The Finished Work of Christ

It is finished


These are the greatest and most important words ever uttered in the history of Mankind and they were uttered by the greatest Man that ever lived on planet earth. The man was Jesus Christ. Not an ordinary Man. Not only a Man with high moral standards and merely a prophet. He was God’s only begotten Son. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. The God-man. Never before and never after was there and will there be a Man like Him. He was one of a kind and came on a mission to this earth. He was without sin. Even though He was tempted in every way while He lived on earth He never gave in to any temptation. Is such a thing possible, you may ask? Yes, it is true. That is why He came and the Bible says it is true (Hebrews 2: 18; 2 Cor 5:21).


‘It is finished!’


Jesus said these words at the end of His life. After He was falsely accused for sins that He did not commit. The Roman authorities condemned Him to die on a cross, after Pontius Pilate was instigated by the Jewish authorities. He died a criminal’s death, although He was no criminal. He was sentenced by the Jews on charges of blasphemy. They said that He claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus said these words as He hung on the cross, as He was suffering and dying. These are the most important words that were ever uttered by any Man.


It is accomplished


But, what was finished? I will try to sum up the most important points for you although the breadth and height of the meaning of these words have filled volumes of books.


• The price that was paid as a ransom for the sin of believing sinners was paid in full. The punishment for sin was laid on the shoulders of Jesus Christ. He died in the place of believers. The just punishment for sin is death, as revealed in God’s Word (Romans 6:23). We had to die for our sins, but Jesus Christ died in our place, as our substitute, so that you and I can be innocent of sin. There was a divine transaction. Our sins were accounted to Him on the cross and His righteousness (sinlessness, perfection) was accounted to us. Your sin was laid on Him, and His righteousness was put on you (Romans 5:6-21). In other words, God will freely forgive and justify believers now on the basis of what Christ has done.


• Jesus broke the power of sin on the cross to set believers free from its rule and power (Romans 6:6-8; Matthew 1:21).


• God disarmed and defeated principalities and powers, the devil and His angels, making an open spectacle of them and triumphing over them at the cross (Colossians 2:15).


• God reconciled (united) believing sinners with Himself at the cross. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) He demolished the enmity between Himself and believers at the cross (Colossians 1:20).


• God’s anger (wrath) and justice towards believing sinners was satisfied by Jesus dying in their place on the cross. God’s justice for sin needed to be satisfied, and Jesus met God’s requirement because He was God’s perfect offering for sin (Isaiah 53:10). He was God in the flesh who never sinned.


All this Jesus did for those who trust in Christ alone. What Christ accomplished at the cross 2000 years ago, will only become a reality in your life if you truly turn from your sins (your idolatry, adultery, stealing, lies, covetousness, murder, pride, ungratefulness, gossip, indifference, slander, drunkenness, dishonoring parents and taking God’s Name in vain) and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. Have you truly repented of your sins? Have you trusted in Christ for salvation? If you love your sins and the evils of this world and reject Christ, then the wrath of God will abide on you forever!


It is finished! Is it finished in you?

The Glories of His Righteousness

One thing is certain. One day all of humankind, all people, men, women and children from all ethnic groups and languages, all who ever lived on planet earth will stand before God’s glorious throne and will be judged to an eternity with God’s blessing or without God’s blesing. The judgement seat is set (Romans 2:16; Matt 25:31-46, Hebrews 9:27). Man must give an account for the life he or she has lived.
There will be no second chances, no extinction of a human life, no annihilation of a life and no reincarnation. The Bible is clear: Man is to die once and then the judgement (Hebrews 9:27).

Another startling and shocking fact is that all humankind need perfection to live before God and to enter His holy place called heaven (Hebrews 12:14; Isaiah 35:8).
Another tragic fact is that all people who have ever lived, have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Our own willful disobedience against God’s law and character separates us from the eternal, magnificent God. Our own sins disqualify each one of us to enter His glorious presence. We have made and worshipped idols (real or in our minds), hated people, lied, stolen, cheated, used God’s Name in vain and coveted other people and their possessions numerous times. These things God calls sins and we deserve eternal punishment because of our sins. God is holy and just and never overlooks sin. He is of purer eyes to behold evil!


