“Judgment Day”

(Acts 17:30-32, 2 Cor 5:10)

 

Introduction:

 

1.      Imagine the situation: Your life has just ended.  You are now standing in the awesome throne room of God.  God is on the throne.  Christ is at His right hand.  The Cherubim and Seraphim are there.  You are standing before the throne about to be judged for everything you have done in this life.  Books are opened (Rev. 20:12-13).  Nothing is hidden from God.  How would you stand if this were really you at the judgment?

 

2.      Why should we preach on the judgment?  (Acts 24:25, Acts 20:27).

 

3.      Following are seven characteristics of the Judgment Day which will help us to be prepared for  this awesome day.

 

I.                  Judgment is Certain in Action.

 

A.     If there is one thing that we can be certain of is that God’s judgment will happen.  (Rom 2:3, 14:10, 2 Cor 5:10, Jn. 12:48, Acts 24:25).

 

1.      Judgment is a certain as the Resurrection (Acts 17:30-31,Rom. 1:4, I Cor. 15).

2.      Judgment is as certain as death (Heb. 9:27, James 4:14, Job 7:25-26).

3.     Judgment is as sure as God’s word (Mal. 3:6, Heb. 6:18, 13:8, Isa. 55:11).

 

B.       It has often been said that there are two things in life that are certain, death and taxes.  Really, we could add judgment to that.

 

II.                Judgment is Uncertain in Time.

 

A.      While it is certain that God will judge all men, the time when that will happen is not known (Matt. 24:42-44, 25:13; I Thes 5:2-3).

 

B.       The main reason God does not tell us when the judgment time will be is because He wants us to be ready and working at all times (Mk. 13:35, I Pet. 3:15, Procrastination).

 

C.       IF we knew there was an atomic bomb headed for us right now and there was nothing we could do to stop it, then we would surely be getting ready for it.  Same thing applies to Judgment Day.

 

 

 

III.          The Subjects of Judgment.

 

A.      Not one soul, living or dead, will be able to escape the judgment of our God (Acts 10:42, Heb 12:23, 13:4; Jn 5:28-29, I Pet 4:5).

 

B.       The New Testament speaks of three groups that will be judged:

 

1.      The “angels” will be judged (I Cor 6:2-3, 2 Pet 2:4, Jude  6).

2.      The entire world will be judged by God (Rom 2:4-6, 3:6, Rev 20:12-13).

3.      Especially Christians will be judged (I Pet 4:17).

 

C.       Everyone will be there.  Judas, Paul, Adolph Hitler, the Elders, Preacher, neighbors, friends, family and yes, you will be there.

 

IV.   The Administrator of Judgment.

 

A.      God will judge the world… (Rom 2:5; 2 Thes 1:5, Heb 12:232; Cor 5:10, Rom 14:10-12, Matt 25:32, I Pet 4:5, Acts 10:42, 2 Tim 4:1, Rev 20:12).

 

B.       In Righteousness… (Rom 1:32, 2:2; Gen 18:25, 2 Tim 4:8, Rom 2:6, I Pet 1:17, Jn 5:32, 8:16)

 

C.       Through Jesus… (Jn 5:22,27, 9:39, 16:8; 2 Cor 5:10, Matt 25:31-32, 2 Tim 4:1, Rom 2:16).

 

1.      Because He is Son of Man (Can view things from the side of deity and humanity, John 5:27).

2.      Because he knows about life and our excuses will not work (Heb. 4:15, Matt. 25:25).

3.      Because he is our advocate.  What an amazing thought to know Jesus will be our defense attorney (Heb. 9:24).

 

D.      By the Word.  (Jn. 12:48, Word is the Standard, Col 3:17, Matt 28:28).

 

V.   The “What” of Judgment.

 

A.      All “deeds” done during this present life will be judged (2 Cor 5:10, Eccl. 12:14).

B.       All “words” spoken in this life (Matt 12:36-37).

C.       Even our very thoughts will be judged (I Cor 4:5; Heb 4:13, Prov. 15:3).

D.      What we have not done will be judged (James 4:17).

E.       There is nothing hidden that will not be made light at the judgment of God (I Tim 5:24-25).

 

 

VI.          The Proof of the Judgment (Acts 17:30-31).

 

A.      It is sad to say, but there are some in the religious world that do not believe there will be a judgment.  They do not see God as a condemning God.  But, the judgment is directly linked to the heart and core of Christianity—THE RESSURECTION.

B.       If it is the case that Christ died, was buried and resurrected for our sins (Rom 1:4, I Cor 15:1-3), then it is the case that there will be a judgment.

C.       If it is not the case Christ was resurrected, then Christianity is a farce and we may as well get up out of our pews and go home.

D.      The Resurrection of our Lord is a powerful proof of the Judgment to come.

 

VII.  The Hope of the Judgment.

 

A.      While to many, the Day of Judgment will be a day of doom, despair and condemnation, it should not be this way for Christians (2 Thes 1:7-10).

 

B.       The hope of the judgment is the fact that God provides a way of escape from the sin we have entangled ourselves in.  God has provided salvation for us (Matt 11:28, I Tim 2:4ff; Heb 2:9).  How has God provided salvation?

 

1.      Through His Son (Heb 7;25ff, John 14:6)

2.      Through His Word (James 1:21; Jn 17:17).

3.      By Obedience to His will (Heb 5:8-9, Rev 22:14).

 

C.       When one does obey the gospel then he is in a different standing with God, for now the Judge is His Father, and the Lawyer is his brother.

 

D.      To the child of God the Judgment day should be a day of honor and recognition of righteousness lived.  The judgment day for a Christian should be much like graduation day for a High School Senior.  It is the day when Christians pass the test of life and enter into eternal life.

 

E.       Quote I John 4:17  “BOLDNESS”

 

F.        For the child of God who lived faithful it will be wonderful to know that all secret things, including the good will be brought out at the judgment (Eccl 12:14).