| Vol. IV Number 47 | December 3, 2000 |
A lot of us think of Jesus as our savior, but few even dare to think of Jesus as our judge. Jesus is not only going to judge the damned, but he is also going to judge the Christian who lives for eternity in heaven. If more Christians realized that the Lord Jesus is their judge there would not be as many that would be living the lives that they are living. They would be on fire for the Lord and praying for his divine guidance.
Acts 10:42
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Here Peter is telling Cornelius that Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead. Jesus is the judge of the ones who are in heaven and those who will spend eternity in hell. Jesus hot only is our savior, but he also is the divine judge of the universe. He is the one who judges both the living and the dead. There is no other judge that can judge the very intents of the heart.
Isaiah 11:1-5
1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Hebrews 4:1-15
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Isaiah and the writer of Hebrews both tell us how Jesus is our judge. How Jesus divides the soul from the spirit and how he reads your very intents of the heart. Jesus knows what we are thinking before we even have thought about the subject. The sharp twoedged sword that proceeds from Jesus' mouth will judge you for your very thoughts and intents of the heart.
The apostles were very concerned about their converts for they had a great fear about them falling from grace. They knew that those who once believed and went into perdition that their end would be worse than if they had never heard the gospel of grace.
2 Peter 2:20
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
How awful it is for the Christian who once knew the Lord to have fallen from loving arms of his savior into the pit only to have his savior now be his judge. There are many who have lost their faith in the Lord through the cares of this world and have gone back to their old ways. How many are going to face Jesus not as their savior but as their judge. How many are ready to face the Lord Jesus today? How many are considering that if the rapture happens tonight in church will they be worthy to rise to meet the Lord in the air? How many Christian take their salvation lightly, not knowing the day or the hour Christ's return?
If Jesus called today, would you have anything to be ashamed of? You feel that you aren't ready for the Lord today! Now is the time to repent and seek him with all of your heart.
3014 E Street Philadelphia, PA 19134 Church Office Phone: (215) 634-3637 Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 535-4037
Services:
Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:30 AM
Sunday Morning Worship . . . . . . . . . . 12 NOON
Sunday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 PM
Wednesday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM
Copyright © 2000 LeRoy D. Cressy
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