But wait before you go into despair! Here is the good news: God not only punished our sins in His only Son Jesus Christ but provided a perfect righteousness whereby we can become perfect in God’s eyes! God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ about 2000 years ago and He lived a sinless, perfect life. He obeyed God’s law completely and obtained a righteousness whereby God can now justify us. Not only is this true, but He died on a cross in Israel 2000 years ago to pay the punishment for the sins of those who will believe. That’s great news!
No amount of praying, good works, shedding of tears and confessions can make us acceptable in God’s sight. What we need is God’s finished work to be right with God.

Many people think: Yes, Jesus died in my place as my substitute. He paid the punishment for my sins. He satisfied God’s justice and bore the wrath of God for sin and now He demands my obedience so that when I die one day, my works will justify me on judgement day. In other words, Jesus Christ’s death was necessary to take away my sins, but now God needs my obedience to the law, (my righteousness) for the final judgement for justification. So, some people think, when I die one day I thank God for His death but, I rely on my own works to get me into heaven and enjoy His presence.
This position insults God’s righteousness and His magnificent grace. My and your good works (righteousness) do not justify us before God. If we would only sin once we would have a flawed righteousness, an imperfect righteousness, and that would disqualify us on judgement day. We need perfection, complete fulfillment of God’s law and ONLY JESUS CHRIST obtained that! The only hope for you and me on judgement day is Jesus Christ’s blood and righteousness! His substitutionary life and death. We need perfection to be in God’s presence and only Jesus Christ obtained a righteousness (a perfection) because He fulfilled the law of God with His obedience when He lived on this earth.


REST IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS


Stop thinking that God needs your good works to make you right with Him. You need Jesus Christ’s perfection, His righteousness to be accounted (imputed) to you. This happens by faith. Just believe. Accept and embrace this righteousness, and praise God for the life and death of Jesus Christ! Praise Him and thank Him! Receive it as a gift from God. Embrace and receive the most extraordinary and wonderful life of Jesus Christ. “It is accomplished”. “It is finished” were Jesus’ words when He died on the cross about 2000 years ago. IT IS FINISHED! Rest in that.


Paul wrote in Romans 1:16,17 ‘The gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, for in it the righteousness of God has been revealed.’ This is the righteousness of God that we so desperately need. What would you say if someone gave you 10 million dollars as a gift? Would you be happy about it? Would you delight in it? God provided something much more valuable than 10 million dollars! He provided the gift of everlasting life in Jesus Christ to be received by faith. He gives us Himself! He is more valuable than all of the world and the universe put together! All we need to do is receive Him for the Treasure He is. Ephesians 2:8,9:” By grace you have been saved, not by works, lest any should boast, it is a gift of God.”


Let’s take hold of His gift and The Giver who is the greatest Gift. Then the good works like confession of sin, prayers, love towards our neighbors and good works will flow naturally and powerfully by the Holy Spirit. A good tree will bear good fruit.


Let the Foundation of your life be Jesus Christ, His blood and righteousness.

The Marvellous love of God

In the beginning, when God made the heavens and the earth, God made man with a free will. Tragically, Adam and Eve decided to disobey God. The result was the fall. Since then all people on earth were born with a sinful nature. We have become slaves of sin. But we also choose to sin willfully. All people have sinned and therefore they fall short of God’s glory (Rom 3 :23). We are all therefore spiritually dead and separated from God (Ephesians 2:1-3). The Bible says that the soul that sins must die and that the wages and penalty of sin are death (Rom 6:23). This does not only mean that man must physically die, but that man must die spiritually as well. God’s sentence is so severe because He is holy and just and hates all sin. This is the reason why death is in the world. All people die and every person stands guilty before God because they all have sinned against God. We have told lies. We have stolen things. We have lusted and committed sexual immorality. We have served and worshipped idols. We have blasphemed God’s Name and coveted people’s possessions. We all stand guilty before God.


