-- "You will never be able to love somebody into the Kingdom until you feel the King's love personally." --
In my opinion, the greatest prayer in the Bible is the one Paul prayed for the Ephesian Christians (emphasis mine):
For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)If we, God's people, lack power today, Paul says it's due to our lack of knowing, understanding, and experientially feeling the love of God in Christ.
Evangelical pastors tend to motivate Christians to live right and do good works through threats of appearing before Christ on judgment day to give an account of our lives. This modern motivational tool is very similar to the Roman Catholic practice of indulgences that lasted seven centuries prior to the Reformation. This type of motivation is the very reason the church lacks supernatural power.
The Bible is clear that every person apart from union with Jesus will give an account for how he or she lived their lives. This accountability to God is understood by all, even the irreligious. The Bible is clear regarding what happens on Judgment Day.
"You are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done." (Romans 2:6)
"For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done." (Matthew 16:27)
"He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves." (Job 34:11)
"According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due." (Isaiah 59:18).
"But those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him." (Deuteronomy 7:10)
"Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord." (Romans 12:19).
"We make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment of Christ, that each may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (II Corinthians 5:9-10).
Good News! Those In Jesus Escape this Judgment
This is truly Good News!
(1). If you've come to faith in Jesus, you are free to live your life without fear that God is measuring your performance. The only perfect performance in terms of how to live is the life Jesus lived, and the full approval He earned from God is yours by faith! This is God's love for you in Jesus
(2). If you've come to faith in Jesus, you never have to worry whether or not God is punishing you for your sins, because the full and complete punishment for every failure and shortcoming in your life (past, present and future failures included) have been completely punished by God in Jesus. This is God's love for you in Jesus.
(3). If you've come to faith in Jesus, you are assured of God's complete and fully devoted attention as 'the apple of His eye,' that your name is written 'in the palm of His hand,' and that your entire life is guaranteed to have all things "work for good." This is God's incredible love for you in Jesus!
So what does it look like to be so strengthened in your inner person by experiencing the fullness of God through coming to know His love for you in Jesus? What does it feel like to never have to perform for God, and to rest in the performance of Jesus? I think Jesus describes it very well in Matthew 6.
"Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.
And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace." (Matthew 6:1-6 -The Message)
Passages that Seem to Teach Future Judgment for Those in Christ
Some Christians who have never been freed from the fear of God judging their performance in this life will point to several passages of Scripture that seem to teach Christians will be 'judged' by God for their actions in this life. I would like to address all these passages in future posts, but I'll close today's writing by examining just one such passage:
"But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the (judgment) seat of God. 11 For it is written,“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God.” So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God." (Romans 14:10-12)This passage at first glances seems to indicate that every Christian will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. In reality, it teaches just the opposite.
- This text (Romans 14:10-12) starts with a question: "Why do you judge your brother?"
This is an appropriate question for every one of us who follow Jesus. Let me ask myself that question in various ways: "Why do I judge any brother in Christ?" Why do I make any assessment that a Christian is lazy, unspiritual, or weak? Why do I "regard my brothers with contempt"? Why do I count them as nothing? Am I judging the way they live? Am I judging their actions? Am I judging the fact they live differently than I? Again, "Why am I judging my brother?"
Why should I not judge a brother in Jesus?
1). I should not judge my brother because God has accepted my brother.
"For God has received my brother" (14:3). "God is able to make my brother stand" (14:4). My brother, just like I, has been justified before God by faith. My brother is made right with God by the righteousness of Christ, just like I! He and I are "reckoned," "accounted," and "credited" as righteous by God in Jesus! This righteousness of God is "imputed" to me and my brother by faith. Why do I judge my brother when God accepts my brother and makes my brother stand before Him perfectly righteous, just as God does me?
"If the best of men had his faults written on his forehead he would pull his cap down to his eyebrows in shame." (an old Irish Proverb)
(2). I should not judge my brother because God makes us both stand before Christ.
"We (I and all my brothers) shall all stand before the bema of Christ" (Romans 14:10). The word "bema" is translated "judgment seat" in our English versions, but the word judgment is an interpretation, not a translation. Bema literally means "podium" or "throne." It is translated this way in Nehemiah 8:4 (Septuagint) where Nehemiah "stood on a pulpit of wood (bema)" to read the Word of God to the people of Israel. A bema is an elevated position of authority. We "Christians" all stand with Christ. However the ungodly shall not stand before the throne of Christ (Psalm 1:5).
