’t want to be anxious about whether or not I’ll pass. Instead, help me to have assurance of salvation because of my faith in Jesus and the comforting presence of your Spirit. Amen.
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Archive
2023
June
COMING SOON! RevelationRevelation Day 1 - TAKE IT TO HEARTRevelation Day 2 - IN THE SPIRITRevelation Day 3 - Learning to SeeRevelation Day 4 - The VoiceRevelation Day 5 - A Faithful WitnessRevelation DAY 6 - Past, Present, or Future?Revelation Day 7 - PRESS ONRevelation 8 - Comfort and ChallengeRevelation Day 9 - Compromised CommitmentRevelation Day 10 - I'm Fine, ThanksRevelation Day 11 - Holy, Holy, HolyRevelation Day 12 - Who is Worthy?Revelation Day 13 - Don't Give Up!Revelation Day 14 - No ContestRevelation Day 15 - Worship WellRevelation Day 16 - The Problem of EvilRevelation Day 17 - When You Don't Know WhyRevelation Day 18 - The Limits of SufferingRevelation Day 19 - Is God Angry?Revelation Day 20 - Saved Through Suffering
July
Revelation Day 21 - The Cry for JusticeRevelation Day 22 - The Judgments of GodRevelation 23 - They Still Did Not RepentRevelation Day 24 - Don't Curse CorrectionRevelation Day 25 - Search Me, O GodRevelation Day 26 - You Shall ProphesyRevelation Day 27 - Eat This BookRevelation Day 28 - Fight!Revelation 29 - Let the Truth TalkRevelation Day 30 - Worship and WitnessRevelation Day 31 - Our EnemiesRevelation Day 32 - The Enemy's WeaponRevelation Day 33 - The Enemy's FallRevelation Day 34 - Our ChampionRevelation Day 35 - Our BattleRevelation Day 36 - Where the Wild Things AreRevelation Day 37 - The Sea MonsterRevelation Day 38 - The Antichrist?Revelation Day 39 - Ordinary FaithRevelation Day 40 - The Heart of Ordinary FaithRevelation Day 41 - God's Guarantee
August
Revelation Day 42 - The Ugliness of EvilRevelation Day 43 - God's WrathRevelation Day 44 - God's DelightRevelation Day 45 - God's Just-nessRevelation Day 46 - The Wild Woman on a DragonRevelation Day 47 - Why a Wild Woman?Revelation Day 48 - Why is Babylon So Bad?Revelation Day 49 - Get OutRevelation Day 50 - Renew Your VowsRevelation Day 51 - He Shall Come AgainRevelation Day 52 - We Will Be JudgedRevelation Day 53 - Each of Us Will Give an AccountRevelation Day 54 - Afraid or Inspired?
September
Revelation Day 55 - Victory in JesusRevelation Day 56 - The Last ChapterRevelation Day 57 - The City of GodRevelation Day 58 - There Will Be No More DeathRevelation Day 59 - The Wedding of the LambRevelation Day 60 - Together ForeverNew Devo Starts SoonJames DAY 1 - Does This Thing Work?James DAY 2 - Two Kinds of TrialJames DAY 3 - Obstacles or Opportunities?James DAY 4 - How to Grow Through Hard Times (Pt 1)James DAY 5 - How to Grow Through Hard Times (Pt 2)
2022
October
November
Five Invitations - Day 12Five Invitations - Day 13Five Invitations - Day 14Five Invitations - Day 15Five Invitations - Day 16Five Invitations - Day 17Five Invitations - Day 18Five Invitations - Day 19Five Invitations - Day 20Five Invitations - Day 21Five Invitations - Day 22Five Invitations - Day 23Five Invitations - Day 24Five Invitations - Day 25COMING SOON - The Gifts of ChristmasAdvent 1 - Your Favorite GiftAdvent 2 - Where Are You From?Advent 3 - Unexpected Help