But God made a wonderful plan. He promised even from Adam’s day that He would make a new way for us to be restored to Himself. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Rom 5:8 says that God demonstrated His love towards us that while we were still sinners Jesus died for us. While we were God’s enemies, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth. He lived a sinless life. He did many miracles and at the end of His life, His own people crucified Him on a cross. But even though they sinned in this way against God, Jesus’ death was predetermined by God. It was God’s plan to save many of their sin. Because the penalty of sin is death, someone had to pay the penalty of death that could release us from sin’s punishment. No one’s death could take away our sin except One. Jesus Christ, who never sinned, was the only one who could take our sin away because He was sinless, and God in human form.

If we believe that Jesus died in our place as our substitute, to pay for our sins, we will have forgiveness of our sins and we will have everlasting life. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). That is why Jesus Christ’s blood was shed on the cross, outside Jerusalem, about 2000 years ago. All the sacrifices of sheep and goats in the Old Testament were only types and shadows of the real sacrifice that took away the sin of the world.


Three days after Jesus Christ’s death, God the Father raised Him from the dead and now Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of the Father. God broke the power of death and the power of the devil. This is the love of God that God demonstrated to the world. The question remains: what is your response going to be to such great love? Are you going to accept and embrace it? Is this love going to rule the course and goals of your life or are you going to ignore and reject this great love? The choice is yours. John 1:12 says: “for whosoever have received Him have the authority to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name.” God is calling you to embrace His love! But as the Bible says one day Jesus Christ will come on the clouds to judge the living and the dead. If you haven’t received Jesus Christ in your life, as your Savior, and Lord (King), you will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). And there all those who have rejected God’s Son and His love, will be in torment for all eternity. When God judges the rebellious it will be a display of His justice. God is holy and only those who love Him wholeheartedly will inherit a place in heaven. To love God is in itself a gift that God gives to those who receive the Holy Spirit and the evidence of a true faith in Christ (Romans 5:5).


I urge you and beg you, do not let the time of grace pass you by. Listen to God today. Hebrews 3:7,8 says: “Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
Come to God and His love by confessing and turning from your sins.

Final Word: Where do you stand?

Final Word • Where Do You Stand?

We have come to the end of our Guide. If you have read and studied this guide you will have a good understanding of what is going to happen in the future—and what God’s purposes are for humanity. Undoubtedly some of what you have read might scare you. You can be assured that it is God’s desire for all human beings to be in a loving relationship with Himself (1 Timothy 2:3, 4; Ezekiel 18:23, 32). On the other hand, people who rebel against God and those who reject the Saviour, Jesus Christ, will have a dreadful end. My desire is that you may find the FOUNTAIN of Life (Jeremiah 2:13). If you want to know more about God and His purposes for you, I encourage and urge you to take up the Bible for yourself and read and study it carefully, believingly and obediently. In it you will find more wonders, gems and treasures (Psalm 19:10; Proverbs 2:1-4).

From my side I have told you all you need to know in order to make a commitment to God and to become a believer and disciple of Jesus Christ. In the final analysis it’s not up to anyone else but you to accept God’s offer of salvation and become a follower of Jesus Christ. God is not going to make the decision for you—and you will not be able to make it in your own strength. You need God’s sovereign power and sovereign electing grace to commit yourself to Him. Only in Jesus Christ will you be safe from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10). What I have tried to do is to bring you to the Water of Life, to show you the majesty, glory and rewards of diving into it and drinking from it. I have shown you the consequences of drinking deeply of this water and of the joys that will accompany you—and the sufferings you will endure for not drinking it. Your satisfaction and your enjoyment of drinking deeply of this living water will secure your future (Psalm 36:8; 63:1-3; Matthew 5:6).