"The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong" (Psalm 5:5).
-This text (Romans 14:10-12) continues with an Old Testament quotation... "For it is written 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God.' (v.12).
Verse 12 is a direct quotation from Isaiah 45:22-25.
Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. “I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.
They will say of Me, ‘Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.’ Men will come to Him, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame.
“In the LORD all the offspring of Israel will be justified and will glory.”
In this text God swears an oath. "As I live..." (v.12) "I have sworn by myself" (Isaiah 45:22). What does God swear? "That every tongue shall swear" (Isaiah 45:23) this word "swear" is also "confess."
What will men confess?
"Only in the Lord there is righteousness and strength."
In other words, when we stand before God on that day to come, those who swear, "I have no righteousness but Christ" shall stand beside Christ. All those incensed with Jesus shall be "ashamed" (Isaiah 45:25) and shall be judged by Christ for their actions on earth!
-This text (Romans 14:10-12) concludes with personal confession... "Every one of us shall give account..." (v.12).
The person who has been angry with Christ on earth shall find Christ angry with him in heaven (Psalm 2:12). The only sinner who will ever be judged by Christ for his thoughts, deeds, and actions on earth is that sinner who dies without the righteousness of Christ credited to him.
The word translated "account" (i.e. "Every one of us shall give account") is the Greek word logos which means 'to say, or to speak." It is the same word used by John to describe the coming of Christ to earth, "In the beginning was the Word (logos), and the Word (logos) was with God, and the Word (logos) was God" (John 1:1). It is also used 11 times in its verb form in Romans 4 to describe the action of God reckoning or crediting righteousness to the believing sinner. When God says or declares I am righteous in Christ, then indeed I am righteous in Christ.
God swears that He is honored and praised by the sinner who says or declares there is no true righteousness but that which is in Christ. Paul says it or declares it like this:
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from (my obedience) to the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and]the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11)
That's my confession. It's my confession today. It will be my confession on that Day. I will never be judged for anything in my life - what I do, what I didn't do, how sincere I was, how insincere I was, how well I performed, how poorly I performed, etc... - because Jesus is my righteousness, and God's love for me is so incredibly deep, wide, broad and long that ...
(1). I am free in Jesus to live and love others fully, because ...
(2). I am so full of God and His love for me I need nothing else personally, and
(3). I am without fear and can live my life boldly, courageously and incredibly joyfully!
That's what happens when the fear of any future judgment is removed. He's removed it from me; I hope He removes it from you as well.
29 comments:
"Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne."
Yes! I do believe, however, that while punishments and consequences are different things, our status in Christ does not mean we won't reap our consequences for sin in the here and now.
Linda
Linda,
I agree.
Sin, by its nature, is destructive.
God's love is such He is able to even turn the destructive consequences of our sin into something ultimately good.
Strange, isn't it?
One thing I've also discovered to be true (in my own life at least), is that the more I come to know the unknowable love of God, the less there is a pull toward sin. It's like anything else is a sorry substitute for the real thing.
:)
Yes! Our time on the northern plains exposed us to some Lutherans who really "got" free grace without the dispensational stuff.
And as you said, all that freedom for the "good stuff" with God seems to cause a loss of taste for sin.
Kinda like drinking a soda with real sugar means you never like a flat high fructose corn syrup brew again.
Linda
Rid of this suit of flesh, standing before the Savior, I believe I'll realize all the time I disappointed Him, and that's an awful thought in itself.
I recall when I flunked out of college, my Dad showed up at the dorm. He was not visibly angry, but calmly told me how disappointed he and my other were at my failure. He then told me how we would proceed from that point, in a positive manner.
I almost wished he'd beaten me up, so painful it was to see him disappointed in me.
I don't want that, or anything like that, to happen in my life, ever again.
"My soul is at peace,
for long ago,
I ceased to belong to myself."
(Therese of Lisieux)
Preach it Wade! Nothing like the pure gospel of grace clearly explained....Thank you
Yes! I do believe, however, that while punishments and consequences are different things, our status in Christ does not mean we won't reap our consequences for sin in the here and now.
Not always. I didn't. And I did some pretty heinous sins before and after Christ. I have to honestly say I did not reap the consequences of my sins which were not anything I am proud of. But....Christ drew me to himself because I did not reap the consequences, I couldn't understand why I didn't. It was one of the things that eventually broke me, that God showered his love and protection on me instead and protected me from the consequences, sometimes even showering me with blessings before I became a Christian caused to me break and become a Christian.
