30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 19-31 Released from self cetredness 34 God’s basis for judgement
📖 Luke 16:19-31
06Jun2020 - *God’s basis for judgement* - _Luke 16:19-31_ - Bible reading: _Revelation 20:11-12, 15_
_Luke 16:25-26 But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. (26) And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'_
God has not only resolved and provided the solution for the evil in our world but the Lord has also raised the church to be His regal representatives, once again, to execute the kingdom rule of God on earth. We see that the plan of God is that the church would reign with Him in this age and also in that which is to come.
The relevance here is that the church has to be the one bringing God’s healing on the land _(II Chronicles 7:14)_
As we read _Luke 16:26,_ we see a scenario, post judgement. It is a setting of eternal separation of those who will be tormented as the rich man was and the on the other side, where Lazarus was, a place of joy and goodness.
The Lord has given us enough input to prepare ourselves for the day of judgement. None of us, believers, can tell the Lord on that day that we were not aware that this was expected of us.
_John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."_ Since we have believed, we comfort ourselves that we will not experience the wrath of God. Nonetheless, let us never forget that faith without works is dead. Our faith in Jesus must be seen in the way we live our everyday life.
_Revelation 20:11-12 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who 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, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
We read here that books will be opened and we also read here of the book of life. The teaching on the book of life is clear but what about the other books? _Malachi 3:16-17 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a *book of remembrance* was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. (17) "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him."
We read here of the book of remembrance. This book of remembrance was about those who feared the Lord, spoke to one another and meditated on His name.
What else is the manifest evidence of the righteous judgement of God? _II Thessalonians 1:3-5 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, (4) so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, (5) which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;_ The specific aspects of our life, for judgement, are enumerated for us in this passage. We know that we can only be dependent on God the Holy Spirit to bring these traits to fruition in us, for we can never please God by our flesh.
God also requires us to live victoriously over temptation. _James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him._
_Psalm 50:21-23 These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes. (22) "Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver: (23) Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God."_
Is your conduct right before God?
*Thought to ponder*
```We can be sure that the judgement of God will be correct, concrete and consistent.```