Jesus said in John 6:34: ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and He who believes in Me shall never thirst.’ Jesus presents Himself as meeting our deepest longing and as the Source of soul-satisfaction. Jesus also said in John 7:37-38: ‘If anyone thirsts let him come to Me and drink. He who has believed in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’  These living waters refer to the Holy Spirit’s indwelling in the believer’s heart. The whole human race is in desperate need of quenching their spiritual thirst like someone who has walked for days in a wilderness hoping to find water (Isaiah 55:1, 2; Jeremiah 2:13).

However, the tragic story of humanity is that most people have attempted and attempt to quench their spiritual thirst at the polluted fountains of sin by worshipping the idols of the world. These fountains cannot bring lasting satisfaction. In the end it is up to you to drink or not to drink. You can step away from the River of Life and Fountain of Living Water and decide you’re going your own way. The world and all its glory are merely a fool’s paradise and fool’s gold, false gold that does not glitter in all its glory. As God told the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land:

I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE, that you and your descendants may live. That you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice and cling to Him, for He is your LIFE and the LENGTH of YOUR DAYS (Deuteronomy 30:19).

In the last book and chapter in the Bible, God is calling out to all of us with this invitation:

……..And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come, whoever desires, let him take of the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17).

42. Christianity is not a religion

 42 • Christianity is not a Religion—It’s about a Restored Relationship with God

For statistical purposes, Christianity is shown to be one of many religions; but Christianity essentially isn’t a religion. Implied in the word ‘religion’ is that people must do certain things and abstain from other things in order to be accepted by God. In other words, it’s about ‘do’s and ‘don’ts’. In all the religions of the world you will see this. What makes Christianity different is that sinners can do nothing to earn God’s favour. We can do nothing to achieve His acceptance. Jesus Christ came to this earth to do what no other person could or can do: He obtained, exhibited and fulfilled God’s righteousness by a sinless life, satisfied God’s justice, bore the wrath of God on a cross to forgive and remove believers’ guilt and sin, destroyed the power of death, Satan and sin and united believers with God. He did all this so that believers would be accepted by God and be in right standing with Him. God’s anger towards us because of our sin has been removed by Jesus Christ—to this we could not contribute. God has fully accepted believers through Jesus Christ’s righteousness and His sacrifice on a cross. We can now live in a right relationship with God if we believe in Jesus without any contribution on our part! Faith in Jesus is essentially a free gift given to God’s people by God (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

Christianity is about having a restored relationship with God. It is about receiving from God. Imagine a relationship with your father, mother, wife or husband that you enjoy, and which is working well. You don’t have to perform well and achieve merits in order to be loved by them. You can relax and enjoy each other’s company without worrying about being at your best. In the same way, God wants a relationship with that works. Your relationship with your Father in heaven is based on unconditional love. That means you don’t have to keep a set of rules and regulations in order to be loved by God (Romans 3:28; Romans 5:8; Romans 9:30-33; Romans 10:2-4).

However, because life is rough at times, there may be times when you want to quit on God and wrongly point fingers at God because of perceived injustice or suffering you may be experiencing. There will also be times of exhilaration, times of joy, of sadness, of disappointment and discipline. Our relationship with God is, in a sense, the same as with people, yet very different. It is more like a father-son relationship. In other words, there will be times of discipline and correction in love (Proverbs 3:11; Hebrews 12:5-8).

God is God and we are merely human beings. He knows everything while we are limited and ignorant. That’s why we can trust Him and believe His words in the Bible, and be assured that He knows best, even if we don’t always understand. Our relationship with God on earth is also like that of a fiancé with her husband to be. It is full of anticipation and excitement, yet the best is still to come! The marriage celebration will be in heaven!  And it will last forever! God is calling you to the marriage feast of the Lamb. He has sent out His invitation to you and is waiting to see if you will attend the most glorious time you can imagine (Matthew 22:1-14; Revelation 21:9; Ephesians 3:20).