Wade,
Looking forward to more on this subject from you. When R.C. Sproul teaches on the imputed righteousness of Christ, he is fond of quoting Martin Luther: "simul justus et peccator" simultaneously just (righteous) and sinner, which got him in hot water w/ Catholic theologians, to say the least. I think we can all agree that justification is a monergistic work (all of God)but isn't sanctification a synergistic work? Don't we sometimes cooperate w/ the Holy Spirit & sometimes don't cooperate as we should?
I pulled up Dr. John Gill's commentary on II Cor 5:9-10 and he took the position that there will be a time of judgment for the Christian. Not for the purpose of determining salvation, of course, but "according to that he hath done... the reward of good works will be of grace, and not of merit: good works will be considered at the last judgment, not as causes of eternal life and happiness, to which the saints will be adjudged; but will be produced in open court as fruits of grace,and as evidences of the truth of faith...".
Not that Dr. Gill can't ever be wrong, but you have taught me to be cautious when taking a view contrary to his'. I hope you have some time to dialogue about this. If this is something that you will be handling in a future post, I can wait until then. Thanks. Mark
...so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Cor. 5:10
How will the Christian (each one) be recompensed for the bad deeds he has done?
Wade,
Amen! There cannot be enough of declaring these truths which, sadly reflect one of the greatest causes of misery in the evangelical scene; the desperate need to reclaim the truth that the all embracing focal point of the Bible is NOT THE WORK OF THE REDEEMED, BUT THE COMPLETED WORK OF THE REDEEMER, INCLUDING SANCTIFICATION!
Mark Jopling,
Yes, Gill is in disagreement (or, I am in disagreement with Gill!) on this subject.
You, as always, are perceptive!
I will be addressing the II Corinthian 5 passage in our study this coming January.
Victorious,
That's precisely my point. II Cor. 5 is for the non-believer only (in my opinion). I think Gill misses it here.
Aussie John,
Amen!
Mark,
On the subject of 'sanctification,' I offer this post - it's my favorite one of all time. In the over 1500 I've written, this one 'rings the bell' with me more than any other.
wade
Debbie--by God's grace you did not reap all your consequences. I think most of us have experienced that.
But clearly not all drunk drivers make it home without hurting themselves or others. Some one night stands result in an unwelcome pregnancy. Cheating on your spouse does sometimes lead to divorce.
And even when we escape those consequences, there will be, I believe, psychic or emotional and spiritual scars.
So I still disagree with Luther that we can sin and sin boldly. But I totally agree we need not be petrified by our failures.
Linda
Wade,
Thanks for that link to the earlier post. There's a lot there to digest but I believe I see what you are saying: sanctification is monergistic (God supplies all the energy), just like justification. I believe that is what Dr. Gill was saying, also. If there is a final judgment for Christians there won't be any "works of merit" to be considered, only "fruits of grace."
One last question and I will probably drop out of the discussion. In Rev chapters 2 & 3, Jesus addresses 7 churches. For 5 of them, He gives a "do-better" talk. From that I can only conclude that their performance is not what it should be. Is that just God's way of supplying energy into 5 lackadaisical church situations, to move them along on the path of sanctification? In other words, how do those 5 reprimands fit in with what you are saying? Except for Smyrna and Philadelphia, He seems to be very dissatisfied w/ their performance.
Mark,
Great question about Revelation -
The lack of 'performance' for these churches all revolve around a lack of grace displayed toward others, or a lack of love toward others, or a false understanding of 'truth' that places the emphasis on outward actions to the neglect of inner transformation ( think "white washed tombs"). Probably, the best illustration of the common misconceptions of the Revelation 'pep talk' is in a post I wrote a few years ago - I would encourage you to read it.
Wade,
Wish I could be at the study when you explain why you believe 2 Cor 5 is in reference to non-believers only. The entire passage seems to be directed at "all" people, believers and non-believers. I am of the position that we "all" will be held accountable for our obedience or disobedience although believers will be in the loving "Father-child" relationship, much as Bob Cleveland describes in the situation when he flunked out of college. Seems to better fit Scripture, to me anyway.
RRR,
Never my goal to change anybody's mind. People who disagree with me on II Cor. 5 are Christ exalters, Kingdom-builders, and Spirit led.
