What the Bible Contains: P 16 It is Given for Life, Opened in Judgment & Remembered Forever.

Good morning.....

We are doing well in our family and everyone is healthy.  Today, we will learn that the Word of God contains truth needed for this life and for eternity. We will see that this same book will be opened in judgment to condemn all who refuse to heed what it says to mankind. Last, we will discover that the words contained in the Bible will always be remembered. 

The Bible Contains Words for our Lives. 

A shepherd has many important tasks to perform for the sheep under his care. He must lead them out to pasture and bring them back to the fold safely each day. He must stay with them through good weather and storms. He must care for ill or injured sheep and protect them from predators. 

In addition the sheep learn to know the voice of their shepherd and respond to his call. When we read the Bible we hear the voice of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Like the sheep, we must follow when our Master speaks to us. 

The duties of a shepherd run parallel with how the Bible tells us that Jehovah is our Shepherd (Psalm 23). This role is beautifully fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ (John 10). Christ is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11. He is the Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20) and He is the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). 

John 10:9 -11 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

John 10:14-16 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 

Christ the Good Shepherd teaches us to feast upon His word daily to sustain us through this life and to prepare us for Eternity. Jesus Christ is the door to heaven and all who believe on His name will be able to enter heaven through Christ. 

Giving us our daily bread.

Matthew 6:31-33  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  

When we enter through the door, which is Christ,  to the sheepfold of Jehovah we will find good pasture. That is to say Jehovah is committed to caring for us and providing for our needs in this life and for eternity. He will bring us to good pastures full of nourishment. He will cause us to go by the still waters where we can be refreshed.  

Jesus promises an abundant life for those who are born again into the family of God. The child of God can enjoy a far better life than he or she could ever have imagined. It is walking in newness of life and being a new creation in Christ. 

Providing eternal life for those who believe on Jesus Christ. 

John 3:16-17  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

The words "believeth in" closely correspond to the word "trust" that is used a lot in the Old Testament. It is a full commitment of our mind and heart to Christ as we turn to Him in repentant faith to save us from our sins. 

The Bible contains the Word that will be opened for Judgment.

John 12:46-50  I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49  For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50  And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. 

Jesus is rebuking the blind religious leaders of His day. He reminds them that He is the light of the world (John 1:1-5). Those who believe on Christ will not live in darkness. Those who hear the words of Christ and reject them will be judged by the very words spoken by Jesus Christ. 

When Christ works, He does the work of the Father and when He speaks He speaks the words of the Father. Therefore all of His teaching and declarations are fully binding upon all mankind and there is no escaping condemnation for unbelief. 

Rev 20:11 -12 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

What a stark contrast between the judgment of the believers and the unbelievers. When born again believers stand before Christ it is to receive a reward or loss of reward for how we served Him after being born again (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). It is not a judgment of sin but is a review of our lives as Christians and what motivated us to do what we did for Christ.

The word used for this judgment is a Bema seat which comes from the judge who rewarded the victorious Olympic athletes. There is no condemnation here, only a determination of the participants order of finish. Then the judge passed out the appropriate prizes much like the medals passed out at modern Olympic events. 

All unbelievers will be brought before the Great White Throne for judgment. They represent the tares (Matthew 13) and fish (Matthew 13) and goats (Matthew 25) separated out by the angels and consigned to eternity in hell. The great white throne is not a Bema seat. It is a throne of judgment where disputes are settled by Christ and where there is no appeal from the sentence that is handed down.  

John 5:22  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 

The Bible contains Words that shall be remembered.

Matthew 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (See Mark 13:31 & Luke 21:33)

The Lord Jesus Christ made it very clear that His word will never pass away. His Word is eternal and will be forever remembered in heaven and earth. His word is the standard which will be used for all judgment and sets the criteria for admission into heaven via the new birth. His word will settle all disputes and bring all the promises of God into reality. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

The grace of God in giving us His Word is evident. He tells us the truth we need for this life and for eternity. He shows us the way to living a far better life by being born again into the family of God. 

We also learned of the soberness of future judgment where this inspired Word will be opened up and all unbelieving people will be subjected to its judgment. It will be a time when their doom is officially pronounced and the sentence of eternal condemnation swiftly carried out. 

It is living truth that will always be remembered and that establishes the holy standards of God for all to see.

May the Lord grant us opportunities to share this truth with others and may we be impacted by it to live a holy, God honoring life and to be bold witnesses for Christ. 

Bob