Reality to consider: God disciplines us for our good. He does this because He loves us and knows what is best for us—just as a father or mother will discipline his/her children. If we are without discipline, then we are not genuinely God’s possession or His sons or daughters (Hebrew 12:5-8). Without discipline we would be illegitimate children of God.

Read: Ephesians 2:8, 9; Romans 3:28; 5:8; 9:30-33; 10:2-4; Proverbs 3:13; Hebrews 12:5-8; Matthew 22:1-14; Rev 21:9; Ephesians 3:20.

41. The New Heavens and New Earth

 41 • The End of Everything as We Know It—The New Heavens and the New Earth

When Jesus ascended to heaven, things in this world really changed. God sent His Holy Spirit to abide powerfully and permanently within all His people. Just as God destroyed the inhabitants of the world about 4500 years ago with a global flood (Genesis 6-8), so God will destroy the heavens and this earth with fire after Jesus Christ has come again on the clouds (2 Peter 3:10,12). The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:10-12 that the heavens will be dissolved with fervent heat and the earth and its works will be burned up. No materialist, those infatuated with what money can buy, will be among those in the new heavens. In 1 Timothy 6:7-9 we read, ‘…for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out…but those who desire to be rich fall into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.’

The Bible is not specific about the timing of events that will precede and follow the return of Jesus Christ to this earth. The most important thing to know about His return is that we must always be ready for this event and make sure that our relationship with God is right. Jesus said He will come like a thief in the night, unexpectedly. Therefore, we must always watch and pray  (Matthew 24:42-44). It is written in God’s Holy Book that the heavens and the earth will pass away, but that His words will never pass away (Matthew 24:35; 2 Peter 3:10). Jesus and His holy prophets prophesied about these future events.

There will also be great opposition against God and His people before the end of this world (Revelation 20:7-9). But the good news is that God is going to make everything new!  The old order where sin, corruption, debasement and rebellion ruled because of the devil and the sins of mankind will come to an end. In the last book of the Bible, God says He is going to create a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1-5). There will be no pain, suffering, evil, sin, death or tears there. In the old Jerusalem, Jesus was crucified outside the gates of the city. But in the New Jerusalem, the holy city, Jesus will reign forever and ever. The Lamb of God that was slain will rule as the Lion of Judah in all His glory (Revelation 5:1-11).

This place is described in the Bible as possessing exquisite beauty: a street of transparent gold, trees that yield fruit 12 months of the year, gates of precious jewels, with a river which flows from the throne of God (Revelation 21:18-21; 22:1-3). Those saved from the nations (ethnic groups) will come in and be healed from their sicknesses and will bring their riches before God (Revelation 21:24). But all this will not be the greatest wonder of the New Jerusalem: the greatest wonder will be the manifest presense of God. And the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will be worshiped and praised and admired in all Their brightness and glory; and God’s children will reign with Him on the new earth forever.

Truth to consider: God’s Holy Book says in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 and in Revelation 21:8 that cowards, the unbelieving, the abominable, murderers, the adulterers, fornicators, homosexuals, sodomites, drunkards, thieves, revilers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. They will have no place in the Kingdom of God and in the new heavens and the new earth.

Read: Genesis 6-8; 2 Peter 3:10-12; 1 Timothy 6:7-9; Matthew 24:44-46; Matthew 24:35; Revelation 20:7-9; Revelation 21:1-5; Revelation 5:1-10; Revelation 21:18-21; 22:1-3; 21:24; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10; Revelation 21:8.

40. The blessedness of God’s people

 40 • The Eternal Blessedness of God’s Children

God’s promises of eternal life, glory and joy in His presence are found repeatedly in God’s Holy Book (Psalm 16:11; John 3:16; Daniel 12:2, 3). If these promises were not true, then we would be the most miserable of all people (1 Corinthians 15:19). But Jesus did conquer sin, Satan, hell and death, He lives forever.  The Bible says that a time will come when Jesus Christ will return to earth and fetch His children. Just as He went up with the clouds into heaven, so He will return on the clouds in all His glory (Acts 1:11).  No one knows the time of this event, only God the Father (Matthew 24:36); but it is written in God’s Book that when He comes, every eye will see Him because He will come in great glory (Revelation1:7). Jesus said that as lightning flashes from east to west so will be His return to this earth (Matthew24:27). At that time, He will fetch His children.