The reasons I believe II Cor. 5 is an encouragement to remind 'the lost" of their need to escape Judgment Day and to be reconciled with God through the only Savior given to mankind includes the following:
"We do not los heart, though our outer man is decaying, for our inner man is being renewed day by day" (4:16)
"We do not look at all the things which are seen, but things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things not seen are eternal" (4:18)
"For we know that this earthly tent ... will be torn down" (5:1)
"what is mortal will (one day) be sallowed up by (eternal) life" (5:4).
"Now He who prepared us for this (death and resurrection to eternal life) ... is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge" (5:5).
"Therefore be always of good courage...for this is our courage, though we'd rather be absent from this mortal body and at home with the Lord" ...our entire life's aim is to be pleasing to God (5:9).
Let me pause right here and remind everyone that God said of His Son ... "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased." The same superlative "well-pleased" is used in the above verse (5:9) - that's my aim! How do I reach that goal? Paul said in Philippians 3 - "I want to know Him... not having a righteousness that comes from (my obedience) to any Law, but THE righteousness that comes from God and is found by faith." So the only way to be "well-pleasing" to God in this mortal life and on that Day of Judgment is to be "in Christ" by faith.
Let's go on....
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. THEREFORE, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men" (5:9-10).
We persuade men to do what? To believe in Christ.
For the rest of the chapter, Paul speaks of sharing CHRIST to the world!
"He died for all so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him" (5:15).
"God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself" (5:19)
"HE HAS COMMITED UNTO US THE WORD OF RECONCILIATION" (5:19).
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us" (5:20).
"WE BEG YOU ON BEHALF OF CHRIST BE RECONCILED TO GOD." (5:20)
RRR, I cannot see how because of this last verse of II CORINTHIANS 5:20 and the entire theme of II CORINTHIANS 5 (this mortal life is nothing compared to eternity and standing before Christ at judgment), that the chapter can be interpreted as FOR BELIEVERS. It seems clearly targeted to the lost!
Wade,
Thank you a lot for sharing your additional insights into Scripture and giving food for thought. I know your intent is not to change anyone's mind or win an argument and appreciate that spirit in you. I do enjoy reading your posts and positions on things and grow as a result of the dialogue.
You mentioned; "The reasons I believe II Cor. 5 is an encouragement to remind 'the lost" of their need to escape Judgment Day and to be reconciled with God through the only Savior given to mankind".
I understand how anyone could come to that position but for me I interpret it instead as being a message primarily to we believers and being an encouragement to remind us of our responsibility to share The Gospel message passionately and lovingly with the lost with the intent of their being born again as new creatures in Christ as we were.
I like that word that you capitalized in your quote from 2 Cor 5:9,10; "THEREFORE". Even the intent of that one word can be disputed but personally I see it as saying that given that "we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ" we, as committed followers of Jesus Christ, redeemed and having received the rights of a child of The Most High God/Judge, will be held accountable for being obedient in following our Master's Command to go into all the world for the purpose of making disciples of Christ; i.e., "You will be judged for your obedience/disobedience THEREFORE get outta your pew and GO AND TELL!"
I read the entire passage of 2 Corinthians 5 within this context, reminding me of how essential it is for me to proclaim The Good News and then the rejoicing/rewards there will be as we see those others who respond and are born again as new creatures. So we go and we "plead/beg/shout" to them to "please, please, do not pass up this opportunity!"
The Spirit of Christ within us tells us to "go" and then we are held accountable for being obedient.
As always, I think that you and I are in the same spot on the important points and I love reading your insights which give God all the glory.
Scripture does seem to be clear that each must give an account for the way their life was lived. While it's true that God is not a score keeper, and also true that our sins have been forgiven, it seems He would be negligent were He not to at least acknowledge He was aware of them.
So I have a idea of how the scenario at the bema judgment might play out.
Jesus calls to me, "Mary, come on over here and let's chat and take a look at some of the things you did that were pleasing and some that showed you could have done better.
Together, we do a "review" of my life as a believer.
The lady you witnessed to at the drugstore two years ago is now sharing her faith with many others.
When you had to have your dog, Buddy, put to sleep, you were so sad. But look over there...do you see him? He's chomping on the bit to get over here to you!
Remember the time you lost your temper and screamed at your friend...I watched as afterward you grew the fruit of the spirit helped in the area of patience and self-control.
It was so encouraging when you gave $100 to a person at church without even being asked to and didn't sign your name to the card.
When you neglected to comfort your neighbor when he lost his mother, I sent someone else but you were the one he was hoping would come so he was a bit disappointed.
All your life you were afraid of the dark, but you don't have to fear it ever again.
You see that fruit tree over there? Every piece of fruit represents a time you showed love and compassion to someone who needed it.
Remember how sad you were when you got fired and how you missed all your co-workers? They're all over there waiting for you to join them for lunch!
I was there when you went through all your cancer treatments and know how stressful that time was for you. But your new body that will never be subject to pain or disease again.
You set a very bad example to your classmate when you stole that sweater from the store and bragged about it. But I was happy when you asked forgiveness 3 yrs. Later and your friend told you she was a Christian now as well! You had a happy reunion after that.
Hastily written, but how great would that be? A father's recognition of his child's behavior throughout life without punishment for the bad...but with praise for the good.
Silly? Possible? I like to think of our meeting like this.
Victorious,
Me too!
Wade,
I hope my words aren't intrusive. No offense will be taken if you need to delete.
Matthew 25:31ff: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the righteous (believers) on his right, but the unrighteous (unbelievers) on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father (righteous), inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (cf. Eph.3:1ff ; Colossians 2:13ff).
I'm puzzled, and grieved when some seem to know their Sovereign as fickle.
On the one hand chosen and deemed totally debt free under His laws, rejoicing in their new life in Christ, and some time afterwards having the law from which they have been set free, re-applied.
They appear to believe that the bondage to which He declares they are now dead (crucified), will be re-imposed if they fail the performance test. (Romans 6:5ff)?
The sheep are not those who have a personal righteousness gained through self effort and obedience to rules and regulations. The righteousness The Righteous Judge looks for is an attributed righteousness, judicially, or legally declared as causing all genuine believers to be justified, legally declared righteous in God's sight, and, most amazingly, even though their self effort appears anything but righteous.
The righteousness God looks for in the sheep is God's most amazing gracious gift in the New Covenant Person, our Lord,Jesus Christ (Eph.2:8ff).
Augustus Toplady understood well when he penned the hymn which brings tears to my eyes,”Rock of Ages”: 'Not the labor of my hands Can fulfill Thy law’s demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone. Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling;'
Aussie John,
No one, in my opinion, has said it better.
Your comment would be enshrined if I could - definitely not deleted. Thanks!
Wade
Aussie John,
Just wondering if you believe that Scripture indicates there being any sense of reward in heaven? For instance, do you believe that those who are martyred for their obedience will have any form of recognition for sacrificing their lives, literally, for their commitment to Christ? I've met some folks that have gone into hostile territory with the understanding that their lives would be in jeopardy for the sake of serving the Lord and they were never seen again alive. It's difficult for me to imagine their not being on the front row in heaven with me celebrating in the nose-bleed section. If I am in the nose-bleed section, I'll rejoice and be glad for it.
I don't believe it is anyone's intent here to suggest that our salvation is "works" based or intend to diminish in any way the full compensation made by the blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross as being sufficient to totally reconcile us sinners. I fail to see anyone in the trail of comments made regarding this post that in the least way suggests that "they believe that the bondage to which He declares they are now dead (crucified), will be re-imposed if they fail the performance test." Where does that conclusion come from? Perhaps you can direct me to a particular comment or submission that makes that suggestion or maybe you were referring to statements made on some other venue?
Personally, I do read passages like the Parable of the Talents and 2 Corinthians 5 as teaching that some acknowledgement of the sacrificial obedience and devotion will be made. I do not believe that means that the grace poured out upon us is any more for some than others.
If you disagree, fine. But better not to misconstrue the position of those with this view by saying they "know their Savior as fickle". Seems rather condescending to me.
Wade,
Since RRR addressed me, may I reply by simply saying that I would never impose on RRR's right to believe as he/she wills, and not criticize him/her for his/her belief, and no criticism was intended.
I, too have known quite a few similar folk to those whom RRR mentions, who sacrificed much, including their lives for Christ's sake.
In more than sixty years of full involvement in the life of the church, most in ministry, I have not known any who would not, with me, simply look forward to those beautiful words in 1John 3:2,"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is".
How can there be a greater,or, more meaningful reward than this?
Aussie John,
A gracious response.
" In the evening of this life, I shall appear before You with empty hands, for I do not ask You, Lord, to count my works.
All our justice is stained in Your eyes.
I wish, then, to be clothed in Your own Justice "
(St. Therese of Lisieux, a Doctor of the Church)
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