All those who belong to Jesus will be given a glorified body (Philippians 3:21). They will then be with God forever and will see Him face to face. They will worship and praise and honor Him forever and forever. In 1 Corinthians 2:9 it is written that no eye has seen, nor ear heard, and that no mind has conceived the things that God has prepared for those who love Him. We can’t begin to imagine the glory, the exceeding joy and blessedness that God’s children will experience when Jesus Christ returns. If children of God die before that time, they will be translated directly to paradise (Luke 16:22-26).

As was said before: ‘The suffering that we now endure is not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us’ (Romans 8:18). We now have a natural body, a perishable body, a body subject to temptation, sickness and sin. But then we will receive a glorified, imperishable, incorruptible body, a body free from temptation, sin and death. The bodies that believers in God will receive will not even be subject to pain or sickness (Revelation 21:4). When you see movies of superheros that have abilities to fly, break steel, swing from building to building like Spider-Man, and possess unusual strength of some kind, some people think, ‘If only I had those capabilities it would be awesome’. The fact is that if you die as God’s child you will receive a body vastly superior to a superhero’s body, a body like the one Jesus now has, an indestructible body that can walk through walls or just appear somewhere (John 20:19).

Another wonderful thing is that with your new body you will still be able to enjoy food (John 21:5-14). In 1 Corinthians 15:52, 54, God’s Word says that as God’s angel sounds the last trumpet, we will all be changed in an instant. And death, the last enemy, will finally be destroyed. Can you imagine such a time when you will experience only joy and love and peace and glory and happiness without end? Jesus said heaven will be different from this life. Sexuality will be no more. There will be no drugstores, liquor-stores or 70 virgins waiting for you in heaven as some delusional religious fanatics believe. Jesus said that there will also be no marriages, because everyone in heaven will be like the angels (Matthew 22:29).

Truth to consider: All people now live in a time dimension where death is a daily reality. But one day the time dimension will be exchanged with eternity, and death will no longer be a reality. How we live in time and the choices we now make will have eternal consequences (Romans 2:15, 16).

Read: Psalm 16:11; John 3:16; Daniel 12:2,3; 1 Corinthians 15:19; Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:36; Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:27; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Luke 16:22-26; Romans 8:18; Revelation 21:4; John 20:19; 21:5-14;1 Corinthians 15:52, 54; Matthew 22:29; Romans 2:15, 16.

39. The reality of eternal punishment

 39 • The Reality of Eternal Conscious Punishment of Unbelievers

We have heard that wicked people who have rejected God will be punished.  And this is true.  Justice will be served. Many people agree that evil people should be punished for their sins, but they don’t agree with the duration and extent of God’s punishment. They say that people in hell will be punished, but only for a certain time and then they will be annihilated.  In other words, they will cease to exist. Or others say God will punish them and then after some time, maybe after a few hundred thousand years, they will be reunited with God. Others say that after death we will be reincarnated and given another chance to be good. All these arguments are only opinions and speculations. What matters is what God’s Word says, even if it is an unpopular teaching.  Nevertheless, it remains God’s Word.

Hebrews 9:27 says that man is appointed to die once and then the judgement. We need truth from God’s Holy Book. We shall know the truth and the truth will set us free (John 8:32). Listen to God’s words in Matthew 25:46: ‘And these will go into eternal punishment.’ ‘These’ refer to those who didn’t serve God. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 says that when the Lord is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, He will take vengeance on those who do not know God and did not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They shall be punished with everlasting destruction in the presence of the Lord. Revelation 14:11: ‘And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever.’ Jesus warned about the reality of eternal punishment more than any other person in God’s Book.

Jesus said in Mark 9:43-48, ‘if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, for it is better for you to enter life maimed than for you to enter hell with both hands where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched……..and if your eye causes you to stumble it is better to pluck it out and enter the Kingdom of Heaven than to have two eyes and be cast into hell where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ In this passage and in Matthew 18:6-9 Jesus meant that we should take the most drastic steps with our bodies and kill sin to escape the coming torments in hell’s fire. The eternity of hell is exemplified by His description of hell. Three times in Mark 9:43-48 hell is described as an eternal reality and not merely as a rubbish heap (dump) as some theologians would say. And what is evident is that what the suffering God-haters will experience will be constant, conscious and forever (Luke 16:24; Mark 14:21)!

If someone murders a person, he may get a life sentence or even a death sentence. But we know that a murder takes only a few seconds to commit, even if it was planned weeks before the murder took place. It works the same way with rape or theft. It only takes a short time to commit the crime, but the sentence fits the crime considering the dignity of the person against whom it was committed. That’s why sins committed against an infinite, worthy Person (God) will receive an infinite, worthy sentence. Therefore, eternal punishment (Daniel 9:2) is fitting for those who reject Jesus Christ and His redeeming work on the cross (John 3:36).

Truth to consider: A reality that many people deny but a truth clearly taught in Scripture is the eternity of human existence. We will all live forever (Ecclesiastes 3:11), either in God’s glorious presence or without God’s glory; either in heaven or in hell (Daniel 9:2). It is a shocking and dreadful reality for those who hate God!

Read: Hebrews 9:27; John 8:32; Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 14:11; Mark 9:43-48; Matthew 18:6-9; Luke 16:24; Mark 14:21; Daniel 9:2; John 3:36; Ecclesiastes 3:11.

38. God’s Final Judgement

Part 6 Consummation–End Times

 38 • God’s Final Judgement—The Day of the Lord

You might think: Why does God allow His people to suffer so much? Or you may think: Why does God not stop the devil from wreaking havoc in this world? Where is justice for God’s people? Where is God’s protection? Isn’t He almighty? Isn’t He the Creator? Many things we, as limited human beings, cannot understand; but God has a purpose in our suffering. Romans 8:28 states: ‘All things work for the good to those who love Him and who are called to His purpose.’ Also, in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 it states that as suffering for Christ’s followers abounds so does the consolation of Christ abound so that His disciples can be effective in His service. However, our concern should be directed to another reality:

Hebrew 9:27 states: ‘Man is appointed to die once and then the judgement.’ There is one appointment no one who has ever lived will miss—the Day of the Lord. The final judgement of the world will come when every person who has ever lived will be judged by God. We live in ‘real time’, this life is no fantasy or illusion, and when we look at things happening in the world, we may think God is unjust for allowing evil things and cruelty to occur. There are so many wars and people fighting over land and possessions, rapes, murders and the list goes on. But at the Final Judgement seat of God, when God will end the world, justice will be given to every person who has ever lived (Revelation 20:11-15). This will include justice for the devil and his demons. Those who have rebelled against God and Jesus Christ will be condemned for eternity. But those who have received Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord will be justified, declared innocent of all their wrongdoing (Romans 3:24-25, 28). They will enter paradise with the angels of God. All the names of those belonging to God are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 17:8; 20:15).God’s Book says in Revelation 20:15 that every person whose name is not written in the Lamb’s book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire.

These are the people who rejected Jesus as their Saviour and King as well as the devil and his demons (Revelation 20:10). The just Judge of all the earth will see to it that every evildoer gets punished. So, when we see evil people prosper, we need not fret or get anxious (Psalm 73:3-5; 17-20).  Every evil thought and motive will be laid bare before God (Romans 2:14-16). God will open the books and reveal to the universe those who rejected Him and those who belong to Him (Matthew 25:31-46).

Not feeding the poor, not giving water to the thirsty, not clothing the naked, not visiting the sick and those in prison are sins just as murdering, stealing and lying are, although according to the laws of an earthly government you wouldn’t get sentenced to prison for not being merciful. Many people think sin is only the bad things people do, but Jesus Christ revealed that sin is also the good things we do not do when we have the opportunity to do them (James 4:17). Only those who belong to God and whose sins have been washed away by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) will be safe from the wrath of God (Romans 5:9, 10). Jesus also said: ‘Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy’ (Matthew 5:7).

Questions to consider: if you were to die tonight, would God let you enter His holy heaven?  Is your name in the Book of Life?  Do you have peace with God?  Are you in a right relationship with God?

Read: Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15; Romans 3:24,25,28; Revelation 17:8;20:10, 15; Psalm 73:3-5;17-20; Romans 2:14-16; Matthew 25:31-46; James 4:17; Romans 5:9,10; Matthew 5:7.

37. The reality of suffering

37 • The Reality of Suffering and Persecution of God’s Children

When Jesus was on earth, He told His followers that they would have to endure suffering for His name’s sake. He said: ‘If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you’ (John 15:20). Also, in 2 Timothy 3:12 Paul, the soldier of God, said: ‘All who desire to live godly lives will suffer persecution.’ Christians must be ready to face opposition and rejection by those in respective cultures, and even from their friends and family. The Bible says in Acts 14:22 that it is through many tribulations that we must enter the Kingdom of God. The Apostle Paul writes from another perspective to the Philippians: ‘For unto you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake’ (Philippians 1:29). For Paul, it was a privilege to suffer for Christ!

The Apostle Peter agreed—He wrote: ‘If you are insulted for the Name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you’ (1 Peter 4:14). Romans 8:18 says: ‘For I consider that the sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.’ We know that if we are followers of God, people will oppose us, and we should not be surprised but be ready and prepared for this (Matthew 10:33-39).

As you read this in the 21st century, Christians all over the world are being killed, churches are being destroyed, people are being locked up in prison and tortured because they belong to Jesus and because they follow and love Him. In many countries, even in the West, people are vilified and losing their jobs, because they stand for what is right and for Jesus. As you witness about God and make disciples of all nations, many will not like it. People will insult you and may physically harm you and even kill you (Acts 7:54-59; Matthew 5:11, 12)! Throughout the history of God’s people there have been nations and peoples who have persecuted them and killed many of them: The Romans, Persians, Moguls, Chinese, Buddhists, Communists, and most severely the Muslims. Even Catholics persecuted and killed followers of Jesus a few centuries ago.

From God’s perspective it is a useless operation to even try to destroy God’s people and His Word. This attempt can be likened to a person who wants to quench a fire by pouring oil onto it. The more oil is poured onto it the bigger the flame gets. When unbelievers see that Christians refuse to deny Christ and are willing to suffer for His glory, then many unbelievers turn to Christ. The unquenchable faith of Christ’s followers shines brightest during suffering. Some wicked people think they are doing God a favor by persecuting Christians, but the devil has blinded them to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4). This may surprise you, but we must realize who is behind this persecution—our sworn enemies, the devil and his demons. 1 Peter 5:8 says we must be watchful because the devil is like a roaring lion walking about and waiting to devour God’s people. From an eternal perspective this lion has much roar but no teeth. Jesus said that you will be hated by all nations because you belong to God (Matthew 24:9).

Reality to consider: It might seem that God’s enemies are getting the upper hand by killing God’s people; but the ultimate victory is with God because He conquered death. So, when Christians suffer or die for Jesus’ sake, death becomes the entrance to eternal life with God (Acts 7:56, 59)!  In the end God’s people will be victorious!

Read: John 15:20; 2 Timothy 3:12; Acts 14:22; 1 Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 4:14; Romans 8:18; Matthew 10:33-39; Acts 7:54-59; Matthew 5:11, 12; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 24:9.